A Comprehensive Review of Performance of Polyacrylonitrile-Based Membranes for Forward Osmosis Water Separation and Purification Process

Polyacrylonitrile (PAN), with its unique chemical, electrical, mechanical, and thermal properties, has become a crucial acrylic polymer for the industry. This polymer has been widely used to fabricate ultrafiltration, nanofiltration, and reverse osmosis membranes for water treatment applications. However, it recently started to be used to fabricate thin-film composite (TFC) and fiber-based forward osmosis (FO) membranes at a lab scale. Phase inversion and electrospinning methods were the most utilized techniques to fabricate PAN-based FO membranes. The PAN substrate layer could function as a good support layer to create TFC and fiber membranes with excellent performance under FO process conditions by selecting the proper modification techniques. The various modification techniques used to enhance PAN-based FO performance include interfacial polymerization, layer-by-layer assembly, simple coating, and incorporating nanofillers. Thus, the fabrication and modification techniques of PAN-based porous FO membranes have been highlighted in this work. Also, the performance of these FO membranes was investigated. Finally, perspectives and potential directions for further study on PAN-based FO membranes are presented in light of the developments in this area. This review is expected to aid the scientific community in creating novel effective porous FO polymeric membranes based on PAN polymer for various water and wastewater treatment applications.

Virus-Like Magnetic Heterostructure: an Outstanding Metal-Complex Active Platform Enables High-Efficiency Separation and Catalysis

Assembled heterostructure systems, as emerging functional materials, have broad applications ranging from enzyme and drug payload to catalysis and purification. However, these require trial- and -error design process and complex experimental environment to generate heterostructure materials. Here, this study describes an easy-to-execute strategy to fabricate magnetic heterostructure as multifunctional delivery system. We utilize first-row transition metal copper and nitroso/amino ligand as modules to assemble around Fe3 O4 magnetic nanoparticles by excessed mild stimuli and fabricate the magnetic heterostructure materials (Fe3 O4 @ TACN NPs (tetraamminecopper (II) nitrate)). Notably, the Fe3 O4 @ TACN NPs present with cat's-whisker structure containing ligand and metal center. The nitroso-group ligands exhibit strong binding affinity to heme-structure enzyme, ensuring effective capture and isolate of cytochrome C (Cyt-c), resulting in their excellent isolation property. The copper complex-powered magnetic heterostructure materials can effectively isolation Cyt-c from complex biological sample (pork heart). Importantly, the Fe3 O4 @ TACN NPs coordinated with heme-structure, induced methionine 80 (Met80) disassociates from heme prosthetic group, and contributed to peroxidase-like (POD-like) activities increasing. These results exhibit that copper complex-powered magnetic heterostructure materials can not only satisfy the Cyt-c isolation and immobilization in an alkaline medium, but also be of the potential for improving the immobilization enzyme reactor performance.

Separation and purification of alkaloids and phenolic acids from Phellodendron chinense by pH-zone refining and online-storage inner-recycling counter-current chromatography

In this work, eight compounds from Phellodendron chinense were separated and purified by pH-zone refining counter-current chromatography and traditional counter-current chromatography coupled with online-storage inner-recycling counter-current chromatography (IRCCC). The pH-zone-refining mode was adopted for separating 2.0 g of crude extract with the solvent system of chloroform-methanol-water (4:3:3, v/v), in which 10 mM hydrochloric acid and 10 mM triethylamine were added in the stationary and mobile phases, respectively. Meanwhile, traditional counter-current chromatography coupled with online-storage IRCCC separation was performed by the solvent system of n-hexane-ethyl acetate-methanol-water (5:5:2:8, v/v). Finally, eight compounds, including six alkaloids as 6-methylpiperidin-2-one(1), isoplatydesmine(4), berlambine(5), epiberberine(6), palmatine(7), berberine(8) and two phenolic acids as ferulic acid(2), isoferulic acid(3), were successfully obtained using these three different CCC modes with the purities over 95.0%.

