Preparation and Electrochromic Properties of MnO2/PPy Composite Films with Coral-like Structures.

MnO2/polypyrrole (PPy) composite films were deposited on fluorine-doped tin oxide (FTO) conductive glasses by a two-step wet-chemical method, including electrochemical deposition and chemical bath deposition (CBD). The porous MnO2 films were first grown on FTO glasses by an electrodeposition method. Second, polypyrrole nanoparticles were polymerized by the oxidation-reduction reaction between MnO2 and pyrrole, using the presynthesized MnO2 as the skeleton. Then, MnO2/PPy composite films with coral-like structures were obtained. The electrochemical and electrochromic (EC) properties of the prepared films were investigated. The results show that, compared to the single MnO2 or PPy film, the MnO2/PPy composite film has a larger optical modulation (67.3% at a wavelength of 900 nm), faster response times (4 s for coloration and 3 s for bleaching), and a higher coloration efficiency (218.16 cm2·C-1). The high coloration efficiency attests to the exceptional performance of the composite film in converting electrical signals into vivid color changes. The electrochemical stability test results show that the composite film maintains a stable EC performance after 200 coloration/bleaching cycles. The coral-like structures of the composite film are responsible for the better EC properties.

Association between blood cadmium and depression varies by age and smoking status in US adult women: a cross-sectional study from NHANES 2005-2016.

BACKGROUND: Cadmium, a toxic metal, is widely encountered in diverse environmental contexts. Despite its pervasive exposure, there is limited research on the association between blood cadmium levels and depression, especially among females. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between blood cadmium levels and depression in adult women. METHODS: Data spanning 2005-2016 from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) were selected. Depression was diagnosed with the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9, score ≥10). Multiple logistic regression, multiple linear regression, and smoothed curve fitting were used to investigate the relationship between blood cadmium and depression. Subgroup analyses and interaction tests were performed to evaluate the stability of this association across populations. RESULTS: A total of 1,173 individuals were diagnosed with depression. The heightened prevalence of depression was linked to increased blood cadmium levels, a trend that persisted even after quartering blood cadmium. In the fully adjusted model, each incremental unit of blood cadmium was associated with a 33% rise in the prevalence of depression (OR = 1.33, 95% CI: 1.21-1.45). Participants in the highest quartile were 63% more likely to experience depression compared to those in the lowest quartile of blood cadmium (OR = 1.63, 95% CI: 1.15-2.30), and PHQ-9 score increased by 0.73 (ß = 0.73, 95% CI: 0.30-1.17). This positive association may be relevant to the general population. CONCLUSIONS: Blood cadmium levels are associated with depression in adult women, and this association varies by age and smoking status.

Association between hs-CRP and depressive symptoms: a cross-sectional study.

Background and aim: High-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) is a sensitive measure of low-grade inflammation and appears superior to conventional blood tests in assessing cardiovascular disease. The purpose of this investigation was to explore the link between high-sensitivity CRP and depressive symptoms among adults. Methods and results: Multiple logistic regression and smoothed curve fitting were used to investigate the association between hs-CRP and depressive symptoms based on data from the, 2017-2020 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). Subgroup analyses and interaction tests were used to assess the stability of this relationship across populations. The study comprised 6,293 non-clinical participants, which included 549 individuals with depressive symptoms. The prevalence of depressive symptoms was found to increase with increasing levels of hs-CRP. This trend persisted even after quartetting hs-CRP levels. In the fully adjusted model, each unit increase in hs-CRP was associated with a 10% increase in the odds of depressive symptoms (OR=1.10,95%CI:1.01-1.21). Participants in the highest quartile of hs-CRP had a 39% higher prevalence of depressive symptoms compared to those in the lowest quartile (OR=1.39,95%CI:1.01-1.92). Additionally, this positive correlation was more pronounced in men. Conclusions: In adult Americans, there exists a positive association between elevated hs-CRP levels and depressive symptoms, with a more prominent manifestation of this association observed in males.

