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Up to 50–70% of patients with liver cirrhosis develop hepatic encephalopathy (HE), which is closely related to gut microbiota dysbiosis, with an unclear mechanism. Here, by constructing gut–brain modules to assess bacterial neurotoxins from metagenomic datasets, we found that phenylalanine decarboxylase (PDC) genes, mainly from Ruminococcus gnavus, increased approximately tenfold in patients with cirrhosis and higher in patients with HE. Cirrhotic, not healthy, mice colonized with R. gnavusshowed brain phenylethylamine (PEA) accumulation, along with memory impairment, symmetrical tremors and cortex-specific neuron loss, typically found in patients with HE. This accumulation of PEA was primarily driven by decreased monoamine oxidase-B activity in both the liver and serum due to cirrhosis. Targeting PDC or PEA reversed the neurological symptoms induced by R. gnavus. Furthermore, fecal microbiota transplantation from patients with HE to germ-free cirrhotic mice replicated these symptoms and further corroborated the efficacy of targeting PDC or PEA. Clinically, high baseline PEA levels were linked to a sevenfold increased risk of HE after intrahepatic portosystemic shunt procedures. Our findings expand the understanding of the gut–liver–brain axis and identify a promising therapeutic and predictive target for HE.

•High IGF1R signaling in pBMSCs establishes the HSC niche and determines the definitive hematopoiesis in the BM.•IGF1R signaling promotes CXCL12 and other niche factor expression in pBMSCs to retain HSCs through an AKT-NFAT axis.

The most reported two-dimensional (2D) reconfigurable multivalued logic (RMVL) devices primarily involve a planar configuration and carrier transport, which limits the high-density circuit integration and high-speed logic operation. In this work, the vertical transistors with reconfigurable MoTe2homojunction are developed for low-power, high-speed, multivalued logic circuits. Through top/bottom dual-gate modulation, the transistors can be configured into four modes: P-i-N, N-i-P, P-i-P, and N-i-N. The reconfigurable rectifying and photovoltaic behaviors are observed in P-i-N and N-i-P configurations, exhibiting ideal diode characteristics with a current rectification ratio over 105and sign-reversible photovoltaic response with a photoswitching ratio up to 7.44 × 105. Taking advantage of the seamless homogeneous integration and short vertical channel architecture, the transistor can operate as an electrical switch with an ultrafast speed of 680 ns, surpassing the conventional p-n diode. The MoTe2half-wave rectifier is then applied in high-frequency integrated circuits using both square wave and sinusoidal waveforms. By applying an electrical pulse with a 1/4 phase difference between two input signals, the RMVL circuit has been achieved. This work proposes a universal and reconfigurable vertical transistor, enabled by dual-gate electrostatic doping on top/bottom sides of MoTe2homojunction, suggesting a high integration device scheme for high-speed RMVL circuits and systems.

A field-reversed configuration (FRC) experiment device named HUST-FRC (HFRC) is constructed at Huazhong University of Science and Technology, where the fast magnetic compression of FRC will be investigated. 22 in-vessel compression coils are employed to generate a 0.5 T pulsed magnetic field within 50 µs in a cylinder region with a diameter of 800 mm, which rapidly compresses the FRC to improve its density and temperature. The coils consist of 16 middle coils in the middle region and 6 mirror coils at both ends. It is difficult to ensure that the in-vessel coils all fire in every discharge experiment, especially when the coil system operates in a high voltage (∼30 kV) and pulsed current (∼110 kA/50 µs) environment. Coil faults affect the current waveforms in other normal coils and the magnetic field distribution, which may increase their electromagnetic forces and even destabilize the structure. In this article, we investigate the influences of the coil faults on the current waveforms and electromagnetic forces. First, the reasons why the coil faults affect other coil circuits are analyzed through a complex coupled circuit model. Then the above influences are specifically analyzed through the multi-field coupled simulations. For the current waveforms in normal coils, other coil faults can lead to increased peak current and earlier rise times due to the strong electromagnetic coupling among the coils. The electromagnetic forces in the normal coils do not increase with the increased peak currents because the magnetic field decreases due to other faulty coils. Moreover, the analysis shows that the electromagnetic force in coil C8 increases dramatically due to the change in the magnetic field distribution which is caused by the mirror coil faults.

The attractive physical properties of two-dimensional (2D) semiconductors in group IVA-VIA have been fully revealed in recent years. Combining them with 2D ambipolar materials to construct van der Waals heterojunctions (vdWHs) can offer tremendous opportunities for designing multifunctional electronic and optoelectronic devices, such as logic switching circuits, half-wave rectifiers, and broad-spectrum photodetectors. Here, an optimized SnSe0.75S0.25is grown to design a SnSe0.75S0.25/MoTe2vdWH for logic operation and wide-spectrum photodetection. Benefiting from the excellent gate modulation under the appropriate sulfur substitution and type-II band alignment, the device exhibits reconfigurable antiambipolar and ambipolar transfer behaviors at positive and negative source–drain voltage (Vds), enabling stable XNOR logic operation. It also features a gate-modulated positive and negative rectifying behavior with rectification ratios of 265:1 and 1:196, confirming its potential as half-wave logic rectifiers. Besides, the device can respond from visible to infrared wavelength up to 1400 nm. Under 635 nm illumination, the maximum responsivity of 1.16 A/W and response time of 657/500 μs are achieved at the Vdsof −2 V. Furthermore, due to the strong in-plane anisotropic structure of SnSe0.75S0.25-alloyed nanosheet and narrow bandgap of 2H-MoTe2, it shows a broadband polarization-sensitive function with impressive photocurrent anisotropic ratios of 15.6 (635 nm), 7.0 (808 nm), and 3.7 (1310 nm). The direction along the maximum photocurrent can be reconfigurable depending on the wavelengths. These results indicate that our designed alloyed SnSe0.75S0.25/MoTe2vdWH has reconfigurable logic operation and broadband photodetection capabilities in 2D multifunctional integrated circuits.

Extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) ubiquitously encapsulate microbes and play crucial roles in various environmental processes. However, understanding their complex interactions with dynamic bacterial behaviors, especially during the disinfection process, remains very limited. In this work, we investigated the impact of EPS on bacterial disinfection kinetics by developing a permanent EPS removal strategy. We genetically disrupted the synthesis of exopolysaccharides, the structural components of EPS, in Pseudomonas aeruginosa, a well-known EPS-producing opportunistic pathogen found in diverse environments, creating an EPS-deficient strain. This method ensured a lasting absence of EPS while maintaining bacterial integrity and viability, allowing for real-time in situ investigations of the roles of EPS in disinfection. Our findings indicate that removing EPS from bacteria substantially lowered their susceptibility threshold to disinfectants such as ozone, chloramine B, and free chlorine. This removal also substantially accelerated disinfection kinetics, shortened the resistance time, and increased disinfection efficiency, thereby enhancing the overall bactericidal effect. The absence of EPS was found to enhance bacterial motility and increase bacterial cell vulnerability to disinfectants, resulting in greater membrane damage and intensified reactive oxygen species (ROS) production upon exposure to disinfectants. These insights highlight the central role of EPS in bacterial defenses and offer promising implications for developing more effective disinfection strategies.

Hydroformylation of olefins, as a study of olefinic downstream derivative production, is of great relevance in chemical production. Heterogeneous hydroformylation is beneficial for catalyst separation and recycling compared to homogeneous systems. Cobalt is a cheap metal with excellent catalytic activity in hydroformylation as well as the precious metal rhodium. Therefore, the research on cobalt-based catalysts for heterogeneous hydroformylation has great value and significance. The nano or atomic structures of cobalt-based catalysts have significant impact on the catalytic behaviors of the hydroformylation process. There is rarely the design principles report on how to achieve significant improvement in hydroformylation performance by regulating the structure of the cobalt-based catalyst. Herein, we review the recent research progress on heterogeneous hydroformylation by cobalt-based catalysts with different metal sizes (from nanostructures to single atoms). On the basis of the difference in the catalytic mechanism between homogeneous and heterogeneous hydroformylation, we summarize and propose the regulation principles to enhance the activity and stability of cobalt-based catalysts in hydroformylation, where single-atom engineering is expected to achieve unity of high activity and stability of cobalt-based catalysts for hydroformylation applications. At the end of this review, we present an outlook on the opportunities and challenges in developing cobalt-based catalysts for heterogeneous hydroformylation.

With the ever-pressing issues of global energy demand and environmental pollution, molecular hydrogen has been receiving increasing attention as a clean alternative energy carrier. For hydrogen production, the design and development of high-performance catalysts remains rather challenging. As the compositions and structures of catalyst interfaces have paramount influences on the catalytic performances, the central topic here has always been to design and engineer the interface structures viarational routes so as to boost the activities and stabilities of electrocatalysts on hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). Here in this review, we focus on the design and preparation of multi-scale catalysts specifically catering to HER applications. We start from the design and structure-activity relationship of catalytic nanostructures, summarize the research progresses related to HER nanocatalysts, and interpret their high activities from the atomistic perspective; then, we review the studies regarding the design, preparation, HER applications and structure-activity relationship of single-atom site catalysts (SASCs), and thereupon discuss the future directions in designing HER-oriented SASCs. At the end of this review, we present an outlook on the development trends and faced challenges of catalysts for electrochemical HER.

Neurogenetic disorders, such as neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1), can cause cognitive and motor impairments, traditionally attributed to intrinsic neuronal defects such as disruption of synaptic function. Activity-regulated oligodendroglial plasticity also contributes to cognitive and motor functions by tuning neural circuit dynamics. However, the relevance of oligodendroglial plasticity to neurological dysfunction in NF1 is unclear. Here we explore the contribution of oligodendrocyte progenitor cells (OPCs) to pathological features of the NF1 syndrome in mice. Both male and female littermates (4–24 weeks of age) were used equally in this study. We demonstrate that mice with global or OPC-specific Nf1heterozygosity exhibit defects in activity-dependent oligodendrogenesis and harbor focal OPC hyperdensities with disrupted homeostatic OPC territorial boundaries. These OPC hyperdensities develop in a cell-intrinsic Nf1mutation-specific manner due to differential PI3K/AKT activation. OPC-specific Nf1loss impairs oligodendroglial differentiation and abrogates the normal oligodendroglial response to neuronal activity, leading to impaired motor learning performance. Collectively, these findings show that Nf1mutation delays oligodendroglial development and disrupts activity-dependent OPC function essential for normal motor learning in mice.

In this article, the 2-D axisymmetric model of cathode crater has been used to study the influence of temperature and morphology on metal vapor evaporation and thermal-field (T-F) emission during cathode spot development. The effect of cathode deformation on the surface electric field strength is reflected by replacing the current density boundary in previous model with the voltage boundary. The simulation results show that the temperature distribution on the crater surface exhibits either a single peak at the metal jet head or a double peak at both the center of the crater and the jet head, depending on the external pressure relative to the heat. However, the electric field consistently exhibits a peak at the head of the metal jet. The emission characteristics of the cathode crater surface indicate that the peaks of metal vapor and T-F current density coincide at the jet head, suggesting that the new cathode spot’s explosion center will appear at the metal jet tip of the preexisting crater.

Catalyst innovation lies at the heart of transition-metal-catalyzed reaction development. In this article, we have explored the C(sp2)—H alkenylation activity with novel spirocyclic N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC)-based cyclometalated ruthenium pincer catalyst system, SNRu-X. After screening catalyst and condition, a high valent Ru(IV) dioxide (X = O2) species has demonstrated superior reactivity in the catalytic alkenylation of aromatic and olefinic C-H bonds with unactivated alkenyl bromides and triflates. This reaction has achieved the easy construction of a wide range of (hetero)aromatic alkenes and dienes, in good to excellent yields with exclusive selectivity. Preliminary mechanistic studies indicate that this reaction may proceed through a single electron transfer (SET) triggered oxidative addition, by doing so, providing valuable complementary to classical alke-nylation reactions that are dependent on activated alkenyl precursors.

