Hierarchical hollow spheres of Fe2O3@polyaniline are fabricated by template‐free synthesis of iron oxides followed by a post in‐ and exterior construction. A combination of large surface area with ...porous structure, fast ion/electron transport, and mechanical integrity renders this material attractive as a lithium‐ion anode, showing superior rate capability and cycling performance.
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•The limitations of the TiO2-based photocatalyst for photocatalytic degradation of VOCs are reviewed.•The approaches for modifying TiO2-based photocatalyst to improve the performance ...of photodegradation of VOCs are discussed.•Applications of TiO2 and modified-TiO2 photocatalysts for VOCs removal in the gas phase are summarized.•Fundamental of metal and non-metal doped TiO2, co-doped TiO2, and composite TiO2 with other semiconductors are considered.•The effects of key controlling parameters on PCO efficiency are reviewed.
Heterogeneous photocatalytic oxidation process (PCO) is a promising technology for removing indoor volatile organic compounds (VOCs) contaminants. Titanium dioxide (TiO2) has been regarded as the most suitable photocatalyst for its cost effectiveness, high stability and great capability to degrade various VOCs. However, no TiO2-based photocatalysts completely satisfy all practical requirements given photoexcited charge carriers’ short lifetime and a wide band gap requiring ultraviolet (UV) radiation. Strategies for improving TiO2 photocatalyst activities by doping with different metal and/or non-metal ions and by coupling with other semiconductors have been examined and reported. These techniques can improve PCO performance through the following mechanisms: i) by introducing an electron capturing level in the band gap that would generate some defects in the TiO2 lattice and help capture charge carriers; ii) by slowing down the charge carrier recombination rate and increasing VOCs degradation. This paper reports the outcomes of a comprehensive literature review of TiO2 modification techniques that include approaches for overcoming the inherent TiO2 limitations and improving the photocatalytic degradation of VOCs. Accordingly, it focuses on the recent development of modified-TiO2 used for degrading gas phase pollutants in ambient conditions. Modification techniques, such as metal and non-metal doping, co-doping, and the heterojunction of TiO2 with other semiconductors, are reviewed. A brief introduction on the basics of photocatalysis and the effects of controlling parameters is presented, followed by a discussion about TiO2 photocatalyst modification for gas phase applications. The reported experimental results obtained with PCO for eliminating VOCs are also compiled and evaluated.
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a newly emerging human infectious disease caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2, previously called 2019-nCoV). Based on the ...rapid increase in the rate of human infection, the World Health Organization (WHO) has classified the COVID-19 outbreak as a pandemic. Because no specific drugs or vaccines for COVID-19 are yet available, early diagnosis and management are crucial for containing the outbreak. Here, we report a field-effect transistor (FET)-based biosensing device for detecting SARS-CoV-2 in clinical samples. The sensor was produced by coating graphene sheets of the FET with a specific antibody against SARS-CoV-2 spike protein. The performance of the sensor was determined using antigen protein, cultured virus, and nasopharyngeal swab specimens from COVID-19 patients. Our FET device could detect the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein at concentrations of 1 fg/mL in phosphate-buffered saline and 100 fg/mL clinical transport medium. In addition, the FET sensor successfully detected SARS-CoV-2 in culture medium (limit of detection LOD: 1.6 × 101 pfu/mL) and clinical samples (LOD: 2.42 × 102 copies/mL). Thus, we have successfully fabricated a promising FET biosensor for SARS-CoV-2; our device is a highly sensitive immunological diagnostic method for COVID-19 that requires no sample pretreatment or labeling.
The outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has now become a pandemic, but there is currently very little understanding ...of the antigenicity of the virus. We therefore determined the crystal structure of CR3022, a neutralizing antibody previously isolated from a convalescent SARS patient, in complex with the receptor binding domain (RBD) of the SARS-CoV-2 spike (S) protein at 3.1-angstrom resolution. CR3022 targets a highly conserved epitope, distal from the receptor binding site, that enables cross-reactive binding between SARS-CoV-2 and SARS-CoV. Structural modeling further demonstrates that the binding epitope can only be accessed by CR3022 when at least two RBDs on the trimeric S protein are in the "up" conformation and slightly rotated. These results provide molecular insights into antibody recognition of SARS-CoV-2.
A defining characteristic of Gram-negative bacteria is the presence of an outer membrane, which functions as an additional barrier inhibiting the penetration of toxic chemicals, such as antibiotics. ...Porins are outer membrane proteins associated with the modulation of cellular permeability and antibiotic resistance. Although there are numerous studies regarding porins, a systematic approach about the roles of porins in bacterial physiology and antibiotic resistance does not exist yet. In this study, we constructed mutants of all porins in
and examined the effect of porins on antibiotic resistance and membrane integrity. The OmpF-defective mutant was resistant to several antibiotics including β-lactams, suggesting that OmpF functions as the main route of outer membrane penetration for many antibiotics. In contrast, OmpA was strongly associated with the maintenance of membrane integrity, which resulted in the increased susceptibility of the
mutant to many antibiotics. Notably, OmpC was involved in both the roles. Additionally, our systematic analyses revealed that other porins were not involved in the maintenance of membrane integrity, but several porins played a major or minor role in the outer membrane penetration for a few antibiotics. Collectively, these results show that each porin plays a distinct role in antibiotic resistance and membrane integrity, which could improve our understanding of the physiological function and clinical importance of porins.