Repartnering of women in the United States: The interplay between motherhood and socio-economic status

We examine the socio-economic differentials in mothers' and non-mothers' repartnering behaviours following the dissolution of a co-residential (marital or cohabiting) union. Based on five waves of the National Survey of Family Growth (N = 11,479), we use discrete-time event history models, jointly modelling exit from a partnership and entry into a new union. Few differences are found for entry into direct marriage, which is a rarely observed event. However, when we examine women's entry into cohabitation (a possible stepping stone to marriage), we observe: (1) a motherhood gap, where mothers are less likely to repartner than non-mothers; (2) a negative association between educational attainment and repartnering probability; and (3) the motherhood gap existing only for low-educated women. Supplementary analyses on the impact of the Great Recession demonstrate that whereas the economic cycle mattered for the repartnering of low-educated women, it made no difference for more highly educated women.

[Growing up with an EBH, an example of pediatric-adult transition in the field of rare diseases]

The transition from pediatrics to adult wards concerns all chronic diseases with a pediatric onset, but there are a number of specific features in the case of severe forms of hereditary epidermolysis bullosa: worsening wound surface and chronicity with age, appearance or increase in certain complications (carcinological, renal, nutritional, dental), sometimes difficult therapeutic choices, sometimes life-threatening prognosis. But one of the major problems limiting the patient's autonomy is the difficulty of finding a paramedic to take over skin care, often provided from birth by a parent who has become a caregiver through necessity.

Recent Study of Separation and Identification of Micro- and Nanoplastics for Aquatic Products

Micro- and nanoplastics (MNPs) are polymeric compounds widely used in industry and daily life. Although contamination of aquatic products with MNPs exists, most current research on MNPs focuses on environmental, ecological, and toxicological studies, with less on food safety. Currently, the extent to which aquatic products are affected depends primarily on the physical and chemical properties of the consumed MNPs and the content of MNPs. This review presents new findings on the occurrence of MNPs in aquatic products in light of their properties, carrier effects, chemical effects, seasonality, spatiality, and differences in their location within organisms. The latest studies have been summarized for separation and identification of MNPs for aquatic products as well as their physical and chemical properties in aquatic products using fish, bivalves, and crustaceans as models from a food safety perspective. Also, the shortcomings of safety studies are reviewed, and guidance is provided for future research directions. Finally, gaps in current knowledge on MNPs are also emphasized.

The Latest Achievements of Liquid Membranes for Rare Earth Elements Recovery from Aqueous Solutions-A Mini Review

The systematic increase in the use of rare earth elements (REEs) in various technologically advanced products around the world (e.g., in electronic devices), the growing amount of waste generated by the use of high-tech materials, and the limited resources of naturally occurring REE ores resulted in an intensive search for effective and environmentally safe methods for recovering these elements. Among these methods, techniques based on the application of various types of liquid membranes (LMs) play an important role, primarily due to their high efficiency, the simplicity of membrane formation and use, the utilization of only small amounts of environmentally hazardous reagents, and the possibility of simultaneous extraction and back-extraction and reusing the membranes after regeneration. However, because both primary and secondary sources (e.g., waste) of REEs are usually complex and contain a wide variety of components, and the selectivity and efficiency of LMs depend on many factors (e.g., the composition and form of the membrane, nature of the recovered ions, composition of the feed and stripping phases, etc.), new membranes are being developed that are "tailored" to the properties of the recovered rare earth elements and to the character of the solution in which they occur. This review describes the latest achievements (since 2019) related to the recovery of a range of REEs with the use of various liquid membranes (supported liquid membranes (SLMs), emulsion liquid membranes (ELMs), and polymer inclusion membranes (PIMs)), with particular emphasis on methods that fall within the trend of eco-friendly solutions.

