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Non‐noble‐metal‐based and earth‐abundant electrocatalysts have been extensively investigated for the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). However, they still suffer from large Tafel slopes and high overpotentials, resulting in inferior HER catalytic activity. Herein, a novel, cost‐effective, and electrochemically stable catalyst is presented by growing ultrasmall CoSe2 nanoparticles on MoS2 nanofilms using a facile hydrothermal method. The CoSe2/MoS2 hybrid catalyst shows superior catalytic activity in HER to both CoSe2 or MoS2 alone and their physical mixture. With the Tafel slope as small as 37.8 mV dec−1, the CoSe2/MoS2 shows excellent catalytic properties for HER in an acidic solution. The promising performance can be attributed to the synergistic effect of CoSe2 nanoparticles and MoS2 nanofilms. In addition, the catalytic activity of the CoSe2/MoS2 catalyst is almost unchanged after 1000 cyclic voltammetric sweeps, indicating its long‐term durability under acidic conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

(1) Background: At present, the only potency assay approved in China for the in-country testing of botulinum toxin type A for injection products is the mouse bioassay (MBA). The Chinese market for neurotoxin products is rapidly expanding, but MBAs are subject to high variability due to individual variations in mice, as well as variations in injection sites, in addition to the limited number of batches tested for one MBA. Compared with the mLD50 method, the cell-based potency assay (CBPA) developed for the potency testing of onabotulinumtoxinA (BOTOX) by AbbVie not only does not use any experimental animals but also allows for significant time and cost savings. Due to the significant benefits conferred by the replacement of the mLD50 assay with CBPA in China, the CBPA method has been transferred, validated, and cross-validated to demonstrate the equivalence of the two potency methods. (2) Methods: The differentiated SiMa cells were treated with both BOTOX samples and the reference standard, and the cleaved SNAP25197 in the cell lysates was quantified using Chemi-ECL ELISA. A 4-PL model was used for the data fit and sample relative potency calculation. The method accuracy, linearity, repeatability, and intermediate precision were determined within the range of 50% to 200% of the labeled claim. A statistical equivalence of the two potency methods (CBPA and mLD50) was initially demonstrated by comparing the AbbVie CBPA data with NIFDC mLD50 data on a total of 167 commercial BOTOX lots (85 50U lots and 82 100U lots). In addition, six lots of onabotulinumtoxinA (three 50U and three 100U) were re-tested as cross-validation by these two methods for equivalence. (3) Results: The overall assay's accuracy and intermediate precision were determined as 104% and 9.2%, and the slope, R-square, and Y-intercept for linearity were determined as 1.071, 0.998, and 0.036, respectively. The repeatability was determined as 6.9%. The range with the acceptable criteria of accuracy, linearity, and precision was demonstrated as 50% to 200% of the labeled claim. The 95% equivalence statistic test using margins [80%, 125%] indicates that CBPA and mLD50 methods are equivalent for both BOTOX strengths (i.e., 50U and 100U). The relative potency data from cross-validation were within the range of ≥80% to ≤120%. (4) Conclusions: The CBPA meets all acceptance criteria and is equivalent to mLD50. The replacement of mLD50 with CBPA is well justified in terms of ensuring safety and efficacy, as well as for animal benefits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hydrogels with pure hydrophilic network have received much attention due to their excellent low frictional behavior. However, the lubrication performance of hydrogels is not satisfied under high‐speed condition due to the energy dissipation caused by adsorbed polymer chains as well as the failure of lubricating mechanisms accompanied by the transition of lubrication regime. In this work, interpenetrating double‐network organohydrogels were constructed by combining hydrophilic and oleophilic polymer networks to modify the physiochemical properties of surface polymer chains, especially the chain mobility. The oleophilic polymer network spatially restricting the mobility of the swollen hydrophilic network in water, resulted in a low coefficient of friction (ca. 0.01) compared with conventional hydrogels at high speed (0.1 m s−1). Meanwhile, the organohydrogels had superior wear resistance, with almost no wear observed on the sliding track after 5 k cycles of rubbing at high speed. The design concept of organohydrogels can be extended to a variety of low‐wear, highly‐lubricating materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hydrogels with pure hydrophilic network have received much attention due to their excellent low frictional behavior. However, the lubrication performance of hydrogels is not satisfied under high‐speed condition due to the energy dissipation caused by adsorbed polymer chains as well as the failure of lubricating mechanisms accompanied by the transition of lubrication regime. In this work, interpenetrating double‐network organohydrogels were constructed by combining hydrophilic and oleophilic polymer networks to modify the physiochemical properties of surface polymer chains, especially the chain mobility. The oleophilic polymer network spatially restricting the mobility of the swollen hydrophilic network in water, resulted in a low coefficient of friction (ca. 0.01) compared with conventional hydrogels at high speed (0.1 m s−1). Meanwhile, the organohydrogels had superior wear resistance, with almost no wear observed on the sliding track after 5 k cycles of rubbing at high speed. The design concept of organohydrogels can be extended to a variety of low‐wear, highly‐lubricating materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective. Arsenic trioxide (ATO) has been effectively used for the treatment of hematological malignancies and some solid tumors, while ATO effects were not tested clinically in epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC). Methods. Patients with primary or secondary platinum-resistant EOC were enrolled from October 2015 to December 2019. Patients were mainly treated with ATO-based combined sequential chemotherapy as follows: Regimen 1 (ATO combined taxanes weekly therapy); Regimen 2 (ATO + taxanes + 5-fluorouracil + adriamycin ± bevacizumab sequential chemotherapy), for 5 patients platinum-free interval >12 months, added oxaliplatin). Prespecified end points in this cohort included confirmed best overall response rate (ORR), disease control rate (DCR), progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS), and safety. Results. A total of 33 patients were enrolled in this study. After a median follow-up time of 22.1 months (range 5.5–42.9 months), ORR was 42% and DCR was 85%. The overall PFS was 9.5 months (range 1–38.4 months). The main side effect was myelosuppression. Conclusions. ATO-based sequential combined chemotherapy is effective for primary and recurrent drug-resistant EOC patients in clinical phase II trials. The associated side effects could be controlled, while further study is needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This study aimed to detect the epidemiological relevance between adenoid hypertrophy (AH) and rhinosinusitis, and AH and allergic rhinitis (AR) through an Internet search. Methods: Internet search query data from January 2011 to December 2019 in China were retrieved from the Baidu Index (BI). Spearman's correlation coefficients were used to detect the correlation among the search volumes of AH, rhinosinusitis, and AR. We also collected search data from the first 5 months of 2020, when quarantine was implemented in China due to the coronavirus disease 2019 epidemic. Then, we compared the search data to those obtained during the same period in 2019 to assess the effects of isolation on AH and AR. Results: Statistically significant relevance was found between the