Secretory leucocyte protease inhibitor (SLPI) as an adjunct prognostic biomarker for canine pyometra.

Pyometra is a potentially life-threatening condition that affects intact female dogs in their middle to advance age. Timely diagnosis and appropriate treatment are critical for the survival of patients, especially when pyometra advances to sepsis. This study aimed to investigate the prognostic potential of certain haematology, serum biochemical and inflammatory biomarker, secretory leucocyte protease inhibitor (SLPI) for pyometra in bitches (n = 41).

Visible light-driven photocatalytic bacterial inactivation on PPE, supported by the DFT and bactericidal study.

A novel ZnO-MoO-ZnMoO@graphene GZM composite catalyst prepared by microwave hydrothermal process for personal protective equipment textiles (PPE) is presented in this study. The results indicated that the GZM with defect vacancy sites of two types as observed by EPR showed significantly superior inactivation of the E. coli bacteria compared to GZM without the lower defect vacancy sites and concomitant lower electron densities.

Different Dimensionalities, Morphological Advancements and Engineering of g-C N -Based Nanomaterials for Energy Conversion and Storage.

Graphitic carbon nitride (g-C N ) has gained tremendous interest in the sector of power transformation and retention, because of its distinctive stacked composition, adjustable electronic structure, metal-free feature, superior thermodynamic durability, and simple availability. Furthermore, the restricted illumination and extensive recombination of photoexcitation electrons have inhibited the photocatalytic performance of pure g-C N . The dimensions of g-C N may impact the field of electronics confinement; as a consequence, g-C N with varying dimensions shows unique features, making it appropriate for a number of fascinating uses.

Serum concentrations of secretory leukocyte protease inhibitor and IL6 can predict the onset of sepsis in pyometra bitches.

As onset of sepsis adversely affects the prognosis of canine pyometra, finding biomarkers that would distinguish sepsis status would be useful in the clinical management. Accordingly, we hypothesized that differential expression of endometrial transcripts and circulating concentration of certain inflammatory mediators would discriminate pyometra-led sepsis (P-sepsis+) from those of pyometra without sepsis (P-sepsis-). Bitches with pyometra (n = 52) were classified into P-sepsis+ (n = 28) and P-sepsis- (n = 24) based on vital clinical score and total leukocyte count.

Synergistic Functionality of Dopants and Defects in Co-Phthalocyanine/B-CN Z-Scheme Photocatalysts for Promoting Photocatalytic CO Reduction Reactions.

The realization of solar-light-driven CO  reduction reactions (CO RR) is essential for the commercial development of renewable energy modules and the reduction of global CO emissions. Combining experimental measurements and theoretical calculations, to introduce boron dopants and nitrogen defects in graphitic carbon nitride (g-C N ), sodium borohydride is simply calcined with the mixture of g-C N (CN), followed by the introduction of ultrathin Co phthalocyanine through phosphate groups. By strengthening H-bonding interactions, the resultant CoPc/P-BNDCN nanocomposite showed excellent photocatalytic CO reduction activity, releasing 197.

Urchin-Like Structured MoO /Mo P/Mo C Triple-Interface Heterojunction Encapsulated within Nitrogen-Doped Carbon for Enhanced Hydrogen Evolution Reaction.

The development of highly efficient and cost-effective hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) catalysts is highly desirable to efficiently promote the HER process, especially under alkaline condition. Herein, a polyoxometalates-organic-complex-induced carbonization method is developed to construct MoO /Mo P/Mo C triple-interface heterojunction encapsulated into nitrogen-doped carbon with urchin-like structure using ammonium phosphomolybdate and dopamine. Furthermore, the mass ratio of dopamine and ammonium phosphomolybdate is found critical for the successful formation of such triple-interface heterojunction.

Decorating Single-Atomic Mn Sites with FeMn Clusters to Boost Oxygen Reduction Reaction.

The regulation of electron distribution of single-atomic metal sites by atomic clusters is an effective strategy to boost their intrinsic activity of oxygen reduction reaction (ORR). Herein we report the construction of single-atomic Mn sites decorated with atomic clusters by an innovative combination of post-adsorption and secondary pyrolysis. The X-ray absorption spectroscopy confirms the formation of Mn sites via Mn-N coordination bonding to FeMn atomic clusters (FeMn /Mn-N C), which has been demonstrated theoretically to be conducive to the adsorption of molecular O and the break of O-O bond during the ORR process.

A Comprehensive Review on Graphitic Carbon Nitride for Carbon Dioxide Photoreduction.

