Designing Heteroatom-Codoped Iron Metal-Organic Framework for Promotional Photoreduction of Carbon Dioxide to Ethylene.

Rational engineering active sites and vantage defects of catalysts are promising but grand challenging task to enhance photoreduction CO2 to high value-added C2 products. In this study, we designed an N,S-codoped Fe-based MIL-88B catalyst with well-defined bipyramidal hexagonal prism morphology via a facile and effective process, which was synthesized by addition of appropriate 1,2-benzisothiazolin-3-one (BIT) and acetic acid to the reaction solution. Under simulated solar irradiation, the designed catalyst exhibits high C2 H4 evolution yield of 17.7 µmol g-1 ⋅h, which has been rarely achieved in photocatalytic CO2 reduction process. The synergistic effect of Fe-N coordinated sites and reasonable defects in the N,S-codoped photocatalyst can accelerate the migration of photogenerated carriers, resulting in high electron density, and this in turn helps to facilitate the formation and dimerization of C-C coupling intermediates for C2 H4 effectively.

Successive Phase Transitions and Dual Dielectric Switching in an Organic-Inorganic Hybrid Perovskite.

Molecular phase transition compounds have become a hot research area in recent years because of their potential as functional materials, such as ferroelectrics, ferroelastics, dielectric switches, etc. However, materials combining switchable dielectric properties and ferroelasticity are still rare. Here, we reported an organic-inorganic hybrid perovskite, [CPtmp][Cd(SCN)3] (1) ([CPtmp]+ is a cyclopentyltrimethylphosphonium cation), with a potential ferroelastic property. This material undergoes three structural phase transitions at 247/226, 335/312, and 349/341 K (upon heating/cooling). The successive phase transitions are mainly caused by the stepwise ordering of [CPtmp]+ cations and the concomitant deformation of [Cd(SCN)3]- anionic chains revealed by structural analyses, which triggers the double-step dielectric switching in 1 as well. These results would inspire further exploration on molecular dielectric switches with ferroelastic properties.

Inadequate pregnancy-specific knowledge among patients with inflammatory bowel disease: A multicenter survey in China.

OBJECTIVES: The perceptions and attitudes of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients towards pregnancy may affect their fertility plan and disease progression. We performed a nationwide multicenter survey of pregnancy-related knowledge among gastroenterologists and IBD patients in China to investigate whether specific educational interventions could improve their understanding and broadly influence fertility plan. METHODS: A cross-sectional questionnaire regarding pregnancy-specific knowledge was carried out among 63 IBD centers in China. Questionnaires were collected from 185 physicians and 609 patients. The patients then received education regarding pregnancy during IBD and filled in the same questionnaire again. Their knowledge regarding pregnancy during IBD was compared before and after education. RESULTS: Compared to physicians, patients' knowledge regarding fertility (39.1% vs 70.8%), imaging examinations (22.8% vs 72.4%), endoscopy performed during pregnancy (19.9% vs 71.4%), and vaccination for infants (16.6% vs 46.5%) was significantly more limited (all P < 0.001). There was a lack of knowledge among gastroenterologists regarding the delivery mode (36.8%), medications (36.8%), and emergency surgery (26.5%) during pregnancy in patients with IBD. After education, the patients showed significant improvement in knowledge regarding medications (26.7% vs 51.7%), fertility (45.0% vs 63.3%), heritability (40.0% vs 58.3%), indications for emergency surgery (15.0% vs 53.3%), imaging examinations during pregnancy (20.0% vs 40.0%), and vaccinations for infants (26.7% vs 45.0%) (all P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Pregnancy-specific IBD knowledge needs to be improved among certain gastroenterologists and patients in China. Educational interventions can partially improve the knowledge levels of the patients.

Slow magnetic relaxation in mononuclear octa-coordinate Fe(II) and Co(II) complexes from a Bpybox ligand.

