Case Report: Novel compound heterozygous TPRKB variants cause Galloway-Mowat syndrome.

Background: Galloway-Mowat syndrome (GAMOS) is a rare genetic disease characterized by early-onset nephrotic syndrome and microcephaly with central nervous system abnormalities. Pathogenic variants in genes encoding kinase, endopeptidase, and other proteins of small size (KEOPS) complex subunits cause GAMOS. The subunit TPRKB (TP53RK binding protein) has been reported in only two patients with GAMOS with homozygous missense variants. Clinical report: Herein, we described a three-year-old male with GAMOS. He exhibited developmental delay, developmental regression, microcephaly, distinctive facial features, skeletal abnormalities, and epilepsy. Brain magnetic resonance imaging revealed progressive brain atrophy, delayed myelination, T2-hypointense signals in the thalamus, and multiple intracranial abnormal signals on diffusion-weighted imaging. He presented with relapsing nephrotic proteinuria exacerbated by upper respiratory tract infections and progressive renal function decline. Exome sequencing identified compound heterozygous missense and frameshift variants in TPRKB: c.224dup, p.(Ser76IlefsTer3) and c.247C>T, p.(Leu83Phe). Conclusions: Our study supports that pathogenic TPRKB variants cause KEOPS complex-related GAMOS.

Sorafenib targets and inhibits the oncogenic properties of endometrial cancer stem cells via the RAF/ERK pathway.

BACKGROUND: Distinct subsets of cancer stem cells (CSCs) drive the initiation and progression of malignant tumors via enhanced self-renewal and development of treatment/apoptosis resistance. Endometrial CSC-selective drugs have not been successfully developed because most endometrial cell lines do not contain a sufficient proportion of stable CSCs. Here, we aimed to identify endometrial CSC-containing cell lines and to search for endometrial CSC-selective drugs. METHODS: We first assessed the presence of CSCs by identifying side populations (SPs) in several endometrial cancer cell lines. We then characterized cell viability, colony-formation, transwell invasion and xenotransplantion capability using the isolated SP cells. We also conducted real-time RT-PCR, immunoblot and immunofluorescence analyses of the cells' expression of CSC-associated markers. Focusing on 14 putative CSC-selective drugs, we characterized their effects on the proliferation and apoptosis of endometrial cancer cell lines, examining cell viability and annexin V staining. We further examined the inhibitory effects of the selected drugs, focusing on proliferation, invasion, expression of CSC-associated markers and tumor formation. RESULTS: We focused on HHUA cells, an endometrial cancer cell line derived from a well-differentiated endometrial adenocarcinoma. HHUA cells contained a sufficient proportion of stable CSCs with an SP phenotype (HHUA-SP). HHUA-SP showed greater proliferation, colony-formation, and invasive capabilities compared with the main population of HHUA cells (HHUA-MP). HHUA-SP generated larger tumors with higher expression of proliferation-related markers, Ki67, c-MYC and phosphorylated ERK compared with HHUA-MP when transplanted into immunodeficient mice. Among the 14 candidate drugs, sorafenib, an inhibitor of RAF pathways and multiple kinase receptors, inhibited cell proliferation and invasion in both HHUA-SP and -MP, but more profoundly in HHUA-SP. In vivo treatment with sorafenib for 4 weeks reduced the weights of HHUA-SP-derived tumors and decreased the expression of Ki67, ZEB1, and RAF1. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that HHUA is a useful cell line for discovery and identification of endometrial CSC-selective drugs, and that sorafenib may be an effective anti-endometrial cancer drug targeting endometrial CSCs.

Synthesis and Antioxidant Activity of Silver Nanoparticles Using the Odontonema strictum Leaf Extract.

