Developing Salt-Rejecting Evaporators for Solar Desalination: A Critical Review.

Solar desalination, a green, low-cost, and sustainable technology, offers a promising way to get clean water from seawater without relying on electricity and complex infrastructures. However, the main challenge faced in solar desalination is salt accumulation, either on the surface of or inside the solar evaporator, which can impair solar-to-vapor efficiency and even lead to the failure of the evaporator itself. While many ideas have been tried to address this ″salt accumulation″, scientists have not had a clear system for understanding what works best for the enhancement of salt-rejecting ability. Therein, for the first time, we classified the state-of-the-art salt-rejecting designs into isolation strategy (isolating the solar evaporator from brine), dilution strategy (diluting the concentrated brine), and crystallization strategy (regulating the crystallization site into a tiny area). Through the specific equations presented, we have identified key parameters for each strategy and highlighted the corresponding improvements in the solar desalination performance. This Review provides a semiquantitative perspective on salt-rejecting designs and critical parameters for enhancing the salt-rejecting ability of dilution-based, isolation-based, and crystallization-based solar evaporators. Ultimately, this knowledge can help us create reliable solar desalination solutions to provide clean water from even the saltiest sources.

In situ fabrication of Fe3C nanoparticles and porous-carbon composites as high-performance electromagnetic wave absorber.

This study successfully utilized a straightforward approach, choosing liquid-liquid phase separation to build a porous structure and synthesize composite absorbers based on polyimide-based porous carbon/Fe3C (PIC/Fe3C-1, PIC/Fe3C-2) nanoparticles and porous carbon/FeCo alloy nanoparticles (PIC/FeCo). The specially designed network structure pore structures contributed multiple reflection, conduction loss and strong interfacial polarization. After characterization, PIC/Fe3C-2 obtained minimum RL of -35.37 dB at 17.04 GHz with 1.55 mm thickness and effective absorption bandwidth of 4.95 GHz with 1.66 mm thickness. Furthermore, PIC/FeCo, with a thickness of 1.63 mm, exhibits the most robust electromagnetic wave loss ability at 15.6 GHz, with a minimum RL of -56.32 dB and an effective absorption bandwidth of 4.88 GHz. Thus, the design strategy presented in this study could serve as a model for synthesizing other high-performance absorbers, effectively mitigating electromagnetic wave-induced pollution.

Impact of thermal ultrasound on enzyme inactivation and flavor improvement of sea cucumber hydrolysates.

In this study, the effects of the thermal ultrasonic enzyme inactivation process on flavor enhancement in sea cucumber hydrolysates (SCHs) and its impact on the inactivation of neutral proteases (NPs) were investigated. The body wall of the sea cucumber was enzymatically hydrolyzed with NPs. On the one hand, the structure of NPs subjected to different enzyme inactivation methods was analyzed using ζ-potential, particle size, and Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy. On the other hand, the microstructure and flavor changes of SCHs were examined through scanning electron microscopy, E-nose, and gas chromatography-ion mobility spectrometry (GC-IMS). The results indicated that thermal ultrasound treatment at 60 °C could greatly affect the structure of NPs, thereby achieving enzyme inactivation. Furthermore, this treatment generated more pleasant flavor compounds, such as pentanal and (E)-2-nonenal. Hence, thermal ultrasound treatment could serve as an alternative process to traditional heat inactivation of enzymes for improving the flavor of SCHs.

Theoretical study on the effect of shear deformation on MoTe2 as cathode material for calcium ion batteries.

CONTEXT: In this study, the electronic structure and diffusion barrier of Ca adsorbed MoTe2 system under different degrees of shear deformation were calculated based on the first-principles method. The results show that both the pure MoTe2 system and Ca-adsorbed MoTe2 system are affected by shear deformation. The pure MoTe2 undergoes a transition from direct to indirect band gap under shear deformation. The adsorption of Ca makes MoTe2 changes from semiconductor to quasi-metal. The results of the density of states show that Ca insertion makes the conduction band part of the adsorption system significantly enhanced. The diffusion barrier of Ca through MoTe2 indicates that the shear deformation promotes the diffusion of Ca on the surface of MoTe2. Shear deformation can effectively modulate the electronic properties of the MoTe2 system, which provides a theoretical basis for the application of MoTe2 materials in the field of ion batteries. METHODS: In this study, Materials Studio 8.0 software was used to construct the MoTe2 model and Ca adsorbed MoTe2 model, and the CASTEP module was used for first-principles calculation.

