Enhanced Piezocatalytic Performance of Li-doped BaTiO3 Through a Facile Sonication-Assisted Precipitation Approach

Piezocatalysis-induced dye degradation has garnered significant attention as an effective method for addressing wastewater treatment challenges. In our study, we employed a room-temperature sonochemical method to synthesize piezoelectric barium titanate nanoparticles (BaTiO3: BTO) with varying levels of Li doping. This approach not only streamlined the sample preparation process but also significantly reduced the overall time required for synthesis, making it a highly efficient and practical method. One of the key findings was the exceptional performance of the Li-doped BTO nanoparticles. With 20 mg of Li additive, we achieved 90% removal of Rhodamine B (RhB) dye within a relatively short timeframe of 150 minutes, all while subjecting the sample to ultrasonic vibration. This rapid and efficient dye degradation was further evidenced by the calculated kinetic rate constant, which indicated seven times faster degradation rate compared to pure BTO. The enhanced piezoelectric performance observed in the Li-doped BTO nanoparticles can be attributed to the strategic substitution of Li atoms, which facilitated a more efficient transfer of charge charges at the interface. Overall, our study underscores the potential of piezocatalysis coupled with advanced materials like Li-doped BTO nanoparticles as a viable and promising solution for wastewater treatment, offering both efficiency and environmental sustainability.

[Propensity score matching analysis of the short-term efficacy of Kamikawa versus double- tract reconstruction in laparoscopic proximal gastric cancer surgery]

Objective: To compare the short-term efficacy of Kamikawa anastomosis and double-tract reconstruction (DTR) after proximal gastrectomy. Methods: This was a propensity score matched, retrospective, cohort study. Inclusion criteria comprised age 20-70 years, diagnosis of gastric cancer by pathological examination of preoperative endoscopic biopsies, tumor diameter ≤4 cm, and location in the upper 1/3 of the stomach (including the gastroesophageal junction), and TNM stage IA, IB, or IIA. The study cohort comprised 73 patients who had undergone laparoscopic proximal gastric cancer radical surgery in the Department of Gastroenterology, Tangdu Hospital, Air Force Medical University between June 2020 and February 2023, 19 of whom were in the Kamikawa group and 54 in the DTR group. After using R language to match the baseline characteristics of patients in a ratio of 1:2, there were 17 patients in the Kamikawa group and 34 in the DTR group. Surgery-related conditions, postoperative quality of life, and postoperative complications were compared between the two groups. Results: After propensity score matching, there were no statistically significant differences in baseline data between the two groups (P>0.05). Compared with the DTR group, the Kamikawa group had longer operative times (321.5±15.7 minutes vs. 296.8±26.1 minutes, t=32.056, P<0.001), longer anastomosis times (93.0±6.8 minutes vs. 45.3±7.7 minutes, t=56.303, P<0.001), and less bleeding (76 [54~103] mL vs.112 [82~148) mL, Z=71.536, P<0.001); these differences are statistically significant. There were no statistically significant differences between the two groups in tumor size, time to first postoperative passage of gas, postoperative hospital stay, number of lymph nodes removed, duration of lymph node dissection, or total hospitalization cost (all P>0.05). The median follow-up time was 6.1 ± 1.8 months. As to postoperative quality of life, the Kamikawa group had a lower rate of upper gastrointestinal contrast reflux than did the DTR group (0 vs. 29.4% [10/34], χ2=6.220, P=0.013); this difference is statistically significant. However, differences between the two groups in quality of life score on follow-up of 3 months and 6 months on the Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) scale were not statistically significant (all P>0.05). The incidence of postoperative complications was 2/17 in the Kamikawa group, which is significantly lower than the 41.2% (14/34) in the DTR group (χ2=4.554, P=0.033). Conclusion: Kamikawa anastomosis and DTR are equally safe and effective procedures for reconstructing the digestive tract after proximal gastric surgery. Although Kamikawa anastomosis takes slightly longer and places higher demands on the surgical team, it is more effective at preventing postoperative reflux.

Graphene and MOF Assembly: Enhanced Fabrication and Functional Derivative via MOF Amorphization

The integration of graphene and metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) has numerous implications across various domains, but fabricating such assemblies is often complicated and time-consuming. Herein, a one-step preparation of graphene-MOF assembly is presented by directly impregnating vertical graphene (VG) arrays into the zeolitic imidazolate framework (ZIF) precursors under ambient conditions. This approach can effectively assemble multiple ZIFs, including ZIF-7, ZIF-8, and ZIF-67, resulting in their uniform dispersion on the VG with adjustable sizes and shapes. Hydrogen defects on the VG surface are critical in inducing such high-efficiency ZIF assembly, acting as the reactive sites to interact with the ZIF precursors and facilitate their crystallisation. The versatility of VG-ZIF-67 assembly is further demonstrated by exploring the process of MOF amorphization. Surprisingly, this process leads to an amorphous thin-film coating formed on VG (named VG-IL-amZIF-67), which preserves the short-range molecular bonds of crystalline ZIF-67 while sacrificing the long-range order. Such a unique film-on-graphene architecture maintains the essential characteristics and functionalities of ZIF-67 within a disordered arrangement, making it well-suited for electrocatalysis. In electrochemical oxygen reduction, VG-IL-amZIF-67 exhibits exceptional activity, selectivity, and stability to produce H2 O2 in acid media.

Prevalence and influencing factors of depressive and anxiety symptoms among hospital-based healthcare workers during the surge period of the COVID-19 pandemic in the Chinese mainland: a multicenter cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND

From November 2022 to February 2023, the Chinese mainland experienced a surge in COVID-19 infection and hospitalization, and the hospital-based healthcare workers (HCWs) might suffer serious psychological crisis during this period. This study aims to assess the depressive and anxiety symptoms among HCWs during the surge of COVID-19 pandemic and to provide possible reference on protecting mental health of HCWs in future infectious disease outbreaks.

METHODS

A multicenter cross-sectional study was carried out among hospital-based HCWs in the Chinese mainland from 5 January to 9 February 2023. The PHQ-9 (nine-item Patient Health Questionnaire) and GAD-7 (seven-item Generalized Anxiety Disorder Questionnaire) were used to measure depressive and anxiety symptoms. Ordinal logistic regression analysis was performed to identify influencing factors.

RESULTS

A total of 6522 hospital-based HCWs in the Chinse mainland were included in this survey. The prevalence of depressive symptoms among the HCWs was 70.75%, and anxiety symptoms was 47.87%. The HCWs who perceived higher risk of COVID-19 infection and those who had higher work intensity were more likely to experience depressive and anxiety symptoms. Additionally, higher levels of mindfulness, resilience and perceived social support were negatively associated with depressive and anxiety symptoms.

