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This study describes an experimental investigation comparing the effects of two catalysts (ZSM-5 and Zeolite Y) on intermediate pyrolysis. The catalysts are characterized by different acidities, expressed by silica-to-alumina ratios of 352 (ZSM-5) and 26 (Zeolite Y). The post-extraction rapeseed meal was pyrolysed in a fixed-bed furnace at a temperature of 500 °C, and the pyrolysis products (char, liquid phase, and pyro-gas) were characterized in detail. The catalysts were assessed based on their reusage capability. Five-fold more carbon was deposited on Zeolite Y than on ZSM-5 after 10-fold use during the pyrolysis of rapeseed meal. Moreover, the ultimate analysis of the catalysts showed increases in the hydrogen and nitrogen contents, which were significantly higher for Zeolite Y than those for ZSM-5. The catalysts showed different effects on the properties of the products. Better-quality pyro-gas was obtained with Zeolite Y, but reusage of this catalyst resulted in decreases in the hydrogen and carbon oxide concentrations. Compared to Zeolite Y, ZSM-5 afforded bio-oil with a lower oxygen content. Phenols and ketones were dominant compounds in both bio-oils. Regeneration of Zeolite Y caused to increase of specific surface area.

Pharmaceutical salt formation is the most preferred and effective method to enhance the physicochemical properties of APIs. The aim of the study was to design and synthesize a series of new salts to improve the solubility of Imatinib (IM). Two stable salts with malonic acid (S1) and citric acid (S5), one metastable salt with fumaric acid (S2), two unstable salts with citric acid (S3, S4) were obtained for the first time. Single crystal and powder X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared, differential scanning calorimetry, and thermogravimetric analysis were used to characterize the novel salts. The solubility and stability of the solid were also evaluated, and three salts (S1, S2, S5) had a more than 20 folds of solubility and a faster dissolution rate improved as compared to the pure drug in water and pH 6.8 buffer, respectively.

SiCN ceramics show large potential in high temperature pressure sensors with excellent stability up to 1000 °C, as it is changeling for the most of the existing pressure sensors to work stably at a temperature above 600 °C. However, bulk SiCN ceramics are not compatible to microelectronic processing and exhibit slow response due to viscoelasticity, it is necessary to propose alternative method to prepare SiCN functional structures. In this work, SiCN piezoresistive thin films are prepared by magnetron sputtering, and the influence of sputtering power on their piezoresistive properties and interfacial strengths are studied. The gauge factors of SiCN films range from 2786 to 4714 at various sputtering powers, which are significantly higher than the range from 46 to 1105 for existing piezoresistive thin films. Upon an optimal sputtering power of 75 W for silicon nitride target, the obtained SiCN sample show the largest gauge factors in a large range from 0.5 to 3.4 MPa. Furthermore, the SiCN thin films present high critical loads up to 36.5 N in scratch tests and indicate strong interfacial adhesion with substrate. This work provides an important reference for developing SiCN-based MEMS pressure sensors.

Several simple, fast and practical protocols have been developed to synthesize internal or terminal propargylamines and chalcones via A3-coupling reaction of aldehydes, amines, and alkynes catalyzed by an easily available catalyst Ag2CO3 under solvent-free condition. The reaction proceeded smoothly to deliver various products in good-to-excellent yields with good functional group tolerance. Gram-scale preparation, bioactive molecule synthesis and asymmetric substrates have been demonstrated. Furthermore, plausible mechanisms for the synthesis of different products have been proposed.

Prevention of viral escape and increased coverage against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) variants of concern require therapeutic monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) targeting multiple sites of vulnerability on the coronavirus spike glycoprotein. Here we identify several potent neutralizing antibodies directed against either the N-terminal domain (NTD) or the receptor-binding domain (RBD) of the spike protein. Administered in combinations, these mAbs provided low-dose protection against SARS-CoV-2 infection in the K18-human angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 mouse model, using both neutralization and Fc effector antibody functions. The RBD mAb WRAIR-2125, which targets residue F486 through a unique heavy-chain and light-chain pairing, demonstrated potent neutralizing activity against all major SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern. In combination with NTD and other RBD mAbs, WRAIR-2125 also prevented viral escape. These data demonstrate that NTD/RBD mAb combinations confer potent protection, likely leveraging complementary mechanisms of viral inactivation and clearance., Krebs and colleagues identify multiple mAbs that recognize either the RBD or the NTD of SARS-CoV-2 spike protein that have potent cross-neutralizing activities against variants of concern. Combinatorial mAb cocktails have complementary effects on viral neutralization and Fc effector functions and can protect against SARS-CoV-2 escape mutants.

