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Substituting slow oxygen evolution reaction (OER) with thermodynamically favorable urea oxidation reaction (UOR) is considered as one of the feasible strategies for achieving energy-saving hydrogen production. Herein, a uniform layer of NiMoO4 nanorods was grown on nickel foam by a hydrothermal method. Then, a series of Ni-MoOx/NF-X nanorod catalysts comprising Ni/NiO and MoOx (MoO2/MoO3) were prepared through regulating annealing atmosphere and reduction temperature. The optimized Ni-MoOx/NF-3 with a large accessible specific area can act as a bifunctional catalyst for electrocatalytic anodic UOR and cathodic hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). At a current density of 100 mA cm−2, the introduction of urea can significantly reduce the overpotential of Ni-MoOx/NF-3 by 210 mV compared to OER. In addition, Ni-MoOx/NF-3 has a higher intrinsic activity than other catalysts. It only requires −0.21 and 1.38 V to reach 100 mA cm−2 in HER and UOR, respectively. Such an excellent performance can be attributed to the synergistic function between Ni and MoOx. The presence of metallic Ni and reduced MoOx in pairs is beneficial for improving the electrical conductivity and modulating the electronic structure, resulting in enhancing the electrocatalytic performance. When assembling Ni-MoOx/NF-3 into an overall urea–water splitting system, it can achieve energy-saving hydrogen production and effective removal of urea-rich wastewater. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to get a more safety and economic foundation, finite element method was performed for a piled mat cap and piled strip cap by the software of STAAD. Through the finite element analysis, plate distribution region of bending moment and shear stress were researched; meanwhile, considering the compatibility of deformation of element plate, how to chose the design value of plate stress was researched. The result showed that: single plate value is not representative, average of value of 9 plates (3x3 array) is close to the fact. Strip cap is better than mat cap both from the moment value and shear value of plate element in this project; strip cap was recommended due to its remarkable economic benefit.

The review briefly introduces the natural occurrence, physicochemical properties, and biosynthesis of 5-aminolevuinic acid (ALA) and highlights a variety of applications in the planting industry and its possible mechanisms. It has been known that ALA can be used as biological pesticides, fungicides, and herbicides when the concentrations are higher than 838 mg L−1 (about 5 mmol L−1). When ALA concentrations are 100–300 mg L−1, it can be used to thin surplus flowers in the spring of orchards and promote fruit coloration before maturation. When the concentrations are lower than 100 mg L−1, especially not higher than 10 mg L−1, ALA can be used as a new plant growth regulator to promote seed germination, plant (including root and shoot) growth, enhance stress tolerance, increase crop yield, and improve product quality. In photosynthesis, ALA is involved in the regulation of the whole process. In stress tolerance, ALA induces plant preventive and protective systems through the NO/H2O2 signaling network. In secondary metabolism, ALA regulates many gene expressions encoding transcription factors or function proteins to promote anthocyanin and flavonol biosynthesis and accumulation. In general, ALA promotes plant health and robustness, reduces the use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides—which is conducive to improving the ecological environment, human production, and living conditions—and has a broad application prospect in agroforestry production. As a new plant growth regulator with multiple and powerful functions, the underlying regulatory mechanisms need more study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vegetable production is an important area of focus in China's agricultural structural adjustment plans, and it serves as one of the essential industries in the rural economy. Several studies have investigated how to optimize vegetable yield and quality through proper irrigation and fertilization to ensure efficient and sustainable development. The main objective of this paper is to examine the impact of different combinations of irrigation and nitrogen inputs on facility-grown vegetables under irrigation and fertilization conditions. Additionally, we aim to identify the optimal irrigation and fertilization regime that can enhance yield quality while also promoting environmental benefits. In this study, we focused on a white radish–tomato facility as the main research object. Using multiple regression and spatial analysis methods, we established three irrigation levels (W1: 100% ET0, W2: 85% ET0, W3: 70% ET0) and four nitrogen application levels (N0: no nitrogen, N1: high nitrogen, locally recommended nitrogen, N2: medium nitrogen, 85% N1, N3: low nitrogen, 70% ET0). We analyzed the effects of an irrigation nitrogen application on