Unraveling the formation of oxygen vacancies on the surface of transition metal-doped ceria utilizing artificial intelligence.

Ceria has been extensively utilized in different fields, with surface oxygen vacancies playing a central role. However, versatile oxygen vacancy regulation is still in its infancy. In this work, we propose an effective strategy to manipulate the oxygen vacancy formation energy via transition metal doping by combining first-principles calculations and analytical learning. We elucidate the underlying mechanism driving the formation of oxygen vacancies using combined symbolic regression and data analytics techniques. The results show that the Fermi level of the system and the electronegativity of the dopants are the paramount parameters (features) influencing the formation of oxygen vacancies. These insights not only enhance our understanding of the oxygen vacancy formation mechanism in ceria-based materials to improve their functionality but also potentially lay the groundwork for future strategies in the rational design of other transition metal oxide-based catalysts.

Interface engineering enabled by sodium dodecyl sulfonate surfactant for stable Zn metal batteries.

Aqueous zinc-ion batteries are emerging as powerful candidates for large-scale energy storage, due to their inherent high safety and high theoretical capacity. However, the inevitable hydrogen evolution and side effects of the deposition process limit their lifespan, which requires rational engineering of the interface between anode and aqueous electrolyte. In this paper, an anionic surfactant as electrolyte additive, sodium dodecyl sulfonate (SDS), is introduced to deliver highly reversible zinc metal batteries. Unlike traditional surfactants, the solvation structure is not affected by SDS, which tends to adsorb on the (002) crystal plane of Zn with the purpose of effectively limiting the water molecules adsorption. Attributed to the natural hydrophobic part of SDS, a dynamic electrostatic shielding layer and a unique hydrophobic interface are constructed on the anode. Assisted by the above merits, the adverse surface corrosion, hydrogen evolution and dendrite growth are significantly inhibited without the sacrifice in the deposition kinetics of Zn ions. As a result, the Zn||Zn symmetric batteries demonstrate an increased cycle life of 2000 h (1 mA cm-2, 1 mA h cm-2) with the presence of SDS additive. Such strategy provides a new avenue for the developing advanced electrolytes to be applied in aqueous energy storage systems.

Impact of hepatic inflammation and fibrosis on the recurrence and long-term survival of hepatitis B virus-related hepatocellular carcinoma patients after hepatectomy.

BACKGROUND: Underlying liver disease is correlated with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) development in patients with hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. However, the impact of hepatic inflammation and fibrosis on the patients' prognoses remains unclear. METHODS: The clinicopathological data of 638 HBV-infected patients with early-stage HCC between 2017 and 2019 were prospectively collected. Hepatic inflammation and fibrosis were evaluated by experienced pathologists using the Scheuer score system. Survival analysis was analyzed using the Kaplan-Meier analysis. RESULTS: Application of the Scheuer scoring system revealed that 50 (7.9%), 274 (42.9%), and 314 (49.2%) patients had minor, intermediate, and severe hepatic inflammation, respectively, and 125 (15.6%), 150 (23.5%), and 363 (56.9%) patients had minor fibrosis, advanced fibrosis, and cirrhosis, respectively. Patients with severe hepatitis tended to have a higher rate of HBeAg positivity, higher HBV-DNA load, elevated alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels, and a lower proportion of capsule invasion (all Pp < 0.05). There were no significant differences in the recurrence-free and overall survival among the three groups (P = 0.52 and P = 0.66, respectively). Patients with advanced fibrosis or cirrhosis had a higher proportion of HBeAg positivity and thrombocytopenia, higher FIB-4, and larger tumor size compared to those with minor fibrosis (all P < 0.05). Patients with minor, advanced fibrosis, and cirrhosis had similar prognoses after hepatectomy (P = 0.48 and P = 0.70). The multivariate analysis results indicated that neither hepatic inflammation nor fibrosis was an independent predictor associated with prognosis. CONCLUSIONS: For HBV-related HCC patients receiving antiviral therapy, hepatic inflammation and fibrosis had little impact on the post-hepatectomy prognosis.

