Composition Ratio Research Articles

The transition from slow to fast wind as observed in composition observations

The solar wind is typically categorized as fast and slow based on the measured speed ( The separation between these two regimes is often set between 400 and without a rigorous definition. Observations with above this threshold are considered ``fast'' and are typically considered to come from polar regions; that is, coronal holes. Observations with below this threshold speed are considered ``slow'' wind and typically considered to originate outside of coronal holes. Observations of the solar wind's kinetic signatures, chemical makeup, charge state properties, and Alfvénicity suggest that such a two-state model may be insufficiently nuanced to capture the relationship between the solar wind and its solar sources. As heavy ion composition ratios are unchanged once the solar wind leaves the Sun, they serve as a key tool for connecting in situ observations to their solar sources. Helium ( is the most abundant solar wind ion heavier than hydrogen ( Long-duration observations from the Wind Solar Wind Experiment (SWE) Faraday cups show that the solar wind helium abundance has two distinct gradients at speeds above and below sim400 . This is a key motivator for identifying the separation between fast and slow wind at such a speed. We test this two-state fast--slow solar wind paradigm with heavy ion abundances ( and characterize how the transition between fast and slow wind states impacts heavy ion in the solar wind. We study the variation in the gradients of the helium and heavy ion abundances as a function of the solar wind speed and characterize how the gradient of each abundance changes in fast and slow wind. We calculate as the proton or hydrogen bulk speed. The work uses Advanced Composition Explorer (ACE) heavy ion observations collected by the Solar Wind Ion Composition Spectrometer (SWICS) from 1998 to 2011. We compare the helium abundance observed by ACE/SWICS to the helium abundance observed by Wind /SWE to show that the results are consistent with prior work. We show that (1) the speed at which heavy ion abundances indicate a change between fast and slow solar wind as a function of speed is slower than the speed indicated by the helium abundance; (2) this speed is independent of heavy ion mass and charge state; (3) the abundance at which heavy ions indicate the transition between fast and slow wind is consistent with prior observations of fast wind abundances; (4) and there may be a mass or charge-state dependent fractionation process present in fast wind heavy ion abundances. We infer that (1) identifying slow solar wind as having a speed of lesssim may mix solar wind from polar and equatorial sources; (2) may be impacted by the acceleration necessary for the solar wind to reach the asymptotic fast, non-transient values observed at ; and (3) heavy ions are fractionated in the fast wind by a yet-to-be-determined mechanism.

A comparative study of mid- and long-term effectiveness of patellar resurfacing or non-resurfacing in primary total knee arthroplasty

To compare the mid- and long-term effectiveness of patellar resurfacing versus non-resurfacing in primary total knee arthroplasty (TKA). Twenty-six patients who underwent bilateral TKA between March 2013 and September 2015 were selected as the study subjects. One side was randomly chosen for patellar resurfacing (resurfacing group), and the other side was not (control group). There were 4 males and 22 females, the age ranged from 51 to 65 years, with an average of 59 years. According to Kellgren-Lawrence classification, there were 21 cases of grade Ⅳ and 5 cases of grade Ⅲ in both knees. There was no significant difference in the surgical side, and preoperative clinical and functional scores of the Knee Society Score (KSS), visual analogue scale (VAS) score, and the composition ratio of anterior knee pain localization points between the two groups ( P>0.05). The operation time, intraoperative blood loss, postoperative abnormal signs such as patellar clunk, feeling of constraint, patellar tendon weakness, crepitus, or snow-on-glass sensation, and the occurrence of complications were recorded and compared. Patient subjective evaluations included Forgotten Joint Score (FJS) and the degree of difficulty in high-level knee activities (including flexion with load bearing, going upstairs, going downstairs, squatting and standing up, kneeling, knee extension, and crossing legs for 7 items); KSS clinical/functional scores and VAS scores were used to evaluate the recovery of knee joint function, and the location of anterior knee pain was determined by a localization diagram. The operation time of the resurfacing group was significantly longer than that of the control group ( P<0.05), and there was no significant difference in intraoperative blood loss between the two groups ( P>0.05). All patients' incisions healed by first intention; the hospital stay ranged from 8 to 23 days, with an average of 12.6 days. All patients were followed up 9-11 years, with an average of 9.7 years. Except for 1 case who died of multiple organ failure due to internal diseases at 9 years after operation and 5 cases with incomplete radiological data, the rest 20 patients were assessed radiologically and found that 1 side of the knee joint in the control group had patellar dislocation; the remaining patients had no prosthetic failure (fracture, loosening, displacement, etc.), patellar fracture, patellar necrosis, patellar instability, patellar tendon rupture, prosthetic revision, etc. No patients had reoperations due to patellar-related complications or anterior knee pain in both knee joints. At 2 years postoperatively and at last follow-up, there was no significant difference in the incidence of abnormal signs such as patellar clunk, feeling of constraint, patellar tendon weakness, crepitus, or snow-on-glass sensation, the incidence of high-level knee activity difficulty, and the composition ratio of anterior knee pain localization between the two groups ( P>0.05). The KSS clinical scores, functional scores, and VAS scores of both groups significantly improved compared to preoperative ones ( P<0.05); there was no significant difference in the comparison between the two groups at the two time points postoperatively ( P>0.05). At 2 years postoperatively and at last follow-up, there was no significant difference in FJS scores between the two groups ( P>0.05). Patellar resurfacing or not has similar mid- and long-term effectiveness in primary TKA.

