Cerium Coordination Polymer Based Composite Mimicking Peroxidase for Detection of Nitroaniline

Cerium coordination polymer (CeCP) was synthesized with 1,3,5-benzenetricarboxylic acid as the ligand. By using the carboxyl groups on the surface of CeCP as the anchors, platinum nanoparticles were formed on CeCP forming the composite CeCP@Pt. The composite was characterized by measuring TEM images, and EDS and XPS spectra. CeCP@Pt was used to catalyze the oxidation of 3,3,5,5-tetramethylbenzidine in the presence of H2O2. The activity assay demonstrated that CeCP@Pt exhibited an activity similar to that of horseradish peroxidase, but with a much higher activity. CeCP@Pt was utilized to detect nitroaniline, being able to detect trace amount of nitroaniline (>3.125 × 10−4 mg/mL)

Specifically Grafting Hematin on MPTS-Coated Carbon Nanotubes for Catalyzing the Oxidation of Aniline

Catalysts supported on nanomaterials have been widely investigated for the treatment of hazardous materials. This work has developed a novel method for grafting hematin on nanomaterials for catalyzing the oxidation of aniline in order to remove aniline from wastewater. Magnetic multi-walled carbon nanotubes (M-MWCNTs) were coated with a layer formed through the hydrolysis and condensation of 3-mercaptopropyltriethoxysilane (MPTS). Hematin was specifically grafted on the MPTS-coated M-MWCNTs through thiol-alkene reaction. Hematin-MPTS-M-MWCNTs were used to catalyze the oxidation of aniline, and a high efficiency has been obtained. Consecutive use of the conjugate of hematin-MPTS-M-MWCNTs has been investigated, and the activity has been retained to a significant extent after five reaction/cleaning cycles. The result demonstrates that hematin-MPTS-M-MWCNTs are efficient for catalyzing the oxidation of aniline. The methodology for the specific grafting of hematin is of general utility, it is an easy-to-operate method and can be extended to other supports. Potentially, hematin-MPTS-based conjugates have a widespread application in catalyzing the removal of aniline from wastewater

Laboratory Evaluation of Rheological Properties of Asphalt Binder Modified by Nano-TiO2/CaCO3

Nanomaterials have a great potential for enhancing the performance of base asphalt binder. This study aims to promote the application of nano-TiO2/CaCO3 in bitumen and presents a study on rheological properties for TiO2/CaCO3 nanoparticle-bitumen. In this study, a series of laboratory experiments have been performed for bitumen with different nano-TiO2/CaCO3 dosages. Nano-TiO2/CaCO3-modified bitumen with optimum dosage was prepared for viscosity, dynamic shear rheometer (DSR), and beam bending rheometer (BBR) for assessing temperature sensitivity of bitumen, and the low-medium-high-temperature performances were analyzed for TiO2/CaCO3 nanoparticle-bitumen as well. Results show that bituminous mechanical properties were enhanced by TiO2/CaCO3, and based on the overall desirability analysis of various conventional tests, the reasonable dosage of nano-TiO2/CaCO3 was recommended as 5% by weight of base bitumen. Adding nano-TiO2/CaCO3 was beneficial to improve the viscosity and reduce the temperature sensitivity of bitumen. The capacities of bituminous rutting resistance as well as medium-temperature fatigue resistance were enhanced by the addition of nano-TiO2/CaCO3. However, BBR test shows that bituminous anticracking is reduced slightly. On this basis, the Burgers model is selected for clarifying the decrease in anticracking performance; that is, nano-TiO2/CaCO3 increased the stiffness modulus while increasing the viscosity of bitumen

Laboratory Study on Performance Evaluation and Automobile Exhaust Degradation of Nano-TiO2 Particles-Modified Asphalt Materials

Automobile exhaust pollution is a serious problem that restricts urban development, and it poses a serious threat to people’s lives and health and even the climate. At present, the treatment of automobile exhaust has attracted people’s attention, and numerous works have been focused on it thereafter. The purpose of the present study is to drive TiO2 nanoparticles application into pavement, and the study present an experimental investigation of performances and automobile exhaust purification of asphalt and its mixture modified by nano-TiO2. In this work, a series of rheometer properties and pavement performances were studied, including penetration, softening point, ductility, DSR and BBR for asphalt binder, conventional pavement performances, and creep test for asphalt mixture. Moreover, the photocatalytic degradation test of automobile exhaust was conducted to assess degradation of TiO2 nanoparticles in the asphalt mixture on automobile exhaust. Results indicate that the TiO2 nanoparticle was beneficial to increase the viscosity and reduce the temperature sensitivity, which would enhance its high-temperature stabilization capability of asphalt. Meanwhile, nano-TiO2 can significantly enhance the rheometer properties of asphalt and its capacity of high-temperature antirutting, and its low-temperature performance could also comply with the specification. Besides, the incorporation of nano-TiO2 in mixtures could effectively enhance the antirutting and anticracking as well as water stabilization. Moreover, the nano-TiO2-modified asphalt mixture possesses a positive impact on photocatalytic degradation of CH and NOx, which could provide a reference for the treatment of automobile exhaust. The photocatalytic degradation effect of asphalt mixtures modified by nano-TiO2 on NOx is significantly better than that of CH

Machine Learning Approach to Develop a Novel Multi-Objective Optimization Method for Pavement Material Proportion

