Separation of the active components from the residue of Schisandra chinensis via an ultrasound-assisted method.

A novel and efficient method, namely Solid-state fermentation combined with ionic liquid pretreatment and ultrasonic-assisted extraction (SSFIPU), was successfully established for the extraction of anthocyanins (ACs) from Schisandra chinensis residue samples. Additionally, an enzymatic combined with ionic liquid pretreatment and ultrasonic-assisted extraction technique (EIPU) was effectively developed to extract Schisandrin A (SDA) and Schizandrin B (SDB) from the residue after AC extraction. A comprehensive examination was conducted on ten crucial parameters of SSFIPU and eight essential parameters of EIPU.

Leech-Inspired Amphibious Soft Robot Driven by High-Voltage Triboelectricity.

Leech locomotion, characterized by alternating sucker attachment and body contraction provides high adaptability and stability on complex terrains. Herein, a leech-inspired triboelectric soft robot is proposed for the first time, capable of amphibious movement, climbing, and load-carrying crawling. A high-performance triboelectric bionic robot system is developed to drive and control electro-responsive soft robots.

Simultaneous High Current Density and Selective Electrocatalytic CO-to-CH through Intermediate Balancing.

The electrochemical reduction of CO to CH is promising for carbon neutrality and renewable energy storage but confronts low CH selectivity, especially at high current densities. The key challenge lies in promoting *CO intermediate and *H coupling while minimizing side reactions including C-C coupling and H-H coupling, which is particularly difficult at high current density due to abundant intermediates. Here we report a cooperative strategy to address this challenge using Cu-based catalysts comprising Cu-N coordination polymer and CuO component that can simultaneously manage the key intermediates *CO and *H.

Leukocyte Telomere Length Mediates the Associations between Blood Lead and Cadmium with Hypertension among Adults in the United States: A Cross-Sectional Study.

There is evidence to support the links between lead and cadmium exposure with hypertension and also with leukocyte telomere length (LTL). The objective of this study is to investigate the role that LTL may play in the relationship between lead and cadmium exposure and hypertension. This study consisted of 3718 participants from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 1999-2002.

Obstructive sleep apnea and mental disorders: a bidirectional mendelian randomization study.

Background: Previous studies have reported associations between obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and several mental disorders. However, further research is required to determine whether these associations are causal. Therefore, we evaluated the bidirectional causality between the genetic liability for OSA and nine mental disorders by using Mendelian randomization (MR).

Enhancing pooling levels strengthens the risk resilience of healthcare insurance: a case study of basic medical insurance fund operations data in Gansu, China.

Background: In China, enhancing the pooling levels of basic health insurance has consistently been regarded as a pivotal measure to promote the refinement of the healthcare insurance system. From 2020 to 2022, the widespread outbreak of COVID-19 posed new challenges to China's basic health insurance.

Methods: The research utilizes Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA), Malmquist index assessment, and fixed-effects panel Tobit models to analyze panel data from 2020 to 2022, assessing the efficiency of basic health insurance in Gansu Province.

Observation on Microenvironment Changes of Dynamic Catalysts in Acidic CO Reduction.

Electrochemical CO reduction reaction (CORR) in acid can solve alkalinity issues while highly corrosive and reductive acidic electrolytes usually cause catalyst degradation. Inhibiting catalyst degradation is crucial for the stability of acidic CORR. Here, we reveal the microenvironment changes of dynamic Bi-based catalysts and develop a pulse chronoamperometry (CA) strategy to improve the stability of acidic CORR.

Ampere-Level Current Density CO Reduction with High C Selectivity on La(OH)-Modified Cu Catalysts.

The carbon dioxide reduction reaction (CORR) driven by electricity can transform CO into high-value multi-carbon (C) products. Copper (Cu)-based catalysts are efficient but suffer from low C selectivity at high current densities. Here La(OH) in Cu catalyst is introduced to modify its electronic structure towards efficient CORR to C products at ampere-level current densities.

A LaO/MXene composite electrode for supercapacitors with improved capacitance and cycling performance.

Developing efficient electrode materials is a key towards high power electrochemical energy storage devices. Two-dimensional (2D) MXene shows excellent conductivity and electrochemical performance among other materials. However, the restacking of MXene layers may degrade their specific capacity and cycling performance.

A corrosion-resistant RuMoNi catalyst for efficient and long-lasting seawater oxidation and anion exchange membrane electrolyzer.

Direct seawater electrolysis is promising for sustainable hydrogen gas (H) production. However, the chloride ions in seawater lead to side reactions and corrosion, which result in a low efficiency and poor stability of the electrocatalyst and hinder the use of seawater electrolysis technology. Here we report a corrosion-resistant RuMoNi electrocatalyst, in which the in situ-formed molybdate ions on its surface repel chloride ions.

Two-Dimensional Metal Coordination Polymer Derived Indium Nanosheet for Efficient Carbon Dioxide Reduction to Formate.

Main group indium materials have been known as promising electrocatalysts for two-electron-involved carbon dioxide reduction to produce formate, which is a key energy vector in many industrial reactions. However, the synthesis of two-dimensional (2D) monometallic nonlayered indium remains a great challenge. Here, we present a facile electrochemical reduction strategy to transform 2D indium coordination polymer into elemental indium nanosheets.

