Evaluating the Toxicity of Silver Nanoparticles by Detecting Phosphorylation of Histone H3 in Combination with Flow Cytometry Side-Scattered Light

Post-translational modification of histones is linked to a variety of biological processes and disease states. This paper focuses on phosphorylation of histone H3 at serine 10 (p-H3S10), induced by silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) and discusses the usefulness of p-H3S10 as a marker to evaluate the toxicity of AgNPs. Cultured human cells showed remarkable p-H3S10 immediately after treatment with AgNPs but not with Ag microparticles. p-H3S10 lasts up to 24 h and strongly depends upon the cellular uptake of AgNPs. Removal of Ag ions suppressed p-H3S10, while adding an excess of Ag ions augmented p-H3S10. We expected that p-H3S10 requires two events: cellular uptake of AgNPs and continuous release of Ag ions from intracellular AgNPs. AgNPs enhanced the expression of the proto-oncogene <i>c-jun</i>, and p-H3S10 increased in the promoter sites of the gene, indicating that p-H3S10 might indicate a biological reaction related to carcinogenesis. We previously showed that side-scattered light from flow cytometry could be used to measure the uptake potential of nanoparticles [Suzuki, H.; Toyooka, T.; Ibuki, Y. Simple and easy method to evaluate uptake potential of nanoparticles in mammalian cells using a flow cytometric light scatter analysis. Environ. Sci. Technol. 2007, 41 (8), 3018−3024]. Our current findings suggest that p-H3S10 can be used to evaluate the toxicity of AgNPs and Ag ion release in combination with detection of side-scattered light from flow cytometry

NCQDs active sites as effective collectors of charge carriers towards enhanced photocatalytic activity of porous Co₃O₄

In this work, different proportions of N-doped carbon quantum dots/porous Co3O4 (NCQDs/p-Co3O4) NCQDs/Co3O4 composite photocatalysts were prepared by a simple self-assembly method. It was demonstrated by a series of characterizations that 50% NCQDs/Co3O4 has a good visible light response and low electrochemical impedance. The photocatalytic degradation of TC was investigated by the 50% NCQDs/p-Co3O4 composite photocatalyst, and the results showed that the degradation effect of TC reached 81.2% within 120 min. The higher photocatalytic activity of 50% NCQDs/p-Co3O4 was analyzed probably because NCQDs can improve the separation efficiency of photogenerated electron–hole pairs and p-Co3O4 can provide a larger specific surface area and thus has more active sites. This study provides a new strategy for improving the photodegradation activity of Co3O4 photocatalysts.</p

The correlation between the influencing factors and efficacy of immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy: an umbrella meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

We performed an umbrella meta-analysis to explore the factors that influence the efficacy of immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) therapy. We systematically searched three databases (PubMed, Web of Science and Embase) up to 20 February 2023. Extracting the effect size and 95% confidence intervals for overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS) and the objective response rate (ORR). A total of 65 articles were included. We identified the following factors that benefit ICI therapy: smoking status (PFS: 0.72 [0.62, 0.84], p p p p p p = .02), with liver metastases (OS: 1.16 [1.02,1.32], p = .02) and antibiotics (OS: 3.13 [1.25,7.84], p p = .003). The results of this umbrella meta-analysis first supported pre-existing understandings of the relationship between beneficial and adverse factors with the efficacy of ICI therapy. In addition, the overexpression of PD-L1 may adversely affect patients. The umbrella meta-analysis first supported pre-existing understandings of the relationship between beneficial and adverse factors with the efficacy of immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy.This study found three factors that are not conducive to the efficacy of immune checkpoint inhibitor: epidermal growth factor receptor mutations, with liver metastases and antibiotics.We found the overexpression of PD-L1 may adversely affect patients. The umbrella meta-analysis first supported pre-existing understandings of the relationship between beneficial and adverse factors with the efficacy of immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy. This study found three factors that are not conducive to the efficacy of immune checkpoint inhibitor: epidermal growth factor receptor mutations, with liver metastases and antibiotics. We found the overexpression of PD-L1 may adversely affect patients.</p

