Total synthesis of naturally occurring abietane diterpenoids a late-stage Fe(iii)-TAML catalysed Csp-H functionalization.

The synthesis of diverse -fused decalins, including the abietane diterpenoids scaffold, using an efficient selective oxidation strategy is described. The abietane core was demonstrated to be a versatile scaffold that can be site-selectively functionalized. The utility of this novel oxidation strategy was showcased in a concise total synthesis of six abietane congeners.

Edge-Confined Excitons in Monolayer Black Phosphorus.

Quantum confinement of two-dimensional excitons in van der Waals materials via electrostatic trapping, lithographic patterning, Moiré potentials, and chemical implantation has enabled significant advances in tailoring light emission from nanostructures. While such approaches rely on complex preparation of materials, natural edges are a ubiquitous feature in layered materials and provide a different approach for investigating quantum-confined excitons. Here, we observe that certain edge sites of monolayer black phosphorus (BP) strongly localize the intrinsic quasi-one-dimensional excitons, yielding sharp spectral lines in photoluminescence, with nearly an order of magnitude line width reduction.

GalNAc-Lipid nanoparticles enable non-LDLR dependent hepatic delivery of a CRISPR base editing therapy.

Lipid nanoparticles have demonstrated utility in hepatic delivery of a range of therapeutic modalities and typically deliver their cargo via low-density lipoprotein receptor-mediated endocytosis. For patients lacking sufficient low-density lipoprotein receptor activity, such as those with homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia, an alternate strategy is needed. Here we show the use of structure-guided rational design in a series of mouse and non-human primate studies to optimize a GalNAc-Lipid nanoparticle that allows for low-density lipoprotein receptor independent delivery.

Quasiparticle and Optical Properties of Carrier-Doped Monolayer MoTe from First Principles.

The intrinsic weak and highly nonlocal dielectric screening of two-dimensional materials is well-known to lead to high sensitivity of their optoelectronic properties to environment. Less studied theoretically is the role of free carriers in those properties. Here, we use ab initio GW and Bethe-Salpeter equation calculations, with a rigorous treatment of dynamical screening and local-field effects, to study the doping dependence of the quasiparticle and optical properties of a monolayer transition-metal dichalcogenide, 2H MoTe.

Rydberg Excitons and Trions in Monolayer MoTe.

Monolayer transition metal dichalcogenide (TMDC) semiconductors exhibit strong excitonic optical resonances, which serve as a microscopic, noninvasive probe into their fundamental properties. Like the hydrogen atom, such excitons can exhibit an entire Rydberg series of resonances. Excitons have been extensively studied in most TMDCs (MoS, MoSe, WS, and WSe), but detailed exploration of excitonic phenomena has been lacking in the important TMDC material molybdenum ditelluride (MoTe).

Excitonic Beam Steering in an Active van der Waals Metasurface.

Two-dimensional transition metal dichalcogenides (2D TMDCs) are promising candidates for ultrathin active nanophotonic elements due to the strong tunable excitonic resonances that dominate their optical response. Here, we demonstrate dynamic beam steering by an active van der Waals metasurface that leverages large complex refractive index tunability near excitonic resonances in monolayer molybdenum diselenide (MoSe). Through varying the radiative and nonradiative rates of the excitons, we can dynamically control both the reflection amplitude and phase profiles, resulting in an excitonic phased array metasurface.

American college of radiology thyroid imaging reporting and data system score has high diagnostic value in the diagnosis of malignant thyroid nodules: A prospective single-center cross-sectional study.

Introduction: A palpable thyroid swelling is a very common finding and is seen in almost 12% of Asian Indian population. Thyroid imaging reporting and data system (TI-RADS) can be used as a risk stratification system to determine malignant or benign thyroid nodules and necessity of further intervention.

Objective: The objective of this study was to determine the positive predictive value (PPV) of TI-RADS category/ultrasound using TI-RADS categories in the diagnosis of malignancy in clinically suspected thyroid nodule and necessity for further intervention in the case of malignant thyroid nodules.

Lifetime-Limited and Tunable Quantum Light Emission in h-BN via Electric Field Modulation.