The aqueous extract of the leaves of Odontonema strictum (OSM) is used in folk medicine for its antihypertensive properties, and it contains a wide range of secondary metabolites, mostly polyphenols such as verbascoside and isoverbascoside, which could play a major role in the preparation of silver nanoparticles. In this study, we aimed to prepare AgNPs for the first time using the OSM leaf extract (OSM-AgNPs) to investigate their free radical-scavenging potency against 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). Dynamic light scattering (DLS), UV/Vis, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) were used to characterize the OSM-AgNPs. With a size around 100 nm and a ζ-potential of -41.1 mV, OSM-AgNPs showed a good stability and a better colloidal property due to electrostatic repulsion and the dispersity. The strong absorption peak at 3 keV in the EDX spectra indicated that silver was the major constituent. Additionally, the existence of silver atoms was confirmed by the Ag 3d5/2 peak around 367 eV in the XPS spectra. IC50 values of 116 µg/mL and 4.4 µg/mL were obtained for the scavenging activities of DPPH and H2O2, respectively. The synthetic OSM-AgNPs can be further exploited as potential antioxidant agents.

Diagnosis of non-immediate hypersensitivity to amoxicillin in children by skin test and drug provocation tests: A retrospective case-series study.

BACKGROUND: Skin rash often occurs upon oral administration of amoxicillin in children, due to non-immediate hypersensitivity. However, information on delayed hypersensitivity to amoxicillin is scarce. Moreover, the appropriate diagnostic method and actual diagnostic rate of delayed hypersensitivity to amoxicillin among Japanese children are unclear. We conducted intradermal tests (IDTs) and drug provocation tests (DPTs) and retrospectively investigated the proportion of children with a definitive diagnosis of non-immediate hypersensitivity to amoxicillin. We then evaluated the characteristics of patients with a positive allergic workup. METHODS: We enrolled children referred for suspected findings of mild or moderate non-immediate hypersensitivity to amoxicillin between August 2018 and March 2020. If the IDT in the delayed phase was negative, DPT with amoxicillin (60-90 mg/kg/day) was performed for 7 days. Non-immediate hypersensitivity to amoxicillin was defined when IDT or DPT was positive. We evaluated the potential of the drug-induced lymphocyte stimulation test (DLST) to reveal hypersensitivity to amoxicillin. RESULTS: This study enrolled 27 children. Fourteen children (52%) had hypersensitivity to amoxicillin, of whom 12 had positive IDTs and two had positive DPTs. No differences in age, sex, history of allergic disease, days from oral use to symptom onset, type of rash at symptom onset, generalized rash, and DLST results were observed between the hypersensitivity and non-hypersensitivity groups. CONCLUSIONS: Examination should be performed for children with mild or moderate reactions because positive cases have no significant features and half of the suspected cases are negative.

Simulation study of potential time-of-flight capabilities for a multilayer DOI-PET detector with an independent readout structure.

A multilayer depth-of-interaction positron emission tomography (DOI-PET) detector with an independent readout structure has a potential advantage as a time-of-flight (TOF)-PET detector. The thin scintillator block of each detector layer can afford an improved coincidence time resolution (CTR) of ∼100 ps because the photon transfer time spread within the scintillator inherently decreases. To evaluate the potential TOF capabilities of a multilayer DOI-PET detector, which consists of thin layers of a cerium-doped lutetium-yttrium oxyorthosilicate (LYSO:Ce) scintillator coupled to a multi-pixel photon counter (MPPC) array, we examined the detector's CTR performance via Monte Carlo simulations. We used several types of scintillator structures: a monolithic plate, laser-processing array with 3.2 mm pitch, fine laser-processing array with 1.6 mm pitch, and pixelated array with 3.2 mm pitch, with 2, 4, 6, and 8 mm thickness values of a 25.6 mm × 25.6 mm scintillator cross-section. The MPPC array was composed of 3.0 mm × 3.0 mm photosensitive segments arranged in an 8 × 8 array. Here, we note that the CTR performance also significantly depends on the timing detection method, which generates a timing trigger signal for coincidence detection. Thus, we evaluated the CTRs for each scintillator structure by adopting four timing detection methods: using the total sum signal of 64 MPPC chips (T_sum), the maximum signal in the 64 MPPC chips (Max), the sum signal of a partial number of MPPC chips located at and in the vicinity of theγ-ray interaction position (P_sum), and the average of the timestamps generated at several MPPC chips (Ave). When using the T_sum for timing detection, the CTR full width at half-maximum values were ∼100 ps regardless of the scintillator structure. However, when using the Max signal approach, the CTRs of the monolithic plates, laser-processing arrays, and fine-pitch laser-processing arrays were drastically degraded with increasing thickness. On the other hand, the CTRs of the pixelated arrays exhibited almost no degradation. To improve the CTRs of the monolithic plate and the (fine-pitch) laser-processing array that exhibit a large light spread in the scintillator block, we applied the P_sum and Ave methods. The resulting CTRs significantly improved upon using P_sum; however, in the Ave approach the improvement effect disappeared when the thickness was <6 mm in case of our simulation.

