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To control the transition process in a laminar separation bubble (LSB) over an ultra-high load compressor blade at a Re of 1.5×105, the effects of wall heat transfer were considered and numerically investigated by large eddy simulations (LES). Compared with the adiabatic wall condition, the local kinematic viscosity of airflow was reduced by wall cooling; thus the effects of turbulent dissipation on the growth of fluctuations were weakened. As such, the transition occurred much earlier, and the size of LSB became smaller. On the cooled surface, the spanwise vortices deformed much more rapidly and the size of hairpin vortex structures was decreased. Furthermore, the rolling-up of 3D hairpin vortices and the ejection and sweeping process very close to the blade surface was weakened. Correspondingly, the aerodynamic losses of the compressor blade were reduced by 18.2% and 38.4% for the two cooled wall conditions. The results demonstrated the feasibility of wall cooling in controlling the transition within an LSB and reducing the aerodynamic loss of an ultra-highly loaded compressor blade. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The high-intactness and ultraclean fabrication of suspended 2D materials has always been a challenge due to their atomically thin nature. Here, we present a universal polymer-free transfer approach for fabricating suspended 2D materials by using volatile micro-molecule cyclododecane as the transfer medium, thus ensuring the ultraclean and intact surface of suspended 2D materials. For the fabricated monolayer suspended graphene, the intactness reaches 99% for size below 10 µm and suspended size reaches 36 µm. Owing to the advantages of ultra-cleanness and large size, the thermal conductivity reaches 4914 W m − 1 K − 1 at 338 K. Moreover, this strategy can also realize efficient batch transfer of suspended graphene and is applicable for fabricating other 2D suspended materials such as MoS2. Our research not only establishes foundation for potential applications and investigations of intrinsic properties of large-area suspended 2D materials, but also accelerates the wide applications of suspended graphene grid in ultrahigh-resolution TEM characterization. Here, the authors report a polymer-free transfer method to fabricate suspended 2D materials with high intactness and thermal conductivity, facilitating the application of graphene grids for high-resolution electron microscopy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Further improvements in perovskite solar cells require better control of ionic defects in the perovskite photoactive layer during the manufacturing stage and their usage1–5. Here we report a living passivation strategy using a hindered urea/thiocarbamate bond6–8 Lewis acid–base material (HUBLA), where dynamic covalent bonds with water and heat-activated characteristics can dynamically heal the perovskite to ensure device performance and stability. Upon exposure to moisture or heat, HUBLA generates new agents and further passivates defects in the perovskite. This passivation strategy achieved high-performance devices with a power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 25.1 per cent. HUBLA devices retained 94 per cent of their initial PCE for approximately 1,500 hours of ageing at 85 degrees Celsius in nitrogen and maintained 88 per cent of their initial PCE after 1,000 hours of ageing at 85 degrees Celsius and 30 per cent relative humidity in air.A living passivation strategy enables dynamic self-healing of perovskite solar cells to ensure device performance and stability on exposure to heat or moisture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The exploration of physical degrees of freedom of light with infinite dimensionality, such as orbital angular momentum (OAM) and frequency, has profoundly reshaped the landscape of modern optics, with representative photonic functional devices including optical vortex emitters and frequency combs. In nanophotonics, whispering gallery mode microresonators naturally support applications based on the OAM of light and have been employed as on-chip emitters of monochromatic optical vortices. On the other hand, whispering gallery mode microresonators can serve as a highly efficient non-linear optical platform for producing light at different frequencies, that is, microcombs. Here we combine optical vortices and microcombs by demonstrating an optical vortex comb on a III–V integrated non-linear ring microresonator. The angular grating-dressed non-linear microring simultaneously emits spatiotemporal light springs consisting of 50 OAM modes, with each frequency of the microcomb carrying a distinct OAM value. We also experimentally generate optical pulses with time-varying OAM by carefully endowing the spatiotemporal light springs with a specific intermodal phase relation. We expect our work to favour the development of integrated non-linear and quantum photonics for exploring fundamental optical physics and advancing photonic quantum technology. Microring-based vortex combs with each comb line carrying a distinct orbital angular momentum generate light springs with time-varying orbital angular momenta. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The escalation of cloud services, driven by their accessibility, improved performance, and cost-effectiveness, has led cloud service providers to consistently seek methods to expedite job completion, thereby boosting profits and reducing energy consumption expenses. Despite developing numerous scheduling algorithms, many of these techniques address only a specific objective within the scheduling process. To efficiently achieve better optimization results for the cloud task scheduling problem, a novel approach, the Enhanced Whale Optimization Algorithm (EWOA), is proposed. EWOA integrates the WOA with the Lévy flight. The incorporation of Lévy flight is tailored to broaden the search space of WOA, expediting convergence with adaptive crossover. The EWOA model is simulated using the Cloudsim tool and evaluated under diverse test conditions. The effectiveness of EWOA is assessed by employing various parameters and comparing them with existing algorithms. The results demonstrate that EWOA outperforms other algorithms in resource utilization, energy consumption, and execution cost, establishing its superiority in addressing the complexities of multi-objective cloud task scheduling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The graph data keep growing over time in real life. The ever-growing amount of dynamic graph data demands efficient techniques of incremental graph computation. However, incremental graph algorithms are challenging to develop. Existing approaches usually require users to manually design nontrivial incremental operators, or choose different memoization strategies for certain specific types of computation, limiting the usability and generality. In light of these challenges, we propose Ingress , an automated system for incrementalgraph processing. Ingress is able to deduce the incremental counterpart of a batch vertex-centric algorithm, without the need of redesigned logic or data structures from users. Underlying Ingress is an automated incrementalization framework equipped with four different memoization policies, to support all kinds of vertex-centric computations with optimized memory utilization. We identify sufficient conditions for the applicability of these policies. Ingress chooses the best-fit policy for a given algorithm automatically by verifying these conditions. In addition to the ease-of-use and generalization, Ingress outperforms state-of-the-art incremental graph systems by 12.14 × on average (up to 49.23 × ) in efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A Gram-stain-negative, non-flagellated, aerobic, ovoid or rod-shaped bacterium with motility, designated B8T, was isolated from the sediment of Clam Island beach, Liaoning province, China. The optimum growth of strain B8T occurred at 35 oC, pH 7.0, and in the presence of 4.0–5.0% (w/v) NaCl. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that strain B8T formed a distinct lineage within the genus Sphingomicrobium and was closely related to Sphingomicrobium nitratireducens O-35T (98.3% sequence similarity), Sphingomicrobium aestuariivivum KCTC 42286T (96.9%), and Sphingomicrobium astaxanthinifaciens JCM 18551T (96.5%). The digital DNA–DNA hybridization and average nucleotide identity values between strain B8T and closely related strains were lower than 21.0% and 78.0%, much lower than the cutoff values of 70.0% and 95.0%, respectively, for bacterial species delineation. The dominant respiratory quinone of strain B8T was ubiquinone-10. The major fatty acids were Sum In Feature 8 (C18:1ω7c and/or C18:1ω6c), Sum In Feature 3 (C16 : 1ω7c and/or C16 : 1ω6c), C17:1ω6c, C18:1 2-OH, and C16:0. The major polar lipids were diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, sphingoglycolipid, glycolipids, and four unknown polar lipids. The DNA G + C content of strain B8T was 63.9%. Based on the phenotypic, phylogenetic, and chemotaxonomic analyses, strain B8T is considered a new species of Sphingomicrobium, for which the name Sphingomicrobium clamense sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is B8T (= CGMCC 1.19486T = KCTC 92052T). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nowadays, numerous encryption schemes have been proposed in response to the growing concerns regarding the security of individuals' health information in medical imaging. It is well known that in real-world hospital scenarios, medical equipment generates a batch of images at one time, and doctors utilize them to diagnose patients' health conditions. Existing schemes have primarily focused on encrypting a single image; however, the lack of design for encrypting batch images leads to low flexibility in practical applications. To address this practical challenge, we propose a batch medical image encryption scheme. This scheme considers all the pixels in the batch images as a three-dimensional pixel cube and encrypts them using a Latin cube-based simultaneous permutation and diffusion technique to improve encryption efficiency. Through experimental results and security analysis, our scheme demonstrates strong key sensitivity and effectively resist various cryptographic attacks, such as brute-force attack, statistical attacks, and differential attack. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

CDK4/6 inhibitors (CDK4/6i) have improved survival of patients with estrogen receptor-positive (ER+) breast cancer. However, patients treated with CDK4/6i eventually develop drug resistance and progress. RB1 loss-of-function alterations confer resistance to CDK4/6i, but the optimal therapy for these patients is unclear. Through a genome-wide CRISPR screen, we identify protein arginine methyltransferase 5 (PRMT5) as a molecular vulnerability in ER+/RB1-knockout breast cancer cells. Inhibition of PRMT5 blocks the G1-to-S transition in the cell cycle independent of RB, leading to growth arrest in RB1-knockout cells. Proteomics analysis uncovers fused in sarcoma (FUS) as a downstream effector of PRMT5. Inhibition of PRMT5 results in dissociation of FUS from RNA polymerase II, leading to hyperphosphorylation of serine 2 in RNA polymerase II, intron retention, and subsequent downregulation of proteins involved in DNA synthesis. Furthermore, treatment with the PRMT5 inhibitor pemrametostat and a selective ER degrader fulvestrant synergistically inhibits growth of ER+/RB-deficient cell-derived and patient-derived xenografts. These findings highlight dual ER and PRMT5 blockade as a potential therapeutic strategy to overcome resistance to CDK4/6i in ER+/RB-deficient breast cancer. CDK4/6 inhibitors have improved outcomes for patients with ER+ breast cancer, however, those with loss of RB1 function often fail to respond. Here, the authors identify a vulnerability of ER + /RB1- breast cancer on PRMT5 and via dual blockade of ER and PRMT5 therapeutically target this in patient-derived xenograft models. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The roller pump is a distinctive device that delivers fluid in an analogous manner to the peristaltic movement of a biological organism. The pump with the unique mechanism can isolate the liquid from the pump's mechanical components effectively, thereby preventing contamination of the fluid. Therefore, the pump is widely used in extracorporeal circulation machines as artificial hearts for extracorporeal circulation of blood. However, the roller pump exhibits flow pulsation, and in severe cases, that may potentially harm the human body during extracorporeal circulation surgeries. It is necessary to optimize the structure of the roller pump, reduce the degree of flow pulsation of the roller pump and improve the smoothness of the flow transmission. In order to minimize the extent of flow pulsation, the high fidelity fluid–solid interaction (FSI) model of roller pump is established, the accuracy of the model is verified by experiment. Two methods of optimizing the pump structure are proposed. First, the optimization method based on the flow compensation, a new structure model of Y- shaped is established, that reduce the degree of pulsation by superimposing the flow curves with phase difference for flow compensation. Another one is the rapid and efficient optimization method based on the surrogate model, that the surrogate model combines with the optimization algorithm to optimize the structural parameters. The surrogate model is used to replace the FSI model, and the optimal configuration of the internal structural variables is obtained through the Multi-island genetic algorithm (MIGA). And the accuracy of the surrogate model verified by FSI analysis. The results indicate that the two optimization methods have their own advantages in reducing the pump flow pulsation and the pump flow pulsation performance has been improved significantly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A unified and systematic understanding of the dynamic mechanism of high-speed and long-run-out landslides has not been achieved due to the fast-movement speed and long sliding distance. It is difficult to explain the evolution process using conventional dynamic methods. In this study, the evolution of the frictional heat in the sliding zone and dynamic process of the Guang'an Village landslide were studied through field investigation and MatDEM numerical simulation software. A nucleated high-heat area was formed near the sliding zone, and it expanded in the forward motion direction during the sliding. The high-heat area corresponded to the trajectory projection of the thickest part of the sliding mass. It was difficult for the heat generated by the friction in the sliding zone to dissipate during the few seconds of the sliding process, and 80% of the heat was stored in the rock and soil near the sliding zone, causing the temperature of these materials to increase sharply. The connection state diagram and heat field diagram of the MatDEM unit intuitively showed the fracture development process in the sliding mass and sliding bed. The results of this study provide an important reference for the evolution mechanism of high-speed and long-run-out landslides. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Iron oxides are ubiquitous natural components in sediments and have been documented to play a prominent role in controlling the geochemical and environmental behavior of contaminants. However, the influence of iron oxides on the toxicity of contaminants in sediments has not been well illustrated. This study aims to investigate the impacts of iron oxides on the toxicity of pentachlorophenol (PCP), a historically used agrochemical and persistent organic pollutant, using the freshwater chironomid of Chironomus riparius. Methods: Two representative iron oxides, goethite and hematite, were added (1%—5%, w/w) to PCP-spiked sediments. The 10-d median lethal concentration (LC50) values of PCP to C. riparius were measured by sediment toxicity tests. Speciation of iron oxides was conducted by analyzing amorphous iron oxides (Feo) and free iron oxides (Fed) in the sediments. Results: Adding goethite into the sediments generally increased LC50 values, while hematite did not, probably because of the strong adsorption of PCP to goethite by electrostatic interactions. Neither Feo (p = 0.08 > 0.05) nor Fed (p = 0.97 > 0.05) had a significant relationship with LC50, whereas their ratio (Feo/Fed) positively correlated with LC50 (p = 0.03 < 0.05). Conclusion: Goethite reduces the toxicity of PCP in the sediments, while hematite does not obviously change the toxicity. Elevated Feo/Fed values result in a decrease of the toxicity. This study highlights the important role of iron oxides in affecting the toxicity and the ecological risk of PCP in sediments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Normal-dispersion microcombs have gained significant attention for their features, including high conversion efficiency, deterministic generation, and thermal management-free operation. However, most of the demonstrated microcombs in the normal-dispersion regime heavily rely on asymmetric local dispersion anomalies, which introduce odd-order dispersion components and originate asymmetric spectral characteristics. In this study, we present a scheme that employs two symmetrically positioned local dispersion alterations on either side of the pump mode. This configuration enables direct mode-locked microcombs, referred to as 'dark pulses' or 'platicons', while preserving spectral symmetry. The platicon microcombs exhibit efficient conversion, spectral symmetry, and can be generated with high repeatability. Furthermore, we demonstrate the deterministic generation of perfect platicon crystals with highly symmetric spectra by precisely controlling the position of the two symmetric dispersion alterations relative to the pump mode. Our proposed method offers a reliable approach for achieving power-efficient microcombs with highly symmetric spectra, and can be transferred to other integrated nonlinear platforms. Platicon microcombs in the normal-dispersion regime exhibit asymmetric spectral features because it largely relies on asymmetric local dispersion anomalies. The authors demonstrate stable, power-efficient microcombs with high spectral symmetry by means of symmetrical dispersion engineering. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel Gram-stain-negative, aerobic, and rod-shaped bacterium with gliding motility, named strain ANRC-HE7T, was isolated from the seawater of Biological Bay adjacent to Fildes Peninsula, Antarctica. The optimal growth of this strain occurred at 28 °C, pH 7.5, and in the presence of 1.0% (w/v) NaCl. Strain ANRC-HE7T can produce amylase and harbors gene clusters involved in cellulose degradation. Phylogenetic analysis based on the 16S rRNA gene sequence showed that strain ANRC-HE7T formed a distinct lineage within the genus Maribacter and was closely related to Maribacter luteus RZ05T (98.4% sequence similarity), Maribacter polysiphoniae LMG 23671T (98.3%), and Maribacter arenosus CAU 1321T (97.3%). However, digital DNA–DNA hybridization and average nucleotide identity values between strain ANRC-HE7T and closely related strains were 17.4–49.1% and 70.9–92.7%, much lower than the cutoff values of 70% and 95%, respectively. On the other hand, strain ANRC-HE7T shared characteristics with most type strains within the genus. Its respiratory quinone was MK-6. The major fatty acids were iso-C15:0, summed feature 3 (C16:1ω7c and/or C16:1ω6c), and anteiso-C15:0. The major polar lipids were phosphatidylethanolamine, two unidentified aminolipids, four unidentified phospholipids, and five unidentified glycolipids. The DNA G + C content of strain ANRC-HE7T was 40.1%. Based on the results of the biochemical, phylogenetic, and chemotaxonomic analyses, strain ANRC-HE7T is suggested to represent a novel species of the genus Maribacter, for which the name Maribacter aquimaris sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is ANRC-HE7T (= MCCC 1K03787T = KCTC 72532T). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Urethral stricture secondary to urethral injury, afflicting both patients and urologists, is initiated by excessive deposition of extracellular matrix in the submucosal and periurethral tissues. Although various anti-fibrotic drugs have been applied to urethral stricture by irrigation or submucosal injection, their clinical feasibility and effectiveness are limited. Here, to target the pathological state of the extracellular matrix, we design a protein-based nanofilm-controlled drug delivery system and assemble it on the catheter. This approach, which integrates excellent anti-biofilm properties with stable and controlled drug delivery for tens of days in one step, ensures optimal efficacy and negligible side effects while preventing biofilm-related infections. In a rabbit model of urethral injury, the anti-fibrotic catheter maintains extracellular matrix homeostasis by reducing fibroblast-derived collagen production and enhancing metalloproteinase 1-induced collagen degradation, resulting in a greater improvement in lumen stenosis than other topical therapies for urethral stricture prevention. Such facilely fabricated biocompatible coating with antibacterial contamination and sustained-drug-release functionality could not only benefit populations at high risk of urethral stricture but also serve as an advanced paradigm for a range of biomedical applications. Various anti-fibrotic drugs have been applied to urethral stricture by irrigation or submucosal injection, but their clinical feasibility and effectiveness are limited. Here, the authors design a protein-based nanofilm-controlled drug delivery system with anti-biofilm properties that can be assembled on a catheter. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Anonymous peer review is used by the great majority of computer science conferences. OpenReview is such a platform that aims to promote openness in peer review process. The paper, (meta) reviews, rebuttals, and final decisions are all released to public. We collect 11,915 submissions and their 41,276 reviews from the OpenReview platform. We also collect these submissions' citation data from Google Scholar and their non-peer-reviewed versions from arXiv.org. By acquiring deep insights into these data, we have several interesting findings that could help understand the effectiveness of the public-accessible double-blind peer review process. Our results can potentially help writing a paper, reviewing it, and deciding on its acceptance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As an emerging class of semiconducting transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDCs), two-dimensional (2D) rhenium dichalcogenides (ReX2, X = S or Se) have recently aroused great research interest due to their unique anisotropic structure (1T' phase), and the related novel properties and applications. Recently, many efforts have been devoted to the controllable syntheses of high-quality monolayer or few-layer ReX2 flakes/films by chemical vapor deposition (CVD), wherein the metallic Au foil is found to be a unique substrate, due to the relatively strong interfacial coupling between monolayer ReX2 and Au. And the conductive nature of Au enables in situ characterizations of the as-grown ReX2 samples, which is essential for exploring the fundamental properties and internal growth mechanisms. Hereby, this review focuses on the recent progresses on the CVD syntheses and in situ characterizations of high-quality monolayer ReX2 flakes/films and their heterostructures with graphene on Au foils. The effects of Au foils on improving the crystal quality and inducing the growth of monolayer ReX2 single crystals are intensively addressed. The crystallinity, domain morphology, atomic and electronic structures, as well as the growth behaviors of monolayer ReX2 flakes/films and graphene/ReX2 heterostructures on Au revealed by in situ characterization techniques are also highlighted. As contrasts, the growth behaviors of monolayer or few-layer ReX2 on insulating substrates are also discussed. Besides, the potential applications of 2D ReX2 in new-generation electronic, optoelectronic devices, and energy-related fields are also introduced. Finally, future research directions are also prospected for propelling the practical applications of 2D ReX2 materials in more versatile fields. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pancreatic β-cell compensation is a major mechanism in delaying T2DM progression. Here we report the abnormal high expression of circGlis3 in islets of male mice with obesity and serum of people with obesity. Increasing circGlis3 is regulated by Quaking (QKI)-mediated splicing circularization. circGlis3 overexpression enhances insulin secretion and inhibits obesity-induced apoptosis in vitro and in vivo. Mechanistically, circGlis3 promotes insulin secretion by up-regulating NeuroD1 and Creb1 via sponging miR-124-3p and decreases apoptosis via interacting with the pro-apoptotic factor SCOTIN. The RNA binding protein FUS recruits circGlis3 and collectively assemble abnormal stable cytoplasmic stress granules (SG) in response to cellular stress. These findings highlight a physiological role for circRNAs in β-cell compensation and indicate that modulation of circGlis3 expression may represent a potential strategy to prevent β-cell dysfunction and apoptosis after obesity. Pancreatic β-cell compensation is a major mechanism in delaying T2DM progression. Here, the authors show that circGlis3 levels are affected by QKI and FUS expression, and that increasing circGlis3 lengthens β-cell compensation via enhancing insulin secretion and reducing apoptosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The soybean E1 gene is a major regulator that plays an important role in flowering time and maturity. However, it remains unclear how cultivars carrying the dominant E1 allele adapt to the higher latitudinal areas of northern China. We mapped the novel quantitative trait locus QNE1 (QTL near E1) for flowering time to the region proximal to E1 on chromosome 6 in two mapping populations. Positional cloning revealed Glyma.06G204300, encoding a TCP-type transcription factor, as a strong candidate gene for QNE1. Association analysis further confirmed that functional single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) at nucleotides 686 and 1,063 in the coding region of Glyma.06G204300 were significantly associated with flowering time. The protein encoded by the candidate gene is localized primarily to the nucleus. Furthermore, soybean and Brassica napus plants overexpressing Glyma.06G204300 exhibited early flowering. We conclude that despite their similar effects on flowering time, QNE1 and E4 may control flowering time through different regulatory mechanisms, based on expression studies and weighted gene co-expression network analysis of flowering time-related genes. Deciphering the molecular basis of QNE1 control of flowering time enriches our knowledge of flowering gene networks in soybean and will facilitate breeding soybean cultivars with broader latitudinal adaptation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel Gram-stain negative, aerobic and ovoid to short rod shaped bacterium with a single polar flagellum, named strain B57T, was isolated from sediment of Clam Island, Liaoning Province, China. The optimal growth of this strain was found to occur at 37 °C, pH 6–6.5, and in the presence of 2% (w/v) NaCl. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that strain B57T forms a distinct lineage within the family Rhodobacteraceae, sharing high 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity with Sinirhodobacter populi sk2b1T (97.4%). The average amino acid identity of B57T and the closely related species were lower than the threshold level for genus delineation. The dominant respiratory quinone of strain B57T was identified as Q-10. The major fatty acids were found to be Summed Feature 8 (C18:1ω7c and/or C18:1ω6c), Summed Feature 3 (C16:1ω7c and/or C16:1ω6c) and C16: 0. The polar lipids were identified as phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylmonomethylethanolamine, diphosphatidylglycerol, two unidentified phospholipids, one unidentified glycolipid, and one unidentified lipid. The DNA G + C content of strain B57T was determined to be 64.1 mol%. Based on the biochemical, phylogenetic and chemotaxonomic analysis, strain B57T is concluded to represent a novel species of a novel genus, for which the name Sedimentimonas flavescens gen. nov., sp. nov.is proposed. The type strain is B57T (= CGMCC1.19488T = KCTC 92053T). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) packaged into exosomes mediate cell communication and contribute to the pathogenesis of acute type A aortic dissection (ATAAD) with acute lung injury (ALI). The expression profile of plasma exosomal miRNAs in ATAAD patients with ALI hasn't been identified. We performed a miRNA-sequencing to analyze the differentially expressed miRNAs (DE-miRNAs) of circulating exosomes in ATAAD patients with ALI compared to patients without ALI, founding 283 specific miRNAs in two groups. We respectively selected the top 10 downregulated and upregulated DE-miRNAs for further studies. The predicted transcription factors (TFs) of these DE-miRNAs were SMAD2, SRSF1, USF1, etc. The Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analysis predicted their target genes mainly involved acute inflammatory response, cell junction, cytoskeleton, NF-κB signaling pathway, etc. Construction and analysis of the PPI network revealed that RHOA and INSR were considered hub genes with the highest connectivity degrees. Moreover, we confirmed two exosomal miRNAs (hsa-miR-485-5p and hsa-miR-206) by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) in a validation cohort. Our study identified a plasma exosomal miRNAs signature related to ATAAD with ALI. Certain DE-miRNAs may contribute to the progression of this disease, which help us better understand the pathogenesis of ATAAD with ALI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Currently no reliable tools are available for predicting the risk of central nervous system (CNS) infections in patients with intracerebral hemorrhage after undergoing ventriculostomy drainage. The current study sought to develop and validate a nomogram to identify high-risk factors of CNS infection after ventriculomegaly drain placement for intracerebral hemorrhage. Methods: A total of 185 patients with intracerebral hemorrhage who underwent ventriculoperitoneal drainage were enrolled to the current study. Patients were divided into a CNS infection group (20 patients) and a non-CNS infection group (165 patients). The baseline data from both groups was used to develop and evaluate a model for predicting the likelihood of developing CNS infection after ventriculoperitoneal drain placement for intracerebral hemorrhage. Results: The finding showed that operative time, intraventricular drainage duration, postoperative temperature, white blood cell count in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), neutrophils ratio in CSF, Red blood cell count in CSF, and glucose content in CSF were correlated with CNS infection. A nomogram for predicting the risk of CNS infection was constructed based on these variables. The c-index and the AUC of the ROC curve was 0.961, showing good discrimination. Clinical decision curve analysis indicated that the nomogram clinical application ranged between 1 and 100%. The clinical impact curve was generated to set with a threshold probability of 0.5. Conclusion: The nomogram reported in the current study can be used by clinicians to identify patients likely to have secondary CNS infections, so that clinicians can better treat these patients at earlier stages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two-dimensional (2D) semiconductors, especially transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs), have been envisioned as promising candidates in extending Moore's law. To achieve this, the controllable growth of wafer-scale TMDs single crystals or periodic single-crystal patterns are fundamental issues. Herein, we present a universal route for synthesizing arrays of unidirectionally orientated monolayer TMDs ribbons (e.g., MoS2, WS2, MoSe2, WSe2, MoSxSe2-x), by using the step edges of high-miller-index Au facets