Formation of Ni–Fe Mixed Diselenide Nanocages as a Superior Oxygen Evolution Electrocatalyst

Exploring effective electrocatalysts is a crucial requirement for boosting the efficiency of water splitting to obtain clean fuels. Here, a self‐templating strategy is reported to synthesize Ni–Fe mixed diselenide cubic nanocages for the electrocatalytic oxygen evolution reaction (OER). The diselenide nanocages are derived from corresponding Prussian‐blue analog nanocages, which are first obtained by treating the nanocube precursor with a site‐selective ammonia etchant. The resulting Ni–Fe mixed diselenide nanocages perform as a superior OER electrocatalyst, which affords a current density of 10 mA cm^?2 at a small overpotential of 240 mV; a high current density, mass activity, and turnover frequency of 100 mA cm^?2, 1000 A g^?1, and 0.58 s^?1, respectively, at the overpotential of 270 mV; a Tafel slope as small as 24 mV dec^?1; and excellent stability in alkaline medium.     

Role of Surface RGD Patterns on Protein Nanocages in Tumor Targeting Revealed Using Precise Discrete Models

The effectiveness of active targeting in cancer nanomedicine is becoming increasingly more debatable. Here, the role of the ligand functionalization patterns (number and distribution) on nanoparticle surfaces in tumor targeting is investigated using a 9 nm sized miniferritin protein nanocage, Dps modified with Arg‐Gly‐Asp (RGD) ligands whose functionalization patterns are precisely controlled. In vitro and in vivo experiments show that RGD modification endows Dps with tumor targeting capacity no matter what the surface pattern is. The tumor targeting of 2‐ligand Dps, which is better than that of 1‐ligand Dps, rivals or surpasses that of the 12‐ or 24‐ligand Dps. The 12‐ligand Dps with clustered RGD distribution shows 2.3 times the in vivo targeting efficiency of that with even distribution. The surface ligand pattern effects are correlated at least to receptor clustering and opsonization. This study provides insights into the understanding of the controversial findings on active tumor targeting in the literature and highlights the necessity of precise functionalization to achieve optimal active targeting in developing cancer nanomedicine.     

不同结构两性离子聚酰亚胺超滤膜的性能研究

利用相转化工艺制备了两类化学结构不同的两性离子聚酰亚胺超滤膜,并分别使用扫描电子显微镜和接触角测量仪表征了两种膜的断面形貌和表面亲疏水性。通过多次循环超滤实验显示,这两类两性离子聚酰亚胺超滤膜的抗污染能力明显优于参比的聚酰亚胺超滤膜,特别是不可逆污染明显减少,实现了超滤膜的稳定运行。     

Boosting the Hydrogen Evolution Reaction Performance of P-Doped PtTe2 Nanocages via Spontaneous Defects Formation

PtTe₂, a member of the noble metal dichalcogenides (NMDs), has aroused great interest in exploring its behavior in the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) due to the unique type-II topological semimetallic nature. In this work, a simple template-free hydrothermal method to obtain the phosphorus-doped (P-doped) PtTe₂ nanocages with abundant amorphous and crystalline interface (A/C-P-PtTe₂) is developed. Revealed by density functional theory calculations, the atomic Te vacancies can spontaneously form on the basal planes of PtTe₂ by the P doping, which results in the unsaturated Pt atoms exposed as the active sites in the amorphous layer for HER. Owing to the defective structure, the A/C-P-PtTe₂ catalysts have the fast Tafel step determined kinetics in HER, which contributes to an ultralow overpotential (η = 28 mV at 10 mA cm⁻²) and a small Tafel slope of 37 mV dec⁻¹. More importantly, benefiting from the inner stable crystalline P-PtTe₂ nanosheets, limited decay of the performance is observed after chronopotentiometry test. This work reveals the important role of the inherent relationship between structure and activity in PtTe₂ for HER, which may bring another enlightenment for the design of efficient catalysts based on NMDs in the near future.     

Factors Influencing the Self‐Efficacy Beliefs of First‐Year Engineering Students

A survey incorporating qualitative measures of student self‐efficacy beliefs was administered to 1,387 first‐year engineering students enrolled in ENGR 106, Engineering Problem‐Solving and Computer Tools, at Purdue University. The survey was designed to identify factors related to students' self‐efficacy beliefs, their beliefs about their capabilities to perform the tasks necessary to achieve a desired outcome. Open‐ended questions prompted students to list factors affecting their confidence in their ability to succeed in the course. Students were then asked to rank these factors based on the degree to which their self‐efficacy beliefs were influenced. Gender trends emerged in student responses to factors that affect confidence in success. These trends are discussed in light of the categories identified by efficacy theorists as sources of self‐efficacy beliefs. The results presented here provide a useful look at the first‐year engineering experiences that influence students' efficacy beliefs, an important consideration in explaining student achievement, persistence, and interest.     

