Broadband Shortwave Infrared-Emitting Cr- and Ni-Codoped YAlGaO Phosphor with Excellent Thermal Stability for Multifunctional Applications.

Shortwave infrared (SWIR)-emitting materials have emerged as superior light sources with increasing demand for potential applications in noninvasive analysis, night vision illumination, and medical diagnosis. For developing next-generation SWIR phosphor-converted light-emitting diodes (pc-LEDs), the scarcity of intense blue-light-pumped broadband SWIR luminescent materials and poor thermal stability of current Ni-activated phosphors are the ongoing challenges. Here, a blue-light-excitable (440 nm) YAlGaO:Cr,Ni phosphor with ultrawide SWIR emission centered at ∼1430 nm (FWHM ∼264 nm) is reported.

Descriptive epidemiology of prostate cancer in India, 2012-2019: Insights from the National Cancer Registry Programme.

Purpose: This study describes the epidemiology, clinical extent at diagnosis, and treatment modalities for prostate cancer in India.

Methodology: This study is a secondary analysis of primary prostate cancer data sourced from the National Cancer Registry Programme. Data from population-based cancer registry for the period 2012-2016 were used to estimate the incidence rates, including crude incidence rate (CR), age-adjusted incidence rate (AAR), age-specific rate, and cumulative risk.

Coordination Structure Modulation in Group-VIB Metal Doped AgPO Augments Active Site Density for Electrocatalytic Conversion of N to NH.

Doping is considered a promising material engineering strategy in electrochemical nitrogen reduction reaction (NRR), provided the role of the active site is rightly identified. This work concerns the doping of group VIB metal in AgPO to enhance the active site density, accompanied by d-p orbital mixing at the active site/N interface. Doping induces compressive strain in the AgPO lattice and inherently accompanies vacancy generation, the latter is quantified with positron annihilation lifetime studies (PALS).

Electrocatalytic OER behavior of the Bi-Fe-O system: an understanding from the perspective of the presence of oxygen vacancies.

This study aims to understand and correlate the role of the nature and relative concentration of oxygen vacancies with the trend observed in the OER with the Bi-Fe-O system. To understand this, we first investigated the system of oxides using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR), which revealed the presence of oxygen vacancies in the system. Density functional theory (DFT) was employed to investigate the relative concentration of these vacancies by calculating their formation energies.

Modulating the effective ionic radii of trivalent dopants in ceria using a combination of dopants to improve catalytic efficiency for the oxygen evolution reaction.

Aliovalent doping in ceria and defect engineering are important aspects in tuning the properties of ceria for advanced technological applications, especially in the emerging field of electrocatalytic water-splitting for harvesting renewable energy. However, the ambiguity regarding the choice of dopants/co-dopants and ways to deal with the size difference between dopants and lattice hosts remains a long-standing problem. In this study, ceria was aliovalently codoped with Sc and La while keeping the total concentration of dopants constant; the ionic radius of the former is smaller and that of the latter is larger than Ce.

Selective targeting of chemically modified miR-34a to prostate cancer using a small molecule ligand and an endosomal escape agent.

Use of tumor-suppressive microRNAs (miRNAs) as anti-cancer agents is hindered by the lack of effective delivery vehicles, entrapment of the miRNA within endocytic compartments, and rapid degradation of miRNA by nucleases. To address these issues, we developed a miRNA delivery strategy that includes (1) a targeting ligand, (2) an endosomal escape agent, nigericin and (3) a chemically modified miRNA. The delivery ligand, DUPA (2-[3-(1,3-dicarboxy propyl) ureido] pentanedioic acid), was selected based on its specificity for prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA), a receptor routinely upregulated in prostate cancer-one of the leading causes of cancer death among men.

Recent Advances in the Synthesis of Diarylheptanoids.

In the quest for synthesizing biologically important natural products, medicinal chemists embark on an endless journey. This review focuses on the reports published towards the syntheses of diarylheptanoids, classifying them into linear, tetrahydropyran, diarylether, and biphenyl categories. The synthesis methods for each class from 2013 to 2023 are discussed, providing a comprehensive overview of the advancements in the field.

ZnAlO:Er Upconversion Nanophosphor for SPECT Imaging and Luminescence Modulation via Defect Engineering.

This work reports an "all-in-one" theranostic upconversion luminescence (UCL) system having potential for both diagnostic and therapeutic applications. Despite considerable efforts in designing upconversion nanoparticles (UCNPs) for multimodal imaging and tumor therapy, there are few reports investigating dual modality SPECT/optical imaging for theranostics. Especially, research focusing on in vivo biodistribution studies of intrinsically radiolabeled UCNPs after intravenous injection is of utmost importance for the potential clinical translation of such formulations.

