Exploring highly efficient and low-cost electrocatalysts for electrochemical water splitting is of importance for the conversion of intermediate energy. Herein, the synthesis of dual-cation (Fe, Co)-incorporated NiSe nanosheets (Fe, Co-NiSe ) and systematical investigation of their electrocatalytic performance for water splitting as a function of the composition are reported. The dual-cation incorporation can distort the lattice and induce stronger electronic interaction, leading to increased active site exposure and optimized adsorption energy of reaction intermediates compared to single-cation-doped or pure NiSe . As a result, the obtained Fe Co -NiSe porous nanosheet electrode shows an optimized catalytic activity with a low overpotential of 251 mV for oxygen evolution reaction and 92 mV for hydrogen evolution reaction (both at 10 mA cm in 1 m KOH). When used as bifunctional electrodes for overall water splitting, the current density of 10 mA cm is achieved at a low cell voltage of 1.52 V. This work highlights the importance of dual-cation doping in enhancing the electrocatalyst performance of transition metal dichalcogenides.

Photoluminescence is one of the most sensitive techniques for fingerprint detection, but it also suffers from background fluorescence and selectivity at the expense of generality. The method described herein integrates the advantages of near-infrared-light-mediated imaging and molecular recognition. In principle, upconversion nanoparticles (UCNPs) functionalized with a lysozyme-binding aptamer were used to detect fingerprints through recognizing lysozyme in the fingerprint ridges. UCNPs possess the ability to suppress background fluorescence and make it possible for fingerprint imaging on problematic surfaces. Lysozyme, a universal compound in fingerprints, was chosen as the target, thus simultaneously meeting the selectivity and generality criteria in photoluminescence approaches. Fingerprints on different surfaces and from different people were detected successfully. This strategy was used to detect fingerprints with cocaine powder by using UCNPs functionalized with a cocaine-binding aptamer.

Objective We aimed to systematically identify the possible risk factors responsible for severe cases. Methods We searched PubMed, Embase, Web of science and Cochrane Library for epidemiological studies of confirmed COVID-19, which include information about clinical characteristics and severity of patients’ disease. We analyzed the potential associations between clinical characteristics and severe cases. Results We identified a total of 41 eligible studies including 21060 patients with COVID-19. Severe cases were potentially associated with advanced age (Standard Mean Difference (SMD) = 1.73, 95% CI: 1.34–2.12), male gender (Odds Ratio (OR) = 1.51, 95% CI:1.33–1.71), obesity (OR = 1.89, 95% CI: 1.44–2.46), history of smoking (OR = 1.40, 95% CI:1.06–1.85), hypertension (OR = 2.42, 95% CI: 2.03–2.88), diabetes (OR = 2.40, 95% CI: 1.98–2.91), coronary heart disease (OR: 2.87, 95% CI: 2.22–3.71), chronic kidney disease (CKD) (OR = 2.97, 95% CI: 1.63–5.41), cerebrovascular disease (OR = 2.47, 95% CI: 1.54–3.97), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) (OR = 2.88, 95% CI: 1.89–4.38), malignancy (OR = 2.60, 95% CI: 2.00–3.40), and chronic liver disease (OR = 1.51, 95% CI: 1.06–2.17). Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) (OR = 39.59, 95% CI: 19.99–78.41), shock (OR = 21.50, 95% CI: 10.49–44.06) and acute kidney injury (AKI) (OR = 8.84, 95% CI: 4.34–18.00) were most likely to prevent recovery. In summary, patients with severe conditions had a higher rate of comorbidities and complications than patients with non-severe conditions. Conclusion Patients who were male, with advanced age, obesity, a history of smoking, hypertension, diabetes, malignancy, coronary heart disease, hypertension, chronic liver disease, COPD, or CKD are more likely to develop severe COVID-19 symptoms. ARDS, shock and AKI were thought to be the main hinderances to recovery.

Gold (Au) nanoparticles (NPs) supported on well-defined ceria (CeO2) nanorods with exposed {110} and {100} facets were prepared by a deposition-precipitation method and characterized by powder X-ray diffraction, micro-Raman spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, nitrogen adsorption-desorption, transmission electron microscopy, high-resolution transmission electron microscopy, and high-angle annular dark-field scanning transmission electron microscopy. Both nanometer and subnanometer gold particles were found to coexist on ceria supports with various Au contents (0.01-5.4 wt %). The catalytic performance of Au/CeO2 catalysts was examined for formaldehyde (HCHO) oxidation into CO2 and H2O at room temperature and shown to be Au content dependent, with 1.8 wt % Au/CeO2 displaying the best performance. On the basis of the results from hydrogen temperature-programmed reduction and in situ Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy observations, the high reactivity and stability of Au/CeO2 catalysts is mainly attributed to the well-defined ceria nanorods with {110} and {100} facets which present a relatively low energy for oxygen vacancy formation. Furthermore, gold NPs could induce the weakened Ce-O bond which in turn promotes HCHO oxidation.