Extreme phonon anharmonicity underpins superionic diffusion and ultralow thermal conductivity in argyrodite Ag8SnSe6.

Ultralow thermal conductivity and fast ionic diffusion endow superionic materials with excellent performance both as thermoelectric converters and as solid-state electrolytes. Yet the correlation and interdependence between these two features remain unclear owing to a limited understanding of their complex atomic dynamics. Here we investigate ionic diffusion and lattice dynamics in argyrodite Ag8SnSe6 using synchrotron X-ray and neutron scattering techniques along with machine-learned molecular dynamics. We identify a critical interplay of the vibrational dynamics of mobile Ag and a host framework that controls the overdamping of low-energy Ag-dominated phonons into a quasi-elastic response, enabling superionicity. Concomitantly, the persistence of long-wavelength transverse acoustic phonons across the superionic transition challenges a proposed 'liquid-like thermal conduction' picture. Rather, a striking thermal broadening of low-energy phonons, starting even below 50 K, reveals extreme phonon anharmonicity and weak bonding as underlying features of the potential energy surface responsible for the ultralow thermal conductivity (<0.5 W m-1 K-1) and fast diffusion. Our results provide fundamental insights into the complex atomic dynamics in superionic materials for energy conversion and storage.

Implications of GCLC in prognosis and immunity of lung adenocarcinoma and multi-omics regulation mechanisms.

BACKGROUND: Ferroptosis is an iron-dependent type of regulated cell death, and has been implicated in lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD). Evidence has proved the key role of glutamate-cysteine ligase catalytic subunit (GCLC) in ferroptosis, but its role in LUAD remains unclear. Herein, we explored the implications of GCLC and relevant genes in LUAD prognosis and immunity as well as underlying molecular mechanisms. METHODS: This work gathered mRNA, miRNA, DNA methylation, somatic mutation and copy-number variation data from TCGA-LUAD. WGCNA was utilized for selecting GCLC-relevant genes, and a GCLC-relevant prognostic signature was built by uni- and multivariate-cox regression analyses. Immune compositions were estimated via CIBERSORT, and two immunotherapy cohorts of solid tumors were analyzed. Multi-omics regulatory mechanisms were finally assessed. RESULTS: Our results showed that GCLC was overexpressed in LUAD, and potentially resulted in undesirable survival. A prognostic model was generated, which owned accurate and independent performance in prognostication. GCLC, and relevant genes were notably connected with immune compositions and immune checkpoints. High GCLC expression was linked with better responses to anti-PD-L1 and anti-CTLA-4 treatment. Their possible DNA methylation sites were inferred, e.g., hypomethylation in cg19740353 might contribute to GCLC up-regulation. Frequent genetic mutations also affected their expression. Upstream transcription factors (E2F1/3/4, etc.), post-transcriptional regulation of miRNAs (hsa-mir-30c-1, etc.), lncRNAs (C8orf34-AS1, etc.), and IGF2BP1-mediated m6A modification were identified. It was also found NOP58-mediated SUMOylation post-translational modification. CONCLUSIONS: Together, we show that GCLC and relevant genes exert crucial roles in LUAD prognosis and immunity, and their expression can be controlled by complex multi-omics mechanisms.

Global burden of prostate cancer attributable to smoking among males in 204 countries and territories, 1990-2019.

