Novel MIP gene mutation causes autosomal-dominant congenital cataract.

AIM: To identify disease-causative mutations in families with congenital cataract. METHODS: Two Chinese families with autosomal-dominant congenital cataract (ADCC) were recruited and underwent comprehensive eye examinations. Gene panel next-generation sequencing of common pathogenic genes of congenital cataract was performed in the proband of each family. Sanger sequencing was used to valid the candidate gene mutations and sequence the other family members for co-segregation analysis. The effect of sequence changes on protein structure and function was predicted through bioinformatics analysis. Major intrinsic protein (MIP)-wildtype and MIP-G29R plasmids were constructed and microinjected into zebrafish single-cell stage embryos. Zebrafish embryonic lens phenotypes were screened using confocal microscopy. RESULTS: A novel heterozygous mutation (c.85G>A; p.G29R) in the MIP gene was identified in the proband of one family. A known heterozygous mutation (c.97C>T; p.R33C; rs864309693) in MIP was found in the proband of another family. In-silico prediction indicated that the novel mutation might affect the MIP protein function. Zebrafish embryonic lens was uniformly transparent in both wild-type PCS2+MIP and mutant PCS2+MIP. CONCLUSION: Two missense mutations in the MIP gene in Chinese cataract families are identified, and one of which is novel. These findings expand the genetic spectrum of MIP mutations associated with cataracts. The functional studies suggest that the novel MIP mutation might not be a gain-of-function but a loss-of-function mutation.

Reversible pH-Gated MXene Membranes with Ultrahigh Mono-/Divalent-Ion Selectivity.

Artificial ion channel membranes hold high promise in water treatment, nanofluidics, and energy conversion, but it remains a great challenge to construct such smart membranes with both reversible ion-gating capability and desirable ion selectivity. Herein, we constructed a smart MXene-based membrane via p-phenylenediamine functionalization (MLM-PPD) with highly stable and aligned two-dimensional subnanochannels, which exhibits reversible ion-gating capability and ultrahigh metal ion selectivity similar to biological ion channels. The pH-sensitive groups within the MLM-PPD channel confers excellent reversible Mg2+-gating capability with a pH-switching ratio of up to 100. The mono/divalent metal-ion selectivity up to 1243.8 and 400.9 for K+/Mg2+ and Li+/Mg2+, respectively, outperforms other reported membranes. Theoretical calculations combined with experimental results reveal that the steric hindrance and stronger PPD-ion interactions substantially enhance the energy barrier for divalent metal ions passing through the MLM-PPD, and thus leading to ultrahigh mono/divalent metal-ion selectivity. This work provides a new strategy for developing artificial-ion channel membranes with both reversible ion-gating functionality and high-ion selectivity for various applications.

Comparing surgical site wound infection after laparoscopic and open radical cystectomies in patients with bladder cancer.

This study comprehensively compared the effects of laparoscopic and open radical cystectomies on postoperative wound infections and complications in patients with bladder cancer. We conducted a systematic search for relevant studies in PubMed, Embase, Google Scholar, Cochrane Library, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, and Wanfang databases, from database inception to October 2023. Two researchers independently screened the literature, extracted data, and assessed the quality based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Data analysis was performed using Stata 17.0 software. Overall, 16 studies involving 1427 patients with bladder cancer were included. The analysis revealed that, compared with open radical cystectomy, laparoscopic radical cystectomy significantly reduced the incidence of wound infections (odds ratio [OR] = 0.38, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.23-0.64, p < 0.001) and complications (OR = 0.35, 95%CI: 0.26-0.47, p < 0.001) and significantly shortened the hospital stay duration (standardised mean difference [SMD] = -1.85, 95%CI: -2.34 to -1.36, p < 0.001). Thus, this study determined that laparoscopic radical cystectomy for the treatment of bladder cancer effectively reduced the occurrence of wound infections and complications, and significantly shortened the patient's hospital stay, demonstrating notable therapeutic effectiveness worthy of clinical application.

Modulating the ferroelectric phases in cholesteryl-based organic compounds with perfluoroalkyl tail engineering.

Here, we synthesized a series of cholesteryl-based compounds, whose phases and their transformation can be modulated by temperature and the chain length of the fluoroalkyl moieties. To our knowledge, this is the first time that the phase transition could be modulated with perfluoroalkyl tail engineering in organic single-component ferroelectric crystals.

PEDF inhibits VEGF-induced vascular leakage through binding to VEGFR2 in acute myocardial infarction.

