Integration of Ultrathin Hafnium Oxide with a Clean van der Waals Interface for Two-Dimensional Sandwich Heterostructure Electronics.

Integrating high-κ dielectrics with a small equivalent oxide thickness (EOT) with two-dimensional (2D) semiconductors for low-power consumption van der Waals (vdW) heterostructure electronics remains challenging in meeting both interface quality and dielectric property requirements. Here, we demonstrate the integration of ultrathin amorphous HfOx sandwiched within vdW heterostructures by the selective thermal oxidation of HfSe2 precursors. The self-cleaning process ensures a high-quality interface with a low interface state density of 1011-1012 cm-2 eV-1. The synthesized HfOx displays excellent dielectric properties with an EOT of ∼1.5 nm, i.e., a high κ of ∼16, an ultralow leakage current of 10-6 A/cm2, and an impressively high breakdown field of 9.5 MV/cm. This facilitates low-power consumption vdW heterostructure MoS2 transistors, demonstrating steep switching with a low subthreshold swing of 61 mV/decade. This one-step integration of high-κ dielectrics into vdW sandwich heterostructures holds immense potential for developing low-power consumption 2D electronics while meeting comprehensive dielectric requirements.

Quasi-Zero-Dimensional Ferroelectric Polarization Charges-Coupled Resistance Switching with High-Current Density in Ultrascaled Semiconductors.

Ferroelectric memristors hold immense promise for advanced memory and neuromorphic computing. However, they face limitations due to low readout current density in conventional designs with low-conductive ferroelectric channels, especially at the nanoscale. Here, we report a ferroelectric-mediated memristor utilizing a 2D MoS2 nanoribbon channel with an ultrascaled cross-sectional area of <1000 nm2, defined by a ferroelectric BaTiO3 nanoribbon stacked on top. Strikingly, the Schottky barrier at the MoS2 contact can be effectively tuned by the charge transfers coupled with quasi-zero-dimensional polarization charges formed at the two ends of the nanoribbon, which results in distinctive resistance switching accompanied by multiple negative differential resistance showing the high-current density of >104 A/cm2. The associated space charges in BaTiO3 are minimized to ∼3.7% of the polarization charges, preserving nonvolatile polarization. This achievement establishes ferroelectric-mediated nanoscale semiconductor memristors with high readout current density as promising candidates for memory and highly energy-efficient in-memory computing applications.

Mechanism Study of Molecular Trap in All-Organic Polystyrene-Based Dielectric Composite.

It is a huge challenge to explore how charge traps affect the electric breakdown of polymer-based dielectric composites. In this paper, alkane and aromatic molecules with different substituents are investigated according to DFT theoretical method. The combination of strong electron-withdrawing groups and aromatic rings can establish high electron affinity molecules. 4'-Nitro-4-dimethylaminoazobenzene (NAABZ) with a vertical electron affinity of 1.39 eV and a dipole moment of 10.15 D is introduced into polystyrene (PSt) to analyze the influence of charge traps on electric properties. Marcus charge transfer theory is applied to calculate the charge transfer rate between PSt and NAABZ. The nature of charge traps is elaborated from a dynamic perspective. The enhanced breakdown mechanism of polymers-based composites stems from the constraint of carrier mobility caused by the change in transfer rate. But the electrophile nature of high electron affinity filler can decrease the potential barriers at the metal-polymer interface. Simultaneously, the relationship between the electron affinity of fillers and the breakdown strength of polymer-based composites is nonlinear because of the presence of the inversion region. Based on the deep understanding of the molecular trap, this work provides the theoretical calculation for the design and development of high-performance polymer dielectrics.

Rational Design of Ion-Conductive Layer on Si Anode Enables Superior-Stable Lithium-Ion Batteries.

