Interface engineered cascade-type electronic structure of 2D/0D/2D CdS-CdCO3/SnO2 quantum dots/g-C3N4 nanocomposite for boosting solar-driven photocatalysis.

A rational design of heterojunctions with high-quality contacts is essential for efficiently separating photogenerated charge carries and boosting the solar-driven harvesting capability. Herein, we fabricated a novel heterojunction of SnO2 quantum dots-anchored CdS-CdCO3 with g-C3N4 nanosheets as a superior photocatalyst. SnO2 quantum dots (SQDs) with positively charged surfaces were tightly anchored on the negatively charged surface of CdS nanosheets (NSs). The resulting CdS@SnO2 was finally decorated with g-C3N4 NSs, and a new crystalline phase of CdS-CdCO3 was formed during the hydrothermal decoration process, g-C3N4 decorated CdS-CdCO3@SnO2 (CdS-CdCO3@SnO2@g-C3N4). The as-synthesized photocatalysts were evaluated for the degradation of methyl orange dye under solar light conditions. The CdS-CdCO3@SnO2@g-C3N4 exhibited 7.7-fold and 2.3-fold enhancements in photocatalytic activities in comparison to those of the bare CdS and CdS@SnO2 NSs, respectively. The optimal performance of CdS-CdCO3@SnO2@g-C3N4 is primarily attributed to the cascade-type conduction band alignments between 2D/0D/2D heterojunctions, which can harvest maximum solar light and effectively separate photoexcited charge carriers. This work provides a new inspiration for the rational design of 2D/0D/2D heterojunction photocatalyst for green energy generation and environmental remediation applications.

Trend of incidence rate of age-related diseases: results from the National Health Insurance Service-National Sample Cohort (NHIS-NSC) database in Korea: a cross- sectional study.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to identify and select age-related diseases (ARDs) in Korea, which is about to have a super-aged society, and to elucidate patterns in their incidence rates. METHODS: The National Health Insurance Service-National Sample Cohort, comprising 1 million health insurance and medical benefit beneficiaries in Korea from 2002 to 2019, was utilized. We selected 14 diseases with high disease burden and prevalence among Koreans from the 92 diseases defined in the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study as ARDs. The annual incidence rate represented the number of patients newly diagnosed with an ARD each year from 2006 to 2019, excluding those with a history of ARD diagnosis from 2002 to 2005. The incidence rate by age was categorized into 10-year units based on age as of 2019. The number of patients with ARDs in each age group was used as the numerator, and the incidence rate for each age group was calculated with the age group as the denominator. RESULTS: Regarding the annual incidence rates of ARDs from 2006 to 2019, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, congestive heart failure, and ischemic heart disease decreased annually, whereas dyslipidemia, chronic kidney disease, cataracts, hearing loss, and Parkinson's disease showed a significant increase. Hypertension, diabetes, cerebrovascular disease, osteoporosis, osteoarthritis, and age-related macular degeneration initially displayed a gradual decrease in incidence but exhibited a tendency to increase after 2015. Concerning age-specific incidence rates of ARDs, two types of curves emerged. The first type, characterized by an exponential increase with age, was exemplified by congestive heart failure. The second type, marked by an exponential increase peaking between ages 60 and 80, followed by stability or decrease, was observed in 13 ARDs, excluding congestive heart failure. However, hypertension, ischemic heart disease, cerebrovascular disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and hearing loss in men belonged to the first type. CONCLUSIONS: From an epidemiological perspective, there are similar characteristics in age-specific ARDs that increase with age, reaching a peak followed by a plateau or decrease in Koreans.

Experimental and computational investigation of a green Knoevenagel condensation catalyzed by zeolitic imidazolate framework-8.