Pigment epithelium-derived factor (PEDF) could bind to vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 (VEGFR2) and inhibit its activation induced by VEGF. But how PEDF affects VEGFR2 pathway is still poorly understood. In this study, we elucidated the precise mechanism underlying the interaction between PEDF and VEGFR2, and subsequently corroborated our findings using a rat AMI model. PEDF prevented endocytosis of VE-cadherin induced by hypoxia, thereby protecting the endothelium integrity. A three-dimensional model of the VEGFR2-PEDF complex was constructed by protein-protein docking method. The results showed that the VEGFR2-PEDF complex was stable during the simulation. Hydrogen bonds, binding energy and binding modes were analyzed during molecular dynamics simulations, which indicated that hydrogen bonds and hydrophobic interactions were important for the recognition of VEGFR2 with PEDF. In addition, the results from exudation of fibrinogen suggested that PEDF inhibits vascular leakage in acute myocardial infarction and confirmed the critical role of key amino acids in the regulation of endothelial cell permeability. This observation is also supported by echocardiography studies showing that the 34mer peptide sustained cardiac function during acute myocardial infarction. Besides, PEDF and 34mer could inhibit the aggregation of myofiber in the heart and promoted the formation of a dense cell layer in cardiomyocytes, which suggested that PEDF and 34mer peptide protect against AMI-induced cardiac dysfunction. These results suggest that PEDF inhibits the phosphorylation of downstream proteins, thereby preventing vascular leakage, which provides a new therapeutic direction for the treatment of acute myocardial infarction.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.

High-density lipoprotein regulates angiogenesis by affecting autophagy via miRNA-181a-5p.

We previously demonstrated that normal high-density lipoprotein (nHDL) can promote angiogenesis, whereas HDL from patients with coronary artery disease (dHDL) is dysfunctional and impairs angiogenesis. Autophagy plays a critical role in angiogenesis, and HDL regulates autophagy. However, it is unclear whether nHDL and dHDL regulate angiogenesis by affecting autophagy. Endothelial cells (ECs) were treated with nHDL and dHDL with or without an autophagy inhibitor. Autophagy, endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) expression, miRNA expression, nitric oxide (NO) production, superoxide anion (O2•-) generation, EC migration, and tube formation were evaluated. nHDL suppressed the expression of miR-181a-5p, which promotes autophagy and the expression of eNOS, resulting in NO production and the inhibition of O2•- generation, and ultimately increasing in EC migration and tube formation. dHDL showed opposite effects compared to nHDL and ultimately inhibited EC migration and tube formation. We found that autophagy-related protein 5 (ATG5) was a direct target of miR-181a-5p. ATG5 silencing or miR-181a-5p mimic inhibited nHDL-induced autophagy, eNOS expression, NO production, EC migration, tube formation, and enhanced O2•- generation, whereas overexpression of ATG5 or miR-181a-5p inhibitor reversed the above effects of dHDL. ATG5 expression and angiogenesis were decreased in the ischemic lower limbs of hypercholesterolemic low-density lipoprotein receptor null (LDLr-/-) mice when compared to C57BL/6 mice. ATG5 overexpression improved angiogenesis in ischemic hypercholesterolemic LDLr-/- mice. Taken together, nHDL was able to stimulate autophagy by suppressing miR-181a-5p, subsequently increasing eNOS expression, which generated NO and promoted angiogenesis. In contrast, dHDL inhibited angiogenesis, at least partially, by increasing miR-181a-5p expression, which decreased autophagy and eNOS expression, resulting in a decrease in NO production and an increase in O2•- generation. Our findings reveal a novel mechanism by which HDL affects angiogenesis by regulating autophagy and provide a therapeutic target for dHDL-impaired angiogenesis.

Methods for detection and quantification of gelatin from different sources.

