One-Pot Synthesis of Tetraarylpyrrolo[3, 2-b]pyrrole Dopant-Free Hole-Transport Materials for Inverted Perovskite Solar Cells

Four organic small-molecule hole transport materials ( D41 , D42 , D43 and D44 ) of tetraarylpyrrolo[3, 2-b]pyrroles were prepared. They can be used without doping in the manufacture of the inverted planar perovskite solar cells. Tetraarylpyrrolo[3, 2-b]pyrroles are accessible for one-pot synthesis. D42 , D43 and D44 possess acceptor-\begin{document}$ \pi $\end{document}-donor-\begin{document}$ \pi $\end{document}-acceptor structure, on which the aryl bearing substitutes of cyan, fluorine and trifluoromethyl, respectively. Instead, the aryl moiety of D41 is in presence of methyl with a donor-\begin{document}$ \pi $\end{document}-donor-\begin{document}$ \pi $\end{document}-donor structure. The different substitutes significantly affected their molecular surface charge distribution and thin-film morphology, attributing to the electron-rich properties of fused pyrrole ring. The size of perovskite crystalline growth particles is affected by different molecular structures, and the electron-withdrawing cyan group of D42 is most conducive to the formation of large perovskite grains. The D42 fabricated devices with power conversion efficiency of 17.3% and retained 55% of the initial photoelectric conversion efficiency after 22 days in dark condition. The pyrrolo[3, 2-b]pyrrole is efficient electron-donating moiety for hole transporting materials to form good substrate in producing perovskite thin film.      

Theoretical Investigating Mechanisms of Drug-Resistance Generated by Mutation-Induced Changes in Influenza Viruses

Influenza A (A/H\begin{document}$ x $\end{document}N\begin{document}$ y $\end{document}) is a significant public health concern due to its high infectiousness and mortality. Neuraminidase, which interacts with sialic acid (SIA) in host cells, has become an essential target since its highly conserved catalytic center structure, while resistance mutations have already generated. Here, a detailed investigation of the drug resistance mechanism caused by mutations was performed for subtype N9 (A/H7N9). Molecular dynamics simulation and alanine-scanning-interaction-entropy method (ASIE) were used to explore the critical differences between N9 and Zanamivir (ZMR) before and after R294K mutation. The results showed that the mutation caused the hydrogen bond between Arg294 and ZMR to break, then the hydrogen bonding network was disrupted, leading to weakened binding ability and resistance. While in wild type (A/H7N9\begin{document}$ ^{ \rm{WT}} $\end{document}), this hydrogen bond was initially stable. Meanwhile, N9 derived from A/H11N9 was obtained as an R292K mutation. Then the relative binding free energy of N9 with five inhibitors (SIA, DAN, ZMR, G28, and G39) was predicted, basically consistent with experimental values, indicating that the calculated results were reliable by ASIE. In addition, Arg292 and Tyr406 were hot spots in the A/H11N9\begin{document}$ ^{ \rm{WT}} $\end{document}-drugs. However, Lys292 was not observed as a favorable contributing residue in A/H11N9\begin{document}$ ^{ \rm{R292K}} $\end{document}, which may promote resistance. In comparison, Tyr406 remained the hotspot feature when SIA, ZMR, and G28 binding to A/H11N9\begin{document}$ ^{ \rm{R292K}} $\end{document}. Combining the two groups, we speculate that the resistance was mainly caused by the disruption of the hydrogen bonding network and the transformation of hotspots. This study could guide novel drug delivery of drug-resistant mutations in the treatment of A/H\begin{document}$ x $\end{document}N9.     

CDFI鉴别男性乳腺良恶性肿瘤价值及与CXCL1、Gab2、MVD的相关性探究

本研究选取18例男性乳腺恶性肿瘤患者作为研究组,纳入同期41例男性良性乳腺肿瘤及50例健康体检男性分别作为良性对照组和健康对照组,通过对比分析发现,研究组CDFI参数[搏动指数(PI)、阻力指数(RI)、血流速度(PSV)]高于良性对照组和健康对照组(P<0.05);PI、RI、PSV联合诊断男性乳腺恶性肿瘤的AUC高达0.854,具有较高应用价值;研究组患者PI、RI、PSV与CXC型趋化因子配体1(CXCL1)、GRB相关蛋白2(Gab2)、微血管密度(MVD)水平间存在正相关关系(P<0.05)。由此可见,CDFI在鉴别男性乳腺良恶性肿瘤方面具有较高应用价值,且与患者CXCL1、Gab2、MVD表达呈正相关。     