CONCLUSION

This study revealed that a high proportion of HCWs in the Chinese mainland suffered from mental health disturbances during the surge of the COVID-19 pandemic. Resilience, mindfulness and perceived social support are important protective factors of HCWs' mental health. Tailored interventions, such as mindfulness practice, should be implemented to alleviate psychological symptoms of HCWs during the COVID-19 pandemic or other similar events in the future.

Effect of Segmental Abutting Esophagus-Sparing Technique to Reduce Severe Esophagitis in Limited-Stage Small-Cell Lung Cancer Patients Treated with Concurrent Hypofractionated Thoracic Radiation and Chemotherapy

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVE(S)

To evaluate the effect of segmental abutting esophagus-sparing (SAES) radiotherapy to reduce severe (G3+) acute esophagitis from 20% to 5% in patients with limited-stage small cell lung cancer (LS-SCLC) treated with concurrent chemoradiotherapy.

MATERIALS/METHODS

Patients with a clinical target volume (CTV) ≤1 cm close to the esophagus were enrolled in the experimental arm (45 Gy in 3 Gy daily fractions in 3 weeks) of an ongoing phase III randomized clinical trial (NCT02675088), which enrolled patients with histologically confirmed SCLC and clinically staged as LS or I-IIIB (AJCC 7th). This trial was designed to determine whether HYPO TRT (45 Gy in 3 Gy QD, experimental arm) has the same efficacy as CF TRT (60 Gy in 2 Gy QD, controlled arm) in patients with LS-SCLC. The whole esophagus was divided into the involved esophagus and abutting esophagus (AE) to receive different dose limitations according to the distance from the edge of the CTV. The primary endpoint was grade ≥ 3 acute esophagitis.

RESULTS

From 1 May 2021 to 30 April 2022, 30 patients were enrolled and completed four cycles of planned chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Our patient population was predominantly male (66.7% men vs. 33.3% women), with a median age of 62 years. A majority of patients presented with Stage N2-3 (90.0%) and T2-4 (76.7%), in which 4 patients had ultracentral-located primary tumors. With the SAES technique, all dosimetric parameters were significantly reduced for the whole esophagus and AE. The maximal and mean dose of the esophagus (47.4±1.9 Gy and 13.5 ± 5.8 Gy, respectively) and AE (42.9±2.3 Gy and 8.6 ± 3.6 Gy, respectively) in the SAES plan were significantly lower than those (esophagus 48.0±1.9 Gy and 14.7± 6.1 Gy, AE 45.1±2.4 Gy and 9.8± 4.2 Gy, respectively) in the non-SAES plan. After the follow-up of more than 7 months (range, 7.0-18.1 months) for all patients, only one patient (3.3%, 95% CI 0.1%-17.2%) experienced grade 3 acute esophagitis and no grade 4-5 acute esophagitis happened (Table 3). For late toxicities, one patient suffered sustained grade 1 late esophagitis and all others had no symptoms of esophagitis. The rate of radiation pneumonitis was very low, with one grade 3 event and no grade 4-5 event. Twelve (40.0%) patients had G3+ hematologic toxic events, including 2 patients with febrile neutropenia. The 1-year OS, LRFS, DMFS and PFS was 96.4%, 88.7%, 78.4% and 64.3%, respectively. No patient developed local recurrence in the abutting esophagus-sparing region.

CONCLUSION

SAES radiotherapy has significant dosimetric advantages compared with standard radiotherapy, which are successfully translated into clinical benefits for patients with LS-SCLC treated with 45 Gy in 3 Gy daily fractions. This may facilitate dose escalation for TRT in LS-SCLC patients.

Combined Molecular and Morphological Imaging of CTCs for HER2-Targeted Chemotherapy Guidance

Since biomolecules change dynamically with tumor evolution and drug treatment, it is necessary to confirm target molecule expression in real time for effective guidance of subsequent chemotherapy treatment. However, current methods to confirm target proteins require complex processing steps and invasive tissue biopsies, limiting their clinical utility for targeted treatment monitoring. Here, CTCs, as a promising liquid biopsy source, were used to molecularly characterize the target protein HER2. To accurately identify CTCs, we specifically proposed a combined molecular and morphological imaging method, rather than using specific biomarker alone or morphology analysis, we identified CTCs as CK19+/CD45-/HE+. On the basis of the accurate identification of CTCs, we further analyzed the target protein HER2 in clinical patients at the single-CTC level. Comparative analysis of the clinical results of patient pathological tissue and paired blood samples showed that CTCs had a heterogeneous HER2 expression at the single-cell level and showed results inconsistent with the immunohistochemistry results in some cases. CTC-based analysis could help clinicians have a more comprehensive understanding of patient target protein expression. We believe that CTC-based target protein studies are of great significance for the precise management of targeted therapy.

Introduction to Supercapacitors

Guest editors Zhaojun Han, Ruopian Fang, Dewei Chu, Da-Wei Wang and Kostya (Ken) Ostrikov, introduce this Nanoscale Advances themed issue on supercapacitors.

Engineering work functions of cobalt-doped manganese oxide based electrocatalysts for highly efficient oxygen evolution reaction

The crystalline and electronic structures are two important factors for the design of electrocatalysts. In this work, Co-doped MnO electrocatalysts grown on nickel foam (NF) were prepared by a facile hydrothermal reaction, followed by H₂ treatment process. The electrocatalytic performance of MnO was significantly improved after doping with Co and the Co_0.1Mn_0.9O-NF sample achieved excellent oxygen evolution reaction (OER) performance with low overpotential (370 mV at 10 mA cm^-2) and reasonable Tafel slope (85.6 mV dec^-1). Significantly, the low work function was obtained in the Co_0.1Mn_0.9O-NF sample (4.37 eV), which could accelerate the charge transfer process of the OER activity. The excellent OER performance of the Co_0.1Mn_0.9O-NF sample is also attributed to the rich active sites, which improved electrical conductivity and enlarged electrochemical surface areas.

Efficient CO2 Reduction to Formate on CsPbI3 Nanocrystals Wrapped with Reduced Graphene Oxide

Highlights

A rational design of metal halide perovskites for achieving efficient CO2 reduction reaction was demonstrated. The stability of CsPbI3 perovskite nanocrystal (NCs) in aqueous electrolyte was improved by compositing with reduced graphene oxide (rGO). The CsPbI3/rGO catalyst exhibited > 92% Faradaic efficiency toward formate production with high current density which was associated with the synergistic effects between the CsPbI3 NCs and rGO.

