Microplastics have become a major concern in recent years as they can be recognized as the transport vectors for pollutants in environment. In this study, the sorption behavior of two phthalate ...esters (PAEs), including diethyl phthalate (DEP) and dibutyl phthalate (DBP), onto three types of microplastics (PVC: polyvinyl chloride, PE: polyethylene, and PS: polystyrene) was investigated. The sorption isotherms of both DEP and DBP on microplastics were highly linear, suggesting that the partition was the main sorption mechanism. The Kd values of DBP were much higher than those of DEP, demonstrating that hydrophobic interaction governed the partition mechanism. Sorption of the two PAEs on the three microplastics followed the order of PS > PE > PVC, indicating that chemical properties of microplastics played an important roles in their sorption behaviors. Solution pH and natural organic matter had no significant impact on PAEs sorption by microplastics. However, the presence of NaCl and CaCl2 enhanced the sorption of both DEP and DBP because of the salting-out effect. The findings of the present study may have significant implications for the fate and transport assessment of both PAEs and microplastics.
•Sorption of PAEs on the three microplastics followed the order of PS > PE > PVC.•The highly linear sorption isotherms were governed by the partition mechanism.•The presence of NaCl and CaCl2 enhanced the sorption of PAEs on microplastics.•Solution pH and natural organic matter had no significant impact on PAEs sorption.
Full text
Available for:
GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UILJ, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZAGLJ, ZRSKP
Toxicity of single microplastics on organisms has been reported widely, however, their joint toxicity with other contaminants on phytoplankton is rarely investigated. Here, we studied the toxicity of ...triclosan (TCS) with four kinds of microplastics namely polyethylene (PE, 74 μm), polystyrene (PS, 74 μm), polyvinyl chloride (PVC, 74 μm), and PVC800 (1 μm) on microalgae Skeletonema costatum. Both growth inhibition and oxidative stress including superoxide dismutase (SOD) and malondialdehyde (MDA) were determined. We found that TCS had obvious inhibition effect on microalgae growth within the test concentrations, and single microplastics also had significant inhibition effect which followed the order of PVC800 > PVC > PS > PE. However, the joint toxicity of PVC and PVC800 in combination with TCS decreased more than that of PE and PS. The higher adsorption capacity of TCS on PVC and PVC800 was one possible reason for the greater reduction of their toxicity. The joint toxicity of PVC800 was still most significant (PE < PVC < PS < PVC800) because of the minimum particle size. According to the independent action model, the joint toxicity systems were all antagonism. Moreover, the reduction of SOD was higher than MDA which revealed that the physical damage was more serious than intracellular damage. SEM images revealed that the aggregation of microplastics and physical damage on algae was obvious. Collectively, the present research provides evidences that the existence of organic pollutants is capable of influencing the effects of microplastics, and the further research on the joint toxicity of microplastics with different pollutants is urgent.
Display omitted
•Joint toxicity of microplastics and triclosan on microalgae was investigated.•Antagonistic effects increased with the higher adsorption capacity of triclosan.•The particles size is more important than category for the toxicity in some degree.•The toxicity of microplastics on microalgae mainly resulted from physical damage.
Joint toxicity effect of microplastics and triclosan on microalgae was antagonism.
Full text
Available for:
GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UILJ, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZAGLJ, ZRSKP
The hierarchical aggregation of molecular nanostructures from multiple components is a grand synthetic challenge, which requires highly selective linkage control. We demonstrate how two orthogonal ...linkage groups, that is, organotin and lanthanide cations, can be used to drive the aggregation of a giant molecular metal oxide superstructure. The title compound {(Sn(CH3)2)2O4{CeW5O18 TeW4O16CeSn(CH3)24TeW8O314}2}46− (1 a) features dimensions of ca. 2.2×2.3×3.4 nm3 and a molecular weight of ca. 25 kDa. Structural analysis shows the hierarchical aggregation from several independent subunits. Initial biomedical tests show that 1 features an inhibitory effect on the proliferation of HeLa cells based on an apoptosis pathway. In vivo experiments in mice reveal the antiproliferative activity of 1 and open new paths for further development of this new compound class.
