| 1. |
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| 2. |
- Man, Zhang, et al.
(author)
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Facile one-step synthesis and enhanced photocatalytic activity of WC/ferroelectric nanocomposite
- 2021
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In: Journal of Materials Chemistry A. - : Royal Society of Chemistry. - 2050-7488 .- 2050-7496. ; 9:40, s. 22861-22870
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The development of noble-metal-free co-catalysts is seen as a viable strategy for improving the performance of semiconductor photocatalysts. Although the photocatalytic efficiency of ferroelectrics is typically low, it can be enhanced through the incorporation of a co-catalyst into nanocomposites. Here, we demonstrate the influence of ferroelectricity on the decolorization of rhodamine B under simulated solar light using RbBi2Ti2NbO10 and compared the performance with that of non-ferroelectric RbBi2Nb5O16. The decolorization rate for RbBi2Ti2NbO10 was 5 times greater than that of RbBi2Nb5O16. This behaviour can be explained in terms of ferroelectric polarization, which drives the separation of charge carriers. The photocatalytic activity of RbBi2Ti2NbO10 was further enhanced to over 30 times upon preparing a nanocomposite with tungsten carbide (WC) through high energy ball milling. This enhancement was attributed not only to the increased specific surface area, but also to the incorporated WC co-catalyst, which also serves as a source of plasmonic hot electrons and extends the photocatalytic activity into the visible light range. The WC/RbBi2Ti2NbO10 nanocomposite shows interesting water oxidation properties and evolves O-2 with a rate of 68.5 mu mol h(-1) g(-1) and a quantum yield of 3% at 420 nm. This work demonstrates a simple route for preparing WC containing nano-ferroelectric composites for solar energy conversion applications.
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| 3. |
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| 4. |
- Wang, Yaqiong, et al.
(author)
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Domain Wall Free Polar Structure Enhanced Photodegradation Activity in Nanoscale Ferroelectric BaxSr1-xTiO3
- 2020
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In: Advanced Energy Materials. - : WILEY-V C H VERLAG GMBH. - 1614-6832 .- 1614-6840. ; 10:38
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Ferroelectric materials exhibit anomalous behavior due to the presence of domains and domain walls which are related to the spontaneous polarization inherent in the crystal structure. Control of ferroelectric domains and domain walls has been used to enhance device performances in ultrasound, pyroelectric detectors, and photovoltaic systems with renewed interest in nanostructuring for energy applications. It is also known that ferroelectrics including domain walls can double photocatalytic rate and increase carrier lifetime from microsecond to millisecond. However, there remains a lack of understanding on the different contributions of the domain and domain walls to photocatalytic activities. Herein it is found, by comparing samples of nanostructured Ba(x)Sr(1-)(x)TiO(3)with and without a polar domain, that the material with polar domains has a faster reaction rate (k= 0.18 min(-1)) than the nonpolar one (k= 0.11 min(-1)). It is further revealed that the observed enhanced photoactivity of perovskite ferroelectric materials stems from the inherent polarization of the domain instead of domain walls. Here, the new understanding of the underlying physics of materials with a spontaneous dipole opens a door to enhance the performance of light induced energy harvesting systems.
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| 5. |
- Jing, Shuping, et al.
(author)
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Household Transmission of Human Adenovirus Type 55 in Case of Fatal Acute Respiratory Disease
- 2019
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In: Emerging Infectious Diseases. - : Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). - 1080-6040 .- 1080-6059. ; 25:9, s. 1756-1758
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- We identified a case of fatal acute respiratory disease from household transmission of human adenovirus type 55 (HAdV-55) in Anhui Province, China. Computed tomography showed severe pneumonia. Comparative genomic analysis of HAdV-55 indicated the virus possibly originated in Shanxi Province, China. More attention should be paid to highly contagious HAdV-55.
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| 6. |
- Li, Lili, et al.
