Long-term residue returning increased subsoil carbon quality in a rice-wheat cropping system.

Residue returning (RR) was widely implemented to increase soil organic carbon (SOC) in farmland. Extensive studies concentrated on the effects of RR on SOC quantity instead of SOC fractions at aggregate scales. This study investigated the effects of 20-year RR on the distribution of labile (e.g., dissolved, microbial biomass, and permanganate oxidizable organic) and stable (e.g., microbial necromass) carbon fractions at aggregate scales, as well as their contribution to SOC accumulation and mineralization. The findings indicated a synchronized variation in the carbon content of bacterial and fungal necromass. Residue retention (RR) notably elevated the concentration of bacterial and fungal necromass carbon, while it did not amplify the microbial necromass carbon (MNC) contribution to SOC when compared to residue removal (R0) in the topsoil (0-5 cm). In the subsoil (5-15 cm), RR increased the MNC contribution to SOC concentration by 21.2%-33.4% and mitigated SOC mineralization by 12.6% in micro-aggregates (P < 0.05). Besides, RR increased soil ß-glucosidase and peroxidase activities but decreased soil phenol oxidase activity in micro-aggregates (P < 0.05). These indicated that RR might accelerate cellulose degradation and conversion to stable microbial necromass C, and thus RR improved SOC stability because SOC occluded in micro-aggregates were more stable. Interestingly, SOC concentration was mainly regulated by MNC, while SOC mineralization was by dissolved organic carbon under RR, both of which were affected by soil carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus associated nutrients and enzyme activities. The findings of this study emphasize that the paths of RR-induced SOC accumulation and mineralization were different, and depended on stable and labile C, respectively. Overall, long-term RR increased topsoil carbon quantity and subsoil carbon quality.

CoOx @Co-NC Catalyst with Dual Active Centers for Enhanced Oxygen Evolution: Breaking Trade-Off of Particle Size and Metal Loading.

Increasing the metal loading and downsizing the metal particle size are two effective ways to boost the electrochemical performance of catalysts. However, it is difficult to simultaneously increase the metal loading and reduce the particle size since isolated individual atoms are easy to aggregate into nanoparticles when increasing the metal loading. To tackle this contradiction, we report a bottom-up ligand-mediated strategy to facilely prepare ultrafine CoOx nanoclusters anchored on a Co-N-containing carbon matrix (CoOx @Co-NC). The co-exist of N and O atoms prevent Co atoms agglomerating into large particles and allowing the formation of ultrafine dispersed Co species with large Co loading (up to 20 wt.%). Since the relationship between ultrasmall size and large metal loading is well balanced, the CoOx nanoclusters have no inhibitory effect, but facilitate the catalytic performance of Co-N4 sites during OER process. Consequently, due to the synergistic effect of ultrafine CoOx nanoclusters and Co-N4 macrocycles, the as-synthesized CoOx @Co-NC exhibit promising OER activity (η10 =370 mV, Tafel plot=40 mV/dec), bettering than that of benchmark RuO2 (η10 =411 mV, Tafel plot=72 mV/dec). This ligand-mediated strategy to synthesize carbonaceous materials containing dual active centers with large metal loading is promising for developing active and stable catalysts for electrocatalytic applications.

Electrolysis-sulfate-reducing up-flow sludge bed-biological contact oxidation reactor for Norfloxacin removal from wastewater with high sulfate content.

