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We reported new spectroscopy and photometry for four short-period binaries, which were acquired by several small telescopes in China from 2020 to 2022. From new spectrum and Large Sky Area Multiobject Fiber Spectroscopic Telescope data, we determined their spectral types of G8V for PZ UMa, G7 for MM Com, and V0685 Peg and G3 for V1055 Her. When compared to the Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) light curve (LC) with a 2-min cadence, the difference between two light maxima for V1055 Her displays a 29.7-d oscillation. Utilizing the Wilson–Devinney program, we deduced 10 photometric solutions from our new and TESS data. Four binaries are W-type ones with variable O’Connell effects. For LC2022.1 (MM Com) and LC2022.9 (V1055 Her), Δmmax=Max.I–Max.II is as large as $15{{\ \rm per\ cent}}$ of variable light amplitude, which may be attributed to the spot’s migration and evolution. From the mass-luminosity diagram, the more massive components aref somewhat evolved main-sequence stars, whereas the less massive ones are overluminous as a result of energy exchange. Based on all eclipse timing residuals, the orbital period variations are preferably described by the light-travel time effects via the presence of additional companions. Their modulation periods range from 10 to 20 yr for four binaries, corresponding the companion’s mass ranging from M3 = 0.11 to 0.34 M⊙. Therefore, four solar-type short-period contact binaries (i.e. MM Com, PZ UMa, V0685 Peg, and V1055 Her) may be triple stellar systems.

The relatively large ionic radius of the Na ion is one of the primary reasons for the slow diffusion of Na ions compared to that of Li ions in de/intercalation processes in sodium-ion batteries (SIBs). Interlayer expansion of intercalation hosts is one of the effective techniques for facilitating Na-ion diffusion. For most ionic layered compounds, interlayer expansion relies on intercalation of guest ions. It is important to investigate the role of these ions for material development of SIBs. In this study, alkali-metal ions (Li+, Na+, K+, and Cs+) with different sizes were intercalated into lepidocrocite-type layered titanate by a simple ion-exchange technique to achieve interlayer modulation and those were then evaluated as anode materials for SIBs. By controlling the intercalated alkaline ion species, basal spacings of layered titanates (LTs) in the range of 0.68 to 0.85 nm were obtained. Interestingly, the largest interlayer spacing induced by the large size of Cs did not yield the best performance, while the Na intercalated layered titanate (Na-ILT) demonstrated a superior performance with a specific capacity of 153 mAh g-1 at a current density of 0.1 A g-1. We found that the phenomena can be explained by the high alkaline metal ion concentration and the efficient utilization of the active sites in Na-ILT. The detailed analysis indicates that large intercalating ions like Cs can hamper sodium-ion diffusion although the interlayer spacing is large. Our work suggests that adopting an appropriate interlayer ion species is key to developing highly efficient layered electrode materials for SIBs.

Over the past few decades, the design and development of advanced materials based on two-dimensional (2D) ultra-thin materials for efficient energy catalysis and storage have aroused much attention. 2D ultra-thin materials have emerged as the most promising candidates for energy catalysis and storage because of their unique physical, chemical, and electronic properties. Herein, we review the research and application of 2D ultra-thin material-based catalysts for heterogeneous catalysis. The various catalysts based on 2D ultra-thin materials, such as MXenes, GO, black phosphorus, and h-BN, are discussed in detail for catalytic processes in the fields of electrocatalysis, photocatalysis, and energy catalysis. The fundamental relationships between the electronic structure and catalytic activity of 2D ultra-thin materials were described at the atomic level. A significant emphasis on the development of 2D ultra-thin materials and their intrinsic activity and stability was presented. Finally, the prediction and prospection of the future development of 2D ultra-thin materials as efficient nanomaterials are also conveyed. It is important to thoroughly understand and summarize such 2D ultra-thin materials to provide further guidance for structural optimization and performance improvement.

To improve the sintering performance of silicon nitride bioceramics, we explored the effect of β-SiAlON’s Z-value on the physical, chemical, and biological properties of β-SiAlON–Si3N4 composites. Results showed that the phase product was β-Si3N4. As the Z-value increased, the X-ray diffraction peaks gradually shifted to a smaller angle, the material grains were more tightly packed, and the bulk density and compressive strength increased, reaching the highest values (2.71 g/cm3 and 1157 MPa, respectively) at Z = 4. Soaking and ion-release experiments show that in an aqueous environment, a small amount of Al and Si ions were released, and no obvious decomposition occurred on the surface of the material. The biological performance showed that the growth of cultured cells in each group was in good condition, there was no obvious difference in morphology and adhesion, and the materials had good biological performance. An increase in the Z-value promotes the formation of mineralized nodules and osteogenic differentiation of MC3T3-E1 cells, which may be because the release of Si can promote osteogenic differentiation. Therefore, the addition of β-SiAlON could improve the sintering performance of β-Si3N4 without degrading its biological properties. The prepared β-SiAlON–Si3N4 composite ceramic is a latent bioceramic material.

