A one-pot method was developed to prepare atomic thick nanosheets of metastable TiO(2)(B), which has a unique open structure owing to the coupling of intrinsic channels and the preferentially exposed (010) facets. They display high activity of doping due to the rapid incorporation and diffusion along these open channels.

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is one the leading risk factors for chronic hepatitis, liver fibrosis, cirrhosis and hepatocellular cancer (HCC), which are a major global health problem. A large number of clinical studies have shown that chronic HBV persistent infection causes the dysfunction of innate and adaptive immune response involving monocytes/macrophages, dendritic cells, natural killer (NK) cells, T cells. Among these immune cells, cell subsets with suppressive features have been recognized such as myeloid derived suppressive cells(MDSC), NK-reg, T-reg, which represent a critical regulatory system during liver fibrogenesis or tumourigenesis. However, the mechanisms that link HBV-induced immune dysfunction and HBV-related liver diseases are not understood. In this review we summarize the recent studies on innate and adaptive immune cell dysfunction in chronic HBV infection, liver fibrosis, cirrhosis, and HCC, and further discuss the potential mechanism of HBV-induced immunosuppressive cascade in HBV infection and consequences. It is hoped that this article will help ongoing research about the pathogenesis of HBV-related hepatic fibrosis and HBV-related HCC.

Late‐stage hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) usually has a low survival rate because of the high risk of metastases and the lack of an effective cure. Disulfiram (DSF) has copper (Cu)‐dependent anticancer properties in vitro and in vivo. The present work aims to explore the anti‐metastasis effects and molecular mechanisms of DSF/Cu on HCC cells both in vitro and in vivo. The results showed that DSF inhibited the proliferation, migration and invasion of HCC cells. Cu improved the anti‐metastatic activity of DSF, while Cu alone had no effect. Furthermore, DSF/Cu inhibited both NF‐κB and TGF‐β signalling, including the nuclear translocation of NF‐κB subunits and the expression of Smad4, leading to down‐regulation of Snail and Slug, which contributed to phenotype epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT). Finally, DSF/Cu inhibited the lung metastasis of Hep3B cells not only in a subcutaneous tumour model but also in an orthotopic liver metastasis assay. These results indicated that DSF/Cu suppressed the metastasis and EMT of hepatic carcinoma through NF‐κB and TGF‐β signalling. Our study indicates the potential of DSF/Cu for therapeutic use.

Ceria and nickel-doped ceria necklace-like nanowires were synthesized by a facile, surfactant free method, through an unconventional assembly route. Homogeneous doping of lower-valent cations introduces elastic strain, resulting in extrinsic surface defects and higher catalytic performance in CO oxidization.

We present the facile preparation results of noble metal nanostructures induced by graphene via rapid coreduction by Ti(3+) at room temperature. Such a reduction of graphene oxide (GO) can be readily performed in solutions or on various substrates within seconds. High quality noble metal nanocrystals can be prepared by using graphene as the controlling agent at room temperature, including Rh, Au and Rh-Pt nanodendrites and Pd nanoparticles, showing the roles of graphene on tuning the growth behaviors of nanostructures. These surface clean Pd nanoparticles show high catalytic activity and selectivity in Suzuki and Heck coupling reactions.

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There has been an expanding library of materials in which the framework connectivity of prevalent solid-state crystal structure types is terminated with ligands along specific axes to produce robust, crystalline, single-and few-atom/polyhedral thick fragments. The abrupt termination of the ionic/covalent inorganic framework along a particular direction, gives these materials fundamentally different electronic, optical, thermal, and magnetic properties, which can be manipulated via the design of the organic component. These new materials often exhibit advantageous electronic and optoelectronic behavior, making them viable platforms for applications ranging from light emitting phosphors, to thin film field effect transistors, to photovoltaics. This Perspective highlights our current understanding and future opportunities in the synthesis, properties, and applications of these atomic-scale derivatives of solid-state materials.

Pseudo-isotropic mosaic spheres of anatase almost completely covered with reactive (001) facets are prepared via a one-pot reaction. The growth process is mediated by an appropriate amount of NaF under hydrothermal conditions. Due to the large exposure ratio of identical (001) facets, the product can serve as an ideal model to investigate certain crystalline plane effects owing to their pseudo-isotropic properties, such as texture effects. Intensified X-ray diffraction results are presented to show such effects induced by morphology.