High-temperature coal tar is an important raw material for obtaining value-added aromatics. The comprehensive processing route for value-added utilization of HTCT was proposed. Coal tar research ...ideas are put forward in combination with future research directions.
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•High-temperature coal tar (HTCT) separation methods and upgrades were discussed.•The utilization direction of coal tar pitch was elaborated in detail.•Comprehensive processing route for value-added utilization of HTCT was proposed.
High-temperature coal tar (HTCT) is an important raw material for obtaining value-added aromatics. However, effective utilization of HTCT is not optimistic because of backward processing technology and higher energy consumption, resulting in fewer product types and lower purity. Accordingly, value-added utilization (VAU) of HTCT should be paid urgent attention. In order to realize VAU of HTCT, deep processing methods were systematically discussed. This paper mainly discusses the source, composition, research status, separation method, and upgrading of HTCT along with the utilization of coal tar pitch. Subsequently, the comprehensive processing route for VAU of HTCT was proposed. HTCT research ideas are put forward in combination with future research directions. We hope that this review will add to the ongoing discussions on the VAU of HTCT.
Breast cancer is the most common malignant tumor and the main cause of cancer-associated mortality in females worldwide. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) have been reported to play vital roles in ...breast cancer development and progression; however, our understanding of most lncRNAs in breast cancer is still limited. In this study, we demonstrated that small nucleolar RNA host gene 5 (SNHG5) promotes breast cancer cell proliferation both in vitro and in vivo, and depletion of SNHG5 significantly led to cell-cycle arrest at G1 phase. Accumulating evidence has shown that many lncRNA transcripts could function as competing endogenous RNAs (ceRNAs) by competitively binding common microRNAs (miRNAs). We found that SNHG5 acts as a sponge for miR-154-5p, reducing its ability to repress proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA). SNHG5 promoted breast cancer proliferation and cell-cycle progression by upregulation of PCNA expression. Clinically, we observed an increased SNHG5 expression in breast cancer, whereas miR-154-5p was decreased in breast cancer tissues compared with the adjacent normal breast tissues. Furthermore, the SNHG5 expression was significantly negatively correlated with miR-154-5p expression. Taken together, our data uncover the SNHG5-miR-154-5p-PCNA axis and provide a novel mechanism to explain breast cancer proliferation.
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The improvement of liquid dispersion by rotating wire mesh is one of the major causes for the mass transfer and micromixing intensification in rotating packed beds (RPBs). In particular, the initial ...dispersion region has been proved to have the greatest mass transfer and micromixing efficiency. However, the dispersion mechanism has not been revealed. This study investigated the dynamics of liquid dispersion in an RPB with single‐layer wire mesh. The liquid dispersion behaviors were obtained by high‐speed photography and numerical simulation. The liquid was found to stretch into ligaments and break into the main droplet and several satellite droplets. A new theoretical model was established to reveal the dispersion mechanism of these two stages. The stretching stage depends on the liquid initial momentum and acquired impulse, while the breakup stage was determined by the competition of ligaments recoil and pinch‐off behaviors. The model was validated in good agreement with the experimental and simulation results of the dispersion characteristics.
The solar‐energy‐driven photoreduction of CO2 has recently emerged as a promising approach to directly transform CO2 into valuable energy sources under mild conditions. As a clean‐burning fuel and ...drop‐in replacement for natural gas, CH4 is an ideal product of CO2 photoreduction, but the development of highly active and selective semiconductor‐based photocatalysts for this important transformation remains challenging. Hence, significant efforts have been made in the search for active, selective, stable, and sustainable photocatalysts. In this review, recent applications of cutting‐edge experimental and computational materials design strategies toward the discovery of novel catalysts for CO2 photocatalytic conversion to CH4 are systematically summarized. First, insights into effective experimental catalyst engineering strategies, including heterojunctions, defect engineering, cocatalysts, surface modification, facet engineering, and single atoms, are presented. Then, data‐driven photocatalyst design spanning density functional theory (DFT) simulations, high‐throughput computational screening, and machine learning (ML) is presented through a step‐by‐step introduction. The combination of DFT, ML, and experiments is emphasized as a powerful solution for accelerating the discovery of novel catalysts for photocatalytic reduction of CO2. Last, challenges and perspectives concerning the interplay between experiments and data‐driven rational design strategies for the industrialization of large‐scale CO2 photoreduction technologies are described.