MXene-based catalysts have shown excellent activities in various electrocatalytic reactions due to the two-dimensional structure, good electrical conductivity and abundant surface functional groups. However, because of the competitive reactions in aqueous electrolytes, the application of MXene materials in CO2 electroreduction still remains a challenge. Herein, a simple strategy was developed for the design of high efficient and stable CO2 electroreduction catalysts in aqueous electrolyte. A series of MXene composite catalysts were successfully synthesized by densely coating sulfur vacancy-rich CdS nanoparticles on Ti3C2. The two-dimensional MXene skeleton with good conductivity delivers fast electron transfer, improves the electrolyte infiltration and increases the electrochemical surface area. CdS nanoparticles with abundant sulfur vacancies are attached on Ti3C2 MXene surface, providing active sites for CO2 reduction. Faraday efficiency of the by-product hydrogen could be significantly reduced by minimizing the surface-exposed Ti of the catalyst. Benefited from these merits, the optimal CdS/Ti3C2 possesses fast CO2 electroreduction reaction kinetics, exhibiting a high CO Faraday efficiency of 94% at -1.0 V vs. reversible hydrogen electrode. This work provides a feasible pathway for the design of MXene-based catalysts of CO2 electroreduction.

To improve the ablation resistance of graphite, AlSi alloy was used as a dissipative agent to fill the pores of graphite matrix by pressure infiltration method to prepare AlSi/graphite composites. The microstructure evolution and ablation behavior of the obtained AlSi/graphite composites were investigated under oxy-acetylene flame after ablating for varying lengths of time. Subsequently, the effect of heat dissipation through the AlSi alloy was quantitatively analyzed by data processing technique. Experimental results showed that the AlSi alloy reduced the surface temperature by about 300 °C in the first 20 s, and the linear ablation rate of the AlSi/graphite composite is found to be 119.3% lower than that of the graphite itself ablated for 10 s. The strengthening of ablation resistance is mainly achieved by heat dissipation and oxygen dissipation. However, it gradually decreases with continuous consumption of the AlSi alloy during ablation. Among these, the contribution of heat dissipation to the ablation resistance gradually increased from 10.1% at 10 s to 62.1% at 60 s.

Platelets are generated from the cytoplasm of megakaryocytes (MKs) via actin cytoskeleton reorganization. Zyxin is a focal adhesion protein and wildly expressed in eukaryotes to regulate actin remodeling. Zyxin is upregulated during megakaryocytic differentiation; however, the role of zyxin in thrombopoiesis is unknown. Here we show that zyxin ablation results in profound macrothrombocytopenia. Platelet lifespan and thrombopoietin level were comparable between wild-type and zyxin-deficient mice, but MK maturation, demarcation membrane system formation, and proplatelet generation were obviously impaired in the absence of zyxin. Differential proteomic analysis of proteins associated with macrothrombocytopenia revealed that glycoprotein (GP) Ib-IX was significantly reduced in zyxin-deficient platelets. Moreover, GPIb-IX surface level was decreased in zyxin-deficient MKs. Knockdown of zyxin in a human megakaryocytic cell line resulted in GPIbα degradation by lysosomes leading to the reduction of GPIb-IX surface level. We further found that zyxin was colocalized with vasodilator-stimulated phosphoprotein (VASP), and loss of zyxin caused diffuse distribution of VASP and actin cytoskeleton disorganization in both platelets and MKs. Reconstitution of zyxin with VASP binding site in zyxin-deficient hematopoietic progenitor cell-derived MKs restored GPIb-IX surface expression and proplatelet generation. Taken together, our findings identify zyxin as a regulator of platelet biogenesis and GPIb-IX surface expression through VASP-mediated cytoskeleton reorganization, suggesting possible pathogenesis of macrothrombocytopenia.

The impact of water stress and nitrogen (N) nutrition on leaf respiration (R), carbon balance and water use efficiency (WUE) remains largely elusive. Therefore, the objective of the present study was to investigate the effect of soil water and N stresses on growth, physiological responses, leaf structure, carbon gain and WUE of maize. The plants were subjected to different soil water and N regimes to maturity. The results showed that the photosynthesis (An) and stomatal conductance (Gs) decreased significantly under the water stressed treatments across the N treatments mainly ascribed to the decreased plant water status. The moderate water stress reduced the photosynthetic capacity and activity and also caused damage to the structure of leaves, resulting in the significant reduction of An, and thus decreased WUEi. The dark respiration (Rd) was significantly decreased due to the damage of mitochondria, however, the Rd/An increased significantly and the carbon gain was seriously compromised, eventually inhibiting biomass growth under the moderately water stressed treatment. Increasing N dose further aggravated the severity of water deficit, decreased An, Gs and WUEi, damaged the structure and reduced the number of mitochondria of leaves, while increased Rd/An considerably under moderate water stress. Consequently, the biomass accumulation, carbon gain and plant level WUEp in the moderately water stressed treatment decreased markedly under the high N supply. Therefore, excessive N application should be avoided when plants suffer soil water stress in maize production.&nbsp

