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Abstract: Uniform and smooth AlN nanosheets were fabricated on Si substrates by a vapour-phase transport method, using Al powder and ammonia as the source materials. Their morphology and structure were examined by scanning and transmission electron microscopy, and X-ray diffraction. They have a perfect rectangular shape. The growth is favoured along the and crystallographic directions within the plane. Their growth mechanism is discussed on the basis of data gathered. The linewidth of (high) longitudinal optical phonon mode is about 7 cm−1, indicating their high quality. Their photoluminescence property is also investigated. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Two new 3D zinc carboxylates Zn2(suc)(ina)2 (1) (suc=succinate, ina=isonicotinate) and Zn2(fum)(ina)2 (2) (fum=fumarate) have been synthesized under the hydrothermal condition and characterized by the single crystal X-ray diffractions. Both complexes 1 and 2 featuring the [Zn2(CO2R)4] subunit (SBU) formed by mixed tetracarboxylate, interlinked by carboxylate-aromatic amine ligands (ina) to construct a 2D (4,4) sheet, which are further pillared by rigid or flexible dicarboxylates ligands (suc or fum) into 3D framework. The topology of 1 and 2 can be related to the cubic α-Po twofold interpenetrating lattice. Thermogravimetric analyses demonstrate the similar one-step thermal decomposition process with the tolerate temperature ca. 400°C of complexes 1 and 2 resulted from the parallel structure motifs and high stability of them. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: GaN nanorods were synthesized from the reaction of a Ga/Ga2O3 mixture with NH3 on Si substrates by chemical vapor deposition. The synthesized products were characterized by scanning and transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, photoluminescence and Raman spectroscopy. The nanorods are highly single crystalline and possess uniform smooth surfaces. PL revealed only a strong emission at 3.268 eV, ascribed to free exciton (FX) transitions, at room temperature; while the well-known yellow luminescence band centered at 2.2–2.3 eV was not detected. Four first-order phonon modes, corresponding to the A1(TO), E1(TO), E2(high), and A1(LO) at ∼531, 554, 564, and 721 cm−1, respectively, were observed by Raman backscattering. The red-shift of the FX emission peak and the down-shifts of the Raman modes by a few wave numbers are attributed to the presence of tensile strain inside GaN nanorods. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

With the development of molecular genetics and high-throughput sequencing technology, genotyping arrays consisting of large numbers of SNP have raised great interest in animal and plant research. However, the application of commercial chicken 600K SNP arrays has varied in different populations of egg-type chickens. Moreover, their genotyping cost is too high for large-scale population applications. Herein, we independently developed a custom Illumina 50K BeadChip, named PhenoixChip-I, for egg-type chickens based on SNP from 479 sequenced individuals in 7 lines. We filtered and selected SNP with stringent criteria, such as high polymorphism, genome coverage, design score, and priorities. Finally, a total of 43,681 effective SNP successfully genotyped were included on our custom array. Approximately 14K SNP were previously reported to be associated with important economic traits in egg-type chickens. Subsequently, we verified the applicability and efficiency of the PhenoixChip-I SNP array from many aspects, including evaluating its use scientific research (population structure analysis and genome-wide association study) and the poultry breeding industry (genomic selection). The findings in our study will play a crucial role in accelerating the genetic improvement of egg-type chickens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Organic solvent nanofiltration (OSN) as a high-efficient membrane separation technology has play an important role in chemical industrial separation, clean energy production, and high-value resources recycling, etc. Inspired by the asymmetric biological structure of Desert beetle, herein a novel kind of polymeric OSN membranes with asymmetric structure have been fabricated via fluorinated polymeric networks (FPNs) regulated interfacial polymerization. The FPNs were formed with m-phenylenediamine (MPD), dopamine (DA) and 1H,1H,2H,2H-Perfluorodecane-thiol (PFDT) via the Michael addition and Schiff-base reaction. The FPNs tailored thin-film composite membrane (FPN-TFC) with biomimetic asymmetric structure, e.g., much hydrophilic looser front surface and much hydrophobic denser rear surface, exhibits an optimum ethanol permeance ~15.7 L m−2 h−1.MPa−1 and high rejection ~99.5% for Rose Bengal (RB) dye molecules (test with 0.05 g L−1 RB ethanol solution at 25 °C under 1.5 MPa), which is almost 6 times higher than that of the conventional TFC membranes. Moreover, there is a good stability for the FPN-TFC membrane tested with different polar solvents in long-term operation process. Therefore, this work provides a guidance for the development of advanced polymeric OSN membranes with both high solvent permeability and solute selectivity, as well as good stability in OSN process, which would have broad application prospects in chemical and other industrial fields. Image 1 • Polyamide OSN membrane was fabricated via fluorinated polymeric networks regulated interfacial polymerization. • There is biomimetic asymmetric structure for the polyamide OSN membrane. • The polyamide OSN membrane exhibits both high solvent permeance and solute rejection. • The polyamide OSN membrane has good stability and anti-fouling properties in long-term OSN process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Peroxymonosulfate (PMS) non-radical reactions possess high catalytic activity for specific pollutants under complex water environments. However, the synthesis of high-performance catalysts and the discussion of non-radical reaction mechanisms are still unsatisfactory. Here, a novel and efficient non-radical catalyst (O-CuCN) was successfully assembled using the scheme of Copper (Cu) and oxygen (O) co-doping. The O element with great electronegativity induces graphite carbon nitride (g-C 3 N 4) to act as a medium to change the phase properties and electron density distribution of g-C 3 N 4, and provides a support for the targeting of Cu. Cu is introduced into g-C 3 N 4 as an active site in the phase structure, and an electron-rich center with the Cu site is formed, which forms a metastable intermediate after the adsorption of PMS by Cu as the active site. The new catalyst O-CuCN has outstanding activity in the PMS system, and its degradation rate for bisphenol A (BPA) is increased by more than 20 times compared to that of g-C 3 N 4 , and it has excellent environmental tolerance and stability. This work demonstrates that the formation of metastable intermediates and the initiation of effective non-radical reactions can be achieved by constructing differentiated electron density structures. Unlabelled Image • A Cu and O co-doped g-C 3 N 4 efficient non-radical catalyst was prepared. • The synergistic relationship between Cu and O was revealed, Cu as a rich electronics center. • BPA was degraded efficiently through 1O 2 and mediated electron transfer. • The non-radical degradation process of BPA was revealed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Avalanches during flexure of polypropylene fiber reinforced beam measured. • Avalanche statistics and dynamics agreed with mean field model predictions. • Small and large avalanches disclosed with distinctive mechanisms. • A high temporal resolution system created to study concrete avalanches. In this work, we studied stress variations of loading histories on polypropylene fiber reinforced concrete beams during flexure. A new experimental system was created to collect the stress-time curves at 100 kHz sampling rate to reveal temporal profiles of stress drops in high resolution. Concrete beams prepared at the early age of seven days with different fiber volume fractions were loaded at various rates during four-point bending tests. Stress drops induced by interactions between polypropylene fibers and cementitious matrices or matrix cracking were modeled as avalanches along the time history. We used the mean field model to predict statistics and dynamics of avalanches occurred inside polypropylene fiber reinforced concrete beams during flexure. Good agreement was obtained between measurements and predicted power law exponents and scaling functions from the mean field model. Two types of avalanches were observed for polypropylene fiber reinforced beams during flexure, i.e., small avalanches collapsed onto the scaling regime and large avalanches beyond the regime. Maximum stress drop rates of small avalanches were on the order of kPa/s, whereas maximum stress drop rates