Application of deep eutectic solvents on extraction of flavonoids.

Deep eutectic solvents (DESs), as a new type of eco-friendly solvent, have attracted increasing attention on the extraction and separation of flavonoid compounds from various samples, owing to their excellent properties such as biodegradability and ease of handling with very low toxicity. This article provides a status review of the applications of DESs in the extraction of flavonoids, including the introduction of flavonoid compounds, the properties and superiority of DESs, and extraction methods (ultrasonic-assisted extraction, heating reflux extraction, matrix solid-phase dispersion, and solid-phase extraction). Finally, prospects and challenges in the application of DESs on extraction and separation are extensively elucidated and critically reviewed.

Reviving Zn0 Dendrites to Electroactive Zn2+ by Mesoporous MXene with Active Edge Sites.

Zinc metal-based aqueous batteries (ZABs) offer a sustainable, affordable, and safe energy storage alternative to lithium, yet inevitable dendrite formation impedes their wide use, especially under long-term and high-rate cycles. How the battery can survive after dendrite formation remains an open question. Here, we pivot from conventional Zn dendrite growth suppression strategies, introducing proactive dendrite-digesting chemistry via a mesoporous Ti3C2 MXene (MesoTi3C2)-wrapped polypropylene separator. Spectroscopic characterizations and electrochemical evaluation demonstrate that MesoTi3C2, acting as an oxidant, can revive the formed dead Zn0 dendrites into electroactive Zn2+ ions through a spontaneous redox process. Density functional theory reveals that the abundant edge-Ti-O sites in our MesoTi3C2 facilitate high oxidizability and electron transfer from Zn0 dendrites compared to their in-plane counterparts. The resultant asymmetrical cell demonstrates remarkable ultralong cycle life of 2200 h at a practical current of 5 mA cm-2 with a low overpotential (<50 mV). The study reveals the unexpected edge effect of mesoporous MXenes and uncovers a new proactive dendrite-digesting chemistry to survive ZABs, albeit with inevitable dendrite formation.

Facile method to activate substrate for oxygen evolution by a galvanic-cell reaction.

NiFe layered double hydroxide (NiFe LDH) is a promising material with multiple functions. In this communication, a novel method is used to prepare NiFe LDH. This synthesis method is achieved via galvanic-cell corrosion between nickel and iron substrates in aqueous solutions containing a halogen group anion (e.g., Cl) at ambient temperature. The as-prepared NiFe LDH electrodes are developed as electrocatalysts for the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) and exhibit excellent catalytic activities and durability. This work provides an energy-efficient, cost-effective, and scaled-up corrosion engineering approach for manufacturing NiFe LDH materials.

Study on the role of heat shock protein 90 (HSP90) gene in chicken preadipocytes proliferation and differentiation.

In this study, we examined the effects of Heat Shock Protein 90 (HSP90) on adipocyte proliferation and differentiation in chickens. To achieve this, we constructed RNA interference (RNAi) vectors to target HSP90 and transfected the vectors into primary adipocytes. After transfection, oil red O staining was performed to determine the status of triglyceride accumulation in the cells, whereas the CCK-8 cell kit and 5-Ethynyl-2'-Deoxyuridine (EdU) assays were used to determine cell proliferation. Thereafter, the mRNA and protein expression levels of PPARγ, FAS, SREBP-1c, and HSP90 were determined, and the results showed that after the interference of HSP90, the mRNA and protein expression levels of HSP90 in the chicken adipocytes decreased significantly compared to the control and blank groups (p < 0.05). The decreased mRNA and protein expression of PPARγ, FAS, and SREBP-1c was related to adipocyte differentiation (p < 0.05). However, HSP90 interference had no effect on adipocyte proliferation (p > 0.05). Taken together, the results of this study showed that HSP90 influenced the expression of PPARγ and adipose-differentiation-related genes, thereby regulating triglyceride accumulation and adipocyte differentiation in chickens.

Trapezoidal pile-up nuclear pulse parameter identification method based on deep learning transformer model.

Pile-up between adjacent nuclear pulses is unavoidable in the actual detection process. Some scholars have tried to apply deep learning techniques to identify pile-up nuclear pulse parameters. However, traditional deep learning recurrent neural networks (RNNs) suffer from inefficient pulse recognition and poor recognition of pile-up nuclear pulses with short intervals between adjacent pulses. In this paper, a Transformer model with an attention mechanism as the core to recognize pile-up nuclear pulses is innovatively applied, aiming to provide a more accurate and efficient method for pile-up nuclear pulse recognition. Thus, it gives a better help for the spectrum correction with a high count rate.

