Visual pH-sensing films containing curcumin (CR) and anthocyanins (ATH) were prepared as on-package indicator labels for nondestructively detecting fish freshness in real time. Fourier transform ...infrared spectroscopy analysis indicated that CR and ATH were successfully immobilized into the film-forming substrate based on starch, polyvinyl alcohol (SPVA) and glycerol. The incorporation of different natural dyes had no significant effect on moisture content, water solubility, water vapor permeability and thickness of colorimetric films. Results of color stability test illustrated that the composite films incorporated with CR were the most stable and the composite film incorporated with ATH was least stable at room temperature for 180 days. The colorimetric film without glycerol was found less sensitive to volatile ammonia. Based on the volatile amines released by fish, an application trial of five colorimetric films containing natural dyes was conducted in bighead carp (Hypophthalmichthys nobilis) at 4 °C. Results showed that the SPVA/glycerol film incorporated with CR and ATH at a ratio of 2:8 (v/v) could provide three different colors, which were assigned to the sign of freshness, medium freshness, and spoilage for packaged fish. Hence, this colorimetric film can be applied as a promising material of intelligent packaging for non-destructively monitoring the real-time freshness of fish products.
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•Five different films were incorporated with anthocyanins, curcumin and their mixed dyes.•Films respond via visible color change to volatiles in the package headspace.•SPVAG/ATH/CR film can discriminate fresh, medium fresh, and spoiled bighead carp.
An optimal single-photon source should deterministically deliver one, and only one, photon at a time, with no trade-off between the source’s efficiency and the photon indistinguishability. However, ...all reported solid-state sources of indistinguishable single photons had to rely on polarization filtering, which reduced the efficiency by 50%, fundamentally limiting the scaling of photonic quantum technologies. Here, we overcome this long-standing challenge by coherently driving quantum dots deterministically coupled to polarization-selective Purcell microcavities. We present two examples: narrowband, elliptical micropillars and broadband, elliptical Bragg gratings. A polarization-orthogonal excitation–collection scheme is designed to minimize the polarization filtering loss under resonant excitation. We demonstrate a polarized single-photon efficiency of 0.60 ± 0.02 (0.56 ± 0.02), a single-photon purity of 0.975 ± 0.005 (0.991 ± 0.003) and an indistinguishability of 0.975 ± 0.006 (0.951 ± 0.005) for the micropillar (Bragg grating) device. Our work provides promising solutions for truly optimal single-photon sources combining near-unity indistinguishability and near-unity system efficiency simultaneously.
The field in dearomatization of aromatic compounds for the construction of spirocycle compounds has been developed rapidly over the last two decades and it provides alternative synthetic method ...without using extra stoichiometric amounts of chemical oxidants or reductants. In addition, the radical cascade reactions of alkenes or alkynes that produce multiple chemical bonds in one‐step are significant in the direct and efficient building of complex molecules. By combining these two concepts, dearomatization and radical cascade reactions of alkenes or alkynes opens a new and powerful avenue in accessing spirocycle molecules. These cascade reactions have been well explored in the past decade. As a result, we summarize recent eventful advances in this rapidly growing area as a review, in which the typical examples are listed and mechanism are also discussed.
Measurement-device-independent quantum key distribution (MDI-QKD), based on two-photon interference, is immune to all attacks against the detection system and allows a QKD network with untrusted ...relays. Since the MDI-QKD protocol was proposed, fiber-based implementations aimed at longer distance, higher key rates, and network verification have been rapidly developed. However, owing to the effect of atmospheric turbulence, MDI-QKD over a free-space channel remains experimentally challenging. Herein, by developing a robust adaptive optics system, high-precision time synchronization and frequency locking between independent photon sources located far apart, we realized the first free-space MDI-QKD over a 19.2-km urban atmospheric channel, which well exceeds the effective atmospheric thickness. Our experiment takes the first step toward satellite-based MDI-QKD. Moreover, the technology developed herein opens the way to quantum experiments in free space involving long-distance interference of independent single photons.
This report aims to analyze the experimental monkey shortage generated by the COVID‐19 lockdown. The supply capability of the monkey breeding farms is insufficient to meet demand, and the sales ...prices have skyrocketed since 2018. The contradiction will be further aggravated with import prohibition although the countermeasures suggested.
