Intrinsic polarization mechanism of CCTO based on optimized Skanavi model with displacement fields modification.

To elucidate the microscopic origin of the giant dielectric properties in perovskite calcium copper titanate (CCTO), this study proposes a novel optimization of the Skanavi model by incorporating ionic polarization displacement fields. The optical dielectric constant is calculated using the Shannon ionic radius, which accounts for coordination number and electron spin state effects, while the static dielectric response is analyzed through the introduced displacement field. By evaluating the effective electric field ratios of Ca, Cu, Ti, and O ions under varying supercell sizes (1 × 1 × 1 to 19 × 19 × 19), we observe that Ca and Ti exhibit robust lattice stability, whereas Cu polarization direction reverses and O polarization amplitude diminishes significantly.

Piezo-catalytic in-site HO generation and activation across wide pH range to drive hydroxyl radical-mediated pollutant degradation.

Hydroxyl radicals (·OH) is one of the most important reactive oxygen species (ROSs) for organic pollution controlling in advanced oxidation processes, while its production suffers from numerous HO addition and narrow pH range in generally used Fenton reaction. Herein, we demonstrate a BiOIO (BIO) piezo-catalyst loaded with γ-FeOOH nanoparticles (FNPs) (BF) that can convert O to ·OH in a wide pH condition without external HO addition under ultrasonication. It is found that the robust interfacial interaction facilitates rapid electron migration from BIO to FNPs, enabling two-electron O reduction into HO at the FNPs site, while the leaving behind piezo-holes to perform two-electron water oxidative HO generation on BIO.

Impact of Heat Stress on Gene Expression in the Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Ovarian Axis of Hu Sheep.

Heat stress (HS) is a major environmental factor negatively impacting the reproductive performance of livestock. This study investigates the molecular mechanisms of heat stress on the hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian (HPO) axis in Hu sheep. A heat-stressed animal model was established, and high-throughput RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) was employed to analyze gene expression in the hypothalamus, pituitary, and ovarian tissues of both control and heat-stressed groups.

Ultrasound-Activated Heterojunction Sonozymes Trigger Bacterium-Specific Cuproptosis-Like Death for Enhanced Sonodynamic-Chemodynamic Therapy of Multidrug-Resistant Bacterial Infections.

Cuproptosis-like-death-mediated antibacterial therapy has been regarded as a promising treatment strategy for eliminating multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacteria and stubborn biofilms. However, the release of Cu ions that are not specific to bacteria can trigger cuproptosis and lead to irreversible damage to healthy tissues. Herein, carbon dots (CDs) with triplet-mediated sonodynamic activity are deposited on cuproptosis inducer (CuO) to achieve the multiple amplification effects of antibacterial and antibiofilm activities.

Real-world experience of the role of 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/CT refractory fracture-related infection on lower limbs : a retrospective diagnostic study.

Aims: This study aims to evaluates the diagnostic accuracy of F-FDG positron emission tomography (PET)/CT for refractory fracture-related infections (FRIs) in the lower limbs, identifying optimal maximum standardized uptake value (SUVmax) thresholds and analyzing sub-group-specific diagnostic performance.

Methods: This retrospective study included 429 PET/CT scans performed between November 2016 and October 2021 at a tertiary orthopaedic centre. Patients with suspected refractory FRI, characterized by infection persisting after at least two prior treatments, were included.

MXene-Based Gas Sensors for NH Detection: Recent Developments and Applications.

Ammonia, as a toxic and corrosive gas, is widely present in industrial emissions, agricultural activities, and disease biomarkers. Detecting ammonia is of vital importance to environmental safety and human health. Sensors based on MXene have become an effective means for detecting ammonia gas due to their unique hierarchical structure, adjustable surface chemical properties, and excellent electrical conductivity.

Regulating the Carbon-to-Nitrogen ratio for enhanced reconstruction efficiency in Litopenaeus vannamei aquaculture systems.

Intensive shrimp farming faces challenges of water quality deterioration and excessive chemical usage. This study utilized glucose supplementation to regulate carbon-to-nitrogen ratios (C/N): C/N = 5 (control), 10, 15, and 20, comprehensively evaluating impacts on water quality, shrimp growth performance, and product quality. Results revealed that C/N = 20 significantly improved the aquatic environment, achieving reductions of 57.

