Ecological and health risk assessments of heavy metal contamination in soils surrounding a coal power plant.

Coal combustion at power plants is a significant source of environmental pollution, with the deposition of heavy metals in soils leading to extensive ecosystem contamination and exacerbating the harmful impacts of human activities. This study presents a field investigation of heavy metal concentrations in soils around a coal-fired power plant, with monitoring sites located 1.7 to 15.

A new cancer/testis long noncoding RNA, the OTP-AS1 RNA.

The orthopedia homeobox (OTP) gene encodes a homeodomain-containing transcription factor involved in brain development. OTP is mapped to human chromosome 5q14.1.

Influence of Short-Pulse Microwave Radiation on Thermochemical Properties Aluminum Micropowder.

The thermochemical properties of Al micropowder after exposure to microwave irradiation were investigated. The Al micropowder was exposed to microwave irradiation in air with a frequency of 2.85 GHz, a power density of 8 W/cm, and a pulse duration of 25 ns and 3 µs.

Compositional Variation in FAPbSnI and Its Impact on the Electronic Structure: A Combined Density Functional Theory and Experimental Study.

Given their comparatively narrow band gap, mixed Pb-Sn iodide perovskites are interesting candidates for bottom cells in all-perovskite tandems or single junction solar cells, and their luminescence around 900 nm offers great potential for near-infrared optoelectronics. Here, we investigate mixed FAPbSnI offering the first accurate determination of the crystal structure over a temperature range from 293 to 100 K. We demonstrate that all compositions exhibit a cubic structure at room temperature and undergo at least two transitions to lower symmetry tetragonal phases upon cooling.

Nanoscale-Resolved Surface-to-Bulk Electron Transport in CsPbBr Perovskite.

Describing the nanoscale charge carrier transport at surfaces and interfaces is fundamental for designing high-performance optoelectronic devices. To achieve this, we employ time- and angle-resolved photoelectron spectroscopy with ultraviolet pump and extreme ultraviolet probe pulses. The resulting high surface sensitivity reveals an ultrafast carrier population decay associated with surface-to-bulk transport, which was tracked with a sub-nanometer spatial resolution normal to the surface, and on a femtosecond time scale, in the case of the inorganic CsPbBr lead halide perovskite.

Nano-Enabled Products: Challenges and Opportunities for Sustainable Agriculture.

Nanotechnology has gained popularity in recent years owing to its established potential for application and implementation in various sectors such as medical drugs, medicine, catalysis, energy, material, and plant science. Nanoparticles (NPs) are smaller in size (1-100 nm) with a larger surface area and have many fruitful applications. The extraordinary functions of NPs are utilized in sustainable agriculture due to nano-enabled products, e.

Lead-Dominated Hyperfine Interaction Impacting the Carrier Spin Dynamics in Halide Perovskites.

The outstanding optical quality of lead halide perovskites inspires studies of their potential for the optical control of carrier spins as pursued in other materials. Entering largely uncharted territory, time-resolved pump-probe Kerr rotation is used to explore the coherent spin dynamics of electrons and holes in bulk formamidinium caesium lead iodine bromide (FA Cs PbI Br ) and to determine key parameters characterizing interactions of their spins, such as the g-factors and relaxation times. The demonstrated long spin dynamics and narrow g-factor distribution prove the perovskites as promising competitors for conventional semiconductors in spintronics.

Thermal Stability and Flammability of Epoxy Composites Filled with Multi-Walled Carbon Nanotubes, Boric Acid, and Sodium Bicarbonate.

Epoxy composites filled with 0.5 wt% of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs), 10 and 15 wt% of boric acid and sodium bicarbonate separately, as well as composites filled with a combination of MWCNTs-boric acid and MWCNTs-sodium bicarbonate were prepared. The thermal behavior of the prepared samples was investigated under heating in oxidative environment using thermogravimetric analysis.

Comparison of Heavy Metal Content in in Various Impact Zones.