Biobased Inks Based on Cuttlefish Ink and Cellulose Nanofibers for Biodegradable Patterned Soft Actuators.

Soft actuators with stimuli-responsive and reversible deformations have shown great promise in soft robotics. However, some challenges remain in existing actuators, such as the materials involved derived from nonrenewable resources, complex and nonscalable preparation methods, and incapability of complex and programmable deformation. Here, a biobased ink based on cuttlefish ink nanoparticles (CINPs) and cellulose nanofibers (CNFs) was developed, allowing for the preparation of biodegradable patterned actuators by direct ink writing technology. The hybrid CNF/CINP ink displays good rheological properties, allowing it to be accurately printed on a variety of flexible substrates. A bilayer actuator was developed by printing an ink layer on a biodegradable poly(lactic acid) film using extrusion-based 3D printing technology, which exhibits reversible and large bending behavior under the stimuli of humidity and light. Furthermore, programmable and reversible folding and coiling deformations in response to stimuli have been achieved by adjusting the ink patterns. This work offers a fast, scalable, and cost-effective strategy for the development of biodegradable patterned actuators with programmable shape-morphing.

Enhancing the Performance of 2D Ni-Fe Layered Double Hydroxides by Cabbage-Inspired Carbon Conjunction for Oxygen Evolution Reactions.

Layered double hydroxide (LDH) nanosheets as one type of two-dimensional materials have garnered increasing attention in the field of oxygen evolution reaction (OER) in recent decades. To address the challenges associated with poor conductivity and limited electron and charge transfer capability in LDH materials, we have developed a straightforward one-pot synthesis method to successfully fabricate a composite material with a microstructure resembling cabbage, which encompasses NiFe-LDH and nanocarbon (referred as NiFe-LDH@C). Atomic force microscopy (AFM) and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) revealed that the monolayer NiFe-LDH with a height of ~0.5-0.8 nm is uniformly distributed and closely bonded to the carbon support, leading to a significant enhancement in conductivity and facilitating faster electron and charge transfer. Moreover, the NiFe-LDH@C exhibits a substantial number of surface defect sites, which enhances the interaction with oxygen species. This dual enhancement in charge transfer and oxygen species-mediated transfer greatly improves the catalytic OER performance, which is further corroborated by theoretical calculations. Notably, the Ni10Fe6-LDH@C with the highest concentration of surface oxygen vacancies demonstrated superior water oxidation performance, surpassing commercially available RuO2 catalysts; an OER overpotential of 231 mV@10 mA cm-2 with a Tafel slope of 71 mV dec-1 was achieved.

Molten Guest-Mediated Metal-Organic Frameworks Featuring Multi-Modal Supramolecular Interaction Sites for Flame-Retardant Superionic Conductor in All-Solid-State Batteries.

The development of solid-state electrolytes (SSEs) with outstanding comprehensive performance is currently a critical challenge for achieving high energy density and safer solid-state batteries (SSBs). In this study, a strategy of nano-confined in situ solidification is proposed to create a novel category of molten guest-mediated metal-organic frameworks, named MGM-MOFs. By embedding the newly developed molten crystalline organic electrolyte (ML20) into the nanocages of anionic MOF-OH, MGM-MOF-OH, characterized by multi-modal supramolecular interaction sites and continuous negative electrostatic environments within nano-channels, is achieved. These nanochannels promote ion transport through the successive hopping of Li+ between neighbored negative electrostatic environments and suppress anion movement through the chemical constraint of the hydroxyl-functionalized pore wall. This results in remarkable Li+ conductivity of 7.1 × 10-4 S cm-1 and high Li+ transference number of 0.81. Leveraging these advantages, the SSBs assembled with MGM-MOF-OH exhibit impressive cycle stability and a high specific energy density of 410.5 Wh kganode + cathode + electrolyte -1 under constrained conditions and various working temperatures. Unlike flammable traditional MOFs, MGM-MOF-OH demonstrates high robustness under various harsh conditions, including ignition, high voltage, and extended to humidity.

