Supernormal Temperature Sensing Performance Realized through the Blue Emitting Level of Er3+ along with Detection Ability in Deep Tissues.

Fluorescence intensity ratio (FIR)-type optical thermometers based on thermally coupled energy levels (TCLs) of rare earth ions are suitable candidates for noncontact temperature detection in living organisms, microelectronics apparatus, and so forth. Therefore, the improvement of the thermometric sensitivity of TCL-based thermometers has become a research hotspot in recent years. Herein, ultrahigh sensitivity and outstanding resolution for temperature sensing have been realized in YNbO4: Yb3+/Er3+. Unusually, the thermally coupled three-level system of Er3+: 4F7/2/2H11/2/4S3/2 is first employed for optical thermometry based on FIR technology. A supernormal thermometric sensitivity of 2.67% K-1 is obtained from the thermally coupled 4F7/2 and 4S3/2 states due to the large energy gap between them, significantly surpassing that of most temperature sensors in the same category. Furthermore, the existence of the intermediate level 2H11/2 can effectively prevent the decoupling effect between 4F7/2 and 4S3/2. Additionally, the temperature sensing behavior realized by the Stark sublevels of the Er3+: 4I13/2 → 4I15/2 transition, with a penetration depth of 8 mm, shows the potential of temperature measurement in deep biological tissues, benefiting from its excitation and emission wavelengths located in the biological window. All of the data reveal that YNbO4: Yb3+/Er3+ is an ultrasensitive optical thermometer and exhibits the capacity of temperature detection in deep tissues.

Hypnotic treatment improves sleep architecture and EEG disruptions and rescues memory deficits in a mouse model of fragile X syndrome.

Fragile X syndrome (FXS) is associated with disrupted cognition and sleep abnormalities. Sleep loss negatively impacts cognitive function, and one untested possibility is that disrupted cognition in FXS is exacerbated by abnormal sleep. We tested whether ML297, a hypnotic acting on G-protein-activated inward-rectifying potassium (GIRK) channels, could reverse sleep phenotypes and disrupted memory in Fmr1-/y mice. Fmr1-/y mice exhibit reduced non-rapid eye movement (NREM) sleep and fragmented NREM architecture, altered sleep electroencephalogram (EEG) oscillations, and reduced EEG coherence between cortical areas; these are partially reversed following ML297 administration. Treatment following contextual fear or spatial learning restores disrupted memory consolidation in Fmr1-/y mice. During memory recall, Fmr1-/y mice show an altered balance of activity among hippocampal principal neurons vs. parvalbumin-expressing interneurons; this is partially reversed by ML297. Because sleep disruption could impact neurophysiological phenotypes in FXS, augmenting sleep may improve disrupted cognition in this disorder.

Immunophenotype of lymphocytes and real-world outcome of COVID-19 infection in children with hematology and oncology.

BACKGROUND: Patients with immunocompromise were suspected to encounter a high risk for severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection on early period; however, data is lacking nowadays and immune response remain unclear. METHODS: In this retrospective study, internet questionnaire survey and medical records were acquired in pediatric hematology oncology patients. Clinical severity, immunological characteristics, and outcomes were analyzed from December 1, 2022 to January 31, 2023 at the 3rd year of pandemic in China. RESULTS: A total of 306 patients were included, with 21 patients (6.9%) asymptomatic, 262 (85.6%) mild severity, 17 (5.6%) moderate severity, 5 (1.6%) severe severity, and 1 (0.3%) critical severity. Seventy-eight (25.5%) patients were on intensive chemotherapy, and 32.0% children were on maintenance chemotherapy. Delays in cancer therapy occurred in 86.7% patients. Univariable analysis revealed active chemotherapy (P < 0.0001), long duration of symptom (P < 0.0001), low lymphocytes count (P = 0.095), low CD3 + and CD8 + T cell count (P = 0.013, P = 0.022), high percentage of CD4 + TCM (P = 0.016), and low percentage of transitional B cells (P = 0.045) were high risk factors for severe COVID-19 infection. Cox regression model showed that the absolute lymphocytes count (P = 0.027) and long duration of symptom (P = 0.002) were the independent factors for severity. Patients with CD8 + dominant and B cell depletion subtype wasn't related with severity, but had higher percentage of CD8 + effector memory T cells (TEM) and terminally differentiated effector memory T cells (TEMRA) (P < 0.001, P < 0.001), and a longer COVID-19 duration (P = 0.045). CONCLUSION: The severity was relatively mild in children with immunodeficiencies in the third year of COVID-19 pandemic. Low lymphocyte count and long duration of symptom were the independent risk factors with COVID-19 severity. Delays in cancer care remain a major concern and the long outcome is pending.