Recent Update Roles of Magnetic Nanoparticles in Circulating Tumor Cell (CTC)/Non-CTC Separation

Metastasis of cancer is a major cause of death worldwide. Circulating tumor cells (CTCs) are important in the metastatic process of cancer. CTCs are able to circulate in the bloodstream. Therefore, they can be used as biomarkers of metastasis. However, CTCs are rare when compared to a large number of blood cells in the blood. Many CTC detection methods have been developed to increase CTC detection efficiency. Magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) have attracted immense attention owing to their potential medical applications. They are particularly appealing as a tool for cell separation. Because of their unique properties, MNPs are of considerable interest for the enrichment of CTCs through CTC or non-CTC separation. Herein, we review recent developments in the application of MNPs to separate CTCs or non-CTCs in samples containing CTCs. This review provides information on new approaches that can be used to detect CTCs in blood samples. The combination of MNPs with other particles for magnetic-based cell separation for CTC detection is discussed. Furthermore, different approaches for synthesizing MNPs are included in this review.

Armoring of MgO by a Passivation Layer Impedes Direct Air Capture of CO2

It has been proposed to use magnesium oxide (MgO) to separate carbon dioxide directly from the atmosphere at the gigaton level. We show experimental results on MgO single crystals reacting with the atmosphere for longer (decades) and shorter (days to months) periods with the goal of gauging reaction rates. Here, we find a substantial slowdown of an initially fast reaction as a result of mineral armoring by reaction products (surface passivation). In short-term experiments, we observe fast hydroxylation, carbonation, and formation of amorphous hydrated magnesium carbonate at early stages, leading to the formation of crystalline hydrated Mg carbonates. The preferential location of Mg carbonates along the atomic steps on the crystal surface of MgO indicates the importance of the reactive site density for carbonation kinetics. The analysis of 27-year-old single-crystal MgO samples demonstrates that the thickness of the reacted layer is limited to ∼1.5 μm on average, which is thinner than expected and indicates surface passivation. Thus, if MgO is to be employed for direct air capture of CO2, surface passivation must be circumvented.

[Recent developments in the application of covalent organic frameworks in capillary electrochromatography]

Capillary electrochromatography (CEC) has received increased attention from the academic community because it combines the excellent selectivity of high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and the high efficiency of capillary electrophoresis (CE). Selecting the most appropriate stationary phase material is crucial to achieve better separation effects in CEC. In recent years, a considerable number of materials, such as graphene oxide, proteins, metal organic frameworks, and covalent organic frameworks (COFs), have been widely used as stationary phases in CEC to further improve its separation performance and extend its scope of potential applications. Among these materials, COFs have shown great application prospects in CEC owing to their unique properties, which include high porosity, large surface area, excellent stability, tunable pore size, and high designability of the framework structure. This review systematically summarizes published papers on the development and application of COFs in CEC from 2016 to 2023. First, two COF-based capillary columns (i. e., open-tube CEC columns and monolithic CEC columns) and their preparation methods are introduced. Second, the applications of CEC based on COF stationary phases in the separation of environmental endocrine disruptors, pesticides, aromatic compounds, amino acids, and drugs, particularly chiral drugs, are systematically summarized. The separation mechanism of CEC based on COF stationary phases is also introduced. At present, the good separation ability of COF-based CEC is mainly attributed to two factors: 1) The size exclusion effect of the pores of the COF stationary phase. Because of differences in the sizes of their organic molecular building units and side chains, COFs have varying pore sizes and topological structures. Thus, target analytes smaller than the pores of the COFs can enter the frameworks and interact with them during separation. On the other hand, target analytes larger than the pores of the COFs cannot enter the frameworks and interact with them during separation; thus, they can be separated. 2) The interactions between the target analytes and side chains (e. g., hydrophobic interactions, hydrogen bonding, π-π interactions, etc.) of the COFs. Since COFs usually contain alkyl side chains, aromatic structures, and oxygen and/or nitrogen atoms with high electronegativity, various interactions could occur between the COFs and target analytes. Finally, directions for the future development and strategic application of CEC based on COF stationary phases are proposed. We believe that future research in CEC based on COF stationary phases should focus on the following aspects: 1) The use of cheminformatics to design and construct COFs to improve the efficiency of COF capillary column preparation; 2) the development of milder methods to synthesize COFs that can meet the requirements of high performance COF capillary columns; and 3) in-depth research to explore the separation mechanism of CEC based on COF stationary phases to provide theoretical guidance for developing CEC methods suitable for the separation and analysis of complex samples.

