Lukasiewicz Research Network – PORT Polish Center for Technology Development

Monochalcogenides of groups III (GaS, GaSe) and VI (GeS, GeSe, SnS, and SnSe) are materials with interesting thickness-dependent characteristics, which have been applied in many areas. However, the stability of layered monochalcogenides (LMs) is a real problem in semiconductor devices that contain these materials; therefore, it is an important issue that needs to be explored. This article presents a comprehensive study of the degradation mechanism in mechanically exfoliated monochalcogenides in ambient conditions using Raman and photoluminescence spectroscopy supported by structural methods. A higher stability (up to three weeks) was observed for GaS; the most reactive were Se-containing monochalcogenides. Surface protrusions appeared after the ambient exposure of GeSe was detected by scanning electron microscopy. In addition, the degradation of GeS and GeSe flakes were observed in the operando experiment in transmission electron microscopy. Further, the amorphization of the material progressed from the flake edges. The reported results and conclusions on the degradation of LMs are useful to understand surface oxidation, air stability, and to fabricate stable devices with monochalcogenides. The results indicate that LMs are more challenging for exfoliation and optical studies than transition metal dichalcogenides such as MoS 2 , MoSe 2 , WS 2 , or WSe 2 .

The antimicrobial functionalization of textile structures with copper and its compounds carried out by various methods increased significantly during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. So far, in order to obtain antiviral properties the magnetron technique using copper was applied mainly to flat textile structures; polypropylene, polyester and cotton nonwovens, and polyester and cotton woven fabrics. In this study, magnetron sputtering with copper was applied to modify the spatial viscose needle-punched nonwoven fabric. We found that the spatial nonwoven structure made of regenerated cellulose fibers and one-side sputtered with copper has strong antimicrobial activity against Gram-positive Staphylococcus aureus and Gram-negative Klebsiella pneumoniae. In the case of herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) McKrae strain, vaccinia virus (VACV) WR strain, influenza A virus H1N1 (IFV) and mouse coronavirus (MHV) JHV strain used in the study, Cu modified nonwoven fabric has only weak activity against herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1). It also has no significant toxicity compared to the control medium and pristine nonwoven fabric. The modified nonwoven fabric is characterized also by hydrophobic properties, high electrical conductivity, good air and water vapor permeability, and meets the requirements of breathing resistance for all protection classes (FFP1, FFP2 and FFP3) specified in the EN 149-2001 standard.

Carbamate is an emerging class of a polymer backbone for constructing sequence-defined, abiotic polymers. It is expected that new functional materials can be de novo designed by controlling the primary polycarbamate sequence. While amino acids have been actively studied as building blocks for protein folding and peptide self-assembly, carbamates have not been widely investigated from this perspective. Here, we combined infrared (IR), vibrational circular dichroism (VCD), and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy with density functional theory (DFT) calculations to understand the conformation of carbamate monomer units in a nonpolar, aprotic environment (chloroform). Compared with amino acid building blocks, carbamates are more rigid, presumably due to the extended delocalization of π-electrons on the backbones. Cis configurations of the amide bond can be energetically stable in carbamates, whereas peptides often assume trans configurations at low energies. This study lays an essential foundation for future developments of carbamate-based sequence-defined polymer material design.

Nitroaromatic compounds (NACs) are key contaminants of anthropogenic origin and pose a severe threat to human and animal lives. Although the catalytic activities of Re nanostructures (NSs) are significantly higher than those of other heterogeneous catalysts containing NSs, few studies have been reported on the application of Re-based nanocatalysts for NAC hydrogenation. Accordingly, herein, catalytic reductions of nitrobenzene (NB), 4-nitrophenol (4-NP), 2-nitroaniline (2-NA), 4-nitroaniline (4-NA), and 2,4,6-trinitrophenol (2,4,6-TNP) over new Re-based heterogeneous catalysts were proposed. The catalytic materials were designed to enable effective syntheses and stabilisation of particularly small Re structures over them. Accordingly, catalytic hydrogenations of NACs under mild conditions were significantly enhanced by Re sub-nanostructures (Re-sub-NSs). The highest pseudo-first-order rate constants for NB, 4-NP, 2-NA, 4-NA, and 2,4,6-TNP reductions over the catalyst acquired by stabilising Re using bis(3-aminopropyl)amine (BAPA), which led to Re-sub-NSs with Re concentrations of 16.7 wt%, were 0.210, 0.130, 0.100, 0.180, and 0.090 min⁻¹, respectively.

