[en] This paper researches the sprout inhibition effect by irradiation on refrigerated garlic. The results shows that, the garlic is still in the period of dormancy within 7 days after taken out from the refrigerated warehouse, and irradiation have a good sprout inhibition effect on it. The irradiation dose is 40-90 Gy, the same as that of the post harvest irradiation treatment on garlic. Refrigerate the Zhongmu Garlic (at -2 degree C-0 degree C) until the middle ten days of February the next year, place it at the room temperature (10 degree C-15 degree C) for 1-7 days after taking it out of the warehouse, then use ⁶⁰Co γ-ray to irradiate it until the absorbed dose reaches 40-90 Gy, the sprout inhibition effect can be realized. The test also indicates that the deposited time after taking out of the refrigerated warehouse is crucial to the sprout inhibition effect of refrigerated garlic by irradiation. (authors)

[en] We report on a study on the spin glass (SG) anisotropy (K _SG) and interfacial exchange coupling (J _IF) dependent coercivity (H _C) at the ferromagnet/SG interface, based on a modified Monte Carlo Metropolis algorithm. It is shown that K _SG and J _IF are interdependent while taking effect on different magnetic degrees of freedom and different time scales, resulting in complicated H _C behaviors. By means of a micromagnetic approximation approach, we analytically explain the H _C behaviors with respect to K _SG and J _IF. The dynamic SG surplus magnetization and the SG spin rotatability at the interface, hard to be detected experimentally, have proven to play crucial roles. This paper elucidates the weak anisotropy dependence of SG magnetic properties, and predicts that the SG features can be tunable at will by precisely controlling the magnetic parameters. (paper)

[en] Higher-accuracy measurements of the 3D metrology of nano- and micro-structures are increasingly demanded. This paper details the prototyping of a novel 3D micro-scale coordinate measuring machine probe based on fiber Bragg grating sensors for true 3D measurements at micro- and nanometer scales. A new manufacturing technique for the high-precision cantilever used in the probe is also reported. Simulations are performed during the design and testing to help to test important aspects of the probe and to gain understanding about the influence of the probe geometrical parameters on the sensor sensitivity. The initial performance of the probe has been tested in both the vertical and horizontal directions, and the characterization results are promising. Further experimental results demonstrate that the probe is not affected by surface interaction forces. (paper)

[en] In ferromagnet/antiferromagnet bilayers and core/shell nanoparticles, an exchange-bias-like loop bias phenomenon in the ferromagnet is observed solely due to the long-range dipolar interactions between ferromagnet and antiferromagnet. With increasing cooling field, the loop bias field may increase from zero in the bilayers or from a negative value in the core/shell nanoparticles to a positive saturated value, depending on the interfacial dipolar interaction and/or ferromagnetic/antiferromagnetic thickness. Using a modified Monte-Carlo method and the Meiklejohn–Bean model, the interfacial dipole fields (up to several teslas) and the domain sizes imprinted on the interfacial antiferromagnet are explicitly calculated to elucidate the cooling field dependence of loop bias, which is governed by distinct mechanisms at the flat and curved interfaces. Finally, through simply discussing the roles of lattice structure, ferromagnetic dipolar interaction, and simulation time, it is evidenced that the dipole-induced loop bias is ubiquitous and applicable for stabilizing a ferromagnet, irrespective of the interface mismatch and the undeterministic diffusion between different ingredients. This work helps us to develop the spintronic devices with nonatomic-contact nanostructure assemblies. (paper)