(author)
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UV-protection and fluorescence properties of the exoskeleton obtained from a living diatom modified by an Eu3+-complex
- 2021
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In: Journal of Materials Chemistry C. - : ROYAL SOC CHEMISTRY. - 2050-7526 .- 2050-7534. ; 9:31, s. 10005-10012
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- In this article, a natural biological porous material, from living diatoms, is used to prepare new UV-protection hybrid materials with an Eu3+-complex. By removing the organic protoplasm of living diatoms, the exoskeleton with a regular pore structure arrangement was obtained. The Eu3+-complex was chemically bonded to the exoskeleton modified by the silane coupling agent (3-aminopropyl)trimethoxy silane (APTMS). Compared with pure Eu3+-complexes, the fluorescence intensity of this hybrid material was increased by approximately 10 times. For illustrating its applications in the field of UV-protection, we mixed the USDU with polyacrylonitrile to produce flexible and transparent polymer films. The hybrid composite film (USDU@PAN) achieved partial absorption of ultraviolet light between 200 and 400 nm. At the same time, it also emits visible fluorescence and the intensity of the fluorescence is greatly increased. Therefore, the USDU@PAN film has wide application prospects in areas such as photoelectric sensors and UV-protection devices. More importantly, we transform natural organisms into materials with excellent optical properties. Therefore, it can be used in the field of UV-protection.
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| 7. |
- Muleke, Albert, et al.
(author)
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Sustainable intensification with irrigation raises farm profit despite climate emergency
- 2023
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In: Plants, People, Planet. - : Wiley. - 2572-2611. ; 5:3, s. 368-385
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Societal Impact StatementDespite comprising a small proportion of global agricultural land use, irrigated agriculture is enormously important to the global agricultural economy. Burgeoning food demand driven by population growth—together with reduced food supply caused by the climate crisis—is polarising the existing tension between water used for agricultural production versus that required for environmental conservation. We show that sustainable intensification via more diverse crop rotations, more efficient water application infrastructure and greater farm area under irrigation is conducive to greater farm business profitability under future climates.SummaryResearch aimed at improving crop productivity often does not account for the complexity of real farms underpinned by land-use changes in space and time.Here, we demonstrate how a new framework—WaterCan Profit—can be used to elicit such complexity using an irrigated case study farm with four whole-farm adaptation scenarios (Baseline, Diversified, Intensified and Simplified) with four types of irrigated infrastructure (Gravity, Pipe & Riser, Pivot and Drip).Without adaptation, the climate crisis detrimentally impacted on farm profitability due to the combination of increased evaporative demand and increased drought frequency. Whole-farm intensification—via greater irrigated land use, incorporation of rice, cotton and maize and increased nitrogen fertiliser application—was the only adaptation capable of raising farm productivity under future climates. Diversification through incorporation of grain legumes into crop rotations significantly improved profitability under historical climates; however, profitability of this adaptation declined under future climates. Simplified systems reduced economic risk but also had lower long-term economic returns.We conclude with four key insights: (1) When assessing whole-farm profit, metrics matter: Diversified systems generally had higher profitability than Intensified systems per unit water, but not per unit land area; (2) gravity-based irrigation infrastructure required the most water, followed by sprinkler systems, whereas Drip irrigation used the least water; (3) whole-farm agronomic adaptation through management and crop genotype had greater impact on productivity compared with changes in irrigation infrastructure; and (4) only whole-farm intensification was able to raise profitability under future climates.
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| 8. |
- Wei, Jianhua, et al.
