Mg(OH)2 -Facilitated Liquid-Phase Conversion of Lactic Acid into 1,2-Propanediol over Cu: An Experimental and Theoretical Study.

Mg(OH)2 is found to exhibit superior performance in the liquid-phase conversion of lactic acid (LA) into 1,2-propanediol over Cu. A conversion of 90 % with a selectivity of 98 % is achieved at 513 K and 5 MPa H2 . Mg(LA)2 could be identified as a crucial intermediate in this reaction, as it undergoes faster conversion than the combination of LA and Mg(OH2 ) and regeneration of Mg(OH)2 through the conversion of Mg(LA)2 as a substrate. DFT calculations reveal that the energetic span of the reaction decreases from 46.6 kcal mol-1 catalyzed with no cation to 43.6 kcal mol-1 with [Mg(OH)]+ , confirming the facilitating effect of Mg(OH)2 .

Pt@Au nanorods uniformly decorated on pyridyne cycloaddition graphene as a highly effective electrocatalyst for oxygen reduction.

Preparing metal-supported graphene nanocomposites is both interesting and challenging because of their well-defined morphologies and have potential application for oxygen reduction reaction (ORR). Here, we present an easy approach to synthesizing a novel hybrid material composed of Pt@Au nanorods (NRs) uniformly dispersed on the pyridyne cycloaddition of graphene (Pt@Au-PyNG), and the material serves as a high-performance catalyst for ORR. This hybrid electrocatalyst significantly decreases the use of Pt by using Pt dispersed on Au NRs and shows a markedly high activity toward ORR. The resulting Pt@Au-PyNG hybrid displayed comparable electrocatalytic activity and better stability than commercial Pt/C in alkaline solutions toward ORR. The hybrid effectively blocks CO formation to increase catalyst resistance to CO poisoning, thereby decreasing the amount of Pt needed. Free-energy diagrams for ORR on Pt@Au (111) through dissociative and associative mechanisms show that OH or O hydrogenation is the rate-limiting step based on DFT calculations.

Geometric and electronic properties of graphene modified by "external" N-containing groups.

Using first-principles spin polarized density functional theory (DFT) calculations, we investigated structures and electronic properties of "external" nitrogen-containing group (pyridine derivatives) modified graphene via a single or a double bonding mode. Our results show that in the most stable structures, the bonding between pyridine derivatives and graphene involves the ortho-carbon of pyridine derivatives, as confirmed by the Bader charge analysis. The enhanced stability of pyridine derivatives on graphene by [2+2] cycloaddition, e.g., a double bonding mode (DBPyNG), is caused by the matches between frontier orbitals of pyridine derivatives and those of graphene, which leads to the formation of stronger chemical bonds. Interestingly, electronic structure density of states (DOS) analysis of SBPyNG reveals that the spin-up and spin-down parts are clearly split while it is not the case for the double bonding pyridine derivative modified graphene (DBPyNG).

Additives initiate selective production of chemicals from biomass pyrolysis.

To improve chemicals selectivity under low temperature, a new method that involves the injection of additives into biomass pyrolysis is introduced. This method allows biomass pyrolysis to achieve high selectivity to chemicals under low temperature (300°C), while nothing was obtained in typical pyrolysis under 300°C. However, by using the new method, the first liquid drop emerged at the interval between 140°C and 240°C. Adding methanol to mushroom scrap pyrolysis obtained high selectivity to acetic acid (98.33%), while adding ethyl acetate gained selectivity to methanol (65.77%) in bagasse pyrolysis and to acetone (72.51%) in corncob pyrolysis. Apart from basic chemicals, one high value-added chemical (2,3-dihydrobenzofuran) was also detected, which obtained the highest selectivity (10.33%) in corncob pyrolysis through the addition of ethyl acetate. Comparison of HZSM-5 and CaCO3 catalysis showed that benzene emerged in the liquid because of the larger degree of cracking and hydrodeoxygenation over HZSM-5.

Selective production of chemicals from biomass pyrolysis over metal chlorides supported on zeolite.

Direct biomass conversion into chemicals remains a great challenge because of the complexity of the compounds; hence, this process has attracted less attention than conversion into fuel. In this study, we propose a simple one-step method for converting bagasse into furfural (FF) and acetic acid (AC). In this method, bagasse pyrolysis over ZnCl2/HZSM-5 achieved a high FF and AC yield (58.10%) and a 1.01 FF/AC ratio, but a very low yield of medium-boiling point components. However, bagasse pyrolysis using HZSM-5 alone or ZnCl2 alone still remained large amounts of medium-boiling point components or high-boiling point components. The synergistic effect of HZSM-5 and ZnCl2, which combines pyrolysis, zeolite cracking, and Lewis acid-selective catalysis results in highly efficient bagasse conversion into FF and AC. Therefore, our study provides a novel, simple method for directly converting biomass into high-yield useful chemical.