Abstract

Transformation of greenhouse gas (CO2) into valuable chemicals and fuels is a promising route to address the global issues of climate change and the energy crisis. Metal halide perovskite catalysts have shown their potential in promoting CO2 reduction reaction (CO2RR), however, their low phase stability has limited their application perspective. Herein, we present a reduced graphene oxide (rGO) wrapped CsPbI3 perovskite nanocrystal (NC) CO2RR catalyst (CsPbI3/rGO), demonstrating enhanced stability in the aqueous electrolyte. The CsPbI3/rGO catalyst exhibited > 92% Faradaic efficiency toward formate production at a CO2RR current density of ~ 12.7 mA cm−2. Comprehensive characterizations revealed the superior performance of the CsPbI3/rGO catalyst originated from the synergistic effects between the CsPbI3 NCs and rGO, i.e., rGO stabilized the α-CsPbI3 phase and tuned the charge distribution, thus lowered the energy barrier for the protonation process and the formation of *HCOO intermediate, which resulted in high CO2RR selectivity toward formate. This work shows a promising strategy to rationally design robust metal halide perovskites for achieving efficient CO2RR toward valuable fuels.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s40820-023-01132-3.

G3'MTMD3 in the insect GABA receptor subunit, RDL, confers resistance to broflanilide and fluralaner

Meta-diamides (e.g. broflanilide) and isoxazolines (e.g. fluralaner) are novel insecticides that target the resistant to dieldrin (RDL) subunit of insect γ-aminobutyric acid receptors (GABARs). In this study, we used in silico analysis to identify residues that are critical for the interaction between RDL and these insecticides. Substitution of glycine at the third position (G3') in the third transmembrane domain (TMD3) with methionine (G3'M TMD3), which is present in vertebrate GABARs, had the strongest effect on fluralaner binding. This was confirmed by expression of RDL from the rice stem borer, Chilo suppressalis (CsRDL) in oocytes of the African clawed frog, Xenopus laevis, where the G3'MTMD3 mutation almost abolished the antagonistic action of fluralaner. Subsequently, G3'MTMD3 was introduced into the Rdl gene of the fruit fly, Drosophila melanogaster, using the CRISPR/Cas9 system. Larvae of heterozygous lines bearing G3'MTMD3 did not show significant resistance to avermectin, fipronil, broflanilide, and fluralaner. However, larvae homozygous for G3'MTMD3 were highly resistant to broflanilide and fluralaner whilst still being sensitive to fipronil and avermectin. Also, homozygous lines showed severely impaired locomotivity and did not survive to the pupal stage, indicating a significant fitness cost associated with the G3'MTMD3. Moreover, the M3'GTMD3 in the mouse Mus musculus α1β2 GABAR increased sensitivity to fluralaner. Taken together, these results provide convincing in vitro and in vivo evidence for both broflanilide and fluralaner acting on the same amino acid site, as well as insights into potential mechanisms leading to target-site resistance to these insecticides. In addition, our findings could guide further modification of isoxazolines to achieve higher selectivity for the control of insect pests with minimal effects on mammals.

[Establishment of hysteroscopic scoring system of chronic endometritis and correlative analysis with pregnancy outcomes of in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer in infertile patients]

Objective: To establish a hysteroscopic chronic endometritis (hCE) scoring system for patients with chronic endometritis, and observe the correlation of hCE score with in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer (IVF-ET) pregnancy outcomes in infertile women. Methods: The study retrospectively investigated the correlation of morphologic features and hCE score with pregnancy outcomes during IVF-ET in infertile women with CE (n=429) at Yantai Yuhuangding Hospital between January 2017 and September 2018. The clinical pregnancy rate and live birth rate with different score levels (1-3,4-7 and 8-14) after IVF-ET treatment were analyzed. Multivariate regression analysis was performed to adjust for confounding factors. The correlation and regression between hCE score and pregnancy outcomes was analyzed by curve fitting. Results: The age of 429 patients [M(Q₁, Q₃)] was 31 (29, 35) years. There were 50.6% (217 cases), 35.4% (152 cases), and 14.0% (60 cases) of patients with hCE score of 1-3, 4-7, and 8-14, respectively. The pregnancy rates of the three groups were 60.8% (132 cases), 44.7% (68 cases) and 16.7% (10 cases), P<0.001; The live birth rates were 51.2% (111 cases), 36.8% (56 cases) and 13.3% (8 cases), respectively (P<0.001). Compared with patients with hCE of 1-3, pregnancy rates in those with hCE of 4-7 and 8-14 were lower, and the OR values were 0.521 (0.342-0.793) and 0.129 (0.062-0.268). The live birth rates in patients with hCE of 4-7 and 8-14 were lower than that in patients with hCE of 1-3, and the OR values were 0.570 (0.372-0.873) and 0.162 (0.073-0.360), all P<0.05. Quadratic curve fitting results showed that clinical pregnancy rate and live birth rate decreased with the increase of hCE score. Conclusions: With the increase of hCE score, the clinical pregnancy rate and live birth rate of patients gradually decrease. hCE 4 is an important cut-off threshold significantly affecting the pregnancy outcome.

Enhancing the Electrochemical Properties of Nickel-Rich Cathode by Surface Coating with Defect-Rich Strontium Titanate

Ni-rich layered ternary cathodes (i.e., LiNi_xCo_yM_zO₂, M = Mn or Al, x + y + z = 1 and x ≥ 0.8) are promising candidates for the power supply of portable electronic devices and electric vehicles. However, the relatively high content of Ni⁴⁺ in the charged state shortens their lifespan due to inevitable capacity and voltage deteriorations during cycling. Therefore, the dilemma between high output energy and long cycle life needs to be addressed to facilitate more widespread commercialization of Ni-rich cathodes in modern lithium-ion batteries (LIBs). This work presents a facile surface modification approach with defect-rich strontium titanate (SrTiO_3-x) coating on a typical Ni-rich cathode: LiNi_0.8Co_0.15Al_0.05O₂ (NCA). The defect-rich SrTiO_3-x-modified NCA exhibits enhanced electrochemical performance compared to its pristine counterpart. In particular, the optimized sample delivers a high discharge capacity of ∼170 mA h/g after 200 cycles under 1C with capacity retention over 81.1%. The postmortem analysis provides new insight into the improved electrochemical properties which are ascribed to the SrTiO_3-x coating layer. This layer appears to not only alleviate the internal resistance growth, from uncontrollable cathode-electrolyte interface evolution, but also acts as a lithium diffusion channel during prolonged cycling. Therefore, this work offers a feasible strategy to improve the electrochemical performance of layered cathodes with high nickel content for next-generation LIBs.

Aneurysmal bone cyst of the temporal bone presenting with reversible vestibular impairment

BACKGROUND

Aneurysmal bone cysts are expansile benign lesions associated with compressive destruction and obscure pathogenesis. The most common sites of temporal bone involvement are the petrous apex, squamous portions and mastoid.

CASE REPORT

This paper reports a right temporal aneurysmal bone cyst in a 51-year-old man who presented clinically with facial palsy, and hearing loss and impaired vestibular function. Magnetic resonance imaging and computed tomography findings were consistent with a diagnosis of aneurysmal bone cyst. Inter-operative findings showed that the lesion had caused compressive damage to the internal auditory canal. Following surgical excision, the patient experienced vertigo, indicating recovery of vestibular function. Follow-up imaging revealed complete resection without clinical recurrence.

