Achieving Dendrite-Free and By-Product-Free Aqueous Zn-Ion Battery Anode via Nicotinic Acid Electrolyte Additive with Molecule-Ion Conversion Mechanism.

The widespread adoption of aqueous Zn ion batteries is hindered by the instability of the Zn anode. Herein, an elegant strategy is proposed to enhance the stability of Zn anode by incorporating nicotinic acid (NA), an additive with a unique molecule-ion conversion mechanism, to optimize the anode/electrolyte interface and the typical ZnSO4 electrolyte system. Experimental characterization and theoretical calculations demonstrate that the NA additive preferentially replaces H2O in the original solvation shell and adsorbs onto the Zn anode surface upon conversion from molecule to ion in the electrolyte environment, thereby suppressing side reactions arising from activated H2O decomposition and stochastic growth of Zn dendrites. Simultaneously, such a molecule-to-ion conversion mechanism may induce preferential deposition of Zn along the (002) plane. Benefiting from it, the Zn||Zn symmetric battery cycles stably for 2500 h at 1 mA cm-2, 1 mAh cm-2. More encouragingly, the Zn||AC full batteries and the Zn||AC full batteries using NA electrolyte and Zn||VO2 full batteries also exhibit excellent performance improvements. This work emphasizes the role of variation in the form of additives (especially weak acid-based additives) in fine-tuning the solvation structure and the anode/electrolyte interface, hopefully enhancing the performance of various aqueous metal batteries.

Endocrine-Disrupting Chemical Exposure Induces Adverse Effects on the Population Dynamics of the Indo-Pacific Humpback Dolphin.

Cetaceans play a pivotal role in maintaining the ecological equilibrium of ocean ecosystems. However, their populations are under global threat from environmental contaminants. Various high levels of endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) have been detected in cetaceans from the South China Sea, such as the Indo-Pacific humpback dolphins in the Pearl River Estuary (PRE), suggesting potential health risks, while the impacts of endocrine disruptors on the dolphin population remain unclear. This study aims to synthesize the population dynamics of the humpback dolphins in the PRE and their profiles of EDC contaminants from 2005 to 2019, investigating the potential role of EDCs in the population dynamics of humpback dolphins. Our comprehensive analysis indicates a sustained decline in the PRE humpback dolphin population, posing a significant risk of extinction. Variations in sex hormones induced by EDC exposure could potentially impact birth rates, further contributing to the population decline. Anthropogenic activities consistently emerge as the most significant stressor, ranking highest in importance. Conventional EDCs demonstrate more pronounced impacts on the population compared to emerging compounds. Among the conventional pollutants, DDTs take precedence, followed by zinc and chromium. The most impactful emerging EDCs are identified as alkylphenols. Notably, as the profile of EDCs changes, the significance of conventional pollutants may give way to emerging EDCs, presenting a continued challenge to the viability of the humpback dolphin population.

The role of moral disengagement and classroom collective efficacy in social support and bystander behavior of elementary school students: A multilevel moderated mediation analysis.

Few studies have examined the process of the relationship between social support and bystander behavior, and previous research has primarily focused on individual- or group-level correlates of bystander behavior without a full understanding of these correlates and their interactions. To address this research gap, the present study examined whether social support and moral disengagement at the individual level, as well as collective efficacy at the classroom level, were associated with bystander behavior in school bullying situations. Questionnaires were administered to 1,310 elementary school students in Grades 4-6 (Mage = 10.97 ± 0.98 years) from 61 classes in the Zhejiang Province of China. Multilevel moderated mediation analyses revealed that higher levels of social support were directly related to more defender behavior and less reinforcer and outsider behavior, and social support was also related to bystander behavior through the indirect role of moral disengagement. In classrooms with higher levels of collective efficacy to stop peer bullying, students tended to show more defender behavior and less outsider behavior. Higher levels of classroom collective efficacy did not moderate the relationship between moral disengagement and defender behavior, although it did inhibit the reinforcer and outsider behaviors of those with high levels of moral disengagement. This study sheds light on the relationship between multiple factors and bystander behavior at both the individual and classroom levels and contributes to the understanding of school bullying in the context of peer group interactions. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

Indole alkaloids isolated from the Nicotiana tabacum-derived Aspergillus fumigatus 0338 as potential inhibitors for tobacco powdery mildew and their mode of actions.