Women Engineering Students and Self‐Efficacy: A Multi‐Year,Multi‐Institution Study of Women Engineering Student Self‐Efficacy

As our nation's need for engineering professionals grows, educators and industry leaders are increasingly becoming concerned with how to attract women to this traditionally male career path. Self‐efficacy has been shown to be related to positive outcomes in studying and pursuing careers in non‐traditional fields. This paper describes the results of two years of engineering self‐efficacy data collected from women engineering students at five institutions across the U.S. This study adds to the growing body of self‐efficacy literature via its multi‐year, multi‐institution design and helps to clarify the impact of the engineering curriculum on self‐efficacy. Results indicate that while women students show positive progress on some self‐efficacy and related subscales, they show a significant decrease on feelings of inclusion from the first to second measurement period and further suggest a relationship between ethnicity and feelings of inclusion. Additionally, correlations show that self‐efficacy is related to women students' plans to persist in this predominantly male discipline.     

Direct Synthesis of the 2D Copper(II) 5‐Prop‐2‐ynoxyisophthalate MOF: Comment on “Surface Functionalization of Porous Coordination Nanocages Via Click Chemistry and Their Application in Drug Delivery”

Synthesis of metal–organic materials is often dependent on the reaction conditions of suitable solvent/solvent mixture and temperature. A new finding based on a previously described protocol is reported: instead of obtaining metal–organic polyhedra (MOP), a metal–organic framework (MOF) with a 2D layered structure is obtained, following the same reported protocol. The 2D Cu(II)–5‐prop‐2‐ynoxyisophthlate MOF, crystallized in a kagomé‐type structure, is synthesized using different solvent systems at room temperature, as well as under solvothermal (nonhydrothermal) conditions. Under harsh reaction conditions, alkyne functional groups maintain their integrity and the copper does not catalyze the oxidative coupling of the terminal alkyne groups. X‐ray diffraction analyses confirm the structure and phase purity of the product. Based on the present results and the previous work reported by Zhao et al., it seems that two products, namely 0D MOP and 2D MOF, are equally possible when using the same reactants under same reaction conditions. However, the materials obtained in all the trials are MOF instead of MOP. From the structure point of view, there is a difference in connectivity of the initial building units that determines whether the product is MOP or MOF.     

论幽默漫画广告的传播功效与形式特点

论述了幽默因子在漫画广告中的传播功效和形式特点,并列举国内外成功的幽默漫画广告案例,图文并茂地阐明了幽默在视觉传达设计中的重要作用.     

Memantine‐Loaded PEGylated Biodegradable Nanoparticles for the Treatment of Glaucoma

Glaucoma is a multifactorial neurodegenerative disease associated with retinal ganglion cells (RGC) loss. Increasing reports of similarities in glaucoma and other neurodegenerative conditions have led to speculation that therapies for brain neurodegenerative disorders may also have potential as glaucoma therapies. Memantine is an N‐methyl‐d ‐aspartate (NMDA) antagonist approved for Alzheimer's disease treatment. Glutamate‐induced excitotoxicity is implicated in glaucoma and NMDA receptor antagonism is advocated as a potential strategy for RGC preservation. This study describes the development of a topical formulation of memantine‐loaded PLGA‐PEG nanoparticles (MEM‐NP) and investigates the efficacy of this formulation using a well‐established glaucoma model. MEM‐NPs <200 nm in diameter and incorporating 4 mg mL^?1 of memantine were prepared with 0.35 mg mL^?1 localized to the aqueous interior. In vitro assessment indicated sustained release from MEM‐NPs and ex vivo ocular permeation studies demonstrated enhanced delivery. MEM‐NPs were additionally found to be well tolerated in vitro (human retinoblastoma cells) and in vivo (Draize test). Finally, when applied topically in a rodent model of ocular hypertension for three weeks, MEM‐NP eye drops were found to significantly (p < 0.0001) reduce RGC loss. These results suggest that topical MEM‐NP is safe, well tolerated, and, most promisingly, neuroprotective in an experimental glaucoma model.     

How to Coat the Inside of Narrow and Long Tubes with a Super‐Liquid‐Repellent Layer—A Promising Candidate for Antibacterial Catheters

Fouling of thin tubes is a major problem, leading to various infections and associated morbidities, while cleaning is difficult or even impossible. Here, a generic method is introduced to activate and coat the inside of meter‐long and at the same time thin (down to 1 mm) tubes with a super‐liquid‐repellent layer of nanofilaments, exhibiting even antibacterial properties. Activation is facilitated by pumping an oxidative Fenton solution through the tubes. Subsequent pumping of a silane solution renders the surface of the tubes super‐liquid‐repellent. The wide applicability of the method is demonstrated by coating stiff and flexible tubes made of polymers, inorganic/organic hybrids, metals, and ceramics. Coated medical catheters show excellent antibacterial properties. Notably, the nanofilaments retain their antibacterial properties even in the superhydrophilic state. These findings open new avenues toward the design of biocide‐free, antibacterial tubings and catheters.     

质量改进团队跨界行为与绩效关系：团队效能感的中介作用

本研究旨在探究团队效能感对质量改进团队跨界行为与绩效关系的中介作用,采用团队跨界行为、团队效能感和质量绩效问卷调查了161个质量改进团队。结果表明,联络行为、管控行为和侦测行为对质量绩效有显著影响,并且联络行为和管控行为通过团队效能感影响质量绩效。质量改进团队跨界行为不仅对质量绩效有直接影响,而且通过团队效能感产生间接作用。