Increase In Ion Concentration Research Articles

Adsorption behavior of NH4+ and Mg2+ at kaolinite surfaces: Effect of the ion concentration, NH4+/Mg2+ mixing ratio, and layer charge

AbstractThe adsorption behavior of NH4+ and Mg2+ at kaolinite surfaces was investigated by using molecular dynamics (MD) simulations, considering the factors such as ion concentration, NH4+/Mg2+ mixing ratio, and layer charge of kaolinite. The results showed that the increase in ion concentration did not affect the adsorption modes of NH4+ and Mg2+ ions but promote the increase in the adsorption capacity. The total adsorption capacities of Mg2+ and NH4+ were 3.25 × 10−6 and 2.85 × 10−6 μmol·mm−2 at the ion concentration of 1.5 mol·L−1, respectively. When NH4+ and Mg2+ were co‐adsorbed, they could inhibit the adsorption of each other at the surface of kaolinite, except that the inner‐sphere (IS) adsorption of NH4+ at aluminum hydroxyl (Al–OH) surface could be enhanced by the presence of Mg2+. Both NH4+ and Mg2+ tended to adsorb at the siloxane (Si–O) surface of kaolinite rather than Al–OH surface. When layer charge occurred in kaolinite, a small number of Mg2+ began to adsorb in the IS complexes at 1.7 and 2.3 Å above the Al and O atoms of the lattice‐substituted tetrahedra of the Si–O surface, and at 1.7 Å above the hexahedra of the Al–OH surface. However, most of NH4+ were adsorbed in IS complexes at 1.7 Å above the center of the oxygen six‐membered ring of the Si–O surface and above the hexahedron of the Al–OH surface. The adsorption capacity of Mg2+ changed little with the increase of layer charge density, while the IS and total adsorption capacity of NH4+ increased significantly.

The Effects of Cl− and selected deoxidizers on the high temperature corrosion electrochemistry of alloy 690 in nuclear steam generator water

ABSTRACT The heat transfer tube in a steam generator serves as a critical heat exchange component in the primary and secondary loops of pressurized water reactor (PWR) nuclear power plants. The corrosion resistance of the heat transfer tube material directly influences the longevity of PWR nuclear power plants. This study investigated the electrochemical corrosion properties of 690 alloy (UNS N06690) in a simulated secondary water environment of PWR, focusing on different chloride ion concentrations and combinations of deoxidizers. The findings reveal a gradual decrease in the corrosion potential of 690 alloy, accompanied by an increase in self-corrosion current and a progressive reduction in the passivation range, ultimately leading to its disappearance as chloride ion concentration rises from 0 μg·L−1 to 500 μg·L−1. Moreover, the impedance value of the inner film exhibits a declining trend with increase of chloride ion concentration. Conversely, the resistance value of the outer film remains relatively stable while the size and spacing of oxide particles on the surface of the 690 alloy continuously increase. This observation suggests that chloride ions primarily influence the formation of the inner passivation film, which in turn determines the corrosion resistance of the 690 alloy. Notably, the performance of the 690 alloy is similar when the deoxidizer combination is ammonia(NH3)+erythorbic acid(ERA) or NH3+hydrazine(N2H4), demonstrating the ability to form a relatively complete passivation film and exhibit improved corrosion resistance compared to NH3+N-isopropyl hydroxylamine, additionally, when the deoxidizer combination is NH3+N2H4, the 690 alloy exhibits lower self-corrosion current density across different chloride ion concentrations, indicating enhanced corrosion resistance.

