Emerging Trends in Fluorescence Bioimaging of Divalent Metal Cations Using Small-Molecule Indicators

Visualization of cation dynamics inside a living system represent a major breakthrough at the crossroad of chemistry and cellular physiology. Since the inception of BAPTA-based cellular calcium indicators in the 1980s, generations of chemical and genetically encoded ion indicators spanning the visible spectrum have been developed. In this article, we bring up three emerging concepts in this field: 1. red-shifting cation indicators towards far-red and near-infrared (NIR) channels; 2. directing the indicators to various subcellular localizations; 3. lowering the phototoxicity of indicators for long term recording. These initiatives collectively echo the advocate of 4D cellular physiology, where biological processes within living systems can be panoramically unveiled under 3D, long-term, and multi-channel imaging with unprecedented spatial and temporal resolution. This outlook poses exciting challenges and opportunities for chemists to upgrade the toolkit of fluorescent indicators as key enablers for a new era of imageomics.     

Left dihedral codes over finite chain rings

Let R be a finite commutative chain ring, $D_{2n}$ be the dihedral group of size 2n and $R[D_{2n}]$ be the dihedral group ring. In this paper, we completely characterize left ideals of $R[D_{2n}]$ (called left $D_{2n}$-codes) when $\gcd (char(R),n)=1$. In this way, we explore the structure of some skew-cyclic codes of length 2 over R and also over $R\times S$, where S is an isomorphic copy of R. As a particular result, we give the structure of cyclic codes of length 2 over R. In the case where $R={\mathbb{F}}_{p^m}$ is a Galois field, we give a classification for left $D_{2N}$-codes over ${\mathbb{F}}_{p^m}$, for any positive integer N. In both cases we determine dual codes and identify self-dual ones.     

Negative compressibility property in hinging open-cell Kelvin structure

A new three-dimensional(3 D) cellular model based on hinging open-cell Kelvin structure is proposed for its negative compressibility property. It is shown that this model has adjustable compressibility and does exhibit negative compressibility for some certain conformations. And further study shows that the images of compressibility are symmetrical about the certain lines, which indicates that the mechanical properties of the model in the three axial directions are interchangeable and the model itself has a certain geometric symmetry. A comparison of the Kelvin model with its anisotropic form with the dodecahedron model shows that the Kelvin model has stronger negative compressibility property in all three directions.Therefore, a new and potential method to improve negative compressibility property can be derived by selecting the system type with lower symmetry and increasing the number of geometric parameters.     

三维非连续变形分析方法碰撞分析及其应用

将具有完备动力学理论的非连续变形分析(DDA)方法应用于块体碰撞研究。基于三维DDA(3D DDA)方法,按时步输出块体碰撞过程速度变化和接触嵌入量,进而得到块体碰撞恢复系数、冲量、冲击力。以此为参考指标,采用斜抛、面-面对心等碰撞模型,验证3D DDA方法模拟块体碰撞的有效性,并将3D DDA方法应用于多米诺骨牌倾倒、滚石边坡成灾及防护等算例分析,探讨了多米诺骨牌倾倒机制、滚石启动及运动行为、滚石灾害防护方案。结果表明:多米诺骨牌间距越大,同一块体被碰撞时间越迟,其最终稳定时间也越迟,与下一块体碰撞的动能越大;滚石运动呈侧向平动及转动三维运动特征,每一次碰撞,均引起动能、轨迹或状态的显著变化;滚石拦挡设施弹簧刚度越大,越先达到最大冲击力,最大冲击力随弹簧刚度的增加而减小;可结合树木阻挡效应,耗散滚石动能,降低滚石飞跃高度,使滚石灾害减轻或控制在防护范围以内。     

Evaluation of Charged Defect Energy in Two-Dimensional Semiconductors for Nanoelectronics: The WLZ Extrapolation Method

Defects play a central role in controlling the electronic properties of two-dimensional (2D) materials and realizing the industrialization of 2D electronics. However, the evaluation of charged defects in 2D materials within first-principles calculation is very challenging and has triggered a recent development of the WLZ (Wang, Li, Zhang) extrapolation method. This method lays the foundation of the theoretical evaluation of energies of charged defects in 2D materials within the first-principles framework. Herein, the vital role of defects for advancing 2D electronics is discussed, followed by an introduction of the fundamentals of the WLZ extrapolation method. The ionization energies (IEs) obtained by this method for defects in various 2D semiconductors are then reviewed and summarized. Finally, the unique defect physics in 2D dimensions including the dielectric environment effects, defect ionization process, and carrier transport mechanism captured with the WLZ extrapolation method are presented. As an efficient and reasonable evaluation of charged defects in 2D materials for nanoelectronics and other emerging applications, this work can be of benefit to the community.     

Recent Advances in Spatial Self-Phase Modulation with 2D Materials and its Applications

In recent years, spatial self-phase modulation (SSPM) with two-dimensional (2D) materials has attracted the attention of many researchers as an emerging and ubiquitous nonlinear optical effect. In this review, the state of the art of 2D material-based SSPM is summarized. SSPM measures or tunes the nonlinearity of 2D materials, and it is also an effective approach to study the band structure of 2D materials. Several modified forms of SSPM, such as high-order, white-light-excited, vector field excited, and optically nonlinearly enhanced SSPM are also presented. Subsequently, the physical origin of the SSPM formation mechanism is compared and analyzed. Furthermore, the applications of SSPM with 2D materials, including passive photonic devices, generation of Bessel beams, and identifying the mode of the orbital angular momentum, are listed. Finally, several urgent problems of the SSPM with 2D materials, potential applications, and prospects for future development are presented.     

Interfacial Synthesis of a Monolayered Fluorescent Two-Dimensional Polymer through Dynamic Imine Chemistry

A fluorescent monolayered two-dimensional polymer (2DP) containing both tetraphenylethylene (TPE) and imine linkages is synthesized at air-water interface using the Langmuir-Blodgett method. We designed TPE-based monomers with long distances between the TPE and the imine linkages to avoid the charge transfer and therefore keep the fluorescence. A monolayered 2DP provided with more than 104 μm² in domain size and around 0.8 nm thickness was obtained through a successive Schiff base reaction at air-water interface. The nanostructures and fluorescent property of 2DP films were characterized by optical microscopy, SEM, TEM, AFM and fluorescence spectrum. Most importantly, the tip-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (TERS) was utilized here to confirm the success of the polycondensation of monolayered 2DP.