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Family members of Asian Americans (AAs) hold enormous potential as health changemakers to help combat the growing non-communicable disease burden in the community. To inform the development of impactful family-based interventions, there is a need to disentangle the mechanisms behind family influences on health. This study aims to deconstruct how interactivity and closeness mediate the association of age and acculturation with how much AA young adults perceive themselves to influence the health behaviors of family members. 502 AA young adults (48.0% East Asian, 20.9% South Asian, 23.1% Southeast Asian) were recruited in March 2021 to participate in an online survey on family interaction patterns, providing data on 944 unique dyadic family relationships. Associations between age, acculturation, interactivity (shared family activities, living proximity, and interaction frequency), closeness (family connectedness and interaction quality), and family health influence (reflecting influence on diet, exercise, sleep, stress, substance use, and relationship building) were evaluated through structural equation modeling. The final model displayed strong fit (CFI:0.956, RMSEA:0.081, SRMR:0.041), and revealed that an increase in closeness compared to interactivity corresponded with a greater increase in family health influence, with both completely mediating the association between age and family health influence. Acculturation was not associated with closeness, and its effect on family health influence was only partially mediated through interactivity. In subgroup analyses, neither interactivity nor closeness mediated the relationship between age and family health influence among South Asians (unlike East and Southeast Asians). Findings suggest the importance of targeting interactivity and closeness separately when developing AA family-based health interventions, and considering how the age and acculturation profile of AA young adults may shape these dynamics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Certain immune-checkpoint inhibitors have a narrow therapeutic window (TW) as cancer therapeutics, and engineered dual-/multi-targeting agents could potentially widen the TW to bring true clinical benefits. We report a new rationally-designed bispecific-antibody (BsAb), HX009, simultaneously targeting PD1 and CD47 to improve both the efficacy and safety over the respective single-targeting agents by grafting the extracellular domain of SIRPα onto the parental anti-PD1-monoclonal antibody, HX008. This resulted in an IgG4-based "2 × 2" symmetric structure but with an intentionally-reduced CD47-binding affinity, suggesting a novel candidate cancer immunotherapy. Specifically, HX009 has binding affinity constant of 8.951 × 10–9 M for human PD1 and 2.557 × 10–8 M for human CD47, respectively, where the CD47 binding is significantly weaker as compared to the binding affinity of HX008 to PD1 as well as the binding affinity of SIRPα-Fc to CD47, leading to little binding to RBCs and platelets and is contrasting to many CD47-agents in development. However, HX009 effectively and simultaneously binds to the PD1 and CD47 on PD1+CD47+ T-cells via cis-binding and elicits enhanced T cell activation compared to the parental HX008. HX009 caused little cytokine-release in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells. HX009 cross-species binds to cynomolgus monkey PD1/CD47 but not to rodents, making cynomolgus monkeys the choice of species to investigate the pharmacokinetics (PK) and toxicology of HX009. HX009's anti-tumor activities were confirmed in several humanized preclinical mouse models by determining either its anti-PD1 (humanized hu-CD47-MC38 models) or anti-CD47 (HuT-102 lymphoma CDX and three PDX-AML models) functions, although limited available humanized models have hindered broadly demonstration of enhanced anti-tumor activities contributed from the dual targeting of the BsAb. The expanded DLBCL-PDX trial data suggested that both EBV-status and OX40 expression could potentially be two positive predictors for response to HX009. An intravenous (IV) infusion PK study in cynomolgus monkey revealed its largely vasculature distribution, terminal half-life (T1/2) of ~ 50 h, and dose-proportional exposure without accumulation. The anti-drug antibody (ADA) was observed in all monkeys as expected, affecting the PK parameters of repeated administration. The IV single-dose toxicology study with a 14-day observation revealed a maximum tolerated dose of 150 mg/kg, while the repeated-dose (once weekly for 4 weeks, 5 doses in total) study showed a highest non-severely toxic dose (HNSTD) of 15 mg/kg. The desired preclinical PK and safety profiles, along with its antitumor activity, support HX009's candidacy for its clinical development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Efficient photoelectrochemical photodetectors based on WSe2/rGO have been fabricated using an annealing process. The initial performance enhancement of these devices was primarily attributed to the improved bandgap structure of WSe2 and the high carrier mobility of rGO, which facilitated an efficient transition of valence band electrons to the conduction band. Upon this understanding, a comparison between bulk WSe2 and WSe2 nanosheets (WSe2 NSs) was conducted. It was found that, at a bias voltage of 0.6 V, the photocurrent density of WSe2 NSs devices was 76% higher than that of similar bulk WSe2 devices, reaching 0.044 μA/cm2. Owing to the significant advantages of rGO, extensive testing of various WSe2 to rGO ratios was performed, identifying the precise composition that optimized photoelectric performance. Notably, under conditions of 0.5 M Na2SO4 electrolyte, 120 mW/cm2 irradiance, and 0.6 V bias potential, the devices achieved a photocurrent density of 0.64 μA/cm2, which is approximately 25.72 times higher than that of bulk WSe2 and 14.61 times more than WSe2 NSs. Moreover, the photoresponse trended upward with increasing irradiation intensity. Specifically, when the irradiation intensity was increased to 160 mW/cm2 and the bias voltage was raised from 0 V to 0.6 V, the photoresponsivity increased by 5.8 times, from 1 μA/W to 5.8 μA/W. The photodetectors constructed using the optimal WSe2/rGO ratio exhibited no significant performance degradation during a 4000-s cyclic on/off test, demonstrating their robustness under operational conditions. This study highlights the substantial potential of WSe2/rGO hybrids in enhancing the performance of photoelectrochemical photodetectors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Black phosphorus is a highly interesting two-dimensional material with a tunable band gap, ultra-high carrier mobility, and excellent optoelectronic properties. Its van der Waals spacing creates conditions for the entry of foreign substances, and various properties of BP can be effectively regulated by intercalation. In this paper, organic ammonium salts (CTAB, hexadecyl trimethyl ammonium bromide and TBAB, Tetrabutyl ammonium bromide) were chosen as the intercalated guests and BP bulk crystals were used as the intercalation hosts, and the effects of intercalation on the Raman as well as photoluminescence (PL) properties of BP were mainly investigated. The results show that the intercalation of organic ions leads to an overall redshift of the Raman modes corresponding to the three phonon vibrational modes of Ag1, B2g and Ag2. In particular, the PL emission spectrum of the intercalated BP bulk exhibits a continuous spectrum bridging the peaks of the bilayer (1.35 eV), monolayer (1.7 eV) and the defect states. The prepared intercalation products also possess good stability under atmospheric conditions. Our study provides an idea for modulating the electronic and optical properties of bulk 2D materials, which has potential applications in the field of optoelectronics of crystalline materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To explore the potential mechanism of lysionotin in treating glioma. Methods: First, target prediction based on Bernoulli Naïve Bayes profiling and pathway enrichment was used to predict the biological activity of lysionotin. The binding between 5-lipoxygenase (5-LO) and lysionotin was detected by surface plasmon resonance (SPR) and molecular docking, and the inhibitory effects of lysionotin on 5-LO and proliferation of glioma