Catecholamines-based myocardial injury after acute ischemic stroke and effects of Naoxintong capsule therapy

BackgroundMyocardial injury (MI) after acute ischemic stroke (AIS) poses a significant threat to patient prognosis. However, effective intervention strategies are currently lacking. PurposeTo elucidate the mechanism of MI after AIS and effects of Naoxintong capsule (NXT) therapy. MethodIn vivo, after a rat model of middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO)-induced MI was established and assessed. NXT was administered prophylactically to evaluate its pharmacodynamic effects and mechanisms. In vitro, a noradrenaline (NA)-induced damage cell model was constructed. Subsequently, the NXT was applied to the cell models to examine its cardioprotective effects and potential mechanisms. ResultsThe in vivo findings revealed that following MCAO, there was a notable upregulation of TH expression in the rat brain, which subsequently triggered an increase in serum levels of various biomarkers, including AD, NA, AST, cTnT, CK-MB, and NT-proBNP. Histological analysis employing H&E staining and TUNEL assay disclosed significant pathological alterations and an escalation in apoptotic activity within the myocardial tissue. The myocardial tissue exhibited elevated levels of MDA alongside diminished CAT activity. Additionally, a marked increase in the Bax/Bcl-2 ratio, Cytochrome C release, and Caspase-3 activation was observed, all of which are indicative of heightened apoptotic activity. Administration of the NXT intervention successfully attenuated TH expression in the brains of rats subjected to MCAO, consequently leading to a reduction in circulating levels of catecholamines (CAs). NXT also exhibited significant efficacy at ameliorating cardiac oxidative stress and reducing apoptosis. In vitro, stimulation with NA led to an increase in ROS levels and calcium ion concentration in H9c2 cardiomyocytes. However, the administration of NXT has been found to effectively alleviate these adverse effects, thereby protecting H9c2 cardiomyocytes from the deleterious consequences of oxidative stress and calcium dyshomeostasis. ConclusionOverall, this study has demonstrated that increased CAs synthesis in the brain after AIS in experimental rats led to a surge in circulating CAs, ultimately leading to MI. NXT can alleviate MI due to cerebral ischemia by increasing improving brain catecholamine synthesis, cardiac oxidative stress, and apoptosis.

Flexible nanofiber composite solar evaporator for simultaneous interfacial evaporation and heavy metal ion adsorption

Solar driven interfacial evaporation (SDIE) is promising in harvesting fresh water because of its low cost, environmental friendless and sustainability; however, it is desirable but still difficult to achieve high efficiency heavy metal ion removal during SDIE. Here, we develop a superhydrophilic and stretchable nanofiber composite solar evaporator via carbon nanofiber (CNF) assembly on polymer fiber surface and then polydopamine (PDA) modification. The evaporation rate reaches as high as 1.456 kg m−2 h−1 with the evaporation efficiency of 91.40 %. The functional groups of PDA endow the nanofiber composite with good heavy metal ion adsorption performance that is proved to be an endothermic process, and SDIE can induce the increase of interface temperature and localized ion concentration and hence promote the Cr (VI) adsorption. One the other hand, NaCl ions are able to diffuse into body water without salt precipitation by virtue of powerful water transportation capability of the evaporation device. The dual Cr (VI) adsorption and NaCl ion diffusion channels ensure simultaneous and high efficiency Cr (VI) removal and seawater interface evaporation. SDIE accelerated heavy metal ion adsorption and the dual ion channel model provide inspiration to design multifunctional solar evaporator materials for waste water purification.

Ferromagnetism behavior of Ni-doped Fe3O4 thin films synthesized by the SILAR technique

In this article, Ni-doped Fe3O4 thin films were synthesized by using the SILAR technique. The films were characterized through X-ray diffraction (XRD), Field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), Raman, Photoluminescence and UV–Vis analysis. The XRD spectrum confirms the spinal structure of undoped and Ni-doped Fe3O4 thin films. The FESEM images show that Ni-doping has changed the morphology of thin films from a granular to a Spiky structure. The EDAX and XPS spectra show Fe, Ni and O elements are present in 1%Ni-doped Fe3O4 thin film. The vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM) studies showed ferromagnetism in undoped and Ni-doped Fe3O4 thin films. The ferromagnetism behavior of Ni-doped Fe3O4 thin films increases with the increase in Ni ion concentration.

