Dynamic Polymer Cross-linking Limits the Homogeneity of Compact Quantum Dots for Single-Particle Tracking.

Quantum dots (QDs) are semiconductor nanocrystals with stable and bright fluorescence, attributes particularly valued for single-molecule imaging in the life sciences. For these applications, QDs must be compact and homogeneously dispersed as single colloids, attributes enabled by multidentate polymer coatings. However, high-resolution analyses show evidence of clusters of two or more QDs (multimers) that may dominate measurements at the single-particle level.

Delayed Swelling Polymer Microspheres for CO Channeling Control under High-Temperature and High-Salinity Environment.

Gas channeling during the CO flooding process significantly reduces both oil recovery and the level of CO storage. Polymer microspheres have emerged as gas channeling control agents due to their superior strength and injectability. However, the rapid and uncontrolled swelling of most reported polymer microspheres impedes their in-depth transportation and effective plugging in porous media under high-temperature and high-salinity environments.

Quantifying mitochondrial viscosity changes by an AIE probe during drug therapy.

A novel viscosity-sensitive, mitochondrial-targeted AIE fluorescent probe, TPE-4TPP, was developed to quantify dynamic changes in mitochondrial viscosity induced by an anticancer drug. Using fluorescence lifetime as a bridge, a quantitative relationship between drug duration and mitochondrial viscosity was established.

Nanocoding: Lipid Nanoparticle Barcoding for Multiplexed Single-Cell RNA Sequencing.

Sample multiplexing is an emerging method in single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) that addresses high costs and batch effects. Current multiplexing schemes use DNA labels to barcode cell samples but are limited in their stability and extent of labeling of heterogeneous cell populations. Here, we describe nanocoding, a technology that applies lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) for high barcode labeling density in multiplexed scRNA-seq.

Fluorescence and colorimetric dual-mode detection of tetracycline antibiotics based on Eu and the peroxidase mimetic activity of a FeO@MoS nanocomposite.

 A sensitive fluorescence and colorimetric dual-mode detection method based on Eu and FeO@MoS nanocomposites was constructed. In this technique, tetracycline antibiotics (TCs) chelated with Eu to form a Eu-TCs complex which emits red fluorescence at 620 nm through the antenna effect. At the same time, Eu-TCs complex enhances the peroxidase-like activity of FeO@MoS to catalyze the oxidation of 3,3',5,5'-tetramethylbenzidine (TMB) that can produce a colorimetric signal.

CO-Switchable Foams for Enhanced Oil Recovery and Carbon Sequestration.

Carbon dioxide (CO) foams have emerged as a promising strategy for enhanced oil recovery (EOR), providing effective gas mobility control. However, challenges in maintaining subsurface stability and enabling surface-controlled collapse persist, and a comprehensive assessment of their CO storage potential remains unexplored. This study presents an innovative approach using switchable foams stabilized by a CO-responsive surfactant, N-erucamidopropyl-N,N-dimethylamine (UCAMPM).

Designing Titanium Dioxide Aqueous Dispersion with High Solid Content and Low Viscosity.

Titanium dioxide (TiO) is the most widely used white coating additive, and the solid content of the aqueous dispersion system is an important factor affecting productivity during its processing sanding. Achieving high solid content dispersion with low viscosity and high stability is crucial for enhancing its productivity; however, this objective currently presents a significant challenge. In this work, we propose a simple strategy for the use of low-molecular-weight poly(acrylic acid) sodium salt (PAAS) as an efficient dispersant for TiO dispersion.

Dual-mode detection of Ochratoxin A based on silver nanocluster and phosphate.

Ochratoxin A (OTA) is widely present in the environment and has great harm to human safety. Therefore, a simple and sensitive method for OTA detection is urgently needed. Herein, a fluorescence and colorimetric dual-mode immunoassay based on glutathione silver nanocluster (GSH-AgNCs) and phosphate colorimetry was established.

