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• Aspergillus and G- bacteria are the predominant strains in FN children. • mNGS is far superior to TPD in detecting fungal infections. • mNGS is conducive to targeted therapy and improved prognosis of FN children. To investigate the application value of metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS) in children with hematological diseases presenting with Febrile Neutropenia (FN). We retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of 49 hematological children with FN, and compared the results of mNGS with those of traditional pathogen detection (TPD) and the prognoses of mNGS positive group and negative group. A total of 77 pathogenic strains were identified, of which 70 strains were detected by mNGS, 19 strains by TPD, and Aspergillus and G- bacterias were the predominant strains in FN children who developed bloodstream infections. 42 cases were in the mNGS-positive group, of which 17 were simple infections, 25 were mixed infections, and 7 were in the negative group; the TPD-positive group contained 19 cases, all of which were simple infections. The detection rate of total and mixed pathogens was higher than that of TPD, and the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05). The mNGS positive group was detected earlier than the negative group, and with lower mortality and drug-related adverse events (DRAE), and the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05). For FN children with hematological diseases, early mNGS can effectively improve the efficacy of pathogen detection, and precise treatment after clarifying the pathogens can reduce mortality and avoid antibiotic abuse. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • A zwitterionic hydrogel was introduced for moisture-energy generation. • The polyelectrolyte changes were resisted through the salt-in effect. • The adsorption capacity of the hydrogel reached 3.0 g g−1 at 90% RH and 25 °C. • The device exhibiting an I sc of up to 945 μA cm−1 and a V oc of 0.802 V. Hygroscopic salt composite hydrogels (HSCHs) offer a promising solution for combating global water scarcity by harvesting atmospheric water. Importantly, this is aided by an interior water gradient that facilitates ion transport, which opens up opportunities for power generation. The current and potential outputs are restricted by inadequate water collection and excessive cross-link density. Herein, a novel zwitterionic nanocomposite conductive hydrogel (ZNCH) is introduced to resist polyelectrolyte changes by leveraging the salt-in effect of cationic and anionic functional groups. The poly-[2-(methacryloxy)ethyl]dimethyl-(3-sulfopropyl)ammonium hydroxide-based ZNCH endows the HSCH with an enhanced swelling property together with an improved water storage capacity. The adsorption capacity of water reaches 3.0 g g−1 after 10 h of operation at 25 °C and 90% RH. More importantly, ZNCH replaces H bonds with Li bonds under the Hofmeister effect, resulting in the generation of a substantial number of free H+ ions. These endow the ZNCH with highly efficient power generation performance, associating with a short-circuit current of up to 945 μA, a current density of 945 μA cm−1, and an open-circuit voltage of 0.802 V. This work motivates the improvement of materials and devices that convert energy from atmospheric water. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Risk compensation effect of helmet use is studied based on selected bicyclists. • Targeted maximum likelihood estimator and ensemble learning are applied in this study. • Our results suggest the existence of risk compensation effect due to helmet use. Introduction: Safety is a critical factor in promoting sustainable urban non-motorized travel modes like bicycles. Helmets have shown to be effective in reducing injury severity in bicycle crashes, however, their effects on bicyclists' behaviors still requires deeper understanding, especially amid the emerging trend of using shared bicycles. Risk compensation effects suggest that bicyclists may offset perceived gains in safety from wearing a helmet by increasing risk-taking behaviors. A better understanding of these compensation effects can be useful in assessing various bicycle safety related programs. Method: Using a sample of 131 bicyclists from the San Francisco Bay area, this research studies how bicyclists respond with respect to risk-taking behaviors under various urban-street conditions, as a function of helmet use. Study participants were each shown 12 videos, shot in Berkeley, California, from the perspective of a bicyclist riding behind another bicyclist. A fractional factorial experiment design was used to systematically vary contextual attributes (e.g., speed, bike lane facilities, on-street parking, passing vehicles) across the videos. After each video, participants were asked to indicate if they would overtake the bicyclist in the video. With the help of data adaptive estimation techniques, targeted maximum likelihood estimation (TMLE) was applied to estimate the average risk difference between helmeted users and non-users, controlling for self-selection effects. Individual-based nonparametric bootstrap was performed to assess the uncertainty associated with the estimator. Results: Our findings suggest, on average, individuals more likely to wear a helmet are 15.6% more likely to undertake a risky overtaking maneuver. Practical Applications: This study doesn't try to oppose mandatory helmet laws, but rather serves as a cautionary warning that road safety programs may need to consider strategies in which unintended impact of bicycle helmet use can be mitigated. Moreover, our findings also provide additional evaluation component when it comes to the cost-benefit assessment of helmet-related laws. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Coordination-based supramolecular self-assembly is an effective approach for construction of the theranostic nanoplatforms. • Coordination-based supramolecular self-assembly is capable of modulating the nanostructures and physicochemical properties. • High performance theranostics are highlighted including multiple, responsive and enhanced theranostic applications. • Small biomolecules are promising candidates for the development of coordination-based supramolecular nanoplatforms. Theranostics possessing great potential in the treatment of various diseases gain attentions in recent years. Coordination-assembled supramolecular nanoplatforms are emerged as promising candidates for theranostic applications. With the facile, robust and versatile fabrication, these systems overcome the drawbacks of many existing theranostic nanoplatforms. Coordination-based supramolecular self-assembly offers the possibility for modulating the physicochemical properties, thus paving the way for theranostic applications. We highlight the most recent advances on the modulation of structures and properties of coordination-assembled supramolecular nanoplatforms and their exploration in theranostic applications. The long-term goal of this field is to achieve high-performance theranostics in clinic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Ambient fine particulate matter (PM 2.5) has long been the primary air pollutant with alarming public health risk in China. PM 2.5 pollution control in China still mainly concerned concentration declining. The qualification and identification of PM 2.5 -attributable health loss is crucial for China's air quality improvement and pollution prevention. This study assessed the annual health loss and economic impact attributed to PM 2.5 exposure at a city level in China from 2015 to 2017. The health benefits from achieving specific PM 2.5 concentration control targets were estimated for 2020. The economic value of health loss in China was 3205.05, 3223.51, and 3344.80 billion Yuan in 2015, 2016, and 2017, representing 4.34%, 4.07%, and 3.85% of the gross domestic product of China. The health loss value in Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei (BTH) and surrounding areas and the Yangtze River Delta (YRD) urban agglomeration in 2017 was 731.93 and 520.27 billion Yuan, accounting for 21.88% and 15.56%, respectively, of the total economic value of all assessed cities. The economic value of health loss in provincial cities was high. From 2015 to 2017, high health loss in BTH and surrounding areas showed a diffusion trend toward cities in Henan, Shanxi, and Shaanxi Provinces. High health loss in the YRD urban agglomeration transferred to cities located in the middle and upper reaches of the Yangtze River. If PM 2.5 concentration control targets can be achieved by 2020, premature mortality attributed to PM 2.5 exposure will fall by 91,860 cases, representing 11.20% of which in 2017. This study, for the first time, highlighted the spatial distribution and temporal variation characteristics of health loss in Chinese cities based on ground-monitoring PM 2.5 concentration data and annual real-time population data. Distributional feature and time-trend analysis would provide a measurable assessment of health loss in Chinese cities to policymakers for effective allocating their efforts on air quality improvement. Graphical abstract Economic value of public health loss attributed to PM 2.5 exposure at the city level in 2017. Image 1 Highlights • We assessed the annual health loss and economic impact of PM 2.5 exposure in China. • We used PM 2.5 and population data (2015–2017) of prefecture-level cities or above. • Health loss declined from 0.91 (2015) to 0.82 (2017) million premature mortalities. • Annual economic value of health loss increased but declined as a percent of GDP. • Meeting updated PM 2.5 targets by 2020 could reduce mortality by 11% of 2017 levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Ultrahigh through-plane thermal conductivity achieved by continuous carbon fibers. • Thermal-induced and slant slicing-induced flexibility. • Leakage proof capacity from polymer skeleton and carbon fiber arrays. • Novel thermal management capacity from high through-plane thermal conductivity and heat absorbed during phase change. With the rapid development of micro-nano electronics, thermally conductive materials with remarkable through-plane thermal conductivity (κ ⊥) and great flexibility are greatly urgent to effective thermal management. The fillers with high thermal conductivity (TC) are commonly assembled to achieve this target. However, the imperfect contact between the joint fillers will lead to high thermal resistance (R), hindering thermal transport. Herein, we fabricated thermal interface materials (TIMs) with ultra-high κ ⊥ (up to 168.4 W m−1 K−1) and adjustable flexibility by the combination of highly thermally conductive carbon fiber bundles (CF) and polymer encapsulated phase change materials (PCMs). The alignment of consecutive CF guarantees the continuity of thermal paths, greatly facilitating thermal transport. While the slantly slicing technique and softening effect of PCMs beyond phase transition temperature lead to an attenuated compression stress (1.6 MPa@10% strain with a CF loading of 50 wt%). What's more, the latent heat absorbed by PCMs is also conducive to thermal management. Thus, during a CPU temperature-control experiment, the application of as-prepared TIMs manifests a temperature decline of 33.9 °C of CPU. This work opens a new perspective to fabricating TIMs with ultrahigh κ ⊥ and low compression stress (σ) by the combination of thermally induced flexible matrix and the slantly slicing technique of aligned CFs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Atypical clinical features make it hard to identify VL in HLH in non-epidemic area. • VL is difficult to diagnose when traditional tests are ineffective, while mNGS is. • mNGS can be used as a detection method of HLH in children caused by rare pathogens. Visceral leishmaniasis-related hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (VL-HLH) is a secondary hemophagocytic syndrome, which can be life-threatening, caused by leishmania and transmitted by infected sandflies. Rapid and accurate identification of leishmania is crucial for clinical strategies. Here, we report an infantile infection in a non-epidemic area of China. The infant was a 9.5-month-old girl with fever, pancytopenia and hepatosplenomegaly, which meet the HLH-2004 standard, and the negative gene results exclude congenital HLH. However, chemotherapy is ineffective and is accompanied by severe infection. Fortunately, she is diagnosed with VL-HLH (visceral leishmaniasis-related hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis), as leishmania is detected by next-generation meta-genome sequencing (mNGS) and quickly relieved after treatment with libosomal amphotericin B (L-AMB). mNGS can detect leishmania in pediatric HLH, and should be performed as a new detection for VL-HLH, particularly for infants, who may not respond to HLH-2004 regimen. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new chloride borate, Ba 1.31 Sr 3.69 (BO 3 ) 3 Cl, was obtained when exploring potential phosphor materials. It belongs to orthorhombic system, Pnma space group, with cell parameters of a = 6.965(1) Å, b = 16.546(3) Å, c = 9.557(1) Å and Z = 4. Ba 5- x Sr x (BO 3 ) 3 Cl ( x = 0, 0.5, …to 5) was synthesized and the cell volumes of the solid solutions were obtained by Rietveld refinement. Detailed structure description of Ba 1.31 Sr 3.69 (BO 3 ) 3 Cl was conducted and the structure comparison between Ba 1.31 Sr 3.69 (BO 3 ) 3 Cl and M 5 (BO 3 )X (M = Ba or Sr, X = Cl or F) was illustrated. In Ba 1.31 Sr 3.69 (BO 3 ) 3 Cl, there are hexagonal tunnels extending along a -axis, which is the main feature of apatite family compounds. The density functional theory calculation suggested that in Ba 1.31 Sr 3.69 (BO 3 ) 3 Cl space group Pnma is more energy favourable than C 222 1 . DSC-TG showed that Ba 1.31 Sr 3.69 (BO 3 ) 3 Cl is stable up to 950 °C and Raman and Infrared spectroscopy demonstrate the existence of planar (BO 3 ) 3- in the structure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the implementation of the western development strategy, large areas in western China are experiencing rapid industrialization and urbanization phases. Simultaneously, increasing energy consumption linked to CO 2 emissions is becoming a serious problem. The stochastic impacts by regression on population, affluence, and technology model and the random parameters model were developed to assess and quantify the strength of the relationship between CO 2 emissions that are attributed to energy consumption and their major drivers (i.e., population, economy, and technology). The Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, which is a typical region in western China with low energy efficiency and rapid economic growth, was selected as an example. This study determined CO 2 emissions attributed to energy consumption from 1991 to 2011, and assessed the effects of the major drivers of CO 2 emissions at the county level. The following results were obtained. (1) The CO 2 emissions of Ningxia increased rapidly throughout the study period. (2) Increasing gross domestic product (GDP) per capita, urban employment, and the contribution to GDP of secondary industries would promote CO 2 emissions. By contrast, increasing the growth of the per capita annual disposable income of rural households, the contribution to GDP of tertiary industries, and population density would restrain CO 2 emissions. (3) The county-level heterognerity was found to be significant which suggests adopting a uniform policy might not be optimal. Finally, the study method, effects of CO 2 emission factors, and policy suggestions could also be applied to other provinces and autonomous regions in western China because of the similar characteristics of these areas such as vast lands, rich resources, and low development level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A superhydrophobic coating composed of epoxy on the bottom and siloxane-modified silica on the top was prepared by employing the scraping and spraying methods. The superhydrophobic coating possesses excellent mechanical properties, is superhydrophobic (water contact angle, WCA = 164.3°), and has low adhesion. The long-term corrosion resistance of the epoxy coating and the superhydrophobic coating in a 3.5 % NaCl solution and hydrogen sulfide environment was assessed using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), polarization curve analysis, immersion testing, and X-ray diffraction (XRD). Test results indicate that the superhydrophobic coating has excellent anti-corrosion capability in an H 2 S environment for 50 days and in a 3.5 % NaCl solution for 60 days. This is of great significance for developing the potential applications of superhydrophobic coatings in H 2 S environments. [Display omitted] • Epoxy resin and superhydrophobic surface combination for carbon steel substrate protection. • The coating showed anticorrosive effect in 3.5 % sodium chloride solution. • Superhydrophobic surface has excellent corrosion resistance in H 2 S environment of alternating temperatures and humidities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Phase change materials (PCMs) are potential candidates in passive thermal regulation and energy storage fields due to their high latent heat capacity around phase transition temperature. However, the leakage problem and low thermal conductivity are two obstructive factors for the extended application of PCMs. Herein, a series of paraffin@silicon dioxide microcapsules (Pa@SiO 2)/graphene sheets (GS)/silicone rubber (SR) phase change composites (PCCs) were prepared. It is found that the inorganic SiO 2 shell is conducive to enhancing the thermal conductivity of PCCs and the double encapsulation by the SiO 2 shell and SR skeleton can restrict the leakage of liquid Pa during phase transition. With a Pa@SiO 2 content of 70 wt%, the PCCs have a high latent heat of 126.1 J/g and enhanced thermal conductivity of 0.37 W m−1 K−1, which is 131.25% higher compared to that of pure SR. In addition, the introduction of graphene sheets further boosts the thermal conductivity of PCCs to 2.69 W m−1 K−1. The obtained PCCs lead to a surprising temperature decline of nearly 35 °C of a commercial lithium-ion battery during a high discharge rate (7.4 C). This work provides an efficient route to fabricate microcapsules-based PCCs for passive thermal regulation. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a symbolic ceramic oxide, the reaction of SiO 2 as an insulating layer with the Fe–Si–Al/SiO 2 soft magnetic composites (SMCs), substrate during heat treatment, as well as the resulting microscopic phase transition of the core–shell structure and its influence on the magnetic properties, are worth investigating. In this study, based on the successful synthesis of Fe–Si–Al based SMCs using fluidised chemical vapour deposition combined with an electric hot–press sintering method, the evolution of the insulating layers was investigated under different heat–treatment temperatures and closely linked to the magnetic performance of the composites. During heat treatment at high temperatures, the formation of high–resistivity oxides (Al 2 O 3) after heat treatment results in a low inter–particle eddy current loss, while excessive temperature causes disintegration of the core–shell heterostructure. This leads to a discernible increase in eddy current and hysteresis losses and a decrease in permeability and resistivity. The SMCs had an Ms of 115.8 emu/g, a resistivity of 6.86 mΩ cm, and a hysteresis loss of 56.3 kW/m3 at 10 mT and 100 kHz when heat-treated at 1373 K for 120 min, which was the best among all samples. This research provides a novel approach to building SMCs with inorganic ceramic insulating layers and a comprehensive understanding of the relationship between the heat–treatment process parameters, microstructure, and magnetic properties which is highly significant for industrial production. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Melamine modified carbon dots (Me-CDs) exhibits 92.36% corrosion inhibition efficiency on carbon steel in neutral medium. • Adsorption isotherm of Me-CDs conforms to Temkin adsorption model, involving both chemisorption and physisorption. • Hydrophobic Me-CDs film adheres on carbon steel via coordinate-covalent bond and multilayer accumulation effect. Melamine modified carbon dots (Me-CDs) was synthesized by hydrothermal method and used as effective corrosion inhibitor for Q235 carbon steel in 3.5 wt% sodium chloride (NaCl) solution. The microstructure and surface properties of Me-CDs were characterized using XRD, FTIR, XPS and TEM. The corrosion inhibition behavior and mechanism of Me-CDs for carbon steel were investigated using weight loss and electrochemical methods, in combination with some surface characterizations (including SEM, AFM and contact angle tester). Results showed that Me-CDs as mixed-type adsorbent inhibitor could effectively prevent carbon steel from corrosion, and the maximum corrosion inhibition efficiency can reach 92.36% at 200 mg/L. The absorption of Me-CDs conformed to Temkin adsorption model, involving both chemisorption and physisorption. Based on the results of characterization analysis, the chemisorption from multiple adsorption centers, physisorption by blocking and barrier effect, and the formation of hydrophobic film on the surface of carbon steel was proposed to clarify the corrosion inhibition mechanism of Me-CDs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Single crystal structure of a novel ultraviolet NLO tourmaline was solved. • Sellmeier equations were obtained by fitting the measured refractive indices. • Phase matching range of the title crystal is obtained from the Sellmeier equations. • The linear and NLO properties were investigated by the experimental and theory calculation. Transparent tourmaline NaAl 9 (BO 3) 3 Si 6 O 21 OH is first reported by combining experimental and theory calculation methods, which exhibits potential ultraviolet nonlinear optical properties. [Display omitted] Tourmaline, as an important mineral, has received intensive interest, since it is not only a valuable gemstone, but also is a piezoelectric or pyroelectric material, due to the polar structural configuration. However, its nonlinear optical (NLO) properties were not explored so far, because a transparent crystal with high transmittance is scarce, being essential to optical functional materials. Here, we report a novel ultraviolet (UV) NLO tourmaline crystal with chemical composition NaAl 9 (BO 3) 3 Si 6 O 21 OH for the first time by combining first-principles analysis and experimental measurements. It exhibits a short UV absorption edge, considerable second harmonic generation effect and moderate birefringence, thereby facilitating its phase-matching coherent beam output in the range from visible to UV regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Low-cost and scalable fabrication processes are needed to prepare efficient superhydrophobic materials, particularly for oil/water separation and metal protection against severe oil spills and metal corrosion. Here, an effective oil/water separation mesh with long-lasting acid/base durability and corrosive resistance is reported. In this work, the mesh was fabricated by simply spraying nano soil particles cross-linked with melamine resin and impregnating them with polyethylene (PE) solution. The multi-layered morphology obtained from the spraying and impregnating process which provides the unique wetting properties for the stainless steel (SS) mesh, such as superhydrophobicity and low water adhesion. Also the low chemical activity of alkyl sp3 carbon-hydrogen bonds provides acid/base resistance for the manufactured material. By utilizing these unique properties, not only can gravity-driven efficient oil/corrosive fluid separation be achieved, but the fabricated superhydrophobic stainless steel (SSS) mesh retains high separation efficiency (> 99%) and superhydrophobicity (water contact angle, WCA > 150°) in reuse process of wastewater in treated oil. More importantly, this excellent protection can effectively reduce the corrosion rate of the mesh by more than two orders of magnitude (SS mesh i corr 1.82 × 10−8 A·cm−2; SSS mesh i corr 9.84 × 10−11 A·cm−2) which providing a long-lasting protection even after 16 days of immersion in 3.5 wt% NaCl solution. All in all, the easy operation, acid/base resistance, high separation efficiency, and corrosion inhibition efficiency of the SSS mesh give them great potential for oil/water separation and metal protection applications. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The predictive capabilities of the density functional theory with various exchange–correlation functionals on the energy band gaps and optical properties in ultraviolet nonlinear optical (UV NLO) crystals are systematically investigated. We find that the energy band gaps of these crystals can be accurately predicted by the non-local hybrid functionals and sX-LDA functionals, but their calculated optical properties are not consistent with the experimental results compared to the usually adopted LDA or GGA functionals with the scissors corrections. Accordingly, we propose that a precise and effective strategy to study the optical properties in the UV NLO crystals without any experimental parameter should be the combination of different functional calculations. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Good thermal stability and high quantum efficiency (QE) are desirable properties for phosphors applied in white light-emitting diodes field. In this work, a Ce3+ doped phosphor Ba 2 LuAl 3 Si 2 O 12 :Ce3+ (BaLuAS:Ce3+) was designed and successfully obtained. Structure analysis of Ba 2 LuAl 3 Si 2 O 12 indicates that it adopts garnet structure and crystallizes in space group I a ¯3 d (No.230) of the cubic system. The wavelength-dependent photoluminescence emission property and the mechanism of concentration quenching effect of BaLuAS:xCe3+ were investigated systematically. The PL emission exhibits high thermal quenching resistance with the quenching temperature (T 50%) reaching up to 673 K (400 °C). By measuring thermoluminescence, the thermal ionization process was discussed. To compensate for the lack of orange-red emission region and avoid using multiple phosphors, Mn2+ ions were introduced into the host. The remarkable enhancements of the orange band are attributed to an efficient nonradiative energy transfer from Ce3+ to Mn2+ ions, which has been testified by the photoluminescence spectra and fluorescence decay dynamics. The w-LED fabrication results suggest that the broad emission of BaLuAS:Ce3+, Mn2+ is suitable for applying in high-quality warm w-LED. Targeted garnet phosphor Ce3+ doped Ba 2 LuAl 3 Si 2 O 12 was achieved via the hetero-valence substitution of Lu3+-Al3+ by Ba2+-Si4+ pairs starting from Lu 3 Al 5 O 12 : Ce3+ and the red component in the emission spectrum has been enhanced through Ce3+-Mn2+ energy transfer. Image 1 • The crystal structure of the compound and the corresponding specific position of Lu/Ba, Al/Si atoms were analysized. • The IQE and EQE of the BaLuASO:0.12Ce3+ phosphor can reach 88.2% and 49.7%, respectively. • The high luminescence quenching temperature (∼673 K) has been well established. • The effective energy transfer from the Ce3+ to Mn2+ ions was justified. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thermal interface materials (TIMs) with high through-plane thermal conductivity (TC), softness, and electrical insulation are highly desired for modern electronics. However, it is challenging to simultaneously achieve these properties. Boron nitride (BN)-based polymer composites are promising candidates for advanced TIMs owing to the high TC and great electrical insulation of BN. However, previous works perform either low TC (< 8 W m−1 K−1) or high stiffness. The ultimate properties of BN-based TIMs remain largely unclear and unrealized. Here, we fabricate BN film-filled silicone rubber composites by a facile stacking-cutting method, which maintains the high degree of orientation the BN film, so that a record-high though-plane TC of 19.1 W m−1 K−1 and a low compressive modulus of 5.42 MPa are achieved. The low BN content (37 vol%) ensures the softness and resilience of the as-prepared TIMs. This work presents a highly efficient strategy to enhance the performance of BN based TIMs, promoting their large-scale manufacturing and practical applications. • Thermal interface materials based on boron nitride film (BNF) were fabricated by a facile stacking-cutting method. • The composites exhibit a high degree of orientation and densely overlapped structures. • The composites show a record-high though-plane TC of 19.1 W m−1 K−1 at 37 vol% BN content and a low compressive modulus of 5.42 MPa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High thermally conductive materials with good electrical insulating and mechanical properties are indispensable for electronics. Aiming for all-polymer composites with light weight, electrical insulation and high thermal conductivity (TC), ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) fibers/epoxy composites with two kinds of fiber orientation structures (0°/90°, ±45°) were fabricated by hot-pressing. It is found that the in-plane TC of ±45° composite is approximately 1.3–1.4 times that of 0/90° one, and the corresponding mechanism is verified by finite element simulation and model calculation. Thermally conductive pathways formed by UHMWPE fibers endow 0/90° and ±45° composites with the in-plane TC of 9.94 and 13.61 Wm−1K−1, respectively. Through depositing polydopamine (PDA) and grafting polyether amine (PEA) onto the surface of fibers, the poor fiber/epoxy interface was improved, resulting in 40.7% and 52.3% improvement in interlaminar shear strength (ILSS) and shear modulus, respectively. Simultaneously, a higher in-plane TC as high as 15.76 Wm−1K−1 is achieved. The heat dissipation evaluation indicates that the composite can reduce the temperature of the resistance wire by 14 °C. This work reveals the great potential of UHMWPE fibers in heat dissipation and provides a strong candidate for electrical insulating support materials with high TC for heat management of electronics. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The first two members in the quaternary A/A′/M/Q (A = alkali metal; A′ = alkaline-earth metal; M = As, Sb, Bi; Q = S, Se, Te) system, namely the KBaMSe 3 (M = As, Sb) selenides, have been synthesized by solid state reactions. They are isostructural and crystallize in the centrosymmetric space group P 2 1 / c of the monoclinic system. In the structure, the trivalent M atom (M = As, Sb) is coordinated to three Se atoms forming a trigonal pyramid with the Se atoms serving as the triangle base, showing the stereochemical activity of the ns 2 lone pair electron. The MSe 3 (M = As, Sb) trigonal pyramids are totally isolated from each other with K + and Ba 2+ cations located between them. The optical band gaps of 2.26 (2) eV for KBaAsSe 3 and 2.04 (2) eV for KBaSbSe 3 , were deduced from the diffuse reflectance spectra. The first principles calculations were performed to study the electronic structures of KBaMSe 3 (M = As, Sb) compounds and the results indicated that these two compounds are indirect band gap semiconductors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to low ability to pass through the cell membrane and lack of proof in target delivery in vivo , anti-microRNA oligonucleotide (AMO) has poor target ability to microRNA in the cytoplasm, which results in low AMO targeting efficiency and limits AMO success in vivo application. In this study, AMO-phospholipids conjugates were developed to provide the characteristics of the two phospholipids to self-assemble via hydrophilic AMO and hydrophobic phospholipid tails to overcome the AMO backbone structures and enhance the AMO delivery efficiency. This AMO-phospholipids enveloped nanoparticles was radiolabeled with technetium-99 m (99mTc) for cellular delivery and in vivo imaging. 99mTc-radiolabeled miR-155 targeted AMO with partial 2′-O-methyl (2′-OMe) and phosphorothioate (PS) chemical modification was prepared via the conjugation to N-hydroxysuccinimide derivative of S-acetylmercaptoacetyltriglycine (NHS-MAG3). This radiolabeled AMO is chemically conjugated with phospholipids to form AMO-phospholipid. The AMO-phospholipids served as a component of nanoparticles to embed the hydrophobic part. AMO-phospholipids fused with polycarboxybetaine (PCB) based distearoyl phosphoethanolamine-polycarboxybetaine (DSPE-PCB) modified cationic lipids to form AMO-phospholipid-coated nanoparticles (AMO-NP), which delivered AMO into cytoplasm in vitro and into tumor in vivo. Further, this radiolabeled AMO-NP was confirmed by gel electrophoresis and evaluated for its serum stability, cytotoxicity, inhibitory ability and cellular uptake in HeLa cells, as well as the fluorescent distribution in vitro. Moreover, its distribution and in vivo imaging were performed HeLa tumor-bearing mice after the injection of radiolabeled AMO-NP. The gel electrophoresis of 99mTc labeled AMO-NP showed good conjugation between AMO and 99mTc. It also kept highly stable in human serum. Western blotting results showed that AMO-NP could up-regulate the expression of C/EBPβ protein, one of target proteins of miR-155 in HeLa cells, proving the ability in the specific binding and inhibition. The cellular uptake of 99mTc labeled AMO-NP was significantly higher than that of bare AMO. Furthermore, FAM labeled AMO-NP displayed its ability of specific and effective distribution in tumor cells and a good stability in cellular level. After the system administration, the distribution and in vivo imaging results revealed the significant difference between 99mTc labeled AMO-NP and negative control probe in HeLa tumor xenograft models, which suggested the specific binding and effective delivery ability of 99Tc labeled AMO-NP in vivo. This study supports the effectiveness and efficiency of cellular and in vivo delivery of 99mTc radiolabeled AMO-NP in cervical tumor and suggests a prospective candidate for future tumor imaging. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A modified gel polymer electrolyte (GPE) with boron nitride (BN) additive was designed to boost the electrochemical performance of rechargeable lithium metal battery, which consists of Li-rich layered cathode and possesses a high energy density. BN, electron insulator and ion conductor, has excellent thermodynamic and electrochemical stability. BN particles were well dispersed in polyvinylidene fluoride-co-hexafluoropropylene (PVDF-HFP) polymer matrices and thus substantially enhanced the electrochemical and physical properties of the GPEs. With only 0.5 wt% BN additive, it remarkably improved the mechanical modulus and ionic conductivity (to 4.1 × 10−4 S∙cm−2) of GPEs, which was beneficial for suppressing lithium dendrite formation and fast ion transportation, respectively, thereby enabling high-performance lithium metal batteries with ultra-long cycle life and high safety at ambient temperature (25 °C) and high temperature (55 °C). A modified GPE with a multifunctional BN additive can revitalize LMBs to readily obtain a comparative ionic conductivity and remarkably improve mechanical modulus, which is beneficial for suppressing Li dendrite formation. Image 1 • We have successfully incorporated 2D BN fillers into a gel polymer electrolyte based on PVDF-HFP. • Only 0.5 wt% addition of BN can readily obtain a comparative ionic conductivity and improved mechanical modulus. • The Li 1.18 Ni 0.15 Co 0.15 Mn 0.52 O 2 /0.5 wt% BN-(PVDF-HFP)/Li cell performs a superior stability and rate capability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Ag–Cu NAs effectively inhibited the E. coli and S. aureus growth. • In Ag–Cu NAs, the strong charge-transfer leads to an earlier dissolution of Ag+. • The Ag+ ion dissolution is correlated with the antibacterial activity of Ag–Cu NAs. Immiscible bimetallic Ag–Cu system has been synthesized by the pulsed plasma in liquid method with a graph of one pulse duration. Herein, by combining X-ray power diffraction, K-edge X-ray absorption near edge structure and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy, our results indicate that homogeneously alloyed Ag–Cu nanoparticles (Ag–Cu NAs) have the average diameter about 2.1 nm, composed by 48.5 at% Ag and 51.5 at% Cu with chemical analysis and the estimated lattice parameter was 3.873 Å. The antibacterial property of Ag–Cu NAs was detected against E. coli and S. aureus strains according to the colony formed abilities of bacteria on agar plates covered with the nanoparticles. With very short incubation period, Ag–Cu NAs completely inhibited the E. coli and S. aureus growth at an ultralow concentration. The mechanism of antibacterial property of Ag–Cu NAs was performed by the inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectrometry and the plane wave pseudopotential method implemented in the CASTEP package based on the density functional theory. The Ag+ dissolution is correlated with antibacterial activity for Ag–Cu NAs-assisted antibacterial treatment. These findings obtained revealed that our Ag–Cu NAs could be served as a containing material of numerous bacteria-free products in order to avoid their bacterial contamination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Self-activated phosphors could convert high energy light into visible light from the internal ion groups of host lattice before externally introducing luminescent ions. In this work, we propose a facile route to synthesize self-activated oxyfluorotungstate (Na 2 WO 2 F 4) phosphor. Excited by the UV light, the emission spectrum covers nearly the entire visible light region. After careful analysis of the first principle calculation results and other sufficient investigation, it is believed that the efficient emission of Na 2 WO 2 F 4 phosphor comes from the strong parity-allowed absorption of O-2 p to W-5d charge transfer band. Moreover, the quantum efficiency of Na 2 WO 2 F 4 phosphor reaches up to 76% at room temperature. However, the increase of temperature not only lowers the intensity of the PL emission and the quantum efficiency but gives rise to a blue shift of the emission maxima, due to the phonon interaction with the luminescence center in a vibrating crystalline environment. Graphical abstract Image 1 Highlights • A self-activated phosphor Na 2 WO 2 F 4 was obtained by a facile route. • The emission spectrum of Na 2 WO 2 F 4 covers nearly the entire visible light region. • The quantum efficiency reaches up to 76% at room temperature. • Thermal quenching and high-energy shift of Na 2 WO 2 F 4 were observed and analyzed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Air pollution and climate change are issues of worldwide concern. Synergizing air pollution control and climate mitigation have been an important national policy of China. This study develops bivariate and integrated synergy indexes (BSI and ISI) to investigate the synergy states between air pollution and CO 2 emission. The synergy indexes are based on the correlation coefficient and established from exploiting the internal comparability of the data. Using the BSI and ISI , we evaluated the correlation and synergy states between air pollution (involving ambient PM 2.5 and ozone) and CO 2 emission in Chinese cities from 2015 to 2020. The results present the city-level trends and heterogeneities of synergy between air pollution and CO 2 emission. The averaged value of BSI PM2.5-ozone , BSI PM2.5-CO2 , and BSI ozone-CO2 for all cities and assessing years were −0.239, −0.291, and −0.242, indicating a generally and globally weak synergy. The synergy states between air pollution and CO 2 emission were relatively significant and complex in