Ginsenoside Rb2 exhibits therapeutic value for male osteoporosis in orchiectomy mice by suppressing osteoclastogenesis and modulating NF-κB/MAPK signaling pathways.

Osteoporosis (OP) is a systemic disorder characterized by decreased bone mass as well as deteriorated microarchitecture. Although OP in men is common, it has received much less attention than that in women. Ginseng, a famous traditional herb in Asia, is used to strengthen and repair bones by invigorating vital bioenergy and maintaining body homeostasis in dietary intake and clinical applications. However, there is currently no study investigating the impact of ginseng and its active compounds on male osteoporosis. In this study, RNA sequencing and bioinformatic analysis were conducted to reveal the influence of Ginsenoside-Rb2 on RAW264.7 cells and its underlying signaling pathways. The potential anti-osteoporosis effects of Rb2 as well as its molecular mechanisms were elucidated in RAW264.7 cells and BMMs by TRAP staining, F-actin belt staining, qRT-PCR and WB. Moreover, orchiectomy (ORX) was utilized to demonstrate the influence of Rb2 on bone mass loss in vivo by micro-CT scanning, and H&E, TRAP, and IHC staining. The results suggested that Rb2 suppressed osteoclastogenesis and mitigated bone loss in orchiectomy mice through NF-κB/MAPK signaling pathways. These findings indicate that ginseng as well as its active component Rb2 have potential therapeutic value in the management of osteoporosis in men.

Corylifol A suppresses osteoclastogenesis and alleviates ovariectomy-induced bone loss via attenuating ROS production and impairing mitochondrial function.

Osteoporosis is a systemic disease characterized by an imbalance in bone homeostasis, where osteoblasts fail to fully compensate for the bone resorption induced by osteoclasts. Corylifol A, a flavonoid extracted from Fructus psoraleae, has been identified as a potential treatment for this condition. Predictions from network pharmacology and molecular docking studies suggest that Corylifol A exhibits strong binding affinity with NFATc1, Nrf2, PI3K, and AKT1. Empirical evidence from in vivo experiments indicates that Corylifol A significantly mitigates systemic bone loss induced by ovariectomy by suppressing both the generation and activation of osteoclasts. In vitro studies further showed that Corylifol A inhibited the activation of PI3K-AKT and MAPK pathways and calcium channels induced by RANKL in a time gradient manner, and specifically inhibited the phosphorylation of PI3K, AKT, GSK3 ß, ERK, CaMKII, CaMKIV, and Calmodulin. It also diminishes ROS production through Nrf2 activation, leading to a decrease in the expression of key regulators such as NFATcl, C-Fos, Acp5, Mmp9, and CTSK that are involved in osteoclastogenesis. Notably, our RNA-seq analysis suggests that Corylifol A primarily impacts mitochondrial energy metabolism by suppressing oxidative phosphorylation. Collectively, these findings demonstrate that Corylifol A is a novel inhibitor of osteoclastogenesis, offering potential therapeutic applications for diseases associated with excessive bone resorption.

Multimodal Engineering of Catalytic Interfaces Confers Multi-Site Metal-Organic Framework for Internal Preconcentration and Accelerating Redox Kinetics in Lithium-Sulfur Batteries.

The development of highly efficient catalysts to address the shuttle effect and sluggish redox kinetics of lithium polysulfides (LiPSs) in lithium-sulfur batteries (LSBs) remains a formidable challenge. In this study, a series of multi-site catalytic metal-organic frameworks (MSC-MOFs) were elaborated through multimodal molecular engineering to regulate both the reactant diffusion and catalysis processes. MSC-MOFs were crafted with nanocages featuring collaborative specific adsorption/catalytic interfaces formed by exposed mixed-valence metal sites and surrounding adsorption sites. This design facilitates internal preconcentration, a coadsorption mechanism, and continuous efficient catalytic conversion toward polysulfides concurrently. Leveraging these attributes, LSBs with an MSC-MOF-Ti catalytic interlayer demonstrated a 62 % improvement in discharge capacity and cycling stability. This resulted in achieving a high areal capacity (11.57 mAh cm-2 ) at a high sulfur loading (9.32 mg cm-2 ) under lean electrolyte conditions, along with a pouch cell exhibiting an ultra-high gravimetric energy density of 350.8 Wh kg-1 . Lastly, this work introduces a universal strategy for the development of a new class of efficient catalytic MOFs, promoting SRR and suppressing the shuttle effect at the molecular level. The findings shed light on the design of advanced porous catalytic materials for application in high-energy LSBs.

