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Abstract: In response to the demand for flexible and sustainable energy storage devices that exhibit high electrochemical performance, a supercapacitor system is fabricated using mulberry tree‐derived paper as a substrate and Poly(3,4‐ethylenedioxythiophene)‐poly(styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS) and carbon black as the active material. The mulberry paper‐based supercapacitor system demonstrates high energy density of 29.8–39.8 Wh kg−1 and power density of 2.8–13.9 kW kg−1 with 90.7% retention of its initial capacity over 15 000 charge–discharge cycles. In addition, the mulberry tree fibers are known to have superior mechanical strength and toughness and the mulberry paper‐based supercapacitor; as a result, exhibit high mechanical and chemical toughness; 99% of its initial capacity is retained after 100 repeated applications of bending strains, and twisting. 94% capacity retention is observed even after exposure to HCl and H2SO4 acid solutions. The fabrication methodology of the mulberry‐based supercapacitor is highly scalable and could be stacked to increase the energy storage capacity, where operation of light‐emitting diode lights with a drive voltage of 12 V integrated in a wearable device is demonstrated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

1% Ni-doped barium strontium titanate (BST) thin film deposited at room temperature reveals the significantly enhanced leakage current performance which is extraordinarily effective for low temperature applications. Significant leakage current suppression of >2 orders was achieved for electric fields from 0.25 to 2 MV/cm in Pt/Ni-doped BST/Pt metal-insulator-metal (MIM) capacitor cells compared to undoped BST. For Ni doping at the 1% level, the spectral dependence of (i) the imaginary part of the complex dielectric constant, [variant_greek_epsilon]2, obtained from the rotating compensator enhanced spectroscopic ellipsometry and (ii) OK1 absorption spectra obtained from synchrotron x-ray absorption spectroscopy shows significant differences (0.26±0.15 eV) in the conduction band edge trap depth relative to undoped BST. The valence band (VB) edge x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy analysis reveals the Fermi energy level downshift of 0.4 eV for Ni-doped BST toward the VB edge. There is a direct correlation between these changes in band edge states of BST thin films with Ni doping and the improved electrical performance in MIM capacitors led by the qualitatively different charge injection mechanism. The proposed transition metal doping process and analysis approach provide a pathway for charge injection control driven by band edge state changes in other perovskite oxides for low temperature (i.e., room temperature) applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article looks at study regarding solution processed in Nanowire field effect transistors (NWFETs) for conventional bottom gate top contacts (BGTC structure) with a multiple nanowire network. Topics discussed include utilization of electrospinning which produce a scalable continuous nanowire network, use of annealing process to remove the polymer matrix, bilayer structure comprising insulating zirconium oxide and electrons can pass through several insulating oxides and semiconducting buffer.

Peanut shell; a byproduct of an important leguminous crop, peanut; is a potential source of different functional compounds. Antioxidant activities, secondary metabolites and amino acid contents in peanut shells of six Korean cultivars were studied in the present study. Peanut shells showed remarkable antioxidant potentials with high amounts of total polyphenol (428.1–739.8 µg gallic acid equivalents/g), flavonoid (142.6–568.0 µg quercetin equivalents/g), and amino acid (5.76–34.56 mg/g) contents. 2, 2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), 2,2′-azino-bis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid) (ABTS), superoxide dismutase (SOD)-like activity, and reducing power potential of the peanut shells were considerable. The results suggest that the shells of Korean peanut cultivars could be a potential source of natural antioxidants and functional compounds for various industrial uses including cosmetics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Multi-heterogeneous oxide sensing layers, i.e., NiO/Fe2O3 catalyst loaded SnO2 fiber-in-tube nanostructures (NiO/Fe2O3–FITs), were rationally synthesized from an electrospinning solution containing a bio-inspired chitosan–bimetal complex template. The NiO/Fe2O3–FITs showed remarkably enhanced sensing properties and superior cross-sensitivity toward sub-ppm levels of formaldehyde. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The solid-state Li–O2 battery is considered an ideal candidate for high-performance energy storage because of its high safety, due to use of non-flammable and non-volatile electrolytes, and high specific energy, as it uses Li metal and O2 gas as active materials. We present an original solid-state Li–O2 cell composed of a Li metal anode, a flexible polymer interlayer, a perovskite-structured Al-doped Li–La–Ti–O (A-LLTO) solid electrolyte, and an integrated cathode in which a porous A-LLTO solid electrolyte frame was covered with a carbon layer and CoO nanoparticles as the catalyst for the cyclic oxygen evolution and reduction reactions. The designed solid-state cell operated safely in pure O2 atmosphere at temperatures from 25 °C to 100 °C and delivered the first discharge capacity from 796 mA h gC+CoO−1 to 4035 mA h gC+CoO−1, respectively, at a current density of 0.05 mA cm−2. Notably, at 50 °C, the cell was maintained for 132 cycles under a limited capacity mode of 500 mA h gC+CoO−1 at a high current density of 0.3 mA cm−2, demonstrating the first step of success towards realizing Li batteries with high energy and cyclability, as well as safety. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gastrodin (GAS) is a predominant bioactive constituent of the Chinese herbal medicine Tianma (Gastrodia elata Blume). Many authors have reported GAS has the beneficial effect on diverse diseases of the CNS, including epilepsy, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and cerebral ischemia. Here, we report GAS exhibited a robust neuroprotective effect in an Sprague-Dawley rat model of stroke (transient middle cerebral artery occlusion, tMCAO), and show that the underlying molecular mechanism involves its protective effect against Zn2+-toxicity and its anti-oxidative effects in astrocytes. Intraperitoneal administration of GAS (40 mg/kg) after MCAO reduced mean infarct volume to 30.1 ± 5.9% of that of MCAO controls and this neuroprotective effect was accompanied by neurological function recoveries which was measured using modified neurological severity score (mNSS). Interestingly, GAS induced up-regulation and nuclear translocation of Nrf2, and subsequently increased the expressions of anti-oxidative genes, such as, HO-1 and GCLM, in astrocytes. Furthermore, GAS co- or pre-treatment markedly suppressed Zn2+-induced cell death caused by excessive ROS production and PARP-1 induction. We found that GAS suppressed p67 expression and PAR formation in astrocytes, which might underlie the anti- Zn2+-toxicity and anti-oxidative effects of GAS in astrocytes. These findings indicate GAS protects astrocytes from Zn2+-induced toxicity and oxidative stress and these effects contribute to its neuroprotective effects in the postischemic brain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Edges of 2D transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) are well known as highly reactive sites, thus researchers have attempted to maximize the edge site density of 2D TMDs. In this work, metal‐organic framework (MOF) templates are introduced to synthesize few‐layered WS2 nanoplates (a lateral dimension of ≈10 nm) confined in Co, N‐doped hollow carbon nanocages (WS2_Co‐N‐HCNCs), for highly sensitive NO2 gas sensors. WS2 precursors are assembled in the surface cavity of Co‐based zeolite imidazole framework (ZIF‐67) and subsequent pyrolysis produced WS2_Co‐N‐HCNCs. During the pyrolysis, the carbonized ZIF‐67 are doped by Co and N elements, and the growth of WS2 is effectively suppressed, creating few‐layered WS2 nanoplates functionalized Co‐N‐HCNCs. The WS2_Co‐N‐HCNCs exhibit outstanding NO2 sensing characteristics at room temperature, in terms of response (48.2% to 5 ppm), selectivity, response and recovery speed, and detection limit (100 ppb). These results are attributed to the enhanced adsorption and desorption kinetics of NO2 on abundant WS2 edges, confined in the gas permeable HCNCs. This work opens up an efficient way for the facile synthesis of edge abundant few‐layered TMDs combined with porous carbon matrix via MOF templating route, for applications relying on highly active sites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new method of graphene oxide (GO) templating is pioneered to prepare highly porous oxide fibers consisting of crumpled two-dimensional (2D) SnO2 nanosheets (NSs). GO flakes, which are functionalized with Sn2+ ions through electrostatic interactions between negatively charged GO and positively charged Sn ions (Sn-loaded GO), are directly electrospun. During electrospinning, Sn-loaded GO flakes undergo self-crumpling