A study on of two anthropogenically heavy metal-polluted impact zones of the Rostov region, namely Lake Atamanskoye and Novocherkasskaya Power Station, was conducted. The influence of soil pollution on the Pb, Zn, and Cu accumulation in various organs of , which is widespread in the studied territories, was established. An extremely high level of Zn content (3051 mg/kg) was observed in the soils of the impact zone of Lake Atamanskoe, as well as an excess over the maximum permissible level for Pb and Cu (32 and 132 mg/kg accordingly).

Environmental and human health risk assessment of potentially toxic elements in soils around the largest coal-fired power station in Southern Russia.

The combustion of solid fuel at power plants pollutes adjacent areas with potentially toxic elements (PTEs), which increases risks to public health in the vicinity of these facilities. The proposed paper presents the results of a geochemical study of PTEs (Cr, Mn, Ni, Cu, Zn, Cd, and Pb) contamination in the vicinity of Novocherkassk Power Plant (NPP) as it relates to environmental and human health risks. The impact zone of NPP is pronounced for a distance of approximately 7 km northwest of the enterprise-the second largest coal power plant in Southern Russia.

Lead-Halide Scalar Couplings in Pb NMR of APbX Perovskites (A = Cs, Methylammonium, Formamidinium; X = Cl, Br, I).

Understanding the structure and dynamics of newcomer optoelectronic materials - lead halide perovskites APbX [A = Cs, methylammonium (CHNH, MA), formamidinium (CH(NH), FA); X = Cl, Br, I] - has been a major research thrust. In this work, new insights could be gained by using Pb solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy at variable temperatures between 100 and 300 K. The existence of scalar couplings J of ca.

Vibrational dynamics in lead halide hybrid perovskites investigated by Raman spectroscopy.

Lead halide perovskite semiconductors providing record efficiencies of solar cells have usually mixed compositions doped in A- and X-sites to enhance the phase stability. The cubic form of formamidinium (FA) lead iodide reveals excellent opto-electronic properties but transforms at room temperature (RT) into a hexagonal structure which does not effectively absorb visible light. This metastable form and the mechanism of its stabilization by Cs+ and Br- incorporation are poorly characterized and insufficiently understood.

Accumulation and transformation of benzo[a]pyrene in Haplic Chernozem under artificial contamination.

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) have been a major concern because of their carcinogenicity, mutagenicity, teratogenicity and wide distribution in the environment. Over 90% of PAHs in the environment exist on soil surface/sediment. Benzo[a]pyrene (BaP) is one of the predominant PAHs in soil.

High-resolution remote thermometry and thermography using luminescent low-dimensional tin-halide perovskites.

Although metal-halide perovskites have recently revolutionized research in optoelectronics through a unique combination of performance and synthetic simplicity, their low-dimensional counterparts can further expand the field with hitherto unknown and practically useful optical functionalities. In this context, we present the strong temperature dependence of the photoluminescence lifetime of low-dimensional, perovskite-like tin-halides and apply this property to thermal imaging. The photoluminescence lifetimes are governed by the heat-assisted de-trapping of self-trapped excitons, and their values can be varied over several orders of magnitude by adjusting the temperature (up to 20 ns °C).

Tuning Transport Properties in Thermoelectric Nanocomposites through Inorganic Ligands and Heterostructured Building Blocks.

Methodologies that involve the use of nanoparticles as "artificial atoms" to rationally build materials in a bottom-up fashion are particularly well-suited to control the matter at the nanoscale. Colloidal synthetic routes allow for an exquisite control over such "artificial atoms" in terms of size, shape, and crystal phase as well as core and surface compositions. We present here a bottom-up approach to produce Pb-Ag-K-S-Te nanocomposites, which is a highly promising system for thermoelectric energy conversion.

Guanidinium and Mixed Cesium-Guanidinium Tin(II) Bromides: Effects of Quantum Confinement and Out-of-Plane Octahedral Tilting.