[en] Covalent organic frameworks (COFs), a type of crystalline polymers, have attracted increasing interest because of their controllability of geometry and functionality. Featuring infinitely extended networks and tremendous interaction sites, COFs emerge as a potential platform for separation science. Here, a novel chiral COF (β-CD COF_BPDA) constructed by the imine condensation of 4,4′-biphenyldicarboxaldehyde and heptakis(6-amino-6-deoxy)-β-cyclodextrin was introduced into an electrochromatographic system via a photopolymerization method and applied to the separation of enantiomers. The structure and properties of as-synthesized β-CD COF_BPDA were investigated by powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD) patterns, Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and N₂adsorption-desorption isotherms. It was proved that β-CD COF_BPDA was provided with larger pore size and BET surface area. The β-CD COF_BPDA coating endowed the chiral stationary phase with superior three-dimensional orientation, and realized satisfactory separation with improved selectivity and column efficiency for a dozen racemic drugs. Under the optimized conditions, homatropine, ondansetron, metoprolol, terbutaline, tulobuterol, and promethazine were all baseline separated with resolution values of 2.24, 2.03, 1.65, 1.62, 1.60, and 1.58, respectively. The results indicate the high perspective of COF modified stationary in enantioseparation. Graphical abstract:

[en] Highlights: • Recent advances on the biomimetic paper-based analytical devices. • Construction strategies of MIP-PADs based on different signal readout modes. • Enhanced analytical performance of MIP-PADs in chemo/bioanalysis. The popularization of paper-based analytical devices (PADs) in analytical science has fostered research on enhancing their analytical performance for accurate and sensitive assays. With their superb recognition capability and structural stability, molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) have been extensively employed as biomimetic receptors for capturing target analytes in various complex matrices. The integration of MIPs as recognition elements with PADs (MIP-PADs) has opened new opportunities for advanced analytical devices with elevated selectivity and sensitivity, as well as a shorter assay time and a lower cost. This review covers recent advances in MIP-PAD fabrication and engineering based on multifarious signal transduction systems such as colorimetry, fluorescence, electrochemistry, photoelectrochemistry, and chemiluminescence. The application of MIP-PADs in the fields of biomedical diagnostics, environmental analysis, and food safety monitoring is also reviewed. Further, the advantages, challenges, and perspectives of MIP-PADs are discussed.

[en] Highlights: • Lanthanum nitrate (La(NO₃)₃) can restore redox homeostasis disrupted by ethanol. • La(NO₃)₃ exerts cytoprotective effect by activating Nrf2/Keap 1 signal pathway. • Phosphorylated p62 is provoked by La(NO₃)₃, indicating autophagy is involved in the mechanism. • Exposure below 20 mg/kg is safe and the optimal doses are 1.0 and 2.0 mg/kg. With the widespread application of rare earth elements (REEs) in environment safety, food and medicine, they accumulate in the ecosystem and different human organs where REEs exert certain biological effects. Low dose REEs are proved to perform antioxidant effects, while high concentration can cause oxidative stress. However, scant information about rational doses and underlying mechanism of REEs as oxidants/antioxidants were illustrated. To elucidate these problems, here we performed a study that the ICR mice were received 0.1, 0.2, 1.0, 2.0 and 20.0 mg/kg lanthanum nitrate (La(NO₃)₃) by gavage for 30 days, and then were given 12 mL/kg ethanol once to undergo acute ethanol-induced oxidative stress. The antioxidant enzymes, antioxidants, peroxides and related proteins in Keap 1/Nrf2/p62 signaling pathway were measured. The results showed that La(NO₃)₃ inhibited hepatic morphological alternations by histopathological examination. Meanwhile, elevated superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione (GSH), coupled with decreased alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), malondialdehyde (MDA) and protein carbonyl (PC) were observed in serum and liver tissues of mice by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay test. Furthermore, western blot analysis demonstrated that oxidative stress was alleviated due to enhanced NF-E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) and phosphorylated p62 expressions as well as lower Kelch-like ECH-associated protein-1 (Keap 1), followed by the activation of heme oxygenase 1 (HO-1), NAD(P)H quinone oxidoreductase 1 (NQO-1) and glutamate cysteine ligase, catalytic (GCLC) proteins. Our findings clearly highlighted that La(NO₃)₃ could restore the redox homeostasis disrupted by ethanol through provoking Keap 1/Nrf2/p62 signaling pathway, and the optimal dosages were 1.0 and 2.0 mg/kg.