Separation, characterization and anti-inflammatory activities of galactoglycerolipids from Perilla frutescens (L.) Britton

The study was to optimize the separation procedures, characterize the galactoglycerolipids and explore their anti-inflammatory activities. Two monogalactosyldiacylglycerols (MGDGs) and three digalactosyldiacylglycerols (DGDGs) from Perilla frutescens (L.) Britton were obtained through one-step silica gel column chromatography and preparative high-performance liquid chromatography with evaporative light scattering detection (HPLC-ELSD). The presence of additional MGDG (1-O-9Z,12Z,15Z-octadecatrienoyl-2-O-7Z,10Z,13Z-hexadecatrienoyl-3-O-(β-D-galactopyranosyl)-sn-glycerol) and DGDG (1-O-9Z,12Z-octadecadienoyl-2-O-9Z,12Z,15Z-octadecatrienoyl-3-O-(β-D-galactopyranosyl-(1'→6'')-α-D-galactopyranosyl)-sn-glycerol) was concluded for the first time in perilla, by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR). In lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced RAW264.7 cells, five galactoglycerolipids exhibited good inhibitory activities against nitric oxide (NO) production and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) gene expression in a dose-dependent manner, suggesting that fatty acid chain length and unsaturation degree affected their anti-inflammatory activities.

[Research progress on the construction and applications of metal-organic frameworks in chromatographic stationary phases]

Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) are a class of porous crystalline materials composed of metal centers or clusters assembled with organic ligands. These materials possess excellent properties, such as large surface areas, high porosities, uniform pore sizes, and diverse structures. Thus, MOFs have been widely applied in various fields, including catalysis, adsorption, sensing, sample pretreatment, and chromatographic separation. The applications of MOFs as stationary phases for chromatographic separation and analysis have attracted considerable attention from the research community in recent years. Compared with traditional chromatographic stationary phases, such as mesoporous silica, nanoparticles, and porous layers, MOFs possess flexible and tunable pore sizes and structures, thereby enabling precise control over their intermolecular interactions. Furthermore, the wide range of functional ligands and topologies of MOFs could potentially facilitate the separation and analysis of complex samples. These unique advantages render MOFs highly suitable for constructing novel chromatographic stationary phases.This article focuses primarily on the construction methods of MOFs as chromatographic stationary phases, and provides an overview of the latest research advancements in their applications in several chromatographic separation techniques such as high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), gas chromatography (GC), and capillary electrochromatography (CEC). The existing methods for the preparation and construction of MOFs-based chromatographic stationary phases are classified and evaluated. The construction methods for MOFs as stationary phases for HPLC mainly include filling, precursor-doped polymerization, and post-modification. The construction methods for MOFs as stationary phases for GC predominantly include in situ growth, static coating, and dynamic coating. The stationary phases for CEC can be categorized into packed columns, monolithic columns, and open-tubular columns. Compared with monolithic and packed columns, open-tubular CEC (OT-CEC) offers numerous advantages, including a more flexible and convenient preparation method, enhanced compatibility with various separation media, and higher separation efficiency. Consequently, OT-CEC has emerged as an important method for investigating the preparation of stationary phases for CEC. Several methods such as physical adsorption, covalent attachment, and electrostatic interactions have been developed for the preparation and modification of MOFs-based CEC stationary phases, and extensive studies have been conducted to optimize the performance and applications of MOFs in OT-CEC. However, the existing methods for constructing MOFs-based chromatographic stationary phases present certain limitations. Therefore, the selection of the appropriate MOFs, optimization of their preparation methods, and examination of their performance in different separation modes have become the focus of intensive research.This review also summarizes the different analytical targets (e. g., chiral small molecules, biomacromolecules, and nonchiral molecules) and corresponding separation effects achieved using various MOFs-based chromatographic stationary phases. Finally, future studies focusing on the development of MOFs as chromatographic separation media are discussed. Overall, this review provides a valuable reference for the rational construction and practical applications of advanced MOFs-based chromatographic stationary phases.

