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In the present work, five compositions in the BaO–MgO–SiO2 ternary system were chosen, and ceramics were prepared using the solid‐state reaction method. Single phases were formed easily for the first four compositions, and BaMgSi3O8 ceramics were found to be a mixture of both BaSi2O5 and MgSiO3, according to X‐ray diffraction results. Among all the compositions, Ba2MgSi2O7 ceramic sintered at 1225°C possesses the highest Qf (Q = 1/dielectric loss = 1/tanδ, f = resonant frequency) value ∼55 010 GHz along with relative permittivity ∼8.0 and temperature coefficient of resonant frequency (TCF) ∼−57.5 ppm/°C. With 3 wt.% BCB (BaO–B2O3–CuO) additions, Ba2MgSi2O7 ceramic was well densified at 950°C with a relative permittivity ∼8.1, Qf value ∼28 920 GHz (at 12.37 GHz) and TCF value ∼‒56.6 ppm/°C. These series ceramics with low relative permittivity values might be good candidates for low‐temperature co‐fire ceramic technology substrate applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The poor dispersion of multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) and weak interfacial adhesion of fabric and resin matrix seriously affect the tribological performance of fabric‐reinforcement resin composites. Tannic acid (TA), a plant‐derived compound, which is similar to mussel‐inspired polydopamine, can adhere to various substrates under a weak basic buffer solution. Therefore, in this work, TA‐modified MWCNTs were incorporated into TA functionalized fabric composite to improve the tribological performance of the fabric composite. The results indicate that the MWCNTs and fabric were successfully modified with TA. The wear tests revealed that the TA‐MWCNTs reinforcement TA‐fabric resin composites exhibited the best tribological performance, in which the friction coefficient and volume wear rate decreased by 16.9% and 40%, respectively, compared with pristine fabric composite. The favorable interfacial bonding between fabric and resin is beneficial to the friction force transfer to the load‐bearing fabric, decreasing the stress focus and thus reducing the damage to composite materials. Meanwhile, the good dispersion of MWCNTs contributes to the excellent lubrication performance. This simple and eco‐friendly method of treating fillers with TA provides a new approach to achieve high‐performance tribological materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Vesicle trafficking is a highly important process in numerous human diseases, especially in the central nervous system dysfunctions. However, as a key component of vesicle trafficking‐related genes (VRGs), Cornichon family AMPA receptor auxiliary protein 4 (CNIH4) has not been systematically elucidated in glioma so far. Methods: Differentially expressed VRGs were selected using molecular signatures database (MSigDB), The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA), and Genotype‐Tissue Expression (GTEx) mRNA expression profiles. Further exploration of CNIH4 was determined using LASSO‐Cox regression algorithms. Then Kaplan–Meier (K‐M) plotter, receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves, and multivariate Cox regression analyses were utilized to assess the independent significance of CNIH4 in the CGGA validation cohort. Functional exploration was performed with Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (GSEA) and then verified using a series of functional experiments in glioma cells. Finally, the consensus clustering algorithm was applied to identify clusters in glioma samples. After that, differences in prognosis, the tumor immune microenvironment (TIME), and therapy response were evaluated between clusters. Results: CNIH4 was shown to be overexpressed in malignant glioma variants and was frequently observed in GCSs and TMZ‐resistant cell lines. Higher CNIH4 levels were significantly related to poor outcomes and positively correlated with adverse clinicopathological characteristics. Survival analyses revealed CNIH4 as an independent risk factor that outperformed traditional measures. Enrichment analysis indicated that overactive CNIH4 significantly gathered in stem cell processes. Furthermore, functional assays of silencing CNIH4 expression suppressed stem cell‐like properties in vitro and inhibited tumorigenicity in vivo. Finally, the CNIH4‐enriched subgroup negatively modulated immunotherapeutic response and reflected lower chemotherapy sensitivity for glioma patients. Conclusion: Our study identified CNIH4 as a potential VRG that regulates tumor stemness, microenvironment immunity, and chemotherapy sensitivity. It may serve as a novel prognostic factor and a promising target against glioma therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dielectric capacitors are ideal for high power pulse system due to their high‐power density. However, the traditional dielectric capacitor cannot achieve large capacitance density and combine with the high breakdown voltage. Through this research, the internal structure of photosensitive glass can be transformed into multilayer interdigital electrodes structure through photolithography and laser induced processes. It is realized through the transition from the 2D structure to the 3D interdigital electrodes dielectric capacitor. In this case, the specific surface area electrode structure presents exponential increase and dielectric layers thickness decrease, which provide a large capacitance density. The new 3D capacitors, via reducing the roughness of the electrode surface, a uniform porous inner wall improves the breakdown strength (8.15 MV cm−1, which is 2 times to photolithographic). As a result, these highly‐density regular electrodes array effectively improve the capacitance density to 48.5 nF cm−2, which is 422 times larger than that of planar structure. Moreover, the new 3D capacitors fabricated by laser‐induce exhibit smoother inner wall surface and more rounded shape of electrode holes, achieving very large energy storage density of ≈3.4 Wh kg−1 (14.688 J cm−3) and power density of ≈6.48 × 1011 W kg−1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Stable potassium (K) isotopes are emerging as tracers of terrestrial recycling and planetary processes. These applications require well‐defined K isotopic compositions for the mantle and the bulk silicate Earth (BSE). Both values are determined primarily by basalts formed via partial melting of the mantle. Basaltic melts experience igneous differentiation before reaching the surface, which may alter their isotopic compositions compared to their mantle sources. This study investigates K isotope fractionation during the differentiation and solidification of the Kilauea Iki lava lake, Hawaii, for which crystallization and thermal histories are well documented. High‐precision K isotopic ratios (δ41K) are measured in 13 Kilauea Iki samples that cover its complete differentiation history, ranging from olivine‐rich, high‐MgO cumulates to increasingly differentiated, MgO‐depleted samples. The limited δ41K range of −0.42 to −0.37‰ in all but one sample reveals no analytically resolvable fractionation across diverse bulk compositions, even though their bulk MgO contents varied from 26.9 to 2.37 wt.