Innovative Thermocatalytic H2 Sensor with Double-Sided Pd Nanocluster Films on an Ultrathin Mica Substrate.

Hydrogen (H2) is crucial in the future global energy landscape due to its eco-friendly properties, but its flammability requires precise monitoring. This study introduces an innovative thermocatalytic H2 sensor utilizing ultrathin mica sheets as substrates, coated on both sides with Pd nanocluster (NC) films. The ultrathin mica substrate ensures robustness and flexibility, enabling the sensor to withstand high temperatures and mechanical deformation. Additionally, it simplifies the fabrication process by eliminating the need for complex microelectro-mechanical systems (MEMS) technology. Constructed through cluster beam deposition, the sensor exhibits exceptional characteristics, including a wide concentration range (from 500 ppm to 4%), rapid response and recovery times (3.1 and 2.4 s for 1% H2), good selectivity, high stability, and repeatability. The operating temperature can be as low as 40 °C, achieving remarkably low power consumption. The study explores the impact of double-sided versus single-sided catalytic layers, revealing significantly higher sensitivity and response with the double-sided configuration due to the increased catalytic surface area. Additionally, the research investigates the relationship between the deposition amount of Pd NCs and the sensor's sensitivity, identifying an optimal value that maximizes performance without excessive use of Pd. The sensor's innovative design and excellent performance position it as a promising candidate for meeting the demands of a hydrogen-based energy economy.

Development of Pd/In2O3 hybrid nanoclusters to optimize ethanol vapor sensing.

In this study, we successfully synthesize palladium-decorated indium trioxide (Pd/In2O3) hybrid nanoclusters (NCs) using an advanced dual-target cluster beam deposition (CBD) method, a significant stride in developing high-performance ethanol sensors. The prepared Pd/In2O3 hybrid NCs exhibit exceptional sensitivity, stability, and selectivity to low concentrations of ethanol vapor, with a maximum response value of 101.2 at an optimal operating temperature of 260 °C for 6 at% Pd loading. The dynamic response of the Pd/In2O3-based sensor shows an increase in response with increasing ethanol vapor concentrations within the range of 50 to 1000 ppm. The limit of detection is as low as 24 ppb. The sensor exhibits a high sensitivity of 28.24 ppm-1/2, with response and recovery times of 2.7 and 4.4 seconds, respectively, for 100 ppm ethanol vapor. Additionally, the sensor demonstrates excellent repeatability and stability, with only a minor decrease in response observed over 30 days and notable selectivity for ethanol compared to other common volatile organic compounds. The study highlights the potential of Pd/In2O3 NCs as promising materials for ethanol gas sensors, leveraging the unique capabilities of CBD for controlled synthesis and the catalytic properties of Pd for enhanced gas-sensing performance.

The Inferior Grain Filling Initiation Promotes the Source Strength of Rice Leaves.

Poor grain-filling initiation in inferior spikelets severely impedes rice yield improvement, while photo-assimilates from source leaves can greatly stimulate the initiation of inferior grain-filling (sink). To investigate the underlying mechanism of source-sink interaction, a two-year field experiment was conducted in 2019 and 2020 using two large-panicle rice cultivars (CJ03 and W1844). The treatments included intact panicles and partial spikelet removal. These two cultivars showed no significant difference in the number of spikelets per panicle. However, after removing spikelet, W1844 showed higher promotion on 1000-grain weight and seed-setting rate than CJ03, particularly for inferior spikelets. The reason was that the better sink activity of W1844 led to a more effective initiation of inferior grain-filling compared to CJ03. The inferior grain weight of CJ03 and W1844 did not show a significant increase until 8 days poster anthesis (DPA), which follows a similar pattern to the accumulation of photo-assimilates in leaves. After removing spikelets, the source leaves of W1844 exhibited lower photosynthetic inhibition compared to CJ03, as well as stronger metabolism and transport of photo-assimilates. Although T6P levels remained constant in both cultivars under same conditions, the source leaves of W1844 showed notable downregulation of SnRK1 activity and upregulation of phytohormones (such as abscisic acid, cytokinins, and auxin) after removing spikelets. Hence, the high sink strength of inferior spikelets plays a role in triggering the enhancement of source strength in rice leaves, thereby fulfilling grain-filling initiation demands.

