Elaidic acid leads to mitochondrial dysfunction via mitochondria-associated membranes triggers disruption of mitochondrial calcium fluxes

Elaidic acid(EA)stimulation can lead to endoplasmic reticulum stress(ERS),accompanied by a large release of Ca^(2+),and ultimately the activation of NLRP3 inflammasome in Kupffer cells(KCs).Mitochondrial instability or dysfunction may be the key stimulating factors to activate NLRP3 inflammasome,and sustained Ca^(2+)transfer can result in mitochondrial dysfunction.We focused on KCs to explore the damage to mitochondria by EA.After EA stimulation,cells produced an oxidative stress(OS)response with a significant increase in ROS release.Immunoprecipitation experiments and the addition of inhibitors revealed that the increase in the level of intracellular Ca^(2+)led to Ca^(2+)accumulation in the mitochondrial matrix via mitochondria-associated membranes(MAMs).This was accompanied by a significant release of m ROS,loss of MMP and ATP,and a significant increase in mitochondrial permeability transition pore opening,ultimately leading to mitochondrial instability.These findings confirmed the mechanism that EA induced mitochondrial Ca^(2+)imbalance in KCs via MAM,ultimately leading to mitochondrial dysfunction.Meanwhile,EA induced OS and the decrease of MMP and ATP in rat liver,and significant lesions were found in liver mitochondria.Swelling of the inner mitochondrial cristae and mitochondrial vacuolization occurred,with a marked increase in lipid droplets.

Preparation of Modified Composite Nanofiltration Membrane Synergistically Using Carboxylic Multi- walled Carbon Nanotube and β-cyclodextrin

A new modified blend ultrafiltration(UF)membrane with good hydrophilicity,high porosity and excellent anti-fouling performance was developed by using carboxylic multi-walled carbon nanotube(CMWCNT)as casting solution additive.Furthermore,a composite nanofiltration(NF)membrane with large water flux and good retention rate was fabricated by using the PVDF/CMWCNT blend UF membrane as the substrate,and polyvinyl alcohol(PVA),β-cyclodextrin(β-CD)and polyethylenimine(PEI)as the coating solution.The results show that with the appropriate addition of CMWCNT in the casting solution,the surface roughness,porosity and recovery rate of the PVDF/CMWCNT blend UF membrane is obviously increased.The water flux of blend UF membrane is significantly improved when the CMWCNT content increases from 0 wt%to 0.2 wt%.The water flux of blend UF membrane with 0.2 wt%CMWCNT is 162.7 L/(m^(2)·h),which is 44.3%higher than that of the pure PVDF membrane.Whenβ-CD content is 0.8 wt%,the retention rate of Congo red by PVDF/CMWCNT/β-CD composite NF membrane reaches 98.7%,which is 28.3%higher than that of single PVA/PEI modified membrane.This research will provide a new idea and simple method for developing novel high-performance composite NF membranes.

Investigation of bubbles escape behavior from low basicity mold flux for high-Mn high-Al steels using 3D X-ray microscope

During the continuous casting process of high-Mn high-Al steels,various types of gases such as Ar need to escape through the top of the mold.In which,the behavior of bubbles traversing the liquid slag serves as a restrictive link,closely associated with viscosity and the thickness of liquid slag.In contrast to two-dimensional surface observation,three-dimensional(3D)analysis method can offer a more intuitive,accurate,and comprehensive information.Therefore,this study employs a 3D X-ray microscope(3D-XRM)to obtained spatial distribution and 3D morphological characteristics of residual bubbles in mold flux under different basicity of liquid slag,different temperatures,and different holding times.The results indicate that as basicity of slag increases from 0.52 to 1.03,temperature increases from 1423 to 1573 K,the viscosity of slag decreases,the floating rate of bubbles increases.In addition,when holding time increases from 10 to 30 s,the bubbles floating distance increases,and the volume fraction and average equivalent sphere diameter of the bubbles solidified in the mold flux gradually decreases.In one word,increasing the basicity,temperature,and holding time leading to an increase in the removal rate of bubbles especially for the large.These findings of bubbles escape behavior provide valuable insights into optimizing low basicity mold flux for high-Mn high-Al steels.

