Skin Thermal Management for Subcutaneous Photoelectric Conversion Reaching 500 mW.

Despite possessing higher tissue transmittance and maximum permissible exposure power density for skin relative to other electromagnetic waves, second near-infrared light (1000-1350 nm) is scarcely applicable to subcutaneous photoelectric conversion, owing to the companion photothermal effect. Here, skin thermal management is conceived to utmostly utilize the photothermal effect of a photovoltaic cell, which not only improves the photoelectric conversion efficiency but also eliminates skin hyperthermia. In vivo, the output power can be higher than 500 mW with a photoelectric conversion efficiency of 9.4%. This output power is promising to recharge all the clinically applied implantable devices via wireless power transmission, that is, clinical pacemakers (6-200 µW), drug pumps (0.5-2 mW), cochlear (5-40 mW), and wireless endo-photo cameras (≈100 mW).

Review on recent progress in on-line monitoring technology for atmospheric pollution source emissions in China.

Emissions from mobile sources and stationary sources contribute to atmospheric pollution in China, and its components, which include ultrafine particles (UFPs), volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and other reactive gases, such as NH3 and NOx, are the most harmful to human health. China has released various regulations and standards to address pollution from mobile and stationary sources. Thus, it is urgent to develop online monitoring technology for atmospheric pollution source emissions. This study provides an overview of the main progress in mobile and stationary source monitoring technology in China and describes the comprehensive application of some typical instruments in vital areas in recent years. These instruments have been applied to monitor emissions from motor vehicles, ships, airports, the chemical industry, and electric power generation. Not only has the level of atmospheric environment monitoring technology and equipment been improving, but relevant regulations and standards have also been constantly updated. Meanwhile, the developed instruments can provide scientific assistance for the successful implementation of regulations. According to the potential problem areas in atmospheric pollution in China, some research hotspots and future trends of atmospheric online monitoring technology are summarized. Furthermore, more advanced atmospheric online monitoring technology will contribute to a comprehensive understanding of atmospheric pollution and improve environmental monitoring capacity.

Subcutaneous power supply by NIR-II light.

Implantable medical devices are wished to be recharged via contactless power transfer technologies without interventional operations. Superior to subcutaneous power supply by visible light or electromagnetic wave, second near-infrared (NIR-II) light is predicted to possess 60 times subcutaneous power transmission but hard to be utilized. Here we report a photo-thermal-electric converter via the combination of photothermal conversion and thermoelectric conversion. It is able to generate an output power as high as 195 mW under the coverage of excised tissues, presenting advantages of non-invasion, high output power, negligible biological damage, and deep tissue penetration. As an in vivo demonstration, the output power of a packaged converter in the abdominal cavity of a rabbit reaches 20 mW under NIR-II light irradiation through the rabbit skin with a thickness of 8.5 mm. This value is high enough to recharge an implanted high-power-consumption wireless camera and transfer video signal out of body in real-time.

Dynamics Analysis of a Wireless Rechargeable Sensor Network for Virus Mutation Spreading.

Virus spreading problems in wireless rechargeable sensor networks (WSNs) are becoming a hot topic, and the problem has been studied and discussed in recent years. Many epidemic spreading models have been introduced for revealing how a virus spreads and how a virus is suppressed. However, most of them assumed the sensors are not rechargeable sensors. In addition, most of existing works do not consider virus mutation problems. This paper proposes a novel epidemic model, including susceptible, infected, variant, low-energy and dead states, which considers the rechargeable sensors and the virus mutation factor. The stability of the proposed model is first analyzed by adopting the characteristic equation and constructing Lyapunov functions methods. Then, an optimal control problem is formulated to control the virus spread and decrease the cost of the networks by applying Pontryagin's maximum principle. Finally, all of the theoretical results are confirmed by numerical simulation.

A high-accurate and universal method to characterize the relative wavelength response (RWR) in wavelength modulation spectroscopy (WMS).

Considering the importance of the laser wavelength response and the difficulty in its real-scenario measurement in WMS, a high-accuracy and universal method was developed to characterize the relative wavelength response (RWR) by analyzing the laser current response. A coupling term that depends on both the current scan and the modulation characteristic was introduced to describe the coupling effect between the wavelength scan and modulation. The accuracy of the proposed method was verified with different laser working conditions and scan waveforms. All fitting residuals of the RWR result from the proposed method are smaller than 0.1% of the total scan range and the fitting residual of the ramp scanned WMS is twice smaller than the minimum value from literature. The better calibration-free 2f/1f fitting and more accurate CO2 concentration results also suggest the high accuracy and superiority of the proposed method. Finally, based on the precise prediction of RWR with small scan and modulation indices, the spectral parameters, including line strength and self-collisional broadening coefficient, of CO2 transition at 6976.2026 cm-1 were successfully measured using WMS.

