Thoracolumbar fractures patients undergoing posterior pedicle screw fixation can benefit from drainage.

PURPOSE: To explore whether it is necessary to put drain tubes after posterior pedicle screw fixation of thoracolumbar fractures. METHODS: From April 2020 to January 2023, a total of 291 patients with recent thoracolumbar fractures (AO type-A or type-B) who received the pedicle screw fixation operation were enrolled retrospectively. In 77 patients, drain tubes were used in the pedicle screw fixation surgery, while no drain tubes were placed in the other group. After gleaning demographic information and results of lab examination and imageology examination, all data were put into a database. Independent-sample t-tests, Pearson Chi-Square tests, Linear regression analysis, and correlation analysis were then performed. RESULTS: Compared to the control group, the drainage group had significantly lower postoperative CRP levels (P = 0.047), less use of antipyretics (P = 0.035), higher ADL scores (P = 0.001), and lower NRS scores (P < 0.001) on the 6th day after surgery. Other investigation items, such as demographic information, operation time, intraoperative blood loss, body temperature, and other preoperative and postoperative lab results, showed no significant differences. CONCLUSIONS: The use of a drain tube in the pedicle screw fixation of thoracolumbar fractures is correlated with the improvement of patients' living and activity ability and the reduction of inflammation, postoperative fever and pain.

Recent advances in batch production of transfer-free graphene.

Large-area transfer-free graphene films prepared via chemical vapor deposition have proved appealing for various applications, with exciting examples in electronics, photonics, and optoelectronics. To achieve their commercialisation, batch production is a prerequisite. Nevertheless, the prevailing scalable synthesis strategies that have been reported are still obstructed by production inefficiencies and non-uniformity. There has also been a lack of reviews in this realm. We present herein a comprehensive and timely summary of recent advances in the batch production of transfer-free graphene. Primary issues and promising approaches for improving the graphene growth rate are first addressed, followed by a discussion of the strategies to guarantee in-plane and batch uniformity for graphene grown on planar plates and wafer-scale substrates, with the design of the target equipment to meet productivity requirements. Finally, potential research directions are outlined, aiming to offer insights into guiding the scalable production of transfer-free graphene.

Three-dimensional particle streak velocimetry based on optical coherence tomography for assessing preimplantation embryo movement in mouse oviduct in vivo.

The mammalian oviduct (or fallopian tube) is a tubular organ hosting reproductive events leading to pregnancy. Dynamic 3D imaging of the mouse oviduct with optical coherence tomography (OCT) has recently emerged as a promising approach to study the hidden processes vital to elucidate the role of oviduct in mammalian reproduction and reproductive disorders. In particular, with an intravital window, in vivo OCT imaging is a powerful solution to studying how the oviduct transports preimplantation embryos towards the uterus for pregnancy, a long-standing question that is critical for uncovering the functional cause of tubal ectopic pregnancy. However, simultaneously tracking embryo movement and acquiring large-field-of-view images of oviduct activity in 3D has been challenging due to the generally limited volumetric imaging rate of OCT. A lack of OCT-based 3D velocimetry method for large, sparse particles acts as a technical hurdle for analyzing the mechanistic process of the embryo transport. Here, we report a new particle streak velocimetry method to address this hurdle. The method relies on the 3D streak of a moving particle formed during the acquisition of a single OCT volume, where double B-scans are acquired at each B-scan location to resolve ambiguity in assessing the movement of particle. We validated this method with the gold-standard, direct volumetric particle tracking in a flow phantom, and we demonstrated its in vivo applications for simultaneous velocimetry of embryos and imaging of oviduct. This work sets the stage for quantitative understanding of the oviduct transport function in vivo, and the method fills in a gap in OCT-based velocimetry, providing the potential to enable new applications in 3D flow imaging.

Tailoring Localized Electrolyte via a Dual-Functional Protein Membrane toward Stable Zn Anodes.

