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Understanding the effects of laser light, water vapor, and energetic electron irradiation on the intrinsic properties of perovskites is important in the development of perovskite-based solar cells. Various phase transition and degradation processes have been reported when these agents interact with perovskites separately. However, detailed studies of their synergistic effects are still missing. In this work, the synergistic effect of three factors (exposure to laser light, water vapor, and e-beam) on the optical and physical properties of two-dimensional (2D) Ruddlesden-Popper (RP) perovskite flakes [(BA) 2 (MA) 2 Pb 3 Br 10 ] has been investigated in an environmental cell. When the perovskite flakes were subjected to moderate laser irradiation in a humid environment after prior e-beam irradiation, the photoluminescence (PL) peak centered at 480 nm vanished, while a new PL peak centered at 525 nm emerged, grew, and then quenched. This indicates the degradation process of the 2D RP perovskite was a phase transition to a three-dimensional (3D) perovskite [MAPbBr 3 ] followed by the degradation of 3D perovskite. The spatial distribution of the 525 nm PL signal shows that this phase-transition process spreads across the flake to the area as far as ∼40 μm from the laser spot. Without humidity, the phase transition happened in the laser-irritated area but did not spread, which suggests that moisture enhanced the ion migration from the laser-scanned area to the rest of the flake and accelerated the phase transition in the nearby area. Experiments with no prior e-beam irradiation show that e-beam irradiation is the key to activating the 2D-3D phase transition. Therefore, when the three factors work synergistically, a conversion from the 2D RP perovskite into the 3D perovskite is not localized and propagates through the perovskite. These findings contribute to our understanding of the complex interactions between external stimuli and perovskite materials, thereby advancing the development of efficient and stable perovskite-based solar cells., Competing Interests: The authors declare no competing financial interest., (© 2024 The Authors. Published by American Chemical Society.)

Even though a few organic materials have attracted considerable attention for energy storage applications, their dissolution in the electrolyte during the charging-discharging processes presents a formidable challenge to their long-term performance. In this work, according to the principle of like dissolves like, non-polar trithiocyanuric acid (TCA) can effectively inhibit dissolution in an aqueous electrolyte, hence prolonging the cycle life. Moreover, theoretical calculations suggest that TCA lowers lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO) energy level, thereby promoting reaction kinetics. The CV curves of TCA maintain a rectangular structure even at a high scan rate of 1000 mV s ‒1 and exhibit a remarkable capacitance retention rate of 93.1% after 50,000 cycles. Asymmetric flexible supercapacitors utilizing the TCA exhibit an impressive energy density. Moreover, they maintain 94.2% of their capacitance after undergoing 80,000 cycles. Their integration with perovskite solar cells to facilitate the rapid storage of photogenerated charges enables efficient solar energy utilization, providing a practical solution for capturing and storing renewable energy., (© 2024 Wiley‐VCH GmbH.)

Although both protein arginine methylation (PRMT) and jasmonate (JA) signaling are crucial for regulating plant development, the relationship between these processes in the control of spikelet development remains unclear. In this study, we used the CRISPR/Cas9 technology to generate two OsPRMT6a loss-of-function mutants that exhibit various abnormal spikelet structures. Interestingly, we found that OsPRMT6a can methylate arginine residues in JA signal repressors OsJAZ1 and OsJAZ7. We showed that arginine methylation of OsJAZ1 enhances the binding affinity of OsJAZ1 with the JA receptors OsCOI1a and OsCOI1b in the presence of JAs, thereby promoting the ubiquitination of OsJAZ1 by the SCF OsCOI1a/OsCOI1b complex and degradation via the 26S proteasome. This process ultimately releases OsMYC2, a core transcriptional regulator in the JA signaling pathway, to activate or repress JA-responsive genes, thereby maintaining normal plant (spikelet) development. However, in the osprmt6a-1 mutant, reduced arginine methylation of OsJAZ1 impaires the interaction between OsJAZ1 and OsCOI1a/OsCOI1b in the presence of JAs. As a result, OsJAZ1 proteins become more stable, repressing JA responses, thus causing the formation of abnormal spikelet structures. Moreover, we discovered that JA signaling reduces the OsPRMT6a mRNA level in an OsMYC2-dependent manner, thereby establishing a negative feedback loop to balance JA signaling. We further found that OsPRMT6a-mediated arginine methylation of OsJAZ1 likely serves as a switch to tune JA signaling to maintain normal spikelet development under harsh environmental conditions such as high temperatures. Collectively, our study establishes a direct molecular link between arginine methylation and JA signaling in rice., (Copyright © 2024 The Author. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Detecting environmental contaminants is crucial for protecting ecosystems and human health. While traditional carbon dot (CD) fluorescent probes are versatile, they may suffer from limitations like fluctuations in signal intensity, leading to detection inaccuracies. In contrast, ratiometric fluorescent probes, designed with internal self-calibration mechanisms, offer enhanced sensitivity and reliability. This review focuses on the design and applications of ratiometric fluorescent probes based on CDs for environmental monitoring. Our discussion covers construction strategies, ratiometric fluorescence principles, and applications in detecting various environmental contaminants, including organic pollutants, heavy metal ions, and other substances. We also explore associated advantages and challenges and provide insights into potential solutions and future research directions.