Endoplasmic reticulum targeted fluorescent probe for real-time monitoring the viscosity changes induced by calcium homeostasis disruption

The endoplasmic reticulum (ER) acts as the major storage site for calcium ions, which are messenger ions for intracellular signaling. Disruption of calcium ion homeostasis can significantly affect the viscosity, polarity and pH of the ER. However, it is still unclear the relationship between the viscosity changes in ER and the imbalance of calcium ion homeostasis. Herein, we developed a novel fluorescent probe, named TPA, for monitoring viscosity changes that specifically targets the endoplasmic reticulum rather than mitochondria or lysosomes. TPA probe displayed good stability, as well as high responsiveness and selectivity to viscosity. The fluorescence intensity of TPA was significantly enhanced with the increased concentration or incubation time of the stimulating agents(i.e., tunicamycin), showing high responsiveness to the viscosity changes in ER. Furthermore, the TPA probe successfully demonstrated that an increase in intracellular calcium ion concentration leads to an increase in ER viscosity, whereas a decrease in calcium ion concentration leads to a decrease viscosity in ER. Both in vitro and in vivo experiments demonstrated that TPA probe successfully detected the viscosity changes in ER, especially the effects of calcium ion homeostasis disruption on ER. Overall, the TPA probe represents an efficient method for studying the relationship between calcium ion homeostasis and ER viscosity.

An innovative fast-start aerobic anode microbial fuel cell biosensor for copper ion detection

The potential of microbial fuel cells (MFCs) based biosensors for water monitoring and early warning is widely recognized. However, the electrochemically active biofilms (EABs) are typically obtained under anaerobic conditions and the formation requires a lengthy time span, which critically limits the application and advancement of the MFCs based monitoring technology. To accelerate the formation rate of EABs and thus shorten the establishment time of MFCs to better meet the needs for early warning and detection of pollutants in the actual aerobic water environment, the aerobic sludge was employed as an inoculation source to construct the MFCs sensing system in this study. It was revealed that biofilms with stable electrochemical properties could be promptly formed within 35 h, reaching a level far ahead of previous studies. Moreover, toxicity tests for copper (Cu2+) ions at concentrations of 1 mg/L, 10 mg/L, and 50 mg/L demonstrated outstanding performance with the maximum inhibition rates of 19.99%, 46.65%, and 53.02% respectively. Remarkably, the response time was found to decrease significantly with the increase of copper ion concentrations. Our results thus open up a new avenue for achieving rapid start-up of MFCs in aerobic conditions, which facilitates the applicability of MFCs based biosensing technology.

Ferroptosis is involved in trophoblast cells cytotoxicity induced by black phosphorus nanoparticles

Black phosphorus (BP) is a new type of nanomaterial, which has been widely used in many biomedical fields due to its superior properties, but there are few studies on the toxicity of BP, especially in the reproductive system. To explore the effects of BP exposure on reproduction and reveal its molecular mechanism, we firstly investigated the potential toxicity of black phosphorus nanoparticles (BPNPs) in vivo. The results showed that BP exposure in pregnant mice can reduce the weight of fetal mice and placenta. H&E staining further indicated the changes of placental cross-section and vascular remodeling after BP treatment. Then, human exvillous trophoblast HTR8/SVneo was treated with different concentrations of BPNPs. We found that BPNPs induced significant cytotoxicity, including dose-dependent reduction of cell viability and proliferation. Trophoblast cell migration and invasion were also impaired by BPNPs exposure. Moreover, pretreatment with Cytochalasin D (Cyto-D), a classical phagocytic inhibitor, alleviated the decline of cell viability induced by BPNPs. Transcriptome sequencing showed that BPNPs exposure led to ferroptosis. Subsequently, the related indexes of ferroptosis were detected, including increase of iron ion concentration, decrease of the ferroptosis marker, GPX4 (Glutathione Peroxidase 4), increase of FTL (Ferritin Light Chain), and increase of lipid peroxidation indexes (MDA level and decrease of GSH level). In addition, ferroptosis inhibitors (Fer-1 and DFO) pretreatment can alleviate both the cytotoxic effects and functional impairment induced by BPNPs. In summary, our study confirmed the reproductive toxicity of BPNPs for the first time, and constructed BPNPs injury model in vitro using human villus trophoblast cells and revealed the role of ferroptosis in this process, which deepened our understanding of the biosafety of black phosphorus nanomaterials.