Direct ink writing (DIW) and low-temperature sintering methods were applied to prepare Si2N2O-Si3N4 ceramics for radome materials. Lattices of Si-SiO2 green body were printed by DIW with 78 wt % solid portion of water-based Si-SiO2 slurry, in which silicon particles and silica fume were used as the solid portion and Methylcellulose (HPMC) was used as the dispersant. Effects of HPMC addition on stability and silica fume content on rheological properties of the slurry were studied, respectively. The pseudoplastic mechanism of the slurry was analyzed. The Si-SiO2 green bodies were sintered at 1250 °C–1400 °C in nitrogen. The effect of temperature on phase composition, microstructure, mechanical and dielectric properties of samples was investigated. With the HPMC addition of 0.12 wt% and the silica fume proportion of 30 wt% in solid portion, a stable and pseudoplastic slurry with the yield stress of 110.9 Pa was obtained, which is suitable for DIW. With the decrease of initial holding temperature, more N2 enters the sample and reacts with silicon and silica fume, promoting the generation of Si2N2O and Si3N4. The optimal condition yields Si2N2O-Si3N4 ceramics with apparent porosity of 42.73%, compressive strength of 24.7 MPa, dielectric constant of 4.89 and loss tangent of 0.0054. It is found that columnar Si3N4 comes from a direct reaction between silicon and N2, and fibrous Si2N2O is mainly generated by the reaction between silicon, SiO(g), and N2 through the chemical vapor deposition mechanism. Good dielectric properties are achieved due to high porosity, high proportion of Si2N2O phase and no residual silicon.

This study evaluated the effects of different Z-values on the physical, chemical, and biological properties of β-SiAlON ceramics. Increasing the Z-value of the β-Si3N4 solid solution's main phase resulted in the replacement of Si–N bonds with Al–O bonds. The number of columnar crystals decreased, bulk density increased, and porosity decreased, thus transforming the fine-particle microstructure of β-Si3N4 into the columnar structure of β-SiAlON. The compressive strength increased, which facilitated sintering at 1500 °C without sintering auxiliaries. H+ and OH− ions in deionized water broke the covalent bonds on the β-SiAlON surface, thereby forming new Si–OH, Al–OH, and N–H bonds on the β-SiAlON surface and producing SiO44−, AlO2−, and NH4+ groups in the solution. Increasing the soaking time changed the compositions of ionized H+ and OH− ions, thus increasing the pH. MC3T3-E1 cells were cultured on the β-SiAlON surface, and it was observed that the increase in the Z-value of β-SiAlON had no influence on cell adhesion and spreading, but it may slightly suppress cell proliferation at high Z-values. At low Z-values, the low AlO2− concentration helps promote osteogenic differentiation and mineralized nodule formation. Thus, β-SiAlON ceramics possess excellent physical, chemical, and biological properties and are considered excellent bone-repairing materials.

Room-temperature infrared photodetectors are in great demand because of their vitally important applications in the military and civilian fields, which has inspired intensive studies in recent decades. Here, we present the fabrication of a large-size PdSe2/CdTe mixed-dimensional van der Waals (vdW) heterojunction for room-temperature infrared detection. Taking advantage of the wide light absorption of the multilayer PdSe2, high-quality vdW interface, and unique mixed-dimensional device geometry, the present device is capable of detecting an ultrawide light up to long-wave infrared (LWIR) of 10.6 μm at room temperature. In addition, our photodetector exhibits a good capability to follow short pulse infrared signals with a quick response rate of 70 ns, a large responsivity of 324.7 mA/W, and a reasonable specific detectivity of 3.3 × 1012 Jones. Significantly, the assembled photodetector is highly sensitive to a polarized infrared light signal with a decent polarization sensitivity of 4.4. More importantly, an outstanding LWIR imaging capability based on the PdSe2/CdTe vdW heterojunction at nonrefrigeration condition is demonstrated. Our work paves a novel route for the design of highly polarization-sensitive, room-temperature infrared photodetectors.

Rolling ceramic thermal insulation balls have advantages of low cost, large output and easy control of particle size, so it is likely to become the main raw material for 3D printing in the future, but there is little research on its thermal insulation. In this study, we used three kinds of rolling aluminum oxide balls as raw materials to obtain single-granularity-level and multi-granularity-level bulk materials. And the effects of temperature, particle size, and thermal fatigue times on the thermal conductivity of the samples were analyzed. Additionally, the experimental results were verified by FloEFD heat conduction simulation software using finite analysis method to analyze their heat conduction characteristics. With the increase of temperature from 400 °C to 1500 °C, the thermal conductivity of single-granularity-level and multi-granularity-level bulk materials increased linearly. The thermal conductivity of single-granularity-level bulk materials have no direct relationship with the particle size, and the thermal conductivity of multi-granularity-level materials with small particle size difference was a bit lower than that of materials with large particle size difference, and a bit higher than that of materials with single-granularity-level. The simulation results showed that the main reason for the above phenomenon was that the point contact between particles played a dominating role in the heat transfer process. When the contact area increased, the thermal conductivity increased obviously, and the thermal conductivity with the increasing of temperature decreased in a quadratic curve. The improved model considering the shrinkage could improve accuracy of simulation results. Heat flux at the surface contact area was 10.19 times higher than that of the point contact and 15.10 times higher than that of the solid-gas contact at 400 °C. Therefore, reducing the surface contact area and increasing the porosity could significantly reduce the thermal conductivity of the materials.

