An Efficient Boron Source Activation Strategy for the Low‑Temperature Synthesis of Boron Nitride Nanotubes

Lowering the synthesis temperature of boron nitride nanotubes(BNNTs)is crucial for their development.The primary reason for adopting a high temperature is to enable the effective activation of highmelting-point solid boron.In this study,we developed a novel approach for efficiently activating boron by introducing alkali metal compounds into the conventional MgO–B system.This approach can be adopted to form various low-melting-point AM–Mg–B–O growth systems.These growth systems have improved catalytic capability and reactivity even under low-temperature conditions,facilitating the synthesis of BNNTs at temperatures as low as 850℃.In addition,molecular dynamics simulations based on density functional theory theoretically demonstrate that the systems maintain a liquid state at low temperatures and interact with N atoms to form BN chains.These findings offer novel insights into the design of boron activation and are expected to facilitate research on the low-temperature synthesis of BNNTs.

Advanced strategies in the application of gelatin-based bioink for extrusion bioprinting

The significance of bioink suitability for the extrusion bioprinting of tissue-like constructs cannot be overemphasized.Gelatin,derived from the hydrolysis of collagen,not only can mimic the extracellular matrix to immensely support cell function,but also is suitable for extrusion under certain conditions.Thus,gelatin has been recognized as a promising bioink for extrusion bioprinting.However,the development of a gelatin-based bioink with satisfactory printability and bioactivity to fabricate complex tissue-like constructs with the desired physicochemical properties and biofunctions for a specific biomedical application is still in its infancy.Therefore,in this review,we aim to comprehensively summarize the state-of-the-art methods of gelatin-based bioink application for extrusion bioprinting.Wefirstly outline the properties and requirements of gelatin-based bioinks for extrusion bioprinting,highlighting the strategies to overcome their main limitations in terms of printability,structural stability and cell viability.Then,the challenges and prospects are further discussed regarding the development of ideal gelatin-based bioinks for extrusion bioprinting to create complex tissue-like constructs with preferable physicochemical properties and biofunctions.

RECENT DEVELOPMENTS OF TERAHERTZ TECHNOLOGY IN BIOMEDICINE

Terahertz technology is continually evolving and much progress has been made in recent years.Many new applications are being discovered and new ways to implement terahertz imaging investigated.In this review,we limit our discussion to biomedical applications of terahertz imaging such as cancer detection,genetic sensing and molecular spectroscopy.Our discussion of the development of new terahertz techniques is also focused on those that may accelerate the progress of terahertz imaging and spectroscopy in biomedicine.

Nanotechnology in diagnosis and therapy of gastrointestinal cancer

Advances in nanotechnology have opened new frontiers in the diagnosis and treatment of cancer.Nanoparticle-based technology improves the precision of tumor diagnosis when combined with imaging,as well as the accuracy of drug target delivery,with fewer side effects.Optimized nanosystems have demonstrated advantages in many fields,including enhanced specificity of detection,reduced toxicity of drugs,enhanced effect of contrast agents,and advanced diagnosis and therapy of gastrointestinal(GI)cancers.In this review,we summarize the current nanotechnologies in diagnosis and treatment of GI cancers.The development of nanotechnology will lead to personalized approaches for early diagnosis and treatment of GI cancers.

Enhancing the Interaction of Carbon Nanotubes by Metal-Organic Decomposition with Improved Mechanical Strength and Ultra-Broadband EMI Shielding Performance