Higher Food Yields and Lower Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Aquaculture Ponds with High-Stalk Rice Planted.

Aquaculture ponds are an important artificial aquatic system for global food fish production but also are a hot spot of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. The GHG mitigation strategy and the underlying mechanism for aquaculture ponds are still poorly understood. In this study, we conducted a 2 year field experiment to determine the effects of planting high-stalk rice (an artificially bred emergent plant for ponds) on GHG emissions from aquaculture ponds. Our results showed that planting high-stalk rice reduced CH4 emission by 64.4% and N2O emission by 76.2% over 2 years. Planting high-stalk rice significantly increased the content of O2 and the abundance of pmoA in the sediment, thus prompting CH4 oxidation in the ponds. The reduction of N2O emission from ponds was attributed to the decreased inorganic nitrogen, amoA-B and nirS in the sediment induced by rice. Furthermore, high-stalk rice culture in the pond increased shrimp yields and gained rice yields, resulting in a significant reduction of yield-scaled global warming potential. Our findings suggest that breeding appropriate emergent aquatic plants is a potential pathway to mitigate GHG emission from aquaculture ponds with more food yields and economic benefits.

Treatment of scarring central airway stenosis with pirfenidone: Case report.

INTRODUCTION: Benign scarring central airway stenosis can be managed by high-pressure balloon dilatation, laser, surgery and stent implantation. The stenosis may have a high recurrence rate that necessitates repeated treatment. Pirfenidone (PFD) has anti-fibrosis effects and has been used in a variety of fibrosis diseases. Animal experiments suggested that PFD can prevent tracheal stenosis. PATIENT CONCERNS: Patients with scarring central airway stenosis usually have chest tightness, cough and dyspnea. DIAGNOSIS: Computed tomography scanning showed stenosis of the trachea and/or bronchus. Bronchoscopy revealed occlusion or stenosis of the trachea or bronchus. INTERVENTIONS: The use of PFD in combination with other interventional management was reported to treat 2 cases of tracheobronchial stenosis after injury in this study. In the combined use of PFD and interventional management, PFD could help to alleviate tracheobronchial stenosis, prolong the time interval of bronchoscopic interventional treatment, and reduce medical costs. OUTCOMES: The stenosis in the trachea and/or bronchus is relieved and the patients do not have any relevant symptoms.

Associations of gender identity with sexual behaviours, social stigma and sexually transmitted infections among adults who have sex with men in Abuja and Lagos, Nigeria.

INTRODUCTION: Sexual and gender minority populations are disproportionately affected by the global syndemic of HIV and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs). We hypothesized that transgender women (TGW) and non-binary individuals in Nigeria have more STIs than cis-gender men who have sex with men (cis-MSM), and that experiences of stigma and sexual practices differ between these three groups. METHODS: From 2013 to 2020, TRUST/RV368 enrolled adults assigned male sex at birth who reported anal sex with men in Abuja and Lagos, Nigeria. Participants were tested for STIs and completed questionnaires about sexual behaviours and social stigma every 3 months. Participants were categorized as cis-MSM, TGW or non-binary/other based on self-reported gender identity. Gender group comparisons were made of HIV, gonorrhoea and chlamydia prevalence and incidence; stigma indicators; and condom use during anal sex. RESULTS: Among 2795 participants, there were 2260 (80.8%) cis-MSM, 284 (10.2%) TGW and 251 (9.0%) non-binary/other individuals with median age of 23 years (interquartile range 20-27). HIV prevalence among cis-MSM, TGW and non-binary/other participants was 40.8%, 51.5% and 47.6%, respectively (p = 0.002). HIV incidence was 8.7 cases per 100 person-years (PY) (95% confidence interval [CI] 6.9-10.8), 13.1 cases/100 PY (95% CI 6.5-23.4) and 17.6 cases/100 PY (95% CI 9.8-29.0, p = 0.025), respectively. Anorectal gonorrhoea incidence was lower in cis-MSM than TGW (22.2 [95% CI 19.6-25.0] vs. 35.9 [95% CI 27.3-46.3]). TGW were more likely than cis-MSM to report being affected by stigma, including assault (47.2% vs. 32.3%), fear of walking around (32.4% vs. 19.2%) and healthcare avoidance (25.0% vs. 19.1%; all p < 0.05). TGW were more likely to report always using condoms than non-binary/other individuals (35.3% vs. 26.2%, p = 0.041) during receptive anal sex. CONCLUSIONS: Sexual and gender minorities in Nigeria have heterogeneous sexual behaviours and experiences of social stigma that may influence the vulnerability to HIV and other STIs. There is a need for tailored interventions that acknowledge and are informed by gender. Further research is needed, particularly among understudied non-binary individuals, to better understand disparities and inform tailored interventions to improve outcomes among these communities.