as templates. Density functional theory calculations regarding the growth kinetics of specific edges have been performed to reveal the morphological transition from triangular domains to patterned ribbons. More intriguingly, we find that, the uniformly aligned TMDs ribbons can merge into single-crystal films through a one-dimensional edge epitaxial growth mode. This work hereby puts forward an alternative pathway for the direct synthesis of inch-scale uniform monolayer TMDs single-crystals or patterned ribbons, which should promote their applications as channel materials in high-performance electronics or other fields. Here, the authors report the direct growth of periodic arrays of 2D semiconductor ribbons by exploiting the step edges of high-miller-index Au facets, showing potential for 2D electronic devices. The synthesized ribbons could also be merged to obtain wafer-scale single-crystal monolayers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the growing of economic globalization and world economic integration, customer demands are becoming increasingly personalization and diversification. How to design a reasonable schedule scheme becomes the key point of industries. Flexible job shop scheduling problem (FJSP) is an extension of the classical job scheduling problem (JSP). It is an important problem in the modern manufacturing system, and constitutes to one of the most difficult combinatorial optimization problems. This paper defines an objective function, which aims at minimizing the makespan, under the conveyor constraints. Moreover, we present a genetic algorithm (GA)-based approach to optimizing the objective. Specifically, we firstly propose a method for solving conveyor-constrained FJSP (CDFJSP) by using a plug-in greedy algorithm and a binary search algorithm. Considering the unexpected events that usually occur in real-life applications, a real-time method with dispatching rules (RDRP) is proposed. Extensive experimental results demonstrate the efficacy of our proposed methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The emerging two-dimensional (2D) platinum disulfide (PtS2) has driven increasing attentions due to its high electron mobility, good air-stability, and strong interlayer interaction which leads to a widely tunable electronic structure. However, a detailed study on its covalent-like layer-dependent properties remains infant. Herein, we demonstrate the successful production of ultrathin 1T-PtS2 ribbons with thickness centralized almost at monolayer 1L–4L and large domain size up to 210 µm on Au foils using chemical vapor deposition (CVD) technique, which enables macro- and microscopic study of its extraordinary layer-dependent features with precise control of the number of layers. Using electron energy loss spectroscopy (EELS) and optical pump-probe spectroscopy (OPPS), we reveal that both the electron and ultrafast optical absorption signals of the as-grown 2D PtS2 show strong nonlinear layer-dependent responses which manifest discriminated transition in 1L–4L PtS2 ribbons. The layer-dependent nonlinear response of 2D PtS2 can be well interpreted in the frame of calculated electron and phonon structures. These achievements offer a platform for successfully fabricating large-sized ultrathin 2D PtS2 and facilitating our knowledge about its electronic and optoelectronic properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Main conclusion: A total of 278 BnWRKYs were identified and analyzed. Ectopic expression of BnWRKY149 and BnWRKY217 suggests that they function in the ABA signaling pathway. WRKY transcription factors play an important role in plant development, however, their function in Brassica napus L. abiotic stress response is still unclear. In this study, a total of 278 BnWRKY transcription factors were identified from the B. napus genome data, and they were subsequently distributed in three main groups. The protein motifs and classification of BnWRKY transcription factors were analyzed, and the locations of their corresponding encoding genes were mapped on the chromosomes of B. napus. Transcriptome analysis of rapeseed seedlings exposed to drought, salt, heat, cold and abscisic acid treatment revealed that 99 BnWRKYs responded to at least one of these stresses. The expression profiles of 12 BnWRKYs were examined with qPCR and the result coincided with RNA-seq analysis. Two genes of interest, BnWRKY149 and BnWRKY217 (homologs of AtWRKY40), were overexpressed in Arabidopsis, and the corresponding proteins were located to the nucleus. Transgene plants of BnWRKY149 and BnWRKY217 were less sensitive to ABA than Arabidopsis Col-0 plants, suggesting they might play important roles in the responses of rapeseed to abiotic stress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The out-of-plane optical constants of monolayer two-dimensional materials have proven to be experimentally elusive. Owing to their reduced dimensionality, optical measurements have limited sensitivity to these properties which are hidden by the optical response of the substrate. Therefore, there remains an absence of scientific consensus on how to correctly model these crystals. Here we perform an experiment on the optical response of a single-layer two-dimensional crystal that addresses these problems. We successfully remove the substrate contribution to its optical response by a step deposition of a monolayer crystal inside a thick polydimethylsiloxane prism. This allows for a reliable determination of both the in-plane and the out-of-plane components of its surface susceptibility tensor. Our results prescribe one clear theoretical model for these crystals. This precise characterization of their optical properties will be relevant to future progresses in photonics and optoelectronics with two-dimensional materials. Experimental testing of the expected linear optical anisotropy of 2D crystals, arising from their finite thickness, have so far been complicated by substrate contributions. Here, immersion of monolayer samples in a low-refractive-index polymer allows more accurate determination of their optical constants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is great interest in the development of micromotors which can convert energy to motion in sub-millimeter dimensions. Micromachines take the micromotor concept a step further, comprising complex systems in which multiple components work in concert to effectively realize complex mechanical tasks. Here we introduce light-driven micromotors and micromachines that rely on optoelectronic tweezers (OET). Using a circular micro-gear as a unit component, we demonstrate a range of new functionalities, including a touchless micro-feed-roller that allows the programming of precise three-dimensional particle trajectories, multi-component micro-gear trains that serve as torque- or velocity-amplifiers, and micro-rack-and-pinion systems that serve as microfluidic valves. These sophisticated systems suggest great potential for complex micromachines in the future, for application in microrobotics, micromanipulation, microfluidics, and beyond. Light-driven micromotors can convert energy to motion in sub-millimeter dimensions. Here, the authors extend this concept and introduce reconfigurable micromachines with multiple components, driven by optoelectronic tweezers, and demonstrate new functionalities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bandgap control is of central importance for semiconductor technologies. The traditional means of control is to dope the lattice chemically, electrically or optically with charge carriers. Here, we demonstrate a widely tunable bandgap (renormalisation up to 550 meV at room-temperature) in two-dimensional (2D) semiconductors by coherently doping the lattice with plasmonic hot electrons. In particular, we integrate tungsten-disulfide (WS2) monolayers into a self-assembled plasmonic crystal, which enables coherent coupling between semiconductor excitons and plasmon resonances. Accompanying this process, the plasmon-induced hot electrons can repeatedly fill the WS2 conduction band, leading to population inversion and a significant reconstruction in band structures and exciton relaxations. Our findings provide an effective measure to engineer optical responses of 2D semiconductors, allowing flexibilities in design and optimisation of photonic and optoelectronic devices. The established means of bandgap control in semiconductors are based on chemical, electrical or optical doping. Here, the authors report wide bandgap modulations in monolayer WS2 at room temperature by coupling the 2D semiconductor to a self-assembled plasmonic crystal inducing coherent hot electron doping. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Beauveria bassiana is one of the most widely studied and used entomopathogenic fungus as biopesticide. In the biological control of pests, B. bassiana will persist in the soil after application, and will inevitably contact with earthworms, especially the epigeic earthworm species. So, what are the effects of earthworm and its epidermal mucus on the activity of B. bassiana? We employed the epigeic earthworm Eisenia fetida, B. bassiana TST05 strain, and the insect Atrijuglans hetaohei mature larvae to study the impact of earthworm epidermal mucus on the vitality and pathogenicity of B. bassiana to insect. Methods included scanning electron microscope observation, detection of spore germination, fungal extracellular enzyme activity, and infection testing to A. hetaohei. The results showed that the B. bassiana spores may attach to the cuticle of E. fetida but they could be covered by the epidermal mucus and became rough and shrunken. After treatment with the epidermal mucus, the spore germination and extracellular enzymes of B. bassiana was significantly inhibited. Inoculation of A. hetaohei larvae with a mixture of B. bassiana and mucus showed that the mucus could reduce the pathogenicity of B. bassiana to the insect, resulting in a slower disease course and lower mortality. It was concluded that the epidermal mucus of the earthworm E. fetida can inhibit the activity of B. bassiana, as well as the infectivity and pathogenicity of fungus to target insects. However, after treatment with epidermal mucus the surviving B. bassiana still had certain infectivity to insects. This is of great significance for the application of B. bassiana in biological control of pests. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite obesity being a predisposing factor for pancreatic β-cell dysfunction and loss, the mechanisms underlying its negative effect on insulin-secreting cells remain poorly understood. In this study, we identify an islet-enriched long non-coding RNA (lncRNA), which we name β-cell function and apoptosis regulator (βFaar). βFaar is dramatically downregulated in the islets of the obese mice, and a low level of βFaar is necessary for the development of obesity-associated β-cell dysfunction and apoptosis. Mechanistically, βFaar promote the synthesis and secretion of insulin by upregulating islet-specific genes Ins2, NeuroD1, and Creb1 through sponging miR-138-5p. In addition, using quantitative mass spectrometry, we identify TRAF3IP2 and SMURF1 as interacting proteins that are specifically associated with βFaar. We demonstrate that SMURF1 ubiquitin ligase activity is essential for TRAF3IP2 ubiquitination and activation of NF-κB-mediate β-cell apoptosis. Our experiments provide direct evidence that dysregulated βFaar contributes to the development of obesity-induced β-cell injury and apoptosis. Beta-cell function is often impaired in obesity through incompletely understood mechanisms. Here the authors show that the long noncoding RNA βFaar is reduced by diet-induced obesity in mice, which leads to impaired beta-cell function via miR-138-5p and survival via TRAF3 Interacting Protein 2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aerodynamic forces and vortex characteristics of an H-type Vertical Axis Wind Turbine (VAWT) become complicated because of dynamic stall, particularly in the three-dimensional impact on the blade spanwise direction. This study focused on the evaluation of the aerodynamic performance and vortex characteristics of an H-type VAWT in the spanwise direction by numerical simulations and wind tunnel experiments. Pressure acting on the blade surface was obtained from multiport pressure measurement devices by wind tunnel. Meanwhile, the vortex field around different blade sections was investigated through numerical simulations. The stall behavior was analysed by comparing the results of numerical simulations and experiments. As a result, the tangential force of single blade was mainly contributed at the chordwise position of x/c≤0.4c and the power of single blade was mainly contributed at the azimuthal angle range of 60°≤θ≤150° in the blade section position region of 0≤z/(H/2)≤0.7. At the section position of z/(H/2)=0.5, the initial flow separation was found at the suction side and progressed forward to the leading edge. With the increase of the tip speed ratios, the decreasing position of the averaged local power coefficient of each section was closer to the middle section of z/(H/2)=0, and the attenuation speed became faster. The power coefficient reductions at the blade section position of z/(H/2)=0.9 were 38.29%, 46.78% and 56.42% when the tip speed ratios were 1.38, 2.19 and 2.58, respectively. The results of this study provided a better understanding of the development of the performance characteristics and vortex characteristics of H-type VAWT. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Owing to their superior agronomic performance, the hybrids of vegetable crops are currently applied extensively. However, effective hybrid production requires a laborious manual emasculation to ensure the purity of hybrid seeds in tomato because of the lack of an effective male sterility system. Here, we created two types of tomato nuclear male-sterile lines with different screening markers in a clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)/CRISPR-associated protein 9 (Cas9) system. Co-knockouts of male sterile 1035 (Ms1035) and glutathione S-transferase (GSTAA) created a male-sterile line marked by a green hypocotyl. The Ms1035 biallelic mutation was introduced into the woolly tomato background, resulting in the linkage of male sterility and a non-woolly phenotype. Two types of male-sterile lines were easily selected at the seedling stage by hypocotyl color or trichome density and further showed high seed purity during hybrid seed production. Our work established the procedure for a rapid transfer of the male-sterile phenotype to the parents of hybrids without extra-modification by the CRISPR/Cas9 system that can be practically applied to hybrid seed production in tomato. This method will be the basis and example for sterile parent creation of multiple crops for hybrid production with the CRISPR/Cas9 system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Multiple animal and human studies have shown that administration of GLP-1RA can enhance β-cell recovery, reduce insulin dosage, reduce HbA1c content in the blood, reduce the risk of hypoglycemia and reduce inflammation. In the NOD mouse model, peptide VP treatment can prevent and treat type 1 diabetes through immunomodulation. Therefore, we designed a new dual-functional PGLP-1-VP, which is expected to combine the anti-inflammatory effect of PGLP-1 and the immunomodulatory effect of VP peptide. In streptozotocin-induced hyperglycemic mice model, we demonstrated that PGLP-1-VP can act as a GLP-1R agonist to improve hyperglycemia and increase insulin sensitivity. In the NOD mouse model, PGLP-1-VP treatment reduced morbidity, mortality, and pancreatic inflammation, and showed superior effect to PGLP-1 or VP treatment alone, confirming that PGLP-1-VP may act as a dual-function peptide. PGLP-1-VP provided immunomodulatory effect through increasing Th2 cell percentage and balancing the ratio of Th2/Th1 in spleen and PLN, similar to P277 and VP. Additionally, PGLP-1-VP and PGLP-1 act the anti-inflammation by increasing Treg cells and TGF-β1 content like DPP-IV inhibitor. Taken together, our data shows that the dual-functional PGLP-1-VP reduces morbidity and mortality in the NOD model, suggesting a potential role in preventing and treating type 1 diabetes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Growing high quality graphene films directly on glass by chemical vapor deposition (CVD) meets a growing demand for constructing high-performance electronic and optoelectronic devices. However, the graphene synthesized by prevailing methodologies is normally of polycrystalline nature with high nucleation density and limited domain size, which significantly handicaps its overall properties and device performances. Herein, we report an oxygen-assisted CVD strategy to allow the direct synthesis of 6-inch-scale graphene glass harvesting markedly increased graphene domain size (from 0.2 to 1.8 µm). Significantly, as-produced graphene glass attains record high electrical conductivity (realizing a sheet resistance of 900 Ω·sq−1 at a visible-light transmittance of 92%) amongst the state-of-the-art counterparts, readily serving as transparent electrodes for fabricating high-performance optical filter devices. This work might open a new avenue for the scalable production and application of emerging graphene glass materials with high quality and low cost. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two-dimensional (2D) transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDCs) have emerged as perfect platforms for developing applications in nano-electronics, catalysis, energy storage and environmental-related fields due to their superior properties. However, the low-cost, batch production of high-quality 2D TMDCs remains a huge challenge with the existing synthetic strategies. Herein, we present a scalable chemical vapor deposition (CVD) approach for the batch production of high-quality MoS2 nanosheet powders, by using naturally abundant, water-soluble and recyclable NaCl crystal powders as templates. The high-quality MoS2 nanosheets powders are achieved by a facile water dissolution-filtration process, by virtue of the excellent dispersibility of the as-grown products in water. The internal mechanism for the scalable synthesis strategy is explored. The applications of the MoS2 nanosheets powders are also demonstrated as catalysts or adsorbents in hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) and organic dyes adsorption, respectively. This work should hereby pave ways for the mass production and application of powdery TMDCs in energetic and environmental related fields. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Scalable synthesis of transfer-free graphene over insulators offers exciting opportunity for next-generation electronics and optoelectronics. However, rational design of synthetic protocols to harvest wafer-scale production of directly grown graphene still remains a daunting challenge. Herein we explore a batch synthesis of large-area graphene with wafer-scale uniformity by virtue of direct chemical vapor deposition (CVD) on quartz. Such a controllable CVD approach allows to synthesize 30 pieces of 4-inch graphene wafers in one batch, affording a low fluctuation of optical and electrical properties. Computational fluid dynamics simulations reveal the mechanism of uniform growth, indicating thermal field and confined flow field play leading roles in attaining the batch uniformity. The resulting wafer-scale graphene enables the direct utilization as key components in optical elements. Our method is applicable to other types of insulating substrates (e.g., sapphire, SiO2/Si, Si3N4), which may open a new avenue for direct manufacture of graphene wafers in an economic fashion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

B cell dysfunction due to obesity can be associated with alterations in the levels of micro-RNAs (miRNAs). However, the role of miRNAs in these processes remains elusive. Here, we show that miR-802 is increased in the pancreatic islets of obese mouse models and demonstrate that inducible transgenic overexpression of miR-802 in mice causes impaired insulin transcription and secretion. We identify Foxo1 as a transcription factor of miR-802 promoting its transcription, and NeuroD1 and Fzd5 as targets of miR-802-dependent silencing. Repression of NeuroD1 in β cell and primary islets impairs insulin transcription and reduction of Fzd5 in β cell, which, in turn, impairs Ca2+ signaling, thereby repressing calcium influx and decreasing insulin secretion. We functionally create a novel network between obesity and β cell dysfunction via miR-802 regulation. Elucidation of the impact of obesity on microRNA expression can broaden our understanding of pathophysiological development of diabetes. Obesity predisposes to type 2 diabetes, but the mechanisms of obesity-associated β cell dysfunction are incompletely understood. Here the authors report that obesity increases the levels of miR-802, which impairs insulin transcription and secretion by targeting NeuroD1 and Fzd5. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ultrathin two-dimensional (2D) semiconducting layered materials offer great potential for extending Moore's law of the number of transistors in an integrated circuit1. One key challenge with 2D semiconductors is to avoid the formation of charge scattering and trap sites from adjacent dielectrics. An insulating van der Waals layer of hexagonal boron nitride (hBN) provides an excellent interface dielectric, efficiently reducing charge scattering2,3. Recent studies have shown the growth of single-crystal hBN films on molten gold surfaces4 or bulk copper foils5. However, the use of molten gold is not favoured by industry, owing to its high cost, cross-contamination and potential issues of process control and scalability. Copper foils might be suitable for roll-to-roll processes, but are unlikely to be compatible with advanced microelectronic fabrication on wafers. Thus, a reliable way of growing single-crystal hBN films directly on wafers would contribute to the broad adoption of 2D layered materials in industry. Previous attempts to grow hBN monolayers on Cu (111) metals have failed to achieve mono-orientation, resulting in unwanted grain boundaries when the layers merge into films6,7. Growing single-crystal hBN on such high-symmetry surface planes as Cu (111)5,8 is widely believed to be impossible, even in theory. Nonetheless, here we report the successful epitaxial growth of single-crystal hBN monolayers on a Cu (111) thin film across a two-inch c-plane sapphire wafer. This surprising result is corroborated by our first-principles calculations, suggesting that the epitaxial growth is enhanced by lateral docking of hBN to Cu (111) steps, ensuring the mono-orientation of hBN monolayers. The obtained single-crystal hBN, incorporated as an interface layer between molybdenum disulfide and hafnium dioxide in a bottom-gate configuration, enhanced the electrical performance of transistors. This reliable approach to producing wafer-scale single-crystal hBN paves the way to future 2D electronics. The epitaxial growth of single-crystal hexagonal boron nitride monolayers on a copper (111) thin film across a sapphire wafer suggests a route to the broad adoption of two-dimensional layered semiconductor materials in industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Owing to its anisotropic optical and electrical properties, rhenium diselenide (ReSe2) has garnered considerable attention recently as a candidate material for polarization-sensitive photodetectors. However, the direct and controllable synthesis of large-sized ReSe2 with a uniform thickness is still a great challenge. Herein, we have refined the synthesis method to obtain uniform monolayer ReSe2 flakes with a size of up to ~ 106 μm on sapphire via an ambient-pressure chemical vapor deposition technique using Na promoter from sodium chloride. Interestingly, optical pump-probe spectroscopy revealed a fast switching from saturable absorption (SA) to absorption enhancement (AE) in subpicosecond time scale, followed by a slower decay induced by exciton recombination. Furthermore, both AE and SA signals exhibited clear angular dependence with a periodicity of 180°, which reflected the dichroism in nonlinear absorption dynamics. In addition, the photocarrier