The capacitance of microsupercapacitors (MSCs) can double if both sides of substrates are used to construct MSCs. Nevertheless, achieving electric connections of MSCs through substrates is a ...challenge due to the difficulty in precisely positioning each MSC couple that has two of the same MSCs units on two sides. In this work, taking advantage of the synchronous etching on both sides of transparent polyethylene terephthalate substrates by femtosecond laser pulses, a double‐sided configuration is attained with high precision in the alignment of back‐to‐back MSC couples and versatile double‐side MSCs are realized via arbitrary on‐ and through‐substrate connections of MXene MSC units. The MXene double‐side MSC fabricated by the series connection of 12 spiral pattern MXene MSC units with interdigital electrodes of 10 μm width interspace can output a large working voltage of 7.2 V. Additionally, femtosecond laser etching brings the transformation of MXene into titania near‐etched edges with a lateral distance less than 1 µm. Such a small laser‐affected area has little influence on the capacitive performance, which is one of advantages for femtosecond laser over conventional lasers. This research is valuable for one‐step manufacturing of highly integrated MSCs in the field of miniaturized energy storage systems.
This study proposes the fabrication of MXene microsupercapacitors with a double‐sided configuration by synchronous femtosecond laser etching on both sides of transparent polyethylene terephthalate substrate. Such a double‐side configuration can double the integration level compared to routine one‐side configuration.
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.
The facile synthesis of stereo‐defined and transformable functionality‐enriched building blocks is of great importance in modern organic chemistry, as it allows the rapid and divergent assembly of ...complex molecules. Herein a halogen electrophile (N‐bromosuccinimide and N‐iodosuccinimide) initiated semipinacol rearrangement reaction of B(MIDA)‐propargylic alcohols (MIDA=N‐methyliminodiacetyl) by aryl migration towards the synthesis of amphoteric α‐haloalkenyl boronates in moderate to good yields with excellent stereoselectivities is reported. The value of the products is evidenced by their ability to undergo divergent conversions to polysubstituted alkenes through manipulation of the C−B and C−X (X=Br, I) bonds and the carbonyl group.
A halogen‐induced halogenative semipinacol rearrangement of B(MIDA)‐propargylic alcohols is reported herein. The reaction proceeded under mild conditions to access a variety of synthetically valuable carbonyl‐containing α‐haloalkenyl boronates with moderate to good yields and excellent stereoselectivities.
Background: Faced with the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, the development of COVID-19 vaccines has been progressing at an unprecedented rate. This study aimed to evaluate the ...acceptance of COVID-19 vaccination in China and give suggestions for vaccination strategies and immunization programs accordingly. Methods: In March 2020, an anonymous cross-sectional survey was conducted online among Chinese adults. The questionnaire collected socio-demographic characteristics, risk perception, the impact of COVID-19, attitudes, acceptance and attribute preferences of vaccines against COVID-19 during the pandemic. Multivariate logistic regression was performed to identify the influencing factors of vaccination acceptance. Results: Of the 2058 participants surveyed, 1879 (91.3%) stated that they would accept COVID-19 vaccination after the vaccine becomes available, among whom 980 (52.2%) wanted to get vaccinated as soon as possible, while others (47.8%) would delay the vaccination until the vaccine’s safety was confirmed. Participants preferred a routine immunization schedule (49.4%) to emergency vaccination (9.0%) or either of them (41.6%). Logistic regression showed that being male, being married, perceiving a high risk of infection, being vaccinated against influenza in the past season, believing in the efficacy of COVID-19 vaccination or valuing doctor’s recommendations could increase the probability of accepting COVID-19 vaccination as soon as possible, while having confirmed or suspected cases in local areas, valuing vaccination convenience or vaccine price in decision-making could hinder participants from immediate vaccination. Conclusion: During the pandemic period, a strong demand for and high acceptance of COVID-19 vaccination has been shown among the Chinese population, while concerns about vaccine safety may hinder the promotion of vaccine uptake. To expand vaccination coverage, immunization programs should be designed to remove barriers in terms of vaccine price and vaccination convenience, and health education and communication from authoritative sources are important ways to alleviate public concerns about vaccine safety.
