Interaction Forces between Diaspore and Kaolinite in NaOL Solution Probed by EDLVO Theory and AFM Analysis

Molecular force plays an important role in the interaction between collector and minerals, which directly reflects the intrinsic reason for the selectivity and collection of the collector to minerals. In this work, the interaction forces between sodium oleate (NaOL) and minerals (kaolinite and diaspore) were directly characterized by atomic force microscopy (AFM) combined with EDLVO theory. The results show that after interacting with NaOL, the zeta potentials of kaolinite and diaspore were more negative, and the hydrophobicity of minerals increased. EDLVO calculation results indicate that electrostatic repulsion dominated the interaction forces between mineral particles, and the van der Waals interaction energy, electrostatic interaction energy, and hydrophobic interaction energy increased after NaOL treatment. AFM measurements show that the NaOL collector increased the attraction force of diaspore-diaspore and kaolinite-kaolinite particles, and the increase in attraction force for diaspore-diaspore particles was larger than in kaolinite particles, which was consistent with the EDLVO results. The adhesion force between the NaOL collector and the diaspore surface was larger than in kaolinite, confirming the fact that NaOL had better collection and selectivity for diaspore than kaolinite. This work improves understanding of the interaction mechanisms between NaOL collector, diaspore, and kaolinite minerals

Interaction Forces between Diaspore and Kaolinite in NaOL Solution Probed by EDLVO Theory and AFM Analysis

Molecular force plays an important role in the interaction between collector and minerals, which directly reflects the intrinsic reason for the selectivity and collection of the collector to minerals. In this work, the interaction forces between sodium oleate (NaOL) and minerals (kaolinite and diaspore) were directly characterized by atomic force microscopy (AFM) combined with EDLVO theory. The results show that after interacting with NaOL, the zeta potentials of kaolinite and diaspore were more negative, and the hydrophobicity of minerals increased. EDLVO calculation results indicate that electrostatic repulsion dominated the interaction forces between mineral particles, and the van der Waals interaction energy, electrostatic interaction energy, and hydrophobic interaction energy increased after NaOL treatment. AFM measurements show that the NaOL collector increased the attraction force of diaspore-diaspore and kaolinite-kaolinite particles, and the increase in attraction force for diaspore-diaspore particles was larger than in kaolinite particles, which was consistent with the EDLVO results. The adhesion force between the NaOL collector and the diaspore surface was larger than in kaolinite, confirming the fact that NaOL had better collection and selectivity for diaspore than kaolinite. This work improves understanding of the interaction mechanisms between NaOL collector, diaspore, and kaolinite minerals

Synthesis and Antifungal Activity of Novel Triazole Compounds Containing Piperazine Moiety

Design and synthesis of triazole library antifungal agents having piperazine side chains, analogues to fluconazole were documented. The synthesis highlighted utilization of the click chemistry on the basis of the active site of the cytochrome P450 14α-demethylase (CYP51). Their structures were characterized by 1H-NMR, 13C-NMR, MS and IR. The influences of piperazine moiety on in vitro antifungal activities of all the target compounds were evaluated against eight human pathogenic fungi

Effect of no eyeglasses sales on the quality of eye care: an experimental evidence from China