[en] Graphical abstract: Murexide functionalized halloysite nanotubes have been developed to separate and concentrate trace Pd(II) from aqueous samples. Parameters that affected the sorption and elution efficiency were studied in column mode, and the new adsorbent presented high selectivity and adsorption capacity for the solid phase extraction of trace Pd(II). Highlights: ► Murexide modified halloysite nanotubes as adsorbent has been reported originally. ► This adsorbent has a unique selectivity for Pd(II) at pH 1.0. ► This adsorbent had high adsorption capacity for Pd(II). ► The precision and accuracy of the method are satisfactory. - Abstract: The originality on the high efficiency of murexide modified halloysite nanotubes as a new adsorbent of solid phase extraction has been reported to preconcentrate and separate Pd(II) in solution samples. The new adsorbent was confirmed by Fourier transformed infrared spectra, X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscope, transmission electron microscope and N₂ adsorption–desorption isotherms. Effective preconcentration conditions of analyte were examined using column procedures prior to detection by inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES). The effects of pH, the amount of adsorbent, the sample flow rate and volume, the elution condition and the interfering ions were optimized in detail. Under the optimized conditions, Pd(II) could be retained on the column at pH 1.0 and quantitatively eluted by 2.5 mL of 0.01 mol L⁻¹ HCl–3% thiourea solution at a flow rate of 2.0 mL min⁻¹. The analysis time was 5 min. An enrichment factor of 120 was accomplished. Common interfering ions did not interfere in both separation and determination. The maximum adsorption capacity of the adsorbent at optimum conditions was found to be 42.86 mg g⁻¹ for Pd(II). The detection limit (3σ) of the method was 0.29 ng mL⁻¹, and the relative standard deviation (RSD) was 3.1% (n = 11). The method was validated using certified reference material, and has been applied for the determination of trace Pd(II) in actual samples with satisfactory results.

[en] The magnetocaloric effect in an array of anisotropic zinc ferrite nanoparticles was studied based on Monte Carlo simulations. For the 5-nm-diameter zinc ferrite nanoparticles, the maximum magnetic entropy change of ∼1.2 J kg⁻¹ K⁻¹ for the anisotropy with monodispersed orientation and small magnitude was obtained, roughly twofold larger than that in the dispersed anisotropic counterparts in the experiments, and the maximum adiabatic temperature variation of ∼2.25 K at 115 K was predicted, conveying that the zinc ferrite nanoparticles with proper anisotropy magnitudes and monodispersed easy axes are prospective portable, environmental friendly and rotary magnetic refrigerants with high magnetocaloric energy converting efficiencies and short operation times.

[en] Highlights: • The ternary composites of WO₃/PPy/G were synthesized by using ATP as the template. • The WO₃/PPy/G exhibits regular morphology and porous structure. • The WO₃/PPy/G displays favorable specific capacitance and rate capability. • The WO₃/PPy/G presents enhanced cyclic stability owing to the introduction of G. • The WO₃/PPy/G might be a promising electrode material in energy conversion systems. -- Abstract: Tungsten trioxide/polypyrrole/graphene (WO₃/PPy/G) was designed and synthesized by using attapulgite (ATP) as the hard template. The resultant WO₃/PPy/G ternary composites were characterized by field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), cyclic voltammetry and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), respectively. The etching and removal of ATP hard template by hydrofluoric acid (HF) result in the porous structure within the WO₃/PPy/G, which may improve the electron transfer, shorten the diffusion path of ions, and increase the contact surface between the electrolyte and active material. The existence of PPy and G can enhance the electrical conductivity and mechanical strength of the WO₃/PPy/G, respectively, leading to improved pseudocapacitance behaviors of WO₃. Moreover, the WO₃/PPy/G ternary composites display good rate performance and tolerable cyclic stability when used as supercapacitor electrodes.