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Photocatalytic water splitting (PWS) is a promising approach for sustainable hydrogen production, which can potentially address the growing energy demands and environmental concerns. In this paper, we designed a family of 18 two-dimensional materials, AX 2 B 3 (A = K, Rb, Cs; X = Ni, Pd, Pt; B S, Se), and further investigated their stability, electronic structures and PWS performance. We illustrated that all the materials possess high stability, and exhibit semiconducting characteristics with band-gaps from 0.78 to 2.07 eV. Interestingly, there are 6 Pt-containing materials, KPt 2 S 3 , KPt 2 Se 3 , RbPt 2 S 3 , RbPt 2 Se 3 , CsPt 2 S 3 and CsPt 2 Se 3 , with suitable band-edges to drive hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) and oxygen evolution reaction (OER) in the process of PWS. Besides, these 6 candidates can release high PWS activity due to their high electron mobility of ∼103 cm2/Vs, which is significantly higher than that of hole. Moreover, they have strong optical absorption coefficient (∼105 cm−1) covering visible to ultraviolet light, and deliver amazing solar-to-hydrogen efficiencies from 24.57% to 26.72%, which are higher than those of common PWS materials. Ultimately, two-dimensional APt 2 B 3 (A = K, Rb, Cs; B S, Se) are suitable candidates for PWS application under sun light. [Display omitted] • Two-dimensional AX 2 B 3 (A = K, Rb, Cs; X = Ni, Pd, Pt; B = S, Se), are revealed to possess high stability, and show band-gaps from 0.78 to 2.07 eV. • The 6 Pt-containing materials have suitable band-edges to drive photocatalytic water splitting. • They have strong optical absorption coefficient of 105 cm−1), and deliver amazing solar-to-hydrogen efficiencies from 24.57% to 26.72%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using mechanically activated Mg(OH) 2 /AlO(OH) powder, we obtained nearly fully dense MgAl 2 O 4 ceramics with small grains by combining reactive cold sintering and ultrafast high-temperature sintering (UHS). During reactive cold sintering, the intermediate products, γ -Al 2 O 3 and α -Al 2 O 3 , stemming from the dehydration of AlO(OH), reacted with MgO to form nanocrystalline bulk MgAl 2 O 4 with a relative density of up to ∼65%. After the subsequent UHS process (1930 °C for 60 s), the relative density of the samples reached 97%. The sintering efficiency and the final density of the samples were substantially higher than those of conventional sintering (1500 °C/6 h). This work provides a new technical route for the efficient fabrication of dense and fine-grained spinel ceramics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hyperactivation of ribosome biogenesis leads to hepatocyte transformation and plays pivotal roles in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) development. We aimed to identify critical ribosome biogenesis proteins that are overexpressed and crucial in HCC progression. HEAT repeat containing 1 (HEATR1) expression and clinical correlations were analyzed using The Cancer Genome Atlas and Gene Expression Omnibus databases and further evaluated by immunohistochemical analysis of an HCC tissue microarray. Gene expression was knocked down by small interfering RNA. HEATR1 -knockdown cells were subjected to viability, cell cycle, and apoptosis assays and used to establish subcutaneous and orthotopic tumor models. Chromatin immunoprecipitation and quantitative polymerase chain reaction were performed to detect the association of candidate proteins with specific DNA sequences. Endogenous coimmunoprecipitation combined with mass spectrometry was used to identify protein interactions. We performed immunoblot and immunofluorescence assays to detect and localize proteins in cells. The nucleolus ultrastructure was detected by transmission electron microscopy. Click-iT (Thermo Fisher Scientific) RNA imaging and puromycin incorporation assays were used to measure nascent ribosomal RNA and protein synthesis, respectively. Proteasome activity, 20S proteasome foci formation, and protein stability were evaluated in HEATR1 -knockdown HCC cells. HEATR1 was the most up-regulated gene in a set of ribosome biogenesis mediators in HCC samples. High expression of HEATR1 was associated with poor survival and malignant clinicopathologic features in patients with HCC and contributed to HCC growth in vitro and in vivo. HEATR1 expression was regulated by the transcription factor specificity protein 1, which can be activated by insulin-like growth factor 1–mammalian target of rapamycin complex 1 signaling in HCC cells. HEATR1 