%. The lack of K isotopic fractionation is consistent with an absence of K‐rich minerals in the crystallizing assemblage, where only plagioclase can accommodate a small amount of K. A highly differentiated vein displays the lowest δ41K of −0.47‰ among the Kilauea Iki suite, which is consistent with our modeling calculations that suggest measurable K isotope fractionation at more advanced magmatic differentiation stages. Combining our new results with literature data, we propose an average δ41K of −0.42 ± 0.08‰ (2SD) for the pristine mantle and of −0.42 ± 0.07‰ (2SD) for the BSE. Key Points: Limited potassium (K) isotope fractionation during basaltic differentiationMeasurable K isotope fractionation occurs at advanced stages of differentiationThe K isotopic composition of the mantle can be constrained by oceanic basalts [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The research on plant salt tolerance has mainly focused on Na+, but Cl− has been relatively neglected. Previous studies have found that the xerophyte Pugionium cornutum, an important forage grass in the arid and semi‐arid regions of northwestern China, could synergistically accumulate high quintiles of Na+ and Cl− in its shoots under NaCl treatments. However, the separate effects of these ions on the adaptation of P. cornutum to saline conditions have not been investigated. Aims: In this study, the response of P. cornutum to Na+ and Cl− was analyzed. Methods: Four‐week‐old seedlings were treated with additional 50 mM NaCl, Na+‐specific solution containing 50 mM Na+ with a mix of NO3-, H2PO4-, and SO42- as counter anions, and Cl−‐specific solution containing 50 mM Cl− with a mix of K+, Ca2+, and Mg2+ as counter cations. Results: Compared with the normal growth condition irrigated with Hoagland solution, the Na+‐specific solution severely impaired the growth and photosynthesis of P. cornutum due to the high accumulation of Na+ in shoots and the deterioration of tissue K+ homeostasis; while the Cl−‐specific solution significantly increased shoot fresh and dry biomass. The Cl−‐specific solution could also increase the turgor pressure in leaves for enhancing osmotic adjustment, which should be mainly attributed to the large accumulation of Cl−, since the concentrations of other ions, including K+, Mg2+, Ca2+, H2PO4-, and SO42-, in tissues under Cl−‐specific treatment were maintained at the same levels as those observed under the normal condition. Conclusions: P. cornutum displays an excellent tolerance to moderate Cl− but not to Na+, and the large accumulation of Cl− should play a positive role in stimulating the growth of P. cornutum under salt stress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rationale: The boron (B) isotopic composition in marine carbonates provides important insights into paleoclimate reconstruction and biomineralization. However, precise and accurate measurements of B isotopes using plasma‐based mass spectrometry is difficult due to the volatile nature of B, which typically requires complex and more specialized sample introduction systems. Existing analytical protocols have mostly been based on Thermo Scientific Neptune Plus multi‐collector inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (MC‐ICPMS) instruments, whereas methods based on Nu Plasma mass spectrometers are scarce. Methods: We have developed a simplified analytical protocol using Nu Plasma II MC‐ICPMS with standard glass sample introduction systems. Boron extraction and purification were conducted using a two‐stage column chemistry with cation‐exchange and Amberlite IRA 743 B‐specific resin. A sample drying step was avoided, which allows for direct isotopic analysis after column chemistry. A wet plasma mode with a standard glass cyclonic spray chamber and a glass nebulizer was used instead of a more specialized perfluoroalkoxy (PFA) sample introduction system. Low residual B signals were achieved with a relatively short period of wash‐out with 0.5 N HNO3. Results: The external precision is better than 0.30‰ (2SD) calculated from the long‐term bracketing standard, NIST SRM 951a. The overall robustness of the method was demonstrated by measurements of the international carbonate standard JCp‐1 (δ11B = +24.49 ± 0.36‰, 2SD) and seawater (δ11B = +39.98 ± 0.35‰), which are consistent with reported values. Conclusions: Our method provides an alternative approach for B isotope analysis using a routine wet plasma MC‐ICPMS setup that can facilitate geochemical and environmental application of B isotopes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To date, the effectiveness of acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) for acute stroke patients has not been well recognized. The study aimed to discover the effectiveness of group‐based ACT in treating depression for acute stroke patients. Methods: We conducted a randomized controlled trial with 140 acute stroke patients with depression. The ACT intervention comprised seven sessions, of 45–60 min over 4 weeks. Data were collected pre‐ and post‐intervention and at 3‐month follow‐up, assessing depression, health‐related quality of life (HRQoL), psychological flexibility, cognitive fusion, sleep quality, and confidence. Results: Overall, 99.3% of the included patients were assessed as having mild depression. The ACT intervention significantly reduced depression in acute stroke patients in comparison with the control group post‐intervention and at 3 months (partial η2=.306$\eta^{2}=.306$). Additionally ACT significantly improved HRQoL‐mental component summary, sleep quality, psychological flexibility, cognitive fusion, and confidence compared with control group. Conclusions: ACT is effective in treating acute stroke patients with depression, and the efficacy was maintained at 3‐month follow‐up. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To evaluate the role of subducted oceanic crust in the genesis of potassium-rich magmas, we report high-precision Mg isotopic data for a set of Cenozoic volcanic rocks from Northeast China. These rocks overall are lighter in Mg isotopic composition than the normal mantle and display considerable Mg isotopic variations, with δ26Mg ranging from −0.61 to −0.23. The covariation of δ26Mg with TiO2 in these rocks suggests that their light Mg isotopic compositions were derived from recycled oceanic crust in the form of carbonated eclogite in the source region. The strong correlations between δ26Mg and (Gd/Yb)N ratio as well as Sr-Pb isotopes further indicate a multicomponent and multistage origin of these rocks. Magnesium isotopes may thus be used as a novel tracer of recycled oceanic crust in the source region of mantle-derived magmas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A series of mixed oxide nanoparticles were prepared by a coprecipitation method and characterized by many techniques. Nickel-zirconium oxide catalysts and their partially reduced magnetic counterparts were highly efficient in the direct transformation of biomass derivatives, including