ZIF-8 is a highly porous, stable, and abundant surface area material that can be used as an environmentally friendly catalyst for Knoevenagel condensations. The effects of the ratio of the reactants (benzaldehyde (BA):ethyl cyanoacetate (ECA)), reaction temperature, and catalyst concentration were systematically investigated using a ZIF-8 catalyst and water as the solvent. ZIF-8 (3-5 wt%) showed excellent catalytic performance with an almost complete conversion of BA in less than 6 h with a BA:ECA molar ratio of 1:2 at different temperatures. At 60 °C, the BA conversion rate and product selectivity of the reaction reached their highest values after 4 h with a BA:ECA molar ratio of 1:1. When employing 5.0 wt% ZIF-8, almost complete BA conversion was achieved after 3 h at room temperature. ZIF-8 also demonstrated good recyclability with almost no change in its catalytic activity over five cycles. The proposed reaction mechanism is based on the catalytic activity of the basic N sites on the surface of ZIF-8, and is supported by density functional theory calculations. The present approach provides a promising strategy for the construction of simple and environmentally friendly ZIF-8 catalysts.

Cysteine-Encapsulated Liposome for Investigating Biomolecular Interactions at Lipid Membranes.

The development of a strategy to investigate interfacial phenomena at lipid membranes is practically useful because most essential biomolecular interactions occur at cell membranes. In this study, a colorimetric method based on cysteine-encapsulated liposomes was examined using gold nanoparticles as a probe to provide a platform to report an enzymatic activity at lipid membranes. The cysteine-encapsulated liposomes were prepared with varying ratios of 1,2-dimyristoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DMPC) and cholesterol through the hydration of lipid films and extrusions in the presence of cysteine. The size, composition, and stability of resulting liposomes were analyzed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), dynamic light scattering (DLS), nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, and UV-vis spectrophotometry. The results showed that the increased cholesterol content improved the stability of liposomes, and the liposomes were formulated with 60 mol % cholesterol for the subsequent experiments. Triton X-100 was tested to disrupt the lipid membranes to release the encapsulated cysteine from the liposomes. Cysteine can induce the aggregation of gold nanoparticles accompanying a color change, and the colorimetric response of gold nanoparticles to the released cysteine was investigated in various media. Except in buffer solutions at around pH 5, the cysteine-encapsulated liposomes showed the color change of gold nanoparticles only after being incubated with Triton X-100. Finally, the cysteine-encapsulated liposomal platform was tested to report the enzymatic activity of phospholipase A2 that hydrolyzes phospholipids in the membrane. The hydrolysis of phospholipids triggered the release of cysteine from the liposomes, and the released cysteine was successfully detected by monitoring the distinct red-to-blue color change of gold nanoparticles. The presence of phospholipase A2 was also confirmed by the appearance of a peak around 690 nm in the UV-vis spectra, which is caused by the cysteine-induced aggregation of gold nanoparticles. The results demonstrated that the cysteine-encapsulated liposome has the potential to be used to investigate biological interactions occurring at lipid membranes.

Highly fluorescent oligodopamine (F-ODA) for accurate and sensitive detection of the neurotransmitter dopamine.

Dopamine (DA) is an important neurotransmitter for regulating the central nervous system, hormones, and cardiovascular system. Fluorescence technique is usually applied for the rapid detection of DA neurotransmitter because DA is easily converted to fluorescent products under alkaline condition. However, it is difficult to accurately quantify low levels of DA (<10 nM) because the final product of DA conversion, so-called polydopamine (PDA), usually have low fluorescence efficiency. In this study, DA dissolved in Tris-EDTA buffer (pH 8.5) was oxidized and polymerized by adding NaOH as an oxidizing agent. After obtaining products with various degrees of polymerization, the fluorescent oligodopamine (F-ODA) (i.e., indole-5,6-quinone-rich compounds) was separated from non-fluorescent polydopamine (PDA) products. After removing non-fluorescent PDA by centrifugation, the F-ODA in the supernatant exhibited high FL intensity at 470 nm under excitation at 360 nm. At the optimal reaction conditions, the standard curve of the F-ODA exhibited a good linearity over wide range of DA concentration from 1 µM to 1 nM (limit of detection = ~0.1 nM), suggesting a very useful analytical tool for the accurate and sensitive detection of the neurotransmitter DA in bio-fluid.

