Objective Photodynamic therapy has the potential of a minimal invasive outpatient procedure for CIN patients at reproductive ages. The purpose of this study was to examine the pharmacokinetics and ...selectivity of porphyrin synthesis after topical application of hexaminolevulinate (HAL) in patients with cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN). Study Design Twenty-four women with CIN 1-3 received 4 mmol/L or 10 mmol/L HAL dissolved in thermolabile pluronic F 127 gel topically 5-720 minutes before surgical conization. The microscopic fluorescence pattern was quantified by ex vivo fluorescence spectroscopy at a wavelength of 635 nm and semiquantitatively by digital image analysis from cryosections. Results With 4 and 10 mmol/L HAL, porphyrin fluorescence intensity increased over time, reaching a peak after 180-540 minutes application intervals in CIN and normal epithelium. However, the peak was much more pronounced in CIN than in normal tissues. The fluorescence intensity with 10 mmol/L was significantly higher than that with 4 mmol/L in CIN tissues ( P < .05). Maximum intensity could generally be detected in the lower layer of the epithelium. Conclusion HAL seems to be a promising molecule for fluorescence diagnosis. For further treatment studies, we recommend application of 10 mmol/L HAL 300-540 minutes before photodynamic therapy in CIN.
Because of the uncertainty of renewable energy generation and load, batteries as energy storage devices play an important role in ensuring the safety and reliability of microgrid. To take full ...advantage of the batteries, the battery lifetime characteristics are analysed, and a weighted Wh throughput method is proposed to estimate the battery lifetime. To improve the economy of microgrid, an economic scheduling model of microgrid in grid-connected mode is established with the consideration of battery lifetime. For fast and efficiently solving the model, a technique is developed to convert the optimisation problem into a mixed integer linear programming problem and a mixed integer linear programming algorithm is applied to solve it. The proposed method has been validated on a microgrid, which consists of a wind turbine, a photovoltaic system, a micro turbine, a fuel cell, a diesel engine and a battery energy storage system (BESS). The simulation results show that the BESS is managed rationally and the total operation cost of microgrid over scheduling period is decreased by applying the proposed scheduling method.
The low utilization of active sites and sluggish reaction kinetics of MoSe2 severely impede its commercial application as electrocatalyst for hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). To address these two ...issues, the first example of introducing 1T MoSe2 and N dopant into vertical 2H MoSe2/graphene shell/core nanoflake arrays that remarkably boost their HER activity is herein described. By means of the improved conductivity, rich catalytic active sites and highly accessible surface area as a result of the introduction of 1T MoSe2 and N doping as well as the unique structural features, the N‐doped 1T‐2H MoSe2/graphene (N‐MoSe2/VG) shell/core nanoflake arrays show substantially enhanced HER activity. Remarkably, the N‐MoSe2/VG nanoflakes exhibit a relatively low onset potential of 45 mV and overpotential of 98 mV (vs RHE) at 10 mA cm−2 with excellent long‐term stability (no decay after 20 000 cycles), outperforming most of the recently reported Mo‐based electrocatalysts. The success of improving the electrochemical performance via the introduction of 1T phase and N dopant offers new opportunities in the development of high‐performance MoSe2‐based electrodes for other energy‐related applications.
A new powerful strategy to remarkably boost the electrocatalytic activity of MoSe2/graphene nanoflakes by introducing 1T MoSe2 and a N dopant simultaneously is demonstrated. These N‐doped MoSe2/graphene nanoflakes show outstanding hydrogen evolution reaction performance, with a small overpotential of 98 mV, a low Tafel slope of around 49 mV dec−1, and an excellent long‐term durability.
Context: The effects of the anticancer drug paclitaxel on learning and memory are rarely studied.
Objective: This study investigated changes in GABA
B
receptor expression during paclitaxel-induced ...apoptosis of hippocampal neurons and the role of the p38MAPK/NF-κB pathway in this process.
Materials and methods: Hippocampal neurons isolated from neonatal Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into six groups: Control (C), SB (10 µL of 10-µmol/L SB203580), SN (53 µg/mL SN50), N (1 µmol/L paclitaxel), SB + N (10 µmol/L SB203580 + 1 µmol/L paclitaxel) and SN + N (53 µg/mL SN50 + 1 µmol/L paclitaxel). Cells in different groups were treated with corresponding agents for 24 h at 37 °C. The apoptosis rate and protein levels of GABA
B1
receptors and NF-κB p65 were evaluated. Rat models of neuropathic pain was induced by paclitaxel and were divided into four groups such as N, B + N, SN + N and SN + B + N groups. Rats in the N group received intrathecal injections of normal saline solution. Rats in the B + N group received intrathecal injections of 10 μL baclofen (0.05 μg/μL). Rats in the SN + N and SN + B + N groups received intrathecal injections of SN50 and SN50 plus baclofen, respectively. Spatial learning and memory were evaluated in rat models based on the escape latency and the number of crossings over the platform and protein levels of GABA
B1
receptors, NF-κB, IL-1β and TNFα were measured by immunohistochemistry assay and western blot.