One-step hydrothermal growth of porous nickel manganese layered double hydroxide nanosheet film towards efficient visible-light modulation.

Electrochromic smart windows have attracted great attention due to their dynamic regulation of the solar spectrum. NiO and MnO2 are typical anodic coloration materials and widely investigated as complementary electrodes with WO3. However, NiO and MnO2 films often cannot be bleached to complete transparency, resulting in low transmittances and low optical modulations in the short-wavelength visible region. Herein, we report a porous nickel manganese layered double hydroxide (NiMn-LDH) nanosheet film directly grown on fluorine-doped tin oxide (FTO) glass using a one-step hydrothermal method, which demonstrates a high transmittance of 80.1% at 550 nm (without deduction of FTO glass). Induced by the double-redox couples of Ni2+/Ni3+ and Mn3+/Mn4+ associated synergistic electrochromic effect, the as-grown NiMn-LDH film electrode exhibits a large optical modulation of 68.5% at 550 nm, and a large solar irradiation modulation of 59.0% in the visible region of 400-800 nm. After annealing at 450 °C for 2 h, the NiMn-LDH film can be transformed into Ni6MnO8 film with a reduced optical modulation of 30.0% at 550 nm. Furthermore, the NiMn-LDH film electrode delivers an areal capacitance of 30.8 mF cm-2 at a current density of 0.1 mA cm-2. These results suggest that the as-prepared NiMn-LDH film electrode is a promising candidate for both electrochromic and energy storage applications.

Quadruple Control Electrochromic Devices Utilizing Ce4W9O33 Electrodes for Visible and Near-Infrared Transmission Intelligent Modulation.

Electrochromic smart windows are promising for building energy savings due to their dynamic regulation of the solar spectrum. Restricted by materials or traditional complementary device configuration, precisely and independently controlling of visible (VIS) and near-infrared (NIR) light is still on the drawing board. Herein, a novel Zn2+ electrochemically active Ce4W9O33 electrode is reported, which demonstrates three distinct states, including VIS and NIR transparent "bright and warm" state, VIS and NIR opaque "dark and cool" state, VIS transparent and NIR opaque "bright and cool" state. A dual-operation mode electrochromic platform is also presented by integrating Ce4W9O33/NiO complementary device and Zn anode-based electrochromic device (Ce4W9O33/Zn/NiO device). Such a platform enables an added VIS opaque and NIR transparent "dark and warm" state, thus realizing four color states through individually controlling Ce4W9O33 and NiO electrodes, respectively. These results present an effective approach for facilitating electrochromic windows more intelligent to weather/season conditions and personal preferences.

Porous NiMoO4 Nanosheet Films and a Device with Ultralarge Optical Modulation for Electrochromic Energy-Storage Applications.

Reducing building energy consumption, improving aesthetics, and improving occupant privacy as well as comfort by dynamically adjusting solar radiation are important application areas for electrochromic (EC) smart windows. However, the current transition metal oxides still cannot meet the requirements of neutral coloration and large optical modulation. We report NiMoO4 nanosheet films directly grown on fluorine-doped tin oxide glasses. The as-grown NiMoO4 film not only achieves neutral coloration from transparent to dark brown but also shows an ultralarge optical modulation (86.8% at 480 nm) and excellent cycling stability (99.4% retention of maximum optical modulation after 1500 cycles). Meanwhile, an EC device demonstrating good EC performance was constructed. These results will greatly promote the research and development of binary transition metal oxides for both EC and energy-storage applications, and NiMoO4 films may be an excellent candidate to replace NiO films as ion-storage layers in complementary EC devices with WO3 films as EC layers.

Fluoroether Double-Chain Phosphate Surfactants: An Exploration of Alternatives to Fluorotelomer Surfactants.