Gelatin is a water-soluble protein obtained from the collagen of various animal origins (porcine, bovine, fish, donkey, horse, and deer hide) and has diverse applications in the food, pharmaceutical, and cosmetics industries. Porcine and bovine gelatins are extensively used in food and non-food products; however, their acceptance is limited due to religious prohibitions, whereas fish gelatin is accepted in all religions. In Southeast Asia, especially in China, gelatin obtained from donkey and deer skins is used in medicines. However, both sources suffer from adulteration (mixing different sources of gelatin) due to their limited availability and high cost. Unclear labeling and limited information about actual gelatin sources in gelatin-containing products cause serious concern among societies for halal and fraud authentication of gelatin sources. Therefore, authenticating gelatin sources in gelatin-based products is challenging due to close similarities between the composition differences and degradation of DNA and protein biomarkers in processed gelatin. Thus, different methods have been proposed to identify and quantify different gelatin sources in pharmaceutical and food products. To the best of our knowledge, this systematic and comprehensive review highlights different authentication techniques and their limitations in gelatin detection and quantification in various commercial products. This review also describes halal authentication and adulteration prevention strategies of various gelatin sources, mainly focussing on research gaps, challenges, and future directions in this research area.

Arterial chemotherapy for hepatocellular carcinoma in China: consensus recommendations.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most common malignancies and the third leading cause of cancer-related deaths globally. Hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy (HAIC) treatment is widely accepted as one of the alternative therapeutic modalities for HCC owing to its local control effect and low systemic toxicity. Nevertheless, although accumulating high-quality evidence has displayed the superior survival advantages of HAIC of oxaliplatin, fluorouracil, and leucovorin (HAIC-FOLFOX) compared with standard first-line treatment in different scenarios, the lack of standardization for HAIC procedure and remained controversy limited the proper and safe performance of HAIC treatment in HCC. Therefore, an expert consensus conference was held on March 2023 in Guangzhou, China to review current practices regarding HAIC treatment in patients with HCC and develop widely accepted statements and recommendations. In this article, the latest evidence of HAIC was systematically summarized and the final 22 expert recommendations were proposed, which incorporate the assessment of candidates for HAIC treatment, procedural technique details, therapeutic outcomes, the HAIC-related complications and corresponding treatments, and therapeutic scheme management.

Smartphone-Assisted EY@MOF-5-Based Dual-Emission Fluorescent Sensor for Rapid On-Site Detection of Daclatasvir and Nitenpyram.

Fluorescent metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) are promising sensing materials with tunable and robust structural properties and remarkable luminescent capabilities. In this study, a novel dual-emission fluorescent metal-organic framework (EY@MOF-5) composite is synthesized by a one-pot bottle-around-ship approach. Eosin Y (EY) is encapsulated in MOF-5 to enhance its fluorescence properties and selectivity, effectively addressing typical MOF-5 limitations. EY@MOF-5 serves as a versatile dual-functional fluorescent sensor for two different analytes, daclatasvir (DCT) and nitenpyram (NTP), showing an impressive linear range of 10-200 nM and 0.1-300 µM, with detection limits of 233 pM and 65 nM, respectively. The established method is ultrafast, highly sensitive, and extremely selective for DCT and NTP detection in complex biological and food samples. Fluorescence results are compared and validated with the recommended UPLC method. Then, a smartphone-integrated sensing system is introduced for on-site, real-time, and quantitative analysis of DCT and NTP. The smartphone-assisted intelligent sensing method manifests promising results for DCT and NTP monitoring in biological and food samples, demonstrating its promising potential for the on-site detection of biologically and environmentally significant analytes.

Identifying the source and fate of boron in geothermal water: Evidence from B/Na and B isotopes.

High level dissolved B, which poses risks to human health, has been widely observed in geothermal water. In the Guide Basin, NW China, a series of geothermal water samples along a fault show a wide range of B contents ranging from 3.14 to 8.33 mg/L, which are higher than the WHO Guideline value equaling 2.4 mg/L in drinking water. To identify the sources and fate of B, we conduct a comprehensive analysis of hydrochemistry and stable isotopes (D, 18O and 11B) of three thermal fields representing three stages of hydrogeochemical evolution (stages I, II and III). From stage I to III, there are trends of increasing mineral dissolution, which is supported by increasing mean reservoir temperature and concentrations of conservative elements (Cl, Na, K, Li and Si). Geothermal water in stage I with meteoric origin and the lowest reservoir temperature has the highest B/Na resulting from silicate dissolution and falls on the mixing line between granitoids and cold water on the plot of δ11B versus 1/B, showing the control of silicate dissolution. However, geothermal water in stage III has lower Ca, B Sr and B/Na than that in stage II. Because of the occurrence of other processes, geothermal water in stages II and III deviates from the LMWL. Compared with geothermal water in stage I, the increased Sr/Ca and decreased B/Ca show that B are removed by both coprecipitation and vapor separation. With the aid of B isotopes, we find vapor separation dominates in stage II, whereas carbonate precipitation dominates in stage III. Overall, a combined use of three isotopes (H, O and B) and three element ratios (B/Na, B/Ca and Sr/Ca) leads to a complete understanding of B cycle and hydrogeochemical evolution in hydrothermal systems.