(author)
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Genome and proteomic analysis of risk factors for fatal outcome in children with severe community-acquired pneumonia caused by human adenovirus 7
- 2023
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In: Journal of Medical Virology. - : WILEY. - 0146-6615 .- 1096-9071. ; 95:11
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Introduction: Human adenovirus 7 (HAdV-7) is an important viral pathogen of severe pneumonia in children and a serious threat to health. Methods: A cohort of 45 pediatric patients diagnosed with HAdV-7-associated severe pneumonia and admitted to the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit at the Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University from May 2018 to January 2020 were included. Risk factors of death were analyzed by the Cox proportional risk mode with Clinical data, serum, and nasopharyngeal aspirate adenovirus load, Genome analysis, Olink proteomics, and cytokine profile between dead and surviving patients were also analyzed. Results: A total of 45 children with a median age of 12.0 months (interquartile range [IQR]: 6.5, 22.0) were included (female 14), including 14 (31.1%) who died. High serum viral load was an independent risk factor for mortality (hazard ratio [HR] = 2.16, 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.04-4.49, p = 0.039). BTB and CNC homology 1 (BACH1), interleukin-5 (IL-5), and IL-9 levels were significantly correlated with serum viral load (p = 0.0400, 0.0499, and 0.0290; r = 0.4663, 0.3339, and -0.3700, respectively), with significant differences between the dead and survival groups (p = 0.021, 0.001, and 0.021). Conclusions: Severe cytokine storm-associated high serum viral load after HAdV-7 infection may be the main mechanism responsible for poor prognosis in children.
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| 9. |
- Yu, Xiaoshuang, et al.
(author)
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Organic Eu3+-complex-anchored porous diatomite channels enable UV protection and down conversion in hybrid material
- 2020
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In: Science and Technology of Advanced Materials. - : TAYLOR & FRANCIS LTD. - 1468-6996 .- 1878-5514. ; 21:1, s. 726-736
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The organic Eu3+-complex [Eu(TTA)(3)Phen] has been incorporated into the channels of surface-modified frustules from diatoms as a key material to absorb and convert UV-photons to visible luminescence. Systematic investigation results indicate that the organic Eu3+-complex encapsulated in the functionalized diatomite channels exhibits enhanced luminescence and longer lifetime, owning to the Eu(TTA)(3)Phen complex interacting with its surrounding silylating agents. The organic Eu3+-complex-anchored porous diatomite hybrid luminescent material was compounded with polyethylene terephthalate (PET) by using a mini-twin screw extruder to prepare a self-supporting film of the hybrid material. Besides, the UV absorption properties of the composite films were investigated. These films will potentially be related to the UV protection of photovoltaic devices.
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| 10. |
- Zhang, Xiaolin, et al.
(author)
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Non-conjugated natural alginate as electron-transport layer for high performance polymer solar cells after modification
- 2021
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In: Journal of Power Sources. - : ELSEVIER. - 0378-7753 .- 1873-2755. ; 510
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The search for the alternatives to expensive synthesized conjugated polymers as interfaces in polymer solar cells (PSCs), which could largely decrease the cost and promote the commercialization process of PSCs, is now highly relevant. To introduce natural polymer as the interface layer for the high-efficiency PSCs would be a potential choice. In this study, a purely natural polysaccharide from ocean without any conjugated structure, sodium alginate (SA), is utilized as efficient electron transport layer (ETL) to replace the conjugated star molecule, poly [(9,9-bis(3-(N,NdiMethyl)-NethylaMMoiniuM-propyl)-2,7-fluorene)-alt-2,7-(9,9-dioctylfluorene)]dibroMide (PFN-Br), and modify the aluminum (Al) electrode in conventional PSCs. The reduction of the work function of Al is successfully achieved by SA forming a dipole and keeping the ohmic contact at the interface. Meantime, the ideal charge transfer and exciton dissociation are realized, along with decreasing charge recombination, resulting in a comparable power conversion efficiency (PCE) with devices of PFN-Br as ETL. For poly([2,6-4,8-di(5-ethylhexylthienyebenzo[1,2-b; 3,3-b]dithiophene]3-fluoro-2[(2-ethylhexyl)carbonyl]thieno[3,4-b]thiophenediyl):[6,6]-phenyl-C-71-butyric acid methyl ester (PTB7-Th:PC71BM) system, PCE is increased to 9.5% and for Poly [(2,6-(4,8-bis(5-(2-ethylhexyl-3-fluoro)thiophen-2-yl)-benzo[1,2-b:4,5-b]dithio-phene))-alt-(5,5-(1,3-di-2-thienyl-5,7-bis(2-ethylhexyl)benzo[1,2-c:4,5-c]dithio-phene-4,8-dione)]:3,9-bis(2methylene-((3-(1,1-dicyanomethylene)-6,7-difluoro)-indanone))-5,5,11,11-tetrakis(4-hexylphenyl)-dithieno[2,3-d:2,3-d]-s-inda-ceno[1,2-b:5,6-b] dithiophene (PM6:IT-4F) system, PCE 13.4%, respectively, which illustrates a promising future for photovoltaic research of natural alginate non-conjugated polyelectrolyte in conventional PSCs.