Propylea japonica has been regarded as one of the most remarkable natural enemies against aphid in China. However, the mechanism of juvenile hormone (JH) regulation of reproduction in P. japonica is still unclear. In this study, we investigated the JH titers of P. japonica and the development of the ovaries. We selected the six different developmental stages of ladybeetle females for transcriptome sequencing. We identified 583 genes involved in insect reproduction regulation, including 107 insect hormone synthesis signaling pathway-related genes and 476 nutrition-sensing signaling pathway-related genes. Transcriptome analysis indicated that a large number JH synthesis- and metabolism-related enzyme genes and some potential nutrient signal sensing- and transduction-related genes were significantly differentially expressed during P. japonica development. We investigated the effects of Met gene silencing on the reproduction of female adults and found that the ovarian maturation, vitellogenesis, and follicular epithelium development in the dsMet treatment group were significantly inhibited.

Hydrogen is one of the most prospective energy resources with zero polluted emission and high energy utilization, an improved separation and purification performance of hydrogen is critical for application of hydrogen energy. In this work, hydrogen separating performance of Pd–Cu and Pd–Ni alloy membranes are theoretically explored through density functional theory and molecular dynamics calculations. The results demonstrate that both Pd–Cu and Pd–Ni membranes exhibit excellent selectivity to H2 over N2, CO, CO2, CH4, H2S at varied temperatures, and are superior to industrial production limit based on predicting permeance of H2. The outstanding selectivity of Pd–Cu alloy toward H2 is in accordance with experimental conclusion. Moreover, the DFT calculations are further supported by molecular dynamics simulations, which visually demonstrate the H2 separation performance of the Pd-based alloys in a dynamic way. This work provides an effective and efficient approach to evaluate the permeability and selectivity of metal alloys membranes for gas separation.

Weaning is one of the most stressful events in the pig's life, which disrupts physiological balance and leads to oxidative stress. It is reported that glucose oxidase supplementation could alleviate oxidative stress in animals by increasing the concentration of antioxidant enzymes in vivo. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of dietary supplementation of Aspergillus niger-expressed glucose oxidase (AN-GOX) on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, faecal microbiota, faecal gas emission and serum antioxidant enzyme parameters in weaning pigs. A total of 120 21-day-old weaning pigs [(Yorkshire ×Landrace) × Duroc] with an initial body weight of 6.54 ± 0.55 kg were used in a 21-day experiment (phase 1, days 1-7; phase 2, days 8-21) with a completely randomized block design. Pigs were randomly divided into 4 treatment groups with 6 replicate pens per treatment and 5 pigs per pen (2 barrows and 3 gilts). Dietary treatments were corn-soybean meal-based basal diet supplemented with 0, 0.01, 0.03 or 0.05% AN-GOX (1000 unit/g). The results of this study showed that average daily gain during days 1-7 and 1-21 and the concentrations of serum glutathione peroxidase and glutathione increased linearly at graduated doses of AN-GOX increased in the diet. However, dietary supplementation of AN-GOX had no effects on the apparent nutrient digestibility, faecal microbiota and faecal gas emission. In conclusion, supplementing AN-GOX to the diet of weaning pigs ameliorated weaning stress, which manifested as the increase in serum antioxidant enzyme levels, thus improving growth performance. The suitable dosage of AN-GOX used in the diet of weaning pigs was 0.05%.

A novel catalyst, Nickel supported over MCM-41 coated ceramic membrane (NMC), was developed using coating method and deposition-precipitation method and applied for steam reforming of real tar in fixed bed. The effects of reaction conditions such as Ni loading amount, reaction temperature and mass ratio of steam to tar were also studied. The good dispersion of Ni nanoparticles and the strong interaction between Ni particles and the support were identified by BET, XRD, H2-TPR and SEM/EDS, resulting in the excellent performance of NMC catalysts. Maximum tar conversion of 96.4% and H2 yield of 98.7 mmol g−1 were obtained using 20NMC with a mass ratio of steam to coal tar of 2 at 800 °C. Moreover, 20 NMC exhibited a good stability in 10 h of lifetime test and the resistance of graphitic carbon formation prone to easier regeneration of catalysts illustrated by Raman spectroscopy. It indicates that the utilization of NMC catalysts for tar steam reforming is a promising way.

