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The conversion of nitrogen oxides (NO x) by hydrothermally aged copper (Cu)–based selective catalytic reduction (SCR) is an irreversible phenomenon. Tail exhaust NO x emission control and on-board diagnostics (OBD) monitoring are difficult with hydrothermally aged Cu–based SCR because the on-board NO x sensor has cross sensitivity to NH 3 in the exhaust. In this study, the performance and diagnosis of hydrothermally aged SCR under real engine exhaust were studied. The influence of hydrothermally aged SCR on NH 3 storage, tail exhaust NO x , urea injection, and OBD diagnosis were quantitatively analyzed under the World Harmonized Transient Cycle (WHTC). The results show that hydrothermally aged SCR had a great influence on the NH 3 storage capacity. In terms of SCR conversion efficiency and OBD detection, compared with fresh SCR, hydrothermally aged SCR was more sensitive to space velocity than to temperature. Under different OBD monitored release conditions, the NO x conversion efficiency was greatly different; hence, the occurrence of a false diagnosis can be avoided through the selection of appropriate release conditions. These research results provide a reference for SCR size design, NO x control, and diagnostic strategies. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Can inner cell mass (ICM) and trophectoderm morphological grading, especially ICM and trophectoderm graded C, affect perinatal outcomes? A retrospective review of medical records of 8946 singletons delivered from vitrified–warmed single blastocyst transfer cycles between January 2009 and December 2020. Inner cell mass graded C had a higher adjusted birth weight than ICM graded A (0.61 ± 1.06 versus 0.48 ± 1.06; P = 0.025). Large for gestational age (LGA) increased with decreasing ICM morphological grading (18.96%, 21.88% and 23.38%; grade B versus grade A, P = 0.013; grade C versus grade A, P = 0.036) (P < 0.025 was considered statistically significant for multiple pairwise comparisons). Linear regression analysis suggested that ICM morphological grading was significantly associated with adjusted birth weight, with grade C increasing adjusted birth weight compared with grade A (β 0.13, 95% CI 0.00 to 0.25, P = 0.043) (P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant for linear regression). Logistic regression analysis suggested that ICM morphological grading was significantly associated with LGA, with grade C increasing LGA compared with grade A (adjusted OR 1.37, 95% CI 1.03 to 1.81). Moreover, blastocysts with ICM graded C had a higher chance of being a male infant compared with ICM graded A (adjusted OR 1.32, 95% CI 1.04 to 1.68). Inner cell mass morphological grading was significantly associated with adjusted birth weight and LGA. Poor ICM graded C increased birth weight and LGA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Electrocatalysis represents an efficient and eco‐friendly approach to energy conversion, enabling the sustainable synthesis of valuable chemicals and fuels. The deliberate engineering of electrocatalysts is crucial to improving the efficacy and scalability of electrocatalysis. Notably, the occurrence of in situ amorphization within electrocatalysts has been observed during various electrochemical processes, influencing the energy conversion efficiency and catalytic mechanism understanding. Of note, the dynamic transformation of catalysts into amorphous structures is complex, often leading to various amorphous configurations. Therefore, revealing this amorphization process and understanding the function of amorphous species are pivotal for elucidating the structure‐activity relationship of electrocatalysts, which will direct the creation of highly efficient catalysts. This review examines the mechanisms behind amorphous structure formation, summarizes characterization methods for detecting amorphous species, and discusses strategies for controlling (pre)catalyst properties and electrochemical conditions that influence amorphization. It also emphasizes the importance of spontaneously formed amorphous species in electrochemical oxidation and reduction reactions. Finally, it addresses challenges in the in situ amorphization of electrocatalysts. aiming to guide the synthesis of electrocatalysts for efficient, selective, and stable electrochemical reactions, and to inspire future advancements in the field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A variable stiffness prosthetic knee joint is designed and evaluated. • A knee structure-based variable stiffness parallel elastic actuation is proposed. • An adaptive variable stiffness adjustment strategy is proposed. • Knee joint energy efficiency is improved without significant weight increase. Active prosthetic knee joints are proven to provide outstanding actuating performance in various walking situations. Currently, most active prosthetic knee joints are directly actuated via motors, which have the disadvantages of high-power consumption and insufficient joint compliance. In order to solve this problem, this paper proposed an active prosthetic knee joint with a unique variable stiffness parallel elastic actuation (VSPEA) mechanism. The VSPEA prosthetic knee joint is implemented by a geared five-bar mechanism with a motor-screw system. The VSPEA mechanism is implemented via another optimized compact motor-screw-spring system controlled by an adaptive stiffness adjustment algorithm. Numerical verifications show that the VSPEA prosthetic knee joint can reduce its actuation torque and power compared to the prosthetic knee joint without the VSPEA mechanism. Further practical experiments of the VSPEA prosthetic knee joint indicate that the Root Mean Square of its actuation motor power can decline 7.36 %, 8.75 %, and 11.51 % at 1.49 m/s, 1.21 m/s, and 0.85 m/s level-ground walking, respectively, which demonstrated that VSPEA could effectively reduce the energy consumption and improve the endurance of the prosthetic knee joint. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Study Question: Is the vanishing of a co-twin after or before the ultrasonic registration of cardiac activity at approximately 6-8 weeks of gestation associated with adverse perinatal outcomes?Summary Answer: The timing of the demise of a co-twin after the registration of cardiac activity is an independent risk factor for adverse perinatal outcomes.What Is Known Already: A significant body of evidence has confirmed that vanishing twin (VT) pregnancies are associated with higher levels of risk for preterm birth (PTB), low birthweight (LBW), small-for-gestational age (SGA) and perinatal mortality, compared with singleton pregnancy. However, the impact of co-twin vanishing, before or after the presence, of cardiac activity, on perinatal outcomes has yet to be extensively investigated.Study Design, Size, Duration: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 38 876 singletons delivered from ART cycles between 2006 and 2018, at the Peking University Third Hospital.Participants/materials, Setting, Methods: In total, 35 188 singletons were delivered from the singleton pregnancy group, 2256 singletons from the VT pregnancy group after that cardiac activity was noted, and 1432 singletons were delivered from the VT pregnancy group before cardiac activity could be registered. Using the Poisson model, the adjusted risk ratio (aRR) was used to estimate the incidence of PTB, LBW, SGA and perinatal mortality, in the pregnancies of two types of VT compared with singleton pregnancies after correction for potential confounding factors.Main Results and the Role Of Chance: The vanishing of a co-twin after the registration of cardiac activity was associated with an increased risk of perinatal mortality when compared with the group of singleton pregnancies (0.5% vs 0.2%; P = 0.006); this association still existed after adjustment for potential confounders (aRR 2.19, 95% CI 1.12-4.30; P = 0.023). Furthermore, it was significantly associated with a higher risk of PTB (all cycles aRR 2.00, 95% CI 1.77-2.24; P < 0.001; fresh transfer aRR 2.06, 95% CI 1.78-2.38; P < 0.001; frozen transfer aRR 1.87, 95% CI 1.52-2.28; P < 0.001), LBW (all cycles aRR 2.47, 95% CI 2.12-2.88; P < 0.001; fresh transfer aRR 2.50, 95% CI 2.07-3.02; P < 0.001; frozen transfer aRR 2.39; 95% CI 1.83-3.12; P < 0.001) and SGA (all cycles aRR 1.56, 95% CI 1.35-1.80; P < 0.001; fresh transfer aRR 1.53, 95% CI 1.29-1.81; P < 0.001; frozen transfer aRR 1.62, 95% CI 1.24-2.11; P < 0.001). However, prior to the presence of cardiac activity, the vanishing of a co-twin was not associated with a higher risk of perinatal mortality (all cycles aRR 0.71, 95% CI 0.17-2.92; P = 0.636; fresh cycles aRR 0.51, 95% CI 0.07-3.70; P = 0.502; frozen cycles aRR 1.29, 95% CI 0.17-9.66; P = 0.803), PTB (all cycles aRR 1.11, 95% CI 0.91-1.34; P = 0.301; fresh cycles aRR 1.10, 95% CI 0.87-1.39; P = 0.447; frozen cycles aRR 1.13, 95% CI 0.81-1.58; P = 0.467), LBW (all cycles aRR 1.19, 95% CI 0.91-1.55; P = 0.207; fresh cycles aRR 1.08, 95% CI 0.77-1.51; P = 0.668; frozen cycles aRR 1.45, 95% CI 0.93-2.25; P = 0.100) and SGA (all cycles aRR 1.09, 95% CI 0.89-1.35; P = 0.405; fresh cycles aRR 0.97, 95% CI 0.75-1.26; P = 0.839). Pregnancies involving the two types of VT were significantly different in terms of PTB (all cycles aRR 1.80, 95% CI 1.45-2.24; P < 0.001; fresh cycles aRR 1.88, 95% CI 1.44-2.45; P < 0.001; frozen cycles aRR 1.65, 95% CI 1.13-2.40; P = 0.009), LBW (all cycles aRR 2.08, 95% CI 1.55-2.79; P < 0.001; fresh cycles aRR 2.32, 95% CI 1.61-3.36; P < 0.001; frozen cycles aRR 1.65, 95% CI 1.01-2.70; P = 0.046) and SGA (all cycles aRR 1.70, 95% CI 1.36-2.11; P < 0.001; fresh cycles aRR 1.87, 95% CI 1.42-2.45; P < 0.001).Limitations, Reasons For Caution: The present data are not able to differentiate between co-twin demise occurring in the first or second trimester. Because the second trimester ultrasound scan is not an integral aspect of IVF assessment, this information was not available in the database.Wider Implications Of the Findings: Adverse perinatal outcomes in ART babies can be avoided by replacing one embryo at a time. It is possible to apply selective single embryo transfer strategy for all while maintaining acceptable success rates.Study Funding/competing Interest(s): This study was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China for Young Scholars (Reference number: 31801251). No competing interests to declare.Trial Registration Number: not applicable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • MnO-Mo 2 C heterogeneous particles supported