Fabrication of ionic liquid self-assemblies based on dicamba with improved herbicidal activity and reduced environmental risks.

The off-target loss of pesticide formulations caused by volatilization and leaching has reduced effective utilization and increased risks to the ecological environment and human health. Self-assembly of pesticides has been widely concerned due to the improved bioactivity and environmental compatibility. Herbicidal ionic liquids (HILs) could effectively decrease off-target loss and increase efficacy and environmental safety by improving the physicochemical properties of herbicides. Herein, HILs were prepared by pairing dicamba with quaternary ammonium salts containing different alkyl chain lengths and aromatic groups and subsequently self-assembled into spherical nanoparticles (HIL NPs) via electrostatic interaction and hydrophobic effect. Compared with dicamba, the obtained HIL NPs with an average particle size of 6-55 nm exhibited improved physicochemical properties, including high zeta potential values (+20.3 to +27.8 mV), low volatilization rate (2.4-3.9 %) and surface tension (22.83-33.07 mN m-1), decreased contact angle (32.25-41.55°) and leaching potential (76.2-86.5 %), and high soil adsorption (12.1-23.8 %), suggesting low risks to the environment. The control efficacy against Amaranthus retroflexus of HIL3 NPs pairing dicamba with octadecyl-trimethyl ammonium chloride was better than that of dicamba sodium salt at different concentrations. Therefore, the ionic liquid self-assembly developed by a facile and green preparation approach to reduce the volatility and leaching of pesticides would have enormous potential in sustainable agriculture.

Effect of bridge height on airflow and aeolian sand flux near surface along the Qinghai-Tibet Railway, China.

In this work, we studied the near-surface flow field structure of railway bridges with different heights through field investigation and wind tunnel simulation experiments. Meanwhile, we simulated the distribution of sand accumulation around a bridge via CFD software based on the sand accumulation around the Basuoqu bridge in the Cuona Lake section of the Qinghai-Tibet Railway. Results show that the sand around this railway bridge is mainly from the lake sediment on the west side of the railway and the weathered detritus on the east side. The height of the railway bridge in the sandy area affects the distribution of the near-surface flow field and the variation in speed on both sides of the bridge. The wind speed trough on both sides of the 6 m high bridge is higher, and the horizontal distance between the wind speed trough and the bridge section is 1.5 times that of the 3 m high bridge. Wind speed attenuates in a certain range on the windward and leeward sides of the bridge, forming an aeolian area; under the beam body, it is affected by the narrow tube effect, forming a wind erosion area. The height of the bridge determines its sand transport capacity. Under certain wind conditions, the overhead area at the bottom of the 3 m high bridge and its two sides do not have the sand transport capacity, so sand accumulates easily. Nevertheless, the sand accumulation phenomenon gradually disappears with the increase in bridge clearance height. The objectives of this study are to reveal the formation mechanism of sand damage for railway bridges, provide theoretical support for the scientific design of railway bridges in sandy areas, and formulate reasonable railway sand prevention measures to ensure the safety of railway running, which have certain theoretical significance and practical value.

Treatment of primary epididymal adenocarcinoma: a case report and review of the literature.

BACKGROUND: Epididymal tumors, especially malignant tumors, have low incidence and are rare in our clinical work. However, they may progress quickly and have poor prognosis. For such rare clinical cases with extremely low incidence rates, and as they are prone to misdiagnosis and missed diagnosis and have a very poor prognosis, clinical workers need to pay special attention and consider the possibility of primary epididymal malignant tumors. CASE REPORT: A 63-year-old Chinese male patient from Asia was admitted due to scrotal pain. Upon examination, an abnormal lesion was found in the right epididymal region. After thorough evaluation, surgical resection was performed, and the postoperative pathological result confirmed the presence of epididymal adenocarcinoma. After further ruling out secondary lesions, primary epididymal adenocarcinoma was considered. Right retroperitoneal lymph node dissection was performed under laparoscopic for treatment, and 1/11 lymph node metastasis was detected after surgery. The patient is currently under close follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: The number of clinical cases of primary epididymal malignant tumors is very limited, there is currently no standardized diagnosis and treatment process, and there is a lack of systematic evaluation methods regarding the effectiveness of different treatment options such as chemotherapy, radiotherapy, immunotherapy, and targeted therapy. In addition, the outcome is difficult to predict. In this article, we reviewed relevant literature and systematically elaborated on the diagnosis and treatment of epididymal malignant tumors, hoping to provide useful information for relevant experts.

