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Small (Weinheim An Der Bergstrasse,... Apr 2024Constructing multiheteroatom coordination structure in carbonaceous substrates demonstrates an effective method to accelerate the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) of...
Constructing multiheteroatom coordination structure in carbonaceous substrates demonstrates an effective method to accelerate the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) of supported single-atom catalyst. Herein, the novel etching route assisted by potassium thiocyanate (KCNS) is developed to convert metal-organic framework to 2D defect-rich porous N,S-co-doped carbon nanosheets for anchoring atomically dispersed iron sites as the high-performance ORR catalysts (Fe-SACs). The well-designed KCNS-assisted etching route can generate spatial confinement template to direct the carbon nanosheet formation, etching condition to form defect-rich structure, and additional sulfur atoms to coordinate iron species. Spectral and microscopy analysis reveals that the iron element in Fe-SACs is highly isolated on carbon nanosheet and anchored by nitrogen and sulfur atoms in unsymmetrical Fe-SN structure. The optimized Fe-SACs with large specific surface area could show remarkable alkaline ORR performances with a high half-wave potential of 0.920 V versus RHE and excellent durability. The rechargeable zinc-air battery assembled with Fe-SACs air electrodes delivers a large power density of 350 mW cm and a stable voltage platform during charge and discharge over more than 1300 h. This work proposes a novel strategy for the preparation of single-atom catalysts with multiheteroatom coordination structure and highly exposed active sites for efficient ORR.
PubMed: 38593369
DOI: 10.1002/smll.202310637 -
ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces Apr 2024Atomically dispersed dual-site catalysts can regulate multiple reaction processes and provide synergistic functions based on diverse molecules and their interfaces....
Atomically dispersed dual-site catalysts can regulate multiple reaction processes and provide synergistic functions based on diverse molecules and their interfaces. However, how to synthesize and stabilize dual-site single-atom catalysts (DACs) is confronted with challenges. Herein, we report a facile high-temperature gas-migration strategy to synthesize Fe-Ni DACs on nitrogen-doped carbon nanosheets (FeNi/NC). FeNi/NC exhibits a high half-wave potential (0.88 V) for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) and a low overpotential of 410 mV at 10 mA cm for the oxygen evolution reaction (OER). As an air electrode for Zn-air batteries (ZABs), it shows better performances in aqueous ZABs and excellent stability and flexibility in solid-state ZABs. The high specific surface area (1687.32 m/g) of FeNi/NC is conducive to electron transport. Density functional theory (DFT) reveals that the Fe sites are the active center, and Ni sites can significantly optimize the free energy of the oxygen-containing intermediate state on Fe sites, contributing to the improvement of ORR and the corresponding OER activities. This work can provide guidance for the rational design of DACs and understand the structure-activity relationship of SACs with multiple active sites for electrocatalytic energy conversion.
PubMed: 38591147
DOI: 10.1021/acsami.3c17193 -
Toxicology Reports Jun 2024Investigating fine particulate matter (PM2.5) toxicity is crucial for health risk assessment and pollution control. This study explores the developmental toxicity of two...
Investigating fine particulate matter (PM2.5) toxicity is crucial for health risk assessment and pollution control. This study explores the developmental toxicity of two PM2.5 sources: standard reference material 2786 (NIST, USA) and PM2.5 from Chakri Naruebodindra Medical Institute (CNMI, Thailand) located in the Bangkok Metropolitan area. Zebrafish embryos exposed to these samples exhibited embryonic mortality, with 50% lethal concentration (LC) values of 1476 µg/mL for standard PM2.5 and 512 µg/mL for CNMI PM2.5. Morphological analysis revealed malformations, including pericardial and yolk sac edema, and blood clotting in both groups. Gene expression analysis highlighted source-specific effects. Standard PM2.5 downregulated and while upregulating . Inflammatory genes and were upregulated, and was downregulated. Apoptosis-related genes , , and were downregulated. CNMI PM2.5 consistently downregulated all examined genes. These findings underscore PM2.5 source variability's significance in biological system impact assessment, providing insights into pollutant-gene expression interactions. The study emphasizes the need for source-specific risk assessment and interventions to address PM2.5 exposure's health impacts effectively.
