Cryogenic lithium-niobate-on-insulator optical filter.

Photonic integrated circuits have garnered significant attention and experienced rapid development in recent years. To provide fundamental building blocks for scalable optical classical and quantum information processing, one important direction is to develop cryogenic compatible photonic integrated devices. Here, we prepare one optical filter on a lithium-niobate-on-insulator (LNOI) platform based on a multimode waveguide grating and verify its availability at temperature from 295 to 7 K. We find that the integrated optical filter still shows good quality under cryogenic conditions, and the shift of the working wavelength at different temperatures is well explained by the index variation of the material. These results advance LNOI integrated optical devices in applications under cryogenic conditions.

EZH2 suppresses ferroptosis in hepatocellular carcinoma and reduces sorafenib sensitivity through epigenetic regulation of TFR2.

Enhancing sensitivity to sorafenib can significantly extend the duration of resistance to it, offering substantial benefits for treating patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, the role of ferroptosis in influencing sorafenib sensitivity within HCC remains pivotal. The enhancer of zeste homolog 2 (EZH2) plays a significant role in promoting malignant progression in HCC, yet the relationship between ferroptosis, sorafenib sensitivity, and EZH2 is not entirely clear. Bioinformatic analysis indicates elevated EZH2 expression in HCC, predicting an unfavorable prognosis. Overexpressing EZH2 can drive HCC cell proliferation while simultaneously reducing ferroptosis. Further analysis reveals that EZH2 amplifies the modification of H3K27 me3, thereby influencing TFR2 expression. This results in decreased RNA polymerase II binding within the TFR2 promoter region, leading to reduced TFR2 expression. Knocking down EZH2 amplifies sorafenib sensitivity in HCC cells. In sorafenib-resistant HepG2(HepG2-SR) cells, the expression of EZH2 is increased. Moreover, combining tazemetostat-an EZH2 inhibitor-with sorafenib demonstrates significant synergistic ferroptosis-promoting effects in HepG2-SR cells. In conclusion, our study illustrates how EZH2 epigenetically regulates TFR2 expression through H3K27 me3, thereby suppressing ferroptosis. The combination of the tazemetostat with sorafenib exhibits superior synergistic effects in anticancer therapy and sensitizes the HepG2-SR cells to sorafenib, shedding new light on delaying and ameliorating sorafenib resistance.

Cadmium Exposure was Associated with Sex-Specific Thyroid Dysfunction: Consistent Evidence from Two Independent Cross-Sectional Studies Based on Urinary and Blood Cadmium Measurements.

Population-based studies on the association between cadmium (Cd) exposure and thyroid function are limited and have shown conflicting results. Two independent cross-sectional studies using different Cd biomarkers were carried out in six rural areas with different soil Cd levels in China. Thyroid dysfunction was defined based on levels of thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) and free thyroxine (FT4). Multivariable linear regression, multiple logistic regression, and restrictive cubic splines models were used to estimate the association between Cd and thyroid dysfunction. For both of the two independent studies, higher Cd levels were observed to be associated with lower TSH levels and higher risk of thyroid dysfunction. The negative relationship between urinary Cd and TSH was found in both total participants (ß = - 0.072, p = 0.008) and males (ß = - 0.119, p = 0.020) but not in females; however, the negative relationship between blood Cd and TSH was only found in females (ß = - 0.104, p = 0.024). Higher urinary Cd was associated with higher risk of thyroid dysfunction (OR = 1.77, p = 0.031), while higher blood Cd was associated with higher risk of thyroid dysfunction (OR = 1.95, p = 0.011). Results from the two independent cross-sectional studies consistently suggested that higher Cd levels were associated with sex-specific thyroid dysfunction.

Effects of multiple metals exposure on abnormal liver function: The mediating role of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol.

