Differential Responses of NHX1 and SOS1 Gene Expressions to Salinity in two Miscanthus sinensis Anderss.Accessions with Different Salt Tolerance

The lignocellulosic crop Miscanthus spp.has been identified as a good candidate for biomass production.The responses of Miscanthus sinensis Anderss.to salinity were studied to satisfy the needs for high yields in marginal areas and to avoid competition with food production.The results indicated that the relative advantages of the tolerant accession over the sensitive one under saline conditions were associated with restricted Na^(+)accumulation in shoots.Seedlings of two accessions(salt-tolerant‘JM0119’and salt-sensitive‘JM0099’)were subjected to 0(control),100,200,and 300 mM NaCl stress to better understand the salt-induced biochemical responses of genes involved in Na^(+)accumulation in M.sinensis.The adaptation responses of genes encoding for Na^(+)/H^(+)antiporters,NHX1 and SOS1 to NaCl stress were examined in JM0119 and JM0099.The cDNA sequences of genes examined were highly conserved among the relatives of M.sinensis based on the sequencing on approximate 600 bp-long cDNA fragments obtained from degenerate PCR.These salt-induced variations of gene expression investigated by quantitative real-time PCR provided evidences for insights of the molecular mechanisms of salt tolerance in M.sinensis.The expression of NHX1 was up-regulated by salt stress in JM0119 shoot and root tissues.However,it was hardly affected in JM0099 shoot tissue except for a significant increase at the 100 mM salt treatment,and it was salt-suppressed in the JM0099 root tissue.In the root tissue,the expression of SOS1 was induced by the high salt treatment in JM0119 but repressed by all salt treatments in JM0099.Thus,the remarkably higher expression of NHX1 and SOS1 were associated with the resistance to Na^(+)toxicity by regulation of the Na^(+)influx,efflux,and sequestration under different salt conditions.

Ni3S2 nanorods growing directly on Ni foam for all-solid-state asymmetric supercapacitor and efficient overall water splitting

Transition metal compounds are attractive for their significant applications in supercapacitors and as non-noble metal catalysts for electrochemical water splitting.Herein,we develop Ni3 S2 nanorods growing directly on Ni foam,which act as multifunctional additive-free Ni3 S2@Ni electrode for supercapacitor and overall water splitting.Based on PVA-KOH gel electrolyte,the assembled all-solid-state Ni3 S2@Ni//AC asymmetric supercapacitor delivers a high areal energy density of 0.52 mWh cm^-2 at an areal power density of 9.02 MW cm^-2,and exhibits an excellent cycling stability with a capacitance retention ratio of 89%after 10000 GCD cycles at a current density of 30 mA cm^-2.For hydrogen evolution reaction and oxygen evolution reaction in 1 M KOH,Ni3 S2@Ni electrode achieves a benchmark of 10 mA cm^-2at overpotentials of 82 mV and 310 mV,respectively.Furthermore,the assembled Ni3 S2@Ni‖Ni3 S2@Ni electrolyzer for overall water splitting attains a current density of 10 mA cm^-2 at 1.61 V.The in-situ synthesis of Ni3 S2@Ni electrode enriches the applications of additive-free transition metal compounds in high-performance energy storage devices and efficient electrocatalysis.

Robust boron nanoplatform provokes potent tumoricidal activities via inhibiting heat shock protein

Near-infrared(NIR)-light-triggered photothermal therapy(PTT)is a promising treatment for breast cancer.However,its therapeutic efficiency is often compromised due to the heatinduced up-regulation of heat shock proteins,which confer photothermal resistance.To solve this urgent problem,PEGylated two-dimensional boron nanosheets(B-PEG)-which allow both multimodal imaging and photothermal conversion-were loaded with gambogic acid(GA),which can inhibit heat shock protein 90(Hsp90).Experimental findings indicated that this combination of B-PEG and GA could serve as an integrated drug delivery system for cancer diagnosis and treatment.It could be used to administer mild PTT as well as chemotherapy for breast cancer,provide improved anti-tumor effects,and reduce the toxicity of PTT,all while inhibiting breast cancer growth.This drug delivery system could offer a novel tool for administering chemotherapy combined with PTT while avoiding the adverse effects of traditional PTT.