This study investigated the treatment of 100-mg/L Norfloxacin (NOR) wastewater containing high concentrations of sulfate through a combination of electrolysis, sulfate-reducing up-flow sludge bed (SRUSB), and biological contact oxidation reactor (BCOR) treatments. Results revealed that after 62 h, the reaction system had processed over 97% of the NOR. Additionally, electrolysis with sodium sulfate as the electrolyte transformed 87.8% of the NOR but only 33.5% of the total organic carbon (TOC). In the SRUSB, the TOC and SO42- contents were simultaneously reduced by 87.4% and 95.6%, respectively, providing a stable environment to the BCOR. In the BCOR, 36.3% and 85.9% of the NOR and TOC were degraded. High-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry analysis identified three possible degradation pathways under the attack of -OH during electrolysis, including defluorination, piperazinyl ring transformation, and quinolone ring transformation. Furthermore, the Illumina HiSeq sequencing results demonstrated that the sulfate-reducing bacteria (represented by Desulfobacter and Desulfobulbus) in the SRUSB and the sulfate-oxidizing bacteria (mainly consisting of Gammaproteobacteria and Alphaproteobacteria) in the BCOR played important roles in carbon chain oxidation and benzene ring opening and thoroughly degraded the electrolysis products. Thus, this method effectively overcomes the incomplete degradation and low removal efficiency issues associated with single electrolysis or biological methods in traditional processes.

(Pro)renin Receptor is Involved in Myocardial Damage in Alcoholic Cardiomyopathy.

BACKGROUND: (Pro)renin receptor (PRR), a novel member of the renin-angiotensin system, participates in various cardiovascular diseases. However, the role of PRR in alcoholic cardiomyopathy (ACM), which is caused by alcohol intake and manifests as myocardial damage and cardiac dysfunction, remains unclear. METHODS: PRR gene silencing was achieved by transfecting recombinant adenovirus expressing anti-PRR short hairpin RNA (PRR-shRNA). In vitro, primary rat cardiac fibroblasts (CFs) were cultured with the stimulation of alcohol (200 mM), with or without PRR-shRNA and PD98059. Immunofluorescence, RT-PCR, and Western blot were used to measure the protein and messenger (mRNA) expression of PRR, fibrotic factors, and members of related signaling pathways. In vivo, Wistar rats were fed a diet containing 9% (v/v) alcohol or a normal diet for 3 months, with or without PRR-shRNA. Sirius Red staining, immunohistochemical staining, and toluidine blue staining were used to evaluate myocardial fibrosis, oxidative stress, and inflammation response. RESULTS: Alcohol markedly increased PRR mRNA and protein expression in a time- and concentration-dependent manner in CFs. The increased expression of fibrotic factors induced by alcohol was prevented by PRR-shRNA and PD98059. Moreover, PRR-shRNA decreased the phosphorylation of extracellular regulated protein kinases (ERK) 1/2 in CFs. Furthermore, PRR-shRNA decreased cardiac fibrosis, reduced oxidative stress, and alleviated inflammation response in the myocardial tissue. CONCLUSIONS: Our results show that PRR-ERK1/2 signaling was involved in the development of ACM and that PRR could be a new target for the treatment of ACM.

A novel sound-blocking structure based on the muffler principle for rib-sparing transcostal high-intensity focused ultrasound treatment.

The main challenge in transcostal high-intensity focused ultrasound therapy is minimising heat deposition in the ribs while ensuring that a sufficient dose is delivered to the target region. Current approaches rely on expensive multichannel phased-array systems to turn the individual transducer on and off according to either geometrical arrangements or complicated wave calculations. To protect the ribs from heating, the ultrasound energy must not only not reach the ribs, but must also not accumulate in front of the ribs. The research in this paper proposes a different approach, of attaching a sound-blocking structure in front of the rib cage with similar effects to those of an engine exhaust muffler. The sound-blocking structure is based on the muffler principle to prevent ultrasound energy from reaching the ribs and reduce the amount of energy reflected back to the applicator. Finite element simulations with a 0.5-MHz transducer of the overall sound fields and temperature distribution showed that the ultrasound pressure and energy level would decrease behind the novel sound-blocking structures, thereby resulting in a lower temperature at the ribs than at the tumour. Without the protecting structure, the rib temperature reached 104.19 °C whereas with the structure it reached only 37.86 °C. An experimental set-up using porcine ribs with a phantom was also developed to validate the concept, which showed that the rib temperature reached 73 °C without protection within 1 min of ablation time whereas it reached 36.5 °C with the device. The tumour region in the tests reached 51 °C and 49 °C with and without protection, respectively.

