Circ_0012152 Accelerates Acute Myeloid Leukemia Progression through the miR-652-3p/SOX4 Axis.

OBJECTIVE: Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is an aggressive hematological malignancy characterized by abnormal myeloid blast expansion. Recent studies have demonstrated that circular RNAs play a role in AML pathogenesis. In this study, we aimed to investigate the clinical significance of circ_0012152 in AML and elucidate its underlying molecular mechanism in the pathogenesis of this condition. METHODS: Circ_0012152 expression was detected by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction in samples obtained from 247 patients with AML and 40 healthy controls. A systematic analysis of clinical characteristics and prognostic factors was also conducted. Cell growth was assessed using the Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) assay, and apoptosis and cell cycle progression were evaluated by flow cytometry. Moreover, RNA pull-down was performed to identify target microRNAs, and transcriptome RNA sequencing and bioinformatics analyses were utilized to identify downstream mRNA targets. RESULTS: Circ_0012152 was significantly upregulated in samples from patients with AML and served as an independent adverse prognostic factor for overall survival (OS) (hazard ratio: 2.357; 95% confidence interval 1.258-4.415). The circ_0012152 knockdown reduced cell growth, increased apoptosis, and inhibited cell cycle progression in AML cell lines. RNA pull-down and sequencing identified miR-652-3p as a target microRNA of circ_0012152. Cell growth inhibition by circ_0012152 knockdown was significantly relieved by miR-652-3p inhibitors. We suggested that miR-652-3p targeted SOX4, as the decrease in SOX4 expression resulting from circ_0012152 knockdown was upregulated by miR-652-3p inhibitors in AML cells. CONCLUSION: Circ_0012152 is an independent poor prognostic factor for OS in AML, and it promotes AML cell growth by upregulating SOX4 through miR-652-3p.

Associations between Longitudinal Changes in Sleep Stages and Risk of Cognitive Decline in Older Men.

STUDY OBJECTIVES: To investigate the relationships between longitudinal changes in sleep stages and the risk of cognitive decline in older men. METHODS: This study included 978 community-dwelling older men who participated in the first (2003-2005) and second (2009-2012) sleep ancillary study visits of the Osteoporotic Fractures in Men Study. We examined the longitudinal changes in sleep stages at the initial and follow-up visits, and the association with concurrent clinically relevant cognitive decline during the 6.5-year follow-up. RESULTS: Men with low to moderate (quartile 2, Q2) and moderate increase (Q3) in N1 sleep percentage had a reduced risk of cognitive decline on the Modified Mini-Mental State Examination compared to those with a substantial increase (Q4) in N1 sleep percentage. Additionally, men who experienced a low to moderate (Q2) increase in N1 sleep percentage had a lower risk of cognitive decline on the Trails B compared with men in the reference group (Q4). Furthermore, men with the most pronounced reduction (Q1) in N2 sleep percentage had a significantly higher risk of cognitive decline on the Trails B compared to those in the reference group (Q4). No significant association was found between changes in N3 and rapid eye movement sleep and the risk of cognitive decline. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggested that a relatively lower increase in N1 sleep showed a reduced risk of cognitive decline. However, a pronounced decrease in N2 sleep was associated with concurrent cognitive decline. These findings may help identify older men at risk of clinically relevant cognitive decline.

Lean methane combustion over zeolite-supported Pd catalysts: Structure-performance relationship and deactivation mechanism.

Zeolites are a promising support for Pd catalysts in lean methane (CH4) combustion. Herein, three types of zeolites (H-MOR, H-ZSM-5 and H-Y) were selected to estimate their structural effects and deactivation mechanisms in CH4 combustion. We show that variations in zeolite structure and surface acidity led to distinct changes in Pd states. Pd/H-MOR with external high-dispersing Pd nanoparticles exhibited the best apparent activity, with activation energy (Ea) at 73 kJ/mol, while Pd/H-ZSM-5 displayed the highest turnover frequency (TOF) at 19.6 × 10-3 sec-1, presumably owing to its large particles with more step sites providing active sites in one particle for CH4 activation. Pd/H-Y with dispersed PdO within pore channels and/or Pd2+ ions on ion-exchange sites yielded the lowest apparent activity and TOF. Furthermore, Pd/H-MOR and Pd/H-ZSM-5 were both stable under a dry condition, but introducing 3 vol.% H2O caused the CH4 conversion rate on Pd/H-MOR drop from 100% to 63% and that on Pd/H-ZSM-5 decreased remarkably from 82% to 36%. The former was shown to originate from zeolite structural dealumination, and the latter principally owed to Pd aggregation and the loss of active PdO.