To explore active natural products against tobacco powdery mildew caused by Golovinomyces cichoracearum, an extract from the fermentation of endophytic Aspergillus fumigatus 0338 was investigated. The mechanisms of action for active compounds were also studied in detail. As a result, 14 indole alkaloid derivatives were isolated, with seven being newly discovered (1-7) and the remaining seven previously described (8-14). Notably, compounds 1-3 are rare linearly fused 6/6/5 tricyclic prenylated indole alkaloids, with asperversiamide J being the only known natural product of this kind. The isopentenyl substitutions at the 5-position in compounds 4 and 5 are also rare, with only compounds 1-(5-prenyl-1H-indol-3-yl)-propan-2-one (8) and 1-(6-methoxy-5-prenyl-1H-indol3-yl)-propan-2-one currently available. In addition, compounds 6 and 7 are new framework indole alkaloid derivatives bearing a 6-methyl-1,7-dihydro-2H-azepin-2-one ring. The purified compounds were evaluated for their activity against G. cichoracearum, and the results revealed that compounds 7 and 9 demonstrated obvious anti-G. cichoracearum activities with an inhibition rate of 82.6% and 85.2%, respectively, at a concentration of 250 µg/mL, these rates were better than that of the positive control agent, carbendazim (78.6%). The protective and curative effects of compounds 7 and 9 were also better than that of positive control, at the same concentration. Moreover, the mechanistic study showed that treatment with compound 9 significantly increased the structural tightness of tobacco leaves and directly affect the conidiospores of G. cichoracearum, thereby enhancing resistance. Compounds 7 and 9 could also induce systemic acquired resistance (SAR), directly regulating the expression of defense enzymes, defense genes, and plant semaphorins, which may further contribute to increased plant resistance. Based on the activity experiments and molecular dockings, the indole core structure may be the foundation of these compounds' anti-G. cichoracearum activity. Among them, the indole derivative parent structures of compounds 6, 7, and 9 exhibit strong effects. Moreover, the methoxy substitution in compound 7 can enhance their activity. By isolating and structurally identifying the above indole alkaloids, new candidates for anti-powdery mildew chemical screening were discovered, which could enhance the utilization of N. tabacum-derived fungi in pesticide development.

Extended Battery Compatibility Consideration from an Electrolyte Perspective.

The performance of electrochemical batteries is intricately tied to the physicochemical environments established by their employed electrolytes. Traditional battery designs utilizing a single electrolyte often impose identical anodic and cathodic redox conditions, limiting the ability to optimize redox environments for both anode and cathode materials. Consequently, advancements in electrolyte technologies are pivotal for addressing these challenges and fostering the development of next-generation high-performance electrochemical batteries. This review categorizes perspectives on electrolyte technology into three key areas: additives engineering, comprehensive component analysis encompassing solvents and solutes, and the effects of concentration. By summarizing significant studies, the efficacy of electrolyte engineering is highlighted, and the review advocates for further exploration of optimized component combinations. This review primarily focuses on liquid electrolyte technologies, briefly touching upon solid-state electrolytes due to the former greater vulnerability to electrode and electrolyte interfacial effects. The ultimate goal is to generate increased awareness within the battery community regarding the holistic improvement of battery components through optimized combinations.

An acetate electrolyte for enhanced pseudocapacitve capacity in aqueous ammonium ion batteries.

Ammonium ion batteries are promising for energy storage with the merits of low cost, inherent security, environmental friendliness, and excellent electrochemical properties. Unfortunately, the lack of anode materials restricts their development. Herein, we utilized density functional theory calculations to explore the V2CTx MXene as a promising anode with a low working potential. V2CTx MXene demonstrates pseudocapacitive behavior for ammonium ion storage, delivering a high specific capacity of 115.9 mAh g-1 at 1 A g-1 and excellent capacity retention of 100% after 5000 cycles at 5 A g-1. In-situ electrochemical quartz crystal microbalance measurement verifies a two-step electrochemical process of this unique pseudocapacitive storage behavior in the ammonium acetate electrolyte. Theoretical simulation reveals reversible electron transfer reactions with [NH4+(HAc)3]···O coordination bonds, resulting in a superior ammonium ion storage capacity. The generality of this acetate ion enhancement effect is also confirmed in the MoS2-based ammonium-ion battery system. These findings open a new door to realizing high capacity on ammonium ion storage through acetate ion enhancement, breaking the capacity limitations of both Faradaic and non-Faradaic energy storage.