BCR-ABL kinase inhibition is an effective strategy for the treatment of chronic myeloid leukemia (CML). Herein, we report compound 3a-P1, bearing a difluoro-indene scaffold, as a novel potent pan-inhibitor against BCR-ABL mutants, including the most refractory T315I mutant. As the privileged (S)-isomer compared to its (R)-isomer 3a-P2, 3a-P1 exhibited potent antiproliferative activities against K562 and Ku812 CML cells and BCR-ABL and BCR-ABLT315I BaF3 cells, with IC50 values of 0.4, 0.1, 2.1, and 4.7 nM, respectively. 3a-P1 displayed a good safety profile in a battery of assays, including single-dose toxicity, hERG K+, and genotoxicity. It also showed favorable mice pharmacokinetic properties with a good oral bioavailability (32%), a reasonable half-life (4.61 h), and a high exposure (1386 h·ng/mL). Importantly, 3a-P1 demonstrated a higher potency than ponatinib in a mice xenograft model of BaF3 harboring BCR-ABLT315I. Overall, the results indicate that 3a-P1 is a promising drug candidate for the treatment of CML to overcome the imatinib-resistant T315I BCR-ABL mutation.

Depression is a recurrent and chronic mental disorder requiring long-term treatment. Major depressive disorder is present in 15-20% of patients with type 1 or type 2 diabetes. Large-scale evidence revealed that depression and depressive symptoms are independent risk factors for the development of type 2 diabetes, and they may contribute to hyperglycemia and even accelerate the premature onset of diabetes complications. Venlafaxine is a clinical first-line antidepressant used for more than 30 years. Recently, clinical reports showed that venlafaxine overdose might cause hypoglycemia. Venlafaxine is insoluble and salt formation technology is the most appropriate method to improve the physicochemical properties and the pharmacokinetic profile of the drug. In the present work, the use of the solvent evaporation method, slurry, and the liquid-assisted grinding method resulted in the crystalline salt venlafaxine-caffeic acid (1:1). The compounds were characterized using a series of solid-state techniques, viz., powder X-ray diffraction, differential scanning calorimetry, thermogravimetric analysis, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance, and the crystal structure was determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. Besides, a comparative study of solubility, dissolution, and hypoglycemic activity of the parent drug and the new salt has been carried out. The tested venlafaxine-caffeic acid salt showed about 16-fold higher solubility than the pure drug. Moreover, the glucose consumption assay results showed that the novel salt possesses potent hypoglycemic activity in vitro, suggesting that it is a promising candidate effective for major depressive disorder patients with type 2 diabetes.

A kind of N, P, C, O-containing polymer was easily prepared via microwave heating of phytic acid and thiourea just for 90 s. After impregnation and reduction of H2PdCl4, highly dispersed Pd single atoms/sub-nano clusters loaded on the phytic acid/thiourea polymer (Pd-CNSP) were successfully obtained. Owing to the synergetic effect of the polymer support and Pd, the catalyst Pd-CNSP achieves a great atomic efficiency of Pd species and exhibits an outstanding catalytic ability in the reduction of 4-nitrophenol. The k value of the catalyst Pd-CNSP (2.17 min-1 mg-1) is about 19 times higher than that of the commercial Pd/C (5 wt %) catalyst. The turnover frequency value is as high as 848 min-1, which is the highest value reported so far. Pd-CNSP also has good selectivity for the reduction of halogen-substituted (Cl and Br) nitroaromatics. It is expected to be mass-produced and used in other industrial hydrogenation reactions.

Electrical parameters degradations of p-GaN high-electron-mobility transistors (HEMTs) under repetitive unclamped-inductive-switching (UIS) stresses have been investigated in this article. With the help of the TCAD simulations, the experimental frequency-dependent conductance analyses ( $G_{p}/\omega$ ), and the experimental capacitance analyses ( $C_{\mathrm {ds}}$ ), it is demonstrated that the trapping effects near the gate region and in the gate to drain access region dominate the degradations. Due to the extremely high-voltage bias during UIS stresses, the trapping of electrons happens near gate region, resulting in the positive shifts of threshold voltage ( $V_{\mathrm {th}}$ ), the degradations of ON-state resistance, the reductions of the gate leakage current, and the reductions of OFF-state leakage current ( $I_{\mathrm {dss}}$ ). Two experimental methods, the $C_{\mathrm {ds}}$ analyses and the $G_{p}/\omega $ analyses, are introduced to characterize the trapping effects in p-GaN HEMT for the first time. Nonetheless, the large current surging during UIS stresses enhances the impact ionization and leads to the increase in $I_{\mathrm {dss}}$ . The analyses above have been validated by the TCAD simulation successfully. For switching parameters, such as the voltage rises/falls time, which should be considered when designing power electronic systems, the increase in $V_{\mathrm {th}}$ induced by the UIS stresses dominates the changes.

