Establishing a rat model of spastic cerebral palsy by targeted ethanol injection

Spastic cerebral palsy is generally considered to result from cerebral cortical or pyramidal tract damage. Here, we precisely targeted the left pyramidal tract of 2-month-old Sprague-Dawley rats placed on a stereotaxic instrument under intraperitoneal anesthesia. Based on the rat brain stereotaxic map, a 1-mm hole was made 10 mm posterior to bregma and 0.8 mm left of sagittal suture. A microsyringe was inserted perpendicularly to the surface of the brain to a depth of 9.7 mm, and 15 wL of ethanol was slowly injected to establish a rat model of spastic cerebral palsy. After modeling, the rats appeared to have necrotic voids in the pyramidal tract and exhibited typical signs and symptoms of flexion spasms that lasted for a long period of time. These findings indicate that this is an effective and easy method of establishing a rat model of spastic cerebral palsy with good reproducibility. Ethanol as a chemical ablation agent specifically and thoroughly damages the py- ramidal tract, and therefore, the animals display flexion spasms, which are a typical symptom of the disease.

A comparative techno-economic analysis for implementation of carbon dioxide to chemicals processes

CO_(2)-based carbon-neutral organics production processes could potentially reshape the chemical industry.However,their feasibility and net carbon footprint rely strongly on the sources of H_(2).Herein,we present a comprehensive comparative techno-economic analysis of CO_(2)-based methanol(CO_(2)TM)and aolefins(CO_(2)TO)manufacturing using various feedstock supply modes:(1)the standalone mode with external CO_(2)but H_(2)from on-site water electrolysis,(2)the integrated mode with both CO_(2)and H_(2)recovered from coal-chemical plants,and(3)the integrated mode with recycled CO_(2)but H_(2)from on-site water electrolysis.The integration of CO_(2)TM and CO_(2)TO into coal-to-olefins(CTO)and coal-to-methanol(CTM)facilities is currently cost-effective and can reduce net CO_(2)emissions by 65.7%and 68.5%,resulting in a three-fold and two-fold increase in carbon efficiency,respectively.As carbon tax policies and electrolysis technologies continue to evolve,standalone CO_(2)TM and CO_(2)TO are projected to become more economically competitive than CTO and CTM by 2035-2045.

Structure and flow calculation of cake layer on microfiltration membranes

Submerged membrane bioreactors （SMBR） are widely used in wastewater treatment. The permeability of a membrane declines rapidly because of the formation of a cake layer on the membrane surface. In this paper, a multiple staining protocol was conducted to probe the four major foulants in the cake layer formed on a filtration membrane. Fluorescent images of the foulants were obtained using a confocal laser scanning microscope （CLSM）. The three dimensional structure of the cake layer was reconstructed, and the internal flow was calculated using computational fluid dynamics （CFD）. Simulation results agreed well with the experimental data on the permeability of the cake layer during filtration and showed better accuracy than the calculation by Kozeny-Carman method. B-D-Glucopyranose polysaccharides and proteins are the two main foulants with relatively large volume fractions, while a-D-glucopyranose polysaccharides and nucleic acids have relatively large specific surface areas. The fast growth of B-D-glucopyranose polysaccharides in the volume fraction is mainly responsible for the increase in cake volume fraction and the decrease in permeability. The specific area, or the aggregation/dispersion of foulants, is less important to its permeability compared to its volume fraction.

Role of integrin in influencing differentiation of PC12 cell grown on PLLA-aligned nanofiber:a mRNA–microRNA–protein integrative study

The aim of this study is to unveil the role of integrin in influencing the differentiation of PC12 cell grown on PLLA aligned nanofibers by integrative study of cDNA microarray,proteomics technology and microRNA sequencing technology.First,PLLA-aligned nanofibers were prepared by electrospinning,and the chemical composition and surface morphology of the nanofibers were examined.Then,morphology and neurite length of PC12 cells and GRGDS-treated PC12 cells on PLLA-aligned nanofibers(AF and GA group)were measured by high-content analysis system.Subsequently,protein expression profile was analyzed by iTRAQ proteomics technology and 250 differentially expressed proteins were screened in the GA group.Integrative analysis of mRNAmicroRNA-protein data showed that‘MAPK signaling pathway’was the key affected pathway after the function of integrin were interfered by GRGDS.Other seven pathways were also influenced,and the differentiation of PC12 cell grown on PLLA aligned nanofibers was finally inhibited.

Supply-side drivers of phosphorus emissions from phosphorus supply chains in China

Human activities interfere with natural Phosphorus(P)cycles by introducing increased levels of P emissions to air,land,and water.A supply-side analysis of P supply chains and associated P emissions can provide insights into underlying economic activities and transitions responsible for human-induced P emissions.Taking the China's Mainland as the case,this study constructs time-series physical input-output tables to describe P supply chains during 1949-2012.Subsequently,it identifies critical products and influencing factors of P supply chains enabling P emissions to the environment(including air,land,and water)from the supply perspective.The results show that phosphate rock,an important initial supplier of P from natural environment to China’s P supply chain,was responsible for 86%of P emissions in 2012.Moreover,food crops and livestock are important initial suppliers of P from soil to China’s P supply chain,through cultivation and pasturing,respectively.From 1949 to 2012,the change in primary input level was the largest driver of P emission increments,followed by changes in population,emission intensity,and primary input structure.On the contrary,changes in production structure reduced P emissions.These findings could support supply-side policy decisions on P emission control.

Levelized costs of the energy chains of new energy vehicles targeted at carbon neutrality in China

The diffusion of new energy vehicles(NEVs),such as battery electric vehicles(BEVs)and fuel cell vehicles(FCVs),is critical to the transportation sector's deep decarbonization.The cost of energy chains is an important factor in the diffusion of NEVs.Although researchers have addressed the technological learning effect of NEVs and the life cycle emissions associated with the diffusion of NEVs,little work has been conducted to analyze the life cycle costs of different energy chains associated with different NEVs in consideration of technological learning potential.Thus,relevant information on investment remains insufficient to promote the deployment of NEVs.This study proposes a systematic framework that includes various(competing or coordinated)energy chains of NEVs formed with different technologies of power generation and transmission,hydrogen production and transportation,power-to-liquid fuel,and fuel transportation.The levelized costs of three typical carbon-neutral energy chains are investigated using the life cycle cost model and considering the technological learning effect.Results show that the current well-to-pump levelized costs of the energy chains in China for BEVs,FCVs,and internal combustion engine vehicles(ICEVs)are approximately 3.60,4.31,and 2.21 yuan/GJ,respectively,and the well-to-wheel levelized costs are 4.50,6.15,and 7.51 yuan/GJ,respectively.These costs primarily include raw material costs and they vary greatly for BEVs and FCVs from resource and consumer costs.In consideration of the technological learning effect,the energy chains'well-to-wheel levelized costs are expected todecrease by 24.82%for BEVs,27.12%for FCVs,and 19.25%for ICEVs by 2060.This work also summarizes policy recommendations on developing energy chains to promote the diffusion of NEVs in China.