Silicon (Si) is considered a promising commercial material for the next-generation of high-energy density lithium-ion battery (LIB) due to its high theoretical capacity. However, the severe volume changes and the poor conductivity hinder the practical application of Si anode. Herein, a novel core-shell heterostructure, Si as the core and V3 O4 @C as the shell (Si@V3 O4 @C), is proposed by a facile solvothermal reaction. Theoretical simulations have shown that the in-situ-formed V3 O4 layer facilitates the rapid Li+ diffusion and lowers the energy barrier of Li transport from the carbon shell to the inner core. The 3D network structure constructed by amorphous carbon can effectively improve electronic conductivity and structural stability. Benefiting from the rationally designed structure, the optimized Si@V3 O4 @C electrode exhibits an excellent cycling stability of 1061.1 mAh g-1 at 0.5 A g-1 over 700 cycles (capacity retention of 70.0%) with an average Coulombic efficiency of 99.3%. In addition, the Si@V3 O4 @C||LiFePO4 full cell shows a superior capacity retention of 78.7% after 130 cycles at 0.5 C. This study opens a novel way for designing high-performance silicon anode for advanced LIBs.

Sex- and time-specific associations of obesity with glycaemic traits: A two-step multivariate Mendelian randomization study.

AIM: To assess the sex- and time-specific causal effects of obesity-related anthropometric traits on glycaemic traits. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We used univariate and multivariate Mendelian randomization to assess the causal associations of anthropometric traits (gestational variables, birth weight, childhood body mass index [BMI], BMI, waist-to-hip ratio [WHR], BMI-adjusted WHR [WHRadj BMI]) with fasting glucose and insulin in Europeans from the Early Growth Genetics Consortium (n ≤ 298 142), the UK Biobank, the Genetic Investigation of Anthropometric Traits Consortium (n ≤ 697 734; females: n ≤ 434 794; males: n ≤ 374 754) and the Meta-Analyses of Glucose and Insulin-related traits Consortium (n ≤ 151 188; females: n ≤ 73 089; males: n ≤ 67 506), adjusting for maternal genetic effects, smoking, alcohol consumption, and age at menarche. RESULTS: We observed a null association for gestational variables, a negative association for birth weight, and positive associations for childhood BMI and adult traits (BMI, WHR, and WHRadj BMI). In female participants, increased birth weight causally decreased fasting insulin (betaIVW , -0.07, 95% confidence interval [CI] -0.11 to -0.03; p = 1.92 × 10-3 ), but not glucose levels, which was annulled by adjusting for age at menarche. In male participants, increased birth weight causally decreased fasting glucose (betainverse-variance-weighted (IVW) , -0.07, 95% CI -0.11 to -0.03; p = 3.22 × 10-4 ), but not insulin levels. In time-specific analyses, independent effects of birth weight were absent in female participants, and were more pronounced in male participants. Independent effects of childhood BMI were attenuated in both sexes; independent effects of adult traits differed by sex. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings provide evidence for causal and independent effects of sex- and time-specific anthropometric traits on glycaemic variables, and highlight the importance of considering multiple obesity exposures at different time points in the life course.

Connective Tissue Growth Factor: Regulation, Diseases, and Drug Discovery.

In drug discovery, selecting targeted molecules is crucial as the target could directly affect drug efficacy and the treatment outcomes. As a member of the CCN family, CTGF (also known as CCN2) is an essential regulator in the progression of various diseases, including fibrosis, cancer, neurological disorders, and eye diseases. Understanding the regulatory mechanisms of CTGF in different diseases may contribute to the discovery of novel drug candidates. Summarizing the CTGF-targeting and -inhibitory drugs is also beneficial for the analysis of the efficacy, applications, and limitations of these drugs in different disease models. Therefore, we reviewed the CTGF structure, the regulatory mechanisms in various diseases, and drug development in order to provide more references for future drug discovery.

Improved Capacitive Energy Storage Nanocomposites at High Temperature Utilizing Ultralow Loading of Bimetallic MOF.

