Ni-modified FeOOH integrated electrode by self-source corrosion of nickel foam for high-efficiency electrochemical water oxidation.

The construction and application of efficient iron oxyhydroxide (FeOOH) is still a challenge in the field of energy conversion. Here, a facile preparation method is developed by directly utilizing commercialized nickel foams (NF) as the nickel source and the supporting framework, as well as the ingenious use of etching effect originating from acidic medium in the process of iron salt hydrolysis. As a result, a Ni-modulated FeOOH integrated electrode (Ni-FeOOH/NF) is obtained. Unexpectedly, the implementation of our scheme effectively activates the catalytic intrinsic activity of FeOOH, successfully transforming the inert NF into an integrated electrode with high oxygen evolution reaction (OER) performance. Specifically, the Ni-FeOOH/NF exhibits the overpotential of 277 mV (@100 mA cm-2) and superior stability for OER. Additionally, the as-prepared Ni-FeOOH/NF electrode could also operate steadily for OER in alkaline adjusted saline water. Our research provides a new idea for the preparation of satisfactory Fe-based metal materials as OER electrocatalysts.

Facile fabrication of pH-sensitive nanoparticles based on nanocellulose for fast and efficient As(V) removal.

This study reported a facile method to synthesize novel pH-sensitive nanoparticle based on nanocellulose, involving cross-linking polyethyleneimine and glutaraldehyde. The adsorbent was characterized and found to be sensitive to the solution pH, especially at pH 3. Additionally, the biosorbent exhibited rapid adsorption during the initial 10 min and the As(V) adsorption capacity of the nanoparticles reached approximately 255.19 mg g-1 at pH 3, which was five times greater than that achieved with the As(V) solution at its initial pH (44.33 mg g-1). To reflect its performance in actual acidic wastewater, the effects of coexisting anions were also investigated, showing that these anions had little influence on As(V) adsorption. Meanwhile, the adsorbent displayed excellent performance even after eight regeneration cycles. This novel material demonstrates enormous potential for the removal of arsenic contaminants and for the development of pH-sensitive materials.

The fabrication and arsenic removal performance of cellulose nanocrystal-containing absorbents based on the "bridge joint" effect of iron ions.

By using the "bridge joint" effect of iron ions, cellulose nanocrystal-containing high-performance adsorbents were synthesized via coprecipitation method, which enhanced the cross-linking action of cellulose nanocrystal and polyethyleneimine. The morphology, specific surface area, surface chemistry and chemical valence of the adsorbents were characterized by SEM, FTIR, BET and XPS. According to the results, the iron ions successfully connect the two dispersed polymers together, inducing a large number of O-Fe-O bonds and, providing more adsorption active sites for the removal of seriously polluted and high-toxicity As(III)/As(V). Furthermore, the arsenic removal performance of the adsorbents was studied, and the adsorption mechanism was revealed according to the spectral characteristics of the chemical components. Of note, the synthesized iron-containing adsorbents are suitable for a wide pH range, which may offer a new application for nanocellulose in the treatment of arsenic pollution.

Genetic variations of VEGF gene were associated with tetralogy of fallot risk in a Chinese Han population.