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| 11. |
- Zhao, Sen, et al.
(author)
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Expanding the mutation and phenotype spectrum of MYH3-associated skeletal disorders
- 2022
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In: NPJ genomic medicine. - : Nature Publishing Group. - 2056-7944. ; 7:1
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Pathogenic variants in MYH3 cause distal arthrogryposis type 2A and type 2B3 as well as contractures, pterygia and spondylocarpotarsal fusion syndromes types 1A and 1B. These disorders are ultra-rare and their natural course and phenotypic variability are not well described. In this study, we summarize the clinical features and genetic findings of 17 patients from 10 unrelated families with vertebral malformations caused by dominant or recessive pathogenic variants in MYH3. Twelve novel pathogenic variants in MYH3 (NM_002470.4) were identified: three of them were de novo or inherited in autosomal dominant way and nine were inherited in autosomal recessive way. The patients had vertebral segmentation anomalies accompanied with variable joint contractures, short stature and dysmorphic facial features. There was a significant phenotypic overlap between dominant and recessive MYH3-associated conditions regarding the degree of short stature as well as the number of vertebral fusions. All monoallelic variants caused significantly decreased SMAD3 phosphorylation, which is consistent with the previously proposed pathogenic mechanism of impaired canonical TGF-β signaling. Most of the biallelic variants were predicted to be protein-truncating, while one missense variant c.4244T>G,p.(Leu1415Arg), which was inherited in an autosomal recessive way, was found to alter the phosphorylation level of p38, suggesting an inhibition of the non-canonical pathway of TGF-β signaling. In conclusion, the identification of 12 novel pathogenic variants and overlapping phenotypes in 17 affected individuals from 10 unrelated families expands the mutation and phenotype spectrum of MYH3-associated skeletal disorders. We show that disturbances of canonical or non-canonical TGF-β signaling pathways are involved in pathogenesis of MYH3-associated skeletal fusion (MASF) syndrome.
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| 12. |
- Chotiwan, Nunya, et al.
(author)
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Type I interferon shapes brain distribution and tropism of tick-borne flavivirus
- 2023
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In: Nature Communications. - : Springer Nature. - 2041-1723. ; 14:1
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Viral tropism within the brain and the role(s) of vertebrate immune response to neurotropic flaviviruses infection is largely understudied. We combine multimodal imaging (cm-nm scale) with single nuclei RNA-sequencing to study Langat virus in wildtype and interferon alpha/beta receptor knockout (Ifnar-/-) mice to visualize viral pathogenesis and define molecular mechanisms. Whole brain viral infection is imaged by Optical Projection Tomography coregistered to ex vivo MRI. Infection is limited to grey matter of sensory systems in wildtype mice, but extends into white matter, meninges and choroid plexus in Ifnar-/- mice. Cells in wildtype display strong type I and II IFN responses, likely due to Ifnb expressing astrocytes, infiltration of macrophages and Ifng-expressing CD8+ NK cells, whereas in Ifnar-/-, the absence of this response contributes to a shift in cellular tropism towards non-activated resident microglia. Multimodal imaging-transcriptomics exemplifies a powerful way to characterize mechanisms of viral pathogenesis and tropism.
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| 13. |
- Concepcion Gil-Rodriguez, Maria, et al.