Developing non-precious catalysts with long-term catalytic durability and structural stability under industrial conditions is the key to practical alkaline anion exchange membrane (AEM) water electrolysis. Here, an energy-saving approach is proposed to synthesize defect-rich iron nickel oxyhydroxide for stability and efficiency toward the oxygen evolution reaction. Benefiting from in situ cation exchange, the nanosheet-nanoflake-structured catalyst is homogeneously embedded in, and tightly bonded to, its substrate, making it ultrastable at high current densities. Experimental and theoretical calculation results reveal that the introduction of Ni in FeOOH reduces the activation energy barrier for the catalytic reaction and that the purposely created oxygen defects not only ensure the exposure of active sites and maximize the effective catalyst surface but also modulate the local coordination environment and chemisorption properties of both Fe and Ni sites, thus lowering the energy barrier from *O to *OOH. Consequently, the optimized d-(Fe,Ni)OOH catalyst exhibits outstanding catalytic activity with long-term durability under both laboratory and industrial conditions. The large-area d-(Fe,Ni)OOH||NiMoN pair requires 1.795 V to reach a current density of 500 mA cm -2 at an absolute current of 12.5 A in an AEM electrolyzer for overall water electrolysis, showing great potential for industrial water electrolysis., (© 2023 Wiley-VCH GmbH.)

This research aimed to explore the serum high-mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) and high-mobility group box 2 (HMGB2) levels in allergic rhinitis (AR) children and its correlation with clinical results. This present prospective observational study enrolled 179 AR children and 100 healthy children who came to our hospital during October 2020 to August 2022. The serum HMGB1, HMGB2, interleukin (IL)-6, IL-1β, interferon-γ, and C-reactive protein (CRP) levels were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Demographic and clinical statistics including age, body mass index (BMI), sex, diastolic blood pressure, SBP, family history of allergy, Visual Analogue Score (VAS) and Rhinoconjunctivitis Quality of Life Questionnaire were collected. All data used SPSS 18.0 to statistical analyses. The proportion of family history of allergy was obviously higher in the AR group than that in the healthy group. The serum levels of HMGB1, HMGB2 and cytokines were remarkably enhanced in the AR patients. Spearman analysis supported that positive correlation existed among the HMGB1, HMGB2, CRP, IL-6 and IL-1β levels. Serum IL-6, CRP, HMGB2, IL-1β, VAS score and Rhinoconjunctivitis Quality of Life Questionnaire score levels were significantly higher and serum interferon-γ levels were significantly lower in the HMGB1 high expression group. Similar results were found in in the HMGB2 high group compared to the HMGB2 low group. In addition, HMGB1 and HMGB2 could be potential diagnostic biomarkers of AR patients. Finally, we found that HMGB1, HMGB2, IL-6, IL-1β, and family history of allergy were the risk factors for AR. This study showed that the serum HMGB1 and HMGB2 levels was remarkably enhanced in AR patients and closely associated with cytokines. This study may provide new targets and a comprehensive approach for the treatment of AR patients., Competing Interests: The authors have no conflicts of interest to disclose., (Copyright © 2023 the Author(s). Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc.)

To understand the potential effects of intrinsic calcium compounds on sludge pyrolysis, the pyrolysis behavior of petrochemical sludge (PS), calcium carbonate blend PS (CaPS), and decalcified PS (DePS) were investigated using thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and in-situ Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy coupled with pyrolysis-gas chromatography and mass spectrometry (Py-GC/MS). The TGA results indicated that decalcification increased and decreased the energy barriers of PS decomposition in ranges 200-350 °C and 350-600 °C, respectively. In contrast, copyrolysis with CaCO 3 decreased the activation energy (E) of the pseudoreaction phase 2 (PH2) and altered the mechanism model. Meanwhile, during copyrolysis, char deposition and interaction hindered CaCO 3 decomposition. The two-dimensional correlation spectroscopy results, on the other hand, showed that the reaction priority of O-containing groups and CH- vibration of methyl groups were affected by both decalcification and CaCO 3 copyrolysis. The Py-GC/MS results indicated that the three sludges mainly released hydrocarbons, N-containing organics, alcohols, aldehydes, and acids. During pyrolysis, CaCO 3 also played a neutralization role, which reduced the release of pyrolytic acidic products. In addition, the increase of the pyrolysis temperature increased the hydrocarbon content. This research will guide the industrial application of sludge pyrolysis., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