ethyl levulinate, fructose, glucose, cellobiose, and carboxymethyl cellulose, into γ-valerolactone (GVL) without the use of an external hydrogen source, producing a maximum GVL yield of 95.2 % at 200 °C for 3 h with hydrogen-reduced magnetic Zr5Ni5 nanoparticles (<20 nm). The acid-base bifunctionality of these nanocatalysts plays a synergic role in the synthesis of GVL in alcohols, whereas appropriate control of the nickel/zirconium molar ratio is able to improve the selectivity towards GVL (≈98 %), along with high formation rates (up to 54.9 mmol g−1 h−1). Moreover, the magnetic Zr5Ni5 nanoparticles were conveniently recovered by means of a magnet for five cycles with almost constant activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, we enhanced the catalytic efficiency and thermostability of keratinase KerSMD by replacing its N/ C-terminal domains with those from a homologous protease, KerSMF, to degrade feather waste. Replacement of the N-terminal domain generated a mutant protein with more than twofold increased catalytic activity towards casein. Replacement of the C-terminal domain obviously improved keratinolytic activity and increased the kcat/ Km value on a synthetic peptide, succinyl- Ala- Ala- Pro- Phe- p-nitroanilide, by 54.5%. Replacement of both the N- and C-terminal domains generated a more stable mutant protein, with a T m value of 64.60 ± 0.65°C and a half-life of 244.6 ± 2 min at 60°C, while deletion of the C-terminal domain from KerSMD or KerSMF resulted in mutant proteins exhibiting high activity under mesophilic conditions. These findings indicate that the pre-peptidase C-terminal domain and N-propeptide are not only important for substrate specificity, correct folding and thermostability but also support the ability of the enzyme to convert feather waste into feed additives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Magnesium isotopic compositions are reported for twenty-four international geological reference materials including igneous, metamorphic and sedimentary rocks, as well as phlogopite and serpentine minerals. The long-term reproducibility of Mg isotopic determination, based on 4-year analyses of olivine and seawater samples, was ≤ 0.07‰ (2 s) for δ26Mg and ≤ 0.05‰ (2 s) for δ25Mg. Accuracy was tested by analysis of synthetic reference materials down to the quoted long-term reproducibility. This comprehensive dataset, plus seawater data produced in the same laboratory, serves as a reference for quality assurance and inter-laboratory comparison of high-precision Mg isotopic data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT A donor backbone [poly( para-divinylphenylamino)]-acceptor (cyanoacetic acid side group) type conjugated polymer ( P2) has been synthesized and used as the active material for dye-sensitized solar cells. DFT calculation shows that the insertion of vinyl link in the polymer backbone leads to a planar structure in P2 and changes the excited state significantly. Photoelectrochemical cells based on the DSSC format were fabricated using the polymers as sensitizers. The cell constructed using P2 exhibits a considerably high peak IPCE and J-V response, with an overall power conversion efficiency of 3.67%. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2014, 52, 2958-2965 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Surface-initiated, oligomeric assemblies of ruthenium(II) vinylpolypyridyl complexes have been grown within the cavities of mesoporous nanoparticle films of TiO2 by electrochemically controlled radical polymerization. Surface growth was monitored by cyclic voltammetry as well as UV/Vis and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Polymerization occurs by a radical chain mechanism following cyclic voltammetry scans to negative potentials where reduction occurs at the π* levels of the polypyridyl ligands. Oligomeric growth within the cavities of the TiO2 films occurs until an average of six repeat units are added to the surface-bound initiator site, which is in agreement with estimates of the internal volumes of the pores in the nanoparticle films. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The processing, morphological structure, and properties of polymeric materials are closely related with each other. Morphological structure of polymeric materials is formed in situ under complex temperature and external force fields during processing, and in turn affects the ultimate performances of products. With the increasingly widespread application and more stringent requirement of polymeric materials, improved processing technologies are needed in order to improve product quality. A new processing methodology, i.e., morphology control, appears to achieve a significant improvement by structuring the morphological structure of polymeric materials. This paper presents a summary of four different types of morphology control technologies, namely, shear controlled orientation in injection molding, vibration-assisted injection molding/extrusion, rotational extrusion, and in situ microfibrillation/formation. Methods of application and their resulting effects on morphological structure and mechanical performances of polymeric materials are presented in a review format. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

RATIONALE High accuracy is the prerequisite for high-precision isotopic analysis. METHODS Here we evaluate how the presence of matrix elements, and mismatch between samples and standards in Mg concentration and acid molarity affect the accuracy of stable Mg isotopic analysis on Nu Plasma and IsoProbe multi-collector inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (MC-ICPMS) instruments. RESULTS Our results show that these factors can lead to large (>1‰) deviation in the high-precision analysis of Mg isotopes. The degree and direction of these accuracy offsets can vary for different instruments, instrumental settings and different laboratories. CONCLUSIONS Detailed tests and tight controls on these effects are thus needed for high-precision high-accuracy stable Mg isotopic analysis. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The transformation mechanisms of thiourea in ethylene glycol solution was systematically investigated in this report, which shows the transformation process is influenced by the anion (NO3−, Cl−, Br−) and polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP). Thiourea (tu) isomerizes into ammonium thiocyanate when NO3− is present, regardless of the existence of PVP. For Cl−, thiourea coordinates with copper anion to form [Cu(tu)]Cl·1/2H2O complex whether PVP is present. When it comes to Br−, thiourea hydrolyzes in the cooperation of PVP or coordinates with copper anion to form [Cu(tu)Br]·1/2H2O complex without PVP. The different transformation routes will lead to different phase evolution of the CuS system. This work may provide a new understanding of the transformation of thiourea in ethylene glycol solution. The optical properties of the as-prepared copper sulfides exhibit signi?cant stoichiometry-dependent features which may have potential applications in semiconductor photovoltaic devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gouty arthritis is an extremely painful condition that causes functional impairment. Gouty arthritis has become increasingly complex because of multiple comorbidities, iatrogenic factors and hyperuricemia that is refractory to treatment. In this review, we present a general overview of gouty arthritis including its pathophysiology, clinical presentations, diagnosis, predisposing factors and prophylactic therapy for preventing gouty arthritis flares. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A simple ethylenediamine-assisted hydrothermal method was developed for the synthesis of sheet-like PbS nanostructures. Studies show that ethylenediamine not only provides a weakly basic environment for the reaction system, but also acts as a capping reagent to control the growth habit of cubic PbS. A reasonable growth mechanism for the PbS nanosheet structure has been proposed on the basis of the experimental studies. The structure, morphology, and composition of the nanosheets have been characterized by X-ray powder diffraction, field-emission scanning electron microscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, and transmission electron microscopy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Low-dose chemotherapy drugs can suppress tumours by restraining tumour vessel growth and preventing the repair of damaged vascular endothelial cells. Cisplatin is a broad-spectrum, cell cycle-non-specific drug, but has serious side effects if used at high doses. There have been few reports on the anti-angiogenic effects of low-dose cisplatin and hence the effect of low-dose metronomic (LDM) chemotherapy on the proliferation and neovascularization of H22 hepatocarcinoma cells is discussed in this research. The influence of LDM chemotherapy with cisplatin on human umbilical vascular endothelial cells (HUVECs) and proliferation of the HepG2 human hepatocarcinoma cell line were measured using MTT assays. The LDM group was treated with cisplatin 0.6 mg/kg/day; the control group with saline 0.2 ml; the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) group with cisplatin 9 mg/kg/day. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and matrix metallopeptidase 2 (MMP-2) were detected using immunohistochemical staining. A chicken chorio-allantoic membrane (CAM) model was used to check the inhibitory effect of LDM chemotherapy with cisplatin on neovascularization in vivo. Low-dose cisplatin inhibited HUVEC proliferation in a dose- and time-dependent manner, but was ineffective in inhibiting HepG2 cell proliferation. Tumour growth was delayed in mice receiving LDM cisplatin, without apparent body weight loss, compared with mice that received MTD cisplatin. Microvessel density and expression of VEGF and MMP-2 were much lower in mice receiving LDM cisplatin than in the control and MTD groups. Continuous low-dose cisplatin suppressed CAM angiogenesis in vivo. LDM chemotherapy with cisplatin can inhibit the growth of blood vessel endothelial cells in vitro and shows anti-angiogenic ability in vivo. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Broadband near‐infrared (NIR) emissions in the long wavelength region with simultaneous high efficiency and thermal stability are desirable for NIR phosphor‐converted light‐emitting diodes (NIR pc‐LEDs) light sources. Herein, a novel broadband NIR‐emitting phosphor is reported, Ba5La3MgAl3O15:Cr3+ (BLMAO:Cr3+), which exhibits a NIR emission band spanning 700–1300 nm with maximum peak wavelength (λmax) at 925 nm and full width at half maximum of 160 nm. The optimized phosphor achieves an internal quantum efficiency of 66%, and the integrated emission intensity at 423 K remains 61% of that at room temperature, which surpasses most Cr3+‐activated phosphors emitting in the long‐wavelength NIR region (λmax > 900 nm). The NIR luminescence properties are elucidated on the basis of density functional calculations of the multiple Cr3+ local structures as generated by the Ba/La occupation disorder in the host material. The applications of the NIR phosphor in pc‐LED devices are demonstrated, showing potential in night‐vision and nondestructive examination. The results indicate that BLMAO:Cr3+ is a promising phosphor with highly efficient and thermally stable broadband NIR emission for NIR LED light sources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Density functional theory (DFT) calculations demonstrate neighboring Pt atoms can enhance the metal activity of NiCoP for hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). However, it remains a great challenge to link Pt and NiCoP. Herein, we introduced curvature of bowl‐like structure to construct Pt/NiCoP interface by adding a minimal 1 ‰‐molar‐ratio Pt. The as‐prepared sample only requires an overpotential of 26.5 and 181.6 mV to accordingly achieve the current density of 10 and 500 mA cm−2 in 1 M KOH. The water dissociation energy barrier (Ea) has a ~43 % decrease compared with NiCoP counterpart. It also shows an ultrahigh stability with a small degradation rate of 10.6 μV h−1 at harsh conditions (500 mA cm−2 and 50 °C) after 3000 hrs. X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), soft X‐ray absorption spectroscopy (sXAS), and X‐ray absorption fine structure (XAFS) verify the interface electron transfer lowers the valence state of Co/Ni and activates them. DFT calculations also confirm the catalytic transition step of NiCoP can change from Heyrovsky (2.71 eV) to Tafel step (0.51 eV) in the neighborhood of Pt, in accord with the result of the improved Hads at the interface disclosed by in situ electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and scanning electrochemical microscopy (SECM) tests. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Density functional theory (DFT) calculations demonstrate neighboring Pt atoms can enhance the metal activity of NiCoP for hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). However, it remains a great challenge to link Pt and NiCoP. Herein, we introduced curvature of bowl‐like structure to construct Pt/NiCoP interface by adding a minimal 1 ‰‐molar‐ratio Pt. The as‐prepared sample only requires an overpotential of 26.5 and 181.6 mV to accordingly achieve the current density of 10 and 500 mA cm−2 in 1 M KOH. The water dissociation energy barrier (Ea) has a ~43 % decrease compared with NiCoP counterpart. It also shows an ultrahigh stability with a small degradation rate of 10.6 μV h−1 at harsh conditions (500 mA cm−2 and 50 °C) after 3000 hrs. X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), soft X‐ray absorption spectroscopy (sXAS), and X‐ray absorption fine structure (XAFS) verify the interface electron transfer lowers the valence state of Co/Ni and activates them. DFT calculations also confirm the catalytic transition step of NiCoP can change from Heyrovsky (2.71 eV) to Tafel step (0.51 eV) in the neighborhood of Pt, in accord with the result of the improved Hads at the interface disclosed by in situ electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and scanning electrochemical microscopy (SECM) tests. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dementia‐associated disorders cause damage to the brains of patients and bring huge burdens to individuals and families. Electroencephalogram (EEG) monitoring is friendly to patients on account of low cost, non‐invasion, and objective. Event‐related potential (ERP) is a component of EEG that has huge potential to evaluate the cognitive function of the brain. In this study, we recorded the ERP from patients with dementia and healthy people, then proposed an ERP‐based deep learning method to realize dementia recognition via the model Dementia‐Unet (D‐Unet). To improve the performance of the model, on the base of the decoder and the primary classifier, we added new structures including a symmetric decoder and two auxiliary outputs. One of the auxiliary outputs was input reconstruction, and the other one was aimed at working like the primary classifier with the same task. The results of the experiment of four‐fold cross‐validation demonstrated the two auxiliary outputs improved the performance of the model effectively. When compared with some other machine learning methods and deep learning methods, our model obtained the best performance with an accuracy of 0.815, a precision of 0.829, a recall of 0.797, and an f1‐score of 0.812. Besides, we put up a complex training strategy with all outputs involved, but a simple testing strategy with only a primary classifier working to keep high performance but cut down the complexity burden during testing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The voluminous Eocene postcollisional potassium‐rich magmatism in central Tibet is crucial in understanding the deep geodynamic process and related uplift history of the Tibetan Plateau. Here, we present an integrated study of whole‐rock Sr‐Nd‐Mg‐Li isotopes and zircon U‐Pb ages on two suites of lavas from Duocaima and Nariniya in the northern Qiangtang block. The Duocaima high‐K calc‐alkaline trachyandesites were formed at ~35 Ma and are enriched in light rare earth elements and large ion lithophile elements. They have slightly lower δ26Mg (−0.41‰ to −0.33‰) and δ7Li (+1.0‰ to +2.6‰) relative to the mantle. Together with their high 87Sr/86Sr(i) (0.7066–0.7067) and low ɛNd(t) (−1.96 to −1.61) values, they most likely originated from the lithospheric mantle previously metasomatized by melts from subducted carbonate‐bearing sediments. Model calculation suggests that ~7–11% sediments were added into the mantle via melting. By contrast, the contemporaneous Nariniya adakitic trachytes have higher δ26Mg (−0.13‰ to −0.02‰) and δ7Li (+3.3‰ to +5.4‰) values, as well as higher Pb/Ce and Ba/La ratios, which most likely resulted from the thickened lower crust that was metasomatized by fluids released from downgoing Songpan‐Ganzi oceanic slab. Our combined isotopic study suggests the existence of a remnant oceanic slab beneath central Tibetan Plateau during the late Eocene and implies that the initial uplift of central Tibet was before ~38 Ma. Key Points: Highly variable Mg and Li isotopes in potassium‐rich volcanic rocks from Qiangtang resulted from subducted slab inputsAn ancient remnant oceanic slab still existed beneath central Tibet during the late EoceneThe initial uplift of central Tibet was before ~38 Ma [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The author reflects on various methods for hydrolysis of lignocellulosic biomass. Topics discussed include the importance of low temperature for hydrolysis, the concept of catalytic hydrolysis, and fast hydrolysis. Also mentioned the significance of determining the release of abundant biopolymers for soluble sugars.

Circular RNA VANGL1 (circVANGL1) is generated from two exons of the Van Gogh‐like 1 (VANGL1) gene and serves as a tumor promoter by sponging certain microRNAs (miRNAs). However, the role of circVANGL1 in bladder cancer (BC) is still unclear. So, in order to investigate the role of circVANGL1 in BC, quantitative reverse transcription‐polymerase chain reaction (qRT‐PCR) was employed to evaluate the circVANGL1 expression in tumor tissues from BC patients and in BC cell lines. Small interfering RNA against circVANGL1 was constructed and stably transfected into human bladder epithelium immortalized cells (SV‐HUC). Cell invasion and migration were detected in Transwell chambers, cell proliferation was determined by CCK8 assays, and tumorigenesis in nude mice was examined to assess the effect of circVANGL1 in BC. Subcellular localization of circVANGL1 was confirmed by fluorescence in situ hybridization. The interactive relationships among circVANGL1, miRNA, and relative proteins were confirmed by luciferase reporter assays. The results showed that circVANGL1 was upregulated in both BC tissues and cell lines. Silencing the expression of circVANGL1 suppressed cell invasion, migration, and proliferation during in vitro experiments. Mechanistically, we demonstrated that circVANGL1 upregulated the expression of miR‐1184 target gene insulin‐like growth factor‐binding protein 2 (IGFBP2) by sponging miR‐1184, which promoted the aggressive biological behaviors of BC. Taken together, our results indicate that circVANGL1 acts as a tumor promoter through the novel circVANGL1/miR‐1184/IGFBP2 axis. Hopefully, our study will provide new ideas for the clinical treatment of BC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this article, the antithunder composite insulator combining a surge arrester and insulator is developed. The insulation design and configuration principle of the composite insulator are analyzed through experiments and simulation. The studies of insulation performance have shown that the external breakdown air distance is 60 mm, and the length of the polymeric support insulator is 70 mm. Considering the more serious pollution (0.3 mg/cm2), the creepage distance of the insulation section must be larger than 250 mm. Test data of the antithunder composite insulator meet the standard requirements. The analysis of mechanical performance of the antithunder composite insulator is carried out, which shows that the overall mechanical strength needs to be greater than 2.38 kN. A three‐dimensional (3D) element finite model is built to simulate the behavior of the antithunder composite insulator in the distribution line. The simulation results indicate that the stress on the varistor and the core rod decreases with the increase of the size of the core rod. A core rod of 20 mm or more can meet the operation requirements. The simulation indicates that the stress of the varistor determines the force limit of the antithunder composite insulator. Therefore, attention should be paid to the performance stability of the varistor of the antithunder insulator under force. © 2019 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A correction to the acknowledgement section of the article "Conjugated Polymer With Rigid Donor Poly(paradivinylphenylamino) Backbone and Pendant Cyanoacetic Acid Acceptor for Dye Sensitized Solar Cells" by Zhen Fang and colleagues, published online on November 18, 2014 issue is presented.