search variations of AH and rhinosinusitis during 2011–2019 (R = 0.643, P < 0.05). However, the relationship between AH and AR was weak (R = − 0.239, P < 0.05) and that between rhinosinusitis and AR (R = − 0.022, P > 0.05) was not relevant. The average monthly search volume of AH and rhinosinusitis had a strong correlation (R = 0.846, P < 0.01), but AH and AR and rhinosinusitis and AR were not correlated (R = – 0.350, P > 0.05; R = – 0.042, P > 0.05, respectively). AH and rhinosinusitis search volumes decreased consistently during the first 5 months of 2020 (isolation), whereas that for AR increased during January–February. Conclusion: AH had an epidemiological relationship with rhinosinusitis, which was not consistent with AR. The decrease in public gathering effectively reduced the morbidities of AH and rhinosinusitis but not those of AR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Haem is a key metabolic factor in the life cycle of the malaria parasite. In the blood stage, the parasite acquires host haemoglobin to generate amino acids for protein synthesis and the by-product haem for metabolic use. The malaria parasite can also synthesize haem de novo on its own. Plasmodium falciparum-specific histidine-rich protein 2 (PfHRP2) has a haem-binding site to mediate the formation of haemozoin, a biocrystallized form of haem aggregates. Notably, the gene regulates the mechanism of haemoglobin-derived haem metabolism and the de novo haem biosynthetic pathway in the Pfhrp2-disrupted parasite line during the intraerythrocytic stages. Methods: The CRISPR/Cas9 system was used to disrupt the gene locus of Pfhrp2. DNA was extracted from the transgenic parasite, and PCR, Southern blotting and Western blotting were used to confirm the establishment of transgenic parasites. RNA-sequencing and comparative transcriptome analysis were performed to identify differences in gene expression between 3D7 and Pfhrp2--3D7 parasites. Results: Pfhrp2- transgenic parasites were successfully established by the CRISPR/Cas9 system. A total of 964, 1261, 3138, 1064, 2512 and 1778 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified in the six comparison groups, respectively, with 373, 520, 1499, 353, 1253 and 742 of these DEGs upregulated and 591, 741, 1639, 711, 1259 and 1036 of them downregulated, respectively. Five DEGs related to haem metabolism and synthesis were identified in the comparison groups at six time points (0, 8, 16, 24, 32, and 40 h after merozoite invasion). The genes encoding delta-aminolevulinic acid synthetase and ferrochelatase, both related to haem biosynthesis, were found to be significantly upregulated in the comparison groups, and those encoding haem oxygenase, stromal-processing peptidase and porphobilinogen deaminase were found to be significantly downregulated. No GO terms were significantly enriched in haem-related processes (Q value = 1). Conclusion: Our data revealed changes in the transcriptome expression profile of the Pfhrp2--3D7 parasite during the intraerythrocytic stages. The findings provide insight at the gene transcript level that will facilitate further research on and development of anti-malaria drugs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, a 2D nanosheet (NS) of γ‐cyclodextrin (CD)‐based metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) is synthesized through a facile green chemistry approach. NS‐MOF carrier is constructed using a water system in a simple one‐pot reaction involving CD and potassium carbonate. Particle size optimization is achieved by adjusting the reaction temperature and the introduction of crystal growth suppressor (appropriate proportion of acetone). The NS‐MOF stability in aqueous medium is improved by polymerization reaction of crosslinked CD‐MOF (CL‐CD‐MOF) without blocking its cavity for drug loading. The effects of particle geometry and size of nanoporous materials on their pharmacokinetics during drug delivery are compared between the sheet‐like DXM@CL‐NS‐MOF and 3D‐cubic‐shaped DXM@CL‐CD‐MOF loaded with the same quantity of dexamethasone (DXM). The bioefficiency of these carriers in tear fluids and aqueous humors to deliver DXM is investigated in vivo. The results demonstrate that the 2D‐nanosheet particles significantly improve precorneal residence time and intraocular bioavailability over the commercial Maxidex (0.1% dexamethasone) and its 3D‐cubes counterpart of similar chemical composition. It suggests that the geometry of a carrier play a significant role in the biodistribution, and the carrier of CL‐NS‐MOF is a good candidate for ocular drug delivery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) can improve the fracture toughness of ceramic composites. It is widely believed that defects in the CNTs will alter key properties that ultimately dictate composite toughening. However, to date there have been no studies that directly correlate these specific properties to controlled defect levels in CNTs. This type of investigation is presented here, using ceramic nanocomposites with a polymer derived ceramic (PDC) matrix, reinforced with multiwalled CNTs. This work includes basic fracture measurements on full composite films, combined with careful testing of individual CNTs embedded in the same PDC matrix. The defect levels in these CNTs were controlled with high energy carbon ions. By using this approach, it was possible to directly correlate defect levels with the interfacial shear strength (IFSS) of the CNT/PDC interface, the CNT fracture strengths, and the pull-out lengths observed after fracture of the full composites. The radiation induced defects led to substantial increases in the IFSS, and only a marginal decrease is observed in the measured fracture strength. Based on this, the shorter pull-out lengths that occurred with higher defect levels were primarily attributed to stronger bonding at the CNT/PDC interface. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Graphene nanoribbons (GNRs) with opened edges and less structural defects are embedded in polyacrylonitrile (PAN)-based carbon nanofibers (CNFs) by electrospinning followed by stabilization and carbonization. GNRs not only can be used as one-dimensional nanofillers, but also act as nanoplatelet template to promote the formation of graphitic carbon in PAN matrix. X-ray diffraction, Raman spectroscopy and N 2 absorption are used to analyze the microstructure of GNR-reinforced CNFs. In situ tensile test using a micromechanical device inside a scanning electron microscope (SEM) is carried out to evaluate the mechanical performance of individual GNR-reinforced CNF. The tensile strength and elastic modulus of CNFs reinforced by 2 wt% GNRs with a diameter of ∼160 nm are 3.52 GPa and 70.07 GPa, respectively, which are higher than those of pristine PAN CNFs with similar size, i.e. 2.44 GPa and 28.97 GPa. The rough fracture surface for all GNR-reinforced CNFs suggests that the GNRs can dramatically toughen the fibers. A sword-in-sheath failure is observed in 4 wt% GNR reinforced CNFs, confirming that GNRs are entirely embedded and well aligned along the fiber axis. This study demonstrates the potential of GNRs as a promising reinforcement to improve the formation of graphitic carbon and mechanical performance of CNFs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Multi-wall carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) can be used to create ceramic nanocomposites with improved fracture toughness. In the present work, atomic layer deposition (ALD) was employed to deposit thin oxide layers on MWCNTs. These core-shell structures were then used to create nanocomposites by using a polymer derived ceramic (PDC) to produce the matrix. Variations in both the initial MWCNT structure and the oxide layers led to substantial differences in fiber-pullout behavior. Single tube pullout tests also showed that the oxide coatings led to stronger bonding with the ceramic matrix. With high defect density MWCNTs, this led to shorter pull-out lengths which is consistent with the conventional understanding of fracture in ceramic matrix composites. However, with