Hydrothermal Treatment of Sol-Gel TiO_2 Film

The preparation of TiO_2 film has been an important research area.In our work,we obtained the TiO_2 film by hydrothermal treating the amorphous film prepared by sol-gel method or the hydrolysis of titanium alkoxide.The influence of temperature and duration time on the film properties was investigated.The photo degradation of methyl orange in aqueous solution of the film was studied.The films were characterized by XRD and Uv-Vis spectroscope.

Preparation of Carbon Nanotubes from Methane on Ni/Cu/Al Catalyst

A series of Ni/Cu/Al catalyst samples were prepared by the co-precipitation method. Carbon nanotubes with large inner diameters are successfully synthesized from methane on Ni/Cu/Al catalyst by adding sodium carbonate. The effects of the copper content and amounts of sodium carbonate on the morphology and microstructures of carbon nanotubes were investigated by CO adsorption and TEM technique. The experimental results showed that copper can influence both the catalytic activity and catalyst life. Best result was obtained when the copper content was 15%. Addition of sodium carbonate favors the formation of carbon nanotubes with large inner diameters. The growth mechanism of carbon nanotubes with large inner diameter is discussed.

Preparation of Nano-Sized TiO_2 Particles by Microemulsion Method

Nano-sized titania powders have been prepared by hydrolysis of tetrabutyl titanate in the droplet of water/OP-7/pentanol/cyclohexane microemulsion system.The effects of ingredient change on the water drop size and particle size were investigated.The prepared TiO_2 was in the form of anatase after annealing.TiO_2 was characterized by TG-TGA, FTIR,XRD to measure the transformation temperature,surface adsorption and average size.

Quantum Dynamics Calculations on Isotope Effects of Hydrogen Transfer Isomerization in Formic Acid Dimer

We present a quantum dynamics study on the isotope effects of hydro-gen transfer isomerization in the formic acid dimer,and this is achieved by multidimensional dy-namics calculations with an efficient quantum mechanical theoretical scheme developed by our group,on a full-dimensional neural network ab initio potential energy surface.The ground-state and fundamental tun-neling splittings for four deuterium isotopologues of formic acid dimer are considered,and the calculated results are in very good general agreement with the avail-able experimental measurements.Strong isotope effects are revealed,the mode-specific funda-mental excitation effects on the tunneling rate are evidently influenced by the deuterium sub-stitution of H atom with the substitution on the OH bond being more effective than on the CH bond.Our studies are helpful for acquiring a better understanding of isotope effects in the double-hydrogen transfer processes.

Low Temperature Direct Synthesis of Strontium Titanate Powder

Low temperature direct synthesis (LTDS) involves the preparation of a base solution of Sr^(2+),and the mixing of base solution with tetrabutyl titanate solution.LTDS is an advantageous method because it does not require the complex hydrothermal facilities and it can prevent the agglomeration in calcinations of other liquid methods.In our work,we adopted LTDS method to prepare the nano strontium titanate powders,and characterize them by XRD,FT-IR and TGA.The influences of preparation temperature and solvents on grain size and lattice parameters were investigated.The results show that preparation temperature can slightly change the lattice parameters of grain,while solvents also play important roles in the preparation.

Clinical outcomes of cessation of nucleoside/nucleotide analogues in Chinese patients with HBeAg-negative chronic hepatitis B

Background and aims:Cessation of nucleoside/nucleotide analogue(Nuc)therapy in patients with HBeAg-negative chronic hepatitis B(CHB)remains controversial.Methods:In this prospective,single-center cohort study,we recruited 45 patients with HBeAg-negative CHB from The Fifth Medical Center of Chinese People's Liberation Army General Hospital in China's Mainland.Patients were classified into a Nuc cessation group(n?27)and Nuc continuation group(n?18)and followed-up for 36 months.Nuc were stopped after being inactive for at least 4 years(normal alanine aminotransferase(ALT),undetectable hepatitis B virus(HBV)DNA),with liver fibrosisStage1(S1)and inflammationGrade(G1).Results:Within 3 years of follow-up,51.9%patients with Nuc cessation had virological relapse and 14.8%had ALT elevation,while all patients with Nuc continuation had undetectable HBV DNA and normal ALT.The rate of HBsAg loss after Nuc cessation was 22.2%compared with no seroconversion in patients with Nuc continuation.The hepatitis flare rate was 11.1%and there were no cases of hepatic decompensation after Nuc cessation.End of treatment(EOT)HBsAg,HBV RNA,and decline in HBV core-related antigen(HBcrAg)rate were predictive markers for HBsAg seroconversion at 6 months post-Nuc cessation.Conclusion:This study showed favorable HBsAg loss and low hepatitis flare rates after Nuc cessation.EOT HBsAg,HBV RNA,and decline in HBcrAg rate were predictive markers for HBsAg seroconversion at 6 months post-Nuc cessation.

