Light-Induced Dynamic Activation of Copper/Silicon Interface for Highly Selective Carbon Dioxide Reduction

Numerous studies have shown a fact that phase transformation and/or reconstruction are likely to occur and play crucial roles in electrochemical scenarios. Nevertheless, a decisive factor (such as facet, phase etc.) behind the diverse photoelectrochemical activity and selectivity of various copper/silicon photoelectrodes is still largely debated and missing in the community, especially for possibly dynamic behaviors of metal catalyst/semiconductor interface. Herein, through in situ X-ray absorption spectroscopy and transmission electron microscope, a model system of Cu nanocrystals with well-defined facets on black p-type silicon (BSi) is demonstrated to unprecedentedly reveal the dynamic phase transformation of forming irreversible silicide at Cu nanocrystal-BSi interface, which is validated to originate from the atomic interdiffusion between Cu and Si driven by light-induced dynamic activation process. The presence of in situ formed silicide can significantly enhance photovoltage and deliver a record-high onset potential above -0.4 V versus reversible reference electrode (RHE) for photoelectrochemical CH4 production. Significantly, the adaptive junction at Cu/Si interface is activated by an expansion of interatomic Cu-Cu distance, which efficiently restricts the C-C coupling pathway but strengthens the bonding with key intermediate of *CHO for CH4 yield, resulting in a remarkable 16-fold improvement in the product ratio of CH4/C2 products.

Dynamic (Sub)surface-Oxygen Enables Highly Efficient Carbonyl-Coupling for Electrochemical Carbon Dioxide Reduction

Nowadays, high-valent Cu species (i.e., Cuδ +) are clarified to enhance multi-carbon production in electrochemical CO2 reduction reaction (CO2RR). Nonetheless, the inconsistent average Cu valence states are reported to significantly govern the product profile of CO2RR, which may lead to misunderstanding of the enhanced mechanism for multi-carbon production and results in ambiguous roles of high-valent Cu species. Dynamic Cuδ + during CO2RR leads to erratic valence states and challenges of high-valent species determination. Herein, an alternative descriptor of (sub)surface oxygen, the (sub)surface-oxygenated degree (κ), is proposed to quantify the active high-valent Cu species on the (sub)surface, which regulates the multi-carbon production of CO2RR. The κ validates a strong correlation to the carbonyl (*CO) coupling efficiency and is the critical factor for the multi-carbon enhancement, in which an optimized Cu2O@Pd2.31 achieves the multi-carbon partial current density of ≈330 mA cm-2 with a faradaic efficiency of 83.5%. This work shows a promising way to unveil the role of high-valent species and further achieve carbon neutralization.

Tailoring Oxygen Reduction Reaction Kinetics of Fe-N-C Catalyst via Spin Manipulation for Efficient Zinc-Air Batteries

The interaction between oxygen species and metal sites of various orbitals exhibits intimate correlation with the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) kinetics. Herein, a new approach for boosting the inherent ORR activity of atomically dispersed Fe-N-C matrix is represented by implanting Fe atomic clusters nearby. The as-prepared catalyst delivers excellent ORR activity with half-wave potentials of 0.78 and 0.90 V in acidic and alkaline solutions, respectively. The decent ORR activity can also be validated from the high-performance rechargeable Zn-air battery. The experiments and density functional theory calculations reveal that the electron spin-state of monodispersed Fe active sites is transferred from the low spin (LS, t2g 6 eg 0) to the medium spin (MS, t2g 5 eg 1) due to the involvement of Fe atomic clusters, leading to the spin electron filling in σ∗ orbit, by which it favors OH- desorption and in turn boosts the reaction kinetics of the rate-determining step. This work paves a solid way for rational design of high-performance Fe-based single atom catalysts through spin manipulation.

Crystal Phase Engineering of Ultrathin Alloy Nanostructures for Highly Efficient Electroreduction of Nitrate to Ammonia

Electrocatalytic nitrate reduction reaction (NO3RR) toward ammonia synthesis is recognized as a sustainable strategy to balance the global nitrogen cycle. However, it still remains a great challenge to achieve highly efficient ammonia production due to the complex proton-coupled electron transfer process in NO3RR. Here, the controlled synthesis of RuMo alloy nanoflowers (NFs) with unconventional face-centered cubic (fcc) phase and hexagonal close-packed/fcc heterophase for highly efficient NO3RR is reported. Significantly, fcc RuMo NFs demonstrate high Faradaic efficiency of 95.2% and a large yield rate of 32.7 mg h-1 mgcat -1 toward ammonia production at 0 and -0.1 V (vs reversible hydrogen electrode), respectively. In situ characterizations and theoretical calculations have unraveled that fcc RuMo NFs possess the highest d-band center with superior electroactivity, which originates from the strong Ru─Mo interactions and the high intrinsic activity of the unconventional fcc phase. The optimal electronic structures of fcc RuMo NFs supply strong adsorption of key intermediates with suppression of the competitive hydrogen evolution, which further determines the remarkable NO3RR performance. The successful demonstration of high-performance zinc-nitrate batteries with fcc RuMo NFs suggests their substantial application potential in electrochemical energy supply systems.

Inter-site structural heterogeneity induction of single atom Fe catalysts for robust oxygen reduction

Metal-nitrogen-carbon catalysts with hierarchically dispersed porosity are deemed as efficient geometry for oxygen reduction reaction (ORR). However, catalytic performance determined by individual and interacting sites originating from structural heterogeneity is particularly elusive and yet remains to be understood. Here, an efficient hierarchically porous Fe single atom catalyst (Fe SAs-HP) is prepared with Fe atoms densely resided at micropores and mesopores. Fe SAs-HP exhibits robust ORR performance with half-wave potential of 0.94 V and turnover frequency of 5.99 e-1s-1site-1 at 0.80 V. Theoretical simulations unravel a structural heterogeneity induced optimization, where mesoporous Fe-N4 acts as real active centers as a result of long-range electron regulation by adjacent microporous sites, facilitating O2 activation and desorption of key intermediate *OH. Multilevel operando characterization results identify active Fe sites undergo a dynamic evolution from basic Fe-N4 to active Fe-N3 under working conditions. Our findings reveal the structural origin of enhanced intrinsic activity for hierarchically porous Fe-N4 sites.

Vacancy Defects Inductive Effect of Asymmetrically Coordinated Single-Atom Fe─N3 S1 Active Sites for Robust Electrocatalytic Oxygen Reduction with High Turnover Frequency and Mass Activity

The development of facile, efficient synthesis method to construct low-cost and high-performance single-atom catalysts (SACs) for oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) is extremely important, yet still challenging. Herein, an atomically dispersed N, S co-doped carbon with abundant vacancy defects (NSC-vd) anchored Fe single atoms (SAs) is reported and a vacancy defects inductive effect is proposed for promoting electrocatalytic ORR. The optimized catalyst featured of stable Fe─N3 S1 active sites exhibits excellent ORR activity with high turnover frequency and mass activity. In situ Raman, attenuated total reflectance surface enhanced infrared absorption spectroscopy reveal the Fe─N3 S1 active sites exhibit different kinetic mechanisms in acidic and alkaline solutions. Operando X-ray absorption spectra reveal the ORR activity of Fe SAs/NSC-vd catalyst in different electrolyte is closely related to the coordination structure. Theoretical calculation reveals the upshifted d band center of Fe─N3 S1 active sites facilitates the adsorption of O2 and accelerates the kinetics process of *OH reduction. The abundant vacancy defects around the Fe─N3 S1 active sites balance the OOH* formation and *OH reduction, thus synergetically promoting the electrocatalytic ORR process.

