The stabilization of severely As-polluted soil has been a challenge, especially for the extremely toxic As(Ⅲ) contaminants. In this study, soil with a high As concentration(26084 mg/kg) was availably stabilized by a ...The stabilization of severely As-polluted soil has been a challenge, especially for the extremely toxic As(Ⅲ) contaminants. In this study, soil with a high As concentration(26084 mg/kg) was availably stabilized by a H2O2 pre-oxidation assisted TMT-15(Na3S3C3N3 solution with a mass fraction of 15%) and FeCl3·6 H2O stabilization method. The results showed that the combination of the two stabilizers(i.e., TMT-15 and FeCl3·6 H2O) presented a better stabilization behavior than either stabilizer used individually. The use of the H2O2 pre-oxidation assisted TMT-15 and FeCl3·6 H2O stabilization approach not only converted the As(Ⅲ) to As(Ⅴ) but also reduced the toxic leaching concentration of As to 1.61 mg/L, which is a safe level, when the additions of TMT-15 and FeCl3·6 H2O were 2 mL and 0.20 g, respectively. Thus, using only a simple H2O2 pre-oxidation to combine clean stabilization with non-toxic stabilizers TMT-15 and FeCl3·6 H2O could render the severely As-contaminated soil safe for disposal in a landfill.展开更多
The unusual and remarkable property of parasporin 2 of non-insecticidal Bacillus thuringiensis is specifically recognizing and selectively targeting human leukemic cell lines. The 37-kDa inactive nascent protein is pr...The unusual and remarkable property of parasporin 2 of non-insecticidal Bacillus thuringiensis is specifically recognizing and selectively targeting human leukemic cell lines. The 37-kDa inactive nascent protein is proteolytically cleaved to the 30-kDa active form that loses both the N-terminal and the C-terminal segments. Accumulated cytological and biochemical observations on parasporin-2 imply that the protein is a pore-forming toxin. To confirm the hypothesis, insilico analysis was performed using homology modeling. The resulting model of parasporin 2 protein is unusually elongated and mainly comprises long β-strands aligned with its long axis. It is similar to aerolysin-type β-pore-forming toxins, which strongly reinforce the pore-forming hypothesis. The molecule can be divided into three domains. Domain 1, comprising a small β-sheet sandwiched by short α-helices, is probably the target-binding module. Two other domains are both β-sandwiches and thought to be involved in oligomerization and pore formation. Domain 2 has a putative channel-forming β-hairpin characteristic of aerolysin-type toxins. The surface of the protein has an extensive track of exposed side chains of serine and threonine residues. The track might orient the molecule on the cell membrane when domain 1 binds to the target until oligomerization and pore formation are initiated. The β-hairpin has such a tight structure that it seems unlikely to reform as postulated in a recent model of pore formation developed for aerolysin-type toxins. Parasporin 2 (Accession no: BAD35170) protein sequence analysis indicated two different domains namely, aerolysin toxin and clostridium toxin domain based on different database searches (CDD and Pfam). It showed a close similarity with the available PDB template (PDB id: 2ZTB) of parasporin which has cytocidal activity against MOLT-4, HL60 and Jurkat cell lines. Based on the PSI Blast analysis, 3D structures of the domains were predicted by using Swiss model server. Accuracy of the prediction of 3D structure of different domains of parasporin protein was further validated by Ramachandran plot and PROCHECK (G-value). The structure is dominated by β-strands (67%, S1-12), most of which are remarkably extensive, running all or most of the longer axis of the molecule. This study helped to elucidate the 3D structure of parasporin 2 (Acc. No. BAD35170) which might enable to probe further its specific mechanism of action. Though the similarity is observed in the domain architecture, there is variation in the regions of the domains even among the same group of parasporin 2. Docking of this model structure and experimental structure with specific receptors of the cancer cells will facilitate to explore mechanism of parasporin 2 action and also provide information about its evolutionary relationship with toxic Cry proteins.展开更多