Electric-Field-Induced Assembly of an Ionic Liquid-Water Interphase Enables Efficient Heavy Metal Electrosorption

Controlling ion desolvation, transport, and charge transfer at the electrode-electrolyte interface (EEI) is critical to enable the rational design of the efficient and selective separation of targeted heavy metals and the decontamination of industrial wastewater. The main challenge is to sufficiently resolve and interrogate the desolvation of solvated metal ions and their subsequent electroreduction at the EEI and establish pathways to modulate these intermediate steps to achieve efficient energy transfer for targeted reactive separations. Herein, we obtained a predictive understanding of modulating the desolvation and electrosorption of Pb2+ cations using the hydrophobic ionic liquid 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride (EMIMCl) in aqueous electrolyte. We revealed the formation of a compact interphase layer consisting of EMIMCl-Pb complexes under an applied electric field using operando electrochemical Raman spectroscopy, atomic force microscopy, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy measurements combined with classical molecular dynamics simulations. A lower negative potential was shown to result in the formation of a well-oriented layer with the positive imidazolium ring of EMIMCl lying perpendicular to the electrode and the hydrophobic alkyl chain extending into the bulk electrolyte. This oriented layer, which formed from a dilute concentration of EMIMCl added to the electrolyte, was demonstrated to facilitate desolvation of incoming solvated Pb2+ cations and decrease the charge transfer resistance for Pb electrodeposition, which has important implications for the selective removal of Pb from contaminated mixtures. Overall, our findings open up new opportunities to modulate ion desolvation using hydrophobic ionic liquids in aqueous electrolytes for efficient heavy-metal separation.

Polymeric Inclusion Membranes Based on Ionic Liquids for Selective Separation of Metal Ions

In this work, poly(vinyl chloride)-based polymeric ionic liquid inclusion membranes were used in the selective separation of Fe(III), Zn(II), Cd(II), and Cu(II) from hydrochloride aqueous solutions. The ionic liquids under study were 1-octyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate, [omim+][PF6-] and methyl trioctyl ammonium chloride, [MTOA+][Cl-]. For this purpose, stability studies of different IL/base polymer compositions against aqueous phases were carried out. Among all polymer inclusion membranes studied, [omim+][PF6-]/PVC membranes at a ratio of 30/70 and [MTOA+][Cl-]/PVC membranes at a ratio of 70/30 were able to retain up to 82% and 48% of the weight of the initial ionic liquid, respectively, after being exposed to a solution of metal ions in 1 M HCl for 2048 h (85 days). It was found that polymer inclusion membranes based on the ionic liquid methyl trioctyl ammonium chloride allowed the selective separation of Zn(II)/Cu(II) and Zn(II)/Fe(III) mixtures with separation factors of 1996, 606 and, to a lesser extent but also satisfactorily, Cd(II)/Cu(II) mixtures, with a separation factor of 112. Therefore, selecting the appropriate ionic liquid/base polymer mixture makes it possible to create polymeric inclusion membranes capable of selectively separating target metal ions.