Highly Sensitive, Calibration-Free WM-DAS Method for Recovering Absorbance-Part I: Theoretical Analysis.

The absorbance is of great importance in the tunable diode laser absorption spectroscopy (TDLAS) as it contains information of both gas properties and spectroscopic parameters. A novel, calibration-free wavelength modulation-direct absorption spectroscopy (WM-DAS) is proposed and experimentally verified in this two-part paper. This method combines the capability of absorbance measurement from DAS and the advantages of enhanced noise rejection and high sensitivity from WMS. In this Part I, we focus on the full theoretical basis and procedures of this method from the following three aspects: the high-accuracy characterizations of laser frequency and intensity, noise rejection ability by extracting the characteristic spectra through the fast Fourier transform (FFT) of the light intensity, and the simultaneous fitting strategy for both baseline and absorbance. The preliminary validation experiment of CO transition at 4300.6999 cm-1 in a static gas cell shows the high accuracy of the proposed method.

A Wide-Range and Calibration-Free Spectrometer Which Combines Wavelength Modulation and Direct Absorption Spectroscopy with Cavity Ringdown Spectroscopy.

A wide-range, calibration-free tunable diode laser spectrometer is established by combining wavelength modulation and direct absorption spectroscopy (WM-DAS) with continuous wave cavity ringdown spectroscopy (CW-CRDS). This spectrometer combines the benefits of absolute concentration measurements, wide range, and high speed, using WM-DAS with enhanced noise reduction in CW-CRDS. The accurate baseline ringdown time, τ0, is calculated by the absorption peak (measured by WM-DAS) and the ringdown time containing gas absorption information (measured by CW-CRDS at the center wavelength of the spectral line). The gas concentration is obtained without measuring τ0 in real time, thus, greatly improving the measuring speed. A WM-DAS/CW-CRDS spectrometer at 1.57 µm for CO detection was assembled for experimental validation of the multiplexing scheme over a concentration ranging from 4 ppm to 1.09% (0.1 MPa, 298 K). The measured concentration of CO at 6374.406 cm-1 shows that the dynamic range of this tunable diode laser absorption spectrometer is extendable up to five orders of magnitude and the corresponding precision is improved. The measurement speed of this spectrometer can extend up to 10 ms, and the detection limit can reach 35 ppb within 25 s.

Highly Sensitive, Calibration-Free WM-DAS Method for Recovering Absorbance-Part II: Experimental Analysis.

Following the theoretical work in Part I, in this experimental study, the robustness, temporal resolution, and the narrow scan performance of the proposed wavelength modulation-direct absorption spectroscopy (WM-DAS) method are experimentally validated in a high-temperature tube furnace. The electromagnetic and other random-frequency noises can be effectively eliminated by extracting the characteristic spectra of the light intensity. The performance of WM-DAS with modulation frequencies from 0.1 to 100 kHz and scan indexes from 3.3 to 11.1 are also investigated at atmospheric pressure. The proposed method produces accurate line profile and high SNR over 500 consistently even with a weak absorption. As for real applications, the spectral line parameters of CO at 4300.6999 cm-1 including the collisional broadening, Dicke narrowing, and their dependence on temperature are measured. Furthermore, the high-speed measurement (1 ms) of the temperature and CO concentration of a McKenna flat flame are demonstrated.

High-accuracy sinewave-scanned direct absorption spectroscopy.

A novel method with high accuracy and easy implementation was proposed based on the sinewave-scanned direct absorption spectroscopy (DAS) in this paper. A fitting routine in the time domain was developed to simultaneously deduce the baseline and more importantly, absorbance through the explicit baseline expression offered by the sinewave scan. This method effectively solves the difficulties of baseline determination and provides more accurate wavelength calibration compared with conventional DAS. The accuracy and performance with narrow scans and high frequency were experimentally verified using CO transition at 4300.699 cm-1, from which the inferred line strength agrees well with HITRAN 2016. Meanwhile, a more accurate N2 collisional broadening was provided and the speed-dependent collisional broadening coefficient of this transition was reported for the first time.

Wavelength modulation spectroscopy for recovering absolute absorbance.

A highly sensitive, calibration-free method, wavelength modulation - direct absorption spectroscopy (WM-DAS), is proposed by extracting the characteristic frequencies of modulated laser intensity. This method combines the advantages of measuring absolute absorbance profile from calibration-free DAS with the enhanced noise rejection and high sensitivity of WMS. The preliminary validation experiment of H2O transitions shows that the WM-DAS method improves the accuracy of the absorbance profile measurement with a best-fit standard residual of 4.9 × 10-5. This new method might inspire new approaches to high-precision measurement of spectral line parameters and gas information with weak absorptions or industrial applications.