Self-powered photodetectors have triggered widespread attention because of the requirement of Internet of Things (IoT) application and low power consumption. However, it is challenging to simultaneously implement miniaturization, high quantum efficiency, and multifunctionalization. Here, we report a high-efficiency and polarization-sensitive photodetector enabled by two-dimensional (2D) WSe2/Ta2NiSe5/WSe2van der Waals (vdW) dual heterojunctions (DHJ) along with a sandwich-like electrode pair. On account of enhanced light collection efficiency and two opposite built-in electric fields at the hetero-interfaces, the DHJ device achieves not only a broadband spectral response of 400–1550 nm but outstanding performance under 635 nm light illumination including an ultrahigh external quantum efficiency (EQE) of 85.5%, a pronounced power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 1.9%, and a fast response speed of 420/640 μs, which is much better than that of the WSe2/Ta2NiSe5single heterojunction (SHJ). Significantly, based on the strong in-plane anisotropy of 2D Ta2NiSe5nanosheets, the DHJ device shows competitive polarization sensitivities of 13.9 and 14.8 under 635 and 808 nm light, respectively. Furthermore, an excellent self-powered visible imaging capability based on the DHJ device is demonstrated. These results pave a promising platform for realizing self-powered photodetectors with high performance and multifunctionality.

Drop-on-demand inkjet printing is used to deposit indium tin oxide (ITO) transparent and conductive thin films. ITO printable ink is prepared by dissolving indium hydroxide and tin (IV) chloride into ethanol with the assistance of acetic acid/tert-butylamine ionic liquid. Ionic liquid-assisted ITO ink exhibits a complete wetting behavior on the glass substrate and a tunable viscosity, which makes it particularly suitable for the inkjet printing fabrication of ITO thin films. After annealing at 500 °C in forming gas, ITO thin films with a sheet resistance of 99 Ω/□, a resistivity of 2.28 × 10–3Ω·cm, and a transmittance of 95.2% in the range of 400–1000 nm can be obtained. The effects of annealing temperature on the resistivity, mobility, carrier concentration, transmittance, and optical band gap are investigated systematically. Compared with commercial ITO thin films made by conventional vacuum-based deposition approaches, these printable ITO thin films have a higher material utilization.

Supported sub-nano Ni clusters are of great significance to many heterogeneous catalysis applications. We conducted density functional theory based particle swarm optimization calculations to study the low-energy structures of sub-nano Nin(n= 2–21) clusters in the gas phase and on two oxide surfaces, ZnO(0001) and γ-Al2O3(100). Our results show that sub-nano Ni clusters have magic structures, and the magic numbers are 4, 8, 11, 13, 15, and 19 on ZnO and 3, 5, 8, 11, 16, and 21 on γ-Al2O3, respectively, essentially different from gas-phase Ni clusters (magic n= 2, 6, 10, 11, 13, 20). The morphological transformation of Ni clusters relies on the interplay between the Ni–oxide interaction and the Ni–Ni interaction inside the Ni clusters. The Ni–oxide interaction becomes weakened with the cluster size growing and the Ni–ZnO interaction is generally larger than the Ni–Al2O3interaction, while the Ni–Ni interaction is independent of the type of oxide substrate and slightly grows with the cluster size increase. On ZnO, the Ni–Ni interaction exceeds the Ni–ZnO interaction beyond the Ni10cluster, which evolves into a double-layer structure from planar 2D configurations, while on γ-Al2O3(100), the morphological transition of the planar 2D structure towards a layered 3D structure occurs at the Ni7cluster. Hydrogen coverage on Ni clusters lead to the conversion of the cluster morphology from layered 3D geometries to more open one-layer 2D structures. Ab initiothermodynamics analysis on Ni11Hxclusters revealed that under the typical hydrogenation conditions (T= 673 K; PH2= 10 atm), the most stable hydrogen-containing structures are the Ni11H10cluster on ZnO and the Ni11H8cluster on γ-Al2O3, which both expose more Ni sites compared with the bare Ni11cluster indicating an enhanced reactivity induced by a hydrogen environment.

The purpose of this article was to investigate the dynamic evolution laws of the plasma between the gap during the instability phenomena in low-current vacuum arc using the simulation date comparison with the experimental data. The instability phenomena are characterized by high-frequency peaks of the arc voltage which are prior to the actual current chopping. Those peaks, which reach a level of more than ten times the normal arc voltage, have typical correspondence with the fluctuations of arc current and will result in a sudden chopping of the current through interaction with the elements of circuit. The fluctuations of arc voltage were classified into the types of long pulses and short pulses because of different characteristics on the duration time and oscillation morphology, which can summarize the peaks on the instability phenomena. The concepts of prearc cathode sheath and the cathode-emission intensity are proposed to reasonably explain the difference and connection between these two spikes. The distribution and motion of particles in the gap at different cathode-emission intensity, which demonstrating the development direction of the prearc cathode sheath and the relationship with the cathode-emission intensity, are simulated by the particle in cell-Monte Carlo collision (PIC-MCC). As a result, the relationship in the development of the prearc cathode sheath, the voltage spikes, and the intensity of cathode emission is summarized.

Adjusting the structure and surface profiles of CeO2could significantly modify its catalytic performance for CVOCs. Herein, we reported a plasma strategy for the post-treatment of CeO2nanorods with more active sites to enhance 1,2-dichloroethane oxidation performance. The constructed 40P-CeO2catalyst exhibited superior catalytic activity (T90= 290 °C) and excellent stability (12 h at 275 °C). Experimental results revealed that the plasma treatment led to the reduction of cell parameters of CeO2nanorods. DFT calculation showed that the reduction of cell parameters was beneficial to the formation of oxygen vacancies. And the synergistic effect of increased oxygen vacancies and acid sites enhanced the conversion of 1,2-dichloroethane and reduced the formation of chlorinated organic by-products. This work identifies the effect of the DBD plasma treatment over these activated catalysts for CVOCs catalytic combustion and could provide a novel and universal strategy for the synthesis of highly active and stable catalysts.

Linear electromagnetic actuators (LEAs), operated by electromagnetic action, are widely used in various applications, such as switches and solenoid valves. Since it operates on the principle of electromagnetic attraction, it is very sensitive to magnetic field. LEA may fail under the impact of disturbing magnetic field (DMF), thus threatens the stability of the whole system. As the magnetic field around tokamak is very strong, it is of great importance to evaluate the behavior of LEAs under DMF. This article presents the analysis of two different types of LEAs in DMFs. Based on the finite element method, the influences of DMF on the two LEAs are analyzed, and both the opening and closing processes are considered. Analyses show that the piston-type LEA may fail to act under DMF, while the plate-type LEA may malfunction even it is not energized. Based on the analysis, the failure mechanism is revealed, and the failure thresholds of the two LEAs are also quantified. The experimental verifications are carried out, which are in good agreement with the simulation results. The analysis model and the main conclusions presented in this article are of great significance to guide the antimagnetic field design of LEAs and ensure their reliable operations in tokamakxs.

