Various methods have been exploited to replicate nacre features into artificial structural materials with impressive structural and mechanical similarity. However, it is still very challenging to ...produce nacre-mimetics in three-dimensional bulk form, especially for further scale-up. Herein, we demonstrate that large-sized, three-dimensional bulk artificial nacre with comprehensive mimicry of the hierarchical structures and the toughening mechanisms of natural nacre can be facilely fabricated via a bottom-up assembly process based on laminating pre-fabricated two-dimensional nacre-mimetic films. By optimizing the hierarchical architecture from molecular level to macroscopic level, the mechanical performance of the artificial nacre is superior to that of natural nacre and many engineering materials. This bottom-up strategy has no size restriction or fundamental barrier for further scale-up, and can be easily extended to other material systems, opening an avenue for mass production of high-performance bulk nacre-mimetic structural materials in an efficient and cost-effective way for practical applications.Artificial materials that replicate the mechanical properties of nacre represent important structural materials, but are difficult to produce in bulk. Here, the authors exploit the bottom-up assembly of 2D nacre-mimetic films to fabricate 3D bulk artificial nacre with an optimized architecture and excellent mechanical properties.
Cancer-associated fibroblasts cells (CAFs) confer a rapid growth and metastasis ability of endometrial cancer (EC) via exosomes-mediated cellular communication. Long non-coding RNA nuclear enriched ...abundant transcript 1 (lncRNA NEAT1) drives the malignant phenotypes of EC cells. However, the role of exosomal NEAT1 from CAFs in EC progression remains ambiguous, which needs to be investigated. In our study, NEAT1 and YKL-40 were up-regulated, while miR-26a/b-5p was down-regulated in EC tissues. Moreover, NEAT1 expression was increased in CAF-exosomes compared with that in NF-exosomes. In addition, the exosomal NEAT1 derived from CAFs could transfer to EC cells and promote YKL-40 expression. Further exploration showed that exosomal NEAT1 enhanced YKL-40 expression via regulating miR-26a/b-5p-STAT3 axis in EC cells. More importantly, exosomal NEAT1 accelerated in vivo tumor growth via miR-26a/b-5p-STAT3-YKL-40 axis. Taken together, our study reveals that exosomal NEAT1 from CAFs contributes to EC progression via miR-26a/b-5p-mediated STAT3/YKL-40 pathway, which indicates the therapeutic potential of exosomal NEAT1 for treating EC.
Display omitted
Full text
Available for:
GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UILJ, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZAGLJ, ZRSKP
Six novel benzimidazole‐based D‐π‐A compounds 4 a–4 f were concisely synthesized by attaching different donor/acceptor units to the skeleton of 1,3‐bis(1H‐benzimidazol‐2‐yl)benzene on its 5‐position ...through an ethynyl link. Due to the twisted conformation and effective conjugation structure, these dual‐state emission (DSE) molecules show intense and multifarious photoluminescence, and their fluorescence quantum yields in solution and solid state can be up to 96.16 and 69.82 %, respectively. Especially, for excellent photostability, obvious solvatofluorochromic and extraordinary wide range of solvent compatibility, DSE molecule 4 a is a multifunctional fluorescent probe for the visual detection of nitroaromatic compounds (NACs) with the limit of detection as low as 10−7 M. The quenching mechanism has been proved as the results of photoinduced electron transfer and fluorescence resonance energy transfer processes. Importantly, probe 4 a can sensitively detect NACs not only in real water samples, but also on 4 a‐coated strips and 4 a@PBAT thin films.
Novel benzimidazole‐based D‐π‐A fluorophores are rationally designed and concisely synthesized. Six compounds 4 a–4 f, as dual‐state emission (DSE) materials, exhibit excellent photostability, solvatofluorochromic and extraordinary wide range of solvent compatibility. Among them, the DSE material 4 a is not only reasonably developed as a multifunctional fluorescent probe for sensitive detection of nitroaromatic compounds (NACs) in aqueous system, but also processed into test strips and thin films for visual detection of NACs.
Full text
Available for:
BFBNIB, FZAB, GIS, IJS, KILJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, SBCE, SBMB, UL, UM, UPUK
The development of low-cost efficient bifunctional oxygen electrocatalysts is of importance for optimizing the performance of metal-air batteries. By using manganese dioxide spheres as both the redox ...initiator and the self-sacrificing template for the in-situ interfacial polymerization of aniline monomers, we demonstrated a facile approach to preparing porous polyaniline spheres in the presence of phytic acid. Subsequent pyrolysis led to nitrogen and phosphorous co-doped carbon spheres (NPCSs) with highly porous structure and good bifunctional electrocatalytic activities for oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) and oxygen evolution reaction (OER). Specifically, NPCSs exhibited a comparable half-wave potential (0.83 V vs. RHE) to that of commercial Pt/C, but a larger current density, for ORR and was superior to RuO2 (overpotential, 320 mV) for OER with a smaller overpotential of 310 mV. The Density Functional Theory (DFT) calculations revealed firstly that the heteroatom-doping at the edges of the porous structure plays a dominate role in achieving the high bifunctional catalytic activities. Furthermore, the bifunctional oxygen electrocatalysis enabled the fabrication of high-performance Zn-air batteries in aqueous and solid-state electrolytes, exhibiting large energy density, high power density, and good cycling stability.
The formation of highly porous carbon spheres with N, P doping at the edges enables the bifunctional oxygen electrocatalysis for fabricating rechargeable Zn-air battery with high performance. Display omitted
1.The in-situ interfacial polymerization of aniline monomers renders the preparation of highly porous polyaniline spheres by using a self-sacrificing template2.The subsequent pyrolysis leads to the formation of nitrogen and phosphorous co-doped carbon spheres (NPCSs) with good bifunctional oxygen electrocatalytic activities.3.The experimental results and DFT calculations reveal firstly that the heteroatom-doping at the edges of the porous structure play a dominate role in achieving the high bifunctional activities.4.The advanced bifunctional oxygen electrocatalyst enables the fabrication of high-performance solid-state Zn-air batteries with good flexibility.