Syringic acid promotes cartilage extracellular matrix generation and attenuates osteoarthritic cartilage degradation by activating TGF-ß/Smad and inhibiting NF-κB signaling pathway.

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a common chronic degenerative disease which is characterized by the disruption of articular cartilage. Syringic acid (SA) is a phenolic compound with anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and other effects including promoting osteogenesis. However, the effect of SA on OA has not yet been reported. Therefore, the purpose of our study was to investigate the effect and mechanism of SA on OA in a mouse model of medial meniscal destabilization. The expressions of genes were evaluated by qPCR or western blot or immunofluorescence. RNA-seq analysis was performed to examine gene transcription alterations in chondrocytes treated with SA. The effect of SA on OA was evaluated using destabilization of the medial meniscus model of mice. We found that SA had no obvious toxic effect on chondrocytes, while promoting the expressions of chondrogenesis-related marker genes. The results of RNA-seq analysis showed that extracellular matrix-receptor interaction and transforming growth factor-ß (TGF-ß) signaling pathways were enriched among the up-regulated genes by SA. Mechanistically, we demonstrated that SA transcriptionally activated Smad3. In addition, we found that SA inhibited the overproduction of lipopolysaccharide-induced inflammation-related cytokines including tumor necrosis factor-α and interleukin-1ß, as well as matrix metalloproteinase 3 and matrix metalloproteinase 13. The cell apoptosis and nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) signaling were also inhibited by SA treatment. Most importantly, SA attenuated cartilage degradation in a mouse OA model. Taken together, our study demonstrated that SA could alleviate cartilage degradation in OA by activating the TGF-ß/Smad and inhibiting NF-κB signaling pathway.

Preoperative dexamethasone administration in hepatectomy of 25-min intermittent Pringle's maneuver for hepatocellular carcinoma: protocol for a randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Our previous randomized controlled trial (RCT) have demonstrated that intermittent Pringle's maneuver (IPM) with a 25-min ischemic interval can be applied safely and efficiently in open or laparoscopic hepatectomy in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients. But prolonging the hepatic inflow blocking time will inevitably aggravate the ischemia-reperfusion injury (IRI) caused by systemic response. This RCT aims to evaluate the effect of administration of dexamethasone versus placebo before clamping the hilar pedicle on postoperative liver function, inflammatory response, and perioperative outcomes among HCC patients undergoing liver resection with 25-min hepatic inflow occlusion. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: This will be a randomized, dual-arm, parallel-group, double-blinded trial. All eligible and consecutive patients are coming from a regional medical center who are diagnosed with HCC and underwent radical R0/R1 resection. All participates are randomly allocated in dexamethasone group or placebo group. All surgeons, anesthesiologists, and outcome assessors will be blinded to allocation status. Primary endpoints are transaminase-based postoperative hepatic injury on seven consecutive days after surgery and assessed by their peak values as well as area under the curve (AUC) of the postoperative course of aminotransferases. Secondary endpoints are postoperative total bilirubin (TBil), coagulation function, inflammatory cytokines and their respective peaks, intraoperative blood loss, postoperative hospital stay, morbidity, and mortality. The above parameters will be compared using the corresponding statistical approach. Subgroup analysis will be performed according to the liver cirrhosis and major hepatectomy. DISCUSSION: Based on our previous study, we will explore further the effect of glucocorticoid administration on attenuating the surgical stress response in order to follow securely 25-min hepatic inflow occlusion. Therefore, the trial protocol is reasonable and the results of the trial may be clinically significant. TRIAL REGISTRATION: This trial was registered on 3 December 2022, in the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry ( http://www.chictr.org.cn ), ChiCTR2200066381. The protocol version is V1.0 (20221104).

