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Background: It is known that home blood pressure (HBP) is a more reliable assessment of hypertension treatments than clinical blood pressure (BP). Despite this, HBP response to a salt substitute has only been evaluated by one study which, did not look at the salt substitute’s effect on family members and did not analyze by age, gender, or BP degree. The aim of this current study was to assess the effects of a low-sodium and high-potassium salt substitute on HBP among hypertensive patients and their family members. Methods: A total of 220 households (including 220 hypertensive patients and 380 their families) were randomly assigned to the regular salt or salt substitute groups. HBP was measured at the beginning, 3rd, 6th, and 12th months. Among the patients (n = 220), only home systolic blood pressure (HSBP) was significantly reduced, by an adjusted baseline BP of 4.2 mm Hg (95% CI: 1.3-7.0 mm Hg), in the salt substitute group compared with those in the regular salt group at each visit (all P < 0.05). There were no detectable differences between groups for home diastolic blood pressure (HDBP) at any visit. Among the family members, HSBP and HDBP were not significantly different between the groups. Furthermore, Individuals ≥60 years old, hypertensive patients with stage-2 hypertension, family members with hypertension, and women experienced greater HSBP reduction. Conclusions: Older subjects, those with higher blood pressure, and women experienced greater home blood pressure reduction from the salt substitute compared to regular salt. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A highly sensitive and selective photoinduced electron transfer (PET) fluorescence chemodosimeter L for Cu detection has been synthesized and characterized. This PET chemosensor composed of a butano-tethered electron-riched phenothiazine (Ptz) donor and acridine orange (AO) signalling element. Based on the Cu-promoted oxidation of Ptz donor, the signalling element AO showed a unique fluorescent turn-on properties, which led to a highly Cu-specific fluorescent chemodosimeter. A fluorescent enhancement factor over 8-fold can be reached by fully blocking the PET channel with a detection limit down to the 10 M range. Meanwhile, the reversibility of the chemodosimeter L can be realized by the addition of L-cysteine. [Figure not available: see fulltext.] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Self‐powered photodetection devices, which meet the requirement of environmental sustainability, are widely designed by PN heterojunctions. The design of the semiconductor/metal interface is vital in PN‐junction devices. In particular, the elevated potential barrier at the metal/semiconductor interface impedes efficient carrier transport. Therefore, optimizing the semiconductor/metal interface for the PN junction, either by reducing the interface barrier or leveraging the built‐in electric field within the Schottky junction, holds significant importance in enhancing the performance of PN‐junction devices. In this study, an InSe/MoTe2 Type‐II PN heterojunction photodetector is constructed, with graphene (Gr) and gold (Au) serving as electrodes in contact with InSe and MoTe2, respectively. Benefiting from the reduced barrier in Au/InSe interfaces and the built‐in electric field formed at the InSe/MoTe2 and MoTe2/Au interfaces in the same direction, the device achieves an ultra‐fast photoresponse speed of 14 µs and an ultra‐low dark current of 8.5 × 10⁻¹⁴ A at zero bias. Furthermore, the device exhibits a remarkable light on/off ratio up to 105 and achieves broad‐spectrum photodetection ranging from the visible to infrared wavelength. This research highlights the enormous potential of the Gr/InSe/MoTe2 van der Waals heterostructure in the realms of self‐powered photodetection, imaging, and optical communication. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Photodetectors with good polarization detection ability are promising in many applications, such as remote sensing imaging and environmental monitoring. However, the traditional polarization detection systems fall short in meeting integration demands of the integrated‐circuits field due to additional optical elements. The emerging 2D materials with in‐plane anisotropic structures provide a possible method to fabricate remarkable polarization detectors. Modulating the band structure by gate voltage is an important strategy for developing optoelectronic devices. Herein, a polarized photodetector based on PdSe2/MoS2 out‐of‐plane heterojunction is fabricated. Due to its unique out‐of‐plane heterostructure, the device exhibits excellent photoresponse characteristics and polarization sensitivity, including an excellent responsivity of 10.19A/W, an extremely high external quantum efficiency of 2429%, a fast rise/decay time of 68/192 µs, and a high photocurrent anisotropy ratio of 3.09. Based on the adjustment of the built‐in electric field through gate voltage, the performance of the device can be accordingly modulated. As the gate voltage increases from −30 to 30 V, the responsivity gradually increases from 7.5 to 13A/W and the detectivity increases from 1.53 to 2.63 × 109Jones. Finally, its olarization imaging ability is demonstrated at different polarization angles. The findings indicate that PdSe2/MoS2 devices exhibit significant potential for polarized photoelectric detection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Self‐powered and broadband photodetectors have important applications in modern technologies and have garnered significant research interest with the increasing concern for green and energy‐saving. The emerging 2D materials InSe is considered to be a promising candidate for next‐generation photodetectors due to the high carrier mobility, excellent photoelectric response, and flexibility. However, due to its weak absorption of infrared light, it remains a challenging task to achieve high‐performance, self‐powered, and broadband photodetection. Here, a MoTe2/InSe van der Waals heterostructure (vdWH) device is successfully constructed. Benefiting from the unique band alignment of the heterostructure, a strong built‐in electric field is formed. Excitingly, the device exhibits excellent photovoltaic performance with a large open voltage and short circuit current of 390.19 mV and 20.32 nA, respectively. In particular, in self‐powered mode, the responsivity (R) is up to 433.88 mA W−1 and the specific detectivity (D*) reaches 1.65 × 1012 Jones under 405 nm irradiation. Meanwhile, an ultrahigh Ilight/Idark ratio over 104, a fast response speed of 99/117 µs, and a broadband photoresponse range from 405 to 980 nm are achieved. The device demonstrates excellent comprehensive self‐powered photodetection performance. This work reveals the great potential of the MoTe2/InSe vdWH for high‐performance, broadband, and self‐powered photodetection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The efficiency of photocatalytic hydrogen evolution is currently limited by poor light adsorption, rapid recombination of photogenerated carriers, and ineffective surface reaction rate. Although heterojunctions with innovative morphologies and structures can strengthen built‐in electric fields and maximize the separation of photogenerated charges. However, how to rational design of novel multidimensional structures to simultaneously improve the above three bottleneck problems is still a research imperative. Herein, a unique Cu2O─S@graphene oxide (GO)@Zn0.67Cd0.33S Three dimensional (3D) hollow heterostructure is designed and synthesized, which greatly extends the carrier lifetime and effectively promotes the separation of photogenerated charges. The H2 production rate reached 48.5 mmol g−1 h−1 under visible light after loading Ni2+ on the heterojunction surface, which is 97 times higher than that of pure Zn0.67Cd0.33S nanospheres. Furthermore, the H2 production rate can reach 77.3 mmol g−1 h−1 without cooling, verifying the effectiveness of the photothermal effect. Meanwhile, in situ characterization and density flooding theory calculations reveal the