specific regions. Combined with the local spatial association and decoupling analysis, we further identified the primary variables and key areas for synergistic control. This study provides a systematic idea and case demonstration for city-level synergy assessment through transforming and expanding the data usage capacity. The method and process are applicable to various scales and regions, which would be of reference value for synergy assessments in other countries and regions. [Display omitted] • We developed the bivariate and integrated synergy indexes. • We evaluated the synergy between air pollution and CO 2 emission at the city-level. • Local spatial association and decoupling analysis supported the synergy assessment. • Most Chinese cities show insignificant synergy of air pollution and CO 2. • BTHS, YRD, and the JJAH are key areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We developed a novel anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) single-chain variable fragment (scFv) and evaluated its anti-inflammatory and anti-corneal neovascularization (CoNV) effects in the alkali burn model. VEGF-scFv was prepared from the derived sequence of bevacizumab with a glycine and serine repetitive linker. After being evaluated using surface plasmon resonance (SPR), enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and cellular fluorescent staining, VEGF-scFv showed high specificity and good affinity with VEGF antigen and HUVEC cells. The K D value was 3.07 ± 0.37 nM and the B max value was 0.23 ± 0.01 pmol (n = 3). The corneal alkali burn model was built on male Sprague Dawley (SD) rats. ScFv was injected subconjunctivally immediately after the alkali burn. On 1, 3, 7, and 14 d after alkali burn, the area of CoNV in the VEGF-scFv group was similar to that of the dexamethasone group (2 mg/mL) and significantly smaller than the 0.9% NaCl and the bevacizumab control groups (2 mg/mL). Especially on 14 d, the CoNV area was 45.15% ± 8.46% in the VEGF-scFv group. Hematoxylin and eosin staining (HE) confirmed that few new blood vessels in the VEGF-scFv group. Both immunofluorescence staining and western blotting verified that the expression levels of VEGF, vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 (VEGFR2), and signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) in the burned corneal tissue in VEGF-scFv group were significantly lower than other groups (P < 0.05), suggesting this scFv inhibited CoNV by regulating the VEGF/VEGFR2/STAT3 pathway. Therefore, our study prepared an anti-VEGF scFv which may provide a potential treatment for corneal alkali burn for future clinical application. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary Aerobic glycolysis (the Warburg effect) facilitates tumor growth, and drugs targeting aerobic glycolysis are being developed. However, how the Warburg effect is directly regulated is largely unknown. Here we show that transcription factor SIX1 directly increases the expression of many glycolytic genes, promoting the Warburg effect and tumor growth in vitro and in vivo . SIX1 regulates glycolysis through HBO1 and AIB1 histone acetyltransferases. Cancer-related SIX1 mutation increases its ability to promote aerobic glycolysis and tumor growth. SIX1 glycolytic function is directly repressed by microRNA-548a-3p, which is downregulated, inversely correlates with SIX1, and is a good predictor of prognosis in breast cancer patients. Thus, the microRNA-548a-3p/SIX1 axis strongly links aerobic glycolysis to carcinogenesis and may become a promising cancer therapeutic target. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aptamers are small molecule DNA or RNA fragments that fold into well-defined 3D structures with high specificity and affinity towards target molecules, therefore emerging as a new class of probes for radiopharmaceutical applications. In this study, a technetium‐99m (99mTc) radiolabeled nucleolin-targeted aptamer AS1411 was developed for identifying glioma in murine models. A six-carbon amine group was linked at the 5′ end of AS1411 by DNA synthesis. Following the conjugation to NHS-MAG 3 , AS1411 was radiolabeled with 99mTc. Radiochemical purity and stability were evaluated by radio-TLC and gel electrophoresis. Cellular uptake and MTT assays were carried out in the nucleon-overexpressed U87 cell line to assess the biological ability of AS1411 after conjugating with FITC or radiolabeling with 99mTc. In vivo imaging of 99mTc-AS1411 was performed in glioma tumor xenografts and 99mTc and a 99mTc-labeled non-specific negative control (NC) nucleotide were used as control groups. Biodistribution studies were performed at the terminal time point of SPECT imaging. AS1411 was successfully labeled with 99mTc with the labeling yields of 81.5% ± 3.6% (n = 5) and was verified by gel electrophoresis and gel imaging. 99mTc-AS1411 was proved to be stable in fresh human serum at room temperature for 12 h. In U87 cells, 99mTc-AS1411 showed significantly higher cellular uptake than 99mTc-NC and 99mTc (9.4% ± 2.1% vs 1.9% ± 0.4% and 0.9% ± 0.1%, P < 0.01, n = 3). FITC-conjugated AS1411 demonstrated more fluorescent signals in U87 cells than NC. In addition, 99mTc-AS1411 displayed similar cellular inhibitory ability with AS1411, which was measured by MTT assay. In U87 tumor-bearing mice, 99mTc-AS1411 demonstrated high radioactive accumulation, whereas 99mTc-NC and 99mTc only showed weak tumor uptake, suggesting the specific uptake of 99mTc-AS1411 in nucleolin-positive U87 tumors in vivo. Biodistribution results further verified the imaging results. The tumor uptake of 99mTc-AS1411 was significantly higher than that of 99mTc-NC (5.81 ± 1.55%ID/g vs 0.51 ± 0.16%ID/g, n = 4, P < 0.01). 99mTc-AS1411 can be successfully prepared via the conjugation of NHS-MAG 3 and be considered a promising imaging agent capable of identifying nucleolin-positive glioma tumors. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, the integrated core-double-shell structures of C@MnO@TiO 2 (abbreviation CMT) composites have been rationally designed and fabricated utilizing of carbon spheres as frameworks and reducing agents, which were introduced a TiO 2 outer shell on MnO 2 @C nanospheres by sol-gel coating and subsequent in-situ calcination reduction process. Owing to the well-defined structures, the as-prepared CMT composites can efficiently convert full-light into heat energy, achieve the rapid adsorption and enrichment of toluene and motivate the synergistic effects of photocatalysis of TiO 2 and full-light driven thermalcatalysis of MnO x @C, resulting in the significantly enhanced photothermal catalytic performance of toluene oxidation upon UV-Vis-IR irradiation of Xe lamp. Furthermore, the strategy on changing the molar ratio of Mn/Ti among CMT composites can not only act as important role in the control of the coating thickness of outer layer TiO 2 , surface morphologies and physicochemical properties within a certain range, but also yield opportunities to adjust photothermal synergistic effects between ternary components among CMT composites. Compared with other CMT composites, CMT-3 samples with a suitable Mn/Ti molar ratio of 0.4 exhibited much higher photothermal catalytic activity including a high toluene removal efficiency and CO 2 production rate (99.1 % within 90 min and 102.5 μmol.g−1.min−1, respectively), which were attributed to its optimized coating thickness of outer layer TiO 2 , and the optimal distribution ratio of surface oxygen species (O ads /O latt /O wat) and electronic valence of Mn species (Mn2+/Mn3+/Mn4+). The possible mechanism for photothermal catalytic oxidation of toluene over CMT composites was also discussed in terms of the special core-double-shell structure, matching electronic band levels and photothermal synergistic effects. [Display omitted] • C@MnO@TiO 2 (CMT) catalysts synthesize via in-situ calcination reduction process. • Core-double-shell structure of CMT achieves photothermal synergistic effects. • CMT show the excellent catalytic activity for the degradation of toluene. • The molar ratio of Mn/Ti of CMT can optimize photothermal synergistic effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Anti-miRNA oligonucleotide (AMO) has been used most widely to inhibit miRNA for loss-of-function studies and function as therapeutic agents. Iodine-131 (131I) radiolabeled AMO may have multiple functions for specific imaging, genetic inhibition, and radiotherapy. This study is to prepare a radioiodinated anti-miRNA-21 AMO by one-step synthesis for preliminary imaging in tumor xenografts and in vitro radiotherapy. A tyrosine was conjugated at the 3' end of AMO via a C6 linker for labeling with 131I. After the molecular mass of AMO was confirmed by mass spectrometry, AMO was labeled with 131I by the chloramine-T method with high labeling yield (95.5% ± 3.1%). By gel electrophoresis, the radioactive distribution of 131I-AMO was located exactly where was AMO, verifying the successful radiolabeling. 131I-AMO presented high stability during 24 h of incubation in fresh human serum. The cellular uptake of 131I or FAM-labeled AMO in DU145 was significantly higher than that in PC-3 cells. After i.v. administration in mice, single-photon emission tomography (SPECT) imaging showed that increased 131I-AMO was found in DU145 tumor from 4 h to 24 h gradually. H&E staining of major organs validated the biocompatibility of 131I-AMO in vivo. Furthermore, the ability of 131I-AMO to inhibit cell growth is superior to that of 131I, along with stronger apoptosis in DU145 cells than in PC-3 cells. Therefore, AMO can be labeled with 131I via one-step synthesis after tyrosine conjugation in this study. Its high labeling yield, stability, inhibitory effect, and tumor distribution provide the potential value in the targeted theranostic role. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bronchoscopic cryotherapy facilitates the treatment of endobronchial tuberculosis (EBTB) and helps suppress progressive bronchial stenosis. However, the molecular mechanism of bronchoscopic cryotherapy in EBTB patients has not been reported. Transcriptome sequencing was performed to explore differentially expressed mRNAs (DEGs) in EBTB patients before and after bronchoscopic cryotherapy. Gene Ontology (GO) and KEGG analyses were carried out. Five genes (MKLN1 , HIGD1A , PTGES , SKIL , and MCEMP1) were selected and validated using real-time qPCR (RT- qPCR). In transcriptome analysis, 448 DEGs with p < 0.05 and|logFC| > 1 were identified; of these, 171 and 277 DEGs were significantly up- and down-regulated after bronchoscopic cryotherapy, respectively. Results displayed 337 biological process (GO-BP), 48 cellular component (GO-CC) and 62 molecular function (GO-MF) terms and 20 KEGG pathways. RT- qPCR results were consistent with the sequencing data. These data provide informative evidence and recommendations for further scientific research on bronchoscopic cryotherapy for EBTB. • We firstly identified transcriptome map of EBTB patients before and after bronchoscopy cryotherapy treatment. • The results showed that 448 DEGs (171 upregulated and 277 downregulated) were obtained between BCT group and ACT group. • These results provide a theoretical basis for further exploring the molecular mechanism of bronchoscopy cryotherapy for EBTB. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights: [•] Three new chalcohalides: Ba4Ge2PbS8Br2, Ba4Ge2PbSe8Br2 and Ba4Ge2SnS8Br2 have been synthesized. [•] The MQ5Br octahedra and GeQ4 tetrahedra form a three-dimensional framework with Ba2+ in the channels. [•] Band Gaps and electronic structures of the three compounds were studied. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • h-BN assembles into spherical aggregated BN (A-BN) assisted by the vortex flow. • The mechanism and operating conditions of A-BN formation are systematically studied. • A through-plane TC of 6.56 W/(mK) is achieved due to the formation of A-BN. • A-BN/AlN/SR composite demonstrates excellent heat dissipation performance as TIMs. Thermal interface materials (TIMs) with high thermal conductivity and good insulation properties are in high demand for thermal management systems. Platelet-like materials such as BN and graphene usually orient horizontally in polymer composites, causing minor Through-plane thermal conductivity (TC) enhancement. Herein, aggregated BN (A-BN)/AlN/silicone rubber (SR) composites with enhanced through-plane TC are fabricated assisted by vortex flow during the planetary centrifugation process. It is found that BN platelets assembled into A-BN with spherical AlN as cores based on concentric vortex. Due to the formation of spherical A-BN, through-plane TC of as-prepared composites with 40 wt% BN and 45 wt% AlN is as high as 6.56 W/(m·K) while it is only 4.62 W/(m·K) for composites without A-BN. Such high TC should mainly be attributed to the large-sized spherical BN interconnected structure which constructs an efficient thermally conductive path in the through-plane direction. The heat dissipation evaluation test also demonstrates the excellent performance of the A-BN/AlN/SR composite. This work provides a facile strategy to produce large-sized BN agglomerates and gives insights into the vortex flow during the planetary centrifugation process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]