The anticancer potential of quercetin (Q), a plant-derived flavonoid, and underlining molecular mechanisms are widely documented in cellular models in vitro. However, biomedical applications of Q are limited due to its low bioavailability and hydrophilicity. In the present study, the electrospinning approach was used to obtain polylactide (PLA) and PLA and polyethylene oxide (PEO)-based micro- and nanofibers containing Q, namely PLA/Q and PLA/PEO/Q, respectively, in a form of non-woven fabrics. The structure and physico-chemical properties of Q-loaded fibers were characterized by scanning electron and atomic force microscopy (SEM and AFM), X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), goniometry and FTIR and Raman spectroscopy. The anticancer action of PLA/Q and PLA/PEO/Q was revealed using two types of cancer and nine cell lines, namely osteosarcoma (MG-63, U-2 OS, SaOS-2 cells) and breast cancer (SK-BR-3, MCF-7, MDA-MB-231, MDA-MB-468, Hs 578T, and BT-20 cells). The anticancer activity of Q-loaded fibers was more pronounced than the action of free Q. PLA/Q and PLA/PEO/Q promoted cell cycle arrest, oxidative stress and apoptotic cell death that was not overcome by heat shock protein (HSP)-mediated adaptive response. PLA/Q and PLA/PEO/Q were biocompatible and safe, as judged by in vitro testing using normal fibroblasts. We postulate that PLA/Q and PLA/PEO/Q with Q releasing activity can be considered as a novel and more efficient micro- and nano-system to deliver Q and eliminate phenotypically different cancer cells.

It is crucial for companies providing rental and maintenance services to hotels and hospitals to tackle the problem of decreased physical longevity caused by frequent laundering procedures in the industrial textile sector. Proper maintenance of bed linens is vital as they undergo multiple rigorous preservation techniques, such as being treated with chlorine to remove tough stains and sanitize the fabrics. The mechanical strength of fabric made of 100% cotton fibre products greatly relies on the degree of polymerization of cellulose-cotton fibre material. The study evaluated the washing performance of five cotton fabrics. Two weaving pattern variations were used and the fabrics were composed either of 100% cotton or a blend of 50% cotton and 50% polyester fibres. The washing methods included commercial and chlorine-based laboratory washing. 100% cotton fabrics, especially in plain weave show higher tensile strength falls then blended ones. The pure cotton fabric loss much more of its initial strength after only few chlorine-based washings than after hundred commercial ones. Limiting viscosity number values drop in half after hundred commercial washings for cotton fibres taken from tested woven fabrics. In comparison, decline of this parameter after only ten chlorine-based washings is more than 80% of their initial values. Performing the maintenance process without free chlorine, while still retaining its high effectiveness, can notably augment the frequency of maintenance procedures and preserve the mechanical durability of cotton fabrics over a longer time span. This leads to a reduction in textile waste residues.

In this study, the effect of TiC on the oxidation resistance of 304 stainless steel (304SS) at 650°C in air was investigated by examining oxidation kinetics and surface and cross‐sectional scale microstructures, in comparison with TiC‐free alloy. It was found that TiC addition deteriorated the oxidation resistance of 304SS at 650°C, in contrast with its improving effect on oxidation resistance at 850°C reported before. The variation of the TiC effect on the oxidation resistance of 304SS at different temperatures was attributed to the dual effect of TiC where the final results depended on if protective or nonprotective oxide scale formation occurred in TiC‐free 304SS materials.

Carbamate is an emerging class of polymer backbone for constructing sequence-defined, abiotic polymers. It is expected that new functional materials can be de novo designed by controlling the primary polycarbamate sequence. While amino acids have been actively studied as building blocks for protein folding and peptide self-assembly, carbamates have not been widely investigated from this perspective. Here we combined infrared (IR), vibrational circular dichroism (VCD) and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy with density functional theory (DFT) calculations to understand the conformation of carbamate monomer units in a non-polar, aprotic environment (chloroform). Compared with amino acid building blocks, carbamates are more rigid, presumably due to the extended delocalization of π-electrons on the backbones. cis configurations can be energetically stable for carbamates while peptides typically assume trans configurations at low energies. This study lays an essential foundation for future developments of carbamate-based sequence-defined polymer material design.

