Efficacy and Safety of Primary Radiotherapy in Combination with EGFR-TKIs for Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Harboring EGFR Mutation

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of EGFR-TKI with the radiotherapy in EGFR mutant metastatic NSCLC. Methods: Retrospective analysis of 72 patients with stage IV lung cancer with EGFR-sensitive mutation. Patients in the A group were treated with the first-generation EGFR-TKI (Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitor) combined with radiotherapy for primary tumors (34 cases). The B group was treated with the first-generation EGFR-TKI alone until the disease progressed (38 cases). PFS, OS, pulmonary infection and hematological toxicity during treatment were commented in both groups. Results: The objective remission rate was 47.1% (16/34) in the A group and 21.1% (8/38) in the B group. There was a significant difference between the two groups. There was no significant difference in hematological toxicity between the A group and the B group. There were 10 patients (29.4%) with degree II pulmonary infection in the A group and 3 patients (7.9%) in the B group. The difference between the two groups was statistically significant, suggesting that the incidence of pneumonia in the A group was higher than that in the B group. The median PFS (Progression-Free Survival)) and OS (Overall Survival) of the A group were significantly longer than those of the B group (16.5 months vs 9 months) and the median OS (36 months vs 19 months). The PFS and OS in the A group were significantly longer than those in the B group. Conclusion: EGFR-TKI combined with primary radiotherapy can significantly prolong the drug resistance time of EGFR mutant metastatic NSCLC.

Damage on intestinal barrier function and microbial detoxification of deoxynivalenol:A review

Deoxynivalenol(DON)is a mycotoxin that is produced by various species of Fusarium and is ubiquitous in food and feed.At low concentrations,it can cause metabolic disorders in animals and humans and,at high concentrations,it can lead to pathological changes in the body.The impact of DON on human/animal health and animal productivity has thus attracted a great deal of attention around the world.DON causes severe damage to the intestine,including compromised intestinal barrier,mucosal damage,weakened immune function,and alterations in gut microbiota composition.These effects exacerbate intestinal infections and inflammation in livestock and poultry,posing adverse effects on overall health.Furthermore,research into biological methods for DON detoxification is a crucial avenue for future studies.This includes the utilization of adsorption,enzymatic degradation,and other biological approaches to mitigate DON's impact,offering new strategies for prevention and treatment of DON-induced diseases.Future research will focus on identifying highly efficient detoxifying microorganisms or enzymes to reduce DON levels in food and feed,thereby mitigating its risks to both animals and human health.

Across two phylogeographic breaks: Quaternary evolutionary history of a mountain aspen (Populus rotundifolia) in the Hengduan Mountains

Biogeographical barriers to gene flow are central to plant phylogeography.In East Asia,plant distribution is greatly influenced by two phylogeographic breaks,the Mekong-Salween Divide and Tanaka-Kaiyong Line,however,few studies have investigated how these barriers affect the genetic diversity of species that are distributed across both.Here we used 14 microsatellite loci and four chloroplast DNA fragments to examine genetic diversity and distribution patterns of 49 populations of Populus rotundifolia,a species that spans both the Mekong-Salween Divide and the Tanaka-Kaiyong Line in southwestern China.Demographic and migration hypotheses were tested using coalescent-based approaches.Limited historical gene flow was observed between the western and eastern groups of P.rotundifolia,but substantial flow occurred across both the Mekong-Salween Divide and Tanaka-Kaiyong Line,manifesting in clear admixture and high genetic diversity in the central group.Wind-borne pollen and seeds may have facilitated the dispersal of P.rotundifolia following prevalent northwest winds in the spring.We also found that the Hengduan Mountains,where multiple genetic barriers were detected,acted on the whole as a barrier between the western and eastern groups of P.rotundifolia.Ecological niche modeling suggested that P.rotundifolia has undergone range expansion since the last glacial maximum,and demographic reconstruction indicated an earlier population expansion around 600 Ka.The phylogeographic pattern of P.rotundifolia reflects the interplay of biological traits,wind patterns,barriers,niche differentiation,and Quaternary climate history.This study emphasizes the need for multiple lines of evidence in understanding the Quaternary evolution of plants in topographically complex areas.

