A new perovskite‐like coordination polymer (CH3)2NH2Cd(N3)3 is reported which undergoes a reversible ferroelastic phase transition. This transition is due to varied modes of motion of the (CH3)2NH2+ ...guest accompanied by a synergistic deformation of the Cd(N3)3− framework. The unusual two‐staged switchable dielectric relaxation reveals the molecular dynamics of the polar cation guest, which are well controlled by the variable confined space of the host framework. As the material switches from the ferroelastic phase to the paraelastic phase, a remarkable increase of the rotational energy barrier is detected. As a result, upon heating at low temperature, this compound shows a notable change from a low to a high dielectric state in the ferroelastic phase. This thermoresponsive host–guest system may serve as a model compound for the development of sensitive thermoresponsive dielectric materials and may be key to understanding and modulating molecular/ionic dynamics of guest molecules in confined space.
Flexible frameworks: A perovskite‐like coordination polymer (CH3)2NH2Cd(N3)3 undergoes a ferroelastic‐to‐paraelastic phase transition as a result of the motion of the guest cation within the host framework (see picture), which itself undergoes a simultaneous deformation. This material acts as a thermoresponsive dielectric system owing to the well‐controlled guest molecular dynamics in the confined space.
Full text
Available for:
BFBNIB, FZAB, GIS, IJS, KILJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, SBCE, SBMB, UL, UM, UPUK
Recently, inorganic halide perovskite (CsPbX3, X = Cl, Br, I) quantum dots (QDs) have attracted tremendous research interests because of their great potential for application in the fields of ...low-cost light sources and displays. However, the unsatisfactory structural and chemical stabilities of such materials are the main obstacles hindering reliable device operation significantly. In this study, we successfully prepared CsPbBr3/silica QD composites through a simple sol-gel reaction by using tetramethoxysilane as a single molecule precursor. The as-prepared CsPbBr3/silica QD composites demonstrated substantially improved stability against heat, light, and environmental oxygen/moisture. Besides, a relatively narrower photoluminescence linewidth and higher quantum yield were achieved compared with that of fresh CsPbBr3 QDs. Furthermore, the CsPbBr3 QDs/silica composites were applied as color-converting layer curing on blue light-emitting diodes (LEDs) for white LED applications. Finally, a high power efficiency of 63.5 lm W-1 was obtained and the light emission could be efficiently sustained over 13 h without any decay in the continuous current mode, demonstrating remarkable operation stability than that reported previously. It can be anticipated that the excellent properties and facile processing technique used here will make perovskite QDs/silica composites attractive for applications in optoelectronics and industrial fields.
Amyloid beta peptide （Aβ） is produced through the proteolytic processing of a transmembrane protein, amyloid precursor protein （APP）, by β- and y-secretases. Aβ accumulation in the brain is proposed ...to be an early toxic event in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer＇s disease, which is the most common form of dementia associated with plaques and tangles in the brain. Currently, it is unclear what the physiological and pathological forms of Aβ are and by what mechanism Aβ causes dementia. Moreover, there are no efficient drugs to stop or reverse the progression of Alzheimer＇s disease. In this paper, we review the structures, biological functions, and neurotoxicity role of Aβ. We also discuss the potential receptors that interact with Aβ and mediate Aβ intake, clearance, and metabolism. Additionally, we summarize the therapeutic developments and recent advances of different strategies for treating Alzheimer＇s disease. Finally, we will report on the progress in searching for novel, potentially effective agents as well as selected promising strategies for the treatment of Alzheimer＇s disease. These prospects include agents acting on Aβ, its receptors and tau protein, such as small molecules, vaccines and antibodies against Aβ inhibitors or modulators of β- and y-secretase; Aβ-degrading proteases; tau protein inhibitors and vaccines; amyloid dyes and microRNAs.