Equilibration of metal metabolism is critical for normal liver function. Most epidemiological studies have only concentrated on the influence of limited metals. However, the single and synergistic impact of multiple-metal exposures on abnormal liver function (ALF) are still unknown. A cross-sectional study involving 1493 Chinese adults residing in Shenzhen was conducted. Plasma concentrations of 13 metals, including essential metals (calcium, copper, cobalt, iron, magnesium, manganese, molybdenum, zinc, and selenium) and toxic metals (aluminum, cadmium, arsenic, and thallium) were detected by the inductively coupled plasma spectrometry (ICP-MS). ALF was ascertained as any observed abnormality from albumin, alanine transaminase, aspartate transaminase, γ-glutamyl transpeptidase, and direct bilirubin. Diverse statistical methods were used to evaluate the single and mixture effect of metals, as well as the dose-response relationships with ALF risk, respectively. Mediation analysis was conducted to evaluate the role of blood lipids in the relation of metal exposure with ALF. The average age of subjects was 59.7 years, and 56.7 % were females. Logistic regression and the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) penalized regression model consistently suggested that increased levels of arsenic, aluminum, manganese, and cadmium were related to elevated risk of ALF; while magnesium and zinc showed protective effects on ALF (all p-trend < 0.05). The grouped weighted quantile sum (GWQS) regression revealed that the WQS index of essential metals and toxic metals showed significantly negative or positive relationship with ALF, respectively. Aluminum, arsenic, cadmium, and manganese showed linear whilst magnesium and zinc showed non-linear dose-response relationships with ALF risk. Mediation analysis showed that LDL-c mediated 4.41 % and 14.74 % of the relationship of plasma cadmium and manganese with ALF, respectively. In summary, plasma aluminum, arsenic, manganese, cadmium, magnesium, and zinc related with ALF, and LDL-c might underlie the pathogenesis of ALF associated with cadmium and manganese exposure. This study may provide critical public health significances in liver injury prevention and scientific evidence for the establishment of environmental standard.

Ultra-broadband TM-pass polarizer based on anisotropic metamaterials in lithium niobate on an insulator.

An ultra-broadband TM-pass polarizer is designed, fabricated, and experimentally demonstrated based on subwavelength grating (SWG) metamaterials in a lithium niobate on an insulator (LNOI) platform. According to our simulation, the designed device is predicted to work at a 220 nm wavelength range from 1460 to 1680 nm, covering the S-, C-, L-, U-bands of optical fiber communication. By depositing and subsequently etching a silicon nitride thin film atop the LNOI chip, the SWG structures are formed successfully by using complementary metal-oxide semiconductor (CMOS)-compatible fabrication processes. The measured results show a high polarization extinction ratio larger than 20 dB and a relatively low insertion loss below 2.5 dB over a 130 nm wavelength range from 1500 to 1630 nm, mainly limited by the operation bandwidth of our laser source.

Slow-Wave Hybrid Magnonics.

Cavity magnonics is an emerging research area focusing on the coupling between magnons and photons. Despite its great potential for coherent information processing, it has been long restricted by the narrow interaction bandwidth. In this Letter, we theoretically propose and experimentally demonstrate a novel approach to achieve broadband photon-magnon coupling by adopting slow waves on engineered microwave waveguides. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first time that slow wave is combined with hybrid magnonics. Its unique properties promise great potentials for both fundamental research and practical applications, for instance, by deepening our understanding of the light-matter interaction in the slow wave regime and providing high-efficiency spin wave transducers. The device concept can be extended to other systems such as optomagnonics and magnomechanics, opening up new directions for hybrid magnonics.

Uncovering sympathetic nervous system dysfunction in disorders of consciousness via heart rate variability during head-up tilt test.

Few standardized tools are available for evaluation of disorders of consciousness (DOC). The potential of heart rate variability (HRV) during head-up tilt (HUT) test was investigated as a complementary evaluation tool. Twenty-one DOC patients and 21 healthy participants were enrolled in this study comparing clinical characteristics and HRV time- and frequency-domain outcomes and temporal changes during HUT test. During the 1st-5th min of the HUT, DOC group showed a significant increase and decrease in log low frequency (LF) (p = 0.045) and log normalized high frequency (nHF) (p = 0.02), respectively, compared to the supine position and had lower log normalized LF (nLF) (p = 0.004) and log ratio of low-to-high frequency (LF/HF) (p = 0.001) compared to healthy controls. As the HUT continued from the 6th to the 20th min, DOC group exhibited a significant increase in log LF/HF (16th-20th min) (p < 0.05), along with a decrease in log nHF (6th-10th and 16th-20th min) (p < 0.05) and maintained lower log LF, log nLF, and log LF/HF than controls (p < 0.05). 1st-10th min after returning to the supine position, DOC group demonstrated a significant decrease in log nHF (p < 0.01) and increases in log LF/HF (p < 0.01) and had lower log LF (p < 0.01) and log nLF (p < 0.05) compared to controls. In contrast, the control group exhibited a significant decrease in log nHF (p < 0.05) and increase in log LF/HF (p < 0.05) throughout the entire HUT test. Notably, no significant differences were observed when comparing time-domain outcomes reflecting parasympathetic nervous system between the two groups. HRV during HUT test indicated a delayed and attenuated autonomic response, particularly in the sympathetic nervous system, in DOC patients compared with healthy individuals.

