Transport Pathways Research Articles

Seasonal Variations of PM2.5 Pollution in the Chengdu–Chongqing Urban Agglomeration, China

During the development of the Chengdu–Chongqing Urban Agglomeration (CCUA) in China, PM2.5 pollution severely threatened public health, presenting a significant environmental challenge. This study employs a novel spatial interpolation method known as High Accuracy Surface Modeling (HASM), along with the geographical detector method, local and regional contributions calculation model, and the Hybrid Single–Particle Lagrangian Integrated Trajectory model to analyze the seasonal spatial distribution of PM2.5 concentrations and their anthropogenic driving factors from 2014 to 2023. The transport pathway and potential sources of seasonal PM2.5 concentrations were also examined. The results showed the following: (1) HASM was identified as the most suitable interpolation method for monitoring PM2.5 concentrations in the CCUA; (2) The PM2.5 concentrations exhibited a decreasing trend across all seasons, with the highest values in winter and the lowest in summer. Spatially, the concentrations showed a pattern of being higher in the southwest and lower in the southeast; (3) Industrial soot (dust) emissions (ISEs) and industry structure (IS) were the most important anthropogenic driving factors influencing PM2.5 pollution; (4) The border area between the eastern part of the Tibet Autonomous Region and western Sichuan province in China significantly contribute to PM2.5 pollution in the CCUA, especially during winter.

Multisite Crosslinked Poly(ether-urethane)-Based Polymer Electrolytes for High-Voltage Solid-State Lithium Metal Batteries.

Utilizing solid-state polymer electrolytes (SPEs) in high-voltage Li-metal batteries is a promising strategy for achieving high energy density and safety. However, the SPEs face the challenges such as undesirable mechanical strength, low ionic conductivity and incompatible high-voltage interface. Here, a novel crosslinked poly(ether-urethane)-based SPE with a molecular cross-linked structure is fabricated to create high-throughput Li+ transport pathway. The amino-modified Zr-porphyrin-based metal-organic frameworks (ZrMOF) are introduced as multisite cross-linking nodes and polymer chain extenders. The abundant ether/ketonic-oxygen and Lewis acid sites in the SPE achieve high Li+ conductivity (5.7 × 10-4 S cm-1 at 30°C) and Li+ transference number (0.84). The interpenetrating cross-linked structure of SPE with robust mechanical strength results in a record cycle life of 8000h in Li||Li symmetric cell. The high structural stability of ZrMOF and abundant electron-withdrawing urethane/ureido groups in the SPE with high oxidation potential (5.1V) enables a discharge capacity of 182 mAh g-1 at 0.3 C over 500 cycles in a LiNi0.8Co0.1Mn0.1O2||Li cell. Remarkably, a high energy density of 446Wh kg-1 in a 1.5-Ah pouch cell is obtained with high loading cathode (≈4 mAh cm-2), demonstrating a great prospect of the current SPE for practical application in solid-state, high-voltage Li-metal batteries.

Plant membrane transporters function under abiotic stresses: a review.

In the present review, we discussed the detailed signaling cascades via membrane transporters that confer plant tolerance to abiotic stresses and possible significant use in plant development for climate-resilient crops. Plant transporters play significant roles in nutrient uptake, cellular balance, and stress responses. They facilitate the exchange of chemicals and signals across the plant's membrane by signal transduction, osmotic adjustment, and ion homeostasis. Therefore, research into plant transporters is crucial for understanding the mechanics of plant stress tolerance. Transporters have potential applications in crop breeding for increased stress resistance. We discuss new results about various transporter families (ABC, MATE, NRAMP, NRT, PHT, ZIP), including their functions in abiotic stress tolerance and plant development. Furthermore, we emphasize the importance of transporters in plant responses to abiotic stresses such as drought, cold, salt, and heavy metal toxicity, low light, flooding, and nutrient deficiencies. We discuss the transporter pathways and processes involved in diverse plant stress responses. This review discusses recent advances in the role of membrane transporters in abiotic stress tolerance in Arabidopsis and other crops. The review contains the genes discovered in recent years and associated molecular mechanisms that improve plants' ability to survive abiotic stress and their possible future applications by integrating membrane transporters with other technologies.