Sleep Quality and Emotional Adaptation among Freshmen in Elite Chinese Universities during Prolonged COVID-19 Lockdown:The Mediating Role of Anxiety Symptoms

Under the effects of COVID-19 and a number of ongoing lockdown tactics,anxiety symptoms and poor sleep quality have become common mental health issues among college freshmen and are intimately related to their emotional adaptation.To explore this connection,this study gathered data from a sample of 256 freshmen enrolled in an elite university in China in September 2022.The association between sleep quality,anxiety symptoms,and emotional adaptation was clarified using correlation analysis.Additionally,the mediating function of anxiety symptoms between sleep quality and emotional adaptation was investigated using a structural equation model.The results reveal that:(1)Chinese elite university freshmen who were subjected to prolonged lockdown had poor sleep quality and mild anxiety symptoms;(2)a significant positive correlation between poor sleep quality and anxiety symptoms was identified;(3)anxiety symptoms were found to have a significant negative impact on emotional adaptation;(4)poor sleep quality had a negative impact on emotional adaptation through anxiety symptoms.This research makes a valuable contribution by offering insights into the intricate relationship between sleep quality and emotional adaptation among freshmen in elite Chinese universities during prolonged lockdown conditions,and it is beneficial for schools and educators to further improve school schedules and psychological health initiatives.

Nitrogen rejection from low quality natural gas by pressure swing adsorption experiments and simulation using dynamic adsorption isotherms

In order to remove N_(2) from low quality natural gas,a mathematical model has been established by Aspen adsorption,using the CH_(4)-selective sorbent silicalite-1 pellets.The dynamic adsorption isotherm was first simulated by breakthrough simulation of a CH_(4)/N_(2) mixture at different adsorption pressures and feed flow rates based on breakthrough experiments.The resulting simulated CH_(4) dynamic adsorption amounts were very close to the experimental data at three different adsorption pressures(100,200,and 300 kPa).Moreover,a single-bed,three-step pressure swing adsorption(PSA)experiment was performed,and the results were in good agreement with the simulated data,further corroborating the accuracy of the gas dynamic adsorption isotherm obtained by the simulation method.Finally,based on the simulated dynamic adsorption isotherm of CH_(4) and N_(2),a four-bed,eight-step PSA process has been designed,which enriched 75%(vol)CH_(4) and 80%(vol)CH_(4) to 95%(vol)and 99%(vol),and provided 99%(vol)recovery.

RO_(x) Budgets and O_(3) Formation during Summertime at Xianghe Suburban Site in the North China Plain

Photochemical smog characterized by high concentrations of ozone(O_(3)) is a serious air pollution issue in the North China Plain(NCP)region,especially in summer and autumn.For this study,measurements of O_(3),nitrogen oxides(NO_(x)),volatile organic compounds(VOCs),carbon monoxide(CO),nitrous acid(HONO),and a number of key physical parameters were taken at a suburban site,Xianghe,in the NCP region during the summer of 2018 in order to better understand the photochemical processes leading to O_(3)formation and find an optimal way to control O_(3)pollution.Here,the radical chemistry and O_(3)photochemical budget based on measurement data from 1−23 July using a chemical box model is investigated.The daytime(0600−1800 LST)average production rate of the primary radicals referred to as RO_(x)(OH+HO2+RO2)is 3.9 ppbv h−1.HONO photolysis is the largest primary RO_(x)source(41%).Reaction of NO2+OH is the largest contributor to radical termination(41%),followed by reactions of RO2+NO2(26%).The average diurnal maximum O_(3)production and loss rates are 32.9 ppbv h−1 and 4.3 ppbv h−1,respectively.Sensitivity tests without the HONO constraint lead to decreases in daytime average primary RO_(x)production by 55%and O_(3)photochemical production by 42%,highlighting the importance of accurate HONO measurements when quantifying the RO_(x)budget and O_(3)photochemical production.Considering heterogeneous reactions of trace gases and radicals on aerosols,aerosol uptake of HO2 contributes 11%to RO_(x)sink,and the daytime average O_(3)photochemical production decreases by 14%.The O_(3)-NO_(x)-VOCs sensitivity shows that the O_(3)production at Xianghe during the investigation period is mainly controlled by VOCs.