INTRODUCTION: Understanding the latest global spatio-temporal pattern of prostate cancer burden attributable to smoking can help guide effective global health policy. This study aims to elucidate the trends in smoking-related prostate cancer from 1990 to 2019 using Global Burden of Disease (GBD) 2019 study data. METHODS: Data on prostate cancer attributable to smoking were extracted from Global Burden of Disease Study (GBD) 2019. The numbers and age-standardized rates on smoking-related prostate cancer mortality (ASMR) and disability-adjusted life years (ASDR) were analyzed by year, age, region, country, and socio-demographic index (SDI) level. Estimated annual percentage change (EAPC) was calculated to evaluate the temporal trends of ASMR and ASDR from 1990 to 2019. RESULTS: Of all prostate cancer deaths and DALYs globally in 2019, 6% and 6.6% were attributable to smoking, which contributed to 29,298 (95% CI 12,789 to 46,609) deaths and 571,590 (95% CI 253,490 to 917,820) disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs) in 2019. The number of smoking-related deaths and DALYs showed an upward trend, increasing by half from 1990 to 2019, while ASMR and ASDR declined in five sociodemographic indexes (SDI) regions, with the fastest decline in high SDI regions. For geographical regions, Western Europe and East Asia were the high-risk areas of prostate cancer deaths and DALYs attributable to smoking, among which China and the United States were the countries with the heaviest burden. The ASMR has decreased in all age groups, with the fastest decrease occurring in 75-79 years old. The ASMR or ASDR tended to increase in countries with the lowest SDI, but declined in countries with the highest SDI. The EAPC in ASMR or ASDR was highly negatively correlated with Human Development Index (HDI) in 2019, with coefficients 0.46. CONCLUSION: The number of smoking-related prostate cancer deaths and DALYs continued to increase globally, whereas its ASMR and ASDR have been decreasing. This substantial progress is particularly significant in developed regions and vary across geographic regions. Medical strategies to prevent and reduce the burden should be adjusted and implemented based on country-specific disease prevalence.

Risk Factors of New-onset Diabetes After Renal Transplantation and Prognostic Analysis.

Context: New-onset diabetes after transplantation (NODAT) is one of the most common complications after renal transplantation and in kidney-transplant recipients is closely related to long-term adverse outcomes for recipients and transplants. The risk factors for NODAT still require exploration. Objectives: The study intended to explore the risk factors for new-onset diabetes after transplantation (NODAT) for patients receiving a renal transplantation, to provide a theoretical basis for reducing the incidence rate of NODAT and promoting a better outcome for patients. Design: The research team designed a retrospective study using clinical data of patients receiving renal transplantation at a hospital. Setting: The study took place in the Department of Urology at Xuanwu Hospital at Capital Medical University in Beijing, China. Participants: Participants were 396 patients who had undergone renal transplantation at the hospital, of whom 28 had NODAT syndrome, the NODAT group, and 368 didn't meet the diagnostic criteria for NODAT, the N-NODAT group. Outcome Measures: The research team calculated the incidence rate of NODAT and determined the causes of the disease, evaluated participants' preoperative risk factors-gender, preoperative systolic blood pressure (SBP), preoperative diastolic blood pressure (DBP), height, family history of diabetes, weight, smoking habits, age, drinking habits, pretransplant body mass index (BMI), preoperative fasting blood glucose, triglycerides (TG), total cholesterol (TC)-and their postoperative risk factors-acute rejection, use of immunosuppressive agents, blood CsA concentration, blood FK506 concentration, and renal function. Additionally, the team subjected the data in the two groups to univariate, logistic regression analysis and to multivariate, unconditional, logistic regression analysis to discover risk factors for NODAT. Results: Among the 396 participants, 28 had NODAT (7.1%), and 368 didn't suffer NODAT (92.9%). Statistically significant differences existed between the groups in participants' ages (0.013), weights (P = .032), smoking habits (P = .034), drinking habits (P = .034), BMIs (P = .023), preoperative fasting blood glucose (P < .05), preoperative TG (P < .05), and preoperative TC (P < .01). In the univariate logistic regression analysis, significant associations existed between age (P = .016), weight (P = .033), BMI (P = .025), smoking habits (P = .035), drinking habits (P = .043), preoperative fasting blood glucose (P = .048), preoperative TG (P = .049), preoperative TC (P = .009), acute rejection (P = .009), and immunosuppressive agents (P = .012) and the occurrence of NODAT (P < .05). In the multivariate unconditional logistic stepwise regression analysis, acute rejection (P = .011) and use of FK506 in immunotherapy (P = .013) were independent risk factors for NODAT. Conclusions: The risk factors of NODAT include age, weight, BMI, smoking habits, drinking habits, preoperative fasting blood glucose, preoperative TG, preoperative TC, acute rejection and exposure to immunosuppressive agents. Among them, only acute rejection and immunosuppressive agents are modifiable factors. The application of CsA as an immunosuppressive agent after surgery may decrease the incidence rate of NODAT and prolong the longevity of patients receiving renal transplantation.

