Dietary n-6：n-3 ratio and Vitamin E improve motility characteristics in association with membrane properties of boar spermatozoa

This study was aimed to evaluate the effects of dietary n-6：n-3 ratio and Vitamin E on the membrane properties and motility characteristics of spermatozoa in boars. Forty Duroc boars were randomly distributed in a 2 × 2 factorial design with two n-6：n-3 ratios （14.4 and 6.6） and two Vitamin E levels （200 and 400 mg kg-1）. During 16 weeks of treatment, fresh semen was collected at weeks O, 8, 12, and 16 for measurements of motility characteristics, contents of fatty acids, membrane properties （membrane fluidity and membrane integrity）, and lipid peroxidation of the spermatozoa. The semen was diluted in Beltsville Thawing Solution （BTS） extender and stored at 17℃, and the sperm motility was assessed at 12, 36, 72, and 120 h of storage. The 6.6 n-6.n-3 dietary ratio increased the contents of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids （PUFAs） and docosabexaenoic acid （DHA） and improved the membrane integrity and membrane fluidity of the spermatozoa, resulting in notably increased total motility, sperm progressive motility, and velocity parameters of fresh semen. Feeding diet with Vitamin E （400 mg kg-1） prevented sperm lipid peroxidation, and resulted in higher total motility and sperm progressive motility in fresh and liquid stored semen. In conclusion, the adjustment of n-6.n-3 ratio （6.6） and supply of Vitamin E （400 mg kg-1） successfully improved sperm motility characteristics and thus may be beneficial to the fertility of boars, which might be due to the modification of the physical and functional properties of spermatozoa membrane in response to dietary supplementation.

THE ASYMPTOTIC PROPERTIES OF HIGH FREQUENCIES FOR BARS,BEAMS AND MEMBRANES

In this paper, a uniform analysis of the asymptotic properties of high frequencies of non-uniform bars, beams and circular membranes is given by using perturbation method, and the ease of discontinuous physical parameters is also discussed.

ZIF-67@Cellulose nanofiber hybrid membrane with controlled porosity for use as Li-ion battery separator

Zeolitic imidazolate framework-67(ZIF-67) was synthesized on the surface of cellulose nanofibers(CNFs)in methonal to address the problems of unhomogeneous pore size and pore distribution of pure CNF membrane.A combination of Energy Dispersive X-Ray Spectroscopy(EDS),X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy(XPS) and X-ray powder diffraction(XRD) patterns were used to determine the successful synthesis of ZIF-67@CNFs.The size of the ZIF-67 particles and pore size of the ZIF-67@CNF membrane were50-200 nm and 150-350 nm, respectively.The prepared ZIF-67@CNF membrane exhibited excellent thermal stability,lower thermal shrinkage and high surface wettability.The discharge capacity retention of the Li-ion batteries(LIBs) made with ZIF-67@CNF,glass fiber(GF),CNF and commercial polymer membranes after 100 th cycle at 0.5 C rate were 88.41%,86.22%,83.27%,and 81.03%,respectively.LIBs with ZIF-67@CNF membrane exhibited a better rate capability than these with other membranes.No damage of porous structure or peel-off of ZIF-67 was observed in the SEM images of ZIF-67@CNF membrane after100 th cycle.The improved cycling performance,rate capability,and good electrochemical stability implied that ZIF-67@CNFs membrane can be considered as a good alternative LIB separator.

Magnetic field aligned orderly arrangement of Fe3O4 nanoparticles in CS/PVA/Fe3O4 membranes

The CS/PVA/Fe_3O_4 nanocomposite membranes with chainlike arrangement of Fe_3O_4 nanoparticles are prepared by a magnetic-field-assisted solution casting method. The aim of this work is to investigate the relationship between the microstructure of the magnetic anisotropic CS/PVA/Fe_3O_4 membrane and the evolved macroscopic physicochemical property. With the same doping content, the relative crystallinity of CS/PVA/Fe_3O_4-M is lower than that of CS/PVA/Fe_3O_4.The Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy（FT-TR） measurements indicate that there is no chemical bonding between polymer molecule and Fe_3O_4 nanoparticle. The Fe_3O_4 nanoparticles in CS/PVA/Fe_3O_4 and CS/PVA/Fe_3O_4-M are wrapped by the chains of CS/PVA, which is also confirmed by scanning electron microscopy（SEM） and x-ray diffraction（XRD）analysis. The saturation magnetization value of CS/PVA/Fe_3O_4-M obviously increases compared with that of non-magnetic aligned membrane, meanwhile the transmittance decreases in the UV-visible region. The o-Ps lifetime distribution provides information about the free-volume nanoholes present in the amorphous region. It is suggested that the microstructure of CS/PVA/Fe_3O_4 membrane can be modified in its curing process under a magnetic field, which could affect the magnetic properties and the transmittance of nanocomposite membrane. In brief, a full understanding of the relationship between the microstructure and the macroscopic property of CS/PVA/Fe_3O_4 nanocomposite plays a vital role in exploring and designing the novel multifunctional materials.

