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"Xu, Bing"
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Book from the ground : from point to point
\"Xu Bing spent seven years gathering materials, experimenting, revising, and arranging thousands of pictograms to construct this narrative. The result is a readable story without words recording 24 hours in the day of the life of a typical urban white-collar worker. Using an exclusively visual language, the text could be published anywhere without translation; anyone with experience in contemporary life can read it.\"--Page 4 of cover.
Book
Rational design of isostructural 2D porphyrin-based covalent organic frameworks for tunable photocatalytic hydrogen evolution
Covalent organic frameworks have recently gained increasing attention in photocatalytic hydrogen generation from water. However, their structure-property-activity relationship, which should be beneficial for the structural design, is still far-away explored. Herein, we report the designed synthesis of four isostructural porphyrinic two-dimensional covalent organic frameworks (MPor-DETH-COF, M = H
2
, Co, Ni, Zn) and their photocatalytic activity in hydrogen generation. Our results clearly show that all four covalent organic frameworks adopt AA stacking structures, with high crystallinity and large surface area. Interestingly, the incorporation of different transition metals into the porphyrin rings can rationally tune the photocatalytic hydrogen evolution rate of corresponding covalent organic frameworks, with the order of CoPor-DETH-COF < H
2
Por-DETH-COF < NiPor-DETH-COF < ZnPor-DETH-COF. Based on the detailed experiments and calculations, this tunable performance can be mainly explained by their tailored charge-carrier dynamics via molecular engineering. This study not only represents a simple and effective way for efficient tuning of the photocatalytic hydrogen evolution activities of covalent organic frameworks at molecular level, but also provides valuable insight on the structure design of covalent organic frameworks for better photocatalysis.
Covalent organic frameworks (COFs) present well-defined materials for constructing structure-property-activity relationships. Herein, authors explore isostructural porphyrinic two-dimensional COFs with tunable of photocatalytic H
2
production rates arising from tailored charge-carrier dynamics.
Journal Article
Tubular epithelial cell-to-macrophage communication forms a negative feedback loop via extracellular vesicle transfer to promote renal inflammation and apoptosis in diabetic nephropathy
Macrophage infiltration around lipotoxic tubular epithelial cells (TECs) is a hallmark of diabetic nephropathy (DN). However, how these two types of cells communicate remains obscure. We previously demonstrated that LRG1 was elevated in the process of kidney injury. Here, we demonstrated that macrophage-derived, LRG1-enriched extracellular vesicles (EVs) exacerbated DN.
We induced an experimental T2DM mouse model with a HFD diet for four months. Renal primary epithelial cells and macrophage-derived EVs were isolated from T2D mice by differential ultracentrifugation. To investigate whether lipotoxic TEC-derived EV (EV
) activate macrophages, mouse bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMDMs) were incubated with EV
. To investigate whether activated macrophage-derived EVs (EV
) induce lipotoxic TEC apoptosis, EV
were cocultured with primary renal tubular epithelial cells. Subsequently, we evaluated the effect of LRG1 in EV
by investigating the apoptosis mechanism.
We demonstrated that incubation of primary TECs of DN or HK-2 mTECs with lysophosphatidyl choline (LPC) increased the release of EV
. Interestingly, TEC-derived EV
activated an inflammatory phenotype in macrophages and induced the release of macrophage-derived EV
. Furthermore, EV
could induce apoptosis in TECs injured by LPC. Importantly, we found that leucine-rich α-2-glycoprotein 1 (LRG1)-enriched EV
activated macrophages via a TGFβR1-dependent process and that tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL)-enriched EV
induced apoptosis in injured TECs via a death receptor 5 (DR5)-dependent process.
Our findings indicated a novel cell communication mechanism between tubular epithelial cells and macrophages in DN, which could be a potential therapeutic target.
