Magnetic zirconium-iron oxide nanoparticles loaded on palygorskite as a low-cost adsorbent was produced by one-step co precipitation technique and its properties for phosphate adsorption were overall investigated. The Brunauer Emmett Teller (BET) specific surface area analysis, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), thermo gravimetric analysis (TGA), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) were used to characterize the adsorbent and evaluate the adsorption interactions. The influences of pH, ionic strength and coexisting ions on phosphate adsorption were measured with a discussion of the adsorption mechanism. Results indicated that no very noticeable changes on the surface properties, structure and phosphate adsorption capacity be found for the magnetic zirconium-iron oxide nanoparticles loaded on palygorskite or not. The adsorption kinetics fitted to the pseudo-second-order model and adsorption isotherm followed Langmuir equation and Dubinin-Radushkevich equation. The phosphate adsorption was slightly affected by ionic strength and highly dependent on pH, i.e. increasing pH sharply restrained adsorption under neutral and alkaline conditions. The surface OH groups in the adsorbent processed an important role in adsorption and the adsorption mechanism conformed to ion exchange and complex. The adsorbent could be conveniently regenerated and effectively reused. zirconiumiron zirconium iron lowcost low cost onestep one step investigated BET (BET SEM, SEM , (SEM) TGA, TGA (TGA) FTIR, FTIR (FTIR) Xray X ray XRD (XRD XPS (XPS interactions not pseudosecondorder pseudo second order DubininRadushkevich Dubinin Radushkevich ie i e i.e conditions complex reused (SEM (TGA (FTIR

ABSTRACT Recently the use of antibiotic growth promoter (AGPs) in poultry feed is banned in China, leading to the increasing demand for AGPs substitutes. Probiotics have been considered as a potential substitute. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of probiotic on serum biochemistry, and growth promotion of body weight and visceral organs and in Lohmann Brown chicks aged 0 to 9 weeks. Five hundred and forty 1-day-old male chicks were randomly divided into three groups, with six replicates and 30 chicks in each replicate. The experiment was carried out over 70 days. Dietary treatments were: (1) basal diet alone (control group); (2) basal diet containing 0.1% probiotics (probiotic group); and (3) basal diet containing 0.01% zinc bacitracin in the feed (antibiotic group). The body weight (BW) of probiotic group was significantly higher than that of the control group during the whole trial period (p<0.05). ADG (0~70 d) in the probiotic group and the antibiotic group was higher than that in the control group (p<0.05). The Oliver weight and serum total protein (TP) in the probiotic group was higher than that in the control group on the 63rd day (p<0.05). The length of the duodenum, the weight of the spleen, duodenum and Jejunum in both the probiotic and antibiotic groups were higher than those in the control group (p<0.05). The ileum weight in the probiotic group was significantly higher than those in the control group (p<0.05). The ileum length in the probiotic group was significantly longer than that in both the antibiotic and control groups (p<0.05). Probiotic mix with Bacillus subtilis and Pediococcus acidilactici play a similar role in promoting growth of body and visceral organs, and it is a promising growth promoter for Lohmann Brown chicks (0 to 9 weeks).

ABSTRACT Background: The aim of this study is to evaluate the correlation of the left ventricular diastolic function and the left ventricular geometry in patients with obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome (OSAS) by echocardiography. Methods: The 181 patients diagnosed with OSAS were divided into the normal geometry group (NG), the concentric remodelling group (CR), the eccentric hypertrophy group (EH) and the concentric hypertrophy group (CH). Pearson correlation analysis and multiple linear regression analysis were performed toward the correlation of the left ventricular diastolic function and the left ventricular geometry. Results: The E peak in the EH and CH group was significantly reduced, with significant difference; the E/A, Em, Am and Em/Am was reduced in the order of the CR, EH and CH groups, while E/Em was increased, and the difference was significant. Pearson correlation analysis revealed that the Em/Am showed significant negative correlations with the left ventricular mass index (LVMI) [r = -0.419] and relative wall thickness (RWT) [r = -0.289], while the E/Em was significantly positively correlated with the LVMI (r = 0.638) and RWT [r = 0.328] (p < 0.001). Multiple linear regression analysis revealed that LVMI and RWT had influence on the Em/Am and E/Em (r2 = 0.402, r2 = 0.107, p < 0.001). The left ventricular diastolic dysfunction was the worst in the CH group. Conclusions: There was correlation between the left ventricular diastolic dysfunction and the changes in cardiac geometry.

