Rheological behavior and solution pH response properties of nanoparticle-regulated low surface tension systems.

Regarding the rheological properties of fluids, certain nanoparticles can markedly modify the rheological behavior of low surface tension solutions by interacting with surfactant molecules. In this work, a low surface tension fluid with cetyltrimethylammonium chloride was prepared, and the silica nanoparticles were uniformly dispersed into it by ultrasonic dispersion. By adjusting the size, shape, and concentration of nanoparticles, the fluid behavior can be changed from Newtonian to non-Newtonian with finely tuned viscosity and characterized by a shear-thinning rheological behavior. In addition, this work explored how variations in environmental temperature and solution pH affect the rheological responses of the low surface tension suspension system. The experimental findings revealed that increasing the temperature substantially decreases the system's viscosity and induces a shear-thickening behavior. It is particularly significant that, under extreme pH conditions (either strongly acidic or alkaline), the viscosity of the nanoparticle suspensions was markedly enhanced at a particle concentration of 10 000 ppm. This interesting result coincided with a notable reduction in the zeta potential and an increase in the average particle size, suggesting an intensified aggregation of particles within the suspension system. A mechanism detailing the interaction between silica nanoparticles and surfactant micelles was proposed. This work indicates that the incorporation of nanoparticles into surfactant solutions offers a powerful approach to modulating fluid rheology across various conditions.

The Effect of Cuproptosis-Related Proteins on Macrophage Polarization in Mesothelioma is Revealed by scRNA-seq.

High invasiveness mesothelioma is a malignant tumor of the peritoneum or pleura. The effect of cuproptosis on mesothelioma (MESO) is still unknown, though. The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) datasets were used to identify differential genes linked to cuproptosis in mesothelioma. Multigene features were then created to assess the course of the disease. Use single-cell data and in vitro validation to uncover crucial gene regulation mechanisms. In MESO, we found nine differentially expressed genes linked to cuproptosis. Using univariate Cox and LASSO regression techniques, a 3-gene feature (P < 0.05) was created, showing a good predictive potential for survival time. According to the risk score, patients in the low-risk subset had a considerably greater survival rate than those in the high-risk subset (P = 0). The similar survival pattern and prediction performance are also seen in the validation queue. The findings of the drug sensitivity research indicate that in high-risk patients, vinblastine, paclitaxel, gefitinib, and erlotinib are sensitive medications (P < 0.05). Classical monocytes were identified as core cells connected to cuproptosis by the CellChat results. SLC31A1 is implicated in the positive regulation of M2 macrophage polarization, according to cell subtype analysis and in vitro confirmation. Genes linked to cuproptosis have a major influence on tumor immunity and can predict how MESO will progress.

Identifying Variation in Physical Health Behaviors and Depressive Symptoms among Religiosity Clusters of African American Adults in the United States.

Religiosity is an important factor in the lives of many African Americans, who suffer a greater health burden than their White counterparts. In this study, we examined associations between dimensions of religiosity with health behaviors and depressive symptoms in a sample of African American adults in the United States. Participants (N = 2086) completed five measures of religiosity (religious involvement, positive and negative religious coping, scriptural influence, belief in illness as punishment for sin) and measures of several health behaviors, cancer screening behaviors, and depressive symptoms. Using cluster analysis to examine the deep structure of religiosity, three clusters emerged: Positive Religious, Negative Religious, and Low Religious. In general, the Positive Religious group engaged in more healthy behaviors (e.g., fruit and vegetable consumption, fecal occult blood test) and fewer risky health behaviors (e.g., smoke and consume alcohol), and reported fewer depressive symptoms than did the Negative Religious and/or Low Religious groups. Theoretical implications and implications for interventions by clergy and mental health professionals are discussed.

HCV affects KATP channels through GnT-IVa-mediated N-glycosylation of GLUT2 on the surface of pancreatic ß-cells leading to impaired insulin secretion.