Using a non-precious metal catalyst for long-term enhancement of methane production in a zero-gap microbial electrosynthesis cell.

Microbial electrosynthesis (MES) cells exploit the ability of microbes to convert CO2 into valuable chemical products such as methane and acetate, but high rates of chemical production may need to be mediated by hydrogen and thus require a catalyst for the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). To avoid the usage of precious metal catalysts and examine the impact of the catalyst on the rate of methane generation by microbes on the electrode, we used a carbon felt cathode coated with NiMo/C and compared performance to a bare carbon felt or a Pt/C-deposited cathode. A zero-gap configuration containing a cation exchange membrane was developed to produce a low internal resistance, limit pH changes, and enhance direct transport of H2 to microorganisms on the biocathode. At a fixed cathode potential of -1 V vs Ag/AgCl, the NiMo/C biocathode enabled a current density of 23 ± 4 A/m2 and a high methane production rate of 4.7 ± 1.0 L/L-d. This performance was comparable to that using a precious metal catalyst (Pt/C, 23 ± 6 A/m2, 5.4 ± 2.8 L/L-d), and 3-5 times higher than plain carbon cathodes (8 ± 3 A/m2, 1.0 ± 0.4 L/L-d). The NiMo/C biocathode was operated for over 120 days without observable decay or severe cathode catalyst leaching, reaching an average columbic efficiency of 53 ± 9 % based on methane production under steady state conditions. Analysis of microbial community on the biocathode revealed the dominance of the hydrogenotrophic genus Methanobacterium (∼40 %), with no significant difference found for biocathodes with different materials. These results demonstrated that HER catalysts improved rates of methane generation through facilitating hydrogen gas evolution to an attached biofilm, and that the long-term enhancement of methane production in MES was feasible using a non-precious metal catalyst and a zero-gap cell design.

Brain abnormalities in survivors of COVID-19 after 2-year recovery: a functional MRI study.

Background: A variety of symptoms, particularly cognitive, psychiatric and neurological symptoms, may persist for a long time among individuals recovering from COVID-19. However, the underlying mechanism of these brain abnormalities remains unclear. This study aimed to investigate the long-term neuroimaging effects of COVID-19 infection on brain functional activities using resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI). Methods: Fifty-two survivors 27 months after infection (mild-moderate group: 25 participants, severe-critical: 27 participants), from our previous community participants, along with 35 healthy controls, were recruited to undergo fMRI scans and comprehensive cognitive function measurements. Participants were evaluated by subjective assessment of Cognitive Failures Questionnaire-14 (CFQ-14) and Fatigue Scale-14 (FS-14), and objective assessment of Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), N-back, and Simple Reaction Time (SRT). Each had rs-fMRI at 3T. Measures such as the amplitude of low-frequency fluctuation (ALFF), fractional amplitude of low-frequency fluctuations (fALFF), and regional homogeneity (ReHo) were calculated. Findings: Compared with healthy controls, survivors of mild-moderate acute symptoms group and severe-critical group had a significantly higher score of cognitive complains involving cognitive failure and mental fatigue. However, there was no difference of cognitive complaints between two groups of COVID-19 survivors. The performance of three groups was similar on the score of MoCA, N-back and SRT. The rs-fMRI results showed that COVID-19 survivors exhibited significantly increased ALFF values in the left putamen (PUT.L), right inferior temporal gyrus (ITG.R) and right pallidum (PAL.R), while decreased ALFF values were observed in the right superior parietal gyrus (SPG.R) and left superior temporal gyrus (STG.L). Additionally, decreased ReHo values in the right precentral gyrus (PreCG.R), left postcentral gyrus (PoCG.L), left calcarine fissure and surrounding cortex (CAL.L) and left superior temporal gyrus (STG.L). Furthermore, significant negative correlations between the ReHo values in the STG.L, and CFQ-14 and mental fatigue were found. Interpretation: This long-term study suggests that individuals recovering from COVID-19 continue to experience cognitive complaints, psychiatric and neurological symptoms, and brain functional alteration. The rs-fMRI results indicated that the changes in brain function in regions such as the putamen, temporal lobe, and superior parietal gyrus may contribute to cognitive complaints in individuals with long COVID even after 2-year infection. Funding: The National Programs for Brain Science and Brain-like Intelligence Technology of China, the National Natural Science Foundation of China, Natural Science Foundation of Beijing Municipality of China, and the National Key Research and Development Program of China.

