Biodegradation of methyl ethyl ketone and methyl isopropyl ketone in a composite bead biofilter

[Abstract] Biodegradation of methyl ethyl ketone (MEK) and methyl isopropyl ketone (MIPK) in a composite bead biofilter was investigated. Both microbial growth rate kg and biochemical reaction rate kd would be inhibited at higher inlet concentration. The kg and kd values of MEK were greater than those of MIPK in the average inlet concentration of 100-300 ppm. For the microbial growth process, the degree of inhibitive effect was almost the same sensitivity for two ketone compounds. Zeroorder kinetic with the diffusion rate limitation could be regarded as the most adequate biochemical reaction model. For the biochemical reaction process, the inhibitive effect was more pronounced for MEK in the average inlet concentration of 100-150 ppm and it was more pronounced for MIPK in the average inlet concentration of 150-300 ppm. The maximum elimination capacity of MEK and MIPK were 0.127 and 0.101 g-C h-1 kg-1 packed material

Effectiveness and safety of Wuling capsule for post stroke depression: A systematic review

SummaryObjectiveTo review the effectiveness and safety of Wuling capsule for post stroke depression (PSD) systematically.MethodsWe searched electronic databases for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that compared either Wuling capsule with placebo, no treatment or Wuling capsule plus conventional treatment with conventional treatment alone in adults with post stroke depression. Relevant resources were also retrieved. Two reviewers screened the citations, assessed the risk of bias and extracted data independently.ResultsA total of 16 studies involving 1378 patients were identified for this review. There were 3 trials comparing Wuling capsule with no treatment control and 13 trials comparing Wuling capsule plus conventional treatment (Deanxit, Fluoxetine, Sertraline, Paroxetine or Citalopram) with conventional treatment alone. Meta-analyses indicated Wuling capsule used alone or integrated with conventional treatment was effective for PSD in terms of HAMD (Hamilton depression scale) scores, response rate and with less adverse effects, of which, HAMD scores decreased significantly in favor of Wuling capsule from onset time to 1 week (SMD=1.27, 95%CI: 0.71–1.83, P<0.00001), 2 weeks (SMD=1.45, 95%CI: 0.57–2.33, P=0.001), 4 weeks (SMD=2.84, 95%CI: 2.15–3.52, P<0.00001), 6 weeks (SMD=2.70, 95%CI: 2.15–3.24, P<0.00001), and 8 weeks (SMD=4.53, 95%CI: 3.55–5.50, P<0.00001) and overall effect (SMD=2.40, 95%CI: 1.75–3.05, P<0.00001) (SMD=standardized mean difference).ConclusionWuling capsule appeared to present certain antidepressant effect compared to no treatment control. With a combination of several Western medicines, Wuling capsule could be helpful in strengthening efficacy and reducing the incidence of adverse events as an alternative choice in the treatment of PSD. However, due to the limited number of included trials and relatively moderate methodological quality in the majority of studies, further large scale and rigorously designed trials are warranted to confirm the effectiveness and safety of Wuling capsule for post stroke depression

MDT-28/PLIN-1 mediates lipid droplet-microtubule interaction via DLC-1 in Caenorhabditis elegans

Ectopic lipid accumulation in lipid droplets (LD) has been linked to many metabolic diseases. In this study, DHS-3::GFP was used as a LD marker in C. elegans and a forward genetic screen was carried out to find novel LD regulators. There were 140 mutant alleles identified which were divided into four phenotypic categories: enlarged, aggregated, aggregated and small, and decreased. After genetic mapping, mutations in three known LD regulatory genes (maoc-1, dhs-28, daf-22) and a peroxisome-related gene (acox-3) were found to enlarge LDs, demonstrating the reliability of using DHS-3 as a living marker. In the screen, the cytoskeleton protein C27H5.2 was found to be involved in LD aggregation, as was the LD resident/structure-like protein, MDT-28/PLIN-1. Using yeast two-hybrid screening and pull-down assays, MDT-28/PLIN-1 was found to bind to DLC-1 (dynein light chain). Fluorescence imaging confirmed that MDT-28/PLIN-1 mediated the interaction between DHS-3 labeled LDs and DLC-1 labeled microtubules. Furthermore, MDT-28/PLIN-1 was directly bound to DLC-1 through its amino acids 1-210 and 275-415. Taken together, our results suggest that MDT-28/PLIN-1 is involved in the regulation of LD distribution through its interaction with microtubule-related proteins