PURPOSE: To explore the mechanism of insulin secretion dysfunction in pancreatic beta cells induced by N-glycosylation mediated by an infection from the hepatitis C virus (HCV). METHODS: Min6 cell models infected with HCV and stimulated with glucose were constructed. Meanwhile, an HCV-infected animal model and a type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) rat model were constructed. Glucose uptake in the Min6 cells was detected, and insulin secretion was detected by ELISA. Flow cytometry, immunofluorescence staining, Western blotting, RT-qPCR, and lectin blotting were used to detect the expression levels of related proteins and mRNA, as well as the level of N-glycosylation. HE staining was used to observe the pathological changes in the pancreatic tissue, and an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) was used to evaluate the glucose tolerance of the rats. RESULTS: Compared with the NC group, the expression levels of GnT-IVa, GLUT2, galectin-9, and voltage-dependent calcium channel 1.2 (Cav1.2) were significantly downregulated in the HCV-infected group. The ATP-sensitive potassium channel (KATP) component proteins SUR1 and Kir6.2 were significantly upregulated, while intracellular glucose intake and insulin secretion decreased, N-glycosylation levels and ATP levels significantly decreased, and the overexpression of GnT-IVa reversed the effect of the HCV infection. However, treatment with the glycosylation inhibitor kifunensine (KIF) or the KATP channel activator diazine (Dia) reversed the effects of the overexpression of GnT-IVa. In the animal experiments, HE staining revealed serious pathological injuries in the pancreatic tissue of the HCV-infected rats, with decreased glucose tolerance and glycosylation levels, decreased insulin secretion, downregulated expression of GnT-IVa, GLUT2, and Cav1.2, and upregulated expression of SUR1 and Kir6.2. The overexpression treatment of GnT-IVa or the KATP channel antagonist miglinide reversed the effects of HCV. CONCLUSION: HCV infection inhibits GLUT2 N-glycosylation on the pancreatic ß cell surface by downregulating the expression of GnT-IVa and then activates the KATP pathway, which ultimately leads to disturbances in insulin secretion.

Applications of CRISPR/Cas genome editing in economically important fruit crops: recent advances and future directions.

Fruit crops, consist of climacteric and non-climacteric fruits, are the major sources of nutrients and fiber for human diet. Since 2013, CRISPR/Cas (Clustered Regularly Interspersed Short Palindromic Repeats and CRISPR-Associated Protein) genome editing system has been widely employed in different plants, leading to unprecedented progress in the genetic improvement of many agronomically important fruit crops. Here, we summarize latest advancements in CRISPR/Cas genome editing of fruit crops, including efforts to decipher the mechanisms behind plant development and plant immunity, We also highlight the potential challenges and improvements in the application of genome editing tools to fruit crops, including optimizing the expression of CRISPR/Cas cassette, improving the delivery efficiency of CRISPR/Cas reagents, increasing the specificity of genome editing, and optimizing the transformation and regeneration system. In addition, we propose the perspectives on the application of genome editing in crop breeding especially in fruit crops and highlight the potential challenges. It is worth noting that efforts to manipulate fruit crops with genome editing systems are urgently needed for fruit crops breeding and demonstration.

A Physics-Informed Generative Car-Following Model for Connected Autonomous Vehicles.

This paper proposes a novel hybrid car-following model: the physics-informed conditional generative adversarial network (PICGAN), designed to enhance multi-step car-following modeling in mixed traffic flow scenarios. This hybrid model leverages the strengths of both physics-based and deep-learning-based models. By taking advantage of the inherent structure of GAN, the PICGAN eliminates the need for an explicit weighting parameter typically used in the combination of traditional physics-based and data-driven models. The effectiveness of the proposed model is substantiated through case studies using the NGSIM I-80 dataset. These studies demonstrate the model's superior trajectory reproduction, suggesting its potential as a strong contender to replace conventional models in trajectory prediction tasks. Furthermore, the deployment of PICGAN significantly enhances the stability and efficiency in mixed traffic flow environments. Given its reliable and stable results, the PICGAN framework contributes substantially to the development of efficient longitudinal control strategies for connected autonomous vehicles (CAVs) in real-world mixed traffic conditions.

LncRNA AC040162.3 Promotes HCV-Induced T2DM Deterioration through the miRNA-223-3p/NLRP3 Molecular Axis.