ACBP4-WRKY70-RAP2.12 module positively regulates submergence-induced hypoxia response in Arabidopsis thaliana

ACYL-CoA-BINDING PROTEINs(ACBPs)play crucial regulatory roles during plant response to hypoxia,but their molecular mechanisms remain poorly understood.Our study reveals that ACBP4 serves as a positive regulator of the plant hypoxia response by interacting with WRKY70,influencing its nucleocytoplasmic shuttling in Arabidopsis thaliana.Furthermore,we demonstrate the direct binding of WRKY70 to the ACBP4 promoter,resulting in its upregulation and suggesting a positive feedback loop.Additionally,we pinpointed a phosphorylation site at Ser638 of ACBP4,which enhances submergence tolerance,potentially by facilitating WRKY70's nuclear shuttling.Surprisingly,a natural variation in this phosphorylation site of ACBP4 allowed A.thaliana to adapt to humid conditions during its historical demographic expansion.We further observed that both phosphorylated ACBP4 and oleoyl-Co A can impede the interaction between ACBP4 and WRKY70,thus promoting WRKY70's nuclear translocation.Finally,we found that the overexpression of orthologous Bna C5.ACBP4and Bna A7.WRKY70 in Brassica napus increases submergence tolerance,indicating their functional similarity across genera.In summary,our research not only sheds light on the functional significance of the ACBP4 gene in hypoxia response,but also underscores its potential utility in breeding flooding-tolerant oilseed rape varieties.

Convolution Neural Network-based Load Model Parameter Selection Considering Short-term Voltage Stability

The recently proposed ambient signal-based load modeling approach offers an important and effective idea to study the time-varying and distributed characteristics of power loads.Meanwhile,it also brings new problems.Since the load model parameters of power loads can be obtained in real-time for each load bus,the numerous identified parameters make parameter application difficult.In order to obtain the parameters suitable for off-line applications,load model parameter selection(LMPS)is first introduced in this paper.Meanwhile,the convolution neural network(CNN)is adopted to achieve the selection purpose from the perspective of short-term voltage stability.To begin with,the field phasor measurement unit(PMU)data from China Southern Power Grid are obtained for load model parameter identification,and the identification results of different substations during different times indicate the necessity of LMPS.Meanwhile,the simulation case of Guangdong Power Grid shows the process of LMPS,and the results from the CNNbased LMPS confirm its effectiveness.

Mo-doped one-dimensional needle-like Ni_(3)S_(2) as bifunctional electrocatalyst for efficient alkaline hydrogen evolution and overall-water-splitting

Hydrogen energy plays an important role in clean energy system and is considered the core energy source for future technological development owing to its lightweight nature,high calorific value,and clean combustion products.The electrocatalytic conversion of water into hydrogen is considered a highly promising method.An electrocatalyst is indispensable in the electrocatalytic process,and finding an efficient electrocatalyst is essential.However,the current commercial electrocatalysts(such as Pt/C and Ru)are expensive;therefore,there is a need to find an inexpensive and efficient electrocatalyst with high stability,corrosion resistance,and high electrocatalytic efficiency.In this study,we developed a cost-effective bifunctional electrocatalyst by incorporating molybdenum into nickel sulfide(Ni_(3)S_(2))and subsequently tailoring its structure to achieve a one-dimensional(1D)needle-like configuration.The hydrogen production efficiency of nickel sulfide was improved by changing the ratio of Mo doping.By analyzing the electrochemical performance of different Mo-doped catalysts,we found that the Ni_(3)S_(2)-Mo-0.1 electrocatalyst exhibited the best electrocatalytic effect in 1 M KOH;at a current density of 10 mA cm^(-2),it exhibited overpotentials of 120 and 279 mV for hydrogen evolution reaction(HER)and oxygen evolution reaction(OER),respectively;at a higher current density of 100 mA cm^(-2),the HER and OER overpotentials were 396 and 495 mV,respectively.Furthermore,this electrocatalyst can be used in a two-electrode water-splitting system.Finally,we thoroughly investigated the mechanism of the overall water splitting of this electrocatalyst,providing valuable insights for future hydrogen production via overall-water-splitting.