Bioaccumulation and Potential Endocrine Disruption Risk of Legacy and Emerging Organophosphate Esters in Cetaceans from the Northern South China Sea.

Despite the increasing health risks shown by the continuous detection of organophosphate esters (OPEs) in biota in recent years, information on the occurrence and potential risks of OPEs in marine mammals remains limited. This study conducted the first investigation into the body burdens and potential risks of 10 traditional OPEs (tOPEs) and five emerging OPEs (eOPEs) in 10 cetacean species (n = 84) from the northern South China Sea (NSCS) during 2005-2021. All OPEs, except for 2-ethylhexyl diphenyl phosphate (EHDPHP), were detected in these cetaceans, indicating their widespread occurrence in the NSCS. Although the levels of the ∑10tOPEs in humpback dolphins remained stable from 2005 to 2021, the concentrations of the ∑5eOPEs showed a significant increase, suggesting a growing demand for these new-generation OPEs in South China. Dolphins in proximity to urban regions generally exhibited higher OPE concentrations than those from rural areas, mirroring the environmental trends of OPEs occurring in this area. All OPE congeners, except for EHDPHP, in humpback dolphins exhibited a maternal transfer ratio >1, indicating that the dolphin placenta may not be an efficient barrier for OPEs. The observed significant correlations between levels of OPEs and hormones (triiodothyronine, thyroxine, and testosterone) in humpback dolphins indicated that OPE exposures might have endocrine disruption effects on the dolphin population.

Organohalogen contaminants threaten the survival of indo-pacific humpback dolphin calves in their largest habitat.

As long-lived apex predators, marine mammal adults often accumulate alarmingly levels of environmental contaminants. Nevertheless, the accumulation and risks of these contaminants in the critical calf stage of marine mammals remain largely unknown. Here, we investigated the exposure status and health risks of 74 organohalogen contaminants (OHCs) in Indo-Pacific humpback dolphin calves (Sousa chinensis) collected from the Pearl River Estuary (PRE), China, during 2005-2019. Our findings revealed moderate levels of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), medium-high levels of dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethanes (DDTs) and hexachlorocyclohexanes (HCHs), and the highest levels of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) and alternative halogenated flame retardants (AHFRs) compared to those reported for cetaceans elsewhere. Traditional OHCs like DDTs, PCBs, and PBDEs did not exhibit significant decreasing trends in the dolphin calves despite global restrictions on these compounds, and AHFRs as emerging OHCs showed an increasing trend over the study period. Risk quotients of DDTs, HCHs, PBDEs, and PCBs in most of the dolphin samples were > 1, indicating that humpback dolphin calves may have suffered long-term threats from OHC exposure. The significant correlation observed between the traditional OHC levels and the stranding death number of the dolphin calves suggests these OHCs may impact the survival of this endangered species.

Multiple Cations Nanoconfinement in Ultrathin V2O5 Nanosheets Enables Ultrafast Ion Diffusion Kinetics Toward High-performance Zinc Ion Battery.

Nanoconfinement of cations in layered oxide cathode is an important approach to realize advanced zinc ion storage performance. However, thus far, the conventional hydrothermal/solvothermal route for this nanoconfinement has been restricted to its uncontrollable phase structure and the difficulty on the multiple cation co-confinement simultaneously. Herein, this work reports a general, supramolecular self-assembly of ultrathin V2O5 nanosheets using various unitary cations including Na+, K+, Mg2+, Ca2+, Zn2+, Al3+, NH4 +, and multiple cations (NH4 + + Na+, NH4 + + Na+ + Ca2+, NH4 + + Na+ + Ca2+ +Mg2+). The unitary cation confinement results in a remarkable increase in the specific capacity and Zn-ion diffusion kinetics, and the multiple cation confinement gives rise to superior structural and cycling stability by multiple cation synergetic pillaring effect. The optimized diffusion coefficient of Zn-ion (7.5 × 10-8 cm2 s-1) in this assembly series surpasses most of the V-based cathodes reported up to date. The work develops a novel multiple-cations nanoconfinement strategy toward high-performance cathode for aqueous battery. It also provides new insights into the guest cation regulation of zinc-ion diffusion kinetics through a general, supramolecular assembly pathway.

Fatigue, sleep and physical activity in postoperative patients with pituitary adenomas: A survey.

