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Platinum nanoparticles (Pt NPs) are one of the most efficient cocatalysts in photocatalysis, and their size determines the activity and the selectivity of the catalytic reaction. Nevertheless, an in-depth understanding of the platinum’s size effect in the carbon dioxide photocatalytic reduction is still lacking. Through analyses of the geometric features and electronic properties with variable-sized Pt NPs, here we show a prominent size effect of Pt NPs in both the activity and selectivity of carbon dioxide photocatalytic reduction. Decreasing the size of Pt NPs promotes the charge transfer efficiency, and thus enhances both the carbon dioxide photocatalytic reduction and hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) activity, but leads to higher selectivity towards hydrogen over methane. Combining experimental results and theoretical calculations, in Pt NPs, the terrace sites are revealed as the active sites for methane generation; meanwhile, the low-coordinated sites are more favorable in the competing HER. Light-driven carbon dioxide conversion into fuels provides a nature-inspired strategy to combat climate change, but how materials do so remains a challenge. Here, the authors prepare metal–semiconductor composites and find platinum-nanoparticle size controls fuel selectivity and activity.

Genetically encoded dopamine sensors based on green fluorescent protein (GFP) enable high-resolution imaging of dopamine dynamics in behaving animals. However, these GFP-based variants cannot be readily combined with commonly used optical sensors and actuators, due to spectral overlap. We therefore engineered red-shifted variants of dopamine sensors called RdLight1, based on mApple. RdLight1 can be combined with GFP-based sensors with minimal interference and shows high photostability, permitting prolonged continuous imaging. We demonstrate the utility of RdLight1 for receptor-specific pharmacological analysis in cell culture, simultaneous assessment of dopamine release and cell-type-specific neuronal activity and simultaneous subsecond monitoring of multiple neurotransmitters in freely behaving rats. Dual-color photometry revealed that dopamine release in the nucleus accumbens evoked by reward-predictive cues is accompanied by a rapid suppression of glutamate release. By enabling multiplexed imaging of dopamine with other circuit components in vivo, RdLight1 opens avenues for understanding many aspects of dopamine biology. Red and yellow versions of the genetically encoded dopamine sensor dLight1 have been developed and allow multiplexed imaging of dopamine with neurotransmitter or cell-type-specific calcium combined with green sensors or actuators, as demonstrated ex vivo and in behaving rodents.

Hydrogen storage by means of catalytic hydrogenation of suitable organic substrates helps to elevate the volumetric density of hydrogen energy. In this regard, utilizing cheaper industrial crude hydrogen to fulfill the goal of hydrogen storage would show economic attraction. However, because CO impurities in crude hydrogen can easily deactivate metal active sites even in trace amounts such a process has not yet been realized. Here, we develop a robust RuNi/TiO 2 catalyst that enables the efficient hydrogenation of toluene to methyl-cyclohexane under simulated crude hydrogen feeds with 1000–5000 ppm CO impurity at around 180 °C under atmospheric pressure. We show that the co-localization of Ru and Ni species during reduction facilitated the formation of tightly coupled metallic Ru-Ni clusters. During the catalytic hydrogenation process, due to the distinct bonding properties, Ru and Ni served as the active sites for CO methanation and toluene hydrogenation respectively. Our work provides fresh insight into the effective utilization and purification of crude hydrogen for the future hydrogen economy. Efficient storage of crude hydrogen, through toluene hydrogenation to methylcyclohexane, is often inhibited by CO impurities. Here, the authors develop a RuNi/TiO 2 catalyst which avoids deactivation through promoting simultaneous CO methanation.

Acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF) is a prevalent complication among cirrhosis patients, whose high mortality is linked to cirrhosis combined with ACLF. Nevertheless, there is a paucity of systematic reviews. This study aimed to illustrate whether cirrhosis is a prognostic factor for ACLF. PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Library were searched for observational studies that explored the connection between cirrhosis and ACLF prognosis from database inception to January 10, 2025. Pooled relative risk (RR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) were utilized for data analyses. Publication bias was estimated using Egger's tests. The protocol was registered in the PROSPERO (CRD42025639557). This meta-analysis included 17 articles and 8,488 patients of ACLF under different diagnostic criteria. The analyses indicated that cirrhosis did not correlate with 28-day mortality of ACLF patients (RR = 1.08, 95% CI [0.84-1.39], = 0.550, = 88.8%) but independently predicted 90-day mortality (RR = 1.33, 95% CI [1.10-1.61], = 0.004, = 92.6%). Subgroup analyses of cirrhosis discovered no significant difference in 28-day and 90-day mortality between non-cirrhosis patients and those with compensated cirrhosis ( > 0.05). The 90-day mortality in decompensated cirrhosis patients was markedly higher than that in non-cirrhosis individuals (RR = 1.33, 95% CI [1.14-1.56], < 0.001, =64.2%). Compensated cirrhosis did not correlate with the 28-day mortality of ACLF patients, while it was an independent risk factor for 90-day mortality.