PubMed: 38590343
DOI: 10.1016/j.toxrep.2024.03.011 -
Frontiers in Cardiovascular Medicine 2024Air embolism is a known risk during thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) and is associated with an incomplete deairing of the delivery system despite the saline...
BACKGROUND
Air embolism is a known risk during thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) and is associated with an incomplete deairing of the delivery system despite the saline lavage recommended by the instructions for use (IFU). As the delivery systems are identical and residual air remains frequently in the abdominal aortic aneurysm sac, endovascular aortic repair (EVAR) can be used to examine the effectiveness of deairing maneuvers. We aimed to evaluate whether increasing the flush volume can result in a more complete deairing.
METHODS
Patients undergoing EVAR were randomly assigned according to flushing volume (Group A, 1× IFU; Group B, 4× IFU). The Terumo Aortic Anaconda and Treo and Cook Zenith Alpha Abdominal stent grafts were randomly implanted in equal distribution (10-10-10). The quantity of air trapped in the aneurysm sac was measured using a pre-discharge computed tomography angiography (CTA). Thirty patients were enrolled and equally distributed between the two groups, with no differences observed in any demographic or anatomical factors.
RESULTS
The presence of air was less frequent in Group A compared to that in Group B [7 (47%) vs. 13 (87%), = .02], and the air volume was less in Group A compared to that in Group B (103.5 ± 210.4 vs. 175.5 ± 175.0 mm, = .04). Additionally, the volume of trapped air was higher with the Anaconda graft type ( = .025).
DISCUSSION
These findings suggest that increased flushing volume is associated with a higher amount of trapped air; thus, following the IFU might be associated with a reduced risk of air embolization. Furthermore, significant differences were identified between devices in terms of the amount of trapped air.
CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION
[NCT04909190], [ClinicalTrials.gov].
PubMed: 38586170
DOI: 10.3389/fcvm.2024.1335903 -
Cureus Mar 2024Pneumonia is an infection that causes inflammation in the air sacs of the lungs. Coronary artery disease is a condition characterized by the buildup of plaque in the...
Pneumonia is an infection that causes inflammation in the air sacs of the lungs. Coronary artery disease is a condition characterized by the buildup of plaque in the coronary arteries, which supply blood to the heart. This obstruction restricts blood flow, resulting in chest pain (angina) and, in extreme cases, heart attacks. An important part of successfully treating diseases like peripheral artery disease and coronary artery disease is balloon angioplasty, a commonly used medical procedure for treating narrowed or clogged arteries. An 83-year-old man who had pneumonia after angioplasty was the subject of this case study. The patient had pneumonia after angioplasty, which was managed by proper medications and cardio-respiratory physiotherapy. The patient was intubated and referred for cardio-respiratory physiotherapy. Physiotherapy treatments like mild chest vibrations, suctioning, and bed mobility exercises were given initially. After extubation, physiotherapy treatment continued with deep breathing exercises, coughing techniques, relaxation techniques, and mobility exercises for the upper limbs and lower limbs. Effective physical rehabilitation was necessary in order to minimize complications following angioplasty and allow him to resume his daily activities. Several outcome measures, like the ICU mobility scale, CURB-65 score, and chest X-ray grading scores, were used to monitor the patient's progress during rehabilitation. The benefits of pulmonary rehabilitation programs emphasize the need for tailored approaches in addressing individual patient needs for comprehensive recovery.
PubMed: 38571823
DOI: 10.7759/cureus.55454 -
Marine Biotechnology (New York, N.Y.) Apr 2024Optimization of antioxidants and angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitory potential gelatin hydrolysate production from Labeo rohita (rohu) swim bladder (SBGH) by...