Experimental Investigation of Seismic Performance of Precast Concrete Wall-Beam-Slab Joints with Overlapping U-Bar Loop Connections.

In the era of energy conservation and environmental protection, as well as the industrialization of buildings, precast concrete (PC) structures have been developed and increasingly applied in construction industries due to their advantages of outstanding workability and ecofriendliness. In order to verify the reliability of overlapping U-bar loop connections and a modified form of these connections, and study the seismic performance of PC wall-beam-slab joints with these connection methods, three full-scale wall-beam-slab joints were designed and tested under low reversed cyclic loading, including one cast-in-place (CIP) specimen and two PC specimens. Based on the test results, the seismic performance of the PC joints was studied by comparing their damage process, hysteretic loops and skeleton curves, load-carrying capacity, ductility, equivalent stiffness, and energy dissipation with those of the CIP joint. After analyzing the experimental results, the following conclusions can be drawn: the overlapping U-bar loop connection and its modified form are effective and reasonable; the specimen with the modified connection form showed slightly better mechanical properties; the failure mode of the PC joints was consistent with that of the CIP joint; and the generation, distribution, and development of cracks in the PC specimens were similar to those in the CIP specimen. In addition, the stiffness of the PC joints was similar to that of the CIP joint, and the load-carrying capacity, ductility, and energy dissipation of the PC joints were better than those of the CIP joint. Moreover, the research in this paper can also provide some guidance for assembling wall-beam-slab joints in PC shear wall structures.

Two new di-tert-butyl-type compounds from a saline-lake derived Streptomyces sp. XZB42.

Two novel di-tert-butyl-type structures (1-2), and five known compounds (3-7) were isolated from the chemical investigations of a saline lake actinomycete, Streptomyces sp. XZB42. The structures of the new compounds were elucidated by extensive NMR spectroscopic analysis, HRESIMS data, GIAO (gauge-including atomic orbitals) NMR and specific optical rotation (SOR).

Discovery of unglycosylated indolocarbazoles as ROCK2 isoform-selective inhibitors for the treatment of breast cancer metastasis.

Breast cancer metastasis is a major challenge in clinical therapy because of the absence of effective treatments. Rho-associated coiled-coil kinase (ROCK), which is essential for cell invasion and migration, has recently been suggested as a potential target for the treatment of cancer metastasis. Herein, we report the structure-activity relationships (SAR) of indolocarbazoles against ROCK2 and reveal the crucial role of the C-3 hydroxyl for ROCK2 inhibition. The most potent unglycosylated aglycone THK01 was demonstrated to bind to and stabilize ROCK2 with potent anti-metastatic effects in breast cancer in vitro and in vivo with no obvious toxicities. Further mechanistic studies revealed that the anti-metastatic effect of THK01 was closely related to the suppression of STAT3Y705 activation. Moreover, THK01 exhibited excellent selectivity over the isoform protein ROCK1 (>100-fold). Taken together, with low toxicity, the ROCK2 inhibitor THK01 potently inhibited breast cancer metastasis through the ROCK2-STAT3 signaling pathway, which offers a new opportunity for the treatment of metastatic breast cancer.

Reconstruction of CoNx /NC Catalyst during Oxygen Evolution Reaction by Fe3+ Modulation for Enhanced Activity and Stability.

The surface reconstruction of transition metal-based catalysts has been demonstrated to be beneficial for oxygen evolution reaction (OER). However, regulating the activity and stability of the components derived from reconstruction is challenging. Here, a strategy of Fe3+ ion modulating the reconstruction components of CoN0.4 on a nitrogen-doped carbon carrier(CoN0.4 /NC) electrocatalyst for promoted OER activity and stability is reported. During the OER process, the cobalt nitride components on the surface of CoN0.4 /NC catalyst were converted into CoOOH and Co4+ species. The addition of Fe3+ stabilized the CoOOH phase and facilitated the formation of Fe-CoOOH active phase, enhancing the activity and stability of CoN0.4 /NC. The Fe10 -CoN0.4 /NC catalyst achieved a current density of 10 mA cm-2 at a low overpotential of 300 mV (vs. RHE) with a Tafel slope of 68.12 mV dec-1 . The overpotential of Fe10 -CoN0.4 /NC was 122 mV lower than that of the CoN0.4 /NC catalyst and was comparable to commercial RuO2 catalyst. This study develops a novel technology for regulating the production of reconstructed species using Fe3+ ions.