vegetable yield, nitrogen bias productivity, soil nitrogen surplus, and integrated N1 warming potential. Our experimental results showed that irrigation volume and nitrogen application had a considerable impact on the yield of facility-grown vegetables, and there was a positive correlation between irrigation water and fertilizer application and yield. By moderately reducing the irrigation volume and increasing nitrogen application, soil nitrogen surplus and nitrogen fertilizer bias productivity can be effectively improved. In addition, our study found that the integrated warming potential and the bias productivity of nitrogen fertilizer showed a quadratic relationship, which indicated that the integrated warming potential and nitrogen fertilizer bias productivity would first become larger and then decrease under the condition of increasing the irrigation volume and nitrogen application rate. By analyzing the difference between W2N2 and W1N1, we found that moderate water-saving and nitrogen reduction did not affect yield. Furthermore, it effectively improved the bias productivity of nitrogen fertilizer. Therefore, it is recommended that when the irrigation volume is between 560 and 650 mm and the nitrogen application rate is between 325 and 400 kg/hm2 and more than 90% of the maximum value of yield, nitrogen fertilizer bias productivity can be achieved at the same time while also having a lower integrated warming potential. This range of irrigation and nitrogen application intervals is close to optimal. Our study provides a guiding basis for rotational soil nitrogen balance, optimal water, and nitrogen management of facility-grown vegetables. We propose an optimal water and nitrogen management strategy that is more efficient and sustainable under the plant culture model. This strategy provides a new way of thinking and methodology for high-quality production that is water-saving and fertilizer-saving while addressing the water and soil resource problems that exist in the current development of the vegetable industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A general method is developed for removal of native nonpolar oleate ligands from colloidal metal oxide nanocrystals of varying morphologies and compositions. Ligand stripping occurs by phase transfer into potassium hydroxide solution, yielding stable aqueous dispersions with little nanocrystal aggregation and without significant changes to the nanomaterials' physical or chemical properties. This method enables facile fabrication of conductive films of ligand-free nanocrystals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The novel species Sporolactobacillus pectinivorans GD201205T can produce lactic acid and aromatic compounds such as isoamyl acetate and phenethyl acetate. To characterize this strain, we sequenced the whole genome of S. pectinivorans GD201205T and determined that it contains a 3,926,837-bp chromosome with a GC content of 44.27%, 4320 genes, 64 tRNAs, 14 rRNAs, and four sRNAs. The identification of the gene sequence of S. pectinivorans GD201205T provides a basis for understanding its molecular genetics and features, which in turn will facilitate its potential application as a starter culture in the food processing industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) had altered inflammatory markers. • High sensitivity C-reactive protein-(pre)albumin ratios positively correlated with severe COVID-19. • Prognostic nutritional index negatively correlated with risk of severe COVID-19. • Nomogram combining the three factors reliably predicted the progression of COVID-19. • High sensitivity C-reactive protein-prealbumin and -albumin ratios helped estimate duration of hospitalization. Patients with severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) develop acute respiratory distress and multi-system organ failure and are associated with poor prognosis and high mortality. Thus, there is an urgent need to identify early diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers to determine the risk of developing serious illness. We retrospectively analyzed 114 patients with COVID-19 at the Jinyintan Hospital, Wuhan based on their clinical and laboratory data. Patients were categorized into severe and mild to moderate disease groups. We analyzed the potential of serological inflammation indicators in predicting the severity of COVID-19 in patients using univariate and multivariate logistic regression, receiver operating characteristic curves, and nomogram analysis. The Spearman method was used to understand the correlation between the serological biomarkers and duration of hospital stay. Patients with severe disease had reduced neutrophils and lymphocytes; severe coagulation dysfunction; altered content of biochemical factors (such as urea, lactate dehydrogenase); elevated high sensitivity C-reactive protein levels, neutrophil–lymphocyte, platelet-lymphocyte, and derived neutrophil–lymphocyte ratios, high sensitivity C-reactive protein-prealbumin ratio (HsCPAR), systemic immune-inflammation