Solar light-driven photocatalytic hydrogen evolution over ZnIn2S4 loaded with transition-metal sulfides

A series of Pt-loaded MS/ZnIn2S4 (MS = transition-metal sulfide: Ag2S, SnS, CoS, CuS, NiS, and MnS) photocatalysts was investigated to show various photocatalytic activities depending on different transition-metal sulfides. Thereinto, CoS, NiS, or MnS-loading lowered down the photocatalytic activity of ZnIn2S4, while Ag2S, SnS, or CuS loading enhanced the photocatalytic activity. After loading 1.0 wt.% CuS together with 1.0 wt.% Pt on ZnIn2S4, the activity for H2 evolution was increased by up to 1.6 times, compared to the ZnIn2S4 only loaded with 1.0 wt.% Pt. Here, transition-metal sulfides such as CuS, together with Pt, acted as the dual co-catalysts for the improved photocatalytic performance. This study indicated that the application of transition-metal sulfides as effective co-catalysts opened up a new way to design and prepare high-efficiency and low-cost photocatalysts for solar-hydrogen conversion

The value of IGF-1 and IGFBP-1 in patients with heart failure with reduced, mid-range, and preserved ejection fraction

Background: Previous studies have reported inconsistent results regarding the implications of deranged insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1)/insulin-like growth factor-binding protein 1 (IGFBP-1) axis in patients with heart failure (HF). This study evaluates the roles of IGF1/IGFBP-1 axis in patients with HF with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF), mid-range ejection fraction (HFmrEF), or preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF). Methods: Consecutive patients with HFrEF, HFmrEF, and HFpEF who underwent comprehensive cardiac assessment were included. The primary endpoint was the composite endpoint of all-cause death and HF rehospitalization at one year. Results: A total of 151 patients with HF (HFrEF: n = 51; HFmrEF: n = 30; HFpEF: n = 70) and 50 control subjects were included. The concentrations of IGFBP-1 (p < 0.001) and IGFBP-1/IGF-1 ratio (p < 0.001) were significantly lower in patients with HF compared to controls and can readily distinguish patients with and without HF (IGFBP-1: areas under the curve (AUC): 0.725, p < 0.001; IGFBP-1/IGF-1 ratio: AUC:0.755, p < 0.001; respectively). The concentrations of IGF-1, IGFBP-1, and IGFBP-1/IGF-1 ratio were similar among HFpEF, HFmrEF, and HFrEF patients. IGFBP-1 and IGFBP-1/IGF-1 ratio positively correlated with N-terminal probrain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) levels (r = 0.255, p = 0.002; r = 0.224, p = 0.007, respectively). IGF-1, IGFBP-1, and IGFBP-1/IGF-1 ratio did not predict the primary endpoint at 1 year for the whole patients with HF and HF subtypes on both univariable and multivariable Cox regression. Conclusion: The concentrations of plasma IGFBP-1 and IGFBP-1/IGF-1 ratio can distinguish patients with and without HF. In HF, IGFBP-1 and IGFBP-1/IGF-1 ratio positively correlated with NT-proBNP levels

Распространенность, применение и патологические эффекты диоксида титана

ДИОКСИД ТИТАНАКРАСИТЕЛЬ БЕЛОГО ЦВЕТААЛЛЕРГЕНЫПИЩЕВЫЕ ДОБАВКИПАТОЛОГИЧЕСКИЕ ПРОЦЕСС

Glass and glass ceramic electrodes and solid electrolyte materials for lithium ion batteries: A review

Due to its distinct network structure, lack of a grain boundary, and isotropic qualities, glass has been the subject of extensive research. Lithium ion batteries can have their capacity and safety increased by using glassy electrode and electrolyte materials. We discuss the properties and uses of several types of glass and glass ceramic as anodes, including tin oxide glass, vanadium oxide glass, and so on. Metal-organic framework (MOF) materials are also investigated as a new generation of high-performance anode materials. We present the usage of glassy MOF materials to overcome MOF material volume change during charge and discharge, as well as the order and disorder transition of certain MOF materials during charge and discharge. The use of vanadium-based glass as a cathode material is also discussed. These materials have the potential to be employed as electrode materials in the next generation of lithium- ion batteries. In addition, the application of glass, especially sulfide glass, as an all-solid-state battery electrolyte and the effect of mixed anion effect on improving the conductivity of solid electrolyte were introduced.</p

