Two‐photon supramolecular assembly with near‐infrared (NIR) fluorescence emission is constructed from tetraphenylethene derivative possessing methoxyl and vinyl pyridine salt (TPE‐2SP), cucurbit8uril ...(CB8), and β‐cyclodextrin modified hyaluronic acid (HA‐CD). The obtained experimental results indicate that the TPE‐2SP exhibits a very weak fluorescence emission at 650 nm, and then complexes with cucurbit7uril (CB7) to form 1:2 supramolecular pseudorotaxane with an enhanced NIR fluorescence emission at 660 nm. Compared with CB7, CB8 can assemble with TPE‐2SP to be two‐axial netlike pseudopolyrotaxane, resulting in close packing to increase TPE‐2SP fluorescence emission with a redshift of 30 nm. Interestingly, TPE‐2SP/CB8 continues to assemble with cancer cell targeting agent HA‐CD into nanoparticles, leading to assembling‐induced further enhancement of NIR emission. Surprisingly, supramolecular nanoparticles have the two‐photon character, and are successfully applied to mitochondrial targeting imaging. This supramolecular assembly system, with two‐photon absorption and assembly‐induced enhanced NIR luminescence properties, opens new way for biological targeted imaging.
Due to host–guest induced emission by cucurbit8uril, supramolecular nanosquares display near‐infrared emission in aqueous solution. Further assembling with cancer cell targeting agent, β‐cyclodextrin modified hyaluronic acid (HA‐CD) into supramolecular nanoparticles leads to assembling‐induced enhancement of NIR emission dramatically. Furthermore, supramolecular nanoparticles can be applied for two‐photon mitochondrial targeted NIR imaging.
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BFBNIB, FZAB, GIS, IJS, KILJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, SAZU, SBCE, SBMB, UL, UM, UPUK
Zn‐ion capacitors (ZICs) take advantage of batteries and supercapacitors in delivering high energy and power densities for energy storage by using porous carbons due to their low cost, lightweight, ...high conductivity, and good stability. However, it remains a grand challenge to regulate the mesoporous structures of carbons, including pore sizes and surface functional groups, which are essential for ion transport and electrochemical reactions of ZICs. Herein, a bi‐directional electrolysis strategy is developed to directly reduce CO2 to oxygen‐rich mesoporous carbons (OMCs) with adjustable pore sizes and oxygen‐bearing functional groups, which are preferred for ZICs as theoretically proved by density functional theory (DFT). The designed OMCs exhibit a remarkable energy density of 216.6 Wh kg−1 and performance retention of 90% after 15000 cycles. When assembled in the flexible ZICs, the OMCs demonstrate a high capacitance of 329.5 mAh g−1. This work presents a novel strategy for synthesizing OMCs through a decarbonization process and reveals the crucial role of microstructure and surface functional groups in promoting the performance of ZICs.
CO2‐derived oxygen‐rich mesoporous carbons with optimal pore size and oxygen‐containing functional groups are successfully synthesized via a bi‐directional electrolysis strategy for Zn‐ion capacitors, which exhibit a remarkable energy density of 216.6 Wh kg−1 and performance retention of 90% after 15000 cycles. This work presents a novel strategy for synthesizing energy materials through a decarbonization process.
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BFBNIB, FZAB, GIS, IJS, KILJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, SAZU, SBCE, SBMB, UL, UM, UPUK
An organic crystal of 4,4′‐bis(N‐carbazolyl)‐1,1′‐biphenyl (pCBP) exhibits time‐dependent afterglow color from blue to orange over 1 s. Both experimental and computational data confirm that the color ...evolution results from well‐separated, long‐persistent thermally activated delayed fluorescence (TADF) and room‐temperature phosphorescence (RTP) with different but comparable decay rates. TADF is enabled by a small S1–T1 energy gap of 0.7 kcal mol−1. The good separation of TADF and RTP is due to a 11.8 kcal mol−1 difference in the S0 energies of the S1 and T1 structures, indicating that apart from the excited‐state properties, tuning the ground state is also important for luminescence properties. This afterglow color evolution of pCBP allows its applications in anticounterfeiting and data encryption with high security levels.
Organic sunset: A time‐dependent afterglow color in a single‐component organic molecular crystal was observed. It originates from well‐separated, long‐persistent thermally activated delayed fluorescence and room‐temperature phosphorescence with different but comparable decay rates.