The remarkable properties of carbon nanotubes(CNTs)have led to promising applications in the field of electromagnetic inter-ference(EMI)shielding.However,for macroscopic CNT assemblies,such as CNT film,achieving high electrical and mechanical properties remains challenging,which heavily depends on the tube-tube interac-tions of CNTs.Herein,we develop a novel strategy based on metal-organic decomposition(MOD)to fabricate a flexible silver-carbon nanotube(Ag-CNT)film.The Ag particles are introduced in situ into the CNT film through annealing of MOD,leading to enhanced tube-tube interactions.As a result,the electrical conductivity of Ag-CNT film is up to 6.82×10^(5) S m^(-1),and the EMI shielding effectiveness of Ag-CNT film with a thickness of~7.8μm exceeds 66 dB in the ultra-broad frequency range(3-40 GHz).The tensile strength and Young’s modulus of Ag-CNT film increase from 30.09±3.14 to 76.06±6.20 MPa(~253%)and from 1.12±0.33 to 8.90±0.97 GPa(~795%),respectively.Moreover,the Ag-CNT film exhibits excellent near-field shield-ing performance,which can effectively block wireless transmission.This innovative approach provides an effective route to further apply macroscopic CNT assemblies to future portable and wearable electronic devices.

Engineering of Self-Supported Electrocatalysts on a Three-Dimensional Nickel Foam Platform for Efficient Water Electrolysis

Economical water electrolysis requires highly active non-noble electrocatalysts to overcome the sluggish kinetics of the two half-cell reactions,oxygen evolution reaction,and hydrogen evolution reaction.Although intensive efforts have been committed to achieve a hydrogen economy,the expensive noble metal-based catalysts remain under consideration.Therefore,the engineering of self-supported electrocatalysts prepared using a direct growth strategy on three-dimensional(3D)nickel foam(NF)as a conductive substrate has garnered significant interest.This is due to the large active surface area and 3D porous network offered by these electrocatalysts,which can enhance the synergistic eff ect between the catalyst and the substrate,as well as improve electrocatalytic performance.Hydrothermal-assisted growth,microwave heating,electrodeposition,and other physical methods(i.e.,chemical vapor deposition and plasma treatment)have been applied to NF to fabricate competitive electrocatalysts with low overpotential and high stability.In this review,recent advancements in the development of self-supported electrocatalysts on 3D NF are described.Finally,we provide future perspectives of self-supported electrode platforms in electrochemical water splitting.

Structural and functional connectivity of the whole brain and subnetworks in individuals with mild traumatic brain injury:predictors of patient prognosis

Patients with mild traumatic brain injury have a diverse clinical presentation,and the underlying pathophysiology remains poorly understood.Magnetic resonance imaging is a non-invasive technique that has been widely utilized to investigate neuro biological markers after mild traumatic brain injury.This approach has emerged as a promising tool for investigating the pathogenesis of mild traumatic brain injury.G raph theory is a quantitative method of analyzing complex networks that has been widely used to study changes in brain structure and function.However,most previous mild traumatic brain injury studies using graph theory have focused on specific populations,with limited exploration of simultaneous abnormalities in structural and functional connectivity.Given that mild traumatic brain injury is the most common type of traumatic brain injury encounte red in clinical practice,further investigation of the patient characteristics and evolution of structural and functional connectivity is critical.In the present study,we explored whether abnormal structural and functional connectivity in the acute phase could serve as indicators of longitudinal changes in imaging data and cognitive function in patients with mild traumatic brain injury.In this longitudinal study,we enrolled 46 patients with mild traumatic brain injury who were assessed within 2 wee ks of injury,as well as 36 healthy controls.Resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging and diffusion-weighted imaging data were acquired for graph theoretical network analysis.In the acute phase,patients with mild traumatic brain injury demonstrated reduced structural connectivity in the dorsal attention network.More than 3 months of followup data revealed signs of recovery in structural and functional connectivity,as well as cognitive function,in 22 out of the 46 patients.Furthermore,better cognitive function was associated with more efficient networks.Finally,our data indicated that small-worldness in the acute stage could serve as a predictor of longitudinal changes in connectivity in patients with mild traumatic brain injury.These findings highlight the importance of integrating structural and functional connectivity in unde rstanding the occurrence and evolution of mild traumatic brain injury.Additionally,exploratory analysis based on subnetworks could serve a predictive function in the prognosis of patients with mild traumatic brain injury.

