ZnSeTe quantum dots modified with zinc chloride toward bright trap-state emission.

ZnSeTe quantum dots (QDs) attract growing interest owing to their low threats to health and the environment. They are widely applied as emitters in displays and lighting devices. Previous findings have indicated that inorganic halides are excellent candidates for surface ligands on QDs. By incorporating inorganic halides during the synthesis process, the photoluminescence (PL) intensity and quantum yield (QY) of QDs can be significantly enhanced. However, the alteration of surface states in QDs induced by zinc halide modification and the mechanism of formation of trap-state radiative recombination processes have been less discussed. Herein, we proposed a synthesis strategy for ZnSeTe/ZnSe/ZnSeS/ZnS core/shell/shell/shell QDs modified with ZnCl2, and by comparing the morphology and elemental composition of QDs with different amounts of ZnCl2 added, we revealed the regulatory mechanism of nanocrystal growth in the presence of ZnCl2. QDs with modification of ZnCl2 exhibited broad yellow fluorescence, distinct from the intrinsic blue emission. Through spectroscopic and surface ligand analyses, we attributed this yellow emission to the intermediate state energy levels caused by the defects on the surface. Finally, we used the QDs with broad linewidth emission to fabricate a simple white-light-emitting diode (WLED). This work provided new insights into the role of inorganic ligands and the use of a single emitting material in solid-state lighting devices.

Bright InP Quantum Dots by Mid-Synthetic Modification with Zinc Halides.

InP quantum dots (QDs) attract growing interest in recent years, owing to their environmental advantages upon applications in display and lighting. However, compared to Cd-based QDs and Pb-based perovskites, the synthesis of InP QDs with high optical quality is relatively more difficult. Here, we established a mid-synthetic modification approach to improve the optical properties of InP-based QDs. Tris(dimethylamino)phosphine ((DMA)3P) and indium iodide were used to prepare InP QDs with a green emission (∼527 nm). By introducing zinc halides (ZnX2) during the mid-synthetic process, the photoluminescence quantum yield (PLQY) of the resulting InP/ZnSeS/ZnS core/shell/shell QDs was increased to >70%, and the full-width-at-half-maximum (FWHM) could be narrowed to ∼40 nm. Transmission electron microscopy clearly showed the improvement of the QDs particle size distribution after introducing ZnX2. It was speculated that ZnX2 was bound to the surface of QDs as a Z-type ligand, which not only passivated surface defects and suppressed the emission of defect states but also prevented Ostwald ripening. The InP cores were also activated by ZnX2, which made the growth of the ZnSeS shell more favorable. The photoluminescence properties started to be improved significantly only when the amount of ZnX2 exceeded 0.5 mmol. As the amount increased, more ZnX2 was distributed around the QDs to form a ligand layer, which prevented the shell precursor from crossing the ligand layer to the surface of the InP core, thus reducing the size of the InP/ZnSeS/ZnS QDs. This work revealed a new role of ZnX2 and found a method for InP QDs with high brightness and low FWHM by the mid-synthetic modification, which would inspire the synthesis of even better InP QDs.

[Q-marker prediction of Magnoliae Officinalis Cortex before and after "sweating"].

Magnoliae Officinalis Cortex, a common Chinese medicinal in clinic, should undergo "sweating" process in producing area according to Chinese Pharmacopoeia, which affects its genuineness and quality. In light of the concept and research mode of quality marker(Q-marker) for decoction pieces, the active components of Magnoliae Officinalis Cortex pieces which altered significantly before and after "sweating" were identified in this study. The main pharmacodynamic material basis was clarified by pharmacodynamic, pharmacokinetic and drug property research, followed by the prediction of Q-markers of Magnoliae Officinalis Cortex before and after "sweating", for better improving its quality standard.

[Research status of Periplaneta americana with analyses and prospects of key issues].

Periplaneta americana is one of the common traditional Chinese medicines, which has a long application history. It can tonify spleen, promote blood circulation, induce diuresis to alleviate edema, and promote granulation. It is clinically used for the treatment of alimentary canal diseases, chronic heart failure, cutaneous lesion, periodontitis and other diseases. There are some representative prescriptions, such as Kangfu Xinye, Xinmailong injection, Ganlong capsule, and Xiaozheng Yigan tablet. This paper reviewed the chemical components, pharmacological effects and clinical applications of P. americana, firstly summarized standards for the quality control of P. americana, found out and analyzed the key problems in the research. The aim of this paper is to provide the references for the further development and application of P. americana.

