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Purpose: This study aims to analyze the clinical application value of shear wave elastography (SWE) technique for early diagnosis of diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN). Methods: Diabetic patients hospitalized in the Department of Endocrinology of the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University from August 2021 to February 2022 were enrolled as DPN group (n=38) and non-DPN group (n=35) based on the neurophysiological examination results. 30 healthy subjects were recruited as the control group during the same period. Ultrasound examination of the tibial nerve and related laboratory tests were examined and collected for the total 103 study subjects. Statistical analysis of the collected data, and the receiver operating characteristic(ROC) curve for determination of the optimal cut-off values of mean stiffness of tibial nerve to detect DPN, with determination of area under curve (AUC), specificity, sensitivity, and Youden index.P value < 0.05 is considered statistically significant. Results: Gender, age and BMI differences among three groups were insignificant (P>0.05). The difference of serological indicators between DPN and non-DPN groups was also not found (P>0.05), whereas longer duration of diabetes was observed in DPN group as compared to non-DPN group. As to the ultra-sound relevant parameters, the cross-sectional area and elastic modulus of the tibial nerve in both lower extremities among these three groups were not significantly different (Oneway ANOVA analysis) although the differences were indeed observed if we compared DPN group exclusively with non-DPN group, or compared non-DPN group with healthy group, or compared DPN group with healthy group (t test). Additionally, the mean elasticity (Emean) cut-off value for the diagnosis of DPN was preferably taken as 67.55 kPa. Conclusion: SWE has unique advantages in early detection and diagnosis of DPN, which deserve further research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: We investigated the effect and mechanism of miR-21-3p on the biological behavior of keratinocyte HaCaT cells. Methods: HaCaT cells were transfected with miR-21-3p mimics and miR-21-3p inhibitor, respectively. Cell proliferation was detected by CCK-8, and apoptosis and cell cycle were analyzed by flow cytometry. The expression changes of Bax and Bcl-2 were measured with immunohistochemistry. The mRNA expressions of IL-17A and STAT3 were detected by real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR. Cytokeratin 17 protein was detected by Western blot. The relationship between miR-21-3p and STAT3 was verified by dual luciferase reporter gene assay. Results: The miR-21-3p mimics significantly promoted the proliferation and cell cycle progression of HaCaT cells. However, miR-21-3p mimics significantly inhibited cell apoptosis, decreased Bax expression and increased Bcl-2 expression. Additionally, miR-21-3p mimics significantly increased the expressions of Cytokeratin 17 protein, IL-17A mRNA and STAT3 mRNA. Of note, the miR-21-3p inhibitor exhibited contrary effects to miR-21-3p mimics. Furthermore, STAT3 was a direct target of miR-21-3p. Conclusion: miR-21-3p may promote the abnormal proliferation and inhibit apoptosis of HaCaT cells, possibly through regulating JAK/STAT pathway and the expression of Cytokeratin 17. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aspergillus flavus and Aflatoxins in grain crops give rise to a serious threat to food security and cause huge economic losses. In particular, aflatoxin B1 has been identified as a Class I carcinogen to humans by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC). Compared with conventional methods, Surface-Enhanced Raman Scattering (SERS) has paved the way for the detection of Aspergillus flavus and Aflatoxins in grain crops as it is a rapid, nondestructive, and sensitive analytical method. In this work, the rapid detection of Aspergillus flavus and quantification of Aflatoxin B1 in grain crops were performed by using a portable Raman spectrometer combined with colloidal Au nanoparticles (AuNPs). With the increase of the concentration of Aspergillus flavus spore suspension in the range of 102–108 CFU/mL, the better the combination of Aspergillus flavus spores and AuNPs, the better the enhancement effect of AuNPs solution on the Aspergillus flavus. A series of different concentrations of aflatoxin B1 methanol solution combined with AuNPs were determined based on SERS and their spectra were similar to that of solid powder. Moreover, the characteristic peak increased gradually with the increase of concentration in the range of 0.0005–0.01 mg/L and the determination limit was 0.0005 mg/L, which was verified by HPLC in ppM concentration. This rapid detection method can greatly shorten the detection time from several hours or even tens of hours to a few minutes, which can help to take effective measures to avoid causing large economic losses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • "Extra conjugation" method is developed for NIR TADF OLEDs with high radiance. • Intramolecular hydrogen bonds extend molecular conjugation for accurate modulation. • A high radiance of 95,894 m W Sr−1 m−2 with 744 nm peaked EL emission is realized. • Force and medicine induced SpO 2 variations are detected by 740 nm NIR TADF OLED. Real-time in-home monitoring oxygen saturation (SpO 2) is of great significance for early diagnosis and treatment of severe COVID-19, however, which should be based on multi-wavelength technology and complicated equipment. Herein, as a proof of concept, 740 nm is chosen as singlet light source for single-wavelength SpO 2 detection, since absorbance differences between oxyhemoglobin (HbO 2) and other interferences are the most rational. To controllably optimize excited-state characteristics of a near-infrared (NIR) thermally activated delayed fluorescence (TADF) emitters, an "extra conjugation" method is demonstrated by C NQP-TPA , whose 2,3-dicyanoquinoxaline phenanthroline (CNQP) acceptor forms strong intramolecular hydrogen bonds with two phenyls of triphenylamine (TPA) donors, which not only reduce excited-state relaxation-induced energy lose, but also provide more space for accurate modulation of intermolecular charge transfer (CT) interactions. As consequence, at the suitable doping concentration, CNQP-TPA endowed its device with a high radiance reaching ∼105 mW Sr−1 m−2 and desired electroluminescence peak at 744 nm. This device is further used as light source to detect SpO 2 variation under single-wavelength mode. These results indicate the potential of NIR TADF materials and devices for in-home SpO 2 monitoring and pre-diagnosis and prevention of severe COVID-19. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hypericin is widely utilized for its precise antidepressant properties, but its exact antidepressant mechanism remains unclear. Gap junctions, which were predominantly expressed in astrocytes in the central nervous system, are concerned with the pathogenesis of depression. However, the role of hypericin in gap junctional dysfunction in depression has rarely been investigated. Here, we found that gap junctions were ultra-structurally broadened in the chronic unpredictable stress (CUS) rat model of depression, while hypericin repaired the dysfunction of gap junctions. Suppression of gap junctions by bilateral injection of carbenoxolone (CBX) in the prefrontal cortex of rats significantly inhibited the restoration of gap junctional dysfunction in depression by hypericin. Meanwhile, hypericin failed to show antidepressant benefits. Furthermore, in corticosterone (CORT)-stimulated primary astrocytes derived from neonatal rats, hypericin dramatically reversed the phosphorylation of connexin 43 (Cx43), normalizing the expression of Cx43 and thereby ameliorating gap junctional dysfunction. Comparatively, CBX inhibited the remission of hypericin on gap junctional intercellular communication function. Gap junctional function might be a novel therapeutic target for hypericin in the treatment of depression and provide potential novel insights into the antidepressant mechanism of other herbal ingredients. [Display omitted] • Hypericin has therapeutic efficacy in treating depression. • Hypericin repaired the dysfunction of gap junctions in depression. • Hypericin interacts with Cx43-gap junction channel by molecular docking. • Hypericin relieves depression by improving Cx43-based gap junctional function. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polymer nanocomposites have been widely used in the preparation of coating agents in the leather industry. Considering the complex bio-effect and ecological risk of nanomaterial, research on the biodegradability and biocompatibility of polyacrylate/metal nanocomposites in activated sludge system is of specific significance. We investigated the change of the bacterial community and diversity of activated sludge fed with polyacrylate/ZnO nanocomposites in both low (500 mg COD /L) and high (1000 mg COD/L) doses. COD removal, dehydrogenase activity, and total protein of activated sludge system were monitored in all treatments over 30 days. The results demonstrated that the exposure to both polyacrylate/ ZnO nanocomposite and polyacrylate decreased the dehydrogenase activity at early stage comparing to the control, but had no significant influence on COD removal. Overall, the bacterial communities in activated sludge were resistant to polyacrylate/ZnO nanocomposites, and had higher levels of metabolic activity, protein accumulation and bioavailability when exposed to these chemicals comparing to the control especially at later stages of incubation (15–30 days), which indicated that these polyacrylate/ZnO nanocomposites of certain amount were biocompatible to activated sludge system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • The photophysical properties of heterocyclic analogs of 1,4-cyclohexadiene were studied by theoretical calculation and experiment. • Their photophysical and photochemical properties were found to be related to the incorporation of different heteroatoms on the 1,4-cyclohexadiene ring. • The photophysical properties of heterocyclic analogs of 1,4-cyclohexadiene are meaningful for explaining their photochemical reactivity. The photophysical and photochemical properties of a series of heterocyclic analogs of 1,4-cyclohexadiene were studied by theoretical calculation and experiment. With the incorporation of different heteroatoms, the analogs presented distinct photophysical and photochemical properties from 1,4-cyclohexadiene. Their ultraviolet–visible absorption spectra were measured and found to be related to the heteroatoms on the 1,4-cyclohexadiene ring. Calculation of the geometrical and electronic structures of the ground-states revealed that incorporation of the heteroatom affected the photophysical properties of the molecule. The de-excitation processes and electron transition modes were discussed according to the calculated values of the spin–orbit coupling matrix and the electron-hole distributions of the excited states. The reactive sites and geometrical structures showed that incorporation of a heteroatom into 1,4-cyclohexadiene changed the spin density distribution and thus influenced the photochemical properties. These findings are meaningful in explaining the photo-reactivities of these molecules, and provide foundations for further experimental/theoretical investigations and pharmacological applications based on established structure–property correlations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • "Asymmetric D-A-wA" strategy is demonstrated for high-efficiency red TADF emitters. • Diphenylphosphine oxide as the second acceptor markedly improves TADF properties. • Strong red emission peaked at 645 nm with a high PLQY of 94.7 % is realized. • The maxima of 19360 cd m−2 for luminance and 11.4 % for EQE at 632 nm are achieved. A feasible strategy of asymmetric donor–acceptor-second acceptor (D-A-A) structure is proposed for improving the photoluminecense (PL) and electroluminescence (EL) performance of red thermally activated delayed fluorescence (TADF) emitters. As a concept, four newly TADF emitters are designed and synthesized, D-A-A structure o TPAPO-DTPZ and p TPAPO-DTPZ and D-A-D type o DTPA-DTPZ and p DTPA-DTPZ, by using triphenylamine (TPA), dithieno[2,3- a :3′,2′- c ]phenazine (DTPZ) and diphenylphosphine oxide (DPPO) groups as the donor, acceptor and second acceptor, respectively. It is demonstrated that abound intra- and inter-molecular C H···O hydrogen bonds are forming between TPA donor and DPPO acceptor for the asymmetric compounds, which effectively promote the intra- and inter-molecular charge transfer. Moreover, the steric hindrance of DPPO group availably suppresses the concentration quenching. As a consequence, the asymmetric D-A-A structured o TPAPO-DTPZ and p TPAPO-DTPZ exhibit relatively higher PL quantum yields and lower nonradiation rates, and thus better EL performance. In particular, device based on p TPAPO-DTPZ achieves the maximum luminance of 19360 cd m−2 and external quantum efficiency of 11.4 % at 632 nm, which are 2.3 and 1.5 times the values of p DTPA-DTPZ based device. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Near-infrared TADF emission from phenanthroline based molecule is demonstrated. • NIR emission and radiation efficiency are balanced in CNPP-TPA. • Strong NIR emission peaked at 701 nm with PLQY of 96.5% is realized. • A maximum EQE (8.69%) of vacuum-evaporated device peaked at 684 nm is achieved. • A maximum EQE (2.02%) of spin-coated device peaked at 700 nm is achieved. Efficient thermally activated delayed fluorescence (TADF) emitters are of practical significance for realizing high-performance organic light emitting diodes (OLEDs), which remains the great challenge for near-infrared (NIR) emitters because of their narrow bandgap worsened non-radiative transition. Herein, a NIR TADF molecule (CNPP-TPA) is reported, composed of 2,3-dicyanopyrazino phenanthroline (CNPP) as acceptor and triphenylamine as donor. The strong electron-withdrawing effect of CNPP and intramolecular hydrogen bond endow CNPP-TPA with efficient NIR photoluminescence emission peaked at 701 nm with a high photoluminescence quantum yield of 96.5%, owing to rapid singlet radiation and effective reverse intersystem crossing. Vacuum -evaporated and spin-coated organic light-emitting diodes exhibit the NIR emissions respectively peaked at 684 nm and 700 nm, corresponding to Commission International de L'Eclairage (CIE) coordinates of (0.68, 0.31) and (0.69, 0.30), respectively. Significantly, these two devices achieved the state-of-the-art external quantum efficiencies of 8.69% and 2.02%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The elongation factor Tu (EF-Tu) receptor (EFR) in cruciferous plants specifically recognizes the N-terminal acetylated elf18 region of bacterial EF-Tu and thereby activates plant immunity. It has been demonstrated that Arabidopsis EFR confers broad-spectrum bacterial resistance in the EFR transgenic solanaceous plants. Here, the transgenic rice plants (Oryza sativa L. ssp. japonica cv. Zhonghua 17) and cell cultures with constitutive expression of AtEFR were developed to investigate whether AtEFR senses EF-Tu and thus enhances bacterial resistance in the monocot plants. We demonstrated that the Xanthomonas oryzae-derived elf18 peptide induced oxidative burst and mitogen-activated protein kinase activation in the AtEFR transgenic rice cells and plants, respectively. Pathogenesis-related genes, such as OsPBZ1, were upregulated dramatically in transgenic rice plant and cell lines in response to elf18 stimulation. Importantly, pretreatment with elf18 triggered strong resistance to X. oryzae pv. oryzae in the transgenic plants, which was largely dependent on the AtEFR expression level. These plants also exhibited enhanced resistance to rice bacterial brown stripe, but not to rice fungal blast. Collectively, the results indicate that the rice plants with heterologous expression of AtEFR recognize bacterial EF-Tu and exhibit enhanced broad-spectrum bacterial disease resistance and that pattern recognition receptor-mediated immunity may be manipulated across the two plant classes, dicots and monocots. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ginsenoside Rg1, a traditional Chinese medicine monomer, has been shown to have antidepressant effects. We previously found that Rg1 exerts antidepressant effects by improving the gap junction channels (GJCs) dysfunction; however, the downstream mechanisms through which Rg1 ameliorates GJC dysfunction remain unclear. Since hemichannels directly release glutamate, GJC dysfunction decreases the expression levels of glutamate transporters in astrocytes, and glutamatergic system dysfunction plays an essential role in the pathogenesis of depression. The glutamatergic system may be a potential downstream target of Rg1 that exerts antidepressant effects. Therefore, in this study, we aimed to determine the downstream mechanisms by which Rg1 ameliorated GJC dysfunction and exerted its antidepressant effects. Corticosterone (CORT) is used to mimic high glucocorticoid levels in patients with depression in vitro. Primary cortical astrocytes were isolated and phosphorylation of connexin43 (Cx43) as well as the functions of hemichannels, GJCs, and the glutamatergic system were evaluated after drug treatment. Rg1 pretreatment reversed the anomalous activation of Cx43 phosphorylation as well as the dysfunction of hemichannels, GJCs, and the glutamatergic system induced by CORT. These results suggest that Rg1 can ameliorate CORT-induced dysfunction of the glutamatergic system in astrocytes by potentially reducing Cx43 phosphorylation and inhibiting opening of hemichannels, thereby improving GJC dysfunction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to develop a simple, sensitive, low-cost, environmentally friendly and flexible surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) platform, combined with a portable Raman spectrometer, for the rapid and on-site SERS detection of bacteria. Commercial tobacco packaging paper (TPP) with little background interference was used as a loading medium that effectively adsorbed Au nanoparticles and provided sufficient "hot spots". This Au-tobacco packaging paper (Au-TPP) substrate used as a flexible SERS platform can maximize sample collection by wiping irregular surfaces, and was successfully applied to the on-site and rapid detection of pathogenic bacteria. Raman fingerprints of pathogenic bacteria can be obtained by SERS detection of spiked pork using wipeable Au-TPP, which verifies its value in practical applications. The results collected by SERS were further verified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) results. It showed several advantages in on-site SERS detection, including accurate discrimination, simple preparation, easy operation, good sensitivity, accuracy and reproducibility. This study indicates that the established flexible SERS platform has good practical applications in pathogenic bacterial identification and other rapid detections. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Four types of ZIF-8 polyhedral carbons were successfully synthesized. • ZIF-8/C-R2 exhibited high reversible capacity and excellent rate capability compared to other three ZIF-8/C polyhedrons. • Vertices and edges provide more lithium-ion storage sites. • ZIF-8/C-R2 with more vertices and edges has structural advantages to accelerate the transport of lithium-ions. Polyhedral carbons from zeolitic imidazolate frameworks (ZIFs) have been studied as anode materials for lithium-ion batteries, because their topological feature enabled ideal research objects. However, the similarities and differences of lithium-ion storage behavior between ZIFs polyhedral carbons have not been systematically studied. Here we synthesized four kinds of ZIF-8 polyhedral carbons, including cubes (ZIF-8/C-C), small rhombicuboctahedrons (ZIF-8/C-R1), large rhombicuboctahedrons (ZIF-8/C-R2) and dodecahedrons (ZIF-8/C-D), and well-studied their storage behavior. The as-made ZIF-8/C-R2 with 24 vertexes and 48 edges exhibited superior electrochemical performance (657 mAh g−1 at 0.1 A g−1) compared to other ZIF-8/C polyhedrons with less vertexes and edges. In situ TEM was employed to observe the lithiation process of various ZIF-8/C polyhedrons, showing that the solid electrolyte interface films were initiated to form at the vertex sites followed by the edges, which indicates that it is reasonable to design advanced polyhedral electrode materials with abundant vertexes and edges by applying Euler's formula. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thermal comfort evaluations in the built environment are essential to occupant's satisfaction and also building energy consumption. Traditionally, thermal comfort has been assessed by Fanger's PMV model that was developed based on extensive laboratory tests. However, it's been found that PMV predictions are not good in field studies, especially in buildings with natural ventilation. In this paper, machine learning (ML) algorithms were used to predicted occupants' thermal comfort votes (TCV) and thermal sensation votes (TSV), using 5512 sets of thermal comfort data collected in naturally ventilated residential buildings in fourteen cities in China. Environmental parameters, personal parameters, climatic types, and adaptive control measures were considered and used as input parameters for the ML model. It was found that environmental parameters (both outdoors and indoors), personal parameters (metabolic rate and clothing insulation), and climatic types all significant affect both TCV and TSV, while adaptive control measures only affect TSV but not TCV. Comparing with established models (PMV, ePMV and aPMV), the ML models had smaller errors in predicting TSV and TCV. Based on these results, we suggest that the ML, especially ANNs model was reliable in predicting occupants' TCV and TSV in naturally ventilated residential buildings, and performed better than traditional thermal balance based models. Moreover, using the new model, we found that acceptable temperature ranges in naturally ventilated buildings were far wider than the ASHRAE adaptive comfort zone, suggesting that appropriate models should be established based on local data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this manuscript, is addressed the computational prediction of five new allotropes based on the Squaroglitter structure (t P8 carbon). DFT calculations of t P12, t P16, t P24, o P12 and o P18 allotropes attest their nanotube and cage type. It is determined that they display dynamical and mechanical stability. Regarding the mechanical stability, the calculated values of the shear modulo and Young's moduli of tP167 and oP12 structures are greater than value depicted by the Squaroglitter. Although in general the studied structures, have a smaller mechanical anisotropy in their Young's modulus when compared against the parent structure. In addition, the tP16 structure has a direct band gap of circa 1.61 eV. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Modern perioperative guidelines encourage drinking oral carbohydrates 2 h before management. Nevertheless, research on the safety of preoperative carbohydrate drinks, particularly in extremely elderly patients is lacking. We aimed to evaluate the safety of carbohydrate drinks 2 h before surgery in extremely elderly patients (≥ 80 years) using gastric ultrasonography. Methods: We conducted a randomized prospective comparative study of 70 patients aged over 80 years who were scheduled for total knee arthroplasty, hip fracture or humerus fracture surgery. These patients were randomly assigned to the carbohydrate group (n = 35), which fasted from midnight, except for drinking 355 mL of a carbohydrate-containing fluid 2 h before surgery, or the fasting group (n = 35), which fasted from midnight and drank no fluid before surgery. The primary outcome of the study was the cross-sectional area (CSA) of the gastric antrum in the right lateral decubitus position (RLDP) before surgery. The secondary outcomes included CSA in the supine position, intraoperative blood glucose levels and their variability coefficients, Perlas grade, and the visual analog scale of subjective feelings. Results: The CSA in the RLDP and supine positions revealed no differences between the carbohydrate and fasting groups at 0 h preoperatively (P > 0.05). In the qualitative assessment, preoperative 0-h Perlas grading did not differ significantly between the groups (P > 0.05). From 2 h before surgery to transfer out of the post-anesthesia care unit, the average blood glucose level of patients in the carbohydrate group was significantly higher than that in the fasting group (P < 0.001) but remained within the normal range. Moreover, the blood glucose variability coefficient was significantly lower in the carbohydrate group than in the fasting group (P = 0.009). Oral intake of 355 mL carbohydrates before surgery significantly relieved patients' feelings (P < 0.001). Conclusion: Preoperative consumption of carbohydrate drinks 2 h before surgery is safe in "healthy" extremely elderly patients. In addition, preoperative drinking has potential value in maintaining ideal blood glucose levels and stable blood glucose fluctuations perioperatively and improving subjective perceptions of preoperative preparation. This finding warrants further investigation in clinical practice. Trial registration: Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (Registration Number ChiCTR1900024812), first registered on 29/07/2019. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to solve the geometric offset caused by replacing the filter during imaging of multichannel spectral image data, a multichannel spectral image registration method based on SURF feature merged with maximum submatrix is proposed. Firstly, the feature of multichannel spectral image is extracted by SURF. Then, a perspective transformation is performed to obtain a preliminary registration image. For the problem of invalid areas with zero pixel values appearing at the boundary of the image after registration, the largest submatrix is used to detect the maximum inscribed rectangle of the image to remove the invalid boundary region, and maximize the reserved effective region information. Experimented was processed with multichannel imaging data of murals. Experimental results agree with the theoretic analysis and verified that the proposed registration method is better adapted to image scale and brightness changing. At the same time, it can avoid the influence of invalid regions generated by other registration methods on subsequent spectral reconstruction and color restoration which has better performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The antidiabetic effects of Ge-Gen-Qin-Lian-Tang decoction (GQD) have been proven clinically. In a pharmacological study conducted on STZ-induced diabetic rats, the constitutive aggregates/sediments of Ge-Gen-Qin-Lian-Tang decoction exhibited stronger hypoglycemic and antioxidant activities compared to the soluble compositions. This study aims to demonstrate the pharmacological properties of aggregates derived from GQD by measuring permeability of the active monomer phytochemicals (e.g., baicalin) in a Caco-2 cell monolayer and determine the cellular viability, intracellular redox status (MDA and SOD), and insulin secretion of pancreatic β-cell line, INS-1, following STZ-induced oxidative stress. The aggregates were separated into three fractions, namely, “MA (microaggregates),” “400 g supernatant,” and “MNA (micro-/nanoaggregates),” by centrifugation at 400 ×g and 15000 ×g, respectively. Aggregates in the sediment increased baicalin absorption, showed little toxicity to β-cells, elevated intracellular SOD levels, and significantly suppressed oxidative damage effects on cellular viability and functions. The “MA” fraction had a larger particle size and provided higher antioxidant cellular protection than “MNA” in vitro, implying that the sediments may be the active components in the herbal decoction. The actions of these micro-/nanoaggregates may provide a new perspective for understanding the antidiabetic effects of herbal decoctions and aid in interpretation of synergistic actions between the multiple components. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, thermo-responsive PNIPAM@AgBr/CSs composite photocatalysts were successfully fabricated by grafting method. The thermo-responsive composite photocatalysts were further characterized by SEM, EDS, XRD, FT-IR, DRS and PL, the results demonstrated that the surface of CSs was successfully loaded with AgBr and further grafted with PNIPAM, and the grafted PNIPAM not only obtained the thermo-responsive performance, but also synergistically enhanced visible light photocatalytic activity toward degradation of tetracycline (TC) antibiotics. The influenced factors of photocatalytic degradation were also investigated, the results showed that the dosage of PNIPAM and the reacted temperature were obviously affected the degradation rate of TC. Lastly, the photocatalytic degradation mechanism of as-obtained thermo-sensitive photocatalyst was also discussed in detail. This work might offer a way to obtain the intelligently composite materials for switchable photocatalytic processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Strigolactones (SLs) are a class of phytohormones that regulate plant shoot branching and adventitious root development. However, little is known regarding the role of SLs in controlling the behavior of the smallest unit of the organism, the single cell. Here, taking advantage of a classic single-cell model offered by the cotton (Gossypium hirsutum) fiber cell, we show that SLs, whose biosynthesis is fine-tuned by gibberellins (GAs), positively regulate cell elongation and cell wall thickness by promoting the biosynthesis of very long-chain fatty acids (VLCFAs) and cellulose, respectively. Furthermore, we identified two layers of transcription factors (TFs) involved in the hierarchical regulation of this GA–SL crosstalk. The top-layer TF GROWTH-REGULATING FACTOR 4 (GhGRF4) directly activates expression of the SL biosynthetic gene DWARF27 (D27) to increase SL accumulation in fiber cells and GAs induce GhGRF4 expression. SLs induce the expression of four second-layer TF genes (GhNAC100-2 , GhBLH51 , GhGT2 , and GhB9SHZ1), which transmit SL signals downstream to two ketoacyl-CoA synthase genes (KCS) and three cellulose synthase (CesA) genes by directly activating their transcription. Finally, the KCS and CesA enzymes catalyze the biosynthesis of VLCFAs and cellulose, respectively, to regulate development of high-grade cotton fibers. In addition to providing a theoretical basis for cotton fiber improvement, our results shed light on SL signaling in plant development at the single-cell level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to improve the accuracy of signal recovery after transmitting over atmospheric turbulence channel, a deep-learning-based signal detection method is proposed for a faster-than-Nyquist (FTN) hybrid modulated optical wireless communication (OWC) system. It takes advantage of the long short-term memory (LSTM) network in the recurrent neural network (RNN) to alleviate the interdependence problem of adjacent symbols. Moreover, an LSTM attention decoder is constructed by employing the attention mechanism, which can alleviate the shortcomings in conventional LSTM. The simulation results show that the bit error rate (BER) performance of the proposed LSTM attention neural network is 1 dB better than that of the back propagation (BP) neural network and outperforms by 2.5 dB when compared with the maximum likelihood sequence estimation (MLSE) detection method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Heat stress is a major abiotic stress affecting the growth and development of plants, including crop species. Plants have evolved various adaptive strategies to help them survive heat stress, including maintaining membrane stability, encoding heat shock proteins (HSPs) and ROS-scavenging enzymes, and inducing molecular chaperone signaling. Brassinosteroids (BRs) are phytohormones that regulate various aspects of plant development, which have been implicated also in plant responses to heat stress, and resistance to heat in Arabidopsis thaliana is enhanced by adding exogenous BR. Brassinazole resistant 1 (BZR1), a transcription factor and positive regulator of BR signal, controls plant growth and development by directly regulating downstream target genes. However, the molecular mechanism at the basis of BR-mediated heat stress response is poorly understood. Here, we report the identification of a new factor critical for BR-regulated heat stress tolerance. Results: We identified ERF49 in a genetic screen for proteins required for BR-regulated gene expression. We found that ERF49 is the direct target gene of BZR1 and that overexpressing ERF49 enhanced sensitivity of transgenic plants to heat stress. The transcription levels of heat shock factor HSFA2, heat stress-inducible gene DREB2A, and three heat shock protein (HSP) were significantly reduced under heat stress in ERF49-overexpressed transgenic plants. Transcriptional activity analysis in protoplast revealed that BZR1 inhibits ERF49 expression by binding to the promoter of ERF49. Our genetic analysis showed that dominant gain-of-function brassinazole resistant 1-1D mutant (bzr1-1D) exhibited lower sensitivity to heat stress compared with wild-type. Expressing ERF49-SRDX (a dominant repressor reporter of ERF49) in bzr1-1D significantly decreased the sensitivity of ERF49-SRDX/bzr1-1D transgenic plants to heat stress compared to bzr1-1D. Conclusions: Our data provide clear evidence that BR increases thermotolerance of plants by repressing the expression of ERF49 through BZR1, and this process is dependent on the expression of downstream heat stress-inducible genes. Taken together, our work reveals a novel molecular mechanism mediating plant response to high temperature stress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Study Aims: Elderly epilepsy is the third most common chronic disease that affects metabolism either alone or through antiepileptic drugs (AEDs). Here, we focus on whether neurocognitive profiles in elderly epilepsy and its treatment are linked to metabolic conditions. Patients and Methods: Elderly patients with epilepsy without cognitive impairment (n = 78) and with cognitive impairment (n = 75) were enrolled. C-reactive protein (CRP) and metabolic markers (triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol (TC), high-density lipoprotein (HDL-c), low-density lipoprotein (LDL-c), albumin, fasting glucose (Glu) and glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c)) were measured. Serum markers were modeled using logistic regression analysis. Results: TG, TC, fasting glucose, HbA1c and CRP were significantly increased (p < 0.05, 0.05, 0.001, 0.001, 0.01, respectively) in elderly epilepsy, whereas HDL-c, LDL-c and serum albumin were decreased (p < 0.001, 0.001, 0.001) in elderly epilepsy. TG, TC, fasting Glu, HbA1c and CRP were significantly elevated (p < 0.05, 0.001, 0.001, 0.001, 0.001, respectively) in epilepsy with cognitive impairment, whereas HDL-c, LDL-c and serum albumin were decreased (p < 0.001, 0.001, 0.001). The abnormal glycolipid profile was predominated in AED-treated patients. The regression model combined with TG, LDL-c, HDL-c and albumin performed better (area under the ROC curve was 0.824) in AED-treated patients. Conclusion: The relevant relationship between glycolipid profile and cognitive impairment with epilepsy was described, and the logistic regression model based on serum TG, LDL-c, HDL-c and albumin is reported and may serve as promising diagnostic markers for elderly epilepsy with cognitive impairment. Additionally, a specific emphasis on the complex role of altered lipid metabolism and AEDs is made. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Co-MOF-74 materials were synthesized at different temperatures using solvothermal method. The effect of the synthetic temperature on the structure and low temperature NH 3 -SCR catalytic performance of Co-MOF-74 was systematically investigated. Co-MOF-74 synthesized at 100 °C has flower-like morphology, while hexagonal prism structures could be obtained at other temperatures. Co-MOF-74 with flower-like morphology has a larger specific surface area and pore volume compared with the hexagonal prism ones. The highest catalytic activity was obtained at 200 °C under the optimal synthesis temperature, which was attributed to the combination of special morphology, the highest specific surface area and Co content. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We developed a tree-ring width chronology from pine trees ( Pinus tabulaeformis and Pinus armandii) stand near the peaks of Huashan, Shaanxi, north-central China. Growth-climate response analyses showed that the radial growth of pine trees is mainly influenced by April-June precipitation. A model to reconstruct precipitation based on tree widths was constructed, accounting for 55 % of the instrumental variance during the period 1953-2012. Spatial correlation analyses between the reconstruction and observed gridded precipitation data shows that the seasonal precipitation reconstruction captures regional climatic variations over north China. Compared with the historical archives and other tree-ring records in north China, many large-scale drought events, linked to the El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO), were found. Many of these events have had profound impacts on the people of north China over the past several centuries. Composite maps of sea surface temperatures and 500 hPa geopotential heights for selected extremely dry and wet years in Huashan show characteristics similar to those related to the ENSO patterns, particularly with regard to ocean and atmospheric conditions in the equatorial and north Pacific. Our 531-year precipitation reconstruction for Huashan provides a long-term perspective on current and 20th century wet and dry events in north China, and is useful to guide expectations of future variability, and helps us to address climate change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bacterial flagellins are often recognized by the receptor kinase FLAGELLIN SENSITIVE2 (FLS2) and activate MAMP-triggered immunity in dicotyledonous plants. However, the capacity of monocotyledonous rice to recognize flagellins of key rice pathogens and its biological relevance remain poorly understood. We demonstrate that ectopically expressed OsFLS2 in Arabidopsis senses the eliciting flg22 peptide and in vitro purified Acidovorax avenae ( Aa ) flagellin in an expression level-dependent manner, but does not recognize purified flagellins or derivative flg22 Xo peptides of Xanthomonas oryzae pvs. oryzae ( Xoo ) and oryzicola ( Xoc ). Consistently, the flg22 peptide and purified Aa flagellin, but not Xoo/Xoc flagellins, induce various immune responses such as defense gene induction and MAPK activation in rice. Perception of flagellin by rice does induce strong resistance to Xoo infection, as shown after pre-treatment of rice leaves with Aa flagellin. OsFLS2 was found to differ from AtFLS2 in its perception specificities or sensitivities to different flg22 sequences. In addition, post-translational modification of Xoc flagellin was altered by deletion of glycosyltransferase-encoding rbfC , but this had little effect on Xoc motility and rpfC mutation did not detectably reduce Xoc virulence on rice. Deletion of flagellin-encoding fliC from Xoo / Xoc blocked swimming motility but also did not significantly alter Xoo / Xoc virulence. These results suggest that Xoo / Xoc carry flg22-region amino acid changes that allow motility while evading the ancient flagellin detection system in rice, which retains recognition capacity for other bacterial pathogens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Construction of Schottky junctions based DUT-67 and Pd nanosheet with enhanced charge carrier separation efficiency for efficient photoreduction of CO 2. [Display omitted] • DUT-67 decorated with Pd nanosheet was prepared. • 0.3-Pd/DUT-67 had considerable photocatalytic CO 2 reduction to CO efficiency of 48.6 μmol g−1. • Schottky barrier at Pd/DUT-67 interface boosts separation of electron-hole pairs. The separation, transfer and recombination of charge often affect the rate of photocatalytic reduction of CO 2. Schottky junctions can promote the rapid separation of space charge. Therefore, in this paper, Pd nanosheets were grown on the surface of DUT-67 by a hydrothermal method, and a Schottky junction was constructed between DUT-67 and Pd. Under the action of the Schottky junction, the CO yield of 0.3-Pd/DUT-67 reached 12.15 μmol/g/h, which was 17 times higher than that of DUT-67. Efficient charge transfer was demonstrated in photochemical experiments. The large specific surface area and the increased light utilization rate also contributed to the increase in the CO 2 reduction efficiency. In addition, the mechanism of Pd/DUT-67 photocatalytic reduction of CO 2 was proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It has been revealed that numerous nanoparticles are formed during the boiling preparation of traditional Chinese medical decoctions and culinary soups. They may possess physiological effects different from those of constituent components and are worth paying attention to but are barely noticed and investigated as of yet. In this study, six groups of nanoparticles, whose size ranged from 57 to 300 nm, were successfully isolated from the decoction of Isatis indigotica Fort. root, according to their particle size by the means of size-exclusive chromatography. All of the obtained nanoparticles have a high content of polysaccharides, which distinguishes them from the disclosed BLG protein nanoparticles. They also have high similarities in other compositions, surface charge, and stimuli responses. However, four out of these six nanoparticles (F2, F3, F4, and F5) exhibited significant antiviral activity against influenza virus H1N1, and their antiviral activities and cytotoxicity towards MDCK cells varied with their sizes. It suggested that the antiviral efficacy of BLG decoction could also be from its nanoparticles besides its well-known antiviral phytochemicals. It also implied that the biological effects of these polysaccharide nanoparticles, including cytotoxicity and antiviral activity, may be correlative with the physicochemical properties, especially the particle size. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The agricultural green revolution spectacularly enhanced crop yield through modification of gibberellin (GA) signaling. However, in cotton, the GA signaling cascades remain elusive, limiting our potential to cultivate new cotton varieties and improve yield and quality. Here, we identified that GA prominently stimulated fiber elongation through the degradation of DELLA protein GhSLR1, thereby disabling GhSLR1's physical interaction with two transcription factors, GhZFP8 and GhBLH1. Subsequently, the resultant free GhBLH1 binds to GhKCS12 promoter and activates its expression to enhance VLCFAs biosynthesis. With a similar mechanism, the free GhZFP8 binds to GhSDCP1 promoter and activates its expression. As a result, GhSDCP1 upregulates the expression of GhPIF3 gene associated with plant cell elongation. Ultimately, the two parallel signaling cascades synergistically promote cotton fiber elongation. Our findings outline the mechanistic framework that translates the GA signal into fiber cell elongation, thereby offering a roadmap to improve cotton fiber quality and yield. [Display omitted] • Gibberellins promotes fiber cell elongation by degrading GhSLR1 • GhSLR1 interacts with two transcription factors, GhZFP8 and GhBLH1 • GhBLH1 activates the transcription of GhKCS12 and enhances VLCFA biosynthesis • GhZFP8 activates the expression of GhPIF3 by upregulating GhSDCP1 in cotton He et al. identified two signaling cascades, GhSLR1-GhZFP8- GhSDCP1 - GhPIF3 and GhSLR1-GhBLH1- GhKCS12 , which translate the gibberellins signal to regulate cotton fiber cell elongation. This finding can be potentially used in the field to improve cotton fiber quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Designing S-scheme heterojunctions is an effective method to improve the charge localization on the surface of photocatalysts. Their effective charge transport routes can be enhanced with the help of interfacial noble metal nanoparticles. Herein, an Ag/CuO@ZnIn 2 S 4 plasma S-scheme heterojunction with heterogeneous interfacial covalent bonds was successfully designed. The 15% Ag/CuO@ZnIn 2 S 4 has promising photocatalytic performance and stability with the highest CO and CH 4 yields of 6.9 and 54.4 µmol g−1 h−1 and CH 4 selectivity of 92.8%. It is evidenced that the photogenerated charge can be efficiently separated and transported due to the influence of both the S-scheme electron migration mode and the Cu-S covalent bond. The process is further accelerated by using precious metals as cocatalysts, which can then selectively convert CO 2 into CH 4. This research is expected to provide helpful information for engineering S-scheme heterojunction photocatalysts and investigating their charge transfer kinetics. [Display omitted] • Design of a S-scheme heterojunction to promote the separation of carriers. • Built the Cu-S bonds to accelerate the transfer of charges. • Utilizing the LSPR effect to generate hot electrons and enhance light absorption. • The Ag/CuO@ZnIn 2 S 4 photocatalysts can selectively reduce CO 2 to CH 4. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• NiGa-LDHis firstly synthesized by simple hydrothermal method. • Ni 2 P and NiGa 2 O 4 are grown in situ on the NiGa-LDH by selectivephosphating. • DFT calculations confirm positive effect of phosphating on the conductivity of NiGa-LDH. • The Ni 2 P/NiGa 2 O 4 -1.2/NiGa-LDH/NF//Co 3 O 4 -C(72Wh kg-1) can light multiple LEDs in parallel. Layered double hydroxides (LDHs) materials are ideal electrode materials for supercapacitors (SCs) due to their high capacitance, large surface area and fast redox reaction. However, the limited reaction site of LDHs is one of the main obstacles to increasing the capacitance of SCs. Here, NiGa-LDH grown on nickel foam (NF) by one-step hydrothermal method is derived into Ni 2 P/NiGa 2 O 4 /NiGa-LDH/NF by partial phosphating method induced by NaH 2 PO 2. Ni 0.5 Ga 0.5 -LDH/NF has good electrochemical performance, and the capacitance can reach 295 mAh g−1 (2124F g−1) when the current density is 1 A g−1. Significantly, Ni 2 P/NiGa 2 O 4 /NiGa-LDH/NF well preserves the layered structure of LDHs, inherits the low transfer impedance of interlayer ions, and can greatly reduce the thickness of the nanosheets, exposing more active sites and speeding up the electron transfer speed. According to the first principle calculation, Ni 2 P and NiGa 2 O 4 formed by phosphating helps to increase the free electron ratio in Ni 2 P/NiGa 2 O 4 /NiGa-LDH/NF, thus improving the charge transfer behavior in