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Granulosa cell (GC) death, which leads to follicular atresia, primarily occurs through apoptosis and autophagy. miRNAs are known to be key regulators of autophagy and apoptosis. Although miR-7 acting as a key regulator of follicular atresia, its precise role in granulosa cell autophagy and apoptosis remains to be fully elucidated. In this study, we found that miR-7 was highly expressed in the follicle based on qPCR analysis. Subsequently, transfection of miR-7 inhibitors and mimics downregulated or upregulated the expression of miR-7 and promoted autophagic and apoptotic processes in chicken follicle granulosa cells. Mechanistically, through dual-luciferase reporter gene assays, we validated that KLF4 is a target gene of miR-7. Contrarily, KLF4 was found to negatively regulate autophagy and apoptosis in follicular granulosa cells as evidenced by genetic intervention of KLF4 silencing and overexpression. Furthermore, JAK/STAT3 signaling pathway was confirmed to mediate the regulation of miR-7-KLF4 axis on GC autophagy and apoptosis. These findings offer evidences of the crucial involvement of the miR-7-KLF4 signaling axis in determining autophagy and apoptosis of GCs. This study could offer an important theoretical basis for the use of molecular-assisted breeding in chickens. • KLF4 mediates the promotion of miR-7 on autophagy and apoptosis in chicken follicular granulosa cells. • The miR-7-KLF4 axis is operated through JAK/STAT3 signaling pathway. • The miR-7-KLF4 axis promotes autophagy and apoptosis in chicken granulosa cells through JAK/STAT3 pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Granulosa cells play a pivotal role in growth, development and ovulation of ovarian follicle. Simultaneously, autophagy and apoptosis processes are crucial determinants in the destiny of granulosa cells. Within this context, miR-29-3p, known to regulate a broad spectrum of biological processes and critical for tumor detection, prognosis, and treatment, is poised to clarify its roles in both autophagy and apoptosis. To enhance the understanding of the influence of miR-29-3p on follicular development, our study primarily delved into the realms autophagy and apoptosis. We employed a well-established chicken follicular atrophy model achieved through subcutaneous injection of tamoxifen (TMX) into hens. qPCR analysis revealed a significant decrease in the expression of miR-29-3p within the atrophic follicles. In our in vitro experiments with cultured chicken primary granulosa cells, miR-29-3p emerged as a novel microRNA capable of impeding autophagy and apoptosis when transfected with miR-29-3p mimics and inhibitors. Results from luciferase reporter assays corroborated that PTEN is a legitimate target of miR-29-3p. Unlike miR-29-3p, PTEN appeared to foster autophagy and apoptosis in chicken granulosa cells. Moreover, our findings uncovered that miR-29-3p facilitates the phosphorylation of Akt and mTOR proteins by targeting PTEN in chicken granulosa cells. In conclusion, the findings of this study suggest that miR-29-3p, through its targeting of PTEN via the Akt/mTOR signaling pathway, exerts inhibitory effects on autophagy and apoptosis. These effects may hold significant importance in the context of follicular development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Circular RNAs (circRNAs) have been recognized as critical regulators of skeletal muscle development. Myocyte enhancer factor 2A (MEF2A) is an evolutionarily conserved transcriptional factor that regulates myogenesis. However, it remains unclear whether MEF2A produces functional circRNAs. In this study, we identified two evolutionarily conserved circular MEF2A RNAs (circMEF2As), namely circMEF2A1 and circMEF2A2, in chicken and mouse muscle stem cells. Our findings revealed that circMEF2A1 promotes myogenesis by regulating the miR-30a-3p/PPP3CA/NFATC1 axis, whereas circMEF2A2 facilitates myogenic differentiation by targeting the miR-148a-5p/SLIT3/ROBO2/β-catenin signaling pathway. Furthermore, in vivo experiments demonstrated that circMEF2As both promote skeletal muscle growth. We also discovered that the linear MEF2A mRNA-derived MEF2A protein binds to its own promoter region, accelerating the transcription of MEF2A and upregulating the expression of both linear MEF2A and circMEF2As, forming a MEF2A autoregulated positive feedback loop. Moreover, circMEF2As positively regulate the expression of linear MEF2A by adsorbing miR-30a-3p and miR-148a-5p, which directly contribute to the MEF2A autoregulated feedback loop. Importantly, we found that mouse circMEF2As are essential for the myogenic differentiation of C2C12 cells. Collectively, our results demonstrated the evolution, function, and underlying mechanisms