Effect of chloride binding and sulfate ion attack on the chloride diffusion in calcium sulfoaluminate-based material under seawater environment

The diffusion of chloride ions in reinforced concrete under the seawater environment will affect the physical or mechanical properties and durability. Sulfate ions also influence the diffusion of chloride ions by generating expansion products through physical and chemical reactions. Further research on the effects of chloride binding and sulfate ion attack on chloride ion diffusion will deepen the understanding of concrete failure mechanism. In this paper, a quaternary blend based on calcium sulfoaluminate (CSA) cement was prepared and laboratory immersion tests were conducted in artificial seawater with varying salt concentrations. Initially, chloride ion concentration measurements and XRD tests were conducted at different corrosion ages and salt concentrations. Subsequently, the chloride binding properties of CSA-based materials was quantified through the analysis of chloride ion concentration and the phases of hydration products. Meanwhile, the corrosive effect of sulfate ions on chloride ion diffusion was determined corresponds to the content of expansive hydration products. Furthermore, numerical simulations were employed to evaluate the impact of sulfate ion corrosion, chloride binding, and their combined effects on chloride ion diffusion, and the results were compared with free chloride ion concentration (Cf). The results indicate that the total chloride ion concentration (Ct) exhibits a linear relationship with increasing salt concentrations of seawater in CSA-based materials. Meanwhile, the bound chloride ion concentration (Cb) follows a logarithmic growth pattern. The chloride binding rate experiences a linear decline with the increase of chloride ion concentration in the artificial seawater. Additionally, the relationship between Cf and Cb or Ct can be described using different isothermal adsorption models for the CSA-based materials. Among these models, the Langmuir model is suitable for characterizing the relationship between Cf and Cb, while the Freundlich model is suitable for describing the relationship between Cf and Ct. Furthermore, it is noteworthy that sulfate ion attack and chloride binding exert nearly equivalent effects on the diffusion of chloride ions in CSA-based materials at short corrosion age and low chloride ion concentration. However, the corrosive impact of sulfate ions gradually evolves into the dominant factor in the progression of corrosion over time and the increase in seawater salt concentration.

Evaluation of the impacts of seawater integration to electrocoagulation for the removal of pollutants from textile wastewater

Recent textile industry expansion has a major environmental impact if not addressed. Being a water intensive industry, textile manufacturing is usually associated with wastewater management challenges. Electrocoagulation (EC) is recognized as one of the effective solutions to address these challenges. This study aims to investigate the potential of integrating seawater into the EC process for textile wastewater treatment, targeting optimal pollutant removal efficiencies. A simple electrolytic reactor was designed to investigate the removal efficiency of these treatments for chemical oxygen demand (COD), total suspended solids (TSS), turbidity, and color from textile wastewater at different seawater percentages and retention times. Notably, the addition of seawater not only improves the EC process efficiency but also significantly dilutes pollutants, reducing their concentrations. This dual effect enhances removal efficiency and dilution optimizes the treatment outcome. The highest removal efficiencies were achieved for COD (47.26%), TSS (99.52%), turbidity (99.30%), and color (98.19%). However, pH, dissolved oxygen (DO), and electrical conductivity increased with increasing retention times and seawater percentages in the EC process. Moreover, Seawater − EC integration reduces power usage to 15.769 Am−2 and costs approximately 0.20 USD/m3. To assess the effects of the retention times and seawater percentages on pollutant removal from textile wastewater, an analysis of variance (ANOVA) was conducted utilizing the Design-Expert 11 software. The best model obtained using Central Composite Design (CCD) was quadratic for COD (R2 = 0.9121), color (R2 = 0.9535), turbidity (R2 = 0.9525), and TSS (R2 = 0.9433). This study suggests that higher seawater percentages and longer retention times effectively eliminate contaminants but increase ion concentrations.