Sleep fMRI with simultaneous electrophysiology at 9.4 T in male mice.

Sleep is ubiquitous and essential, but its mechanisms remain unclear. Studies in animals and humans have provided insights of sleep at vastly different spatiotemporal scales. However, challenges remain to integrate local and global information of sleep. Therefore, we developed sleep fMRI based on simultaneous electrophysiology at 9.4 T in male mice. Optimized un-anesthetized mouse fMRI setup allowed manifestation of NREM and REM sleep, and a large sleep fMRI dataset was collected and openly accessible. State dependent global patterns were revealed, and state transitions were found to be global, asymmetrical and sequential, which can be predicted up to 17.8 s using LSTM models. Importantly, sleep fMRI with hippocampal recording revealed potentiated sharp-wave ripple triggered global patterns during NREM than awake state, potentially attributable to co-occurrence of spindle events. To conclude, we established mouse sleep fMRI with simultaneous electrophysiology, and demonstrated its capability by revealing global dynamics of state transitions and neural events.

Enhanced hydrogen evolution reaction in alkaline solution by constructing strong metal-support interaction on Pd-CeO2-x-NC hybrids.

Diminishing the size of metal nanostructures can significantly improve the performance of catalysts. However, the self-aggregation of small particles is still an insurmountable obstacle, resulting in the unfavorable stability and recyclability. Herein, we designed and fabricated the Pd-CeO2-x-NC catalyst though an accurate deposition strategy to downsize the Pd particle to sub-nanometer level and enhance its running stability. The CeO2-x nanoclusters were firstly dispersed on the nitrogen-doped carbon nanosheets. Further, the active Pd sub-nanoclusters were accurately scattered on the surface of CeO2-x ascribing to the strong metal-support interaction (SMSI) between Pd and CeO2-x, which was beneficial to promote the catalytic activity. Subsequently, the high oxidation state Pdn+ species were formed due to the electron transfer from Pd to CeO2-x caused by the SMSI effect. Strikingly, the HER performance of Pd-CeO2-x-NC was surprisingly correlated with the ratio of Pdn+, suggesting Pdn+ acted as the dominant active species. Besides, the SMSI effect stabilized the valence state of active Pdn+ species and prevented the sub-nanometer Pd clusters from aggregation, which played a vital role for the enhanced stability of the hybrid catalyst. This synthetic process described here is contributed to prepare various nanostructured catalysts with satisfactory stability through the direct targeting strategy.

Well-designed oxidized Sb/g-C3N4 2D/2D nanosheets heterojunction with enhanced visible-light photocatalytic disinfection activity.

2D/2D heterojunction photocatalysts with excellent photocatalytic activity highlight considerable potential in water disinfection. Here, an oxidized Sb/g-C3N4 2D/2D nanosheets heterojunction (Sb-SbOx/CNS) was constructed based on a facile one-step liquid-phase exfoliation method using concentrated sulfuric acid. By doing so, bulk Sb and g-C3N4 were exfoliated simultaneously and then, intercalated each other. Compared with CNS and Sb-SbOx, the obtained Sb-SbOx/CNS demonstrated better photocatalytic disinfection activity towards Escherichia coli K-12 (E. coli K-12) under visible light irradiation. The 5% oxidized Sb/g-C3N4 2D/2D nanosheets heterojunction (5.0% Sb-SbOx/CNS) exhibited the best photocatalytic performance and admirable cycling stability, which was ascribed to the unique structure where the interfacial charge separation was strengthened by the strong coupling effect between Sb-SbOx and CNS. Meanwhile, the fundamental mechanism of photocatalytic disinfection was also proposed. The photogenerated ROS (reactive oxygen species) violently attacked the E. coli K-12 membrane, creating massive and irreparable holes on the cell membrane. The leakage of cations (K+, Na+, Ca2+ and Mg2+), adenosine triphosphate, total soluble sugar and protein accelerated the destruction of E. coli K-12. Trapping experiments suggested that the photocatalytic disinfection process against E. coli K-12 was dominated by h+ generated on 5.0% Sb-SbOx/CNS. This work offers a new promising way to modify the 2D/2D heterojunction featuring efficient photocatalytic disinfection performance.

