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To reduce information exchange requirements in smart grids, an event-triggered communication based distributed optimization is proposed for economic dispatch. In this work, the θ-logarithmic barrier based method is employed to reformulate the economic dispatch problem and the consensus based approach is considered for developing fully distributed technologyenabled algorithms. Specifically, a novel distributed algorithm utilizes the minimum connected dominating set which efficiently allocates the task of balancing supply and demand for the entire power network at the beginning of economic dispatch. Further, an event-triggered communication based method for the incremental cost of each generator is able to reach a consensus, coinciding with the global optimality of the objective function. In addition, a fast gradient based distributed optimization method is also designed to accelerate the convergence rate of the event-triggered distributed optimization. Simulations based on the IEEE 57-bus test system demonstrate the effectiveness and good performance of proposed algorithms.

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Lithium–sulfur (Li–S) batteries are considered as one of the most promising next‐generation rechargeable batteries owing to their high energy density and cost‐effectiveness. However, the sluggish kinetics of the sulfur reduction reaction process, which is so far insufficiently explored, still impedes its practical application. Metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) are widely investigated as a sulfur immobilizer, but the interactions and catalytic activity of lithium polysulfides (LiPs) on metal nodes are weak due to the presence of organic ligands. Herein, a strategy to design quasi‐MOF nanospheres, which contain a transition‐state structure between the MOF and the metal oxide via controlled ligand exchange strategy, to serve as sulfur electrocatalyst, is presented. The quasi‐MOF not only inherits the porous structure of the MOF, but also exposes abundant metal nodes to act as active sites, rendering strong LiPs absorbability. The reversible deligandation/ligandation of the quasi‐MOF and its impact on the durability of the catalyst over the course of the electrochemical process is acknowledged, which confers a remarkable catalytic activity. Attributed to these structural advantages, the quasi‐MOF delivers a decent discharge capacity and low capacity‐fading rate over long‐term cycling. This work not only offers insight into the rational design of quasi‐MOF‐based composites but also provides guidance for application in Li–S batteries.

Near-infrared (NIR) phosphor-converted light-emitting diode (pc-LED) technology has attracted considerable interest as a next-generation light source for emerging NIR spectroscopic applications. However, discovering efficient broadband NIR phosphors necessary to access the desired long-wavelength (λem ≥ 800 nm) energy window remains a challenge. Here, a new phosphate phosphor, KGaP2O7:Cr3+, emerged from a fundamental study of the AMP2O7 (A = Li, Na, K; M = Al, Ga, Sc, In) family. This material combines all of the requisite properties for the efficient generation of NIR photons, including limited defect formation, minimal electron–phonon coupling, a subtle octahedral site distortion, and well-separated transition metal substitution sites. Photoluminescence spectroscopy indicates that this material emits from 700 to 1100 nm (λmax = 815 nm) with a full width at half-maximum (fwhm) of 127 nm or 1874 cm–1. Exciting the material with a blue LED reveals a quantum yield of 74.4% with an absorption efficiency of 44.8%, resulting in an excellent external quantum efficiency as high as 33.3% from the as-prepared sample. A prototype NIR pc-LED device generated an output power of 473.8 mW and a high photoelectric conversion efficiency (10.7% under 500 mA), demonstrating the potential of applying this phosphor in blue LED-based NIR spectroscopy.

Prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) plays an important role in vascular homeostasis. Its receptor, E-prostanoid receptor 4 (EP4) is essential for physiological remodeling of the ductus arteriosus (DA). However, the role of EP4 in pathological vascular remodeling remains largely unknown. We found that chronic angiotensin II (AngII) infusion of mice with vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC)-specific EP4 gene knockout (VSMC-EP4−/−) frequently developed aortic dissection (AD) with severe elastic fiber degradation and VSMC dedifferentiation. AngII-infused VSMC-EP4−/−mice also displayed more profound vascular inflammation with increased monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) expression, macrophage infiltration, matrix metalloproteinase-2 and -9 (MMP2/9) levels, NADPH oxidase 1 (NOX1) activity, and reactive oxygen species production. In addition, VSMC-EP4−/−mice exhibited higher blood pressure under basal and AngII-infused conditions. Ex vivo and in vitro studies further revealed that VSMC-specific EP4 gene deficiency significantly increased AngII-elicited vasoconstriction of the mesenteric artery, likely by stimulating intracellular calcium release in VSMCs. Furthermore, EP4 gene ablation and EP4 blockade in cultured VSMCs were associated with a significant increase in MCP-1 and NOX1 expression and a marked reduction in α-SM actin (α-SMA), SM22α, and SM differentiation marker genes myosin heavy chain (SMMHC) levels and serum response factor (SRF) transcriptional activity. To summarize, the present study demonstrates that VSMC EP4 is critical for vascular homeostasis, and its dysfunction exacerbates AngII-induced pathological vascular remodeling. EP4 may therefore represent a potential therapeutic target for the treatment of AD.

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Broadband near-infrared (NIR) light source based on phosphor-converted light-emitting-diode (pc-LED) is crucial for applications in medical diagnosis, food quality analysis, and night vision fields, motivating the development of highly efficient and thermal robust NIR phosphor materials. Herein, a novel Cr 3+ -doped garnet phosphor Y 3 In 2 Ga 3 O 12 :Cr 3+ emerges from a fundamental study of the Ln 3 In 2 Ga 3 O 12 (Ln = La, Gd, Y, and Lu) family. Upon 450 nm excitation, this material presents a broadband NIR emission covering 650−1100 nm with a peak located at 760 nm and a full width at half maximum of 125 nm. This material also possesses an ultrahigh internal quantum efficiency (IQE = 91.6%) and absorption efficiency (AE = 46.6%), resulting in an external quantum efficiency as high as 42.7%. Moreover, the emission intensity of this material at 150 °C maintains 100% of the initial intensity, showing a rare zero-thermalquenching property. Fabricating an NIR pc-LED device by using this material, an excellent NIR output power of 68.4 mW with a photoelectric efficiency of 15.9% under 150 mA driving current can be obtained, which exhibits much better performance than the devices fabricated by using some reported efficient NIR materials. Therefore, this work not only provides an ultraefficient and thermally robust broadband NIR material for spectroscopy application but also contributes to the foundation of design rules of NIR materials with high performance.