were determined using enzyme inhibition assay in vitro and cell viability analysis, respectively. Furthermore, the pharmaceutical effect of lysionotin was explored by cell survival rate analysis and liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). The protein expression, intracellular calcium ion concentration and cytoskeleton detection were revealed by Western blot, flow cytometry and fluorescence labeling, respectively. Results: Target prediction and pathway enrichment revealed that lysionotin inhibited 5-LO, a key enzyme involved in the arachidonic acid metabolism pathway, to inhibit the proliferation of glioma. Molecular docking results demonstrated that 5-LO can be binding to lysionotin through hydrogen bonds, forming bonds with His600, Gln557, Asn554, and His372. SPR analysis further confirmed the interaction between 5-LO and lysionotin. Furthermore, enzyme inhibition assay in vitro and cell survival rate analysis revealed that 50% inhibition concentration of lysionotin and the median effective concentration of lysionotin were 90 and 16.58 µmol/L, respectively, and the results of LC-MS/MS showed that lysionotin inhibited the production of 5S-hydroperoxy-eicosatetraenoic acid (P<0.05), and moreover, the LC-MS/MS results indicated that lysionotin can enter glioma cells well (P<0.01) and inhibit their proliferation. Western blot analysis demonstrated that lysionotin can inhibit the expression of 5-LO (P<0.05) and downstream leukotriene B4 receptor (P<0.01). In addition, the results showed that lysionotin affected intracellular calcium ion concentration by inhibiting 5-LO to affect the cytoskeleton, as determined by flow cytometry and fluorescence labeling. Conclusion: Lysionotin binds to 5-LO could suppress glioma by inhibiting arachiodonic acid metabolism pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, BiSe nanosheets were obtained by exfoliating bulk BiSe in liquid phase, and the prepared BiSe nanosheets were used as photoanode to construct photoelectrochemical (PEC) photodetectors with high photoresponse performance. At a light intensity of 80 mW/cm2 and a bias potential of 0.4 V, the photocurrent density reaches 0.089 μA/cm2, which is about 2.5 times that of the bulk BiSe. Further, the photocurrent density increased from 0.089 μA/cm2 to 0.18 μA/cm2 after the addition of photosynthesis-inspired additives (ATP and NADPH) to the electrolyte, and the rise time decreased significantly from 1.76 s to 0.13 s. The decay time was also significantly reduced from 2.27 s to 0.18 s. The improvement of photoresponse performance is due to the synergistic effect of ATP and NADPH, which inhibits the photogenerated electron–hole pair recombination and promotes the PEC reaction. The successful preparation of this high-performance photodetector is mainly due to the fact that the liquid-phase exfoliation effectively increases the specific surface of BiSe, and the introduced ATP and NADPH further improve the circulation and utilization of the photogenic carrier to promote the PEC reaction. This study provides a reference for the further research of BiSe materials in the field of photodetection, and confirms the feasibility of improving the performance of photodetectors through the combination of liquid-phase exfoliation to change the morphology characteristics and photosynthesizing electrolyte additives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Rare Metals is the property of Springer Nature and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

CSF1R is a receptor tyrosine kinase responsible for the growth/survival/polarization of macrophages and overexpressed in some AML patients. We hypothesized that a novel multi-kinase inhibitor (TKi), narazaciclib (HX301/ON123300), with high potency against CSF1R (IC50 ~ 0.285 nM), would have anti-AML effects. We tested this by confirming HX301's high potency against CSF1R (IC50 ~ 0.285 nM), as well as other kinases, e.g. FLT3 (IC50 of ~ 19.77 nM) and CDK6 (0.53 nM). An in vitro proliferation assay showed that narazaciclib has a high growth inhibitory effect in cell cultures where CSF1R or mutant FLT3-ITD variants that may be proliferation drivers, including primary macrophages (IC50 of 72.5 nM) and a subset of AML lines (IC50 < 1.5 μM). In vivo pharmacology modeling of narazaciclib using five AML xenografts resulted in: inhibition of MV4-11 (FLT3-ITD) subcutaneous tumor growth and complete suppression of AM7577-PDX (FLT3-ITD/CSF1Rmed) systemic growth, likely due to the suppression of FLT3-ITD activity; complete suppression of AM8096-PDX (CSF1Rhi/wild-type FLT3) growth, likely due to the inhibition of CSF1R ("a putative driver"); and nonresponse of both AM5512-PDX and AM7407-PDX (wild-type FLT3/CSF1Rlo). Significant leukemia load reductions in bone marrow, where disease originated, were also achieved in both responders (AM7577/AM8096), implicating that HX301 might be a potentially more effective therapy than those only affecting peripheral leukemic cells. Altogether, narazaciclib can potentially be a candidate treatment for a subset of AML with CSF1Rhi and/or mutant FLT3-ITD variants, particularly second generation FLT3 inhibitor resistant variants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two-dimensional (2D) materials have demonstrated great performance and good application prospects in a variety of photodetectors, including photoelectrochemical (PEC)-type photodetectors, due to their superior optical and electrical properties. Among these, 2D Bi2Se3 materials have drawn a lot of attention from scientists due to their special physical characteristics, such as a topological insulator, strong carrier mobility, and narrow bulk bandgap of 0.3 eV. Among the many methods for preparing Bi2Se3, the electrodeposition method stands out for its high adaptability and compatibility with PEC systems. Herein, through a simple electrodeposition method based on an electrochemical system, a Bi2Se3 film-based PEC-type photodetector was constructed, which exhibits good and tunable photoresponse properties, as well as excellent cycle and time stability. This research demonstrates the potential of the Bi2Se3 film created by electrodeposition as a photoanode material for photodetectors and offers a practical and prolongable method for creating photoanodes for PEC photodetectors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, the almost surely globally asymptotical stability and the almost surely exponential stability for dual switching continuous-time nonlinear system are investigated by using the probability analysis method and stochastic Multi-Lyapunov function, respectively. Different from the previous research results, it is the first time that dual switching continuous-time nonlinear system is used as a study object to investigate its switching stability. Then, the probability analysis method is used to overcome the deficiency that the ergodicity no longer holds due to the variable transition rate of Markov process. Some sufficient conditions for the globally asymptomatic stability almost surely and the almost surely exponential stability of dual switching continuous-time nonlinear system are given under the pre-designed deterministic switching strategy. Finally, two numerical examples are provided to verify the effectiveness of the proposed approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Medulloblastoma (MB) is one of the most common malignant childhood brain tumors (WHO grade IV). Its high degree of malignancy leads to an unsatisfactory prognosis, requiring more precise and personalized treatment in the near future. Multi-omics and artificial intelligence have been playing a significant role in precise medical research, but their implementation needs a large amount of clinical information and biomaterials. For these reasons, it is urgent for current MB researchers to establish a large sample-size database of MB that contains complete clinical data and sufficient biomaterials such as blood, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), cancer tissue, and urine. Unfortunately, there are few biobanks of pediatric central nervous system (CNS) tumors throughout the world for limited specimens, scarce funds, different standards collecting methods and et cl. Even though, China falls behind western countries in this area. The present research set up a standard workflow to construct the Beijing Children's Hospital Medulloblastoma (BCH-MB) biobank. Clinical data from children with MB and for collecting and storing biomaterials, along with regular follow-up has been collected and recorded in this database. In the future, the BCH-MB biobank could make it possible to validate the promising biomarkers already identified, discover unrevealed MB biomarkers, develop novel therapies, and establish personalized prognostic models for children with MB upon the support of its sufficient data and biomaterials, laying the foundation for individualized therapies of children with MB. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The structure and electronic properties of bilayer, trilayer, and multilayer vertical Janus heterostructures are studied by first-principles calculation. By comparing the electronic structure of monolayer SMoS, monolayer SeMoS, and SMoS/SeMoS heterostructures, it has been found that, when SMoS forms heterostructures with more than two layers of Janus SeMoS, the band gap of the system changes from direct to indirect. In the Janus heterostructure system, significant charge transfer occurs between layers and a certain built-in electric field occurs. Due to the different contribution of Mo-d orbital coupling to CBM in different SeMoS layers, the band gap oscillates periodically with three layers of SeMoS. As the number of SeMoS layers in the heterostructure increases, the electrostatic potential difference and built-in electric field of the system increases continuously, resulting in the band gap value decreasing slowly. At the same time, the valence band offset value of the heterostructure constructed by SMoS and multilayer SeMoS decreases, and the conduction band offset value increases. These properties enrich the research and application of transition metal dichalcogenide-related heterostructures as optoelectronic and nanoelectronic devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigated to what extent socioeconomic status (SES) disparity associates with cognitive and physical impairment within older Asian Americans in comparison with other races/ethnicities. Data were from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2011–2018 that included 3,297 White, 1,755 Black, 1,708 Hispanic, and 730 Asian Americans aged ≥ 60. Physical functioning was measured by activities of daily living (ADL) or instrumental activities of daily living (IADL). Memory and language fluency were evaluated using the Alzheimer's Disease Word List Memory Task and Animal Fluency Tests, respectively. Multivariate logistic regressions were conducted to investigate the association between SES and physical and cognitive impairment within racial/ethnic groups, and seemingly unrelated regressions compared coefficients across subgroups. Asians with ≤ high school education had the highest prevalence of age- and sex-adjusted memory impairment among all races/ethnicities, while no difference was observed for those with > high school education. ADL/IADL disability odds did not differ between Asians and Whites, but Asians were more likely to exhibit impaired verbal fluency. Education disparity for ADL disability (OR, 3.40; 95% CI, 2.20–5.25) and memory impairment (OR, 11.57; 95% CI, 6.59–20.31) were largest among Asians compared to Whites, Blacks, and Hispanics. Income disparity for function impairment showed no significant difference across racial/ethnic groups (all P > 0.05). Asians experienced the highest burden of physical functioning and memory impairment due to education disparity. Efforts should focus on strengthening research infrastructure and creating targeted programs and services to improve cognitive and physical health for racially/ethnically underrepresented older adults with lower education attainment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Stress urinary incontinence (SUI) is a key factor for post-prostatectomy (RP) quality of life. Current international guidelines struggle to find the adequate place for each kind of surgeries. The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis considering updated evidence is to assess the efficacy and safety of proACT in treating male patients with post-RP SUI. Methods: A review of the literature was performed by searching the PubMed database. We narrowed included studies with adult male patients with SUI; outcomes included pads or pad weight per day and quality of life (QOL) questionnaires, as well as safety outcomes. Results: 18 studies involving 1570 patients mean age of 68.8 (EC 2.1) were included. The mean follow-up reported was 34.7 months (EC 17.7; median 38.5; range 1–128 months). An average of 60.7% (EC 27) and 40.4% of patients suffered from mild-to-moderate and severe incontinence, respectively. The overall dryness rate was 55.1% (EC 19.3) while respecting the definition of 0–1 pads per day, and the mean dryness rate was 53% (EC 0.2). The mean overall complication rate was 31.2% (EC 18.3%), including an explantation rate of 26.5% (EC 15.3) and a reoperation rate of 22.7% (EC 8.7). The methodological quality of the 18 studies was very heterogeneous. Conclusion: Implantation of proACT adjustable balloons is a minimally invasive technique that provides medium outcomes (53%) with a strict definition of dryness (0–1 PPD) and important complication rate (31.2%). Past of irradiation is a negative predictive factor for incontinence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

SnSe with layered structure, as a member of 2D materials and transition metal chalcogenides, is a promising candidate of electrocatalyst for hydrogen evolution. Reduced graphene oxide (RGO) is an excellent substrate of electrocatalyst. In this work, SnSe nanosheets (NSs) had been prepared via liquid exfoliation, and the as-prepared SnSe NSs had been hybridized with RGO by a simple hydrothermal method. The SnSe/RGO hybrid shows superior hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) performance and charge transfer capability than SnSe NSs. In addition, it exhibits a superior HER performance in 1.0 M H2SO4 with overpotential of − 298.79 mV (vs. RHE) at a current density of 10 mA/cm2 and a Tafel slope determined to be only 97.56 mV/dec. Moreover, the SnSe/RGO hybrid as working electrode is provided with excellent durability, which is capable of maintaining working current for 10 h. As demonstrated above, relative high activity and stability and low price make the SnSe/RGO hybrid a promising electrocatalyst. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The HER activity and related electronic properties of monolayer binary V–V compound SbP under the biaxial strains are discussed by employing the first-principles calculations based on DFT. It is found that different compressive and tensile strains would modulate the ΔGH*, εLUS partial charge density affecting the HER activity, and band structures of phosphorene for electrocatalysis. Particularly, as the ΔGH* decreases, the HER activity of strained SbP is improved under the compressive strains. Importantly, in the condition of applying − 6% strain, the value of ΔGH* reduced to 0.27 eV and transfers to metallic feature. In the other conditions, the bandgaps of systems under strains are indirect semiconductors. Comparing with strained-free case, the larger partial charge density of εLUS on the surface of SbP illustrates the more H adsorption sites for electrocatalysis. Moreover, the HER activity is related to the partial charge density of εLUS rather than the εLUS site. The presentation reveals that strain would effectively modulate the HER performances for electrocatalysis. It is expected to provide further understanding in practical applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Because of their unusual electrical and optoelectronic properties, MXene nanosheets have generated considerable interest. Herein, a photoelectrochemical (PEC)-type photodetector based on few-layer MXene (Ti2CTx) nanosheets was fabricated, in which the Ti2CTx was prepared by liquid-phase exfoliation-assisted chemical etching from Ti2AlC. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images and Raman spectra were used to confirm the microstructure and morphology of the two-dimensional (2D) Ti2CTx. Photoresponse experiments using a PEC measurement system revealed that the synthesized Ti2CTx nanosheets outperform the original Ti2AlC in photoresponse activity under simulated solar illumination. The high photoresponse performance of the Ti2CTx-based photodetector is attributed to the improved photoelectric performance of Ti2CTx by the liquid-phase exfoliation method. The structure and properties of the few-layer Ti2CTx nanosheets suggest potential applications in photonics and optoelectronics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two-dimensional metal carbides (MXene) have become promising candidates for fabricating the supercapacitors. Ti2CTx is more popular in the MXene family due to its lighter mass and excellent electrochemical properties. In this paper, multilayer Ti2CTx is synthesized via choosing the Al layer of etched Ti2AlC raw material. Under the condition of ultrasonic treatment, the as-prepared electrode based on few-layer Ti2CTx nanosheets possess high specific capacitance and strong rate ability. Compared with the etched Ti2CTx, the capacitance performance of ultrasonic Ti2CTx has been greatly improved, which the specific capacitance changes from the initial 133 F g−1 to 284 F g−1 at the current density of 1 A g−1. In addition, the fabricated electrode remains 91% of the initial capacitance after 1000 cycles of constant current charge and discharge at 1 A g−1. This work demonstrates that the fabricated Ti2CTx electrode has excellent capacitive properties and promotes potential use in supercapacitors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Both PD1/PD-L1 and CD47 blockades have demonstrated limited activity in most subtypes of NHL save NK/T-cell lymphoma. The hemotoxicity with anti-CD47 agents in the clinic has been speculated to account for their limitations. Herein we describe a first-in-class and rationally designed bispecific antibody (BsAb), HX009, targeting PD1 and CD47 but with weakened CD47 binding, which selectively hones the BsAb for tumor microenvironment through PD1 interaction, potentially reducing toxicity. In vitro characterization confirmed: (1) Both receptor binding/ligand blockade, with lowered CD47 affinity; (2) functional PD1/CD47 blockades by reporter assays; (3) T-cell activation in Staphylococcal-enterotoxin-B-pretreated PBMC and mixed-lymphocyte-reaction. In vivo modeling demonstrated antitumor activity in Raji-B and Karpass-229-T xenograft lymphomas. In the humanized mouse syngeneic A20 B-lymphoma (huCD47-A20) HuGEMM model, which has quadruple knocked-in hPD1xhPD-L1xhCD47xhSIRPα genes and an intact autologous immune-system, a contribution of effect is demonstrated for each targeted biologic (HX008 targeting PD1 and SIRPα-Fc targeting CD47), which is clearly augmented by the dual targeting with HX009. Lastly, the expression of the immune-checkpoints PD-L1/L2 and CD47 seemed co-regulated among a panel of lymphoma-derived-xenografts, where HX009 maybe more effective in those with upregulated CD47. Our data warrants HX009's further clinical development for treating NHLs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Patients undergoing gastrectomy for gastric cancer are more likely to develop gallstones than the general population. Prophylactic cholecystectomy remains controversial. Methods: Studies from 2000–2022 were systematically searched in the PubMed, EMBASE, and Cochrane Library databases. The search included simultaneous cholecystectomy or risk factors for gallstone formation with gastrectomy alone. Major prognostic factors included complications and mortality, and risk factor analyses included age, sex, TNM stage, gastrectomy type, lymph node dissection, diabetes, and duodenal exclusion. Random effects regression models were used to analyze risk estimates and data were presented as odds ratios (ORs) with corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Results: There were no significant differences in postoperative morbidity (OR 1.12, 95% CI 0.90–1.39; p = 0.33, I2 = 11%) and mortality (OR 1.23, 95% CI 0.62–2.43; p = 0.56, I2 = 0%) between gastrectomy alone and simultaneous cholecystectomy. Older age (OR 1.48, 95% CI 1.36–1.59; p < 0.001, I2 = 59%), male sex (OR 1.38, 95% CI 1.10–1.71; p = 0.004, I2 = 77%), total gastrectomy (OR 1.50, 95% CI 1.25–1.81; p < 0.001, I2 = 72%), diabetes mellitus (OR 1.38, 95% CI 1.17–1.63; p < 0.001, I2 = 8%), and duodenal exclusion (OR 1.77, 95% CI 1.47–2.15; p < 0.001, I2 = 30%) were risk factors for cholecystolithiasis. Conclusions: Simultaneous cholecystectomy did not increase the incidence of postoperative complications or mortality. Older age, male sex, total gastrectomy, duodenal exclusion, and diabetes were risk factors for gallstone development after gastrectomy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The combined catalytic systems derived from organocatalysts and transition metals exhibit powerful activation and stereoselective-control abilities in asymmetric catalysis. This work describes a highly efficient chiral aldehyde-nickel dual catalytic system and its application for the direct asymmetric α−propargylation reaction of amino acid esters with propargylic alcohol derivatives. Various structural diversity α,α−disubstituted non-proteinogenic α−amino acid esters are produced in good-to-excellent yields and enantioselectivities. Furthermore, a stereodivergent synthesis of natural product NP25302 is achieved, and a reasonable reaction mechanism is proposed to illustrate the observed stereoselectivity based on the results of control experiments, nonlinear effect investigation, and HRMS detection. The combination of transition metal catalysis and organocatalysis can afford both good reactivity and selectivity. Here, the authors present an α − propargylation of N-unprotected amino acid esters with propargylic alcohol derivatives via dual nickel and chiral aldehyde catalysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to the existence of a large number of discontinuous fractures and interfaces in tunnel surrounding rocks, the groundwater inflow into tunnel generally presents significant anisotropy. Therefore, it is of great significance to consider the anisotropic permeability when dealing with water gushing-induced engineering accidents in water-rich mountain tunnels with large burial depth. In this study, based on the complex variable method and the seepage flow theory, a theoretical model of water inflow into a deep-buried circular tunnel in a fully saturated, anisotropic and semi-infinite aquifer is developed. The influence of grouted zone, initial support and secondary lining is fully considered. By comparison to the existing analytical methods and numerical results, the reliability of this proposed analytical solution is well validated. It is indicated from the parametric study that the groundwater inflow into tunnel presents an upward trend with an increasing value of the strata permeability in the vertical direction. Moreover, the water inflow rate and the total water head decrease with the growth of the thickness of grouting circle. It is suggested that reasonable grouting thickness and permeability should be controlled to enhance the grouting effect. This study provides a practical method for estimating the water inflow into a deep-buried, grouted and lined mountain tunnel considering the anisotropic strata permeability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Exploring semiconductor materials with huge Rashba spin splitting is of great significance for spintronic devices without a magnetic field. In this work, the structural and electronic properties of Sb/Bi2Se3/Sb (001) and Sb/Sb2Te3/Sb (001) heterojunctions were studied by first-principles calculations. Four different stacking heterojunctions with very small lattice mismatch were studied, and it was found that all of the heterojunctions were semiconductors with a band gap in the range of 0.05–0.2 eV. Interestingly, giant Rashba-type splitting (up to 5.2 eVÅ) near the Fermi level was induced in these heterojunctions due to the breaking of spatial inversion symmetry. Rashba splitting is mainly influenced by the pz orbital of Sb atoms, and the direction of the spin vectors near the Fermi level are all perpendicular to their momentum, and form two circles with opposite chirality. Because of the successful fabrication of Sb, Bi2Se3 and Sb2Te3, our discoveries provide promising candidates for overcoming the problems of small splitting and metallic Fermi surface in the current research of Rashba splitting for practical applications in spintronic devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Extensive research has been carried out