Considerable attention has been by far paid to stabilizing metallic Zn anodes, where side reactions and dendrite formation still remain detrimental to their practical advancement. Electrolyte modification or protected layer design is widely reported; nonetheless, an effective maneuver to synergize both tactics has been rarely explored. Herein, we propose a localized electrolyte optimization via the introduction of a dual-functional biomass modificator over the Zn anode. Instrumental characterization in conjunction with molecular dynamics simulation indicates local solvation structure transformation owing to the limitation of bound water with intermolecular hydrogen bonds, effectively suppressing hydrogen evolutions. Meanwhile, the optimized nucleation throughout the protein membrane allows uniform Zn deposition. Accordingly, the symmetric cell exhibits an elongated lifespan of 3280 h at 1.0 mA cm-2/1.0 mAh cm-2, while the capacity retention of the full cell sustains 91.1% after 2000 cycles at 5.0 A g-1. The localized electrolyte tailoring via protein membrane introduction might offer insights into operational metal anode protection.

Quasi van der Waals Epitaxy of Single Crystalline GaN on Amorphous SiO2/Si(100) for Monolithic Optoelectronic Integration.

The realization of high quality (0001) GaN on Si(100) is paramount importance for the monolithic integration of Si-based integrated circuits and GaN-enabled optoelectronic devices. Nevertheless, thorny issues including large thermal mismatch and distinct crystal symmetries typically bring about uncontrollable polycrystalline GaN formation with considerable surface roughness on standard Si(100). Here a breakthrough of high-quality single-crystalline GaN film on polycrystalline SiO2/Si(100) is presented by quasi van der Waals epitaxy and fabricate the monolithically integrated photonic chips. The in-plane orientation of epilayer is aligned throughout a slip and rotation of high density AlN nuclei due to weak interfacial forces, while the out-of-plane orientation of GaN can be guided by multi-step growth on transfer-free graphene. For the first time, the monolithic integration of light-emitting diode (LED) and photodetector (PD) devices are accomplished on CMOS-compatible SiO2/Si(100). Remarkably, the self-powered PD affords a rapid response below 250 µs under adjacent LED radiation, demonstrating the responsivity and detectivity of 2.01 × 105 A/W and 4.64 × 1013 Jones, respectively. This work breaks a bottleneck of synthesizing large area single-crystal GaN on Si(100), which is anticipated to motivate the disruptive developments in Si-integrated optoelectronic devices.

In-situ synthesized and induced vertical growth of cobalt vanadium layered double hydroxide on few-layered V2CTx MXene for high energy density supercapacitors.

Two-dimensional (2D) MXene nanomaterials display great potential for green energy storage. However, as a result of self-stacking of MXene nanosheets and the presence of conventional binders, MXene-based nanomaterials are significantly hindered in their rate capability and cycling stability. We successfully constructed a self-supported stereo-structured composite (TMA-V2CTx/CoV-LDH/NF) by in-situ growing 2D cobalt vanadium layered double hydroxide (CoV-LDH) vertically on 2D few-layered V2CTx MXene nanosheets and interconnecting it with Ni foam (NF) with a self-supported structure to act as a binder-free electrode. In addition to inhibiting CoV-LDH aggregation, the highly conductive V2CTx MXene and CoV-LDH work synergistically to improve charge storage. The specific capacitance of the TMA-V2CTx/CoV-LDH/NF electrode is 2374 F/g (1187 C/g) at 1 A/g. At the same time, the TMA-V2CTx/CoV-LDH/NF exhibits excellent stability, retaining 85.3 % of its specific capacitance at 20 A/g after 10,000 cycles. In addition, the hybrid supercapacitor (HSC) is assembled based on positive electrode (TMA-V2CTx/CoV-LDH/NF) and negative electrode (AC), achieving the maximum energy density of 74.4 Wh kg-1 at 750.3 W kg-1. TMA-V2CTx/CoV-LDH/NF has potential as an electrode material for storing green energy. The research strategy provides a development prospect for the construction of novel V2CTx MXene-based electrode material with self-supported structures.

Different concentrations of betaxolol switch cell fate between necroptosis, apoptosis, and senescence in human corneal stromal cells.