Estimation of N2 and N2O ebullition from eutrophic water using an improved bubble trap device

AbstractEbullition pathway of N2 and N2O emission and its importance on nitrogen loss were quantified during a survey of a eutrophic pond located at the subtropical climate zone in China. Using an improved bubble trap device, in situ collection of N2 bubbles was achieved by avoiding the contamination of N2 in the air. Measurements using the device indicated very high ebullition rates (36.3–366.7mlm−2h−1) and N2 ebullition flux (0.025–0.297gm−2h−1) at warmer months of September and October. The ebullition rates and N2 ebullition fluxes dropped sharply in colder months of December and January, ranged 2.5–15.9mlm−2h−1 and 0.002–0.016gm−2h−1, respectively. Distinct spatial variation of ebullition rates, and N2 and N2O ebullition fluxes were observed, with the highest rate at the heavy sediment location. Ebullition of N2O was a very minor fraction of total gaseous nitrogen released to air. The data demonstrated that ebullition could contribute greatly to biogenic N2 fluxes in eutrophic waters with significant bubble emission

Development of a EST dataset and characterization of EST-SSRs in a traditional Chinese medicinal plant, Epimedium sagittatum (Sieb. Et Zucc.) Maxim

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p><it>Epimedium sagittatum </it>(Sieb. Et Zucc.) Maxim, a traditional Chinese medicinal plant species, has been used extensively as genuine medicinal materials. Certain <it>Epimedium </it>species are endangered due to commercial overexploition, while sustainable application studies, conservation genetics, systematics, and marker-assisted selection (MAS) of <it>Epimedium </it>is less-studied due to the lack of molecular markers. Here, we report a set of expressed sequence tags (ESTs) and simple sequence repeats (SSRs) identified in these ESTs for <it>E. sagittatum</it>.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>cDNAs of <it>E. sagittatum </it>are sequenced using 454 GS-FLX pyrosequencing technology. The raw reads are cleaned and assembled into a total of 76,459 consensus sequences comprising of 17,231 contigs and 59,228 singlets. About 38.5% (29,466) of the consensus sequences significantly match to the non-redundant protein database (E-value < 1e-10), 22,295 of which are further annotated using Gene Ontology (GO) terms. A total of 2,810 EST-SSRs is identified from the <it>Epimedium </it>EST dataset. Trinucleotide SSR is the dominant repeat type (55.2%) followed by dinucleotide (30.4%), tetranuleotide (7.3%), hexanucleotide (4.9%), and pentanucleotide (2.2%) SSR. The dominant repeat motif is AAG/CTT (23.6%) followed by AG/CT (19.3%), ACC/GGT (11.1%), AT/AT (7.5%), and AAC/GTT (5.9%). Thirty-two SSR-ESTs are randomly selected and primer pairs are synthesized for testing the transferability across 52 <it>Epimedium </it>species. Eighteen primer pairs (85.7%) could be successfully transferred to <it>Epimedium </it>species and sixteen of those show high genetic diversity with 0.35 of observed heterozygosity (<it>Ho</it>) and 0.65 of expected heterozygosity (<it>He</it>) and high number of alleles per locus (11.9).</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>A large EST dataset with a total of 76,459 consensus sequences is generated, aiming to provide sequence information for deciphering secondary metabolism, especially for flavonoid pathway in <it>Epimedium</it>. A total of 2,810 EST-SSRs is identified from EST dataset and ~1580 EST-SSR markers are transferable. <it>E. sagittatum </it>EST-SSR transferability to the major <it>Epimedium </it>germplasm is up to 85.7%. Therefore, this EST dataset and EST-SSRs will be a powerful resource for further studies such as taxonomy, molecular breeding, genetics, genomics, and secondary metabolism in <it>Epimedium </it>species.</p