Bright organic/inorganic hybrid perovskite light‐emitting diodes (PrLEDs) are realized by using CH3NH3PbBr3 as an emitting layer and self‐organized buffer hole‐injection layer (Buf‐HIL). The PrLEDs ...show high luminance, current efficiency, and EQE of 417 cd m−2, 0.577 cd A−1, and 0.125%, respectively. Buf‐HIL can facilitate hole injection into CH3NH3PbBr3 as well as block exciton quenching.
Fluorescent molecular rotors (FMRs) can act as viscosity sensors in various media including subcellular organelles and microfluidic channels. In FMRs, the rotation of rotators connected to a ...fluorescent π‐conjugated bridge is suppressed by increasing environmental viscosity, resulting in increasing fluorescence (FL) intensity. In this minireview, we describe recently developed FMRs including push–pull type π‐conjugated chromophores, meso‐phenyl (borondipyrromethene) (BODIPY) derivatives, dioxaborine derivatives, cyanine derivatives, and porphyrin derivatives whose FL mechanism is viscosity‐responsive. In addition, FMR design strategies for addressing various issues (e.g., obtaining high FL contrast, internal FL references, and FL intensity‐contrast trade‐off) and their biological and microfluidic applications are also discussed.
Spinning around: This minireview discusses recently developed fluorescent molecular rotors (FMRs), which act as viscosity sensors in various media including subcellular organelles and microfluidic channels. In addition, the mechanism of viscosity‐responsive fluorescence, design strategy of FMRs for addressing remarkable issues, and their various biological and microfluidic applications, are also discussed.
Ruddlesden–Popper phase (RP‐phase) perovskites that consist of 2D perovskite slabs interleaved with bulky organic ammonium (OA) are favorable for light‐emitting diodes (LEDs). The critical limitation ...of LED applications is that the insulating OA arranged in a preferred orientation limits charge transport. Therefore, the ideal solution is to achieve a randomly connected structure that can improve charge transport without hampering the confinement of the electron–hole pair. Here, a structurally modulated RP‐phase metal halide perovskite (MHP), (PEA)2(CH3NH3)m−1PbmBr3m+1 is introduced to make the randomly oriented RP‐phase unit and ensure good connection between them by applying modified nanocrystal pinning, which leads to an increase in the efficiency of perovskite LEDs (PeLEDs). The randomly connected RP‐phase MHP forces contact between inorganic layers and thereby yields efficient charge transport and radiative recombination. Combined with an optimal dimensionality, (PEA)2(CH3NH3)2Pb3Br10, the structurally modulated RP‐phase MHP exhibits increased photoluminescence quantum efficiency, from 0.35% to 30.3%, and their PeLEDs show a 2,018 times higher current efficiency (20.18 cd A−1) than in the 2D PeLED (0.01 cd A−1) and 673 times than in the 3D PeLED (0.03 cd A−1) using the same film formation process. This approach provides insight on how to solve the limitation of RP‐phase MHP for efficient PeLEDs.
Ruddlesden–Popper phase (RP‐phase) perovskites are promising materials for optoelectronic devices. Efficient RP‐phase perovskite light‐emitting diodes (PeLEDs) are developed by introducing a structurally modulated RP‐phase metal halide perovskite (MHP) emitter to increase the charge transport ability without hampering the confinement of the electron–hole pair. This approach provides insight on how to solve the limitation of RP‐phase MHP for efficient PeLEDs.
Organic-inorganic hybrid perovskites are emerging low-cost emitters with very high color purity, but their low luminescent efficiency is a critical drawback. We boosted the current efficiency (CE) of ...perovskite light-emitting diodes with a simple bilayer structure to 42.9 candela per ampere, similar to the CE of phosphorescent organic light-emitting diodes, with two modifications: We prevented the formation of metallic lead (Pb) atoms that cause strong exciton quenching through a small increase in methylammonium bromide (MABr) molar proportion, and we spatially confined the exciton in uniform MAPbBr₃ nanograins (average diameter = 99.7 nanometers) formed by a nanocrystal pinning process and concomitant reduction of exciton diffusion length to 67 nanometers. These changes caused substantial increases in steady-state photoluminescence intensity and efficiency of MAPbBr₃ nanograin layers.
Severe vitamin D deficiency may cause rickets in infants or children and osteomalacia in adults, though it is now uncommon in developed countries. However, subclinical vitamin D deficiency is more ...prevalent, and it is associated with osteoporosis and higher incidence of falls or fractures. It was reported that 96% children with rickets were breastfed, since breast milk contains inadequate vitamin D. The American Academy of Pediatrics 2008 recommended infants who were exclusively or partially breastfed required 400 international units vitamin D daily from the first few days of life. Furthermore, since vitamin D receptors are present all over the body, insufficient vitamin D status may correlate with several extra-skeletal effects, such as pregnancy-related complications and immune dysfunction. This paper discusses the researches regarding system-based vitamin D effects, the possible risk factors leading to vitamin D deficiency, and the recommendations of vitamin D requirements. It is well-known that vitamin D can be obtained by sun exposure or limited natural dietary sources. The American Academy of Dermatology declared ultraviolet radiation to be a known skin carcinogen, so it may not be safe or efficient to obtain vitamin D via sun exposure or other artificial sources. Therefore, many pediatricians and physicians recommend appropriate vitamin D supplementation to achieve optimal plasma concentration. Trials assessing the effects of vitamin D repletion and establishing its optimum serum level are ongoing. Medical advice for vitamin D supplementation should be individualized accordingly. Key Words: deficiency, insufficiency, supplementation, vitamin D
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