Betaxolol is commonly used to manage glaucoma in clinical practice. However, its long-term use may damage the cornea. Thus, the cytotoxicity and mechanisms of betaxolol in human corneal stromal cells (HCSCs) warrant further study. In this study, we used in vitro HCSCs and in vivo rabbit corneal models to investigate betaxolol cytotoxic effects and mechanism of action. At near-clinical concentrations (0.28% and 0.14%), betaxolol inhibited caspase-8 activity, activated receptor-interacting protein kinase (RIPK)1, RIPK3, and mixed-spectrum kinase-like domain (MLKL), and phosphorylated MLKL to induce necroptosis in HCSCs. Similarly, moderate concentrations of betaxolol (0.07%-0.0175%) activated caspase-8 to trigger the exogenous apoptotic pathway. Through the intrinsic apoptotic pathway, betaxolol upregulated the expression of Bcl-2 family apoptotic proteins Bax and Bad and downregulated that of anti-apoptotic proteins Bcl-2 and Bcl-xL. This subsequently disrupted the mitochondrial membrane potential and cytoplasmic transfer of cytochrome c and apoptosis-inducing factor, activated caspase-9, and induced apoptosis in HCSCs. Furthermore, continuous treatment with low betaxolol concentrations (0.00875%) for three generations of HCSCs prevented apoptosis by promoting the expression of Bcl-xL and suppressing that of Bax. However, its toxic effects initiated cellular senescence by increasing reactive oxygen species, leading to the disruption of energy metabolism and DNA damage. Finally, clinical concentrations of betaxolol had a pro-apoptotic effect on rabbit corneal stromal cells in vivo. These results suggest that betaxolol induces cytotoxicity in a concentration-dependent manner in HCSCs, and that caspase-8 and Bcl-2 family proteins may be critical switches in the conversion of different HCSC death mechanisms.

Establishing Pinhole Deposition Mode of Zn via Scalable Monolayer Graphene Film.

The uneven texture evolution of Zn during electrodeposition would adversely impact upon the lifespan of aqueous Zn metal batteries. To address this issue, tremendous endeavors are made to induce Zn(002) orientational deposition employing graphene and its derivatives. Nevertheless, the effect of prototype graphene film over Zn deposition behavior has garnered less attention. Here, it is attempted to solve such a puzzle via utilizing transferred high-quality graphene film with controllable layer numbers in a scalable manner on a Zn foil. The multilayer graphene fails to facilitate a Zn epitaxial deposition, whereas the monolayer film with slight breakages steers a unique pinhole deposition mode. In-depth electrochemical measurements and theoretical simulations discover that the transferred graphene film not only acts as an armor to inhibit side reactions but also serves as a buffer layer to homogenize initial Zn nucleation and decrease Zn migration barrier, accordingly enabling a smooth deposition layer with closely stacked polycrystalline domains. As a result, both assembled symmetric and full cells manage to deliver satisfactory electrochemical performances. This study proposes a concept of "pinhole deposition" to dictate Zn electrodeposition and broadens the horizons of graphene-modified Zn anodes.

Suppression of B-Cell Activation by Human Cord Blood-Derived Stem Cells (CB-SCs) through the Galectin-9-Dependent Mechanism.

We developed the Stem Cell Educator therapy among multiple clinical trials based on the immune modulations of multipotent cord blood-derived stem cells (CB-SCs) on different compartments of immune cells, such as T cells and monocytes/macrophages, in type 1 diabetes and other autoimmune diseases. However, the effects of CB-SCs on the B cells remained unclear. To better understand the molecular mechanisms underlying the immune education of CB-SCs, we explored the modulations of CB-SCs on human B cells. CB-SCs were isolated from human cord blood units and confirmed by flow cytometry with different markers for their purity. B cells were purified by using anti-CD19 immunomagnetic beads from human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). Next, the activated B cells were treated in the presence or absence of coculture with CB-SCs for 7 days before undergoing flow cytometry analysis of phenotypic changes with different markers. Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was utilized to evaluate the levels of galectin expressions on CB-SCs with or without treatment of activated B cells in order to find the key galectin that was contributing to the B-cell modulation. Flow cytometry demonstrated that the proliferation of activated B cells was markedly suppressed in the presence of CB-SCs, leading to the downregulation of immunoglobulin production from the activated B cells. Phenotypic analysis revealed that treatment with CB-SCs increased the percentage of IgD+CD27- naïve B cells, but decreased the percentage of IgD-CD27+ switched B cells. The transwell assay showed that the immune suppression of CB-SCs on B cells was dependent on the galectin-9 molecule, as confirmed by the blocking experiment with the anti-galectin-9 monoclonal antibody. Mechanistic studies demonstrated that both calcium levels of cytoplasm and mitochondria were downregulated after the treatment with CB-SCs, causing the decline in mitochondrial membrane potential in the activated B cells. Western blot exhibited that the levels of phosphorylated Akt and Erk1/2 signaling proteins in the activated B cells were also markedly reduced in the presence of CB-SCs. CB-SCs displayed multiple immune modulations on B cells through the galectin-9-mediated mechanism and calcium flux/Akt/Erk1/2 signaling pathways. The data advance our current understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying the Stem Cell Educator therapy to treat autoimmune diseases in clinics.

