A Modified Intrabony Defect Model of Periodontitis in Rat.

Objective: The aim of this study was to compare the radiographic depth of the periodontal bone defect, as well as clinical and histological outcomes, between the proposed ligated defect model and the current non-ligated defect model, which often heals spontaneously and fails to replicate the complexities of periodontitis.

Methods: The proposed model combined osteotomy to create controlled periodontal bone defects (depth of 1.5 mm) and ligature placement around the cervical region of the maxillary first molar to induce inflammation.

AIE-Active Circularly Polarized Thermally Activated Delayed Fluorescence Emitters for Stable Solution-Processed Circularly Polarized Electroluminescence.

Circularly polarized organic light-emitting diodes (CP-OLEDs) have significant promise for naked-eye 3D displays. However, most devices are fabricated using vacuum deposition technology, and development of efficient solution-processed CP-OLEDs, particularly those exhibiting low efficiency roll-off, remains a formidable challenge. This research successfully designed and synthesized two pairs of thermally activated delayed fluorescence (TADF) enantiomers through isomer engineering, namely (R/S)-N-5-TPA and (R/S)-N-4-TPA, which features fifth and fourth substitution sites of phthalimide (acceptor) by tri-phenylamine (donor), respectively.

USP15 inhibits hypoxia-induced IL-6 signaling by deubiquitinating and stabilizing MeCP2.

Methyl-CpG binding protein 2 (MeCP2) is an important X-linked DNA methylation reader and a key heterochromatin organizer. The expression level of MeCP2 is crucial, as indicated by the observation that loss-of-function mutations of MECP2 cause Rett syndrome, whereas an extra copy spanning the MECP2 locus results in MECP2 duplication syndrome, both being progressive neurodevelopmental disorders. Our previous study demonstrated that MeCP2 protein expression is rapidly induced by renal ischemia-reperfusion injury (IRI) and protects the kidney from IRI through transcriptionally repressing the interleukin-6 (IL-6)/signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 signaling pathway.

Controllable Crystallization of Two-Dimensional Bi Nanocrystals with Morphology-Boosted CO Electroreduction in Wide pH Environments.

Two-dimensional low-melting-point (LMP) metal nanocrystals are attracting increasing attention with broad and irreplaceable applications due to their unique surface and topological structures. However, the chemical synthesis, especially the fine control over the nucleation (reduction) and growth (crystallization), of such LMP metal nanocrystals remains elusive as limited by the challenges of low standard redox potential, low melting point, poor crystalline symmetry, etc. Here, a controllable reduction-melting-crystallization (RMC) protocol to synthesize free-standing and surfactant-free bismuth nanocrystals with tunable dimensions, morphologies, and surface structures is presented.

Nanomaterials-based photosensitizers and delivery systems for photodynamic cancer therapy.

The increasing cancer morbidity and mortality requires the development of high-efficiency and low-toxicity anticancer approaches. In recent years, photodynamic therapy (PDT) has attracted much attention in cancer therapy due to its non-invasive features and low side effects. Photosensitizer (PS) is one of the key factors of PDT, and its successful delivery largely determines the outcome of PDT.

Controlled Synthesis of Intermetallic Au Bi Nanocrystals and Au Bi/Bi Hetero-Nanocrystals with Promoted Electrocatalytic CO Reduction Properties.

The electrocatalytic properties of metal nanoparticles (NPs) strongly depend on their compositions and structures. Rational design of alloys and/or heterostructures provides additional approaches to modifying their surface geometric and electronic structures for optimized electrocatalytic performance. Here, a solution synthesis of freestanding intermetallic Au Bi NPs, the heterostructures of Au Bi/Bi hetero-NPs, and their promoted electrocatalytic CO reduction reaction (CO RR) performances were reported.

Promoting the Electrocatalytic Reduction of CO on Ultrathin Porous Bismuth Nanosheets with Tunable Surface-Active Sites and Local pH Environments.

Electrochemical CO reduction reaction (CORR) yielding value-added chemicals provides a sustainable approach for renewable energy storage and conversion. Bismuth-based catalysts prove to be promising candidates for converting CO and water into formate but still suffer from poor selectivity and activity and/or sluggish kinetics. Here, we report that ultrathin porous Bi nanosheets (Bi-PNS) can be prepared through a controlled solvothermal protocol.

Modulating the electrocatalytic CO reduction performances of bismuth nanoparticles with carbon substrates with controlled degrees of oxidation.

The catalytic performances of metal nanoparticles can be widely tuned and promoted by the metal-support interactions. Here, we report that the morphologies and electrocatalytic CO reduction reaction (CORR) properties of bismuth nanoparticles (BiNPs) can be rationally modulated by their interactions with carbon black (CB) supports by controlling the degree of surface oxidation. Appropriately oxidized CB supports can provide sufficient oxygen-containing groups for anchoring BiNPs with tunable sizes and surface areas, desirable key intermediate adsorption abilities, appropriate surface wettability, and adequate electron transfer abilities.

Nanoporous Graphene a Pressing Organization Calcination Strategy for Highly Efficient Electrocatalytic Hydrogen Peroxide Generation.

Nanoporous graphenes (NPGs) have recently attracted huge attention owing to their designable structures and diverse properties. Many important properties of NPGs are determined by their structural regularity and homogeneity. The mass production of NPGs with periodic well-defined pore structures under a solvent-free green synthesis poses a great challenge and is largely unexplored.

Metal-Organic Framework Membranes Encapsulating Gold Nanoparticles for Direct Plasmonic Photocatalytic Nitrogen Fixation.