While legacy fluorosurfactants have already been categorized as persistent organic pollutants, there appeared to be many strategies to develop alternatives. In this work, fluoroether double-chain phosphate surfactants (C72 diPAP-Na and C72 diPAP-NH4) were designed and synthesized with the initial intention of exploring the creation of new fluorosurfactants containing oxygen heteroatoms in the fluorocarbon chain segments to provide an alternative to the legacy long-chain fluorosurfactants. Furthermore, it was expected that they would even exceed the existing 6:2 fluorotelomer surfactants (6:2 diPAP-Na and 6:2 diPAP-NH4). Compared with characterizations of surface activity, foam performance, and wettability, the results showed that each of them has its own distinctive performance. Although the C72 series as new fluoroether surfactants cannot fully replace the 6:2 series of fluorosurfactants in terms of performance, there is a possibility of substitution in some aspects, which is of positive significance for further exploration to improve alternatives to legacy fluorosurfactants.

Boosting the Self-Recharging of Polypyrrole/Prussian Blue Electrochromic Device by Potential Difference-Driven Alternative Redox.

Energy-storage electrochromic (EC) devices are a kind of recently developed device integrating energy-saving and energy-storage functions. To minimize energy consumption, a self-rechargeable energy-storage EC device with fast recovery speed is highly desired. Herein, a polypyrrole (PPy)/Prussian blue (PB) double-layer film with a potential difference is initially constructed and fabricated into a fast-recovery self-rechargeable EC device. Due to the existence of potential difference, the reduced PPy can be oxidized by PB, and subsequently Prussian white (the reduced state of PB) can be oxidized by O2 dissolved in electrolyte. Thus, the self-coloration/self-recharging process can be boosted by an alternative redox occurring in the solid/solid/liquid interfaces of PPy/PB/dissolved O2 instead of common solid/liquid interfaces or solutions. After self-recharging for 1 h, 65.0% of the open-circuit voltage and 45.2% of the total capacity can be recovered. Simultaneously, the synergy effect in this PPy and PB system enables a large optical modulation of 63.3% at 800 nm, a high open-circuit voltage of 1.20 V, and a large initial specific capacity of 87.8 mA·h·g-1 at 1.0 A·g-1. The design of double-layer film with a potential difference for boosting the self-coloration/self-recharging process of EC devices provides a new strategy for next-generation self-powered energy-storage EC devices.

How exports affect green technology innovation in small- and medium-sized enterprises? Evidence from Chinese companies listed on the growth enterprise market.

Using matched data from China Stock Market and Accounting Research (CSMAR) and Wind databases, this paper explores the impact of exports on the green technology innovation (GTI) of small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). The mechanisms are analyzed through a two-way fixed effects model. First, exports contribute significantly to GTI of SMEs. Second, exports mainly contribute to GTI of SMEs by attracting government subsidies and increasing firms' environmental awareness. Third, from the perspective of heterogeneity, exports significantly positively impact GTI of SMEs especially in medium- and low-technology industries and in eastern China. The impact of exports on GTI is also examined by replacing core variables, modifying the sample for robustness testing, and utilizing both urban river density and distance from the center of the city to the nearest port as instrumental variables for endogeneity test. With the continuous development of international import and export trade, enterprises increase GTI research and development by attracting government subsidies, improving the quality of disclosed information, and increasing environmental awareness.

Bio-Assay-Guided Isolation of Fractions and Constituents with Antioxidant and Lipid-lowering Activity from Allium cepa.