Efficient separation of magnesite from dolomite remains challenging owing to the similar floatability of the two minerals. Therefore, understanding the adsorption behaviors of surfactants (depressants and collectors) on their surfaces is essential for improving separation efficiency. In this study, the ability of sodium tripolyphosphate (STPP) to separate magnesite from dolomite was evaluated in sodium oleate (NaOl) systems, with an emphasis on its effect on the depression of dolomite. The mechanisms underlying the differential adsorption and depression of STPP were investigated through surface analyses, namely Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, zeta-potential analysis, adsorption-quantity analysis, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The flotation results indicated that STPP facilitated the removal of dolomite from magnesite in the NaOl system because it significantly depressed dolomite, whereas its effect on magnesite was negligible. Surface analyses revealed that the preferential adsorption of STPP on dolomite was due to the interaction between the –PO4 tetrahedra of STPP and Ca sites. Furthermore, in the presence of STPP, small amounts of NaOl were adsorbed onto dolomite, inhibiting the flotation of dolomite. However, substantial amounts of NaOl were adsorbed onto magnesite, maintaining the good floatability of magnesite. Therefore, STPP can be considered as a promising depressant for separating magnesite from dolomite via direct flotation.

Ternary LiNixCoyMnzO2 oxides with extremely high nickel (Ni) contents (x ≥ 0.9) are promising cathode candidates developed for higher-energy-density lithium-ion batteries, with an aim to relieve mileage anxiety. However, the structural and interfacial instability still restrict their application in electric vehicles. In this work, a novel electrolyte additive 1,2,4-1H-Triazole (HTZ) is introduced to improve the interfacial stability of LiNi0.9Co0.05Mn0.05O2 (NCM90), promoting cycle life both at 30 °C and a harsh condition of 60 °C, as well as rate capability. The NCM90||Li cells with 0.3% HTZ-added electrolyte retain 86.6% of their original capacity after 150 cycles at 1C and 30 °C, well exceeding 74.8% obtained with the baseline electrolyte. It is revealed that the additive HTZ could inhibit the thermal decomposition of LiPF6 salt and suppress the generation of HF acidic species. More importantly, additive HTZ is preferentially oxidized to construct a compact and dense cathode electrolyte interphase (CEI) layer, which is beneficial for stabilizing the electrode/electrolyte interface and suppressing unwanted side reactions.

Ni-rich layered structure materials are appealing cathodes for high-energy-density lithium-ion batteries developed for electric vehicles, drones, power tools, etc. However, poor interfacial stability between a Ni-rich cathode and carbonate electrolyte, especially at high temperatures, and fast capacity fading still hinder their mass market penetration. Here, we investigate cyclopentyl isocyanate (CPI) with a single isocyanate (-NCO) functional group as a bifunctional electrolyte additive for the first time to improve the interfacial stability of Ni-rich cathode LiNi0.83Co0.12Mn0.05O2 (NCM83). With an electrolyte containing 2 wt % CPI, the NCM83 cathode shows capacity retention of up to 92.3% after 200 cycles at 1C and 30 °C, much higher than that with the standard electrolyte (78.6%). It is demonstrated that the -NCO of CPI could largely inhibit the thermal decomposition of LiPF6 salt and scavenge water and hydrogen fluoride (HF) species, improving electrolyte stability. More importantly, the additive CPI could be preferentially oxidized, forming a stabilized and protective cathode electrolyte interphase (CEI) layer on the surface of NCM83, which effectively suppresses the parasitic side reactions and maintains the superior interfacial charge-transfer and lithium-ion diffusion kinetics. Both functions enable a significant improvement in electrochemical performance at both 30 and 60 °C.