Puromycin reveals a distinct conformation of neuronal ribosomes.

Puromycin is covalently added to the nascent chain of proteins by the peptidyl transferase activity of the ribosome and the dissociation of the puromycylated peptide typically follows this event. It was postulated that blocking the translocation of the ribosome with emetine could retain the puromycylated peptide on the ribosome, but evidence against this has recently been published [Hobson et al., Elife 9, e60048 (2020); and Enam et al., Elife 9, e60303 (2020)]. In neurons, puromycylated nascent chains remain in the ribosome even in the absence of emetine, yet direct evidence for this has been lacking. Using biochemistry and cryoelectron microscopy, we show that the puromycylated peptides remain in the ribosome exit channel in the large subunit in a subset of neuronal ribosomes stalled in the hybrid state. These results validate previous experiments to localize stalled polysomes in neurons and provide insight into how neuronal ribosomes are stalled. Moreover, in these hybrid-state neuronal ribosomes, anisomycin, which usually blocks puromycylation, competes poorly with puromycin in the puromycylation reaction, allowing a simple assay to determine the proportion of nascent chains that are stalled in this state. In early hippocampal neuronal cultures, over 50% of all nascent peptides are found in these stalled polysomes. These results provide insights into the stalling mechanisms of neuronal ribosomes and suggest that puromycylated peptides can be used to reveal subcellular sites of hybrid-state stalled ribosomes in neurons.

Effects of limonin on oxidative stress and early apoptosis in oocytes during in vitro maturation.

To investigate the effects of limonin (Lim) on oxidative stress and early apoptosis in bovine oocytes during in vitro maturation (IVM), different concentrations of Lim (0, 10, 20, 50 µmol/L) were added to bovine IVM medium. Oocyte maturation rates and development 24 h after in vitro fertilization (IVF) were examined to determine the optimal Lim concentration. The optimal Lim concentration was added to the IVM medium, and 0 µmol/L Lim was used as the control. Immunofluorescence staining was used to detect the abnormal rate of spindle assembly, reactive oxygen species (ROS), glutathione (GSH), mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) levels, mitochondrial distribution, and the fluorescence intensity of cathepsin B (CB)-active LC3 protein. RT‒qPCR was used to detect the mRNA expression levels of antioxidant-, apoptosis- and autophagy-related genes in oocytes. The total number of blastocysts and the proportion of apoptotic cells among blastocysts were detected. The results showed that the PBI ejection rate, cleavage rate and blastocyst rate of bovine oocytes in the 20 µmol/L Lim group were significantly higher than those in the control group (P < 0.05). Compared with those in the control group, ROS levels, abnormal mitochondrial distribution, the proportion of abnormal spindle assembly, CB activity and LC3 protein fluorescence intensity of oocytes in the 20 µmol/L Lim group were significantly decreased (P < 0.05), and GSH and MMP levels were significantly increased (P < 0.05). The expression of antioxidant genes (Prdx3, Prdx6, Sirt1) and antiapoptotic genes (Bcl-xl, Survivin) were significantly upregulated (P < 0.05), and the expression levels of proapoptotic genes (Caspase-4, BAX) and autophagy-related genes (LC3) were significantly downregulated (P < 0.05). The total number of cells among in vitro fertilized embryos was significantly increased (P < 0.05), and the apoptosis rate of blastocysts was significantly decreased (P < 0.05). Here, we show that Lim exerts positive effects on bovine oocyte IVM by regulating REDOX homeostasis, reducing spindle damage and enhancing mitochondrial function during IVM, thereby inhibiting oocyte apoptosis and autophagy.