Dual Functional S-Doped g-C3N4 Pinhole Porous Nanosheets for Selective Fluorescence Sensing of Ag⁺ and Visible-Light Photocatalysis of Dyes.

This study explores the facile, template-free synthesis of S-doped g-C3N4 pinhole nanosheets (SCNPNS) with porous structure for fluorescence sensing of Ag⁺ ions and visible-light photocatalysis of dyes. As-synthesized SCNPNS samples were characterized by various analytical tools such as XRD, FT-IR, TEM, BET, XPS, and UV⁻vis spectroscopy. At optimal conditions, the detection linear range for Ag⁺ was found to be from 0 to 1000 nM, showing the limit of detection (LOD) of 57 nM. The SCNPNS exhibited highly sensitive and selective detection of Ag⁺ due to a significant fluorescence quenching via photo-induced electron transfer through Ag⁺⁻SCNPNS complex. Moreover, the SCNPNS exhibited 90% degradation for cationic methylene blue (MB) dye within 180 min under visible light. The enhanced photocatalytic activity of the SCNPNS was attributed to its negative zeta potential for electrostatic interaction with cationic dyes, and the pinhole porous structure can provide more active sites which can induce faster transport of the charge carrier over the surface. Our SCNPNS is proposed as an environmental safety tool due to several advantages, such as low cost, facile preparation, selective recognition of Ag⁺ ions, and efficient photocatalytic degradation of cationic dyes under visible light.

Ascending aortic diameter is associated with hypertension in Korean men.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the association between ascending aortic diameter (AAD) as measured with low-dose chest computed tomography (LDCT) and hypertension in Korean men. METHODS: Korean men (n=1,050) who were screened for lung cancer using LDCT imaging at a health promotion center in Seoul, Korea between January 1 and December 31were recruited for the study. AAD is the longest length of ascending aorta measured from approximately 15 mm above left main coronary ostium to the mid-slice level of the right pulmonary artery. RESULTS: AAD were divided into quartiles, and the degree of hypertension was determined based on the quartiles of the AAD using logistic regression. Odds ratios (OR) for the proportion of hypertension in Q2 (1.70, 95% CI: 1.11-2.59), Q3 (2.72, 95% CI: 1.81-4.09) and Q4 (3.94, 95% CI: 2.63-5.89) were significantly greater than that of Q1 (P for trend < 0.001). Even after controlling for confounding covariates of age, BMI, total cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, fasting glucose, GGT, ALT, eGFR, smoking status and alcohol intake, there was significant correlation. CONCLUSION: AAD was significantly associated with the degree of hypertension.

Facile Synthesis of Silica-Encapsulated Gold Nanoflowers as Surface-Enhanced Raman Scattering Probes Using Silane-Mediated Sol-Gel Reaction.

Flower-like gold nanoparticles, so called gold nanoflowers (AuNFs), were synthesized through the reduction of HAuC4 with ascorbic acid in the presence of chitosan polymers. Chitosan-mediated AuNFs exhibited the distinct SERS signals of 2-chlorothiophenol (CTP) due to the presence of many interstitial gaps (so called hot spots) on the surface. For the facile silica coating, the AuNFs were conjugated with terminal carboxylate groups of (3-glycidyloxypropyl)trimethoxysilane (GPTMS), consequently forming alkoxy-terminated AuNFs which could facilely participate in the sol-gel reaction for silica coating. The resulting core-shell particles, i.e., CTP-adsorbed AuNFs with silica coating, exhibited the distinct SERS signals of CTP embedded within silica layer, warranting the effectiveness of this chemical strategy for spectroscopic labeling of Raman probes.

Synthesis of Gold Nanoflowers Encapsulated with Poly(N-isopropylacrylamide-co-acrylic acid) Hydrogels.