Two 3d transition metal mononuclear complexes, [(FeL2)(ClO4)2]2·CH3CN (1) and (CoL2)(ClO4)2·2CH3CN (2), have been prepared from a rigid tetradentate bpybox (L = 6,6'-bis(2,5-dihydrooxazol-4-yl)-2,2'-bipyridine) ligand. Single crystal X-ray diffraction analyses together with the help of calculations show that both compounds are octa-coordinate. Direct current magnetic studies reveal their significant magnetic anisotropy. Impressively, field-induced relaxation of magnetism is observed in the two complexes and the apparent anisotropy barriers are 14.1 K for 1 and 21.6 K for 2, respectively. Theoretical calculations reveal that two Fe(II) centers in 1 have small negative D values of -4.897 and -4.825 cm-1 and relatively small E values of 0.646 and 0.830 cm-1, indicating a uniaxial magnetic anisotropy. In contrast, the D and E values in the Co(II) center of 2 are 46.42 cm-1 and 11.51 cm-1, featuring a rhombic anisotropy. This work demonstrates that field-induced slow magnetic relaxation in 3d transition metal complexes with high coordination numbers can be manipulated through rigid ligand design.

E-cadherin, as a negative regulator of invasive behavior of human trophoblast cells, is down-regulated by cyclosporin A via epidermal growth factor/extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase signaling pathway.

Our previous study has demonstrated cyclosporin A (CsA) promotes the invasiveness of human first-trimester trophoblast cells. In the present study, we further investigated the intracellular signaling pathway responsible for the improvements in CsA-induced invasiveness of human trophoblast cells. We showed that CsA down-regulated E-cadherin transcription and translation in human primary cultured trophoblast cells and choriocarcinoma cell line JEG-3. U0126, an inhibitor of extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase (ERK), attenuated the CsA-induced transcriptional repressor SNAI2 (also called Slug) expression and restored E-cadherin expression inhibited by CsA in JEG-3 cells. We further demonstrated that CsA amplified epidermal growth factor (EGF)-stimulated EGF receptor (EGFR) tyrosine phosphorylation in JEG-3 cells, and inhibition of EGFR tyrosine phosphorylation by AG1478, an EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitor, abolished the down-regulation of E-cadherin by CsA through ERK signaling pathway. Moreover, our data showed that E-cadherin expression was negatively correlated to the invasiveness of JEG-3 cells, and CsA could reverse the decreased invasiveness of JEG-3 cells that resulted from E-cadherin overexpression. In conclusion, these observations indicate that CsA may decrease E-cadherin expression via EGFR/ERK signaling pathway and, ultimately, contribute to the invasiveness improvement of human trophoblast cells.

[Protective effects of autophagy against oxidized LDL-induced injury in endothelial cells].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the role of autophagy in oxidized low density lipoprotein (ox-LDL) induced injury of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC). METHODS: The cultured HUVECs were randomly divided into four groups of control, ox-LDL, ox-LDL + rapamycin and ox + 3-methyladenine (3-MA). The cells were used to detect the ratio of LC3-II/LC3-I by Western blot while the proliferation and apoptosis of cells measured by MTT and flow cytometry. The lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activity and endothelin-1 (ET-1) content in the supernatant were detected with enzyme linked immunosorbent assay. RESULTS: The Ox-LDL treatment up-regulated the ratio of LC3-II/LC3-I in HUVEC (P < 0.01). It increased the activity of LDH (P < 0.01)and content of ET-1 (P < 0.05) in the supernatant. Also it induced the proliferation (P = 0.028) and apoptosis (P < 0.05) of cells. The autophagic inducer rapamycin increased the up-regulation of autophagic level induced by ox-LDL, decreased the activity of LDH and content of ET-1 (P < 0.05) and inhibited the ox-LDL-induced proliferation of cells. Conversely, the autophagic inhibitor 3-MA decreased the elevation of LC3-II/LC3-I induced by ox-LDL (P < 0.01) and increased the cell apoptosis and death. CONCLUSION: Ox-LDL exposure can increase the secretion of LDH and ET-1 and induce the proliferation and apoptosis of cells so as to cause a harmful effect in the survival of HUVEC. The injury may be reduced by rapamycin, an autophagic inducer, and elevated by the autophagic inhibitor 3-MA.