Hybrid organic-inorganic main-group metal halide compounds are the subject of intense research owing to their unique optoelectronic characteristics. In this work, we report the synthesis, structure, and electronic and optical properties of a family of hybrid tin (II) bromide compounds comprising guanidinium [G, C(NH) ] and mixed cesium-guanidinium cations: GSnBr, CsGSnBr, and CsGSnBr. GSnBr has a one-dimensional structure that consists of chains of corner-sharing [SnBr] square pyramids and G cations situated in between the chains.

Environmental pollution of soil with PAHs in energy producing plants zone.

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are widely distributed environmental toxicants primarily formed during the incomplete combustion of organic materials (for example, coal, oil, gasoline and wood). Power energy plants are the main sources of organic contaminants including PAHs. The purpose of the present research was to study the Novocherkassk Electric Power Station (NEPS) emission effects of PAHs accumulation in soils.

Highly Emissive Self-Trapped Excitons in Fully Inorganic Zero-Dimensional Tin Halides.

The spatial localization of charge carriers to promote the formation of bound excitons and concomitantly enhance radiative recombination has long been a goal for luminescent semiconductors. Zero-dimensional materials structurally impose carrier localization and result in the formation of localized Frenkel excitons. Now the fully inorganic, perovskite-derived zero-dimensional Sn material Cs SnBr is presented that exhibits room-temperature broad-band photoluminescence centered at 540 nm with a quantum yield (QY) of 15±5 %.

Low-Cost Synthesis of Highly Luminescent Colloidal Lead Halide Perovskite Nanocrystals by Wet Ball Milling.

Lead halide perovskites of APbX type [A = Cs, formamidinium (FA), methylammonium; X = Br, I] in the form of ligand-capped colloidal nanocrystals (NCs) are widely studied as versatile photonic sources. FAPbBr and CsPbBr NCs have become promising as spectrally narrow green primary emitters in backlighting of liquid-crystal displays (peak at 520-530 nm, full width at half-maximum of 22-30 nm). Herein, we report that wet ball milling of bulk APbBr (A = Cs, FA) mixed with solvents and capping ligands yields green luminescent colloidal NCs with a high overall reaction yield and optoelectronic quality on par with that of NCs of the same composition obtained by hot-injection method.

Optogenetic regulation of transcription.

Optogenetics has become widely recognized for its success in real-time control of brain neurons by utilizing non-mammalian photosensitive proteins to open or close membrane channels. Here we review a less well known type of optogenetic constructs that employs photosensitive proteins to transduce the signal to regulate gene transcription, and its possible use in medicine. One of the problems with existing gene therapies is that they could remain active indefinitely while not allowing regulated transgene production on demand.

The role of Alu-derived RNAs in Alzheimer's and other neurodegenerative conditions.

Non-coding RNAs have emerged as essential contributors to neuroinflammation. The Alu element is the most abundant potential source of non-coding RNA in the human genome represented by over 1.1 million copies totaling ∼10% of the genome's mass.

Colloidal CsPbX (X = Cl, Br, I) Nanocrystals 2.0: Zwitterionic Capping Ligands for Improved Durability and Stability.

Colloidal lead halide perovskite nanocrystals (NCs) have recently emerged as versatile photonic sources. Their processing and optoelectronic applications are hampered by the loss of colloidal stability and structural integrity due to the facile desorption of surface capping molecules during isolation and purification. To address this issue, herein, we propose a new ligand capping strategy utilizing common and inexpensive long-chain zwitterionic molecules such as 3-(,-dimethyloctadecylammonio)propanesulfonate, resulting in much improved chemical durability.

Guanidinium-Formamidinium Lead Iodide: A Layered Perovskite-Related Compound with Red Luminescence at Room Temperature.

Two-dimensional hybrid organic-inorganic lead halides perovskite-type compounds have attracted immense scientific interest due to their remarkable optoelectronic properties and tailorable crystal structures. In this work, we present a new layered hybrid lead halide, namely [CH(NH)][C(NH)]PbI, wherein puckered lead-iodide layers are separated by two small and stable organic cations: formamidinium, CH(NH), and guanidinium, C(NH). This perovskite is thermally stable up to 255 °C, exhibits room-temperature photoluminescence in the red region with a quantum yield of 3.