Polyimide-based porous carbon and cobalt nanoparticle composites as high-performance electromagnetic wave absorbers.

This study successfully utilized a straightforward approach, choosing liquid-liquid phase separation to build a porous structure and synthesize composite absorbers based on polyimide-based porous carbon and cobalt nanoparticles (designated as PPC/Co-700 and PPC/Co-800). A fine porous structure was achieved as a result of the excellent heat resistance of polyimide resulting in an excellent electromagnetic wave absorption ability of PPC/Co composites. The results obtained clearly indicated that PPC/Co-700 and PPC/Co-800 exhibit a porous structure with coral-like pores, enhancing both impedance matching properties and microwave attenuation abilities. This improvement in impedance matching conditions and dissipation capability is attributed to the synergistic effect of dielectric loss induced by carbon and magnetic loss induced by Co nanoparticles. PPC/Co-700 showed the strongest absorption performance with a minimum reflection loss of -59.85 dB (30 wt% loading, thickness of 3.42 mm) and an effective absorption bandwidth (EABW, RL ≤ -10 dB) of 6.24 GHz (30 wt% loading, thickness of 2.78 mm). Therefore, this work provides a facile strategy for the development of a promising absorbing material with outstanding electromagnetic wave absorption performance.

Improving Wear Resistance and Corrosive Resistance of Cemented Carbide for Mud Pulser Rotor by Deep Cryogenic Treatment.

Cemented carbide used in the rotor of a mud pulser is subjected to the scouring action of solid particles and corrosive mud media for a long time, which causes abrasive wear and electrochemical corrosion. To improve the wear and corrosive resistance of cemented carbide, samples with different cobalt content (WC-5Co, WC-8Co, and WC-10Co) receive deep cryogenic treatment (DCT) at -196 °C for 2.5 h. An optical metalloscope (OM) and X-ray diffractometer (XRD) are used to observe the phase changes of cemented carbides, and the XRD is also used to observe the change in residual stress on the cemented carbide's surface. A scanning electron microscope (SEM) is used to characterize the wear and electrochemical corrosion surface microstructure of cemented carbides (untreated and DCT). The results show that the DCT promotes the precipitation of the η phase, and the diffraction peak of ε-Co tends to intensify. Compared with the untreated, the wear rates of WC-5Co, WC-8Co, and WC-10Co can be reduced by 14.71%, 37.25%, and 41.01% by DCT, respectively. The wear form of the cemented carbides is mainly the extrusion deformation of Co and WC shedding. The precipitation of the η phase and the increase in WC residual compressive stress by DCT are the main reasons for the improvement of wear resistance. The electrochemical corrosion characteristic is the dissolution of the Co phase. DCT causes the corrosion potential of cemented carbide to shift forward and the corrosion current density to decrease. The enhancement of the corrosion resistance of cemented carbide caused by DCT is due to the Co phase transition, η phase precipitation, and the increase in the compressive stress of cemented carbide.

Comparison and discussion of behavior and pathology of four kinds of cerebral palsy disease models.

Explore the differences in behavioral and pathological manifestations of rat models of cerebral palsy made by different methods and discuss what types of studies these models are suitable for. Behavioral evaluation and pathological section observation were used to observe and evaluate the model. Conclusion: except for the absence of data of bilateral common carotid artery ligation rats, the other three methods could all achieve a successful cerebral palsy disease model for both behavioral and pathological. For researchers, the selection of intraperitoneal infection model in pregnant rats or unilateral ischemia and hypoxia model in infant rats is sufficient to meet the experimental needs, whereas the selection of the combined method for modeling does not show enough advantages, which not only causes the waste of financial and human resources but also increases the possibility of experimental error made by intervention factors.

lncRNA-MIAT rs9625066 polymorphism could be a potential biomarker for ischemic stroke.

