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The synergistic utilization of low‐dimensional perovskites with 3D perovskite architectures represents a pervasive approach for fabrication of high‐performance and enduring perovskite solar cells (PSCs). In this work, four distinct ionic liquids (ILs) with distinct cations, were introduced on the surface of 3D perovskite to induce the formation of 1D perovskite.Starting with the analysis of 1D/3D heterojunction structures, the assessment foucsed on the binding energies in four ILs‐induced 1D/3D heterojunctions, comparing electron cloud density within 1D/3D structures, and calculating the formation energies associated with iodine and lead defects within these four 1D/3D perovskite structures via DFT calculations. Furthermore, the time‐resolved grazing‐incidence wide‐angle X‐ray scattering technique, as employed in this study, offers real‐time insights into the phase‐transition occurring during the process of ILs coating and the formation of 1D/3D heterojunctions. The well‐designed and optimized 1D perovskite layer significantly reduces the residual lead iodide (PbI2), modulates the work function of the perovskite, and passivates defects in the 3D perovskite, thereby reducing non‐radiative recombination and enhancing charge transport. With the assistance of 1D/3D hybrid films, we achieved an exceptional power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 24.75% in the generated PSCs with remarkable stability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Increased plasma homocysteine (Hcy) has been identified as one of the important risk factors for cardiovascular disease. However, the association between plasma Hcy and peripheral artery disease (PAD) is still controversial. This study aimed to investigate the association between plasma Hcy and PAD and the potential modifier factors in Chinese hypertensive adults. A total of 25 300 hypertensive patients aged 18 years or older were included in the analysis in this cross‐sectional study. The outcome was PAD, which defined as an ankle‐brachial index ≤0.90 in either limb. Multiple logistic regression was used to analyze the relationship between plasma Hcy and PAD. The median plasma Hcy was 14.00 (interquartile range: 11.60–17.80) μmol/L. There was a significant positive association between plasma Hcy and PAD (per SD increment; OR: 1.13; 95% CI: 1.06–1.19). Patients in the upper plasma Hcy tertile (≥16.16 μmol/L) were associated with a 53% increased risk of PAD compared with patients in the lower tertile (<12.33 μmol/L) after adjustment for multiple potential confounders. Subgroup analyses showed the association between Hcy and PAD was robust among various strata. Among Chinese adults with hypertension, plasma Hcy is an independent risk factor for PAD. This finding may improve the risk stratification of PAD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Coptidis Rhizoma (CR) is one of the most frequently used herbs to treat ulcerative colitis (UC) and is often processed before usage. However, the composition changes and therapeutic effects of CR before and after processing in the treatment of UC are still unclear. Objective: The purpose of the study is to explore the chemical components and therapeutic effects of crude and processed CR. Material and methods: CR was processed according to the 2020 version of the Chinese Pharmacopoeia. The liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (LC–MS) and multivariate statistical analysis were used to screen the different compounds before and after processing. The network pharmacological prediction was carried out. The mechanism and therapeutic effects between crude and processed CR were verified by using dextran sulphate sodium‐induced UC mice assay. Results: Ten compounds distinguish crude and processed CR based on multivariate statistical analysis. Network pharmacology predicts that the 10 compounds mainly play a role through TNF‐α and IL‐6 targets and PI3K/Akt and HIF‐1 signalling pathways, and these results are verified by molecular biology experiments. For IL‐6, IL‐10 and TNF‐α inflammatory factors, CR is not effective, while CR stir‐fried with Evodiae Fructus (CRFE) and ginger juice (CRGJ) are. For PI3K/p‐Akt, Cleaved caspase3, NF‐ κBp65 and HIF‐1α signalling pathways, CR has therapeutic effects, while CRFE and CRGJ are significant. Conclusion: Overall, CRFE and CRGJ show better effects in treating UC. The chemical changes of processing and the efficacy of processed CR are correlated, which provides a scientific basis for the clinical use of crude and processed CR. Ten compounds distinguish crude and processed Coptidis Rhizoma (CR), which mainly play a role through TNF‐α and IL‐6 targets and PI3K/Akt and HIF‐1 signaling pathways based on network pharmacology. The results are verified by molecular biology experiments. For IL‐6, IL‐10 and TNF‐α inflammatory factors, CR is not effective, while CR stir‐fried with Evodiae Fructus (CRFE) and ginger juice (CRGJ) are. For PI3K/p‐Akt, Cleaved caspase3, NF‐ κBp65 and HIF‐1α signaling pathways, CR has therapeutic effects, while CRFE and CRGJ are significant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ectopia lentis is a hallmark of Marfan syndrome (MFS), a genetic connective tissue disorder affecting 1/5000 to 1/10 000 individuals worldwide. Early detection in ophthalmology clinics and timely intervention of cardiovascular complications can be lifesaving. In this study, a modified proteomics workflow with liquid chromatography‐tandem mass spectrometry (LC‐MS/MS)‐based data‐independent acquisition (DIA) and field asymmetric ion mobility spectrometry (FAIMS) to profile the proteomes of aqueous humor (AH) and lens tissue from MFS children with ectopia lentis is utilized. Over 2300 and 2938 comparable proteins are identified in AH and the lens capsule, respectively. Functional enrichment analyses uncovered dysregulation of complement and coagulation‐related pathways, collagen binding, and cell adhesion in MFS. Through weighted correlation network analysis (WGCNA) and machine learning, distinct modules associated with clinical traits are constructed and a unique biomarker panel (Q14376, Q99972, P02760, Q07507; gene names: GALE, MYOC, AMBP, DPT) is defined. These biomarkers are further validated using advanced parallel reaction monitoring (PRM) in an independent patient cohort. The results provide novel insights into the proteome characterization of ectopia lentis and offer a promising approach for developing a valuable biomarker panel to aid in the early diagnosis of Marfan syndrome via AH proteome. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ionic liquids (ILs) are extensively utilized for the manipulation of crystallization kinetics of perovskite, morphology optimization, and defect passivation for the fabrication of highly efficient and stable devices. However, comparing ILs with different chemical structures and selecting the appropriate ILs from the many types available to enhance perovskite device performance remains a challenge. In this study, a range of ILs containing different sizes of anions are introduced as additives for assisting in film formation in perovskite photovoltaics. Specifically, ILs with various sizes significantly affects the strength of chemical interaction between ILs and perovskite composition, inducing varying degrees of conversion of lead iodide to perovskite as well as the formation of perovskite films with markedly disparate grain sizes and morphology. Theoretical calculations in conjunction with experimental measurements revealed that small‐sized anion can more effectively reduce defect density by filling halide vacancies within perovskite bulk materials, resulting in suppression of charge‐carrier recombination, an extended photoluminescence lifetime, and significantly improved device performance. Boosted by ILs with appropriate size, the champion power conversion efficiency of 24.09% for the ILs‐treated device is obtained, and the unencapsulated devices retain 89.3% of its original efficiency under ambient conditions for 2000 h. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) have been investigated recently in perovskite photovoltaics owing to their potential to boost optoelectronic performance and device stability. However, the impact of variations in the MOF side chain on perovskite characteristics and the mechanism of MOF/perovskite film formation remains unclear. In this study, three nanoscale thiol‐functionalized UiO‐66‐type Zr‐based MOFs (UiO‐66‐(SH)2, UiO‐66‐MSA, and UiO‐66‐DMSA) are systematically employed and examined in perovskite solar cells (PSCs). Among these MOFs, UiO‐66‐(SH)2, with its rigid organic ligands, exhibited a strong interaction with perovskite materials with more efficient suppression of perovskite vacancy defects. More importantly, A detailed and in‐depth discussion is provided on the formation mechanism of UiO‐66‐(SH)2‐assisted perovskite film upon in situ GIWAXS performed during the annealing process. The incorporation of UiO‐66‐(SH)2 additives substantially facilitates the conversion of PbI2 into the perovskite phase, prolongs the duration of stage I, and induces a delayed phase transformation pathway. Consequently, the UiO‐66‐(SH)2‐assisted device demonstrates reduced defect density and superior optoelectronic properties with optimized power conversion efficiency of 24.09% and enhanced long‐term stability under ambient environment and continuous light illumination conditions. This study acts as a helpful design guide for desired MOF/perovskite structures, enabling further advancements in MOF/perovskite optoelectronic devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Issue Addressed: More attention to the diet and nutritional status of international students in Australian universities is indicated. This qualitative research aimed to provide an in‐depth understanding of dietary changes among international students after they arrived in Australia. Methods: Semi‐structured interviews were conducted with international students from China and India who were studying at a large urban Australian university. An approach of interpretative phenomenological analysis was employed for coding and data analysis. Results: A total of 14 interviews were included. International students were able to consume more international foods, dairy products and animal proteins in Australia as a result of increased exposure to a larger variety of these foods compared with their home countries. However, they experienced some difficulties in eating vegetables and authentic traditional foods due to limited availability and higher prices in Australia. It was challenging for these students to live independently and cook for themselves for the first time and with a limited food budget and time, but many students improved their cooking skills over time. Less frequent main meals with more snacking sessions were reported. Weight fluctuations were commonly experienced and craving for traditional foods no longer accessible may negatively impact mental health. Conclusions: International students adapted to the Australian food environment but believed the food choices available did not meet their food preferences or perhaps nutritional requirements. So What: Some intervention from universities and/or government may be needed to ease the barriers to consumption of affordable and desirable meals in a time‐saving manner for international students. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Limited data exists on the association between Direct bilirubin (DBIL) and Indirect bilirubin (IBIL) with the risk of chronic kidney disease (CKD) among patients with hypertension. This study aimed to assess the relationship between DBIL and IBIL with the risk of CKD in a cohort of Chinese adults diagnosed with hypertension. This study included 14 182 Chinese patients with hypertension between the ages of 27 and 96. CKD, the outcome variable, was defined by an estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) <60 mL/min/1.73 m2. The study employed multivariate linear and multivariate logistic regression analysis to evaluate the correlation between DBIL and IBIL with the risk of CKD. The prevalence of CKD in the study population was 9.77%. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that the increase in DBIL (OR: 0.66; 95% CI: 0.61, 0.71) and IBIL (OR: 0.75; 95% CI: 0.71, 0.81) were independently and negatively correlated with CKD. Further analyses using a restricted cubic spline (smooth‐fitting curve) confirmed the linearly negative association between DBIL and IBIL with the risk of CKD. The subgroup analysis showed that the correlation between IBIL and CKD was stronger among men and populations <65 years of age (p for interaction <.05). DBIL and IBIL were independently and negatively associated with CKD. Furthermore, the correlation between DBIL and IBIL with CKD in the hypertensive population is more significant in those under 65 years of age. These findings may inform future strategies for the management of CKD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Constructing nanostructures with high structural stability and ultrafast electrochemical reaction kinetics as anodes for sodium‐ion batteries (SIBs) is a big challenge. Herein, the robust 2D VS2/ Ti3C2Tx MXene nanostructures with the strong Ti─S covalent bond synthesized by a one‐pot self‐assembly approach are developed. The strong interfacial interaction renders the material of good structural durability and enhanced reaction kinetics. Meanwhile, the enlarged and few‐layered MXene nanosheets can be easily obtained according to this interaction, providing a conductive network for sufficient electrolyte penetration and rapid charge transfer. As predicted, the VS2/MXene nanostructures exhibit an extremely low sodium diffusion barrier confirmed by DFT calculations and small charge transfer impedance evidenced by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) analysis. Therefore, the SIBs based on the VS2/MXene electrode present first‐class electrochemical performance with the ultrahigh average initial columbic efficiency of 95.08% and excellent sodium‐ion storage capacity of 424.6 mAh g−1 even at 10 A g−1. It also shows an outstanding sodium‐ion storage capacity of 514.2 mAh g−1 at 1 A g−1 with a capacity retention of nearly 100% within 500 times high‐rate cycling. Such impressive performance demonstrates the successful synthesis strategy and the great potential of interfacial interactions for high‐performance energy storage devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mixed‐dimensional engineering of perovskite material has been demonstrated as a facile and promising strategy to improve both photovoltaic performance and long‐term stability of perovskite solar cells (PSCs). In this study, we report an in‐plane preferred orientation of 1D perovskite induced by an ionic liquid (IL) of 1‐(3‐cyanopropyl)‐3‐methylimidazolium chloride (CPMIMCl) for the first time via sequential deposition approach, leading to a mixed dimensional perovskite thin films. The generated one‐dimensional (1D) CPMIMPbI3 with in‐plane orientation resides at the grain boundaries of three‐dimensional (3D) perovskite can be appreciably observed from the morphology level, leading to creation of high‐quality films with large grain size with more efficient defect passivation. Moreover, the dispersion of IL in the bulk phase of perovskite material allows for the formation of 1D perovskite for multiple level passivation to inhibit non‐radiative recombination and optimize carrier transport. This IL engineering strategy not only yields a mixed‐dimensional perovskite heterostructure with in‐plane orientation 1D perovskite nano‐rods but also significantly improves the opto‐electronic property with suppressed trap states. As a result, the CPMIMCl‐treated PSCs show an enhanced photovoltaic performance with a champion power conversion efficiency (PCE) up to 24.13%. More importantly, benefiting from the hydrophobicity of formed 1D perovskite and defects suppression, the corresponding PSC demonstrates an excellent long‐term stability and maintain 97.1% of its pristine PCE at 25°C under 50% RH condition over 1000 h. This research provides an innovative perspective for employing the low dimensional engineering to optimize the performance and stability of photovoltaic devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Low‐dimensional Cu‐based halides exhibit considerable potential as luminescent materials owing to their efficient exciton emissions originating from strongly localized charge carriers. However, the luminescence processes of multiple self‐trapped excitons (STEs) in Cu‐based halides with mixed halogens have not been systematically studied. In this study, a novel single crystal, MACuBrI (MA = methylammonium), with mixed anions and a 1D chain structure is successfully synthesized. MACuBrI displays two different STE luminescences at room and low temperatures, which forms different STE structures through breaking CuBr or CuI bonds. Therefore, MACuBrI is adopted as an ink in an anticounterfeiting strategy to realize multiple encryption effects, which may clearly identify and authenticate the substrate under ultraviolet light irradiation and even after low‐temperature treatment. This discovery may deepen the understanding of the STE emission mechanism and provide a novel pathway for the development of Pb‐free metal halides with remarkable luminescence performances. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Coreopsis tinctoria Nutt. (family Asteraceae) is a popular medicine‐food plant, which improves chronic diseases such as hyperlipemia, hypertension, and diabetes. Flavanomarein is the main active component of Coreopsis tinctoria Nutt, in which the blood concentration of volunteers is low and bioavailability is poor. Thus, the understanding of flavanomarein metabolites and metabolic pathways is significant to clarify its effectiveness. This study systematically studied the metabolites of flavanomarein by oral and injection. The biological samples (feces, urine, and plasma) were analyzed by ultra‐high‐performance liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole time‐of‐flight mass spectrometry in negative ion mode. The metabolic law of flavanomarein in the liver was further verified by a liver microsomal incubation experiment in vitro. A total of 12 metabolites were identified by oral administration while 15 metabolites were detected by injection. It was shown that metabolic pathways include acetylation, hydroxylation, glucuronidation, methylation, dehydrogenation, and so forth. The liver extraction rate of flavanomarein was 0.08, which means the metabolic stability of flavanomarein is well in rats' liver microsomes. It is a systematic study on the metabolism of flavanomarein and provides a metabolic rationale for further in‐depth in vivo biotransformation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Multicellular crosstalk within the brain tissue has been suggested to play a critical role in maintaining cerebral vascular homeostasis. Exosomes (EXs) mediated cell–cell communication, but its role in cerebral ischemic injury is largely unknown. Rab27a is one of the major genes controlling EX release. Here, we explored the role of Rab27a in regulating