Tuning electronic structure of RuO_(2)by single atom Zn and oxygen vacancies to boost oxygen evolution reaction in acidic medium

The poor stability of RuO_(2)electrocatalysts has been the primary obstacles for their practical application in polymer electrolyte membrane electrolyzers.To dramatically enhance the durability of RuO_(2)to construct activity-stability trade-off model is full of significance but challenging.Herein,a single atom Zn stabilized RuO_(2)with enriched oxygen vacancies(SA Zn-RuO_(2))is developed as a promising alternative to iridium oxide for acidic oxygen evolution reaction(OER).Compared with commercial RuO_(2),the enhanced Ru–O bond strength of SA Zn-RuO_(2)by forming Zn-O-Ru local structure motif is favorable to stabilize surface Ru,while the electrons transferred from Zn single atoms to adjacent Ru atoms protects the Ru active sites from overoxidation.Simultaneously,the optimized surrounding electronic structure of Ru sites in SA ZnRuO_(2)decreases the adsorption energies of OER intermediates to reduce the reaction barrier.As a result,the representative SA Zn-RuO_(2)exhibits a low overpotential of 210 mV to achieve 10 mA cm^(-2)and a greatly enhanced durability than commercial RuO_(2).This work provides a promising dual-engineering strategy by coupling single atom doping and vacancy for the tradeoff of high activity and catalytic stability toward acidic OER.

Rheo-NMR: A versatile hyphenated technique for capturing molecular dynamics and structure under flow

The general development of Rheo-NMR during the last four decades as well as selective hyphenated apparatuses is presented.Based on different magnet types,the current review is divided into two categories,namely low-field and high-field NMR,while the timedomain NMR is normally applied in the former case and the frequency-domain NMR is adopted in the latter one.Depending on different rheometer cells,it can be further divided into tensile and shear mode Rheo-NMR.The combination of various rheometer cells and NMR facility guarantees our acquisition of molecular level structure and dynamics information under flow conditions,which is crucial for our understanding of the molecular origin of complex fluids.A personal perspective is also presented at last to highlight possible development in this direction.

Generation and regulation of electromagnetic pulses generated by femtosecond lasers interacting with multitargets

Ultrashort and powerful laser interactions with a target generate intense wideband electromagnetic pulses(EMPs).In this study,we report EMPs generated by the interactions between petawatt(30 fs,1.4×10^(20) W/cm^(2))femtosecond(fs)lasers with metal flat,plastic flat,and plastic nanowire-array(NWA)targets.Detailed analyses are conducted on the EMPs in terms of their spatial distribution,time and frequency domains,radiation energy,and protection.The results indicate that EMPs from metal targets exhibit larger amplitudes at varying angles than those generated by other types of targets and are enhanced significantly for NWA targets.Using a plastic target holder and increasing the laser focal spot can significantly decrease the radiation energy of the EMPs.Moreover,the composite shielding materials indicate an effective shielding effect against EMPs.The simulation results show that the NWA targets exert a collimating effect on thermal electrons,which directly affects the distribution of EMPs.This study provides guidance for regulating EMPs by controlling the laser focal spot,target parameters,and target rod material and is beneficial for electromagnetic-shielding design.

Spatial and temporal evolution of electromagnetic pulses from solid target irradiated with multi-hundred-terawatt laser pulse inside target chamber

Giant electromagnetic pulses(EMPs) induced by high-power laser irradiating solid targets interfere with various experimental diagnoses and even damage equipment,so unveiling the evolution of EMPs inside the laser chamber is crucial for designing effective EMP shielding.In this work,the transmission characteristics of EMPs as a function of distances from the target chamber center(TCC) are studied using B-dot probes.The mean EMP amplitude generated by picosecond laser-target interaction reaches 561 kV m^(-1),357 kV m^(-1),395 kV m^(-1),and 341 kV m^(-1)at 0.32 m,0.53 m,0.76 m,and 1 m from TCC,which decreases dramatically from 0.32 m to 0.53 m.However,it shows a fluctuation from 0.53 m to 1 m.The temporal features of EMPs indicate that time-domain EMP signals near the target chamber wall have a wider full width at half maximum compared to that close to TCC,mainly due to the echo oscillation of electromagnetic waves inside the target chamber based on simulation and experimentation.The conclusions of this study will provide a new approach to mitigate strong electromagnetic pulses by decreasing the echo oscillation of electromagnetic waves inside the target chamber during laser coupling with targets.

