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A D–D′–A–D′–D′′–D′–A–D′–D type photoactive oligomer (O-BT) based nanoparticles (NPs) were prepared for biomedical application. The O-BT NPs possessed a high extinction coefficient, excellent hyperthermia generation ability, satisfactory NIR-II fluorescence emission, and good batch-to-batch reproducibility, and could be used as high-efficiency phototheranostics for photothermal therapy and NIR-II fluorescence imaging. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Photothermal therapy operated in the second near-infrared (NIR-II, 1000–1700 nm) window and fluorescence imaging in the NIR-IIb (1500–1700 nm) region have become the most promising techniques in phototheranostics. Their combination enables simultaneous high-resolution optical imaging and deep-penetrating phototherapy, which is essential for high-performance phototheranostics. Herein, carboxyl-functionalized small organic photothermal molecules (Se-TC) and multi-layered NIR-IIb emissive rare-earth-doped nanoparticles (NaYF4:Yb,Er,Ce@NaYF4:Yb,Nd@NaYF4, RENP) were rationally designed and successfully synthesized. Then, high-performance hybrid phototheranostic nanoagents (Se-TC@RENP@F) were easily constructed through the coordination between Se-TC and RENP and followed by subsequent F127 encapsulation. The carboxyl groups of Se-TC can offer strong binding affinity towards rare-earth-doped nanoparticles, which help improving the stability of Se-TC@RENP@F. The multilayered structure of RENP largely enhance the NIR-IIb emission under 808 nm excitation. The obtained Se-TC@RENP@F exhibited high 1064 nm absorption (extinction coefficient: 24.7 L g−1 cm−1), large photothermal conversion efficiency (PCE, 36.9%), good NIR-IIb emission (peak: 1545 nm), as well as great photostability. Upon 1064 nm laser irradiation, high hyperthermia can be achieved to kill tumor cells efficiently. In addition, based on the excellent NIR-IIb emission of Se-TC@RENP@F, in vivo angiography and tumor detection can be realized. This work provides a distinguished paradigm for NIR-IIb-imaging-guided NIR-II photothermal therapy and establishes an artful strategy for high-performance phototheranostics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report the modification of a gas phase ultrafast electron diffraction (UED) instrument that enables experiments with both gas and condensed matter targets, where a time-resolved experiment with sub-picosecond resolution is demonstrated with solid state samples. The instrument relies on a hybrid DC-RF acceleration structure to deliver femtosecond electron pulses on the target, which is synchronized with femtosecond laser pulses. The laser pulses and electron pulses are used to excite the sample and to probe the structural dynamics, respectively. The new system is added with capabilities to perform transmission UED on thin solid samples. It allows for cooling samples to cryogenic temperatures and to carry out time-resolved measurements. We tested the cooling capability by recording diffraction patterns of temperature dependent charge density waves in 1T-TaS2. The time-resolved capability is experimentally verified by capturing the dynamics in photoexcited single-crystal gold. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Fe-C substrate notably enhanced CW performance in purifying agricultural runoff. • Organic substrate and denitrifying bacteria addition further improved CW performance. • Fe-C substrate and augmentation measures mitigated greenhouse gas emissions from CWs. • The bacterial community in Fe-C substrates was notably distinct from that in gravel. • Unique and shared bacterial genera in different CW groups were identified. Iron-carbon composite-filled constructed wetlands (Fe-C CWs) were employed to treat agricultural runoff in the winter season in this study, and organic substrates and phosphate-accumulating denitrifying bacteria were supplemented to improve the treatment performance. Fe-C CWs performed significantly better in pollutant removal than the control system filled with only gravel by effectively driving autotrophic denitrification, Fe-based dephosphorization and organic degradation. Organic substrate and functional bacteria addition further augmented the performance, and immobilized bacterial cells were more effective than free cells. Fe-C and organic substrates decreased the greenhouse gas emission fluxes of the CWs, and denitrifier inoculation alleviated N 2 O emission. The microbial community in the Fe-C substrates showed a very distinct distribution pattern compared to that in the gravel, with notably higher proportions of Trichococcus , Thauera and Dechloromonas. Bioaugmented Fe-C-based CWs are highly promising for agricultural runoff treatment, especially at low temperatures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel conjugated polymer (DCT) with intrinsic multifunction was designed and synthesized. High-effect phototheranostic nanoagents DCT NPs were further fabricated based on single-component DCT, which displayed large Stokes shift (363 nm), satisfying near-infrared II (NIR-II) fluorescence emission, good photothermal and photodynamic performances. Under illumination of a single 808 nm laser, high therapeutic efficiency of DCT NPs was confirmed by MTT, live-dead staining and flow cytometry assays. Besides, in vivo high quality NIR-II imaging based on DCT NPs was also demonstrated. Overall, this study provides an effective strategy for constructing of high-effect single-component phototheranostic nanoagents. [Display omitted] • The conjugated polymer DCT could be easily obtained via Stille coupling reaction. • The DCT NPs exhibited outstanding NIR-I absorption, satisfying NIR-II fluorescence emission, and large Stokes shift. • DCT NPs displayed superior biocompatibility, good water-solubility, excellent photostability. • DCT NPs could produce toxic ROS and hyperthermia for elimination of tumor cells under a single 808 laser irradiation. • In vivo vascular structure and tumor imaging was successful executed based on DCT NPs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights: [•] A soft X-ray spectrometer was successfully developed on EAST tokamak. [•] The system can observe impurity line emissions with good spectral resolution. [•] Typical line emission measurements from the EAST tokamak were illustrated. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]