of circMEF2As in animal myogenesis, which may provide novel insight for both the farm animal meat industry and human medicine. Author summary: Skeletal muscles play important motor and metabolic functions in animals. The development of skeletal muscles is a complex biological process regulated by numerous genes, including MEF2A, a well-known muscle growth regulator. MEF2A messenger RNA-derived protein is a transcription factor that typically controls the expression of myogenic genes. In our study, we uncovered a non-canonical role of the MEF2A gene in skeletal muscle development, wherein it generates two non-coding circRNAs. These circRNAs regulate skeletal muscle myogenesis independently of the MEF2A protein. Circular RNAs have a different structure from linear messenger RNAs and were previously considered an erroneous product of genome transcription. However, our study not only highlights the potential role of MEF2A-derived circular RNAs in skeletal muscle development, but also reveals their evolutionary conservation and expression in multiple species, which proves that circRNAs are not errors to the organisms. In summary, our study demonstrated the multiple roles of the MEF2A gene in skeletal muscle development and provides strong evidence that circRNAs are important for animal physiological regulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A magnetically induced self-assembled graphene nanoribbons (GNRs) method is reported to synthesize MFe2O4/GNRs (M = Co,Ni). It is found that MFe2O4 compounds not only locate on the surface of GNRs but anchor on the interlayers of GNRs in the diameter of less than 5 nm as well. The in situ growth of MFe2O4 and magnetic aggregation at the joints of GNRs act as crosslinking agents to solder GNRs to build a nest structure. Additionally, combining GNRs with MFe2O4 helps to improve the magnetism of the MFe2O4. As an anode material for Li+ ion batteries, MFe2O4/GNRs can provide high reversible capacity and cyclic stability (1432 mAh g−1 for CoFe2O4/GNRs and 1058 mAh g−1 for NiFe2O4 at 0.1 A g−1 over 80 cycles). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fatty liver disease in laying hens, characterized by excessive lipid accumulation in hepatocytes, poses significant challenges to poultry health and production efficiency. In this study, we investigated the therapeutic potential of epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), a bioactive compound found in green tea, in mitigating oleic acid (OA)-induced hepatic steatosis in primary chicken hepatocytes. Treatment with EGCG effectively attenuated lipid deposition by downregulating lipid synthesis-related genes. Moreover, EGCG mitigated oxidative stress, inflammation, DNA damage, and apoptosis induced by OA, thereby preserving hepatocyte viability. Mechanistically, EGCG exerted its protective effects by modulating the p38 MAPK signaling pathway. Our findings suggest that EGCG holds promise as a therapeutic agent for managing fatty liver disease in poultry, offering insights into novel strategies for improving poultry health and production outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The egg-laying performance of hens holds significant economic importance within the poultry industry. Broody inheritance of the parent stock of chickens can result in poor options for the improvement of egg production, and is a phenomenon influenced by multiple genetic factors. However, few studies have been conducted to delineate the molecular mechanism of ovarian regression in brooding chickens. Here, we explored the pivotal genes responsible for the regulation of ovarian follicles in laying hens, using RNA-sequencing analysis on the small ovarian follicles from broody and laying chickens. Sequencing data analysis revealed the differential expression of 200 genes, with a predominant enrichment in biological processes related to cell activation and metabolism. Among these genes, we focused on solute carrier family 5 member 5 ( SLC5A5 ), which exhibited markedly higher RNA expression levels in follicles from laying compared with broody chickens. Subsequent cellular function studies with knockdown of SLC5A5 in chicken ovarian follicle granulosa cells (GCs) led to the down-regulation of genes associated with cell proliferation and steroid hormone synthesis, and concurrent promotion of gene expression linked to apoptosis. These findings indicated that SLC5A5 deficiency led to the inhibition of proliferation, steroid hormone synthesis and secretion, and promotion of apoptosis in chicken GCs. Our study demonstrated a pivotal role for SLC5A5 in the development and function of chicken GCs, shedding light on its potential significance in the broader context of chicken ovarian follicle development, and providing a prospective