A Metal-Free,Disulfide Oxidized Form of Superoxide Dismutase 1 as a Primary Misfolded Species with Prion-Like Properties in the Extracellular Environments Surrounding Motor Neuron-Like Cells

Superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1) is a metalloenzyme with high structural stability, but a lack of Cu and Zn ions decreases its stability and enhances the likelihood of misfolding, which is a pathological hallmark of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). A growing body of evidence has demonstrated that misfolded SOD1 has prion-like properties such as transmissibility between cells and intracellular propagation of misfolding of natively folded SOD1. Recently, we found that SOD1 is misfolded in the cerebrospinal fluid of sporadic ALS patients, providing a route by which misfolded SOD1 spreads via the extracellular environment of the central nervous system. Unlike intracellular misfolded SOD1, it is unknown which extracellular misfolded species is most relevant to prion-like properties. Here, we determined a conformational feature of extracellular misfolded SOD1 that is linked to prion-like properties. Using culture media from motor neuron-like cells, NSC-34, extracellular misfolded wild-type, and four ALS-causing SOD1 mutants were characterized as a metal-free, disulfide oxidized form of SOD1 (apo-SOD1^S-S). Extracellular misfolded apo-SOD1^S-S exhibited cell-to-cell transmission from the culture medium to recipient cells as well as intracellular propagation of SOD1 misfolding in recipient cells. Furthermore, culture medium containing misfolded apo-SOD1^S-S exerted cytotoxicity to motor neuron-like cells, which was blocked by removal of misfolded apo-SOD1^S-S from the medium. We conclude that misfolded apo-SOD1^S-S is a primary extracellular species that is linked to prion-like properties.     

Heterogeneous Bimetallic Mo-NiPx/NiSy as a Highly Efficient Electrocatalyst for Robust Overall Water Splitting

Highly efficient electrocatalysts composed of earth-abundant elements are desired for water-splitting to produce clean and renewable chemical fuel. Herein, a heteroatomic-doped multi-phase Mo-doped nickel phosphide/nickel sulfide (Mo-NiP_x/NiS_y) nanowire electrocatalyst is designed by a successive phosphorization and sulfuration method for boosting overall water splitting (both oxygen and hydrogen evolution reactions (HER)) in alkaline solution. As expected, the Mo-NiP_x/NiS_y electrode possesses low overpotentials both at low and high current densities in HER, while the Mo-NiP_x/NiS_y heterostructure exhibits high active performance with ultra-low overpotentials of 137, 182, and 250 mV at the current density of 10, 100, and 400 mA cm⁻² in 1 m KOH solution, respectively, in oxygen evolution reaction. In particular, the as-prepared Mo-NiP_x/NiS_y electrodes exhibit remarkable full water splitting performance at both low and high current densities of 10, 100, and 400 mA cm⁻² with 1.42, 1.70, and 2.36 V, respectively, which is comparable to commercial electrolysis.     

Tribological mechanism of micro-arc oxidation coatings prepared by different electrolyte systems in artificial seawater

The micro-arc oxidation (MAO) coatings were prepared in four different electrolyte systems, including mixed acid, phosphate, phosphate-aluminate and phosphate-silicate electrolytes. The friction and wear properties of MAO coatings in ambient air, seawater and four groups of saline solutions related to seawater were investigated. The results showed that the addition of silicate to phosphate could increase the density of the coating. The phosphate-aluminate ceramic layer exhibited the lowest wear rate in various environments. Additionally, the friction coefficient and wear rate of MAO coating in seawater were lower than those in ambient air, which was due to the boundary lubrication effect of seawater. Meanwhile, the presence of divalent metal salts in seawater made its lubricity better than other salt solutions.     

循环水替代7℃水在氯乙烯精馏装置中的应用研究

详细计算了PVC生产精馏系统换热设备的热负荷、循环水量及运行成本,认为通过调整系统的运行温度和压力,精馏装置使用循环水替代7℃水具有可行性,这将有利于突破能耗高的技术瓶颈,最大程度地发挥节能降耗、减污增效的潜能。     

Effects of structural parameters on water film properties of transpiring wall reactor

Corrosion and salt deposition problems severely restrict the industrialization of supercritical water oxidation. Transpiring wall reactor can effectively weaken these two problems by a protective water film. In this work, methanol was selected as organic matter, and the influences of vital structural parameters on water film properties and organic matter removal were studied via numerical simulation. The results indicate that higher than 99% of methanol conversion could be obtained and hardly affected by transpiration water layer, transpiring wall porosity and inner diameter. Increasing layer and porosity reduced reactor center temperature, but inner diameter's influence was lower relatively. Water film temperature reduced but coverage rate raised as layer, porosity, and inner diameter increased. Notably, the whole reactor was in supercritical state and coverage rate was only approximately 85% in the case of one layer. Increasing reactor length affected slightly the volume of the upper supercritical zone but enlarged the subcritical zone.     

