SnakeTraits 1.0: a species-level database of life history and ecology of snakes

Understanding biodiversity from a functional perspective is important for both evolutionary and ecological studies. Snakes, a unique and diverse group of terrestrial vertebrates with more than 4000 species, are an important part of ecosystems. However, information on the functional traits of snakes is scattered throughout an extensive primary literature. With the exception of a few traits like body size, most traits remain relatively inaccessible to researchers interested in studying the ecology and evolution of snakes on a large scale. In this study, we present a global species-level functional traits database for snakes. This database follows the most recently taxonomic scheme and covers 4040 species. We compiled this database based on 1289 scientific literature sources, including peer-reviewed papers, books, online databases, natural history records and field guides. We collected information on traits including body size, relative tail length, diel activity pattern, colour, microhabitats, reproductive mode, clutch size, diet, venomous and infrared sensing ability. Detailed information on these traits and the coding system for categorical traits can be found in the supporting materials. This database is the most comprehensive on snakes as far as we know. As our objective was to build a living dataset, we will update the database annually by adding new species and modified the data following the taxonomic changes. We hope that this database will facilitate macroecological and macroevolutionary studies of this interesting and important group.</p

Nitrogen-Doped Graphene Nanoribbons as Efficient Metal-Free Electrocatalysts for Oxygen Reduction

Nitrogen-doped graphene nanoribbon (N-GNR) nanomaterials with different nitrogen contents have been facilely prepared via high temperature pyrolysis of graphene nanoribbons (GNR)/polyaniline (PANI) composites. Here, the GNRs with excellent surface integration were prepared by longitudinally unzipping the multiwalled carbon nanotubes. With a high length-to-width ratio, the GNR sheets are prone to form a conductive network by connecting end-to-end to facilitate the transfer of electrons. Different amounts of PANI acting as a N source were deposited on the surface of GNRs via a layer-by-layer approach, resulting in the formation of N-GNR nanomaterials with different N contents after being pyrolyzed. Electrochemical characterizations reveal that the obtained N_8.3-GNR nanomaterial has excellent catalytic activity toward an oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) in an alkaline electrolyte, including large kinetic-limiting current density and long-term stability as well as a desirable four-electron pathway for the formation of water. These superior properties make the N-GNR nanomaterials a promising kind of cathode catalyst for alkaline fuel cell applications

Nitrogen-Doped Titanium Dioxide for Selective Photocatalytic Oxidation of Methane to Oxygenates

Photocatalytic conversion of methane (CH4) to value-added chemicals using H2O as the oxidant under mild conditions is a desired sustainable pathway for synthesizing commodity chemicals. However, controlling product selectivity while maintaining high product yields is greatly challenging. Herein, we develop a highly efficient strategy, based on the precise control of the types of nitrogen dopants, and the design of photocatalysts, to achieve high selectivity and productivity of oxygenates via CH4 photocatalytic conversion. The primary product (methanol) is obtained in a high yield of 159.8 μmol·g–1·h–1 and 47.7% selectivity, and the selectivity of oxygenate compounds reached 92.5%. The unique hollow porous structure and substituted nitrogen sites of nitrogen-doped TiO2 synergistically promote its photo-oxidation performance. Furthermore, in situ attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy provides direct evidence of the key intermediates and their evolution for producing methanol and multicarbon oxygenates. This study provides insights into the mechanism of photocatalytic CH4 conversion

Ni Nanoclusters Anchored on Ni–N–C Sites for CO₂ Electroreduction at High Current Densities

Transition metal catalyst-based electrocatalytic CO2 reduction is a highly attractive approach to fulfill the renewable energy storage and a negative carbon cycle. However, it remains a great challenge for the earth-abundant VIII transition metal catalysts to achieve highly selective, active, and stable CO2 electroreduction. Herein, bamboo-like carbon nanotubes that anchor both Ni nanoclusters and atomically dispersed Ni–N–C sites (NiNCNT) are developed for exclusive CO2 conversion to CO at stable industry-relevant current densities. Through optimization of gas–liquid–catalyst interphases via hydrophobic modulation, NiNCNT exhibits as high as Faradaic efficiency (FE) of 99.3% for CO formation at a current density of −300 mA·cm–2 (−0.35 V vs reversible hydrogen electrode (RHE)), and even an extremely high CO partial current density (jCO) of −457 mA·cm–2 corresponding to a CO FE of 91.4% at −0.48 V vs RHE. Such superior CO2 electroreduction performance is ascribed to the enhanced electron transfer and local electron density of Ni 3d orbitals upon incorporation of Ni nanoclusters, which facilitates the formation of the COOH* intermediate