Ginsenoside compound-K attenuates OVX-induced osteoporosis via the suppression of RANKL-induced osteoclastogenesis and oxidative stress.

Osteoporosis (OP), a systemic and chronic bone disease, is distinguished by low bone mass and destruction of bone microarchitecture. Ginsenoside Compound-K (CK), one of the metabolites of ginsenoside Rb1, has anti-aging, anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer, and hypolipidemic activities. We have demonstrated CK could promote osteogenesis and fracture healing in our previous study. However, the contribution of CK to osteoporosis has not been examined. In the present study, we investigated the effect of CK on osteoclastogenesis and ovariectomy (OVX)-induced osteoporosis. The results showed that CK inhibited receptor activator for nuclear factor-κB ligand (RANKL)-mediated osteoclast differentiation and reactive oxygen species (ROS) activity by inhibiting the phosphorylation of NF-κB p65 and oxidative stress in RAW264.7 cells. In addition, we also demonstrated that CK could inhibit bone resorption using bone marrow-derived macrophages. Furthermore, we demonstrated that CK attenuated bone loss by suppressing the activity of osteoclast and alleviating oxidative stress in vivo. Taken together, these results showed CK could inhibit osteoclastogenesis and prevent OVX-induced bone loss by inhibiting NF-κB signaling pathway.

Developing a class of dual atom materials for multifunctional catalytic reactions.

Dual atom catalysts, bridging single atom and metal/alloy nanoparticle catalysts, offer more opportunities to enhance the kinetics and multifunctional performance of oxygen reduction/evolution and hydrogen evolution reactions. However, the rational design of efficient multifunctional dual atom catalysts remains a blind area and is challenging. In this study, we achieved controllable regulation from Co nanoparticles to CoN4 single atoms to Co2N5 dual atoms using an atomization and sintering strategy via an N-stripping and thermal-migrating process. More importantly, this strategy could be extended to the fabrication of 22 distinct dual atom catalysts. In particular, the Co2N5 dual atom with tailored spin states could achieve ideally balanced adsorption/desorption of intermediates, thus realizing superior multifunctional activity. In addition, it endows Zn-air batteries with long-term stability for 800 h, allows water splitting to continuously operate for 1000 h, and can enable solar-powered water splitting systems with uninterrupted large-scale hydrogen production throughout day and night. This universal and scalable strategy provides opportunities for the controlled design of efficient multifunctional dual atom catalysts in energy conversion technologies.

Multistimuli-Responsive Actuators Derived from Natural Materials for Entirely Biodegradable and Programmable Untethered Soft Robots.

Untethered soft robots have attracted growing attention due to their safe interaction with living organisms, good flexibility, and accurate remote control. However, the materials involved are often nonbiodegradable or are derived from nonrenewable resources, leading to serious environmental problems. Here, we report a biomass-based multistimuli-responsive actuator based on cuttlefish ink nanoparticles (CINPs), wood-derived cellulose nanofiber (CNF), and bioderived polylactic acid (PLA). Taking advantage of the good photothermal conversion performance and exceptionally hygroscopic sensitivity of the CINPs/CNF composite (CICC) layer and the opposite thermally induced deformation behavior between the CICC layer and PLA layer, the soft actuator exhibits reversible deformation behaviors under near-infrared (NIR) light, humidity, and temperature stimuli, respectively. By introducing patterned or alignment structures and combining them with a macroscopic reassembly strategy, diverse programmable shape-morphing from 2D to 3D such as letter-shape, coiling, self-folding, and more sophisticated 3D deformations have been demonstrated. All of these deformations can be successfully predicted by finite element analysis (FEA) . Furthermore, this actuator has been further applied as an untethered grasping robot, weightlifting robot, and climbing robot capable of climbing a vertical pole. Such actuators consisting entirely of biodegradable materials will offer a sustainable future for untethered soft robots.