CONCLUSION

To our knowledge, this is the first report of aneurysmal bone cyst invasion of the inner auditory canal. Our clinical experience indicates that vestibular nerve damage recovery is relatively uncommon. This case report will hopefully inform future studies.

Separation and single-cell analysis for free gastric cancer cells in ascites and peritoneal lavages based on microfluidic chips

BACKGROUNDS

Detecting free cancer cells from ascites and peritoneal lavages is crucial for diagnosing gastric cancer (GC). However, traditional methods are limited for early-stage diagnosis due to their low sensitivity.

METHODS

A label-free, rapid, and high-throughput technique was developed for separating cancer cells from ascites and peritoneal lavages using an integrated microfluidic device, taking advantage of dean flow fractionation and deterministic lateral displacement. Afterward, separated cells were analyzed using a microfluidic single-cell trapping array chip (SCTA-chip). In situ immunofluorescence for EpCAM, YAP-1, HER-2, CD45 molecular expressions, and Wright-Giemsa staining were performed for cells in SCTA-chips. At last, YAP1 and HER-2 expression in tissues was analyzed by immunohistochemistry.

FINDINGS

Through integrated microfluidic device, cancer cells were successfully separated from simulated peritoneal lavages containing 1/10,000 cancer cells with recovery rate of 84.8% and purity of 72.4%. Afterward, cancer cells were isolated from 12 patients' ascites samples. Cytological examinations showed cancer cells were efficiently enriched with background cells excluded. Afterwards, separated cells from ascites were analyzed by SCTA-chips, and recognized as cancer cells through EpCAM⁺/CD45^- expression and Wright-Giemsa staining. Interestingly, 8 out of 12 ascites samples showed HER-2⁺ cancer cells. At last, the results through a serial expression analysis showed that YAP1 and HER-2 have discordant expression during metastasis.

INTERPRETATION

Microfluidic Chips developed in our study could not only rapidly detect label-free free GC cells in ascites and peritoneal lavages with high-throughput, they could also analyze ascites cancer cells at the single-cell level, improving peritoneal metastasis diagnosis and investigation of therapeutic targets.

FUNDING

This research was supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China (22134004, U1908207, 91859111); Natural Science Foundation of Shandong Province of China (ZR2019JQ06); Taishan Scholars Program of Shandong Province tsqn (201909077); Local Science and Technology Development Fund Guided by the Central Government (YDZX20203700002568); Applied Basic Research Program of Liaoning Province (2022020284-JH2/1013).

Foliar application of nanoceria attenuated cadmium stress in okra (Abelmoschus esculentus L.)

Foliar application of nanoparticles (NPs) as a means for ameliorating abiotic stress is increasingly employed in crop production. In this study, the potential of CeO₂-NPs as stress suppressants for cadmium (Cd)-stressed okra (Abelmoschus esculentus) plants was investigated, using two cycles of foliar application of CeO₂-NPs at 200, 400, and 600 mg/l. Compared to untreated stressed plants, Cd-stressed plants treated with CeO₂-NPs presented higher pigments (chlorophyll a and carotenoids). In contrast, foliar applications did not alter Cd root uptake and leaf bioaccumulation. Foliar CeO₂-NPs application modulated stress enzymes (APX, SOD, and GPx) in both roots and leaves of Cd-stressed plants, and led to decreases in Cd toxicity in plant's tissues. In addition, foliar application of CeO₂-NPs in Cd-stressed okra plants decreased fruit Cd contents, and improved fruit mineral elements and bioactive compounds. The infrared spectroscopic analysis of fruit tissues showed that foliar-applied CeO₂-NPs treatments did not induce chemical changes but induced conformational changes in fruit macromolecules. Additionally, CeO₂-NPs applications did not alter the eating quality indicator (Mg/K ratio) of okra fruits. Conclusively, the present study demonstrated that foliar application of CeO₂-NPs has the potential to ameliorate Cd toxicity in tissues and improve fruits of okra plants.

Atomically Dispersed Cu Catalysts on Sulfide-Derived Defective Ag Nanowires for Electrochemical CO2 Reduction

Single-atom catalysts (SACs) have shown potential for achieving an efficient electrochemical CO₂ reduction reaction (CO2RR) despite challenges in their synthesis. Here, Ag₂S/Ag nanowires provide initial anchoring sites for Cu SACs (Cu/Ag₂S/Ag), then Cu/Ag(S) was synthesized by an electrochemical treatment resulting in complete sulfur removal, i.e., Cu SACs on a defective Ag surface. The CO2RR Faradaic efficiency (FE_CO2RR) of Cu/Ag(S) reaches 93.0% at a CO2RR partial current density (j_CO2RR) of 2.9 mA/cm² under -1.0 V vs RHE, which outperforms sulfur-removed Ag₂S/Ag without Cu SACs (Ag(S), 78.5% FE_CO2RR with 1.8 mA/cm²j_CO2RR). At -1.4 V vs RHE, both FE_CO2RR and j_CO2RR over Cu/Ag(S) reached 78.6% and 6.1 mA/cm², which tripled those over Ag(S), respectively. As revealed by in situ and ex situ characterizations together with theoretical calculations, the interacted Cu SACs and their neighboring defective Ag surface increase microstrain and downshift the d-band center of Cu/Ag(S), thus lowering the energy barrier by ∼0.5 eV for *CO formation, which accounts for the improved CO2RR activity and selectivity toward related products such as CO and C₂₊ products.

Advances in high-voltage supercapacitors for energy storage systems: materials and electrolyte tailoring to implementation

To achieve a zero-carbon-emission society, it is essential to increase the use of clean and renewable energy. Yet, renewable energy resources present constraints in terms of geographical locations and limited time intervals for energy generation. Therefore, there is a surging demand for developing high-performance energy storage systems (ESSs) to effectively store the energy during the peak time and use the energy during the trough period. To this end, supercapacitors hold great promise as short-term ESSs for rapid power recovery or frequency regulation to improve the quality and reliability of power supply. In particular, the electrical double layer capacitor (EDLC) which offers long and stable cycle retention, high power densities, and fast charge/discharge characteristics with a moderate operating voltage window, is a suitable candidate. Yet, for implementation of the EDLC in ESSs, further research effort is required in terms of increasing the operating voltage and energy densities while maintaining the long-term cycle stability and power densities which are desirable aspects for ESS operation. Here, we examine the advances in EDLC research to achieve a high operating voltage window along with high energy densities, covering from materials and electrolytes to long-term device perspectives for next-generation supercapacitor-based ESSs.

