Water splitting is widely considered to be a promising strategy for clean and efficient energy production. In this paper, for the first time we report an in situ growth of iron− nickel nitride nanostructures on surface-redox-etching Ni foam (FeNi 3 N/NF) as a bifunctional electrocatalyst for overall water splitting. This method does not require a specially added nickel precursor nor an oxidizing agent, but achieves well-dispersed iron−nickel nitride nanostructures that are grown directly on the nickel foam surface. The commercial Ni foam in this work not only acts as a substrate but also serves as a slow-releasing nickel precursor that is induced by redox-etching of Fe 3+ . FeCl 2 is a more preferable iron precursor than FeCl 3 for no matter quality of FeNi 3 N growth or its electrocatalytic behaviors. The obtained FeNi 3 N/NF exhibits extraordinarily high activities for both oxygen evolution reaction (OER) and hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) with low overpotentials of 202 and 75 mV at 10 mA cm −2 , Tafel slopes of 40 and 98 mV dec −1 , respectively. In addition, the presented FeNi 3 N/NF catalyst has an extremely good durability, reflecting in more than 400 h of consistent galvanostatic electrolysis without any visible voltage elevation.

Among 2D/layered semiconductors, group IV monochalcogenides such as SnS­(e) and GeS­(e) have attracted attention as phosphorene/black phosphorus analogues with anisotropic structures and predicted unusual properties. In contrast to SnS, for which bottom-up synthesis has been reported, few-layer GeS has been realized primarily via exfoliation from bulk crystals. Here, we report the synthesis of large (up to >20 μm), faceted single crystalline GeS flakes with anisotropic properties using a vapor transport process. In situ electron microscopy is used to identify the thermal stability and sublimation pathways, and demonstrates that the GeS flakes are self-encapsulated in a thin, sulfur-rich amorphous GeS x shell during growth. The shell provides exceptional chemical stability to the layered GeS core. In contrast to exfoliated GeS, which rapidly degrades during exposure to air, the synthesized GeS–GeS x core–shell structures show no signs of chemical attack and remain unchanged in air for extended time periods. Measurements of the optoelectronic properties by photoluminescence spectroscopy show a tunable bandgap due to out-of-plane quantum confinement in flakes with thickness below 100 nm. Cathodoluminescence (CL) spectroscopy with nanoscale excitation provides evidence for interfacial charge transfer due to a type II heterojunction between the crystalline core and amorphous shell. Measurements by locally excited CL yield a minority carrier (electron) diffusion length in the p-type GeS core = 0.27 μm, on par with diffusion lengths in the highest-quality layered chalcogenide semiconductors.

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Viral hepatitis, as one of the most serious notifiable infectious diseases in China, takes heavy tolls from the infected and causes a severe economic burden to society, yet few studies have systematically explored the spatio-temporal epidemiology of viral hepatitis in China. This study aims to explore, visualize and compare the epidemiologic trends and spatial changing patterns of different types of viral hepatitis (A, B, C, E and unspecified, based on the classification of CDC) at the provincial level in China. The growth rates of incidence are used and converted to box plots to visualize the epidemiologic trends, with the linear trend being tested by chi-square linear by linear association test. Two complementary spatial cluster methods are used to explore the overall agglomeration level and identify spatial clusters: spatial autocorrelation analysis (measured by global and local Moran’s I) and space-time scan analysis. Based on the spatial autocorrelation analysis, the hotspots of hepatitis A remain relatively stable and gradually shrunk, with Yunnan and Sichuan successively moving out the high-high (HH) cluster area. The HH clustering feature of hepatitis B in China gradually disappeared with time. However, the HH cluster area of hepatitis C has gradually moved towards the west, while for hepatitis E, the provincial units around the Yangtze River Delta region have been revealing HH cluster features since 2005. The space-time scan analysis also indicates the distinct spatial changing patterns of different types of viral hepatitis in China. It is easy to conclude that there is no one-size-fits-all plan for the prevention and control of viral hepatitis in all the provincial units. An effective response requires a package of coordinated actions, which should vary across localities regarding the spatial-temporal epidemic dynamics of each type of virus and the specific conditions of each provincial unit.

No abstract

The light-stimulated transformation of ensembles of spherical nanoparticles into anisotropic metal nanostructures mediated by localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) excitation is an elegant way of synthesizing triangular silver nanoprisms with extraordinary control over size and shape. Generally, the transformation occurs in oxidizing environments along a pathway that involves the oxidative etching of small preexisting Ag seeds, followed by plasmon-mediated reduction of the resulting Ag ions and Ag0 incorporation into the anisotropic nanocrystals. Here, we investigate pathways toward Ag nanoprisms from initially homogeneous AgNO3 solutions held under reducing conditions. Observations using in situ electron microscopy show that reducing environments and high Ag precursor concentrations in the presence of sodium citrate favor two alternative transformation routes of initial spherical nuclei into anisotropic nanoprisms: (i) the aggregation of spherical nanoparticles and plasmon-mediated conversion of small clusters into triangular prisms; (ii) shape fluctuations of individual small nanoparticles. Simulated field distributions confirm that the coupling of the LSPR excitation between closely spaced nanoparticles causes significant field enhancements near the local plasmonic hot spots, which facilitates accelerated Ag incorporation and thus supports the transformation into nanoprisms.

WBP1L is a target of microRNA 137 (miR‐137) and has been considered a candidate gene for schizophrenia (SCZ). To investigate the relationships between WBP1L and SCZ and its related symptom scales, a total of 5,993 Chinese Han subjects, including 2,128 SCZ patients and 3,865 controls, were enrolled. In addition, an independent sample set for replication study including 1,052 SCZ patients and 2,124 controls were also recruited. Thirty‐two tag single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) located within gene region of WBP1L were selected for genotyping and analyzing. The expression quantitative trait loci (eQTL) effects for the targeted SNPs were investigated with gene expression data from multiple human tissues. Rs4147157 (OR = 0.84, p = 1.51 × 10−5) and rs284854 (OR = 1.14, p = 7.00 × 10−4) were significantly associated with SCZ disease status and these association signals were replicated in our replication sample. A significant association was identified between rs4147157 and the general (β = −.66, p = .001) and total (β = −.8, p = .0042) scores of positive and negative syndrome scale scores in SCZ patients. Both SNPs were significant eQTL for genes around WBP1L in human brain tissues including ARL3 and AS3MT. To conclude, SNPs rs4147157 and rs284854 were associated with SCZ in the Chinese Han population. Additionally, rs4147157 was significantly associated with specific symptom features of SCZ.

Oligonucleotide-nanoparticle conjugates, also called programmable atom equivalents, carry promise as building blocks for self-assembled colloidal crystals, reconfigurable or stimuli responsive functional materials, as well as bio-inspired hierarchical architectures in wet environments. In situ studies of the DNA-mediated self-assembly of nanoparticles have so far been limited to reciprocal space techniques. Liquid-cell electron microscopy could enable imaging such systems with high resolution in their native environment but to realize this potential, radiation damage to the oligonucleotide linkages needs to be understood and conditions for damage-free electron microscopy identified. Here, we analyze in situ observations of DNA-linked two-dimensional nanoparticle arrays, along with control experiments for different oligonucleotide configurations, to identify the mechanisms of radiation damage for ordered superlattices of DNA-nanoparticle conjugates. In a biological context, the results point to new avenues for studying direct and indirect radiation effects for small ensembles of DNA in solution by tracking conjugated nanoparticles. By establishing low-dose conditions suitable for extended in situ imaging of programmable atom equivalents, our work paves the way for real-space observations of DNA-mediated self-assembly processes.