OBJECTIVES: Tetralogy of Fallot (TOF) is one of the most common forms of congenital heart disease. In this study, we aimed at investigating the associations between genetic variations of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) gene and the risk of TOF in a Chinese Han population. Our findings may contribute to a deeper understanding of TOF pathogenesis and better diagnostic and therapeutic suggestions. METHODS: A total of 165 TOF patients and 240 controls from a Chinese Han population in Shenyang and Harbin were recruited in the current study. Nine single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) (-2578C/A, -460T/C, -1154G/A, -634G/C, 534C/T, +398G/A, +963C/T, 752C/T, 913G/A) were genotyped by the MALDI-TOF MassARRAY system. Individual SNPs as well as their haplotypes were analyzed for their associations with TOF risk, using odds ratios and the 95% confidence interval under codominant and dominant models. RESULTS: In the single SNP analyses, the mutant homozygous genotypes of -2578C/A (rs699947) and +963C/T (rs3025039) were related with an increased risk of TOF. In addition, carriers with the mutant A allele of -1154G/A (rs1570360) were supposed to have a significantly elevated TOF risk. Similarly, compared with the wild homozygote GG carriers, the GC carrier of -634G/C (rs2010963) revealed a significant relationship with susceptibility of TOF, but not for the mutant homozygote CC carriers. However, no significant association was found for the other five SNPs. Meanwhile, haplotype analysis revealed that CCA and ATA in block 1 (-2578C/A, -460T/C, and -1154G/A) and TTG and TCA in block 3 (+963C/T, 752C/T, and 913G/A) were significantly related with an increased TOF risk compared with the most common haplotypes. CONCLUSION: In summary, our results suggested that VEGF variants (-2578C/A, -1154G/A, -634G/C, +963G/A) were involved in the susceptibility of TOF. However, validation of our study needs further study in various ethnics to reveal the functional relationship between VEGF polymorphisms and TOF risk, which may contribute to diagnosis and therapy of TOF.

Nanosheet-based hierarchical Ni(2)(CO(3))(OH)(2) microspheres with weak crystallinity for high-performance supercapacitor.

Three-dimensionally hierarchical oxide/hydroxide materials have recently attracted increasing interest by virtue of their exciting potential in electrochemical energy conversion and storage. Herein, hierarchical Ni2(CO3)(OH)2 microspheres assembled from ultrathin nanosheets were successfully synthesized by a one-pot/one-step hydrothermal route. In this method, common nickel salts and urea were selected as raw materials. The influence of urea concentration on the final product was studied. The hierarchical Ni2(CO3)(OH)2 microspheres show weak crystallinity and contain crystalline water. It was found that they exhibit excellent rate capacity when used as supercapacitor electrode. Under current density of 0.5 and 10 A/g, the optimized Ni2(CO3)(OH)2 electrode with loading density of 5.3 mg/cm(2) exhibited specific capacitances of 1178 and 613 F/g with excellent cycling stability. The excellent electrochemical property is possibly attributed to the intrinsic nature of Ni2(CO3)(OH)2, the ultrathin thickness of nanosheet units, and the sufficient space available to interact with the electrolyte. This facile synthesis strategy and the good electrochemical properties indicate that hydroxycarbonates are promising materials for supercapacitor application. This study suggests a large library of materials for potential application in energy storage systems.

Self-regulated route to ternary hybrid nanocrystals of Ag-Ag2S-CdS with near-infrared photoluminescence and enhanced photothermal conversion.

Developing hybrid nanocrystals is a hot topic in materials science. Herein, a ternary hybrid nanocrystal, Ag-Ag2S-CdS, combining near infrared emission and photothermal conversion properties was demonstrated. The ternary Ag-Ag2S-CdS hybrid nanocrystals with cubic shape and uniform size were synthesized by a simple one-pot and one-step colloidal method. The growth process is self-regulated with the formation order of Ag2S, Ag, and CdS, sequentially. The formation of Ag originates from the partial reduction of Ag2S, while the formation of CdS is through an Ag2S catalytic mechanism based on its superionic feature. The obtained ternary hybrid nanocrystals show near infrared emission and photothermal conversion properties in a lab-on-a-particle system. Importantly, an enhanced effect is observed for the photothermal conversion, which is mainly due to the presence of heterointerfaces among the crystals. This work will not only advance the synthesis chemistry of multi-component hybrid nanocrystals but also provide a possible route for the design of advanced multi-model materials used in bio-related fields.

Maternal protein restriction induces alterations in hepatic tumor necrosis factor-α/CYP7A1 signaling and disorders regulation of cholesterol metabolism in the adult rat offspring.