efficient charge transfer at the p‐n 3D hollow heterojunction interface. This study not only reveals the detailed mechanism of photocatalytic hydrogen evolution in depth but also rationalizes the construction of superior 3D hollow heterojunctions, thus providing a universal strategy for the materials‐by‐design of high‐performance heterojunctions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Neuromorphic computing systems are based on new architecture inspired by biological learning behavior and biological structure to overcome the shortcomings of the von Neumann system, such as high energy consumption and generation of excessive redundant data. However, common synaptic‐device designs are still need to carry an external power source, which is detrimental to both the miniaturization of smart devices and the further reduction of energy consumption. Therefore, self‐powered optoelectronic synapses hold great promise for achieving energy‐efficient artificial intelligence applications. Given the advantages of heterogeneous integration and ferroelectric performance, the 2D ferroelectric In2Se3 has become a typical candidate material for biological synaptic devices and neuromorphic computing. Although, various structures of ferroelectric synaptic devices are developed, most of which are controlled by optical or electrical pulses, hardly any reports discuss the operation in self‐powered mode. In this work, an In2Se3/MoS2 ferroelectric lateral heterojunction‐type optoelectronic synaptic device is fabricated to mimic biological synaptic functions in voltage mode or self‐driven mode. In addition, two simplified image pre‐processing methods based on device arrays are shown to improve the recognition accuracy of a back‐end neural network. The proposed approach suggests a new route for designing and applying high‐performance synaptic devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Encrypted optical communication is a critical technology in numerous fields, including remote sensing, environmental monitoring, and homeland defense. As a core of wireless interconnect systems, the conventional photodetectors generally receive optical signals from a single direction and fail to distinguish between various wavebands, severely undermining the potential for data transfer and protection. Herein, a Bi2O3 layer‐integrated waveband‐discriminated perovskite photodetector is presented. By rational design of energy band and device architecture, the novel photodetector is self‐powered, double‐sided responsive, and recognizable to the short or long‐wave UV, as well as visible optical signals. Without external bias, the device exhibits a high performance with peak responsivities of 42.1 and 72.3 mA W−1 in frontal and reverse incidence, respectively. Benefiting from these advantages, the photodetector is applicable to optical communication and encryption. In reverse incidence, reversible message delivery is achieved through the conversion and decoding of illumination patterns and binary digits. For a further step, the encrypted processing is fulfilled in frontal incidence. By virtue of the eight irradiation combinations, a secret key containing ten‐bit commands will generate over a billion encryption methods. This work realizes a new mode of communication and encryption that entirely relies on optical signals, offering new insights into wireless communication. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Polymer solar cells have received considerable attention due to the advantages of low material cost, tunable band gaps, ultralight weight, and high flexible properties, and they have been a promising organic photovoltaic technology for alternative non‐renewable fossil fuels for the past decade. Inspired by these merits, numerous state‐of‐the‐art organic photovoltaic materials have been constructed. Among them, indaceno‐based polymer materials have made an impact in obtaining an impressive power conversion efficiency of more than 11%, which shows the momentous potential of this class of materials for commercial applications. In this review, recent progress of indaceno‐based organic polymer solar cells are reviewed, and the structure–property device performance correlations of the reported materials are highlighted. Then, common regularities of these successful cases are collected, and encouraging viewpoints on the further development of more exciting indaceno‐based organic photovoltaic materials are provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Integrating a third component into the binary system is considered to be one of the most effective strategies to further enhance the power conversion efficiency (PCE) in organic solar cells (OSCs). Here, a novel perylene diimide (PDI) derivative featuring 3D structure, TPA‐4PDI, with tetraphenyladamantane central core is developed as a guest electron acceptor to be incorporated into the PM6:Y6 binary system. The champion PCE of ternary OSC is recorded to be 18.29% by adding 7.5 wt.% of TPA‐4PDI in the ternary blend, which photovoltaic performance is enhanced with synergistically increased open‐circuit voltage (Voc) of 0.849 V, short‐circuit current density (Jsc) of 27.55 mA cm−2, and fill factor (FF) of 78.21%. TPA‐4PDI exhibits a complementary absorption band with PM6 and Y6 while its lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO) energy level falls between the two host materials. The addition of TPA‐4PDI can effectively suppress the recombination behavior, inhibit the excessive aggregation of Y6 and improve the morphology of PM6:Y6 blend. All these effects function synergistically and then lead to the enhancement of Voc,Jsc, and FF in ternary OSCs. This study suggests that developing PDI derivatives as the third component is an effective method to further improve the performance of ternary OSCs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The effect of long‐standing prediabetes or its transition on incident cardiovascular disease (CVD) is unclear. This study aimed to evaluate the association of changes in fasting blood glucose (FBG) status with the risk of developing CVD. Methods: This research included 12 145 Chinese adults aged 35–74 years and free from diabetes mellitus (DM) at baseline. Study participants were cross‐classified into six categories according to glucose at the first (1998–2001) and the second visit after 8 years: normal fasting glucose (NFG; 50–99 mg/dl), impaired FBG (IFG; 100–125 mg/dl), and DM. Cox proportional hazard regression model was used to estimate the hazard ratio (HR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) for CVD associated with transition of glucose status. Results: During a median follow‐up of 5.5 years, 373 incident CVD cases occurred. Compared with participants remaining persistent NFG, a higher risk of developing CVD was identified among those remaining persistent IFG, progressing to DM from NFG or from IFG, with the multivariate‐adjusted HR (95% CI) of 1.792 (1.141, 2.816), 1.723 (1.122, 2.645) and 1.946 (1.120, 3.381), respectively. Furthermore, when stratified by glucose status at baseline, persistent IFG and progression from IFG to DM still increased CVD risk in comparison with reversion from IFG to NFG, with the multivariate‐adjusted HR (95% CI) of 1.594 (1.003, 2.532) and 1.913 (1.080, 3.389). Conclusions: Participants with long‐standing IFG and progressing to DM had a higher risk of developing CVD. Further well‐designed studies are warranted to assess the association of other phenotypes or prediabetes duration with CVD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Self-powered photodetectors constructed by two-dimensional (2D) materials are significant in advanced science and technology with the growing focus on green and energy-efficient solutions. The built-in electric field in photodetector drives efficient separation and transfer of photogenerated electron–hole pairs. However, traditional metal-2D material-metal structures have more interface defects and larger Schottky barrier to hinder carrier transport. In this work, an asymmetric electrode material structure is constructed by adding graphene to provide a more