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While the public sector is traditionally the sole provider for much of infrastructure, the pendulum is shifting in light of the enormous investment gap. Across the Global South, public utilities and planning agencies are engaging with the private sector to help bridge the gap. What are the key patterns of private participation in infrastructure (PPI) across countries in the Global South? What macro factors underscore such private participation? These research questions motivate this paper, focusing on five infrastructure sectors across the Global South and its regions. Following a historical synthesis of the changing balance of public and private provision, the paper outlines recent patterns of PPI. Drawing from a World Bank database, a regression analysis includes key macro-level predictors for private sector financing, for both the number of projects and stock of investment. Key results point to the importance of market size and in turn the potential for risk diversification, as well as a set of governance factors underlining investor confidence and stable environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The self‐assembly of the π‐conjugated 1,4‐di(1H‐imidazol‐1‐yl)benzene (dib) and 4,4′‐di(1H‐imidazol‐1‐yl)‐1,1′‐biphenyl (dibp) ligands together with 4′‐(3,4‐ dicarboxylphenyloxy)‐4‐biphenylcarboxylic acid (H3L) reacts with metal Zn (II) salts to construct two new coordination polymers (CPs), namely [Zn (dib)(HL)(H2O)] (1) and [Zn (dibp)(HL)] (2). Fluorescence measurements reveal that 1 and 2 could display a highly sensitive fluorescence response toward Hg2+ and nitrofurazone (NFZ). Fluorescence investigations suggest that 1 and 2 are promising multi‐responsive sensing materials for detecting Hg2+ and NFZ through fluorescence quenching (turn‐off). The limits of detection toward Hg2+ ions are 0.221 μM and 0.124 μM, while the limits of detection toward NFZ are 0.757 μM and 0.960 for 1 and 2, respectively. Interestingly, these Hg2+ and NFZ selective sensing processes can even be completed by the reusable CPs detected by the naked eyes. Hirshfeld surfaces and fingerprint plots are extensively used to investigate intermolecular interactions, which play a crucial role in creating diverse supramolecular designs that can be compared. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recognizing the importance of incorporating different risk measures in the portfolio management model, this paper examines the dynamic mean-risk portfolio optimization problem using both variance and value at risk (VaR) as risk measures. By employing the martingale approach and integrating the quantile optimization technique, we provide a solution framework for this problem. We demonstrate that, under a general market setting, the optimal terminal wealth may exhibit different patterns. When the market parameters are deterministic, we derive the closed-form solution for this problem. Examples are provided to illustrate the solution procedure of our method and demonstrate the benefits of our dynamic portfolio model compared to its static counterpart. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Insects have special receptors called RDL that regulate the effects of a neurotransmitter GABA in their nervous system. Interestingly, these receptors are also the main targets of many insecticides used to control pests. We used fruit flies with different variants of the Rdl gene and tested four new types of meta-diamide and isoxazoline insecticides. The results showed that some mutations made the flies less sensitive to certain insecticides, while another mutation made the flies super resistant to all of the insecticides tested. Using computer simulations, we explored how these mutations might be affecting the insecticides' ability to attach. We found that specific areas between parts of the receptor seem to be important for these new insecticides to work. This helps us understand how insects can resist these insecticides and might lead to better ways to control pests in the future. Ionotropic γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) receptors in insects, specifically those composed of the RDL (resistant to dieldrin) subunit, serve as important targets for commonly used synthetic insecticides. These insecticides belong to various chemical classes, such as phenylpyrazoles, cyclodienes, meta-diamides, and isoxazolines, with the latter two potentially binding to the transmembrane inter-subunit pocket. However, the specific amino acid residues that contribute to the high sensitivity of insect RDL receptors to these novel insecticides remain elusive. In this study, we investigated the susceptibility of seven distinct Drosophila melanogaster Rdl point mutants against four meta-diamide and isoxazoline insecticides: isocycloseram, fluxametamide, fluralaner, and broflanilide. Our findings indicate that, despite exhibiting increased sensitivity to fluralaner in vitro, the RdlI276C mutant showed resistance to isocycloseram and fluxametamide. Similarly, the double-points mutant RdlI276F+G279S also showed decreased sensitivity to the tested isoxazolines. On the other hand, the RdlG335M mutant displayed high levels of resistance to all tested insecticides. Molecular modeling and docking simulations further supported these findings, highlighting similar binding poses for these insecticides. In summary, our research provides robust in vivo evidence supporting the idea that the inter-subunit amino acids within transmembrane M1 and M3 domains form the binding site crucial for meta-diamide and isoxazoline insecticide interactions. This study highlights the complex interplay between mutations and insecticide susceptibility, paving the way for more targeted pest control strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, a three-step annealing process was employed to treat IGZO thin-film field-effect transistors (TFTs). We observed that TFTs prepared by an initial high-temperature thermal annealing exhibited a low threshold voltage. By employing a second-step low-temperature annealing, the threshold voltage of the TFT was positively shifted, demonstrating improved turn-off characteristics. However, after this process, a significant decrease in TFT mobility and a change in threshold voltage were observed. By introducing a third 633 nm laser annealing technique, we managed to control the threshold voltage and improve mobility. To investigate the mechanism of the changes in TFT performances up to different post-annealing processes, a series of characterization techniques were employed to explain the TFT performance changes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A tunable multiband terahertz metamaterial absorber, based on vanadium dioxide (VO2), is demonstrated. The absorber comprises a three-layer metal–insulator–metal (MIM) configuration with a split ring and slots of VO2 on the uppermost layer, a middle dielectric substrate based on silicon dioxide (SiO2), and a gold reflector on the back. The simulation results indicate that, when VO2 is in the metallic state, the proposed metamaterial exhibits nearly