Background: Diabetes is one of the most common diseases and major public health burdens worldwide. Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is associated with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, and lncRNAs play an important role in HCV-induced T2DM. We aimed to explore the effect of lncRNA AC040162.3 on HCV-induced T2DM. Methods: HCV was used to infect MIN6 cells to establish an in vitro model. HCV copy number and miRNA expression were detected by Real Time Quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR). Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) was used to detect the secretion of insulin, and methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium (MTT) was applied to analyze cell viability. Apoptosis was analyzed by Western blotting and flow cytometry. In addition, Western blotting and TdT-mediated dUTP Nick End Labeling (TUNEL) were used to analyze pyroptosis. Luciferase reporter assays were used to investigate the targeting relationship. Results: The expression of LncRNA AC040162.3 and NLRP3 was markedly increased in HCV-T2DM, while the expression of miR-223-3p was remarkably inhibited. In vitro experiments demonstrated that lncRNA AC040162.3 silencing or miR-223-3p overexpression remarkably alleviated HCV-induced T2DM deterioration by inhibiting cell apoptosis and pyroptosis and enhancing cell viability. We then demonstrated that silencing lncRNA AC040162.3 promoted the expression of miR-223-3p and that miR-223-3p bound to lncRNA AC040162.3 and the NLRP3 binding site. In addition, the protective effects of LncRNA AC040162.3 silencing in HCV-infected MIN6 cells were reversed by overexpression of NLRP3 or silencing of miR-223-3p. Conclusion: Silencing of lncRNA AC040162.3 alleviates the process of HCV-induced T2DM by governing the miR-223-3p/NLRP3 axis.

Application of conditional generative adversarial network to multi-step car-following modeling.

Car-following modeling is essential in the longitudinal control for connected and autonomous vehicles (CAVs). Considering the advantage of the generative adversarial network (GAN) in capturing realistic data distribution, this paper applies conditional GAN (CGAN) to car-following modeling. The generator is elaborately designed with a sequence-to-sequence structure to reflect the decision-making process of human driving behavior. The proposed model is trained and tested based on the empirical dataset, and it is compared with a supervised learning model and a mathematical model. Numerical simulations are conducted to verify the model's performance, especially in the condition of mixed traffic flow. The comparison result shows that the CGAN model outperforms others in trajectory reproduction, indicating it can effectively imitate human driving behavior. The simulation results suggest that the introduction of CGAN-based CAVs improves the stability and efficiency of the mixed traffic flow.

The enhanced photocatalytic and photothermal effects of Ti3C2 Mxene quantum dot/macroscopic porous graphitic carbon nitride heterojunction for Hydrogen Production.

A new heterostructure between Ti3C2 MXene quantum dot and 3D macroscopic porous graphitic carbon nitride (PGCN) was successfully obtained by integrating Ti3C2 quantum dots onto porous graphitized carbon nitride (Ti3C2QDs/PGCN) using in situ electrostatic self-assembly techniques. The photocatalytic H2 evolution rate of optimized 5.5 wt% Ti3C2 QD/PGCN composites is nearly 15.24 and 3.53 times higher than pristine CN, and PGCN, respectively. Ti3C2 quantum dots can significantly enhance the hydrogen production activity of PGCN. In addition, their good photothermal conversion ability accelerates the overall reaction process and enhances the light absorption and carrier density. Furthermore, to elucidate the photocatalytic mechanism, a series of tests involving electron spin resonance (ESR) and density functional theory (DFT) calculations were performed. The results confirmed that the Schottky barrier between PGCN and Ti3C2 QD can effectively promote spatial charge separation and significantly improve the photocatalytic performance. This work provides a new approach for the construction of photocatalytic systems and the application of MXene QD.

Mixed traffic flow of human-driven vehicles and connected autonomous vehicles: String stability and fundamental diagram.

The introduction of connected autonomous vehicles (CAVs) gives rise to mixed traffic flow on the roadway, and the coexistence of human-driven vehicles (HVs) and CAVs may last for several decades. CAVs are expected to improve the efficiency of mixed traffic flow. In this paper, the car-following behavior of HVs is modeled by the intelligent driver model (IDM) based on actual trajectory data. The cooperative adaptive cruise control (CACC) model from the PATH laboratory is adopted for the car-following model of CAVs. The string stability of mixed traffic flow is analyzed for different market penetration rates of CAVs, showing that CAVs can effectively prevent stop-and-go waves from forming and propagating. In addition, the fundamental diagram is obtained from the equilibrium state, and the flow-density chart indicates that CAVs can improve the capacity of mixed traffic flow. Furthermore, the periodic boundary condition is designed for numerical simulation according to the infinite length platoon assumption in the analytical approach. The simulation results are consistent with the analytical solutions, suggesting the validity of the string stability and fundamental diagram analysis of mixed traffic flow.

Enhanced photocatalytic activity by regulating charge transferring: Unveiling the decisive role of cerium oxide crystal-facet engineering over heterojunction.