efficient transport channel for photogenerated carriers. Graphene electrodes can play a variety of roles in efficient separation and collection of photogenerated carriers, reducing the barrier and improving the contact quality. Compared with the device using symmetric gold electrodes, the device prepared with asymmetric contacts show optimized performance. The MoTe 2 /WSe 2 heterostructure exhibits brilliant self-powered photoresponse (a responsivity of 268 mA/W and a detectivity of 7.48*1011 Jones). And the rise/decay times are up to 145μs/125μs. Additionally, the detector has a broadband detection capability from visible light to near-infrared. These results provide a promising and simple way to fabricate a MoTe 2 /WSe 2 self-powered broadband photodetector with high performance [Display omitted] ● Asymmetric contacts provide optimized photodetection performance and photovoltaic properties. ● Graphene electrodes offer a more efficient transport channel for photogenerated carriers, reduce the barrier and improve the contact quality. ● Excellent photoelectric performance and broadband response from the visible to near-infrared range. ● A promising and simple way to fabricate a MoTe 2 /WSe 2 self-powered broadband photodetector with high performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Glyoxal (GL) is a physiological reactive α-oxoaldehyde metabolite, produced by lipid peroxidation and autoxidation of glucose. In this work, a specific mitochondria-targeting fluorescent probe Z-GL for glyoxal has been developed by an introducing isopropyl group on the recognition site to tune the selectivity toward glyoxal. The probe showed high selectivity and sensitivity for glyoxal in an aqueous system. Importantly, the probe was able to visualize exogenous and endogenous glyoxal in living cells. Furthermore, the probe was mitochondria-targetable, and could be used for monitoring the level of intracellular glyoxal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The conventional forward‐structure perovskite devices typically employ organic small molecule and noble metal as the hole transport layer (HTL) and electrode, respectively, which results in poor thermal stability and high costs. To address this issue, a HTL‐free CH3NH3PbBr3 photodetector with the topological insulator bismuth telluride (Bi2Te3) electrode is developed. The device exhibits apparent sensitivity to ultraviolet/visible waveband with a peak responsivity of 97.5 mA W−1, switching ratio exceeding 104, and the detectivity is up to 1012 Jones without external bias. These figures‐of‐merit are distinguished among the reported CH3NH3PbBr3‐based devices. Impressively, this device presents a light power‐modulated near‐infrared detection thanks to the contribution of topological insulator Bi2Te3, and the underlying mechanism is elaborated in‐depth. Moreover, the novel device improves significantly in short and long‐time thermal stability. Benefiting from these distinguished properties, the photodetector is imaging‐capable and a 50 × 50 pixels' pattern with satisfactory resolution has been achieved. This work highlights the application of topological insulators on the HTL‐free perovskite photodetector, offering new insights for the future commercialization of perovskite devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chirality generated by the co‐assembly of plasmonic nanoparticles (NPs) and chiral photonic crystals has attracted broad interest owing to its strong optical activities. However, it is difficult to understand the physical mechanism of the unique chiral responses, for surface‐plasmon‐mediated circular dichroism (SP‐CD) is a hybrid response generated from chiral plasmonic–photonic systems. This study aims to investigate how chirality is generated by this system and the relationship between SP‐CD and plasmonic–photonic couplings. Here, quasi‐continuous plasmon bands are designed to interact with the different photonic bandgaps of cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs). In spectroscopy and simulation, characteristic SP‐CD shape lines derived from the extinction dispersion of plasmonic NPs for circularly polarized light in the CNCs are observed. It is demonstrated that this plasmonic chirality is determined by the coupling states and originates from a multiple scattering combination of plasmonic NPs under a chiral excitation field. A novel transfer‐matrix method is established to perform numerical analysis of this complex multiple scattering efficiently. This study is expected to offer a deep insight into chiral plasmonic–photonic systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Strain engineering is an effective means of modulating the optical and electrical properties of two-dimensional materials. The flexoelectric effect caused by inhomogeneous strain exists in most dielectric materials, which breaks the limit of the materials’ non-centrosymmetric structure for piezoelectric effect. However, there is a lack of understanding of the impact on optoelectronic behaviour of monolayer MoS2 photodetector via local flexoelectric effect triggered by biaxial strain. In this paper, we develop a probe tip (Pt)-MoS2-Au asymmetric Schottky barrier photodetector based on conductive atomic force microscopy to investigate the impact of flexoelectric effect on the photoresponse performance. Consequently, when the probe force increases from 24 nN to 720 nN, the photocurrent, responsivity and detectivity increase 28.5 times, 29.6 times and 5.3 times at forward bias under 365 nm light illumination, respectively. These results indicate that local flexoelectric effect plays a critical role to improve the photoresponse performance of photodetector. Our approach suggests a new route to improve the performance of photodetectors by introducing local flexoelectric polarization field, offering the potential for the application of strain modulated photoelectric devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An activatable mitochondria-targeted fluorescent probe Hcy-OPD was synthesized for the detection of methylglyoxal (MGO). For the introduction of a preorganized isopropylamino group on the aromatic o-diamine framework to regulate the hindrance effect, Hcy-OPD showed high selectivity and sensitivity (0.22 μM) for monitoring MGO. The probe can be applied successfully in the imaging of exogenous and endogenous MGO in living cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Enhancing the separation efficiency of photo-generated carriers and the surface area of catalysts is beneficial to improve the photocatalytic performance, which is critical to achieving application of photocatalysis in practical environmental remediation. In this work, the BiOCl microspheres were treated with electrification for the first time to synergistically tune oxygen vacancies (OVs) and microstructure. With 6 h electrification, the photocatalytic performance of BiOCl-6 microspheres was significantly enhanced, which can not only degrade organic contaminants, but also effectively reduce toxic heavy metal ions. The photocatalytic reaction rates for methyl blue (MB), ciprofloxacin (CIP) and hexavalent chromium Cr(VI) reached 0.071, 0.056 and 0.097 min−1, respectively, which were 5.1, 7.0 and 8.1 times higher than that of pristine BiOCl. The density functional theory (DFT) calculations and experimental investigation suggest that the designed OVs facilitates the separation of photo-excited carriers and expands the light adsorption range of BiOCl. Meanwhile, the increased surface area of BiOCl-6 microspheres enhances the adsorption for contaminants and provides more active sites for photocatalytic reaction. This work provides a new approach to synergistically enhance photocatalytic performance for photocatalysts by vacancy engineering and morphology control. [Display omitted] • We adopted electrification strategy to synergistically tune oxygen vacancies (OVs) and nanostructure of BiOCl microspheres. • The OVs content and surface area of BiOCl microspheres substantially increase as the electrification extends to 3 h and 6 h. • The increased OVs concentration broadens the light response range and promotes the separation of photo-generated carriers. • The BiOCl-6 can effectively remove organic contaminants and heavy metal ions under visible light irradiation. • The photocatalytic reaction rates of MB, CIP and Cr(Ⅵ) by BiOCl-6 were 5.1, 7.0 and 8.1 times of pristine BiOCl. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Au-embedded MCM-41 was firstly employed as an electrolyte additive to feasibly form a robust organic/inorganic hybrid solid electrolyte interphase (SEI). Such SEI derived from the combination of the Si-O segment of MCM-41 and the poly(CO 3) oligomer via the Au-induced electrocatalytic polymerization of EC possesses an ultrahigh Young's modulus to effectively prevent the growth of lithium dendrites. [Display omitted] • Au as an electrocatalyst was firstly introduced into the electrolyte via the MCM-41 carrier. • An organic/inorganic hybrid SEI layer induced by Au@MCM-41 with an ultrahigh Young's modulus was in situ formed on Li anode, effectively suppressing lithium dendrites. • High-performance lithium metal batteries were achieved with the Au@MCM-41-modified electrolyte. The solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) determines the lithium (Li) deposition behavior for long-term lithium metal batteries. However, the naturally formed fragile SEI would cause the nonuniform lithium deposition and random dendrite growth due to weak interaction of the heterogeneous distributed inorganic and organic species. Herein, we designed Au-embedded mesoporous molecular sieve as an electrolyte modifier to feasibly form a robust organic/inorganic hybrid SEI. Such hybrid SEIs, composed of Si-O interlinked polycarbonates (poly(CO 3)) which is derived from the Au-induced electrocatalytic polymerization of EC (ethylene carbonate), possess an ultrahigh Young's modulus of 11.6 GPa, achieving uniform lithium deposition and suppression of lithium dendrites. Assembled by the Au@MCM-41-modified electrolyte, the Li||Li symmetrical cells exhibit a recyclable behavior of Li deposition/dissolution over 900 h at 0.5 mA cm−2, and the Li||LFP (LiFePO 4) full cells maintain a high capacity of 123 mAh g−1 even after 300 cycles at 1.0 C. This work explores a new route to in situ develop a robust and effective SEI for prospective lithium metal batteries in practical application and social requirement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we designed and synthesized a novel phenylazo-based fluorescent probe (RHN) for the sensing and imaging of hypochlorous acid (HClO) in mitochondria in living cells. In this process, HClO promoted the oxidation of the phenylazo group to generate a free Rhodol fluorophore moiety, which in turn restored strong fluorescence and realized the detection of HClO. As expected, RHN exhibited high selectivity, high sensitivity and rapid response, with detection limits as low as 22 nM (1.155 ng/mL). Importantly, the results of the cell imaging experiments indicated that RHN has the ability to image and sense HClO in mitochondria, which is of great significance for exploration of the specific role of HClO in both the immune system and diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The relationship between exposure to household air pollution (HAP) from solid fuel use and cognition remains poorly understood. Among 401 older adults in peri-urban northern China enrolled in the INTERMAP-China Prospective Study, we estimated the associations between exposure to HAP and z-standardized domain-specific and overall cognitive scores from the Montreal Cognitive Assessment. Interquartile range increases in exposures to fine particulate matter (53.2-µg/m3) and black carbon (0.9-µg/m3) were linearly associated with lower overall cognition [− 0.13 (95% confidence interval: − 0.22, − 0.04) and − 0.10 (− 0.19, − 0.01), respectively]. Using solid fuel indoors and greater intensity of its use were also associated with lower overall cognition (range of point estimates: − 0.13 to − 0.03), though confidence intervals included zero. Among individual cognitive domains, attention had the largest associations with most exposure measures. Our findings indicate that exposure to HAP may be a dose-dependent risk factor for cognitive impairment. As exposure to HAP remains pervasive in China and worldwide, reducing exposure through the promotion of less-polluting stoves and fuels may be a population-wide intervention strategy to lessen the burden of cognitive impairment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Several indices of carotid atherosclerosis have been studied to investigate their associations with the risk of cardiovascular disease. However, the best index of carotid atherosclerosis that predicts the risk of cardiovascular disease remains unclear. Objective To investigate the index that best reflects the relationship between carotid atherosclerosis and subsequent ischaemic cardiovascular disease (ICVD) events. Design An observational longitudinal study with a 5-year follow-up. Participants 1734 Chinese subjects {623 men, 1111 women) aged 43 -- 79 years at baseline. Main outcome measures ICVD events, including coronary heart disease and ischaemic stroke. Results Carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) at baseline was significantly associated with the risk of ICVD among participants without carotid plaque (multivariable adjusted HR=1.59, 95% C11.04 to 2.45) but not among those with plaque {HR=1.04, 95% CI 0.78 to 1.39). However, the total area of plaques {HR=1.29, 95% C11.08 to 1.55), the number of plaques {HR=1.14, 95% CI 1.02 to 1.27) and the number of segments with plaque {HR=1.45, 95% CI 1.09 to 1.93) were all significantly associated with ICVD in participants with plaque. Thus, carotid IMT and the number of segments with plaque were combined to establish a summary index -- the total burden score (TBS) of carotid atherosclerosis -- which was shown to improve the prediction of the 5-year risk of ICVD significantly compared with IMT or the number of segments with plaque alone. The c-statistics and net reclassification index showed that TBS improved the risk prediction by increases of 6.0% and 17.1%, respectively, compared with the conventional risk score. Conclusion The TBS could significantly improve the prediction of ICVD risk and should be used in clinical practice and future studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Mg:Ce:Cu:LiNbO3 crystals with various [Li]/[Nb] ratio were grown using the Czochraksli method from melts having compositions varying between 48.6 and 58.3 mol% Li2O. The inductively coupled plasma optical emission/mass spectrometry, the X-ray power diffraction, the differential thermal analysis, the ultraviolet-visible absorption spectra and the infrared absorption spectrum were measured and discussed in terms of the spectrometric characterization and the defect structure of crystals. The results showed that as the [Li]/[Nb] ratio in the melt increased, the [Li]/[Nb] ratio in the crystal was more close to stoichiometry, UV absorption edge exhibited a non-line shift, and the threshold concentration of MgO in Mg:Ce:Cu:LiNbO3 decreased. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Mg:Ce:Cu:LiNbO3 crystals with various [Li]/[Nb] ratios were grown by the Czochralski method from melts having compositions varying between 48.6 and 58.3mol% Li2O. The crystal composition and defect structure were analyzed by the ICP-OE/MS, XRD and IR spectrum. The photorefractive properties of the Mg:Ce:Cu:LiNbO3 crystals were experimentally studied by using the two-wave coupling method. The results of the two-wave coupling experiments showed that as the [Li]/[Nb] ratio increased, the writing time and the erasure time were shortened, the diffraction efficiency decreased. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: DLC films with various bias voltages were deposited on polished NiTi alloys by plasma immersion ion implantation and deposition (PIIID) using graphite as plasma precursor. Microstructure and nano-hardness of the DLC films were characterized by Raman spectroscopy and nano-indentation system, respectively. The electrochemical corrosion behavior of DLC coated and uncoated NiTi alloys is investigated in Hank’s solution by means of potentiodynamic polarization tests. The results show that on the one hand the corrosion resistance and surface hardness and elastic modulus of the NiTi alloys are remarkably improved due to the deposition of the DLC films, and on the other hand the sp3/sp2 ratio inferred from Raman spectra, hardness, elastic modulus and the corrosion resistance of the DLC films on the NiTi alloys first increase and then decrease with the increase of the bias voltage. It can be concluded that the corrosion resistance of the DLC films is influenced by their microstructure. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Considering the scarcity of palladium ion probes with subcellular organelle targeting, especially probes with near-infrared (NIR) emission wavelength fluorophores, our group has been working to overcome this problem and looking forward to providing potential practical tools for exploring the toxicity of palladium ions at the subcellular level. In this paper, a novel colorimetric and NIR fluorescent probe, BHCy-Pd, for the specific detection of palladium ions (Pd2+) in lysosomes via an internal charge-transfer (ICT) mechanism was designed and synthesized. As expected, BHCy-Pd exhibited a rapid, selective, and sensitive response for palladium with an ultralow limit of detection at 5.9 nM, accompanied by a distinct color change from purple to blue. Furthermore, BHCy-Pd can be made into a simple test strip for rapid and easy detection of Pd2+ in practical applications. Importantly, BHCy-Pd is capable of specific distribution in lysosomes, and thus can detect Pd2+ in real-time, thereby providing a potential tool for studying the cytotoxicity of Pd2+ ions at the subcellular level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The iron-doped lithium niobate (Fe:LiNbO3) and zinc-iron-doubly-doped lithium niobate (Zn:Fe:LiNbO3) crystals have been grown by Czochralski method in air atmosphere. Based on results of X-ray diffraction analysis, it is indicated that doubly doped Zn:Fe:LiNbO3 changes lattice more slightly than singly doped Fe:LiNbO3. The holographic storage properties of two crystals have been measured by two-wave coupling with Ar+ laser at 488 nm. The experimental results show that Zn:Fe:LiNbO3 exhibits a large improvement in photorefractive sensitivity and writing time, especially in noise suppressing due to Zn ions existence in LiNbO3 crystal. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The congruent Mn(0.1 wt%):Fe(0.03 wt%):LiNbO3 crystals doped with different concentration of MgO(0,1,3,6 mol%) have been grown by Czochralski method in air atmosphere. Some crystal samples were reduced in Li2CO3 powder. The defects and doping ions location in crystals were investigated by UV–Vis. absorption spectrum as well as infrared transmittance spectrum analysis. In two wave coupling experiments we determined the writing time, maximum diffraction efficiency and the erasure time of four crystal samples with He–Ne laser at 633 nm. The results indicated that Mg(3 mol%):Fe:Mn:LiNbO3 was the most proper holographic recording media material among four crystals in the paper. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Amplification of the intensity and dissymmetry factors (glum) of circularly polarized light is desired to broaden the range of applications of circularly polarized luminescence (CPL) because of the small glum values commonly observed for CPL materials and the loss of intensity resulting from circular polarization. In this study, enhanced CPL produced by metal‐enhanced fluorescence is successfully achieved by the self‐assembly of Au@SiO2 triangular nanoprisms (Au@SiO2TNPs) and fluorophores (sulforhodamine 101 and methylene blue) in chiral cellulose nanocrystal films. By overlapping the plasmon bands of Au@SiO2TNPs and the excitation–emission spectra of fluorophores, both the fluorescence intensity and glum value of CPL are significantly enhanced. For sulforhodamine 101 in the metal‐enhanced CPL system, a 52‐fold fluorescence enhancement is achieved, and the glum value increased from −0.038 to −0.126. For methylene blue in the metal‐enhanced CPL system, a 201‐fold enhancement of fluorescence is obtained, and the glum value is enhanced from −0.055 to −0.085. This metal‐enhanced CPL film is expected to generate superior circularly polarized light for extensive CPL applications because of its outstanding enhanced CPL, fluorescence amplification, and feasibility for different fluorophores. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: This study aimed to determine the causal association between salt added to food and body mass index (BMI) by integrating a summary‐level genome‐wide association study (GWAS) data. Methods: We performed two‐sample Mendelian randomisation (MR) analyses using summary statistics of GWAS. Inverse‐variance weighted (IVW), maximum likelihood estimation, and random effect model were used to analyse the effect of salt added to food on BMI. A bidirectional MR analysis with BMI as the exposure and salt added to food as the outcome was also performed. Results: The single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were selected from the UK Biobank (n = 462 630) and a meta‐analysis of 322 154 European‐descent individuals. The IVW method estimate indicated that salt added to food was positively associated with BMI (β = 0.1416, SE = 0.0576, P =.0139). Results from maximum likelihood estimation (β = 0.1476, SE = 0.0363, P <.0001) and the random effect model (β = 0.1411, SE = 0.0572, P =.0137) were consistent with the IVW. Bidirectional MR analysis suggested that BMI did not causally affect salt added to food. Conclusion: Our results provided qualitative evidence supporting a causal relationship between salt intake and BMI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Little is known about the relationship between dietary intake of choline, which is a major dietary precursor for gut microbiome‐derived trimethylamine N‐oxide (TMAO), and diabetes mellitus (DM) in the general population. The present study aims to explore the relationship between dietary choline intake and DM in the US adult population. Methods: Cross‐sectional data were derived from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2007‐2010 of 8621 individuals aged 20 years or older. Multivariable logistic regression models were used to determine odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for DM of each quartile category of energy‐adjusted choline intakes. The restricted cubic spline model was used for the dose–response analysis. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to determine the optimal cutoff value of choline intake for predicting DM. Results: A linear dose–response relationship between dietary choline intake and the odds of DM was found after adjustment for multiple potential confounding factors. With the lowest quartile category of choline as the reference, the multivariable‐adjusted ORs and 95% CIs of the second, third, and highest quartile categories were 1.23 (0.99‐1.53), 1.27 (1.02‐1.58), and 1.49 (1.20‐1.85), respectively, P for trend =0.0004. The ROC analysis identified energy‐adjusted choline of 331.7 mg/8.37‐MJ per day as the optimal cutoff value for predicting DM, with 52.5% sensitivity and 60.7% specificity. Conclusion: This study supports a positive and linear relationship between dietary choline intake and DM in the US adult population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Atomic doping combine surface ion graft is first time used to boost photocatalytic. • Atomic doping effect is systematically studied for the optimal heteroatomic doping. • Atom doping and surface ion graft synergistically manipulate photocharges separation. The synergistic implementation of atomic-level charge separation strategies for bulk–surfaces is a meaningful study that fundamentally addresses the shortcomings of single materials. Here, we report for the first time the atomic-level engineering of atomic doping in combination with surface ion grafting, which can be coordinated to significantly