Reduction of Dimerization Tendency Due to the Decrease in Hybridization Index by Inclusion of 4s and 4p Semicore States as Valence States in Mon (n=2-18) Clusters: A First-Principles Study

Owing to the unique structural, electronic, and physico-chemical properties, molybdenum clusters are expected to play an important role in future nanotechnologies. However, their ground states are still under debate. In this study, the crystal structure analysis by particle swarm optimization (CALYPSO) approach is used for the global minimum search, which is followed by first-principles calculations, to detect an obvious dimerization tendency in Mo\begin{document}$ _n $\end{document} (\begin{document}$ n $\end{document} = 2\begin{document}$ - $\end{document}18) clusters when the 4s and 4p semicore states are not regarded as the valence states. Further, the clusters with even number of atoms are usually magic clusters with high stability. However, after including the 4s and 4p electrons as valence electrons, the dimerization tendency exhibits a drastic reduction because the average hybridization indices \begin{document}$ H_{ \rm{sp}} $\end{document}, \begin{document}$ H_{ \rm{sd}} $\end{document}, and \begin{document}$ H_{ \rm{pd}} $\end{document} are reduced significantly. Overall, this work reports new ground states of Mo\begin{document}$ _n $\end{document} (\begin{document}$ n $\end{document} = 11, 14, 15) clusters and proves that semicore states are essential for Mo\begin{document}$ _n $\end{document}     

一步硫/磷热处理制备空心Co9S8/CoP/C纳米复合材料及其储钠性能研究

低成本、高性能的钠离子电池有望成为代替锂离子电池的下一代核心器件.但是开发出高比容量、高倍率的钠离子电池负极材料依然是瓶颈.本文通过水热/溶剂热法制备了Co基前驱体,然后将其一步硫/磷热处理制得具有空心多孔结构的h-Co₉S₈/CoP/C纳米复合材料.通过X-射线粉末衍射(XRD)、拉曼光谱(Raman)、扫描电镜(SEM)、透射电镜(TEM)和X-射线光电子能谱(XPS)等表征以确定纳米复合物的物相以及形貌特征.当h-Co₉S₈/CoP/C作为钠离子电池负极材料时,该电极材料展示了高的比容量(561 mAh g^-1@0.1 Ag^-1)、较好的循环性能(可逆比容量200 mAh g^-1@2 Ag^-1)和倍率性能.h-Co₉S₈/CoP/C之所以显示出良好的储钠性能,主要得益于其空心多孔结构不仅提供更多的空间缓解钠在反复嵌入和脱出过程造成的体积膨胀效应,而且可以缩短离子/电荷扩散途径以加快反应动力学,此外,Co₉S₈、CoP和C独特的电子结构优势得以共同发挥.     

Ruthenium (II) Catalyzed C(sp2)−H Bond Alkenylation of 2-Arylbenzo[d]oxazole and 2-Arylbenzo[d]thiazole with Unactivated Olefins

Functionalization of the bio-relevant heterocycles 2-arylbenzo[d]oxazole and 2-arylbenzo[d]thiazole has been achieved through Ru(II)-catalyzed alkenylation with unactivated olefins leading to selective formation of the mono-alkenylated products. This approach has a broad substrate scope with respect to the coupling partners, affords high yields, and works for gram scale synthesis using a readily available Ru-based catalyst. Mechanistic studies reveal a C−H activation pathway for the dehydrogenative coupling leading to the alkenylation. However, the results of the ESI-MS-guided deuterium kinetic isotope effect studies indicate that the C−H activation stage may not be the rate-determining step of the reaction. The use of a radical scavenging agent such as TEMPO did not show any detrimental effect on the reaction outcome, eliminating the possibility of the involvement of a free-radical pathway.     

Eco friendly synthesis of fluorescent carbon dots for the sensitive detection of ferric ions and cell imaging

This study established a ferric ion (Fe³⁺) detection method as a result of the fluorescence quenching effect of Fe³⁺ on carbon dots (CDs). Specifically, we proposed, a green microwave synthesis route towards fluorescent CDs that requires only the brewer’s spent grain as starting materials. Transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, Fourier-transform infrared spectra and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy were performed to investigate the CDs characteristic: morphology, size distribution, functional groups, and composition, respectively. The experimental results, which were run under optimal experimental conditions, indicated that the fluorescence intensity and concentration of Fe³⁺ were within the desired linear range (0.3–7 μM). The detection limit of this assay towards Fe³⁺ was 95 nM. The proposed method showed significant selectivity with respect to interfering ions. We evaluated the potential application of this method with tap water, lake water and fetal bovine serum as real samples. Additionally, the CDs could be served as superior bioimaging probes in Hela cells as a result of their excellent optical stability and good biocompatibility. In a word, the present study provides a new idea for CDs derived from the waste of agricultural products for detecting food or environmental contaminants and cell imaging.     

