A pressure-induced high-pressure metallic GeTe phase.

As an important phase-change material, GeTe has many high-pressure phases as well, but its phase transitions under pressure are still lack of clarity. It is challenging to identify high-pressure GeTe crystal structures owing to the phase coexistence in a wide pressure range and the reversibility of phase transitions. Hence, first-principles calculations are required to provide further information in addition to limited experimental characterizations.

Carbon Nanodots with Nearly Unity Fluorescent Efficiency Realized via Localized Excitons.

Carbon nanodots (CDs) have emerged as an alternative option for traditional nanocrystals due to their excellent optical properties and low toxicity. Nevertheless, high emission efficiency is a long-lasting pursuit for CDs. Herein, CDs with near-unity emission efficiency are prepared via atomic condensation of doped pyrrolic nitrogen, which can highly localize the excited states thus lead to the formation of bound excitons and the symmetry break of the π-electron conjugation.

Interface engineering of nickel Hydroxide-Molybdenum diselenide nanosheet heterostructure arrays for efficient alkaline hydrogen production.

The stacking of Molybdenum Diselenide (MoSe) nanomaterials as well as its poor intrinsic conductivity lead to sluggish water dissociation kinetics, which limit the performance of the alkaline hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). Herein, we constructed Nickel Hydroxide Ni(OH)-MoSe heterostructures directly on 3D self-supporting carbon cloth (CC) substrate via a simple hydrothermal and the subsequent chemical bath deposition process, then systemically studied the effect of the Ni(OH) deposition time on the HER performance. The synergistic effect between Ni(OH) and MoSe in the Ni(OH)-MoSe heterostructures optimizes the poor conductivity and Gibbs free energy for water adsorption, thus improving the water dissociation kinetics and giving rise to fast electron transfer in the HER process.

Bi and Sn Co-doping Enhanced Thermoelectric Properties of CuSbS Materials with Excellent Thermal Stability.

CuSbS-based materials composed of nontoxic, low-cost, and earth-abundant elements potentially exhibit favorable thermoelectric performance. However, some key transport parameters and thermal stability have not been reported. In this work, the effects of Bi and Sn co-doping on thermoelectric properties and the thermal stability of CuSbS were studied by experiment and theoretical validation.

A Porous and Conductive Graphite Nanonetwork Forming on the Surface of KCuS for Energy Storage.

A flexible all-solid-state supercapacitor is fabricated by building a layer of porous and conductive nanonetwork on the surface of KCuS nanowires supported on the carbon fiber fabric, where the porous and conductive nanonetwork is assembled by graphite nanoparticles. This porous graphite layer plays a key role in providing ion diffusion channels to access the KCuS through the pores for electrochemical reactions and forming electron transport pathways from the graphite network to the electronic collector of the carbon fiber fabric. This flexible supercapacitor exhibits excellent electrochemical performance with high specific capacitance of 408 F g at a current density of 0.

A Single Mutation at Position 190 in Hemagglutinin Enhances Binding Affinity for Human Type Sialic Acid Receptor and Replication of H9N2 Avian Influenza Virus in Mice.

Unlabelled: H9N2 avian influenza virus (AIV) has an extended host range, but the molecular basis underlying H9N2 AIV transmission to mammals remains unclear. We isolated more than 900 H9N2 AIVs in our 3-year surveillance in live bird markets in China from 2009 to 2012. Thirty-seven representative isolates were selected for further detailed characterization.

Protective efficacy of an inactivated vaccine against H9N2 avian influenza virus in ducks.

Background: Wild ducks play an important role in the evolution of avian influenza viruses (AIVs). Domestic ducks in China are known to carry and spread H9N2 AIVs that are thought to have contributed internal genes for the recent outbreak of zoonotic H7N9 virus. In order to protect animal and public health, an effective vaccine is urgently needed to block and prevent the spread of H9N2 virus in ducks.

Development of a TaqMan MGB RT-PCR for the rapid detection of H3 subtype avian influenza virus circulating in China.

Previous studies demonstrated that the H3 avian influenza virus (AIV) in China is isolated most frequently from wild birds and live poultry markets. However, there is no subtype-specific real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) available for the rapid and highly sensitive identification of H3 AIV. In this study, a TaqMan minor groove binder (MGB) probe and a pair of primers were designed based on a conserved region in the hemagglutinin gene of H3 AIV.

Albendazole-soybean oil emulsion for the treatment of human cystic echinococcosis: evaluation of bioavailability and bioequivalence.

A single 12.5 mg/kg dose of albendazole (Abz) in tablet form (AbzT) followed 2 weeks later by an equivalent dose of Abz emulsified in 30% soybean oil (AbzE) was administered orally 2 h after the first morning meal to 7 male adult patients with cystic echinococcosis caused by Echinococcus granulosus. Serum samples were taken 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 9, 11, 14, 18, 24, 36, and 48 h post medication from each patient to measure the serum concentrations of albendazole sulfoxide (AbzSOX), the principal bioactive metabolite of Abz.