Facilitating Ion Storage and Transport Pathways by In Situ Constructing 1D Carbon Nanotube Electric Bridges between 2D MXene Interlayers.

Multiple van der Waals (vdW) gaps invoke abundant opportunities for contriving artificial architectures and tailoring desired properties via the intercalation route beyond the reach of conventional concepts. Intriguingly, the electrochemical intercalation strategy can precisely and reversibly tune the intercalation stage of charged functional species. This study presents a valid structural editing protocol facilitated by electrochemical intercalation to engineer MXene interlayers, ultimately incorporating in situ constructed carbon nanotube (CNT) electric bridges for enhanced ion storage and transport pathways. The method allows for the precise modulation of electrochemical forces to tailor materials for specific applications. Deep intercalation and in situ growth processes establish robust anchoring sites and connectivity hubs between MXenes and CNTs, ensuring structural homogeneity and stability in advanced electrode materials. The results demonstrate the effectiveness of electrochemistry-mediated interlayer nanoengineering in MXenes, offering a versatile approach to design vdW heterostructures with tailored functionalities for energy storage and conversion applications. This work highlights the potential of electrochemical modulation in advancing materials engineering strategies for next-generation energy storage technologies.

A pathway design framework for national freight transport decarbonization strategies

ABSTRACT National and international freight transport emissions represent about 40% of global transport emissions, with demand expected to triple by 2050, which will increase emissions further. However, to meet the 1.5°C climate goal, a rapid decrease in transport emissions is required, along with the achievement of zero emissions as soon as possible around mid-century. Given this context, long-term low-emission national development pathways provide a strategic instrument to align short-term action with long-term objectives and to reduce national freight transport emissions. However, current transport-energy modelling studies often exclude the structural and systemic mitigation options that influence the industrial production and supply chain structure, as well as modal and logistics choices, and instead focus mainly on the technological options related to road freight vehicles and fuels. In addition, such studies lack relevant policy and stakeholder-oriented explanations of the barriers and enablers associated with these options. In this paper, we introduce a new framework to design and compare long-term national and sectoral decarbonization pathways for freight transportation, facilitating the consideration of all decarbonization options and the organization of stakeholder-oriented policy dialogues. The development of this sectoral framework builds on the general Deep Decarbonization Pathways (DDP) framework and a first implementation in France. It is then applied and tested in three emerging countries: Brazil, India and South Africa and the results show that the linking of systemic and technological changes could reduce emissions per tonne-km by at least 60%, and up to 100% by 2050, while also reducing energy consumption and supporting national development.

Impact of Senescent Cell-Derived Extracellular Vesicles on Innate Immune Cell Function.

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are components of the senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP) that influence cellular functions via their cargo. Here, the interaction between EVs derived from senescent (SEVs) and non-senescent (N-SEVs) fibroblasts and the immune system is investigated. Via endocytosis, SEVs are phagocytosed by monocytes, neutrophils, and B cells. Studies with the monocytic THP-1 cell line find that pretreatment with SEVs results in a 32% (p < 0.0001) and 66% (p < 0.0001) increase in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) production when compared to vehicle control or N-SEVs respectively. Interestingly, relative to vehicle control, THP-1 cells exposed to N-SEVs exhibit a 20% decrease in TNF-α secretion (p < 0.05). RNA sequencing reveals significant differences in gene expression in THP-1 cells treated with SEVs or N-SEVs, with vesicle-mediated transport and cell cycle regulation pathways featuring predominantly with N-SEV treatment, while pathways relating to SLITS/ROBO signaling, cell metabolism, and cell cycle regulation are enriched in THP-1 cells treated with SEVs. Proteomic analysis also reveals significant differences between SEV and N-SEV cargo. These results demonstrate that phagocytes and B cells uptake SEVs and drive monocytes toward a more proinflammatory phenotype upon LPS stimulation. SEVs may therefore contribute to the more proinflammatory immune response seen with aging.