Maternal satisfaction with joint and sole child physical placement arrangements following separation in Wisconsin and Finland

Families (and sometimes courts) make important decisions regarding child physical custody arrangements post-separation, and shared parenting arrangements are increasingly common in most developed countries. Shared arrangements may be differentially associated with parental satisfaction, and these associations may vary across countries. Using data from surveys of separated mothers in Wisconsin and Finland, the present study explores this possibility and is guided by three aims: (a) to identify child and family characteristics associated with sole and shared child placements 6 or more years after separation; (b) to estimate associations of children's post-separation placements with maternal satisfaction with placements and expense sharing; (c) to examine whether the relationship between post-separation placement and maternal satisfaction varies by mothers' earnings and the quality of parents' relationships. We find that Finnish mothers with shared placement are more satisfied with their placement than are their counterparts with sole placement, while we find the inverse is true for Wisconsin mothers. Moreover, parental satisfaction with shared placement, overall and relative to sole placement, varies greatly depending on the quality of a mother's relationship with the other parent; and differences in relationship quality in Wisconsin and Finland may help explain the difference in satisfaction with shared placement in the two locations. In both Finland and Wisconsin, we find mothers with shared placement are more satisfied with the way expenses are shared between parents than are mothers with sole placement. Associations between placement and satisfaction are robust to extensive controls for child and maternal characteristics.

Material Design Strategies for Recovery of Critical Resources from Water

Population growth, urbanization, and decarbonization efforts are collectively straining the supply of limited resources that are necessary to produce batteries, electronics, chemicals, fertilizers, and other important products. Securing the supply chains of these critical resources via the development of separation technologies for their recovery represents a major global challenge to ensure stability and security. Surface water, groundwater, and wastewater are emerging as potential new sources to bolster these supply chains. Recently, a variety of material-based technologies have been developed and employed for separations and resource recovery in water. Judicious selection and design of these materials to tune their properties for targeting specific solutes is central to realizing the potential of water as a source for critical resources. Here, the materials that are developed for membranes, sorbents, catalysts, electrodes, and interfacial solar steam generators that demonstrate promise for applications in critical resource recovery are reviewed. In addition, a critical perspective is offered on the grand challenges and key research directions that need to be addressed to improve their practical viability.

Purification and structural analysis of a novel polysaccharide from Rehmannia Radix Praeparata

In this paper, the purification, structure, and antioxidant activity of Rehmannia Radix Praeparata polysaccharide (RRPP) were studied. The RRPP was separated using DEAE-52 cellulose and Sephadex G-100. The RRPP consisted of xylose, glucose, rhamnose, galactose, and mannose in ratios of 10.64:5.58:3.52:1.39:1.0. No protein was detected in the RRPP fraction, and the molecular weight of RRPP was about 1.75 × 106  Da. The basic skeleton information was obtained using periodic acid oxidation-Smith degradation, and RRPP contained 1→, 1 → 2, 1 → 3, 1 → 4, 1 → 2,6, 1 → 4,6 or 1 → 6, 1 → 2,3, 1 → 2,3,4, and other glycosidic bonds. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy also showed that RRPP has both α- and β-glycosidic bonds. The in vitro antioxidant activity test showed that RRPP could potentialize scavenging effect on ABTS+· and its scavenging rate was 91.3%.

Does Couples' Division of Labor Influence Union Dissolution? Evidence from Parents of Young Children in Chile

We examined the role of couples' division of labor in the risk of union dissolution among parents of young children in Chile. We looked at whether specialization in the labor market and domestic work predicts union dissolution, and whether these associations differ by parents' marital status and mother's education. Using panel data from the Chilean Encuesta Longitudinal de Primera Infancia (ELPI) 2010 and 2012 waves, we found that specialization in the division of labor is associated with a lower probability of union dissolution among parents of young children in Chile. Unlike prior evidence for the US and the Netherlands, specialization is stabilizing for both married and cohabiting couples. However, there are differences by mother's education. Among mothers with high school education or less, specialization in the division of labor is associated with a lower probability of divorce and separation. On the other hand, among mothers with at least some college education, specialization has no advantage over equality in generating more union stability. Our findings shed light on how the interaction of couple's division of labor and socioeconomic disadvantage may create unequal economic prospects for women and their children following union dissolution.