Color-center-based single-photon emitters in hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN) have shown promising photophysical properties as sources for quantum light emission. Despite significant advances toward such a goal, achieving lifetime-limited quantum light emission in h-BN has proven to be challenging, primarily due to various broadening mechanisms, including spectral diffusion. Here, we propose and experimentally demonstrate suppression of spectral diffusion by applying an electrostatic field.

Machine learning based urinary pH sensing using polyaniline deposited paper device and integration of smart web app interface: Theory to application.

The present study employs density functional theory-based first principle calculation to investigate the electron transport properties of polyaniline following exposure to acidic and alkaline pH. In-situ deposited polyaniline-based paper device maintains emeraldine salt form while it is exposed to acidic pH and converts to emeraldine base when it is subjected to alkaline pH solutions. These structural changes at acidic and alkaline pH are validated experimentally by Raman spectra.

A Novel Bioimpedance-Based Detection of Miltefosine Susceptibility Among Clinical Isolates of the Indian Subcontinent Exhibiting Resistance to Multiple Drugs.

The extent of susceptibility towards miltefosine (Mil), amphotericin B (AmpB), and paromomycin (Paro) was measured among 19 clinical isolates of (LD). Thirteen of these clinical isolates were reported to exhibit low susceptibility towards sodium stibogluconate (SSG-R), while six of them were highly susceptible (SSG-S). The degree of clearance of amastigotes (EC50) for these predefined SSG-R- and SSG-S-infected macrophages was determined against Mil, AmpB, and Paro.

Broadband electro-optic polarization conversion with atomically thin black phosphorus.

Active polarization control is highly desirable in photonic systems but has been limited mostly to discrete structures in bulky dielectric media and liquid crystal–based variable retarders. Here, we report electrically reconfigurable polarization conversion across telecommunication wavelengths (1410 to 1575 nanometers) in van der Waals layered materials using tri-layer black phosphorus (TLBP) integrated in a Fabry-Pérot cavity. The large electrical tunability of birefringence in TLBP enables spectrally broadband polarization control.

Immunological profiling and development of a sensing device for detection of IL-13 in COPD and asthma.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and asthma are the two most common obstructive lung diseases which affects millions worldwide and impose an enormous burden on global healthcare. The overlapping features shared by these two diseases often make differential diagnosis difficult to achieve, leading to misdiagnosis of these patients. Both asthma and COPD are associated with chronic inflammation of the airways which is perpetuated by the interplay between immunological mediators.

Nanoscale axial position and orientation measurement of hexagonal boron nitride quantum emitters using a tunable nanophotonic environment.

Color centers in hexagonal boron nitride (BN) have emerged as promising candidates for single-photon emitters (SPEs) due to their bright emission characteristics at room temperature. In contrast to mono- and few-layeredBN, color centers in multi-layered flakes show superior emission characteristics such as higher saturation counts and spectral stability. Here, we report a method for determining both the axial position and three-dimensional dipole orientation of SPEs in thickBN flakes by tuning the photonic local density of states using vanadium dioxide (VO), a phase change material.

Refractive Index Modulation in Monolayer Molybdenum Diselenide.

Two-dimensional transition metal dichalcogenides are promising candidates for ultrathin light modulators due to their highly tunable excitonic resonances at visible and near-infrared wavelengths. At cryogenic temperatures, large excitonic reflectivity in monolayer molybdenum diselenide (MoSe) has been shown, but the permittivity and index modulation have not been studied. Here, we demonstrate large gate-tunability of complex refractive index in monolayer MoSe by Fermi level modulation and study the doping dependence of the A and B excitonic resonances for temperatures between 4 and 150 K.

In vivo CRISPR base editing of PCSK9 durably lowers cholesterol in primates.

Gene-editing technologies, which include the CRISPR-Cas nucleases and CRISPR base editors, have the potential to permanently modify disease-causing genes in patients. The demonstration of durable editing in target organs of nonhuman primates is a key step before in vivo administration of gene editors to patients in clinical trials. Here we demonstrate that CRISPR base editors that are delivered in vivo using lipid nanoparticles can efficiently and precisely modify disease-related genes in living cynomolgus monkeys (Macaca fascicularis).

