Lumbar spines (L1-L5) collected from fresh cadavers were used for biomechanical tests in the current study (a); Bony endplate was exposed by removing the soft tissue (b); After removing the posterior elements and endplate preparation, each lumbar vertebra was placed at the fixture of the material testing system and then the axial compression test was conducted under the displacement control mode (c).

<p>Lumbar spines (L1-L5) collected from fresh cadavers were used for biomechanical tests in the current study (a); Bony endplate was exposed by removing the soft tissue (b); After removing the posterior elements and endplate preparation, each lumbar vertebra was placed at the fixture of the material testing system and then the axial compression test was conducted under the displacement control mode (c).</p

Scatter plots showing relationship between BMD and failure load in subgroup A, B and C.

<p>Scatter plots showing relationship between BMD and failure load in subgroup A, B and C.</p

As shown in the load-displacement of the lumbar vertebrae, the compressive strength at the first significant decrease of slope of the load displacement curve was the failure load and the stiffness was the slope of linear region of load-displacement curve.

<p>As shown in the load-displacement of the lumbar vertebrae, the compressive strength at the first significant decrease of slope of the load displacement curve was the failure load and the stiffness was the slope of linear region of load-displacement curve.</p

The mean failure load and standard deviation of the normal BMD, osteoporotic and serious osteoporotic group.

<p>“*” stands for the presence of statistical difference between the subgroup B and C; “**” stands for the presence of statistical difference between the subgroup A and C; “***” stands for the statistical intergroup difference of subgroup A among the three BMD groups; “****” stands for the statistical intergroup difference of subgroup B among the three BMD groups; “*****” stands for the statistical intergroup difference of subgroup C among the three BMD groups. </p

Scatter plots showing relationship between BMD and stiffness in subgroup A, B and C.

<p>Scatter plots showing relationship between BMD and stiffness in subgroup A, B and C.</p

Visible Light-Driven α‑Fe₂O₃ Nanorod/Graphene/BiV_1–<i>x</i>Mo_<i>x</i>O₄ Core/Shell Heterojunction Array for Efficient Photoelectrochemical Water Splitting

We report the design, synthesis, and characterization of a novel heterojunction array of α-Fe₂O₃/graphene/BiV_1–<i>x</i>Mo_<i>x</i>O₄ core/shell nanorod for photoelectrochemical water splitting. The heterojunction array was prepared by hydrothermal deposition of α-Fe₂O₃ nanorods onto Ti substrate, with subsequent coating of graphene interlayer and BiV_1–<i>x</i>Mo_<i>x</i>O₄ shell by photocatalytic reduction and a spin-coating approach, respectively. The heterojunction yielded a pronounced photocurrent density of ∼1.97 mA/cm² at 1.0 V vs Ag/AgCl and a high photoconversion efficiency of ∼0.53% at −0.04 V vs Ag/AgCl under the irradiation of a Xe lamp. The improved photoelectrochemical properties benefited from (1) the enhanced light absorption due to behavior of the “window effect” between the α-Fe₂O₃ cores and BiV_1–<i>x</i>Mo_<i>x</i>O₄ shells, and (2) the improved separation of photogenerated carriers at the α-Fe₂O₃ nanorod/graphene/BiV_1–<i>x</i>Mo_<i>x</i>O₄ interfaces. Our results demonstrate the advantages of the novel graphene-mediated core/shell heterojunction array and provide a valuable insight for the further development of such materials

Additional file 1: of Temperature-dependent Crystallization of MoS2 Nanoflakes on Graphene Nanosheets for Electrocatalysis

Supporting Information for Temperature-dependent Crystallization of MoS2 Nanoflakes on Graphene Nanosheets for Electrocatalysis. (DOCX 1160 kb

The mean stiffness and standard deviation of the normal BMD, osteoporotic and serious osteoporotic group.

<p>“*” stands for the presence of statistical difference between the subgroup B and C; “**” stands for the presence of statistical difference between the subgroup A and C; “***” stands for the statistical intergroup difference of subgroup A among the three BMD groups; “****” stands for the statistical intergroup difference of subgroup B among the three BMD groups; “*****” stands for the statistical intergroup difference of subgroup C among the three BMD groups. </p

Tunable Synthesis of Yolk–Shell Porous Silicon@Carbon for Optimizing Si/C-Based Anode of Lithium-Ion Batteries

Significant “breathing effect” calls for exploring efficient strategies to address the intrinsic issues of silicon anode of lithium-ion batteries (LIBs). We here report a controllable synthetic route to fabricate the silicon–carbon hybrids, in which porous silicon nanoparticles (p-SiNPs) are loaded in void carbon spheres by forming the yolk–shell p-SiNPs@hollow carbon (HC) nanohybrids tunable. A set of controlled experiments accompanying with systematic characterizations demonstrate that the void space and mass loading of Si can be adjusted in an effective way so that the nanostructure can be optimized with achieving improved electrochemical performance as anode of lithium-ion batteries (LIBs). The optimized p-SiNPs@HC nanohybrids show excellent performance as anode for Li-ion battery, delivering a capacity of more than 1400 mA h g^–1 after 100 cycles at 0.2 A g^–1 and 720 mA h g^–1 at a high current density of 4 A g^–1. The present work may provide us with an attractive and promising strategy for advancing Si-based anode materials due to advantages of tunable structure of silicon–carbon nanohybrids for optimizing electrochemical performance

Strongly Coupled Ternary Hybrid Aerogels of N‑deficient Porous Graphitic‑C₃N₄ Nanosheets/N-Doped Graphene/NiFe-Layered Double Hydroxide for Solar-Driven Photoelectrochemical Water Oxidation

Developing photoanodes with efficient sunlight harvesting, excellent charge separation and transfer, and fast surface reaction kinetics remains a key challenge in photoelectrochemical water splitting devices. Here we report a new strongly coupled ternary hybrid aerogel that is designed and constructed by in situ assembly of N-deficient porous carbon nitride nanosheets and NiFe-layered double hydroxide into a 3D N-doped graphene framework architecture using a facile hydrothermal method. Such a 3D hierarchical structure combines several advantageous features, including effective light-trapping, multidimensional electron transport pathways, short charge transport time and distance, strong coupling effect, and improved surface reaction kinetics. Benefiting from the desirable nanostructure, the ternary hybrid aerogels exhibited remarkable photoelectrochemical performance for water oxidation. Results included a record-high photocurrent density that reached 162.3 μA cm^–2 at 1.4 V versus the reversible hydrogen electrode with a maximum incident photon-to-current efficiency of 2.5% at 350 nm under AM 1.5G irradiation, and remarkable photostability. The work represents a significant step toward the development of novel 3D aerogel-based photoanodes for solar water splitting