Mechanism of near-field optical nanopatterning on noble metal nano-films by a nanosecond laser irradiating a cantilevered scanning near-field optical microscopy probe.

To overcome the diffraction limit, a laser irradiating cantilevered scanning near-field optical microscopy (SNOM) probe has been used in near-field optical nanopatterning. In this paper, the mechanism of nanopatterning on noble metal nano-films by this technique is investigated by the finite element method. It is proposed that the main mechanism of this phenomenon is the melt and reshaping of the nano-film under the SNOM tip. The melt is caused by the surface plasmon polariton-assisted enhancement and restriction within the SNOM tip aperture. The impacts of the gap g between the tip and substrate and the polarization of the laser are further analyzed.

Mechanism of Shiliu Buxue Syrup for anemia using integrated metabolomics and network pharmacology.

For many years, Shiliu Buxue Syrup (SLBXS) has been used in the treatment of anemia in Xinjiang, China. However, the potential therapeutic mechanism of SLBXS in the treatment of anemia remains unclear. We qualitatively analyzed the ingredients of SLBXS and predicted the underlying mechanisms by network pharmacology. A mice model of anemia was established by subcutaneous injection of 1-Acetyl-2-phenylhydrazine (APH). Spleen metabolomics was performed to screen potential biomarkers and pathways related to anemia. Furthermore, core targets of crucial pathways were experimentally validated. Finally, molecular docking was used for predicting interactions between compositions and targets. Network pharmacology indicated that the 230 SLBXS ingredients may affect 141 target proteins to regulate the PI3K/AKT and HIF-1 signaling pathways. Metabolomics revealed that SLBXS could mediate 30 biomarkers, such as phosphoric acid, l-pyroglutamic acid, alpha-Tocopherol, 1-stearoyl-rac-glycerol, and dihydroxyacetone phosphate, to regulate drug metabolism-other enzymes, glutathione metabolism, glycolysis or gluconeogenesis, nicotinate and nicotinamide metabolism, nitrogen metabolism, and purine metabolism. Western blot indicated that SLBXS can regulate the protein expression levels of AKT1, Bcl2, Caspase3, HIF-1α, VEGF-A, and NOS2. The molecular docking revealed that most of the compositions had a good binding ability to the core targets. Based on these findings, we speculate that SLBXS treats anemia mainly by modulating the PI3K/AKT and HIF-1 pathways and glutathione and glycolytic metabolisms.

Fabrication of nanostructure on Au nano-film by nanosecond laser coupled with cantilevered scanning near-field optical microscopy probe.

Diffraction limit has been the constraint of the nanostructure fabrication. Because the scanning near-field optical microscopy (SNOM) can work in the evanescent near-field region, its application in nano-processing has received extensive attention from researchers globally. In this paper, we combined nanosecond laser with cantilevered SNOM probe. Utilizing the high precision of the confinement and enhancement effect of probe tip and the high instantaneous energy of the laser, we realized nanostructure fabrication andin situdetection on Au nano-film. Feature sizes down to 47 nm full width at half maximum were fabricated. We investigated the laser propagation through the SNOM tip aperture and the light field intensity distribution on the surface of substrate theoretically. The calculation results demonstrate that the laser is highly restricted within the SNOM aperture and enhanced on the exit plane at the rim of aperture. After the transmission, the light field intensity distribution on the surface of the Au nano-film was enhanced due to the localized surface plasmon resonance. The thermal distribution on the surface of Au nano-film indicates that the peak of the temperature distribution appeared at the surface right underneath the center of the aperture. It is proved that the simulation results are consistent with the experimental results.

Mechanism of nanostructure processing on Au and Ag nano-film by a nanosecond laser illuminating cantilevered scanning near-field optical microscopy tip.