It is well recognized that adverse events in utero impair fetal development and lead to the development of obesity and metabolic syndrome in adulthood. To investigate the mechanisms linking impaired fetal growth to increased cholesterol, an important clinical risk factor characterizing the metabolic syndrome and cardiovascular disease, we examined the impact of maternal undernutrition on tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α)/c-jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) signaling pathway and the cholesterol 7α-hydroxylase (CYP7A1) expression in the livers of the offspring with a protein restriction model. The male offspring with intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) caused by the isocaloric low-protein diet showed decreased liver weight at birth and augmented circulation and hepatic cholesterol levels at 40 weeks of age. Maternal undernutrition significantly upregulated cytokine TNF-α expression and JNK phospholytion levels in the livers from fetal age to adulthood. Elevated JNK phospholytion could be linked to downregulated hepatocyte nuclear factor-4α and CYP7A1 expression, subsequently led to higher hepatic cholesterol. This work demonstrated that intrauterine malnutrition-induced IUGR might result in intrinsic disorder in hepatic TNF-α/CYP7A1 signaling, and contribute to the development of hypercholesterolemia in later life.

Maternal protein restriction alters VEGF signaling and decreases pulmonary alveolar in fetal rats.

Epidemiological studies have demonstrated that intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) increases the risk for respiratory morbidity from infancy, throughout childhood and into adulthood. Chronic restriction of nutrients causes abnormalities in the airways and lungs of offspring, but whether IUGR adversely impacts fetal pulmonary vascular development and underlying mechanisms remain under investigation. In this study, we investigated the effects of protein malnutrition in utero on pulmonary alveolarization and vascular growth of the fetal lung and placentae. Pregnant rats were feed with an isocaloric low-protein diet (8% protein) until delivery. Placenta and fetal lungs were harvested on 20th day of gestation (term 21 days of gestation). Lung index (lung weight as a percentage of body weight), total DNA and protein, radial alveolar count, arteriolar wall thickness, lung maturity and angiogenic factor VEGF were assessed. The lung was hypoplastic in IUGR fetus, evidenced by reduction in lung weight, DNA and protein content. Protein restriction in utero led to higher glycogen levels, but reduced number of alveoli as confirmed by the measurement of radial alveolar counts. IUGR fetus had significantly reduced VEGF, Flk-1 levels in lung but no changes in Flt-1 mRNA. Furthermore, IUGR was associated with increased lung miR-126-3p levels, which modulated the expression of angiogenic factor. In contrast, with regard to the placenta, IUGR fetus presented with decreased expression of VEGF, with no changes in VEGF receptors and expression-regulating miRNAs. This work suggested that VEGF signaling defect plays an important role in the defective lung development, which may explain the increased incidence of respiratory infections in IUGR patients.

Platelet-like nickel hydroxide: synthesis and the transferring to nickel oxide as a gas sensor.

Free-standing Ni(OH)2 platelet-like nanostructures with average width of 124 nm and thickness of 19 nm were successfully prepared through a simple one-pot polymer assisted process. The preparation involves the assistance of poly (sodium-4-styrene sulfonate) (PSS) and is easy to perform. The influence of pH value on the structure of the Ni(OH)2 product was investigated and it was found that pH value plays an important role for the formation of free-standing Ni(OH)2 nanoplatelets. A possible formation mechanism is proposed. In addition, from the obtained Ni(OH)2 nanoplatelets, a NiO sensor was fabricated and tested, which exhibits a 5 ppm sensing sensitivity to ethanol and propanol.

Porous CuO superstructure: precursor-mediated fabrication, gas sensing and photocatalytic properties.

A facile route was developed for the large-scale preparation of porous CuO superstructures based on a hydrothermal route with subsequent calcination. The CuO superstructures show "box-like" shape and are composed of microplatelets with high porosity resulting from the thermal decomposition of the precursor. X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Fourier transform spectroscopy (FT-IR) and Brunauer-Emmett-Teller N(2) adsorption-desorption analyses were employed to characterize the microstructure, size and crystalline phase of the porous cupric oxide product. The porous CuO superstructures with pore size of about 20 nm have a surface area of 18.2 m(2)/g. The gas-sensing measurements of the porous CuO superstructures demonstrate that the obtained CuO product exhibits higher sensing response to ethanol, propanol and acetone than commercial CuO powder. In addition, the enhanced photocatalytic activity of the porous CuO superstructures was also demonstrated with the photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue as a probe reaction. It is believed that the enhanced gas-sensing and catalytic properties are originated from their unique openly porous microstructure, which is highly beneficial to the reagent diffusion and mass transportation.

