Regulating the Inner Helmholtz Plane with a High Donor Additive for Efficient Anode Reversibility in Aqueous Zn-Ion Batteries.

The performance of aqueous Zn ion batteries (AZIBs) is highly dependent on inner Helmholtz plane (IHP) chemistry. Notorious parasitic reactions containing hydrogen evolution reactions (HER) and Zn dendrites both originate from abundant free H2 O and random Zn deposition inside active IHP. Here, we report a universal high donor number (DN) additive pyridine (Py) with only 1 vol. % addition (Py-to-H2 O volume ratio), for regulating molecule distribution inside IHP. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations and molecular dynamics (MD) simulation verify that incorporated Py additive could tailor Zn2+ solvation sheath and exclude H2 O molecules from IHP effectively, which is in favor of preventing H2 O decomposition. Consequently, even at extreme conditions such as high depth of discharge (DOD) of 80 %, the symmetric cell based on Py additive can sustain approximately 500 h long-term stability. This efficient strategy with high DN additives furnishes a promising direction for designing novel electrolytes and promoting the practical application of AZIBs, despite inevitably introducing trace organic additives.

Anaerobic co-digestion of food waste and sewage sludge in anaerobic sequencing batch reactors with application of co-hydrothermal pretreatment of sewage sludge and biogas residue.

The effect of pretreatment technologies and reactor types on conversion efficiency and operating costs of anaerobic co-digestion of food waste and sewage sludge were investigated by 300-day continuous experiments. The volatile solids (VS) removal efficiency increased from 61% to 77% with the application of co-hydrothermal pretreatment of sewage sludge and biogas residue. Deep dewatering reduced the volume of hydrothermally pretreated biogas residue by 85%. When continuous stirred tank reactors (CSTRs) were converted to anaerobic sequencing batch reactors (ASBRs), vS removal efficiencies increased by 6%, attributed to a 1.4-1.6-fold increase in solids retention time (SRT). The bottom drainage of mineralized sludge every 40 days increased ASBR stability. Firmicutes and Methanosphaera dominated the bacterial and archaeal communities, respectively. Operating costs decreased by 14.9 US$/metric ton feedstock by applying ASBRs. Compared to CSTRs, ASBRs achieved higher organic matter conversion efficiency, smaller volume of biogas residue, and lower operating costs.

Precursor Customized Assembly of Wafer-Scale Polymerized Aniline Thin Films for Ultrasensitive NH3 Detection.

2D conducting polymer thin film recently has garnered numerous interests as a means of combining the molecular aggregate ordering and promoting in-plane charge transport for large-scale/flexible organic electronics. However, it remains far from satisfactory for conducting polymer chains to achieve desirable surface topography and crystallinity due to lack of control over the precursor-involved interfacial assembly. Herein, wafer-size polyaniline (PANI) and tetra-aniline thin films are developed via a controlled interfacial synthesis with customized surface morphology and crystallinity through two typical aniline precursors selective polymerization. Two crucial competing assembly mechanisms, a) direct interfacial polymerization, b) solution polymerization and subsequent interfacial assembly, are investigated to play a vital role in determining elemental chain length and aggregate architecture. The optimal PANI thin film manifests ultraflat surface topography and unambiguous crystalline domains, which also enabling fascinating ammonia sensing capability with 31.4% ppm-1 sensitivity, fast response time (88 s) with astonishing selectivity, repeatability, and recovery capability. The thus-demonstrated strategy with wafer-scale processing potential and flexible microdevice offers a promising route for large-scale manufacturing thin-film organic electronics.

Manipulating Hierarchical Orientation of Wet-Spun Hybrid Fibers via Rheological Engineering for Zn-Ion Fiber Batteries.

Wet-spinning is a promising strategy to fabricate fiber electrodes for real commercial fiber battery applications, according to its great compatibility with large-scale fiber production. However, engineering the rheological properties of the electrochemical active materials to accommodate the viscoelasticity or liquid crystalline requirements for continuous wet-spinning remains a daunting challenge. Here, with entropy-driven volume-exclusion effects, the rheological behavior of vanadium pentoxide (V2 O5 ) nanowire dispersions is regulated through introducing 2D graphene oxide (GO) flakes in an optimal ratio. By optimizing the viscoelasticity and liquid-crystalline behavior of the spinning dope, the wet-spun hybrid fibers display controlled hierarchical orientation. The wet-spun V2 O5 /rGO hybrid fiber with the optimal 10:1 mass fraction (V2 O5 /rGO10:1 ) exhibits a highly oriented nanoblock arrangement, enabling efficient Zn-ion migration and an excellent Zn-ion storage capacity of 486.03 mAh g-1 at 0.1 A g-1 . A half-meter long quasi-solid-state fiber Zn-ion battery is assembled with a polyacrylamide gel electrolyte and biocompatible Ecoflex encapsulation. The thus-derived fiber Zn-ion battery is integrated into a wearable self-powered system, incorporating a highly efficient GaAs solar cell, which delivers a record-high overall efficiency (9.80%) for flexible solar charging systems.