Our study was to investigate 18F-FLT PET/CT imaging monitor the early response of CDK4/6 inhibitor therapy in triple negative breast cancer (TNBC). MDA-MB-231 and MDA-MB-468 cell lines and corresponding subcutaneous tumor models in CB17-SCID mice were used. Cell viability assay, cell-cycle analysis, and western blotting were performed in vitro experiments. 18F-FLT PET/CT imaging was performed and the value of tumor/muscle (T/M) of mice was measured before and 1–3 days after treatment in vivo experiments. Then, the tumor volume was recorded every day for 15 days. In the presence of Palbociclib (CDK4/6 inhibitor), the results of in vitro experiments showed that protein pRB and E2F levels were significantly down-regulated in MDA-MB-231 cells leading to G0/G1 arrest with consumption in S phase compared with MDA-MB-468 cells. In PET/CT imaging, the 18F-FLT T/M ratio of treatment group was a significant and sustained reduction from 1 to 3 days (all p

β-SiAlON–ZrO2 composite ceramics were prepared, and their phase composition, microstructure, bulk density, porosity, flexural strength, Young's modulus, and ion release were characterized. Their biological properties were detected by culturing osteoblast MC3T3-E1 cells on the ceramic surfaces. Si4Al2O2N6 formed by reaction of α-Al2O3, Al, and Si with N2 and sintered with ZrO2, resulting in β-SiAlON–ZrO2 composite ceramics. The porosity of the ceramics decreased and the bulk density, flexural strength, and Young's modulus increased with increasing ZrO2 content. MC3T3-E1 cells have a good adhesion and growth state on the surface of composite ceramics; the composite ceramics exhibited good biocompatibility. The cells' wound-healing ability was improved by addition of a small amount of ZrO2 but was adversely affected by the addition of excessive ZrO2. Thus, properties of β-SiAlON–ZrO2 were regulated by addition of ZrO2, and the resulting ceramic composites satisfy the requirements for biomaterials used in diverse applications.

The lepidocrocite-type H1.07Ti1.73O4 microsized structures with a tap density of 0.88 g·cm−3 were prepared through the ion exchange method with K0.8Li0.27Ti1.73O4 powder as the precursor, and they exhibited good rate performance and outstanding cycle stability as an anode material for lithium ion batteries (LIB). The ion exchange method provides favorable conditions for H1.07Ti1.73O4 as an anode electrode material for LIBs. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) result demonstrates the existence of defects in the nonstoichiometric H1.07Ti1.73O4, which have a beneficial effect on the LIB performance. The electrochemical performance test proves that the half-cell with microsized H1.07Ti1.73O4 as the anode electrode can maintain a specific capacity of 129.5 mAh·g−1 after 1100 cycles and 101 mAh·g−1 after 3000 long cycles at high current densities of 2.0 and 5.0 A·g−1, respectively. In addition, the small volume change rate of 3.6% in H1.07Ti1.73O4 during Li ion insertion was confirmed by real-time in situ transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The LiFePO4||H1.07Ti1.73O4 full battery exhibits a long-term cycling stability with a specific capacity of 73.8 mAh·g−1 at a current density of 500 mA·g−1 after 200 cycles.

Background The aim of this study was to investigate the predictive value of early changes in 18F-fluoroestradiol (FES) positron emission tomography (PET)/computed tomography (CT) during fulvestrant 500 mg therapy in patients with estrogen receptor (ER)-positive metastatic breast cancer. Materials and Methods Patients underwent 18F-FES PET/CT scans at both baseline (scan 1) and day 28 (scan 2). The maximum standardized uptake value (SUVmax) of all metastatic sites was determined in each scan, and the percentage reduction in SUVmax (ΔSUVmax) was calculated as [(SUVmax on scan 1-SUVmax on scan 2)/ SUVmax on scan 1] * 100%. Results In total, 294 18F-FES-positive lesions from 36 patients were identified. The 18F-FES SUVmax varied widely among lesions (median 5.7; range 1.8–32.4) and patients (median 5.1; range 2.5–13.2). After treatment, the median SUVmax among lesions and patients was 2.1 and 2.1, respectively. The ΔSUVmax ranged from −5.1% to 100%, with a median reduction of 61.3%. Using receiver operating characteristic analysis, the optimal cutoff point to discriminate patients who could derive clinical benefit from fulvestrant was determined to be 38.0%. Patients with a median ΔSUVmax ≥38.0% experienced significantly longer progression-free survival (PFS) than those with ΔSUVmax Conclusion Changes in SUVmax measured by serial imaging of 18F-FES PET/CT could be used early to predict PFS benefit in patients receiving fulvestrant therapy. Implications for Practice The aim of this study was to evaluate the role of 18F-fluoroestradiol (FES) positron emission tomography (PET)/computed tomography (CT) in predicting response to fulvestrant 500 mg therapy in patients with hormone receptor-positive/human epidermal growth receptor 2–negative metastatic breast cancer. This study highlights the utility of FES PET/CT as a predictive factor to discriminate patients who might benefit from fulvestrant. Moreover, these findings showed that this molecular imaging technique might be a potential tool for physicians to make individualized treatment strategies.

Surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) technology has been regarded as a most efficient and sensitive strategy for the detection of pollutants at ultra-low concentrations. Fabrication of SERS substrates is of key importance in obtaining the homogeneous and sensitive SERS signals. Cellulose filter papers loaded with plasmonic metal NPs are well known as cost-effective and efficient paper-based SERS substrates. In this manuscript, face-to-face assembly of silver nanoplates via solvent-evaporation strategies on the cellulose filter papers has been developed for the SERS substrates. Furthermore, these developed paper-based SERS substrates are utilized for the ultra-sensitive detection of the rhodamine 6G dye and thiram pesticides. Our theoretical studies reveal the creation of high density hotspots, with a huge localized and enhanced electromagnetic field, near the corners of the assembled structures, which justifies the ultrasensitive SERS signal in the fabricated paper-based SERS platform. This work provides an excellent paper-based SERS substrate for practical applications, and one which can also be beneficial to human health and environmental safety.

To improve the sintering performance of silicon nitride bioceramics, we explored the effect of β-SiAlON's Z-value on the physical, chemical, and biological properties of β-SiAlON-Si

In this study, SiAlON–Si3N4 composite ceramic are prepared by direct nitridation and investigated to overcome the limitations associated with ceramic Si3N4, which includes the difficulty in fabricating ceramic Si3N4 into shaped parts for use in the human body. Phase composition and microstructure of the SiAlON–Si3N4 composites were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), respectively, and the porosity, bulk density, compressive strength, and ion release were also measured. The biological properties were evaluated by bone cell cultures on the ceramic surfaces. Results show that Si4Al2O2N6 is formed by the reaction of Al, Si, and Al2O3 with nitrogen at high temperature that forms Si3N4, thereby fabricating SiAlON–Si3N4 composite ceramics. Some α-Si3N4 grains underwent a phase transition from α-to β-Si3N4 fiber at high temperature. Porosity of the samples increases with increasing Si3N4 content, while the bulk density of the samples decreases. The compressive strength increases and then slightly decreases with increasing Si3N4 content. Water leaching experiments of the SiAlON–Si3N4 composite ceramics reveal that the composites exhibit outstanding chemical stability. Studies using bone cell culture indicate that the cells present a fusiform and extend two or three thin pseudopodia. The phenomena demonstrate that MC3T3-E1 cells have excellent growth activity and have the potential ability to proliferate to osteocytes on the surfaces of the samples, thus suggesting that SiAlON–Si3N4 based ceramics are biocompatible and could be implemented as a potential bone-repairing material.

When used as implants, Al2O3 is unable of directly achieving good chemical bonding with soft and hard tissues. To overcome this problem, SiAlON–Al2O3 ceramics were prepared in this study by direct nitridation. Phase composition, porosity, bulk density, and compression strengths were examined, and biological properties were evaluated by cell culture on ceramic surface. Major phase of SiAlON–Al2O3 ceramics was identified as Si4Al2O2N6, formed by reaction of Si, Al and Al2O3 under nitrogen atmosphere at high temperature. As Al2O3 content increased, porosity and compressive strength decreased. Therefore, Si4Al2O2N6 phase could improve sintering, leading to formation of composites with better properties. The porosity and compression strength were found suitable for requirement of biomaterials. Cell culture experiments showed that cells could proliferate and survival well on ceramic surface, indicating good biocompatibility of Si4Al2O2N6 phase in SiAlON–Al2O3 ceramics. Overall, these data look promising and might provide novel strategies for development of future SiAlON–Al2O3 bioceramics.

Purpose We compared the clinical value of 16a-18F-fluoro-17b-estradiol (18F-FES) positron emission tomography (PET)/computed tomography (CT) and 18F-fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose (18F-FDG) PET/CT and investigated whether and how 18F-FES PET/CT affects the implemented management of newly diagnosed estrogen receptor positive breast cancer patients. Materials and Methods We retrospectively analyzed 19 female patients newly diagnosed with immunohistochemistry-confirmed estrogen receptor (ER)-positive breast cancer who underwent 18F-FES and 18F-FDG PET/CT within 1 week in our center. The sensitivity of 18F-FES and 18F-FDG in diagnosed lesions were compared. To investigate the definite clinical impact of 18F-FES on managing patients with newly diagnosed ER positive breast cancer, we designed two kinds of questionnaires. Referring physicians completed the first questionnaire based on the 18F-FDG report to propose the treatment regime, and the second was completed immediately after reviewing the imaging report of 18F-FES to indicate intended management changes. Results In total, 238 lesions were analyzed in 19 patients with newly diagnosed ER-positive breast cancer. Lesion detection was achieved in 216 sites with 18F-FES PET and in 197 sites with 18F-FDG PET/CT. These results corresponded to sensitivities of 90.8% for 18F-FES versus 82.8% for 18F-FDG PET/CT in diagnosed lesions. Thirty-five physicians were given the questionnaires referring to the treatment strategy, with 27 of them completing both questionnaires. The application of 18F-FES in addition to 18F-FDG PET/CT changed the management in 26.3% of the 19 patients with newly diagnosed ER-positive breast cancer. Conclusion Performing 18F-FES PET/CT in newly diagnosed ER-positive breast cancer patients increases the value of diagnosis equivocal lesions and treatment management compared with 18F-FDG PET/CT. Implications for Practice This study investigated whether 16a-18F-fluoro-17b-estradiol (18F-FES) positron emission tomography (PET)/computed tomography (CT) affects the clinical management of patients with newly diagnosed estrogen receptor (ER)-positive breast cancer. Physicians completing two questionnaires comparing the clinical impact of 18F-FES and 18F-FDG on individual management plans in patients with newly diagnosed ER-positive breast cancer confirmed that 18F-FES scans led to change in management in 26.3% of the 19 patients with newly diagnosed ER positive breast cancer. This retrospective study indicates the potential impact of 18F-FES PET/CT on intended management of patients with newly diagnosed estrogen receptor positive breast cancer in comparison to 18F-fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose PET/CT.

