As one of the most critical approaches to resolve the energy crisis and environmental concerns, carbon dioxide (CO2) photoreduction into value‐added chemicals and solar fuels (for example, CO, HCOOH, ...CH3OH, CH4) has attracted more and more attention. In nature, photosynthetic organisms effectively convert CO2 and H2O to carbohydrates and oxygen (O2) using sunlight, which has inspired the development of low‐cost, stable, and effective artificial photocatalysts for CO2 photoreduction. Due to their low cost, facile synthesis, excellent light harvesting, multiple exciton generation, feasible charge‐carrier regulation, and abundant surface sites, semiconductor quantum dots (QDs) have recently been identified as one of the most promising materials for establishing highly efficient artificial photosystems. Recent advances in CO2 photoreduction using semiconductor QDs are highlighted. First, the unique photophysical and structural properties of semiconductor QDs, which enable their versatile applications in solar energy conversion, are analyzed. Recent applications of QDs in photocatalytic CO2 reduction are then introduced in three categories: binary II–VI semiconductor QDs (e.g., CdSe, CdS, and ZnSe), ternary I–III–VI semiconductor QDs (e.g., CuInS2 and CuAlS2), and perovskite‐type QDs (e.g., CsPbBr3, CH3NH3PbBr3, and Cs2AgBiBr6). Finally, the challenges and prospects in solar CO2 reduction with QDs in the future are discussed.
Carbon dioxide (CO2) photoreduction is regarded as an attractive pathway to produce value‐added chemicals and fuels. Recent advances in CO2 photoreduction via semiconductor quantum dots (QDs) in three categories are reviewed: II–VI, I–III–VI, and perovskite‐type QDs. Additionally, current challenges and prospects for QD‐photocatalyzed CO2 reduction are discussed.
Current nonlinear optical materials face a conventional limitation in the trade‐off between the band gap and birefringence, especially in the deep UV spectral region. To circumvent this dilemma, we ...propose a general principle, π‐conjugated confinement, to partially decouple the interunit π‐conjugated interactions by the separation of non‐π‐conjugated units. The goal is to further enlarge the band gap to a value larger than that of the singular π‐conjugated counterpart and to maintain a suitable density of π‐conjugated units to gain a large optical anisotropy. We reveal that π‐conjugated confinement is a shared structural feature for all DUV NLO materials known to date, and thus, it provides a novel and essential design criterion for future design synthesis. Guided by this principle, the carbonophosphates are predicted to be a new promising DUV candidate system. Sr3YPO4CO33 (1) and Na3XPO4CO3 (X=Ba, Sr, Ca, Mg, 2–5) exhibit not only greatly enhanced birefringence that is 3–24 times larger than that of singular phosphates but also enhanced band gaps that are 0.2–1.7 eV wider than those of singular carbonates.
We propose a general principle, π‐conjugated confinement, for the rational design of high‐performance DUV NLO materials whose band gaps are further enhanced. This principle is valid for all the DUV NLO materials known to date (the Chinese lunar year of the ox). Guided by this approach, the carbonophosphates are discovered for the first time as new DUV NLO candidates. Sr3YPO4CO33 exhibits the shortest SHG output laser among phosphates to date.
Inherent poor stability of perovskite nanocrystals (NCs) is the main impediment preventing broad applications of the materials. Here, TiO2 shell coated CsPbBr3 core/shell NCs are synthesized through ...the encapsulation of colloidal CsPbBr3 NCs with titanium precursor, followed by calcination at 300 °C. The nearly monodispersed CsPbBr3/TiO2 core/shell NCs show excellent water stability for at least three months with the size, structure, morphology, and optical properties remaining identical, which represent the most water‐stable inorganic shell passivated perovskite NCs reported to date. In addition, TiO2 shell coating can effectively suppress anion exchange and photodegradation, therefore dramatically improving the chemical stability and photostability of the core CsPbBr3 NCs. More importantly, photoluminescence and (photo)electrochemical characterizations exhibit increased charge separation efficiency due to the electrical conductivity of the TiO2 shell, hence leading to an improved photoelectric activity in water. This study opens new possibilities for optoelectronic and photocatalytic applications of perovskites‐based NCs in aqueous phase.
TiO2 shell coated CsPbBr3 core/shell nanocrystals are successfully constructed, resulting in excellent water, photo and thermal stability. TiO2 shell coating effectively increases charge separation efficiency, hence leading to an improved photoelectric activity in water.
The early detection of cancer can significantly reduce cancer mortality and saves lives. Thus, a great deal of effort has been devoted to the exploration of new technologies to detect early signs of ...the disease. Cancer biomarkers cover a broad range of biochemical entities, such as nucleic acids, proteins, sugars, small metabolites, and cytogenetic and cytokinetic parameters, as well as entire tumour cells found in the body fluid. They can be used for risk assessment, diagnosis, prognosis, and for the prediction of treatment efficacy and toxicity and recurrence. In this review, we provide an overview of recent advances in cancer biomarker detection. Several representative examples using different approaches for each biomarker have been reviewed, and all these cases demonstrate that the multidisciplinary technology-based cancer diagnostics are becoming an increasingly relevant alternative to traditional techniques. In addition, we also discuss the unsolved problems and future challenges in the evaluation of cancer biomarkers. Clearly, solving these hurdles requires great effort and collaboration from different communities of chemists, physicists, biologists, clinicians, material-scientists, and engineering and technical researchers. A successful outcome will result in the realization of point-of-care diagnosis and individualized treatment of cancers by non-invasive and convenient tests in the future.