Regulating Interfacial Ion Migration via Wool Keratin Mediated Biogel Electrolyte toward Robust Flexible Zn-Ion Batteries.

Aqueous Zn-ion batteries (ZIBs) have emerged as a promising energy supply for next-generation wearable electronics, yet they are still impeded by the notorious growth of zinc dendrite and uncontrollable side reaction. While the rational design of electrolyte composition or separator decoration can effectively restrain zinc dendrite growth, synchronously regulating the interfacial electrochemical performance by tackling the physical delamination venture between electrode and electrolyte remains a major obstacle for high-performance wearable aqueous ZIB. Herein, a category of hybrid biogel electrolyte containing carrageenan and wool keratin (CWK) is put forward to regulate the interfacial electrochemistry in aqueous ZIB. Systematic electrochemical kinetics analyses and ex situ scanning electrochemical microscopy (SECM) characterizations achieve comprehensive understanding of the keratin enhanced interfacial Zn2+ redox reaction. Thanks to the keratin triggered selective ion permeability, the as-designed CWK hybrid biogel electrolyte manifests a promoted Zn2+ transference number and excellent reversibility of Zn plating/stripping and outstanding Zn utilization (average Coulombic efficiency ≈98%). More impressively, the CWK hybrid biogel electrolyte also demonstrates cathode side-reaction depression and strengthened interfacial adhesion while assembled into a quasi-solid-state flexible ZIB. This work offers a strategy to synchronously solve concurrent challenges for both of Zn anode and cathode toward realistic wearable aqueous ZIB.

Assembly of Nanofluidic MXene Fibers with Enhanced Ionic Transport and Capacitive Charge Storage by Flake Orientation.

MXenes are an emerging class of highly conductive two-dimensional (2D) materials with electrochemical storage features. Oriented macroscopic Ti3C2Tx fibers can be fabricated from a colloidal 2D nematic phase dispersion. The layered conductive Ti3C2Tx fibers are ideal candidates for constructing high-speed ionic transport channels to enhance the electrochemical capacitive charge storage performance. In this work, we assemble Ti3C2Tx fibers with a high degree of flake orientation by a wet spinning process with controlled spinning speeds and morphology of the spinneret. In addition to the effects of cross-linking of magnesium ions between Ti3C2Tx flakes, the electronic conductivity and mechanical strength of the as-prepared fibers have been improved to 7200 S cm-1 and 118 MPa, respectively. The oriented Ti3C2Tx fibers present a volumetric capacitive charge storage capability of up to 1360 F cm-3 even in a Mg-ion based neutral electrolyte, with contributions from both nanofluidic ion transport and Mg-ion intercalation pseudocapacitance. The oriented 2D Ti3C2Tx driven nanofluidic channels with great electronic conductivity and mechanical strength endows the MXene fibers with attributes for serving as conductive ionic cables and active materials for fiber-type capacitive electrochemical energy storage, biosensors, and potentially biocompatible fibrillar tissues.

Adult-onset Krabbe disease due to a homozygous GALC mutation without abnormal signals on an MRI in a consanguineous family: A case report.

BACKGROUND: The most frequent and common form of Krabbe disease (KD) is early-onset KD in infants, and late-onset KD has been reported to be a rare disease. In the present study, we reported an adult-onset KD patient in a consanguineous Chinese family. METHODS: Clinical and radiological data were collected for a family pedigree. The patient was diagnosed with late-onset KD through next-generation sequencing. The result was confirmed by Sanger sequencing. GALC enzyme activity was also examined by the colorimetry method. Both the grey matter volume (GMV) and white matter volume values were examined and compared with the average values from ten age-matched normal controls. Moreover, we reviewed all the available KD studies on PubMed to understand the correlation between the phenotype and genotype of the identified mutation. RESULTS: The main manifestations of the proband were sudden onset seizures and cognitive decline. Mutation analysis of the GALC revealed a homozygous c.1901T>C mutation in exon 16, which resulted in an amino acid change in p.L634S. Sanger sequencing results showed that the homozygous mutation was inherited from the patient's parents, both of whom were revealed to be heterozygous carriers. Moreover, a decrease in GALC enzyme activity was also detected. However, no abnormal signals were found in the brain MRI. Further structural MRI analysis revealed a significantly decreased GMV in the proband compared to the normal controls. Moreover, it is of interest that all patients with the c.1901T>C mutation had late-onset KD and were selected from Asian countries, especially Japan and China. CONCLUSIONS: This patient with a homozygous GALC mutation expands the clinical presentation and characteristics of adult-onset KD, as indicated by grey matter atrophy without abnormal white matter signals.