Short-Glass-Fiber Aspect Ratios in Polyamide-6 Composites: Homogenization and Deep Learning-Based Scanning Image-Microscope Segmentation Comparison

This paper presents a comparative analysis of fiber aspect ratios using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and the mean field homogenization approach. The novelty of this work lies in an effective fiber length evaluation based on a comparative analysis of fiber aspect ratios using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and the mean field homogenization approach. This makes it possible to use an electron microscope to image fiber samples corresponding to the sample size using microtomography. Molded samples and pellets of four polyamide-6 short-glass fiber-reinforced composites with mass fractions of 15%, 30%, and 50% were considered. The aspect ratio distribution measured by SEM for the investigated materials was 20.25 with a coefficient of variation of 5.1%. The fiber aspect ratio obtained based on mean field homogenization theory and the tensile curve approximation was underestimated at 13.698 with a coefficient of variation of 5.2%. The deviation between the micro- and macro-estimates can be represented as a mean effective aspect ratio of 68% with a coefficient of variation of 8.5%. The developed technology for preparing samples for SEM and automated image processing can be used to study other short-reinforced polymer composite materials. The obtained estimates can serve as a useful reference when calibrating other models of short-fiber-reinforced polymer materials.

The Use of AgNP-Containing Nanocomposites Based on Galactomannan and κ-Carrageenan for the Creation of Hydrogels with Antiradical Activity

Series of composites containing 2.5–17.0% Ag and consisting of spherical silver nanoparticles with sizes ranging from 5.1 to 18.3 nm and from 6.4 to 21.8 nm for GM- and κ-CG-based composites, respectively, were prepared using the reducing and stabilizing ability of the natural polysaccharides galactomannan (GM) and κ-carrageenan (κ-CG). The antiradical activity of the obtained composites was evaluated using the decolorization of ABTS+· solution. It was found that the IC50 value of a composite’s aqueous solution depends on the type of stabilizing ligand, the amount of inorganic phases, and the average size of AgNPs, and varies in the range of 0.015–0.08 mg·mL−1 and 0.03–0.59 mg·mL−1 for GM-AgNPs − κ-CG-AgNPs composites, respectively. GM-AgNPs − κ-CG-AgNPs hydrogels were successfully prepared and characterized on the basis of composites containing 2.5% Ag (demonstrating the most pronounced antiradical activity in terms of IC50 values per mole amount of Ag). It was found that the optimal ratio of composites that provided the best water-holding capacity and prolonged complete release of AgNPs from the hydrogel composition was 1:1. The influence of Ca2+ cations on the co-gel formation of the GM-AgNPs − κ-CG-AgNPs system, as well as the expression of their water-holding capacity and the rate of AgNPs release from the hydrogel carrier, was evaluated.

Boiling Heat Transfer Coefficient of Hybrid Nanofluids with and without Surfactant

Experiments were carried out to investigate the effect of surfactants on the boiling heat transfer coefficient of hybrid water-based nanofluids. In the present work, both Al2O3-SiO2 and Al2O3-TiO2 hybrid nanofluids were prepared with a 75:25 composition ratio and concentration of 0.01 v/v%, mixed with SDS surfactant of 40 ppm and prepared using ultrasonic process. It was found that Al2O3-SiO2 and Al2O3-TiO2 hybrid nanofluid enhance BHTC performance compared with distilled water, however, its performance will deteriorate gradually after 5 minutes of the experiment. Additional SDS in both Al2O3-SiO2-SDS/Water and Al2O3-TiO2-SDS/Water hybrid nanofluid will increase its BHTC performances up to 112.27% and 127.03% respectively compared with distilled water. Al2O3-SDS has better BHTC performance compared with Al2O3-SiO2 and Al2O3-TiO2 hybrid nanofluid which is 327.15% compared with distilled water.