RESUMEN: Antecedentes: El objetivo de este estudio fue evaluar la correlación de la función diastólica ventricular izquierda y de la geometría ventricular izquierda en pacientes con síndrome de apnea obstructiva del sueño (SAOS) mediante ecocardiografía. Métodos: Los 181 pacientes diagnosticados con SAOS fueron divididos en los grupos siguientes: grupo de geometría normal (GN), grupo de remodelación concéntrica (RC), grupo de hipertrofia excéntrica (HE), y grupo de hipertrofia concéntrica (HC). Se realizaron análisis de correlación de Pearson y análisis de regresión lineal múltiple con respecto a la correlación de la función diastólica ventricular izquierda y de la geometría ventricular izquierda. Resultados: El pico E en el grupo HE y HC se redujo significativamente, con diferencias significativas; el E/A, Em, Am y Em/Am se redujo en el orden de los grupos RC, HE y HC, mientras que E/Em fue aumentado, y la diferencia fue significativa. EL análisis de correlación de Pearson reveló que el Em/Am mostró correlaciones negativas significativas con el índice de masa ventricular izquierda (IMVI) [r = -0.419] y el grosor relativo de la pared (GRP) [r = -0.289], mientras que el E/Em se correlacionó significativamente de forma positiva con el IMVI (r = 0.638) y el GRP [r = 0.328] (p < 0.001). El análisis de regresión lineal múltiple reveló que IMVI y GRP tenían influencia sobre Em/Am y E/Em (r2 = 0.402, r2 = 0.107, p < 0.001). La disfunción diastólica ventricular izquierda en el grupo HC fue la peor. Conclusiones: Hubo una correlación entre la disfunción diastólica ventricular izquierda y los cambios en la geometría cardíaca.

Através da técnica de polimerização radicalar por transferência atômica (ATRP) foram preparadas novos polímeros tipo pente com molhabilidade ajustável (líquido iônico) de hexafluorfosfato poli[2-(1-butilimidazolino-3-ila)etila metacrilato (PBIMH-PF6-), a partir de um substrato bruto modificado com uma camada iniciadora composta de brometo 2-bromoisobutirila. Várias técnicas de caracterização como elipsometria, medidas de ângulo de contato estático, espectroscopia fotoeletrônica de raios X (XPS) e microscopia de força atômica (AFM) foram utilizadas para caracterizar os filmes em cada etapa de modificação da superfície. Estudos cinéticos revelaram um aumento linear na espessura do filme polimérico em função do tempo de reação, indicando que o crescimento da cadeia a partir da superfície, é um processo cujo controle apresenta características de polimerização "viva". As medidas de molhabilidade indicaram que as interações de troca iônica podem ser usadas para alterar as características da superfície de hidrofilicidade para hidrofobicidade de forma reversível. O substrato bruto obtido por ataque químico exibiu uma melhor hidrofobicidade quando comparado à superfície lisa do substrato plano modificado com as mesmas cadeias poliméricas tipo pente (líquido iônico).

Using surface initiated atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP), novel tunable wettability polymer (ionic liquid) brushes poly[2-(1-butylimidazolium-3-yl)ethyl methacrylate hexafluorophosphate] (PBIMH-PF6-) from a rough substrate modified with an initiator layer composed of 2-bromoisobutyryl bromide was prepared. Various characterization techniques including ellipsometry, static water contact angle measurements, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and atomic force microscope (AFM) were used to characterize the films for each surface modification step. Kinetic studies revealed a linear increase in polymer film thickness with reaction time, indicating that chain growth from the surface was a controlled process with a "living" characteristic. Wetting measurements indicated that ion exchanging interactions can be used to switch surface characteristics from hydrophilicity to hydrophobicity in a reversible manner. Compared with the smooth surface of the flat substrate modified with the same polymer (ionic liquid) brushes, the rough substrate by chemical etching exhibited better hydrophobicity.