Rapid developments in the electric industry have promoted an increasing demand for lithium resources. Lithium in salt lake brines has emerged as the main source for industrial lithium extraction, ...owing to its low cost and extensive reserves. The effective separation of Mg
2+
and Li
+
is critical to achieving high recovery efficiency and purity of the final lithium product. This paper summarizes Mg
2+
/Li
+
separation materials and methods in the field of lithium recovery from salt lake brines. The review begins with an introduction to the global distribution and demand for lithium resources, followed by a description of the materials used in various separation techniques, including precipitation, adsorption, solvent extraction, nanofiltration membrane, electrodialysis, and electrochemical methods. A comparison, analysis, and outlook of such methods are comprehensively discussed in terms of principles, mechanisms, synthesis/operation, development, and industrial applications. We conclude with a presentation of challenges and insights into the future directions of lithium extraction from salt lake brines. A combination of the advantages of various materials is the most logical step toward developing novel methods for extracting lithium from brines with high separation selectivity, stability, low cost, and environmentally friendly characteristics.
Many animals exploit several niches sequentially during their life cycles, a fitness referred to as ontogenetic niche shift (ONS). To successfully accomplish ONS, transition between development ...stages is often coupled with changes in one or more primitive, instinctive behaviors. Yet, the underlining molecular mechanisms remain elusive. We show here that Leptinotarsa decemlineata larvae finish their ONS at the wandering stage by leaving the plant and pupating in soil. At middle wandering phase, larvae also switch their phototactic behavior, from photophilic at foraging period to photophobic. We find that enhancement of juvenile hormone (JH) signal delays the phototactic switch, and vise verse. Moreover, RNA interference (RNAi)-aided knockdown of LdPTTH (prothoracicotropic hormone gene) or LdTorso (PTTH receptor gene) impairs avoidance response to light, a phenotype nonrescuable by 20-hydroxyecdysone. Consequently, the RNAi beetles pupate at the soil surface or in shallow layer of soil, with most of them failing to construct pupation chambers. Furthermore, a combination of depletion of LdPTTH/LdTorso and disturbance of JH signal causes no additive effects on light avoidance response and pupation site selection. Finally, we establish that TrpA1 (transient receptor potential (TRP) cation channel) is necessary for light avoidance behavior, acting downstream of PTTH. We conclude that JH/PTTH cascade concomitantly regulates metamorphosis and the phototaxis switch, to drive ONS of the wandering beetles from plant into soil to start the immobile pupal stage.
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is one of the chronic systemic autoimmune diseases that cardinally affect the joints. Many people all over the world suffer from the disease. Fibroblast‐like synoviocytes ...(FLSs) play a significant role in the occurrence and development of RA. The long noncoding RNA maternally expressed gene 3 (MEG3) is an imprinted gene, which participates in various cancers as a tumor suppressor. Previous studies have shown that nucleotide oligomerization domain (NOD)‐like receptors 5 (NLRC5) plays a key role in inflammatory and autoimmune diseases. Nonetheless, we know very little about the biofunctionality of MEG3 during the development of RA. In this paper, we used complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA)‐induced rats as RA animal models. The level of MEG3 significantly reduced in CFA‐induced synovial tissues and FLSs, whereas the NLRC5 levels were increased. Enforced expression of MEG3 may be responsible for the decreased level of NLRC5 and inflammatory cytokine level. The results of methylation‐specific PCR suggested that the MEG3 gene promoter was significantly methylated in CFA‐induced synovial tissues and FLSs. More important, hypermethylation of MEG3 promoter could be inhibited by 5‐aza‐2‐deoxycytidine (5‐azadC; methylation inhibitor). Besides, the expression of NLRC5 significantly decreased followed by 5‐azadc. Furthermore, DNA methyltransferases 1 (DNMT1) increased in CFA‐induced synovial tissues and cells. These results indicated that MEG3 regulates RA by targeting NLRC5 potentially.
Maternally expressed gene 3 (MEG3) may be involved in the development of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) by affecting the proliferation of fibroblast‐like synoviocytes (FLSs), whereas nucleotide oligomerization domain (NOD)‐like receptors 5 (NLRC5) promotes proliferation of FLSs in RA. Enforced expression of MEG3 decreased NLRC5 expression. These results further verified that MEG3 regulates RA by targeting NLRC5 potentially.
•The HOSA-SPS with different DS was prepared by prior modification with HMT.•The DS of HOSA-SPS was higher than that of OSA-SPS in the same reaction condition.•HMT resulted in a crystalline ...transformation from C- to A-type.•The To, Tp, Tc and ΔH of OSA-8 and HOSA-8 were lower than those of NSPS and HSPS, respectively.