BACKGROUND: The condition and correlation of fatigue, sleep and physical activity in postoperative patients with pituitary adenomas remain unclear. This survey aimed to evaluate the current status and influencing factors of fatigue, sleep and physical activity in postoperative patients with pituitary adenomas. METHODS: Patients undergoing pituitary adenoma resection in two tertiary hospitals from November 2019 to November 2021 were included. The general data questionnaire, Multidimensional Fatigue Inventory (MFI-20), Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and international physical activity questionnaire were used for data analysis. RESULTS: In total, 184 patients with pituitary adenomas were included. The postoperative patients with pituitary adenomas had a high level of fatigue. In total, 34 (18.5%) patients had low level of physical activity, 76(41.3%) patients had medium level of physical activity and 74 (40.2%) had high level of physical activity. Postoperative time, PSQI, physical activity level and gender were the influencing factors of fatigue in patients with pituitary adenomas (all P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Postoperative patients with pituitary adenomas have a higher level of fatigue, and it is related to reduced sleep quality and activity. Relevant nursing measures should be taken according to the influencing factors of fatigue to reduce the fatigue of postoperative patients with pituitary adenomas.

First determination of elevated levels of plastic additives in finless porpoises from the South China Sea.

Plastic additives, such as organophosphate esters (OPEs) and phthalate esters (PAEs), are raising public concerns due to their widespread presence and potential health risks. Nonetheless, the occurrences and potential health risks of these additives in marine mammals remain limited. Here, we first investigated the accumulation patterns and potential risks of OPEs and metabolites of PAEs (mPAEs) in Indo-Pacific finless porpoises inhabiting the northern South China Sea (NSCS) during 2007-2020. The average hepatic concentrations of ∑15OPEs and ∑16mPAEs in the NSCS finless porpoises were 53.9 ± 40.7 and 98.6 ± 54.8 ng/g ww, respectively. The accumulation of mPAEs and OPEs in the finless porpoises is associated with the chemical structures of the compounds. ∑5halogenated-OPEs were the most dominant category (62.6%) of ∑15OPEs, followed by ∑6aryl-OPEs (25.9%) and ∑6nonhalogenated alkyl-OPEs (11.5%). The accumulation of mPAEs displayed a declining trend with increasing alkyl side chain length (C0-C10). Although the hepatic burden of mPAEs in finless porpoises was sex-independent, some OPEs, including TDCIPP, TBOEP, TCIPP, TCrP, TPHP, and TDBPP, exhibited significantly higher concentrations in adult males than in adult females. TDBPP, as a new-generation OPE, exhibited a gradual increase during the study period, suggesting that TDBPP should be prioritized for monitoring in the coastal regions of South China. The estimated hazard quotient indicated that almost all mPAEs and OPEs pose no hazard to finless porpoises, with only DEHP presenting potential health risks to both adult and juvenile finless porpoises.

Recent Progress of the Cathode Material Design for Aqueous Zn-Organic Batteries.

Aqueous zinc-ion batteries (ZIBs) have emerged as the most promising candidate for large-scale energy storage due to their inherent safety, environmental friendliness, and cost-effectiveness. Simultaneously, the utilization of organic electrode materials with renewable resources, environmental compatibility, and diverse structures has sparked a surge in research and development of aqueous Zn-organic batteries (ZOBs). A comprehensive review is warranted to systematically present recent advancements in design principles, synthesis techniques, energy storage mechanisms, and zinc-ion storage performance of organic cathodes. In this review article, we comprehensively summarize the energy storage mechanisms employed by aqueous ZOBs. Subsequently, we categorize organic cathode materials into small-molecule compounds and high-molecular polymers respectively. Novel polymer materials such as conjugated polymers (CPs), conjugated microporous polymers (CMPs), and covalent organic frameworks (COFs) are highlighted with an overview of molecular design strategies and structural optimization based on organic cathode materials aimed at enhancing the performance of aqueous ZOBs. Finally, we discuss the challenges faced by aqueous ZOBs along with future prospects to offer insights into their practical applications.

A Comprehensive Evaluation of Battery Technologies for High-Energy Aqueous Batteries.