Evolution of pore systems in low-maturity oil shales during thermal upgrading--Quantified by dynamic SEM and machine learning

In-situ upgrading by heating is feasible for low-maturity shale oil,where the pore space dynamically evolves.We characterize this response for a heated substrate concurrently imaged by SEM.We systematically follow the evolution of pore quantity,size(length,width and cross-sectional area),orientation,shape(aspect ratio,roundness and solidity)and their anisotropy—interpreted by machine learning.Results indicate that heating generates new pores in both organic matter and inorganic minerals.However,the newly formed pores are smaller than the original pores and thus reduce average lengths and widths of the bedding-parallel pore system.Conversely,the average pore lengths and widths are increased in the bedding-perpendicular direction.Besides,heating increases the cross-sectional area of pores in low-maturity oil shales,where this growth tendency fluctuates at<300℃ but becomes steady at>300℃.In addition,the orientation and shape of the newly-formed heating-induced pores follow the habit of the original pores and follow the initial probability distributions of pore orientation and shape.Herein,limited anisotropy is detected in pore direction and shape,indicating similar modes of evolution both bedding-parallel and bedding-normal.We propose a straightforward but robust model to describe evolution of pore system in low-maturity oil shales during heating.

Functional dissection of parabrachial substrates in processing nociceptive information

Painful stimuli elicit first-line reflexive defensive reactions and,in many cases,also evoke second-line recuperative behaviors,the latter of which reflects the sensing of tissue damage and the alleviation of suffering.The lateral parabrachial nucleus(lPBN),composed of external-(elPBN),dorsal-(dlPBN),and central/superior-subnuclei(jointly referred to as slPBN),receives sensory inputs from spinal projection neurons and plays important roles in processing affective information from external threats and body integrity disruption.However,the organizational rules of lPBN neurons that provoke diverse behaviors in response to different painful stimuli from cutaneous and deep tissues remain unclear.In this study,we used region-specific neuronal depletion or silencing approaches combined with a battery of behavioral assays to show that slPBN neurons expressing substance P receptor(NK1R)(lPBNNK1R)are crucial for driving pain-associated self-care behaviors evoked by sustained noxious thermal and mechanical stimuli applied to skin or bone/muscle,while elPBN neurons are dispensable for driving such reactions.Notably,lPBNNK1R neurons are specifically required for forming sustained somatic pain-induced negative teaching signals and aversive memory but are not necessary for fear-learning or escape behaviors elicited by external threats.Lastly,both lPBNNK1R and elPBN neurons contribute to chemical irritant-induced nocifensive reactions.Our results reveal the functional organization of parabrachial substrates that drive distinct behavioral outcomes in response to sustained pain versus external danger under physiological conditions.

Blockade of CD300A enhances the ability of human NK cells to lyse hematologic malignancies

Objective: The human cluster of differentiation(CD)300A, a type-I transmembrane protein with immunoreceptor tyrosine-based inhibitory motifs, was investigated as a potential immune checkpoint for human natural killer(NK) cells targeting hematologic malignancies(HMs).Methods: We implemented a stimulation system involving the CD300A ligand, phosphatidylserine(PS), exposed to the outer surface of malignant cells. Additionally, we utilized CD300A overexpression, a CD300A blocking system, and a xenotransplantation model to evaluate the impact of CD300A on NK cell efficacy against HMs in in vitro and in vivo settings. Furthermore, we explored the association between CD300A and HM progression in patients.Results: Our findings indicated that PS hampers the function of NK cells. Increased CD300A expression inhibited HM lysis by NK cells. CD300A overexpression shortened the survival of HM-xenografted mice by impairing transplanted NK cells. Blocking PS–CD300A signals with antibodies significantly amplified the expression of lysis function-related proteins and effector cytokines in NK cells, thereby augmenting the ability to lyse HMs. Clinically, heightened CD300A expression correlated with shorter survival and an “exhausted” phenotype of intratumoral NK cells in patients with HMs or solid tumors.Conclusions: These results propose CD300A as a potential target for invigorating NK cell-based treatments against HMs.

