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Modeling solvation dynamics and properties is crucial for developing electrolytes for electrochemical energy storage and conversion devices. This work reports an on-the-fly multi-objective Bayesian optimization (OTF-MOBO) method to parameterize force fields for modeling ionic solvation structures, thermodynamics, and transport properties using molecular dynamics simulations. By leveraging solvation-free energy and solvation radii as training data, we employ the data-driven OTF-MOBO algorithm to actively optimize the force field parameters. The modeling accuracy was evaluated in molecular dynamics simulations until the Pareto front in the parameter space was reached through minimized prediction errors in both solvation-free energy and solvation radii. Using transition metal redox ions (Fe3+/Fe2+, Cr3+/Cr2+, and Cu2+/Cu+) in aqueous solution as examples, we demonstrate that simple force fields combining the Lenard–Jones potential and Coulombic potential can achieve relative error below 2% in both solvation free energy and solvation radii. The optimized force fields can be further extrapolated to predict solvation entropy and diffusivities with relative error below 10% compared with experiments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: We intended to characterize the superiority of triglyceride glucose‐body mass index (TyG‐BMI) in predicting type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) compared with triglyceride glucose (TyG) and homeostatic model assessment for insulin resistance (HOMA‐IR). Methods: A total of 699 nondiabetic participants in the Da Qing IGT and Diabetes Study were involved in the present analysis and classified according to the median of baseline TyG‐BMI, namely the G1 (low TyG‐BMI) and G2 (high TyG‐BMI) groups. Information on developing diabetes was assessed from 1986 to 2020. Results: During the 34‐year follow‐up, after adjustment for confounders, the G2 group had a higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes than the G1 group (hazard ratio [HR]: 1.92, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.51–2.45, p < 0.0001). Restricted cubic spline analyses showed that increased TyG‐BMI was linearly related to higher risks of type 2 diabetes (p for non‐linearity>0.05). Time‐dependent receiver operator characteristics curves suggested that TyG‐BMI exhibited higher predictive ability than TyG (6‐year: area under the curve [AUC]TyG‐BMI vs. AUCTyG, 0.78 vs. 0.70, p = 0.03; 34‐year: AUCTyG‐BMI vs. AUCTyG, 0.79 vs. 0.73, p = 0.04) and HOMA‐IR (6‐year: AUCTyG‐BMI vs. AUCHOMA‐IR, 0.78 vs. 0.70, p = 0.07; 34‐year: AUCTyG‐BMI vs. AUCHOMA‐IR, 0.79 vs. 0.71, p = 0.04) in both short and long terms, and the thresholds of TyG‐BMI to predict type 2 diabetes were relatively stable (195.24–208.41) over the 34‐year follow‐up. Conclusions: In this post hoc study, higher TyG‐BMI was associated with an increased risk of type 2 diabetes and demonstrated better predictability than TyG and HOMA‐IR, favoring the application of TyG‐BMI as a potential tool for evaluating the risk of type 2 diabetes in clinical practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article was based on indoor simulated marine environment erosion tests using concrete, by analyzing the compressive strength, coating bonding strength and chloride ion diffusion behavior of marine cast-in-place concrete after erosion, and the effects of anti-corrosion coating / treating ages on the mechanical properties and durability evolution of marine cast-in-place concrete were studied. The results show that compared with concrete without anti-corrosion coating / treating, anti-corrosion coating / treating concrete using silane and polyurethane coating shows a decrease in compressive strength fc after erosion in marine tidal areas, and concrete fc gradually decreases with the increase of curing age tc . Anti-corrosion coating / treating can effectively improve the long-term chloride ion erosion resistance of marine cast-in-place concrete, and with the increase of curing age tc, the effects of anti-corrosion coating / treating on reducing the surface chloride ion content Cs and apparent chloride ion diffusion coefficient Da of concrete becomes more significant. Taking into account the development of mechanical properties of cast-in-place concrete in the marine tidal zone environment and the effectiveness of anti-corrosion coating / treating measures, it is recommended to use silane and polyurethane coatings for coating with a curing age of not less than 5 and 10 d, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, the chemical fractions (CFs) of trace metal (TMs) and multiple magnetic parameters were analysed in the sedimentary column from the centre of Lake Taihu. The sedimentary column, measuring 53 cm in length, was dated using 210Pb and 137Cs to be 124 years old. Surface layers of the column were found to contain significantly higher concentrations of Cd, Co, Cu, Pb, Sb, Ti, and Zn than the middle and bottom layers. The sedimentary core contained a substantial amount of ferrimagnetic minerals. Most of the TMs were present in the residual state, except for Mn and Pb. The chemical fractions of Cd exhibited the most significant variation with depth. The pollution load index (PLI) indicated moderate TMs pollution levels in the region, whereas the risk assessment code (RAC) classified Mn as being heavily polluted. Multiple linear regression (MLR) and random forest (RF), support vector machine (SVM), and XGBoost (1.7.7.1) machine learning models were used to simulate the RAC and total concentration of TMs, using physical and chemical indicators and magnetic parameters of the sediments as input variables. The MLR model outperformed RF, SVM, and XGBoost in simulating the CFs and total concentrations of most TMs in the sedimentary column, with R2 up to 0.668 and 0.87. The SHapley Additive exPlanations (SHAP) method reveals that χarm/χ is the dominant factor influencing the RAC of As in the XGBoost models. For the RAC of Co and Cu in RF models, C% and N% exhibit greater contributions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To explore the expression patterns and potential roles of mRNAs in exosomes from patients with myeloperoxidase-specific anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)-associated vasculitis (MPO-AAV). Plasma exosomes were isolated from MPO-AAV patients and healthy controls (HCs) to screen for differential mRNA expression via exosomal mRNA sequencing. The differentially expressed mRNAs in exosomes from the 2 groups were comparatively explored by bioinformatics analysis. The six most differentially expressed mRNAs were selected and validated in larger groups of MPO-AAV patients and HCs by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT‒qPCR). The relationships between these selected mRNAs and patient characteristics were statistically analyzed. Compared with HCs, a total of 1077 mRNAs in exosomes from MPO-AAV patients were found to be significantly upregulated, including DEPDC1B and TPST1, while NSUN4 and AK4 were significantly downregulated. Statistical analysis did not reveal any correlation between the six selected mRNAs and clinical indicators, including disease activity. GO enrichment analysis revealed that these differentially expressed genes participate in various enzyme activities, protein synthesis, etc. KEGG pathway analysis revealed that metabolic pathways, cell adhesion