Chemical etching manipulated local electronic structure upheaval of graphdiyne for efficient hydrogen evolution

Graphdiyne (GDY), featured with unique sp2, sp-hybridized form and inherent inhomogeneous electron distribution, retains great expectation to be developed into highly efficient electrocatalysts for hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). However, the state-of-the-art GDY-based electrocatalysts still suffer from weak catalytic activity and sluggish reaction kinetics originating from the severe scarcity of in-plane active sites and insufficient electrical conductivity. Targeted at this bottleneck issue, electronic structure regulation, recognized as an extremely precise technical route, is promising to improve HER performances of carbon-based electrocatalysts. Herein, a facile controllable chemical etching strategy is well leveraged to introduce sp2-hybridized carbon-oxygen bonds (Csp2-O) into GDY for precise manipulation both of its electronic and spatial structures. Experimental results and theoretical calculations coherently manifest that Csp2-O introduction into GDY can not only induce its electronic structure upheaval to strengthen surface electron transport capability, but also trigger intensive carbon-oxygen p-p orbital hybridization to enhance the catalytic activity of acetylenic bond sites. As a result, the optimal GDY sample after etching delivers excellent HER performance with an overpotential of only 101 mV at a current density of 10 mA cm-2 and a low Tafel slope of 54 mV dec-1, which surpasses most of reported metal-free based electrocatalysts. This work provides a universal route for precise modulation of inherent electronic structure in GDY, and can be further extended to boost the overall performances of other carbon-based catalysts

The augment of regulatory T cells undermines the efficacy of anti-PD-L1 treatment in cervical cancer

Background Immune checkpoint inhibitors have aroused great expectation of tumor eradication. However, the effect of anti-PD-L1 treatment for cervical cancer is unsatisfactory and the underlying antagonist to anti-PD-L1 efficacy is remained to be studied. Here, we investigated the anti-tumor effect of anti-PD-L1 treatment in cervical tumor model and identified the antagonist to the therapeutic efficacy of anti-PD-L1 treatment. Results We found that PD-L1 exhibited a moderate expression in both cervical tumor cell lines and clinical samples compared to other tumor types and the para-tumor tissue respectively. Interestingly, our results showed that the anti-PD-L1 treated mice were dichotomously divided into responsive and unresponsive group after five cycles of anti-PD-L1 treatment although all the mice had the same genome background. In addition, the unresponsive tumors showed less tumor necrosis area and higher immunosuppression activity induced by regulatory T cells (Tregs) population than the responsive ones. Furthermore, we found that anti-PD-L1 treatment autonomously upregulated Tregs proliferation and frequency in multiple immune organs, and, most importantly, Tregs depletion significantly depressed the tumor growth rate and tumor weight compared with either anti-PD-L1 or anti-CD25 treatment alone. Finally, we observed that the upregulating effector CD8+ T cell is associated with the better therapeutic effect of anti-PD-L1 therapy post Tregs depletion. Conclusions Anti-PD-L1 treatment upregulates Tregs frequency and proliferation in tumor model, and the depletion of Tregs may be a useful adjuvant strategy for anti-PD-L1 therapy of cervical cancer.

High Production Well Operating Plant in a Traditional Design: Piping & Instrumentation Challenges

During the exploration design phase of recent pre-salt development in Santos Basin, it was identified great potential for the production of some wells, generating great expectation by how it would perform in the production phase, above the average of 30,000 bpd. The Subsea and Topside design were developed based on this expectation and therefore, diameters were limited considering the premises of 45,000 bpd production from the well to the FPSO. As a result of first oil production the expectation not only became a reality but also was largely supersede, confirming a very high production potential of up to 65,000 bpd per well, some of which are at the world top list of highest production wells for deep and ultra-deep waters. Despite the outstanding high potential of the well, full production was then, not able to be achieved due to limitations considered in the design's premises of 45,000 bpd per well, what overcome the already great expectation. In this scenario, there was intense effort to make the real production potential of the wells viable. To fit the design to the new dynamic flow conditions, a multidisciplinary technical assessment team was mobilized involving several disciplines such as: Subsea Equipment, Wells, Risers, Process, Piping, Instrumentation and Automation, in addition to Operational Safety, a non-negotiable value. After technical discussions between those different disciplines, alternative proposals were raised that could make possible a safe operation under this new challenging condition. The defined actions were implemented and currently the wells already operate on high levels of production. On the FPSO with those high production wells, due to this individual increase in the production, whose potentials exceed by 45% the design capacity, generating a significant increase in the profitability of the asset, contributing to revenues anticipation in the company's cash flow. This article presents the piping and instrumentation study to deal with a high flow velocity issue. The methodology adopted to overcome the challenges in vibration and erosion considered an unusual design approach, leading to some field test to check the effectiveness of the solution. This alternative approach allowed this increment in production rate per well piping branch.

Energy Efficiency and Urban Climate Adaption

When the 25th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP25) was held in Madrid, Spain from 2 to 13 December, 2019, there was a great expectation for the Paris Agreement to be implemented smoothly in a very transparent, predictable way [...]