Melatonin Delays Arthritis Inflammation and Reduces Cartilage Matrix Degradation through the SIRT1-Mediated NF-κB/Nrf2/TGF-ß/BMPs Pathway.

Cartilage, a flexible and smooth connective tissue that envelops the surfaces of synovial joints, relies on chondrocytes for extracellular matrix (ECM) production and the maintenance of its structural and functional integrity. Melatonin (MT), renowned for its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, holds the potential to modulate cartilage regeneration and degradation. Therefore, the present study was devoted to elucidating the mechanism of MT on chondrocytes. The in vivo experiment consisted of three groups: Sham (only the skin tissue was incised), Model (using the anterior cruciate ligament transection (ACLT) method), and MT (30 mg/kg), with sample extraction following 12 weeks of administration. Pathological alterations in articular cartilage, synovium, and subchondral bone were evaluated using Safranin O-fast green staining. Immunohistochemistry (ICH) analysis was employed to assess the expression of matrix degradation-related markers. The levels of serum cytokines were quantified via Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) assays. In in vitro experiments, primary chondrocytes were divided into Control, Model, MT, negative control, and inhibitor groups. Western blotting (WB) and Quantitative RT-PCR (q-PCR) were used to detect Silent information regulator transcript-1 (SIRT1)/Nuclear factor kappa-B (NF-κB)/Nuclear factor erythroid-2-related factor 2 (Nrf2)/Transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-ß)/Bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs)-related indicators. Immunofluorescence (IF) analysis was employed to examine the status of type II collagen (COL2A1), SIRT1, phosphorylated NF-κB p65 (p-p65), and phosphorylated mothers against decapentaplegic homolog 2 (p-Smad2). In vivo results revealed that the MT group exhibited a relatively smooth cartilage surface, modest chondrocyte loss, mild synovial hyperplasia, and increased subchondral bone thickness. ICH results showed that MT downregulated the expression of components related to matrix degradation. ELISA results showed that MT reduced serum inflammatory cytokine levels. In vitro experiments confirmed that MT upregulated the expression of SIRT1/Nrf2/TGF-ß/BMPs while inhibiting the NF-κB pathway and matrix degradation-related components. The introduction of the SIRT1 inhibitor Selisistat (EX527) reversed the effects of MT. Together, these findings suggest that MT has the potential to ameliorate inflammation, inhibit the release of matrix-degrading enzymes, and improve the cartilage condition. This study provides a new theoretical basis for understanding the role of MT in decelerating cartilage degradation and promoting chondrocyte repair in in vivo and in vitro cultured chondrocytes.

Impact of climate change on the global circulation of West Nile virus and adaptation responses: a scoping review.

BACKGROUND: West Nile virus (WNV), the most widely distributed flavivirus causing encephalitis globally, is a vector-borne pathogen of global importance. The changing climate is poised to reshape the landscape of various infectious diseases, particularly vector-borne ones like WNV. Understanding the anticipated geographical and range shifts in disease transmission due to climate change, alongside effective adaptation strategies, is critical for mitigating future public health impacts. This scoping review aims to consolidate evidence on the impact of climate change on WNV and to identify a spectrum of applicable adaptation strategies. MAIN BODY: We systematically analyzed research articles from PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, and EBSCOhost. Our criteria included English-language research articles published between 2007 and 2023, focusing on the impacts of climate change on WNV and related adaptation strategies. We extracted data concerning study objectives, populations, geographical focus, and specific findings. Literature was categorized into two primary themes: 1) climate-WNV associations, and 2) climate change impacts on WNV transmission, providing a clear understanding. Out of 2168 articles reviewed, 120 met our criteria. Most evidence originated from North America (59.2%) and Europe (28.3%), with a primary focus on human cases (31.7%). Studies on climate-WNV correlations (n = 83) highlighted temperature (67.5%) as a pivotal climate factor. In the analysis of climate change impacts on WNV (n = 37), most evidence suggested that climate change may affect the transmission and distribution of WNV, with the extent of the impact depending on local and regional conditions. Although few studies directly addressed the implementation of adaptation strategies for climate-induced disease transmission, the proposed strategies (n = 49) fell into six categories: 1) surveillance and monitoring (38.8%), 2) predictive modeling (18.4%), 3) cross-disciplinary collaboration (16.3%), 4) environmental management (12.2%), 5) public education (8.2%), and 6) health system readiness (6.1%). Additionally, we developed an accessible online platform to summarize the evidence on climate change impacts on WNV transmission ( https://2xzl2o-neaop.shinyapps.io/WNVScopingReview/ ). CONCLUSIONS: This review reveals that climate change may affect the transmission and distribution of WNV, but the literature reflects only a small share of the global WNV dynamics. There is an urgent need for adaptive responses to anticipate and respond to the climate-driven spread of WNV. Nevertheless, studies focusing on these adaptation responses are sparse compared to those examining the impacts of climate change. Further research on the impacts of climate change and adaptation strategies for vector-borne diseases, along with more comprehensive evidence synthesis, is needed to inform effective policy responses tailored to local contexts.