Guidance for the clinical evaluation of traditional Chinese medicine-induced liver injury Issued by China Food and Drug Administration

1. Introduction Drug-induced liver injury (DILI), defined as liver injury caused by a drug and/or its metabolites, is a common clinical adverse drug reaction1–4. This type of injury can cause acute liver failure and even death in severe cases5.

Effects of Angelica sinensis extracts on lipid oxidation in fish feeds and growth performance of juvenile Jian carp(Cyprinus carpio var. Jian)

The study was to explore the effect of the extracts of Angelica sinensis(EAs) on lipid oxidation in fish feeds compared with ethoxyquin(EQ) and the effect of dietary EAs on growth performance of carp(Cyprinus carpio var. Jian). Firstly, fish feeds were respectively added with EQ, and ethyl ether extract ethyl acetate extract(EAE), acetone extract, ethanol extract(EE) and aqueous extract(AQE) of Angelica sinensis, except for the control. The results showed that EAs and EQ inhibited lipid oxidation in fish feed(P < 0.05). Of all of the examined EAs, EAE showed the strongest protective effects against lipid oxidation(P < 0.05). Moreover, EAE at high concentrations showed a stronger effect on lipid oxidation compared with EQ(P < 0.05). Then, 7 experimental diets respectively supplemented with 0.0, 1.0, 2.0, 3.0, 4.0, 5.0 and 6.0 g/kg of EAE were fed to the respective treatment groups for 30 d. Four replicates were performed for each treatment group; 20 carp(mean weight: 12.10 ± 0.13 g) were in each replicate. The result indicated that dietary EAE improved the growth performance in carp(P < 0.05). The appropriate con centration of EAE for carp growth was estimated to be 3.643 g/kg diet. Thus, EAE could be used as a natural antioxidant in feeds for Jian carp.

Clinical Epidemiology,Illness Profiles,and the Implication of COVID-19 Before and After the Nationwide Omicron Outbreak During the Winter of 2022

China.In this study,we aimed to investigate the clinical characteristics and outcomes of patients with coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19)in the Beijing region.Methods:In this retrospective study,we enrolled inpatients admitted for COVID-19 in the Fifth Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital in Beijing between November 10,2022,and January 30,2023.Demographic and clinical features and treatment outcomeswere comprehensively analyzed.We used logistic regression and linear regression analyses to explore the risk factors associated with disease severity and time of nucleic acid conversion,respectively.Results:A total of 1010 hospitalized patients with COVID-19 were enrolled.The median age was 43.0 years(interquartile range,28.0–63.0),and patients aged<60 years and≥60 years comprised 71.2%and 28.8%of total included patients,respectively.The clinical classification of mild(74.6%,753/1010),moderate(21.0%,212/1010),severe(2.7%,27/1010),and unidentified(1.8%,18/1010)was separately recorded;1005 patients were discharged,and 5 patients died in the hospital.The outbreak of the emerging epidemic witnessed an evident increase in the proportion of moderate(42.9%vs.16.4%)and severe(10.3%vs.1.1%)cases after December 7,2022.Patients with a moderate/severe classification had higher levels of procalcitonin,IL-6,serum ferritin,C-reactive protein,lactic dehydrogenase,serum urea nitrogen,and D-dimer and lower counts of CD4+T,CD8+T,and B cells(all P<0.001).Multivariable regression analysis revealed that increased odds of disease severity were associated with the following factors:age≥60 years,IL-6>7 pg/mL,lactic dehydrogenase level>245 U/L,cough,and fever at admission.Age≥80 years and chronic lung diseasewere independent risk factors in the nonmild group in elderly patients.In addition,the duration for nucleic acid to turn negativewas approximately 5.0 d(interquartile range,3.0–7.0).Prolonged time of nucleic acid conversion was associated with age≥60 years,serum urea nitrogen level>8.2 mmol/L,neutrophil count>7×10^(9)/L,and the presence of a chronic lung disease or carcinoma.Finally,unvaccinated patients accounted for 37.3%of enrolled patients;children and the elder people accounted for approximately half of that.The univariable analysis found that booster doses reduced disease severity and shortened the time of nucleic acid conversion in elderly patients.Conclusions:The outbreak ofOmicron rapidly increased the number of patientswith COVID-19 in Beijing.In elderly patients,booster doses may reduce disease severity and shorten the time of nucleic acid conversion.Healthcare systems should be optimized before an emerging epidemic outbreak.

Regioselective umpolung addition of dicyanobenzene to α,β-unsaturated alkenes enabled by electrochemical reduction

An umpolung addition of dicyanobenzene toα,β-unsaturated alkenes has been developed using an elec-troreductive strategy.This electrochemical protocol is well compatible with a broad range of convention-ally challenging substrates,includingα,β-unsaturated esters,nitriles and trisubstituted enones.Moreover,good to excellent regioselectivities are observed in the reaction of cinnamates with dicyanobenzene.Synthetic utility of this electrochemical approach is further demonstrated by direct late-stage functionali-zation of(S)-verbenone and 16-dehydropregnenolone acetate.