Nanostructure processing by a laser illuminating cantilevered scanning near-field optical microscopy (SNOM) tip is a novel technology that has received extensive attention from researchers. In this paper, theoretical investigations of the mechanism for nanostructure fabrication on Au and Ag nano-film by this technology are realized by the finite element method. The light field intensity and temperature distribution on Au and Ag surfaces at the near-field of the SNOM tip apex after illumination is simulated. The results reveal that the laser is restricted and enhanced within the SNOM tip aperture during illumination. Locally excited surface plasmon polaritons, which induce near-field enhancement on the Au and Ag nano-film at the vicinity of the aperture, are significant for nanostructure fabrication. The impacts of several parameters such as aperture width w, gap between the apex and substrate g, and the initial electric field intensity |E0| of the laser on the temperature of the Au and Ag substrate surfaces during fabrication are deeply studied. It reveals that the surface temperature depends on both the enhancement of the light field intensity and the transmitted laser. The enhancement is dominant in affecting temperature when the gap is small, while the transmittance becomes the main factor influencing the surface temperature with the increase of the gap.

Simultaneous removal of Pb and MTBE by mixed zeolites in fixed-bed column tests.

The co-contamination of metals and organic pollutants, such as Pb and methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE), in groundwater, has become a common and major phenomenon in many contaminated sites. This study evaluated the feasibility of their simultaneous removal with permeable reactive barrier (PRB) packed with mixed zeolites (clinoptilolite and ZSM-5) using fixed-bed column tests and breakthrough curve modeling. The effect of grain size on the permeability of PRB and removal efficacy was also assessed by granular and power clinoptilolite. The replacement of granular clinoptilolite by powder clinoptilolite largely reduced the breakthrough time but increased the saturation time nearly fourfold. The column adsorption capacity of clinoptilolite powders almost tripled that of clinoptilolite granules (130.6 mg/g versus 45.3 mg/g) due to higher specific surface areas. The minimum thickness and corresponding longevity of PRB were calculated as 7.12 cm and 321.5 min when 5% of granular clinoptilolite was mixed with 5% ZSM-5 and 90% sand as mixed PRB reactive media compared with 10.86 cm and 1230.2 min for the application of powder clinoptilolite. This study is expected to provide theoretical support and guidance for the practical application of mixed adsorbents in PRBs.

Advanced mechanism of multiphysics fields tip enhancement induced with varied laser power to fabricate pattern-transformable subdiffraction limit nanostructures.

The nanofabrication platform was carried out using an atomic force microscope (AFM) system and a continuous wave (cw) laser to investigate the influence of laser power on the underlying mechanism of nanostructures fabricated by multiphysics fields tip enhancement (MFTE) induced by a cw laser irradiating the AFM probe tip. The nanostructure fabrication of nanopits and grooves and nanodots and lines on a polymethyl methacrylate thin film was conducted in an ambient environment by changing the incident laser power. The dependence of the MFTE on laser power was numerically analyzed, too. The lateral dimensions of nanopits and grooves and nanodots and lines characterized in situ were 154 nm, 96 nm, 188 nm, and 25 nm, respectively, breaking the optical diffraction limit. It turned out that the nanostructures converted from craters (pits and grooves) to protrusions (dots and lines) when altered with the laser power. Different laser powers can trigger the MFTE to change, thus, inducing varied coupling energy, which is the essential mechanism for nanostructure conversion. We also established a model to analyze the nanostructures transition and to predict the dimensions of nanostructures. The simulation results demonstrate that the MFTE has an essential effect on the formation of nanostructures, which are in good agreement with the experimental results.

The analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects of zukamu granules, a traditional Chinese medical formulation.

Context: Zukamu granule, a traditional Chinese medicine, has shown clinical treatment efficacy. However, the pharmacodynamic effects and possible anti-inflammatory mechanisms of zukamu are still unclear.Objective: To investigate the analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects and possible mechanisms of zukamu granules on acute lung injury.Materials and methods: Kunming mice and Sprague Dawley rats were gavaged with zukamu (1.35, 2.7 and 5.4 g/kg, respectively) or ganmaoling (GMLG; 2.7 g/kg) once a day for 7 d. Dexamethasone treatment (5 mg/kg) were administered only on the last day. Analgesic effects were evaluated through the hot plate test and acetic acid writhing test. The expression of cytokines and proteins was measured in serum and lung tissues to elucidate the efficacy of zukamu against lung injury.Results: Significant analgesic effects were observed at 30 min after zukamu administration at medium and high doses (p < 0.05), but the effect was not obvious at low dose until 60 min post-administration (p > 0.05). Zukamu treatment at all doses notably reduced the lung wet-to-dry (W/D) ratios compared to that of model rats (p < 0.05) and the effect was more evident at high dose compared to those at medium and low doses. The levels of cytokines and proteins in the lung tissues were inhibited by zukamu.Conclusions: Zukamu exhibited analgesic and protective effects against lung injury via regulating NF-κB signalling and inflammatory cytokines. As zukamu granules contain multiple ingredients, further exploration of the mechanisms underlying its analgesic and anti-inflammatory functions were needed.