target to improve the egg-laying performance of chickens via molecular marker-assisted breeding technology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Upconverted ultraviolet luminescence technology is attracting extensive interest lately due to its potential applications. To date, visible-to-ultraviolet upconversion has been achieved in Pr3+, Gd3+, Er3+, Ho3+ or Tm3+-activated phosphors. We herein report an upconverted ultraviolet emission of Bi3+ in a co-doped phosphor, YBO 3 :Pr3+,Bi3+, utilizing a 447 nm laser for excitation. Through spectroscopic investigations, we have determined that the blue laser excites the Pr3+ 4f5d state, followed by an energy transfer to the excited state of the Bi3+ ion in the phosphor. Consequently, the upconverted emission spectra do not show the Pr3+ (4f5d→4f2) emission, but rather the ultraviolet emission is completely dominated by the Bi3+ (3P 1 →1S 0) emission. Taking advantage of the ultraviolet emission performance and blue light excitability of the phosphor, we have successfully built and demonstrated a prototype upconverting ultraviolet light source based on phosphor conversion. The introduction of Bi3+-activated upconversion luminescence enriches the bank of upconverting ultraviolet phosphors and provides a novel upconversion strategy for achieving Bi3+-activated ultraviolet light source. • Achievement of visible-to-ultraviolet upconverted emission from Bi3+ ion. • Energy transfer mechanism from Pr3+ to Bi3+ in YBO 3 :Pr3+,Bi3+. • Development of a prototype upconverting ultraviolet light source based on phosphor conversion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ovarian follicle development is an important physiological activity for females and makes great significance in maintaining female health and reproduction performance. The development of ovarian follicle is mainly affected by the granulosa cells (GCs), whose growth is regulated by a variety of factors. Here, we identified a novel circular RNA (circRNA) derived from the Ribosomal protein S19 (RPS19) gene, named circRPS19, which is differentially expressed during chicken ovarian follicle development. Further explorations identified that circRPS19 promotes GCs proliferation and steroid hormone synthesis. Furthermore, circRPS19 was found to target and regulate miR-218-5p through a competitive manner with endogenous RNA (ceRNA). Functionals investigation revealed that miR-218-5p attenuates GCs proliferation and steroidogenesis, which is opposite to that of circRPS19. In addition, we also confirmed that circRPS19 upregulates the expression of Inhibin beta B subunit (INHBB) by binding with miR-218-5p to facilitate GCs proliferation and steroidogenesis. Overall, this study revealed that circRPS19 regulates GCs development by releasing the repression of miR-218-5p on INHBB, which suggests a novel mechanism in respect to circRNA and miRNA regulation in ovarian follicle development. • A novel circRNA circRPS19 is differentially expressed during ovarian follicle development. • CircRPS19 promotes chicken GCs proliferation and steroid hormone synthesis. • CircRPS19 control GCs development via upregulating INHBB by antagonizing miR-218-5p. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A hybrid of graphene nanoribbons (GNRs) interlacing hollow NiCoO (G-HNCO) nanocages in a size range of 300~500 nm with rough surface is synthesized by a chemical etching CuO templates and followed by GNR interlacing process. The G-HNCO showed high electrochemical performance of oxygen evolution reaction (OER), which exhibited small onset potential of 1.50 V and achieved current densities of 10 mA cm at potentials of 1.62 V. Also, the hybrid delivered high capacitance of 937.8 F g at 1 A g in supercapacitor (SC) tests as well as stable cycling performance in both OER and SC measurements. The approach to synthesize the hybrid is simple and scalable for other graphene nanoribbon-based electrocatalysts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two-dimensional tremelliform Co 0.85 Se nanosheets were synthesized by a simple solvothermal method using ethylenediamine (EN) to control the morphology. EN acts as a strong alkalinity supplier, facilitating the formation of Co 0.85 Se nanosheets or nanospheres in the final product. To further explore the electrochemical application of tremelliform Co 0.85 Se nanosheets, an asymmetric supercapacitor (ASC) was fabricated in which tremelliform Co 0.85 Se nanosheets were used as the positive electrode and commercial activated carbon (AC) was used as the negative electrode. Co 0.85 Se//AC ASC demonstrated impressive electrochemical performances, providing an energy density of 17.8 W h kg −1 at a high power density of 3.57 kW kg −1 and a capacitance retention of 93% after 2000 