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Solar energy is the most abundant energy resource on earth. Unfortunately, only a very small portion of the solar radiation can be utilized by current light-harvesting materials, thus leading to the poor utilization efficiency of solar energy. In this regard, aggregation-induced emission luminogens (AIEgens) have demonstrated versatile properties that can enhance energy conversion and potentially revolutionize solar utilization systems. AIEgens with great processability can selectively absorb radiation across multiple spectral regions and transform solar energy into longer-wavelength light, heat, or alternative forms of energy. These processes can considerably enhance the solar energy utilization performance by either developing light-harvesting systems based on AIEgens or hybridizing modern light-harvesting systems with AIE technology. In this Perspective, based on material properties, we highlight different functions of AIEgens related to solar light utilization, including sunlight transformation, chemical conversion, and thermal conversion.

Antibody decorated nanoparticles with brightly red emissions are promising probes for targeted detection of cancer cells due to their excellent specificity, deep penetration depth, high photostability and low phototoxicity.

Interfacial heating is the most obvious feature that distinguishes the novel solar driven interfacial heating from the traditional solar heating technology, and it is also a key factor in promoting solar energy utilization and vapor generation performance. However, the inherent trade-off between water supply and the interfacial heating performance of photothermal materials has rarely been investigated. Herein, an all-in-one designed bilayer evaporator consisting of a top solar absorber (Fe

The upgrade project of the Beijing Electron Positron Collider (BEPCII) is a high-current electron–positron collider with beam intensity close to 1A. The RF system plays an important role in providing energy for the beam, compressing the beam length and maintaining beam lifetime. Once the RF system shuts down the RF power for various reasons, the accelerator will stop working. In order to determine which reason causes the RF trip, a new RF trip diagnostic system was built based on the NI PXI system. The new RF trip diagnostic system is used to collect the data of the forward power, reflected power, cavity voltage, and beam current in a period of time before and after the RF trip event happens. The system uses LabVIEW as the control software, which conducts I/Q sampling of down-converted RF signals directly, then calculates the amplitude and phase of each RF signal, and plots the change curve. The data and figures are stored in the disk and MySQL database. The change curve can be replotted by the data browser which developed by the Python or PHP language. Through the analysis of the RF trip data and figures that produced by the new RF trip system, it can be clear whether the RF trip is caused by the RF system, so as to locate the reason of the RF trip more quickly and improve the reliability and stability of the machine operation.

Background The physiological activities of the body have obvious biological rhythm. As the core of circadian rhythm, BMAL1 is the only clock gene whose deletion can lead to abnormal physiological function. However, it has not been reported whether heat exposure at different time can affect cardiovascular function changes by changing the circadian rhythm of clock genes. This study aimed to investigate whether autophagy is mediated by AMPK/mTOR/ULK1 pathway under intermittent heat exposure, and the effect of BMAL1 expression on thoracic aortic autophagy and apoptosis. Methods Intermittent heat stress model was established in vitro and vivo, western blot and immunofluorescence were used to detect the expressions of autophagy, apoptosis, AMPK/mTOR/ULK1 pathway and BMAL1. And then Autophagy was inhibited and activated, western blot and immunofluorescence detected the changes of autophagy and apoptosis. Finally, BMAL1 was silenced, RT-qPCR detected the expression of autophagy and apoptosis. Results Our study suggested heat stress induced autophagy and apoptosis were in RTAECs. In addition, intermittent heat stress raised AMPK and ULK1 but reduced the phosphorylation of mTOR in RTAECs, and autophagy inhibition by compound C reversed the expression of phosphorylation AMPK, mTOR and ULK1, the expression of Beclin1 and LC3-II/LC3-I decreased compared to the group of intermittent heat stress in vitro. Furthermore, Rapamycin mediated autophagy promoted apoptotic effects, and autophagy inhibitor 3-Methyladenine (3-MA) depressed the expression of apoptosis in vitro. After administration of Rapamycin, LC3-II/LC3-I, Beclin1 and Bax were further upregulated, whereas 3-MA alleviated the cells death. Finally, BMAL1 was elevated in vitro and vivo, and shBMAL1 reduced the expression of autophagy and apoptosis. Conclusion We revealed that intermittent heat stress induced apoptosis and autophagy. BMAL1 may involve in the occurrence of autophagy and apoptosis by AMPK/mTOR/ULK1 pathway.