Inspired by natural photosynthesis, harnessing the wide range of natural solar energy and utilizing appropriate semiconductor-based catalysts to convert carbon dioxide into beneficial energy species, for example, CO, CH , HCOOH, and CH COH have been shown to be a sustainable and more environmentally friendly approach. Graphitic carbon nitride (g-C N ) has been regarded as a highly effective photocatalyst for the CO reduction reaction, owing to its cost-effectiveness, high thermal and chemical stability, visible light absorption capability, and low toxicity. However, weaker electrical conductivity, fast recombination rate, smaller visible light absorption window, and reduced surface area make this catalytic material unsuitable for commercial photocatalytic applications.

Synergetic effect of bismuth vanadate over copolymerized carbon nitride composites for highly efficient photocatalytic H and O generation.

The development of copolymerized carbon nitride (CN)-based photocatalysts may support advances in photocatalytic overall water splitting. However, the recombination of charge carriers is the main bottleneck that reduces its overall photocatalytic activity. To overcome this problem, the construction of heterojunction technology has emerged as an effective approach to reduce the charge carrier recombination, thereby improving charge separation and transport efficiency.

Ultrasensitive Monitoring of Museum Airborne Pollutants Using a Silver Nanoparticle Sensor Array.

The preservation of cultural heritage materials requires extremely low concentration limits for indoor pollutants. This poses an unmet challenge for monitoring the artwork in museums and on exhibit, especially to do so in a cost-effective manner for a large number of locations. A novel type of colorimetric sensor array based on printed inks of 10 nm silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) with several different capping agents has been developed as an alternative to metal coupons or other passive sampling indicators traditionally used by conservators.

Rational Ionothermal Copolymerization of TCNQ with PCN Semiconductor for Enhanced Photocatalytic Full Water Splitting.

Photocatalytic full water splitting remains the perfect way to generate oxygen (O) and hydrogen (H) gases driven by sunlight to address the future environmental issues as well as energy demands. Owing to its exceptional properties, polymeric carbon nitride (PCN) has been one of the most widely investigated semiconductor photocatalysts. Nevertheless, blank PCN characteristically displays restrained photocatalytic performance due to high-density defects in its framework that may perhaps perform the part of the recombination midpoint for photoproduced electron-hole pairs.

Molecular engineering of polymeric carbon nitride based Donor-Acceptor conjugated copolymers for enhanced photocatalytic full water splitting.

Research based on the full water splitting via heterogenous semiconducting photocatalyst is a significant characteristic nevertheless challenging for determining the energy and environmental crises. With respect to this, a photocatalytic water splitting by visible light through heterojunction semiconductors has been anticipated as a route to the sustainable energy. For the first time, we integrate a potential conjugated donor-acceptor (DA) co-monomer such as 2, 3-dichloroquinoxaline (DCQ) within the structure of polymeric carbon nitride (PCN) by a facile one-pot co-polymerization process.

Volumetric 3D display in real space using a diffractive lens, fast projector, and polychromatic light source.

We present a method for realizing a solid-state volumetric display based on the chromatic dispersion properties of a 150 mm diffractive lens that images a series of planar patterns presented by a digital micro-mirror device projector. The projector is driven by a narrowband polychromatic source, where the position of each image plane is defined by a distinct wavelength of light. The volumetric display system achieves 20 image planes at a volume refresh rate of 20 Hz, creating a volume of 17.

Oxygen-Cluster-Modified Anatase with Graphene Leads to Efficient and Recyclable Photo-Catalytic Conversion of CO to CH Supported by the Positron Annihilation Study.

Anatase TiO hollow nanoboxes were synthesized and combined with the graphene oxide to get nanocomposite of TiO/rGO (TG). Graphene oxide was used to modify the Oxygen-Clusters and bulk to surface defects. Anatase and TG composite were characterized with the positron annihilation, XPS, EPR, EIS and photocurrent response analysis.

Fusion of conjugated bicyclic co-polymer within polymeric carbon nitride for high photocatalytic performance.

The intertwined exploring of solar water driven into chemical energy configurated by a constituted semiconductor photocatalyst under sunlight approach toward a remediation eager method that solve the environmental issues. Currently we optimized polymeric carbon nitride PCN by a sophisticated molecular co-polymerization process which diffused with a mirror organic conjugated heterocyclic monomer to maximize its photocatalytic activity. Herein, for the 1st time we report an organic π-electron stacking conjugated thiazolothiazole (TT) as a small molecule within the framework of PCN to enhance the conductive optical and photocatalytic properties of PCN under solar energy irradiation.