Multi-objective location-routing optimization based on machine learning for green municipal waste management.

Most of the existing municipal waste management (MWM) systems focus on the optimization of the waste disposal center locations and waste collection paths, which can be modeled based on the location-routing problem (LRP). This study models a green MWM system by a three-objective location-routing problem to achieve equilibrium among the total cost, carbon emission, and residential satisfaction. The amount of waste demand for each customer is considered as an independent discrete random variable following a normal distribution. The multi-objectives and non-deterministic characteristics make this problem more intractable than the traditional LRP. A multi-objective optimization algorithm based on decision tree classifier is proposed for solving this problem. The decision tree classifier learns from previous searching experience, and then guides the following evolution process to avoid blind searching. The experimental results show that the proposed algorithm has high competitiveness compared with other state-of-art methods. A case study is also conducted for a real waste collection problem in a certain area of Beijing. The proposed method adopts efficient location-routing strategies to balance the total cost, carbon emissions, and distance between residential areas and waste disposal centers.

Structural Reversibility of Nanoscaled Sn Anodes.

Alloying-type anode materials provide high capacity for lithium-ion batteries; however, they suffer pulverization problems resulting from the volume change during cycling. Realizing the cycling reversibility of these anodes is therefore critical for sustaining their electrochemical performance. Here, we investigate the structural reversibility of Sn NPs during cycling at atomic-level resolution utilizing in situ high-resolution TEM. We observed a surprisingly near-perfect structural reversibility after a complete cycle. A three-step phase transition happens during lithiation, accompanied by the generation of a significant number of defects, grain boundaries, and up to 202% volume expansion. In subsequent delithiation, the volume, morphology, and crystallinity of the Sn NPs were restored to their initial state. Theoretical calculations show that compressive stress drives the removal of vacancies generated within the NPs during delithiation, therefore maintaining their intact morphology. This work demonstrates that removing vacancies during cycling can efficiently improve the structural reversibility of high-capacity anode materials.

Releasing Free Anions by High Donor Number Cosolvent in Noncorrosive Electrolytes of Commercially Available Magnesium Salts.

Passivation of the magnesium (Mg) anode in the chloride-free electrolytes using commercially available Mg salts is a critical issue for rechargeable Mg batteries. Herein, a high donor number cosolvent of 1-methylimidazolium (MeIm) is introduced into Mg(TFSI)2- and Mg(HMDS)2-based electrolytes to address the passivation problem and realize highly reversible Mg plating/stripping. Theoretical calculations and experimental characterization results reveal that the strong coordination ability of MeIm with Mg2+ can weaken the anion-cation interactions and promote the formation of free anions that have higher reduction stability, thus significantly suppressing anion-derived passivation layer formation. By adding MeIm cosolvent into Mg(TFSI)2-based electrolyte, the average Coulombic efficiency of the Mg//Cu cell is increased from less than 20% to over 90%, and the Mg//Mg cell can stably cycle for over 800 h with a low overpotential. In the MeIm-regulated Mg(HMDS)2-based electrolyte, the solvation structure change, featured by an effective separation of Mg2+ and HMDS-, greatly increases the ionic conductivity by more than 30 times. This solvation structure regulation strategy for noncorrosive electrolytes of commercially available Mg salts has a great potential for application in future rechargeable Mg metal batteries.

SPI1 exacerbates iron accumulation and promotes osteoclast formation through inhibiting the expression of Hepcidin.