[Zoning of water environment protection in Three Gorges Reservoir watershed].

Regional differences in socio-economic development, land use, vegetation cover, and relative location of water body within a watershed bring about significant effects on the water environment quality of the watershed. Concerning about the core demands of water body protection, it is important and necessary to carry out zoning water environment protection for whole watershed. With a view to the spatial differences in regional characteristics of eco-environment and water body pressure-respond features, this paper studied the zoning of water environment protection in the Three Gorges Reservoir watershed, based on the methods of ecological factors overlay and ecological sensitivity analysis. The factors considered included hydrothermal conditions, terrain topography, administrative unit, and ecological sensitivity. Three regions in the watershed were zoned, i. e., 1) red region, namely strictly protected region, with an area of 2924 km2 and occupying 5.1% of the total; 2) yellow region, namely first class protection region, with an area of 10477 km2 and occupying 18.4%; and 3) blue region, namely second class protection region, with an area of 43599 km2 and occupying 76.5%. The key environmental problems of the regions were identified, and the strategies for the regions' development and water environment protection were proposed.

Analysis of MECP2 gene copy number in boys with autism.

Autism is a severe neurodevelopmental disorder with a strong genetic basis.The methyl-CpG binding protein 2 gene (MECP2) is a dosage-sensitive gene in brain development and has been implicated as a candidate gene for autism. Duplication of the MECP2 gene has been reported in a few boys with autistic features. To further investigate the association of MECP2 duplication with autism, the authors performed real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to detect copy number variations of the MECP2 gene in 82 autistic boys. No copy number variation was found in these patients, indicating that duplication of the MECP2 gene is not frequent in autistic patients. The authors consider that duplication of the MECP2 gene has no major effect on the susceptibility to autism. Replication of studies in a large-sized sample and a well-characterized subgroup of autism are warranted to further identify the association of MECP2 gene duplication with autism.

[Characteristics of developmental regression in autistic children].

OBJECTIVE: About 30% of autistic cases experience developmental regression around 2 years of age. The clinical course and manifestations of autistic children with regression remain unclear. This study investigated the clinical features of a group of autistic children with regression. METHODS: One hundred and fifty-two children at ages of 2.5-6.5 years confirmed with autism based on DSM-IV diagnostic criteria were enrolled. They were grouped according to language development: normal or regression. The perinatal history, developmental history and characteristics of regression were investigated. The symptoms were compared between the two groups. RESULTS: Regressions were observed in 33 children (21.7%) at age of between 16 and 21 months, with loss both in communicative skills and social engagement. The regressive group was scored significantly higher on the Childhood Autism Rating Scale (CARS) (P<0.05) and had a relatively higher proportion of severely ill children (66.7% vs 45.4%; P<0.05)compared with the non-regressive group. CONCLUSIONS: Regression as a characteristic symptom occurs in some autistic children and is of value for diagnosis of autism. The autistic children with regression display more severe social and language impairments than those without regression. Regressive autism may be a special subtype.

Association between FOXP2 gene and speech sound disorder in Chinese population.

