[en] In this paper we investigate the powder size dependences of the high-power piezoelectric properties in Pb[(Zr_0.52Ti_0.48)_0.95(Mn_1/3Nb_2/3)_0.05]O₃ (PMnN-PZT) ceramics using the constant voltage method and the pulse drive technique. It has been demonstrated that coarse powders enlarge the grain sizes of the sintered ceramics and tend to deteriorate the high-power piezoelectric properties. The vibration velocity and temperature rise during vibration are measured with the constant voltage method. Both exhibit good characteristics upon reduction in powder size. For the same sintered ceramics, the mechanical quality factors are estimated at high-power level using the pulse drive method, which can depress the temperature rise during vibration. It is found that the larger vibration velocity originates from the stability of the mechanical quality factor at high-power level. These phenomena may be explained by consideration of both combination of grain boundaries and effect of grain size

[en] Highlights: • Region-selective deposition process was adopted to prepare high-dispersed CdS QDs/BiOCl nanocomposites consisting of cuboid BiOCl nanosheets exposing (001) facet and CdS QDs with size of 5–10 nm. • The TGA was used as bridge linked the CdS QDs and BiOCl, which enables CdS QDs spread homogeneously on the (001) facet of BiOCl. • The optical absorption properties and charge transfer efficiency of CdS QDs/BiOCl nanocomposites are much improved owing to the widespread heterojunction between CdS QDs and BiOCl. • The photocatalytic degradation activities of CdS QDs/BiOCl composites are excellent for MO dyes and phenol contaminants under simulated solar and UV light, respectively. - Abstract: A facile region-selective deposition process was adopted to prepare high-dispersed CdS QDs on BiOCl nanosheets with the surface modification of thioglycollic acid (TGA). The samples were systematically characterized by XRD, SEM, TEM, HRTEM, EDS, XPS, UV–vis DRS, EIS and PL. The results indicate that CdS QDs with size of 5–10 nm dispersed uniformly on the surface of cuboid BiOCl nanosheets. The photocatalytic performance tests reveal that the CdS QDs-3%/BiOCl composite exhibits an excellent photocatalytic activity, which is over 4.0 and 4.8 times as high as pure BiOCl for methyl orange (MO) and phenol photodegradation rate under simulated solar light and UV light illumination, respectively. The enhanced photocatalytic performance of the CdS QDs/BiOCl composites should be attributed to the improved visible light absorption and the high migration efficiency of the photogenerated electron-holes due to the matched band gap and the widespread heterostructure between CdS QDs and BiOCl.

[en] In this research work, we deposited rGO QDs on the surface of flower-shaped hierarchical Bi-Bi₂WO₆/EP (Expanded Perlite) floating photocatalyst via the facile-liquid-phase deposition route. The rGO QDs-Bi-Bi₂WO₆/EP is the EP-based floating nanocomposite which is consisting of 3C heterojunction (rGO QDs, Bi₂WO₆ and Bi nanoparticles). In as-fabricated rGO QDs-Bi-Bi₂WO₆/EP photocatalyst, rGO QDs-Bi-Bi₂WO₆ was successfully immobilized as superior-active photocatalyst component and the selection of EP was retainable price sustainable support and recyclability of the designed photocatalyst. The as-fabricated nanocomposites were comprehensively characterized by spectroscopic techniques and electrochemical reaction. The photocatalytic degradation performances of rGO QDs-Bi-Bi₂WO₆/EP nanocomposite was evaluated evidently by the degradation of hazardous organic contaminants (RhB and phenol) with high rate constants k of 0.23 min⁻¹ and 0.047 min⁻¹, respectively, under sun-like irradiation. The obviously enhanced photocatalytic efficacy of rGO QDs-Bi-Bi₂WO₆/EP should be attributed to uniform dispersion and floating behavior of the well-designed photocatalyst owing to enhanced visible-light absorption, photocurrent and high transfer efficiency of photoinduced electron-hole pairs due to close intimated contact between rGO QDs and Bi-Bi₂WO₆/EP.