brain EXs secretion, and the effects of Rab27a‐mediated EXs on ischemia evoked cerebral vascular disruption and brain injury. Methods: Cerebral ischemia was induced in Rab27a knockout (Rab27a−/−) and wide type (WT) mice by transient middle cerebral artery occlusion (tMCAO). Differential gene expression analysis was performed in ischemic brain tissue by using mRNA sequencing. EXs isolated from brain tissue of Rab27a−/− and WT mice (EXWT or EXRab27a−/−) were pre‐administrated into tMCAO operated Rab27a−/− mice or oxygen and glucose deprivation (OGD) treated primary brain vascular endothelial cells (ECs). Results: We demonstrated that Rab27a expression in the peri‐infarct area of brain was significantly elevated, which was associated with local elevation in EXs secretion. Rab27a deficiency dramatically decreased the level of EXs in brain tissue of normal and tMCAO‐treated mice, and Rab27a−/− mice displayed an increase in infarct volume and NDS, and a decrease in cMVD and CBF following tMCAO. Pre‐infusion of EXWT increased the brain EXs levels in the tMCAO operated Rab27a−/− mice, accompanied with an increase in cMVD and CBF, and a decrease in infarct volume, NDS, ROS production, and apoptosis. The effects of EXRab27a−/− infusion were much diminished although in a dose‐dependent manner. In OGD‐treated ECs, EXRab27a−/− showed less effectivity than EXWT in decreasing ROS overproduction and apoptosis, paralleling with down‐regulated expression of NOX2 and cleaved caspase‐3. Conclusion: Our study demonstrates that Rab27a controls brain EXs secretion and functions, contributing to cerebral vascular protection from ischemic insult by preventing oxidative stress and apoptosis via down‐regulating NOX2 and cleaved caspase‐3 expression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Van der Waals (vdW) heterostructures—in which layered materials are purposely selected to assemble with each other—allow unusual properties and different phenomena to be combined and multifunctional electronics to be created, opening a new chapter for the spread of internet‐of‐things applications. Here, an O2‐ultrasensitive MoTe2 material and an O2‐insensitive SnS2 material are integrated to form a vdW heterostructure, allowing the realization of charge‐polarity control for multioperation‐mode transistors through a simple and effective rapid thermal annealing strategy under dry‐air and vacuum conditions. The charge‐polarity control (i.e., doping and de‐doping processes), which arises owing to the interaction between O2 adsorption/desorption and tellurium defects at the MoTe2 surface, means that the MoTe2/SnS2 heterostructure transistors can reversibly change between unipolar, ambipolar, and anti‐ambipolar transfer characteristics. Based on the dynamic control of the charge‐polarity properties, an inverter, output polarity controllable amplifier, p‐n diode, and ternary‐state logics (NMIN and NMAX gates) are demonstrated, which inspire the development of reversibly multifunctional devices and indicates the potential of 2D materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Metal halide perovskites are promising optoelectronic materials due to their unique luminescent properties. However, their practical application is limited by their poor chemical stability, especially in humid environments. Moisture can cause phase changes or chemical decomposition, resulting in significant fluorescence quenching. In this study, a copper‐based organic–inorganic hybrid metal halide (t‐BA)3Cu6I9 is synthesized (t‐BA+ is the tert‐butyl‐ammonium ion (C(CH3)3NH3+)). This material exhibits water‐induced luminescence, and its chemical stability in humid environments is being investigated. Tetragonal t‐BA3Cu6I9 is not luminescent, but it reacts quickly with water in the air. The resultant (t‐BA)2Cu2I4·H2O has a broad green emission peak at 520 nm, high photoluminescence quantum yield of 59.4%. Remarkably, (t‐BA)2Cu2I4·H2O is converted back to t‐BA3Cu6I9 at temperatures above 40 °C. This phase conversion is highly repeatable, and the luminescent intensity can be fully recovered after 50 transformation cycles. The mechanism of luminescence is investigated through temperature‐dependent photoluminescence spectra and theoretical calculation, which suggests that (t‐BA)2Cu2I4·H2O has a more localized charge distribution and sufficient polyhedral distortion, resulting in a bright and efficient emission from self‐trapped excitons. This is the first report of water‐induced luminescence in copper‐based metal halides, and it paves the way for stable luminescent materials that are responsive to humidity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Elevated interleukin‐10 (IL‐10) levels in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) have B cell–promoting effects, contributing to autoantibody production and tissue damage. We aimed to characterize up‐regulated IL‐10+ B cell subsets and dysregulated IL10 expression in SLE B cells for new therapeutic options. Methods: Proportions of Th10 and IL‐10+ B cell subsets in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were assessed using flow cytometry. The IL10 3′‐untranslated region (3′‐UTR) dual‐luciferase vector was constructed and cotransfected with small interfering RNA (siRNA), microRNA (miRNA) mimics, or miRNA inhibitors into Raji cells. Transcript levels were quantified using TaqMan assays. Results: Culture conditions that induced IL‐10+ Breg cells in healthy controls resulted in expansion of IL‐10+ double‐negative 2 (DN2; IgD−CD27−CD21−CD11c+) B cells in SLE PBMCs. Proportions of IL‐10+ DN2, but not those of IL‐10− DN2, correlated with disease activity and levels of antibodies to double‐stranded DNA (dsDNA) (r = 0.60, P = 0.03 for cohort 1; r = 0.38, P = 0.03 for cohort 2), and were associated with high levels or seropositivity of anti‐Sm (P = 0.03 for cohort 1; P = 0.01 for cohort 2) and IgG anticardiolipin (P < 0.01 for cohort 1; P = 0.02 for cohort 2) in SLE patients from 2 cohorts, of mainly African American subjects (cohort 1) and of Asian subjects (cohort 2). Proportions of Th10 (CD45RA−CXCR5−CXCR3+PD‐1highCD4+) cells correlated with IL‐10+ DN2 frequencies (r = 0.60, P < 0.01 for cohort 2), antinuclear antibody titers (r = 0.52, P = 0.01 for cohort 2), and proteinuria levels (r = 0.72, P < 0.01 for cohort 2) in SLE patients. Screening of predicted IL10 3′‐UTR–targeting miRNAs in SLE B cells identified miRNA‐17‐5p (miR‐17‐5p) and miR‐20a‐5p, with