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Simple Summary: We designed a common garden experiment to collect data on female reproductive traits from three populations of Takydromus sexlineatus, testing the hypothesis that geographically separated populations should share a species-specific pattern of seasonal shifts in reproductive allocation. Six traits differed among populations, with four of the six also differing among successive clutches. Females grew longer during the breeding season and produced more eggs in the first clutch than in the subsequent clutches; egg size was unchanged throughout the breeding season. After removing the influence of female size or postpartum mass we found that (1) postpartum body mass, clutch mass, and relative clutch mass were greater in the Wuzhishan population than in the Shaoguan and Zhaoqing populations; (2) egg size was greatest in the Wuzhishan population and smallest in the Zhaoqing population; and (3) clutch size was greatest in the Wuzhishan population and smallest in the Shaoguan population. Our data validate the hypothesis tested. We designed a common garden design to collect data on female reproductive traits from three populations of the southern grass lizard Takydromus sexlineatus, testing the hypothesis that a species-specific pattern of seasonal shifts in reproductive allocation should be shared by geographically separated populations. Of the seven examined traits, six differed among populations, with four of the six also differing among successive clutches. Females grew longer during the breeding season and produced more eggs in the first clutch than in the subsequent clutches; egg size was unchanged throughout the breeding season. After removing the influence of female size or postpartum body mass we found the following. First, postpartum body mass, clutch mass, and relative clutch mass were greater in the Wuzhishan population than in the Shaoguan and Zhaoqing populations. Second, egg size was greatest in the Wuzhishan population and smallest in the Zhaoqing population. Third, clutch size was greatest in the Wuzhishan population and smallest in the Shaoguan population. Females did not trade-off egg size against number within each population × clutch combination. Our study validates the hypothesis tested, supports the conventional view that reproductive output is highly linked to maternal body size in lizards, and follows the classic prediction that females with different amounts of resources to invest in reproduction should give priority to adjusting the total number rather than size of their offspring. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Residual yolk is assumed to be an important source of energy and nutrients during early life in nonmammalian amniotes. Available data show that the mean size of residual yolk is far smaller in lizards than in turtles, snakes, crocodiles, and birds, raising a question of whether residual yolk is of functional significance in lizards. Here, we compared data from 26 lizard species with those from other nonmammalian amniotes to test the hypothesis that residual yolk is functionally less significant in species producing more fully developed offspring. In our sample, species mean offspring water contents ranged from 73% to 84% of body wet mass; species mean proportions of carcass dry mass, fat-body dry mass, and residual yolk dry mass to offspring dry mass ranged from 84% to 99%, 0% to 5.0%, and 0% to 14.4%, respectively. Lizards are, on average, more fully developed at hatching or birth than snakes, as revealed by the fact that the mean proportion of carcass dry mass to body dry mass and offspring water contents were both higher in lizards than in snakes. We conclude that the functional significance of residual yolk during early life is generally less evident in lizards. Even in the lizards where residual yolk is of potential functional significance, this portion of yolk contributes little, if any, to postembryonic growth. Future work could usefully collect data across a wider spectrum of reptile taxa to establish a precocial–altricial continuum and test the hypothesis that species with a smaller amount of residual yolk are closer to the precocial end of the continuum. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Carbon quantum dots (CDs) have inspired vast interest because of their excellent photoluminescence (PL) performances and their promising applications in optoelectronic, biomedical, and sensing fields. The development of effective approaches for the large‐scale production of CDs may greatly promote the further advancement of their practical applications. In this Minireview, the newly emerging methods for the large‐scale production of CDs are summarized, such as microwave, ultrasonic, plasma, magnetic hyperthermia, and microfluidic techniques. The use of the available strategies for constructing CD/polymer composites with intriguing solid‐state PL is then described. Particularly, the multiple roles of CDs are emphasized, including as fillers, monomers, and initiators. Moreover, typical applications of CD/polymer composites in light‐emitting diodes, fluorescent printing, and biomedicine are outlined. Finally, we discuss current problems and speculate on their future development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Carbon quantum dots (CDs) have inspired vast interest because of their excellent photoluminescence (PL) performances and their promising applications in optoelectronic, biomedical, and sensing fields. The development of effective approaches for the large‐scale production of CDs may greatly promote the further advancement of their practical applications. In this Minireview, the newly emerging methods for the large‐scale production of CDs are summarized, such as microwave, ultrasonic, plasma, magnetic hyperthermia, and microfluidic techniques. The use of the available strategies for constructing CD/polymer composites with intriguing solid‐state PL is then described. Particularly, the multiple roles of CDs are emphasized, including as fillers, monomers, and initiators. Moreover, typical applications of CD/polymer composites in light‐emitting diodes, fluorescent printing, and biomedicine are outlined. Finally, we discuss current problems and speculate on their future development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ZnS:Mn nanostructure was grown on Si substrates by hydrothermal method. The effects of Mn doping concentration on the structure and luminescence properties of ZnS:Mn were studied in detail. XRD patterns show that all the samples have a strong diffraction peak at about 28.5°, which belongs to β-ZnS (111) orientation. As the concentration of Mn increases, the diffraction peak shifts to a small angle, and the average grain size decreased. SEM images show that ZnS:Mn nanostructure is spherical particle, and these particles are closely bonded to the substrate. PL spectra of all samples are composed of two luminescence bands: green light around 500nm and orange-yellow light around 580nm. When the doping concentration of Mn increased from 0.5% to 2%, the 4T 1 -6A 1 emission of Mn2+ around 580nm gradually increased, and when the concentration exceeded 2%, the luminous intensity decreased instead. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract By depositing ZnS:Mn films using PLD technique to coat ZnO nanorods which were grown on GaN substrate using hydrothermal method, high quality ZnS:Mn/ZnO/GaN core-shell nanorods array was prepared. The PL spectrum of ZnS:Mn/ZnO/GaN core-shell array ranges from blue-violet light to red light (400–700 nm). It consists of four luminous bands: UV light at 375 nm originating from the free exciton emission of ZnO, a blue light emission at 450 nm from GaN, an orange light emission at 590 nm mainly from ZnO nanorods and Mn2+ in ZnS, and a green light emission at about 530 nm related to ZnS:Mn/ZnO interface. The mechanism of green light emission is analyzed in detail. The color coordinate of ZnS:Mn/ZnO/GaN core-shell array is (0.3347, 0.318), and the color temperature is 5375 K, much closer to the standard white light when compared with other systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Limited endoscopic sphincterotomy (EST) combined with endoscopic papillary balloon dilation (EPBD) is widely used. However, the optimal duration of small balloon dilation in choledocholithiasis remains controversial. We aimed to determine the optimal duration for 10 mm diameter balloon dilation after limited EST in choledocholithiasis. In this randomized controlled clinical trial, 320 patients were randomly assigned to receive small balloon dilation (10 mm in diameter) for 1 min (n = 160) or 3 min (n = 160) after deep bile duct cannulation. No significant difference in success rate of stone extraction between the two groups was observed. The incidence of post-ERCP pancreatitis (PEP) was higher in the 1 min group (10.6%) than in the 3 min group (4.4%) (P = 0.034). The logistic regression analysis showed that guidewire into the pancreatic duct, cannulation time > 5 min and 1 min balloon dilation were independent risk factors for PEP. There were no significant differences in other post-ERCP adverse events such as acute cholangitis, bleeding, perforation, etc. between the two groups. In conclusion, 3 min in duration was determined to be the optimal dilation condition for the removal of common bile duct stones. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Lower limb swelling after total knee arthroplasty (TKA) hinders surgical effectiveness. The poor results of studies on swelling interventions are due to the lack of a classification of swelling causes through appropriate medical tests. A gold standard is missing. This study aimed to clarify the causes of TKA postoperative swelling and how to identify them through indicators and medical tests by consulting a wide range of experts from multiple disciplines. Method: The Delphi method was used. A first draft of the index was prepared based on a systematic search of the literature. A total of 11 experts from several disciplines were invited to evaluate the rationality of the indicators and suggest modifications. After two rounds of consultation, the experts reached a consensus, and the consultation was stopped. Results: The response rate of the 11 experts was 100%, and the authoritative Cr was 0.896. Kendall's W values for opinion coordination of the two rounds of consultation were 0.262 and 0.226, respectively (P < 0.001). Among the final indicators, there were 4 primary indicators for swelling cause classification (inflammatory response, poor venous return, joint hematoma, muscle damage, and healing), 19 secondary and 19 tertiary indicators. Conclusion: The indications obtained by systematic literature review and multidisciplinary expert consultation are reliable and scientific. Multiple causes of lower extremity swelling after TKA were identified. Blood test indicators can reflect an inflammatory response, suggest poor venous return, and reflect muscle damage and healing progress. Ultrasound scans are needed to identify underlying thrombotic or valvular problems, joint hematomas, and muscle damage. These tests help clinicians and researchers determine the cause of swelling after TKA and take appropriate management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Lower limb swelling after total knee arthroplasty (TKA) hinders surgical effectiveness. The poor results of studies on swelling interventions are due to the lack of a classification of swelling causes through appropriate medical tests. A gold standard is missing. This study aimed to clarify the causes of TKA postoperative swelling and how to identify them through indicators and medical tests by consulting a wide range of experts from multiple disciplines. Method: The Delphi method was used. A first draft of the index was prepared based on a systematic search of the literature. A total of 11 experts from several disciplines were invited to evaluate the rationality of the indicators and suggest modifications. After two rounds of consultation, the experts reached a consensus, and the consultation was stopped. Results: The response rate of the 11 experts was 100%, and the authoritative Cr was 0.896. Kendall's W values for opinion coordination of the two rounds of consultation were 0.262 and 0.226, respectively (P < 0.001). Among the final indicators, there were 4 primary indicators for swelling cause classification (inflammatory response, poor venous return, joint hematoma, muscle damage, and healing), 19 secondary and 19 tertiary indicators. Conclusion: The indications obtained by systematic literature review and multidisciplinary expert consultation are reliable and scientific. Multiple causes of lower extremity swelling after TKA were identified. Blood test indicators can reflect an inflammatory response, suggest poor venous return, and reflect muscle damage and healing progress. Ultrasound scans are needed to identify underlying thrombotic or valvular problems, joint hematomas, and muscle damage. These tests help clinicians and researchers determine the cause of swelling after TKA and take appropriate management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The construction of high-quality 3D polymeric photonic crystal (PC) films featuring fascinating tunable optical properties in a facile and time-efficient way remains a major concern. Herein, the rapid assembly of highly crystallized brilliant flexible 3D polymeric PC films and their application for multiresponsive colorimetric sensing are demonstrated. Monochromatic PC films with remarkably distinct structural color, narrow half-band width (27 nm), and broad tunability of band-gaps (from blue to red) are generated within seconds from highly concentrated and charged colloids (51 vol%, −57.6 mV) embedded in poly( N-isopropylacrylamide) matrix. A repulsion-induced precipitation assembly is found to be responsible for the ultrafast formation of close-packed PC colloidal arrays. Besides, the resultant PC films exhibit ultrasensitive and fast response to external stimuli, revealed by interesting droplet diffusion experiments. Thus these PC films can serve as efficient colorimetric sensing materials to visually determine diverse species including trace ionic strength (2.9 ppm), minor surfactant (1 × 10−3 m), alcohol, and pH variation (1.0-13.9). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Anisotropic fluorescent hybrid microfibers with distinct optical properties and delicate architectures have aroused special interest because of their potential applications in tissue engineering, drug delivery, sensors, and functional textiles. Microfluidic systems have provided an ideal microreactor platform to produce anisotropic fibers due to their simplified manipulation, high efficiency, flexible controllability, and environmental-friendly chemical process. Here a novel microfiber reactor based on a microfluidic spinning technique for in situ fabrication of nanocrystals loaded anisotropic fluorescent hybrid microfibers is demonstrated. Multiple nanocrystal reactions are carried out in coaxial flow-based microdevices with different geometric features, and various nanocrystals loaded microfibers with solid, string-of-beads and Janus topographies are obtained. Moreover, the resulted anisotropic fluorescent hybrid microfibers present multiple optical signals. This strategy contributes a facile and environmental-friendly route to anisotropic fluorescent hybrid microfibers and might open a promising avenue to multiplex optical sensing materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, ceria (CeO2) nanoparticle was prepared through ultrasonic combined with calcine method, which was further introduced into thermoplastic polyurethane matrix via one-step in situ bulk polymerization technique, and thus CeO2/thermoplastic polyurethane nanocomposites were obtained. SEM images revealed that CeO2 nanoparticles (with size of ∼60 nm) are uniformly dispersed into thermoplastic polyurethane matrix, which can lead to an increase of degree of phase separation. The degree of phase separation values were calculated according to the ratio of the 1701 and 1727 cm−1 absorbance areas in FTIR spectra. Effects of CeO2 amounts on thermoplastic polyurethane’s properties including blood compatibility, cell viability, chemical resistance, mechanical and thermal property, and so on were discussed in detail. Additionally, possible interaction mechanism of thermoplastic polyurethane with nano CeO2 is discussed initially. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Mechanochromic materials which control their color variation by straightforward effective mechanical stimuli are useful for applications including switches, display devices, and sensors. It is still challenging to create mechnochromic materials with wide‐range color tunability, fast response, and sensitivity to pressure <10 kPa. Here a facile strategy to fabricate very sensitive and reversibly mechanochromic elastic photonic hydrogels (EPHs) is demonstrated. The hydrogels exhibit reversible full‐color variation within 1 s under each compression–decompression cycle. Importantly, EPH films display versatile touch‐induced chromatic behavior even under forces below 0.5 N or pressures down to 1 kPa. Furthermore, rewritable displays on EPH films are realized by the exertion of forces without any external inks. This work may provide a new way to develop smart skin materials with integrated functions of tactile sensing and color variation, as well as touch‐based flexible displays. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The exploration of methods allowing chemical reactions to be carried out at ultrasmall scales is of great scientific and technological interest. We report herein a microfluidic spinning technique for the fabrication of softened-polymer microarrays for use as multidimensional microreactors and the application of these microreactors in the synthesis of fluorescent nanocrystals. Highly aligned microarrays and controlled-angle grids were readily constructed from microfluidically spun polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) microfibers. One-zero dimensional (1D-0D), one-one dimensional (1D-1D), and one-two dimensional (1D-2D) microreactors were then produced by the intersections between microfibers and droplets, crossed microfibers, and microfibers and a PVP film, respectively; each component can be doped with different reagents. Specific examples show that these multidimensional microreactors enable the in situ generation of fluorescent nanocrystals without ligands within minutes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The exploration of methods allowing chemical reactions to be carried out at ultrasmall scales is of great scientific and technological interest. We report herein a microfluidic spinning technique for the fabrication of softened-polymer microarrays for use as multidimensional microreactors and the application of these microreactors in the synthesis of fluorescent nanocrystals. Highly aligned microarrays and controlled-angle grids were readily constructed from microfluidically spun polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) microfibers. One-zero dimensional (1D-0D), one-one dimensional (1D-1D), and one-two dimensional (1D-2D) microreactors were then produced by the intersections between microfibers and droplets, crossed microfibers, and microfibers and a PVP film, respectively; each component can be doped with different reagents. Specific examples show that these multidimensional microreactors enable the in situ generation of fluorescent nanocrystals without ligands within minutes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT We report the facile synthesis of poly(VI- co-MAA) superabsorbent polyampholytic hydrogels (VI = N-vinylimidazole, MAA = methacrylic acid) via plasma-ignited frontal polymerization (PIFP). On igniting the top surface of the reactants with air plasma, frontal polymerization occurred and poly(VI- co-MAA) hydrogels were obtained within minutes. The preparation parameters were investigated, along with swelling capacity, morphology, and chemical structures of poly(VI- co-MAA) hydrogels. Interestingly, the hydrogels are superabsorbent in water and show ampholytic characteristic toward pH. Moreover, the hydrogels are able to capture cationic dyes through electrostatic interaction, offering the potential for further development as dye adsorbents for water purification. In addition, nanocomposite hydrogels were obtained by embedding quantum dots (carbon dots or CdS nanocrystals) into the polymer matrix, which endows the nanocomposite hydrogels with favorable fluorescence and potential applications in bioimaging and biosensing. The results indicate that FP can be applied as an alternative means for facile synthesis of multifunctional hydrogels with additional efficiency and energy-saving. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2014, 52, 912-920 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wereport the synthesis of a new type of triple stimuli-responsive,i.e., thermo-, pH-, and metal ion-responsive copolymers based on poly(N-vinylimidazole-co-methacrylic acid) (poly(VI-co-MAA)) and their application as metal ion sensors. Thecopolymers exhibit reversible sol–gel phase transition behaviorin aqueous media. The sol-to-gel transition temperature (Tsol–gel) can be shifted in the range of 20–80°C, by varying monomer ratio and feeding glycerol content, byadjusting the copolymer concentration in aqueous solution, by tuningthe pH of the solution, or by adding various divalent metal ions.Metal ion sensors were designed upon an inverse opal photonic filmloaded with aqueous solution of poly(VI-co-MAA),which allows the easy reorganization of various divalent metal ionsby combining the diversity of Tsol–gelof the copolymers on different metal ions and flexible reflectionspectra of the film. In addition, a fluorescent reversible sol–geltransition system was established by in situgenerationof nanocrystals in the copolymer matrix. These extensions may providethe multiresponsive copolymers great flexibility for applicationsin biomedical, optical, and sensory fields. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Given the increasing environmental and energy issues, materials with the ability to repair themselves following damage are highly desirable because this self-healing property can prolong the lifespan of materials and reduce replacement costs. Host-guest assemblies are a powerful approach to create supramolecular materials with versatile functions. Here, a new mode of radical polymerization is demonstrated which is achieved via magnetocaloric effect to fabricate novel host-guest supramolecular gels within 5 min. The resulting gels can repair themselves spontaneously when damaged, without the assistance of any external stimuli, and possess great mechanical strength. Moreover, the Fe3O4-doped supramolecular gels show accelerated self-healing (from 24 h to 3 h) under an applied magnetic field, which is attributed to the synergy between host-guest healing and a magnetocaloric effect. This strategy might open a promising avenue for accelerating the use of host-guest assemblies to rapidly build robust materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ZnS films were deposited on porous silicon (PS) substrates with different porosities by pulsed laser deposition (PLD). The crystalline structure, surface morphology of ZnS films on PS substrates and optical, electrical properties of ZnS/PS composites were studied. The results show that, ZnS films deposited on PS substrates were grown in preferred orientation along β-ZnS (111) direction corresponding to crystalline structure of cubic phase. With the increase of PS porosity, the XRD diffraction peak intensity of ZnS films decreases. Some voids and cracks appear in the films. Compared with as-prepared PS, the PL peak of PS for ZnS/PS has a blueshift. The larger the porosity of PS, the greater the blueshift is. A new green light emission located around 550 nm is observed with increasing PS porosity, which is ascribed to defect-center luminescence of ZnS. The blue, green emission of ZnS combined with the red emission of PS, a broad photoluminescence band (450-750 nm) is formed. ZnS/PS composites exhibited intense white light emission. The I-V characteristics of ZnS/PS heterojunctions showed rectifying behavior. Under forward bias conditions, the current density is large. Under reverse bias conditions, the current density nearly to be zero. The forward current increases with increasing PS porosity. This work lay a foundation for the realization of electroluminescence of ZnS/PS and solid white light emission devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report herein the synthesis of carbogenic dots (CDs) by a one-step pyrolysis from N-acetylcysteine. The as-prepared CDs show excellent dispersibility with particle sizes in the range of 3-5 nm. Under stimulation with blue light, the CDs emit broad yellow fluorescence, which is still rarely reported by now. The optical properties were throughly investigated, and we found the CDs exhibit stable fluorescence, high quantum yield, and pH dependence. Moreover, an economical approach for constructing white light-emitting diodes (LEDs) was developed by combining the yellow-emitting CDs with blue GaN-based LED chips. The white LEDs exhibit warm white light with the color coordinates of (0.34, 0.35), very close to the coordinates of balanced white-light emission (0.33, 0.33). These results suggest that the CDs can be a promising candidate as yellow-emitting phosphor for white LEDs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on the analysis of coalbed methane ( CBM ) wells production performance in Hancheng region, three aspects of production characteristics were summarized: the high water yield and long drainage period; the increasing gas yield with the increase of water-output; and the long stable production period. Four productivity modes of CBM wells including eight subclasses were built. Productivity is influenced significantly by coal layer thickness, permeability, gas content and hydrogeological conditions. Interlayer interference seriously affects the production performance of multiple completion wells. The higher the average discharge of pump and the frac sand volumes in fracturing process, the higher the gas yield after putting into production. Productivity of lower fracture pressure gradient well is higher than that of higher pressure gradient. Stress sensitivity takes a key role in yield rising and stable periods. Thus, a reasonable drainage and production method can be divided into four periods. The first is the water-draining and pressure-lowing period, water-output rate can be appropriately increased to get steady descent of dynamic fluid level and formation pressure. The second is the gas yield rising period, water-output rate can be reduced in order to realize gas yield rising steadily. The third is the stable production period. Displacement can be stabilized to spread pressure drop funnel steadily and lengthen stable production period. The fourth is the production decline period, displacement can be controlled properly to slow down gas yield decrease rate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Nowadays dye and agrichemical contaminations are becoming a severe environmental problem and subsequently a low-cost and effective method to eliminate the contaminations is becoming impending. In this study, a facile chemical precipitation method was developed to fabricate series of NiO coatings on porous alumina matrix. Scanning electron microscope, energy dispersive X-ray and powder X-ray diffraction confirmed the formation of meshy and crystalline NiO coatings. Moreover, the pore size, specific surface area and hydrophilic/hydrophobic properties could be adjusted by changing the matrix pore sizes. The biological assays revealed that NiO coatings could restrain the attachment of Aspergillus niger and exhibit a toxicity to the metabolism, proliferation and spread of NIH 3T3 cells. Additionally, the dye sorption capacity of coatings was investigated by employing Congo red as the model compound. The results indicated that the dye sorption capacity of coatings was affected by its surface features, including specific surface area and hydrophilic/hydrophobic properties. It could be concluded that film-form NiO products with special surface features had the potential as dye adsorbents for wastewater treatment. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: ZnS and ZnO films were prepared on porous silicon (PS) substrates with the same porosity by pulsed laser deposition (PLD), and the structural, optical and electrical properties of ZnS and ZnO films on PS were investigated at room temperature by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscope (SEM), optical absorption measurement, photoluminescence (PL) and I–V characteristic studies. The prepared ZnS was obtained in the cubic phase along β-ZnS (111) orientation which showed a perfect match with the earlier report while ZnO films were obtained in c-axis orientation. There appeared some cracks in the surface of ZnS and ZnO films due to the roughness of PS substrates. Luminescence studies of ZnS/PS and ZnO/PS composites indicated room temperature emission in a broad, intense, visible photoluminescence band, which cover the blue emission to red emission, exhibiting intensively white light emission. Based on the I–V characteristic, ZnS/PS heterojunction exhibited the rectifying junction behavior, while the I–V characteristic of ZnO/PS heterostructure was different from that of the common diode, whose reverse current was not saturated. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: ZnS films were deposited on porous silicon (PS) substrates with different porosities. With the increase of PS substrate porosity, the XRD diffraction peak intensity decreases and the surface morphology of the ZnS films becomes rougher. Voids appear in the films, due to the increased roughness of PS structure. The photoluminescence (PL) spectra of the samples before and after deposition of ZnS were measured to study the effect of substrate porosity on the luminescence properties of ZnS/PS composites. As-prepared PS substrates emit strong red light. The red PL peak of PS after deposition of ZnS shows an obvious blueshift. As PS substrate porosity increases, the trend of blueshift increases. A green emission at about 550nm was also observed when the porosity of PS increased, which is ascribed to the defect-center luminescence of ZnS. The effect of annealing time on the structural and luminescence properties of ZnS/PS composites were also studied. With the increase of annealing time, the XRD diffraction peak intensity and the self-activated luminescence intensity of ZnS increase, and, the surface morphology of the ZnS films becomes smooth and compact. However, the red emission intensity of PS decreases, which was associated with a redshift. White light emission was obtained by combining the luminescence of ZnS with the luminescence of PS. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Using the tetracyanometalate precursor [Fe(4,4′-dmbipy)(CN)4]- (4,4′-dmbipy=4,4′-dimethyl-2,2′-bipyridine) as the building block, two new cyano-bridged one-dimensional heterobimetallic coordination polymers, [M(CH3OH)2Fe2(4,4′-dmbipy)2(CN)8] n (M=Cu, 1; Mn, 2), have been synthesized and structurally characterized. X-ray crystallography reveals that complexes 1 and 2 consist of heterobimetallic chains of squares, and the central MII ion is six-coordinated as an elongated distorted octahedral geometry. Magnetic studies show ferromagnetic coupling between FeIII and CuII ions in complex 1. Complex 2 exhibits ferrimagnetic behavior caused by the noncompensation of the local interacting spins (S Mn =5/2 and S Fe =1/2), which interact antiferromagnetically through bridging cyanide groups. magpack program has been employed to investigate the magnetic nature of squares chain structure. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Two tetracyanometalate building blocks, [Fe(5,5′-dmbipy)(CN)4]− (2) and [Fe(4,4′-dmbipy)(CN)4]− (3) (5,5′-dmbipy=5,5′-dimethyl-2,2′-bipyridine; 4,4′-dmbipy=4,4′-dimethyl-2,2′-bipyridine), and two cyano-bridged heterobimetallic complexes, [Cu2(bpca)2(H2O)2Fe2(5,5′-dmbipy)2(CN)8]·2[Cu(bpca)Fe(5,5′-dmbipy)(CN)4]·4H2O (4) and [Cu(bpca)Fe(4,4′-dmbipy)(CN)4] n (5) (bpca=bis(2-pyridylcarbonyl)amidate), have been synthesized and structurally characterized. Complex 4 contains two dinuclear and one tetranuclear heterobimetallic clusters in an asymmetric unit whereas the structure of complex 5 features a one-dimensional heterobimetallic zigzag chain. The Cu(II) ion is penta-coordinated in the form of a distorted square-based pyramid. Magnetic studies show ferromagnetic coupling between Cu(II) and Fe(III) ions with g =2.28, J 1 =2.64 cm−1, J 2 =5.40cm−1 and TIP=−2.36×10−3 for complex 4, and g =2.17, J =4.82cm−1 and zJ′=0.029cm−1 for complex 5. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The pH value in the wound milieu plays a key role in cellular processes and cell cycle processes involved in the process of wound healing. Here, a microfluidic assembly technique is employed to fabricate micro‐gel ensembles that can precisely tune the pH value of wound surface and accelerate wound healing. The micro‐gel ensembles consist of poly (hydroxypropyl acrylate‐co‐acrylic acid)‐magnesium ions (poly‐(HPA‐co‐AA)‐Mg2+) gel and carboxymethyl chitosan (CMCS) gel, which can release and absorb hydrogen ion (H+) separately at different stages of healing in response to the evolution of wound microenvironment. By regulating the wound pH to affect the proliferation and migration of cell on the wound and the activity of various biological factors in the wound, the physiological processes are greatly facilitated which results in much accelerated healing of chronic wound. This work presents an effective strategy in designing wound healing materials with vast potentials for chronic wound management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The pH value in the wound milieu plays a key role in cellular processes and cell cycle processes involved in the process of wound healing. Here, a microfluidic assembly technique is employed to fabricate micro‐gel ensembles that can precisely tune the pH value of wound surface and accelerate wound healing. The micro‐gel ensembles consist of poly (hydroxypropyl acrylate‐co‐acrylic acid)‐magnesium ions (poly‐(HPA‐co‐AA)‐Mg2+) gel and carboxymethyl chitosan (CMCS) gel, which can release and absorb hydrogen ion (H+) separately at different stages of healing in response to the evolution of wound microenvironment. By regulating the wound pH to affect the proliferation and migration of cell on the wound and the activity of various biological factors in the wound, the physiological processes are greatly facilitated which results in much accelerated healing of chronic wound. This work presents an effective strategy in designing wound healing materials with vast potentials for chronic wound management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: ZnS/porous Si composites were obtained by depositing ZnS films on porous Si substrates. The photoluminescence (PL) spectra were measured. The results showed that, excitation wavelengths, growth temperature of ZnS films and preparation current density of porous Si can all affect the PL properties of ZnS/porous Si. The PL spectra were different when excited by the light with different wavelengths, and the relative integrated intensities of ZnS and PS were also different; when ZnS films were grown at different temperatures and porous Si were prepared at different current densities, ZnS/porous Si composites also presented different PL properties. With the increase of growth temperature of ZnS, the luminescence intensity of ZnS increased but the luminescence intensity of PS decreased along with the redshift of the peak; under proper preparing current density of PS conditions, the blue, green emission from ZnS combining with the red emission from PS, a broad PL band in the visible region was obtained, exhibiting intensive white light emission. This work might open up a way to obtain the electroluminescence (EL) of ZnS/porous Si and solid white light emission devices. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Sex pheromones, which consist of multiple components in specific ratios promote intraspecific sexual communications of insects. Plutella xylostella (L.) is a worldwide pest of cruciferous vegetables, the mating behavior of which is highly dependent on its olfactory system. Long trichoid sensilla on male antennae are the main olfactory sensilla that can sense sex pheromones. However, the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. In this study, 3 sex pheromone components from sex pheromone gland secretions of P. xylostella female adults were identified as Z11‐16:Ald, Z11‐16:Ac, and Z11‐16:OH in a ratio of 9.4 : 100 : 17 using gas chromatography – mass spectrometry and gas chromatography with electroantennographic detection. Electrophysiological responses of 581 and 385 long trichoid sensilla of male adults and female adults, respectively, to the 3 components were measured by single sensillum recording. Hierarchical clustering analysis showed that the long trichoid sensilla were of 6 different types. In the male antennae, 52.32%, 5.51%, and 1.89% of the sensilla responded to Z11‐16:Ald, Z11‐16:Ac, and Z11‐16:OH, which are named as A type, B type, and C type sensilla, respectively; 2.93% named as D type sensilla responded to both Z11‐16:Ald and Z11‐16:Ac, and 0.34% named as E type sensilla were sensitive to both Z11‐16:Ald and Z11‐16:OH. In the female antennae, only 7.53% of long trichoid sensilla responded to the sex pheromone components, A type sensilla were 3.64%, B type and C type sensilla were both 0.52%, D type sensilla were 1.30%, and 1.56% of the sensilla responded to all 3 components, which were named as F type sensilla. The responding long trichoid sensilla were located from the base to the terminal of the male antennae and from the base to the middle of the female antennae. The pheromone mixture (Z11‐16:Ald : Z11‐16:Ac : Z11‐16:OH = 9.4 : 100 : 17) had a weakly repellent effect on female adults of P. xylostella. Our results lay the foundation for further studies on sex pheromone communications in P. xylostella. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The assembly of chirality into magnetic nanowires enables the formation of two new cyano-bridged heterobimetallic 3,2-chain enantiomeric complexes, representing the first example of multiferroic compounds bearing both slow magnetization relaxation and ferroelectricity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

From the perspective of both fundamental and applied science, it is extremely advisable to develop a facile and feasible strategy for fabricating gels with defined structures. Herein, the authors report the rapid synthesis of patterned gels by conducting frontal polymerization (FP) at millimeter‐scale (2 mm), where a series of microchannels, including linear‐, parallel‐, divergent‐, snakelike‐, circular‐ and concentric circular channels, were used. They have investigated the effect of various factors (monomer mass ratio, channel size, initiator concentration, and solvent content) on FP at millimeter‐scale, along with the propagating rule of the front during FP in these microchannels. In addition, we developed a new microfluidic‐assisted FP (MFP) strategy by combining the FP and microfluidic technique. Interestingly, the MFP can realize the production of hollow‐structured gel in a rapid and continuous fashion, which have never been reported. Our work not only offers an effective pathway towards patterned gels by the microchannel‐conformal FP, but also gives new insight into the continuous production of hollow‐structured materials. Such a method will be beneficial for fabricating vessel and scaffold materials in a flexible, easy‐to‐perform, time and energy saving way. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Crown ethers demonstrate significant conformational flexibility and rotational symmetry, rendering them invaluable in the realms of supramolecular chemistry and crystal engineering. These unique natures facilitate the construction of supramolecular crystals of crown ethers, characterized by disorder‐order phase transitions, imparts unique properties that hold promise for diverse applications across multiple fields. In this study, four supramolecular compounds, namely [Na(15‐crown‐5)]BF4 (1), [Na(18‐crown‐6)]BF4⋅H2O (2), [K(15‐crown‐5)]BF4 (3) and [K(18‐crown‐6)]BF4⋅H2O (4) were synthesized and characterized by microanalysis, thermogravimetric analysis, differential scanning calorimetry and powder X‐ray diffraction techniques. Herein, 15‐crown‐5 and 18‐crown‐6 correspond to 1,4,7,10,13‐pentaoxacyclopentadecane and 1,4,7,10,13,16‐hexaoxacyclooctadecane, respectively. It was observed that the crystal structure, phase transition, and dielectric properties of these supramolecular compounds are significantly influenced by the size of the crown‐ether rings. The research extensively discussed the correlation between the coordination mode of metal ions of K+ or Na+ with crown ethers, the compatibility between metal ions and crown‐ether rings in terms of size, and the effects of crown‐ether disorder on dielectric permittivity during phase transitions. Our discoveries hold significant implications for the design and development of crown‐ether supramolecular functional materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A fiber microreactor is constructed based on a microfluidic spinning technique on page 7253 by S.Chen, A. J. Ryan, and co‐workers, for the in‐situ fabrication of nanocrystal‐loaded anisotropic fluorescent hybrid microfibers. By designing co‐axial‐flow microdevices with different geometric features, multiple nanocrystal reactions in result in microfibers with delicate bead‐shapes and Janus microstructures, capable of multiplexed optical signals. This work develops a facile platform for rapid fabrication of anisotropic fluorescent hybrid microfibers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT A series of the self-healing gels facilely fabricated by VI (N-vinyl imidazole) and MAH-β-CD (β-cyclodextrin grafted vinyl carboxylic acid groups) via bottom-ignited frontal polymerization (BIFP) initiated by magnetocaloric effect. Once ignited the bottom phase, the heat upward propagates to generate the 'front' in the upper phase. Then, no further energy is added to maintain the reaction and the whole polymerization process experiences within minutes. In this system, the dependence of frontal velocity and temperature, along with morphology, swelling capacity, mechanical property, and self-healing efficiency, on the preparation parameters is investigated. Interestingly, the gels show good swelling capacity in the organic solvent, comparatively almost no absorption in water. Moreover, the as-prepared gels exhibit excellent auto-healing properties without any external stimuli at ambient temperature. The healed sample possesses 97% recovery of its tensile strength after 8 h healing time, which relies largely on the host-guest interaction between VI and MAH-β-CD. The results demonstrate that FP can be utilized as an efficient and energy-saving method to synthesize self-healing supramolecular gels. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2017, 55, 2585-2593 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

On page 1235, C. Yu, C.‐F. Wang, and S. Chen develop a new mode of radical polymerization, namely magnetically induced frontal polymerization (MIFP), to fabricate a novel host‐guest supramolecular Gels within 5 min. The as‐prepared host‐guest supramolecular gels have remarkably great mechanical strength, as well as an intrinsic autonomic healing capability, which can further be controlled by an external magnetic field. This work develops a new platform for the rapid fabrication of diverse polymers for extensive applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ability to fabricate high-quality colloidal photonic crystal (CPC) films in large areas is critical in many applications, ranging from flexible displays, security devices to optical enhancement. Herein, a large-scaled CPC film with crack-free structure and uniform optical performance is prepared via a hydrogen-bond-assisted method. The crack-free CPC film is ascribed to the intermolecular hydrogen bonds between carboxyl (COOH) moieties of poly(styrene-methyl methacrylate acrylic acid) microspheres and isocyanate (NCO) moieties of polyurethane. Furthermore, the as-prepared CPC film is applied as a Bragg reflection mirror for fluorescence enhancement. It is demonstrated that a fourfold enhancement of fluorescence signal is achieved when the stopband of CPCs overlaps with the emission wavelength of quantum dots. This simple method of preparing large-area and crack-free CPC film is promising for developing efficient optical devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, the magnetic assembly combined with fast photopolymerization is applied for the preparation of mechano-responsive photonic hydrogel. The as-prepared hydrogel exhibits switchable color with ultrafast speed (Δλ/t=~1.2 nm/ms) across a broad wavelength range (Δλ=~250 nm), which is attributed to fast changing of the interparticle distance d of one dimensional (1 D) Fe 3 O 4 nanoparticle chains fixed inside the hydrogel matrix in response to compressive force stimulus. The pressure chromatic sensitivity is high (Δλ/σ=20–40 nm kPa −1 ) in touch region. With the aid of 3D printing technique, we innovatively demonstrate simultaneous multicolor displays on the hydrogel. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report a simple and effective route to easily prepare multi-emission carbon dots (CDs) and CdTe/carbon highly fluorescent assemblies by employing general and low-cost ubiquitous herbages as carbon source. Four kinds of herbages including radix pseudostellariae, ganoderma, liquorice, and angelica were pyrolyzed to straightly generate narrow-size distributed bare CDs. The as-prepared bare CDs have excellent solubility in various organic solvents without further treatment and exhibit bright photoluminescence with the quantum yields up to 28 %. After further treatment with nitric acid and amine-terminated compound 4,7,10-trioxa-1,13-tridecanediamine, the passivated CDs can be combined together with traditional CdTe QDs to form new ensembles for evoking their collective properties. The resulted CD solutions were proven that can be employed as fluorescent inks for patterning which may useful in anti-counterfeit and optoelectronic devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Carbon dots (CDs) have been extensively explored to show good optical features, low toxicity, and good biocompatibility. Herein, we report the new synthesis of forsythia-derived CDs (F-CDs) and their incorporation into Nylon-11 nanofibers for improved mechanical properties and biocompatibility. F-CDs are prepared from a Chinese herb forsythia via a magnetic hyperthermia method in 90 s without the use of any organic solvents. The as-prepared F-CDs with rich surface functional groups can be well embedded into Nylon-11 nanofibers via electrospinning, providing Nylon-11/F-CD nanofiber mats with remarkably enhanced mechanical properties. With the incorporation of F-CDs at 10 wt% into the Nylon-11 nanofiber mats, the tensile strength increases from 7.5 to 16.6 MPa, and the elongation ratio at break increases from 39% to 125%. Moreover, the Nylon-11/F-CD nanofiber mats exhibit excellent cytocompatibility towards L929 fibroblast cells with cell viability of 96%. These findings may guide the development of various CD-embedded nanofiber mats with good mechanical properties and biocompatibility potentially useful for biomedical applications, such as tissue engineering scaffolds or wound dressing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Methods for the synthesis of chiral carbon dots (CDs) possessing bright long-wavelength emission are highly desirable. Here, we develop red-emissive chiral CDs from hydrothermal treatment of L-/D-lysine and o -phenylenediamine (OPD). Pure chiral CDs are obtained by filtration and dialysis. Ultraviolet-visible (UV–vis) absorption spectra, photoluminescence (PL) spectra, PL quantum yield (QY), and PL decay of the chiral CDs are thoroughly studied. The chiral CDs exhibit bright red fluorescence with PL QY in the range of 26.6%–42.2% in different solvents. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) indicate that the chiral CDs have a mean particle size of 2.7 nm, and consist of graphite-like carbons and abundant functional groups at their surfaces. Circular dichroism spectroscopy shows new Cotton bands at about 300 and 610 nm for chiral CDs differed from those of L-/D-lysine, revealing the generation of optical chirality for CDs. Then transparent optical resins made of CDs/epoxy resin composites are prepared, possessing red fluorescence and circular dichroism, broadening potential applications of solid materials with chiroptical properties. Finally, we discuss the possible origins of chirality and fluorescence of the CDs. The exploitation of highly red-emissive chiral CDs may promote the development and application of chiral CDs. [Display omitted] • L-/ d -lysine reacts with o -phenylenediamine to yield chiral carbon dots (CDs). • Structural, optical and chiroptical characterizations of chiral CDs are presented. • Chiral CDs show red fluorescence with quantum yield up to 42.2%. • Circular dichroism spectroscopy reveals the generation of optical chirality for CDs. • Optical resins with red fluorescence and circular dichroism are prepared. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT Autonomous mechanical mass transportation for cargos on the microscale with no need of continuous external powering is of great scientific and technological interest due to their extensive applications. However, it is still challenging to create a self-driven system applicable to diverse micromaterial transportation demands. In this work, we developed a novel autonomous conveyer gel driven by frontal polymerization (FP). The chemical wave produced in FP was stable, and self-propagating with a constant velocity, which can be easily monitored by thermal imaging or fluorescence labeling. We investigated the influence of the initiation temperature, swelling ratio of the gel substrate, and the size of the cargos on the motion of driven behavior. Results showed that the driving velocity can be well controlled by altering the initiation temperatures of FP. The swelling ratio and the size of the cargos had a key impact on the feasibility of self-driven behavior. In addition, powerful driven capability by FP was demonstrated by successfully transporting cargos in series, and further applied for targeted synthesis of CdS nanocrystals. The methodology developed here provides an effective way to convert chemical energy to mechanical work, and may be useful in energy conversion and utilization, mass transportation and other applications. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2016, 54, 1323-1331 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, multifunctional hydrogels with vivid color change and shrinking-swelling response to temperature, ion strength, and alternating magnetic field are fabricated via magnetic assembly. The hydrogels show gradual shift colors from yellowish green to green, cyan, blue, purple, and even reddish violet in response to temperature or ion strength. In the response process, the whole color modulation process is fully reversible and transferable along with a relative short response time. Especially, the magnetism and porous structure of the hybrid hydrogel enable it to be a potential carrier for hydrophobic molecules. Taking advantage of the magnetocaloric responsiveness, the dyed oil loaded hydrogel exhibits a controllable release behavior in each reversible shrinking-swelling cycle under an alternating magnetic field. This multi-responsive hydrogel can hold promise for practical engineering applications, including sensors, displays, and controlled release. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT In this work, we report a versatile infrared laser ignited frontal polymerization technique for the fabrication of a series of poly(DMC- co-HPA) hydrogels (DMC = methacryloxyethyltrimethyl ammonium chloride, HPA = hydroxypropyl acrylate). Because the method is based on the exothermic reaction, no further energy is required in the reaction once it is initiated. Moreover, we have found the polymerization process is a pure frontal polymerization model without involving any other reaction process. The dependence of frontal velocity and temperature on the reaction time is thoroughly discussed. The as-prepared hydrogels are pH-responsive and their maximum equilibrium swelling ratio could reach ∼3,890%. Also, the as-prepared poly(DMC- co-HPA) hydrogels capable of adsorption/desorption switching performance can be utilized for heavy metal ion removal in wastewater treatments. Interestingly, the hydrogels can float on the water surface after intaking heavy metal ions by the combination of kerosene and polyoxyethylene sorbitan monolaurate (Tween 20) in hydrogel components, greatly enhancing treatment efficiency. We believe the method described herein to rapidly construct functional hydrogels with the ability to remove heavy metal ions may find unique applications in emergency processing of water pollution. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2015, 53, 2085-2093 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Advanced pH-regulated wound dressing that can promote wound healing remains a key challenge. To this end, we herein report a self-healing assembly strategy toward pH-regulated gel wound dressing. Firstly, we synthesized acrylic acid (AA)-based Gel 1 by a facile frontal polymerization (FP), which is rich in carboxy groups, endowing the gel with excellent self-healing and pH sensitivity. Then we constructed carboxymethyl chitosan and acrylamide (CMCS-AM)-based Gel 2, which shows reverse pH sensitivity against Gel 1. Thus, the Gel 1/Gel 2 bilayer exhibits different bending behaviors based on the reverse pH sensitivity, providing opportunities for pH regulation. More importantly, the in vivo study indicates that the Gel 1/Gel 2 assembly can effectively adjust the pH microenvironment, which consists of the non-infected wound pH change (from alkalinity to acidity and back again). The Gel 1 can continuously dissociate H+ to the wound, while the Gel 2 can adopt these ions, which synergistically realize the pH regulation based on the dissociation–adsorption rates difference and then accelerate the wound healing. This work offers a facile way to construct self-healing gels by FP, as well as a self-healing assembly strategy for advanced wound dressing with pH regulation, which is of great significance in wound healing area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nano‐/micro‐reactors have emerged as a powerful platform for chemical synthesis. Here, we develop fiber‐spinning chemistry (FSC) based on a microfluidic blow spinning (MBS) technique, allowing the availability of nanoreactors for chemical synthesis with scale‐up capacities. Proof‐of‐concept experiments focus on the utilization of MBS‐derived fibrous nanoreactors for large‐scale production of ligand‐free perovskite quantum dots (PQDs) in one step. Typically, methylammonium lead halide (MAPbX3, X=Cl, Br, and I) PQDs in situ synthesized at large scale inside polyacrylonitrile (PAN) nanofiber films (size 120 cm ×30 cm per hour), exhibit high photoluminescence (PL) quantum yield (QY) of 71 %, tunable emissive peaks (448–600 nm), and superb PL stability. The PQDs/polymer nanofiber films are potentially useful for CO2 conversion, wide‐color‐gamut displays and light‐emitting diode (LED) devices. These findings may guide the development of nano‐/micro‐reactor technology for scale‐up production of nanomaterials with various potential applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]