Human DNA Ligase I Interacts with and Is Targeted for Degradation by the DCAF7 Specificity Factor of the Cul4-DDB1 Ubiquitin Ligase Complex.

The synthesis, processing, and joining of Okazaki fragments during DNA replication is complex, requiring the sequential action of a large number of proteins. Proliferating cell nuclear antigen, a DNA sliding clamp, interacts with and coordinates the activity of several DNA replication proteins, including the enzymes flap endonuclease 1 (FEN-1) and DNA ligase I that complete the processing and joining of Okazaki fragments, respectively. Although it is evident that maintaining the appropriate relative stoichiometry of FEN-1 and DNA ligase I, which compete for binding to proliferating cell nuclear antigen, is critical to prevent genomic instability, little is known about how the steady state levels of DNA replication proteins are regulated, in particular the proteolytic mechanisms involved in their turnover. Because DNA ligase I has been reported to be ubiquitylated, we used a proteomic approach to map ubiquitylation sites and screen for DNA ligase I-associated E3 ubiquitin ligases. We identified three ubiquitylated lysine residues and showed that DNA ligase I interacts with and is targeted for ubiquitylation by DCAF7, a specificity factor for the Cul4-DDB1 complex. Notably, knockdown of DCAF7 reduced the degradation of DNA ligase I in response to inhibition of proliferation and replacement of ubiquitylated lysine residues reduced the in vitro ubiquitylation of DNA ligase I by Cul4-DDB1 and DCAF7. In contrast, a different E3 ubiquitin ligase regulates FEN-1 turnover. Thus, although the expression of many of the genes encoding DNA replication proteins is coordinately regulated, our studies reveal that different mechanisms are involved in the turnover of these proteins.

Loss of IκB kinase ß promotes myofibroblast transformation and senescence through activation of the ROS-TGFß autocrine loop.

Using forward and reverse genetics and global gene expression analyses, we explored the crosstalk between the IκB kinase ß (IKKß) and the transforming growth factor ß (TGFß) signaling pathways. We show that in vitro ablation of Ikkß in fibroblasts led to progressive ROS accumulation and TGFß activation, and ultimately accelerated cell migration, fibroblast-myofibroblast transformation and senescence. Mechanistically, the basal IKKß activity was required for anti-oxidant gene expression and redox homeostasis. Lacking this activity, IKKß-null cells showed ROS accumulation and activation of stress-sensitive transcription factor AP-1/c-Jun. AP-1/c-Jun activation led to up-regulation of the Tgfß2 promoter, which in turn further potentiated intracellular ROS through the induction of NADPH oxidase (NOX). These data suggest that by blocking the autocrine amplification of a ROS-TGFß loop IKKß plays a crucial role in the prevention of fibroblast-myofibroblast transformation and senescence.

Calibration-free self-absorption model for measuring nitric oxide concentration in a pulsed corona discharge.

The effect of self-absorption on emission intensity distributions can be used for species concentration measurements. A calculation model is developed based on the Beer-Lambert law to quantify this effect. And then, a calibration-free measurement method is proposed on the basis of this model by establishing the relationship between gas concentration and absorption strength. The effect of collision parameters and rotational temperature on the method is also discussed. The proposed method is verified by investigating the nitric oxide emission bands (A²Σ⁺→X²∏) that are generated by a pulsed corona discharge at various gas concentrations. Experiment results coincide well with the expectations, thus confirming the precision and accuracy of the proposed measurement method.

Palladium-catalyzed air-based oxidative coupling of arylboronic acids with H-phosphine oxides leading to aryl phosphine oxides.

We present a novel and highly efficient methodology that allows for the construction of C-P bonds via the palladium-catalyzed air-based oxidative coupling of various commercially available arylboronic acids with easily oxidized H-phosphine oxides leading to valuable aryl phosphine oxides, particularly triarylphosphine oxides, with the use of air as the green oxidant, broad substrate applicability and good to excellent yields. The described catalytic system should be an efficient complement to the Chan-Lam type reaction and be useful in synthetic programs.

Palladium-catalyzed Suzuki cross-coupling of arylhydrazines via C-N bond cleavage.

The first example of Pd-catalyzed Suzuki cross-coupling of readily available arylhydrazines with arylboronic acids via C-N bond cleavage was developed under air, affording various biaryl compounds with broad substrate applicability and moderate to good yields. Moreover, the rigorous exclusion of air/moisture is not required in these transformations. Thus, the protocol represents a simple and efficient procedure to access biaryl compounds.

Nickel-catalyzed C-P cross-coupling of arylboronic acids with P(O)H compounds.