Low Penetrance Sarcomere Variants Contribute to Additive Risk in Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy.

Classically, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) has been viewed as a single-gene (monogenic) disease caused by pathogenic variants in sarcomere genes. Pathogenic sarcomere variants are individually rare and convey high risk for developing HCM (highly penetrant). Recently, important polygenic contributions have also been characterized. Low penetrance sarcomere variants (LowSVs) at intermediate frequencies and effect sizes have not been systematically investigated. We hypothesize that LowSVs may be common in HCM with substantial influence on disease risk and severity. Among all sarcomere variants observed in the Sarcomeric Human Cardiomyopathy Registry (SHaRe), we identified putative LowSVs defined by (1) population frequency greater than expected for highly penetrant (monogenic) HCM (allele frequency >5×10-5 in the Genome Aggregation Database, gnomAD) and (2) moderate enrichment (>2×) in patients with HCM compared with gnomAD. LowSVs were examined for their association with disease severity and clinical outcomes. Functional effects of selected LowSVs were assessed using induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes. Association of LowSVs with HCM-adjacent traits in the general population was tested using UK Biobank cardiac magnetic resonance imaging data. Among 6045 patients and 1159 unique variants in sarcomere genes, 12 LowSVs were identified. LowSVs were collectively common in the general population (1:350) and moderately enriched in HCM (aggregate odds ratio, 14.9 [95% CI, 12.5-17.9]). Isolated LowSVs were associated with an older age of HCM diagnosis and fewer adverse events. However, LowSVs in combination with a pathogenic sarcomere variant conferred higher morbidity (eg, composite adverse event hazard ratio, 5.4 [95% CI, 3.0-9.8] versus single pathogenic sarcomere variant, 2.0 [95% CI, 1.8-2.2]; P<0.001). An intermediate functional impact was validated for 2 specific LowSVs-MYBPC3 c.442G>A (partial splice gain) and TNNT2 c.832C>T (intermediate effect on contractile mechanics). Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging analysis of the general population revealed 5 of 12 LowSVs were significantly associated with HCM-adjacent traits without overt HCM. This study establishes a new class of low penetrance sarcomere variants that are relatively common in the population. When penetrant, isolated LowSVs cause mild HCM. In combination with pathogenic sarcomere variants, LowSVs markedly increase disease severity, supporting a clinically significant additive effect. Last, LowSVs also contribute to age-related remodeling even in the absence of overt HCM.

Comparative analysis of antioxidant activity and structural changes of Gastrodiae Rhizoma polysaccharides between sulfur-fumigation and nonsulfur-fumigation.

Gastrodiae Rhizoma (referred to Tianma in Chinese), the dried tuber of Gastrodia elata Bl. (Orchidaceae), is utilized as a medicine-food homology product. Sulfur fumigation is commonly employed in the processing of Gastrodiae Rhizoma (GR). Polysaccharides are a crucial active substance produced in GR, yet the impacts of sulfur fumigation on them remain unelucidated. This study aimed to optimize the hot water extraction conditions of polysaccharides from sulfur-fumigated GR (SGCPs) and nonsulfur-fumigated GR (NGCPs). The research explored the effects of sulfur fumigation on the structure and antioxidant activity of GR polysaccharides. The results showed that the optimal extraction conditions for SGCPs and NGCPs were 67°C for 31 min with a liquid-to-material ratio of 15 mL/g and 64°C for 32 min with a liquid-to-material ratio of 17 mL/g, respectively. Compared with NGCPs, SGCPs exhibited significantly reduced DPPH radical, hydroxyl radical, ABTS+ radical scavenging activity, and Fe2+ chelating ability. Moreover, both NGCPs and SGCPs offered significant protective effects against H2O2 -induced oxidative damage in RAW264.7 cells, but the protective effect of SGCPs was significantly lower than that of NGCPs. NMR analyses revealed that the main chain connections of SGCP3 and NGCP3 were both →4)-α-D-Glcp-(1→, and sulfur fumigation increased the number of repeating unit structures →4)-D-Glcp-(1 → in GR polysaccharides. SGCP3 and NGCP3 had the same monosaccharides composition but different molar ratios, with molecular weights of 727,650 and 39,991 Da, respectively. In general, sulfur fumigation reduced the antioxidant activities of GR polysaccharides by altering their structure and composition.

