Matrix-type bismuth-modulated copper-sulfur electrode using local photothermal effect strategy for efficient seawater splitting.

Constructing catalytic electrodes with green economy, stability, and high efficiency is crucial for achieving overall economic water splitting. Herein, a matrix-type bismuth-modulated nickel-boron electrodes loaded on sulfurized copper foils (Bi-NiBx@CFS) is synthesized via in situ mild electroless plating. This electrode features a 2-dimensional (2D) matrix-type nanosheet structure with uniform, large pores, providing more active sites and ensuring a high gas transmission rate. Notably, the crystalline-amorphous structure constituted by the photothermal materials Bi and NiBx is loaded onto sulfide-based heterostructures. This enhances the catalytic activity through the "local photothermal effect" strategy. A performance enhancement of approximately 10 % is achieved for the Bi-NiBx@CFS at a current density of 10 mA cm-2 using this strategy at 298 K. This enhancement is equivalent to increasing the temperature of conventional electrolyte solutions by 321 K. In addition, the overpotential required to catalytically drive seawater splitting at the same current density is only 1.486 V. The Bi-NiBx@CFS electrode operates stably for 200 h without any performance degradation at industrial-grade current densities. The Bi-NiBx@CFS electrode under the "localized photothermal effect" strategy is expected to be a new type of electrocatalyst for overall seawater splitting.

In situ fabrication of sporoid-like flexible electrodes via Fe-regulated electron density for highly efficient and ultra-stable overall seawater splitting.

Construction of ultra-stable, flexible, efficient and economical catalytic electrodes is of great significance for the seawater electrolysis for hydrogen production. This work is grounded in a one-step mild electroless plating method to construct industrial-grade super-stable overall water splitting (OWS) catalytic electrodes (Fe1-Ni1P@GF) by growing loose and porous spore-like Fe1-Ni1P conductive catalysts in situ on flexible glass fibre (GF) insulating substrates with precise elemental regulation. Cost-effective Fe regulation boosts the electronic conductivity and charge transfer ability to achieve the construction of high intrinsic activity and strong electron density electrodes. Fe1-Ni1P@GF exhibits remarkable catalytic performance in hydrogen and oxygen evolution reaction (HER and OER), providing current densities of 10 mA cm-2 for HER and 100 mA cm-2 for OER at overpotentials of 51 and 216 mV, respectively. Moreover, it achieves 10 mA cm-2 at 1.42 V for OWS, and exhibits stable operation for over 1440 h at 1000 mA cm-2 in quasi-industrial environment of 6.0 M KOH + 0.5 M NaCl, without any performance degradation. This strategy enables the preparation of universally applicable P-based electrodes (ternary, quaternary, etc.) and large-area flexible electrodes (paper or cotton), significantly expands the practicality of the electrodes and demonstrating promising potential for industrial applications.

Impact of Self-Monitoring on Weight Loss After Bariatric Surgery.

BACKGROUND: Weight loss after bariatric surgery varies among patients. Patients who do not comply with self-monitoring are predicted to lose less weight than those who comply with self-monitoring. OBJECTIVE: To assess the effect of compliance with self-monitoring behavior on long-term %excess weight loss (%EWL) and %total weight loss (%TWL) among patients receiving laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) and laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (LRYGB). METHODS: We used retrospective analysis to evaluate the self-monitoring behavior of patients and their weight changes throughout a 2-year follow-up. The participants were divided into two groups: group 1 consisted of participants who kept self-monitoring behavior records for all follow-ups and group 2 consisted of participants who kept self-monitoring behavior records for only six months of follow-up. Our investigators used telephone interviews to collect the data. By comparing %EWL and %TWL, we assessed the possible relationship between the long-term self-monitoring behavior, weight loss outcome, and operation type. RESULTS: There were 384 included samples. %EWL was significantly different between group 1 and group 2, and group 1 participants had better outcomes regardless of operational method. In group 2, LRYGB patients had better %EWL outcomes than LSG patients. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with long-term self-monitoring behaviors have better %EWL and %TWL. Patients in LRYGB group had better weight loss outcomes than the LSG group.

Sialylation of FGFR1 by ST6Gal­I overexpression contributes to ovarian cancer cell migration and chemoresistance.

Fibroblast growth factor receptors (FGFRs) have been implicated in the malignant transformation and chemoresistance of epithelial ovarian cancer; however, the underlying molecular mechanisms are poorly understood. Increased sialyltransferase activity that enhances protein sialylation is an important post­translational process promoting cancer progression and malignancy. In the present study, α2,6­sialyltransferase (ST6Gal­I) overexpression or knockdown cell lines were developed, and FGFR1 was examined to understand the effect of sialylation on migration and drug resistance, and the underlying mechanisms. It was identified that cells with ST6Gal­I overexpression had increased cell viability and migratory ability upon serum deprivation. Moreover, ST6Gal­I overexpression cells had strong resistance to paclitaxel, as demonstrated by low growth inhibition rate and cell apoptosis level. A mechanistic study showed that ST6Gal­I overexpression induced high α2,6­sialylation of FGFR1 and increased the expression of phospho­ERK1/2 and phospho­focal adhesion kinase. Further study demonstrated that the FGFR1 inhibitor PD173047 reduced cell viability and induced apoptosis; however, ST6Gal­I overexpression decreased the anticancer effect of PD173047. In addition, ST6Gal­I overexpression attenuated the effect of Adriamycin on cancer cells. Collectively, these results suggested that FGFR1 sialylation plays an important role in cell migration and drug chemoresistance in ovarian cancer cells.

Comparative Study of the Effects of Ferrochelatase-siRNA Transfection Mediated by Ultrasound Microbubbles and Polyethyleneimine in Combination with Low-dose ALA to Enhance PpIX Accumulation in Human Endometrial Cancer Xenograft Nude Mice Models.

Comparison of the fluorescence intensity caused by the accumulation of PpIX in endometrial cancer xenografts in nude mice after low-dose 5-Aminolevulinic acid (ALA) injection combined with siRNA transfection was mediated by ultrasound microbubbles and polyethyleneimine (PEI) to explore the feasibility of the ultrasound microbubble technique as transfection agents. Knockdown of ferrochelatase (FECH) in human endometrial cancer xenografts in nude mice was performed by transfection with FECH-siRNA mediated by PEI and ultrasound microbubbles alone or in combination; then, low-dose ALA was injected. Subsequently, an in vivo animal imaging system was employed to detect the fluorescence intensity in xenografts. Red fluorescence was observed in xenografts given more than 6.25 mg kg-1 of ALA. When the dose of ALA was greater than 50 mg kg-1 , there was a significant difference in the fluorescence between tumor and other tissues. After the nude mice were transfected with siRNA and treated with low-dose ALA (1.0 mg kg-1 ), apparent PpIX fluorescence of the xenografts was observed, and the fluorescence intensity was PEI+ ultrasound microbubbles > PEI > ultrasound microbubbles. Ultrasound microbubbles in combination with PEI could generate a higher fluorescence intensity of PpIX than that obtained with ultrasound microbubbles or PEI alone, and ultrasound microbubbles could wholly or partially replace PEI under certain conditions.

Reproductive outcomes following cesarean scar pregnancy - a case series and review of the literature.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the reproductive outcomes following cesarean scar pregnancy (CSP) in our center and review of published literature on CSP and subsequent reproductive issues. METHODS: Over a 3-year period, 28 cases of CSPs were diagnosed in our hospital. Follow up data of 22 cases were available which included the gestational age at diagnosis of CSP, treatments employed and outcomes of previous cesarean scar pregnancy. We also had details on subsequent fertility outcomes in these women, which included intervals between the previous CSP and subsequent pregnancy, maternal and neonatal outcomes of these subsequent pregnancies and mode of delivery. RESULTS: Eight women desired to conceive and amongst them, seven women manage to conceive spontaneously. There were five pregnancies delivered at term, two miscarriages and one recurrent CSP. One patient had placenta accreta diagnosed at cesarean section at term and had massive hemorrhage. The remaining 4 term pregnancies were delivered uneventfully by elective cesarean sections. The mean interval between the cesarean scar pregnancy and subsequent pregnancy was 24.6 months (range 9-48 months). One patient experienced secondary infertility and despite thorough investigations, no abnormalities were detected. One of the women who did not desire future fertility conceived spontaneously at 9 and 18 months respectively after one CSP and had induced abortions twice. There were 3 women who had uterine scar defect repaired, only 1 resulted in a live birth but had placenta accreta with a lower uterine segment defect and suffered from massive hemorrhage, one woman had a subsequent miscarriage with a diverticulum in the lower uterine segment, and one woman had unexplained secondary infertility. CONCLUSION: Most women were able to conceive following CSPs. Reproductive outcomes included normal intrauterine term pregnancy, miscarriage, recurrent CSP, and infertility. Placenta accreta, which could be misdiagnosed antenatally, was a serious complication in subsequent pregnancies. Diverticulum or defect in the lower uterine segment could happen after CSP. Repair of the uterine defect, following a CSP neither guaranteed the healing of the scar, nor the ability to ensure a safe pregnancy outcome. Appropriate counseling to women desiring fertility with a history of CSP is essential and once they conceive early referral to tertiary centers for follow up is pertinent.