Approaching infinite selectivity in membrane-based aqueous lithium extraction via solid-state ion transport.

As the gap between lithium supply and demand continues to widen, the need to develop ion-selective technologies, which can efficiently extract lithium from unconventional water sources, grows increasingly crucial. In this study, we investigated the fundamentals of applying a solid-state electrolyte (SSE), typically used in battery technologies, as a membrane material for aqueous lithium extraction. We find that the anhydrous hopping of lithium ions through the ordered and confined SSE lattice is highly distinct from ion migration through the hydrated free volumes of conventional nanoporous membranes, thus culminating in unique membrane transport properties.

Gypsum heterogenous nucleation pathways regulated by surface functional groups and hydrophobicity.

Gypsum (CaSO·2HO) plays a critical role in numerous natural and industrial processes. Nevertheless, the underlying mechanisms governing the formation of gypsum crystals on surfaces with diverse chemical properties remain poorly understood due to a lack of sufficient temporal-spatial resolution. Herein, we use in situ microscopy to investigate the real-time gypsum nucleation on self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) terminated with -CH, -hybrid (a combination of NH and COOH), -COOH, -SO, -NH, and -OH functional groups.

Investigating the characteristics of mumps outbreaks in Fujian Province, China.

Objectives: Identifying the specifics and potential causes of mumps outbreaks in the Fujian Province during the period of 2017 to 2022.

Methods: Mumps cases reported by the National Notifiable Communicable Disease Report System (NNCDRS) in China during the observation period of the 5 years were investigated annually and by age to detect homogeneity of the spread of the disease over time. If specific age-peaks may appear, we investigated those figures by analysing group characteristics in mumps cases presented as outbreaks.

Evaluation and application of a Chinese version symptom questionnaire for visual dysfunctions (CSQVD) in school-age children.

Objective: To develop and evaluate a Chinese version of the Symptom Questionnaire for Visual Dysfunctions (CSQVD) to quantify visual dysfunction symptoms in school-age children with various eye diseases, and to explore the relationship between ophthalmological disorders and visual dysfunction symptoms.

Methods: Following standard scale adaptation procedures, the Symptom Questionnaire for Visual Dysfunctions (SQVD) was translated into Chinese (CSQVD). We employed random sampling to survey 198 outpatients aged 7-18 to assess the psychometric properties of the CSQVD.

The physical basis for solvent flow in organic solvent nanofiltration.

Organic solvent nanofiltration (OSN) is an emerging membrane technology that could revolutionize chemical separations in numerous vital industries. Despite its significance, there remains a lack of fundamental understanding of solvent transport mechanisms in OSN membranes. Here, we use an extended Flory-Rehner theory, nonequilibrium molecular dynamic simulations, and organic solvent transport experiments to demonstrate that solvent flow in OSN membranes is driven by a pressure gradient.

Estimated Human Papillomavirus Vaccine Coverage Among Females 9-45 Years of Age - China, 2017-2022.

What Is Already Known On This Topic?: There is a lack of comprehensive data on the coverage of the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine in China. The limited published literature hampers our ability to accurately assess the current situation.

What Is Added By This Report?: This study aimed to determine the rates of HPV vaccine coverage based on data from the electronic vaccination registry reported to the China Immunization Information System between 2017 and 2022.

Ligand-Bound CO as a Nonclassical Route toward Efficient Photocatalytic CO Reduction with a Ni N-Confused Porphyrin.

Implementing the synergistic effects between the metal and the ligand has successfully streamlined the energetics for CO activation and gained high catalytic activities, establishing the important breakthroughs in photocatalytic CO reduction. Herein, we describe a Ni(II) N-confused porphyrin complex () featuring an acidic N-H group. It is readily deprotonated and exists in an anion form during catalysis.

Genetic associations between circulating immune cells and periodontitis highlight the prospect of systemic immunoregulation in periodontal care.