3D Printing of Porous Nitrogen-Doped Ti3C2 MXene Scaffolds for High-Performance Sodium-Ion Hybrid Capacitors.

3D printing technology has stimulated a burgeoning interest to fabricate customized architectures in a facile and scalable manner targeting wide ranged energy storage applications. Nevertheless, 3D-printed hybrid capacitor devices synergizing favorable energy/power density have not yet been explored thus far. Herein, we demonstrate a 3D-printed sodium-ion hybrid capacitor (SIC) based on nitrogen-doped MXene (N-Ti3C2Tx) anode and activated carbon cathode. N-Ti3C2Tx affording a well-defined porous structure and uniform nitrogen doping can be obtained via a sacrificial template method. Thus-formulated ink can be directly printed to form electrode architecture without the request of a conventional current collector. The 3D-printed SICs, with a large areal mass loading up to 15.2 mg cm-2, can harvest an areal energy/power density of 1.18 mWh cm-2/40.15 mW cm-2, outperforming the state-of-the-art 3D-printed energy storage devices. Furthermore, our SIC also achieves a gravimetric energy/power density of 101.6 Wh kg-1/3269 W kg-1. This work demonstrates that the 3D printing technology is versatile enough to construct emerging energy storage systems reconciling high energy and power density.

Conductive and Catalytic VTe2@MgO Heterostructure as Effective Polysulfide Promotor for Lithium-Sulfur Batteries.

Lithium-sulfur (Li-S) batteries are recognized as one of the most promising energy storage systems due to the high energy density and cost effectiveness. However, their practical implementation has still been handicapped due to notorious lithium polysulfide (LiPS) shuttle and depressed sulfur redox kinetics. It is therefore desirable to exploit key mediators synergizing electrical conductivity and electrocatalytic activity for the cathode. Herein, we report the employment of atmospheric pressure chemical vapor deposition to harness the efficient and controllable synthesis of metallic VTe2 over particulated MgO substrates, which has scarcely been demonstrated by conventional wet-chemical synthetic routes thus far. The thus-derived VTe2@MgO heterostructure as an efficient promotor enables effective regulation of LiPSs with respect to polysulfide capture/conversion and Li2S decomposition. As a result, a S/VTe2@MgO cathode with a sulfur loading of 1.6 mg cm-2 harvests long-term cyclability with a negligible capacity decay of 0.055% per cycle over 1000 cycles at 1.0 C. Even at a sulfur loading of 6.9 mg cm-2, the cathode still delivers electrochemical performances that can rival the state-of-the-art high-loading counterparts. Our work might offer a feasible solution for developing heterostructured promotors with multifunctionality and electrocatalytic activity for high-performance Li-S batteries.

[Epidemic and research progress of babesiosis].

Babesiosis is an emerging parasitic disease, distributed globally in Europe, Asia, Africa, North and South America, and Australia, and the United States is still the country with the largest number of babesiosis cases reported. Babesiosis in China is mainly distributed in the northeast, followed by the southwest and other regions. As a new vector-borne infectious disease, babesiosis poses a serious threat to human health, and its research foundation is relatively weak, so it requires more attention and recognition. The research hot spots on babesiosis are screening of diagnostic antigens, and the mechanisms of Babesia and the hosts, co-infections between Babesia and other pathogens. The epidemic distribution, screening of diagnostic antigens, host immune response mechanism and co-infection of babesiosis in our country and abroad are reviewed in this paper.

Biotemplating Growth of Nepenthes-like N-Doped Graphene as a Bifunctional Polysulfide Scavenger for Li-S Batteries.

The practical application of lithium-sulfur (Li-S) batteries is hindered by their poor cycling stabilities that primarily stem from the "shuttle" of dissolved lithium polysulfides. Here, we develop a nepenthes-like N-doped hierarchical graphene (NHG)-based separator to realize an efficient polysulfide scavenger for Li-S batteries. The 3D textural porous NHG architectures are realized by our designed biotemplating chemical vapor deposition (CVD) approach via the employment of naturally abundant diatomite as the growth substrate. Benefiting from the high surface area, devious inner-channel structure, and abundant nitrogen doping of CVD-grown NHG frameworks, the derived separator favorably synergizes bifunctionality of physical confinement and chemical immobilization toward polysulfides, accompanied by smooth lithium ion diffusions. Accordingly, the batteries with the NHG-based separator delivers an initial capacity of 868 mAh g-1 with an average capacity decay of only 0.067% per cycle at 2 C for 800 cycles. A capacity of 805 mAh g-1 can further be achieved at a high sulfur loading of ∼7.2 mg cm-2. The present study demonstrates the potential in constructing high-energy and long-life Li-S batteries upon separator modification.

Subclinical hypothyroidism is associated with metabolic syndrome and clomiphene citrate resistance in women with polycystic ovary syndrome.

BACKGROUND: To evaluate the possible relationship between subclinical hypothyroidism (SCH) and metabolic syndrome (MS) and the response to clomiphene citrate (CC) stimulation in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). METHODS: One hundred and ninety-six women with PCOS were divided into two groups: (1) the SCH group with 92 patients; (2) the euthyroid (EU) group with 104 patients. Physical characteristics and metabolic parameters as well as the reaction to CC stimulating test were compared between these two groups. RESULTS: (1) In the SCH group, significantly higher body mass index, Ferriman-Gallwey score, serum triglyceride, insulin and glucose of oral glucose tolerance test, homeostatic model assessment-insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) and significantly lower serum high-density lipoprotein cholesterol was observed in comparison with those in the EU group (p < 0.05). (2) The prevalence of CC resistance (30.4%), IR (43.5%) and MS (34.8%) in the SCH group was significantly higher than that in the EU group (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: SCH was found associated with IR, MS and CC resistance in women with PCOS. PCOS patients with SCH may have a poorer treatment response to ovulation induction with CC.

[Correlation between genetic differences of mates and pathogenicity of Schistosoma japonicum in definitive host].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the correlation between the genetic dissimilarity and heterozygosity of mates and the pathogenicity of Schistosoma japonicum in the definitive host. METHODS: By using seven microsatellite loci markers, S. japonicum genotyping of sixteen pairs randomly mated was performed, the genetic dissimilarity and heterozygosity were calculated between the mates, and the correlation between the genetic dissimilarity and heterozygosity of the mates and the pathogenicity of S. japonicum in the definitive host was evaluated. RESULTS: There was a significant correlation between the genetic similarity of S. japonicum mates and the mean number of eggs per worm pair in the liver and intestinal tissue (r = 0.501 6, P < 0.05; r = 0.796 5, P < 0.01, respectively) and the hatching rate of deposited eggs in the liver (r = 0.508 3, P < 0.05), respectively. There was no correlation between the genetic similarity of the mates and hepatosplenomegaly per worm pair (r = 0.109 5, P > 0.05; r = 0.265 3, P > 0.05, respectively) and the average diameter of granuloma in the liver (r = -0.272 7, P > 0.05), respectively. There was no correlation between the heterozygosity of the mates and all the pathological parameters of S. japonicum in the definitive host (P > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: There is the correlation between the genetic dissimilarity of the mates and the pathogenicity of S. japonicum in the definitive host, and the genetic dissimilarity is greater, pathogenicity is weaker. There is no correlation between heterozygosity of the mates and the pathogenicity of S. japonicum in the definitive host.

Refractory Dyslipidemia After Liver Transplant: Case Study With Successive Histologic Investigations.

Hyperlipidemia is not unusual in liver transplant recipients, but refractory severe hyperlipidemia is unusual. We treated a 39-year-old man who had severe dyslipidemia after liver transplant. The levels of blood lipids, liver enzymes, and essential indicators of liver pathology were monitored. The first serum sample was collected from the liver recipient 56 days after transplant surgery because samples could not be obtained sooner after the transplant. The levels of liver enzymes and blood lipids were improved with symptomatic treatment but had recurrent fluctuations. Tacrolimus and cyclosporine, even at low doses, may have been the dominant factor affecting the blood lipid levels in the recipient.

[Study on expression of Treg cells in attenuated Schistosoma japonicum cercariae immunized BALB/c mice].