Cyclooctatetraene-Embedded Carbon Nanorings.

With the prosperity of the development of carbon nanorings, certain topologically or functionally unique units-embedded carbon nanorings have sprung up in the past decade. Herein, we report the facile and efficient synthesis of three cyclooctatetraene-embedded carbon nanorings (COTCNRs) that contain three (COTCNR1 and COTCNR2) and four (COTCNR3) COT units in a one-pot Yamamoto coupling. These nanorings feature hoop-shaped segments of Gyroid (G-), Diamond (D-), and Primitive (P-) type carbon schwarzites. The conformations of the trimeric nanorings COTCNR1 and COTCNR2 are shape-persistent, whereas the tetrameric COTCNR3 possesses a flexible carbon skeleton which undergoes conformational changes upon forming host-guest complexes with fullerenes (C60 and C70), whose co-crystals may potentially serve as fullerene-based semiconducting supramolecular wires with electrical conductivities on the order of 10-7 S cm-1 (for C60⊂COTCNR3) and 10-8 S cm-1 (for C70⊂COTCNR3) under ambient conditions. This research not only describes highly efficient one-step syntheses of three cyclooctatetraene-embedded carbon nanorings which feature hoop-shaped segments of distinctive topological carbon schwarzites, but also demonstrates the potential application in electronics of the one-dimensional fullerene arrays secured by COTCNR3.

Paeonol interferes with lupus nephritis by regulating M1/M2 polarization of macrophages.

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a complex autoimmune disease of unknown etiology. It is marked by the production of pathogenic autoantibodies and the deposition of immune complexes. Lupus nephritis (LN) is a prevalent and challenging clinical complications of SLE. Cortex Moutan contains paeonol as its main effective component. In this study, using the animal model of SLE induced by R848, it was found that paeonol could alleviate the lupus-like symptoms of lupus mouse model induced by R848 activating TLR7, reduce the mortality and ameliorate the renal damage of mice. In order to explore the mechanism of paeonol on lupus nephritis, we studied the effect of paeonol on the polarization of Raw264.7 macrophages in vitro. The experimental results show that paeonol can inhibit the polarization of macrophages to M1 and promote their polarization to M2, which may be related to the inhibition of MAPK and NF-κB signaling pathways. Our research provides a new insight into paeonol in the treatment of lupus nephritis, which is of great importance for the treatment of systemic lupus erythematosus and its complications.