This study aims to explore the relationship between macrosomia and amino acids in maternal and cord sera., Methods: In the case-control study, 78 pairs of mothers and newborns were recruited from December 2016 to November 2019. Participants were divided into the macrosomia group (BW ≥ 4000 g, n = 39) and the control group (BW between 2500 g and 3999 g, n = 39) according to the birth weight (BW) of newborns. Maternal vein blood samples were collected before delivery and cord vein blood samples were collected after birth. The levels of amino acids in maternal and cord sera were measured by liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) in the year 2021. The difference in amino acid levels in maternal and cord sera between the two groups was compared, and the contribution of each amino acid to the difference between the two groups was analyzed. Unconditional logistic regression analysis was used to test the relationship between macrosomia and amino acids., Results: In maternal serum during the antepartum, the levels of asparagine, glutamine, methionine, alanine, and threonine in the macrosomia group were higher but arginine was lower than that in the control group ( p < 0.05). In cord serum, the levels of lysine, histidine, phenylalanine, arginine, tryptophan, valine, isoleucine, glutamate, tyrosine, and total essential amino acid (EAA) in the macrosomia group were lower while glutamine was higher than that in the control group ( p < 0.05). The ratios of EAA, valine, threonine, methionine, tryptophan, and alanine in maternal serum to those in cord serum were higher, while the ratio of glutamine was lower in the macrosomia group ( p < 0.05). Arginine and threonine in maternal serum and glutamate, glutamine, and histidine in cord serum were associated with macrosomia ( p < 0.05)., Conclusion: Most of the amino acid levels in the maternal sera of the macrosomia group are higher than those in the control group, while most of the amino acids' levels in the cord sera of the macrosomia group are lower than those in the control group. The ratios of some amino acids in maternal serum to those in cord serum were different between the two groups. Arginine and threonine in maternal serum and glutamate, glutamine, and histidine in cord serum are closely related to macrosomia.

Objective: To explore whether there are differences in the levels of protein, glucose and blood lipids in umbilical vein and umbilical artery blood of newborns with different delivery modes, and to evaluate their value as indicators of fetal intrauterine nutrition and nutritional support., Methods: A total of 89 pairs of mothers and infants who were delivered in Danyang People&apos;s Hospital of Jiangsu Province from June to September 2021 were selected as the study subjects, including 38 cases of spontaneous delivery and 51 cases of cesarean section. The basic information of pregnant women, pregnancy information, newborn delivery and physical examination information were extracted from the medical record information system of the hospital. According to the mode of delivery, HITACHI 7600 automatic biochemical analyzer was used to measure the levels of protein, glucose and blood lipids in umbilical vein and umbilical artery blood, including total protein(TP), albumin(ALB), glucose(GLU), total cholesterol(TC), triglyceride(TG), high density lipoprotein cholesterol(HDL-C), low density lipoprotein cholesterol(LDL-C). The data were statistically analyzed using IBM SPSS Statistics 26.0 statistical software., Results: The levels of TP, ALB, GLU, TC, TG, HDL-C and LDL-C in the umbilical vein blood of the spontaneous delivery group were(56.40±5.83)g/L, (38.41±3.43)g/L, (4.55±1.53)mmol/L, (1.68±0.42)mmol/L, (0.25±0.11)mmol/L, (0.84±0.17)mmol/L and(0.69±0.23)mmol/L, respectively. The levels of TP, ALB, GLU, TC, TG, HDL-C and LDL-C in umbilical artery blood were(56.49±9.91)g/L, (37.72±4.77)g/L, (4.07±1.52)mmol/L, (1.60±0.42)mmol/L, (0.24±0.10)mmol/L, (0.80±0.18)mmol/L and(0.68±0.24)mmol/L, respectively. The levels of TP, ALB, GLU, TC, TG, HDL-C and LDL-C in umbilical vein blood of cesarean section group were(52.08±4.12)g/L, (36.12±2.13)g/L, (3.45±1.16)mmol/L, (1.61±0.39)mmol/L, (0.19±0.08)mmol/L, (0.82±0.18)mmol/L and(0.61±0.20)mmol/L, respectively. The levels of TP, ALB, GLU, TC, TG, HDL-C and LDL-C in umbilical artery blood were(51.49±7.59)g/L, (35.40±3.60)g/L, (3.09±1.15)mmol/L, (1.48±0.40)mmol/L, (0.19±0.08)mmol/L, (0.78±0.18)mmol/L and(0.60±0.20)mmol/L, respectively. The levels of TP, ALB, Glu and TG in cord vein blood and cord artery blood in spontaneous labor group were significantly higher than those in cesarean section group(P&lt;0.05); The levels of Glu, TC, TG and HDL-C in cord vein blood were significantly higher in spontaneous labor group and cesarean section group than those in cord artery blood(P&lt;0.05)., Conclusion: The levels of protein, glucose and blood lipids in umbilical vein and umbilical artery blood were different among different delivery modes.

