Engineering hierarchical quaternary superstructure of an integrated MOF-derived electrode for boosting urea electrooxidation assisted water electrolysis

Controllable design of the catalytic electrodes with hierarchical superstructures is expected to improve their electrochemical performance.Herein,a self-supported integrated electrode(NiCo-ZLDH/NF)with a unique hierarchical quaternary superstructure was fabricated through a self-sacrificing template strategy from the metal–organic framework(Co-ZIF-67)nanoplate arrays,which features an intriguing well-defined hierarchy when taking the unit cells of the NiCo-based layered double hydroxide(NiCo-LDH)as the primary structure,the ultrathin LDH nanoneedles as the secondary structure,the mesoscale hollow plates of the LDH nanoneedle arrays as the tertiary structure,and the macroscale three-dimensional frames of the plate arrays as the quaternary structure.Notably,the distinctive structure of NiCo-ZLDH/NF can not only accelerate both mass and charge transfer,but also expose plentiful accessible active sites with high intrinsic activity,endowing it with an excellent electrochemical performance for urea oxidation reaction(UOR).Specially,it only required the low potentials of 1.335,1.368 and 1.388 V to deliver the current densities of 10,100 and 200 mA cm^(-2),respectively,much superior to those for typical NiCo-LDH.Employing NiCo-ZLDH/NF as the bifunctional electrode for both anodic UOR and cathodic HER,an energy-saving electrolysis system was further explored which can greatly reduce the needed voltage of 213 mV to deliver the current density of 100 mA cm^(-2),as compared to the conventional water electrolysis system composed of OER.This work manifests that it is prospective to explore the hierarchically nanostructured electrodes and the innovative electrolytic technologies for high-efficiency electrocatalysis.

温和提取法评估老化前后土壤中菲的生物有效性

采用温和溶剂提取方法对不同老化时间土壤中的菲进行提取,研究了正丁醇、二氯甲烷、2-羟丙基-β-环糊精(2-Hydroxypropyl-beta cyclodextrin,HPCD)提取量与生物吸收之间的相关性。结果表明,温和有机溶剂(二氯甲烷、正丁醇)提取与温和HPCD提取法对菲的提取量与蚯蚓蓄积量有很好的相关性(p<0.05)。与其他温和试剂提取相比,温和正丁醇提取可以更好地预测菲在土壤中的生物有效性。

The relationship between energy consumption, economic growth and carbon dioxide emissions in Pakistan

Developing countries are facing the problem of environmental degradation.Environmental degradation is caused by the use of non-renewable energy consumptions for economic growth but the consequences of environmental degradation cannot be ignored.This primary purpose of this study is to investigate the nexus between energy consumption,economic growth and CO_(2) emission in Pakistan by using annual time series data from 1965 to 2015.The estimated results of ARDL indicate that energy consumption and economic growth increase the CO_(2) emissions in Pakistan both in short run and long run.Based on the estimated results it is recommended that policy maker in Pakistan should adopt and promote such renewable energy sources that will help to meet the increased demand for energy by replacing old traditional energy sources such as coal,gas,and oil.Renewable energy sources are reusable that can reduce the CO_(2) emissions and also ensure sustainable economic development of Pakistan.

A New Attempt to Neutrosophic Soft Bi-Topological Spaces

In this article,new generalized neutrosophic soft∗b open set is introduced in neutrosophic soft bi-topological structurers(NSBTS)concerning soft points of the space.This new set is produced by making the marriage of soft semi-open set with soft pre-open set in neutrosophic soft topological structure.An ample of results are investigated in NSBTS on the basis of this new neutrosophic soft∗b open set.Proper examples are settled for justification of these results.The non-validity of some results is vindicated with examples.

Cointegration between macroeconomic factors and the exchange rate USD/CNY

This research paper investigates the effect of macroeconomic variables on the exchange rate USD/CYN using yearly time series data for China economy from 1980 to 2017.ARDL bounds test approach for cointegration is applied to test the long-run relation between the dependent and the independent variables.The results of long-run ARDL indicate that gross domestic product growth and trade openness have a positive effect on the exchange rate USD/CNY while interest and inflation rates have a negative effect on the exchange rate.Based on the results of this study,it is recommended that the policymakers of the Chinese government should implement vital monetary and fiscal policies to determine the less volatile and productive exchange rate for China to manage sustainable economic growth for a long time with its trading partners.

Microneedle array facilitates hepatic sinusoid construction in a large-scale liver-acinus-chip microsystem

Hepatic sinusoids play a key role in maintaining high activities of liver cells in the hepatic acinus.However,the construction of hepatic sinusoids has always been a challenge for liver chips,especially for large-scale liver microsystems.Herein,we report an approach for the construction of hepatic sinusoids.In this approach,hepatic sinusoids are formed by demolding a self-developed microneedle array from a photocurable cell-loaded matrix in a large-scale liver-acinus-chip microsystem with a designed dual blood supply.Primary sinusoids formed by demolded microneedles and spontaneously self-organized secondary sinusoids can be clearly observed.Benefiting from significantly enhanced interstitial flows by formed hepatic sinusoids,cell viability is witnessed to be considerably high,liver microstructure formation occurs,and hepatocyte metabolism is enhanced.In addition,this study preliminarily demonstrates the effects of the resulting oxygen and glucose gradients on hepatocyte functions and the application of the chip in drug testing.This work paves the way for the biofabrication of fully functionalized large-scale liver bioreactors.