Adding a 200-mile range in 10 min, so-called extreme fast charging (XFC), is the key to mainstream adoption of battery electric vehicles (BEVs). Here, we present an asymmetric temperature modulation ...(ATM) method that, on one hand, charges a Li-ion cell at an elevated temperature of 60°C to eliminate Li plating and, on the other, limits the exposure time at 60°C to only ∼10 min per cycle, or 0.1% of the lifetime of a BEV, to prevent severe solid-electrolyte-interphase growth. The asymmetric temperature between charge and discharge opens a new path to enhance kinetics and transport during charging while still achieving long life. We show that a 9.5-Ah 170-Wh/kg cell sustained 1,700 XFC cycles (6 C charge to 80% state of charge) at 20% capacity loss with the ATM, compared to 60 cycles for a control cell, and that a 209-Wh/kg BEV cell retained 91.7% capacity after 2,500 XFC cycles.
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•Asymmetric charge and discharge temperatures enable durable extreme fast charging•High-temperature charging eliminates Li plating by enhanced transport and kinetics•Limited exposure time to high temperature avoids severe SEI growth•Elevated charging temperature reduces battery cooling need by >12×
Electric vehicles will only be truly competitive when they can be charged as fast as refilling a gas tank. The US Department of Energy has set a goal of developing extreme fast charging (XFC) technology that can add 200 miles of driving range in 10 min. A critical barrier to XFC is Li plating, which usually occurs at high charge rates and drastically deteriorates battery life and safety. Here, we present an asymmetric temperature modulation (ATM) method that charges a Li-ion cell at an elevated temperature of 60°C to eliminate Li plating and limits the exposure time to 60°C to only ∼10 min per cycle to prevent serious materials degradation. Using industrially available battery materials, we show that a high-energy (209 Wh/kg) Li-ion cell with the ATM method retains 91.7% capacity after 2,500 XFC cycles (equal to 500,000 miles of driving range), far exceeding the US Department of Energy (DOE) target (500 cycles at 20% loss).
An asymmetric temperature modulation method is presented in which a Li-ion cell is rapidly pre-heated to and charged at ∼60°C, and the cell’s exposure time to 60°C is limited to ∼10 min per cycle. The elevated temperature enhances kinetics and transport and hence eliminates Li plating; the limited exposure time to 60°C avoids severe materials degradation. We demonstrate that a high energy (209 Wh/kg) cell retains 91.7% capacity after 2,500 cycles of 10-min extreme fast charging, far exceeding the DOE target.
SHP2 (Src homology-2 domain-containing protein tyrosine phosphatase-2) is a non-receptor protein tyrosine phosphatase that removes tyrosine phosphorylation. Functionally, SHP2 serves as an important ...hub to connect several intracellular oncogenic signaling pathways, such as Jak/STAT, PI3K/AKT, RAS/Raf/MAPK, and PD-1/PD-L1 pathways. Mutations and/or overexpression of SHP2 has been associated with genetic developmental diseases and cancers. Because of the role of SHP2 plays in many diseases, the development of inhibitors targeting the catalytic site in SHP2 has been pursued for more than a decade, but none has advanced to clinical development. Recent discovery of allosteric inhibitors has inspired a novel approach to selectively target SHP2 via the noncatalytic site. To date, four SHP2 allosteric inhibitors have entered clinical trials for the treatment of solid tumors. This review will provide a summary of the physiological and biological functions of SHP2 and discuss the development of nonallosteric/allosteric SHP2 inhibitors in recent years.
