Anomalous Flow Behavior in Nanochannels: A Molecular Dynamics Study

We report molecular dynamics simulations of flow of water in nanochannels with a range of surface wettability characteristics (hydrophobic to strongly hydrophilic) and driving forces (pressures). Our results show apparently anomalous behavior. At low pressures, the rate is higher in nanochannels with hydrophilic surfaces than that with hydrophobic surfaces; however, with high pressure driven flow we observe opposite trends. This apparently anomalous behavior can be explained on the basis of molecular thermodynamics and fluid mechanics considerations. Understanding such behavior is important in many nanofluidic devices such as nanoreactors, nanosensors, and nanochips that are increasingly being designed and used

“Polymer-in-Ceramic” Membrane for Thermally Safe Separator Applications

In this work, a facile casting method was utilized to prepare “polymer-in-ceramic” microporous membranes for thermally safe battery separator applications; that is, a series of composite membranes composed of silicon dioxide (SiO2) as a matrix and polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) as a binder were prepared. The effects of different SiO2 contents on various physical properties of membranes such as the porosity, electrolyte absorption rate, electrochemical stability, and especially thermal stability of the SiO2/PVDF composite membranes were systematically studied. Compared with a commercial polypropylene separator, the SiO2/PVDF membrane has a higher porosity (66.0%), electrolyte absorption (239%), and ion conductivity (1.0 mS·cm–1) and superior thermal stability (only 2.1% shrinkage at 200 °C for 2 h) and flame retardancy. When the content of SiO2 in the membrane reached 60% (i.e., PS6), LiFePO4/PS6/Li half-cells exhibited excellent cycle stability (138.2 mA h·g–1 discharging capacity after 100 cycles at 1C) and Coulombic efficiency (99.1%). The above advantages coupled with the potential for rapid and large-scale production reveal that the “polymer-in-ceramic” SiO2/PVDF membrane has prospective separator applications in secondary lithium-ion batteries

The Amplified Resonance Light Scattering Signal Detection of DNA Hybridization Using Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons as a Probe

<div><p>ABSTRACT</p><p>A simple and rapid method has been developed to detect the nucleic acid–based polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons as a probe by the amplified resonance light scattering signals of DNA hybridization. Five polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons including naphthalene, pyrene, fluoranthene, anthracene, and phenanthrene, particularly naphthalene, with double-stranded DNA and single-stranded DNA in aqueous solution were investigated. Through amplified resonance light scattering signals, the complementary and mismatched sequences of DNA can be both detected and identified easily. Mechanism investigations by multiple spectra have shown that groove binding occurs between PAHs and double-stranded DNA.</p> <p>Supplemental materials are available for this article. Go to the publisher's online edition of <i>Spectroscopy Letters</i> to view the supplemental file.</p> </div

Dipole source localization images of parental faces versus unfamiliar faces for P300 latency.

<p>The main different brain regions in response to the father’s and mother’s faces were the right medial frontal gyrus (<a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0068795#pone-0068795-g006" target="_blank">Figure 6a)</a> and the left anterior cingulate gyrus (<a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0068795#pone-0068795-g006" target="_blank">Figure 6b)</a>; blue spots signify the different regions. Activation of the both of the parental faces was also located in the regions of the cerebellar tonsil (red spot) and the precuneus (green spot).</p

Grand average ERPs evoked by different face types.

<p>The light gray shaded areas indicate (a) a 250-550 ms time window for the P3a component at the frontal electrode, (b) a 250-650 ms time window for the P3b component at the parietal electrode, (c) and (d) a 130-180 ms time window for the N170 detection and a 200-300 ms time window for the N2b at the bilateral occipito-temporal areas.</p

The correlations between the maternal attachment scores and the P3a amplitudes evoked by the mother’s face.

<p>Any significant correlations were found in the case of the mother (total score: <i>r</i> = .11, <i>p</i> = .302, <a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0068795#pone-0068795-g005" target="_blank">Figure 5a</a>; trust dimension: <i>r</i> = .10, <i>p</i> = .311, <a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0068795#pone-0068795-g005" target="_blank">Figure 5b</a>; communication dimension: <i>r</i> = .003, <i>p</i> = .495, <a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0068795#pone-0068795-g005" target="_blank">Figure 5c</a>; alienation dimension: <i>r</i> = .04, <i>p</i> = .423, <a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0068795#pone-0068795-g005" target="_blank">Figure 5d)</a>.</p

Recording procedure and an example of the facial stimuli.