[Chinese characters morphological and phonetic working memory impairment in early Parkinson disease].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the characteristics of Chinese characters morphological and phonetic working memory in early Parkinson disease (PD) patients and the underlying neuropsychological and patho-physiological mechanisms. METHODS: The Smith working memory software was modified and further developed to be used to investigate the Chinese characters morphological and phonetic working memory in early PD patients and healthy controls. RESULTS: Twenty early PD patients, 10 males and 10 females, aged (62.2 +/- 2.3), with (13.6 +/- 0.6) years of full-time study and the MMSE score of (28.2 +/- 0.5), and 25 sex, age, schooling time, and MMSE score-matched healthy controls underwent Chinese characters morphological working memory test. The correct rate of Chinese characters morphological working memory of the PD patients was 91.8% +/- 1.9%, not significantly different from that of the healthy controls (91.3% +/- 1.4%, P = 0.823). Twenty-five early PD patients, 13 males and 12 females, aged (64 +/- 11), with (14.4 +/- 2.2) years of full-time study and the MMSE score of (28.9 +/- 0.4), and 25 sex, age, schooling time, and MMSE score-matched healthy controls underwent Chinese characters phonetic working memory test. The correct rate of Chinese characters phonetic working memory of the PD patients was 89.3% +/- 6.3%, significantly lower than that of the healthy controls (94.1% +/- 5.1% , P = 0. 007). Further more the Chinese characters in the test were classified into four groups according to the syllable and intonation: with same syllable and same intonation, with same syllable and different intonation, with different syllable and same intonation, and with both different syllable and intonation. The correct rates to these groups were recorded separately. The correct rate to Chinese character group of the same syllable with different intonation of the PD patients was 80.2% +/- 2.5%, significantly lower than that of the healthy controls (86.3% +/- 1.8%, P = 0.01), and there were not significant differences in the correct rate to other Chinese character groups. The correct rate of phonetic working memory of the PD patients with left extremity onset was 88.0% +/- 6.5%, significantly lower than that of the healthy controls (94.1% +/- 5.1%, P = 0.003). CONCLUSION: Phonetic verbal working memory impairment exists in early PD patients. Intonation may play a role in the phonetic verbal working memory impairment in the early PD patients. Different verbal working memory subsystems may use different neurocircuits.

[Effect of tongxinluo capsule on platelet aggregation in patients with cerebral infarction].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of Tongxinluo Capsule (TXL) on platelet aggregation in patients with cerebral infarction, and to explore its underlying mechanisms. METHODS: Seventy-four patients with cerebral infarction at the rehabilitation stage were assigned to two groups according to taking or not taking aspirin at hospitalization, the 30 patients in group A were administered with TXL alone and the 44 in group B with TXL combined with aspirin. Platelet aggregation tests induced by adenosine diphosphate, epinephrine, collagen and arachidonic acid were conducted in all patients to evaluate the effect of TXL on platelet aggregation. RESULTS: Platelet aggregation rate induced by adenosine diphosphate and epinephrine decreased after treatment in Group A from 88.5 +/- 4.9 and 92.9 +/- 3.1 to 80.9 +/- 16.5 and 91.8 +/- 4.0 respectively (P <0.05 ); that induced by adenosine diphosphate and arachidonic acid decreased after treatment in Group B from 66.9 +/- 13.5 and 22.7 (13.5 - 32.6) to 62.0 +/- 16.3 and 17.7 (10.2 - 23.7) respectively (P < 0.05 and P < 0.01). Cases of aspirin resistance reduced in Group B from 20 (45%) to 10 (23%), also showing statistical difference (P <0.05). No obvious increase of side effect was found after combined use of TXL with aspirin. CONCLUSION: TXL has anti-platelet aggregation effect, its mechanism may be related with the inhibition of adenosine diphosphate and arachidonic acid path. It is relatively safe when used in combination with aspirin.

Clinical course and cause of death in elderly patients with idiopathic Parkinson's disease.

OBJECTIVE: To improve the therapeutic and preventive measure for elderly patients (75 years and over) with idiopathic Parkinson's disease (OEIPD). METHODS: Fifteen OEIPD patients were observed prospectively over a long period of time. Their diagnosis was confirmed by autopsy. Based on clinical and pathological data, the causes of death were analyzed. RESULTS: The mean clinical course in OEIPD patients was 6.2 +/- 3.6 years. The majority of the 15 patients were the akinetic type and the akinetic type with tremor (80.0%). In the late stages of disease (4.8 +/- 3.5 year), choking occurred in 12 OEIPD patients who received nasal feeding for an average of 4 months after the occurrence of choking. The most common complication in 12 patients was repeated pulmonary infections with an average rate of 2.9 +/- 1.9. The causes of death were bronchial pneumonia and shock induced by pulmonary infection (11 cases, accounted for 73.3%), acute myocardial infarction (2 cases), one case with cardiac rupture and one case with rupture of aortic aneurysm. CONCLUSIONS: The clinical course was shorter in OEIPD patients. Levodopa therapy should be started early in OEIPD patients. Bronchial pneumonia and infectious shock constitute the major cause of death and choking was one of the main causes of aspiration pneumonia. Nasal feeding should be started as early as possible after the appearance of choking. Silent aspiration can be reduced by teaching the patient to protect the airway by 'supraglottic swallowing'.