Ablation and mechanical properties of carbon/high silica/phenolic composites: Using experimental analysis and five machine learning models for correlating and generalizing to diverse compositional ratios

This paper investigates the thermal and mechanical properties of carbon/high silica/phenolic composites with varying reinforcement ratios. Five hybrid samples were fabricated: 100% carbon, 75% carbon/25% silica, 50% carbon/50% silica, 25% carbon/75% silica, and 100% silica. A three-point bending test evaluated their strength, while an ablation test at 3000°C for 1 minute measured backside temperature, linear ablation rate, and mass ablation rate. Results indicated that the 100% carbon sample had the highest bending strength, while the 50% carbon/50% silica sample achieved the lowest linear and mass ablation rates, demonstrating an effective balance between fire retardancy and insulation, resulting in minimal backside temperature during ablation. Additionally, five machine learning models (Linear Regression, Decision Trees, Random Forests, Gradient Boosting Machines, and Neural Networks) were utilized to predict mass ablation rate, linear ablation rate, and strength. Decision Trees and Gradient Boosting Machines exhibited the highest prediction accuracy, while Linear Regression struggled with non-linear data, resulting in lower accuracy for ablation rate predictions. Notably, these models were also able to generalize to other percentages, showcasing their robustness and versatility in optimizing material compositions beyond the tested scenarios. This study highlights the potential of machine learning in predicting the properties of advanced composites, contributing to the development of high-temperature resistant materials.

First-principles investigation of oxygen repulsion behavior on the Ir–Hf alloy surface

Enhancing the oxidation resistance of hot-end components under extreme conditions is a key focus in aerospace equipment research. We used first-principles simulations to investigate a series of IrxHf100−x (at. %) coatings. By employing density functional theory and the local density approximation method, we studied the surface oxygen repulsion energy and estimated the optimal composition ratio of IrxHf100−x for the strongest oxidation resistance. The results indicate that as the Hf content increases, the oxygen repulsion energy first rises and then falls, reaching a maximum value of 3.04 eV at x = 10 at. %, with active oxygen adsorption occurring when X exceeds 45 at.%. To understand the mechanism of the oxygen repulsion process, we analyzed the electronic characteristics between Ir, Hf, and O. O preferentially hybridizes its atomic orbitals with Ir, and the improvement in oxidation resistance of the Ir–Hf coating is attributed to the reduction in Ir atomic spacing due to Hf doping, which reduces O–Ir orbital hybridization.

Fenugreek gum improves the rheological properties of konjac glucomannan in dynamic simulated digestion system and delays its gastric emptying.

The physicochemical properties of konjac glucomannan (KGM) are impaired in the harsh gastrointestinal tract, which may reduce its effectiveness in physiological functions. In this paper, fenugreek gum (FG) with high water holding capacity and stability was used as a gastric protectant for KGM, and the effects of the KGM-FG complexes with different composite ratios on gastric emptying were researched by in vitro dynamic simulated gastric digestion system. The results showed that FG significantly enhanced the delayed gastric emptying properties of KGM. Adding FG reduced the apparent viscosity, flow behavior, and mechanical properties of KGM. The simulated gastric fluid (SGF) decreased the apparent viscosity of the KGM-FG complex and increased the microstructure network density of the KGM-FG complex compared with the water system. FG helped the structure of the KGM-FG complexes become more stable and trapped more water in the stomach. The KGM-FG complex with high viscosity, mechanical modulus, and frictional resistance in a dynamic simulated digestion system increased gastric retention. The KGM-FG complex with a composite ratio 5:5 showed the best performance and a potential satiety-enhancing property. The results provided a theoretical basis for designing satiety food formulations that help control energy intake and body weight.