In this work, hydrogel-coated gold nanoflowers (AuNFs@hydrogel) were facilely prepared. First, gold nanoflowers (AuNFs) were synthesized by reducing gold acid with ascorbic acid in the presence of chitosan biopolymers, and the chitosan-mediated AuNFs were subsequently conjugated with oleic acid with carboxylate groups. Finally, the olefin-conjugated AuNFs were encapsulated with P(NIPAM-co-AAC) hydrogels via a radical polymerization reaction with co-monomer ratio of [NIPAM:AAc = 91:9 wt%]. The encapsulated hydrogels had a lower critical solution temperature (LCST) slightly above the physiological temperature and demonstrated a thermo-sensitive variation of particle size. The hydrogel-coated AuNFs can be utilized as a promising thermo-responsive drug delivery system with a unique optical property. As-prepared samples were characterized by DLS, SEM, TEM, UV-vis and Zeta potential meter.

Preparation and characterization of thin silicate-coated fluorescent silica nanoparticles with enhanced stability.

Silica nanoparticles (SNPs) were functionalized by aminosilanes of different chain lengths, such as (3-aminopropyl) trimethoxysilane (APTMS), [3-(2-aminoethylamino)propyl] trimethoxysilane (AEAPTMS), and N-(3-trimethoxysilylpropyl)diethylenetriamine (TMSP), followed by the electrostatic conjugation with carboxyl quantum dots (QDs). The resulting QD-anchored SNPs (Q-SNPs) were treated with a silicate solution to afford thin silica-coated fluorescent nanoparticles. The Q-SNPs prepared using AEAPTMS exhibited the highest photoluminescence (PL) intensity compared to those prepared using APTMS and TMSP. Moreover, the conjugation of amine-terminated SNPs with carboxyl QDs was found to be very strong under acidic pH conditions. The silicate-coated Q-SNPs exhibited a long-lasting PL intensity compared to the pristine Q-SNPs because the silica coating prevented the oxidative degradation and/or detachment of the anchored QDs from the SNPs. Such a protective coating strategy would be a useful guideline to prepare stable nanostructured materials for prolonged applications. The composite particles were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), dynamic light scattering (DLS), and photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy.

Fabrication and characterization of quantum dots-bound hydrogels with fluorescent and temperature-sensitive functionalities.

In this work, dual-functional composite particles possessing fluorescence and temperature-sensitive functionalities were developed in the form of QD-bound hydrogels for biomedical applications. First, the surface of silica nanoparticles (SNPs) was functionalized with olefin silanes, followed by hydrogel encapsulation through a radical polymerization. The encapsulated hydrogels were poly(N- isopropylacrylamide-co-acrylic acid) P(NIPAM-co-AAc) copolymer, showing the sensitive volume changes corresponding to the alternating temperature changes between 25 degrees C and 45 degrees C. At an optimal pH5, the hydrogel-encapsulated SNPs (SiO2@hydrogel) were effectively anchored by amino quantum dots (amino-QDs) through electrostatic (attractive) interactions between carboxylate groups of hydrogels and amine groups of QDs. QD-bound hydrogels with co-monomer ratio of [NIPAM:AAc = 83:17 wt%] exhibited the higher PL intensity than other samples with [NIPAM:AAc = 96:4 wt% or 91:9 wt%], indicating that higher fraction of carboxylate groups by AAc induced the effective bounding with QDs possessing positively charged amine groups.

Quantification of Plasma Dopamine in Depressed Patients Using Silver-Enriched Silicon Nanowires as SERS-Active Substrates.