Herein, we report the synthesis of novel narrow band gap phosphorus sulfide quantum dots (PSQDs)‐modified bismuth oxybromide (Bi24O31Br10) heterojunction (noted as BOB/PS) for the highly efficient photo‐degradation of hazardous organic pollutants including rhodamine B (RhB), methyl orange (MO), and malachite green (MG). Such a high photocatalytic activity of BOB/PSQDs heterojunction derives from the improved visible‐light response capacity, high surface area/pore volume, and suitable band structure for efficient electron transfer to generate reactive oxygen species (ROS). ROS trapping experiments demonstrate that hydroxy (⋅OH) and superoxide radicals (⋅O2−) play important roles in the photo‐degradation. A possible S‐scheme mechanism for the enhanced photocatalytic activity of BOB/PS is proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, an anti‐thunder composite insulator combining an arrester and an insulator is developed and applied to 10‐kV distribution line. The anti‐thunder composite insulator is divided into an insulation section and a lightning protection section. The flashover performance of the anti‐thunder composite insulator and an ordinary composite insulator under ice accretion conditions are experimentally analyzed. The relationship between the icing thickness (d) and the flashover voltage is derived under the contaminated condition of 0.25 mg/cm2 salt density. With the increase of d, the effect of icing on the breakdown voltage of the anti‐thunder composite insulator is less than that of an ordinary composite insulator. When d increases from 2 to 12 mm, the breakdown flashover voltage of the anti‐thunder composite insulator and the ordinary composite insulator drops by 40.0 and 61.9%, respectively. Based on the simulation model, the potential and electric field distribution of the anti‐thunder composite insulator are analyzed. Our simulation and experimental results indicate that the proportion of the potential of the insulation section is more than 90% under the rated voltage. Based on the analysis, it is concluded that the anti‐ice flash performance of the insulation section has an important influence on the flashover performance of the anti‐thunder composite insulator and that an appropriate increase of AC reference voltage of the anti‐thunder composite insulator will be an effective method to promote the stability of the internal zinc oxide varistor under ice accretion conditions. © 2018 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Real‐time monitoring of harmful bacteria in the process of feed fermentation is an important step to control and optimise feed quality. Real‐time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) can effectively determine the total amount of pathogenic bacteria but does not distinguish between active and inactive bacteria. In this work, propidium monoazide dyes (PMA) were combined with qPCR technology to explore the changes of microflora during the fermentation of artificially contaminated feed. The results indicated that the Cycle Threshold (Ct) values of sample detected by PMA‐qPCR were all higher than the results of qPCR. PMA could effectively nullify the influence of dead bacteria in the detection of viable bacteria. It was found that the growth of Escherichia coli O157:H7, Shigella flexneri, and Staphylococcus aureus were inhibited during the fermentation process of soybean meal feed with the mortality rates were 99.89, 95.07 and 97.73%, respectively. However, the growth of beneficial bacteria were not affected by the presence of harmful bacteria after 60 days of storage. These results suggest that anaerobically fermented feed is a promising substitute for antibiotics in animal feed and using PMA‐qPCR for real‐time monitoring of harmful bacteria in fermented feed will further improve the safety risk assessment of fermented feed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

(NaY)1/2MoO4 was fabricated via the solid‐state reaction method of Na2CO3, Y2O3, and MoO3. Scanning electron microscopy results demonstrated that all the (NaY)1/2MoO4 ceramics could be densified well in the sintering temperature range of 900–960°C. Results of X‐ray diffraction analysis demonstrated that the (NaY)1/2MoO4 ceramics crystallized into tetragonal scheelite structure. Sintering (NaY)1/2MoO4 at 940°C for 2 h optimized the microwave dielectric properties of the ceramics. The microwave permittivity, Q × f, and TCF of the (NaY)1/2MoO4 were 10.9, 29 000 GHz and −40.7 ppm/°C, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, the authors present an alternative method for poor accuracy of piezoresistive meteorology pressure sensing in low‐temperature environment (down to −45°C) by incorporating external thermodynamic control. In order to use the designed sensor in such a low‐temperature environment, the microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) chip itself has to be kept at 50°C, which is the most common used highest working temperature in meteorology field. The heat compensation is achieved by a pulse‐width modulation controlled heating resistor based on proportional–integral–derivative algorithm. The precision of thermal control was obtained at 50 ± 0.5°C during the bench test. The simulation results from COMSOL software are consisted with lumped element model analysis. Under the condition of environmental temperature down to −45°C, system achieved a maximum absolute error within ±0.5 hPa after pressure calibration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mn2+‐activated halide double perovskites (HDPs) are found to show promising luminescent behavior and have great potential for optoelectronic applications. However, such interesting materials hitherto are only limited to compounds with a monotonous three‐dimensional structure and show a low photoluminescence quantum yield (PLQY). Herein, an Mn2+‐doped two‐dimensional (2D) layered HDP PPA4NaInCl8 (PPA+ = C6H5(CH2)3NH3+) showing promising photoluminescence properties is reported. The large separation between the adjacent inorganic sheets and the good dissolution of Mn2+ in the layered structure endow PPA4NaInCl8:Mn2+ with efficient red emission and a record PLQY of 69.90%. The spectroscopic analyses and density functional theory calculations indicate that the inherent absorption and luminescence stem from the inserted organic cations PPA+ in PPA4NaInCl8. An energy transfer process occurs between the singlet excitons from PPA+ and Mn2+, resulting in tunable emission accompanied by the variation of Mn2+ concentration. These results provide several new fundamental insights on doping and doped 2D layered HDPs, which enhances the understanding of structure−property relations in this important family. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Electrochemically controlled radical polymerization enabled the growth of ruthenium(II) vinylpolypyridyl complexes within the cavities of TiO2 films, as described by T. J. Meyer et al. in their Communication on page 4872 ff. The in situ prepared film is of potential for harvesting light in dye‐sensitized solar cells and in dye‐sensitized photoelectrosynthesis cells that operate in an aqueous environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Surface ‐ initiated, oligomeric assemblies of ruthenium(II) vinylpolypyridyl complexes have been grown within the cavities of mesoporous nanoparticle films of TiO2 by electrochemically controlled radical polymerization. Surface growth was monitored by cyclic voltammetry as well as UV/Vis and X ‐ ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Polymerization occurs by a radical chain mechanism following cyclic voltammetry scans to negative potentials where reduction occurs at the π* levels of the polypyridyl ligands. Oligomeric growth within the cavities of the TiO2 films occurs until an average of six repeat units are added to the surface ‐ bound initiator site, which is in agreement with estimates of the internal volumes of the pores in the nanoparticle films. Wachstum von Innen: Ruthenium(II) ‐ Vinylpolypyridyl ‐ Komplexe wurden durch schrittweise elektrochemische radikalische Polymerisation an der inneren Oberfläche von mesoporösen TiO2 ‐ Nanopartikelfilmen gezüchtet. Die Polymerisation wurde mit Cyclovoltammetrie sowie UV/Vis ‐ und Röntgenphotoelektronenspektroskopie verfolgt. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As biodiesel production worldwide is expanding dramatically, its main by-product glycerol (accounting for 10 wt% of total products) should find other applications by converting it to value-added products. Hydrothermal process is used in the conversion of glycerol to acrolein, lactic acid, and other promising commodity chemicals. This review mainly focuses on the hydrothermal conversion of glycerol to chemicals in sub- and super-critical water with acid /base catalysts or without catalysts. Hydrothermal gasification of glycerol to hydrogen is also covered. Furthermore, the mechanisms of hydrothermal conversion of glycerol under different conditions are introduced. The problems and future perspective for the practical applications of glycerol are also discussed. © 2012 Society of Chemical Industry and John Wiley & Sons Ltd [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lateral flow immunoassay (LFIA) is a widely used tool for point‐of‐care testing (POCT). Although the method is fast and inexpensive, it provides only qualitative or semi‐quantitative information, which limits the scope of its applications in POCT. Here, we report the development of a low‐cost, portable LFIA reader based on photothermal detection of reporters (such as colloidal gold and colored latex beads) captured on LFIA strips using a low‐power green laser as the heating source and a single‐element infrared sensor as the detector. For 40‐nm colloidal gold, we measured a detection limit of 3 × 105 particles/mm2 by laser irradiation of the reporters at 532 nm with an intensity of 20 W/cm2. The photothermal detection enables a 10‐fold enhancement in sensitivity over color visualization with the naked eye. More importantly, with the use of the control line intensities as internal calibrants, the results so obtained are quantitative and useful to support critical decision‐making in POCT, as demonstrated by gold‐based assays for human chorionic gonadotropin and human immunodeficiency virus as well as latex‐based assays for nucleocapsid protein of the SARS‐CoV‐2 virus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report high-precision iron isotopic data for twenty-two commercially available geological reference materials, including silicates, carbonatite, shale, carbonate and clay. Accuracy was checked by analyses of synthetic solutions with known Fe isotopic compositions but different matrices ranging from felsic to ultramafic igneous rocks, high Ca and low Fe limestone, to samples enriched in transition group elements (e.g., Cu, Co and Ni). Analyses over a 2-year period of these synthetic samples and pure Fe solutions that were processed through the whole chemistry procedure yielded an average δ56Fe value of −0.001 ± 0.025‰ (2 s, n = 74), identical to the expected true value of 0. This demonstrates a long-term reproducibility and accuracy of < 0.03‰ for determination of 56Fe/54Fe ratios. Reproducibility and accuracy were further confirmed by replicate measurements of the twenty-two RMs, which yielded results that perfectly match the mean values of published data within quoted uncertainties. New recommended values and associated uncertainties are presented for interlaboratory calibration in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Compared to traditional organic liquid electrolytes, which often present leakage, flammability, and chemical stability problems, solid polymer electrolytes (SPEs) are widely regarded as one of the most promising candidates for the development of safer lithium‐ion batteries. Vitrimers are a new class of polymer materials consisting of dynamic covalent networks that can change their topology by thermally activated bond‐exchange reactions. Herein, the recyclable and self‐healing solid polymer electrolytes (SPEs) with a soy protein isolate (SPI)‐based imine bond dynamic network are reported. This malleable covalent cross‐linked network polymer can be reshaped and recycled at high temperature (100 °C) or only with water at ambient temperature (25 °C), which may realize the green processing of energy materials. The introduction of bis(trifluoromethane) sulfonimide lithium (LiTFSI) significantly reinforces the conductivity of the dynamic network to a maximum of 3.3 × 10−4 S cm‐1. This simple and applicable method establishes new principles for designing scalable and flexible strategies for fabricating polymer electrolytes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

When anchored to nanoITO (indium tin oxide), the ruthenium chromophore–catalyst assembly shown acts as an electrocatalyst for water oxidation, with O2 evolution occurring at an overpotential of 230 mV in 0.1 M HClO4. The potential response of the electrode points to 3 e−/2 H+ oxidized [RuaIIIRubIVO]5+ as the active form of the assembly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ein an nanoITO gebundenes Assoziat aus Rutheniumchromophor und ‐ katalysator (siehe Bild) fungiert als Elektrokatalysator bei der Wasseroxidation, wobei in 0.1 M HClO4 O2 bei einem Überpotential von 230 mV entwickelt wird. Die Potentialantwort der Elektrode spricht dafür, dass 3 e−/2 H+ ‐ oxidiertes [RuaIIIRubIVO]5+ die aktive Form des Assoziats ist. ITO=Indium ‐ Zinn ‐ Oxid. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the frontier resistive micro‐nano gas sensors, the change rate reliability between the measured quantity and output signals has long been puzzled by the ineluctable device‐to‐device and run‐to‐run disparities. Here, a neotype sensing data interpretation method to circumvent these signal inconsistencies is reported. The method is based on discovery of a strong linear relation between the initial resistance in air (Ra) and the absolute change in resistance after exposure to target gas (Ra–Rg). Metal oxide gas sensors based on a micro‐hot‐plate are employed as the model system. The study finds that such correlation has a wide universality, even for devices incorporated with different sensing materials or under different gas atmosphere. Furthermore, this rule can also be extensible to graphene‐based interdigital microelectrode. In situ probe scanning analyses illuminate that the linear dependence is closely related to work function matching level between metal electrode and sensitive layer. The Schottky barrier at metal‐semiconductor junctions is the prominent parameter, whose height (ϕB) can fundamentally impact material/electrode contact resistance, thereby further affecting the realistic nature expression of sensing materials. Using this correlation, a calibration procedure is proposed and embed in a fully integrated pocket‐size sensor prototype, whose response outcomes demonstrated high credibility as compared to commercial apparatus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article describes the clinical cases of two patients who were diagnosed with giant cell tumor of the tendon sheath of the toe (GCTTS). The first patient is a 34-year-old Chinese man whose radiography showed a soft mass that encircles the flexor tendons on the plantar surface of his second toe, while the other patient reported an 18-month history of a soft mass on the plantar surface of her medial proximal phalanx. Both patients underwent successful surgical removal of the masses.