low defect density MWCNTs longer pullout lengths were observed with the oxide layers. To interpret the different trends that were observed, we believe that the ALD coatings should not be viewed simply as a means of altering the interfacial properties. Instead, the coated MWCNTs should be viewed as more complex core-shell fibers where both interface and internal properties can be controlled with the ALD layers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) have been considered an ideal reinforcement for light-weight and high-strength ceramic matrix composites. Understanding the interfacial properties between CNTs and the matrix is crucial for engineering the desired properties in such composites. Here in-situ pull-out experiments with a polymer derived ceramic (PDC) matrix are carried out with both pristine CNTs and CNTs coated with Al 2 O 3 (CNT/Al 2 O 3 ) produced by Atomic Layer Deposition (ALD), using micro-fabricated devices in a scanning electron microscope. This carefully designed comparative study makes it possible to better understand the interfacial interactions between CNTs and PDC matrices. The interfacial shear strength (IFSS) of CNT-PDC is 9.99 ± 2.84 MPa, while the IFSS of (CNT/Al 2 O 3 )/PDC with ∼3 nm Al 2 O 3 coating thickness is 14.52 ± 2.66 MPa, demonstrating a 45.3% improvement. The non-linear failure observed with the coated CNTs is also indicative of energy dissipation mechanisms that promote toughening in ceramic matrix composites. The improved properties in (CNT/Al 2 O 3 )/PDC are believed to originate from increased surface roughness, which leads to mechanical interlocking at the interface during the pull-out process. The combination of special interlayer structures such as ALD Al 2 O 3 and strong CNTs opens up interesting opportunities for improving the mechanical properties of ceramic nanocomposites reinforced by CNTs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: In this work, NbC nanowire arrays were successfully synthesized via a facile and cost-effective biotemplate method. Natural bamboo chips were used as both the carbon source and the template for formation of catalyst particles, which significantly simplify the synthesis process of NbC nanowire arrays. Based on the structural, morphological, and elemental analyses, a fluoride-assisted vapor–liquid–solid growth mechanism was proposed. In situ nanoscale three-point bending measurements demonstrated that the Young’s modulus of NbC nanowires was in the range from 281 to 453GPa with an average value of 338±55GPa. The resistivity of NbC nanowires was further investigated by in situ electrical property characterization using a multipoint measurement inside a transmission electron microscope. The resistivity of NbC nanowires was calculated to be 5.02mΩcm. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: A novel approach combining the atomic force microscopy probing of nacre biopolymer strand and the inverse finite element analysis has been used to directly measure the elastic modulus of nacre biopolymer matrix. An elastic modulus of 11±3GPa was determined for the first time from the direct measurement of the nacre biopolymer matrix. This property is essential for a fundamental understanding of the roles that the biopolymer matrix plays in nacre''s strengthening and toughening, and provides guidelines in selecting engineering polymers for biomimetic materials design and fabrication. Such coupled experimental and modeling techniques should find more applications in studying the mechanical behavior of biological materials. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: A chemical vapor infiltration (CVI) technique was used to overcome most of the challenges involved in fabricating exceptionally-tough CNT/SiC composites. Nanotube pullout and sequential breaking and slippage of the walls of the CNTs during failure were consistently observed for all fractured CNT/SiC samples. These energy absorbing mechanisms result in the fracture strength of the CNT/SiC composites about an order of magnitude higher than the bulk SiC. The CVI-fabricated CNT/SiC composites have an strongly-bonded tube/matrix interface and an amorphous, crack-free SiC matrix, enabling the composites to withstand oxidization at 700–1600°C in air. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Determination of interfacial properties of thermal barrier coatings (TBCs) is very important for designing and evaluating the durability of TBCs. A new method combining a simple shear test and an inverse finite element analysis was developed and applied to measure the interfacial properties of two flame-sprayed yttria-stabilized zirconia TBCs. Nanoindentation testing was performed to determine the mechanical properties of different materials of the TBC systems. Variation of the lateral force during the shear test was recorded and analyzed to obtain the nominal ultimate shear strength of TBCs. The interfacial properties, namely fracture energy and stress intensity factor (mode II), of different TBC systems under both as-deposited and heat-treated conditions were determined through inverse finite element analysis. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Purpose: To investigate the nasal cycle (NC) during sleep in healthy individuals without nasal obstruction or obstructive sleep apnoea via a flexible wearable respiratory monitoring system in a continuous and real-time manner. Methods: NC during sleep was continuously measured in 30 healthy individuals (15 women, 15 men) via long-term sleep respiratory monitoring system, while sleep stage and body position were simultaneously recorded via polysomnography (PSG). The number of NC transitions and positional changes were documented each night. Additionally, time intervals between NC transitions and their closest positional changes during sleep were meticulously recorded to investigate potential correlations between them. Results: A total of 86.7% of the participants displayed the classic NC, with a mean duration of 6.43 ± 2.33 h. Nightly observations revealed an average occurrence of 2.19 ± 0.40 NC transitions, predominantly occurring during REM stage (68.4%), and 9.15 ± 7.77 postural changes. Analysis of the intervals between NC transitions and positional changes revealed an average absolute value of 27.72 ± 10.85 min, with a substantial 56.4% exceeding 30 min, indicating a non-obvious sequence order among them. Conclusion: NC can be measured in a continuous and real-time manner, the transitions occur mainly during the REM stage. However, we have not identified a clear correlation between NC transition and positional change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pore volume (mainly micropore volume) has an important parameter influencing uptake of aromatics. • For high-concentration adsorption, micropore volume of activated carbon has a positive effect on uptake of aromatics. • For high-concentration adsorption, aromatics adsorbed onto activated carbon is mainly in micropore filling. • Surface acidic groups (mainly oxygen-containing groups) of activated carbon obviously decrease uptake for aromatics. • It is superior to other isotherms, but the Langmuir model only approximately describes adsorption behaviors of activated carbons for aromatics. This paper reports adsorption behaviors of monocyclic aromatics from water onto different pore-size activated carbons and HNO 3 -modified activated carbon fiber felt, and modelling of experimental data by the Langmuir, the Freundlich, the Dubinin-Radushkevich and the Temkin isotherms. To study the adsorption mechanism, the maximum uptakes of compounds by activated carbons in the Langmuir model were correlated with the structure of activated carbons. The results show that the Langmuir isotherm is superior to other isotherms and the Langmuir model can approximately describe adsorption behaviors of activated carbons for aniline, phenol, and pyridine. For high-concentration adsorption, activated carbon's micropore volume has a positive effect on adsorption capacity of compounds, and micropore filling mainly happens. The uptake of aniline and phenol by activated carbon is obviously higher than that pyridine, which is ascribed to their low solubility. The surface acidic groups (mainly oxygen-containing groups) of activated carbon fiber felt obviously decrease adsorption capacity for aromatics due to a decrease in dispersion interaction between activated carbon's surface and aromatics. The results show that in order to effectively remove high-concentration aromatics from water, effects of micropore vlome and surface acidic groups of activated carbons need to be considered, compared and analyzed, and micropore volume of activated carbon should usually be given priority to. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The deformation behavior and mechanical properties of a tilted Si nanorod array structure on Cu/Ti bilayer film coated Si substrate were studied for the first time by coupled atomic force microscopy and nanoindentation techniques. The individual Si nanorods fabricated by an oblique angle deposition technique are composed of many fine Si nanofibers with the diameter ranging from 10 to 50 nm. They are not brittle, but ductile. The ductile metallic Cu/Ti bilayer film roots contribute remarkably to the mechanical robustness of the Si nanorods. The toughening mechanism of such Si-based nanoanodes has been elucidated by experimental mechanics studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the current energy and environment scenario, it is imperative to develop energy efficient routes for chemical manufacturing that also pave the way for mitigation of greenhouse gas emissions. This work presents an efficient pathway for continuous syngas production via a chemical looping conversion of the two most potent greenhouse gases—CH4, and CO2. The well-known dry-reforming process of converting CH4, and CO2 to syngas is energy-intensive and suffers from catalyst deactivation. The chemical looping approach, on the other hand, provides avenues for mitigating catalyst deactivation and enabling improved energy efficiency. The key to such process enhancements lies in the intricate structure–function relationships of the catalyst and its correlation to the process variables. We present the reduction and oxidation characteristics of 5 wt.% Ni/Ce1−xZrxO2-based catalysts (x = 0, 0.4, and 0.625). We demonstrate low temperature CH4 activation over Ni-promoted samples as opposed to pure Ce1−xZrxO2. Moreover, our results depict an optimum regeneration of these catalysts when oxidized by CO2, and H2O, which allows for chemical looping operation of steam reforming of methane as well. Process variables were tuned to optimize the CH4 conversion (over 80%), and H2/CO ratio at 650 °C. The critical surface reactions—carbon accumulation and gasification, and thermocatalytic CO2 splitting were investigated to elucidate the dynamic nature of the catalyst surface. The impact of this work lies in showcasing the opportunities to design chemical looping reactors for energy efficient syngas production from waste greenhouse gases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Developing a reliable and high-performing direct hydrocarbon symmetric solid oxide fuel cells (S SOFCs) is promising to achieve the simple and durable operation in natural gas. Here we demonstrate a durable S SOFC with a ceramic oxide material simultaneously used as symmetric electrode that performs outstandingly in dry methane at anode side and ambient air at cathode side. This cell shows high performance with strong resistances against both coking and sulfur poisoning in dry fuel without any steam as reforming agent. At 800 °C, the cell exhibits a low polarization resistance of 0.027 Ω cm2 in air and 0.074 Ω cm2 in 5% H 2. When the cell is further optimized by implementing a nanostructured electrode, the high peak power densities of 1.05 W cm−2 in H 2 and 0.4 W cm−2 in CH 4 are achieved at 800 °C. To our best knowledge, this is the highest performance among S SOFCs using ceramic oxide as symmetric electrode in dry methane. The cell exhibits a very stable performance under a constant current load of 1.0 A cm−2 for 1060 h with even slight performance increase. In addition, the electrode is structurally stable in various fuels, suggesting that the cell can be operated in flexible gas conditions. Highlights • A layered perovskite material is employed as anode. • High mixed ionic and electronic conductivity facilitates catalysis. • High power densities are achieved at 700 °C in H 2 and CH 4. • The anode exhibits stable performance in dry methane. • The anode shows resistance against sulfur poisoning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we propose a multiple amplify-and-forward (AF) relays based cooperative orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) with quadrature index modulation (C-OFDM-QIM) system to enhance the spectral efficiency and the transmission reliability, where two independent subcarrier subsets are activated to convey the real and imaginary symbol vectors, respectively, and the per-subcarrier relay selection (RS) scheme is adopted to select the relay with the maximum end-to-end signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) for each active subcarrier. Both fixed-gain AF and variable-gain AF protocols are investigated at the selected relays. Based on the order statistics and the max-flow min-cut theory, the closed-form average outage probability (AOP) and the average capacity are derived, respectively. Numerical results demonstrate that the theoretical AOP is correct and accurate and the proposed C-OFDM-QIM system outperforms the traditional cooperative OFDM with index modulation (C-OFDM-IM) system in the spectral efficiency, the outage performance, and the average capacity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The design and synthesis of high‐performance and economical carbon electrodes play a critical role in developing energy‐efficient water desalination technologies. As a sustainable approach, low‐cost and abundant biomass materials are promising candidates to prepare porous carbon for capacitive deionization. In this study, binder‐free porous carbon sheets are successfully prepared using natural balsa, pine, and basswood by thermal carbonization and treated by chemical activation. The carbon electrode materials converted from balsa and pine exhibit a comparable salt adsorption performance by capacitive deionization due to the extensive surface area, substantial electrical property, and superior hydrophilic performance. The following activation treatment of the balsa‐converted carbon further enhances the surface and electrical properties and benefits the desalination performance. The salt adsorption capacity of the activated balsa electrode exhibits 12.45 mg g−1. Additionally, 19.52 mg g−1 Pb2+ and 20.06 mg g−1 Cr3+ heavy metal adsorption capacity is also observed with the activated balsa electrode in 100 mg L−1 PbCl2 and 50 mg L−1 CrCl3, respectively. To the best of authors' knowledge, this is the highest NaCl adsorption capacity performance reported thus far by using pure wood converted carbon as the electrode, and these promising results indicate that activated balsa is an extraordinary material for water desalination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Protonic ceramic electrochemical cells (PCECs) have the potential in reducing the energy input and carbon emissions in ethylene production from ethane dehydrogenation. The performance of conventional perovskite-based anode materials for ethane conversion in PCECs is limited by their low active surface area and proneness to coke deposition. In this work, for the first time, we demonstrate the use of aligned carbon nanotube forests (CNTFs) as a novel anode material for an ethane fueled PCEC to co-produce ethylene and electricity. The CNTF electrode was grown on the electrolyte by the chemical vapor deposition (CVD) method. Highly dispersed iron carbide nanoparticles are formed in situ on the CNTFs during the CVD process, acting as highly active catalysts for ethane dehydrogenation. The novel PCECs show superior catalytic and electrochemical performances to that using conventional perovskite-based anodes. The cell also exhibits excellent durability and anti-coking abilities within 100 h test. This work showcases the promising application of nanostructured carbon, a new class of non-perovskite materials, as the multifunctional electrode materials for PCECs. [Display omitted] • CNTF can be integrated into PCEC as electrode and catalyst support by CVD method. • CNTF is a promising non-perovskite candidate electrode material for PCEC. • CNTF shows superior electrochemical and catalytic performance than SFM. • Carburized Fe species on CNTF are the active species for EDH reaction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

