Synthesis of Novel Porphyrin Derivatives with Mesogenic Properties

<div><p></p><p>Two novel porphyrin derivatives, 5,10,15,20-tetra(4-(N-octane-carboxamide)phen-yl)porphyrin (4NC₈-TPP) and 5,10,15,20-tetra(4-(N-stearyl-carboxamide)phenyl)porphyrin (4NC₁₈-TPP), were synthesized. Their molecular structures were characterized by means of time of flight mass spectrometer (TOF-MS), nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and infrared spectra (IR). The thermal behaviour and morphologies of 4NC₈-TPP and 4NC₁₈-TPP were examined by thermal gravity (TG), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and polarizing optical microscope (POM). It was found that both 4NC₈-TPP and 4NC₁₈-TPP had mesogenic properties.</p></div

Cellular Transport of Esculin and Its Acylated Derivatives in Caco‑2 Cell Monolayers and Their Antioxidant Properties in Vitro

Esculin has many pharmacological effects, but these are difficult to observe after oral administration owing to poor lipid solubility. In our previous study, five acylated derivatives with different acyl chain lengths (EA, EP, EO, EL, and EM) were synthesized to improve the lipophilicity of esculin. In this study, the bioavailability and antioxidant activity of the five derivatives were investigated. The logP of esculin, EA, EP, EO, EL, and EM were −1.1 ± 0.1, −0.3 ± 0.14, 0.1 ± 0.17, 1.6 ± 0.09, 2.4 ± 0.11, and 2.8 ± 0.18, and their <i>P</i>_app were 0.71 ± 0.02, 1.24 ± 0.18, 1.74 ± 0.11, 11.6 ± 3.6, 4.11 ± 1.03, and 2.64 ± 0.97 × 10^–6 cm/s, respectively. Besides, the bioavailability of EO, EL, and EM were seriously affected by carboxylesterase. The results of ABTS, ORAC, and DPPH assays indicated that the antiradical ability of the five derivatives did not exceed that of esculin. However, EA, EP, and EO showed more effective inhibition of AAPH-induced oxidative hemolysis than esculin did (<i>p</i> < 0.05), and EL and EM were less effective than esculin (<i>p</i> < 0.05). The mechanism was related to the distribution and localization of the derivatives in “oil–water interface” between the cytomembrane and the aqueous phase

Enhanced Activated Carbon Cathode Performance for Microbial Fuel Cell by Blending Carbon Black

Activated carbon (AC) is a useful and environmentally sustainable catalyst for oxygen reduction in air-cathode microbial fuel cells (MFCs), but there is great interest in improving its performance and longevity. To enhance the performance of AC cathodes, carbon black (CB) was added into AC at CB:AC ratios of 0, 2, 5, 10, and 15 wt % to increase electrical conductivity and facilitate electron transfer. AC cathodes were then evaluated in both MFCs and electrochemical cells and compared to reactors with cathodes made with Pt. Maximum power densities of MFCs were increased by 9–16% with CB compared to the plain AC in the first week. The optimal CB:AC ratio was 10% based on both MFC polarization tests and three electrode electrochemical tests. The maximum power density of the 10% CB cathode was initially 1560 ± 40 mW/m² and decreased by only 7% after 5 months of operation compared to a 61% decrease for the control (Pt catalyst, 570 ± 30 mW/m² after 5 months). The catalytic activities of Pt and AC (plain or with 10% CB) were further examined in rotating disk electrode (RDE) tests that minimized mass transfer limitations. The RDE tests showed that the limiting current of the AC with 10% CB was improved by up to 21% primarily due to a decrease in charge transfer resistance (25%). These results show that blending CB in AC is a simple and effective strategy to enhance AC cathode performance in MFCs and that further improvement in performance could be obtained by reducing mass transfer limitations

Methane Production in Microbial Reverse-Electrodialysis Methanogenesis Cells (MRMCs) Using Thermolytic Solutions