(author)
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De Novo Heterozygous Mutations in SMC3 Cause a Range of Cornelia de Lange Syndrome-Overlapping Phenotypes
- 2015
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In: Human Mutation. - : Wiley: 12 months. - 1059-7794 .- 1098-1004. ; 36:4, s. 454-462
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Cornelia de Lange syndrome (CdLS) is characterized by facial dysmorphism, growth failure, intellectual disability, limb malformations, and multiple organ involvement. Mutations in five genes, encoding subunits of the cohesin complex (SMC1A, SMC3, RAD21) and its regulators (NIPBL, HDAC8), account for at least 70% of patients with CdLS or CdLS-like phenotypes. To date, only the clinical features from a single CdLS patient with SMC3 mutation has been published. Here, we report the efforts of an international research and clinical collaboration to provide clinical comparison of 16 patients with CdLS-like features caused by mutations in SMC3. Modeling of the mutation effects on protein structure suggests a dominant-negative effect on the multimeric cohesin complex. When compared with typical CdLS, many SMC3-associated phenotypes are also characterized by postnatal microcephaly but with a less distinctive craniofacial appearance, a milder prenatal growth retardation that worsens in childhood, few congenital heart defects, and an absence of limb deficiencies. While most mutations are unique, two unrelated affected individuals shared the same mutation but presented with different phenotypes. This work confirms that de novo SMC3 mutations account for approximate to 1%-2% of CdLS-like phenotypes.
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| 14. |
- Ding, Jianguo, 1968-, et al.
(author)
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Cyber Threats to Smart Grids : Review, Taxonomy, Potential Solutions, and Future Directions
- 2022
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In: Energies. - : MDPI. - 1996-1073. ; 15:18
-
Research review (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Smart Grids (SGs) are governed by advanced computing, control technologies, and networking infrastructure. However, compromised cybersecurity of the smart grid not only affects the security of existing energy systems but also directly impacts national security. The increasing number of cyberattacks against the smart grid urgently necessitates more robust security protection technologies to maintain the security of the grid system and its operations. The purpose of this review paper is to provide a thorough understanding of the incumbent cyberattacks' influence on the entire smart grid ecosystem. In this paper, we review the various threats in the smart grid, which have two core domains: the intrinsic vulnerability of the system and the external cyberattacks. Similarly, we analyze the vulnerabilities of all components of the smart grid (hardware, software, and data communication), data management, services and applications, running environment, and evolving and complex smart grids. A structured smart grid architecture and global smart grid cyberattacks with their impact from 2010 to July 2022 are presented. Then, we investigated the the thematic taxonomy of cyberattacks on smart grids to highlight the attack strategies, consequences, and related studies analyzed. In addition, potential cybersecurity solutions to smart grids are explained in the context of the implementation of blockchain and Artificial Intelligence (AI) techniques. Finally, technical future directions based on the analysis are provided against cyberattacks on SGs.
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| 15. |
- Du, Shuhui, et al.
(author)
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Multilocus analysis of nucleotide variation and speciation in three closely related Populus (Salicaceae) species
- 2015
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In: Molecular Ecology. - : Wiley. - 0962-1083 .- 1365-294X. ; 24:19, s. 4994-5005
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Historical tectonism and climate oscillations can isolate and contract the geographical distributions of many plant species, and they are even known to trigger species divergence and ultimately speciation. Here, we estimated the nucleotide variation and speciation in three closely related Populus species, Populus tremuloides, P.tremula and P.davidiana, distributed in North America and Eurasia. We analysed the sequence variation in six single-copy nuclear loci and three chloroplast (cpDNA) fragments in 497 individuals sampled from 33 populations of these three species across their geographic distributions. These three Populus species harboured relatively high levels of nucleotide diversity and showed high levels of nucleotide differentiation. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that P.tremuloides diverged earlier than the other two species. The cpDNA haplotype network result clearly illustrated the dispersal route from North America to eastern Asia and then into Europe. Molecular dating results confirmed that the divergence of these three species coincided with the sundering of the Bering land bridge in the late Miocene and a rapid uplift of the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau around the Miocene/Pliocene boundary. Vicariance-driven successful allopatric speciation resulting from historical tectonism and climate oscillations most likely played roles inthe formation of the disjunct distributions and divergence of these three Populus species.