on porous carbon are designed using chitosan. • MnO-Mo 2 C/C accelerate the catalytic conversion of polysulfides and improve sulfur utilization. • The in situ XRD and Raman reveals mixed mechanisms of polysulfide conversion on MnO-Mo 2 C/C. • The MnO-Mo 2 C/C delivers a high specific capacity and long-cycle stability in Li–S batteries. • The MnO-Mo 2 C/C@S cathodes exhibit excellent electrochemical performances at a high loading. Poor conversion between sulfur and sulfur-related species and the dissolution of intermediates result in slow commercialization development. Herein, MnO-Mo 2 C heterogeneous particles supported on porous carbon (MnO-Mo 2 C/C) are synthesized using chitosan as a sulfur host for Li–S batteries. MnO-Mo 2 C heterogeneous particles possess superior calculated binding energies for sulfur redox and Fermi energy levels compared with single MnO and Mo 2 C, which suggests that MnO-Mo 2 C leads to a fast conversion of polysulfides and accelerates electron transport. In addition, in situ X-ray diffraction and Raman spectra measurements reveal mixed mechanisms of polysulfide conversion on MnO-Mo 2 C/C, wherein Li 2 S 6 undergoes LiS 3 and Li 2 S 4 reduction reaction paths. The MnO-Mo 2 C/C@S cathode exhibits a high discharge specific capacity (929.6 mAh/g) and ultra-low decay rate of 0.019 % at 2C for 1200 cycles. Even at a sulfur loading of 8.0 mg cm−2, the MnO-Mo 2 C/C@S cathode exhibits a high reversible area capacity of 5.10 mAh cm−2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Boron and nitrogen-dual-doped graphene sheets (BNG) has been conveniently synthesized by a novel strategy, including one-step pyrolysis of nitrogen and boron-containing borane-tert-butylamine complex impregnated with cobalt ions. The BNG with a relatively high boron and nitrogen-doping level is used it as Pt support for oxygen reduction reaction for the first time. An excellent electron-donating of BNG to Pt that facilitates the reduction of O 2 and strengthens BNG/Pt interaction has been evidenced. The novel Pt/BNG catalyst exhibits highly improved electrocatalytic activity and stability compared with commercial Pt/C. In O 2 -saturated 0.1 M HClO 4 , the Pt/BNG catalyst shows a mass activity of 213.6 mA mg −1 Pt at 0.9 V vs. RHE, which is nearly three times as high as that of commercial Pt/C. In addition, the Pt/BNG catalyst displays much higher stability than Pt/C in continuous potential cycling tests. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel and facile strategy has been developed to synthesize nitrogen and phosphorus-dual-doped carbon nanotube (N,P-CNT) array and used as Pt support for fuel cell application. In this strategy, the N,P-CNT array with well-designed nanostructure is directly grown on the cheap Ni foam using self-generated cylindrical Ni 2 P as catalysts. The N,P-CNT with open ends and a large hollow channel provides large number of reactive sites in inner walls with access to reactants compared with conventional bamboo-shape nitrogen-doped carbon nanotubes (N-CNTs). The N,P-CNTs which possess abundant disordered nanostructures and reaction active sites can ingeniously anchor Pt with no need of pretreatment. The highly distributed Pt nanoparticles provide well Pt utilization and strengthen interaction between N,P-CNTs and Pt nanoparticles. The synthesized Pt/N,P-CNTs catalyst shows much better electrocatalytic performance for oxygen reduction reaction in comparison with Pt/CNTs, Pt/N-CNTs and commercial Pt/C catalysts. At 0.9 V vs . RHE in 0.1 mol L −1 HClO 4 , the Pt mass activity of Pt/CNTs and Pt/N-CNTs are 93.5 and 165.4 mAmg −1 Pt , while, the Pt/N,P-CNTs catalyst shows a mass activity of 285.3 mA mg −1 Pt , which is 3.1 and 1.7 times as high as that of Pt/CNTs and Pt/N-CNTs, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An ion-exchange method has been developed to synthesize Co 2 P on graphitized carbon and further deposit Pt nanoparticles for the first time. Various methods have been used to characterize the property of the Pt deposited on Co 2 P/C (Pt–Co 2 P/C). It shows an improved catalytic activity and stability for methanol electrooxidation. The electrochemical testing proves that the Pt–Co 2 P/C catalyst has nearly four times the catalytic activity and 120 mV more negative onset potential compared with commercial Pt/C. The reason of the highly enhanced electrocatalytic activity and poisoning resistance of the Pt–Co 2 P/C catalyst is discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purposes: Embryo quality is associated with successful implantation and live births. Our retrospective study was carried out to determine whether or not cleavage stage embryo quality affects the miscarriage rate, pregnancy complications and neonatal outcomes of singletons conceived with assisted reproduction technology. Method: The current study included 11,721 In Vitro Fertilization-Embryo Transfer cycles (IVF-ET) between January 2009 (the date at which electronic medical records were implemented at our center) and March 2013. Only women < 40 years of age undergoing their first fresh embryo transfer cycle using non-donor oocytes were included. Results: Our study indicated that the transfer of poor-quality embryos resulted in higher miscarriage (19.77 % vs. 13.28 %, p = 0.02) and lower ongoing pregnancy rates (15.33 % vs. 48.06 %, p < 0.001). Logistic regression analysis performed on data derived from 744 cycles culminating in miscarriages versus 4,333 cycles culminating in live births, suggested that embryo quality ( p = 0.04) is significantly associated with miscarriage rate after adjusting for other confounding factors. Moreover, there were no differences in the mean birth weight, low birth weight (<2,500 g), very low birth weight (<1,500 g), gestational age, preterm delivery (<37 weeks), very preterm delivery (<32 weeks), congenital malformations, small-for-gestational-age singletons (SGA), and large-for-gestational-age singleton (LGA) rate ( p > 0.05). Similarly, pregnancy complications resulting from poor-quality embryos were not different from good-quality embryos (4.04 % vs. 2.57 %, p = 0.33). Finally, logistic regression suggested that embryo quality was not significantly associated with pregnancy complications after adjusting for other confounding factors ( p = 0.40). Conclusions: Our study suggests that transfer of poor-quality embryos did not increase the risk of adverse outcomes; however, the quality of cleavage stage embryos significantly affected the miscarriage rate and ongoing pregnancies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pd on three dimensional (3D) porous carbon (Pd/PC) has been one-pot synthesized via in situ potassium hydroxide activation of PdCl 6 2 − -exchanged resin for the first time. The anion-exchange resin not only anchors PdCl 6 2 − ions to obtain uniformly dispersed Pd nanoparticles but also acts as a carbon source. The Pd/PC composites exhibit an ultrahigh surface areas (2734–3316 m 2 g −1 ) and large pore volumes (1.789–1.991 cm 3 g −1 ). The excess hydrogen uptake of Pd/PC-850 reaches 4.6 wt% at 77 K and 20 bar. At room temperature, the hydrogen spillover process from Pd nanoparticles to the 3D activated porous carbon has been clearly observed. The 1.86 wt% Pd-containing composite (Pd/PC-850) displays a high hydrogen spillover enhancement (154%) at 298 K. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Study Question: Does protein source or human serum albumin (HSA) in embryo culture media influence the subsequent birthweight?Summary Answer: A significant difference was observed in gestational age- and gender-adjusted birthweight (Z scores) and the proportion of large-for-gestational age (LGA) babies between embryos cultured in G1 v5 and those cultured in G1-PLUS v5 media.What Is Known Already: It has been reported that the birthweights of singletons born from embryos cultured in Vitrolife are significantly higher than those cultured in the Cook group of media, and that G1-PLUS (Vitrolife, Gothenburg, Sweden) is associated with increased birth and placenta weights compared with Medicult ISMI.Study Design, Size, and Duration: This study was a retrospective analysis of neonatal birthweights, and included 1097 singletons born from fresh embryo transfer cycles at the Center for Reproductive Medicine of Peking University Third Hospital between January 2011 and August 2012. The number of singletons born from G1 v5 culture media was 489, and the number of singletons born from G1-PLUS v5 media was 608.Participants/materials, Setting, and Methods: Patients <40 years of age with a BMI <30 kg/m² were analysed. Only data from newborns from singleton pregnancies and born alive after the 28th week of gestation were included. Patients with a vanishing twin or with pregnancy-related complications, such as diabetes and hypertension, were excluded, as were patients who received preimplantation genetic diagnosis or used donor oocytes. Multiple linear regression analysis was performed to determine the influence of individual factors on birthweights of singleton newborns. The birthweights and Z scores of singletons and LGA babies were compared between the G1 v5 and G1-PLUS v5 media groups.Main Results and the Role Of Chance: The absolute birthweights for singletons resulting from G1-PLUS v5 were not different from singletons resulting from G1 v5 (3375.9 ± 479.6 g versus 3333.2 ± 491.6 g, respectively; P = 0.14). However the Z scores for singletons from embryos cultured in G1-PLUS v5 were significantly higher than for singletons cultured in G1 v5 (0.28 ± 1.12 versus 0.09 ± 1.15, respectively; P = 0.04), and more LGA babies were born from G1-PLUS v5 culture compared with G1 v5 (16.8 versus 12.1%, respectively; P = 0.03) culture. Finally, multiple linear regression analysis suggested that female weight (P = 0.00), male height (P = 0.04), gestational age at birth (P = 0.00), infant gender (P = 0.00) and culture media (P = 0.04) all had significant effects on the birthweights of singleton newborns.Limitations and Reasons For Caution: This study was limited by its retrospective design.Wider Implications Of These Findings: Our study suggests that protein source/HSA has a significant effect on birthweights of singleton newborns.Study Funding/competing Interest(s): This study was funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China for Young Scholars (81300483). The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare.Trial Registration Number: Not applicable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