Photosynthesis of Benzonitriles on BiOBr Nanosheets Promoted by Vacancy Associates

Photocatalytic organic functionalization reactions represent a green, cost-effective, and sustainable synthesis route for value-added chemicals. However, heterogeneous photocatalysis is inefficient in directly activating ammonia molecules for the production of high-value-added nitrogenous organic products when compared with oxygen activation in the formation of related oxygenated compounds. In this study, we report the heterogeneous photosynthesis of benzonitriles by the ammoxidation of benzyl alcohols (99 % conversion, 93 % selectivity) promoted using BiOBr nanosheets with surface vacancy associates. In contrast, the main reaction of catalysts with other types of vacancy sites is the oxidation of benzyl alcohol to benzaldehyde or benzoic acid. Experimental measurements and theoretical calculations have demonstrated a specificity of vacancy type with respect to product selectivity, which arises from the adsorption and activation of NH3 and O2 that is required to promote subsequent C-N coupling and oxidation to nitrile. This study provides a better understanding of the role of vacancies as catalytic sites in heterogeneous photocatalysis.

Regulating Intramolecular Electron Transfer of Nickel-Based Coordinations through Ligand Engineering for Aqueous Batteries

The integration of electronic effects into complexes for the construction of novel materials has not yet attracted significant attention in the field of energy storage. In the current study, eight one-dimensional (1D) nickel-based salicylic acid  complexes (Ni-XSAs, X = pH, pMe, pMeO, mMe, pBr, pCl, pF, and pCF3 ), are prepared by ligand engineering. The coordination environments in the Ni-XSAs are explored using X-ray absorption fine structure spectroscopy. The charge transfer of the complexes is modulated according to the difference in the electron-donating ability of the substituents, in combination with frontier orbital theory. Furthermore, density functional theory is used to investigate the effect of the substituent position on the electronic properties of the complexes. Ni-mMeSA exhibits better electrical conductivity than Ni-pMeSA. The electrochemical performance of Ni-mMeSA as an aqueous battery cathode is remarkably improved with a maximum energy density of 0.30 mWh cm-2 (125 Wh kg-1 ) and a peak power density of 33.72 mW cm-2 (14.03 kW kg-1 ). This study provides ideas for the application of new coordination chemistry in the field of energy materials science.

Activating dynamic atomic-configuration for single-site electrocatalyst in electrochemical CO2 reduction

One challenge for realizing high-efficiency electrocatalysts for CO2 electroreduction is lacking in comprehensive understanding of potential-driven chemical state and dynamic atomic-configuration evolutions. Herein, by using a complementary combination of in situ/operando methods and employing copper single-atom electrocatalyst as a model system, we provide evidence on how the complex interplay among dynamic atomic-configuration, chemical state change and surface coulombic charging determines the resulting product profiles. We further demonstrate an informative indicator of atomic surface charge (φe) for evaluating the CO2RR performance, and validate potential-driven dynamic low-coordinated Cu centers for performing significantly high selectivity and activity toward CO product over the well-known four N-coordinated counterparts. It indicates that the structural reconstruction only involved the dynamic breaking of Cu-N bond is partially reversible, whereas Cu-Cu bond formation is clearly irreversible. For all single-atom electrocatalysts (Cu, Fe and Co), the φe value for efficient CO production has been revealed closely correlated with the configuration transformation to generate dynamic low-coordinated configuration. A universal explication can be concluded that the dynamic low-coordinated configuration is the active form to efficiently catalyze CO2-to-CO conversion.

2D MOF-assisted Pyrolysis-displacement-alloying Synthesis of High-entropy Alloy Nanoparticles Library for Efficient Electrocatalytic Hydrogen Oxidation

Multimetallic alloy nanoparticles (NPs) have received considerable attention in various applications due to their compositional variability and exceptional properties. However, the complexity of both the general synthesis and structure-activity relationships remain the long-standing challenges in this field. Herein, we report a versatile 2D MOF-assisted pyrolysis-displacement-alloying route to successfully synthesize a series of binary, ternary and even high-entropy NPs that are uniformly dispersed on porous nitrogen-doped carbon nanosheets (PNC NSs). As a proof of utility, the obtained Co0.2Ru0.7Pt0.1/PNC NSs exhibits apparent hydrogen oxidation activity and durability with a record-high mass specific kinetic current of 1.84 A mg-1 at the overpotential of 50 mV, which is approximately 11.5 times higher than that of the Pt benchmark. Both experimental and theoretical studies reveal that the addition of Pt engenders a phase transition in CoRu alloys from hexagonal close-packed (hcp) to face-centered cubic (fcc) structure. The elevated reactivity of the resulted ternary alloy can be attributed to the optimized ad-sorption of hydrogen intermediate and the decreased reaction barrier for water formation. This study opens a new avenue for the development of highly efficient alloy NPs with various compositions and functions.

Leveraging Metal Nodes in Metal-Organic Frameworks for Advanced Anodic Hydrazine Oxidation Assisted Seawater Splitting

Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) show great promise for electrocatalysis owing to their tunable ligand structures. However, the poor stability of MOFs impedes their practical applications. Unlike the general pathway for engineering ligands, we report herein an innovative strategy for leveraging metal nodes to improve both the catalytic activity and the stability. Our electrolysis cell with a NiRh-MOF||NiRh-MOF configuration exhibited 10 mA cm^-2 at an ultralow cell voltage of 0.06 V in alkaline seawater (with 0.3 M N₂H₄), outperforming its counterpart benchmark Pt/C||Pt/C cell (0.12 V). Impressively, the incorporation of Rh into a MOF secured a robust stability of over 60 h even when working in the seawater electrolyte. Experimental results and theoretical calculations revealed that Rh atoms serve as the active sites for hydrogen evolution while Ni nodes are responsible for the hydrazine oxidation during the hydrazine oxidation assisted seawater splitting. This work provides a paradigm for green hydrogen generation from seawater.

Atomically Dispersed Pt-Doped Co3 O4 Spinel Nanoparticles Embedded in Polyhedron Frames for Robust Propane Oxidation at Low Temperature

This study adopts a facile and effective in situ encapsulation-oxidation strategy for constructing a coupling catalyst composed of atomically dispersed Pt-doped Co₃ O₄ spinel nanoparticles (NPs) embedded in polyhedron frames (PFs) for robust propane total oxidation. Benefiting from the abundant oxygen vacancies and more highly valent active Co³⁺ species caused by the doping of Pt atoms as well as the confinement effect, the optimized 0.2Pt-Co₃ O₄ NPs/PFs catalyst exhibits excellent propane catalytic activity with low T₉₀ (184 °C), superior apparent reaction rate (21.62×10⁸ (mol g_cat ^-1 s^-1 )), low apparent activation energy (E_a = 17.89 kJ mol^-1 ), high turnover frequency ( 811×10⁷ (mol g_cat ^-1 s^-1 )) as well as good stability. In situ diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform spectroscopy and density functional theory calculations indicate that the doping of Pt atoms enhances the oxygen activation ability, and decreases the energy barrier required for CH bond breaking, thus improving the deep oxidation process of the intermediate species. This study opens up new ideas for constructing coupling catalysts from atomic scale with low cost to enhance the activation of oxygen molecules and the deep oxidation of linear short chain alkanes at low temperature.