facilitate photocatalytic H 2 evolution. More impressively, the study systematically investigated the atomic doping effects of Fe, Co, Ni and Cu atoms, and analyzed the conditions for optimal doping with experimental and theoretical calculations. The doping of variable valence Cu atoms leads to the emergence of newly occupied electronic states at the Fermi energy level, which effectively improves the carrier separation. The X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) results verified the precise coordination environments of the doped Cu atoms, as well as confirmed the solid grafting of Ni ions on the catalyst surface. Furthermore, the hydrogen production rate of 1.2 % Cu–Zn 0.67 Cd 0.33 S–0.5 wt% Ni reached 38.17 mmol/g/h, corresponding to an apparent quantum efficiency of 35.5 %, which is 82.8 times higher than that of pure ZCS. Besides, the H 2 production rate can reached 118.73 mmol/g/h without cooling. Meanwhile, the synergistic strategy of manipulating the bulk and surface photo-charges of Zn 0.67 Cd 0.33 S also effectively enhances the photothermal effect and further improves its photocatalytic performance. This work provides different inspirations for bottom-up design of efficient photocatalysts to achieve synergistic facilitation strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • A unique photothermal synergistic self-driven infrared detector is fabricated. • at 850 nm (0 bias), the heterojunction exhibits excellent detection properties. • A high-resolution current image was obtained under 980 nm illumination without bias. • Excellent properties owing to the temperature field by optical and photo-radiation. Infrared detection and imaging devices have great potential in the fields of defense and security, medical monitoring, and food safety. As a novel method, photothermal assistants can expand the absorption in the case of low-angle dependence, which is one of the key factors in improving the performance of infrared detectors. Photo-heating accelerates the transfer of carrier, inducing a change in electrical conductance and exciting "hot" electrons promote a photoelectric response and extend the response photon energies well below the semiconductor band edge. However, photodetectors require cooling to prevent overheating and reduce thermal noise, thereby improving photoelectric detection. Therefore, it remains a formidable challenge to design a suitable heterojunction photodetector that can synergistically utilize optical and thermal energy. Here, a unique asymmetric Te/Bi 2 Te 3 /In 2 O 3 heterojunction structure is designed by a simple physical deposition method, and a photothermal synergistic infrared detector is successfully fabricated. The Te/Bi 2 Te 3 /In 2 O 3 heterojunction exhibits excellent self-driven photo-detection performance in the near-infrared wavelength bands of 850, 980, and 1050 nm, especially under prolonged laser irradiation at 850 nm. Under prolonged laser irradiation at 850 nm (0 bias), the heterojunction exhibits ultra-fast (response time < 55 ms), ultra-sensitive, and stable detection behavior, with a response rate as high as 0.4195 mA/W (R i of 0.4724 mA/W, after 1,000 cycles), I ph /I dark is 281.55, and the detectivity as high as 4.296 × 109 Jones. A high-resolution current image was obtained under 980 nm illumination at room temperature without bias. Such excellent optoelectronic properties make the heterojunctions of the asymmetric Te/Bi 2 Te 3 /In 2 O 3 heterojunction a potential candidate for future infrared detection and imaging. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To explore the association between dietary Na intake and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in a nationally representative sample of the US population.Design: In this cross-sectional study, the associations between Na intake and NAFLD, defined by the hepatic steatosis index (HSI) and the fatty liver index (FLI), were assessed through multivariable logistic regression models.Setting: Communities in the USA from 2007 to 2014.Participants: Men and women aged 20 years and older.Results: A total of 11 022 participants were included in the HSI-defined NAFLD analysis, and a subsample of 5320 participants was included in the FLI-defined NAFLD analysis. Compared with the lowest quartile of Na intake, the highest quartile had a multivariate-adjusted OR and 95 % CI of 1·46 (1·29, 1·65) for NAFLD as defined by HSI, and 1·41 (1·18, 1·69) for NAFLD as defined by FLI. This association was, to some degree, attenuated but remained significant after adjusting for several related metabolic parameters, including BMI, hypertension, hypercholesterolaemia, and diabetes.Conclusions: Findings from the current study indicate that dietary Na intake is positively associated with NAFLD in US adults. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: In a community-based study of 1295 Chinese men and women free of myocardial infarction and stroke we found that interleukin-10 (IL-10) −592C/C genotype was significantly associated with decreased risk of early carotid atherosclerosis compared to −592 A/A genotype. This observed association was significantly modified by known atherogenic risk factors namely smoking and obesity. In people with normal cholesterol (<200 mg/L), −592 C/C genotype was also associated with lower levels of highly-sensitive C-reactive protein. Our findings generate an interesting hypothesis that the IL-10 −592C/C genotype may exert its protection against early atherosclerosis through anti-inflammatory pathways. Our results also confirm that gene–risk factor interaction plays an important role in pathogenesis of early atherosclerosis. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The near-stoichiometric lithium niobate (LN) crystal co-doped with Fe2O3 and ZnO has been grown by K-flux method and is compared with the same doping congruent Fe:Zn:LN on photorefractive properties for the first time. In comparison with congruent Fe:Zn:LN, the absorption edge of near-stoichiometric Fe:Zn:LN shifts to the violet, and its lattice constants get smaller. Stoichiometric Fe:Zn:LN exhibits higher photorefractive sensitivity than that of congruent one. The mechanism of photorefractive effect improvement for near-stoichiometric Fe:Zn:LN crystal is investigated combined with doping ions location analysis. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The Fe-doped near-stoichiometric lithium niobate (LiNbO3) crystal has been grown by top seeded solution growth (TSSG) method from congruent melt doped with 0.01 wt.% Fe2O3 and 10.9 mol% K2O. The intrinsic defects and Fe ions location in crystal are investigated on O–H vibration absorption peak position in infrared region and intrinsic absorption edge in UV–VIS region. The photorefractive properties of near-stoichiometric Fe/LiNbO3 are measured by two-wave coupling method. Compared with congruent Fe/LiNbO3 with the same Fe doping concentration, near-stoichiometric Fe/LiNbO3 expresses a greatly improved response speed at the cost of a little decrease of diffraction efficiency. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Pretreatment of NiTi alloy by plasma-based phosphorus implantation (PBII) is of interest in order to make beta-particle-emitting radioactive stents. Corrosion properties of PBII-treated and un-treated NiTi alloys have been tested with anodic polarization curves in 1% NaCl solution at 37 °C. PBII treatment can increase the open-circuit corrosion potential (Ecorr) and decrease the corrosion current density (Icorr). The anodic polarization curves of PBII-treated NiTi alloy show a ‘secondary passivation’ phenomenon in the potential range of 0.72 to 1.28 V. The existence of P2O5 can probably be connected with the so-called secondary passivation phenomenon. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Although emerging studies from high-income countries investigated the relationship between sedentary behavior (SB) and cardiovascular risk, little evidence came from developing countries. Moreover, the benefits of reallocating time from SB to physical activity (PA) on incident cardiovascular disease (CVD) are unknown. Using three cohorts from the Prediction for Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease Risk in China project, we included 93 110 adults who were free from CVD at baseline. Cox proportional hazards models were used to calculate the hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for CVD, including stroke, coronary heart disease, and CVD death. Isotemporal substitution models were applied to estimate the per-hour effects of replacing SB with PA. After 5.8 years follow-up, 3799 CVD cases were identified. A gradient positive association between sedentary time and incident CVD was observed. Relative to those with < 5 h/d sedentary time, the multivariable-adjusted HRs (95% CIs) of CVD incidence were 1.07(0.96–1.20), 1.27(1.13–1.43) and 1.51(1.34–1.70) for those having 5–<8, 8–<10, and ≥ 10 h/d sedentary time, respectively. When participants were cross-classified by SB and moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA) level, the CVD risk was highest in those with ≥ 10 h/d SB and < 150 min/week MVPA. Among those who reported ≥ 5 h/d sedentary time, per-hour substitution of SB with light, moderate, and vigorous PA reduced incident CVD risk by 5%, 6%, and 8%, respectively. The study first found that sedentary time was associated with increased incident CVD risk among Chinese adults and that substitution of SB with PA of any intensity could convey cardiovascular benefits among those with ≥ 5 h/d SB. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to explore the association between serum cotinine and severe abdominal aortic calcification (AAC) in the US adults. We examined 2840 participants with a weighted mean age of 57.4 years from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2013-2014. Serum cotinine was analyzed as the main exposure both continuously and categorically (tertiles). Abdominal aortic calcification detected with dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry was quantified using the Kauppila score system. Severe AAC was detected in 252 (8.9%) participants. The multivariable-adjusted odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) of the middle and top cotinine categories were 1.14 (0.79-1.64) and 1.80 (1.21-2.68), respectively, P for trend =.004. Per unit increase in log-transformed serum cotinine was associated with 10% (95% CI: 6%-15%) higher odds of severe AAC when serum cotinine was analyzed as a continuous variable. The association was consistent across sex and ethnic groups. In conclusion, elevated serum cotinine level was associated with higher odds for severe AAC in a representative sample of US adults. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

GaSb and InSb epilayers grown on GaAs (001) vicinal substrates misoriented toward (111) plane were studied using high resolution x-ray diffraction. The results show that GaSb and InSb epilayers take on positive crystallographic tilt, and the asymmetric distribution of 60° misfit dislocations in {111} glide planes have an effect on the tilt. In addition, the vicinal substrate influences the distribution of the threading dislocations in {111} glide planes, and the density of dislocation in the (111) plane is higher than in the [formula] plane. A model was proposed to interpret the distribution of full width at half maximum, which can help us understand the formation and glide process of the dislocations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to improve the upconversion (UC) luminescence of lanthanide-doped nanoparticles (NPs), different sized Y2O3:Tm3+, Yb3+ NPs were synthesized using the Pechini type sol-gel method, and their surfaces were coated with different thickness of SiO2 or TiO2 shells using the Stöber method. The results indicate that large-sized NPs have more intense UC luminescence intensities than small-sized NPs. The core-shell structures can enhance the UC luminescence intensities. Comparing with the UC luminescence intensity of noncoated NPs, the UC luminescence intensities of SiO2-coated NPs for the sintering time of 60 min and the coating time of 30, 60, 90, and 120 min are enhanced by 1.53, 1.54, 1.40, and 1.16 times, respectively. According to the relative variable ratios of the UC luminescence intensities, a competition process between two mechanisms was proposed to explain the effects of different thickness shells and different shell materials on the UC luminescence intensities. One mechanism is the role conversion of lanthanide ions on the NPs’ surfaces, which is from the “dormant” state to the “activated” state due to the complementary ligand fields from noncrystalline SiO2 shells. The other is the absorption effects of the shells on the incident pump light and the reabsorption effects of the shells on the UC luminescence. Therefore, it can be concluded that more intense UC luminescence can be achieved in doped core-shell NPs by selecting the appropriate shell materials and their thickness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Traditional rhodamine dyes' absorption and emission wavelengths are in the visible region and Stokes shifts are less than 30 nm, which limit their biological imaging applications. To regulate the photophysical properties of xanthene chromophores, we reported a novel mitochondria-targeted unsymmetrical fluorescent thiophene-hybridized xanthene dye DTPO with deep-red emission wavelength (640 nm) and improved Stokes shift (58 nm) in water. DTPO exhibited multiple excellent properties, such as high molar extinction coefficients, large fluorescence quantum yields, tolerance to photobleaching. Meanwhile, the dye is lower toxic to living cell, and could accumulate in mitochondria. By using DTPO as a fluorophore, a highly selective fluorescent probe DTPO-OPD for the fast detection of mitochondrial NO was synthesized based on the NO-triggered the spiro-ring opening mechanism. Construction of a novel deep-red unsymmetrical rhodamine analogue DTPO with improved Stokes shifts for the design of nitric oxide probe. [Display omitted] • A novel mitochondria-targeted unsymmetrical rhodamine analogue was synthesized. • The unsymmetrical dye has large Stokes shifts and deep-red fluorescence emission. • The NO probe based on unsymmetrical dye exhibits high selectivity and fast response. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the present study, Ti–Ni-Hf-Cu thin films were successfully fabricated by magnetron sputtering process. Moreover, the effects of various factors on the quality of Ti–Ni-Hf-Cu thin film were investigated and the optimal processing parameters were determined. The results reveal that the composition and quality of Ti–Ni-Hf-Cu thin film can be mainly tailored by changing the sputtering power and Ar pressure. The amorphous Ti–Ni-Hf-Cu thin films with the high-quality can be obtained at the following condition: sputtering power = 150 W; Ar pressure = 0.6 Pa; sputtering time = 6 h. The annealed Ti–Ni-Hf-Cu thin film consisted of monoclinic B19′ martensite phase and nano-scale (Ti,Hf) 2 Ni type precipitate. Compared with the bulk Ti–Ni-Hf-Cu alloy, the annealed Ti–Ni-Hf-Cu thin film showed the lower martensitic transformation temperature. Nevertheless, the forward martensitic transformation starting temperature of the annealed Ti–Ni-Hf-Cu thin film was still higher than 100 °C, which can meet the requirement of the high temperature application field. • Amorphous Ti–Ni-Hf-Cu film was prepared successfully. • The processing parameters for gaining higher-quality thin film were optimized. • Large number of (Ti,Hf) 2 Ni phase precipitated in the matrix. • The annealed Ti–Ni-Hf-Cu film showed the higher transformation temperatures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effect of the substitution of Pt for Cu on the microstructure and martensitic transformation behaviors of Ti–Ni–Cu alloys was investigated systematically. The solution-treated Ti–Ni–Cu–Pt alloys were found to consist of the B19 martensite and Ti 2 (Ni,Cu,Pt) phases at room temperature. The (011) compound twin was more frequently observed than the (111) type I twin in the Ti–Ni–Cu–Pt alloys owing to the lower shear strain and shear angle of the (011) compound twin during the transformation process. During heating, the lower temperature single B19 martensite transformed in one stage into high-temperature B2 austenite. Conversely, the B2 austenite was transformed directly into B19 martensite during cooling. As the Pt content increased from 1.0 at.