Effect of zinc acetate concentration on optimization of photocatalytic activity of p-Co3O4/n-ZnO heterostructures

In this work, p-Co3O4/n-ZnO heterostructures were fabricated on Ni substrate by hydrothermal-decomposition method using cobaltous nitrate hexahydrate (Co(NO3)(2)center dot 6H(2)O) and zinc acetate dihydrate (Zn(CH3COO)(2)center dot 2H(2)O) as precursors with zinc acetate concentration varying from 5.0 to 55.0 mM. Structure and morphology of the developed samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Raman spectroscopy, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Effect of zinc acetate concentration on the photocatalytic activity of p-Co3O4/n-ZnO heterostructures was investigated by degradation of methyl orange (MO) under the UV light irradiation. The fabricated p-Co3O4/n-ZnO heterostructures exhibited higher photocatalytic activity than pure Co3O4 particles. In order to obtain the maximum photocatalytic activity, zinc acetate concentration was optimized. Specifically, at 35 mM of zinc acetate, the p-Co3O4/n-ZnO showed the highest photocatalytic activity with the degradation efficiency of MO reaching 89.38% after 72 h irradiation. The improvement of photocatalytic performance of p-Co3O4/n-ZnO heterostructures is due to the increased concentration of photo-generated holes on Co3O4 surface and the higher surface-to-volume ratio in the hierarchical structure formed by nano-lamellas

Plant Food Delphinidin-3-Glucoside Significantly Inhibits Platelet Activation and Thrombosis: Novel Protective Roles against Cardiovascular Diseases

Delphinidin-3-glucoside (Dp-3-g) is one of the predominant bioactive compounds of anthocyanins in many plant foods. Although several anthocyanin compounds have been reported to be protective against cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), the direct effect of anthocyanins on platelets, the key players in atherothrombosis, has not been studied. The roles of Dp-3-g in platelet function are completely unknown. The present study investigated the effects of Dp-3-g on platelet activation and several thrombosis models in vitro and in vivo. We found that Dp-3-g significantly inhibited human and murine platelet aggregation in both platelet-rich plasma and purified platelets. It also markedly reduced thrombus growth in human and murine blood in perfusion chambers at both low and high shear rates. Using intravital microscopy, we observed that Dp-3-g decreased platelet deposition, destabilized thrombi, and prolonged the time required for vessel occlusion. Dp-3-g also significantly inhibited thrombus growth in a carotid artery thrombosis model. To elucidate the mechanisms, we examined platelet activation markers via flow cytometry and found that Dp-3-g significantly inhibited the expression of P-selectin, CD63, CD40L, which reflect platelet α- and δ-granule release, and cytosol protein secretion, respectively. We further demonstrated that Dp-3-g downregulated the expression of active integrin αIIbβ3 on platelets, and attenuated fibrinogen binding to platelets following agonist treatment, without interfering with the direct interaction between fibrinogen and integrin αIIbβ3. We found that Dp-3-g reduced phosphorylation of adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase, which may contribute to the observed inhibitory effects on platelet activation. Thus, Dp-3-g significantly inhibits platelet activation and attenuates thrombus growth at both arterial and venous shear stresses, which likely contributes to its protective roles against thrombosis and CVDs

Deformation characteristics and engineering effect evaluation of a sandstone bedding excavation high slope treatment project during construction

In order to study the slope deformation law during and after the construction of the sandstone bed-cut high slope support project and the effect of the treatment project, this paper relies on a slope support project in Beijing to analyze the axial force of the anchor cable and the slope during the construction process. The slope displacement is monitored and analyzed, and the results show that the change of the axial force of the anchor cable is mainly divided into the acceleration loss stage, the fluctuation stage and the continuous stable trend stage; the change of the axial force of the anchor cable can well reflect the change of the internal force of the slope; the change of horizontal displacement and vertical settlement can reflect the change law of the deep displacement of the slope and the stability of the slope, has a better support effect. The finite element analysis software was used to simulate the excavation and support process of the sandstone-layered high slope. It was found that with the excavation of the slope, the displacement of the slope developed along the slope angle of the weak sliding surface, and the stability of the slope decreased. The monitoring results and the simulation results are compared and analyzed, and it is found that the change trends of the two are basically the same, which proves that the slope support system can effectively control the deformation of the slope. The research results can provide reference for the design and construction of similar slopes in the future