of large avalanches could reach the order of MPa/s. Observations of different avalanches revealed insights into the essential failure evolved during flexure concrete beams, i.e., small avalanches with limited plastic deformation and large avalanches with extended incubation periods. Findings from this study could help measure the evolved damage of concrete structural members under service loads, which provide valuable hints to improve the durability of reinforced concrete structures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, stress variations during flexure of early age basalt fiber reinforced concrete beams were studied using high resolution temporal measurements. An experimental system was created to collect stress-time curves at 100 kHz sampling rate so that temporal profiles of stress variations were analyzed in detail. Stress drops were modeled as avalanches resulting from interactions between basalt fibers and cementitious matrices. Four-point bending tests at different loading rates were conducted to investigate avalanches during flexure of beams with different fiber volume fractions. Good agreement was obtained between measured avalanche statistics or dynamics and predictions from the mean field model. Different types of avalanches were detected during the flexure of basal fiber reinforced concrete beams, including avalanches with limited size and durations collapsed onto the scaling regime in the logarithmic scale, avalanches with an incubation period before stress drops beyond the scaling regime and giant avalanches occurred at the fracture of bottom concrete. Observations of different avalanche types disclosed the critical failure evolution during flexure of basalt fiber reinforced beams, which could lead to the creation of durable ecofriendly fiber-reinforced concrete structures. • An experimental system created to study avalanches in fiber reinforced concrete. • Measured avalanche statistics and dynamics agreed with mean field model predictions. • Different avalanches disclosed during flexure of basalt fiber reinforced concrete beams. • Potential applications to the durability study of fiber reinforced concrete. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Real-time understanding of the wellbore temperature is a prerequisite for the acidizing treatment design. Fluid flow regime variation caused by fluid rheological property has a great influence on wellbore temperature distribution. According to the physical situation in the acidizing process, the wellbore and formation heat transfer model considering fluid rheological effects is established, the validity of the model is verified by comparing with monitoring data and previous research results. The results indicate that fluid rheology will cause the transition of flow regime, which leads to the variation of heat transfer efficiency. Considering wellbore original water is benefit for accurately predicting bottom-hole temperature. Injection rate has a great influence on fluid flow regime. A critical injection rate with the highest cooling efficiency exists in the low range of pumping rate condition. The findings above can provide theoretical insights for the deep well acidizing, and the model built in this paper is applied in field wellbore temperature simulation. • A numerical wellbore temperature model considering fluid rheological effects was established. • A comprehensive method was provided to build non-Newtonian fluid rheological correlation. • Injection rate had a great influence on fluid rheology and wellbore temperature distribution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • A versatile superhydrophobic magnetic PDMS@CZIF-67/CS aerogel was firstly fabricated. • The carbonized ZIF-67 provided aerogel with magnetism for self-driven oil absorption. • The aerogel has photothermal conversion property for high viscosity oils absorption. • The aerogel exhibits excellent oil adsorption and oil/water separation performance. • The aerogel synchronously remove MPs and their derivatives, antibiotics, and dyes. Water resources contamination by both oil and microplastics (MPs) stands as a pressing environmental concern. To tackle this challenge, we have devised a superhydrophobic magnetic biomass aerogel, synthesized from PDMS-modified carbonized ZIF-67/chitosan (PDMS@CZIF-67/CS). This aerogel exhibits remarkable capabilities in oil/water separation and adsorption of a wide range of emerging pollutants due to its inherent superhydrophobicity, stability, and self-cleaning capabilities. Furthermore, the aerogel demonstrates efficient absorption of viscous oils and facilitates self-driven oil absorption through the synergistic photothermal conversion and magnetic properties of CZIF-67, respectively. After ten consecutive separation cycles, the aerogel consistently maintains its efficiency in oil/water separation, regardless of the employed method, whether gravity-driven or facilitated by a peristaltic pump. Notably, the PDMS@CZIF-67/CS aerogel manifests a high adsorption capacity for various emerging pollutants, specifically MPs, achieving an almost complete adsorption efficiency. This paper introduces an innovative, eco-friendly approach aimed at mitigating oil-contaminated wastewater and emerging pollutants, highlighting its potential for widespread application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

At present, there is no clear data to analyze the probability and impact of falling objects on the subsea Christmas tree. However, during the long-term operation in the complex deep-sea environment, objects may fall and hit the tree due to the anchored platform, fishing boat operation or other reasons, the impact of large heavy objects onto the tree can potentially give rise to the development of internal forces higher than those for which the tree was designed to. Therefore, aiming at the risk problem of falling objects, the paper presents the development process and results of an improved impact probability numerical method. And the safety model of falling object impact on the tree is established. Preliminary results indicate that the method offers valuable insight including and beyond a probability estimation of third-party damage, and the safety results were obtained. At the same time, the influencing factors of the tree impacted by falling objects are analyzed, and the serious influencing factors are obtained, which provides theoretical basis for the design and optimization of the protection frame of subsea square equipment. • The applicability of numerical calculation for falling objects impact is enhanced. • Impact probability of the tree is generally in the order of 10−9. • Impact probability increases first and then decreases at the turning point 50 m water depth. • Protection frame structure can be simplified when water depth exceeds 300 m [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Membranes are developed for simultaneous removal of organic contaminants and heavy metal ions. • The membranes are fabricated by blending Fe 3 O 4 @PDA nanoparticles in PES matrix via LIPS. • The Fe 3 O 4 @PDA nanoparticles blended in the membranes act as both catalysts and adsorbents. • The composite membranes exhibit both large permeability and high separation efficiency. Novel composite membranes are successfully developed for simultaneous adsorption of heavy metal ions and catalytic degradation of organic contaminants by blending polydopamine-coated ferroferric oxide (Fe 3 O 4 @PDA) nanoparticles in polyethersulfone (PES) matrix via liquid-induced phase separation (LIPS) method. The permeabilities of the as-fabricated composite membranes are significantly improved by introducing Fe 3 O 4 @PDA nanoparticles, because the hydrophilic coating on the surface of Fe 3 O 4 @PDA nanoparticles enables to generate more microporous structures between the PES matrix and nanoparticles during the LIPS process. The composite membrane containing 20 wt% Fe 3 O 4 @PDA nanoparticles shows water flux as high as 2640 L∙m−2∙h−1∙bar−1, which is six times larger than that of PES blank membrane. The composite membranes exhibit efficient and repeatable performances for simultaneous adsorptive removal of heavy metal ions and catalytic degradation of organic contaminants based on the mechanism of Fenton-like reaction. The proposed composite membranes with multifunction of simultaneous catalytic degradation of organic contaminants and adsorption of heavy metal ions provide a new pathway to deal with some hard-to-be-treated wastewaters from papermaking, leather, textile printing-dyeing industries, and so on. Furthermore, the proposed one-step strategy for fabricating composite membranes with both large permeability and high separation efficiency in this work is easy to be scaled up. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel β -cyclodextrin (β -CD) modified graphene oxide (CDGO) membrane with large adsorption capacity and high flux is developed for efficient removal of bisphenol A (BPA), which is an environmental endocrine disruptor that can affect human health. The CDGO membranes are fabricated by stacking CDGO nanosheets on porous substrates via vacuum filtration, and the CDGO nanosheets are fabricated by chemically grafting β -CD molecules onto both sides of GO nanosheets. Because β -CD molecules can form stable complexes with BPA molecules through host-guest recognition, the proposed CDGO membranes are featured with high efficiency for BPA removal. The water fluxes through CDGO membranes increase linearly with increasing the operating pressure, which confirms the CDGO membrane structures are stable during operations. With BPA rejection efficiency of about 100%, the fluxes of our CDGO membranes are one or two order of magnitudes higher than those of the RO and NF membranes previously used for BPA removal. The BPA adsorption capacities of our CDGO membranes are several times higher than those of the affinity membranes previously used for BPA removal, due to the high grafting density of β -CD molecules on both sides of CDGO nanosheets, the enormous surface areas of CDGO nanosheets and the winding 2D nanochannels in CDGO membranes. Furthermore, the CDGO membranes can be regenerated easily by washing with ethanol, and the BPA removal efficiency can be recovered back to nearly 100% even after several repeated running cycles. The proposed membranes with high flux and large adsorption capacity are highly promising in applications in the field of water treatments and molecular separations. Image 1 • A novel β -CD-modified graphene oxide membrane is developed for removal of bisphenol A from water. • The fabricated membrane is featured with both large adsorption capacity and high flux. • The membrane microstructure is stable during operations under different operation pressures. • The membrane can be easily regenerated by washing with ethanol. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Facilitated transport of K+ ions through membranes is of great significance in both science and technology for the efficient and selective separation of potassium ions. Here, a novel membrane with ion-recognizable copolymers in graphene-based nanochannels is developed for facilitated transport of potassium ions. The poly(N -isopropylacrylamide- co -benzo-15-crown-5-acrylamide) (PNB) copolymers are fixed in the lamellate spacings between the partially reduced graphene oxide (prGO) nanosheets. The K+ permeability of the fabricated prGO-PNB membrane remarkably increases at around the lower critical solution temperature (LCST) of the PNB copolymer, because of the dynamic complexation between B15C5 units and K+ ions at around the LCST. The selectivity of K+/Na+ increases with increasing the content of PNB copolymers in the membrane. The proposed membrane shows good stability in water and K+ separation performance. Due to the uniform channels and facilitated transport mechanism of the prGO-PNB membrane, the comprehensive performance of selectivity and permeability of the K+ ions is better than that of previously reported polymer-based nanofiltration membranes, polymer-based facilitated transport membranes and graphene-based membranes. The proposed strategy of this prGO-PNB membrane that combining graphene-based sheets as "skeleton" and substance-recognizable copolymers as "facilitators" is also applicable to fabricate membranes for facilitated transport of other ions or molecules. Image 1 • A novel membrane is developed for facilitated transport of potassium ions. • The membrane is fabricated with ion-recognizable copolymers in graphene-based nanochannels. • The facilitated transport of K+ ions through the membrane is achieved with the help of crown ethers. • The selectivity of K+/Na+ increases with increasing the content of copolymers in the membrane. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the increasing consumption of non-renewable energy sources such as fossil fuels, human beings are facing the crisis of energy shortage. Therefore, researchers in most regions and countries in the world are actively committed to designing and developing new dielectric energy storage components with high energy storage density and high energy storage efficiency. In this work, 2-dimensional flaky Na 0.5 Bi 0.5 TiO 3 (NBT) inorganic powders were prepared by the two-step molten salt method and compounded with polymer polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF). NBT/PVDF monolayer and 'sandwich' structure composites were prepared by the tape casting method, and the flaky NBT powders were arranged in parallel in the PVDF matrix. The phase and microstructure of the prepared NBT powders were analyzed by X-ray diffractometer and scanning electron microscope. The dielectric, conductivity, ferroelectric, and energy storage properties of the prepared composites were tested. The results show that the critical breakdown field strength of the prepared single-layer NBT/PVDF and 'sandwich' structure composites with a volume fraction of 0.75 vol.% NBT inorganic powder is 380 kV/mm and 540 kV/mm, respectively. The energy storage density reaches 13.78 J/cm3 and 21.57 J/cm3, which is about 1.87 and 3.01 times the volume fraction of 0 vol.%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • The water-dispersed polydopamine modified porous organic polymer nanoparticle (PDA@POP) was synthesized. • The PDA@POP based nanochannel membrane was prepared via dip coating and interfacial crosslinking method. • The PDA@POPM membrane exhibits both high water permeability and dye/salt selectivity. • The PDA@POPM membrane has good stability and anti-fouling property. Nanochannel membranes derived from porous nanomaterials are crucial for driving the development of advanced desalination and water treatment membranes. However, the practical application of polymer nanochannel membranes is halted by the tedious and complicated preparation and the lack of stability in aqueous service process. In this work, we synthesized a novel type of polydopamine modified imidazolium containing porous organic polymer nanoparticles (PDA@POP), which has good water dispersibility and interface adhesion capability. The PDA@POP aqueous dispersion solution was dip coated on the polysulfone ultrafiltration supporting layer, and the nanocoating was further crosslinked with 1,3,5-Benzenetricarboxylic chloride. The appropriate surface modification of POP nanoparticles with PDA enhances the interfacial interaction and maintains effective-aperture structure, leading to stiff and continuous nanochannels facilitating the water molecules and salt ions quickly transporting through the PDA@POPM membrane. As such, both the water permeability (∼57.0 L·m−2·h−1·bar−1) and dye/salt selectivity (>24) of PDA@POPM are improved 5–10 times higher than that of conventional polymer nanofiltration membranes. Meanwhile, the membrane exhibits good stability and anti-fouling property in long-term dye desalination process. This work provides a convenient and universal strategy to design and manufacture nanochannel membranes with high separation performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The gut microbiota is closely associated with the progression of colorectal cancer (CRC) in which Fusobacterium nucleatum (F. nucleatum) was found to induce cancer resistance to chemotherapeutics. To relieve F. nucleatum -induced drug resistance, herein, we found that short-chain fatty acid butyrate can inhibit the growth, enrichment and adhesion of F. nucleatum in colorectal cancer tissues by downregulating the expression of adhesion-associated outer membrane proteins, including RadD, FomA, and FadA, to reduce the colonization and invasion of F. nucleatum and relieve the chemoresistance induced by F. nucleatum. Leveraging the killing effect of butyrate on F. nucleatum , sodium butyrate (NaBu) was encapsulated in liposomes or prepared as NaBu tablets with Eudragit S100 coating and administered by intravenous injection or oral administration, respectively. Interestingly, both intravenous administration of NaBu liposomes and oral delivery of NaBu tablets could effectively inhibit the proliferation of F. nucleatum and significantly improve the therapeutic efficacy of oxaliplatin in mice with subcutaneous colorectal tumors, orthotopic colorectal tumors and even spontaneously formed colorectal tumors. Thus, our work provides a simple but effective formulation of NaBu to relieve F. nucleatum -induced chemoresistance, exhibiting ideal clinical application prospects. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sm 2 Co 17 -type permanent magnets have important application value due to their advanced magnetic properties, which can be ascribed to their unique cellular structure and element segregation in various phases developed after isothermal aging treatment. In this study, the evolution of the microstructure combined with the microchemistry of Sm 2 Co 17 -type magnets from solid solution precursor to the cellular structure is investigated, and a new insight into the formation of the cellular structure is provided. We report for the first time that a large number of strip-like nanoscale short-range ordered micro-domains are distributed in the disordered matrix of the solution precursor, which serve as the nucleation centers in the formation of the embryos of the cellular structure. Based on atomic scale structural analyses, a new mechanism concerning the ordering transformation from short-range 2:17R microtwins to long-range 2:17R phase is proposed, involving collective glide of three partial dislocations on successive basal planes with the net Burgers vector to be zero. Furthermore, microchemistry analysis reveals that the segregation of Cu and Fe in the early stage of isothermal aging is accelerated substantially during the ordering transformation, indicating that the ordering transformation can act as a new driving force for element segregation in Sm 2 Co 17 -type magnets. These findings provide new considerations for the development of high performance Sm 2 Co 17 -type magnets. Image, graphical abstract [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