Merging polymers of intrinsic microporosity and porous carbon-based zinc oxide composites in novel mixed matrix membranes for efficient gas separation

Mixed matrix membranes(MMMs)have demonstrated significant promise in energy-intensive gas separations by amalgamating the unique properties of fillers with the facile processability of polymers.However,achieving a simultaneous enhancement of permeability and selectivity remains a formidable challenge,due to the difficulty of achieving an optimal match between polymers and fillers.In this study,we incorporate a porous carbon-based zinc oxide composite(C@ZnO)into high-permeability polymers of intrinsic microporosity(PIMs)to fabricate MMMs.The dipole–dipole interaction between C@ZnO and PIMs ensures their exceptional compatibility,mitigating the formation of non-selective voids in the resulting MMMs.Concurrently,C@ZnO with abundant interconnected pores can provide additional low-resistance pathways for gas transport in MMMs.As a result,the CO_(2) permeability of the optimized C@ZnO/PIM-1 MMMs is elevated to 13,215 barrer,while the CO_(2)/N_(2) and CO_(2)/CH_(4) selectivity reached 21.5 and 14.4,respectively,substantially surpassing the 2008 Robeson upper bound.Additionally,molecular simulation results further corroborate that the augmented membrane gas selectivity is attributed to the superior CO_(2) affinity of C@ZnO.In summary,we believe that this work not only expands the application of MMMs for gas separation but also heralds a paradigm shift in the application of porous carbon materials.

Experimental investigation on high heat flux plasma parameters of HIT-PSI device in argon discharges

Researches on plasma-facing materials/components(PFMs/PFCs)have become a focus in magnetic confinement fusion studies,particularly for advanced tokamak operation scenarios.Similarly,spacecraft surface materials must maintain stable performance under relatively high temperatures and other harsh plasma conditions,making studies of their thermal and ablation resistance critical.Recently,a low-cost,low-energy-storage for superconducting magnets,and compact linear device,HIT-PSI,has been designed and constructed at Harbin Institute of Technology(HIT)to investigate the interaction between stable high heat flux plasma and PFMs/PFCs in scrape-off-layer(SOL)and divertor regions,as well as spacecraft surface materials.The parameters of the argon plasma beam of HIT-PSI are diagnosed using a water-cooled planar Langmuir probe and emission spectroscopy.As magnetic field rises to 2 T,the argon plasma beam generated by a cascaded arc source achieves high density exceeding 1.2×10^(21)m^(-3)at a distance of 25 cm from the source with electron temperature surpassing 4 eV,where the particle flux reaches 10^(24)m^(-2)s^(-1),and the heat flux loaded on the graphite target measured by infrared camera reaches 4 MW/m^(2).Combined with probe and emission spectroscopy data,the transport characteristics of the argon plasma beam are analyzed.

Current role of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation for the management of trauma patients:Indications and results

Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation(ECMO)has emerged as a vital circulatory life support measure for patients with critical cardiac or pulmonary conditions unresponsive to conventional therapies.ECMO allows blood to be extracted from a patient and introduced to a machine that oxygenates blood and removes carbon dioxide.This blood is then reintroduced into the patient’s circulatory system.This process makes ECMO essential for treating various medical conditions,both as a standalone therapy and as adjuvant therapy.Veno-venous(VV)ECMO primarily supports respiratory function and indicates respiratory distress.Simultaneously,veno-arterial(VA)ECMO provides hemodynamic and respiratory support and is suitable for cardiac-related complications.This study reviews recent literature to elucidate the evolving role of ECMO in trauma care,considering its procedural intricacies,indications,contraindications,and associated complications.Notably,the use of ECMO in trauma patients,particularly for acute respiratory distress syndrome and cardiogenic shock,has demonstrated promising outcomes despite challenges such as anticoagulation management and complications such as acute kidney injury,bleeding,thrombosis,and hemolysis.Some studies have shown that VV ECMO was associated with significantly higher survival rates than conventional mechanical ventilation,whereas other studies have reported that VA ECMO was associated with lower survival rates than VV ECMO.ECMO plays a critical role in managing trauma patients,particularly those with acute respiratory failure.Further research is necessary to explore the full potential of ECMO in trauma care.Clinicians should have a clear understanding of the indications and contraindications for the use of ECMO to maximize its benefits in treating trauma patients.

Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation combined with intra-aortic balloon counterpulsation for pheochromocytoma:A case report

BACKGROUND Pheochromocytoma(PHEO)is a type of tumor that originates from chromaffin cells in the adrenal medulla and is classified as an adrenal paraganglioma.PHEOs can secrete catecholamines,leading to a variety of symptoms.Accurate diagnosis and appropriate treatment selection are crucial for favorable outcomes in these cases.CASE SUMMARY The patient presented with unexplained chest tightness,palpitations,and pink sputum.Upon examination and analysis of laboratory results,a diagnosis of adrenal PHEO was established.The PHEO secreted high levels of catecholamines,causing sudden fluctuations in blood pressure and heart rate,leading to extre-mely unstable hemodynamics.Treatment with extracorporeal membrane oxygenation and intra-aortic balloon counterpulsation helped stabilize the patient’s vital signs,allowing for timely surgical intervention.CONCLUSION The combination of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation and intra-aortic balloon counterpulsation can enhance tissue perfusion,thus providing a solid foundation for the accurate diagnosis and effective surgical treatment of PHEO.

Spireoside Controls Blast Disease by Disrupting Membrane Integrity of Magnaporthe oryzae

The application of fungicides is an effective strategy for controlling plant diseases.Among these agents,plant-derived antifungal metabolites are particularly promising due to their eco-friendly and sustainable nature.Plant secondary metabolites typically exhibit broad-spectrum antifungal activity without selective toxicity against pathogens.However,only a small fraction of antifungal metabolites have been identified from the tens of thousands of known plant secondary metabolites.In this study,we conducted a metabolomic analysis on both blast-resistant(Digu)and-susceptible(Lijiangxintuanheigu)rice varieties to uncover novel metabolites that enhance blast resistance.We found that 24 and 48 h post-inoculation with Magnaporthe oryzae were critical time points for metabolomic profiling,based on the infected status of M.oryzae in rice and the observed differences in shikimate accumulation between the two varieties.Following metabolomic analysis,we identified nine flavonoids that were differentially accumulated and are considered potential candidates for disease control.Among these,apigenin-7-glucoside,rhamnetin,and spireoside were found to be effective in controlling blast disease,with spireoside demonstrating the most pronounced efficacy.We discovered that spireoside controlled blast disease by inhibiting both spore germination and appressorium formation in M.oryzae,primarily through disrupting cell membrane integrity.However,spireoside did not induce rice immunity.Furthermore,spireoside was also effective in controlling sheath blight disease.Thus,spireoside shows considerable promise as a candidate for the development of a fungicide for controlling plant diseases.

Evaluation of surface latent heat and sensible heat fluxes from ERA-5,GLDAS,and MODIS on different underlying surfaces in the Tibetan Plateau

Surface-latent heat(LE)and sensible heat(SH)fluxes play a pivotal role in governing hydrological,biological,geochemical,and ecological processes on the land surface in the Tibetan Plateau.However,to accurately assess and understand the spatial distribution of LE and SH fluxes across different underlying surfaces,it is crucial to verify the validity and reliability of ERA-5,GLDAS,and MODIS data against ground measurements obtained from the Flux Net micrometeorological tower network.This study analyzed the spatial patterns of LE and SH over the Tibetan Plateau using data from ERA-5,GLDAS,and MODIS.The results were compared with ground measurements from Flux Net tower observations on different underlying surfaces,and five statistical parameters(Pearson's r,LR slope,RMSE,MBE,and MAE)were used to validate the data.The results showed that:(1)MODIS LE data and ERA-5 SH data exhibited the closest agreement with ground observations,as indicated by their lowest root mean square error and mean bias area values.(2)The accuracy of ERA-5 SH was the highest in meadows and steppes,while GLDAS SH performed optimally in shrublands.Notably,MODIS LE consistently outperformed the other datasets across all vegetation types.(3)The spatial distribution of LE and SH displayed considerable heterogeneity,contingent upon the specific data sources and underlying surfaces.Notably,there was a contrasting trend between GLDAS and ERA-5,as well as MODIS,in terms of SH distribution in the shrubland.In shrublands and meadows,MODIS SH and LE exhibited more pronounced changes than ERA-5 and GLDAS.Additionally,ERA-5 SH demonstrated the opposite variation in meadow and steppe regions compared to GLDAS and MODIS.