Enhancement in photocatalytic selectivity of TiO2-based nano-catalyst through molecular imprinting technology.

Improvement in the photocatalytic selectivity is imperative for the effective and efficient utilization of catalysts. In this study, a molecularly imprinted polymer-coated iron-doped titanium dioxide (Fe-TiO2@MIP) nanocomposite was successfully synthesized by precipitation polymerization while using RB-19 as a template. The synthesized nanocomposites (Fe-TiO2@MIP and Fe-TiO2@NIP) were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), atomic force microscopy (AFM), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) with energy dispersive X-ray (EDX), X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), Brunauer-EMMETT-Teller (BET), and UV-visible spectrophotometry. The optimized binding experiments revealed a high imprinting factor of 5.0 for RB-19. The catalytic degradation efficiency and selectivity of Fe-TiO2@MIP enhanced to almost complete degradation of RB-19 from 70% for the parent Fe-TiO2 and 76% for Fe-TiO2@NIP. An outstanding degradation selectivity of RB-19 was achieved compared to other competitive dyes. Finally, the analysis of the non-degraded and degraded RB-19 by ESI-MS revealed the presence of different intermediates that fits well with the proposed degradation mechanism. The study opens new possibilities of selective photo-degradation of targeted contaminants that may ultimately lead to efficient use of photocatalysts.

Determination of vitamin D metabolites in various biological samples through an improved chemical derivatization assisted liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry approach.

Vitamin D (VD) metabolites are involved in a variety of important metabolic processes and physiological effects in organisms. Profiling of VD metabolites favors a deep understanding of the physiological role of VD. However, VD metabolites are difficult to detect due to their high chemical structural rigidity, structural similarity, and low sensitivities under liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS). Herein, we present a chemical derivatization assisted LC-MS/MS strategy for the detection of VDs, in which 4-phenyl-1,2,4-triazoline-3,5-dione (PTAD) is employed to derivatize the conjugated diene of VD metabolites and provides sensitizing reporters for MS detection. After PTAD derivatization, the sensitivities of seven VD metabolites increased by 24-276 folds, with the limits of detection ranging from 3 to 20 pg mL-1. Using this method, we achieved a sensitive and accurate quantification of 7 VD metabolites (vitamin D2, vitamin D3, 25-hydroxyvitamin D2, 25-hydroxyvitamin D3, 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D2, 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3, and 1,24,25-trihydroxyvitamin D3) of the VD metabolic pathway in different trace biological samples, including human serum, mouse tissues (namely liver, kidney, lung, and spleen), and cells. We believe that the present method can provide a promising tool for an in-depth analysis of VD metabolism.

The impact of climate change and human activities to vegetation carbon sequestration variation in Sichuan and Chongqing.

Exploring the vegetation carbon cycle and the factors influencing vegetation carbon sequestration in areas with complex plateau-basin topography and fragile ecosystems is crucial. In this study, spatial and temporal characteristics of carbon sequestration by vegetation in Sichuan and Chongqing from 2010 to 2020 and the influencing factors were investigated through simulations of net primary productivity (NPP) using the modified Carnegie-Ames-Stanford approach (CASA) and the Thornthwaite Memorial (TM) model and using chemical equations of photochemical reactions. The results indicated that: The spatial distribution of carbon sequestration capacity (CSC) trends showed an increase in the east (the most prominent increased trend along the mountainous areas of the basin) and a decrease in the west (western Sichuan plateau). Differences exist in the impact factors of CSC in different regions. In the basin margins and mountainous areas, where the proportion of forests was high, a combination of climate change and human activities contributed to the increase in CSC. The relatively warm and humid meteorological conditions in the hinterland of the basin were more conducive to the increase in CSC, and climate change also affected the region more significantly. In contrast, in the relatively high altitude of western Sichuan, controlled human activities were the key to improving CSC. The results of the study contribute to the understanding of the basic theory of vegetation carbon cycle in areas with complex plateau-basin topography and fragile ecosystems, as well as to provide suggestions for ecological shelter construction and ecological restoration in the upper Yangtze River.

Insights into the antibacterial activity and antibacterial mechanism of silver modified fullerene towards Staphylococcus aureus by multiple spectrometric examinations.

