Engineering hierarchical snowflake-like multi-metal selenide catalysts anchored on Ni foam for high-efficiency and stable overall water splitting.

The development of excellent bifunctional electrocatalysts is an effective way to promote the industrial application of electrolytic water. In this work, a free-standing W-doped cobalt selenide (W-CoSe300/NF) electrocatalyst with a snowflake-like structure supported on nickel foam was prepared by a hydrothermal-selenization strategy. Benefiting from the high specific surface area of the 3D snowflake-like structure and the regulation of tungsten doping on the electronic structure of the metal active center, W-CoSe300/NF shows remarkable electrocatalytic water decomposition performance. In 1.0 M KOH, the W-CoSe300/NF electrocatalyst achieved an efficient HER and OER at a current density of 50 mA cm-2 with overpotentials as low as 84 mV and 283 mV, respectively. More importantly, W-CoSe300/NF acts as both the anode and cathode of the electrolytic tank, requiring only a potential of 1.54 V to obtain 10 mA cm-2 and can operate continuously for more than 120 hours at this current density. This study proposes a new way for the design of high efficiency and affordable bifunctional electrocatalysts.

Advancing overall water splitting via phase-engineered amorphous/crystalline interface: A novel strategy to accelerate proton-coupled electron transfer.

Traditional phase engineering enhances conductivity or activity by fully converting electrocatalytic materials into either a crystalline or an amorphous state, but this approach often faces limitations. Thus, a practical solution entails balancing the dynamic attributes of both phases to maximize an electrocatalyst's functionality is urgently needed. Herein, in this work, Co/Co2C crystals have been assembled on the amorphous N, S co-doped porous carbon (NSPC) through hydrothermal and calcination processes. The stable biphase structure and amorphous/crystalline (A/C) interface enhance conductivity and intrinsic activity. Moreover, the adsorption ability of water molecules and intermediates is improved significantly attributed to the rich oxygen-containing groups, unsaturated bonds, and defect sites of NSPC, which accelerates proton-coupled electron transfer (PCET) and overall water splitting. Consequently, A/C-Co/Co2C/NSPC (Co/Co2C/NSPC with amorphous/crystalline interface) exhibits outstanding behavior for oxygen evolution reaction (OER) and hydrogen evolution reaction (HER), requiring the overpotential of 240.0 mV and 70.0 mV to achieve 10 mA cm-2. Moreover, an electrolyzer assembled by A/C-Co/Co2C/NSPC-3 (anode) and A/C-Co/Co2C/NSPC-2 (cathode) demonstrates a low drive voltage of 1.54 V during overall water splitting process. Overall, this work has pioneered the coexistence of crystalline/amorphous phases in electrocatalysts and provided new insights into phase engineering.

Analysis of prevalence and risk factors of hypertension among Uygur adults in Tushala and Hetian Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region.

This study was designed to survey the prevalence and risk factors of hypertension in Uygur adults in Tushala Township, Hetian area of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. Cross-sectional study of possible risk factors for hypertension was conducted in Tushala and in 28 surrounding villages using a stratified random sampling method. A modified version of the WHO STEP wise approach for risk factor survey was employed. Data collection on these relevant risk factors was performed using the WHO STEPS approach. Physical and body parameters were collected and used for analysis of variance. In addition, risk factors for hypertension were screened using a multifactor logistic regression analysis. The prevalence of hypertension in Hetian Township was 25.6%. The incidence of hypertension was positively correlated with body mass index and triglyceride cholesterol. There was also a positive correlation between risk of hypertension and levels of waist-to-hip ratio as well as abdominal circumference (AC). Logistic regression analysis exhibited AC as the predominant risk factor while high-density lipoprotein as the main protective factor for hypertension. In conclusion, our results indicated that high caloric food intake may trigger hyperlipidemia and subsequently elevated blood pressure, with elevated BMI and cholesterol levels being the major risk factors for hypertension.

Genetic polymorphism of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma 2 Pro12Ala on ethnic susceptibility to diabetes in Uygur, Kazak and Han subjects.

1. The aim of the present study was to determine whether the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR)-g Pro12Ala polymorphism affects susceptibility to diabetes in Uygur, Kazak and Han subjects in Xinjiang, China. 2. Uygur, Kazak and Han subjects from Kashi, Yili and Shawan (Xinjiang, China) were enrolled in the present study. The PPAR-g Pro12Ala polymorphism was determined using restriction fragment length polymorphism. Anthropometric and serum biological indices were monitored among different genotype carriers to examine the PPAR-g Pro12Ala gene polymorphism and the prevalence of type 2 diabetes. 3. The distribution frequency of the Pro12Ala genotype did not differ between diabetic and non-diabetic Uygur, Kazak and Han subjects. However, the frequency of the A allele of Pro12Ala was significant different among non-diabetics, with frequencies of 11, 9 and 5% in Uygur, Kazak and Han groups, respectively. Using the c(2) test, it was shown that the frequency of the A allele in Uygurs (11%) was significantly higher than that in Han subjects (5%). To compare the wild-type (Pro/Pro) carriers in diabetics from each ethnic group, Ugyur subjects, who carry PPAR-g Pro12Ala (Pro/Ala), had a larger waist circumference and lower low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol level, Kazaks subjects showed larger waist circumference and higher high-density lipoprotein levels and Han subjects exhibited a high waist-to-hip ratio and body mass index. 4. The present study revealed that the allele and genotype frequency did not differ in diabetics and non-diabetics of each ethnic group. However, the frequency of the A allele was significantly different in non-diabetics from various ethnic groups. These data suggest that PPAR-g Pro12Ala may affect blood lipid levels and the abdominal fat storage of diabetic Ugyurs and Kazaks and may be associated with fat storage and insulin resistance in Hans.