STUDY QUESTION Does protein source or human serum albumin (HSA) in embryo culture media influence the subsequent birthweight? SUMMARY ANSWER A significant difference was observed in gestational age- and gender-adjusted birthweight (Z scores) and the proportion of large-for-gestational age (LGA) babies between embryos cultured in G1 v5 and those cultured in G1-PLUS v5 media. WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY It has been reported that the birthweights of singletons born from embryos cultured in Vitrolife are significantly higher than those cultured in the Cook group of media, and that G1-PLUS (Vitrolife, Gothenburg, Sweden) is associated with increased birth and placenta weights compared with Medicult ISMI. STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, AND DURATION This study was a retrospective analysis of neonatal birthweights, and included 1097 singletons born from fresh embryo transfer cycles at the Center for Reproductive Medicine of Peking University Third Hospital between January 2011 and August 2012. The number of singletons born from G1 v5 culture media was 489, and the number of singletons born from G1-PLUS v5 media was 608. PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, AND METHODS Patients <40 years of age with a BMI <30 kg/m2 were analysed. Only data from newborns from singleton pregnancies and born alive after the 28th week of gestation were included. Patients with a vanishing twin or with pregnancy-related complications, such as diabetes and hypertension, were excluded, as were patients who received preimplantation genetic diagnosis or used donor oocytes. Multiple linear regression analysis was performed to determine the influence of individual factors on birthweights of singleton newborns. The birthweights and Z scores of singletons and LGA babies were compared between the G1 v5 and G1-PLUS v5 media groups. MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE The absolute birthweights for singletons resulting from G1-PLUS v5 were not different from singletons resulting from G1 v5 (3375.9 ± 479.6 g versus 3333.2 ± 491.6 g, respectively; P = 0.14). However the Z scores for singletons from embryos cultured in G1-PLUS v5 were significantly higher than for singletons cultured in G1 v5 (0.28 ± 1.12 versus 0.09 ± 1.15, respectively; P = 0.04), and more LGA babies were born from G1-PLUS v5 culture compared with G1 v5 (16.8 versus 12.1%, respectively; P = 0.03) culture. Finally, multiple linear regression analysis suggested that female weight (P = 0.00), male height (P = 0.04), gestational age at birth (P = 0.00), infant gender (P = 0.00) and culture media (P = 0.04) all had significant effects on the birthweights of singleton newborns. LIMITATIONS AND REASONS FOR CAUTION This study was limited by its retrospective design. WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THESE FINDINGS Our study suggests that protein source/HSA has a significant effect on birthweights of singleton newborns. STUDY FUNDING/COMPETING INTEREST(S) This study was funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China for Young Scholars (81300483). The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER Not applicable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

STUDY QUESTION Does prolonged in vitro culture influence newborn birthweight? SUMMARY ANSWER The absolute mean birthweight and gestational age- and gender-adjusted birthweight (Z scores) of singletons born from blastocyst transfer are higher than singletons born from Day 3 transfer. WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY An increased proportion of large-for-gestational age (LGA) newborns occurs after blastocyst transfer compared with Day 2 transfer, and Z scores for newborns after blastocyst transfer are higher than newborns after transfer on Day 2 or Day 3. STUDY DESIGN, SIZE AND DURATION This study was a retrospective analysis of newborn birthweight, including 2929 singletons at the Reproductive Medical Center of Peking University Third Hospital between January 2009 and June 2012. The number of singletons after Day 3 transfer was 2833 and the number of singletons after blastocyst transfer (Day 5–6) was 96. PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, AND METHODS Only cycles with fresh embryo transfer were included. Patients ≤40 years of age with a BMI < 30 kg/m2 were analyzed. Only data from singleton newborns born alive after the 20th week of gestation were included in the data analysis. Patients with more than one fetal sac diagnosed by ultrasound but who delivered singletons were excluded. Patients who received PGD and cycles with donor oocytes were excluded. Multiple linear regression analysis was performed to determine the significance of individual factors on absolute birthweight of singleton newborns. The absolute birthweight and Z scores of singletons were compared. MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE Multiple linear regression analysis indicated that maternal age, maternal BMI, paternal BMI, type of infertility, gestational age, infant gender and culture period were significantly associated with birthweight. The absolute birthweight for singletons resulting from blastocyst transfer was significantly greater than singletons resulting from Day 3 transfer (3465.31 ± 51.36 versus 3319.82 ± 10.04 g respectively, P = 0.009). The Z scores for singletons after blastocyst transfer were significantly higher than singletons after Day 3 transfer (0.347 versus 0.029 respectively, P = 0.016). LIMITATIONS AND REASONS FOR CAUTION In our clinic, blastocyst culture is mainly offered to patients with unsuccessful IVF cycles but also to patients with uterine malformations, and therefore this protocol introduced a potential selection bias in our study. Moreover, as certain culture media are associated with fetal overgrowth, the media used may be also a confounding factor, even though the absolute birthweights of singletons were comparable. WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THESE FINDINGS Our study suggests that a prolonged (5–6 days) in vitro culture period has a significant effect on the mean absolute birthweight and Z scores of singleton newborns. The effect of prolonged in vitro culture on epigenetic changes in the embryo needs further study. STUDY FUNDING/COMPETING INTEREST(S) National Natural Science Foundation of China for Young Scholars (81300483). The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER Not applicable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Cu 3 P-Cu 2 O Janus nanoparticles were constructed in a N,P-doped carbon framework. • The obtained Janus electrocatalyst exhibited bifunctional activity for water splitting. • The Janus electrocatalyst exhibited superior activity and durability. • The Janus electrocatalyst could be produced with a large scale and low cost. Transition metal phosphides and oxides are heralded as inexpensive alternatives to precious metal catalysts for the electrochemical hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) and the oxygen evolution reaction (OER), respectively. Combing both transition metal phosphides and oxides into one catalyst system can generate a bifunctional electrocatalyst for overall water splitting. Still, the synthesis of such a catalyst has always been very challenging. Herein, we report the synthesis of Cu 3 P-Cu 2 O Janus bifunctional catalysts into a N, P co-doped 3D hierarchically porous carbon framework (Cu 3 P-Cu 2 O/NPC). Simple carbonization of Cu2+-containing ion-exchange resins with KOH make hundred-gram scale production of this superior catalyst possible. The Janus Cu 3 P-Cu 2 O heterostructure within a N, P-doped hierarchically porous carbon framework provides increased mass transport, enhanced electrocatalytic activity, and promoted cycling durability. As an electrocatalyst, the designed Cu 3 P-Cu 2 O/NPC delivers superior bifunctional activity for both the HER and OER in 1 M KOH, including extremely low overpotentials (138 mV for HER and 286 mV for OER) to reach a current density of 10 mA cm−2 and small Tafel slopes (62.64 mV dec-1 for HER and 79.02 mV dec-1 for OER). More impressively, the Cu 3 P-Cu 2 O/NPC-assembled electrolyzer needs drive voltages of only approximately 1.57 and 1.81 V to achieve current densities of 10 and 50 mV cm−2, respectively, demonstrating a superior electrocatalytic activity compared to the state-of-the-art electrolyzer (Pt/C || RuO 2 /C), and exhibits ultrahigh stability over a week of continuous overall water splitting reaction. This work highlights the significance of nanoengineering on the production of highly efficient electrocatalysts and provides a promising bifunctional electrocatalyst for future industrial implementation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For high dielectric constant, conductive carbide ceramic fillers are scattered in polymer to fabricate composites. However, high conductivity of carbides will lead to high leakage conductance and dielectric loss. In this work, to balance dielectric properties, polymer/ZrC/diamond blends were prepared via complementation of fillers. To perform property comparison, polymer/ZrC blends were prepared. Crystal forms and micromorphology of fillers were confirmed. All blends were measured to obtain dielectric constant, dielectric loss and conductivity at various frequencies. Compared to polymer/ZrC blends, dielectric constant of ternary blends slightly decreases and dielectric loss sharply reduces. By analysing ternary blends, strong interaction at polymer/ZrC interface results in high dielectric constant and insulating diamond results in low-dielectric loss via greatly-decreased leakage conductance. Partner employment of ZrC and diamond is distinctive. Ternary blend loaded with 5 wt% ZrC and 3 wt% diamond exhibits well-balanced dielectric performances (dielectric constant ~ 35.3; dielectric loss ~ 0.48) at 100 Hz. This work will provide valid route for balancing dielectric properties of polymer/conductive carbide blends. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • We report a synthesis approach of a unique class of Pt-M (Ni, Co) catalysts with a nanoflower structure. • By controlling the surface active agents, the functional groups surrounding the Pt atoms can be modified. • With alloying Pt with transition metals Ni and Co two different kinds of nanodendrites can be prepared. • They are able to boost both oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) and methanol oxidation reaction (MOR). Herein, we introduce a facile approach to synthesize a unique class of Pt-M (M = Ni, Co) catalysts with a nanoflower structure for boosting both oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) and methanol oxidation reaction (MOR). By controlling the surface-active agents, we modified the functional groups surrounding the Pt atoms, tuned the alloying of Pt and the transition metals Ni and Co, and prepared two different kinds of nanodendrites. Their successful synthesis depends on the selection and amount of surfactants (hexadecyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB), Polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP)). Besides, by controlling reaction time, we also explored the forming procedures for Pt-Co globularia nanodendrite (Pt-Co GND) and Pt-Ni petalody nanodendrite (Pt-Ni PND). Our investigation highlights the importance of complex nanoarchitecture, which enables surface and interface modification to achieve excellent catalytic performance in fuel cell electrocatalysis. The characterization of the as-prepared catalysts reveals a high electrochemical surface area and mass activity (2041 m A m g P t - 1 and 950 m A m g P t - 1 for Pt-Co GND and Pt-Ni PND, respectively, for ORR). Furthermore, Pt-Co GND showed a high MOR activity, with a mass activity value recorded at 1615 m A m g P t - 1 which is far superior to that for Pt/C. Moreover, both catalysts retain high activity after accelerated durability tests (ADTs). The electron transfer number was calculated by performing the rotating ring-disk electrode (RRDE) measurements. Due to abundant active sites of Pt, both Pt-Co GND and Pt-Ni PND exhibit a 4e− pathway for ORR with electron transfer number of >3.95. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Zn–CO2 batteries are excellent candidates for both electrical energy output and CO2 utilization, whereas the main challenge is to design electrocatalysts for electrocatalytic CO2 reduction reactions with high selectivity and low cost. Herein, the three‐phase heterojunction Cu‐based electrocatalyst (Cu/Cu2O‐Sb2O3‐15) is synthesized and evaluated for highly selective CO2 reduction to CO, which shows the highest faradaic efficiency of 96.3% at −1.3 V versus reversible hydrogen electrode, exceeding the previously reported best values for Cu‐based materials. In situ spectroscopy and theoretical analysis indicate that the Sb incorporation into the three‐phase heterojunction Cu/Cu2O‐Sb2O3‐15 nanomaterial promotes the formation of key *COOH intermediates compared with the normal Cu/Cu2O composites. Furthermore, the rechargeable aqueous Zn–CO2 battery assembled with Cu/Cu2O‐Sb2O3‐15 as the cathode harvests a peak power density of 3.01 mW cm−2 as well as outstanding cycling stability of 417 cycles. This research provides fresh perspectives for designing advanced cathodic electrocatalysts for rechargeable Zn–CO2 batteries with high‐efficient electricity output together with CO2 utilization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Diatomic site catalysts (DAC) have better performance with higher metal content and more flexible active sites compared with single atomic site catalysts (SAC). Herein, the authors for the first time achieved Rh2 DAC on loose porous g‐C3N4 hollow nanospheres with N‐vacancies and applied to photocatalytic CO2 reduction reaction, overcoming the current limitations of the low electron–hole recombination rate and prolong the lifetime of the photogenerated carrier. The high specific surface area of hollow nanosphere facilitates the uniform dispersion and anchoring of Rh2 diatomic pairs, while the N‐vacancies induce a stable 3N/Rh‐Rh/1N2C coordination between the carrier and Rh2 diatomic pairs. The local charges on the support framework with N vacancies tend to be transferred to Rh2 diatomic site by 3N/Rh‐Rh/1N2C bridge, which made the charge enriched Rh2 diatomic site become the active center of reaction, enhance charge separation efficiency of Rh2/HCNS‐Nv. Compared with Rh1 SAC, further Density Functional Theory (DFT) calculation confirms that Rh2 DAC can effectively stabilize rate‐limiting intermediates CHO*, and well weaken the C─O bond strength in CH3O* species, promote the generation and separation of CH4, resulting in high CO2 reduction efficiency and CH4 electron selectivity of up to 91.65%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The electrochemical performance of aqueous zinc metal batteries (AZMBs) is highly dependent on the electric double layer (EDL) properties at Zn electrode/electrolyte interface. Herein, a novel reconfigured EDL is constructed via a double‐charged theanine (TN) additive for super‐stable and deep‐rechargeable AZMBs. Experiments and theoretical computations unravel that the positively charged TN not only serves as preferential anchor to form a water‐poor Helmholtz plane onto the Zn anode, but also its anionic end could coordinate with Zn2+ to tailor the solvation structure in the diffusion layer and further reconstruct the inner H‐bonds networks, thus effectively guiding uniform Zn deposition and suppressing the water‐induced side reactions. Consequently, the Zn//Zn cells acquire outstanding cycling stabilities of nearly 800 h at a high depth of discharge of 80%. Moreover, the Zn//VOX full cells deliver substantial capacity retention (94.12% after 1400 cycles at 2 A g−1) under practical conditions. Importantly, the designed 2.7 Ah Zn//VOX pouch cell harvests a recorded energy density of 42.3 Wh Kgcell−1 and 79.5 Wh Lcell–1, with a remarkable capacity retention of 85.93% after 220 cycles at 50 mA g−1. This innovative design concept to reshape the EDL chemistry would inject fresh vitality into developing advanced AZMBs and beyond. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To determine the effect of male body mass index (BMI) on the probability of achieving a live birth and the sex ratio of singletons at birth after IVF and intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) treatment.Design: A retrospective cohort study.Setting: University-affiliated infertility center.Patient(s): Patients seeking infertility treatment who received IVF or ICSI treatment with autologous oocytes from January 2009 to December 2013.Intervention(s): None.Main Outcome Measure(s): Live-birth sex ratio of singletons at birth stratified by male BMI and adjusted by parental age, parental BMI, type of infertility, parity, embryo culture media, and cause of infertility.Result(s): A total of 8,490 couples undergoing IVF or ICSI treatment resulted in 39.12% live births and gave birth to 2,377 live birth singletons and 943 twins. There was no significant difference in the live birth rate between groups stratified by BMI. The probability of live births for overweight and obese groups were not decreased compared with the normal-weight group; similar null findings existed in the IVF and ICSI subgroups. Of note, the sex ratio of offspring in the overweight and obese male groups was significantly higher than in the normal-weight group (1.27 vs. 1.07). Male BMI was significantly associated with sex ratio of singletons after adjusting for confounders. In twins, incidences of twins with male-male infants in the overweight/obese group were not different from the normal-weight group.Conclusion(s): Increased male BMI has no effect on live birth success, but has an increased probability of giving birth to male singletons. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Background: Macrosomia has increased rapidly worldwide in the past few decades, with a huge impact on health. However, the effect of PM2.5 and extreme high‐temperature (EHT) on macrosomia has been ignored. Objective: This study aimed to explore the association between maternal exposure to EHT, PM2.5 and macrosomia based on the Seventh Demographic and Health Survey (DHS) in 14 countries of Africa. Methods: The study included detailed demographic information on 106 382 births and maternal. Satellite inversion models estimated monthly mean PM2.5 and mean surface temperature of 2 m (SMT2m). Macrosomia was defined as the birth weight ≥ 4000 g. We used a Cox proportional risk regression model to estimate the association between PM2.5, EHT and macrosomia. We further explored the susceptibility of exposure to EHT and PM2.5 at different pregnancy periods to macrosomia, and plotted the expose‐response curve between PM2.5 and macrosomia risk using a restricted cubic spline function. In addition, the Interplot model was used to investigate the interaction between EHT and PM2.5 on macrosomia. Finally, some potential confounding factors were analysed by stratification. Results: There was the positive association between EHT, PM2.5 and macrosomia, and the risk of macrosomia with the increase in concentrations of PM2.5 without clear threshold. Meanwhile, EHT and PM2.5 had a higher effect on macrosomia in middle/later and early/middle stages of pregnancy, respectively. There was a significant interaction between EHT and PM2.5 on macrosomia. Conclusions: Maternal exposure to EHT, PM2.5 during pregnancy was associated with an increased risk of macrosomia in Africa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The targeted synthesis of manganese phosphides with target phase remains a huge challenge because of their various stoichiometries and phase‐dependent physicochemical properties. In this study, phosphorus‐rich MnP, manganese‐rich Mn2P, and their heterostructure MnP–Mn2P nanoparticles evenly dispersed on porous carbon are accurately synthesized by a convenient one‐pot heat treatment of phosphate resin combined with Mn2+. Moreover, their electrochemical properties are systematically investigated as sulfur hosts in lithium–sulfur batteries. Density functional theory calculations demonstrate the superior adsorption, catalysis capabilities, and electrical conductivity of MnP–Mn2P/C, compared with MnP/C and Mn2P/C. The MnP–Mn2P/C@S exhibits an excellent capacity of 763.3 mAh g−1 at 5 C with a capacity decay rate of only 0.013% after 2000 cycles. A phase evolution product (MnS) of MnP–Mn2P/C@S is detected during the catalysis of MnP–Mn2P/C with polysulfides redox through in situ X‐ray diffraction and Raman spectroscopy. At a sulfur loading of up to 8 mg cm−2, the MnP–Mn2P/C@S achieves an area capacity of 6.4 mAh cm−2 at 0.2 C. A pouch cell with the MnP–Mn2P/C@S cathode exhibits an initial energy density of 360 Wh kg−1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Doped materials with well-defined morphologies have attracted substantial research interest due to their excellent activity and stability in fuel cells. Herein, celery-like nitrogen and phosphorous co-doped carbon nanofibers frameworks (PNCNF) have been successfully fabricated via a novel in-situ doping and self-assembly strategy, serving as superior supports for uniform Pt nanoparticles. The resulting Pt/PNCNF composite possesses a porous architecture and high-surface area, which exhibits remarkable mass activity, durability, and anti-poisoning ability towards oxygen reduction and methanol oxidation reactions, compared to the commercial Pt/C electrocatalyst. In addition, the high CO tolerance of Pt/PNCNF could be ascribed to a strong interaction between the Pt nanocrystals and PNCNF, which facilitates OH− adsorption to remove CO intermediate. The improved electrocatalytic properties benefit from the morphological and compositional advantages of the N and P co-doped carbon nanofiber frameworks. Specifically, the orientation of celery-like carbon nanofibers layers in Pt/PNCNF optimizes its mechanical properties. This synthetic strategy for the preparation of N and P co-doped carbon is envisaged as a new and general pathway for the rational engineering of heteroatom doped carbon composites for renewable energy conversion applications. [Display omitted] • A novel celery-like nitrogen and phosphorous co-doped carbon nanofibers frameworks (PNCNF) have been fabricated. • Pt/PNCNF facilitates 3 times mass activity of that on commercial Pt/C for ORR. • DFT results indicates Pt/PNCNF possesses superior O 2 adsorption energy compared with Pt/C. • Pt/PNCNF exhibits a much lower onset potential and higher peak mass activity compared with Pt/C. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lithium−sulfur (Li−S) batteries with ultrahigh theoretical energy densities have thus far attracted significant attention as the next‐generation energy storage systems. However, the presence of the polysulfide shuttle effect and sluggish reaction kinetics have critically hindered their research progress. Herein, the fabrication of novel VC‐VO heterogeneous particles supported on a hierarchical porous carbon matrix (VC‐VO/HPC) is reported that regulate the disordered motion of lithium polysulfides (LiPSs); these particles can simultaneously achieve powerful anchoring, fast diffusion, and high‐efficiency conversion of LiPSs. Moreover, the in situ characterization of VC‐VO/HPC@S provides a rational inference for their phase evolution in the galvanostatic charge/discharge process. The formation of the V5S8 phase during electrochemical cycling primarily facilitates the interconversion of liquid‐phase polysulfides. Consequently, the VC‐VO/HPC@S cathodes exhibit excellent capacity performance (1484 mAh g−1 at 0.1 C) and ultrahigh cycle stability (0.045% decay rate per cycle at 5 C). The pouch cell exhibits a high energy density of 358 Wh kg−1. This approach explores the phase evolution of VC‐VO particles in an electrochemical environment and is valuable for the development of Li−S batteries with high area capacity and long cycle life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lithium−sulfur (Li−S) batteries with ultrahigh theoretical energy densities have thus far attracted significant attention as the next‐generation energy storage systems. However, the presence of the polysulfide shuttle effect and sluggish reaction kinetics have critically hindered their research progress. Herein, the fabrication of novel VC‐VO heterogeneous particles supported on a hierarchical porous carbon matrix (VC‐VO/HPC) is reported that regulate the disordered motion of lithium polysulfides (LiPSs); these particles can simultaneously achieve powerful anchoring, fast diffusion, and high‐efficiency conversion of LiPSs. Moreover, the in situ characterization of VC‐VO/HPC@S provides a rational inference for their phase evolution in the galvanostatic charge/discharge process. The formation of the V5S8 phase during electrochemical cycling primarily facilitates the interconversion of liquid‐phase polysulfides. Consequently, the VC‐VO/HPC@S cathodes exhibit excellent capacity performance (1484 mAh g−1 at 0.1 C) and ultrahigh cycle stability (0.045% decay rate per cycle at 5 C). The pouch cell exhibits a high energy density of 358 Wh kg−1. This approach explores the phase evolution of VC‐VO particles in an electrochemical environment and is valuable for the development of Li−S batteries with high area capacity and long cycle life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BaTiO 3 (BTO) based nanoceramics play an important role in electronic devices. Here, we synthesized three BTO-based high-entropy nanoceramics and calculated their band gaps via density functional theory (DFT). Firstly, cubic high-entropy ceramic powders, namely (La 0.2 Ca 0.2 Sr 0.2 Ba 0.2 Li 0.2)TiO 3 , Ba(Ti 0.2 Sn 0.2 Zr 0.2 Hf 0.2 Nb 0.2)O 3 and Ba(Ti 0.2 Sn 0.2 Hf 0.2 Zr 0.2 Ta 0.2)O 3 , were synthesized. Then, composition and morphology of powders was determined. Ultimately, their band gaps were calculated. We clarified the influence of metal co-doping on band gaps. Dirac-cone band-structure was found in Ba(Ti 0.2 Sn 0.2 Zr 0.2 Hf 0.2 Nb 0.2)O 3. Compared with BTO (band gap 1.821 eV), BTO-based high-entropy ceramics can have the reduced band gaps (1.549 eV; 0.001 eV; 0 eV) using various co-doping. By high-entropy strategy, conductive ability of BTO-based ceramic is regulated. Experimental results of polymer/ceramic composite dielectrics and theoretical results of ceramics are consistent. Dirac-cone ceramic filler is promising for preparing polymer-based composites for energy storage. This research enables mass preparation of high-entropy ceramic/polymer dielectric composites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was conducted to evaluate whether conventional farming can be replaced by a lower chemical pollution farming system, integrated rice-duck farming in a suburban agricultural area in northern Zhejiang, Southeast China. We comprehensively assessed the impacts of integrated rice-duck farming on weeds and herbivorous insects along with their natural enemies during the rice-growing season. We found that the rice-duck system effectively controlled weeds within the paddy fields. Nevertheless, the abundance of herbivores, particularly planthoppers and leafhoppers was increased in the duck-roaming paddy fields compared to the control and conventional fields, indicating the inefficiency of the rice-duck system in the control of rice main herbivore pests. Rice-duck farming significantly reduced the abundance of predators, especially spiders and dragonflies, therefore an 'enemy-free space' was created for herbivores which might be responsible for the observed herbivore increase in the rice-duck fields. Despite the inefficiency of rice-duck farming in the control of rice main herbivore pests, the net income of the rice-duck treatment with an organic certification was 7.6 and 1.4 times higher compared to the conventional and control treatments, respectively. In the view of the favourable results obtained in this study, the integrated rice-duck farming system might be suggested as a high economic return organic farming method suitable for modern farmers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Hierarchical hollow NiS-MoS 2 @N doped carbon microspheres are developed. • NiS-MoS 2 coated with carbon on is crucial for delivering enhanced cyclic stability capability. • The hierarchical hollow and heterostructure offer rich active sites to enhance the reaction kinetics. • Mixed metal sulfides with synergistic effects lead to better rate performance of HH-NMS@NC. • HH-NMS@NC as anode for Na-ion batteries show enhanced electrochemical performance. [Display omitted] A NiS-MoS 2 @N-doped carbon (HH-NMS@NC) composite is fabricated by sacrificial template, self-assembly, and post-sulfidation strategy. The NiS nanoparticles are uniformly anchored on MoS 2 /NC nanosheets to construct a hierarchical hollow structure, which can shorten the electrons/ions transport pathway, facilitate electrolyte infiltration, and thus enhance the electrochemical kinetics. Furthermore, the N-doped carbon coating can significantly improve the electrical conductivity and prevent the electrode pulverization during cycling due to effectively restricting the large volume change of metal sulfides. In addition, mixed metal sulfides show an intrinsic synergistic effect for enhancing sodium storage compared to single-component metal sulfides. Given these advantages, HH-NMS@NC as anode for Na-ion batteries exhibits enhanced electrochemical performance. Specifically, HH-NMS@NC can deliver an initial discharge of 488 mAh g −1 and 311 mAh g −1 retained after 700 cycles at 1 A g −1 , corresponding to 0.064% capacity decay per cycle. Furthermore, it shows a superior rate capability of 377 mAh g −1 at 8 A g −1 . [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Light-induced phase transition to spinel oxide via light-irradiated LDH. • Phase transition mechanism is proposed as "Metallic bond breakage-Co oxidation". • Light absorption, charge separation and toluene adsorption are optimized. • Superior flowing toluene catalytic activity and stability to reported catalysts. • In-situ DRIFT reveals "tandem photothermal catalysis" mechanism. Low temperature fabrication of spinel oxides and development of efficient and durable toluene photothermal catalysts remain challenging. Herein, two-dimensional amorphous spinel CoAlO x nanosheets (CoAl-LDH-L2) have been fabricated via a light-induced phase transformation strategy using intense photooxidation. Light-induced decomposition and phase transformation process have been used to elucidate the growth mechanism. The CoAl-LDH-L2 exhibits improved toluene adsorption and photothermal conversion, with the highest photothermal catalytic toluene conversion (∼100 % at 500 ppm) at 90 °C, outperforming most previously reported catalysts. Irradiation with mild external heating significantly increases the mineralization rate (∼90 %) and improves the long-term and cycling stability (∼5% losses within 39 h) relative to that under single-light-driven conditions. In-situ DRIFT spectroscopy was also performed for revealing the "tandem photothermal catalysis" mechanism for toluene conversion. This work offers a novel strategy for developing spinel oxides as low-temperature photothermal catalyst in a green and sustainable way. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Montmorillonite (Mt) is widely used in various fields due to its abundant resources and excellent adsorption performance, while the hydration and adsorption properties of raw or functionalized Mt are affected by its intrinsic property, layer charge density (LCD). Herein, a series of reduced-charge montmorillonites (RC-Mt) with high, medium, and low layer charges were prepared by the method of lithiation and microwaving Ca-Mt. Meanwhile, the effects of artificially regulated layer charge density on Mt's structure, hydration properties, and the removal ability of aqueous anions by the poly (diallyl dimethylammonium chloride) functionalized Mt (PDDA-Mt) were also investigated. Results showed that the LCD of Mt decreased with the increasing microwave time or power. In addition, the physicochemical properties of RC-Mt which included cation exchange capacity (CEC), colloidal index, and swelling properties decreased as the LCD decreased. Furthermore, the adsorption capacity of Mt for NO 3 - was significantly improved following the PDDA functionalization. The kinetic modeling suggests that the Pseudo-first-order model better characterized the adsorption of Ca-Mt and Li-Mt than the Pseudo-second-order model. On the other hand, the good fit of the Pseudo-second-order model implied that the adsorption process of nitrate on RC-Mt and PDDA-Mt is mainly driven by chemisorption control. The adsorption thermodynamics indicated that the adsorption process was spontaneous. Furthermore, the FTIR and XPS results suggested that in addition to diffusion and electrostatic interactions, the adsorption mechanism of PDDA-Mt was mainly attributed to the ion exchange between chloride and nitrate on the quaternary ammonium group of PDDA. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Atomic-scale inorganic carbon nanomaterials (ICN) with rich surface polarity and low lattice mismatch for zinc is proposed as a green and effective electrolyte additive to regulate the Zn deposition behavior, rending dendrite-free and side reactions-free Zn metal anodes. [Display omitted] • A multifunctional electrolyte additive of ICN is developed for Zn-ion batteries. • The high surface polarity of ICN mitigates the water-induced side reactions. • The low lattice mismatch with Zn(0 0 2) nanosheets guides parallel Zn deposition. • The full battery harvests excellent cycling performance under practical conditions. The renaissance of aqueous zinc-ion batteries (ZIBs) is impeded by the disordered Zn deposition and notorious water attack at the Zn-electrolyte interface. Electrolyte additive engineering plays a vital role in tuning the electrode–electrolyte interface chemistry to stabilize Zn anode but its long-term performance at high plating/stripping rates and capacities remains a challenge. Herein, we demonstrate highly reversible Zn anodes by employing the atomic-scale inorganic carbon nanomaterials (ICN) as a multifunctional electrolyte additive into the common ZnSO 4 solution to regulate the Zn deposition behaviors. The ICN with rich surface polar groups modulates the primary Zn2+ solvation structure to avoid the side reactions, and preferentially absorbs on the Zn anode surface to build a passivated-protect interface to suppress Zn corrosion and dendrite growth. More importantly, its low lattice mismatch with zinc navigates the preferred Zn (0 0 2) deposition to induce smooth and dense Zn plating morphology, fundamentally eradicating the Zn dendrite issues and further Zn corrosion. Consequently, the electrolyte containing ICN additive endows the symmetric Zn cells with fabulous cumulative capacity (3500 mAh cm−2), decent Coulombic efficiency (99.69 %) at 10 mA cm−2, and excellent stability of 800 cycles with only 0.022 % capacity decay per cycle in the Zn||VO X battery under practical conditions of limited Zn supply, high-loading cathode and lean electrolyte. This work presents an effective strategy to advance the practical applications of rechargeable aqueous zinc batteries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Three types of alkyl-ammonium with different branching chains and three complexants with different functional groups were used to prepare alkyl-ammonium or complexant intercalated montmorillonite nanocomposite (A-Mt or C-Mt). In addition, synergistic intercalated montmorillonite nanocomposites (A/C-Mt) with alkyl-ammonium along with complexant were also prepared. The adsorption performance of the various nanocomposites toward Zn2+ and p-nitrophenol (PNP) from simulated binary wastewater containing both Zn2+ and PNP were systematically investigated. Characterization of Mt nanocomposites showed that both alkyl-ammoniums and complexants were successfully intercalated into the interlayers of Mt. The surfactant loading amounts of the various nanocomposites were also determined and correlated with the resulting expansion of the interlayer spacing. It was found that intercalation of alkane (OTAC) and –SH (CSH) were conducive to the adsorption of Zn2+ while –C 2 H 4 NH (TETA) and all alkyl-ammoniums were beneficial for PNP adsorption. The extent of adsorption was found to be controlled primarily by pH, i.e., the higher pH had a good effect on the adsorption of both Zn2+ and PNP. The adsorption process of Zn2+ onto Mt nanocomposites was more in line with the Freundlich model (R 2 = 0.99), while the Langmuir model described the adsorption of PNP well (R 2 = 0.99). The adsorption kinetics could be well described by the Elovich equation (R 2 = 0.98) and the double-constant model (R 2 = 0.89). Chemical adsorption was determined to be the dominant process between the contaminant and Mt nanocomposite surfaces. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to examine the effects of adding growth hormone (GH) into the in vitro maturation (IVM) culture medium of mouse oocytes on pregnancy outcomes. Cumulus-oocyte complexes (COCs) were cultured in a medium with (GH group, 100 ng/mL) or without (Con group) GH. Thereafter, chromosome morphology, spindle morphology, and mitochondrial function were examined. Embryo development and blastocyst quality after in vitro fertilization were evaluated. After the embryo transfer, the implantation sites and pregnancy outcomes were evaluated. The oocyte maturation rate of the GH group (81.8 ± 9.6%) was compared to that of the Con group (81.3 ± 6.9%, P = 0.928). The proportion of morphologically abnormal spindles in GH-treated oocytes (7.1 ± 0.9%) was significantly lower than control oocytes (13.7 ± 1.3%, P = 0.032), whereas the proportion of morphologically abnormal chromosomes and mitochondrial distribution was similar between the groups. The mitochondrial membrane potential (P < 0.001) and ATP concentration (P < 0.001) in GH-exposed oocytes were higher than those in control oocytes. After fertilization, the blastocyst rate in the GH group (33.8 ± 13.2%) was significantly higher than the Con group (16.2 ± 2.0%, P = 0.003). In addition, inner cell mass (ICM) number (13.91 ± 3.48 vs. 7.00 ± 1.91, P < 0.001), total cell number (47.45 ± 8.39 vs. 37.71 ± 4.15, P = 0.007), and the ratio of ICM/total cell number (29.9 ± 8.2% vs. 18.6 ± 5.0%, P = 0.002) of blastocyst were all higher in GH group. The implantation rate (71.2 ± 1.9% vs. 39.4 ± 16.4%, P < 0.001) and litter size (8.50 ± 3.99 vs. 3.00 ± 1.22, P = 0.018) were significantly higher in the GH group. Although addition of GH into IVM culture medium does not improve oocyte maturation rate, it improves oocyte and embryo quality, which leads to better embryo development and pregnancy outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Co 2 P-Fe 2 P heterogeneous nanoparticles on porous carbon skeleton (Co 2 P-Fe 2 P/C) is synthesized. • A current density of Co 2 P-Fe 2 P/C is 1.68 mA cm−2 at 0.1 V for HOR, which is close to commercial Pt/C catalyst. • Co 2 P-Fe 2 P/C displays a Tafel slope of 42 mV dec−1 towards HER and an excellent stability in long-term testing for 120 h. • In situ Raman indicates that a surface reconstruction is involved for Co 2 P-Fe 2 P/C during the HOR. Hydrogen evolution and oxidation are critical to realizing hydrogen energy recycling and to the hydrogen economy. Therefore, it is important to develop non-precious metal catalysts with high efficiency and stability for the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) and hydrogen oxidation reaction (HOR). In this study, we reported on the facile synthesis of Co 2 P-Fe 2 P heterogeneous nanoparticles on a porous carbon skeleton (Co 2 P-Fe 2 P/C), which exhibited high activity for both HOR and HER in alkaline conditions. The overpotential of Co 2 P-Fe 2 P/C toward HER was 77 mV at 10 mA cm−2, with a Tafel slope of 42 mV dec−1 and excellent stability under long-term testing after 120 h. The current density at 0.1 V for HOR was 1.68 mA cm−2, which was close to that of commercial Pt/C. In situ Raman spectroscopy indicated that surface reconstruction was involved for Co 2 P-Fe 2 P/C, CoFe 2 O 4 , and FeOOH, as detected during HOR. Density functional theory calculations revealed strong electron interaction between Fe 2 P and Co 2 P at the heterogeneous interfaces, resulting in an optimal hydrogen adsorption strength for HER. This study significantly contributes to the realization of low-cost and high-efficiency bifunctional catalysts for HER and HOR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Carbon encapsulation and optimization of nanoparticle structure are key strategies in the development of battery electrode materials. Herein, we report a simple, one step chemical vapor deposition-like method to synthesize carbon encapsulated sandwich structured nanosheets/nanoribbons of ferrous sulphide (FeS@C NSRs) as a high performance sodium-ion battery anode material. The structurally advantageous FeS@C NSRs arises from heating Fe foam in the presence of a sulphur-containing resin, which supplies both the sulphur and carbon for the reaction. FeS@C NSRs maintains a high capacity of 582.8 mAh g−1 at 0.1 A g−1 for 120 cycles and a high rate capability of 270 mAh g−1 at 10 A g−1 for 2500 cycles. The impressive cycling performance results from fast electron and ion transfer with low structural strain on the bulk material. Furthermore, in situ Raman spectroscopy and XRD also reveal evidence that FeS@C NSRs cycles via a fully reversible conversion reaction pathway facilitated by the C–S–Fe bond. The efficient synthesis method could also be explored to produce other carbon coated transition metal sulphides for electrochemical applications. [Display omitted] • Carbon encapsulated sandwich structured nanosheets/nanoribbons of ferrous sulphide (FeS@C NSRs) is synthesized. • In situ Raman and XRD reveal interfacial C–S–Fe bond facilitates the reversible conversion reaction. • FeS@C NRs shows an excellent cycling stability, a high rate capability and enhanced Na+ diffusion rates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