molecules, epithelial signaling, and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathways were significantly enriched in the exosomal mRNAs. There were significant differences in the expression of exosomal mRNAs between MPO-AAV patients and HCs, which may be related to the occurrence and development of MPO-AAV. These findings provide clues for further investigations of MPO-AAV pathogenesis and the identification of new potential therapeutic targets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Rare Metals is the property of Springer Nature and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Seawater intrusion significantly affects the microbial communities within coastal aquifers. Investigating the spatial distribution of groundwater microbial communities in coastal regions is crucial for understanding seawater intrusion. The primary objective of this study is to develop a novel microbial index-based method for detecting seawater intrusion. Groundwater microbial samples were collected and sent to the laboratory in the west coastal area of Longkou City, Shandong Province. By characterizing the microbial community within the whole interval of seawater intrusion into fresh groundwater and discussing the effects of salt-freshwater displacement intensities on groundwater microbial communities, including diversity, structure, and function, using indoor domestication experiments, we reveal the response of microorganisms to the seawater intrusion process under in situ environmental conditions. The results show that the microbial community diversity is highest in environments with a seawater mixing proportion (P(sm)) of 2.5% and lowest in those with a P(sm) of 75%. When considering species abundance and evolutionary processes, the microbial community structure is similar at higher P(sm) levels, while it is similar at lower P(sm) levels based on the presence or absence of species. Tenericutes, Flavobacteriia, Rhodobacterales, Flavobacteriales, Rhodobacteraceae, Flavobacteriaceae, Cohaesibacteraceae, and Cohaesibacter are significantly positively correlated with the P(sm). Strong salt-freshwater displacement enhanced the richness and evenness of the microbial community, whereas weak displacement showed the opposite trend. Strong displacement affects the functional profiles of the microbial community. This study effectively addressed the challenge of obtaining samples in coastal areas and also incorporated salt-freshwater displacement intensities, which can more comprehensively describe the microbial community characteristics within the groundwater of coastal aquifers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bacterial infections pose a major concern for the medical community, especially regarding wound healing. Traditional passive antibiotic therapies can be cytotoxic and lead to bacterial resistance, posing a continuing challenge to treat. Based on precision therapy, a novel targeted‐delivery nanosystem is developed to efficiently eliminate bacteria and promote bacteria‐infected wound healing. Macrophage membranes pre‐activated by Staphylococcus aureus (MMSa) are prepared. In doing so, Toll‐like receptors (TLRs), a typical pathogen‐associated molecular pattern (PAMP), are significantly higher than normal macrophage membranes (MM0). Subsequently, MMSa are coated onto ultrasound‐triggered piezocatalytic nano‐barium titanate (BaTiO3, BTO) surfaces, and these two components are assembled to form a novel targeting delivery nanosystem, namely BTO@MMSa. The in vitro and in vivo results demonstrate that the biocompatible BTO@MMSa nanosystem can target infected areas and rapidly generate reactive oxygen species (ROS) to kill bacteria under ultrasound (US) irradiation, as well as accelerate wound healing. Furthermore, prokaryotic RNA‐seq transcriptomics reveals that changes in bacterial membrane function and substance, and energy metabolism are responsible for the targeted antibacterial ability of BTO@MMSa with US. Compared to widely reported unselective antibacterial agents, this novel targeted delivery nanosystem has potential for precise bacterial infection treatment by using macrophage membrane functions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The association between years of non-diabetes status after diagnosis of impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) and the risk of long-term death and cardiovascular outcomes needed to be clarified. Methods and findings: In this post hoc analysis, we included 540 individuals with IGT who participated in the original Da Qing Diabetes Prevention Study (DQDPS). In the DQDPS, all participants were diagnosed with IGT by a 75 g oral glucose tolerance test and randomized to intervention or control groups with a 6-year lifestyle intervention trial. After the completion of the trial, death, cardiovascular events, and microvascular complications were monitored over a 30-year follow-up. In this post hoc analysis, the Cox analysis assessed the extended risk of these outcomes in individuals who either remained non-diabetes status or progressed to diabetes at the end of 2, 4, and 6 years after diagnosis of IGT. In all participants, the difference in the cumulative incidence rate of the outcomes between the diabetes and non-diabetes group gradually increased over 30 years. Compared with the diabetes group, a significantly lower risk of all-cause death (hazard ratio [HR]: 0.74; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.57 to 0.97, p = 0.026), cardiovascular events (HR: 0.63; 95% CI: 0.49 to 0.82, p < 0.001), and microvascular complications (HR: 0.62; 95% CI: 0.45 to 0.86, p = 0.004) first emerged in individuals who remained non-diabetes at the 4 years visit, whereas the significant risk reduction in cardiovascular death was first observed at the end of 6 years (HR: 0.56; 95% CI: 0.39 to 0.81, p = 0.002) after adjustment for age, sex, smoking status, BMI, systolic blood pressure, blood glucose, total cholesterol, intervention, and medications (including insulin plus oral hypoglycaemics, antihypertensives, and lipid-lowering agents). The results in the original intervention group alone were similar to the whole group. The main limitations of our study are the limited number of participants and the sole ethnicity of the Chinese population. Conclusions: In this study, we observed that maintaining several years of non-diabetes status after IGT diagnosis was associated with a significant reduction in long-term risk of death and vascular complications, and for most of these outcomes, maintaining at least 4 years of non-diabetes status may be needed to achieve a significant risk reduction. Xin Qian and co-authors explore how the duration of a lifestyle intervention for diabetes prevention influences length of time spent in non-diabetes status after a diagnosis of impaired glucose tolerance and, the impact on long term outcomes. Author summary: Why was this study done?: Lifestyle intervention can reduce or delay the incidence of diabetes in people with impaired glucose tolerance (IGT). Major lifestyle intervention trials have shown that lifestyle intervention can improve microvascular complications and some cardiovascular risk factors. To the best of our knowledge, no study has reported the relationship between long-term outcomes and duration of maintaining non-diabetes status after a diagnosis of IGT which may be influenced by the duration of lifestyle intervention, after IGT diagnosis. What did the