Edaravone for patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: The effectiveness and long-term efficacy of edaravone, a recommended treatment for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), has not been examined in real-world settings. This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness and long-term efficacy of edaravone. METHODS: The OVID Medline, Embase, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), and Web of Science databases were searched for articles published between January 1, 2000, and May 1, 2023. Two investigators independently screened the retrieved articles for randomized controlled trials (RCTs), cohort studies, or single-arm trials that evaluated the effect of edaravone on amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). The risk of bias was evaluated using the revised Cochrane Risk-of-Bias (RoB 2.0) tool for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and the Risk-of-Bias In Non-randomized Studies of Interventions (ROBINS-I) tool for observational studies. The primary outcome was the ALSFRS-R score assessed at month 6, with secondary outcomes including the ALSFRS-R scores evaluated at months 9, 12, and 18, forced vital capacity (FVC), and adverse events. The certainty of evidence was assessed using the GRADE approach. RESULTS: The analysis included 16 studies with a total of 4828 participants. Among these, four were randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and 12 were observational studies. Of the RCTs, four were rated as having a low risk of bias, while six of the observational studies were rated as having a low risk of bias. Edaravone was associated with slightly slower progression in the reduction of ALSFRS-R score at month 6 compared to placebo (mean difference 1.01, 95%CI -0.87 to 3.09, p = 0.293), as shown by evidence from RCTs. However, observational studies did not show any benefit of adding edaravone to routine practice (mean difference 1.85, 95%CI -2.05 to 5.75, p = 0.352). The change from baseline in ALSFRS-R score was -2.1, -4.04, -7.5, -6.82, and -7.9 at months 3, 6, 9, 12, and 18, respectively. The GRADE assessment indicated moderate certainty for evidence from RCTs, while evidence from observational studies had very low certainty. CONCLUSION: Due to the limited number of studies and confounding issues in observational studies, further examination of the added benefits of edaravone to routine practice is necessary through RCTs, particularly regarding its long-term efficacy.

A two-dimensional metal-organic framework assembled from scandium-based cages for the selective capture of sulfur hexafluoride.

Herein, we report the synthesis of a two-dimensional metal-organic framework (MOF), assembled from octahedral metal-organic cages featuring phenanthroline-based carboxylate linkers and µ3-oxo-centered trinuclear Sc(III) inorganic building blocks. We study the performance of this MOF towards the capture of sulfur hexafluoride (SF6). On account of its structural features and porous nature, this MOF displays an SF6 uptake capacity of 0.92 mmol g-1 at 0.1 bar and an isosteric heat of adsorption of about 30.7 kJ mol-1 for SF6, illustrating its potential application for the selective capture of SF6 from N2. In addition, we study the adsorptive binding mechanism of SF6 and N2 inside this MOF via molecular simulations.

Association between Shift Work and Health Outcomes in the General Population in China: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Shift work may adversely affect individuals' health, thus, the current study aimed to investigate the association between shift work and health outcomes in the general population. A total of 41,061 participants were included in this online cross-sectional survey, among which 9612 (23.4%) individuals engaged in shift work and 31,449 (76.6%) individuals engaged in non-shift work. Multiple logistic regression analyses were conducted to explore the association between shift work and health outcomes (psychiatric disorders, mental health symptoms, and physical disorders). In addition, associations between the duration (≤1 year, 1-3 years, 3-5 years, 5-10 years, ≥10 years) and frequency of shift work (<1 or ≥1 night/week) and health outcomes were also explored. The results showed that compared to non-shift workers, shift workers had a higher likelihood of any psychiatric disorders (odds ratios [OR] = 1.80, 95% CI = 1.56-2.09, p < 0.001), mental health symptoms (OR = 1.76, 95% CI = 1.68-1.85, p < 0.001), and physical disorders (OR = 1.48, 95% CI = 1.39-1.57, p < 0.001). In addition, inverted U-shaped associations were observed between the duration of shift work and health outcomes. These results indicated that shift work was closely related to potential links with poor health outcomes. The findings highlighted the importance of paying attention to the health conditions of shift workers and the necessity of implementing comprehensive protective measures for shift workers to reduce the impact of shift work.

Memory consolidation drives the enhancement of remote cocaine memory via prefrontal circuit.

Remote memory usually decreases over time, whereas remote drug-cue associated memory exhibits enhancement, increasing the risk of relapse during abstinence. Memory system consolidation is a prerequisite for remote memory formation, but neurobiological underpinnings of the role of consolidation in the enhancement of remote drug memory are unclear. Here, we found that remote cocaine-cue associated memory was enhanced in rats that underwent self-administration training, together with a progressive increase in the response of prelimbic cortex (PrL) CaMKII neurons to cues. System consolidation was required for the enhancement of remote cocaine memory through PrL CaMKII neurons during the early period post-training. Furthermore, dendritic spine maturation in the PrL relied on the basolateral amygdala (BLA) input during the early period of consolidation, contributing to remote memory enhancement. These findings indicate that memory consolidation drives the enhancement of remote cocaine memory through a time-dependent increase in activity and maturation of PrL CaMKII neurons receiving a sustained BLA input.