Bimetallic RuNi-decorated Mg-CUK-1 for oxygen-tolerant carbon dioxide capture and conversion to methane

The development of hybrid sorbent/catalysts for carbon capture and conversion to chemical fuels involves several material and engineering design considerations. Herein, a metal-organic framework (MOF), known as Mg-CUK-1, is loaded with Ru and Ni nanoparticles and assessed as a hybrid material for the sequential capture and conversion of carbon dioxide (CO₂) to methane (CH₄). Low nanocatalyst loadings led to enhanced overall performance by preserving more CO₂ uptake within the Mg-CUK-1 sorbent. Low temperature CO₂ desorption from Mg-CUK-1 facilitated complete CO₂ release and subsequent conversion to CH₄. The influence of oxygen exposure on catalyst performance was assessed, with Ru-loaded Mg-CUK-1 exhibiting oxygen tolerance through sustained CH₄ generation of 1.40 mmol g^-1 over ten cycles. In contrast, Ni-loaded Mg-CUK-1 was unable to retain initial catalytic performance, reflected in an 11.4% decrease in CH₄ generation over ten cycles. When combined, 0.3Ru2.7Ni Mg-CUK-1 yielded comparable overall performance to 3Ru Mg-CUK-1, indicating that Ru aids the re-reduction of NiO to Ni after O₂ exposure. By combining multiple catalyst species within one hybrid sorbent/catalyst material, greater catalyst stability is achieved, resulting in sustained overall performance. The introduced strategy provides an approach for fostering resilient hydrogenation catalysts upon exposure to reactive species often found in real-world point source CO₂ emissions.

Recent Development of Moisture-Enabled-Electric Nanogenerators

Power generation by converting energy from the ambient environment has been considered a promising strategy for developing decentralized electrification systems to complement the electricity supply for daily use. Wet gases, such as water evaporation or moisture in the atmosphere, can be utilized as a tremendous source of electricity by emerging power generation devices, that is, moisture-enabled-electric nanogenerators (MEENGs). As a promising technology, MEENGs provided a novel manner to generate electricity by harvesting energy from moisture, originating from the interactions between water molecules and hydrophilic functional groups. Though the remarkable progress of MEENGs has been achieved, a systematic review in this specific area is urgently needed to summarize previous works and provide sharp points to further develop low-cost and high-performing MEENGs through overcoming current limitations. Herein, the working mechanisms of MEENGs reported so far are comprehensively compared. Subsequently, a systematic summary of the materials selection and fabrication methods for currently reported MEENG construction is presented. Then, the improvement strategies and development directions of MEENG are provided. At last, the demonstrations of the applications assembled with MEENGs are extracted. This work aims to pave the way for the further MEENGs to break through the performance limitations and promote the popularization of future micron electronic self-powered equipment.

RNA-dependent RNA polymerase could extend the lasting validity period of exogenous dsRNA

BACKGROUND

Previous studies have found that pesticide double-stranded (ds)RNA usually has a long-lasting validity period in plants. However, it is uncertain if any factors in plants could extend dsRNA duration. It has been reported that RNA-dependent RNA polymerases (RdRP) in plants and some other eukaryotes could catalyze RNA amplification and be involved in RNAi (interference). Thus, this study evaluated the effect of RdRP on the tissue content, activity, and duration of exogenous dsRNA.

RESULTS

We found that RdRP knockdown in Arabidopsis thaliana had no significant effect on tissue contents of reporter dsRNA parent molecules (8.91% reduction), but it caused significant decrease in the tissue contents of derived short fragments of 200, 120 and 59 bp tested (51.22%, 52.83% and 59.35%, respectively). Aphid inoculation tests showed that the same dose of insecticidal dsAgZFP exhibited a significantly lower lethal effect (mortality 58.8%) in the plants with RdRP knockdown than in the control plants with normal RdRP (86.0%). For Caenorhabditis elegans, the worms treated simultaneously with dsRdRP and reporter dsRNA had similar body contents to reporter dsRNA parent molecules and its long-fragment derivative (200 bp) as the control (1.28- and 1.07-fold greater, respectively). However, 120- and 59-bp short-fragment derivatives were significantly reduced by 28.78% and 59.84%, respectively, which also diminished faster in the descendants.

CONCLUSIONS

We conclude that RdRP could significantly enhance the tissue content of dsRNA derivatives by catalyzing amplification, thus improving dsRNA activity and extending its lasting validity period. Otherwise, RNAi by exogenous dsRNA was proven to be noninheritable in A. thaliana. This work confirmed the merit of dsRNA as a plant protectant. © 2022 Society of Chemical Industry.

Supplier-base concentration and efficiency: the moderating roles of R&D expenditure and market share

Purpose

This study addresses an important research question regarding how supplier-base concentration affects buyer efficiency. Drawing on the contradicting views of transaction cost theory (TCT) and resource dependence theory (RDT), the authors explore the main effect of supplier-base concentration on buyer efficiency and how this effect is contingent on buyers' characteristics (i.e. research and development (R&D) expenditure and market share).

Design/methodology/approach

Based on data collected from the Chinese manufacturing firms listed on National Equities Exchange and Quotations (NEEQ) between 2015 and 2019, the authors use a fixed-effect model as well as a two-stage least squares model to test the predictions.

Findings

The authors find that supplier-base concentration has a positive effect on buyer efficiency. In addition, when a buyer has higher levels of R&D expenditure and market share, the positive relationship between supplier-base concentration and buyer efficiency is strengthened.

Originality/value

This study contributes to a better understanding of the effect of supplier-base concentration. First, the authors provide theoretical and empirical evidence of the positive effect of supplier-base concentration on buyer efficiency. Second, the authors reveal the underlying mechanism of how to counter the potential drawbacks and benefit more from supply base reduction by introducing R&D expenditure and market share as contingencies.

New insights into transmission pathways and possible off-target effects of insecticidal dsRNA released by treated plants

RNAi has shown great potential in controlling pests and pathogens, and dsRNA-based pesticides have been used in different ways. Due to off-target effects, the transmission pathways and possible impacts of dsRNA on non-target organisms after release should be researched. Here, we tested pathways of dsRNA transmission through the rice-hopper-spider food chain and their efficiency for triggering RNAi. The results revealed five new pathways by which plants transfer dsRNA into the environment through the food chain. We found that ingestion of the tissues or guttation droplets of treated plant could trigger both targeted and off-target RNAi both in consumers and predators. Ingestion of consumer hoppers could also result in localized RNAi in the midguts of the predator spiders. Trace amounts of dsRNA were detected in plant root excretions and in hopper honeydew. Cutting the root tips dramatically increased the levels of dsRNA in root excretions. Host shifting experiments proved that hoppers could transfer a trace amount of dsRNA via vomit. With specially designed dsRNAs, we showed that dsRNA sharing matching sequences of 29 bp or 32 bp in length with non-target genes could trigger off-target RNAi, but that dsRNA sharing 13 bp matching sequences could not. We conclude that field-released pesticidal dsRNA could be transmitted via the hydrophilic transport system in plants, and that this may pose a safety risk to non-target animal consumers that are closely related to target pests. Rational use of pesticidal dsRNAs should involve careful consideration of dsRNA design to manage the biosafety risk.