Periodontitis drives irreversible destruction of periodontal tissue and is prone to exacerbating inflammatory disorders. Systemic immunomodulatory management continues to be an attractive approach in periodontal care, particularly within the context of 'predictive, preventive, and personalized' periodontics. The present study incorporated genetic proxies identified through genome-wide association studies for circulating immune cells and periodontitis into a comprehensive Mendelian randomization (MR) framework.

Accelerating Charge Kinetics in Photocatalytic CO Reduction by Modulating the Cobalt Coordination in Heterostructures of Cadmium Sulfide/Metal-Organic Layer.

Artificial photocatalytic CO reduction (COR) holds great promise to directly store solar energy into chemical bonds. The slow charge and mass transfer kinetics at the triphasic solid-liquid-gas interface calls for the rational design of heterogeneous photocatalysts concertedly boosting interfacial charge transfer, local CO concentration, and exposure of active sites. To meet these requirements, in this study heterostructures of CdS/MOL (MOL = metal-organic layer) furnishing different redox Co sites are fabricated for COR photocatalysts.

Rapid, Selective, and Chemical-Free Removal of Dissolved Silica from Water via Electrosorption: Feasibility and Mechanisms.

The unavoidable and detrimental formation of silica scale in engineered processes necessitates the urgent development of effective, economic, and sustainable strategies for dissolved silica removal from water. Herein, we demonstrate a rapid, chemical-free, and selective silica removal method using electrosorption. Specifically, we confirm the feasibility of exploiting local pH dynamics at the electrodes in flow-through electrosorption, achieved through a counterintuitive cell configuration design, to induce ionization and concomitant electrosorption of dissolved silica.

Natural killer cells at the forefront of cancer immunotherapy with immune potency, genetic engineering, and nanotechnology.

Natural killer (NK) cells are vital components of the human immune system, acting as innate lymphocytes and playing a crucial role in immune surveillance. Their unique ability to independently eliminate target cells without antigen contact or antibodies has sparked interest in immunological research. This review examines recent NK cell developments and applications, encompassing immune functions, interactions with target cells, genetic engineering techniques, pharmaceutical interventions, and implications in cancers.

A "Trinity" Design of Li-O Battery Engaging the Slow-Release Capsule of Redox Mediators.

Nonaqueous Li-O battery (LOB) represents one of the promising next-gen energy storage solutions owing to its ultrahigh energy density but suffers from problems such as high charging overpotential, slow redox kinetics, Li anode corrosion, etc., calling for a systemic optimization of the battery configuration and structural components. Herein, an ingenious "trinity" design of LOB is initiated by implementing a hollowed cobalt metal organic framework (MOF) impregnating iodized polypyrrole simultaneously as the cathode catalyst, anode protection layer, and slow-release capsule of redox mediators, so as to systemically address issues of impeded mass transport and redox kinetics on the cathode, dendrite growth, and surface corrosion on the anode, as well as limited intermediate solubility in the low donor-number (DN) solvent.

Comparative genomics analysis provide insights into evolution and stress responses of Lhcb genes in Rosaceae fruit crops.

Background: Light-harvesting chlorophyll a/b b evelopment of higher plants and in response to abiotic stress. Previous works has demonstrated that that Lhcb genes were involved in the phytochrome regulation and responded to the different light and temperature conditions in Poaceae (such as maize). However, the evolution and functions of Lhcb genes remains poorly characterized in important Rosaceae species.

Genetic evidence strengthens the bidirectional connection between gut microbiota and periodontitis: insights from a two-sample Mendelian randomization study.

Background: Recent research has established the correlation between gut microbiota and periodontitis via oral-gut axis. Intestinal dysbiosis may play a pivotal bridging role in extra-oral inflammatory comorbidities caused by periodontitis. However, it is unclear whether the link is merely correlative or orchestrated by causative mechanistic interactions.

Proton Shuttling by Polyaniline of High Brønsted Basicity for Improved Electrocatalytic Ethylene Production from CO.

