<BOOK REVIEWS>

The performance of zeolitic imidazolate framework-8 (ZIF-8) for CO₂ capture under three different conditions (wetted ZIF-8, ZIF-8/water slurry, and ZIF-8/water–glycol slurry) was systemically investigated. This investigation included the study of the pore structure stability of ZIF-8 by using X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and Raman detection technologies. Our results show that the CO₂ adsorption ability of ZIF-8 could be substantially increased under the existence of liquid water. However, the structure characterization of the recovered ZIF-8 showed an irreversible change of its framework, which occurs during the CO₂ capture process. It was found that there is an irreversible chemical reaction among ZIF-8, water, and CO₂, which creates both zinc carbonate (or zinc carbonate hydroxides) and single 2-methylimidazole crystals, and therefore the pore structure of ZIF-8 collapses. It is suggested therefore that care must be taken when using ZIF-8 or products containing ZIF-8 for gas capture, gas separation, or other applications where both water and acid gases coexist

Visualization 1.mp4

Diamond turning of freeform Fresnel optics

Visualization 2.mp4

Diamond turning of freeform Fresnel optics

Enhancement of Wormlike Micellar Structure Induced by <i>O</i>-Carboxymethylchitosan with or without Hydrophobic Modifications

The enhancement of wormlike micellar structure after the addition of O-carboxymethylchitosan (OCMCS) or hydrophobically modified O-carboxymethylchitosan (hm-OCMCS) has been studied by rheology and freeze-fracture transmission electron microscopy (FF-TEM). The results show that the viscoelastic properties of the wormlike micelles composed of Tween 80 and Brij 30 increase significantly after the addition of OCMCS. However, as the OCMCS molecules are hydrophobically modified, the viscosity enhancement is reduced and even diminishes with an increase of the length of aliphatic chains. FF-TEM was also used to provide a direct investigation of the microstructure changes of wormlike micelles after the addition of OCMCS and hm-OCMCS. Combined with the rheological behavior of OCMCS and hm-OCMCS, it is speculated that these results originate from a greater degree of intra-aggregation of polymers after hydrophobic modifications, which results in a weaker interaction between polymers and micelles. Additionally, the influence of temperature on the rheological behavior of polymer/wormlike micelle systems also demonstrates the intra-aggregation of polymers is the main impact factor in these systems

Ionic Liquid Induced Transition from Wormlike to Rod or Spherical Micelles in Mixed Nonionic Surfactant Systems

The structural changes of wormlike micelles composed of Tween 80 and Brij 30 in the presence of a common ionic liquid 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate (bmimBF4) were studied. Upon addition of bmimBF4, the viscosities of the wormlike micelle systems decrease, or in other words, more Brij 30 is needed to attain a similar viscosity value. The changes of the storage/loss modulus and the relaxation time also show that the viscoelastic properties of the wormlike micelles decrease with increasing bmimBF4 concentration. We believe that these results are attributed to a wormlike-rod/spherical micellar transition in the wormlike micelle solution, which is further confirmed by freeze-fracture transmission electron microscopy (FF-TEM) images. Additionally, the location of bmimBF4 in mixed micelles was also studied to explain the structure transition in the above systems

WB detection of protein expressions of NF-κB p65 and occluding.

<p><b>A</b> WB result for NF-κB p65 and occludin. <b>B</b> Quantification for expression of NF-κB p65 protein. <b>C</b> Quantification for expression of occludin protein. ^a<i>P</i><0.01 compared to group C; ^b<i>P</i><0.01 compared to group H; ^c<i>P</i><0.01 compared to group HL.</p

Rate of bacterial translocation in rats from different groups.

<p>Note:</p>a<p><i>P</i><0.01 compared to group C;</p>b<p><i>P</i><0.01 compared to group H;</p>c<p><i>P</i><0.01 compared to group HL.</p

Relative TLR4 mRNA levels in the jejunal tissues of rats from the different groups (n = 7, X¯ ± s).

<p>Note: ^a<i>P</i><0.01 compared to group C; ^b<i>P</i><0.01 compared to group H; ^c<i>P</i><0.01 compared to group HL.</p

Changes in the ultrastructure of rat intestinal capillaries.

<p><b>A</b> In the control group, lanthanum particles were only distributed on capillary lumens; no La³⁺ sediment was observed on the basement membrane lateral or extravascular mesenchyme. The morphology of nuclei and organelles such as mitochondria and the Golgi complex was normal. TEM, ×8900. <b>B</b> In the hypoxia group, La³⁺ particles were distributed along the vessel basement membrane. Mild swelling of the organelles was observed. TEM, ×8900. <b>C</b> In the hypoxia group, many La³⁺ particles were found to penetrate the basement membrane through the vessel TJs into tissue space, and La³⁺ sediments were observed in the tissues of surrounding vessel. TEM, ×8900. <b>D</b> In the HP group, La³⁺ particles were limited to capillary lumens. No see La³⁺ sediment on the basement membrane lateral or surrounding mesenchyme. No notable abnormalities of organelles were found. TEM, ×8900. <b>E</b> In the HL group, La³⁺ particles were distributed diffusively in the vessel the inside of basement membrane, A large number of La³⁺ particles penetrate the basement membrane into the TJs, the surrounding vessel endothelial TJs space were enlarged. TEM, ×8900. <b>F</b> In the HPL group, La³⁺ particles were distributed in vessel lumens, and only in the local endothelial basement membrane. No La³⁺ particles were observed in the tissue space of surrounding vessel. TEM, ×8900.</p

Serum concentration of LPS, TNF-α, and IL-6.

<p>Note: ^a<i>P</i><0.01 compared to group C; ^b<i>P</i><0.01 compared to group H; ^c<i>P</i><0.01 compared to group HL.</p