New Photocathodic Analysis Platform with Quasi-Core/Shell-Structured TiO₂@Cu₂O for Sensitive Detection of H₂O₂ Release from Living Cells

In this work, we clearly demonstrate for the first time the use of a p-type semiconductor, Cu₂O, as the core unit of a photocathode to set up a new photocathodic analysis platform. With the help of a facile protection strategy, the Cu₂O photocathode presented efficient photoelectrochemical performance for H₂O₂ sensing with a detection limit of 0.15 μM, which allowed the new photocathodic analysis platform to detect H₂O₂ released from living tumorigenic cells, thus demonstrating its potential application as a sensitive cancer detection probe. The protected TiO₂ layer was coated on Cu₂O to form a quasi-core/shell structure (TiO₂@Cu₂O) through a facile sol–gel method, which significantly enhanced the photostability, comparable to the TiO₂@Cu₂O samples prepared by a complicated atomic layer deposition method. In this new photocathodic analysis platform, the semiconductive metal oxides accomplish a job usually completed by conductive noble metals in an electroanalysis process. We believe that this photocathodic detection strategy opens up a new detection approach, extends the application range of semiconductor materials, and thus sheds light on the further fusing of photoelectrochemical technique with analytical methods

Gold Nanoparticles Decorated Hematite Photoelectrode for Sensitive and Selective Photoelectrochemical Aptasensing of Lysozyme

Photoelectrochemical aptasensor (PECAS) is a new and promising detection platform with both high sensitivity and good selectivity. Exploration of new photoelectrode materials and establishment of effective charge transfer channel between photoelectrode and aptamer are the main challenges in this field. In this work, an efficient PECAS based on Au nanoparticles (NPs) decorated Fe₂O₃ nanorod photoelectrode is rationally designed, fabricated, and exhibited excellent sensitivity and selectivity for detection of lysozyme (Lys) with an ultralow detection limit of 3 pM and wide detection range from 10 pM to 100 nM. The Au NPs not only act as anchor to establish an efficient charge transfer channel between the photoelectrode and the aptamer, but also help to enhance the PEC performance through adjusting the carrier density of Fe₂O₃. The rationally designed photoelectrode opens up a distinctive avenue for promoting the PECAS to be a versatile analysis method

Phosphorus Cation Doping: A New Strategy for Boosting Photoelectrochemical Performance on TiO₂ Nanotube Photonic Crystals

Photoelectrochemical (PEC) water splitting is a promising technique for sustainable hydrogen generation. However, PEC performance on current semiconductors needs further improvement. Herein, a phosphorus cation doping strategy is proposed to fundamentally boost PEC performance on TiO₂ nanotube photonic crystal (TiO₂ NTPC) photoelectrodes in both the visible-light region and full solar-light illumination. The self-supported P-TiO₂ NTPC photoelectrodes are fabricated by a facile two-step electrochemical anodization method and subsequent phosphidation treatment. The Ti⁴⁺ is partially replaced by P cations (P⁵⁺) from the crystal lattice, which narrows the band gap of TiO₂ and induces charge imbalance by the formation of Ti–O–P bonds. We believe the combination of unique photonic nanostructures of TiO₂ NTPCs and P cation doping strategy will open up a new opportunity for enhancing PEC performance of TiO₂-based photoelectrodes

Pyrite FeS₂ Sensitized TiO₂ Nanotube Photoanode for Boosting Near-Infrared Light Photoelectrochemical Water Splitting

Effective utilization of ultraviolet and visible light for hydrogen evolution in a photoelectrochemical (PEC) water splitting approach has been widely investigated, whereas infrared light, another major fraction of solar radiation (∼50%), is rarely reported for implementing PEC water splitting application. In this paper, we first demonstrate the coupling of air and solution stable pyrite iron disulfide (FeS₂) with hierarchical top-porous–bottom-tubular TiO₂ nanotubes (TiO₂ NTs) to realize high PEC performance not only in the ultraviolet and visible light regions but also in the infrared light region with photocurrent enhancement by more than 3 orders of magnitude compared to that of the pristine TiO₂ NTs under illumination of near-infrared light. The significant enhancement of PEC performance can be ascribed to the rational coupling of FeS₂ with a small band gap and TiO₂ NTs with unique morphology and proper electronic features. We postulate the proposed novel FeS₂/TiO₂ NTs photoelectrode has the potential to address the low efficiency of PEC water spitting in the infrared light region, and thus can make a significant contribution in the field of energy conversion

Topotactic Conversion of Copper(I) Phosphide Nanowires for Sensitive Electrochemical Detection of H₂O₂ Release from Living Cells

In this work, we clearly demonstrate for the first time the use of transition-metal phosphides to set up a new cathodic analysis platform for sensitive and selective electrochemical nonenzymatic detection of H₂O₂. With the help of a facile topotactic conversion method, the noble metal-free electrocatalyst of copper­(I) phosphide nanowires on three-dimensional porous copper foam (Cu₃P NWs/CF) is fabricated with electrochemical anodized Cu­(OH)₂ NWs as precursor. The Cu₃P NWs/CF-based sensor presents excellent electrocatalytic activity for H₂O₂ reduction with a detection limit of 2 nM, the lowest detection limit achieved by noble-metal free electrocatalyst, which guarantees the possibility of sensitive and reliable detection of H₂O₂ release from living tumorigenic cells, thus showing the potential application as a sensitive cancer cell detection probe

