Does smooth mean simple? The impact of tactile experience on judgments of difficulty.

People often associate roughness with difficulty, as a figure of speech. Studies have shown that there is a metaphorical connection between the concept of rough versus smooth feel and the degree of difficulty. However, it has not been determined whether rough and smooth tactile experiences influence judgments of perceived task difficulty from the perspective of physical metaphors.

Engineering n-Type and p-Type BiOI Nanosheets: Influence of Mannitol on Semiconductor Behavior and Photocatalytic Activity.

Photocatalytic technology holds significant promise for sustainable development and environmental protection due to its ability to utilize renewable energy sources and degrade pollutants efficiently. In this study, BiOI nanosheets (NSs) were synthesized using a simple water bath method with varying amounts of mannitol and reaction temperatures to investigate their structural, morphological, photoelectronic, and photocatalytic properties. Notably, the introduction of mannitol played a critical role in inducing a transition in BiOI from an n-type to a p-type semiconductor, as evidenced by Mott-Schottky (M-S) and band structure analyses.

Dual-functional CuO/g-CN heterojunctions: a high-performance SERS sensor and photocatalytic self-cleaning system for water pollution detection and remediation.

This study introduces a multifunctional device based on CuO/g-CN monitoring and purification p-n heterojunctions (MPHs), seamlessly integrating surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) detection with photocatalytic degradation capabilities. The SERS and photocatalytic performances of the CuO in various morphologies, g-CN nanosheets (NSs) and CuO/g-CN MPHs with different g-CN mass ratios were systematically evaluated, with a particular emphasis on the CuO/g-CN-0.2 MPH, where g-CN constituted 20% of the total mass.

Photocatalytic Enhancement and Recyclability in Visible-Light-Responsive 2D/2D g-CN/BiOI p-n Heterojunctions via a Z-Scheme Charge Transfer Mechanism.

With the intensification of the energy crisis and the growing concern over environmental pollution, particularly the discharge of organic dye pollutants in industrial wastewater, photocatalytic degradation of these contaminants using solar energy has emerged as an effective, eco-friendly solution. In this study, we successfully synthesized 2D/2D g-CN/BiOI p-n heterojunctions via a simple precipitation method and a high-temperature calcination method. The unique 2D structures of g-CN nanosheets (NSs) and BiOI NSs, coupled with the synergistic effect between the two materials, significantly enhanced the photocatalytic degradation performance of the heterojunctions under simulated sunlight.

Engineering Charge Transfer Characteristics in ZnO NRs/AgO NPs p-n Heterojunctions: Toward Highly Efficient and Recyclable Photocatalysts.

Staggered gap p-n heterojunction ZnO nanorods/AgO nanoparticles, a paradigm of photocatalysts, were developed via engineering the hydrothermal and coprecipitation method. Under simulated sunlight, the photocatalytic characteristics of ZnO/AgO(Zn/A) heterojunctions with varying mole ratios (from 8:1 to 8:4, named Zn/A-1-Zn/A-4) were systematically evaluated through the degradation of methylene blue (MB). The influence of key experimental variables, including photocatalyst concentration, MB concentration, and solution pH, on the photocatalyst performance was further analyzed.

Altered reactive oxygen species scavenging and hormonal signaling in tetraploid rice are associated with blast resistance.

Autotetraploid rice shows distinct morphological, physiological, hormonal, and gene expression changes that enhance its resistance to rice blast.

CD39 is induced by nutrient deprivation in colorectal cancer cells and contributes to the tolerance to hypoxia.

Rapid tumor growth and insufficient blood supply leads to the development of a hypoxic and nutrient deprived microenvironment. To survive, tumor cells need to tolerate these adverse conditions. Here we found the expression of CD39 was enhanced in necrotic regions distant from blood vessels.

Simultaneous photocatalytic degradation and SERS detection of tetracycline with self-sustainable and recyclable ternary PI/TiO/Ag flexible microfibers.