Textured Asymmetric Membrane Electrode Assemblies of Piezoelectric Phosphorene and Ti3C2Tx MXene Heterostructures for Enhanced Electrochemical Stability and Kinetics in LIBs.

Black phosphorus with a superior theoretical capacity (2596 mAh g-1) and high conductivity is regarded as one of the powerful candidates for lithium-ion battery (LIB) anode materials, whereas the severe volume expansion and sluggish kinetics still impede its applications in LIBs. By contrast, the exfoliated two-dimensional phosphorene owns negligible volume variation, and its intrinsic piezoelectricity is considered to be beneficial to the Li-ion transfer kinetics, while its positive influence has not been discussed yet. Herein, a phosphorene/MXene heterostructure-textured nanopiezocomposite is proposed with even phosphorene distribution and enhanced piezo-electrochemical coupling as an applicable free-standing asymmetric membrane electrode beyond the skin effect for enhanced Li-ion storage. The experimental and simulation analysis reveals that the embedded phosphorene nanosheets not only provide abundant active sites for Li-ions, but also endow the nanocomposite with favorable piezoelectricity, thus promoting the Li-ion transfer kinetics by generating the piezoelectric field serving as an extra accelerator. By waltzing with the MXene framework, the optimized electrode exhibits enhanced kinetics and stability, achieving stable cycling performances for 1,000 cycles at 2 A g-1, and delivering a high reversible capacity of 524 mAh g-1 at - 20 â„ƒ, indicating the positive influence of the structural merits of self-assembled nanopiezocomposites on promoting stability and kinetics.

SARS-CoV-2 Protein Nanoparticle Vaccines Formed In Situ From Lyophilized Lipids.

The receptor binding domain (RBD) of the SARS-CoV-2 Spike (S) glycoprotein is an appealing immunogen, but associated vaccine approaches must overcome the hapten-like nature of the compact protein and adapt to emerging variants with evolving RBD sequences. Here, a vaccine manufacturing methodology is proposed comprising a sterile-filtered freeze-dried lipid cake formulation that can be reconstituted with liquid proteins to instantaneously form liposome-displayed protein nanoparticles. Mannitol is used as a bulking agent and a small amount of Tween-80 surfactant is required to achieve reconstituted submicron particles that do not precipitate prior to usage. The lipid particles include an E. coli-derived monophosphoryl lipid A (EcML) for immunogenicity, and cobalt porphyrin-phospholipid (CoPoP) for antigen display. Reconstitution of the lipid cake with aqueous protein results in rapid conversion of the RBD into intact liposome-bound format prior to injection. Protein particles can readily be formed with sequent-divergent RBD proteins derived from the ancestral or Omicron strains. Immunization of mice elicits antibodies that neutralize respective viral strains. When K18-hACE2 transgenic mice are immunized and challenged with ancestral SARS-CoV-2 or the Omicron BA.5 variant, both liquid liposomes displaying the RBD and rapid reconstituted particles protect mice from infection, as measured by the viral load in the lungs and nasal turbinates.

Effects of 3-month Qigong exercise on heart rate variability and respiration in anxious college students.

OBJECTIVE: This longitudinal study aimed to investigate the effects of Qigong on the anxiety state, heart rate variability (HRV), and breathing of anxious college students. METHODS: A total of 37 individuals (18-25 years old) were randomly allocated to the control (n = 19) and intervention (n = 18) groups. Qigong interventions were conducted five times weekly for 12 weeks, with each session lasting 60 min. Hamilton Anxiety Scale, Fatigue Scale 14, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, and 36-item Short Form Survey, HRV, and respiration data were collected before and after the 3-month intervention. RESULTS: Individuals who participated in the three-month Qigong exercise intervention showed a significant reduction in anxiety, particularly mental anxiety (p < 0.05). Subjects in the intervention group presented a decrease in skin temperature (p < 0.05) and an increase in blood volume pulsation (p < 0.05). Meanwhile, HRV exhibited a significant increase in the standard deviation of interbeat interval before and after comparisons (p < 0.05) and between the two groups (p = 0.039) and a reduction in the normalized low-frequency power after the intervention. Moreover, the intervention group experienced increased abdominal breathing depth and abdominal breathing per minute (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: These findings indicate that Qigong is an effective mind-body exercise strategy for relieving anxiety. HRV and breathing were improved accordingly among college students after the completion of the 3-month Qigong program.