Microstructure and Chlorine Ion Corrosion Performance in Bronze Earring Relics.

Chlorine ions play an important role in the corrosion of bronzeware. This study employs techniques such as XRD, OM, SEM, EBSD, and electrochemical testing to analyze the microstructure, crystal structure, chemical composition, and corrosion performance of bronze earrings unearthed at the Xindianzi site in Inner Mongolia. The results indicate the presence of work-hardened structures, including twinning and equiaxed crystals, on the earrings' surface. With an increase in chloride ion concentration in NaCl solutions from 10-3 mol/L to 1 mol/L, the corrosion current density of the bronze earrings increased from 2.372 × 10-7 A/cm2 to 9.051 × 10-7 A/cm2, demonstrating that the alloy's corrosion rate escalates with chloride ion concentration. A 3-day immersion test in 0.5% NaCl solution showed the formation of a passivation layer of metal oxides on the earrings' surface. These findings underscore the significance of the impact chloride ions have on the corrosion of copper alloys, suggesting that activating the alloy's reactive responses can accelerate the corrosion process and provide essential insights into the corrosion mechanisms of bronze artifacts in chloride-containing environments.

Evaluation of Electropolishing Characteristics of 316L Stainless Steel Tube in Contaminated Electrolyte

In the electropolishing process, the polishing quality of the metal surface varies according to the contamination of the electrolyte. In this study, the electrolyte was evaluated according to the usage time, and the effect of each factor on electropolishing was investigated. As the electrolyte is contaminated, the concentration of metal ions in the electrolyte increases and the ion conductivity decreases. In addition, the pH and specific gravity of the electrolyte increase due to the metal sludge formed as the metal ion concentration increases. When the electrolyte usage time was more than 5 days, many scratches remained on the surface of 316L stainless steel, and relatively high surface roughness was measured. The surface roughness improvement rate compared to the initial specimen was 30% for the unused electrolyte, 26% on the 3rd day, 19% on the 5th day, and 17.5% on the 13th day. Since the low current density due to electrolyte contamination causes a decrease in polishing efficiency, initial scratches on the metal surface still exist on the polished surface. Therefore, it is necessary to manage the electrolyte to maintain the quality of electropolishing.

High quantum efficiency blue phosphor K2SrCa(PO4)2: Eu2+ for plant growth

Blue emitting phosphors with high quantum efficiency, good thermal stability, and appropriate spectral similarity (SR) are highly required for white light including plant lighting. In this paper, a series of K2SrCa(PO2)4: xEu2+ (KSCP: xEu2+) phosphors has been successfully developed. Based on XRD and spectral fitting analyses, Eu2+ is more inclined to occupy the position of Sr. Meanwhile, the chance of Eu2+ ions occupying Ca sites increases with Eu2+ ion concentration increases. The phosphor, with a peak value of 431 nm and a full width at half maximum (FWHM) of 41 nm, exhibits appropriate thermal stability (77%@150°) and outstanding color stability (Δx = 1.72 × 10−6 and Δy = 7.81 × 10−6), as well as an internal quantum efficiency (IQE) of 89.72%. The spectrum resemblance (SR) of the phosphor blue light with plant chlorophyll a and chlorophyll b were 61.2% and 70.2%, respectively. In addition, a mixture of K2SrCa(PO4)2: 0.01Eu2+ and (Sr, Ca)AlSiN3 was encapsulated with a UV chip (365 nm) or prepared by screen-printing technique to form a remotely-excited layer as a plant-illumination device. The remote luminescent layer has superior heat dissipation performance compared to conventional encapsulation. The results suggest that KSCP: xEu2+ may become commercially available blue phosphors with potential for plant illumination.