[Comprehensive analysis on "toxicity and effect" of Chinese pharmaceutical preparations].

The manufacturing process of Chinese medicines is the significant link to achieve "effect-enhancing and toxicity-reducing", including an interaction between "toxicity and effect". This paper would elucidate the effects of Chinese herbal compound decoction, preparation, dosage forms, route of administration and quality of pharmaceutical excipients on "toxicity-effect" theory from the formulation approaches. The article pointed out that the comprehensive analysis on "toxicity-effect" theory should be strengthened from the aspects of overall manufacturing, fundamental research and modern Chinese preparation, to explore the mechanism of "effect-enhancing and toxicity-reducing" in the manufacturing process, clarify the core status of Chinese preparation in "toxicity-effect" theory, and ensure the security and effectiveness in traditional Chinese medicine clinical application.

[Interpretation of contemporary positioning of traditional Chinese medicine injections and analysis of key problems].

According to the current situations and development of (TCMIs), the author of the article reveals the scientific connotation of TCMIs in theory, preparations and clinic application, and points out that TCMIs are an innovative and breakthrough of conventional dosage forms of traditional Chinese medicines, the combination of traditional theory and modern technology as well as a type of modern dosage form with the characteristics of traditional Chinese medicines, which conforms to the principle of including the essence and excluding the wastes for traditional Chinese medicine preparations, meets the demands for quick-acting of traditional Chinese medicines and guides one of the development orientation of traditional Chinese medicines. In the meantime, an analysis was also made on key issues, such as adverse reactions of TCMIs, modern clinical application, special drug delivery route and diversity of components and ingredients.

A hierarchical model of accelerating factors to promote urban renewal and reconstruction of unsafe and old buildings.

The issue of urban renewal is complex and multifaceted. In this study, six specialists in the construction industry were invited to conduct audio interviews, which were compiled into verbatim text. The key phrases were extracted by Grounded theory, and three levels of coding were retrieved. The data were categorized into ten accelerating urban renewal factors in three constructs to establish an Analytic Hierarchy Process framework. Using institutional theory to construct outcomes based on grounded theory, transforming these into specific urban renewal relation issue elements. 113 AHP questionnaires were collected from five types of specialists, including practitioners, professionals, participants in urban renewal, academics, and government staff. The results show that relaxing the plot ratio control and incentives is ranked No. 1 by practitioners, participants in urban renewal, professionals, and academics, indicating that the factor is highly valued by specialists but neglected by government staff. Secondly, practitioners, academics, participants in urban renewal, and professionals identified incentives and rewards for urban renewal and enhancing the trust and credibility of urban renewal projects as crucial factors. However, the government staff showed a different weighting. This indicates that government staff is determined to accelerate urban renewal. Finally, the suggestion of this study is in line with the views of the specialists interviewed, who suggest that the government should hold public hearings regularly and seriously to listen to people and specialists. Only through public hearings can all parties reach a consensus. The government should consolidate the views of all parties to amend or enact a bill on urban renewal that is more in line with the changes of the times, including appropriately relaxing the control of building plot ratio and other accelerating factors, to promote urban renewal in Taiwan.

Bis[µ-N-(pyridin-2-yl)methane-sulfon-amido-κ(2) N:N']silver(I).

In the title compound, [Ag2(C6H7N2O2S)2], the Ag(I) atom is coordinated by two N atoms from two N-(pyridin-2-yl)methane-sulfonamidate anions in a slightly bent linear geometry [N-Ag-N = 166.03 (7)°]. The Ag(I) atoms are bridged by the N-(pyridin-2-yl)methane-sulfonamidate anions, forming a centrosymmetric dinuclear mol-ecule, in which the Ag⋯Ag distance is 2.7072 (4) Å.

2-Amino-4,6-dimethyl-pyrimidin-1-ium chloride.

