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To investigate whether the number of years of schooling are causally associated traumatic brain injury (TBI). We aimed to investigate whether the number of years of schooling are causally associated TBI. We investigate the prospective causal effect of years of schooling on TBI using summary statistical data. The statistical dataset comprising years of schooling (n = 293,723) from genome-wide association studies (GWASs) deposited in the UK Biobank was used for exposure. We used the following GWAS available in the FinnGen dataset: individuals with TBI (total = 13,165; control = 136,576; number of single nucleotide polymorphisms [SNPs] = 16,380,088). Seventy significant genome-wide SNPs from GWAS datasets with annotated years of schooling were selected as instrumental variables. The inverse variance weighted method results supported a causal relationship between years of schooling and TBI (odds ratio (OR), 0.78; 95 % confidence interval (CI), 0.62–0.98; P = 0.029). MR-Egger regression showed that polydirectionality was unlikely to bias the results (intercept = 0.007, SE = 0.01, P = 0.484) and demonstrated no causal relationship between years of schooling and TBI (OR, 0.52; 95%CI, 0.17–1.64; P = 0.270). The weighted median method revealed a causal relationship with TBI (OR, 0.73; 95%CI, 0.55–0.98; P = 0.047). A Cochran's Q test and funnel plot did not show heterogeneity nor asymmetry, indicating no directional pleiotropy. The current investigation yields substantiation of a causal association between years of schooling and TBI development. More years of schooling may be causally associated with a reduced risk of TBI, which has implications for clinical and public health practices and policies. • To explore the causal association between years of schooling and traumatic brain injury with Mendelian randomization. • More years of schooling results in a lower risk of traumatic brain injury. • Our data provides the evidence required to develop clinical and public health policies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The establishment of a prediction model for the hydrogen absorption state of a solid-state hydrogen storage device is crucial for its practical application. In this paper, a solid-state hydrogen storage device filled with AB 2 hydrogen storage alloy is investigated. The experimental data are obtained by controlling the hydrogen absorption temperature and hydrogen absorption rate respectively. The Broyden-Fletcher-Goldfarb-Shanno algorithm (BFGS) is used to fit the solid-state hydrogen storage device experimental data based on the Richards model, and Linear Regression, Gradient Descent and Artificial Neural Network algorithms are used to predict the parameters of the Richards model. It is confirmed that the Linear Regression model has the best prediction effect after verified by the test set, with coefficients of determination R2 ≥ 0.96. This study provides an effective way to predict the hydrogen absorption state of solid-state hydrogen storage devices quickly. • The effects of temperature and rate on hydrogen absorption process of solid-state hydrogen storage device are studied. • Richards model is used to fit the hydrogen absorption curve shaped as an S-type. • The prediction model of hydrogen absorption process of the device is established. • Three machine learning algorithms are applied to establish the prediction model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: There is limited data on sex-related disparities in the long-term outcomes after stroke. We aim to investigate whether there are sex-based differences in long-term outcomes using pooled data. Methods: Three databases (PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Library) were systematically searched from inception to July 2022. This meta-analysis was performed in accordance with the recommendations and guidelines of the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses. The modified Newcastle-Ottawa scale was used to assess the risk of bias. In addition, a random-effects model was used. Results: Twenty-two cohort studies with 84538 patients were included. There were 50.2% men and 49.8% women. Women had a higher mortality at 1 (odds ration [OR], 0.82; 95% confidence interval [CI][0.69, 0.99], P = 0.03) and 10 (OR 0.72, 95% CI[0.65, 0.79], P < 0.00001) years, higher stroke recurrence at 1 year (OR 0.85, 95% CI[0.73, 0.98], P = 0.02), lower favorable outcome at 1 year (OR 1.36, 95% CI[1.24, 1.49], P < 0.00001). No significant difference was detected between men and women in the outcomes of health-related quality of life and depression. Conclusion: In this meta-analysis, the 1- and 10-year mortality and stroke recurrence rates were higher in female patients than in male patients after stroke. In addition, females tended to experience less favorable outcomes in the first year after stroke. Finally, further long-term studies on sex disparities in stroke prevention, care, and management are warranted to explore the opportunities to reduce this gap. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Although some studies have shown that tranexamic acid is beneficial to patients with intracranial haemorrhage, the efficacy and safety of tranexamic acid for intracranial haemorrhage remain controversial. Method: The PubMed, EMBASE, and Cochrane Library databases were systematically searched. The review followed PRISMA guidelines. Data were analyzed using the random-effects model. Results: Twenty-five randomized controlled trials were included. Tranexamic acid significantly inhibited hematoma growth in intracranial hemorrhage (ICH) and traumatic brain injury (TBI) patients. (ICH: mean difference -1.76, 95%CI -2.78 to -0.79, I2 = 0%, P <.001; TBI: MD -4.82, 95%CI -8.06 to -1.58, I2 = 0%, P =.004). For subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) patients, it significantly decreased the risk of hydrocephalus (OR 1.23, 95%CI 1.01 to 1.50, I2 = 0%, P =.04) and rebleeding (OR, 0.52, 95%CI 0.35 to 0.79, I2 = 56% P =.002). There was no significance in modified Rankin Scale, Glasgow Outcome Scale 3–5, mortality, deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary embolism, or ischemic stroke/transient ischemic. Conclusion: Tranexamic acid can significantly reduce the risk of intracranial haemorrhage growth in patients with ICH and TBI. Tranexamic acid can reduce the incidence of complications (hydrocephalus, rebleeding) in patients with SAH, which can indirectly improve the quality of life of patients with intracranial haemorrhage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: New thrombectomy strategies have emerged recently. Differences between posterior circulation stroke management via aspiration and stent retriever remain to be evaluated. We compared the safety and efficacy of aspiration and stent retriever in treating posterior circulation stroke. Methods: Three databases (PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Library) were systematically searched for studies comparing aspiration and stent retriever in patients with posterior circulation stroke. The modified Newcastle‐Ottawa scale was used to assess the risk of bias. A random‐effects model was used. Results: Fifteen cohort studies with 1451 patients were included. Pooled results showed a significant difference in total complication (odds ratio [OR] 0.48, 95% confidence interval [CI] [0.30, 0.76], p = 0.002). successful recanalization (1.85, [1.30, 2.64], p = 0.0006), favorable outcome (1.30, [1.02, 1.67], p = 0.04), procedure duration (−22.10, [−43.32, −0.88], p = 0.04), complete recanalization (4.96, [1.06, 23.16], p = 0.009), and first‐pass effect (2.59, [1.55, 4.32], p = 0.0003) between the aspiration and stent retriever groups, and in favor of aspiration. There was no significant difference in the outcomes of rescue therapy (1.42, [0.66, 3.05], p = 0.37) between the two groups. Conclusion: Patients with posterior circulation stroke receiving treatment with aspiration achieved better recanalization, first‐pass effect, and shorter procedure time. Aspiration may be more secure than a stent retriever. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cryptococcal meningitis is the most common intracranial infectious fungal disease. After a period of antifungal treatment, as the number of cells in the cerebrospinal fluid decreases, the biochemical indexes improve and the number of cryptococcus reduces, the patient's condition suddenly worsen. Most of the symptoms are severe headache, raised intracranial pressure, together with impaired clinical nerve function. These presentations are often mistaken for a failure of antifungal treatment. In fact it's an encephalitis syndrome which is unrecognized by most clinicians: Immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome (IRIS). To increase awareness we retrospectively analyzed clinical data of 100 cases of cryptococcal neoformans meningitis, among which 26 patients develop CM-IRIS. All patients have been divided into three groups: Group 1, patients who were not treated with glucocorticoid and didn't experienced IRIS; Group 2, patients who were not treated with glucocorticoid although developed CM-IRIS; Group 3, patients started treatment with glucocorticoid for two weeks with new onset CM-IRIS. Compared with the group treated with glucocorticoid, treatment without glucocorticoid was subjected to a higher risk of incident IRIS. The difference was statistically significant (P < 0.05). Imaging findings demonstrated diseased area of the white matter area, and it looked like commonly in the supratentorial region. Moreover, if it appears in the infratentorial region then must be combined with supratentorial region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We aimed to evaluate the impact of fellowship training (FT) for thyroid specialists on the outcomes of patients with thyroid cancer. We reviewed surgeries performed for thyroid cancer before (non-FT group) and after (FT group) fellowship training and compared several variables, including length of stay of patients, tumor diameter, surgical method, lymph node dissection, parathyroid implantation, surgical duration, intraoperative blood loss, and postoperative complications. Compared with the non-FT group, the FT group had a shorter hospital stay, more adequate fine needle aspiration biopsy of the thyroid, less intraoperative blood loss, higher rate of parathyroid implantation, higher lymph node dissection rate, and lower nerve injury and hypoparathyroidism rates. When the surgical duration was < 200 min and/or only central lymph node dissection was performed, the FT group had a lower incidence of postoperative complications than the non-FT group. When, the incidence of postoperative complications, including postoperative nerve injury and hypoparathyroidism. In conclusion, FT for thyroid specialists is beneficial for patients with thyroid cancer and may allow a shorter hospital stay and reduced incidence of postoperative complication. Accordingly, FT may facilitate a more appropriate surgical approach with a preoperative pathological diagnosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Spent Zn‒Mn batteries (ZMBs) pose a serious threat on eco-system and human health because of the toxic heavy metal ions released from ZMBs into the environment. In this report, carbon package is recycled from spent ZMBs and used as a positive electrode material for flexible supercapacitors. In a three-electrode system using 1 mol L−1 Na 2 SO 4 as the electrolyte, the recycled carbon package (RCP) can deliver a specific capacitance of 100 F g−1 at 1 A g−1. After 5000 cycles at 1 A g−1, a specific capacitance of 86 F g−1 is retained with nearly 100% coulombic efficiency. Nanocomposite of NaTi 2 (PO 4) 3 with nitrogen-doped carbon layer (NTP/C) is prepared through a simple co-precipitation plus annealing method. NTP/C can deliver specific capacity of 320 and 273 F g−1 at 1 and 10 A g−1, using 1 mol L−1 Na 2 SO 4 as the electrolyte. The high rate capability of NTP/C is attributed to the high specific surface area and nitrogen-doped carbon layer. Flexible asymmetric supercapacitors are assembled in configuration of NTP/C‖RCP, using 1 mol L−1 Na 2 SO 4 as the electrolyte and stainless steel foil as the current collector. At 0.5 A g−1, the typical flexible supercapacitor cell can deliver a specific energy of 17.8 W h kg−1 with corresponding specific power of 503 W kg−1, and retain 15 W h kg−1 after 2000 cycles. Graphical abstract Flexible asymmetric supercapacitor (electrode geometric area: 1 × 1 cm2) connected in two series can lighten 24 blue LEDs (normal voltage 3.0–3.2 V, rated current 20 mA) for more than 8 min that are assembled by using carbon package recycled from spent Zn‒Mn batteries as the positive electrode and NaTi 2 (PO 4) 3 /C with nitrogen doping as the negative electrode. Image 1 Highlights • Carbon package is recycled from spent Zn‒Mn batteries (ZMBs). • The recycled carbon package (RCP) is suitable for application in supercapacitors. • NaTi 2 (PO 4) 3 /C with nitrogen doping exhibits excellent electrochemical performance. • NaTi 2 (PO 4) 3 /C‖RCP retains 15 W h kg−1 after 2000 cycles at 0.5 A g−1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Electrochemical charge injection (ECI) is proved a powerful technique to maximize the available widen potential range of aqueous electrolyte. In this report, reduced graphene oxide/polymer dots (rGO/PDs) nanocomposites are prepared and tested as electrode materials for flexible supercapacitors. The weight ratio of GO/PDs plays an important role in the electrochemical performance of rGO/PDs nanocomposites. Through the ECI technique, a 1.7-V output potential can be delivered by rGO/PDs-based flexible supercapacitors operating with 1 mol L−1 Na 2 SO 4 aqueous electrolyte. A specific energy of 7.1 W h kg−1 with corresponding specific power of 85 W kg−1 can be achieved for a typical flexible supercapacitor, which exhibits a capacitance retention of 90.6% after 5000 cycles at 0.5 A g−1. Highlights • Electrochemical charge injection (CEI) is used in assembling flexible supercapacitor. • A 1.7-V output potential is achieved by performing CEI on aqueous supercapacitors. • Flexible aqueous supercapacitors with specific energy of 7.1 W h kg−1 are achieved. • Flexible supercapacitors with CEI exhibit good cycling performance at 0.5 A g−1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Flexible all-solid-state supercapacitors with specific energy higher than 1 mW h cm−3 after long-term cycles remain a hot research topic in energy storage systems. In this paper, free-standing reduced graphene oxide/polypyrrole films are produced at the ice/ethanol interface following by hydrogen iodide reduction. The reduced graphene oxide/polypyrrole films are featured with high specific surface area, three-dimensional porosity, and tunable thickness and electronic conductivity. The typical flexible all-solid-state supercapacitor based on reduced graphene oxide/polypyrrole films exhibits a high volumetric specific capacitance of 17.3 F cm−3 and a high specific energy of 2.40 mW h cm−3 with corresponding specific power of 136.1 mW cm−3 at a current density of 3 mA cm−2 (ca. 10 A g−1). After 10,000 cycles at 3 mA cm−2, the capacitance retention of the typical flexible supercapacitor retains 73.2%. The enhanced electrochemical properties of the flexible supercapacitors are attributed to the high specific surface area, three-dimensional porosity, and the synergistic effect between reduced graphene oxide and polypyrrole with respect to the composite films. Graphical abstract Image 1 Highlights • Free-standing rGO/PPy films are produced at the ice/ethanol interface. • rGO/PPy films have high specific surface area and three-dimensional porosity. • rGO/PPy-based flexible supercapacitors exhibit high volumetric specific capacitance. • rGO/PPy-based flexible supercapacitors exhibit high volumetric specific energy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract After high speed development on economics during the past decades, China have accumulated a lot of air environment problems. A lot of studies based on data envelopment analysis (DEA) have been done to measure China's air problem by using monthly or annual data. As the development of real-time air quality monitoring, more valuable daily data should be utilized to evaluate air problem. The present paper constructs a set of DEA models for calculating air quality, in which the integral and zero-sum gain constraints are considered to match the characteristics of daily air monitoring data. An