The utilization of bioelectrochemical systems for methane production has attracted increasing attention, but producing methane in these systems requires additional voltage to overcome large cathode overpotentials. To eliminate the need for electrical grid energy, we constructed a microbial reverse-electrodialysis methanogenesis cell (MRMC) by placing a reverse electrodialysis (RED) stack between an anode with exoelectrogenic microorganisms and a methanogenic biocathode. In the MRMC, renewable salinity gradient energy was converted to electrical energy, thus providing the added potential needed for methane evolution from the cathode. The feasibility of the MRMC was examined using three different cathode materials (stainless steel mesh coated with platinum, SS/Pt; carbon cloth coated with carbon black, CC/CB; or a plain graphite fiber brush, GFB) and a thermolytic solution (ammonium bicarbonate) in the RED stack. A maximum methane yield of 0.60 ± 0.01 mol-CH₄/mol-acetate was obtained using the SS/Pt biocathode, with a Coulombic recovery of 75 ± 2% and energy efficiency of 7.0 ± 0.3%. The CC/CB biocathode MRMC had a lower methane yield of 0.55 ± 0.02 mol-CH₄/mol-acetate, which was twice that of the GFB biocathode MRMC. COD removals (89–91%) and Coulombic efficiencies (74–81%) were similar for all cathode materials. Linear sweep voltammetry and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy tests demonstrated that cathodic microorganisms enhanced electron transfer from the cathode compared to abiotic controls. These results show that the MRMC has significant potential for production of nearly pure methane using low-grade waste heat and a source of waste organic matter at the anode

Use of Pyrolyzed Iron Ethylenediaminetetraacetic Acid Modified Activated Carbon as Air–Cathode Catalyst in Microbial Fuel Cells

Activated carbon (AC) is a cost-effective catalyst for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) in air-cathode microbial fuel cells (MFCs). To enhance the catalytic activity of AC cathodes, AC powders were pyrolyzed with iron ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (FeEDTA) at a weight ratio of FeEDTA:AC = 0.2:1. MFCs with FeEDTA modified AC cathodes and a stainless steel mesh current collector produced a maximum power density of 1580 ± 80 mW/m², which was 10% higher than that of plain AC cathodes (1440 ± 60 mW/m²) and comparable to Pt cathodes (1550 ± 10 mW/m²). Further increases in the ratio of FeEDTA:AC resulted in a decrease in performance. The durability of AC-based cathodes was much better than Pt-catalyzed cathodes. After 4.5 months of operation, the maximum power density of Pt cathode MFCs was 50% lower than MFCs with the AC cathodes. Pyridinic nitrogen, quaternary nitrogen and iron species likely contributed to the increased activity of FeEDTA modified AC. These results show that pyrolyzing AC with FeEDTA is a cost-effective and durable way to increase the catalytic activity of AC

High Electrochemical Performance Recycling Spent LiFePO₄ Materials through the Preoxidation Regeneration Strategy

Recycling and regenerating spent lithium-ion batteries are significant in addressing raw material shortages and environmental issues. LiFePO4 (LFP) has been widely used for its stability and economy. However, considering the production cost of LFP, the traditional metallurgy method is unsuitable for LFP recycling due to its cumbersome nature and high energy consumption. Meanwhile, direct regeneration of LFP is mostly adopted in materials with slightly degraded electrochemical properties. There is no making without breaking. Herein, the preoxidized strategy for regenerating spent LFP (SLFP) is reported. Specifically, by combining the oxidation removal of impurities and the solid-phase method, we have successfully restored SLFP with severely degraded electrical properties. At the same time, the physical and electrochemical properties of preoxidized LFP (RLFP) and directly regenerated LFP are compared. The results show that the SLFP materials are adequately decomposed by preoxidized regeneration technology. The subsequent addition of glucose not only reduced Fe3+ but also enhanced the material’s conductivity as a uniform carbon layer. Then, Ti-doping is applied to improve the ionic conductivity of preoxidation-regenerated LFP material, and the rate performance of RLFP material is improved effectively. Compared with traditional methods, this technique is simple and has better environmental benefits. It provides a new possibility for the recycling of LFP materials

The proportion of changing state after 3-month intervention among the overweight and obesity group.

