Piezo-phototronic Effect Enhanced Photodetector Based on CHNHPbI Single Crystals.

Piezoelectric organic-inorganic lead halide perovskites have recently attracted much attention in the field of optoelectronic devices. However, their piezoelectric properties as a possible way to modulate device performances have rarely been reported. Here, we study experimentally a photodetector based on CHNHPbI(MAPbI) single crystals, whose performance is effectively modulated via an emerging effect-the piezo-phototronic effect, which is to use the piezoelectric polarization charges to tune the optoelectronic processes at the interface.

Tumor-triggered transformation of chimeric peptide for dual-stage-amplified magnetic resonance imaging and precise photodynamic therapy.

Despite the great success in clinical magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), Gd-based contrast agents still suffer from low proton relaxation efficiency, rapid metabolic clearance as well as poor sensitivity. In this work, we designed a matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) responsive chimeric peptide for dual-stage-amplified MRI and precise photodynamic therapy. Both in vitro and in vivo studies indicated that this chimeric peptide could self-assembly into spherical nanoparticles at physiological condition with r value of 28.

Successful treatment of verrucous epidermal nevus with fractional micro-plasma radio-frequency technology and photodynamic therapy.

Verrucous epidermal nevus (VEN) is a skin disorder that commonly presents at birth; it is characterized by skin-colored to brown verrucous papules in a linear distribution following Blaschko's lines. Even though it is extremely rare, VEN has been associated with malignant transformation. VEN has been treated by different treatment modalities with varying and frustrating results.

The chromosome-level genome assemblies of two rattans (Calamus simplicifolius and Daemonorops jenkinsiana).

Background: Calamus simplicifolius and Daemonorops jenkinsiana are two representative rattans, the most significant material sources for the rattan industry. However, the lack of reference genome sequences is a major obstacle for basic and applied biology on rattan.

Findings: We produced two chromosome-level genome assemblies of C.

Clinical Application of 3-Dimensional Continuous Suturing Technique for Triangular Wounds.

Background: Although there are numerous skin closure methods, there is no special method for suturing triangular skin wounds. The authors have summarized and modified their experience with a 3-dimensional (3D) continuous suturing technique for triangular wounds.

Methods: From December 2015 to September 2017, the 3D continuous suturing technique for triangular wounds has been used in 32 cleft lip repairs (48 surgical triangular incisions) and 11 cases of facial trauma (15 traumatic triangular wounds).

Precisely Striking Tumors without Adjacent Normal Tissue Damage via Mitochondria-Templated Accumulation.

Ignored damage in adjacent normal tissue is fatal especially in some specific tumor therapy such as brain tumors, but it remains a great challenge to conquer due to random drug diffusion and tumor complexity. Herein, we show that hyperthermia in mitochondria, an interparticle plasmonic coupling effect activated nanoevent, selectively strikes tumor tissues without damaging adjacent normal tissues. Spherical gold nanoparticles with a mitochondria-targeting moiety, triphenyl phosphonium, preferentially accumulated inside tumor mitochondria and reached the threshold to activate interparticle plasmonic coupling effect among gold nanoparticles, realizing selective light-thermal conversion and mitochondrial dysfunction in tumor, whereas little hyperthermia and mitochondrial dysfunction were observed in adjacent normal tissues.

Steric shielding protected and acidity-activated pop-up of ligand for tumor enhanced photodynamic therapy.

Tumor targeted drug delivery in vivo remains a significant challenge in tumor therapy. In this article, we fabricated a steric shielding protected/tumor acidity-activated chimeric peptide for tumor targeted photodynamic therapy. This amphiphilic chimeric peptide could form spherical nanoparticles at neutrally physiological environment with the shielding of biotin molecule (tumor target ligand).

Preparation of Modified Konjac Glucomannan Nanoparticles and their Application as Vaccine Adjuvants to Promote Ovalbumin-Induced Immune Response in Mice.

Purpose: Herein, we reported a facile strategy for synthesis of two types of modified konjac glucomannan nanoparticles (NPs). The goal of this project was to explore the potential of the NPs as vaccine adjuvants.