Unravelling the role of the combined effect of metallic charge transfer channel and SiO_(x) overlayer in the Zr/Si-Fe_(2)O_(3):Au:SiO_(x) nanorod arrays to boost photoelectrochemical water splitting

Hematite(α-Fe_(2)O_(3)) based photoanodes have been extensively studied due to various intriguing features that make them viable candidates for a photoelectrochemical(PEC) water splitting photoanode.Herein,we propose a Zr-doped Fe_(2)O_(3) photoanode decorated with facilely spin-coated Au nanoparticles(NPs) and microwave-assisted attached Si co-doping in conjunction with a SiO_(x) overlayer that displayed a remarkable photocurrent density of 2.01 mA/cm^(2) at 1.23 V vs.RHE.The kinetic dynamics at the photoelectrode/-electrolyte interface was examined by employing systematic electrochemical investigations.The Au NPs played a dual role in increasing PEC water splitting.First,the Schottky interface that was formed between Au NPs and Zr-Fe_(2)O_(3) lectrode ensured the prevention of electron flow from the photoanode to the metal,increasing the number of available charges as well as suppressing surface charge recombination.Second,Au extracted photoholes from the bulk of the Zr-Fe_(2)O_(3) and transported them to the outer SiO_(x) overlayer,while the SiO_(x) overlayer efficiently collected the photoholes and promoted the hole injection into the electrolyte.Further,Si co-doping enhanced bulk conductivity by reducing bulk charge transfer resistance and improving charge carrier density.This study outlines a technique to design a metallic charge transfer path with an overlayer for solar energy conversion.

Electronic structure and effective mass of pristine and Cl-doped CsPbBr_(3)

Organic–inorganic lead halide perovskites(LHPs) have attracted great interest owing to their outstanding optoelectronic properties.Typically,the underlying electronic structure would determinate the physical properties of materials.But as for now,limited studies have been done to reveal the underlying electronic structure of this material system,comparing to the huge amount of investigations on the material synthesis.The effective mass of the valance band is one of the most important physical parameters which plays a dominant role in charge transport and photovoltaic phenomena.In pristine CsPbBr_(3),the Fr?hlich polarons associated with the Pb–Br stretching modes are proposed to be responsible for the effective mass renormalization.In this regard,it would be very interesting to explore the electronic structure in doped LHPs.Here,we report high-resolution angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy(ARPES) studies on both pristine and Cl-doped CsPbBr_(3).The experimental band dispersions are extracted from ARPES spectra along both ■ and ■ high symmetry directions.DFT calculations are performed and directly compared with the ARPES data.Our results have revealed the band structure of Cl-doped CsPbBr_(3) for the first time,which have also unveiled the effective mass renormalization in the Cl-doped CsPbBr_(3) compound.Doping dependent measurements indicate that the chlorine doping could moderately tune the renormalization strength.These results will help understand the physical properties of LHPs as a function of doping.

Rice-wheat comparative genomics:Gains and gaps

Rice and wheat provide nearly 40%of human calorie and protein requirements.They share a common ancestor and belong to the Poaceae(grass)family.Characterizing their genetic homology is crucial for developing new cultivars with enhanced traits.Several wheat genes and gene families have been characterized based on their rice orthologs.Rice–wheat orthology can identify genetic regions that regulate similar traits in both crops.Rice–wheat comparative genomics can identify candidate wheat genes in a genomic region identified by association or QTL mapping,deduce their putative functions and biochemical pathways,and develop molecular markers for marker-assisted breeding.A knowledge of gene homology facilitates the transfer between crops of genes or genomic regions associated with desirable traits by genetic engineering,gene editing,or wide crossing.

Gradient Si-and Ti-doped Fe_(2)O_(3) hierarchical homojunction photoanode for efficient solar water splitting:Effect of facile microwave-assisted growth of Si-FeOOH on Ti-FeOOH nanocorals