DEMOCRATIC DECENTRALIZATION AND DEVOLUTION OF POWERS AT THE GRASSROOTS LEVEL DEMOCRACY: ISSUES CHALLENGES AND IMPLICATIONS

This article attempts to evaluate the Grassroots democracy and the problems which are associated with the ineffective functioning of Panchayati Raj Institutions. It argues that how constitutional provision has created a scope for accomplishing development with social justice, which is the mandate of the new Panchayat Raj system. The new system brings all those who are interested to have a voice in decision making through their participation in Panchayat Raj Institutions. How it becomes the Panchayati Raj system is the basis for the Social Justice and Empowerment of the weaker section on which the development initiative has to be built upon for achieving overall, human welfare of the society. My research paper also analyses the working status and various issues and challenges of PRIs for 26 years after the 73rd constitutional amendment establishment of panchayats and municipalities as elected local governments devolved a range of powers and responsibilities and made them accountable to the people for their implementation, very little and actual progress has been made in this direction. Local governments remain hamstrung and ineffective mere agents to do the bidding of higher-level governments. Democracy has not been enhanced despite about 32 lakh peoples representatives being elected to them every five years, with great expectation and fanfare. My study would explore the grey areas such as lack of adequate funds, domination of bureaucracy, untimely elections, lack of autonomy, the interference of area MPS and MLAs in the functioning of panchayats also adversely affected their performance.

Covid-19: A strife of interests for us all and what problem are we attempting to solve?

At the time of writing, nation states globally are beginning the vaccination process in response to Covid-19. There is great expectation that it will deliver effective protection to most populations. The logistic of the production and delivery of the vaccines, and use are immense and, we are fortunate, in the Australian context that the extent of the virus spread, and impact has been relatively limited and mostly contained. While everyone is wanting rapid progress, our context does allow us the opportunity to ‘hasten slowly’ and have a positive outcome....

Anticipating Policy, Orienting Services, Celebrating Provision: Reflecting on Scotland’s PrEP Journey

PrEP in Scotland came with great expectation and celebration. As the first country in the UK to offer PrEP through the National Health Service (NHS), Scotland was heralded as a leader in HIV prevention. This chapter asks: how has the anticipation of PrEP shaped provision and use within the health system; how does the emergent and ongoing orientation of PrEP towards specific risk practices affect awareness, access and use, but also wider narratives of prevention, inequalities and ‘progress’; and, what kinds of biosexual citizens does it demand and produce? The chapter explores how the implementation of PrEP and the specific nature of its roll-out contribute to an orientation towards certain (gendered) PrEP users and PrEP use. It considers how the anticipation of PrEP as a biotechnology for particular risk practices, bodies and communities shapes promissory HIV prevention futures and determines what success and ‘celebration’ could be.

Defect Types

This chapter provides an overview of the common types of defects found in various structural materials and joints in aircraft. Materials manufacturing methods (including large-scale production) have been established in the aircraft industry. However, as will be seen in this chapter, manufacturing defects and defects during in-service conditions are very common across all material types. The structural material types include metals, composites, coatings, adhesively bonded and stir-welded joints. This chapter describes the defect types as a baseline for the description of their detection with the methods of Chap. 10.1007/978-3-030-72192-3_5 to 10.1007/978-3-030-72192-3_8. Based on the understanding of the defect types, there is great expectation for a technical breakthrough for the application of structural health monitoring (SHM) damage detection systems, where continuous monitoring and assessment with high throughput and yield will produce the desired structural integrity.

The Interplay Between Regular T Cells and Immunotherapy in Cervical Cancer

Background: Immune checkpoint blockade inhibitors have aroused great expectation on many types of tumor eradication. However, the therapeutic effect of anti-PD-L1 treatment on cervical cancer is unsatisfactory and the potential antagonist is not very clear. Here, we investigated the therapeutic effect of anti-PD-L1 in cervical tumor mouse model and identified the potential threats for anti-PD-L1 therapeutic efficacy. Results: we found that PD-L1 had a moderate expression in human and mouse cervical tumor cell lines and clinical samples compared to other tumor types and para-tumor tissue. Interestingly, our results showed that the anti-PD-L1 treated mice were dichotomously divided into responsive and unresponsive group even with the same genome background C57BL/6 syngeneic tumor model. The unresponsive tumors showed less immune cell infiltration and higher Tregs population induced immunosuppression activity than the responsive ones. Furthermore, we found that anti-PD-L1 autonomously upregulated Tregs proliferation and frequency in multiple immune organs, and, most importantly, Tregs depletion more significantly depressed the tumor growth rate and tumor weight than either anti-PD-L1 or anti-CD25 alone. Finally, we observed that the upregulating effector CD8+ T cell is associated with the better therapeutic effect of anti-PD-L1 therapy post Tregs depletion. Conclusion: In conclusion, anti-PD-L1 therapy upregulates Tregs frequency and proliferation in tumor model, and the depletion of Tregs may be a useful adjuvant strategy for anti-PD-L1 therapy in the immunotherapy of cervical cancer.

Emerging Therapies in Pheochromocytoma and Paraganglioma: Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors in the Starting Blocks

Pheochromocytoma and paraganglioma are neuroendocrine neoplasms, originating in the adrenal medulla and in parasympathetic and sympathetic autonomic nervous system ganglia, respectively. They usually present as localized tumours curable with surgery. However, these tumours may exhibit heterogeneous clinical course, ranging from no/minimal progression to aggressive (progressive/metastatic) behavior. For this setting of patients, current therapies are unsatisfactory. Immune checkpoint inhibitors have shown outstanding results for several types of solid cancers. We therefore aimed to summarize and discuss available data on efficacy and safety of current FDA-approved immune checkpoint inhibitors in patients with pheochromocytoma and paraganglioma. After an extensive search, we found 15 useful data sources (four full-published articles, four supplements of scientific journals, seven ongoing registered clinical trials). The data we detected, even with the limit of the small number of patients treated, make a great expectation on the therapeutic use of immune checkpoint inhibitors. Besides, the newly detected predictors of response will (hopefully) be of great helps in selecting the subset of patients that might benefit the most from this class of drugs. Finally, new trials are in the starting blocks, and they are expected to shed in the next future new light on a therapy, which is considered a milestone in oncology.