Facet-engineered growth of non-layered 2D manganese chalcogenides

Non-layered two-dimensional(2D)materials have sparked much interest recently due to their atomic thickness,large surface area,thickness-and facet-dependent properties.Currently,these materials are mainly grown from wet-chemistry methods but suffer from small size,low quality,and multi-facets,which is a major challenge hindering their facet-dependent property studies and applications.Here,we report the facet-engineered growth(FEG)of non-layered 2D manganese chalcogenides(MnX,X=S,Se,Te)based on the chemical vapor deposition method.The as-grown samples exhibit large-area surfaces of single facet,high-crystallinity,and ordered domain orientation.As a proof-of-concept,we show the facet-dependent electrocatalytic property of non-layered 2D MnSe,proving they are ideal candidates for fundamental research.Furthermore,we elucidate the underlying mechanism of FEG during the vapor growth process by the interfacial energy derived nucleation models.The method developed in this work provides new opportunities for regulating and designing the structure of 2D materials.

An electrochemiluminescent magneto-immunosensor for ultrasensitive detection of hs-cTnI on a microfluidic chip

Sensitive detection and precise quantitation of trace-level crucial biomarkers in a complex sample matrix has become an important area of research.For example,the detection of high-sensitivity cardiac troponin I (hs-cTnI) is strongly recommended in clinical guidelines for early diagnosis of acute myocardial infarction.Based on the use of an electrode modified by single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) and a Ru(bpy)32+-doped silica nanoparticle (Ru@SiO2)/tripropylamine (TPA) system,a novel type of electrochemiluminescent (ECL) magnetoimmunosensor is developed for ultrasensitive detection of hs-cTnI.In this approach,a large amount of[Ru(bpy)3]2+is loaded in SiO2(silica nanoparticles) as luminophores with high luminescent efficiency and SWCNTs as electrode surface modification material with excellent electrooxidation ability for TPA.Subsequently,a hierarchical micropillar array of microstructures is fabricated with a magnet placed at each end to efficiently confine a single layer of immunomagnetic microbeads on the surface of the electrode and enable 7.5-fold signal enhancement In particular,the use of transparent SWCNTs to modify a transparent ITO electrode provides a two-order-of-magnitude ECL signal amplification.A good linear calibration curve is developed for hs-cTnI concentrations over a wide range from 10 fg/ml to 10 ng/ml,with the limit of detection calculated as 8.720 fg/ml (S/N=3).This ultrasensitive immunosensor exhibits superior detection performance with remarkable stability,reproducibility,and selectivity.Satisfactory recoveries are obtained in the detection of hs-cTnI in human serum,providing a potentia analysis protocol for clinical applications.

Improved simulation of winter wheat yield in North China Plain by using PRYM-Wheat integrated dry matter distribution coefficient

The accurate simulation of regional-scale winter wheat yield is important for national food security and the balance of grain supply and demand in China.Presently,most remote sensing process models use the“biomass×harvest index(HI)”method to simulate regional-scale winter wheat yield.However,spatiotemporal differences in HI contribute to inaccuracies in yield simulation at the regional scale.Time-series dry matter partition coefficients(Fr)can dynamically reflect the dry matter partition of winter wheat.In this study,Fr equations were fitted for each organ of winter wheat using site-scale data.These equations were then coupled into a process-based and remote sensingdriven crop yield model for wheat(PRYM-Wheat)to improve the regional simulation of winter wheat yield over the North China Plain(NCP).The improved PRYM-Wheat model integrated with the fitted Fr equations(PRYM-Wheat-Fr)was validated using data obtained from provincial yearbooks.A 3-year(2000-2002)averaged validation showed that PRYM-Wheat-Fr had a higher coefficient of determination(R^(2)=0.55)and lower root mean square error(RMSE=0.94 t ha^(-1))than PRYM-Wheat with a stable HI(abbreviated as PRYM-Wheat-HI),which had R^(2) and RMSE values of 0.30 and 1.62 t ha^(-1),respectively.The PRYM-Wheat-Fr model also performed better than PRYM-Wheat-HI for simulating yield in verification years(2013-2015).In conclusion,the PRYM-Wheat-Fr model exhibited a better accuracy than the original PRYM-Wheat model,making it a useful tool for the simulation of regional winter wheat yield.

