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Opal and calcium carbonate are thought to regulate the biological pump's transfer of organic carbon to the deep ocean. A global sediment trap database exhibits large regional variations in the organic carbon flux associated with opal flux. These variations are well‐explained by upper ocean silicate concentrations, with high opal 'ballasting' in the silicate‐deplete tropical Atlantic Ocean, and low ballasting in the silicate‐rich Southern Ocean. A plausible, testable hypothesis is that opal ballasting varies because diatoms grow thicker frustules where silicate concentrations are higher, carrying less organic carbon per unit opal. The observed pattern does not fully emerge in an advanced ocean biogeochemical model when diatom silicification is represented using a single global parameterization as a function of silicate and iron. Our results suggest a need for improving understanding of currently modeled processes and/or considering additional parameterizations to capture the links between elemental cycles and future biological pump changes. Plain Language Summary: Opal, or hydrated silica, is taken up in the surface ocean by diatoms to construct their protective frustules. Another plankton type, coccolithophores, generate protective platelets from calcium carbonate. These two minerals, and thereby plankton types, play major roles in the global carbon cycle. The 'biological carbon pump' transfers carbon from the upper ocean to the ocean's depths, where it can stay for millenia. This process has influenced past atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations and could also do so in the future. The transfer of carbon to the deep ocean is partially regulated by the amount of 'ballast' minerals in sinking particles, especially opal and calcium carbonate, which are denser and cause particles to sink faster and/or protect organic carbon from microbial consumption. We show that unlike calcium carbonate, opal's ballasting effect varies a great deal between different regions of the ocean. The variation in opal ballasting is well‐explained by the upper‐ocean concentration of silicate between these regions. This suggests a simple explanation: when silicate concentrations are high, diatoms grow thick frustules which actually results in lower carbon sinking per unit opal. Capturing this ballasting–silicate relationship in carbon cycle models may improve their ability to predict future biogeochemical cycles and climate. Key Points: Opal ballasting varies by more than a factor of six across ocean regions; calcium carbonate ballasting is uniformSilicate concentration predicts opal ballasting which suggests that the latter varies with diatom frustule thicknessThis emergent relationship's absence from a sophisticated biogeochemical model indicates it holds useful information for constraining models [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Endocrine disruptors such as bisphenol A (BPA) adversely affect the environment and human health. Laccases are used for the efficient biodegradation of various persistent organic pollutants in an environmentally safe manner. However, the direct application of free laccases is generally hindered by short enzyme lifetimes, non-reusability, and the high cost of a single use. In this study, laccases were immobilized on a novel magnetic three-dimensional poly(ethylene glycol) diacrylate (PEGDA)–chitosan (CS) inverse opal hydrogel (LAC@MPEGDA@CS@IOH). The immobilized laccase showed significant improvement in the BPA degradation performance and superior storage stability compared with the free laccase. 91.1% of 100 mg/L BPA was removed by the LAC@MPEGDA@CS@IOH in 3 hr, whereas only 50.6% of BPA was removed by the same amount of the free laccase. Compared with the laccase, the outstanding BPA degradation efficiency of the LAC@MPEGDA@CS@IOH was maintained over a wider range of pH values and temperatures. Moreover, its relative activity of was maintained at 70.4% after 10 cycles, and the system performed well in actual water matrices. This efficient method for preparing immobilized laccases is simple and green, and it can be used to further develop ecofriendly biocatalysts to remove organic pollutants from wastewater. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Osteoarthritis has been regarded as a complex and serious degenerative disease. Attempts in this area are focused on improving the curative effect of stem cell‐based therapies. In this work, we present a novel inverse opal microcarriers‐based cytokines delivery system to induce autologous stem cell homing for osteoarthritis treatment. Considering their important role in stem cell recruitment and chondrogenic differentiation respectively, platelet‐derived growth factor BB (PDGF‐BB) and transforming growth factor β3 (TGF‐β3) are loaded into inverse opal microcarriers as model cytokines. Since cytokine release induces the corresponding variations in characteristic reflection spectra and structural colors, the inverse opal microcarriers possess the optical self‐reporting capacity to monitor the release process. In vitro cell experiments reveal that inverse opal microcarriers could successfully recruit the gathering of mesenchymal stem cells through the release of loaded cytokines. Based on these features, we have demonstrated the enhanced therapeutic effect of PDGF‐BB and TGF‐β3 loaded inverse opal microcarriers in the treatment of rat osteoarthritis models. These results indicate that the multifunctional inverse opal microcarriers‐based cytokines delivery system would find broad prospects in osteoarthritis treatment and other biomedical fields. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Inverse opal colorimetric sensors operating on wetting transitions usually rely on physical differences of the infiltrating liquid. Here, we exploit a reactive surface chemistry that changes wettability upon binding of an analyte. Upon binding of Fe3+ to a Schiff base immobilized on the porous structure, the surface becomes more hydrophilic, triggering the infiltration of the structure and causing the structural color to disappear. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Liver cancer, characterized as a kind of malignant tumor within the digestive system, poses great health harm, and immune escape stands out as an important reason for its occurrence and development. Chemokines, pivotal in guiding immune cells' migration, is necessary to initiate and deliver an effective anti-tumor immune response. Therefore, understanding the chemotactic environment and identifying chemokines that regulate recruitment of immune cells to the tumor microenvironment (TME) are critical to improve current immunotherapy interventions. Herein, we report a well-defined inverse opal scaffold generated with a microfluidic emulsion template for the construction of a vascularized liver tumor model, offering insights into immune cells' recruitment. Due to the excellent 3D porous morphology of the inverse opal scaffold, human hepatocellular carcinoma cells can aggregate in the pores of the scaffold to form uniform multicellular tumor spheroids. More attractively, the vascularized liver tumor model can be achieved by constructing a 3D co-culture system involving endothelial cells and hepatocellular carcinoma cells. The results demonstrate that the 3D co-cultured tumor cells increase the neutrophil chemokines remarkably and recruit neutrophils to tumor tissues, then promote tumor progression. This approach opens a feasible avenue for realizing a vascularized liver tumor model with a reliable immune microenvironment close to that of a solid tumor of liver cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Light is a promising renewable energy source and can be converted into heat, electricity, and chemical energy. However, the efficiency of light‐energy conversion is largely hindered by limited light‐absorption coefficients and the low quantum yield of current‐generation materials. Photonic crystals (PCs) can adjust the propagation and distribution of photons because of their unique periodic structures, which offers a compelling platform for photon management. The periodicity of materials with an alternating refractive index can be used to manipulate the dispersion of photons to generate the photonic bandgap (PBG), in which light is reflected. The slow photon effect, i. e., photon propagation at a reduced group velocity near the edges of the PBG, is widely regarded as another valuable optical property for manipulating light. Furthermore, multiple light scattering can increase the optical path, which is a vital optical property for PCs. Recently, the light reflected by PBG, the slow photon effect, and multiple light scattering have been exploited to improve light utilization efficiency in photoelectrochemistry, materials chemistry, and biomedicine to enhance light‐energy conversion efficiency. In this review, the fabrication of opal or inverse opal PCs and the theory for improving the light utilization efficiency of photocatalysis, solar cells, and photoluminescence regulation are discussed. We envision photon management of opal or inverse opal PCs may provide a promising avenue for light‐assisted applications to improve light‐energy‐conversion efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Opal, a renowned gemstone, exhibits an optical phenomenon known as "play of color," which is classified as a kind of structural color. This unique property makes opal a highly valuable material from the natural science, industry, and humanity perspectives. Opal has a complex internal structure called colloidal polycrystalline, and thus, representations of opal remain unestablished in computer graphics. In this study, to approximate the complex internal structure of opal, we imitate its formation process using the three-dimensional additively weighted Voronoi tessellation and percolation model. Further, we apply path tracing to compute the diffraction patterns of visible light inside opal by utilizing the Ewald construction employed in X-ray diffraction theory. Finally, we achieve a visually plausible output through spectral rendering. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To describe the trends in remission rates among RA patients in the OPAL dataset, spanning from 2009 to 2022, and provide insights into the effectiveness of evolving RA management approaches in real-world clinical settings. Methods: Patients with a physician diagnosis of RA and at least 3 visits between 1 January 2009 and December 2022 were identified in the OPAL dataset, an aggregated collection of data extracted from the electronic medical records of patients managed by 117 Australian rheumatologists. Demographics, disease history, prescribed medications and proportions of patients in Disease Activity Score 28-joint count C-reactive protein (DAS28CRP)) categories (remission, low disease activity (LDA), moderate disease activity (MDA) and high disease activity (HDA)) were described. Results: A large population (n = 48,388) of eligible patients with RA were identified in the OPAL dataset. A consistent and substantial improvement in DAS28CRP remission rates were found in (i) all patients, (ii) patients managed on conventional synthetic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (csDMARD) and (iii) patients treated with biological or targeted synthetic (b/ts)DMARD therapy, increasing from approximately 50% in 2009 to over 70% by 2022. The increase in DAS28CRP remission was accompanied by reduced proportions of patients in MDA and HDA states. Conclusion: This study highlights a consistent improvement in disease activity and rising remission rates among Australian RA patients within the OPAL dataset, offering the potential for enhanced patient outcomes and reduced disease burden. Key Points • The treat-to-target (T2T) approach, with the treatment goal of remission or, as an alternative, a state of LDA, has been widely adopted for the management of RA in Australia. • This study demonstrates an encouraging trend of improved disease activity over time, with remission rates of Australian patients with RA steadily increasing year on year. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The conversion of solar energy into hydrogen using photocatalysts is a pivotal solution to the ongoing energy and environmental challenges. In this study, inverse opal (IO) ZnIn2S4 (ZIS) with varying pore sizes is synthesized for the first time via a template method. The experimental results indicate that the constructed inverse opal ZnIn2S4 has a unique photonic bandgap, and its slow photon effect can enhance the interaction between light and matter, thereby improving the efficiency of light utilization. ZnIn2S4 with voids of 200 nm (ZIS–200) achieved the highest hydrogen production rate of 14.32 μ mol h−1. The normalized rate with a specific surface area is five times higher than that of the broken structures (B–ZIS), as the red edge of ZIS–200 is coupled with the intrinsic absorption edge of the ZIS. This study not only developed an approach for constructing inverse opal multi–metallic sulfides, but also provides a new strategy for enriching efficient ZnIn2S4–based photocatalysts for hydrogen evolution from water. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Photonic crystal hydrogels are widely used in the field of visual detection, based on the response of the structural color to external stimulus, such as pH, temperature, near‐infrared light, and so on. Here, we develop an opal photonic crystal hydrogel by combining polystyrene (PS) photonic crystals with a fluorescent double‐network hydrogel and focus on both its visual detection function and mechanical property. The opal hydrogel is composed of nanocomposite hydrogel as the first network and ionic crosslinked hydrogel as the second network. The introduction of PS photonic crystals and terbium ions endows the opal hydrogel distinctive structural colors and fluorescence, respectively. Because of volume changes, the structural color of the opal hydrogel selectively responses to metal ions and organic solvents. Attributing to the ion exchange interaction, the opal hydrogel exhibits fluorescent responses to various metal ions. Combining the responsiveness of structural color and fluorescence, a visual dual‐detection mode is set up, with better detection sensitivity and selectivity. Moreover, the characteristics of nanocomposite and double‐network crosslinking ensure the opal hydrogel enough mechanical properties to undergo cycle visual detection. Consequently, the fabricated opal hydrogel is promising for use in visual detection to multiple substances in single‐ or dual‐detection mode. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Maintenance therapy with niraparib, a poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase inhibitor, has been shown to extend progression-free survival in patients with newly diagnosed advanced ovarian cancer who responded to first-line platinum-based chemotherapy, regardless of biomarker status. However, there are limited data on niraparib's efficacy and safety in the neoadjuvant setting. The objective of Cohort C of the OPAL trial (OPAL-C) is to evaluate the efficacy, safety, and tolerability of neoadjuvant niraparib treatment compared with neoadjuvant platinum-taxane doublet chemotherapy in patients with newly diagnosed stage III/IV ovarian cancer with confirmed homologous recombination–deficient tumors. Methods: OPAL is an ongoing global, multicenter, randomized, open-label, phase 2 trial. In OPAL-C, patients will be randomized 1:1 to receive three 21-day cycles of either neoadjuvant niraparib or platinum-taxane doublet neoadjuvant chemotherapy per standard of care. Patients with a complete or partial response per Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors version 1.1 (RECIST v1.1) will then undergo interval debulking surgery; patients with stable disease may proceed to interval debulking surgery or alternative therapy at the investigator's discretion. Patients with disease progression will exit the study treatment and proceed to alternative therapy at the investigator's discretion. After interval debulking surgery, all patients will receive up to three 21-day cycles of platinum-taxane doublet chemotherapy followed by niraparib maintenance therapy for up to 36 months. Adult patients with newly diagnosed stage III/IV ovarian cancer eligible to receive neoadjuvant platinum-taxane doublet chemotherapy followed by interval debulking surgery may be enrolled. Patients must have tumors that are homologous recombination–deficient. The primary endpoint is the pre–interval debulking surgery unconfirmed overall response rate, defined as the investigator-assessed percentage of patients with unconfirmed complete or partial response on study treatment before interval debulking surgery per RECIST v1.1. Discussion: OPAL-C explores the use of niraparib in the neoadjuvant setting as an alternative to neoadjuvant platinum-taxane doublet chemotherapy to improve postsurgical residual disease outcomes for patients with ovarian cancer with homologous recombination–deficient tumors. Positive findings from this approach could significantly impact preoperative ovarian cancer therapy, particularly for patients who are ineligible for primary debulking surgery. Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03574779. Registered on February 28, 2022. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The sluggish Zn2+ diffusion and high nucleation energy barrier induce uncontrolled growth of Zn dendrites and detrimental parasitic reactions, severely hampering the commercialization of Zn metal anodes (ZMAs). Herein, hollow mesoporous carbon sphere opal with confined Sn/TiO2 clusters (HMCSST) is designed as the host to spatially regulate the Zn deposition. Owing to the capillary effect of the ordered hierarchical porous structure, the mass diffusion can be dramatically accelerated to promote a fast deposition kinetics at the interface between ZMA and electrolyte. Besides, the encapsulated ultrafine Sn/TiO2 clusters serve as zincophilic sites to achieve both the uniform Zn deposition on the hierarchical porous opal host and the high thermodynamic stability of ZMAs. Benefiting from the structural and componential merits, the HMCSST host effectively reduces the activation energy to enable a temporal‐spatial ordering of Zn nucleation and growth. As expected, the stable HMCSST‐Zn electrode guarantees steady Zn platting/stripping with long‐term stability over 1300 h in a symmetrical cell at a depth of discharge of 37.5%. As a proof‐of‐concept demonstration, an HMCSST‐Zn||ammonium vanadate full cell shows a long lifespan over 5000 cycles at 10.0 A g−1 with low polarization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is crucial to develop high-performance catalysts for the degradation of antibiotic pollutants. In this paper, we reported an inverse opal Mn-doped WO3 (IO Mn–WO3) catalyst to effectively activate peroxymonosulfate (PMS) for the degradation of levofloxacin (LVX) under visible light irradiation. The degradation efficiency of this novel photo-Fenton-like system could reach almost 100% for LVX. The catalyst showed good recyclability and stability within five cycles. In addition, the possible degradation pathways, the main reactive oxygen species and the degradation mechanism were systematically investigated in this work. ˙O2− and 1O2 were identified as the main reactive oxygen species in the degradation system. Mn doping can initiate PMS activation and improve charge transfer efficiency, WO3 can promote the reduction of Mn species to make the reaction in the system occur continuously, an inverse opal structure can further enhance light absorption and increase the contact area between the catalyst and the pollutant. This work integrated the Fenton-like catalytic effect and the photocatalytic effect into the designed catalyst for PMS activation and antibiotic degradation, which developed a feasible strategy to improve the degradation performance of Mn-based materials for environmental remediation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This document provides a comprehensive overview of opal, an amorphous solid, discussing its composition, properties, and various types of opal textures. It highlights that opal does not contain cristobalite or tridymite domains, distinguishing it from other substances. The document also explores the presence of water in opals and concludes that opal-A represents a specific stage in the formation of opals. Additionally, the author questions the usefulness of opal phase transitions as stratigraphic markers in sedimentary basins. The document acknowledges the assistance of other researchers and is dedicated to the author's advisor. [Extracted from the article]