In the title compound, C6H10N3(+)·Cl(-), the cation is essentially planar with an r.m.s. deviations of the fitted atoms of 0.008 Å. In the crystal, adjacent ions are linked by weak N-H⋯Cl hydrogen bonds involving the pyrimidine and amine N atoms, forming a three-dimensional network. C-H⋯π inter-actions between the methyl and pyrimidine groups and π-π stacking [centroid-centroid distance = 3.474 (1) Å] between parallel pyrimidine ring systems are also observed.

Bis(2-amino-pyrimidin-1-ium) sulfate.

In the title compound, 2C(4)H(6)N(3) (+)·SO(4) (2-), the cations are each essentially planar with r.m.s. deviations of the fitted atoms of 0.008 and 0.002 Å. In the crystal, adjacent ions are linked by N-H⋯O, C-H⋯O and C-H⋯N hydrogen bonds, forming a three-dimensional network.

Methyl 4-[N-(5-bromo-pyrimidin-2-yl)carbamo-yl]benzoate.

In the title compound, C(13)H(10)BrN(3)O(3), the pyrimidine and benzene rings are twisted with an inter-planar angle of 58.4 (1)°. The secondary amide group adopts a cis conformation with an H-N-C-O torsion angle of 14.8 (1)°. In the crystal, mol-ecules are connected into inversion dimers via pairs of N-H⋯N hydrogen bonds, generating an R(2) (2)(8) motif. The dimers are further connected through a C-Br⋯O inter-action [3.136 (1) Šand 169.31 (1)°] into a chain along [110]. Weak C-H⋯N hydrogen bonds between the methyl benzoate groups and pyrimidine rings are also observed in the crystal structure.

[Effect of borneol on intestinal absorption of muscone in rats].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the influence of borneol on intestinal absorption of muscone in rats. METHOD: An in situ intestinal circulation perfusion experiment was used to study the changes in intestinal absorption kinetics of muscone before and after being compatible with borneol. RESULT: Compared with the muscone group (MG), the absorption rate constants (Ka), the half-life period (T1/2) and the absorption rate (A) of muscone in the borneol + muscone group (BMG) were on the rise, but with no significant difference; after being compatible with borneol for a long period, Ka, T1/2 and A in the last borneol on muscone group (LBMG) increased, with significant difference (P < 0.05). in duodenum, LBMG showed better effects than MG (T1/2, P < 0.05); and so did in jejunum (Ka, P < 0.05; T1/2, P < 0.05); in ileum, there was no significant statistical difference between LBMG and MG. CONCLUSION: Borneol can promote the intestinal absorption of muscone in rats to some extent.

The effect of information overload and perceived risk on tourists' intention to travel in the post-COVID-19 pandemic.

Since the COVID-19 pandemic, the tourism economy has been seriously affected. China has implemented a direct traveling management mechanism and recovered from the pandemic faster than the rest of the world. However, the COVID-19 situation is complicated and uncontrollable because of the available unclear information including difficult medical terminologies. This study attempts to find the determinants of the travel intention of China's tourists in the post-COVID-19 epidemic. Along with information overload and perception risk, an expanded research model of the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) was employed to propose the theoretical framework of this study. A survey was conducted among 518 tourists who spend their holiday in Hainan, which is a popular tourist destination in China. The empirical results show that information overload positively and significantly impacted perceived risk. Furthermore, perceived risk negatively affects the intention to travel. Perceived risk also negatively affected the attitude toward traveling. However, response self-efficacy did not have a significant effect on the intention to travel. Finally, based on the analysis results, this study proposes relevant research contributions and practical recommendations with management implications for the travel industries.

To join the rebuild or not? An exploration of the factors influencing the public's intention to participate in urban renewal.