[Transient UV absorption spectra of artemisinin reacting with sodium hydroxide].

UV absorption spectrum of artemisinin and transient absorption spectra of various concentrations of artemisinin reacting with sodium hydroxide were measured by using an intensified spectroscopic detector ICCD. The exposure time of each spectrum was 0.1 ms. Results indicate that artemisinin has an obvious UV absorption band centered at 212.52 nm and can react with sodium hydroxide easily. All absorption spectra of different concentrations of artemisinin reacting with sodium hydroxide have the similar changes, but the moment at which the changes happened is different. After adding sodium hydroxide into artemisinin in ethanol solution, there was a new absorption band centered at 288 nm appearing firstly. As reaction went on, the intensity of another absorption band centered at 260 nm increased gradually. At the end of the reaction, a continuous absorption band from 200 to 350 nm with the peak at 245 nm formed finally. No other transient absorption spectral data are available on the reaction of artemisinin with sodium hydroxide currently. The new spectral information obtained in this experiment provides very important experimental basis for understanding the properties of artemisinin reacting with alkaline medium and is useful for correctly using of artemisinin as a potential anticancer drug.

[Time resolved UV-Vis absorption spectra of quercetin reacting with various concentrations of sodium hydroxide].

A real time investigation of chemical reaction process of quercetin with various concentrations of sodium hydroxide was performed by using an intensified spectroscopic detector ICCD. The time resolved UV-Vis absorption spectra of 5 x 10(-5) mol x L(-1) quercetin respectively reacting with sodium hydroxide at concentrations of 2, 0.2, 0.1, 0.04 and 0.02 mol x L(-1) were acquired. A total of 200 spectra with the same exposure time of 0.1 ms for each spectrum but different time interval between two consecutive spectra were recorded for each reaction. The first 50 spectra have the time interval of 20 ms, the next 50 have 1 s, and the last 100 have 2 s. Results indicate that quercetin reacted with sodium hydroxide easily and there was an intermediate product formed during the reaction, with different concentrations of reactants, the changes of absorption bands were the same, but the moments at which the changes happened were different and the total reaction time was various from 1 s to 100 s. Spectra recorded showed the disappearing process of the typical bands centered at 254 and 374 nm of pure quercetin, the growing and disappearing processes of a new band centered at 427 nm of the intermediate product, and the growing process of the new band centered at 314 nm of the final product obviously. No other transient spectroscopic data are currently available on the reaction of quercrtin with sodium hydroxide, the results obtained in the present work provide useful experimental data for the study of the microscopic process of the reaction.

[Measurement and analysis of nanometer particles of silica and carbon black by diffuse reflection FTIR spectra].

By using FTIR-FTS3000 spectrometer and infrared diffuse reflection accessory, the spectra of the nanometer particles of silica, carbon black and their blends with different weight ratio were collected and characterized. It was found from the measured results that blue-shift and broadening phenomenon occurred in the nanometer particle materials in comparison with the mass ones. These phenomena could be explained by the little size effect and quantum size effect. No perfect spectrum could be collected because of the strong absorbance of the nanometer particle materials. For the blends of silica and carbon black there was a maximum absorption corresponding to the critical concentration, where the weight ratio of silica to carbon black was 100 : 20, and below this ratio the relationship between the function F(R) and the concentration obeyed Lambert-Beer's law. Above this ratio, the absorbance will not increase with increasing the proportion of the carbon black in the system.

[Time resolved UV-Vis absorption spectra in synthetic process of quercetin complex with Al3+].

