Enhanced permeate flux by air micro-nano bubbles via reducing apparent viscosity during ultrafiltration process.

Micro-nano bubbles (MNBs) play important roles in the reduction of membrane fouling during membrane separation; however, such improvements are always attributed to the reduced concentration polarization on the surface of membranes and little attention has been paid on the variations of physicochemical properties of the feed caused by MNBs. In this study, the separation efficiencies of the feed containing humic acid (HA), bovine serum albumin (BSA), sodium alginate (SA) or dyes can be improved by MNBs during ultrafiltration, and the normalized fluxes can be maximally increased to 139% and 127% in the dead-end and cross-flow modes, respectively in the treatment of HA solution. We further reveal that the decreased apparent viscosity of the feed in the presence of MNBs is the key factor that enhances the normalized flux during ultrafiltration. This study gives new insight on the importance of MNBs in membrane separation and provides valuable clues for other chemical processes.

A Three-Dimensional sp2 Carbon-Conjugated Covalent Organic Framework.

A first example of an sp2 carbon-conjugated three-dimensional (3D) covalent organic framework (COF) (BUCT-COF-4) is synthesized via the Knoevenagel condensation of the saddle-shaped aldehyde-substituted cyclooctatetrathiophene and 1,4-phenylenediacetonitrile. Ascribed to the extended π-conjugation and long-range ordered structures, BUCT-COF-4 displays high Hall electron mobility of 1.97 cm2 V-1 s-1 at room temperature. After it is doped with iodine, the material not only exhibits an enhanced electron mobility up to 2.62 cm2 V-1 s-1 in ambient air but also presents an unexpected metal-free ferromagnetic phase transition arising from the formation of aligned spins unidirectional across the whole sp2 carbon-conjugated 3D framework. This is the first report of a ferromagnetic phenomenon in 3D COF materials, which would broaden promising applications and open a new frontier in COF materials.

[Current status and research advances of high-temperature hazards in rice]. / æ°´ç¨»é«˜æ¸©çƒ­å®³çš„ç ”ç©¶çŽ°çŠ¶ä¸Žè¿›å±•.

High temperature stress occurs frequently in rice due to global warming. High-temperature hazard during the booting-flowering and grain-filling stages is one of the major factors limiting rice yield and quality. Here, we summarized the occurrence characteristics (identification, classification, region, and time) of high-temperature hazards, and the effects of high temperature on rice growth and development, including physiology, grain yield, and grain quality. Furthermore, we reviewed molecular biology aspects including quantitative trait locus mapping, transcriptome analysis, proteome analysis, and the monitoring, early warning, risk assessment of high-temperature hazards in rice. The defensive measures against high temperature in rice including selecting heat-resistant varieties, improving field management practices and spraying exogenous substances were intensively described. Finally, future research work on high-temperature hazards in rice was prospected to provide the scientific support for rice high-temperature defense, agricultural disaster reduction, and agricultural efficiency improvement.

CP and CP-PGN protect mice against MRSA infection by inducing M1 macrophages.

Corynebacterium pyruviciproducens (C. pyruviciproducens, CP), as a newly discovered immunomodulator, has been confirmed to have a stronger immunoregulation than Propionibacterium acnes (P. acnes) of the traditional immune adjuvant, by previous experiments with model antigen ovalbumin and sheep red blood cells. Here, it was designed to assess its ability to resist methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), since MRSA as a vital gram positive pathogen is characterized by high morbidity and mortality. In this report, it was indicated that C. pyruviciproducens and its peptidoglycan (CP-PGN) could help to be against bloodstream infection of MRSA with raised survival rate, decreased bacteria load and alleviated systemic inflammation, and these effects of CP-PGN were more pronounced. However, the whole CP was inclined to prevent localized abdominal infection of MRSA from progressing to a systemic infection. And they showed the potential as a therapeutic drug alone or combined with vancomycin. The diversity of capacity of activating macrophages induced by CP and CP-PGN may result in distinct resistance to MRSA in different infection models. Furthermore, both CP and CP-PGN induced M1 macrophages. In conclusion, CP and its PGN could act as promising immune agents to treat and prevent MRSA infection.

In vivo MRI tracking of iron oxide nanoparticle-labeled human mesenchymal stem cells in limb ischemia.