Effect of Temporal Sampling Interval on the Irradiance for Moon-Based Wide Field-of-View Radiometer.

Moon-based Earth radiation observation can provide longer-term, continuous multi-angle measurements for the Earth's outward radiative flux. In addition, the large distance between the Moon and Earth means that the radiation can be monitored by a non-scanning Moon-based Wide Field-of-View (MWFOV) radiometer considering the Earth as one pixel. In order to parameterize the radiometer, studying the effect of the temporal sampling interval on irradiance is of great importance. In this work, based on radiation transfer model, simulated irradiance time series from March 2000 to December 2020 were analyzed. Then, we used them to reveal the effects of the sampling interval on irradiance. The results show that the measurements of the MWFOV radiometer can reveal the variation of irradiance on hourly, daily and monthly time scales, and the high-frequency measurements can reflect the variation of scene types in the MWFOV-viewed area. In order to obtain more meaningful measurements, the radiation resolution of the MWFOV radiometer should be better than 0.5mW∙m-2 with an accuracy of 1% or better in the future actual design, and the sampling interval should be less than 1 h, which can ensure that 97% of the surface area can be sampled more than nine times per day for longwave radiation. The derived results in this study could facilitate Moon-based data processing and the determination of the sampling interval and radiation resolution of an MWFOV under a certain manufacturing cost and error limit.

Asphaltene Adsorption from Toluene onto Silica through Thin Water Layers.

Asphaltenes in crude oil play a pivotal role in reservoir oil production because they control rock-surface wettability. Upon crude oil invasion into a brine-filled reservoir trap, rock adherence of sticky asphaltene agglomerates formed at the crude oil/brine interface can change the initially water-wet porous medium into mixed-oil wetting. If thick, stable water films coat the rock surfaces, however, asphaltenic-oil adhesion is thought to be prevented. We investigate whether water films influence the uptake of asphaltenes in crude oil onto silica surfaces. Water films of known thickness are formed at a silica surface in a quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation and contacted by toluene-solubilized asphaltene. We confirm that thick water films prevent asphaltene molecular contact with the silica surface blocking asphaltene adhesion. The thicker the water film, the smaller is the amount of asphaltene deposited. Film thickness necessary for complete blockage onto silica is greater than about 500 nm, well beyond the range of molecular-chain contact. Water films of thickness less than 500 nm, sandwiched between toluene and solid silica, apparently rupture into thick water pockets and interposed molecularly thin water layers that permit asphaltene adherence.

Injecting RNA interference lentiviruses targeting the muscarinic 3 receptor gene into the bladder wall inhibits neurogenic detrusor overactivity in rats with spinal cord injury.

AIMS: To investigate the effects of injecting RNA interference (RNAi) lentiviruses targeting the muscarinic 3 (M3 ) receptor gene into the bladder wall on bladder activity in rats with spinal cord injury (SCI). METHODS: Four M3 RNAi lentiviruses were constructed and used to infect primary cultured bladder smooth muscle cells (BSMCs). Western blotting and quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) were performed to determine the optimal RNAi lentivirus with the highest interference efficiency. Female Wistar rats were subjected spinal cord transection at T9-10 and randomly divided into three groups (n = 8), namely, blank control, negative control, and experimental groups, and injected into the bladder wall with saline, negative control shRNA, and M3 RNAi lentiviruses, respectively, 1 week after spinal cord transection. The normal rats were used as normal control group. Urodynamic parameters and bladder tissues were evaluated in the different groups. RESULTS: An M3 RNAi lentivirus with the highest interference efficiency (78.9%) was constructed and identified. Three weeks after injecting M3 RNAi lentiviruses into the bladder wall, Western blotting and qRT-PCR showed that the M3 receptor was significantly downregulated in the experimental group. Cystometric evaluation suggested that downregulating M3 receptor expression could substantially decrease basal pressure, residual volume, and non-voiding contraction number, increase intercontraction interval, and significantly improve bladder compliance in rats with SCI. CONCLUSION: Injecting RNAi lentiviruses targeting the M3 receptor gene into the bladder wall could effectively inhibit neurogenic detrusor overactivity (NDO) due to SCI. Thus, this approach may be a potential treatment for NDO in SCI.