Herein, a chemiluminescence assay with dual signal amplification has been developed based on multi-DNAzymes-functionalized gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) using in situ rolling circle amplification (RCA) ...for ultrasensitive detection of thrombin on microchip. In this assay, AuNPs was functionalized by aptamer and multi-RCA primer for amplification, and thrombin was sandwiched between the aptamer modified on the microchannel and the aptamer linked AuNP. The further amplification was realized by in situ RCA to expand specific oligonucleotides chains on the AuNPs and produce particular multi-DNAzymes. Enhanced chemiluminescence signal was achieved by the catalytic effect of DNAzymes in the luminol-H2O2 system. The sensitivity of detection was greatly improved by the dual amplification of multi-RCA primer modified AuNPs, and RCA. The whole strategy was applied for ultrasensitive and specific detection of thrombin. The chemiluminesce assay of thrombin performed a good linear range of 1–25 pM and the limit of detection was as low as 0.55 pM. The successful determination of thrombin in real human serum sample indicated a great potential in clinical study.
Ultrasensitive thrombin detection by chemiluminescence via a dual signal amplification strategy of functionalized gold nanoparticles and rolling circle amplification. Display omitted
•Ultrasensitive chemiluminesence assay realized by dual signal amplification strategy.•Multichannel microchip increased reaction efficiency and reduced detection time.•Thrombin in serum could be sensitively, selectively and rapidly determined.
The huge diversity of hierarchical micro-/nano-rigid structures existing in biological systems is increasingly becoming a source of inspiration of materials scientists and engineers to create ...next-generation advanced functional materials. In the past decades, these multiscale hierarchical structures have been intensively investigated to show their contributions to high performance in mechanical properties. Recently, accompanied with the development of nanotechnology, some biologically hierarchical rigid structures have been duplicated and mimicked in artificial materials through hierarchical organization of micro-/nano-building blocks. In this
critical review
, we will present biological rigid structural models, functional micro-/nano-building blocks, and hierarchical assembly techniques for the manufacture of bio-inspired rigid structural functional materials (177 references).
In this critical review, the concept of hierarchically assembled construction of bio-inspired structural functional materials is overviewed. The hierarchical structures of natural models, bio-inspired rigid structural materials, functional building blocks, and hierarchical assembly techniques have been reviewed.
A novel environment-friendly method based on stepwise roasting has been proposed to extract vanadium and chromium separately from vanadium slag with high chromium content (V–Cr slag), which consists ...of two stages of sodium roasting–water leaching. Fractional sodium roasting–water leaching is firstly conducted to extract vanadium from the V–Cr slag and 87.9% of vanadium is extracted in optimal conditions. Leaching residue of the fractional roasting stage is then roasted secondarily to extract chromium and 96.4% of chromium is extracted from the leaching residue in optimal conditions. Overall extractions of vanadium and chromium are 98.9% and 96.6%, respectively. Evolution mechanisms of V-bearing and Cr-bearing phases were elucidated by XRD, TG–DSC and SEM-EDS. It is elucidated that V(III) existing as V-spinels in the V–Cr slag is oxidized to water-soluble NaVO3 while Cr(III) remains in the form of Cr-spinels or R2O3 phase (R: Cr, Fe) during the fractional roasting; in secondary roasting, Cr(III) existing as Cr-spinels and R2O3 phase in the leaching residue of fractional roasting stage is oxidized to water-soluble Na2CrO4. Vanadium and chromium have thus been extracted separately and thoroughly at the extraction procedure by controlling the roasting extent of V–Cr slag via the proposed stepwise roasting method. The established method provides new insights for comprehensive utilization of complex minerals containing multiple valuable elements.
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•Stepwise roasting method has been realized to asynchronously extract V and Cr.•Toxic tailings are recycled into the production of V–Cr slag for cleaner purpose.•Core/shell distribution of Cr/V in spinel grain of V–Cr slag has been discovered.•V is extracted by fractional roasting while Cr is extracted by secondary roasting.•98.9% of V and 96.6% of Cr can be extracted from V–Cr slag by the proposed method.
