Cu Nanowires with Clean Surfaces: Synthesis and Enhanced Electrocatalytic Activity

Low activity and high cost of electrocatalysts are the major challenge for the commercialization of the direct fuel cells (DFCs) and biofuel cells. In this work, we demonstrate the desirable “clean surfaces” effect of Cu nanocrystals in electrocatalysis. By a new reaction route of Cu₂O nanospheres (Cu₂O NSs), Cu nanowires (Cu NWs) with high purity and “clean surfaces” are first obtained under mild conditions. Benefiting from the path directing effects and abundant (100) facets, the as-prepared Cu NWs exhibit a lower overpotential to achieve the methanol electro-oxidation reaction (MOR) than that of analogous Cu nanoparticles (Cu NPs). Moreover, the “clean surfaces” provide more available active sites for the efficient transfer of electrons, enabling the Cu NWs to show their enhanced electrocatalytic activity. In the MOR, forward peak current density for the surface-cleaned Cu NWs is 2839 μA cm^–2, which is ca. 6.45-fold higher than that of the Cu NWs with residual capping molecules on their surface. The “clean surfaces” effect can also be extended to the glucose electro-oxidation reaction (GOR), and the enhancement in specific surface area activity for the Cu NWs is 11.3-fold. This work enhances the electrocatalytic performance of Cu nanocrystals without the need for additional noble metals, which opens up new avenues for utilizing non-noble metals in the DFC or biofuel cell applications

Persistent Luminescence Lifetime-Based Near-Infrared Nanoplatform via Deep Learning for High-Fidelity Biosensing of Hypochlorite

In light of deep tissue penetration and ultralow background, near-infrared (NIR) persistent luminescence (PersL) bioprobes have become powerful tools for bioapplications. However, the inhomogeneous signal attenuation may significantly limit its application for precise biosensing owing to tissue absorption and scattering. In this work, a PersL lifetime-based nanoplatform via deep learning was proposed for high-fidelity bioimaging and biosensing in vivo. The persistent luminescence imaging network (PLI-Net), which consisted of a 3D-deep convolutional neural network (3D-CNN) and the PersL imaging system, was logically constructed to accurately extract the lifetime feature from the profile of PersL intensity-based decay images. Significantly, the NIR PersL nanomaterials represented by Zn1+xGa2–2xSnxO4: 0.4 % Cr (ZGSO) were precisely adjusted over their lifetime, enabling the PersL lifetime-based imaging with high-contrast signals. Inspired by the adjustable and reliable PersL lifetime imaging of ZGSO NPs, a proof-of-concept PersL nanoplatform was further developed and showed exceptional analytical performance for hypochlorite detection via a luminescence resonance energy transfer process. Remarkably, on the merits of the dependable and anti-interference PersL lifetimes, this PersL lifetime-based nanoprobe provided highly sensitive and accurate imaging of both endogenous and exogenous hypochlorite. This breakthrough opened up a new way for the development of high-fidelity biosensing in complex matrix systems

The values for the proxy variable estimated for poultry trade flows among 318 prefecture-level cities in mainland China

The dataset presents values for a proxy variable for poultry trade flows among 318 prefecture-level mainland China cities, estimated with modified radiation model

The production and consumption of prefecture-level cities in mainland China 2015

The dataset presents the production and consumption of 318 prefecture-level cities in mainland China in 2015

<i>In Vitro</i> Activity of Sodium New Houttuyfonate Alone and in Combination with Oxacillin or Netilmicin against Methicillin-Resistant <i>Staphylococcus aureus</i>

<div><p>Background</p><p><i>Staphylococcus aureus</i> can cause severe infections, including bacteremia and sepsis. The spread of methicillin-resistant <i>Staphylococcus aureus</i> (MRSA) highlights the need for novel treatment options. Sodium new houttuyfonate (SNH) is an analogue of houttuynin, the main antibacterial ingredient of <i>Houttuynia cordata</i> Thunb. The aim of this study was to evaluate <i>in vitro</i> activity of SNH and its potential for synergy with antibiotics against hospital-associated MRSA.</p><p>Methodology</p><p>A total of 103 MRSA clinical isolates recovered in two hospitals in Beijing were evaluated for susceptibility to SNH, oxacillin, cephalothin, meropenem, vancomycin, levofloxacin, minocycline, netilmicin, and trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole by broth microdilution. Ten isolates were evaluated for potential for synergy between SNH and the antibiotics above by checkerboard assay. Time-kill analysis was performed in three isolates to characterize the kill kinetics of SNH alone and in combination with the antibiotics that engendered synergy in checkerboard assays. Besides, two reference strains were included in all assays.</p><p>Principal Findings</p><p>SNH inhibited all test strains with minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) ranging from 16 to 64 µg/mL in susceptibility tests, and displayed inhibition to bacterial growth in concentration-dependent manner in time-kill analysis. In synergy studies, the combinations of SNH-oxacillin, SNH-cephalothin, SNH-meropenem and SNH-netilmicin showed synergistic effects against 12 MRSA strains with median fractional inhibitory concentration (FIC) indices of 0.38, 0.38, 0.25 and 0.38 in checkerboard assays. In time-kill analysis, SNH at 1/2 MIC in combination with oxacillin at 1/128 to 1/64 MIC or netilmicin at 1/8 to 1/2 MIC decreased the viable colonies by ≥2log₁₀ CFU/mL.</p><p>Conclusions/Significance</p><p>SNH demonstrated <i>in vitro</i> antibacterial activity against 103 hospital-associated MRSA isolates. Combinations of sub-MIC levels of SNH and oxacillin or netilmicin significantly improved the <i>in vitro</i> antibacterial activity against MRSA compared with either drug alone. The SNH-based combinations showed promise in combating MRSA.</p></div