A Holistic Additive Protocol Steers Dendrite-Free Zn(101) Orientational Electrodeposition.

Orientation guidance has shown its cutting edges in electrodeposition modulation to promote Zn anode stability toward commercialized standards. Nevertheless, large-scale orientational deposition is handicapped by the competition between Zn-ion reduction and mass transfer. Herein, a holistic electrolyte additive protocol is put forward via incorporating bio-derived dextrin molecules into a zinc sulfate electrolyte bath. Electrochemical tests in combination with molecular dynamics simulations demonstrate the alleviation of concentration polarization throughout accelerating Zn2+ diffusion and retarding their reduction. The predominant (101) texture on inert current collectors (i.e., Cu, Ti, and stainless steel) and (101)/(002) textures on Zn foils afford homogeneous electrical field distribution, which is contributed by the work difference to form the 2D nucleus and the adsorption of dextrin molecules, respectively. Consequently, the symmetric cell harvests a longevous cycling lifespan of over 4000 h at 0.5 mA cm-2 /0.5 mAh cm-2 while the Zn@Cu electrode sustains for 240 h at a high depth of discharge of 40%.

Dendrite-Free and High-Rate Potassium Metal Batteries Sustained by an Inorganic-Rich SEI.

Potassium metal battery is an appealing candidate for future energy storage. However, its application is plagued by the notorious dendrite proliferation at the anode side, which entails the formation of vulnerable solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) and non-uniform potassium deposition on the current collector. Here, this work reports a dual-modification design of aluminum current collector to render dendrite-free potassium anodes with favorable reversibility. This work achieves to modulate the electronic structure of the designed current collector and accordingly attain an SEI architecture with robust inorganic-rich constituents, which is evidenced by detailed cryo-EM inspection and X-ray depth profiling. The thus-produced SEI manages to expedite ionic conductivity and guide homogeneous potassium deposition. Compared to the potassium metal cells assembled using typical aluminum current collector, cells based on the designed current collector realize improved rate capability (maintaining 400 h under 50 mA cm-2 ) and low-temperature durability (stable operation at -50 °C). Moreover, scalable production of the current collector allows for the sustainable construction of high-safety potassium metal batteries, with the potential for reducing the manufacturing cost.

Manganese-cobalt hydroxide nanosheets anchored on a hollow sulfur-doped bimetallic MOF for high-performance supercapacitors and the hydrogen evolution reaction in alkaline media.

Nonmetallic doping and in situ growth techniques for designing electrode materials with excellent electrocatalytic activity are effective strategies to enhance the electrochemical performance. Bifunctional electrode materials for supercapacitors (SCs) and the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) have attracted great interest due to their potential applications in green energy storage and conversion. Herein, the bimetallic MnCo LDH is anchored on a hollow sulfur (S)-doped MnCo-MOF-74 surface, forming a poplar flower-like 3D composite which is used for SCs and the HER in alkaline media. The fabricated S-MnCo-MOF-74@MnCo LDH/NF electrode exhibits a favorable specific capacitance of 1875.4 F g-1 at 1 A g-1 and steady long-term cycling performance. Moreover, the assembled HSC using S-MnCo-MOF-7@MnCo LDH/NF as the cathode material and active carbon (AC) as the anode material shows 546.4 F g-1 capacitance (1 A g-1) with a maximum energy density of 58 W h kg-1 at 14 000 W kg-1 power density. As an electrocatalyst, S-MnCo-MOF-7@MnCo LDH/NF exhibits excellent HER properties with a small Tafel slope of 128.9 mV dec-1 a low overpotential of 197 mV at 10 mA cm-2 and durable performance for 10 hours in alkaline media. The present work provides insights into understanding and designing active electrode materials for stable hydrogen evolution and high-performing supercapacitors in an alkaline environment.

Fine-tuning bromide AIE probes for Hg2+ detection in mitochondria with wash-free staining.