BACKGROUND: Osteoporosis (OP) can be caused by an overactive osteoclastic function. Anti-osteoporosis considerable therapeutic effects in tissue repair and regeneration because bone resorption is a unique osteoclast function. In this study, we mainly explored the underlying mechanisms of osteoclasts' effects on osteoporosis. METHODS: RAW264.7 cells were used and induced toward osteoclast and iron accumulation by M-CSF and RANKL administration. We investigated Hepcidin and divalent metal transporter 1 (DMT1) on iron accumulation and osteoclast formation in an ovariectomy (OVX)-induced osteoporosis. Osteoporosis was induced in mice by OVX, and treated with Hepcidin (10, 20, 40, 80 mg/kg, respectively) and overexpression of DMT1 by tail vein injection. Hepcidin, SPI1, and DMT1 were detected by immunohistochemical staining, western blot and RT-PCR. The bioinformatics assays, luciferase assays, and Chromatin Immunoprecipitation (ChIP) verified that Hepcidin was a direct SPI1 transcriptional target. Iron accumulation was detected by laser scanning confocal microscopy, Perl's iron staining and iron content assay. The formation of osteoclasts was assessed using tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP) staining. RESULTS: We found that RAW264.7 cells differentiated into osteoclasts when exposed to M-CSF and RANKL, which increased the protein levels of osteoclastogenesis-related genes, including c-Fos, MMP9, and Acp5. We also observed higher concentration of iron accumulation when M-CSF and RANKL were administered. However, Hepcidin inhibited the osteoclast differentiation cells and decreased intracellular iron concentration primary osteoclasts derived from RAW264.7. Spi-1 proto-oncogene (SPI1) transcriptionally repressed the expression of Hepcidin, increased DMT1, facilitated the differentiation and iron accumulation of mouse osteoclasts. Overexpression of SPI1 significantly declined luciferase activity of HAMP promoter and increased the enrichment of HAMP promoter. Furthermore, our results showed that Hepcidin inhibited osteoclast differentiation and iron accumulation in mouse osteoclasts and OVX mice. CONCLUSION: Therefore, the study revealed that SPI1 could inhibit Hepcidin expression contribute to iron accumulation and osteoclast formation via DMT1 signaling activation in mouse with OVX.

Digital economy, binary factor mismatch and sustainable economic development of coastal areas in China.

In order to promote the sustainable economic development, it is critical employ the digital economy to solve the mismatch dilemma of land and marine factors in coastal areas. It analyzed the influencing mechanisms between the digital economy, land and labor factor mismatch and coastal economic sustainable development using network development and new economic growth theories. The intermediary and regulating effect models were used for empirical tests using panel data from 11 Chinese coastal provinces (city or district) between 2009 and 2018. Results found that: (1) Digital economy promoted the sustainable development of land and marine binary economies in coastal areas; (2) Digital economy improved the factor mismatch of land and marine binary economies, which further affected the sustainable economic development; (3) Market integration is conducive to alleviating land and marine factor mismatch and strengthening the optimization effect of the digital economy on the factor mismatch. This research provides a new perspective for clarifying the mechanism of the digital economy on sustainable economic development, as well as a reference for the realization of rational allocation of factor resources and sustainable economic development by taking factor mismatch of land and marine binary economies and market integration as the intermediary variables and regulatory variables.

Iron accumulation induced by hepcidin1 knockout accelerates the progression of aging osteoporosis.

OBJECTIVE: Iron accumulation is associated with osteoporosis. This study aims to explore the effect of chronic iron accumulation induced by hepcidin1 deficiency on aging osteoporosis. METHODS: Iron accumulation in hepcidin1 knockout aging mice was assessed by atomic absorption spectroscopy and Perl's staining. Bone microarchitecture was observed using Micro-CT. Hepcidin, ferritin, oxidative stress, and markers of bone turnover in serum were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Bone formation and resorption markers were measured by real-time quantitative PCR. Cell aging was induced by D-galactose treatment. CCK-8, flow cytometry, EdU assays, and Alizarin red staining were performed to reveal the role of hepcidin1 knockout in cell model. Iron Colorimetric Assay Kit and western blot were applied to detect iron and ferritin levels in cells, respectively. RESULTS: In hepcidin1-knockout mice, the ferritin and iron contents in liver and tibia were significantly increased. Iron accumulation induced by hepcidin1 knockout caused a phenotype of low bone mass and deteriorated bone microarchitecture. Osteogenic marker was decreased and osteoclast marker was increased in mice, accompanied by increased oxidative stress level. The mRNA expression levels of osteoclast differentiation markers (RANKL, Mmp9, OPG, Trap, and CTSK) were up-regulated, while bone formation markers (OCN, ALP, Runx2, SP7, and Col-1) were down-regulated in model group, compared to wild type mice. In vitro, hepcidin1 knockdown inhibited proliferation and osteogenic differentiation, while promoted apoptosis, with increased levels of iron and ferritin. CONCLUSION: Iron accumulation induced by hepcidin1 deficiency aggravates the progression of aging osteoporosis via inhibiting osteogenesis and promoting osteoclast genesis.

