Ab initio study of helium in Li4SiO4 crystals: Electronic properties,migration, and vacancy capture mechanism

Li₄SiO₄ crystal is a candidate material for tritium breeder material. Vacancy defects and He atoms will be produced in the crystal after neutron irradiation in fusion reactor. In previous research, we learned vacancy defects mainly include V_O⁰, V_O²⁺, and V_Li⁰, meanwhile, He atoms are easy to migrate and aggregate in the crystal. In order to understand the relationship between vacancy defects and He atoms, we use density functional theory (DFT) to study the interaction mechanism between vacancy and He atom. The results show that the local stable sites of He atoms are related to the surrounding charge distribution. V_O²⁺ and V_Li⁰ can capture interstitial He atoms, and it is difficult to escape the vacancies, thereby increasing the nucleation center of He atoms. V_O⁰ promotes the diffusion of He atoms in the interstitial space, which will cause small helium bubbles to merge more easily.     

Ni1−xCoxSe2?C/ZnIn2S4 Hybrid Nanocages with Strong 2D/2D Hetero-Interface Interaction Enable Efficient H2-Releasing Photocatalysis

Designing a semiconductor-based heterostructure photocatalyst for achieving the efficient separation of photogenerated electron-hole pairs is highly important for enhancing H₂ releasing photocatalysis. Here, a new class of Ni_1−xCo_xSe₂–C/ZnIn₂S₄ hierarchical nanocages with abundant and compact ZnIn₂S₄ nanosheets/Ni_1−xCo_xSe₂^ C nanosheets 2D/2D hetero–interfaces, is designed and synthesized. The constructed heterostructure photocatalyst exposes rich hetero-junctions, supplying the broad and short transfer paths for charge carriers. The close contacts of these two kinds of nanosheets induce a strong interaction between ZnIn₂S₄ and Ni_1−xCo_xSe₂ C, improving the separation and transfer of photo-generated electron-hole pairs. As a consequence, the distinctive Ni_1−xCo_xSe₂ C/ZnIn₂S₄ hierarchical nanocages without using additional noble-metal cocatalysts, display remarkable H₂-relaesing photocatalytic activity with a rate of 5.10 mmol g⁻¹ h⁻¹ under visible light irradiation, which is 6.2 and 30 times higher than those of fresh ZnIn₂S₄ nanosheets and bare Ni_1−xCo_xSe₂ C nanocages, respectively. Spectroscopic characterizations and theory calculations reveal that the strong interaction between ZnIn₂S₄ and Ni_1−xCo_xSe₂ C 2D/2D hetero-interfaces can powerfully promote the separation of photo-generated charge carriers and the electrons transfer from ZnIn₂S₄ to Ni_1−xCo_xSe₂ C.     

Marine Phospholipids from Fishery By-Products Attenuate Atherosclerosis

In this study, the anti-atherosclerotic properties of three marine phospholipids (MPLs) extracts from fishery by-products including codfish roe, squid gonad, and shrimp head are verified. Their effects on key factors involved in atherosclerosis are examined and compared to explore whether the differences in their constitutions lead to the differences in the function. All three MPLs dampen oxidation of low- density lipoproteins (LDL) in vitro. Treating RAW264.7 macrophages and HUVECs endothelial cells with each MPLs ranging 10–100 µg mL⁻¹ does not decrease cell viability, yet ox-LDL caused cytotoxicity of both cells are alleviated by 50 or 100 µg mL⁻¹ MPLs treatment. In addition, the three MPLs reduce ox-LDL induced macrophage foam-like transition, mainly through inhibition of lipid uptake. Of the three MPLs, the one from squid gonad exhibits the best effect. On the other hand, all three MPLs modulate inflammatory responses, equally, by inhibiting the adhesion of monocytes to endothelial cells, and decreasing secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-6 and MCP-1. Using a high-cholesterol diet induced zebrafish model, it is found that all three MPLs, especially the one from squid gonad, alleviates cholesterol accumulation in early plaques, and decreases total cholesterol as well as lipid peroxide in vivo. Practical Applications: As a way of making the best of the increasingly scarce marine resources, valuable lipid components can be recovered from by-products and wastes from the fishery industry. Here, we tested the anti-atherosclerotic effects and the mechanisms of three MPLs extracted from codfish roe, squid gonad, and shrimp head. Our study provides further evidence that marine phospholipids extracted from fishery by-products could protect against atherosclerosis, and helps to elucidate the structure-function relationship of MPLs.     