Mercury ions (Hg2+) primarily target mitochondria in the cells. Therefore, the development of novel probes that specifically target mitochondria in the presence of Hg2+ is of immense importance. Most previously reported probes that utilize the softness of S, Te, O, and/or N atoms for Hg2+ binding often face problems such as fluorescence quenching and off-target signals. In this study, bromide-hydrocarbon pyridinium salts were designed to target the mitochondria and chelate Hg2+ via Hg-Br coordination bonds. As a prototype, four aggregation-induced emission (AIE) fluorogens, namely TPP-Br, TPP-Cl, R1, and R2, with a similar D-π-A structure but slight differences in their halogen substituents, were designed. Among them, only TPP-Br achieved the highly selective and sensitive detection of Hg2+ by triggering its AIE properties, resulting in remarkable emission enhancement (80-fold), colorimetry, and the Tyndall effect. TPP-Br exhibited high selectivity and sensitivity to Hg2+ with a detection limit of 0.35 µM, rapid response time (<10 s), and large Stokes shift of 185 nm. Their interaction modes were studied using a combination of 1H nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, fluorescent lifetime decay, and theoretical calculations. TPP-Br exhibited a low emission background in cells, whereas in the presence of Hg2+, mitochondria were lit up with wash-free staining. This study provides a powerful tool for accurately diagnosing mercury poisoning-related diseases in mitochondria.

Removal of organic pollutants through hydroxyl radical-based advanced oxidation processes.

The use of Advance Oxidation Process (AOPs) has been extensively examined in order to eradicate organic pollutants. This review assesses the efficacy of photolysis, O3 based (O3/UV, O3/H2O2, O3/H2O2/UV, H2O2/UV, Fenton, Fenton-like, hetero-system) and sonochemical and electro-oxidative AOPs in this regard. The main purpose of this review and some suggestions for the advancement of AOPs is to facilitate the elimination of toxic organic pollutants. Initially proposed for the purification of drinking water in 1980, AOPs have since been employed for various wastewater treatments. AOPs technologies are essentially a process intensification through the use of hybrid methods for wastewater treatment, which generate large amounts of hydroxyl (•OH) and sulfate (SO4·-) radicals, the ultimate oxidants for the remediation of organic pollutants. This review covers the use of AOPs and ozone or UV treatment in combination to create a powerful method of wastewater treatment. This novel approach has been demonstrated to be highly effective, with the acceleration of the oxidation process through Fenton reaction and photocatalytic oxidation technologies. It is clear that Advance Oxidation Process are a helpful for the degradation of organic toxic compounds. Additionally, other processes such as •OH and SO4·- radical-based oxidation may also arise during AOPs treatment and contribute to the reduction of target organic pollutants. This review summarizes the current development of AOPs treatment of wastewater organic pollutants.

A Theoretical Study on the Degradation Mechanism, Kinetics, and Ecotoxicity of Metronidazole (MNZ) in •OH- and SO4•--Assisted Advanced Oxidation Processes.

Metronidazole (MNZ), a typical example of nitroimidazole antibiotics, is widely used in the treatment of infectious diseases caused by anaerobic bacteria. The degradation mechanism and kinetics of MNZ in the presence of HO• and SO4•- were studied using density functional theory (DFT). It was confirmed that both HO• and SO4•- easily added to the carbon atom bonded to the NO2 group in the MNZ molecule as the most feasible reaction channel. This study shows that subsequent reactions of the most important product (M-P) include the O2 addition, hydrogen abstraction and bond breakage mechanisms. The rate constants of HO• and SO4•--initiated MNZ in the aqueous phase were calculated in the temperature range of 278-318 K. The total rate constants of MNZ with HO• and SO4•- were determined to be 8.52 × 109 and 1.69 × 109 M-1s-1 at 298 K, which were consistent with experimental values of (3.54 ± 0.42) × 109 and (2.74 ± 0.13) × 109 M-1s-1, respectively. The toxicity of MNZ and its degradation products to aquatic organisms has been predicted. The results proposed that the toxicity of the initial degradation product (M-P) was higher than that of MNZ. However, further degradation products of MNZ induced by HO• were not harmful to three aquatic organisms (fish, daphnia, and green algae). This study provides a comprehensive theoretical basis for understanding the degradation behavior of MNZ.