Designing Surface-Defect Engineering to Enhance the Solar-Driven Conversion of CO2 to C2 Products over Zn3In2S6/ZnS.

The manipulation of electronic structure and prevention of photogenerated carriers from being quenched in bulk defects during the photocatalytic CO2 reduction reaction (CRR) have been effectively demonstrated through surface vacancy and defect engineering. In this work, the electronic structure on the surface of Zn3In2S6/ZnS (ZIS/ZnS) is significantly modified by the introduction and control of the surface S vacancies (SV) through Ar-plasma treatment. EPR and XPS analyses confirmed that SV was exclusively present on the ZIS/ZnS surface. The resulting ZIS/ZnS heterojunction photocatalysts demonstrate an impressive 46.6% selectivity toward C2 products even in the absence of cocatalysts. The mechanism of photocatalytic CRR is further elucidated through in situ analysis. Theoretical calculations demonstrate that the presence of In and Zn atoms adjacent to SV significantly enhances the adsorption of CO2 and facilitates C-C coupling.

A quasi-3D Sb2S3/reduced graphene oxide/MXene (Ti3C2Tx) hybrid for high-rate and durable sodium-ion batteries.

Antimony sulfide (Sb2S3) is a promising anode material for sodium-ion batteries (SIBs) owing to its high theoretical capacity and superior reversibility. However, its cycling life and rate performance are seriously impeded by the inferior inherent electroconductibility and tremendous volume change in the charging/discharging processes. Herein, a quasi three-dimensional (3D) Sb2S3/RGO/MXene composite, with Sb2S3 nanoparticles (∼15 nm) uniformly distributed in the quasi-3D RGO/MXene architecture, was prepared by a toilless hydrothermal treatment. The RGO/MXene conductive substrate not only alleviates the volume expansion of Sb2S3, but also promotes electrolyte infiltration and affords highways for ion/electron transport. More importantly, the synergistic effects between RGO and Ti3C2Tx MXene are extremely favourable to maintain the integrity of the electrode during cycling. As a result, the Sb2S3/RGO/MXene composite exhibits a high reversible capacity of 633 mA h g-1 at 0.2 A g-1, outstanding rate capability (510.1 mA h g-1 at 4 A g-1) and good cycling performance with a capacity loss of 16% after 500 cycles.

Eco-green C, O co-doped porous BN adsorbent for aqueous solution with superior adsorption efficiency and selectivity.

Toxic dyes in wastewater will become a significant hazard to human health if they are not treated effectively. Therefore, it is significant to separate and remove dyes from the aqueous solution. C and O co-doped BN (BCNO) with high adsorption capacity and outstanding cycle efficiency is a simple and efficient adsorbent for the cationic dye malachite green (MG). Glucose is characterized as an eco-friendly and cheap source of C and O. Benefited by the high specific surface area (1515.6 m2/g), the maximum adsorption capacity of MG is 1511.1 mg/g. Besides, the curves of adsorption fitting correspond to the Langmuir model and the pseudo-second-order model, respectively. Moreover, after 5 cycles, the adsorption efficiency reached 78% of the first time and the adsorption capacity remained above 780 mg/g. Furthermore, in the selectivity adsorption study, the cationic dyes (MG, neutral red (NR), methylene blue (MB)) can be removed more effectively in the binary dye system of MG-methyl orange (MO), NR-MO, MB-MO, MG-Orange II (OR), MB-OR, or NR-OR. BCNO-2 has a promising application in the removal of cationic dyes from complex dye wastewaters.

Two Birds with One Stone: FeS2@C Yolk-Shell Composite for High-Performance Sodium-Ion Energy Storage and Electromagnetic Wave Absorption.

Cost-effective material with a rational design is significant for both sodium-ion batteries (SIBs) and electromagnetic wave (EMW) absorption. Herein, we report an elaborate yolk-shell FeS2@C nanocomposite as a promising material for application in both SIBs and EMW absorption. When applied as an anode material in SIBs, the yolk-shell structure not only facilitates a fast electron transport and shortens Na ion diffusion paths but also eases the huge volume change of FeS2 during repeated discharge/charge processes. The as-developed FeS2@C exhibits a high specific capacity of 616 mA h g-1 after 100 cycles at 0.1 A g-1 with excellent rate performance. Furthermore, owing to the significant cavity and interfacial effects enabled by yolk-shell structuring, the FeS2@C nanocomposite delivers excellent EMW absorption properties with a strong reflection loss (-45 dB with 1.45 mm matching thickness) and a broad 15.4 GHz bandwidth. This work inspires the development of high-performance bifunctional materials.