It is urgent to develop high-temperature dielectrics with high energy density and high energy efficiency for next-generation capacitor demands. Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) have been widely used due to their structural diversity and functionally adaptable properties. Doping of metal nodes in MOFs is an effective strategy to change the band gap and band edge positions of the original MOFs, which helps to improve their ability to bind charges as traps. In this work, the incorporation of ultralow loading (<1.5 wt%) of novel bimetallic MOFs (ZIF 8-67) into the polyetherimide (PEI) polymer matrix is exhibited. With the addition of ZIF 8-67, the breakdown strength and energy storage capacity of ZIF 8-67/PEI nanocomposites are significantly improved, especially at high temperatures (200 °C). For example, the energy densitiy of the 0.5 wt% ZIF 8-67/PEI nanocomposite is up to 2.96 J cm-3 , with an efficiency (η) > 90% at 150 °C. At 200 °C, the discharge energy density of 0.25 wt% ZIF 8-67/PEI nanocomposites can still reach 1.84 J cm-3 with a η > 90%, which is nine times higher than that of pure PEI (0.21 J cm-3 ) under the same conditions, and it is the largest improvement compared with the previous reports.

Photoinduced Nickel-Catalyzed Carbon-Heteroatom Coupling.

Herein, we report visible light-promoted single nickel catalysis for diverse carbon-heteroatom couplings under mild conditions. This mild, general, and robust method to couple diverse nitrogen, oxygen, and sulfur nucleophiles with aryl(heteroaryl)/alkenyl iodides/bromides exhibits a wide functional group tolerance and is applicable to late-stage modification of pharmaceuticals and natural products. On the base of preliminary mechanistic studies, a NiI /NiIII cycle via the generation of active NiI complexes that appear from homolysis of NiII -I rather than NiII -aryl bond was tentatively proposed.

Investigating the shared genetic architecture of post-traumatic stress disorder and gastrointestinal tract disorders: a genome-wide cross-trait analysis.

BACKGROUND: Observational studies suggest a correlation between post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and gastrointestinal tract (GIT) disorders. However, the genetic overlap, causal relationships, and underlining mechanisms between PTSD and GIT disorders were absent. METHODS: We obtained genome-wide association study statistics for PTSD (23 212 cases, 151 447 controls), peptic ulcer disease (PUD; 16 666 cases, 439 661 controls), gastroesophageal reflux disease (GORD; 54 854 cases, 401 473 controls), PUD and/or GORD and/or medications (PGM; 90 175 cases, 366 152 controls), irritable bowel syndrome (IBS; 28 518 cases, 426 803 controls), and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD; 7045 cases, 449 282 controls). We quantified genetic correlations, identified pleiotropic loci, and performed multi-marker analysis of genomic annotation, fast gene-based association analysis, transcriptome-wide association study analysis, and bidirectional Mendelian randomization analysis. RESULTS: PTSD globally correlates with PUD (rg = 0.526, p = 9.355 × 10-7), GORD (rg = 0.398, p = 5.223 × 10-9), PGM (rg = 0.524, p = 1.251 × 10-15), and IBS (rg = 0.419, p = 8.825 × 10-6). Cross-trait meta-analyses identify seven genome-wide significant loci between PTSD and PGM (rs13107325, rs1632855, rs1800628, rs2188100, rs3129953, rs6973700, and rs73154693); three between PTSD and GORD (rs13107325, rs1632855, and rs3132450); one between PTSD and IBS/IBD (rs4937872 and rs114969413, respectively). Proximal pleiotropic genes are mainly enriched in immune response regulatory pathways, and in brain, digestive, and immune systems. Gene-level analyses identify five candidates: ABT1, BTN3A2, HIST1H3J, ZKSCAN4, and ZKSCAN8. We found significant causal effects of GORD, PGM, IBS, and IBD on PTSD. We observed no reverse causality of PTSD with GIT disorders, except for GORD. CONCLUSIONS: PTSD and GIT disorders share common genetic architectures. Our work offers insights into the biological mechanisms, and provides genetic basis for translational research studies.

Comparative transcriptome analysis of rice cultivars resistant and susceptible to Rhizoctonia solani AG1-IA.