Follicular dendritic cell sarcoma (FDCS) of urinary bladder with coexisting urothelial carcinoma-a case report.

BACKGROUND: Follicular dendritic cell sarcoma is a very rare bladder tumor with very few cases that have been reported in the English literature. CASE PRESENTATION: We report an unusual case of follicular dendritic cell sarcoma that is coexistent with urothelial carcinoma (UC) in the urinary bladder of a 73-year-old man, who first presented with lower abdominal pain. Microscopic examination of the first transurethral resection of bladder tumor (TURBT) sample showed a neoplasm containing spindle or ovoid-shaped cells that were arranged in storiform, nested or swirling patterns. Abundant mitotic Figs. (30 mitoses/10 high-power fields) and apoptotic bodies were present. The tumor cells were positive for CD21 and vimentin, partly positive for CD23, D2-40 and CD35. After 6 weeks, the tumor recurred lately, which surprisingly contained a component of urothelial carcinoma. The first TURBT sample was then reviewed and a coexisting UC mixed with FDCS was identified by examining the deeper levels of the tumor blocks. CONCLUSIONS: This case is, to our knowledge, the first time to report the coexistence of FDCS and UC in the urinary bladder of an elderly patient. And these two tumors may share a similar molecular mechanism.

The thermal performance of biological tissue under moxibustion therapy.

An understanding of the thermal performance of biological tissue under moxibustion with ash cleaning and distance adjustment (ACDA) is helpful for the optimization and standardization of moxibustion clinical treatment. This study compared surface temperature distribution of burning moxa stick with and without ash cleaning. The experimental of moxibustion treatment on in-vitro tissue and human abdomen were conducted and corresponding numerical models were developed. The effect of ACDA on thermal performance of biological tissue under moxibustion therapy were analyzed. The results show that the surface temperature of burning moxa stick with ash cleaning maintained at a higher range compared to that without ash cleaning. During moxibustion with ACDA process in in-vitro tissue experiment, the temperature increase (ΔT) at skin surface almost fluctuated in the same temperature range, and the ΔT in subcutaneous tissue (>11 mm) kept increasing. Relatively, these ΔT under moxibustion treatment without ACDA showed different trends and these values were all much smaller than those with ACDA. In addition, the position of maximum temperature of tissue under moxibustion with and without ACDA was fixed on treatment acupoint and moved away from treatment acupoint, respectively. Besides, the surface temperature of human abdomen tissue under moxibustion treatment with ACDA can be maintained at 46 °C-50 °C for a longer time compared to that under moxbustion without ACDA. In conclusion, moxibustion with ACDA can create a larger and more durable thermal effect on biological tissue. The results also suggest that ACDA may be helpful to improve moxibustion therapy efficacy in clinic treatments.

3D printing of complex origami assemblages for reconfigurable structures.

Origami engineering principles have recently been applied to a wide range of applications, including soft robots, stretchable electronics, and mechanical metamaterials. In order to achieve the 3D nature of engineered structures (e.g. load-bearing capacity) and capture the desired kinematics (e.g., foldability), many origami-inspired engineering designs are assembled from smaller parts and often require binding agents or additional elements for connection. Attempts at direct fabrication of 3D origami structures have been limited by available fabrication technologies and materials. Here, we propose a new method to directly 3D print origami assemblages (that mimic the behavior of their paper counterparts) with acceptable strength and load-bearing capacity for engineering applications. Our approach introduces hinge-panel elements, where the hinge regions are designed with finite thickness and length. The geometrical design of these hinge-panels, informed by both experimental and theoretical analysis, provides the desired mechanical behavior. In order to ensure foldability and repeatability, a novel photocurable elastomer system is developed and the designs are fabricated using digital light processing-based 3D printing technology. Various origami assemblages are produced to demonstrate the design flexibility and fabrication efficiency offered by our 3D printing method for origami structures with enhanced load bearing capacity and selective deformation modes.