Atmospheric oxidizing capacity in autumn Beijing:Analysis of the O_(3) and PM_(2.5) episodes based on observation-based model

Atmospheric oxidizing capacity(AOC)is the fundamental driving factors of chemistry process(e.g.,the formation of ozone(O_(3))and secondary organic aerosols(SOA))in the troposphere.However,accurate quantification of AOC still remains uncertainty.In this study,a comprehensive field campaign was conducted during autumn 2019 in downtown of Beijing,where O_(3) and PM_(2.5) episodes had been experienced successively.The observation-based model(OBM)is used to quantify the AOC at O_(3) and PM_(2.5) episodes.The strong intensity of AOC is found at O_(3) and PM2.5 episodes,and hydroxyl radical(OH)is the dominating daytime oxidant for both episodes.The photolysis of O_(3) is main source of OH at O_(3) episode;the photolysis of nitrous acid(HONO)and formaldehyde(HCHO)plays important role in OH formation at PM_(2.5) episode.The radicals loss routines vary according to precursor pollutants,resulting in different types of air pollution.O_(3) budgets and sensitivity analysis indicates that O_(3) production is transition regime(both VOC and NOx-limited)at O3 episode.The heterogeneous reaction of hydroperoxy radicals(HO_(2))on aerosol surfaces has significant influence on OH and O_(3) production rates.The HO_(2) uptake coefficient(γHO_(2))is the determining factor and required accurate measurement in real atmospheric environment.Our findings could provide the important bases for coordinated control of PM_(2.5) and O_(3) pollution.

Genomic diversity and ecological distribution of marine Pseudoalteromonas phages

Pseudoalteromonas,with a ubiquitous distribution,is one of the most abundant marine bacterial genera.It is especially abundant in the deep sea and polar seas,where it has been found to have a broad metabolic capacity and unique co-existence strategies with other organisms.However,only a few Pseudoalteromonas phages have so far been isolated and investigated and their genomic diversity and distribution patterns are still unclear.Here,the genomes,taxonomic features and distribution patterns of Pseudoalteromonas phages are systematically analyzed,based on the microbial and viral genomes and metagenome datasets.A total of 143 complete or nearly complete Pseudoalteromonas-associated phage genomes(PSAPGs)were identifed,including 34 Pseudoalteromonas phage isolates,24 proviruses,and 85 Pseudoalteromonas-associated uncultured viral genomes(UViGs);these were assigned to 47 viral clusters at the genus level.Many integrated proviruses(n=24)and flamentous phages were detected(n=32),suggesting the prevalence of viral lysogenic life cycle in Pseudoalteromonas.PSAPGs encoded 66 types of 249 potential auxiliary metabolic genes(AMGs)relating to peptidases and nucleotide metabolism.They may also participate in marine biogeochemical cycles through the manipulation of the metabolism of their hosts,especially in the phosphorus and sulfur cycles.Siphoviral and flamentous PSAPGs were the predominant viral lineages found in polar areas,while some myoviral and siphoviral PSAPGs encoding transposase were more abundant in the deep sea.This study has expanded our understanding of the taxonomy,phylogenetic and ecological scope of marine Pseudoalteromonas phages and deepens our knowledge of viral impacts on Pseudoalteromonas.It will provide a baseline for the study of interactions between phages and Pseudoalteromonas in the ocean.