One-pot synthesis of pillar[5]quinone-amine polymer coated silica as stationary phase for high-performance liquid chromatography

To expand the application of pillararene in chromatographic separation, we designed and fabricated a pillar[5]quinone-amine polymer coated silica through quinone-amine reaction by facile one-pot synthesis method, which was applied as a stationary phase for high-performance liquid chromatography. Separation of hydrophobic compounds, hydrophilic compounds, halogenated aromatic compounds, and 11 aromatic positional isomers was achieved successfully in this stationary phase. Reverse-phase separation mode and hydrophilic-interaction separation mode were proved to exist, indicating the potential application of the mix-mode stationary phase. Studies of chromatographic retention behavior and molecular simulation showed that multiple interactions might play an important role in the separation process, including hydrophobic interaction, hydrogen-bonding interaction, aromatic π-π interaction, electron donor-acceptor interaction, and host-guest interaction. Column repeatability and stability were tested, which showed relative standard deviations of retention time less than 0.2% for continuous 11 injections, and the durability relative standard deviations of retention time were less than 0.91% after 90 days. This novel design strategy would broaden the application of pillararene-based covalent organic polymer in chromatography and separation science.

A Robust and Low-Cost Sulfonated Hypercrosslinked Polymer for Atmospheric Water Harvesting

The availability of freshwater is rapidly declining due to over-exploitation and climate change, with multiple parts of the globe already facing significant freshwater scarcity. Here, a sulfonated hypercrosslinked polymer able to repeatedly harvest significant amounts of water via direct air capture is reported. Water uptake from relative humidities as low as 10% is demonstrated, mimicking some of the harshest environments on Earth. A water harvesting device is used to show repeated uptake and harvesting without significant detriment to adsorbent performance. Desorption is triggered using simulated sunlight, presenting a low-energy route to water harvesting and adsorbent regeneration. The synthesis of sulfonated hypercrosslinked polymer requires only low-cost and readily available reagents, offering excellent potential for scale-up. Due to an almost limitless supply of water vapor from air in most regions around the globe, this approach can transform our ability to address water security concerns.

A novel and high-efficient method for the preparation of heat-stable antifungal factor from Lysobacter enzymogenes by high-speed counter-current chromatography

Heat-stable antifungal factor (HSAF) produced by the biocontrol bacterium Lysobacter enzymogenes shows considerable antifungal activity and has broad application potential in the agricultural and medical fields. There is a great demand for pure HSAF compounds in academic or industrial studies. However, an efficient preparation method that produces a high yield and high purity of HSAF is lacking, limiting the development of HSAF as a new drug. In the present study, high-speed counter-current chromatography (HSCCC) combined with column chromatography was successfully developed for the separation and preparation of HSAF from the crude extract of L. enzymogenes OH11. The crude extract was obtained by macroporous resin adsorption and desorption, and the main impurities were partly removed by ultraviolet light (254 nm) and gel filtration (Sephadex LH-20). In the HSCCC procedure, the selected suitable two-phase solvent system (n-hexane/ethyl acetate/methanol/water = 3:5:4:5, v/v, the lower phase added with 0.1% TFA) with a flow rate of 2.0 mL/min and a sample loading size of 100 mg was optimized for the separation. As a result, a total of 42 mg HSAF with a purity of 97.6% and recovery of 91.7% was yielded in one separation. The structure elucidation based on HR-TOF-MS, 1H and 13C NMR, and antifungal activities revealed that the isolated compound was unambiguously identified as HSAF. These results are helpful for separating and producing HSAF at an industrial scale, and they further demonstrate that HSCCC is a useful tool for isolating bioactive constituents from beneficial microorganisms.

