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•Torrefaction is a promising conversion method in upgrading microalgal biomass.•Wet torrefaction is a recent technology to improve HHV of wet microalgal biomass.•Torrefied microalgae ...shows an applicable approach in solid fuel application.•Microalgal biochar has unique properties suitable for bio-adsorbent application.
Microalgal biomass is the third-generation promising feedstock for production of biofuel and other valuable goods. The raw microalgal biomass and residues have low calorific value, high moisture, and high H/C and O/C atomic ratio which not suitable to use as solid fuel and many engineering applications. Torrefaction is a promising technique to upgrade microalgal biomass closed to solid coal properties by increasing the calorific value of microalgal biochar. However, the overview of torrefaction process for microalgal biochar is lacking in the literature study. Thus, an overview of recent dry and wet torrefaction of microalgal biomass is presented in this review. Wet torrefaction is a new technology for microalgal biochar production because it has some advantages compare with other pre-treatment methods. Besides, this review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of recent research for fuel property of microalgal biochar after torrefaction process. Different torrefaction temperature, gases and holding time lead to various solid yield, energy yield and calorific value of biochar are comprehensively discussed. In addition, the used of microalgal biochar as bio-adsorbent to remove pollutants in wastewater are included as well. In short, this is a comprehensive summary of recent torrefaction technology for microalgal biochar as fuel.
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Confronting the challenge of climate change necessitates innovative approaches for the reduction of CO2 emissions. Metal-support interaction has been widely demonstrated to enable ...greatly improved performances in thermal-catalytic, photocatalytic and electrocatalytic CO2 reduction. However, its applicability and specifically its role in the emerging piezo-electrocatalytic CO2 reduction are unknown, severely hampering the utilizations of piezo-electrocatalysis in CO2 conversion. Herein, by adopting Au particles supported on ZnO (Au/ZnO) as a paradigm, it is found that the metal-support interaction can remarkably improve the separation and transfer of piezo-carriers and enhance CO2 adsorption. As a result, Au/ZnO demonstrates a substantially boosted activity for piezo-electrocatalytic CO2 reduction and the optimal sample exhibits a 37.3% increase in CO yield compared to the pristine ZnO. The integration of metal-support interactions opens a new avenue to the design of advanced piezo-electrocatalysts for CO2 reduction.
ABSTRACT
In performing our experiment, impaired autophagy increased hepatocellular damage during the reperfusion period. It was demonstrated by the effect of blocking autophagy using bafilomycin A1 ...or knocking Atg5 gene out reduces the anti‐apoptotic effect of Stat3. Here we focus on the role of signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (Stat3) in regulating autophagy to alleviate hepatic IRI. We found that Stat3 was up‐regulated during hepatic IRI and was associated with an activation of the autophagic signaling pathway. This increased Stat3 expression, which was allied with high autophagic activity, alleviated liver damage to IR, an effect which was abrogated by Stat3 epletion as demonstrated in both in vivo and in vitro methods. The levels of Atg5 protein were decreased when Stat3 was inhibited by HO 3867 or siStat3. We conclude that Stat3 appeared to exert a pivotal role in hepatic IRI, by activating autophagy to alleviate hepatic IRI, and Atg5 was required for this process. The identification of this novel pathway, that links expression levels of Stat3 with Atg5‐mediated autophagy, may provide new insights for the generation of novel protective therapies directed against hepatic IRI.
We conclude that Stat3 appeared to exert a pivotal role in hepatic IRI, by activating autophagy to alleviate hepatic ischemia‐reperfusion injury, and Atg5 was required for this process. The identification of this novel pathway, which links expression levels of Stat3 with Atg5‐mediated autophagy, may provide new insights for the generation of novel protective therapies directed against hepatic IRI.
The structural, electronic, and photocatalytic properties of two-dimensional Ti
2
CO
2
, Zr
2
CO
2
, and Hf
2
CO
2
MXenes were investigated by first-principles (PBE and hybrid) calculations. ...Transition from an indirect to a direct band gap was achieved for the biaxial tensile strain of 3% for Ti
2
CO
2
, 8% for Zr
2
CO
2
, and 13% for Hf
2
CO
2
while the nature of the band gap remained indirect in the case of the compressive strain. The size of the band gap passed through a maximum under tensile strain and decreased monotonically under compressive strain. Analysis of Bader charge distribution showed that the tensile strain decreased the transfer of charge from the Ti, Zr, and Hf atoms to the C atom. Phonon spectra suggested that these systems are stable under a wide range of strains from compression to tension. The photocatalytic properties showed that unstrained and biaxial tensile strained Ti
2
CO
2
, Zr
2
CO
2
, and Hf
2
CO
2
systems can be used to oxidize H
2
O into O
2
.
Unstrained and biaxial tensile strained Ti
2
CO
2
, Zr
2
CO
2
, and Hf
2
CO
2
can be used to oxidize H
2
O into O
2
, while compressed Ti
2
CO
2
fails to oxidize H
2
O to O
2
.
The grain boundaries (GBs) composed of pentagons and octagons (558 GBs) have been demonstrated to induce attractive transport properties such as Van Hove singularity (VHS) and quasi-one-dimensional ...metallic wires. Here, we propose a monolayer carbon allotrope which is formed from the introduction of periodic 558 GBs to decorate intact graphene, termed as PHO-graphene. The calculated electronic properties indicate that PHO-graphene not only inherits the previously superior characteristics such as Van Hove singularity and quasi-one-dimensional metallic wires, but also possesses two twisted Dirac cones near the Fermi level. Further calculation finds that the Berry phase is quantized to ± π at the two Dirac points, which is consistent with the distribution of the corresponding Berry curvature. The parity argument uncovers that PHO-graphene hosts a nontrivial band topology and the edge states connecting the two Dirac points are clearly visible. Our findings not only provide a reliable avenue to realize the abundant and extraordinary properties of carbon allotropes, but also offer an attractive approach for designing all carbon-based devices.