Responses of tree seedlings to understory filtering by the recalcitrant fern layer in a subtropical forest.

The recalcitrant understory fern layer is an important ecological filter for seedling regeneration, yet how the fern layer influences seedling regeneration dynamics remains unclear. Here we transplanted 576 seedlings of four dominant tree species, , , and , to the treatments of retention and removal under an evergreen broad-leaved forest in eastern China. We monitored the survival, growth and biomass data of these seedlings for 28 months, and then used generalized linear mixed models to evaluate the treatment effects on seedling survival, growth, biomass and root-shoot ratio.

Dual interfacial engineering of a Chevrel phase electrode material for stable hydrogen evolution at 2500 mA cm.

Constructing stable electrodes which function over long timescales at large current density is essential for the industrial realization and implementation of water electrolysis. However, rapid gas bubble detachment at large current density usually results in peeling-off of electrocatalysts and performance degradation, especially for long term operations. Here we construct a mechanically-stable, all-metal, and highly active CuMoS/Cu electrode by in-situ reaction between MoS and Cu.

Adaptation of prelimbic cortex mediated by IL-6/STAT3/Acp5 pathway contributes to the comorbidity of neuropathic pain and depression in rats.

Background: The adaption of brain region is fundamental to the development and maintenance of nervous system disorders. The prelimbic cortex (PrL) participates in the affective components of the pain sensation. However, whether and how the adaptation of PrL contributes to the comorbidity of neuropathic pain and depression are unknown.

Why do platinum catalysts show diverse electrocatalytic performance?

As one of the best electrocatalysts for the hydrogen evolution reaction, platinum catalysts are a benchmark for the performance evaluation of new catalysts. However, platinum catalysts reported in the literature show diverse electrocatalytic performances, resulting in the lack of a common reference standard. In this study, we investigated several factors that affect the performance of platinum catalysts by performing experimental measurements and data processing.

Ocular phenotype related SNP analysis in Southern Han Chinese population from Guangdong province.

Ocular phenotype is recognizable among Asians, including eyelid fold, fissure inclination, and canthal index. Here we screened 27 facial phenotype-associated SNPs and reported a preliminary study in 246 Chinese individuals of Han origin in Guangdong province. Results showed that rs17760296 could explain 6.

Efficacy of ifosfamide combined with liposome doxorubicin on osteosarcoma and its effects on serum IL-10, TNF-α, and IFN-γ in patients with osteosarcoma.

Objective: To evaluate the effects of ifosfamide combined with liposome doxorubicin on osteosarcoma (OS) and its effects on serum IL-10, TNF-α, and IFN-γ in patients with OS.

Methods: A total of 86 patients with OS who received chemotherapy in Honghui Hospital, Xi'an Jiaotong University from Jan. 2017 to Dec.

Neighborhood Effects on Tree Mortality Depend on Life Stage of Neighbors.

Neighborhood effects are a crucial ecological processes that allow species to coexist in a forest. Conspecific and heterospecific neighbors, as major group classifications, affect tree mortality through various mechanisms associated with neighbor life stages. However, the influence of neighbor life stages on neighborhood effects and by what mechanisms remains a knowledge gap.

A Ta-TaS monolith catalyst with robust and metallic interface for superior hydrogen evolution.

The use of highly-active and robust catalysts is crucial for producing green hydrogen by water electrolysis as we strive to achieve global carbon neutrality. Noble metals like platinum are currently used catalysts in industry for the hydrogen evolution, but suffer from scarcity, high price and unsatisfied performance and stability at large current density, restrict their large-scale implementations. Here we report the synthesis of a type of monolith catalyst consisting of a metal disulfide (e.

Chemically defined and xeno-free culture condition for human extended pluripotent stem cells.

Extended pluripotent stem (EPS) cells have shown great applicative potentials in generating synthetic embryos, directed differentiation and disease modeling. However, the lack of a xeno-free culture condition has significantly limited their applications. Here, we report a chemically defined and xeno-free culture system for culturing and deriving human EPS cells in vitro.

Bone Mineral Density in Population Long-Term Exposed to Rare Earth Elements from a Mining Area of China.

This study aims to investigate the effects of individuals' exposure to rare earth elements (REEs) on bone metabolism. Adopting the inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry, we measured REEs and eight other elements (Ca, Fe, Cu, Na, K, Zn, Mg, and P) in the hair of 53 miners exposed to REEs from Baiyunebo and 57 healthy farmers as the control group. Furthermore, bone mineral density (BMD) in both groups was assessed by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry.

Preparation of heterogeneous Fenton catalyst γ-Cu-Ce-Al2O3 and the evaluation on degradation of phenol.

Traditional Fenton reagents are less effective for industrial wastewater treatment because they are active in a narrow pH range, precipitate and become inactive, and are difficult to recover. In this study, a heterogeneous Fenton catalyst, γ-Cu-Ce-AlO, was prepared by the sol-gel method and evaluated for the treatment of phenol-containing water. The optimal mix of γ-Cu-Ce-AlO includes a Cu content of 5 wt% and a molar ratio between Cu and Ce of 2:1.