At least 5% of individuals with hypertension have adrenal aldosterone-producing adenomas (APAs). Gain-of-function mutations in KCNJ5 and apparent loss-of-function mutations in ATP1A1 and ATP2A3 were reported to occur in APAs. We find that KCNJ5 mutations are common in APAs resembling cortisol-secreting cells of the adrenal zona fasciculata but are absent in a subset of APAs resembling the aldosterone-secreting cells of the adrenal zona glomerulosa. We performed exome sequencing of ten zona glomerulosa-like APAs and identified nine with somatic mutations in either ATP1A1, encoding the Na(+)/K(+) ATPase α1 subunit, or CACNA1D, encoding Cav1.3. The ATP1A1 mutations all caused inward leak currents under physiological conditions, and the CACNA1D mutations induced a shift of voltage-dependent gating to more negative voltages, suppressed inactivation or increased currents. Many APAs with these mutations were <1 cm in diameter and had been overlooked on conventional adrenal imaging. Recognition of the distinct genotype and phenotype for this subset of APAs could facilitate diagnosis.

Reversible electrochemical storage of alkali metal ions is the basis of many secondary batteries. Over years, various electrode materials are developed and optimized for a specific type of alkali metal ions (Li , Na , or K ), yet there are very few (if not none) candidates that can serve as a universal host material for all of them. Herein, a facile solvothermal method is developed to prepare VS nanosheet assemblies. Individual nanosheets are featured with a few atomic layer thickness, and they are hierarchically arranged with minimized stacking. Electrochemical measurements show that VS nanosheet assemblies enable the rapid and durable storage of Li , Na , or K ions. Most remarkably, the large reversible specific capacity and great cycling stability observed for both Na and K are extraordinary and superior to most existing electrode materials. The experimental results of this study are further supported by density functional theory calculations showing that the layered structure of VS has large adsorption energy and low diffusion barriers for the intercalation of alkali metal ions.

The development of highly active and stable electrocatalysts for ethanol electroxidation is of decisive importance to the successful commercialization of direct ethanol fuel cells. Despite great efforts invested over the past decade, their progress has been notably slower than expected. In this work, the facile solution synthesis of 2D PdAg alloy nanodendrites as a high-performance electrocatalyst is reported for ethanol electroxidation. The reaction is carried out via the coreduction of Pd and Ag precursors in aqueous solution with the presence of octadecyltrimethylammonium chloride as the structural directing agent. Final products feature small thickness (5-7 nm) and random in-plane branching with enlarged surface areas and abundant undercoordinated sites. They exhibit enhanced electrocatalytic activity (large specific current ≈2600 mA mgPd-1) and excellent operation stability (as revealed from both the cycling and chronoamperometric tests) for ethanol electroxidation. Control experiments show that the improvement comes from the combined electronic and structural effects.

Most electrocatalysts for the ethanol oxidation reaction suffer from extremely limited operational durability and poor selectivity toward the CC bond cleavage. In spite of tremendous efforts over the past several decades, little progress has been made in this regard. This study reports the remarkable promoting effect of Ni(OH) on Pd nanocrystals for electrocatalytic ethanol oxidation reaction in alkaline solution. A hybrid electrocatalyst consisting of intimately mixed nanosized Pd particles, defective Ni(OH) nanoflakes, and a graphene support is prepared via a two-step solution method. The optimal product exhibits a high mass-specific peak current of >1500 mA mg , and excellent operational durability forms both cycling and chronoamperometric measurements in alkaline solution. Most impressively, this hybrid catalyst retains a mass-specific current of 440 mA mg even after 20 000 s of chronoamperometric testing, and its original activity can be regenerated via simple cyclic voltammetry cycles in clean KOH. This great catalyst durability is understood based on both CO stripping and in situ attenuated total reflection infrared experiments suggesting that the presence of Ni(OH) alleviates the poisoning of Pd nanocrystals by carbonaceous intermediates. The incorporation of Ni(OH) also markedly shifts the reaction selectivity from the originally predominant C2 pathway toward the more desirable C1 pathway, even at room temperature.