perfect absorption at six distinct frequencies. The design achieves an average absorption of 98.2%. The absorptivity of the metamaterial can be dynamically tuned from 4% to 100% by varying the temperature-controlled conductivity of VO2. The proposed metamaterial absorber exhibits the advantages of polarization insensitivity and maintains its absorption over 80% under different incident angle conditions. The underlying physical mechanism of absorption is explained through impedance matching theory, interference theory, and the distribution of electric fields. The ability to achieve multiband absorption with tunable characteristics makes the proposed absorber a promising candidate for applications in terahertz sensing, imaging, communication, and detection. The polarization insensitivity further enhances its practicality in various scenarios, allowing for versatile and reliable performance in terahertz systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Organic semiconductors (OSCs), especially small molecule semiconductors, have received increasing attention due to their good designability and variability. Phase transitions and interfacial properties have a decisive influence on device performance. Here, 2-Dodecyl-7-phenyl[1]benzothieno[3,2-b][1]benzothiophene (Ph-BTBT-12) devices are treated with low-power laser annealing, which is able to avoid the influence of the dewetting effect on the hole mobility of organic semiconductor materials. Ultraviolet ozone treatment and self-assembled monolayer treatment can improve the performance and stability of the device. Moreover, after low-temperature thermal annealing, the hole mobility of the device can even reach as high as 4.80 cm2 V−1 s−1, and we tested the optical response of the device to the ultraviolet wavelength and found that its maximum optical responsivity was 8.2 AW−1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A greenhouse gas sensor has been developed to simultaneously detect multiple gas species within a hollow-core photonic bandgap fiber (HC-PBF) structure entirely composed of fibers. To enhance sensitivity, the gas cell consists of HC-PBF enclosed between two single-mode fibers fused with a reflective end surface to double the absorption length. The incorporation of side holes for gas diffusion allows for analysis of the relationship between gas diffusion speed, number of drilled side holes, and energy loss. As the number of drilled holes increases, the response time decreases to less than 3 min at the expense of energy loss. Gas experiments demonstrated detection limits of 0.1 ppm for methane and 2 ppm for carbon dioxide, with an average time of 50 s. In-situ testing conducted in rice fields validates the effectiveness of the developed gas detection system using HC-PBF cells, establishing all-fiber sensors with high sensitivity and rapid response. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Supercapacitors are gaining popularity as potential energy‐storage devices due to their efficiency and environmentally sustainable features. Among the extensive range of 2D materials utilized in energy storage, graphene is particularly noteworthy for its exceptional physicochemical properties. Graphene aerogels (GAs) have great potential for supercapacitor application due to their porous structure and, as such, are widely researched. However, enhancing the capacity performance with easy and low‐energy processes is still facing challenges. Here, a facile, low‐cost, and environmentally friendly photoactivation method on GAs is proposed to address this problem. Nanoporous GA flowers with higher specific surface area are formed and the corresponding capacitance can be achieved to 264 F g−1. After 10 000 cycles at the current density of 10 A g−1, the measured electrode's cycle efficiency is found to be 80.9%, further emphasizing its remarkable performance. The unparalleled performance confirms the reliability of this method as compared to traditional activation methods while being cost‐effective and environmentally friendly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Silver-based chalcogenide semiconductors exhibit low toxicity and near-infrared optical properties and are therefore extensively employed in the field of solar cells, photodetectors, and biological probes. Here, we report a facile mixture precursor hot-injection colloidal route to prepare Ag2TexS1−x ternary quantum dots (QDs) with tunable photoluminescence (PL) emissions from 950 nm to 1600 nm via alloying band gap engineering. As a proof-of-concept application, the Ag2TexS1−x QDs-based near-infrared photodetector (PD) was fabricated via solution-processes to explore their photoelectric properties. The ICP-OES results reveal the relationship between the compositions of the precursor and the samples, which is consistent with Vegard's equation. Alloying broadened the absorption spectrum and narrowed the band gap of the Ag2S QDs. The UPS results demonstrate the energy band alignment of the Ag2Te0.53S0.47 QDs. The solution-processed Ag2TexS1−x QD-based PD exhibited a photoresponse to 1350 nm illumination. With an applied voltage of 0.5 V, the specific detectivity is 0.91 × 1010 Jones and the responsivity is 0.48 mA/W. The PD maintained a stable response under multiple optical switching cycles, with a rise time of 2.11 s and a fall time of 1.04 s, which indicate excellent optoelectronic performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper studies the multi-period mean-variance (MV) asset-liability portfolio management problem (MVAL), in which the portfolio is constructed by risky assets and liability. It is worth mentioning that the impact of general correlation is considered, i.e., the random returns of risky assets and the liability are not only statistically correlated to each other but also correlated to themselves in different time periods. Such a model with a general correlation structure extends the classical multi-period MVAL models with assumption of independent returns. The authors derive the explicit portfolio policy and the MV efficient frontier for this problem. Moreover, a numerical example is presented to illustrate the efficiency of the proposed solution scheme. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present a facile one-pot method for the successful synthesis of heavy metal-free ZrS2 colloidal quantum dots (QDs) with a wide bandgap. To achieve this, we employed 1-dodecanethiol (DT) as a sulfur precursor, enabling the controlled release of H2S in situ during the reaction at temperatures exceeding 195 °C. This approach facilitated the synthesis of small-sized ZrS2 QDs with precise control. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Surfaces with special wettabilities play a crucial role in numerous applications. Slippery surfaces, known for their low adhesive properties and efficient self-cleaning capabilities, have gained significant attention. However, the existing liquid-like slippery surfaces are limited to linear molecular structures, which hinders the new design and functionalization of the slippery surfaces. In this study, we present a novel fluffy all-siloxane bottlebrush molecular architecture that enables the construction of liquid-like slippery surfaces through a simple sequential architecting method. This unique structure, consisting of soft polysiloxanes as both backbones and side chains, enhances surface slipperiness via the in situ condensation of dimethoxy-silanes and subsequent hydrosilylation reaction on the substrate. The multiplied surface grafting density significantly improves the sliding properties, resulting in the first non-linear liquid-like slippery surfaces. These surfaces exhibit reduced contact angle hysteresis, outperforming their linear counterparts. Furthermore, the integration of low adhesion, broadband optical transparency, and the ultra-thin and smooth nature of these slippery surfaces has demonstrated outstanding potential in many important applications, such as anti-icing, contamination resistance and optoelectronic devices, even in challenging environmental conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Coordination polymers (CPs) are an assorted class of coordination complexes that are gaining attention for the safe and sustainable removal of organic dyes from wastewater discharge by either adsorption or photocatalytic degradation. Herein, three different coordination polymers with compositions [Ni(HL)(H2O)2·1.9H2O] (1), [Mn3(HL)(L)(μ3-OH)(H2O)(phen)2·2H2O] (2), and [Cd(HL)4(H2O)]·H2O (3) (H3L = 2-(3,5-dicarboxyphenyl)-6-carboxybenzimidazole; phen = 1,10-phenanthroline) have been synthesized and characterized spectroscopically and by single crystal X-ray diffraction. Single crystal X-ray diffraction results indicated that 1 forms a 2D layer-like framework, while 2 exhibits a 3-connected net with the Schläfli symbol of (44.6), and 3 displays a 3D supramolecular network in which two adjacent 2D layers are held by π···π interactions. All three compounds have been used as photocatalysts to catalyze the photodegradation of antibiotic dinitrozole (DTZ) and rhodamine B (RhB). The photocatalytic results suggested that the Mn-based CP 2 exhibited better photodecomposition of DTZ (91.1%) and RhB (95.0%) than the other two CPs in the time span of 45 min. The observed photocatalytic mechanisms have been addressed using Hirshfeld surface analyses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, passive wireless sensors have been studied for various infrastructure sectors, making them a research and development focus. While substantial evidence already supports their viability, further effort is needed to understand their dependability and applicability. As a result, issues related to the theory and implementation of wireless sensors still need to be resolved. This paper aims to review and summarize the progress of the different materials used in different passive sensors, the current status of the passive wireless sensor readout devices, and the latest peripheral devices. It will also cover other related aspects such as the system equipment of passive wireless sensors and the nanogenerators for the energy harvesting for self-powered sensors for applications in contemporary life scenarios. At the same time, the challenges for future developments and applications of passive wireless are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Infrared (IR) technology plays a significant role in many application scenarios, such as satellite remote sensing, environmental monitoring, biomedical engineering, imaging, communications, and so on. Demands of the next generation IR photodetectors, including ease of fabricaation, low cost, high flexibility, and so on, greatly drive the development of colloidal IR quantum dots (QDs) as the most competitive candidate material for IR photodetectors. In this article, the progress of IR QD materials and photodetectors, the fundamentals of IR QDs, the integration of IR QDs with other materials for hybrid photodetectors, and the applications of the QD IR photodetectors are reviewed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Human cystic and alveolar echinococcosis are neglected tropical diseases that WHO has prioritized for control in recent years. Both diseases impose substantial burdens on public health and the socio-economy in China. In this study, which is based on the national echinococcosis survey from 2012 to 2016, we aim to describe the spatial prevalence and demographic characteristics of cystic and alveolar echinococcosis infections in humans and assess the impact of environmental, biological and social factors on both types of the disease. Methods: We computed the sex-, age group-, occupation- and education level-specific prevalences of cystic and alveolar echinococcosis at national and sub-national levels. We mapped the geographical distribution of echinococcosis prevalence at the province, city and county levels. Finally, by analyzing the county-level echinococcosis cases combined with a range of associated environmental, biological and social factors, we identified and quantified the potential risk factors for echinococcosis using a generalized linear model. Results: A total of 1,150,723 residents were selected and included in the national echinococcosis survey between 2012 and 2016, of whom 4161 and 1055 tested positive for cystic and alveolar echinococcosis, respectively. Female gender, older age, occupation at herdsman, occupation as religious worker and illiteracy were identified as risk factors for both types of echinococcosis. The prevalence of echinococcosis was found to vary geographically, with areas of high endemicity observed in the Tibetan Plateau region. Cystic echinococcosis prevalence was positively correlated with cattle density, cattle prevalence, dog density, dog prevalence, number of livestock slaughtered, elevation and grass area, and negatively associated with temperature and gross domestic product (GDP). Alveolar echinococcosis prevalence was positively correlated with precipitation, level of awareness, elevation, rodent density and rodent prevalence, and negatively correlated with forest area, temperature and GDP. Our results also implied that drinking water sources are significantly associated with both diseases. Conclusions: The results of this study provide a comprehensive understanding of geographical patterns, demographic characteristics and risk factors of cystic and alveolar echinococcosis in China. This important information will contribute towards developing targeted prevention measures and controlling diseases from the public health perspective. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Previous studies have proved that brown planthopper (BPH), Nilaparvata lugens, a piercing–sucking herbivore, activates strong local defenses in rice. However, whether a BPH infestation elicits systemic responses in rice remains largely unknown. By detecting the change in transcript levels of 12 jasmonic acid (JA) and/or salicylic acid (SA) signaling-responsive marker genes in different tissues of rice plants upon a BPH attack, we demonstrate that an infestation of gravid BPH females systemically activates JA- and SA-dependent defenses in rice, which may in turn influence the composition and structure of the community in the rice ecosystem. It has been well documented that an infestation of the piercing–sucking herbivore, brown planthopper (BPH), Nilaparvata lugens, activates strong local defenses in rice. However, whether a BPH infestation elicits systemic responses in rice remains largely unknown. In this study, we investigated BPH-induced systemic defenses by detecting the change in expression levels of 12 JA- and/or SA-signaling-responsive marker genes in different rice tissues upon a BPH attack. We found that an infestation of gravid BPH females on rice leaf sheaths significantly increased the local transcript level of all 12 marker genes tested except OsVSP, whose expression was induced only weakly at a later stage of the BPH infestation. Moreover, an infestation of gravid BPH females also systemically up-regulated the transcription levels of three JA-signaling-responsive genes (OsJAZ8, OsJAMyb, and OsPR3), one SA-signaling-responsive gene (OsWRKY62), and two JA- and SA- signaling-responsive genes (OsPR1a and OsPR10a). Our results demonstrate that an infestation of gravid BPH females systemically activates JA- and SA-dependent defenses in rice, which may in turn influence the composition and structure of the community in the rice ecosystem. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Cryptosporidiosis is a zoonotic intestinal infectious disease caused by Cryptosporidium spp., and its transmission is highly influenced by climate factors. In the present study, the potential spatial distribution of Cryptosporidium in China was predicted based on ecological niche models for cryptosporidiosis epidemic risk warning and prevention and control. Methods: The applicability of existing Cryptosporidium presence points in ENM analysis was investigated based on data from monitoring sites in 2011–2019. Cryptosporidium occurrence data for China and neighboring countries were extracted and used to construct the ENMs, namely Maxent, Bioclim, Domain, and Garp. Models were evaluated based on Receiver Operating Characteristic curve, Kappa, and True Skill Statistic coefficients. The best model was constructed using Cryptosporidium data and climate variables during 1986‒2010, and used to analyze the effects of climate factors on Cryptosporidium distribution. The climate variables for the period 2011‒2100 were projected to the simulation results to predict the ecological adaptability and potential distribution of Cryptosporidium in future in China. Results: The Maxent model (AUC = 0.95, maximum Kappa = 0.91, maximum TSS = 1.00) fit better than the other three models and was thus considered the best ENM for predicting Cryptosporidium habitat suitability. The major suitable habitats for human-derived Cryptosporidium in China were located in some high-population density areas, especially in the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River, the lower reaches of the Yellow River, and the Huai and the Pearl River Basins (cloglog value of habitat suitability > 0.9). Under future climate change, non-suitable habitats for Cryptosporidium will shrink, while highly suitable habitats will expand significantly (χ2 = 76.641, P < 0.01; χ2 = 86.836, P < 0.01), and the main changes will likely be concentrated in the northeastern, southwestern, and northwestern regions. Conclusions: The Maxent model is applicable in prediction of Cryptosporidium habitat suitability and can achieve excellent simulation results. These results suggest a current high risk of transmission and significant pressure for cryptosporidiosis prevention and control in China. Against a future climate change background, Cryptosporidium may gain more suitable habitats within China. Constructing a national surveillance network could facilitate further elucidation of the epidemiological trends and transmission patterns of cryptosporidiosis, and mitigate the associated epidemic and outbreak risks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Solar‐energy‐powered interfacial evaporation is the most meaningful strategy for energy utilization, water desalination, and mineral purification. It can achieve high efficiency, low‐density energy, and sustainable harvest and utilization. However, the microstructure and surface/interface design still lead to a balance between solar–thermal conversion, water conduction, and thermal management, which also determines the efficiency of photothermal interfacial evaporation. Here, a free‐standing, ultrathin carbon film with a tunable nanopore diameter is prepared and used as a blackbody layer for solar photothermal evaporation. By 3D reconstruction methods, the effect of pore structure on interfacial evaporation is systematically studied. Hierarchical porous carbon film with an average pore size of about 300 nm exhibits outstanding photothermal evaporation performance, reaching up to 1.96 kg m−2 h−1 with excellent stability. Ultra‐hydrophobic, optically enhanced absorption graphene array is constructed on the carbon film surface through femtosecond laser nanoprocessing, further increasing the evaporation rate to 2.12 kg m−2 h−1 (1 sun) and 5.55 kg m−2 h−1 (3 suns). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This has the effect of raising the visibility of urban China in the relevant disciplines and developing new theoretical perspectives to situate China in global urbanism. Undoubtedly Fulong Wu is among the most productive and influential scholars on issues related to Chinese urbanism, and his work thus far represents a more expansive agenda than that of many scholars of urban China, partly based on a premise of connected global urbanism. [Extracted from the article]

Wildlife shares grazing areas with herders in the eastern Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, and humans can be infected by zoonotic nematodes through direct contact with animals or contaminated water. In this study, fecal samples (n = 296) from wild carnivores were collected to explore the infection rate and molecular genetic characteristics of nematodes by stratified random sampling in the survey areas. Host species and the nematodes they carried were then identified using 16S rRNA and 18S rRNA gene sequencing, respectively. Statistical analysis, neutrality tests, genetic diversity analysis and Bayesian inferred trees were performed to complete the study. In total, 10 species of nematodes were detected in 240 feces from six species of carnivores identified (including dominant Vulpes ferrilata and Vulpes vulpes), namely Uncinaria stenocephala, Toxascaris sp., Crenosoma vulpis, Parapharyngodon bainae, Oesophagostomum muntiacum, Aspiculuris tetraptera, Mastophorus muris, Nematodirus spathiger, Muellerius capillaris, and Molineus patens. Among these nematodes, U. stenocephala (35.83%, 86/240) and Toxascaris sp. (14.58%, 35/240) were detected at higher rates than the other nematodes (χ2 = 516.909, p < 0.05). Of 17 and 18 haplotypes were found based on the ITS1 gene for U. stenocephala and nad1 gene for Toxascaris sp., respectively. For the first time, using molecular methods, we report the infection of V. ferrilata by U. stenocephala, a potential zoonotic parasite, and suggest Toxascaris