researchers do and find?: We conducted a post hoc analysis of the China Da Qing Diabetes Prevention Study (DQDPS), a 6-year lifestyle intervention trial in people with IGT. In this study, we included 540 individuals with IGT and assessed the long-term risk of mortality, macro- and microvascular diseases between those who remained non-diabetes status or not at the end of 2, 4, and 6 years visit after diagnosis of IGT. Our analyses showed that individuals who remained non-diabetic for at least 4 years after being diagnosed with IGT had a significantly lower risk of all-cause death, cardiovascular events, and microvascular complications compared with those who progressed to diabetes. However, this effect was not observed in individuals who remained non-diabetic for a shorter period. What do these findings mean?: This post hoc analysis suggests that a longer duration of non-diabetes status in those with IGT has beneficial health outcomes and reduces mortality. The implementation of effective interventions targeting those with IGT should be considered as part of preventative management for diabetes and diabetes-related vascular complications. The main limitations of this study are the limited number of participants and the sole ethnicity of the Chinese population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims To evaluate the effectiveness of glaucoma screening using glaucoma suspect (GS) referral criteria assessed on colour fundus photographs in Singapore's Integrated Diabetic Retinopathy Programme (SiDRP). Methods A case-control study. This study included diabetic subjects who were referred from SiDRP with and without GS between January 2017 and December 2018 and reviewed at Singapore National Eye Centre. The GS referral criteria were based on the presence of a vertical cup-to-disc ratio (VCDR) of =0.65 and other GS features. The final glaucoma diagnosis confirmed from electronic medical records was retrospectively matched with GS status. The sensitivity, specificity and positive predictive value (PPV) of the test were evaluated. Results Of 5023 patients (2625 with GS and 2398 without GS) reviewed for glaucoma, 451 (9.0%, 95% CI 8.2% to 9.8%) were confirmed as glaucoma. The average follow-up time was 21.5±10.2 months. Using our current GS referral criteria, the sensitivity, specificity and PPV were 81.6% (95% CI 77.7% to 85.1%), 50.6% (95% CI 49.2% to 52.1%) and 14.0% (95% CI 13.4% to 14.7%), respectively, resulting in 2257 false positive cases. Increasing the VCDR cut-off for referral to =0.80, the specificity increased to 93.9% (95% CI 93.1% to 94.5%) but the sensitivity decreased to 11.3% (95% CI 8.5% to 14.6%), with a PPV of 15.4% (95% CI 12.0% to 19.4%). Conclusions Opportunistic screening for glaucoma in a lower VCDR group could result in a high number of unnecessary referrals. If healthcare infrastructures are limited, targeting case findings on a larger VCDR group with high specificity will still be beneficial. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Rare Metals is the property of Springer Nature and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Lithium‐ion batteries (LIBs) have played an essential role in the energy storage industry and dominated the power sources for consumer electronics and electric vehicles. Understanding the electrochemistry of LIBs at the molecular scale is significant for improving their performance, stability, lifetime, and safety. Classical molecular dynamics (MD) simulations could directly capture the atomic and molecular motions and thus provide dynamic insights into the electrochemical processes and ion transport in LIBs during charging and discharging that are usually challenging to observe experimentally, which is momentous in developing LIBs with superb performance. This review discusses developments in MD approaches using non‐reactive force fields, reactive force fields, and machine learning potential for modeling chemical reactions and transport of reactants in the electrodes, electrolytes, and electrode‐electrolyte interfaces. It also comprehensively discusses how molecular interactions, structures, transport, and reaction processes affect electrode stability, energy capacity, and interfacial properties. Finally, the remaining challenges and envisioned future routes are commented on for high‐fidelity, effective simulation methods to decode the invisible interactions and chemical reactions in LIBs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: To evaluate whether 1‐hour plasma glucose (1hPG) can be a comparable measurement to 2‐hour plasma glucose (2hPG) in identifying individuals at high risk of developing diabetes. Methods: A total of 1026 non‐diabetic subjects in the Da Qing IGT and Diabetes Study were included and classified according to baseline postload 1hPG. The participants were followed up and assessed at 6‐, 20‐ and 30year follow‐up for outcomes including diabetes, all‐cause and cardiovascular mortality, cardiovascular disease (CVD) events, and microvascular disease. We then conducted a proportional hazards analysis in this post hoc study to determine the risks of developing type 2 diabetes and its complications in a '1hPG‐normal' group (1hPG <8.6 mmol/L) and a '1hPG‐high' group (≥8.6 mmol/L). The predictive values of 1hPG and 2hPG were evaluated using a time‐dependent receiver‐operating characteristic (ROC) curve. Results: Compared with the 1hPG‐normal group, the 1hPG‐high group had increased risk of diabetes (hazard ratio [HR] 4.45, 95% CI 3.43–5.79), all‐cause mortality (HR 1.46, 95% CI 1.07–2.01), CVD mortality (HR 1.84, 95% CI 1.16–2.95), CVD events (HR 1.39, 95% CI 1.03–1.86) and microvascular disease (HR 1.70, 95% CI: 1.03–2.79) after adjusting for confounders. 1hPG exhibited a higher area under the ROC curve (AUC) for predicting diabetes than 2hPG during the long‐term follow‐up (AUC [1hPG vs. 2hPG]: 10 years: 0.86 vs. 0.84, p = 0.08; 20 years: 0.88 vs. 0.87, p = 0.04; 30 years: 0.85 vs. 0.82, p = 0.009). Conclusions: Elevated 1hPG level (≥8.6 mmol/L) was associated with increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes and its long‐term complications, and could be considered as a suitable measurement for identifying individuals at high risk of type 2 diabetes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is the most common disease in elderly men. There is increasing evidence that periodontitis increases the risk of BPH, but the specific mechanism remains unclear. This study aimed to explore the role and mechanism of the key periodontal pathogen Porphyromonas gingivalis (P. gingivalis) in the development of BPH. Methods: The subgingival plaque (Sp) and prostatic fluid (Pf) of patients with BPH concurrent periodontitis were extracted and cultured for 16S rDNA sequencing. Ligature-induced periodontitis, testosterone-induced BPH and the composite models in rats were established. The P. gingivalis and its toxic factor P. gingivalis lipopolysaccharide (P.g-LPS) were injected into the ventral lobe of prostate in rats to simulate its colonization of prostate. P.g-LPS was used to construct the prostate cell infection model for mechanism exploration. Results: P. gingivalis, Streptococcus oralis, Capnocytophaga ochracea and other oral pathogens were simultaneously detected in the Pf and Sp of patients with BPH concurrent periodontitis, and the average relative abundance of P. gingivalis was found to be the highest. P. gingivalis was detected in both Pf and Sp in 62.5% of