NO 2 − and S2− are two kinds of common toxic anions widely distributed in environmental water, soil and food products. Human beings have suffered a lot of diseases from intake of excessive NO 2 − or S2−, i.e., infantile methemoglobin, cancer and even to death. Although tremendous efforts have been afforded to monitor NO 2 − and S2−, most were high instrument-depended with complex processing procedures. To keep food safety and to protect human health, it will be a huge challenge to develop a convenient and efficient way to monitor S2− and NO 2 − in practice. A kind of folic acid capping Bi3+-doped Ag quantum dots (FA@Bi3+-Ag QDs) was developed for the first time by one-pot homogeneous reduced self-assembly. Not only did FA@Bi3+-Ag QDs possess intrinsic fluorescent property, it expressed synergistic peroxidase-like activity to catalyze the redox of 3,3′,5,5′-tetramethylbenzidine (TMB) and H 2 O 2 with K m / v max of 0.087 mM/6.61 × 10−8 M s−1 and 6.42 mM/6.25 × 10−7 M s−1 respectively. Interestingly, trace S2− could exclusively alter its fluorescent property and peroxidase-like activity, exhibiting significant hypochromic and "turn-on" fluorescent effects. While trace NO 2 − could make FA@Bi3+-Ag QDs-TMB-H 2 O 2 system hyperchromic. Under the optimized conditions, FA@Bi3+-Ag QDs were applied for dual-mode recognition of S2− and visual sensing of NO 2 − in real food samples with satisfactory recoveries, i.e., 100.7–107.9 %/95.8–104.7 % and 97.2–104.8 % respectively. The synergistic enzyme-mimic mechanism of FA@Bi3+-Ag QDs and its selective response mechanisms to S2− and NO 2 − were also proposed. This represents the first nanozyme-based FA@Bi3+-Ag QDs system for dual-mode recognition of S2− and visual sensing of NO 2 −, well meeting the basic requirement in drinking water set by WHO. It will offer a promising way for multi-mode monitoring of different pollution using the same nanozyme-based sensor. [Display omitted] • A kind of folic acid capping Bi3+-doped Ag quantum dots (FA@Bi3+-Ag QDs) was developed. • It expresses superior peroxidase-like activity and intrinsic fluorescent property. • Either toxic NO 2 − or S2− could exclusively change the peroxidase-like or fluorescent property. • It was successfully applied for dual-mode recognition of S2− and visual sensing of NO 2 − in real food samples. • The synergistic peroxidase activity and sensing mechanisms to NO 2 − or S2− were proposed too. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Leptospirosis is a re-emerging tropical infectious disease caused by pathogenic Leptospira spp. The different host innate immune responses are partially related to the different severities of leptospirosis. In this study, we employed transcriptomics and cytokine arrays to comparatively calculate the responses of murine peritoneal macrophages (MPMs) and human peripheral blood monocytes (HBMs) to leptospiral infection. We uncovered a series of different expression profiles of these two immune cells. The percentages of regulated genes in several biological processes of MPMs, such as antigen processing and presentation, membrane potential regulation, and the innate immune response, etc., were much greater than those of HBMs (>2-fold). In MPMs and HBMs, the caspase-8 and Fas-associated protein with death domain (FADD)-like apoptosis regulator genes were significantly up-regulated, which supported previous results that the caspase-8 and caspase-3 pathways play an important role in macrophage apoptosis during leptospiral infection. In addition, the key component of the complement pathway, C3, was only up-regulated in MPMs. Furthermore, several cytokines, e.g. interleukin 10 (IL-10) and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha), were differentially expressed at both mRNA and protein levels in MPMs and HBMs. Some of the differential expressions were proved to be pathogenic Leptospira-specific regulations at mRNA level or protein level. Though it is still unclear why some animals are resistant and others are susceptible to leptospiral infection, this comparative study based on transcriptomics and cytokine arrays partially uncovered the differences of murine resistance and human susceptibility to leptospirosis. Taken together, these findings will facilitate further molecular studies on the innate immune response to leptospiral infection. Author Summary: Although pathogenic Leptospira is not an obligate intracellular pathogen, recent studies have shown that phagocytosis and innate immunity play important roles in leptospirosis. The Leptospira-macrophage interaction is a common model used to elucidate the initial response in leptospiral infection. Our previous research has shown that there is little difference in the transcriptomics of pathogenic Leptospira infecting murine or human macrophage cell lines. Contrarily, in this study, we observed significant differences of murine and human primary macrophages infected by L. interrogans as shown in several processes, such as antigen processing and presentation, Toll-like receptor signaling pathway and innate immune response, complement and coagulation cascades, expression of major cytokines and chemokines, etc. These results suggested that different immune responses explain the major disparities in the murine and human Leptospira-macrophage infection models. This study added to the former leptospiral transcriptomics research on the Leptospira-macrophage interaction model and laid a foundation for further investigation in the pathogenesis of leptospirosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Leptospirosis is a re-emerging tropical infectious disease caused by pathogenic Leptospira spp. The different host innate immune responses are partially related to the different severities of leptospirosis. In this study, we employed transcriptomics and cytokine arrays to comparatively calculate the responses of murine peritoneal macrophages (MPMs) and human peripheral blood monocytes (HBMs) to leptospiral infection. We uncovered a series of different expression profiles of these two immune cells. The percentages of regulated genes in several biological processes of MPMs, such as antigen processing and presentation, membrane potential regulation, and the innate immune response, etc., were much greater than those of HBMs (>2-fold). In MPMs and HBMs, the caspase-8 and Fas-associated protein with death domain (FADD)-like apoptosis regulator genes were significantly up-regulated, which supported previous results that the caspase-8 and caspase-3 pathways play an important role in macrophage apoptosis during leptospiral infection. In addition, the key component of the complement pathway, C3, was only up-regulated in MPMs. Furthermore, several cytokines, e.g. interleukin 10 (IL-10) and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha), were differentially expressed at both mRNA and protein levels in MPMs and HBMs. Some of the differential expressions were proved to be pathogenic Leptospira-specific regulations at mRNA level or protein level. Though it is still unclear why some animals are resistant and others are susceptible to leptospiral infection, this comparative study based on transcriptomics and cytokine arrays partially uncovered the differences of murine resistance and human susceptibility to leptospirosis. Taken together, these findings will facilitate further molecular studies on the innate immune response to leptospiral infection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Robust Gd–La codoped TiO2 microspheres with diameter of 2∼3 μm were successfully synthesized via a hydrothermal method using poly(ethylene glycol)-block–poly(propylene glycol)-block–poly(ethylene glycol) as a template. The photocatalytic activity of the Gd–La codoped TiO2 microspheres evaluated by photodegrading methyl orange (MO) has been significantly enhanced compared to that of undoped TiO2 microspheres. Ti4+ may substitute for La3+ and Gd3+ in the lattices of rare earth oxides to create abundant oxygen vacancies and surface defects for electron trapping and dye adsorption, accelerating the separation of photogenerated electron–hole pairs and MO photodegradation. The formation of an exciton energy level below the conduction band of TiO2 from the binding of electrons and oxygen vacancies decreases the excitation energy of Gd–La codoped TiO2 microspheres, resulting in robust photocatalysts. The results suggest that Gd–La codoped TiO2 microspheres calcined at 350 °C are very promising for enhancing the photocatalytic activity of photocatalysts. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

