Search

• LAB core is utilized as a recognition unit for HClO based on a novel chromophore fragmentation sensing mechanism. • The colorimetric and ratiometric fluorescence "turn on" signals for naked eyes are shown. • The practical applications in real samples (water and vegetable) are demonstrated. • The fluorescence "turn on" imaging for detection of HClO in mung bean sprout is successfully achieved. The excess intake of hypochlorite (ClO−) in the human body and excessive emission in wastewater can pose serious health risks and environmental pollution. Therefore, it is vital to develop an efficient method for detecting ClO− in foodstuff and water. In this work, we reported a lactam-fused aza -BODIPY (LAB1) for ultrasensitive ClO− detection based on novel chromophore fragmentation strategy for the first time. It exhibited distinct advantages of good selectivity, high sensitivity, fast response (60 s) and low detection limit of 9.65 nM. The sensing mechanism revealed LAB1 core was fragmented by ClO−, leading to significantly colorimetric and ratiometric fluorescence changes. As a result, 320 nm blue-shift in absorption maximum (from green to colorless) and 340 nm blue-shift in emission maximum (from dark to bright blue) allowed for visual detection by the naked eyes. The potential applicability of LAB1 for ClO− detection with satisfactory recovery in the real samples (tap water and lake water) and vegetables (spinach, lettuce, Chinese cabbage, bean sprouts), and fluorescence "turn on" imaging in mung bean sprout were demonstrated. In addition, LAB1 -loaded test paper was suitable for semi-quantitative scanning ClO− analysis by using color recognition APP in a smartphone. Therefore, this work highlights a promising approach based on novel sensing mechanism for monitoring ClO− in food samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mimicking the natural photosynthesis process, photocatalytic conversion of CO 2 has been an ongoing hotspot of scientific research and technology development. A key aspect is the discovery of high potency catalysts for facilitating the multi-electron participated reactions. Herein we successfully demonstrate exfoliated nanosheets from a conductive 2D-MOF Ni 3 (HITP) 2 as an efficient co-catalyst for CO 2 reduction in a hybrid photocatalytic system under visible light illumination. By taking advantage of the high conductivity for charge transportation and highly accessible active sites for redox reactions, an excellent selectivity of 97% for deoxygenative CO 2 reduction and a high CO yield rate of 3.45 × 10 4 μmol·g −1  h −1 were achieved with superior stability. This work provides essential insights into future design and development of more effective MOFs-based systems for catalytic CO 2 utilization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: This study was designed to assess the clinical efficacy and toxicity of apatinib (YN968D1) as third or subsequent‐line treatment for stage III/IV non‐small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Methods: A total of 100 patients with advanced NSCLC who were treated with apatinib at a daily dose of 250/425/500 mg at Shandong Cancer Hospital from January 2016 to June 2018 were enrolled in our study. The objective response, disease control, and median progression‐free survival rates were reviewed and evaluated. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to determine the prognostic factors. The main adverse events were evaluated per the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events version 4.0. Results: All patients were assessable for response. No complete responses were observed, 11 patients achieved a partial response, and 56 showed stable disease. The objective response rate was 11.0%, the disease control rate was 67.0%, and the median progression‐free survival was 2.93 months (95% confidence interval 2.07–3.87). In Cox regression analysis, the Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status score (hazard ratio 1.799; P < 0.05) and smoking history (hazard ratio 1.958; P < 0.05) were predictive indicators for apatinib treatment efficacy. Treatment‐related adverse events were tolerated, predictable, reversible, and controllable. Conclusion: Apatinib was found to be both effective and safe in advanced NSCLC patients without a genetic driver mutation who experienced progression after two or more lines of chemotherapy treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) have transformed the treatment paradigm for patients with ALK-positive non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Yet the differential efficacy between alectinib and crizotinib in treating patients with NSCLC and central nervous system (CNS) metastases has been insufficiently studied. A