Journal Article
A Review of Piezoelectric Footwear Energy Harvesters: Principles, Methods, and Applications
Over the last couple of decades, numerous piezoelectric footwear energy harvesters (PFEHs) have been reported in the literature. This paper reviews the principles, methods, and applications of PFEH technologies. First, the popular piezoelectric materials used and their properties for PEEHs are summarized. Then, the force interaction with the ground and dynamic energy distribution on the footprint as well as accelerations are analyzed and summarized to provide the baseline, constraints, potential, and limitations for PFEH design. Furthermore, the energy flow from human walking to the usable energy by the PFEHs and the methods to improve the energy conversion efficiency are presented. The energy flow is divided into four processing steps: (i) how to capture mechanical energy into a deformed footwear, (ii) how to transfer the elastic energy from a deformed shoes into piezoelectric material, (iii) how to convert elastic deformation energy of piezoelectric materials to electrical energy in the piezoelectric structure, and (iv) how to deliver the generated electric energy in piezoelectric structure to external resistive loads or electrical circuits. Moreover, the major PFEH structures and working mechanisms on how the PFEHs capture mechanical energy and convert to electrical energy from human walking are summarized. Those piezoelectric structures for capturing mechanical energy from human walking are also reviewed and classified into four categories: flat plate, curved, cantilever, and flextensional structures. The fundamentals of piezoelectric energy harvesters, the configurations and mechanisms of the PFEHs, as well as the generated power, etc., are discussed and compared. The advantages and disadvantages of typical PFEHs are addressed. The power outputs of PFEHs vary in ranging from nanowatts to tens of milliwatts. Finally, applications and future perspectives are summarized and discussed.
Journal Article
Improved human greenspace exposure equality during 21st century urbanization
Greenspace plays a crucial role in urban ecosystems and has been recognized as a key factor in promoting sustainable and healthy city development. Recent studies have revealed a growing concern about urban greenspace exposure inequality; however, the extent to which urbanization affects human exposure to greenspace and associated inequalities over time remains unclear. Here, we incorporate a Landsat-based 30-meter time-series greenspace mapping and a population-weighted exposure framework to quantify the changes in human exposure to greenspace and associated equality (rather than equity) for 1028 global cities from 2000 to 2018. Results show a substantial increase in physical greenspace coverage and an improvement in human exposure to urban greenspace, leading to a reduction in greenspace exposure inequality over the past two decades. Nevertheless, we observe a contrast in the rate of reduction in greenspace exposure inequality between cities in the Global South and North, with a faster rate of reduction in the Global South, nearly four times that of the Global North. These findings provide valuable insights into the impact of urbanization on urban nature and environmental inequality change and can help inform future city greening efforts.
A study of 1,028 global cities from 2000-2018 shows increased human exposure to greenspace, reducing greenspace inequality. Notably, cities in the Global South improved nearly four times faster than those in the Global North. These insights can guide city greening strategies.
Journal Article
The driving effects of non-functional requirements and psychological ownership of the environment on consumers’ green apparel purchase intention
This study investigated the impact of consumers’ non-functional requirements (NFR) on their intention to purchase green apparel. Previous research has predominantly focused on environmental perspectives, yet the role of consumers’ intrinsic desires as a driver in decision-making has been largely overlooked. By conceptualizing green apparel as an instrument for social interaction and self-expression, this study integrates the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) and the Consumption Value Theory (CVT) to examine how consumers’ NFR—including social belonging, social uniqueness, aesthetic pleasure, and innovation perception—influence their attitudes and purchase intentions, while analyzing the mediating role of consumers’ psychological ownership of the environment (POE) and the moderating effect of product exposure and display (ED). Data were collected via a cross-sectional survey of 466 consumers in Shanghai, China, who had purchased green apparel in the past 12 months, and were analyzed using structural equation modeling (SEM) in SPSS and AMOS. The findings reveal that: (1) All four dimensions of NFR significantly enhance consumers’ purchase intention toward green apparel. (2) POE serves as a critical mediator between NFR and consumer attitudes. (3) ED mitigates design-related stigma, thereby moderating the relationship between attitudes and purchase intention. This study highlights the significance of satisfying consumers’ intrinsic desires in driving the intention to purchase green apparel and provides theoretical and practical guidance for managers in the green apparel industry, contributing to the sustainable development of the green apparel market.