• Amorphous two-dimensional silica has been successfully fabricated. • Salt is a crucial for promoting the evaporation of transition metals (TMs). • TMs account for the hexagonal structure of 2D silica. • The group VB TMs facilitate the formation of uniform hexagonal 2D silica. Owing to their remarkable electronic properties, silica ultrathin films have been utilized as an insulating layer in nanoelectronics systems. Silica films have been epitaxially grown on different substrates using various synthesis methods. Among all fabrication approaches, chemical vapor deposition has long been an advanced method for synthesizing two-dimensional (2D) materials due to its ability to ensure precise stacking control and minimize contamination between layers. This study harnessed the potential of CVD to atomically fabricate thin layered 2D silica on a SiO 2 /Si substrate. Significantly, a unique combination of multiple transition metals and salt as the catalysts aided the formation of 2D silica for the first time. Salt is a crucial catalyst in promoting the evaporation of high-melting-point metal catalysts, resulting in hexagonal nucleation sites on the SiO 2 /Si wafer. By meticulously controlling growth parameters, a distinctive hexagonal structure was obtained. Correspondingly, this work delves into the growth mechanism of 2D silica, as evidenced by experiments involving salt alone and individual transition metals. Group VB transition metals played a prominent role in achieving the hexagonal structure compared to their group IVB counterparts. This research offers insight into the formation and growth mechanism of 2D silica, expanding the understanding of silica nanostructures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two-dimensional (2D) materials have dominated nanoscience for the last two decades. Among all 2D materials, graphene, MoS2, and h-BN are extremely popular and have been tentatively scaled up to fabricate nanocomposites, energy storage devices, flexible electronics, etc., ex situ and in situ mechanical characterization of 2D crystals can help us understand their mechanical behavior and measure their mechanical properties, which are of great significance in both fundamental science and practical engineering. To date, a great effort has been devoted to both theoretical and experimental mechanics with a focus on unveiling mechanical behaviors and quantifying mechanical properties. Beyond original research, several insightful review works have been published with a specific focus on the mechanics of 2D materials. To have a complementary contribution to the overview of the mechanics of 2D materials, we would like to review the developed experimental techniques being used to mechanically characterize 2D materials. The working mechanism and associated advantages and disadvantages of the techniques will be briefly discussed. Based on the existence of arguments in mechanical properties and behaviors of 2D crystals, and immature mechanical characterization of 2D materials, more intensive and comprehensive studies are expected toward a full understanding of these novel and promising materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives. The association between accessory renal artery (ARA) and hypertension remains not fully understood. We observed the association between ARA and clinical characteristics among middle-aged patients with primary hypertension. Methods. One hundred and sixty-two middle-aged (mean 39.82 ± 10.25 years, 58.0% male) patients with primary hypertension were enrolled, and patients underwent Computed Tomography Angiography (CTA) of renal arteries, ambulatory blood pressure monitor (ABPM), echocardiography, physical examination, and routine blood chemistry examinations. According to the CTA results, patients were divided into a non-ARA (n = 108) and ARA (n = 54) group. Direct renin concentration (DRC), plasma aldosterone concentration (PAC), ABPM, echocardiography, creatinine, and glomerular filtration rate were compared between the two groups. Results. DRC (mU/L) (11.21 (5.34, 20.87) vs. 18.24 (10.32, 33.59), P = 0.002) was significantly higher in the ARA group than in the non-ARA group. However, PAC (ng/dL) (98.30 (67.30, 134.00) vs. 116.50 (78.80, 137.25), P = 0.103) was similar between these two groups. ABPM (mmHg) results showed that daytime (146.75 ± 17.04/95.86 ± 11.39 vs. 155.50 ± 14.76/100.48 ± 10.69, P < 0.05), night time (133.44 ± 17.50/85.28 ± 12.80 vs. 139.81 ± 14.64/89.83 ± 11.21, P < 0.05), and 24 h blood pressure (143.95 ± 15.99/93.90 ± 11.78 vs. 152.07 ± 13.85/98.11 ± 10.36, P < 0.05) were significantly higher in the ARA group than in the non-ARA group. Accordingly, echocardiographic-derived posterior left ventricular wall thickness value was higher in the ARA group than in the non-ARA group. Conclusion. ARA is related to higher blood pressure and higher direct renin concentration in middle-aged patients with primary hypertension, and these patients deserve stricter blood pressure control. Our results provide important evidence for that ARA is a cause of hypertension and target organs damages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives. Aldosterone-to-plasma renin activity ratio (ARR) derived from traditional radioimmunoassay (RIA) is widely used to detect primary aldosteronism (PA). Recently, aldosterone-to-direct renin concentration ratio (ADRR), which is calculated by direct renin concentration (DRC) measured by chemiluminescent immunoassay (CLIA), is proposed to replace ARR as the screening test method for PA. The purpose of the present study was to estimate the diagnostic accuracy and cutoff value of ADRR as screening test for PA. Methods. 450 hypertensive patients with suspected PA referred to hypertension center of our department were enrolled and underwent screening and confirmatory tests of PA. Plasma renin activity (PRA), DRC, and plasma aldosterone concentration (PAC) were measured by both RIA and CLIA simultaneously during screening and confirmatory test. Results. 