Due to the lack of trust in the builder and indeterminate benefits, it is a struggle for people in Taiwan to make up their minds to participate in urban renewal. This leads to the completion rate of urban renewal of fewer than one ten-thousandth of the new construction needed. This study investigated the perspective on the research variables for people in Taiwan and how those influence their intention to participate in urban renewal. Using the Theory of Planned Behavior, the research framework is designed with the trust of urban renewal project builders and the perceived benefits of public participation as the independent variables. Attitudes, subjective norms, and perceived behavioral control are the mediating variables, and the general public's intention to participate in urban renewal is the dependent variable. A total of 545 valid questionnaires were collected through the survey. The results showed that the respondents' trust in the builder of the urban renewal project positively and significantly influenced their perceived benefits of the project, and the respondents' trust in the builder significantly influenced their subjective norms. The perceived benefits positively and significantly affected their attitudes and subjective norms, and people's attitudes, subjective norms, and perceived behavioral control positively and significantly affected their intention to participate in urban renewal. People's perceived benefits in urban renewal projects affected their participation intention through attitudes and subjective norms. The variable perceived benefits most strongly influenced people's intention to participate in urban renewal in this study. This study provides practical suggestions for the government and builders to increase people's intention to participate in urban renewal. This study modeled two independent variables, trust in the builder and perceived benefits, under the urban renewal context in Taiwan. In future works, other factors could be included, such as tax incentives, floor area rewards, and fair appraisal.

The Intention of Retail Stores in Taiwan to Cooperate with the Government in the Establishment of IT Measures for Pandemic Prevention.

This study focuses on the cooperative attitude and intention of retail stores in Taiwan to cooperate with the government's related pandemic prevention measures. The study is based on the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB). The study includes factors such as perceived risk of infection, job stress, pandemic prevention IT (information technology) convenience, pandemic prevention attitude, and pandemic prevention intention. Pandemic prevention attitude is used as a mediating variable to establish the research framework. This study collected research data through a questionnaire survey. A total of 457 valid questionnaires were collected through an electronic questionnaire platform. The findings showed that perceived risk of infection and pandemic prevention IT convenience had a positive and significant effect on pandemic prevention attitude (ß = 0.567; ß = 0.422) and pandemic prevention intention (ß = 0.424; ß = 0.296). Job stress has a significant negative effect on attitude (ß = -0.173). In addition, job stress influenced intention through attitudes. Finally, perceived risk, job stress, and IT convenience had high explanatory power (R2 = 0.706) on attitudes. Perceived risk, IT convenience, and attitude also had moderate explanatory power (R2 = 0.588) on prevention intention. The study also suggests practical recommendations to improve and cooperate with pandemic prevention intention.

4-Methyl-N-[(Z)-3-(4-methyl-phen-ylsulfon-yl)-1,3-thia-zolidin-2-yl-idene]benzene-sulfonamide.

In the crystal structure of the title compound, C(17)H(18)N(2)O(4)S(3), mol-ecules are connected into centrosymmetric dimers via weak inter-molecular C-H⋯π inter-actions. These dimers are further connected through a series of weak C-H⋯O hydrogen bonds, while futher C-H⋯π inter-actions involving the phenyl and thia-zoline rings are also observed. The thia-zolidine ring is twisted from the benzene rings rings by dihedral angles of 79.1 (1) and 85.0 (1)°, while the dihedral angle between two benzene rings is 76.0 (1)°.

Methyl 4-[(pyrimidin-2-yl)carbamo-yl]benzoate.

Mol-ecules of the title compound, C(13)H(11)N(3)O(3), are connected into centrosymmetric dimers via inter-molecular N-H⋯N hydrogen bonds, generating an R(2) (2)(8) motif. The pyrimidine and the phenyl rings are twisted with respect to each other by an inter-planar angle of 61.3 (1)°.