IMPORTANCE: Mild thyroid-associated ophthalmopathy (TAO) negatively impacts quality of life, yet no clinical guidelines for its treatment are available. Existing evidence supports the use of doxycycline in treating mild TAO. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the short-term (12 weeks) efficacy of doxycycline in treating mild TAO. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: In this placebo-controlled multicenter randomized double-masked trial, 148 patients were assessed for eligibility. After exclusions (patients who were pregnant or lactating, had an allergy to tetracyclines, or had uncontrolled systematic diseases), 100 patients with mild TAO (orbital soft tissue affected mildly) at 5 centers in China were enrolled from July 2013 to December 2019 and monitored for 12 weeks. INTERVENTIONS: Participants were randomly assigned 1:1 to receive doxycycline (50 mg) or placebo once daily for 12 weeks. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES: The primary outcome was the rate of improvement at 12 weeks compared with baseline assessed by a composite indicator of eyelid aperture (reduction ≥2 mm), proptosis (reduction ≥2 mm), ocular motility (increase ≥8°), and Graves ophthalmopathy-specific quality-of-life (GO-QOL) scale score (increase ≥6 points). Adverse events were recorded. RESULTS: A total of 50 participants were assigned to doxycycline and 50 to placebo. The mean (SD) age was 36.7 (9.1) years; 75 participants (75.0%) were female and 100 (100.0%) were Asian. Medication compliance was checked during participant interviews and by counting excess tablets. At week 12, the improvement rate was 38.0% (19 of 50) in the doxycycline group and 16.0% (8 of 50) in the placebo group (difference, 22.0%; 95% CI, 5.0-39.0; P = .01) in the intention-to-treat population. The per-protocol sensitivity analysis showed similar results (39.6% [19 of 48] vs 16.0% [8 of 50]; difference, 23.6%; 95% CI, 6.4-40.8; P = .009). No adverse events other than 1 case of mild gastric acid regurgitation was recorded in either group. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: The results of this study indicate that oral doxycycline, 50 mg daily, resulted in greater improvement of TAO-related symptoms at 12 weeks compared with placebo in patients with mild TAO. These findings support the consideration of doxycycline for mild TAO but should be tempered by recognizing the relatively short follow-up and the size of the cohort. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02203682

Bone marrow–derived mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) support bone formation and constitute the stromal niche in regulating hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs). Stromal niche dysfunction affects HSC engraftment during transplantation; however, the underlying mechanisms remain elusive. In the present study, we found that all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) and inflammation stress upregulated retinoic acid–inducible gene I (RIG-I) in BMSCs. Excess RIG-I expression damaged the clonogenicity, bone-forming ability of BMSCs and particularly their stromal niche function that supports HSC expansion in vitro and engraftment in vivo. Mechanistically, RIG-I elevation promoted the degradation of NRF2, a checkpoint for antioxidant cellular response, by altering the RIG-I-Trim25-Keap1-NRF2 complex, leading to reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation and BMSC damage. Genetic inhibition of RIG-I sustained NRF2 protein levels and reduced ROS levels in ATRA-treated BMSCs, thus preserving their clonogenicity, bone-forming ability, and stromal niche function in supporting HSC engraftment in mice. More importantly, RIG-I inhibition recovered the ATRA-treated stromal niche function to enhance HSC engraftment and emergency myelopoiesis for innate immunity against the bacterium Listeria monocytogenes during transplantation. Overall, we identified a noncanonical role of RIG-I in the regulation of the stromal niche for HSC transplantation.

The NCNSs encapsulated Fe-doped CoSe NPs have been synthesized by polymerization–pyrolysis–selenization strategy. The FeCoSe@NCNSs shows excellent electrocatalytic HER and OER performance.

The Co SAs and Co NPs coupling catalyst has been synthesized by doping- adsorption-pyrolysis strategy. The Co SAs-Co NPs/NCFs shows excellent electrocatalytic HER activity and stability in the entire pH range.

Halogens are elements in soil and water that occur as organic and inorganic species. Studies have shown that inorganic halogens are closely related to animal and plant life. Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry (MALDI-MS) can achieve high-throughput and rapid analysis, which is also an essential characteristic in some environmental studies. However, there is currently no report on MALDI-MS analysis for water-soluble inorganic halogen compounds. In this study, we aimed to develop a reliable and reproductive method to detect inorganic halogens in soil and water by MALDI-MS. Based on sinapic acid (SA) and silver trifluoromethanesulfonate (SA/AgOTf) as the matrix in negative-ion mode, MALDI-MS showed excellent MS signals related to halogens. Under the optimum conditions, the method achieved satisfactory linearity (R2> 0.99) and repeatability (RSD < 18%). The LODs for Cl−, Br−and I−were 0.76, 0.11 and 0.10 μg/mL, respectively. The concentration of inorganic halogens from 24 samples was successfully determined by MALDI-MS. In summary, an innovative method was developed for the analysis of inorganic halogens by MALDI-MS using a novel SA/AgOTf matrix, extending the application of MALDI-MS in inorganic compounds.

Biomass-based chemicals as a renewable alternative to petroleum-based chemicals are of great significance. The conversion of biomass-based furfuryl alcohol to pentanediol, including 1,5-pentanediol and 1,2-pentanediol, is explored over a series of bifunctional Cu/MFI catalysts in a continuous-flow reactor. These catalysts are synthesized by supporting copper nanoparticles on MFI zeolites with varying molar ratios of SiO2/Al2O3. Among them, the Z60-10Cu catalyst containing balanced Cu0–Cu+and Brønsted acid sites exhibits excellent performance, and a high furfuryl alcohol conversion of 99.5% and selectivity of 85.2% for 1,5-pentanediol (69.2%) and 1,2-pentanediol (16.0%) could be achieved (hydrogen pressure: 2.5 MPa) at 160 °C. The experimental results and the results obtained using the DFT technique revealed that the high catalytic activity realized during the processes of ring-opening and hydrogenation could be attributed to the synergistic effect between the Cu species and Brønsted acid sites. The Brønsted acid sites on the Si(OH)Al groups significantly affect the ring-opening process of furfuryl alcohol. The methoxy group on furfuryl alcohol adsorbs on the Cu+sites, and the hydrogenation saturation of the ring-opening intermediate is realized under the influence of the activated hydrogen units on the Cu0sites. The results reported herein could help promote the continuous production of high value-added pentanediol from biomass-based raw materials in the presence of non-noble metal catalysts. An economical and feasible path for the transformation of biomass resources into high value-added fine chemicals could also be developed.