Conjugated Electron Donor⁻Acceptor Hybrid Polymeric Carbon Nitride as a Photocatalyst for CO Reduction.

This work incorporates a variety of conjugated donor-acceptor (DA) co-monomers such as 2,6-diaminopurine (DP) into the structure of a polymeric carbon nitride (PCN) backbone using a unique nanostructure co-polymerization strategy and examines its photocatalytic activity performance in the field of photocatalytic CO reduction to CO and H under visible light irradiation. The as-synthesized samples were successfully analyzed using different characterization methods to explain their electronic and optical properties, crystal phase, microstructure, and their morphology that influenced the performance due to the interactions between the PCN and the DPco-monomer. Based on the density functional theory (DFT) calculation result, pure PCN and CNU-DP trimers (interpreted as incorporation of the co-monomer at two different positions) were extensively evaluated and exhibited remarkable structural optimization without the inclusion of any symmetry constraints (the non-modified sample derived from urea, named as CNU), and their optical and electronic properties were also manipulated to control occupation of their respective highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO) and lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO).

Synthesis and optimization of the trimesic acid modified polymeric carbon nitride for enhanced photocatalytic reduction of CO.

The conjugated co-monomer, trimesic acid (TMA) was integrated into the triazine framework of polymeric carbon nitride (PCN), synthesized through chemical condensation of urea. The TMA-modified carbon nitride samples obtained were named as CNU-TMA and it was utilized for the photocatalytic reduction of carbon dioxide (CO) under visible light illumination. The induction of such electron donor-acceptor co-monomer (TMA) dominates the intramolecular structure of PCN by acting as a nucleophilic substitution substrate to facilitate the electron density in the π-electron conjugated system of PCN and thus elevate its photocatalytic activity.

Rational design of a tripartite-layered TiO photoelectrode: a candidate for enhanced power conversion efficiency in dye sensitized solar cells.

A tri-layered photoelectrode for dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) is assembled using single crystal hollow TiO nanoparticles (HTNPs), sub-micro hollow TiO mesospheres (SHTMSs) and hierarchical TiO microspheres (HTMSs). The bottom layer composed of single crystal hollow TiO nanoparticles serves to absorb dye molecules, harvest light due to its hollow structure and keep a better mechanical contact with FTO conducting glass; the middle layer consisting of sub-micro hollow mesospheres works as a multifunctional layer due to its high dye adsorption ability, strong light trapping and scattering ability and slow recombination rates; and the top layer consisting of hierarchical microspheres enhances light scattering. The DSSCs made of photoanodes with a tripartite-layer structure (Film 4) show a superior photoconversion efficiency (PCE) of 9.

Chestnut-Like TiO@α-FeO Core-Shell Nanostructures with Abundant Interfaces for Efficient and Ultralong Life Lithium-Ion Storage.

Transition metal oxides caused much attention owing to the scientific interests and potential applications in energy storage systems. In this study, a free-standing three-dimensional (3D) chestnut-like TiO@α-FeO core-shell nanostructure (TFN) is rationally synthesized and utilized as a carbon-free electrode for lithium-ion batteries (LIBs). Two new interfaces between anatase TiO and α-FeO are observed and supposed to provide synergistic effect.

Topotactic growth, selective adsorption, and adsorption-driven photocatalysis of protonated layered titanate nanosheets.

Layered titanates with selective adsorption ability and adsorption-driven photocatalytic property can be quite attractive due to their potential applications in water purification. In this work, lepidocrocite-like layered protonated titanate (H2Ti2O5·H2O, denoted as HTO) nanosheets were successfully synthesized by an ion-exchange process. It turns out that this layered structure displays an abundant and selective adsorption toward the fluoroquinolone pharmaceutical compared with some large dye molecules due to a size selectivity of the interlayer spacing of HTO and the molecular horizontal size, as well as their electrostatic interaction.

Saudi guidelines on the diagnosis and treatment of pulmonary hypertension: 2014 updates.

The Saudi Association for Pulmonary Hypertension (previously called Saudi Advisory Group for Pulmonary Hypertension) has published the first Saudi Guidelines on Diagnosis and Treatment of Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension back in 2008.[1] That guideline was very detailed and extensive and reviewed most aspects of pulmonary hypertension (PH). One of the disadvantages of such detailed guidelines is the difficulty that some of the readers who just want to get a quick guidance or looking for a specific piece of information might face.