index, and high sensitivity C-reactive protein-albumin ratio (HsCAR); and low lymphocyte-monocyte ratio, prognostic nutritional index (PNI), and albumin-to-fibrinogen ratio. PNI, HsCAR, and HsCPAR correlated with the risk of severe disease. The nomogram combining the three parameters showed good discrimination with a C-index of 0.873 and reliable calibration. Moreover, HsCAR and HsCPAR correlated with duration of hospital stay. Taken together, PNI, HsCAR, and HsCPAR may serve as accurate biomarkers for the prediction of disease severity in patients with COVID-19 upon admission/hospitalization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report a GaInP/GaAs tandem solar cell with a novel GaAs tunnel junction (TJ) with using tellurium (Te) and magnesium (Mg) as n- and p-type dopants via dual-filament low temperature effusion cells grown by molecular beam epitaxy (MBE) at low temperature. The test Te/Mg-doped GaAs TJ shows a peak current density of 21 A/cm2. The tandem solar cell by the Te/Mg TJ shows a short-circuit current density of 12 mA/cm2, but a low open-circuit voltage range of 1.4 V∼1.71 V under AM1.5 illumination. The secondary ion mass spectroscopy (SIMS) analysis reveals that the Te doping is unexpectedly high and its doping profile extends to the Mg doping region, thus possibly resulting in a less abrupt junction with no tunneling carriers effectively. Furthermore, the tunneling interface shifts from the intended GaAs n++/p++ junction to the AlGaInP/GaAs junction with a higher bandgap AlGaInP tunneling layers, thereby reducing the tunneling peak. The Te concentration of ∼ 2.5 × 1020 in GaAs could cause a lattice strain of 10−3 in magnitude and thus a surface roughening, which also negatively influences the subsequent growth of the top subcell and the GaAs contacting layers. The doping features of Te and Mg are discussed to understand the photovoltaic response of the studied tandem cell. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Daqu, a traditional fermentation starter that is used for Chinese liquor and vinegar production, is still manufactured through a traditional spontaneous solid-state fermentation process with no selected microorganisms are intentionally inoculated. The aim of this work was to analyze the microbiota dynamics during the solid-state fermentation process of Daqu using a traditional and bioaugmented inoculation with autochthonous of Bacillus , Pediococcus , Saccharomycopsis and Wickerhamomyces at an industrial scale. Highly similar dynamics of physicochemical parameters, enzymatic activities and microbial communities were observed during the traditional and bioaugmented solid-state fermentation processes. Both in the two cases, groups of Streptophyta , Rickettsiales and Xanthomonadales only dominated the first two days, but Bacillales and Eurotiales became predominant members after 2 and 10 days fermentation, respectively. Phylotypes of Enterobacteriales , Lactobacillales , Saccharomycetales and Mucorales dominated the whole fermentation process. No significant difference ( P > 0.05) in microbial structure was observed between the traditional and bioaugmented fermentation processes. However, slightly higher microbial richness was found during the bioaugmented fermentation process after 10 days fermentation. Our results reinforced the microbiota dynamic stability during the solid-state fermentation process of Daqu, and might aid in controlling the traditional Daqu manufacturing process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Substituting slow oxygen evolution reaction (OER) with thermodynamically favorable urea oxidation reaction (UOR) is considered as one of the feasible strategies for achieving energy-saving hydrogen production. Herein, a uniform layer of NiMoO4 nanorods was grown on nickel foam by a hydrothermal method. Then, a series of Ni-MoOx/NF-X nanorod catalysts comprising Ni/NiO and MoOx (MoO2/MoO3) were prepared through regulating annealing atmosphere and reduction temperature. The optimized Ni-MoOx/NF-3 with a large accessible specific area can act as a bifunctional catalyst for electrocatalytic anodic UOR and cathodic hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). At a current density of 100 mA cm-2, the introduction of urea can significantly reduce the overpotential of Ni-MoOx/NF-3 by 210 mV compared to OER. In addition, Ni-MoOx/NF-3 has a higher intrinsic activity than other catalysts. It only requires -0.21 and 1.38 V to reach 100 mA cm-2 in HER and UOR, respectively. Such an excellent performance can be attributed to the synergistic function between Ni and MoOx. The presence of metallic Ni and reduced MoOx in pairs is beneficial for improving the electrical conductivity and modulating the electronic structure, resulting in enhancing the electrocatalytic performance. When assembling Ni-MoOx/NF-3 into an overall urea-water splitting system, it can achieve energy-saving hydrogen production and effective removal of urea-rich wastewater., (© 2024 Author(s). Published under an exclusive license by AIP Publishing.)