Rapid and accurate blood glucose detection is significant for diagnosing and treating diabetes. Herein, ultra-low-content gold nanoparticles were loaded on different metal foams and applied to electrochemical enzyme-free glucose sensors viasimple displacement reactions. The structures and properties of the produced catalysts were determined by various characterization methods. The performance of the glucose sensor was examined in relation to the interactions between three different metal substrates and gold. The one with the best performance is the sample of gold nanoparticles grown on copper foam (Au300 Cu Foam). It has the advantage of a porous three-dimensional network, a large electroactive surface area, and the high catalytic activity of gold. The combination of Cu and Au increased the valence state of Au, thus favoring the catalytic activity for glucose oxidation. Cyclic voltammetry and chronoamperometry measurements revealed that Au is responsible for the electrocatalytic oxidation of glucose. The sensitivity of Au300 Cu Foam was found to be 10 839 μA mM−1cm−2in the linear range of 0.00596–0.0566 mM, with a detection limit (LOD) of 0.223 μM, and 2–3 s response time at 0.4 V vs.Ag/AgCl. The Au300 Cu Foam glucose sensor also offered outstanding stability and anti-interference performance. The prepared Au300 Cu Foam electrode was also successfully applied to detect different levels of glucose in human body fluids, such as saliva. These characteristics make Au300 Cu Foam promising for non-invasive glucose detection.

Social interaction and communication are evolutionary conserved behaviours that are developed in mammals to establish partner cognition. Deficit in sociability has been represented in human patients and animal models of neurodevelopmental disorders, which are connected with genetic variants of synaptic glutamate receptors and associated PDZ-binding proteins. However, it remains elusive how these key proteins are specialized in the cellular level for the initial social behaviour during postnatal developmental stage. Here we identify a hippocampal CA3 specifically expressed PDZ scaffold protein Lnx1 required for initial social behaviour. Through gene targeting we find that Lnx1 deficiency led to a hippocampal subregional disorder in neuronal activity and social memory impairments for partner discrimination observed in juvenile mice which also show cognitive defects in adult stage. We further demonstrate that Lnx1 deletion causes NMDA receptor (NMDAR) hypofunction and this is attributable to decreased GluN2B expression in PSD compartment and disruption of the Lnx1–NMDAR–EphB2 complex. Specific restoration of Lnx1 or EphB2 protein in the CA3 area of Lnx1−/−mice rescues the defective synaptic function and social memory. These findings thus reveal crucial roles of postsynaptic NMDAR multiprotein complex that regulates the formation of initial social memory during the adolescent period.

Single-atom catalysts (SACs) with well-defined and specific single-atom dispersion on supports offer great potential for achieving both high catalytic activity and selectivity. Covalent organic frameworks (COFs) with tailor-made crystalline structures and designable atomic composition is a class of promising supports for SACs. Herein, we have studied the binding sites and stability of Pd single atoms (SAs) dispersed on triazine COF (Pd1/trzn-COF) and the reaction mechanism of CO oxidation using the density functional theory (DFT). By evaluating different adsorption sites, including the nucleophilic sp2C atoms, heteroatoms and the conjugated π-electrons of aromatic ring and triazine, it is found that Pd SAs can stably combine with trzn-COF with a binding energy around −5.0 eV, and there are two co-existing dynamic Pd1/trzn-COFs due to the adjacent binding sites on trzn-COF. The reaction activities of CO oxidation on Pd1/trzn-COF can be regulated by the anion-π interaction between a + δphenyl center and the related −δmoieties as well as the electron-withdrawing feature of imine in the specific complexes. The Pd1/trzn-COF catalyst is found to have a high catalytic activity for CO oxidation viaa plausible tri-molecular Eley-Rideal (TER) reaction mechanism. This work provides insights into the d-π interaction between Pd SAs and trzn-COF, and helps to better understand and design new SACs supported on COF nanomaterials.

Transition metal phosphides show great potential for hydrogen production via water electrolysis. Herein, we report a novel Fe–Co2P electrocatalyst with bundled nanorod morphology for hydrogen production over the entire pH range and in seawater.

Melamine-assisted pyrolytic synthesis of core–shell cobalt@carbon nanotubes as efficient bifunctional electrocatalyst for rechargeable zinc–air batteries.

The performance of Xpert MTB/RIF using bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BAL) for the diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) remains unclear. Therefore, a systematic review/meta-analysis was conducted.

Neurons have recently emerged as essential cellular constituents of the tumour microenvironment, and their activity has been shown to increase the growth of a diverse number of solid tumours1. Although the role of neurons in tumour progression has previously been demonstrated2, the importance of neuronal activity to tumour initiation is less clear—particularly in the setting of cancer predisposition syndromes. Fifteen per cent of individuals with the neurofibromatosis 1 (NF1) cancer predisposition syndrome (in which tumours arise in close association with nerves) develop low-grade neoplasms of the optic pathway (known as optic pathway gliomas (OPGs)) during early childhood3,4, raising  the possibility that postnatal light-induced activity of the optic nerve drives tumour initiation. Here we use an authenticated mouse model of OPG driven by mutations in the neurofibromatosis 1 tumour suppressor gene (Nf1)5to demonstrate that stimulation of optic nerve activity increases optic glioma growth, and that decreasing visual experience via light deprivation prevents tumour formation and maintenance. We show that the initiation of Nf1-driven OPGs (Nf1-OPGs) depends on visual experience during a developmental period in which Nf1-mutant mice are susceptible to tumorigenesis. Germline Nf1mutation in retinal neurons results in aberrantly increased shedding of neuroligin 3 (NLGN3) within the optic nerve in response to retinal neuronal activity. Moreover, genetic Nlgn3loss or pharmacological inhibition of NLGN3 shedding blocks the formation and progression of Nf1-OPGs. Collectively, our studies establish an obligate role for neuronal activity in the development of some types of brain tumours, elucidate a therapeutic strategy to reduce OPG incidence or mitigate tumour progression, and underscore the role of Nf1mutation-mediated dysregulation of neuronal signalling pathways in mouse models of the NF1 cancer predisposition syndrome.

