Rapid continuous aqueous production of copper indium sulfide quantum dots a microwave-assisted microfluidic technique.

Ternary copper indium sulfide (CIS) quantum dots (QDs) have been emerging as attractive alternatives to Cd- and Pb-based QDs in various applications owing to their favorable optical properties and low toxicity. However, methods allowing continuous production of CIS QDs in an easy-to-perform and/or organic-solvent-free way are yet to be realized. Here, we report a facile, rapid, continuous, and aqueous synthetic approach for CIS QDs based on a microwave-assisted microfluidic (MAM) technique with easy scale-up of production.

The Rashba effect in two-dimensional hybrid perovskites: the impacts of halogens and surface ligands.

Two-dimensional (2D) hybrid organic-inorganic perovskites (HOIPs) have gained much research interest nowadays due to their outstanding optoelectronic properties; however, the properties of the Rashba effect in 2D HOIPs have not been fully interpreted. In this work, a detailed thickness dependent structural distortion along with the Rashba splitting energy were investigated. Three types of HOIPs, 2D MAPbCl, 2D MAPbBr and 2D MAPbI, were adopted to compare the effect of halogens; and three surface ligands, BA, -BA and PEA, were adopted to explore the effect of ligands.

Differential effects of acute versus chronic dietary fructose consumption on metabolic responses in FVB/N mice.

Increased human consumption of high-fructose corn syrup has been linked to the marked increase in obesity and metabolic syndrome. Previous studies on the rapid effects of a high-fructose diet in mice have largely been confined to the C57BL/6 strains. In the current study, the FVB/N strain of mice that are resistant to diet-induced weight gain were used and fed a control or high-fructose diet for 48 h or for 12 wk.

Free and self-trapped exciton emission in perovskite CsPbBr microcrystals.

The all-inorganic perovskite CsPbBr has been capturing extensive attention due to its high quantum yield in luminescence devices and relatively high stability. Its luminescence is dominated by free exciton (FE) recombination but additional emission peaks were also commonly observed. In this work, a CsPbBr microcrystal sample in the orthorhombic phase was prepared by the chemical vapor deposition method.

Conformal Microfluidic-Blow-Spun 3D Photothermal Catalytic Spherical Evaporator for Omnidirectional Enhanced Solar Steam Generation and CO Reduction.

Solar-driven water evaporation and valuable fuel generation is an environmentally friendly and sustainable way for clean water and energy production. However, a few bottlenecks for practical applications are high-cost, low productivity, and severe sunlight angle dependence. Herein, solar evaporation with enhanced photocatalytic capacity that is light direction insensitive and of efficiency breakthrough by virtue of a three-dimensional (3D) photothermal catalytic spherical isotopic evaporator is demonstrated.

In celebration of a century with insulin - Update of insulin gene mutations in diabetes.

Background: While insulin has been central to the pathophysiology and treatment of patients with diabetes for the last 100 years, it has only been since 2007 that genetic variation in the INS gene has been recognised as a major cause of monogenic diabetes. Both dominant and recessive mutations in the INS gene are now recognised as important causes of neonatal diabetes and offer important insights into both the structure and function of insulin. It is also recognised that in rare cases, mutations in the INS gene can be found in patients with diabetes diagnosed outside the first year of life.

Two-Dimensional Planar BGe Monolayer as an Anode Material for Sodium-Ion Batteries.

Using first-principles swarm intelligence structure prediction computations, we explore a fully planar BGe monolayer with unique mechanical and electrical properties. Theoretical calculations reveal that a free-standing BGe monolayer has excellent stability, which is confirmed by the cohesive energy (compared to experimentally synthetic borophene and germanene monolayers), phonon modes (no imaginary frequencies appeared in the phonon spectrum), ab initio molecular dynamics (AIMD) simulations (no broken bonds and geometric reconstructions), and mechanical stability criteria. The metallic feature of the BGe monolayer can be maintained after absorbing different numbers of Na atoms, ensuring good electronic conductivity during the charge/discharge process.

Two-dimensional GaO monolayer with tunable band gap and high hole mobility.