Optimization of antioxidants and angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitory potential gelatin hydrolysate production from Labeo rohita (rohu) swim bladder (SBGH) by alcalase using central composite design (CCD) of response surface methodology (RSM) was investigated. The maximum degree of hydrolysis (DH), 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), 2,2'-azino-bis-3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulphonic acid (ABTS), total antioxidants (TAO), and ACE inhibitory activity were achieved at 0.1:1.0 (w/w) enzyme to substrate ratio, 61 °C hydrolysis temperature, and 94-min hydrolysis time. The resulting SBGH obtained at 19.92% DH exhibited the DPPH (24.28 µM TE/mg protein), ABTS (34.47 µM TE/mg protein), TAO (12.01 µg AAE/mg protein), and ACE inhibitory (4.91 µg/mg protein) activity. Furthermore, SBGH at 100 µg/ml displayed osteogenic property without any toxic effects on MC3T3-E1 cells. Besides, the protein content of rohu swim bladder gelatin (SBG) and SBGH was 93.68% and 94.98%, respectively. Both SBG and SBGH were rich in glycine, proline, glutamic acid, alanine, arginine, and hydroxyproline amino acids. Therefore, SBGH could be an effective nutraceutical in functional food development.
Topics: Animals; Air Sacs; Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors; Antioxidants; Biphenyl Compounds; Cyprinidae; Fish Proteins; Gelatin; Hydrolysis; Osteogenesis; Picrates; Protein Hydrolysates; Subtilisins; Fishes
PubMed: 38558367
DOI: 10.1007/s10126-024-10305-z -
Nano Letters Apr 2024With the advantages of a Fenton-inactive characteristic and unique p electrons that can hybridize with O molecules, p-block metal-based single-atom catalysts (SACs) for...
With the advantages of a Fenton-inactive characteristic and unique p electrons that can hybridize with O molecules, p-block metal-based single-atom catalysts (SACs) for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) have tremendous potential. Nevertheless, their undesirable intrinsic activity caused by the closed d electronic configuration remains a major challenge. Herein, an Sb-based SAC featuring carbon vacancy-enhanced Sb-N active centers, corroborated by the results of high-angle annular dark-field scanning transmission electron microscopy and X-ray absorption fine structure, has been developed for an incredibly effective ORR. The obtained Sb-N-C demonstrates a positive half-wave potential of 0.905 V and excellent structural stability in alkaline environments. Density functional theory calculations reveal that the carbon vacancies weaken the adsorption between Sb atoms and the OH* intermediate, thus promoting the ORR performance. Practically, the Sb-N-C-based Zn-air batteries achieve impressive outcomes, such as a high power density of 181 mW cm, showing great potential in real-world applications.
PubMed: 38551180
DOI: 10.1021/acs.nanolett.4c00808 -
Frontiers in Veterinary Science 2024The applicability of electrical impedance tomography (EIT) in birds is unknown. This study aimed to evaluate the use of EIT in anaesthetised chickens in four recumbency...
The applicability of electrical impedance tomography (EIT) in birds is unknown. This study aimed to evaluate the use of EIT in anaesthetised chickens in four recumbency positions. Four adult Hyline chickens were anaesthetised with isoflurane in oxygen, and intubated endotracheally for computed tomography (CT). A rubber belt was placed around the coelom caudal to the shoulder joint. A chicken-specific finite element (FE) model, which is essential to generate anatomically accurate functional EIT images for analysis, was constructed based on the CT images obtained at the belt level. Ten additional chickens were anaesthetised with the same protocol. An EIT electrode belt was placed at the same location. The chickens were breathing spontaneously and positioned in dorsal, ventral, right and left lateral recumbency in a randomised order. For each recumbency, raw EIT data were collected over 2 min after 13 min of stabilisation. The data were reconstructed into functional EIT images. EIT variables including tidal impedance variation (TIV), centre of ventilation right to left (CoV) and ventral to dorsal (CoV), right to left (RL) ratio, impedance change (ΔZ) and eight regional impedance changes including the dorsal, central-dorsal, central-ventral and ventral regions of the right and left regions were analysed. Four breathing patterns (BrP) were observed and categorised based on the expiratory curve. A linear mixed model was used to compare EIT variables between recumbencies. Fisher's exact test was used to compare the frequencies of breathing patterns for each recumbency. The ΔZ observed was synchronous to ventilation, and represented tidal volume of the cranial air sacs as confirmed by CT. Significant differences were found in CoV and regional impedance changes between dorsal and ventral recumbencies ( < 0.05), and in CoV, RL ratio and regional impedance changes between right and left recumbencies ( < 0.05), which suggested a tendency for the distribution of ventilation to shift towards non-dependent air sacs. No differences were found for TIV and respiratory rate between recumbencies. Recumbency had a significant effect on the frequencies of each of the four BrPs ( = 0.001). EIT can monitor the magnitude and distribution of ventilation of the cranial air sacs in different recumbencies in anaesthetised chickens.
