Construction of Carbon Dots@LiCl-polyacrylamide with Humidity-Induced Ultralong Room-Temperature Phosphorescence to Fluorescence and Rigid-to-Flexible Transition Behavior.

The continuous advancement of luminescent materials has placed increasingly stringent requirements on dynamic color-tunable ultralong room-temperature phosphorescence (URTP) materials that can respond to external stimuli. Nevertheless, endowing URTP materials with stimuli-response-induced dynamic color tuning is a challenging task. This study introduces a carbon dots (CDs)@LiCl-polyacrylamide (PAM) polymer system that switches from URTP to fluorescence under humidity stimuli, accompanied by a transition from rigidity to flexibility. The obtained rigid CDs@LiCl-PAM exhibits ultralong green phosphorescence with a lifetime of 560 ms in the initial state. After absorbing moisture, it becomes flexible and its phosphorescence switches off. Moreover, the emission of the CDs@LiCl-PAM film depends on the excitation wavelength. This property can potentially used in multicolored luminescence applications and displays. Moreover, multicolor luminescent patterns can be constructed in situ using the water-absorption ability of the obtained thin film and the Förster resonance energy-transfer strategy. The proposed strategy is expected to promote the interdisciplinary development of intelligent information encryption, anti-counterfeiting, and smart flexible display materials.

Ceramic veneer shade evaluation using a multicolored 3D-printed model-A case report.

OBJECTIVE: This article demonstrates the use of a multicolored 3D-printed model for laboratory shade evaluation of ceramic veneers. CLINICAL CONSIDERATIONS: A young female patient presented with peg lateral incisors and diastemata between her maxillary incisors. Four ceramic veneers for her maxillary incisors were fabricated using a digital workflow. A multicolored 3D-printed model was manufactured using material jetting technology. The multicolored model and try-in pastes were used to evaluate and adjust the shade of the veneers. Clinically acceptable color matching was achieved, the veneers were delivered without further chairside shade adjustments. CONCLUSIONS: Successful color evaluation and adjustment were achieved using the combination of multicolored 3D-printed model and try-in pastes. The use of this approach saved time for stump shade taking and fabrication of tooth-colored dies. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: A multicolored 3D-printed model can be a useful tool for color evaluation and adjustment of ceramic restorations.

Tunable Multicolor Lanthanide Supramolecular Assemblies with White Light Emission Confined by Cucurbituril[7].

Macrocyclic confinement-induced supramolecular luminescence materials have important application value in the fields of bio-sensing, cell imaging, and information anti-counterfeiting. Herein, a tunable multicolor lanthanide supramolecular assembly with white light emission is reported, which is constructed by co-assembly of cucurbit[7]uril (CB[7]) encapsulating naphthylimidazolium dicarboxylic acid (G1 )/Ln (Eu3+ /Tb3+ ) complex and carbon quantum dots (CD). Benefiting from the macrocyclic confinement effect of CB[7], the supramolecular assembly not only extends the fluorescence intensity of the lanthanide complex G1 /Tb3+ by 36 times, but also increases the quantum yield by 28 times and the fluorescence lifetime by 12 times. Furthermore, the CB[7]/G1 /Ln assembly can further co-assemble with CD and diarylethene derivatives (DAE) to realize the intelligently-regulated full-color spectrum including white light, which results from the competitive encapsulation of adamantylamine and CB[7], the change of pH, and photochromic DAE. The multi-level logic gate based on lanthanide supramolecular assembly is successfully applied in anti-counterfeiting system and information storage, providing an effective method for the research of new luminescent intelligent materials.

Different properties of two types of red fluorescent proteins in octocoral, Scleronephthya spp. as Akane families.