Clarifying the antibacterial mechanism of silver (Ag)-based materials is of great significance for the rational design, synthesis, and evaluation of antimicrobials. Herein, detailed description of the antibacterial mechanism of a synthesized silver deposited fullerene material (Ag(I)-C60) towards Staphylococcus aureus was surveyed from the point of view of DNA damage by ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy (UV-vis), inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS), and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS). The model material, Ag(I)-C60, was prepared by liquid-liquid interfacial precipitation method, and characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), X-ray diffraction (XRD), thermos-gravimetric analysis (TGA), and nitrogen adsorption/desorption analysis. Ultra-efficient bacteriostatic rate of Ag(I)-C60 was found to be 88.98% under light irradiation for 20 min. UV-vis measurement of the composition changes of four DNA bases showed that they changed in the presence of Ag(I)-C60 under light irradiation, suggesting Ag(I)-C60 could destroy the cells and genetic material of Staphylococcus aureus and thereby inhibit its growth and reproduction. ICP-MS analysis demonstrated the releasing behavior of Ag+ from Ag-based materials. Finally, the transformation pathway of G, A, C, and T were measured by LC-MS, demonstrating the conversion of Adenine (m/z 136.06) to 8-OH-Ade (m/z 174.04). These collective results suggested that Ag(I)-C60 was a new ultra-efficient antibacterial by slowly releasing Ag+ in water and producing a large amount of ROS under light.

Multidisciplinary Taiwan consensus for the use of conventional TACE in hepatocellular carcinoma treatment.

Developed in early 1980s, transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) with Lipiodol was adopted globally after large-scale randomized control trials and meta-analyses proving its effectiveness were completed. Also known as "conventional TACE" (cTACE), TACE is currently the first-line treatment for patients with unresectable intermediate stage hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and delivers both ischemic and cytotoxic effects to targeted tumors. Although new technology and clinical studies have contributed to a more comprehensive understanding of when and how to apply this widely-adopted therapeutic modality, some of these new findings and techniques have yet to be incorporated into a guideline appropriate for Taiwan. In addition, differences in the underlying liver pathologies and treatment practices for transcatheter embolization between Taiwan and other Asian or Western populations have not been adequately addressed, with significant variations in the cTACE protocols adopted in different parts of the world. These mainly revolve around the amount and type of chemotherapeutic agents used, the type of embolic materials, reliance on Lipiodol, and the degree of selectiveness in catheter positioning. Subsequently, interpreting and comparing results obtained from different centers in a systematic fashion remain difficult, even for experienced practitioners. To address these concerns, we convened a panel of experts specializing in different aspects of HCC treatment to devise modernized recommendations that reflect recent clinical experiences, as well as cTACE protocols which are tailored for use in Taiwan. The conclusions of this expert panel are described herein.

Volume-Corrected Free Energy as a New Criterion for Structural Elucidation in Chemical-Tagging-Based Metabolomics.

Chemical tagging via possible derivatization reagents alters metabolites' retention times, leading to different retention behavior during liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) analysis. Incorporation of the retention time dimension can dramatically reduce false-positive structural elucidation in chemical-tagging-based metabolomics. However, few studies predict the retention times of chemically labeled metabolites, especially requiring a simple, easy-to-access, accurate, and universal predictor or descriptor. This pilot study demonstrates the application of volume-corrected free energy (VFE) calculation and region mapping as a new criterion to describe the retention time for structure elucidation in chemical-tagging-based metabolomics. The universality of VFE calculation is first evaluated with four different types of submetabolomes including hydroxyl-group-, carbonyl-group-, carboxylic-group-, and amino-group-containing compounds and oxylipins with similar chemical structures and complex isomers on reverse-phase LC. Results indicate a good correlation (r > 0.85) between VFE values and their corresponding retention times using different technicians, instruments, and chromatographic columns, describing retention behavior in reverse-phase LC. Finally, the VFE region mapping is described for identifying 1-pentadecanol from aged camellia seed oil using three proposed steps, including public database searching, VFE region mapping for its 12 isomers, and chemical standard matching. The possibility of VFE calculation of nonderivatized compounds in retention time prediction is also investigated, demonstrating its effectiveness on retention times with different influence factors.

Molecular Epidemiological Investigation of Cyclospora spp. in Holstein Cattle in Partial Areas of the Yunnan Province, China.