Facile synthesis of monoclinic (NH4)2V4O9 nanosheets for zinc-ion batteries

Aqueous zinc-ion batteries (ZIBs) are increasingly popular due to their low cost and high safety. However, the quest for cathode materials with robust internal structures and efficient ion transport pathways remains critical. In this study, we introduce a simple hydrothermal method to synthesize monoclinic (NH4)2V4O9 nanosheets, serving as a advanced cathode for ZIBs. This material demonstrates outstanding electrochemical properties, with a high specific capacity of 389 mAh g−1 at 0.1 A g−1, and retains 78.9 % capacity after 3000 cycles at 1 A g−1 and 77.3 % after 15,000 cycles at 5 A g−1. Additionally, it achieves an energy density of 325 Wh kg−1 at 101 W kg−1. In-depth electrochemical analysis reveals the structural stability during reversible Zn2+ ion intercalation/de-intercalation, underscoring the potential of (NH4)2V4O9 as a high-performance material for ZIBs.

Characterization of bi-segmented and tri-segmented recombinant Pichinde virus particles.

Mammarenaviruses include several highly virulent pathogens (e.g., Lassa virus) capable of causing severe hemorrhagic fever diseases for which there are no approved vaccines and limited treatment options. Mammarenaviruses are enveloped, bi-segmented ambisense RNA viruses. There is limited knowledge about cellular proteins incorporated into progeny virion particles and their potential biological roles in viral infection. Pichinde virus (PICV) is a prototypic arenavirus used to characterize mammarenavirus replication and pathogenesis. We have developed a recombinant PICV with a tri-segmented RNA genome as a viral vector platform. Whether the tri-segmented virion differs from the wild-type bi-segmented one in viral particle morphology and protein composition has not been addressed. In this study, recombinant PICV (rPICV) virions with a bi-segmented (rP18bi) and a tri-segmented (rP18tri) genome were purified by density-gradient ultracentrifugation and analyzed by cryo-electron microscopy and mass spectrometry. Both virion types are pleomorphic with spherical morphology and have no significant difference in size despite rP18tri having denser particles. Both virion types also contain similar sets of cellular proteins. Among the highly enriched virion-associated cellular proteins are components of the endosomal sorting complex required for transport pathway and vesicle trafficking, such as ALIX, Tsg101, VPS, CHMP, and Ras-associated binding proteins, which have known functions in virus assembly and budding. Other enriched cellular proteins include peripheral and transmembrane proteins, chaperone proteins, and ribosomal proteins; their biological roles in viral infection warrant further analysis. Our study provides important insights into mammarenavirus particle formation and aids in the future development of viral vectors and antiviral discovery.IMPORTANCEMammarenaviruses, such as Lassa virus, are enveloped RNA viruses that can cause severe hemorrhagic fever diseases (Lassa fever) with no approved vaccine and limited therapeutic options. Cellular proteins incorporated into progeny virion particles and their biological roles in mammarenavirus infection have not been well characterized. Pichinde virus (PICV) is a prototypic mammarenavirus used as a surrogate model for Lassa fever. We used cryo-electron microscopy and proteomic analysis to characterize the morphology and protein contents of the purified PICV particles that package either two (bi-segmented) or three (tri-segmented) genomic RNA segments. Our results demonstrate a similar virion morphology but different particle density for the bi- and tri-segmented viral particles and reveal major virion-associated cellular proteins. This study provides important insights into the virus-host interactions that can be used for antiviral development and optimizing arenavirus-based vaccine vectors.

Tectonic Inversion in Sediment-Hosted Copper Deposits: The Luangu Area, West Congo Basin, Republic of the Congo

Complex Neoproterozoic tectonic processes greatly affected the West Congo Basin, resulting in a series of dispersed copper deposits in the Niari Sub-basin, Republic of the Congo. Structural observation and analysis can help in understanding both the transportation pathways for copper accumulation and the detailed tectonic evolution processes. This study examines cases from four copper mine sites in the Luangu region of the Niari Basin, using a set of codes that consider the three regional tectonic regimes (extension, extrusion, and contraction) and three deformation criteria (maximum effective moment criterion, tensile fracture criterion, and the Coulomb criterion). By combining these two aspects, nine new codes are introduced: the extension maximum effective moment criterion (EM), extension tensile fracture criterion (ET), extension Coulomb criterion (EC), strike-slip maximum effective moment criterion (SM), strike-slip tensile fracture criterion (ST), strike-slip Coulomb criterion (SC), compression maximum effective moment criterion (CM), compression tensile fracture criterion (CT), and compression Coulomb criterion (CC). By analyzing and applying these codes to the selected sites, we show that the new codes can present a geometric coordination catering to an exhumation-related inversion process from extension, strike-slipping, to contraction. The existence of SM- and CM-related structures that occurred during regional extrusional and contractional events may indicate a deeper level of exhumation for layers related to copper deposits in the field sites. A new tectonic evolution model is presented, considering the hypothesis of vertical principal stress changes while the two horizontal principal stresses remain relatively constant during copper mineralization affected by the Western Congo Orogen. The application of the nine codes facilitates the determination of interrelations between different tectonic regimes.

