Insight into the synergistic effect of defect and strong interface coupling on ZnIn_(2)S_(4)/CoIn_(2)S_(4)heterostructure for boosting photocatalytic H_(2) evolution

Steering the directional carrier migration across the interface is a central mission for efficient photocatalytic reactions.In this work,an atomic-shared heterointerface is constructed between the defect-rich ZnIn_(2)S_(4)(HVs-ZIS)and CoIn_(2)S_(4)(CIS)via a defect-guided heteroepitaxial growth strategy.The strong interface coupling induces adequate carriers exchanging passageway between HVs-ZIS and CIS,enhancing the internal electric field(IEF)in the ZnIn_(2)S_(4)/CoIn_(2)S_(4)(HVs-ZIS/CIS)heterostructure.The defect structure in HVs-ZIS induces an additional defect level,improving the separation efficiency of photocarriers.Moreover,promoted by the IEF and intimate heterointerface,photogenerated electrons trapped by the defect level can migrate to the valence band of CIS,contributing to massive photogenerated electrons with intense reducibility in HVs-ZIS/CIS.Consequently,the HVs-ZIS/CIS heterostructure performs a boosted H_(2)evolution activity of 33.65 mmol g^(-1)h^(-1).This work highlights the synergistic effects of defect and strong interface coupling in regulating carrier transfer and paves a brave avenue for constructing efficient heterostructure photocatalysts.

Targeted delivery of docetaxel to the metastatic lymph nodes:A comparison study between nanoliposomes and activated carbon nanoparticles

The objective of this study is to compare the targeting ability of activated carbon nanoparticles and nanoliposomes,which are used as carriers for delivering docetaxel(DTX)to the metastatic lymph nodes.In this study,we first prepared the DTX-loaded activated carbon nanoparticles(DTX-AC-NPs)by modifying the activated carbon with nitric acid oxidation and absorbing DTX in the concentrated nitro-oxide nanocarbon.We then prepared DTX-loaded nanoliposomes(DTX-LPs)by the proliposome method.The physiochemical properties of DTX-AC-NPs and DTX-LPs were carefully evaluated in vitro.The metastatic lymph node uptake and the injection site retention were investigated by analyzing the DTX concentration in metastatic lymph nodes and injection sites.The result showed that DTX-AC-NPs and DTX-LPs with suitable and stable physicochemical properties could be used for in vivo lymph node targeting studies.DTX-AC-NPs significantly increased DTX-AUC_((0-24)) and prolonged DTX-retention in metastatic lymph nodes compared to DTX-LPs and non-modified activate carbon in vivo.This study demonstrated activated carbon nanoparticles may be potential intralymphatic drug delivery system to preferentially target regional metastatic lymph nodes.

Comparison of protective effects of electroacupuncture and moxibustion at Zusanli(ST 36)on perinatal nicotine exposure-induced lung phenotype in rat offspring

Objective:To compare the effects of electroacupuncture(EA)and moxibustion at Zusanli(ST 36)on the lung phenotype of rat offspring exposed to nicotine during the perinatal period.Methods:Pregnant Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into 4 groups:the control group(saline only),the model group(nicotine only),the EA group(nicotine+EA at ST 36 acupoints bilaterally),and the moxibustion group(nicotine+moxibustion at ST 36 acupoints bilaterally).n=6 rats per group.On postnatal day 21,the body weight,lung weight,and pulmonary function were determined and lung morphometry was performed.Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma andβ-catenin levels in the lung tissue of offspring were also determined.Results:Perinatal nicotine exposure(PNE)results in decreased body and lung weights of offspring rats,abnormal lung tissue morphology,and significantly altered pulmonary function,showing an increase in total airway resistance and a decrease in tidal volume,minute ventilation,total airway compliance,and peak expiratory flow.Bilateral EA at ST 36 acupoints could block all of these perinatal nicotine-induced effects.Although moxibustion also had protective effects in nicotine-induced offspring lungs,some of these effects did not reach statistical significance,e.g.,protection against the upregulation ofβ-catenin,the downregulation of PPARγsignaling,and the increase in peak expiratory flow.Conclusion:Maternal EA at ST 36 blocked the PNE-induced changes in key developmental signaling pathways,prevented the PNE-induced changes in lung morphology,and protected pulmonary function.Moxibustion at ST 36 showed similar but weaker protective effects against the PNE-induced changes in the exposed offspring.It is important to note that the mechanism underlying the protective effects of moxibustion at ST 36 may be different from those of EA at ST 36,and further research is needed to understand these differences.