BACKGROUND: Ischemic stroke (IS) is a common and serious neurological condition that is highly fatal but so far no early diagnostic markers are available. Myocardial infarction-associated transcript (MIAT) is a long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) that could lead to IS by inducing autophagy and apoptosis in neuronal cells. However, there has been no report on the link between susceptibility to IS and the single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of MIAT. This study aimed to investigate the association between MIAT gene polymorphisms and IS risk. METHODS: A total of 320 IS patients and 310 age-, sex- and race-matched controls were included in this study. Four polymorphisms (rs2157598, rs5761664, rs1894720, and rs9625066) were genotyped by using SNPscan technique. RESULTS: Among the 4 polymorphisms of MIAT, only rs9625066 was associated with IS risk (CA vs. CC: adjusted OR = 0.55, 95% CI, 0.37-0.85, P = 0.006; AA vs. CC: adjusted OR = 0.39, 95% CI, 0.16-0.94, P = 0.036; (AA + CA vs. CC: adjusted OR = 0.53, 95% CI, 0.35-0.80, P = 0.002; A vs. C adjusted OR = 0.59, 95% CI, 0.42-0.82, P = 0.002). Haplotype analysis showed a 1.32-fold increase (95% CI, 1.05-1.67, P = 0.017) in IS risk for rs2157598-rs5761664-rs1894720-rs9625066 (A-C-G-C). Logistic regression analysis identified some independent impact factors for IS including rs9625066 AA/AC, TC, TG, HDL-C (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The rs9625066 polymorphism of MIAT might be associated with IS susceptibility in Chinese population, in which AA/CA plays a protective role in IS, whereas the CC genotype increases the risk of developing IS, suggesting it might be a marker predictive of IS risk.

Revision of residual deformities after primary surgery for Wassel-Flatt IV-D thumb duplication using a microsurgical free lateral great toe flap.

We report the application and results of skin defect coverage using the free lateral great toe flap in revision surgery for residual postoperative deformities in Wassel-Flatt type IV-D thumb duplications. This retrospective study included five patients treated between June 2020 and September 2021 to correct angular deformity and repair the secondary skin defect. All the flaps survived. The patients were followed up for 8-12 months and all the reconstructed thumbs had a satisfactory appearance. The results of the Japanese Society for Surgery of the Hand scoring system were excellent in one patient, good in three patients and fair in one patient. The results of the Alignment, Ulnar and Radial stability, Range of motion and Aesthetical aspects (ALURRA) scoring system were good in four patients and moderate in one patient.Level of evidence: IV.

Design of Thick Electrodes with Vertical Channels for Aqueous Batteries: Experimental and Numerical Analysis.

Developing thick electrodes with high-area loadings is a direct method for boosting the energy density. However, this approach also leads to a proportional increase in the resistance to charge transport. Optimizing the microstructure of the electrode can effectively enhance the charge transport kinetics in thick electrodes. Herein, a low-tortuosity nickel electrode with vertical channels (VC-Ni) is fabricated using a phase inversion method. A high-loading VC-Ni electrode (26.7 mg cm-2) delivers a superior specific capacity of 134.0 mAh g-1 at a 5 C rate, significantly outperforming the conventional nickel electrode (Con-Ni). Numerical simulations reveal the fast transport kinetics within the vertical channel electrodes. For the thick electrode, the VC-Ni electrode shows a substantially lower concentration gradient of OH- and H+ compared to the Con-Ni electrode. Notably, beyond a critical loading of 26.5 mg cm-2, the specific capacity initially increases with volume fraction, peaking at 50%, and then diminishes. The specific capacity increases as the channel size decreases, but the tendency to increase gradually decreases. The highest specific capacity is achieved with an inverted trapezoidal channel shape, characterized by larger pores near the separator and smaller pores near the current collector. This work is of guidance for the design of thick electrodes for high-performance aqueous batteries.

Systematic distributions of interaction strengths across tree interaction networks yield positive diversity-productivity relationships.