% to 3.0 at.%, the transformation temperatures first decreased and then increased. In addition, a narrower thermal hysteresis and perfect thermal cycling stability can be obtained by tailoring the Pt content. The excellent thermodynamic characteristics can be attributed to the lower frictional work and good geometric compatibility. • The microstructure and martensite transformation of Ti–Ni–Cu–Pt alloys were studied. • The excellent thermal cycling properties can be tailored by changing Pt content. • The mechanisms of the superior thermal cycling properties were proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the present study, the extensive efforts had been made to attain the higher-quality Zr Cu based ribbons by optimizing the fabrication process. Under the same preparation conditions, the as-spun Zr Cu based ribbons with the different amorphous state can be obtained by tailoring the chemical compositions. The microstructure of the as-spun Zr 50 Cu 50 ribbon was featured with the amorphous matrix embedded with the B2 crystalline and the superior mechanical properties can be achieved as a result of the martensitic transformation induced by stress during deformation. The partial substitute of Cu by Ni and Co enhanced the ability of forming the amorphous Zr-Cu-Ni-Co ribbons and the size of the B2 crystalline gradually became smaller. The reduction of B2 crystalline in the amorphous matrix led to the slight decrease in the mechanical properties of the as-spun Zr Cu based ribbons. However, the microstructure of the annealed Zr Cu based ribbons was characterized by the nano-scale grain. Meanwhile, the nano-scale Cu 10 Zr 7 precipitates distributed in the nanograin. The grain refinement and precipitation strengthening contributed to the superior mechanical properties of the annealed Zr Cu based ribbons. • The higher quality Zr Cu based ribbons were successfully prepared. • The amorphous degree can be tailored by composition in Zr Cu based ribbons. • The microstructure of annealed Zr Cu based ribbons was featured with nano-grains. • The phase constitutions of annealed Zr Cu based ribbons were dependent on composition. • The as-spun and annealed Zr Cu based ribbons showed superior mechanical properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Although cancer has become one of the leading health burdens, to the authors' knowledge, evidence regarding its relationship with a healthy lifestyle in the Chinese population remains limited.Methods: The authors evaluated the association between clustering of healthy lifestyle factors and cancer risk using 3 prospective cohort studies with 101,208 Chinese adults from the general population. Hazard ratios (HRs) and corresponding 95% confidential intervals (95% CIs) related to healthy lifestyle factors were calculated using Cox proportional hazard models, and population-attributable risk percentages were estimated further.Results: The results demonstrated that each additional healthy lifestyle factor was associated with a 6% (range, 3%-9%) lower risk of overall cancer. Compared with having none to 3 healthy lifestyle factors, HRs related to adherence to all 6 healthy lifestyle factors were 0.78 (95% CI, 0.60-1.02) and 0.82 (95% CI, 0.67-1.00), respectively, for men and women. It was estimated that approximately 18.4% and 2.3%, respectively, of overall cancer cases for men and women were attributable to nonadherence to all 6 healthy lifestyle factors.Conclusions: The results of the current study indicate that adherence to clustering of healthy lifestyle factors was associated with a reduced risk of cancer incidence among Chinese adults. Greater efforts urgently are needed to promote the adoption of multiple healthy lifestyle behaviors to reduce the increasing burden of cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background Diabetes caused substantial economic and health burden worldwide. However, the associations between air pollution and diabetes incidence were rarely reported in the developing countries, especially in China with relatively high PM 2.5 concentrations. Objectives A cohort-based study was conducted to assess the diabetes incidence associated with long-term exposure to ambient PM 2.5. Methods We collected individual health data and risk factors from the project of Prediction for Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease Risk in China (China-PAR Project) from 15 provinces over China. Diabetes was defined as fasting glucose levels ≥7.0 mmol/L at the follow-ups and/or the use of insulin or oral hypoglycemic agents and/or diagnosed medical history of diabetes during 2004 to 2015. Individual-level PM 2.5 exposures were estimated from satellite-based PM 2.5 concentrations (10 km spatial resolution) during the study period. Cox proportional hazards models with random intercepts of each cohort and region were employed to estimate the diabetes incidence attributable to PM 2.5 , after the adjustment for age, gender, body mass index, smoking status, education, work-related physical activity level, hypertension, urbanicity, county-level averaged years of education, and long-term levels of temperature and relative humidity. Results A total of 88,397 subjects were analyzed with 580,928 person-years of follow-up after 2004, among which 6439 new cases of diabetes were observed. The mean age of the subjects was 51.7 years at baseline. For an increase of 10 μg/m3 in long-term PM 2.5 exposure, the multivariable-adjusted percent increase in the diabetes incidence was estimated to be 15.66% (95% confidence interval: 6.42%, 25.70%). The adverse effects of PM 2.5 were larger among females, rural subjects, non-smokers, normotensives, subjects younger than 65 years and subjects with body mass index <25 kg/m2. Conclusions Our findings provided evidence for the association of long-term exposure to PM 2.5 with diabetes incidence in China. A sustained improvement of air quality will benefit the reduction for diabetes epidemic in China. Highlights • The largest study in China to study the effect of PM 2.5 on diabetes incidence. • A national study focus on the general Chinese population. • Satellite-based PM 2.5 levels were used for long-term exposure assessment. • Long-term exposure to PM 2.5 was positively associated with diabetes incidence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract An abnormal multi-stage martensitic transformation was observed in the Ti-49Ni-15Hf (at.%) alloy powders fabricated by the plasma rotating electrode process, which were largely dependent on the particle size. Upon heating and cooling process, the Ti-Ni-Hf alloy powders less than 75 μm and with the size of 75∼150 μm exhibited the two-stage and the three-stage martensitic transformation, respectively. During the rapid solidification, the significant variation of the Hf concentrations existed at the different distances from the (Ti,Hf) 2 Ni precipitates as a consequence of the larger cooling rate and the struggle diffusion rate of Hf, which was the main reason for the two-step martensite transformation in the Ti-Ni-Hf alloy powders smaller than 75 μm. In addition to the variation of the chemical composition at the micro-levels, the distinctive cooling rate between the outer layer and interior for the larger alloy powders led to the difference in the amounts of (Ti,Hf) 2 Ni precipitates, further resulting in the distinguishing chemical composition and the appearance of an additional martensitic transformation. Graphical abstract Image 1 Highlights • The Ti-Ni-Hf alloy powders were successfully fabricated by PREP. • The multi-step martensite transformation was observed in Ti-Ni-Hf alloy powders. • The martensite transformations of Ti-Ni-Hf alloy powders were related to the particle size. • The mechanism of the multi-stage martensitic transformation was discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]