sp. may be a newly discovered nematode that lives within the fox intestine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Interfacial steam generation based on micro- or nano-interfaces of porous materials is a game-changing technology that can address the challenges of the global climate and energy utilization. However, the technology based on photothermal evaporation faces the problem that the evaporation rate cannot be greatly increased, and it is difficult to achieve compactness, which severely limits its application. Herein, a low-cost, robust device with a high record-breaking vapor generation rate (98.7 kg m−2 h−1, an order of magnitude higher than the best result reported) has been achieved with a conductive bulk porous carbon material, assisted by low-voltage electrical power. This work is state of the art and a key step toward the industrialization of high-speed evaporation using off-line non-grid green energy, completely unlike traditional heating evaporation technology. A modular model has been designed and tested, demonstrating the industrial potential and new off-grid solutions utilizing the renewable energy harvested by solar cells, wind and tidal power stations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Porous silver nanocubes supported on monolithic activated carbon (porous Ag/MAC) have been prepared by a novel two-step, chemical reductant-free, facile and selective process. The Ag nanocubes have been characterized using the SEM, XRD and the inner structures are revealed by the FIB-SEM technique. The growth mechanism of porous silver nanocubes on MAC is proposed based on the galvanic cell mechanism and confirmed by the characteristics of the carbon and the products at different growth stages. The porous Ag/MAC exhibits a better catalytic oxidation performance for formaldehyde removal at low temperature than bare MAC, achieving 83% formaldehyde removal with the initial concentration of 1.5 mg m−3 at 22 °C for 3 h. This better performance is attributed to the synergistic effect of adsorption, higher surface area and catalytic properties of porous silver nanocubes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rodents are natural reservoirs of diverse zoonotic viruses and widely distributed on the Tibetan Plateau. A comprehensive understanding of the virome in local rodent species could provide baseline of viral content and assist in efforts to reduce the risk for future emergence of rodent related zoonotic diseases. A total of 205 tissue and fecal samples from 41 wild Qinghai voles were collected. Metagenomic analyses were performed to outline the characteristics of the viromes, and phylogenetic analyses were used to identify the novel viral genomes. The virome distribution among five tissues (liver, lung, spleen, small intestine with content and feces) was also compared. We identified sequences related to 46 viral families. Novel viral genomes from distinct evolutionary lineages with known viruses were characterized for their genomic and evolutionary characteristics, including Hepatovirus, Hepacivirus, Rotavirus, and Picobirnavirus. Further analyses revealed that the core virome harbored by rodent internal tissues were quite different from the virome found in intestine and fecal samples. These findings provide an overview of the viromes in wild Qinghai voles, which are unique and the most common rodent species in the eastern Tibetan Plateau. A high diversity of viruses is likely present in rodent species in this area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: As a heterogeneous hereditary connective tissue disorder, osteogenesis imperfecta (OI) is clinically characterized by increased fracture susceptibility. Analysis of genetic pathogenic variants in patients with OI provides a basis for genetic counseling and prenatal diagnosis.Methods: In this study, 14 diagnosed OI patients from sporadic Chinese families were enrolled to be screened for potential mutations from these patients by next-generation sequencing technology.Results: 34 different variants were identified. 18 variants were from 4 OI-related genes including COL1A1, COL1A2, P3H1, and WNT1, and 10 variants are novel. Most OI patients (11 out of 14, 78%) harbor variants in type I collagen genes.Conclusions: Our results support previously established estimates of the distribution and prevalence of OI mutations and highlight both phenotype and genetic heterogeneity among and within families. We report several novel variants of OI, which expands the clinical spectrum of OI. In summary, our data provides disease-causing genes information for genetic counseling towards OI patients and families and also provides a reference for clinicians in the diagnosis of OI, also in prenatal diagnosis of this disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Recent data have shown that regular exercise may ameliorate motor symptoms in Parkinson's disease (PD). This study aims to investigate how intended exercise impacts motor and non-movement symptoms of PD. Methods: Eighty-eight patients were randomly assigned to an early exercise group (E-EG), late exercise group (L-EG), or a control group (CG) using a randomized delayed-start design. The E-EG carried out a rigorous, formal exercise program for 1 h, twice per week, for 18 months (May 2018–November 2019). The L-EG took part in the exercise program in the final 6–12 months of the study. We assessed outcomes using the Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS), PDQ-39 Questionnaire, Line A test, Line B test, Nine-hole column test, 30 s squat and stand-up test (30 s SST), 10-m walk test (10mW), Balance Evaluation Systems Mini Test (MiniBESTest), FAB, and Time Up and Go Test (TUG). Results: The patients with PD in the E-EG had lower performance in the UPDRS and Line B test compared to those in the L-EG at post-exercise (p < 0.05). Moreover, the patients with PD in the E-EG had much lower performance in the PDQ-39 and 9-Hole Peg test compared to those in the L-EG at post-exercise (p < 0.01). Conclusion: Implementation of an exercise regimen improved the movement abilities and quality of life in PD patients, especially in the E-EG. This data supports the idea that intended exercise should be implemented as part of the treatment strategy for PD patients as early as possible. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: As an autoimmune central nervous system disease characterized by inflammation and demyelination, neuromyelitis optica (NMO) has been extensively investigated. A specific antigenic target, astrocytic water channel aquaporin-4 (AQP4) has already been identified, and it can be recognized explicitly by the autoantibody marker NMO-IgG. Along with the immune attacks, clinical disabilities would gradually accumulate. As there has been no validated and well-recognized therapy for NMO till now, preventing and postponing attack using immunosuppressive therapies is the primary treatment option. Methods: In the current retrospective study, the effect of immunosuppressive agents was investigated through a long-term follow-up. To assess the long-term effectiveness and safety of rituximab (RTX), azathioprine (AZA), and mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) therapies, all 129 patients with NMO spectrum disorders (NMOSD) who received at least one of these treatments were studied, including 55 seropositive for AQP4-Ab and 74 seronegative for AQP4-Ab. Results: The median post-treatment annualized relapse rate (ARR) was lower than the pre-treatment rates in all AQP4+Ab groups (from 1.0 to 0.7 in RTX, from 0.8 to 0.3 in AZA, and from 0.85 to 0.35 in MMF). Meanwhile, the ARR also decreased in all AQP4−Ab groups (from 0.3 to 0.2 in RTX, from 0.9 to 0.5 in AZA, and from 0.9 to 0.4 in MMF). Disability condition improved in the Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) in all AQP4+Ab groups (from 4.0 to 2.75 in RTX, from 3.5 to 2.5 in AZA, and from 3.0 to 2.0 in MMF) and in all AQP4−Ab groups (from 3.0 to 2.5 in RTX, from 3.0 to 2.5 in AZA, and from 3.5 to 2.0 in MMF). There was no statistically significant difference between the post-treatment and pre-treatment changes of EDSS and ARR in the RTX, AZA, and MMF groups (P > 0.05). However, according to Kaplan–Meier survival analysis, RTX-treated patients were more likely to be relapse-free after long-term follow-up than those who received AZA or MMF therapy. Meanwhile, adverse effects were noted in three out of 23 patients with RTX treatment, five of 32 with AZA treatment, and three of 21 with MMF treatment. No serious adverse events were observed in all treatment groups during the study. Conclusions: RTX, AZA, and MMF therapies efficiently lowered the relapse frequency and disability in both of the AQP4-Ab seropositive or seronegative patients with NMO. Furthermore, low dosage of RTX is recommended for the patients with NMO owing to its long-term effectiveness and safety. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new 2D coordination polymer, namely{[Cd2(BDC)2(bmb)2]·H2O}n (1) (H2BDC = 1,4-benzenedicarboxylic acid and bmb = 1,4-bis(2-methyl-1H-imidazol-1-yl)butane), has been prepared and full characterized. Coordination polymer 1 has 2D layer, which was further extended into 3D supramolecular motif through the π–π packing interactions. Coordination polymer 1 illustrated effectively photocatalytic performance to the disintegration of dyes Rhodamine B (Rh B), methyl orange (MO) and methylene blue (MB). Coordination polymer 1 can remove the dye MB with 90.37% after 100 min under simulated UV light and its catalytic feature conforms to the first order kinetics model. In addition, the possible mechanism of the catalytic degradation toward MB was suggested through the trapping experiments and LC–MS methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Self-powered, high detectivity, solution-processed near-infrared (NIR) quantum dot photodetectors based on novel alloyed AgAuSe quantum dots (QDs) are fabricated for the first time and their photoelectric properties are explored. AgAuSe QDs were capped with 1,2-ethanedithiol by ligand exchange to improve the carrier transfer of the film. Their thin films were successfully deposited on the substrate of the interdigital Au electrodes with Schottky contacts. There is an inevitable subtle distinction between the contact with the two ends of the electrodes, leading to the self-powered performance of the devices. The devices exhibit a high specific detectivity of 1.55 × 1010 Jones (>109 Jones) under weak illumination at zero bias voltage and room temperature. They are promising in a wide range of applications, such as in low cost and large area smart sensors, the Internet of Things (IoT), imaging devices, wearable devices and many other emerging fields. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Photothermal interfacial evaporation based on micro‐nano porous materials is an effective and energy‐saving new strategy to utilize low‐density solar energy to achieve water purification, but there are still many challenges especially in preparing nanostructures toward enhanced performances. Here, a one‐step simple method is adopted by using nanosecond laser to process the surface of monolithic biomass carbon under ambient conditions. During the preparation process, the surface of biomass carbon is directly converted into patterned porous graphene under the action of nanosecond laser. This method not only provides a new way for the wide and easy preparation of graphene, but more importantly, it can be very convenient to prepare graphene‐biomass porous carbon composites with special textures and special microstructures with ultra‐broadband light absorption. The combination of the macroscopic porous feature in monolithic carbon revealed by synchrotron X‐ray ptychography together with the nanostructured surface of patterned porous graphene demonstrates ultrahigh solar thermal‐vapor conversion rate up to 98.7%. This work develops an effective way to fabricate porous graphene from biomass carbon, as well as an energy‐efficient water treatment technology toward wastewater containing complex contaminants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This essay conducts a bibliometric study on innovation research in organizations within the three levels (i.e., individual, work team, and organizational) by using CiteSpace software to analyze 6,354 academic articles from the year 2000 to 2020 in four aspects: temporal distribution of published papers, scientific community (countries/regions/cited authors), intellectual structure (cited journals/cited references), and research hotspots. The research findings show that the total number and the growth rate of publications at the organizational level are far higher than the other two levels (individual and work team). The top three countries with the number of publications are United States, China, and United Kingdom. The top five highly cited authors are identified and listed from individual, work team, and organizational levels. Academy of Management Journal and Academy of Management Review are the top two highly cited journals at all three levels (i.e., individual, work team, and organizational levels). The most highly cited articles at the three levels are about topics of linking empowering leadership and employee creativity, team-level predictors of innovation at work, and organizational ambidexterity. The top three research hotspots are identified and listed from individual, work team, and organizational levels. These findings provide snapshots and comparisons of innovation research in management within the three levels (i.e., individual, work team, and organizational levels), which might be beneficial for researchers and scholars to understand and explore innovative behavior in organizations from a multilevel perspective. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Cystic echinococcosis (CE), caused by the larval stage of the complex Echinococcus granulosus sensu lato (s.l.), is a zoonotic parasitic disease with a high social burden in China. E. ortleppi is a species (formerly genotype 5 of E. granulosus s.l.) with unique epidemic areas (tropical areas), transmission patterns (mainly cattle origin), and pathological characteristics (large and small hook lengths) compared to other species that cause CE. A 19-year-old female patient in an area with no history of echinococcosis in Guizhou Province, China, was diagnosed with E. ortleppi infection in 2019. This study is to understand the source of this human E.ortleppi infection. Methods: We performed computer tomography (CT) scans, surgical operation, morphological sectioning, molecular diagnosis, phylogenetic analyses, and epidemiological investigation in Anshun City, Guizhou Province, China in 2019. Results: The patient presented with intermittent distension and pain in the upper abdomen without other abnormal symptoms. Routine blood examination results were normal. However, abdominal CT revealed a fertile cyst with a diameter of approximately 8 cm, uniform density, and a clear boundary, but without an evident cyst wall in the right lobe of the liver. The cyst was fertile, and phylogenetic analyses revealed that the isolates represented a new E. ortleppi genus haplotype. A result of 10‒14 years incubation period with indigenous infection was considered available for the case through the epidemiological survey. Conclusions: CE due to E. ortleppi infection can be confused with other diseases causing liver cysts, resulting in misdiagnosis. A transmission chain of E. ortleppi may exist or existed in the past in the previously considered non-endemic areas of echinococcosis in southwestern China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As acculturation research has become more interdisciplinary and dynamic over the last 20 years, it is necessary to explore its emerging trends. We collected 10,039 research articles on acculturation research from 2000 to 2020 from the Web of Science (WoS) database and utilized the CiteSpace tool to visualize emerging trends. During the data analysis, we extracted noun phrases from the abstracts of the retrieved articles to identify clusters, and the log-likelihood ratio (LLR) algorithm was used to generate cluster labels in the co-citation network. Based on the size of the clusters, the five largest clusters were chosen and analyzed: "Asian cultural value," "Suicide attempt," "Unhealthy behavior," "Host country identification," and "Emerging adulthood". These findings may help researchers and scholars gain useful insight and explore topics related to the research trends in acculturation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study proposed an innovative automated approach to differentiation of the vocabulary proficiency of Chinese speakers. A robust K-means algorithm was designed to compare the oral proficiency between L1 and L2 Chinese speakers regarding lexical richness and how relatively effective the various lexical measures were in performing the differentiation task. Eighteen lexical richness measures were surveyed and compared using the clustering analysis. The effectiveness of each selected measure as well as an overall evaluation of all the measures for the concerned differentiation tasks were comprehensively calibrated. The results demonstrate that, while the L1 versus L2 group difference in lexical richness was observed with statistical significance for each of the chosen measures, the clustering and membership prediction accuracy of individual speakers varied greatly from one measure to another. The implication is that a more fully defined metric of lexical richness is still a worthwhile endeavor for language proficiency assessment, with optimal directions for such endeavors discussed in the concluding remarks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Previous transition metal-catalyzed synthesis processes of δ-diketones are plagued by the high cost of the rhodium catalyst and harsh reaction conditions. Herein a low-cost, room temperature ruthenium catalytic method is developed based on the coupling of α-keto sulfoxonium ylides with cyclopropanols. The mild protocol features a broad substrate scope (47 examples) and a high product yield (up to 99%). Mechanistic studies argue against a radical pathway and support a cyclopropanol ring opening, sulfoxonium ylide-derived carbenoid formation, migratory insertion C–C bond formation pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Echinococcosis, caused by genus Echinococcus, is the most pathogenic zoonotic parasitic disease in the world. In Tibet of the People's Republic of China, echinococcosis refers principally to two types of severe zoonosis, cystic echinococcosis (CE) and alveolar echinococcosis (AE), which place a serious burden on public health and economy in the local community. However, research on the spatial epidemiology of echinococcosis remains inadequate in Tibet, China. Based on the recorded human echinococcosis data, maps of the spatial distribution of human CE and AE prevalence in Tibet were produced at city level and county level respectively, which show that the prevalence of echinococcosis in northern and western Tibet was much higher than that in other regions. We employ a geographical detector to explore the influencing factors for causing CE and AE while sorting information on the maps of disease prevalence and environment factors (e.g. terrain, population, and yak population). The results of our analysis showed that biological factors have the most impact on the prevalence of echinococcosis, of which the yak population contributes the most for CE, while the dog population contributes the most for AE. In addition, the interaction between various factors, as we found out, might further explain the disease prevalence, which indicated that the echinococcosis prevalence is not simply affected by one single factor, but by multiple factors that are correlated with each other complicatedly. Our results will provide an important reference for the evaluation of the echinococcosis risk, control projects, and prevention programs in Tibet. Author summary: Echinococcosis, a worldwide zoonosis caused by genus Echinococcus, is highly endemic in Tibet of China. CE and AE as two main types of Echinococcosis are causing serious health burdens, thereby attracting more attention to public health in Tibet. This work provides detailed geographical information about CE and AE prevalence based on the recorded human echinococcosis data from CDC. A geographical detector was employed to explore the potential environmental factors that influence these diseases and to quantify the specific contribution of each factor as well as discovering the interaction between factors. The results showed that biological factors have the most impact on the prevalence of echinococcosis, of which the yak population contributes most to CE while the dog population makes the most contribution to AE. Besides, the interactive results greatly improved the explanation of the two diseases, indicating that the echinococcosis prevalence is not simply affected by one factor, but by various interrelated factors. Such research can be beneficial to the evaluation, control projects, and prevention programs of the echinococcosis risk in Tibet. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Photothermal therapy has attracted extensive attentions in cancer treatment due to its precise spatial-temporal controllability, minimal invasiveness, and negligible side effects. However, two major deficiencies, unsatisfactory heat conversion efficiency and limited tissue penetration depth, hugely impeded its clinical application. In this work, hollow carbon nanosphere modified with polyethylene glycol-graft-polyethylenimine (HPP) was elaborately synthesized. The synthesized HPP owns outstanding physical properties as a photothermal agent, such as uniform core-shell structure, good biocompatibility and excellent heat conversion efficiency. Upon NIR-II laser irradiation, the intracellular HPP shows excellent photothermal activity towards cancer cell killing. In addition, depending on the large internal cavity of HPP, the extended biomedical application as drug carrier was also demonstrated. In general, the synthesized HPP holds a great potential in NIR-II laser-activated cancer photothermal therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Human echinococcosis is present worldwide but it is in China that disease prevalence is the highest. In western China, especially in the Tibetan Plateau, the burden of echinococcosis is the most important. Dogs are a major definitive host of Echinococcus and monitoring the presence of Echinococcus worms in dogs is therefore essential to efficiently control the disease. Detection kits based on three different technologies including sandwich ELISA, (indirect) ELISA, and gold immunodiffusion, are currently marketed and used in China. The objective of this work was to assess the efficacy of these kits, in particular with respect to sensitivity and specificity. Four fecal antigen detection kits for canine infection reflecting the three technologies were obtained from companies and tested in parallel on 220 fecal samples. The results indicate that the performance is lower than expected, in particular in terms of sensitivity. The best results were obtained with the sandwich ELISA technology. The gold immunofiltration yielded the poorest results. In all cases, further development is needed to improve the performance of these kits which are key components for the control of echinococcosis. Author summary: Although present worldwide, human echinococcosis is at its highest prevalence in western China and particularly in the Tibetan Plateau. Controlling echinococcosis is a national priority and routine monitoring must be established. Dogs are the main infection source in China and surveying Echinococcus worms in dogs is therefore a research priority. Commercial detection kits are currently in use in China to monitor the presence of Echinococcus in dogs. The kits are based on three different technologies including sandwich ELISA with two monoclonal antibodies, (indirect) ELISA, and gold immunodiffusion. National survey programmes are essential for the control of echinococcosis and it is thus very important to assess the efficacy of these kits for the programmes. This work was therefore undertaken to assess efficacy of the kits, in particular with respect to sensitivity and specificity. Four fecal antigen detection kits for canine infection reflecting the three technologies were obtained from companies and tested in parallel on 220 fecal samples. The performance was lower than expected, in particular for their sensitivity which ranged between 51.5% and 83.9% with only two samples displaying a worm burden lower than 100. Three out of four kits showed non-specific cross-reactions with other parasites. The best results were obtained with the sandwich ELISA technology, whereas gold immunofiltration yielded the poorest results. However, in all cases, further development is strongly needed to improve the performance of these kits which are key components for the control of echinococcosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Unique self-assembled iron(II) molybdenum (IV) oxide (Fe2Mo3O8) mesoporous hollow spheres have been facilely constructed via the bubble-template-assisted hydrothermal synthesis method combined with simple calcination. The compact assembly of small nanoparticles on the surface of the hollow spheres not only provides more active sites for the Fe2Mo3O8, but also benefits the stability of the hollow structure, and thus improved the lithium storage properties of Fe2Mo3O8. The Fe2Mo3O8 mesoporous hollow spheres exhibit high initial discharge and charge capacities of 1189 and 997 mA·h·g−1 respectively, as well as good long-term cycling stability (866 mA · h · g−1 over 70 cycles) when used as a lithium-ion battery anode. This feasible material synthesis strategy will inspire the variation of structural design in other ternary metal molybdates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Four new metal–organic frameworks based on transition metals, namely [Mn2(μ2-H2O)2(H2L)2(CH3CN)2] (1), [Mn(L)0.5(phen)·0.5H2O] (2), [Co(H2O)2(L)0.5(bip)·H2O] (3) and [Co2(L)(bb)2·HbbBr] (4), where (H4L = 5,5′-(1,4-phenylenebis(methyleneoxy))diisophthalic acid, bip = 3,5-bis(1-imidazoly)pyridine, phen = 1,10-phenanthroline, bb = 4,4′-bis(imidazolyl)biphenyl), have been successfully synthesized under solvothermal conditions. 1 showed a 2D layer featuring a polythreaded network with alternate left-and right-handed 21 helical chains. 2 possessed a 1D [Mn(H2L)]n chain that was further expanded into a 2D layer through O–H⋯O hydrogen bonds. 3 exhibited a 3D threefold interpenetrating network with a point symbol of (64·82)(66)2. 4 had a 3D 3-fold interpenetrated motif with 2-nodal 4,4-c connectivity. The photocatalytic results demonstrated that all of them could exhibit efficient photocatalytic abilities towards the degradation of methyl violet (MV) under UV irradiation. The mechanism of the photocatalytic performance was explored and discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

By a length-preserving flow, we provide a new proof of a conjecture on the reverse isoperimetric inequality composed by Pan et al. (Math Inequal Appl 13:329–338, 2010), which states that if γ is a convex curve with length L and enclosed area A, then the best constant ε in the inequality L 2 ≤ 4 π A + ε | A ~ | is π , where A ~ denotes the oriented area of the locus of its curvature centers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Unique self-assembled iron(II) molybdenum (IV) oxide (Fe2Mo3O8) mesoporous hollow spheres have been facilely constructed via the bubble-template-assisted hydrothermal synthesis method combined with simple calcination. The compact assembly of small nanoparticles on the surface of the hollow spheres not only provides more active sites for the Fe2Mo3O8, but also benefits the stability of the hollow structure, and thus improved the lithium storage properties of Fe2Mo3O8. The Fe2Mo3O8 mesoporous hollow spheres exhibit high initial discharge and charge capacities of 1189 and 997 mA·h·g−1 respectively, as well as good long-term cycling stability (866 mA · h · g−1 over 70 cycles) when used as a lithium-ion battery anode. This feasible material synthesis strategy will inspire the variation of structural design in other ternary metal molybdates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]