High Dielectric Poly(vinylidene fluoride)-Based Polymer Enables Uniform Lithium-Ion Transport in Solid-State Ionogel Electrolytes.

Ionic liquids (ILs)-incorporated solid-state polymer electrolytes (iono-SPEs) have high ionic conductivities but show non-uniform Li+ transport in different phases. This work greatly promotes Li+ transport in polymer phases by employing a poly (vinylidene fluoride-trifluoroethylene-chlorotrifluoroethylene) [P(VDF-TrFE-CTFE), PTC] as the framework of ILs to prepare iono-SPEs. Unlike PVDF, PTC with suitable polarity shows weaker adsorption energy on IL cations, reducing their possibility of occupying Li+ -hopping sites. The significantly higher dielectric constant of PTC than PVDF facilitates the dissociation of Li-anions clusters. These two factors motivate Li+ transport along PTC chains, narrowing the difference in Li+ transport among varied phases. The LiFePO4 /PTC iono-SPE/Li cells cycle steadily with capacity retention of 91.5 % after 1000 cycles at 1 C and 25 °C. This work paves a new way to induce uniform Li+ flux in iono-SPEs through polarity and dielectric design of polymer matrix.

Label-Free Ratiometric Upconversion Nanoprobe for Spatiotemporal pH Mapping in Living Cells.

Sensing and imaging pH inside living cells are of paramount importance for better penetrating cellular functions and disease diagnostics. Herein, we engineered an original pH sensor by a simple one-step self-assembly of poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG)ylated phospholipid (DSPE-PEG) and a phenol red small molecule on the surface of upconversion nanoparticles (UCNPs) to form a phospholipid monolayer for sensing and imaging the change of intracellular pH. The sensor showed excellent reversibility and rapid response to the pH variations. Furthermore, this pH sensing system could measure spatial and temporal pH changes during endocytosis and interrogate the pH fluctuations inside cells under external stimuli. Our experimental results revealed that the pH sensor was able to map spatial and temporal pH fluctuations inside living cells, showing its potential application in diagnostics and pH-related study of cell biology.

Insights into graphene oxide/ferrihydrite adsorption as pretreatment during ultrafiltration: Membrane fouling mitigation and disinfection by-product control.

In this study, a novel adsorbent of graphene oxide (GO) incorporated ferrihydrite (FH) was fabricated and integrated with ultrafiltration (UF) to remove natural organic matter (NOM), the crucial cause of membrane fouling and major precursor of disinfection by-products (DBPs). Compared with FH and powdered activated carbon (PAC), GO/FH exhibited superior removal for high molecular weight (HMW) humic- and fulvic-like substances and low molecular weight (LMW) protein. The cake layer formed by GO/FH alleviated the deposition of NOM on membrane surface or inside membrane pores. Therefore, GO/FH reduced 89% and 95% total fouling resistance and irreversible membrane resistance, respectively, together with the lowest increment of transmembrane pressure. Pearson correlation analysis indicated that DOC, rather than specific ultraviolet absorbance (SUVA) and UV254, was significantly correlated to the formation of trihalomethanes (THMs) and haloacetic acids (HAAs) when SUVA was below 4 L/mg-C.m. Whilst the HMW NOM (1-20 kDa) was highly related to dibromochloromethane (DBCM) (r = 0.98-1), the LMW fraction (< 1 kDa) was correlated with dibromochloromethane (TCAA) and dichloroacetic acid (DCAA) (r = 0.88-0.98). Inspiringly, GO/FH-UF reduced 90% of carbonaceous DBPs, the concentrations of which well met the WHO Guidelines. In summary, GO/FH-UF substantially alleviated membrane fouling and dramatically reduced DBP formation potential.

Room temperature synthesis of K2Mo3O10x3H2O nanowires in minutes.

Polyoxometalates have been widely used in the fields of catalysis, analytical chemistry, biochemistry, medicine and synthesis of novel organic-inorganic materials. It is difficult to synthesize pure polymolybdate products from a solution because several kinds of molybdenum-based anions may coexist. As a result, varied acidification methods are commonly used for solution synthesis of polymolybdates. In this paper we report an approach for the synthesis of [001]-oriented K(2)Mo(3)O(10)x3H(2)O nanowires from an aqueous solution of (NH(4))(6)Mo(7)O(24)x4H(2)O and KCl at low temperatures. The reaction occurs even at temperatures as low as 0 degrees C, and at 30-90 degrees C the whole procedure needs only a few minutes. Without any additional acidification treatments, the pH value of the solution is maintained in a narrow range of +/- 0.1 between 4.9 and 5.5 during the whole synthesis procedure. The starting pH depends on the reaction temperature. Crystalline structure and purity of the final products have been characterized with x-ray diffraction, electron diffraction and dehydration measurements. This simple and rapid method provides a unique case for studying the growth mechanism of polymolybdate nanostructures, and has a promising potential in the mass production of low-cost, pure-phase polymolybdates for a variety of applications.

