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Group III–V compound semiconductors are a promising group of materials for photoelectrochemical (PEC) applications. In this work, a metal assisted wet etching approach is adapted to acquiring a large‐area patterned microdome structure on p‐GaAs surface. In addition, atomic layer deposition is used to deposit a TiO2 protection layer with controlled thickness and crystallinity. Based on a PEC photocathode design, the optimal configuration achieves a photocurrent of −5 mA cm−2 under −0.8 V versus Ag/AgCl in a neutral pH electrolyte. The TiO2 coating with a particular degree of crystallization deposited via controlled temperature demonstrates a superior stability over amorphous coating, enabling a remarkably stable operation, for as long as 60 h. The enhanced charge separation induced by favorable band alignment between GaAs and TiO2 contributes simultaneously to the elevated solar conversion efficiency. This approach provides a promising solution to further development of group III–V compounds and other photoelectrodes with high efficiency and excellent durability for solar fuel generation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Modulation of broadband light trapping through assembly of 3D structures and modification with narrow band-gap semiconductors provide an effective way to improve the photoelectrochemical (PEC) performance. Here, 3D-branched ZnO nanowire arrays (NWAs) modified with cadmium sulfide (CdS) nanoparticles are designed and synthesized via solution chemical routes. The 3D-branched ZnO NWA-CdS nanoparticle photoanodes show an excellent PEC performance in UV and visible region and the maximum photo-to-hydrogen conversion efficiency reaches to 3.1%. The high performance of 3D-branched ZnO NWA-CdS composites is mainly attributed to the excellent carrier collection capability and high light-trapping ability of 3D-branched ZnO NWAs as well as the excellent photocatalytic activity of CdS nanoparticles in the visible region. In addition, the photocorrosion mechanism of 3D-branched ZnO NWA-CdS photoanodes is systematically investigated, and a protective TiO2 layer is deposited onto the photoanodes to elevate the PEC stability. The results benefit a deeper understanding of the role of 3D-branched structures decorated with narrow band-gap semiconductors in solar water splitting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Leucine-rich repeat-containing G protein-coupled receptor 5 ( Lgr5 ) is a target gene of Wnt/β-Catenin which plays a vital role in hepatic development and regeneration. However, the regulation of Lgr5 gene and the fate of Lgr5 + cells in hepatic physiology and pathology are little known. This study aims to clarify the effect of metabolic nuclear receptors on Lgr5 + cell fate in liver. Methods: We performed cell experiments with primary hepatocytes, Hep 1-6, Hep G2, and Huh 7 cells, and animal studies with wild-type (WT), farnesoid X receptor (FXR) knockout mice, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor α (PPARα) knockout mice and Lgr5 -Cre ERT2 ; Rosa26-mTmG mice. GW4064 and CDCA were used to activate FXR. And GW7647 or Wy14643 was used for PPARα activation. Regulation of Lgr5 by FXR and PPARα was determined by QRT-PCR, western blot (WB) and RNAscope ® in situ hybridization (ISH) and immunofluorescence (IF), luciferase reporter assay, electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA) and chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP). Diethyl 1,4-dihydro-2,4,6-trimethyl-3,5-pyridinedicarboxylate (DDC) diet was used to induce liver injury. Results: Pharmacologic activation of FXR induced Lgr5 expression, whereas activation of PPARα suppressed Lgr5 expression. Furthermore, FXR and PPARα competed for binding to shared site on Lgr5 promoter with opposite transcriptional outputs. DDC diet triggered the transition of Lgr5 + cells from resting state to proliferation. FXR activation enhanced Lgr5 + cell expansion mainly by symmetric cell division, but PPARα activation prevented Lgr5 + cell proliferation along with asymmetric cell division. Conclusion: Our findings unravel the opposite regulatory effects of FXR and PPARα on Lgr5 + cell fate in liver under physiological and pathological conditions, which will greatly assist novel therapeutic development targeting nuclear receptors., Competing Interests: Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interest exists., (© The author(s).)

Objective: To observe the characteristics of different negativity negativity （MMN） in patients with unilateral sudden deafness, and compare them with normal MMN, in order to provide theoretical reference for discussing the pathogenesis of unilateral sudden deafness and their relationship with the auditory centers, and to provide theoretical basis for the treatment of sudden deafness in the future. Methods: Twenty-six cases of unilateral total sudden deafness were recruited as experimental group, 25 cases of normal healthy people as control group, the MMN inspections was performed respectively, the two groups using classical mode of oddball, standard and deviation stimulate with 1000 Hz and 2000 Hz short pure tone test MMN respectively, to observe the MMN latency and amplitude characteristics, and compare the latent period and amplitude difference between the two groups. Results: Among the 51 subjects, only 1 patient with unilateral total sudden deafness did not elicit MMN waveform, while the rest were all induced. The average incubation period of MMN in the experimental group was （162.03±38.64） ms, the average amplitude was （2.83±1.14）μV, and the mean age was （48.64±10.27） y. While the average incubation period of MMN in the control group was （197.52±27.43） ms, the average amplitude was （2.58±1.07）μV, and the mean age was （45.00±8.20） y. The MMN latency was significantly different between the two groups （ P <0.01）. There was no statistical difference in amplitude between the two groups （ P >0.05）. There was no statistical difference in age between the two groups （ P >0.05）. Conclusion: The latency period of MMN of unilateral total sudden deafness is shorter than that of the control group. It suggests that the auditory center function of patients with acute sudden deafness has changed, and we speculate that the auditory center of patients with acute sudden deafness may have corresponding emergency changes, so as to make its function have adaptive changes, which will provide further reference for the discussion of the pathophysiological mechanism and treatment of sudden deafness in the future.We speculated that acute unilateral auditory deprivation caused by unilateral total deafness sudden deafness has an impact on cerebral cortical auditory function, which provides further reference for the discussion of pathophysiological mechanism and treatment plan of sudden deafness in the future., Competing Interests: The authors of this article and the planning committee members and staff have no relevant financial relationships with commercial interests to disclose., (Copyright© by the Editorial Department of Journal of Clinical Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery.)