Identifiability Analysis of Load Model Parameters by Estimating Confidential Intervals

The identification of load model parameters from practical measurement data has become an essential method to build load models for power system simulation,analysis and control.In practical situations,the accuracy of the load model parameters identification results is impacted by data quality and measurement accuracy,which leads to the problem of identifiability.In this paper,an identifiability analysis methodology of load model parameters,by estimating the confidential intervals(CIs)of the parameters,is proposed.The load model structure and the combined optimization and regression method to identify the parameters are first introduced.Then,the definition and analysis method of identifiability are discussed.The CIs of the parameters are estimated through the profile likelihood method,based on which a practical identifiability index(PII)is defined to quantitatively evaluate identifiability.Finally,the effectiveness of the proposed analysis approach is validated by the case study results in a practical provincial power grid.The results show that the impact of various disturbance magnitudes,measurement errors and data length can all be reflected by the proposed PII.Furthermore,the proposed PII can provide guidance in data length selection in practical load model identification situations.

Clinical characteristics of hypersensitivity pneumonitis:non-fibrotic and fibrotic subtypes

Background:The presence of fibrosis is a criterion for subtype classification in the newly updated hypersensitivity pneumonitis(HP)guidelines.The present study aimed to summarize differences in clinical characteristics and prognosis of non-fibrotic hypersensitivity pneumonitis(NFHP)and fibrotic hypersensitivity pneumonitis(FHP)and explore factors associated with the presence of fibrosis.Methods:In this prospective cohort study,patients diagnosed with HP through a multidisciplinary discussion were enrolled.Collected data included demographic and clinical characteristics,laboratory findings,and radiologic and histopathological features.Logistic regression analyses were performed to explore factors related to the presence of fibrosis.Results:A total of 202 patients with HP were enrolled,including 87(43.1%)NFHP patients and 115(56.9%)FHP patients.Patients with FHP were older and more frequently presented with dyspnea,crackles,and digital clubbing than patients with NFHP.Serum levels of carcinoembryonic antigen,carbohydrate antigen 125,carbohydrate antigen 153,gastrin-releasing peptide precursor,squamous cell carcinoma antigen,and antigen cytokeratin 21-1,and count of bronchoalveolar lavage(BAL)eosinophils were higher in the FHP group than in the NFHP group.BAL lymphocytosis was present in both groups,but less pronounced in the FHP group.Multivariable regression analyses revealed that older age,<20%of lymphocyte in BAL,and≥1.75%of eosinophil in BAL were risk factors for the development of FHP.Twelve patients developed adverse outcomes,with a median survival time of 12.5 months,all of whom had FHP.Conclusions:Older age,<20%of lymphocyte in BAL,and≥1.75%of eosinophil in BAL were risk factors associated with the development of FHP.Prognosis of patients with NFHP was better than that of patients with FHP.These results may provide insights into the mechanisms of fibrosis in HP.

Correction: Genomic diversity and ecological distribution of marine Pseudoalteromonas phages

In this article the graphics relating to Figs.2 and 3 captions had been interchanged;the fgure(s)should have appeared as shown below.The original article has been corrected.Open Access This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License,which permits use,sharing.

Autophagy mediates osteoporotic bone regeneration induced by micro-/nano-structured modification on hydroxyapatite bioceramics

