Macrophages play an important role in a wide variety of physiologic and pathologic processes. Plasticity and functional polarization are hallmarks of macrophages. Macrophages commonly exist in two ...distinct subsets: classically activated macrophages (M1) and alternatively activated macrophages (M2). M2b, a subtype of M2 macrophages, has attracted increasing attention over the past decade due to its strong immune‐regulated and anti‐inflammatory effects. A wide variety of stimuli and multiple factors modulate M2b macrophage polarization in vitro and in vivo. M2b macrophages possess both protective and pathogenic roles in various diseases. Understanding the mechanisms of M2b macrophage activation and the modulation of their polarization might provide a great perspective for the design of novel therapeutic strategies. The purpose of this review is to discuss current knowledge of M2b macrophage polarization, the roles of M2b macrophages in a variety of diseases and the stimuli to modulate M2b macrophage polarization.
Review outlines the current knowledge of the stimuli of M2b macrophage polarization and the roles of these cells in diseases.
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FZAB, GIS, IJS, KILJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, SAZU, SBCE, SBMB, UL, UM, UPUK
Microplastics are widespread across the global oceans, yet the potential risks of the ubiquitous environmental contaminant to marine organisms has been less known. Accumulation of microplastics and ...associated contaminants in marine fish, may pose adverse impacts to human health via seafood consumption. This study evaluated microplastic contamination in 24 fish species collected from Beibu Gulf, one of the world’s largest fishing grounds in South China Sea. Microplastics were detected in 12 fish species at an abundance of 0.027–1.000 items individual−1 and found in fish stomach, intestines and gills with the count percentage of 57.7%, 34.6% and 7.7%, respectively. Transparent fibers were observed as the predominant microplastics, which might be ingested accidently by fish or transferred through other animals at lower trophic levels. Majority of microplastics were identified as polyester (44%) and nylon (38%), whereas polypropylene (6%), polyethylene (6%), and acrylics (6%) were also found. Relatively, higher microplastic abundances were found in demersal fish compared to the pelagic species. Overall, the abundance of microplastics was documented as relatively low in the commercial fish collected from the open water of Beibu Gulf, South China Sea.
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•Microplastics were present in 12 fish species from Beibu Gulf, South China Sea.•Microplastic abundance ranged from 0.027 to 1.000 items individual−1 in different species.•The polymer types were detected predominantly as polyester and nylon.•Fibers were the dominant form and accounted for 96% of microplastics.
The main finding of the work: This study documented microplastics was considerably low in commercial fish collected from Beibu Gulf, South China Sea.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UILJ, UL, UM, UPUK, ZAGLJ, ZRSKP
Biodegradable plastics, as alternatives to conventional plastics, are increasingly used, but their interactions with organic pollutants are still unknown. In this study, the sorption and desorption ...behaviors on a type of biodegradable plastic−poly(butylene adipate co-terephtalate) (PBAT) were investigated, and at the same time two types of conventional plastics−polyethylene (PEc and PEv) and polystyrene (PS) were used for comparison. Phenanthrene (PHEN) was chosen as one of representative organic pollutants. Results indicated that the sorption and desorption capacities of PBAT were not only higher than those of the other types of microplastics, but also higher than those of carbonaceous geosorbents. The surface area normalized results illustrated that sorption and desorption of the microplastics were positively correlated with their abundance of rubbery subfraction. The sorption kinetic results showed that the sorption rates of PBAT and PEc were higher than PEv and PS. The effects of water chemistry factors including salinity, dissolved organic matter and Cu2+ ion on the sorption process displayed the same trend, but the degrees of influence on the four microplastics differed. The degrees of influence were mainly dependent on the abundance of rubbery subfraction for microplastics. These findings indicate that the biodegradable poly(butylene adipate co-terephtalate) microplastics are actually stronger vectors than the conventional microplastics, and crystallization characteristics of the microplastics have great influences on the vector effect.
