Molten-Salt-Mediated Synthesis of an Atomic Nickel Co-catalyst on TiO for Improved Photocatalytic H Evolution.

Atomic co-catalysts offer high potential to improve the photocatalytic performance, of which the preparation with earth-abundant elements is challenging. Here, a new molten salt method (MSM) is designed to prepare atomic Ni co-catalyst on widely studied TiO nanoparticles. The liquid environment and space confinement effect of the molten salt leads to atomic dispersion of Ni ions on TiO , while the strong polarizing force provided by the molten salt promotes formation of strong Ni-O bonds.

Design of stroke imaging package study of intracranial atherosclerosis: a multicenter, prospective, cohort study.

Background: Intracranial atherosclerosis (ICAS) is a major cause of stroke worldwide. However, much remains unknown regarding its underlying pathophysiology. High-resolution magnetic resonance imaging (HR-MRI) can clearly display intracranial vessel wall lesions in vivo.

A Novel Dry Selective Isotropic Atomic Layer Etching of SiGe for Manufacturing Vertical Nanowire Array with Diameter Less than 20 nm.

Semiconductor nanowires have great application prospects in field effect transistors and sensors. In this study, the process and challenges of manufacturing vertical SiGe/Si nanowire array by using the conventional lithography and novel dry atomic layer etching technology. The final results demonstrate that vertical nanowires with a diameter less than 20 nm can be obtained.

Recombinant elongation factor 1 alpha of Haemonchus contortus affects the functions of goat PBMCs.

Excretory/secretory proteins of Haemonchus contortus (HcESPs) intermingle comprehensively with host immune cells and modulate host immune responses. In this study, H contortus ES antigen named as elongation factor 1 alpha (HcEF-1α) was cloned and expressed. The influences of recombinant HcEF-1α on multiple functions of goat peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were observed in vitro.

Foodomics analysis of natural aging and gamma irradiation maturation in Chinese distilled Baijiu by UPLC-Orbitrap-MS/MS.

Classification of Feng-flavor Baijiu considering aging category was furnished with a comprehensive fingerprinting strategy which used UPLC-Orbitrap and foodomics, and the most discriminant 29 compounds related to aging, 15 organic acids, 8 esters as well as some carbonyl compounds were discovered. Increase of aromatic organic acids, decline of carcinogenic dibutyl phthalate and generation of numerous aromatic substances in Baijiu were caused by irradiation until the system reached a relatively stable state which needed 28 days. It is similarity of physical and chemical reaction process of natural aging and irradiation maturation that both can facilitate flavor of base Baijiu, while the aging time can be plainly shorten utilizing irradiation for Baijiu, whose outcome has been demonstrated by LC-MS and sensory evaluation.

Genistein Enhances Radiosensitivity of Human Hepatocellular Carcinoma Cells by Inducing G2/M Arrest and Apoptosis.

New radiosensitizers are urgently needed for radiation therapy patients with localized hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) that is refractory to radical surgery. We previously found that genistein, a major soy isoflavone, exerts radioprotective effects on L-02 normal liver cells at low concentrations. Here, we report that 5 µ genistein shows less harm to L-02 cells than HCC cells and that it significantly enhances the radiosensitivity of HCC cells by enhancing DNA damage, chromosomal aberrations and cell cycle arrest at G/M phase and by exacerbating apoptosis.

Hc-hrg-2, a glutathione transferase gene, regulates heme homeostasis in the blood-feeding parasitic nematode Haemonchus contortus.

Background: Haemonchus contortus, a blood-feeding parasite, is constantly surrounded by large quantities of heme released from the catabolism of host red blood cells. To cope with the toxicity of free heme, H. contortus needs to uptake and detoxify the heme, a process believed to be paramount for parasite survival.

An Autonomous Path Planning Model for Unmanned Ships Based on Deep Reinforcement Learning.

Deep reinforcement learning (DRL) has excellent performance in continuous control problems and it is widely used in path planning and other fields. An autonomous path planning model based on DRL is proposed to realize the intelligent path planning of unmanned ships in the unknown environment. The model utilizes the deep deterministic policy gradient (DDPG) algorithm, through the continuous interaction with the environment and the use of historical experience data; the agent learns the optimal action strategy in a simulation environment.

Clinical isolates of Tritrichomonas foetus in bulls in Wyoming, South Dakota and Montana, USA.

Background: Several Tritrichomonas species have been found in mammalian hosts. Among these trichomonads T. foetus is often found in the urogenital tract of cattle and the gastrointestinal tract of the domestic cat, resulting in sexually transmitted bovine trichomonosis and fecal-orally transmitted feline trichomonosis, respectively.

Dimensionality-Controlled Surface Passivation for Enhancing Performance and Stability of Perovskite Solar Cells via Triethylenetetramine Vapor.

Perovskite solar cells (PSCs) have achieved unprecedented progress in terms of enhancement of power conversion efficiency (PCE). Nevertheless, device stability is still an obstacle to the commercialization of this emerging photovoltaic technology. Though strategies such as compositional management and ligand engineering have been reported to tackle this critical issue, these methods often have drawbacks such as compromised device performance.