Desolvation Induced Origami of Photocurable Polymers by Digit Light Processing.

Self-folding origami is of great interest in current research on functional materials and structures, but there is still a challenge to develop a simple method to create freestanding, reversible, and complex origami structures. This communication provides a feasible solution to this challenge by developing a method based on the digit light processing technique and desolvation-induced self-folding. In this new method, flat polymer sheets can be cured by a light field from a commercial projector with varying intensity, and the self-folding process is triggered by desolvation in water. Folded origami structures can be recovered once immersed in the swelling medium. The self-folding process is investigated both experimentally and theoretically. Diverse 3D origami shapes are demonstrated. This method can be used for responsive actuators and the fabrication of 3D electronic devices.

Measurement and Correlation of the Viscosity of 1,1,1,2,2,4,5,5,5-Nonafluoro-4-(trifluoromethyl)-3-pentanone.

The Paris Agreement on climate change, in which many nations have agreed to limit greenhouse gas emissions, has spurred interest in developing working fluids with low global warming potential (GWP) that can satisfy environmental concerns and have thermophysical properties that can meet engineering performance requirements. One such fluid is 1,1,1,2,2,4,5,5,5-nonafluoro-4-(trifluoromethyl)-3-pentanone (also known as Novec-649 and Novec-1230), which has potential applications in organic Rankine cycles (ORC), electronics cooling, computer/data center cooling and fire extinguishing. In this work, viscosity measurements of 1,1,1,2,2,4,5,5,5-nonafluoro-4-(trifluoromethyl)-3-pentanone were reported. The measurements were performed over the temperature range of (243 to 373) K and at pressures up to 40 MPa using a vibrating-wire viscometer. The combined expanded uncertainty of the reported viscosity was 2 % with a confidence level of 0.95 (k = 2). These experimental data were used to develop a viscosity correlation that covers a wide temperature and pressure range, with an estimated uncertainty at a 95% confidence level of 2% for the liquid phase from (240 to 400) K at pressures up to 40 MPa.

Preliminary experience of laparoscopic renal artery aneurysm clipping surgery.

Developments in endovascular therapy and laparoscopy have led to the expansion of minimally invasive surgical techniques in the treatment of renal artery aneurysm (RAA). In this study, we introduced a new surgical technique that combined the clipping technique widely used in neurosurgery with laparoscopic surgery to clip the aneurysm. RAA clipping was performed by retroperitoneal laparoscopy, and the procedures were completed with no conversions to open surgery. In addition, no perioperative complications were recorded. Our preliminary experience suggests that laparoscopic RAA clipping surgery is feasible and appears to be safe. Laparoscopic RAA clipping surgery has advantages of a simplified surgical process, short warm ischemia time, and excellent cosmetic results.

Bending rigidity and Gaussian bending stiffness of single-layered graphene.

Bending rigidity and Gaussian bending stiffness are the two key parameters that govern the rippling of suspended graphene-an unavoidable phenomenon of two-dimensional materials when subject to a thermal or mechanical field. A reliable determination about these two parameters is of significance for both the design and the manipulation of graphene morphology for engineering applications. By combining the density functional theory calculations of energies of fullerenes and single wall carbon nanotubes with the configurational energy of membranes determined by Helfrich Hamiltonian, we have designed a theoretical approach to accurately determine the bending rigidity and Gaussian bending stiffness of single-layered graphene. The bending rigidity and Gaussian bending stiffness of single-layered graphene are 1.44 eV (2.31 × 10(-19) N m) and -1.52 eV (2.43 × 10(-19) N m), respectively. The bending rigidity is close to the experimental result. Interestingly, the bending stiffness of graphene is close to that of lipid bilayers of cells about 1-2 eV, which might mechanically justify biological applications of graphene.