Catalytic supercritical water oxidation of tri-n-butyl phosphate: Process optimization by response surface methodology and cytotoxicity assessment

Catalytic supercritical water oxidation (SCWO) of an organophosphate flame retardant, namely tri-n-butyl phosphate (TNBP) was studied. Firstly, copper oxide nanoparticles (NPs) were synthesized in SCW and their properties were characterized by various analyses. Afterwards, their catalytic performance was investigated under different conditions including reaction temperature (400–500 °C), TNBP volume percentage in the feed (1–4%), oxidant ratio (0–2) and reaction time (50–150 min) based on response surface methodology (RSM). The synthesized CuO NPs had an average particle size of 30 nm with a narrow distribution. According to RSM analysis, the reaction temperature and time are the most significant factors; whereas, the impact of the other factors, especially TNBP volume percentage in the feed, was found to be negligible. Overall, excellent performance was achieved under optimal conditions found by the RSM, which was reaction temperature of 500 °C, TNBP volume percentage of 4%, oxidant ratio of 1.5, and reaction time of 90 min. The TOC removal efficiency as an indicator of TNBP degradation was about 99%. Finally, in vitro cell viability assays for the cytotoxicity evaluation of fresh and SCW-treated solution were applied. The results of MTT showed that SCWO converts TNBP into by-product that did not induce any cytotoxicity.     

Montmorillonite-perlite-iron ceramic membranes for the adsorption/removal of As(III) and other constituents from surface water

In this study, ceramic membranes made of montmorillonite, perlite and iron were used to remove As(III) from water. Membranes prepared with 0.0, 0.5, 1.0, and 1.5 wt% of iron content were used to filtrate As(III) synthetic water and surface water solutions. As(III) adsorption capacity and removal efficiency, and other parameters such as cations and anions content, turbidity, pH, electrical conductivity were used to evaluate the membranes' performance. Results show that the As(III) adsorption/removal capacity of membranes was improved by the addition of iron. Adsorption capacity of 7.5 μg As(III)/g and removal efficiency of 97% can be achieved in membranes with 1.0 wt% of iron filings content for surface water; however, a greater amount of iron in the membrane structure limits the adsorption capacity of As(III). Besides the capacity of ceramic membranes to adsorb/remove As(III), membranes were also effective to remove other ions, turbidity, and electrical conductivity from the surface water. The addition of iron to the ceramic membranes enhanced their capacity to remove such surface water constituents. These results are important from the practical viewpoint showing the potential of ceramic membranes for the removal of metalloids and other water constituents. Langmuir isotherm model best described the adsorption process in ceramic membranes, suggesting that adsorption of As(III) happened on a monolayered surface of the ceramic membrane.     

重水浓度与吸光度关系曲线类型研究

重水作为反应堆的慢化材料，其浓度直接影响反应堆的安全和性能。为研究其重水浓度与吸光度间的关系曲线类型，基于朗伯-比尔定律，从理论上推导出液态重水中某种水分子的红外吸收峰分别与0~2种其他水分子的红外吸收峰发生重叠时重水浓度与吸光度间的关系式，分情况对二者之间的关系曲线类型进行讨论。采用傅里叶变换红外光谱仪，测得浓度为0.015%~99.98%（摩尔比）的重水标准样品吸收光谱，对重水浓度和吸光度间的关系曲线类型进行验证，理论推导与实际吻合。研究表明，一般情况下，宽浓度范围内，重水浓度与吸光度间的关系曲线类型为二次曲线；窄浓度范围内，关系曲线类型为线性。特殊情况下，吸光度为定值或关系曲线类型为线性。     

Geochemical characteristics of the Permian marine mudstone and constraints on its provenance and paleoenvironment in the Fenghai area, Fujian Province, southeastern China

Permian marine strata have gradually become a research focus in the world. The marine strata of the Late Permian Dalong Formation (P₃d) in the Fenghai area, Fujian Province, have become more and more important as their geochemical characteristics record important geological information and are a good indicator for recovering and reconstructing the paleosedimentary environments and tectonic attributes. The major elements, trace elements and rare earth elements were analyzed by XRF and ICP-MS, respectively. Based on the results of detailed field geological surveys, profile measurements as well as typical sample collection, the tectonic setting and provenance of Permian marine mudstone were comprehensively discussed. The results showed that the Dalong Formation (P₃d) was deposited in an active continental margin tectonic environment as revealed by the relation between Fe₂O₃ + MgO and TiO₂ and Al₂O₃/SiO₂. The fingerprint characteristics of Mn, Fe, Co, Ni and REE and the ratio of U/Th, V/Cr, Sr/Ba, (La/Yb)_N and V/(V + Ni) indicated that the sedimentary provenance was mainly derived from potassium feldspar, followed by muscovite. Sedimentary water bodies showed a gradually decreasing depositional rate trend, water depth gradually shallowing and paleo-salinity and productivity gradually increasing. Moreover, since transient delamination occurred during sedimentary processes, sedimentary water bodies showed obvious neritic characteristics. It was consistent with the results revealed by lithological and geochemical characteristics. Calcareous mudstone and siltstone transitioned into fine sandstone from bottom to top, indicating paleo-water bodies became shallow. The research results provided good reference and guidance for understanding Permian paleo-sedimentary environments and tectonic attributes of the Yong’an area, Fujian Province, southeastern China.