Single-mode tunable laser emission in the single-exciton regime from colloidal nanocrystals

Whispering-gallery-mode resonators have been extensively used in conjunction with different materials for the development of a variety of photonic devices. Among the latter, hybrid structures, consisting of dielectric microspheres and colloidal core/shell semiconductor nanocrystals as gain media, have attracted interest for the development of microlasers and studies of cavity quantum electrodynamic effects. Here we demonstrate single-exciton, single-mode, spectrally tuned lasing from ensembles of optical antenna-designed, colloidal core/shell CdSe/CdS quantum rods deposited on silica microspheres. We obtain single-exciton emission by capitalizing on the band structure of the specific core/shell architecture that strongly localizes holes in the core, and the two-dimensional quantum confinement of electrons across the elongated shell. This creates a type-II conduction band alignment driven by coulombic repulsion that eliminates non-radiative multi-exciton Auger recombination processes, thereby inducing a large exciton–bi-exciton energy shift. Their ultra-low thresholds and single-mode, single-exciton emission make these hybrid lasers appealing for various applications, including quantum information processing

Comparison of outcomes between immediate implant-based and autologous reconstruction: 15-year, single-center experience in a propensity score-matched Chinese cohort

Objective: The number of immediate breast reconstruction (IBR) procedures has been increasing in China. This study aimed to investigate the oncological safety of IBR, and to compare the survival and surgical outcomes between implant-based and autologous reconstruction. Methods: Data from patients diagnosed with invasive breast cancer who underwent immediate total breast reconstruction between 2001 and 2016 were retrospectively reviewed. Long-term breast cancer-specific survival (BCSS), disease-free survival (DFS), and locoregional recurrence-free survival (LRFS) were evaluated. Patient satisfaction with the breast was compared between the implant-based and autologous groups. BCSS, DFS, and LRFS were compared between groups after propensity score matching (PSM). Results: A total of 784 IBR procedures were identified, of which 584 were performed on patients with invasive breast cancer (implant-based, n = 288; autologous, n = 296). With a median follow-up of 71.3 months, the 10-year estimates of BCSS, DFS, and LRFS were 88.9% [95% confidence interval (CI) (85.1%–93.0%)], 79.6% [95% CI (74.7%–84.8%)], and 94.0% [95% CI (90.3%–97.8%)], respectively. A total of 124 patients completed the Breast-Q questionnaire, and no statistically significant differences were noted between groups (P = 0.823). After PSM with 27 variables, no statistically significant differences in BCSS, DFS, and LRFS were found between the implant-based (n = 177) and autologous (n = 177) groups. Further stratification according to staging, histological grade, lymph node status, and lymph-venous invasion status revealed no significant survival differences between groups. Conclusions: Both immediate implant-based and autologous reconstruction were reasonable choices with similar long-term oncological outcomes and patient-reported satisfaction among patients with invasive breast cancer in China

Modulation of Bax and mTOR for Cancer Therapeutics.

A rationale exists for pharmacologic manipulation of the serine (S)184 phosphorylation site of the proapoptotic Bcl2 family member Bax as an anticancer strategy. Here, we report the refinement of the Bax agonist SMBA1 to generate CYD-2-11, which has characteristics of a suitable clinical lead compound. CYD-2-11 targeted the structural pocket proximal to S184 in the C-terminal region of Bax, directly activating its proapoptotic activity by inducing a conformational change enabling formation of Bax homooligomers in mitochondrial membranes. In murine models of small-cell and non-small cell lung cancers, including patient-derived xenograft and the genetically engineered mutant KRAS-driven lung cancer models, CYD-2-11 suppressed malignant growth without evident significant toxicity to normal tissues. In lung cancer patients treated with mTOR inhibitor RAD001, we observed enhanced S184 Bax phosphorylation in lung cancer cells and tissues that inactivates the propaoptotic function of Bax, contributing to rapalog resistance. Combined treatment of CYD-2-11 and RAD001 in murine lung cancer models displayed strong synergistic activity and overcame rapalog resistanc