We report the different properties of two types of red fluorescent proteins (RFP), undescribed species, extracted from two octocorals, Scleronephthya sp. 1 (S. sp. 1) and S. sp, 2 (Alcyonacea, Nephtheidae). S. sp. 1, named Alc-Orange, emits strong green emission at 492 nm and weak red emission at 590 and 630 nm when excited at 449 and 574 nm, respectively. S. sp. 2, LS-Red, emits strong deep red at 642 nm and weak green at 480 and 510 nm when excited at 574 nm and 434 nm, respectively. LS-Red has a very large Stokes shift of about 208 nm emitting at 642 nm when excited at 434 nm. Interestingly, LS-Red shows some emissions at 480 (blue emission), 514 (green emission), 563 (orange emission), and 642 nm (deep red emission) continuously at pH 7.5, which means multicolored fluorescence protein by one excitation at 434 nm. In pH dependence of fluorescence of Alc-Orange (pH 13 to 3.5), no relation between 'green and red FPs' was observed, whereas LS-Red showed the interconversion between 'green and red forms' depending on pH (11.5 to 4.5).

Luminescent Chiral Exciplexes with Sky-Blue and Green Circularly Polarized-Thermally Activated Delayed Fluorescence.

Luminescent exciplexes based on a chiral electron donor and achiral acceptors are reported as a new approach to design circularly polarized (CP) and thermally activated delayed fluorescence (TADF) emitters. This strategy results in rather high CP luminescence (CPL) values with glum up to 7×10-3 , one order of magnitude higher in comparison to the CPL signal recorded for the chiral donor alone (glum ∼7×10-4 ). This increase occurs concomitantly with a CPL sign inversion, as a result of the strong charge-transfer emission character, as experimentally and theoretically rationalized by using a covalent chiral donor-acceptor model. Interestingly, blue, green-yellow and red chiral luminescent exciplexes can be obtained by modifying with the electron accepting character of the achiral unit while keeping the same chiral donor unit. These results bring new (inter)molecular guidelines to obtain simply and efficiently multi-color CP-TADF emitters.

Multiple-State Emissions from Neat, Single-Component Molecular Solids: Suppression of Kasha's Rule.

Three rigid and structurally simple heterocyclic stilbene derivatives, (E)-3H,3'H-[1,1'-biisobenzofuranylidene]-3,3'-dione, (E)-3-(3-oxobenzo[c] thiophen-1(3H)-ylidene)isobenzofuran-1(3H)-one, and (E)-3H,3'H-[1,1'-bibenzo[c] thiophenylidene]-3,3'-dione, are found to fluoresce in their neat solid phases, from upper (S2 ) and lowest (S1 ) singlet excited states, even at room temperature in air. Photophysical studies, single-crystal structures, and theoretical calculations indicate that large energy gaps between S2 and S1 states (T2 and T1 states) as well as an abundance of intra and intermolecular hydrogen bonds suppress internal conversions of the upper excited states in the solids and make possible the fluorescence from S2 excited states (phosphorescence from T2 excited states). These results, including unprecedented fluorescence quantum yields (2.3-9.6 %) from the S2 states in the neat solids, establish a unique molecular skeleton for achieving multi-colored emissions from upper excited states by "suppressing" Kasha's rule.

A Mechanochromic Single Crystal: Turning Two Color Changes into a Tricolored Switch.

The single crystal of M-4-B was obtained by attaching the boron of BH3 to the amine linker between a tetraphenylethylene (TPE) unit and rhodamine B. M-4-B showed a novel sequential tricolor switching from dark blue to bluish-green and to a reddish color upon grinding. The boron atom played a key role in developing the single crystal.

Model-assisted marsupialization of a large odontogenic keratocyst in the maxillofacial region using a multicolored 3D-printed model: A novel approach in surgical planning and teaching.

3D printing can improve surgical planning and coordination between the healthcare team and serve as a valuable educational tool for students. Abstract: Although the occurrence of odontogenic keratocysts (OKCs) in the maxillofacial region is not uncommon, their aggressive growth behavior requires advanced surgical techniques for minimal recurrence. The current case report describes the use of a multicolored 3D-printed model as an interactive visual aid for the surgical planning and management of an OKC treated with a minimally invasive surgical decompression technique. A cone-beam computed tomography scan of the patient showed a profound OKC involving the left side of the body of the mandible. A 3D printer was used to print a multicolor resin model of the patient's OKC lesion within the mandible. The printed model was successfully used as a planning tool for surgical intervention (i.e., marsupialization and enucleation) of the OKC. The model was also used as a handheld interactive visual aid for dental students, so they could more effectively understand the anatomical and surgical complexity of the case. The novel use of the multicolor 3D-printed model for treatment of this OKC improved visualization of the lesion during surgical planning and was a valuable teaching tool for educational discussion of this case.