<i>In vitro</i> anticancer activities of JKA97 against breast cancer cells.

<p>(A) Chemical structure of JKA97. (B) Concentrations of JKA97 inducing 50% growth inhibition (IC₅₀) in breast cancer cells, relative to the corresponding controls, based on the MTT assay. MCF7, MDA-MB-468, and MCF7 p53KD cells were exposed to various concentrations of JKA97 for 72 hrs. (C) Anti-proliferative effects of JKA97 on breast cancer cells. Cells were exposed to various concentrations of JKA97 for 48 hrs, followed by the BrdUrd incorporation assay. The proliferation index was calculated against untreated control cells (*P<0.05). (D) Induction of apoptosis in breast cancer cells by JKA97. Cells were exposed to various concentrations of JKA97 for 24 hrs, followed by measurement of apoptosis by Annexin V assay. The apoptotic index was calculated against untreated control cells (*P<0.05). (E) Effects of JKA97 on the cell cycle distribution of breast cancer cells. Cells were exposed to various concentrations of JKA97 for 24 hrs, followed by measurement DNA contents by flow cytometry. The cell cycle distribution was evaluated by comparing with that of control cells (*P<0.05). All the assays were performed in triplicate. Results were from at least three separate, repeated experiments.</p

Sub-MIC levels of SNH and netilmicin alone and in combination against MRSA strains.

<p>A) MRSA 5–20, 1/2×MIC SNH-1/4×MIC NET (MIC of SNH = 32 µg/mL, MIC of NET = 16 µg/mL); B) MRSA 6–29, 1/2×MIC SNH-1/2×MIC NET (MIC of SNH = 32 µg/mL, MIC of NET = 8 µg/mL); C) MRSA 8–36, 1/2×MIC SNH-1/8×MIC NET (MIC of SNH = 32 µg/mL, MIC of NET = 64 µg/mL); D) ATCC 33591 1/2×MIC SNH-1/4×MIC NET (MIC of SNH = 32 µg/mL, MIC of NET = 4 µg/mL); E) Mu 50, 1/2×MIC SNH-1/4×MIC NET (MIC of SNH = 64 µg/mL, MIC of NET = 16 µg/mL); ▪, GC, growth control; ▴, SNH; ▽, NET; ○, combination of SNH and NET.</p

Effects of JKA97 on p21 expression.

<p>(A1) MCF7, MDA-MB-468, and MCF7 p53KD cells were exposed to various concentrations of JKA97 or vehicle for 24 hrs, followed by exposure to protein synthesis inhibitor cycloheximide (CHX, 10 µg/mL). p21 protein expression was detected by Western blotting at different times after exposure of CHX. (A2) The graph shows the quantification of the Western blotting data. MCF7 (B1), MDA-MB-468 (B2) and MCF7 p53KD (B3) Cells were exposed to various concentrations of JKA97 or vehicle for 24 hrs, and total RNA were extracted followed by reverse transcription, and detection mRNA level of p21 by Real-time quantification PCR and Quantification RT-PCR, normalized by mRNA level of GAPDH. (C) Cells were transfected with p21 promoter luciferase reporter plasmid and a Renilla luciferase reporter together for 12 hrs, followed by treatment of 10 µM JKA97 or vehicle for an additional 24 hrs. The reporter activity was normalized to the corresponding Renilla luciferase reporter. The luciferase assay was performed in triplicate. Statistical significance was determined compared with control (*P<0.05).</p

Effects of SNH in combination with antibiotics against 12 MRSA strains in checkerboard assay.

<p>Effects of SNH in combination with antibiotics against 12 MRSA strains in checkerboard assay.</p

<i>Houttuynia cordata</i> Thunb and related compounds.

<p>A) <i>Houttuynia cordata</i> Thunb (picture of the plant is from Chinese Pharmacopoeia Commission, 9^th edition <a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0068053#pone.0068053-Chinese1" target="_blank">[8]</a>), B) Houttuynin, C) Sodium houttuyfonate and D) Sodium new houttuyfonate.</p