In recent years, with the rapid developments of high-technology industries such as information technology and electric vehicles, there are urgent need to develop new generations of lithium-ion batteries with higher energy density, longer cycle life and improved safety. In addition to the development of high specific energy cathode and high specific capacity anode materials, regulating the stability of the electrode/electrolyte interface is critical to achieve and balance various performances of the batteries and finally realize their commercial application widely. However, the traditional carbonate electrolytes not only suffer from severe oxidation decomposition when the charging voltage is higher than 4.3 V (vs. Li/Li+), but also show poor compatibility with high-capacity silicon or silicon-carbon (Si-C) composite anodes and lithium metal anodes. Moreover, the traditional carbonate electrolytes are flammable, which is still a big safety concern to address for lithium ion battery. Therefore, rational design of electrolytes that match the high voltage cathode, high specific capacity Si-C abode or lithium metal anode, and has better safety property and especially under harsh conditions, has become a decisive factor for the rapid developments of high specific energy lithium-ion batteries. The present work reviews different kinds of liquid electrolytes with functional additives and utilization of solid state electrolytes which are explored by our group in the past 15 years. The design strategies and systematic investigations of the electrolytes recipes include: (1) Developing anti-oxidation solvent systems, for example, applications of new high-voltage nitriles or fluorinated solvents for high-voltage cathodes, such as suberonitrile (SUN), fluoroethylene carbonate (FEC) and ethyl-(2,2,2-trifluoroethyl) carbonate (ETFEC); (2) exploiting some novel multifunctional solvents or additives which contain flame retardant groups or can be used as film-forming agents for high-voltage cathodes. For example, some P-containing compounds such as N , N -diallyl-diethoxy phosphoramide (DADEPA), phenoxy cyclophosphazene (PFPN), and ionic liquid such as N-methyl-N-butylpyrrolidinium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide (Py14TFSI), etc. In addition, we have also investigated a series of solid electrolytes such as Garnet-type electrolytes, gel polymer or composite polymer electrolyte with inorganic additives, which could greatly reduce the safety risk of batteries. These works include measurements of the activation energy and ion transport mechanism of oxide solid electrolyte with solid NMR techniques, interface modification of sulfide-type solid state battery with ionic liquids, and interface passivation mechanism of PEO-based polymer electrolyte, etc. Finally, some discussions and future perspectives in developing high-voltage and highly-safe liquid electrolyte and flexible solid-state electrolytes for all solid state batteries are presented. Although the commonly used high-voltage electrolytes are mainly composed of lithium salts, anti-oxidation solvents and functional additives such as nitriles, sulfones, fluoro-ethers or fluoro-carbonates, However, the acting mechanisms of those high-voltage electrolytes, especially solvents, salts and additives, are still not clear, especially the composition, structure and evolution of the electrochemical interfaces are lack of quantitative understanding. Therefore, combining theoretical calculation and advanced in-/ex-situ interface characterization techniques, fully understanding the working mechanism of the additives in high-voltage systems and the effective components of interface film, and designing novel functional electrolyte additives are crucial for the development of a new generation of high-specific energy lithium batteries. In addition, applications of flame-retardant solvents or additives to develop flame-retardant liquid-type electrolytes and developing new solid state electrolytes are both important strategies to reduce the potential safety hazards of lithium ion batteries. The future research should focus on how to improve the compatibility between flame-retardant solvents/additives and the cathode/anode interfaces in liquid electrolytes, minimize the negative impact on battery performance (cycle performance, rate performance, etc.), enhance the ionic conductivity and mechanical flexibilities of the solid electrolytes, optimize the electrolyte phase structure/mechanical properties, and regulate the stability of interfaces to ensure the long-term cycling stability of lithium metal anodes and metal oxide cathodes.

α-phase TeO2 is a promising sensing material because of its unique ability to detect hydrogen gas. To investigate atomic-level mechanism on gas sensing of TeO2, the interaction between H2, NH3, SO2, CO2, H2S, CH4 gases and TeO2 are studied via first principles simulations. By the calculated adsorption energy, radial distribution function, band gap and charge transfer, TeO2 shows a superior selective detection performance to hydrogen and it is consistent with experimental conclusion. The H–H bond of H2 break after adsorption and a new H–O bond with length of 0.98 A forms between TeO2 and H2. Moreover, the adsorption of H2 causes an obvious increasing of DOS near the Fermi level, indicating a clear change in the electric conductivity. The calculated self-diffusion coefficients show that the diffusion of hydrogen molecule in TeO2 is much easier than the other gases, suggesting a fast response of H2 by TeO2. This work provides a theoretical foundation for analysis and design of TeO2-based hydrogen sensor.