AIM: FOXP2 was described as the first gene relevant to human speech and language disorders. The main objective of this study was to compare the distribution of FOXP2 gene polymorphisms between patients with speech sound disorder and healthy controls. METHODS: Five FOXP2 polymorphisms, rs923875, rs2396722, rs1852469, rs17137124 and rs1456031, were analyzed in 150 patients with speech sound disorder according to DSM-IV, as well as in 140 healthy controls. Coding exons for key domains of FOXP2 were also sequenced in all the patients. RESULTS: Significant differences in the genotype (P = 0.001) and allele (P = 0.0025) frequencies of rs1852469 (located 5' upstream of the ATG initiator codon) were found between patients and controls. The excess of the T allele in the patients group remained significant after Bonferroni correction (P = 0.0126). Further investigations revealed a risk haplotype: rs2396722T/+rs1852469T. Our screening of key domains did not detect any point mutations in this sample. But we detected heterozygous triplet deletion of the glutamine-encoding region of exon 5 that alter FOXP2 protein sequence in five probands. These changes are predicted to yield a polyglutamine tract reduction from 40 to 39 consecutive glutamines. CONCLUSIONS: Our data support a possible role of FOXP2 in the vulnerability to speech sound disorder, which adds further evidence to implicate this gene in speech and language functions.

MeCP2 gene mutation analysis in autistic boys with developmental regression.

Autism and Rett syndrome are both pervasive developmental disorders and share many characteristics in common. One of these features is developmental regression with loss of social, cognitive and language skills after a period of apparently normal development during the first 1-2 years of life, which raises the question of whether there is a common pathway underlying regression in these two disorders. The Rett syndrome gene was identified as MeCP2 gene on Xq28, a powerful transcriptional repressor. To explore its possible role in the etiology of autism and involvement in regression, we searched for MeCP2 gene mutations in a well characterized sample of 31 autistic boys with developmental regression by direct sequencing. One sequence variant in 3' untranslated region was observed. The patient inherited the variant from his unaffected mother, so it may be a rare polymorphism. No coding sequence variant was found in any of the patients tested. We conclude that mutations in the coding sequence of MeCP2 are not a frequent cause of regression in autism. The long 3' untranslated region of MeCP2 is highly conserved across species, suggesting that they are important for the post-transcriptional regulation of MeCP2 gene. It may be worthwhile extending the mutation screening, with a larger sample of strictly defined phenotype, to regulatory elements and untranslated regions of this gene, to explore to what degree MeCP2 gene is involved in the etiology of autism and its possible role in the regression of autism.

[Behavioral patterns of autistic children during infancy].

OBJECTIVE: The present study investigated the behavioral patterns of autistic children during infancy to provide clues for early identification of childhood autism. METHODS: The abnormal behaviors of 30 children with autism and 26 children with other developmental disorders in infancy were investigated. RESULTS: The children with autism presented a series of abnormal behaviors, including no social smile, no eye contact and no respond to own name, and joint attention deficiency, which were distinguished from the children with other developmental disorders. The imitation and attachment behaviors were significantly different between the two groups. Repetitive motor actions and interest peculiarity were only seen in children with autism. CONCLUSIONS: The children with autism may present a series of abnormal behaviors as early as in infancy. The abnormal behaviors facilitate early diagnosis of autism.

Association between the polymorphism in the promoter region of dopamine D4 receptor gene and chronic tic disorder.

OBJECTIVE: To study a possible association between the three functional polymorphisms in the promoter region of dopamine D4 receptor (DRD4) gene and chronic tic disorder. METHODS: Genomic DNA was isolated from the venous blood leukocytes of 84 unrelated patients with chronic tic disorder (Study group) and 100 healthy unrelated individuals (Control group). Polymorphisms of DRD4, 1240L/S, 616C/G and 521C/T, were genotyped by the allele-specific primer (ASP) PCR. Genotype, allele and haplotype frequencies were analysed by SHEsis online. RESULTS: There were significant differences in both allele and genotype frequencies (chi(2) = 8.419, P < 0.01; chi(2) = 7.860, P < 0.05 respectively) of DRD4-616C/G between the Study and the Control groups. Haplotypic frequencies of LCT (1240L/S, 616C/G, 521C/T) in the Study group were noticeably higher than in the Control group (chi(2) = 6.371, P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: There is an association between the DRD4-616C/G polymorphism and chronic tic disorder. The individuals with haplotype LCT (1240L/S, 616C/G, 521C/T) are susceptible to this disorder.