Color tunable luminescence in ThO:Er,Yb nanocrystals: a promising new platform for upconversion.

Lanthanide-doped luminescent nanoparticles are an appealing system for many applications in the area of biomedical, solar cell, thermometry, anti-counterfeiting, due to their sensitivity, reliability, high photochemical stability, and high optical transparency in the visible-NIR range. A color-tunable upconversion-luminescence (UCL) in a new low phonon energy ThO host based on modulating sensitizer concentration has been realized in this work and it may work as a potential candidate to replace corrosive and toxic fluoride based hosts in the future. Er-Yb co-doped thoria nanoparticles were prepared using a gel combustion route and their structural and luminescence properties were determined as a function of the Yb concentration.

Deciphering the bridge oxygen vacancy-induced cascading charge effect for electrochemical ammonia synthesis.

Oxygen vacancy engineering has recently been gaining much interest as the charging effect it induces in a material can be used for varied applications. Usually, semiconductor materials act poorly in electrocatalysis, particularly in the nitrogen reduction reaction (NRR), owing to their inherent charge deficit and huge band gap. Vacancy introduction can be a viable material engineering route to make use of these materials for the NRR.

Developing Folate-Conjugated miR-34a Therapeutic for Prostate Cancer: Challenges and Promises.

Prostate cancer (PCa) remains a common cancer with high mortality in men due to its heterogeneity and the emergence of drug resistance. A critical factor contributing to its lethality is the presence of prostate cancer stem cells (PCSCs), which can self-renew, long-term propagate tumors, and mediate treatment resistance. MicroRNA-34a (miR-34a) has shown promise as an anti-PCSC therapeutic by targeting critical molecules involved in cancer stem cell (CSC) survival and functions.

Profile of Childhood Cancers From Hospital-Based Cancer Registries in India, 2012-19.

Objective: To describe the clinical pattern of childhood and adolescent cancers across India using hospital-based data in the National Cancer Registry Program.

Methods: Records of 60720 cancer cases in the 0-19 year age group for the period 2012-2019 from 96 hospital-based cancer registries were reviewed. Childhood cancers were classified based on the International Classification of Childhood Cancer (ICCC).

Developing folate-conjugated miR-34a therapeutic for prostate cancer treatment: Challenges and promises.

Prostate cancer (PCa) remains a common cancer with high mortality in men due to its heterogeneity and the emergence of drug resistance. A critical factor contributing to its lethality is the presence of prostate cancer stem cells (PCSCs), which can self-renew, long-term propagate tumors and mediate treatment resistance. MicroRNA-34a (miR-34a) has shown promise as an anti-PCSC therapeutic by targeting critical molecules involved in cancer stem cell (CSC) survival and functions.

Modulated Ultrathin NiCo-LDH Nanosheet-Decorated Zr-Rich Defective NH-UiO-66 Nanostructure for Efficient Photocatalytic Hydrogen Evolution.

Defect engineering through modification of their surface linkage is found to be an effective pathway to escalate the solar energy conversion efficiency of metal-organic frameworks (MOFs). Herein, defect engineering using controlled decarboxylation on the NH-UiO-66 surface and integration of ultrathin NiCo-LDH nanosheets synergizes the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) under a broad visible light regime. Diversified analytical methods including positron annihilation lifetime spectroscopy were employed to investigate the role of Zr-rich defects by analyzing the annihilation characteristics of positrons in NH-UiO-66, which provides a deep insight into the effects of structural defects on the electronic properties.

ZnGaAlO ( = 0 ≤ 2) spinel for persistent light emission and HER/OER bi-functional catalysis.

Spinel materials have demonstrated diverse applications in various fields, especially in the energy sector. Since the pure spinel structure has the limitations of poor inherent activity and low conductivity, defect engineering through octahedral B-site modulation is expected to enhance various properties. Here in this work, we have synthesized ZnGaAlO ( = 0 ≤ 2) spinel and moved from one terminal (ZnGaO) to the other (ZnAlO) by varying the Ga/Al ratio using solvent-free solid-state reaction.

Positron re-emission, reflection, and diffraction from W(100) surface at very low energies.