BACKGROUND: Rice sheath blight, which is caused by Rhizoctonia solani, is the most destructive disease affecting rice production, but the resistance mechanism to this pathogen has not been fully elucidated. RESULTS: In this study, we selected two rice cultivars based on their resistance to the pathogen and analyzed and compared the transcriptomic profiles of two cultivars, the moderately resistant variety Gangyuan8 and the highly susceptible variety Yanfeng47, at different time points after inoculation. The comparative transcriptome profiling showed that the expression of related genes gradually increased after pathogen inoculation. The number of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in Yanfeng47 was higher than that in Gangyuan8, and this result revealed that Yanfeng47 was more susceptible to fungal attack. At the early stage (24 and 48 h), the accumulation of resistance genes and a resistance metabolism occurred earlier in Ganguan8 than in Yanfeng47, and the resistance enrichment entries were more abundant in Ganguan8 than in Yanfeng47. CONCLUSIONS: Based on the GO and KEGG enrichment analyses at five infection stages, we concluded that phenylalanine metabolism and the jasmonic acid pathway play a crucial role in the resistance of rice to sheath blight. Through a comparative transcriptome analysis, we preliminarily analyzed the molecular mechanism responsible for resistance to sheath blight in rice, and the results lay the foundation for the development of gene mining and functional research on rice resistance to sheath blight.

Reversible On-Off Photoswitching of DNA Replication Using a Dumbbell Oligodeoxynucleotide.

In most organisms, DNA extension is highly regulated; however, most studies have focused on controlling the initiation of replication, and few have been done to control the regulation of DNA extension. In this study, we adopted a new strategy for azODNs to regulate DNA extension, which is based on azobenzene oligonucleotide chimeras regulated by substrate binding affinity, and the conformation of the chimera can be regulated by a light source with a light wavelength of 365 nm. The results showed that the primer was extended with Taq DNA polymerase after visible light treatment, and DNA extension could be effectively hindered with UV light treatment. We also verify the reversibility of the photoregulation of primer extension through photoswitching of dumbbell asODNs by alternate irradiation with UV and visible light. Our method has the advantages of fast and simple, green response and reversible operations, providing a new strategy for regulating gene replication.

Engineering Bifunctional Host Materials of Sulfur and Lithium-Metal Based on Nitrogen-Enriched Polyacrylonitrile for Li-S Batteries.

Lithium-sulfur batteries (LSBs) still suffer from the shuttle effect on the cathode and the lithium dendrite on the anode. Herein, polyacrylonitrile (PAN) is developed into a bifunctional host material to simultaneously address the challenges faced on both the sulfur cathode and lithium anode in LSBs. For the sulfur cathode, PAN is bonded with sulfur to produce sulfurized PAN (SPAN) to avoid the shuttle effect. The SPAN is accommodated into a conductive 3D CNTs-wrapped carbon foam to prepare a self-supporting cathode, which improves the electronic and ionic conductivity, and buffers the volume expansion. Thereby, it delivers reversible capacity, superb rate capability, and outstanding cycling stability. For the Li-metal anode, PAN aerogel is carbonized to give macroporous N-doped cross-linked carbon nanofiber that behaves as a lithiophilic host to regulate Li plating and suppress the growth of Li dendrite. Combining the improvements for both the cathode and anode realizes a remarkable long-term cyclability (765 mAh g-1 after 300 cycles) in a full cell. It provides new opportunity to propel the practical application of advanced LSBs.

Interface design for high energy density polymer nanocomposites.

This review provides a detailed overview on the latest developments in the design and control of the interface in polymer based composite dielectrics for energy storage applications. The methods employed for interface design in composite systems are described for a variety of filler types and morphologies, along with novel approaches employed to build hierarchical interfaces for multi-scale control of properties. Efforts to achieve a close control of interfacial properties and geometry are then described, which includes the creation of either flexible or rigid polymer interfaces, the use of liquid crystals and developing ceramic and carbon-based interfaces with tailored electrical properties. The impact of the variety of interface structures on composite polarization and energy storage capability are described, along with an overview of existing models to understand the polarization mechanisms and quantitatively assess the potential benefits of different structures for energy storage. The applications and properties of such interface-controlled materials are then explored, along with an overview of existing challenges and practical limitations. Finally, a summary and future perspectives are provided to highlight future directions of research in this growing and important area.