The outbreak of SARS-CoV-2 has made us more alert to the importance of viral diagnostics at a population level to rapidly control the spread of the disease. The critical question would be how to scale up testing capacity and perform a diagnostic test in a high-throughput manner with robust results and affordable costs. Here, the latest 26 articles using barcoding technology for COVID-19 diagnostics and biologically-relevant studies are reviewed. Barcodes are molecular tags, that allow proceeding an array of samples at once. To date, barcoding technology followed by high-throughput sequencing has been made for molecular diagnostics for SARS-CoV-2 infections because it can synchronously analyze up to tens of thousands of clinical samples within a short diagnostic time. Essentially, this technology can also be used together with different biotechnologies, allowing for investigation with resolution of single molecules. In this Mini-Review, I first explain the general principle of the barcoding strategy and then put forward recent studies using this technology to accomplish COVID-19 diagnostics and basic research. In the meantime, I provide the viewpoint to improve the current COVID-19 diagnostic strategy with potential solutions. Finally, and importantly, two practical ideas about how barcodes can be further applied in studying SARS-CoV-2 to accelerate our understanding of this virus are proposed.

Tricobalt tetroxide (Co3O4) has been developed as a promising photocatalyst material for various applications. Several reports have been published on the self-modification of Co3O4 to achieve optimal photocatalytic performance. The pristine Co3O4 alone is inadequate for photocatalysis due to the rapid recombination process of photogenerated (PG) charge carriers. The modification of Co3O4 can be extended through the introduction of doping elements, incorporation of supporting materials, surface functionalization, metal loading, and combination with other photocatalysts. The addition of doping elements and support materials may enhance the photocatalysis process, although these modifications have a slight effect on decreasing the recombination process of PG charge carriers. On the other hand, combining Co3O4 with other semiconductors results in a different PG charge carrier mechanism, leading to a decrease in the recombination process and an increase in photocatalytic activity. Therefore, this work discusses recent modifications of Co3O4 and their effects on its photocatalytic performance. Additionally, the modification effects, such as enhanced surface area, generation of oxygen vacancies, tuning the band gap, and formation of heterojunctions, are reviewed to demonstrate the feasibility of separating PG charge carriers. Finally, the formation and mechanism of these modification effects are also reviewed based on theoretical and experimental approaches to validate their formation and the transfer process of charge carriers.

Citation: Klajn, N.; Kapczyńska, K.; Pasikowski, P.; Glazińska, P.; Kugiel, H.; Kęsy, J.; Wojciechowski, W. Regulatory Effects of ABA and GA on the Expression of Conglutin Genes and LAFL Network Genes in Yellow Lupine (Lupinus luteus L.) Seeds. Int. Abstract: The maturation of seeds is a process of particular importance both for the plant itself by assuring the survival of the species and for the human population for nutritional and economic reasons. Controlling this process requires a strict coordination of many factors at different levels of the functioning of genetic and hormonal changes as well as cellular organization. One of the most important examples is the transcriptional activity of the LAFL gene regulatory network, which includes LEAFY COTYLEDON1 (LEC1) and LEC1-LIKE (L1L) and ABSCISIC ACID INSENSITIVE3 (ABI3), FUSCA3 (FUS3), and LEC2 (LEAFY COTYLEDON2), as well as hormonal homeostasis-of abscisic acid (ABA) and gibberellins (GA) in particular. From the nutritional point of view, the key to seed development is the ability of seeds to accumulate large amounts of proteins with different structures and properties. The world's food deficit is mainly related to shortages of protein, and taking into consideration the environmental changes occurring on Earth, it is becoming necessary to search for a way to obtain large amounts of plant-derived protein while maintaining the diversity of its origin. Yellow lupin, whose storage proteins are conglutins, is one of the plant species native to Europe that accumulates large amounts of this nutrient in its seeds. In this article we have shown the key changes occurring in the developing seeds of the yellow-lupin cultivar Taper by means of modern molecular biology techniques, including RNA-seq, chromatographic techniques and quantitative PCR analysis. We identified regulatory genes fundamental to the seed-filling process, as well as genes encoding conglutins. We also investigated how exogenous application of ABA and GA 3 affects the expression of LlLEC2, LlABI3, LlFUS3, and genes encoding β-and δ-conglutins and whether it results in the amount of accumulated seed storage proteins. The research shows that for each species, even related plants, very specific changes can be identified. Thus the analysis and possibility of using such an approach to improve and stabilize yields requires even more detailed and extended research.