Heterojunctions have been verified to be effective for separation of photogenerated electrons and holes, therefore improving the photocatalytic efficiency. Meanwhile, cerium oxide (CeO2) is an ideal semiconductor for studying the influence of different exposed crystal facets on regulation of electron transport pathways over heterojunctions. Herein, various kinds of crystal facet-dependent CeO2/g-C3N4 (graphitic carbon nitride) heterojunctions have been successfully engineered as representative model catalysts, and their critical role in regulating charge transfer pathways has been confirmed by systemic characterizations. It was found that facet-dependent heterojunctions followed different charge transport pathways, leading to different H2 evolution activities. In detail, heterojunctions with (100) and (110) exposed surfaces followed the Z-scheme transport pathways, while heterojunction with (111) exposed surface followed the type-II pathway. The H2 evolution rates via these three kinds of heterojunctions were determined to be 3.084, 1.925, and 1.128 mmol·g-1·h-1, respectively, which were 13.3, 7.9, 4.2 times that of bare g-C3N4. It's revealed that the different exposed crystal facets of CeO2 with different Fermi levels determine the transport pathways of photogenerated carriers. This work shows an example of controlling photocatalytic activity by facet-dependent heterojunctions and reveals the importance role of crystal-facet engineering toward heterojunction construction, which is expected to provide an important guidance for the design of new photocatalytic systems.

Functional characterization of MANNOSE-BINDING LECTIN 1, a G-type lectin gene family member, in response to fungal pathogens of strawberry.

The mannose-binding lectin gene MANNOSE-BINDING LECTIN 1 (MBL1) is a member of the G-type lectin family and is involved in defense in strawberry (Fragaria × ananassa). Genome-wide identification of the G-type lectin family was carried out in woodland strawberry, F. vesca, and 133 G-lectin genes were found. Their expression profiles were retrieved from available databases and indicated that many are actively expressed during plant development or interaction with pathogens. We selected MBL1 for further investigation and generated stable transgenic FaMBL1-overexpressing plants of F. ×ananassa to examine the role of this gene in defense. Plants were selected and evaluated for their contents of disease-related phytohormones and their reaction to biotic stresses, and this revealed that jasmonic acid decreased in the overexpressing lines compared with the wild-type (WT). Petioles of the overexpressing lines inoculated with Colletotrichum fioriniae had lower disease incidence than the WT, and leaves of these lines challenged by Botrytis cinerea showed significantly smaller lesion diameters than the WT and higher expression of CLASS II CHITINASE 2-1. Our results indicate that FaMBL1 plays important roles in strawberry response to fungal diseases caused by C. fioriniae and B. cinerea.

A longitudinal study of social, religious, and spiritual capital and physical and emotional functioning in a national sample of African-Americans.

The present study builds on prior research by examining the moderating relationships between different types of capital on physical functioning, emotional functioning, and depressive symptoms using a 2.5-year longitudinal design with a national sample of African-American adults. Results indicated a significant T1 social capital × T1 religious capital interaction such that among low T1 religious capital participants, those with high T1 social capital had lower T2 physical functioning than those with lower T1 social capital. There was also a marginally significant T1 social capital × T1 spiritual capital interaction suggesting that among low T1 spiritual capital participants, those with higher T1 social capital reported a decline in depressive symptoms compared to those with lower T1 social capital. Future research and implications for intervention and policy development are discussed.

Identification of potential M2 macrophage-associated diagnostic biomarkers in coronary artery disease.

BACKGROUND: M2 macrophages have been reported to be important in the progression of coronary artery disease (CAD). Thus, the present study aims at exploring the diagnostic value of M2 macrophage-associated genes in CAD. METHODS: Transcriptome profile of CAD and control samples were downloaded from Gene Expression Omnibus database. The proportion of immune cells was analyzed using cell type identification by estimating relative subsets of RNA transcripts. Weighted Gene Co-expression Network Analysis (WGCNA) was carried out to screen the relevant module associated with M2 macrophages. Differential CAD and control samples of expressed genes (DEGs) were identified by the limma R package. Functional enrichment analysis by means of the clusterProfiler R package. Least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) and random forest (RF) algorithms were carried out to select signature genes. Receiver operating curves (ROC) were plotted to evaluate the diagnostic value of selected signature genes. The expressions of potential diagnostic markers were validated by RT-qPCR. The ceRNA network of diagnostic biomarkers was constructed via miRwalk and Starbase database. CMap database was used to screen candidate drugs in the treatment of CAD by targeting diagnostic biomarkers. RESULTS: A total of 166 M2 macrophage-associated genes were identified by WGCNA. By intersecting those genes with 879 DEGs, 53 M2 macrophage-associated DEGs were obtained in the present study. By LASSO, RF, and ROC analyses, C1orf105, CCL22, CRYGB, FRK, GAP43, REG1P, CALB1, and PTPN21 were identified as potential diagnostic biomarkers. RT-qPCR showed the consistent expression patterns of diagnostic biomarkers between GEO dataset and clinical samples. Perhexiline, alimemazine and mecamylamine were found to be potential drugs in the treatment of CAD. CONCLUSION: We identified eight M2 macrophage-associated diagnostic biomarkers and candidate drugs for the CAD treatment.