UDP-glucose, a cellular danger signal, and nucleotide receptor P2Y14 enhance the invasion of human extravillous trophoblast cells.

INTRODUCTION: P2Y14, one of the P2Y purinergic G-protein coupled receptors, is expressed in a variety of cells and tissues. Its ligand, UDP-glucose (UDPG), is released from damaged and stress-stimulated cells and acts as a danger signal via P2Y14. Thus, P2Y14 plays an important role in immunological defense systems. Here, we aimed to elucidate the expression, localization, and role of P2Y14 in human trophoblasts and the placenta. METHODS: Human chorionic villus and placental tissues were subjected to immunostaining for P2Y14 protein and an extravillous trophoblast (EVT) marker, HLA-G. We examined the expression of P2Y14 and the effect of UDPG on cell proliferation and invasion in an EVT cell line, HTR-8/SVneo, using an MTS assay and a Transwell assay, respectively. We tested the effect of UDPG on cell invasion in P2Y14-underexpressing HTR-8/SVneo clones established by the lentiviral introduction of shRNA for P2RY14 mRNA. RESULTS: Immunostaining revealed that P2Y14 was exclusively expressed by EVTs. P2RY14 mRNA and P2Y14 protein were expressed in HTR-8/SVneo cells. UDPG did not affect cell proliferation but it did enhance invasion. Inhibition of P2Y14 and decreasing the expression of P2Y14 suppressed UDPG-mediated invasive activity. CONCLUSIONS: These results showed that EVT selectively expressed P2Y14 and that P2Y14 was positively involved in UDPG-enhanced EVT invasion. It suggests the possible existence of a danger signal-mediated physiological system at the fetomaternal interface where UDPG released from maternal tissues through destruction by EVT invasion may accelerate EVT invasion, allowing EVTs to undergo successful placentation and vascular remodeling.

Determining the Distribution of Fluorescent Organic Matter in the Indian Ocean Using in situ Fluorometry.

In order to determine the dynamics of marine fluorescent organic matter (FOM) using high-resolution spatial data, in situ fluorometers have been used in the open ocean. In this study, we measured FOM during the Global Ocean Ship-based Hydrographic Investigations Program (GO-SHIP) expedition from early December 2019 to early February 2020, using an in situ fluorometer at 148 stations along the two meridional transects (at ∼80 and ∼57°E) in the Indian Ocean, covering latitudinal ranges from ∼6°N to ∼20°S and ∼30 to ∼65°S, respectively. The FOM data obtained from the fluorometer were corrected for known temperature dependence and calibrated using FOM data measured onboard by a benchtop fluorometer. Using the relative water mass proportions estimated from water mass analyses, we determined the intrinsic values of FOM and apparent oxygen utilization (AOU) for each of the 12 water masses observed. We then estimated the basin-scale relationship between the intrinsic FOM and the AOU, as well as the turnover time for FOM in the Indian Ocean (410 ± 19 years) in combination with the microbial respiration rate in the dark ocean (>200 m). Consistent to previous estimates in the global tropical and subtropical ocean, the FOM turnover time obtained is of the same order of magnitude as the circulation age of the Indian Ocean, indicating that the FOM is refractory and is a sink for reduced carbon in the dark ocean. A decoupling of FOM and AOU from the basin-scale relationship was also observed in the abyssal waters of the northern Indian Ocean. The local variability may be explained by the effect of sinking organic matter altered by denitrification through the oxygen-deficient zone on enhanced abyssal FOM production relative to oxygen consumption.