By means of density functional theory and unbiased structure search computations, we systematically investigated the stability and electronic properties of a new Ga2O2 monolayer. The phonon spectra and ab initio molecular dynamics simulations show that the Ga2O2 monolayer is dynamically and thermally stable. Moreover, it also shows superior open-air stability.

Steady-state and time-resolved upconversion photoluminescence in Yb-Er co-doped transparent ceramics of YAG.

Transparent ceramics (TCs) represent a new family of functional hard materials. In this Letter, steady-state and time-resolved upconversion photoluminescence in - co-doped TC of yttrium aluminum garnet (TC-YAG) are reported for the first time, to the best of our knowledge. Under the excitation of near-infrared 940 nm laser at room temperature, the - co-doped TC-YAG emits intense multi-color luminescence consisting of cyan, green, and red groups of sharp lines.

SMRT Regulates Metabolic Homeostasis and Adipose Tissue Macrophage Phenotypes in Tandem.

The Silencing Mediator of Retinoid and Thyroid Hormone Receptors (SMRT) is a nuclear corepressor, regulating the transcriptional activity of many transcription factors critical for metabolic processes. While the importance of the role of SMRT in the adipocyte has been well-established, our comprehensive understanding of its in vivo function in the context of homeostatic maintenance is limited due to contradictory phenotypes yielded by prior generalized knockout mouse models. Multiple such models agree that SMRT deficiency leads to increased adiposity, although the effects of SMRT loss on glucose tolerance and insulin sensitivity have been variable.

Arsenic Exposure Decreases Adiposity During High-Fat Feeding.

Objective: Arsenic is an endocrine-disrupting chemical associated with diabetes risk. Increased adiposity is a significant risk factor for diabetes and its comorbidities. Here, the impact of chronic arsenic exposure on adiposity and metabolic health was assessed in mice.

Anomalous variable-temperature photoluminescence of CsPbBr perovskite quantum dots embedded into an organic solid.

All-inorganic lead halide perovskite quantum dots (PQDs) of CsPbBr were synthesized at room temperature via a facile solution-based procedure. The cubic phase structure of the synthesized PQDs was judiciously identified through examining high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (TEM) images, selected area electronic diffraction (SAED) patterns and scanning TEM images of the PQDs. Variable-temperature photoluminescence (PL) spectra of the CsPbBr PQDs randomly embedded into a frozen solid of methylbenzene were measured in the temperature range of 5-180 K.

Mechanism of Single-Photon Upconversion Photoluminescence in All-Inorganic Perovskite Nanocrystals: The Role of Self-Trapped Excitons.

The efficient single-photon upconversion photoluminescence (UCPL) feature of lead halide perovskite semiconductors makes it promising for developing laser cooling devices. This is an attractive potential application, but the underlying physics still remains unclear so far. By using the all-inorganic CsPbX (X = Br, I) nanocrystal samples, this phenomenon was investigated by photoluminescence (PL) and time-resolved PL under different temperatures and various excitation conditions.

Large Negative-Thermal-Quenching Effect in Phonon-Induced Light Emissions in Mn-Activated Fluoride Phosphor for Warm-White Light-Emitting Diodes.

Currently, hunting for anti-temperature-degradation high-efficiency phosphors has become crucially significant for fabricating high-brightness phosphor-converted white light-emitting diodes (pc-WLEDs). Herein, we show that photoluminescence in a kind of full-solution-processed KSiF:Mn red phosphor exhibits an extraordinarily large negative thermal quenching property. For instance, under the excitation of 477 nm laser light, the sample photoluminescence intensity amazingly increases by 347-fold when the temperature is increased from 4 to 477 K.

METTL14 is essential for β-cell survival and insulin secretion.

Defects in the development, maintenance or expansion of β-cell mass can result in impaired glucose metabolism and diabetes. N-methyladenosine affects mRNA stability and translation efficiency, and impacts cell differentiation and stress response. To determine if there is a role for mA in β-cells, we investigated the effect of Mettl14, a key component of the mA methyltransferase complex, on β-cell survival and function using rat insulin-2 promoter-Cre-mediated deletion of Mettl14 mouse line (βKO).

A theoretical study of several fully hydrogenated borophenes.