retrospective analysis was conducted of clinical outcomes of patients with ALK-positive NSCLC and CNS metastases treated at the Shandong Cancer Centre. Based on their initial ALK-TKI treatment, patients were categorised into either the crizotinib group or the alectinib group. Efficacy, progression-free survival (PFS), intracranial PFS and overall survival (OS) were evaluated. A total of 46 eligible patients were enrolled in the present study: 33 patients received crizotinib and 13 patients received alectinib. The median OS of the entire group was 66.8 months (95% CI: 48.5–85.1). Compared with the patients in the crizotinib group, the patients in the alectinib group showed a significant improvement in both median (m)PFS (27.5 vs. 9.5 months; P=0.003) and intracranial mPFS (36.0 vs. 10.8 months; P<0.001). However, there was no significant difference in OS between the alectinib and crizotinib groups (not reached vs. 58.7 months; P=0.149). Furthermore, there were no significant differences between patients receiving TKI combined with radiotherapy (RT) vs. TKI alone with respect to mPFS (11.0 vs. 11.7 months, P=0.863) as well as intracranial mPFS (12.5 vs. 16.9 months, P=0.721). In the present study, alectinib exhibited superior efficacy to crizotinib for treating patients with ALK-positive NSCLC and CNS metastases, especially in terms of delaying disease progression and preventing CNS recurrence. Moreover, the results demonstrated that it might be beneficial to delay local RT for patients with ALK-positive NSCL and CNS metastases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The shadow problem harms the accuracy of vehicle detection. • Detecting vehicles using edge and grayscale information can simplify the algorithm. • The shadow location information can help improving the accuracy of shadow detection. Vehicle detection is one of the most fundamental aspects of traffic surveillance systems. However, the shadow problem often hinders the accuracy of vehicle detection. Shadows are often mistakenly understood as the parts of a vehicle, causing objects loss, or shape distortion. Collected data with these errors are unreliable, therefore shadow detection and elimination is a key step to promote the accuracy of vehicle detection. This paper proposes a robust vehicle detection method with shadow elimination. The method is divided into two steps: Firstly, we extract foreground regions using a background differential method based on edge information, then we detect and eliminate the shadows from the foreground regions combined with grayscale information, edge information, and prior knowledge. The experimental results show that the proposed method is superior to the faster R-CNN, and SSD methods in terms of real-time performance and vehicle detection accuracy. The proposed method has broad application prospects in the Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS). [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: To study in vitro the effects of anlotinib combined with radiotherapy on the lung cancer H520 cell cycle and apoptosis. Methods: The log growth period H520 cells were divided into the control group, anlotinib group (A group), radiotherapy group (RT group) and combined group (A + RT group). Cell cycle and apoptosis were detected by flow cytometry and changes in H520 cell cycle and apoptosis were analyzed in each group. Results: Anlotinib was determined to significantly inhibit cell growth in all groups, both alone, or in combination with radiotherapy. After receiving corresponding treatments, the proportions of G2/M‐phase cells in the control group, A group, RT group and A + RT group were different, and statistically significant (F = 32.086, P < 0.001). The apoptotic cell statistics of H520 cells in the control group, A group, RT group and A + RT group were significantly different (F = 44.537, P < 0.01). The relative expression of CDK1 in each group of cells was 0.04 ± 0.02, 0.07 ± 0.12, 0.81 ± 0.11, and 0.56 ± 0.16, respectively. There were differences between the groups by analysis of variance which were statistically significant (F = 58.36, P < 0.0001). The relative expression of cycle B in each group of cells was 0.27 ± 0.05, 0.40 ± 0.16, 0.65 ± 0.14, and 0.57 ± 0.13, respectively. There were differences between the groups by analysis of variance which were statistically significant (F = 10.77, P = 0.0002). Conclusions: Anlotinib had an inhibitory effect on lung cancer H520 cell proliferation. A higher rate of apoptosis and G2/M phase block was observed in the anlotinib‐radiotherapy combined group. Anlotinib combined with radiotherapy was able to synergistically inhibit tumor cell growth. Key points: Anrotinib combined with radiotherapy can synergistically inhibit tumor cell