on the as-spun polymeric nanofibers. After subsequent pyrolysis, highly porous oxide NFs comprised of crumpled SnO2 NSs are achieved, offering three distinct benefits, i.e., (i) a high surface area and broad pore size distribution stemming from the co-existence of 1D and 2D structures, (ii) formation and effective modulation of the electron depletion region due to the ultrasmall thickness of SnO2 NSs and small crystallite size, and (iii) the enhanced catalytic effect of Pt nanoparticles anchored on porous SnO2 NSs. As a result, under high humidity (95% RH), the Pt-functionalized SnO2 NS-assembled NFs exhibited an exceptionally high acetone response (Rair/Rgas = 79.4@1 ppm), excellent selectivity, fast response speed (∼12.7 s), and outstanding stability at 350 °C. Sensor arrays were further utilized to discriminate simulated diabetic breath from healthy breath via pattern recognition, thus demonstrating potential feasibility for reliable sensing of breath biomarkers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, highly porous SnO2 fiber-in-tubes (FITs), which are functionalized with perovskite La0.75Sr0.25Cr0.5Mn0.5O3−δ (LSCM) particles as a chemical sensitizer, are used as a superior formaldehyde (CH2O) sensing layer. LSCM-loaded as-spun Sn precursor/polymer composite fibers are rapidly calcined to create a porous FIT SnO2 structure with high surface area. Such unique morphological evolution originates from the Ostwald ripening effect and crystal growth inhibition caused by LSCM particles. Furthermore, LSCM particles with high oxygen vacancy concentration and a large work function significantly promote oxygen spillover and electron depletion on the surface of SnO2 (6.80 eV for LSCM vs. 4.55 eV for SnO2). As a result, LSCM-loaded SnO2 FITs (LSCM@SnO2 FITs) provide remarkably high response to formaldehyde (Rair/Rgas = 26.50 to 5 ppm) and excellent selectivity against interfering gases (H2S, C7H8, NH3, C2H6O, C8H10, CO, and C5H12) even without using noble metal catalysts. These observations demonstrate the potential use of LSCM@SnO2 FITs for real-time monitoring of indoor air quality, especially toward formaldehyde, which has not been accurately detected by using conventional metal oxide based sensors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

4-Hydroxybenzyl alcohol (4-HBA) is an important phenolic constituent of Gastrodia elata (GE) Blume, which is used as a traditional herbal medicine in East Asia. Many activities have been reported to underlie the beneficial effects of 4-HBA in brain, such as, anti-oxidative, anti-inflammatory, anti-excitotoxic, and anti-apoptotic effects in neurons and microglia. Here, the authors demonstrate the robust neuroprotective effects of 4-HBA in rat middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) model of stroke, and showed anti-Zn2+ toxicity in neurons and astrocytes as a molecular mechanism contributing to these effects. Intraperitoneal administration of 4-HBA (20 mg/kg) in Sprague-Dawley rats 1 h after MCAO reduced infarct volumes to 27.1 ± 9.2% of that of MCAO controls and significantly ameliorated motor impairments and neurological deficits. Significant suppressions of Zn2+-induced cell death, ROS generation, and PARP-1 induction by 4-HBA were observed in primary cortical cultures. 4-HBA also protected astrocytes from Zn2+-induced toxicity and suppressing ROS generation by employing slightly different molecular mechanisms, i.e., suppressing PARP-1 induction and NAD depletion under acute Zn2+-treatment and suppressing p67 NADPH oxidase subunit induction under chronic Zn2+-treatment. Results indicate that the protective effects of 4-HBA against Zn2+-toxicity in neurons and astrocytes contribute to its robust neuroprotective effects in the postischemic brain. Considering the pleiotropic effects of 4-HBA, which have been reported in previous reports and added in the present study, it has therapeutic potential for the amelioration of ischemic brain damage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Porous Si is considered a potential anode material for next-generation Li-ion batteries (LIBs) because of its high specific capacity, low lithiation/delithiation potential, low cost, and environmental friendliness. In this work, we introduce a simplified Mg-thermal-reduction method for the production of mass-scalable coral-like bulk-Si powder with a high surface area (38 m2 g−1), broad pore-size distribution (2–200 nm), and 3-dimensionally (3D) interconnected Si structure for application in LIBs. The porous, coral-like Si electrode delivered a high reversible capacity of 2451 mA h g−1, corresponding to ∼70% of the theoretical capacity of Si, at a rate of C/10. After 