Several recently synthesized two dimensional borophene monolayers are almost all metallic with a strong anisotropic character, but their structural instability and the need to explore their novel physical properties are still ongoing issues. We present a detailed study of four fully hydrogenated borophenes (β12, δ3, δ5 and α borophanes) by first-principles calculations. According to phonon dispersion relations and ab initio molecular dynamics simulations, δ3 and δ5 borophanes are dynamically and thermally stable.

Observation of two-times self-focusing of femtosecond laser beam in ZnO crystal by two-photon luminescence.

By "seeing" the green two-photon luminescence, two separate focusing points are observed on the propagation axis of a converging femtosecond laser beam in a ZnO single crystal rod. It is found that the self-focusing effect makes a significant contribution to the formation of the first focusing point, while the second focusing point is caused by self-refocusing. The position of the first focusing point is in good agreement with the value predicted by a model developed by Chin and his co-workers.

Luminescence and thermal behaviors of free and trapped excitons in cesium lead halide perovskite nanosheets.

Very recently, all-inorganic perovskite CsPbX3 (X = Cl, Br, I) nanostructures such as nanoparticles, nanoplates, and nanorods have been extensively explored. These CsPbX3 nanostructures exhibit excellent optical properties; however, the photophysics involved is not yet clear. Herein, the emission properties and luminescence mechanism of CsPbBr3 nanosheets (NSs) were investigated using steady-state and time-resolved photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopic techniques.

FOXP3 mutations causing early-onset insulin-requiring diabetes but without other features of immune dysregulation, polyendocrinopathy, enteropathy, X-linked syndrome.

Diabetes occurs in 1/90 000 to 1/160 000 births and when diagnosed under 6 months of age is very likely to have a primary genetic cause. FOXP3 encodes a transcription factor critical for T regulatory cell function and mutations are known to cause "immune dysregulation, polyendocrinopathy (including insulin-requiring diabetes), enteropathy, X-linked" (IPEX) syndrome. This condition is often fatal unless patients receive a bone-marrow transplant.

Extinction of the zero-phonon line and the first-order phonon sideband in excitonic luminescence of ZnO at room temperature: the self-absorption effect.

It is firmly demonstrated in experiment that the self-absorption (SA) effect can lead to the extinction of the zero-phonon line and the first-order longitudinal optical phonon sideband of free excitonic luminescence of ZnO at room temperature. Moreover, effectiveness degree of SA effect is found to be dependent on both absorption coefficient and travelling distance of emitted photons, as well as even lattice temperature, which is uniquely reflected by the redshift amount in emission peak in ZnO. It is also unambiguously proved that the SA effect still strictly obeys the Beer-Lambert law of absorption.

Luminescence Anisotropy and Thermal Effect of Magnetic and Electric Dipole Transitions of Cr Ions in Yb:YAG Transparent Ceramic.

In this article, we present an in-depth optical study on luminescence spectral features and the thermal effect of the magnetic dipole (MD) transitions (e.g., the R lines of E → A) and the associated electric dipole transitions (e.

Arsenic exposure induces glucose intolerance and alters global energy metabolism.

Environmental pollutants acting as endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) are recognized as potential contributors to metabolic disease pathogenesis. One such pollutant, arsenic, contaminates the drinking water of ~100 million people globally and has been associated with insulin resistance and diabetes in epidemiological studies. Despite these observations, the precise metabolic derangements induced by arsenic remain incompletely characterized.

The Absence of Laminin α4 in Male Mice Results in Enhanced Energy Expenditure and Increased Beige Subcutaneous Adipose Tissue.

Laminin α4 (LAMA4) is located in the extracellular basement membrane that surrounds each individual adipocyte. Here we show that LAMA4 null (Lama4-/-) mice exhibit significantly higher energy expenditure (EE) relative to wild-type (WT) mice at room temperature and when exposed to a cold challenge, despite similar levels of food intake and locomotor activity. The Lama4-/- mice are resistant to age- and diet-induced obesity.

Excitation Dependent Phosphorous Property and New Model of the Structured Green Luminescence in ZnO.

The copper induced green luminescence (GL) with two sets of fine structures in ZnO crystal has been found for several decades (i.e., R.