TiO₂ Nanoparticles-Functionalized N‑Doped Graphene with Superior Interfacial Contact and Enhanced Charge Separation for Photocatalytic Hydrogen Generation

Titanium dioxide (TiO₂) nanoparticles-functionalized N-doped graphene (NGR) composites (NGR/TiO₂) were prepared through solvothermal treatment approach using exfoliated NGR and tetrabutyl titanate as the staring materials. The composites were characterized by transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, UV–vis diffuse reflectance spectra, photoelectrochemical, and electrochemical measurements. Nitrogen doping provides favorable nucleation and anchor sites for TiO₂ nanocrystals formation on NGR sheets, helping to form an intimate interfacial contact between NGR and TiO₂ nanoparticles. Moreover, NGR has higher electrical conductivity than the reduced graphene oxide (RGO) due to the recovery of the sp² graphite network and decrease of defects, resulting in more effective charge transfer and charge separation in the NGR/TiO₂ composite. NGR/TiO₂ nanocomposite demonstrated a higher photocatalytic activity for hydrogen production as compared to its counterpart, TiO₂-functionalized RGO composite (RGO/TiO₂). This work provides new insights to design new more efficient graphene-based nanocomposite photocatalysts for solar energy conversion

Study Characteristics of genotypes in gastric cancer cases and controls in the analysis of Interleukin-8 -251 promoter polymorphism.

#<p>Data of cardia type of gastric cancer were accessible;</p>∧<p>Data of noncardia type of gastric cancer were accessible;</p><p>*Data of sporadic diffuse-type of gastric cancer were accessible;</p>¶<p>Data of intestinal-type of gastric cancer were accessible.</p>+<p>Data of the status of <i>Helicobacter pylori</i> of gastric cancer were accessible.</p>◊<p>Here participants, though treated as Asians geographically in this study, should be better considered as separate Iranian population conducted in our subgroup analysis due to its complex ethnic components.</p>⊿<p>Here participants in this study should be treated as Mexican or Hispanic population rather than Caucasian population <a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0028083#pone.0028083-GarzaGonzalez1" target="_blank">[26]</a>, <a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0028083#pone.0028083-GarzaGonzlez1" target="_blank">[45]</a>.</p>★<p>Here control 1 in that study was selected as the control group in our meta-analysis because the gastric cancer participants were the same and control 2 was only used for further validation of the findings <a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0028083#pone.0028083-Ohyauchi1" target="_blank">[20]</a>. RFLP: Restriction fragment length polymorphisms; DHPLC: PCR-based denaturing high-performance liquid chromatography; Taqman: TaqMan polymerase chain reaction method; SSCP: Single strand conformation polymorphism; Multiplex: Multiplex polymerase chain reaction method (a variant of PCR in which two or more loci are simultaneously amplified in the same reaction); Direct: Direct sequence analysis of polymerase chain reaction; RDB: polymerase chain reaction and reverse dot blot; ASO: oligonucleotide allele specific polymerase chain reaction; MGB Eclipse: MGB Eclipse Assay polymerase chain reaction method; ARMS: Amplification refractory mutation system polymerase chain reaction; SNaPshot: the SNaPshot assay which provides detection of certain SNPs.</p

The flow chart of literature search and study selection.

<p>The flow chart of literature search and study selection.</p

Stratification for the test of heterogeneity on IL-8 -251 AA vs TT based on a codominant model.

<p>*: M-H ORs (95% CI), otherwise D+L ORs (95% CI).</p>#<p>: P values of M-H estimates, otherwise P values of D+L estimates.</p

Cumulative meta-analysis of associations between the IL-8 -251 AA genotype, as compared with the TT genotype, and gastric cancer risk among Asians.

<p>Horizontal line, the accumulation of estimates as each study was added rather than the estimate of a single study. A) sorted primarily by total number of sample size; B) sorted primarily by publication time.</p

Odds ratios (ORs) for associations between IL-8 -251 A/T SNP and gastric cancer risk among different ethnicities, in order of increasing publication year, 2004–2010.