Hybrid organic/inorganic composites with the organic phase tailored to modulate local chemical environment at the Cu surface arise as an enchanting category of catalysts for electrocatalytic CO reduction reaction (CO RR). A fundamental understanding on how the organics of different functionality, polarity, and hydrophobicity affect the reaction path is, however, still lacking to guide rational catalyst design. Herein, polypyrrole (PPy) and polyaniline (PANI) manifesting different Brønsted basicity are compared for their regulatory roles on the CO RR pathways regarding *CO coverage, proton source and interfacial polarity.

Efficacy of augmented-dosed surgery versus botulinum toxin A injection for acute acquired concomitant esotropia: a 2-year follow-up.

Background/aims: This study aims to evaluate the clinical efficacy of botulinum toxin type A (BTXA) injection and augmented-dosed surgery in the treatment of acute acquired concomitant esotropia (AACE), and explore potential risk factors associated with recurrence.

Methods: A total of 104 patients diagnosed with AACE between October 2020 and January 2021 were included and voluntarily chose to undergo augmented surgery or BTXA injection. The follow-up assessments ended in November 2022.

Gender Disparities in the Global Burden of Refractive Disorders in Children: An Analysis From the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019.

Purpose: To investigate gender disparities in the global burden of refractive disorders in children younger than 15 years by year, age, and national developmental status using disability-adjusted life years (DALYs).

Methods: Global, regional, and national gender-specific DALY numbers and rates of refractive disorders in children were obtained by year (from 1990 to 2019) and age group (0 to 4, 5 to 9, and 10 to 14 years) from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019. Data from the Inequality-adjusted Human Development Index in 2019 as an indicator of national developmental status were extracted from the Human Development Report.

Correlation between chromatin epigenetic-related lncRNA signature (CELncSig) and prognosis, immune microenvironment, and immunotherapy in non-small cell lung cancer.

Chromatin regulators drive cancer epigenetic changes, and lncRNA can play an important role in epigenetic changes as chromatin regulators. We used univariate Cox, LASSO, and multivariate Cox regression analysis to select epigenetic-associated lncRNA signatures. Twenty-five epigenetic-associated lncRNA signatures (CELncSig) were identified to establish the immune prognostic model.

Covalently Grafting Graphene onto Si Photocathode to Expedite Aqueous Photoelectrochemical CO Reduction.

Silicon semiconductor functionalized with molecular catalysts emerges as a promising cathode for photoelectrochemical (PEC) CO reduction reaction (CO RR). However, the limited kinetics and stabilities remains a major hurdle for the development of such composites. We herein report an assembling strategy of silicon photocathodes via chemically grafting a conductive graphene layer onto the surface of n -p Si followed by catalyst immobilization.

Electrosorption Integrated with Bipolar Membrane Water Dissociation: A Coupled Approach to Chemical-free Boron Removal.

Boron removal from aqueous solutions has long persisted as a technological challenge, accounting for a disproportionately large fraction of the chemical and energy usage in seawater desalination and other industrial processes like lithium recovery. Here, we introduce a novel electrosorption-based boron removal technology with the capability to overcome the limitations of current state-of-the-art methods. Specifically, we incorporate a bipolar membrane (BPM) between a pair of porous carbon electrodes, demonstrating a synergized BPM-electrosorption process for the first time.

The Correlation between Periodontal Parameters and Cell-Free DNA in the Gingival Crevicular Fluid, Saliva, and Plasma in Chinese Patients: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Purpose: To investigate the correlation between periodontal parameters and cell-free DNA (cfDNA) concentrations in gingival crevicular fluid (GCF), saliva, and plasma. Methods: Full mouth periodontal parameters, including probing depth (PD), bleeding on probing (BOP), and plaque index (PI) were recorded from 25 healthy volunteers, 31 patients with untreated gingivitis, and 25 patients with untreated periodontitis. GCF, saliva, and plasma samples were collected from all subjects.