Active fractions and constituents with antioxidant and lipid-lowering activities were investigated using bio-assay-guided isolation and identification. The data showed that the antioxidant fraction of A. cepa was AC50%, the main constituents of which were quercetin and isoquercitrin, by way of both ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS) and bio-assay-guided purification and elucidation. Similarly, the lipid-lowering active fraction of A. cepa was AC30% with the main constituents of 3,4-dihydroxybenzoic acid and quercetin 3,4'-O-diglucoside. Also, bio-assay-guided isolation led to the isolation and identification of five known compounds with a purity of more than 98%, and quercetin was both the best free radical scavenger and lipid-lowering constituent. Moreover, the mechanism of the lipid-lowering effect of AC30% might be its reduction in mRNA expression levels of sterol regulatory element binding protein 2 (SREBP2) and FAS gene in lipid synthesis. Otherwise, reducing the mRNA expression level of lipid synthesis genes, including SREBP1, SREBP2, fatty acid synthetase (FASN), ß-Hydroxy ß-methylglutaryl-CoA (HMGCR), stearoyl CoA desaturase 1 (SCD1), and increasing the mRNA expression level of lipid decomposition gene, such as carnitine palmitoyl transferease-1 (CPT1), might be involved in the lipid-lowering activity of quercetin. This study suggested that Allium cepa might be used to prevent and treat oxidative stress and dislipidemia-related disorders, including NAFLD.

National innovative city and green technology progress: empirical evidence from China.

In this paper, a quasi-natural experiment of national innovative city pilot policy (NICPP) is carried out to investigate the impact of the NICPP on green technology innovation (GTI) and its intrinsic mechanism with the method of difference-in-differences. It is found that the NICPP significantly enhances GTI, and there is a certain lag and persistence in this effect. Heterogeneity analysis shows that the higher the administrative level and the more the geographical advantages of NICPP, the more obvious the driving effect of GTI. The mechanism test shows that the NICPP has an effect on the GTI through three channels: innovation factor input, agglomeration effect of science and technology talent, and entrepreneurial vitality empowerment. The findings of this study provide policy insights for further optimizing the construction of innovative cities and then promoting GTI development, ultimately realizing green dynamics transformation and high-quality development of China's economy.

Correction: A double responsive fluorescent platform for sensing heavy metal ions based on a dual-emitting fluorescent covalent organic framework hydrogel film.

Correction for 'A double responsive fluorescent platform for sensing heavy metal ions based on a dual-emitting fluorescent covalent organic framework hydrogel film' by Yinghua Jia et al., Dalton Trans., 2022, 51, 14352-14358.

High-temperature negative thermal quenching phosphors from molecular-based materials.

High-temperature negative thermal quenching (NTQ) phosphors are crucial to high-performance light-emitting devices. Herein, we report the high-temperature NTQ effect in deep-red to near-infrared (NIR) emitting copper iodide cluster-based coordination polymers as unconventional phosphors, whose NTQ operating temperature can reach as high as 500 K, the highest temperature reached by NTQ molecular-based materials.

Thyroid function, renal function, and depression: an association study.

Objective: To investigate the correlations between thyroid function, renal function, and depression. Methods: Clinical data of 67 patients with Major depressive disorder (MDD) and 36 healthy control subjects between 2018 and 2021 were collected to compare thyroid and renal function. Thyroid and renal functions of depressed patients were then correlated with the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAMD) and the Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HAMA).Spearman correlation analysis was used to find the correlation between renal function, thyroid function, and depression. A logistic regression was performed to find significant predictors of depression. Results: Triiodothyronine protamine (T3), thyroxine (T4), free triiodothyronine protamine (FT3), uric acid, sodium, and anion gap were lower in the MDD group than in the control group (p < 0.05). Correlation analysis of thyroid function, renal function, and factor terms of HAMD in the MDD group suggested that diurnal variation, hopelessness, and depression level were positively correlated with thyrotropin (TSH) (p < 0.05). Cognitive disturbance, retardation, and depression level were negatively correlated with creatinine (p < 0.05). Diurnal variation was negatively correlated with sodium ion (p < 0.01); hopelessness and depression level were positively correlated with chloride ion (p < 0.05); diurnal variation, retardation, and depression level were negatively correlated with anion gap (p < 0.05). Diurnal variation (p < 0.01) and retardation (p < 0.05) were negatively correlated with osmolality. Cognitive disturbance and depression level were positively correlated with estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) (p < 0.05). In the MDD group, correlation analysis of thyroid function, renal function, and HAMA factor terms suggested that the total HAMA score and anxiety level were positively correlated with chloride ion (p < 0.05); psychic anxiety, total HAMA score, and anxiety level were negatively correlated with anion gap (p < 0.05). Furthermore, a low level of anion gap was an independent risk factor for depression and anxiety levels (p < 0.05). Conclusion: Low thyroid function and reduced waste metabolized by the kidneys in patients with MDD suggest a low intake and low metabolism in depressed patients. In addition, subtle fluctuations in the anion gap in depressed patients were strongly correlated with the degree of depression and anxiety.