Photocatalytic application of magnesium spinel ferrite in wastewater remediation:A review

This review paper explores the efficacy of magnesium ferrite-based catalysts in photocatalytic degradation of organic contaminates(antibiotic and dyes).We report the influence of different doping strategies,synthesis methods,and composite materials on the degradation efficiency of these pollutants.Our analysis reveals the versatile and promising nature of magnesium ferrite-based catalysts,offering the valuable insights into their practical application for restoring the environment.Due to the smaller band gap and magnetic nature of magnesium ferrite,it holds the benefit of utilising the broader spectrum of light while also being recoverable.The in-depth analysis of magnesium ferrites'photocatalytic mechanism could lead to the development of cheap and reliable photocatalyst for the wastewater treatment.This concise review offers a thorough summary of the key advancements in this field,highlighting the pivotal role of the magnesium ferrite based photocatalysts in addressing the pressing global issue of organic pollutants in wastewater.

High-performance magnesium/sodium hybrid ion battery based on sodium vanadate oxide for reversible storage of Na^(+)and Mg^(2+)

Magnesium ion batteries(MIBs)are a potential field for the energy storage of the future but are restricted by insufficient rate capability and rapid capacity degradation.Magnesium-sodium hybrid ion batteries(MSHBs)are an effective way to address these problems.Here,we report a new type of MSHBs that use layered sodium vanadate((Na,Mn)V_(8)O_(20)·5H_(2)O,Mn-NVO)cathodes coupled with an organic 3,4,9,10-perylenetetracarboxylic diimide(PTCDI)anode in Mg^(2+)/Na^(+)hybrid electrolytes.During electrochemical cycling,Mg^(2+)and Na^(+)co-participate in the cathode reactions,and the introduction of Na^(+)promotes the structural stability of the Mn-NVO cathode,as cleared by several ex-situ characterizations.Consequently,the Mn-NVO cathode presents great specific capacity(249.9 mA h g^(−1)at 300 mA g^(−1))and cycling(1500 cycles at 1500 mA g^(−1))in the Mg^(2+)/Na^(+)hybrid electrolytes.Besides,full battery displays long lifespan with 10,000 cycles at 1000 mA g^(−1).The rate performance and cycling stability of MSHBs have been improved by an economical and scalable method,and the mechanism for these improvements is discussed.

Synergistic enhancement of cathode/anode interfaces with high water-retentive organohydrogel enabling highly stable zinc ion batteries

Current aqueous battery electrolytes,including conve ntional hydrogel electrolytes,exhibit unsatisfactory water retention capabilities.The sustained water loss will lead to subsequent polarization and increased internal resistance,ultimately resulting in battery failure.Herein,a double network(DN) orga no hydrogel electrolyte based on dimethyl sulfoxide(DMSO)/H_(2)O binary solvent was proposed.Through directionally reconstructing hydrogen bonds and reducing active H_(2)O molecules,the water retention ability and cathode/anode interfaces were synergistic enhanced.As a result,the synthesized DN organohydrogel demonstrates exceptional water retention capabilities,retaining approximately 75% of its original weight even after the exposure to air for 20 days.The Zn MnO_(2) battery delivers an outstanding specific capacity of275 mA h g^(-1) at 1 C,impressive rate performance with 85 mA h g^(-1) at 30 C,and excellent cyclic stability(95% retention after 6000 cycles at 5 C).Zn‖Zn symmetric battery can cycle more than 5000 h at 1 mA cm^(-2) and 1 mA h cm^(-2) without short circuiting.This study will encourage the further development of functional organohydrogel electrolytes for advanced energy storage devices.