growth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Compound 9j showed potent JAK2 and BRD4(BD2) inhibitory potency with IC 50 values of 22 and 13 nM, respectively, and exhibited appropriate selectivity to other family proteins with high structural homology as well as the excellent human liver microsomal stability. • Compound 9j demonstrated a good therapeutic effect of acute ulcerative colitis and myeloproliferative disease in vivo. Based on the pharmacological synergy of JAK2 and BRD4 in the NF-κB pathway and positive therapeutic effect of combination of JAK2 and BRD4 inhibitors in treating MPN and inflammation. A series of unique 9 H -purine-2,6-diamine derivatives that selectively inhibited Janus kinase 2 (JAK2) and BRD4(BD2) were designed, prepared, and evaluated for their in vitro and in vivo potency. Among them, compound 9j exhibited acceptable inhibitory activity with IC 50 values of 13 and 22 nM for BD2 of BRD4 and JAK2, respectively. The western blot assay demonstrated that 9j performed good functional potency in the NF-κB pathway and the phosphorylation of p65, IκB-α, and IKKα/β signal intensities were suppressed on RAW264.7 cell lines. Furthermore, 9j significantly improved the disease symptoms in a Ba/F3- JAK2 V617F allograft model. Meanwhile, 9j was also effective in relieving symptoms in an acute ulcerative colitis model. Taken together, 9j was a potent JAK2/BRD4(BD2) dual target inhibitor and could be a potential lead compound in treating myeloproliferative neoplasms and inflammatory diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A hierarchical structure of CuCoNC arrays constructed on copper foam that enriches multiple active species on the MOF-based scaffolds simultaneously delivers extraordinary HER, OER and ORR performance, resulting in highly efficient overall water splitting powered by Zn-air batteries using the same single catalyst. • MOF-templated hierarchical CuCoNC arrays are constructed on copper foam. • Remarkable trifunctionality of OER, HER and ORR are achieved using a single catalyst. • Overall water splitting can be powered by using a single dry cell of 1.50 V. • Zinc-air batteries demonstrate highly energy efficiency >58% for over 360 h. • ZAB-powered water splitting is capable of producing H 2 in 69 μL s−1. Multifunctional electrocatalysts based on earth-abundant elements are key for the development of Integrated Energy Systems (IES) such as electrolytic water splitting powered by metal-air batteries. Herein, hierarchical CuCoNC nanowire arrays are constructed on copper foam, enriching multiple active species on the catalytic scaffolds that lead to remarkable trifunctional activities of OER with η 10 = 245 mV, HER with η 10 = 59 mV and ORR comparable to Pt/C. While for overall water splitting a cell voltage of only 1.78 V is required to achieve a high current density of 500 mA cm−2, for Zn-air batteries (ZABs) a highly stabilized round-trip efficiency of >58% is achieved for over 360 h under 10 mA cm−2. Ultimately, a highly efficient IES of ZAB-powered water splitting employing a single catalyst is demonstrated with a hydrogen evolution rate of 69 μL s−1, showcasing a smart material design in simultaneously achieving multi-functionality and maximizing the energy efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Composite thin films comprising 2D/2D MOF/rGO heterostructures for photocatalytic CO 2 reduction. • Modulated electronic structure of metal centers unveiled by XPS and XANES. • The activity and selectivity are among the best reported in literature. • The thin-film catalysts are highly stable and extremely easy to recycle. • High activity is well rationalized by the heterostructure configuration and electrostatic charge transfer. In this work, composite thin films comprising the 2D/2D MOF/rGO heterostructures assembled via Coulomb interaction are employed as the cocatalyst for photocatalytic CO 2 reduction for the first time. The electrostatic charge transfer and the strong π-π interaction induced in the heterostructure effectively modulate the electronic structure of the metal centers in the conductive 2D MOF (Ni 3 HITP 2), evidenced by Zeta Potentials, HR-TEM, XPS and XANES. The best thin-film catalyst with an optimal MOF/rGO ratio demonstrates a high CO evolution rate of 3.8 × 104 μmol h−1 g film −1 (0.46 min−1 in TOF) and a good selectivity of 91.74%, synergically contributed by the improved photoelectron harvesting on the rGO scaffold, the efficient charge transportation/transfer within the conductive and intimate 2D heterostructure, the coherent energy flow owing to aligned energy levels, and the enriched electron density at the isolated Ni-N 4 sites boosted by electrostatic charge transfer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]