A decrease in the levels of dopamine (DA)─a key catecholamine biomarker for major depressive disorder─highlights the need for quantitative analysis of biological fluids to aid in the early diagnosis of diverse neuropsychiatric disorders. This study developed silicon nanowires enriched with silver nanoparticles to serve as a surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) substrate to enable precise and sensitive quantification of blood plasma DA levels in humans. The silver-enriched silicon nanowires (SiNWs@Ag) yielded flower-like assemblies with densely populated SERS "hot spots," allowing sensitive DA detection. By correlating DA concentration with Raman intensity at 1156 cm-1, the plasma DA levels in treatment-naïve patients with major depression (n = 18) were 2 orders of magnitude lower than those in healthy controls (n = 18) (6.56 × 10-10 M vs 1.43 × 10-8 M). The plasma DA concentrations differed significantly between the two groups (two-tailed p = 5.77×10-7), highlighting a distinct demarcation between depression patients and healthy controls. Furthermore, the SiNWs@Ag substrate effectively differentiated between DA and norepinephrine (NE) in mixtures at nanomolar levels, demonstrating its selective detection capability. This study represents the first report on the quantitative detection of DA levels in human blood samples from individuals with major depression using an SERS technique, emphasizing its potential clinical utility in the evaluation and diagnosis of neuropsychiatric disorders.

Controlled Quercetin Release by Fluorescent Mesoporous Nanocarriers for Effective Anti-Adipogenesis.

Introduction: Quercetin (QUER), a flavonoid abundant in fruits and vegetables, is emerging as a promising alternative therapeutic agent for obesity treatment due to its antioxidant and anti-adipogenic properties. However, the clinical application of QUER is limited by its poor solubility, low bioavailability, and potential toxicity at high doses. To address these challenges, this study aims to develop an advanced drug delivery system using fluorescent mesoporous silica nanoparticles (FMSNs) coated with polydopamine (PDA) for the efficient and sustained delivery of QUER to inhibit adipogenesis. Methods: The research included the synthesis of PDA-coated FMSNs for encapsulation of QUER, characterization of their mesoporous structures, and systematic investigation of the release behavior of QUER. The DPPH assay was used to evaluate the sustained radical scavenging potential. Concentration-dependent effects on 3T3-L1 cell proliferation, cellular uptake and adipogenesis inhibition were investigated. Results: PDA-coated FMSNs exhibited well-aligned mesoporous structures. The DPPH assay confirmed the sustained radical scavenging potential, with FMSNs-QUER@PDA showing 53.92 ± 3.48% inhibition at 72 h, which was higher than FMSNs-QUER (44.66 ± 0.57%) and free QUER (43.37 ± 5.04%). Concentration-dependent effects on 3T3-L1 cells highlighted the enhanced efficacy of PDA-coated FMSNs for cellular uptake, with a 1.5-fold increase compared to uncoated FMSNs. Adipogenesis inhibition was also improved, with relative lipid accumulation of 44.6 ± 4.6%, 37.3 ± 4.6%, and 36.5 ± 7.3% at 2.5, 5, and 10 µM QUER concentrations, respectively. Conclusion: The study successfully developed a tailored drug delivery system, emphasizing sustained QUER release and enhanced therapeutic effects. FMSNs, especially when coated with PDA, exhibit promising properties for efficient QUER delivery, providing a comprehensive approach that integrates advanced drug delivery technology and therapeutic efficacy.

Facile construction of multifunctional xNiCo2O4/BiVO4 heterojunction with accelerated charge transfer for efficient photocatalytic treatment of Cr (VI), MB and TC under visible light.