Platinum disulfide (PtS2), a member of the recently developed group 10 transition metal dichalcogenide (TMD) materials, exhibits great potential in optoelectronics applications. Nevertheless, its photoluminescence (PL) behavior still remains obscure. Quantum dots (QDs) are believed having the capability to enhance photoluminescence property compared to the bulky or layered structure owing to their quantum confinement effects. Inspired by remarkable PL enhancement works on other TMD materials QDs, the fabrication of PtS2 QDs suspension via a low-cost liquid exfoliation technique is demonstrated in this work. The PtS2 QDs with an average diameter of 3.9 nm and average thickness of 2.9 nm are observed, respectively. For the first time, the PL spectra of PtS2 QDs suspension are successfully obtained and monitored over time. The PL spectra display an excitation-dependent luminescence. The maximum emission peak is observed at 407.2 nm for the excitation wavelength of 330 nm. This PtS2 QDs also shows a decent long-term stability. These results open up encouraging prospects of luminescence applications of PtS2 QDs.

We presented a low-precision spectrum for HI Leo, Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite data for V523 Cas, and new photometry for both K-type contact binaries. Comparing their light curves on different observing dates, we found small intrinsic variabilities, such as variable amplitudes for HI Leo and the varying heights around the second maxima for V523 Cas. By the Wilson–Devinney Code, we deduced six photometric solutions. The dark spot of V523 Cas may appear on the surface of the more massive component on BJD 2458768, while it disappears on BJD 2458779. Our results indicate that the two binaries are W-type shallow-contact binaries (f ≤ 10%). From the eclipse timing residuals, we found that the orbital periods may continuously increase, accompanied by one to two light-time effects due to additional bodies. The modulated periods and semi-amplitudes are P 3 = 25.8(±1.0) yr and A 3 = 0.ͩ0066(6) for HI Leo, P 3 = 114.8(±2.0) yr and A 3 = 0.ͩ0448(12), P 4 = 18.89(±0.14) yr and A 4 = 0.ͩ0025(2) for V523 Cas, respectively. The orbital period secularly increases at a rate of dP/dt = 2.86(±0.11) × 10−7 day yr−1 for HI Leo and dP/dt = 3.45(±0.07) × 10−8 day yr−1 for V523 Cas, which may be attributed to mass transfer from the secondary to the primary. With mass transferring, the shallow-contact binaries, HI Leo and V523 Cas, will evolve into the broken-contact configurations.

The nanosheet-seeding growth (NSG) technique is an interesting synthesis method for preparing two-dimensional (2D) materials by employing ultrathin nanosheets as templates. In this work, the synthesis of 2D TiO2 nanoplates using Ti0.87O2 nanosheets via the NSG process is thoroughly studied to achieve a better understanding of this process. The influence of various synthesis conditions on the morphology and phase composition has been carefully examined. The study of synthesis time reveals that the TiO2 grows in the Stranski–Krastanov mode on the templates and the growth follows second-order kinetics. It is also found that the concentration of precursors and the synthesis time are the effective parameters in controlling the thickness of TiO2 nanoplates. The phase of the sample changes from anatase TiO2 to NH4TiOF3 and the morphology changes from flake to disk with the increase in the precursor concentration. The synthesis temperature has a large influence on the morphology and thickness of the sample but has little effect on the phase composition. However, the synthesis temperature changes the color of the sample, and a high temperature enlarges the light absorption range of the sample.

We presented new CCD photometry for two contact binaries, V724 And and QR Com, which were observed during the 2020–2022 observing seasons. By using the Wilson–Devinney method, the photometric solutions were deduced from new observed data and TESS ones. Their asymmetric light curves were modeled by a dark spot on the more massive component. Results indicate that the starspot may immigrate or disappear on the surface of the active component. From the TESS observations of QR Com, it is discovered that the difference between light maxima exhibits a 29.5 day oscillation, which implies the continuous evolution of spot feathers on the timescale of several weeks. Their mass ratio and fill-out factor are q = 2.308 and f = 11.55% for V724 And, and q = 0.624 and f = 12.77% for QR Com, respectively. From the (O–C) curve, the orbital period secularly decrease at a rate of dP/dt = −1.66 × 10−7 day yr−1 for V724 And and dP/dt = −3.98 × 10−7 day yr−1 for QR Com, which was interpreted by mass transfer from the more massive component to the less massive one. With period decreasing, this kind of shallow-contact binaries, V724 And and QR Com, will evolve into the deep-contact configurations.