charge–discharge cycles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Follicular atresia is a natural physiological phenomenon in poultry reproduction. It is well known that follicular atresia is caused by both autophagy and apoptosis of granulosa cells. In current experiment, we evaluated the function of miR-34a-5p on autophagy and apoptosis in chicken follicular atresia. First, the follicular atresia model of chicken was successfully constructed by subcutaneous injection of tamoxifen (TMX), and found the expression of miR-34a-5p in the atresia follicles obviously increased. Then, we confirmed that miR-34a-5p accelerates autophagy and apoptosis of chicken granulose cells in vitro, and miR-34a-5p could induce apoptosis by mediating autophagy. Mechanistically, lymphoid enhancer binding factor 1 (LEF1) was deemed as a target gene for miR-34a-5p. On the contrary, LEF1 overexpression attenuated the autophagy and apoptosis of chicken granular cells. In addition, it was confirmed that the miR-34a-5p/LEF1 axis plays a regulatory role in chicken granulosa cells by mediating the Hippo-YAP signaling pathway. Taken together, this study demonstrated that miR-34a-5p contributes to autophagy and apoptosis of chicken follicular granulosa cells by targeting LEF1 to mediate the Hippo-YAP signaling pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The design and fabrication of sustainable and efficient electrocatalyst for water splitting are crucial for rechargeable metal-air batteries and regenerative fuel cells. In this report, a highly stable and active NiCo-selenide electrocatalyst was successfully prepared by a facile two-step solvothermal approach. In 0.1 M KOH alkaline electrolyte solution, the novel NiCo-selenide electrocatalyst afforded the current density of 10 mA cm at a lower overpotential of 393 mV, a smaller Tafel slope of ~89 mV dec and better stability, compared with NiCo-based oxide and sulfide. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An ultraviolet glow phenomenon of Lu 3 Ga 5 O 12 :Bi3+ phosphor is investigated in ambient lighting. In dark environment the phosphor exhibits ultraviolet persistent luminescence peaking at 313 nm, while in indoor ambient lighting the initial intensity of the ultraviolet emission is remarkably enhanced. Such an enhancement essentially originates from a photostimulation process upon stimulation by the polychromatic ambient light, revealing the role of ambient illumination in releasing the stored energy of the phosphor. The present study on Lu 3 Ga 5 O 12 :Bi3+ inspires us to revisit other ultraviolet phosphors, enabling more glow-in-the-ambient-lighting materials to be developed. • There is no spectral overlap between the glow emission and the ambient lighting. • The ultraviolet glow emission is remarkably enhanced in ambient lighting. • Illuminance and spectrum of the ambient light is crucial to the glow enhancement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Circular RNAs (circRNAs) has been reported in various tissues of animals and associated with multiple biological processes. From our previous sequencing data, we found a novel circRNA, circCCDC91 which was generated from exon 2 to 8 of the CCDC91 gene. We observed that circCCDC91 was differentially expressed in the chicken breast muscle among 4 different embryonic developmental time points (embryonic day 10 [ E10 ], E13, E16, and E19). Therefore, we assumed that circCCDC91 have a potential function in chicken skeletal muscle development. In this study, we firstly verify the annular structure and expression pattern of circCCDC91, and further investigate on whether circCCDC91 could promote chicken skeletal development. Mechanistically, circCCDC91 could absorb miR-15a, miR-15b-5p, and miR-15c-5p to modulate the expression of Insulin receptor substrate1 (IRS1), as well as activate insulin-1ike growth factor 1-phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/AKT (IGF1-PI3K/AKT) signaling pathway. In addition, circCCDC91 could rescue skeletal muscle atrophy by activating IGF1-PI3K/AKT pathway. Taken together, the findings in this study revealed that the newly identified circCCDC91 promotes myoblasts proliferation and differentiation, and alleviates skeletal muscle atrophy by directly binding to miR-15 family via activating IGF1-PI3K/AKT signaling pathway in chicken. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The stimuli-responsive release could reduce the waste of the corrosion inhibitor and realize the accurate repair of corroded region. In this work, hollow mesoporous organosilica nanoparticles (HMON) were first synthesized by silica-etching chemistry tailoring method. Then, HMON were encapsulated with 2-mercaptobenzothiazole (MBT) corrosion inhibitor molecules to build an intelligent corrosion inhibitor system, i.e., MBT@HMON. The microstructure and frame composition of the synthesized HMON were characterized. After the successful encapsulation of MBT into HMON, the release kinetics of MBT from HMON under different dithiothreitol (DTT) concentration and pH conditions were investigated. Finally, the corrosion inhibition performance of MBT@HMON for copper alloy was evaluated in 3.5 wt% NaCl solution by weight loss test and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). The results show that the controlled release of corrosion inhibitor MBT from HMON could be realized by tuning the redox and pH conditions of corrosion medium. When the appropriate concentration of MBT@HMON was added into the corrosion medium (1.6 g·L−1 in this work), the corrosion of cooper alloy was greatly inhibited. This simple and general strategy of introducing corrosion inhibitors loaded HMON directly into the corrosion medium offers a new prospect for the application of nanocontainers in the intelligent corrosion protection of metallic materials. • pH and redox double stimulus-responsive intelligent corrosion inhibitor system was obtained. • Embedded disulfide bonds and interaction between HMON framework and inhibitor served as nature valve. • MBT@ HMON exhibited excellent inhibitor-loading/releasing properties. • Robust corrosion resistance was achieved by MBT@ HMON. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As an emerging approach to charge storage phosphors, upconversion charging (UCC) is attracting increased attention owing to its fundamental and practical perspectives. Despite the potential, further development of the UCC technology is restricted by the limited types of excitation light sources. Here, we use a white flashlight as excitation to investigate the UCC performance of storage phosphors. We demonstrate, as an example, that a Y3Al2Ga3O12:Pr3+ phosphor exhibits long-lasting emissions in the ultraviolet and visible regions after intense illumination from the flashlight. Thermoluminescence investigations reveal that both excited-state absorption and energy-transfer upconversion are involved in the UCC process. Based on the luminescence performance of the white-light charged phosphor, a conceptual thermometry approach is introduced, which can remotely sense the local temperature by monitoring the afterglow intensity ratio. Considering the wide use of flashlight, such a white-light excitability and the associated glow emission may potentially revolutionize the way to utilize storage phosphors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• HMSS was prepared by surfactant-assisted selective etching method. • The surface of HMSS was successfully modified with the redox-responsive nanovalves. • The smart nanocontainers can realize on-demand release of MBT molecules. The redox-responsive hollow mesoporous silica sphere (HMSS) as smart nanocontainer demonstrates great potential for active agent storage and controlled release. In the present work, HMSS was firstly prepared by surfactant assisted selective etching method. Then, target corrosion inhibitors, 2-mercaptobenzothiazole (MBT) molecules, were loaded and encapsulated with redox-responsive supramolecular nanovalves, ZnO quantum dots. Results reveal that obtained HMSS exhibits a hierarchical mesoporous structure consisting of hollow cavity and mesoporous shell. Corrosion inhibitors were successfully loaded and capped in HMSS nanocontainers, showing on-demand release behavior under specific environment. Moreover, the release efficiency gradually increased with increasing dosage of the reducing agent. Therefore, the novel smart nanocontainers with redox-responsive characteristics will offer a great promise for the development of new generation nano delivery system for corrosion protection accompanying redox environment change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The reproductive performance of chickens mainly depends on the development of follicles. Abnormal follicle development can lead to decreased reproductive performance and even ovarian disease among chickens. Chicken is the only non-human animal with a high incidence of spontaneous ovarian cancer. In recent years, the involvement of circRNAs in follicle development and atresia regulation has been confirmed. Results: In the present study, we used healthy and atretic chicken follicles for circRNA RNC-seq. The results showed differential expression of circRALGPS2. It was then confirmed that circRALGPS2 can translate into a protein, named circRALGPS2-212aa, which has IRES activity. Next, we found that circRALGPS2-212aa promotes apoptosis and autophagy in chicken granulosa cells by forming a complex with PARP1 and HMGB1. Conclusions: Our results revealed that circRALGPS2 can regulate