Stablecoins versus traditional cryptocurrencies in response to interbank rates

This study investigates the impacts of the United States (US) federal funds rate and Chinese interbank rate on the behaviors of stablecoins and traditional cryptocurrencies. We employ GARCH, EGARCH and Fixed Effects models for the daily sample of the top five stablecoins and the top five traditional cryptocurrencies in terms of market capitalization from December 2018 to December 2019. Our results show that a higher federal funds rate and Chinese interbank rate compress the prices and price volatility of stablecoins. In contrast, higher rates from both countries increase the prices and price volatility of traditional cryptocurrencies. Both rates also increase the trading value of both types of coins. The federal funds rate tends to have stronger impacts compared to the Chinese interbank rate on both types of coins, except for the price response of traditional cryptocurrencies

Removal of Congo red and malachite green from aqueous solution using heterogeneous Ag/ZnCo-ZIF catalyst in the presence of hydrogen peroxide

The bimetallic Zn/Co zeolitic imidazole frameworks (ZnCo-ZIFs) were successfully synthesized by a simple solvothermal method at room temperature. Silver elements were afterward doped onto the bimetallic frameworks to form Ag/ZnCo-ZIFs via a facile impregnation method in acetone solvent. The as-synthesized material was used as a heterogeneous catalyst for the removal reaction of Congo red (CR) and malachite green (MG) in the presence of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). Effects of catalyst dosage, H2O2 concentration, initial concentration of the contaminants, reaction temperature, and reaction time were conducted in this work. The results showed that more than 94% and 98% removal of CR and MG were, respectively, achieved within 45 and 30 min. The presence of Ag also enhanced the removal efficiency of CR and MG. The main mechanism of removal reaction of the organic contaminants could be oxidation via hydroxyl radicals. Moreover, the catalytic activity of the material remained over 90% after four recycling cycles. Due to the efficient reactivity as well as high stability, Ag/ZnCo-ZIFs can be a potential heterogeneous catalyst to remove hazardous dyes from aqueous solution

Correction: Nguyen et al. Green Silver Nanoparticles Formed by <i>Phyllanthus urinaria</i>, <i>Pouzolzia zeylanica</i>, and <i>Scoparia dulcis</i> Leaf Extracts and the Antifungal Activity. <i>Nanomaterials</i> 2020, <i>10</i>, 542

In the original publication [...

Injectable Hydrogel Based on Protein-Polyester Microporous Network as an Implantable Niche for Active Cell Recruitment

Despite the potential of hydrogel-based localized cancer therapies, their efficacy can be limited by cancer recurrence. Therefore, it is of great significance to develop a hydrogel system that can provoke robust and durable immune response in the human body. This study has developed an injectable protein-polymer-based porous hydrogel network composed of lysozyme and poly(ε-caprolactone-co-lactide)-b-poly(ethylene glycol)-b-poly(ε-caprolactone-co-lactide (PCLA) (Lys-PCLA) bioconjugate for the active recruitment dendritic cells (DCs). The Lys-PCLA bioconjugates are prepared using thiol-ene reaction between thiolated lysozyme (Lys-SH) and acrylated PCLA (PCLA-Ac). The free-flowing Lys-PCLA bioconjugate sols at low temperature transformed to immovable gel at the physiological condition and exhibited stability upon dilution with buffers. According to the in vitro toxicity test, the Lys-PCLA bioconjugate and PCLA copolymer were non-toxic to RAW 263.7 cells at higher concentrations (1000 µg/mL). In addition, subcutaneous administration of Lys-PCLA bioconjugate sols formed stable hydrogel depot instantly, which suggested the in situ gel forming ability of the bioconjugate. Moreover, the Lys-PCLA bioconjugate hydrogel depot formed at the interface between subcutaneous tissue and dermis layers allowed the active migration and recruitment of DCs. As suggested by these results, the in-situ forming injectable Lys-PCLA bioconjugate hydrogel depot may serve as an implantable immune niche for the recruitment and modification of DCs