A MCNT@PEG composite is designed to modify the commercial separator of Li-S cells. With the MCNT@PEG-modified separator, Li-S cells possess enhanced rate capability and cycle stability.

No abstract

Introducing single-atom metals (SAMs) is a promising strategy to improve photocatalysis of polymeric carbon nitride (PCN), but current studies are limited to loading SAMs on the surface of PCN to serve as active sites. Herein, we report an intercalation-structured hollow carbon nitride sphere composed of carbon nitride nanosheets (HCNS) with atomically dispersed Cu1N3 moieties embedded within nanosheets (Cu1@HCNS) prepared by a facile molecular assembly approach. It exhibits far superior photoredox catalysis to the pristine HCNS and the modified HCNS with Cu1N3 moieties anchored on the surface of nanosheets (Cu1/HCNS) for solar hydrogen production (3261 μmol g–1 h–1 rate with 7.1% of apparent quantum yield), in which the embedded single-atom Cu acts as a modifier to effectively modulate the electron structure and remarkably promote interfacial charge transfer of PCN rather than act as active sites to facilitate surface reaction. It can be extended to the nonoxygen coupling of benzylamine and derivants to corresponding imines, and the unexpectedly high reaction rate is achieved. The promoting effect strongly depends on the location of single-atom Cu in the PCN, and the coordination method is a very effective strategy to introduce single-atom metals in terms of the improvement in photocatalysis of PCN owing to the intensified metal–PCN interaction. This work opens up a window for further improving the photocatalytic efficiency of carbon nitride in terms of solar fuel production and clean organic synthesis.

No abstract

The nonlinear evolution of waves propagating on a spatially varying opposing current has been observed in a wave–current flume. Regular waves with different initial periods and different initial steepness, s (0.05 < s < 0.19), were generated and observed. Frequency downshift, even with very small initial steepness, was identified. As expected, it was found that opposing currents can have significant interactions with wavetrains. The ultimate frequency downshift increases with the increase in initial steepness. The evolution of frequency modulation was observed via the instantaneous frequency extracted by the Morlet-wavelet transform. The instantaneous frequency showed that often the process of frequency downshift can be local in time and gradual, but abrupt changes of local frequency were also detected. The presence of an opposing current can gradually block the primary wave energy and destroy the conservation of the wave action at downwave locations, thus increasing the asymmetric modulation and accelerating the effective frequency downshift.

No abstract

To determine the effect of genistein on cytochrome P450 3A (CYP3A) and P-glycoprotein (P-gp) function using the probe substrates midazolam and talinolol, respectively. Eighteen healthy adult male participants were enrolled in a two-phase randomized crossover design. In each phase, the participants received placebo or genistein for 14 days. On the 15th day, midazolam and talinolol were administered and blood samples were obtained. Midazolam and talinolol pharmacokinetic parameter values were calculated and compared before and after genistein administration. Co-administration of genistein decreased the area under the concentration-time curve from 0 to 36 h (AUC 0-36) (143.65 ± 55.40 ng h/mL versus 126.10 ± 40.14 ng h/mL, p < 0.05), and the area under the concentration-time curve from zero to infinity (AUC 0-∞) (209.18 ± 56.61 ng h/mL versus 180.59 ± 43.03 ng h/mL, p < 0.05), and also maximum concentration (Cmax) of midazolam (48.86 ± 20.21 ng/mL versus 36.25 ± 14.35 ng/mL p < 0.05). Similarly, AUC 0-36 (2490.282 ± 668.79 ng h/mL versus 2114.46 ± 861.11 ng h/mL, p < 0.05), AUC 0-∞ (2980.45 ± 921.09 ng h/mL versus 2626.92 ± 1003.78 ng h/mL, p < 0.05) and Cmax of talinolol (326.58 ± 197.67 ng/mL versus 293.42 ± 127.19 ng/mL, p < 0.05) were reduced by genistein co-administration. The oral clearance of midazolam (1.68 ± 0.85 h-1 versus 3.98 ± 0.59 h-1, p < 0.05) and talinolol (3.34 ± 1.24 h-1 versus 3.79 ± 1.55 h-1, p<0.05) were increased by genistien significantly. Administration of genistein can result in a modest induction of CYP3A and possibly P-gp activity in healthy volunteers.

In this study, we report for the first time the beneficial effect of adding soy lecithin to an MRS broth on subsequent bile tolerance of Lactobacillus plantarum. Soy lecithin had no inhibitory effect on strain viability but significantly enhanced bile resistance. Surface hydrophobicity and cell integrity increased in strains cultured with soy lecithin. The observed shift in the cell fatty acid composition indicated changes to the cell membrane. As soy lecithin is safe for use in the food industry, its protective effects can be harnessed for the development of bile-sensitive strains with health-benefit functions for use in probiotic products.