Right in two: capabilities of ion mobility spectrometry for untargeted metabolomics

This mini review focuses on the opportunities provided by current and emerging separation techniques for mass spectrometry metabolomics. The purpose of separation technologies in metabolomics is primarily to reduce complexity of the heterogeneous systems studied, and to provide concentration enrichment by increasing sensitivity towards the quantification of low abundance metabolites. For this reason, a wide variety of separation systems, from column chemistries to solvent compositions and multidimensional separations, have been applied in the field. Multidimensional separations are a common method in both proteomics applications and gas chromatography mass spectrometry, allowing orthogonal separations to further reduce analytical complexity and expand peak capacity. These applications contribute to exponential increases in run times concomitant with first dimension fractionation followed by second dimension separations. Multidimensional liquid chromatography to increase peak capacity in metabolomics, when compared to the potential of running additional samples or replicates and increasing statistical confidence, mean that uptake of these methods has been minimal. In contrast, in the last 15 years there have been significant advances in the resolution and sensitivity of ion mobility spectrometry, to the point where high-resolution separation of analytes based on their collision cross section approaches chromatographic separation, with minimal loss in sensitivity. Additionally, ion mobility separations can be performed on a chromatographic timescale with little reduction in instrument duty cycle. In this review, we compare ion mobility separation to liquid chromatographic separation, highlight the history of the use of ion mobility separations in metabolomics, outline the current state-of-the-art in the field, and discuss the future outlook of the technology. "Where there is one, you're bound to divide it. Right in two", James Maynard Keenan.

Versatile Mesoporous Microblocks Prepared by Pattern-Induced Cracking of Colloidal Films

Mesoporous microparticles have the potential to be used in various fields, such as energy generation, sensing, and the environmental field. Recently, the process of making homogeneous microparticles in an economical and environmentally friendly way has gained much attention. Herein, rectangular mesoporous microblocks of various designs are produced by manipulating the fragmentation of colloidal films consisting of micropyramids while controlling the notch angles of pyramidal edges. During calcination of the colloidal films, cracks are generated in the valleys of micropyramids acting as notches, and the angle of notches can be controlled by the prepattern underneath the micropyramids. By changing the location of notches with sharp angles, the shape of microblocks can be controlled with excellent uniformity. After detaching the microblocks from substrates, mesoporous microparticles of various sizes with multiple functions are easily produced. This study demonstrates anti-counterfeiting functions by encoding the rotation angles of rectangular microblocks of various sizes. In addition, the mesoporous microparticles can be utilized for separating desired chemicals mixed with chemicals of different charges. The method of fabricating size-tunable functionalized mesoporous microblocks can be a platform technology to prepare special films and catalysts and for environmental applications.

Falling, primitive separation and encapsulated body engrams - working through a bodily encoded unconscious syndrome

Besides the symbolic unconscious, psychoanalysis today investigates unconscious structures that are dissociated from mental functioning (Lombardi 2017) and encoded in bodily inscriptions. These bodily configurations often stay outside of the psychoanalytical attention and technique of treatment. Two concepts - encapsulated body engrams and somatic narration - provide a theoretical and technical proposition for the bodily encoded unconscious. Within this frame, the paper focuses on new aspects. It is outlined that the encapsulated body engrams result from a traumatic disorganization of the primal relation to the caregiver leading to an impossibility of a separation from the mother's body. Separation is now feared as a deadly fall into an endless abyss. However, this element is no longer viewed as an unconscious phantasy that can be interpreted but as the perception of a disorganized bodily syndrome that must be worked through with a considerable reverberation-time (Birksted-Breen 2009) in a body-to-body dialogue. Somatic narration encourages the patient to describe his painful bodily perception and invites the body-self to show up during the analytical encounter. Working this way allows the patients disorganized body-self to slowly develop into a container to harbor, organize and symbolize emotions. Four clinical examples illustrate this manner of working.