Label-Free Isolation of Low-Adhesion Cells with Stem Properties for Cancer Stem Cell-Specific Drug Evaluation

Isolating and obtaining sufficient numbers of cancer stem-like cells from bulk cancer cells for cancer stem cells (CSCs)-specific drug evaluation remain challenging due to the rarity and their relative instability in culture. Here, we report a label-free microfluidic method to isolate low-adhesion cells (LACs) with stem properties based on a cell adhesion microfluidic chip (CA-chip) using cell adhesion differences. In this chip, suspended cells are driven by hydrodynamic force to flow through microchannels coated with basement membrane extract (BME). By manipulating the hydrodynamic force, heterogeneous tumor cells can be separated into different adhesive cell subpopulations. LACs flow out first and are collected from the outlet, while high-adhesion cells (HACs) are captured into the chip and can be recovered by washing with a cell dissociation buffer. We found that the isolated LACs showed cancer stem-like properties, which were further utilized as rare CSC candidates to evaluate CSC-specific drugs. The results showed that only CSC-specific drugs had complete inhibition of sphere formation, demonstrating the feasibility of evaluating the specificity of CSC drugs. The label-free method is highly versatile as it employs cell adhesion as a unique phenotypic marker to effectively isolate cancer stem-like cells and offers an opportunity to evaluate on the large scale CSC-specific drugs, making it applicable to the analysis of certain cancer types, especially CSC-specific biomarkers that have not been identified.

Stabilizing the Unstable: Chromium Coating on NiMo Electrode for Enhanced Stability in Intermittent Water Electrolysis

Hydrogen production through water electrolysis is a promising method to utilize renewable energy in the context of urgent need to phase out fossil fuels. Nickel-molybdenum (NiMo) electrodes are among the best performing non-noble metal-based electrodes for hydrogen evolution reaction in alkaline media (alkaline HER). Albeit exhibiting stable performance in electrolysis at a constant power supply (i.e., constant electrolysis), NiMo electrodes suffer from performance degradation in electrolysis at an intermittent power supply (i.e., intermittent electrolysis), which is emblematic of electrolysis powered directly by renewable energy (such as wind and solar power sources). Here we reveal that NiMo electrodes were oxidized by dissolved oxygen during power interruption, leading to vanishing of metallic Ni active sites and loss of conductivity in MoO_x substrate. Based on the understanding of the degradation mechanism, chromium (Cr) coating was successfully applied as a protective layer to inhibit oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) and significantly enhance the stability of NiMo electrodes in intermittent electrolysis. Further, combining experimental and Molecular Dynamics (MD) simulations, we demonstrate that the Cr coating served as a physical barrier inhibiting diffusion of oxygen, while still allowing other species to pass through. Our work offers insights into electrode behavior in intermittent electrolysis, as well as provides Cr coating as a valid method and corresponding deep understanding of the factors for stability enhancement, paving the way for the successful application of lab-scale electrodes in industrial electrolysis powered directly by renewable energy.

Rationalized design of hyperbranched trans-scale graphene arrays for enduring high-energy lithium metal batteries

Lithium (Li) metal anode have shown exceptional potential for high-energy batteries. However, practical cell-level energy density of Li metal batteries is usually limited by the low areal capacity (<3 mAh cm-2) because of the accelerated degradation of high-areal capacity Li metal anodes upon cycling. Here, we report the design of hyperbranched vertical arrays of defective graphene for enduring deep Li cycling at practical levels of areal capacity (>6 mAh cm-2). Such atomic-to-macroscopic trans-scale design is rationalized by quantifying the degradation dynamics of Li metal anodes. High-energy Li metal cells are prototyped under realistic conditions with high cathode capacity (>4 mAh cm-2), low negative-to-positive electrode capacity ratio (1:1), and low electrolyte-to-capacity ratio (5 g Ah-1), which shed light on a promising move toward practical Li metal batteries.

Surface Functionalization of Electrodes and Synthesis of Dual-Phase Solid Electrolytes for Structural Supercapacitors

The interface between structural electrodes and solid electrolytes plays a key role in the electrical-mechanical properties of energy storage structures. Herein, we present a surface functionalization method to improve the ion conduction efficiency at the interface between a structural electrode and a solid electrolyte that consists of a bi-continuous network of epoxy and ionic liquid (IL). Composite supercapacitors made with this electrolyte and carbon fiber (CF) electrodes coated with manganese dioxide (MnO₂) demonstrate that treating the electrodes with the silane can increase the areal capacitance by 300% without degrading the tensile strength. The dual-phase electrolyte containing 40 wt % IL and 60 wt % epoxy exhibits the highest multifunctional performance, measured by the product of stiffness and ionic conductivity. The outstanding mechanical and energy storage properties demonstrate that the silane treatment of MnO₂-coated CF fabric structural electrodes is a promising method for future high-performance structural composite supercapacitors.

Comparative transcriptome and RNA interference reveal CYP6DC1 and CYP380C47 related to lambda-cyhalothrin resistance in Rhopalosiphum padi

The bird-cherry-oat aphid, Rhopalosiphum padi, is a serious agricultural pest of Triticeae crops, and pyrethroids are the most widely used chemical pesticides for the control of the aphid. Our previous studies found that some R. padi field populations have developed resistance against pyrethroids; an M918L target-site mutation of the voltage gated sodium channel was present in the pyrethroid resistant individuals, while the high-level resistance to lambda-cyhalothrin revealed the presence of other mechanisms in the pest. Here, we conducted genome-wide transcriptional analysis for the lambda-cyhalothrin susceptible (SS) and resistant (LC-RR) strains of R. padi. Results indicated that 2457 genes were differently expressed between the SS and LC-RR strains. In the LC-RR, a total of 1265 and 1192 genes were up- and down-regulated, respectively. KEGG analysis implicated enrichment of P450 involved in insecticide metabolic pathways in the resistant transcriptome. qRT-PCR results confirmed that two P450 genes (CYP6DC1 and CYP380C47) were significantly overexpressed in the LC-RR individuals. Furthermore, RNA interference (RNAi) of CYP6DC1 or CYP380C47 significantly increased mortality of R. padi exposure to lambda-cyhalothrin. These results suggest that the overexpression of CYP6DC1 and CYP380C47 contributed to the lambda-cyhalothrin resistance in the pest. This study provides knowledge for further analyzing the molecular mechanism of resistance to pyrethroids in R. padi.