X-ray is a form of ionizing radiation with high energy and strong tissue-penetrability, which has been widely used for cancer therapy, including radiation therapy (RT) as one of the mainstream cancer treatments and radiodynamic therapy (RDT) as an emerging treatment modality. However, the nonspecific absorption of X-ray and peculiar tumor microenvironment would lead to the unsatisfied therapeutic effect and severe damage to normal tissues. The fast progress of nanotechnology has provided great opportunities for the development of functional nanoparticles and strategies to solve these problems. In this review, we will summarize the recent advances in functional nanomaterials and the related strategies, discuss how they solve the challenges in order to improve the therapeutic efficacy and safety of RT and RDT, and moreover comment on the challenges and prospects for efficient X-ray triggered cancer therapy based on nanomedicine. Image 1 • X-ray triggered cancer therapy based on nanomaterials, including radiation therapy and radiodynamic therapy was reviewed. • Functional nanomaterials and novel strategies to solve the challenges for RT and RDT were summarized and discussed. • The challenges and prospects for efficient X-ray triggered cancer therapy based on nanomedicine were concluded. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A multifunctional and potent sonosensitizer based on layered double hydroxides (LDHs) with a suitable bandgap and diverse immunological effects (activation of T cells and enhancement infiltration of T cells) was designed to facilitate high-performance SDT combined with immunotherapy. [Display omitted] Sonodynamic therapy (SDT) is a potential non-invasive therapeutic to overcome the limitation of depth and to enhance immunotherapy by converting "cold" to "hot" tumors. However, the intervention effect of SDT-induced hot tumors may not be sufficient to effectively enhance the effect of immunotherapy due to the intricate tumor microenvironment (TME). Herein, a multifunctional and potent sonosensitizer based on layered double hydroxides (LDHs) with a suitable bandgap and diverse immunological effects (activation of T cells and enhancement infiltration of T cells) was designed to facilitate high-performance SDT combined with immunotherapy. Briefly, Ca2+ was introduced into MgFe-LDH to construct MgCaFe-LDH to achieve excellent SDT performance, outstanding modulated TME ability, and a tremendous prognosis effect. The better SDT efficiency was attributed to the optimized electron structure and bandgap with increasing Ca2+ introduction. The regulation of the intricate TME by improving the hypoxic microenvironment and decreasing the concentration of glutathione (GSH) with reducibility to enhance oxidation stress further boosted the SDT effect. In addition, bioactive MgCaFe-LDH exhibited an excellent immunological function, resulting from Mg2+ and Ca2+ ions synergistically activating CD8+ and CD4+ T cells and enhancing the infiltration of T cells into tumor tissues. Moreover, the combined therapy with SDT and αCTLA-4 also displayed a suppressive effect on the bilateral tumor model. Our work highlights novel bioactive LDH sonosensitizers that integrate TME regulation, SDT, and immunological effects for efficient cancer therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) display poor prognosis because HCC involves a high rate of metastasis and regrowth. Herein, we present an effective strategy to treat HCC using magnetic hyperthermia therapy (MHT)-enhanced cancer immunotherapy combined with transcatheter arterial embolization (TAE). Uniform liquid metal microspheres (LM MSs) obtained by microfluidic technology with powerful eddy-thermal effects could be used as both MHT and TAE agents for effective cancer therapy. The eddy-thermal effect of LM MSs demonstrated effective MHT, whereas LM MS-induced MHT boosted the immune system, promoted immune cell infiltration, and further stimulated powerful immune responses to suppress the growth of distant tumors, together with immune checkpoint blockade therapy. Furthermore, LM MS-lipiodol dispersion displayed excellent efficacy of the combined MHT-TAE in the orthotopic rabbit liver cancer model. Our work not only highlighted that LM MSs could act as effective MHT agents to achieve MHT-enhanced immunotherapy but also presented the significant promise of combining MHT with TAE for the efficient treatment of large orthotopic liver tumors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Intelectin is a recently characterized soluble galactofuranose-binding lectin that exists in species ranging from amphioxus to human. Interestingly, intelectin does not contain a canonical carbohydrate-recognition domain (CRD). Therefore, we designed serial deletions of intelectin in the Chinese amphioxus ( Branchiostoma belcheri tsingtauense , AmphiITLN71469) in order to identify functional regions required for carbohydrate binding. Our results revealed that Domain 5 (aa 203–302) was able to bind lipopolysaccarides (LPS) or peptidoglycan (PGN) and agglutinate bacteria as efficiently as the full-length protein. Three dimensional (3D) atomic models of Domain 5 were generated by ab initio based program QUARK and by Iterative Threading Assembly Refinement (I-TASSER) programs, in which four amino acids mediating calcium-binding (G54-G55-G56-E91) were identified by hemagglutination assay. Furthermore, a striking functional conservation of Domain 5 was detected in zebrafish intelectin 1. Taken together, our findings identified for the first time a new CRD domain in intelectin, thereby providing new knowledge leading to a better understanding of pathogen-host interactions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As metal ions play important roles in the process of immunomodulation, immunotherapy based on metal ions has attracted tremendous interests in recent years. Here, we screened common metal ions and found that Mn2+ could enhance the immune function in vitro. A new type of nanovaccine is thus fabricated by a biomimetic approach using nanoscale coordination polymer formed by Mn2+ and 2-methylimidazole (2-MI) to encapsulate ovalbumin (OVA) protein, a model antigen, obtaining OVA@MM nanoparticles. Compared to free OVA, OVA@MM nanoparticles could more effectively induce the maturation of bone marrow-derived dendritic cells (BMDCs) and their subsequent antigen cross-presentation. The particles made of Mn2+ and 2-MI could activate immune-regulated signal pathways to enhance the immune functions of BMDCs. Such OVA@MM nanovaccine could not only provide prophylactic effect to inhibit the growth of B16-OVA tumor on immunized mice, but also significantly inhibit tumor growth in the mice with B16-OVA tumor combined with anti-programmed cell death protein 1 (anti-PD-1) antibody. Therefore, this nanovaccine platform based on Mn2+, 2-MI and antigen may provide a simple, effective and broadly applicable strategy to enhance adaptive immunity against cancer and other diseases. The nanoscale coordination polymers formed by manganese ions and 2-methylimidazole to encapsulate ovalbumin could enhance the maturation of BMDCs, promote the antigen cross-presentation, and trigger the specific antitumor immune response. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