Unexpected Parabolic Temperature Dependency of CH4 Emissions from Rice Paddies.

Global warming is expected to affect methane (CH4) emissions from rice paddies, one of the largest human-induced sources of this potent greenhouse gas. However, the large variability in warming impacts on CH4 emissions makes it difficult to extrapolate the experimental results over large regions. Here, we show, through meta-analysis and multi-site warming experiments using the free air temperature increase facility, that warming stimulates CH4 emissions most strongly at background air temperatures during the flooded stage of ∼26 °C, with smaller responses of CH4 emissions to warming at lower and higher temperatures. This pattern can be explained by divergent warming responses of plant growth, methanogens, and methanotrophs. The effects of warming on rice biomass decreased with the background air temperature. Warming increased the abundance of methanogens more strongly at the medium air temperature site than the low and high air temperature sites. In contrast, the effects of warming on the abundance of methanotrophs were similar across the three temperature sites. We estimate that 1 °C warming will increase CH4 emissions from paddies in China by 12.6%─substantially higher than the estimates obtained from leading ecosystem models. Our findings challenge model assumptions and suggest that the estimates of future paddy CH4 emissions need to consider both plant and microbial responses to warming.

Factors associated with testing for HIV and hepatitis C among behaviorally vulnerable men in Germany: a cross-sectional analysis upon enrollment into an observational cohort.

BACKGROUND: HIV and hepatitis C virus (HCV) have shared routes of transmission among men who have sex with men (MSM). Routine testing facilitates early diagnosis and treatment, thereby preventing morbidity and onward transmission. We evaluated factors associated with HIV and HCV testing in a behaviorally vulnerable cohort of predominantly MSM. METHODS: From June 2018 through June 2019, the BRAHMS study enrolled adults at ten German outpatient clinics that serve gender and sexual minority populations. Participants completed behavioral questionnaires that captured prior experience with HIV and HCV testing. Multivariable robust Poisson regression was used to evaluate factors potentially associated with testing in the previous 6 months. RESULTS: Among 1017 participants with median age 33 (interquartile range 28-39) years, 1001 (98.4%) reported any lifetime history of HIV testing and 787 (77.4%) reported any HCV testing, including 16 (1.6%) known to be living with HCV. Testing within the last 6 months was reported by 921 (90.6%) and 513 (50.4%) for HIV and HCV, respectively. Recent HIV testing was more common among participants with higher education level and recent HCV testing. Recent HCV testing was more common among participants with non-cisgender identity, lifetime history of illicit drug use, hepatitis B immunity or infection, and recent HIV testing. CONCLUSION: Prior testing for HIV was common in this cohort, but interventions are needed to improve HCV risk stratification and access to testing. HIV testing infrastructure can be successfully leveraged to support HCV testing, but differentiated preventive care delivery is needed for some vulnerable populations.