Sleep-dependent engram reactivation during hippocampal memory consolidation associated with subregion-specific biosynthetic changes.

Post-learning sleep is essential for hippocampal memory processing, including contextual fear memory consolidation. We labeled context-encoding engram neurons in the hippocampal dentate gyrus (DG) and assessed reactivation of these neurons after fear learning. Post-learning sleep deprivation (SD) selectively disrupted reactivation of inferior blade DG engram neurons, linked to SD-induced suppression of neuronal activity in the inferior, but not superior DG blade. Subregion-specific spatial profiling of transcripts revealed that transcriptomic responses to SD differed greatly between hippocampal CA1, CA3, and DG inferior blade, superior blade, and hilus. Activity-driven transcripts, and those associated with cytoskeletal remodeling, were selectively suppressed in the inferior blade. Critically, learning-driven transcriptomic changes differed dramatically between the DG blades and were absent from all other regions. Together, these data suggest that the DG is critical for sleep-dependent memory consolidation, and that the effects of sleep loss on the hippocampus are highly subregion-specific.

Influence of ganglioside combined with methylprednisolone sodium succinate on efficacy and neurological function in patients with acute myelitis.

BACKGROUND: Acute myelitis (AM) can lead to sudden sensory, motor and autonomic nervous dysfunction, which negatively affects their daily activities and quality of life, so it is necessary to explore optimization from a therapeutic perspective to curb the progression of the disease. AIM: To investigate the effect of ganglioside (GM) combined with methylprednisolone sodium succinate (MPSS) on the curative effect and neurological function of patients with AM. METHODS: First, we selected 108 AM patients visited between September 2019 and September 2022 and grouped them based on treatment modality, with 52 patients receiving gamma globulin (GG) + MPSS and 56 patients receiving GM + MPSS, assigned to the control group (Con) and observation group (Obs), respectively. The therapeutic effect, neurological function (sensory and motor function scores), adverse events (AEs), recovery (time to sphincter function recovery, time to limb muscle strength recovery above grade 2, and time to ambulation), inflammatory factors (IFs) [interleukin (IL)-6, C-reactive protein (CRP), and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α] and other data of the two groups were collected for evaluation and comparison. RESULTS: The Obs had: (1) A significantly higher response rate of treatment than the Con; (2) Higher scores of sensory and motor functions after treatment that were higher than the baseline (before treatment) and higher than the Con levels; (3) Lower incidence rates of skin rash, gastrointestinal discomfort, dyslipidemia, osteoporosis and other AEs; (4) Faster posttreatment recovery of sphincter function, limb muscle strength and ambulation; and (5) Markedly lower posttreatment IL-6, CRP and TNF-α levels than the baseline and the Con levels. CONCLUSION: From the above, it can be seen that GM + MPSS is highly effective in treating AM, with a favorable safety profile comparable to that of GG + MPSS. It can significantly improve patients' neurological function, speed up their recovery and inhibit serum IFs.

Daylight exposure and circadian clocks in broilers: part I-photoperiod effect on broiler behavior, skeletal health, and fear response.