chicken granulosa cell apoptosis and autophagy through the circRALGPS2-212aa/PARP1/HMGB1 axis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Skeletal muscle is important for animal meat production, regulating movements, and maintaining homeostasis. Circular RNAs (circRNAs) have been founded to play vital role in myogenesis. However, the effects of the numerous circRNAs on growth and development of the skeletal muscle are yet to be uncovered. Herein, we identified circLRRFIP1, which is a novel circular RNA that is preferentially expressed in the skeletal muscle. To study the role of circLRRFIP1 in the skeletal muscle, the skeletal muscle satellite cells (SMSCs) was used to silenced or overexpressed circLRRFIP1. The results obtained in this study showed that circLRRFIP1 play a positive role in the proliferation and differentiation of SMSCs. The SMSCs were generated with stable knockdown and overexpression of circLRRFIP1, and the results showed that circLRRFIP1 exerts a stimulatory effect on the proliferation and differentiation of SMSCs. We further generated SMSCs with stable knockdown and overexpression of circLRRFIP1, and the results revealed that circLRRFIP1 exerts a stimulatory effect on the proliferation and differentiation of SMSCs. Mechanistically, circLRRFIP1 targets the myogenic inhibitory factor-miR-15 family to release the suppression of the miR-15 family to AKT3. The knockdown of AKT inhibits SMSC differentiation through the mTOR/p70S6K pathway. Taken together, the results obtained in this present study revealed the important role and the regulatory mechanisms of circLRRFIP1 in the development of chicken skeletal muscle. Therefore, this study provides an attractive target for molecular breeding to enhance meat production in the chicken industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Studies have identified significant sex‐based differences and disparities in the clinical presentation and treatment of atrial fibrillation (AF). Studies have shown women are less likely to be referred for catheter ablation, are older at the time of ablation, and are more likely to have recurrence after ablation. However, in most studies investigating AF ablation outcomes, the female cohorts were relatively small. The impact of sex on the outcome and safety of ablation procedures is still unclear. Objective: To investigate sex‐based differences in outcomes and complications after AF catheter ablation, with a significant female cohort Method: In this retrospective study, patients undergoing AF ablation from January 1, 2014, to March 31, 2021, were included. We investigated clinical characteristics, duration and progression of AF, number of EP appointments from diagnosis to ablation, procedural data, and procedure complications. Results: Total of 1346 patients underwent first catheter ablation for AF during this period, including 896 (66.5%) male and 450 (33.4%) female patients. Female patients were older at the time of ablation (66.2 vs. 62.4 years; p <.001). Women had higher CHA2DS2‐VASc (congestive heart failure, hypertension, age, diabetes, stroke, vascular disease, sex category) scores (3 vs. 2; p <.001) than men, expectedly, as the female sex warrants an additional point. 25.3% female patients had PersAF at the time of diagnosis versus 35.3% male patients (p <.001). At the time of ablation, 31.8% female patients had PersAF as compared to 43.1% male patients (p <.001), indicating progression of PAF to PersAF in both sexes. Women tried more AADs than men before ablation (1.13 vs. 0.98; p =.002). Male and female patients had no statistically significant difference in (a) arrhythmia recurrence at 1‐year post ablation (27.7% vs. 30%; p =.38) or (b) procedural complication rate (1.8% vs. 3.1%; p =.56). Conclusion: Female patients were older and had higher CHA2DS2‐VASc scores compared to males at the time of AF ablation. Women tried more AADs than men before ablation. One‐year arrhythmia recurrence rates and procedural complications were similar in both sexes. No sex‐based differences were observed in safety and efficacy of ablation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The global production of denim fabric is more than 9 billion meters, and indigo dye, an essential dye in the denim field, uses about 30–50 tons of water per million meters in the washing process after dyeing in order to remove the floating color. At present, the most common cotton yarn dyeing process is the traditional process of dyeing, using the multi-vat immersion dyeing method of the assembly line. In order to successfully reduce the water and energy consumption with the foaming process, it is necessary to combine the foam system by indigo reduction method. This study through the foam system selection and process optimization,The