TPE-xgboost for explainable predictions of concrete compressive strength considering compositions, and mechanical and microstructure properties of testing samples

The use of machine learning (ML) for predicting concrete compressive strength (CCS) has shown promising and accurate results, making it a valuable tool in the field. However, efficient prediction requires not only a robust ML approach but also a comprehensive and well-curated dataset. This study addresses this challenge by investigating an extensive and integrated dataset of (1) concrete compositions (mixture proportions) and (2) testing conditions (mechanical and microstructure properties of concrete testing samples), containing 1525 observations relating to 39 parameters. On algorithms side, this research proposes novel tree-structured parzen estimator based extreme gradient boosting (TPE-xgboost) for accurate and confident CCS predictions. Moreover, SHapley Additive exPlanations (SHAP) analysis was performed to provide a comprehensive understanding of feature importance, dependencies, and interactions. Compared to prior research, this study demonstrates significant improvements in CCS prediction accuracy for separate investigations on concrete compositions (3.77%) and mechanical and microstructure properties (28.57%), while maintaining reasonable accuracy for the integrated dataset despite its complexity and sparseness. SHAP analysis reveals key influential factors, including age and water-to-binder ratio in concrete composition, and peak load and height of testing samples, as well as microstructural characteristics such as mean values of global autocorrelation length and its integral range. This research provides valuable insights into model optimization, predictive performance, and feature dependencies and interactions, contributing to the development of more accurate and reliable CCS prediction models.

Contribution of Anthropogenic and Lithogenic Aerosol Fe in the East China Sea

AbstractAerosol deposition is one of the major processes providing bioavailable Fe to the surface ocean. However, the quantification of aerosol Fe flux in the surface ocean is highly challenging operationally. In this study, we measured both Fe isotopic composition and specific elemental ratios in 5 size‐fraction aerosols collected over the East China Sea (ECS) to quantify the relative contribution of lithogenic and anthropogenic aerosol Fe. Both the isotopic and elemental ratios indicate that anthropogenic aerosol Fe mainly originates from high‐temperature combustion activities with the end member of the δ56Fe to be −4.5‰. We found that the Cd/Ti ratio is a much more reliable proxy to quantify the contribution of anthropogenic aerosol Fe in coarse aerosols than δ56Fe in the ECS. Attributed to extremely high deposition velocities and high total Fe concentrations for large size aerosols, lithogenic aerosols are still the dominant dissolved aerosol Fe source in the ECS.

Ablation behavior of medium entropy carbide ceramics with different molar ratios of (Hf, Zr, Ti)C in oxyacetylene flame

(Hf1/3Zr1/3Ti1/3)C and (Hf1/2Zr1/3Ti1/6)C middle-entropy carbide ceramics were successfully prepared using polymer-derived ceramic method. The study examines the microstructural evolution, phase composition changes, and ablation behavior of these two ceramic materials when subjected to an oxyacetylene flame at varying heat fluxes. The experimental results indicate that at a heat flux of 5 MW/m2, the mass and linear ablation rates of (Hf1/3Zr1/3Ti1/3)C ceramic are -0.837 mg/s and 1.857 μm/s, respectively. In contrast, (Hf1/2Zr1/3Ti1/6)C ceramic exhibits significantly superior ablation resistance, with rates of -0.315 mg/s and -0.745 μm/s. This underscores the critical role of compositional adjustments in enhancing the ablation performance of the ceramic. During ablation, (Hf1/2Zr1/3Ti1/6)C forms an optimal amount of (Hf, Zr)TiO4 healing phase, which contributes to the development of a stable oxide film consisting of an m-(Hf, Zr, Ti)O2 oxide skeleton and a (Hf, Zr)TiO4 liquid phase. This structure effectively resists high-velocity airflow erosion and oxygen penetration. Additionally, the formation of a carbonaceous oxide interlayer strengthens the bond between the oxide layer and the carbide matrix, further improving the material's ablation resistance. The study highlights the significant influence of compositional ratio control on the ablation behavior and mechanisms of carbide ceramics, providing a robust foundation for their application in high-temperature thermal protection technologies.

Ultrasonic treatment of emulsion gels with different soy protein-hemp protein composite ratios: Changes in structural and physicochemical properties

To improve the emulsion gel system of single soybean isolate protein (SPI) and to broaden the application field of hemp protein isolate (HPI), ultrasonic treatment and HPI were introduced to improve the properties of SPI emulsion gel and to explore the mechanism. The results showed that the gel strength (218.6 g) and water-holding capacity (86.24 %) of the emulsion gels were improved under ultrasonic treatments when the ratio of SPI:HPI was >6:4, and the reticulation structure of the gels was enhanced. When the ratio of SPI:HPI was <6:4, the gel structure was loose and formless. Ultrasonic treatment has a significant effect on the emulsion gel with the ratio of SPI:HPI was >6:4. Appropriate ultrasonic treatment (400 W) changed the protein structure, improved the rheological properties of emulsion gels to form the protein-oil-coated network structure. However, excessive ultrasonic treatment (600 W) will destroy the conformation of the protein, reducing the stability of the structure. The effect of ultrasonic treatment on emulsion gels with the ratio of SPI:HPI was <6:4 is low, but improved the gel protein digestibility. This study provides a theoretical basis for the application of ultrasonic in composite protein emulsion gels systems and the development and application of HPI.