Influences of rainfall variables and antecedent discharge on urban effluent concentrations and loads in wet weather.

For storm drainages inappropriately connected with sewage, wet weather discharge is a major factor that adversely affects receiving waters. A study of the wet weather influences of rainfall-discharge variables on storm drainages connected with sewage was conducted in the downtown Shanghai area (374 ha). Two indicators, event mean concentration (EMC) and event pollutant load per unit area (EPL), were used to describe the pollution discharge during 20 rain events. The study showed that the total rainfall and discharge volume were important factors that affect the EMCs and EPLs of the chemical oxygen demand, total phosphorus, and especially those of NH4+-N. The pollutant concentrations at the beginning of the discharge and the discharge period were also major factors that influence the EMCs of these three pollutants. Regression relationships between the rainfall-discharge variables and discharge volume/ EPLs (R2 = 0.824-0.981) were stronger than the relationships between the rainfall-discharge variables and EMCs. These regression equations can be considered reliable in the system, with a relative validation error of less than ±10% for the discharge volume, and less than ±20% for the EPLs. The results presented in this paper provide guidance for effectively controlling pollution in similar storm drainages.

Two new coumarins from the seeds of Solanum indicum.

Two new coumarins, (E)-2-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxybenzylidene)-5-methoxy-2H-[1,4]dioxino[2,3-h]chromene-3,9-dione (indicumin E, 1) and 7-hydroxy-6,8-dimethoxy-3-(4'-hydroxy-3'-methoxyphenyl)-coumarin (2), together with two known coumarins isofraxidin (3) and fraxetin (4), were isolated from the Solanum indicum seeds. Their structures were established on the basis of 1D and 2D spectroscopic data. Compound 1 was the rarest coumarinolignoid known to date.

Enhancing insight into DOM fate in aquatic systems: Introducing the FLOTATION model.

Water quality modeling can help to understand the source, transport, transformation and fate of dissolved organic matter (DOM) in aquatic systems. However, water quality models typically use biological oxygen demand as the state variable for DOM, which poorly represents the bio-refractory fraction of the DOM pool. Furthermore, photodegradation, which has a significant impact on the fate of DOM, is often neglected in water quality models. To fill these gaps, we developed the FLOTATION (FLuorescent dOm Transport And TransformatION) model, which includes three processes: biodegradation, photodegradation, and primary production formation. We applied the model to the Nanfei River to understand the source, spatial distribution, and fate of DOM under low flow conditions. The model was set up and calibrated with the longitudinal measurements of four humic-like components (C1-C4) and one protein-like component (C5) identified by excitation-emission matrix parallel factor analysis (EEM-PARAFAC). The results showed that the simulation reproduced the longitudinal variations of all components well. The photodegradation process removed 18 %, 15 % and 21 % of the total input loadings of the humic-like components C1, C2 and C4, respectively. Algal primary production contributed 18 % of the downstream transport loading, constituting an important autochthonous source. For the protein-like C5, photodegradation and biodegradation together removed 7 % of the input loading. Our newly developed FLOATATION model can facilitate a comprehensive understanding of the fate and transport of DOM in aquatic environments.

A hybrid deep learning approach to improve real-time effluent quality prediction in wastewater treatment plant.

Wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) operation is usually intricate due to large variations in influent characteristics and nonlinear sewage treatment processes. Effective modeling of WWTP effluent water quality can provide valuable decision-making support to facilitate their operations and management. In this study, we developed a novel hybrid deep learning model by combining the temporal convolutional network (TCN) model with the long short-term memory (LSTM) network model to improve the simulation of hourly total nitrogen (TN) concentration in WWTP effluent. The developed model was tested in a WWTP in Jiangsu Province, China, where the prediction results of the hybrid TCN-LSTM model were compared with those of single deep learning models (TCN and LSTM) and traditional machine learning model (feedforward neural network, FFNN). The hybrid TCN-LSTM model could achieve 33.1 % higher accuracy as compared to the single TCN or LSTM model, and its performance could improve by 63.6 % comparing to the traditional FFNN model. The developed hybrid model also exhibited a higher power prediction of WWTP effluent TN for the next multiple time steps within eight hours, as compared to the standalone TCN, LSTM, and FFNN models. Finally, employing model interpretation approach of Shapley additive explanation to identify the key parameters influencing the behavior of WWTP effluent water quality, it was found that removing variables that did not contribute to the model output could further improve modeling efficiency while optimizing monitoring and management strategies.

Efficacy and mechanism of action of Yanxiao Di'naer formula for non-alcoholic steatohepatitis treatment based on metabolomics and RNA sequencing.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the most prevalent chronic liver disease worldwide. Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is a crucial component of this disease spectrum. The Yanxiao Di'naer formula (YXDNE) is an Uyghur medical extract that has been used in folk medicine to treat hepatitis for a long time. However, the role and mechanism of action of YXDNE in NASH treatment remains unclear. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to assess the effectiveness of YXDNE in treating NASH induced by injections of carbon tetrachloride combined with a high-fat high-cholesterol diet (HFHCD), and to clarify the underlying mechanisms. METHODS: The compounds in the YXDNE extract were analysed for classification and proportions using ultra-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. The efficacy of YXDNE in treating abnormal lipid metabolism was evaluated in L02 cells in vitro. In addition, a C57BL/6 mouse model of NASH was established to evaluate the therapeutic efficacy of YXDNE in vivo. Metabolomics and RNA sequencing were used to analyse the therapeutic effects of YXDNE on the liver. The corresponding signalling pathways were found to target AMPKα1, PPARα, and NF-κB. The efficacy of YXDNE was validated using inhibitors or silencing RNA (siRNA) against AMPKα1 and PPARα. RESULTS: This study confirmed that YXDNE treatment ameliorated NASH in a murine model of this disease. Metabolomics analysis suggested that YXDNE efficacy was associated with fatty acid catabolism and AMPK signalling pathways. RNA sequencing results showed that YXDNE efficacy in treating NASH was highly correlated with the AMPK, PPARα and NF-κB pathways. Both in vitro and in vivo experimental data demonstrated that YXDNE affected the expression of p-AMPKα1, PPARα, p-NF-κB, IκB, and p-IκB. The efficacy of YXDNE in treating NASH in vitro was cancelled when AMPK was inhibited with Compound C or PPARα was modulated via siRNA. CONCLUSIONS: YXDNE may have a therapeutic effect on abnormal lipid metabolism in L02 cells and in a murine model of NASH by affecting the AMPKα1/PPARα/NF-κB signalling pathway. Therefore, YXDNE has the potential for clinical application in the prevention and treatment of NASH.

Three new germacrane-type sesquiterpenes with NGF-potentiating activity from Valeriana officinalis var. latiofolia.

Three new germacrane-type sesquiterpenoids, volvalerenal F (1), volvalerenal G (2) and volvalerenic acid D (3), along with five known compounds 4-8, were isolated from the CHCl3 soluble partition of the ethanol extract of Valeriana officinalis var. latiofolia. The structures of the new compounds were determined on the basis of spectroscopic evidence, including their 1D- and 2D-NMR spectra, as well as mass spectrometry. The eight germacrane-type sesquiterpenoids showed nerve growth factor (NGF) potentiating activity, which mediates the neurite outgrowth in PC 12D cells. This study intends to reveal the chemical basis of the use of V. officinalis var. latiofolia as a dietary supplement.

Hugan Buzure Granule Alleviates Acute Kidney Injury in Mice by Inhibiting NLRP3/Caspase-1 Pathway and TLR4/NF-κB Pathway.