Lewis Acidic Support Boosts C-C Coupling in the Pulsed Electrochemical CO2 Reaction

Copper-oxide electrocatalysts have been demonstrated to effectively perform the electrochemical CO₂ reduction reaction (CO₂RR) toward C₂₊ products, yet preserving the reactive high-valent CuO_x has remained elusive. Herein, we demonstrate a model system of Lewis acidic supported Cu electrocatalyst with a pulsed electroreduction method to achieve enhanced performance for C₂₊ products, in which an optimized electrocatalyst could reach ∼76% Faradaic efficiency for C₂₊ products (FE_C2+) at ∼-0.99 V versus reversible hydrogen electrode, and the corresponding mass activity can be enhanced by ∼2 times as compared to that of conventional CuO_x. In situ time-resolved X-ray absorption spectroscopy investigating the dynamic chemical/physical nature of Cu during CO₂RR discloses that an activation process induced by the KOH electrolyte during pulsed electroreduction greatly enriched the Cu^δ+O/Zn^δ+O interfaces, which further reveals that the presence of Zn^δ+O species under the cathodic potential could effectively serve as a Lewis acidic support for preserving the Cu^δ+O species to facilitate the formation of C₂₊ products, and the catalyst structure-property relationship of Cu^δ+O/Zn^δ+O interfaces can be evidently realized. More importantly, we find a universality of stabilizing Cu^δ+O species for various metal oxide supports and to provide a general concept of appropriate electrocatalyst-Lewis acidic support interaction for promoting C₂₊ products.

[A prospective study on application of human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells combined with autologous Meek microskin transplantation in patients with extensive burns]

Objective: To investigate the effects of human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells (hUCMSCs) combined with autologous Meek microskin transplantation on patients with extensive burns. Methods: The prospective self-controlled study was conducted. From May 2019 to June 2022, 16 patients with extensive burns admitted to the 990th Hospital of PLA Joint Logistics Support Force met the inclusion criteria, while 3 patients were excluded according to the exclusion criteria, and 13 patients were finally selected, including 10 males and 3 females, aged 24-61 (42±13) years. A total of 20 trial areas (40 wounds, with area of 10 cm×10 cm in each wound) were selected. Two adjacent wounds in each trial area were divided into hUCMSC+gel group applied with hyaluronic acid gel containing hUCMSCs and gel only group applied with hyaluronic acid gel only according to the random number table, with 20 wounds in each group. Afterwards the wounds in two groups were transplanted with autologous Meek microskin grafts with an extension ratio of 1∶6. In 2, 3, and 4 weeks post operation, the wound healing was observed, the wound healing rate was calculated, and the wound healing time was recorded. The specimen of wound secretion was collected for microorganism culture if there was purulent secretion on the wound post operation. In 3, 6, and 12 months post operation, the scar hyperplasia in wound was assessed using the Vancouver scar scale (VSS). In 3 months post operation, the wound tissue was collected for hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining to observe the morphological changes and for immunohistochemical staining to observe the positive expressions of Ki67 and vimentin and to count the number of positive cells. Data were statistically analyzed with paired samples t test and Bonferronni correction. Results: In 2, 3, and 4 weeks post operation, the wound healing rates in hUCMSC+gel group were (80±11)%, (84±12)%, and (92±9)%, respectively, which were significantly higher than (67±18)%, (74±21)%, and (84±16)% in gel only group (with t values of 4.01, 3.52, and 3.66, respectively, P<0.05). The wound healing time in hUCMSC+gel group was (31±11) d, which was significantly shorter than (36±13) d in gel only group (t=-3.68, P<0.05). The microbiological culture of the postoperative wound secretion specimens from the adjacent wounds in 2 groups was identical, with negative results in 4 trial areas and positive results in 16 trial areas. In 3, 6, and 12 months post operation, the VSS scores of wounds in gel only group were 7.8±1.9, 6.7±2.1, and 5.4±1.6, which were significantly higher than 6.8±1.8, 5.6±1.6, and 4.0±1.4 in hUCMSC+gel group, respectively (with t values of -4.79, -4.37, and -5.47, respectively, P<0.05). In 3 months post operation, HE staining showed an increase in epidermal layer thickness and epidermal crest in wound in hUCMSC+gel group compared with those in gel only group, and immunohistochemical staining showed a significant increase in the number of Ki67 positive cells in wound in hUCMSC+gel group compared with those in gel only group (t=4.39, P<0.05), with no statistically significant difference in the number of vimentin positive cells in wound between the 2 groups (P>0.05). Conclusions: The application of hyaluronic acid gel containing hUCMSCs to the wound is simple to perform and is therefore a preferable route. Topical application of hUCMSCs can promote healing of the autologous Meek microskin grafted area in patients with extensive burns, shorten wound healing time, and alleviate scar hyperplasia. The above effects may be related to the increased epidermal thickness and epidermal crest, and active cell proliferation.

[Detection and clinical application of HIV-1 DNA]

The persistence of the HIV-1 reservoir is still the main obstacle to the cure of HIV. In clinical research, reliable biomarkers are needed to label it. HIV-1 DNA can be continuously detected in the HIV-1 reservoir. It has significant application value in diagnosing HIV-1 infection, the timing of antiretroviral therapy, the prediction of virus rebound, and monitoring treatment effects. The detection technology based on polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is the most commonly used HIV-1 DNA detection method in clinical practice. The continuous innovation and advancement of technology can accurately detect the total, integrated, and unintegrated HIV-1 DNA in infected cells using qualitative or quantitative methods. Different forms of HIV-1 DNA in infected cells have been increasingly reported as biomarkers in HIV infection monitoring and AIDS treatment-related research. This article reviews the progress of HIV-1 DNA.

Highly efficient overall urea electrolysis via single-atomically active centers on layered double hydroxide

Anodic urea oxidation reaction (UOR) is an intriguing half reaction that can replace oxygen evolution reaction (OER) and work together with hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) toward simultaneous hydrogen fuel generation and urea-rich wastewater purification; however, it remains a challenge to achieve overall urea electrolysis with high efficiency. Herein, we report a multifunctional electrocatalyst termed as Rh/NiV-LDH, through integration of nickel-vanadium layered double hydroxide (LDH) with rhodium single-atom catalyst (SAC), to achieve this goal. The electrocatalyst delivers high HER mass activity of 0.262 A mg^-1 and exceptionally high turnover frequency (TOF) of 2.125 s^-1 at an overpotential of 100 mV. Moreover, exceptional activity toward urea oxidation is addressed, which requires a potential of 1.33 V to yield 10 mA cm^-2, endorsing the potential to surmount the sluggish OER. The splendid catalytic activity is enabled by the synergy of the NiV-LDH support and the atomically dispersed Rh sites (located on the Ni-V hollow sites) as evidenced both experimentally and theoretically. The self-supported Rh/NiV-LDH catalyst serving as the anode and cathode for overall urea electrolysis (1 mol L^-1 KOH with 0.33 mol L^-1 urea as electrolyte) only requires a small voltage of 1.47 V to deliver 100 mA cm^-2 with excellent stability. This work provides important insights into multifunctional SAC design from the perspective of support sites toward overall electrolysis applications.