Osteoporosis(OP)is an age-related disease of bone metabolism,characterized by bone mass loss and bone mi-croarchitecture deterioration,the poor osteogenesis microenvironment of OP caused hardly repairing of the bone defects.As a dynamic process to fuel cellular renovation,autophagy has been proved to play a vital role in regulating cell differentiation and maintaining bone homeostasis.Traditional bone repairing biomaterials are hardly repairing the bone defects under OP pathological microenvironment.Therefore,it is essential to develop-ment novel biomaterials to improve osteoporotic osteogenesis.Compared to biochemical cues,biophysical cues exhibited more advantages in biocompatible and side effects.Herein,inspired by the importance of enhanced au-tophagic response in osteoporotic environment,we intend to utilize the micro-/nano-structured hydroxyapatite(mnHA)bioceramics as the mimic structure of natural bone tissue to regulate autophagic activity in ovariectomy bone mesenchymal stem cells(OVX-BMSCs),finally promote to bone regeneration in OP condition.The results indicated that mnHA bioceramics promoted cell adhesion and osteogenesis of OVX-BMSCs,and enhanced au-tophagy level in OVX-BMSCs.In the calvarial defects of OVX-rats,the mnHA scaffold acquired excellent bone repair effect.According to the current findings,regulating the level of autophagy could be a promising strategy for improve osteoporotic osteogenesis in the future.

Epidemiological characteristics of pulmonary tuberculosis in patients with pneumoconiosis based on its social determinants and risk factors in China:a cross-sectional study from 27 provinces

Background:Patients with pneumoconiosis have an elevated risk of contracting pulmonary tuberculosis(PTB)and need particular attention.However,extensive population-based studies on the prevalence of PTB in patients with pneumoconiosis have not been reported in China since 1992.This study aimed to investigate the epidemiological characteristics of PTB in patients with pneumoconiosis based on its social determinants and risk factors in China.Methods:Based on the Commission on Social Determinants of Health(CSDH)framework,data were obtained from a questionnaire survey of patients with pneumoconiosis from China’s 27 provinces(autonomous regions,municipalities)from December 2017 to June 2021.By chi-square and multivariate logistic regression analyses,the epidemiological characteristics of PTB in the patients were identified based on its prevalence and odds ratio(OR)and associated social determinants and risk factors.The population attributable fractions(PAFs)of significant risk factors were also calculated.Results:The prevalence of PTB in patients with pneumoconiosis(n=10,137)was 7.5%(95%confidence interval[CI]:7.0-8.0%).Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that risk factors included in-hospital exposure to patients with PTB(OR=3.30,95%CI:2.77-3.93),clinically diagnosed cases(OR=3.25,95%CI:2.42-4.34),and northeastern regions(OR=2.41,95%CI:1.76-3.31).In addition,lack of work-related injury insurance(WRII),being born in a rural area,being unemployed,living in western regions,household exposure to patients with PTB,smoking,being underweight,complications of pulmonary bullae or pneumothorax,hospitalization history,and former drinkers among the rural patients were also statistically significant risk factors.Being born in a rural area,lack of WRII and in-hospital exposure to patients with PTB had higher PAFs,which were 13.2%(95%CI:7.9-18.5%),12.5%(95%CI:8.3-16.7%),and 11.6%(95%CI:8.8-14.3%),respectively.Conclusion:The prevalence of PTB in pneumoconiosis remains high in China;it is basically in line with the CSDH models and has its characteristics.

Sources of ambient non-methane hydrocarbon compounds and their impacts on O_(3) formation during autumn,Beijing

The field observation of 54 non-methane hydrocarbon compounds(NMHCs)was conducted from September 1 to October 20 in 2020 during autumn in Haidian District,Beijing.The mean concentration of total NMHCs was 29.81±11.39 ppbv during this period,and alkanes were the major components.There were typical festival effects of NMHCs with lower concentration during the National Day.Alkenes and aromatics were the dominant groups in ozone formation potential(OFP)and OH radical loss rate(L_(OH)).The positive matrix factorization(PMF)running results revealed that vehicular exhaust became the biggest source in urban areas,followed by liquefied petroleum gas(LPG)usage,solvent usage,and fuel evaporation.The box model coupled with master chemical mechanism(MCM)was applied to study the impacts of different NMHCs sources on ozone(O_(3))formation in an O_(3)episode.The simulation results indicated that reducing NMHCs concentration could effectively suppress O_(3)formation.Moreover,reducing traffic-related emissions of NMHCs was an effective way to control O_(3)pollution at an urban site in Beijing.