With a deuterium light source was used to provide the continuous light, the time resolved UV-Vis absorption spectra in the synthetic process of quercetin complex with Al3+ were measured by using an intensified ICCD spectroscopic detector. The measuing system was controlled synchronously by using a digital delay generator DG535. A total of 50 spectra with the exposure time of 1 micros for each spectrum and the time interval of 20 ms between two successional spectra were acquired. Results showed clearly that the typical bands centered at 254 and 374 nm of quercetin disappeared at 40 ms after the reaction started; at the same time, an absorption band centered at 384 nm of a transitional product appeared, and the typical absorption band centered at 300 nm of Al3+ still existed; with the reaction progressing, the bands of the transitional product and Al3+ disappeared, and the new bands centered at 267 and 436 nm of the complex of quercetin with Al3+ appeared and became stronger gradually; at 980 ms, the typical absorption band of Al3+ disappeared completely and the two typical absorption bands of the complex increased to the strongest. The synthetic reaction of quercetin complex with Al3+ finished within one second. The process of Al3+ being scavenged is shown in the spectra obviously. The prensent results provide experimental evidence for the Al3+ scavenging ability of quercetin.

Perimenopausal syndrome and mood disorders in perimenopause: prevalence, severity, relationships, and risk factors.

Limited information was focused on perimenopausal syndrome and mood disorders (depression and anxiety) in a specific population: perimenopausal women. We aimed to investigate the prevalence and severity of perimenopausal syndrome and mood disorders, and to analyze their relationships and risk factors in perimenopausal women in Shanghai, China.A cross-sectional study was performed on 1062 women aged 40 to 60 years from 3 communities. The general conditions questionnaire, Kupperman index, self-rating depression scale, and self-rating anxiety scale were used. A multivariable logistic regression analysis was performed to identify risk factors for perimenopausal syndrome and mood disorders.The prevalence of perimenopausal syndrome, depression and anxiety, which were primarily associated with mild symptoms, was 10.92%, 25.99%, and 12.62%, respectively. The differences in the prevalence and severity of perimenopausal syndrome, in the prevalence of depression, and in the severity of anxiety in different age groups were statistically significant (P < 0.001, P = 0.028, P = 0.003, P = 0.002, respectively). The relationships between perimenopausal syndrome and mood disorders were strong and positive (P < 0.001). It was found that age, employment status, personality characteristics, menstruation, and constipation were risk factors for perimenopausal syndrome, but monthly household income was a protective factor. Also, higher income and better medical insurance were beneficial to depression. However, disharmonious family relationships, irregular menstruation, constipation, and severity of perimenopausal syndrome were harmful to depression. For anxiety, attitudes to children status, cesarean section times, and constipation were risk factors.We concluded that perimenopausal syndrome and mood disorders are common in perimenopausal women in Shanghai, whose associations are strong and positive. Many risk factors are associated with and shared between perimenopausal syndrome and mood disorders. Therefore, appropriate management of perimenopause is needed to alleviate the conditions.

[The measurement and analysis of visible-absorption spectrum and fluorescence spectrum of lycopene].

Using ICCD spectral detection system, the absorbency of lycopene-carbon bisulfide solution with different concentration was measured, and the result shows that in a specified range the absorption rule of lycopene solution agrees with Lambert-Beer Law. Absorption spectral wavelength shifts were measured respectively when lycopene was dissolved in acetone, normal hexane, petroleum ether, benzene, ethyl acetate, and carbon bisulfide, and comparing to acetone, different red-shift appeared when lycopene was dissolved in benzene, ethyl acetate, and carbon bisulfide when water was added in lycopene-acetone solution, t he absorbency of lycopene dropped, the fine structure of absorption spectrum became indistinct, and a new absorption peak appeared in UV. The reason for these phenomena is that the solvent molecule had different effect on lycopene molecule when lycopene was dissolved in different solvent. Using fluorecence spectrophotometer, fluorescence spectra of lycopene in different concentrations were collected, and the results show that the fluorescence spectra of lycopene were mainly in 500-680 nm. When concentration was lower than 50 microg x mL(-1), the fluorescence intensity linearly increased with increasing concentration, and when concentration was higher than 60 microg x mL(-1), the fluorescence intensity dropped because of the interaction between lycopene molecules.