Efficient Control of Rhizoctonia solani Using Environmentally Friendly pH-Responsive Tannic Acid-Rosin Nano-Microcapsules.

A nanomicrocapsule system was constructed through the polymerization of tannic acid (TA) and emulsifier OP-10 (OP-10), followed by the chelation of iron ions, to develop a safe and effective method for controlling Rhizoctonia solani in agriculture. The encapsulated active component is a rosin-based triazole derivative (RTD) previously synthesized by our research group (RTD@OP10-TA-Fe). The encapsulation efficiency of the nanomicrocapsules is 82.39%, with an effective compound loading capacity of 96.49%. Through the encapsulation of the RTD via nanomicrocapsules, we improved its water solubility, optimized its stability, and increased its adhesion to the leaf surface. Under acidic conditions (pH = 5.0), the release rate of nanomicrocapsules at 96 h is 96.31 ± 0.8%, which is 2.04 times higher than the release rate under normal conditions (pH = 7.0). Additionally, the results of in vitro and in vivo antifungal assays indicate that compared with the original compound, the nanomicrocapsules exhibit superior antifungal activity (EC50 values of RTD and RTD@OP10-TA-Fe are 1.237 and 0.860 mg/L, respectively). The results of field efficacy trials indicate that compared with RTD, RTD@OP10-TA-Fe exhibits a more prolonged period of effectiveness. Even after 3 weeks, the antifungal rate of RTD@OP10-TA-Fe remains at 40%, whereas RTD, owing to degradation, shows an antifungal rate of 11.11% during the same period. Furthermore, safety assessment results indicate that compared with the control, RTD@OP10-TA-Fe has almost no impact on the growth of rice seedlings and exhibits low toxicity to zebrafish. This study provides valuable insights into controlling R. solani and enhancing the compound performance.

Global, Regional, and National Burdens of Stroke in Children and Adolescents From 1990 to 2019: A Population-Based Study.

BACKGROUND: Stroke is one of the leading causes of death among children, yet evidence on stroke incidence and prognosis in this population is largely neglected worldwide. The aim of this study was to estimate the latest burden of childhood stroke, as well as trends, risk factors, and inequalities from 1990 to 2019, at the global, regional, and national levels. METHODS: The Global Burden of Disease 2019 study was utilized to evaluate the prevalence, incidence, years lived with disability, years of life lost (YLLs), and average annual percentage changes in stroke among populations aged 0 to 19 years from 1990 to 2019. RESULTS: The global age-standardized incidence of stroke increased (average annual percentage change, 0.15% [95% uncertainty interval, 0.09%-0.21%]), while YLLs decreased substantially (average annual percentage change, -3.33% [95% uncertainty interval, -3.38% to -3.28%]) among children and adolescents between 1990 and 2019. Ischemic stroke accounted for 70% of incident cases, and intracerebral hemorrhage accounted for 63% of YLLs. Children under 5 years of age had the highest incidence of ischemic stroke, while adolescents aged 15 to 19 years had the highest incidence of hemorrhagic stroke. In 2019, low-income and middle-income countries were responsible for 84% of incident cases and 93% of YLLs due to childhood stroke. High-sociodemographic index countries had a reduction in YLLs due to stroke that was more than twice as fast as that of low-income and middle-income. CONCLUSIONS: Globally, the burden of childhood stroke continues to increase, especially among females, children aged <5 years, and low-sociodemographic index countries, such as sub-Saharan Africa. The burden of childhood stroke is likely undergoing a significant transition from being fatal to causing disability. Global public health policies and the deployment of health resources need to respond rapidly and actively to this shift.

Co-migration behavior of toluene coupled with trichloroethylene and the response of the pristine groundwater ecosystems - A mesoscale indoor experiment.

Experimental scale and sampling precision are the main factors limiting the accuracy of migration and transformation assessments of complex petroleum-based contaminants in groundwater. In this study, a mesoscale indoor aquifer device with high environmental fidelity and monitoring accuracy was constructed, in which dissolved toluene and trichloroethylene were used as typical contaminants in a 1.5-year contaminant migration experiment. The process was divided into five stages, namely, pristine, injection, accumulation, decrease, and recovery, and characteristics such as differences in contaminant migration, the responsiveness of environmental factors, and changes in microbial communities were investigated. The results demonstrated that the mutual dissolution properties of the contaminants increased the spread of the plume and confirmed that toluene possessed greater mobility and natural attenuation than trichloroethylene. Attenuation of the contaminant plume proceeded through aerobic degradation, nitrate reduction, and sulfate reduction phases, accompanied by negative feedback from characteristic ion concentrations, dissolved oxygen content, the oxidation-reduction potential and microbial community structure of the groundwater. This research evaluated the migration and transformation characteristics of typical petroleum-based pollutants, revealed the response mechanism of the ecosystem to pollutant, provided a theoretical basis for predicting pollutant migration and formulating control strategies.