Mussel-Inspired Adhesive Hydrogels: Chemistry and Biomedical Applications

Adhesive hydrogels are an emerging class of hydrogels that combine three-dimensional hydrated networks with adhesive properties.These properties facilitate intimate tissue-material contact in diverse biomedical applications,enhancing tissue joining,drug transport,and signal transmission.Inspired by the universal adhesiveness of mussel foot proteins,3,4-dihydroxyphenyl-L-alanine (DOPA) and its analogs have been extensively exploited for the fabrication of adhesive hydrogels,within which the DOPA moieties can not only serve as cross-linking mediators but also participate in various intermolecular and surface interactions to mediate wet adhesion.This mini-review highlights recent achievements in the development of mussel-inspired adhesive hydrogels,focusing on: (1) elucidating DOPA-mediated adhesion mechanisms through nanomechanical characterizations,(2) designing injectable adhesive hydrogels toward applications in drug delivery,hemostasis,and wound closure,which includes in situ gelling liquids and shear-thinning preformed hydrogels,and (3) fabricating tough adhesive hydrogels with enhanced mechanical properties for use in tissue regeneration,biosensing,and bioimaging,with typical examples of nanocomposite and double-network hydrogels.The challenges and prospects in this rapidly developing field are also discussed.

Surface disorder engineering in ZnCdS for cocatalyst free visible light driven hydrogen production

Metal chalcogenide solid solution,especially ZnCdS,has been intensively investigated in photocatalytic H_(2) generation due to their cost-effective synthetic procedure and adjustable band structures.In this work,we report on the defect engineering of ZnCdS with surface disorder layer by simple room temperature Li-ethylenediamine(Li-EDA)treatment.Experimental results confirm the formation of unusual Zn and S dual vacancies,where rich S vacancies(Vs)served as electron trapping sites,meanwhile Zn vacancies(Vzn)served as hole trapping sites.The refined structure significantly facilitates the photo charge carrier transfer and improves photocatalytic properties of ZnCdS.The disordered ZnCdS shows a highest photocatalytic H_(2) production rate of 33.6 mmol·g^(-1)·h^(-1) under visible light with superior photocatalytic stabilities,which is 7.3 times higher than pristine ZnCdS and 7 times of Pt(1 wt.%)loaded ZnCdS.

Recent developments of infrared photodetectors with lowdimensional inorganic nanostructures

Low-dimensional inorganic nanostructures such as quantum dots as well as one-and two-dimensional nanostructures are widely studied and already used in high-performance infrared photodetectors.These structures feature large surface-to-volume ratios,tunable light absorption,and electron-limiting effects.This article reviews the state-of-the-art research of low-dimensional inorganic nanostructures and their application for infrared photodetection.Thanks to nano-structuring,a narrow bandgap,hybrid systems,surface-plasmon resonance,and doping,many common semiconductors have the potential to be used for infrared detection.The basic approaches towards infrared detection are summarized.Furthermore,a selection of very important and special nanostructured materials and their remarkable infrared-detection properties are introduced(e.g.,black phosphorus,graphene-based,MoX_(2)-based,Ⅲ-Ⅶ group).Each section in this review describes the corresponding photosensitive properties in detail.The article concludes with an outlook of anticipated future developments in the field.