Nanocoding: Lipid Nanoparticle Barcoding for Multiplexed Single-Cell RNA Sequencing.

Sample multiplexing is an emerging method in single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) that addresses high costs and batch effects. Current multiplexing schemes use DNA labels to barcode cell samples but are limited in their stability and extent of labeling across heterogeneous cell populations. Here, we introduce Nanocoding using lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) for high barcode labeling density in multiplexed scRNA-seq.

Ultrahigh Energy Storage Density and Efficiency in Orthorhombic PLZST Antiferroelectric Ceramics via Composition Regulation.

PbZrO-based antiferroelectric (AFE) ceramic materials have emerged as potential candidates for the next generation of high-energy multilayer ceramic capacitors (MLCCs) because of their distinctive characteristics of double hysteresis loops. The energy storage efficiency of orthorhombic AFE ceramics with ultrahigh storage density is relatively low, which hinders their practical application. In this study, the low efficiency limit of PLZST-based orthorhombic ceramics was overcome by precisely adjusting the Sn content in the (PbCaLa)(ZrSnTi)O AFE ceramics.

Investigations of a 1018 nm gain-switched Yb-doped fiber oscillator.

In this paper, we investigate a 1018 nm gain-switched ytterbium-doped fiber oscillator at a low repetition rate in terms of theory and experiment. Theoretically, a numerical model applicable to a 1018 nm gain-switched ytterbium-doped fiber laser was established. The influence of the pump peak power and active fiber lengths on the 1018 nm gain-switched ytterbium-doped fiber laser was numerically simulated.

Self-Assembling Anti-Freezing Lamellar Nanostructures in Subzero Temperatures.

The requirement for cryogenic supramolecular self-assembly of amphiphiles in subzero environments is a challenging topic. Here, the self-assembly of lamellar lyotropic liquid crystals (LLCs) are presented to a subzero temperature of -70 °C. These lamellar nanostructures are assembled from specifically tailored ultra-long-chain surfactant stearyl diethanolamine (SDA) in water/glycerol binary solvent.

All-fiber hectowatt radially polarized laser system.

A high-power all-fiber radially polarized laser system is demonstrated, in which an integrated nanograting mode convertor (S-wave plate) is used for the generation of radially polarized beam. Experimentally, a 1-W radially polarized beam was used as the seed laser, whose mode purity and mode extinction ratio (MER) were 96.5% and 98.

Effects of exogenous steroid hormones on growth, body color, and gonadal development in the Opsariichthys bidens.

To investigate the effects of exogenous steroid hormones on growth, body color, and gonadal development in the Opsariichthys bidens (O. bidens), synthetic methyltestosterone (MT) and 17β-estradiol (E) were used for 28 days' treatment of 4-month-old O. bidens before the breeding season.

Coherent beam combining of cylindrical vector beams for power scaling.

Coherent beam combining (CBC) of cylindrical vector beams (CVBs) based on an active phase controller is proposed and demonstrated. Experimentally, two pieces of spatially variant wave plates (S-wave plate) were employed as vector mode convertors for two individual 1064-nm fiber amplifier channels. When the system was in a closed loop, a combined output power of 10 W and a CBC efficiency of higher than 94% were achieved, for both TM (radially polarized) mode and TE (azimuthally polarized) mode cases.

Nonlinear spectral compression in high-power narrow-linewidth polarization maintaining fiber amplifiers for SBS suppression.

In this paper, we propose a method for narrowing the spectrum in high-power narrow-linewidth polarization-maintaining (PM) fiber amplifiers and investigate its potential for suppressing the stimulated Brillouin scattering (SBS). In this method, in addition to common phase modulation to suppress SBS, precisely designed amplitude modulation is induced to generate self-phase modulation in a high-power PM fiber amplifier. In this co-modulation way, the spectrum can be gradually compressed along the fiber.

Leveraging intracellular ALDH1A1 activity for selective cancer stem-like cell labeling and targeted treatment via in vivo click reaction.