Objective: To investigate the difference of cortical hormones in cord artery and vein blood of newborns with different delivery modes., Methods: A total of 65 pregnant women who delivered in the People&apos;s Hospital of Danyang City, Jiangsu Province from June to September 2021 were selected as the study subjects, including 26 cases of spontaneous delivery and 39 cases of cesarean section. The basic information of 65 pregnant women and newborns was collected by questionnaire survey. According to the mode of delivery, the levels of corticosteroids in umbilical vein and umbilical artery blood were determined by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry(LC-MS/MS), including corticosterone, 11-desoxycorticosterone, aldosterone, cortisol, 11-deoxycortisol and cortisone. The data were statistically analyzed using IBM SPSS Statistics 26.0 statistical software., Results: The levels of cortisol, 11-deoxycortisol, aldosterone, cortisol, 11-deoxycortisol and cortisone in the umbilical vein blood of the spontaneous delivery group were(2.44±1.87), (0.64±0.29), (0.49±0.35), (54.95±40.80), (3.20±1.23) and(142.27±57.42)ng/mL, respectively. The levels of corticosterone, 11-deoxycortisol, aldosterone, cortisol, 11-deoxycortisol and cortisone in umbilical artery blood were(4.51±4.47), (0.57±0.28), (0.42±0.29), (60.79±45.53), (2.69±1.25) and(123.10±46.32)ng/mL, respectively. The levels of corticosterone, 11-deoxycortisone, aldosterone, cortisol, 11-deoxycortisone and cortisone in umbilical vein blood of cesarean section group were(0.94±1.09), (0.47±0.14), (0.26±0.14), (22.63±19.82), (2.30±0.90) and(84.51±29.49)ng/mL, respectively. The levels of corticosterone, 11-deoxycortisol, aldosterone, cortisol, 11-deoxycortisol and cortisone in umbilical artery blood were(2.22±2.24), (0.43±0.17), (0.27±0.14), (30.09±25.93), (1.87±0.76) and(75.03±24.90)ng/mL, respectively. The levels of corticosterone, 11-desoxycorticosterone, aldosterone, cortisol, 11-deoxycortisol and cortisone in cord vein blood and cord artery blood in spontaneous labor group were significantly higher than those in cesarean section group(P&lt;0.05). The levels of corticosterone and cortisol in cord vein blood were significantly lower in spontaneous labor group and cesarean section group than those in cord artery blood(P&lt;0.05), the levels of 11-desoxycorticosterone, 11-deoxycortisol and cortisone in cord vein blood were significantly higher in spontaneous labor group and cesarean section group than those in cord artery blood(P&lt;0.05)., Conclusion: There are differences in the level of cortical hormones in cord artery and vein blood in different delivery modes.

Strigolactones (SLs) constitute a class of plant hormones that regulate many aspects of plant development, including repressing tillering in rice (Oryza sativa). However, how SL pathways are regulated is still poorly understood. Here, we describe a rice mutant dwarf and high tillering1 (dht1), which exhibits pleiotropic phenotypes (such as dwarfism and increased tiller numbers) similar to those of mutants defective in SL signaling. We show that DHT1 encodes a monocotyledon-specific hnRNP-like protein that acts as a previously unrecognized intron splicing factor for many precursor mRNAs (pre-mRNAs), including for the SL receptor gene D14. We find that the dht1 (DHT1I232F) mutant protein is impaired in its stability and RNA binding activity, causing defective splicing of D14 pre-mRNA and reduced D14 expression, and consequently leading to the SL signaling-defective phenotypes. Overall, our findings deepen our understanding of the functional diversification of hnRNP-like proteins and establish a connection between posttranscriptional splicing and SL signaling in the regulation of plant development., (© American Society of Plant Biologists 2022. All rights reserved. For permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oup.com.)

Lead-free highly luminescent CsCu 2 I 3 perovskite has attracted much attention recently, but agreements on basic optical properties have remained unsettled. By correlating X-ray diffraction with the photoluminescence (PL) of CsCu 2 I 3 single-crystal wires, we first show that blue PL at 420 nm originates from CuI. We then exclude defect states as a source for the broadband emission centered at 570 nm from the lack of defect absorption, PL under sub-bandgap photoexcitation, observations of a linear dependence of PL intensity on excitation laser power, and a strong spectral blueshift under mild hydrostatic pressure. Finally, using a model of the self-trapped exciton and the associated coordinate configuration diagram, we explain pressure evolutions of PL energy, intensity, and lifetime. Single-crystal wires also enable us to obtain polarization-dependent Raman spectra down to 10 cm -1 and confirm their respective ambient crystal structure of orthorhombic Cmcm and phase transition to Pbnm at ∼5 GPa.

In this work we introduce a new series of ratiometric oxygen sensors based on phosphorescent cyclometalated iridium centers partnered with organic coumarin fluorophores. Three different cyclometalating ligands and two different pyridyl-containing coumarin types were used to prepare six target complexes with tunable excited-state energies. Three of the complexes display dual emission, with fluorescence arising from the coumarin ligand, and phosphorescence from either the cyclometalated iridium center or the coumarin. These dual-emitting complexes function as ratiometric oxygen sensors, with the phosphorescence quenched under O 2 while fluorescence is unaffected. The use of blue-fluorescent coumarins results in good signal resolution between fluorescence and phosphorescence. Moreover, the sensitivity and dynamic range, measured with Stern-Volmer analysis, can be tuned two orders of magnitude by virtue of our ability to synthetically control the triplet excited-state ordering. The complex with cyclometalated iridium 3 MLCT phosphorescence operates under hyperoxic conditions, whereas the two complexes with coumarin-centered phosphorescence are sensitive to very low levels of O 2 and function as hypoxic sensors., Competing Interests: There are no conflicts to declare., (This journal is © The Royal Society of Chemistry.)