their levels inversely correlated with IL10 (r = −0.47, P < 0.01 for miR‐17‐5p; r = −0.37, P = 0.03 for miR‐20‐5p) and transcription factor E2F2 (r = −0.48, P = 0.04 for miR‐17‐5p; r = −0.45, P = 0.05 for miR‐20‐5p). In Raji cells, knockdown of E2F2 expression resulted in increased levels of miR‐17‐5p and miR‐20a‐5p and decreased IL10 messenger RNA (mRNA) and protein levels, and overexpression and inhibition of miR‐17‐5p down‐regulated and up‐regulated, respectively, IL10 mRNA levels, suggesting regulation of IL10 expression by an E2F2‐miR‐17‐5p loop. Conclusion: IL‐10 promotes extrafollicular autoimmune responses in patients with active SLE, which might be dampened by targeting the E2F2–miR‐17‐5p circuitry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: The COVID‐19 pandemic has disrupted the Australian food supply with potential ramifications on food security. This scoping review aimed to synthesise current evidence on the prevalence of food insecurity and changes to factors related to food insecurity during the COVID‐19 pandemic in Australia. Methods: A comprehensive search strategy was used to search seven databases (MEDLINE, CINAHL, Embase, Global Health, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, PsycINFO, Informit Online) and Google Scholar. Included studies were written in English, published in 2020–2021 and examined food security status in Australia during the COVID‐19 pandemic and/or factors associated with food insecurity in free‐living Australian residents. Articles with participants residing in institutional settings, where meals were supplied, were excluded. Results: A total of 700 records were identified from database, grey literature and hand searching, and nine articles were included. All studies indicated that the prevalence of food insecurity had increased due to negative changes to food availability, accessibility, usability and stability. The downturn in employment and economic circumstances following the onset of the COVID‐19 pandemic appeared to create a new group of food‐insecure Australians consisting of newly unemployed, and international students. Conclusion: COVID‐19 has exacerbated vulnerabilities in the Australian food supply and food security. Suggested actions include ongoing data collection on the long‐term impact of COVID‐19 on food supply and security in addition to coordinated national and community responses that improve the stability of the local food supply and address underlying determinants of food insecurity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Atomically thin tungsten diselenide (WSe2) transistors with multilayer graphene (w/ G) as contact electrodes are successfully fabricated by a precise area‐controllable chemical vapor deposition method. The performance and electrical properties of the devices are explored. Compared to those of WSe2 transistors without graphene contacts (w/o G), the maximum current densities of the w/ G–WSe2 transistors increase by one to two orders of magnitude. In addition, the device performance is markedly improved for the w/ G–WSe2 transistors, including an on/off current ratio of ≈107, subthreshold swing of ≈150 mV/decade, and threshold voltage of ≈1.75 V. The improved performance of the w/ G–WSe2 transistors is ascribed to the alleviation of electrical contributions from metal–semiconductor contact resistance, which is consistent with the analysis of low‐frequency noise measurements. In addition, self‐trapping behavior in the WSe2 channel is found, which possibly paves a way to further optimize the performance of layered devices. Finally, an inverter using the w/ G–WSe2 transistors is demonstrated. These transistors represent a step forward in the development of layered graphene‐based electronics suitable for energy‐efficient and high‐performance industrial‐scale products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

K metal is the optimal anode for K‐ion batteries because of its high capacity and low operating potential, but it suffers from fast capacity fading and safety issues due to an unstable solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) and continuous K‐dendrite growth. Herein, to obtain promising potassium‐metal batteries, a 3D polyvinyl‐alcohol (PVA)‐borax layer is designed, which enables a dendrite‐free K‐plating/stripping process. The protective layer possesses good wettability, high K‐ion diffusivity, and good structural stability, which enables a "uniform and underneath plating" behavior, therefore exhibiting a stable electrochemical performance. As a result, Cu current collector with PVA‐borax (PVA‐borax@Cu) exhibits a stable cycling lifetime for 700 h at 0.5 mA cm−2 and 500 h at 1 mA cm−2 at 10 % depth of discharge (DOD) without dendrite formation. Even at a high utilization of 25 % DOD and 50 % DOD, the PVA‐borax@Cu shows a stable cycle for 180 h and 100 h, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Advanced architecture and rational design of electrode materials for electrochemical sodium‐ion storage are well developed by researchers worldwide. MXene‐based materials are considered as one of the most potential electrode materials for sodium‐ion‐based devices, such as sodium‐ion batteries (SIBs), sodium–sulfur batteries (SSBs), and sodium‐ion capacitors (SICs), because of the excellent physicochemical characteristics of MXenes. Here, in this review, the recent research work and progress, both theoretical and experimental, on MXene‐based materials including pure MXenes and MXene‐based composites in application of SIBs, SSBs, and SICs are comprehensively summarized. The sodium storage mechanisms and the effective methods to enhance the electrochemical performance are also discussed. Finally, the current critical challenges and future research directions on the development of these MXene‐based materials for electrochemical sodium‐ion storage are presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Associations between diet and cardiometabolic outcomes are often based on a single measurement of diet in adulthood. Dietary exposures in childhood are thought to influence cardiometabolic disease development and individuals' diets can change over time, therefore dietary exposure in childhood and over long periods are both important to consider. This scoping review aimed to identify and characterise the literature on associations between diet measured in both childhood and adulthood and cardiometabolic outcomes. Seven