Association between alcohol consumption and sleep traits: observational and mendelian randomization studies in the UK biobank.

Previous studies have shown that excessive alcohol consumption is associated with poor sleep. However, the health risks of light-to-moderate alcohol consumption in relation to sleep traits (e.g., insomnia, snoring, sleep duration and chronotype) remain undefined, and their causality is still unclear in the general population. To identify the association between alcohol consumption and multiple sleep traits using an observational and Mendelian randomization (MR) design. Observational analyses and one-sample MR (linear and nonlinear) were performed using clinical and individual-level genetic data from the UK Biobank (UKB). Two-sample MR was assessed using summary data from genome-wide association studies from the UKB and other external consortia. Phenotype analyses were externally validated using data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2017-2018). Data analysis was conducted from January 2022 to October 2022. The association between alcohol consumption and six self-reported sleep traits (short sleep duration, long sleep duration, chronotype, snoring, waking up in the morning, and insomnia) were analysed. This study included 383,357 UKB participants (mean [SD] age, 57.0 [8.0] years; 46% male) who consumed a mean (SD) of 9.0 (10.0) standard drinks (one standard drink equivalent to 14 g of alcohol) per week. In the observational analyses, alcohol consumption was significantly associated with all sleep traits. Light-moderate-heavy alcohol consumption was linearly linked to snoring and the evening chronotype but nonlinearly associated with insomnia, sleep duration, and napping. In linear MR analyses, a 1-SD (14 g) increase in genetically predicted alcohol consumption was associated with a 1.14-fold (95% CI, 1.07-1.22) higher risk of snoring (P < 0.001), a 1.28-fold (95% CI, 1.20-1.37) higher risk of evening chronotype (P < 0.001) and a 1.24-fold (95% CI, 1.13-1.36) higher risk of difficulty waking up in the morning (P < 0.001). Nonlinear MR analyses did not reveal significant results after Bonferroni adjustment. The results of the two-sample MR analyses were consistent with those of the one-sample MR analyses, but with a slightly attenuated overall estimate. Our findings suggest that even low levels of alcohol consumption may affect sleep health, particularly by increasing the risk of snoring and evening chronotypes. The negative effects of alcohol consumption on sleep should be made clear to the public in order to promote public health.

Thin-Film Composite Membranes for Hydrogen Evolution with a Saline Catholyte Water Feed.

Hydrogen gas evolution using an impure or saline water feed is a promising strategy to reduce overall energy consumption and investment costs for on-site, large-scale production using renewable energy sources. The chlorine evolution reaction is one of the biggest concerns in hydrogen evolution with impure water feeds. The "alkaline design criterion" in impure water electrolysis was examined here because water oxidation catalysts can exhibit a larger kinetic overpotential without interfering chlorine chemistry under alkaline conditions. Here, we demonstrated that relatively inexpensive thin-film composite (TFC) membranes, currently used for high-pressure reverse osmosis (RO) desalination applications, can have much higher rejection of Cl- (total crossover of 2.9 ± 0.9 mmol) than an anion-exchange membrane (AEM) (51.8 ± 2.3 mmol) with electrolytes of 0.5 M KOH for the anolyte and 0.5 M NaCl for the catholyte with a constant current (100 mA/cm2 for 20 h). The membrane resistances, which were similar for the TFC membrane and the AEM based on electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and Ohm's law methods, could be further reduced by increasing the electrolyte concentration or removal of the structural polyester supporting layer (TFC-no PET). TFC membranes could enable pressurized gas production, as this membrane was demonstrated to be mechanically stable with no change in permeate flux at 35 bar. These results show that TFC membranes provide a novel pathway for producing green hydrogen with a saline water feed at elevated pressures compared to systems using AEMs or porous diaphragms.

Effective treatment of optic neuropathies by intraocular delivery of MSC-sEVs through augmenting the G-CSF-macrophage pathway.