This review summarizes the recent advances in the application of experimental and data‐driven emerging strategies for CO2 photocatalytic conversion to methane. The review sheds light on research exploration and development of new photocatalysts and data‐driven design for CO2 photoreduction to CH4, while highlighting new prospects for photocatalytic process development.
•A novel MOFs/PEI/TMA composite membrane is developed for heavy metal removal.•NH2-MIL-125(Ti) provided preferential water channels to improve permeability.•New and facile cross-linking process ...provides strong positive charge surface.•The interaction between NH2 and PEI/TMA system increases the stability of MOFs.•Nanocomposite membrane has 369% higher flux than the pristine membrane.
In this study, a novel positively charged nanofiltration (NF) membrane was fabricated by incorporating metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) into polyethyleneimine (PEI) and trimesic acid (TMA) cross-linking system. NH2-MIL-125(Ti) provides preferential water channels to improve the permeability of the composite membrane. The effects of NH2-MIL-125(Ti) loading on the membrane morphology, structure and properties were investigated by ATR-FTIR, SEM, EDS, AFM, Zeta potential measurements, etc. Studies have shown that the optimal preparation condition was determined at 0.010 wt% NH2-MIL-125(Ti) loading. The prepared membrane exhibited a high permeability of 12.2 L·m−2·h−1·bar−1 and a NiCl2 rejection of 90.9%. Compared with the pristine composite membrane, the membrane with appropriate amount of NH2-MIL-125(Ti) greatly improved the permeability (369.2%). The combination of NH2-MIL-125(Ti) and PEI/TMA cross-linking system has positive significance for the heavy metal wastewater treatment industry.
Fabrication of novel magnetic micro-composite Fe3O4@UiO-66-NH2@MON as absorbents for the preconcentration and determination of aflatoxins.
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•First example of core-shell magnetic ...MOFs@MON material as functional adsorbents for hazardous substances.•MON coating significantly improved the hydro-stability, which favoring the practical application of the materials.•Magnetic core favored fast separation as well as simple pre-treatment steps.•Excellent applicability of specific enrichment and determination of hazardous substance analysis against complex matrix.
Aflatoxins have been a hot topic in the field related into public health and ecosystem protection, and great effort has been made in developing of adsorptive materials for effective probing the target aflatoxins. Conventional materials, like metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) showed promising application in separation science. However, the cumbersome separation process, competitive adsorption are also major challenges. Regarding this, a novel magnetic micro-composite denoted as Fe3O4@UiO-66-NH2@MON with core-shell structure was constructed. The core of Fe3O4 microspheres was coated with MOFs crystals, and then microporous organic network (MON) was introduced onto the surface of Fe3O4@UiO-66-NH2 through a sonogashira coupling reaction. It exhibited good magnetic separation ability, which effectively simplified the pre-treatment steps. The proposed method possessed excellent selectivity and sensitivity, with detection limits in the range of 0.15-0.87 μg L−1 combination with HPLC analysis. More importantly, the MON coating significantly improved the hydro-stability of whole adsorbents, thus enhancing the adsorption efficiency and favoring the practical application of the materials. The developed Fe3O4@UiO-66-NH2@MON-based solid extraction method has been well-applied for real sample analysis, with the recovery of 87.3%–101.8%. We believe the newly-constructed hybrid nano-adsorbents hold great potential in further application in various analytical methods for different target analytes.