Study of Electrochemical Degradation of Bromophenol Blue at Boron-doped Diamond Electrode by Using Factorial Design Analysis

As an ideal anode material, Boron-doped diamond (BDD) has been widely applied in electro-chemical oxidation of various organic pollutants, for its unique physical and chemical properties. In this paper, the authors studied the degradation of bromophenol blue through the electrochemical anodic oxidation by using the boron-doped BDD as the anode. The effect of statistically important operating parameters on treatment per-formance, such as treatment time, flow rate, applied current and concentration of supporting electrolyte, was evaluated by employing a factorial design analysis in terms of color removal and COD removal amount. As a result, the BDD technology was approved to be highly effective in treating bromophenol blue. Moreover, the results revealed the applicability and potential of factorial design analysis in operating parameters optimization and practical engineering application of BDD technology

Study of Electrochemical Degradation of Bromophenol Blue at Boron-doped Diamond Electrode by Using Factorial Design Analysis

As an ideal anode material, Boron-doped diamond (BDD) has been widely applied in electro-chemical oxidation of various organic pollutants, for its unique physical and chemical properties. In this paper, the authors studied the degradation of bromophenol blue through the electrochemical anodic oxidation by using the boron-doped BDD as the anode. The effect of statistically important operating parameters on treatment per-formance, such as treatment time, flow rate, applied current and concentration of supporting electrolyte, was evaluated by employing a factorial design analysis in terms of color removal and COD removal amount. As a result, the BDD technology was approved to be highly effective in treating bromophenol blue. Moreover, the results revealed the applicability and potential of factorial design analysis in operating parameters optimization and practical engineering application of BDD technology

Discovery of Indoleamine 2,3-Dioxygenase 1 (IDO-1) Inhibitors Based on Ortho-Naphthaquinone-Containing Natural Product

There is great interest in developing small molecules agents capable of reversing tumor immune escape to restore the body’s immune system. As an immunosuppressive enzyme, indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase 1 (IDO-1) is considered a promising target for oncology immunotherapy. Currently, none of IDO-1 inhibitors have been launched for clinical practice yet. Thus, the discovery of new IDO-1 inhibitors is still in great demand. Herein, a series of diverse ortho-naphthaquinone containing natural product derivatives were synthesized as novel IDO-1 inhibitors. Among them, 1-ene-3-ketone-17-hydroxyl derivative 12 exhibited significantly improved enzymatic and cellular inhibitory activity against IDO-1 when compared to initial lead compounds. Besides, the molecular docking study disclosed that the two most potent compounds 11 and 12 have more interactions within the binding pocket of IDO-1 via hydrogen-bonding, which may account for their higher IDO-1 inhibitory activity

Difluorination of Furonaphthoquinones

An unprecedented difluorination reaction was developed based on the furonaphthoquinone skeleton of natural products tanshinones and their analogues. By using Selectfluor as the fluorinating source and H₂O as the hydroxyl source, a wide range of unique polycyclic α,α-difluoro β,β-dihydroxyl <i>para</i>-quinone products were achieved with yields up to 90%. The mechanistic studies revealed that the reaction might undergo tandem multiple electrophilic and nucleophilic substitutions, as well as cleavages of C–O and C–C bonds. This approach not only provides a new method to synthesis of α,α-difluoro ketones, but also affords a series of unique chemotypes for biological activity screening

Naphthoquinone-Directed C–H Annulation and C_sp³–H Bond Cleavage: One-Pot Synthesis of Tetracyclic Naphthoxazoles

One-pot synthesis of tetracyclic naphthoxazole derivatives from electron-deficient naphthoquinones and alkynes was achieved via Rh­(III)-catalyzed C–H activation and C_sp³–H bond cleavage for the first time. This approach proceeds through a tandem cascade process involving substrate tautomerization, C–H activation, oxidative addition, cyclization, and aromatization. In addition, broad substrate scope, simple starting materials, and steric tolerance make this strategy of great practicality