Construction of N, P Co-Doped Carbon Frames Anchored with Fe Single Atoms and Fe2 P Nanoparticles as a Robust Coupling Catalyst for Electrocatalytic Oxygen Reduction

A coupling catalyst of highly dispersed N, P co-doped carbon frames (NPCFs) anchored with Fe single atoms (SAs) and Fe₂ P nanoparticles (NPs) is synthesized by a novel in situ doping-adsorption-phosphatization strategy for the electrocatalytic oxygen reduction reaction (ORR). The optimized Fe SAs-Fe₂ P NPs/NPCFs-2.5 catalyst shows a superior ORR activity and stability in 0.5 m H₂ SO₄ and 0.1 m KOH, respectively. Theoretical calculations reveal a synergistic effect, in that the existence of Fe₂ P weakens the adsorption of ORR intermediates on active sites and lowers the reaction free energy. The doped P atoms with a strong electron-donating ability elevate the energy level of Fe-3d orbitals and facilitate the adsorption of O₂ . The active Fe atoms exist in a low oxidation state and are less positively charged, and they serve as an electron reservoir capable of donating and releasing electrons, thus improving the ORR activity. Operando and in situ characterization results indicate that the atomically dispersed FeN₄ /FeP coupled active centers in the Fe SAs-Fe₂ P NPs/NPCFs-2.5 catalyst are characteristic of the different catalytic mechanisms in acidic and alkaline media. This work proposes a novel idea for constructing coupling catalysts with atomic-level precision and provides a strong reference for the development of high-efficiency ORR electrocatalysts for practical application.

In situ probing the dynamic reconstruction of copper-zinc electrocatalysts for CO2 reduction

Unravelling the dynamic characterization of electrocatalysts during the electrochemical CO₂ reduction reaction (CO₂RR) is a critical factor to improve the production efficiency and selectivity, since most pre-electrocatalysts undergo structural reconstruction and surface rearrangement under working conditions. Herein, a series of pre-electrocatalysts including CuO, ZnO and two different ratios of CuO/ZnO were systematically designed by a sputtering process to clarify the correlation of the dynamic characterization of Cu sites in the presence of Zn/ZnO and the product profile. The evidence provided by in situ X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) indicated that appropriate Zn/ZnO levels could induce a variation in the coordination number of Cu sites via reversing Ostwald ripening. Specifically, the recrystallized Cu site with a lower coordination number exhibited a preferential production of methane (CH₄). More importantly, our findings provide a promising approach for the efficient production of CH₄ by in situ reconstructing Cu-based binary electrocatalysts.

Metal-Organic Frameworks Offering Tunable Binary Active Sites toward Highly Efficient Urea Oxidation Electrolysis

Electrocatalytic urea oxidation reaction (UOR) is regarded as an effective yet challenging approach for the degradation of urea in wastewater into harmless N₂ and CO₂. To overcome the sluggish kinetics, catalytically active sites should be rationally designed to maneuver the multiple key steps of intermediate adsorption and desorption. Herein, we demonstrate that metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) can provide an ideal platform for tailoring binary active sites to facilitate the rate-determining steps, achieving remarkable electrocatalytic activity toward UOR. Specifically, the MOF (namely, NiMn_0.14-BDC) based on Ni/Mn sites and terephthalic acid (BDC) ligands exhibits a low voltage of 1.317 V to deliver a current density of 10 mA cm⁻². As a result, a high turnover frequency (TOF) of 0.15 s⁻¹ is achieved at a voltage of 1.4 V, which enables a urea degradation rate of 81.87% in 0.33 M urea solution. The combination of experimental characterization with theoretical calculation reveals that the Ni and Mn sites play synergistic roles in maneuvering the evolution of urea molecules and key reaction intermediates during the UOR, while the binary Ni/Mn sites in MOF offer the tunability for electronic structure and d-band center impacting on the intermediate evolution. This work provides important insights into active site design by leveraging MOF platform and represents a solid step toward highly efficient UOR with MOF-based electrocatalysts.

Using Exciton/Trion Dynamics to Spatially Monitor the Catalytic Activities of MoS2 during the Hydrogen Evolution Reaction

The adsorption and desorption of electrolyte ions strongly modulates the carrier density or carrier type on the surface of monolayer-MoS₂ catalyst during the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). The buildup of electrolyte ions onto the surface of monolayer MoS₂ during the HER may also result in the formation of excitons and trions, similar to those observed in gate-controlled field-effect transistor devices. Using the distinct carrier relaxation dynamics of excitons and trions of monolayer MoS₂ as sensitive descriptors, an in situ microcell-based scanning time-resolved liquid cell microscope is set up to simultaneously measure the bias-dependent exciton/trion dynamics and spatially map the catalytic activity of monolayer MoS₂ during the HER. This operando probing technique used to monitor the interplay between exciton/trion dynamics and electrocatalytic activity for two-dimensional transition metal dichalcogenides provides an excellent platform to investigate the local carrier behaviors at the atomic layer/liquid electrolyte interfaces during electrocatalytic reaction.

Engineering Lattice Disorder on a Photocatalyst: Photochromic BiOBr Nanosheets Enhance Activation of Aromatic C-H Bonds via Water Oxidation

Solar-driven photocatalytic reactions can mildly activate hydrocarbon C-H bonds to produce value-added chemicals. However, the inefficient utilization of photogenerated carriers hinders the application. Here, we report reversible photochromic BiOBr (denoted as p-BiOBr) nanosheets that were colored by trapping photogenerated holes upon visible light irradiation and bleached by water oxidation to generate hydroxyl radicals, demonstrating enhanced carrier separation and water oxidation. The photocatalytic coupling and oxidation reactions of ethylbenzene were efficiently realized by p-BiOBr in a water-based medium under ambient temperature and pressure (apparent quantum yield is 14 times that of pristine BiOBr). The p-BiOBr nanosheets feature lattice disordered defects on the surface, providing rich uncoordinated catalytic sites and inducing structural distortions and lattice strain, which further leads to an altered band structure and significantly enhanced photocatalytic performances. These hole-trapping materials open up the possibility of substantially elevating the utilization efficiency of photogenerated holes for high-efficiency photocatalytic activation of various saturated C-H bonds.

Strong Correlation between the Dynamic Chemical State and Product Profile of Carbon Dioxide Electroreduction

Utilizing renewable electricity energy to convert CO2 into fuels and chemicals, namely, CO2 electrocatalytic reduction reaction (CO2RR), is becoming increasingly significant yet challenged by low activity and selectivity. Recently, a growing number of studies have demonstrated that oxidized species can surprisingly survive on the catalyst surface under highly cathodic CO2RR conditions and play crucial roles in affecting the product selectivity. However, dynamic evolutions of the surface chemical state together with its real correlation to the product selectivity are still unclear, which is one of the most controversial topics for CO2RR. Herein, we particularly resurvey recent CO2RR researches that are all based on advanced in situ/operando methodologies, aiming to clearly reveal the realistic variations in surface chemical state under the working conditions. Then, recent progress in the regulation of the surface chemical state toward specific CO2RR products in current state-of-the-art catalysts with varying metal centers is systematically summarized, which shows an impressive relation between the dynamic chemical state and product profile. Next, we further highlight the developed strategies to regulate the surface chemical state in catalysts and discuss the debates over the effects of chemical state on product profile during CO2RR. Finally, on the basis of previous achievements, we present major challenges and some perspectives for the exploration of the imperative chemical state sensitivity to product profile during CO2RR.

