Recent Advances of Microcapsule-based Intelligent Coatings: From Bioinspired Designs, Material Selections, to Potential Applications.

Coating technology is widely used in diverse fields such as energy, healthcare, and aerospace because of the advantages of simple fabrication, low cost, stability, and customized functions. However, conventional coatings fall short in meeting the emerging demands due to their single functionality and non-responsiveness. Inspired by natural prototypes, microcapsule-based intelligent coatings (MICs) that exhibit remarkable responsiveness to external stimuli have been developed and used in various fields such as corrosion protection and anti-fouling.

In Situ EBSD Study of Deformation Behavior at Grain Scale of Inconel 718 Alloy During Tensile Test at 650 °C.

In order to clarify the deformation mechanism of Inconel 718 (IN718) alloy at the grain scale during tensile deformation, the deformation behaviors of IN718 alloy were investigated at 650 °C using an in situ electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD) tensile testing method. The evolution of grain morphology, crystallographic orientation, activated slip systems, grain boundaries evolution, and strain-induced misorientation were systematically analyzed during the tensile test. The results showed that the grains were elongated along the tensile direction, and the grain boundaries also became significantly curved.

Optimizing Annealing Strategy to Achieve Effective Grain Boundary Modification with Aluminum Oxide for Stable Cycling Ni-Rich Cathodes.

Grain boundary engineering, achieved by combining annealing and surface coating, is an effective strategy for modifying high-nickel-layered oxide cathode materials. However, high-temperature annealing can induce irreversible phase transformations in high-nickel materials, which significantly hinder lithiation/delithiation and degrade their electrochemical performance. In this study, we propose a grain boundary engineering approach for LiNiMnCoO, combining rapid heating to the annealing temperature with atomic layer deposition (ALD) to enhance its electrochemical properties.

Human activities strengthen the influence of deterministic processes in the mechanisms of fish community assembly in tropical rivers of Yunnan, China.

Human-induced global alterations have worsened the severe decrease in fish biodiversity in rivers. To successfully reduce the pace of reduction in fish diversity, it is crucial to prioritize the understanding of how human activities impact the processes that shape and maintain fish diversity. Traditional fish survey methods are based on catch collection and morphological identification, which is often time-consuming and ineffective.

Liquid-Like Surfaces with Enhanced De-Wettability and Durability: From Structural Designs to Potential Applications.

Liquid-like surfaces (LLSs) with dynamic repellency toward various pollutants (e.g., bacteria, oil, and ice), have shown enormous potential in the fields of biology, environment, and energy.

Rotation Culture of Macroalgae Based on Photosynthetic Physiological Characteristics of Algae.

Seaweed farming has made outstanding contributions to food supply and the restoration of the ecological environment despite the limitations in production and ecological effects due to the current intensive farming of single algae species. These limitations can be overcome by selecting suitable algal species based on their physiological characteristics and by constructing a large-scale seaweed rotation model. This study carried out a trial culture in aquaculture sea areas, and performed in situ monitoring of the environmental conditions and physiological characteristics of , , and .

Effects of PM2.5 on mucus hypersecretion in airway through miR-133b-5p/EGFR/Claudin1/MUC5AC axis.

Objective: To investigate the role of the EGFR/MAPK signaling pathway in PM2.5 in promoting the MUC5AC hypersecretion in airway and exacerbating airway inflammation.

Methods: By establishing rat model exposed to PM2.

Trophic transfer of heavy metals across four trophic levels based on muscle tissue residuals: a case study of Dachen Fishing Grounds, the East China Sea.

In this study, we collected 56 species of fishery organisms (including fish, crustaceans, cephalopods, gastropods, and bivalves) from four seasonal survey cruises at the Dachen fishery grounds. We measured the concentrations of seven heavy metals (Cd, Zn, Cu, Pb, Cr, As, and Hg) in these fisheries organisms. We determined their trophic levels using carbon and nitrogen stable isotope techniques.

Comparison of 3 diagnostic methods for pulmonary tuberculosis in suspected patients with negative sputum smear or no sputum.

Study Design: To explore the diagnostic value of 3 methods for sputum smear-negative and non-sputum patients with suspected pulmonary tuberculosis (TB).

Methods: This prospective study enrolled sputum smear-negative and non-sputum patients with suspected TB admitted to Jiangxi Chest Hospital between January 2020 and December 2022. The 3 methods were bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF)-acid-fast bacillus (AFB) smear, GeneXpert MTB/RIF, and gene chip for Mycobacterium strain identification.

Chemomechanical Origins of the Dynamic Evolution of Isolated Li Filaments in Inorganic Solid-State Electrolytes.

The penetrating growth of Li into the inorganic solid-state electrolyte (SSE) is one key factor limiting its practical application. Research to understand the underlying mechanism of Li penetration has been ongoing for years and is continuing. Here, we report an in situ scanning electron microscopy methodology to investigate the dynamic behaviors of isolated Li filaments in the garnet SSE under practical cycling conditions.

Opposite Mechanical Preference of Bone/Nerve Regeneration in 3D-Printed Bioelastomeric Scaffolds/Conduits Consistently Correlated with YAP-Mediated Stem Cell Osteo/Neuro-Genesis.

To systematically unveil how substrate stiffness, a critical factor in directing cell fate through mechanotransduction, correlates with tissue regeneration, novel biodegradable and photo-curable poly(trimethylene carbonate) fumarates (PTMCFs) for fabricating elastomeric 2D substrates and 3D bone scaffolds/nerve conduits, are presented. These substrates and structures with adjustable stiffness serve as a unique platform to evaluate how this mechanical cue affects the fate of human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) and hard/soft tissue regeneration in rat femur bone defect and sciatic nerve transection models; whilst, decoupling from topographical and chemical cues. In addition to a positive relationship between substrate stiffness (tensile modulus: 90-990 kPa) and hMSC adhesion, spreading, and proliferation mediated through Yes-associated protein (YAP), opposite mechanical preference is revealed in the osteogenesis and neurogenesis of hMSCs as they are significantly enhanced on the stiff and compliant substrates, respectively.

Precessing jet nozzle connecting to a spinning black hole in M87.

The nearby radio galaxy M87 offers a unique opportunity to explore the connections between the central supermassive black hole and relativistic jets. Previous studies of the inner region of M87 revealed a wide opening angle for the jet originating near the black hole. The Event Horizon Telescope resolved the central radio source and found an asymmetric ring structure consistent with expectations from general relativity.

Realizing Holistic Charging-Discharging for Dendrite-Free Lithium Metal Anodes via Constructing Three-Dimensional Li Conductive Networks.

Lithium (Li) metal is a promising candidate for next-generation anode materials with high energy densities. However, Li dissolution/deposition processes are limited at the upper surface in contact with the electrolyte, which brings a locally high current density and then results in dendritic Li growth. This restraint of the local surface reaction during cycling has not been solved by commonly used modification strategies.

Ultralong Lifespan for High-Voltage LiCoO Enabled by In Situ Reconstruction of an Atomic Layer Deposition Coating Layer.

Although the rapid development of electrical energy storage devices has slowed down environmental pollution, their large-scale application has posed huge challenges to battery-related mineral resources; thus, extending the lifespan of high-voltage lithium cobalt oxide (LCO) is of great importance. Surface oxide coating is considered as the most common low-cost modification method for addressing unstable cycling performance. However, studies have shown that the oxide layer would further react with an electrolyte, while the investigation on the corresponding component evolution is lacking.

Highly efficient and blue-emitting CsPbBr quantum dots synthesized by two-step supersaturated recrystallization.

Highly efficient and blue-emitting CsPbBr quantum dots were successfully synthesized by two-step supersaturated recrystallization under ambient condition. This method could control the particle size within 2.8 nm, thus resulting in strong quantum confinement effect of the products.

Atomically ordered non-precious CoTa intermetallic nanoparticles as high-performance catalysts for hydrazine electrooxidation.

Nano-ordered intermetallic compounds have generated great interest in fuel cell applications. However, the synthesis of non-preciousearly transition metal intermetallic nanoparticles remains a formidable challenge owing to the extremely oxyphilic nature and very negative reduction potentials. Here, we have successfully synthesized non-precious CoTa intermetallic nanoparticles, with uniform size of 5 nm.

Boosting oxygen evolution of single-atomic ruthenium through electronic coupling with cobalt-iron layered double hydroxides.

Single atom catalyst, which contains isolated metal atoms singly dispersed on supports, has great potential for achieving high activity and selectivity in hetero-catalysis and electrocatalysis. However, the activity and stability of single atoms and their interaction with support still remains a mystery. Here we show a stable single atomic ruthenium catalyst anchoring on the surface of cobalt iron layered double hydroxides, which possesses a strong electronic coupling between ruthenium and layered double hydroxides.

Unveiling the thickness-dependent mechanical properties of graphene papers by SEM tension.

With more and more applications, the mechanical strength of graphene paper (GP) has attracted significant attention in recent years. In this report, GPs were prepared by flow-induced filtration of electrochemical exfoliated graphene sheets. By adjusting the concentration of solution, we found graphene sheets fabricated in 0.

Bioinspired Concentric-Cylindrical Multilayered Scaffolds with Controllable Architectures: Facile Preparation and Biological Applications.

Multilayered objects are the most important and interesting structures in nature, exhibiting multiple functionalities. Inspired by the excellent structural-functional characteristics of nature creatures, concentric-cylindrical multilayered scaffolds were prepared by a combination of melt extrusion and leaching, in which well-defined alternating microlayer/gap is assembled. Furthermore, the macroscopic shape, internal structure, and surface topography of such a multilayered scaffold can be elaborately prepared by a simple physical process.