Different emotional states lead to distinct behavioural consequences even when faced with the same challenging events. Emotions affect learning and memory capacities, but the underlying ...neurobiological mechanisms remain elusive. Here we establish models of learned helplessness (LHL) and learned hopefulness (LHF) by exposing animals to inescapable foot shocks or with anticipated avoidance trainings. The LHF animals show spatial memory potentiation with excitatory monosynaptic upscaling between posterior basolateral amygdale (BLP) and ventral hippocampal CA1 (vCA1), whereas the LHL show memory deficits with an attenuated BLP-vCA1 connection. Optogenetic disruption of BLP-vCA1 inputs abolishes the effects of LHF and impairs synaptic plasticity. By contrast, targeted BLP-vCA1 stimulation rescues the LHL-induced memory deficits and mimics the effects of LHF. BLP-vCA1 stimulation increases synaptic transmission and dendritic plasticity with the upregulation of CREB and intrasynaptic AMPA receptors in CA1. These findings indicate that opposite excitatory monosynaptic scaling of BLP-vCA1 controls LHF- and LHL-modulated spatial memory, revealing circuit-specific mechanisms linking emotions to memory.
Environmental estrogens are capable of interfering with the spermatogenesis and fertility of fish. However in natural waters, these chemicals are more likely to occur as a combination rather than a ...single stressor. Whether and how the mixture of xenoestrogens with environmental relevant concentrations may affect fish spermatogenesis remains largely unknown. In this study, male zebrafish adults were administered to 17alpha-ethinylestradiol (EE2) and a mixture of xenoestrogens (Mix (E2, EE2, DES, 4-t-OP, 4-NP and BPA)), with the estrogenic potency equivalent to EE2. After a 60-day exposures, elevated mRNA levels of vitellogenin 1 (vtg1) and estrogen receptor 1 (esr1) in the liver of fish in both treated groups were observed. Moreover, the plasma level of E2 declined significantly in the Mix group and the ratio of 11-KT/E2 was significantly elevated in both treated groups. Consistently, the mRNA level of P450 side-chain cleavage (scc) in the EE2 group and ovarian type aromatase (cyp19a1a) in the Mix group was significantly suppressed. In addition, decreased gonadosomatic index and sperm count in the fish of Mix group were present. Furthermore, increased number of the proliferating germ cells (such as spermatogonia and spermatocytes) was observed in the fish of both groups, suggesting a stimulated germ cell proliferation and meiosis. Accordingly, both exposures significantly up-regulated the mRNA levels of genes in mitosis (cyclinb1) and meiosis (cyp26a1 in EE2 group, aldh1a2, cyp26a1, sycp3 and spo11 in Mix). In addition, decreased number of spermatozoa and increased number of TUNEL-positive signals were present in the testis of fish in the Mix group, indicating an enhanced apoptosis. Further analyses demonstrated the significant elevated expressions of tnfrsf1a and the ratio of tnfrsf1a/tnfrsf1b in the Mix group, suggesting an elevated apoptosis in the testis of fish in the Mix group via extrinsic pathway. The present study greatly extends our understanding of the underlying mechanisms of the reproductive toxicity of xenoestrogens on fish.
In this study, zebrafish male adults were administered to a combined mixture of xenoestrogens and EE2 (with the estrogenic effect equivalent to the mixture) for 60 days. Our data showed that long-term exposure of xenoestrogens with environmental relevant concentrations disrupted spermatogenesis of zebrafish through altering sex hormone balance, stimulating proliferation, meiosis and enhancing apoptosis in germ cells. Display omitted
•Xenoestrogens with environmental relevance disrupted spermatogenesis of zebrafish.•Xenoestrogens disrupted the HPG axis and imbalanced the hormone levels.•Xenoestrogens enhanced proliferations but induced apoptosis in the germ cells.•Mixture of xenoestrogens exerts stronger reproductive toxicity than EE2 exposure.
Long-term exposure of xenoestrogens with environmental relevant concentrations disrupted spermatogenesis of zebrafish adult.
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