Genetic background and intraoperative haemodynamic instability in patients with pheochromocytoma and paraganglioma: a multicenter retrospective study.

BACKGROUND: Perioperative management to maintain intraoperative haemodynamic stability is crucial during surgical treatment of pheochromocytomas and paragangliomas (PPGLs). Although approximately 70% of PPGLs carry pathogenic variants (PVs) in susceptibility genes, whether intraoperative haemodynamic instability (IHI) is associated with genetic background remains unclear. This study aimed to analyse IHI in patients with PPGL due to PVs in different genes. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This retrospective study recruited 756 patients with abdominal PPGL from two tertiary care centres. Clinical information including sex, age, catecholamine-associated signs and symptoms (CAS), tumour location and size, biochemistry, and perioperative characteristics were collected. Genetic mutations were investigated using next-generation sequencing. RESULTS: Among the 671 patients included in the analysis, 61.8% (415/671) had IHI. IHI was significantly associated with genetic background in patients with PPGL. Most (80.9%, 89/110) patients with PPGL due to PVs in HRAS suffered IHI. In contrast, only half (31/62) of patients with PPGL due to PVs in VHL had IHI. In the multivariate regression analysis, compared to those with negative genetic testing results, patients with PPGL due to PVs in HRAS (OR 3.82, 95% CI 2.187-6.679, P<0.001), the other cluster 2 genes (OR 1.95, 95% CI 1.287-2. 569, P< 0.05), and cluster 1 genes other than VHL (OR 2.35, 95% CI 1.338-4.111, P<0.05) were independent risk factors for IHI, while PVs in VHL was not independent risk factor (OR 1.09, 95% CI 0.605-1.953, P>=0.05). In addition, age at diagnosis of primary tumour, presenting of CAS, and tumour size were identified as independent factors for IHI. The nomogram illustrated that genetic background as sharing the largest contribution to IHI, followed by tumour size, age, and presenting of CAS. CONCLUSION: IHI is associated with the genetic background in patients with PPGL. The perioperative management of patients with PPGL can be personalized according to their genetic backgrounds, tumour size, age, and presenting of CAS.

New perspective for pathomechanism and clinical applications of animal toxins: Programmed cell death.

Various animal toxins pose a significant threat to human safety, necessitating urgent attention to their treatment and research. The clinical potential of programmed cell death (PCD) is widely regarded as a target for envenomation, given its crucial role in regulating physiological and pathophysiological processes. Current research on animal toxins examines their specific components in pathomechanisms and injuries, as well as their clinical applications. This review explores the relationship between various toxins and several types of PCD, such as apoptosis, necroptosis, autophagy, ferroptosis, and pyroptosis, to provide a reference for future understanding of the pathophysiology of toxins and the development of their potential clinical value.

Neoadjuvant PARPi or chemotherapy in ovarian cancer informs targeting effector Treg cells for homologous-recombination-deficient tumors.

Homologous recombination deficiency (HRD) is prevalent in cancer, sensitizing tumor cells to poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) inhibition. However, the impact of HRD and related therapies on the tumor microenvironment (TME) remains elusive. Our study generates single-cell gene expression and T cell receptor profiles, along with validatory multimodal datasets from >100 high-grade serous ovarian cancer (HGSOC) samples, primarily from a phase II clinical trial (NCT04507841). Neoadjuvant monotherapy with the PARP inhibitor (PARPi) niraparib achieves impressive 62.5% and 73.6% response rates per RECIST v.1.1 and GCIG CA125, respectively. We identify effector regulatory T cells (eTregs) as key responders to HRD and neoadjuvant therapies, co-occurring with other tumor-reactive T cells, particularly terminally exhausted CD8+ T cells (Tex). TME-wide interferon signaling correlates with cancer cells upregulating MHC class II and co-inhibitory ligands, potentially driving Treg and Tex fates. Depleting eTregs in HRD mouse models, with or without PARP inhibition, significantly suppresses tumor growth without observable toxicities, underscoring the potential of eTreg-focused therapeutics for HGSOC and other HRD-related tumors.

Construction of Zn-Cu bimetallic metal-organic frameworks for carbon dioxide capture.

Bimetallic metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) have shown more impressive performance in gas adsorption compared with monometallic MOFs. Herein, a Cu-Zn bimetallic metal-organic framework (Zn/Cu-BTC) was synthesized via a one-pot method, and its structure, thermal stability and CO2 adsorption property were investigated and compared with those of corresponding monometallic Cu-BTC and Zn-BTC. The results showed that Zn/Cu-BTC has a specific ortho-octahedral crystal morphology with a unique X-ray diffraction peak, the atomic ratio of Zn to Cu is about 1 : 5, and it remained stable at a temperature up to 490 K. In Zn/Cu-BTC, Cu2+ played a role in increasing the specific surface area and porosity of the MOF and improving the gas adsorption performance. The CO2 adsorption of Zn/Cu-BTC is lower than that of Cu-BTC but much higher than that of Zn-BTC, and CO2 adsorption heat was 30.52 kJ mol-1, which indicated physical adsorption. In addition, Zn/Cu-BTC had higher CO2/N2 adsorption selectivity compared with Zn-BTC and Cu-BTC, with a maximum value of 17. This study can be a reference for the research on improving the adsorption selectivity of gases by constructing bimetallic MOFs.

Comparative Field Evaluation and Transcriptome Analysis Reveals that Chromosome Doubling Enhances Sheath Blight Resistance in Rice.

