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• InGaN LED arrays are used as optical transmitters in underwater optical communications. • The parallel-connected design of the constituent pixels is useful to avoid LED failure. • With increasing inactive pixel number, improved LED emission efficiency and the transmission performance were found. • Real-time transmissions of digital TV signals over a 100 cm water channel is shown to be feasible using proposed LED arrays. SU-8 planarized InGaN LED arrays are proposed for use as optical transmitters in underwater optical communications. In addition to alleviating current crowding effects, the parallel-connected design of the constituent pixels is useful to avoid LED failure. Experiments are conducted to investigate the impact of different numbers of emitting pixels on LED performance and system bandwidth of a data communication link passing through a water tank. Although a maximum light output power of 56.7 mW was obtained for LED arrays with all pixels available for light emission, LED arrays with 2 emitting pixels exhibit a high external quantum efficiency at a lower current (i.e., η ext = 8.9% @ 9 mA). In addition, the maximum 3-dB modulation bandwidth of optical links in the water tank increased from 18 to 30.3 MHz with the use of LED arrays, but the number of emitting pixels is reduced from 16 to 2. Such improvement also reflects an increased data transmission rate of 200 Mbit/s through the use of a 2-emitting-pixel LED array. Finally, real-time transmission of digital TV signals over a moderate distance (∼100 cm) in tap water is shown to be feasible even when modifying the number of the emitting pixels within the LED arrays. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Atrazine (ATR) as a toxic herbicide has become one of the seriously environmental contaminants worldwide due to its long-term intensive use in crop production. This study identified novel methyltransferases (MTs) involved in detoxification and degradation of ATR residues in rice plants. From a subset of MTs differentially expressed in ATR-exposed rice, forty-four O -methyltransferase genes were investigated. Total activities were significantly enhanced by ATR in rice tissues. To prove detoxifying capacity of the MTs in rice plants, two rice O -MTs (LOC_Os04g09604 and LOC_Os11g15040) were selected and transformed into yeast cells ( Pichia pastoris X-33). The positive transformants accumulated less ATR and showed less toxicity. Using UPLC-TOF-MS/MS, ATR-degraded products in rice and yeast cells were characterized. A novel O -methylated-modified metabolite (atraton) and six other ATR-derivatives were detected. The topological interaction between LOC_Os04g09604 enzyme and its substrate was specially analyzed by homology modeling programs, which was well confirmed by the molecular docking analysis. The significance of the study is to provide a better understanding of mechanisms for the specific detoxification and degradation of ATR residues in rice growing in environmentally relevant ATR-contaminated soils and may hold a potential engineering perspective for generating ATR-resistant rice that helps to minimize ATR residues in crops. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights: [•] The degradation-data-driven method is used to analyze the lifetime of HPWLEDs. [•] We present a bi-exponential model to improve the fit accuracy for the data. [•] The two-stage method provides the highest ability to explain variation. [•] A response model was used to predict the useful lifetime. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The rice (Oryza sativa) GTs belong to a super family possibly with hundreds of members. However, which GTs are involved in plant response to toxic chemicals is unknown. Here, we demonstrated 59 novel GT genes screened from our recent genome-wide sequencing datasets of rice crops exposed to atrazine (a herbicide persistent in ecosystems). Analysis of GT genes showed that most of the GTs contain functional domains typically found in proteins transferring glycosyl moieties to their target compounds. A phylogenetic analysis revealed that many GT genes from different families have diverse cis-elements necessary for response to biotic and environmental stresses. Experimental validation for the GTs was undertaken through a microarray, and 36 GT genes were significantly detected with an expression pattern similar to that from deep-sequencing datasets. Furthermore, 12 GT genes were randomly selected and confirmed by quantitative real-time RT-PCR. Finally, the special activity of total GTs was determined in rice roots and shoots, with an increased activity under the atrazine exposure. This response was closely associated with atrazine absorption in the rice tissues. These results indicate that exposure to atrazine can trigger specific GT genes and enzyme activities in rice. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Flexible supercapacitor is successfully fabricated using polyaniline nanowires/carbon cloth (PANI-NWs/CC) nanocomposite. High gravimetric capacitance of 1079Fg−1 at a specific energy of 100.9Whkg−1 and a specific power of 12.1kWkg−1 is obtained. Moreover, this approach also offers an exceptionally high area-normalized capacitance of 1.8Fcm−2. The diffusion length of protons within the PANI-NWs is estimated to be about 60nm by electrochemical impedance analysis, which indicates that the electrochemical performance of the electrode is not limited by the thickness of PANI-NWs. The electrochemical performance of PANI-NWS/CC remains without any deterioration, even when the cell is bent under high curvature. These results clearly present a cost-effective and simple method of fabrication of the nanostructured polymers with enormous potential in flexible energy storage device applications. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Triclosan (TCS) is a kind of chronic toxicity to aquatic organisms. Due to its highly effective antimicrobial, TCS has been widely applied in personal−care products, which naturally poses a potential risk to the ecological system and human health since its release into water−ecological environment. Therefore, it urgently demands a selective, easily separated, recyclable, and low−cost adsorbent to remove the residues of TCS from aquatic environments. In this study, a novel magnetic molecularly imprinted nano−polymers (TMIPs) were prepared for selective adsorption and convenient collection of TCS in aquatic samples, based on a core−shell technique using TCS as template molecule and SiO 2 −coated Fe 3 O 4 nanoparticles as the support substrate. The functional groups, particle size, morphology and magnetic property of TMIPs were characterized by Fourier−transform infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscope, transmission electron microscopy and vibrating sample magnetometer, respectively. The obtained TMIPs possessed excellent adsorption capacity (Q e = 53.12 mg g−1), speedy adsorption equilibrium time (2 min) and high selectivity (k' = 6.321) for TCS. Moreover, the pH−tolerance and stability tests manifested that the adsorption capacity of TMIPs for TCS was acid−resistance and could retain 94.2% of the maximum Q e after 5 times removal−regeneration cycles. The feature of magnetically susceptibility can simplify the procedures of sample handling in TCS determination, because the TMIPs of TCS are easy to be recycled from aquatic samples. As an application demonstration, the toxicity test in microalgae confirmed that a tiny amount of TMIPs could significantly eliminate the toxic effect of TCS on Chlamydomonas reinhardtii via the efficient binding with TCS. Image 1 • A kind of nano-polymers with magnetic property and excellent adsorption were prepared by core-shell technique. • The molecularly imprinted nano-materials (TMIPs) have specific binding with triclosan. • High recoveries in spiked aquatic samples proved that the TMIPs were feasible sample handling nanomaterials for rapid enrichment of triclosan. • TMIPs as magnetically recyclable sorbents were successfully applied in the efficient removal of triclosan from aquatic environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We used the first-principles to study the structural, mechanical, electronic, optical properties and phonon of alkali earth-metal Ba dichalcogenide BaX 2 (X = O, S, Se and Te). First, our calculated lattice constants are in good agreement with the known experimental values. Secondly, the binding and formation energies, bulk modulus, Young's modulus, Poisson's ratio, Debye temperature, sound velocity and phonon dispersion curves of BaX 2 compounds are given. Through basic physical property research, we found that the monoclinic structure of BaX 2 (C2/c) is very likely to exist. The modulation of elastic, electronic and optical properties of this system may be achievable. Furthermore, both elastic and optical properties indicate that BaX 2 is anisotropic. Finally, the electronic properties are studied by density of states and Mulliken population, indicating that all the compounds are mainly ionic properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A series of nonpolar antisolvents (chlorobenzene, bromobenzene, iodobenzene and toluene) were used to assist in the formation of smooth and crystalline CH 3 NH 3 PbI 3 thin films by a one-step spin-coating method. The structural, optical and excitonic characteristics of the resultant CH 3 NH 3 PI 3 thin films were analyzed using an atomic-force microscope, X-ray diffractometer, absorbance spectrum, photoluminescence (PL) spectrum, time-resolved PL and temperature-dependent PL. The properties of the CH 3 NH 3 PbI 3 thin films are dependent on the relative polarity and boiling point of the nonpolar antisolvents used in the washing treatment process. The interplay between nucleation (relative polarity) and crystal growth (boiling point) during the formation of CH 3 NH 3 PbI 3 thin films influences the short-circuit current density (J SC ) and power conversion efficiency (PCE) of the corresponding solar cells. The experimental results demonstrate that iodobenzene can be substituted for toluene as a more efficient antisolvent in the washing treatment process during the fabrication of CH 3 NH 3 PbI 3 thin films. In addition, it is predicted that the J SC and PCE can be further improved by increasing the crystallinity of the CH 3 NH 3 PbI 3 thin film. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]