Downregulation of circ_0035292 Alleviates LPS-Induced WI-38 Cell Injury via Targeting miR-494-3p/TLR4 Pathway in Infantile Pneumonia.

Circular RNAs (circRNAs) have been confirmed to mediate infantile pneumonia development. In this, we investigated the role and new mechanism of circ_0035292 regulating infantile pneumonia progression. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-treated WI-38 cells were used to mimic infantile pneumonia cell injury models. Quantitative real-time PCR was used to measure circ_0035292, microRNA (miR)-494-3p and toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4). Cell proliferation and apoptosis were assessed by MTT assay, EdU assay, and flow cytometry. Protein expression was tested using western blot analysis. Inflammation and oxidative stress were evaluated by measuring IL-6, IL-1ß, MDA and SOD levels using ELISA assay and corresponding kits. RNA interaction was confirmed by dual-luciferase reporter assay and RIP assay. Circ_0035292 had elevated expression in infantile pneumonia patients and LPS-induced WI-38 cells. Silenced circ_0035292 could enhance WI-38 cell proliferation, while suppress apoptosis, inflammation and oxidative stress under LPS treatment. Mechanically, circ_0035292 targeted miR-494-3p to positively regulate TLR4. The rescue experiments indicated that miR-494-3p inhibitor abolished the function of circ_0035292 knockdown, and TLR4 overexpression reversed the inhibitory effect of miR-494-3p on LPS-induced WI-38 cell injury. Circ_0035292 might be a potential target for infantile pneumonia treatment, which knockdown could relieve LPS-induced cell injury via the regulation of miR-494-3p/TLR4 axis.

Organic photodiodes with bias-switchable photomultiplication and photovoltaic modes.

The limited sensitivity of photovoltaic-type photodiodes makes it indispensable to use pre-amplifier circuits for effectively extracting electrical signals, especially when detecting dim light. Additionally, the photomultiplication photodiodes with light amplification function suffer from potential damages caused by high power consumption under strong light. In this work, by adopting the synergy strategy of thermal-induced interfacial structural traps and blocking layers, we develop a dual-mode visible-near infrared organic photodiode with bias-switchable photomultiplication and photovoltaic operating modes, exhibiting high specific detectivity (~1012 Jones) and fast response speed (0.05/3.03 ms for photomultiplication-mode; 8.64/11.14 µs for photovoltaic-mode). The device also delivers disparate external quantum efficiency in two optional operating modes, showing potential in simultaneously detecting dim and strong light ranging from ~10-9 to 10-1 W cm-2. The general strategy and working mechanism are validated in different organic layers. This work offers an attractive option to develop bias-switchable multi-mode organic photodetectors for various application scenarios.

Stabilizing Non-Fullerene Organic Photodiodes through Interface Engineering Enabled by a Tin Ion-Chelated Polymer.

The recent emergence of non-fullerene acceptors (NFAs) has energized the field of organic photodiodes (OPDs) and made major breakthroughs in their critical photoelectric characteristics. Yet, stabilizing inverted NF-OPDs remains challenging because of the intrinsic degradation induced by improper interfaces. Herein, a tin ion-chelated polyethyleneimine ethoxylated (denoted as PEIE-Sn) is proposed as a generic cathode interfacial layer (CIL) of NF-OPDs. The chelation between tin ions and nitrogen/oxygen atoms in PEIE-Sn contributes to the interface compatibility with efficient NFAs. The PEIE-Sn can effectively endow the devices with optimized cascade alignment and reduced interface defects. Consequently, the PEIE-Sn-OPD exhibits properties of anti-environmental interference, suppressed dark current, and accelerated interfacial electron extraction and transmission. As a result, the unencapsulated PEIE-Sn-OPD delivers high specific detection and fast response speed and shows only slight attenuation in photoelectric performance after exposure to air, light, and heat. Its superior performance outperforms the incumbent typical counterparts (ZnO, SnO2 , and PEIE as the CILs) from metrics of both stability and photoelectric characteristics. This finding suggests a promising strategy for stabilizing NF-OPDs by designing appropriate interface layers.