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of supplementing glucose oxidase (GOX; 1000 unit/g) to the diet of growing pigs on growth performance, apparent nutrient digestibility, faecal bacteria counts, and serum antioxidant enzyme parameters. A total of 200 growing pigs [(Yorkshire × Landrace) × Duroc] with an initial body weight of 23.3 ± 0.33 kg were used in a 42-day trial. Pigs were randomly allotted to four dietary treatments with 10 replicate pens per treatment and five pigs (mixed sex) per pen based on the initial body weight. The dietary treatments consisted of the basal diet (control), control + 0.01% GOX, control + 0.02% GOX, or control + 0.03% GOX. One unit of GOX concentration is defined as the amount of enzyme which oxidises 1 μmol β-D-glucose per minute to D-gluconic acid and hydrogen peroxide at 37 °C and pH5.5. Body weight on day 42 (p = .035), average daily gain during days 22–42 (p = .001) and 1-42 (p = .001), average daily feed intake during days 22–42 (p = .008) and 1–42 (p = .020), apparent nitrogen digestibility on day 42 (p = .029), apparent energy retention on day 42 (p = .032), and the concentrations of serum glutathione peroxidase (p = .044) and glutathione (p = .032) on day 42 increased linearly at graduated doses of GOX increased in the diet. Therefore, supplementing GOX to the diet of growing pigs could improve the apparent nutrient digestibility and serum antioxidant enzyme parameters in a dose-dependent manner, thus improving growth performance. In this study, the suitable dosage of GOX used in the diet of growing pigs was 0.03%.Highlights Feeding growing pigs with GOX containing diet has beneficial effects on the growth performance Dietary supplementation of GOX could improve the apparent nutrient digestibility in growing pigs The antioxidant status of growing pigs has improved by GOX supplementation.

Crystallization of venlafaxine (VLF), a widely prescribed antidepressant, in the presence of 3,5-dinitrobenzoic acid (DA; C7H4N2O6) as a coformer led to the formation of a salt in a molar ratio of 1 : 1 and a salt cocrystal in a ratio of 1 : 2. The crystal structures were determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. One salt bond and one hydrogen bond form a R22(10) graph set in VLF–DA (1 : 1), and two salt bonds and two hydrogen bonds form an R44(20) graph set plus 2 extra hydrogen bonds in VLF–DA (1 : 2). VLF–DA (1 : 2) is a salt cocrystal, with a VLF–DA (1 : 1) salt in contact with a neutral DA molecule in the asymmetric unit. Both the salt and the salt cocrystal were differentiated from the pure components by powder X-ray diffraction, differential scanning calorimetry, thermogravimetry, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance. Stability measurements revealed that the salt and the salt cocrystal of VLF held superior phase stability against high temperature, high moisture, and illumination. Beyond our expectations, the VLF–DA (1 : 1) salt showed a significantly improved solubility over VLF free base, while the VLF–DA (1 : 2) salt cocrystal held a lower solubility which can be attributed to its crystal arrangements and molecular interactions.

Crystal structure and morphology can be regulated by inducing the positioning growth of metal sulfide, which is an efficient strategy to improve the oxygen evolution activity of the anode. Herein, solid NiMoO4 nanoplate arrays were used as cages to immobilize the metal source, and Mo doped NiSx is obtained by in situ solvothermal sulfuration reaction with polysulfide as the sulfur source. The electronic structure, conductivity, crystallographic phase and microscopic morphology of oxygen evolution catalysts could be controlled simultaneously by polysulfide induced solid metal oxide sulfidation, thereby greatly improving their electrocatalytic oxygen evolution activity. Benefiting from these, the prepared Mo doped nickel-sulfur electrodes show great performance toward the oxygen evolution reaction with overpotentials of 184 mV and 240 mV at current densities of 50 and 100 mA cm−2 in alkaline electrolyte. This study provides a new pathway by polysulfide induced sulfidation based on solid metal oxide for developing metal sulfide electrode materials with high oxygen evolution reaction performance for overall water splitting.

Diversities of salts formed by 5-sulfosalicylic acid (5-SSA) and isonicotinamide (INA) were obtained by mechanochemical grinding and from solution, including three polymorphs of (5-SSA-2H)–·(INA-H)...

This letter firstly reveals the single pulse unclamped-inductive-switching (UIS) withstanding physics and failure mechanism for p-GaN high electron mobility transistor (HEMT) with Schottky type gate contact. Unlike silicon/silicon carbide (Si/SiC)-based devices, the p-GaN HEMT withstands the surge current from load inductor by storing the energy into the output capacitance of the device, rather than dissipating the energy by avalanche process. To describe the UIS process, physics-based models are proposed. Also, by the simulations and de-cap/de-layer experiments, the failure mechanism is presented as a different manner compared with Si/SiC-based devices. The high voltage during the UIS process introduces high electric field near the drain contact, which leads to the inverse-piezoelectric effect, then bringing the rise-up of the leakage current and high power dissipation. As a result, the region near drain contact is burned by thermal runaway. Moreover, it is demonstrated that higher bus voltage and larger load inductance will increase the UIS-induced failure risk, while the gate resistance, turn- off gate voltage and ambient temperature exhibit little influences upon the UIS withstanding capability of the device.

