As promising hydrogen energy carrier, formic acid (HCOOH) plays an indispensable role in building a complete industry chain of a hydrogen economy. Currently, the biomass upgrading assisted water ...electrolysis has emerged as an attractive alternative for co‐producing green HCOOH and H2 in a cost‐effective manner, yet simultaneously affording high current density and Faradaic efficiency (FE) still remains a big challenge. Here, the ternary NiVRu‐layered double hydroxides (LDHs) nanosheet arrays for selective glycerol oxidation and hydrogen evolution catalysis are reported, which yield an industry‐level 1 A cm−2 at voltage of 1.933 V, meanwhile showing considerable HCOOH and H2 productivities of 12.5 and 17.9 mmol cm−2 h−1, with FEs of almost 80% and 96%, respectively. Experimental and theoretical results reveal that the introduced Ru atoms can tune the local electronic structure of Ni‐based LDHs, which not only optimizes hydrogen adsorption kinetics for HER, but also reduces the reaction energy barriers for both the conversion of NiII into GOR‐active NiIII and carboncarbon (CC) bond cleavage. In short, this work highlights the potential of large‐scale H2 and HCOOH productions from integrated electrocatalytic system and provides new insights for designing advanced electrocatalyst for low‐cost and sustainable energy conversion.
The ternary NiVRu‐LDHs nanosheet arrays are prepared by a one‐step hydrothermal reaction (NiVRu‐LDHs NAs/NF), which realize a green, sustainable, and energy‐saving electrochemical route for formic acid and hydrogen co‐production with high Faradaic efficiencies (almost 80% and 96%) and productivities (12.5 and 17.9 mmol cm−2 h−1) at an industry‐level current density of 1 A cm−2.
Remote control and targeted activation are the elevated goals for shape-memory and self-healing polymers when responses to stimuli. Among so many stimuli, converting light into microstructure change ...or mechanical motions is now of particular interest. Herein, we report the ingenious design, synthesis and operation to advanced materials that capable of fast near-infrared (NIR) light-actuated targeted shape memory and remote accurately self-healing. Starting from biomass resources, a well-defined polymer nanocomposite, CNTs-graft-poly(tetrahydrofurfury methacryla-co-lauryl acrylate-co-1-vinylimidazole) copolymer ((CNTs-g-P(TMA-co-LA-co-VI)), was fabricated by addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization. After subsequent metal-ligand crosslinking with Zn2+ ion, CNTs-g-P(TMA-co-LA-co-VI)/Zn2+ with CNTs content of 1.1 wt % have a maximum stress of 1.68 MPa and an elongation at break of 450%. Most importantly, the photothermal conversion of CNTs can effectively trigger the association and dissociation process of the dynamic metallosupramolecular crosslinked bond between VI and Zn2+, leading to excellent instantaneous multiple shape memory and accurate self-healing performance under NIR light or heat. This approach can be generalized toward de novo design of self-healing and shape memory nanocomposites with tunable mechanical properties.
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•Starting from biomass resources, a well-defined elastomer composite was fabricated by RAFT polymerization.•The elastomer showed excellent multiple shape memory and accurate self-healing performance under NIR light or heat.•This multifunctional elastomer was applicable to the fabrication of smart devices and soft robotics.
The spatial arrangement of newly synthesized transcriptome in eukaryotic cells underlies various biological processes including cell proliferation and differentiation. In this study, we combine ...metabolic incorporation of electron-rich ribonucleosides (e.g., 6-thioguanosine and 4-thiouridine) with a peroxidase-mediated proximity-dependent RNA labeling technique (APEX-seq) to develop a sensitive method, termed MERR APEX-seq, for selectively profiling newly transcribed RNAs at specific subcellular locations in live cells. We demonstrate that MERR APEX-seq is 20-fold more efficient than APEX-seq and offers both high spatial specificity and high coverage in mitochondrial matrix. At the ER membrane, 91% of the transcripts captured by MERR APEX-seq encode for secretory pathway proteins, thus demonstrating the high spatial specificity of MERR APEX-seq in open subcellular compartments. Application of MERR APEX-seq to the nuclear lamina of human cells reveals a local transcriptome of 1,012 RNAs, many of which encode for nuclear proteins involved in histone modification, chromosomal structure maintenance, and RNA processing.
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•Improving APEX-seq sensitivity via non-canonical ribonucleoside metabolic incorporation•Selectively capturing newly transcribed RNA at subcellular locales in cultured cells•Revealing nuclear lamina-associated mRNAs involved in controlling gene expression
Li et al. develop a sensitive method for the subcellular profiling of newly transcribed RNA in live cells, which uncovers nuclear lamina-associated mRNAs that encode for nuclear proteins involved in histone modification, chromosomal structure maintenance, and RNA splicing and processing.
