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Solar energy is an inexhaustible renewable energy source. Among the various methods for solar energy conversion, photocatalytic hydrogen (H 2 ) production is considered as one of the most promising ways. Since Fujishima pioneered this field in 1972, photocatalytic water splitting to produce H 2 has received widespread attention. Up to now, abundant semiconductor materials have been explored as photocatalysts for pure water splitting to produce H 2 . However, photocatalytic seawater splitting is more in line with the concept of sustainable development, which can greatly alleviate the problem of limited freshwater resource. At present, only few studies have focused on the process of H 2 production by photocatalytic seawater splitting due to the complex composition of seawater and lack of suitable photocatalysts. In this review, we outline the most recent advances in photocatalytic seawater splitting. In particular, we introduce the H 2 production photocatalysts, underlying mechanism of ions in seawater on photocatalytic seawater splitting, current challenges and future potential advances for this exciting field.

This study examines how executives’ IT backgrounds affect corporate digital technology innovation, using panel data from listed companies between 2011 and 2021. Findings indicate that executives’ IT backgrounds significantly enhance corporate digital technology innovation, particularly in digital technology invention patents, where the effect is especially pronounced, and the results are robust. Mechanistic analysis suggests managerial myopia and executives’ attention to digital technology are key factors that allow executives’ IT backgrounds to promote corporate digital technology innovation. Further analysis shows executives’ IT backgrounds have a greater promotional effect on digital technology innovation in state-owned enterprises, non-IT sectors, firms with influential executives, and organizations with long-serving executives. Economic analysis reveals that executives’ IT backgrounds can improve corporate financial performance by enhancing digital technology innovation. This paper highlights the importance of executive IT human capital and provides insights into government and corporate talent recruitment policies.

Photocatalytic water splitting (PWS) has attracted widespread attention as a sustainable method for converting solar to green hydrogen energy. So far PWS research has mainly focused on the development of artificial photocatalytic hydrogen production systems for pure water. It is more practically attractive to create systems for seawater, i.e., to reduce the cost of hydrogen production and make better use of naturally occurring water resources. Herein, brookite, anatase, and rutile TiO 2 nanoparticles are investigated as photocatalysts to explore the feasibility of such thought and have shown attractive hydrogen production performance under full solar spectrum without any sacrificial agent. It is worth noting that, brookite TiO 2 , has more suitable band gap position and excellent photoelectric properties compared with anatase and rutile TiO 2 , and has higher efficiency and stability in the process of hydrogen production. The photocatalytic hydrogen production rate of brookite TiO 2 can reach up to 1,476 µmol/g/h, the highest value reported for TiO 2 -based systems and most other photocatalysts in seawater splitting under full spectrum. As the Cl − ions in seawater go through a cycle of oxidation and reduction, no Cl 2 is detected in the solar hydrogen production from seawater.

Environmental, social, and governance (ESG) has emerged as a widespread concern for all societal segments. This study aims to explore the influence of network attention on corporate ESG practices from an investor perspective. We find that rising network attention significantly increases corporate ESG practices. Specifically, network attention plays the role of external monitoring, image promotion incentives, and mitigation of financing constraints to make companies willing to challenge ESG practices. Additionally, the promoting effect of network attention on firms’ ESG practices was more significant in higher marketization processes, severely competitive industries, and non-state enterprises. In the internet era, companies must pay attention to the flow effect caused by network attention, meet stakeholder demands, and pursue long-term sustainable development.

White adipose tissue (WAT) expansion in obesity occurs through enlargement of preexisting adipocytes (hypertrophy) and through formation of new adipocytes (adipogenesis). Adipogenesis results in WAT hyperplasia, smaller adipocytes and a metabolically more favourable form of obesity. How obesogenic WAT hyperplasia is induced remains, however, poorly understood. Here, we show that the mechanosensitive cationic channel Piezo1 mediates diet-induced adipogenesis. Mice lacking Piezo1 in mature adipocytes demonstrated defective differentiation of preadipocyte into mature adipocytes when fed a high fat diet (HFD) resulting in larger adipocytes, increased WAT inflammation and reduced insulin sensitivity. Opening of Piezo1 in mature adipocytes causes the release of the adipogenic fibroblast growth factor 1 (FGF1), which induces adipocyte precursor differentiation through activation of the FGF-receptor-1. These data identify a central feed-back mechanism by which mature adipocytes control adipogenesis during the development of obesity and suggest Piezo1-mediated adipocyte mechano-signalling as a mechanism to modulate obesity and its metabolic consequences. Adipose tissue expansion occurs via enlargement of adipocytes as well as the generation of new fat cells, the latter being associated with more favorable metabolic outcomes. Here, the authors show that activation of adipocyte Piezo1 results in release of FGF1 and stimulates the differentiation of adipocyte precursor cells.

Background: Lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) are common non-motor symptoms but are often overlooked in Parkinson’s disease (PD). The prevalence of LUTS in PD is inconsistent among different studies. Objective: To estimate the prevalence of LUTS, urinary incontinence, and urinary retention in PD patients, then, investigate potential sources of inconsistency in prevalence estimation. Methods: We searched PubMed, EMBASE, and Web of Science databases from inception to May 2022. Studies reporting the prevalence of LUTS or LUTS subtypes in PD were included. Pooled prevalence of LUTS, LUTS subtypes, urinary incontinence, and urinary retention was calculated via random-effects models. Meta-regression and subgroup analyses were performed. Results: Of 7358 studies after duplicate removal, a total of 73 studies comprising 14937 PD patients were included. The pooled prevalence of LUTS was 61% (95% CI 53 to 69%; 27 studies; n = 5179), while the pooled prevalence of storage symptoms and voiding symptoms was 59% (44 to 73%; 9 studies; n = 798) and 24% (14 to 33%; 11 studies; n = 886), respectively. The pooled prevalence of urinary incontinence, retention and post-void residual (PVR) volume ≥100 ml were 30% (95% CI 22 to 39%; 21 studies; n = 6054), 27% (17 to 37%; 14 studies; n = 1991), and 4% (1 to 7%; 5 studies; n =439), respectively. The prevalence of LUTS, urinary incontinence, or urinary retention was significantly associated with diagnostic methods. Conclusion: LUTS and its subtypes present in a significant proportion of PD patients. It is necessary to use standardized and validated methods to detect and screen LUTS and its subtypes.

