Enhancing the catalytic H2 production performance of magnetic Ni-Fe2O3-C catalyst in biomass steam gasification using electromagnetic induction heating.

In this study, a novel magnetic Ni-Fe2O3-C catalyst combined with electromagnetic induction heating in biomass steam gasification was proposed to enhance H2 production. Better catalytic performance for H2 production was observed with the Ni-Fe2O3-C catalyst under induction heating, resulting in an increase in H2 yield from 735.1 to 2271.2 mL/g-biomass (a 209.1 % enhancement). SEM, TGA and XRD analysis demonstrated a significant decrease in coking deposition, caking, and particle agglomeration of the Ni-Fe2O3-C catalyst under induction heating, while maintaining more active sites. Importantly, the benefits of induction heating were also applicable to different magnetic catalysts like Ni-Al2O3-C, Ni-ZrO2-C, and Ni-MgO-C. Experimental results revealed a logarithmic correlation between the increase in H2 yields due to induction heating and the magnetic saturation (Ms) of the catalysts. The Ni-Fe2O3-C catalyst, with a high Ms of 50.9 emu/g, showed the highest catalytic activity for H2 production under induction heating in this study.

ZIP14 is involved in iron deposition and triggers ferroptosis in diabetic nephropathy.

Ferroptosis is caused by lipid peroxidation and iron accumulation and can cause cell death. Abnormally expressed iron transporters are involved in ferroptosis in a variety of diseases. ZRT/IRT-like protein 14 (ZIP14) is a transport protein that can mediate cellular uptake of iron, zinc, and manganese. Herein, we have tested the hypothesis that the divalent metal transporter ZIP14 is involved in the initiation of ferroptosis in diabetic nephropathy (DN). DN was induced in 8-week-old male rats by streptozotocin before analysis of the degree of renal tubular injury. In addition, an in vitro model of DN in human kidney proximal tubular cell line was used. We showed that ZIP14 was up-regulated and ferrous iron (Fe2+) levels increased both in vivo and in vitro. Expression of glutathione peroxidase 4 and the level of glutathione were reduced, whereas that of malondialdehyde (MDA) increased. Ferrostatin-1 (Fer-1) treatment reduced the expression of ZIP14 and the levels of Fe2+ and MDA, which is consistent with ferroptosis. Fer-1 improved kidney function in DN rats. This was characterized by urine levels of protein-to-creatinine ratio, α1-microglobulin, and N-acetyl-ß-D-glucosaminidase. Our study demonstrates a novel role for ZIP14 in diabetic kidney injury mediated by ferroptosis, and suggests a potential new therapeutic approach for the treatment of diabetic nephropathy.

Do natural gas, oil, and coal consumption ameliorate environmental quality? Empirical evidence from Russia.

Environmental degradation stemming from the combustion of conventional energy sources is not only a major factor behind climate change but it also poses an adverse impact on human health. Undoubtedly, fossil fuels are major drivers of economic growth; however, their detrimental environmental impacts are of global concern. In the literature, there is no comprehensive empirical evidence on the linkage between the use of different energy sources and carbon dioxide emissions in the context of Russia, a nation that is ranked third in the list of the top carbon dioxide-emitting global countries. Hence, this paper aims to scrutinize the relationships between oil consumption, natural gas consumption, coal consumption, and carbon dioxide emissions controlling economic growth for Russia over the 1990-2016 period. The findings from the econometric analysis indicate that carbon dioxide emissions in Russia have long-run associations with economic growth and consumption of oil, gas, and coal. The long-run elasticity estimates reveal that economic growth is not directly harming Russia's environmental quality. However, higher oil, gas, and coal consumption degrades environmental quality by boosting the level of carbon dioxide emissions in Russia. In addition, the results from the Granger causality analysis confirm the existence of both long and short-term causal connections among the variables of concern. In line with these findings, several policy recommendations to address the environmental challenges in Russia are put forward.

Correlation between TNF-α -308 and +489 Gene Polymorphism and Acute Exacerbation of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Diseases.

Acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD) is becoming a common respiratory disease, leading to increased morbidity and mortality worldwide. Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) is a powerful proinflammatory cytokine involved in the pathogenesis of AECOPD. Therefore, we proposed a close correlation between the TNF-α polymorphism [-308G/A (rs1800629), +489G/A (rs1800610)] and the disease progress of patients with AECOPD. Comparison of the TNF-α genotypes between the 198 AECOPD diagnosed patients groups and 195 healthy peoples suggested their significant differences of the three genotypes (AA, GA, GG) distribution for TNF-α -308 (P < 0.05), but no differences of that for TNF-α +489. We found that patients with TNF-α -308 GA/AA genotypes showed smaller adjacent arterial diameter, thicker bronchial wall, higher bronchial artery ratio, higher bronchial wall grading, and higher frequency of acute exacerbations than those with TNF-α -308 GG genotype. Patients with TNF-α +489 GA/AA genotypes showed the same AECOPD properties as patients with TNF-α -308 except for the high frequency of acute exacerbations. Further experiment showed that the TNF-α -308 and+489 gene polymorphisms could affect the expression level of TNF-α in macrophages, suggesting the involvement of the macrophage population in disease regulation of AECOPD patients with TNF-α -308G/A and+489G/A genotype heterogeneity. In conclusion, the TNF-α -308 G/A genotype was related to AECOPD susceptibility and progress, while the TNF-α +489G/A genotype was related to AECOPD progress, but not AECOPD susceptibility.

Anticorrosive non-crystalline coating prepared by plasma electrolytic oxidation for ship low carbon steel pipes.

A corrosion-resistant non-crystalline coating was fabricated by plasma electrolytic oxidation (PEO) on Q235 low carbon steel for ship pipes. The distribution and composition of chemical elements and phases of PEO coatings were analyzed by an orthogonal experiment, and the formation mechanism of PEO coatings was discussed. The corrosion current densities and corrosion potentials were measured. The results indicated that the formation of a transition layer mainly containing Fe3O4 was crucial for achieving an excellent coating quality. Furthermore, the corrosion current density of coated steel was reduced by 78% compared with the bare steel.

YY1-induced lncRNA ZFPM2-AS1 facilitates cell proliferation and invasion in small cell lung cancer via upregulating of TRAF4.

BACKGROUND: Newly identified lncRNA zinc finger protein, FOG family member 2 antisense RNA 1 (ZFPM2-AS1) is identified as an oncogenic gene. However, the role of ZFPM2-AS1 in small cell lung cancer (SCLC) is poorly comprehended. METHODS: The expression of genes in SCLC tissues and cells was measured by qRT-PCR. Colony formation, EdU, CCK-8, transwell and wound healing as well as in vivo assays revealed the function of ZFPM2-AS1 in SCLC. ChIP, luciferase reporter, RIP and RNA pull down assays demonstrated the binding relation among genes. RESULTS: ZFPM2-AS1 was significantly upregulated in SCLC tissues and cells. ZFPM2-AS1 deficiency attenuated SCLC cell proliferation, invasion and migration. In addition, ZFPM2-AS1 was transcriptionally activated by Yin Yang 1 (YY1) factor. Further, miR-3612 was confirmed as downstream miRNA of ZFPM2-AS1. Moreover, TNF receptor associated factor 4 (TRAF4) was the target gene of miR-3612 in SCLC. ZFPM2-AS1, miR-3612 and TRAF4 jointly constituted a competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) network in SCLC. Finally, TRAF4 could countervail ZFPM2-AS1 downregulation-mediated function on SCLC cell proliferation and invasion in vitro and tumor growth in vivo. CONCLUSION: Our study elucidated the oncogenic effect of ZFPM2-AS1 in SCLC progression, indicating it may be a therapeutic target for SCLC.

lncRNA ZFPM2-AS1 promotes proliferation via miR-18b-5p/VMA21 axis in lung adenocarcinoma.