A double responsive fluorescent platform for sensing heavy metal ions based on a dual-emitting fluorescent covalent organic framework hydrogel film.

A new luminescent hybrid material with dual-emission centers (Eu@Dye@TpDq hydrogel) based on a covalent organic framework (COF) has been successfully prepared. First, we designed a dye (coumarin) modified COF (TpDq) hybrid fluorescent material (Dye@TpDq), and then the material was formed into a hydrogel film, with an Eu3+ ion being introduced as another luminescent center into the material during the cross-linking process. As a dual-emission fluorescent platform, it exhibits a double-response towards different heavy metal ions: a ratiometric identification response to Cu(II), and a turn-off fluorescence response to Cr(VI). This research not only introduces a novel synthesis of Eu3+-functionalized double emitting COF-based hydrogels, but also inspires the development of COF-based multifunctional analytical tools.

Functionalized luminescent covalent organic frameworks hybrid material as smart nose for the diagnosis of Huanglongbing.

Quantitative identification of several volatile organic compounds (VOCs) associated with the same disease provides a strong guarantee of the accurate analysis of the disease. Designing a single luminescent material to interact differently with multiple analytes can generate response patterns with remarkable diversity. Here, a highly green luminescent imine-based 2D COF (TtDFP) is designed and synthesized. TtDFP has ultrasensitive detection performance for trace water in organic solvent. Constructing a ratiometric fluorescence sensor can improve sensitivity for detecting analytes. To contrast the fluorescence signals of Eu3+ and COFs in sensing assays, a simple postsynthetic modification (PSM) method is used to introduce Eu3+ into TtDFP. The obtained red luminescent hybrid material Eu3+@TtDFP EVA film can be a fluorescent nose capable of "sniffing out" and quantifying VOCs (GA and PhA) associated with Huanglongbing (HLB, a devastating disease of citrus) at ppb levels. This work provides a technique of developing functionalized COF hybrid material to facilitate the distinction of various VOCs, which can also be extended to monitor the levels of other VOCs relevant to human health.

Platelet Parameters, C-Reactive Protein, and Depression: An Association Study.

OBJECTIVE: This study aims to investigate the correlation of platelet parameters and C-reactive protein (CRP) with depression. METHODS: The clinical data of 61 patients with depression and 30 healthy control subjects were collected to compare the platelet parameters, CRP levels, and Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAMD) scores of the two groups for correlation analysis. RESULTS: The results revealed that the body mass index (BMI) of patients with depression was lower (P < 0.05) than that of the healthy control subjects, and that this difference was more significant in women than in men. Patients with severe depression showed an increased mean platelet volume (MPV) (P < 0.05). In the patients with depression, MPV was positively correlated (P < 0.05) with HAMD scores for work and interest, gastrointestinal symptoms, hopelessness, the anxiety/somatization factor, and the hopelessness factor. Platelet count (PLT) was negatively correlated (P < 0.05) with HAMD scores for hypochondriasis, and plateletcrit (PCT) was negatively correlated (P < 0.05) with HAMD scores for middle insomnia and hypochondriasis. Platelet distribution width (PDW) was positively correlated (P < 0.05) with HAMD scores for gastrointestinal and systemic symptoms as well as hopelessness. Higher CRP levels (P < 0.05) were found in the patients with depression than in the healthy control subjects. Furthermore, in the patients with depression, CRP levels were positively correlated (P < 0.05) with HAMD scores for guilt and the cognitive impairment factor. CONCLUSION: Classical platelet parameters (PLT, MPV, PCT, PDW) and CRP were shown to be associated with specific depressive symptoms and cognitive impairment factors, including sleep, gastrointestinal symptoms, hypochondriasis, losing interest in work, and despair. These results suggest that both platelet parameters and CRP could be suitable biomarkers for predicting the occurrence and prognosis of depression, thus providing a new target for its treatment.