[Impacts of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF)on growth, N bio-fixation, and phosphorus uptake of legume crop.] / ä¸›æžèŒæ ¹çœŸèŒå¯¹è±†ç§‘ä½œç‰©ç”Ÿé•¿å’Œç”Ÿç‰©å›ºæ°®åŠç£·ç´ å¸æ”¶çš„å½±å“.

To explore the effects of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) on the growth of legume crop, pot and field experiments with soybean were conducted. Treatments of inoculation (+AMF) and non-inoculation with AMF (-AMF) were set up for the pot experiment, and AMF mycelium non-limited and limited for the field experiment. Results of the pot experiment showed that inoculation with AMF significantly increased soybean aboveground biomass (16.5%) and root nodules number (131.4%), above-ground plant phosphorus and nitrogen concentrations and uptakes. In the field trial, the above-ground and root biomasses and root nodules number under AMF mycelium non-limited were significantly increased by 123.6%, 61.5%, and 212.5% compared with those under the limited condition, respectively. Plant phosphorus uptake, nitrogen concentration and uptake, and soil available nitrogen and phosphorus concentrations were significantly higher under AMF mycelium non-limited than the limited both in both shoot and root. Our findings provide theoretical reference for further understanding the relationship between legume crop and AMF, as well as the efficient utilization of phosphorus fertilizer.

Lower-than-expected CH4 emissions from rice paddies with rising CO2 concentrations.

Elevated atmospheric CO2 (eCO2 ) generally increases carbon input in rice paddy soils and stimulates the growth of methane-producing microorganisms. Therefore, eCO2 is widely expected to increase methane (CH4 ) emissions from rice agriculture, a major source of anthropogenic CH4 . Agricultural practices strongly affect CH4 emissions from rice paddies as well, but whether these practices modulate effects of eCO2 is unclear. Here we show, by combining a series of experiments and meta-analyses, that whereas eCO2 strongly increased CH4 emissions from paddies without straw incorporation, it tended to reduce CH4 emissions from paddy soils with straw incorporation. Our experiments also identified the microbial processes underlying these results: eCO2 increased methane-consuming microorganisms more strongly in soils with straw incorporation than in soils without straw, with the opposite pattern for methane-producing microorganisms. Accounting for the interaction between CO2 and straw management, we estimate that eCO2 increases global CH4 emissions from rice paddies by 3.7%, an order of magnitude lower than previous estimates. Our results suggest that the effect of eCO2 on CH4 emissions from rice paddies is smaller than previously thought and underline the need for judicious agricultural management to curb future CH4 emissions.

Acclimation of methane emissions from rice paddy fields to straw addition.

Straw incorporation is a common long-term practice to improve soil fertility in croplands worldwide. However, straw amendments often increase methane (CH4) emissions from rice paddies, one of the main sources of anthropogenic CH4. Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) methodologies to estimate CH4 emissions from rice agriculture assume that the effect of straw addition remains constant over time. Here, we show through a series of experiments and meta-analysis that these CH4 emissions acclimate. Effects of long-term (>5 years) straw application on CH4 emissions were, on average, 48% lower than IPCC estimates. Long-term straw incorporation increased soil methanotrophic abundance and rice root size, suggesting an increase in CH4 oxidation rates through improved O2 transport into the rhizosphere. Our results suggest that recent model projections may have overestimated CH4 emissions from rice agriculture and that CH4 emission estimates can be improved by considering the duration of straw incorporation and other management practices.

Limited potential of harvest index improvement to reduce methane emissions from rice paddies.