Fate of multiple Bt proteins from stacked Bt maize in the predatory lady beetle Harmonia axyridis (Pallas) (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae).

Insecticidal Cry proteins from Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) can be transferred from genetically engineered crops to herbivores to natural enemies. For the lady beetle Harmonia axyridis, we investigated potential uptake of Cry proteins from the gut to the body and intergenerational transfer. Third and fourth instar H. axyridis fed with pollen or spider mites from SmartStax maize contained substantial amounts of Cry1A.105, Cry1F, Cry2Ab2, Cry3Bb1, and Cry34Ab1. Cry protein concentrations in lady beetle larvae were typically one order of magnitude lower than in the food. When H. axyridis larvae were fed Bt maize pollen, median amounts of Cry protein in the non-feeding pupae were below the limit of detection except for small amounts of Cry34Ab1. No Cry protein was detected in pupae when spider mites were used as food. Cry protein concentrations decreased quickly after H. axyridis larvae were transferred from pollen or spider mites to Bt-free food. Aphids contained very low or no detectable Cry protein, and no Cry protein was found in H. axyridis larvae fed with aphids, and in pupae. When H. axyridis adults were fed with Bt maize pollen (mixed with Ephestia kuehniella eggs), the median concentrations of Cry proteins in lady beetle eggs were below the limit of detection except for Cry34Ab1 in eggs laid later in adult life. No Bt protein was detected in eggs laid by H. axyridis females fed with aphids from Bt maize. Our results confirm previous observations that Cry proteins are degraded and excreted quickly in the arthropod food web without evidence for bioaccumulation. Despite the fact that small amounts of Cry proteins were detected in some samples of the non-feeding pupal stage of H. axyridis as well as in eggs, we conclude that this route of exposure is unlikely to be significant for predators or parasitoids in a Bt maize field.

Does Augmented Visual Feedback from Novel, Multicolored, Three-Dimensional-Printed Teeth Affect Dental Students' Acquisition of Manual Skills?

Although three-dimensional (3D) printing technology is increasingly used in dental education, its application regarding the provision of online visual augmented feedback has not been tested. Thus, this study aimed to: (1) develop two generations of multicolored 3D-printed teeth that provide visual augmented feedback for students conducting the cavity preparation process, (2) assess students' clinical performance after training on the 3D models, and (3) acquire student feedback. For the first-generation model, augmented feedback was obtained from five 3D-printed teeth models for five cavity preparation procedures. Each model comprised three layers printed in green, yellow, and red indicating whether preparation was acceptable, limited, or unacceptable, respectively. The study used a crossover design in which the experimental group trained on five multicolored models and 10 standard plastic teeth, and the control group trained on 15 standard plastic teeth. Students gave positive feedback of the methodology but complained about the printed material's hardness. Therefore, a second-generation model was developed: the model's occlusal plane was replaced with a harder printed acrylic material, and the experiment was repeated. During training, instructors provided external terminal feedback only for performance on standard plastic teeth. Manual grades for cavity preparations on standard plastic teeth were compared. No significant differences were found between the control and experimental groups in both generations' models. However, less instructor time was needed, and similar clinical results were obtained after training with both generations. Thus, multicolored 3D-printed teeth models promote self-learning during the process of acquiring manual skills and reduce student dependency on instructors.

Multicolored Cathodically Coloring Electrochromism and Electrofluorochromism in Regioisomeric Star-Shaped Carbazole Dibenzofurans.