results showed the concentration of sodium dodecyl sulfate is 3 g/L, the concentration of citric acid is 1.2 g/L, the temperature is 50 °C, the speed is 1200r/min, and the stirring time is 5min. A simulated factory yarn-dyeing line was built, Through orthogonal test, sodium Hydrosulfite concentration and sodium hydroxide concentration required for 5 g/L indigo reduction were 7 g/L and 3 g/L, respectively. When the temperature was 80 °C, the reduction effect of indigo was the best. Taking the K/S value of cotton dyed with 5 g/L traditional process as the control, the required concentration of indigo dye foaming process was determined to be 14 g/L at 50 °C, and the foam indigo foaming technology was realized. By comparing the twist, single yarn strength, and hairiness tests of the dyed cotton yarn with the two technology, the results showed that the properties of the dyed cotton yarn with the foam indigo technology dye are better than the traditional technology. Compared with traditional technology, foam technology saves about 53.5% water and has an efficiency ratio of 1:10. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Trap filling studies of persistent phosphors using visible-light excitation have important implications on both fundamental luminescence research and practical applications. We report here an up-conversion charging (UCC) design of Gd 3 Ga 5 O 12 :Pr3+ persistent phosphor upon excitation with blue lasers. As an example, long-lasting emission from Pr3+ has been achieved in the phosphor after the traps are filled by subsequently absorbing two 450 nm excitation photons from a blue diode laser. Spectroscopic investigations reveal that the composition of UCC intermediate state is predominantly that of 3P 0 state of Pr3+ in the phosphor. Our work provides a major step toward developing the UCC design, which enables new properties of persistent luminescence to be discovered and new applications of persistent phosphors developed. • Achieving long-lasting emission of Pr3+ upon blue lasers illumination. • Two-step photoionization dominates the filling of traps. • Up-conversion excitation accounts for a depletion of the intermediate state population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Passive NO x adsorption (PNA) has been regarded as a new technology for NO x elimination at low temperatures in heavy diesel vehicles (HDV) during the cold-start period. For this process, it has been reported that zeolite-supported Pd samples are good adsorbents for the PNA, where the large pores and low Si/Al ratios (SAR) in the zeolites are favorable for the PNA. Therefore, we chose Al-rich Beta with both abundant Al species and large 12-membered ring pores as a support to load Pd species for preparation of the PNA adsorbents. As a result, 1 % Pd/Beta-4 showed much higher NO adsorption capacity than 1 % Pd/Beta-13, which is assigned to more Al pairs in the Beta-4 than those in the Beta-13. Even after hydrothermal treatment at 750 °C for 16 h, the 1 % Pd/Beta-4 still exhibited high passive NO capacity. These features should be helpful for the control of NO x emissions in the future. [Display omitted] • A highly dispersed Pd species on Al-rich Beta (Pd/Beta-4) was synthesized. • The Pd/Beta-4 has excellent NO adsorption capacity. • High NO adsorption capacity of Pd/Beta-4 is related to its rich Al pairs. • Hydrothermally aged 1 %Pd/Beta-4 still exhibited good NO adsorption capacity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Graphene nanoribbons wrapped carbon-coated SnO 2 nanoparticles which are anchored on carbon nanotubes (CNTs) by a two-step hydrothermal method. In the final hybrid of graphene nanoribbons wrapping carbon-coated SnO 2 nanoparticles on CNTs (GCSCNTs), SnO 2 nanoparticles in the diameter of ∼5 nm are uniformly anchored on the surface of CNTs and graphene nanoribbons flexibly wrapped carbon-coated SnO 2 nanoparticles on the surface. Electrochemical experiments proved that GCSCNTs exhibited superior lithium storage capacity and cycling performance. The GCSCNTs showed a reversible capacity of 1038 mA h g −1 at a current density of 0.1 A g −1 and keep the specific capacity of 502 mA h g −1 at the current density of 1 A g −1 over1000 cycles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Graphene nanosheets (GNs) with large specific surface area, high conductivity, and excellent flexibility were integrated with negative active materials (NAM) as backbones to construct a continuous conductive network to suppress the sulfation of negative plates and improve the cycle-life of lead-acid batteries (LABs) under high-rate partial state-of-charge (HRPSoC) condition. The microstructure of GNs was characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), nitrogen adsorption-desorption