In-plane anisotropic two-dimensional (2D) materials offer great opportunities for developing novel polarization sensitive photodetectors without being in conjunction with filters and polarizers. However, owing to low linear dichroism ratio and insufficient optical absorption of the few layer 2D materials, the comprehensive performance of the present polarization sensitive photodetectors based on 2D materials is still lower than the practical application requirements. In this work, after systematic investigation of the structural, vibrational, and optical anisotropies of layer-structured Te nanosheets, a novel polarization-sensitive self-powered imaging photodetector with high comprehensive performance based on a p-Te/n-MoSe2van der Waals heterojunction (vdWH) with strong interlayer transition is proposed. Owing to the high rectification ratio (104) of the diode, the device shows excellent photovoltaic characteristics. As examples, the photodetectors exhibited an ultrahigh on/off ratio of 105at a relatively weak light intensity (4.73 mw cm−2), and the highest responsivity of the device could reach 2106 mA W−1without any power supply. In particular, benefitting from the excellent dichroism properties of Te nanosheets synthesized in this work, the anisotropic ratio of the photocurrent (Imax/Imin) could reach as high as 16.39 (405 nm, 24.2 mw cm−2). This value obtained under zero bias voltage is much greater than that of present 2D material photodetectors even at a bias voltage. In addition, the highest detectivity is 2.91 × 1013Jones at a low bias voltage of −0.08 V. This work provides a novel building block for high resolution polarization-sensitive photodetection of weak signals in complex environments.

Ni/ZnO catalysts have been well recognized by industry and academia for exhibiting excellent desulfurization activities. However, the intrinsic reaction mechanism on the Ni active center is still obscure. Herein, we performed periodic density functional theory (DFT) calculations to study thiophene desulfurization and conversion of desulfurization products on the Ni(111) surface and Ni55cluster, and clarify the size effect of the Ni substrate and the essential role of hydrogen. The thiophene molecule binds more strongly to Ni55than Ni(111), and proceeds easily along the direct desulfurization pathway without prior hydrogenation on both Ni(111) and Ni55. Ni55exhibits higher desulfurization activity while Ni(111) performs better in converting the remaining C4H4species to butadiene and the deposited S atom to H2S. In contrast to the classic S transfer mechanism viaH2S, we found that direct S diffusion occurs easily on the Ni substrate and has priority over its further hydrogenation to H2S, indicating that the S diffusion mechanism could play an important role in transferring surface S from Ni to ZnO. The results also show that the C–S bond rupture of thiophene and subsequent S removal from Ni tend to proceed without the assistance of hydrogen, and hydrogen mainly takes part in the hydrogenation of C4H4species. The present work clearly demonstrates that the rate-determining step for thiophene desulfurization and subsequent alkene formation is the C4H4hydrogenation rather than the cleavage of C–S bonds, in accordance with the experimental results.

RNA helicase A (RHA) is a DExH-box helicase that plays regulatory roles in a variety of cellular processes, including transcription, translation, RNA splicing, editing, transport, and processing, microRNA genesis and maintenance of genomic stability. It is involved in virus replication, oncogenesis, and innate immune response. RHA can unwind nucleic acid duplex by nucleoside triphosphate hydrolysis. The insight into the molecular mechanism of helicase activity is fundamental to understanding the role of RHA in the cell. Herein, we reviewed the current advances on the helicase activity of RHA and its relevance to gene expression, particularly, to the genesis of circular RNA.

The cognitive side effects of cancer treatment are common, but no targeted therapy exists yet to treat or prevent such neurological sequelae. We explore the role of hormones as mediators between cancer therapy and cognitive impairment, discussing potential future directions.

Acrolein, known as one of the most common reactive carbonyl species, is a toxic small molecule affecting human health in daily life. This study is focused on the scavenging abilities and mechanism of ferulic acid and some other phenolic acids against acrolein. Among the 13 phenolic compounds investigated, ferulic acid was found to have the highest efficiency in scavenging acrolein under physiological conditions. Ferulic acid remained at (3.04±1.89)% and acrolein remained at (29.51±4.44)% after being incubated with each other for 24 h. The molecular mechanism of the detoxifying process was also studied. Detoxifying products, namely 2-methoxy-4-vinylphenol (product 21) and 5-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)pent-4-enal (product 22), were identified though nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), after the scavenging process. Ferulic acid showed significant activity in scavenging acrolein under physiological conditions. This study indicates a new method for inhibiting damage from acrolein.

Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus is an increasing public health problem that poses a severe social and economic burden affecting both developed and developing countries. Defects in insulin signaling itself are among the earliest indications that an individual is predisposed to the development of insulin resistance and subsequently Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus. To date, however, the underlying molecular mechanisms which result in resistance to the actions of insulin are poorly understood. Furthermore, it has been shown that maternal obesity is associated with an increased risk of obesity and insulin resistance in the offspring. However, the genetic and/or epigenetic modifications within insulin-sensitive tissues such as the liver and skeletal muscle, which contribute to the insulin-resistant phenotype, still remain unknown. More importantly, a lack of in-depth understanding of how the early life environment can have long-lasting effects on health and increased risk of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus in adulthood poses a major limitation to such efforts. The focus of the current review is thus to discuss recent experimental and human evidence of an epigenetic component associated with components of nutritional programming of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus, including altered feeding behavior, adipose tissue, and pancreatic beta-cell dysfunction, and transgenerational risk transmission.

Exploring high-performance zeolite-supported metal catalysts is of great significance. Herein, we develop a strategy for fabricating isolated single metal atomic site catalysts in Y zeolite (M-ISAS@Y, M = Pt, Pd, Ru, Rh, Co, Ni, Cu) by in situ separating and confining a metal–ethanediamine complex into β-cages during the crystallization process followed by thermal treatment. The M-ISAS are stabilized by skeletal oxygens of Y zeolite, and the crystallinity, porosity, and large surface area are well inherited in M-ISAS@Y. As a demonstration, acidic Pt-ISAS@Y is used for n-hexane isomerization involving consecutive catalytic dehydrogenation/hydrogenation on Pt-ISAS and isomerization on Brønsted acid sites. The turnover frequency value of Pt-ISAS reaches 727 h–1, 5 times more than Pt nanoparticles (∼3.5 nm), with a total isomer selectivity of more than 98%. This strategy provides a convenient route to fabricate promising zeolite-based M-ISAS catalysts for industrial applications.