Lung cancer has been proved to be one of the most common kinds of cancers around the globe. Meanwhile, as the predominant type of lung cancer, lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) has received increasing attention in cancer research. Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) are known to be associated with oncogenesis and progression of various cancers. However, many lncRNAs have not been thoroughly detected in LUAD. In this study, through bioinformatics analysis we found that zinc finger protein multitype 2 antisense RNA 1 (ZFPM2-AS1) was associated with poor prognosis of LUAD patients. Also, ZFPM2-AS1 was detected to be overexpressed in LUAD tissues and cells. Furthermore, ZFPM2-AS1 could promote the proliferation of LUAD cells. Next, miR-18b-5p was found to bind with and negatively regulated by ZFPM2-AS1. VMA21, target gene of miR-18b-5p, could bind with and be negatively regulated by miR-18b-5p. More importantly, both ZFPM2-AS1 and VMA21 were found to be attached to the RNA-induced silencing complex constructed from miR-18b-5p and Ago2. Also, ZFPM2-AS1 could regulate the expression of VMA21. Therefore, ZFPM2-AS1 were confirmed to regulate VMA21 by competitively binding with miR-18b-5p. Finally, rescue assays confirmed that ZFPM2-AS1 could regulate LUAD cell proliferation via miR-18b-5p/VMA21 axis.

Compact linear polarization spectrometer based on radiation mode shaped in-fiber diffraction grating.

We propose a compact linear polarization spectrometer based on the in-fiber polarization-dependent diffraction grating. The beam profile of radiated light of the grating is shaped to be a Gaussian profile to improve the performance of the spectrometer, where the size of the focused light spot is reduced from 44 um to 33 um with the shaped radiation mode of the grating. Based on the experimental results, the proposed spectrometer can achieve 0.05 nm resolution and 115 nm wavelength responding range from 1495 nm to 1610 nm. To verify the performance of the proposed fiber spectrometer, we measure the transmission spectra of an excessively tilted fiber grating, which has a pair of orthogonal polarization transmission spectra. Compared with the traditional measuring method, the proposed fiber spectrometer integrates the polarizing and spectral analyzing functions in the measuring system and achieves the polarization-sensitive spectral analysis, which shows good wavelength consistency and perfect polarization characteristics.

A Case of Complete Remission from Advanced Gastric Adenocarcinoma with Synchronous Liver Metastasis in Response to EOX Chemotherapy.

Gastric cancer is a malignant tumor with a high degree of malignancy. Multiple liver metastases from gastric cancer (LMGCs) are common. However, the treatment of LMGCs is very difficult. It is rare to achieve complete remission (CR) and long-term survival after treatment. We present the case of a patient with gastric adenocarcinoma and multiple liver metastases who showed CR for more than 33 months after perioperative EOX (epirubicin, oxaliplatin, and capecitabine) combination chemotherapy with radical distal gastrectomy and resection of liver metastases. The patient is still in follow-up without tumor recurrence. These findings suggest that LMGC does not necessarily mean a poor prognosis; preoperative chemotherapy combined with surgery may be a good treatment option for LMGC in selected patients. Further studies are needed to support this treatment approach.

Interpenetrated Networks between Graphitic Carbon Infilling and Ultrafine TiO2 Nanocrystals with Patterned Macroporous Structure for High-Performance Lithium Ion Batteries.