Foraminifera are unicellular eukaryotes known to have a shell, called test, generally made of secreted calcite (CaCO3). We report for the first time a Foraminifera having a composite calcite/opal test in the cosmopolitan and well-studied benthic species Bolivina spissa (Rotaliida), sampled from the Sagami Bay in Japan at 1410 m depth. Based on comprehensive investigations including Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) coupled with Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (EDS) and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), we inspect the morphology and composition of the novel opaline layer coating the inside part of the calcitic test. Using Scanning Transmission Electron Microscopy (STEM) and EDS analyses, we detected probable Silica Deposition Vesicles (SDVs), organelles involved in opal precipitation in other silicifying organisms, confirming that the Foraminifera themself secretes the opal layer. The layer was systematically found in all studied individuals and had no apparent sub-structure. Its thickness showed an analogous growth pattern with the calcitic shell of B. spissa , being the thickest in the oldest chamber (proloculus) and becoming thinner toward the younger chambers (apertural side). Its absence in the youngest chambers indicates that silicification occurs subsequently to calcification, probably discontinuously. We further discuss the potential function(s) of this composite test and propose that the opal layer may serve as a protection barrier against predators using either mechanical drilling or chemical etching of the calcitic test. Isotopic composition measurements performed separately on the proloculus part and the apertural side of B. spissa suggest that the presence of an opal layer may alter the calcitic isotopic signal and impact paleoenvironmental proxy using foraminifer's tests composition. If silicification in Foraminifera was found to be more widespread than previously thought, it could possibly have important implications for foraminiferal evolution, palaeoceanographic reconstructions, and the silica cycle at global scale. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Opal can be found in several locations, including America, Tanzania, Brazil, Mexico, East Africa, Indonesia and Australia, which is now the world’s top producer of black opal. One of the most economically valuable gems in the world is the mineraloid opal. In the Rongkong area, opal is found in the host rock of volcanic igneous rock, namely andesite. This study aims to determine the opal mineraloid host-rock’s microstructural characteristics and the elemental and compound content of the opal mineraloid host-rock’s geochemistry in the Rongkong area, Indonesia. The research took three samples in the field as large as hand specimens. The three samples were one host-rock sample and two opal mineraloid samples; the samples were then prepared and analyzed in the laboratory. Laboratory analysis was performed using SEM-EDS, XRF and petrographic analyses. The results of the SEM-EDS test analysis showed that most opal mineraloid carrier rock constituents are aluminum and oxide. This can be seen from the substantial Al and O content. In samples 1 and 2, Al, O, Ca and P with the highest composition of chemical compounds are Al2O3, CaO, and P2O5. The Rongkong opal mineraloid from Limbong Village, Rongkong District, North Luwu Regency, South Sulawesi, based on the results of XRF analysis, contains the chemical compounds SiO2, Al2O3, K2O, Fe2O3, CaO, TiO2, RuO2, SrO, MnO, V2O5, Rb2O, Ag2O and CuO. The content compound that is more dominant in opal mineraloids is SiO2 due to silicate enrichment in the forming of opal mineraloids. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper presents a theoretical evaluation of the mechanical properties of porous materials with an inverse opal structure, which is important for their application in various technological fields. The study focuses on a porous nickel-based material produced by a sequential multistep process that includes the self-assembly of polystyrene spheres, sintering, electrolytic deposition, and subsequent removal of polystyrene to achieve the desired structure. The study covers the process of transition from elastic to irreversible deformation. The objective of this study is to apply the finite element method to model the transition process to reveal the relationship between the structural characteristics of materials, such as porosity and coating thickness, and their mechanical properties. The yield surface was constructed by computational modeling on a representative cell with a number of points in the (p, τ) plane for two cases of opal structure: a highly porous uncoated structure and a structure with an additional solid phase layer. One of the results included approximation of the yield surface with a phenomenological Deshpande–Fleck crushable foam model available in finite element modeling packages. The conclusions show that the effective plastic properties of materials with an inverse opal structure significantly depend on their porosity level and the presence of additional coatings. The yield curve plotted for a porosity of 0.9 is close to the associated plastic flow law, allowing the material's behavior under loading to be assessed from the uniaxial stress state. However, for a structure with medium porosity and an additional coating layer, the surface becomes significantly unassociated, with a discrepancy of almost 30%. The application of the Deshpande–Fleck model for crushable foam in the approximation of the numerical data from the study demonstrates its relevance in describing the plastic behavior of this structure only at high porosity values. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Steaming‐assisted conversion route, a new strategy, is first adapted for the synthesis of highly crystallized anatase TiO2 2D inverse opal (IO) monolayer films, and then to Nb‐doped TiO2 and W‐doped TiO2 2D IO monolayer films. Pure water, ammonia, or HCl solutions are used as a source of steaming vapor to convert dry films of amorphous TiO2 IO, NbCl5/TiO2, and WCl6/TiO2 composite IOs into anatase TiO2, Nb‐doped TiO2, and W‐doped TiO2 IO films. This new strategy renders possible the doping of metal ions within the framework of the anatase TiO2 IO films under low temperature and liquid‐free conditions. Further, the ordered array structure of the IO films is also effectively retained. The low steaming conversion temperature allows high dopant rates of homogeneously distributed heteroatoms, resulting in Nb doping as high as ≈34%. The thus prepared TiO2, Nb‐doped TiO2, and W‐doped TiO2 anatase IO films are successfully used as active electrodes in the fabrication of electrochromic devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The possibilities of practical implementation of physical approaches to the design of metal–dielectric photonic crystal systems based on opals, which allow controlling the propagation of electromagnetic waves, are shown. The implemented approaches are based on the effects of excitation of surface plasmon-polaritons capable of propagating along the metal–dielectric interface in plasmonic-photonic layered heterostructures, and modification of the photonic-energy structure of the nanocomposite as a result of dispersion of silver in the opal matrix. Experimental results are presented indicating the occurrence of extraordinary transmission and absorption of light in plasmonic-photonic heterostructures, as well as the asymmetric shape of curves in the reflection spectra of nanocomposites, which is associated with the Fano resonance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The structure of opal has long fascinated scientists. It occurs in a number of structural states, ranging from