In order to increase the degree of substitution (DS), a combination of heat-moisture treatment (HMT) and octenyl succinylation (OSA) was used to modify sweet potato starch (SPS). The content of OSA had significant influence on the DS of starch, and DS of HMT OSA-modified SPS (HOSA-SPS) was higher than that of OSA-modified SPS (OSA-SPS), indicating that prior HMT could enhance the reaction. HOSA-SPS showed higher contents of SDS and RS in comparison with OSA-SPS as OSA concentration was beyond 6%. HMT decreased swelling power of starch while OSA modification had a contrary role (p < 0.05). Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) showed starch was destroyed by OSA modification while HMT had slight effect on the structure. X-ray diffraction (XRD) indicated that crystal type of starch was transformed from C- to A-type resulted from HMT, and remained unchanged by OSA modification. The onset, peak, and conclusion gelatinization temperatures of starch increased by HMT and decreased by OSA modification (p < 0.05).
A novel tobacco rods-derived carbon (TC) has been prepared by hydrothermal carbonization and potassium hydroxide activation strategy for supercapacitors application. The physicochemical properties of ...TC are investigated by X-ray diffraction, Raman spectra, Scanning electron microscopy, Nitrogen adsorption–desorption isotherms, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and four-probe tests. Results show TC derived from different tobacco rods possesses similar properties, such as amorphous state, high specific surface area, hierarchical porous structure, numerous heteroatom groups, and good electrical conductivity. The electrochemical characteristics of TC are examined via cyclic voltammetry, galvanostatic charge–discharge, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy measurements. In a three-electrode system, TC exhibits high capacitance with 286.6 F g−1 at 0.5 A g−1, excellent rate performance with 212.1 F g−1 even at 30 A g−1, and outstanding cyclic stability with 96% capacitance retention after 10,000 cycles at 5 A g−1. Furthermore, TC supercapacitor devices can deliver an energy density of 31.3 Wh kg−1 at 0.5 A g−1 and power density of 11.8 kW kg−1 at 15 A g−1. Therefore, this novel concept of tobacco use, namely tobacco rods from cigarette (the harmful) to high-performance carbon for supercapacitors (the beneficial), is an extremely promising strategy for developing high-performance carbon from renewable sources, and supporting the tobacco control.
Display omitted
•Tobacco rods (TR) from different producing places were used as precursors.•TR-derived carbon (TC) was prepared by hydrothermal carbonization and KOH activation.•TC possesses high SSA, hierarchical porous structure, and numerous heteroatom groups.•TC exhibits high capacitance, excellent rate performance, and long-term stability.•TR from cigarette to high-performance carbon is a novel concept of tobacco use.
Data on the associations between esophageal histological lesions and risk of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) in general populations are limited. We aimed to investigate these associations ...in a large Chinese general population to inform future Chinese ESCC screening guidelines.
We performed endoscopic screening of 21,111 participants aged 40-69 years from 3 high-risk areas of China in 2005-2009, and followed the cohort through 2016. Cumulative incidence and mortality rates of ESCC were calculated by baseline histological diagnosis, and hazard ratios of ESCC, overall and by age and sex, were assessed using the Cox proportional hazards models.
We identified 143 new ESCC cases (0.68%) and 62 ESCC deaths (0.29%) during a median follow-up of 8.5 years. Increasing grades of squamous dysplasia were associated with the increasing risk of ESCC incidence and mortality. The cumulative ESCC incidence rates for severe dysplasia/carcinoma in situ, moderate dysplasia (MD), and mild dysplasia were 15.5%, 4.5%, and 1.4%, respectively. Older individuals (50-69 years) had 3.1 times higher ESCC incidence than younger individuals (40-49 years), and men had 2.4 times higher ESCC incidence than women.
This study confirmed that increasing grades of squamous dysplasia are associated with increasing risk of ESCC and that severe dysplasia and carcinoma in situ require clinical treatment. This study suggests that in high-risk areas of China, patients with endoscopically worrisome MD should also receive therapy, the first screening can be postponed to 50 years, and endoscopic surveillance intervals for unremarkable MD and mild dysplasia can be lengthened to 3 and 5 years, respectively.
Background and Aim
Lugol chromoendoscopy is the standard technique to detect an esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). However, a high concentration of Lugol's solution can induce mucosal injury ...and adverse events. We aimed to investigate the optimal concentration of Lugol's solution to reduce mucosal injury and adverse events without degrading image quality.
Methods
This was a two‐phase double‐blind randomized controlled trial. In phase I, 200 eligible patients underwent esophagogastroduodenoscopy and then were randomly (1:1:1:1:1) sprayed with 1.2%, 1.0%, 0.8%, 0.6%, or 0.4% Lugol's solution. Image quality, gastric mucosal injury, adverse events, and operation satisfaction were compared to investigate the minimal effective concentration. In phase II, 42 cases of endoscopic mucosectomy for early ESCC were included. The patients were randomly assigned (1:1) to the minimal effective (0.6%) or conventional (1.2%) concentration of Lugol's solution for further comparison of the effectiveness.