Microstructure Morphology of Chemical and Structural Phase Separation in Thermally treated KxFe2-ySe2Superconductor.

The iron-based KxFe2-ySe2 superconductor displays phase separation, leading to the coexisting metallic phase embedded in an antiferromagnetic matrix. The metallic character of the system is believed to arise from a percolative granular network affecting normal as well as superconducting state properties. This network can be manipulated and controlled through thermal treatments. In this study, we have used scanning X-ray micro-fluorescence to visualize morphology of the phase separation and the percolation in KxFe2-ySe2, manipulated by distinct thermal treatments, i.e., fast quenching and slow cooling. We find a differing spatial correlation between Fe and K in differently treated samples, ascribed to different Fe vacancy ordering. We have identified an intermediate phase that acts as an interface between the two phases. The high temperature quenching produces oriented clustered microstructure in which the percolation threshold is lower and hence a more effective network for the transport pathways. Instead, the slow cooling results in larger interfaces around the percolation threshold affecting the superconducting properties of the system. The results provide a quantitative characterization of microstructural morphology of differently grown KxFe2-ySe2 showing potential for the design of electronic devices based on sub-micron scale chemical phase separation, thus opening avenues for further studies of complex heterogeneous structures.

Graphene wrapped porous polyaniline/manganese oxide nanocomposites with enhanced structural stability and conductivity for high‐performance symmetric supercapacitor

AbstractManganese oxides have emerged as promising electrode materials for supercapacitors. Despite extensive efforts to improve their conductivity and structural stability through various manganese oxide/conductor nanocomposites, achieving efficient and reliable energy storage electrode materials has remained challenging. In this study, we propose a meticulous “dual enhancement” strategy, where three‐dimensional (3D) nanostructured polyaniline/manganese oxide composites (PM) are synthesized via an in situ method and further integrated with graphene wrapping to form polyaniline/manganese oxide/graphene nanocomposites (PMG). Electrochemical characterization reveals that PMG exhibits a remarkable specific capacitance of up to 403 F g−1 (at 1 A g−1), with a favorable capacitance retention of 80.2% after 5000 cycles, along with a wide potential window. This enhancement is attributed to the synergistic effects of polyaniline, which provides a supportive framework and electron transport pathways, and graphene, which offers external protection and enhances conductivity pathways. Assembled symmetrical supercapacitors demonstrate outstanding energy density (32.7–23.3 Wh kg−1) and power density (720–4500 W kg−1) at a high operating voltage of 1.8 V, surpassing the performance of many reported high‐performance supercapacitors. This study provides valuable insights for advancing manganese oxide electrode materials and is expected to catalyze their widespread adoption in energy storage applications.Highlights “Dual enhancement” is implemented by PANI supporting and rGO wrapping. The conductivity and structural stability of composite electrode is greatly enhanced. Improved capacitance (403 F g−1, 1 A g−1) and cycling stability (80.2%) is achieved. The symmetrical supercapacitor has high voltage and energy density (32.7 Wh kg−1).

Precise Construction of the Triple-Phase Boundary and Its Antiphosphate Poisoning Effect in the Confined Region.