electrochemical reactions. The material can provide an ultra-high electrochemical capacity of 454.7 mAh g−1 (3274F g−1) at 1 A g−1. In addition, a hybrid supercapacitors (HSCs) is prepared by coupling the Co 3 O 4 -C as negative electrode with the high capacitance Ni 2 P/NiGa 2 O 4 /NiGa-LDH/NF as positive electrode. Ni 2 P/NiGa 2 O 4 /NiGa-LDH/NF // Co 3 O 4 -C HSCs provides the energy density of 72 Wh kg−1 at the power density of 800 W kg−1 with excellent long-term stability up to 8000 cycles, and is expected to be used in next-generation energy storage systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The ternary metal NiCoGa-LDHs is firstly synthesized by simple hydrothermal method. • The morphology, crystal structure stability and capacitance of NiCoGa-LDHs are systematically studied. • The Ni 1 Co 3 Ga 1 -LDHs@CC electrode exhibits excellent capacitance of 2012.5 F g-1 at 1 A g-1. • The asymmetric supercapacitor (84.22 Wh kg-1) can light multiple LEDs in parallel. Ternary metal layered double hydroxides (LDHs) have been widely used in supercapacitors (SCs) due to their polyvalent state and high electrochemical activity. In this study, Ga (III) doped NiCo layered double hydroxides (NiCoGa-LDHs) electrode material is prepared on carbon cloth (CC) by simple one-step hydrothermal method for the first time. The effects of Ga3+ with different molar ratios on the structure, morphology, crystallinity, ion transport mechanics and electrochemical properties of ternary LDHs electrode materials are systematically investigated. At Ga3+ = 1.0, the as-synthesized Ni 1 Co 3 Ga 1 -LDHs@CC exhibits a special electrochemical capacitance of 2012.5 F g-1 at 1 A g-1 with 57.7% capacitance retention observed at 5.0 A g-1. The synthesis and evaluation of the two bimetallic NiCo-LDHs and NiGa-LDHs are similar in order to demonstrate the performance improvement of gallium heterovalent substitution. And heterovalent substitution of gallium for cobalt ion and nickel ion is proved indirectly. An Asymmetric supercapacitors (ASCs) device is assembled with Ni 1 Co 3 Ga 1 -LDHs@CC as anode and mesoporous carbon (MPC) as cathode, providing a high energy density of 84.22 Wh kg-1 at a power density of 800.1 W kg-1, with excellent cyclic stability. This study provides a new way to improve the electrochemical performance and stability of ternary metal LDHs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Co–CeO 2 was used to activate the PMS for degrading PET plastics. • The degradation rate reached 91.61 % in 6 h after adding 1 mL H 2 O 2 and 5 mM PMS. • Several factors, such as pH and anions, were considered. • SO 4 − played a crucial role in the degradation, compared to OH, O 2 −, and 1O 2. • The possible mechanism of photocatalysis/PMS degradation of PET was proposed. Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) plastic, widely used for packaging owing to its excellent properties, has become a major contributor to plastic waste, for which satisfactory recycling and upgrading treatment technologies are lacking. In this study, Co-doped CeO 2 was used as a photocatalyst to degrade PET plastics in water, and PET degradation was measured according to the weight loss rate. Peroxymonosulfate (PMS) addition to the photocatalytic system enabled the degradation of 53.82 ± 4.48 % of PET plastics, highlighting the excellent PET plastic degradation capability of the photocatalytic PMS system. The study investigated the effects of the catalyst-to-plastic ratio, PMS concentration, initial pH, inorganic anions, humic acid concentration, and hydrogen peroxide (H 2 O 2) addition on the catalytic oxidation system. Contrast experiments revealed that H 2 O 2 addition to the photocatalysis/PMS oxidation system further improved the PET plastic degradation efficiency (91.61 ± 1.50 %). Liquid product analysis, electron paramagnetic resonance, and free radical quenching experiments confirmed that SO 4 − played the most significant role in PET degradation. Finally, a possible mechanism for the degradation of PET plastics in water using the photocatalysis/PMS oxidation system was proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• SnS 2 atomic layer with Pt 3 Co nanoclusters have been successfully prepared. • Nanoclusters can enrich electrons, reduce barriers, and promote proton transport. • The photoelectric properties of catalysts is significantly enhanced. • The CO 2 photoreduction efficiency of the SnS 2 /Pt 3 Co catalyst is markedly improved. Poor capability of charge-holes separation and slower surface CO 2 reaction kinetics hinder photocatalytic performance. Here, SnS 2 atomic layer with Pt 3 Co alloy nanoclusters have been successfully prepared. Nanoclusters could be used as highly catalytic active sites, which not only facilitates the carrier separation and transport kinetics, but enriches electrons lowered the reaction barrier. As expected, the CO evolution rate of the champion SnS 2 /Pt 3 Co catalyst was 13.6 times higher than that of the original SnS 2 catalyst under white light irradiation. In-situ DRIFTS identifies key intermediate in the photoreduction process. In-situ XPS and DFT calculation further verifies the electron transport direction and charge density distribution at the SnS 2 /Pt 3 Co interface. Our work uncovers the role of nanoclusters in carrier separation and transport as well as proton transport, opening new chances for obtaining efficient photoreduction CO 2 property. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Achieving the intelligent controllability of the photocatalyst to the surrounding environment is a very meaningful work. Here, the polyacrylic acid (PAA) modified Ag/AgCl-40/CN composite was constructed to achieve an intelligent response of pH value. PAA exhibits hydrophilic properties at high pH value, increasing the adsorption capacity to tetracycline (TC) molecules. The morphology of PAA from contracted state to diastolic state, releasing the Ag/AgCl-40/CN catalyst. In addition, PAA modified Ag/AgCl-40/CN can prevent the loss of AgCl. The g-C 3 N 4 nanosheets (CN) as a carrier enhance the dispersibility of the AgCl particles. The LSPR effects of Ag nanoparticles produce more electrons acting on photocatalytic degradation. On the results of experiment, the degradation of TC by PAA@Ag/AgCl-40/CN shows an excellent degradation activity when the high pH value. Photoluminescence spectroscopy and photocurrent demonstrate that carrier separation efficiency of PAA@Ag/AgCl-40/CN is higher than CN and Ag/AgCl-40/CN. The detection of the main active substances •O 2 − and h+, revealing a reasonable mechanism for the PAA@Ag/AgCl-40/CN hybrid system. This work provides a procedure to obtain smart materials that can switch photocatalytic processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High selectivity and fast charge separation are two important factors for photocatalytic wastewater treatment. Herein, we prepared a molecular imprinted Ag/Ag 3 VO 4 /g-C 3 N 4 photocatalyst (MIP) that exhibited great specific recognition ability along with excellent photocatalytic activity. The ultrathin g-C 3 N 4 nanosheets with high surface are used to prepare. The Z-scheme Ag 3 VO 4 /g-C 3 N 4 heterostructure and the surface plasmon resonance of the photoreduced Ag0 together contributed to the improvement of the separation efficiency of photogenerated electrons and holes. In addition, MIP provides the specific recognition ability to preferentially adsorb the target pollutant. The selectivity of photocatalysis was evaluated by the degradation of oxytetracycline and tetracycline solutions. Photoluminescence and transient photocurrent measurements further prove the improved charge separation efficiency of MIP. A plausible photocatalytic reaction mechanism is proposed based on electron spin resonance measurement and the active species trapping experiments, where indicates that the main active species of this photocatalytic process are O 2 − and h+. This research provides an effective strategy for the simultaneous enhancement of selectivity and activity via molecular imprinting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The interfacial regulation strategy between semiconductors can effectively promote the separation efficiency of photogenerated carriers and enhance photocatalytic activity under the synergistic effect. Herein, AgInS 2 QDs-MoS 2 /GO (AIS-MS/GO) composites were prepared by interfacial coupling of AgInS 2 QDs (AIS), hierarchical MoS 2 and ultrathin GO. Ultrathin GO successfully solved the agglomeration problem of AIS and hierarchical MoS 2. Moreover, the photogenerated carriers were effectively separated and transferred under the synergistic effect of the AIS-MS heterojunction and ultrathin GO, thus promoting tetracycline (TC) degradation and CO 2 reduction performance. The degradation rate of tetracycline (TC) reached 96.5 %, and the yields of CO and CH 4 in the CO 2 reduction products reached 52.6 and 28.5 μmol g–1, respectively, when using the optimized photocatalyst. In-situ FTIR analysis indicated that TC is gradually degraded by small molecules on the composite surface, and has excellent dissociation ability of water molecules during the CO 2 reduction process. This work provides a new vision for the rational design of heterojunction-based photocatalysts using the interfacial regulation strategy for enhancing interfacial charge separation and photocatalytic performance. [Display omitted] • AIS-MS/GO composites were prepared via the interfacial regulation strategy. • The photogenerated carriers were effectively separated and transferred under synergistic and interfacial effects. • The aggregation problem of AIS and hierarchical MoS 2 was effectively solved. • AIS-MS/GO composites achieve a 96.5 % TC degradation rate and 35.1 % selectivity for CH 4. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A simple, efficient, and low-cost Maillard reaction method was developed through ethanol-water pretreatment. The formation of whey protein isolate (WPI)–dextran conjugates was confirmed using the degree of glycosylation, ultraviolet absorbance, browning intensity, color, and sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The significant conformational changes were illuminated because of the higher wavenumber shift of absorption peaks of FTIR amide I, II, and III bands, the reduction of fluorescent signal, and the decrease of surface hydrophobicity. Scanning electron microscopy revealed the morphological transition of WPI from a smooth sphere to an inhomogeneous block structure with rough and uneven surface before and after covalent grafting of dextran. The strong steric hindrance and abundant hydrophilic hydroxyl groups from covalently conjugated dextran dramatically inhibited the aggregation between conjugate molecules which exhibited low turbidity and good solubility in a wide pH range from 2.0 to 10.0. Emulsifying activity and emulsifying stability of WPI were significantly improved after glycosylation. This work will be beneficial to control the formation of light-colored Maillard reaction products under high substrate concentration, high reaction rate, and low water content at mild temperatures for short processing time, and to facilitate the large-scale preparation of glycosylated protein with desirable physicochemical properties. [Display omitted] • A simple, efficient, and low-cost Maillard reaction method was developed. • Maillard reaction time was largely shorten through ethanol-water pretreatment. • Light-colored Maillard reaction products were obtained at mild temperatures. • Advantages were high concentration, high rate, and limited waste water discharge. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Supercapacitor is a new energy storage device between traditional capacitor and rechargeable battery. Not only has the characteristics of fast charging and discharging of capacitor, but also has the characteristics of energy storage of battery. The electrochemical tests indicate that the electrode in view of porous Ni 2 P 2 O 7 nanowires (NWs) has a specific capacitance of 772.5 Fg-1 at current density 1 Ag-1. Furthermore, porous Ni 2 P 2 O 7 NWs have been successfully applied to construct all-solid hybrid supercapacitors. Carbon nanotubes (CNT) and easily treated nickel pyrophosphate (Ni 2 P 2 O 7) are considered as electrode materials for supercapacitors under alkaline conditions. The equipment has a high energy density of 6.25 mWh cm−2 and good cycle stability of 94% capacitance retention after 3000 cycles, which identifies that porous Ni 2 P 2 O 7 nanowires are promising supercapacitor active materials. Highlights • A novel intercalated porous Ni 2 P 2 O 7 nanowires was prepared by simple chemical precipitation method. • The intercalated porous Ni 2 P 2 O 7 nanowires as new electrode materials exhibited great electrochemical properties. • Ni 2 P 2 O 7 //CNT ASC device is a promising material for fiber supercapacitors and electronic applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Densities, viscosity and bubble-point vapor pressures for binary mixtures of dimethoxy methane and a hydrocarbon fuel (exo-tetrahydrodicyclopentadiene) were measured over the whole composition range. The excess molar volumes ( V m E ) and viscosity deviations (Δη) for the binary systems were calculated from the density and viscosity data. The Antoine equation was fitted with the experimental vapor pressures, and the corresponding parameters were calculated. Positive values of excess molar volumes, negative viscosity deviations and positive deviations from Raoult's law for the vapor pressures are observed. The three physical properties and the corresponding calculation results provide valuable information on the application and study of mixed liquid hydrocarbon fuels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract The development of highly efficient and long-term durable electrocatalyst for oxygen evolution reaction is still a great challenge to attain renewable and clean energy. Herein, CoSe 2 @N-Doped-carbon-nanorods named as CoSe 2 @NC nanorods have been conveniently synthesized by in-situ selenization of a novel N-doped metal organic frameworks under N 2 atmosphere. CoSe 2 @NC nanorods show highly efficient electrocatalytic performance for oxygen evolution reaction at a low overpotential of 310 mV for 10 mA cm−2 current density in 1.0 M KOH aqueous solution, which are comparable to the state-of-the-art RuO 2 and IrO 2 catalysts. The remarkable electrocatalytic performance can be attributed to the unique N-doped MOFs derived well-defined architecture with large active surface area, high conductivity of carbon and well-distributed active sites. In addition, CoSe 2 @NC nanorods exhibit long-term stability without obvious decay after 1000 cyclic voltammetry cycles. Graphical abstract Image 1 Highlights • N-doped MOFs-derived CoSe 2 @NC nanorods was synthesized. • The samples have high conductivity of carbon and well-distributed active sites. • The samples show highly efficient electrocatalytic performance for OER. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Graphical abstract Schematic illustration of the formation of CQDs/ZnO@HNTs in the whole synthetic process. Highlights • We have experimentally demonstrated the carbon incorporated ZnO via coupling CQDs. A notable transformation of burger-like CQD s /ZnO morphology was observed and the HNTs have been introduced to improve the dispersity of hybrid photocatalysts. • From efficiently modulation of band structure of CQD s -based materials, the as-prepared CQD s /ZnO@HNTs display a remarkable optical excitation in photogenerated reactive oxygen species (ROS). • This work provides an efficient and novel strategy for element incorporated with introduced inorganic quantum dots owing to the quantum size effect. • It also developed a new sight of CQD s participated phase tuning for semiconductors, offering a beneficial route for expanding the application of VLD photodegradation based on band-tuning semiconductors and other low-dimension materials. Abstract Environmentally friendly photodegradation of refractory pollutants utilizing semiconductor photocatalysis evolution exhibits satisfactory efficiency and low energy consumption, but some of its unbefitting band position largely limits practical applications. The controllable band structure tuning via coupling low-dimensional materials with enormous potential in semiconductor photocatalysis, notably attractive carbon quantum dots (CQDs) induced for a better utilization of low-energy photoexcitation of promising inherent optical properties and photocatalytic performance on organic pollutant degradation. Here, a CQDs modified ZnO hybrid materials was synthesized and the CQDs preluded carbon-incorporated burger-like ZnO nanoparticles clusters were presented thus demonstrated a specific doping-effect. The dispersity improved by loading halloysite nanotube (HNTs) for efficiently photocatalytic activity enhancement. Furthermore, the band structure, excitation and photocatalytic reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation were detected to reveal the photochemical properties and plausible mechanism of CQDs hybrid nanomaterials system. It is observed that the superoxide radical (O 2 −), and singlet oxygen(1O 2) are the principal ROS agents under UV–vis excitations. This work not only displays a CQDs modified system of expanding photo-response range to visible light but also throws a way for quantum elemental incorporated on the influence of band-tuning for semiconductor- dominated photocatalysts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Measurements of density, viscosity and vapor pressure for binary mixtures of exo-tetrahydrodicyclopentadiene (JP-10) with isopropyl ether are reported at temperatures of (293.15, 298.15, 303.15, 308.15, and 313.15) K over the entire composition range. The excess molar volumes, viscosity deviation and excess Gibbs energies of activation for the binary systems were calculated from the experimental values and fitted with the Redlich-Kister equation. Isopropyl ether was added to enhance the vapor pressure of JP-10. Experimental vapor pressure data were correlated by the Antoine equation. Several semi-empirical equations were used to correlate the viscosity data. The McAllister equation gives relatively satisfactory results for the correlation. The experimental and correlated data could be used in the development of models for mixtures of hydrocarbons with oxygenates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One of current ideal thought to reduce the recombination of photogenerated electrons and holes from semiconductors is constructing Multi-dimensional semiconductor-carbon (S-C) heterostructures. As well as acting to photo-degrade the organic contaminant and decrease the toxicity, β-In 2 S 3 is chosen as a potential semiconductors for photocatalysts. Relative good photocatalytic properties delivered on β-In 2 S 3 , however, the fast recombination of photogenerated