Synergistically optimized electron and phonon transport in high-performance copper sulfides thermoelectric materials via one-pot modulation.

Optimizing thermoelectric conversion efficiency requires the compromise of electrical and thermal properties of materials, which are hard to simultaneously improve due to the strong coupling of carrier and phonon transport. Herein, a one-pot approach realizing simultaneous second phase and Cu vacancies modulation is proposed, which is effective in synergistically optimizing thermoelectric performance in copper sulfides. Multiple lattice defects, including nanoprecipitates, dislocations, and nanopores are produced by adding a refined ratio of Sn and Se. Phonon transport is significantly suppressed by multiple mechanisms. An ultralow lattice thermal conductivity is therefore obtained. Furthermore, extra Se is added in the copper sulfide for optimizing electrical transport properties by inducing generating Cu vacancies. Ultimately, an excellent figure of merit of ~1.6 at 873 K is realized in the Cu1.992SSe0.016(Cu2SnSe4)0.004 bulk sample. The simple strategy of inducing compositional and structural modulation for improving thermoelectric parameters promotes low-cost high-performance copper sulfides as alternatives in thermoelectric applications.

p33ING1b methylation in fecal DNA as a molecular screening tool for colorectal cancer and precancerous lesions.

The present study aimed to investigate the feasibility of detecting p33 inhibitor of growth 1b (p33ING1b) gene methylation in fecal DNA as a screening method for colorectal carcinoma (CRC) and precancerous lesions. The methylation of p33ING1b was analyzed in fecal samples from 61 patients with CRCs, 27 patients with precancerous lesions (advanced adenoma) and 20 normal individuals by nested methylation-specific polymerase chain reaction (nMSP) and fecal occult blood test. Methylated p33ING1b was detected in 73.77% of CRC patients and 62.96% of adenoma patients. By contrast, only 5% of normal individuals had methylated p33ING1b. These results indicated 73.77% sensitivity for detecting CRC, 62.96% sensitivity for detecting precancerous lesions and 95% specificity of the assay for detecting CRCs and precancerous lesions. The detection of p33ING1b methylation status by incubation of DNA contained in agarose beads for bisulfite modification, followed by nMSP, is a promising non-invasive screening method for CRCs and precancerous lesions.