Electronic structure calculations and nonadiabatic dynamics simulations (more than 2000 trajectories) are used to explore the Z–E photoisomerization mechanism and excited‐state decay dynamics of two ...arylazopyrazole photoswitches. Two chiral S1/S0 conical intersections with associated enantiomeric S1 relaxation paths that are barrierless and efficient (timescale of ca. 50 fs) were found. For the parent arylazopyrazole (Z8) both paths contribute evenly to the S1 excited‐state decay, whereas for the dimethyl derivative (Z11) each of the two chiral cis minima decays almost exclusively through one specific enantiomeric S1 relaxation path. To our knowledge, the Z11 arylazopyrazole is thus the first example for nearly stereospecific unidirectional excited‐state relaxation.
Choose your (relaxation) path wisely: Electronic structure calculations and nonadiabatic dynamics simulations are used to explore the Z–E photoisomerization mechanism and excited‐state decay dynamics of two arylazopyrazole photoswitches. The results reveal the first example for stereospecific unidirectional excited‐state relaxation.
Fusobacterium nucleatum (F. nucleatum, Fn) is associated with the colorectal cancer (CRC). Fn-infection could induce significant levels of serum Fn-specific antibodies in human and mice. The ...objective of this study was to identify Fn-infection that elicit a humoral response in patients with CRC and evaluate the diagnostic performance of serum anti-Fn antibodies. In this work, we showed the mean absorbance value of anti-Fn-IgA and -IgG in the CRC group were significantly higher than those in the benign colon disease group and healthy control group (P < 0.001). The sensitivity and specificity of ELISA for the detection of anti-Fn-IgA were 36.43% and 92.71% based on the optimal cut-off. The combination of anti-Fn-IgA and carcino-embryonic antigen (CEA) was better for diagnosing CRC (Sen: 53.10%, Spe: 96.41%; AUC = 0.848). Furthermore, combining anti-Fn-IgA with CEA and carbohydrate antigen 19-9 (CA19-9) (Sen: 40.00%, Spe: 94.22%; AUC = 0.743) had the better ability to classify CRC patients with stages I-II. These results suggested that Fn-infection elicited high level of serum anti-Fn antibodies in CRC patients, and serum anti-Fn-IgA level may be a potential diagnosing biomarker for CRC. Serum anti-Fn-IgA in combination with CEA and CA19-9 increases the sensitivity of detecting early CRC.
Intestinal dysbiosis is implicated in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE). However, the evidence of gut microbiome changes in SLE is limited, and the association of changed gut microbiome with the ...activity of SLE, as well as its functional relevance with SLE still remains unknown. Here, we sequenced 16S rRNA amplicon on fecal samples from 40 SLE patients (19 active patients, 21 remissive patients), 20 disease controls (Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) patients), and 22 healthy controls (HCs), and investigated the association of functional categories with taxonomic composition by Phylogenetic Investigation of Communities by Reconstruction of Unobserved States (PICRUSt). We demonstrated SLE patients, particularly the active patients, had significant dysbiosis in gut microbiota with reduced bacterial diversity and biased community constitutions. Amongst the disordered microbiota, the genera Streptococcus, Campylobacter, Veillonella, the species anginosus and dispar, were positively correlated with lupus activity, while the genus Bifidobacterium was negatively associated with the disease activity. PICRUSt analysis showed metabolic pathways were different between SLE and HCs, and also between active and remissive SLE patients. Moreover, we revealed that a random forest model could distinguish SLE from RA and HCs (area under the curve (AUC) = 0.792), and another random forest model could well predict the activity of SLE patients (AUC = 0.811). In summary, SLE patients, especially the active patients, show an apparent dysbiosis in gut microbiota and its related metabolic pathways. Amongst the disordered microflora, four genera and two species are associated with lupus activity. Furthermore, the random forest models are able to diagnose SLE and predict disease activity.