As a critical component for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR), platinum (Pt) catalysts exhibit promising catalytic performance in High-temperature-proton exchange membrane fuel cells (HT-PEMFCs). Despite their success, HT-PEMFCs primarily utilize phosphoric acid-doped polybenzimidazole (PA-PBI) as the proton exchange membrane, and the phosphoric acid within the PBI matrix tends to leach onto the Pt-based layers, easily causing toxicity. Herein, we first propose UiO-66@Pt3Co1-T composites with precisely engineered interfacial structures. The UiO-66@Pt3Co1-T exhibits an octahedral porous framework with uniform structural dimensions and even distribution of surface nanoparticles, which demonstrate superior ORR performance compared to commercial Pt/C. The unique structure and morphology of the composites also exhibit a favorable half-wave potential in different concentrations of phosphoric acid electrolyte, regulated by the phosphoric acid adsorption site and intensity.This finding suggests that the incorporation of Co could effectively modulate the Pt d-band center, thereby enhancing the ORR performance. Furthermore, the selective adsorption of phosphoric acid by ZrO2 enables precise control over the phosphoric acid distribution. Notably, the retention of the octahedral framework post high-temperature treatment facilitates the establishment of dual transport pathways for gases and protons, leading to a stable and efficient triple-phase boundary.

Latexin deficiency limits foam cell formation and ameliorates atherosclerosis by promoting macrophage phenotype differentiation

Latexin (LXN) is abundant in macrophages and plays critical roles in inflammation. Much is known about macrophages in atherosclerosis, the role of macrophage LXN in atherosclerosis has remained elusive. Here, the expression of LXN in human and mouse atherosclerotic lesions was examined by immunofluorescence and immunohistochemistry. LXN knockout and LXN/ApoE double-knockout mice were generated to evaluate the functions of LXN in atherosclerosis. Bone marrow transplantation (BMT) experimentation was carried out to determine whether macrophage LXN regulates atherosclerosis. We found that LXN is enriched in human and murine atherosclerotic lesions, mainly localized to macrophages. LXN deletion ameliorated atherosclerosis in ApoE-/- mice. BMT demonstrate that deletion of LXN in bone marrow protects ApoE-/- mice against atherosclerosis. Mechanistically, we found that LXN targets and inhibits JAK1 in macrophages. LXN deficiency stimulates the JAK1/STAT3/ABC transporter pathway, thereby enhancing the anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant phenotype, cholesterol efflux, subsequently minimizing foam cell formation and atherosclerosis. Gene therapy by treatment of atherosclerotic mice with adeno-associated virus harbouring LXN-depleting shRNA attenuated the disease phenotype. In summary, our study provides new clues for the role of LXN in the pathological regulation of atherosclerosis, and determines that LXN is a target for preventing atherosclerosis, which may be a potential new anti-atherosclerosis therapeutic target.

De novo transcriptome assembly and differential gene expression analysis in different developmental stages of Agriotes sputator (click beetle)

Wireworms, the larva of click beetle (Agriotes species), are one of the most destructive pests of horticultural crops in North America, responsible for considerable economic losses in Canada. Agriotes sputator (A. sputator) species is a predominant wireworm pest attacking potato fields in Eastern Canada. However, no information about its genome-wide gene expression profile, specifically for the genes involved with development is available to date. Therefore, we generated the transcriptome profile of A. sputator during five developmental stages, including the three larval stages and adult male and female click beetle. Out of 714.7 million raw reads, de novo assembly generated 564,561 transcripts. The data were subjected to differential expression analysis using DESeq2, gene ontology, annotation, and pathway analyses. A total of 34,709 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were significant (log2 fold change > 2, padj < 0.05) across the developmental stages. Functional analysis of DEGs identified development signaling, metabolism, transport, cellular mechanisms, and drug metabolism (cytochrome p450) pathways. This study provides comprehensive sequence resources and potential gene differences at different developmental stages of A. sputator. These findings will represent a major step towards developing sustainable methods to control this widely distributed pest in agricultural fields.

Abstract A048: The Loss of Cholesterol Efflux Pump ABCA1 Skews Macrophages Towards a Pro-tumor Phenotype and Facilitates Breast Cancer Progression