Background Protozoan pathogens from the genus Cryptosporidium cause the diarrhoeal disease cryptosporidiosis in humans and animals globally. Freshwater biota could act as potential reservoirs or zoonotic sources of Cryptosporidium infections for livestock and people, but Cryptosporidium occurrence in aquatic biota is largely unexplored. The aim of this study was to investigate the occurrence of Cryptosporidium in a range of freshwater organisms in upland rivers across England and Wales. Methods Fish were sampled by electrofishing, invertebrate larvae by kick sampling and the otter Lutra lutra and mink Mustela vison through faecal samples collected opportunistically as part of a nation-wide study. PCR targeting the small subunit ribosomal RNA gene was used to detect Cryptosporidium species. Results Cryptosporidium occurred in just 0.8% of all the samples and in none of 73 samples from nine invertebrate genera. Cryptosporidium was detected in two of 2/74 fish samples (2.7%), both salmonids, and in 2/92 otter faecal samples (2.17%), but there were no positive samples in mink (0/24) or the bullhead Cottus gobio (0/16). Conclusions Low detection rate of human-infective Cryptosporidium species in aquatic fauna indicates they may present a low risk of contamination of some upland freshwaters. Graphical Abstract

Junctional folds are unique membrane specializations developed progressively during the postnatal maturation of vertebrate neuromuscular junctions (NMJs), but how they are formed remains elusive. Previous studies suggested that topologically complex acetylcholine receptor (AChR) clusters in muscle cultures undergo a series of transformations, resembling the postnatal maturation of NMJs in vivo. We first demonstrated the presence of membrane infoldings at AChR clusters in cultured muscles. Live-cell super-resolution imaging further revealed that AChRs are gradually redistributed to the crest regions and spatially segregated from acetylcholinesterase along the elongating membrane infoldings over time. Mechanistically, lipid raft disruption or caveolin-3 knockdown not only inhibits membrane infolding formation at aneural AChR clusters and delays agrin-induced AChR clustering in vitro but also affects junctional fold development at NMJs in vivo. Collectively, this study demonstrated the progressive development of membrane infoldings via nerve-independent, caveolin-3-dependent mechanisms and identified their roles in AChR trafficking and redistribution during the structural maturation of NMJs.

Both gallium nitride (GaN) and hybrid organic-inorganic perovskites such as methylammonium lead iodide (MAPbI3) have significantly influenced modern optoelectronics. Both marked a new beginning in the development of important branches in the semiconductor industry. For GaN, it is solid-state lighting and high-power electronics, and for MAPbI3, it is photovoltaics. Today, both are widely incorporated as building blocks in solar cells, LEDs and photodetectors. Regarding multilayers, and thus multi-interfacial construction of such devices, an understanding of the physical phenomena governing electronic transport at the interfaces is relevant. In this study, we present the spectroscopic investigation of carrier transfer across the MAPbI3/GaN interface by contactless electroreflectance (CER) for n-type and p-type GaN. The effect of MAPbI3 on the Fermi level position at the GaN surface was determined which allowed us to draw conclusions about the electronic phenomena at the interface. Our results show that MAPbI3 shifts the surface Fermi level deeper inside the GaN bandgap. Regarding different surface Fermi level positions for n-type and p-type GaN, we explain this as carrier transfer from GaN to MAPbI3 for n-type GaN and in the opposite direction for p-type GaN. We extend our outcomes with a demonstration of a broadband and self-powered MAPbI3/GaN photodetector.