Chronic caloric restriction (CR) without malnutrition is known to affect different cellular processes such as stem cell function, cell senescence, inflammation, and metabolism. Despite the differences in the implementation of CR, the reduction of calories produces a widespread beneficial effect in noncommunicable chronic diseases, which can be explained by improvements in immuno-metabolic adaptation. Cellular adaptation that occurs in response to dietary patterns can be explained by alterations in epigenetic mechanisms such as DNA methylation, histone modifications, and microRNA. In this review, we define these modifications and systematically summarize the current evidence related to CR and the epigenome. We then explain the significance of genome-wide epigenetic modifications in the context of disease development. Although substantial evidence exists for the widespread effect of CR on longevity, there is no consensus regarding the epigenetic regulations of the underlying cellular mechanisms that lead to improved health. We provide compelling evidence that CR produces long-lasting epigenetic effects that mediate expression of genes related to immuno-metabolic processes. Epigenetic reprogramming of the underlying chronic low-grade inflammation by CR can lead to immuno-metabolic adaptations that enhance quality of life, extend lifespan, and delay chronic disease onset.

Tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) targeting epidermal growth factor receptors (EGFR) significantly prolong the survival of lung adenocarcinoma patients with sensitizing EGFRmutations. Unfortunately, 10–30% patients do not show objective responses to EGFR-TKIs, and undergo rapid disease progression during the EGFR-TKIs therapy. Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in mature microRNA (miRNA) sequences may influence target site interactions and modulate downstream pathways, such as the EGFR pathway. For this reason, we hypothesized that miRNA SNPs may impact the prognosis of lung adenocarcinoma patients after EGFR-TKI treatment. By systematically screening of the miRbase and the 1000 genomes project databases, we successfully identified five mature miRNA SNPs. Genotypes were determined in two independent cohorts (Hubei and Shandong cohorts) that include 319 EGFR-TKI treated stage IIIB/IV patients. The impact of miR-608 and miR-4513 on the drug sensitivity of gefitinib was examined in lung adenocarcinoma cells. miR-608rs4919510 or miR-4513rs2168518 significantly contributed to the progression-free survival (PFS) in the Hubei cohort (hazard ratio [HR] = 0.63, confidence interval [CI] = 0.49–0.81, P= 3.0 × 10−4or HR = 0.46, 95% CI = 0.31–0.67, P= 8.0 × 10−5). These observations were further validated in the Shandong cohort (P= 0.005 or P= 0.001). Similarly, the miR-608rs4919510 CC genotype or the miR-4513rs2168518 GA genotype was significantly associated with decreased death risk after gefitinib treatment, compared with the rs4919510 GG genotype (Hubei cohort: P= 5.0 × 10−4; Shandong cohort: P= 0.004) or the rs2168518 GG genotype (P= 4.9 × 10−5; P= 0.002). Consistently, miR-608 significantly increased the anti-proliferation effect of gefitinib in both lung adenocarcinoma PC9 and H1299 cells, whereas miR-4513 increased cells’ resistance to gefitinib. Our findings suggest that miR-608and miR-4513SNPs are independent candidate biomarkers to predict lung adenocarcinoma patients’ survival after EGFR-TKIs treatment. These miRNAs and polymorphisms provide clinical potential in patient-tailored treatment decision-making.

The exploration of low-cost, stable, and highly active noble-metal-free electrocatalyst for hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) in a wide pH range is crucial but still challenging task for renewable energy techniques. MoS2-based materials have been considered as a promising electrocatalyst for HER. However, corresponding studies have been hampered by the lack of effective routes to fully utilize the large number of inert basal plane for catalyzing HER, especially under alkaline media. Herein, a novel ammonia ions-guided-nitrogenization-phosphorization strategy is developed to prepare N and P co-doped MoS2with active basal plane for efficient catalyzing HER with a quite low overpotential of 116 and 78 mV in 0.5 M H2SO4and 1.0 M KOH to achieve a current density of 10 mA cm−2, respectively. Experimental studies and theoretical calculations confirm Mo-N-P sites in the basal plane of MoS2can not only accelerate HER kinetics, but also result in energetic favorability and structure stability. Furthermore, outstanding performances are also obtained under both sea and river water, vastly broadening the application prospects.

The construction of highly active and stable non-noble-metal electrocatalysts for hydrogen and oxygen evolution reactions is a major challenge for overall water splitting. Herein, we report a novel hybrid nanostructure with CoP nanoparticles (NPs) embedded in a N-doped carbon nanotube hollow polyhedron (NCNHP) through a pyrolysis–oxidation–phosphidation strategy derived from core–shell ZIF-8@ZIF-67. Benefiting from the synergistic effects between highly active CoP NPs and NCNHP, the CoP/NCNHP hybrid exhibited outstanding bifunctional electrocatalytic performances. When the CoP/NCNHP was employed as both the anode and cathode for overall water splitting, a potential as low as 1.64 V was needed to achieve the current density of 10 mA·cm–2, and it still exhibited superior activity after continuously working for 36 h with nearly negligible decay in potential. Density functional theory calculations indicated that the electron transfer from NCNHP to CoP could increase the electronic states of the Co d-orbital around the Fermi level, which could increase the binding strength with H and therefore improve the electrocatalytic performance. The strong stability is attributed to high oxidation resistance of the CoP surface protected by the NCNHP.

Epidemiological reports indicate a potential association between androgenic alopecia (AGA) and increased prostate cancer (PC) prevalence, but conflicting reports also exist. This study aims to elucidate the causality of AGA on PC risk using Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis.