A Multifunction Lithium–Carbon Battery System Using a Dual Electrolyte

Fuel cells, Li-ion batteries, and supercapacitors are attracting extensive attention, and it is highly desired to integrate the advantages of these devices into one system. Herein, a multifunction Li–carbon system was designed by using an aqueous–nonaqueous dual electrolyte to combine a nitrogen-doped ordered mesoporous carbon cathode with a metallic lithium anode. It is demonstrated that the nitrogen-doped ordered mesoporous carbon exhibits high performance in various applications of O₂ reduction reaction, supercapacitors, and H₂ evolution reaction, which makes the Li–carbon system exhibit multifunctionality. When operated in the ambient with O₂, the system can work as a Li–air fuel cell or/and rechargeable battery with high energy density. When operated in an environment without O₂, the battery can be used as a Li-ion supercapacitor which exhibits long-term cycling stability and improved energy performance. Finally, this cell can also be applied as a Li–water fuel cell for H₂ evolution

Promotion of CO₂ Electrochemical Reduction via Cu Nanodendrites

The electrochemical conversion of carbon dioxide (CO2) to fuels and chemicals is an opportunity for sustainable energy research that can realize both renewable energy storage and negative carbon cycle feedback. However, the selective generation of multicarbon products is challenging because of the competitive hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) and protonation of the reacting adsorbate. Copper-based materials have been the most commonly studied catalysts for CO2 electroreduction due to their ability to produce a substantial amount of C2 products. Here, we report that a nanodendrite configuration can improve the electrocatalytic performance of Cu catalysts, especially multicarbon product formation, while suppressing HER and methane production. The abundant conductive networks derived from the fractal copper dendritic structures with a high electrochemically active surface area (ECSA) facilitate electron transport and mass transfer, leading to superior kinetics for the formation of multicarbon products from CO2 electroreduction. As a result, approximately 70–120% higher ethylene and 60–220% higher C3 (n-PrOH and propanal) yields with lower onset potentials were produced over Cu nanodendrites compared to the initial Cu particles. This work opens an avenue for promoting CO2 electrochemical reduction to multicarbon products by catalyst configuration modulation

Oxygen-Rich Hierarchical Porous Carbon Derived from Artemia Cyst Shells with Superior Electrochemical Performance

In this study, three-dimensional (3D) hierarchical porous carbon with abundant functional groups is produced through a very simple low-cost carbonization of Artemia cyst shells. The unique hierarchical porous structure of this material, combining large numbers of micropores and macropores, as well as reasonable amount of mesopores, is proven favorable to capacitive behavior. The abundant oxygen functional groups from the natural carbon precursor contribute stable pseudocapacitance. As-prepared sample exhibits high specific capacitance (369 F g^–1 in 1 M H₂SO₄ and 349 F g^–1 in 6 M KOH), excellent cycling stability with capacitance retention of 100% over 10 000 cycles, and promising rate performance. This work not only describes a simple way to produce high-performance carbon electrode materials for practical application, but also inspires an idea for future structure design of porous carbon

Suppelmentary Figure S5 from Enriching the Housing Environment for Mice Enhances Their NK Cell Antitumor Immunity via Sympathetic Nerve–Dependent Regulation of NKG2D and CCR5

EE increases the expression levels of INF-gamma and granzyme B in NK cells.</p

Supplementary Table S1 from Enriching the Housing Environment for Mice Enhances Their NK Cell Antitumor Immunity via Sympathetic Nerve–Dependent Regulation of NKG2D and CCR5

Primers used in quantitative real-time PCR analysis.</p

Supplementary Figure S4 from Enriching the Housing Environment for Mice Enhances Their NK Cell Antitumor Immunity via Sympathetic Nerve–Dependent Regulation of NKG2D and CCR5

EE prevents experimental lung metastases of murine melanoma cells.</p