amorphous to exhibiting features of stacking disorder. Opal‐CT, where C and T signify cristobalite‐ and tridymite‐like interstratification, represents an important link in the length scales between amorphous and crystalline states. However, details about local atomic (dis)order and arrangements extending to long‐range stacking faults in opal polymorphs remain incompletely understood. Here, a multilevel modeling approach is reported that considers stacking states in correlation with the abundance of C and T segments as a high‐level structural parameter (i.e. not each atom). Optimization accounting for inter‐tetrahedral bond lengths and angles and the regularity of the silicate tetrahedra is included as lower levels of structural parameters. Together, a set of parameters with both coarse‐grained and atomistic features for different levels of structural details is refined. Structural disorder at the ∼10–100 Å distance scale is evaluated using experimental pair distribution function and diffraction datasets, comparing peak intensities, widths and asymmetry. This work presents a complete multilevel structural description of natural opal‐CT and explains many of the unusual features observed in X‐ray powder diffraction patterns. This modeling approach can be adopted generally for analyzing layered materials and their assembly into 3D structures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: A long‐term follow‐up of the OPAL trial to compare the effect of patient‐initiated (PIFU) versus hospital‐based (HBFU) follow‐up on fear of cancer recurrence (FCR), quality of life (QoL) and healthcare use after 34 months of follow‐up. Design: Pragmatic, multicentre randomised trial. Setting: Four Danish departments of gynaecology between May 2013 and May 2016. Population: 212 women diagnosed with stage I low‐intermediate risk endometrial carcinoma. Methods: The control group attended HBFU with regular outpatient visits (i.e., 8) for 3 years after primary treatment. The intervention group underwent PIFU with no prescheduled visits but with instructions about alarm symptoms and options of self‐referral. Main outcome measures: The endpoints were FCR as measured by the Fear of Cancer Recurrence Inventory (FCRI) and QoL as measured by the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Core Questionnaire C‐30 (EORTC QLQ C‐30), and healthcare use as measured by questionnaires and chart reviews after 34 months of follow‐up. Results: FCR decreased from baseline to 34 months in both groups and no difference was found between allocations (difference −6.31 [95% confidence interval −14.24 to 1.63]). QoL remained stable with no difference in any domains between the two arms at 34 months using a linear mixed model analysis. The use of healthcare was significantly lower in the PIFU group (P < 0.01). Conclusion: Patient‐initiated follow‐up is a valid alternative to hospital‐based follow‐up for people who have been treated for endometrial cancer and have low risk of recurrence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the resurgence of Slovak opal mining, tracing its historical significance from the 19th century to present-day efforts aimed at revitalizing the industry. Topics include the geological and mineralogical aspects of the Červenica-Dubník opal deposits, recent developments in mining activities, and the establishment of "Slovak Opal" as a certified geographic designation.

The article offers information on precious opal from Pedro II, Brazil, highlighting its quality and the resurgence of Brazilian opal in the market after a period of underrepresentation. Topics include the opal occurrences in Pedro II, the history of opal mining in Brazil, and the characteristics of opals from this region, including their occurrence in both primary and alluvial deposits.

Photodynamic therapy is promising for combating bacteria by reactive oxygen species. However, the therapeutic efficiency of photodynamic antibacterial therapy (PDAT) is largely hindered by limited photon absorption and the low quantum yield of photosensitizers. Herein, a novel light‐harvesting platform is designed by decorating photosensitizer chlorine e6 (Ce6) into an inverse opal photonic hydrogel (Ce6/IOPG) framework for efficient light utilization to enhance PDAT. It is shown that the generating efficiency of singlet oxygen (1O2) can be tuned by the relative positions of the photonic bandgap (PBG) of IOPG and the absorption band of Ce6. The coupling of the slow photon effect with the efficient dispersion of Ce6 allows for a maximum generation of 1O2 of approximately 69.5‐fold and markedly enhances PDAT activity upon low light irradiation when the blue edge of PBG overlaps with the absorption band of Ce6. Particularly, slow photons at the blue edge show advantages in improving 1O2 generation compared to those at the red edge. The variation in 1O2 generation by altering the incident angle of light provides direct evidence for the slow photon effect in Ce6/IOPG. This work provides insights into blue‐edge slow photons in photodynamic enhancement and offers an advisable design principle for efficient antibacterial therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To describe the demographics, disease burden and real-world management of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) in Australian community practice. Methods: Patients with a physician diagnosis of SLE and at least 1 visit between 1 January 2009 and 31 March 2021 were identified in the OPAL dataset, an aggregated collection of data extracted from the electronic medical records of patients managed by 112 Australian rheumatologists. Demographics, basic clinical features and prescribed medications were described, with medication combinations used as a surrogate of disease severity. Results: Of 5133 patients with a diagnosis of lupus, 4260 (83%) had SLE. Of these SLE patients, almost 90% of patients were female, with a median age of 49 years [IQR 37–61] at first-recorded visit. Of the 2285 SLE patients whose most recent visit was between 1 January 2019 and 31 March 2021, 52.5% had mild disease, 29.9% had moderate-severe disease and 7.4% had very severe disease. Visit frequency increased with disease severity. Most patients (85.8%) were treated with hydroxychloroquine, typically prescribed as first line-of-therapy. Conclusion: In this large real-world Australian cohort of patients with SLE, a substantial burden of disease was identified, with a significant proportion (almost one-third of patients) considered to have moderate to severe disease based on medication use. This study provides a greater understanding of the path from symptom onset to treatment and the heterogeneous presentation of patients with SLE who are treated in community practice in Australia. Key messages • Most published studies describing patients with SLE are derived from specialist lupus centres, typically in the hospital setting, therefore little is known about the characteristics of patients with SLE who are receiving routine care in community clinics. • The OPAL dataset is a large collection of clinical data from the electronic medical records of rheumatologists predominantly practising in private community clinics, which is where the majority (73–80%) of adult rheumatology services are conducted in Australia [1–3]. Since data from community care has not been widely available for SLE research, this study contributes important insight into this large and under-reported patient population. • To improve access to care and effective treatments, and reduce the burden of SLE in Australia, a greater understanding of the characteristics and unmet needs of patients with SLE managed in the community setting is required. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A simple and frugal method for fabricating inverse micropatterned photonic crystal (PhC) films aimed at miniaturization and multiplexing of opaline PhCs is described. First, highly uniform micropatterned synthetic opal structures in the form of periodic stripes are formed via stick‐slip motion of the meniscus during SiO2 colloid solution evaporation. The prepared opal structures are then used as templates to produce inverse stripe patterned films with highly uniform colors via photopolymerization of ethoxylate trimethylolpropane triacrylate (ETPTA) photocurable resin. Local reflectance spectra are recorded to prove the PhC properties of the inverse stripes, and peaks over 40% associated with the first photonic stop band are observed. The readily fabrication process suggested here is an important step toward the development of many applications that can pave the technical road map for the next wave of innovations and breakthrough in PhCs for sensing. In particular, the resulting structures can be used as PhC arrays containing a line of periodically repeating sensor strips capable to detect the content of alcohols in water. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A computational algorithm for solving the boundary value problem of diffraction has been developed for Maxwell's equations together with the Landau‒Lifshitz equation using the Galerkin projection method. Using the developed computational algorithm for calculating the conductivity matrix of an autonomous block with Floquet channels (FABs), the real and imaginary parts of the complex wavenumber of a quasi-extraordinary wave have been calculated from the solution of the characteristic equation depending on the bias field strength. Using the computational algorithm of the multilevel FAB recomposition, the mathematical modeling of diffraction of the fundamental wave on a 3D magnetic nanostructure in a rectangular waveguide has been carried out and the results obtained have been compared with the experiment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Silica minerals constitute a main target to assess the origin of life or the possibility of its emergence. On Earth, ancient hydrothermal silica deposits have preserved the oldest forms of life. Beyond Earth, such silica-rich hydrothermal systems have been observed on Mars by orbital near-infrared (NIR) remote sensing and in situ rover exploration. This work investigates the variations of texture and NIR properties of opal with temperature, within a single geological context of hot springs. Silica sinters have been sampled in Icelandic hot-spring fields, in the Reykholt region, and at the Hveravellir site, with water temperature ranging from 14 to 101 ∘ C. Variations in the NIR spectral features (concavity ratio criteria, CRC) vary with fluid temperature, lithofacies, and microtexture. Only high-temperature samples display high CRC values (CRC 5200>0.85), but low CRC values (CRC 5200 < 0.75) are measured for any temperature. Hence, temperature is not the only parameter controlling spectral properties of opal. Several other parameters such as the hydrodynamic context, the microbial activity, silica micro-textures, and porosity may also affect silica precipitation, the incorporation and speciation of water in it, and thus its NIR signature. The observations suggest a limitation in the use of NIR spectral features for the interpretation of the geological context of fossil opal on Earth or Mars: only opal with high CRC values can be inferred as being formed by hydrothermal activity. Low CRC values can be attributed to either low-temperature hydrothermal activity (< 50–60 ∘ C) or to continental weathering. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chitosan (CS) is a natural polymer widely used in many fields. However, there are seldom studies that focus on its inherent fluorescence properties. In this work, based on the inherent fluorescence of chitosan (CS) and the mechanism that it can be quenched by hexavalent chromium (Cr(VI)), we developed novel CS-based inverse opal particles (IOPs) for Cr(VI) detection. The CS IOPs were obtained by replicating the silica colloidal crystal beads using CS, which displayed uniform shape and size, as well as enhanced fluorescence-emission capability resulted from the unique microstructure. Under the optimized conditions, the CS IOPs responded to Cr(VI) in a range of 0–10,000 μM with high sensitivity and specificity and demonstrated a LOD of 0.055 μM at the linear range of 0–30 μM. Furthermore, they displayed good detection ability in practical applications with recoveries of 86–106% for tap water and 99.7–107.3% for pond water, respectively. With these features, the developed CS IOPs are promising to be a simple, low-cost, and fast platform for detecting Cr(VI). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Limited light absorption and rapid photo-generated carriers' recombination pose significant challenges to the practical applications of photocatalysts. In this study, we employed an efficient approach by combining the slow-photon effect with Z-scheme charge transfer to enhance the photo-degradation performance of antibiotics. Specifically, we incorporated 0D ZnIn2S4 quantum dots (QDs) into a 3D hierarchical inverse opal (IO) TiO2 structure through a facile one-step process. This combination enhanced the visible light absorption and provided abundant active surfaces for efficient photo-degradation. Moreover, the ZnIn2S4 QDs formed an artificial Z-scheme system with IO-TiO2, facilitating the separation and migration of charge carriers. To achieve a better band alignment with IO-TiO2, we doped Ag into the ZnIn2S4 QDs (Ag: ZIS QDs) to adjust their energy levels. Through an investigation of the different Ag contents in the ZnIn2S4 QDs, we found that the optimal photo-degradation performance was achieved with Ag (2.0): ZIS QDs/IO-TiO2, exhibiting degradation rates 19.5 and 14.8 times higher than those of ZnIn2S4 QDs and IO-TiO2, respectively. This study provides significant insights for elevating the photocatalytic capabilities of IO-TiO2 and broadening its prospective applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Stimuli‐responsive photonic crystals (PCs) have attracted increasing attentions owing to the unique optical feature in regulating the propagation of light and tunable structural colors in response to external stimuli, emerging application potential on diverse fields. However, the development of stimuli‐responsive PCs with wide visible light range, broad shift of bandgaps, and adjustable responsive rates for counterfeiting