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The global water crisis, exacerbated by excessive use and pollution, has resulted in energy scarcity and threats. Solar desalination provides a sustainable fix, with researchers developing photothermal materials and designs to improve efficiency and sustainability. Glass materials, with their exceptional chemical stability, are suitable for extreme desalination in acidic and alkaline conditions. In this work, we have developed a porous glass evaporator (PGE) with exceptional water evaporation efficiency, achieved through a novel fabrication method that blends glass powders with soluble salts to create structure with continuous pores. The evaporator's microstructure comprises micrometer‐scale pores that form interconnected porous channels, facilitating efficient water transport and preventing salt deposition. Under one sun irradiation, the PGE exhibits superior solar evaporation performance in pure water, achieving a rate of 2.21 kg m−2 h−1, with an evaporation efficiency of 98%. In more complex media, such as seawater and methylene blue solution, the PGE also displays excellent evaporation capabilities, reaching rates of 2.08 and 2.47 kg m−2 h−1, respectively. Even after sustained alternation between acidic and alkaline treatments, the PGE retains an impressive evaporation rate of over 2.0 kg m−2 h−1, coupled with structural robustness, making it a promising candidate for practical applications in extreme environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The quest for heightened energy efficiency is inextricably linked to advancements in energy storage and conversion technologies, wherein multifunctional catalysts play a pivotal role by mitigating the slow kinetics endemic to many catalytic reactions. The intricate synthesis and bespoke design of such catalysts, however, present notable challenges. Addressing this, the present study capitalizes on a novel dissolution manufacturing strategy to engineer self‐supporting, nanoporous multifunctional electrocatalysts, circumventing the prevalent issue of customizing catalytic functionalities upon demand. This innovative approach grants the flexibility to finely tune the incorporation of active species and metalloid binders, culminating in the creation of a self‐supporting nanoporous metal glass electrocatalyst doped with RuO2 (NPMG@RuO2) with outstanding performance in alkaline media. The catalyst showcases superior electrocatalytic activity, achieving low overpotentials of 41.50 mV for the Hydrogen Evolution Reaction and 226.0 mV for Oxygen Evolution Reaction alongside sustained stability over 620 hours.These achievements are attributed to the distinct nanoporous architecture that ensures a high density of catalytic sites and mechanical strength, bolstered by the synergistic interplay between RuO2 and Pt‐based metallic glass. The findings provide a versatile template for the development of nanoporous multifunctional catalysts, signifying a leap forward in the realm of energy conversion technologies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Electroacupuncture (EA) has been reported to improve intestinal motility in mice with postoperative ileus (POI). Previous studies, however, have yielded heterogeneous results regarding the effect of EA on POI. Methods: Herein, a POI mouse model was constructed by intestinal manipulation. To evaluate the effect of EA treatment on colonic transit, the levels of inflammatory markers (macrophage inflammatory protein (MIP)-1α, interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, monocyte chemotactic protein (MCP)-1 and intercellular adhesion molecule (ICAM)-1) were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA); immune cell infiltration was detected by immunohistochemical staining of myeloperoxidase (MPO), ectodysplasin (ED)-1 and ED-2, and the percentage of CD4+ interferon (IFN)-γ+ Th1 cells and IFN-γ secretion levels were determined. Activated Th1 cells and pentoxifylline, a cell differentiation inhibitor, were used to assess the role of Th1 cells in EA treatment of POI. Neostigmine administration and unilateral vagotomy were performed to confirm whether the effects of EA treatment on Th1 cells were mediated by the vagus nerve (VN). Results: The results revealed that EA treatment at ST36 improved POI, as indicated by a decreased level of inflammatory-related markers and immune cell infiltration and shortened colonic transit time. The activated Th1 cells abolished the effects of EA treatment on POI. The effects of EA treatment on POI were enhanced by stimulation of the VN along with a decreased level of Th1 cells, but these effects were abolished by vagotomy along with an increased percentage of Th1 cells; this result indicates that the VN mediates the role of Th1 cells in the effects of EA treatment of POI. Conclusion: Our findings showed that the effects of EA treatment of POI were mainly mediated by Th1 cells through the stimulation of the VN and inhibition of the inflammatory response. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The scarcity of fresh water is a pressing issue globally, and solar water evaporation technology has emerged as a leading method for producing fresh water. However, the preparation of solar evaporators is hindered by high costs, complexity, and environmental concerns. In this work, a solar evaporator with hierarchical porous structure is prepared using a simple, low‐cost, and environmentally friendly dissolution manufacturing strategy. Excellent photothermal conversion capability and salt drainage performance are found owing to its hierarchical porous structure. The prepared sample exhibits a water evaporation rate of 2.19 kg m−2 h−1 and achieves evaporation efficiency of 84.3% under one sun. Furthermore, the evaporation rates of the samples in seawater and methylene blue are 2.04, and 1.98 kg m−2 h−1, respectively. The evaporation rate remains stable after ten evaporation cycles. The strategy also overcomes the dimensional limitations of traditional methods, as large‐size samples prepared by this strategy are successfully evaluated for evaporation experiments with natural seawater under sunny weather, and the quantity of water collected is ≈170 g in 6 h. The proposed strategy will offer not only sustainable water purification technologies, but also new routes for solar water evaporation, solar steam generation, and photothermal drive fields. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Postoperative cognitive dysfunction (POCD) is associated with worsened prognosis especially in aged population. Clinical and animal studies suggested that electroacupuncture (EA) could improve POCD. However, the underlying mechanisms especially EA's regulatory role of inflammasomes remain unclear. Methods: The model of POCD was established by partial hepatectomy surgery in 18‐month mice with or without postoperative EA treatment to the Baihui acupoint (GV20) for 7 days. Cognitive functions were assessed by Morris water maze test, and proinflammatory cytokines IL‐1β and IL‐6 and microglia activity were assayed by qPCR, ELISA, or immunohistochemistry. Tight junction proteins, NLRP3 inflammasome and downstream proteins, and NF‐κB pathway proteins were evaluated by western blotting. Results: EA markedly preserved cognitive dysfunctions in POCD mice, associated with the inhibition of neuroinflammation as evidenced by reduced microglial activation and decreased IL‐1β and IL‐6 levels in brain tissue. EA also preserved hippocampal neurons and tight junction proteins ZO‐1 and claudin 5. Mechanistically, the activation of NLRP3 inflammasome and NF‐κB was inhibited by EA, while NLRP3 activation abolished EA's treatment effects on cognitive function. Conclusion: EA alleviates POCD‐mediated cognitive dysfunction associated with ameliorated neuroinflammation. Mechanistically, EA's treatment effects are dependent on NLRP3 inhibition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]