Photocatalytic nitrogen fixation reaction can harvest the solar energy to convert the abundant but inert N into NH. Here, utilizing metal-organic framework (MOF) membranes as the ideal assembly of nanoreactors to disperse and confine gold nanoparticles (AuNPs), we realize the direct plasmonic photocatalytic nitrogen fixation under ambient conditions. Upon visible irradiation, the hot electrons generated on the AuNPs can be directly injected into the N molecules adsorbed on Au surfaces.

Acidic preconditioning reduces lipopolysaccharide-induced acute lung injury by upregulating the expression of angiotensin-converting enzyme 2.

Acid preconditioning (APC) through carbon dioxide inhalation can exert protective effects during acute lung injury (ALI) triggered by ischemia-reperfusion. Angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) has been identified as a receptor for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus and the novel coronavirus disease-19. Downregulation of ACE2 plays an important role in the pathogenesis of severe lung failure after viral or bacterial infections.

Drug-free and non-crosslinked chitosan scaffolds with efficient antibacterial activity against both Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria.

Treatment of oral pathogens is important for both oral and systemic health. The antimicrobial activity of chitosan (CS)-based scaffolds either loading antibiotics or compositing with other agents are well documented. However, the intrinsic antibacterial activity of CS scaffolds alone has never been reported.

[Establishment and application of mandarin cleft palate speech database].

Objective: This research aims to collect speech samples from patients with cleft palate, establish a mandarin-based database of cleft palate speech after sample analysis and classification, and provide a reference for the diagnosis of hypernasal or cleft palate, clinical education, and standard training for professional speech therapists and related research.

Methods: A total of 768 speech samples were collected from patients and volunteers from the Speech Therapy Center, West China Hospital of Stomatology, between May 2016 and March 2018. These samples were edited and categoried before being saved into the cleft lip and palate biologic information database.

Understanding the sheet size-antibacterial activity relationship of graphene oxide and the nano-bio interaction-based physical mechanisms.

The antibiotics-independent antimicrobial activity of graphene oxide (GO) is of great importance since antibiotic therapy is facing great challenges from drug resistance. However, the relations of GO size with its antimicrobial activity and how the size regulates the antibacterial mechanisms are still unknown. Herein, we fabricated four GO suspensions with different sizes and demonstrated the parabolic relationship between GO size and its antibacterial activity against the Gram-positive cariogenic bacterium Streptococcus mutans.

Morphology-dependent electrocatalytic nitrogen reduction on Ag triangular nanoplates.

Electrocatalytic nitrogen reduction reactions (ENRR) can produce ammonia from nitrogen and water under ambient conditions. Here, we report the morphology-dependent electro-catalytic nitrogen reduction on Ag triangular nanoplates. Boosted by potassium cations, Ag triangular nanoplates with sharp edges exhibit a high faradaic efficiency of 25% with an ammonia yield of 58.

Graphene-based nanomaterials: the promising active agents for antibiotics-independent antibacterial applications.

Graphene-based nanomaterials, such as graphene oxide (GO) and reduced graphene oxide (rGO), have shown great potentials in drug delivery and photodynamic/photothermal therapy due to their featured structure and physicochemical properties. In recent years, their antibacterial potentials have also been exploited. The commonly recognized antibacterial mechanisms include sharp edge-mediated cutting effect, oxidative stress and cell entrapment.

Promoting photocatalytic nitrogen fixation with alkali metal cations and plasmonic nanocrystals.

Photocatalytic nitrogen fixation can produce ammonia from nitrogen and water under ambient conditions in the presence of sunlight. Here, we report that alkali metal cations (Li, Na, and K) can significantly promote nitrogen activation and plasmonic nanocrystals (Au and Ag) can sensitize photocatalysts under visible light. The ammonia yield and selectivity on Au/P25 under UV-vis irradiation could be increased from 0.

Functional Nanomaterials and Their Potential Applications in Antibacterial Therapy.

In the past decades, nanomaterials have shown great potential in biomedical fields, especially in drug delivery, imaging and targeted therapy. Recently, the development of novel functional nanomaterials for antibacterial application has attracted much attention. Compared to the traditional direct use of antibiotics, antibacterial nanomaterials either as drug delivery systems or active agents have a higher efficacy and lower side effects.

The UV absorption of graphene oxide is size-dependent: possible calibration pitfalls.

Graphene oxide (GO) is often quantified via its UV absorption, typically at around 230 nm. This is convenient but the effect of the size of GO on the accuracy of this method has been ignored so far. The authors report that the molar absorbance of GO is size-dependent.

Ultrathin cobalt oxide nanostructures with morphology-dependent electrocatalytic oxygen evolution activity.

Engineering compositions, structures, and defects can endow nanomaterials with optimized catalytic properties. Here, we report that cobalt oxide (CoOx) ultrathin nanosheets (UTNS, ∼1.6 nm thick) with a large number of oxygen defects and mixed cobalt valences can be obtained through a facile one-step hydrothermal protocol.

Identification and in vitro pharmacological characterization of a novel and selective α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor agonist, Br-IQ17B.

Aim: Alpha7-nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (α7 nAChR) is a ligand-gated Ca(2+)-permeable ion channel implicated in cognition and neuropsychiatric disorders. Activation of α7 nAChR improves learning, memory, and sensory gating in animal models. To identify novel α7 nAChR agonists, we synthesized a series of small molecules and characterized a representative compound, Br-IQ17B, N-[(3R)-1-azabicyclo[2,2,2]oct-3-yl]-5-bromoindolizine-2-carboxamide, which specifically activates α7 nAChR.