Parkin deficiency promotes liver cancer metastasis by TMEFF1 transcription activation via TGF-ß/Smad2/3 pathway.

Parkin (PARK2) deficiency is frequently observed in various cancers and potentially promotes tumor progression. Here, we showed that Parkin expression is downregulated in liver cancer tissues, which correlates with poor patient survival. Parkin deficiency in liver cancer cells promotes migration and metastasis as well as changes in EMT and metastasis markers. A negative correlation exists between TMEFF1 and Parkin expression in liver cancer cells and tumor tissues. Parkin deficiency leads to upregulation of TMEFF1 which promotes migration and metastasis. TMEFF1 transcription is activated by Parkin-induced endogenous TGF-ß production and subsequent phosphorylation of Smad2/3 and its binding to TMEFF1 promotor. TGF-ß inhibitor and TMEFF1 knockdown can reverse shParkin-induced cell migration and changes of EMT markers. Parkin interacts with and promotes the ubiquitin-dependent degradation of HIF-1α/HIF-1ß and p53, which accounts for the suppression of TGF-ß production. Our data have revealed that Parkin deficiency in cancer leads to the activation of the TGF-ß/Smad2/3 pathway, resulting in the expression of TMEFF1 which promotes cell migration, EMT, and metastasis in liver cancer cells.

Recycling drinking water treatment sludge in construction and building materials: A review.

Drinking water treatment sludge (DWTS) is a by-product of water treatment, and it is difficult to recycle to high value and poses potential environmental risks. Recycling DWTS into cement-based materials is an effective measure to achieve its high-volume utilization and reduce its environmental load. DWTS is rich in silica-alumina phases and has potential pozzolanic activity after drying, grinding and calcination, giving it similar properties to traditional supplementary cementitious materials. Adjusting the sludge production process and coagulant type will change its physical and chemical properties. Adding a small amount of DWTS can generate additional hydration products and refine the pore structure of the cement sample, thus improving the mechanical properties and durability of the sample. However, adding high-volume DWTS to concrete causes microstructural deterioration, but it is feasible to use high-volume DWTS to produce artificial aggregates, lightweight concrete, and sintered bricks. Meanwhile, calcined DWTS has similar compositions to clay, which makes it a potential raw material for cement clinker production. Cement-based materials can effectively solidify heavy metal ions in DWTS, and alkali-activated binders, magnesium-based cement, and carbon curing technology can further reduce the risk of heavy metal leaching. This review provides support for the high-value utilization of DWTS in cement-based materials and the reduction of its potential environmental risks.

Discovery of novel acrylopimaric acid triazole derivatives as promising antifungal agents.

BACKGROUND: To further develop potential natural fungicides, two series of new acrylopimaric acid triazole derivatives were synthesized, and their antifungal activities were tested and evaluated. RESULTS: In vitro antifungal activity results indicated that compound 5m exhibited significant inhibitory activity against Rhizoctonia solani with an half maximal effective concentration (EC50) value of 1.528 mg/L. Its antifungal effect was comparable to that of the commercially available fungicide fluconazole, epoxiconazole and propiconazole (EC50 values of 1.441, 0.815 and 1.173 mg/L). Subsequently, in vivo studies were conducted on compound 5m, which revealed its significant protective and curative effects against R. solani. In addition, physiological and biochemical studies showed that compound 5m could disrupt the morphology and ultrastructure of R. solani mycelium, increase cell membrane permeability, inhibit ergosterol synthesis, and enhance the activity of defense enzymes in rice plants. Three-dimensional quantitative structure-activity relationship (3D-QSAR) studies revealed that the molecular structure significantly influenced the binding of compound 5m to the receptor, thereby enhancing its antifungal activity. CONCLUSION: Compound 5m exhibits excellent antifungal activity against R. solani, making it a promising candidate fungicide for the prevention and control of R. solani. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.

Occurrence, distribution and annual emissions of chlorinated paraffins in hazardous byproducts from municipal solid waste incineration plants in South China.