Multifunctional surfaces that are favorable for both droplet nucleation and removal are critical for water-harvesting applications, but there still remain great challenges. Herein, we proposed a facile strategy to construct hydrophobic surfaces containing moderate hydrophilic groups to achieve both exceptional droplet nucleation and removal. Different from natural desert beetle-inspired water-harvesting materials, these surfaces utilize limited hydrophilic domains to condense fog, and transport of formed tiny droplets relies on a hydrophobic background. The total surface area of the presented hydrophobic fabric contains hydrophilic groups, and the areas for trapping fog have increased. This feature is optimized to enhance the droplet nucleation density, and the surface still has excellent liquid repellency, resulting in maximum water collection efficiency of the prepared surface reaching up to 3.145 g·cm-2·h-1, much higher than the most reported water-harvesting materials. Due to its high efficiency and scalability, we believe that the proposed strategy to construct hydrophobic surfaces containing hydrophilic groups has great practical value.

Background Integrase inhibitors (INIs)-based antiretroviral therapies (ART) are more recommended than efavirenz (EFV)-based ART for people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA). Yet, the advantage of integrase inhibitors in treating TB/HIV coinfection is uncertain. Therefore, the objective of this systematic review is to evaluate the effects and safety of INIs- versus EFV-based ART in TB/HIV coinfection, and demonstrate the feasibility of the regimens. Methods Four electronic databases were systematically searched through September 2020. Fixed-effects models were used to calculate pooled effect size for all outcomes. The primary outcomes were virologic suppression and bacteriology suppression for INIs- versus EFV-based ART. Secondary outcomes included CD4+ cell counts change from baseline, adherence and safety. Results Three trials (including 672 TB/HIV patients) were eligible. ART combining INIs and EFV had similar effects for all outcomes, with none of the point estimates argued against the INIs-based ART on TB/HIV patients. Compared to EFV-based ART as the reference group, the RR was 0.94 (95% CI 0.85 to 1.05) for virologic suppression, 1.00 (95% CI 0.95 to 1.05) for bacteriology suppression, 0.98 (95% CI 0.95 to 1.01) for adherence. The mean difference in CD4+ cell counts increase between the two groups was 14.23 cells/μl (95% CI 0− 6.40 to 34.86). With regard to safety (adverse events, drug-related adverse events, discontinuation for drugs, grade 3–4 adverse events, IRIS (grade 3–4), and death), INIs-based regimen was broadly similar to EFV-based regimens. The analytical results in all sub-analyses of raltegravir- (RAL) and dolutegravir (DTG) -based ART were valid. Conclusion This meta-analysis demonstrates similar efficacy and safety of INIs-based ART compared with EFV-based ART. This finding supports INIs-based ART as a first-line treatment in TB/HIV patients. The conclusions presented here still await further validation owing to insufficient data.

A digital low level radio frequency (DLLRF) system has been developed to replace the old analog LLRF and operated stably at BEPCII east RF station in the past two years. The RF stabilities required for BEPCII are ± 1% in magnitude and ± 1 degree in phase. These are satisfied both by the new DLLRF and the old analog LLRF. Yet, the DLLRF did not improve the RF stabilities so much as expected, especially when the beam current was high in collision mode. The purpose is to improve the RF stabilities further and meet the requirements by the upgraded BEPCII project (BEPC3). A disturbance observer based (DOB) controller to suppress the noise was developed and tested with beam at BEPCII RF system. The DOB controller works and the RF stabilities with beam may be improved from ± 1% to less than ± 0.5% in magnitude and from ± 1 degree to less than ± 0.5 degrees in phase.