Oxygen vacancies-rich cobalt-doped NiMoO4 nanosheets for high energy density and stable aqueous Ni-Zn battery

The enhancement of energy density and cycling stability is in urgent need for the widespread applications of aqueous rechargeable Ni-Zn batteries.Herein,a facile strategy has been employed to construct hierarchical Co-doped NiMoO4nanosheets as the cathode for high-performance Ni-Zn battery.Benefiting from the merits of substantially improved electrical conductivity and increased concentration of oxygen vacancies,the NiMoO4with 15%cobalt doping(denoted as CNMO-15)displays the best capacity of 361.4 m A h g-1at a current density of 3 A g-1and excellent cycle stability.Moreover,the assembled CNMO-15//Zn battery delivers a satisfactory specific capacity of 270.9 mA h g-1at 2 A g-1and a remarkable energy density of 474.1 W h kg-1at 3.5 kW kg-1,together with a maximum power density of 10.3 kW kg-1achieved at 118.8 W h kg-1.Noticeably,there is no capacity decay with a 119.8%retention observed after 5000 cycles,demonstrating its outstanding long lifespan.This work might provide valuable inspirations for the fabrication of high-performance Ni-Zn batteries with superior energy density and impressive stability.

Self-healing Hydrogelsand Underlying Reversible Intermolecular Interactions

Self-healing hydrogels have attracted growing attention over the past decade due to their biomimetic structure,biocompatibility,as well as enhanced lifespan and reliability,thereby have been widely used in various biomedical,electrical and environmental engineering applications.This feature article has reviewed our recent progress in self-healing hydrogels derived from mussel-inspired interactions,multiple hydrogen-bonding functional groups such as 2-ureido-4[1H]-pyrimidinohe(UPy),dynamic covalent bonds(eg,Schiff base reactions and boronic ester bonds).The underlying molecular basics of these interactions,hydrogel preparation principles,and corresponding performances and applications are introduced.The underlying reversible intermolecular interaction mechanisms in these hydrogels were investigated using nanomechanical techniques such as surface forces apparatus(SFA)and atomic force microscopy(AFM),providing fundamental insights into the self-healing mechanisms of the hydrogels.The remaining challenging issues and perspectives in this rapidly developing research area are also discussed.

In situ construction of heterostructured bimetallic sulfide/phosphide with rich interfaces for high-performance aqueous Zn-ion batteries

It is still challenging to develop suitable cathode structures for high-rate and stable aqueous Zn-ion batteries.Herein,a phosphating-assisted interfacial engineering strategy is designed for the controllable conversion of NiCo_(2)S_(4) nanosheets into heterostructured NiCoP/NiCo_(2)S_(4) as the cathodes in aqueous Zn-ion batteries.The multicomponent heterostructures with rich interfaces can not only improve the electrical conductivity but also enhance the diffusion pathways for Zn-ion storage.As expected,the NiCoP/NiCo_(2)S_(4) electrode has high performance with a large specific capacity of 251.1 mA h g^(−1) at a high current density of 10 A g^(−1) and excellent rate capability(retaining about 76%even at 50 A g^(−1)).Accordingly,the Zn-ion battery using NiCoP/NiCo_(2)S_(4) as the cathode delivers a high specific capacity(265.1 mA h g^(−1) at 5 A g^(−1)),a long-term cycling stability(96.9%retention after 5000 cycles),and a competitive energy density(444.7W h kg^(−1) at the power density of 8.4 kW kg^(−1)).This work therefore provides a simple phosphating-assisted interfacial engineering strategy to construct heterostructured electrode materials with rich interfaces for the development of high-performance energy storage devices in the future.

Nanotrap-enabled quantification of KRAS-induced peptide hydroxylation in blood for cancer early detection