Understanding the mechanisms underlying diversity-productivity relationships (DPRs) is crucial to mitigating the effects of forest biodiversity loss. Tree-tree interactions in diverse communities are fundamental in driving growth rates, potentially shaping the emergent DPRs, yet remain poorly explored. Here, using data from a large-scale forest biodiversity experiment in subtropical China, we demonstrated that changes in individual tree productivity were driven by species-specific pairwise interactions, with higher positive net pairwise interaction effects on trees in more diverse neighbourhoods. By perturbing the interactions strength from empirical data in simulations, we revealed that the positive differences between inter- and intra-specific interactions were the critical determinant for the emergence of positive DPRs. Surprisingly, the condition for positive DPRs corresponded to the condition for coexistence. Our results thus provide a novel insight into how pairwise tree interactions regulate DPRs, with implications for identifying the tree mixtures with maximized productivity to guide forest restoration and reforestation efforts.

Coupled Precipitation of Dual-Nanoprecipitates to Optimize Microstructural and Mechanical Properties of Cast Al-Cu-Mg-Mn Alloys via Modulating the Mn Contents.

The effect of Mn content on the microstructure evolution and mechanical properties of Al-Cu-Mg-x Mn alloys at ambient temperature was investigated. The findings show that in the Mn-containing alloys at the as-cast state, the blocky primary T(Al20Cu2Mn3) phase coexisting with the Al2Cu phase appeared. With the increase in Mn content, the majority of the Al2Cu phase dissolved, nd a minor amount of the T phase remained at the grain boundary after solution treatment. The rod-like TMn (Al20Cu2Mn3) nanoprecipitate was simultaneously distributed at grain boundaries and the interiors, while a high density of needle-like θ″ (Al3Cu) nanoprecipitate was also observed in the T6 state. Further increases in Mn content promoted the dispersion of the TMn phase and inhibited the growth and transformation of the θ″ phase. Tensile test results show that 0.7 wt.% Mn alloy had excellent mechanical properties at ambient temperature with ultimate tensile strength, yield strength, and fracture elongation of 498.7 MPa, 346.2 MPa, and 19.2%, respectively. The subsequent calculation of strengthening mechanisms elucidates that precipitation strengthening is the main reason for the increase in yield strength of Mn-containing alloys.

Dearomatization of Pyridines: Stereoselective Synthesis of Functionalized [1,2,4]Triazolo[4,3-a]pyridines.

The stereoselective preparation of functionalized [1,2,4]triazolo[4,3-a]pyridines from N-tosylhydrazones and pyridines was developed through the dearomatization of pyridines. The current transformation features good step- and atom-economy, high diastereoselectivity, and the efficient formation of four new carbon-heteroatom bonds in the corresponding product tetrahydro pyridines.

A Lightweight Visual Simultaneous Localization and Mapping Method with a High Precision in Dynamic Scenes.

Currently, in most traditional VSLAM (visual SLAM) systems, static assumptions result in a low accuracy in dynamic environments, or result in a new and higher level of accuracy but at the cost of sacrificing the real-time property. In highly dynamic scenes, balancing a high accuracy and a low computational cost has become a pivotal requirement for VSLAM systems. This paper proposes a new VSLAM system, balancing the competitive demands between positioning accuracy and computational complexity and thereby further improving the overall system properties. From the perspective of accuracy, the system applies an improved lightweight target detection network to quickly detect dynamic feature points while extracting feature points at the front end of the system, and only feature points of static targets are applied for frame matching. Meanwhile, the attention mechanism is integrated into the target detection network to continuously and accurately capture dynamic factors to cope with more complex dynamic environments. From the perspective of computational expense, the lightweight network Ghostnet module is applied as the backbone network of the target detection network YOLOv5s, significantly reducing the number of model parameters and improving the overall inference speed of the algorithm. Experimental results on the TUM dynamic dataset indicate that in contrast with the ORB-SLAM3 system, the pose estimation accuracy of the system improved by 84.04%. In contrast with dynamic SLAM systems such as DS-SLAM and DVO SLAM, the system has a significantly improved positioning accuracy. In contrast with other VSLAM algorithms based on deep learning, the system has superior real-time properties while maintaining a similar accuracy index.

Association between miR-365 polymorphism and ischemic stroke in a Chinese population.