INFLUENCE OF рН AND Ca<sup>2+</sup> IONS ON CHEMICAL COMPOSITION AND SORPTION OF <sup>137</sup>Cs BY CHERKASY BENTONITES (UKRAINE)

The safety of near-surface and deep radioactive waste storage facilities is based on a system of engineered and natural barriers. Significant degradation of the engineered barrier system composed of cemented waste matrixes covered by cement mixture, concrete compartments, and structures at the basement of the storage facility may cause radionuclide transfer from the facility to groundwater. Mixing of the cement and concrete with water leads to the formation of several various hydration products with subsequent leaching of Ca2+ ions and formation of hydroxyl ions (OH-), which affects the alkalinity of the water environment and the sorption properties of bentonite, as a component of the engineered barrier at the basement of near-surface facilities. The article presents the results of an experimental study of the influence of Ca2+ ion concentration and pH of the model solution (similar to groundwater composition at Vector Site in Chornobyl Exclusion Zone) on the elemental composition and sorption properties of natural (NB) and Na-modified (PBA-20) bentonites from the Cherkasy deposit concerning 137Cs at the Solid : Solution ratio of 1 : 100. Geochemical modeling suggests that addition of CaCl2 to test solution and resulting alkaline pH leads to precipitation of solids, mainly oxides, hydroxides, Fe oxyhydroxides (hematite, goethite, limonite), and Ca carbonates (calcite, aragonite, dolomite). Their role in Cs adsorption was evaluated. The concentration of structural elements (Si, Al) in bentonites practically does not change with Ca2+ ion concentration increase in the model solution, demonstrating the bentonite structure’s stability under these conditions. At the same time, an increase in the Ca concentration and a decrease in the Na concentration was found in the ion exchange complex of the bentonites if compared to the initial natural bentonite. This results in the transformation of Na-modified bentonite from Na, Ca-form to Ca, Na-form. The total sorption capacity of NB and PBA-20 bentonite concerning Cs+ ions at increased concentrations of Ca2+ ions and pH of the solution slightly decreases, though retaining high values of the degree of absorption (> 90 %). The total adsorption of Cs+ ions on NB and PBA-20 bentonites from model groundwater with the addition of CaCl2 from 16 to 960 mg/dm3 and increase of рН from 7.4 to 11.8 decreases with the increase in ionic strength, in particular, due to competition with Са2+ and Na+ ions. NB and PBA-20 bentonites of the Cherkasy deposit remain a reliable component of the liner at the repository basement owing to their main functional property – high absorption capacity for 137Cs, which is an important dose-forming radionuclide of short-lived low- and medium-level waste.

Effect of Gd3+ ion doping on structural, optical, magnetic and dielectric properties on superparamagnetic Mg0.5Zn0.5Fe2−xGdxO4 (0 ≤ x ≤ 1) nanoparticles synthesized via oleic acid assisted chemical co-precipitation method