Results
In phase I, the gastric mucosal injury was significantly reduced in 0.6% group (P < 0.05). Furthermore, there was no statistical significance in image quality between 0.6% and higher concentrations of Lugol's solution (P > 0.05, respectively). It also showed that the operation satisfaction decreased in 1.2% group compared with the lower concentration groups (P < 0.05). In phase II, the complete resection rate was 100% in both groups, while 0.6% Lugol's solution showed higher operation satisfaction (W = 554.500, P = 0.005).
Conclusions
The study indicates that 0.6% might be the optimal concentration of Lugol's solution for early detection and delineation of ESCC, considering minimal mucosal injury and satisfied image. The registry of clinical trials: ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT03180944).
Background The 2019 Bosniak classification (version 2019) of cystic renal masses (CRMs) provides a systematic update to the currently used 2005 Bosniak classification (version 2005). Further ...validation is required before widespread application. Purpose To evaluate the interobserver agreement of MRI criteria, the impact of readers' experience, and the diagnostic performance between version 2019 and version 2005. Materials and Methods From January 2009 to December 2018, consecutive patients with CRM who had undergone renal MRI and surgical-pathologic examination were included in this retrospective study. On the basis of version 2019 and version 2005, all CRMs were independently classified by eight radiologists with different levels of experience. By using multirater κ statistics, interobserver agreement was evaluated with comparisons between classifications and between senior and junior radiologists. Diagnostic performance between classifications by dichotomizing classes I-IV into lower (I-IIF) and higher (III-IV) classes was compared by using the McNemar test.
< .05 was considered to indicate a statistically significant difference. Results A total of 207 patients (mean age ± standard deviation, 49 years ± 12; 139 male and 68 female patients) with CRMs were included. Overall, interobserver agreement was higher with version 2019 than version 2005 (weighted κ = 0.64 vs 0.50, respectively;
< .001). Interobserver agreement between senior and junior radiologists did not differ between version 2019 (weighted κ = 0.65 vs 0.64, respectively;
= .71) and version 2005 (weighted κ = 0.54 vs 0.46;
< .001). Diagnostic specificity for malignancy was higher with version 2019 than with version 2005 (83% 92 of 111 vs 68% 75 of 111, respectively;
< .001), without any difference in sensitivity (89% 85 of 96 vs 84% 81 of 96;
= .34). Conclusion In the updated Bosniak classification, interobserver agreement improved and was unaffected by observers' experience. The diagnostic performance with version 2019 was superior to that with version 2005, with higher specificity. Published under a CC BY 4.0 license.
See also the editorial by Choyke in this issue.
Background
Angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) is a counter-regulator against ACE by converting angiotensin II (Ang-II) to Ang-(1–7), but the effect of ACE2 and Ang-(1–7) on endothelial cell ...function and atherosclerotic evolution is unknown. We hypothesized that ACE2 overexpression and Ang-(1–7) may protect endothelial cell function by counterregulation of angiotensin II signaling and inhibition of inflammatory response.
Methods
We used a recombinant adenovirus vector to locally overexpress ACE2 gene (Ad-ACE2) in human endothelial cells in vitro and in apoE-deficient mice in vivo. The Ang II-induced MCP-1, VCAM-1 and E-selectin expression, endothelial cell migration and adhesion of human monocytic cells (U-937) to HUVECs by ACE2 gene transfer were evaluated in vitro. Accelerated atherosclerosis was studied in vivo, and atherosclerosis was induced in apoE-deficient mice which were divided randomly into four groups that received respectively a ACE2 gene transfer, Ad-ACE2, Ad-EGFP, Ad-ACE2 + A779, an Ang-(1–7) receptor antagonist, control group. After a gene transfer for 4 weeks, atherosclerotic pathology was evaluated.
Results
ACE2 gene transfer not only promoted HUVECs migration, inhibited adhesion of monocyte to HUVECs and decreased Ang II-induced MCP-1, VCAM-1 and E-selectin protein production in vitro, but also decreased the level of MCP-1, VCAM-1 and interleukin 6 and inhibit atherosclerotic plaque evolution in vivo. Further, administration of A779 increased the level of MCP-1, VCAM-1 and interleukin 6 in vivo and led to further advancements in atherosclerotic extent.
Conclusions
ACE2 and Ang-(1–7) significantly inhibit early atherosclerotic lesion formation via protection of endothelial function and inhibition of inflammatory response.
PDF