Aqueous batteries have garnered significant attention in recent years as a viable alternative to lithium-ion batteries for energy storage, owing to their inherent safety, cost-effectiveness, and environmental sustainability. This study offers a comprehensive review of recent advancements, persistent challenges, and the prospects of aqueous batteries, with a primary focus on energy density compensation of various battery engineering technologies. Additionally, cutting-edge high-energy aqueous battery designs are emphasized as a reference for future endeavors in the pursuit of high-energy storage solutions. Finally, a dual-compatibility battery configuration perspective aimed at concurrently optimizing cycle stability, redox potential, capacity utilization for both anode and cathode materials, as well as the selection of potential electrode candidates, is proposed with the ultimate goal of achieving cell-level energy densities exceeding 400 Wh kg-1.

Prognostic Value of Hemodynamic Gain Index in Patients With Heart Failure With Reduced Ejection Fraction.

BACKGROUND: Assessment of functional capacity in patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) is essential for risk stratification, and it traditionally relied on cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET)-derived peak oxygen consumption (peak Vo2). OBJECTIVES: This study sought to investigate the prognostic value of alternative nonmetabolic exercise testing parameters in a contemporary cohort with HFrEF. METHODS: Medical records of 1,067 consecutive patients with chronic HFrEF who underwent CPET from December 2012 to September 2020 were reviewed for a primary outcome that was a composite of all-cause mortality, left ventricular assist device implantation, and/or heart transplantation. Multivariable Cox regression and log-rank testing were used to determine prognostic values of various exercise testing variables. RESULTS: The primary outcome was identified in 331 of 954 patients (34.7%) of the HFrEF cohort (median follow-up time, 946 days). After adjustment for demographics, cardiac parameters, and comorbidities, higher hemodynamic gain index (HGI) and peak rate-pressure product (RPP) were associated with greater event-free survival (adjusted HR per doubling: 0.76 and 0.36; 95% CI: 0.67-0.87 and 0.28-0.47; all P < 0.001, respectively). Moreover, HGI (area under the curve [AUC]: 0.69; 95% CI: 0.65-0.72) and peak RPP (AUC: 0.71; 95% CI: 0.68-0.74) were comparable to the standard peak Vo2 (AUC: 0.70; 95% CI: 0.66-0.73; P for comparison = 0.607 and 0.393, respectively) for primary outcome discrimination. CONCLUSIONS: HGI and peak RPP show good correlation with peak Vo2 in terms of prognostication and outcome discrimination in patients with HFrEF and may serve as suitable alternatives to CPET-derived prognostic variables.

Rational Design of Ion-Conductive Layer on Si Anode Enables Superior-Stable Lithium-Ion Batteries.

Silicon (Si) is considered a promising commercial material for the next-generation of high-energy density lithium-ion battery (LIB) due to its high theoretical capacity. However, the severe volume changes and the poor conductivity hinder the practical application of Si anode. Herein, a novel core-shell heterostructure, Si as the core and V3 O4 @C as the shell (Si@V3 O4 @C), is proposed by a facile solvothermal reaction. Theoretical simulations have shown that the in-situ-formed V3 O4 layer facilitates the rapid Li+ diffusion and lowers the energy barrier of Li transport from the carbon shell to the inner core. The 3D network structure constructed by amorphous carbon can effectively improve electronic conductivity and structural stability. Benefiting from the rationally designed structure, the optimized Si@V3 O4 @C electrode exhibits an excellent cycling stability of 1061.1 mAh g-1 at 0.5 A g-1 over 700 cycles (capacity retention of 70.0%) with an average Coulombic efficiency of 99.3%. In addition, the Si@V3 O4 @C||LiFePO4 full cell shows a superior capacity retention of 78.7% after 130 cycles at 0.5 C. This study opens a novel way for designing high-performance silicon anode for advanced LIBs.

Dissolved LiO2 or adsorbed LiO2? The reactive superoxide during discharging process in lithium-oxygen batteries.

Lithium-oxygen batteries are promising but have many challenges. Unlike lithium-ion batteries, they are usually discharge-charge cycled with capacity cutoff instead of potential cutoff, which brings controversy. Additionally, which superoxide intermediate, the dissolved or the adsorbed superoxide, is more reactive and leads to cell premature death and unsatisfactory discharge capacity? These questions puzzle researchers and impede the development of lithium-oxygen batteries. Herein, on one hand, we tried to decouple the influence of discharging potential and discharging current density on the discharge products and side reactions. We found that the electrode potential has more impact on the side reactions than the current density. The low potential leads to a high ratio of Li2CO3 to Li2O2 in the discharge product and hence more surface passivation. On the other hand, to identify the more reactive and aggressive species that cause surface passivation, a flow cell setup was applied to suppress the solution route and maximize the products from the surface route. Results show that more Li2CO3 was identified under a large flow rate and thus the intermediates in surface route appear to be more reactive than that in solution route.

