Surface Lattice Modulation Enables Stable Cycling of High-Loading All-solid-state Batteries at High Voltages.

Halide solid electrolytes, known for their high ionic conductivity at room temperature and good oxidative stability, face notable challenges in all-solid-state Li-ion batteries (ASSBs), especially with unstable cathode/solid electrolyte (SE) interface and increasing interfacial resistance during cycling. In this work, we have developed an Al3+-doped, cation-disordered epitaxial nanolayer on the LiCoO2 surface by reacting it with an artificially constructed AlPO4 nanoshell; this lithium-deficient layer featuring a rock-salt-like phase effectively suppresses oxidative decomposition of Li3InCl6 electrolyte and stabilizes the cathode/SE interface at 4.5 V. The ASSBs with the halide electrolyte Li3InCl6 and a high-loading LiCoO2 cathode demonstrated high discharge capacity and long cycling life from 3 to 4.5 V. Our findings emphasize the importance of specialized cathode surface modification in preventing SE degradation and achieving stable cycling of halide-based ASSBs at high voltages.

Beat-to-beat and spectral analyses of the noninvasive radial pulse and laser-Doppler signals in patients with hypertension.

This study performed beat-to-beat and spectral analyses of 20-minute skin-surface laser-Doppler-flowmetry (LDF) and radial blood-pressure-waveform (BPW) signals in order to compare the blood-flow perfusion condition and regulatory mechanisms between essential-hypertension (EHT) patients and aged-matched control subjects. Beat-to-beat LDF analyses yielded the pulse width (PW), AC-to-DC ratio (AD), and their corresponding variability indices (coefficients of variation [CVs]). The relative energy contributions (RECs) of five characteristic frequency peaks (defined as FR1-FR5) were also calculated. Spectral BPW analysis obtained the amplitude proportion (Cn) and phase angle (Pn) of each harmonic component n. PW, AD, AD_CV, and REC of FR2 were significantly smaller in the EHT group than in the control group. Regarding BPW indices, C1, C2, C4, and C5 were significantly larger and P2-P8 were significantly smaller in EHT patients than in controls. The present results indicate that BPW and LDF indices can be used to evaluate the blood-flow perfusion efficiency and microcirculatory regulatory activities in EHT. Sex differences were found, with the effects being more prominent in female patients. These findings may be partly attributable to impairment of endothelial and neural regulatory functions. The present findings might aid the development of new noninvasive methods for reducing the risk of EHT-induced damage.

Comparison of laparoscopic subtotal colectomy with posterior vaginal suspension and laparoscopic subtotal colectomy with transvaginal repair for patients with slow-transit constipation complicated with rectocele: a non-randomized comparative study in a single center.

BACKGROUND: Slow-transit constipation complicated with rectocele is a mixed constipation difficult to treat by surgery. Different hospitals and surgeons may employ different surgical procedures. The present study aims to compare the efficacy of laparoscopic subtotal colectomy (LSC) with posterior vaginal suspension and LSC with transvaginal repair for patients having refractory slow-transit constipation complicated with rectocele. METHODS: This paper is a retrospective study of 64 patients having refractory slow-transit constipation complicated with rectocele. Admitted from January 2002 to December 2012, the 64 patients were non-randomly divided into two groups: patients who underwent LSC with posterior vaginal suspension (Group A, 36 patients) and patients who underwent LSC with transvaginal repair (Group B, 28 patients). RESULTS: There was no statistically significant difference (P > 0.05) in preoperative general characteristics and Wexner constipation score between Group A and Group B. There was no statistically significant difference (P > 0.05) in operative time and intraoperative blood loss between the two groups. One month after the surgery, there was no statistically significant difference (P > 0.05) in early postoperative complications, constipation recurrence rate, degree of improvement in constipation symptoms, and Wexner constipation score between the two groups. But 1-year follow-up results show that there was statistically significant difference (P < 0.05) in constipation recurrence rate, gastrointestinal quality of life index, the degree of improvement in constipation symptoms, and Wexner constipation score between the two groups. CONCLUSION: Compared with the LSC with transvaginal repair, the LSC with posterior vaginal suspension demonstrated better efficacy in treating refractory slow-transit constipation complicated with rectocele.

Regulation of pepc gene expression in Anabaena sp. PCC 7120 and its effects on cyclic electron flow around photosystem I and tolerances to environmental stresses.