Experimental and CFD Study on the Role of Fluid Flow Pattern on Membrane Permeate Flux

This paper reports a study on the role of fluid flow pattern and dynamic pressure on the permeate flux through a micro filtration membrane in laboratory scale.For this purpose,a dead-end membrane cell equipped with a marine type impeller was used.The impeller was set to rotate in the clockwise and counter clockwise directions with the same angular velocities in order to illustrate the effect of rotation direction on permeate flux.Consequently, permeate fluxes were measured at various impeller rotational speeds.The computational fluid dynamics（CFD）predicted dynamic pressure was related to the fluxes obtained in the experiments.Using the CFD modeling,it is proven that the change in dynamic pressure upon the membrane surface has direct effect on the permeate flux.

PERVAPORATION OF ETHANOL/WATER MIXTURES WITH HIGH FLUX BY ZEOLITE-FILLED PDMS/PVDF COMPOSITE MEMBRANES

Thin-film zeolite-filled silicone/PVDF composite membranes were fabricated by incorporating zeolite particles into PDMS(poly(dimethylsiloxane)) membranes.The morphology of zeolite particles and zeolite filled silicone composite membranes were characterized by SEM.The zeolite-filled PDMS/PVDF composite membranes were applied for the pervaporation of ethanol/water mixtures and showed higher flux compared with that reported in literatures.The effect of zeolite loading and Si/Al ratio of zeolite particles on pe...

Effect of Cross-flow Velocity on the Critical Flux of Ceramic Membrane Filtration as a Pre-treatment for Seawater Desalination

Pre-treatment, which supplies a stable, high-quality feed for reverse osmosis （RO） membranes, is a criti- cal step for successful operation in a seawater reverse osmosis plant. In this study, ceramic membrane systems were employed as pre-treatment for seawater desalination. A laboratory experiment was performed to investigate the effect of the cross-flow velocity on the critical flux and consequently to optimize the permeate flux. Then a pilot test was performed to investigate the long-term performance. The result shows that there is no significant effect of the cross-flow velocity on the critical flux when the cross-flow velocity varies in laminar flow region only or in turbulent flow region only, but the effect is distinct when the cross-flow velocity varies in the transition region. The membrane fouling is slight at the permeate flux of 150 L·m^-2·h^-1 and the system is stable, producing a high-quality feed （the turbidity and silt density index are less than 0.1 NTU and 3.0, respectively） for RO to run for 2922.4 h without chemical cleaning. Thus the ceramic membranes are suitable to filtrate seawater as the pre-treatment for RO.

Fouling process and anti-fouling mechanisms of dynamic membrane assisted by photocatalytic oxidation under sub-critical fluxes

Membrane fouling is often considered as a hindrance for the application of microfiltration/ultrafiltration(MF/UF) for drinking water production. A novel process of photocatalytic membrane reactor/dynamic membrane(PMR/DM), operating in a continuous mode under sub-critical flux, was proposed for the mitigation of membrane fouling caused by humic acids(HAs) in water. The mechanism of membrane fouling alleviation with synergistic photocatalytic oxidation and dynamic layer isolating effect was comprehensively investigated from the characterization of foulant evolution responsible for the reversible and irreversible fouling. The results showed that the PMR/DM utilized photocatalytic oxidation to enhance the porosity and hydrophilicity of the fouling layer by converting the high molecular weight(MW) and hydrophobic HA molecules with carboxylic functional groups and aromatic structures into low-MW hydrophilic or transphilic fractions, including tryptophan-like or fulvic-like substances. The fouling layer formed in the PMR/DM by combination of photocatalytic oxidation and DM running at a sub-critical flux of 100 L·h^-1·m^-2, was more hydrophilic and more porous, resulting in the lowest trans-membrane pressure(TMP) growth rates, as compared to the processes of ceramic membrane(CM), DM and PMR/CM.Meanwhile, the dynamic layer prevented the foulants, particularly the high-MW hydrophobic fractions,from contacting the primary membrane, which enabled the membrane permeability to be restored easily.