Background: Ischemic stroke (IS) represents a major cause of morbidity and mortality across the globe. The aberrant expression of miR-365 has been found to be implicated in a wide array of human diseases, including atherosclerosis and cancer. Studies on single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in miRNA genes can help gain insight into the susceptibility to the condition. This study aimed to examine the relationship between miR-365 SNPs and the risk of IS. Methods: The study recruited 215 IS patients and 220 controls. The SNPscans genotyping was employed to genotype three polymorphic loci (rs121224, rs30230, and rs178553) of miR-365. The relative expression of miR-365 in peripheral blood mononuclear cells of the patients and controls was determined by using real-time quantitative PCR. Results: The miR-365 rs30230 polymorphism exhibited a significant association with the risk of developing IS (TC vs. CC: adjusted OR = 0.55, 95% CI: 0.33-0.92, P = 0.022; TT vs. CC: adjusted OR = 0.34, 95% CI: 0.14-0.85, P = 0.021; TC +TT vs. CC: adjusted OR = 0.51, 95% CI: 0.31-0.83, P = 0.007; T vs. C: adjusted OR = 0.57, 95% CI: 0.39-0.83, P = 0.004). Haplotype analysis revealed that the C-T-G haplotype was associated with a decreased risk of IS (OR = 0.68, 95% CI: 0.46-1.00, P = 0.047). Furthermore, miR-365 expression was significantly higher in IS patients than in controls (P < 0.001). Interestingly, patients with rs30230 TC or TT genotypes had lower miR-365 levels compared to their counterparts with CC genotypes (P < 0.001). Conclusions: The miR-365 rs30230 polymorphism might bear an association with IS susceptibility in the Chinese population, and the rs30230 TC/TT genotype might be a protective factor against IS.

On-top plasty combined with modified Bilhaut-Cloquet procedure for reconstructing complicated radial polydactyly.

PURPOSE: To present a surgical technique of combining the on-top plasty with modified Bilhaut-Cloquet procedure for reconstructing a rare type of complicated radial polydactyly and evaluate the outcomes. METHODS: Fourteen complicated radial polydactyly in 13 patients were corrected by combining the on-top plasty with modified Bilhaut-Cloquet procedure. Osteotomies were performed as required, and the acral part of the ulnar thumb was transposed onto the proximal part of the radial thumb. The distal parts of the two thumbs were isolated as neurovascular pedicled composite tissue flaps, including part of the distal phalanx and nail bed, and were attached together in an extra-articular way. The tendons were rebalanced, and the nail bed was reconstructed. Objective and subjective outcomes were assessed. RESULTS: The average follow-up time was 32.4 months (6-60 months). All reconstructed thumbs were rated as good in appearance and function. The mean Vancouver Scar Scale score was 1.3 (range 1-2) and the mean Wang-Gao score of the reconstructed thumbnail was 9.4 (range 8-11). The Tada score for the function of the reconstructed thumb was 5.5 (range 5-6). The main active range of motion (ROM) of the interphalangeal joint (IPJ) was 2.1-38.9°. All parents were satisfied with the outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: Because of the diverse manifestations of thumb polydactyly, individualized surgical treatment is recommended, and careful preoperative planning should be made with the principle of combining the best parts of the two thumbs. By combining an on-top plasty with modified Bilhaut-Cloquet procedure, a satisfactory result can be achieved for treating complicated radial polydactyly.

Revealing the missing puzzle piece of concentration in regulating Zn electrodeposition.

