[en] A supramolecular compound Na₃(HABOB)(H₂ABOB)-[MnMo₉O₃₂]·5.5H₂O (ABOB = moroxydine) has been synthesized and characterized by elemental analyses, IR spectrum, diffuse reflectance spectrum, room temperature magnetic moment, single crystal X-ray diffraction, and TG analysis. It exhibits a two-dimensional, layered inorganic framework constructed from Waugh-type polyanions [MnMo₉O₃₂]^6- and Na⁺ ions linkers. Protonated ABOB molecules are hydrogen-bonded to the left- and right- handed [MnMo₉O₃₂]^6- enantiomorphs to construct two kinds of infinite organic-inorganic hybrid chains. (author)

[en] In this work, a multi-walled carbon nanotube-modified flexible poly(styrene-butadiene) fiber membrane material was prepared for the sensitive and selective electrochemical detection of dopamine (DA) in human serum and DA injection. The flexible fiber membrane prepared by electrospinning technology is expected to realize its application in wearable devices. The obtained conductive film-based electrochemical sensor can effectively minimize interference caused by ascorbic acid and uric acid. Under the optimized experimental conditions of differential pulse voltammetry, DA gives a linear response in the range of 1–650 μM (R² = 0.996). The detection limit of DA (signal-to noise ratio = 3) was determined to be 0.062 μM. (paper)

[en] We report a facile approach to prepare high density of tiny Pt nanoparticles less than 3 nm loaded on the polyaniline hollow tubes in uniform way. Polyaniline hollow tubes in diameter of micro size are synthesized via the polymerization of aniline onto the template of sulfonated electrospun polystyrene fibers, followed by the removal of core polystyrene fibers. The as-prepared highly crystalline Pt nanoparticles on the surface of polyaniline microtubes show the much higher electrochemical active surface area of 90.49 m²/g, high mass catalytic current density, good durability toward the methanol oxidation reaction as well as the excellent carbon monoxide tolerance. The hollow-structure-conductive-polymer- based synthesis strategy for high performance catalyst in this study could be applied to produce other catalysts with the enhanced activities.

[en] Highlights: • Stereoselective bioaccumulation of chiral PCB 91 in earthworm was investigated. • Metabolomics and lipidomics techniques were applied to evaluate toxic effects. • Metabolic alterations were observed at 0.5 mg/kg_dwt of PCB 91. • The metabolites and lipids were identified and the metabolic pathways were discussed. Stereoselective bioaccumulation, elimination, metabolomic and lipidomic responses of earthworm Eisenia fetida exposed to chiral polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) 91 in an earthworm-soil system were investigated. Preferential bioaccumulation of (−)-PCB 91 and elimination of (+)-PCB 91 were observed following 50 and 500 μg/kg_dwt exposures. Enantiomer fraction (EF) values decreased over time during the uptake and elimination periods. Metabolomics and lipidomics techniques based on ultra-performance liquid chromatography/quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UPLC-QTOF-MS) revealed significant changes in 108 metabolites after earthworms exposure to (+)-, (−)-, and (±)-PCB 91, compared to control groups. Forty two of these metabolites were identified as amino acids, nucleosides, fatty acids, dicarboxylic acids, vitamins or others. Lysophospholipids including six lysophosphatidylcholines (LPC), six lysophosphatidylethanolamine (LPE), eight lysophosphatidylinositol (LPI) and five lysophosphatidylserine (LPS) were also differentially expressed between exposure and control groups. Alterations in the levels of metabolites and lipids indicated stereoselective effects of chiral PCB 91 on earthworm amino acid, energy, and nucleotide metabolism, neurodevelopment and gene expression. Overall, the effects of (+)-PCB 91 were more pronounced than that of (−)- and (±)-PCB 91.

[en] To quantitatively evaluate the safety and related-toxicities of intensity modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) dose–volume histograms (DVHs), as compared to the conventional three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy (3D-CRT), in gynecologic malignancy patients by systematic review of the related publications and meta-analysis. Relevant articles were retrieved from the PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Library databases up to August 2011. Two independent reviewers assessed the included studies and extracted data. Pooled average percent irradiated volumes of adjacent non-cancerous tissues were calculated and compared between IMRT and 3D-CRT for a range of common radiation doses (5-45Gy). In total, 13 articles comprised of 222 IMRT-treated and 233 3D-CRT-treated patients were included. For rectum receiving doses ≥30 Gy, the IMRT pooled average irradiated volumes were less than those from 3D-CRT by 26.40% (30 Gy, p = 0.004), 27.00% (35 Gy, p = 0.040), 37.30% (40 Gy, p = 0.006), and 39.50% (45 Gy, p = 0.002). Reduction in irradiated small bowel was also observed for IMRT-delivered 40 Gy and 45 Gy (by 17.80% (p = 0.043) and 17.30% (p = 0.012), respectively), as compared with 3D-CRT. However, there were no significant differences in the IMRT and 3D-CRT pooled average percent volumes of irradiated small bowel or rectum from lower doses, or in the bladder or bone marrow from any of the doses. IMRT-treated patients did not experience more severe acute or chronic toxicities than 3D-CRT-treated patients. IMRT-delivered high radiation dose produced significantly less average percent volumes of irradiated rectum and small bowel than 3D-CRT, but did not differentially affect the average percent volumes in the bladder and bone marrow