Full text
Available for:
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
In this work, an effective strategy through doping of univalent Na+ ions, which are stable against oxidation and reduction, was proposed to enhance the emission efficiency and stability of ...orthorhombic CsPbBr3 nanocrystals (NCs). Compared with the fresh CsPbBr3 NCs, a better color purity and a higher photoluminescence quantum yield were achieved, accompanied with a gradual blue shift of the emission peak with an increasing Na+ doping ratio. On the one hand, the passivation effect with Na+ doping substantially reduces the nonradiative trap centers in NCs. On the other hand, the density functional theory calculations indicate that the doping of Na+ ions forms the energetically preferred substitution NaPb, which increases the optical band gap of CsPbBr3 and the diffusion barrier of Br vacancy in CsPbBr3 structures. Experimentally, the as-synthesized Na+-doped CsPbBr3 NCs present obvious enhancements in stability against ultraviolet light, heat, and moisture. The above advantages allow us to use such CsPbBr3:Na NCs as solid-state phosphors for white light-emitting device (WLED) applications. Finally, the prepared WLED exhibits a pure white light with Commission International de I’Eclairage color coordinates at (0.31, 0.33), with a color temperature of 6652 K, a color rendering index of 75.2, and a high power efficiency of 67.3 l m/W. More importantly, the WLED shows only 15% decay after continuous runs for as long as 500 h, which demonstrates a great superiority to the reference device with the fresh CsPbBr3 NCs as the phosphors. The approach used here provides an effective strategy to improve the emission efficiency and stability of perovskite NCs, showing promising potentials for their applications in lighting and display fields.
Full text
Available for:
IJS, KILJ, NUK, PNG, UL, UM
In the present study, we hypothesized that hypoxia-inducible factor 1α (HIF-1α)-mediated mitophagy plays a protective role in ischemia/reperfusion (I/R)-induced acute kidney injury (AKI). Mitophagy ...was evaluated by measuring the changes of mitophagy flux, mitochondria DNA copy number, and the changes of mitophagy-related proteins including translocase of outer mitochondrial membrane 20 (TOMM20), cytochrome c oxidase IV (COX IV), microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3B (LC3B), and mitochondria adaptor nucleoporin p62 in HK2 cells, a human tubular cell line. Results show that HIF-1α knockout significantly attenuated hypoxia/reoxygenation (H/R)-induced mitophagy, aggravated H/R-induced apoptosis, and increased the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Similarly, H/R induced significantly increase in Bcl-2 19-kDa interacting protein 3 (BNIP3), a downstream regulator of HIF-1α. Notably, BNIP3 overexpression reversed the inhibitory effect of HIF-1α knockout on H/R-induced mitophagy, and prevented the enhancing effect of HIF-1α knockout on H/R-induced apoptosis and ROS production. For in vivo study, we established HIF-1αflox/flox; cadherin-16-cre mice in which tubular HIF-1α was specifically knockout. It was found that tubular HIF-1α knockout significantly inhibited I/R-induced mitophagy, and aggravated I/R-induced tubular apoptosis and kidney damage. In contrast, adenovirus-mediated BNIP3 overexpression significantly reversed the decreased mitophagy, and prevented enhanced kidney damage in tubular HIF-1α knockout mice with I/R injury. In summary, our study demonstrated that HIF-1α-BNIP3-mediated mitophagy in tubular cells plays a protective role through inhibition of apoptosis and ROS production in acute kidney damage.
Full text
Available for:
GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UILJ, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZAGLJ, ZRSKP
Recent advances in nanofabrication technologies have spurred many breakthroughs in the field of photonic metamaterials that provide efficient ways of manipulating light–matter interaction at ...subwavelength scales. As one of the most important applications, photonic metamaterials can be used to implement novel optical absorbers. First the morphology engineering of various photonic metamaterial absorbers is discussed, which is highly associated with impendence matching conditions and resonance modes of the absorbers, thus directly determines their absorption efficiency, operational bandwidth, incident angle, and polarization dependence. Then, the recent achievements of various interdisciplinary applications based on photonic metamaterial absorbers, including structural color generation, ultrasensitive optical sensing, solar steam generation, and highly responsive photodetection, are reviewed. This report is expected to provide an overview and vision for the future development of photonic metamaterial absorbers and their applications in novel nanophotonic systems.
Photonic metamaterial absorbers (PMAs) are reviewed, focusing on their morphology engineering and interdisciplinary applications. Feasible methods to tailor the subwavelength‐scale structures of PMAs for optimizing their absorption performances are presented. Incorporated with interdisciplinary techniques, the application of PMAs in coloration, sensing, steam generation, and photodetection is also discussed.
Full text
Available for:
BFBNIB, FZAB, GIS, IJS, KILJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, SBCE, SBMB, UL, UM, UPUK
Marine algae contain abundant polysaccharides that support a range of health-promoting activities; however, the high molecular weight, high viscosity, and low solubility of marine algae ...polysaccharides (MAPs) limit their application in food, agriculture and medicine. Thus, as the degradation products of MAPs, marine algae oligosaccharides (MAOs) have drawn increasing attention. Most MAOs are non-digestible by digestive enzyme in the human gastrointestinal tract, but are fermented by bacteria in the gut and converted into short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs). MAOs can selectively enhance the activities of some populations of beneficial bacteria and stimulate a series of prebiotic effects, such as anti-oxidant, anti-diabetic, anti-tumour. However, the exact structures of MAOs and their prebiotic activities are, to a large extent, unexplored. This review summarizes recent advances in the sources, categories, and structure analysis methods of MAOs, emphasizing their effects on gut microbiota and its metabolite SCFAs as well as the resulting range of probiotic activities.