386 patients were diagnosed as primary hypertension (PH) and 64 patients as PA. Within-patient correlation between PRA and DRC (r=0.88, P<0.001) and correlation between PAC measured by RIA and CLIA were high (r=0.80, P<0.001). The optimal cutoff value of ADRR was 2.93 (ng/dL)/(mU/L), sensitivity 80.33%, and specificity 92.11%. The optimal cutoff value of ARR was 25.28 (ng/dL)/(ng/mL/h), sensitivity 76.92%, and specificity 93.38%. Conclusion. The optimal cutoff values of ADRR and ARR for screening PA are defined in this patient cohort with high sensitivity and specificity. Our results are of clinical importance for accelerating the extensive use of ADRR as a screening test for PA in daily practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights • A double perovskite PBFN is synthesized and characterized. • The nature of mixed electronic and ionic conductor benefits catalysis. • High power densities are achieved at 800 °C in H 2 and CH 4. • The anode exhibits stable performance in dry methane. • The anode shows strong redox stability. Abstract A novel A-site deficient ceramic oxide (PrBa) 0.95 (Fe 0.9 Nb 0.1) 2 O 5+δ with layered perovskite structure has been investigated as an anode material for a direct-hydrocarbon fueled solid oxide fuel cell. Promising performance of this anode is achieved by stabilizing the material with Nb doping at B sites, which shows excellent chemical stability and high catalytic activity in the reducing fuel condition. The button cell based on lanthanum gallate electrolyte exhibits peak power density of 1.05 W cm−2 in H 2 , 0.64 W cm−2 in CH 4 (∼3% H 2 O) and 0.57 W cm−2 in dry CH 4 at 800 °C, respectively. When the temperature is decreased to as low as 600 °C, the cell still reaches 0.18 W cm−2 in hydrogen. The anode is highly resistant against redox cycling with capability of rapid recovery from oxidizing condition. Based on a series of performance durability tests under various fuel conditions, this anode material has been demonstrated to be feasible for long-term operation in dry CH 4 without observable degradation. The results demonstrate a new technical route to develop highly active and stable ceramic anode by doping high-valence rare-earth elements into B sites of perovskite material. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract In this study, well-aligned single-walled carbon nanotube (SWCNT) films were utilized as lamellae to prepare a multifunctional nanocomposite by a feasible 'layer-by-layer' preparation method. This structural design can not only dramatically reduce the agglomeration effect of SWCNTs, but also achieve high in-plane stiffness. It was found that the well-aligned SWCNT films contribute to the high stress-transfer between CNTs and present good wettability with epoxy matrix, thereby improving the mechanical enhancement. Interestingly, this laminated structure possesses distinct electrical behaviors under different loading conditions. The electrical resistance linearly increases with the increase of in-plane tensile strain but is insensitive to bending. This work could provide in-depth understanding on the mechanical and electrical properties of CNT-based laminated nanocomposites. Graphical abstract Image 1 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Efficient separation of hole-electron pair plays a crucial role in enhancing photocatalytic water splitting activity, which essentially requires a noble metal co-catalyst. Here we report that two-dimensional (2D) metallic 1T-MoS 2 can exceed the performance of noble metal like Pt as a co-catalyst in assisting the photocatalytic hydrogen evolution over 2D semiconductor such as oxygenated monolayer graphitic carbon nitride (O-g-C 3 N 4 ). The abundance of intrinsic active site for hydrogen evolution reaction for 1T-MoS 2 partly contributes to the outstanding performance of 1T-MoS 2 /O-g-C 3 N 4 system. More importantly, the 2D heterostructure junction of 2D metals-2D semiconductor through van der Waals interaction minimizes the Schottky barrier, which in turn improves the charge transfer efficiency. The optimal 1T-MoS 2 /O-g-C 3 N 4 exhibited H 2 evolution rate as high as ∼1841.72 μmol/g/h, an external quantum efficiency of ∼7.11% at λ = 420 nm, and a super high TOF of 156.6 h −1 . [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Photocatalysis is the most promising method for achieving artificial photosynthesis, but a bottleneck is encountered in finding materials that could efficiently promote the water splitting reaction. The nontoxicity, low cost, and versatility of photocatalysts make them especially attractive for this application. This study demonstrates that small amounts of α-Fe2O3 nanosheets can actively promote exfoliation of g-C3N4, producing 2D hybrid that exhibits tight interfaces and an all-solid-state Z-scheme junction. These nanostructured hybrids present a high H2 evolution rate >3 × 104 µmol g-1 h-1 and external quantum efficiency of 44.35% at λ = 420 nm, the highest value so far reported among the family of g-C3N4 photocatalysts. Besides effectively suppressing the recombination of electron-hole pairs, this Z-scheme junction also exhibits activity toward overall water splitting without any sacrificial donor. The proposed synthetic route for controlled production of 2D g-C3N4-based structures provides a scalable alternative toward the development of highly efficient and active photocatalysts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Graphene/hexagonal boron nitride (h‐BN) monolayer in‐plane heterostructure offers a novel material platform for both fundamental research and device applications. To obtain such a heterostructure in high quality via controllable synthetic approaches is still challenging. In this work, in‐plane epitaxy of graphene/h‐BN heterostructure is demonstrated on Cu–Ni substrates. The introduction of nickel to copper substrate not only enhances the capability of decomposing polyaminoborane residues but also promotes graphene growth via isothermal segregation. On the alloy surface partially covered by h‐BN, graphene is found to nucleate at the corners of the as‐formed h‐BN grains, and the high growth rate for graphene minimizes the damage of graphene‐growth process on h‐BN lattice. As a result, high‐quality graphene/h‐BN in‐plane heterostructure with epitaxial relationship can be formed, which is supported by extensive characterizations. Photodetector device applications are demonstrated based on the in‐plane heterostructure. The success will have important impact on future research and applications based on this unique material platform. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we take the spatial and delay-Doppler dimensions into account and propose a novel transmission scheme combining quadrature spatial modulation (QSM) and orthogonal time frequency space (OTFS) to improve the spectral efficiency, achieve the diversity gains, and resist strong Doppler effect in high-mobility scenes. The system model and the specific signal transmission process of the OTFS with QSM (QSM-OTFS) scheme are presented first. Then, the theoretical average bit error rate (ABER) analysis for QSM-OTFS system is provided. Additionally, a linear enhanced minimum mean square error (EMMSE) detection is investigated to reduce the detection complexity in the QSM-OTFS system. Numerical results illustrate that the QSM-OTFS system is able to obtain an improved ABER performance compared with the typical spatial modulation (SM) based OTFS (SM-OTFS) and that the proposed EMMSE detection outperforms the other linear detection algorithms under the same spectral efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two-dimensional (2D) layered semiconducting transition-metal dichalcogenides (TMDCs) are promising candidates for next-generation ultrathin, flexible, and transparent electronics. Chemical vapor deposition (CVD) is a promising method for their controllable, scalable synthesis but the growth mechanism is poorly understood. Herein, we present systematic studies to understand the CVD growth mechanism of monolayer MoSe2, showing reaction pathways for growth from solid and vapor precursors. Examination of metastable nanoparticles deposited on the substrate during growth shows intermediate growth stages and conversion of non-stoichiometric nanoparticles into stoichiometric 2D MoSe2 monolayers. The growth steps involve the evaporation and reduction of MoO3 solid precursors to sub-oxides and stepwise reactions with Se vapor to finally form MoSe2. The experimental results and proposed model were corroborated by ab initio Car-Parrinello molecular dynamics studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two-dimensional (2D) layered semiconducting transition-metal dichalcogenides (TMDCs) are promising candidates for next-generation ultrathin, flexible, and transparent electronics. Chemical vapor deposition (CVD) is a promising method for their controllable, scalable synthesis but the growth mechanism is poorly understood. Herein, we present