The release of industrial effluents, comprising of organic dyes, antibiotics, and heavy metals poses substantial environmental and ecological threats. Among the different approaches, the utilization of heterogeneous photocatalysis based on semiconducting metal oxides is of paramount important to removal of organic ( MB dye and TC antibiotic) and inorganic pollutants ( Cr (VI) ) in wastewater. In this work, a new approach for creating type-II heterojunction photocatalysts named xNiCo2O4/BiVO4 or BNC is suggested. The as-prepared samples were thoroughly examined by means of several sophisticated analytical tools to investigate their physicochemical properties. These composites were utilized in the decomposition of MB dye, TC drug and the reduction of Cr (VI) under visible light irradiation. According to the findings, the creation of type-II heterojunction at BiVO4-NiCo2O4 interface greatly improved charge transportation while successfully preventing electron-hole recombination. Among the various composites studied, BNC-2 demonstrated an enhanced photocatalytic activity towards degradation of MB and TC, which were found to be 91 % over a period of 150 min and 95 % within only 60 min, respectively. Moreover, the photocatalytic reduction of Cr (VI) was accomplished 96 % within just 25 min. Additionally, it is discovered that BNC-2 displayed promising photostability and recyclability with a retention of >90 % after five consecutive cycles. The enhanced photocatalytic activity of BNC-2 is evidently attributed to the expedited separation and transfer of charges, as proven by photocurrent measurement, photoluminescence and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy analyses. Hence, the current amalgamation of NiCo2O4 and BiVO4 heterojunction composite has paved novel paths towards photocatalytic removal of organic as well as inorganic contaminants.

Optical properties of dopamine molecules with silver nanoparticles as surface-enhanced raman scattering (SERS) substrates at different pH conditions.

Silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) prepared by the citrate reduction method were examined as surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) substrates in the detection of dopamine (DA) molecules at different hydrogen ion concentrations. The aggregation of Ag NPs was influenced by the crosslinking effect of DA molecules as the function of pH of colloidal solution. Somewhat clustering of Ag NPs in a limited pH range (pH 7-9) exhibited the strong red-shift of absorption peak and maximal SERS activity to DA molecules, highlighting the importance of strong electrostatic adsorption and cross-linking effect that allowed DA molecules to reside in the junctions (hot spots) between aggregated Ag NPs. Furthermore, Ag NPs with DA molecules at strongly basic condition (> pH 9) exhibited the relatively high SERS activity as compared to negligible SERS activity at acidic condition (< or = pH 5), indicating the important role of oxidized surface of silver NPs which can interact with hydroxyl groups of DA molecules.

Fabrication and characterization of gold nanoflowers formed via chitosan-tripolyphosphate template films for biomedical applications.

Flowerlike gold nanostructure was facilely prepared by the seed-mediated growth of gold nanoparticles in chitosan-TPP template films. Firstly, chitosan nanoparticles, spontaneously formed by inter and/or intra cross-linking with TPP, were transformed into gel-type of chitosan-TPP films under strong sonication process. After then, gold seeds (1-3 nm) were entrapped in chitosan-TPP films via electrostatic interactions, and the resulting films were subsequently used as a template for growing gold nanoparticles and subsequent formation of anisotropic gold nanoflowers. The size and optical properties of gold nanoflowers were controlled simply by changing the ratio of gold salts to chitosan-TPP template films. Gold nanoflowers consisted of many aggregated nanodots exhibited broad Plasmon-derived absorption bands with strong red-shift into NIR wavelength, which might be a good prospect for SERS and biomedical applications.

Facile Fabrication of TiO2 Quantum Dots-Anchored g-C3N4 Nanosheets as 0D/2D Heterojunction Nanocomposite for Accelerating Solar-Driven Photocatalysis.

TiO2 semiconductors exhibit a low catalytic activity level under visible light because of their large band gap and fast recombination of electron-hole pairs. This paper reports the simple fabrication of a 0D/2D heterojunction photocatalyst by anchoring TiO2 quantum dots (QDs) on graphite-like C3N4 (g-C3N4) nanosheets (NSs); the photocatalyst is denoted as TiO2 QDs@g-C3N4. The nanocomposite was characterized via analytical instruments, such as powder X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, t orange (MO) under solar light were compared. The TiO2 QDs@g-C3N4 photocatalyst exhibited 95.57% MO degradation efficiency and ~3.3-fold and 5.7-fold higher activity level than those of TiO2 QDs and g-C3N4 NSs, respectively. Zero-dimensional/two-dimensional heterojunction formation with a staggered electronic structure leads to the efficient separation of photogenerated charge carriers via a Z-scheme pathway, which significantly accelerates photocatalysis under solar light. This study provides a facile synthetic method for the rational design of 0D/2D heterojunction nanocomposites with enhanced solar-driven catalytic activity.

