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A sol–gel and phase separation method were employed to synthesize porous TiO2 coating materials, which were applied to two types of transparent substrates. The coating preparation process is simple, cost-effective, and allows for the adjustment of pore structures. The study investigated the impact of the microstructure, substrate, and UV light exposure on the hydrophilic properties of the TiO2 coating materials. The results indicate that the hydrophilicity of TiO2 coating materials prepared with resin as the substrate is inferior to that of similar coatings prepared with glass as the substrate. Furthermore, the hydrophilic performance of glass substrates coated with porous TiO2 is superior to those coated with dense TiO2. Glass substrates coated with porous TiO2 exhibit superhydrophilicity after 1 h of UV light exposure. The hydrophilic mechanism of the coating material surface was analyzed using surface energy theory, capillary theory, and photo-induced hydrophilic theory. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the emergence of targeted inhibition strategies for Hedgehog signaling in cancer, multiple Hedgehog signaling pathway-related biomarkers have become the focus of research. SsGSEA algorithm was employed to analyze the Hedgehog pathway scores of samples in TCGA-HNSC dataset and divide them into two groups. Weighted co-expression network analysis was performed to identify modules strongly associated with the Hedgehog pathway. Differentially up-regulated genes in tumor samples in comparison to the normal ones were screened by Limma, in which genes belonging to modules strongly related to Hedgehog pathway were further filtered by LASSO reduction and multivariate Cox regression analysis to develop a model. ESTIMATE and CIBERSORT were served to characterize the tumor microenvironment (TME). TIDE assessed immunotherapy response. Hedgehog pathway activity was significantly higher in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) tissues than in normal tissues and was correlated with HNSCC survival, glycan, cofactors and vitamins, drug metabolism, and matrix scores. Six genes (SLC2A3, EFNB2, OAF, COX4I2, MT2A and TXNRD1) were captured to form a Hedgehog associated 6-gene signature, and the resulting risk score was an independent indicator of HNSCC prognosis. It was significantly positively correlated with stromal score, metabolism, angiogenesis and inflammatory response. Patients in low-risk group with a low TIDE score had higher immunotherapy sensitivity relative to those in high-risk group. This study revealed novel findings of the Hedgehog pathway in HNSCC progression and opened up a Hedgehog pathology-related signature to help identify risk factors contributing to HNSCC progression and help predict immunotherapy outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hierarchically porous ferriferrous oxide (Fe3O4) was facilely synthesized via a sol-gel process accompanied by phase separation, and further graft modified by dopamine (DA) and polyamido-amine (PAMAM) to prepare macroporous Fe3O4@DA@PAMAM for heavy metal ions adsorption. Appropriate phase separation inducer (poly(acrylamide), PAA) and solvent allows the formation of iron oxide xerogels with interconnected macropores and cocontinuous skeletons. Two-step heat treatment at 200 °C for 30 min in air and then at 500 °C for 2 h in N2 atmosphere leads to the precipitation of crystalline phase, Fe3O4, with high magnetic properties, without any deterioration of the macrostructure. The macroporous Fe3O4@DA@PAMAM show a core-shell structure and high adsorption capacity for Cu(II), Pb(II), and Cd(II) ions, which are promisingly used for removal of heavy metal ions. Highlights: Hierarchically porous Fe3O4 was synthesized via a sol-gel accompanied by phase separation, followed by two-step heat treatment. Macroporous Fe3O4@DA@PAMAM can be obtained by graft modification of dopamine (DA) and polyamido-amine (PAMAM). Benefiting from the core-shell structure and macrostructure, the Fe3O4@DA@PAMAM possesses excellent adsorption capability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Searching for effective biomarkers is one of the most challenging tasks in the research field of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) provides a non-invasive and powerful tool for investigating changes in the structure, function, maturation, connectivity, and metabolism of the brain of children with ASD. Here, we review the more recent MRI studies in young children with ASD, aiming to provide candidate biomarkers for the diagnosis of childhood ASD. The review covers structural imaging methods, diffusion tensor imaging, resting-state functional MRI, and magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Future advances in neuroimaging techniques, as well as cross-disciplinary studies and large-scale collaborations will be needed for an integrated approach linking neuroimaging, genetics, and phenotypic data to allow the discovery of new, effective biomarkers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to improve the glass-forming ability (GFA) of Nd-Fe-B ternary alloys to obtain fully amorphous bulk Nd-Fe-B-based alloy, the effects of Mo and Y doping on GFA of the alloys were investigated. It was found that the substitution of Mo for Fe and Y for Nd enhanced the GFA of the Nd-Y-Fe-Mo-B alloys. It was also revealed that the GFA of the samples was optimized by 4 at.% Mo doping and increased with the Y content. The fully amorphous structures were all formed in the Nd $$_{6-{x}}$$ Y $$_{{x}}$$ Fe $$_{68}$$ Mo $$_{4}$$ B $$_{22}$$ ( x $$=$$ 1-5) alloy rods with 1.5 mm-diameter. After subsequent crystallization, the devitrified Nd $$_{3}$$ Y $$_{3}$$ Fe $$_{68}$$ Mo $$_{4}$$ B $$_{22}$$ alloy rod exhibited a uniform distribution of grains with a coercivity of 364.1 kA/m. The crystallization behavior of Nd $$_{3}$$ Y $$_{3}$$ Fe $$_{68}$$ Mo $$_{4}$$ B $$_{22}$$ BMG was investigated in isothermal situation. The Avrami exponent n determined by JAM plot is lower than 2.5, implying that the crystallization is mainly governed by a growth of particles with decreasing nucleation rate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Efficient white-polymer-light-emitting devices (WPLEDs) have been fabricated with a single emitting layer containing a hole-transporting host polymer, poly( N-vinylcarbzole), and an electron-transporting auxiliary, 1,3-bis[(4- tert-butylphenyl)-1,3,4-oxadiazolyl]-phenylene, codoped with two phosphorescent dyes: Iridium(III)bis (2-(4,6-difluorophenyl)-pyridinato-N,C2′) picolinate (FIrpic) and home-made Ir-G2 for blue and red emission, respectively. With the structure of ITO/PEDOT:PSS 4083(40 nm)/emission layer(80 nm)/Ba(4 nm)/Al(120 nm), the device showed a maximal luminous efficiency (LE) of 13.5 cd A(corresponding to an external quantum efficiency (EQE) of 6.8%), and a peak power efficiency (PE) of 6.5 lm W at 6.0 V. Meanwhile, the device exhibited pure white emission with Commission Internationale de l'Eclairage (CIE) coordinates of (0.34, 0.35) at a current density of 12 mA cm, which is very close to the equi-energy white point with CIE coordinates of (0.33, 0.33). The device performance can be further optimized when more balanced hole/electron injection is achieved by incorporating a lower conducting type anode buffer layer (PEDOT:PSS) and incorporating poly[(9,9-bis(3′-( N,N-dimethylamino) propyl)-2,7-fluorenene)- alt-2,7-(9,9-dioctyfluorene)] (PFN) as an electron injection layer at the cathode. The optimized device showed an LE of 24.6 cd A (with an EQE of 14.1%), while the peak power efficiency reached 12.66 lm W. Moreover, the WPLEDs showed good electroluminescence (EL) stability over a wide range of operating current density and luminance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]