Aliphatic diols such as ethylene and propylene glycol are the key products in the chemical industry for manufacturing polymers. The synthesis of these molecules usually implies sequential processes, including epoxidation of olefins using hydrogen peroxide or oxygen with subsequent hydrolysis to glycols. Direct hydroxylation of olefins by cheap and green oxidants is an economically attractive and environmentally friendly route for the synthesis of diols. Here, we report a photocatalytic reaction for the dihydroxylation of ethylene and propylene to their glycols at room temperature using water as the oxidant. The photocatalyst contains Pd clusters stabilized by sub-nanometric polyoxometalate with TiO 2 as the host material. Under light irradiation, it results in production rates of ethylene glycol and propylene glycols of 146.8 mmol·g Pd −1 ·h −1 and 28.6 mmol·g Pd −1 ·h −1 with liquid-phase selectivities of 63.3 % and 80.0 %, respectively. Meanwhile, green hydrogen derived from water is produced as another valuable product. Combined spectroscopy investigation suggests that the reaction proceeds via π-bonded adsorption of olefins over Pd clusters with hydroxylation by hydroxyl radicals formed by photocatalytic dissociation of water. A direct, selective photocatalytic method for synthesizing glycols from olefins at room temperature uses water as the oxidizing agent and H 2 as byproduct. The hydroxylation proceeds by hydroxyl radicals formed by photocatalytic dissociation of water.

The aim of this study was to perform an exposure assessment of PM2.5 (particulate matter less than 2.5μm in aerodynamic diameter) among children and to explore the potential sources of exposure from both indoor and outdoor environments. In terms of real-time exposure measurements of PM2.5, we collected data from 57 children aged 8-12 years (9.64 ± 0.93 years) in two schools in Shanghai, China. Simultaneously, questionnaire surveys and time-activity diaries were used to estimate the environment at home and daily time-activity patterns in order to estimate the exposure dose of PM2.5 in these children. Principle component regression analysis was used to explore the influence of potential sources of PM2.5 exposure. All the median personal exposure and microenvironment PM2.5 concentrations greatly exceeded the daily 24-h PM2.5 Ambient Air Quality Standards of China, the USA, and the World Health Organization (WHO). The median Etotal (the sum of the PM2.5 exposure levels in different microenvironment and fractional time) of all students was 3014.13 (μg.h)/m3. The concentration of time-weighted average (TWA) exposure of all students was 137.01 μg/m3. The median TWA exposure level during the on-campus period (135.81 μg/m3) was significantly higher than the off-campus period (115.50 μg/m3, P = 0.013 < 0.05). Besides ambient air pollution and meteorological conditions, storey height of the classroom and mode of transportation to school were significantly correlated with children's daily PM2.5 exposure. Children in the two selected schools were exposed to high concentrations of PM2.5 in winter of 2013 in Shanghai. Their personal PM2.5 exposure was mainly associated with ambient air conditions, storey height of the classroom, and children's transportation mode to school.

Background Alfalfa ( Medicago sativa L.) is a vital forage crop with substantial economic and ecological significance in agriculture and animal husbandry. However, atrazine, a widely used herbicide, negatively impacts the growth and yield of alfalfa due to its residual presence in the environment. Transcriptomic analysis was performed to investigate the differences in tolerance and uncover the potential molecular regulatory mechanisms between the tolerant variety JN5010 and the sensitive variety WL363 when subjected to atrazine stress, using RNA-seq on pooled samples. Results Based on the analysis of gene expression profiles, significant differences were observed between the tolerant variety JN5010 and the sensitive variety WL363 under atrazine stress: 2,297 upregulated and 3,167 downregulated in the shoot parts, and 3,232 upregulated and 4,907 downregulated in the roots of JN5010. In WL363, 2,937 genes were upregulated and 4,237 genes were downregulated in the shoot parts, while 5,316 genes were upregulated and 7,977 genes were downregulated in the roots. The DEGs in the shoot parts were mainly involved in biological regulation, metabolic processes, and cellular processes, including proline metabolic processes and S-adenosylmethionine cycle. The DEGs in the roots were predominantly associated with nitric oxide synthesis and metabolism, as well as processes related to cell wall biosynthesis and degradation. In the shoot parts of JN5010, six DEGs were mapped onto the proline metabolic pathway, including four upregulated genes involved in proline biosynthesis and two downregulated genes involved in proline catabolism. In the roots of WL363, eleven DEGs were mapped onto the phenylpropanoid biosynthesis pathway, including seven upregulated genes involved in flavonoid biosynthesis and four downregulated genes associated with lignin biosynthesis. These findings highlight the distinct genetic responses of the two alfalfa varieties to atrazine stress, with JN5010 exhibiting more consistent gene expression patterns compared to the sensitive variety WL363. Conclusions The tolerant variety JN5010 shows improved tolerance to atrazine stress by maintaining stable gene expression and precise regulation in various pathways, such as antioxidant processes, signaling, photosynthesis, and toxin removal. This differential gene expression helps JN5010 maintain stability in its functions under stress, demonstrating better adaptability. These findings enhance our understanding of how alfalfa tolerates atrazine stress and provide important insights for developing atrazine-tolerant varieties.