Green Electrosynthesis of 5,5'-Azotetrazolate Energetic Materials Plus Energy-Efficient Hydrogen Production Using Ruthenium Single-Atom Catalysts.

Water electrolysis involves two parallel reactions, that is, oxygen evolution (OER) and hydrogen evolution (HER), in which sluggish OER is a significant limiting step that results in high energy consumption. Coupling the thermodynamically favorable electrooxidation of organic alternatives to value-added fine chemicals HER is a promising approach for the simultaneous cost-effective production of value-added chemicals and hydrogen. Here, a new coupling system for the green electrochemical synthesis of organic energetic materials (EMs) plus hydrogen production using single-atom catalysts is introduced. The catalysts are prepared by the facile galvanostatic deposition of ruthenium single atoms on the molybdenum selenide and reveal a low HER overpotential of 38.9 mV at -10 mA cm-2 in an alkaline medium. Importantly, the cell voltage of water electrolysis can be significantly reduced to only 1.35 V at a current of 10 mA cm-2 by coupling water splitting with the electrooxidation of 5-amino-1H-tetrazole to synthesize 5,5'-azotetrazolate energetic material. These materials are traditionally synthesized under harsh conditions involving a strong oxidizing agent, high-temperature conditions, and difficult separation of by-products. This study provides a green and efficient method of synthesizing organic EMs while simultaneously producing hydrogen.

Surface-Electronic-Structure Reconstruction of Perovskite via Double-Cation Gradient Etching for Superior Water Oxidation.

Reconstructing the surface-electronic-structure of catalysts for efficient electrocatalytic activity is crucial but still under intense exploration. Herein, we introduce a double-cation gradient etching technique to manipulate the electronic structure of perovskite LaCoO3. With the gradient dissolution of cations, the surface was reconstructed, and the perovskite/spinel heterostructure V-LCO/Co3O4 (V-LCO refers to LaCoO3 with La and Co vacancies) can be realized. Its surface-electronic-structure is effectively regulated due to the heterogeneous interface effect and abundant vacancies, resulting in a significantly enhanced activity for oxygen evolution reaction (OER). The V-LCO/Co3O4 exhibits low electrochemical activation energy and 2 orders of magnitude higher carrier concentrations (1.36 × 1021 cm-3) compared with LCO (6.03 × 1019 cm-3). Density functional theory (DFT) calculation unveils that the directional reconstruction of surface-electronic-structure enables the d-band center of V-LCO/Co3O4 to a moderate position, endowing perfect adsorption strength for oxo groups and thus promoting the electrocatalytic activity.

Boron-modulated surface of hollow nickel framework for improved hydrogen evolution.

A hollow Ni framework (HNF) is designed and prepared to utilize the exterior and interior surface active sites of a Ni-based binder-free and support-free electrode. Furthermore, the more efficient Ni-B active sites are then in situ introduced on the surface of HNF. This micro/nano structure engineering, together with the surface boron modulation, results in a synergistically enhanced catalytic effect for the HER performance.

Self-derivation-behaviour of substrates realizing enhanced oxygen evolution reaction.

Self-derivation-behaviour of substrates is utilized to fabricate monolithic electrodes for oxygen evolution, in which the selected substrate functions as both the precursor of the active catalyst and a conductive support. In particular, NiFe layered double hydroxide (LDH) can be directly derived from the surface metal of commercial NiFe foam (NFF). Moreover, the as-prepared monolithic electrode exhibits enhanced activity and durability, originating from the resultant defective nanosheet structure and autologous catalyst-support features.

ZIF-derived ZnO/Sb composite scaffolded on carbon framework for Ni-Zn batteries.

Ni-Zn, Zn-MnO2, and Zn-air batteries have the advantages of inflammability, material abundance, and high specific energy. However, their applications are limited by the poor rechargeability of zinc anodes, which are related to shape changes, dendrite growth, corrosion, passivation, dissolution, etc. In this study, we developed a zeolitic-imidazolate framework (ZIF)-based route to construct a novel ZnO/Sb composite anode. The resultant zinc anode is scaffolded on carbon cloth (CC) and then encapsulated by carbonized resorcinol-formaldehyde resins. Such a carbon-framed ZnO/Sb anode shows the excellent rate and cycling properties because Sb suppresses the corrosion and improves interparticle conductivity, and the ZIF-derived carbon frame accommodates the shape changes, blocks the zinc dissolution, and accelerates the charge transfer. This work demonstrates the effectiveness of anti-corrosion and carbon-framed structure design on pouch and cable-like Ni-Zn batteries.