100 cycles, the porous, coral-like Si electrode maintained a capacity of 1956 mA h g−1, corresponding to 79.8% of the initial reversible capacity. Importantly, a reasonably high reversible capacity of 614 mA h g−1 was achieved even at a high rate of 10C. These outstanding results demonstrate that the 3D-networked, porous, coral-like Si powder, synthesized via a NaCl-assisted Mg-thermal-reduction process on a stainless-steel plate over a period of one minute, can be employed as a promising anode material for the next generation of high-energy LIBs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A bioelectronic nose, an intelligent chemical sensor array system coupled with bio-receptors to identify gases and vapours, resembles mammalian olfaction by which many vertebrates can sniff out volatile organic compounds (VOCs) sensitively and specifically even at very low concentrations. Olfaction is undertaken by the olfactory system, which detects odorants that are inhaled through the nose where they come into contact with the olfactory epithelium containing olfactory receptors (ORs). Because of its ability to mimic biological olfaction, a bio-inspired electronic nose has been used to detect a variety of important compounds in complex environments. Recently, biosensor systems have been introduced that combine nanoelectronic technology and olfactory receptors themselves as a source of capturing elements for biosensing. In this article, we will present the latest advances in bioelectronic nose technology mimicking the olfactory system, including biological recognition elements, emerging detection systems, production and immobilization of sensing elements on sensor surface, and applications of bioelectronic noses. Furthermore, current research trends and future challenges in this field will be discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Huge volume expansion during discharge is always a critical problem of high capacity conversion anodes for next generation lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries. Although extensive efforts have been devoted to controlling the volume expansion using nanostructuring and surface engineering till now, more simple and facile approaches have to be considered due to the complicated and inefficient synthetic methods. Here, we report a straightforward synthesis of Ag coated ZnCo2O4 porous hollow spheres (ZnCo2O4@Ag HSs): (i) immobilization of metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) including Zn and Co metal nodes onto polystyrene sphere templates, (ii) calcination (∼450 °C) for the removal of core polystyrene sphere templates and oxidation of MOFs to produce a mesoporous ZnCo2O4 HSs, and (iii) a subsequent Ag-mirror reaction for 10 min, resulting in the formation of ZnCo2O4@Ag HSs. This porous hollow morphology not only effectively relieves the strain stemming from the volume expansion of transition metals, but also facilitates the efficient electron transport for Li+ diffusion by shortening the Li-ion diffusion path during a lithiation/delithiation process. Moreover, uniformly decorated Ag nanoparticles are beneficial to the formation of a stable solid electrolyte interface (SEI) layer as well as an increased electrical conductivity of ZnCo2O4. The MOF derived porous ZnCo2O4@Ag HSs exhibited remarkably stable cycling performance (a capacity value of 616 mA h g−1 after 900 cycles at a current density of 1 A g−1) and an excellent capacity retention of 80% at a very high current density of 20.0 A g−1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chemical sensors have been essential components in recent years due to the gathering attention in environmental monitoring and healthcare. In this review, the authors comprehensively highlight recent progresses on the 1D chemiresistive-type sensors based on semiconductor metal oxides (SMOs) and optical-type sensors, which are prepared by electrospinning technique. In the part of chemiresistive-type sensors, diverse synthesis techniques for 1D SMO nanofibrous structure are presented with controlled microstructure and surface morphology. In addition, unique functionalization routes of emerging nanocatalysts encapsulated by bio-inspired templates are described for the next generation catalyst on the 1D SMO nanofibers (NFs). For the optical-type sensors, new classes of 1D NFs employing specific absorption and emission properties are introduced. In particular, diverse 1D NF-based colorimetric and fluorescence sensors as well as Raman and surface-enhanced Raman scattering sensors are covered in the view point of material preparation and optical sensing properties. Finally, the authors prospect future research directions