In-situ electrochemical modification of pre-intercalated vanadium bronze cathodes for aqueous zinc-ion batteries

Vanadium bronzes have been well-demonstrated as promising cathode materials for aqueous zinc-ion batteries. However, conventional single-ion pre-intercalated V2O5 nearly reached its energy/power ceiling due to the nature of micro/electronic structures and unfavourable phase transition during Zn2+ storage processes. Here, a simple and universal in-situ anodic oxidation method of quasi-layered CaV4O9 in a tailored electrolyte was developed to introduce dual ions (Ca2+ and Zn2+) into bilayer δ-V2O5 frameworks forming crystallographic ultra-thin vanadium bronzes, Ca0.12Zn0.12V2O5·nH2O. The materials deliver transcendental maximum energy and power densities of 366 W h kg−1 (478 mA h g−1 @ 0.2 A g−1) and 6627 W kg−1 (245 mA h g−1 @ 10 A g−1), respectively, and the long cycling stability with a high specific capacity up to 205 mA h g−1 after 3000 cycles at 10 A g−1. The synergistic contributions of dual ions and Ca2+ electrolyte additives on battery performances were systematically investigated by multiple in-/ex-situ characterisations to reveal reversible structural/chemical evolutions and enhanced electrochemical kinetics, highlighting the significance of electrolyte-governed conversion reaction process. Through the computational approach, reinforced “pillar” effects, charge screening effects and regulated electronic structures derived from pre-intercalated dual ions were elucidated for contributing to boosted charge storage properties

Clustering Heart Rate Dynamics Is Associated with β-Adrenergic Receptor Polymorphisms: Analysis by Information-Based Similarity Index

Background: Genetic polymorphisms in the gene encoding the β-adrenergic receptors (β -AR) have a pivotal role in the functions of the autonomic nervous system. Using heart rate variability (HRV) as an indicator of autonomic function, we present a bottom-up genotype–phenotype analysis to investigate the association between β -AR gene polymorphisms and heart rate dynamics. Methods: A total of 221 healthy Han Chinese adults (59 males and 162 females, aged 33.6610.8 years, range 19 to 63 years) were recruited and genotyped for three common β-AR polymorphisms: β$_1$-AR Ser49Gly, β$_2$-AR Arg16Gly and β$_2$-AR Gln27Glu. Each subject underwent two hours of electrocardiogram monitoring at rest. We applied an information-based similarity (IBS) index to measure the pairwise dissimilarity of heart rate dynamics among study subjects. Results: With the aid of agglomerative hierarchical cluster analysis, we categorized subjects into major clusters, which were found to have significantly different distributions of β$_2$-AR Arg16Gly genotype. Furthermore, the non-randomness index, a nonlinear HRV measure derived from the IBS method, was significantly lower in Arg16 homozygotes than in Gly16 carriers. The non-randomness index was negatively correlated with parasympathetic-related HRV variables and positively correlated with those HRV indices reflecting a sympathovagal shift toward sympathetic activity. Conclusions: We demonstrate a bottom-up categorization approach combining the IBS method and hierarchical cluster analysis to detect subgroups of subjects with HRV phenotypes associated with β-AR polymorphisms. Our results provide evidence that β$_2$-AR polymorphisms are significantly associated with the acceleration/deceleration pattern of heart rate oscillation, reflecting the underlying mode of autonomic nervous system control

The study on the structure of exotic states χc1(3872)\chi_{c 1}(3872) via beauty-hadron decays in pppp collisions at s=8 TeV\sqrt{s}=8\,\mathrm{TeV}