[en] Highlights: • Klotho can inhibit DEX-induced apoptosis of MC3T3-E1 osteoblasts by inhibiting the expression of caspase-3. • NF-κB inhibitor PDTC reduced the number of DEX-induced apoptotic cells and attenuated the activity of caspase-3. • Klotho can inhibit IκB degradation, NF-κB nuclear translocation, and p65 phosphorylation in DEX-induced MC3T3-E1 apoptosis. Dexamethasone (DEX) is a commonly used anti-inflammatory drug and an immunosuppressive drug used in clinical practice to treat a variety of diseases. Glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis (GIOP) is a consequence of high dose, or a long-term low dose use of glucocorticoids (GCs). These treatment regimens can cause a variety of bone-related adverse effects, leading to increased osteoblast and bone cell apoptosis. Evidence suggests that klotho (KL) can inhibit GIOP. It is unknown whether KL attenuates DEX-induced apoptosis in MC3T3-E1 cells or the underlying mechanisms involved. In the present study, we found that MC3T3-E1 cells pretreated with DEX led to the up-regulation of cleaved-caspase-3, and down-regulation of caspase-3, which were inhibited by KL transfection. Furthermore, flow cytometry and western blot analysis revealed that the NFκB inhibitor pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate (PDTC) could restore the DEX-induced caspase-3 decrease and inhibit the DEX-induced cleaved caspase-3 increase. We observed that DEX stimulated the degradation of IκBα(NFκB inhibitor α) and the translocation of NFκB, which were suppressed by KL transfection. These findings therefore, indicate a protective role for KL against osteoblastic cell apoptosis induced by DEX, via the NF-κB signaling pathway.

[en] The metal/metal oxide and halide nanocomposites are emerging and effective photo/electrocatalyst to replace very expensive materials. These are remarkably preferred for efficient hydrogen production in energy conversion and storage technologies. Regardless of recent progress, their activity and durability are still far from adequate, due to less visible light effectiveness, wide band gape and high overpotential and low current density. Herein we successfully applied a novel visible light accessible photo/electrocatalyst, silver-silver bromide doped hollow mesoporous silica-titania (Ag-AgBr/HMST) for overall water splitting. The results of the physicochemical characterization indicates that the nanocomposite has exceptional morphology, high surface area, and uniformly distributed particles. These features exhibits the illustrious visible light induced photo/electrocatalytic behavior for overall water splitting. The hollow silica-titania provides incredible quality conducting channel, to get better mass loading and boost the charge transportation. While well-built connection of Ag, AgBr with titania, provides well active sites that accomplish obvious photo/electrocatalytic performance with OER current density of 10 mAcm⁻² at 280 mV and HER current density of 65 mAcm⁻² at −173 mV. This is almost equal to RuO₂ and Pt/C that are very expensive catalyst for water oxidation. Therefore, the present work establishes the first example of hollow mesoporous photo/electrocatalyst for OER and HER water splitting. The outstanding durability prop up the use of mesoporous material for renewable energy application.

[en] The metal/metal oxide and halide nanocomposites are emerging and effective photo/electrocatalyst to replace very expensive materials. These are remarkably preferred for efficient hydrogen production in energy conversion and storage technologies. Regardless of recent progress, their activity and durability are still far from adequate, due to less visible light effectiveness, wide band gape and high overpotential and low current density. Herein we successfully coupled a novel visible light accessible photo/electrocatalyst, silver-silver bromide doped hollow mesoporous silica-titania (Ag-AgBr/HMST). The syntheses of these composites were carried out using a facile one-pot micro-emulsification method at controlled calcination temperature. The results of the physicochemical characterization indicates that the composite obtained at optimal calcination temperature (550 °C), has exceptional morphology, high surface area, and uniformly distributed particles. These features exhibits the illustrious visible light induced photo/electrocatalytic behavior for overall water splitting. The hollow silica-titania provides incredible quality conducting channel, to get better mass loading and boost the charge transportation. While well-built connection of Ag, AgBr with titania, provides well active sites that accomplish obvious photo/electrocatalytic performance with OER current density of 10 mAcm⁻² at 280 mV and HER current density of 65 mAcm⁻² at −173 mV. This is almost equal to RuO₂ and Pt/C that are very expensive catalyst for water oxidation. Therefore, the present work establishes the first example of hollow mesoporous photo/electrocatalyst for OER and HER water splitting. The outstanding durability prop up the use of mesoporous material for renewable energy application.