At present, selective and efficient removal of cesium ions (Cs + ) from nuclear waste is of significant importance but still challenging. In this study, an easy-to-get and low-cost hydrogel adsorbent has been developed for effective adsorption and removal of Cs + from aqueous environment. The novel Cs + -recognizable poly(acrylic acid- co -benzo-18-crown-6-acrylamide) (poly(AAc- co -B18C6Am)) hydrogel is specifically designed with a synergistic effect, in which the AAc units are designed to attract Cs + via electrostatic attraction and the B18C6Am units are designed to capture the attracted Cs + by forming stable 2:1 “sandwich” complexes. The poly(AAc- co -B18C6Am) hydrogels are simply synthesized by thermally initiated free-radical copolymerization and display excellent Cs + adsorption from commonly coexisting metal ions. Important parameters affecting the adsorption are investigated comprehensively, and the adsorption kinetics and adsorption isotherms are also discussed systematically. The poly(AAc- co -B18C6Am) hydrogels exhibit rapid Cs + adsorption within 30 min and the adsorption process is governed by the pseudo-second order model. Adsorption isotherm results demonstrate that the equilibrium data are well fitted by the Langmuir isotherm model, indicating that the Cs + adsorption is probably a monolayer adsorption process. Such Cs + -recognizable hydrogel materials based on the host-guest complexation are promising as efficient and feasible candidates for adsorption and removal of radioactive Cs + from nuclear contaminants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nano-graphene as a class of two-dimensional sp 2 carbon nanomaterial has attracted tremendous attentions in various fields in the past decade. Utilizing its unique physical and chemical properties, nano-graphene has also shown great promises in the area of biomedicine, for application in biosensing, imaging and therapy. In particular, with all atoms exposed on its surface, nano-graphene exhibits ultra-high surface area available for efficient binding/loading of various biomolecules of interests, and has been widely used as multifunctional nano-carriers for drug and gene delivery. In this review article, we will summarize the recent advances in the development of nano-graphene as stimuli-responsive nano-carriers for drug delivery, as well as the applications of these smart systems for cancer therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel three-dimensional (3D) helical membrane is developed for process intensification via generation of Dean vortices in helical membrane channel. 3D helical porous polyethersulfone membrane is fabricated by casting the membrane forming solution on the surface of 3D-printed porous substrate with a 3D helical channel structure by high-speed rotation method, and then curing by vapor-induced phase separation. The optimal helical radius and internal channel height are both 19 mm for the prepared 3D helical membranes. When the feed flowrate is higher than the minimum critical flowrate, Dean vortices can be easily generated in the 3D helical membrane channel, and thus the membrane fouling can be effectively mitigated. The ratio of average transmembrane flux of 3D helical membrane to that of conventional cylindrical membrane increases from 1.0 to ∼2.0 when the feed flowrate increases from 2.1 to 106.1 mm s−1, and from 1.0 to ∼1.9 when the feed particle concentration increases from 0 to 20 g L−1. No matter how the microstructures of particles in feed solutions vary, Dean vortices generated in 3D helical membrane channels are always efficient to diminish the particle deposition on membrane surface. The proposed strategy is highly promising for developing efficient membranes with different materials for various applications. [Display omitted] • 3D helical porous polyethersulfone membranes are developed for process intensification. • The process intensification in 3D helical membranes is achieved by generation of Dean vortices. • There exists the minimum critical flowrate for generation of Dean vortices in 3D helical membranes. • The Dean vortices are efficient to diminish the particle deposition and membrane fouling. • Membrane process intensification can be acheived by Dean vortices for treating various particles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Simple, low-energy and scalable one-step chemical expansion of graphene. • High-yield (>90%) preparation of of nanocrystalline chemically expanded graphene. • Specific capacity of 283.8F·g−1 at 1 A·g−1, and excellent rate capability. • Excellent capacity retention of ≈87% after 5000 cycles at 20 A·g−1. High-performance electrode materials are particularly important for the next-generation of supercapacitors with enhanced specific capacity and cycle stability. In this study, a simple and scalable thermal expansion method is used to convert acidic graphite oxide (AGO) into chemically expanded graphene (CEG) nanostructure, with a honeycomb morphology consisting of 2–3 graphene layers. The CEG produced by the thermal expansion of AGO under modified conditions of time and duration (CEG-2) exhibits a substantially large specific surface area of around 388 m2·g−1, in comparison to value of 6 m2·g−1 recorded on the virgin superconducting graphite powder. This provides the CEG-2 material with an excellent specific capacitance of 283.8F·g−1, recoded at 1 A·g−1. The cycle stability of CEG-2 is characterized to be highly desirable with a retention rate of around 87% after 5000 cycles. The results obtained suggest the enhanced electrochemical performance of CEG. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tumor hypoxia is confirmed to be associated with the formation of tumor immunosuppression, a general feature of solid tumors, and thus attenuates the effectiveness of various cancer therapies in clinic. We herein develop a tumor microenvironment (TME) modulating liposomal nanomedicine by encapsulating metformin with amphiphilic oxaliplatin prodrug constructed liposomes to potentiate cancer immunotherapy. While metformin could regulate metabolisms of tumor cells to reduce their oxygen consumption and relieve tumor hypoxia, oxaliplatin is a chemotherapy drug that induces immunogenic cell death (ICD). The obtained met-oxa(IV)-liposome upon intravenous injection effectively attenuates tumor hypoxia and induce ICD of cancer cells, thereby collectively suppresses the growth of murine colorectal tumors by eliciting potent antitumor immunity and reversing the immunosuppressive TME. As the result, the treatment with met-oxa(IV)-liposome effectively potentiates the immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) therapy against murine colorectal tumors. This liposomal nanomedicine is highlighted to be a TME modulating liposomal nanomedicine with high potency in suppressing tumor growth, particularly promising in synergizing with ICB therapy by boosting antitumor immune responses. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ferroptosis is a recently identified regulated cell death pathway featured in iron prompted lipid peroxidation inside cells and found to be an effective approach to suppress tumor growth. Motived by the high efficacy of ferrous ions (Fe2+) in initiating intracellular lipid peroxidation via the Fenton reaction, this study herein prepares a pH-responsive Fe2+ delivery nanocarrier by coating calcium carbonate (CaCO 3) nanoparticles with a metal-polyphenol coordination polymer composed of gallic acid (GA) and Fe2+. Together with simultaneous encapsulation of succinic acid conjugated cisplatin prodrugs (Pt(IV)-SA) and Fe2+, the yielded nanoparticles, coined as PGFCaCO 3 , are synthesized and exhibit uniform hollow structure. After PEGylation, the resulted PGFCaCO 3 -PEG shows increased physiological stability and pH-dependent decomposition, drug release and catalytic capability in initiating lipid peroxidation. After being endocytosed, PGFCaCO 3 -PEG effectively promoted intracellular generation of cytotoxic reactive oxygen species including lipid peroxide, thereby exhibited superior inhibition effect towards both murine 4T1 and CT26 cancer cells over Pt(IV)-SA and GFCaCO 3 -PEG. As a result, treatment with systemic administration of PGFCaCO 3 -PEG effectively suppressed 4T1 tumor growth via combined Fe2+ initiated ferroptosis and Pt(IV)-SA mediated chemotherapy. This work highlights that intracellular delivery of Fe2+ is a robust approach to enhance tumor chemotherapy by inducing ferroptosis. PGFCaCO 3 -PEG prepared via the surface protected etching process is employed to enable tumor targeted delivery of cisplatin prodrug Pt(IV)-SA and Fe2+. Upon uptake by tumor cells, the released Pt(IV)-SA is reduced to its toxic species of cisplatin to suppress cancer cells via the chemotherapy. Subsequently, the released Fe2+ converts endogenous H 2 O 2 into cytotoxic ·OH via the Fenton reaction to promote intracellular lipid peroxidation, thereby eliciting ferroptosis of cancer cells. As a result, PGFCaCO 3 -PEG could collectively suppress tumor cell growth via the chemotherapy and ferroptosis. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A co-flow microfluidic device with relatively open shearing-space is developed. • The device largely reduces the pressure in microchannel for easy flow of liquids. • The device extends the operation window of dripping regime and avoids back flow. • Droplets are produced by easy microflow manipulation with widely tunable flow rates. • The device produces monodisperse emulsion droplets with widely tunable sizes. An open-type co-flow microfluidic technique that allows simple microflow manipulation with a broad operation range of flow rates for controllably producing uniform droplets with widely adjustable sizes is developed. The microfluidic device employs a co-flow geometry with relatively open shearing space to largely reduce the pressure drop in the microchannel to facilitate the flow of liquids. Such a device significantly extends the operation window of the dripping regime and eliminates the back flow, to benefit easy microflow manipulation with broadly adjustable flow rates for producing monodisperse droplets with widely tunable sizes. Typically, at We d = 0.0028, the operation window of the dripping regime and adjustable range of flow rates for this device are both at least ∼3 times wider than those of traditional co-flow devices with confined shearing space for droplet generation. This work provides a facile microfluidic platform with simple flow manipulation and a wide operation range for the wide-scale impact of droplet microfluidics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • One novel hierarchical porous van der Waals CuS-CN heterojunction was synthesized by a mechanochemistry-driven acetate route for enhanced Hg0 degradation. • The obtained CuS-CN heterojunction exhibited superior Hg0 accommodation capacity than CuS-CN(mix) and showcased excellent adaptability to various stationary source flue gases. • The well-developed electron transport network and a smaller energy gap enhanced the charge transfer and separation of Hg0 and g-C 3 N 4 to CuS. • CuS-CN heterojunction exhibited a stronger Hg0 oxidation and weaker HgS adsorption characteristic. • The synthesis logic is straightforward, relatively low cost, and can be upscaled for batch production and industrial application. The development of cost-effective heterojunctions with heightened affinity for mercury (Hg0) presents a promising approach for mercury abatement from stationary source emissions. In this study, one novel hierarchical porous Schottky heterojunction composed of CuS-coupled layered g-C 3 N 4 (CuS-CN) was synthesised via a mechanochemistry-driven acetate route. The prepared CuS-CN heterojunction exhibited a considerable Hg0 accommodation capacity of 33.04 mg/g at 70 °C and a breakthrough threshold of 60%, which was 40% higher than that of CuS-CN(mix) prepared by simply mixing CuS and CN without forming a heterojunction interface. Additionally, the CuS-CN heterojunction demonstrated satisfactory applicability against various simulated stationary source exhausts. Furthermore, the reason for the unparalleled and enhanced demercuration performance of the CuS-CN heterojunction was systematically deduced via experimental studies and first-principles calculations. Under-coordinated disulfides (S 2 2−) on the CuS-CN surface served as the primary active centre for the oxidation of Hg0 to Hg2+ and simultaneous bonding site for Hg2+ to form HgS. The well-developed electron transport network and narrow bandgap energy of the CuS-CN heterojunction enhanced charge separation and transfer from Hg0 and CN to CuS, accelerating Hg0 oxidation reaction, which resulted in an enhanced adsorption energy of −344.52 kJ/mol. Additionally, the CuS-CN heterojunction exhibited stronger Hg0 oxidation and weaker HgS adsorption properties, attributed to the lower bond strength of HgS on the CuS-CN surface and lower energy barrier for HgS desorption. Thus, this study highlighted the effectiveness of the CuS-CN heterojunction in Hg0 abatement and presented a promising strategy for the mechanochemical synthesis of mercury removal agents for large-scale industrial applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The executor is an important component of a database. Typical executors that are applied in modern database systems follow either the VOLCANO model or Compiled model, each of which fits some scenarios but not all. Even the widely employed PostgreSQL (PGSQL) and CockroachDB (CRDB) have to rely on human experts to achieve the optimal execution mode. Nevertheless, the accuracy of these decisions is only 32.8% on average, even with an expert involved. Moreover, due to the exclusive use of rule-based strategies, it is not feasible to reasonably switch between two working modes when confronted with different queries. To solve this problem, we propose a QUery awARe daTabase adaptivE compilaTion decision system (Quartet), which can determine the most suitable execution mode with respect to the current workload at runtime. Quartet generates operator-cost and tree-based vectors by analysing the query execution plan (QEP) and then uses the fully connected neural network (FCNN) and tree-based convolutional neural network (TBCNN) to learn the relationship between the QEP and the optimal execution. Our evaluations show that Quartet can improve execution decision accuracy by 60% on average under TPC-H (under 3 GB) workloads. • Enhance accuracy in choosing traditional or expression compilation iterative models. • Efficiently generates ML feature vectors from query execution plans. • Support for different workloads by using multiple Machine Learning models. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

GO membranes cross-linked by copper ion and intercalated with tannic acid exhibit superior ionic sieving performance and aqueous stability. The fabrication strategy is novel and simple. [Display omitted] • GO membranes cross-linked by copper ion and tannic acid are successfully prepared. • The aqueous stability and permeance of membranes are improved simultaneously. • Outstanding membrane performance for K+/Mg2+ and K+/Cr3+ separation. • GO-Cu-TA 20 membrane exhibits a high K+ ion penetration rate of 0.75 mol m-2 h-1. • The membranes have great potentials in lithium extraction from salt lakes etc. Graphene oxide (GO) membranes have exhibited excellent molecular sieving properties in several areas, such as water treatment and gas separation, but unsatisfactory permeability and/or selectivity for ionic separation. Meanwhile, the instability of pure GO membranes in acidic solution has significantly impeded the ionic sieving applications. In this study, a kind of GO composite membranes (GO-Cu-TA a) with exceptional aqueous stability and superior ionic sieving properties are successfully prepared by employing a unique natural deposition strategy to introduce copper ions and tannic acid (TA). Based on the synergistic effect of the two cross-linking agents of copper ion and TA, the structural stability and ionic sieving performance of GO-Cu-TA a membranes are obviously enhanced. The resultant membrane with 20% TA loading displays excellent ionic sieving performance in a mixed solution containing K+, Mg2+ and Cr3+ three metal cations, and the selectivities of K+/Mg2+ and K+/Cr3+ are 46.43 and 185.32, respectively. Especially, the permeation rate of K+ ion reaches up to 0.75 mol m-2 h-1. Meanwhile, the ionic sieving property of such GO membranes possesses outstanding reusability and long-term stability. Such a membrane can also effectively separate mono-/multivalent metal cations from the mixed solution contained of the nine metal cations. The selectivities of monovalent/divalent metal cations (such as K+/Pb2+, K+/Ca2+, K+/Mg2+) are as high as 7.69–51.49, and those of monovalent/trivalent metal cations (such as K+/Fe3+, K+/Cr3+, K+/Al3+) are as high as 247.62–346.67. These results indicate that the GO-Cu-TA a membranes fabricated by the method of natural deposition strategy are expected to be used in the practical applications of lithium extraction from Salt Lake and wastewater purification, etc. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The combat against contamination by trace amounts of water and bacteria in aviation fuel remains a challenge, necessitating a comprehensive strategy. Here, a superamphophilic antimicrobial membrane is developed by featuring a stable zinc-coordinated polydopamine metallo-polymeric framework (PDA/Zn) on the skeleton of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) non-woven fabric. The formation of the PDA/Zn framework is streamlined through dopamine polymerization synchronized with metallo-ion coordination. This work delves into the intrinsic stability and superamphiphilic properties of the PDA/Zn framework, as well as systematically investigates its performance in fuel dehydration and carbophilus elimination. The resulting membrane exhibits a high gravity-driven flux and achieves a significant reduction in water content to below 10 ppm in aviation fuel, attributed to a demulsification and aggregation mechanism. Furthermore, our findings highlight the nearly complete antibacterial multifunctionality of the proposed membrane. It effectively prevents bacterial attachment at the liquid-solid interface and brings about bacterial eradication through the presence of Zn2+ ions and the mechanical puncturing effect of nanostructure cusps. This work not only advances applications in water