One-pot Synthesis of IPN Hydrogels with Enhanced Mechanical Strength for Synergistic Adsorption of Basic Dyes

<div><p>Interpenetrating polymer network (IPN) hydrogels based on chitosan (CS) and poly(acrylic acid) (PAA) were prepared by one-pot strategy. The hydrogels exhibited porous structure and enhanced mechanical strength due to the entrapment of the two polymeric networks in the IPN. The ability of the hydrogels to adsorb basic dye Nil Blue (BB 12) from aqueous solutions was assessed using UV-VIS spectrophotometer. The adsorption amount was pH dependent, and the maximum adsorption capacity was observed at pH 10.0. The adsorption equilibrium was achieved within 45 minutes and the adsorption process could be well described by the pseudo-second-order kinetic model and Langmuir isotherm. Furthermore, the synergistic interactions between dyes and the two polymeric networks in the IPN were found during the adsorption process. Thermodynamic parameters revealed the dye sorption was an endothermic and spontaneous process with increasing randomness at the hydrogel/solution interface. Finally, studies on the reproducibility suggested that the hydrogel could be repeatedly used without any significant loss of the adsorption capacity.</p></div

CoHPi Nanoflakes for Enhanced Oxygen Evolution Reaction

Electrochemical splitting of water to produce hydrogen and oxygen is an important process for many energy storage and conversion devices. Developing efficient, robust, low-cost, and earth-abundant electrocatalysts for the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) is therefore of great importance. Herein, we report a novel method to prepare two-dimensional cobalt hydrogen phosphate (CoHPi) through chemical conversion of α-Co­(OH)₂ precursor at room temperature. The CoHPi nanoflakes with the thickness of 3 nm contain HPO₄^2– anions, which have been demonstrated to serve as a proton acceptor in proton-coupled electron-transfer (PCET) process of OER. Due to their ultrathin structure and the PCET merit of anions, the CoHPi nanoflakes show enhanced OER activity as well as excellent stability in prolonged OER operation. Through further mechanism study, the observed performances can be ascribed to enriched active sites, surface superhydrophilicity, and rapid electron/proton and mass transfers

Elevated ALOX12 in renal tissue predicts progression in diabetic kidney disease

Diabetic kidney disease (DKD) is one of the major causes of end-stage renal disease and one of the significant complications of diabetes. This study aims to identify the main differentially expressed genes in DKD from transcriptome sequencing results and analyze their diagnostic value. The present study sequenced db/m mouse and db/db mouse to determine the ALOX12 genetic changes related to DKD. After preliminary validation, ALOX12 levels were significantly elevated in the blood of DKD patients, but not during disease progression. Moreover, urine ALOX12 was increased only in macroalbuminuria patients. Therefore, to visualize the diagnostic efficacy of ALOX12 on the onset and progression of renal injury in DKD, we collected kidney tissue from patients for immunohistochemical staining. ALOX12 was increased in the kidneys of patients with DKD and was more elevated in macroalbuminuria patients. Clinical chemical and pathological data analysis indicated a correlation between ALOX12 protein expression and renal tubule injury. Further immunofluorescence double staining showed that ALOX12 was expressed in both proximal tubules and distal tubules. Finally, the diagnostic value of the identified gene in the progression of DKD was assessed using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis. The area under the curve (AUC) value for ALOX12 in the diagnosis of DKD entering the macroalbuminuria stage was 0.736, suggesting that ALOX12 has good diagnostic efficacy. During the development of DKD, the expression levels of ALOX12 in renal tubules were significantly increased and can be used as one of the predictors of the progression to macroalbuminuria in patients with DKD.</p

Rhodium-Catalyzed Cross-Coupling Reactions of Carboxylate and Organoboron Compounds via Chelation-Assisted C–C Bond Activation

A new rhodium-catalyzed decarbonylated coupling reaction of ethyl benzo­[<i>h</i>]­quinoline-10-carboxylate and organoboron compounds that occurs through chelation-assisted sp² C–COOEt bond activation was described. In this system CuCl played a very important role, and a five-membered rhodacycle was also involved as a key intermediate. Various functionalities were compatible in the reaction, and the desired products were obtained in good to excellent yields. DFT calculations on the mechanisms of this reaction using a Rh­(I) model catalyst have also been carried out

Isolating Influenza RNA from Clinical Samples Using Microfluidic Oil-Water Interfaces

<div><p>The effective and robust separation of biomolecules of interest from patient samples is an essential step in diagnostic applications. We present a platform for the fast extraction of nucleic acids from clinical specimens utilizing paramagnetic PMPs, an oil-water interface, a small permanent magnet and a microfluidic channel to separate and purify captured nucleic acids from lysate in less than one minute, circumventing the need for multiple washing steps and greatly simplifying and expediting the purification procedure. Our device was able to isolate influenza RNA from clinical nasopharyngeal swab samples with high efficiency when compared to the Ambion® MagMAX^TM Viral RNA Isolation Kit, sufficiently separating nucleic acid analytes from PCR-inhibiting contaminants within the lysate while also critically maintaining high integrity of the viral genome. We find that this design has great potential for rapid, efficient and sensitive nucleic acid separation from patient sample.</p></div

Solid–Liquid Phase Equilibrium of Phosphoramidic acid, <i>N</i>,<i>N</i>′‑1,2-Ethanediylbis‑<i>P</i>,<i>P</i>,<i>P</i>′,<i>P</i>′‑tetraphenyl Ester in Selected Solvents

Phosphoramidic acid, <i>N</i>,<i>N</i>′-1,2-ethanediylbis-<i>P</i>,<i>P</i>,<i>P</i>′,<i>P</i>′-tetraphenyl ester (PAETE) was prepared and characterized by elemental analysis (EA), mass spectra (MS), infrared spectroscopy (IR), and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR). The thermostability of PAETE was measured via thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The melting temperature and the fusion enthalpy of PAETE were evaluated by differential scanning calorimeter (DSC). The solubilities of PAETE in ten selected solvents were obtained using a gravimetric method. The experimental data were well correlated by the Buchowski–Ksiazczak (<i>λh</i>), Scatchard–Hildebrand, modified Apelblat model, and the ideal equations. The solubility parameter of PAETE was estimated by the Scatchard–Hildebrand Model. The dissolution enthalpy and entropy of PAETE in the ten selected solvents were also calculated by the modified Apelblat model

Spatial pattern distribution of the average CCD of provinces from 2015 to 2021.

Spatial pattern distribution of the average CCD of provinces from 2015 to 2021.</p

Efficient Approach To Construct Unsymmetrical Biaryls through Oxidative Coupling Reactions of Aromatic Primary Alcohols and Arylboronic Acids with a Rhodium Catalyst

Unsymmetrical biaryls were synthesized by oxidative coupling reactions between aromatic primary alcohols and arylboronic acids through the C–C bond cleavage of the primary alcohols chelated with a rhodium catalyst. The desired unsymmetrical biaryl products were obtained in good to excellent yields under the optimized reaction conditions. A wide variety of functionalities are compatible with the reaction under the optimized conditions. This new coupling strategy provides a favorable method to construct valuable biaryl compounds from aromatic primary alcohols which are cheap, environmentally friendly, and easily accessible substrates

Results of digital economy index for 30 provinces from 2015 to 2021.

Results of digital economy index for 30 provinces from 2015 to 2021.</p

Descriptive statistics of digital economy index for 30 provinces from 2015–2021.

Descriptive statistics of digital economy index for 30 provinces from 2015–2021.</p