The suggestion that the systemic immune response in lymph nodes (LNs) conveys prognostic value for triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) patients has not previously been investigated in large cohorts. We used a deep learning (DL) framework to quantify morphological features in haematoxylin and eosin-stained LNs on digitised whole slide images. From 345 breast cancer patients, 5,228 axillary LNs, cancer-free and involved, were assessed. Generalisable multiscale DL frameworks were developed to capture and quantify germinal centres (GCs) and sinuses. Cox regression proportional hazard models tested the association between smuLymphNet-captured GC and sinus quantifications and distant metastasis-free survival (DMFS). smuLymphNet achieved a Dice coefficient of 0.86 and 0.74 for capturing GCs and sinuses, respectively, and was comparable to an interpathologist Dice coefficient of 0.66 (GC) and 0.60 (sinus). smuLymphNet-captured sinuses were increased in LNs harbouring GCs (p < 0.001). smuLymphNet-captured GCs retained clinical relevance in LN-positive TNBC patients whose cancer-free LNs had on average ≥2 GCs, had longer DMFS (hazard ratio [HR] = 0.28, p = 0.02) and extended GCs' prognostic value to LN-negative TNBC patients (HR = 0.14, p = 0.002). Enlarged smuLymphNet-captured sinuses in involved LNs were associated with superior DMFS in LN-positive TNBC patients in a cohort from Guy's Hospital (multivariate HR = 0.39, p = 0.039) and with distant recurrence-free survival in 95 LN-positive TNBC patients of the Dutch-N4plus trial (HR = 0.44, p = 0.024). Heuristic scoring of subcapsular sinuses in LNs of LN-positive Tianjin TNBC patients (n = 85) cross-validated the association of enlarged sinuses with shorter DMFS (involved LNs: HR = 0.33, p = 0.029 and cancer-free LNs: HR = 0.21 p = 0.01). Morphological LN features reflective of cancer-associated responses are robustly quantifiable by smuLymphNet. Our findings further strengthen the value of assessment of LN properties beyond the detection of metastatic deposits for prognostication of TNBC patients. © 2023 The Authors. The Journal of Pathology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of The Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland.

Utilizing the remarkably high light absorption and long carrier diffusion length of inorganic perovskites, superior performance self-powered broadband photodetectors using the vertical heterojunction of cesium lead iodide (CsPbI3) nanocrystals (NCs) and zinc oxide (ZnO) films on a flexible platform are reported. Here, the pure cubic or α-phase of as-synthesized CsPbI3 NCs facilitate the novelty of the present work in terms of their enhanced structural stability suitable for optical applications. The α-CsPbI3/ZnO device exhibits superior performance with photoresponsivity of ≈8.2 AW⁻¹, ON/OFF ratio of ≈2.4 × 10⁴, and specific detectivity up to ≈1.4 × 10¹² Jones. Furthermore, the piezo-phototronic effect of ZnO has been exploited to enhance the device performance by utilizing the compressive strain-induced piezoelectric charges for modulating the generation, separation, and transportation of charge carriers. By introducing an approximate −0.042% compressive strain in the hybrid heterostructure, the enhancement of photocurrent, spectral responsivity, and specific detectivity of the detector by ≈619%, ≈536%, and ≈506%, respectively, under visible light illumination has been successfully achieved. This work not only presents an inventive method for improving the performance of perovskite photodetectors through interface engineering, but it also provides a thorough understanding of the piezo-phototronic effect on optoelectronic devices.

Preformed stainless steel crowns are used in pediatric dentistry to obtain full crown restoration of primary molar teeth. They are consider the best restoration in terms of durability and effectiveness. The purpose of this study is to evaluate microbial, cytological and physio-chemical properties to determine whereas stainless steel crown are biocompatible, safe for surrounding tissue and helpful in avoiding microorganisms influence on the tooth tissue. Based on the results, it was determined that stainless steel crowns used in pediat-ric dentistry represent no cytotoxic risk to the surrounding tissues, have a low probability of developing hypersensitivity to the coronal material and also that their biological properties make them suitable to use in pediatric dentistry for the reconstruction of damaged primary molar tissue.