The absence of tumor antigens leads to a low response rate, which represents a major challenge in immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) therapy. Pyroptosis, which releases tumor antigens and ...damage‐associated molecular patterns (DAMPs) that induce antitumor immunity and boost ICB efficiency, potentially leads to injury when occurring in normal tissues. Therefore, a strategy and highly efficient agent to induce tumor‐specific pyroptosis but reduce pyroptosis in normal tissues is urgently required. Here, a smart tumor microenvironmental reactive oxygen species (ROS)/glutathione (GSH) dual‐responsive nano‐prodrug (denoted as MCPP) with high paclitaxel (PTX) and photosensitizer purpurin 18 (P18) loading is rationally designed. The ROS/GSH dual‐responsive system facilitates the nano‐prodrug response to high ROS/GSH in the tumor microenvironment and achieves optimal drug release in tumors. ROS generated by P18 after laser irradiation achieves controlled release and induces tumor cell pyroptosis with PTX by chemo‐photodynamic therapy. Pyroptotic tumor cells release DAMPs, thus initiating adaptive immunity, boosting ICB efficiency, achieving tumor regression, generating immunological memory, and preventing tumor recurrence. Mechanistically, chemo‐photodynamic therapy and control‐release PTX synergistically induce gasdermin E (GSDME)‐related pyroptosis. It is speculated that inspired chemo‐photodynamic therapy using the presented nano‐prodrug strategy can be a smart strategy to trigger pyroptosis and augment ICB efficiency.
A smart tumor microenvironmental reactive oxygen species/glutathione dual‐responsive nano‐prodrug (denoted as MCPP) with high paclitaxel and photosensitizer purpurin 18 loading is designed. Chemo‐photodynamic therapy using the presented nano‐prodrug strategy can be a smart strategy to trigger pyroptosis and augment the efficiency of immune checkpoint blockade therapy.
Two-dimensional phosphorene with desirable optoelectronic properties (ideal band gap, high carrier mobility, and strong visible light absorption) is a promising metal-free photocatalyst for water ...splitting. However, the band edge positions of the valence band maximum (VBM) and conduction band maximum (CBM) of phosphorene are higher than the redox potentials in photocatalytic water splitting reactions. Thus, phosphorene can only be used as the photocathode for hydrogen evolution reaction as a low-efficiency visible-light-driven photocatalyst for hydrogen production in solar water splitting cells. Here, we propose a new mechanism to improve the photocatalytic efficiency of phosphorene nanoribbons (PNRs) by modifying their edges for full reactions in photocatalytic water splitting. By employing first-principles density functional theory calculations, we find that pseudohalogen (CN and OCN) passivated PNRs not only show desired VBM and CBM band edge positions induced by edge electric dipole layer, but also possess intrinsic optoelectronic properties of phosphorene, for both water oxidation and hydrogen reduction in photocatalytic water splitting without using extra energy. Furthermore, our calculations also predict that the maximum energy conversion efficiency of heterojunction solar cells consisting of different edge-modified PNRs can be as high as 20% for photocatalytic water splitting.
Diabetic nephropathy (DN) remains one of the severe complications associated with diabetes mellitus. It is worthwhile to uncover the underlying mechanisms of clinical benefits of human urine‐derived ...stem cells (hUSCs) in the treatment of DN. At present, the clinical benefits associated with hUSCs in the treatment of DN remains unclear. Hence, our study aims to investigate protective effect of hUSC exosome along with microRNA‐16‐5p (miR‐16‐5p) on podocytes in DN via vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGFA). Initially, miR‐16‐5p was predicated to target VEGFA based on data retrieved from several bioinformatics databases. Notably, dual‐luciferase report gene assay provided further verification confirming the prediction. Moreover, our results demonstrated that high glucose (HG) stimulation could inhibit miR‐16‐5p and promote VEGFA in human podocytes (HPDCs). miR‐16‐5p in hUSCs was transferred through the exosome pathway to HG‐treated HPDCs. The viability and apoptosis rate of podocytes after HG treatment together with expression of the related factors were subsequently determined. The results indicated that miR‐16‐5p secreted by hUSCs could improve podocyte injury induced by HG. In addition, VEGA silencing could also ameliorate HG‐induced podocyte injury. Finally, hUSC exosomes containing overexpressed miR‐16‐5p were injected into diabetic rats via tail vein, followed by qualification of miR‐16‐5p and observation on the changes of podocytes, which revealed that overexpressed miR‐16‐5p in hUSCs conferred protective effects on HPDCs in diabetic rats. Taken together, the present study revealed that overexpressed miR‐16‐5p in hUSC exosomes could protect HPDCs induced by HG and suppress VEGFA expression and podocytic apoptosis, providing fresh insights for novel treatment of DN.
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