<b>Janus electronic state</b><b> of supported </b><b>iridium </b><b>nanoclusters for sustainable alkaline water electrolysis</b>

Metal-support electronic interactions play crucial roles in triggering the hydrogen spillover (HSo) to boost hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). It requires the supported metal of electron-rich state to facilitate the proton adsorption/spillover. However, this electron-rich metal state contradicts the traditional metal→support electron transfer protocol and is not compatible with the electron-donating oxygen evolution reaction (OER), especially in proton-poor alkaline conditions. Here we profile an Ir/NiPS3 support structure to study the Ir electronic states and performances in HSo/OER-integrated alkaline water electrolysis. The supported Ir is evidenced with Janus electron-rich and electron-poor states at the tip and interface regions to respectively facilitate the HSo and OER processes. Resultantly, the water electrolysis (WE) is efficiently implemented with 1.51 V at 10 mA cm–2 for 1000 hours in 1 M KOH and 1.44 V in urea-KOH electrolyte. This research clarifies the Janus electronic state as fundamental in rationalizing efficient metal-support WE catalysts.</p

Controllable Synthesis Quadratic-Dependent Unsaturated Magnetoresistance of Two-Dimensional Nonlayered Fe₇S₈ with Robust Environmental Stability

Two-dimensional (2D) iron chalcogenides (FeX, X = S, Se, Te) are emerging as an appealing class of materials for a wide range of research topics, including electronics, spintronics, and catalysis. However, the controlled syntheses and intrinsic property explorations of such fascinating materials still remain daunting challenges, especially for 2D nonlayered Fe7S8 with mixed-valence states and high conductivity. Herein, we design a general and temperature-mediated chemical vapor deposition (CVD) approach to synthesize ultrathin and large-domain Fe7S8 nanosheets on mica substrates, with the thickness down to ∼4.4 nm (2 unit-cell). Significantly, we uncover a quadratic-dependent unsaturated magnetoresistance (MR) with out-of-plane anisotropy in 2D Fe7S8, thanks to its ultrahigh crystalline quality and high conductivity (∼2.7 × 105 S m–1 at room temperature and ∼1.7 × 106 S m–1 at 2 K). More interestingly, the CVD-synthesized 2D Fe7S8 nanosheets maintain robust environmental stability for more than 8 months. These results hereby lay solid foundations for synthesizing 2D nonlayered iron chalcogenides with mixed-valence states and exploring fascinating quantum phenomena

Olivine-Type Nanosheets for Lithium Ion Battery Cathodes

Olivine-type LiMPO4 (M = Fe, Mn, Co, Ni) has become of great interest as cathodes for next-generation high-power lithium-ion batteries. Nevertheless, this family of compounds suffers from poor electronic conductivities and sluggish lithium diffusion in the [010] direction. Here, we develop a liquid-phase exfoliation approach combined with a solvothermal lithiation process in high-pressure high-temperature (HPHT) supercritical fluids for the fabrication of ultrathin LiMPO4 nanosheets (thickness: 3.7–4.6 nm) with exposed (010) surface facets. Importantly, the HPHT solvothermal lithiation could produce monodisperse nanosheets while the traditional high-temperature calcination, which is necessary for cathode materials based on high-quality crystals, leads the formation of large grains and aggregation of the nanosheets. The as-synthesized nanosheets have features of high contact area with the electrolyte and fast lithium transport (time diffusion constant in at the microsecond level). The estimated diffusion time for Li+ to diffuse over a [010]-thickness of L) was calculated to be less than 25, 2.5, and 250 μs for LiFePO4, LiMnPO4, and LiCoPO4 nanosheets, respectively, via the equation of t = L2/D. These values are about 5 orders of magnitude lower than the corresponding bulk materials. This results in high energy densities and excellent rate capabilities (e.g., 18 kW kg–1 and 90 Wh kg–1 at a 80 C rate for LiFePO4 nanosheets)