Supplemented phase diagrams for vitrification CPA cocktails: DP6, VS55 and M22

DP6, VS55 and M22 are the most commonly used cryoprotective agent (CPA) cocktails for vitrification experiments in tissues and organs. However, complete phase diagrams for the three CPAs are often unavailable or incomplete (only available for full strength CPAs) thereby hampering optimization of vitrification and rewarming procedures. In this paper, we used differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) to measure the transition temperatures including heterogeneous nucleation temperatures (T_het), glass transition temperatures (T_g), rewarming phase crystallization (devitrification and/or recrystallization) temperatures (T_d) and melting temperatures (T_m) while cooling or warming the CPA sample at 5 °C/min and plotted the obtained transition temperatures for different concentrations of CPAs into the phase diagrams. We also used cryomicroscopy cooling or warming the sample at the same rate to record the ice crystallization during the whole process, and we presented the cryomicroscopic images at the transition temperatures, which agreed with the DSC presented phenomena.

Key factors determining competitions between double-stranded RNAs in Tribolium castaneum

Combinatorial delivery of different double-stranded RNAs (dsRNAs) can result in competitive inhibition in insect pests and remains one of the obstacles in the way of future applications of the RNA interference (RNAi)-based pest control. In this study, we attempted to discover the basic competition characteristics between dsRNAs and provided insight into the solutions of competitive inhibition. RNAi sensitive insect species Tribolium castaneum were treated, and competitions between dsRNA fragments influencing the effectiveness of RNAi response could be measured. A chimeric dsRNA strategy for conjugating different dsRNA fragments into a single molecule and a nanoparticle carbon quantum dots-mediated dsRNA delivery were confirmed as efficient methods to knock down multiple target genes simultaneously. Furthermore, in vitro assays were conducted for determining the accumulation speed of serially diluted and incubated dsRNA in the midgut tissues. Our data showed that the accumulation of dsRNAs of different treated amounts was 0.25 μg ≈ 0.5 μg > 1 μg ≥ 2 μg > 4 μg, indicating that accumulation speed would be affected by treated dsRNA. Overall, our results strongly suggest that endocytic components influencing cellular uptake might be oversaturated when an excess amount of dsRNAs were treated, thereby causing competitive inhibition of target genes.

Highly Selective Metal-Free Electrochemical Production of Hydrogen Peroxide on Functionalized Vertical Graphene Edges

Electrochemical generation of hydrogen peroxide (H₂ O₂ ) is an attractive alternative to the energy-intensive anthraquinone oxidation process. Metal-free carbon-based materials such as graphene show great promise as efficient electrocatalysts in alkaline media. In particular, the graphene edges possess superior electrochemical properties than the basal plane. However, identification and enhancement of the catalytically active sites at the edges remain challenging. Furthermore, control of surface wettability to enhance gas diffusion and promote the performance in bulk electrolysis is largely unexplored. Here, a metal-free edge-rich vertical graphene catalyst is synthesized and exhibits a superior performance for H₂ O₂ production, with a high onset potential (0.8 V versus reversible hydrogen electrode (RHE) at 0.1 mA cm^-2 ) and 100% Faradaic efficiency at various potentials. By tailoring the oxygen-containing functional groups using various techniques of electrochemical oxidation, thermal annealing and oxygen plasma post-treatment, the edge-bound in-plane ether-type (COC) groups are revealed to account for the superior catalytic performance. To manipulate the surface wettability, a simple vacuum-based method is developed to effectively induce material hydrophobicity by accelerating hydrocarbon adsorption. The increased hydrophobicity greatly enhances gas transfer without compromising the Faradaic efficiency, enabling a H₂ O₂ productivity of 1767 mmol g_catalyst ^-1 h^-1 at 0.4 V versus RHE.

Anchoring Sites Engineering in Single-Atom Catalysts for Highly Efficient Electrochemical Energy Conversion Reactions

Single-atom catalysts (SACs) have been at the frontier of research field in catalysis owing to the maximized atomic utilization, unique structures and properties. The atomically dispersed and catalytically active metal atoms are necessarily anchored by surrounding atoms. As such, the structure and composition of anchoring sites significantly influence the catalytic performance of SACs even with the same metal element. Significant progress has been made to understand structure-activity relationships at an atomic level, but in-depth understanding in precisely designing highly efficient SACs for the targeted reactions is still required. In this review, various anchoring sites in SACs are summarized and classified into five different types (doped heteroatoms, defect sites, surface atoms, metal sites, and cavity sites). Then, their impacts on catalytic performance are elucidated for electrochemical reactions based on their distance from the metal center (first coordination shell and beyond). Further, SACs anchored on two typical types of hosts, carbon- and metal-based materials, are highlighted, and the effects of anchoring points on achieving the desirable atomic structure, catalytic performance, and reaction pathways are elaborated. At last, insights and outlook to the SAC field based on current achievements and challenges are presented.

The impact of digitalization and inter-organizational technological activities on supplier opportunism: the moderating role of relational ties

Purpose

Digitalization encourages the manufacturer to engage in inter-organizational technological activities (i.e. supplier IT integration and supply visibility) with its major supplier, which influences supply chain (SC) governance. This study tests a moderated mediation model that considers supplier IT integration and supply visibility as mediators between supply-side digitalization and supplier opportunism, and relational ties as a moderator in the relationship between inter-organizational technological activities and supplier opportunism.

Design/methodology/approach

Ordinary least square (OLS) regression is used to examine data from 200 firms in China describing their supply chain management (SCM) practices and perceived relationships with their major suppliers.

Findings

Supply-side digitalization is positively related to supplier IT integration and supply visibility. Supply-side digitalization has a positive indirect effect on supplier opportunism through supplier IT integration but a negative indirect effect through supply visibility. Relational ties weaken the positive effect of supplier IT integration and the positive indirect effect of supply-side digitalization on supplier opportunism. Relational ties also weaken the negative effect of supply visibility and the negative indirect effect of supply-side digitalization on supplier opportunism.

Originality/value

This study enriches understanding of SC governance in the digital age by empirically confirming that digital transformation brings both challenges and opportunities to SC governance and by clarifying the interplay of relational governance and technological activities. In addition, this study contributes to the SC digitalization literature by empirically validating the role of digitalization in promoting inter-organizational technological activities, as well as by revealing its potential dark side.

[Japan narrow-band imaging Expert Team type 2B colorectal cancer: consistency between endoscopic prediction and pathological diagnosis]

OBJECTIVE

To explore the potential factors that affect the accuracy of endoscopic diagnosis for Japan narrow-band imaging (NBI) Expert Team (JNET) type 2B colorectal lesions.

OBJECTIVE

The clinical data were collected from 261 patients with JNET type 2B colorectal lesions diagnosed in Nanfang Hospital between July, 2018 and July, 2021. We analyzed the macroscopic type, size, location or pit pattern classification of the lesions for their potential influence of the diagnostic accuracy of JNET type 2B lesions.