charge carriers are often appeared, causing reduced further application. Carbon quantum dots (CQDs) involve the introduction of plasma effect into the zero-dimensional nanomaterials in order to arouse an effect: either promoting the charge carriers transfer or plasma energy conversion of the photo-excited CQDs. However, state of the two components also encompass the poor quantum yield existed in the CQDs by its serious agglomeration. Thereby, the delivery of extraordinary ballistic electrical and thermal conductivity on single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs), have shown potential for use in a variety of semiconductors decorating application. Herein, we show that a novel CQDs@In 2 S 3 /SWNTs composite in the Multi-dimensional (3D) hierarchical superstructures with an enhanced photocatalytic efficiency. The ESR analysis and free radicals trapping experiments indicated that the O 2 • − and h + were the main active species for the photocatalytic degradation. The potential photocatalytic mechanism of the three components is discussed and the direction in the plasma effect exhibited in CQDs is also considered, with a particular focus on photocatalytic area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A series of nebula-like ZnO/CeO 2 @HNTs heterostructure photocatalysts were synthesized via a novel one-step wet-calcination method for degradation of tetracycline (TC) under simulated solar irradiation. TEM, HRTEM, XRD, FT-IR, XPS, DRS, PL, PC, EIS and ESR techniques were applied for characterization of samples. And the potential structure of new photodegradation products was studied by HPLC–MS analysis. The characterization results revealed the enhanced photocatalytic activity of ZnO/CeO 2 @HNTs heterostructure photocatalysts due to the delayed recombination of photogenerated electron-hole pairs. Moreover, surface oxidation state analysis demonstrates that Ce 3+ and Ce 4+ states coexist in CeO 2 , which enhance the separation of electron-hole pairs though cerium oxide shifting between CeO 2 and Ce 2 O 3 under photocatalytic process. In addition, the effects of the calcinating temperature, the molar ratio of ZnO to CeO 2 and the dosage of HNTs on photocatalytic activity of ZnO/CeO 2 @HNTs heterostructure photocatalysts were researched and the best possible values have been found. Furthermore, the photodegradation mechanism was systematically investigated by active species trapping experiment. It revealed that OH radicals play a little role while hole and O 2 − are the more major reactive species in the photodegradation process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The 15D/R achieve near 99.6% selectivity at the gas–solid interface for UV–Vis light-driven CO 2 reduction to CO, with a rate of 42.41 μmol·g−1. The high conductivity of RGO and the strong interaction with DUT-67 enhanced the electron coupling effect, which was conducive to the separation of carriers. The rapid formation of HCOO− and the rapid desorption of CO are responsible for the high CO yield and selectivity. [Display omitted] • The DUT-67/RGO aerogel are first prepared for CO 2 reduction in a gas–solid system. • 15D/R achieve near 99.6% selectivity for UV–Vis light-driven CO 2 reduction to CO. • Separation efficiency of carriers is the main reason for the improvement of CO yield. Herein, DUT-67/RGO aerogel photocatalysts with three-dimensional (3D) macroscopic morphology were first prepared by a facile hydrothermal and freeze-drying process. It was observed that DUT-67 endowed aerogels with strong adsorption/activation capacity for CO 2 molecules. Besides, RGO not only dispersed DUT-67 as a macroscopic carrier, but also improved the utilization rate of light energy. The high conductivity of RGO and the strong interaction with DUT-67 enhanced the electron coupling effect, which was conducive to the separation of carriers. 15D/R achieved near 99.6% selectivity at the gas–solid interface for UV–Vis light-driven CO 2 reduction to CO, with a rate of 42.41 μmol·g−1. The adsorption behavior of products at the interface and formation process of intermediates were monitored based on CO-TPD and in situ Fourier transform infrared spectra. The extremely high selectivity for CO came from the weak adsorption of CO on the surface of 15D/R and formation of CH 4 required more complex intermediates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present a drought reconstruction for southeastern China based on a tree-ring width chronology of Cryptomeria fortunei developed from two sampling sites in central Fujian. A reconstruction of July-February drought variability, spanning AD 1855-2011, was developed by calibrating total tree-ring width data with the self-calibrating Palmer drought severity index (sc PDSI). The reconstruction was verified against an independent data set, and accounts for 36% of the actual sc PDSI variance during the period 1955-2011. Relatively dry intervals were reconstructed between AD 1859-1880, 1899-1911, 1927-1933, 1946-1959, 1964-1970 and 1987-1997. Relatively wet conditions prevailed during 1855-1858, 1881-1898, 1912-1926, 1934-1945, 1960-1963, 1971-1986 and 1998-2011. Comparisons between our scPDSI reconstruction and a moisture-sensitive tree-ring width record from Vietnam revealed consistencies between the two data sets, suggesting similar drought regimes. Spectral peaks of 2.2-6.4 years may be indicative of El Niño-Southern Oscillation ( ENSO) activity, as also suggested by the significant correlations with sea surface temperatures ( SSTs) in the eastern equatorial and southeastern Pacific Ocean and an extreme event analysis. The analysis of links between our sc PDSI reconstruction and the large-scale regional climatic variation shows that there is a relationship between regional drought variation and East Asian summer monsoon (EASM) intensity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hourly air concentrations of fifty-three non-methane hydrocarbons (NMHCs) were measured at downtown and suburb of Lanzhou, a petrochemical industrialized city, Northwest China in 2013. The measured data were used to investigate the seasonal characteristics of NMHCs air pollution and their contributions to the ozone formation in Lanzhou. Annually averaged NMHCs concentration was 38.29 ppbv in downtown Lanzhou. Among 53 NMHCs, alkanes, alkenes, and aromatics accounted for 57%, 23% and 20% of the total NMHCs air concentration, respectively. The atmospheric levels of toluene and propane with mean values of 4.62 and 4.56 ppbv were higher than other NMHCs, respectively. The ambient levels of NMHCs in downtown Lanzhou were compared with measured NMHCs data collected at a suburban site of Lanzhou, located near a large-scale petrochemical industry. Results show that the levels of alkanes, alkenes, and aromatics in downtown Lanzhou were lower by factors of 3-11 than that in west suburb of the city. O 3 -isopleth plots show that ozone was formed in VOCs control area in downtown Lanzhou and NO x control area at the west suburban site during the summertime. Propylene-equivalent (Prop-Equiv) concentration and the maximum incremental reactivity (MIR) in downtown Lanzhou indicate that cis-2-butene, propylene, and m/p-xylene were the first three compounds contributing to ozone formation potentials whereas in the petrochemical industrialized west suburb, ethane, propene, and trans-2-Butene played more important role in the summertime ozone formation. Principal component analysis (PCA) and multiple linear regression (MLR) were further applied to identify the dominant emission sources and examine their fractions in total NMHCs. Results suggest that vehicle emission, solvent usage, and industrial activities were major sources of NMHCs in the city, accounting for 58.34%, 22.19%, and 19.47% of the total monitored NMHCs in downtown Lanzhou, respectively. In the west suburb of the city, however, vehicle emission was less important as compared with sources from petrochemical industries, as characterized by relatively higher ethane (C 2 H 4 )/ ethyne (acetylene) and propene (C 3 H 6 )/ethyne ratios which ruled out tailpipes emission as major contributors to the VOCs sources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Quantum dots (QDs) CdSe exhibits relatively high photocatalytic abilities for its unique properties, but the aggregation and photocorrosion have blocked its further application. Therefore, for arriving at a solution, alkaline earth metal ions (M = Mg 2+ , Ca 2+ , Sr 2+ and Ba 2+ ) and reduced graphene oxide (rGO) are chosen to fabricated new QDs CdSe-based photocatalytic systems. In this paper, M@CdSe/rGO composites have been synthesized via a facile one-step hydrothermal approach, during which the formation of M doped CdSe crystallization and GO reduction occur simultaneously. The obtained photocatalysts demonstrates synergistically enhanced visible light photocatalytic activity and stability toward photodegrading tetracycline hydrochloride (TC-HCl) solution, especially the introduction of 6 mol% Ca 2+ and 5 wt% GO on QDs CdSe resulted in 85.6% degradation of 15 mg/L TC-HCl in 1 h with 0.5 g/L catalyst. Furthermore, the photodegradation mechanism was systematically investigated by active species trapping experiment. It revealed that h + was the major active species in the destructions process. And the possible process of charge transfer for Ca 2+ @CdSe/rGO nanocomposite was proposed based on the experimental results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]