Combination of Microwave Ablation and Percutaneous Osteoplasty for Treatment of Painful Extraspinal Bone Metastasis.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of microwave (MW) ablation combined with percutaneous osteoplasty (POP) on painful extraspinal bone metastases. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this retrospective study, 50 adult patients with 56 extraspinal bone metastasis lesions, who suffered from refractory moderate to severe pain, were treated with MW ablation and POP. Changes in quality of life were evaluated based on the Visual Analog Scale (VAS), daily morphine consumption, and the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) before and immediately after the procedure and during follow-up times. RESULTS: Technical success was achieved in all patients. Mean preoperative VAS score and morphine dose were 7.0 ± 2.6 (range, 3-10) and 66.7 ± 33.2 mg (range, 10-120 mg), respectively. Mean postoperative VAS scores and daily morphine doses were as follows: 1 day, 3.5 ± 2.1 and 36.1 ± 25.8 mg (P < .05); 1 week, 1.5 ± 1.7 and 12.2 ± 14.8 mg (P < .001); 1 month, 0.9 ± 1.4 and 5.7 ± 10.0 mg (P < .001); and 3 months, 0.6 ± 1.2 and 4.7 ± 8.4 mg (P < .001). A significant decrease in the ODI score was also observed (P < .05). Periprocedural death was not observed. A pathologic fracture occurred in 1 (2%) patient with femoral metastasis, and local infection was observed in 2 (4%) patients. Minor cement leakage occurred in 4 (8%) patients with no symptomatic or intra-articular extravasation. No local tumor progression occurred in patients with imaging follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: MW ablation combined with POP is an effective and safe treatment for painful extraspinal bone metastases, which can significantly relieve pain and improve quality of life.

Porous Na3V2(PO4)3/C nanoplates for high-performance sodium storage.

Sodium super-ionic conductor (NASICON) structured Na3V2(PO4)3 (NVP), a promising cathode material for sodium-ion batteries (SIBs), benefits by its unique three-dimensional (3D) channel structure. However, the inherent characteristics of NVP (such as low electrical conductivity) usually lead to inferior rate and long-cycling performance, which miss the requirements of practical application in electrical energy storage systems (ESSs). Herein, we propose the synthesis of porous high-crystalline Na3V2(PO4)3/C nanoplates (NVP/C-P) via hydrothermal method and post-calcination. The porous nanoplate structure provides increased specific surface area and shortened diffusion pathway for ion/electron transport. Consequently, NVP/C-P cathodes exhibit a high specific capacity (117 mAh g-1, 0.2 C), exceptional rate performance (76.5 mAh g-1, 100 C) and long cyclic stability (10,000 cycles).

Linking the low-density lipoprotein receptor-binding segment enables the therapeutic 5-YHEDA peptide to cross the blood-brain barrier and scavenge excess iron and radicals in the brain of senescent mice.

INTRODUCTION: Iron accumulates in the brain during aging, which catalyzes radical formation, causing neuronal impairment, and is thus considered a pathogenic factor in Alzheimer's disease (AD). To scavenge excess iron-catalyzed radicals and thereby protect the brain and decrease the incidence of AD, we synthesized a soluble pro-iron 5-YHEDA peptide. However, the blood-brain barrier (BBB) blocks large drug molecules from entering the brain and thus strongly reduces their therapeutic effects. However, alternative receptor- or transporter-mediated approaches are possible. METHODS: A low-density lipoprotein receptor (LDLR)-binding segment of Apolipoprotein B-100 was linked to the 5-YHEDA peptide (bs-5-YHEDA) and intracardially injected into senescent (SN) mice that displayed symptoms of cognitive impairment similar to those of people with AD. RESULTS: We successfully delivered 5-YHEDA across the BBB into the brains of the SN mice via vascular epithelium LDLR-mediated endocytosis. The data showed that excess brain iron and radical-induced neuronal necrosis were reduced after the bs-5-YHEDA treatment, together with cognitive amelioration in the SN mouse, and that the senescence-associated ferritin and transferrin increase, anemia and inflammation reversed without kidney or liver injury. DISCUSSION: bs-5-YHEDA may be a mild and safe iron remover that can cross the BBB and enter the brain to relieve excessive iron- and radical-induced cognitive disorders.