Value-added formate production from selective ethylene glycol oxidation based on cost-effective self-supported MOF nanosheet arrays

In order to realize electrochemical upgrading and improve the energy conversion efficiency,an ingenious strategy of constructing a thermodynamically favorable oxidation reaction to replace oxygen evolution reaction(OER)is proposed.

Effectiveness of radiative heat flux in MHD flow of Jeffrey-nanofluid subject to Brownian and thermophoresis diffusions

Our interest here in this investigation is to explore the thermophoresis and Brownian motion characteristics in flow induced by stretched surface.Electrically conducted Jeffrey material formulates the flow equation.Linear forms of stretching and free stream velocities are imposed.Nonlinear radiation and convective heating processes describe the phenomenon of heat transfer.Passive controls of nanoparticles are considered on the boundary.The compatible transformations produce the strong nonlinear differential systems.The problems are computed analytically utilizing HAM.Converge nee domain is detennined and major results are concluded for different parameters involved.Heat transfer rate and drag force are also explained for various physical variables.Our analysis reveals that heat transfer rate augments via larger radiation parameter and Biot number.Moreover larger Brownian motion and thermophoresis parameters have opposite characteristics on concentration field.

Breeding for pre-harvest sprouting resistance in bread wheat under rainfed conditions

Pre-harvest sprouting in wheat is the germination of seeds within the spikes when rains occur after or during grain ripening, which occurs commonly in the barani tract of Pakistan. Therefore, 10 cultivars and five advanced lines of spring bread wheat were evaluated for pre-harvest sprouting resistance. After natural rainfall,seeds were immediately collected from the wet spikes and tested for germinating ability. Three different germination tests were applied to hand-threshed seed:(1) spikes threshed on the day of sampling and germination tested immediately,(2) spikes threshed on the day of sampling and germination tested 1 week later, and(3) spikes threshed 1 week after sampling and germination test immediately after threshing. Seeds and spikes kept for 1 week were place on blotting paper at room temperature.Cultivars BARS-09, 09 FJ17, Doukkala-12, NARC-09 and Ouassou-20 exhibited higher sprouting resistance while other genotypes were susceptible to pre-harvest sprouting in each of the three tests. A diallel crossing was conducted with six susceptible and two resistant genotypes to assess the genetic behavior of pre-harvest sprouting resistance.The combining ability(CA) demonstrated a higher proportion of additive genetic effects for sprouting resistance, because of higher variance of general and specific CA for both parameters under study. Doukkala-12 and BARS-09 showed increased pre-harvest sprouting resistance in their F1 descendants.

M2 macrophage-targeted iron oxide nanoparticles for magnetic resonance image-guided magnetic hyperthermia therapy

Tumor-associated macrophages(TAMs)play an important role in tumor development and progression.In particular,M2 TAMs can promote tumor growth by facilitating tumor progression and malignant behaviors.Selectively targeted elimination of M2 TAMs to inhibit tumor progression is of great significance for cancer treatment.Iron oxide nanoparticles based magnetic hyperthermia therapy(MHT)is a classical approach to destroy tumor tissue with deep penetration depth.In this study,we developed a typical M2 macrophage-targeted peptide(M2pep)functionalized superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticle(SPIO)for magnetic resonance imaging(MRI)-guided MHT in an orthotopic breast cancer mouse model.The obtained multifunctional SPIO-M2pep with a hydrodynamic diameter of 20 nm showed efficient targeting capability,high transverse relaxivity(149 mM^(-1) s^(-1))and satisfactory magnetic hyperthermia performance in vitro.In vivo studies demonstrated that the SPIO-M2pep based MRI can monitor the distribution of nanoparticles in tumor and indicate the suitable timing for MHT.The M2 macrophage-targeted MHT significantly reduced the tumor volume and the population of pro-tumoral M2 TAMs in tumor.In addition,the SPIO-M2pep based MHT can remodel the tumor immune microenvironment(TIME).The multifunctional SPIO-M2pep with M2 macrophage-targeting ability,high magnetic hyperthermia efficiency,MR imaging capability and effective role in remodeling the TIME hold great potential to improve clinical cancer therapy outcomes.

Antioxidant,phytotoxic and cytotoxic activity of methanolic extract of Trigonella foenum-graecum

Objective:To analyze the methanol extract of Trigonella foenum-graecum(T.foenum-graecum)for antioxidant,phytotoxic and cytotoxic activity.Methods:The powder of T.foenum-graecum was extracted in diluted methanol with the help of random shaking method.All extracts of the plant were measured for cytotoxic activity(beside brine shrimp and antioxidant activity vs.1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl free radical).Results:Various concentrations of methanolic extract of T.foenum-graecum were observed as 36.16%to 54.12%with rising concentrations of 50 to 1000μg/mL.Significantly phytotoxic activity(100 and 1000μg/mL)reduced the growth of roots(radicals)and shoots(hypocotyls)of rice when compared to control after 3 and 7 days’treatment.At a concentration of 10μg/mL,the survival rate of cytotoxic activity of brine shrimp was maximum and at a concentration of 250μg/mL,the death rate of brine shrimp was maximum.Conclusions:T.foenum-graecum has potential activity against free radical mediated sickness and thus it is possible to treat cancer.