Inhibition of overexpressed enzymes is among the most promising approaches for targeted cancer treatment. However, many cancer-expressed enzymes are "nonlethal," in that the inhibition of the enzymes' activity is insufficient to kill cancer cells. Conventional antibody-based therapeutics can mediate efficient treatment by targeting extracellular nonlethal targets but can hardly target intracellular enzymes.

pH-Responsive Viscoelastic Fluids of a C-Tailed Surfactant Induced by Trivalent Metal Ions.

pH-responsive viscoelastic fluids are often achieved by adding hydrotropes into surfactant solutions. However, the use of metal salts to prepare pH-responsive viscoelastic fluids has been less documented. Herein, a pH-responsive viscoelastic fluid was developed by blending an ultra-long-chain tertiary amine, -erucamidopropyl--dimethylamine (UCAMPM), with metal salts (i.

Supramolecular self-assembly of robust, ultra-stable, and high-temperature-resistant viscoelastic worm-like micelles.

Hypothesis: Worm-like micelles are susceptible to heating owing to the fast dynamic exchange of molecules between micelles. Inhibition of such exchange could afford robust worm-like micelles, which is expected to largely improve rheology properties at high temperatures.

Experiments: A cationic surfactant docosyl(trimethyl)azanium chloride (DCTAC) and a strongly hydrophobic organic counterion 3-hydroxy naphthalene-2-carboxylate (SHNC) were used for the worm-like micelles fabrication.

Linearly polarized fiber amplifier with narrow linewidth of 5 kW exhibiting a record output power and near-diffraction-limited beam quality.

In this work, a narrow-linewidth polarization-maintaining (PM) all-fiber amplifier with near-diffraction-limited beam quality and record output power is presented. First, a 4.45-kW PM fiber amplifier with a 3-dB linewidth of 0.

A Quantitative Approach to Determine Hydrophobe Content of Associating Polyacrylamide Using a Fluorescent Probe.

Hydrophobically associating polymers have found widespread applications in many domains due to their unique rheological behavior, which is primarily dictated by the hydrophobe content. However, the low fraction of hydrophobic monomers in polymers makes this parameter's precise and straightforward measurement difficult. Herein, a variety of hydrophobically associating polyacrylamides (HAPAM) with different alkyl chain lengths () and hydrophobic contents ([]) were prepared by post-modification and accurately characterized by H NMR spectroscopy.

Rock-on-a-chip: "Seeing" the association/disassociation of an adaptive polymer in solutions flowing through porous media.

The flow and transport of polymer solutions through porous media are ubiquitous in myriad scientific and engineering applications. With escalating interest in adaptive polymers, understanding the flow dynamics of their solutions is indispensable (yet lacking). Here, the hydrophobic-effect-driven reversible associations in a self-adaptive polymer (SAP) solution and its flow characteristics in a microfluidic-based "rock-on-a-chip" device have been analyzed.

Screening the Impact of Surfactants and Reaction Conditions on the De-Inkability of Different Printing Ink Systems for Plastic Packaging.

One of the major applications (40% in Europe) of plastic is packaging, which is often printed to display required information and to deliver an attractive aesthetic for marketing purposes. However, printing ink can cause contamination in the mechanical recycling process. To mitigate this issue, the use of surfactants in an alkaline washing process, known as de-inking, has been employed to remove printing ink and improve the quality of recyclates.

Hydrophobically Associating Polyacrylamide "Water-in-Water" Emulsion Prepared by Aqueous Dispersion Polymerization: Synthesis, Characterization and Rheological Behavior.

The hydrophobically associating polyacrylamide (HAPAM) is an important kind of water-soluble polymer, which is widely used as a rheology modifier in many fields. However, HAPAM products prepared in a traditional method show disadvantages including poor water solubility and the need for hydrocarbon solvents and appropriate surfactants, which lead to environmental pollution and increased costs. To solve these problems, we reported a novel kind of HAPAM "water-in-water" (/) emulsion and its solution properties.