for improved sensitivity of electroactive biofilm-based sensor (EAB-sensor), which is recognized as a useful tool in water quality early-warning. Antibiotic that is employed widely to treat infection has been proved feasible in this study to regulate the EAB and to increase the EAB-biosensor’s sensitivity. A novel composite electrode was prepared using azithromycin (AZM) and graphite powder (GP), namely AZM@GP electrode, and was employed as the anode in EAB-biosensor. Different dosages of AZM, i.e., 2 mg, 4 mg, and 8 mg, referred to as 0.25%, 0.5% and 1% AZM@GP were under examination. Results showed that EAB-biosensor was greatly benefited from appropriate dosage of AZM (0.5% AZM@GP) with reduced start-up time period, comparatively higher voltage output, more readable electrical signal and increased inhibition rate (30%–65% higher than control sensor with GP electrode) when exposing to toxic formaldehyde. This may be attributed to the fact that AZM inhibited the growth of non-EAM without much influence on the physiologic or metabolism activities of EAM under proper dosage. Further investigation of the biofilm morphology and microbial community analysis suggested that the biofilm formation was optimized with reduced thickness and enriched Geobacter with 0.5% AZM@GP dosage. This novel electrode is easily fabricated and equipped, and therefore would be a promising way to facilitate the practical application of EAB-sensors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Designing an economical, superior activity, excellent stability, and earth-rich catalysts is of crucial significance in the progress of electrochemical water splitting and still remains huge challenge to overcome. In this work, amorphous MoO2 with a porous nanostructure as a novel bifunctional electrocatalyst has been prepared by the hydrothermal method. This nanostructure has excellent HER/OER properties, in which the amorphous and porous states have a large number of vacancies and active sites exposed to the electrolyte. The as-prepared sample has been researched in detail via X-ray diffraction (XRD) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Electrochemical experiments show that when the current density reaches − 10 mA cm−2, the as-prepared samples need an overpotential of only about − 0.930 V (vs. RHE) in 1 M H2SO4 and − 0.777 V (vs. RHE) in 1 M KOH for HER, respectively. Furthermore, MoO2 exhibits an extremely overpotential of 2.414 V (vs. RHE) at 10 mA cm−2 in 1 M KOH for OER. It is believed that the amorphous and porous nanostructure remains a promising and efficient hydrolytic electrocatalyst. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Catalytic asymmetric Tsuji–Trost benzylation is a promising strategy for the preparation of chiral benzylic compounds. However, only a few such transformations with both good yields and enantioselectivities have been achieved since this reaction was first reported in 1992, and its use in current organic synthesis is restricted. In this work, we use N-unprotected amino acid esters as nucleophiles in reactions with benzyl alcohol derivatives. A ternary catalyst comprising a chiral aldehyde, a palladium species, and a Lewis acid is used to promote the reaction. Both mono- and polycyclic benzyl alcohols are excellent benzylation reagents. Various unnatural optically active α-benzyl amino acids are produced in good-to-excellent yields and with good-to-excellent enantioselectivities. This catalytic asymmetric method is used for the formal synthesis of two somatostatin mimetics and the proposed structure of natural product hypoestestatin 1. A mechanism that plausibly explains the stereoselective control is proposed. The catalytic asymmetric benzylations of prochiral nucleophiles are very limited. Here, the authors disclose an asymmetric α−benzylation of N-unprotected amino acids with benzyl alcohol derivatives by a chiral aldehyde-involved catalytic system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) remains largely incurable and the prognosis is extremely poor once it spreads to the brain. In particular, in patients with brain metastases, the blood brain barrier (BBB) remains a significant obstacle for the biodistribution of antitumor drugs and immune cells. Here we report that chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells targeting B7-H3 (B7-H3.CAR) exhibit antitumor activity in vitro against tumor cell lines and lung cancer organoids, and in vivo in xenotransplant models of orthotopic and metastatic NSCLC. The co-expression of the CCL2 receptor CCR2b in B7-H3.CAR-T cells, significantly improves their capability of passing the BBB, providing enhanced antitumor activity against brain tumor lesions. These findings indicate that leveraging T-cell chemotaxis through CCR2b co-expression represents a strategy to improve the efficacy of adoptive T-cell therapies in patients with solid tumors presenting with brain metastases. Therapeutic options for non-small cell lung cancer patients with brain metastases are limited. Here the authors design B7-H3 targeting CAR-T cells engineered to express the chemokine receptor CCR2b, and show improved accumulation in the brain and enhanced anti-tumor activity in preclinical models of lung cancer brain metastases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cancers are immunologically heterogeneous. A range of immunotherapies target abnormal tumor immunity via different mechanisms of actions (MOAs), particularly various tumor-infiltrate leukocytes (TILs). We modeled loss of function (LOF) in four common anti-PD-1 antibody-responsive syngeneic tumors, MC38, Hepa1-6, CT-26 and EMT-6, by systematical depleting a series of TIL lineages to explore the mechanisms of tumor immunity and treatment. CD8+-T-cells, CD4+-T-cells, Treg, NK cells and macrophages were individually depleted through either direct administration of anti-marker antibodies/reagents or using DTR (diphtheria toxin receptor) knock-in mice, for some syngeneic tumors, where specific subsets were depleted following diphtheria toxin (DT) administration. These LOF experiments revealed distinctive intrinsic tumor immunity and thus different MOAs in their responses to anti-PD-1 antibody among different syngeneic tumors. Specifically, the intrinsic tumor immunity and the associated anti-PD-1 MOA were predominately driven by CD8+ cytotoxic TILs (CTL) in all syngeneic tumors, excluding Hepa1-6 where CD4+ Teff TILs played a key role. TIL-Treg also played a critical role in supporting tumor growth in all four syngeneic models as well as M2-macrophages. Pathway analysis using pharmacodynamic readouts of immuno-genomics and proteomics on MC38 and Hepa1-6 also revealed defined, but distinctive, immune pathways of activation and suppression between the two, closely associated with the efficacy and consistent with TIL-pharmacodynamic readouts. Understanding tumor immune-pathogenesis and treatment MOAs in the different syngeneic animal models, not only assists the selection of the right model for evaluating new immunotherapy of a given MOA, but also can potentially help to understand the potential disease mechanisms and strategize optimal immune-therapies in patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this report, two-dimensional (2D) bismuth selenide (Bi2Se3) nanosheets (NSs) and reduced graphene oxide (rGO) (Bi2Se3/rGO) composites have been prepared via a hydrothermal method. The microstructures and morphology properties of Bi2Se3/rGO composites were analyzed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Raman spectra, indicating a well prepared and high crystalline material. Photoelectrochemical (PEC) tests demonstrate that Bi2Se3/rGO heterojunction exhibits enhanced photocatalytic performance of the pure Bi2Se3, which is about five times higher than Bi2Se3 NSs, which is because rGO acts as a conduction pathway, resulting in efficient separation of photogeneration of electron–hole pairs on the Bi2Se3/rGO composites. The as-prepared composite provides a novel insight in the field of photocatalysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Titanium dioxide (TiO2) has been widely studied in the field of photocatalysis. However, the development of TiO2 was limited by the photoresponse only in the ultraviolet region and the rapid recombination of photogenerated electron–hole pairs. In this work, we prepare a novel TiO2 and two-dimensional (2D) bismuth