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•Biodegradable microplastics sorbed/desorbed more PHEN than conventional ones.•Sorption/desorption capacities depended on the content of rubbery subfraction.•Plastic additives didn't alter the microplastics adsorption process.•High salinity and low DOM strengthen the sorption of PHEN onto microplastics.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UILJ, UL, UM, UPUK, ZAGLJ, ZRSKP
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•Microplastics were found in 30 fish species from Zhanjiang mangrove wetland.•Microplastics could be detected in gills, stomach and intestine of the fishes.•Fiber was the dominant ...microplastic shape detected in fish bodies.•Polyethylene was the highly abundant polymer type in collected microplastics.
Microplastics (MPs) are widespread in marine and estuarine environments, but the contamination of MPs in mangrove wetlands is relatively unknown. Here, we quantify the presence of MPs in fish collected from Zhanjiang mangrove wetland, the largest mangrove in South China, which provide baseline data on MPs accumulation in fish in mangrove environment as the first evidence in China. MPs were found in 30 out of 32 fish species at an average abundance of 2.83 ± 1.84 items individual−1, ranged from 0.6 to 8.0 items individual−1 in each species. MPs were detected in gills, stomach and intestine, and not found in muscles and livers. Positive relationship was found between MPs abundance and body length or weight of mangrove fish. The dominant polymers identified by micro-FTIR were polyethylene, polyethylene terephthalate, polypropylene and cellophane. MPs consisted primarily of fibers and with the prominent size range of 0.02–1 mm. The body sizes, living habitats and feeding habits of fish are important factors affecting MPs accumulation in different fish species. This study revealed the wide presences of MPs in fish species within a mangrove wetland.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UL, UM, UPUK, ZRSKP
Abstract
Carbon nanotube (CNT), particularly single-walled CNT, possesses exceptional properties, and can be utilized in many high-end applications including high-performance electronics. However, ...the atomic arrangement of a CNT determines its band structure, making the atomic-precision fabrication one of most important topics for the development of this material. In this perspective, the author gives a personal summary on the history, current status of the atomic-precision fabrication of CNT and outlines the remaining challenges as well as the possible paths that may lead the production of atomically precise CNTs from ‘fabrication’ to ‘manufacturing’.
A retrospective analysis of routine surveillance data involving children hospitalized in central Wuhan, China, for acute lower respiratory infection in early January 2020 revealed six cases of ...Covid-19. The authors report clinical characteristics of the children and laboratory data.
As the most powerful antigen-presenting cell type, dendritic cells (DCs) can induce potent antigen-specific immune responses in vivo, hence becoming optimal cell population for vaccination purposes. ...DCs can be derived ex vivo in quantity and manipulated extensively to be endowed with adequate immune-stimulating capacity. After pulsing with cancer antigens in various ways, the matured DCs are administrated back into the patient. DCs home to lymphoid organs to present antigens to and activate specific lymphocytes that react to a given cancer. Ex vivo pulsed DC vaccines have been vigorously investigated for decades, registering encouraging results in relevant immunotherapeutic clinical trials, while facing some solid challenges. With more details in DC biology understood, new theory proposed, and novel technology introduced (featuring recently emerged mRNA vaccine technology), it is becoming increasingly likely that ex vivo pulsed DC vaccine will fulfill its potential in cancer immunotherapy.
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EMUNI, FIS, FZAB, GEOZS, GIS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, MFDPS, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, SBMB, SBNM, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK, VKSCE, ZAGLJ
Microplastics, as emerging contaminants in the global environment, have become a cause for concern for both academics and the public. The present understanding of microplastic pollution is primarily ...focused on marine environments, and less attention has been given to freshwater environments, in particular, to urban rivers. In this study, microplastics were sampled from surface water and sediments in 14 sites located in the lower course of the Pearl River. These sampling sites are located along Guangzhou of South China, with built-up areas being the dominant land use. The abundances of microplastics in surface water and sediments ranged from 379 to 7924 items·m−3 and 80 to 9597 items·kg−1, respectively. Polyethylene and polypropylene were the common types of microplastics, together accounting for 64.3% and 73.8% of surface water and sediment samples, respectively. Fibers were the dominant microplastic shapes in both water and sediment samples. The abundances of microplastics varied in surface water and sediments with each site, which might be affected by multiple factors. Our results indicated that wastewater treatment plants (WWTP) could reduce microplastics from municipal sewage which was finally discharged into the Pearl River along Guangzhou.