Achieving efficient and durable nonprecious hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) catalysts for scaling up alkaline water/seawater electrolysis is desirable but remains a significant challenge. Here, a heterogeneous Ni-MoN catalyst consisting of Ni and MoN nanoparticles on amorphous MoN nanorods that can sustain large-current-density HER with outstanding performance is demonstrated. The hierarchical nanorod-nanoparticle structure, along with a large surface area and multidimensional boundaries/defects endows the catalyst with abundant active sites. The hydrophilic surface helps to achieve accelerated gas-release capabilities and is effective in preventing catalyst degradation during water electrolysis. Theoretical calculations further prove that the combination of Ni and MoN effectively modulates the electron redistribution at their interface and promotes the sluggish water-dissociation kinetics at the Mo sites. Consequently, this Ni-MoN catalyst requires low overpotentials of 61 and 136 mV to drive current densities of 100 and 1000 mA cm -2 , respectively, in 1 m KOH and remains stable during operation for 200 h at a constant current density of 100 or 500 mA cm -2 . This good HER catalyst also works well in alkaline seawater electrolyte and shows outstanding performance toward overall seawater electrolysis with ultralow cell voltages., (© 2022 Wiley-VCH GmbH.)

The integration of highly luminescent CsPbBr 3 quantum dots on nanowire waveguides has enormous potential applications in nanophotonics, optical sensing, and quantum communications. On the other hand, CsPb 2 Br 5 nanowires have also attracted a lot of attention due to their unique water stability and controversial luminescent property. Here, the growth of CsPbBr 3 nanocrystals on CsPb 2 Br 5 nanowires is reported first by simply immersing CsPbBr 3 powder into pure water, CsPbBr 3- γ  X γ (X = Cl, I) nanocrystals on CsPb 2 Br 5 -γ  X γ nanowires are then synthesized for tunable light sources. Systematic structure and morphology studies, including in situ monitoring, reveal that CsPbBr 3 powder is first converted to CsPb 2 Br 5 microplatelets in water, followed by morphological transformation from CsPb 2 Br 5 microplatelets to nanowires, which is a kinetic dissolution-recrystallization process controlled by electrolytic dissociation and supersaturation of CsPb 2 Br 5 . CsPbBr 3 nanocrystals are spontaneously formed on CsPb 2 Br 5 nanowires when nanowires are collected from the aqueous solution. Raman spectroscopy, combined photoluminescence, and SEM imaging confirm that the bright emission originates from CsPbBr 3 -γ  X γ nanocrystals while CsPb 2 Br 5 -γ  X γ nanowires are transparent waveguides. The intimate integration of nanoscale light sources with a nanowire waveguide is demonstrated through the observation of the wave guiding of light from nanocrystals and Fabry-Perot interference modes of the nanowire cavity., (© 2022 Wiley-VCH GmbH.)

Objective: Meta-analysis was used to study the validity of image-based dietary assessment(IBDA) in evaluating energy and macronutrients intake, and compared with three traditional method: weighed food record(WFR), 24-hour dietary recall(24-HDR) and double-labeled water(DLW)., Methods: Studies were retrieved and collected from various databases including China National Knowledge Infrastructure(CNKI), WanFang Database, VIP Database, PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane Library and Embase, screened according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria. After extracting the data, all the data were Meta-analyzed through RevMan 5.4., Results: A total of 24 studies were included. Meta-analysis showed that, comparison of IBDA method and traditional method in energy intake assessment[MD=-54.71 kcal/d(95%CI-118.81-9.39), P=0.09], comparison of carbohydrate intake assessment[MD=-2.77 g(95%CI-8.86-3.31), P=0.37], comparison of protein intake assessment[MD=0.00 g(95%CI-2.09-2.09), P&gt;0.05], comparison of fat intake assessment[MD=0.10 g(95%CI-2.06-2.25), P=0.93], these differences were not statistically significant. Subgroup analysis showed that, IBDA method compared with the 24-hour dietary review method in protein intake(P=0.01), the difference was statistically significant. IBDA method overestimated protein intake by about 7.3% on average compared with the 24-hour dietary review method., Conclusion: There was no significant difference between IBDA method and traditional method in the assessment of energy and macronutrient intakes.