Rice is a staple food for nearly half of the world's population, but rice paddies constitute a major source of anthropogenic CH4 emissions. Root exudates from growing rice plants are an important substrate for methane-producing microorganisms. Therefore, breeding efforts optimizing rice plant photosynthate allocation to grains, i.e., increasing harvest index (HI), are widely expected to reduce CH4 emissions with higher yield. Here we show, by combining a series of experiments, meta-analyses and an expert survey, that the potential of CH4 mitigation from rice paddies through HI improvement is in fact small. Whereas HI improvement reduced CH4 emissions under continuously flooded (CF) irrigation, it did not affect CH4 emissions in systems with intermittent irrigation (II). We estimate that future plant breeding efforts aimed at HI improvement to the theoretical maximum value will reduce CH4 emissions in CF systems by 4.4%. However, CF systems currently make up only a small fraction of the total rice growing area (i.e., 27% of the Chinese rice paddy area). Thus, to achieve substantial CH4 mitigation from rice agriculture, alternative plant breeding strategies may be needed, along with alternative management.

TiO2@Sn3O4 nanorods vertically aligned on carbon fiber papers for enhanced photoelectrochemical performance.

Semiconductor heterostructures are regarded as an efficient way to improve the photocurrent in photoelectrochemical cell-type (PEC) photodetectors. To better utilize solar energy, TiO2@Sn3O4 arrays vertically aligned on carbon fiber papers were synthesized via a hydrothermal route with a two-step method and used as photoanodes in a self-powered photoelectrochemical cell-type (PEC) photodetector under visible light. TiO2@Sn3O4 heterostructures exhibit a stable photocurrent of 180 µA, which is a 4-fold increase with respect to that of the Sn3O4 nanoflakes on carbon paper, and a two-order increase with respect to that of the TiO2 NRs arrays. The evolution of hydrogen according to the photo-catalytic water-splitting process showed that Sn3O4/TiO2 heterostructures have a good photocatalytic hydrogen evolution activity with the rate of 5.23 µmol h-1, which is significantly larger than that of Sn3O4 nanoflakes (0.40 µmol h-1) and TiO2 nanorods (1.13 µmol h-1). Furthermore, the mechanism behind this was discussed. The detector has reproducible and flexible properties, as well as an enhanced photosensitive performance.

Interest in Long-Acting Injectable PrEP in a Cohort of Men Who have Sex with Men in China.

Long-acting injectable (LAI) formulations of antiretrovirals (ARVs) as pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) could be an attractive alternative for men who have sex with men (MSM) who are interested in ARV-based biomedical prevention but will not use a daily pill. This study investigated interest in LAI-PrEP in a cohort of MSM in China and characterized how MSM willing to use only injectable PrEP differed from MSM who would use PrEP regardless of modality or not at all. Demographic, behavioral, and risk perception measures were collected and associations investigated. A licensed LAI-PrEP agent would increase the proportion interested in PrEP by 24.5% over oral PrEP alone. Combining interest in oral and injectable PrEP, 78.5% of the sample could be covered if reported interest in PrEP translated into actual uptake. Partnership factors differentiated those who would be willing to use only LAI-PrEP versus any PrEP modality, while higher self-perception of risk was associated with interest in LAI-PrEP versus no PrEP. The addition of a second PrEP modality could yield increased population coverage of PrEP. Social and behavioral research should be undertaken in parallel with clinical development of injectable PrEP agents to identify characteristics of those who are not interested in oral PrEP but would take advantage of ARV-based prevention with the introduction of an injectable product.

Early Initiation of ARV During Pregnancy to Move towards Virtual Elimination of Mother-to-Child-Transmission of HIV-1 in Yunnan, China.

OBJECTIVE: To identify factors associated with mother-to-child-transmission and late access to prevention of maternal to child transmission (PMTCT) services among HIV-infected women; and risk factors for infant mortality among HIV-exposed infants in order to assess the feasibility of virtual elimination of vertical transmission and pediatric HIV in this setting. DESIGN: Observational study evaluating the impact of a provincial PMTCT program. METHODS: The intervention was implemented in 26 counties of Yunnan Province, China at municipal and tertiary health care settings. Log linear regression models with generalized estimating equations were used to identify unadjusted and adjusted correlates for late ARV intervention and MTCT. Cox proportional hazard models with robust sandwich estimation were applied to examine correlates of infant mortality. RESULTS: Mother-to-child- transmission rate of HIV was controlled to 2%, with late initiation of maternal ARV showing a strong association with vertical transmission and infant mortality. Risk factors for late initiation of maternal ARV were age, ethnicity, education, and having a husband not tested for HIV. Mortality rate among HIV-exposed infants was 2.9/100 person-years. In addition to late initiation of maternal ARV, ethnicity, low birth weight and preterm birth were associated with infant mortality. CONCLUSIONS: This PMTCT program in Yunnan achieved low rates of MTCT. However the infant mortality rate in this cohort of HIV-exposed children was almost three times the provincial rate. Virtual elimination of MTCT of HIV is an achievable goal in China, but more attention needs to be paid to HIV-free survival.