The duration of tracheostomy dependence in patients with juvenile-onset recurrent respiratory papillomatosis.

BACKGROUND: Tracheostomy is a vital therapy for juvenile-onset recurrent respiratory papillomatosis (JORRP) to maintain an adequate airway in an emergency, yet the relationship between cannulation duration and prognosis has not been extensively explored. OBJECTIVES: To investigate the predictive influence of the duration of tracheostomy dependence on JORRP remission. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective review of JORRP patients (n = 77) with tracheostomy treated in Beijing Tongren Hospital was performed. RESULTS: The rate of decannulation was 72.7%. After decannulation for one year, the percentage of distal spread fell from 42.9 to 30.4%. Twenty-six of 77 patients (33.8%) had remission of their disease, 40 (51.9%) continued to have active disease while 11 (14.3%) died during follow-up. The cannulation duration was positively correlated with the overall duration of this disease (r = 0.6). The cut-off point of 34.9 months for cannulation duration indicated the highest predictive value of remission. Duration of cannulation >34.9 months (OR = 0.33) and distal spread (OR = 0.29) decreased odds of remission. CONCLUSION: The study demonstrates that the time span before decannulation indicates the severity of disease and cannulation aggravates the distal spread. Patients with cannulation duration ≤ 34.9 months after tracheostomy are prone to possess a relatively pleasant prognosis.

Efficient photothermal-assisted photocatalytic hydrogen production over a plasmonic CuNi bimetal cocatalyst.

It is challenging to maximize the utilization of solar energy using photocatalysis or photothermal catalysis alone. Herein, we report a full spectrum solar energy driven photothermal-assisted photocatalytic hydrogen production over CuNi bimetallic nanoparticles co-loaded with graphitized carbon nitride nanosheet layers (CuxNiy/CN) which are prepared by a facile in-situ reduction method. Cu5Ni5/CN shows a high hydrogen production rate of 267.8 µmol g-1 h-1 at room temperature, which is 70.5 and 1.34 times of that for pure CN (3.8 µmol g-1 h-1) and 0.5 wt% Pt/CN (216 µmol g-1 h-1), respectively. The photothermal catalytic hydrogen activity can be further increased by 3.7 times when reaction solution is external heated to 100 °C. For the photothermal catalytic system, the local surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) effect over active Cu nanoparticles can absorb near-infrared light to generate hot electrons, which are partially quenched to generate heat for heating of the reaction system and partially transported to the active sites, where the Ni nanoparticles as another functional component couple the electrons and heat to finally promote the photothermal catalytic activity. Our result suggests that a rational design of the catalyst with bifunctional atomic components can photothermocatalysis-assisted photocatalysis to maximize utilization solar energy for efficient full spectrum conversion.

Disability and Health in African Americans: Population Research and Implications for Occupational Therapy Community-Based Practice.

Background: Population-based research and community-based interventions are integral to occupational therapy's scope of practice, yet they are underdeveloped in actual implementation. Therefore, this paper focuses on some health challenges facing the African American population, guided by the Person-Environment-Occupation-Performance Model. Method: Using data from an observational cross-sectional nationwide telephone survey of African American adults, we examined differences between African Americans who are receiving disability payments (RDP) and those who are employed full time (FTE) on several physical health behaviors and psychosocial health indicators. We further compared the differences between African Americans RDP versus those FTE on those physical health behaviors and psychosocial health indicators across five US regions. Results: Findings suggest that African Americans RDP are engaging in fewer positive physical health behaviors and experiencing worse psychosocial health compared to their counterparts FTE. There are also nuanced regional variations in the differences between African Americans RDP and FTE in physical health behaviors and psychosocial health indicators. Conclusion: This research highlighted some health challenges of African Americans RDP and FTE using a regional lens, demonstrating the value of OT population-based research. There is a need for OT population-specific community-based practice to address the health disparities of underserved and minority populations, such as African Americans.

High recurrence rate in patients with juvenile-onset respiratory papillomatosis and its risk factors.

