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Although transition-metal nitrides have been widely applied for several decades, experimental investigations of their high-resolution electronic band structures are rare due to the lack of high-quality single-crystalline samples. Here, we report on the first momentum-resolved electronic band structures of titanium nitride (TiN) films, which are remarkable nitride superconductors. The measurements of the crystal structures and electrical transport properties confirmed the high quality of these films. More importantly, from a combination of high-resolution angle-resolved photoelectron spectroscopy and first-principles calculations, the extracted Coulomb interaction strength of TiN films can be as large as 8.5 eV, whereas resonant photoemission spectroscopy yields a value of 6.26 eV. These large values of Coulomb interaction strength indicate that superconducting TiN is a strongly correlated system. Our results uncover the unexpected electronic correlations in transition-metal nitrides, potentially providing a perspective not only to understand their emergent quantum states but also to develop their applications in quantum devices.

NO x storage-reduction (NSR), a promising approach for removing NO x pollutants from diesel vehicles, remains elusive to cope with the increasingly lower exhaust temperatures (especially below 250 °C). Here, we develop a conceptual electrified NSR strategy, where electricity with a low input power (0.5-4 W) is applied to conductive Pt and K co-supported antimony-doped tin oxides (Pt-K/ATO), with C 3 H 6 as a reductant. The ignition temperature for 10% NO x conversion is nearly 100 °C lower than that of the traditional thermal counterpart. Furthermore, reducing the power in the fuel-lean period relative to that in the fuel-rich period increases the maximum energy efficiency by 23%. Electrically driven release of lattice oxygen is revealed to play vital roles in multiple steps in NSR, including NO adsorption, desorption, and reduction, for improved NSR activity. This work provides an electrification strategy for developing high-activity NSR catalysis utilizing electricity onboard hybrid vehicles.

Seven deflagration tests of a propane-air mixture were carried out in a 22.5 m 3 large-scale chamber. The effects of initial volume, gas concentration, and initial turbulence intensity on deflagration characteristics were analyzed. The main frequency of the explosion wave was quantitatively determined by the combination of the wavelet transform and energy spectrum analysis. The results show that the explosive overpressure is formed by the discharge of combustion products and secondary combustion, and the effects of turbulence and gas concentration on the explosive overpressure are higher than the initial volume. Under the condition of weak initial turbulence, the main frequency of gas explosion wave is between 32.13 and 48.33 Hz. Under strong initial turbulence conditions, the main frequency of the gas explosion wave increases with the increase of overpressure, and the empirical formula of the relationship between the main frequency and overpressure is summarized, which could provide theoretical support for the design of mechanical metamaterials for oil and gas explosion. Finally, the flame acceleration simulator numerical model was calibrated through tests, and the overpressure simulation values were in good agreement with the experimental data. The leakage, diffusion, and explosion of a liquefied hydrocarbon loading station in a petrochemical enterprise were simulated. The lethal distance and explosion overpressure at key buildings are predicted for different wind speed conditions. The simulation results can provide a technical basis for evaluating personnel injury and building damage., Competing Interests: The authors declare no competing financial interest., (© 2023 The Authors. Published by American Chemical Society.)

Intercalated layered materials offer distinctive properties and serve as precursors for important two-dimensional (2D) materials. However, intercalation of non-van der Waals structures, which can expand the family of 2D materials, is difficult. We report a structural editing protocol for layered carbides (MAX phases) and their 2D derivatives (MXenes). Gap-opening and species-intercalating stages were respectively mediated by chemical scissors and intercalants, which created a large family of MAX phases with unconventional elements and structures, as well as MXenes with versatile terminals. The removal of terminals in MXenes with metal scissors and then the stitching of 2D carbide nanosheets with atom intercalation leads to the reconstruction of MAX phases and a family of metal-intercalated 2D carbides, both of which may drive advances in fields ranging from energy to printed electronics.

Photosynthesis is a process that uses solar energy to fix CO 2 in the air and converts it into sugar, and ultimately powers almost all life activities on the earth. C 3 photosynthesis is the most common form of photosynthesis in crops. Current efforts of increasing crop yields in response to growing global food requirement are mostly focused on improving C 3 photosynthesis. In this review, we summarized the strategies of C 3 photosynthesis improvement in terms of Rubisco properties and photorespiratory limitation. Potential engineered targets include Rubisco subunits and their catalytic sites, Rubisco assembly chaperones, and Rubisco activase. In addition, we reviewed multiple photorespiratory bypasses built by strategies of synthetic biology to reduce the release of CO 2 and ammonia and minimize energy consumption by photorespiration. The potential strategies are suggested to enhance C 3 photosynthesis and boost crop production., (© 2022 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Garlic is a popular culinary herb for the prevention and treatment of alcoholic liver disease (ALD). Diallyl Trisulfide (DATS) is the major organosulfur compound of garlic. Latest studies indicated that the hepatocyte pyroptosis serves a primary role in the pathogenesis of ALD. The present study aims to assess the inhibitory effect of DATS on alcohol-induced hepatocyte pyroptosis, and to elucidate the potential mechanism by using the hepatocyte cell line HL-7702. Our study found that DATS inhibited alcohol-induced pyroptosis by decreasing gasdermin D (GSDMD) activation. Results illuminated that DATS inhibited alcohol-induced (NOD)-like receptor containing pyrin domain 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome activation by reducing intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation. Furthermore, DATS upregulated hydrogen sulfide (H2S) to resist ROS overproduction. The present study demonstrated that DATS mitigated alcohol-induced hepatocyte pyroptosis by increasing the intracellular level of H2S., (© The Author(s) 2022. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Japan Society for Bioscience, Biotechnology, and Agrochemistry.)

Objective: To study the clinical value of ultrasonography in diagnosing nasopharyngeal carcinoma., Method: Seventy-five patients with suspicious clinical symptoms of recurrent nasopharyngeal carcinoma were studied 0.5-3.0 years after radiotherapy. All received ultrasonography, computed tomography examination, nasendoscopy and nasopharyngeal biopsy. The diagnostic value of ultrasonography were then evaluated., Result: Of 75 cases, recurrent nasopharyngeal carcinomas were detected in 35 cases by ultrasonography. There were 26 cases confirmed pathologically, 9 cases false positive, 25 cases true negative and 15 cases false negative. Meanwhile, of 75 cases recurrent nasopharyngeal carcinomas were indicated in 35 cases by computed tomography. There were 27 cases confirmed pathologically, 8 cases false positive, 26 cases true negative and 14 cases false negative. There were no significant difference between the sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of ultrasonography and computed tomography in diagnosing recurrent nasopharyngeal carcinoma., Conclusion: Either ultrasonography or computed tomography has good diagnostic values in detecting recurrent nasopharyngeal carcinoma. Furthermore, both of them can complement each other.