empirical analysis have been done to measure the air quality of 31 main cities in China by using the daily Air Quality Index. There are two main finds as follows. Firstly, all the 31 major cities in China need to do more work to improve air quality, while there are significant differences between the performance of different cities. Secondly, the air quality of Chinese cities has changed over month, the best air quality appeared in August and September while the worst occurred in December and January. Also, we calculate the target values for improving the air quality of Chinese cities. Highlights • Daily Air Quality Index data is used to evaluate air quality in China. • A set of DEA approaches are construct by inserting integral and zero-sum gain constraints. • The air quality of Chinese cities have significant tendency of variation during different months. • Specific values are provided for Chinese cities to improve their air quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Markers that can be used to evaluate the prognosis of patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) remain undefined. Objective: This study aimed to investigate the prognostic impact of preoperative neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), and lymphocyte-to-monocyte ratio (LMR) in patients with HNSCC who underwent surgery-based treatment for the first time. Methods: This retrospective study included patients HNSCC who underwent surgery-based treatment at our institution between January 2018 and December 2020. Specificity and sensitivity were analyzed using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves and the critical value was determined. Patients were divided into low and high groups according to NLR, PLR, and LMR the critical value. Log-rank and Cox proportional hazards models were used to evaluate the associations between preoperative NLR, PLR, LMR, and overall survival (OS). Results: A total of 304 patients with HNSCC were included, of whom 190 (62.5%) and 114 (37.5%), 203 (66.8%) and 101 (33.2%), 98 (32.2%), and 206 (67.8%) cases were classified as low NLR and high NLR groups, low PLR and high PLR groups, and low LMR and high LMR groups, respectively. Univariate analysis showed that white blood cell count (WBC), neutrophil count (NEU), platelet count (PLT), NLR, pathologic N stage (pN stage), TNM stage and postoperative complications were significantly associated with OS (p < 0.05). Multivariate analysis showed that NEU, NLR, TNM stage and postoperative complications were independent negative prognostic factors for HNSCC (p < 0.05). Conclusion: Preoperative NLR is an independent negative prognostic factor for HNSCC. Patients with an increased NLR may have a poor OS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A 45-year-old man suffered bifrontoparietal extradural hematoma resulting from head injury, which cause superior sagittal sinus detachment from its subperiosteal loggia. We present the patient who was treated by early surgical evacuation of the hematoma with an excellent outcome and we also perform a review of the current literature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, a new boronate affinity porous carbon absorbent derived from a home-made zinc-based metal–organic framework (Zn-MOF) was successfully fabricated. This absorbent was prepared by calcination of the Zn-MOF material and further modified with boronic acid groups. The resulting material was used to selectively enrich cis-diol-containing nucleosides in complex samples, and it exhibited superior binding capacity (26.0 mg g−1 for adenosine). The material coupled with high-performance liquid chromatography was successfully applied to analyze four cis-diol nucleosides (cytidine, uridine, guanosine, and adenosine) in injection and cell samples. Under optimized conditions, the method exhibited excellent extraction performance. The limits of detection of the method were 4.73–14.6 μg L−1 for the four nucleosides based on the signal-to-noise ratio of 3 : 1. Spiked recoveries were found between 88.2 and 108.2% (the relative standard deviation was in range of 1.3–11.3%, n = 3). This study improved the selectivity of porous carbon derived from MOF material and presented a promising thought for effective capturing of analytes on MOF materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Herein, the anthocyanins from rose were extracted, purified and identified by ultrasound-assisted deep eutectic solvents (DES), the resin, and ESI-Q-TOF-MS, respectively. The purified anthocyanins were modified through acylation by means of enzymatic catalysis method to improve the stability of anthocyanins. Compared with traditional extraction agents (ethanol), anthocyanins extraction rate was significantly improved when choline chloride/lactic acid was chosen as extraction solvent, and reached 8.265 mg g−1. The ESI-Q-TOF-MS detection results showed that the main component of the anthocyanins was peonidin-3,5-di-O-glucoside with 65.93% content. Meanwhile, the maximal acylation rate was 95.13% under optimal conditions (0.25 g of anthocyanin, 2.5 mL of pyridine, 4 mL of methyl benzoate; 400 mg of Novocain 435 lipase addition; a water bath at 50 °C under negative pressure of 0.09 Mpa for 9 h). Furthermore, the loss rate of acylated anthocyanins was significantly lower than that of natural anthocyanins under the same temperature or light conditions, and the acylation of anthocyanin could significantly improve stability against temperature, light and pH. The acylated anthocyanin exhibited excellent free radical scavenging activities for DPPH and ABTS+, and IC 50 values (4.451 μg mL−1 for DPPH and 7.760 μg mL−1 for ABTS+) displayed its high antioxidant activity. • A sustainable DES-assisted sonication method for extracting anthocyanins from rose was developed. • The main component of the anthocyanins was peonidin-3,5-di-O-glucoside. • Τhe acylation of rose anthocyanin could improve stability against temperature, light and pH. • The acylated anthocyanin exhibited high antioxidant activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel collaborative representation model with hierarchical multiscale local binary pattern (HM-LBP) for palmprint recognition is proposed in this paper. HM-LBP can retrieve useful information from non-uniform patterns and reduce the influence of gray scale, rotation and illumination. The HM-LBP feature of palmprint is extracted, and its dimension is reduced by principal component analysis. And then, a collaborative classification with HM-LBP is presented to fully exploit the discrimination information. The proposed algorithm is evaluated on the Hong Kong Polytechnic University database (v2) to test its feasibility and performance. The results show that the algorithm can achieve ideal recognition accuracy of 100% and the speediness is able to fit for the real-time palmprint recognition system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To improve the poisoning resistance of ZrCo alloy, Pd membranes have been prepared over the surface of the alloy substrates by using electroless plating method. The characteristics of Pd membranes have been examined by XRD, SEM, EDS and EPMA technologies. From SEM images, the uniform and compact thin Pd film was revealed. The effect of this Pd film was evaluated by comparing the hydrogen absorption properties of bare and Pd-coated ZrCo specimens in contaminated hydrogen gas. The degradation of hydrogen absorption of Pd-coated ZrCo induced by poisoning was less than that of bare ZrCo sample obviously, meaning that the Pd membranes over the surface of substrates appeared to be effective in improving the poisoning resistance of ZrCo alloy. Furthermore, the effect became more significant with the increasing of impurity contents in the experimental gas and the operation temperatures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel projective dictionary pair learning (PDPL) model with statistical local features for palmprint recognition is proposed. Pooling technique is used to enhance the invariance of hierarchical local binary pattern (PT-HLBP) for palmprint feature extraction. PDPL is employed to learn an analysis dictionary and a synthesis dictionary which are utilized for image discrimination and representation. The proposed algorithm has been tested by the Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) database (v2) and ideal recognition accuracy can be achieved. Experimental results indicate that the algorithm not only greatly reduces the time complexity in training and testing phase, but also exhibits good robustness for image rotation and corrosion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