The aim of this study was to examine effects of various daylight exposure during the 24-h light-dark (L-D) cycle on growth performance, skeletal health, and welfare state in broilers. Environmental photoperiod and related circadian clock, the 24-h L-D cycle, are important factors in maintaining productive performance, pathophysiological homeostasis, and psychological reaction in humans and animals. Currently, various lighting programs as management tools for providing a satisfactory environmental condition have been used in commercial broiler production. Four hundred thirty-two 1-day-old Rose 308 broiler chicks were assigned to 24 pens (18 birds/pen). The pens were randomly assigned to 1 of 4 thermal and lighting control rooms, then the birds were exposed to (n = 6): 1) 12L, 2) 16L, 3) 18L, or 4) 20L at 15 d of age. Lighting program effects on bird body weight, behavioral patterns, bone health, and stress levels were evaluated from d 35 to d 45, respectively. The birds of 12L as well as 16L groups, reared under short photoperiods close to the natural 24-h L-D cycle, had improved production performance, leg bone health, and suppressed stress reaction compared to the birds of both 18L and 20L groups. Especially, 12L birds had heavier final body weight and averaged daily weight gain (P < 0.05), higher BMD and BMC with longer and wider femur (P < 0.05), lower H/L ratio (P < 0.05), and more birds reached the observer during the touch test (P < 0.05) but spent shorter latency during the tonic immobility test (P < 0.05). Taken together, the data suggest that supplying 12 h as well as 16L of daily light improves performance and health while decreasing stress levels in broilers, making it a potentially suitable approach for broiler production.

Chirality dependent electromechanical properties of single-layer MoS2 under out-of-plane deformation: a DFT study.

2D transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) demonstrate significant promise in logic circuits and optoelectronic devices because of their unique structures and excellent semiconductor properties. However, they inevitably undergo out-of-plane deformation during practical applications due to their ultra-thin structures. Recent experiments have shown that out-of-plane deformation significantly affects the electronic structures of 2D TMDs. However, the underlying physical mechanism is largely unknown. Therefore, it is critical to have a deeper understanding of out-of-plane deformation in 2D TMDs to optimize their applications in different fields. Currently, one of the most pressing matters that requires clarification is the chirality dependence of out-of-plane deformation in tuning the electromechanical properties of 2D TMDs. In this work, using single-layer MoS2 as a probe, we systematically investigate the effects of out-of-plane deformation along different chirality directions on the bond length, bending stiffness, electric polarization, and band structure of 2D TMDs by employing first-principles calculations based on density functional theory. Our results indicate that the bond length, bending energy, polarization strength, and band gap size of single-layer MoS2 are isotropic under out-of-plane deformation, while the band gap type is closely related to the direction of deformation. Our study will provide an essential theoretical basis for further revealing the structure-performance relationship of 2D TMDs.

Designing dual-emission phosphors for temperature warning indication and dual-mode luminescence thermometry.

Color tunable phosphors of Mn4+ and Tb3+ co-doped double-perovskite SrGdLiTeO6 (SGLT) were synthesized in this work. The crystal parameters and photoluminescence performances were investigated in detail. By taking advantage of the different thermal quenching strengths between Mn4+ and Tb3+ ions, the emission color of SGLT:0.7%Mn4+/1%Tb3+ changed from red to green, which could be used for high-temperature temperature warning indication. Moreover, according to the luminescence intensity ratio (LIR) technique, wide temperature-range optical thermometry was developed and further, the maximum relative sensitivity (SR1) value of the SGLT:0.7%Mn4+/5%Tb3+ phosphor was determined to be 1.49% K-1 at 560 K. On the other hand, the sensing properties were also analyzed based on the temperature-dependent lifetime method. The most interesting thing is that the maximum SR2 value reached 1.88% K-1 at 573 K. This work proved that the Mn4+ and Tb3+ co-doped double-perovskite SrGdLiTeO6 could be potentially used in temperature warning indication and high sensitivity luminescence thermometry.

A multicenter prospective study on the management of hepatoblastoma in children: a report from the Chinese Children's Cancer Group.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to identify survival risk factors in Chinese children with hepatoblastoma (HB) and assess the effectiveness of the new treatment protocol proposed by the Chinese Children's Cancer Group (CCCG) in 2016. METHODS: A multicenter, prospective study that included 399 patients with HB from January 2015 to June 2020 was conducted. Patient demographics, treatment protocols, and other related information were collected. Cox regression models and Kaplan-Meier curve methods were used. RESULTS: The 4-year event-free survival (EFS) and overall survival (OS) were 76.9 and 93.5%, respectively. The 4-year EFS rates for the very-low-risk, low-risk, intermediate-risk, and high-risk groups were 100%, 91.6%, 81.7%, and 51.0%, respectively. The 4-year OS was 100%, 97.3%, 94.4%, and 86.8%, respectively. Cox regression analysis found that age, tumor rupture (R +), and extrahepatic tumor extension (E +) were independent prognostic factors. A total of 299 patients had complete remission, and 19 relapsed. Patients with declining alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) > 75% after the first two cycles of neoadjuvant chemotherapy had a better EFS and OS than those ≤ 75%. CONCLUSIONS: The survival outcome of HB children has dramatically improved since the implementation of CCCG-HB-2016 therapy. Age ≥ 8 years, R + , and E + were independent risk factors for prognosis. Patients with a declining AFP > 75% after the first two cycles of neoadjuvant chemotherapy had better EFS and OS.