Full text
Available for:
BFBNIB, GIS, IJS, KISLJ, NUK, PNG, UL, UM, UPUK
This study aimed to analyze the factors of rapid attenuation of graft endothelium in the early stage after penetrating keratoplasty (PKP), with a view to guiding patients with PKP to better long-term ...outcomes. This study included 226 patients who underwent PKP with follow-up time >1 year at the Qingdao Eye Hospital of Shandong First Medical University from January 2018 to June 2020. Medical records were retrospectively studied, and donor factors, patient factors, and surgical factors were comparatively analyzed to clarify those affecting the rapid decay of graft endothelium after PKP. The median time between excision and death >60 min and patient age >60 years were risk factors for endothelial cell loss (ECL) rate >30% at 1 month postoperatively. However, a higher percentage of patients with donor age ≤60 years and Optisol preservation solution had endothelial cell density (ECD) >2000 cells/mm2 in the graft at postoperative 1 year. A year after the surgery, patients with corneal endothelial decompensation and immune rejection were at risk for ECD < 1000 cells/mm2. The combined operations had a significant effect on the ECL in the early postoperative period. Patients who underwent combined extracapsular cataract extraction or intraocular lens implantation had a significantly higher rate of ECL at postoperative 1 month than other patients, and no significant effect at postoperative 1 year. However, patients without combined operations have a higher probability of maintaining a high level of graft ECD. The graft diameter also affected postoperative ECL. In patients with a larger graft diameter, attenuation of ECD was slower. The ultimate goal of PKP is to maintain graft transparency for extended periods. The use of younger donors, minimizing unnecessary operation in the anterior chamber, and minimizing immune rejection may maintain a greater donor corneal endothelium in the long term.
Full text
Available for:
DOBA, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
The self-assembly of block copolymers (BCPs) in the presence of crystallization as the second driving force is reviewed, for BCPs in the bulk, thin films, single crystals and micelles. The ...crystallization of semicrystalline BCPs in the bulk is introduced briefly and the unique morphologies of semicrystalline BCPs at various levels due to crystallization are discussed. The thin film morphologies shown by crystalline BCPs are summarized in terms of the factors affecting the relative strengths of various driving forces. Special attention is paid to the thin film morphologies of functional BCPs containing crystalline poly(3-alkylthiophene) and perylene bisimide units. The single crystal morphologies of semicrystalline BCPs are also presented. Finally, the micellar morphologies of BCPs with a semicrystalline core are reviewed. The controlled and living growth of crystalline micelles, which is the unique characteristic of such micelle, is then discussed.
Full text
Available for:
GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK
RATIONALE:Uncontrolled growth of abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAAs) is a life-threatening vascular disease without an effective pharmaceutical treatment. AAA incidence dramatically increases with ...advancing age in men. However, the molecular mechanisms by which aging predisposes individuals to AAAs remain unknown.
OBJECTIVE:In this study, we investigated the role of Sirtuin 1 (SIRT1), a class III histone deacetylase, in AAA formation and the underlying mechanisms linking vascular senescence and inflammation.
METHODS AND RESULTS:The expression and activity of SIRT1 were significantly decreased in human AAA samples. SIRT1 in vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) was remarkably downregulated in the suprarenal aortas of aged mice, in which AAAs induced by Ang II infusion were significantly elevated. Moreover, VSMC-specific knockout of SIRT1 accelerated Ang II-induced formation and rupture of AAAs and AAA-related pathological changes, whereas VSMC-specific overexpression of SIRT1 suppressed Ang II-induced AAA formation and progression in Apoe mice. Furthermore, the inhibitory effect of SIRT1 on AAA formation was also proved in a calcium chloride (CaCl2)–induced AAA model. Mechanistically, the reduction of SIRT1 was shown to increase vascular cell senescence and upregulate p21 expression as well as enhance vascular inflammation. Notably, inhibition of p21-dependent vascular cell senescence by SIRT1 blocked Ang II-induced NF-κB binding on the promoter of monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1/CCL2) and inhibited its expression.
CONCLUSION:These findings provide evidence that SIRT1 reduction links vascular senescence and inflammation to AAAs, and that SIRT1 in VSMCs provides a therapeutic target for the prevention of AAA formation.
PDF