China made remarkable progress in rural poverty alleviation. A major policy instrument is the County Level Poverty Alleviation Program, which has vast policy support but is also criticized for targeting errors, misuse of funds, and making poverty both shameful and attractive. Whether this program, or the country’s economic growth in general, is the main force in poverty reduction is the question addressed in this article, analyzing data for the 592 poor counties. The response to the economic growth–policy alleviation conundrum is that a push for social wellbeing and empowerment is needed together with economic growth to achieve major poverty improvements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: As an emerging biometric technology, palmprint recognition has been extensively researched due to its easy collection, user friendliness, high verification accuracy and reliability. Blanket dimension is a commonly used fractal dimension and has the multi-resolution characteristics with which the image texture information can be better extracted. In this work, palmprint recognition with blanket dimension and its expansions was investigated. The efficiencies of horizontally and vertically expanded blanket dimensions for extracting the directional feature of palmprint were compared, and a palmprint recognition algorithm based on horizontally expanded blanket dimension (HEBD) was proposed according to the comparison results. Furthermore, a multi-scale HEBD (MHEBD) algorithm for palmprint recognition was also presented, and the MHEBD was demonstrated to be more effective than the single-scale HEBD for feature extraction. The algorithm was evaluated on Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) database (v2) and CASIA database. The experimental results indicate that the multi-scale HEBD can extract the palmprint features effectively and efficiently with a high recognition rate and less processing time. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: This paper aims to assess the agricultural losses caused by the 2069 state-monitored heavily air polluting enterprises located in 899 Chinese counties. We examine the correlation between per capita number of state-monitored enterprises and other socio-economic indices to show the negative impacts of sulphur dioxide (SO2) industrial air pollution on agricultural development in the regions. Despite these enterprises being the main drivers of economic development in China's counties, surrounding agricultural land continues to be degraded because of the associated SO2 emissions. The cost of agricultural losses due to pollution is estimated at US$ 1.43 billion, representing 0.66% of the total agricultural value added of the 899 Chinese counties. The findings highlight the importance of cleaner production and have policy implications for dealing with industrial air pollution. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

China is currently not only the most populous country on earth, but also the world's largest greenhouse gas (GHG) emitter. As China's population growth continues contributing to the overall global population increase, the country remains a significant player in the global problems related to climate change. The Chinese government, however, has recognized that a low-carbon economy is in the country's long-term economic and social interests and this is now a key part of its national development strategy. This paper examines the evolution of policies for sustainability in China and explores their compositions, functions and operational mechanisms. Some emerging features and trends in China's development model are examined, arguing that they represent a clear shift towards sustainability. Further problems and challenges associated with this change and how they impact on China's policies and strategies are also discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Abstract: Reducing environmental pressure is a major concern for China but despite the improvements in energy efficiency, its gross carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions have maintained an upward trend, consistent with the Jevons Paradox. A fundamental shift is thus needed at all levels, including the household. This paper explores the embedded carbon footprint (ECF) of Chinese urban households associated with activities, such as food, personal transport, communications, education, recreation, health and hygiene. It uses an input–output model for carbon emissions and 2003–2009 urban household data. The results show that the total ECF emission intensity increases when an individual''s consumption is higher than 10,000 Yuan (¥). Structural changes are further observed with consumption expenditure above ¥10,000: food, clothing and other survival-oriented emissions intensities as well as education, health and development-oriented emissions intensities reduce; transport, recreation, housing and enjoyment-oriented emissions intensities increase or remain stable and the total emissions intensity increases. Currently per capita consumption expenditure of Chinese urban residents exceeds ¥10,000 and as income continues to rise, China will remain on a high-carbon track. There is a need for better policies, management and behavioural change and the study provides some policy suggestions, including a carbon quota system to guide individual consumption. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Endovascular treatment is widely used in the treatment of intracranial aneurysms. However, neurosurgeons are sceptical about endovascular access via the radial artery. We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis to compare the effectiveness and safety of transradial and transfemoral artery access in patients with intracranial aneurysms. We systematically searched the PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane databases for studies comparing the two approaches. The primary outcome was total complications, and the secondary outcomes were access site complications, intracranial haemorrhage, stroke, thromboembolism, silent infarct, re-treatment rate, mortality, complete occlusion of intracranial aneurysms, procedure duration, and length of hospital stay. A random-effects model was used to assess the pooled data. Of the 100 identified studies, 6 were eligible (a total of 3764 participants). There were no significant differences in total complications(odds ratio [OR] = 0.69, 95% confidence interval [CI] [0.33, 1.45], p = 0.32), complete occlusion of intracranial aneurysms (OR = 1.02, 95%CI [0.77,1.37], p = 0.87), procedure duration (mean difference [MD] = − 6.24, 95%CI [− 14.75, − 1.54], p = 0.95), or length of hospital stay (MD = 2.204, 95%CI [− 0.05, 4.45], p = 0.95), access site complications (OR = 0.49, 95%CI [0.16, 1.52], p = 0.22), intracranial haemorrhage (OR = 1.07, 95%CI [0.49, 2.34], p = 0.86), stroke (OR = 0.59, 95%CI [0.20, 1.77], p = 0.35), thromboembolism (OR = 0.85, 95%CI [0.33, 2.17], p = 0.74), silent infarct (OR = 0.69, 95%CI [0.04, 11.80], p = 0.80), retreatment rate (OR = 1.32, 95%CI [0.70, 2.48], p = 0.39), mortality (OR = 1.41, 95%CI [0.06, 5.20], p = 0.61), immediate occlusion (OR = 0.99, 95%CI [0.64, 1.51], p = 0.95), and occlusion during follow-up (OR = 1.10, 95%CI [0.56, 2.16], p = 0.74) between the transradial and transfemoral groups. This study showed comparable safety and efficacy outcomes between transradial and transfemoral access in patients with intracranial aneurysms treated endovascularly. Future large randomised trials are warranted to confirm these findings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The effect of Al additive on microstructures and hydrogen storage characteristics of Ti26.5Cr20(V0.45Fe0.085)100−x Al x Ce0.5 (x =0, 0.5, 1.0 and 1.5at.