[Clinical analysis of radiation optic neuropathy].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the clinical features, risk factors, diagnostic methods, treatment regimens and outcomes of Chinese adult patients with radiation optic neuropathy (RON). METHODS: Retrospective case series. Clinical data with RON admitted to Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center from June 1999 to October 2010 were investigated retrospectively. RESULTS: Thirty-five cases (61 eyes) with RON were analyzed. All cases manifested as sudden binocular or monocular painless vision decrease. In 18 cases (51.4%), symptoms occurred within 36 months after the completion of radiation. In 43 eyes (70.5%), the visual acuity was less than 0.05 and/or with a visual field less than 10 degrees. In 52 eyes which the fundus could be examined, 41 eyes (78.8%) showed a clear boundary of optic papilla, including 6 eyes (14.6%) with normal appearance of optic papilla, 30 eyes (73.2%) with lighter color, 5 eyes (12.2%) with pale optic papilla, and 11 eyes (21.2%) with edematous or hemorrhagic and/or exudative optic papilla. Only 14 eyes showed abnormal visual field examination, mainly manifested as nerve bundle defect scotoma. Seven eyes (50%) manifested as arcuate scotoma, 3 eyes (21.4%) manifested as central scotoma and/or paracentral scotoma, 2 eyes accompanied by blind spot enlargement, 1 eye showed paracentral scotoma and 1 eye with quadrantanopia. Twenty-three eyes received fluorescein angiography (FFA), the major manifestations were low fluorescence at the optic nerve and areas of capillary nonperfusion. Pattern visual evoked potential revealed reduced amplitude and/or extended incubation period in 83.3% eyes. Treatment regimens including systemic corticosteroids, hyperbaric oxygen therapy, hyperbaric oxygen in combination with corticosteroid and laser photocoagulation, the visual acuity of 10 eyes (16.4%) had merely been improved. CONCLUSIONS: The prognosis of visual function in RON is poor resulting from devastating visual loss and/or visual field defect. The main damage of the fundus is retinal vascular occlusion and optic atrophy at different degrees. No adequately effective therapies are proved currently. The treatment aimed on the complication could only provide a short-term improvement of the vision.

Study of the therapeutic effect of raw and processed Vladimiriae Radix on ulcerative colitis based on intestinal flora, metabolomics and tissue distribution analysis.

BACKGROUND: The intestinal flora imbalance and metabolic disorders are closely related to the pathogenesis of ulcerative colitis (UC). As a commonly used herb for the treatment of gastrointestinal diseases, Vladimiriae Radix (VR) has been used for hundreds of years, and its main active ingredients are costunolide (COS) and dehydrocostus lactone (DEH). Clinical usage habits and previous studies have shown that the processed Vladimiriae Radix (pVR) seems to be more suitable for treating bowel disease than the raw Vladimiriae Radix (rVR), but there is still no relevant comparative study. PURPOSE: To investigate the therapeutic effect of rVR and pVR on UC by analyzing the intestinal flora, metabolomics and tissue distribution. METHODS: UC rat models were established to investigate the anti-inflammatory activities of rVR and pVR by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and to study their regulation of intestinal flora and metabolism by 16s rRNA gene analysis and Ultra Performance Liquid Chromatography Tandem Mass Spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS). Moreover, the distribution of COS and DEH in UC mouse tissues were also observed by High Performance Liquid Chromatography Mass Spectrometry (HPLC-MS). RESULTS: rVR and pVR reduced tissue damage and the levels of TNF-α, IL-6, IL-1ß, IL-10, TGF-ß and MPO, especially pVR. 16s rRNA gene analysis showed that rVR superior in ameliorating species evenness and restoring the abundance of Lachnospiraceae and Ruminococcaceae, while pVR is better at increasing the richness and the abundance of Prevotellaceae. Metabolomics analysis suggested that rVR regulates the ß-alanine, pantothenic acid and coenzyme A biosynthesis, but pVR regulates more abundant metabolic pathways. The tissue distribution data indicated the accumulation of COS and DEH in the gastrointestinal tract. CONCLUSION: rVR and pVR had obvious therapeutic effect on UC. The potential mechanisms might be regulating abnormal metabolism, affecting the diversity and structure of intestinal flora, and accumulation of COS and DEH in colon.

6,6'-Dimethyl-2,2'-[oxalylbis(aza-nedi-yl)]dipyridinium dichloride acetonitrile solvate.

In the crystal structure of the title compound, C(14)H(16)N(4)O(2) (2+)·2Cl(-)·CH(3)CN, weak inter-molecular N-H⋯Cl hydrogen bonds are found between the H atoms bound to the pyridine and amine N atoms and the chloride anions. The asymmetric unit consits of one half cationic mol-ecule which is located on a centre of inversion, one chloride anion in a general position and one half acetonitrile mol-ecule which is located on a twofold axis. Because of symmetry, the C-H hydrogens of the acetonitrile solvent mol-ecule are disordered over two orientations.