Gradient nanoporous phenolics as substrates for high-flux nanofiltration membranes by layer-by-layer assembly of polyelectrolytes

Thin film composite(TFC) membranes represent a highly promising platform for efficient nanofiltration(NF)processes. However, the improvement in permeance is impeded by the substrates with low permeances. Herein,highly permeable gradient phenolic membranes with tight selectivity are used as substrates to prepare TFC membranes with high permeances by the layer-by-layer assembly method. The negatively charged phenolic substrates are alternately assembled with polycation polyethylenimine(PEI) and polyanion poly(acrylic acid)(PAA)as a result of electrostatic interactions, forming thin and compact PEI/PAA layers tightly attached to the substrate surface. Benefiting from the high permeances and tight surface pores of the gradient nanoporous structures of the substrates, the produced PEI/PAA membranes exhibit a permeance up to 506 L? m-2?h-1?MPa-1, which is ~2–10 times higher than that of other membranes with similar rejections. The PEI/PAA membranes are capable of retaining N 96.1% of negatively charged dyes following the mechanism of electrostatic repulsion. We demonstrate that the membranes can also separate positively and neutrally charged dyes from water via other mechanisms.This work opens a new avenue for the design and preparation of high-flux NF membranes, which is also applicable to enhance the permeance of other TFC membranes.

Enhancement of the flux for polypropylene hollow fiber membrane in a submerged membrane-bioreactor by surface modification

To improve its limiting flux and antifouling characteristics in a submerged membrane-bioreactor （SMBR） for wastewater treatment, polypropylene hollow fiber microporous membrane （PPHFMM） was surface-modified by the plasma-induced immobilization of poly （N-vinyl-2-pyrrolidone） （PVP） and the plasma treatment with different gases respectively. Attenuated total reflection-Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy （FT-IR/ATR）, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy （XPS） and field emission scanning electron microscope （FE-SEM） were used to characterize the structural and morphological changes on the membrane surface. Water contact angle was measured by the sessile drop method. It was found that the water contact angle was 128.8, 72.3, 62.7, 74.4, 79.1, 86.3, and 71.3° for the nascent, PVP-immobilized, air, 02, Ar, CO2 and H2O plasma treated PPHFMM, respectively. The SMBR was operated at fixed transmembrane pressure to determine the limiting flux for the PPHFMM before and after surface modification. Results showed that the limiting flux appeared to be 103, 159, 117, 133, 136, 121 and 152 L/（m^2· h） for the nascent, PVP-immobilized, air, O2, At, CO2 and H2O plasma treated PPHFMM, respectively. After continuous operation for about 50 h in the SMBR, the antifouling characteristics were improved to some extent.

Molecular Imprinted Membrane with High Flux by Surface Photo-grafting Copolymerization

Molecular imprinted polymer membranes (MIM) combine the merits of molecular imprint and membrane technology. In this work, a very thin of imprinted polymer that can specifically and selectively absorb the basic template (adenine) was grafted on the surface of polyvinylidene fluoride membrane by photo-grafting copolymerization. Because the molecular imprinted polymer is grafted on the surface of the matrix membrane without blocking the membrane pores, the resultant MIMs have high flux as microfiltration membrane (0.26 mol·m^-2·h^-1 of template and flux for distilled water was 3.6 ml·mim^-1·cm^-2 at 0.8 MPa). Moreover, the MIMs can absorb/desorb template molecules rapidly. Usually, it only takes several minutes for MIMs to absorb more than 75% of the template (adenine) in aqueous solution. And the influences of the type and amount of the functional monomers, the amount of the cross-linker on the absorption capability are discussed to determine the optimal preparation conditions。