Alumina is one of the most popular ceramic materials widely used in both tooling and construction applications due to its low production cost, and high properties. However, the final properties of the product depend not only on the purity of the powder, but also, e.g., on its particle size, specific surface area, and the production technology used. These parameters are particularly important in the case of choosing additive techniques for the production of details. Therefore, the article presents the results of comparing five grades of Al2O3 ceramic powder. Their specific surface area (via Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) and Barrett–Joyner–Halenda (BJH) methods), particle size distribution, and phase composition by X-ray diffraction (XRD) were determined. Moreover, the surface morphology was characterized by the scanning electron microscopy (SEM) technique. The discrepancy between generally available data and the results obtained from measurements has been indicated. Moreover, the method of spark plasma sintering (SPS), equipped with the registration system of the position of the pressing punch during the process, was used to determine the sinterability curves of each of the tested grades of Al2O3 powder. Based on the obtained results, a significant influence of the specific surface area, particle size, and the width of their distribution at the beginning of the Al2O3 powder sintering process was confirmed. Furthermore, the possibility of using the analyzed variants of powders for binder jetting technology was assessed. The dependence of the particle size of the powder used on the quality of the printed parts was demonstrated. The procedure presented in this paper, which involves analyzing the properties of alumina varieties, was used to optimize the Al2O3 powder material for binder jetting printing. The selection of the best powder in terms of technological properties and good sinterability makes it possible to reduce the number of 3D printing processes, which makes it more economical and less time-consuming.

Two-dimensional hybrid-organic-inorganic perovskite (2D-HOIP) lead bromide perovskite crystals have demonstrated great potentials as scintillators with high light yields and fast decay times, while also being low-cost with solution-processable materials for wide energy radiation detection. Ion doping has been also shown to be a very promising avenue for improvements of the scintillation properties of 2D-HOIP crystals. In this paper, we discuss the effect of rubidium (Rb) doping on two previously reported 2D-HOIP single crystals, BA2PbBr4 and PEA2PbBr4. We observe that doping the perovskite crystals with Rb-ions leads to an expansion of the crystal lattices of the materials, which also leads to narrowing of bandgaps down to 84 % of the pure compounds. Rb doping of BA2PbBr4 and PEA2PbBr4 shows a broadening in the photoluminescence and scintillation emissions of both perovskite crystals. Rb doping also leads to faster γ-ray scintillation decay times as fast as 4.4 ns, with the average-decay-time decreases of 15 and 8% for Rb-doped BA2PbBr4 and PEA2PbBr4, respectively, comparing to those of undoped crystals. The inclusion of Rb-ions also leads to a slightly longer afterglow, with residual scintillation still being below 1% after 5 s at 10 K, for both undoped and Rb-doped perovskite crystals. The light yield of both perovskites is significantly increased by Rb doping, with improvements of 58% and 25%, for BA2PbBr4 and PEA2PbBr4, respectively. This work shows that Rb doping leads to a significant enhancement of the 2D-HOIP crystal performance, which is of particular significance for high light yield and fast-timing applications, such as photon counting or positron emission tomography.

Scintillators fabricated from organic−inorganic layered perovskites have attracted wide attention due to their excellent properties, including fast decay times, superior light yield, and high exciton binding energy. In relation to their optoelectronic properties, hybrid organic−inorganic perovskites are known for their tunability, which could be manipulated by modifying the organic cations. In this study, we investigate the optical and scintillation properties of lead halide perovskites A 2 PbBr 4 , where A vary from amylammonium (AA), hexylammonium (HA), octylammonium (OA), and benzylammonium (BZA) organic ligands. Photoluminescence (PL) spectra display dual peaks due to surface and bulk trap states contributions, while fast average decay times from time-resolved photoluminescence (TRPL) for all samples are within the range of 0.69 ± 0.11−0.99 ± 0.13 ns. The optical band gap of these hybrid perovskites is within ∼3 eV range, which fulfill the criteria of promising scintillators. Radioluminescence (RL) spectra show negative thermal quenching behavior (NTQ) in all samples, with the AA 2 PbBr 4 peak intensity appearing at relatively lower temperature compared to other samples. Thermoluminescence (TL) measurement reveals trap-free states in AA 2 PbBr 4 , while other samples possess shallow traps (<40 meV) as well as low trap density, which is beneficial for fast-decay scintillators, X-ray detection and energy conversion for solar cells. Overall, our results demonstrate that the extension of linear organic chains in lead-based perovskite is a deterministic strategy for a fast response hybrid-based scintillator to date.