Results: The neuronal apoptosis rate was significantly increased in N (49.16 ± 3.12)%, SB + N (31.18 ± 3.02)% and SN + N (28.47 ± 3.75)% groups, accompanied by increased levels of GABA
B1
receptors and NF-κB p65 (p < 0.05). The paclitaxel-treated rats demonstrated significantly increased latency (24.32 ± 2.94)s and decreased the crossings number (3.14 ± 0.63) after 15 d in the Morris water maze (p < 0.05). Immunohistochemistry assay showed that compared with the N group (GABA
B1:
9.0 ± 1.6, NF-κB p65:29.6 ± 2.4, IL-1β: 30.4 ± 3.4, TNFα: 31.0 ± 3.4), B + N, SN + N and SN + B + N groups evidently increased levels of GABA
B1
receptor (B + N:SN + N:SN + B + N = 19.4 ± 2.1:20.8 ± 1.9:28.0 ± 1.9) but significantly decreased levels of NF-κB p65 (B + N:SN + N:SN + B + N = 21.2 ± 1.5:18.6 ± 2.1:12.6 ± 1.5), IL-1β (B + N:SN + N:SN + B + N = 22.0 ± 1.0:19.6 ± 1.8:14.6 ± 1.5) and TNF α (B + N:SN + N:SN + B + N = 23.0 ± 1.6:22.2 ± 0.8:16.6 ± 1.7). Similar findings were found in western blot analysis.
Discussions and conclusions: Paclitaxel may reduce cognitive function in rats through the p38MAPK/NF-κB pathway and GABA
B1
receptors.
A novel strategy for the supercapacitor with high energy and power performance using porous nanofibers as the electrodes and separators in ionic liquid electrolyte is proposed. Polyacrylonitrile ...(PAN) porous nanofibers separator is prepared via electrospinning and solvent phase separation process, which exhibit high electrolyte uptake and ionic mobility. The porous carbon nanofibers electrode derived from PAN porous nanofibers shows high conductivity, specific surface and ionic mobility. The porous nanofibers are characterized by scanning electron microscopy, thermal gravimetric and contact angle analysis etc. The electrochemical performances of porous nanofibers are investigated by electrochemical measurements. The influence of pore structure on the electrochemical performance of porous nanofibers is evaluated. The supercapacitor constructed by porous nanofibers as electrode and separator in ionic liquid electrolyte exhibits high specific capacity (248.3 F g−1), low internal resistance (0.82 Ω), wide electrochemical stability window (3.5 V) and good cyclstabilty (99.8%). The results show that electrospinning is an efficient technique for producing separator and electrode materials of supercapacitor without compromising the eco-friendliness and raw material cost.
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•PAN porous nanofibers separator was prepared via electrospinning and phase separation method.•Porous carbon nanofibers were prepared via electrospinning, phase separation and carbonization process.•Supercapacitor was constructed by using PAN-derived porous nanofibers as separator and electrode in ionic liquid electrolyte.
Summary
The effect of different modified atmosphere packaging conditions, 75 kPa O2 (high‐oxygen atmosphere, HOA), 3.0 kPa O2 + 5.0 kPa CO2 (low‐oxygen atmosphere, LOA) and passive atmosphere (PA) on ...the antioxidant properties of ready‐to‐eat honey pomelo slices stored at 4 °C was investigated. Both ascorbic acid content and antioxidant capacity underwent a significant depletion under HOA in comparison with LOA and PA. Total phenolic content among the samples stored under HOA and PA decreased significantly, but not for LOA. Moreover, HOA was more effective in maintaining the firmness of the slices. The hue angle values among different packaging atmosphere conditions were significantly affected, but chroma values were not. Both high oxygen and low oxygen concentrations inhibited the growth of spoilage microorganism of honey pomelo slices.
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•A facile strategy for fabrication of micron-sized PS@Ag-NPs microspheres with excellent SERS activity and reproducibility is developed.•The single microsphere SERS technique ...possesses the capability of anti-dilutability and the utilization of ultra-low PS@Ag-NPs microsphere dosage.•Two feasible and simple protocols are set up to realize qualitative and quantitative detection of trace pesticide residues on fruit.•The single microsphere SERS technique supplies a promising prospect in food safety monitoring.
Hypothesis: Surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) has become an emerging and reliable tool for detecting pesticide residues due to its high sensitivity, fast testing speed and easy sample handling. SERS active substrates are the key to achieve efficient and sensitive detection. However, for the most widely used noble metal nanoparticles, there are problems of high noble metal nanoparticle usage and random aggregation. The micron-scale Raman spot is focused on multiple randomly aggregated nanoparticles during the test, resulting in poor reproducibility. Therefore, the development of micron-scale cost-effective SERS substrates with good reproducibility and simple detecting method is of great significance in practical detection.
Experiments: Through deposition of silver nanoparticles (Ag-NPs) by chemical reduction on the surface of monodisperse sulfonated polystyrene (SPS) microspheres, micron-sized PS@Ag-NPs core–shell microspheres were prepared with excellent SERS activity. After that, two simple protocols (Method I and Method II) were explored for the determination of thiram on apple epidermis.
Findings: Based on our developed strategy of the single microsphere SERS technique, we successfully fabricated uniform PS@Ag-NPs substrate with high SERS activity and excellent detection sensitivity. The single microsphere SERS technique possesses the capability of anti-dilutability and the utilization of ultra-low PS@Ag-NPs microsphere dosage, realizing qualitative and quantitative detection of thiram on apple with detection limits far below the standard stipulated by China and the European Union.
The Brinkman equations are used to describe the dynamics of fluid flows in complex porous media, with the high variability in the permeability coefficients, which may take extremely large or small ...values. This paper is devoted to the numerical analysis of a family of weak Galerkin (WG) finite element methods for solving the time-dependent Brinkman problems. This WG method is equipped with stable finite elements consisting of usual polynomials of degree k≥1 for the velocity and polynomials of degree k−1 for the pressure. The velocity element is enhanced by polynomials of degree k on the interface of the finite element partition. All the finite element functions are discontinuous for which the usual gradient and divergence operators are implemented as distributions in properly-defined spaces. We further establish a priori error estimates in L2 norm and H1 norm, and we provide a few numerical experiments to illustrate the behavior of the proposed scheme and confirm our theoretical findings regarding optimal convergence of the approximate solutions.
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