Bacillus subtilis endospore‐mediated forsterite dissolution experiments were performed to assess the effects of cell surface reactivity on Mg isotope fractionation during chemical weathering. Endospores present a unique opportunity to study the isolated impact of cell surface reactivity because they exhibit extremely low metabolic activity. In abiotic control assays, 24Mg was preferentially released into solution during forsterite dissolution, producing an isotopically light liquid phase (δ26Mg = −0.39 ± 0.06 to −0.26 ± 0.09‰) relative to the initial mineral composition (δ26Mg = −0.24 ± 0.03‰). The presence of endospores did not have an apparent effect on Mg isotope fractionation associated with the release of Mg from the solid into the aqueous phase. However, the endospore surfaces preferentially adsorbed 24Mg from the dissolution products, which resulted in relatively heavy aqueous Mg isotope compositions. These aqueous Mg isotope compositions increased proportional to the fraction of dissolved Mg that was adsorbed, with the highest measured δ26Mg (−0.08 ± 0.07‰) corresponding to the highest degree of adsorption (~76%). The Mg isotope composition of the adsorbed fraction was correspondingly light, at an average δ26Mg of −0.49‰. Secondary mineral precipitation and Mg adsorption onto secondary minerals had a minimal effect on Mg isotopes at these experimental conditions. Results demonstrate the isolated effects of cell surface reactivity on Mg isotope fractionation separate from other common biological processes, such as metabolism and organic acid production. With further study, Mg isotopes could be used to elucidate the role of the biosphere on Mg cycling in the environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To efficiently capture the toxic uranyl ions (UO22+), a new hierarchical micro‐macroporous metal–organic framework was prepared under template‐free conditions, featuring interconnected multi‐nanocages bearing carbonyl groups derived from a semi‐rigid ligand. The material exhibits an unusually high UO22+ sorption capacity of 562 mg g−1, which occurs in an intriguing two‐steps process, on the macropore‐based crystal surface and in the inner nanocages. Notably, the latter is attributed to the cooperative interplay of the shrinkage of the host porous framework induced by uranyl accommodation and the free carbonyl coordination sites, as shown by both single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction and a red‐shift of the infrared [O=UVI=O]2+ antisymmetric vibration band. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To efficiently capture the toxic uranyl ions (UO22+), a new hierarchical micro‐macroporous metal–organic framework was prepared under template‐free conditions, featuring interconnected multi‐nanocages bearing carbonyl groups derived from a semi‐rigid ligand. The material exhibits an unusually high UO22+ sorption capacity of 562 mg g−1, which occurs in an intriguing two‐steps process, on the macropore‐based crystal surface and in the inner nanocages. Notably, the latter is attributed to the cooperative interplay of the shrinkage of the host porous framework induced by uranyl accommodation and the free carbonyl coordination sites, as shown by both single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction and a red‐shift of the infrared [O=UVI=O]2+ antisymmetric vibration band. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A correction is presented to the article "Schottky Contacts Regularized Linear Regression for Signal Inconsistency Circumvent in Resistive Gas Micro-Nanosensors" published in 2021 issue.

Co9S8 is considered a promising candidate as the anode material in lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) because of its remarkable electrical conductivity, high theoretical capacity, and low cost. However, the practical application of Co9S8 is greatly restricted because of its poor cycling stability and rate performance, which result mainly from the large volume expansion and dissolution of the polysulfide intermediates during the charge/discharge process. In this report, Co9S8 embedded in N-rich carbon hollow spheres are successfully designed and synthesized through an in situ pyrolysis and sulfurization process, employing the well-known ZIF-67 as the precursor and ethanethiol as the sulfur source. Co9S8 nanoparticles embedded in the N-rich hollow carbon shell exhibit excellent lithium storage properties at a high charge/discharge rate. A discharge capacity of 784 mAh g−1 is obtained upon battery testing at a current density of 1 C (544 mA g−1). Even upon cycling at a current density of 4 C, the as-prepared Co9S8/N-C can still deliver a discharge capacity of 518 mAh g−1. The excellent battery performance can be attributed to the hollow structure as well as the N-rich carbon encapsulation. Moreover, this metal-organic framework sulfurization route also shows good generality for the synthesis of other metal sulfide-carbon composites such as ZnS/N-C and Cu2S/C. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]