Despite achievements in suppressing dendrites and regulating Zn crystal growth, secondary aqueous Zn batteries are still rare in the market. Existing strategies mainly focus on electrode modification and electrolyte optimization, while the essential role of ion concentration in liquid-to-solid electrodeposition is neglected for a long time. Herein, the mechanism of concentration regulation in Zn electrodeposition is investigated in depth by combining electrochemical tests, post hoc characterization, and multiscale simulations. First, initial Zn electrodeposition is thermodynamically controlled epitaxial growth, whereas with the rapid depletion of ions, the concentration overpotential transcends the thermodynamic influence to kinetic control. Then, the evolution of the morphology from 2D sheets to 1D whiskers due to the concentration change is insightfully revealed by the morphological characterization and phase-field modeling. Furthermore, the depth of discharge (DOD) results in large concentration differences at the electrode-electrolyte interface, with a mild concentration distribution at lower DOD generating (002) crystal plane 2D sheets and a heavily varied concentration distribution at higher DOD yielding arbitrarily oriented 3D blocks. As a proof of concept, relaxation is introduced into two systems to homogenize the concentration distribution, revalidating the essential role of concentration in regulating electrodeposition, and two vital factors affecting the relaxation time, i.e., current density and electrode distance, are deeply investigated, demonstrating that the relaxation time is positively related to both and is more sensitive to the electrode distance. This work contributes to reacquainting aqueous batteries undergoing phase transitions and reveals a missing piece of the puzzle in regulating Zn electrodeposition.

World Spread of Tropical Soda Apple (Solanum viarum) under Global Change: Historical Reconstruction, Niche Shift, and Potential Geographic Distribution.

Solanum viarum has become extensively invasive owing to international trade, climate change, and land-use change. As it is classified as a quarantine weed by countries such as the U.S. and Mexico, it is critical to understand the prevailing historical dispersal, ecological niche dynamics, and distribution patterns. We reconstructed the historical invasion countries and analyzed the ecological niche shift of S. viarum. Using MaxEnt based on the conservativeness of ecological niches, we studied variations in the potential geographical distributions (PGDs) of S. viarum in ecosystems and variations in suitability probabilities along latitudinal gradients. The invasion history in six continents involved three phases: lag (before 1980), spread (1980-2010), and equilibrium (2010-present). The ecological niche remains conserved. The area of S. viarum PGDs had increased by 259 km2; the PGDs will expand to reach a maximum in the 2050s, SSP5-8.5. The PGDs of S. viarum will migrate to higher latitudes under the same future climate scenarios. The latitudes subject to high threats range from 20° to 30° in forest and cropland ecosystems, 15.5° to 27.5° (northern hemisphere) and 33.1° to 42.8° (southern hemisphere) in grassland ecosystems, and 20° to 35° in urban ecosystems. Global change has led to an increased threat of S. viarum at high latitudes. These findings provide a theoretical basis to monitor and control S. viarum.

The quality evaluation system of a famous traditional Chinese medicine Huaganjian decoction was established.

Huaganjian decoction (HGJD) has been widely used clinically to treat liver injuries and gastritis. However, the quality evaluation system for HGJD is not perfect. In this study, paeoniflorin, hesperidin, geniposide, naringin, and quercetin were employed as quality markers. The quantitative analysis of these five components in HGJD was conducted using a high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with triple quadrupole tandem mass spectrometry method. This method underwent validation for linearity, precision, accuracy, repeatability, and recovery. In summary, a reliable quantitative method was successfully employed to establish a comprehensive quality evaluation of HGJD.

Long-Term Exposure of Graphene Oxide Suspension to Air Leading to Spontaneous Radical-Driven Degradation.

Understanding the environmental transformation and fate of graphene oxide (GO) is critical to estimate its engineering applications and ecological risks. While there have been numerous investigations on the physicochemical stability of GO in prolonged air-exposed solution, the potential generation of reactive radicals and their impact on the structure of GO remain unexplored. In this study, using liquid-PeakForce-mode atomic force microscopy and quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectroscopy, we report that prolonged exposure of GO to the solution leads to the generation of nanopores in the 2D network and may even cause the disintegration of its bulk structure into fragment molecules. These fragments can assemble themselves into films with the same height as the GO at the interface. Further mediated electrochemical analysis supports that the electron-donating active components of GO facilitate the conversion of O2 to •O2- radicals on the GO surface, which are subsequently converted to H2O2, ultimately leading to the formation of •OH. We experimentally confirmed that attacks from •OH radicals can break down the C-C bond network of GO, resulting in the degradation of GO into small fragment molecules. Our findings suggest that GO can exhibit chemical instability when released into aqueous solutions for prolonged periods of time, undergoing transformation into fragment molecules through self-generated •OH radicals. This finding not only sheds light on the distinctive fate of GO-based nanomaterials but also offers a guideline for their engineering applications as advanced materials.