<p>Studies were entered into the meta-analysis sequentially by year of publication. The sizes of the squares indicate the relative weight of each study. Weights were derived from random-effects analysis. Bars, 95% confidence interval (CI). A) The IL-8 -251 AA genotype versus TT genotype; B) The IL-8 -251 AA genotype versus TA genotype.</p

Nanohybrids from Direct Chemical Self-Assembly of Poly(styrene-<i>alt</i>-maleic anhydride) as pH-Responsive Particulate Emulsifiers

The nanohybrid particulate emulsifiers based on poly­(styrene-<i>alt</i>-maleic anhydride) (SMA) were facilely prepared via the direct chemical self-assembly triggered by the aminolysis of SMA with 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane (APTES) and the <i>in situ</i> polycondensation of APTES under refluxing in acetone. Transmission electron microscopy and scanning electron microscopy confirmed the spherical-like morphology of the nanohybrids. Dynamic light scattering and electrophoresis revealed the structure transition of the nanohybrids in response to pH change. The emulsification study showed that the nanohybrids were effective particulate emulsifiers when homogenized with various oils including toluene, paraffin oil, silicone oil, isooctyl palmitate, dicaprylyl carbonate, and propylheptyl caprylate. The nanohybrid particulate emulsifiers exhibited pH-sensitivity, and the diameter of paraffin oil droplets remarkably increased with pH of the nanohybrid aqueous dispersion decrease. Also, the reduced dynamic interfacial tension predicted the thermodynamically unstable state of the emulsions prepared at high pH values. Most interesting, the paraffin oil-in-water high internal phase emulsions (HIPEs) with a high oil volume fraction of 83.3% were formed when the nanohybrids were heavily flocculated by adding HCl. The HIPEs were pH-responsive and capable of demulsification with the addition of an alkaline solution showing a potential application in the oil industry

Isolation and Characterization of Angiotensin I‑Converting Enzyme (ACE) Inhibitory Peptides from the Enzymatic Hydrolysate of <i>Carapax Trionycis</i> (the Shell of the Turtle <i>Pelodiscus sinensis</i>)

<i>Carapax Trionycis</i> (the shell of the turtle <i>Pelodiscus sinensis</i>) was hydrolyzed by six different commercial proteases. The hydrolysate prepared from papain showed stronger inhibitory activity against angiotensin I-converting enzyme (ACE) than other extracts. Two noncompetitive ACE inhibitory peptides were purified successively by ultrafiltration, gel filtration chromatography, ion exchange column chromatography, and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The amino acid sequences of them were identified as KRER and LHMFK, with IC₅₀ values of 324.1 and 75.6 μM, respectively, confirming that <i>Carapax Trionycis</i> is a potential source of active peptides possessing ACE inhibitory activities. Besides, both enzyme kinetics and isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC) assay showed that LHMFK could form more stable complex with ACE than KRER, which is in accordance with the better inhibitory activity of LHMFK

Influence of Photo-Cross-Linking on Emulsifying Performance of the Self-Assemblies of Poly(7-(4-vinylbenzyloxyl)-4-methylcoumarin-<i>co</i>-acrylic acid)

Polymeric micelles could be used as model polymeric particulate emulsifiers to elucidate the correlation between the micellar structure and their emulsifying performance. Photo-cross-linkable and pH-responsive micelles were prepared with amphiphilic random copolymers, poly­(7-(4-vinylbenzyloxyl)-4-methylcoumarin-<i>co</i>-acrylic acid) (PVMAA), via the self-assembly in selective-solvent DMF/H₂O and then used as polymeric particulate emulsifiers to stabilize toluene-in-water emulsions. Primary micelles, based on PVMAA with 12 mol % of hydrophobic composition, were chosen as model to investigate the influence of photo-cross-linking on the emulsifying performance. The larger shrinkage degree by photo-cross-linking (SDC) the micelles have, the lower emulsifying efficiency the micelles exhibit. Furthermore, the structural transitions of micelles with SDC of 0% and 95% in response to pH change were comparatively confirmed by a combination of electrophoresis, dynamic light scattering (DLS), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The micelles of various states, manipulated by photo-cross-linking and pH changes, were used as emulsifiers to stabilize toluene-in-water or styrene-in-water emulsions. For the un-cross-linked micelles, polymer chains gradually protrude from micelles with pH increasing, which benefits the increase in the emulsifying efficiency of micelles. However, as pH elevated over 8, the stability of emulsions significantly decreases due to the disintegration of micelles. On the contrary, micelles with SDC of 95% keep their structural integrity and become more rigid as pH increase, leading to lower emulsifying efficiency of micelles and worse stability of the emulsions. This paper provides a new insight into the principles governing the extremely high emulsifying efficiency of polymeric particulate emulsifiers and pH-dependent or pH-responsive properties of the formed emulsions

Odds ratios (ORs) for associations between IL-8 -251 A/T SNP and gastric cancer risk with different <i>H pylori</i> infection status.

<p><i>H pylori</i> infection status includes <i>H pylori</i> positive cases versus positive controls and <i>H pylori</i> negative cases versus negative controls. The sizes of the squares indicate the relative weight of each study. Bars, 95% confidence interval (CI). A) The IL-8 -251 AA genotype versus TT genotype; B) The IL-8 -251 AA genotype versus TA genotype.</p