Retroperitoneal lymphoma with double inferior vena cava shown using a 3D visualization model: A case report and literature review.

Cases of a retroperitoneal tumor with double inferior vena cava (IVC) are rarely reported. The present report documents a case of a retroperitoneal lymphoma with double IVC, and discusses its embryological, clinical and radiological significance. In addition, previous cases of a double IVC are reviewed. In the present report, a 52-year-old male patient was hospitalized for a retroperitoneal lymphoma tumor and double IVC. CT urography was performed, whilst a three-dimensional visualization model was also established based on CT data, to reveal a retroperitoneal tumor with double IVC. The present case involved a double IVC with interiliac vein, which was type 2b from the left IVC. The retroperitoneal tumor was identified to be a lymphoma measuring 116x83 mm by percutaneous puncture biopsy. Surgical treatment is generally not recommended for lymphoma. Therefore, this patient was transferred to the Hematology Department for treatment according to the lymphoma management guidelines. The size of the tumor was reduced after chemotherapy during the patient's follow-up. In conclusion, the three-dimensional visualization model can directly and accurately present the anatomical features of the double IVC and its surrounding tissue structure. In addition, variations in the features of IVC can have important clinical significance. It is also important for surgeons, interventional radiologists and clinicians to understand such abnormalities in anatomical features to avoid misdiagnosis and reduce the occurrence of serious intraoperative complications.

Information accessibility, accounting manipulation, and sustainable development of digital enterprises: Based on double moderating effect model and panel PSM-DID method.

A theoretical mechanism was analyzed from the micro perspective of the enterprise to explore how information accessibility moderates the effect of accounting manipulation on the sustainable development of digital enterprises. Using data from 1200 listing digital enterprises in China and the DEA-Malmquist index method, the efficiency value of digital enterprises in 2007-2021 was estimated to represent the index of sustainable development of digital enterprises. The accounting manipulation was detected using the panel PSM-DID method based on the Administrative Measures for the Recognition of High-tech Enterprise's policy. The information accessibility value was estimated based on the MDA method. Empirical studies were conducted using text analysis, the panel PSM-DID method, and the double moderating effect model. The results showed that: (1) Accounting manipulation had a negative impact on the sustainable development of "true" digital enterprises and the "fake" digital enterprises. (2) Information accessibility directly and positively enhanced the technological progress and scale efficiency of digital enterprises, and its moderating effect was heterogeneous, with a significant moderating effect on the "true" digital enterprises and a negative effect on the "fake" ones.

One-dimensional semimetal contacts to two-dimensional semiconductors.

Two-dimensional (2D) semiconductors are promising in channel length scaling of field-effect transistors (FETs) due to their excellent gate electrostatics. However, scaling of their contact length still remains a significant challenge because of the sharply raised contact resistance and the deteriorated metal conductivity at nanoscale. Here, we construct a 1D semimetal-2D semiconductor contact by employing single-walled carbon nanotube electrodes, which can push the contact length into the sub-2 nm region. Such 1D-2D heterostructures exhibit smaller van der Waals gaps than the 2D-2D ones, while the Schottky barrier height can be effectively tuned via gate potential to achieve Ohmic contact. We propose a longitudinal transmission line model for analyzing the potential and current distribution of devices in short contact limit, and use it to extract the 1D-2D contact resistivity which is as low as 10-6 Ω·cm2 for the ultra-short contacts. We further demonstrate that the semimetal nanotubes with gate-tunable work function could form good contacts to various 2D semiconductors including MoS2, WS2 and WSe2. The study on 1D semimetal contact provides a basis for further miniaturization of nanoelectronics in the future.

Review on treatment and utilization of barium slag in China.