Effects of different influent C/N ratios on the performance of various earthworm eco-filter systems: nutrient removal and greenhouse gas emission.

In this study, we sought to identify influent carbon-to-nitrogen (C/N) ratios that yield relatively high nutrient removal efficiency with relatively low greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. The earthworm eco-filter (EE) system, which is composed of earthworms and plants (EP group), was found to be optimal for maximizing nutrient removal while reducing GHG emissions. In this EE system, the optimal influent C/N ratio for nutrient removal and GHG emission under C2N treatment conditions. Nutrient removal efficiency under this condition was 85.19 ± 6.40% chemical oxygen demand, 71.99 ± 11.28% total nitrogen, and 77.91 ± 8.51% total phosphorus, while the CO2 emission rate was 678.89 ± 201.87 mg m(-2) h(-1). Moreover, the highest nutrient removal and GHG emission rates were both achieved in late summer (August). Thus, carbon variation, season, system variation, as well as synergistic interaction between system variations and seasons, significantly affect nutrient removal efficiencies and GHG emissions.

Risk factors for SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia among renal transplant recipients in Beijing Omicron wave.

The novel coronavirus disease-19 had become an unprecedented global health emergency, quickly expanding worldwide. Omicron (B.1.1.529), as a novel variant of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), was initially identified in South Africa and Botswana. Renal transplant recipients (RTRs) are a special group and are more vulnerable to viral pneumonia. Thus, this study aimed to assess the incidence and risk factors of SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia that occurred in RTRs with Omicron infection. This single-center case-control study enrolled the RTRs who were diagnosed with SARS-CoV-2 infection by the SARS-CoV-2 nucleic acid test, which were divided into two groups according to the imaging features of SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia. The parameters were collected by questionnaires and analyzed using Statistical Product and Service Solutions. A total of 313 RTRs completed the questionnaires, and 131 were enrolled in this study with a mean age of 42.66 years. The incidence of SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia among the enrolled participants was 76.3%. The first symptoms included fever (89.3%), cough (93.1%), and expectoration (81.7%). From the comparison, the parameters such as age, gender, body mass index, lymphocyte count, and the percent of neutrophils and the basic serum creatinine before SARS-CoV-2 infection were significantly different between the two groups (P < 0.05). In multivariate analysis, age and the basic serum creatinine were independent risk factors for developing SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia (P < 0.05). Older RTRs with a high level of serum creatinine before SARS-CoV-2 infection were more at risk of developing SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia. More randomized controlled studies are needed.IMPORTANCEThis study aimed to assess the incidence and the risk factors of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) pneumonia that occurred in renal transplant recipients (RTRs) with Omicron infection. In conclusion, older RTRs with a high level of serum creatinine before SARS-CoV-2 infection were more at risk of developing SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia and should be timely treated, in case of severe pneumonia.

Graphitic carbon nitride alleviates cadmium toxicity to soybeans through nitrogen supply.

Graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4) is a promising candidate for heavy metal remediation, primarily composed of carbon (C) and nitrogen (N). It has been demonstrated that g-C3N4 adjusts rhizosphere physicochemical conditions, especially N conditions, alleviating the absorption and accumulation of Cadmium (Cd) by soybeans. However, the mechanisms by which g-C3N4 induces N alterations to mitigates plant uptake of Cd remain unclear. This study investigated the impact of g-C3N4-mediated changes in N conditions on the accumulation of Cd by soybeans using pot experiments. It also explored the microbiological mechanisms underlying alterations in soybean rhizospheric N cycling induced by g-C3N4. It was found that g-C3N4 significantly increased N content in the soybean rhizosphere (p < 0.05), particularly in terms of available nitrogen (AN) of nitrate and ammonium. Plants absorbed more ammonium nitrogen (NH4⁺-N), the content of which in the roots showed a significant negative correlation with Cd concentration in plant (p < 0.05). Additionally, g-C3N4 significantly affected rhizospheric functional genes associated with N cycling (p < 0.05) by increasing the ratio of the N-fixation functional gene nifH and decreasing the ratios of functional genes amoA and nxrA involved in nitrification. This enhances soybean's N-fixing potential and suppresses denitrification potential in the rhizosphere, preserving NH4⁺-N. Niastella, Flavisolibacter, Opitutus and Pirellula may play a crucial role in the N fixation and preservation process. In summary, the utilization of g-C3N4 offers a novel approach to ensure safe crop production in Cd-contaminated soils. The results of this study provide valuable data and a theoretical foundation for the remediation of Cd polluted soils.