Role of alkan-1-ol solvents in the synthesis of yellow luminescent carbon quantum dots (CQDs): van der Waals force-caused aggregation and agglomeration.

Carbon quantum dots (CQDs; luminescent carbon nanoparticles, size < 10 nm) have attracted much attention with respect to their eco-friendliness and multi-functionality. The solvent-dependent photoluminescence of CQDs has been well investigated to optimize the synthesis process and homogeneous dispersion. Although some alkan-1-ol solvents, such as ethanol, have been well utilized empirically as good solvents when synthesizing highly photoluminescent CQDs, the role of alkan-1-ol solvents, particularly long-chain alkan-1-ols (e.g., 1-nonanol, 1-decanol), has not yet been clarified. Herein, we demonstrate a method for the synthesis of strongly yellow emitting CQDs using solvothermal treatment and elucidate the role of alkan-1-ol solvents in the photoluminescence of CQDs. These CQDs have been characterized using theoretical calculations, ex situ morphological observations using transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and dynamic light scattering (DLS), and 500 MHz 1H nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and 13C NMR spectroscopy. A comparative study of alkan-1-ol solvents suggests a mechanism for the agglomeration and aggregation of carbon precursors, intermediates, and CQDs, which is expected to lead to further synthesis studies on highly luminescent CQDs.

Ultra high-resolution seawater density sensor based on a refractive index measurement using the spectroscopic interference method.

The interference method is one of the most sensitive methods for measuring the refractive index of seawater. We developed a state-of-the-art density sensor for seawater measurements based on measuring the refractive index by the interference method. The resolution of the density sensor is 0.00006 kg/m3 for changing temperature at constant salinity and pressure, 0.00012 kg/m3 for changing salinity at constant temperature and pressure, and 0.00010 kg/m3 for changing pressure at constant temperature and salinity. These resolution values are the best in the history of seawater density measurements. The ultra high-resolution density sensor will contribute notably to climate research at full ocean depth and measurement of seawater sampled from the deep ocean, to research on metrology to establish the traceability of salinity measurements, and to submarine resource exploration to detect spatial changes in the absolute salinity anomaly by combining with conventional conductance-based salinity measurements.

The orientation of a decellularized uterine scaffold determines the tissue topology and architecture of the regenerated uterus in rats†.

A decellularized uterine scaffold (DUS) prepared from rats permits recellularization and regeneration of uterine tissues when placed onto a partially excised uterus and supports pregnancy in a fashion comparable to the intact uterus. The underlying extracellular matrix (ECM) together with an acellular, perfusable vascular architecture preserved in DUS is thought to be responsible for appropriate regeneration of the uterus. To investigate this concept, we examined the effect of the orientation of the DUS-preserving ECM and the vascular architecture on uterine regeneration through placement of a DUS onto a partially defective uterine area in the reversed orientation such that the luminal face of the DUS was outside and the serosal face was inside. We characterized the tissue structure and function of the regenerated uterus, comparing the outcome to that when the DUS was placed in the correct orientation. Histological analysis revealed that aberrant structures including ectopic location of glands and an abnormal lining of smooth muscle layers were observed significantly more frequently in the reversed group than in the correct group (70% vs. 30%, P < 0.05). Despite the changes in tissue topology, the uteri regenerated with an incorrectly oriented DUS could achieve pregnancy in a way similar to uteri regenerated with a correctly oriented DUS. These results suggest that DUS-driven ECM orientation determines the regenerated uterus structure. Using DUS in the correct orientation is preferable when clinically applied. The disoriented DUS may deteriorate the tissue topology leading to structural disease of the uterus even though the fertility potential is not immediately affected.