Bifunctional 2D/2D g-C3N4/BiO2-x nanosheets heterojunction for bacterial disinfection mechanisms under visible and near-infrared light irradiation.

The efficient deployment of visible and near-infrared (NIR) light for photocatalytic disinfection is of great concern a matter. Herein, we report a specific bifunctional 2D/2D g-C3N4/BiO2-x nanosheets heterojunction, prepared through a self-assembly approach. Delightfully, the obtained 2D/2D heterojunctions exhibited satisfactory photocatalytic disinfection performance towards Escherichia coli K-12 (E. coli K-12) under visible light irradiation, which was credited to the Z-scheme interfacial heterojunction facilitating the migration of photogenerated carries. The photoactivity enhancement driven by NIR light illumination was ascribed to the cooperative synergy effect of photothermal effect and "hot electrons", engineering efficient charge transfer. Intriguingly, the carboxyl groups emerged on g-C3N4 nanosheets contributed a vital role in establishing the enhanced photocatalytic reaction. Moreover, the disinfection mechanism was systematically described. The cell membrane was destroyed, evidenced by the generation of lipid peroxidation reaction and loss of energy metabolism. Subsequently, the damage of defense enzymes and release of intracellular constituents announced the irreversible death of E. coli K-12. Interestingly enough, considerable microbial community shifts of surface water were observed after visible and NIR light exposure, highlighting the critical feature of disinfection process in shaping microbial communities. The authors believe that this work gives a fresh light on the feasibility of heterostructures-enabled disinfection processes.

Overexpression of G Protein-Coupled Receptor 40 Protects Obesity-Induced Cardiomyopathy Through the SIRT1/LKB1/AMPK Pathway.

Obesity has become a serious global public health problem, and cardiomyopathy caused by obesity has recently gained attention. As an important protein involved in glucose and lipid metabolism, G protein-coupled receptor 40 (GPR40) exerts cardioprotective effects in some disease models. This study aimed to explore whether GPR40 plays a protective role in obesity-induced cardiomyopathy. We established an obesity model by feeding rats with a high-fat diet, and H9c2 cells were stimulated with palmitic acid to mimic high fat stimulation. Overexpression of GPR40 was achieved by infection with lentivirus or cDNA plasmids. Obesity-induced cardiac injury models exhibit cardiac dysfunction, myocardial hypertrophy, and collagen accumulation, which are accompanied by increased inflammation, oxidative stress, and apoptosis. However, GPR40 overexpression attenuated these alterations. The anti-inflammatory effect of GPR40 may be by inhibiting the nuclear factor-κB pathway, and the antioxidative stress may occur as a result of nuclear transcription factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 pathway activation. In terms of the mechanisms of GPR40 against obese cardiomyopathy, GPR40 overexpression not only activated the sirtuin 1 (SIRT1)-liver kinase B1 (LKB1)-AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) pathway but also enhanced the binding of SIRT1 to LKB1. The antifibrotic, anti-inflammatory, antioxidative stress, and antiapoptotic effects of GPR40 overexpression were inhibited by SIRT1 small interfering RNA. In conclusion, GPR40 overexpression protects against obesity-induced cardiac injury in rats, possibly through the SIRT1-LKB1-AMPK pathway.

Insights into the hydrated electron generation from UV/aniline: Mechanism and quantum efficiency.

