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Objective: The purpose of this study is to explore the application value of two‐dimensional ultrasound and shear wave elastography (SWE) in the multidimensional evaluation of diastasis recti abdominis (DRA) during different gestational periods. Methods: A cohort of 202 gravidas that were examined in our hospital between June 2021 and September 2022 were selected for the purpose of the study, which included 26 cases with <14 weeks of pregnancy, 36 cases in the 14th–27th week of pregnancy, 36 cases in the 28th–34th week of pregnancy, 32 cases in the 35th–38th week of pregnancy, 45 cases at 42 days postpartum, and 27 cases at 3 months postpartum. The inter‐rectus distance (IRD) and the thickness in each gestational period were measured, and Young's modulus of the rectus abdominis at different gestational periods was measured using SWE by two sonographers. The differences in IRD, thickness, and elasticity characteristics during different periods, and the correlation between rectus abdominis elasticity and IRD, thickness, body mass index (BMI), neonatal weight, and delivery mode were analyzed and compared. The consistency of SWE parameters obtained by different sonographers was also compared. Results: There were significant differences in IRD, thickness, and Young's modulus during different gestational periods (P =.000, P <.001, P <.001). Early postpartum IRD and Young's modulus did not restore to the level of early pregnancy (P <.001, P <.001), while the thickness of rectus abdominis was not significantly different from that of early pregnancy (P =.211). The Young's modulus of rectus abdominis was negatively correlated with the IRD (r =.515), positively correlated with the thickness of rectus abdominis (r =.408), and weakly negatively correlated with maternal BMI (r = −.296). There was no significant correlation with neonatal weight or delivery mode (P =.147,.648). The Bland–Altman plot showed that the two sonographers had good consistency in evaluating the elasticity of rectus abdominis by SWE. Conclusion: The multidimensional evaluation of DRA by ultrasound is feasible and IRD and Young's modulus can be used to evaluate the postpartum recovery of DRA. The combination of the two can objectively reflect the severity of DRA morphology and function. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The well‐known toxicity of lead‐halide‐perovskite (LHP) nanocrystals limits their commercial applications in photocatalysis. Herein, an in situ controlled growth strategy is reported for lead‐free perovskite nanocrystals (Cs3Bi2I9) on the surface of ultrathin Bi2WO6 nanosheets through co‐sharing Bi atoms, to generate a direct Z‐scheme heterojunction of Cs3Bi2I9/Bi2WO6. Co‐sharing of the Bi atom can enable intimate contact and strong electron coupling between Cs3Bi2I9 and Bi2WO6, which can effectively promote the interfacial charge transfer between Cs3Bi2I9 and Bi2WO6 complying with a Z‐scheme pathway. The resulting efficient charge transfer and well‐preserved redox ability of Cs3Bi2I9/Bi2WO6 heterojunction endow it with a significant improvement of photocatalytic activity for the conversion of CO2‐to‐CO integrated with water oxidation, exhibiting a fourfold increase compared with pure Cs3Bi2I9 nanocrystals. This study paves a new avenue for the construction of efficient Z‐scheme heterojunction based on lead‐free halide perovskite, which should stimulate further passion on the development of high performance of lead‐free halide perovskite materials for photocatalytic application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is common that different crystal facets in metal and metal oxide nanocrystals display different catalytic performances, whereas such phenomena have been rarely documented in metal–organic frameworks (MOFs). Herein, we demonstrate for the first time that a nickel metal–organic layer (MOL) exposing rich (100) crystal facets (Ni‐MOL‐100) shows a much higher photocatalytic CO2‐to‐CO activity than the one exposing rich (010) crystal facets (Ni‐MOL‐010) and its bulky counterpart (bulky Ni‐MOF), with a catalytic activity up to 2.5 and 4.6 times more active than Ni‐MOL‐010 and bulky Ni‐MOF, respectively. Theoretical studies reveal that the two coordinatively unsaturated NiII ions with a close distance of 3.50 Å on the surface of Ni‐MOL‐100 enables synergistic catalysis, leading to more favorable energetics in CO2 reduction than that of Ni‐MOL‐010. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hot spring ecosystems are analogous to some thermal environments on the early Earth and represent ideal models to understand life forms and element cycling on the early Earth. Denitrification, an important component of biogeochemical nitrogen cycle, is highly active in hot springs. Nitrite (NO2−) reduction to nitric oxide (NO) is the significant and rate-limiting pathway in denitrification and is catalyzed by two types of nitrite reductases, encoded by nirS and nirK genes. NirS and NirK were originally considered incompatible in most denitrifying organisms, although a few strains have been reported to possess both genes. Herein, we report the functional division of nirS and nirK in Thermus, a thermophilic genus widespread in thermal ecosystems. Transcriptional levels of nirS and nirK coexisting in Thermus antranikianii DSM 12462T were measured to assess the effects of nitrite, oxygen, and stimulation time. Thirty-nine Thermus strains were used to analyze the phylogeny and distribution of nirS and nirK; six representative strains were used to assess the denitrification phenotype. The results showed that both genes were actively transcribed and expressed independently in T. antranikianii DSM 12462T. Strains with both nirS and nirK had a wider range of nitrite adaptation and revealed nir-related physiological adaptations in Thermus: nirK facilitated adaptation to rapid changes and extended the adaptation range of nitrite under oxygen-limited conditions, while nirS expression was higher under oxic and relatively stable conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]