Barium slag (BS) is generated as a by-product waste during the production of barium salts from barite. A large amount of BS is discharged annually threating the ecological environment and restricting the development of the barium salts industry. In China, BS is classified as hazardous waste due to its corrosivity, and more importantly because of its extraction toxicity of barium. Soluble barium is toxic and can result in barium poisoning for environment and human beings. The current review presents a detailed summary on general characteristics, discharge and disposal status, harmless treatment pathways and comprehensive utilization of BS in China. BaO, SiO2, CaO, and SO3 occur as main chemical compositions in BS, especially BaO accounting approximately for 35-40%. The mineral compositions include unreacted barite, quartz, clay minerals, newly-formed phases from the side reactions such as BaCO3, BaSiO3 and BaSO3, and residual carbon. A special attention is given to the assessment of the harmless treatment methods for BS from hazardous waste to general waste, which will decrease its management costs. Precipitation and solidification of soluble barium is the common pathway for harmless treatment of BS, and the using of other industrial waste can realize cost-saving. Methods for comprehensive utilization of BS include recovery of barium and carbon, application in building materials, and using as adsorbents for wastewater treatment. In particular, we analyzed and discussed the advantages and disadvantages of these existing process routes, intending to promote potentials for comprehensive utilization of BS in the future.

A Comparative Analysis of Chemical, Plasma and In Situ Modification of Graphene Nanoplateletes for Improved Performance of Fused Filament Fabricated Thermoplastic Polyurethane Composites Parts.

The limited number of materials and mechanical weakness of fused deposition modeling (FDM) parts are deficiencies of FDM technology. The preparation of polymer composites parts with suitable filler is a promising method to improve the properties of the 3D printed parts. However, the agglomerate of filler makes its difficult disperse in the matrix. In this work, graphene nanoplatelets (GnPs) were surface modified with chemical, low-temperature plasma and in situ methods, in order to apply them as fillers for thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU). Following its modification, the surface chemical composition of GnPs was analyzed. Three wt% of surface-modified GnPs were incorporated into TPU to produce FDM filaments using a melting compounding process. Their effects on rheology properties and electrical conductivity on TPU/GnPs composites, as well as the dimensional accuracy and mechanical properties of FDM parts, are compared. The images of sample facture surfaces were examined by scanning electron microscope (SEM) to determine the dispersion of GnPs. Results indicate that chemical treatment of GnPs with zwitterionic surfactant is a good candidate to significantly enhance TPU filaments, when considering the FDM parts demonstrated the highest mechanical properties and lowest dimensional accuracy.

[Imbalance of Th17/Tregs promotes egg granuloma formation of liver with Schistosomiasis japonicum in mice].

Objectives To investigate the effect of the imbalance of Th17/Treg on egg granuloma formation of liver with Schistosomiasis japonicum. Methods The BALB/c mice were infected with Schistosoma japonicum cercariae to establish a model of Schistosomiasis japonica. The blood samples, liver tissues and spleen tissue were harvested at the 2nd, 4th, 6th, 8th week, respectively. HE staining and Masson staining were performed to assess the pathological characteristics of the liver. Flow cytometry (FCM) was conducted to evaluate the proportion of CD4+ T cell subsets including Th17 cells and Tregs in liver and spleen tissue. The quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) was carried out to investigate the mRNA level of cytokines including RORγt, FOXP3, IL-6, IL-17, IL-23 and IL-10 in liver tissues. Finally, ELISA was performed to assess the serum level of cytokines including IL-6, IL-17, IL-23 and TGF-ß. Schistosoma japonicium soluble egg antigen (SjSEA) were prepared to stimulate mouse spleen cells in vitro. qRT-PCR was carried out to investigate the mRNA level of cytokine including RORγt and FOXP3 and ELISA was performed to assess the expression level of cytokines including IL-6, IL-17, IL-23 and TGF-ß at different time points. Results HE and Masson staining demonstrated that inflammatory cell infiltration, schistosome egg granuloma formation and the collagen deposition increased in the liver tissue after the 4th week. The longer the infection, the more severe the liver pathology. In the liver and spleen tissues, the percentage of Th17 cells of infection group (2nd, 4th and 6th weeks) were significantly higher than the healthy group. The percentage of Tregs in the liver tissues of infection group (4th, 6th and 8th weeks) were significantly higher than the healthy group, and the percentage of Tregs in the spleen of infection group (2nd and 4th weeks) were significantly higher than the healthy group. Th17/Treg ratios in the liver of infection group were lower than the healthy group. Th17/Treg ratios in the spleen of infection group (2nd and 4th weeks) were lower than the healthy group, while it increased in the 6th week. At the same time, the levels of Th17 cells and Tregs related nuclear transcription factors and cytokines showed similar dynamic changes as the percentages of T cell subsets. SjSEA can induce the differentiation of Th17 and Tregs and the expression of related cytokines and transcription factors. Conclusion Th17 cells may play a major role in liver pathology, and the imbalance of Th17 cells/Tregs was closely related to the schistosome egg granuloma formation.