A class of monolayer carbon allotropes are proposed. These structures exhibit attractive transport properties such as Van Hove singularity and quasi-one-dimensional metallic wires.
•The oral absorption of nanoparticles is mainly limited by intestinal epithelium.•The potential intestinal absorption pathways of nanoparticles.•The characteristics governing the absorption and ...distribution of nanoparticles.•Studies on the intracellular trafficking and exocytosis of nanoparticles are urgent.
The intestinal epithelium represents a barrier to the delivery of nanoparticles (NPs). It prevents intact NPs from efficiently crossing the mucosa to access the circulation, thus limiting the successful application of NP-based oral drug delivery. Recent advances in nanotechnology have provided promising solutions to this challenge. This review describes the potential intestinal absorption pathways of NPs, including the transenterocytic pathway, paracellular pathway and M-cell-mediated pathway. NP properties that influence transcytosis are summarized; and the biodistribution of NPs after oral absorption is described and the future prospects of novel NPs are explored.
Selective decomposition of hydrous hydrazine (N2H4⋅H2O) over metal catalysts provides a promising means for onboard or portable hydrogen source applications. Studies on N2H4⋅H2O decomposition ...catalysts mainly focus on the effects of bulk composition and structure on their performances, instead of the surface‐composition‐dependent properties. Herein, the synthesis of an Ir‐modified Ni/meso‐CeO2 catalyst is reported by using a combination of colloidal solution combustion synthesis and galvanic replacement methods. A combination of structural characterization, control experiments, and DFT calculations reveals that the Ni−Ir alloy resulting from calcination treatment exerts a profound effect on the catalytic properties. The resulting Ni@Ni−Ir/meso‐CeO2 catalyst shows excellent catalytic performance towards hydrogen generation from N2H4⋅H2O, which compares favorably with the Ni−Ir bimetallic catalysts reported to date.
Are two metals better than one? Surface modification of a Ni nanocatalyst by Ir results in remarkably improved catalytic properties towards H2 generation from N2H4⋅H2O. Coupled experimental and theoretical studies reveal that the formation of Ni−Ir alloy on the catalyst surface plays a crucial role in determining the catalytic performance (see figure).
Breakfast skipping has been reported to be associated with type 2 diabetes (T2D), but the results are inconsistent. No meta-analyses have applied quantitative techniques to compute summary risk ...estimates. The present study aimed to conduct a meta-analysis of observational studies summarizing the evidence on the association between breakfast skipping and the risk of T2D.
Systematic review and meta-analysis.
Relevant studies were identified by a search of PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) and SINOMED up to 9 August 2014. We also reviewed reference lists from retrieved articles. We included studies that reported risk estimates (including relative risks, odds ratios and hazard ratios) with 95% confidence intervals for the association between breakfast skipping and the risk of T2D.
Eight studies involving 106,935 participants and 7419 patients with T2D were included in the meta-analysis.
A pooled adjusted relative risk for the association between exposure to breakfast skipping and T2D risk was 1·21 (95% CI 1·12, 1·31; P=0·984; I² =0·0%) in cohort studies and the pooled OR was 1·15 (95% CI, 1·05, 1·24; P=0·770; I² =0·0%) in cross-sectional studies. Visual inspection of a funnel plot and Begg's test indicated no evidence of publication bias.
Breakfast skipping is associated with a significantly increased risk of T2D. Regular breakfast consumption is potentially important for the prevention of T2D.
This study aimed to investigate the role and underlying mechanism of exosomes secreted by oxidized low-density lipoprotein (oxLDL)-stimulated macrophages in the progression of atherosclerosis (AS).
...Exosomes from peripheral blood of AS patients or oxLDL-treated macrophages were co-cultured with human neutrophils. Neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) were detected by immunofluorescence staining. The levels of inflammatory cytokines were quantified by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The expression levels of miR-146a and superoxide dismutase 2 (SOD2) were determined by quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) and western blot. The generation of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) was observed by using dichlorofluorescin diacetate (DCFH-DA). ApoE-deficient mice were fed with high-fat diet (HFD) to induce AS. Atherosclerotic plaques were evaluated by Oil red O (ORO) and hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining.
Our results showed that miRNA-146a was enriched in serum-derived exosomes of AS patients and oxLDL-treated macrophage THP-1-derived exosomes. Importantly, exosomal miR-146a secreted by oxLDL-treated macrophages promoted ROS and NETs release via targeting SOD2. In addition, intravenous administration of oxLDL-treated THP-1 cells-derived exosomes into AS mice significantly deteriorated AS in vivo.
Our findings indicate that exosomal miR-146a derived from oxLDL-treated macrophages promotes NETs formation via inducing oxidative stress, which might provide a novel scientific basis for the understanding of AS progression.
Because many policy commitments are not being implemented, countries are not on track to achieve this target. Heads of State and Government should therefore develop multi-sectoral NCD responses and ...use “health-in-all-policies” and whole-of-government approaches. ...Heads of State and Government should lead multi-sectoral national action on NCDs, and ensure a legislative and regulatory and economic environment that will enable the integration of NCDs and mental health into UHC, health systems, national SDG implementation, national development plans, and social protection policies. The 2011 Political Declaration on NCDs called for engagement with the private sector. Because progress in this area has been limited, the Commission considers that a fresh relationship should be explored with the food, non-alcoholic beverage, catering, technology, transportation, and media industries. Implementing national NCDs plans in a sustainable way is a challenge and takes considerable time. ...the international system should establish and administer a financial vehicle that could pool and manage funds committed by development partners for a limited period of time.
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