A Library of Seed@High-Entropy-Alloy Core-shell Nanocrystals With Controlled Facets for Catalysis.

High-entropy-alloy (HEA) nanocrystals hold immense potential for catalysis, offering virtually unlimited alloy combinations through the inclusion of at least five constituent elements in varying ratios. However, general and effective strategies for synthesizing libraries of HEA nanocrystals with controlled surface atomic structures remain scarce. In this study, a transferable strategy for developing a library of facet-controlled seed@HEA nanocrystals through seed-mediated growth is presented.

Controlled Hierarchical Construction of Ultrahomogeneous CoS@CoAl-LDH/NF Layered Core-Shell Heterostructures for High-Performance Asymmetric Supercapacitors.

The rational collocation and construction of multiphase composite electrode materials with ingenious structures is a key strategic to enhance the electrochemical performance of supercapacitors (SCs). Within this project, a unique CoS@CoAl-LDH/NF core-shell heterostructure consisting of CoAl-LDH/NF ultrathin nanosheets sturdily attached to CoS/NF needle-like nanorods is grown in situ on self-supported conductive substrate nickel foam (NF) by an effortless and productive multistep hydrothermal method. The construction of the core-shell structure can effectively enhance the capacitive properties as well as the mechanical strength of the material.

Unconventional Hexagonal Close-Packed High-Entropy Alloy Surfaces Synergistically Accelerate Alkaline Hydrogen Evolution.

Accelerating the alkaline hydrogen evolution reaction (HER), which involves the slow cleavage of HO-H bonds and the adsorption/desorption of hydrogen (H*) and hydroxyl (OH*) intermediates, requires developing catalysts with optimal binding strengths for these intermediates. Here, the unconventional hexagonal close-packed (HCP) high-entropy alloy (HEA) atomic layers are prepared composed of five platinum-group metals to enhance the alkaline HER synergistically. The breakthrough is made by layer-by-layer heteroepitaxial deposition of subnanometer RuRhPdPtIr HEA layers on the HCP Ru seeds, despite the thermodynamic stability of Rh, Pd, Pt, and Ir in a face-centered cubic (FCC) structure except for Ru.

Mining User Reviews for Key Design Features in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy-Based Mobile Mental Health Apps.

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)-based mobile apps have been shown to improve CBT-based interventions effectiveness. Despite the proliferation of these apps, user-centered guidelines pertaining to their design remain limited. The study aims to identify design features of CBT-based apps using online app reviews.

Unveiling a novel exopolysaccharide produced by Pseudomonas alcaligenes Med1 isolated from a Chilean hot spring as biotechnological additive.

Exopolysaccharides (EPSs), a constitutive part of bacterial biofilm, act as a protecting sheath to the extremophilic bacteria and are of high industrial value. In this study, we elucidate a new EPS produced by thermotolerant (growth from 34-44 °C) strain Pseudomonas alcaligenes Med1 from Medano hot spring (39.1 °C surface temperature, pH 7.

Impact of Graphene Layers on Genetic Expression and Regulation within Sulfate-Reducing Biofilms.

Bacterial adhesion and biofilm maturation is significantly influenced by surface properties, encompassing both bare surfaces and single or multi-layered coatings. Hence, there is an utmost interest in exploring the intricacies of gene regulation in sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB) on copper and graphene-coated copper surfaces. In this study, G20 was used as the model SRB to elucidate the pathways that govern pivotal roles during biofilm formation on the graphene layers.

Isotropically Polarized Bipiezoelectric Polyacrylonitrile-Poly(vinylidene Fluoride) Advanced Triboelectric Nanogenerator for Operation in High-Humidity Environments.

Conventional hybrid piezo-triboelectric nanogenerators (PTNGs) have potential applications as energy supply devices for microelectronic devices, but their low power density and unstable performance under high-humidity conditions are challenges that need to be solved. Here, we report a novel flexible hybrid bifiezo-triboelectric nanogenerator (Bi-PTNG) based on isotropic polarization design of piezoelectric PVDF and PAN nanofiber membranes, which greatly improves power density of devices and performances in high-humidity conditions. The performance enhancement mechanism of the Bi-PTNG was investigated by model analysis, experimental measurements, and simulations.

Biofilm marker discovery with cloud-based dockerized metagenomics analysis of microbial communities.