Interpenetrated networks between graphitic carbon infilling and ultrafine TiO2 nanocrystals with patterned macropores (100-200 nm) were successfully synthesized. Polypyrrole layer was conformably coated on the primary TiO2 nanoparticles (∼8 nm) by a photosensitive reaction and was then transformed into carbon infilling in the interparticle mesopores of the TiO2 nanoparticles. Compared to the carbon/graphene supported TiO2 nanoparticles or carbon coated TiO2 nanostructures, the carbon infilling would provide a conductive medium and buffer layer for volume expansion of the encapsulated TiO2 nanoparticles, thus enhancing conductivity and cycle stability of the C-TiO2 anode materials for lithium ion batteries (LIBs). In addition, the macropores with diameters of 100-200 nm in the C-TiO2 anode and the mesopores in carbon infilling could improve electrolyte transportation in the electrodes and shorten the lithium ion diffusion length. The C-TiO2 electrode can provide a large capacity of 192.8 mA h g-1 after 100 cycles at 200 mA g-1, which is higher than those of the pure macroporous TiO2 electrode (144.8 mA h g-1), C-TiO2 composite electrode without macroporous structure (128 mA h g-1), and most of the TiO2 based electrodes in the literature. Importantly, the C-TiO2 electrode exhibits a high rate performance and still delivers a high capacity of ∼140 mA h g-1 after 1000 cycles at 1000 mA g-1 (∼5.88 C), suggesting good lithium storage properties of the macroporous C-TiO2 composites with high capacity, cycle stability, and rate capability. This work would be instructive for designing hierarchical porous TiO2 based anodes for high-performance LIBs.

[Relationship between gene polymorphisms of tumor necrosis factor-α-308 and phenotypes of acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the relationship between gene polymorphisms of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α)-308 and phenotypes of acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases (AECOPD). METHODS: 198 AECOPD cases in the Minhang Hospital of Shanghai were recruited into the patient group, and 195 healthy people were recruited into the control group. PCR and sequencing method were used to detect the polymorphism of TNF-α-308 in all the people. RESULTS: Three genotypes with GG, GA and AA were detected in the 2 groups. The frequencies of GG/GA/AA genotype in AECOPD group were 87.4%, 10.6% and 2.0% respectively, and the control group were 95.4%, 4.6% and 0 respectively. The differences of the genotypes between AECOPD and health control were statistically significant (P<0.05). The frequencies of G and A were 92.7% and 7.3% in the AECOPD group, 97.7% and 2.3% in the control group. The differences were statistically significant (P<0.05). Dyspnea, smoke index and the increased thickness of bronchial wall in lung HRCT were the clinical features in patients with the TNF-α-308 genotype of GA/AA. CONCLUSION: There is correlation between genetic predisposition of AECOPD and TNF-α-308 genotype of GA/ AA. Clinical dyspnea, smoke index and increased thickness of bronchial wall are the chief clinical features in patients with genotype of GA/AA.

Mid-infrared passively switched pulsed dual wavelength Ho(3+)-doped fluoride fiber laser at 3 µm and 2 µm.

Cascade transitions of rare earth ions involved in infrared host fiber provide the potential to generate dual or multiple wavelength lasing at mid-infrared region. In addition, the fast development of saturable absorber (SA) towards the long wavelengths motivates the realization of passively switched mid-infrared pulsed lasers. In this work, by combing the above two techniques, a new phenomenon of passively Q-switched ~3 µm and gain-switched ~2 µm pulses in a shared cavity was demonstrated with a Ho(3+)-doped fluoride fiber and a specifically designed semiconductor saturable absorber (SESAM) as the SA. The repetition rate of ~2 µm pulses can be tuned between half and same as that of ~3 µm pulses by changing the pump power. The proposed method here will add new capabilities and more flexibility for generating mid-infrared multiple wavelength pulses simultaneously that has important potential applications for laser surgery, material processing, laser radar, and free-space communications, and other areas.

catena-Poly[[[tetra-aqua-iron(II)]-µ-5,5'-diazenediylditetra-zolido] dihydrate].

In the title compound, {[Fe(C(2)N(10))(H(2)O)(4)]·2H(2)O}(n), the coordin-ation geometry around the Fe(II) atom, which lies on a center of inversion, is distorted octa-hedral, with bonds to four O atoms and two N atoms. The azotetra-zolate ligand displays a bridging coordination mode, forming an infinite zigzag chain. Inter-molecular O-H⋯O and O-H⋯N hydrogen bonding and offset face-to-face π-π stacking inter-actions [centroid-centroid distance = 3.4738 (13) Å] lead to a three-dimensional network.