In this work, a series of fluorescent cathodically coloring electrochromic (EC) small molecules o-, m-, and p-DBFDCz with 3,5-di(9H-carbazol-9-yl)benzene (DCz) linked to dibenzofuran (DBF) at different substitutional positions were synthesized and fully characterized. These compounds are electroactive and undergo quasi-reversible two-step single-electron reduction generating radical anions and dianions. The absorptions of o-, m-, and p-DBFDCz in the neutral states lie in the UV region (λonset ≈ 350 nm), showing high transparency, while the absorption of their reduced states can be largely tuned across the visible region through driving voltage and substitutional positions. Initially generated spectroelectrochemically radical anions show absorption in the short-wavelength region of ∼380-500 nm with weak broad absorptions at longer wavelengths. On further reduction, these bands disappear on the cost of growing intense bands from dianions at longer wavelengths of 500-700 nm with some tail absorptions in the shorter-wavelength region. This renders the colors of the EC devices based on these materials, which are changed from green to red, yellow to magenta, and light to deep blue for o-, m-, and p-DBFDCz, respectively, covering four legs of the L*a*b* color space. Besides excellent optical contrast (>90%) and high coloration efficiency (up to 504 cm2 C-1), the fluorescence observed in solution of neutral o-, m-, and p-DBFDCz can be modulated between the fluorescence and quenched states by direct electrochemical redox reactions. Both EC and electrofluorochromic (EFC) processes are reversible on cycling. This research demonstrates the feasibility of developing multifunctional EC/EFC materials with multicolored electrochromism through exploiting electrochemical properties of traditional fluorescent small molecules.

Superficially Similar Adaptation Within One Species Exhibits Similar Morphological Specialization but Different Physiological Regulations and Origins.

Animals have developed numerous strategies to contend with environmental pressures. We observed that the same adaptation strategy may be used repeatedly by one species in response to a certain environmental challenge. The ladybird Harmonia axyridis displays thermal phenotypic plasticity at different developmental stages. It is unknown whether these superficially similar temperature-induced specializations share similar physiological mechanisms. We performed various experiments to clarify the differences and similarities between these processes. We examined changes in the numbers and sizes of melanic spots in pupae and adults, and confirmed similar patterns for both. The dopamine pathway controls pigmentation levels at both developmental stages of H. axyridis. However, the aspartate-ß-alanine pathway controls spot size and number only in the pupae. An upstream regulation analysis revealed the roles of Hox genes and elytral veins in pupal and adult spot formation. Both the pupae and the adults exhibited similar morphological responses to temperatures. However, they occurred in different body parts and were regulated by different pathways. These phenotypic adaptations are indicative of an effective thermoregulatory system in H. axyridis and explains how insects contend with certain environmental pressure based on various control mechanisms.

Multichromic Monolayer Terpyridine-Based Electrochromic Materials.

The article describes novel electrochromic materials (ECMs) that are based on a monolayer consisting of two or three isostructural metal complexes of 4'-(pyridin-4-yl)-2,2':6',2''-terpyridine simultaneously deposited on surface-enhanced support. The support was made by screen printing of indium tin oxide (ITO) nanoparticles on ITO-glass and has a surface area sufficient for a monolayer to give color visible to the naked eye. The ability to separately electrochemically address the oxidation state of the metal centers on the surface (i.e., Co2+/Co3+, Os2+/Os3+, and Fe2+/Fe3+) provides an opportunity to achieve several distinct color-to-color transitions, thus opening the door for constructing monolayer-based multicolor ECMs.

The motivational effect of multicolored dental restoration on dental behavior of first preliminary school children.

Objectives: To assess the motivational effect of multi-colored restoration on the anxiety level of pediatric patients at thedental clinic and its motivational effect on their oral hygiene status. Material and methods: A total of 30 participants. Results: Both groups revealed reduction in the anxiety level and improvement in their behavior at the dental office but did not reach significance. Plaque index showed a significant reduction per group and a near significance as compared between test groups. Conclusions: The use of the multicolored restoration could provide a potential advantage to improve the oral health status of children and might aid in enhancing their behavior at dental clinic particularly younger age groups.

Comparison of the Sex Pheromone Composition of Harmonia axyridis Originating from Native and Invaded Areas.

