Is it possible for fulvic acid modified dredged sediment biochar to adsorb tetracycline and result in a novel method of resource utilization?

In this study, dredged sediment from Baiyang Lake was used as raw material to prepare DSB at a pyrolysis temperature of 600 °C and in an anoxic pyrolysis atmosphere. The adsorption and removal performance of tetracycline in water of DSB were investigated using fulvic acid (FA) as the activator. The biochar materials were first characterized (SEM, BET, XRD, FTIR, and XPS), and the elemental composition and surface functional groups of F-DSB were investigated. The maximum adsorption capacity of F-DSB, according to the Langmuir model, was 72.3 mg/g. Results demonstrated that F-DSB exhibited good adsorption performance. In conclusion, FA is a potential green modifier that can be used to improve the adsorption properties of DSB. This research will be useful in improving our understanding of the possible adsorption mechanism and process optimization of modified DSB. This work offers a novel approach to the resource utilization of dredged sediment.

Photocatalytic degradation of organic pollutants by carbon quantum dots functionalized g-C3N4: A review.

Graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4) has received much attention due to its unique characteristics of stable physicochemical features, facile preparation, and inexpensive cost. However, the bulk g-C3N4 has a weak capacity for pollutant degradation and needs to be modified for real application. Therefore, extensive research has been done on g-C3N4, and the discovery of the novel zero-dimensional nanomaterials known as carbon quantum dots (CQDs) provided it with a unique modification option. In this review, the development for the removal of organic pollutants by g-C3N4/CQDs was discussed. Firstly, the preparation of g-C3N4/CQDs were introduced. Then, the application and the degradation mechanism of g-C3N4/CQDs were briefly described. And the discussion of the influencing factors on g-C3N4/CQDs' ability to degrade organic pollutants came in third. Finally, the conclusions of photocatalytic degradation of organic pollutants by g-C3N4/CQDs and future perspectives followed. This review will strengthen the understanding of the photocatalytic degradation of real organic wastewater by g-C3N4/CQDs, including their preparation, application, mechanism, and influencing factors.

A photo-switchable and thermal-enhanced fluorescent hydrogel prepared from N-isopropylacrylamide with water-soluble spiropyran derivative.

Herein, a photo-switchable and thermal-enhanced fluorescent hydrogel has been fabricated from N-isopropylacrylamide (NIPAAm) with a mixture of water-soluble acryloyl-α-cyclodextrin/acryloyl-α-cyclodextrin-spiropyran (acryloyl-α-CD/ acryloyl-α-CD-SP) as cross-linkers. The physical properties, photochromic properties, and fluorescent behavior of the hydrogel were characterized. The fluorescence emission of the hydrogel can be reversibly switched 'on/off' by UV/visible light irradiation, and meanwhile the fluorescence intensity can be enhanced by increasing the temperature above the volume phase transition temperature (VPTT) of the hydrogel. The hydrogel also shows spatiotemporal fluorescent behavior, excellent cytocompatibility, and fatigue resistance in photochromic and photo-switchable fluorescent behaviors.