Methods: Firstly, anionic carboxymethylated konjac glucomannan (CKGM) and cationic quaternized konjac glucomannan (QKGM) were synthesized by chemical modification of konjac glucomannan (KGM).

Development of podophyllotoxin‑loaded nanostructured lipid carriers for the treatment of condyloma acuminatum.

Condyloma acuminatum (CA) is a common sexually transmitted disease caused by human papillomavirus (HPV). Podophyllotoxin (POD), a cytotoxic compound, is able to effectively treat HPV; however, the severe irritation side effects of POD restrict its use as a treatment for CA. The aim of the present study was to construct novel POD‑loaded nanostructured nanolipid carriers (POD‑NLCs) and evaluate their physicochemical characteristics and cytotoxicity.

Successful surgery for a neuromuscular scoliosis patient by pulmonary rehabilitation with forced vital capacity below 30.

A rare case of a 15-year-old male patient with neuromuscular scoliosis with forced vital capacity (FVC) below 30%, who went through a successful surgery without any pulmonary complications, is reported herein. The patient had obvious asymmetric shoulders and poor exercise tolerance. The Cobb's angle of the main thoracic curve was 62.

Functional peptide-based nanoparticles for photodynamic therapy.

Photodynamic therapy as a non-invasive approach has obtained great research attention during the last decade. However, photodynamic therapy still suffers from low tumor selectivity and therapeutic inefficacy due to the unspecific distribution of photosensitizers in normal tissues/cells. To overcome these hurdles, functional peptides have been introduced in photodynamic therapy systems due to their advantages of functional diversity, bioactivity, high biocompatibility and biodegradability.

Role of IL-6-mediated expression of NS5ATP9 in autophagy of liver cancer cells.

This study aimed to investigate the relationship between interleukin-6 (IL-6) and NS5ATP9 in autophagy of liver cancer cells. Autophagy is one of the important regulators of the replication of hepatitis C virus and the survival of tumors. IL-6 is a multifunctional cytokine that plays an important role in autophagy and development of many kinds of tumors.

Self-Powered Electrostatic Filter with Enhanced Photocatalytic Degradation of Formaldehyde Based on Built-in Triboelectric Nanogenerators.

Recently, atmospheric pollution caused by particulate matter or volatile organic compounds (VOCs) has become a serious issue to threaten human health. Consequently, it is highly desirable to develop an efficient purifying technique with simple structure and low cost. In this study, by combining a triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG) and a photocatalysis technique, we demonstrated a concept of a self-powered filtering method for removing pollutants from indoor atmosphere.

Promoting Photocatalytic Overall Water Splitting by Controlled Magnesium Incorporation in SrTiO Photocatalysts.

SrTiO is a well-known photocatalyst inducing overall water splitting when exposed to UV irradiation of wavelengths <370 nm. However, the apparent quantum efficiency of SrTiO is typically low, even when functionalized with nanoparticles of Pt or Ni@NiO. Here, we introduce a simple solid-state preparation method to control the incorporation of magnesium into the perovskite structure of SrTiO .

Modulating the External Facets of Functional Nanocrystals Enabled by Two-Dimensional Oxide Crystal Templates.

The nature of the external crystal facets is critical to control the (photo)catalytic properties. Two-dimensional materials can expose only one type of crystal facet among zero-dimensional (0D), one-dimensional (1D), and two-dimensional (2D) materials. Controllable tuning of the nature of the external crystal facets of 2D materials is highly desirable but very challenging.

Impaired insulin/IGF-1 is responsible for diabetic gastroparesis by damaging myenteric cholinergic neurones and interstitial cells of Cajal.

Diabetic gastroparesis is a common complication of diabetes mellitus (DM) that is characterized by decreased serum insulin and insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1). Despite the fact that insulin treatment not glycemic control potently accelerated gastric emptying in type 1 DM patients, the role of insulin/InsR and IGF-1/IGF-1R signaling in diabetic gastroparesis remains incompletely elucidated. In the present study, type 1 DM mice were established and treated with insulin or Voglibose for 8 weeks.

pH-Responsive Nanoscale Coordination Polymer for Efficient Drug Delivery and Real-Time Release Monitoring.