dehydration and bacterial elimination but also pioneers opportunities for designing advanced functional membranes with multifaceted functionalities, including anti-fouling, self-cleaning, and antimicrobial properties, setting the stage for broader applications in membrane field. [Display omitted] • The high-flux nanocoating-engineered membrane could remove the water below 10 ppm in fuel. • The proposed membrane possesses an antibacterial multifunctionality: preventing attachment and mechanically killing. • The nanocoating consists of zinc-coordinated metallo-polymeric framework. • The nanocoating is prepared via one-step method of dopamine polymerization with metallo-ion coordination. • The nanocoating process excellent stability, superamphiphilic and antibacterial properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Injecting surfactants into coal seams is an effective means to improve coal wettability. Previous studies have shown that nanofluids provided excellent drag reduction and wetting. Therefore, this manuscript investigates the synergies of AOS (Sodium alpha-olefin sulfonate)-modified SiO 2 nanofluid on the wettability of coal. Contact angle experiments were performed to examine the effects of deionized water on the wettability of coal treated with different solutions. The results demonstrated that 0.01 wt% nanofluid containing with 0.2 wt% AOS as the significantly increased the wettability. At the micro level, molecular dynamics simulations were employed to analyze the relative concentration distribution and MSD (mean square displacement) of water molecules in different systems. The simulation outcomes revealed that water molecules formed the thickest adsorption layer, and the diffusion range was more expansive, in the H 2 O/AOS-modified SiO 2 /Coal system. This was attributed to the amphiphilic structure of AOS-modified SiO 2 , which bent and folded on the coal surface, where hydrophobic sites were masked and hydrophilic sites were increased. Therefore, water molecules were attracted to the coal, the potential for collision was increased, and the wettability of the coal was enhanced. These findings provide a crucial foundation for modifying nanoparticles with surfactants and using them in coal seam water injection. • Experimental and simulation research methods were used to explain wetting effects. • Constructed the H 2 O/AOS-modified SiO 2 /Coal simulation system. • The effect of AOS-modified SiO 2 on the wettability of coal was studied. • Provide ideas for the application of nanofluids in coal seam water injection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A simple shape maps was proposed based on the Reynolds number and Deborah number. • The bubble velocity was investigated, it was found that a velocity jump phenomenon occur in PAA solutions. • An empirical correlation was proposed to predict the drag coefficient of bubble rising in stagnant shear-thinning viscoelastic liquids. The motion of a single bubble rising in stagnant shear-thinning viscoelastic liquids was investigated using a high-speed camera. The recorded images were analyzed using MATLAB with a self-written code in order to obtain the bubble volume and velocity. Using the experimental observations, a simple shape map was proposed based on the Reynolds number and the Deborah number. The bubble velocity was also investigated, and the phenomenon of velocity jump was observed in the Polyacrylamide (PAA) solutions. Furthermore, an empirical correlation was proposed to predict the drag coefficient of bubbles rising in stagnant shear-thinning viscoelastic liquids. The predicted results of the correlation showed good conformity with the experimental values corresponding to the PAA solutions of different concentrations and 95 wt% glycerin solution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] Percutaneous ethanol injection therapy (PEIT) is a nonthermal locoregional treatment modality widely used in the treatment of solid tumors such as small hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Restricted by the inhomogeneous diffusion and unwanted leakage of injected ethanol, PEIT that usually requires multiple injections is often associated with a high local recurrence rate and potential severe complications. Herein, we propose an alternative locoregional treatment strategy to effectively ablate tumors by utilizing the reactive oxygen species generated from the percutaneously implanted catalytic couple fueled by orally administrated ethanol. It is shown that the catalytic couple of alcohol oxidase and iron catalyst hemin conjugated chitosan can sequentially convert ethanol to cytotoxic hydrogen peroxides and then hydroxyl radials, thereby result in efficient cancer cell killing by triggering ferroptosis. Upon being fixed inside tumors with in-situ formed alginate hydrogels, such catalytic couple together with multiple ethanol gavages shows great inhibitory effect on murine H22 liver and 4T1 breast tumors, comparable to those treated by PEIT. The efficient therapeutic potency of the combination treatment is further confirmed in a rat orthotopic N1S1 HCC model. This work highlights that our 'alcohol drinking' anti-tumor strategy is of great effectiveness, operation convenience, and high safety. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: This article reviews the latest progresses regarding the applications of carbon nanotubes (CNTs), including single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) and multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs), as multifunctional nano-probes for biomedical imaging. Utilizing the intrinsic band-gap fluorescence of semi-conducting single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs), fluorescence imaging in the near infrared II (NIR-II) region with enhanced tissue penetration and spatial resolution has shown great promise in recent years. Raman imaging based on the resonance Raman scattering of SWNTs has also been explored by a number of groups for in vitro and in vivo imaging of biological samples. The strong absorbance of CNTs in the NIR region can be used for photoacoustic imaging, and their photoacoustic signals can be dramatically enhanced by adding organic dyes, or coating with gold shells. Taking advantages of metal nanoparticle impurities attached to nanotubes, CNTs can also serve as a T2-contrast agent in magnetic resonance (MR) imaging. In addition, when labeled with radioactive isotopes, many groups have developed nuclear imaging with functionalized CNTs. Therefore CNTs are unique imaging probes with great potential in biomedical multimodal imaging. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Metal oxides, such as SnO2, Fe2O3, CoO, Co3O4, NiO, CuO and MnO2 etc., are promising anode materials for lithium-ion batteries due to their high capacity and safety characteristics. However, the commercial utility of metal oxide anodes has been hindered to date by their poor cycling performance. Recent study shows that metal oxides with hollow nano/microstructures exhibit fascinating performance as anode materials for Li ion batteries. In this review, we first describe the current commonly used synthetic methods to create metal oxide hollow structures, and for each method, we also comment on its advantages and shortages compared with other methods. According to some typical examples and the following theoretical analysis, we show the promising use of hollow metal oxides as anode materials for lithium-ion batteries. Finally, the challenges and future developments of metal oxide hollow structures are further discussed. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