Optic neuropathies, characterized by injury of retinal ganglion cell (RGC) axons of the optic nerve, cause incurable blindness worldwide. Mesenchymal stem cell-derived small extracellular vesicles (MSC-sEVs) represent a promising "cell-free" therapy for regenerative medicine; however, the therapeutic effect on neural restoration fluctuates, and the underlying mechanism is poorly understood. Here, we illustrated that intraocular administration of MSC-sEVs promoted both RGC survival and axon regeneration in an optic nerve crush mouse model. Mechanistically, MSC-sEVs primarily targeted retinal mural cells to release high levels of colony-stimulating factor 3 (G-CSF) that recruited a neural restorative population of Ly6Clow monocytes/monocyte-derived macrophages (Mo/MΦ). Intravitreal administration of G-CSF, a clinically proven agent for treating neutropenia, or donor Ly6Clow Mo/MΦ markedly improved neurological outcomes in vivo. Together, our data define a unique mechanism of MSC-sEV-induced G-CSF-to-Ly6Clow Mo/MΦ signaling in repairing optic nerve injury and highlight local delivery of MSC-sEVs, G-CSF, and Ly6Clow Mo/MΦ as therapeutic paradigms for the treatment of optic neuropathies.

Lipocalin-2 promotes neutrophilic inflammation in nasal polyps and its value as biomarker.

BACKGROUND: Chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (CRSwNP) is a common chronic inflammatory disease of the nasal cavity and paranasal sinuses. The role of neutrophils in the pathogenesis of CRSwNP has attracted more attention in recent years, due to its association with more severe disease and reduced steroid responsiveness. Lipocalin-2 (LCN2) has been found to modulate neutrophils infiltration in other neutrophilic inflammation including inflammatory bowel disease, rheumatoid arthritis, and psoriasis. The aim was to evaluate the expression and regulator role of LCN2 in neutrophilic inflammation in CRSwNP, and its role as a potential biomarker predicting non-eosinophilic CRSwNP (neCRSwNP). METHODS: Bioinformatic analysis, immunostainings, real-time PCR and ELISA were used to analyze the expression and location of LCN2 in nasal tissues. The expression of proinflammatory mediators were assessed in nasal tissues and secretions. LCN2 production in human nasal epithelial cells (HNECs) and neutrophils, as well as its role in neutrophilic inflammation was evaluated by in vitro experiments. RESULTS: LCN2 was mainly located in neutrophils and HNECs of nasal polyps. LCN2 expression was also significantly higher in the polyp tissue and nasal secretions from patients with neCRSwNP. The LCN2 levels were positively correlated with type 3 inflammation markers, including G-CSF, IL-8, and IL-17. LCN2 expression could be upregulated by IL-17 A and TNF-α in HNECs, and LCN2 could also promote the expression of IL-8 in dispersed polyp cells and HNECs. CONCLUSIONS: LCN2 could serve as a novel biomarker predicting patients with neCRSwNP, and the increased expression of LCN2 may participate in the pathogenesis of neCRSwNP.

First-night effect in insomnia disorder: a systematic review and meta-analysis of polysomnographic findings.

Polysomnographic studies have been performed to investigate the first-night effect in insomnia disorder. However, these studies have revealed discrepant findings. This meta-analysis aimed to summarise and quantify the characteristics of the first-night effect in insomnia disorder. We performed a systematic search of the PubMed, Medline, EMBASE, Web of Science and PsycINFO databases to identify studies published through October 2019. A total of 11,862 articles were identified, and seven studies with eight independent populations were included in the meta-analysis. A total of 639 patients with insomnia disorder and 171 healthy controls underwent more than 2 consecutive nights of in-laboratory polysomnography. Pooled results demonstrated that both variables of sleep continuity and sleep architecture, other than slow-wave sleep were significantly altered in the first-night effect in insomnia disorder. Furthermore, the results indicated that patients with insomnia disorder had a disruption of sleep continuity in the first-night effect, including increased sleep onset latency and reduced total sleep time, compared to healthy controls. Overall, the findings show that patients with insomnia disorder experience the first-night effect, rather than reverse first-night effect, and the profiles of the first-night effect in patients with insomnia are different from healthy controls. These indicate that an adaptation night is necessary when sleep continuity and sleep architecture is to be studied in patients with insomnia disorder. More well-designed studies with large samples are needed to confirm the results.