Circulating peptide is a potential source of biomarkers for cancer detection.However,the existence of large molecular weight proteins in plasma have a disastrous effect on circulating peptides isolating and detecting.Herein,nanotrap fractionation following by mass spectrometry have been applied to quantify the levels of bradykinin (BK) and hydroxylated bradykinin (Hyp-BK) as a relative measure of KRAS-regulated prolyl-4-hydroxylase alpha-1 (P4HA1) which may serve as early diagnosis marker for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC).We found that P4HA1 can be upregulated by KRASG12v,which is a PDAC driver mutation,using HPNE/KRAS and HPNE cells.And we revealed that P4HA1 is overexpressed in PDAC tumors,compared to normal and inflamed pancreatic tissues.RNA interference revealed that P4HA1 activity was primarily responsible for Hyp-BK production.Mass spectrometry analysis revealed that plasma Hyp-BK/BK ratio was higher in PDAC than pancreatitis patients and healthy controls,while the area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve (AUC) is 0.8209 (95%Cl,0.7269-0.9149).The Hyp-BK/BK association with PDAC was reproduced in another cohort,where this ratio was found to increase with advancing tumor stage.These novel findings paved the way for wider applications of Nanotrap coupled mass spectrometry as a powerful tool for revealing biosignatures from plasma.

An adjustable multi-color detector based on regulating TiO_(2)surface adsorption and multi-junction synergy

A TiO_(2)-based multi-color photodetector with controlled photoelectric response to ultraviolet(UV)and visible light is developed by using band regulation technologies such as multi-junction synergy and surface adsorption.This photodetector is manufactured via a continuous process including magnetron sputtering,hydrothermal growth,hydrogen annealing,spin coating and thermal evaporation assembly to form a structure of N-doped TiO_(2)/hydrogenated-TiO_(2)/p-Si heterojunction.These synergistic effects form electronic potential wells in the device to control the electrical transport and spectral response of photo-generated carriers.In the air,the device exhibits a controllable photodetection ability that responds to visible light at positive voltages and UV light at negative voltages.But in vacuum(<0.1 Pa),the photodetection ability of the device at negative voltages is greatly reduced due to the lack of barrier effect caused by surface adsorption.On the contrary,the photodetection ability at positive voltage(e.g.,4 V)has been greatly improved,and the quantum efficiency reaches 206.6%under the 480 nm wavelength light.The device has a controllable ability to detect UV and visible light depending on the environments,which is very useful in the fields of environmental detection,chemical sensing and multi-color communication,etc.

Mechanically Strong and Highly Stiff Supramolecular Polymer Composites Repairable at Ambient Conditions

It is a formidable challenge to fabricate healable polymeric materials with high mechanical strength and stiffness due to the highly suppressed diffusion of their polymer chains.Herein,a high-strength,highly stiff,andrepairable/healable supramolecular polymercomposite was fabricatedby complexingpoly(acrylic acid)(PAA)and poly(allylamine hydrochloride)(PAH)in aqueous solutions,followed by molding into desired shapes.Exquisitely tuning the electrostatic and H-bonding interactions between PAA and PAH led to associative phase-separation and in situ formation of nanostructures in the resultant PAA–PAH composites.

Sustainable treatment of nitrate-containing wastewater by an autotrophic hydrogen-oxidizing bacterium

Bacteria are key denitrifiers in the reduction of nitrate(NO_(3)^(-)N),which is a contaminant in wastewater treatment plants(WWTPs).They can also produce carbon dioxide(CO_(2))and nitrous oxide(N2O).In this study,the autotrophic hydrogen-oxidizing bacterium Rhodoblastus sp.TH_(2)0 was isolated for sustainable treatment of NO_(3)^(-)N in wastewater.Efficient removal of NO_(3)^(-)N and recovery of biomass nitrogen were achieved.Up to 99%of NO_(3)^(-)N was removed without accumulation of nitrite and N2O,consuming CO_(2)of 3.25 mol for each mole of NO_(3)^(-)N removed.The overall removal rate of NO_(3)^(-)N reached 1.1 mg L^(-1)h^(-1)with a biomass content of approximately 0.71 g L^(-1)within 72 h.TH20 participated in NO_(3)^(-)N assimilation and aerobic denitrification.Results from 15N-labeled-nitrate test indicated that removed NO_(3)^(-)N was assimilated into organic nitrogen,showing an assimilation efficiency of 58%.Seventeen amino acids were detected,accounting for 43%of the biomass.Nitrogen loss through aerobic denitrification was only approximately 42%of total nitrogen.This study suggests that TH_(2)0 can be applied in WWTP facilities for water purification and production of valuable biomass to mitigate CO_(2)and N_(2)O emissions。