Journal Article
A Comprehensive Review of Piezoelectric Ultrasonic Motors: Classifications, Characterization, Fabrication, Applications, and Future Challenges
Piezoelectric ultrasonic motors (USMs) are actuators that use ultrasonic frequency piezoelectric vibration-generated waves to transform electrical energy into rotary or translating motion. USMs receive more attention because they offer distinct qualities over traditional magnet-coil-based motors, such as miniaturization, great accuracy, speed, non-magnetic nature, silent operation, straightforward construction, broad temperature operations, and adaptability. This review study focuses on the principle of USMs and their classifications, characterization, fabrication methods, applications, and future challenges. Firstly, the classifications of USMs, especially, standing-wave, traveling-wave, hybrid-mode, and multi-degree-of-freedom USMs, are summarized, and their respective functioning principles are explained. Secondly, finite element modeling analysis for design and performance predictions, conventional and nano/micro-fabrication methods, and various characterization methods are presented. Thirdly, their advantages, such as high accuracy, small size, and silent operation, and their benefits over conventional motors for the different specific applications are examined. Fourthly, the advantages and disadvantages of USMs are highlighted. In addition, their substantial contributions to a variety of technical fields like surgical robots and industrial, aerospace, and biomedical applications are introduced. Finally, their future prospects and challenges, as well as research directions in USM development, are outlined, with an emphasis on downsizing, increasing efficiency, and new materials.
Journal Article
Contrasting inequality in human exposure to greenspace between cities of Global North and Global South
The United Nations specified the need for “providing universal access to greenspace for urban residents” in the 11th Sustainable Development Goal. Yet, how far we are from this goal remains unclear. Here, we develop a methodology incorporating fine-resolution population and greenspace mappings and use the results for 2020 to elucidate global differences in human exposure to greenspace. We identify a contrasting difference of greenspace exposure between Global South and North cities. Global South cities experience only one third of the greenspace exposure level of Global North cities. Greenspace exposure inequality (Gini: 0.47) in Global South cities is nearly twice that of Global North cities (Gini: 0.27). We quantify that 22% of the spatial disparity is associated with greenspace provision, and 53% is associated with joint effects of greenspace provision and spatial configuration. These findings highlight the need for prioritizing greening policies to mitigate environmental disparity and achieve sustainable development goals.
Through an analysis of global differences in human exposure to greenspace, a new study identifies a contrasting pattern of greenspace exposure between Global South and North cities and finds seasonal variations in greenspace exposure inequality.
Journal Article
Semiconducting quantum dots for artificial photosynthesis
Sunlight is our most abundant, clean and inexhaustible energy source. However, its diffuse and intermittent nature makes it difficult to use directly, suggesting that we should instead store this energy. One of the most attractive avenues for this involves using solar energy to split H
2
O and afford H
2
through artificial photosynthesis, the practical realization of which requires low-cost, robust photocatalysts. Colloidal quantum dots (QDs) of IIB–VIA semiconductors appear to be an ideal material from which to construct highly efficient photocatalysts for H
2
photogeneration. In this Review, we highlight recent developments in QD-based artificial photosynthetic systems for H
2
evolution using sacrificial reagents. These case studies allow us to introduce strategies — including size optimization, structural modification and surface design — to increase the H
2
evolution activities of QD-based artificial photosystems. Finally, we describe photocatalytic biomass reforming and unassisted photoelectrochemical H
2
O splitting — two new pathways that could make QD-based solar-to-fuel conversion practically viable and cost-effective in the near future.
Semiconducting quantum dots (QDs) can serve as light-absorbing components in efficient artificial photosynthetic systems for H
2
evolution. This Review describes how we can optimize QDs for H
2
evolution using sacrificial reductants, before moving on to sustainable strategies for the photolysis of biomass or H
2
O.
Journal Article
Reaction–diffusion processes at the nano- and microscales
This Review discusses the integration of self-assembly, self-organization and reaction–diffusion processes for the creation of nanoscale synthetic systems inspired by living systems.
The bottom-up fabrication of nano- and microscale structures from primary building blocks (molecules, colloidal particles) has made remarkable progress over the past two decades, but most research has focused on structural aspects, leaving our understanding of the dynamic and spatiotemporal aspects at a relatively primitive stage. In this Review, we draw inspiration from living cells to argue that it is now time to move beyond the generation of structures and explore dynamic processes at the nanoscale. We first introduce nanoscale self-assembly, self-organization and reaction–diffusion processes as essential features of cells. Then, we highlight recent progress towards designing and controlling these fundamental features of life in abiological systems. Specifically, we discuss examples of reaction–diffusion processes that lead to such outcomes as self-assembly, self-organization, unique nanostructures, chemical waves and dynamic order to illustrate their ubiquity within a unifying context of dynamic oscillations and energy dissipation. Finally, we suggest future directions for research on reaction–diffusion processes at the nano- and microscales that we find hold particular promise for a new understanding of science at the nanoscale and the development of new kinds of nanotechnologies for chemical transport, chemical communication and integration with living systems.
Journal Article