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BFBNIB, FZAB, GIS, IJS, KILJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, SAZU, SBCE, SBMB, UL, UM, UPUK
Increasingly stringent environmental regulations and consumer awareness around environmental protection and sustainability are driving forces in the hotel industry. We explore the Proactive ...Environmental Strategies being implemented in the hotel industry using Resource-Based View (RBV) and Resource Dependence Theory (RDT) to help companies with Eco-Innovation, Green Core Competences, and Green Competitive Advantages. We investigated the correlations between Proactive Environmental Strategies, Eco-Innovations, Green Competitive Advantages, and Green Core Competences in the hotel industry. With 366 responses, the correlation of Proactive Environmental Strategies with Eco-Innovation and how these are related to Green Competitive Advantage and Green Core Competence were explored. The results revealed that Proactive Environmental Strategies positively influence Eco-Innovation, which in turn directly affects Green Core Competence. Moreover, Green Core Competence affects Green Competitive Advantage. However, the effects of Eco-Innovation on Green Competitive Advantage were not significant. Therefore, companies must either re-consider existing or develop new technologies to become more innovative to meet the emerging environmental demands and green competitiveness strategies. This study also contributes to our understanding of how Eco-Innovation affects guest satisfaction and repeat patronage in the hotel image. The practical and theoretical implications of the findings provide guidance to managers in the hotel industry.
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BFBNIB, NUK, PILJ, SAZU, UL, UM, UPUK
With prosperity, decay, and another spring, molecular ferroelectrics have passed a hundred years since Valasek first discovered ferroelectricity in the molecular compound Rochelle salt. Recently, the ...proposal of ferroelectrochemistry has injected new vigor into this century-old research field. It should be highlighted that piezoresponse force microscopy (PFM) technique, as a non-destructive imaging and manipulation method for ferroelectric domains at the nanoscale, can significantly speed up the design rate of molecular ferroelectrics as well as enhance the ferroelectric and piezoelectric performances relying on domain engineering. Herein, we provide a brief review of the contribution of the PFM technique toward assisting the design and performance optimization of molecular ferroelectrics. Relying on the relationship between ferroelectric domains and crystallography, together with other physical characteristics such as domain switching and piezoelectricity, we believe that the PFM technique can be effectively applied to assist the design of high-performance molecular ferroelectrics equipped with multifunctionality, and thereby facilitate their practical utilization in optics, electronics, magnetics, thermotics, and mechanics among others.
Along with the rapid development of ferroelectrochemistry, piezoresponse force microscopy (PFM) with high detection speed and accuracy has become a powerful tool for screening the potential candidates for molecular ferroelectrics.
The expression of legumain which has been shown overexpressed in patients with metastatic gastric cancer is positively correlated to both disease progression and outcome, and negatively correlated to ...microRNA (miR)-3978 expression. The RNA-binding protein, poly r(C) binding protein 1 (PCBP1) was the most downregulated protein in the metastatic tissue specimens. Quantitative real-time PCR showed that PCBP1 expression is transcriptionally downregulated in peritoneal metastasis tissues. RNA immunoprecipitation experiments showed that PCBP1 and miR-3978 are sequestered in normal peritoneal tissue, but the complex is disrupted following metastatic progression. PCBP1 expression mimicked miR-3978 expression across gastric cancer patients. Finally, replenishment of PCBP1 or miR-3978 expression in the peritoneal metastasis cell line MKN45 decreased legumain protein expression and chemosensitized the cells to treatment with docetaxel. However, replenishment of one and concomitant depletion of the other failed to induce chemosensitivity to docetaxel. Replenishment of miR-3978 also resulted in induction of PCBP1 protein expression, potentially indicating that miR-3978 expression might downregulate a negative regulator targeting PCBP1. Our current study reveals PCBP1 as an additional biomarker in peritoneal metastasis. PCBP1 and miR-3978 expression were correlated and suggests a potential interplay of differential miRNA biogenesis and RNA binding protein during metastatic progression.
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IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, UL, UM, UPUK
Nowadays, most of e-learning systems embody online discussion forums as a medium for collaborative learning that supports knowledge sharing and information exchanging between learners. The ...exponential growth of the available shared information in e-learning online discussion forums has caused a difficulty for learners in discovering interesting information. This paper introduces a novel recommendation architecture that is able to recommend interesting post messages to the learners in an e-learning online discussion forum based on a semantic content-based filtering and learners' negative ratings. We evaluated the proposed e-learning recommender system against exiting e-learning recommender systems that use similar filtering techniques in terms of recommendation accuracy and learners' performance. The obtained experimental results show that the proposed e-learning recommender system outperforms other similar e-learning recommender systems that use non-semantic content-based filtering technique (CB), non-semantic content-based filtering technique with learners' negative ratings (CB-NR), semantic content-based filtering technique (SCB), with respect to system accuracy of about 57%, 28%, and 25%, respectively. Furthermore, the obtained results also show that the learning performance has been increased by at least 9.84% for the learners whom are supported by recommendations based on the proposed technique as compared to other similar recommendation techniques.
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BFBNIB, DOBA, IZUM, KILJ, NMLJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
The proteasome in eukaryotic cells can degrade a variety of proteins and plays an important role in regulating the cell cycle, cell survival and apoptosis. The proteasome receives much attention as a ...potential chemotherapeutic target for treatment of a variety of infectious parasitic diseases, but few studies of proteasomes have been done on parasitic nematodes.