The insight into the neglected reduction process accompanied by UV-based oxidation process may provide new ideas for the development of advanced oxidation and reduction technologies. In this study, aniline was comprehensively investigated as an unexpected indicator of hydrated electron (eaq-) under UV irradiation. Monochloroacetic acid (MCAA) was selected as the probe of eaq- and the balance of chloride ions indicated the reduction of MCAA. Further, laser flash photolysis experiments demonstrated the generation of eaq- in the UV/aniline process and the half-life period of formed eaq- was demonstrated to be 0.13 µs. The photolysis of aniline along with the decay of the excited state of aniline was responsible for the eaq- generation. Besides, the hydrogen atom (H) generated from the photolysis can subsequently reacted with OH- to generate eaq-. The photolysis pathways of aniline were proposed by the results of GC-MS. Aniline was abstracted of H in solution to the formation of aniline radical (PhNH) or form aminophenol in three different isomers (orto-, meta- and para-aminophenol). Moreover, UV/aniline showed a higher reducing capacity of MCAA compared with other organic electron donors and sustained a highly reducing ability in a wide pH. And the calculation results of quantum efficiency (Φ) showed that excessive aniline was not conducive to the elevation of Φ. This study introduced a novel pathway of eaq- generation during the photolysis of aniline and provided a new perspective for eaq--based advanced reduction processes.

In2O3/oxygen doped g-C3N4 towards photocatalytic BPA degradation: Balance of oxygen between metal oxides and doped g-C3N4.

Hybrid semi-conductor heterojunction appears to be a promising technology for pollutant removal and wastewater treatment. However, the interface modification of the heterojunction and the working mechanisms remain elusive, thus impeding the development of highly efficient photocatalysis. In this work, we highlighted the key role played by the 3D/2D In2O3/oxygen doped graphitic carbon nitrides (g-C3N4) heterojunction, named In2O3/OGCN, on the photocatalytic performance. The characteristic results showed a balance of oxygen between In2O3 and OGCN, which enabled a stable interaction in the heterojunction to specifically tune the oxidation power, and this strategy can be applied to rationally control the photocatalytic activity of organic pollutants. The optimized In2O3/OGCN heterojunction demonstrated a notable photocatalytic degradation capability for bisphenol A (BPA), which was better than that of pristine In2O3 and OGCN, respectively. This photocatalyst had a great physical stability and can be recycled for further use. Meanwhile, the exceptional photodegradation capacity was attributed to spatially separated charge carriers, fast-charge transportation characteristics, and the special band gap structure of In2O3/OGCN heterojunction. In addition, the covalent bond between In-O significantly improved oxygen stability in the lattice, thereby increasing the reliability of the material. This research presents a new opportunity to fabricate metal oxides/OGCN heterojunction photocatalysts which have potential application in wastewater treatment by adjusting the oxygen between the two compounds in heterojunction.

Yes-Associated Protein is Involved in Myocardial Fibrosis in Rats with Diabetic Cardiomyopathy.

INTRODUCTION: Recent studies have shown that YAP is closely related to the pathological process of cardiovascular diseases. But the role of YAP in cardiac injury of diabetic cardiomyopathy (DCM) is still unclear. METHODS: Diabetic cardiomyopathy rat model was established and divided into control group, DCM group, LV-SC-shRNA group and LV-YAP-shRNA group. LV-SC-shRNA group and LV-YAP-shRNA group were injected with lentivirus expressing SC-shRNA and YAP-shRNA via tail vein, respectively. Primary rat cardiac fibroblasts (CFs) were stimulated with high concentration of glucose and treated with recombinant lentivirus expressing either SC-shRNA or YAP-shRNA to observe the expression of CTGF and fibronectin, so as to observe the effect of inhibiting YAP on the pathogenesis of DCM. RESULTS: Compared with control group, high glucose markedly increased YAP mRNA and protein expression in DCM and CFs. Inhibition of YAP decreased myocardial fibrosis and improved cardiac function in the DCM model and decreased the expression of CTGF and fibronectin in CFs. The result suggested that YAP plays a key role in the pathological progression of DCM, and the underlying mechanisms may be associated with TEAD and CTGF. DISCUSSION: We found that the expression of YAP was increased both in vivo and in vitro, suggesting that YAP is closely related to DCM, and YAP knockdown can reduce myocardial fibrosis in rat model of DCM by reducing the expression of PAI-1, collagen I, collagen III, CTGF and profilin, as well as the expression of CTGF and fibronectin in CFs. This study revealed that YAP plays an important role in the pathological process of diabetic cardiomyopathy, and down-regulation of YAP expression may provide a new therapeutic target for DCM.