circPSD3 is a promising inhibitor of uPA system to inhibit vascular invasion and metastasis in hepatocellular carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: Vascular invasion is a major route for intrahepatic and distant metastasis in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and is a strong negative prognostic factor. Circular RNAs (circRNAs) play important roles in tumorigenesis and metastasis. However, the regulatory functions and underlying mechanisms of circRNAs in the development of vascular invasion in HCC are largely unknown. METHODS: High throughput sequencing was used to screen dysregulated circRNAs in portal vein tumor thrombosis (PVTT) tissues. The biological functions of candidate circRNAs in the migration, vascular invasion, and metastasis of HCC cells were examined in vitro and in vivo. To explore the underlying mechanisms, RNA sequencing, MS2-tagged RNA affinity purification, mass spectrometry, and RNA immunoprecipitation assays were performed. RESULTS: circRNA sequencing followed by quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) revealed that circRNA pleckstrin and Sect. 7 domain containing 3 (circPSD3) was significantly downregulated in PVTT tissues. Decreased circPSD3 expression in HCC tissues was associated with unfavourable characteristics and predicted poor prognosis in HCC. TAR DNA-binding protein 43 (TDP43) inhibited the biogenesis of circPSD3 by interacting with the downstream intron of pre-PSD3. circPSD3 inhibited the intrahepatic vascular invasion and metastasis of HCC cells in vitro and in vivo. Serpin family B member 2 (SERPINB2), an endogenous bona fide inhibitor of the urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA) system, is the downstream target of circPSD3. Mechanistically, circPSD3 interacts with histone deacetylase 1 (HDAC1) to sequester it in the cytoplasm, attenuating the inhibitory effect of HDAC1 on the transcription of SERPINB2. In vitro and in vivo studies demonstrated that circPSD3 is a promising inhibitor of the uPA system. CONCLUSIONS: circPSD3 is an essential regulator of vascular invasion and metastasis in HCC and may serve as a prognostic biomarker and therapeutic target.

Preoperative dexamethasone administration in hepatectomy of 25-min intermittent Pringle's maneuver for hepatocellular carcinoma: a randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: A previous randomized controlled trial demonstrated that intermittent Pringle's maneuver (IPM) with a 25-min ischemic interval could be applied safely and efficiently in hepatectomy for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). But prolonging the hepatic inflow clamping time will inevitably aggravate the ischemia-reperfusion injury. Therefore, we aimed to evaluate the effect of prophylactic dexamethasone on alleviating surgical stress for HCC patients with a 25-min ischemic interval. METHODS: From December 2022 to April 2023, patients who met the inclusion criteria were randomly assigned to the dexamethasone group or control group. Perioperative data and short-term survival outcomes between the two groups were recorded and compared, and subgroup analysis was performed. RESULTS: Two hundred and seventy patients were allocated to the dexamethasone group ( n =135) and control group ( n =135). Patients in the dexamethasone group had lower area under the curve of serial alanine aminotransferase (AUC ALT ) ( P =0.043) and aspartate aminotransferase (AUC AST ) ( P =0.009), total bilirubin (TB) ( P =0.018), procalcitonin (PCT) ( P =0.012), interleukin-6 (IL-6) ( P =0.006), incidence of major complication ( P =0.031) and shorter postoperative hospital stay ( P =0.046) than those in the control group. Subgroup analysis showed that the dexamethasone group experienced milder hepatocellular injury than the control group for patients with cirrhosis, and for patients without cirrhosis, the dexamethasone group experienced milder inflammatory response. Moreover, the dexamethasone group preserved better liver function and experienced milder inflammatory response for patients undergoing major hepatectomy, although the hepatocellular injury was not significantly improved. CONCLUSION: Preoperative dexamethasone administration can help improve perioperative outcomes for HCC patients when applying IPM with a 25-min ischemic interval in hepatectomy.

