A theoretical study of a plasmonic sensor comprising a gold nano-disk array on gold film with a SiO_2 spacer

A plasmonic refractive index(RI) sensor with high RI sensitivity based on a gold composite structure is proposed.This composite structure is constructed from a perfect gold nano-disk square array on a gold film, with a SiO_2 spacer. The reflection spectra of the composite structure, with analyte RI in the range of 1.30 to 1.40, are theoretically studied using the finite-difference time-domain method. The incident light beam is partly coupled to the localized surface plasmons(LSP) of the single nano-disks and partly transferred to the propagating surface plasmons(PSP) by grating coupling. The reflectivity is nearly zero at the valley of the reflection spectrum because of the strong coupling between LSP and PSP. Also, the full width at half maximum(FWHM) of one of the surface plasmon polaritons(SPPs) modes is very narrow, which is helpful for RI sensing. An RI sensitivity as high as 853 nm/RIU is obtained. The influence of the structure parameters on the RI sensitivity and the sensor figure of merit(FOM) are investigated in detail. We find that the sensor maintains high RI sensitivity over a large range of periods and nano-disk diameters. Results of the theoretical simulation of the composite structure as a plasmonic sensor are promising. Thus, this composite structure could be extensively applied in the fields of biology and chemistry.

The choice of a neoadjuvant chemotherapy cycle for breast cancer has significance in clinical practice: results from a population-based, real world study

Objective:Neoadjuvant chemotherapy(NAC)is currently used in both early stage and locally advanced breast cancers.The survival benefits of standard vs.non-standard NAC cycles are still unclear.This study aimed to investigate the relationship between NAC cycles and survival based on real world data.Methods:We identified patients diagnosed with invasive primary breast cancers who underwent NAC followed by surgery.Patients who received at least 4 NAC cycles were defined as having received standard cycles,while patients who received less than 4 NAC cycles were defined as having received non-standard cycles.Kaplan-Meier curves and Cox proportional hazard models were used to estimate the disease-free survival(DFS)and overall survival(OS).Results:Of the 1,024 included patients,700 patients received standard NAC cycles and 324 patients received non-standard NAC cycles.The DFS estimates were 87.1%and 81.0%(P=0.007)and the OS estimates were 90.0%and 82.6%(P=0.001)in the standard and non-standard groups,respectively.Using multivariate analyses,patients treated with standard NAC cycles showed significant survival benefits in both DFS[hazard ratio(HR):0.62,95%confidence interval(CI):0.44–0.88]and OS(HR:0.54,95%CI:0.37–0.79).Using stratified analyses,standard NAC cycles were associated with improved DFS(HR:0.59,95%CI:0.36–0.96)and OS(HR:0.49,95%CI:0.28–0.86)in the HER2 positive group.Similar DFS(HR:0.50,95%CI:0.25–0.98)and OS(HR:0.45,95%CI:0.22–0.91)benefits were shown for the triple negative group.Conclusions:Standard NAC cycles were associated with a significant survival benefit,especially in patients with HER2 positive or triple negative breast cancer.

Towards safe lithium-sulfur batteries from liquid-state electrolyte to solid-state electrolyte

Lithium-sulfur(Li-S)battery has been considered as one of the most promising future batteries owing to the high theoretical energy density(2600 W-h-kg-1)and the usage of the inexpensive active materials(elemental sulfur).The recent progress in fundamental research and engineering of the Li-S battery,involved in electrode,electrolyte,membrane,binder,and current collector,has greatly promoted the performance of Li s batteries from the laboratory level to the approaching practical level.However,the safety concerns still deserve attention in the following application stage.This review focuses on the development of the electrolyte for Li S batteries from liquid state to solid state.Some problems and the corresponding solutions are emphasized,such as the soluble lithium polysulfides migration,ionic conductivity of electrolyte,the interface contact between electrolyte and electrode,and the reaction kinetics.Moreover,future perspectives of the safe and high-performance Li S batteries arealso introduced.

CdBiO2Br nanosheets in situ strong coupling to carbonized polymer dots and improved photocatalytic activity for organic pollutants degradation

Carbonized polymer dots(CPDs)modified layer-structured CdBiO_(2)Br(CPDs/CdBiO_(2)Br)Z-scheme heterojunction hybrid material has been synthesized via simple solvothermal method.The hybrid material with Z-scheme heterojunction can effectively maintain the original highly oxidizing holes of CdBiO_(2)Br and the highly reducing electrons of CPDs.In addition,the construction of heterostructure is beneficial to the migration and separation of photogenerated carriers.Under visible light irradiation,6 wt%CPDs/CdBiO_(2)Br showed the best catalytic activity for degradation of organic pollutants.Free radical capture experiments and ESR analysis confirmed that the main active species are·O_(2)^(-)and h^(+).The decomposition process of organic pollutants was analyzed by LC-MS.Finally,the probable visible light mechanism performance of CPDs/CdBiO_(2)Br as direct Z-scheme heterojunction photocatalytic materials was proposed.