Highly Strain-Tunable Interlayer Excitons in MoS/WSe Heterobilayers.

Interlayer excitons in heterobilayers of transition-metal dichalcogenides (TMDCs) have generated enormous interest due to their permanent vertical dipole moments and long lifetimes. However, the effects of mechanical strain on the optoelectronic properties of interlayer excitons in heterobilayers remain relatively uncharacterized. Here, we experimentally demonstrate strain tuning of Γ- interlayer excitons in molybdenum disulfide and tungsten diselenide (MoS/WSe) wrinkled heterobilayers and obtain a deformation potential constant of ∼107 meV/% uniaxial strain, which is approximately twice that of the intralayer excitons in the constituent monolayers.

Raman spectroscopy assisted biochemical evaluation of L929 fibroblast cells on differentially crosslinked gelatin hydrogels.

Biochemical evaluation of cell-matrix interaction using conventional labelling techniques often possesses limitations due to dye entrapment. In contrast, Raman spectroscopy guided approach offers label-free determination of cell-matrix biochemistry. Herein, gelatin (Gel) matrices modified with 1-Ethyl-3-(3-dimethylaminopropyl) carbodiimide/ N-Hydroxysuccinimide (EDC/NHS) and glutaraldehyde (GTA) was used as standards for comparative evaluation.

Tunable intraband optical conductivity and polarization-dependent epsilon-near-zero behavior in black phosphorus.

Black phosphorus (BP) offers considerable promise for infrared and visible photonics. Efficient tuning of the bandgap and higher subbands in BP by modulation of the Fermi level or application of vertical electric fields has been previously demonstrated, allowing electrical control of its above-bandgap optical properties. Here, we report modulation of the optical conductivity below the bandgap (5 to 15 μm) by tuning the charge density in a two-dimensional electron gas induced in BP, thereby modifying its free carrier-dominated intraband response.

A new metal transfer process for van der Waals contacts to vertical Schottky-junction transition metal dichalcogenide photovoltaics.

Two-dimensional transition metal dichalcogenides are promising candidates for ultrathin optoelectronic devices due to their high absorption coefficients and intrinsically passivated surfaces. To maintain these near-perfect surfaces, recent research has focused on fabricating contacts that limit Fermi-level pinning at the metal-semiconductor interface. Here, we develop a new, simple procedure for transferring metal contacts that does not require aligned lithography.

Anisotropic Quantum Well Electro-Optics in Few-Layer Black Phosphorus.

The incorporation of electrically tunable materials into photonic structures such as waveguides and metasurfaces enables dynamic, electrical control of light propagation at the nanoscale. Few-layer black phosphorus is a promising material for these applications due to its in-plane anisotropic, quantum well band structure, with a direct band gap that can be tuned from 0.3 to 2 eV with a number of layers and subbands that manifest as additional optical transitions across a wide range of energies.

Rapid synthesis of lipid nanoparticles containing hydrophobic inorganic nanoparticles.

A straightforward "bottom-up" synthesis is described for efficient entrapment of inorganic hydrophobic nanoparticles (HNPs) consisting of iron oxide, gold, or quantum dots within the hydrophobic core of lipid nanoparticles (LNPs). These LNPs consist of hydrophobic "core" lipids such as triolein surrounded by a monolayer of amphipathic "surface" lipids, such as phosphatidylcholine and polyethylene-glycol-lipid. It is shown that rapid, controlled mixing of HNPs, core lipids and surface lipids in an organic solvent with an aqueous phase resulted in stable, monodisperse LNPs containing HNPs (LNP-HNP).

Synthesis and cell-selective antitumor properties of amino acid conjugated tumor-associated carbohydrate antigen-coated gold nanoparticles.

The Thomsen Friedenreich antigen (TFag) disaccharide is a tumor-associated carbohydrate antigen (TACA) found primarily on carcinoma cells and rarely expressed in normal tissue. The TFag has been shown to interact with Galectin-3 (Gal-3), one in a family of β-galactoside binding proteins. Galectins have a variety of cellular functions, and Gal-3 has been shown to be the sole galectin with anti-apoptotic activity.