Enhanced Photothermal Conversion through 2D/0D Nano-Heterojunction Engineering for Highly Efficient Solar Desalination.

Two-dimensional (2D) materials are promising candidates for solar-driven desalination. However, conventional photothermal 2D materials like transition metal carbides and nitrides (MXenes) as well as transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) suffer from major limitations such as their complex synthesis and low photothermal conversion efficiency. In contrast, metal phosphorus trichalcogenides (MPCh) do not display the same drawbacks and possess widely tunable bandgaps (1.

Recent Progress on Coupling of Organic Oxidation and Hydrogen Production Over CdS-Based Photocatalyst.

The coupling of photocatalytic organic oxidation and hydrogen (H) production is an efficient strategy for converting solar energy into chemical energy, enabling simultaneous targeted conversion of organic matter and clean energy production. Cadmium sulfide (CdS), as a typical semiconductor-based photocatalyst, has attracted much attention in various coupled reactions of organic oxidation and H production due to their suitable bandgap (≈2.4 eV) and well-matched energy band edge positions.

Association Between Dietary Inflammatory Index and NAFLD: A Cross-Sectional Study of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.

The aim of this study was to determine if there is an association between the dietary inflammatory index (DII) and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Study data were obtained from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2017-2018. Multiple logistic regression models were used to assess the association between DII and NAFLD.

Polycation Engineering in Polymeric Metal Halides Enables Tunable and Multicolor Emission from Single Transition-Metals.

Zero-dimensional metal halides have emerged as a versatile platform for the development of light-emitting materials, but achieving tunable or even multicolor emission from a material containing a single type of metal has proven highly challenging. Here, we leverage the "structural tolerance" of recently-developed polymeric metal halides to integrate two distinct coordination units of a single metal into a material, thereby achieving highly tunable optical properties in single-phase metal halides. By manipulating the steric hindrance of polycations, facilely adjustable green, red or bicolor emission can be realized in manganese bromides, which originates from controllable transformation from manganese-bromine tetrahedra into octahedra.

Etched Tungsten Oxide Modified with Au for Quick Xylene Detection.

Due to its widespread distribution in industrial, commercial, and residential settings, xylene detection is crucial. In this study, carbon sphere templates and NaHCO etching were used to synergistically prepare WO with uniform macropores, which was then decorated with Au elements. The findings demonstrated that the Au-decorated WO-etched sample (WO-1%E+Au) had the best sensing performance for 100 ppm xylene (response value: 21.

Gut microbiota, plasma metabolites, and venous thromboembolism: a Mendelian randomization study.

Emerging evidence links gut microbiota (GM) to venous thromboembolism (VTE), deep vein thrombosis (DVT), and pulmonary embolism (PE), but causal insights are limited. Using two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR), we assessed causal effects of 211 GM taxa and 489 plasma metabolites on VTE/DVT/PE. Genetic instruments (single nucleotide polymorphism) for GM and metabolites were leveraged to infer causality, complemented by mediation and pathway analyses.

In Situ Quantification of Surface pH of Dry Soils and Minerals: An Innovative Approach Combining Indicators and Diffuse Reflectance Spectroscopy.

Most natural soils and minerals are typically dry or semidry, and their surface characteristics and interfacial interactions are distinct from those of slurry systems. The surface acidity of dry soils and minerals cannot be measured by using traditional methods such as potentiometric and temperature-programmed desorption methods. In this article, we describe the development of an analytical method based on a combination of acid-base indicators and diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS).

Structural characteristics of Phaeodactylum tricornutum polysaccharides and the effects on DSS-induced colitis via improving the intestinal barrier and modulating the gut microbiota.

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is an inflammatory bowel disease characterized by bloody diarrhea and colonic inflammation. Although Phaeodactylum tricornutum polysaccharides (PTPs) possess anti-inflammatory and immunostimulatory properties, the effects on colonic inflammation remain unclear. This study investigated the molecular structure of PTPs and their potential effects in dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis in mice.

Efficient ppt-Level HS Gas Sensor Based on YSZ and α-FeO Nanofoam Sensing Electrode.