A proteasomal β5 subunit encoding gene (named Hc-pbs-5) and its inferred product (Hc-PBS-5) in Haemonchus contortus were identified and characterized in this study. Then, the transcriptional profiles and anatomical expression were studied using an integrated molecular approach. Finally, a specific proteasome inhibitor bortezomib (BTZ), together with RNA interference (RNAi), was employed to assess the function of Hc-PBS-5.
Bioinformatic analysis revealed that the coding sequence of Hc-pbs-5 was 855 bp long and encoded 284 amino acids (aa). The predicted protein (Hc-PBS-5) had core conservative sequences (65-250 aa) belonging to N-terminal nucleophile (Ntn) family of hydrolases. Real-time PCR results revealed that Hc-pbs-5 was continuously transcribed in eight developmental stages with higher levels at the infective third-stage larvae (L3s) and adult males of H. contortus. Immunohistochemical results revealed that Hc-PBS-5 was expressed in intestine, outer cuticle, muscle cells under the outer cuticle, cervical glands and seminal vesicles of male adults and also in intestine, outer cuticle, cervical glands, uterine wall, eggs and ovaries of female adults of H. contortus. BTZ could reduce proportions of egg hatching, and the fourth-stage larvae (L4s) developed from the exsheathed L3s (xL3s) of H. contortus. In addition, silencing Hc-pbs-5 by soaking the specific double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) could decrease the transcription of Hc-pbs-5 and result in fewer xL3s developing to L4s in vitro.
These results indicate that proteasomal β5 subunit plays an important role in the growth, development and life span of H. contortus.
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IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, UL, UM, UPUK
Background The aim of this retrospective study was to compare the outcomes of operations based on 3-dimensional (3D) operation planning with non 3D-assisted operations in the treatment of centrally ...located hepatocellular carcinoma. Study Design From April 2008 to March 2014, 116 patients with centrally located hepatocellular carcinoma received surgical treatment in our department. Among these cases, a total of 60 patients received resection with operation planning based on 3D reconstructions (group A); the remaining 56 received treatment with the aid of traditional imaging (group B). Three-dimensional surgical planning, including the classification system for centrally located hepatocellular carcinoma, was elaborated in the study. Results Compared with group B, group A was linked to shorter operation time (294.5 ± 61.9 minutes vs 324.3 ± 83.1 minutes; p = 0.028) and lower rate of hepatic inflow occlusion (51.7% vs 71.4%; p = 0.029). No differences were found in surgical methods, intraoperative blood transfusion, and intraoperative blood loss. The groups were similar in their rates of complications, except that group B was more liable to have Clavien Grade III to V complications (3.3% vs 14.3%; p = 0.048). In addition, a significant difference in ascites was found across the 2 cohorts (2 in group A and 8 in group B; p = 0.048), and the 2 groups also differed significantly in total bilirubin (23.2 ± 16.1 g/L vs 31.1 ± 24.1 g/L; p = 0.032) and albumin (29.3 ± 5.2 g/L vs 27.8 ± 7.9 g/L; p = 0.033). Conclusions Compared with non 3D-assisted operations, the operation planning based on 3D reconstruction is a more effective and reasonable method in the treatment of centrally located hepatocellular carcinoma. In addition, the classification system may facilitate the 3D operation planning.
Differentiation of Leydig cells plays a key role in male reproductive function. Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) have emerged as a potential cell source for generating Leydig-like cells due ...to their multipotent differentiation capacity and accessibility. This study aimed to investigate the morphological and genetic expression changes of BMSCs during differentiation into Leydig-like cells. Testicular extract liquid, which simulates the microenvironment in vivo, induced the third passage BMSCs differentiated into Leydig-like cells. Changes in cell morphology were observed by microscopy, the formation of lipid droplets of androgen precursor was identified by Oil Red Staining, and the expression of testicular specific genes 3β-HSD and SF-1 in testicular stromal cells was detected by RT-qPCR. BMSCs isolated from the bone marrow of Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were cultured for 3 generations and identified as qualified BMSCs in terms of morphology and cell surface markers. After 14 days of induction with testicular tissue lysate, lipid droplets appeared in the cytoplasm of P3 BMSCs by Oil Red O staining. RT-qPCR detection was performed on BMSCs on the 3
rd
, 7
th
, 14
th
, and 21
st
day after induction. Relative expression levels of 3β-HSD mRNA significantly increased after 14 days of induction, while the relative expression of SF-1 mRNA increased after 14 days of induction but was not significant. BMSCs can differentiate into testicular interstitial cells with reserve androgen precursor lipid droplets after induction by testicular tissue lysate. The differentiation ability of BMSCs provides the potential to reconstruct the testicular microenvironment and is expected to fundamentally improve testicular function and provide new treatment options for abnormal spermatogenesis diseases.
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EMUNI, FIS, FZAB, GEOZS, GIS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, MFDPS, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, SBMB, SBNM, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK, VKSCE, ZAGLJ
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