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•Microplastics in the Pearl River along Guangzhou were investigated for the first time.•Fibers were detected in both surface water and sediment samples.•PE and PP were the dominant polymer types in surface water and sediments.•WWTP in Guangzhou could reduce microplastic pollution in the municipal sewage.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UL, UM, UPUK, ZRSKP
Cs/FA/MA triple cation perovskite films have been well developed in the antisolvent dripping method, attributable to its outstanding photovoltaic and stability performances. However, a facile and ...effective strategy is still lacking for fabricating high‐quality large‐grain triple cation perovskite films via sequential deposition method a, which is one of the key technologies for high efficiency perovskite solar cells. To address this issue, a δ‐CsPbI3 intermediate phase growth (CsPbI3‐IPG) assisted sequential deposition method is demonstrated for the first time. The approach not only achieves incorporation of controllable cesium into (FAPbI3)1–x(MAPbBr3)x perovskite, but also enlarges the perovskite grains, manipulates the crystallization, modulates the bandgap, and improves the stability of final perovskite films. The photovoltaic performances of the devices based on these Cs/FA/MA perovskite films with various amounts of the δ‐CsPbI3 intermediate phase are investigated systematically. Benefiting from moderate cesium incorporation and intermediate phase‐assisted grain growth, the optimized Cs/FA/MA perovskite solar cells exhibit a significantly improved power conversion efficiency and operational stability of unencapsulated devices. This facile strategy provides new insights into the compositional engineering of triple or quadruple cation perovskite materials with enlarged grains and superior stability via a sequential deposition method.
A δ‐CsPbI3 intermediate phase growth (IPG)‐assisted sequential deposition strategy is developed in this work, which not only achieves controllable Cs+ incorporation and enlarged perovskite grains, but also manipulates the crystallization, modulates the bandgap, and improves the stability of the final perovskite film. This CsPbI3‐IPG is a facile and effective strategy to obtain large‐grain Cs+ incorporated perovskite films via sequential deposition.
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BFBNIB, FZAB, GIS, IJS, KILJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, SAZU, SBCE, SBMB, UL, UM, UPUK
Thermoelectric materials can be used to convert waste heat into electrical energy, which is considered to be a cleaner form of energy that reduces carbon dioxide and greenhouse gas emissions. In this ...work, we study the thermoelectric properties of penta-PdX2 (X = S, Se, Te) using first-principles calculations together with Boltzmann transport theory. The dynamic and thermal stability of penta-PdX2 is confirmed based on phonon dispersion and ab initio molecular dynamics (AIMD) simulations. The transport coefficients, such as thermal conductivity (kl), power factor (PF) and thermoelectric figure of merit (ZT), exhibit strong anisotropy in both x and y directions. The lower thermal conductivity of penta-PdX2 can be attributed to the lower group velocity and larger phase space. The thermal conductivity of penta-PdX2 along the same direction (x or y direction) adheres to the trend of PdS2 > PdSe2 > PdTe2. The anisotropy of PF and kl of penta-PdX2 monolayers inevitably leads to anisotropy of ZT. The largest ZT values of penta-PdX2 (X = S, Se) for p-type are 0.85 and 1.18, respectively, while the maximum ZT value of penta-PdTe2 reaches 2.42. The predicted ZT values of penta-PdX2 are larger than those of the commercial TE material Bi2Te3 (about 0.8) and some other transition metal di-chalcogenides, indicating that penta-PdX2 (X = S, Se, Te) monolayers are potential anisotropic thermoelectric materials.
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