Facile and efficient photocatalysts using sunlight, as well as fast and sensitive surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) substrates, are urgently needed for practical degradation of tetracycline (TC). To meet these requirements, a new paradigm for PI/TiO/Ag organic‒inorganic ternary flexible microfibers based on semiconducting titanium dioxide (TiO), the noble metal silver (Ag) and the conjugated polymer polyimide (PI) was developed by engineering a simple method. Under sunlight, the photocatalytic characteristics of the PI/TiO/Ag flexible microfibers containing varying amounts of Ag quantum dots (QDs) were evaluated with photocatalytic degradation of TC in aqueous solution.

Platelets induce CD39 expression in tumor cells to facilitate tumor metastasis.

Background: Tumor cells continue to evolve the metastatic potential in response to signals provided by the external microenvironment during metastasis. Platelets closely interact with tumor cells during hematogenous metastasis and facilitate tumor development. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying this process are not fully understood.

A Comparative Analysis of Major Cell Wall Components and Associated Gene Expression in Autotetraploid and Its Donor Diploid Rice ( L.) under Blast and Salt Stress Conditions.

Whole-genome duplication is a significant evolutionary mechanism in plants, with polyploid plants often displaying larger organs and enhanced adaptability to unfavorable conditions compared to their diploid counterparts. The cell wall acts as a primary defense for plant cells against external stresses, playing an essential role in the plant's resistance to various stressors. In this study, we utilized both autotetraploid and its donor diploid rice ( L.

U-net based vortex detection in Bose-Einstein condensates with automatic correction for manually mislabeled data.

Quantum vortices in Bose-Einstein condensates (BECs) are essential phenomena in condensed matter physics, and precisely locating their positions, especially the vortex core, is a precondition for studying their properties. With the rise of machine learning, there is a possibility to expedite the localization process and provide accurate predictions. However, traditional machine learning requires particular considerable amount of manual data annotation, leading to uncontrollable accuracy.

Highly Efficient and Reusable PI/TiO Organic-Inorganic Microfibers for Sustainable Photocatalytic Degradation of Multiple Organic Pollutants under Simulated Sunlight.

Herein, a series of polyimide (PI)/titanium dioxide (TiO) organic-inorganic flexible composite microfibers with high photocatalytic performance and good reusability were prepared by combining electrospinning technology and a hydrothermal method. Under simulated sunlight, the photocatalytic characteristics of the as-prepared PI nanofibers, TiO nanorods, and PI/TiO microfibers were evaluated with photocatalytic degradation of Rhodamine B (RhB) solution. Among the tested samples, PI/TiO-3 mL hydrochloric acid-160 °C-14 h (PI/TiO-3-160-14) (100%) exhibited a superior photocatalytic degradation rate compared to pure PI (84.

Evaluating the Differential Response of Transcription Factors in Diploid versus Autotetraploid Rice Leaves Subjected to Diverse Saline-Alkali Stresses.

Saline-alkali stress is a significant abiotic stress factor that impacts plant growth, development, and crop yield. Consistent with the notion that genome-wide replication events can enhance plant stress resistance, autotetraploid rice exhibited a higher level of tolerance to saline-alkali stress than its donor counterparts, which is reflected by differential gene expression between autotetraploid and diploid rice in response to salt, alkali, and saline-alkali stress. In this study, we investigated the expression of the transcription factors (TFs) in the leaf tissues of autotetraploid and diploid rice under different types of saline-alkali stress.

Water source of and plantations under different soil moisture conditions in the Loess Plateau of Western Shanxi, China.

Water is a key factor limiting plant growth in loess regions. Studying water use by different afforestation species under different water conditions is crucial to understand the drought resistance mechanisms of plants in arid and semi-arid regions. We analyzed water use at different depths by the afforestation species and under the drought treatment (100% no throughfall, DT) and the natural rainfall (control, CK) by stable isotope (δO, δH) technique and explored their drought adaptability.

Optical feedback interferometry with 40 km transmission distance based on a distributed feedback fiber laser.

This Letter proposes an all-fiber self-mixing interferometric method based on laser feedback technology with long transmission distance, which has advantages of high sensitivity and compact structure. We theoretically and experimentally verify that the measurement distance of the self-mixing sensor is not limited to the coherence length of the solitary laser used. In the experiment, the velocity of a non-cooperative target was successfully measured with 40 km transmission distance.