Room-temperature infrared photodetectors are in great demand because of their vitally important applications in the military and civilian fields, which has inspired intensive studies in recent decades. Here, we present the fabrication of a large-size PdSe

Objective: The purpose of this study was to employ dual tracers 16α-[18F]fluoro-17β-oestradiol (18F-FES) and [18F]fluorodeoxyglucose (18F-FDG) as imaging biomarkers in predicting progression-free survival (PFS) in ER-positive metastatic breast cancer (MBC) patients receiving fulvestrant therapy. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed thirty-five HR+HER2- MBC patients who underwent 18F-FES and 18F-FDG PET/CT scans prior to fulvestrant therapy in our centre. The SUVmax across all metastatic lesions on the PET/CT were assessed. The heterogeneity of ER expression was assigned by the presence of any 18F-FES negative lesions, for patients with entirely 18F-FES positive lesions were categorized into two groups by the median ratio of FES/FDG SUVmax, low FES/FDG and high FES/FDG. PFS were estimated by the Kaplan-Meier method and compared by the log-rank test. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed using the Cox proportional hazard model. Results: In total, 12 patients' had both 18F-FES negative and positive lesions, indicating the heterogeneity of ER expression in metastatic lesions. These patients had a low median PFS of 5.5 months (95%CI 2.3-8.7). Of patients with entirely 18F-FES positive lesions, 11 had a low FES/FDG and 12 had a high FES/FDG. These groups had a median PFS of 29.4 months (95%CI 2.3-56.5) and 14.7 months (95%CI 10.9-18.5), respectively. The patients were stratified in three categories based on incorporating both 18F-FES and 18F-FDG imaging results that were significantly correlated with PFS by univariate analysis (P < 0.001) and multivariate analysis (P = 0.006). Conclusion: 18F-FES and 18F-FDG PET could serve as prognostic imaging biomarkers for ER-positive MBC patients treated with fulvestrant therapy.

The high-performance broadband photodetectors have attracted intensive scientific interests due to their potential applications in optoelectronic systems. Despite great achievements in two-dimensional (2D) materials based photodetectors such as graphene and black phosphorus, obvious disadvantages such as low optical absorbance and instability preclude their usage for the broadband photodetectors with the desired performance. An alternative approach is to find promising 2D materials and fabricate heterojunction structures for multifunctional hybrid photodetectors. In this work, 2D WS2/Si heterojunction with a type-II band alignment is formed in situ. This heterojunction device produced a high Ion/Ioff ratio over 10,6 responsivity of 224 mA/W, specific detectivity of 1.5 × 1012 Jones, high polarization sensitivity, and broadband response up to 3043 nm. Furthermore, a 4 × 4 device array of WS2/Si heterojunction device is demonstrated with high stability and reproducibility. These results suggest that the WS2...

In this work, we examined the performance of 2D titanate nanosheets for dye adsorption. Their adsorption capacity for methylene blue (MB) is up to 3937 mg g−1, which is more than 10 times higher than active carbon and occupies the highest place among all the reports.

We presented new photometry for four short-period late-type binaries, observed by three small telescopes in China from 2020 September to 2021 December. Seven sets of light curves (including the TESS data for FY Boo) were analyzed by using the W-D method. Three binaries (V0576 Peg, V0873 Per, and FY Boo) are W-type binaries with q ≃ 2.5, while KW Psc is an A-type binary with q ≃ 0.43. Max.I−Max.II is up to 10% of variable light amplitude for the asymmetric light curves, which are modeled by a dark spot on the surface of the more massive component. Photometric results imply the existence of movement and evolution of the cool spot. From the temperature−luminosity and mass–luminosity diagrams, the more massive components are a bit evolved main-sequence stars, while the less massive ones are oversized and overluminous owing to energy exchange. Orbital period analyses indicate that the cyclic oscillations occur in the (O − C) curves. Their modulated periods approach 11 yr, which may preferably result from the magnetic activity cycle for four late-type contact binaries. With angular momentum loss through magnetic braking, these short-period contact binaries may evolve into deep-contact configurations.

K0.8Ti1.73Li0.27O4 (KLTO) is an important titanium-based anode material for lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) and is expected to become an alternative to carbonaceous materials on account of its nontoxicity, low cost, and high safety performance. However, it suffers from poor specific capacity at high charge–discharge rates due to its low conductivity and obstructed Li-ion diffusion. In this work, an Fe-doped KLTO@rGO (Fe-KLTO@rGO) composite prepared by following a simple electrostatic assembly process and its high-rate and long-cycle-life-performance as an anode in LIBs is obtained. The Fe-KLTO@rGO composite sample has an excellent specific capacity of 330 and 105 mAh g−1 at a current density of 1 C (1 C = 175 mA g−1) and 50 C, respectively. In addition, the Fe-KLTO@rGO composite sample can carry out a long cycle of 3000 cycles at a rate of 50 C, and the specific capacity remains at 127 mAh g−1.