Engineering DNA quadruplexes in DNA nanostructures for biosensor construction

DNA quadruplexes are nucleic acid conformations comprised of four strands.They are prevalent in human genomes and increasing efforts are being directed toward their engineering.Taking advantage of the programmability of Watson-Crick base-pairing and conjugation methodology of DNA with other molecules,DNA nanostructures of increasing complexity and diversified geometries have been artificially constructed since 1980s.In this review,we investigate the interweaving of natural DNA quadruplexes and artificial DNA nanostructures in the development of the ever-prosperous field of biosensing,highlighting their specific roles in the construction of biosensor,including recognition probe,signal probe,signal amplifier and support platform.Their implementation in various sensing scenes was surveyed.And finally,general conclusion and future perspective are discussed for further developments.

Recent strategies for constructing efficient interfacial solar evaporation systems

Interfacial solar evaporation(ISE)is a promising technology to relieve worldwide freshwater shortages owing to its high energy conversion efficiency and environmentally sustainable potential.So far,many innovative materials and evaporators have been proposed and applied in ISE to enable highly controllable and efficient solar-to-thermal energy conversion.With rational design,solar evaporators can achieve excellent energy management for lowering energy loss,harvesting extra energy,and efficiently utilizing energy in the system to improve freshwater production.Beyond that,a strategy of reducing water vaporization enthalpy by introducing molecular engineering for water-state regulation has also been demonstrated as an effective approach to boost ISE.Based on these,this article discusses the energy nexus in two-dimensional(2D)and three-dimensional(3D)evaporators separately and reviews the strategies for design and fabrication of highly efficient ISE systems.The summarized work offers significant perspectives for guiding the future design of ISE systems with efficient energy management,which pave pathways for practical applications.

An enzyme-free glucose sensing device based on TiO2 nanorod array photoelectric catalysis

A simple one-step hydrothermal method is used to prepare an enzyme-free photoelectric combined glucose sensor based on TiO_(2)NRs/FTO with low cost,sample two-electrode,and excellent detection.Under 380 nm light(0.5 mW cm^(−2))irradiation and a positive voltage,holes are accumulated on TiO_(2)NRs surface,catalyzing glucose and forming a photocurrent without the need for an enzyme,such as Glucose oxidase(GOx).The designed sensor exhibits high sensitivity(about 0.96μA mM^(−1)cm^(−2),without GOx)and excellent linear relationship in the glucose concentration range of 5–15 mML^(−1).The prepared glucose sensor performs better with a sensitivity of 1.48μA mM^(−1)cm^(−2)when a certain amount of GOx is mixed in the detected solution.In addition,the sensor has excellent anti-interference resistance to non-reducing chitosan and reducing ascorbic acid with short response time(less than 5 s);thus,it can be used in quick detection with a double electrode system.This sensing device has the advantages of simple fabrication,easy storage,and reusability;therefore,it can be very promising in the portable and rapid monitoring of human blood glucose levels.

TiS2-based saturable absorber for ultrafast fiber lasers

We fabricate titanium disulfide(TiS2) using a liquid exfoliation method and subsequently a TiS2-based device by optically depositing the TiS2 material onto the microfiber. This device exhibits a strong nonlinear saturable absorption property with an optical modulation depth of 8.3% at 1560 nm. With the implementation of this all-fiber TiS2-based saturable absorber, we demonstrate that both mode-locking and Q-switching operation can be obtained in a turn-key all-fiber erbium-doped laser cavity. Our findings constitute the first example, to the best of our knowledge, of a TiS2-based saturable absorber for ultrashort pulse generation and highlight the great potential of such devices in two-dimensional nanomaterials-related photonics.