Antifouling coatings are used to improve the speed and energy efficiency of ships by preventing or- ganisms, such as barnacles and weed, building up on the underwater hull and helping the ships movement through the wa...Antifouling coatings are used to improve the speed and energy efficiency of ships by preventing or- ganisms, such as barnacles and weed, building up on the underwater hull and helping the ships movement through the water. Typically, marine coatings are tributyltin self-polishing copolymer paints containing toxic molecules called biocides. They have been the most successful in combating bio- fouling on ships, but their widespread use has caused severe pollution in the marine ecosystem. The low surface energy marine coating is an entirely non-toxic alternative, which reduces the adhesion strength of marine organisms, facilitating their hydrodynamic removal at high speeds. In this paper, the novel low surface energy non-toxic marine antifouling coatings were prepared with modified acrylic resin, nano-SiO2, and other pigments. The effects of nano-SiO2 on the surface structure and elastic modulus of coating films have been studied, and the seawater test has been carried out in the Dalian Bay. The results showed that micro-nano layered structures on the coating films and the lowest surface energy and elastic modulus could be obtained when an appropriate mass ratio of resin, nano-SiO2, and other pigments in coatings approached. The seawater exposure test has shown that the lower the sur- face energy and elastic modulus of coatings are, the less the marine biofouling adheres on the coating films.展开更多
Subject Code:E02 With the support by the National Natural Science Foundation of China,recently,a study by the research group led by Shi Jianlin(施剑林)and Bu Wenbo(步文博)from Shanghai Institute of Ceramics,Chinese Ac...Subject Code:E02 With the support by the National Natural Science Foundation of China,recently,a study by the research group led by Shi Jianlin(施剑林)and Bu Wenbo(步文博)from Shanghai Institute of Ceramics,Chinese Academy of Sciences and East China Normal University demonstrates that mono-dispersed and展开更多
Vesicular nanocarrier formulations confer the ability to deliver hydrophobic and hydrophilic cargos simultaneously to cells of interest in vivo. While liposomal formulations reached the clinic long ago, younger techno...Vesicular nanocarrier formulations confer the ability to deliver hydrophobic and hydrophilic cargos simultaneously to cells of interest in vivo. While liposomal formulations reached the clinic long ago, younger technologies such as polymeric vesicles （polymersomes） have yet to make the transition to clinical approval and use, in part due to difficulties in ensuring their safe and scalable production. In this work, we demonstrate the scalable production of poly（ethylene glycol）-block-poly（propylene sulfide） （PEG-bl-PPS） polymersomes via flash nanoprecipitation, and further show the safe administration of these nanocarriers to mice and non-human primates. In mice, PEG-bl-PPS polymersomes were found to be well tolerated at up to 200 mg/（kg.week）. Following the administration of a more relevant 20 mg/（kg.week） dosage in non-human primates, polymersomes were found to associate with numerous phagocytic immune cell populations, including a remarkable 68% of plasmacytoid dendritic cells and 〉 95% of macrophages in the spleen, while showing no toxicity or abnormalities in the liver, kidney, spleen, or blood. Despite the presence of a dense PEG corona, neither anti-PEG antibodies nor complement activation were detected. This work provides evidence of the translatability of PEG-bI-PPS polymersomes into the clinic for therapeutic applications in humans.展开更多
Thin-film solar cells possess the distinct advantage of being cost-effective and relatively simple to manufacture. Nevertheless, it is of utmost importance to enhance their overall performance. In this research work, ...Thin-film solar cells possess the distinct advantage of being cost-effective and relatively simple to manufacture. Nevertheless, it is of utmost importance to enhance their overall performance. In this research work, copper indium gallium selenide (CIGS)-based ultra-thin solar cell (SC) configuration (Ag/ZnO/ZnSe/CIGS/Si/Ni) has been designed and examined using SCAPS-1D. The numerical calculations revealed that this new design resulted in a substantial improvement in SC performance. This study explores the utilization of two absorber layers, CIGS and Si, both with a total of 2 μm thickness, to enhance device performance while reducing material costs, observing an increase in key SC parameters as the Si absorber layer thickness is increased, reaching a maximum efficiency of 29.13% when CIGS and Si thicknesses are set at 0.4 μm and 1.6 μm, respectively with doping absorber doping density of 10<sup>14</sup> cm<sup>-3</sup>. Furthermore, we analyze the impact of variation in absorber and buffer layer thickness, as well as doping concentration, surface recombination velocity (SRV), electron affinity, series-shunt resistance, and temperature, on optimized CIGS SC parameters such as short-circuit current density (J<sub>SC</sub>), open circuit voltage (V<sub>OC</sub>), fill factor (FF), and power conversion efficiency (PCE). The findings yielded by the investigation offer significant elucidation regarding the fabrication of economically viable and highly efficient non-hazardous CIGS ultra-thin SC.展开更多