Scale-Aware Multi-View Reconstruction Using an Active Triple-Camera System.

This paper presents an active wide-baseline triple-camera measurement system designed especially for 3D modeling in general outdoor environments, as well as a novel parallel surface refinement algorithm within the multi-view stereo (MVS) framework. Firstly, the pre-processing module converts the synchronized raw triple images from one single-shot acquisition of our setup to aligned RGB-Depth frames, which are then used for camera pose estimation using iterative closest point (ICP) and RANSAC perspective-n-point (PnP) approaches. Afterwards, an efficient dense reconstruction method, mostly implemented on the GPU in a grid manner, takes the raw depth data as input and optimizes the per-pixel depth values based on the multi-view photographic evidence, surface curvature and depth priors. Through a basic fusion scheme, an accurate and complete 3D model can be obtained from these enhanced depth maps. For a comprehensive test, the proposed MVS implementation is evaluated on benchmark and synthetic datasets, and a real-world reconstruction experiment is also conducted using our measurement system in an outdoor scenario. The results demonstrate that (1) our MVS method achieves very competitive performance in terms of modeling accuracy, surface completeness and noise reduction, given an input coarse geometry; and (2) despite some limitations, our triple-camera setup in combination with the proposed reconstruction routine, can be applied to some practical 3D modeling tasks operated in outdoor environments where conventional stereo or depth senors would normally suffer.

Sulfur-Mediated Allylic C-H Arylation, Epoxidation, and Aziridination.

Transition-metal-free, sulfur-mediated allylic C-H arylation, epoxidation, and aziridination were realized through one-pot procedures. The reaction design involved initial addition between olefins and triflic anhydride activated sulfoxides, followed by subsequent reactions of the allylic sulfur ylides generated under basic conditions with arylboronic acids, aldehydes, or aldimines, to give allylic arylation, epoxidation, or aziridination products, respectively.

Simulation on antireflection of the oxide nanosphere monolayer film.

We theoretically simulate the antireflective effects of oxide nanosphere monolayer films in the visible spectrum. The essential geometric and material parameters of nanosphere films are simulated and different functions are proposed to describe the dependence of reflectance on the influencing factors. The rational function is fitted to describe the monotonic decreasing of reflectance on the ratio of nanospheres' radius to incident wavelength. At a wavelength of 550 nm and incidence at 75°, the reflectance of the glass substrate coated with SiO2 decreases to 14.1% compared with 41.7% of the uncoated glass. The results have an excellent potential for applications in optical devices such as filters, polarizing elements, and camera lenses.

High energy density in PVDF nanocomposites using an optimized nanowire array.

TiO2 nanowire arrays are often utilized to prepare high performance polymer nanocomposites, however, the contribution to the energy density is limited due to their non-ferroelectric characteristics. A nanocomposite with an optimized nanowire array combining the ferroelectric properties of lead zirconate titanate (PZT) with TiO2, readily forming nanowires (denoted as a TiO2-P nanowire array), is prepared to enhance the permittivity. Poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) is used as the polymer matrix due to its high breakdown strength, e.g. 600-700 kV mm-1. As a result, the permittivity and breakdown electric field reach 53 at 1 kHz and 550 kV mm-1, respectively. Therefore, the nanocomposites achieve a higher discharge energy density of 12.4 J cm-3 with excellent cycle stability, which is the highest among nanocomposites based on a nanowire array as a filler in a PVDF matrix. This work provides not only a feasible approach to obtain high performance dielectric nanocomposites, but also a wide range of potential applications in the energy storage and energy harvesting fields.

Using a novel rigid-fluoride polymer to control the interfacial thickness of graphene and tailor the dielectric behavior of poly(vinylidene fluoride-trifluoroethylene-chlorotrifluoroethylene) nanocomposites.