Nowadays incineration technology has become the most mainstream way for the disposal of municipal wastes. Short chain chlorinated paraffins (SCCPs) and medium chain chlorinated paraffins (MCCPs) are currently classified as new persistent organic pollutants (POPs) and candidate POPs under the Stockholm Convention, respectively. However, the occurrence and contamination characteristics of these main hazardous byproducts (e.g., leachate, fly ash, and bottom ash) from municipal solid waste incineration (MSWI) plants have remained unknown. This study focused on the SCCPs and MCCPs (defined as CPs) contamination and their annual emissions from leachate, fly ash, and bottom ash among three typical MSWI plants in Shenzhen, South China. Compared to the dissolved phase of the leachate, higher concentrations of CPs were detected in the adsorbed phase. The total concentrations of CPs ranged from lower method detection limits (1 in leachate (i.e., adsorbed phase) and bottom ash, while the opposite results were found in fly ash. The dominant SCCP congener groups were C10Cl6-7 in leachate and fly ash, and C13Cl6-7 in bottom ash. The dominant MCCP congener groups were C14Cl7-8 in leachate, fly ash and bottom ash samples. Principal component analysis (PCA) revealed the dominant CPs in fly ash were obviously different from those in leachate and bottom ash. Estimated total annual emissions of CPs from the three main hazardous byproducts generated from typical MSWI plants were estimated between 66.2 and 7510 kg/y and bottom ash contributed the most to the CP emissions. Overall, this study is the first report on CP contamination in hazardous byproducts from MSWI plants, and can provide basic data support for CP contamination control.

Mn Cluster-Embedded N/F Co-Doped Carbon toward Mild Aqueous Supercapacitors.

Aqueous supercapacitors have occupied a significant position among various types of stationary energy storage equipment, while their widespread application is hindered by the relatively low energy density. Herein, N/F co-doped carbon materials activated by manganese clusters (NCM) are constructed by the straightforward experimental routine. Benefiting from the elevated conductivity structure at the microscopic level, the optimized NCM-0.5 electrodes exhibited a remarkable specific capacitance of 653 F g-1 at 0.4 A g-1 and exceptional cycling stability (97.39% capacity retention even after 40,000 cycles at the scanning rate of 100 mV s-1) in a neutral 5 M LiCl electrolyte. Moreover, we assembled an asymmetric device pairing with a VOx anode (NCM-0.5//VOx), which delivered a durable life span of 95% capacity retention over 30,000 cycles and an impressive energy density of 77.9 Wh kg-1. This study provides inspiration for transition metal element doping engineering in high-energy storage equipment.

Copy number variation sequencing for the products of conception: What is the optimal testing strategy.

BACKGROUND: Copy number variation sequencing (CNV-seq) is crucial in prenatal diagnosis, but its limitations in detecting polyploidy, maternal cell contamination (MCC), and uniparental disomy (UPD) restrict its application in the analysis of products of conception (POCs). This study aimed to investigate an optimal genetic testing strategy for POCs in the era of CNV-seq. METHODS: CNV-seq and quantitative fluorescent polymerase chain reaction (QF-PCR) were performed in all 4,211 spontaneous miscarriage cases. Different testing strategies were compared and the optimal testing strategies were proposed. RESULTS: Of the 4,211 cases, 2561 (60.82%) exhibited clinically significant chromosomal abnormalities. CNV-seq alone, without QF-PCR, might misdiagnose 311 (7.39%) cases, including 278 polyploidy, 13 UPD, and 20 MCC. In 20 MCC cases identified by QF-PCR, CNV-seq successfully pinpointed the cause of miscarriage in 13 cases. Furthermore, in cases where QF-PCR suggested polyploidy, CNV-seq improved the diagnostic accuracy in 54 (1.28%) hypo/hypertriploidy cases. After comparing four different strategies, the sequential approach (initiating with CNV-seq followed by QF-PCR if necessary) emerged as advantageous, reducing approximately 70% of the cost associated with QF-PCR while maintaining result accuracy. CONCLUSIONS: We propose an initial CNV-seq followed by QF-PCR if needed-an efficient and cost-effective strategy for the genetic analysis of POCs.

Surveillance of SARS-CoV-2 in wastewater by quantitative PCR and digital PCR: a case study in Shijiazhuang city, Hebei province, China.