databases were searched; eligible evidence sources were original analyses published as a journal article in English. Exposures included measures of dietary intake, diet quality and eating behaviours measured in both childhood and adulthood with at least five years between first and last measurements. Cardiometabolic outcomes included measures of anthropometry, biochemistry, vascular structure/function and disease states/scores. We identified 37 eligible articles from nine cohort studies. Dietary exposures were measured between two and eight times and most often assessed by food frequency questionnaire or diet history. The dietary exposures most frequently examined were protein, fat, carbohydrate, fruit, vegetables, sugar‐sweetened beverages and breakfast. Cardiometabolic outcomes were predominantly based on risk markers. Authors utilised a variety of analytical approaches to transform and analyse repeated measures of diet, providing insights relevant to different lifespan nutrition concepts. The literature on associations between diet in childhood and adulthood and cardiometabolic outcomes is limited, but such studies have great potential to extend our knowledge in ways only possible with repeated measures of diet over time. Further research is needed to develop the evidence base for diet‐disease relationships from a life course perspective, accounting for diet in both childhood and adulthood. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lead‐free double perovskite Cs2AgBiBr6 has attracted significant research interests for optoelectronic applications because of its nontoxicity, inherent stability, and high detection sensitivity. In this work, the 2D Cs2AgBiBr6 with a thickness of ≈5 nm and lateral length larger than 50 µm is successfully fabricated by a space‐confined method. The fabricated ultra‐thin 2D Cs2AgBiBr6 exhibits significant advantages on photodetection, due to its enhanced light–matter interaction. Remarkably, compared with bulk Cs2AgBiBr6, 2D Cs2AgBiBr6‐based photodetectors exhibit dramatically improved optoelectronic properties including ultra‐high detectivity (D*) of 7.4 × 1014 Jones (more than ten times), photoresponsivity (R) of 54.6 A W−1 (exceeding 4.7 times), an on/off ratio of 7.4 × 104 (more than ten times), and a fast response time of ≈1.7 ms (exceeding 30 times). In addition, due to the strong photon recycling effect of Cs2AgBiBr6, optical properties in both light absorption and emission can be effectively engineered by the material thickness, which enables a tunable wavelength‐dependent photodetection. The results provide further insights on the light–matter interaction of environmentally friendly 2D perovskites related materials and shine light on their high‐performance optoelectrical applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

All‐inorganic cesium lead bromide perovskites have attracted a lot of attention because of their excellent optical properties that can potentially be applied in various optical devices. However, large‐scale preparation of cesium lead bromide perovskites with outstanding optical performance is still hindered by the poor solubility of CsBr in polar aprotic solvents. In this work, a water/dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO)/dimethylformamide (DMF) system is demonstrated for the synthesis of inorganic cesium lead bromide perovskites, where the introduction of water can effectively address the dissolution issue of Cs+ ions. Large‐scale synthesis of pure‐phase emissive Cs4PbBr6 with a product yield of up to 73% is achieved and the photoluminescence quantum yield of resulting product reaches as high as 76%. The origin of the light emission is further revealed by the photoluminescence evolution of the colored Cs4PbBr6 single crystals. Furthermore, reversible phase transitions between Cs4PbBr6, CsPbBr3 and CsPb2Br5 are achieved by changing solely the water content, which paves the way for the recycle of the mother solution of Cs4PbBr6 without generation of additional hazardous waste. The three‐solvent‐based synthetic approaches enable an economical, robust, and large‐scale production for all‐inorganic cesium lead bromide perovskites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: Breakfast consumption may be associated favourably with cardiometabolic health. Most studies only measure breakfast consumption at one timepoint, whereas repeated measures allow for associations to be explored from a life course perspective. This systematic review assessed evidence from cohort studies on associations between breakfast consumption from childhood to adulthood and cardiometabolic health. Methods: Seven databases were searched; eligible records included analyses assessing breakfast consumption in childhood and adulthood, and type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, obesity or associated clinical risk factors. Risk of bias was assessed using the Joanna Briggs Institute checklist for cohort studies. Results: Six eligible articles were reviewed, representing four cohort studies from two countries. Body composition was the only outcome investigated by five articles; the sixth article investigated body composition as well as a metabolic syndrome score and serum cardiometabolic risk markers. Most articles found significant associations between breakfast consumption in childhood and adulthood and cardiometabolic benefits, however the quality of evidence was poor. Childhood and adulthood breakfast consumption were each associated with cardiometabolic benefits, and breakfast consumption over both life stages was associated with greater benefits. An increase in breakfast consumption from childhood to adulthood was also associated with cardiometabolic benefits. Conclusions: We evaluated the available literature and found limited studies of low quality to suggest that more frequent breakfast consumption across both childhood and adulthood may be associated with the greatest cardiometabolic benefits. Further research is needed to develop an understanding of the relationship between breakfast and cardiometabolic health from a cross‐lifestage perspective. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We aimed to evaluate the relation of the ankle–brachial index (ABI) with the prevalence of stroke and to examine any possible effect modifiers among hypertensive patients without atrial fibrillation. A total of 10 750 subjects with hypertension aged 27‐96 years were included in the current study. The outcome was a stroke. Odds ratios of stroke concerning ABI were calculated using multivariate logistic regression models. Among 10 750 hypertensive participants, 690 (6.42%) had a stroke. Multivariate logistic analyses showed that ABI was negatively correlated with the prevalence of stroke (per SD increment; adjusted OR, 0.88; 95% CI, 0.82‐0.94). Compared with participants in Q 1, the odds ratios (95% CI) for those in the Q2 (1.05 to 1.10), Q3 (1.10 to 1.15), and Q4 (≥1.15) were 0.71 (0.56, 0.90), 0.87 (0.70, 1.08), and 0.81 (0.65, 1.01), respectively. However, compared with higher ABI value, lower ABI value (<1.05) would significantly increase the odds of stroke (OR: 1.26, 95% CI [1.05‐1.50]), especially in the elderly over 65 years old. A generalized additive model and a smooth curve fitting showed that there existed an L‐shaped association between ABI and the prevalence of stroke. Our results suggest that an L‐shaped association between ABI and the prevalence of stroke was found in general hypertensive patients, with a turning point at about 1.05. Compared with higher ABI value, lower ABI value (<1.05) would significantly increase the prevalence of stroke (OR: 1.26, 95% CI [1.05‐1.50]), especially in the elderly over 65 years old. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The authors aimed to evaluate the relationship of serum albumin with peripheral arterial disease (PAD) and investigate any possible effect modifiers in hypertensive patients. In the cross-sectional study, a total of 10,900 Chinese hypertensive patients aged ≥18 years were enrolled. The outcome was PAD, defined as an ankle-brachial index (ABI) <0.90 in either leg. The overall mean (SD) serum albumin was 46.8 (4.2) g/L. There were significant inverse associations of serum albumin with PAD (per SD increment; OR: 0.83; 95% CI: 0.72, 0.94). Compared with the lowest tertile (<45.1 g/L), the multivariate-adjusted ORs (95% CI) for participants in the middle tertile (45.1-48.2 g/L) and highest tertile (≥48.2 g/L) of serum albumin were 0.89 (95% CI: 0.67, 1.16) and 0.65 (95% CI: 0.47, 0.90), respectively. Conversely, lower albumin (<48.2 g/L) concentrations were associated with increased odds of PAD (OR: 1.45; 95% CI: 1.08-1.96) compared with higher concentrations. Furthermore, the albumin-PAD association was significantly stronger in males (OR: 2.08; 95% CI: 1.31, 3.30) than in females (OR: 1.06; 95% CI: 0.70, 1.58; p interaction = .024). In conclusion, among Chinese hypertensive adults, lower serum albumin was associated with the prevalence of PAD only in males but not in females. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Efficient solar‐to‐hydrogen (STH) energy conversion under ambient conditions (room temperature and atmospheric pressure) is important for pursuing scalable solar hydrogen generation. Modification of polymeric carbon nitride (PCN) by conjugated polymers has attracted great attention for improving photocatalytic hydrogen evolution (PHE) performance. However, the limited interfacial junction between PCN and conjugated polymers leads to a low density of free charges, resulting in unsatisfactory PHE activity. Herein, three donor‐π‐acceptor‐structured organic molecules (OMs) with different electron‐donating units (amino, N,N‐diethyl and triphenylamine) and same electron‐accepting unit (benzothiadiazole) are designed to modify PCN to enlarge the interfacial junction. The optimized PHE performance under AM 1.5G simulated sunlight and ambient conditions can maintain as high as 4.63 mmol h−1 g−1 (the highest record among all the reported PCN‐based photocatalysts to the best of the authors knowledge). The improved performance can be partially attributed to the strong visible light harvesting capability of OMs. Specifically, the triphenylamine unit in the formed type II molecule heterojunctions (MHJ) enables efficient charge separation at the interfacial junction, which prolongs the photogenerated electron lifetime for PHE. The designed MHJ photocatalysts show outstanding PHE performance under ambient conditions, which is highly promising for scalable STH conversion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although carbon itself acts as a catalyst in various reactions, the classical carbon materials (e.g., activated carbons, carbon aerogels, carbon black, carbon fiber, etc.) usually show low activity, stability, and oxidation resistance. With the recent availability of nanocarbon catalysts, the application of carbon materials in catalysis has gained a renewed momentum. The research is concentrated on tailoring the surface chemistry of nanocarbon materials, since the pristine carbons in general are not active for heterogeneous catalysis. Surface functionalization, doping with heteroatoms, and creating defects are the most used strategies to make efficient catalysts. However, the nature of the catalytic active sites and their role in determining the activity and selectivity is still not well understood. Herein, the types of active sites reported for several mainstream nanocarbons, including carbon nanotubes, graphene‐based materials, and 3D porous nanocarbons, are summarized. Knowledge about the active sites will be beneficial for the design and synthesis of nanocarbon catalysts with improved activity, selectivity, and stability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Metal halide perovskites (MHPs) are promising materials for a range of optoelectronic applications owing to their unique structures and optical properties. The photoluminescence (PL) property of MHPs is crucial for their applications. All‐inorganic MHPs such as CsPbBr3, CsPb2Br5 and Cs4PbBr6, have been widely investigated due to their high PL quantum yield (QY). However, the PL mechanisms of these perovskites still remain controversial and lack a unifying explanation. In this review, we have summarized the recent efforts to reveal the emission process of all‐inorganic cesium lead bromide perovskites nanocrystals (NCs) by utilizing single particle spectroscopy. The recent research advances on the understanding of exciton nature in CsPbBr3 and PL emission originating from intrinsic point defects or impurity CsPbBr3 phase in CsPb2Br5 and Cs4PbBr6 are summarized. Understanding the relationship between the structure and associated PL property of MHPs paves the way for their potential applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Urea is an important organic