Solute Clearance and Fluid Removal: Large-Dose Cyclic Tidal Peritoneal Dialysis.

Large-dose cyclic tidal peritoneal dialysis (TPD) is an original prescription of TPD involving frequent infusion and drainage of the dialysate to increase weekly urea clearance normalized to total body water (Kt/Vurea ) and fluid removal. This study aimed to evaluate the efficiency of solute clearance and fluid removal achieved with large-dose cyclic TPD compared to that achieved with nightly peritoneal dialysis (NPD). Seventeen patients with end-stage renal disease, for whom maintenance PD was changed from NPD to large-dose cyclic TPD, were enrolled. Their median age at administration of PD was 4.9 years. Kt/Vurea and fluid removal were compared between large-dose cyclic TPD and NPD. The median peritoneal Kt/Vurea achieved with NPD and large-dose cyclic TPD was 1.5 and 2.7, respectively. The median peritoneal Kt/Vurea per hour with large-dose cyclic TPD was significantly higher than that with NPD (P = 0.0003). Among nine patients who used dialysates with the same glucose concentration for both NPD and large-dose cyclic TPD, nightly fluid removal amount per hour with large-dose cyclic TPD was significantly higher than that with NPD (P = 0.0039). Large-dose cyclic TPD is a useful prescription of PD for increasing Kt/Vurea and fluid removal.

The potentiality of laparoscopic partial liver excisional biopsy using analysis of the liver surface based on preoperative 3D simulation imaging: A case report.

INTRODUCTION: The imaging diagnostics of liver tumor are difficult. There are no effective biopsy examinations for liver tumors that cannot be detected even by ultrasonography (US) and computed tomography (CT). We report a remarkably useful biopsy method for such tumors. PRESENTATION OF CASE: A 67-year-old man with hepatitis C underwent gadolinium-ethoxybenzyl-diethylenetriamine pentaacetic acid-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging, and the images revealed multiple delayed enhanced masses that showed high signal intensity in the hepatobiliary phase. The possibility of malignancy could not be ruled out due to the trend towards increased size of the masses. Percutaneous liver biopsy was considered impossible because CT and US could not detect the masses. Laparoscopic liver biopsy with preoperative simulation using 3D imaging was performed. The 3D imaging provided accurate information of liver surface irregularities with cirrhosis change. The tumor location was confirmed, and adequate tumor excisional biopsy was performed. Histological assessment revealed the tumor to be a focal nodular hyperplasia-like nodule. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS: Laparoscopic liver biopsy has been widely used because of its safety and accuracy. It enables accurate resection of tumors that are undetectable with CT and US by employing preoperative 3D imaging while maintaining the less-invasiveness.

Impact of borderline-subclinical hypothyroidism on subsequent pregnancy outcome in women with unexplained recurrent pregnancy loss.