In this study, we reported the first long-term monitoring of SARS-CoV-2 in wastewater in Mainland China from November 2021 to October 2023. The city of Shijiazhuang was employed for this case study. We developed a triple reverse transcription droplet digital PCR (RT-ddPCR) method using triple primer-probes for simultaneous detection of the N1 gene, E gene, and Pepper mild mottle virus (PMMoV) to achieve accurate quantification of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in wastewater. Both the RT-ddPCR method and the commercial multiplex reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) method were implemented for the detection of SARS-CoV-2 in wastewater in Shijiazhuang City over a 24-month period. Results showed that SARS-CoV-2 was detected for the first time in the wastewater of Shijiazhuang City on 10 November 2022. The peak of COVID-19 cases occurred in the middle of December 2022, when the concentration of SARS-CoV-2 in the wastewater was highest. The trend of virus concentration increases and decreases forming a "long-tailed" shape in the COVID-19  outbreak and recession cycle. The results indicated that both multiplex RT-ddPCR and RT-qPCR are effective in detecting SARS-CoV-2 in wastewater, but RT-ddPCR is capable of detecting low concentrations of SARS-CoV-2 in wastewater which is more efficient. The SARS-CoV-2 abundance in wastewater is correlated to clinical data, outlining the public health utility of this work.HighlightsFirst long-term monitoring of SARS-CoV-2 in wastewater in Mainland ChinaCOVID-19 outbreak was tracked in Shijiazhuang City from outbreak to containmentWastewater was monitored simultaneously using RT-ddPCR and RT-qPCR methodsTriple primer-probe RT-ddPCR detects N1 and E genes of SARS-CoV-2 and PMMoV.

Immune checkpoint inhibitor-related pneumonitis: research advances in prediction and management.

The advent of immune-checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) has revolutionized the treatment of malignant solid tumors in the last decade, producing lasting benefits in a subset of patients. However, unattended excessive immune responses may lead to immune-related adverse events (irAEs). IrAEs can manifest in different organs within the body, with pulmonary toxicity commonly referred to as immune checkpoint inhibitor-related pneumonitis (CIP). The CIP incidence remains high and is anticipated to rise further as the therapeutic indications for ICIs expand to encompass a wider range of malignancies. The diagnosis and treatment of CIP is difficult due to the large individual differences in its pathogenesis and severity, and severe CIP often leads to a poor prognosis for patients. This review summarizes the current state of clinical research on the incidence, risk factors, predictive biomarkers, diagnosis, and treatment for CIP, and we address future directions for the prevention and accurate prediction of CIP.

Functional genomics of Brassica napus: Progresses, challenges, and perspectives.

Brassica napus, commonly known as rapeseed or canola, is a major oil crop contributing over 13% to the stable supply of edible vegetable oil worldwide. Identification and understanding the gene functions in the B. napus genome is crucial for genomic breeding. A group of genes controlling agronomic traits have been successfully cloned through functional genomics studies in B. napus. In this review, we present an overview of the progress made in the functional genomics of B. napus, including the availability of germplasm resources, omics databases and cloned functional genes. Based on the current progress, we also highlight the main challenges and perspectives in this field. The advances in the functional genomics of B. napus contribute to a better understanding of the genetic basis underlying the complex agronomic traits in B. napus and will expedite the breeding of high quality, high resistance and high yield in B. napus varieties.

Thermal evaporation-driven fabrication of Ru/RuO2 nanoparticles onto nickel foam for efficient overall water splitting.

Developing high-performance bifunctional electrocatalysts towards the hydrogen evolution reaction/oxygen evolution reaction (HER/OER) holds great significance for efficient water splitting. This work presents a two-stage metal-organic thermal evaporation strategy for the fabrication of Ru-based catalysts (Ru/NF) through growing ruthenium (Ru)/ruthenium dioxide (RuO2) nanoparticles (NPs) on nickel foam (NF). The optimal Ru/NF shows remarkable performance in both the HER (26.1 mV) and the OER (235.4 mV) at 10 mA cm-2 in an alkaline medium. The superior OER performance can be attributed to the synergistic interaction between Ru and RuO2, facilitating fast alkaline water splitting. Density functional theory studies reveal that the resulting Ru/RuO2 with the (110) crystal surface reinforces the adsorption of oxygen on RuO2, while metallic Ru improves water dissociation in alkaline electrolytes. Besides, Ru/NF requires only 1.50 V at 10 mA cm-2 for overall water splitting, surpassing 20 wt% Pt/C/NF||RuO2/NF. This work demonstrates the promising potential of a thermal evaporation approach for designing stable Ru-based nanomaterials loaded onto conductive substrates for high performance overall water splitting.