techniques, fourier transform infrared (FTIR), and Raman spectroscopy. The effect of GNs at different contents in the electrochemical performances of negative plates and LABs is investigated. The electrochemical tests show that the cycle-life of LABs under HRPSoC conditions has improved by more than 370% and the utilization ratio of NAM has been raised to 63.7%, when 0.9 wt% additions of GNs was added to NAM. It is found that the GNs will be a promising carbonaceous additive for long cycle-life of LABs under HRPSoC conditions. Graphical Abstract: [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Graphene nanoribbons (GNRs) with opened edges and less structural defects are embedded in polyacrylonitrile (PAN)-based carbon nanofibers (CNFs) by electrospinning followed by stabilization and carbonization. GNRs not only can be used as one-dimensional nanofillers, but also act as nanoplatelet template to promote the formation of graphitic carbon in PAN matrix. X-ray diffraction, Raman spectroscopy and N 2 absorption are used to analyze the microstructure of GNR-reinforced CNFs. In situ tensile test using a micromechanical device inside a scanning electron microscope (SEM) is carried out to evaluate the mechanical performance of individual GNR-reinforced CNF. The tensile strength and elastic modulus of CNFs reinforced by 2 wt% GNRs with a diameter of ∼160 nm are 3.52 GPa and 70.07 GPa, respectively, which are higher than those of pristine PAN CNFs with similar size, i.e. 2.44 GPa and 28.97 GPa. The rough fracture surface for all GNR-reinforced CNFs suggests that the GNRs can dramatically toughen the fibers. A sword-in-sheath failure is observed in 4 wt% GNR reinforced CNFs, confirming that GNRs are entirely embedded and well aligned along the fiber axis. This study demonstrates the potential of GNRs as a promising reinforcement to improve the formation of graphitic carbon and mechanical performance of CNFs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A non-woven network of porous nitrogen-doping carbon nanofibers (PNCNFs) is prepared by electrospinning of polyacrylonitrile (PAN)/polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP), followed by stabilization and carbonization. The specific surface areas, porosity and nitrogen content of PNCNFs can be easily controlled by adjusting the content ratio of PVP to PAN. The non-woven PNCNFs based network provides abundant interface sites and hierarchical porosity for solvated ions. In a three-electrode configuration, PNCNFs-2-3 provides a high specific capacitance of 198 F g −1 at 1 A g −1 in 6 M KOH. A two-electrode configuration supercapacitor using PNCNFs-2-3 delivers 148 F g −1 capacitance at 1 A g −1 as well as excellent cycling stability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Suzuki-Miyaura type coupling reaction of aryl halides with triphenylborane-pyridine was described. The reaction can be catalyzed by Pd(OAc)2 (5 mol%) in presence of Cs2CO3 at 50°C or 80°C, and functionalized biaryls were obtained in good to excellent yields. This protocol is general and can tolerate a wide range of functional groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Preparation of eco-friendly MBT@Ph-HPMO for in situ active corrosion protection. • Ph-HPMO was obtained by generic and facile framework-hybridization method. • Interaction between Ph-HPMO framework and inhibitor served as nature valve. • MBT@Ph-HPMO exhibited excellent inhibitor-loading/releasing properties. • MBT@Ph-HPMO showed robust anticorrosion performance. Most of existing nanocontainers suffer from tedious, complicated and unsustainable assembly process which restricts their application in corrosion protection as smart inhibitor carriers. In this study, we adopted the framework-hybridization approach to prepare a smart anticorrosion system (MBT@Ph-HPMO), with MBT inhibitor as cargo and phenylene-bridged hollow periodic mesoporous organosilica (Ph-HPMO) as nanocontainer. Results reveal that the π-π stacking between MBT and framework of Ph-HPMO serves as nature valve, which is supplemented by the molecular dynamic simulation. The encapsulated inhibitor was loaded into Ph-HPMO at neutral pH, demonstrating fast release in acidic environment. On-demand release of inhibitors from MBT@Ph-HPMO contributed to achieving in situ active corrosion protection. Anticorrosion performance of MBT@Ph-HPMO for copper alloy was evaluated in 3.5 wt% NaCl solution for a period of 30 days. The alloy exhibited the slightest corrosion damage in the corrosion medium with the addition of 0.24 wt% MBT@Ph-HPMO. This facile and versatile strategy will have broad applications in new class of nanocontainers fabrication and open up a new prospect for active corrosion protection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]