[Clinical efficacy and safety of huperzine Alpha in treatment of mild to moderate Alzheimer disease, a placebo-controlled, double-blind, randomized trial].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the clinical efficacy and safety of huperzine Alpha in treatment of patients with mild to moderate Alzheimer disease (AD). METHODS: Two hundred and two patients with the diagnosis of possible or probable AD from 15 centers the nationwide were randomly divided into two groups: huperzine Alpha group (n = 100, given huperzine Alpha 400 micro g/day for 12 weeks) and placebo group (n = 102 ). Different scales were used to evaluate the cognitive function, activity of daily life (ADL), non-cognitive disorders, and overall clinical efficacy. Safety evaluation was conducted every 6 weeks. RESULTS: In comparison with the baseline data, there was an improvement of 4.6 points in cognition assessed by ADAS-Cog (P = 0.000); an improvement of 2.7 points by MMSE (P = 0.000), an improvement of 1.5 points in behavior and mood by ADAS-non-Cog (P = 0.008) with 59.2% of the patients being on the mend clinically; and an improvement of 2.4 points by ADL (P = 0.001) with the capacity of ADL improved by at least 10% among 32.75% of the patients. 70% of the patients in huperzine Alpha group scored 1 approximately 3 points, and 27.8% of them scored 1 approximately 2 points by CIBIC-plus. The proportions of patients with an improvement of >/= 4 points by ADAS-Cog were 56.1% and 12.5% in the huperzine Alpha group and placebo group respectively (P = 0.000). The proportions of patients with an improvement of >/= 4 points by MMSE were 37.8% and 10.1% in the huperzine Alpha group and placebo group respectively (P = 0.000). The proportions of patients with an improvement of 1 approximately 3 points in global rating by CIBIC-plus were 59.2% and 40.6% in the huperzine Alpha group and placebo group respectively (P = 0.01). The proportions of patients with an improvement of >/= 10% points by ADL were 32.7% and 17.2% in the huperzine Alpha group and placebo group respectively (P = 0.01). The proportions of patients with an improvement of > 0 points by ADS-non-C0g were 70.0% and 36.3% in the huperzine Alpha group and placebo group respectively (P = 0.000). Mild and transient adverse events (edema of bilateral ankles and insomnia) were observed in 3% of huperzine Alpha treated patients. CONCLUSION: A safe and effective medicine, huperzine Alpha remarkably improves the cognition, behavior, ADL,and mood of AD patients.

[Working memory impairment in early Parkinson's disease patients].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the characteristics of working memory impairment in early Parkinson's disease (PD) patients and underlying neuropsychological and patho-physiological mechanisms. METHODS: Thirty PD cases and 30 normal controls (NCs) were tested with modified Smith's working memory software. RESULTS: The correct rate of coordinate working memory in PD cases was 71.2 +/- 11.0%, significantly lower than that in the NCs (81.9% +/- 10.8%, t =3.78, P < 0.001). The correct rate of categorical working memory was 94.8 +/- 5.7% in the PD cases, not significantly different from that in the NCs (96.6% +/- 3.8%, t =1.46, P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: There is visuo-spatial working memory impairment, mainly coordinate spatial working memory impairment, in early PD patients. The categorical spatial working memory is relatively intact in early PD. It is postulated that the different working memory subsystems apply for different neurocircuits.

Mirror writing of Chinese characters in patients with Parkinson's disease.

Thirty-five patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) and 35 normal subjects were investigated using handedness, the writing part of the Chinese Aphasic Examination Scale. All subjects were instructed to write with their left and right hands. Among them, 19 cases of PD and 19 controls were examined by intelligence, visuo-spatial perception and visual memory tests. Seven of the 35 PD patients (20.0%) and three out of 35 normal subjects (8.6%) showed mirror writing when they were asked to write with their left hand. The percentage of occurrence of mirror writing in PD patients was higher, but not statistically significant, and the degree of mirror writing more severe. Mirror writing in PD may be related to the PD per se, educational level and ageing. In the PD group, the intelligence of the seven cases with mirror writing was significantly lower than the others, but visuo-spatial perception and visual memory showed no significant difference except for the Stick-Frame Test. It is suggested that mirror writing in PD may be related to intelligence but not to visuo-spatial perception and visual memory. In this paper the classification criteria of mirror writing is suggested.