SnS2 /Sb2 S3 Heterostructures Anchored on Reduced Graphene Oxide Nanosheets with Superior Rate Capability for Sodium-Ion Batteries.

Tin disulfide, as a promising high-capacity anode material for sodium-ion batteries, exhibits high theoretical capacity but poor practical electrochemical properties due to its low electrical conductivity. Constructing heterostructures has been considered to be an effective approach to enhance charge transfer and ion-diffusion kinetics. In this work, composites of SnS2 /Sb2 S3 heterostructures with reduced graphene oxide nanosheets were synthesized by a facile one-pot hydrothermal method. When applied as anode material in sodium-ion batteries, the composite showed a high reversible capacity of 642 mA h g-1 at a current density of 0.2 A g-1 and good cyclic stability without capacity loss in 100 cycles. In particular, SnS2 /Sb2 S3 heterostructures exhibited outstanding rate performance with capacities of 593 and 567 mA h g-1 at high current densities of 2 and 4 A g-1 , respectively, which could be ascribed to the dramatically improved Na+ diffusion kinetics and electrical conductivity.

High Crystalline Prussian White Nanocubes as a Promising Cathode for Sodium-ion Batteries.

Prussian blue and its analogues (PBAs) have been recognized as one of the most promising cathode materials for room-temperature sodium-ion batteries (SIBs). Herein, we report high crystalline and Na-rich Prussian white Na2 CoFe(CN)6 nanocubes synthesized by an optimized and facile co-precipitation method. The influence of crystallinity and sodium content on the electrochemical properties was systematically investigated. The optimized Na2 CoFe(CN)6 nanocubes exhibited an initial capacity of 151 mA h g-1 , which is close to its theoretical capacity (170 mA h g-1 ). Meanwhile, the Na2 CoFe(CN)6 cathode demonstrated an outstanding long-term cycle performance, retaining 78 % of its initial capacity after 500 cycles. Furthermore, the Na2 CoFe(CN)6 Prussian white nanocubes also achieved a superior rate capability (115 mA h g-1 at 400 mA g-1 , 92 mA h g-1 at 800 mA g-1 ). The enhanced performances could be attributed to the robust crystal structure and rapid transport of Na ions through large channels in the open-framework. Most noteworthy, the as-prepared Na2 CoFe(CN)6 nanocubes are not only low-cost in raw materials but also contain a rich sodium content (1.87 Na ions per lattice unit cell), which will be favorable for full cell fabrication and large-scale electric storage applications.

Antimony/Porous Biomass Carbon Nanocomposites as High-Capacity Anode Materials for Sodium-Ion Batteries.

Antimony/porous biomass carbon nanocomposites have been prepared by a chemical reduction method and applied as anodes for sodium-ion batteries. The porous biomass carbon derived from a black fungus had a large Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) surface area of 2233 m2 g-1 in which antimony nanoparticles were uniformly distributed in the porous carbon. The as-prepared antimony/porous biomass carbon nanocomposites exhibited a high reversible sodium storage capacity of 567 mA h g-1 at a current density of 100 mA g-1 , extended cycling stability, and good rate capability.

Effect of temperature on development and reproduction of Neoseiulus barkeri (Acari: Phytoseiidae) fed on Aleuroglyphus ovatus.

The effect of five constant temperatures (16, 20, 24, 28 and 32°C) on the development, survival and reproduction of Neoseiulus barkeri Hughes fed on Aleuroglyphus ovatus Toupeau (Acari: Acaridae) was examined in the laboratory at 85% relative humidity. Development time of different immature stages decreased with increasing temperature, total egg-to-adult development time varied from 5.0 ± 0.13 to 17.5 ± 0.29 days. The lower thermal threshold for development was 9.7 ± 2.48°C and the thermal constant from egg to adult was 111.1 ± 12.34 degree-days. Pre- and post-oviposition period and female longevity all shortened as temperature increased. The longest oviposition period was observed at 24°C with 20.4 ± 1.13 days. At 20, 24, 28 and 32°C, mated females laid on average 0.7 ± 0.08, 1.5 ± 0.04, 1.6 ± 0.11 and 1.5 ± 0.11 eggs per day, respectively, but no eggs were laid at 16°C. Both the maximum fecundity (30.9 eggs per female) and the highest intrinsic rate of increase (r (m) = 0.166) were obtained at 28°C. The results of this study indicated that a mass rearing of N. barkeri with A. ovatus as prey is feasible at the appropriate temperature.