Tracking the in situ generation of hetero-metal–metal bonds in phosphide electrocatalysts for electrocatalytic hydrogen evolution

The in situ EXAFS experiments indicated that the Co–Ru moiety suppresses the formation of metallic Co under acidic conditions and dominates the catalytic activity of Rux@CoP electrocatalysts.

Atomic Metal-Support Interaction Enables Reconstruction-Free Dual-Site Electrocatalyst

Real bifunctional electrocatalysts for hydrogen evolution reaction and oxygen evolution reaction have to be the ones that exhibit a steady configuration during/after reaction without irreversible structural transformation or surface reconstruction. Otherwise, they can be termed as "precatalysts" rather than real catalysts. Herein, through a strongly atomic metal-support interaction, single-atom dispersed catalysts decorating atomically dispersed Ru onto a nickel-vanadium layered double hydroxide (LDH) scaffold can exhibit excellent HER and OER activities. Both in situ X-ray absorption spectroscopy and operando Raman spectroscopic investigation clarify that the presence of atomic Ru on the surface of nickel-vanadium LDH is playing an imperative role in stabilizing the dangling bond-rich surface and further leads to a reconstruction-free surface. Through strong metal-support interaction provided by nickel-vanadium LDH, the significant interplay can stabilize the reactive atomic Ru site to reach a small fluctuation in oxidation state toward cathodic HER without reconstruction, while the atomic Ru site can stabilize the Ni site to have a greater structural tolerance toward both the bond constriction and structural distortion caused by oxidizing the Ni site during anodic OER and boost the oxidation state increase in the Ni site that contributes to its superior OER performance. Unlike numerous bifunctional catalysts that have suffered from the structural reconstruction/transformation for adapting the HER/OER cycles, the proposed Ru/Ni₃V-LDH is characteristic of steady dual reactive sites with the presence of a strong metal-support interaction (i.e., Ru and Ni sites) for individual catalysis in water splitting and is revealed to be termed as a real bifunctional electrocatalyst.

[HCV and Treponema pallidum infection status in HIV/AIDS cases in Yunnan province, January-June, 2020]

Objective: To understand the infection status of HCV and Treponema pallidum (TP) in HIV/AIDS cases in Yunnan province,and identify the risk factors. Methods: Between January 1 and June 30 in 2020,a cross-sectional survey was conducted in Yunnan. Two enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kits were used to detect anti-HCV, the positive results of both two kits indicated HCV infection. ELISA and syphilis toluidine red untreated serum test were applied to identify TP infection. Both Excel 2016 and SPSS 22.0 software were used for statistical analysis, and logistic regression model was conducted to identify the relevant factors of HCV and TP infection. Results: A total of 5 922 HIV/AIDS cases were included in this study, the infection rates of HCV and TP were 6.5% (383/5 922) and 5.8% (344/5 922) respectively. The co-infection rate of HCV and TP was 0.4% (22/5 922). The risk for HCV infection in HIV/AIDS cases was higher in younger age groups compared with age group ≥50 years (15-19:aOR=3.53;20-29:aOR=3.02;30-39:aOR=2.91;40-49:aOR=3.61), in males than in females (aOR=2.31), in the married and unmarried than in the divorced or widowed (married:aOR=1.61;unmarried:aOR=1.63), in other ethnic groups than in Han ethnic group (aOR=1.70), in people with lower education level than in people with education level of college and above (primary school degree and below:aOR=4.69;middle school:aOR=3.96), in people living in the central and western Yunnan than in people living in eastern Yunnan (central Yunnan:aOR=2.46; western Yunnan:aOR=7.08), in injection drug users than in MSM (aOR=131.08). The risk of TP infection in HIV/AIDS cases was higher in people with education level of college and primary school than in middle school degree (primary school and below:aOR=1.73;college and above:aOR=1.77), in people with other occupations than in farmers (aOR=1.39), in people living in eastern Yunnan than in people living in western Yunnan (aOR=1.75); in MSM than in people with heterosex (aOR=9.75). Conclusions: A certain proportion of HIV/AIDS cases reported between January and June in 2020 in Yunnan were co-infected with HCV and TP, many factors were associated with the co-infection. It is suggested to strengthen HCV and TP tests in HIV/AIDS cases and conduct active treatment of the co-infection.

MOF-Templated Sulfurization of Atomically Dispersed Manganese Catalysts Facilitating Electroreduction of CO2 to CO

To reach a carbon-neutral future, electrochemical CO2 reduction reaction (eCO2RR) has proven to be a strong candidate for the next-generation energy system. Among potential materials, single-atom catalysts (SACs) serve as a model to study the mechanism behind the reduction of CO2 to CO, given their well-defined active metal centers and structural simplicity. Moreover, using metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) as supports to anchor and stabilize central metal atoms, the common concern, metal aggregation, for SACs can be addressed well. Furthermore, with their turnability and designability, MOF-derived SACs can also extend the scope of research on SACs for the eCO2RR. Herein, we synthesize sulfurized MOF-derived Mn SACs to study effects of the S dopant on the eCO2RR. Using complementary characterization techniques, the metal moiety of the sulfurized MOF-derived Mn SACs (MnSA/SNC) is identified as MnN3S1. Compared with its non-sulfur-modified counterpart (MnSA/NC), the MnSA/SNC provides uniformly superior activity to produce CO. Specifically, a nearly 30% enhancement of Faradaic efficiency (F.E.) in CO production is observed, and the highest F.E. of approximately 70% is identified at -0.45 V. Through operando spectroscopic characterization, the probing results reveal that the overall enhancement of CO production on the MnSA/SNC is possibly caused by the S atom in the local MnN3S1 moiety, as the sulfur atom may induce the formation of S-O bonding to stabilize the critical intermediate, *COOH, for CO2-to-CO. Our results provide novel design insights into the field of SACs for the eCO2RR.

Heterocyclic-Additive-Activated Dinuclear Dysprosium Electrocatalysts for Heterogeneous Water Oxidation

Heterogeneous catalysis based on air-stable lanthanide complexes is relatively rare, especially for electrochemical water oxidation and reduction. Therefore, it is highly desired to investigate the synergy caused by cocatalysts on the lanthanide complex family for heterogeneous catalysis because of their structural diversity, air/moisture insensitivity, and easy preparation under an air atmosphere. Two mononuclear and three dinuclear dysprosium complexes containing a series of Schiff-base ligands have been demonstrated as robust electrocatalysts for triggering heterogeneous water oxidation in alkaline solution, in which the complex [Dy₂(hmb)₂(OAc)₄]·MeCN(3) was revealed to have the best activity toward heterogeneous water oxidation among all five complexes in the present study. The molecular activation of dysprosium complexes has also been investigated with a series of N-containing heterocyclic additives [i.e., 4-(dimethylamino)pyridine (DMAP), bis(triphenylphosphine)iminium chloride ([PPN]Cl), indole, and quinoline]. In particular, the corresponding overpotential was effectively enhanced by 211 mV (at a current density of 10 mA cm^-2) with the assistance of DMAP. On the basis of electrochemical and ex situ/in situ spectroscopic investigations, the best catalyst, DMAP-complex 3 on a carbon paper electrode, was confirmed with well-maintained molecular identity during heterogeneous water oxidation free of forming any dysprosium oxide and/or undesired products.