Nickel mine planning application to support smelter demand fulfilment: a case study of gag nickel mine

Abstract Gag Nickel is a mining project in West Papua developed by Antam, with a total resource of approximately 300 million wet metric tons. In the central block, mining activities are carried out to meet the demand target for the nickel smelter. There are two types of specifications, saprolite and limonite ores, each with specific grade requirement based on sales purchase contract. The aim of this study was to fulfill the long-term target from 2024 to 2028 through integrated mine planning to generate production scheduling plan based on agreed contract of around 6 million wet metric tons ore per year. The quantitative method was implemented to gather primary data, including the 6-meter-high bench and material classification based on specific quality of elements-compounds, and to use the secondary data such as reserve block model to create a reverse model. The challenges of this study included different ore specifications of each location of the hill, and constraints on limited stockyard location to support differentiation between two types of products. Based on the simulations performed, production and sales targets could be achieved according to predetermined product specifications, amounting to 6 million wet metric tons of saprolite and limonite with fluctuating processes during the period. From the scheduling results, the smelter supply composition ratio between saprolite and limonite was between 1.37 and 1.85. After the implementation above, Gag Nickel can conserve resources by optimizing reserves of both limonite and saprolite for optimum utilization.

Synthesis and visible-light photocatalytic performance of Ce-BiVO4/SrTiO3Z-scheme heterojunction for H2 production and organic pollutant degradation

Ce-BiVO4/SrTiO3 (Ce-BVO/STO) Z-scheme heterojunction composites were synthesized through a hydrothermal method to address the dual challenges of the energy crisis and water pollution. The influences of Ce3+ doping in Ce-BVO and the composition ratio of Ce-BVO/STO on the photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue (MB) and water splitting for H2 production were systematically investigated. Notably, the Ce-BVO/STO-1/1 composite exhibited an H2 production capacity as high as 771.3 μmol/g under visible light irradiation for 5 h. Additionally, 96.65 % of MB (10 mg/L) was photodegraded under visible light within 150 min. Furthermore, after three cycles, the Ce-BVO/STO-1/1 composite maintained a stable H2 production yield and MB removal rate, demonstrating its high recyclability for practical application. The Z-scheme heterojunction structure effectively promoted the separation and redox reactions of photogenerated electrons (e-) and holes (h+), and the photoelectrochemical reaction mechanism responsible for the enhanced photocatalytic performance was verified. These findings indicate that the as-prepared Ce-BVO/STO-1/1 composite has significant potential for application in H2 production and pollutant degradation through visible-light-driven photocatalysis.

Single crystalline, Non‐stoichiometric Hydrogen‐bonded Organic Frameworks Showing Versatile Fluorescence Depending on Composition Ratios and Distributions

We report on the synthesis, characterization and photobehavior of single crystalline non‐stoichiometric hydrogen‐bonded organic frameworks (NS‐HOFs). NS‐HOFs (BTNT‐1) with various composition ratios were successfully obtained as single crystals from two analogue tetratopic carboxylic acids, possessing naphthalene and benzothiadiazole cores NTTA and BTTA, respectively. The heterogeneous distribution of the components was thoroughly confirmed by time‐resolved fluorescence microscopy and focused synchrotron X‐ray radiation techniques, for the first time. The versatile fluorescence of BTNT‐1 behavior depends on the composition ratio and distribution of the component in the single crystals. We observed not only fluorescence bands with various colors such as purple, blue, green and white, depending on the composition ratio of both components in BTNT‐1, but also different emission bands from a single crystal. Furthermore, we provide details on their emission lifetimes following the composition, emission color and targeted region on the crystal. These results demonstrate unique and versatile optical properties of carboxylic acid‐based NS‐HOFs and provide a concept of creating functional mixed porous materials capable of different and tunable optical properties.