to overcome current limitations and challenges to achieve high performance chemical sensors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs), such as molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) and tungsten disulfide (WS2), have been studied intensively in recent years due to wide range of potential applications. TMD gas sensors have been developed and intensively explored for their promising applications. In recent times, it has been reported that edge sites of TMDs can contribute to highly enhanced gas adsorption properties. Herein, superior room temperature gas sensing properties of WS2 edge functionalized carbon nanofibers (CNFs) with multiple tubular pores (WS2@MTCNFs) have been demonstrated. A copolymer-electrospinning route, which uses poly(styrene-acrylonitrile) as sacrificial templates and WS2 precursor containing poly(acrylonitrile) as carbon matrix, offered facile synthesis of CNFs having high gas permeability with single-layered WS2 edge-rich surface. As a result, WS2@MTCNFs based sensors exhibited notable gas response (15% at 1 ppm of NO2) at room temperature compared to pristine CNFs (2% at 1 ppm of NO2), which can be attributed to the synergistic effects that originated from enhanced surface area and open porosity with numerous elongated pore channels of MTCNFs as well as remarkably increased active spots on the surface from WS2 edge sites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

4-Hydroxybenzyl alcohol (4-HBA) is an important phenolic constituent of Gastrodia elata Blume (GEB), a traditional herbal medicine used in East Asia. Many activities have been reported to underlie the beneficial effects of 4-HBA in the brain, and in particular, its anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidative, and anti-zinc-toxic effects have been implicated in the postischemic brain. Here, the authors investigated the anti-oxidative effect of 4-HBA on astrocytes and sought to identify the underlying molecular mechanisms involved. 4-HBA dose-dependently suppressed H2O2-induced astrocyte cell death. More specifically, pre-incubation of C6 cells (an astrocyte cell line) with 100 μM 4-HBA for 6 hrs increased survival when cells were treated with H2O2 (100 μM, 1 hr) from 54.2±0.7% to 85.9±1.5%. In addition, 4-HBA was found to up-regulate and activate Nrf2, and subsequently, to induce the expressions of several anti-oxidative genes, such as, HO-1, NQO1, and GCLM. Notably, HO-1 was induced by 3.4-fold in 4-HBA-treated C6 cells, and siRNA-mediated HO-1 knockdown demonstrated that Nrf2 activation and HO-1 induction were responsible for the observed cytoprotective effect of 4-HBA. ERK and Akt signaling pathways were activated by 4-HBA in C6 cells, suggesting their involvements in protective effect of 4-HBA. In addition, 4-HBA-conditioned astrocyte culture medium was found to have neuroprotective effects on primary neuronal cultures or fresh C6 cells exposed to oxidative stress, and these effects seemed to be mediated by glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), which both accumulated in 4-HBA-treated astrocyte culture media. Thus, the 4-HBA-mediated activation of Nrf2 and induction of HO-1 in astrocytes were found to act via autocrine and paracrine mechanisms to confer protective effects. Furthermore, given the pleiotropic effects of 4-HBA with respect to its targeting of various brain cell types and functions, it would appear that 4-HBA has therapeutic potential for the prevention and amelioration of various brain diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nanostructuring has significantly contributed to alleviating the huge volume expansion problem of the Ge anodes. However, the practical use of nanostructured Ge anodes has been hindered due to several problems including a low tap density, poor scalability, and severe side reactions. Therefore, micrometer-sized Ge is desirable for practical use of Ge-based anode materials. Here, micronized Ge3N4 with a high tap density of 1.1 mg cm−2 has been successfully developed via a scalable wet oxidation and a subsequent nitridation process of commercially available micrometer-sized Ge as the starting material. The micronized Ge3N4 shows much-suppressed volume expansion compared to micrometer-sized Ge. After the carbon coating process, a thin carbon layer (≈3 nm) is uniformly coated on the micronized Ge3N4, which significantly improves electrical conductivity. As a result, micronized Ge3N4@C shows high reversible capacity of 924 mAh g−1 (2.1 mAh cm−2) with high mass loading of 3.5 mg cm−2 and retains 91% of initial capacity after 300 cycles at a rate of 0.5 C. Additionally, the effectiveness of Ge3N4@C as practical anodes is comprehensively demonstrated for the full cell, showing stable cycle retention and especially excellent rate capability, retaining 47% of its initial capacity at 0.2 C for 12 min discharge/charge condition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

2D Ru oxide nanosheets (NSs) with optically punched nanoholes are synthesized and integrated on a flexible heating substrate, i.e., silver nanowire (Ag NW)-embedded colorless polyimide (cPI) film, for application in wearable chemical sensors. Multiple discrete pores on the sub-5-nm scale are formed on the basal planes of Ru oxide NSs by irradiation of intense pulsed light. The chemical sensing characteristic of the porous Ru oxide NSs toward nitrogen dioxide (NO2) is investigated under controlled temperatures by applying DC voltage to the Ag NW-embedded cPI film. The improved NO2 responding and recovery kinetics are achieved using the porous Ru oxide NSs with sensitivity of 1.124% at 20 ppm at a film temperature of 80.3 °C. A wireless patch-type sensor module is developed to demonstrate wearable sensing of NO2 using the Ru oxide NSs on Ag NW-embedded cPI heating film. This work paved the new way for application of atomically thin and porous Ru oxide NSs in chemical sensors, which can detect hazardous species in real time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Curcumin (CUR) is a hydrophobic polyphenol derived from the rhizome ofCurcuma longa. CUR confers protection in various pathological conditions, including many brain-related diseases, such as cerebral ischemia, intracerebral hemorrhage, or Alzheimer’s disease, and these effects have been attributed to its anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidative properties. In the present study, we found CUR induced the nuclear translocation of nuclear factor E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) in microglia, brain macrophage, and thus upregulated genes downstream of antioxidant response element, such as heme oxygenase 1, NAD(P)H:quinone oxidoreductase 1, glutamate-cysteine ligase modifier subunit, and ferritin light chain, and simultaneously downregulated lipopolysaccharide-induced inducible nitric oxide synthase expression. We showed that the anti-inflammatory effect of CUR in microglia is connected with its anti-oxidative effect in that CUR promotes Nrf2–p300 binding at the expense of p65–p300 binding. Since CUR is a dietary spice that is eaten on a daily basis, it appears that CUR could be used therapeutically to induce anti-oxidative effect and simultaneously ameliorate inflammatory conditions via up–downregulation of related genes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development of efficient bifunctional catalysts for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) and oxygen evolution reaction (OER) is a key issue pertaining high performance Li-O2 batteries. Here, we propose a heterogeneous electrocatalyst consisting of LaMnO3 nanofibers (NFs) functionalized with RuO2 nanoparticles (NPs) and non-oxidized graphene nanoflakes (GNFs). The Li-O2 cell employing the tailored catalysts delivers an excellent electrochemical performance, affording significantly reduced discharge/charge voltage gaps (1.0 V at 400 mA g−1), and superior cyclability for over 320 cycles. The outstanding performance arises from (1) the networked LaMnO3 NFs providing ORR/OER sites without severe aggregation, (2) the synergistic coupling of RuO2 NPs for further improving the OER activity and the electrical conductivity on the surface of the LaMnO3 NFs, and (3) the use of GNFs providing a fast electronic pathway as well as improved ORR kinetics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

1D metal-oxide nanotube (NT) structures have attracted considerable attention for applications in chemical sensors due to their high surface area and unique chemical and physical properties. Moreover, bimodal pores, i.e., meso- and macro-sized pores, which are formed on the shell of NTs, can further facilitate gas penetration into the sensing layers, leading to much improved sensing properties. However, thin-walled NTs with bimodal pore distribution have been rarely fabricated due to the limitations of synthetic methods. Here, Ostwald ripening-driven electrospinning combined with sacrificial templating route using polystyrene (PS) colloid and bioinspired protein is firstly proposed for producing both bi-modal pores and catalyst-loaded thin-walled SnO2 NTs. Homogeneous catalyst loading on porous SnO2 NTs is achieved by the protein cage that contains catalysts and PS colloids and protein shells are thermally decomposed during calcination of electrospun fibers, resulting in the creation of dual-sized pores on NTs. Pt catalyst decorated porous SnO2 NTs (Pt-PS_SnO2 NTs) show exceptionally high acetone gas response, superior selectivity against other interfering gases, and very low limit of detection (10 ppb) to simulated diabetic acetone molecules. More importantly, sensor arrays assembled with developed porous SnO2 NTs enable the direct distinction between the simulated diabetic breath and normal breath from healthy people. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the current study, the functional and biochemical potential of the seeds of four persimmon cultivars (PC1, PC2, PC3 and PC4) and their role against oxidative stress and acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibition were evaluated. In terms of biochemical compositions, free amino acids, fatty acids and organic acids analysis was performed. The free amino acids ranged from 2617.31 (PC2) to 3773.01 μg·g-1 dry weight (PC4). Oleic acid and linoleic acid were the principal fatty acids, which were significantly higher in PC4 and PC1, respectively. PC4 presented the highest amount of organic acid content (4212 mg·kg–1), whereas PC2 presented the lowest (2498 mg·kg–1). PC2 contained higher total phenolic content and flavonoid content, whereas PC3 had the lowest amount as compared to other cultivars. The in vitro DPPH, ABTS and superoxide anion radicals scavenging activity increased in a dose-dependent manner, whereas PC2 showed significantly higher scavenging activities as compared to PC1, PC2 and PC4 types. In the case of AChE inhibition, PC4 showed a moderate activity (67.34% ± 1.8%). In conclusion, the current findings reveal that the studied persimmon seeds cultivars are a source of bioactive natural antioxidants and AChE inhibitors. Such natural products could be employed in pharmaceutical and food industries, whilst can also be considered for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Lithium–oxygen (Li–O2) batteries are considered as the most promising candidates owing to their higher theoretical energy density than other energy storage devices. However, the unfavorable structure of the air cathode has become a major cause of low performance for Li–O2 batteries, limiting their use in practical applications. To deal with this issue, the rational construction of porous air electrodes, where crucial reactions take place, is in high demand. Among the various dimensional materials, 1D nanomaterials have been frequently applied for air electrodes in several different forms, owing to their fascinating morphologies and unique characteristics. We present a focus review on the recent research relating to 1D nanomaterials adopted as air electrodes in Li–O2 cells. This paper gives the current issues surrounding Li–O2 cells, which are analyzed in terms of the efforts to apply the advantages of 1D nanomaterial electrodes for enhancing the electrochemical performance of the given cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although a considerable number of studies about the effect of different insecticides on plant physiology and metabolism have been carried out, research work about the comparative action of structurally different classes of insecticide on physiological and biochemical properties of soybean seed germination and early growth has not been found. The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of different classes of insecticides on soybean seed germination and early plant growth. Soybean seeds of Bosuk cultivar were soaked for 24 h in distilled water or recommended dose (2 mL L − 1 , 1 mL L − 1 , 0.5 g L − 1 , and 0.5 g L − 1 water for insecticides Mepthion, Myungtaja, Actara, and Stonate, respectively) of pesticide solutions of four structurally different classes of insecticides – Mepthion (fenitrothion; organophosphate), Myungtaja (etofenprox; pyrethroid), Actara (thiamethoxam; neonicotinoid), and Stonate (lambda-cyhalothrin cum thiamethoxam; pyrethroid cum neonicotinoid) – which are used for controlling stink bugs in soybean crop. Insecticides containing thiamethoxam and lamda-cyhalothrin cum thiamethoxam showed positive effects on seedling biomass and content of polyphenol and flavonoid, however fenitrothion insecticide reduced the seed germination, seed and seedling vigor, and polyphenol and flavonoid contents in soybean. Results of this study reveal that different classes of insecticide have differential influence on physiologic and metabolic actions like germination, early growth, and antioxidant activities of soybean and this implies that yield and nutrient content also might be affected with the application of different types of insecticide. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]