http://hdl.handle.net/10453/35207 2026-07-21T00:29:05Z http://hdl.handle.net/10453/195722 Title: Development of a chromene-based fluorescent and colorimetric sensor for the sensitive detection of calcium ions in a complex medium: a detailed DFT and experimental approach. Authors: Khurshid, K; Gul, K; Junaid, HM; Shabbir, A; Farooq, U; Shahzad, SA Abstract: Calcium plays a key role in various biochemical processes and cellular functions in the human body; its imbalance can cause severe hyper- and hypo-calcemic medical conditions. In this research work, we developed a novel AIE-active chromene-based fluorescent sensor, CFN (DMF, λ exc = 330 nm, λ em = 476 nm), through an easy Knoevenagel condensation reaction with solvatochromic characteristics. The synthesized CFN sensor exhibited excellent fluorescence enhancement with a blue shift in 90% aqueous media (9 : 1, H2O/DMF, λ exc = 330 nm, λ em = 410 nm). Blue shift in the fluorescence spectrum indicates the formation of H-aggregates, which is further supported by dynamic light scattering (DLS) results. The CFN sensor shows a large Stokes shift of 120 nm in pure DMF and 54 nm in water/DMF. The CFN sensor was employed for extremely selective and sensitive colorimetric detection of Ca2+ ions via chelation-enhanced fluorescence quenching (CHEQ) mechanism. The calculated detection and quantification limits were 10.5 nM and 35 nM, respectively. Furthermore, UV-Vis spectroscopy, fluorescence spectroscopy, and 1H NMR titration experiments were carried out to validate the interaction mechanism between CFN and Ca2+ ions. The application of CFN for the detection of Ca2+ ions in real samples were accessed through real-time fluorescence titration analyses in human plasma, commercial milk, and different water samples. The portable CFN sensor-coated strips were developed for on-site sensing of Ca2+ ions, and a logic gate was designed to mimic it as a point-of-need calcium ion sensor. 2025-11-18T00:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/10453/195712 Title: Multidimensional Risk Index With Treatable Traits for Hospitalized Asthma Outcomes: Clinical Implication Authors: Yuan, L; Zhao, C; Wang, L; Zhang, L; Liu, Y; Liu, L; Feng, M; Wang, G; Zhang, S; Yuan, Y; Wang, Q; Li, L; Liao, S; Kang, D; Zhang, X Abstract: Abstract RATIONALE: Asthma exacerbations (AEs) lead to significant hospitalizations, reduced quality of life, and rising healthcare costs. Despite progress in asthma management, serious in-hospital adverse outcomes remain a major challenge, with their immune-inflammation patterns largely unexplored. Guidelines suggest multidimensional assessments (MDA) for hospitalized AE patients. However, comprehensive MDA tools incorporating treatable traits specifically designed for AEs are lacking, as current research has largely focused on single-dimensional predictors.METHODS: The adverse outcomes risk index for hospitalized asthma patients (AORI-HAP), a tool that predicts in-hospital adverse outcomes, incorporating key treatable traits to guide personalized treatment, was developed using the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) logistic regression. Patients were categorized into three risk groups based on the tertiles of the AORI-HAP score to analyze the incidence of composite in-hospital outcomes across distinct risk levels. Mediator analysis employed underlying mechanisms leading to adverse outcomes in high-risk patients. RESULTS: The AORI-HAP incorporates multiple indicators spanning 8 dimensions, including demographics, comorbidities, immune-inflammatory mediators, liver blood tests, renal function tests, coagulation function tests, arterial blood gas analysis and biochemistry. Key predictors in AORI-HAP included a neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio > 8.3 (RR = 9.26, P < 0.001), AST/ALT ratio > 1.41 (RR = 3.73, P < 0.001), smoking history ≥ 10 pack-years (RR = 3.54, P = 0.005), D-Dimer ≥ 5 mg/L (RR = 3.25, P = 0.002), and fasting blood glucose ≥ 7 mmol/L (RR = 3.20, P = 0.001). Each three-unit increment in the AORI-HAP score predicted an additional day in hospital length of stay. The AORI HAP demonstrated strong predictive capability (AUC = 0.91, 95% CI: 0.86-0.95), with a sensitivity of 90.48% and specificity of 69.61%. NLR