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As the system with the highest solar hydrogen conversion efficiency, the further improvement of photovoltaic-photoelectrocatalysis (PV-PEC) efficiency is dependent on the light transmittance, activity and stability of the photoanode. Here, a highly permeable BiVO 4 thin film was fabricated through controlled magnetron sputtering. The thickness of the thin film was merely 345 nm, while its transmittance in the visible light range reached as high as 70%. Moreover, large-scale production of such films could be achieved. By incorporating NiFeO x oxygen extraction cocatalyst, under AM 1.5G illumination, the photocurrent density at 1.23 V on reversible hydrogen electrode (RHE) increased to 4.2 mA cm−2 and the incident photon-current conversion efficiency reached 70%. A PV-PEC system was designed to efficiently harness sunlight by integrating the photoanode with a solar photovoltaic panel. Upon connection with the solar photovoltaic panel (with an efficiency of only 7%), spontaneous water decomposition could be achieved, resulting in a solar-to-hydrogen conversion efficiency (η STH) of 4.2% for the series system. This study contributes to the realization of cost-effective and highly efficient PV-PEC hydrogen production. The PV-PEC series system with BiVO 4 thin film photoanode prepared by magnetron sputtering method improves the overall utilization rate of sunlight and realizes spontaneous water decomposition. [Display omitted] • BiVO 4 films with large area and high transmittance can be prepared by low rate controlled magnetron sputtering. • The PEC performance of films was improved by optimizing the magnetron sputtering process and supporting catalyst. • Photovoltaic and photoanode in PV-PEC cells can be irradiated in series to improve the utilization rate of sunlight. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper introduces a robust methodology for evaluating complex electricity system efficiency, making several contributions. It systematically decomposes the electric power system into various processes, including power generation, transmission, distribution, and power consumption, with parallel sub-processes for production and domestic power consumption. Employing data envelopment analysis (DEA), the paper develops a network directional slacks-based (DSB) model to evaluate the whole system and the internal processes. The model is theoretically proven to be feasible, providing efficiency scores and identifying inefficiencies in the system and its processes. A noteworthy addition is the introduction of the DSB green Luenberger productivity index and its decomposition, offering an analysis of productivity changes in electricity systems. Empirical analysis covering 30 Chinese provinces from 2013 to 2019 uncovers the performance variations among provinces and processes, pointing out inefficiencies and changes in technology and efficiency over time. The empirical findings aim to support efforts in enhancing the overall efficiency of China's interprovincial power system. • We decompose the complex electric power system into four processes with dependence. • We build a network directional slacks-based (DSB) model for the complex power system. • We give a DSB green Luenberger productivity index (DPI) for our network model. • The efficiency score and DPI of the system are decomposed into those of processes. • We apply the model and indexes to electric power systems in Chinese provinces. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ventilator-induced lung injury (VILI) is the most common complication associated with mechanical ventilation. Electroacupuncture (EA) has shown potent anti-inflammatory effects. This study aimed to investigate the effects of EA on VILI and explore the underlying mechanisms. Male C57BL/6 mice were subjected to high tidal volume ventilation to induce VILI. Prior to mechanical ventilation, mice received treatment with EA, nonacupoint EA, or EA combined with zinc protoporphyrin. EA treatment significantly improved oxygenation, as indicated by increased PaO 2 levels in VILI mice. Moreover, EA reduced lung injury score, lung wet/dry weight ratio, and protein concentration in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid. EA also decreased the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines including interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, tumor necrosis factor-α, IL-18, chemokine keratinocyte chemoattractant, macrophage inflammatory protein 2, and malondialdehyde. Furthermore, EA increased the activities of antioxidant enzymes superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione peroxidase in VILI mice. At the molecular level, EA upregulated the expression of Nrf2 (nucleus) and heme oxygenase −1, while down-regulating the expression of p-NF-κB p65, NLR Family Pyrin Domain Containing 3, Cleaved Caspase-1, and ASC in VILI mice. Notably, the effects of EA were reversed by zinc protoporphyrin treatment, nonacupoint EA did not affect the aforementioned indicators of VILI. EA alleviates VILI by inhibiting the NLR Family Pyrin Domain Containing three inflammasome through activation of the Nrf2/HO-1 pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The balance centered at Cr3+, La3+ and Al3+ was investigated and the stabilizing mechanism of Cr3+ was proposed during crystal remolding. The crystallinity of bulk STO perovskite is improved by the molten-salt method, and the exposure of new non-equivalent facets is more conducive to internal charge separation and migration. The above development is helpful for the overall water splitting under visible light. [Display omitted] • Designed single-crystalline La/(Cr, Al) co-doped SrTiO 3 was successfully prepared. • Introduced Cr3+ for visible-light excitation is fixed and stabilized by La3+ and Al3+. • Ti3+ defect concentration is effectively suppressed after crystal remolding. • The designed SrTiO 3 material performed well in visible-light-driven water splitting. Achieving efficient solar-to-hydrogen conversion through visible-light-driven overall water splitting poses a significant challenge for particulate photocatalysts. Although bandgap engineering can be realized by ion doping, the introduced defects simultaneously enhance the recombination of electron-hole pairs. Herein, La/(Cr, Al) co-doped SrTiO 3 was remolded via the ion implantation flux method. The La, Cr and Al achieve valence state equilibrium upon stabilizing the crystal lattice, resulting in visible-light absorption. The optimized La/(Cr, Al)-SrTiO 3 photocatalyst exhibits an overall water-splitting reaction under visible light, yielding 73.2 μmol·h−1 for H 2 and 35.0 μmol·h−1 for O 2 with an apparent quantum yield of 1.44 % at 420 nm. Based on theoretical calculation, we proposed a La, Al-cooperated mechanism that a little Cr3+ was fixed by the surrounding Al3+, and the valence state was stabilized by La3+ during the crystal remolding, thereby giving the guidance for designing visible-light materials applied in overall water splitting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

What role does programmed cell death 4 (PDCD4) play in premature ovarian insufficiency (POI)? A PDCD4 gene knockout (PDCD4–/–) mouse model was constructed, a POI mouse model was established similar to human POI with 4-vinylcyclohexene dioxide (VCD), a PDCD4 -overexpressed adenovirus was designed and the regulatory role in POI in vitro and in vivo was investigated. PDCD4 expression was significantly increased in the ovarian granulosa cells of patients with POI (P ≤ 0.002 protein and mRNA) and mice with VCD-induced POI (P < 0.001 protein expression in both mouse ovaries and granulosa cells). In POI-induced mice model, PDCD4 knockouts significantly increased anti-Müllerian hormone, oestrodiol and numbers of developing follicles, and the PI3K-AKT-Bcl2/Bax signalling pathway is involved in it. The expression and regulation of PDCD4 significantly affects the POI pathology in a mouse model. This effect is closely related to the regulation of Bcl2/Bax and the activation of the PI3K-AKT signalling pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]