Analysis of floc morphology in a continuous-flow flocculation and sedimentation reactor

The floc morphology was investigated in a continuous-flow reactor, in order to understand the evolution of flocs in practical flocculation and sedimentation processes in water utilities. Kaolin-humic acid suspension was used as the test water, and polyaluminum chloride was chosen as the coagulant. An in-situ recognition system was applied to analyze the floc size, boundary fractal dimension, and eccentricity ratios. Particle numbers and turbidity were also determined in the sedimentation stage. At a coagulant dose of 1 mg/L as Al, the average floc size increased from 62 to 78 μm and the boundary fractal dimension was around 1.14, suggesting that flocs were compact and continuously grew during the entire flocculation process. However, with the dose increased to 5 mg/L, the average floc size decreased and stabilized at around 65 μm, with the fractal dimension of 1.20. It can be concluded that the excess coagulant doses resulted in the formation of chain-shaped, lower density, and more branched structure flocs, thereby restricting flocs’ further growth in the subsequent flocculation. Floc morphology analysis suggested that charge neutralization dominated in the initial flocculation stage, then the bridge and sweep mechanisms were dominant in the subsequent flocculation. In addition, compared with the traditional inclined plate settler, a novel V-shaped plate settler introduced in this study had an advantage in small size floc（less than 5 μm） removal. The V-shaped region could promote aggregate restructuring and re-flocculation; therefore, the V-shaped plate settler provides an alternative method for sedimentation.

Gas Sensitivity of In0.3Ga0.7As Surface QDs Coupled to Multilayer Buried QDs

A detailed analysis of the electrical response of In0.3Ga0.7As surface quantum dots(SQDs)coupled to 5-layer buried quantum dots(BQDs)is carried out as a function of ethanol and acetone concentration while temperature-dependent photoluminescence(PL)spectra are also analyzed.The coupling structure is grown by solid source molecular beam epitaxy.Carrier transport from BQDs to SQDs is confirmed by the temperature-dependent PL spectra.The importance of the surface states for the sensing application is once more highlighted.The results show that not only the exposure to the target gas but also the illumination affect the electrical response of the coupling sample strongly.In the ethanol atmosphere and under the illumination,the sheet resistance of the coupling structure decays by 50%while it remains nearly constant for the reference structure with only the 5-layer BQDs but not the SQDs.The strong dependence of the electrical response on the gas concentration makes SQDs very suitable for the development of integrated micrometer-sized gas sensor devices.

Distinct effects of copper on the degradation of β-lactam antibiotics in fulvic acid solutions during light and dark cycle

This study revealed the dual roles of Cu(Ⅱ)on the β-lactam antibiotics degradation in Suwannee River fulvic acid(SRFA)solution during day and night cycle.Amoxicillin(AMX)and ampicillin(AMP)were selected as the representative β-lactam antibiotics.Cu(Ⅱ)played a key role in the dark degradation of AMX and AMP via catalytic hydrolysis and oxidation.However,Cu(Ⅱ)mainly exhibited an inhibitory effect on SRFA-involved photochemical degradation of AMX and AMP.In the presence of 500 nM of Cu(Ⅱ),the degradation rate of AMX and AMP in the light condition were around 5 times higher than that in the dark condition,suggesting the photodegradation of β-lactam antibiotics was much more pronounced than catalyzed hydrolysis and oxidation.The triplet excited state of SRFA(^(3)SRFA*)primarily contributed to AMX and AMP photodegradation.Hydroxyl radicals(·OH)and singlet oxygen(^(1)O_(2))exhibited limit impacts.The redox cycle of Cu(Ⅱ)/Cu(Ⅰ)restricted the electron transfer pathway of ^(3)SRFA* with AMX and AMP.During the day and night cycles for 48 h,Cu(Ⅱ)served as a stronger inhibitor rather than a promotor.These findings highlight the interactions between Cu(Ⅱ)and SRFA are distinct under day and night conditions,which could further affect the fate of β-lactam antibiotics in natural environments.