Synthesis, characterization, and sensitivity tests of La0.8Ba0.1Bi0.1FeO3 nanoparticles towards a few parts-per-billion of acetone gas.

In the present paper, the La0.8Ba0.1Bi0.1FeO3 powders were synthesized via the auto-combustion method. The optical, the positron annihilation spectroscopy and the gas sensing properties of our sample were investigated simultaneously. FTIR spectrum revealed the antisymmetric deformation vibrations of the Fe-O and Fe-O-Fe bonds inside the octahedron FeO6. The optical bandgap (Egap) of the La0.8Ba0.1Bi0.1FeO3 compound was found to be equal to 2.23 eV. We confirmed by the positron annihilation studies, the existence of open volume defects and vacancy sized defects, at the grain/interfaces between vacancy clusters and grains at the interfaces intersection (triple-lines). Notably, the La0.8Ba0.1Bi0.1FeO3 perovskite exhibits an excellent response toward acetone gas, with ultra-fast response and recovery times to some parts-per-billion (ppb) of this tested gas.

The nature of strength enhancement and weakening by pentagon-heptagon defects in graphene.

The two-dimensional crystalline structures in graphene challenge the applicability of existing theories that have been used for characterizing its three-dimensional counterparts. It is crucial to establish reliable structure-property relationships in the important two-dimensional crystals to fully use their remarkable properties. With the success in synthesizing large-area polycrystalline graphene, understanding how grain boundaries (GBs) in graphene alter its physical properties is of both scientific and technological importance. A recent work showed that more GB defects could counter intuitively give rise to higher strength in tilt GBs (ref. 10). We show here that GB strength can either increase or decrease with the tilt, and the behaviour can be explained well by continuum mechanics. It is not just the density of defects that affects the mechanical properties, but the detailed arrangements of defects are also important. The strengths of tilt GBs increase as the square of the tilt angles if pentagon-heptagon defects are evenly spaced, and the trend breaks down in other cases. We find that mechanical failure always starts from the bond shared by hexagon-heptagon rings. Our present work provides fundamental guidance towards understanding how defects interact in two-dimensional crystals, which is important for using high-strength and stretchable graphene for biological and electronic applications.

A nanodiamond chemotherapeutic folate receptor-targeting prodrug with triggerable drug release.

Cancer chemotherapy is often accompanied by severe off-target effects that both damage quality of life and can decrease therapeutic compliance. This could be minimized through selective delivery of cytotoxic agents directly to the cancer cells. This would decrease the drug dose, consequently minimizing side effects and cost. With this goal in mind, a dual-gated folate-functionalized nanodiamond drug delivery system (NPFSSD) for doxorubicin with activatable fluorescence and cytotoxicity has been prepared. Both the cytotoxic activity and the fluorescence of doxorubicin (DOX) are quenched when it is covalently immobilized on the nanodiamond. The NPFSSD is preferentially uptaken by cancer cells overexpressing the folate receptor. Then, once inside a cell, the drug is preferentially released within tumor cells due to their high levels of endogenous of glutathione, required for releasing DOX through cleavage of a disulfide linker. Interestingly, once free DOX is loaded onto the nanodiamond, it can also evade resistance mechanisms that use protein pumps to remove drugs from the cytoplasm. This nanodrug, used in an in vivo model with local injection of drugs, effectively inhibits tumor growth with fewer side effects than direct injection of free DOX, providing a potentially powerful platform to improve therapeutic outcomes.