Additional file 1: of Effect of Zinc Acetate Concentration on Optimization of Photocatalytic Activity of p-Co3O4/n-ZnO Heterostructures

Figure S1. Nitrogen adsorption–desorption isotherms of (a) Co3O4, (b) Co3O4/ZnO-5, (c) Co3O4/ZnO-15, (d) Co3O4/ZnO-25, (e) Co3O4/ZnO-35, (f) Co3O4/ZnO-45, and (g) Co3O4/ZnO-55. Figure S2. Irradiation time dependent UV-vis absorbance spectra of MO aqueous solution in the presence ZnO. Figure S3. PL spectra of (a) ZnO, Co3O4, and Co3O4/ZnO heterostructures, and (b) the magnification of the square in (a). Figure S4. FTIR spectra of Co3O4 and Co3O4/ZnO heterostructures after 72 h degradation of MO. (DOCX 779 kb

Effects of Dp-3-g on human platelet aggregation.

<p>Human PRP and gel-filtered platelets were pre-incubated with control buffer (black), 0.5 µM Dp-3-g (blue), 5 µM (green) or 50 µM Dp-3-g (red) for 40 min at 37°C. Platelet aggregation with human PRP or gel-filtered platelets was performed at 37°C with a stir speed of 1000 rpm using an aggregometer. A) Human PRP. B) Human gel-filtered platelets. Values are mean ± SD, n = 3 per group. * <i>P</i><0.05, ** <i>P</i><0.01 and *** <i>P</i><0.001, as compared to control buffer.</p

Effects of Dp-3-g on human platelet αIIbβ3 activation and fibrinogen binding.

<p>Human PRP or gel-filtered platelets were incubated with control buffer, 0.5 µM Dp-3-g, 5 µM Dp-3-g or 50 µM Dp-3-g for 40 min at 37°C. Platelet activation markers were analyzed via flow cytometry after stimulation by ADP, collagen, TRAP or thrombin. A) Activated integrin αIIbβ3 expression on platelets in human PRP. B) Activated integrin αIIbβ3 expression on human gel-filtered platelets. C) Platelet-bound fibrinogen in human PRP. D) Platelet-bound fibrinogen on human gel-filtered platelets. Values are mean ± SEM, n = 3 per group. * <i>P</i><0.05, ** <i>P</i><0.01 and *** <i>P</i><0.001, as compared to control buffer.</p

Effects of Dp-3-g on bleeding times in mice.

<p>Tail-vein bleeding times were examined in C57BL/6 mice. Either PBS (control) or different concentrations of Dp-3-g were administered via the tail vein 40 min before the bleeding time was determined. Values are mean ± SD, n = 8–10 per group. No significant differences in bleeding times were observed between treated and untreated mice.</p

Effects of Dp-3-g on human platelet activation.

<p>Human PRP or gel-filtered platelets were incubated with control buffer, 0.5 µM Dp-3-g, 5 µM Dp-3-g or 50 µM Dp-3-g for 40 min at 37°C. Platelet activation markers were analyzed via flow cytometry after stimulation by ADP, collagen, TRAP or thrombin. A) P-selectin expression on human PRP. B) P-selectin expression on human gel-filtered platelets. C) CD63 expression on human gel-filtered platelets. D) CD40L expression on human gel-filtered platelets. Values are mean ± SEM, n = 3 per group. * <i>P</i><0.05, ** <i>P</i><0.01 and *** <i>P</i><0.001, as compared to control buffer.</p

Effects of Dp-3-g on FeCl₃-induced thrombosis <i>in vivo</i>.

<p>A) Thrombus formation was initiated by topical application of FeCl₃ on mesenteric arterioles in C57BL/6 male mice, which were injected with fluorescently-labeled platelets and different concentration of Dp-3-g or control buffer. Thrombus formation was compared between groups based on the time to complete vessel occlusion. Values are mean ± SD, n = 6–10 per group. *** <i>P</i><0.001, as compared to control buffer. B) C57BL/6 mice were injected with 50 µM Dp-3-g or control buffer. Blood flow in the carotid artery following FeCl₃-induced injury was monitored until complete vessel occlusion was observed. Values are mean ± SD, n = 14 per group. * <i>P</i><0.05.</p