[Clinical efficacies of inhaled corticosteroids plus theophylline in the treatment of bronchial asthma].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the therapeutic efficacies of inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) plus low-dose theophylline for moderate bronchial asthma. METHODS: A total of 280 patients with moderate bronchial asthma at People's Hospital of Zhengzhou University between January 2011 and December 2011 were recruited and randomized into 2 groups: observation group with inhaled budesonide 400 µg/d plus aminophylline tablet (0.1 g, 3 times/day, oral administration and control group with inhaled budesonide 320 µg/day plus formoterol 9 µg/day. The course of treatment was around 6 months. The forced expiratory volume in one second % predicted (FEV1% predicted), interleukin (IL)-4, IL-5 and IgE of peripheral blood were compared before and after treatment. RESULTS: Before and 6 months after treatment, the values of FEV1 % predicted, IL-4, IL-5 and IgE for the observed group were 68% ± 6% and 76% ± 6%, (14.5 ± 4.4) and (7.2 ± 2.6) ng/L, (27.4 ± 6.2) and (24.2 ± 5.9) ng/L, (771 ± 130) × 10(3) and(592 ± 104) × 10(3) U/L, respectively, while those for the control group were 66% ± 8% and 77% ± 6%, (13.7 ± 4.3) and (7.7 ± 4.0) ng/L, (26.9 ± 5.8) and (24.6 ± 4.8) ng/L, (752 ± 154) and (604 ± 122) × 10(3) U/L, respectively. There were significant improvements in both groups (all P < 0.05). No differences existed between two groups (all P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: Compared with ICS plus inhaled long-acting ß2-agonists (LABA), ICS plus low-dose theophylline shows similar efficacies in the improvement of lung function and the control of airway inflammation for asthmatics.

Prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV-1 using highly active antiretroviral therapy in rural Yunnan, China.

OBJECTIVE: To demonstrate that the use of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) to interrupt transmission of HIV-1 from mother to baby is effective, safe, and feasible in a remote rural region of China. METHODS: Between November 2005 and May 2009, we enrolled 279 HIV-1-infected pregnant women to receive HAART to interrupt transmission of HIV-1 to their newborns across 16 counties in Yunnan. All women were started on triple combination therapy and submitted to regular blood draws to monitor CD4 T cells and viral load in their blood plasma. Infants received a single dose of nevirapine at birth and 1 or 4 weeks of zidovudine depending on the length of the mother's regimen. Exclusive formula feeding was recommended, and families were provided with 12-month supply of formula. Mothers and infant pairs were followed for 12-18 months postdelivery. RESULTS: Of 279 enrolled HIV-infected women, 222 (79.6%) were identified and started treatment by 28 weeks of pregnancy. Viral load was undetectable at time of delivery for 62.4% (136 of 218) at delivery, with a mean 1.76 log viral load reduction between enrollment and delivery. Two of 193 babies (1.0%) who have already been tested became infected with HIV-1. Seven of 223 babies have died. By Kaplan-Meier analysis, cumulative one-year survival was 96.3%. CONCLUSIONS: The project demonstrated that HAART for all infected pregnant women is effective with a vertical transmission rate of approximately 1%. Thus, this project provides a model for China to scale up its efforts to prevent mother-to-child transmission of HIV-1.