Visible-light photocatalytic degradation of bisphenol A using cobalt-to-oxygen doped graphitic carbon nitride with nitrogen vacancies via metal-to-ligand charge transfer.

As an environmentally friendly and promising semiconductor, graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4) was widely used in photocatalytic treatment of aqueous organic pollutants. In this study, cobalt-to-oxygen doped graphitic carbon nitride with feeble nitrogen vacancies (Co-OCNVN) as metal-to-ligand charge transfer was synthesized via a facile thermal polymerization method with low cost and non-toxic precursors. The oxygen doped graphitic carbon nitride with feeble nitrogen vacancies (OCNVN) ligand was successfully formed and cobalt was presented in OCNVN in an ionic form (in the form of Co2+-Nx). The cobalt atoms were chemically coordinated to the OCNVN matrix rather than forming cobalt oxide on the surface of OCNVN. The embedded cobalt atoms maintained the absorption margin of ligand OCNVN (up to 700 nm) and served as the separation centers to promote the interfacial electron transfer as well. Due to the synergistic effects of the embedded cobalt atoms and oxygen doping, the Co-OCNVN showed an outstanding activity for the visible-light photocatalytic oxidation of endocrine disruptor bisphenol A (BPA).

Three-Dimensional BC/PEDOT Composite Nanofibers with High Performance for Electrode-Cell Interface.

There is an increasing need to synthesize biocompatible nanofibers with excellent mechanical and electrical performance for electrochemical and biomedical applications. Here we report a facile approach to prepare electroactive and flexible 3D nanostructured biomaterials with high performance based on bacterial cellulose (BC) nanofibers. Our approach can coat BC nanofibers with poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT) by in situ interfacial polymerization in a controllable manner. The PEDOT coating thickness is adjustable by the monomer concentration or reaction time during polymerization, producing nanofibers with a total diameter ranging from 30 to 200 nm. This fabrication process also provides a convenient method to tune different parameters such as the average pore size and electrical conductivity on the demands of actual applications. Our experiments have demonstrated that the 3D BC/PEDOT nanofibers exhibit high specific surface area, excellent mechanical properties, electroactive stability, and low cell cytotoxicity. With electrical stimulation, calcium imaging of PC12 neural cells on BC/PEDOT nanofibers has revealed a significant increase in the percentage of cells with higher action potentials, suggesting an enhanced capacitance effect of charge injection. As an attractive solution to the challenge of designing better electrode-cell interfaces, 3D BC/PEDOT nanofibers promise many important applications such as biosensing devices, smart drug delivery systems, and implantable electrodes for tissue engineering.

Flexible single-crystal silicon nanomembrane photonic crystal cavity.

Flexible inorganic electronic devices promise numerous applications, especially in fields that could not be covered satisfactorily by conventional rigid devices. Benefits on a similar scale are also foreseeable for silicon photonic components. However, the difficulty in transferring intricate silicon photonic devices has deterred widespread development. In this paper, we demonstrate a flexible single-crystal silicon nanomembrane photonic crystal microcavity through a bonding and substrate removal approach. The transferred cavity shows a quality factor of 2.2×10(4) and could be bent to a curvature of 5 mm radius without deteriorating the performance compared to its counterparts on rigid substrates. A thorough characterization of the device reveals that the resonant wavelength is a linear function of the bending-induced strain. The device also shows a curvature-independent sensitivity to the ambient index variation.