OBJECTIVE: To study the expression differences of CD4+CD25+Foxp3+Treg cells between the attenuated cercariae immunized mice and the normal infected mice and discuss the immune protection mechanisms of the mice immunized with attenuated cercariae. METHODS: Forty female BALB/c mice were divided into 2 groups, group A, the attenuated cercariae immunized group (16 mices) and the group B, the normal cercariae infected group (16 mices), and the last 8 ones served as the blank control. The spleen cells and the ratios of PBMC's CD4+CD25+Foxp3+/CD4+CD25+T cells were compared between the attenuated cercariae immunized mice and normal mice injected by FCM and the Foxp3 expression levels in spleens and livers were assayed by IHC. The transcription factor Foxp3 in the peripheral blood was detected by RT-PCR. RESULTS: In group A and group B, CD4+CD25+Foxp3+/ CD4+CD25+T ratios in the PBMC 6 weeks post-infection were (14.15 +/- 2.62)% and (7.92 +/- 2.22)%, respectively (P < 0.05); the ratios in the spleen cells were (14.52 +/- 2.98)% and (8.18 +/- 2.84)%, respectively (P < 0.05); 8 weeks post-infection, the ratios in the PBMC were (15.92 +/- 2.98)% and (13.26 +/- 2.64)%, respectively, (P < 0.05); the ratios of the spleen cells were (16.42 +/- 2.46)% and (13.48 +/- 2.36)%, respectively (P < 0.05); 6 weeks post-infection, the Foxp3 expression levels in livers were "+" and "-", respectively, and those in the spleens were "++" and "+", respectively; 8 weeks post-infection, the Foxp3 expression levels in the livers were "++" and "-" respectively, and those in the spleens were "++" and "+", respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The expression level of attenuated cercariae immunized group's CD4+CD25+Foxp3+Treg cells is higher than that in the control group during the late stages, suggesting that CD4+CD25+Foxp3+Treg in the attenuated cercariae immunized mice may play one of the important roles in its immune protection mechanisms.

[Characteristics of high solid content sludge with microwave irradiation].

This paper focus on changes of high solid content sludge (7%, 9% and 13%) hydrolysis with microwave irradiation also anaerobic biodegradation of treated sludge was tested by biochemical methane potential (BMP) procedure. Results showed that microwave irradiation provided a rapid temperature increasing. Hydrolysis accelerated the solubilization of volatile suspended solid (VSS) and suspended solid (SS). COD, TOC, NH4+-N, TN, and TP concentration of liquor sludge increased, while pH decreased. Sludge solid content was found to be the most influential parameter. VSS and SS dissolving ratio of sludge with 13% solid content were lower than sludge with 7% and 9% solid content. 23% of VSS and 18% of SS dissolved for 9% sludge at 170 degrees C with 5 min, SCOD of liquor was 41 g/L, and concentration of TOC and NH4+-N were 30 g/L and 1 g/L respectively. Biodegradation of treated sludge improved. Methane production of 9% sludge at 170 degrees C with 5 min and 10 min were 27% and 30.8% higher than that of untreated sludge. Hydrolysis time increasing from 5 min to 10 min brought an improvement of 4%, 3.6% and 5.7% methane production at 120 degrees C, 150 degrees C and 170 degrees C.

Age-related changes in the oestrous cycle and reproductive hormones in senescence-accelerated mouse.

To investigate age-related changes in the oestrous cycle and reproductive hormone levels in senescence-accelerated mouse (SAM), we examined these parameters in 3-, 5-, 7-, 9- and 11-month-old female SAM-prone/8 (SAMP8) and SAM-resistant/1 (SAMR1) strains. Levels of beta-endorphin (beta-EP) and substance P (SP) in the hypothalamus were also measured. The oestrous cycle and dioestrus of 9-month-old SAMP8 mice were significantly prolonged compared with age-matched SAMR1 mice. Furthermore, the concentration of serum oestradiol was lower and the level of pituitary luteinising hormone was higher in SAMP8 mice compared with SAMR1 mice. This characterises the hypothalamus-pituitary-ovary (HPO) axis of the SAMP8 strain as hypergonadotropic-hypogonad. The levels of beta-EP and SP in the SAMP8 hypothalamus were lower than in the SAMR1 hypothalamus. These results indicate that the function of the HPO axis in SAMP8 mice declines early and this may be attributed, in part, to the decline in beta-EP and SP concentrations in the hypothalamus.