Soft tissue release combined with joint-sparing osteotomy for treatment of cavovarus foot deformity in older children: Analysis of 21 cases.

BACKGROUND: Cavovarus foot is a common form of foot deformity in children, which is clinically characterized by an abnormal increase of the longitudinal arch of the foot, and it can be simultaneously complicated with forefoot pronation and varus, rearfoot varus, Achilles tendon contracture, or cock-up toe deformity. Muscle force imbalance is the primary cause of such deformity. Many diseases can lead to muscle force imbalance, such as tethered cord syndrome, cerebral palsy, Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease, and trauma. At present, many surgical treatments are available for cavovarus foot. For older children, priority should be given to midfoot osteotomy and fusion. Since complications such as abnormal foot length, foot stiffness, and abnormal gait tend to develop postoperatively, it is important to preserve the joints and correct the deformity as much as possible. Adequate soft tissue release and muscle balance are the keys to correcting the deformity and avoiding its postoperative recurrence. AIM: To assess the efficacy of soft tissue release combined with joint-sparing osteotomy in the treatment of cavovarus foot deformity in older children. METHODS: The clinical data of 21 older children with cavovarus foot deformity (28 feet) who were treated surgically at the Ninth Department of Orthopedics of Jizhong Energy Xingtai Mining Group General Hospital from November 2014 to July 2017 were retrospectively analyzed. The patients ranged in age from 10 to 14 years old, with an average age of 12.46 ± 1.20 years. Their main clinical manifestations were deformity, pain, and gait abnormality. The patients underwent magnetic resonance imaging of the lumbar spine, electromyographic examination, weight-bearing anteroposterior and lateral X-rays of the feet, and the Coleman block test. Surgical procedures including metatarsal fascia release, Achilles tendon or medial gastrocnemius lengthening, "V"-shaped osteotomy on the dorsal side of the metatarsal base, opening medial cuneiform wedge osteotomy, closing cuboid osteotomy, anterior transfer of the posterior tibial tendon, peroneus longus-to-brevis transfer, and calcaneal sliding osteotomy to correct hindfoot varus deformity were performed. After surgery, long leg plaster casts were applied, the plaster casts were removed 6 wk later, Kirschner wires were removed, and functional exercise was initiated. The patients began weight-bearing walk 3 mo after surgery. Therapeutic effects were evaluated using the Wicart grading system, and Meary's angles and Hibbs' angles were measured based on X-ray images obtained preoperatively and at last follow-up to assess their changes. RESULTS: The patients were followed for 6 to 32 mo, with an average follow-up period of 17.68 ± 6.290 mo. Bone healing at the osteotomy site was achieved at 3 mo in all cases. According to the Wicart grading system, very good results were achieved in 18 feet, good in 7, and fair in 3, with a very good/good rate of 89.3%. At last follow-up, mean Meary's angle was 6.36° ± 1.810°, and mean Hibbs' angle was 160.21° ± 4.167°, both of which were significantly improved compared with preoperative values (24.11° ± 2.948° and 135.86° ± 5.345°, respectively; P < 0.001 for both). No complications such as infection, skin necrosis, or bone nonunion occurred. CONCLUSION: Soft tissue release combined with joint-sparing osteotomy has appreciated efficacy in the treatment of cavovarus foot deformity in older children.

A reusable capacitive immunosensor based on a CuS ultrathin film constructed by using a surface sol-gel technique.

A capacitive sensing method based on a CuS ultrathin film modified electrode prepared by a surface sol-gel technique has been developed for the direct detection of human IgA. The resulting CuS film was investigated with cyclic voltammetry (CV), impedance spectroscopy, and quartz crystal microbalance (QCM). CV and impedance examinations showed that the CuS film formed on the gold electrode surface was insulated, and was applicable to form an insulating layer of a capacitive immunosensor. With QCM measurements, the thickness of the CuS film was evaluated to be 5.8 nm. The capacitance change was greatly increased by a CuS nanofilm-based immunosensor, which was initiated by the recognition of an immobilized antibody and the target antigen. The capacitance of the immunosensor corresponding to the concentration of human IgA was investigated by potentiostatic-step measurements. A linear calibration curve was obtained in the range of 1.81 - 90.5 ng ml(-1) with a detection limit of 1.81 ng ml(-1). There were no obvious interferences from the nonspecific adsorption of other proteins. With nice reproducibility and regeneration capacity, the CuS ultrathin film modified immunosensor could be used for the detection of human IgA in serum samples with a recovery of 96.1 - 104.4%, showing its promising applicability and reliability.