BACKGROUND: Stem cell transplantation has been investigated for repairing damaged tissues in various injury models. Monitoring the safety and fate of transplanted cells using noninvasive methods is important to advance this technique into clinical applications. METHODS: In this study, lower-limb ischemia models were generated in nude mice by femoral artery ligation. As negative-contrast agents, positively charged magnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (aminopropyltriethoxysilane-coated Fe2O3) were investigated in terms of in vitro labeling efficiency, effects on human mesenchymal stromal cell (hMSC) proliferation, and in vivo magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) visualization. Ultimately, the mice were sacrificed for histological analysis three weeks after transplantation. RESULTS: With efficient labeling, aminopropyltriethoxysilane-modified magnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (APTS-MNPs) did not significantly affect hMSC proliferation. In vivo, APTS-MNP-labeled hMSCs could be monitored by clinical 3 Tesla MRI for at least three weeks. Histological examination detected numerous migrated Prussian blue-positive cells, which was consistent with the magnetic resonance images. Some migrated Prussian blue-positive cells were positive for mature endothelial cell markers of von Willebrand factor and anti-human proliferating cell nuclear antigen. In the test groups, Prussian blue-positive nanoparticles, which could not be found in other organs, were detected in the spleen. CONCLUSION: APTS-MNPs could efficiently label hMSCs, and clinical 3 Tesla MRI could monitor the labeled stem cells in vivo, which may provide a new approach for the in vivo monitoring of implanted cells.

Long-term MRI tracking of dual-labeled adipose-derived stem cells homing into mouse carotid artery injury.

BACKGROUND: Stem cell therapy has shown great promise for regenerative repair of injured or diseased tissues. Adipose-derived stem cells (ADSCs) have become increasingly attractive candidates for cellular therapy. Magnetic resonance imaging has been proven to be effective in tracking magnetic-labeled cells and evaluating their clinical relevance after cell transplantation. This study investigated the feasibility of imaging green fluorescent protein-expressing ADSCs (GFP-ADSCs) labeled with superparamagnetic iron oxide particles, and tracked them in vivo with noninvasive magnetic resonance imaging after cell transplantation in a model of mouse carotid artery injury. METHODS: GFP-ADSCs were isolated from the adipose tissues of GFP mice and labeled with superparamagnetic iron oxide particles. Intracellular stability, proliferation, and viability of the labeled cells were evaluated in vitro. Next, the cells were transplanted into a mouse carotid artery injury model. Clinical 3 T magnetic resonance imaging was performed immediately before and 1, 3, 7, 14, 21, and 30 days after cell transplantation. Prussian blue staining and histological analysis were performed 7 and 30 days after transplantation. RESULTS: GFP-ADSCs were found to be efficiently labeled with superparamagnetic iron oxide particles, with no effect on viability and proliferation. Homing of the labeled cells into the injured carotid artery tissue could be monitored by magnetic resonance imaging. CONCLUSION: Magnetically labeled ADSCs with expression of GFP can home into sites of vascular injury, and may provide new insights into understanding of cell-based therapy for cardiovascular lesions.

[Subintimal angioplasty for chronic arterial occlusive disease: a systematic review].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the clinical effectiveness of subintimal angioplasty in treating chronic arterial occlusive disease of lower extremity. METHODS: Eligible studies concerning treatment by subintimal angioplasty in patients with arterial occlusive disease of lower extremity were identified from electronic database, cross-reference search and relative articles. The study quality and data extraction of all relevant articles were assessed by three independent reviewers. The study endpoints were technical success, primary patency, limb salvage, and complications. RESULTS: A total of 352 studies were selected for comprehensive review. Fourteen studies including a total of 2350 patients matched the selection criteria. According to whether selective using of re-entry catheter were used or not, the technical success rates were 96.4% and 87% (P < 0.01). Limb salvage rate was 90.5% and 81.5% at 6 and 12 months respectively. Depending on whether preoperative use of anti-platelet drug, primary patency rate was 91% and 68.5% at 6 months respectively (P < 0.01). The complication rate was 8.25% without serious complications. CONCLUSION: This Meta-analysis suggests that subintimal angioplasty is a safe and effective method in treating chronic arterial occlusive disease of lower extremity with high technical success rate and limb salvage, and low serious complications. Selective using of re-entry devices and preoperative anti-platelet drug can improve the technical success rate and primary patency rate significantly. Despite the high rate of technical and clinical success of the procedure, randomized contrast trials and long-term follow-up results are required to confirm the efficacy of these results.

6-[4-(Diphenyl-amino)-phen-yl]quinoline 1-oxide.

In the title mol-ecule, C(27)H(20)N(2)O, a triphenyl-amine derivative of quinoline, the three benzene rings linked through an N atom form a propeller shape, with dihedral angles between the mean planes of pairs of rings of 75.57 (9), 55.68 (9) and 83.66 (9)°. The quinoline ring is essentially planar, with an r.m.s. deviation of the fitted atoms of 0.0155 Å, and forms a dihedral angle of 33.52 (8)° with the benzene ring to which it is bonded. Weak C-H⋯π inter-actions are also observed in the crystal structure.