Both excess dosages of drug and unwanted drug carrier can lead to severe side effects as well as the failure of tumor therapy. Here, an Fe -gallic acid based drug delivery system is designed for efficient monitoring of drug release in tumor. Fe and polyphenol gallic acid can form polygonal nanoscale coordination polymer in aqueous solution, which exhibits certain antitumor effect.

Cortical thickness reductions associate with abnormal resting-state functional connectivity in non-neuropsychiatric systemic lupus erythematosus.

To detect the abnormal cortical thickness and disrupted brain resting-state functional connectivity (RSFC) in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) without neuropsychiatric symptoms (non-NPSLE). Using T1-weighted 3D brain structural data, we first determined the regions with abnormal cortical thickness in a cohort of 33 adult female non-NPSLE patients. By taking brain regions with significantly reduced cortical thickness as the seeds, we calculated their RSFC based on the resting-fMRI data and detected the relationship between the RSFC and cortical thickness in the non-NPSLE patients.

Acidity-Triggered Tumor Retention/Internalization of Chimeric Peptide for Enhanced Photodynamic Therapy and Real-Time Monitoring of Therapeutic Effects.

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) holds great promise in tumor treatment. Nevertheless, it remains highly desirable to develop easy-to-fabricated PDT systems with improved tumor accumulation/internalization and timely therapeutic feedback. Here, we report a tumor-acidity-responsive chimeric peptide for enhanced PDT and noninvasive real-time apoptosis imaging.

Transient Behavior of Ni@NiO Functionalized SrTiO in Overall Water Splitting.

Transients in the composition of Ni@NiO core-shell co-catalysts deposited on SrTiO are discussed on the basis of state-of-the-art continuous analysis of photocatalytic water splitting, and post-XPS and TEM analyses. The formation of excessive hydrogen (H:O ≫ 2) in the initial stages of illumination demonstrates oxidation of Ni(OH) to NiOOH (nickel oxyhydroxide), with the latter catalyzing water oxidation. A disproportionation reaction of Ni and NiOOH, yielding Ni(OH) with residual embedded Ni, occurs when illumination is discontinued, which explains repetitive transients in (excess) hydrogen and oxygen formation when illumination is reinitiated.

Increased miR-424-5p expression in peripheral blood mononuclear cells from patients with pemphigus.

Pemphigus is an autoimmune disease that causes blisters and erosions in the skin and mucous membranes. The development of pemphigus is associated with the imbalance of T‑cell and humoral responses. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) can regulate many cell functions.

Tumor-Triggered Geometrical Shape Switch of Chimeric Peptide for Enhanced in Vivo Tumor Internalization and Photodynamic Therapy.

Geometrical shape of nanoparticles plays an important role in cellular internalization. However, the applicability in tumor selective therapeutics is still scarcely reported. In this article, we designed a tumor extracellular acidity-responsive chimeric peptide with geometrical shape switch for enhanced tumor internalization and photodynamic therapy.

The Complete Chloroplast Genome Sequences of Six Rehmannia Species.

is a non-parasitic genus in Orobanchaceae including six species mainly distributed in central and north China. Its phylogenetic position and infrageneric relationships remain uncertain due to potential hybridization and polyploidization. In this study, we sequenced and compared the complete chloroplast genomes of six species using Illumina sequencing technology to elucidate the interspecific variations.

High efficiency quasi-three level thin film laser enabled on a sinusoidal grating substrate.

The excitation and emission properties of optical materials can be adjusted by nanostructures and to achieve high optical efficiency in the optically pump laser, especially for lasers with short absorption length and high pump threshold. We present and theoretically investigate a Yb-doped thin film on a 1D grating structure in this paper. High reflectivity at the pump and emission wavelength are realized simultaneously and in terms of the guided-mode resonance theory, the local field of high reflected light is enhanced which will increase the absorption of associated laser wavelength.