Relaxation characteristics for efficient fluorescence lifetime detection of gain media in the fiber laser.

By using different active materials as gain media, we demonstrate a system aimed to measure the fluorescence lifetime of gain media in the fiber laser by utilizing the correlation between the laser's relaxation oscillation characteristics and the fluorescence lifetime of the active materials. As the advantages of extremely compact configuration, non-destructive and real time of the system, the fluorescence lifetime of gain media composed of materials of erbium-ytterbium-doped or erbium-doped have been measured, whose results are 20.2 µs and 1.

Roles of BTLA in Immunity and Immune Disorders.

B and T lymphocyte attenuator (BTLA) is one of the most important cosignaling molecules. It belongs to the CD28 superfamily and is similar to programmed cell death-1 (PD-1) and cytotoxic T lymphocyte associated antigen-4 (CTLA-4) in terms of its structure and function. BTLA can be detected in most lymphocytes and induces immunosuppression by inhibiting B and T cell activation and proliferation.

Spatial Confinement Tunes Cleavage and Re-Formation of C=N Bonds in Fluorescent Molecules.

Molecules in confined spaces exhibit unusual behaviors that are not typically observed in bulk systems. Such behavior can provide alternative strategies for exploring new reaction pathways. Cleavage of the C=N bond of Nile red (NR) in solution is an irreversible reaction.

Universal Strategy for Improving the Sensitivity of Detecting Volatile Organic Compounds by Patterned Arrays.

The diffusion of target analytes is a determining factor for the sensitivity of a given gas sensor. Surface adsorption results in a low-concentration region near the sensor surface, producing a concentration gradient perpendicular to the surface, and drives a net flux of molecules toward solid reactive reagents on the sensor surface, that is, vertical diffusion. Here, organic semiconductor supramolecules were patterned into micromeshed arrays to integrate vertical and horizontal diffusion pathways.

A Metal-Organic Framework Nanosheet-Assembled Frame Film with High Permeability and Stability.

The engineering of metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) into membranes and films is being investigated, to transform laboratory-synthesized MOFs into industrially viable products for a range of attractive applications. However, rational design and construction of highly permeable MOF thin films, without trade-offs in terms of structural mechanical stability, remains a significant challenge. Herein, a simple, general strategy is reported to prepare thin MOF nanosheet (NS)-assembled frame film via heteroepitaxial growth from metal hydroxide film.

General Strategy to Optimize Gas Evolution Reaction via Assembled Striped-Pattern Superlattices.

Redesigning heterogeneous catalysts so that they can simultaneously integrate the efficiency and durability under reaction environments with respect to gas fuel production, such as hydrogen (H), oxygen (O), or carbon monoxide (CO), has proven challenging. In this work, we report the successful template-assisted printing-based assembly of platinum (Pt) nanoparticles (NPs) into striped-pattern (SP) superlattices to produce H. In comparison to drop-casting flat Pt NPs films, SP superlattices lead to higher mass transference and smaller bubble stretch force, representing a general strategy to improve the efficiency and durability of pre-existed Pt catalysts for the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER), as well as higher current densities than commercial Pt/C, Pt NP films, and many of the other Pt-based or non-Pt-based HER catalysts reported in the literature.

Vibration displacement immunization model for measuring the free spectral range by means of a laser self-mixing velocimeter.

In this paper, a vibration-displacement immunization model is proposed to measure the free spectral range of a resonant cavity by using a laser self-mixing velocimeter. The validity of this method is demonstrated by the experimental results, which can effectively get rid of low measurement accuracy related to the self-mixing vibration system due to the vibratory displacement. According to the periodic waveform separation characteristic of the self-mixing velocity signal, the free spectral range of a multilongitudinal mode diode laser is calculated to be 88.

A Metastable Crystalline Phase in Two-Dimensional Metallic Oxide Nanoplates.

A simple method was adopted in which ultrathin cerium oxide nanoplates (<1.4 nm) were synthesized to increase the surface atomic content, allowing transformation from a face-centered cubic (fcc) phase to a body-centered tetragonal (bct) phase. Three types of cerium oxide nanoparticles of different thicknesses (1.