In the present study, different compositions having general formula Mg0.5Zn0.5GdxFe2−xO4, (x = 0, 0.025, 0.050, 0.075, 0.1) were synthesized using chemical co-precipitation method. The substitution of Gd3+ ions have exhibited profound impacts on the structural, morphological, magnetic, and optical parameters of Mg-Zn ferrites. Single-phase cubic spinel structure has been substantiated by X-ray diffractometer (X-ray diffraction, XRD) analysis for all compositions without any contamination peak. The values of the lattice constant and X-ray density both show an increasing trend when the Gd3+ ion concentration increases. (Fourier transformed infrared spectroscopy) FTIR spectra recorded in the mid-infrared region (4000–400 cm−1) exhibit two main absorption bands associated with the Oh and Td sites within the frequency range of 400–600 cm−1. Morphological studies using (High-resolution transmission electron microscopy) HR-TEM analysis reveal agglomeration of nanoparticles and the average particle size lies between 8 and 9 nm. Maximum magnetization displays an erratic trend with increasing Gd3+ ion concentration, although both retentivity and coercivity decreases. The hysteresis curve for samples of differing ratios of Gd3+ ions demonstrated the superparamagnetic nature. Tauc’s plot was employed to calculate the energy bandgap (Eg) of synthesized nanoparticles and Eg value were observed to decline from 3.563 eV to 3.521 eV with an increasing Gd3+ ion concentration. Impedance analyzer was used in the frequency range of 100 Hz–100 MHz to study dielectric properties at room temperature. The dielectric parameters declined as the frequency values increased. Due to lower values of dielectric parameters in Gd3+ ion doped Mg–Zn nano-ferrite, these materials are suitable in the fabrication of devices that need to operate at high frequencies such as switching memory storage devices. Moreover, these materials are appropriate for application in ferrofluids and medicinal treatments such as magnetic hyperthermia because of their low coercive field value.

Enhanced Biocompatibility and Osteogenic Property of Biodegradable Zn-0.5Li Alloy through Calcium–Phosphorus Coating

Zinc and its alloys have garnered significant attention in the field of biological implantation due to their biodegradable, osteogenic, and mechanical properties. However, the degradation of zinc and its alloys always lead to an increase in local ion concentration, and the bare metal surfaces lack biocompatibility for implantation. To address these issues, a layer of calcium–phosphorus (CaP) coating was prepared on the surface of a Zn-0.5Li alloy. The micro-structure of the coating was observed with scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and a white light interferometry microscope. The phases of the coatings were characterized through X-ray diffraction (XRD) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The bonding strength between the coating and substrate was investigated using a scratch tester with a diamond stylus, and the corrosion properties were assessed using an electrochemical method. For the evaluation of biocompatibility and osteogenic properties, MC3T3-E1 cells were cultured on the coating. Live/dead staining and proliferation tests were performed to assess cell viability and growth. Cell adhesion morphology was observed with SEM, and the level of alkaline phosphatase (ALP) in the MC3T3-E1 cells cultured on the material surface was evaluated by ALP staining and activity measurement. The CaP coating on the zinc alloy surface improved the alloy’s biocompatibility and osteogenic property, and could be a promising surface modification option for a biodegradable zinc alloy.

Study on removal performance of Fe3+ by biomass-based activated carbon and Liquefaction of Poplar Sawdust catalyzed by ferro activated Carbon

The adsorption experiment of iron ions on biomass based nut shell activated carbon was conducted to explore the adsorption capacity of iron ions on biomass based activated carbon and the key influencing factors: pH value, initial concentration of solution and adsorption time on the adsorption effect of activated carbon. The preparation of supported catalyst of activated carbon iron and its influence on the effect of catalytic liquefaction of poplar sawdust were investigated. The results showed that the optimal pH value of Fe3+ solution adsorbed by activated carbon was 5.0. The adsorption rate of activated carbon decreased with the increase of initial ion concentration, and the adsorption equilibrium of activated carbon reached at 250min. The optimum concentration of poplar sawdust liquefaction catalyzed by iron supported on activated carbon is between 6mg/L and 10mg/L.

Photoactivated 9-methylacridine destroys midgut tissues of Aedes aegypti larvae by targeting ROS-mediated apoptosis in the mitochondrial pathway of midgut cells