New bioactive labdane diterpenoids from <i>Marrubium aschersonii</i>

<p>A phytochemical investigation of the ethanol extract of <i>Marrubium aschersonii</i> Magnus (Lamiaceae) collected from Tunisia led to the isolation and identification of two new labdane diterpenoids, marrubaschs A (<b>1</b>) and B (<b>2</b>), along with two known compounds (<b>3</b> and <b>4</b>). Their structures were elucidated by spectroscopic methods including HRESIMS and NMR techniques. All compounds were evaluated for their inhibitory effects on the nitric oxide (NO) production induced by lipopolysaccharide in RAW 264.7 macrophage cells. Compound <b>2</b> exhibited weak inhibition of NO production with an IC₅₀ value of 35 ± 1.0 μM.</p

Additional file 1 of The association between sarcopenia and incident of depressive symptoms: a prospective cohort study

Supplementary Material 1: Characteristics of the participants at baseline in subgroup

Data_Sheet_2.XLSX

<p>Particle-attached (PA) and free-living (FL) microorganisms play significant but different roles in mineralization of organic matter (OM) in the ocean. Currently, little is known about PA and FL microbial communities in bathyal and abyssal pelagic waters, and understanding of their diversity and distribution in the water column and their interactions with environmental factors in the trench area is limited. We investigated for the first time the variations of abundance and diversities of the PA and FL bacterial communities in the epi-, bathy-, and abyssopelagic zones of the New Britain Trench (NBT). The PA communities showed decreasing species richness but increasing relative abundance with depth, suggesting the increasing ecological significance of the PA bacteria in the deep ocean. The abundance and diversity of PA and FL bacterial communities in the NBT water column appeared to be shaped by different sets of environment factors, which might be related to different micro-niches of the two communities. Analysis on species distribution suggested that the differences between PA and FL bacteria communities mainly resulted from the different relative abundance of the “shared taxa” in the two types of communities. These findings provide valuable information for understanding the relative ecological roles of the PA and FL bacterial communities and their interactions with environmental factors in different pelagic zones along the vertical profile of the NBT water column.</p

Data_Sheet_1.DOCX

<p>Particle-attached (PA) and free-living (FL) microorganisms play significant but different roles in mineralization of organic matter (OM) in the ocean. Currently, little is known about PA and FL microbial communities in bathyal and abyssal pelagic waters, and understanding of their diversity and distribution in the water column and their interactions with environmental factors in the trench area is limited. We investigated for the first time the variations of abundance and diversities of the PA and FL bacterial communities in the epi-, bathy-, and abyssopelagic zones of the New Britain Trench (NBT). The PA communities showed decreasing species richness but increasing relative abundance with depth, suggesting the increasing ecological significance of the PA bacteria in the deep ocean. The abundance and diversity of PA and FL bacterial communities in the NBT water column appeared to be shaped by different sets of environment factors, which might be related to different micro-niches of the two communities. Analysis on species distribution suggested that the differences between PA and FL bacteria communities mainly resulted from the different relative abundance of the “shared taxa” in the two types of communities. These findings provide valuable information for understanding the relative ecological roles of the PA and FL bacterial communities and their interactions with environmental factors in different pelagic zones along the vertical profile of the NBT water column.</p

DataSheet_1_CytoSorb in patients with coronavirus disease 2019: A rapid evidence review and meta-analysis.pdf

BackgroundAfter its approval by the European Union in 2011, CytoSorb therapy has been applied to control cytokine storm and lower the increased levels of cytokines and other inflammatory mediators in blood. However, the efficiency of this CytoSorb treatment in patients with coronavirus disease (COVID-19) still remains unclear. To elucidate the Cytosorb efficiency, we conducted a systematic review and single-arm proportion meta-analysis to combine all evidence available in the published literature to date, so that this comprehensive knowledge can guide clinical decision-making and future research.MethodsThe literature published within the period 1 December 2019 to 31 December 2021 and stored in the Cochrane Library, Embase, PubMed, and International Clinical Trials Registry Platform (ICTRP) was searched for all relevant studies including the cases where COVID-19 patients were treated with CytoSorb. We performed random-effects meta-analyses by R software (3.6.1) and used the Joanna Briggs Institute checklist to assess the risk of bias. Both categorical and continuous variables were presented with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) as pooled proportions for categorical variables and pooled means for continuous outcomes.ResultsWe included 14 studies with 241 COVID-19 patients treated with CytoSorb hemadsorption. Our findings reveal that for COVID-19 patients receiving CytoSorb treatment, the combined in-hospital mortality was 42.1% (95% CI 29.5–54.6%, I2 = 74%). The pooled incidence of adjunctive extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) support was 73.2%. Both the C-reactive protein (CRP) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) levels decreased after CytoSorb treatment. The pooled mean of the CRP level decreased from 147.55 (95% CI 91.14–203.96) to 92.36 mg/L (95% CI 46.74–137.98), while that of IL-6 decreased from 339.49 (95% CI 164.35–514.63) to 168.83 pg/mL (95% CI 82.22–255.45).ConclusionsThe majority of the COVID-19 patients treated with CytoSorb received ECMO support. In-hospital mortality was 42.1% for the COVID-19 patients who had CytoSorb treatment. Both CRP and IL-6 levels decreased after Cytosorb treatment.</p