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| 16. |
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| 17. |
- Li, Junhao, et al.
(author)
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Full-color enhanced second harmonic generation using rainbow trapping in ultrathin hyperbolic metamaterials
- 2021
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In: Nature Communications. - : Springer Nature. - 2041-1723. ; 12:1
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Though metamaterials enhance nonlinear light-matter interactions due to their resonant features, these materials typically show a narrow spectral bandwidth. Here, the authors report broadband enhanced second-harmonic generation in patterned multilayer hyperbolic metamaterial arrays. Metasurfaces have provided a promising approach to enhance the nonlinearity at subwavelength scale, but usually suffer from a narrow bandwidth as imposed by sharp resonant features. Here, we counterintuitively report a broadband, enhanced second-harmonic generation, in nanopatterned hyperbolic metamaterials. The nanopatterning allows the direct access of the mode with large momentum, rendering the rainbow light trapping, i.e. slow light in a broad frequency, and thus enhancing the local field intensity for boosted nonlinear light-matter interactions. For a proof-of-concept demonstration, we fabricated a nanostructured Au/ZnO multilayer, and enhanced second harmonic generation can be observed within the visible wavelength range (400-650 nm). The enhancement factor is over 50 within the wavelength range of 470-650 nm, and a maximum conversion efficiency of 1.13x10(-6) is obtained with a pump power of only 8.80 mW. Our results herein offer an effective and robust approach towards the broadband metasurface-based nonlinear devices for various important technologies.
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| 18. |
- Lindberg, Fredrik, 1974, et al.
(author)
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Urban Multi-scale Environmental Predictor (UMEP): An integrated tool for city-based climate services
- 2018
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In: Environmental Modelling and Software. - : Elsevier BV. - 1364-8152. ; 99, s. 70-87
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- © 2017 The Authors UMEP (Urban Multi-scale Environmental Predictor), a city-based climate service tool, combines models and tools essential for climate simulations. Applications are presented to illustrate UMEP's potential in the identification of heat waves and cold waves; the impact of green infrastructure on runoff; the effects of buildings on human thermal stress; solar energy production; and the impact of human activities on heat emissions. UMEP has broad utility for applications related to outdoor thermal comfort, wind, urban energy consumption and climate change mitigation. It includes tools to enable users to input atmospheric and surface data from multiple sources, to characterise the urban environment, to prepare meteorological data for use in cities, to undertake simulations and consider scenarios, and to compare and visualise different combinations of climate indicators. An open-source tool, UMEP is designed to be easily updated as new data and tools are developed, and to be accessible to researchers, decision-makers and practitioners.
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| 19. |
- Peng, Jungang, et al.
(author)
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Triassic vegetation and climate evolution on the northern margin of Gondwana: a palynological study from Tulong, southern Xizang (Tibet), China
- 2019
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In: Journal of Asian Earth Sciences. - Amsterdam : Elsevier BV. - 1367-9120 .- 1878-5786. ; 175, s. 74-82
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- We present vegetation reconstructions based on an almost complete succession through the Triassic of Tulong, Nyalam County, southern Xizang (Tibet), China. The Permian and earliest Triassic samples were barren of palynomorphs, however, in overlying strata we identified well-preserved and diverse miospore assemblages. Seven pollen and spore zones spanning the Olenekian to the Rhaetian were recognized. These palynological zones were amalgamated into three floral stages that comprise distinct vegetation types: (1) an early Olenekian lycophyte dominated flora with common pteridosperms, indicative of a warm and dry climate; (2) a late Olenekian transitional flora composed of abundant conifers with low abundances of lycophytes, signifying a decrease in temperature and increase in humidity; (3) a Middle to Late Triassic mature conifer-dominated flora with diverse sphenophytes, ferns and cycadophytes, indicative of a stable, temperate and humid climate. The changes in vegetation and climate tentatively correlate with the rifting of northern Gondwana, suggesting that regional tectonics was a contributive driving factor to local floral community change.
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| 20. |
- Sun, Shao, et al.
(author)
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Evolution of future precipitation extremes: Viewpoint of climate change classification
- 2022
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In: International Journal of Climatology. - : Wiley. - 0899-8418 .- 1097-0088. ; 42:2, s. 1220-1230
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Climate change is often described as the average changes in temperature and precipitation; however, it is the change in climate extremes determines the levels of socioeconomic impacts related to climate change. It is generally believed that global warming drives increase in frequency, intensity and duration of precipitation extremes, but these changes vary regionally. Focusing on the relationships between evolution of extreme events and long-term climate change, here we propose a novel classification scheme based on Kӧppen's system and changes in mean and variability of precipitation, divide the global climate into 20 different changing types and reveal the regional evolution of precipitation extremes. We find that precipitation extremes ascend significantly in wetting regions, especially in tropical and temperate zones, independent with changed variability. As for drying regions, the evolution of extremes is related to precipitation variability. An increase of extremes can still be detected in fluctuant-drying areas, while a slight decrease can be seen in stabilized-drying areas. It is surprising to find increase in both wetness and dryness extremes which implies higher intensity of meteorological hazards in densely populated areas. Based on the current and projected growth of population exposure to precipitation extremes, we identify some hotspots with high potential risk in the future.
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| 21. |
- Wang, Shuai, et al.
(author)
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Alignment of social and ecological structures increased the ability of river management
- 2019
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In: Science Bulletin. - : Elsevier BV. - 2095-9273. ; 64:18, s. 1318-1324
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Large hydrologic basins involve multiple stakeholders, and coupled dynamic social and ecological processes. Managing such basins has long been a challenge. Balancing the demand for water from nature against that from humans is always difficult, particularly in arid watersheds. Here, we analyze potential institutional causes of ecological degradation and how it can be reversed by introducing new forms of governance. The framework and assumptions are illustrated using China's second-largest endorheic basin, where empirical evidence shows that the introduction of a new governing authority connecting midstream and downstream actors facilitated the establishment of a new governance regime that is better aligned with the biophysical scales of the watershed. A trans-regional water allocation project initiated by the new higher-level authority successfully rescued downstream oases and restored a dried terminal lake. These outcomes suggest that when social and ecological structures are better aligned our ability to manage the interplay between social and ecological processes increases. However, the lack of direct connection between the actors of the middle and lower reaches resulted in the paradox of an increase in water demand. We therefore suggest that measures to stimulate the emergence of horizontal social ties linking different critical groups of actors across the watershed could further the alignment of the institutional and biophysical structures-without these changes sustainable management of river basins and other common pool resources will remain problematic.
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| 22. |
- Wang, Xianshu, et al.
(author)
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Non-solvating fluorosulfonyl carboxylate enables temperature-tolerant lithium metal batteries
- 2023
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In: Journal of Energy Chemistry. - : Elsevier. - 2095-4956 .- 2096-885X. ; 82, s. 287-295
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Advanced electrolyte engineering is an important strategy for developing high-efficacy lithium (Li) metal batteries (LMBs). Unfortunately, the current electrolytes limit the scope for creating batteries that perform well over temperature ranges. Here, we present a new electrolyte design that uses fluorosulfonyl carboxylate as a non-solvating solvent to form difluoroxalate borate (DFOB-) anion-rich solvation sheath, to realize high-performance working of temperature-tolerant LMBs. With this optimized electrolyte, favorable SEI and CEI chemistries on Li metal anode and nickel-rich cathode are achieved, respectively, leading to fast Li+ transfer kinetics, dendrite-free Li deposition and suppressed electrolyte deterioration. Therefore, Li||LiNi0.80Co0.15Al0.05O2 batteries with a thin Li foil (50 μm) show a long-term cycling lifespan over 400 cycles at 1 C and a superior capacity retention of 90% after 200 cycles at 0.5 C under 25 ℃. Moreover, this electrolyte extends the operating temperature from -10 to 30 ℃ and significantly improve the capacity retention and Coulombic efficiency of batteries are improved at high temperature (60 ℃). Fluorosulfonyl carboxylates thus have considerable potential for use in high-performance and all-weather LMBs, which broadens the new exploring of electrolyte design.
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| 23. |
- Zhang, Di, et al.
(author)
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Recent Developments in Palladium-Catalyzed Oxidative Cascade Carbocyclization
- 2017
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In: ACS Catalysis. - : American Chemical Society (ACS). - 2155-5435. ; 7:10, s. 7051-7063
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- In this Perspective, we describe recent advances on Pd-catalyzed oxidative cascade carbocyclizations. These cascade processes enable efficient construction of the molecular complexity and structural diversity of carbocyclic compounds via introducing diverse functionalities concomitant with multiple C-C bond-formations in one-pot operations. In many cases, these processes are facilitated by Pd-catalysts alone, while cocatalysis by combination of Pd catalyst and other catalysts are also discussed, since they represent a new entry to address the preparation of functionalized cyclic compounds with high efficiency and selectivity.
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| 24. |
- Zhang, Yanying, et al.
(author)
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Living diatoms integrate polysaccharide-Eu3+ complex for UV downconversion
- 2022
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In: Journal of Materials Research and Technology. - : Elsevier. - 2238-7854. ; 19, s. 2774-2780
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- In this work, living diatoms (LDT) were fed Eu3+ -complex-polysaccharide aggregates (EIPA), and the living diatoms integrated-EIPAs (LDT-E) in a completely new UV downconversion biophotonic material. The EIPAs were embedded inside siliceous cell walls of living diatoms. When dried, these diatoms (LDT-Es) are luminescent at 612 nm, due to the Eu3+ - complex. As UV-downconversion material, LDT-E absorbs UV light in the band of 250-400 nm and converts into useful visible light, thus contributing to UV-protection and potentially to photocurrent generation in photovoltaic devices. This downconversion material from living diatom retains the porous characteristics of the diatom siliceous cells, as well as the diatom organic components. Most important is the absence of a chemical process to generate this biomaterial from natural living diatoms, in order to obtain UV protection and downconversion. (C) 2022 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier B.V.
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| 25. |
- Zulfiqar, Shumaila, et al.
(author)
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Whole exome sequencing identifies novel variant underlying hereditary spastic paraplegia in consanguineous Pakistani families
- 2019
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In: Journal of clinical neuroscience. - : Elsevier BV. - 0967-5868 .- 1532-2653. ; 67, s. 19-23
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Hereditary Spastic paraplegias (HSPs) are heterogeneous group of degenerative disorders characterized by progressive weakness and spasticity of the lower limbs, combined with additional neurological features. This study aimed to identify causative gene variants in two nonrelated consanguineous Pakistani families segregating HSP. Whole exome sequencing (WES) was performed on a total of five individuals from two families including four affected and one phenotypically normal individual. The variants were validated by Sanger sequencing and segregation analysis. In family A, a novel homozygous variant c.604G > A (p.Glu202Lys) was identified in the CYP2U1 gene with clinical symptoms of SPG56 in 3 siblings. Whereas, a previously reported variant c.5769delT (p.Ser1923Argfs*28) in the SPG11 gene was identified in family B manifesting clinical features of SPG11 in 3 affected individuals. Our combined findings add to the clinical and genetic variability associated with CYP2U1 and SPG11 variants highlighting the complexity of HSPs. These findings further emphasize the usefulness of WES as a powerful diagnostic tool.
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