An aromatic ring-containing compound with a wide range of biological activities, 9-methylacridine (AD-9-Me) is a precursor for the synthesis of various drugs. However, its photoactivation properties and mechanism of damage as a photo activator against Aedes aegypti are unknown. The toxic effects of AD-9-Me on Aedes aegypti mosquitoes were determined under light and non-light conditions. The results showed that the toxicity of AD-9-Me to mosquito larvae was significantly higher than that of the dark treatment after 24 h of light exposure; AD-9-Me was mainly distributed in the midgut of larvae, after 24 h of treatment, it can cause an increase in calcium ion concentration, reactive oxygen species (ROS) eruption and ROS accumulation by blocking the ROS elimination pathway in midgut cells. This in turn caused an increase in protein carbonyl and malondialdehyde (MDA) content, a decrease in mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP), a disruption of the barrier function of midgut tissues, a significant decrease in midgut weight and chitin content, which induced the up-regulation of AeDronc, AeCaspase8 and AeCaspase7 genes, leading to apoptotic cell death. In this study, we confirmed that AD-9-Me has photoactivation activity and mainly acts on the midgut of mosquito larvae, which can generate a large amount of ROS in the cells of the midgut and induce apoptosis to occur, resulting in the disruption of the function of the tissues of mosquito larvae, accelerating the death and delaying the development of the mosquito larvae.

Limitations and modifications in the clinical application of calcium sulfate.

Calcium sulfate and calcium sulfate-based biomaterials have been widely used in non-load-bearing bone defects for hundreds of years due to their superior biocompatibility, biodegradability, and non-toxicity. However, lower compressive strength and rapid degradation rate are the main limitations in clinical applications. Excessive absorption causes a sharp increase in sulfate ion and calcium ion concentrations around the bone defect site, resulting in delayed wound healing and hypercalcemia. In addition, the space between calcium sulfate and the host bone, resulting from excessively rapid absorption, has adverse effects on bone healing or fusion techniques. This issue has been recognized and addressed. The lack of sufficient mechanical strength makes it challenging to use calcium sulfate and calcium sulfate-based biomaterials in load-bearing areas. To overcome these defects, the introduction of various inorganic additives, such as calcium carbonate, calcium phosphate, and calcium silicate, into calcium sulfate is an effective measure. Inorganic materials with different physical and chemical properties can greatly improve the properties of calcium sulfate composites. For example, the hydrolysis products of calcium carbonate are alkaline substances that can buffer the acidic environment caused by the degradation of calcium sulfate; calcium phosphate has poor degradation, which can effectively avoid the excessive absorption of calcium sulfate; and calcium silicate can promote the compressive strength and stimulate new bone formation. The purpose of this review is to review the poor properties of calcium sulfate and its complications in clinical application and to explore the effect of various inorganic additives on the physicochemical properties and biological properties of calcium sulfate.

Ion transfer mediated by TEMPO in ionophore-doped thin films for multi-ion sensing by cyclic voltammetry

We report here on the development of thin-layer ion-selective membranes containing lipophilic TEMPO as a phase-transfer redox mediator for the simultaneous detection of non-redoxactive ions. This redox probe was recently introduced by our group and provides ideal ion-transfer waves when the membrane is interrogated by cyclic voltammetry. To perform multianalyte detection in the same sensing film, plasticized PVC-based membranes were doped with lithium and potassium ionophores in addition to a lipophilic cation-exchanger. The ionophores allow for ion discrimination owing to the different ionophore-cation complexation constants and the oxidation of TEMPO to the oxoammonium form results in the selective transfer of lithium and potassium at different potentials. The resulting voltammograms have half-peak widths of 100 and 102 mV, and the peak separation between anodic and cathodic scans is 8 and 9 mV for lithium and potassium, respectively, close to theoretical expectations. High peak resolution was observed, and the ion-transfer waves are still distinguishable when the ion activities differ by three orders of magnitude. These parameters are remarkably better than those obtained with other redox probes, which is important for multianalyte detection in the same voltammetric scan. Optimized membranes showed independent Nernstian shifts (slopes of 59.23 mV and 54.8 mV for K+ and Li+, respectively) of the peak position for increasing ion concentrations. An idealized model for two ionophore-based membranes combining redox and phase-boundary potentials was applied to the proposed system with excellent correlation. Potassium and lithium ions were simultaneously detected in undiluted human serum samples with good accuracy and precision.