Role of membrane and compound properties in affecting the rejection of pharmaceuticals by different RO/NF membranes

This study was conducted to assess the merits and limitations of various high-pressure membranes, tight nanofiltration （NF） membranes in particular, for the removal of trace organic compounds （TrOCs）. The performance of a low-pressure reverse osmosis （LPRO） membrane （ESPA1）, a tight NF membrane （NF90） and two loose NF membranes （HL and NF270） was compared for the rejection of 23 different pharmaceuticals （PhACs）. Efforts were also devoted to understand the effect of adsorption on the rejection performance of each membrane. Difference in hydrogen bond formation potential （HFP） was taken into consideration. Results showed that NF90 performed similarly to ESPA1 with mean rejection higher than 95%. NF270 outperformed HL in terms of both water permeability and PhAC rejection higher than 90%. Electrostatic effects were more significant in PhAC rejection by loose NF membranes than tight NF and LPRO membranes. The adverse effect of adsorption on rejection by HL and ESPA1 was more substantial than NF270 and NF90, which could not be simply explained by the difference in membrane surface hydrophobicity, selective layer thickness or pore size. The HL membrane had a lower rejection of PhACs of higher hydrophobicity （log D〉0） and higher HFP （〉0.02）. Nevertheless, the effects of PhAC hydrophobicity and HFP on rejection by ESPA1 could not be discerned. Poor rejection of certain PhACs could generally be explained by aspects of steric hindrance, electrostatic interactions and adsorption. High-pressure membranes like NF90 and NF270 have a high promise in TrOC removal from contaminated water.

Anti-inflammatory and membrane stabilizing properties of methyl jasmonate in rats

The present investigation was carried out to evaluate anti-inflammatory and membrane stabilizing properties of methyl jasmonate(MJ) in experimental rat models of acute and chronic inflammation.The effects of MJ on acute inflammation were assessed using carrageenan-induced rat's paw edema model.The granuloma air pouch model was employed to evaluate the effects of MJ on chronic inflammation produced by carrageenan in rats.The number of white blood cells(WBC) in pouch exudates was estimated using light microscopy.The levels of biomarkers of oxidative stress,such as malondialdehyde(MDA),glutathione(GSH) and activity of antioxidant enzymes in the exudates,were determined using spectrophotometry.The membrane stabilizing property of MJ was assessed based on inhibition of hemolysis of rat red blood cells(RBC) exposed to hypotonic medium.Our results indicated that MJ(25-100 mg·kg-1,i.p.) produced significant anti-inflammatory activity in carrageenan-induced paw edema in rats(P < 0.05).MJ reduced the volume of pouch exudates and the number of WBC in carrageenan-induced granulomatous inflammation.It also exhibited potent antioxidant and membrane stabilizing activities.In conclusion,these findings suggest the therapeutic potentials of methyl jasmonate in disease conditions associated with inflammation and its anti-inflammatory activity may be related to its antioxidant and membrane stabilizing activities.

The effect of humidity on the CO_2/N_2 separation performance of copolymers based on hard polyimide segments and soft polyether chains:Experimental and modeling

In this work, we studied two copolymers formed by segments of a rubbery polyether（PPO or PEO） and of a glassy polyimide（BPDA-ODA or BKDA-ODA） suitable for gas separation and CO2 capture. Firstly, we assessed the absorption of water vapor in the materials, as a function of relative humidity（R.H.）, finding that the humidity uptake of the copolymers lies between that of the corresponding pure homopolymers values.Furthermore, we studied the effect of humidity on CO2 and N2 permeability, as well as on CO2/N2 selectivity, up to R.H. of 75%. The permeability decreases with increasing humidity, while the ideal selectivity remains approximately constant in the entire range of water activity investigated. The humidity-induced decrease of permeability in the copolymers is much smaller than the one observed in polyimides such as Matrimid? confirming the positive effect of the polyether phase on the membrane performance.Finally, we modeled the humidity-induced decrease of gas solubility, diffusivity and, consequently, permeability, using a suitable approach that considers the free volume theory for diffusion and LF model for solubility. Such model allows estimating the extent of competition that the gases undergo with water during sorption in the membranes, as a function of the relative humidity, as well as the expected reduction of free volume by means of water molecules occupation and consequent reduction of diffusivity.