Advancements in Buoy Wave Data Processing through the Application of the Sage-Husa Adaptive Kalman Filtering Algorithm.

In this paper, we propose a combined filtering method rooted in the application of the Sage-Husa Adaptive Kalman filtering, designed specifically to process wave sensor data. This methodology aims to boost the measurement precision and real-time performance of wave parameters. (1) This study delineates the basic principles of the Kalman filter. (2) We discuss in detail the methodology for analyzing wave parameters from the collected wave acceleration data, and deeply study the key issues that may arise during this process. (3) To evaluate the efficacy of the Kalman filter, we have designed a simulation comparison encompassing various filtering algorithms. The results show that the Sage-Husa Adaptive Kalman Composite filter demonstrates superior performance in processing wave sensor data. (4) Additionally, in Chapter 5, we designed a turntable experiment capable of simulating the sinusoidal motion of waves and carried out a detailed errors analysis associated with the Kalman filter, to facilitate a deep understanding of potential problems that may be encountered in practical application, and their solutions. (5) Finally, the results reveal that the Sage-Husa Adaptive Kalman Composite filter improved the accuracy of effective wave height by 48.72% and the precision of effective wave period by 23.33% compared to traditional bandpass filter results.

Hypnotic treatment reverses NREM sleep disruption and EEG desynchronization in a mouse model of Fragile X syndrome to rescue memory consolidation deficits.

Fragile X syndrome (FXS) is a highly-prevalent genetic cause of intellectual disability, associated with disrupted cognition and sleep abnormalities. Sleep loss itself negatively impacts cognitive function, yet the contribution of sleep loss to impaired cognition in FXS is vastly understudied. One untested possibility is that disrupted cognition in FXS is exacerbated by abnormal sleep. We hypothesized that restoration of sleep-dependent mechanisms could improve functions such as memory consolidation in FXS. We examined whether administration of ML297, a hypnotic drug acting on G-protein-activated inward-rectifying potassium channels, could restore sleep phenotypes and improve disrupted memory consolidation in Fmr1 -/y mice. Using 24-h polysomnographic recordings, we found that Fmr1 -/y mice exhibit reduced non-rapid eye movement (NREM) sleep and fragmented NREM sleep architecture, alterations in NREM EEG spectral power (including reductions in sleep spindles), and reduced EEG coherence between cortical areas. These alterations were reversed in the hours following ML297 administration. Hypnotic treatment following contextual fear or spatial learning also ameliorated disrupted memory consolidation in Fmr1 -/y mice. Hippocampal activation patterns during memory recall was altered in Fmr1 -/y mice, reflecting an altered balance of activity among principal neurons vs. parvalbumin-expressing (PV+) interneurons. This phenotype was partially reversed by post-learning ML297 administration. These studies suggest that sleep disruption could have a major impact on neurophysiological and behavioral phenotypes in FXS, and that hypnotic therapy may significantly improve disrupted cognition in this disorder.

A and B sites dual substitution by Na+ and Cu2+ co-doping in CsPbBr3 quantum dots to achieve bright and stable blue light emitting diodes.