%) alloys have been studied by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and P–C-isotherm measurements. All of Al-added alloys consist of major BCC and secondary Al–Ce–O phases. The EDS analysis results show that aluminum is poor in the BCC phase but enriches in the secondary Al–Ce–O phase. As Al additive content increased, both the lattice parameters of the BCC phase and the hydrogen desorption equilibrium pressures increase, but the hydrogen storage capacities decrease. It is revealed that the substitution solid solution with BCC structure is formed by the substitution of Al for V atoms. It decreases the hydride stability of the BCC phase and degrades the hydrogen storage performance of the Al-added Ti26.5Cr20(V0.45Fe0.085)100−x Al x Ce0.5 alloys. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The thermodynamics of hydrogenation for the Ti1−x Zr x MnCr (x =0, 0.1, 0.2, 0.32, 0.5, 0.7, 0.9, 1.0) alloys, which are characterized by the XRD Rietveld analysis as C14-type Laves phase, are evaluated by P–C isotherms measurements at different temperatures. Along with the increase of Zr content in the alloys, the pressure of the absorption/desorption plateau decreases monotonously; the average value of ǀΔHǀ increases linearly, and the average value of ǀΔSǀ decreases slightly; on the other hand, the hysteresis of hydrogenation reduces to a minimum at x =0.32, and then rises again; the slope of the plateau increases first, then decreases, forming a maximum at x =0.5. For the hydride formation of the Ti1−x Zr x MnCr alloys, the values of ǀΔHǀ and ǀΔSǀ increase with the hydrogen concentration, except for that of the Ti0.8Zr0.2MnCr, where an opposite trend occurs, but all the ǀΔHǀ values in the Ti1−x Zr x MnCr–H2 system are considerably lower than those in most Laves phase hydride systems. As combined effects of these trends, the Ti0.5Zr0.5MnCr alloy with the highest microstrain induced from the greatest mismatch of different atoms in the lattice, possesses the greatest plateau slope and the smallest variation width of ǀΔHǀ for the hydride formation; on the other hand, the Ti0.68Zr0.32MnCr alloy exhibits the best hydrogen storage properties, with a reversible hydrogen capacity of 216ml/g, and good plateau characteristics. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Cytoglobin (CYGB) is ubiquitously expressed in all tissues and has been characterized as a respiratory protein in connective tissues. CYGB is up-regulated during hypoxia, implicating its function in maintaining the homeostasis redox of the cell. Here, we study the underlying molecular mechanisms by which hypoxia regulates human CYGB gene expression. When cells were subjected to hypoxia, the expression of endogenous CYGB was up-regulated ∼1.7-fold in BEAS-2B cells (p ⩽0.05) and ∼1.6-fold in HeLa cells (p ⩽0.05). Dual-luciferase assays and site directed mutagenesis showed the presence of hypoxia responsive elements (HREs) at positions −141, −144 and −448 that were essential for activation of CYGB expression under hypoxic conditions. The binding of hypoxia inducible factor (HIF-1) protein to the HREs was confirmed by gel shift and chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) assays. These results indicate that HRE motifs are directly involved in the activation of the CYGB transcription under hypoxia. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Cytoglobin (CYGB) is a member of the vertebrate globin family together with hemoglobin, myoglobin and neuroglobin. Although the physiological function of CYGB is still unclear, spectroscopic studies show that CYGB contains a hexacoordinated heme pocket similar to other pentacoordinated globin proteins. CYGB shares a common phylogenetic ancestry with vertebrate myoglobin from which it diverged by duplication before the appearance of jawed vertebrates. The objective of this study is to identify the regulatory and promoter region of the human cytoglobin gene. 5′ unidirectional deletion constructs demonstrated that the proximal promoter elements of human CYGB gene are located between −1113 to −10 relative to the translation start site. Site-directed mutagenesis showed that mutation of a c-Ets-1 motif at −1008 and Sp1 motifs at −400, −230 and −210 remarkably decreased the promoter activity. Gel shift assays confirmed the binding of DNA-nuclear proteins to these motifs. All these results indicate that CYGB gene expression can be up-regulated by c-Ets-1 and Sp1 motifs. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

[Display omitted] • Dicyclopentadiene (DCPD) can be inversely vulcanized by using KI as the catalyzer. • The catalytic effect of KI is due to an electron migrating path configured by the reaction between I and I−. • S-DCPD conducts consistent behaviors in heat, light and electric fields which is in associated with the addition of KI. • Electrolytes are different with ordinary solutions for S-DCPD@KI because of the participation of external electrons. The sulfured dicyclopentadiene (S-DCPD) is a promising cathode candidate for Li-S batteries. Enlightened by the function of KI in dye-sensitized solar cells, we employ KI as a catalyst in the preparation of S-DCPD without eliminating it in the assembly of Li-S batteries. As a result, the sulfurizing reaction proceeds more completely at a lower temperature. The as-prepared material exhibits a different light response to the blank sample, changing from a higher energy level to a lower one. And the electrochemistry is greatly elevated as well. Theoretical calculations validate that KI plays the key role by altering the electron transmitting path. We can thus unify the behaviors of KI in the field of heat, light, and electricity, phenomenally. Furthermore, we investigate the morphology changes of the electrode by dipping it in an ordinary solution and subjecting it to a cycle calendar life in the electrolyte, respectively. As a result, we make clear that the difference of the behaviors between ordinary solutions and electrolytes is also in associated with the electronic path of KI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, a Merocyanine-based turn-on probe (McyA) has been developed for colorimetric and fluorescent dual-mode detection of N 2 H 4 via an intra-molecular charge transfer (ICT) mechanism. In the presence of N 2 H 4 , the probe shows an obvious chromogenic response and fluorescent enhancement. Based on this feature, the synthesized McyA can be applied to quantify N 2 H 4 concentration from 0.12 to 5.0 μM and 0.5–10 μM with a detection limit of 0.042 μM (1.3 ppb, S/N = 3) and 0.140 μM (4.5 ppb, S/N = 3), respectively. Moreover, McyA has also be successfully employed for imaging analysis of N 2 H 4 distribution in different organs from the N 2 H 4 ingested mice model, revealing the potential application of McyA as a powerful fluorescent sensor for tracking detection and risk assessment of hydrazine in vivo. Image 1 • Colorimetric detection for N 2 H 4 is accompanied by significant visual effects. • Compared to the developed N 2 H 4 probes, this sensor possesses a lower LOD. • The probe can be used to detect N 2 H 4 in real samples and in vivo animals. • The probe can be applied to investigate the distribution of N 2 H 4 in mice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The impact resistance and damage tolerance of carbon fiber composite laminates were experimentally investigated. • In the process of high-velocity impact, the main failure modes are fiber shear and tension failure. • Compression after impact (CAI) were performed on laminates with different impacted positions. • The CAI damage of laminates impacted at the central position is main delamination buckling. In this paper, the impact resistance of carbon fiber/resin composite laminates with a thickness of 2.5 mm at different impact velocities, angles and positions was investigated experimentally. In the process of high-velocity impact, fiber shear failure and tension failure are the main failure modes. When the impact velocity is 300 m/s, the fiber tension failure and matrix compression failure under oblique impact are more than that under normal impact, and the energy absorption of laminates is also lager than that under normal impact. The ballistic limits, energy absorption and delamination area of the center and edge impact of laminate are similar. In addition, the CAI tests are conducted to study the influence of different positions on the residual compressive strength of laminates after high-velocity impact, and the fracture loads