Phase-Tunable Synthesis and Etching-Free Transfer of Two-Dimensional Magnetic FeTe

Two-dimensional (2D) Fe-chalcogenides (e.g., FeS, FeSe, and FeTe, etc.) have sparked extensive interest due to their rich phase diagrams including superconductivity, magnetism, and topological state, as well as versatile applications in electronic devices and energy related fields. However, the phase-tunable synthesis and green transfer of such fascinating materials still remain challenging. Herein, we develop a temperature-mediated chemical vapor deposition (CVD) approach to grow ultrathin nonlayered hexagonal and layered tetragonal FeTe nanosheets on mica substrates, with their thicknesses down to ∼2.3 and ∼4.0 nm, respectively. Interestingly, we have observed exciting ferromagnetism with the Curie temperature approaching ∼300 K and high conductivity (∼1.96 × 105 S m–1) in 2D hexagonal FeTe. More significantly, we have designed a swift, high-efficiency, and etching-free method for the transfer of 2D FeTe nanosheets onto arbitrary substrates, and such a transfer strategy enables the cyclic utilization of growth substrates. These results should propel the further development of phase-tunable synthesis and green transfer of 2D Fe-chalcogenides, as well as their potential applications in spintronic devices

Phase Restructuring in Transition Metal Dichalcogenides for Highly Stable Energy Storage

Achieving homogeneous phase transition and uniform charge distribution is essential for good cycle stability and high capacity when phase conversion materials are used as electrodes. Herein, we show that chemical lithiation of bulk 2H-MoS₂ distorts its crystalline domains in three primary directions to produce mosaic-like 1T′ nanocrystalline domains, which improve phase and charge uniformity during subsequent electrochemical phase conversion. 1T′-Li_<i>x</i>MoS₂, a macroscopic dense material with interconnected nanoscale grains, shows excellent cycle stability and rate capability in a lithium rechargeable battery compared to bulk or exfoliated-restacked MoS₂. Transmission electron microscopy studies reveal that the interconnected MoS₂ nanocrystals created during the phase change process are reformable even after multiple cycles of galvanostatic charging/discharging, which allows them to play important roles in the long term cycling performance of the chemically intercalated TMD materials. These studies shed light on how bulk TMDs can be processed into quasi-2D nanophase material for stable energy storage

Ultrathin quantum light source enabled by a nonlinear van der Waals crystal with vanishing interlayer-electronic-coupling

Interlayer electronic coupling in two-dimensional (2D) materials enables tunable and emergent properties by stacking engineering. However, it also brings significant evolution of electronic structures and attenuation of excitonic effects in 2D semiconductors as exemplified by quickly degrading excitonic photoluminescence and optical nonlinearities in transition metal dichalcogenides when monolayers are stacked into van der Waals structures. Here we report a novel van der Waals crystal, niobium oxide dichloride, featuring a vanishing interlayer electronic coupling and scalable second harmonic generation intensity of up to three orders higher than that of exciton-resonant monolayer WS2. Importantly, the strong second-order nonlinearity enables correlated parametric photon pair generation, via a spontaneous parametric down-conversion (SPDC) process, in flakes as thin as ~46 nm. To our knowledge, this is the first SPDC source unambiguously demonstrated in 2D layered materials, and the thinnest SPDC source ever reported. Our work opens an avenue towards developing van der Waals material-based ultracompact on-chip SPDC sources, and high-performance photon modulators in both classical and quantum optical technologies

Additional file 1 of Phenotype, genotype and long-term prognosis of 40 Chinese patients with isobutyryl-CoA dehydrogenase deficiency and a review of variant spectra in ACAD8

Additional file 1: Table 1. redicted functional effects of 10 novel missense variants; Table 2. Clinical features and genotypes of 40 IBDD patients