The research of ultraviolet photodetectors (UV PDs) have been attracting extensive attention, due to their important applications in many areas. In this study, PtSe2/GaN heterojunction is in-situ fabricated by synthesis of large-area vertically standing two-dimensional (2D) PtSe2 film on n-GaN substrate. The PtSe2/GaN heterojunction device demonstrates excellent photoresponse properties under illumination by deep UV light of 265 nm at zero bias voltage. Further analysis reveals that a high responsivity of 193 mA·W–1, an ultrahigh specific detectivity of 3.8 × 1014 Jones, linear dynamic range of 155 dB and current on/off ratio of ~ 108, as well as fast response speeds of 45/102 μs were obtained at zero bias voltage. Moreover, this device response quickly to the pulse laser of 266 nm with a rise time of 172 ns. Such high-performance PtSe2/GaN heterojunction UV PD demonstrated in this work is far superior to previously reported results, suggesting that it has great potential for deep UV detection.

Apoptosis may be an indication of success therapy, and precise detection of apoptosis can provide instructional suggestions in the therapy management of malignant tumors. We used CNE-1 cell lines for in vitro experiments, and colony formation assay, CCK-8 assay, cell apoptosis analysis, and western blotting were performed. For in vivo experiments, subcutaneous xenotransplanted tumor models of CNE-1 in nude mice were established. Then, small animal positron emission tomography/X-ray computed tomography (PET/CT) images were acquired by tail intravenous injection of 2-(5-[18F]fluoropentyl)-2-methyl-malonic acid ([18F]ML-10) or 2-deoxy-2-[18F]fluoro-d-glucose ([18F]FDG) before and 24 h and 48 h after treatment. Moreover, expression of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), Ki-67, Glut-1, and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) was examined by immunohistochemical examination. Tumor volumes of mice were recorded every 2 days. In the presence of Cetuximab, the number of colonies of CNE-1 cells decreased significantly after irradiation at 1 and 2 Gy. In addition, Cetuximab increased the radiation-induced cytotoxicity and apoptosis of CNE-1 cells. Mechanistic studies demonstrated that Cetuximab enhanced radiosensitivity by suppressing the EGFR/PI3-K/AKT pathway. In PET/CT imaging, the tumors showed clear uptake of [18F]ML-10 at 24 h and 48 h after combined treatment, and the value of tumor/muscle (T/M) and SUVmax (the max of standard uptake value) was significantly higher than those of the other three groups. The T/M of [18F]ML-10 uptake showed a positive correlation of 0.926 with the apoptosis index (P

The purpose was to evaluate the correlation of the pre-treatment hematological parameters with metabolic parameters of primary tumor in baseline 18F-FDG PET/CT in patients with colorectal cancer (CRC) and estimate the prognostic value of both. We retrospectively investigated 231 patients with CRC who underwent baseline 18F-FDG PET/CT. Routine blood sampling was tested in the same term. PET parameters in term of hematological parameters and pathological characteristics of primary tumor were compared. Kaplan–Meier survival analysis was performed in the patients without distant metastasis. The differences of disease-free survival between groups were compared by log-rank tests. Neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and lymphocyte-to-monocyte ratio (LMR) were significantly correlated with all the metabolic parameters including maximum standardized uptake value (SUVmax), metabolic tumor volume (MTV) and tumor lesion glycolysis (TLG). The patients with NLR > 3 had higher MTV (24.82 ± 18.16 vs 19.06 ± 13.30, P = 0.039) and TLG (219.04 ± 186.94 vs 166.45 ± 146.39, P = 0.047) than those whose NLR ≤ 3. NLR in those patients with distant metastasis was significantly higher than those without distant metastasis (P = 0.018) while LMR in those patients with distant metastasis was significantly lower than those without distant metastasis (P = 0.032). Survival analysis showed that those patients with low MTV (P = 0.015), low NLR (P = 0.008) and high LMR (P = 0.027) revealed significant survival benefit. There was a significant association between the pre-treatment hematological parameters and metabolic parameters of baseline 18F-FDG PET/CT in the patients with CRC. It might be helpful in those patients with high NLR and low LMR to undergo 18F-FDG PET/CT to detect distant metastasis and predict prognosis.

Methylammonium lead iodide perovskite (MAPbI 3), as a new type of light absorber for optoelectronic devices, has attracted much interest and served as foundation for new device concepts. However, most studies to date are mainly focusing on the fabrication of MAPbI3 -based solar cells and photodetectors . Here we report a facile method to prepare a large-scale MAPbI 3 photocatalyst through atmospheric pressure physical vapor deposition . The photocurrent density of the MAPbI 3 coated with an Au layer can reach 30.8 and 85.5 μA/cm2 in ethanol and H2SO4 electrolytes, respectively. Meanwhile, the strong interaction between H2O orbitals and the conduction band of MAPbI3 is revealed by density functional theory calculations. Our study opens a new pathway for the development of perovskite-based photo-electrochemical reaction systems.