LiFe 1-x Mn x PO 4 , which combines the advantages of excellent rate capability of LiFePO 4 and high operation voltage of LiMnPO 4 , is widely studied as a promising cathode for the purpose of facilitating its electronic conductivity and Li-ion mobility. Herein, a double-carbon co-modified strategy is introduced to design and construct carbon-coated LiFe 0.4 Mn 0.6 PO 4 enwrapped into 3D graphene framework (LiFe 0.4 Mn 0.6 PO 4 /C/rGO), in which a novel Fe 0.4 Mn 0.6 C 2 O 4 ·2H 2 O/GO precursor is creatively introduced and synthesized via fast in-situ coprecipitation without any pH regulator. In the LiFe 0.4 Mn 0.6 PO 4 /C/rGO architecture, well dispersive LiFe 0.4 Mn 0.6 PO 4 particles with submicron-size are uniformly coated by a conductive carbon layer to form LiFe 0.4 Mn 0.6 PO 4 /C, which are tightly anchored on and enwrapped into 3D graphene framework, guaranteeing sufficient "face-to-face" intimate contact between these three components. Benefiting from synergetic contributions from the well-designed 3D conductive network, fast Li-ion diffusion path, and unique structure for electrolyte penetration, the integrated LiFe 0.4 Mn 0.6 PO 4 /C/rGO yields high discharge capacity of 159.5 mAh·g−1 at 0.05C, superior rate capacity of 118.7 mAh·g−1 at 10C, and durable capacity retention of 96.4% after 200 cycles at 2 C. This proposed efficiency strategy can also be extended to other advanced cathodes for high-energy LIBs. Image 1 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development of cost effective, high performance, electrode materials for sodium ion batteries is of critical importance for large scale energy storage. Herein, we synthesize a novel nitrogen and fluorine co-doped porous carbon using a facile one-pot pyrolysis of three low cost components: polytetrafluoroethylene, a nitrogen-containing resin, and potassium hydroxide. The co-doped carbon comprises 3D assemblies of highly porous sheets with defects/disorders (and wide interlayer spacing of ~0.42 nm), which have a large surface area of 2040.3 m2 g−1 with hierarchical pore sizes. The advantageous combination of these structural features facilitates high sodium ion storage capacity, fast transfer kinetics and stable cycling. As a result, the co-doped carbon delivers an impressive 312.6 mAh g−1 at 0.1 A g−1 after 300 cycles and 215.3 mAh g−1 at 5 A g−1 after 5000 cycles (or 0.005% loss per cycle). Therefore, the excellent cycling performance of the carbon in combination with its convenient and low cost synthesis offers a promising sodium ion battery anode material for large scale energy storage. Image 1 • A unique NF-3DC is achieved by one-pot pyrolysis of PTFE, N-containing resin and KOH. • NF-3DC contains abundant macro, meso and micropores, and enlarged interlayer gaps. • NF-3DC exhibits large reversible capacity and ultra-stable cycle performance in SIB. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Self-assembly 3D hollow spheres provided efficient catalytic interface. • The MXenes-metal selenides promoted multiphase electrochemical process in LSBs. • The MXene/CoSe 2 /NC based pouch cell kept stability for 200 cycles at 1C. Lithium-sulfur batteries (LSBs) have ultrahigh theoretical energy density (2600 Wh kg−1) and large specific capacity (1675 mAh g-1), making them an ideal battery supply for energy storage systems. However, the sluggish kinetics of the heterogeneous sulfur redox reaction, notorious shuttle effect, and volume expansion hindered further application. Herein, the MOF-derived CoSe 2 nanoparticles were embeddeded on the N-doped carbon-layered MXene hollow spheres to obtain MXene@CoSe 2 /NC heterostructured composites. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations confirmed that: The MXene@CoSe 2 heterojunction composite exhibited an enhanced affinity for polysulfides and reduced the energy barrier for Li 2 S decomposition. Consequently, the MXene@CoSe 2 /NC electrodes achieved excellent performance for a large areal capacity of 3.343 mAh cm−2 with a sulfur loading of 3.5 mg cm−2. The MXene@CoSe 2 /NC based Li-S pouch cell performed an excellent stability for 200 cycles at 1 C rate. In this study, we propose an effective method of MXene/transition-metal selenide electrocatalysts for multiphase electrochemical reactions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The exploration of efficient and inexpensive transition metal phosphonates-based materials with multifunctional applications has increasingly urgent and meaningful. Herein, the organic cobalt phosphonates nanoplates (CoPPA) catalyst was achieved via a solvothermal process without employing any additives. The CoPPA catalyst proceeds nanoplates architecture with minimal sheet thickness, which not only reduce the transfer distance for charge carriers to the surface of catalyst and realize the separation of the charge carriers, but also provide numerous active sites for surface reaction. As a result, the optimal CoPPA catalyst not merely accelerated the photocatalytic activation of peroxymonosulfate (PMS) for tetracycline hydrochloride removal in CoPPA/PMS/Vis system, but also effectively electric-catalyze the oxygen evolution reaction. This work provides fresh insights for exploring high-efficiency dual-functional transition metal phosphonates-based materials and is expected to contribute to purify recalcitrant contaminants and energy conversion. [Display omitted] • Cobalt phosphonates nanoplates (CoPPA) catalyst is constructed by one-step solvothermal process. • The synergistic effect of CoPPA and PMS boosts TC-HCl degradation. • The CoPPA nanoplates achieve superior OER performance. • High carrier separation efficiency and numerous active sites contribute to the high catalytic activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Mn 2 P, MnP, and Mn 2 P-MnP nanoparticles dispersed uniformly on a P, N-doped carbon network are synthesized. • H adsorption Gibbs free energy of Mn 2 P-MnP (0.057 eV) is close to zero. • Mn 2 P-MnP/PNC requires overpotentials of 63 and 98 mV to achieve 10 mA cm−2 for HER in H 2 SO 4 and KOH solution. • Mn 2 P-MnP/PNC retains current rates of 98.18% and 97.57% after 96 and 120 h tests in acid and alkaline solutions. Electrocatalytic water splitting is an efficient method for producing high purity hydrogen and has the advantage of emitting zero waste. Manganese phosphides are considered to be promising electrocatalysts for the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) with their electrocatalytic properties being composition-dependent. In this work, we achieved the targeted synthesis of manganese-rich Mn 2 P, phosphorus-rich MnP, and their heterostructure Mn 2 P-MnP nanoparticles dispersed uniformly on a P, N-doped carbon network (Mn 2 P-MnP/PNC) through a facile strategy involving the use of phosphate resin derived with potassium hydroxide. Systematic studies were conducted on formation mechanism of Mn 2 P-MnP/PNC. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations indicate that Mn 2 P-MnP has an optimized electronic structure and Gibbs free energy of H adsorption, with that of Mn 2 P-MnP (0.057 eV) being closest to zero compared to Mn 2 P (-0.306 eV) and MnP (0.325 eV). The Mn 2 P-MnP/PNC only requires small overpotentials of 63 and 98 mV to achieve 10 mA cm−2 for HER in H 2 SO 4 and KOH solution, respectively. Furthermore, Mn 2 P-MnP/PNC exhibits ultrahigh stability for HER in both acid and alkaline solutions, retaining a current rate of 98.18% and 97.57% after 96 and 120 h chronoamperometry tests, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Decreased oocyte maturation rate (OMR) is associated with worse clinical outcomes in IVF/ICSI cycles. The clinical features inducing decreased OMR remain unknown. The study is designed to explore the factors influencing the incidence of decreased OMR and its effects on clinical outcomes.Methods: This is a retrospective case-control study analyzing data from 20,939 ICSI cycles in a reproductive center of university affiliated hospital from January 2015 to December 2017. Patients with a decreased OMR (< 30%) were characterized as Group A and those with an OMR ≥ 30% constituted Group B. Candidate factors of decreased OMR and clinical outcomes were compared between the two groups.Results: There were 1.3% cycles with an OMR < 30% and 22.16% of all oocytes retrieved (12.87 per cycle in average) were immature. Primary infertility, longer duration of infertility, larger BMI, more previous assisted reproductive times, less oocytes retrieved were risk factors for decreased OMR. Compared with long agonist protocol, patients received antagonist protocol for COH had a higher incidence of decreased OMR. The fertilization rate and subsequent embryo development of oocytes in Group A were worse than Group B. Implantation rate and clinical pregnancy rate were both lower in Group A than Group B.Conclusion: Primary infertility, duration of infertility, BMI, previous assisted reproductive times, number of oocytes retrieved and COH protocol were found to be factors inducing decreased OMR. Patients with decreased OMR had worse clinical outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract A boron and nitrogen co-doped 3D porous graphene sheet framework (BN-3DG) is prepared by simple heat treatment of borane tert-butylamine with cobalt ion-exchanged cationic resin. The material has a high specific surface area of 1347 m2 g−1 and is rich in macro, meso and microporous tertiary pore structures. XPS analysis shows that boron and nitrogen are successfully doped within the carbon structure. As a Li-ion battery anode, BN-3DG950 delivers high specific capacities of 1050 and 307 mA h g−1 after 200 cycles at 0.01 and 4 A g−1 respectively. Defects caused by boron and nitrogen co-doping increases the number of available Li-ion storage sites, and the unique interconnected pore structure of the 3D graphene sheet framework enables high cycling stability with rapid electron and Li-ion transport for high rate capability. Graphical abstract A novel boron and nitrogen co-doped three-dimensional porous graphene sheet framework exhibits high performance as a Li-ion battery anode material. Unlabelled Image Highlights • A novel boron and nitrogen co-doped three-dimensional porous graphene sheet framework is successfully synthesized. • BN-3DG has a high specific surface area of 1347 m2 g−1 and is rich in macro, meso and microporous tertiary pore structures. • BN-3DG shows high reversible capacity and cycling stability used as a LIB anode. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A hierarchical rolling brush-like carbon nitride modified with bridge units was prepared by a facile self-assembly method. The optimized sample shows impressive photocatalytic performance for degrading colored dye and H 2 evolution. [Display omitted] • Hierarchical rolling brush-like CN modified with bridge units was prepared. • The electron transfer channel via bridge units accelerated the charge separation. • CNC shows improved light absorption and facilitated charge separation. • CNC-4 exhibits the best photocatalytic H 2 evolution and removing colored dye. Reasonable design and regulation atomic structure toward efficiently improving carrier transfer is of great significance for maximizing the photocatalytic conversion efficiency, which remains a challenge. In this work, a hierarchical rolling brush-like carbon nitride (CN) modified with bridge units was prepared by a facile self-assembly method with melamine and lactic acid as the raw material. Experimental results disclosed that the construction of electron transfer channel in the basal plane of CN via bridge units results in a dramatically accelerated the charge separation and incredibly reinforced light absorption capacity. Meanwhile, the hierarchical rolling brush-like morphology provided more reactive sites and the diffusion path of carrier. Consequently, the hierarchical rolling brush-like carbon nitride photocatalyst achieved the best activities in the hydrogen evolution and simultaneous removal of RhB pollutants. This work conclusively demonstrates a new avenue for designing and modulation carrier transfer based on the molecular scale over CN and provides a synthetic strategy for high performance photocatalysts in the field of energy and environmental pollution-control. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Repeated cryopreservation of surplus embryos from frozen-thawed cycles should occasionally be considered. The purpose of this retrospective cohort study was to evaluate the pregnancy and perinatal outcome of repeated cryopreservation by vitrification of human blastocysts derived from slowly frozen-thawed day 3 embryos. In total, 571 vitrified-warmed blastocyst transfer cycles were investigated. The vitrified-warmed blastocysts were derived from slowly frozen-thawed cleavage embryos (twice-cryopreserved group) or fresh embryos (control group) cultured to the blastocyst stage. Age, body mass index, endometrial thickness, blastocyst developmental rate and number of embryos transferred were not significantly different between twice-cryopreserved and control groups. Clinical pregnancy and implantation rates were also similar. Compared with controls, the miscarriage rate was significantly higher in the twice-cryopreserved group (33.93% versus 19.07%, P = 0.017). This resulted in a significantly lower live birth rate in the twice-cryopreserved group than in controls (29.13% versus 39.18, P = 0.038). No differences were observed in mean gestational age, birthweight and sex ratio of newborns between groups. In conclusion, acceptable clinical pregnancy outcomes may be expected from transfer of twice-cryopreserved human embryos. While the neonatal outcome is not affected, the correlation between the risk of higher pregnancy loss and repeated cryopreservation needs further investigation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Tailored core–shell phosphide@carbon nanowires were synthesized. • There are strong chemical bond interactions between the core–shell Fe 2 P@C. • Fe 2 P@C nanowires on the foam were used directly as an all-in-one anode. • The cell showed a high surface capacity at a large current density. Metal phosphides are superior anode materials for secondary batteries but suffer from variable volume and low electronic conductivity. In this work, chemically bonded metal phosphide@carbon nanowire arrays with adjustable structure mounted on foam metal were synthesized via a general facile chemical vapor deposition (CVD)-like approach using an environmentally friendly, solid ionic resin as a phosphorus source. The diameter of the nanowires and thicknesses of the carbon shell could be tailored via control of the synthesis conditions. Using a Fe 2 P@C array on iron foam as an example, it was demonstrated that the new materials could be used directly as an electrode in sodium-ion batteries (SIBs) without any additives or post-processing. The Fe 2 P@C electrode delivered a significantly high area capacity of 0.40 mAh cm−2 after 1400 cycles at a current density of 3 mA cm−2, a capacity retention rate of 80.25 %, which is, to the best of our knowledge, one of the most stable, high surface capacity performances achieved in SIBs at this large current density. Tests showed that the Fe 2 P@C nanowire array on a 3D foam structure provided a larger exposure area for electrolyte penetration, a shorter passage for Na+ diffusion, and faster electronic transfer. In situ TEM revealed that the carbon shell effectively alleviated volume expansion of the Fe 2 P and in-situ Raman and XRD verified the mechanism and high reversibility of Fe 2 P@C. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Trimetallic Pt-Ni-M (M = Rh, Ru, Pd) nanoflowers were prepared via hydrothermal-annealing route. • The as-prepared catalysts displayed superior anti-poisoning ability and excellent activity. • Their good activity is due to the uniform morphology and good elemental dispersibility. • Pt 3 NiRh NFs showed higher mass and specific activity towards ORR, MOR, and HER than Pt/C. • The electron transfer between elements in the trimetallic catalysts is studied. A series of tri-functional nanoflower (NF) catalysts with numerous nanodendrites (Pt 3 NiRh, Pt 3 NiRu, Pt 3 NiPd, Pt 3 Ni, and Pt 2 Ni 2 Rh NFs) were synthesized by introducing Rh, Ru, and Pd into Pt-Ni nanoflowers, aiming at accelerating the sluggish kinetics of oxygen reduction reaction (ORR), methanol oxidation reaction (MOR), and hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). The as-prepared catalysts displayed superior anti-poisoning ability and excellent activity due to uniform morphology and good dispersibility. Their electrochemical characterization revealed that the Pt 3 NiRh NFs showed the highest mass activity (2.17 A m g P G M - 1 ) and specific activity (3.13 mA cm-2) toward ORR, close to 9.9 and 4.6 times higher than the values measured on Pt/C (46.7 %). As for MOR, mass and specific activities of Pt 3 NiRh NFs were 1.88 A m g P G M - 1 and 2.62 mA cm-2, far exceeding the values on commercial Pt/C. Moreover, HER activity of Pt 3 NiRh NFs outperformed commercial Pt/C. This work is valuable to develop promising multi-functional catalysts with enhanced activity and anti-poisoning ability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Ni 2 P NPs/N, P-CNT-850 prepared by a novel in-situ one-step carbonization strategy. • The optimized Ni 2 P NPs/N, P-CNT-850 electrocatalyst shows remarkable OER performance in the alkaline solution. • Electrocatalytic activity exceeds the benchmark RuO 2 electrocatalyst. • N,P co-doped CNTs can optimize the electronic structure to enhance electrocatalytic activity. • The enhanced performance resulted from the multicomponent synergetic effect. Earth-abundant nickel-based composites are of high concern as electrocatalysts for the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) which are significant to many sustainable chemical and energy transformation technologies. However, the realization of effective OER is still far away by the requirement of a high sustainable driving potential above thermodynamic requirements. In this work, we develop an innovative one-pot in-situ approach to synthesize nitrogen (N) and phosphorous (P) co-doped carbon nanotubes (CNTs) embedded with Ni 2 P nanoparticles. The structure of Ni 2 P nanoparticles in carbon nanotubes and their electrocatalytic activities have been studied in relation to varied carbonization temperatures. Benefiting from the in-situ designed Ni 2 P nanoparticles, N, P co-doped carbon nanotubes (NP-CNTs) with larger surface area, pore-rich structure, and optimized temperature, the as-prepared Ni 2 P NPs/NP-CNT-850 exhibits remarkable electrocatalytic activity for the OER in 1.0 M alkaline solution. In particular, the optimized Ni 2 P NPs/NP-CNT-850 can achieve a reference current density of 10 mA cm−2 at a very low overpotential of 298 mV and lower Tafel slope of 53 mV dec-1. This electrocatalyst also shows long-term stability without significant degradation for 17 h. Our study opens innovative in-situ engineering to dramatically increase the electrocatalytic activity of Ni-based composite for other applications via rational design of architectures with multiple active sites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Obesity has caused a huge burden of disease. Few studies have explored individuals' environmental exposure level and the impact of multiple environmental exposures on obesity. The aim of this study was to explore individual air pollution exposure evaluation, and the association between and multiple environmental factors and obesity among adult residents in rural areas of China. In this study, 8400 residents of 14 districts and counties in eastern of China were selected by multistage stratified cluster sampling, and a total of 8377 residents were included in the final analysis. We adopted BMI (Body Mass Index) > 28 kg/m2 as the definition of obesity. First, an individual air pollution evaluation model was established based on the monitoring data of air pollution stations closest to residential address, different demographic characteristics of residents and daily living habits using generalized linear model and random forest model. Then, we used Bayesian Kernel Machine Regression (BKMR) and Quantile g-Computation (QgC) models to explore multiple environmental exposures on obesity. The results showed that six air pollutants were significantly positively associated with obesity, and green space had a significant protective effect on obesity. The BKMR model showed that the effects of different air pollutants on obesity were significantly enhanced by each other, while green space significantly reduced the positive effect of air pollution on obesity. The QgC model showed a significant positive association with obesity when all environmental factors were exposed as a whole, especially in males, higher household incomes and young people. It suggested that relevant authorities should improve regional air quality and green space to reduce the burden of disease caused by obesity. [Display omitted] • We evaluated individual air pollution exposure of residents in Anhui Province. • There was a positive association between air pollution and obesity. • Green space was negatively associated with obesity. • Green space could attenuate effect of air pollution on obesity. • Multiple environmental exposure was positively associated with obesity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]