Chronic and non-healing wounds pose a great challenge to clinical management and patients. Many studies have explored novel interventions against skin wounds, with bioactive peptides, nanoparticles, and hydrogels arousing considerable attention regarding their therapeutic potential. In this study, the prohealing peptide RL-QN15 was loaded into hollow silica nanoparticles (HSNs), with these HSN@RL-QN15 nanocomposites then combined with zinc alginate (ZA) gels to obtain HSN@RL-QN15/ZA hydrogel. The characteristics, biological properties, and safety profiles of the hydrogel composites were then evaluated. Results showed that the hydrogel had good porosity, hemocompatibility, biocompatibility, and broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity, with the slow release of loaded RL-QN15. Further analysis indicated that the hydrogel promoted skin cell proliferation and keratinocyte scratch repair, regulated angiogenesis, reduced inflammation, and accelerated re-epithelialization and granulation tissue formation, resulting in the rapid healing of both full-thickness skin wounds and methicillin-resistant

Visualization of immunocyte-microbe interaction is of great importance to reveal the physiological role and working mechanism of innate and adaptive immune system. The lack of rapid and stable microbial labeling platform and insufficient understanding of macrophage-microbe interaction may delay precautions that could be made. In this contribution, a clickable AIEgen, CDPP-NCS, containing a cationic pyridinium moiety for targeting bacteria and an isothiocyanate moiety for covalently bonding with amine groups, is successfully developed. With the advantages of excellent photostability and rapid bioconjugation with amine groups on the bacterial envelope, the processes of macrophage-bacterium interactions with subcellular resolution has been successfully captured using this clickable AIE probe. Therefore, the new clickable AIEgen is a powerful tool to study the interaction between cell and bacterium.

While machine-learning methods indicated good adaptability for machine-learning algorithms in the pan-chemistry field by its breakthroughs in pharmacy. Materials research still benefits from such new techniques fewer due to the inconsistency in the paradigm of study in the diversely different subareas which demand special treatment individually. In this contribution, we proposed an innovative design of the embedding method, which is inspired by chemical intuition, to bring neural networks into the field for modelling photophysics of the organic light-emitting materials in condensed states. We outline this framework and demonstrate its successful implementation in the predictive classification of fluorophores by its mechanisms, direction of spectra shift from solution to solid-state, and regression of spectral features, including emission peaks wavelengths in pristine solid-state and nano-aggregates. Our work may serve as an example for a specific area of materials research to transfer the empirical chemical intuition into machine-learning models and build comprehensive performance-oriented pre-screening systems to develop new compounds with demanded characters.

A new and simple colorimetric receptor 1 was prepared easily by one-step condensation of 3-acetyl-4-hydroxycoumarin and 8-aminoquinoline. Its absorbance at λ 296 nm significantly increased upon addition of Fe3+ with a turn-on mode. Furthermore, turn-off sensing happened when F– was added to the 1–Fe3+ complex formed in situ. The 1–Fe3+ complex showed high selectivity and low detection limit toward F– ion. Free Schiff base 1 was then given off for recognition Fe3+ again. The reversible “off-on-off” sensing occurred upon sequential addition of Fe3+ and F–.

Hydrogels have drawn extensive attention due to their unique physical and biological properties. However, the relatively low mechanical strength and poor processability of hydrogels limit their applications. Especially, the emerging 3D printing technology for nontoxic hydrogels requires proper formability and controllable mechanical behaviors. In this study, a new strategy to construct a novel double-network biocompatible hydrogel from poly(ethylene glycol) diacrylate (PEGDA) and short-chain chitosan (CS) via ionic-covalent cross-linking is by a two-step method involving UV curing followed by immersion in an anionic solution. The CS-based ionic network and PEGDA-based covalent network as well as the hydrogen bonds between them jointly induce excellent mechanical properties, which can be regulated by changing the PEGDA/CS content and ionic cross-linking time. Compared with conventional hydrogels, this mechanically optimized hydrogel exhibits a superior elastic modulus (3.84 ± 0.4 MPa), higher tensile strength (7.23 ± 0.2 MPa), and higher tensile strain (162 ± 7%). Notably, its excellent printing capability through the citrate anionic solution adjustment enables 3D printing with precision, flexibility, and a complex inner structure by extrusion in air at room temperature. In addition, a number of citrate ions existed in the ionic network, giving the hydrogels good electrical conductivity. Therefore, this printable, conductive, and tough hydrogel exhibits potential for vascular engineering, cartilage tissue engineering, and wearable device applications.