Three-dimensional laser scanning as a reliable and reproducible diagnostic tool in breast cancer related lymphedema rehabilitation: a proof-of-principle study

OBJECTIVE

In this study, we aimed to assess the reproducibility and reliability of a three-dimensional laser scanner (3DLS) in measuring the upper limb volume of BRCL women undergoing a 2-week complete decongestive therapy (CDT).

PATIENTS AND METHODS

3DLS and CM were used to measure the upper limb volume in a cohort of BCRL women before (T0) and after (T1) a 2-week CDT. We evaluated: a) correlation between 3DLS and CM at both time points; b) level of agreement and the consistency of the different measurements at both time points; c) correlation between the inter-rater operator analysis in terms of total limb volume differences before and after rehabilitative treatment of both circumferential method and laser scanning 3D in breast cancer related lymphedema patients.

RESULTS

Taken together, 43 BCRL women (age 51.1 ± 5.4 years) were included. Both 3DLS and CM showed a significant inter and intra-operator correlation in the arm volume measurement at both time-points (T0: r2=0.99, p<0.0001; T1: r2=0.99, p<0.0001). 3DLS showed a strong correlation with CM (r2=0.99, p<0.0001) in terms of volume measurement and provided greater intra-operator correlation (r2=0.92 vs. 0.62) in detecting volume variations after the treatment (T1-T0).

CONCLUSIONS

3DLS confirmed to be highly sensitive, cheap and easy-to-use in the evaluation of the upper limb volume in BCRL women before and after a rehabilitative treatment. These findings suggest that augmented reality technologies might be very useful in oncological rehabilitation.

[Determination of n-butyl alcohol in urine by headspace solid-phase microextraction coupled with gas chromatography]

Objective: To establish a headspace solid phase microextraction-gas chromatography method for determination of n-Butyl alcohol in urine. Methods: In October 2019, the n-butyl alcohol in urine was extracted with a polydimethylsiloxane/divinylbenzene (PDMS/DVB) solid-phase microextraction head. The conditions of salt amount, extraction temperature, extraction time and desorption time were optimized. The separation was performed on HP-5 (30 m×0.32 mm×0.25 μm) capillary column and detected with flame ionization detector. The quantification was based on the external standard curve. Results: The linear relationship of n-butyl alcohol in urine was good in the range of 0.04-3.00 mg/L, the correlation coefficient was 0.999, the detection limit of the method was 0.04 mg/L, the recovery was 77.4%-102.8%, the intra-run precision was 3.67%-8.11%, and the inter-assay precision was 4.94%-6.90%. Conclusion: The method has simple operation, high concentration efficiency and high sensitivity, and it is suitable for the determination of n-butyl alcohol in urine of occupational exposure to n-butyl alcohol.

In situ unraveling of the effect of the dynamic chemical state on selective CO2 reduction upon zinc electrocatalysts

Unraveling the reaction mechanism behind the CO₂ reduction reaction (CO₂RR) is a crucial step for advancing the development of efficient and selective electrocatalysts to yield valuable chemicals. To understand the mechanism of zinc electrocatalysts toward the CO₂RR, a series of thermally oxidized zinc foils is prepared to achieve a direct correlation between the chemical state of the electrocatalyst and product selectivity. The evidence provided by in situ Raman spectroscopy, X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) and X-ray diffraction significantly demonstrates that the Zn(ii) and Zn(0) species on the surface are responsible for the production of carbon monoxide (CO) and formate, respectively. Specifically, the destruction of a dense oxide layer on the surface of zinc foil through a thermal oxidation process results in a 4-fold improvement of faradaic efficiency (FE) of formate toward the CO₂RR. The results from in situ measurements reveal that the chemical state of zinc electrocatalysts could dominate the product profile for the CO₂RR, which provides a promising approach for tuning the product selectivity of zinc electrocatalysts.

[Characteristics of HIV-1 genotype and drug resistance among men who have sex with men in Kunming, 2018]

Objective: To understand the characteristics of HIV-1 genotypes and drug resistance among men who have sex with men in Kunming in 2018. Methods: A total of 193 plasma samples were collected from the newly reported HIV-1 infected MSM in Kunming from January to December 2018. Viral RNA was extracted, and the gag, pol, env gene segments were amplified by nested PCR. HIV-1 genotypes and drug resistance were also analyzed. Subsequently, the evolutionary characteristics of CRF55_01B and CRF68_01B among MSM in Kunming were analyzed by Bayesian Markov Chain Monte Carlo method. Results: Multiple HIV-1 genotypes were identified among these 193 samples, including CRF07_BC (39.4%, 76/193), CRF01_AE (34.2%, 66/193), unique recombinant forms (URFs) (20.2%, 39/193), CRF08_BC (3.1%, 6/193), CRF55_01B (1.6%, 3/193), subtype B (1.0%, 2/193) and CRF68_01B (0.5%, 1/193). Results from the Bayesian evolutionary analysis showed that CRF55_01B started to spread locally after being imported from other provinces, while CRF68_01B was likely to have been brought in from the eastern provinces of China. Prevalence of HIV-1 drug resistant strains was 2.6%(5/190) before antiviral treatment, with mutation rates resistant to non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors being the highest (2.1%, 4/190) among MSM in Kunming, 2018. Conclusion: The diversity of HIV-1 was increasing among MSM in Kunming. Although the resistance rate on pretreatment drug was relatively low, the emergence of multiple resistant strains to first-line antiviral drugs posed a challenge to antiretroviral therapy, in Kunming.

[Analysis on characteristics of HIV-1 molecular networks in men who have sex with men in Kunming, 2016-2018]

Objective: To analyze the characteristics of HIV-1 molecular network in men who have sex with men (MSM) from 2016 to 2018 in Kunming, Yunnan province, explore the risk factors associated with HIV-1 transmission network and provide evidence for the effective implementation of intervention. Methods: A total of 540 samples of newly reported HIV-1 positive MSM were consecutively collected in Kunming from 2016 to 2018, the pol gene fragments were amplified by nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR). HIV-1 molecular networks were constructed according to the bootstrap value of the maximum likelihood evolutionary tree over 95% and the genetic distance less than 3%. The factors associated with the subjects entering network and network growth were further analyzed. Results: Among 459 successfully sequenced samples, seven genotypes were found, in which CRF07_BC (49.2%, 226/459) and CRF01_AE (40.3%, 185/459 ) were predominant. Other genotypes included URFs (4.8%, 22/459), CRF08_BC (3.1%, 14/459), CRF55_01B (1.7%, 8/459), B (0.7%, 3/459) and CRF68_01B (0.2%, 1/459). A total of 163 sequences entered the network, with an entry rate of 35.5%(163/459), forming 56 clusters with the number of individuals in the cluster was between 2 and 13. The analysis of the factors associated with entering network showed that the MSM who married and had multiple homosexual partners were more likely to be found in HIV-1 molecular networks. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that the number of sexual partners was the factor for the growth of HIV-1 molecular network. According to the criteria for the emergence of three or more newly reported cases in every year, six transmission clusters were judged as active transmission clusters, in which MSM who were not Kunming natives, had sexually transmitted diseases (STD), were divorced and students were the key targets of intervention. Conclusions: HIV-1 genotypes in MSM in Kunming were becoming complex, the risk factors associated with transmission networks in MSM in Kunming included being married and having multiple partners, the intervention targets in active transmission clusters included MSM who were not Kunming natives, had STD, were divorced and students. This study provided the basis for applying HIV-1 molecular networks to real-time intervention in this population.