A novel fluorescence "turn on" ratiometric fluorescent sensor was employed to determine carbendazim. The sensing process was achieved through the strong fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) between nitrogen doped carbon quantum dots (N-CQDs) and gold nanocluster (AuNCs). The photoluminescence intensity of N-CQDs can be deactivated by AuNCs through FRET effect and recovered by the addition of carbendazim. The ratiometric detection of carbendazim is achieved by recording the photoluminescence and second-order Rayleigh scattering (SRS) signal of N-CQDs/AuNCs system. With the introduction of carbendazim to the sensing platform resulted in the photoluminescence and SRS signal of N-CQDS/AuNCs enhancing. UV-vis absorption, Zeta potential and fluorescence lifetime analyses indicate that the fluorescence turn on process can be attributed to the aggregation of AuNCs breaks the FRET process and increases SRS intensity. N-CQDs/AuNCs probe present a good sensitivity and selectivity for carbendazim detection, with two linear response ranges (1-100 μM, 150-1000 μM), low detection limit of 0.83 μM and 37.25 μM. Furthermore, real sample analyses indicate that the as-presented sensor has potentials in carbendazim determination in real sample analyses., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2019 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Background: Recurrence of esophageal cancer in the brain is rare but associated with a poor prognosis. Identification of risk factors for isolated brain metastasis of esophageal cancer (iBMEC) after surgical treatment may guide surveillance recommendations to enable early identification and intervention before widespread metastasis., Methods: Patients with iBMEC (n = 38) were identified from a prospective database of patients with esophageal cancer who underwent esophagectomy. Risk factors for iBMEC were identified using competing risk regression analysis., Results: In a cohort of 1760 patients, 39% recurred and iBMEC developed in 2% by the end of the study. Survival in patients with iBMEC was similar to survival in patients with distant recurrence (median overall survival, 0.95 years; 95% confidence interval, 0.6-1.5 years). More than half of patients with iBMEC were diagnosed within 1 year postoperatively. All 38 patients with iBMEC had received neoadjuvant therapy before surgery. Pathologic complete response (PCR) to neoadjuvant therapy was associated with improved survival after brain recurrence (median overall survival, 1.56 vs 0.66 years; P = .019)., Conclusions: In patients with PCR, iBMEC may represent true isolated recurrence, whereas in those with residual nodal disease, iBMEC may actually be the first observed site of widespread metastasis. Patients who receive neoadjuvant therapy, especially with PCR, may benefit from brain imaging, both preoperatively and with routine surveillance., (Copyright © 2020 The Society of Thoracic Surgeons. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Group A streptococcus (GAS) species are responsible for a broad spectrum of human diseases, ranging from superficial to invasive infections, and are associated with autoimmune disorders. There is no commercial vaccine against GAS. The clinical manifestations of GAS infection may be attributable to the large repertoire of virulence factors used selectively in different types of GAS disease. Here, we selected five molecules, highly conserved among GAS serotypes, and involved in different pathogenic mechanisms, as a multicomponent vaccine, 5CP. Intranasal (i.n.) immunization with 5CP protected mice against both mucosal and systemic GAS infection across serotypes; the protection lasted at least 6 months. Immunization of mice with 5CP constrained skin lesion development and accelerated lesion recovery. Flow cytometry and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay analyses revealed that 5CP induced Th17 and antibody responses locally and systemically; however, the Th17 response induced by 5CP resolved more quickly than that to GAS when challenge bacteria were cleared, suggesting that 5CP is less likely to cause autoimmune responses. These findings support that immunization through the i.n. route targeting multiple nonredundant virulence factors can induce immunity against different types of GAS disease and represents an alternative strategy for GAS vaccine development, with favorable efficacy, coverage, duration, and safety. IMPORTANCE GAS is among the most common human pathogens and causes a wide variety of diseases, likely more than any other microorganism. The diverse clinical manifestations of GAS may be attributable to its large repertoire of virulence factors that are selectively and synergistically involved in streptococcal pathogenesis. To date, GAS vaccines have not been successful due to multiple serotypes and postinfection sequelae associated with autoimmunity. In this study, five conserved virulence factors that are involved in GAS pathogenesis were used as a combined vaccine. Intranasal immunization with this vaccine induced humoral and cellular immune responses across GAS serotypes and protected against mucosal, systemic, and skin infections. The significance of this work is to demonstrate that the efficacy of GAS vaccines can be achieved by including multiple nonredundant critical virulence factors and inducing local and systemic immunity. The strategy also provides valuable insights for vaccine development against other pathogens., (Copyright © 2019 Bi et al.)

Background: Streptococcus suis is an emerging zoonotic agent. Its natural habitat is the tonsils, which are the main portals of S. suis entry into the bloodstream of pigs. The remarkable variability of the bacteria and complex pathogenic mechanisms make the development of a vaccine a difficult task., Method: Five conserved virulence factors involved in critical events of S. suis pathogenesis were combined and used as an intranasal vaccine (V5). The effect of V5 was investigated with intranasal and systemic challenge models., Results: V5 induced antibody and T-cell responses at the mucosal site and systemically. The immunity promoted clearance of S. suis from the nasopharynx independent of S. suis serotypes and reduced lethality after systemic challenge with S. suis serotype 2. Moreover, mice that survived sepsis from intravenous infection developed meningitis, whereas none of these mice showed neuropathological symptoms after V5 receipt., Conclusion: Intranasal immunization with multiple conserved virulence factors decreases S. suis colonization at the nasopharynx across serotypes and inhibits the dissemination of the bacteria in the host. The protective mucosal immunity effects would potentially reduce the S. suis reservoir and prevent S. suis disease in pigs., (© The Author(s) 2019. Published by Oxford University Press for the Infectious Diseases Society of America. All rights reserved. For permissions, e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com.)