localized predominantly in the nucleolus, bound to ribosomal DNA, and was associated with RNA polymerase I transcription/processing factors. Knockdown of HEATR1 disrupted ribosomal RNA biogenesis and impaired nascent protein synthesis, leading to reduced cytoplasmic proteasome activity and inhibitory-κB/nuclear factor-κB signaling. Moreover, HEATR1 knockdown induced nucleolar stress with increased nuclear proteasome activity and inactivation of the nucleophosmin 1-MYC axis. Our study revealed that HEATR1 is up-regulated by insulin-like growth factor 1–mammalian target of rapamycin complex 1–specificity protein 1 signaling in HCC and functions as a crucial regulator of ribosome biogenesis and proteome homeostasis to promote HCC development. [Display omitted] Nucleolar protein HEAT repeat containing 1 is up-regulated by mechanistic target of rapamycin complex 1 signaling and contributes to hepatocellular carcinoma progression through dominating ribosome biogenesis and proteome homeostasis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• All the four dicarboxylic acids additives can improve the discharge potential of the Mg anode effectively. • The four selected additives can form soluble complexes with Mg2+ and promote the dissolution of the Mg anode. • The discharge potential is still 50 mV higher than that of the blank electrolyte after 60-hour-discharge. The aqueous Mg-air battery has promising applications in energy storage system. To improve the discharge performance of the Mg anode, four dicarboxylic acids including oxalic acid, malic acid, succinic acid, adipic acid are used as electrolyte additive for the aqueous Mg-air battery. The influence of the four selected additives and their reaction mechanism are systematically investigated by hydrogen evolution, electrochemical experiments (OCP, half/full-cell test, EIS), SEM, XRD, XPS and DFT calculations. The experiment results demonstrate that the dicarboxylic acid electrolyte additive can active the Mg anode evidently by increasing the hydrogen evolution volume and negative shift of discharge potentials. The surface morphology and the chemical composition analyses demonstrate that the four selected additives can form soluble complexes with Mg2+. The oxalic acid is the best electrolyte additive among the four dicarboxylic acids. The chelating ability of the additives and the pH of the electrolyte both affect the discharge performance of the Mg anode. The mechanism by which the dicarboxylic acids additives improve the discharge performance of the Mg anode is further proved by DFT calculations. It is the soluble Mg2+ complex (MgL, L: dicarboxylate) formed between the additives and the Mg anode that inhibit the formation of the corrosion products and promote the dissolution of the Mg anode, thus enhance the discharge performance of the Mg anode. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, rice husk biochar was engineered with abundant iron ion sites to enhance the enrichment of antioxidant peptides from rice protein hydrolysates through metal-chelating interactions. The π-π interactions and metal ion chelation were identified as the primary mechanisms for the enrichment process. Through peptide sequencing, four peptides were identified: LKFL (P1: Leu-Lys-Phe-Leu), QLLF (P2: Gln-Leu-Leu-Phe), WLAYG (P3: Trp-Leu-Ala-Tyr-Gly), and HFCGG (P4: His-Phe-Cys-Gly-Gly). The vitro analysis and molecular docking revealed that peptides P1-P4 possessed remarkable scavenging ability against radicals and Fe2+ chelating ability. Notably, peptide P4 showed radical scavenging activity comparable to glutathione (GSH) against 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and 2,2′-azinobis-3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulphonate (ABTS) radicals. Cellular experiments further confirmed that peptide P4 effectively protected HepG2 cells from oxidative stress-induced damage. The modified rice husk biochar proved to be an effective means for enriching rice antioxidant peptides from protein hydrolysates. [Display omitted] • A functionlized rice husk biochar was prepared for enriching antioxidant peptides. • One-step-enrichment significantly improved the free radical scavenging abilities. • Four antioxidant peptides (LKFL, QLLF, WLAYG, and HFCGG) were identified. • HFCGG showing comparable antioxidant ability to GSH. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reactive cold sintering (RCS) is a combination of a low-temperature reaction and the cold sintering process, and it is used for the direct synthesis and simultaneous consolidation of ceramic powders. Here, we investigated RCS of BaZrO 3 through the reaction between Ba(OH) 2 ⋅8H 2 O and Zr(OH) 4 , and obtained pure BaZrO 3 compacts with a relative density of ∼92% under the conditions of Zr(OH) 4 ball-milling for 30 min, Ba/Zr ratio of 1.15, and holding a temperature of 350 °C for 60 min. The effects of processing parameters on the phase structure, relative density, microstructure evolution, and dielectric property of the BaZrO 3 bulk were studied in detail. The results suggest that the synthesis and densification of BaZrO 3 bulk in the RCS process involved the steps of dissolution, reaction, agglomeration, collapse, and densification. The present study extends the applicability of RCS to the preparation of high-density perovskite ceramics with nanograins. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A generalized cold sintering densification strategy based on a hydroxide precursor transformation route is proposed for oxides. The densification of MgO, CuO, ZnO and WO 3 was achieved via cold sintering by using their corresponding hydroxides at temperatures not exceeding 450 °C. Nano-oxides formed by the decomposition of the hydroxides exhibited good low-temperature sinterability. The densification mechanisms mainly involved particle rearrangement promoted by in situ released water and intergranular diffusion accelerated by surface defects of the oxide particles generated from hydroxide decomposition. During the cold sintering process, the oxides with relatively higher solubility in a water vapor environment are more likely to form surface defects, which promoted water-aided densification. Owing to the possibility of obtaining the corresponding hydroxides for almost all oxides, this strategy renders cold sintering feasible for a wide range of materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The reduction of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and inflammatory factor levels plays an important role in the treatment of colitis. A series of ROS-responsive lipids (ZnDPA-R) based on the thioketal structure were designed and synthesized. It was expected that the lipidic materials could combine ROS consumption and siRNA delivery capacity to achieve synergistic treatment of colitis. The target liposomes could combine with the phosphate backbone of siRNA to form lipoplexes of size ∼100 nm and could deliver siRNA cargo into the cell. The results of in vitro anti-inflammatory experiments showed that the lipids may effectively consume ROS in the cells. The lipoplexes significantly reduced the expression levels of TNF-α mRNA and related inflammatory factors in macrophages. After PEGylation, the lipoplex was used for treating mouse colitis, and the biodistribution results proved that the lipoplexes effectively aggregated in the intestine. The delivery system could not only respond to the high ROS level in colitis through breaking of thioketal structure, but it could also assist in treating inflammation by ROS consumption. The treatment results revealed that the levels of TNF-α mRNA and related inflammatory factors in the colon lesion were largely reduced, and the inflammatory symptoms were significantly relieved. Hematology test results indicated that the treatment was safe and induced no side effects in mice. The present study may shed light on the synergistic treatment of colitis through anti-inflammatory siRNA delivery and ROS depletion strategies. Downregulation of inflammatory factors and reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels is critical in treating colitis. In the present study, a series of ROS-responsive lipid molecules based on the Zn-DPA headgroup and thioketal linkage were synthesized for delivering TNF-α siRNA and for treating colitis. In addition to silencing the expression of TNF-α mRNA and the related inflammatory factors, the material also achieved synergistic treatment by simultaneous consumption of ROS in the colon lesion. In vitro cell experiments and in vivo colitis treatment in mice showed that the lipoplex exerted a satisfactory therapeutic effect on colitis, and the symptoms of colitis in mice were significantly alleviated. The present study may shed light on the synergistic treatment for colitis through anti-inflammatory siRNA delivery and ROS depletion strategies. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• REEs were associated with clay, Fe, and Al during pedogenesis based on mass balance. • The chondrites-normalized patterns of REEs revealed an LREEs enrichment. • The magnitude of REEs fractionation in Ultisol was higher than that in Inceptisols. • HREEs were preferentially leached in the studied soils. Volcanic plateaus commonly form in andesitic regions. Few pedological studies have explored the fractionation and mobility of rare earth elements (REEs) in andesite-derived soils. The present study clarified the pedogenic processes of soils on volcanic plateaus in northern Taiwan; this was achieved by analyzing the patterns and fractionation indices of REEs and performing mass balance calculations to determine their mobility. Four pedons were examined through physiochemical and mineral analyses and by taking REEs measurements from the plateaus surrounding Mt. Huangtsui. The four pedons were pedon VP1 from a lava plateau, pedons VP2 and VP3 from an epiclastic plateau, and pedon VP4 from the scarp of a lava plateau. The identified chondrites-normalized REEs patterns exhibited universal similarities with light REEs (LREEs) enrichment across all horizons of individual pedons, suggesting that their parent materials were uniform within the profile on the plateau. The signatures of REEs patterns differed among the four pedons because of their soil variations (e.g., clay and gibbsite). This study identified a considerable migration of REEs along with clay, Fe, and Al in the soil profiles. The mass gains of REEs, LREEs, and heavy REEs (HREEs) in the subsurface soils of pedon VP1 were greater than those in the other pedons because pedon VP1, classified as Typic Hapludult, exhibited the highest level of soil development. However, the REEs mass fluxes were low in pedon VP4 (classified as Typic Dystrudept) throughout the profile, where HREEs were preferentially leached in incipient soil. For pedons VP2 and VP3 (both classified as Oxic Dystrudepts), their profile distributions of REEs were similar because of their identical parent materials and pedological characteristics. A principal component analysis elucidated the differentiation of REEs distribution between pedons. Thus, the REEs characterization associated with the mass balance was applicable to the pedogenic tracers of soils on the plateaus. This study provides useful insights into the mobility of REEs in andesitic soils on volcanic plateaus and the potential of REEs as pedogenic tracers of these soil types globally. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We achieved the densification of hydroxyapatite (HA) via cold sintering using CaHPO 4 ·2H 2 O as an additive at temperatures lower than 200 °C and investigated the influences of CaHPO 4 ·2H 2 O content and temperature on the relative density of cold-sintered HA and its composites. The elastic modulus, compressive strength and flexural strength of the cold-sintered specimens were comparable yet slightly inferior to the level of the dense HA prepared by conventional sintering at temperatures higher than 1000 °C. A possible densification mechanism was proposed for the formation of hydrogen bonds between the CaHPO 4 fragments generated by the thermal decomposition of CaHPO 4 ·2H 2 O and the phosphate groups in HA by water molecules, thus linking the HA particles together. This strategy of achieving dense target product from its hydrated precursors provides an important avenue for the development of cold sintering process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To investigate the prevalence and risk factors for adhesive capsulitis in postoperative breast cancer patients up to 5 years after surgery who were attending an outpatient community cancer rehabilitation program, and to determine whether any significant relationship exists between arm lymphedema and adhesive capsulitis. Cross-sectional observational study. National cancer rehabilitation center. Asian women (N=135) who underwent breast surgery and were referred for an outpatient community cancer rehabilitation program. Not applicable. Presence of adhesive capsulitis, lymphedema. The prevalence of adhesive capsulitis and lymphedema in this population was 22.2% and 33.3%, respectively. A history of mastectomy (odds ratio [OR], 3.93; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.23-12.63; P =.021), mastectomy with reconstruction (OR, 2.72; 95% CI, 1.27-30.54; P =.024), and lymphedema (OR, 7.92; 95% CI, 2.73-22.95; P <.001) were found to be significantly associated with adhesive capsulitis on multivariate analysis. Adhesive capsulitis and lymphedema are common in breast cancer survivors. The design of cancer rehabilitation programs for breast cancer survivors should include surveillance and management of adhesive capsulitis, especially in the presence of lymphedema. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]