PURPOSE: To identify the recurrence rate and risk factors for recurrence in patients with juvenile-onset recurrent respiratory papillomatosis (JORRP). METHODS: A retrospective review was performed for all JORRP patients who underwent surgery between 2002 and 2019 at our institution. The demographic characteristics and clinical parameters were recorded. Kaplan-Meier estimates and Cox proportional hazards models were used to analyze the rate of recurrence and its risk factors. RESULTS: Our study included 721 patients. The cumulative recurrence rates at 1, 5, and 10 postoperative years following initial surgery were 74.2%, 90.0%, and 94.3%, respectively. Age at diagnosis younger than 4.5 years (HR = 2.380, 95% CI [1.169-4.846], P = 0.017), high Derkay anatomical score (HR = 1.136, 95% CI [1.043-1.236], P = 0.003) and HPV type 11 infection (HR = 2.947, 95% CI [1.326-6.551], P = 0.008) were independent risk factors for recurrence. Adjuvant therapy with interferon was less likely to recur (HR = 0.237, 95% CI [0.091-0.616], P = 0.003). Additionally, gender, tracheotomy, mode of delivery, parity, expression of Ki-67, HPV vaccination, and surgical treatment method were not independently associated with recurrence (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: Age at diagnosis younger than 4.5 years, high Derkay anatomical score and HPV type 11 infection were associated with an increased risk for recurrence in patients with JORRP. Adjuvant therapy with interferon may reduce the risk of recurrence.

SLC2A3 variants in familial and sporadic congenital heart diseases in a Chinese Yunnan population.

BACKGROUND: Solute carrier family 2 member 3 (SLC2A3), is a member of a superfamily of transport protein genes. SLC2A3 played an important role in embryonic development. Previous research reported SLC2A3 duplication was reportedly associated with congenital syndromic heart defects. However, it is not clear whether the gene is associated with non-syndromic congenital heart disease. Our study aimed to elucidate the relationship between its variation and congenital heart disease. METHODS: Genomic DNA extracted from the peripheral blood leukocytes of two families with CHD were sequenced with whole-exome sequencing to identify variations, used Sanger sequencing to investigate SLC2A3 variants in 494 Chinese patients with CHD and 576 healthy unrelated individuals. RESULTS: In members from the two families, three with CHD had the SLC2A3 (rs3931701) C > T variant. Of the 494 patients with CHD, 394 had gene variants (86 had the TT type and 308 had the CT type). Of the 576 healthy controls, 272 participants had gene variants (36 had the TT type and 236 had the CT type). The TT type [p < 0.0001, odds ratio (OR) =7.262, 95% confidence interval (CI) =4.631-11.388] and CT type (p < 0.0001, OR =3.967, 95% CI =2.991-5.263) of SLC2A3 (rs3931701) significantly increased the risk of sporadic ASD in a Chinese Yunnan population. CONCLUSIONS: Single nucleotide variations of SLC2A3, particularly, the SLC2A3 (rs3931701) C > T variant increased the risk of CHD among the studied population.

Enhanced charge separation in La2NiO4 nanoplates by coupled piezocatalysis and photocatalysis for efficient H2 evolution.

Photocatalytic hydrogen evolution is one promising method for solar energy conversion, but the rapid charge recombination limits its efficiency. To this end, in this work, grain size, and hence the charge carrier migration path, is reduced by lowering the synthesis temperature of two-dimensional visible light-responsive La2NiO4 perovskite. Interestingly, the hydrogen yield for the piezoelectric response of La2NiO4 under only 40 kHz ultrasonic vibration is as high as 680 µmol h-1 g-1, which is 80 times that under only 600 mW cm-2 visible light irradiation. More surprisingly, the hydrogen production rate under both light illumination and ultrasonic vibration is 129 times higher than under visible light irradiation alone. Clearly, a synergistic effect exists between piezocatalysis and photocatalysis. The hydrogen production activity of the samples with water splitting can reach 1097 µmol h-1 g-1 without any sacrificial reagent or co-catalyst, when the light intensity reaches about 1000 mW cm-2, which is a much higher hydrogen evolution rate by piezo-photocatalysis than is achieved by either piezocatalysis or photocatalysis individually. Further analysis indicates that the internal electric field generated by deformation of the La2NiO4 edge under piezoelectric action facilitates the directional separation and migration of photogenerated charges, which in turn significantly enhances the efficiency of use of photogenerated charges for hydrogen production. The investigation here provides a novel approach to design a new reaction system for hydrogen production by coupling multiple external physical fields.