Clinical research of Olanzapine for prevention of chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting.

BACKGROUND: This study was designed to mainly evaluate the activity and safety of olanzapine compared with 5-hydroxytryptamine 3(5-HT3) receptor antagonists for prevention of chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting(CINV) in patients receiving highly or moderately emetogenic chemotherapy (HEC or MEC). The second goal was to evaluate the impact of olanzapine on quality of life (QoL) of cancer patients during the period of chemotherapy. METHODS: 229 patients receiving highly or moderately emetogenic chemotherapy were randomly assigned to the test group [olanzapine(O) 10 mg p.o. plus azasetron (A) 10 mg i.v. and dexamethasone (D) 10 mg i.v. on day 1; O 10 mg once a day on days 2-5] or the control group (A 10 mg i.v. and D 10 mg i.v. on day 1; D 10 mg i.v. once a day on days 2-5). All the patients filled the observation table of CINV once a day on days 1-5, patients were instructed to fill the EORTC QLQ-C30 QoL observation table on day 0 and day 6. The primary endpoint was the complete response (CR) (without nausea and vomiting, no rescue therapy) for the acute period (24 h postchemotherapy), delayed period (days 2-5 postchemotherapy), the whole period (days 1-5 postchemotherapy). The second endpoint was QoL during chemotherapy administration, drug safety and toxicity. RESULTS: 229 patients were evaluable for efficacy. Compared with control group, complete response for acute nausea and vomiting in test group had no difference (p > 0.05), complete response for delayed nausea and vomiting in patients with highly emetogenic chemotherapy respectively improved 39.21% (69.64% versus 30.43%, p < 0.05), 22.05% (78.57% versus 56.52%, p < 0.05), complete response for delayed nausea and vomiting in patients with moderately emetogenic chemotherapy respectively improved 25.01% (83.07% versus 58.06%, p < 0.05), 13.43% (89.23% versus 75.80%, p < 0.05), complete response for the whole period of nausea and vomiting in patients with highly emetogenic chemotherapy respectively improved 41.38% (69.64% versus 28.26%, p < 0.05), 22.05% (78.57% versus 56.52%, p < 0.05), complete response for the whole period of nausea and vomiting in patients with moderately emetogenic chemotherapy respectively improved 26.62% (83.07% versus 56.45%, p < 0.05), 13.43% (89.23% versus 75.80%, p < 0.05). 214 of 299 patients were evaluable for QoL. Comparing test group with control group in QoL evolution, significant differences were seen in global health status, emotional functioning, social functioning, fatigue, nausea and vomiting, insomnia and appetite loss evolution in favour of the test group (p < 0.01). Both treatments were well tolerated. CONCLUSION: Olanzapine can improve the complete response of delayed nausea and vomiting in patients receiving the highly or moderately emetogenic chemotherapy comparing with the standard therapy of antiemesis, as well as improve the QoL of the cancer patients during chemotherapy administration. Olanzapine is a safe and efficient drug for prevention of CINV.

Enhancing plant uptake of polychlorinated biphenyls and cadmium using tea saponin.

The potential of natural surfactant tea saponin to enhance uptake of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and cadmium (Cd) by Zea Mays L. and Saccharum officinarum L. was investigated. With addition of tea saponin at 0.01% in solution culture, the concentrations of PCB 14, PCB 18, PCB 77 and PCB 156 in root of corn seedling were 2.72, 2.68, 1.94 and 2.40 times as those of treatments without adding any surfactant, respectively. Application of tea saponin to the soil significantly elevated PCB 5 accumulation in shoots and roots (p<0.05) by sugarcanes. With addition of 0.3% tea saponin, Cd concentration was increased by 96.9% in roots, 156.8% in stems and 30.1% in leaves compared with the treatment without addition of surfactant in sugarcane grown in soil. Tea saponin had potential of assisting the uptake of PCBs and Cd by plants from water solution and soil.