and failure modes of two impact positions are quite different. The failure modes of the center impact laminate are main buckling failure, and the failure modes of the edge impact laminate are compression failure near the bullet hole side of the fixture and buckling failure near the center of the laminate. The research results can provide a reference for the residual strength of laminates after impact at different locations in practical situations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The dehydrogenation enthalpy, a crucial thermodynamic parameter, determines the difficulty of hydrogen desorption in V–Ti–Cr–Fe alloy, but it is unaffordable to predict and modify the dehydrogenation enthalpy and investigate the synergistic effects of structural and chemical parameters relying on conventional experimental methods. In this paper, an extreme gradient boosting (Xgboost) model with feature selection is developed, which can obtain a relative error under 15% in prediction on most of the data. Moreover, the genetic algorithm is utilized for optimizing alloy composition having suitable dehydrogenation enthalpy. The accuracy of prediction and optimization is demonstrated by the subsequent experimental validation, where the error between calculation and experiment is within 4.5%. Density function theory (DFT) is used to analyze the key features provided by machine learning, with results suggesting that the volumes, valence electrons, and bulk module factors have a significant impact. This research supplies an efficient way of using machine learning to predict and optimize the dehydrogenation enthalpy. In addition, DFT calculation also validates the feature importance outputted by machine learning and reveals the principle of feature effects at the microscopic aspect. • ML models predict precisely the dehydrogenation enthalpy of V–Ti–Cr–Fe alloy. • Properties calculation optimized by GA have good agreement with experiments. • Explanation of volume, electron and module factors affecting enthalpy using DFT. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The increasing severity of global climate and energy problems has made renewable energy an inevitable choice for achieving a low-carbon society. Hydrogen is regarded as one of the most promising renewable energy due to its excellent characteristics, such as abundant and extensive resources, high calorific value, and non-pollution. How to achieve efficient hydrogen storage is one of the main hot spots of hydrogen energy research. For on-board hydrogen storage systems, which could be used for portable power sources and fuel cell vehicles, how to store hydrogen safely and effectively is one of the most urgent technological bottlenecks to overcome. The solid-state storage based on hydrogen storage materials has the advantages of low hydrogen storage pressure, high energy efficiency, safety and reliability, compared to conventional compressed hydrogen and cryogenic liquid hydrogen storage methods. It may be one of the most promising solutions to solve the above problems. Among the hydrogen storage materials, the lightweight composite hydrides Li–Mg–N–H system holds great promise for vehicular hydrogen storage applications owing to its moderate thermodynamic properties (∆Hdes ~ 44 kJ mol−1 H2 and ∆Sdes ~ 112 J mol−1 H2·K) and relatively high hydrogen capacity (~ 5.6 wt%). However, the Li–Mg–N–H material itself has poor cycling performance and a high energy barrier, resulting in a low dehydrogenation rate and high operating temperature. Apart from this, the multi-field coupling of mass and energy transfer also poses a challenge, hindering its on-board applications. In this paper, we present the modification methods and research status of the Li–Mg–N–H system's hydrogen storage materials. The effects of composition modification, nanocrystallization and catalyst addition on the thermal/kinetic properties of hydrogen storage materials in the Li–Mg–N–H system are expounded. The difficulties and directions for enhancing the hydrogen storage performance of Li–Mg–N–H system are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• There was an optimal dosage of vinpocetine on the recovery of ischemia–reperfusion injury. • Vinpocetine can effectively inhibit the apoptosis after ischemia–reperfusion injury. • Vinpocetine can reduce the expression of NLRP3 inflammasome. Ischemic stroke is one of the main causes of serious disability and death worldwide. NLRP3 inflammasome is an intracellular pattern recognition receptor composed of polyprotein complex, which participates in mediating a series of inflammatory responses and is considered as a potential target for the treatment of ischemic stroke. Vinpocetine, a derivative of vincamine, has been widely used in the prevention and treatment of ischemic stroke. However, the therapeutic mechanism of vinpocetine is not clear, and its effect on NLRP3 inflammasome remains to be determined. In this study, we used the mouse model of transient middle cerebral artery occlusion (tMCAO) to simulate the occurrence of ischemic stroke. Different doses of vinpocetine (5, 10, 15 mg/kg/d) were injected intraperitoneally for 3 days after ischemia–reperfusion in mice. The effects of different doses of vinpocetine on the degree of ischemia–reperfusion injury in mice were observed by TTC staining and modified neurological severity score scale, and the optimal dose was determined. Then, based on this optimal dose, we observed the effects of vinpocetine on apoptosis, microglial proliferation and NLRP3 inflammasome. In addition, we compared the effects of vinpocetine and MCC950 (a specific inhibitor of NLRP3 inflammasome) on NLRP3 inflammasome. Our results show that vinpocetine can effectively reduce the infarct volume and promote the recovery of behavioral function in stroke mice, and the maximal beneficial effects were observed at the dose of 10 mg/kg/d. Vinpocetine can effectively inhibit the apoptosis of peri-infarct neurons, promote the expression of Bcl-2, inhibit the expression of Bax and Cleaved Caspase-3, and reduce the proliferation of peri-infarct microglia. In addition, vinpocetine, like MCC950, can reduce the expression of NLRP3 inflammasome. Therefore, vinpocetine can effectively alleviate the ischemia–reperfusion injury in mice, and the inhibition of NLRP3 inflammasome may be an important therapeutic mechanism of vinpocetine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Chronic subdural hematoma (CSDH) is commonly treated via surgical removal of the hematoma, placement of a routine indwelling drainage tube, and continuous drainage to ensure that the blood does not re-aggregate following removal. However, the optimal location for placement of the drainage tube remains to be determined. Objectives: To aid in establishing a reference for selecting the optimal method, we compared the effects of different drainage tube placements on CSDH prognosis via a systematic review and meta-analysis of previous clinical studies. Data sources: PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane databases. Study eligibility criteria: We searched for clinical studies comparing the outcomes of subperiosteal/subgaleal drainage (SPGD) and subdural drainage (SDD) for CSDH published in English prior to April 1, 2022. Participants: The final analysis included 15 studies involving 4,318 patients. Results: Our analysis of the pooled results revealed no significant differences in recurrence rate between the SDD and SPGD groups. We also observed no significant differences in mortality or rates of postoperative complications (infection, pneumocephalus, or epilepsy) between the SDD and SPGD groups. Conclusions: These results suggest that the choice of SDD vs. SPGD has no significant effect on CSDH prognosis, highlighting SPGD as an alternative treatment option for CSDH. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on a study conducted to reveal the accumulation characteristics of cadmium (Cd) and indium (In) in the Lawu deposit, a lead-zinc (Pb-Zn) skarn deposit, located in Xizang, Tibet. The results of geochemistry indicated the presence of large amount of cadmium and indium concentrations in the host rock. The results also revealed that the concentrations of cadmium and indium in sphalerite, a mineral that is the chief ore of zinc, were high.