The energy distributions of scattered and re-emitted low-energy positrons from a W(100) surface were measured as a function of incident positron energy from 0 to 25 eV. Given that tungsten has a negative work function of about -3 eV for positrons, one can envisage three scenarios of very low-energy positron scattering from such a surface. First, a positron approaching the sample surface with energy say 1 eV above the vacuum level will see a potential barrier of about 2 eV height and will be reflected back to the vacuum.

An assessment of childhood cancer care services in India - gaps, challenges and the way forward.

Background: Childhood cancers are emerging as an essential concern in India where there is lack of a specific programme component or policy to address childhood cancer control. There is limited information on the status and quality of childhood cancer care services in India. This paper describes the childhood cancer care services available at secondary and tertiary-level hospitals in India through a cross sectional study design.

Epidemiology of cancers among older adults in India: findings from the National Cancer Registry Programme.

Objective: This study describes the epidemiology, clinical extent of disease at diagnosis and treatment modalities of cancer among older adults (aged 60 years and older) in India.

Study Design: Secondary data analysis of the National Cancer Registry Programme, which includes 28 Population-Based Cancer Registries (PBCRs) and 96 Hospital-Based Cancer Registries (HBCRs).

Methods: PBCR data were used to estimate the incidence in terms of crude rate (CR), age-adjusted incidence rate (AAR), age-specific rate (ASpR) and cumulative risk.

A first-in-class fully modified version of miR-34a with outstanding stability, activity, and anti-tumor efficacy.

Altered by defects in p53, epigenetic silencing, and genomic loss, the microRNA miR-34a represents one of the most clinically relevant tumor-suppressive microRNAs. Without question, a striking number of patients with cancer would benefit from miR-34a replacement, if poor miR-34a stability, non-specific delivery, and delivery-associated toxicity could be overcome. Here, we highlight a fully modified version of miR-34a (FM-miR-34a) that overcomes these hurdles when conjugated to a synthetically simplistic ligand.

TAScope-guided rapid sequence intubation of a case of retrognathia with a history of failed intubation.

A 72-year-old female with symptomatic cholelithiasis was posted for laparoscopic cholecystectomy. She had been previously posted for the same surgery at a different center, but the surgery was not performed due to failed intubation. On airway examination, reduced thyromental distance, prominent incisors, and retrognathia were observed.

Ample Lewis Acidic Sites in MgBO Facilitate N Electroreduction through Bonding-Antibonding Interactions.

Extensive research on the electrochemical nitrogen reduction reaction (NRR) has put forward a sound list of potential catalyst materials with properties inducing N adsorption, protonation, and reduction. However, rather than a random selection of catalysts, it is essential to understand the vitals in terms of orbital orientation and charge distribution that actually manipulate the rate-determining steps of NRR. Realizing these factors, herein we have explored a main group earth-abundant Mg-based electrocatalyst MgBO for NRR due to the abundance of Lewis acid sites in the catalyst favoring the bonding-antibonding interactions with the N molecules.

Radiation response of YAlO and Nd-YAlO to Swift heavy ions: insight into structural damage and defect dynamics.

Understanding the behavior of a material under irradiation is paramount to its application in the nuclear industry. The present work explores the radiation response of garnet YAlO (YAG) and Nd-substituted YAlO (Nd-YAG) under a 100 MeV Iodine beam at varying fluences to mimic the effect of fission fragments. This is relevant to the potential application of garnet as a host for minor actinide (MA) transmutation (Nd: surrogate for long-lived MA (Am, Np, Cm)).

Stabilization of Eu in LiBO with the BO network through U co-doping and defect engineering.

Owing to the unique 4f-5d transitions and the involvement of 5d electrons, the divalent europium (Eu) ion is extensively used as a dopant ion in luminescent materials for phosphor-converted light emitting diodes (pc-LEDs) and other technological applications. Earlier reports in most of the cases have shown that the reduction of Eu to Eu requires very high temperatures and large hydrogen flux. In this study, a co-doping strategy with higher valent U ions was utilized to successfully stabilize Eu ions in the LiBO (LTB) host with both the BO and BO network in low H flux of only 8%.

Oxygen vacancy and valence engineering in CeO through distinct sized ion doping and their impact on oxygen reduction reaction catalysis.

Defect tuning in ceria to enhance its catalytic properties is a subject of great interest for the scientific community owing to the growing demand for catalytic materials in drug, automobile and chemical industries. Doping induced defect engineering was found to be one of the most sought out strategies particularly in oxides for achieving multifunctionality. Here, in this study, we have doped ceria with distinct sized trivalent rare-earth ions, namely, Y, Eu and La, using combustion techniques.