In an environment, microbes often work in communities to achieve most of their essential functions, including the production of essential nutrients. Microbial biofilms are communities of microbes that attach to a nonliving or living surface by embedding themselves into a self-secreted matrix of extracellular polymeric substances. These communities work together to enhance their colonization of surfaces, produce essential nutrients, and achieve their essential functions for growth and survival.

Multi-stress adaptive lifestyle of acidophiles enhances their robustness for biotechnological and environmental applications.

Acidophiles are a group of organisms typically found in highly acidic environments such as acid mine drainage. These organisms have several physiological features that enable them to thrive in highly acidic environments (pH ≤3). Considering that both acid mine drainage and solfatara fields exhibit extreme and dynamic ecological conditions for acidophiles, it is crucial to gain deeper insights into the adaptive mechanisms employed by these unique organisms.

Competitive networked bi-virus spread: Existence of coexistence equilibria.

The paper studies multi-competitive continuous-time epidemic processes. We consider the setting where two viruses are simultaneously prevalent, and the spread occurs due to individual-to-individual interaction. In such a setting, an individual is either not affected by any of the viruses, or infected by one and exactly one of the two viruses.

Biomimetic Hyaluronan Binding Biomaterials to Capture the Complex Regulation of Hyaluronan in Tissue Development and Function.

Within native ECM, Hyaluronan (HA) undergoes remarkable structural remodeling through its binding receptors and proteins called hyaladherins. Hyaladherins contain a group of tandem repeat sequences, such as LINK domains, BB7 homologous sequences, or 20-50 amino acid long short peptide sequences that have high affinity towards side chains of HA. The HA binding sequences are critical players in HA distribution and regulation within tissues and potentially attractive therapeutic targets to regulate HA synthesis and organization.

Economic and environmental sustainability of copper indium gallium selenide (CIGS) solar panels recycling.

End-of-life management of copper indium gallium selenide (CIGS) thin-film solar photovoltaics (PV) panels is crucial due to the necessity of recycling valuable elements such as indium ($400/kg) and gallium ($618/kg), ensuring both economic viability and environmental sustainability. In this study, we analyze the private and external costs of end-of-life management for CIGS PV designed for mass-scale recycling. Our findings reveal that the private and external costs of end-of-life management range from ∼$3.

Exploring the potential of machine learning to understand the occurrence and health risks of haloacetic acids in a drinking water distribution system.

Determining the occurrence of disinfection byproducts (DBPs) in drinking water distribution system (DWDS) remains challenging. Predicting DBPs using readily available water quality parameters can help to understand DBPs associated risks and capture the complex interrelationships between water quality and DBP occurrence. In this study, we collected drinking water samples from a distribution network throughout a year and measured the related water quality parameters (WQPs) and haloacetic acids (HAAs).

First Simultaneous Measurement of Differential Muon-Neutrino Charged-Current Cross Sections on Argon for Final States with and without Protons Using MicroBooNE Data.

We report the first double-differential neutrino-argon cross section measurement made simultaneously for final states with and without protons for the inclusive muon neutrino charged-current interaction channel. The proton kinematics of this channel are further explored with a differential cross section measurement as a function of the leading proton's kinetic energy that extends across the detection threshold. These measurements use data collected with the MicroBooNE detector from 6.

A catalyst family of high-entropy alloy atomic layers with square atomic arrangements comprising iron- and platinum-group metals.

We report a catalyst family of high-entropy alloy (HEA) atomic layers having three elements from iron-group metals (IGMs) and two elements from platinum-group metals (PGMs). Ten distinct quinary compositions of IGM-PGM-HEA with precisely controlled square atomic arrangements are used to explore their impact on hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) and hydrogen oxidation reaction (HOR). The PtRuFeCoNi atomic layers perform enhanced catalytic activity and durability toward HER and HOR when benchmarked against the other IGM-PGM-HEA and commercial Pt/C catalysts.

Enhancing tumor endothelial permeability using MUC18-targeted gold nanorods and mild hyperthermia.

The Enhanced Permeability and Retention (EPR) effect, an elevated accumulation of drugs and nanoparticles in tumors versus in normal tissues, is a widely used concept in the field of cancer therapy. It assumes that the vasculature of solid tumors would possess abnormal, leaky endothelial cell barriers, allowing easy access of intravenous-delivered drugs and nanoparticles to tumor regions. However, the EPR effect is not always effective owing to the heterogeneity of tumor endothelium over time, location, and species.