A novel and efficient Ni-catalyzed coupling of a wide range of arylboronic acids with H-phosphites, H-phosphinate esters, and H-phosphine oxides has been developed, providing a general and powerful tool for the synthesis of various aryl-phosphorus compounds, especially for valuable triarylphosphine oxides, in good to excellent yield. This protocol is the first Ni-catalyzed C-P bond-forming reaction between arylboronic acids and P(O)H compounds.

N-phosphorylation labeling for analysis of twenty natural amino acids and small peptides by using matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry.

N-phosphorylation labeling was utilized to analyze the low molecular weight compounds by using matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS). A wide range of natural amino acids and short peptides was successfully analyzed by MALDI-TOF MS without matrix background interferences. The N-phosphorylation labeling reaction was carried out easily within 30 min in a one-pot reaction under mild reaction conditions. The phosphoryl derivatization reaction is a global labeling approach with high selectivity and high specificity with targeting only on the N-terminal and ε-amino group of Lys. The incorporation of a neutral phosphoryl group with high gas-phase affinity of protons not only improves the ionization efficiency of target molecules and simultaneously decreases the ion suppression effects in MALDI-TOF MS analysis, but also greatly reduces or eliminates the matrix background interferences by suppressing the matrix signals and increasing the molecular weight of the targeted compounds. By applying the N-phosphorylation labeling approach, many amino acids could be detected in serum samples by using MALDI-TOF MS.

Phosphorylation of serine 51 regulates the interaction of human DNA ligase I with replication factor C and its participation in DNA replication and repair.

Human DNA ligase I (hLigI) joins Okazaki fragments during DNA replication and completes excision repair via interactions with proliferating cell nuclear antigen and replication factor C (RFC). Unlike proliferating cell nuclear antigen, the interaction with RFC is regulated by hLigI phosphorylation. To identity of the site(s) involved in this regulation, we analyzed phosphorylated hLigI purified from insect cells by mass spectrometry. These results suggested that serine 51 phosphorylation negatively regulates the interaction with RFC. Therefore, we constructed versions of hLigI in which serine 51 was replaced with either alanine (hLigI51A) to prevent phosphorylation or aspartic acid (hLigI51D) to mimic phosphorylation. hLigI51D but not hLigI51A was defective in binding to purified RFC and in associating with RFC in cell extracts. Although DNA synthesis and proliferation of hLigI-deficient cells expressing either hLig51A or hLig51 was reduced compared with cells expressing wild-type hLigI, cellular senescence was only observed in the cells expressing hLigI51D. Notably, these cells had increased levels of spontaneous DNA damage and phosphorylated CHK2. In addition, although expression of hLigI51A complemented the sensitivity of hLigI-deficient cells to a poly (ADP-ribose polymerase (PARP) inhibitor, expression of hLig151D did not, presumably because these cells are more dependent upon PARP-dependent repair pathways to repair the damage resulting from the abnormal DNA replication. Finally, neither expression of hLigI51D nor hLigI51A fully complemented the sensitivity of hLigI-deficient cells to DNA alkylation. Thus, phosphorylation of serine 51 on hLigI plays a critical role in regulating the interaction between hLigI and RFC, which is required for efficient DNA replication and repair.

Concentration measurement of NO using self-absorption spectroscopy of the γ band system in a pulsed corona discharge.

Nitric oxide (NO) concentrations were measured using the γ band system spectrum based on the strong self-absorption effect of NO in pulsed corona discharges. The radiative transitional intensities of the NO γ band were simulated based on the theory of molecular spectroscopy. The intensities of some bands, especially γ(0,0) and γ(1,0), are weakened by the self-absorption. The correlations between the spectral self-absorption intensities and NO concentration were validated using a modified Beer-Lambert law with a combined factor K relating the branching ratio and the NO concentration, and a nonlinear index α that is applicable to the broadband system. Optical emissive spectra in pulsed corona discharges in NO and N2/He mixtures were used to evaluate the two parameters for various conditions. Good agreement between the experimental and theoretical results verifies the self-absorption behavior seen in the UV spectra of the NO γ bands.

[Research on the emission spectrum of NO molecule's γ-band system by corona discharge].

The optical emission spectrum of the gamma-band system of NO molecule, A2 sigma+ --> X2 pi(r), has been analyzed and calculated based on the energy structure of NO molecule' doublet states. By employing the theory of diatomic molecular Spectra, some key parameters of equations for the radiative transition intensity were evaluated theoretically, including the potentials of the doublet states of NO molecule's upper and lower energy levels, the electronic transition moments calculated by using r-centroid approximation method, and the Einstein coefficient of different vibrational and rotational levels. The simulated spectrum of the gamma-band system was calculated as a function of different vibrational and rotational temperature. Compared to the theoretical spectroscopy, the measured results were achieved from corona discharge experiments of NO and N2. The vibrational and rotational temperatures were determined approximately by fitting the measured spectral intensities with the calculated ones.