Rational Design of a Ni3N0.85 Electrocatalyst to Accelerate Polysulfide Conversion in Lithium-Sulfur Batteries.

Slow kinetics of polysulfide conversion reactions lead to severe issues for lithium-sulfur (Li-S) batteries, for example, low rate capability, polysulfide migration, and low Coulombic efficiencies. These challenges hinder the practical applications of Li-S batteries. In this study, we proposed a rational strategy of tuning the d-band of catalysts to accelerate the conversion of polysulfides. Nitrogen vacancies were engineered in hexagonal Ni3N (space group P6322) to tune its d-band center, leading to the strong interaction between polysulfides and Ni3N. Because of the greater electron population in the lowest occupied molecular orbital of Li2S4, the terminal S-S bonds were weakened for breaking. Temperature-dependent experiments confirm that Ni3N0.85 demonstrates a much low activation energy, thereby accelerating the conversion of polysulfides. A Li-S cell using Ni3N0.85 can deliver a high initial discharge capacity of 1445.9 mAh g-1 (at 0.02 C) and low decay per cycle (0.039%). The Ni3N0.85 cell can also demonstrate an initial capacity of 1200.4 mAh g-1 for up to 100 cycles at a high loading of 5.2 mg cm-2. The high efficiency of rationally designed Ni3N0.85 demonstrates the effectiveness of the d-band tuning strategy to develop low-activation-energy catalysts and to promote the atomic understanding of polysulfide conversion in Li-S batteries.

Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-coactivator 1-beta (PGC-1ß) modulates the expression of genes involved in adipogenesis during preadipocyte differentiation in chicken.

To study the influence of the PGC-1ß gene on chicken adipocyte proliferation and differentiation, we constructed RNA interference (RNAi) vectors that target the PGC-1ß gene and transfected these vectors into adipocytes. Oil Red O staining and a CCK-8 cell kit were used to determine cell triglyceride accumulation status and cell proliferation after transfection, respectively. The mRNA abundances of PGC-1ß and adipocyte-differentiation-related genes (PPARγ, C/EBPα, SREBP-1c, FAS, and A-FABP) were detected by real-time PCR. The results showed that the mRNA and protein abundances of PGC-1ß in PGC-1ß-shRNA transfected adipocytes were significantly lower than those in the control. Interference decreased cell differentiation, but did not depress the cell proliferation. PGC-1ß interference impeded the triglyceride accumulation, the mRNA expression levels of nuclear receptors PPARγ and SREBP-1c, and fatty acid synthetase (FAS), and both proteins PPARγ and SREBP-1c, and the fatty acids transporting protein A-FABP. Generally, PGC-1ß modulated the cell differentiation and triglyceride accumulation in chicken adipocytes.

Electrodeposition Technologies for Li-Based Batteries: New Frontiers of Energy Storage.

Electrodeposition induces material syntheses on conductive surfaces, distinguishing it from the widely used solid-state technologies in Li-based batteries. Electrodeposition drives uphill reactions by applying electric energy instead of heating. These features may enable electrodeposition to meet some needs for battery fabrication that conventional technologies can rarely achieve. The latest progress of electrodeposition technologies in Li-based batteries is summarized. Each component of Li-based batteries can be electrodeposited or synthesized with multiple methods. The advantages of electrodeposition are the main focus, and they are discussed in comparison with traditional technologies with the expectation to inspire innovations to build better Li-based batteries. Electrodeposition coats conformal films on surfaces and can control the film thickness, providing an effective approach to enhancing battery performance. Engineering interfaces by electrodeposition can stabilize the solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) and strengthen the adhesion of active materials to substrates, thereby prolonging the battery longevity. Lastly, a perspective of future studies on electrodepositing batteries is provided. The significant merits of electrodeposition should greatly advance the development of Li-based batteries.

Polymorphisms in the Egl nine homolog 3 (EGLN3) and Peroxisome proliferator activated receptor-alpha (PPARα) genes and their correlation with hypoxia adaptation in Tibetan chickens.