A Solid-State Electrolyte Based on Li0.95 Na0.05 FePO4 for Lithium Metal Batteries.

Solid-state electrolytes (SSEs) play a crucial role in developing lithium metal batteries (LMBs) with high safety and energy density. Exploring SSEs with excellent comprehensive performance is the key to achieving the practical application of LMBs. In this work, the great potential of Li0.95 Na0.05 FePO4 (LNFP) as an ideal SSE due to its enhanced ionic conductivity and reliable stability in contact with lithium metal anode is demonstrated. Moreover, LNFP-based composite solid electrolytes (CSEs) are prepared to further improve electronic insulation and interface stability. The CSE containing 50 wt% of LNFP (LNFP50) shows high ionic conductivity (3.58 × 10-4 S cm-1 at 25 °C) and good compatibility with Li metal anode and cathodes. Surprisingly, the LMB of Li|LNFP50|LiFePO4 cell at 0.5 C current density shows good cycling stability (151.5 mAh g-1 for 500 cycles, 96.5% capacity retention, and 99.3% Coulombic efficiency), and high-energy LMB of Li|LNFP50|Li[Ni0.8 Co0.1 Mn0.1 ]O2 cell maintains 80% capacity retention after 170 cycles, which are better than that with traditional liquid electrolytes (LEs). This investigation offers a new approach to commercializing SSEs with excellent comprehensive performance for high-performance LMBs.

Electrochemically and Thermally Stable Inorganics-Rich Solid Electrolyte Interphase for Robust Lithium Metal Batteries.

Severe dendrite growth and high-level activity of the lithium metal anode lead to a short life span and poor safety, seriously hindering the practical applications of lithium metal batteries. With a trisalt electrolyte design, an F-/N-containing inorganics-rich solid electrolyte interphase on a lithium anode is constructed, which is electrochemically and thermally stable over long-term cycles and safety abuse conditions. As a result, its Coulombic efficiency can be maintained over 98.98% for 400 cycles. An 85.0% capacity can be retained for coin-type full cells with a 3.14 mAh cm-2 LiNi0.5 Co0.2 Mn0.3 O2 cathode after 200 cycles and 1.0 Ah pouch-type full cells with a 4.0 mAh cm-2 cathode after 72 cycles. During the thermal runaway tests of a cycled 1.0 Ah pouch cell, the onset and triggering temperatures were increased from 70.8 °C and 117.4 °C to 100.6 °C and 153.1 °C, respectively, indicating a greatly enhanced safety performance. This work gives novel insights into electrolyte and interface design, potentially paving the way for high-energy-density, long-life-span, and thermally safe lithium metal batteries.

Preoperative CT radiomics of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma and lymph node to predict nodal disease with a high diagnostic capability.

PURPOSE: To develop CT radiomics models of resectable esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) and lymph node (LN) to preoperatively identify LN+. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 299 consecutive patients with ESCC were enrolled in the study, 140 of whom were LN+ and 159 were LN-. Of the 299 patients, 249 (from the same hospital) were randomly divided into a training cohort (n = 174) and a test cohort (n = 75). The remaining 50 patients, from a second hospital, were assigned to an external validation cohort. In the training cohort, preoperative contrast-enhanced CT radiomics features of ESCC and LN were extracted, then integrated with clinical features to develop three models: ESCC, LN and combined. The performance of these models was assessed using area under receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC), and F-1 score, which were validated in both the test cohort and external validation cohort. RESULTS: An ESCC model was developed for the training cohort utilizing the 8 tumor radiomics features, and an LN model was constructed using 9 nodal radiomics features. A combined model was constructed using both ESCC and LN extracted features, in addition to cT stage and LN+ distribution. This combined model had the highest predictive ability among the three models in the training cohort (AUC = 0.948, F1-score = 0.878). The predictive ability was validated in both the test and external validation cohorts (AUC = 0.885 and 0.867, F1-score = 0.816 and 0.773, respectively). CONCLUSION: To preoperatively determine LN+, the combined model is superior to models of ESCC and LN alone.