Preoperative inflammatory status plays an important role in the prognosis of malignancy. We sought to explore the value of preoperative inflammatory biomarkers in predicting long-term outcomes of liver transplantation (LT) in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Patients who underwent LT for HCC in our hospital between January 2010 and June 2020 were included in this study. Demographic, clinical, laboratory, and outcome data were obtained. The area under the curve (AUC) of the receiver operating characteristic curve was used to evaluate the predictive value of inflammatory biomarkers. The effectiveness of inflammatory biomarkers in predicting outcomes was analyzed by univariate and multivariate Cox proportional hazards analyses. A total of 218 patients were included in the study, with a mean age of 53.9 ± 8.5 years. The AUC of neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), monocyte-to-lymphocyte ratio (MLR), systemic immune inflammation index (SII), and systemic inflammatory response index (SIRI) for overall survival (OS) were 0.741, 0.731, 0.756, 0.746, and 0.749, respectively. Cox proportional hazards model indicated that SIRI > 1.25 was independently associated with low OS [hazard ratio (HR) = 2.258, P = 0.024]. PLR > 82.15 and SIRI > 0.95 were independently associated with low disease-free survival (HR = 1.492, P = 0.015; and HR = 1.732, P = 0.008, respectively). In the survival analysis, the prognosis of patients with high preoperative SIRI and PLR was significantly worse (P < 0.001). SIRI and PLR were useful prognostic markers for predicting patients with HCC after LT.

Type 2 diabetes mellitus is a metabolic disorder with complicated pathogenesis, and mono-target therapy often fails to effectively manage the levels of blood glucose. In recent years, the anti-diabetes target glucokinase (GK) has attracted the attention of researchers. It acts as a glucose sensor, triggering counter regulatory responses following a change in glucose levels to aid restoration of normoglycemia. Activation of GK induces glucose metabolism and reduces glucose levels for the treatment of type 2 diabetes. GK agonists (GKA) are a new class of antidiabetic drugs. Among these agents, dorzagliatin is currently being investigated in phase III clinical trials, while PB-201 and AZD-1656 have reached phase II clinical trials. This article describes the mechanism of action of GK in diabetes and of action of GKA at the protein level, and provides a review of the research, trends, and prospects regarding the use of GKA in this setting.

In quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR), data are normalized using reference genes, which helps to control for internal differences and reduce error among samples. In this study, the expression profiles of eight candidate housekeeping genes, 18S ribosomal (18S rRNA), elongation factor (EF1), glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH), ribosomal protein L10 (RPL10), ribosomal protein L17 (RPL17), histone 3 (H3), arginine kinase (AK), amd β-Actin (ACTB), were evaluated in the parasitic wasp Cotesia chilonis in response to different temperatures. Specifically, the performance and stabilities of these genes were compared in adult wasps maintained in a growth condition at 27°C (normal storage conditions) and in adults obtained from pupae refrigerated at 4°C for five days (cold storage conditions). Data were analyzed using the ΔCt method, BestKeeper, NormFinder, and geNorm. The optimal numbers and stabilities of reference genes varied between the two temperature treatments (27°C and 4°C). In samples stored at normal developmental temperature (27°C), the requirement for normalization in response to low temperature exposures was three genes (18S, H3, AK), whereas normalization in response to high temperature exposures required only two reference genes (GAPDH, ACTB). In samples stored at cold temperature (4°C), for low temperature exposures two reference genes (RPL17, RPL10) were required for standardization, while following high temperature exposures three reference genes (18S, H3, ACTB) were needed. This study strengthens understanding of the selection of reference genes before qRT-PCR analysis in C. chilonis. The reference genes identified here will facilitate further investigations of the biological characteristics of this important parasitoid.

As potentially important biosensors within the intestinal mucosal barrier, gut sensory neurons appear to dynamically orchestrate tissue homeostasis through multimodal integration of mechanical forces, chemical cues, and microbial metabolites. While current research indicates gut sensory neurons may play a significant role in the pathophysiology of IBD/IBS, the precise etiological mechanisms underlying these disorders require further investigation. In the enteric nervous system, intrinsic primary afferent neurons (IPANs) show distinct molecular characteristics compared to peripheral sensory neurons originating from the dorsal root ganglia (DRG) and vagal ganglia (NG/JG, nodose/jugular ganglia). These neuronal subtypes appear to orchestrate bidirectional epithelial-immune communication through context-dependent release of neurochemical signals, potentially establishing a dynamic neuromodulatory network. This comprehensive review will examine the latest findings on the relationship between these sensory neurons and intestinal diseases, and explore an integrated therapeutic framework based on a triple synergistic strategy. This framework could encompass precise molecular-level modulation through targeting neurotransmitters and their receptors, systemic-level neural regulation utilizing electrical nerve stimulation techniques, and ecological reprogramming mediated by gut microbiota. This potential approach may provide a possible translational pathway from mechanistic exploration to practical application, with implications for personalized clinical interventions for IBD/IBS.