The construction of a homojunction is an effective approach for addressing issues such as slow charge separation and charge-transfer kinetics in photoanodes.In the present work,we designed a gradient Si-and Ti-doped Fe_(2)O_(3) homojunction photoanode to improve the photoelectrochemical(PEC)performance of a Ti-doped Fe_(2)O_(3) photoanode.Ti-FeOOH nanocorals were synthesized using a hydrothermal process,and Si-FeOOH was grown on Ti-FeOOH nanocorals using a rapid and facile microwaveassisted(MW)technique.By varying the MW irradiation time,the thickness of the Si/Ti:Fe_(2)O_(3) photoanode was adjusted and an optimized 3-Si/Ti:Fe_(2)O_(3) photoelectrode was achieved with a significantly enhanced photocurrent density(1.37 mA cm^(-2) at 1.23 V vs.RHE)and a cathodic shift of the onset potential(150 mV)compared with that of bare Ti-Fe_(2)O_(3).This enhanced PEC performance can be ascribed to homojunction formation and Si gradient doping.The Si dopant increased the donor concentration and the formation of a homojunction improved the intrinsic built-in electric field,thereby promoting charge separation and charge transfer.Furthermore,the as-formed homojunction passivated the surfacetrapping states,consequently improving the charge transfer efficiency(60%at 1.23 VRHE)at the photoanode/electrolyte interface.These findings could pave the way for the microwave-assisted fabrication of diverse efficient homojunction photoanodes for PEC water splitting applications.

Self-Injection and Acceleration of Monoenergetic Electron Beams from Laser Wakefield Accelerators in a Highly Relativistic Regime

Self-injection and acceleration of monoenergetic electron beams from laser wakefield accelerators are first investigated in the highly relativistic regime, using 100 TW class, 27 fs laser pulses. Quasi-monoenergetic multi- bunched beams with energies as high as multi-hundredMeV are observed with simultaneous measurements of side-scattering emissions that indicate the formation of self-channelfing and self-injection of electrons into a plasma wake, referred to as a ＇bubble＇. The three-dimensional particle-in-cell simulations confirmed multiple self-injection of electron bunches into the bubble and their beam acceleration with gradient of 1.5 GeV/cm.

Mental Health Intervention in the Workplace amidst the COVID-19 Pandemic

The purpose of this project is to examine why the mental health of employees should be prioritized in the workplace. Most employees have likely experienced a visible illness or injury at some point during their careers. It is easier to identify these physical ailments that may adversely affect an employee’s performance at work, such as a broken leg or the common cold. However, there are conditions that are much less visible that negatively impact employees every day, and mental health is one of them. A person’s mental health is a significant factor in their work life that should not be ignored. While it may be difficult to recognize when someone is struggling with depression, anxiety, or another form of mental illness on the surface, employers should not automatically assume their entire staff is okay. As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic coupled with an increase in civil unrest in society, employers must reevaluate the way they conduct business, starting with the treatment of their employees. To aid employers with prioritizing mental health at work, this paper’s objectives are to address the stigma associated with mental health issues/illness, develop recommendations for inclusive work environments, increase an employer’s investment in mental health, reduce employee turnover, and normalize respect in the workplace. The findings are discussed, and recommendations are provided. Employers who intentionally prioritize and invest in their employees’ mental health will significantly reduce the costs associated with attracting and recruiting new staff due to high turnover rates. Additionally, their reputation as a preferred employer will increase.

Design and calibration of an elliptical crystal spectrometer for the diagnosis of proton-induced x-ray emission(PIXE)

Laser-driven proton-induced x-ray emission(laser-PIXE) is a nuclear analysis method based on the compact laser ion accelerator. Due to the transient process of ion acceleration, the laser-PIXE signals are usually spurted within nanoseconds and accompanied by strong electromagnetic pulses(EMP), so traditional multi-channel detectors are no longer applicable.In this work, we designed a reflective elliptical crystal spectrometer for the diagnosis of laser-PIXE. The device can detect the energy range of 1 keV–11 ke V with a high resolution. A calibration experiment was completed on the electrostatic accelerator of Peking University using samples of Al, Ti, Cu, and ceramic artifacts. The detection efficiency of the elliptical crystal spectrometer was obtained in the order of 10-9.

Half-a-century(1971–2020)of glacier shrinkage and climatic variability in the Bhaga basin,western Himalaya