A dynamically constrained phase-space coalescence (DCPC) model was introduced to study the exotic state $\chi_{c 1}(3872)$ yield for three possible structures: tetraquark state, nuclear-like state, and molecular state respectively, where the hadronic final states generated by the parton and hadron cascade model (PACIAE). The $\chi_{c 1}(3872)$/$\psi (2S)$ cross-section ratio from beauty-hadron decays (non-prompt) based on the $\chi_{c 1}(3872)$ or $\psi (2S)\to J/\psi{\pi^+}{\pi^-}$ bound state in the decay chains as a function of charged-particle multiplicity and transverse momentum in $pp$ collisions at $\sqrt{s}=8\,\mathrm{TeV}$ are calculated. A tetraquark state scenario from PACIAE+DCPC model shows better agreement with the LHCb and ATLAS measurements for the non-prompt $\chi_{c 1}(3872)$/$\psi(2S)$ cross-section ratio distributions, indicating that the $\chi_{c 1}(3872)$ is more likely to be a compact tetraquark state

One-Step Multipurpose Surface Functionalization by Adhesive Catecholamine

Surface modification is one of the most important techniques in modern science and engineering. The facile introduction of a wide variety of desired properties onto virtually any material surface is an ultimate goal in surface chemistry. To achieve this goal, the incorporation of structurally diverse molecules onto any material surface is an essential capability for ideal surface modification. Here, a general strategy for surface modification is presented in which many diverse surfaces can be functionalized by immobilizing a wide variety of molecules. This strategy functionalizes surfaces by a one-step immersion of substrates in a one-pot mixture of a molecule and a catecholamine surface modification agent. This one-step procedure for surface modification represents a standard protocol to control interfacial properties.Armed Forces Institute of Regenerative Medicine (Award W81XWH-08-2-0034)National Institutes of Health (U.S.) (2R01DE016516-06

Solitons on Noncommutative Torus as Elliptic Calogero Gaudin Models, Branes and Laughlin Wave Functions

For the noncommutative torus ${\cal T}$, in case of the N.C. parameter $\theta = \frac{Z}{n}$, we construct the basis of Hilbert space {\caH}_n$in terms of$\theta$functions of the positions$z_i$of$n$solitons. The wrapping around the torus generates the algebra${\cal A}_n$, which is the$Z_n \times Z_n$Heisenberg group on$\theta$functions. We find the generators$g$of an local elliptic$su(n)$, w$transform covariantly by the global gauge transformation of ${\cal A}$By acting on ${\cal H}_n$ we establish the isomorphism of ${\cal A}_n$$g$. We embed this $g$ into the $L$-matrix of the elliptic Gaudin and$models to give the dynamics. The moment map of this twisted cotangent$su_n({\cal T})$bundle is matched to the$D$-equation with Fayet-Illiopoulos source term, so the dynamics of the N.C. solitons becomes that of the brane. The geometric configuration$(k, u)$of th$spectral curve ${\rm det}|L(u) - k| = 0$ describes the brane configuration, with the dynamical variables $z_i$ of N.C. solitons as$moduli$T^{\otimes n} / S_n$. Furthermore, in the N.C. Chern-Simons theory for the quantum Hall effect, the constrain equation with quasiparticle source is identified also with the moment map eqaution$the N.C. $su_n({\cal T})$ cotangent bundle with marked points. The eigenfunction of the Gaudin differential $L$-operators as the Laughli$wavefunction is solved by Bethe ansatz.Comment: 25 pages, plain latex, no figure

Controlled Synthesis of Organic/Inorganic van der Waals Solid for Tunable Light-matter Interactions

Van der Waals (vdW) solids, as a new type of artificial materials that consist of alternating layers bonded by weak interactions, have shed light on fascinating optoelectronic device concepts. As a result, a large variety of vdW devices have been engineered via layer-by-layer stacking of two-dimensional materials, although shadowed by the difficulties of fabrication. Alternatively, direct growth of vdW solids has proven as a scalable and swift way, highlighted by the successful synthesis of graphene/h-BN and transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) vertical heterostructures from controlled vapor deposition. Here, we realize high-quality organic and inorganic vdW solids, using methylammonium lead halide (CH3NH3PbI3) as the organic part (organic perovskite) and 2D inorganic monolayers as counterparts. By stacking on various 2D monolayers, the vdW solids behave dramatically different in light emission. Our studies demonstrate that h-BN monolayer is a great complement to organic perovskite for preserving its original optical properties. As a result, organic/h-BN vdW solid arrays are patterned for red light emitting. This work paves the way for designing unprecedented vdW solids with great potential for a wide spectrum of applications in optoelectronics