Solubilisation of Phosphate and Micronutrients by Trichoderma harzianum and Its Relationship with the Promotion of Tomato Plant Growth.

Trichoderma harzianum strain SQR-T037 is a biocontrol agent that has been shown to enhance the uptake of nutrients (macro- and microelements) by plants in fields. The objective of this study was to investigate the contribution of SQR-T037 to P and microelement (Fe, Mn, Cu and Zn) nutrition in tomato plants grown in soil and in hydroponic conditions. Inoculation with SQR-T037 significantly improved the biomass and nutrient uptake of tomato seedlings grown in a nutrient-limiting soil. So we investigated the capability of SQR-T037 to solubilise sparingly soluble minerals in vitro via four known mechanisms: acidification by organic acids, chelation by siderophores, redox by ferric reductase and hydrolysis by phytase. SQR-T037 was able to solubilise phytate, Fe2O3, CuO, and metallic Zn but not Ca3(PO4)2 or MnO2. Organic acids, including lactic acid, citric acid, tartaric acid and succinic acid, were detected by HPLC and LC/MS in two Trichoderma cultures. Additionally, we inoculated tomato seedlings with SQR-T037 using a hydroponic system with specific nutrient deficiencies (i.e., nutrient solutions deficient in P, Fe, Cu or Zn and supplemented with their corresponding solid minerals) to better study the effects of Trichoderma inoculation on plant growth and nutrition. Inoculated seedlings grown in Cu-deficient hydroponic conditions exhibited increases in dry plant biomass (92%) and Cu uptake (42%) relative to control plants. However, we did not observe a significant effect on seedling biomass in plants grown in the Fe- and Zn-deficient hydroponic conditions; by contrast, the biomass decreased by 82% in the P-deficient hydroponic condition. Thus, we demonstrated that Trichoderma SQR-T037 competed for P (phytate) and Zn with tomato seedlings by suppressing root development, releasing phytase and/or chelating minerals. The results of this study suggest that the induction of increased or suppressed plant growth occurs through the direct effect of T. harzianum on root development, in combination with indirect mechanisms, such as mineral solubilisation (including solubilisation via acidification, redox, chelation and hydrolysis).

[UV-vis spectroscopic characterization of inclusion compounds of beta-cyclodextrin with lycopene].

Water-soluble inclusion compounds of beta-cyclodextrin with lycopene were prepared by two methods: (1) complexation in solution and (2) complexation by kneading. It was found that UV-Vis spectra of the inclusion complexes in water are different from those of lycopene in water-miscible organic solvents (tetrahydrofuran) and beta-cyclodextrin in water, which confirms the formation of the inclusion complexes. Specific interactions of lycopene and beta-cyclodextrin cause great changes in absorbance maximum (lambdamax) of lycopene. It is considered that the inclusion complexes in water are formed as supermolecular aggregates with nanometer size, after card-pack type lycopene is included by beta-cyclodextrin in molecular level.

[Effects of thinning on fine-root morphology, biomass and N concentration of different branch orders of Chinese fir].

Taking a 25-year old Chinese fir (Cunninghamia lanceolata) plantation as the object, this paper studied the effects of thinning on the biomass, morphological traits, and nitrogen concentration of the first five orders roots. With the increase of root order (from the first to the fifth order), there was a significant increase in the fine-root biomass, diameter, and tissue density, and a significantly decrease in the specific root length (SRL), root length density (RLD), and root number (RN). Thinning increased the biomass, RLD, and RN of the first and second orders roots as well as the tissue density of the first, third, fourth, and fifth orders roots significantly, but had no effects on the SRL and nitrogen concentration of each order root. In contrast, thinning decreased the diameter of the first, third, and fourth orders roots significantly. The diameter of the second order roots was obviously smaller in surface (0-10 cm) soil than in subsurface (10-20 cm) soil, while the RLD of the first three orders roots and the RN and nitrogen concentration of the first two orders roots were larger in surface soil than in subsurface soil. The interaction of thinning and soil layer only decreased the diameter of the first two orders roots. It was suggested that the fine-root biomass and morphological traits of Chinese fir were closely related to the vegetation growth and regeneration after thinning.