Since pepc gene encoding phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase (PEPCase) has been cloned from Anabaena sp. PCC 7120 and other cyanobacteria, the effects of pepc gene expression on photosynthesis have not been reported yet. In this study, we constructed mutants containing either upregulated (forward) or downregulated (reverse) pepc gene in Anabaena sp. PCC 7120. Results from real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR), Western blot and enzymatic analysis showed that PEPCase activity was significantly reduced in the reverse mutant compared with the wild type, and that of the forward mutant was obviously increased. Interestingly, the net photosynthesis in both the reverse mutant and the forward mutant were higher than that of the wild type, but dark respiration was decreased only in the reverse mutant. The absorbance changes of P700 upon saturation pulse showed the photosystem I (PSI) activity was inhibited, as reflected by Y(I), and Y(NA) was elevated, and dark reduction of P700(+) was stimulated, indicating enhanced cyclic electron flow (CEF) around PSI in the reverse mutant. Additionally, the reverse mutant photosynthesis was higher than that of the wild type in low temperature, low and high pH, and high salinity, and this implies increased tolerance in the reverse mutant through downregulated pepc gene.

[Causes of anastomotic leakage after colorectal cancer laparoscopic-assisted surgery].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the causes of postoperative anastomotic leakage of colorectal cancer. METHODS: A total of 1462 cases with colorectal cancer undergoing laparoscopic operation and intestinal anastomosis at our department over the last decade were analyzed retrospectively. Data analysis was performed with SPSS 13.0. The risk factors were analyzed by binary Logistic regression while the annual incidence of anastomotic leakage by trend χ(2) test. RESULTS: Thirty anastomotic leakage occurred in 1462 cases with an incidence rate of 2.1%. There were significant correlations of anastomotic leakage with body built, tumor location, tumor size, operation time (χ(2) = 6.117, 50.167, 36.693, 4.481, P = 0.013, 0.000, 0.000, 0.034). However, there was no correction with gender, age or histological type (P = 0.871, 0.775, 1.000). Then the significance check of binary Logistic regression equation was performed. Tumor location was an independent risk factor of postoperative anastomotic leakage for colorectal cancer. The relative risk was 2.056. The annual incidence of anastomotic leakage was statistically insignificant (χ(2) = 1.827, P = 0.176). And the difference was. CONCLUSIONS: The occurrence of anastomotic leakage after colorectal cancer surgery is significantly correlated with body built, tumor location, tumor size and operation time. And tumor location below peritoneal reversal is an independent risk factor of anastomotic leakage.

Genetic analysis of oil content in Brassica napus L. using mixed model of major gene and polygene.

The joint segregation analysis of a mixed genetic model of major gene plus poly-gene was conducted to study the inheritance of oil content in Brassica napus L.. Five populations, i.e the populations of 2 parents (P1 and P2), F1, F2 and F2:3 (derived from F2) family, from each of the two crosses (1141B x Ken C-1, 32B x Ken C1-2) were investigated.The frequency distributions of oil content in F2 and F2:3 family populations show characteristics of a mixed normal distribution, which indicated that the inheritance of oil content followed a major gene plus poly-gene model. Twenty-one genetic models were established, which could be classified into five types: one and two major genes, polygenes, one and two major genes plus polygenes. The most suitable genetic model could be selected using Akaike's Information Criterion and the fitness of the selected one could be examined by a set of tests. Results show that genetic model D-2 is the most fitting genetic model for the trait. In other words, oil content in oilseed rape is controlled by one additive major gene plus additive and dominance polygenes. For cross 1 (1141B x Ken C1-1) the heritabilities of major gene and poly-genes in F2 are 68.21% and 27.17%, respectively, and in F2:3 are 81.70% and 16.80%, respectively. The additive effect of major gene is -1.74, which indicates that the locus of the allele in parent 1141B may decrease the oil content, but that in parent Ken C1-1 may increase it. The additive and dominance effects of the polygenes are 1.20 and -1.93, respectively. For cross 2 (32B x Ken C1-2) the heritabilities of major gene and polygenes in F2 are 66.20% and 28.10%, respectively, and in F2:3 were 81.00% and 14.90%, respectively. The additive effect of major gene was -3.74, which also indicates that the locus of the allele in parent 32B may decrease the oil content, but that in parent Ken C1-2 may increase it. The additive and dominance effects are -1.99 and 0.93, respectively. The heritability of the major gene in F2:3 is higher than that in F2 in both crosses, so it would be more efficent to conduct selection in F2:3 families for high oil content in breeding.