Synergistic effect of Thiourea and HCl on Palladium (II) recovery: An investigation on Chemical structures and thermodynamic stability via DFT

This work duly investigates the recovery of Pd (II) chlorocomplexes from industrial wastewater. Chemical structures and thermodynamic stabilities of the complex formed are evaluated via density functional theory (DFT). By applying synergistic solutions of thiourea mixed with hydrochloric acid (HCl), the stripping reaction of Pd (II) in the loaded Aliquat 336 occurs and Pd (II) chlorocomplexes coordinated thiourea ligands are formed, thus 80.19% of Pd (II) chlorocomplexes can be recovered. The aim of this study is to gain a better understanding of the stripping mechanisms and the structure of the complexes formed via the synergistic system. Such an understanding is still limited since little research has been conducted in this field. Owing to their molecular geometry, ligand coordination and donor groups play a vital role in the reactivity of palladium (II) complex. Quantum models have been developed to evaluate the chemical structure and thermodynamics stability of ((NH₂)₂CS·PdCl₂) namely: (i) DFT with B3LYP/6-31g(d,p) and MP2/6-31g(d,p) basis set, (ii) MP2 with cc-pVTZ basis set and (iii) CCSD(T)/cc-pVTZ. Results demonstrate that the highest geometric stability exhibited is the structure of Pd-S bonding with 180° Cl-Pd-Cl. The distance (r) and angle (a) of the selected geometrical parameters for (NH₂)₂CS·PdCl₂ complex are reported. Additionally, FTIR and UV–vis spectroscopies have been conducted to analyze the sampling solutions. Further, the calculated vibrational frequencies and experimental spectroscopic results show good agreement with the optimized geometry.     

脑胶质瘤磁共振弥散张量成像定量参数与VEGF、MMP-9表达的相关性

本研究旨在分析脑胶质瘤患者的磁共振弥散张量成像(DTI)参数与病变组织血管内皮生长因子(VEGF)和基质金属蛋白酶-9(MMP-9)表达的相关性,以及DTI参数对脑胶质瘤进行分级诊断的价值。根据病理分级将102例脑胶质瘤患者分为低级别组(47例)和高级别组(55例),均行MRI和DTI检查,定量测定表观弥散系数(ADC)、各向异性分数(FA)、相对ADC(rADC)、相对FA(rFA)值及相对轴向扩散系数(rAD)值;用免疫组化法检测VEGF和MMP-9表达情况。结果显示,高级别组患者的rADC、ADC、rAD、FA、rFA均低于低级别组(P<0.05);高级别组患者的VEGF和MMP-9阳性表达均高于低级别组(P<0.05)。rADC、ADC、rAD、FA、rFA与VEGF和MMP-9表达均呈负相关(P<0.05);rADC、ADC、rAD、FA、rFA对脑胶质瘤分级诊断的AUC均具有一定诊断价值(P<0.05)。本研究结果提示DTI定量参数与脑胶质瘤VEGF和MMP-9表达具有相关性,且有助于脑胶质瘤的分级诊断。     

Robust nickel silicate catalysts with high Ni loading for CO2 methanation

CO₂ is the main component of greenhouse gases and also an important carbon source. The hydrogenation of CO₂ to methane using Ni-based catalysts can not only alleviate CO₂ emissions but also obtain useful fuels. However, Ni-based catalysts face one major problem of the sintering of Ni nanoparticles in the process of CO₂ methanation. Thus, this work has synthesized a series of efficient and robust nickel silicate catalysts (NiPS−X) with different nickel content derived from nickel phyllosilicate by the hydrothermal method. It was found that the Ni loading plays a critical role in the structure and catalytic performance of the NiPS−X catalysts. The catalytic performance gradually increases with the increase of Ni loading. In particular, the highly dispersed NiPS-1.6 catalyst with a high Ni loading of 34.3 wt% could obtain the CO₂ conversion greater than 80%, and the methane selectivity was close to 100% for 48 h at 330 °C and the GHSV of 40,000 mL g⁻¹ h⁻¹. The excellent catalytic property can be assigned to the high dispersion of Ni nanoparticles and the strong interaction between the active component and the carrier, which is derived from a unique layered silicate structure with lots of nickel phyllosilicate and a large number of Lewis acid sites.