基金financially supported by the National Key R&D Program of China (No. 2018YFC1802400)the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 51604310)+1 种基金the Major Project of Central Research Institute of Building and Construction (No. XAC2017Ky03)the Opening Foundation of State Key Laboratory for Environmental Protection of Iron and Steel Industry (No. 2016YZC02)
文摘The stabilization of severely As-polluted soil has been a challenge, especially for the extremely toxic As(Ⅲ) contaminants. In this study, soil with a high As concentration(26084 mg/kg) was availably stabilized by a H2O2 pre-oxidation assisted TMT-15(Na3S3C3N3 solution with a mass fraction of 15%) and FeCl3·6 H2O stabilization method. The results showed that the combination of the two stabilizers(i.e., TMT-15 and FeCl3·6 H2O) presented a better stabilization behavior than either stabilizer used individually. The use of the H2O2 pre-oxidation assisted TMT-15 and FeCl3·6 H2O stabilization approach not only converted the As(Ⅲ) to As(Ⅴ) but also reduced the toxic leaching concentration of As to 1.61 mg/L, which is a safe level, when the additions of TMT-15 and FeCl3·6 H2O were 2 mL and 0.20 g, respectively. Thus, using only a simple H2O2 pre-oxidation to combine clean stabilization with non-toxic stabilizers TMT-15 and FeCl3·6 H2O could render the severely As-contaminated soil safe for disposal in a landfill.
文摘The unusual and remarkable property of parasporin 2 of non-insecticidal Bacillus thuringiensis is specifically recognizing and selectively targeting human leukemic cell lines. The 37-kDa inactive nascent protein is proteolytically cleaved to the 30-kDa active form that loses both the N-terminal and the C-terminal segments. Accumulated cytological and biochemical observations on parasporin-2 imply that the protein is a pore-forming toxin. To confirm the hypothesis, insilico analysis was performed using homology modeling. The resulting model of parasporin 2 protein is unusually elongated and mainly comprises long β-strands aligned with its long axis. It is similar to aerolysin-type β-pore-forming toxins, which strongly reinforce the pore-forming hypothesis. The molecule can be divided into three domains. Domain 1, comprising a small β-sheet sandwiched by short α-helices, is probably the target-binding module. Two other domains are both β-sandwiches and thought to be involved in oligomerization and pore formation. Domain 2 has a putative channel-forming β-hairpin characteristic of aerolysin-type toxins. The surface of the protein has an extensive track of exposed side chains of serine and threonine residues. The track might orient the molecule on the cell membrane when domain 1 binds to the target until oligomerization and pore formation are initiated. The β-hairpin has such a tight structure that it seems unlikely to reform as postulated in a recent model of pore formation developed for aerolysin-type toxins. Parasporin 2 (Accession no: BAD35170) protein sequence analysis indicated two different domains namely, aerolysin toxin and clostridium toxin domain based on different database searches (CDD and Pfam). It showed a close similarity with the available PDB template (PDB id: 2ZTB) of parasporin which has cytocidal activity against MOLT-4, HL60 and Jurkat cell lines. Based on the PSI Blast analysis, 3D structures of the domains were predicted by using Swiss model server. Accuracy of the prediction of 3D structure of different domains of parasporin protein was further validated by Ramachandran plot and PROCHECK (G-value). The structure is dominated by β-strands (67%, S1-12), most of which are remarkably extensive, running all or most of the longer axis of the molecule. This study helped to elucidate the 3D structure of parasporin 2 (Acc. No. BAD35170) which might enable to probe further its specific mechanism of action. Though the similarity is observed in the domain architecture, there is variation in the regions of the domains even among the same group of parasporin 2. Docking of this model structure and experimental structure with specific receptors of the cancer cells will facilitate to explore mechanism of parasporin 2 action and also provide information about its evolutionary relationship with toxic Cry proteins.