The deltopectoral flap in the management of tracheostomal stenosis post laryngectomy and radiotherapy

BACKGROUND

Tracheostomal stenosis is a distressing complication with a high incidence rate post laryngectomy. We aimed to assess the deltopectoral flap (DPF) for tracheostomal stenosis correction in irradiated patients.

METHODS

Six patients with tracheostomal stenosis, 3 of whom developed restenosis after prior use of local flaps, were managed using a DPF to reconstruct the defect following a vertical incision release of the stenotic band down to the inferior tracheal cartilaginous ring. Healing absence of restenosis, alleviation of the symptoms of difficulty in breathing and clearance of secretions were considered a successful composite endpoint.

RESULTS

Over a median follow-up period of 11 months all patients maintained patency, and symptoms of difficulty in breathing and clearing of secretions were alleviated.

CONCLUSION

The deltopectoral flap is a rapid, reliable flap for the management of tracheostomal stenosis in irradiated patients. It brings well-vascularised tissue into the site of reconstruction and, in the short term, stomal patency and symptom relief were achieved.

Quantitatively Unraveling the Redox Shuttle of Spontaneous Oxidation/Electroreduction of CuO x on Silver Nanowires Using in Situ X-ray Absorption Spectroscopy

Oxide-derived copper catalysts have been shown to enhance CO₂ reduction reaction (CO₂RR) activity with high selectivity toward hydrocarbon products. However, the chemical state of oxide-derived copper during the CO₂RR has remained elusive and is lacking in situ observations. Herein, a two-step process was developed to synthesize Ag nanowires coated with various thicknesses of a CuO _x layer for the CO₂RR. By employing in situ X-ray absorption spectroscopy, a strong correlation between the chemical state under reaction conditions and the CO₂RR product profile can be revealed to validate another competing reaction (i.e., the spontaneous oxidation of Cu(0) in aqueous electrolyte) that significantly governs the chemical state of active centers of Cu. In situ Raman spectroscopy reveals the existence of reoxidation behavior under cathodic potential, and the quantification analysis of reoxidized behavior is revealed to indicate that the reoxidation rate is independent of surface morphology and strongly proportional to the electrochemically surface area. The steady oxidation state of Cu in an in situ condition is the paramount key and dominates the products' profile of the CO₂RR rather than other factors (e.g., crystal facets, atomic arrangements, morphology, elements) that have been investigated in numerous reports.

The nonalcoholic fatty liver disease-like phenotype and lowered serum VLDL are associated with decreased expression and DNA hypermethylation of hepatic ApoB in male offspring of ApoE deficient mothers fed a with Western diet

Increasing evidence indicates that the intra-uterine environment has consequences for later life. However, the mechanisms of this fetal programming remain unclear. We aimed to investigate the impact of diet-induced maternal hypercholesterolemia on the predisposition of offspring to nonalcoholic fatty liver diseases (NAFLD) and metabolic diseases and its underlying mechanisms. Female apolipoprotein (Apo) E-deficient mice were fed a control diet (CD) or high fat/high cholesterol Western-type diet (WD) before and throughout pregnancy and lactation, and their offspring were weaned onto a CD postnatally. Strikingly, male offspring of WD-fed dams developed glucose intolerance and decreased peripheral insulin sensitivity and exhibited hepatic steatosis. Hepatic steatosis could be attributed, at least in part, to increased hepatic lipogenesis in E18.5 embryos and decreased serum VLDL levels in adulthood. In addition, males born to WD-fed dams had lower serum ApoB levels and hepatic ApoB gene expression compared with males born to CD-fed dams. DNA methylation analysis revealed increased methylation of CpG dinucleotides on the promoter region of the ApoB genes in the livers of male offspring of WD-fed dams. Our findings suggest that maternal WD intake can exacerbate the development of NAFLD in male offspring potentially by affecting ApoB gene expression through epigenetic alterations.

Potential of Plasmon-Activated Water as a Comprehensive Active Green Energy Resource

Liquid water is the most commonly used environmental-friendly solvent and reactant in chemical reactions and physical processes. Conventionally, it is considered as a passive reactant. In this work, we investigate the potential of plasmon-activated water (PAW) with intrinsically reduced hydrogen-bonded structures compared to normal deionized (DI) water to serve as an active green energy resource. The efficiency of the electrochemical oxidation of water performed on a platinum electrode to form hydrogen peroxide is significantly enhanced in PAW compared to that in DI water. In addition, the limiting current density of the oxygen reduction reaction on a platinum/carbon-coated disk electrode is also enhanced when using PAW (in 0.9 wt % NaCl or in 0.1 M KOH). Moreover, the cell capacitance with semitransparent platinum-coated fluorine-doped SnO₂ electrodes is significantly increased from ca. 2 × 10^-9 to 6.1 × 10^-7 F when decreasing the applied frequency from 10 to 0.1 Hz in a cell containing PAW instead of DI water (without the supporting electrolyte). More interestingly, compared to that in DI water, the efficiencies of the hydrogen evolution reaction in an acid solution (0.05 M H₂SO₄) and the oxygen evolution reaction in an alkaline solution (0.1 M KOH) performed with PAW in situ increase by about 20% with nanoscale-granulated gold electrodes under resonant illumination. These increases are more significant in neutral solutions for hydrogen evolution reactions and oxygen evolution reactions.

The expression of prostaglandins-related genes in erythrocytes of broiler chicken responds to thiram-induced tibial dyschondroplasia and recombinant glutathione-S-transferase A3 protein

Tibial dyschondroplasia (TD) is a type of bone deformity found in fast-growing chickens, which induce inflammatory responses. Prostaglandins (PGs) implicate in bone formation and bone resorption, associated with inflammation in an autocrine/paracrine manner. This study used qRT-PCR and immunohistochemistry analysis to identify the expression patterns of PG-related genes in the erythrocytes of broiler chickens and explore the effects of thiram-induced TD and the recombinant glutathione-S-transferase A3 (rGSTA3) protein on the expression of PG-related genes: GSTA3, cyclooxygenase 2 (COX-2), prostaglandin D2 synthase (PTGDS), prostaglandin E synthase (PTGES), prostaglandin E2 receptor (PTGER) 3, PTGER4 and prostaglandin reductase 1 (PTGR1). Interestingly, the results showed that these seven PG-related genes expression was identified in the erythrocytes of broiler chicken, and thiram-induced TD suppressed the expression of these PG-related genes in the initial stage of TD and promoted their expression in TD recovery. These findings demonstrated that the immunoregulatory function of erythrocytes can be inhibited in the early stage of TD and promoted in the recovery stage by modulating the expression of PG-related genes. Further, the rGSTA3 protein can modulate the expression of PG-related genes in erythrocytes and participate in the recovery of TD.