dynamics including free-carrier transport and subpicosecond relaxation due to exciton formation or surface trapping was probed using time resolved terahertz spectroscopy. We believe that our study serves as a reference for atomically controlled synthesis of large-sized ReSe2 and provides useful insights on its optoelectronic properties for novel device applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vitamin A deficiency (VAD) is a major micronutrient deficiency in children. Although plasma and serum retinol levels are proposed as the key indicators of VAD, collecting and transporting plasma and serum are difficult and inconvenient in field studies. Dried blood spot (DBS) retinol has been used as an alternative to plasma retinol in several epidemiological and clinical studies. A limitation of methods that use DBS retinol is the instability and apparent loss of retinol in DBSs. Therefore, an accurate, reliable method for stabilizing retinol in DBSs and quantifying and comparing DBS retinol concentrations with equivalent plasma retinol levels is required. In this study, antioxidants on paper combined with vacuum treatment were found to greatly increase the stability of DBS retinol during 120 min of air drying and 30 days of room-temperature storage. A surrogate matrix of whole blood prepared using a mixture of human erythrocytes and 2% BSA in PBS was firstly used in DBS retinol determination based on the fact that retinol is excluded from erythrocytes. The method was linear in the concentration range of 0.04–300 μg/mL. Both the between-run (n = 5) and within-run (n = 6) precision (relative standard deviations, RSD%) were below 8.42%. The spiked recoveries at 3 concentrations ranged from 86.48 to 98.13%. The internal standard (IS)–normalized matrix factor (MF) was 99.72% with a RSD% of 10.50% (n = 3). The accuracy was calibrated using two National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) serum-generated calibrants at concentrations of 0.1962 and 0.3948 g/mL, and relative errors (RE% values) of 0.07% and 4.95% were found, respectively. A simple calibration model was first developed to convert DBS retinol concentration to the equivalent plasma retinol concentration, thereby enabling comparisons with clinical reference ranges and with studies using serum or plasma samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Exploring high-efficient catalysts for hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) has become very urgent for resolving the energy related issues. Recently, two-dimensional layered MoS2 and its heterostructures with graphene or other traditional photocatalysts have presented great potentials for electrocatalytic and photocatalytic HER applications. On-site investigations of the atomic-scale structures and local electronic properties of the catalytically active sites are the key points for understanding the internal mechanisms, which however are hard to be achieved from the practical systems. Hereby, this review focuses on the recent progresses on the on-site scanning tunneling microscopy/spectroscopy investigations of the atomic structures and electronic properties of the ultrahigh-vacuum deposited and chemical vapor deposition (CVD) synthesized monolayer MoS2 and MoS2/graphene vertical stacks on the electrodes of Au(111) and Au foils. The correlations between the respective HER activities, edge types and edge electronic states are comparatively introduced. Secondly, this review also introduces the photocatalytic HER applications of CVD-grown MoS2/WS2 and WS2/MoS2 vertical stacks on Au foils, mainly considering of their type-II band alignments and the novel interlayer charge transfer behaviors. Finally, future research directions are also proposed for in-depth understanding of the catalytic mechanism, as well as for exploring more efficient HER catalysts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Direct growth of large area uniform graphene on functional insulating materials is essential for engineering versatile applications of graphene. However, the existing synthesis approaches can hardly avoid the generation of non-uniform multilayer graphene along the gas flow direction, affording huge challenges for further scaling up. Herein, by exploiting the molten state of soda-lime glass, we have accomplished the direct growth of large area uniform (up to 30 cm × 6 cm) graphene via a facile chemical vapor deposition route on low cost soda-lime glass. The use of molten glass eliminates the chemically active sites (surface corrugations, scratches, defects), and improves the mobility of carbon precursors, affording uniform nucleation and growth of monolayer graphene. Intriguingly, thus-obtained graphene acts as an ideal coating layer for the surface crystallographic modification of soda-lime glass, making it epitaxy substrates for synthesizing high-quality PbI2 nanoplates and continues films. Accordingly, a prototype photodetector was fabricated to present excellent photoelectrical properties of high responsivity (∼ 600 on/off current ratio) and fast response speed (18 µs). This work hereby paves ways for the batch production and the direct applications of graphene glass as platforms for constructing high performance electronic and optoelectronic devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vertical heterostructures based on two-dimensional (2D) materials have attracted widespread interest for their numerous applications in electronic and optoelectronic devices. Herein, we report the direct construction of an abnormal graphene/ReSe2 stack on Au foils by a two-step chemical vapor deposition (CVD) strategy. During the second growth stage, monolayer ReSe2 is found to preferentially evolve at the interface between the first-grown graphene layer and the Au substrate. The unusual stacking behavior is unraveled by in-situ "cutting open" the upper graphene from the defects to expose the lower ReSe2 using scanning tunneling microscopy (STM). From combination of these results with density functional theory calculations, the domain boundaries and edge sites of graphene are proposed to be adsorption sites for Re and Se precursors, further facilitating the growth of ReSe2 at the van der Waals gap of graphene/Au. This work hereby offers an intriguing strategy for obtaining vertical 2D heterostructures featured with an ultra-clean interface and a designed stacking geometry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fast solvent-free synthesis of hierarchical SAPO-34/18 zeolite was realized by combining oil-bath heating and the addition of catalytic amount of ammonium salt. The obtained zeolite samples were systematically characterized by XRD, SEM, XRF, BET, NH3-TPD, and NMR. XRD and SEM results showed that high-quality SAPO-34/18 nano-crystals with plate morphology can be obtained in only 60 min. The addition of ammonium salt served as mineralizing agent which speeded up the crystallization process in solvent-free precursor. The fast heat transfer of oil-bath heating and seeding also contributed to the ultrafast synthesis. Nitrogen adsorption-desorption analysis indicated the presence of high BET surface area and micropore volume, as well as abundant mesopores and macropores. NH3-TPD and 29Si NMR results showed that the samples exhibited appropriate acid strength and concentration. The obtained SAPO catalysts showed excellent performance in MTO reaction with significantly longer catalytic lifetime and higher propylene and butylene selectivities, compared with micron-sized SAPO-34 catalyst made with the conventional hydrothermal method. The extended lifetime could be attributed to the thin-plate crystal morphology and hierarchical pore structure, which greatly alleviated the diffusion constrain and coke deposition in MTO reaction. Higher propylene and butylene selectivities could be ascribed to the larger size of the AEI cage, which allows the easy diffusion of longer alkenes. The realization of ultrafast synthesis with solvent-free precursor not only reduces the waste disposal and energy consumption, but also increases the autoclave efficiency significantly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]