Folic acid-conjugated GdPO<Subscript>4</Subscript>:Tb<Superscript>3+</Superscript>@SiO<Subscript>2</Subscript> Nanoprobe for folate receptor-targeted optical and magnetic resonance bi-modal imaging

Both fluorescent and magnetic nanoprobes have great potential applications for diagnostics and therapy. In the present work, a folic acid-conjugated and silica-modified GdPO₄:Tb³⁺ (GdPO₄:Tb³⁺@SiO₂-FA) dual nanoprobe was strategically designed and synthesized for the targeted dual-modality optical and magnetic resonance (MR) imaging via a facile aqueous method. Their structural, optical, and magnetic properties were determined using transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), ultraviolet-visible spectra (UV-Vis), photoluminescence (PL), and superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID). These results indicated that GdPO₄:Tb³⁺@SiO₂-FA were uniform monodisperse core-shell structured nanorods (NRs) with an average length of ~200 nm and an average width of ~25 nm. The paramagnetic property of the synthesized GdPO₄:Tb³⁺@SiO₂-FA NRs was confirmed with its linear hysteresis plot (M-H). In addition, the NRs displayed an obvious T₁-weighted effect and thus it could potentially serve as a T₁-positive contrast agent. The NRs emitted green lights due to the ⁵D₄ → ⁷F₅ transition of the Tb³⁺. The in vitro assays with NCI-H460 lung cancer cells and human embryonic kidney cell line 293T cells indicated that the GdPO₄:Tb³⁺@SiO₂-FA nanoprobe could specifically bind the cells bearing folate receptors (FR). The MTT assay of the NRs revealed that its cytotoxicity was very low. Further in vivo MRI experiments distinctively depict enhanced anatomical features in a xenograft tumor. These results suggest that the GdPO₄:Tb³⁺@SiO₂-FA NPs have excellent imaging and cell-targeting abilities for the folate receptor-targeted dual-modality optical and MR imaging and can be potentially used as the nanoprobe for bioimaging.     

Facile synthesis of mercaptosuccinic acid-capped CdTe/CdS/ZnS core/double shell quantum dots with improved cell viability on different cancer cells and normal cells

Water-soluble, mercaptosuccinic acid (MSA)-capped CdTe/CdS/ZnS core/double shell quantum dots (QDs) were prepared by successive growth of CdS and ZnS shells on the as-synthesized CdTe/CdS_thin core/shell quantum dots. The formation of core/double shell structured QDs was investigated by ultraviolet-visible (UV–Vis) absorption and photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy, PL decay studies, X-ray diffraction (XRD), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The core/double shell QDs exhibited good photoluminescence quantum yield (PLQY) which is 70% higher than that of the parent core/shell QDs, and they are stable for months. The average particle size of the core/double shell QDs was ～3 nm as calculated from the transmission electron microscope (TEM) images. The cytotoxicity of the QDs was evaluated on a variety of cancer cells such as HeLa, MCF-7, A549, and normal Vero cells by 3-(4,5-dimethyl-2-thiazolyl)-2,5-diphenyl-2H-tetrazolium bromide (MTT) cell viability assay. The results showed that core/double shell QDs were less toxic to the cells when compared to the parent core/shell QDs. MCF-7 cells showed proliferation on incubation with QDs, and this is attributed to the metalloestrogenic activity of cadmium ions released from QDs. The core/double shell CdTe/CdS/ZnS (CSS) QDs were conjugated with transferrin and successfully employed for the biolabeling and fluorescent imaging of HeLa cells. These core/double shell QDs are highly promising fluorescent probe for cancer cell labeling and imaging applications.     

Facile control of silica nanoparticles using a novel solvent varying method for the fabrication of artificial opal photonic crystals

In this work, the Stöber process was applied to produce uniform silica nanoparticles (SNPs) in the meso-scale size range. The novel aspect of this work was to control the produced silica particle size by only varying the volume of the solvent ethanol used, whilst fixing the other reaction conditions. Using this one-step Stöber-based solvent varying (SV) method, seven batches of SNPs with target diameters ranging from 70 to 400 nm were repeatedly reproduced, and the size distribution in terms of the polydispersity index (PDI) was well maintained (within 0.1). An exponential equation was used to fit the relationship between the particle diameter and ethanol volume. This equation allows the prediction of the amount of ethanol required in order to produce particles of any target diameter within this size range. In addition, it was found that the reaction was completed in approximately 2 h for all batches regardless of the volume of ethanol. Structurally coloured artificial opal photonic crystals (PCs) were fabricated from the prepared SNPs by self-assembly under gravity sedimentation.