Abstract Breast cancer is the most common and second-leading cause of cancer-related fatalities in women in the United States. The primary cause of mortality is often the recurrence of metastatic breast cancer. While immunotherapy shows some effectiveness, it has only been approved for patients who stain positive for PD-L1. Previous research in our lab has shown that macrophage function can be regulated through disruption in cholesterol metabolism. Additionally, elevated plasma cholesterol levels have been associated with breast cancer recurrence. These findings underscore the impact of cholesterol homeostasis in tumor-associated macrophages on breast cancer progression. An in-depth computational screen helped us pinpoint ABCA1—a cholesterol efflux protein whose elevated mRNA expression linked to increased survival. In addition to efflux, ABCA1 can also translocate cholesterol from the inner leaflet of the plasma membrane to the outer layer. Highlighting the clinical importance of ABCA1 are our findings that show that increased ABCA1 levels within breast tumors correlate to an increase in cytotoxic T Cells, and T cell effector enzymes (Prf-1 and Gzmb), and improved survival rates. Importantly, our in vitro studies suggest that ABCA1 influences several functions of macrophages relevant to tumor biology. Specifically, ABCA1 shifts macrophages towards an anti-cancer phenotype by (1) increasing their ability to infiltrate tumor spheroids, (2) decreasing angiogenesis, (3) decreasing efferocytosis—an immune-suppressive phagocytic process devoid of antigen presentation, and (4) enhancing the expansion, migration, and activity of cytotoxic T cells. The culmination of these attributes were demonstrated by our observations that syngeneic grafts of E0771 mammary tumors grew at an accelerated rate in mice with a myeloid-specific knockout of ABCA1 (ABCA1fl/fl;LysMcre+) compared to control mice. ABCA1 transports cholesterol from macrophages to a lipid-poor ApoA1 protein and facilitates the formation of nascent HDL via the reverse cholesterol transport pathway. We leveraged this mechanism to therapeutically target ABCA1 using ApoA1 mimetics 5A and 4F. Our data so far indicates that ApoA1 mimetics phenocopy ABCA1 overexpression skewing macrophages towards an anti-tumor phenotype. Importantly, treatment with 5A in mice grafted with 4T1 metastatic breast cancer cell line resulted in marked reduction in tumor burden. Additionally, we observed an increased infiltration of cytotoxic T cells and a decrease in CD31 expression, suggesting reduced blood vessel formation. Collectively, our data strongly supports the role of ABCA1 in the development of breast cancer. The expected results from this research will lay the groundwork for future therapeutic strategies for the use of ABCA1 and ApoA1 mimetics in the treatment of breast cancer. Citation Format: Shruti Bendre, Natalia Krawczynska, Shaunak Bhogale, Erin Weisser, Simon Han, Basel Hajyousif, Avni Singh, Rajendra KC, Yu Wang, Claire P Schane, Adam T Nelczyk, Dhanya Pradeep, Lara Kockaya, Hashni Epa Vidana Gamage, Kevin VanBortle, Emad Tajkorshid, Saurabh Sinha, Wendy A Woodward, Wonhwa Cho, Erik R Nelson. The Loss of Cholesterol Efflux Pump ABCA1 Skews Macrophages Towards a Pro-tumor Phenotype and Facilitates Breast Cancer Progression [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Special Conference in Cancer Research: Tumor Immunology and Immunotherapy; 2024 Oct 18-21; Boston, MA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Immunol Res 2024;12(10 Suppl):Abstract nr A048.

CD73 promotes non–small cell lung cancer metastasis by regulating Axl signaling independent of GAS6

As catabolic enzyme, CD73 dephosphorylates adenosine monophosphate (AMP) and can also regulate tumor cell proliferation and metastasis. To date, very few studies have explored the role of CD73 in mediating non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) metastasis, and the underlying transducing signal has not been elucidated. In the present study, we demonstrated that the CD73/Axl axis could regulate Smad3-induced epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) to promote NSCLC metastasis. Mechanically, CD73 can be secreted via the Golgi apparatus transport pathway. Then secreted CD73 may activate AXl by directly bind with site R55 located in Axl extracellular domain independently of GAS6. In addition, we proved that CD73 can stabilize Axl expression via inhibiting CBLB expression. We also identified the distinct function of CD73 activity in adenocarcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma. Our findings indicated a role of CD73 in mediating NSCLC metastasis and propose it as a therapeutic target for NSCLC.