Asphalt mixture proportion design is one of the most important steps in asphalt pavement design and application. This study proposes a novel multi-objective particle swarm optimization (MOPSO) algorithm employing the Gaussian process regression (GPR)-based machine learning (ML) method for multi-variable, multi-level optimization problems with multiple constraints. First, the GPR-based ML method is proposed to model the objective and constraint functions without the explicit relationships between variables and objectives. In the optimization step, the metaheuristic algorithm based on adaptive weight multi-objective particle swarm optimization (AWMOPSO) is used to achieve the global optimal solution, which is very efficient for the objectives and constraints without mathematical relationships. The results showed that the optimal GPR model could describe the relationship between variables and objectives well in terms of root-mean-square error (RMSE) and R2. After the optimization by the proposed GPR-AWMOPSO algorithm, the comprehensive pavement performances were enhanced in terms of the permanent deformation resistance at high temperature, crack resistance at low temperature as well as moisture stability. Therefore, the proposed GPR-AWMOPSO algorithm is the best option and efficient for maximizing the performances of composite modified asphalt mixture. The GPR-AWMOPSO algorithm has advantages of less computational time and fewer samples, higher accuracy, etc. over traditional laboratory-based experimental methods, which can serve as guidance for the proportion optimization design of asphalt pavement

Correction to: PD-1 axis expression in musculoskeletal tumors and antitumor effect of nivolumab in osteosarcoma model of humanized mouse

Abstract The original article [1] contained an error in Table 1 whereby the ‘Positive’ column in the ‘PD-L1’ Tumor type group of columns was mistakenly included at the beginning of the ‘PD-L2’ Tumor type group of columns

Apatinib plus camrelizumab (anti-PD1 therapy, SHR-1210) for advanced osteosarcoma (APFAO) progressing after chemotherapy: a single-arm, open-label, phase 2 trial

Background Results of our previous study showed high objective response but short-term activity of apatinib in advanced osteosarcoma. We aimed to investigate the activity of apatinib in combination with camrelizumab in patients with inoperable high-grade osteosarcoma progressing after chemotherapy.Methods This open-label, phase 2 trial was conducted at Peking University People’s Hospital. We enrolled patients with advanced osteosarcoma progressed after chemotherapy. Patients received 500 mg apatinib orally once daily plus 200 mg camrelizumab by intravenous infusion every 2 weeks until disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. The primary endpoint was progression-free survival (PFS) and clinical benefit rate at 6 months, which were based on RECIST V.1.1.Results 43 patients were enrolled between January 25 and September 4, 2018. With median follow-up time of 48.3 (Q1, Q3, 30.6, 66.6) weeks, 13 (30.23%, 95% CI 17.2%, 40.1%) of 43 patients were progression free at 6 months and the 6-month PFS rate was 50.9% (95% CI 34.6%, 65.0%). Until final follow-up, the objective response rate was 20.9% (9/43) and two patients with durable disease control were observed. Patients with programmed cell death 1 ligand-1 (PD-L1) tumor proportion score ≥5% and pulmonary metastases tended to have a longer PFS in comparison to the others (p=0.004 and 0.017, respectively). Toxic effects led to dose reductions, or interruptions, or both in 24 (55.8%) of 43 patients and permanent discontinuation in 4 (9.3%) patients. There were no treatment-related deaths.Conclusions Although the combination of apatinib and camrelizumab seemed to prolong PFS in comparison to single agent apatinib in treating advanced osteosarcoma, it did not reach the prespecified target of 6-month PFS of 60% or greater. Overexpression of PD-L1 and the presence of pulmonary metastases only were associated with longer PFS.Trial registration number NCT03359018

Novel oncogene COPS3 interacts with Beclin1 and Raf-1 to regulate metastasis of osteosarcoma through autophagy

Abstract Background Expression of COP9 signalosome subunit 3 (COPS3), an oncogene overexpressed in osteosarcoma, has been demonstrated to be significantly correlated with tumor metastasis. However, the underlying mechanism by which COPS3 promotes metastasis of osteosarcoma and its role in autophagy remain unknown. Methods The expression of COPS3 was detected in primary osteosarcoma tissues and matching lung metastasis tissues by immunohistochemistry (IHC). The effect of COPS3 on the metastasis of osteosarcoma cells was investigated by transwell, wound healing assays and animal studies. Indicated proteins was analyzed by western blotting when COPS3 was knockdown or overexpressed. The COPS3 Interacting protein was determined by immunoprecipitation assay. The relationship between COPS3 and autophagy was detected by western blotting and immunofluorescence. Results We found that knockdown of COPS3 significantly reduced the lung metastasis of osteosarcoma cells in a mouse model, coinciding with downregulation of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MEK) and extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) signaling. The silencing of COPS3 also inhibited the epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) through the 90 kDa ribosomal S6 kinases (RSK), a family of signal transduction proteins downstream of MEK/ERK. Reciprocal immunoprecipitation assays revealed that COPS3 directly interacts with Raf-1, an upstream regulator of MEK/ERK. Surprisingly, Beclin1, an important autophagic protein, appeared in the COPS3-immunoprecipitates, along with the autophagic markers LC3-I and LC3-II. Loss of COPS3 completely inhibited H2O2-induced autophagic flux and reduced Beclin1 expression. Additionally, autophagy inhibitor or silencing of Beclin1 both decreased cell metastasis. Conclusions Taken together, these data reveal a novel function of COPS3 in the regulation of autophagy and highlight the relationship between autophagy and metastasis in osteosarcoma cells