Herein, porous α-FeO nanofoam was successfully synthesized and used as a sensing electrode to fabricate a yttria-stabilized zirconia (YSZ) mixed-potential hydrogen sulfide (HS) sensor for real-time monitoring of hazardous HS gas. The sintering temperature was adjusted to modify the microstructure of the sensing electrode material and its electrochemical reaction intensity to HS, enhancing the sensor's performance. Among the tested materials, α-FeO nanofoam sintered at 800 °C exhibited the highest electrochemical catalytic activity toward HS in electrochemical tests, suggesting its suitability as a sensing electrode material for YSZ-based HS sensors.

Editorial for the Applications and Challenges for Gas Sensors.

Gas sensors, widely used in various fields, are devices used to detect the presence of a specific gas within a certain area or to continuously measure the concentration of gas components [...

Exploring the role of diosgenin in modulating RUNX1 and HIPK2 transcription to mitigate Primary Sjögren's Syndrome.

Background: Primary Sjögren's Syndrome (pSS) is a chronic autoimmune disease characterized by inflammation of the exocrine glands, resulting in symptoms like dry mouth and eyes. Despite existing symptomatic treatments, underlying immune dysregulation remains undefined. Diosgenin, a steroidal saponin derived from Mai Dong, shows potential in modulating immune responses, but its mechanism in pSS remains underexplored.

Helium governs nitric oxide signaling to improve alfalfa salinity tolerance by reestablishing redox and ion homeostasis.

Helium, previously described as "biologically inert", displays great medicinal potential in a number of respiratory ailments via influencing redox signaling. However, whether or how this gas functions in plant biology is still elusive. Here, hydroponic and pot experiments showed that mimicking the responses achieved by nitric oxide (NO)-releasing compound, exogenous helium supply with helium-enriched solution or its fumigation significantly prevented NaCl-induced growth inhibition of alfalfa seedlings.

Empowering leadership and frontline employees' emotional labor: the mediation effects of job passion.

Instruction: In order to deliver superior service experience to customers, frontline employees must regulate their emotional expressions during service encounters. This study examines how empowering leadership influences emotional labor (deep acting and surface acting) through the mediating role of job passion.

Methods: Using data of 1,040 frontline employees across three service industries, the proposed mediating model was tested.

[Carbon Emission Accounting and Peak Carbon Prediction of China's Construction Industry from a Whole Life Cycle Perspective].

Carbon emission accounting and carbon peak prediction are the prerequisites for carbon reduction in the current construction industry in China, constituting an important basis for fulfilling the responsibility of carbon reduction. To accurately depict the evolutionary trend of carbon emissions in the construction industry, the carbon emissions of the Chinese construction industry were calculated in stages, based on a full life cycle perspective. The Pearson test was used to select the factors influencing carbon emissions in the construction industry, and an extended STIRPAT model was established.

Strong Coupling between Mn Dopants and CdSe Nanoplatelets Enables Charge-Transfer Transition and Dual Emission.

Doping transitional metals into colloidal nanocrystals can significantly modify their excited-state dynamics and enrich their optical and magneto-optical functionalities. Here we synthesize Mn-doped CdSe nanoplatelets and investigate their excited-state dynamics and light-emission mechanisms. Extensive characterizations suggest that Mn ions are situated near the surface-region of the nanoplatelets.

In vitro hydrogen production by mammal [FeFe]-hydrogenase-like protein.

Although emerging evidence in mammals reveals that exogenously applied H positively regulates numerous physiological and pathological responses, it remains unclear whether and how mammalian cells produce H endogenously. Here, we report for the first time that recombinant human (Homo sapiens) and pig (Sus scrofa) nuclear prelamin recognition factor (Narf)-like proteins (also known as H. sapiens iron-only hydrogenase-like protein 1 [HsIOP1] and S.

Recent advances in polysaccharide-dominated extracellular polymeric substances from microalgae: A review.

Microalgae are an environmentally friendly and sustainable alternative resource for future food and pharmaceutical production. Microalgal extracellular polymeric substances (EPMS) are polymers consisting of polysaccharides, proteins, lipids and nucleic acids secreted by microalgal cells. This review systematically summarizes the research progress of microalgal EPMS, including its composition, structure, formation, biological activity and application.