Wide-Spectrum Modulated Electrochromic Smart Windows Based on MnO2/PB Films.

Inorganic materials have been extensively studied for visible electrochromism in the past few decades. However, the single inorganic electrochromic (EC) material commonly exhibits a single color change, leading to a narrow spectrum of modulation, which offsets or limits the maximally energy-saving ability. Here, we present a wide-spectrum modulated EC device designed by combining the complementary EC nanocomposite of manganese dioxide (MnO2) and Prussian blue (PB) for enhanced energy savings. Porous MnO2 nanostructures serve as host frameworks for the templated growth of PB, resulting in MnO2/PB nanocomposites. The complementary optical modulation ranges of MnO2 and PB enable a widen-spectrum modulation across the solar region with the development of the MnO2/PB nanocomposite. The colored MnO2/PB device exhibited an optical modulation of 32.1% in the wide solar spectrum range of 320-1100 nm and blocked 72.0% of the solar irradiance. Furthermore, fast switching responses (2.7 s for coloration and 2.1 s for bleaching) and a high coloration efficiency (83.1 cm2·C-1) of the MnO2/PB EC device are also achieved. The high EC performance of the MnO2/PB nanocomposite device provides a new strategy for the design of high-performance energy-saving EC smart windows.

Eu3+-ß-diketone functionalized covalent organic framework hybrid material as a sensitive and rapid response fluorescent sensor for glutaraldehyde.

A covalent organic framework (named as TpDq) linked by ß-ketoamine was prepared by imine condensation reaction with 1,3,5-triformylphloroglucinol (TFP) and 2,6-diaminoanthraquinone (DAAQ) as building blocks. Via employing a functionalized modification strategy, a new lanthanide complex Eu3+-ß-diketone functionalized covalent organic framework hybrid material, Eu-TTA@TpDq (TTA = 2-thenoyltrifluoroacetone), has been synthesized. After post-synthetic modification (PSM), the shape and structure of the parent framework is well preserved and the modified material shows remarkable luminescence properties. Based on this, we designed it as a fluorescent probe and tried to use it to sense common aldehydes. The results indicate that Eu-TTA@TpDq exhibits a turn-off response toward glutaraldehyde which can distinguish from other common aldehydes. The fluorescent probe has the advantages of reusability, pH stability (4.50-8.52), fast luminescence response (<1 min) and low detection limit. The linear range of this method was 0-100 µM; the detection limit was 4.55 µM; the relative standard deviation was 2.16%. Furthermore, it has broad application prospect in both practical sensing of glutaraldehyde in water environment and simple detection of glutaraldehyde vapor. In addition, we preliminarily discussed the possible sensing mechanism.

Fabricating Nanosheets and Ratiometric Detection of 5-Fluorouracil by Covalent Organic Framework Hybrid Material.

Covalent organic framework (COF) nanosheets (NSs) are a new member in the family of two-dimensional (2D) nanomaterials that received increasing attention. The ability to prepare COF NSs with rapid acquisition is of great importance to explore their distinctive properties and potential applications. Herein, we elaborate design a new COF hybrid material EB-TFP:Eu(BTA)4 as a sensing platform. In the process of ratiometric fluorescence detection of 5-fluorouracil (5FU), an anticancer drug, we realize the preparation of COF NSs. Interaction occurs between 5FU and COF hybrid material, where the interlayer π-π stacking of COF was weakened, benefiting the exfoliation of bulk COF to acquire 2D COF NSs. This strategy provides not only a sensitive and selective 5FU sensor but also a significant inspiration for engineering 2D COF NSs.