Glacier shrinkage is a globally occurring phenomena.High-resolution change detection based on frequent mapping and monitoring of high-altitude glaciers is necessary to precisely evaluate future water availability and to understand glacier evolution under different climatic scenarios in the Hindukush-Karakoram-Himalayan(HKH)region.This also holds true for the Bhaga basin of the western Himalaya.This study investigates glacier and glacier lake changes in the Bhaga basin,over the last five decades based on satellite imagery including Corona KH4(1971),Landsat 7 Enhanced Thematic Mapper Plus(ETM+;2000),Linear Imaging Self-Scanning Sensor(LISS Ⅳ;2013),and Sentinel 2(2020).Regional temperature and precipitation trends were evaluated from gridded climatic datasets(1900–2020).In the Bhaga basin 306 glaciers(>0.2 km^(2))were mapped with a total area of 360.3±4.0 km^(2),of which 55.7±0.6 km^(2)was covered with debris in 2013.The total glacier covered area decreased by∼8.2±1.5%(0.16±0.03%yr-1)during the entire observation period 1971–2020,with noticeable heterogeneity between tributary watersheds.In the past two decades(2000–2020),the deglaciation rate has increased significantly(0.25%yr-1)compared to the previous decades(1971–2000;0.12%yr-1).Glacier lake area increased by 0.6±0.1 km^(2)(0.012 km^(2)yr-1)between 1971 and 2020.The NCEP/NCAR climatic data reveals an increase of 0.63℃in temperature and a decrease of 6.39 mm in precipitation for the period 1948–2018.In comparison,APHRODITE data shows an increasing trend in temperature of 1.14℃between 1961 and 2015 and decreasing trend in precipitation of 31 mm between 1951 and 2007.Both NCEP/NCAR and APHRODITE data reveal significant temperature increase and precipitation decrease since the 1990s,which have probably augmented ice loss in the Bhaga basin during the early 21st century.

Commissioning and operation of the cryostat for 3W1 SC wiggler

A 3W1 superconducting wiggler(SCW)with the pole gap of 68 mm was successfully tested and installed in a BEPC II storage ring in November,2019.The goal of zero liquid helium consumption was achieved,and the cryogenic system exhibited a 12%residual cooling capacity(approximately 0.69 W@4.2 K).The 3W1-SCW was set to operate at 2.49 T and has been operating for more than seven months.Three instances of magnet quenching occurred during the normal operation.The evaporated helium gas can be recycled to the helium gas recycling system when the pressure in the helium tank is higher than the parameter value(the setpoint of the pressure value is 1.2 bara).The cryogenic system can be recovered within 4 h if sufficient liquid helium is available to inject into the cryostat.

Experimental study on the synergistic inhibition of malignant biological behavior of hepatocellular carcinoma cells by the combination of DMDD and sorafenib

Objective:To investigate the effects and possible mechanisms of the combination of DMDD(2-dodecyl-6-methoxycyclohexa-2-5-diene-1-4-dione),a traditional Chinese medicine monomer,and sorafenib on the malignant biological behavior of human hepatocellular carcinoma Huh7 cells.Methods:The experiment was divided into four groups:Huh7 cells control group,DMDD group,sorafenib group and DMDD and sorafenib combination group.The CCK-8 assay was used to measure the viability of Huh7 cells,and the Kim's formula was used to determine the synergistic effect.The plate cloning experiment was conducted to test colony formation ability of Huh7 cells.The scratch and Transwell experiments were performed to evaluate the migration ability and the invasion ability of Huh7 cells.The cell cycle of Huh7 cells was detected by flow cytometry.RT-qPCR and Western blot were used to measure the mRNA transcription level and protein expression level of PHGDH in the serine synthesis pathway.Results:The plate cloning experiment,scratch experiment,and Transwell migration experiment showed that the combined application of DMDD and Sorafenib significantly enhanced the inhibitory effect on the proliferation,migration,and invasion ability of Huh7 cells compared to the control group,DMDD group,and Sorafenib group(P<0.05).According to the Kim's formula,the combination of DMDD(final concentrations of 2,4,8μmol/L)and Sorafenib(final concentrations of 1,2,4μmol/L)had a synergistic inhibitory effect on the proliferation of Huh7 cells(Q>1.15).6,10μmol/L DMDD combined with 3,5μmol/L Sorafenib showed additive effect.The cell cycle of Huh7 cells was detected by flow cytometry,and the results showed that after 48 hours of drug intervention,the proportion of G2/M phase cells in the control group,DMDD group,Sorafenib group,and combination group were(10.63±0.32)%,(35.77±1.22)%,(30.03±2.22)%,and(38.97±0.60)%,respectively.Compared with the control group,the proportion of G2/M phase cells in the three groups significantly increased(P<0.0001).Compared with the Sorafenib group,the proportion of G2/M phase cells in the combination group significantly increased(P<0.0001).RT-qPCR and Western blot results showed that the combined application of DMDD and Sorafenib significantly inhibited the mRNA transcription level and protein expression level of PHGDH(P<0.05).Conclusion:The combined application of DMDD and Sorafenib has a synergistic effect that can enhance the inhibitory effect on the proliferation,invasion,and migration ability of Huh7 cells.The mechanism of this effect is related to the synergistic inhibition of the gene transcription and protein expression of PHGDH in the serine synthesis pathway.