中原地区渑池盆地末次冰消期以来的气候与环境变化

为进一步理解和探究末次冰消期以来东亚季风变化的时空特征,特别是全新世东亚季风的进退模式,在AMS14C年代的支持下,基于渑池湖相-湿地剖面的孢粉和沉积学指标(粒度、碳酸钙和总有机碳)的分析资料,重建了渑池盆地18.7 cal ka BP(ka BP表示距今千年)以来的气候与环境变化历史.重建结果表明:18.7~14.8 cal ka BP是草原环境下的黄土堆积时段.14.8~6.7 cal ka BP为湖泊存在时段,此时段是一个森林扩展和支持水域及湿地也扩展的时期.6.7~1.2 cal ka BP为湿地时段.此阶段的孢粉经历了3个亚阶段的变化,第一亚阶段(6.7~5.0 cal ka BP):草本花粉显著增加;第二亚阶段(5.0~2.8 cal ka BP):木本花粉显著增加;第三亚阶段(2.8~1.2 cal ka BP):草本花粉显著增加.基于木本花粉百分比和禾本科/(蒿属+藜科)比值重建的湿度序列显示,渑池盆地早全新世较为湿润(10~8 cal ka BP),中全新世前半段(8~5 cal ka BP)最为干旱,中全新世后半段(5~2.8 cal ka BP)最为湿润,晚全新世(2.8~1.2 cal ka BP)较为干旱.本文将中原地区的全新世湿度序列(即MC-1)与以北(中国北方)和以南(长江中下游地区)的全新世湿度序列进行了比较.比较结果显示:中原地区全新世最干旱时段发生在8.0~5.0 cal ka BP,中国北方全新世最湿润期的时段发生在7.8~5.0 cal ka BP.二者均很好地对应于厄尔尼诺-南方涛动(El Ni?o-southern oscillation,ENSO)强度的低值阶段(8.0~5.0 cal ka BP).长江中下游地区全新世干旱期时段(7.0~3.0 cal ka BP)与ENSO强度的低值阶段也大致相对应.控制东亚季风影响下的中国东部全新世湿度空间格局的主要机制是ENSO状态以及由ENSO调控的西太平洋副热带高压(West Pacific subtropical high,WPSH)的南北向移动.介于长江中下游地区和中国北方之间的中原地区的全新世湿度状况似乎在二者之间摆动:有时候中原地区与长江中下游地区一起变化(如7.0~3.0 cal ka BP时段),有时候又与中国北方一起变化(如5.0~2.8 cal ka BP时段).

Formation mechanism and stability of low environment-sensitive ternary nanoparticles based on zein-pea protein-pectin for astaxanthin delivery

This study was devoted for preparing zein-pea protein-pectin ternary nanoparticles through an alcohol-free pH-shifting method for the delivery of astaxanthin(Ax).The complexation of zein and pea protein(PP)in the weight ratio range of 1:2.5 to 1.2:1 maintained the dispersity at pH 7.0 with the average particle size of 90.47-132.38 nm and the polydispersity index of 0.204-0.245.The circular dichroism,fluorescence,Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and other analyses indicated that the zein interacted with PP to form a composite structure through the folding action of protein structure in the process of pH reduction driven by hydrophobic and electrostatic forces.The incorporation of pectin(pec)further enhanced the physicochemical stability of the nanoparticles.The optimal weight ratio of zein/PP/pec was 2:4:3,and the encapsulation efficiency of astaxanthin reached 94.22%.The X-ray diffraction results showed that the astaxanthin was amorphous after embedding.Compared with Ax/zein-PP,the Ax/zein-PP-pec showed better colloidal stability under the conditions of wide pH range(4.0-8.0),high temperature(90℃),long time ultraviolet light treatment,and 15-day storage.These results indicated that the construction of the zein-PP-pec nanoparticles could be used as a low environment-sensitive nanocarrier for the loading,protection,and delivery of hydrophobic functional substances such as astaxanthin.