Full text
Available for:
GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UILJ, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZAGLJ, ZRSKP
SARS-CoV-2 caused a major outbreak of severe pneumonia (COVID-19) in humans. Viral RNA was detected in multiple organs in COVID-19 patients. However, infectious SARS-CoV-2 was only isolated from ...respiratory specimens. Here, infectious SARS-CoV-2 was successfully isolated from urine of a COVID-19 patient. The virus isolated could infect new susceptible cells and was recognized by its' own patient sera. Appropriate precautions should be taken to avoid transmission from urine.
Summary
Sessile plants constantly experience environmental stresses in nature. They must have evolved effective mechanisms to balance growth with stress response. Here we report the MADS‐box ...transcription factor AGL16 acting as a negative regulator in stress response in Arabidopsis.
Loss‐of‐AGL16 confers resistance to salt stress in seed germination, root elongation and soil‐grown plants, while elevated AGL16 expression confers the opposite phenotypes compared with wild‐type. However, the sensitivity to abscisic acid (ABA) in seed germination is inversely correlated with AGL16 expression levels.
Transcriptomic comparison revealed that the improved salt resistance of agl16 mutants was largely attributed to enhanced expression of stress‐responsive transcriptional factors and the genes involved in ABA signalling and ion homeostasis. We further demonstrated that AGL16 directly binds to the CArG motifs in the promoter of HKT1;1, HsfA6a and MYB102 and represses their expression. Genetic analyses with double mutants also support that HsfA6a and MYB102 are target genes of AGL16.
Taken together, our results show that AGL16 acts as a negative regulator transcriptionally suppressing key components in the stress response and may play a role in balancing stress response with growth.
Full text
Available for:
BFBNIB, FZAB, GIS, IJS, KILJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, SBCE, SBMB, UL, UM, UPUK
Amyloid-β (Aβ) accumulation in the brain is a pivotal event in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease (AD), and its clearance from the brain is impaired in sporadic AD. Previous studies suggest that ...approximately half of the Aβ produced in the brain is cleared by transport into the periphery. However, the mechanism and pathophysiological significance of peripheral Aβ clearance remain largely unknown. The kidney is thought to be responsible for Aβ clearance, but direct evidence is lacking. In this study, we investigated the impact of unilateral nephrectomy on the dynamic changes in Aβ in the blood and brain in both humans and animals and on behavioural deficits and AD pathologies in animals. Furthermore, the therapeutic effects of the diuretic furosemide on Aβ clearance via the kidney were assessed. We detected Aβ in the kidneys and urine of both humans and animals and found that the Aβ level in the blood of the renal artery was higher than that in the blood of the renal vein. Unilateral nephrectomy increased brain Aβ deposition; aggravated AD pathologies, including Tau hyperphosphorylation, glial activation, neuroinflammation, and neuronal loss; and aggravated cognitive deficits in APP/PS1 mice. In addition, chronic furosemide treatment reduced blood and brain Aβ levels and attenuated AD pathologies and cognitive deficits in APP/PS1 mice. Our findings demonstrate that the kidney physiologically clears Aβ from the blood, suggesting that facilitation of Aβ clearance via the kidney represents a novel potential therapeutic approach for AD.
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
We report on the optical saturable absorption of few-layer black phosphorus nanoflakes and demonstrate its application for the generation of vector solitons in an erbium-doped fiber laser. By ...incorporating the black phosphorus nanoflakes-based saturable absorber (SA) into an all-fiber erbium-doped fiber laser cavity, we are able to obtain passive mode-locking operation with soliton pulses down to ~670 fs. The properties and dynamics of the as-generated vector solitons are experimentally investigated. Our results show that BP nanoflakes could be developed as an effective SA for ultrashort pulse fiber lasers, particularly for the generation of vector soliton pulses in fiber lasers.
Display omitted
•Five benzoxazole-based dual-state emission luminogens are concisely synthesized.•All designed DSEgens 4a-4e show solvatochromism, AIE effect and large Stokes shift.•Compound 4e ...displays splendid sensitivity towards nitroaromatic explosives (NAEs).•4e induces a turn-off response through multiple interactions after binding to NAEs.•Fluorophore 4e can be processed as portable tool for NAEs visualization detection.
Dual-state emission luminogens (DSEgens) as fluorophores emit efficiently in solution and solid forms have gained increasing concern in the field of chemical sensing. Recent efforts by our group led to the identification of DSEgens as an easy-to-visualize nitroaromatic explosives (NAEs) detection platform. However, none of the previously studied NAEs probes show effective improvement in sensitivity. Here, we designed a series of benzoxazole-based DSEgens through multiple strategies driven by theoretical calculations, revealing their improved detecting performance on NAEs. Compounds 4a-4e exhibit thermal- and photo-stability, large Stokes shift as well as sensitivity solvatochromism (except for 4a and 4b). A subtle balance between rigid conjugation and distorted conformation endows these D-A type fluorophores 4a-4e with DSE properties. Furthermore, 4d and 4e show aggregation-induced emission phenomenon caused by distorted molecular conformation and restricted intramolecular rotation. Interestingly, DSEgen 4e displays anti-interference and sensitivity towards NAEs with a detection limit of 10-8 M. It can be applied for expedient and distinct visual identification of NAEs not only in solution but also on filter paper and film, supporting this new DSEgen as reliable NAEs chemoprobe.
Full text
Available for:
GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UILJ, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZAGLJ, ZRSKP
PDF