AIM: Because subclinical hypothyroidism (thyroid-stimulating hormone [TSH] > 4.5 IU/mL) is associated with adverse pregnancy outcome, including early pregnancy loss, TSH is recommended to be titrated to ≤2.5 mIU/L in levothyroxine-treated women before pregnancy. The purpose of this study was to determine whether borderline-subclinical hypothyroidism (borderline-SCH; 2.5 < TSH ≤ 4.5 IU/mL) affects the outcome of subsequent pregnancies in women with unexplained recurrent pregnancy loss (uRPL). METHODS: After workup for antinuclear antibody (ANA), anti-phospholipid syndrome, thrombophilia, uterine abnormalities, hormone disorders, and/or chromosomal abnormalities, 317 women with a history of uRPL were enrolled. The women were classified into two groups: borderline-SCH, and euthyroidism (0.3 ≤ TSH ≤ 2.5 IU/mL). All women had normal serum free thyroxine (T4) and did not receive levothyroxine before or during the subsequent pregnancy. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in age, number of previous pregnancy losses, number of live births, or body mass index between the borderline-SCH (n = 56) and the euthyroid (n = 261) groups, but the rate of ANA positivity differed significantly (53.6% vs 33.7%, respectively; P = 0.005). The subsequent pregnancy rate did not differ between the two groups (55.4%, 31/56 vs 51.3%, 134/261, respectively). The pregnancy loss rate (<22 weeks of gestation) tended to be higher in the borderline-SCH than the euthyroid group (29.0%, 9/31 vs 17.9%, 24/134), although not significantly so (P = 0.16). CONCLUSIONS: Although some subset of uRPL is though to be due to as-yet-unidentified cause(s), borderline-SCH is unlikely to be involved in uRPL.

ZEB1 expression is a potential indicator of invasive endometriosis.

INTRODUCTION: Although endometriosis is a benign disease, it shares some features with cancers, such as invasiveness and the potential to metastasize. This study sought to investigate the epithelial-mesenchymal transition status in human endometriotic lesions. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Thirteen endometriosis patients and 10 control women without endometriosis undergoing surgery for benign indications were recruited. We examined the expression of E-cadherin, vimentin, and epithelial-mesenchymal transition-induced transcriptional factors, such as Snail and ZEB1, by immunohistochemistry. We evaluated the expression of each marker in epithelial cells of both endometriotic lesions (ovarian endometrioma, deep infiltrating endometriosis, adenomyosis) and normal endometria. The correlation between ZEB1 expression and serum level of CA125 was also investigated. RESULTS: Immunohistochemical analysis revealed that although E-cadherin, vimentin, and Snail were expressed in epithelia of normal endometria and endometriotic lesions, ZEB1 expression was only expressed in epithelia of endometriotic lesions. Additionally, ZEB1 was most frequently observed in epithelial cells of invasive endometriosis. The endometriosis patients with high serum CA125 level were more likely to have ZEB1-positive lesions. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first observation of ZEB1 expression in epithelial cells of benign disease. The preferential expression of ZEB1 in epithelial cells of endometriotic lesions suggests that these cells may have, at least in part, a higher level of mesenchymal features possibly via ZEB1-driven epithelial-mesenchymal transition than normal endometria and that ZEB1 can be a potential indicator of invasiveness or severity of endometriosis.

Early anastomotic stricture occurring after colectomy that responded well to Transanal decompression and local steroid therapy: A case report.

INTRODUCTION: Anastomotic strictures occurring after colectomy are a most challenging postoperative complication for gastroenterological surgeons. Reports documenting anastomotic strictures developing in the early postoperative phase are scant, and no established treatment is available. PRESENTATION OF CASE: A 78-year-old man who had undergone a laparoscopic left hemicolectomy for lower colon cancer presented on postoperative day 12 because of abdominal pain and no bowel movement. Endoluminal decompression was performed with a transanal decompression tube, and local steroid treatment was administered by concurrent intralesional steroid injection (ILe-SI) and intraluminal steroid instillation (ILu- SI). The anastomotic stricture promptly improved. The patient recovered uneventfully, with no recurrence of anastomotic stricture. DISCUSSION: A transanal decompression tube should be inserted and placed in a cautious manner within a short period of time. ILe-SI in the large intestine requires an understanding of potential adverse events and complications, as well as fully informed consent from the patient. ILu-SI has been reported to be an effective treatment for the management of strictures in various regions. To the best of our knowledge, however, this is the first report to document the treatment of an anastomotic stricture of the colorectum by ILu-SI. CONCLUSION: Transanal decompression therapy combined with local steroid local treatment might promptly improve anastomotic strictures occurring after colectomy.