A new high performance fluorescence assay for detection of Ag + based on CdS quantum dots (QDs) using L-Aspartic acid (L-Asp) as a stabilizer was proposed in this work. The CdS quantum dots conjugation with L-Aspartic acid (L-Asp@CdS QDs) were successfully synthesized via a simple hydrothermal process. The QDs have a fluorescence emission band maximum at 595 nm with a quantum yield of 11%. The obtained CdS QDs exhibit a particle size of 1.63 ± 0.28 nm and look like quantum dot flowers. Basically, the fluorescence intensity of L-Asp@CdS QDs can be enhanced only upon addition of Ag + and a redshift in the fluorescence spectrum was observed. Under optimum conditions, the fluorescence enhancement of L-Asp@CdS QDs appeared to exhibit a good linear relationship in between 100-7000 nM (R 2 = 0.9945) with the Ag + concentration, with a detection limit of 39 nM. The results indicated that the L-Asp@CdS QDs were well used in detection for Ag + as fluorescence probe in aqueous solution with high sensitivity and selectivity. Moreover, the sensing system has been applied in detection Ag + in real water samples. The recovery test results were 98.6%~113%, and relative standard deviation (n = 5) is less than 3.6%, which was satisfactory.

Nearly monodisperse Zinc oxide (ZnO) quantum dots (QDs) displayed yellow fluorescence were synthesized using urea as dispersant. In this paper, urea-ZnO QDs were used as fluorescent probe to detect Cr 6+ in solution. The emission from the as-synthesized urea-ZnO QDs is selectively quenched when Cr 6+ ions were added. Moreover, there are two linear relationships between the quenching of fluorescence intensity and the Cr 6+ concentrations ranging from 4 μM to 1000 μM, with the detection limit for Cr 6+ at 19.53 nM (on basis of 3σ/slope criterion). The quenching of fluorescence is attributed to aggregation of the QDs and charge transfer between the QDs and Cr 6+ by measurements of transmission electron microscopy (TEM) images, UV-visible absorption spectra and fluorescence lifetime.

Thioglycolic acid-functionalized ZnSe quantum dots (QDs) as a colorimetric nanoprobe were prepared and applied to the determination of cobalt(II) and iron(III). Test strips were obtained by a dipping-drying process. On exposure to Co(II), they undergo a color change from white to brown, and on exposure to Fe(III) from white to pink. The limits of detection (LOD) are 2.6 mg L -1 for Co(II) and 2.2 mg L -1 for Fe(III). Test strips introduce a low-cost, portable, rapid and convenient tool for determination of Co(II) and Fe(III). In addition, two other analytical methods have been studied for detection of Co(II) and Fe(III) at low concentration. The first is UV-vis spectrometry which has a LOD as low as 0.14 mg L -1 for Co(II) (at 412 nm) and 0.12 mg L -1 for Fe(III) (at 400 nm). The second is dynamic light scattering (DLS) with a LOD of 3.0 μg L -1 for Co(II) and 2.5 μg L -1 for Fe(III). Graphical abstract Thioglycolic acid-functionalized ZnSe quantum dots (TGA-ZnSe QDs) show high sensitivity and low detection limits for Co 2+ and Fe 3+ .

The fluorescence intensity of N, S co-doped graphene quantum dots (N, S-GQDs) can be quenched by Fe 3+ and Hg 2+ . Density functional theory (DFT) simulation and experimental studies indicate that the fluorescence quenching mechanisms for Fe 3+ and Hg 2+ detection are mainly attributed to the inner filter effect (IFE) and dynamic quenching process, respectively. The electronegativity difference between C and doped atoms (N, S) in favor to introduce negative charge sites on the surface of N, S-GQDs leads to charge redistribution. Those negative charge sites facilitate the adsorption of cations on the N, S-GQDs' surface. Atomic population analysis results show that some charge transfer from Fe 3+ and Hg 2+ to N, S-GQDs, which relate to the fluorescent quenching of N, S-GQDs. In addition, negative adsorption energy indicates the adsorption of Hg 2+ and Fe 2+ is energetically favorable, which also contributes to the adsorption of quencher ions. Blue fluorescent N, S-GQDs were synthesized by a facile one-pot hydrothermal treatment. Fluorescent lifetime and UV-vis measurements further validate the fluorescent quenching mechanism is related to the electron transfer dynamic quenching and IFE quenching. The as-synthesized N, S-GQDs were applied as a fluorescent probe for Fe 3+ and Hg 2+ detection. Results indicate that N, S-GQDs have good sensitivity and selectivity on Fe 3+ and Hg 2+ with a detection limit as low as 2.88 and 0.27 nM, respectively.