• The in-depth comparative transcriptome analysis of adult zebrafish gonads. • 14,975 DEGs were identified between the ovaries and testes of adult zebrafish. • The DEGs were associated with sex-biased pathways. • The results provide important insights into the mechanisms underlying sexual dimorphism and gonadal development in zebrafish. Zebrafish (Danio rerio) is a widely recognized and extensively studied model organism in scientific research. The regulatory mechanism of gonadal development and differentiation of this species has aroused considerable attention. Nonetheless, the major sex-biased genes and pathways associated with gonadal development remain elusive. Therefore, to comprehend this intricate process, gonadal transcriptome sequencing was carried out to identify differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between the testes and ovaries of adult zebrafish. The preliminary assessment yielded a total of 23,529,272 and 23,521,368 clean reads from the cDNA libraries of ovaries and testes. Afterward, a comparative analysis of the transcriptome revealed 3,604 upregulated and 11,371 downregulated DEGs in the ovaries compared to the testes. Of these genes, 428 were exclusively expressed in females, while 3,516 were exclusively expressed in males. Additionally, further assessments were conducted to explore the functions associated with these DEGs in various biological processes. The data revealed their involvement in sex-biased pathways, such as progesterone-mediated oocyte maturation, oocyte meiosis, cytokine-cytokine receptor interaction, and cardiac muscle contraction. Finally, the expression levels of 14 sex-biased DEGs (cdc20 , ccnb1 , ypel3 , chn1 , bmp15, rspo1 , tnfsf10 , egfra , acta2 , cox8a , gsdf , dmrt1 , star, and cyp17a1) associated with the enriched pathways were subjected to further validation through qRT-PCR. The data acquired from these investigations offer valuable resources to support further exploration of the mechanisms governing sexual dimorphism and gonadal development in zebrafish. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A novel Hg0 removal adsorbent OMC-Cl was synthesized. • The presence of C-Cl functional groups exerts inhibitory effects on the formation of HgO and HgS. • DFT reveals the effect mechanism of C-Cl functional groups. • OMC-Cl exhibits excellent capacity in adsorption–desorption cycles. Wet desorption presents an environmentally sustainable approach for the disposal of deactivated elemental mercury (Hg0) removal adsorbents. However, the prevalence of insoluble Hg compounds in the adsorption products poses a significant impediment to the wet desorption process. In this work, an ordered mesoporous carbon modified with C-Cl functional groups (OMC-Cl) was synthesized via the evaporation-induced self-assembly (EISA) method. It has a high specific surface area (∼630 m2/g), large pore volume (∼0.64 cm3/g), and uniform pore size (∼22.0 nm). The presence of C-Cl functional groups provides a remarkable adsorption capacity to the adsorbent, exhibiting high adsorption efficiency in various adsorption atmospheres (96.8 % in pure N 2 ; 91.7 % in N 2 + H 2 S) and promoting the prevalence of soluble HgCl 2 in the adsorption product. Density functional theory analysis has elucidated that the C-Cl functional groups exerted inhibitory effects on the formation of HgO and HgS mainly by weakening the adsorption process of Hg0 on C = O and C-S. The desorption efficiencies of adsorption products in the above atmospheres in HCl solution (0.5 mol/L) achieved 95.4 % and 81.3 %, respectively. The high concentration of H+ ions serves to prevent the re-adsorption of Hg2+ by the -SH generated during the adsorption process. Furthermore, the adsorbent desorbed in HCl solution manifests substantial potential for recyclability. This study introduces a novel approach for efficient wet desorption in terms of designing active sites to modulate the adsorption products and pore structures to facilitate mass transfer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Multiphase microstructures are formed in annealed SmFe 2- x Si x alloys. • The electrical resistivity increases by 300 % in the Si-doped alloys. • These alloys exhibit a large magnetostriction of −1260 to −2195 ppm. The effects of Si substitution for Fe on phase constitution, electrical resistivity, and magnetostrictive properties have been investigated systematically in SmFe 2- x Si x alloys. It is found that the main phase of Sm(Fe,Si) 2 is surrounded by minor Sm-rich phases at grain boundaries in alloys with x ≤ 0.1, while a large quantity of secondary phases uniformly distributes in the main phase for the samples with x = 0.15 and 0.2. The Sm(Fe,Si) 2 Laves phase crystallizes in the trigonal R 3 ¯ m structure for all the samples at room temperature. The electrical resistivity at 300 K monotonously rises from 75 to 305 µΩ·cm with the increase of x to 0.2, mainly resulting from the existence of secondary phases. Linear magnetostriction of −1260 to −2195 ppm at 20 kOe and magnetomechanical coupling coefficient of 0.37 to 0.46 are obtained in these alloys at room temperature. The optimized combination of electrical resistivity and magnetostriction in SmFe 2- x Si x materials makes them a promising magnetostrictive material for potential applications in a wider frequency range. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The highest conversion efficiency of Cu(In,Y)Se 2 solar cell with non-toxic SnS 2 buffer reaches 25.32%. • Y doping can improve the photoelectric performance of CuInSe 2 , even better than CIGSe. • Cu(In,Y)Se 2 with the broadband gap is a promising candidate for top cell of tandem cells. To explore material solutions for improving the power conversion efficiency (PCE) of copper based thin film solar cells, we systematically study the CuInSe 2 doped by Y element containing shell-unfilled 4d electrons. The crystal and electronic structures are investigated by the first-principles calculations and the device performance with Y-doped CuInSe 2 as absorber is simulated by employing SCAPS-1D software. And the matching between different buffer layers and absorber is also examined. The result shows that the substitution of Y for In can increase the band gap and make the valence bands flatting, which increases the density of states at Fermi level and effective masses of electrons and holes while decreases the carrier mobility. Two doping cases with the band gap of 1.262 and 1.465 eV are considered promising candidates for the absorber and exhibit the PCE higher than 23.6% of Cu(In,Ga)(S,Se) 2. CdS, SnS 2 , ZnMgO, and Zn(S,O) can all serve as buffer layers for Y-doped CuInSe 2 devices and the impact of their thickness on conversion efficiency is analyzed. From the perspective of achieving the same efficiency, the thickness of SnS 2 buffer layer can be reduced to 30 nm. The highest conversion efficiency of device based on Cu(In,Y)Se 2 absorber with the band gap of 1.465 eV reaches 25.32%, which demonstrates excellent performance of broadband gap photovoltaic cells using as a top cell of tandem cells. The results suggest that, by doping yttrium and adjusting thickness of buffer and absorber layers, the conversion efficiency of copper based thin film solar cells is able to further be improved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The efficacy of radiotherapy has not yet achieved optimal results, partially due to insufficient priming and infiltration of effector immune cells within the tumor microenvironment (TME), which often exhibits suppressive phenotypes. In particular, the infiltration of X–C motif chemokine receptor 1 (XCR1)-expressing conventional type-1 dendritic cells (cDC1s), which are critical in priming CD8+ cytotoxic T cells, within the TME is noticeably restricted. Hence, we present a facile methodology for the efficient fabrication of a calcium phosphate hydrogel loaded with X–C motif chemokine ligand 1 (XCL1) to selectively recruit cDC1s. Manganese phosphate microparticles were also loaded into this hydrogel to reprogram the TME via cGAS-STING activation, thereby facilitating the priming of cDC1s propelled specific CD8+ T cells. They also polarize tumor-associated macrophages towards the M1 phenotype and reduce the proportion of regulatory cells, effectively reversing the immunosuppressive TME into an immune-active one. The yielded XCL1@CaMnP gel exhibits significant efficacy in enhancing the therapeutic outcomes of radiotherapy, particularly when concurrently administered with postoperative radiotherapy, resulting in an impressive 60 % complete response rate. Such XCL1@CaMnP gel, which recruits cDC1s to present tumor antigens generated in situ, holds great potential as a versatile platform for enhanced cancer treatment through modulating the immunosuppressive TME. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In clinics, therapeutic proteins are commonly used to treat retinal diseases through intraocular injection, the treatment which suffers from rather low patient compliance. Topical administration (e.g. eye-drops) of large molecule drugs remains a major challenge due to the presence of various barriers in the eye. In this study, zwitterion-grafted chitosan (CS-ZW) was developed and then self-assembled with protein therapeutics including adalimumab (ADA) or catalase (CAT) for the treatment of dry age-related macular degeneration (dAMD) via topical eyedrops. Since CS-ZW can cross the mucus layer and open the tight junctions between epithelial cells, their delivered therapeutic proteins can be shuttled across the ocular barriers to reach the diseased site in the fundus. CS-ZW/ADA eyedrops delivering ADA to bind TNF-α in the fundus achieved a similar therapeutic effect to intravitreal ADA injection in a mouse dAMD model. In addition, the therapeutic effect was further improved by combining eyedrop formulations of CS-ZW/ADA and CS-ZW/CAT, the latter of which can clear reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the lesion to further assist dAMD treatment. Our work provides a simple and effective delivery vehicle that can non-invasively treat fundus diseases such as dAMD, showing potential advantages in reducing side effects associated with intraocular injection and improving patient compliance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]