Effects of aminooxyacetic acid on hippocampal mitochondria in rats with chronic alcoholism: the analysis of learning and memory-related genes.

The incidence of chronic alcoholism leading to central and peripheral nervous system damage has been increasing year-to-year. The purpose of this study is to explore the effects of aminooxyacetic acid on hippocampus mitochondria in rats with chronic alcoholism and analyze learning and memory-related genes. Sixty male Sprague Dawley rats were randomly divided into three groups.

Oral health of 12-year-old children in Jilin province, China: A population-based epidemiological survey.

There is a lack of population-based surveys on oral health in Jilin province. Accordingly, this study aimed to understand the oral health status of 12-year-old children in Jilin province, China, to demonstrate the prevalence of oral health-related diseases, as well as to identify the associated risk factors.From February to April 2017, a cross-sectional investigation was conducted among 2324 children aged 12 years from 63 public schools of 9 regions in Jilin province, China.

A Stable Solid Electrolyte Interphase for Magnesium Metal Anode Evolved from a Bulky Anion Lithium Salt.

Rechargeable magnesium (Mg) metal batteries are a promising candidate for "post-Li-ion batteries" due to their high capacity, high abundance, and most importantly, highly reversible and dendrite-free Mg metal anode. However, the formation of passivating surface film rather than Mg -conducting solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) on Mg anode surface has always restricted the development of rechargeable Mg batteries. A stable SEI is constructed on the surface of Mg metal anode by the partial decomposition of a pristine Li electrolyte in the electrochemical process.

An Intrinsically Non-flammable Electrolyte for High-Performance Potassium Batteries.

Potassium-ion batteries are promising for low-cost and large-scale energy storage applications, but the major obstacle to their application is the lack of safe and effective electrolytes. A phosphate-based fire retardant such as triethyl phosphate is now shown to work as a single solvent with potassium bis(fluorosulfonyl)imide at 0.9 m, in contrast to previous Li and Na systems where phosphates cannot work at low concentrations.

Statistical estimates of hominin origination and extinction dates: A case study examining the Australopithecus anamensis-afarensis lineage.

Reliable estimates of when hominin taxa originated and went extinct are central to addressing many paleoanthropological questions, including those relating to macroevolutionary patterns. The timing of hominin temporal ranges can be used to test chronological predictions generated from phylogenetic hypotheses. For example, hypotheses of phyletic ancestor-descendant relationships, based on morphological data, predict no temporal range overlap between the two taxa.

Heteroplasmy and phenotype spectrum of the mitochondrial tRNA gene m.3243A>G mutation in seven Han Chinese families.

The m.3243A > G mutation in the mitochondrial tRNA gene is associated with a variety of phenotypic heterogeneity. The clinical spectrum and phenotypic-genotypic correlations in the Chinese patients are poorly understood.

Evolution of the modern human brain.

When compared to the brains of our closest living relatives, chimpanzees and bonobos, the brains of modern humans are larger and differently shaped. This chapter reviews what we know about the evolutionary history of these differences. We can make an educated guess about the size and shape of the brains of the hypothetical common ancestor of modern humans and chimpanzees/bonobos, but between ca.

From payments for ecosystem services to eco-compensation: Conceptual change or paradigm shift?

Payments for ecosystem services (PES) is an effective policy in conserving ecosystem services and is increasingly applied globally. The concept of PES was firstly defined in 2005, researches with various terminologies, concepts, and practices emerged since then. This paper analyzed the research patterns of PES studies through bibliometric methods, with a special focus on the trends of terminology, location (geographical research hotspot), types of PES, and PES effectiveness evaluation based on author keywords analysis.

Diffusion of Resveratrol in Silica Alcogels.

The trans-resveratrol (RSV)-loaded silica aerogel (RLSA) was prepared by the sol-gel method, adding the drug during the aging process, solvent replacement and freeze drying. A series of characterizations showed that RSV stays in the silica aerogel in two ways. First, RSV precipitates due to minimal solubility in water during the solvent replacement process.

Prevalence and Risk Factors of White Matter Lesions in Tibetan Patients Without Acute Stroke.

Background and Purpose- Studies on the prevalence and risk factors of white matter lesions (WMLs) in Tibetans living at high altitudes are scarce. We conducted this study to determine the prevalence and risks of WMLs in Tibetan patients without or with nonacute stroke. Methods- We undertook a retrospective analysis of medical records of patients treated at the People's Hospital of Tibetan Autonomous Region and identified a total of 301 Tibetan patients without acute stroke.

A contemporary medicolegal analysis of perioperative vision loss from 2007 to 2016.

Introduction: Perioperative vision loss (POVL) is a rare but catastrophic event. Closed claim databases are useful for investigating risk factors of POVL to help guide practices in risk mitigation and risk management strategies.

Methods: We retrospectively analyzed the Controlled Risk Insurance Company (CRICO) Comparative Benchmarking System database for perioperative nerve injuries from when claims were closed between 2007 and 2016.