[Comparison of clinical implications of p16 deletion in childhood and adult B-lineage acute lymphoblastic leukemia].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate and compare the clinical implications of p16 deletion in childhood and adult B-lineage acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL). METHODS: A total of 129 cases of de novo childhood (73 cases) and adult (56 cases) B-ALL were examined genetically and immunologically using G-banding techniqhe, interphase fluorescence in situ hybridization (I-FISH) and immunophenotyping by flow cytometry, and their clinical data were retrospectively analyzed. RESULTS: Of 73 childhood cases, the prevalences of homozygous deletion, hemizygous deletion and no deletion of p16 were 24.7% (18 cases), 6.8% (5 cases) and 68.5% (50 cases) respectively, and of 56 adult cases, the incidences as of 14.3% (8 cases), 8.9% (5 cases) and 76.8% (43 cases) respectively. The incidence of p16 deletion between the two groups had no significant difference (P = 0.338). In both groups, patients with or without p16 deletion had no significant difference in terms of white blood cells (WBC) count at diagnosis, BM blast percentage, chromosome karyotype, extra-infiltration and CR1 rate. Of note, there were 2 cases, each in childhood and adult, showed no deletion at the time of diagnosis, their p16 deletions occurred at relapse. The deletion of p16 was associated with poor overall survival and event-free survival (EFS) in both childhood and adults. According to the standard of NCI risk stratification, we divided patients of two groups into standard and high risk category respectively, and performed further analysis. The significance of different risk category in children and adults was disparity. The overall survival (OS) rates of deletion and no deletion of p16 were 45.3% and 79.8% (P = 0.006) in children, and 7.7% and 22.6% (P = 0.002) in adults, respectively. EFS rates of deletion and no deletion of p16 were 33.5% and 58.1% (P = 0.008) in children, and 0 and 10.9% (P < 0.01) in adults, respectively. Of the standard risk category in children, OS rates of deletion and no deletion of p16 were 46.8% and 89.3% (P = 0.015) respectively, and EFS rates of deletion and no deletion of p16 as of 40.9% and 82.1% (P = 0.007) respectively. Of the high risk category in children, OS rates of deletion and no deletion of p16 were 41.7% and 67.4% (P = 0.193) respectively, and EFS rates of deletion and no deletion of p16 were 25.0% and 25.6% (P = 0.305) respectively. Of the standard risk category in adults, OS rates of deletion and no deletion of p16 were 20.0% and 46.9% (P = 0.092) respectively, and EFS rates of deletion and no deletion of p16 were 0 and 25.0% (P = 0.062) respectively. Of the high risk category in adults, OS rates of deletion and no deletion of p16 were 0 and 12.4% (P < 0.001) respectively, and EFS rate of deletion and no deletion of p16 was 0 and 4.8%(P < 0.001), respectively. CONCLUSION: This study indicated that deletion of p16 was associated with poor prognosis in both childhood and adult B-ALL, which highlighted an important significance to define the status of p16 in both childhood and adult B-ALL for predicting prognosis and guiding clinical intervention.

[Identification of differentially expressed genes related to blastic crisis in chronic myeloid leukemia].

OBJECTIVE: To identify differentially expressed genes between chronic phase and blast crisis in chronic myeloid leukemia, explore the mechanism and screen potential biomarkers of disease progression. METHODS: The differences in the gene expression profiles of bone marrow mononuclear cells between chronic phase and blastic crisis were examined using DNA microarray. PANTHER database, Genomatix database and Bibliosphere software were used to analyze and predict the critical genes or transcription factors during disease progression. Some of the genes or transcription factors were selected for verification by semi-quantitative RT-PCR. RESULTS: In blastic crisis, 68 of the 1176 tested genes were obviously up-regulated. Sixteen of these differential genes were selectively expressed in leukocyte membranes. CD40, CCR3, LGALS3, RGS3, CEACAM3 and the related transcription factors RAC1, CTNNB1, TP53, and NF-κB, all as the nodes of the entire regulatory network, were presumed to play key roles in disease progression. The results of RT-PCR were consistent with the microarray data and showed high expression of CEACAM3, RGS3, CTNNB1 and RAC1 in blastic crisis. CONCLUSION: A group of genes have been identified to very likely play key roles or serve as biomarkers in the transition from the chronic phase to blastic crisis in chronic myeloid leukemia.

[Cytogenetic differences between adults and children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia: eight-probe fluorescence in situ hybridization and karyotype analyses].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the cytogenetic differences between children and adults with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) using eight-probe fluorescence in situ hybridization and karyotype analysis. METHODS: Eight-probe (MYC, P16, E2A, TEL/AML1, BCR/ABL , MLL , IGH, and hyperdiploidy) fluorescence in situ hybridization and karyotype analysis were performed for 86 adults and 39 children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia. RESULTS: Eight-probe fluorescence in situ hybridization showed significant differences in the positivity rate of TEL/AML1, BCR/ABL, and hyperdiploidy between adult patients and children with ALL. By karyotype analysis, the positivity rate of t(9;22) and hyperdiploidy differed significantly between the children and adult patients (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Adults and children with ALL have different expression profiles of the fusion genes. Eight-probe fluorescence in situ hybridization is time-saving, accurate and efficient in detecting common genetic abnormalities in ALL patients, and can be well complementary to karyotype analysis in clinical diagnosis of ALL.