Hyperstable low-tortuosity fast ion nanochannels for MXene electrodes

The development of flexible MXene-based electrodes with hyperstable ion nanochannels and low tortuosity, remains daunting challenging for long-term wearable electronic devices. This paper presents a hydrogen-bonding enhanced holey MXene (HC-HMXene) electrode with maximum ion accessibility, optimized ion transport pathways, and hyperstable ion nanochannels. Specifically, three roles of introducing in-plane mesopores, reducing the lateral dimensions, and increasing the interlayer spacing in HMXene film notably enhance the electrolyte permeation efficiency and shorten the ion transport paths of the electrode (resulting in a 78.7-fold decrease in tortuosity). Thus, the constructed HC-HMXene electrode exhibits 41.1 times higher diffusion coefficient and 2.3 times higher specific capacitance than those of closely restacked film electrode with the same mass loading of MXene. Furthermore, the aramid nanofibers introduced among the MXene layers as interlocking agents bond the nanosheets via hydrogen interaction and significantly enhance the stability of the ion channel. Consequently, the HC-HMXene film effectively resists swelling behavior and maintains good structural stability in aqueous media. Moreover, the flexible sensing integrated system, powered by a HC-HMXene-based zinc ion microcapacitor, exhibits promising application prospects in real-time monitoring human physiological characteristics.

Bimetal anchoring porous MXene nanosheets for driving tandem catalytic high‐efficiency electrochemical nitrate reduction

AbstractElectrochemical nitrate reduction reaction (NO3RR) is considered a promising strategy for ammonia synthesis and nitrate removal, in which catalyst development is crucial. Herein, a series of bimetal (Co and Cu) anchoring porous MXene nanosheets (CoxCuy@PM) catalysts were prepared by combining etching and reduction strategy. On the one hand, Cu and Co bimetals provided tandem catalytic active sites for NO3RR. On the other hand, the in‐plane PM exhibited good electrical conductivity and multiple transport pathways. Consequently, the optimized Co7Cu3@PM catalyst achieved a high ammonia yield of 7.43 mg h−1 mg cat.−1 and an excellent Faraday efficiency (FE) of 95.9%. The mechanism of NO3RR was investigated by analyzing electrolysis products and in situ Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. Furthermore, the Co7Cu3@PM based ZnNO3− battery exhibited the superior power density of 5.59 mW cm−2 and an NH3 FE of 92.3%. This work presents an effective strategy to design MXene‐based high‐performance NO3RR electrocatalysts.

Proteomic analysis of giant panda testicular tissue of different age groups

Background The reproductive ability of male giant pandas has been a major complicating factor in the ex-situ conservation of the species. While it is well known that the testis produces sperm and secretes androgens, a process that requires precise regulation of various proteins, at present, there has been no systematic study on the composition of proteins in the testis of the giant pandas. Therefore, this study aims to apply proteomics to explore the regulation of proteins in the testes of giant pandas. Methods Samples from the testes of three giant pandas (22 years, 18 years, 8 days) were studied to assess the protein’s function. A label-free quantitative method was used to isolate testicular proteins from each male, 139,039 peptides and 11,435 proteins were obtained. Results Gene Ontology (GO) annotates most of the proteins involved in the processes of protein phosphorylation, oxidation-reduction, proteolysis, and signal transduction. KEGG pathway indicated that most of the proteins were involved in the pathway of signal transduction, transport, and catabolism. The protein kinase and WD40 repeats were involved in protein-protein interaction, which in turn regulates gene expression in the testicular tissue of giant pandas. Conclusions This study is the first to conduct an in-depth proteomic analysis of testicular tissue in giant pandas. The results revealed the important role of proteins in testicular tissue on spermatogenesis, testosterone production, and testicular microenvironment, providing clues for further research on male giant panda reproduction.

Design of Hydrogen Combustion Engine (Conceptual Brainstorming)

Hydrogen combustion engines present a promising pathway for cleaner transportation, leveraging existing internal combustion engine (ICE) technologies. The design of hydrogen-fueled ICEs requires significant modifications to conventional gasoline or diesel engines due to hydrogen’s distinct combustion properties. This research outlines the key design considerations for hydrogen combustion engines, including fuel storage and injection, combustion chamber modifications, ignition control, and exhaust treatment. The study also discusses recent advancements in engine efficiency, NOx reduction, and dual-fuel systems, along with the challenges of implementing hydrogen-based ICEs in commercial applications. Keywords: hydrogen, combustion, design, ICE, alternative fuels