Coaxial Wet Spinning of Boron Nitride Nanosheet‑Based Composite Fibers with Enhanced Thermal Conductivity and Mechanical Strength

Hexagonal boron nitride nanosheets(BNNSs)exhibit remarkable thermal and dielectric properties.However,their self-assembly and alignment in macroscopic forms remain challenging due to the chemical inertness of boron nitride,thereby limiting their performance in applications such as thermal management.In this study,we present a coaxial wet spinning approach for the fabrication of BNNSs/polymer composite fibers with high nanosheet orientation.The composite fibers were prepared using a superacid-based solvent system and showed a layered structure comprising an aramid core and an aramid/BNNSs sheath.Notably,the coaxial fibers exhibited significantly higher BNNSs alignment compared to uniaxial aramid/BNNSs fibers,primarily due to the additional compressive forces exerted at the core-sheath interface during the hot drawing process.With a BNNSs loading of 60 wt%,the resulting coaxial fibers showed exceptional properties,including an ultrahigh Herman orientation parameter of 0.81,thermal conductivity of 17.2 W m^(-1)K^(-1),and tensile strength of 192.5 MPa.These results surpassed those of uniaxial fibers and previously reported BNNSs composite fibers,making them highly suitable for applications such as wearable thermal management textiles.Our findings present a promising strategy for fabricating high-performance composite fibers based on BNNSs.

Multifunctional catalytic sites regulation of atomic-scale iridium on orthorhombic-CoSe_(2)for high efficiency dual-functional alkaline hydrogen evolution and organic degradation

The earth-abundant and high-performance catalysts are crucial for commercial implementation of hydrogen evolution reaction(HER).Herein,a multifunctional site strategy to construct excellent HER catalysts by incorporating iridium(Ir)ions on the atomic scale into orthorhombic-CoSe2(Ir-CoSe_(2))was reported.Outstanding hydrogen evolution activity in alkaline media such as a low overpotential of 48.7 mV at a current density of 10 mA cm^(-2)and better performance than commercial Pt/C catalysts at high current densities were found in the Ir-CoSe_(2) samples.In the experiments and theoretical calculations,it was revealed that Ir enabled CoSe_(2)to form multifunctional sites to synergistically catalyze alkaline HER by promoting the adsorption and dissociation of H_(2)O(Ir sites)and optimizing the binding energy for H^(*)on Co sites.It was noticeable that the electrolytic system comprising the Ir-CoSe_(2)electrode not only produced hydrogen efficiently via HER,but also degraded organic pollutants(Methylene blue).The cell voltage of the dual-function electrolytic system was 1.58 V at the benchmark current density of 50 mA cm^(-2),which was significantly lower than the conventional water splitting voltage.It was indicated that this method was a novel strategy for designing advanced HER electrocatalysts by constructing multifunctional catalytic sites for hydrogen production and organic degradation.

Theory and verification of moiréfringes for x-ray three-phase grating interferometer

Dual-phase and three-phase grating x-ray interference is a promising new technique for grating-based x-ray differential phase contrast imaging.Dual-phase grating interferometers have been relatively completely studied and discussed.In this paper,the corresponding imaging fringe formula of the three-phase grating interferometer is provided.At the same time,the similarities and differences between the three-phase grating interferometer and the dual-phase grating interferometer are investigated and verified,and that the three-phase grating interferometer can produce large-period moiréfringes without using the analyzing grating is demonstrated experimentally.Finally,a simple method of designing three-phase grating and multi-grating imaging systems from geometric optics based on the thin-lens theory of gratings is presented.These theoretical formulas and experimental results provide optimization tools for designing three-phase grating interferometer systems.

Building a Stronger Foundation for Web3:Advantages of 5G Infrastructure

The emergence of Web3 technologies promises to revolutionize the Internet and redefine our interactions with digital assets and applications.This essay explores the pivotal role of 5G infrastructure in bolstering the growth and potential of Web3.By focusing on several crucial aspects—network speed,edge computing,network capacity,security and power consumption—we shed light on how 5G technology offers a robust and transformative foundation for the decentralized future of the Internet.Prior to delving into the specifics,we undertake a technical review of the historical progression and development of Internet and telecommunication technologies.