Layered Double Hydroxide Nanosheets: Synthesis Strategies and Applications in the Field of Energy Conversion.

In recent years, layered double hydroxides (LDH) nanosheets have garnered substantial attention as intriguing inorganic anionic layered clay materials. These nanosheets have captured the attention of researchers due to their unique physicochemical properties. This review aims to showcase the latest advancements in laboratory research concerning LDH nanosheets, with a specific emphasis on their methods of preparation. This review provides detailed insights into the factors influencing the anionic conductivity of LDH, along with delineating the applications of LDH nanosheets in the realm of energy conversion. Notably, the review highlights the crucial role of LDH nanosheets in the oxygen evolution reaction (OER), a vital process in water splitting and diverse electrochemical applications. The review emphasizes the significant potential of LDH nanosheets in enhancing supercapacitor technology, owing to their high surface area and exceptional charge storage capacity. Additionally, it elucidates the prospective application of LDH nanosheets as anion exchange membranes in anion exchange membrane fuel cells, potentially revolutionizing fuel cell performance through improved efficiency and stability facilitated by enhanced ion transport properties.

Defect Engineering of 2D Copper Tin Composite Nanosheets Realizing Promoted Electrosynthesis Performance of Hydrogen Peroxide.

The transformation of the two-electron oxygen reduction reaction (2e-ORR) to produce hydrogen peroxide (H2 O2 ) is a promising green synthesis approach that can replace the high-energy consumption anthraquinone process. However, designing and fabricating low-cost, non-precious metal electrocatalysts for 2e-ORR remains a challenge. In this study, a method of combining complexation precipitation and thermal treatment to synthesize 2D copper-tin composite nanosheets to serve as the 2e-ORR electrocatalysts is utilized, achieving a high H2 O2 selectivity of 92.8% in 0.1 m KOH, and a bulk H2 O2 electrosynthesis yield of 1436 mmol·gcat -1 ·h-1 using a flow cell device. Remarkably, the H2 O2 selectivity of this catalyst decreases by only 0.5% after 10,000 cyclic voltammetry (CV) cycles. In addition, it demonstrates that the same catalyst can achieve 97% removal of the organic pollutant methyl blue in an aqueous system solution within 1 h using the on-site degradation technology. A reasonable control of defect concentration on the 2D copper-tin composite nanosheets that can effectively improve the electrocatalytic performance is found. Density functional theory calculations confirm that the surface of the 2D copper-tin composite nanosheets is conducive to the adsorption of the key intermediate OOH* , highlighting its excellent electrocatalytic performance for ORR with high H2 O2 selectivity.

Reducing Chloride Ion Permeation during Seawater Electrolysis Using Double-Polyamide Thin-Film Composite Membranes.

Low-cost polyamide thin-film composite membranes are being explored as alternatives to expensive cation exchange membranes for seawater electrolysis. However, transport of chloride from seawater to the anode chamber must be reduced to minimize the production of chlorine gas. A double-polyamide composite structure was created that reduced the level of chloride transport. Adding five polyamide layers on the back of a conventional polyamide composite membrane reduced the chloride ion transport by 53% and did not increase the applied voltage. Decreased chloride permeation was attributed to enhanced electrostatic and steric repulsion created by the new polyamide layers. Charge was balanced through increased sodium ion transport (52%) from the anolyte to the catholyte rather than through a change in the transport of protons and hydroxides. As a result, the Nernstian loss arising from the pH difference between the anolyte and catholyte remained relatively constant during electrolysis despite membrane modifications. This lack of a change in pH showed that transport of protons and hydroxides during electrolysis was independent of salt ion transport. Therefore, only sodium ion transport could compensate for the reduction of chloride flux to maintain the set current. Overall, these results prove the feasibility of using a double-polyamide structure to control chloride permeation during seawater electrolysis without sacrificing energy consumption.