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Metabolite profiling and ‘dryness’-like effect analysis of ‘Chenpi’ plant tea (Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium peel) with and without steaming peocessing
No full textCitri Reticulatae Pericarpium peel (‘Chenpi’ tea) is a popular food-medicine functional tea, which mainly existing unsteamed (CRP) and steamed (SCRP) products. In this study, a combination of electronic nose and GC–MS analysis showed that aged SCRP had a more intense aroma, which was attributed to the significant reduction or disappearance of components representing refreshing aroma, such as β-Myrcene and D-Limonene, while some components with thick odors like Valencene were newly formed. For the ‘dryness’-like effect, the weaker effect of SCRP relative to CRP was initially confirmed in rats, as characterized by water intake, submandibular gland index, and hemorheology, consistenting with the expression trend of aquaporin (AQP) 2, 3 and 5 mRNA. Molecular docking further revealed that the key differential components responsible for the different ‘dryness’-like effects of SCR and SCRP by affecting AQPs were Narirutin, Rutin, Calceolarioside C, Hesperidin, Melitidin and Limonin. Taken together, our findings enhance the understanding of steaming processing-induced aroma and ‘dryness’-like effect changes in ‘Chenpi’ tea and their impact on consumer experience, offering a novel perspective for optimizing ‘Chenpi’ tea products.Zhenwei Lan, Xiaoting Zhang, Xinhang Cai, Weijie Pan, Wangjun Li, Yue Sun, Shumei Wang, Xingyang Xue, Menghua Wu, Jiang Men
High-iodine-loading quasi-solid-state zinc-iodine batteries enabled by a continuous ion-transport network
No full textZinc–iodine (Zn–I₂) batteries are promising candidates for next-generation large-scale energy storage systems due to their inherent safety, environmental sustainability, and potential cost-effectiveness compared to lithium-ion batteries. Their applications, however, have been limited by the sluggish Zn²⁺ transfer kinetics, severe polyiodide shuttling, and relatively low mass loading of iodine cathodes. Herein, we report a design strategy for a quasi-solid-state Zn–I₂ battery with a continuous 3D ion-transport network by integrating a thick iodine cathode and a bacterial cellulose hydrogel electrolyte. The polar bacterial cellulose fibers formed an interconnected network that provided abundant ion pathways for inward Zn²⁺ transport and also limited iodine species dissolution. The continuous 3D ion-transport networks were formed throughout the entire thick iodine cathode, resulting in a 10-times higher Zn-ion conductivity compared with the conventional-structured cathode. The quasi-solid-state Zn–I₂ battery based on the Zn anode and an integrated cathode delivered a reversible capacity of 176.6 mA h g⁻¹ and achieved long-term cycling for 900 cycles at 1C under an iodine loading of 20.0 mg cm⁻². The iodine loading can be further increased to 39.3 mg cm⁻² by adjusting the thickness of the cathode. Under a practical condition of low negative/positive ratio (N/P) of 2.1, an energy density of 56.4 Wh kg⁻¹ is achieved. This integrated electrode design provides guidelines for fabricating high-energy quasi-solid-state Zn ion batteries.Xin Yang, Minghao Xie, Zhijie Yan, Hang Ruan, Chunpeng Yang, Zaiping Guo, and Zi-Jian Zhen
Concurrent energy storage and decarbonization by metal–CO₂ batteries: aqueous or non-aqueous?
No full textRechargeable metal–CO₂ batteries (RMCBs) are highly promising for renewable energy storage and simultaneous reduction of carbon footprint in the environment, and therefore, they are very attractive for the development of next-generation batteries. The electrolyte plays a crucial role in RMCBs and determines the choice of the metal anode, the kinetics of reactions occurring at the electrode–electrolyte interface and, thus, the battery performance. We comprehensively review the advances in liquid electrolytes for RMCBs, namely, non-aqueous and aqueous, to foster a clear picture of future RMCBs and their potential applications depending on the electrolyte system. The advantages and disadvantages of both systems and a thorough comparison amongst them are also discussed. The projected battery market/economics and the current status of aqueous and non-aqueous RMCBs are derived in terms of sustainable energy storage-decarbonization, followed by an overall summary and outlook. We aim to summarize the existing status and potential of aqueous and non-aqueous RMCBs along with likely improvements necessary in electrolyte engineering for the real-time application of RMCBs.Divyani Gupta, Jinshuo Zou, Jianfeng Mao, Zaiping Gu
Efficacy and safety of behavioural activation on depression in people with co-occurring non-communicable diseases: systematic review and meta-analysis