<p>Abbreviation: BMI, body mass index; WC, waist circumference; SBP, systolic blood pressure; DBP, diastolic blood pressure; BF %, body fat percentage; FSG, fasting serum glucose; TG, triglyceride; TC, total cholesterol; LDL-C, low density lipoprotein-cholesterol; HDL-C, high density lipoprotein-cholesterol.</p

A novel prescription pedometer-assisted walking intervention and weight management for Chinese occupational population

<div><p>Background and aim</p><p>Information technology has been previously used for the research and practice of health promotion. Appropriate and effective health promotion methods used by professional groups remain to be investigated. This study aimed to assess the feasibility and effectiveness of a weight management program among the Chinese occupational population using and a novel information technology exercise prescription.</p><p>Study design and participants</p><p>A 3-month open, self-monitored intervention trial, involving individualized pedometer-assisted exercise prescription and a one-time targeted dietary guidance prior to exercise was conducted on the Chinese occupational population aged 18–65 years in China from 2015 to 2016. Data were collected from March 2015 to May 2016 and analyzed from June 2016 to August 2016. Participants were also asked to synchronize exercise data of the pedometer to the Internet-based Health System Center daily (at least weekly), by connecting to the personal computer (PC) using a USB cable or via Bluetooth.</p><p>Results</p><p>Eligible participants included 802 Chinese occupational persons, and 718 of them followed exercise interventions with 89.5% (718/802) adherence to the exercise programs. Of them, 688 participants completed the program with 85.8% (688/802) adherence to the exercise program and their data were analyzed. Weight decreased by 2.2% among all overweight/obese participants, with 1.8% reduction in waist circumference and 3.3% reduction in body fat percentage (p< 0.001). Weight and body fat percentage in normal-weight individuals decreased by 0.7% and 2.5%, respectively (p < 0.01). A weight gain of 1.0% was observed in all underweight participants (p< 0.05), and 68.2% (208/305) of overweight/obese participants experienced weight loss, with an average reduction of 3.5%, with 20.2% (42/208) of them achieving weight loss ≥5%. Blood pressure and fasting serum glucose decreased significantly in both the overweight/obese and the normal-weight individuals (p < 0.05). The incidence of hypertension was significantly lower and lifestyle behavior significantly improved (p < 0.05).</p><p>Conclusion</p><p>The prescription pedometer-assisted walking intervention can effectively improve exercise adherence and manage weight. This approach was also effective in controlling the risk factors of weight-related chronic diseases.</p><p>Trial registration</p><p>Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (ChiCTR) <a href="https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/ChiCTR-OOh-16010229" target="_blank">ChiCTR-OOh-16010229</a></p></div

Baseline and changes in outcomes variable at 3 months for different BMIs’ populations.

<p>Baseline and changes in outcomes variable at 3 months for different BMIs’ populations.</p

Self-Driven Desalination and Advanced Treatment of Wastewater in a Modularized Filtration Air Cathode Microbial Desalination Cell

Microbial desalination cells (MDCs) extract organic energy from wastewater for in situ desalination of saline water. However, to desalinate salt water, traditional MDCs often require an anolyte (wastewater) and a catholyte (other synthetic water) to produce electricity. Correspondingly, the traditional MDCs also produced anode effluent and cathode effluent, and may produce a concentrate solution, resulting in a low production of diluate. In this study, nitrogen-doped carbon nanotube membranes and Pt carbon cloths were utilized as filtration material and cathode to fabricate a modularized filtration air cathode MDC (F-MDC). With real wastewater flowing from anode to cathode, and finally to the middle membrane stack, the diluate volume production reached 82.4%, with the removal efficiency of salinity and chemical oxygen demand (COD) reached 93.6% and 97.3% respectively. The final diluate conductivity was 68 ± 12 μS/cm, and the turbidity was 0.41 NTU, which were sufficient for boiler supplementary or industrial cooling. The concentrate production was only 17.6%, and almost all the phosphorus and salt, and most of the nitrogen were recovered, potentially allowing the recovery of nutrients and other chemicals. These results show the potential utility of the modularized F-MDC in the application of municipal wastewater advanced treatment and self-driven desalination