Light-emitting perovskite quantum dots (PeQDs) are extensively investigated owing to their evident merits. However, it is still a challenge to adjust their intrinsic emissions and enhance their thermal stability to achieve full-color highly emissive QD-based light-emitting diodes (QLEDs), especially blue QLEDs. Herein, we demonstrate an effective strategy to fundamentally stabilize the crystal structure of CsPbBr3 QDs by codoping Na+ and Cu2+ ions, which are designed to substitute Cs+ (A sites) and Pb2+ (B sites), respectively. It is found out that the codoping metal ions have significantly improved the thermal stability and the optical properties of the QDs. 40% of the emission intensity can be remained after 8 thermal cycles (20-120 °C) for CsPbBr3: Na+/Cu2+ QDs, whilst less than 10% is maintained for undoped CsPbBr3 QDs. Accordingly, stable blue QLEDs are packed by CsPbBr3: Na+/Cu2+ QDs. Strong electroluminescence with the maximum luminance of 7161 cd m-2 and low turn-on voltage of 2.4 V are realized. The CIE coordinates are tuned from green (0.10, 0.74) to blue (0.17, 0.25) via Na+ and Cu2+ codoping. The maximum external quantum efficiency (EQEmax) is obtained as 4.52% for PeLEDs based on codoped QDs. The proposed metal ions A and B sites dual substitution strategy guarantees PeQDs as an extremely promising prospect in potential applications as high-resolution displays and high-quality lightings.

Low Ca diet leads to increased Ca retention by changing the gut flora and ileal pH value in laying hens.

Osteoporosis is a common degenerative metabolic bone disease in caged laying hens. Intensive egg production mobilizing large amounts of Ca from bone for eggshell formation, consequently leading to Ca deficiency, has been recognized as a critical factor causing osteoporosis in commercial laying hens. The aim of this study was to examine the effect of Ca deficiency on the function of the gut microbiota-bone axis and related egg production traits and bone health in laying hens. Twenty-four 48-week-old laying hens were fed a control diet (Control, 3.72%) or a low Ca diet (LC, 2.04%) for 60 d (n = 12). Compared to the Control hens, the LC hens had higher levels of alkaline phosphatase and tartrate resistant acid phosphatase (P < 0.05) with lower bone strength, eggshell thickness, and eggshell strength (P < 0.05). In addition, the LC hens had higher plasma estradiol concentrations, while having lower concentrations of interleukin-1 (IL-1) and IL-6. The LC hens also had a lower pH value in the ileum with an increased Ca retention. The principal co-ordinates analysis showed significantly separate cecal microbiota populations between the Control and LC hens. The Prevotellaceae_UCG-001, Subdoligranulum, Peptococcus, and Eubacterium_hallii_group (P < 0.05) were higher, while the CHKC1001 and Sutterella (P < 0.05) were lower at the genus level in the LC hens. In addition, Prevotellaceae_UCG-001, Subdoligranulum and Eubacterium_hallii_group had a negative correlation, while Sutterella was positively correlated with ileal pH values. The transcriptome analysis revealed that the low Ca diet caused 20 and 31 genes to be significantly up- and down-regulated, respectively. The gene expressions of cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator, solute carrier family 26 member 3 of the anion exchangers, and mitogen-activated protein kinase 12 of pro-inflammatory factors were lower in the LC birds, which was correlated with the lower ileal pH values. These results suggest that the hens with low Ca diet-induced osteoporosis have an increased intestinal Ca retention with a decreased ileal pH value, correlated with the changes in Prevotellaceae_UCG-001, Subdoligranulum, and Eubacterium_hallii_group of beneficial genera. The results provide insights for further understanding and preventing osteoporosis in laying hens.

The efficacy and safety of Sanqi Qushi Granule in patients with idiopathic membranous nephropathy --protocol of a multicenter, randomized control trial (SQ-AUTUMN).

BACKGROUND: Adult nephropathy is mainly caused by idiopathic membranous nephropathy (IMN). In cases of proteinuria, Modified Ponticelli Regimens (MPR) are often successful. However, it can cause adverse side effects. Oral Sanqi Qushi Granule (SQG) with MPR is effective in patients with IMN. However, whether it can improve the remission rate of IMN and shorten the remission time is unknown. In this trial, SQG with MPR on IMN will be evaluated clinically for its efficacy and safety. METHODS: We will randomly assign IMN patients who meet the criteria to receives SQG plus cyclical Cyclophosphamide (CTX)/steroids or with placebo plus cyclical CTX/steroids for 6 months. A 12-month follow-up will be conducted on them. Status of remission will be used to assess treatment efficacy. DISCUSSION: This study aims to appraise whether treatment with SQG plus cyclical CTX/steroids is superior to placebo plus cyclical CTX/steroids in the remission rate of patients with adult IMN. Adverse events of SQG plus MPR will be also evaluated for further researches about Chinese Medicine and MPR on whether it can improve the remission rate of IMN in half a year and shorten the remission time and relieve adverse effects will also be clarified. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Chinese Clinical Trial Registry ChiCTR2200061953 . Registered on 13 July 2022.