patients. Simultaneous periodontitis and BPH synergistically aggravated prostate histological changes. P. gingivalis and P.g-LPS infection could induce obvious hyperplasia of the prostate epithelium and stroma (epithelial thickness was 2.97- and 3.08-fold that of control group, respectively), and increase of collagen fibrosis (3.81- and 5.02-fold that of control group, respectively). P. gingivalis infection promoted prostate cell proliferation, inhibited apoptosis, and upregulated the expression of inflammatory cytokines interleukin-6 (IL-6; 4.47-fold), interleukin-6 receptor-α (IL-6Rα; 5.74-fold) and glycoprotein 130 (gp130; 4.47-fold) in prostatic tissue. P.g-LPS could significantly inhibit cell apoptosis, promote mitosis and proliferation of cells. P.g-LPS activates the Akt pathway through IL-6/IL-6Rα/gp130 complex, which destroys the imbalance between proliferation and apoptosis of prostate cells, induces BPH. Conclusion: P. gingivalis was abundant in the Pf of patients with BPH concurrent periodontitis. P. gingivalis infection can promote BPH, which may affect the progression of BPH via inflammation and the Akt signaling pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We develop a convex‐optimization clustering algorithm for heterogeneous financial networks, in the presence of arbitrary or even adversarial outliers. In the stochastic block model with heterogeneity parameters, we penalize nodes whose degree exhibit unusual behavior beyond inlier heterogeneity. We prove that under mild conditions, this method achieves exact recovery of the underlying clusters. In absence of any assumption on outliers, they are shown not to hinder the clustering of the inliers. We test the performance of the algorithm on semi‐synthetic heterogenous networks reconstructed to match aggregate data on the Korean financial sector. Our method allows for recovery of sub‐sectors with significantly lower error rates compared to existing algorithms. For overlapping portfolio networks, we uncover a clustering structure supporting diversification effects in investment management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: We aimed to investigate the long‐term influence of a diet and/or exercise intervention on long‐term mortality and cardiovascular disease (CVD) events. Methods: The Da Qing Diabetes Prevention Study had 576 participants with impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) randomized to diet‐only, exercise‐only and diet‐plus‐exercise intervention group and control group. The participants underwent lifestyle interventions for 6 years. The subsequent Da Qing Diabetes Prevention Outcome Study was a prospective cohort study to follow‐up the participants for up to 24 years after the end of 6‐year intervention. In total, 540 participants completed the follow‐up, while 36 subjects lost in follow‐up. Cox proportional hazards analysis was applied to assess the influence of lifestyle interventions on targeted outcomes. Results: Compared with controls, the diet‐only intervention in people with IGT was significantly associated with a reduced risk of all‐cause death [hazard ratio (HR) 0.77, 95% confidence interval (CI) (0.61‐0.97)], CVD death [HR 0.67, 95% CI (0.46‐0.97)] and CVD events [HR 0.72, 95% CI (0.54‐0.96)]. The diet‐plus‐exercise intervention was significantly associated with a decreased risk of all‐cause death [HR 0.64, 95% CI (0.48‐0.84)], CVD death [HR 0.54, 95% CI (0.30‐0.97)] and CVD events [HR 0.68, 95% CI (0.52‐0.90)]. Unexpectedly, the exercise‐only intervention was not significantly associated with the reduction of any of these outcomes, although there was a consistent trend towards reduction. Conclusions: A diet‐only intervention and a diet‐plus‐exercise intervention in people with IGT were significantly associated with a reduced risk of all‐cause death, CVD death and CVD events, while an exercise‐only intervention was not. It suggests that diet‐related interventions may have a potentially more reliable influence on long‐term vascular complications and mortality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Huang Qin decoction (HQD) is a traditional Chinese medicine formula for treating colitis, but the effects and molecular mechanism of action of HQD in colitis-associated carcinogenesis (CAC) are still unclear. Therefore, we aimed to determine the beneficial effects of HQD on CAC in mice and to reveal the underlying mechanism involved. AOM/DSS was used to induce CAC in mice, and the effects of HQD on tumorigenesis in mice were examined (with mesalazine serving as a positive control). Mesalazine or HQD treatment alleviated body weight loss and decreased the disease activity index in mice induced by AOM/DSS. Mesalazine or HQD treatment also suppressed the shortening of colon tissue length, the number of tumors, and the infiltration of inflammatory cells. The genes targeted by HQD were predicted and verified, followed by knockout experiments. Elevated SLC6A4 and inhibited serotonin production and inflammation were observed in HQD-treated mice. HQD inhibited the NFκB and NLRP3/caspase1/GSDMD pathways. The therapeutic effect of HQD was diminished in SLC6A4-deficient AOM/DSS mice. Additionally, the downregulation of SLC6A4 mitigated the inhibitory effect of HQD-containing serum on MODE-K cell pyroptosis. Our findings suggest that SLC6A4 is a pivotal regulator of HQD-alleviated CAC via its modulation of the NLRP3/caspase1/GSDMD pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: This study aimed to synthesize zinc‐incorporated nanowires structure modified titanium implant surface (Zn‐NW‐Ti) and explore its superior osteogenic and antibacterial properties in vitro and in vivo. Materials and methods: Zn‐NW‐Ti was synthesized via displacement reactions between zinc sulfate solutions and the titanium (Ti) surface, which was pretreated by hydrofluoric acid etching and hyperthermal alkalinization. The physicochemical properties of the Zn‐NW‐Ti surface were examined. Moreover, the biological effects of Zn‐NW‐Ti on MC3T3‐E1 cells and its antibacterial property against oral pathogenic bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus, Porphyromonas gingivalis, and Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans) compared with sandblasted and acid‐etched Ti (SLA‐Ti) and nanowires modified Ti (NW‐Ti) surface were assessed. Zn‐NW‐Ti and SLA‐Ti modified implants were inserted into the anterior extraction socket of the rabbit mandible with or without exposure to the mixed bacterial solution (S. aureus, P. gingivalis, and A. actinomycetemcomitans) to investigate the osteointegration and antibacterial performance via radiographic and histomorphometric analysis. Results: The Zn‐NW‐Ti surface was successfully prepared. The resultant titanium surface appeared as a nanowires structure with hydrophilicity, from which zinc ions were released in an effective concentration range. The Zn‐NW‐Ti surface performed better in facilitating the adhesion, proliferation, and differentiation of MC3T3‐E1 cells while inhibiting the colonization of bacteria compared with SLA‐Ti and NW‐Ti surface. The Zn‐NW‐Ti implant exhibited enhanced osseointegration in vivo, which was attributed to increased osteogenic activity and reduced bacterial‐induced inflammation compared with the SLA‐Ti implant. Conclusions: The Zn‐incorporated nanowires structure modified titanium implant surface exhibited improvements in osteogenic and antibacterial properties, which optimized osteointegration in comparison with SLA titanium implant surface. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The layered ternary PbBi2Te4 is regarded as a promising thermoelectric material due to its intricate crystal structure. However, current research on PbBi2Te4 primarily focuses on theoretical calculations and predictions, with limited investigations conducted on its actual thermoelectric transport properties. In this study, we synthesized the single-phase PbBi2Te4 compound using the high-temperature melting method. The research findings indicate that PbBi2Te4 exhibits significant anisotropic thermoelectric properties and a pronounced bipolar diffusion effect, which can be attributed to its unique layered crystal structure and relatively narrow bandgap. This bipolar diffusion effect remarkably exacerbates the Seebeck coefficient of PbBi2Te4 and amplifies its thermal conductivity. To address these challenges, we effectively manipulated the electronic band structure of PbBi2Te4 and enlarged the bandgap through the incorporation of Se alloying. The thermoelectric performance of PbBi2Te4 has been significantly enhanced as a result of the increase in Seebeck coefficient and reduction in thermal conductivity. Ultimately, a superior ZT value of ∼0.52 at 673 K is achieved in PbBi2(Te0.85Se0.15)4, representing an impressive improvement of ∼ 49% compared to the pure PbBi2Te4. These results demonstrate the promising potential of ternary PbBi2Te4 as a thermoelectric material. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Omega‐6 fatty acids are the primary polyunsaturated fatty acids in most Western diets, while their role in diabetes remains controversial. Exposure of omega‐6 fatty acids to an oxidative environment results in the generation of a highly reactive carbonyl species known as trans, trans‐2,4‐decadienal (tt‐DDE). The timely and efficient detoxification of this metabolite, which has actions comparable to other reactive carbonyl species, such as 4‐hydroxynonenal, acrolein, acetaldehyde, and methylglyoxal, is essential for disease prevention. However, the detoxification mechanism for tt‐DDE remains elusive. In this study, the enzyme Aldh9a1b is identified as having a key role in the detoxification of tt‐DDE. Loss of Aldh9a1b increased tt‐DDE levels and resulted in an abnormal retinal vasculature and glucose intolerance in aldh9a1b−/− zebrafish. Transcriptomic and metabolomic analyses revealed that tt‐DDE and aldh9a1b deficiency in larval and adult zebrafish induced insulin resistance and impaired glucose homeostasis. Moreover, alterations in hyaloid vasculature is induced by aldh9a1b knockout or by tt‐DDE treatment can be rescued by the insulin receptor sensitizers metformin and rosiglitazone. Collectively, these results demonstrated that tt‐DDE is the substrate of Aldh9a1b which causes microvascular damage and impaired glucose metabolism through insulin resistance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Higher levels of palmitoyl sphingomyelin (PSM, synonymous with sphingomyelin 16:0) are associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) in people with diabetes. Whether circulating PSM levels can practically predict the long-term risk of CVD and all-cause death remains unclear. This study aimed to investigate whether circulating PSM is a real predictor of CVD death in Chinese adults with or without diabetes. Methods: A total of 286 and 219 individuals with and without diabetes, respectively, from the original Da Qing Diabetes Study were enrolled. Blood samples collected in 2009 were used as a baseline to assess circulating PSM levels. The outcomes of CVD and all-cause death were followed up from 2009 to 2020, and 178 participants died, including 87 deaths due to CVD. Cox proportional hazards regression was used to estimate HRs and their 95% CIs for the outcomes. Results: Fractional polynomial regression analysis showed a linear association between baseline circulating PSM concentration (log-2 transformed) and the risk of all-cause and CVD death (p < 0.001), but not non-CVD death (p > 0.05), in all participants after adjustment for confounders. When the participants were stratified by PSM-tertile, the highest tertile, regardless of diabetes, had a higher incidence of CVD death (41.5 vs. 14.7 and 22.2 vs. 2.9 per 1000 person-years in patients with and without diabetes, respectively, all log-rank p < 0.01). Individuals with diabetes in the highest tertile group had a higher risk of CVD death than those in the lowest tertile (HR = 2.73; 95%CI, 1.20–6.22). Conclusions: Elevated PSM levels are significantly associated with a higher 10-year risk of CVD death, but not non-CVD death, in Chinese adults with diabetes. These findings suggest that PSM is a potentially useful long-term predictor of CVD death in individuals with diabetes. Highlights: Why did we undertake this study? Diabetes is associated with a higher risk of all-cause and cardiovascular disease (CVD) deaths after control of blood pressure, glucose, and lipid. Circulating palmitoyl sphingomyelin (PSM) level is associated with an increased risk of CVD in Chinese patients with diabetes. What is the specific question we wanted to answer? Is PSM a practical predictor for CVD death? What did we find? Circulating PSM levels steadily predicted a 10-year increased risk of CVD death after adjusted for SBP, HbA1c, LDL-c, creatinine, prevalent CVD, and the use of alcohol and statins but not non-CVD death, in individuals with diabetes. What are the implications of our findings? PSM determination may be useful for predicting the long-term risk of CVD death. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ectomycorrhizal fungi (EMF) can form symbiotic relationships with plants, aiding in plant growth by providing access to nutrients and defense against phytopathogenic fungi. In this context, factors such as plant assemblages and soil properties can impact the interaction between EMF and phytopathogenic fungi in forest soil. However, there is little understanding of how these fungal interactions evolve as forests move through succession stages. In this study, we used high-throughput sequencing to investigate fungal communities in young, intermediate, and old subtropical forests. At the genus level, EMF communities were dominated by Sebacina, Russula, and Lactarius, while Mycena was the most abundant genus in pathogenic fungal communities. The relative abundances of EMF and phytopathogenic fungi in different stages showed no significant difference with the regulation of different factors. We discovered that interactions between phytopathogenic fungi and EMF maintained a dynamic balance under the influence of the differences in soil quality attributed to each forest successional stage. The community composition of phytopathogenic fungi is one of the strong drivers in shaping EMF communities over successions. In addition, the EMF diversity was significantly related to plant diversity, and these relationships varied among successional stages. Despite the regulation of various factors, the positive relationship between the diversity of phytopathogenic fungi and EMF remained unchanged. However, there is no significant difference in the ratio of the abundance of EMF and phytopathogenic fungi over the course of successions. These results will advance our understanding of the biodiversity–ecosystem functioning during forest succession. Key points: •Community composition of both EMF and phytopathogenic fungi changed