China Three Gorges University

About: China Three Gorges University is a education organization based out in Yichang, China. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Catalysis & Landslide. The organization has 11161 authors who have published 8011 publications receiving 82224 citations. The organization is also known as: Sanxia Daxue.

Efficient Energy-Transfer-Induced High Photoelectric Conversion in a Dye-Encapsulated Ionic Pyrene-Based Metal-Organic Framework.

Abstract: The relationship between the aggregation states of pyrene-based linkers and the photoluminescence/photoelectric performance was well studied by the formation of an anionic metal-organic framework, [BMI]2[Mg3(TBAPy)2(H2O)4]·2dioxane, which shows highly enhanced light-harvesting and photoelectric conversion efficiency by the encapsulation of D-π-A cation dyes.

Statins attenuate high mobility group box-1 protein induced vascular endothelial activation : a key role for TLR4/NF-κB signaling pathway

Abstract: High mobility group box-1 (HMGB1) has recently been implicated as a proinflammatory cytokine that plays critical roles in endothelial dysfunction and atherosclerosis Atorvastatin, a 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase inhibitor, exerts anti-inflammatory effects in the cardiovascular system beyond its cholesterol-lowering property The aim of our study was to investigate whether atorvastatin inhibits HMGB1-induced vascular endothelial activation, and elucidate the underlying molecular mechanism In this study, we found that atorvastatin, at concentrations ranging from 01 to 10 μM, effectively and in a dose-dependent manner inhibited HMGB1-induced endothelial cells (ECs) activation Incubation of ECs with 10 μM atorvastatin reduced adhesion molecules (ICAM-1 and E-selectin) expression concomitant with a significant inhibition in HMGB1-stimulated leukocyte-endothelial adhesion Further experiments showed that atorvastatin markedly suppressed HMGB1-induced Toll like receptor 4 (TLR4) expression, Nuclear factor kappaB (NF-κB) nuclear translocation and DNA binding activity in ECs Similar effects were also observed in ECs pretreated with the TLR4- specific inhibitor CLI-095, suggesting an important role of TLR4/NF-κB pathway These findings indicate that atorvastatin attenuates HMGB1-induced vascular endothelial activation The underlying mechanism involves, at least in part, inhibition of TLR4/NF-κB-dependent signaling pathway, which provied the new evidence for therapeutic application of statins to target inflammatory processes in cardiovascular disease

Sterilization of Escherichia coli by Photothermal Synergy of WO3-x/C Nanosheet under Infrared Light Irradiation.

Abstract: The application of photocatalytic sterilization technology for the sterilization of water has been broadly studied in recent years. However, developing photocatalysts with high disinfection efficiency remains an urgent challenge. Tungsten trioxide with coexisting oxygen vacancies and carbon coating (WO3-x/C) has been successfully synthesized toward the photothermal inactivation of Escherichia coli. Oxygen vacancies and carbon coating bring WO3-x/C strong absorption in the infrared region and enhance the carrier separation efficiency. As a result, a higher sterilization rate is obtained compared to WO3. WO3-x/C can completely inactivate E. coli under infrared light within 40 min through photothermal synergy process. During the process of inactivating bacteria over WO3-x/C, E. coli is killed by the destruction of their cell membrane to decrease the activity of enzymes and release the cell contents, which can be ascribed to the efficient generation of reactive oxygen species (O2•- and •OH) and thermal effect. This work demonstrates a novel approach for engineering efficient and energy-saving catalysts for water sterilization.

Non-conformity to ENL norms: a perspective from Chinese English users

Abstract: English as a lingua franca (ELF) research poses challenge to mainstream English language teaching (ELT) in terms of its exclusive reference to English as a native language (ENL) On the other hand, some studies have been conducted to show that non-native English speakers (NNESs) have an aspiration for ENL and, in turn, add emphasis to ELT practitioners' effort in helping NNESs to approximate native English speaker (NES) competence In response to the debate, this paper focuses on Chinese English speakers' perceptions of (non-)conformity to ENL in order to offer insights into the extent to which NNESs are ENL-(in)dependent This paper draws on the data contributed by 502 Chinese university students and 267 Chinese professionals through questionnaires and interviews The questionnaire responses displayed a slightly positive orientation towards instances of non-conformity to ENL norms and revealed the respondents' choice between the formulaic conformity and the functions of non-conformity The interviews unfolded the tension between exonormative and endonormative orientations to English The participants' exonormative orientations reflect their belief in the centrality of NESs to norms of English use, their conceptualization of English as a fixed entity, and their aspiration for social advantages that they believe the conformity to ENL norms can bring to them Their endonormative orientations relate to their acknowledgement of the communicative function of English that diverges from the norms of ENL and their concern for their cultural identity, which they believe conflicts with the conformity to ENL norms This paper thus demonstrates that the preference for ENL is only one side of NNESs' attitudinal picture Further, the reasons behind this preference point to the need for change from monolithic English to pluralistic Englishes in mainstream ELT