Osteocalcin and Its Potential Functions for Preventing Fatty Liver Hemorrhagic Syndrome in Poultry.

Osteocalcin (OCN) is synthesized and secreted by differentiating osteoblasts. In addition to its role in bone, OCN acts as a hormone in the pancreas, liver, muscle, fat, and other organs to regulate multiple pathophysiological processes including glucose homeostasis and adipic acid metabolism. Fat metabolic disorder, such as excessive fat buildup, is related to non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in humans. Similarly, fatty liver hemorrhage syndrome (FLHS) is a metabolic disease in laying hens, resulting from lipid accumulation in hepatocytes. FLHS affects hen health with significant impact on poultry egg production. Many studies have proposed that OCN has protective function in mammalian NAFLD, but its function in chicken FLHS and related mechanism have not been completely clarified. Recently, we have revealed that OCN prevents laying hens from FLHS through regulating the JNK pathway, and some pathways related to the disease progression have been identified through both in vivo and vitro investigations. In this view, we discussed the current findings for predicting the strategy for using OCN to prevent or reduce FLHS impact on poultry production.

Enriched binocular experience followed by sleep optimally restores binocular visual cortical responses in a mouse model of amblyopia.

Studies of primary visual cortex have furthered our understanding of amblyopia, long-lasting visual impairment caused by imbalanced input from the two eyes during childhood, which is commonly treated by patching the dominant eye. However, the relative impacts of monocular vs. binocular visual experiences on recovery from amblyopia are unclear. Moreover, while sleep promotes visual cortex plasticity following loss of input from one eye, its role in recovering binocular visual function is unknown. Using monocular deprivation in juvenile male mice to model amblyopia, we compared recovery of cortical neurons' visual responses after identical-duration, identical-quality binocular or monocular visual experiences. We demonstrate that binocular experience is quantitatively superior in restoring binocular responses in visual cortex neurons. However, this recovery was seen only in freely-sleeping mice; post-experience sleep deprivation prevented functional recovery. Thus, both binocular visual experience and subsequent sleep help to optimally renormalize bV1 responses in a mouse model of amblyopia.

Konjac glucomannan/xanthan gum/sodium alginate composite hydrogel simulates fascial tissue by pre-stretching and moisture regulation.

Improving the mechanical strength and creating an anisotropic structure of edible macromolecular hydrogels is crucial to accurately simulate the texture of connective tissues. In this study, konjac glucomannan (KGM), xanthan gum (XG), and sodium alginate (SA) were used to construct hydrogels, and the effects of different pre-stretching degrees and moisture control on the composite gels were investigated. The results of the mechanical property tests and microstructure tests indicate that pre-stretching and moisture control can significantly enhance the strength of the gels and induce anisotropic structures. In addition, the feasibility of the composite gel structure in simulating brisket fascia was investigated, and it was concluded that 1.5 × -DR samples were most suitable for simulating connective tissue. This study provides compelling evidence for the potential of macromolecular hydrogels in simulating connective tissue and provides theoretical guidance for regulating gel texture.

Geometric, electronic and transport properties of bulged graphene: A theoretical study.