Polymer nanocomposites based on conductive fillers for high performance dielectrics have attracted increasing attention in recent years. However, a number of physical issues are unclear, such as the effect of interfacial thickness on the dielectric properties of the polymer nanocomposites, which limits the enhancement of permittivity. In this research, two core-shell structured reduced graphene oxide (rGO)@rigid-fluoro-polymer conducting fillers with different shell thicknesses are prepared using a surface-initiated reversible-addition-fragmentation chain transfer polymerization method, which are denoted as rGO@PTFMS-1 with a thin shell and rGO@PTFMS-2 with a thick shell. A rigid liquid crystalline fluoride-polymer poly{5-bis[(4-trifluoro-methoxyphenyl)oxycarbonyl]styrene} (PTFMS) is chosen for the first time to tailor the shell thicknesses of rGO via tailoring the degree of polymerization. The effect of interfacial thickness on the dielectric behavior of the P(VDF-TrFE-CTFE) nanocomposites with rGO and modified rGO is studied in detail. The results demonstrate that the percolation threshold of the nanocomposites increased from 0.68 vol% to 1.69 vol% with an increase in shell thickness. Compared to the rGO@PTFMS-1/P(VDF-TrFE-CTFE) composites, the rGO@PTFMS-2/P(VDF-TrFE-CTFE) composites exhibited a higher breakdown strength and a lower dielectric constant, which can be interpreted by interfacial polarization and the micro-capacitor model, resulting from the insulating nature of the rigid-polymer shell and the change of rGO's morphology. The findings provide an innovative approach to tailor dielectric composites, and promote a deeper understanding of the influence of interfacial region thickness on the dielectric performance.

Degradation of acetaminophen in aqueous solution by UV and UV-activated sludge processes.

Acetaminophen (N-acetyl-p-aminophenol, APAP) is one of the most common antipyretic analgesics used to treat common ailments throughout the world. Recently, APAP has been frequently detected in wastewater effluent and groundwater, resulting in potential risks to the environment. Current methods for eliminating APAP are complicated and cost-prohibitive. This study examined APAP degradation by ultraviolet-C (UV-C) and UV-C irradiation combined with activated sludge (UV/AS) to evaluate potential applications in wastewater treatment. The results of this study indicate that UV-C irradiation reached an APAP degradation efficiency of more than 52% and a degradation rate of 0.0012-0.0013 min-1 during 720 min of exposure, while the initial APAP concentration exhibited only a nominal effect on the degradation rate. However, the UV/AS treatment demonstrated an APAP degradation rate that was 9.6 times the rate of the UV-C-only treatment, with a degradation efficiency of 99% over the same UV irradiation period. The results further indicated that APAP photolysis efficiency was more effective when applied to sterilized AS than when applied to unsterilized AS. Finally, excessive dosage of both AS and humic acid inhibited APAP photolysis efficiency.

Effects of Kupffer cell inactivation on graft survival and liver regeneration after partial liver transplantation in rats.

BACKGROUND: Gadolinium chloride (GdCl3) selectively inactivates Kupffer cells and protects against ischemia/reperfusion and endotoxin injury. However, the effect of Kupffer cell inactivation on liver regeneration after partial liver transplantation (PLTx) is not clear. This study was to investigate the role of GdCl3 pretreatment in graft function after PLTx, and to explore the potential mechanism involved in this process. METHODS: PLTx (30% partial liver transplantation) was performed using Kamada's cuff technique, without hepatic artery reconstruction. Rats were randomly divided into the control low-dose (5 mg/kg) and high-dose (10 mg/kg) GdCl3 groups. Liver injury was determined by the plasma levels of alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase, liver regeneration by PCNA staining and BrdU uptake, apoptosis by TUNEL assay. IL-6 and p-STAT3 levels were measured by ELISA and Western blotting. RESULTS: GdCl3 depleted Kupffer cells and decreased animal survival rates, but did not significantly affect alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase (P>0.05). GdCl3 pretreatment induced apoptosis and inhibited IL-6 overexpression and STAT3 phosphorylation after PLTx in graft tissues. CONCLUSION: Kupffer cells may contribute to the liver regeneration after PLTx through inhibition of apoptosis and activation of the IL-6/p-STAT3 signal pathway.