Citric acid capped CdS quantum dots (CA-CdS QDs), a new assembled fluorescent probe for copper ions (Cu 2+ ), was synthesized successfully by a simple hydrothermal method. In this work, the fluorescence sensor for the detection of heavy and transition metal (HTM) ions has been extensively studied in aqueous solution. The results of the present study indicate that the obtained CA-CdS QDs could detect Cu 2+ with high sensitivity and selectivity. It found that the existence of Cu 2+ has a significant fluorescence quenching with a large red shifted (from greenish-yellow to yellowish-orange), but not in the presence of 17 other HTM ions. As a result, Cu₂S, the energy level below the CdS conduction band, could be formed at the surface of the CA-CdS QDs and leads to the quenching of fluorescence of CA-CdS QDs. Under optimal conditions, the copper ions detection range using the synthesized fluorescence sensor was 1.0 × 10 ‒8 M to 5.0 × 10 ‒5 M and the limit of detection (LOD) is 9.2 × 10 ‒9 M. Besides, the as-synthesized CA-CdS QDs sensor exhibited good selectivity toward Cu 2+ relative to other common metal ions. Thus, the CA-CdS QDs has potential applications for detecting Cu 2+ in real water samples.

Pd-functionalized one-dimensional (1D) SnO₂ nanostructures were synthesized via a facile hydrothermal method and shaddock peels were used as bio-templates to induce a 1D-fiber-like morphology into the gas sensing materials. The gas-sensing performances of sensors based on different ratios of Pd-functionalized SnO₂ composites were measured. All results indicate that the sensor based on 5 mol % Pd-functionalized SnO₂ composites exhibited significantly enhanced gas-sensing performances toward butane. With regard to pure SnO₂, enhanced levels of gas response and selectivity were observed. With 5 mol % Pd-functionalized SnO₂ composites, detection limits as low as 10 ppm with responses of 1.38 ± 0.26 were attained. Additionally, the sensor exhibited rapid response/recovery times (3.20/6.28 s) at 3000 ppm butane, good repeatability and long-term stability, demonstrating their potential in practical applications. The excellent gas-sensing performances are attributed to the unique one-dimensional morphology and the large internal surface area of sensing materials afforded using bio-templates, which provide more active sites for the reaction between butane molecules and adsorbed oxygen ions. The catalysis and "spillover effect" of Pd nanoparticles also play an important role in the sensing of butane gas as further discussed in the paper.

Highly luminescent CdS quantum dots capped with thioglycolic acid (TGA@CdS QDs) were synthesized from cadmium chloride and thiourea as cadmium and sulfur sources via simple hydrothermal method. The room temperature photoluminescence (RTPL) properties of TGA@CdS QDs were investigated. The results indicate that the polarity of the solvent and the surface trap state resulted in the broadness Stokes shift between the maximum absorption wavelength and the emission wavelength of TGA@CdS QDs. The Co 2+ sensing properties of fluorescence determination were investigated using TGA@CdS QDs. The as-synthesized CdS QDs exhibits the excellent selectivity and sensitivity of fluorescence quenching for cobalt ion (Co 2+ ). The limit of detection (LOD) is as low as 0.05 μM which is much lower than maximum limit of cobalt ions in drinking water. The linear response range of Co 2+ was from 0.5 to 80 μM. The sensing system revealed the advantages of low detection limit, excellent selectivity, high sensitivity, convenience and low cost. The color change of CdS QDs shows potential applications in the detection of Co 2+ .

Pd functionalized TiO 2 nanoparticles were synthesized by a facile hydrothermal method. The structure, morphology, surface chemical states and surface area were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and N 2 adsorption-desorption isotherms, respectively. The as-synthesized pure and Pd functionalized TiO 2 nanoparticles were used to fabricate indirect-heating gas sensor, and the gas-sensing characteristics towards butane were investigated. At the optimum temperature, the sensors possess good response, selectivity, response/recovery, repeatability as well as long-term stability. Especially for the high response, the response of 7.5 mol% Pd functionalized TiO 2 nanoparticles based sensor reaches 33.93 towards 3000 ppm butane, which is about 9 times higher than that of pure TiO 2 nanoparticles. The response and recovery time are 13 and 8 s, respectively. Those values demonstrate the potential of using as-synthesized Pd functionalized TiO 2 nanoparticles as butane gas detection, particularly in the dynamic monitoring. Apart from these, a possible mechanism related to the enhanced sensing performance is also investigated.

The g-C 3 N 4 -coupling TiO 2 photocatalysts with controllable particle size as well as the interface contact were prepared by a general nonaqueous sol-gel method. The structural and morphological features of g-C 3 N 4 /TiO 2 were investigated through the X-ray diffraction, Fourier transformed infrared spectra, scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy, respectively. It is found the TiO 2 nanoparticles with a size of 7.3 ± 1.6 nm are uniformly anchored on the surface of the g-C 3 N 4 nanosheets in isolation. The photocatalytic properties of as-prepared g-C 3 N 4 /TiO 2 were tested by degradation of Rhodamine B (RhB) under visible light, and an enhanced activity is observed. The mechanism of the enhanced activity was further investigated through N 2 adsorption-desorption isotherms, UV-vis spectra, photoluminescence spectra, photoelectrochemical measurements, radical trapping experiments and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Furthermore, the photocatalytic performances of obtained g-C 3 N 4 /TiO 2 under sunlight were also evaluated in aspects of degradation efficiency and stability. The results indicate that the obtained g-C 3 N 4 /TiO 2 is one promising photocatalyst for practical applications. The study of as-prepared g-C 3 N 4 /TiO 2 also implies that the present method could be a general route of g-C 3 N 4 -coupling photocatalysts.