Out-of-plane deformation in graphene is unavoidable during both synthesis and transfer procedures due to its special flexibility, which distorts the lattice and eventually imposes crucial effects on the physical features of graphene. Nowadays, however, little is known about this phenomenon, especially for zero-dimensional bulges formed in graphene. In this work, employing first-principles-based theoretical calculations, we systematically studied the bulge effect on the geometric, electronic, and transport properties of graphene. We demonstrate that the bulge formation can introduce mechanical strains (lower than 2%) to the graphene's lattice, which leads to a significant charge redistribution throughout the structure. More interestingly, a visible energy band splitting was observed with the occurrence of zero-dimensional bulges in graphene, which can be attributed to the interlayer coupling that stems from the bulged structure. In addition, it finds that the formed bulges in graphene increase the electron states near the Fermi level, which may account for the enhanced carrier concentration. However, the lowered carrier mobility and growing phonon scattering caused by the formed bulges diminish the transport of both electrons and heat in graphene. Finally, we indicate that bulges arising in graphene increase the possibility of intrinsic defect formation. Our work will evoke attention to the out-of-plane deformation in 2D materials and provide new light to tune their physical properties in the future.

Hybrid membrane of flat silk cocoon and carboxymethyl chitosan formed through hot pressing promotes wound healing and repair in a rat model.

Clinical wound management is always a relatively urgent problem. Moreover, wounds, especially severe wounds with excessive tension or excessive movement are prone to tissue infection, necrosis, and other negative effects during healing. Therefore, research has aimed to develop low-cost complementary treatments to address the urgent need for an innovative low-cost dressing that can adapt to high mechanical requirements and complex wound conditions. At present, tissue engineering to produce artificial skin with a structure similar to that of normal skin is one effective method to solve this challenge in the regeneration and repair of serious wounds. The present study hot pressed flat silk cocoons (FSC) with carboxymethyl chitosan (CMCS) to generate a cross-linked binding without enzymes or cross-linking agents that simulated the 3D structural composites of the skin cuticle. This hybrid membrane showed potential to reduce inflammatory cells and promote neovascularization in skin wound repair. After hot pressing at 130°C and 20 Mpa, the FSC/CMCS composite material was denser than FSC, showed strong light transmission, and could be arbitrarily cut. Simulating the normal skin tissue structure, the hybrid membrane overcame the poor mechanical properties of traditional support materials. Moreover, the combination of protein and polysaccharide simulated the extracellular matrix, thus providing better biocompatibility. The results of this study also demonstrated the excellent mechanical properties of the FSC/CMCS composite support material, which also provided a low-cost and environmentally friendly process for making dressings. In addition, the results of this study preliminarily reveal the mechanism by which the scaffolds promoted the healing of full-thickness skin defects on the back of SD rats. In vivo experiments using a full-thickness skin defect model showed that the FSC/CMCS membranes significantly promoted the rate of wound healing and also showed good effects on blood vessel formation and reduced inflammatory reactions. This bionic support structure, with excellent repair efficacy on deep skin defect wounds, showed potential to further improve the available biomaterial systems, such as skin and other soft tissues.

The explanation of abnormal thermal quenching of the charge transfer band based on thermally coupled levels and applications as temperature sensing probes.

Because of thermal quenching, conventional luminescent materials suffer from severe problems when employed at high temperatures. Based on the thermally coupled energy levels (TCLs) of rare-earth ions, we report and explain an abnormal thermal quenching phenomenon in the excited state of the charge transfer band (CTB), which is expected to bring out a solution to the problems of the low sensitivity of temperature-sensing materials and applications at high temperature. Temperature-dependent excitation spectra of Er3+ or Eu3+-doped CaMoO4, CaWO4, and LuVO4 phosphors are recorded. It was found that CTB exhibited two abnormal thermal quenching phenomena. One is that the intensity of the whole CTB increases with the rising temperature, named totally abnormal thermal quenching (TATQ), and the other is the integrated intensity decrease but the edge of the CTB at longer wavelengths enhanced with temperature, named edge abnormal thermal quenching (EATQ). The temperature-dependent excitation and diffuse reflectance spectra of the host and rare earth ions with moderate (Er3+) and large (Eu3+) energy separation between TCLs are investigated. One photodynamic model, considering influential factors, such as the absorption of the phosphor, energy transfer efficiency between CTB and dopants, and thermal coupling effect, is proposed and explains the unusual thermal response of CTB. Luminescence thermometry based on the abnormal thermal quenching is realized with the obtained relative sensitivity Sr of 4.65% K-1 @ 328 K, which is four times the value derived from the classic TCLs in the same phosphor.