基金High-Tech Research and Development Program of China (Grant No. 2004AA001520)
文摘Antifouling coatings are used to improve the speed and energy efficiency of ships by preventing or- ganisms, such as barnacles and weed, building up on the underwater hull and helping the ships movement through the water. Typically, marine coatings are tributyltin self-polishing copolymer paints containing toxic molecules called biocides. They have been the most successful in combating bio- fouling on ships, but their widespread use has caused severe pollution in the marine ecosystem. The low surface energy marine coating is an entirely non-toxic alternative, which reduces the adhesion strength of marine organisms, facilitating their hydrodynamic removal at high speeds. In this paper, the novel low surface energy non-toxic marine antifouling coatings were prepared with modified acrylic resin, nano-SiO2, and other pigments. The effects of nano-SiO2 on the surface structure and elastic modulus of coating films have been studied, and the seawater test has been carried out in the Dalian Bay. The results showed that micro-nano layered structures on the coating films and the lowest surface energy and elastic modulus could be obtained when an appropriate mass ratio of resin, nano-SiO2, and other pigments in coatings approached. The seawater exposure test has shown that the lower the sur- face energy and elastic modulus of coatings are, the less the marine biofouling adheres on the coating films.
文摘Subject Code:E02 With the support by the National Natural Science Foundation of China,recently,a study by the research group led by Shi Jianlin(施剑林)and Bu Wenbo(步文博)from Shanghai Institute of Ceramics,Chinese Academy of Sciences and East China Normal University demonstrates that mono-dispersed and
文摘Vesicular nanocarrier formulations confer the ability to deliver hydrophobic and hydrophilic cargos simultaneously to cells of interest in vivo. While liposomal formulations reached the clinic long ago, younger technologies such as polymeric vesicles （polymersomes） have yet to make the transition to clinical approval and use, in part due to difficulties in ensuring their safe and scalable production. In this work, we demonstrate the scalable production of poly（ethylene glycol）-block-poly（propylene sulfide） （PEG-bl-PPS） polymersomes via flash nanoprecipitation, and further show the safe administration of these nanocarriers to mice and non-human primates. In mice, PEG-bl-PPS polymersomes were found to be well tolerated at up to 200 mg/（kg.week）. Following the administration of a more relevant 20 mg/（kg.week） dosage in non-human primates, polymersomes were found to associate with numerous phagocytic immune cell populations, including a remarkable 68% of plasmacytoid dendritic cells and 〉 95% of macrophages in the spleen, while showing no toxicity or abnormalities in the liver, kidney, spleen, or blood. Despite the presence of a dense PEG corona, neither anti-PEG antibodies nor complement activation were detected. This work provides evidence of the translatability of PEG-bI-PPS polymersomes into the clinic for therapeutic applications in humans.
文摘Thin-film solar cells possess the distinct advantage of being cost-effective and relatively simple to manufacture. Nevertheless, it is of utmost importance to enhance their overall performance. In this research work, copper indium gallium selenide (CIGS)-based ultra-thin solar cell (SC) configuration (Ag/ZnO/ZnSe/CIGS/Si/Ni) has been designed and examined using SCAPS-1D. The numerical calculations revealed that this new design resulted in a substantial improvement in SC performance. This study explores the utilization of two absorber layers, CIGS and Si, both with a total of 2 μm thickness, to enhance device performance while reducing material costs, observing an increase in key SC parameters as the Si absorber layer thickness is increased, reaching a maximum efficiency of 29.13% when CIGS and Si thicknesses are set at 0.4 μm and 1.6 μm, respectively with doping absorber doping density of 10<sup>14</sup> cm<sup>-3</sup>. Furthermore, we analyze the impact of variation in absorber and buffer layer thickness, as well as doping concentration, surface recombination velocity (SRV), electron affinity, series-shunt resistance, and temperature, on optimized CIGS SC parameters such as short-circuit current density (J<sub>SC</sub>), open circuit voltage (V<sub>OC</sub>), fill factor (FF), and power conversion efficiency (PCE). The findings yielded by the investigation offer significant elucidation regarding the fabrication of economically viable and highly efficient non-hazardous CIGS ultra-thin SC.