No full textBackground: People with non-communicable diseases (NCDs) have a higher prevalence of comorbid depression than the general population. While previous research has shown that behavioural activation is effective for general depression, its efficacy and safety in treating depression associated with NCDs remains unclear. Aims: To compare the efficacy and safety of behavioural activation against comparators in reducing depression symptoms in people with NCDs. Method We searched six databases from inception until 30 March 2023 (updated 23 September 2024) for randomised controlled trials (RCTs) comparing behavioural activation with comparators for depression in people with NCDs. Risk of bias was assessed using the Cochrane Collaboration’s ‘risk-of-bias 2 tool’. We calculated a random-effects, inverse-variance weighting metaanalysis. Results: Of the 21 386 initial studies, 12 RCTs (with 2144 patients) comparing behavioural activation with any comparator on treatment outcomes for depression with comorbid NCD met the inclusion criteria. Six studies rated as low risk of bias. For short-term follow-ups (up to 6 months), meta-analysis showed behavioural activation had little effect on depression symptom improvement in people with NCDs (Hedges’ g = −0.24; 95% CI, −0.62 to 0.15), compared to comparators, with high heterogeneity (I²= 91.91%). Of the 12 included studies, three RCTs provided data on adverse events occurring during the trial. Conclusions: Evidence from this systematic review is not sufficient to draw clear conclusions about the efficacy and safety of behavioural activation for reducing depression symptoms in people with NCDs. Future reviews need to include more high-quality, welldesigned RCTs to better understand the potential benefits of behavioural activation for comorbid depression.Engida Yisma, Kuda Muyambi, Sandra Walsh, Shwikar Othman, Richard Gray, Kuan Liung Tan, Mary Steen, and Martin Jone
Care through catering: Finding the huggerholics
No full textReflective PieceAbstract unavailableThi Xuan Dieu Pha
Asymmetric substrate supported Ni catalysts for robust photothermal catalytic dry reforming of methane
No full textPhotothermal catalytic dry reforming of methane with CO₂ has emerged as a promising yet nascent strategy for mitigating greenhouse gas emissions and enabling clean energy conversion. However, achieving optimal performance requires advances in both catalyst design and mechanistic understanding. Herein, we adopted a double-emulsion-guided micelle assembly strategy to synthesize asymmetric supports (AMONs and AMOMs), featuring unidirectional open/closed pore channels. This distinctive architecture enabled the formation of an asymmetric catalyst configuration through ethylene glycol-assisted selective confinement of Ni nanoparticles at the open-pore termini. Compared to conventional symmetric catalysts, the optimized 5% Ni AMONs EG and 5% Ni AMOMs EG exhibited higher specific surface areas and improved metal dispersion, resulting in an abundance of active sites. Moreover, the asymmetric design strengthened the built-in electric fields, directing more photogenerated hot carriers and localized thermal energy toward reactant activation. Consequently, 5% Ni AMOMs EG achieved a remarkable H₂ production rate of 2314.2 mmol g⁻¹ h⁻¹ and sustained H₂ yields over 50 hours, outperforming symmetric counterparts and even some reported noble metal-based catalysts. This work offers a smart photothermal catalyst candidate and elucidates its structure–performance relationship, advancing photothermal catalytic technology for solar fuel production.Cheng Sang, Weiyi Xu, Kang Xue, Yajie Zou, Shuli Li, Shengjie Han, Haijun Chen, Hongqi Sun, Shaobin Wang, and Jinqiang Zhan
Deep crustal magnetotelluric imaging of continental accretion and intracontinental deformation in central Australia
No full textCentral Australia preserves a record of micro-continent and craton accretion during assembly of the Paleoproterozoic Nuna supercontinent 2500−1600 Ma, followed by Mesoproterozoic magmatic and orogenic events that formed the Musgrave Province. The Petermann Orogeny (630−520 Ma) and Alice Springs Orogeny (450−300 Ma) resulted in north-south crustal shortening and Moho offsets up to 20 km that yield gravity variations of ~160 mGals. Three-dimensional inversion of 614 long-period (10–10000 s) AusLAMP MT and 36 geomagnetic depth sounding (GDS) sites spaced~55 km produced resistivity estimates to 250 km depth, covering 1500 km west-east, 1300 km north-south. From 0 to 5 km, resistivity maps the extent and thickness of Neoproterozoic Officer, Amadeus, Ngalia and Georgina Basins, and Mesozoic Eromanga basin. At all crustal depths the Arunta Province and northern Musgrave Province are resistive (>10000 Ω.m), bounded by lower crustal conductive zones (<10 Ω.m) to the north, east and south that align with suture zones associated with Paleoproterozoic accretion of ribbon continents. Lithospheric scale faults active in the Petermann Orogen (Woodroffe Thrust) and Alice Springs Orogen (Redbank Shear Zone) align with these low-resistivity zones, and we argue that graphite from carbon burial in Paleoproterozoic sediments reduces frictional strength and enable compressive deformation to localise strain.Graham Heinson, Ben Kay, David Baker, Relly Margion
Outpatient or Inpatient Setting for Cervical Ripening Before Induction of Labour: An Individual Participant Data Meta-Analysis