remains challenging. Herein, a simple strategy for the preparation of photo‐responsive azobenzene‐containing inverse opal (AzoIO) films is reported. First, azobenzene‐containing composites are generated by filling functional monomers into voids of silica colloids crystals. Followed by the thermal polymerization and subsequent etching, a series of AzoIO films are successfully fabricated with adjustable structural colors in wide visible wavelength. Upon irradiation with linearly polarized visible light (LPVL), a slowly broad blueshift of bandgaps (≈138 nm, 3200 s) is observed due to the anisotropic shrinkage of the periodic PC structures. However, UV light irradiation contributed to a fast broad blueshift of bandgaps (≈131 nm, 10 s), owing to the photoisomerization merit of azobenzene moiety. The proof‐of‐concept study on the applications in light‐modulated multicolored writable paper, encryption films, and fast writing/erasing demonstrated the potential for information security. This work paves an avenue for developing promising optical anti‐counterfeiting materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] Manipulation of light has been proved to be a promising strategy to increase light harvesting in solar-to-chemical energy conversion, especially in photocatalysis. Inverse opal (IO) photonic structures are highly promising for light manipulation as their periodic dielectric structures enable them to slow down light and localize it within the structure, thereby improving light harvesting and photocatalytic efficiency. However, slow photons are confined to narrow wavelength ranges and hence limit the amount of energy that can be captured through light manipulation. To address this challenge, we synthesized bilayer IO TiO 2 @BiVO 4 structures that manifested two distinct stop band gap (SBG) peaks, arising from different pore sizes in each layer, with slow photons available at either edge of each SBG. In addition, we achieved precise control over the frequencies of these multi-spectral slow photons through pore size and incidence angle variations, that enabled us to tune their wavelengths to the electronic absorption of the photocatalyst for optimal light utilization in aqueous phase visible light photocatalysis. This first proof of concept involving multi-spectral slow photon utilization enabled us to achieve up to 8.5 times and 2.2 times higher photocatalytic efficiencies than the corresponding non-structured and monolayer IO photocatalysts respectively. Through this work, we have successfully and significantly improved light harvesting efficiency in slow photon-assisted photocatalysis, the principles of which can be extended to other light harvesting applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Synthetic opals, a composition of homogeneous silica spheres in the mesoscale size range, have attracted the attention of scientists due to their favorable chemical and physical properties. Their chemical inertness and stability, biocompatibility, homogeneity, elevated specific surface area, and ease of functionalization of their surfaces make them a versatile nanotool. In the present study, the Stöber process was used to investigate the effect of parameters, such as reagent concentration and synthesis temperature, on the resulting silica particle size and structure. The optimal conditions for successfully obtaining homogeneous particles in the mesoscale range with high reproducibility were investigated. Several synthesis procedures and their dependence on the reaction temperature were presented to allow the selection of the assumed diameter of silica spheres. The numerous samples obtained were examined for size, homogeneity, structure, and specific surface area. On the basis of specific surface area measurements and nuclear magnetic resonance studies, the internal hierarchical structure of the spherical silica was confirmed as consisting of a solid core and layers of secondary spheres covered by a solid shell. Structural studies (X-ray Spectroscopy, X-ray Absorption Near-Edge Structure, and nuclear magnetic resonance), together with infrared vibrational spectroscopy, showed no dependence of the structure of the obtained mesospheres on the concentration of reagents and the size of the obtained particles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although the intensity of mining and the amount of opal produced have greatly diminished in comparison to the 1890s, White Cliffs remains the only known locality for "opal pineapples", an apparently unique occurrence of glendonite pseudomorphs (calcite after ikaite) that have subsequently been replaced by opaline silica. Broken precious opal pineapple showing banded opal structure, 9.4 cm. Red Earth Opals specimen, Malcolm Southwood photo. The final arrangement and size of these silica spheres determine whether the resultant opal displays a vivid range of colors (i.e., precious opal) or lacks a play of colors (i.e., common opal or "potch"). Opal pineapple composed of precious opal, 10.7 cm. Red Earth Opals specimen, Malcolm Southwood photo. [Extracted from the article]

The emulsion polymerization process via which core–interlayer–shell polymer nanoparticles are synthesized is engineered to offer a crucial control of the eventual size and monodispersity of the polystyrene (PS) cores. We examine the role of key experimental parameters, optimizing the temperature, reactant purity, and agitation (stirring) rate. The subsequent addition of a poly(methyl-methacrylate) (PMMA) grafting layer and a poly(ethyl-acrylate) (PEA) shell layer produces composite particles, which are shear-orderable into opaline films, known as 'polymer opals'. We thus demonstrate pathways toward a 'dial-in' process, where the time taken to obtain the target core size is mapped to the expected resultant structural color. At reaction temperatures of 60 and 70 °C, viable conditions are found where all syntheses give an excellent level of monodispersity (polydispersity index < 0.02), suitable for interlayer and shell growth. These reports may be readily applied to a wider industrial scale fabrication pipeline for these polymeric photonic materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Carbon nanospheres are successfully synthesized with a particle size of about 140 nm using a two‐step hydrothermal method and used the carbon nanospheres as the deposition template material on the surface of P25(TiO2) by means of vertical deposition method. The antiopaline TiO2 photonic crystal (PC) structure is further prepared via immersed carbon nanospheres in TiO2 precursor solution, and the antiopal PC is used as the scattering layer of the photoanode of dye‐sensitized solar cell (DSSCs). As a comparison, the antiopal PC reflective layer is also prepared on the photoanode of DSSCs using polystyrene nanospheres as the template material. The photoanodes with those PC scattering layers prepared with different template materials are fabricated into complete DSSCs. The final photoelectric conversion efficiency of the DSSCs prepared with carbon nanospheres as the template material reaches 7.02%, which is comparable to the cells prepared with polystyrene nanospheres as the template material. The efficiency of the cell with the scattering layer is increased by about 16% compared with that of the normal DSSC based on P25. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper reviews the PBG theory, the crystallization of monodisperse colloidal solutions and a method which enables to build three-dimensional periodic structures using polystyrene microspheres. Two techniques which increase the refractive index contrast are also described. One is based on the inverse-opal method and the other on the incorporation of silver between the interstices of a colloidal crystal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biological pump processes generated by diatom production in the surface water of the Southern Ocean play an important role in exchanging CO2 gas between the atmosphere and ocean. In this study, the biogenic opal content of the sediments was measured to elucidate the variation in the primary production of diatoms in the surface water of the Southern Ocean since the last glacial period. A piston core (COR-1bPC) was collected from the Conrad Rise, which is located in the Indian sector of the Southern Ocean. The sediments were mainly composed of siliceous ooze, and sediment lightness increased and magnetic susceptibility decreased in an upward direction. The biogenic opal content was low (38.9%) during the last glacial period and high (73.4%) during the Holocene, showing a similar variation to that of Antarctic ice core ΔT and CO2 concentration. In addition, the variation of biogenic opal content in core COR-1bPC is consistent with previous results reported in the Antarctic Zone, south of the Antarctic Polar Front, in the Southern Ocean. The glacial-interglacial biogenic opal production was influenced by the extent of sea ice coverage and degree of water column stability. During the last glacial period, the diatom production was reduced due to the penetration of light being limited in the euphotic zone by the extended sea ice coverage caused by the lowered seawater temperature. In addition, the formation of a strong thermocline in more extensive areas of sea ice coverage led to stronger water column stability, resulting in reduced diatom production due to the reduction in the supply of nutrient-rich subsurface water caused by a decrease in upwelling intensity. Under such environmental circumstances, diatom productivity decreased in the Antarctic Zone during the last glacial period, but the biogenic opal content increased rapidly under warming conditions with the onset of deglaciation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For the inverse opal photocatalyst, hydraulic pressure and other problems caused by the ordered structure of the inverse opal photocatalyst make it difficult for the pollutants to enter the structure quickly and effectively, so the effective control of its structure has become an urgent problem to be solved. Here, multi-heterojunction inverse opal structure catalyst with multi-level branched pore structure is prepared by the sol-gel method. The special three-dimensional dendritic porous structure solves the problem that a pollutant solution is difficult to effectively enter a skeleton with the traditional ordered inverse opal photocatalyst. This structure can also lead to the nanocrystallization of TZS powders, thus promoting the formation of the intermediate product ZrTiO 4 and optimizing the heterogeneous interface in the TiO 2 –ZrO 2 heterojunction, thereby successfully constructing the multi-heterostructure and effectively improving the redox ability. Furthermore, by adjusting the loading amount of TZS, the matching of the heterojunction and the inverse opal structure can be effectively controlled, the matching of the photonic band gap and the forbidden bandwidth can be effectively adjusted, and the degradation efficiency is greatly improved. This study provides a new idea for effective collaboration between multi-heterogeneous interfaces and 3D branch fractal structures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Photoelectrochemical sensors have outstanding advantages including high sensitivity and miniaturization for outdoor use. Recently, perovskite quantum dots have attracted significant attention due to their high photoluminescence quantum yield. Nonetheless, there is still a strong need to improve their performance in challenging aqueous biological applications. In this paper, based on the molecularly imprinted polymer encapsulation of CsPbBr3 perovskite quantum dot/TiO2 inverse opal heterojunction structures, linear photoelectrochemical detection of cholesterol in aqueous solution was obtained without the involvement of an enzyme. The attenuation of photocurrent intensity under intermittent irradiation within 900 s (45 on/off cycles) was only 8.6%, demonstrating the superior stability of CsPbBr3 based sensor here. At the same time, the minimum detection limit of 1.22 × 10−9 mol L−1 in buffer conditions was lower than that reported for cholesterol photoelectric sensors. It has also been shown that the photoelectrochemical sensor of CsPbBr3 here outperformed that of CH3NH3PbBr3, which is another important member of the perovskite family. Finally, the proposed photoelectrochemical sensor platform was successfully applied in the determination of cholesterol in challenging serum with satisfactory recovery. The synergism among CsPbBr3 perovskite quantum dots, TiO2 inverse opal structure and imprinted polymer has led to greatly improved water stability, super selectivity and sensitivity, thus promoting the development of perovskite-based biological sensors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to solve the problem of low photocatalytic efficiency in photocatalytic products, researchers proposed a method to use inverse opal photonic crystal structure in photocatalytic materials. This is due to a large specific surface area and a variety of optical properties of the inverse opal photonic crystal, which are great advantages in photocatalytic performance. In this paper, the photocatalytic principle and preparation methods of three-dimensional inverse opal photonic crystals are introduced, including the preparation of basic inverse opal photonic crystals and the photocatalytic modification of inverse opal photonic crystals, and then the application progresses of inverse opal photonic crystal photocatalyst in sewage purification, production of clean energy and waste gas treatment are introduced. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Azobenzene mesogens have garnered considerable research attention in the realm of photo-responsive materials due to their reversible trans–cis isomerization. In this paper, we demonstrate an azobenzene inverse opal film synthesized via photo-polymerization from a SiO2 opal template. The proposed design exhibits intriguing optical properties, including dynamic fluorescent features, distinct fluorescent enhancement, and an anti-fake micropattern with a switchable structure color. This work holds significant importance for advancing the development of novel optical devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]