Aging of PVDF and PES ultrafiltration membranes by sodium hypochlorite:Effect of solution pH

Sodium hypochlorite(NaClO)is a commonly applied cleaning agent for ultrafiltration membranes in water and wastewater treatment.Long-term exposure to NaClO might change the properties and performance of polymeric membranes,and ultimately shorten membrane lifespan.Active species in NaClO solution vary with solution pH,and the aging effects can change depending on the membrane material.In this study,the aging of polyvinylidene fluoride(PVDF)and polyethersulfone(PES)membranes by NaClO at pH 3–11 was investigated by examining variations in chemical composition,surface charge,surface morphology,mechanical strength,permeability,and retention ability.Polyvinyl pyrrolidone(PVP),which was blended in both membranes,was oxidized and dislodged due to NaClO aging at all investigated pH values,but the oxidation products and dislodgement ratio of PVP varied with solution pH.For the PVDF membrane,NaClO aging at pH 3–11 caused a moderate increase in permeability and decreased retention due to the oxidation and release of PVP.The tensile strength decreased only at pH 11 because of the defluorination of PVDF molecules.For the PES membrane,NaClO aging at all investigated pH resulted in chain scission of PES molecules,which was favored at pH 7 and 9,potentially due to the formation of free radicals.Therefore,a decrease in tensile strength and retention ability,as well as an increase in permeability,occurred in the PES membrane for NaClO aging at pH 3–11.Overall,the results can provide a basis for selecting chemical cleaning conditions for PVDF and PES membranes.

Effect of Konjac Glucomannan on Sodium Alginate Membrane

This paper introduces a blended membrane which is prepared by coagulation of sodium alginate and konjac glucomannan（KGM） in an aqueous solution, and studies the effect of different concentrations of KGM on sodium alginate films. The structural characterization of prepared blend film was implemented by scanning electron microscopy（SEM） and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy（FT-IR）, and the optimum ratio was determined by comparing fracture elongation, moisture absorption and moisture retention. The results indicate that the two polysaccharide molecules, sodium alginate and KGM, in the blend membrane have a good compatibility. The surface of blend film is smooth and uniform. The addition of KGM can significantly improve the moisture absorption and moisture retention performance of sodium alginate film, and its mechanical performance is also improved to some extent. The ratio of sodium alginate and KGM is 3.2∶1.5.

Composition and Accumulation of Fouling during Leachate Reverse Osmosis Membrane Treatment in both a Typical Incineration Plant and a Landfill

Reverse osmosis(RO)membrane process has been extensively used for leachate treatment both in incineration plants and landfills.However,operation and maintenance costs caused by membrane pollution limit the wide application of RO membrane.In order to further understand membrane fouling,this study analyzes the influent,effluent,concentrated liquid pollutants and membrane fouling of typical waste incineration plants and landfills in Chongqing,a city in the west of China based on the comparison of three-dimensional excitation and emission matrix fluorescence(3DEEM)and nanometer particle size.In addition,this paper discusses the change law of chemical oxygen demand(COD)and main pollutants in membrane fouling in the disc tube reverse osmosis(DTRO)system in a single operation cycle,analyzes the main components of membrane fouling,and draws the accumulation of RO membrane pollutants,in order to provide a reference for understanding the composition,formation and control of membrane fouling.

Neuroprotective Effect of Shenfu Injection (参附注射液) Following Cardiac Arrest in Pig Correlates with Improved Mitochondrial Function and Cerebral Glucose Uptake

Objective：To test whether Shenfu Injection（参附注射液,SFI）might attenuate the impact of cerebral energy dysfunction after resuscitation in a pig model of cardiac arrest（CA）.Methods：Thirty-four Wuzhishan miniature inbred pigs were randomly divided into three groups：the SFI group（n=12）,the saline group（SA group,n=12）,and the sham-operated group（sham group,n=10）.Following successful return of spontaneous circulation（ROSC）from 8-min untreated ventricular fibrillation,animals received a continuous infusion of either SFI（0.2 mL/min）or saline for 6 h.Cerebral performance category score was evaluated at 24and 48 h after ROSC,followed by positron emission tomography and computed tomography scans of cerebral glucose uptake.Surviving pigs were euthanized 48 h after ROSC,and the brains were removed for detecting mitochondrial function.Results：Compared with the SA group,SFI treatment produced a better neurologic outcome48 h after ROSC（P〈0.05）.However,there was no significant difference of survival rate between the SA and SFI groups（83.3%vs.81.8%,P〉0.05）.After ROSC,the SA group showed a decrease in the maximum standardized uptake value of different regions in the brain tissue,where SFI treatment can ameliorate these decreases（P〈0.01or P〈0.05）.Improved mitochondrial respiratory properties and higher mitochondrial membrane potential were also found following SFI treatment compared with the SA group at 48 h after ROSC（P〈0.05 or P〈0.01）.Conclusion：SFI treatment after resuscitation has significant neuroprotective effects against disruption of cerebral energy metabolism from CA by improving glucose uptake and by normalizing mitochondrial function.