Oral fibrinogen-depleting agent lumbrokinase for secondary ischemic stroke prevention: results from a multicenter, randomized, parallel-group and controlled clinical trial.

BACKGROUND: Elevated fibrinogen (Fg) level is a known risk factor for ischemic stroke. There are few clinical trials on oral fibrinogen-depleting therapies for secondary ischemic stroke prevention. We aimed to assess the effects of one-year therapy with oral lumbrokinase enteric-coated capsules on secondary ischemic stroke prevention. METHODS: This is a multicenter, randomized, parallel group and controlled study that began treatment in hospitalized patients with ischemic stroke and continued for 12 months. Patients were randomized to either the control group that received the standard stroke treatment or the fibrinogen-depleting group that received the standard stroke treatment plus enteric-coated lumbrokinase capsules. The NIH Stroke Scale scores (NIHSSs) and plasma Fg level were recorded. The carotid artery intima-media thickness (IMT) and status of plaques were examined through carotid ultrasound examination. Primary outcomes included all-cause mortality, any event of recurrent ischemic stroke/transient ischemic attack (TIA), hemorrhagic stroke, myocardial infarction and angina, and other noncerebral ischemia or hemorrhage. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis and the Long-rank test were used to compare total vascular end point incidence between the two groups. Comparison of median values between two groups was done by the Student t test, one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), or non-parametric rank sum test. RESULTS: A total of 310 patients were enrolled, 192 patients in the treatment group and 118 patients in the control group. Compared to the control group, the treatment group showed favorable outcomes in the Fg level, carotid IMT, the detection rate of vulnerable plaques, the volume of carotid plaques, NIHSS scores, and incidence of total vascular (6.78% and 2.08%, respectively) and cerebral vascular events (5.93% and 1.04%, respectively) (P < 0.05). In the treatment group, the volume of carotid plaques was significantly related to the carotid IMT, the plaque diameter, width and number (P = 0.000, 0.000, 0.000, 0.022; F = 13.51, 2.52, 11.33, -3.29, but there was a weak correlation with the Fg level (P = 0.056). After 1-year therapy, the incidence of overall vascular end points was reduced by 4.7%. CONCLUSION: Long-term oral fibrinogen-depleting therapy may be beneficial for secondary ischemic stroke prevention.

Monolayers of mixture of alkylaminomethyl rutin and lecithin at the air/water interface.

A compound of flavonol-based biosurfactant, as C(8)-substituted alkylaminomethyl rutin (DAMR) for a potential pharmaceutical or agrochemical use, was prepared experimentally. The surface behavior of DAMR and its mixture with lecithin from soybean (SL) had been studied. DAMR, regarded as a pseudo-amphoteric character, exhibits both liquid-condensed (LC) and liquid-expanded (LE) phases while SL is in the form of the LE phase only. The phase parameters of DAMR (including A(limt), pi(coll)) are observed to strongly depend on both the subphase temperature and the pH, which regulate the degree of ionization. In addition, the observed positive deviation calculated from excess Gibbs free energies of the DAMR-SL system suggests a repulsive interaction between DAMR and SL at all X(DAMR) values. Also the interaction parameter is found to increase linearly with surface pressure, regardless of composition. Notably, the relationship of logarithmic activity coefficient vs. X(DAMR)(2) reveals that the molecular interaction of DAMR-SL can be adequately simulated using a simple regular mixture model. Importantly, lower C(S)(-1) values of this mixture than those with pure DAMR and SL denote weak elasticity of mixed monolayers with values of X(DAMR) of 0.2-0.8, indicating that the direct addition of DAMR may exert a somewhat adverse influence on SL membranes.