Cyclospora spp. is a food-borne intestinal protozoan, which is widely distributed in the world and poses the risk of zoonosis. In order to reveal the prevalence of Cyclospora spp. in Holstein cattle in partial areas of the Yunnan Province, 524 fresh fecal samples of Holstein cattle were collected from Dali, Kunming, Chuxiong, and Qujing in Yunnan Province. A nested PCR amplification of the small subunit (SSU) rRNA gene of Cyclospora spp. was carried out, and the products of the nested PCR were further analyzed by restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) using Bsp E Ⅰ. The results of the present study showed that 13 samples were positive for Cyclospora spp., and the total infection rate of Cyclospora sp. was 2.48%. The infection of Cyclospora spp. was detected in Dali, Qujing, and Chuxiong. Chuxiong showed the highest infection rate (5.71%), and infection rate in Dali and Qujing was 2.19% and 3.16%, respectively. Interestingly, the infection of Cyclospora spp. was not detected in Kunming. The infection of Cyclospora spp. showed no significant differences among different regions (p > 0.05). Cyclospora sp. infection was detected in all ages and sexes, but the differences were not significant (p > 0.05). Sequencing and phylogenetic analysis showed that five Cyclospora spp. samples were closely related to the Cyclospora spp. of humans, and the others were closely related to the Cyclospora spp. of bovines. The results of the present study suggested that there was an infection of Cyclospora spp. in Holstein cattle in the Yunnan Province, and the Cyclospora spp. showed a risk of zoonosis. Thus, the prevention and control of Cyclospora spp. should be strengthened in the Yunnan Province, China. The results of this investigation provide data references for the further research of Cyclosporiasis in Holstein cattle in the Yunnan Province.

Facile Approach for the Potential Large-Scale Production of Polylactide Nanofiber Membranes with Enhanced Hydrophilic Properties.

Polylactide (PLA) nanofiber membranes with enhanced hydrophilic properties were prepared through electrospinning. As a result of their poor hydrophilic properties, common PLA nanofibers have poor hygroscopicity and separation efficiency when used as oil-water separation materials. In this research, cellulose diacetate (CDA) was used to improve the hydrophilic properties of PLA. The PLA/CDA blends were successfully electrospun to obtain nanofiber membranes with excellent hydrophilic properties and biodegradability. The effects of the additional amount of CDA on the surface morphology, crystalline structure, and hydrophilic properties of the PLA nanofiber membranes were investigated. The water flux of the PLA nanofiber membranes modified with different CDA amounts was also analyzed. The addition of CDA improved the hygroscopicity of the blended PLA membranes; the water contact angle of the PLA/CDA (6/4) fiber membrane was 97.8°, whereas that of the pure PLA fiber membrane was 134.9°. The addition of CDA enhanced hydrophilicity because it tended to decrease the diameter of PLA fibers and thus increased the specific surface area of the membranes. Blending PLA with CDA had no significant effect on the crystalline structure of the PLA fiber membranes. However, the tensile properties of the PLA/CDA nanofiber membranes worsened due to the poor compatibility between PLA and CDA. Interestingly, CDA endowed the nanofiber membranes with improved water flux. The water flux of the PLA/CDA (8/2) nanofiber membrane was 28,540.81 L/m2·h, which was considerably higher than that of the pure PLA fiber membrane (387.47 L/m2·h). The PLA/CDA nanofiber membranes can be feasibly applied as an environmentally friendly oil-water separation material because of their improved hydrophilic properties and excellent biodegradability.

Design and Synthesis of Amphiphilic Catalyst [C16mim]5VW12O40Br and Its Application in Deep Desulfurization with Superior Cyclability at Room Temperature.

Achieving long-term stable deep desulfurization at room temperature and recovering high value-added sulfone products is a challenge at present. Herein, a series of catalysts [Cnmim]5VW12O40Br (CnVW12, 1-alkyl-3-methylimidazolium bromide tungstovanadate, n = 4, 8, 16) were presented for the room temperature catalytic oxidation of dibenzothiophene (DBT) and its derivatives. Factors affecting the reaction process, such as the amount of catalyst, oxidant, and temperature, were systematically discussed. C16VW12 showed higher catalytic performance, and 100% conversion and selectivity could be achieved in 50 min with only 10 mg. The mechanism study showed that the hydroxyl radical was the active radical in the reaction. Benefiting from the "polarity strategy", the sulfone product accumulated after 23 cycles in a C16VW12 system, and the yield and purity were about 84% and 100%, respectively.