The multicolored Asian lady beetle, Harmonia axyridis (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae), originates from South-East Asia and is now considered as an invasive species at a worldwide scale, with populations encountered in North and South America, Africa, and Europe. Several previous studies suggested that invasive populations display different behavioral and physiological traits, leading to a better fitness than native individuals. H. axyridis sex pheromone was identified recently, but only from individuals established in Europe. In this study, we compare the composition of the female sex pheromone of H. axyridis from two populations: (i) an invasive population in North America, and (ii) a native population in South-East China. We found the females originating from both populations to release in similar proportions the same five pheromonal compounds, namely ß-caryophyllene, ß-elemene, methyl-eugenol, α-humulene, and α-bulnesene. However, females from the North American strain release all five compounds in larger amount than the Chinese ones. Whether invasive individuals were selected during the process of invasion through their capacity to better call and find sexual partners remains to be confirmed.

Effect of the posterior corneal surface on total corneal astigmatism in patients with age-related cataract.

AIM: To explore the effect of the posterior astigmatism on total corneal astigmatism and evaluate the error caused by substituting the corneal astigmatism of the simulated keratometriy (simulated K) for the total corneal astigmatism in age-related cataract patients. METHODS: A total of 211 eyes with age-related cataract from 164 patients (mean age: 66.8±9.0y, range: 45-83y) were examined using a multi-colored spot reflection topographer, and the total corneal astigmatism was measured. The power vector components J0 and J45 were analyzed. Correlations between the magnitude difference of the simulated K and total cornea astigmatism (magnitude differenceSimK-Tca), anterior J0, and absolute meridian difference (AMD) between the anterior and posterior astigmatisms were calculated. To compare the astigmatism of the simulated K and total cornea both in magnitude and axial orientation, we drew double-angle plots and calculated the vector difference between the two measures using vector analysis. A corrective regression formula was used to adjust the magnitude of the simulated K astigmatism to approach that of the total cornea. RESULTS: The magnitude differenceSimK-Tca was positively correlated with the anterior corneal J0 (Spearman's rho= 0.539; P<0.001) and negatively correlated with the AMDR (Spearman's rho=-0.875, P<0.001). When the anterior J0 value was larger than 1.3 D or smaller than -0.8 D, the errors caused by determining the total corneal astigmatism with the karatometric calculation tended to be greater than 0.25 D. An underestimation by 16% was observed for against the rule (ATR) astigmatism and an overestimation by 9% was observed for with the rule (WTR) astigmatism when ignoring the posterior measurements. CONCLUSION: Posterior corneal astigmatism should be valued for more precise corneal astigmatism management, especially for higher ATR astigmatism of the anterior corneal surface. We suggest a 9% reduction in the magnitude of the simulated K in eyes with WTR astigmatism, and a 16% addition of the magnitude of the simulated K in eyes with ATR astigmatism.

Preliminary Evidences of Biofortification with Iodine of "Carota di Polignano", An Italian Carrot Landrace.

The "Carota di Polignano" (Polignano Carrot - PC, Daucus carota L.) is a multi-colored landrace, cultivated in the Southern Italy, whose colors range from yellow to purple. Iodine is an essential micronutrient for humans, since it is a key component of thyroid hormones, which regulate the growth and development of the human body. The main source for iodine assumption is represented by diet, but its concentration in the vegetables is usually limited with respect to human needs. To this purpose, two experimental trials (in open field and in greenhouse with a soil-less system) were carried out to enrich PC with iodine. Three levels of iodine (control treatment, C - 0 mg·L-1; low, L - 50 mg·L-1; and high, H - 500 mg·L-1), distributed with foliar spray fertilizations (in both open field and greenhouse) or with nutrient solution (in greenhouse, at the level of 50 mg·L-1) in the form of KIO3 were compared. In open field, the H treatment showed a biofortification that was double and triple respect to L and C treatments, respectively, without influencing color and biometric parameters, such as the fresh and dry weight of roots and DM percentage. In greenhouse, the biofortification done with foliar spray fertilization followed the same trend of open field, while the biofortification by means of nutrient solution was more effective but reached very high levels that had toxic effects on the plants and could be too high for human nutrition. However, the concentrations of iodine into biofortified carrots in open field can allow to satisfy the recommended daily allowance (RDA) by consuming 100 and 200 g of fresh product for the treatment H and L, respectively. Regarding the greenhouse biofortification, the RDA would be satisfied by consuming 200 g of fresh carrots (with the high level of foliar fertilization).