In this study, a novel three-dimensional zinc-based metal-organic framework (Zn-MOF), i.e., {Zn 2 (L) 2 (DMF) 2 H 2 O} n (L = 2,5-bis(phenylamino)-1,4-benzenedicarboxylic acid) was designed and developed under solvothermal condition. As a proof-of-principle, a π-conjugated framework of carboxylate ligand capable of “bottom up” synthesis was integrated with metal ion to construct a novel MOF for sensing applications. As expected, the synthesized Zn-MOF exhibited fluorescence enhancement for cadmium ion (Cd 2+ ) and sensing of nitrobenzene (NB) through fluorescence quenching. The detection limits were calculated to be 0.12 μM for Cd 2+ and 1.19 μg mL −1 for NB based on signal-to-noise ratio of 3:1. Moreover, various techniques and density functional theory investigations verified that the possible sensing mechanisms for Cd 2+ and NB included ion exchange and photoinduced electron transfer, respectively. Finally, their practical applications on real samples also demonstrated that the Zn-MOF-based sensor can be effectively utilized for detection and imaging of Cd 2+ present in the real water samples and living cells. This study may inspire future research and design of target fluorescent MOFs with specific functions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The V–Ti–Cr–Fe quaternary alloy is a promising hydrogen storage material for excellent performances, but it is difficult to take reliable multi-factor synergistic effects into account by means of experiments. At present, using the data-driven innovation method of ensemble learning, the structure-property relationship of V–Ti–Cr–Fe alloy is built and the maximum hydrogen absorption capacity is accurately predicted as well through 19 features covering the composition and various crystal parameters with the mean square error of 0.187. The feature importance ranking indicates that valence electron concentration, lattice constant, and Z/r3 play a critical role in the prediction. The genetic algorithm is furtherly used to propose 3 optimal composition ranges, which are proved to be accurate by experiments with relative errors of around 1%. The present work could provide an effective way for accurate and rapid prediction of hydrogen storage capacity and rational design of high-performance alloys. • Stacking model predicts the hydrogen storage capacity precisely with 19 features. • 3 optimal samples optimized by the GA agree with experimental validation. • The atomic size, e/a, and Z/r3 are key factors for hydrogen absorption capacity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many steel-based cities in China were established between the 1950s and 1960s. After more than half a century of development and boom, these cities are starting to decline and industrial transformation is urgently needed. This paper focuses on evaluating the transformation capability of resource-based cities building an evaluation model. Using Text Mining and the Document Explorer technique as a way of extracting text features, the 200 most frequently used words are derived from 100 publications related to steel- and other resource-based cities. The Expert Evaluation Method (EEM) and Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) techniques are then applied to select 53 indicators, determine their weights and establish an index system for evaluating the transformation capability of the pillar industry of China’s steel-based cities. Using real data and expert reviews, the improved Fuzzy Relation Matrix (FRM) method is applied to two case studies in China, namely Panzhihua and Daye, and the evaluation model is developed using Fuzzy Comprehensive Evaluation (FCE). The cities’ abilities to carry out industrial transformation are evaluated with concerns expressed for the case of Daye. The findings have policy implications for the potential and required industrial transformation in the two selected cities and other resource-based towns. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper falls into the broad area of economic geography and economics of creativity, and it presents an alternative approach to explain why total factor productivity (TFP) growth is different across China's regions. It establishes an empirical model to estimate the spatial agglomeration effects of creative industries on regional TFP growth, using China's provincial panel data during the period of 2003 to 2010. We found that the creative industries agglomeration (CIA) has significant and positive impact on regional TFP growth. The result also implies that the CIA can facilitate regional TFP growth through promoting regional innovation instead of improving regional efficiency. Therefore, we argue that policy makers should take some measures to retain and establish more creative zones. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights: [•] Efficiencies of Chinese urban transportation are compared applying super-efficiency data envelopment analysis. [•] The Chinese cities are divided into four groups according to different modes and levels of transport development. [•] Economically strong eastern and central cities focus more on high capacity and less on sustainable modes of transportation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Solid-state hydrogen storage device using metal hydride have enormous advantages for fuel cell forklifts. In addition to high volume hydrogen storage density, the solid-state hydrogen storage device can also be used as a counterweight for the forklift. At the same time, the solid-state storage device has low hydrogen storage pressure and safety, and the fuel (H 2) refueling is convenient and low-cost. In this paper, a two-dimensional heat and mass transfer numerical model has been developed to predicting the performance of the metal hydride tank filled with Ti 0.9 Zr 0.1 Cr 0.35 Mn 1.4 V 0.2 Fe 0.05 alloy. The validity of this numerical model was tested by comparison with the experimental data of the metal hydride hydrogen storage tank with a hydrogen capacity of 1 kg, achieving a good agreement between all the data. And a solid-state hydrogen storage device with an effective hydrogen capacity of 1.5 kg is optimally designed for 3.5 T fuel cell forklift. The completion rate of hydrogen refueling in the solid-state hydrogen storage device will reach 97.6 % within 30 min, and continuously discharging over 1.5 kg H 2 under flow rates of 150 SL/min and 250 SL/min. The optimized solid-state hydrogen storage device was integrated in a power module for 3.5 T fuel cell forklift which allows uninterrupted operation for at least 6 h 8 min under rated operation. • Establish and verify a heat and mass transfer model of metal hydride bed. • The solid-state H 2 storage device is optimized using the numerical model. • The H 2 storage device can release over 1.5 kg H 2 and refuel 97.6 % in 30 min • The fuel cell forklift can operate continuously over 6 h. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The research on safe and efficient hydrogen storage methods is the key scientific and technological issue which restricts the implementation of hydrogen economy. Lithium amidoborane (LiNH2BH3) has received extensive attention for its excellent hydrogen storage properties. It can desorb 10.9 wt% of hydrogen below 100 °C without deleterious by-product such as borazine. What is more, it is chemically stable at room-temperature conditions. The preparation methods and crystal structure of LiNH2BH3 were reviewed at length in this paper, and its dehydrogenation performance and mechanisms were analyzed combined with the theoretical calculation results. Moreover, the barriers and improvement measures in hydrogen release thermodynamics/kinetics and regeneration of the spent fuel were summarized. It is proposed that reducing the synthesis cost, decreasing dehydrogenation temperature with increased rates, and exploring high-efficiency, low-energy consumption, and low-cost regeneration techniques are the critical striving directions of lithium amidoborane. To the best of our knowledge, this work is the first review focusing on LiNH2BH3, one of the most promising materials for onboard hydrogen storage application, which is expected to give clues for the next advance of LiNH2BH3. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lithium amidoborane (LiNH 2 BH 3) is known as one of the most prospective hydrogen storage materials. In this paper, the differences between two allotropes (α-LiNH 2 BH 3 and β-LiNH 2 BH 3) of LiNH 2 BH 3 in the dehydrogenation properties was reported for the first time. A series of mixtures of α-LiNH 2 BH 3 /β-LiNH 2 BH 3 with different mass ratios were prepared by ball milling for different time and the contents of two phases in samples were determined with Rietveld's method. The thermal decomposition behaviors of samples were investigated by DSC. It shows that the initial dehydrogenation temperature of samples decreases with the content of α-LiNH 2 BH 3 phase increasing. The initial dehydrogenation temperature of α-LiNH 2 BH 3 is about 61 °C, which is approximately 15 °C lower than that of β-LiNH 2 BH 3. Dehydrogenation kinetic analysis shows that α-LiNH 2 BH 3 has the lower activation energy (157 kJ mol−1) and higher rate (k = 1.422 × 101 min−1) than that of β-LiNH 2 BH 3 (272 kJ mol−1 and 1.023 × 10−1 min−1, respectively). It is suggested that α-LiNH 2 BH 3 is more supportive for hydrogen desorption. It gives a critical clue on exploring the dehydrogenation mechanism of lithium amidoborane. Moreover, the significant decrease of desorption temperature will shine a light on on-board hydrogen storage systems. • The two allotropes of LiNH 2 BH 3 have different dehydrogenation properties. • The onset dehydrogenation temperature of α-LiNH 2 BH 3 is lower than that of β-LiNH 2 BH 3. • α-LiNH 2 BH 3 has the lower activation energy and higher rate than that of β-LiNH 2 BH 3. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mg-20 wt% Ti x Cr 0.8-x V 0.2 (x = 0.25, 0.35, 0.45, 0.55) nanocomposites were synthesized by Reactive Ball Milling (RBM) under 5.0 MPa H 2 for 8 h at room temperature. The morphology, crystal structure, and isothermal hydrogen ab-/desorption properties of the as-milled nanocomposites were investigated. X-ray diffraction confirms that the composites were composed of nanocrystalline β-MgH 2 , γ-MgH 2 and Ti-Cr-V 0.2 H y (1.91 < y < 2.01) phases. High-Resolution Transmission Electron Microscopy (HRTEM) images reveal that nanocrystalline β-MgH 2 , γ-MgH 2 and Ti 0.35 Cr 0.45 V 0.2 H y phases coexist on nano-level in the as-milled composites. Differential scanning calorimeter (DSC) results show that MgH 2 -20 wt% Ti 0.35 Cr 0.45 V 0.2 composite presents the minimum decomposition temperature (256 °C) among the studied composites and a relatively low activation energy of 86.43 kJ/mol. The hydrogen desorption capacity of MgH 2 -20 wt% Ti 0.35 Cr 0.45 V 0.2 composite reach to 5.30 wt% within 20 min at 270 °C under 0.01 MPa H 2 , compared with that only 0.1 wt% H 2 for pure MgH 2 powders under the same conditions. Besides, the hydrogenation and dehydrogenation enthalpies are determined to be −69.35 and 70.60 kJ/(mol⋅H 2) respectively, which show a significant decrease compared with that of Mg/MgH 2 systems. More importanly, the β-MgH 2 phase is found to decompose along with γ-MgH 2 and Ti-Cr-V 0.2 H y phases at the temperature ranging from 210 to 270 °C. It reveals the favorable synergetic desorption effect among γ-MgH 2 , β-MgH 2 and Ti 0.35 Cr 0.45 V 0.2 H y phases, which possibly leads to better dehydrogenation kinetics and thermodynamics properties of Mg/MgH 2 systems. Nanocrystalline Mg-20wt%Ti x Cr 0.8-x V 0.2 composites were synthesized. Highest content of metastable γ-MgH 2 phase(36.19wt%) was obtained. The desorption temperature of Mg-20wt%Ti 0.35 Cr 0.45 V 0.2 is 84 °C lowers than pure MgH2. Good synergetic desorption effect among Ti 0.35 Cr 0.45 V 0.2 Hy, γ-MgH2 and β-MgH2 phases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chemical oxidation synthesis of graphene oxide (GO) through modified Hummers methods has been widely employed for producing graphene- or reduced GO (rGO)-based advanced functional materials such as rGO/MnO x nanocomposites. However, the manganese species in GO colloids are usually washed out during GO synthesis through modified Hummers methods, causing manganese waste and environmental risk. In this paper, we report preparation of rGO/MnO x nanocomposites, in which MnO x is composed of Mn 2 O 3 , Mn 3 O 4 , and MnO 2 components, through anneal treatment of the precursor counterparts obtained by simple pH tuning of GO colloids. The rGO/MnO x nanocomposites exhibit superior electrochemical performance for supercapacitors. rGO/MnO x -5, derived from GO colloids with pH 5, exhibits a high gravimetric discharge capacitance ( C dis ) of 191 F g −1 at 20 A g −1 and a high capacitance retention (82.9%) relative to C dis at 1 A g −1 . Furthermore, typical symmetric supercapacitor cells made from rGO/MnO x -5 show a high areal capacitance (172 mF cm −2 ) and excellent capacitance retention (96.6%) at 2 A g −1 (10 mA cm −2 ) for 20,000 cycles, holding great potential for practical applications. The superior electrochemical performance of rGO/MnO x nanocomposites is attributed to multiple charge storage mechanisms in association with the coexistence of mixed-valent manganese oxides. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

City smog outbreaks in many Chinese cities aroused public concern about health risks and environmental pollution in China. This study investigates protective behaviours of the citizens in response to city smog using protective action decision to understand their actions. A survey was conducted in Hefei, Anhui in 2015, after the city experienced severe smog events. The data from 429 respondents supported the developed model. Hazard-related attributes were the strongest predictors for willingness to adopt protective behaviours. Public risk perception only positively affected self-protective actions. Information sources affected risk perception and increased the respondents' self-protective intentions. Older adults and respondents with lower educational levels were more likely to adopt environmentally friendly actions. The findings' theoretical and practical implications are also discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]