Peroxisome proliferator activated receptor-alpha (PPARα) and Egl nine homolog 3 (EGLN3) play critical roles in facilitating the adaptation to a hypoxic environment. However, the relationship between EGLN3 and PPARα variants and hypoxic adaptation remains poorly understood in Tibetan chickens. To better understand the effects of genetic variation, we sequenced exons of PPARα and EGLN3 in 138 Lowland chickens (LC) from 7 breeds that were located in Emei, Miyi, Shimian, Wanyuan, Pengxian, and Muchuan in the Sichuan province, and Wenchang in the Hainan province (altitudes for these locations are below 1800 meters). Total 166 Tibetan chickens (TC) from 7 subpopulations that were located in Shigatse, Lhoka, Lhasa, Garze, Aba, Diqing and Yushu in the Tibetan area were also sequenced (altitudes greater than 2700 meters). One single-nucleotide polymorphism (rs316017491, C > T) was identified in EGLN3 and was shared by TC and LC with no significant difference for allele frequencies between them (P > 0.05). Six single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP1, A29410G; SNP2, rs13886097; SNP3, T29467C; SNP4, rs735915170; SNP5, rs736599044; and SNP6, rs740077421) including one non-synonymous mutation (SNP2, T > C) were identified in PPARα. This is the first report of SNP1 and SNP3. There was a difference between TC and LC for allele frequencies (P <0.01), except for SNP1, SNP4, and SNP5) The fix index statistic test indicated that there was population differentiation between TC and LC for SNP2, SNP3, and SNP6 in PPARα (P < 0.05). Phylogenetic analysis showed that the genetic distance among chickens, finch and great tit were close for both EGLN3 and PPARα. Bioinformatics analysis of PPARα showed that SNP2 leads to an amino acid substitution of Ile for Met, which results in the protein being more likely to be hydrolyzed. Thus, genetic variation in PPARα may play a role in the ability of TC to adapt to a high altitude environment; however we were unable to identify a relationship between polymorphisms in EGLN3 and environmental adaptability.

Responses of Scirpus triqueter, soil enzymes and microbial community during phytoremediation of pyrene contaminated soil in simulated wetland.

The aim of this study was to determine the enhancement of Scirpus triqueter in the dissipation of pyrene and the interaction of pyrene with plant, soil enzymes and microbial community. The results indicated that the dissipation ratios of pyrene in the rhizospheric and non-rhizospheric soil were 64.65 ± 3.86% and 54.49 ± 2.74%, respectively, and were higher than that in the unplanted soil (42.60 ± 0.71%) at 80 d after planting S. triqueter. The pyrene was toxic to S. triqueter, as evidenced by growth inhibition in height, diameter, shoot number and biomass during the planting period. The activities of dehydrogenase decreased significantly at the presence of pyrene in soils, and increased remarkably with the introduction of S. triqueter. It was found that the pyrene addition increased the ratios of fungal/total fatty acids and gram-positive/gram-negative, but the presence of S. triqueter decreased the ratios of gram-positive/gram-negative. A larger stress level was found in the pyrene treated soils without S. triqueter. The ratio of aerobic/anaerobic bacteria decreased with increasing pyrene concentration, but increased when S. triqueter was planted. The principal analysis of phospholipid fatty acid signatures revealed that microbial community structures in the rhizospheric and non-rhizospheric soil were similar, but different from those in the unplanted and control soil.

Degradation of diesel-originated pollutants in wetlands by Scirpus triqueter and microorganisms.

The wetland ecological environment near Huangpu-Yangtze River Estuary (HYRE) is deteriorating more and more seriously due to oil spills. In this paper, the simulation experiment of degradation was conducted to restore the diesel pollution in soils where the decontaminating potential of indigenous hydrocarbon-degrading microorganisms (HDMs) was evaluated with pot experiments and the co-activation between HDMs and native plant, Scirpus triqueter L.(STL), was investigated. The experimental results indicated that HDMs isolated from HYRE wetland had a degradation effect on diesel pollutants. Within 60 days, the removal ratio of diesel compared with initial amount could be up to 57.27 ± 8.18% in the HDMs inoculated soils at different concentrations of diesel. It was also found that the growth of Scirpus triqueter could enhance the degradation and remediation of diesel pollutants by increasing the populations of microorganisms. A community of STL and HDMs showed a remarkable capability of degrading hydrocarbon components in diesels. Under the combined effects of HDMs and STL (STL-Ms), the removal ratio of diesel pollutants could reach 67.42 ± 8.92%. For example, at 15,000 mg kg(-1) diesel concentration the removal ratios in the HDMs and STL-Ms soils were 67.41% and 72.62%, respectively. Moreover, the saturated hydrocarbons were more readily degraded than the aromatic hydrocarbons in treated soils showing a good degradation effect on the range of C(16)-C(24)n-alkanes, especially C(19). Positive correlations between microbial populations and diesel removal ratios were observed during the experiment. Microbial populations were found significantly higher in the HDMs soils and rhizosphere soils than in the control ones. The results confirmed that the HDMs and plant improved the biodegradation ability for diesel pollutants and they could be reasonably matched to cure and restore the ecological environment of oil-contaminated wetlands.