Color Attributes of Colored-Yarn Mixed Woven Fabrics Made of Raw-White Warps and Multicolored Wefts and Based on Weft-Backed Structures.

This paper reports the development of colored-yarn mixed woven fabrics by using raw white warps and multicolored-wefts, as well as a study of the influential factors on the color attributes of the resultant fabrics. Weft yarns in six colors, together with the white warp yarns, were used to create a series of fabric colors. Two types of new weft-backed structures were designed to assign the desired wefts for color mixing, as well as to reduce the white warp floats on the surface and thus, the lightness of the fabric. The effects of the proportion of yarn color components, weft density, and the introduction of black weft floats on the color attributes of fabrics, were investigated. The results show that through varying the proportion of mixing yarn color components, via fabric structure, a series of mixed red-blue and green-yellow colors for fabrics are created, respectively. Colored yarn mixed fabric presents a lowered lightness after a middle regulating layer is introduced into the structure. Compared to fabrics with a lower density, higher density fabrics possess lower lightness, higher redness and blueness in the blue-red fabrics, and higher greenness and yellowness in the yellow-green fabric. The lightness of fabric lowers after adding black yarn.

Salinity affects metabolomic profiles of different trophic levels in a food chain.

Salinization is one of the most important abiotic stressors in an ecosystem. To examine how exposing a host plant to excess salt affects the consequent performance and metabolism of insects in a food chain, we determined the life history traits and the metabolite profiles in rice (Oryza sativa), the herbivore Sitobion avenae, and its predator Harmonia axyridis. When compared with performance under normal (non-stressed) conditions, exposing plants to 50mM NaCl significantly delayed the timing of development for S. avenae fed on rice and H. axyridis and also reduced the body mass of the latter. Our GC-MS-based analysis revealed clear differences in metabolite profiles between trophic levels or treatment conditions. Salinity apparently increased the levels of main components in rice, but decreased levels of major components in S. avenae and H. axyridis. In addition, 16 metabolites showed salinity-related contrasts in this trophic interaction for our rice-S. avenae-H. axyridis system. Salinity impeded the accumulation of metabolites, especially several sugars, amino acids, organic acids, and fatty acids in both insects, a response that was possibly associated with the negative impacts on their growth and reproduction under stress conditions.

Predator Preference for Bt-Fed Spodoptera frugiperda (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) Prey: Implications for Insect Resistance Management in Bt Maize Seed Blends.

Understanding indirect, trophic-level effects of genetically engineered plants, expressing insecticidal proteins derived from the bacterium, Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt), is essential to the ecological risk assessment process. In this study, we examine potential indirect, trophic-level effects of Bt-sensitive prey using the predator, Harmonia axyridis (Pallas), feeding upon Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith) larvae, which had delayed development (lower body mass) following ingestion of Cry1Ab maize leaves. We found no adverse effects on development and survival when H. axyridis larvae were fed S. frugiperda larvae that had fed on Cry1Ab maize tissue. Presence of Cry1Ab in H. axyridis decreased considerably after switching to another diet within 48 h. In a no-choice assay, H. axyridis larvae consumed more Bt-fed S. frugiperda than non-Bt-fed larvae. Preference for S. frugiperda feeding on Bt maize was confirmed in subsequent choice assays with H. axyridis predation on Bt-fed, 1-5-d-old S. frugiperda larvae. We suggest that H. axyridis preferred prey, not based on whether it had fed on Bt or non-Bt maize, but rather on larval mass, and they compensated for the nutritional deficiency of lighter larvae through increased consumption. Pest larvae with variable levels of resistance developing on Bt diet are often stunted versus sensitive larvae developing on non-Bt diet. It is possible that such larvae may be preferentially removed from local field populations. These results may have implications for insect resistance management and may be played out under field conditions where seed blends of Bt and non-Bt hybrids are planted.