This study investigated the antibacterial, cytotoxicity, and mechanical properties of a dental adhesive modified with quaternary ammonium monomer ((2-acryloyloxyethyl)dimethyldodecylammonium bromide) and cross-linker (bis(2-acryloyloxyethyl)methyldodecylammonium bromide). Monomer (M), cross-linker (C), or a combination of these (M + C) were incorporated into adhesive Adper Single Bond Plus (SB) in 5, 10, or 25% (as wt%). A colony-forming unit and MTT assays were used to evaluate antibacterial properties against Streptococcus mutans and cell viability. Resin-dentin beams (0.9 ± 0.1 mm2) were evaluated for micro-tensile bond strength (μTBS) after 24 h, 6 months, and 3 years. Hourglass specimens were evaluated for ultimate tensile strength (UTS) after 24 h, 1 week, and 6 months. Micro-hardness measurements after softening in ethanol were taken as an indirect assessment of the polymer cross-linking density. Kruskal-Wallis, one-way ANOVA, two-way ANOVA, and Student’s t test were used for analysis of the antibacterial, cytotoxicity, μTBS, UTS, and hardness data, all with a significance level of p < 0.05. 10%M and 25%M demonstrated a significant reduction in S. mutans relative to SB (p < 0.001). No differences in cytotoxicity were detected for any of the groups. After 6 months, no changes in μTBS were shown for any of the groups. After 3 years, all groups evidenced a significant decrease in μTBS (p < 0.05) except 5%M, 5%C, and 5%M + 5%C. All groups demonstrated either stable or significantly increased UTS after 6 months. Except for the cross-linker groups, a significant decrease in micro-hardness was shown for all groups after softening in ethanol (p < 0.05). A 5–10% of monomer may render the resin antibacterial without a compromise to its mechanical and bonding properties. Biomodification of a resin adhesive with an antibacterial monomer and cross-linker may help improve the life span of adhesive restorations.

Drospirenone (DE) is a fourth-generation progesterone that has been widely used in oral contraceptives for women because of its safety and few side effects in terms of pharmacological activity. A new solvatomorph (crystal form C) of DE with dimethyl sulfoxide was identified and characterized for the first time through a thermogravimetry-mass spectrometry (TG-MS) coupling system. The thermodynamic property of the new solvatomorph of DE was different from those of most pharmaceutical solvatomorphs, and it was revealed via the skimmer-type interfaced TG-MS system and differential scanning calorimetry. This new solvatomorph and a polymorph of DE obtained without solvent (crystal form A) were well characterized by X-ray crystallography and vibrational spectroscopic analysis. Computational studies based on their single-crystal structures, such as Hirshfeld surface analyses, were used to determine the intermolecular interactions in the crystal network. The single-crystal structure of crystal form C of DE was determined and reported for the first time.

Extracellular vesicle (EV)‐associated microRNAs (miRNAs) have been found as the important biomarkers participating in the development of osteonecrosis of the femoral head (ONFH). Consequently, this study sought to examine the underlying mechanism of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell (BMSC)‐derived EVs containing miR‐148a‐3p in ONFH. The ONFH rat models were established. Reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT‐qPCR) and Western blot analysis were applied to detect miR‐148a‐3p, Smad ubiquitination regulatory factor 1 (SMURF1), SMAD7 and B‐cell CLL/lymphoma 2 (BCL2) expression, followed by determination of relationship between miR‐148a‐3p and SMURF1. BMSCs were isolated from normal rats and ONFH rats, and EVs were extracted from BMSCs of normal rats. BMSCs from ONFH rats were treated with mimic, inhibitor, small interfering RNA or EVs from miR‐148a‐3p mimic‐treated BMSCs from normal rats (BMSC‐EV‐miR‐148a‐3p mimic). Cell Counting Kit‐8 and alizarin red staining were utilized to detect cell viability and osteogenic differentiation of BMSCs. ONFH rats were injected with BMSC‐EV‐miR‐148a‐3p mimic to explore the function of BMSC‐EV‐delivered miR‐148a‐3p in vivo. miR‐148a‐3p was down‐regulated in BMSCs and EVs from ONFH rats following decreased BMSCs viability and osteogenic differentiation. SMURF1 was a target gene of miR‐148a‐3p, and resulted in ubiquitination and degradation of SMAD7 to decreased BCL2 expression. The proliferation and differentiation of BMSCs were promoted by BMSC‐EV‐miR‐148a‐3p mimic or SMURF1 silencing. Additionally, BMSC‐EV‐miR‐148a‐3p mimic increased cell proliferation and osteogenic response, diminished SMURF1 expression, and elevated SMAD7 and BCL2 expression in ONFH rats. Collectively, miR‐148a‐3p overexpressed in BMSC‐EVs promoted SMAD7 and BCL2 expression by inhibiting SMURF1, thus alleviating ONFH.