[en] The relationships between microstructure, texture, grain boundary and tensile strength, Charpy impact toughness of (Nb+Ti+V) stabilised Fe–17Cr ferritic stainless steel thick plates were investigated by means of optical microscopy, X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, electron backscatter diffraction, tensile and Charpy impact testing. The results show that for Fe–17Cr ferritic stainless steel thick plate, the addition of warm rolling procedure leads to refinement of grain size, modification of texture, and then optimisation of grain boundary, including grain boundary character distribution and grain boundary connectivity. Meanwhile, the mechanical testing results indicate that optimal transformation that warm rolling procedure brings to Fe–17Cr ferritic steel thick plate is beneficial to its mechanical properties

[en] The synthetic method of bis-(ο-trifluoromethylphenyl) dithiophosphinic acid has been improved during the synthetic research of various dithiophosphinic acids. The optimized synthesis has been realized with PCl₃ and (ο-F₃CC₆H₄) MgBr as starting materials and via a continuous three-step method including Grignard reaction, sulfuration and substitution reaction. The FTIR spectrum of product shows the presence of substituted aromatic ring, C-F bond, P-S single bond and P=S double bond. The interpretation result f ³¹P NMR, ¹H NMR and ¹³C NMR of the product, as well as MS, is completely in line with the structure of the targeted compound bis-(ο-trifluoromethylphenyl) dithiophosphinic acid. (authors)

[en] Highlights: • LncRNA LOC730101 is highly expressed in ostrosarcoma tissues. • Highly expressed LOC730101 promotes ostrosarcoma cell survival under energy stress. • LncRNA LOC730101 activates AMPK pathway in ostrosarcoma. Long non-coding RNAs have been proved in tumorigenesis of various cancers, including osteosarcoma. However, the role of LOC730101 in cancer is rare to be reported, not mention to osteosarcoma. In current study, quantitative real-time PCR, was applied to evaluate the expression of LOC730101 under energy stress. The roles of LOC730101 in cell viability, apoptosis and tumor development under energy stress were analyzed by cell biological assays in vitro and in vivo. AMPK CA (continuously active) and Compound C (AMPK inhibitor) were employed to investigate the mechanism. And we further confirmed that compared with adjacent tissues, LOC730101 is remarkably increased in osteosarcoma in our fresh tissues. In addition, cellular function assays demonstrated that LOC730101 promotes cell viability, tumor development, and deficiency of LOC730101 promotes cell apoptosis under energy stress. Furthermore, we validated that up-regulated LOC730101 enhances cell viability through AMPK under energy stress. Taken together, our findings enlarged the knowledge about the roles of LOC730101 in osteosarcoma progression.

[en] Highlights: • We focus on friction stir welding of 18Cr–2Mo ferritic stainless steel thick plate. • We produce high-quality joints with special tool and optimised welding parameters. • We compare microstructure and mechanical properties of steel and joint. • Friction stir welding is a method that can maintain the properties of joint. - Abstract: In this study, microstructure and mechanical properties of a friction stir welded 18Cr–2Mo ferritic stainless steel thick plate were investigated. The 5.4 mm thick plates with excellent properties were welded at a constant rotational speed and a changeable welding speed using a composite tool featuring a chosen volume fraction of cubic boron nitride (cBN) in a W–Re matrix. The high-quality welds were successfully produced with optimised welding parameters, and studied by means of optical microscopy (OM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), electron back-scattered diffraction (EBSD) and standard hardness and impact toughness testing. The results show that microstructure and mechanical properties of the joints are affected greatly, which is mainly related to the remarkably fine-grained microstructure of equiaxed ferrite that is observed in the friction stir welded joint. Meanwhile, the ratios of low-angle grain boundary in the stir zone regions significantly increase, and the texture turns strong. Compared with the base material, mechanical properties of the joint are maintained in a comparatively high level