We provide an overview covering the existing challenges and latest developments in achieving high selectivity and sensitivity cancer-biomarker detection.
Lithium (Li) metal is a promising anode material for high‐energy density batteries. However, the unstable and static solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) can be destroyed by the dynamic Li ...plating/stripping behavior on the Li anode surface, leading to side reactions and Li dendrites growth. Herein, we design a smart Li polyacrylic acid (LiPAA) SEI layer high elasticity to address the dynamic Li plating/stripping processes by self‐adapting interface regulation, which is demonstrated by in situ AFM. With the high binding ability and excellent stability of the LiPAA polymer, the smart SEI can significantly reduce the side reactions and improve battery safety markedly. Stable cycling of 700 h is achieved in the LiPAA‐Li/LiPAA‐Li symmetrical cell. The innovative strategy of self‐adapting SEI design is broadly applicable, providing opportunities for use in Li metal anodes
Stretching exercises: A flexible lithium polyacrylic acid (LiPAA) solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) layer which is highly stretchable is designed to address the dynamic volume changes during Li plating/stripping on the Li anode surface in Li ion batteries. The LiPAA polymer SEI can significantly reduce the side reactions and improve the safety performance.
Electroacupuncture at select acupoints have been verified to protect against organ dysfunctions during endotoxic shock. And, heme oxygenase (HO)-1 as a phase II enzyme and antioxidant contributed to ...the protection of kidney in septic shock rats. The phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)-Akt pathway mediated the activation of NF-E2 related factor-2 (Nrf2), which was involved in HO-1 induction. To understand the efficacy of electroacupuncture stimulation in ameliorating acute kidney injury (AKI) through the PI3K/Akt/Nrf2 pathway and subsequent HO-1 upregulation, a dose of LPS 5mg/kg was administered intravenously to replicate the rabbit model of AKI induced by endotoxic shock. Electroacupuncture pretreatment was handled bilaterally at Zusanli and Neiguan acupoints for five consecutive days while sham electroacupuncture at non-acupoints as control. Results displayed that electroacupuncture stimulation significantly alleviated the morphologic renal damage, attenuated renal tubular apoptosis, suppressed the elevated biochemical indicators of AKI caused by LPS, enhanced the expressions of phospho-Akt, HO-1protein, Nrf2 total and nucleoprotein, and highlighted the proportions of Nrf2 nucleoprotein as a parallel. Furthermore, partial protective effects of elecroacupuncture were counteracted by preconditioning with wortmannin (the selective PI3K inhibitor), indicating a direct involvement of PI3K/Akt pathway. Inconsistently, wortmannin pretreatment made little difference to the expressions of HO-1, Nrf2 nucleoprotein and total protein, which indicated that PI3K/Akt may be not the only pathway responsible for electroacupuncture-afforded protection against LPS-induced AKI. These findings provide new insights into the potential future clinical applications of electroacupuncture for AKI induced by endotoxic shock instead of traditional remedies.
Celotno besedilo
Dostopno za:
DOBA, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
Photo/electrocatalytic ammonia synthesis has recently developed fast while the ammonia yields over state‐of‐the‐art photo/electrocatalysts are still very moderate. Such low concentration of ...synthesized NH3 brings about a challenge to the reliable quantification of the product in photo/electrocatalysis. Notably, we found that the quantitative detection of ammonia concentration below 0.2 ppm is error‐prone, which is likely the case happening in the majority of photo/electrocatalytic NH3 synthesis, thus arising concerns about the rationality and accuracy for low‐concentration ammonia quantification in these processes. Herein, we discuss the methodology used and analyze the reliability of various detection methods for the detection of trace ammonia in aqueous media. The challenges facing the detection of low concentration of ammonia in photo/electrocatalysis can be overcome by integration with multiple detection methods. According to the data presented, we also propose an effective criterion for precise quantification of ammonia, avoiding the unreasonable comparisons in photo/electrocatalytic ammonia synthesis.
The analytical methods for the detection of ammonia concentration below 0.2 ppm in photo/electrocatalytic N2 fixation are evaluated rigorously, reliably, and insightfully. The low‐concentration ammonia quantification minefield was indicated and a rigorous ammonia detection flowchart as well as another reference standard to achieve a more accurate and responsible ammonia detection in photo/electrocatalysis was concluded.
AIM: To investigate the efficacy and safety of adjuvant sorafenib after curative resection for patients with Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer(BCLC)-stage C hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC).METHODS: ...Thirty-four HCC patients, classified as BCLC-stage C, received adjuvant sorafenib for highrisk of tumor recurrence after curative hepatectomy at a tertiary care university hospital. The study group was compared with a case-matched control group of 68 patients who received curative hepatectomy for HCC during the study period in a 1:2 ratio.RESULTS: The tumor recurrence rate was markedly lower in the sorafenib group(15/34, 44.1%) than in the control group(51/68, 75%, P = 0.002). The median disease-free survival was 12 mo in the study group and 10 mo in the control group. Tumor number more than 3, macrovascular invasion, hilar lymph nodes metastasis, and treatment with sorafenib were significant factors of disease-free survival by univariate analysis. Tumor number more than 3 and treatment with sorafenib were significant risk factors of diseasefree survival by multivariate analysis in the Cox proportional hazards model. The disease-free survival and cumulative overall survival in the study group were significantly better than in the control group(P = 0.034 and 0.016, respectively). CONCLUSION: Our study verifies the potential benefit and safety of adjuvant sorafenib for both decreasing HCC recurrence and extending disease-free and overall survival rates for patients with BCLC-stage C HCC after curative resection.
PDF