The Relationship between Character Traits and In Vivo Cerebral Serotonin Transporter Availability in Healthy Subjects: A High-Resolution PET Study with C-11 DASB.

To elucidate the potential roles of serotonergic activity in human character traits (i.e., self-directedness, cooperativeness, and self-transcendence), we investigated the relationship between these character traits and serotonin transporter (5-HTT) in healthy subjects. Twenty-four participants underwent High-Resolution Research Tomograph-positron emission tomography scans with [11C]DASB. To quantify 5-HTT availability, binding potential (BPND) of [11C]DASB was obtained using the simplified reference tissue model. The Temperament and Character Inventory was used to assess subjects' levels of three character traits. There were no significant correlations between the three character traits. Self-directedness was significantly positively correlated with [11C]DASB BPND in the left hippocampus, left middle occipital gyrus, bilateral superior parietal gyrus, left inferior parietal gyrus, left middle temporal gyrus (MTG), and left inferior temporal gyrus (ITG). Cooperativeness was significantly negatively correlated with [11C]DASB BPND in the median raphe nucleus. Self-transcendence was significantly negatively correlated with [11C]DASB BPND in the right MTG and right ITG. Our results show significant correlations between the three character traits and 5-HTT availability in specific brain regions. In particular, self-directedness was significantly positively correlated with 5-HTT availability, suggesting that a goal-oriented, self-confident, and resourceful character may be related to higher serotonergic neurotransmission.

Cu@Fe-Redox Capacitive-Based Metal-Organic Framework Film for a High-Performance Supercapacitor Electrode.

A metal-organic framework (MOF) is a highly porous material with abundant redox capacitive sites for intercalation/de-intercalation of charges and, hence, is considered promising for electrode materials in supercapacitors. In addition, dopants can introduce defects and alter the electronic structure of the MOF, which can affect its surface reactivity and electrochemical properties. Herein, we report a copper-doped iron-based MOF (Cu@Fe-MOF/NF) thin film obtained via a simple drop-cast route on a 3D-nickel foam (NF) substrate for the supercapacitor application. The as-deposited Cu@Fe-MOF/NF electrodes exhibit a unique micro-sized bipyramidal structure composited with nanoparticles, revealing a high specific capacitance of 420.54 F g-1 at 3 A g-1 which is twice compared to the nano-cuboidal Fe-MOF/NF (210 F g-1). Furthermore, the asymmetric solid-state (ASSSC) supercapacitor device, derived from the assembly of Cu@Fe-MOF/NFǁrGO/NF electrodes, demonstrates superior performance in terms of energy density (44.20 Wh.kg-1) and electrochemical charge-discharge cycling durability with 88% capacitance retention after 5000 cycles. This work, thus, demonstrates a high potentiality of the Cu@Fe-MOF/NF film electrodes in electrochemical energy-storing devices.

Fabrication of triple-layered magnetite-hydrogel-gold nanocomposites for biomedical applications.

Magnetite-hydrogel-gold nanocomposites with optical-active, thermo-responsive, and magnetism have been prepared by the following consecutive steps. Hydrogel-encapsulated magnetites were first synthesized by the combination of sol-gel reaction and radical polymerization process, and the resulting magnetic hydrogels were subsequently bound with nano-sized Au (1-3 nm) via a molecular linkage of diamine ligand which was covalently bonded to the carboxylic groups on the hydrogel surface. Au seeds anchored on the magnetic hydrogels were further reduced into nano-scale Au layer which induced the distinct red-shift of absorption band into NIR region. The optical properties and surface morphology of the nanocomposites were characterized by UV-vis spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM).