Advances and Challenges in Interfacial Binding Forces for Electrocatalysts.

As a practical chemical energy conversion technology, electrocatalysis could be used in fields of energy conversion and environmental protection. In recent years, significant research efforts have been devoted to the design and development of high-performance electrocatalysts because the rational design of catalysts is crucial for enhancing electrocatalytic performance. Creating electrocatalysts by forming interactions between different components at the interface is an important means of controlling and improving performance. Therefore, several common interfacial binding forces used for synthesizing electrocatalysts was systematically summarized in this review for the first time. The discussion revolves around the crucial roles these binding forces play in various electrocatalytic reaction processes. Various characterization techniques capable of proving the existence of these interfacial binding forces was also involved in the review. Finally, some prospects and challenges for designing and researching materials through the utilization of interfacial binding forces were presented.

Reconstruction of CoNx /NC Catalyst during Oxygen Evolution Reaction by Fe3+ Modulation for Enhanced Activity and Stability.

The surface reconstruction of transition metal-based catalysts has been demonstrated to be beneficial for oxygen evolution reaction (OER). However, regulating the activity and stability of the components derived from reconstruction is challenging. Here, a strategy of Fe3+ ion modulating the reconstruction components of CoN0.4 on a nitrogen-doped carbon carrier(CoN0.4 /NC) electrocatalyst for promoted OER activity and stability is reported. During the OER process, the cobalt nitride components on the surface of CoN0.4 /NC catalyst were converted into CoOOH and Co4+ species. The addition of Fe3+ stabilized the CoOOH phase and facilitated the formation of Fe-CoOOH active phase, enhancing the activity and stability of CoN0.4 /NC. The Fe10 -CoN0.4 /NC catalyst achieved a current density of 10 mA cm-2 at a low overpotential of 300 mV (vs. RHE) with a Tafel slope of 68.12 mV dec-1 . The overpotential of Fe10 -CoN0.4 /NC was 122 mV lower than that of the CoN0.4 /NC catalyst and was comparable to commercial RuO2 catalyst. This study develops a novel technology for regulating the production of reconstructed species using Fe3+ ions.

[Accuracy evaluation of recording maxillomandibular relation with the mandibular kinesiography].

PURPOSE: To evaluate the accuracy of recording maxillomandibular position relationship with the mandibular kinesiography by surface electromyography analysis of the masticatory muscles and MRI of temporomandibular joint (TMJ). METHODS: Eight edentulous patients were selected randomly, and the maxillomandibular position relationship was determined by mandibular kinesiography and traditional method respectively. Then the corresponding bite plates were made to wear. Surface electromyography test of left and right anterior temporal and masseter muscle and magnetic resonance scan of the temporomandibular joint were performed on closed mouth position to record peak potentials, calculate asymmetric indexes, analyze the position relationship between the joint disc and the condyle, measure TMJ joint space. SPSS 18.0 software package was used for data analysis. RESULTS: There was no significant difference in the amplitude of the anterior temporal or masseter muscle, the asymmetry index of total, asymmetry index of masseter, asymmetry index of temporalis, the anterior, upper and posterior spaces of TMJ between the mandibular kinesiography group and the traditional group (P＞0.05). The temporomandibular articular disc process relationship of the two groups were conformed to the normal physiological position relationship. CONCLUSIONS: Mandibular kinesiography could accurately record the maxillomandibular position relationship in patients with edentulous jaws.

Multi-trait selection for mean performance and stability of maize hybrids in mega-environments delineated using envirotyping techniques.

Under global climate changes, understanding climate variables that are most associated with environmental kinships can contribute to improving the success of hybrid selection, mainly in environments with high climate variations. The main goal of this study is to integrate envirotyping techniques and multi-trait selection for mean performance and the stability of maize genotypes growing in the Huanghuaihai plain in China. A panel of 26 maize hybrids growing in 10 locations in two crop seasons was evaluated for 9 traits. Considering 20 years of climate information and 19 environmental covariables, we identified four mega-environments (ME) in the Huanghuaihai plain which grouped locations that share similar long-term weather patterns. All the studied traits were significantly affected by the genotype × mega-environment × year interaction, suggesting that evaluating maize stability using single-year, multi-environment trials may provide misleading recommendations. Counterintuitively, the highest yields were not observed in the locations with higher accumulated rainfall, leading to the hypothesis that lower vapor pressure deficit, minimum temperatures, and high relative humidity are climate variables that -under no water restriction- reduce plant transpiration and consequently the yield. Utilizing the multi-trait mean performance and stability index (MTMPS) prominent hybrids with satisfactory mean performance and stability across cultivation years were identified. G23 and G25 were selected within three out of the four mega-environments, being considered the most stable and widely adapted hybrids from the panel. The G5 showed satisfactory yield and stability across contrasting years in the drier, warmer, and with higher vapor pressure deficit mega-environment, which included locations in the Hubei province. Overall, this study opens the door to a more systematic and dynamic characterization of the environment to better understand the genotype-by-environment interaction in multi-environment trials.

Transcriptomic profiling of the high-vigour maize (Zea mays L.) hybrid variety response to cold and drought stresses during seed germination.

Abiotic stresses, including cold and drought, negatively affect maize (Zea mays L.) seed field emergence and later yield and quality. In order to reveal the molecular mechanism of maize seed resistance to abiotic stress at seed germination, the global transcriptome of high- vigour variety Zhongdi175 exposed to cold- and drought- stress was analyzed by RNA-seq. In the comparison between the control and different stressed sample, 12,299 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were detected, of which 9605 and 7837 DEGs were identified under cold- and drought- stress, respectively. Functional annotation analysis suggested that stress response mediated by the pathways involving ribosome, phenylpropanoid biosynthesis and biosynthesis of secondary metabolites, among others. Of the obtained DEGs (12,299), 5,143 genes are common to cold- and drought- stress, at least 2248 TFs in 56 TF families were identified that are involved in cold and/or drought treatments during seed germination, including bHLH, NAC, MYB and WRKY families, which suggested that common mechanisms may be originated during maize seed germination in response to different abiotic stresses. This study will provide a better understanding of the molecular mechanism of response to abiotic stress during maize seed germination, and could be useful for cultivar improvement and breeding of high vigour maize cultivars.

A preclinical study-systemic evaluation of safety on mesenchymal stem cells derived from human gingiva tissue.

BACKGROUND: Mounting evidence has shown that a novel subset of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) derived from human gingiva referred to as gingival mesenchymal stem cells (GMSCs) displays a greater immunotherapeutic potential and regenerative repair expression than MSCs obtained from other tissues. However, the safety of the use of transplanted GMSCs in humans remains unclear. METHODS: In this study, we evaluated the safety of GMSCs transplanted into mouse, rat, rabbit, beagle dog, and monkey as well as two animal models of autoimmune diseases. RESULTS: In short- and long-term toxicity tests, infused GMSCs had no remarkable adverse effects on hematologic and biochemical indexes, particularly on the major organs such as heart, liver, spleen, and kidney in recipient animals. It was also shown that GMSCs were well tolerated in other assays including hemolysis, vascular, and muscular stimulation, as well as systemic anaphylaxis and passive skin Arthus reaction in animal models. GSMC infusion did not cause any notable side effects on animal models of either autoimmune arthritis or lupus. Significantly, GMSCs most likely play no role in genotoxicity and tumorigenesis. The biological features remained stable for an extended period after cell transfer. CONCLUSIONS: GMSCs are safe in various animal models of autoimmunity, even during active disease episodes, especially in monkeys. This study paves a solid road for future clinical trials of GMSCs in patients with autoimmune and inflammatory diseases.