[en] A series of 3D heteropolymolybdates, (NH₄)₂{[M(H₂O)₃]₂[TeMo₆O₂₄]}.H₂O (M=Mn(1), Co(2), Ni(3), Cu(4), and Zn(5)) and [Ln(H₂O)₄]₂[TeMo₆O₂₄].3H₂O (Ln=La(6), Ce(7), and Nd(8)), has been isolated from hydrothermal reactions and characterized by elemental analyses, IR spectra, X-ray crystallography and magnetic properties. Single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis reveals that compounds 1-8 possess unusual (3,6)-connected networks constructed from Anderson-type anions [TeMo₆O₂₄]^6- and transion metal or rare-earth metal cations. Compounds 1-5 are of highly symmetrical structures with pyrite-like topology in which [TeMo₆O₂₄]^6- anions act as 6-connected sites and transition metal cations act as 3-connected sites. Compounds 6-8 crystallize in symmetrical space groups lower than that of 1-5 exhibiting rutile-like topology with [TeMo₆O₂₄]^6- anions acting as 6-connected sites and rare-earth metal cations acting as 3-connected sites. The magnetic properties of 1-4 are also presented. - Graphical abstract: Utilization of mild-hydrothermal synthesis successfully provides a series of new 3D Anderson-based compounds: (NH₄)₂{[M(H₂O)₃]₂ [TeMo₆O₂₄]}.H₂O (M=Mn, Co, Ni, Cu and Zn), which exhibits pyrite-like topology and [Ln(H₂O)₄]₂[TeMo₆O₂₄].3H₂O (Ln=La, Ce and Nd), which exhibits rutile-like topology. Display Omitted

[en] Highlights: • The first national-scale reconnaissance of trace metals in tea across China • The quality of soils and teas in the tea gardens across China is generally good. • Cd and As had the highest mean geo-accumulation index value. • Pb and Cu in all young tea leaf samples met the threshold for organic tea. • Controls over contemporary metal contamination in specific areas were proposed. Accumulation of potentially toxic elements in soil and tea leaves is a particular concern for tea consumers worldwide. However, the contents of potentially toxic elements and their potential health and ecological risks in Chinese tea gardens have rarely been investigated on the national scale. In this study, we collected 225 paired soil and tea plant samples from 45 tea gardens in 15 provinces of China to survey the current risk of potentially toxic element accumulation in Chinese tea gardens. The results suggest that the average contents of most trace metals in rhizosphere soils meet the risk control standard for agricultural land in China. However, the mean contents of As, Cr, Cd, Zn, Cu, and Ni in rhizosphere soils were 1.94, 2.14, 1.23, 1.15, 1.18, and 1.19 times their corresponding background soil values in China. Cd had the highest geo-accumulation index, followed by As, Zn, Cr, Ni, Cu, Pb, and Mn in rhizosphere soils. Nearly 2.22% and 4.44% of soils were moderately to heavily contaminated with As and Cd, respectively. The risk index ranged from 18.0 to 292, with an average value of 90.0, indicating low to moderate ecological risk in Chinese tea gardens. This is the first national-scale reconnaissance of trace metals in tea across China. Our findings provide a useful reference for ensuring the quality and safety of tea production and mitigating the risk of toxic element accumulation in tea.

[en] Highlights: • A graphene oxide film were used for electricity generation and solar desalination. • An output power density of 20.5 μW cm⁻³ was obtained through solar water evaporation. • The device is applied to solar desalination with a steam rate of 1.3 kg m⁻²h⁻¹. -- Abstract: Converting ambient thermal energy into electricity, a promising strategy for energy regeneration, has aroused enormous interest of researchers and technologists in eliminating the obstacle of energy shortage. However, traditional technologies used to generate electricity are not capable to efficiently settle green power supply and conversion, suffering from complicated preparation processes and high-cost materials, and largely hinder their practical applications. Here, a simple device of graphene oxide/mixed cellulose ester films was fabricated for solar water evaporation through photothermal conversion to electricity generation. The well-designed device can not only convert solar energy into electricity, but also make full use of the photothermal effect of graphing oxide for solar desalination. As a result, the device successfully not only reduces the cost of material and avoids the complex processes, but also can constantly export a power density of 20.5 μW cm⁻³ with the evaporation of water under a light intensity of 1 kW m⁻². This study supplies a low-cost, flexible device, improving the utilization efficiency of environmental energy and increasing the possibility of practical applications.