OBJECTIVE

The 261 lesions included 91 low-grade intramucosal neoplasia lesions (34.9%), 132 high-grade intramucosal neoplasia lesions (50.6%), 13 submucosal invasive cancer lesions (5.0%), and 25 deep submucosal invasive cancer lesions (9.6%). The coincidence rate between endoscopic prediction and pathological diagnosis of these lesions was 55.6% (145/ 261). The macroscopic type and size of the lesions were significantly associated with the diagnostic accuracy of JNET type 2B lesions (P < 0.001). There was a significant difference in the diagnostic accuracy among the lesions with different pit pattern types (P < 0.001).

OBJECTIVE

Both the macroscopic type and size affect the accuracy of endoscopic diagnosis of JNET type 2B colorectal lesions. JNET classification combined with pit pattern types can have better accuracy in predicting the pathological diagnosis of these lesions.

Transcript level is a key factor affecting RNAi efficiency

Efficiency is the basis for the application of RNA interference (RNAi) technology. Actually, RNAi efficiency varies greatly among insect species, tissues and genes. Previous efforts have revealed the mechanisms for variation among insect species and tissues. Here, we investigated the reason for variable efficiency among the target genes in the same insect. First, we tested the genes sampled randomly from Tribolium castaneum, Locusta migratoria and Drosophila S2 cells for both their expression levels and sensitivity to RNAi. The results indicated that the genes with higher expression levels were more sensitive to RNAi. Statistical analysis showed that the correlation coefficients between transcript levels and knockdown efficiencies were 0.8036 (n = 90), 0.7255 (n = 18) and 0.9505 (n = 13), respectively in T. castaneum, L. migratoria and Drosophila S2 cells. Subsequently, ten genes with varied expression level in different tissues (midgut and carcass without midgut) of T. castaneum were tested. The results indicated that the higher knockdown efficiency was always obtained in the tissue where the target gene expressed higher. In addition, three genes were tested in different developmental stages, larvae and pupae of T. castaneum. The results found that when the expression level increased after insect pupation, these genes became more sensitive to RNAi. Thus, all the proofs support unanimously that transcript level is a key factor affecting RNAi sensitivity. This finding allows for a better understanding of the RNAi efficiency variation and lead to effective or efficient use of RNAi technology.

SGN nerve filaments develop synapses with IHCs earlier than with OHCs in C57BL/6 mouse inner ear

OBJECTIVE

To explore the connections between hair cells and spiral ganglion neurons (SGNs) during the development of the C57BL/6 mouse inner ear.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The specimens of C57BL/6 mouse inner ear, from E15 (embryo day 15) to adult mouse, were collected; immunohistochemistry was employed to explore the frozen sections of specimens.

RESULTS

The development of cochlea starts sequentially from the basal turn to the apex turn. Morphological development of SGNs occurs mainly from E16 to P12 (postnatal day 12). Hair cells appear from E18 to P12, and inner hair cells (IHCs) develop earlier than outer hair cells (OHCs). The connections between hair cells and SGNs begin to develop during E18-P1, morphologically resemble mature synapses during P8-P12, and completely mature in adult mice.

CONCLUSIONS

The genesis of auditory ribbon synapse occurs from E18 to P1. Synchronized with the development of SGNs and hair cells, the functional filaments remain connected to hair cells, while the spare ones get disconnected from the surface of hair cells. Connections between SGN nerve filaments and IHCs occur earlier than those between SGN nerve filaments and OHCs.

Designing optimal integrated electricity supply configurations for renewable hydrogen generation in Australia

The high variability and intermittency of wind and solar farms raise questions of how to operate electrolyzers reliably, economically, and sustainably using predominantly or exclusively variable renewables. To address these questions, we develop a comprehensive cost framework that extends to include factors such as performance degradation, efficiency, financing rates, and indirect costs to assess the economics of 10 MW scale alkaline and proton-exchange membrane electrolyzers to generate hydrogen. Our scenario analysis explores a range of operational configurations, considering (i) current and projected wholesale electricity market data from the Australian National Electricity Market, (ii) existing solar/wind farm generation curves, and (iii) electrolyzer capital costs/performance to determine costs of H₂ production in the near (2020-2040) and long term (2030-2050). Furthermore, we analyze dedicated off-grid integrated electrolyzer plants as an alternate operating scenario, suggesting oversizing renewable nameplate capacity with respect to the electrolyzer to enhance operational capacity factors and achieving more economical electrolyzer operation.

Chimeric Double-Stranded RNAs Could Act as Tailor-Made Pesticides for Controlling Storage Insects

Double-stranded RNA (dsRNA), the unique trigger of RNA interference, could be used as potential pesticides for the management of storage insects. High species specificity greatly improves the biosafety of dsRNAs. However, there are usually more than one insect species in real circumstances. In this study, we present a new strategy that broadens the control spectrum of a formulation using single dsRNA fragments. First, effective target genes were selected for each insect pest, here including Rhyzopertha dominica and Blattella germanica. Then, a template was prepared by conjugating various fragments from each of the selected genes. With this template, a piece of chimeric dsRNA was synthesized, and, thus, regional complementary specificity for genes from different insects was harnessed. Finally, injection treatments with this chimeric dsRNA demonstrated that each gene was selectively silenced, and the insects of both species were effectively killed by continuously feeding the chimeric dsRNA. Meanwhile, the results also demonstrated that the toxicity of chimeric dsRNA for non-target organisms, including Zophobas atratus and Periplaneta americana, could be low. This is the first description of a single dsRNA fragment accurately targeting several pest species, and the method provides promise of novel tailor-made biopesticides in the future management of storage insects.

Effects of supplementation of sea buckthorn press cake on mycelium growth and polysaccharides of Inonotus obliquus in submerged cultivation

AIMS

Investigation of the influence of cultivation time and sea buckthorn press cake (Hippophaë rhamnoides) dosage on mycelium yield of Inonotus obliquus in submerged cultivation and on the yield, monomer composition, and macromolecular properties of the exopolysaccharides (EPS) from culture media and intracellular polysaccharides (IPS) extracted from mycelia.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Supplementation at 5 g l^-1 combined with cultivation time of 250 h granted highest yield increase in mycelia (by 122%). The supplementation reduced extraction yield and decreased the molecular weight of the main IPS population. The supplementation increased production and molecular weight of EPS. The relative content of arabinose and rhamnose in EPS positively correlated with dosage of the press cake. The press cake supplementation increased the content of galacturonic acid in IPS, but not in EPS.

CONCLUSION

Sea buckthorn press cake is a food industry fibrous side stream with high oil content. It increases the cultivation yield of Inonotus obliquus mycelium and influences the produced polysaccharides.

SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY

Mycelium is a resource of bioactive polysaccharides, attracting the interest of nutraceutical companies. Sea buckthorn press cake is a promising supplement for increasing mycelium production. The utilization of this agricultural side stream would therefore favour circular economy.