Hierarchical assembly of a giant heterometallic polyoxotungstate supercluster with a molecular weight of ca. 25 kDa is reported. Geometrically unrestricted cerium(III) and geometrically restricted dimethyl tin cation linkers are used to gain access to a giant molecular species featuring three different polyoxometalate building units. The compound demonstrates in vitro and in vivo antiproliferative activity against HeLa cervical cancer cell lines.
Full text
Available for:
BFBNIB, FZAB, GIS, IJS, KILJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, SBCE, SBMB, UL, UM, UPUK
Fibrosis is the abnormal deposition of extracellular matrix, which can lead to organ dysfunction, morbidity, and death. The disease burden caused by fibrosis is substantial, and there are currently ...no therapies that can prevent or reverse fibrosis. Metabolic alterations are increasingly recognized as an important pathogenic process that underlies fibrosis across many organ types. As a result, metabolically targeted therapies could become important strategies for fibrosis reduction. Indeed, some of the pathways targeted by antifibrotic drugs in development - such as the activation of transforming growth factor-β and the deposition of extracellular matrix - have metabolic implications. This Review summarizes the evidence to date and describes novel opportunities for the discovery and development of drugs for metabolic reprogramming, their associated challenges, and their utility in reducing fibrosis. Fibrotic therapies are potentially relevant to numerous common diseases such as cirrhosis, non-alcoholic steatohepatitis, chronic renal disease, heart failure, diabetes, idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, and scleroderma.
Full text
Available for:
FZAB, GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, MFDPS, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, SBMB, SBNM, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK, VKSCE, ZAGLJ
Biological ion channels are known as membrane proteins which can turn on and off under environmental stimulus to regulate ion transport and energy conversion. Rapid progress made in biological ion ...channels provides inspiration for developing artificial nanochannels to mimic the structures and functions of ion transport systems and energy conversion in biological ion channels. Due to the advantages of abundant pore channels, metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) have become competitive materials to control the nanofluidic transport. Herein, a facile in situ synthesis method is developed to prepare hybrid nanochannels constructed by 2D MOFs and porous anodic aluminum (PAA). The introduction of asymmetries in the chemical composition and surface charge properties gives the hybrid outstanding ion current rectification properties and excellent ion selectivity. A power density of 1.6 W m−2 is achieved by integrating it into a salinity‐gradient‐driven device. With advantages of facile fabrication method and high ion selectivity, the prepared 2D MOFs/PAA hybrid membrane offers a promising candidate for power conversion and water desalination.
A 2D metal–organic frameworks/porous anodic aluminum (MOFs/PAA) hybrid membrane is fabricated with a facile strategy via in situ growth of 2D MOFs on a nanoporous PAA membrane. The as‐prepared hybrid nanochannel presents obvious ionic rectification properties and excellent ion selectivity, which can be used for manipulating ion transport and efficient salinity‐gradient energy conversion.
Full text
Available for:
BFBNIB, FZAB, GIS, IJS, KILJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, SBCE, SBMB, UL, UM, UPUK
The uncontrolled growth of Li dendrites upon cycling might result in low coulombic efficiency and severe safety hazards. Herein, a lithiophilic binary lithium–aluminum alloy layer, which was ...generated through an in situ electrochemical process, was utilized to guide the uniform metallic Li nucleation and growth, free from the formation of dendrites. Moreover, the formed LiAl alloy layer can function as a Li reservoir to compensate the irreversible Li loss, enabling long‐term stability. The protected Li electrode shows superior cycling over 1700 h in a Li|Li symmetric cell.
Dendrite‐free anodes: An efficient lithium–aluminum alloy medium with increased affinity for Li and generated through an in situ electrochemical process is engineered to guide uniform Li nucleation and suppress the growth of Li dendrites.
Full text
Available for:
BFBNIB, FZAB, GIS, IJS, KILJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, SBCE, SBMB, UL, UM, UPUK
Soaring cases of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) are pummeling the global health system. Overwhelmed health facilities have endeavored to mitigate the pandemic, but mortality of COVID-19 continues to ...increase. Here, we present a mortality risk prediction model for COVID-19 (MRPMC) that uses patients' clinical data on admission to stratify patients by mortality risk, which enables prediction of physiological deterioration and death up to 20 days in advance. This ensemble model is built using four machine learning methods including Logistic Regression, Support Vector Machine, Gradient Boosted Decision Tree, and Neural Network. We validate MRPMC in an internal validation cohort and two external validation cohorts, where it achieves an AUC of 0.9621 (95% CI: 0.9464-0.9778), 0.9760 (0.9613-0.9906), and 0.9246 (0.8763-0.9729), respectively. This model enables expeditious and accurate mortality risk stratification of patients with COVID-19, and potentially facilitates more responsive health systems that are conducive to high risk COVID-19 patients.
The oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) is one of the most important reactions in life processes and energy conversion systems. To alleviate global warming and the energy crisis, the development of ...high‐performance electrocatalysts for the ORR for application in energy conversion and storage devices such as metal–air batteries and fuel cells is highly desirable. Inspired by the biological oxygen activation/reduction process associated with heme‐ and multicopper‐containing metalloenzymes, iron and copper‐based transition‐metal complexes have been extensively explored as ORR electrocatalysts. Herein, an outline into recent progress on non‐precious‐metal electrocatalysts for the ORR is provided; these electrocatalysts do not require pyrolysis treatment, which is regarded as desirable from the viewpoint of bioinspired molecular catalyst design, focusing on iron/cobalt macrocycles (porphyrins, phthalocyanines, and corroles) and copper complexes in which the ORR activity is tuned by ligand variation/substitution, the method of catalyst immobilization, and the underlying supporting materials. Current challenges and exciting imminent developments in bioinspired ORR electrocatalysts are summarized and proposed.
An outline of recent progress on non‐precious‐metal electrocatalysts for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) is presented from the viewpoint of bioinspired molecular catalyst design, with a focus on iron/cobalt macrocycles and copper complexes in which the ORR activity is tuned by ligand modification, the method of catalyst immobilization, and the underlying supporting materials (see scheme).
Full text
Available for:
BFBNIB, FZAB, GIS, IJS, KILJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, SBCE, SBMB, UL, UM, UPUK
Abstract
Summary
The availability of cancer genomic data makes it possible to analyze genes related to cancer. Cancer is usually the result of a set of genes and the signal of a single gene could be ...covered by background noise. Here, we present a web server named Gene Set Cancer Analysis (GSCALite) to analyze a set of genes in cancers with the following functional modules. (i) Differential expression in tumor versus normal, and the survival analysis; (ii) Genomic variations and their survival analysis; (iii) Gene expression associated cancer pathway activity; (iv) miRNA regulatory network for genes; (v) Drug sensitivity for genes; (vi) Normal tissue expression and eQTL for genes. GSCALite is a user-friendly web server for dynamic analysis and visualization of gene set in cancer and drug sensitivity correlation, which will be of broad utilities to cancer researchers.
Availability and implementation
GSCALite is available on http://bioinfo.life.hust.edu.cn/web/GSCALite/.
Supplementary information
Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Adsorption of three selected pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs) (ketoprofen (KEP), carbamazepine (CBZ), and bisphenol A (BPA)) by two reduced graphene oxides (rGO1 and rGO2) and one ...commercial graphene was examined under different solution conditions. Single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs), multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs), and powdered graphite were also investigated for comparison. All adsorption isotherms followed the order of SWCNTs > rGO1 > rGO2 > MWCNTs > graphene > graphite, consistent with the orders of their surface areas and micropore volumes. After surface area normalization, adsorption affinities of the three PPCPs onto graphenes were lower than onto graphite, suggesting incomplete occupation for adsorption sites because of the aggregation of graphene sheets and the presence of oxygen-containing functional groups. The observed pH effects on adsorption correlated well with the pH-regulated distribution of the protonated neutral species of the three PPCPs. Increasing ionic strength from 0 to 20 mM increased KEP adsorption due to the electrostatic screening by Na+ and Ca2+. Both humic acid (HA) and sodium dodecylbenzenesulfonate (SDBS) suppressed PPCPs adsorption to all adsorbents, but their impacts onto graphenes were lower than those onto CNTs because of their lower adsorption by graphenes. More severe HA (or SDBS) effect was found on negatively charged KEP at the tested solution pH 6.50 due to the electrostatic repulsion between the same charged KEP and HA (or SDBS). The findings of the present study may have significant implications for the environmental fate assessment of PPCPs and graphene.
Full text
Available for:
IJS, KILJ, NUK, PNG, UL, UM
PDF