Characteristics and Biological Activities of a Novel Polysaccharide R1 Isolated from Rubus chingii Hu

Raspberry (Rubus chingii Hu) is a Chinese herb that is rich in nutrients and has anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antioxidant, anti-allergic, hypoglycemic, and other effects. A water-soluble polysaccharide was extracted from raspberry by using hot water extraction then purified by DEAE-Sepharose Fast Flow column chromatography. The structural characteristics of the polysaccharide (R1) are as follows: the molar ratio of the monosaccharide composition is Ara:Gal:Xyl:Glc:Man = 31.15:27.64:13.61:13.48:10.60; the molecular weight is 32,580 Da; the methylation results show that 5-Araf is the main chain and there is a presence of 3,6-Galp, 4-Xylp, and 2,3,5-Araf branches, and that terminal Araf (T-Araf) is the major telomeric sugar. It contains α and β glycosidic bonds and is highly branched, with the presence of a helical structure. In the in vitro antioxidant assay, R1 showed the highest scavenging of superoxide anion radicals at 70.38%, followed by the scavenging of DPPH radicals at 52.9% and the scavenging of hydroxyl radicals at 29.28%. In immunomodulation and anti-cancer experiments, R1 did not significantly inhibit or promote RAW264.7 cells but was able to increase the expression of anti-inflammatory cytokines in a concentration-dependent manner. It also significantly inhibited cancer cell survival. R1 enhances immunity by limiting the proliferation of cancer cells primarily through direct inhibition while promoting the secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines. These findings reveal the potential benefits of raspberry polysaccharides and provide evidence for developing immunologically functional products from raspberry polysaccharides.

Effective removal of Pb2+ from water by a novel magnetic Fe3O4-MnO2 composite prepared from steel pickling waste liquid: Adsorption behavior and mechanism

The high-value utilization of steel pickling waste liquid (SPWL) is an important direction in the resourceful utilization of hazardous waste. In this study, nano-Fe3O4 prepared from SPWL (S-Fe3O4) was hydrothermally compounded with MnO2 as Fe3O4-MnO2 (SFM), which were compared with Fe3O4-MnO2 (CFM) prepared by chemical reagents. The synthetic materials were evaluated by SEM, VSM, BET, XRD, and zeta potential, the results show that the spherical S-Fe3O4 was encapsulated by spiny spherical shell-like MnO2, and the SFM has a high saturation magnetization and specific surface area (159.91 m2/g). The adsorption experiments demonstrated that the adsorption effect of SFM on Pb2+ is highly similar to that of CFM. The maximal adsorption capacity of SFM reached 129.74 mg/g under ideal composite ratio and pH conditions, and the adsorption process was unaffected by competing heavy metal ions coexisting in the environment. Moreover, the high saturation magnetization strength of the SFM makes it simple to separate materials under a magnetic field. The pseudo-second-order kinetics and Langmuir isotherm models provided a good description of the Pb2+ adsorption on SFM. XPS and FTIR analysis provided evidence that the adsorbent surface has a high concentration of -OH functional groups, and that O atoms serve as Pb2+ binding sites, suggesting that ion exchange occurs during the SFM adsorption process. In this paper, we developed a cheap SFM with high adsorption performance and provided a novel approach to the high-value application of SPWL.

Screening for the octacosanol/triacontanol ratio in rice bran policosanol and its potential effect on testosterone secretion

AbstractThe rice bran waxes have a very interesting alcoholic moiety, a mixture of long-chain aliphatic fatty alcohols, collectively known as policosanol. This study aimed to investigate rice bran policosanol extract's effect on testosterone secretion in vitro and in vivo and explore the primary composition ratio. The proliferation of cells and the levels of testosterone in cultured rat Leydig cells were examined, while male sexual behaviour and serum testosterone levels were detected in hydrocortisone-induced mice. It was found that testosterone secretion in primary Leydig cells could be significantly stimulated by a policosanol extract featuring an octacosanol/triacontanol ratio of 3–5/1, with a ratio of 5/1 being the most optimal. A policosanol extract containing 68.72% octacosanol and 13.65% triacontanol was capable of reversing hydrocortisone-induced Kidney-Yang Deficiency syndrome by enhancing sexual behaviour and the weight of reproductive organs, as well as increasing testosterone levels. Consequently, the rice bran policosanol extract with an octacosanol/triacontanol ratio of 3–5/1 could stimulate the secretion of testosterone.