The reactive and stable catalysts for the oxygen reduction reaction are highly desirable for low temperature fuel cells. The commercial oxygen reduction reaction electrocatalysts generally reply on noble metal based nanomaterials, which suffer from inherent cost and selectivity issues. At present, it still remains challenge for designing efficient non-noble metal-based oxygen reduction reaction electrocatalysts. Herein, we successfully synthesize Co nanoparticles supported on three-dimensionally N-doped holey graphene aerogels hybrids by the high-temperature calcination of the graphene aerogels-polyallylamine-CoII hybrids. The component optimized hybrids show the excellent electrocatalytic activity for oxygen reduction reaction in alkaline media, which is comparable to commercial Pt/C electrocatalyst. Meanwhile, the hybrids also show eminent tolerance for CO and methanol, attributing to their excellent oxygen reduction reaction selectivity. The three-dimensionally interconnected structure of graphene aerogels, N-doping, uniform dispersion and high crystallinity of Co nanoparticles, and holey structure of graphene contribute to the striking oxygen reduction reaction activity of hybrids.

openaire: EC/H2020/796280/EU//CADOACCFAP The unique antibacterial characteristics of Ag nanomaterials offer a wide potential range of applications, but achieving rapid and durable antibacterial efficacy is challenging. This is because the speed and durability of the antibacterial function make conflicting demands on the structural design: the former requires the direct exposure of Ag to the surrounding environment, whereas the durability requires Ag to be protected from the environment. To overcome this incompatibility, we synthesize sandwich-structured polydopamine shells decorated both internally and externally with Ag nanoparticles, which exhibit prompt and lasting bioactivity in applications. These shells are biocompatible and can be used in vivo to counter bacterial infection caused by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus superbugs and to inhibit biofilm formation. This work represents a new paradigm for the design of composite materials with enhanced antibacterial properties.

Background Skin wound healing remains a considerable clinical challenge, thus stressing the urgent need for the development of new interventions to promote repair. Recent researches indicate that both peptides and nanoparticles may be potential therapies for the treatment of skin wounds. Methods In the current study, the mesoporous polydopamine (MPDA) nanoparticles were prepared and the peptide RL-QN15 that was previously identified from amphibian skin secretions and exhibited significant potential as a novel prohealing agent was successfully loaded onto the MPDA nanoparticles, which was confirmed by results of analysis of scanning electron microscopy and fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The encapsulation efficiency and sustained release rate of RL-QN15 from the nanocomposites were determined. The prohealing potency of nanocomposites were evaluated by full-thickness injured wounds in both mice and swine and burn wounds in mice. Results Our results indicated that, compared with RL-QN15 alone, the prohealing potency of nanocomposites of MPDA and RL-QN15 in the full-thickness injured wounds and burn wounds in mice was increased by up to 50 times through the slow release of RL-QN15. Moreover, the load on the MPDA obviously increased the prohealing activities of RL-QN15 in full-thickness injured wounds in swine. In addition, the obvious increase in the prohealing potency of nanocomposites of MPDA and RL-QN15 was also proved by the results from histological analysis. Conclusions Based on our knowledge, this is the first research to report that the load of MPDA nanoparticles could significantly increase the prohealing potency of peptide and hence highlighted the promising potential of MPDA nanoparticles-carrying peptide RL-QN15 for skin wound therapy. Graphic abstract