Characterization of polysulfone hollow-fiber ultrafiltration membrane and its cleaning efficiency by streaming potential and flux method

Polysulfone(PS)hollow-fiber ultrafiltration membrane was characterized combined with flux and streaming potential in single electrolyte solutions.The effects of trans-membrane pressure,electrolyte concentration,ion valence and pH value of electrolyte solution on the streaming potential(SP)of the membrane were investigated.The zeta potential and surface charge density of the membrane were calculated on the basis of Helmholtz-Smoluchowski equation and Gouy-Chapmann theory.The results indicate that the valence and concentration of cation have a greater influence on the SP and surface charge density of PS membrane than those of anion,and the pH value of electrolyte solution has great effects on the SP and zeta potential of the membrane surface. Both the absolute value of the streaming potential and water flux of the adsorbed membrane decrease,compared with those of the clean membrane.The streaming potential and flux of the cleaned membrane can be completely recovered by cleaning with the mass fraction of 0.8%EDTA at pH=10.

Influence of initial molecular substance on the diffusion flux across cell membranes

The influence of initial placement of molecular or ion substance is investigated on the diffusion fluxes across the cell membrane. The diffusion fluxes and recovery curves are obtained by considering both the singlespot and double-spot concentrations inside the cell membrane. The results show that the additional concentration inside the membrane reduces the net fluxes at the cell interior as well as the exterior. In addition, it is found that the change in diffusion flux at the two outer walls of the membrane by the two-spot concentrations in the cell membrane is weaker than that of the single-spot concentration at the center. The variation of the influence of initial locations of the molecular concentrations inside the cell membrane on the diffusion fluxes is also discussed. This result can be applied to the diffusion process in avascular collagenous tissues.

Sustained release of vascular endothelial growth factor A and basic fibroblast growth factor from nanofiber membranes reduces oxygen/glucose deprivation-induced injury to neurovascular units

Upregulation of vascular endothelial growth factor A/basic fibroblast growth factor(VEGFA/b FGF)expression in the penumbra of cerebral ischemia can increase vascular volume,reduce lesion volume,and enhance neural cell proliferation and differentiation,thereby exerting neuroprotective effects.However,the beneficial effects of endogenous VEGFA/b FGF are limited as their expression is only transiently increased.In this study,we generated multilayered nanofiber membranes loaded with VEGFA/b FGF using layer-by-layer self-assembly and electrospinning techniques.We found that a membrane containing 10 layers had an ideal ultrastructure and could efficiently and stably release growth factors for more than 1 month.This 10-layered nanofiber membrane promoted brain microvascular endothelial cell tube formation and proliferation,inhibited neuronal apoptosis,upregulated the expression of tight junction proteins,and improved the viability of various cellular components of neurovascular units under conditions of oxygen/glucose deprivation.Furthermore,this nanofiber membrane decreased the expression of Janus kinase-2/signal transducer and activator of transcription-3(JAK2/STAT3),Bax/Bcl-2,and cleaved caspase-3.Therefore,this nanofiber membrane exhibits a neuroprotective effect on oxygen/glucose-deprived neurovascular units by inhibiting the JAK2/STAT3 pathway.

Development of advanced anion exchange membrane from the view of the performance of water electrolysis cell

Green hydrogen produced by water electrolysis combined with renewable energy is a promising alternative to fossil fuels due to its high energy density with zero-carbon emissions.Among water electrolysis technologies,the anion exchange membrane(AEM) water electrolysis has gained intensive attention and is considered as the next-generation emerging technology due to its potential advantages,such as the use of low-cost non-noble metal catalysts,the relatively mature stack assembly process,etc.However,the AEM water electrolyzer is still in the early development stage of the kW-level stack,which is mainly attributed to severe performance decay caused by the core component,i.e.,AEM.Here,the review comprehensively presents the recent progress of advanced AEM from the view of the performance of water electrolysis cells.Herein,fundamental principles and critical components of AEM water electrolyzers are introduced,and work conditions of AEM water electrolyzers and AEM performance improvement strategies are discussed.The challenges and perspectives are also analyzed.