BACKGROUND: Hugan Buzure Granule (HBG) is a traditional prescription of Uygur nationality in China mainly used to treat liver cold, stomachache, spleen and rib pain, arthralgia, rheumatism and urinary system diseases. Its mechanism of action in treating acute kidney injury (AKI) continues to remain unconfirmed. This study's objective was to investigate the pharmacodynamics and mechanism of HBG in the management of AKI. METHODS: The damage to the kidney tissue was examined by using H&E (Hematoxylin-eosin) staining. The BUN (Blood Urea Nitrogen) and Cr (Creatinine) in serum were examined by biochemical kit. The content of ROS (Reactive oxygen species) in kidney tissue was determined by ROS frozen section staining, while the amount of MDA (Malondialdehyde), GSH (Glutathione), and the enzymes of CAT (Catalase) and SOD (Superoxide dismutase) were assessed by using a biochemical kit. The tissue apoptosis was seen by using the TUNEL assay. ELISA kit was utilized to assess the content of IL-6, TNF-α, and IL-1ß in serum. Immunohistochemistry and Western blot were utilized to identify the translation of proteins associated to the NLRP3/Caspase-1 pathway and the TLR4/NF-κB pathway in various tissues. RESULTS: HBG considerably improved the renal injury in mice and decreased their kidney coefficient in contrast with the Control group. Immunohistochemistry and Western blot demonstrated that the translation of NLRP3, Caspase-1, IL-18, IL-1ß, TLR4, NF-κB, IL-6, TNF-α were down-regulated in HBG groups. CONCLUSIONS: HBG may have a protective effect against AKI through anti-oxidative stress, inhibition of apoptosis and reduction of serum inflammatory factor levels. The mechanisms involved inhibiting NLRP3/Caspase-1 pathway and TLR4/NF-κB pathway.

A smart sewer detection approach based on wavelet denoising of in-sewer temperature sensing measurement.

Urban sewer detection is important for the proper conveyance of sanitary water to wastewater treatment plant prior to environmental discharge. An effective approach to address this important process still needs to be developed. This study introduced a novel data-driven approach to sewer detection utilizing in-sewer distributed temperature sensing (DTS) measurement combined with wavelet-based denoising of DTS data. It underlines that the effective denoising of DTS data, and consequently the accurate determination of DTS noise threshold, is pivotal to reliable sewer detection. DTS background noise is chiefly influenced by the threshold rescaling. A reliable DTS background noise threshold was found to be ±0.25 °C in a field study, established with the threshold rescaling of a level-dependent estimation of level noise, and the associated threshold selection rule of heuristics threshold or minimum maximum variance. Deviation from this threshold could hamper the identification of true inflow or infiltration points. Applying the established threshold to the study site, our study identified two sewer problematic points including a groundwater infiltration point, and a clean water inflow point based on generated three-value image. Further interpretation of the three-value image revealed that both groundwater infiltration and clean water inflow into the sewer exhibited intermittent instead of constant behavior, which was due to time-variable water head difference associated with sewage discharge variation over the daily period and rainfall events. Thus, the methodology offers considerable potential for urban sewer detection, especially for its performance to capture intermittent sewer infiltrations and inflows without draining sewers.

Sequence mining and transcript profiling to explore differentially expressed genes associated with lipid biosynthesis during soybean seed development.

BACKGROUND: Soybean (Glycine max L.) is one of the most important oil crops in the world. It is desirable to increase oil yields from soybean, and so this has been a major goal of oilseed engineering. However, it is still uncertain how many genes and which genes are involved in lipid biosynthesis. RESULTS: Here, we evaluated changes in gene expression over the course of seed development using Illumina (formerly Solexa) RNA-sequencing. Tissues at 15 days after flowering (DAF) served as the control, and a total of 11592, 16594, and 16255 differentially expressed unigenes were identified at 35, 55, and 65 DAF, respectively. Gene Ontology analyses detected 113 co-expressed unigenes associated with lipid biosynthesis. Of these, 15 showed significant changes in expression levels (log2fold values ≥ 1) during seed development. Pathway analysis revealed 24 co-expressed transcripts involved in lipid biosynthesis and fatty acid biosynthesis pathways. We selected 12 differentially expressed genes and analyzed their expressions using qRT-PCR. The results were consistent with those obtained from Solexa sequencing. CONCLUSION: These results provide a comprehensive molecular biology background for research on soybean seed development, particularly with respect to the process of oil accumulation. All of the genes identified in our research have significance for breeding soybeans with increased oil contents.