Abstract Background Eye examinations and eyeglasses acquisition are typically integrated into a cohesive procedure in China. We conducted a randomized controlled trial using incognito standardized patient (SP) approach to evaluate the impact of separating eyeglasses sales on the accuracy of final prescription. Methods 52 SPs were trained to provide standardized responses during eye examinations, and undergoing refraction by a senior ophthalmologist at a national-level clinical center. SPs subsequently received eye examinations at 226 private optical shops and public hospitals in Shaanxi, northwestern China. The visits were randomly assigned to either control group, where SPs would typically purchase eyeglasses after refraction, or treatment group, where SPs made an advance declaration not to purchase eyeglasses prior to refraction. The dioptric difference between the final prescriptions provided by local refractionists and expert in the better-seeing eye was determined using the Vector Diopteric Distance method, and the completeness of exams was assessed against national standards. Multiple regressions were conducted to estimate the impact of no eyeglasses sales on the accuracy of the final prescription of local refractionists, as well as the completeness of examinations. Results Among 226 eye exams (73 in public hospitals, 153 in private optical shops), 133 (58.8%) were randomized to control group and 93 (41.2%) to no eyeglasses sales group. The inaccuracy rate of final prescriptions provided by local refractionists (≥ 1.0 D, experts’ final prescription as the reference) was 25.6% in control group, while 36.6% in no-sale group (P = 0.077). The likelihood of providing inaccurate final prescriptions was significantly higher in no-sale group compared to control group (OR = 1.607; 95% CI: 1.030 to 2.508; P = 0.037). This was particularly evident in private optical shops (OR = 2.433; 95% CI: 1.386 to 4.309; P = 0.002). In terms of process quality, the no-sale group performed significantly less subjective refraction (OR = 0.488; 95% CI: 0.253 to 0.940; P = 0.032) and less testing SP’s own eyeglasses (OR = 0.424; 95% CI: 0.201 to 0.897; P = 0.025). The duration of eye exams was 3.917 min shorter (95% CI: -6.798 to -1.036; P = 0.008) in no-sale group. Conclusions Separating eyeglasses sales from optical care could lead to worse quality of eye care. Policy makers should carefully consider the role of economic incentives in healthcare reform

Synthesis and Antifungal Activity of Novel Triazole Compounds Containing Piperazine Moiety

Design and synthesis of triazole library antifungal agents having piperazine side chains, analogues to fluconazole were documented. The synthesis highlighted utilization of the click chemistry on the basis of the active site of the cytochrome P450 14α-demethylase (CYP51). Their structures were characterized by 1H-NMR, 13C-NMR, MS and IR. The influences of piperazine moiety on in vitro antifungal activities of all the target compounds were evaluated against eight human pathogenic fungi

A Specific LSD1/KDM1A Isoform Regulates Neuronal Differentiation through H3K9 Demethylation

Lysine-specific demethylase 1 (LSD1) has been reported to repress and activate transcription by mediating histone H3K4me1/2 and H3K9me1/2 demethylation, respectively. The molecular mechanism that underlies this dual substrate specificity has remained unknown. Here we report that an isoform of LSD1, LSD1+8a, does not have the intrinsic capability to demethylate H3K4me2. Instead, LSD1+8a mediates H3K9me2 demethylation in collaboration with supervillin (SVIL), a new LSD1+8a interacting protein. LSD1+8a knockdown increases H3K9me2, but not H3K4me2, levels at its target promoters and compromises neuronal differentiation. Importantly, SVIL co-localizes to LSD1+8a-bound promoters, and its knockdown mimics the impact of LSD1+8a loss, supporting SVIL as a cofactor for LSD1+8a in neuronal cells. These findings provide insight into mechanisms by which LSD1 mediates H3K9me demethylation and highlight alternative splicing as a means by which LSD1 acquires selective substrate specificities (H3K9 versus H3K4) to differentially control specific gene expression programs in neurons

The DDX23 Negatively Regulates Translation and Replication of Foot-and-Mouth Disease Virus and Is Degraded by 3C Proteinase

DEAD-box helicase 23 (DDX23) is a host nuclear helicase, which is a part of the spliceosomal complex and involved in pre-mRNA splicing. To investigate whether DDX23, an internal ribosomal entry sites transacting factor (ITAF) affects foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) replication and translation through internal ribosome entry site (IRES)-dependent manner. For this, we utilized a pull-down assay, Western blotting, quantitative real-time PCR, confocal microscopy, overexpression and small interfering RNA knockdown, as well as the median tissue culture infective dose. Our findings showed that FMDV infection inhibited DDX23 expression and the overexpression of DDX23 reduced viral replication, however, CRISPR Cas9 knockout/small interfering RNA knockdown increased FMDV replication. FMDV IRES domain III and IV interacted with DDX23, whereas DDX23 interacted with FMDV 3C proteinase and significantly degraded. The enzymatic activity of FMDV 3C proteinase degraded DDX23, whereas FMDV degraded DDX23 via the lysosomal pathway. Additionally, IRES-driven translation was suppressed in DDX23-overexpressing cells, and was enhanced in DDX23 knocked down. Collectively, our results demonstrated that DDX23 negatively affects FMDV IRES-dependent translation, which could be a useful target for the design of antiviral drugs