Genetic relationships between temperament of calves at auction and carcass traits in Japanese Black cattle.

Correlations of calves' temperament with carcass traits were estimated to clarify the genetic relationships between them in Japanese Black cattle. The temperament records for 3128 calves during auction at a calf market were scored on a scale of 1 (calm) to 5 (nervous) as temperament score (TS), and the TS were divided into two groups (TSG): TS 1 and 2 comprised TSG 1, and 3 to 5 constituted TSG 2. Carcass data were obtained from 33 552 fattened cattle. A threshold animal model was used for analyzing the underlying liability for TSG, whereas a linear one was used for TS and carcass traits. The heritability estimates for TS and TSG were 0.12 and 0.11, respectively. On the other hand, moderate to high heritability estimates were obtained for carcass traits (0.40 to 0.68). The temperament scores were negatively correlated with carcass weight, rib thickness and subcutaneous fat thickness (-0.13 to -0.59). In contrast, weak to moderate positive correlations were found between the temperament scores and rib eye area or yield estimate (0.16 to 0.45). The temperament scores and beef marbling score had no correlation. These results showed that it is possible to improve temperament and carcass traits simultaneously.

Facile preparation of N-doped TiO2 at ambient temperature and pressure under UV light with 4-nitrophenol as the nitrogen source and its photocatalytic activities.

To date syntheses of nitrogen-doped TiO2 photocatalysts (TiO2-xNx) have been carried out under high temperatures and high pressures with either NH3 or urea as the nitrogen sources. This article reports for the first time the facile preparation of N-doped TiO2 (P25 titania) in aqueous media at ambient temperature and pressure under inert conditions (Ar- and N2-purged dispersions) with 4-nitrophenol (or 4-nitrobenzaldehyde) as the nitrogen source. The resulting N-doped P25 TiO2 materials were characterized by UV/Vis and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopies (XPS) that confirmed the presence of nitrogen within the photocatalyst; X-ray diffraction (XRD) techniques confirmed the crystalline phases of the doped material. The photocatalytic activity of N-doped TiO2 was assessed through examining the photodegradation of 4-chlorophenol in aqueous media and iso-propanol as a volatile pollutant under UV/Vis and visible-light irradiation. Under visible light irradiation, undoped P25 was inactive contrary to N-doped P25 that successfully degraded 95% of the 4-chlorophenol (after 10 h) and 23% of iso-propanol (after 2.5 h).

One-Step Fabrication of Stretchable Copper Nanowire Conductors by a Fast Photonic Sintering Technique and Its Application in Wearable Devices.

Copper nanowire (CuNW) conductors have been considered to have a promising perspective in the area of stretchable electronics due to the low price and high conductivity. However, the fabrication of CuNW conductors suffers from harsh conditions, such as high temperature, reducing atmosphere, and time-consuming transfer step. Here, a simple and rapid one-step photonic sintering technique was developed to fabricate stretchable CuNW conductors on polyurethane (PU) at room temperature in air environment. It was observed that CuNWs were instantaneously deoxidized, welded and simultaneously embedded into the soft surface of PU through the one-step photonic sintering technique, after which highly conductive network and strong adhesion between CuNWs and PU substrates were achieved. The CuNW/PU conductor with sheet resistance of 22.1 Ohm/sq and transmittance of 78% was achieved by the one-step photonic sintering technique within only 20 µs in air. Besides, the CuNW/PU conductor could remain a low sheet resistance even after 1000 cycles of stretching/releasing under 10% strain. Two flexible electronic devices, wearable sensor and glove-shaped heater, were fabricated using the stretchable CuNW/PU conductor, demonstrating that our CuNW/PU conductor could be integrated into various wearable electronic devices for applications in food, clothes, and medical supplies fields.