selenide (Bi2Se3) hybrid nanosheets (TiO2/Bi2Se3 HNs) via a simple water bath ultrasonic route. X-ray diffraction pattern and Raman spectra were carried out to confirm that as-prepared samples were pure and well crystalized. Besides, TEM characterization proves that 2D Bi2Se3 nanosheets have high specific surface area and it can be clearly observed that the TiO2 with 60 nm particles are uniformly supported on the surface. Furthermore, photoelectrochemical (PEC) measurements demonstrate that the TiO2/Bi2Se3 HNs exhibit excellent photocatalytic performance of 4.3 µA/cm2 under 100 W of visible light, which were almost 2.5 times that of pure TiO2. More importantly, our results show that the photocurrent density was quite stable and only dropped by 10% after 125 cycles. In summary, the improved photocatalytic activity is due to the unique characteristic of 2D Bi2Se3 nanosheets, such as maximized reaction sites and good electrical conductivity, and the positive coupling effect of the TiO2/Bi2Se3 heterojunction. These extraordinary properties make the TiO2/Bi2Se3 HNs photocatalysts have excellent potential for photocatalytic application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Electrocatalytic hydrogen evolution is an exercisable way to achieve large-scale application of hydrogen energy. It is of great significance to develop an effect, stable, and cost-effective electrocatalyst. Here, we applied the two-dimensional (2D) bismuth (Bi) to the electrocatalytic hydrogen evolution, and proposed the strategies to enhance the catalytic performance of the catalyst. Due to more active sites located along the edges of 2D structure, Bi nanosheets revealed a higher electrocatalytic activity (overpotential of −958 mV vs RHE at 10 mA cm−2, Tafel slope of 122 mV/dec) than the bulk counterpart. To further evaluate the electrocatalytic performance of Bi nanosheets, the typical parameters measured in different H+ concentration (C[H+]) are carried out. The improved catalytic activity obtained in 0.5 M H2SO4 is attributed to enhancing the hydrogen adsorption and accelerating the charge transport on the surface of catalyst. Moreover, the durability of Bi nanosheets has been texted, where the current is not evident fluctuation during the 40,000 s electrolysis measurement indicating its excellent stability. The present work expands the application of Bi in the catalysis and provides the simple strategies to improve its hydrogen evolution performance. Highlights: The Bismuth nanosheet are successfully exfoliated by the sonication assisted liquid-phase exfoliation. The exfoliated 2D Bi has the enhanced electrocatalytic activity compared to the bulk counterpart. Bi nanosheets show an excellent durability in the long-term stability test. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Molybdenum selenide (MoSe2) has been extensively studied in recent years due to its strong absorption for sunlight and unique band structure. Herein, a self-assembly three-dimensional (3D) MoSe2 nanoflowers were prepared by a two-step process. Significantly, the photodetection device based on MoSe2 nanoflowers exhibited a maximum responsivity about 12.39 µA W−1 and a rapid photo-response time about 0.15 s at 0 V bias under simulated sunlight exposure benefiting from its large specific surface area and unique morphologic structure. Meanwhile, we demonstrated the outstanding stability after 2 weeks of the photodetection device. In this way, the MoSe2 nanoflower-based photodetectors enriched the basic research of molybdenum selenide and provided some reference for the following researches based on molybdenum selenide. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Metal-semiconductor ohmic contacts are required to reduce the energy dissipation for two-dimensional (2D) electronic devices, and phase engineering of 2D transition-metal dichalcogenides (TMDCs) is a promising approach for building ohmic contacts. Here, 2D in-plane 1T′-2H MoTe2 homojunctions were prepared by direct epitaxy via vapor deposition. The interface properties of in-plane 1T′-2H MoTe2 homojunction were investigated in detail by combining experiments, calculations and theories. The ohmic contact properties of 1T′-2H MoTe2 homojunction were proved according to Kelvin force probe microscopy and density functional theory calculations. The charge carriers robust transport in in-plane 1T′-2H MoTe2 homojunction without Fermi-level pinning can be well described by Poisson equation and band alignment. These results indicate that phase engineering of 2D TMDCs is promising to construct ohmic contacts for device applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Diabetic nephropathy (DN) is one of the major complications of diabetes and contributes significantly towards end-stage renal disease. Previous studies have identified the gene encoding carnosinase (CN-1) as a predisposing factor for DN. Despite this fact, the relationship of the level of serum CN-1 and the progression of DN remains uninvestigated. Thus, the proposed study focused on clarifying the relationship among serum CN-1, indicators of renal function and tissue injury, and the progression of DN. A total of 14 patients with minimal changes disease (MCD) and 37 patients with DN were enrolled in the study. Additionally, 20 healthy volunteers were recruited as control. Further, DN patients were classified according to urinary albumin excretion rate into two groups: DN with microalbuminuria (n = 11) and DN with macroalbuminuria (n = 26). Clinical indicators including urinary protein components, serum carnosine concentration, serum CN-1 concentration and activity, and renal biopsy tissue injury indexes were included for analyzation. The serum CN-1 concentration and activity were observed to be the highest, but the serum carnosine concentration was the lowest in DN macroalbuminuria group. Moreover, within DN group, the concentration of serum CN-1 was positively correlated with uric acid (UA, r = 0.376, p = 0.026) and serum creatinine (SCr, r = 0.399, p = 0.018) and negatively correlated with serum albumin (Alb, r = − 0.348, p = 0.041) and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGRF, r = − 0.432, p = 0.010). Furthermore, the concentration of serum CN-1 was discovered to be positively correlated with indicators including 24-h urinary protein–creatinine ratio (24 h-U-PRO/CRE, r = 0.528, p = 0.001), urinary albumin-to-creatinine ratio (Alb/CRE, r = 0.671, p = 0.000), urinary transferrin (TRF, r = 0.658, p = 0.000), retinol-binding protein (RBP, r = 0.523, p = 0.001), N-acetyl-glycosaminidase (NAG, r = 0.381, p = 0.024), immunoglobulin G (IgG, r = 0.522, p = 0.001), cystatin C (Cys-C, r = 0.539, p = 0.001), beta-2-microglobulin (β2-MG, r = 0.437, p = 0.009), and alpha-1-macroglobulin (α1-MG, r = 0.480, p = 0.004). Besides, in DN with macroalbuminuria group, serum CN-1 also showed a positive correlation with indicators of fibrosis, oxidative stress, and renal tubular injury. Taken together, our data suggested that the level of CN-1 was increased as clinical DN progressed. Thus, the level of serum CN-1 might be an important character during the occurrence and progression of DN. Our study will contribute significantly to future studies focused on dissecting the underlying mechanism of DN. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two-dimensional (2D) MoTe2 nanomaterials have emerged as a promising candidate for constructing excellent supercapacitors due to their high capacitive performance. Recent studies have revealed that MoTe2 has broad prospects as an active material in supercapacitors, although its strict requirements in terms of the external environment and complex preparation process remain serious obstacles to its practical application. Toward this end, MoTe2 nanosheets (NSs) were prepared by a facile and inexpensive liquid-phase exfoliation approach for the fabrication of MoTe2 electrodes. The results show that the MoTe2 NSs exhibit significantly improved electrochemical performance, with a specific capacitance (859 F g−1) more than three times that of bulk MoTe2 (271 F g−1) at a current density of 1 A g−1. In addition, the MoTe2-based electrode showed excellent cycle stability and maintained excellent specific capacitance (92.7% of the initial value) after 1000 cycles under the working condition of a current density of 10 A g−1. This study describes a fundamental investigation on the energy storage and conversion properties of 2D layered materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two-dimensional (2D) molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) nanomaterials have emerged as promising candidates for constructing excellent supercapacitors, but the lack of large-scale, efficient and low-cost methods for preparing MoS2 nanosheets severely hinders its practical application. This study demonstrates an accessible and efficient approach for electrochemical exfoliating bulk MoS2 into high-quality MoS2 nanosheets with size distribution in the range of 1–3 μm and a thickness of several nanometers in an easily available inorganic salt solution. Furthermore, we construct symmetric all-solid-state supercapacitors based on exfoliated MoS2 nanosheets. The 2D structure will provide stable channels to facilitate the intercalation/desorption of ions during charge and discharge, and to a certain extent can prevent deposition and agglomeration. Therefore, compared with the unexfoliated MoS2, as-prepared MoS2 nanosheets show great improvement in supercapacitor performance (the specific capacitance increases from the original 130 F g−1 to 215 F g−1 at 5 A g−1, for instance). In detail, the electrode possesses a specific capacitance of 285 F g−1 at a current density of 2 A g−1 and maintains the great capacitance retention of 83.8% at 8 A g−1. Moreover, the supercapacitor exhibits a high energy density of 136.8 Wh kg−1 at a power density of 2550 Wh kg−1. This work provides basic research on the preparation of 2D nanomaterials by electrochemical exfoliation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel MoS2/Ag2CO3 Z-scheme system was synthesized by a simple chemical depositing method. The morphology and material components of MoS2/Ag2CO3 Z-scheme system were confirmed by scanning electron microscopy and Raman spectroscopy. Photoelectrochemical (PEC) tests demonstrated that the photocurrent density of MoS2/Ag2CO3 Z-scheme system can reach up to 13 µA/cm2 in 0.5 M Na2SO4 solution at a bias voltage of 0.5 V, which is 44 times more than pure MoS2, as well as 13 times higher than pure Ag2CO3. Lastly, the stability measurement of MoS2/Ag2CO3 Z-scheme system in 0.5 M Na2SO4 solution was carried out showing no obvious difference after processing 50 cycles. This work demonstrates that the MoS2/Ag2CO3 Z-scheme system may have a great potential application in photocatalytic water splitting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Van der Waals (vdW) heterostructure, vertically assembled by two kinds of two-dimensional layered materials with extraordinary electronic and optical properties, has emerged as an interesting candidate in the applications of electronics and optoelectronics. It is known that vacancies are crucial in determining the physical properties of materials, and always exist in the materials during the process of actual experimental preparations and can be artificially introduced. In the present work, the structures and electronic properties of a black phosphorus/molybdenum disulfide (BP/MoS2) vdW heterostructure with P atom vacancies are investigated via first principles calculations. Based on the structural symmetry, two types of heterostructures with single-atom vacancy and three types of heterostructures with diatomic vacancies are constructed. It is found that the presence of a single P atom vacancy leads to the transformation from semiconductor to metal in the BP/MoS2 heterostructure, which is mainly due to the contribution of the remaining P atomic p orbitals based on analyses of the partial density of states (PDOS). On the other hand, the heterostructures with diatomic P atom vacancies still maintain their pristine semiconductor features, along with a decrease in their bandgap value. In addition, the plane electrostatic potential indicates that the introduction of P atom vacancy defects causes a change in the electrostatic potential of the BP atomic layer, resulting in asymmetric electrostatic potential on both sides of the BP layer. Finally, it is interesting to note that the accumulation-depletion of electrons occurs around the vacancy, but also partially emerges at the MoS2 layer. Our results provide the possibility for the application of 2D-vacancy-defect heterostructure systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development of effective but earth-abundant electrocatalysts for hydrogen evolution is still a great challenge. Non-noble metal-based multi-phase nanocomposites are regarded as emerging catalysts for efficient catalysts, but their practical application is still hindered by the lack of both satisfying activity and cost-effective synthesis. In this work, ternary CoSe2/MoO2/MoSe2 nanocomposites with controllable phases have been successfully synthesized by simply direct selenization of cobalt molybdate (CoMoO4) nanorods. Compared with related pure Mo-based and Co-based counterparts, the electric conductivity and the active sites of the as-prepared ternary nanocomposites have been both increased due to the synergistic effects. The as-prepared ternary CoSe2/MoO2/MoSe2 nanocomposites electrocatalysts demonstrated superior HER performance which only requiring an overpotential of 229 mV for reaching 10 mA/cm2 current density in acidic media. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Large storage dam projects may modify geo-environmental conditions in many ways. The reservoir impoundment of the 285.5 m high Xiluodu arch dam located on the Jinsha River (China) caused large-scale canyon deformations, including significant canyon contraction and uplift movements from reservoir to downstream valley. The dam experienced subsequent tilting towards upstream and raised a safety concern of the project. A Thermo-Hydro-Mechanical (THM) mechanism is proposed for this extraordinary behavior. Due to reservoir impounding and seepage, significant temperature drops and fluid pressure increase within the underlying geothermal limestone aquifer in a synclinal basin are primary root causes. Finite element THM simulations successfully reproduce these unique deformations. Recent observations of large quantities of thermalized discharge water downstream and high pore pressure in the limestone layer provide further support for the proposed mechanism. Furthermore, refined numerical modeling is adopted to evaluate the safety of Xiluodu dam subjected to potential larger canyon contractions. We conclude that these unprecedented phenomena are dominantly the consequence of THM response to regional hydrogeological evolution following the build-up of a large reservoir. The accumulated canyon contractions at the current stage would not pose a direct threat to the dam safety, but a tripled situation may cause severe safety issues. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

2D layered material Bi2O2Se nanosheets, due to its high carrier mobility, near-ideal subthreshold swing, and high air-stability, which have shown great potential for applications in high-performance field-effect transistors and photodetector. Here, we have been successfully synthesized Bi2O2Se nanosheets via a facile one-step hydrothermal method. The Bi2O2Se nanosheets were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Raman spectra and X-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns, which confirm an excellent crystallized of Bi2O2Se nanosheets. The as-prepared Bi2O2Se nanosheets were used to fabricate electrodes for a self-powered photodetector and exhibit preferable photoresponse activity. At 0 V, the photoeletrochemical (PEC) tests demonstrate that the responsivity and the response time of Bi2O2Se nanosheets can reach up to 20 μA W−1 and 0.12 s. Furthermore, the time stability and cycle stability also were measured. After a long time of testing, the photocurrent of Bi2O2Se nanosheets remained around 300 nA, and after processing 100 and 200 cycles, the photocurrent exhibits slight distinction. These findings indicate that Bi2O2Se nanosheets have great prospects for future applications in self-powered photodetector devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The lily-of-the-valley Convallaria (Asparagaceae) consists of three herbaceous perennial species. The plants are commonly found in northern hemisphere, and are best-known for their ornamental and pharmaceutical value. In order to assess the genetic structure, diversity and demographic history of