pollutants in sewage and needs to be removed for environmental protection. Here, we report defective NiFe2O4 (NFO) nanoparticles with excellent performance for urea electro‐oxidation. The results show that defects can be effectively implanted at the surface of NFO nanoparticles by a facile and versatile lithium reduction method without affecting its main crystal structure and grain size. The defective NFO‐5Li nanoparticles displayed a significantly improved urea electro‐oxidation performance compared with NFO‐Pristine nanoparticles. Particularly, the NFO‐Pristine and NFO‐5Li show a potential of 1.398 and 1.361 V at the current density of 10 mA cm−2 and Tafel slope of 37.3 and 31.4 mV dec−1, respectively. In addition, the NFO‐5Li nanoparticles also revealed outstanding electrocatalytic stability. The superior performance can be attributed to the designed tunable surface defect engineering. Furthermore, the defect engineering strategy as well as the defective NFO nanoparticles hold great potential for applications in other materials and areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Organometallic halide perovskites have attracted great research interest as light‐active materials for use in optoelectronics. Here, we report a high‐performance photoconductor based on a methylammonium lead iodide (MAPbI3) film that was prepared from a methylamine‐treated MAPbI3/PbI2 perovskite film. An ultrahigh responsivity of 3.6 A W−1 and detectivity of 5.4×1012 Jones were obtained for the film under 0.5 mW cm−2 white‐light illumination. In addition, under 420 nm light irradiation, the film exhibited its highest responsivity and detectivity of 30 A W−1 and 2.4×1014 Jones, respectively. The excellent photo‐response performance results from the improved electronic quality and suppressed nonradiative recombination channels of the treated perovskite thin film. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The migration of osteoclasts (OCs) from circulation and bone marrow into bone surface plays a critical role in the pathogenesis of some bone resorptive diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis and osteoporosis. To date, how the migration of OCs remains unclear. We investigated gene expression profiling in osteoclastic differentiation of bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMMs) into OCs by microarray analysis. We identified 387 genes overexpressed in osteoclastic differentiation of BMMs. Among them, chemokine CCL4 showed a robust up-regulation signal. High expression of CCL4 was validated in primary BMMs and OC precursor cell line RAW264.7 during differentiation into OCs. The CCL4 neutralization decreased RANKL-induced OC precursor cell migration and invasion in Matrigel-coated transwell membranes assay and in vitro wound healing assay. However, CCL4 inhibition did not affect OCs differentiation and differentiation associated gene expression. The CCL4 inhibition promoted the PI3K phosphorylation at 45 to 60 minutes after RANKL stimulation in RAW264.7. This study indicated that chemokine CCL4 is an important regulator for OCs migration via PI3K pathway, providing a novel therapy target for bone resorptive diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: We previously reported that interleukin-29 (IL-29) was highly expressed in the blood and synovium of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients and contributed to synovial inflammation by induction of proinflammatory cytokine production. Given chronic inflammation can trigger the process of bone erosion, and receptor activator of nuclear factor-jB ligand (RANKL) plays a crucial role in bone erosion of RA, we hypothesize that IL-29 mediates bone erosion in RA by regulation of RANKL expression. Here, we investigated the effect of IL-29 on RANKL expression in RA fibroblast-like synoviocytes (FLS) and the relevant signaling pathways involved in it. Methods: Primary fibroblast cells isolated from RA patients were stimulated by recombinant IL-29 in the presence or absence of anti-IL-29 antibody, and the expression levels of RANKL were assessed using real-time poly-merase chain reaction and immunostaining. Furthermore, the IL-29 signaling pathway for regulation of RANKL was also examined by Western blotting assay. Results: IL-29 upregulated RANKL expression in a dose-dependent manner, and blockade of IL-29 resulted in a significantly reduced RANKL expression in RA-FLS. Incubation RA-FLS with IL-29 (100 ng/mL) led to phospho-rylation of ERK (extracellular signal-regulated kinase), p38 and JNK (c-Jun N-terminal kinase). The expression of RANKL induced by IL-29 could be completely blocked by the inhibitors of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signal pathway, including PD98059 (ERK inhibitor), SB203580 (p38 inhibitor) and SP600125 (JNK inhibitor). Conclusion: These findings indicate, for the first time, that IL-29 could directly induce RANKL expression in RA-FLS via MAPK signaling pathway, suggesting IL-29 might be a new target in the prevention of joint destruction inRA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Development of a pseudocapacitor over the integration of metal oxide on carbonaceous materials is a promising step towards energy storage devices with high energy and power densities. Here, a self-assembled cobalt oxide (CoO) nanorod cluster on three-dimensional graphene (CoO-3DG) is synthesized through a facile hydrothermal method followed by heat treatment. As an additive-free electrode, CoO-3DG exhibits good electrochemical performance. Compared with CoO nanorod clusters grown on Ni foam (i.e., CoO-Ni, ≈680 F g−1 at 1 A g−1 and ≈400 F g−1 at 20 A g−1), CoO-3DG achieves much higher capacitance (i.e., ≈980 F g−1 at 1 A g−1 and ≈600 F g−1 at 20 A g−1) with excellent cycling stability of 103% retention of specific capacitance after 10 000 cycles. Furthermore, it shows an interesting activation process and instability with a redox reaction for CoO. In addition, the phase transformation from CoO nanorods to Co3O4 nanostructures was observed and investigated after charge and discharge process, which suggests the activation kinetics and the phase transformable nature of CoO based nanostructure. These observations demonstrate phase transformation with morphological change induced capacitance increasement in the emergent class of metal oxide materials for electrochemical energy storage device. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]