Three Dimensional Functionalized Carbon/Tin(IV) Sulfide Biofoam for Photocatalytical Purification of Chromium(VI)-Containing Wastewater

Carbon-based materials are widely used for environmental remediation because of their unique and excellent performances. Because of the huge daily consumption of such materials, the economic and environmental friendly derivations from natural biomass are highly desired. Herein, a new biocarbon composite, carbonized loofah/tin­(IV) sulfide (CLF@SnS₂) foam, was successfully prepared using loofah biofoam through an efficient and scalable method. The hierarchical CLF@SnS₂ foam has a high-porous structure, which can provide channels for light traveling through the whole material. It is confirmed that such three-dimensional photocatalytic material can quickly purify Cr­(VI)-containing wastewater under mild visible light irradiation, with a efficiency of 99.7% Cr­(VI) reduction within 120 min. By contrast, CLF@SnS₂ showed much better visible photocatalytic capacity than the uncarbonized counterpart (UCLF@SnS₂), because the photoelectrons produced by the SnS₂ nanosheets can be rapidly exported by the continuous channels provided by the carbon shell. Besides the high visible light-driven photocatalytic activity, CLF@SnS₂ also exhibits excellent cycling stability. More importantly, this study demonstrated that CLF@SnS₂ can be used for practical applications due to its flexibility and economic availability

Paramagnetic Meissner Effect at High Fields in Y_(1−x)Ca_xBa_2Cu_3O_(7−δ) (x = 0.05, 0.125, 0.2) films

We report on systematic field-cooled magnetization experiments on three different Y_(1−x)Ca_xBa_2Cu_3O_(7−δ) (x = 0.05, 0.125, 0.2) film samples. The samples are made by pulsed laser deposition (PLD) method. Magnetic fields ranging from 0.02 T up to 5 T are applied and a paramagnetic response related to the superconducting state is observed when a strong field is applied parallel to the Cu–O plane. The magnitude of the high field paramagnetic moment (HFPME) increases as the field is increased. For x 0.2, the paramagnetic moment abruptly decreases. We discuss our results in terms of the flux compression scenario in the sample modulated by Ca concentration

Extracts from Seseli mairei Wolff attenuate imiquimod-induced psoriasis-like inflammation by inhibiting Th17 cells

Objective: Seseli mairei Wolff extracts (SMWE) are widely used to treat psoriasis as a Chinese medicine, but their effect and mechanism are unclear. This study verified the effect of SMWE on psoriasis by regulating Th17 cells. Methods: HaCaT cells were treated with IL-17A in vitro to evaluate the effect of SMWE on psoriasis. In vivo, the mice psoriasis model was established using imiquimod (IMQ, 62.5 mg/d), and intragastrically treated with the different drugs for six days. The severity of skin inflammation was evaluated with Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) scores and pathology. The levels of inflammation cytokines were assessed with immunofluorescence, immunochemistry, ELISA, and real-time PCR. The number of Th17 cells was determined with flows. Results: SMWE inhibited the proliferation of HaCaT cells and reduced the IL-17A-induced IL-6 production in vitro. In vivo, SMWE deduced the levels of IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8, IL-17A, IL-17F, IL-22, IL-23, and TNF-α, while increasing the level of IL-10 compared to the model group. SMWE also inhibited the levels of NF-κB, JAK2, and STAT3 proteins, while declining the expressions of Gr-1, and MPO. Interestingly, SMWE significantly decreased the number of Th17 cells. Conclusion: SMWE inhibited the proliferation of HaCaT cells and attenuated the development of psoriasis lesions by inhibiting Th17 cells to regulate the levels of inflammation cytokines

Paramagnetic Meissner Effect at High Fields in Y_(1−x)Ca_xBa_2Cu_3O_(7−δ) (x = 0.05, 0.125, 0.2) films

We report on systematic field-cooled magnetization experiments on three different Y_(1−x)Ca_xBa_2Cu_3O_(7−δ) (x = 0.05, 0.125, 0.2) film samples. The samples are made by pulsed laser deposition (PLD) method. Magnetic fields ranging from 0.02 T up to 5 T are applied and a paramagnetic response related to the superconducting state is observed when a strong field is applied parallel to the Cu–O plane. The magnitude of the high field paramagnetic moment (HFPME) increases as the field is increased. For x 0.2, the paramagnetic moment abruptly decreases. We discuss our results in terms of the flux compression scenario in the sample modulated by Ca concentration

Novel phenomenon of magnetism and superconductivity in Fe-doped superconductor Bi_(4−x) Fe_x O_4S_3 (0 ≤ x ≤ 0.1)

We report the effects of Fe doping on the BiS_2-based superconductor Bi_4O_4S_3. It has been found that the superconducting transition temperature (T^(onset)_C) is slightly enhanced by Fe doping. The magnetic susceptibility results reveal the coexistence of superconductivity and long-range ferrimagnetism in these samples. A new magnetic transition temperature TV (Verwey transition) from the M–T curves at ~112 K is observed. The isothermal magnetization curves (M–H) indicate a weak ferrimagnetism, which is probably due to the antiparallel ordering of Fe^(2+) and Fe^(3+) magnetic moments. The coexistence of superconductivity and ferro/ferrimagnetism makes bismuth oxysulfide superconductor a platform for understanding superconductivity from a new perspective

Coexistence of Superconductivity and Ferromagnetism in Ni-Doped Bi_(4−x)Ni_xO_4S_3 (0.075 ≤ x ≤ 0.150)

The effects of Ni doping on the physical properties of the newly discovered layered superconductor Bi_4O_4S_3 are studied. X-ray diffraction data indicates that the lattice constants a and c decrease with the increasing Ni doping. From resistivity-temperature curves, the superconducting transition temperature (T_c^(onset) is suppressed by only 0.5 K with the increase of Ni doping from 0.075 to 0.15; the T_c^(zero) is almost the same constant at different Ni ions’ doping level. The magnetic susceptibility results suggest the coexistence of superconductivity and ferromagnetism in this system. A possible superconductivity transition is observed around ˜14 K from M-T (FC) curves in x = 0.125, 0.15 samples, which may result from the doped magnetic Ni ions

Unconventional Antiferromagnetic Quantum Critical Point in Ba(Fe0.97Cr0.03)2(As1−xPx)2

We have systematically studied physical properties of Ba(Fe0.97Cr0.03)2(As1−xPx)2, where superconductivity in BaFe2(As1−xPx)2 is fully suppressed by just 3% of Cr substitution of Fe. A quantum critical point is revealed at x∼0.42, where non-Fermi-liquid behaviors similar to those in BaFe2(As1−xPx)2 are observed. Neutron diffraction and inelastic neutron scattering measurements suggest that the quantum critical point is associated with the antiferromagnetic order, which is not of conventional spin-density-wave type as evidenced by the ω/T scaling of spin excitations. On the other hand, no divergence of low-temperature nematic susceptibility is observed when x is decreased to 0.42 from higher doping level, demonstrating that there are no nematic quantum critical fluctuations. Our results suggest that non-Fermi-liquid behaviors in iron-based superconductors can be solely resulted from the antiferromagnetic quantum critical fluctuations, which cast doubts on the role of nematic fluctuations played in the normal-state properties in iron-based superconductors