The development of cost-effective, durable and high-efficient oxygen evolution reaction (OER) electrocatalysts is an extremely critical technology for the large-scale industrial water electrolysis. Here, a new strategy is proposed to significantly enhance the electrocatalytic activity by forming a hybrid electrode of NiSe and Fe4.4Ni17.6Se16 through direct selenization of porous iron-nickel (FeNi) alloy foam via thermal selenization process. The obtained self-supported Fe4.4Ni17.6Se16/NiSe hybrid (FNS/NiSe) foam displays outstanding durability and remarkable catalytic activity in 1.0 M KOH with low overpotentials of 242 and 282 mV to achieve the current densities of 100 and 500 mA cm−2, respectively. To the best of our knowledge, it exceeds most of the reported OER electrocatalysts in alkaline electrolytes.

An equivalent multisector analytical method is proposed for the high-frequency characteristics of the slow-wave structure (SWS) in an integrated three-helix traveling wave tube. The discrete unit in the SWS is divided into multiple regions, and every region is treated equivalently as a sector using the equal area method. The accuracy of the equivalent multisector structure is verified by comparing it with an equivalent circular structure and the original SWS in computer simulation technology (CST). The analytical solution for high-frequency characteristics of the equivalent multisector structure is obtained by using the tape-helix model and the infinite number of vanes model. The calculation result is obtained and compared with the CST simulation result to analyze the accuracy of the method. The maximum error for dispersion characteristics and coupling impedance is 5.3% and 6.1%, respectively, so the feasibility of the analytical method is verified.

The newly discovered Group-10 transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) like PtSe2 have promising applications in high-performance microelectronic and optoelectronic devices due to their high carrier mobilities, widely tunable bandages and ultrastabilities. However, the optoelectronic performance of broadband PtSe2 photodetectors integrated with silicon remains undiscovered. Here, we report the successful preparation of large-scale, uniform and vertically grown PtSe2 films by simple selenization method for the design of a PtSe2/Si nanowire array heterostructure, which exhibited a very good photoresponsivity of 12.65 A/W, a high specific detectivity of 2.5 × 1013 Jones at −5 V and fast rise/fall times of 10.1/19.5 μs at 10 kHz without degradation while being capable of responding to high frequencies of up to 120 kHz. Our work has demonstrated the compatibility of PtSe2 with the existing silicon technology and ultrabroad band detection ranging from deep ultraviolet to optical telecommunication wavelengths, which can largely cover the limitations of silicon detectors. Further investigation of the device revealed pronounced photovoltaic behavior at 0 V, making it capable of operating as a self-powered photodetector. Overall, this representative PtSe2/Si nanowire array-based photodetector offers great potential for applications in next-generation optoelectronic and electronic devices. Aligning ultra-thin semiconductors with silicon nanowires enables high-speed sensing of an unusually broad range of ultraviolet, visible, and infrared light frequencies. The shapes of silicon nanowires enable quicker and more effective light detection than conventional thin films, but their spectral response still falls outside the parameters needed for various applications, including optical telecommunication. Researchers led by Di Wu from China’s Zhengzhou University and Yuen Hong Tsang at Hong Kong Polytechnic University turned to the broadband absorption of graphene-like platinum selenide (PtSe2) films to extend the light sensitivity. To parallel the geometry of nanowires, the team used precision deposition techniques to grow 2D PtSe2 films into vertically-oriented layers, some tens of nanometers thick. Direct transfer of the PtSe2 film onto a large-scale nanowire array produced a microsecond-fast device sensitive to multiple optical bands. Platinum diselenide (PtSe2) is a newly discovered Group-10 transition metal dichalcogenide (TMD) which has unique electronic properties, in particular a semimetal-to-semiconductor transition. In this work, we have demonstrated the proposed vertically standing layered structure PtSe2 nanofilms based on hybrid heterojunction with high overall performance was realized for broadband light photodetection ranging from 200 nm to 1550 nm. The high-performance broadband photodetector will open up a new pathway for the development of next-generation two dimensional Group-10 materials based optoelectronic devices.

Our study aimed to investigate the feasibility of PET/CT for monitoring the influence of fulvestrant on sensitizing docetaxel by downregulating ERα in ERα+ breast cancer. Docetaxel-insensitive ERα+ breast cancer cells (DIS-ZR751) were established, identified and cultured. ERα expression, toxicity and viability of DIS-ZR751 were analyzed before and after treatment in vitro. DIS-ZR751-bearing nude mice were randomly divided into four groups according to different treatments: blank (DIS-ZR751), docetaxel (DIS-ZR751+DOC), fulvestrant (DIS-ZR751+FUL), and combination treatment (DIS-ZR751+DOC+FUL). 18F-FES and 18F-FDG microPECT/CT scans were performed before and 7, 14 days after treatment. Absolute %ID/gmax was calculated. ERα expression level and growth rate of DIS-ZR751 were higher than control group and decreased dramatically after docetaxel and fulvestrant combination treatment. 18F-FES and 18F-FDG PET/CT imaging in vivo revealed that ERα expression in DIS-ZR751 treated with fulvestrant, and tumor activity in DIS-ZR751 treated with combination drugs decreased as early as 7 days after treatment. 18F-FES and 18F-FDG PET/CT were feasible for early monitoring the effect of fulvestrant on sensitizing docetaxel by downregulation of ERα in ERα+ breast cancer noninvasively.