Dual Protective Porous Ti3 C2 Tx MXene/Polyimide Composite Film for Thermal Insulation and Electromagnetic Interference Shielding.

The thriving 5G communication technology leads to the high demand for EMI shielding materials and thermal management materials. Particularly, portable thermal-sensitive electronic devices have more stringent requirements for thermal insulation performances. In most cases, ultrathin EMI shielding materials integrated with ultralow thermal conductivity are not easy to be achieved. To overcome this obstacle, dual protective porous composite films based on Ti3 C2 Tx MXene and polyimide are fabricated by sacrificing polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) templates. By optimizing the contact thermal resistance and Kapitza resistance, the composite film presents superior thermal insulation performances with a thermal conductivity of 0.0136 W m-1 K-1 . Moreover, the hybrid porous film maintains superior EMI shielding effectiveness of 63.0 dB and high SSE/t of 31651.2 dB cm2 g-1 . Nevertheless, the excellent active and passive heating ability based on Joule heating and photothermal conversion makes the composite film an ideal portable material for thermal management. This work sheds light on designing thermal management materials and EMI shielding materials for cutting-edge electronic devices.

The microbial mechanisms by which long-term heavy metal contamination affects soil organic carbon levels.

Globally, reducing carbon emissions and mitigating soil heavy metal pollution pose pressing challenges. We evaluated the effects of lead (Pb) and cadmium (Cd) contamination in the field over 20 years. The five treatment groups featured Pb concentrations of 40 and 250 mg/kg, Cd concentrations of 10 and 60 mg/kg, and a combination of Pb and Cd (60 and 20 mg/kg, respectively); we also included a pollution-free control group. After 20 years, soil pH decreased notably in all treatments, particularly by 1.02 in Cd10-treated soil. In addition to the increase of SOC in Cd10 and unchanged in Pb40 treatment, the SOC was reduced by 9.62%-12.98% under the other treatments. The α diversities of bacteria and fungi were significantly changed by Cd10 pollution (both p < 0.05) and the microbial community structure changed significantly. However, there were no significant changes in bacterial and fungal communities under other treatments. Cd10 pollution reduced the numbers of Ascomycota and Basidiomycota fungi, and enhanced SOC accumulation. Compared to the control, long-term heavy Cd, Pb, and Pb-Cd composite pollution caused SOC loss by increasing Basidiomycota which promoting carbon degradation, and decreasing Proteobacteria which promoting carbon fixation via the Krebs cycle. Our findings demonstrate that heavy metal pollution mediates Carbon-cycling microorganisms and genes, impacting SOC storage.

Surface Modulation of Co3O4 Yolk-Shell Spheres with Tungsten Doping for Superior Acetone Sensitivity.

This study introduces a promising technique to enhance the sensitivity of p-type semiconductors in gas-sensing applications. By utilizing a glycerate-templated synthesis approach, a unique hierarchical W-doped Co3O4 yolk-shell sphere (YSS)-based sensor was developed, exhibiting exceptional sensitivity toward acetone gas. The synthesized YSSs feature a yolk-shell structure with a diameter of approximately 500 nm and a large surface area of 117.46 m2/g, which allows for efficient gas interaction and high sensitivity toward acetone gas. Furthermore, the incorporation of tungsten (W), a non-noble metal, as a dopant significantly enhances the surface activity of Co3O4, leading to a remarkably high response of 16.5 toward 5 ppm acetone, which is substantially higher than that of the pure Co3O4 YSS (2.9). The W-doped Co3O4 YSS also exhibits excellent selectivity to other interfering gases and the ability to detect ultralow concentrations of acetone as low as 10 ppb. The proposed non-noble metal doping strategy presents a practical solution for enhancing the sensitivity and selectivity of p-type semiconductor-based gas sensors. This approach holds great potential for practical gas-sensing applications due to their affordability and abundance, making them a cost-effective and versatile alternative to noble metal-catalyzed sensors.