Detection,management,and prevention of diabetes-related foot disease in the Australian context

Diabetes-related foot disease(DFD)is a widely feared complication among people who live with diabetes.In Australia and globally,rates of disability,cardiovascular disease,lower extremity amputation,and mortality are significantly increased in patients with DFD.In order to understand and prevent these outcomes,we analyse the common pathogenetic processes of neuropathy,arterial disease,and infection.The review then summarises important management considerations through the interdisciplinary lens.Using Australian and international guidelines,we offer a stepwise,evidence-based practical approach to the care of patients with DFD.

A Holistic Secure Communication Mechanism Using a Multilayered Cryptographic Protocol to Enhanced Security

In an era characterized by digital pervasiveness and rapidly expanding datasets,ensuring the integrity and reliability of information is paramount.As cyber threats evolve in complexity,traditional cryptographic methods face increasingly sophisticated challenges.This article initiates an exploration into these challenges,focusing on key exchanges(encompassing their variety and subtleties),scalability,and the time metrics associated with various cryptographic processes.We propose a novel cryptographic approach underpinned by theoretical frameworks and practical engineering.Central to this approach is a thorough analysis of the interplay between Confidentiality and Integrity,foundational pillars of information security.Our method employs a phased strategy,beginning with a detailed examination of traditional cryptographic processes,including Elliptic Curve Diffie-Hellman(ECDH)key exchanges.We also delve into encrypt/decrypt paradigms,signature generation modes,and the hashes used for Message Authentication Codes(MACs).Each process is rigorously evaluated for performance and reliability.To gain a comprehensive understanding,a meticulously designed simulation was conducted,revealing the strengths and potential improvement areas of various techniques.Notably,our cryptographic protocol achieved a confidentiality metric of 9.13 in comprehensive simulation runs,marking a significant advancement over existing methods.Furthermore,with integrity metrics at 9.35,the protocol’s resilience is further affirmed.These metrics,derived from stringent testing,underscore the protocol’s efficacy in enhancing data security.

Milestone progress of the HEPS booster commissioning

The high-energy photon source(HEPS)is the first fourth-generation synchrotron light source facility in China.The HEPS injector consists of a linear accelerator(Linac)and a full energy booster.The booster captures the electron beam from the Linac and increases its energy to the value required for the storage ring.The full-energy beam could be injected to the storage ring directly or after“high-energy accumulation.”On November 17,2023,the key booster parameters successfully reached their corresponding target values.These milestone results were achieved based on numerous contributions,including nearly a decade of physical design,years of equipment development and installation,and months of beam commissioning.As measured at the extraction energy of 6 GeV,the averaged beam current and emittance reached 8.57 mA with 5 bunches and 30.37 nm rad with a single-bunch charge of 5.58 nC,compared with the corresponding target values of 6.6 mA and 35 nm rad,respectively.This paper presents the physical design,equipment development,installation,and commissioning process of the HEPS booster.

Tailoring local structures of atomically dispersed copper sites for highly selective CO_(2) electroreduction

Atomically‐dispersed copper sites coordinated with nitrogen‐doped carbon(Cu–N–C)can provide novel possibilities to enable highly selective and active electrochemical CO_(2) reduction reactions.However,the construction of optimal local electronic structures for nitrogen‐coordinated Cu sites(Cu–N_(4))on carbon remains challenging.Here,we synthesized the Cu–N–C catalysts with atomically‐dispersed edge‐hosted Cu–N_(4) sites(Cu–N_(4)C_(8))located in a micropore between two graphitic sheets via a facile method to control the concentration of metal precursor.Edge‐hosted Cu–N_(4)C_(8) catalysts outperformed the previously reported M–N–C catalysts for CO_(2)‐to‐CO conversion,achieving a maximum CO Faradaic efficiency(FECO)of 96%,a CO current density of–8.97 mA cm^(–2) at–0.8 V versus reversible hydrogen electrode(RHE),and over FECO of 90%from–0.6 to–1.0 V versus RHE.Computational studies revealed that the micropore of the graphitic layer in edge‐hosted Cu–N_(4)C_(8) sites causes the d‐orbital energy level of the Cu atom to shift upward,which in return decreases the occupancy of antibonding states in the*COOH binding.This research suggests new insights into tailoring the locally coordinated structure of the electrocatalyst at the atomic scale to achieve highly selective electrocatalytic reactions.