Background Sepsis represents a serious condition involving organ dysfunction that can be life-threatening, posing a significant threat to human health. The mortality rate associated with sepsis ranges from 10% to 40%, with severe cases or those involving septic shock exhibiting mortality rates exceeding 50%. Objective Gene sequencing took place on the blood samples that were collected both healthy volunteers and septic patients in this study. Advanced methodologies, including bioinformatics analysis, quantitative PCR (qPCR), meta-analysis, and single-cell localization analysis, were employed to identify potential biomarkers associated with the immunomodulation of sepsis. The identified molecular markers were further validated through the establishment of a sepsis cell model, gene silence techniques, and an ELISA test experiments to assess inflammatory factors. Methods In this study, 23 individuals with sepsis and 10 healthy volunteers as controls, and peripheral blood samples were collected. The blood specimens were processed with the assistance of BGI for comprehensive gene sequencing. Post-sequencing, the data underwent quality control measures and were subsequently analyzed using the online platform iDEP 2.01 ( http://bioinformatics.sdstate.edu/idep/ ) to identify differentially expressed genes. Conduct Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) functional enrichment analyses on the identified differentially expressed genes.To elucidate core genes from multiple perspectives, a PPI network was created with the help of the STRING database ( https://cn.string-db.org/),facilitatin g the examination of gene interactions in terms of protein. Following the recognition of core genes, sepsis-associated data sets were obtained from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) public database. Specifically, the transcriptional expression of the gene S100A11 was analyzed using meta-analysis techniques, and its survival curve was subsequently evaluated.The S100A11 gene, identified through screening, was analyzed using an online visualization system to determine its single-cell localization. Initial findings indicated that the gene is predominantly expressed in macrophages. (THP-1 cells) are known as a human monocytic cell line utilized in studies.We cultured THP-1 cells and differentiated into macrophages, followed by stimulation and transfection with the S100A11 gene. The interference effect of S100A11 was assessed using quantitative fluorescence PCR (qPCR). Subsequently, THP-1 cells were cultured to establish a septic cell model, and S100A11 gene silence experiments were conducted, categorizing the samples into control, sepsis, and gene silence sepsis groups. ELISA was employed to assess the concentrations of the inflammatory cytokine IL-1β, TNF-α, and IL-6. Results Results demonstrated that S100A11 is highly expressed in sepsis and is primarily localized in macrophages. The enrichment in signaling pathways, including Th1 and Th2 cell differentiation, Th17 cell differentiation, Staphylococcus aureus infection, and cytokine-cytokine receptor interaction, was uncovered by differential gene expression analysis.S100A11 serves as a critical regulatory node for the inflammatory cytokines IL-1β, TNF-α, and IL-6. Conclusion Notably, S100A11 was found to be highly expressed in patients with sepsis. This gene plays a crucial role in promoting inflammation during the septic inflammatory response and may be involved in macrophage differentiation, immunomodulation, and the inflammatory processes associated with sepsis.

Microplastics (MPs) pollution is a widespread and growing problem. Consequently, there is significant interest in photocatalytic degradation and/or conversion of MPs, especially in the case of polyolefins, which are the dominant type of plastic waste and which are difficult to degrade due to their stable C–C backbones. Thus, complete mineralization of polyolefins, as well as their conversion to fuel or other chemicals, is highly challenging and requires the development of novel photocatalyst materials. Here, we investigate an MXene photocatalyst for photocatalytic conversion of polyethylene (PE) plastics in aqueous solutions with and without NaOH. In the absence of NaOH, Ti2CTx MXene results in complete mineralization of pristine PE as well as environmental PE MPs, with CO2 as the dominant reaction product. In contrast, with the addition of 5 M NaOH, hydrogen becomes the dominant product with a high activity exceeding 500 μmol gcat−1.