<p>In each trial, the participants were asked to respond as soon as their parents’ faces were presented and to ignore male/female strangers’ faces. All of the participants were asked to finish two single oddball tasks, and the task order was balanced across the participants. The parents whose photographs are presented here have given written informed consent, as outlined in the PLOS consent form, permitting us to publish, reuse and reprint their photographs.</p

Manganese Removal from Acid Mine Drainage by a Consortium of Mn-Oxidizing Bacteria in Continuous Stirred Tank Bioreactor: Long-Term Treatment and Reactive Mixture Characterization

Biological treatments based on Mn-oxidizing bacteria can effectively remove Mn from contaminated water. However, the mechanisms and key organisms of biological low-pH Mn(II) removal are largely unexplored. In this study, bioremediation based on an enriched consortium of acid-resistant Mn-oxidizing bacteria for Mn-rich acid mine drainage (AMD) was evaluated in a continuous stirred tank bioreactor (CSTB), and the removal mechanism of Mn(II) was further studied. The highest removal rate of 33.2 ± 1.8 mg/L/d and maximum removal efficiency of 82.4 ± 1.8% were achieved with a pH of 5.5, hydraulic retention time (HRT) of 48 h, chemical oxygen demand (COD) concentration of 2000.0 mg/L, and Mn concentration of 80.0 mg/L, respectively. The Mn oxidation rate was ∼4.1 μM/h in the continuous stirred tank bioreactor (CSTB) under stable conditions. Acinetobacter and Azospirillum were the main contributors for Mn oxidation in the bioreactor. X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis suggested that Mn removal proceeds via the formation of biogenic precipitates consisting of MnO2, MnOOH, and MnCO3. The performance of the CSTB was further evaluated by actual Mn-rich acid mine drainage, and Mn, Cu, Zn, and Cd removal efficiencies were 86.5 ± 2.4%, 98.8 ± 2.2%, and 96.9 ± 1.0%, and 97.0 ± 1.7%, respectively. Results from this work have demonstrated that Mn-oxidizing bacteria can be effective at processing complex Mn-rich acid mine drainage

The correlations between the paternal attachment scores and P3a amplitudes evoked by a father’s face.

<p>The figure shows that the P3a amplitude was positively correlated to the total attachment score (<i>r</i> = .71, <i>p</i> < .001, Figure 4a), the trust dimension (<i>r</i> = .68, <i>p</i> < .001, Figure 4b) and the communication dimension (<i>r</i> = .60, <i>p</i> < .001, Figure 4c) and negatively correlated with the alienation dimension (<i>r</i> = -.50, <i>p</i> < .005, Figure 4d).</p

Killing Two Birds with One Stone: Shape-Memory Cryogels for Hemostasis and Wound Repair

The development of shape-memory hemostatic agents is crucial for the treatment of deep incompressible bleeding tissue. However, there are few reports on biomaterials that can monitor bacterial infection at the wound site in real time following hemostasis and effectively promote repair. In this study, we propose a multifunctional QCSG/FLZ cryogel composed of glycidyl methacrylate-functionalized quaternary chitosan (QCSG), fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC), and a lysozyme (LYZ)-modified zeolitic imidazolate framework (ZIF-8) for incompressible bleeding tissue hemostasis and wound repair. QCSG/FLZ cryogels possess interconnected microporous structure and enhanced mechanical properties, allowing them to be molded into different shapes for effective hemostasis in deep incompressible wounds. Furthermore, the fluorescence quench signal of QCSG/FLZ cryogels enables timely monitoring of bacterial infection when wound triggers infection. Meanwhile, the acidic microenvironment of bacterial infection induces structural lysis of ZIF-8, releasing LYZ and Zn2+, which effectively kill bacteria and accelerate wound repair. In conclusion, our study not only provides potential application of QCSG/FLZ cryogels for hemostasis in deep incompressible wounds but promisingly promotes the development of a tissue repair technique