mediated 26.7% of the effect, linking high-risk status to the composite outcome.CONCLUSION: The AORI-HAP represents the first multidimensional risk-scoring tool specifically designed to predict adverse in-hospital outcomes for patients hospitalized with AEs. Distinct from previous models that rely on single indicators, AORI-HAP integrates a comprehensive range of factors and treatable traits, providing a thorough risk assessment. This tool not only identifies high-risk patients but also aids in informed clinical decision-making. Our study highlights the prevalence of non-eosinophilic inflammation among patients with AEs, suggesting neutrophils could be significant potential targets for assessment and therapeutic intervention in AEs. 2025-05-01T00:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/10453/195645 Title: MXene/ZIF-67-based Janus separator for high-performance lithium-sulphur batteries Authors: Fu, C; He, D; Liu, X; Gu, W; Qin, Y; Lu, J; Wang, C; Wang, T Abstract: Lithium-sulphur (Li-S) batteries, renowned for their exceptional theoretical energy density, have emerged as promising candidates for next-generation energy storage systems. However, their widespread commercialization remains hindered by the polysulfide shuttle effect and the instability of the lithium (Li) metal anode. In this study, a Janus separator based on ZIF-67 and MXene was proposed to improve the performance of both the cathode and anode. The cathode-facing layer employs a ZIF-67 featuring micropores that selectively confine polysulfides through combined physical sieving and chemical adsorption, effectively suppressing shuttle phenomena. Simultaneously, the anode-oriented MXene layer enhances lithium-ion (Li⁺) diffusion capability through its polar surface functional groups, elevates the Li⁺ transference number, promotes uniform lithium deposition, and effectively suppresses lithium dendrite growth. The Janus separator enables Li-S batteries to achieve exceptional long-term cycling stability under high current density with low capacity decay rate, while maintaining superior discharge capacity even under high sulphur loading conditions. By offering bidirectional functionalization, this design simultaneously stabilizes the sulphur cathode and Li metal anode, providing a novel strategy for advanced separator engineering in Li-S batteries. 2025-08-10T00:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/10453/195641 Title: Layered-to-rocksalt atomic reconfiguration on O3-type cathodes surface for high-energy and durable sodium-ion batteries Authors: Liu, M; Guan, ZK; Zheng, L; Jing, P; Chen, SF; Xu, SW; Hu, LJ; Liu, X; Zhao, L; Xiao, B; Wang, PF Abstract: High-energy O3-type cathode materials have been intensively pursued due to the immense potential of sodium-ion batteries as a scalable and economic energy storage solution. However, their intrinsic sensitivity of surface to humid air inevitably triggers detrimental bulk degradation and the formation of ionically/electronically insulating surface residuals, severely impairing their battery performance and commercialization efforts. Here, we present a transformative layered-to-rocksalt atomic reconfiguration strategy that achieves dual breakthroughs, the elimination of residual alkalis and the in-situ construction of a robust layered-rocksalt heterostructure surface in the prototypical O3-NaNi<inf>1/3</inf>Fe<inf>1/3</inf>Mn<inf>1/3</inf>O<inf>2</inf> cathode. This ingenious design defies conventional trade-offs, simultaneously preserving rapid Na⁺ diffusion kinetics, ensuring exceptional electrochemical reversibility and reinforcing structural stability. Consequently, the engineered cathode demonstrates a superior initial Coulombic efficiency of 97.6 %, a high cycling durability with capacity retention of 80.1 % after 300 cycles at 1 C and a new benchmark for rate capability with 78.9 % capacity retention at a high rate of 10 C. The proposed surface layered-to-rocksalt atomic reconfiguration strategy exemplifies a groundbreaking electrode design concept and opens up a wide of compositional possibilities for future development of high-power and high-energy cathodes, marking a significant step forward in the evolution of sodium-ion battery technology. 2025-10-01T00:00:00Z