No full textAvailable online 11 June 2025Background: The optimal methods and settings for induction of labour (IOL) in terms of effectiveness, safety, and women's experience are still not elucidated. Objective: To compare the effectiveness and safety of outpatient versus inpatient cervical ripening settings for IOL. Search Strategy: MEDLINE, Embase, Emcare, CINAHL Plus, Scopus, Cochrane Library, WHO ICTRP and clini caltr ials. gov from inception to July 2024. Selection Criteria: Randomised controlled trials, viable singleton gestation, no language restrictions, all the published and unpublished data. Data Collection and Analysis: An individual participant data meta-analysis. Main Results: Eleven out of 18 (61.1%) eligible RCTs shared IPD, totalling 2593 pregnant individuals undergoing IOL (62.2% of all participants in the published RCTs). Among the shared RCTs, four used balloon catheters alone in both groups. Three RCTs compared outpatient balloon catheter with inpatient balloon catheter plus oxytocin. Another three RCTs compared outpatient balloon catheter to inpatient vaginal dinoprostone. One RCT used Dilapan-S in both groups. No trials evaluating outpatient use of vaginal prostaglandins were identified. Vaginal birth (11 RCTs, 2584 women, 67.8% vs. 70.2%, aOR 0.95, 95% CI 0.70; 1.30), composite perinatal outcome (9 RCTs, 2525 women, 11.1% vs. 11.7%, aOR 0.93, 95% CI 0.75; 1.16) and composite maternal (10 RCTs, 2480 women, 14.3% vs. 15.4%, aOR 0.89, 95% CI 0.65; 1.20) outcome did not differ between outpatient and inpatient groups. The outpatient group had a lower risk of acidosis, more epidural analgesia, and more oxytocin. There were no perinatal deaths in either group. Conclusions: Overall effectiveness, perinatal and maternal safety are comparable between outpatient setting cervical ripening with a mechanical method and inpatient with any method. Trial Registration: PROSPERO: CRD42022313183Malitha Patabendige, Fei Chan, Michelle R. Wise, John M. D. Thompson, Michael Beckmann, Antonio F. Saad, George R. Saade, Akila Subramaniam, Alan Tita, Catarina Policiano, Nuno Clode, Amanda Henry, Henna Haavisto, Kirsi Rinne, Vicky Chen, Penelope Sheehan, Katherine Kohari, Hillary Hosier, Rebecca Pierce-Williams, Vincenzo Berghella, Daniel L. Rolnik, Ben W. Mol, Wentao L
Hourglass: Enabling Efficient Split Federated Learning with Data Parallelism
No full textFederated learning (FL) has emerged as a promising solution for training machine learning (ML) models with privacy preservation. One of the key challenges is the computational burden on clients caused by training large-sized models. To tackle this challenge, researchers are trying to incorporate split learning into federated learning so that an ML model can be partitioned into two parts, one for training on clients and the other on a cloud server or an edge server. In current split FL systems, each client's server-side model partition is trained with an individual GPU on the fed server before model aggregation. This demands massive GPU resources and does not scale in real-world scenarios. This paper presents Hourglass, a new split FL system that trains clients' server-side model partitions on multiple GPUs with data parallelism. Unlike existing systems that maintain one model partition for each client and pass clients' intermediate features through corresponding model partitions, Hourglass maintains model partitions shared by clients and passes their intermediate features through GPUs in groups based on their differences. In this way, Hourglass prevents the overhead incurred by swapping model partitions in and out of GPUs and improves knowledge sharing between clients. Extensive experiments are conducted on four widely-used public datasets to evaluate the performance of Hourglass. The results demonstrate that, compared to state-of-the-art systems, Hourglass accelerates model convergence by up to 35.2x, and improves model accuracy by up to 9.28%.Qiang He, Kaibin Wang, Zeqian Dong, Liang Yuan, Feifei Chen, Hai Jin, Yun Yan
The Experience of Manual Wheelchair Training for People With Chronic and Progressive Conditions: Perspectives of Users and Trainers
No full textIntroduction: Global ageing and the rise of chronic and progressive health conditions that lead to mobility changes will see increased need for manual wheelchair (MWC) provision and training. Existing training guidelines and training programmes are frequently tailored towards younger users. There is a knowledge and practice gap regarding the needs of people with chronic or progressing conditions who require a wheelchair. To inform practice guidelines and training practices, this study sought the perspectives of both MWC users and trainers on their experience of MWC training. Methods: Using a qualitative descriptive approach, semi‐structured in‐depth interviews were conducted with 11 MWC trainers and 6 MWC users. Data from the two participant groups were inductively coded and thematically analysed using NVivo and concept mapping to synthesise the data into themes and sub‐themes. Results: Three main themes were identified: guided support in wheelchair training reflected the need for basic support when commencing wheelchair use, person‐centred training recognised the importance of tailoring training to individuals, their goals and contexts, and creating safe and supportive environments addressed how to foster acceptance of training through building a supportive training environment. Conclusion: Access to skilled MWC trainers is essential for MWC users commencing MWC use due to a chronic or progressive condition; however, the Australian healthcare system does not currently meet this need. There is a need to explore alternate models of service delivery, such as peer‐led training or upskilling of other key stakeholders, such as assistive technology suppliers. The creation of supportive environments and tailored training aligned with the abilities and goals of individual users must take precedence over resource‐driven or one‐size‐fits‐all approaches. Patient Contribution: During the development of semi‐structured interview guides, feedback was sought from an MWC user and MWC trainer to ensure the relevance and appropriateness of the questions and allow for the refinement of questions.Kimberly Charlton, Carolyn Murray, Natasha Layton, Stacie Attril