A novel formaldehyde-free phosphorus–nitrogen flame retardant with multiple reactive groups, dioxo (3-triethylphosphite-5-chlorine−1−triazine) neopentyl glycol (DTCTNG), has been synthesized and was ...applied to cotton fabrics. The molecular structure of DTCTNG was characterized by FTIR, 1H NMR, and 31P NMR. The thermal degradation property of DTCTNG was assessed by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), which revealed that it has good thermal stability on the high temperature condition. To achieve a covalent bond between DTCTNG and fiber matrix, the finishing conditions of cotton fabrics with different add-on's DTCTNG were investigated by using TGA, vertical flammability test, limiting oxygen index (LOI) and scanning electron microscope test (SEM). The water resistance of the treated cotton fabrics under optimal finishing condition was studied by LOI test. Furthermore, the mechanism of cross-linking reaction between DTCTNG and cotton fiber was discussed by attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR). All the results showed that cotton fabrics treated with DTCTNG has good flame retardancy and steady water resistance.
In this study, we try to investigate the possible causes of failed TACE when it is served as a down-staging therapy for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma.
Two hundred and seventy eight patients had ...diagnoses of unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma but had the possibility to accept a resection if they accepted the successful use of TACE as a down-staging therapy. The patients were divided into two groups based on the result of the down-staging therapy: those within the UCSF criteria (group 1, N = 166) and those outside of the criteria (group 2, N = 112).
There was no significant difference between the two groups in their demographic characteristics or their liver function. There were more tumor targets in the failed group (2.5 ± 1.5) than in the successful group (2.1 ± 1.3) (P = 0.013); however, the difference in the total diameter of the targets per patient did not reach statistical significance (P = 0.321), after one to four TACE sessions, the final AFP level was significantly different between the two groups (P = 0.042); there were more patients with a post-treatment AFP level 400 ng/ml in the failed group(28.7% vs. 20.5%, P=0.042). After comparing the number of TACE sessions between two groups, no significant difference was found (P = 0.659). A logistic regression analysis revealed three independent factors that were associated with the failure of TACE when it was used as a down-staging therapy: the tumor target number, post-TACE AFP level and number of TACE sessions (P < 0.05).
The current results indicate that post-TACE AFP ≥ 400 ng/ml and more tumor targets were the dropout factors influencing the failure of TACE when it was used as a down-staging therapy for advanced HCC patients who previously met the UCSF criteria.
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•Novel Bio-PCMs with desirable biocompatibility were developed.•The composites exhibit high phase change enthalpies (156.8 J/g).•The composites show excellent thermal and ...shape-stabilities.
Phase change thermal storage technology is an effective approach to solving the mismatch between energy supply and demand. However, this technique requires considerable efforts to the successful application and popularization. In view of designing form-stable phase change materials (PCMs) with desirable latent heat enthalpy. We reported novel and eco-friendly PCMs via a simple and convenient method. In this study, the polyethylene glycol (PEG) was in situ-loaded with Ca2+-crosslinked sodium alginate (SA) on the account of the coordination of Ca2+ with carboxyl groups in the SA structure, to produce the Bio-based composite PCMs (Bio-PCMs). The PEG/SA composites (PSCs) achieved a 93% PEG loading rate, and phase transition enthalpy can reach 156.8 J/g. Meanwhile, these materials possess satisfactory shape stability as well as excellent thermal energy management capability. Therefore, this novel composite shows considerable potential applications in the field of biomedical thermal insulation due to their biocompatibility, nontoxicity and high latent heat during phase change.
Starch/polyvinyl alcohol (PVA)/clay nanocomposite films with high mechanical and barrier properties were prepared by extrusion blowing. Based on the starch/clay matrix, the effects of PVA content on ...the starch/PVA/clay nanocomposite films were investigated. Appropriate preparation conditions were determined by the rheological behavior of the blends. X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy results demonstrated that the starch/PVA/clay nanocomposite films exhibited intercalated structures and the extent of intercalation increased with increasing PVA content. FTIR spectra showed that the molecular interactions were enhanced in the starch/PVA/clay films with higher PVA content. Dynamic mechanical analysis revealed partial miscibility between the starch and PVA in the films and the compatibility was improved when the PVA content was 50%. The maximum tensile strength and elongation at break for the starch/PVA/clay nanocomposite films were 30.18 MPa and 224.40%, respectively. The oxygen permeability of the starch/PVA/clay film with 50% PVA was dramatically decreased by about 210 times compared with that of a starch/clay film. A continuous phase inversion mechanism was proposed to explain the performance improvement of the starch/PVA/clay nanocomposite films. The starch/PVA/clay nanocomposite film is a promising material for high barrier food packaging.
According to physico-chemical property changes and performance improvement of starch/PVA/clay nanocomposite films, a continuous phase inversion mechanism was proposed to explain the phenomena. Schematic representation of continuous phase inversion in starch/PVA/clay nanocomposite films. Display omitted
•Starch/PVA/clay films with high performance were prepared by extrusion blowing.•The TS of 30.18 MPa and EB of 224.40% were obtained for the starch/PVA/clay film.•The OP of the starch/PVA/clay film is dramatically decreased by about 210 times.•The performance improvement was attributed to a continuous phase inversion mechanism.