significantly over forest succession. •Phytopathogenic fungi is a key driver in shaping EMF community. •The effect of plant Shannon's diversity on EMF communities changed during the forest aging process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ectomycorrhizal fungi (EMF) can form symbiotic relationships with plants, aiding in plant growth by providing access to nutrients and defense against phytopathogenic fungi. In this context, factors such as plant assemblages and soil properties can impact the interaction between EMF and phytopathogenic fungi in forest soil. However, there is little understanding of how these fungal interactions evolve as forests move through succession stages. In this study, we used high-throughput sequencing to investigate fungal communities in young, intermediate, and old subtropical forests. At the genus level, EMF communities were dominated by Sebacina, Russula, and Lactarius, while Mycena was the most abundant genus in pathogenic fungal communities. The relative abundances of EMF and phytopathogenic fungi in different stages showed no significant difference with the regulation of different factors. We discovered that interactions between phytopathogenic fungi and EMF maintained a dynamic balance under the influence of the differences in soil quality attributed to each forest successional stage. The community composition of phytopathogenic fungi is one of the strong drivers in shaping EMF communities over successions. In addition, the EMF diversity was significantly related to plant diversity, and these relationships varied among successional stages. Despite the regulation of various factors, the positive relationship between the diversity of phytopathogenic fungi and EMF remained unchanged. However, there is no significant difference in the ratio of the abundance of EMF and phytopathogenic fungi over the course of successions. These results will advance our understanding of the biodiversity–ecosystem functioning during forest succession. Key points: •Community composition of both EMF and phytopathogenic fungi changed significantly over forest succession. •Phytopathogenic fungi is a key driver in shaping EMF community. •The effect of plant Shannon’s diversity on EMF communities changed during the forest aging process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Particulate matter (PM) toxicity has mostly been investigated through in vitro exposure or tracheal infusion in animal models. However, given the complexity of ambient conditions, most animal studies do not mimic real-life PM exposure. In this work, we established a novel integrated exposure model to study the dynamic inflammatory response and defense strategies in ambient PM-exposed mice. Three groups of male C57BL/6 mice were kept in three chambers with pre-exposure to filtered air (FA), unfiltered air (UFA), or the air with a low PM concentration (PM2.5 ≤ 75 μg/m3) (LPM), respectively, for 37 days. Then all three groups of mice were exposed to haze challenge for 3 days, followed by exposure in filtered air for 7 days to allow recovery. Our results suggest that following a haze challenge, the defense strategies of mice of filtered air (FA) and low PM (LPM) groups comprised a form of "counterattack", whereas the response of the unfiltered air (UFA) group could be viewed as a "silence". While the latter strategy protected the lung tissues of mice from acute inflammatory damage, it also foreshadowed the development of chronic inflammatory diseases. These findings contribute to explaining previously documented PM-associated pathogenic mechanisms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Adjusting internal organs and dredging channel electroacupuncture has a definite effect on type 2 diabetes, but the specific mechanism still needs to be further clarified. This study aims to investigate the effects of electroacupuncture on the gut microbiota and bile acids in db/db mice after the intervention of "adjusting internal organs and dredging channel" and further explore its mechanism of action in treating T2DM.Methods: We used db/db mice as the animal model and db/m mice from the same litter as the blank control group, a total of 4 weeks of intervention were conducted. We evaluated the effectiveness of the "adjusting internal organs and dredging channel" treatment by detecting indicators related to glucose and lipid- metabolism. Detect changes in the gut microbiota of mice in each group using 16SrDNA sequencing technology. The content of bile acids in mouse feces was determined using liquid chromatography mass spectrometry, and the correlation analysis between different bile acids and differential bacterial communities was performed. The expression levels of TGR5 and GLP-1 proteins were measured using the Western blot method.Results: Adjusting internal organs and dredging channel electroacupuncture can improve blood glucose levels in db/db mice, increase the abundance of Firmicutes and Actinobacteria, and increase the content of fecal bile acid pool heavy CA and UDCA. At the same time, it also increased the content of TGR5/GLP1 in the small intestine.Conclusion: Adjusting internal organs and dredging channel electroacupuncture can improve the disorder of glucose and lipid metabolism in db/db mice, regulate the abundance and colony composition of intestinal microbiota in mice, and regulate bile acid metabolism in mice. The interaction between bile acid and intestinal microbiota can also be observed; Mutual influence may play a role in regulating blood sugar together. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The distribution of antibiotic-resistance genes (ARGs) in environmental soil is greatly affected by livestock and poultry manure fertilization, the application of manure will lead to antibiotic residues and ARGs pollution, and increase the risk of environmental pollution and human health. Cinnamomum camphora is an economically significant tree species in Fujian Province, China. Here, through high-throughput sequencing analysis, significant differences in the composition of the bacterial community and ARGs were observed between fertilized and unfertilized rhizosphere soil. The application of chicken manure organic fertilizer significantly increased the relative abundance and alpha diversity of the bacterial community and ARGs. The content of organic matter, soluble organic nitrogen, available phosphorus, nitrate reductase, hydroxylamine reductase, urease, acid protease, β-glucosidase, oxytetracycline, and tetracycline in the soil of C. camphora forests have significant effects on bacterial community and ARGs. Significant correlations between environmental factors, bacterial communities, and ARGs were observed in the rhizosphere soil of C. camphora forests according to Mantel tests. Overall, the findings of this study revealed that chicken manure organic fertilizer application has a significant effect on the bacterial community and ARGs in the rhizosphere soil of C. camphora forests, and several environmental factors that affect the bacterial community and ARGs were identified. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recently, PbSnSe2 alloy was found to exhibit a large hysteresis effect on transport properties, demonstrating its significant potential for thermoelectric applications. Using ab initio approaches, we studied the carrier transport properties of PbSnSe2 crystal, which is a special case of the alloy with the shortest‐range order. A peak power factor of 134.2 μW cm−1 K−2 was found along the cross‐plane direction in the n‐type PbSnSe2 at a doping concentration of 7 × 1020 cm−3 at 700 K. This high power factor originates from delocalized p electrons between intra‐plane Pb–Se pairs and between cross‐plane Sn–Se pairs that can build up transport channels for conducting electrons, leading to a high electrical conductivity of 5.9 × 105 S m−1. Introducing Pb atoms into Pnma phase SnSe can decrease the phonon group velocities and enhance the phonon–phonon scatterings, leading to a low thermal conductivity of 0.53 W m−1 K−1 at 700 K along the cross‐plane direction. The calculated peak ZT of ~3 along the cross‐plane direction at an n‐type doping concentration of around 5 × 1019 cm−3, which represents a theoretical upper limit for an idealized PbSnSe2 crystal. This work interprets the origins of three‐dimensional charge and two‐dimensional phonon transport behavior in PbSnSe2 and demonstrates that such crystals are promising high‐performance thermoelectric semiconductors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In cold regions, the mechanical performance of cement-stabilised macadam (CSM) deteriorates significantly due to freeze–thaw (F-T) actions. This paper attempts to investigate the F-T attenuation mechanism of mechanical performance of CSM from the perspective of the evolution of voids structure. To this end, multiple groups performance tests were conducted to study the effect of cement content, freezing temperature, and humidity conditions on the mechanical performance of CSM. Then the size distribution and evolution process of internal voids of CSM after F-T actions were investigated by computed tomography (CT) test. The results indicate that the resilient modulus (RM) and compressive strength (CS) of CSM decrease when F-T cycles increase until 15, and then stabilise gradually with a reduction of less than 5% in the last 5 cycles. It is presumbly attributed to the generation and melt of ice lenses in voids, distorting original matrix of particles. Additionally, increasing cement content can reduce the deterioration of mechanical performance, while increasing moisture content and decreasing freezing temperature promote the deterioration of mechanical performance. The F-T actions cause volume expansion of the larger voids (>100 mm3) before 5 cycles and then mainly result in more small voids (<1 mm3) during 5∼15 cycles. There is an apparent linear relationship between average voids ratio and RM and CS for CSM. The correlation coefficient R2 is higher than 0.92 and 0.73, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Interfaces are ubiquitous in electronics, photonics, and advanced materials. Interface engineering has become an essential strategy for developing functional materials with low thermal conductivities such as thermoelectric materials and thermal barrier coatings. On the other hand, interfaces are becoming a bottleneck for thermal management in electronic devices. Recent experiments have shown that a fin-like nanostructured interface with a size of 30–100 nm could enhance thermal transport across interfaces. Since phonon mean free paths span from several nanometers to dozens of micrometers, depending on the material, the size of the interface features may significantly affect the phonon transport regime and interface conductance. Here, the Monte Carlo simulation, with ab initio-based phonon properties as input parameters, was developed to study thermal conductance of a fin-like nanostructured interface. Simulated results indicate that the nanofin size (i.e., width, spacing, and height) significantly affects interface thermal conductance. Interface conductance is found to first increase and then decrease with increasing width of the nanofin when its height is 100 nm. This phenomenon is attributed to competition between the enlarged interface area and increased backscattering of transmitted phonons. This study demonstrates the existence of an optimal nanofin size for maximizing interface conductance, which could be important for thermal management of high-power electronics using nanostructured interfaces. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context: Longitudinal patterns of resting heart rate (RHR) in patients with diabetes mellitus and their association with health outcomes are not well-characterized. Objective: We sought to explore the RHR trajectories in patients with diabetes mellitus and their association with cardiovascular disease (CVD) and all-cause mortality. Design: The Kailuan Study is a prospective cohort study. Participants underwent health examinations biennially starting in 2006 and were followed until December 31, 2020. Setting: General community. Participants: A total of 8218 diabetic participants who attended at least 3 of the examinations conducted in 2006, 2008, 2010, and 2012 were included. Main outcome measures: CVD and all-cause mortality. Results: We identified 4 RHR trajectories in participants with diabetes mellitus between 2006 and 2012: low-stable (range, 66.83-64.91 beats/min; n = 1705), moderate-stable (range, 76.30-76.95 beats/min; n = 5437), high-decreasing (mean decreased from 92.14 to 85.60 beats/min; n = 862), and high-increasing (mean increased from 84.03 to 111.62 beats/min; n = 214). During an average follow-up of 7.25 years, 977 cases of CVD and 1162 deaths were identified. Compared with the low-stable trajectory, adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) for CVD were 1.48 (95% CI, 1.02-2.14; P = .04) for the high-increasing trajectory, adjusted HRs for all-cause mortality were 1.34 (95% CI, 1.14-1.58; P < .01) for the moderate-stable trajectory, 1.68 (95% CI, 1.35-2.10; P < .01) for the high-decreasing trajectory, and 2.47 (95% CI, 1.85-3.31; P < .01) for the high-increasing trajectory. Conclusions: RHR trajectories were associated with the subsequent risks of CVD and all-cause mortality in patients with diabetes mellitus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ras homolog gene family member A (RhoA) plays a major role in the Wnt/planar cell polarity (PCP) pathway, which is significantly activated in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The function of RhoA in RA synovitis and bone erosion is still elusive. Here, we not only explored the impact of RhoA on the proliferation and invasion of RA fibroblast-like synoviocytes (FLSs) but also elucidated its effect on mouse osteoclast and a mouse model of collagen-induced arthritis (CIA). Results showed that RhoA was overexpressed in RA and CIA synovial tissues. Lentivirus-mediated silencing of RhoA increased apoptosis, attenuated invasion, and dramatically upregulated osteoprotegerin/receptor activator of nuclear factor-κB ligand (OPG/RANKL) ratio in RA-FLSs. Additionally, the silencing of RhoA inhibited mouse osteoclast differentiation in vitro and alleviated synovial hyperplasia and bone erosion in the CIA mouse model. These effects in RA-FLSs and osteoclasts were all regulated by RhoA/Rho-associated protein kinase 2 (ROCK2) and might interact with Janus kinase/signal transducer and activator of transcription (JAK/STAT) pathways. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Achieving global food security requires an understanding of the current status and the future trends in the yield gap for cropping systems worldwide. The aim of this study was to scientifically understand the existing yield gap research, recognize the knowledge base and influential articles, and uncover key research themes and how these have evolved over the past three decades. Bibliometric methods were used to analyze articles related to the yield gap available in the largest scientific database, the Web of Science. A total of 6049 relevant articles published from 1993 to 2023 were numerically analyzed for patterns, trends, and clusters. The findings identified a few primary authors of widely cited publications. Geographically, the United States and China were the two major contributors to the publication pool, with articles from China mostly affiliated with the Chinese Academy of Sciences and China Agricultural University, while the United States had a more scattered distribution of affiliated institutions. The research on yield gaps primarily focused on biological factors, such as the effects of crop varieties, agronomic management, climate change, and soil conditions, with a limited exploration of social and economic factors. Within the auspices of the current food issues worldwide, this study provides a thorough view of the progress and key topics in crop yield gap research, contributing to the existing body of knowledge and providing guidance for researchers, policymakers, and stakeholders involved in agricultural productivity enhancement and sustainable food production. Amid the increasing trend in hunger worldwide over the past decade, we thus concluded that, by establishing appropriate benchmarks, re-prioritizing research needs, and focusing on transforming natural resources rather than inputs, the crop yield gap approach can be useful in terms of the clear inclusion of local contexts and socioeconomic constraints. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In cold regions, the mechanical performance of cement-stabilised macadam (CSM) deteriorates significantly due to freeze–thaw (F-T) actions. This paper attempts to investigate the F-T attenuation mechanism of mechanical performance of CSM from the perspective of the evolution of voids structure. To this end, multiple groups performance tests were conducted to study the effect of cement content, freezing temperature, and humidity conditions on the mechanical performance of CSM. Then the size distribution and evolution process of internal voids of CSM after F-T actions were investigated by computed tomography (CT) test. The results indicate that the resilient modulus (RM) and compressive strength (CS) of CSM decrease when F-T cycles increase until 15, and then stabilise gradually with a reduction of less than 5% in the last 5 cycles. It is presumbly attributed to the generation and melt of ice lenses in voids, distorting original matrix of particles. Additionally, increasing cement content can reduce the deterioration of mechanical performance, while increasing moisture content and decreasing freezing temperature promote the deterioration of mechanical performance. The F-T actions cause volume expansion of the larger voids (>100 mm3) before 5 cycles and then mainly result in more small voids (<1 mm3) during 5∼15 cycles. There is an apparent linear relationship between average voids ratio and RM and CS for CSM. The correlation coefficient R2 is higher than 0.92 and 0.73, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Interlayer decoupling plays an essential role in realizing unprecedented properties in atomically thin materials, but it remains relatively unexplored in the bulk. It is unclear how to realize a large crystal that behaves as its monolayer counterpart by artificial manipulation. Here, we construct a superlattice consisting of alternating layers of NbSe2 and highly porous hydroxide, as a proof of principle for realizing interlayer decoupling in bulk materials. In (NaOH)0.5NbSe2, the electric decoupling is manifested by an ideal 1D insulating state along the interlayer direction. Vibration decoupling is demonstrated through the absence of interlayer models in the Raman spectrum, dominant local modes in heat capacity, low interlayer coupling energy and out-of-plane thermal conductivity (0.28 W/mK at RT) that are reduced to a few percent of NbSe2's. Consequently, a drastic enhancement of CDW transition temperature (>110 K) and Pauling-breaking 2D superconductivity is observed, suggesting that the bulk crystal behaves similarly to an exfoliated NbSe2 monolayer. Our findings provide a route to achieve intrinsic 2D properties on a large-scale without exfoliation. Interlayer decoupling plays an essential role in realizing unprecedented properties. Here, authors construct a superlattice consisting of alternating layers of NbSe2 and highly porous hydroxide, realizing interlayer decoupling and thus realizing exotic monolayer behaviors in bulk materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ruthenium polypyridine complexes are the most effective catalysts for the water oxidation reaction (WOR), but the catalytic activity still has a large room for improvement. Herein, a fullerol‐based ruthenium complex was prepared by the covalent grafting of the polypyridyl ruthenium complex of water oxidation catalyst (WOC) with fullerol, and the (fullerol)‐Ru‐based WOCs anchored on the surface of nano‐TiO2 were prepared through a sensitization strategy. The synthesized heterogeneous nano‐catalysts are fully characterized by X‐ray diffraction (XRD), X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), infrared spectroscopy (IR), Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) specific surface area and pore size distribution, and diffusion reflection ultraviolet‐visible spectrum (DRS). The chemical oxygen evolution experiments reveal that the WOR catalyzed by the catalyst is a first‐order reaction with respect to Ce (NH4)2(NO3)6 (denoted as CAN) concentration when using CAN as the sacrificial oxidant under acidic conditions. The anchoring of Ru‐based WOC to TiO2 result in a decrease in the redox potentials of RuIV/III couples, which decrease the barrier of the crucial O−O bond‐forming step, and the heterogeneous nano‐catalyst exhibit a high catalytic activity with a turnover frequency of 13.4 s−1 and more excellent stability with a 15‐min‐turn over number of 1054 for TiO2‐fullerol‐based ruthenium complex WOC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thermo‐optic (TO) phase shifters are very fundamental units in large‐scale active silicon photonic integrated circuits (PICs). However, due to the limitation of microheater materials with a trade‐off between heating efficiency and absorption loss, designs reported so far typically suffer from slow response time, high power consumption, low yields, and so on. Here, an energy‐efficient, fast‐responding, low‐loss TO phase shifter is demonstrated by introducing hydrogen‐doped indium oxide (IHO) films as the microheater, and the optimized electron concentration with enhanced mobility endows the IHO with high conductivity as well as high near‐infrared (NIR) transparency, which allow it to directly contact the silicon waveguide without any insulating layer for efficient tuning and fast response. The TO phase shifter achieves a sub‐microsecond response time (970 ns/980 ns) with a π phase shift power consumption of 9.6 mW, and the insertion loss introduced by the IHO microheater is ≈0.5 dB. The proposed IHO‐based microheaters with compatible processing technology illustrate the great potential of such material in the application of large‐scale silicon PICs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]