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Multiple teleportation via partially entangled GHZ state

Quantum teleportation is important for quantum communication. We propose a protocol that uses a partially entangled Greenberger–Horne–Zeilinger (GHZ) state for single hop teleportation. Quantum teleportation will succeed if the sender makes a Bell state measurement, and the receiver performs the Hadamard gate operation, applies appropriate Pauli operators, introduces an auxiliary particle, and applies the corresponding unitary matrix to recover the transmitted state.We also present a protocol to realize multiple teleportation of partially entangled GHZ state without an auxiliary particle. We show that the success probability of the teleportation is always 0 when the number of teleportations is odd. In order to improve the success probability of a multihop, we introduce the method used in our single hop teleportation, thus proposing a multiple teleportation protocol using auxiliary particles and a unitary matrix. The final success probability is shown to be improved significantly for the method without auxiliary particles for both an odd or even number of teleportations.     

Preliminary investigation into feasibility of dissolved methane measurement using cavity ringdown spectroscopy technique

For the exploration of gas hydrate resources by measuring the dissolved methane concentration in seawater, a continuous-wave cavity ringdown spectroscopy (CW-CRDS) experimental setup was constructed for trace methane detection. A current-modulation method, rather than a cavity-modulation method using an optical switch and a piezoelectric transducer, was employed to realize the cavity excitation and shutoff. Such a current-modulation method enabled the improvement of the experimental setup construction and stability, and the system size and stability are critical for a sensor to be deployed underwater. Ringdown data acquisition and processing were performed, followed by an evaluation of the experimental setup stability and sensitivity. The obtained results demonstrate that great errors are introduced when a large fitting window is selected if the analog-to-digital converter has an insufficient resolution. The ringdown spectrum of methane corresponding to the 2v ₃ band R(4) branch was captured, and the methane concentration in lab air was determined to be 2.06 ppm. Further experiments for evaluating the quantitative ability of this CW-CRDS experimental setup are underway from which a high-sensitivity methane sensor that can be combined with a degassing system is expected.     

Viscosity,heat conductivity,and Prandtl number effects in the Rayleigh–Taylor Instability

The two-dimensional Rayleigh–Taylor instability problem is simulated with a multiple-relaxation-time discrete Boltzmann model with a gravity term. Viscosity, heat conductivity, and Prandtl number effects are probed from macroscopic and nonequilibrium viewpoints. In the macro sense, both viscosity and heat conduction show a significant inhibitory effect in the reacceleration stage, which is mainly achieved by inhibiting the development of the Kelvin–Helmholtz instability. Before this, the Prandtl number effect is not sensitive. Viscosity, heat conductivity, and Prandtl number effects on nonequilibrium manifestations and the degree of correlation between the nonuniformity and the nonequilibrium strength in the complex flow are systematically investigated.     

Laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy in Asia

Laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) is an analytical detection technique based on atomic emission spectroscopy to measure the elemental composition. LIBS has been extensively studied and developed due to the non-contact, fast response, high sensitivity, real-time and multi-elemental detection features. The development and applications of LIBS technique in Asia are summarized and discussed in this review paper. The researchers in Asia work on different aspects of the LIBS study in fundamentals, data processing and modeling, applications and instrumentations. According to the current research status, the challenges, opportunities and further development of LIBS technique in Asia are also evaluated to promote LIBS research and its applications.     

Synthesis and characterization of spinel LiMn<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>4</Subscript> nanoparticles prepared by high-energy milling and hydrothermal method

Spinel LiMn₂O₄ has been known to be a technologically important, environmental-friendly, and low-cost cathode material used in Li-based rechargeable batteries, and it is also widely available. Nanoparticle spinel LiMn₂O₄ has been synthesized by the top-down, high-energy milling, and hydrothermal methods. SEM images, X-ray diffraction patterns, and neutron high-resolution powder diffraction patterns have confirmed the nanocrystalline nature of the spinel LiMn₂O₄ samples. Raman and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) measurements show typical absorption and vibration spectra typical for the spinel LiMn₂O₄ showing the formation of various metallic bonds in the sample. The strongest Raman and FTIR signals come from the higher frequency region, with weaker signals appearing in the lower frequency range.     

Porous WO<Subscript>3</Subscript>/reduced graphene oxide composite film with enhanced electrochromic properties

The porous WO₃/reduced graphene oxide (rGO) composite films are prepared on indium–tin oxide (ITO) glass by sol-gel method. The mixture sol combines peroxotungstic acid solution with rGO dispersion reduced by ethylene glycol (EG). The excessive EG and other organic additives are subsequently removed by annealing, which leads to the formation of porous structure. Compared with pure WO₃ film, WO₃/rGO composite film shows improved electrochromic performance because of enhanced double insertion/extraction of ions and electrons. It realizes a large optical modulation (64.2 % at 633 nm), fast switching speed (9.5 s for coloration and 4.5 s for bleaching), good cycling stability as well as reversibility.