Harvesting fog is a potential and effective way to alleviate the crisis of water resource shortage. A highly efficient and economical fog harvesting method has always been a global and common goal. Here, a promising fog harvesting method by coupling plasma and micro/nano materials is proposed, which can achieve 93% fog collection efficiency with consuming power of only 0.76 W/0.04 m2. The basic method is to utilize nanoparticles to decorate both the discharge electrode and the collecting electrode of the micro/nano electrostatic fog collector. For the discharge electrode, the nanoparticles can achieve an order of magnitude higher electric field strength and a 28.6% decrease in the operating voltage (14 kV decreases to 10 kV). For the collecting electrode, a novel composite structure of hydrophobic/hydrophilic (HB/HL) is proposed. The core advantage is the directional droplet transport at the junction of HB and HL caused by surface tension can adjust the accumulated droplets on the two sides, which avoids the droplet residue and mesh blockage in the general structure. This technology provides an innovative approach for the collection of microdroplets and a new design idea for the fog collector to deal with the water crisis.

This paper “Detecting gravitational wave with an interferometric seismometer array on lunar nearside” [1] was published in SCIENCE CHINA Physics, Mechanics & Astronomy(66, 109513 (2023), doi: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11433-023-2179-9). Due to an oversight on our part, some errors were made in the originally published paper. We apologize for these errors and offer the corresponding explanations and corrections for the readers.

A novel organocatalytic asymmetric approach to oxazoline derivatives that proceeds through Mannich/annulation reaction of N-acylimines with 3-chlorooxindoles is presented. This strategy provides an efficient and convenient method to access enantioenriched oxazolines such as valuable chiral S,N-oxazoline ligand as well as Ferrox ligand in high yields with excellent enantio- and diastereroselectivity. Furthermore, the optically active oxazoline products can be converted to valuable 1,2-amino alcohols. More importantly, the synthetic utility of this transformation is demonstrated in the expeditious assembly of chiral Phox-type ligand, which shows excellent catalytic activities.

Appropriate mixed carbon sources have great potential to enhance denitrification efficiency and reduce operational costs in municipal wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs). However, traditional methods struggle to efficiently select the optimal mixture due to the variety of compositions. Herein, we developed a machine learning-assisted high-throughput method enabling WWTPs to rapidly identify and optimize mixed carbon sources. Taking a local WWTP as an example, a mixed carbon source denitrification data set was established via a high-throughput method and employed to train a machine learning model. The composition of carbon sources and the types of inoculated sludge served as input variables. The XGBoost algorithm was employed to predict the total nitrogen removal rate and microbial growth, thereby aiding in the assessment of the denitrification potential. The predicted carbon sources exhibited an enhanced denitrification potential over single carbon sources in both kinetic experiments and long-term reactor operations. Model feature analysis shows that the cumulative effect and interaction among individual carbon sources in a mixture significantly enhance the overall denitrification potential. Metagenomic analysis reveals that the mixed carbon sources increased the diversity and complexity of denitrifying bacterial ecological networks in WWTPs. This work offers an efficient method for WWTPs to optimize mixed carbon source compositions and provides new insights into the mechanism behind enhanced denitrification under a supply of multiple carbon sources.

The electrochemical reduction of CO2could play an important role in addressing climate-change issues and global energy demands as part of a carbon-neutral energy cycle. Single-atom catalysts can display outstanding electrocatalytic performance; however, given their single-site nature they are usually only amenable to reactions that involve single molecules. For processes that involve multiple molecules, improved catalytic properties could be achieved through the development of atomically dispersed catalysts with higher complexities. Here we report a catalyst that features two adjacent copper atoms, which we call an ‘atom-pair catalyst’, that work together to carry out the critical bimolecular step in CO2reduction. The atom-pair catalyst features stable Cu10–Cu1x+pair structures, with Cu1x+adsorbing H2O and the neighbouring Cu10adsorbing CO2, which thereby promotes CO2activation. This results in a Faradaic efficiency for CO generation above 92%, with the competing hydrogen evolution reaction almost completely suppressed. Experimental characterization and density functional theory revealed that the adsorption configuration reduces the activation energy, which generates high selectivity, activity and stability under relatively low potentials.

Objective This study aimed to assess the value of measuring the tubule diameter during microdissection testicular sperm extraction (micro-TESE) in predicting outcomes in patients with Sertoli cell-only syndrome (SCOS).Methods Fifty-six consecutive patients with SCOS were included. Patients were classified into two groups on the basis of the diameter of seminiferous tubules measured against 5/0 surgical suture (≥100 µm or <100 µm).Results The sperm retrieval rate (SRR) in men with a tubule diameter ≥100 µm was significantly lower than that in those with <100 µm (3.1% vs. 25.0%). The SRR from the contralateral testis in men with a tubule diameter ≥100 µm was lower than that in those with <100 µm (0% vs. 14.3%). Men with a tubule diameter ≥100 µm had a significantly larger testis and lower follicle-stimulating hormone levels than did men with <100 µm (8.1 ± 2.4 vs. 5.3±1.8 mL, 19.9 ± 9.7 vs. 25.9 ± 7.1 mIU/mL, respectively).Conclusions The diameter of tubules is a useful predictor for a successful SRR in men with SCOS. Intraoperative assessment of homogeneous large tubules allows some men to perform a limited (superficial) contralateral micro-TESE after no spermatozoa are initially identified.

The practical application of hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) through water splitting depends on the development of low cost and efficient non-noble-metal catalysts. As a potential electrocatalyst, the improvement of HER performance catalyzed by nanostructured transition metal phosphides still remains a great challenge. Tuning the novel nanostructure, morphology, and electronic state from nanoscale is of great important to achieve highly efficient HER electrocatalysts. Herein, we first developed an electronic structure and d-band center control engineering for accelerating the HER process in both acid and alkaline media over M-doped CoP (M = Ni, Mn, Fe) hollow polyhedron frames (HPFs), which were synthesized by a self-templating transformation (STT) strategy. Impressively, the HER electrocatalytic activity can be maximumly promoted and maintained at least 21 h for Ni-CoP/HPFs catalyst. Synchrotron-based X-ray absorption near-edge structure, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, auger electron spectroscopy, ultraviolet photoemission spectroscopy and density functional theory calculations consistently reveal the improved performance is attributed to the changes of the electronic structure and the downshift of d-band center after metal doping. The Ni-CoP/HPFs catalyst also indicates excellent activity with a cell voltage of 1.43 V to achieve the current density of 10 mA cm−2and superior stability when it was employed as a cathode for HER and an anode for urea oxidation in 1 M KOH with 0.5 M urea. The success modulation of HER performance in current STT strategy will provide a promising pathway for designing various transition metal-doped compounds for energy-related catalysis processes.