Cases of mixed neuroendocrine-non-neuroendocrine neoplasms (MiNENs) of the urinary system are rare, and reports of primary MiNENs in the ureter are lacking. Herein, we present the case of a 71-year-old man who presented with painless gross hematuria and weight loss. Contrast-enhanced abdominal computed tomography (CT) revealed a tumor, comprising small cell neuroendocrine carcinoma (SCNEC) and adenocarcinomatous components, attached to the ureter. The SCNEC components were strongly positive for synaptophysin, CD56 and INSM1 and adenocarcinomatous components were strongly positive for CDX2 and cytokeratin 20, respectively. Four weeks post-surgery, the patient received four cycles of cisplatin-based chemotherapy; the 7-month follow-up CT confirmed that he was healthy without disease recurrence. The occurrence of MiNEN in the ureter with SCNEC and adenocarcinomatous components is extremely rare, wherein histopathological and immunohistochemical features aid in the diagnosis MiNEN. With its aggressive nature, MiNEN can only be effectively treated by early diagnosis and radical surgery., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Zhou, Gan, Li, Peng and Hao.)

Rare earth elements (REEs) are strategically important for national security and advanced technologies. Consequently, significant effort has been devoted towards increasing REE domestic production, including the extraction of REEs from coal, coal combustion byproducts, and their associated waste streams such as acid mine drainage. Analytical techniques for rapid quantification of REE content in aqueous phases can facilitate REE recovery through rapid identification of high-value waste streams. In this work, we show that BioMOF-100 can be used as a fluorescent-based sensitizer for emissive REE ion detection in water, providing rapid (<10 min) analysis times and sensitive detection (parts-per-billion detection limits) for terbium, dysprosium, samarium, europium, ytterbium, and neodymium, even in the presence of acids or secondary metals.

We introduce the concept of domain building blocks (DBBs) as an effective approach to increasing the diversity and complexity of metal-organic frameworks (MOFs). DBBs are defined as distinct structural or compositional regions within a MOF material. Using the DBB approach, we illustrate how an immense number of multivariate MOF materials can be prepared from a small collection of molecular building blocks comprising the distinct domains. The multivariate nature of the MOFs is determined by the sequence of DBBs within the MOF. We then apply this approach to the construction of a rich library of UiO-67 stratified MOF (sMOF) particles consisting of multiple concentric DBBs. We discuss and highlight the negative consequences of linker exchange reactions on the compositional integrity of DBBs in the UiO-67 sMOFs and propose and demonstrate mitigation strategies. We also demonstrate that individual strata can be specifically postsynthetically addressed and manipulated. Finally, we demonstrate the versatility of these synthetic strategies through the preparation of sMOF-nanoparticle composite materials.

Recently, a wide variety of new nanoparticle compositions have been identified as potential plasmonic materials including earth-abundant metals such as aluminum, highly doped semiconductors, as well as metal pnictides. For semiconductor compositions, plasmonic properties may be tuned not only by nanoparticle size and shape, but also by charge carrier density which can be controlled via a variety of intrinsic and extrinsic doping strategies. Current methods to quantitatively determine charge carrier density primarily rely on interpretation of the nanoparticle extinction spectrum. However, interpretation of nanoparticle extinction spectra can be convoluted by factors such as particle ligands, size distribution and/or aggregation state which may impact the charge carrier information extracted. Therefore, alternative methods to quantify charge carrier density may be transformational in the development of these new materials and would facilitate previously inaccessible correlations between particle synthetic routes, crystallographic features, and emergent optoelectronic properties. Here, we report the use of 77 Se solid state nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy to quantitatively determine charge carrier density in a variety of Cu 2-x Se nanoparticle compositions and correlate this charge carrier density with particle crystallinity and extinction features. Importantly, we show that significant charge carrier populations are present even in nanoparticles without spectroscopically discernible plasmonic features and with crystal structures indistinguishable from fully reduced Cu 2 Se. These results highlight the potential impact of the NMR-based carrier density measurement, especially in the study of plasmon emergence in these systems (i.e., at low dopant concentrations).