Two novel secoiridoid glucosides from Tripterospermum chinense.

Two novel secoiridoid glucosides, tripterospermumcins C (1) and D (2), were isolated from the aerial parts of Tripterospermum chinense, along with four known compounds, tripterospermumcin B (3), sweroside (4), loganic acid (5), and 8-epi-kingiside (6). Their structures were determined by analysis of 1D and 2D NMR data, as well as by comparison with model compounds. Compound 1 was a rare iridoid tetramer with four glucosides.

Fate and transport of pharmaceuticals in water systems: A processes review.

Pharmaceuticals are globally consumed by humans and animals to support daily health and to treat disease. Following consumption, they may reach the aquatic environment either directly through the discharge of untreated wastewater to water bodies, or indirectly via treated wastewater as a result of their incomplete removal from wastewater treatment plants. This paper reviews the processes that control the occurrence and fate of pharmaceuticals in water systems, including sorption, photodegradation, hydrolysis and biodegradation. The degree to which these four processes occur is influenced by pharmaceutical types and their chemical structure as well as environmental factors such as sunlight, water depth, organic matter content, water chemistry, sediment properties, and type and abundance of microorganisms. Depending on the complex interactions of these factors, pharmaceutical compounds may be mineralized, partially degraded, or remain intact because they are resistant to degradation. Kinetic rate parameters and the half-life of a variety of pharmaceutical products are provided herein for the above processes under different environmental conditions. Usually, photodegradation and biodegradation represent dominant reaction processes, while hydrolysis only affects some pharmaceuticals, particularly antibiotics. The identified sorption and reaction rate parameters can be incorporated into a concise modeling framework to assess and predict longitudinal concentration profiles of pharmaceutical products in the manmade and natural systems, particularly when large amounts of pharmaceuticals are discharged during abnormal events such as a virus outbreak. Finally, future research is suggested, including the fate of transformed products (intermediates) in water systems.

Application of zeolites in permeable reactive barriers (PRBs) for in-situ groundwater remediation: A critical review.

Permeable reactive barrier (PRB) is one of the most promising in-situ groundwater remediation technologies due to its low costs and wide immobilization suitability for multiple contaminants. Reactive medium is a key component of PRBs and their selection needs to consider removal effectiveness as well as permeability. Zeolites have been extensively reported as reactive media owing to their high adsorption capacity, diverse pore structure and high stability. Moreover, the application of zeolites can reduce the PRBs fouling and clogging compared to reductants like zero-valence iron (ZVI) due to no formation of secondary precipitates, such as iron monosulfide, in spite of their reactivity to remove organics. This study gives a detailed review of lab-scale applications of zeolites in PRBs in terms of sorption characteristics, mechanisms, column performance and desorption features, as well as their field-scale applications to point out their application tendency in PRBs for contaminated groundwater remediation. On this basis, future prospects and suggestions for using zeolites in PRBs for groundwater remediation were put forward. This study provides a comprehensive and critical review of the lab-scale and field-scale applications of zeolites in PRBs and is expected to guide the future design and applications of adsorbents-based PRBs for groundwater remediation.

Current Progress, Challenges and Perspectives in the Microalgal-Bacterial Aerobic Granular Sludge Process: A Review.

Traditional wastewater treatment technologies have become increasingly inefficient to meet the needs of low-consumption and sustainable wastewater treatment. Researchers are committed to seeking new wastewater treatment technologies, to reduce the pressure on the environment caused by resource shortages. Recently, a microalgal-bacterial granular sludge (MBGS) technology has attracted widespread attention due to its high efficiency wastewater treatment capacity, low energy consumption, low CO2 emissions, potentially high added values, and resource recovery capabilities. This review focused primarily on the following aspects of microalgal-bacterial granular sludge technology: (1) MBGS culture and maintenance operating parameters, (2) MBGS application in different wastewaters, (3) MBGS additional products: biofuels and bioproducts, (4) MBGS energy saving and consumption reduction: greenhouse gas emission reduction, and (5) challenges and prospects. The information in this review will help us better understand the current progress and future direction of the MBGS technology development. It is expected that this review will provide a sound theoretical basis for the practical applications of a MBGS technology in environmentally sustainable wastewater treatment, resource recovery, and system optimization.