Convallaria species, 19 novel microsatellite markers were developed based on transcriptome data of C. keiskei. Polymorphism and cross-amplification of the markers were tested in three populations of C. keiskei and one population each of C. majalis and C. montana. The transferability rate in two species was both 89.5%. The average number of alleles detected per locus was 7.7, 3.3 and 2.7 in C. keiskei, C. majalis and C. montana, respectively, and the polymorphism information content correspondingly varied from 0.067 to 0.730, from 0.071 to 0.637 and from 0.195 to 0.680 at the population level. The observed and expected heterozygosity ranged from 0.000 to 1.000 and from 0.000 to 0.833, respectively. Seven of the 19 loci showed significant deviation from Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium. The availability of these markers will provide a useful molecular tool for further population genetics, phylogeographic and breeding studies of Convallaria species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Columnar jointed basalt (CJB), characterized by a hexagonal joint network, poses a great challenge for geotechnical designs due to its time-dependent propensity to deformation and damage. In this paper, the geometrical structure and failure modes of CJB exposed on a dam foundation is presented. The study was conducted during the unloading excavation of the Baihetan dam, China, aiming to provide a more in-depth understanding of the CJB damage mechanism. A systematic field test for the columnar jointed rock mass was also carried out on the dam foundation using ultrasonic P wave measurements. It was found that the excavation damage zone of the CJB not only showed time-dependent damage both in depth and degree but also showed spatially inhomogeneous distribution of the damage degree. Sequential regression analysis further demonstrated the time-dependent behavior of the CJB. Successive observations using digital borehole cameras in the field showed that the unloading damage mechanism of the Baihetan CJB was mainly related to the time-dependent opening of the initially closed joints. Several reinforcing methods for improving the stability of the damaged CJB, including the injection of liquid cement and the installation of the prestressed rock bolts, are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this report, WS2-reduced graphene oxide (WS2-rGO) hybrid was successfully synthesized through a hydrothermal reduction process in which WS2 nanosheets (WS2 NSs) were prepared by a lithium-ion intercalation and exfoliation technique. The photodetection properties of as-synthesized samples have been systematically investigated using a photoelectrochemical (PEC) system, which presents a reproducible photoresponse of WS2-rGO under zero bias, indicating that such hybrid is a promising photoanode for self-powered photodetectors. At a bias of 0.8 V, the photocurrent density of WS2-rGO hybrid was 4.32 μA/cm2, which is approximately 800% of that of the bare WS2 photodetector. Meanwhile, the photoresponsivity of as-prepared WS2-rGO hybrid increases linearly with the irradiation intensity, up to 9.3 μA/W at power density of 30 mW/cm2. In addition, the stability test exhibits no conspicuous degradation after 100 cycles. The enhanced performance of the WS2-rGO hybrid benefits from the high carrier mobility of rGO and the efficient separation of photogenerated carriers at the WS2-rGO interface. This research demonstrates that the WS2-rGO hybrid has a good prospect in PEC-type photodetectors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tin disulfide/graphene composites were successfully synthesized by one-step hydrothermal method. A novel SnS2/graphene solid-state photoelectrochemical photodetector with the advantages of small size, light weight, easy portability, and easy storage was successfully constructed based on solid-state electrolytes. The SnS2/graphene composites with pleated flower-like structure were characterized by scanning electron microscope characterization. At the same time, X-ray diffraction and Raman spectroscopy were carried out to confirm the composition and inherent physical properties of SnS2/graphene. Photoelectrochemical tests show that the SnS2/graphene solid-state photoelectrochemical photodetector has excellent photoresponse characteristics, and its photocurrent density is about 9 nA/cm2 under sunlight irradiation without additional power. In addition, the SnS2/graphene solid-state photoelectrochemical photodetector exhibits a good stability and the photocurrent density is only slightly attenuated (77% of the initial value) after 2000 s (50 cycles). Experimental results that SnS2/graphene solid-state photoelectrochemical photodetector is a potential new type self-powered photodetector. We believe that solid-state electrolytes with the advantages of small size, light weight, easy portability, and easy storage can be extended to other fields, such as solar cells, and supercapacitors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tin disulfide (SnS2) has been attracted intensive attention in the field of photoelectric conversion due to its appropriate band gap and glorious electronic mobility. The hexagon SnS2 nanosheets has been successfully integrated through a facile one-pot hydrothermal method. SEM images, Raman spectra, atomic force microscope and X-ray diffraction patterns are measured to carry out to investigate the morphologies and microstructures of SnS2 nanosheetsm, confirming a good crystallized SnS2. Then, the photochemical activity of as-prepared SnS2 nanosheets were tested in the electrolyte of Na2SO4. Photoelectrochemical tests demonstrate that the photocurrent density of as-prepared hexagon SnS2 nanosheets (1.66 µA/cm2 at a light intensity of 140 mW/cm2) is hugely increased with increasing light intensity. Furthermore, after 50 cycles, the photocurrent density does not change significantly, indicating that the as-prepared SnS2 nanosheets possesses superior stabilities. The outstanding photocatalytic performances of SnS2 nanosheets are not only resulted from its huge specific surface area, which can harvest more light and provide more active sites, but also attributed to its superior charge mobility, which can facilitate the separation photogenerated electron-hole pairs and the charge transfer between SnS2 nanosheets and the electrode. The most important is that our work reveals the hexagonal SnS2 nanosheets not only possess superior photoelectrochemical properties, but also have great potential applications in energy conversion and photodetector fields. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The dynamic response of the overlapped shield tunnels subjected to the train-induced vibration is studied using a nonlinear finite element software. A three-dimensional numerical model is established, and the fabricated segment linings which contain steel bars are used to simulate the shield tunnel. The interaction behaviors, i.e., tensile, shear, and bending, between segment linings are successfully captured by defining the segment lining circumference interface and the joint bolt model. The results show that the dynamic response of the segment linings of the overlapped shield tunnels is affected by the vibration loads caused by the running trains. The additional internal forces generated in the shield tunnels with the fabricated segment linings (joint interfaces are explicitly represented) are larger than those of tunnels which use homogeneous equivalent stiffness model. The opening and staggered deformation response of the joint interfaces is related to the train locations. The axial force and shear response of the bolt under the dynamic load of the train are closely associated with the opening and staggered deformation of joints. The steel spring floating slab can greatly reduce the vertical acceleration and the displacement at the arch bottom of the lower tunnel. The vertical acceleration and the displacement of the bottom arch at the L-III segment lining with the steel spring floating plates are 0.65 times and 0.78 times of the tunnels without the steel spring floating plates, respectively. This study reveals the vibration response features of the overlapped shield tunnels under the train-induced vibration loads, which will help improve the waterproofing capacity and stability of shield tunnels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]