Fabrication and properties of the superhydrophobic ceria-based composite coating on magnesium alloy

A superhydrophobic ceria-based composite coating is developed to improve anticorrosion properties of AZ61 magnesium alloy, fabricating via chemical conversion method followed by hydrothermal treatment. The cerium conversion coating has a block structure with microcracks. After the hydrothermal treatment, a dense CeO₂ layer, porous CeO₂ nanorods, and stearic absorbing layers are grown stepwise on the conversion coating. And the composite coating is hydrophobic or even superhydrophobic and has almost no microcracks. As the hydrothermal reaction time increases, the water contact angle of the composite coating first increases and then decreases, and it reaches the maximum value of 152° after hydrothermal treatment for 4 h. Both the dense CeO₂ layer and the superhydrophobic stearic absorbing layer can effectively prevent the electrolyte from contacting the substrate; the corrosion current density of the superhydrophobic composite coating is lower than that of the hydrophilic composite coating and the cerium conversion coating, and has the best corrosion resistance.     

下扬子地区下志留统风暴沉积特征及风暴作用对泥页岩品质的影响

近年来在下扬子地区页岩气地质调查井所获取的地层岩心资料，揭示该地区下志留统风暴沉积较为发育。基于精细的岩心观察描述，详细分析了下扬子地区下志留统高家边组下段中上部风暴沉积的特征，并阐明了风暴作用对泥页岩的影响。研究表明：研究区风暴岩岩性偏细，以粉砂岩为主，石英含量较高，结构成熟度较低，具2种不同的粒度概率曲线；主要发育底部冲刷面、块状层理、平行层理、丘状交错层理、波纹交错层理、准同生变形构造等沉积构造；垂向上主要识别出4种风暴沉积序列，均具有从底到顶粒度变细的沉积特征，不同的沉积序列与风暴流能量的强弱有关。下扬子地区早志留世频繁的风暴活动与研究区的古地理背景和古气候条件具有内在联系。特大型风暴对浅海陆棚深水区的细粒泥质沉积物特征产生重要影响，包括降低有机质含量、减少单层厚度、破坏垂向连续性、改变原始沉积构造和侧向稳定性等，总体上降低了泥页岩的品质。因此，研究认为在页岩气的勘探和评价过程中应重视风暴因素对陆棚深水区原始泥质沉积物的影响。     

某铁矿强磁尾矿反浮选回收试验研究

针对我国西部某铁矿强磁选尾矿进行了反浮选回收铁资源的试验研究, 探讨了pH值、抑制剂可溶性淀粉用量、阳离子捕收剂十二胺用量对浮选指标的影响。结果表明, 在矿浆pH=10、可溶性淀粉用量2 400 g/t、十二胺用量400 g/t条件下进行一粗一精(精选药剂用量减半)闭路反浮选, 可获得铁品位43.88%、回收率50.93%的铁精矿产品。     

基于乙酰胆碱酯酶和氧化应激研究海胆酮对阿尔茨海默症的作用机制

海胆酮是一种酮式类胡萝卜素，主要从海胆及藻类等海洋生物中提取。本文研究海胆酮对乙酰胆碱酯酶（acetylcholinesterase，AChE）的抑制作用，应用酶动力学、荧光光谱、圆二色光谱和分子对接技术研究海胆酮对AChE的抑制机理，并用淀粉样β蛋白片段25～35（amyloid beta-peptide 25-35，Aβ25-35）诱导大鼠肾上腺嗜铬细胞瘤细胞（PC12细胞）建立阿尔茨海默症（Alzheimer’s disease，AD）模型，研究海胆酮对AD细胞模型氧化应激损伤的作用。结果表明，海胆酮有很强的AChE抑制活性，其半抑制质量浓度为（16.29±0.97）μg/mL，抑制常数Ki为3.82 μg/mL，表现为竞争性抑制；海胆酮可诱导AChE二级结构改变，更容易与AChE活性中心氨基酸Ser200、His440、Trp84和Tyr121结合，阻碍底物碘代硫代乙酰胆碱（acetylthiocholine iodide，ATCI）与酶结合，从而引起酶活力降低。海胆酮能有效抑制Aβ25-35诱导PC12细胞的AChE活力，降低丙二醛含量，增加超氧化物歧化酶、过氧化氢酶和谷胱甘肽过氧化物酶活力，减轻Aβ25-35诱导的PC12细胞氧化应激损伤。本研究基于AChE和氧化应激阐明了海胆酮对AD的潜在作用机制，为海胆酮在功能食品、生物医药等领域的应用提供了数据支持和理论根据。