[HIV-1 drug resistance transmission threshold survey in Dehong prefecture of Yunnan province, 2015]

Objective: To study the HIV-1 drug resistance transmission level in HIV infected persons receiving no antiviral therapy in Dehong prefecture of Yunnan province in 2015. Methods: A total of 72 plasma samples were collected from recently reported HIV-infected persons aged 16-25 years in Dehong from January to July 2015 for drug resistance gene detection. Results: Forty eight samples were successfully sequenced and analyzed. Among them, 31.2% (15/48) were from Chinese, and 68.8% (33/48) were from Burmese. Based on pol sequences, HIV genotypes included URF (52.08%, 25/48), CRF01_AE (16.67%, 8/48), RF07_BC (10.42%, 5/48), subtype B (6.25%, 3/48), subtype C (6.25%, 3/48), CRF57_BC (6.25%, 3/48) and CRF08_BC (2.08%, 1/48). One drug resistant mutation site to non-nucleoside analog reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NNRTI) and two drug resistant mutation site to nucleoside analog reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NRTI) were detected in four sequences. Based on the statistical method of HIV drug resistance threshold survey, the prevalence of HIV-1 drug resistant strain was 5%-15%. Conclusions: The proportion of Burmese among newly reported HIV-infected individuals aged 16-25 years in Dehong in 2015 was higher. HIV-1 genetic diversity was found in Dehong. The prevalence of HIV-1 drug resistant strain had reached a moderate level in Dehong.

Postmastectomy upper limb lymphedema: Combined vascularized lymph node transfer and scar release with fat graft expedites surgical and patients' related outcomes. A retrospective comparative study

INTRODUCTION

Lymphedema resulting from breast cancer treatment is a chronic condition that can significantly compromise quality of life. Several works have documented the efficacy of vascularized lymph node flap transfer (VLNT) for the treatment of advanced-stage lymphedema. Given that the axillary scar may contribute to the patient's existing lymphedema, the authors assumed that combining VLNT and scar release with fat graft could be an effective strategy of treatment. The purpose of this study is to compare the efficacy in the reduction of limb circumference and health-related quality of life between a combined strategy, namely, VLN transfer (VLNT) and axillary scar release with fat grafting, and only VLNT for patients affected by postmastectomy upper limb lymphedema. The idea.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

All patients with stage II and III breast cancer-related lymphedema operated between January 2012 and January 2016 were retrospectively identified, and only those treated by combined VLNT and scar release (Group A) or only VLNT (Group B) were included. The outcomes were assessed clinically by limb circumference measurement and radiologically by lymphoscintigraphy. Lymphedema-related quality of life was evaluated preoperatively and at 1 year follow-up through the LYMQOL questionnaire.

RESULTS

Thirty-nine patients met inclusion criteria (Group A = 18; Group B = 21). Mean follow-up was 29 months for Group A and 32 months for Group B. Flap survival rate was 100%, with no donor site morbidity in all patients. A statistically significant difference between the circumference reduction rates (RR) at above elbow level was observed at 3 and 6 months of follow-up comparing the two groups (p<0.00001), with higher values in Group A than in Group B. No significant difference was detected comparing RR values at above and below elbow at 12 and 24 months postoperatively. LYMQOL metrics showed significantly better scores (p<0.0001) in all domains at all follow-up appointments in Group A.

CONCLUSIONS

Patients with postmastectomy upper limb lymphedema can benefit from combined lymph node transfer and axillary scar release with fat graft, as this approach seems to fasten the onset of improvement and to have a positive impact on patients' quality of life.

In Situ Creation of Surface-Enhanced Raman Scattering Active Au-AuO x Nanostructures through Electrochemical Process for Pigment Detection

Roughing the metallic surface via oxidation-reduction cycles (ORC) to integrate the surface plasmon resonance and surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) is predominant in developing sensor systems because of the facile preparation and uniform distribution of nanostructures. Herein, we proposed a distinctive ORC process: the forward potential passed through the oxidation of Au and reached the oxygen evolution reaction, and once the potential briefly remained at the vertex, the various reverse rates were employed to control the reduction state. The created hybrid Au-AuO _x possessed electromagnetic and chemical enhancements concurrently, wherein the rough surface provided the strong local electromagnetic fields and significant interaction between AuO _x and molecule to improve the charge transfer. The synergistic effects significantly amplified the intensity of Raman signal with an enhancement factor of 5.5 × 10⁶ under the optimal conditions. Furthermore, the prepared SERS substrate can simultaneously identify and quantify the mixed edible pigments, Brilliant Blue FCF and Indigo Carmine, individually. This result suggested that the development of SERS sensor based on the proposed SERS-activated methodology is feasible and reliable.

Electric stimulation of ears accelerates body weight loss mediated by high-fat to low-fat diet switch accompanied by increased white adipose tissue browning in C57BL/6 J mice

Background

Weight reduction frequently occurs in patients receiving vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) therapy. Therefore, we hypothesized that during dietary intervention for weight loss, auricular electric stimulation (AES), an alternative of VNS, accelerates weight loss by increasing white adipose tissue (WAT) browning and increases energy expenditure.

Methods

C57BL/6J male mice were fed a high-fat diet for 5 wk. to induce obesity, then switched to a low-fat diet for 5 wk. and allocated into 3 groups to receive 2 Hz electric stimulation on ears, electrode clamps only, or nothing (AES, Sham and Ctrl, respectively).

Results

Switching to a low-fat diet reduced body weight progressively in all 3 groups, with the greatest reduction in the AES group. In accordance with a mild decrease in feed intake, hypothalamus mRNA levels of Npy, AgRP tended to be reduced, while Pomc tended to be increased by AES. Mice in the AES group had the highest concentrations of norepinephrine in serum and inguinal WAT, and expression levels of uncoupling protein-1 (UCP-1) and tyrosine hydroxylase in inguinal WAT. Furthermore, their subcutaneous adipocytes had multilocular and UCP-1⁺ characteristics, along with a smaller cell size.

Conclusion

AES, by increasing WAT browning, could be used in conjunction with a low-fat diet to augment weight loss in addition to suppressing appetite.

[Analysis of the characteristics of lymphocyte subsets in peripheral blood among coal worker's pneumoconiosis patients]

Objective: To preliminary analysis of the characteristics of lymphocyte subsets in peripheral blood among 135 cases of coal worker's pneumoconiosis patients in Huainan mining area. Methods: The peripheral bloods of 135 cases of coal worker's pneumoconiosis patients and 112 cases of health examiners were collected. Flow cytometry was used to detect peripheral blood lymphocytes, T cell subsets and CD4(+)CD25(+) regulatory T cells. Results: Compared with the control group, CD64 index of granulocytes and lymphocytes was slightly higher. The total T cells (CD3(+)) increased in peripheral blood, CD4(+) expression was reduced and CD8(+) expression was increased in infection group, CD4(+)/CD8(+) ratio was inverted, the differences between the infection group and the control group were statistically significant (P<0.05) . There were significantly fewer NK (nature killer) and B cells, significantly more double negative T cells (DNT, CD3(+)CD4(-)CD8(-)) than the control group (P<0.05) . There was no statistically significant difference of CD4(+)CD25(+)CD127(+low)、CD4(+)CD25(+)CD127(+hi) and the ration of Treg/CD4(+)CD25(+)CD127(+hi) protein expression in peripheral blood in two groups (P>0.05) . Conclusion: The analysis of peripheral blood lymphocyte and subgroup is an ideal index to monitor the immune status of coal worker's pneumoconiosis patients. It has theoretical significance for studying the immune mechanism of pneumoconiosis and guiding clinical treatment.