PubMed: 38545561
DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2024.1202931 -
Rapid Communications in Mass... May 2024The application of matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry imaging (MALDI-MSI) to murine lungs is challenging due to the spongy nature of the...
RATIONALE
The application of matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry imaging (MALDI-MSI) to murine lungs is challenging due to the spongy nature of the tissue. Lungs consist of interconnected air sacs (alveoli) lined by a single layer of flattened epithelial cells, which requires inflation to maintain its natural structure. Therefore, a protocol that is compatible with both lung instillation and high spatial resolution is essential to enable multi-omic studies on murine lung disease models using MALDI-MSI.
METHODS AND RESULTS
To maintain the structural integrity of the tissue, murine lungs were inflated with 8% (w/v) gelatin for lipid MSI of fresh frozen tissues or 4% (v/v) paraformaldehyde neutral buffer for N-glycan and peptide MSI of FFPE tissues. Tissues were sectioned and prepared for enzymatic digestion and/or matrix deposition. Glycerol-free PNGase F was applied for N-glycan MSI, while Trypsin Gold was applied for peptide MSI using the iMatrixSpray and ImagePrep Station, respectively. For lipid, N-glycan and peptide MSI, α-cyano-4-hydroxycinnamic acid matrix was deposited using the iMatrixSpray. MS data were acquired with 20 μm spatial resolution using a timsTOF fleX MS instrument followed by MS fragmentation of lipids, N-glycans and peptides. For lipid MSI, trapped ion mobility spectrometry was used to separate isomeric/isobaric lipid species. SCiLS™ Lab was used to visualize all MSI data. For analyte identification, MetaboScape®, GlycoMod and Mascot were used to annotate MS fragmentation spectra of lipids, N-glycans and tryptic peptides, respectively.
CONCLUSIONS
Our protocol provides instructions on sample preparation for high spatial resolution MALDI-MSI, MS/MS data acquisition and lipid, N-glycan and peptide annotation and identification from murine lungs. This protocol will allow non-biased analyses of diseased lungs from preclinical murine models and provide further insight into disease models.
Topics: Animals; Mice; Tandem Mass Spectrometry; Peptides; Spectrometry, Mass, Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption-Ionization; Polysaccharides; Lung; Lipids
PubMed: 38525810
DOI: 10.1002/rcm.9721 -
Small (Weinheim An Der Bergstrasse,... Mar 2024Rechargeable zinc-air batteries (ZABs) rely on the development of high-performance bifunctional oxygen electrocatalysts to facilitate efficient oxygen...
Rechargeable zinc-air batteries (ZABs) rely on the development of high-performance bifunctional oxygen electrocatalysts to facilitate efficient oxygen reduction/evolution reactions (ORR/OER). Single-atom catalysts (SACs), characterized by their precisely defined active sites, have great potential for applications in ZABs. However, the design and architecture of atomic site electrocatalysts with both high activity and durability present significant challenges, owing to their spatial confinement and electronic states. In this study, a strategy is proposed to fabricate structurally uniform dual single-atom electrocatalyst (denoted as P-FeCo/NC) consisting of P-bridging Fe and Co bimetal atom (i.e., Fe-P-Co) decorated on N, P-co-doped carbon framework as an efficient and durable bifunctional electrocatalyst for ZABs. Experimental investigations and theoretical calculations reveal that the Fe-P-Co bridge-coupling structure enables a facile adsorption/desorption of oxygen intermediates and low activation barrier. The resultant P-FeCo/NC exhibits ultralow overpotential of 340 mV at 10 mA cm for OER and high half-wave potential of 0.95 V for ORR. In addition, the application of P-FeCo/NC in rechargeable ZABs demonstrates enhanced performance with maximum power density of 115 mW cm and long cyclic stability, which surpass Pt/C and RuO catalysts. This study provides valuable insights into the design and mechanism of atomically dispersed catalysts for energy conversion applications.
PubMed: 38516947
DOI: 10.1002/smll.202400327