systematic studies to understand the CVD growth mechanism of monolayer MoSe2, showing reaction pathways for growth from solid and vapor precursors. Examination of metastable nanoparticles deposited on the substrate during growth shows intermediate growth stages and conversion of non-stoichiometric nanoparticles into stoichiometric 2D MoSe2 monolayers. The growth steps involve the evaporation and reduction of MoO3 solid precursors to sub-oxides and stepwise reactions with Se vapor to finally form MoSe2. The experimental results and proposed model were corroborated by ab initio Car-Parrinello molecular dynamics studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two kinds of hierarchical anatase TiO 2 structures are synthesized by a facile hydrothermal method in this report. A new transparent, 3D light-collected, and flexible fiber-type dye-sensitized solar cell (FF-DSSC) with such hierarchical TiO 2 structures is developed. The conversion efficiency of the FF-DSSC based on a TiCl 4 -treated TiO 2 nanorod array (hierarchical structure I) exhibits about 4 times higher than that based on a HCl-treated TiO 2 nanorod array, and further rises to 4.4% when the TiCl 4 -treated TiO 2 nanorod array is treated in a mixed solution of (NH 4 ) 2 TiF 6 and H 3 BO 3 three times (hierarchical structure II). The obvious enhancement in conversion efficiency can be ascribed to the dye adsorption promotion benefiting from their hierarchical structures. Beyond the attractive conversion efficiency, the new designed FF-DSSC possesses several advantages including good flexibility, excellent stability, and 3D light-collection. The conversion efficiencies of the FF-DSSCs can still keep 85%–90% even the FF-DSSCs are bent for 1000 times. The maximum power outputs of the FF-DSSCs characterized by Diffuse Illumination Mode using home-made Al reflector exhibit about 3 times higher than that done by Standard Illumination Mode due to 3D light-collections. The FF-DSSCs based on highly ordered hierarchical anatase TiO 2 nanorod arrays hold great promise in future energy harvest. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel hollow polyaniline (PANI) nano-capsule with holes on the wall has been synthesized via a facile interfacial polymerization (IP) method without using any templates. The intriguing microstructure of such nano-capsule has been investigated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). A possible growth mechanism of the PANI nano-capsule has also been proposed. To further explore its possible application for supercapacitor, the electrochemical performance of the PANI nano-capsule has been carried out by cyclic voltammetry (CV), galvanostatic discharge/charge and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). The obtained PANI nano-capsule electrode exhibits a high specific capacitance of 502 F g −1 (at the current density of 5 mA cm −2 ) and excellent cycling stability, rendering it to be a promising material for supercapacitor applications. Such special hollow PANI nano-capsule with well-defined microstructure holds great promise not only for electrochemical energy storage, but also for sensors, actuators, drug carrier and other applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gd-La codoped TiO nanoparticles with diameter of 10 nm were successfully synthesized via a sol-gel method. The photocatalytic activity of the Gd-La codoped TiO nanoparticles evaluated by photodegrading methyl orange has been significantly enhanced compared to that of undoped or Gd or La monodoped TiO. Ti may substitute for La and Gd in the lattices of rare earth oxides to create abundant oxygen vacancies and surface defects for electron trapping and dye adsorption, accelerating the separation of photogenerated electron-hole pairs and methyl orange photodegradation. The formation of an excitation energy level below the conduction band of TiO from the binding of electrons and oxygen vacancies decreases the excitation energy of Gd-La codoped TiO, resulting in versatile solar photocatalysts. The results suggest that Gd-La codoped TiO nanoparticles are promising for future solar photocatalysts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cellulose nanomaterials (CNMs) naturally exist in plant biomass. The success of extraction of CNMs opened up a new era of using plant biomass for innovative industrial applications. Because CNMs are abundant, renewable, biodegradable, transparent, light weight and low in cost, they are ideal materials for large volume applications such as packaging, automotive, building and infrastructure. In many potential application areas, CNM-enabled products appear in a composite form, mostly polymer composites. The industrial-scale manufacturing of CNM/thermoplastic composites remains as a set of unsolved problems for academia and industry. A prime challenge in applications is the nanoscale dispersion of CNMs in thermoplastic matrices during melt processing. Both bench-scale and pilot-scale studies have been conducted to solve the dispersion issue of CNMs. In this article, research related to the dispersion of CNMs in thermoplastic matrices during melt processing were critically reviewed. All research papers were classified into three groups: chemically-aided dispersion, physically-aided dispersion and mechanically-aided dispersion. Numerous factors affect the CNM dispersion and the mechanical performance of its nanocomposites. There are material-related factors, including CNM types and forms, polymer matrices, surface modification, coupling agents, etc. Extrusion processing parameters also play a significant role, covering screw rotation speed, extrusion barrel temperature settings and screw design. In addition, the material-related factors interact with the processing-related factors. Understanding all factors and their interactions are important for moving CNM nanocomposites research a step further towards industrial-relevant production, which is the final ambitious goal of this manuscript. Image 1 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Adaptive materials with reconfigurable surface topography in response to external environments have attracted considerable attention in various fields. Here, adaptive superamphiphilic organohydrogels with reconfigurable surface topography are reported, featuring a high degree of freedom. The organohydrogels can simultaneously adapt to different surrounding mediums and reversibly switch between hydrogel‐ and organogel‐dominated surface reconfigurations to realize adaptive superhydrophilic and superoleophilic transitions. Meanwhile, these adaptive organohydrogels possess a heteronetwork complementary effect to elicit surface self‐healing capacity. Importantly, owing to these organohydrogels' reversible wettability transition, excellent surface morphing performance and bioinspired strategy, various geometrically complex biomimetic topographies can be programmed, offering unique unidirectional transport for opposite‐featured liquids in multimedia environments. Smart organohydrogel‐based microfluidic devices are also developed for on‐demand remote programming of liquid transport. Therefore, the organohydrogels suggest a reconfigurable surface topography design strategy, and would act as adaptive programmable materials for smart surface applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ideal hydrophobic-hydrophilic composite cavities are highly desired to enhance nucleate boiling. However, it is challenging and costly to fabricate these types of cavities by conventional micro/nano fabrication techniques. In this study, a type of hydrophobic-hydrophilic composite interfaces were synthesized from functionalized multiwall carbon nanotubes by introducing hydrophilic functional groups on the pristine multiwall carbon nanotubes. This type of carbon nanotube enabled hydrophobic-hydrophilic composite interfaces were systematically characterized. Ideal cavities created by the interfaces were experimentally demonstrated to be the primary reason to substantially enhance nucleate boiling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]