Rice sheath blight, caused by Rhizoctonia solani Kihn (R. solani), poses a significant threat to rice production and quality. Autotetraploid rice, developed through chromosome doubling of diploid rice, holds great potential for enhancing biological and yield traits. However, its resistance to sheath blight in the field has remained unclear. In this study, the field resistance of 35 autotetraploid genotypes and corresponding diploids was evaluated across three environments from 2020 to 2021. The booting stage was optimal for inoculating period based on the inoculation and analysis of R. solani at five rice growth stages. We found autotetraploids generally exhibited lower disease scores than diploids, indicating enhanced resistance after chromosome doubling. Among the 35 genotypes, 16 (45.71%) displayed increased resistance, 2 (5.71%) showed decreased resistance, and 17 (48.57%) displayed unstable resistance in different sowing dates. All combinations of the genotype, environment and ploidy, including the genotype-environment-ploidy interaction, contributed significantly to field resistance. Chromosome doubling increased sheath blight resistance in most genotypes, but was also dependent on the genotype-environment interaction. To elucidate the enhanced resistance mechanism, RNA-seq revealed autotetraploid recruited more down-regulated differentially expressed genes (DEGs), additionally, more resistance-related DEGs, were down-regulated at 24 h post inoculation in autotetraploid versus diploid. The ubiquinone/terpenoid quinone and diterpenoid biosynthesis pathways may play key roles in ploidy-specific resistance mechanisms. In summary, our findings shed light on the understanding of sheath blight resistance mechanisms in autotetraploid rice.

Multi-parameter MRI-Based Machine Learning Model to Evaluate the Efficacy of STA-MCA Bypass Surgery for Moyamoya Disease: A Pilot Study.

Superficial temporal artery-middle cerebral artery (STA-MCA) bypass surgery represents the primary treatment for Moyamoya disease (MMD), with its efficacy contingent upon collateral vessel development. This study aimed to develop and validate a machine learning (ML) model for the non-invasive assessment of STA-MCA bypass surgery efficacy in MMD. This study enrolled 118 MMD patients undergoing STA-MCA bypass surgery. Clinical features were screened to construct a clinical model. MRI features were extracted from the middle cerebral artery supply area using 3D Slicer and employed to build five ML models using logistic regression algorithm. The combined model was developed by integrating the radiomics score (Rad-score) with the clinical features. Model performance validation was conducted using ROC curves. Platelet count (PLT) was identified as a significant clinical feature for constructing the clinical model. A total of 3404 features (851 × 4) were extracted, and 15 optimal features were selected from each MRI sequence as predictive factors. Multivariable logistic regression identified PLT and Rad-score as independent parameters used for constructing the combined model. In the testing set, the AUC of the T1WI ML model [0.84 (95% CI, 0.70-0.97)] was higher than that of the clinical model [0.66 (95% CI, 0.46-0.86)] and the combined model [0.80 (95% CI, 0.66-0.95)]. The T1WI ML model can be used to assess the postoperative efficacy of STA-MCA bypass surgery for MMD.

Advances in artificial intelligence for meibomian gland evaluation: A comprehensive review.

Meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD) is increasingly recognized as a critical contributor to evaporative dry eye, significantly impacting visual quality. With a global prevalence estimated at 35.8 %, it presents substantial challenges for clinicians. Conventional manual evaluation techniques for MGD face limitations characterized by inefficiencies, high subjectivity, limited big data processing capabilities, and a dearth of quantitative analytical tools. With rapidly advancing artificial intelligence (AI) techniques revolutionizing ophthalmology, studies are now leveraging sophisticated AI methodologies--including computer vision, unsupervised learning, and supervised learning--to facilitate comprehensive analyses of meibomian gland (MG) evaluations. These evaluations employ various techniques, including slit lamp examination, infrared imaging, confocal microscopy, and optical coherence tomography. This paradigm shift promises enhanced accuracy and consistency in disease evaluation and severity classification. While AI has achieved preliminary strides in meibomian gland evaluation, ongoing advancements in system development and clinical validation are imperative. We review the evolution of MG evaluation, juxtapose AI-driven methods with traditional approaches, elucidate the specific roles of diverse AI technologies, and explore their practical applications using various evaluation techniques. Moreover, we delve into critical considerations for the clinical deployment of AI technologies and envisages future prospects, providing novel insights into MG evaluation and fostering technological and clinical progress in this arena.

Differentiation of tuberculous and brucellar spondylitis using conventional MRI-based deep learning algorithms.

PURPOSE: To investigate the feasibility of deep learning (DL) based on conventional MRI to differentiate tuberculous spondylitis (TS) from brucellar spondylitis (BS). METHODS: A total of 383 patients with TS (n = 182) or BS (n = 201) were enrolled from April 2013 to May 2023 and randomly divided into training (n = 307) and validation (n = 76) sets. Sagittal T1WI, T2WI, and fat-suppressed (FS) T2WI images were used to construct single-sequence DL models and combined models based on VGG19, VGG16, ResNet18, and DenseNet121 network. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) was used to assess the classification performance. The AUC of DL models was compared with that of two radiologists with different levels of experience. RESULTS: The AUCs based on VGG19, ResNet18, VGG16, and DenseNet121 ranged from 0.885 to 0.973, 0.873 to 0.944, 0.882 to 0.929, and 0.801 to 0.933, respectively, and VGG19 models performed better. The diagnostic efficiency of combined models outperformed single-sequence DL models. The combined model of T1WI, T2WI, and FS T2WI based on VGG19 achieved optimal performance, with an AUC of 0.973. In addition, the performance of all combined models based on T1WI, T2WI, and FS T2WI was better than that of two radiologists (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: The DL models have potential guiding value in the diagnosis of TS and BS based on conventional MRI and provide a certain reference for clinical work.

Coherence-controlled chaotic soliton bunch.

Controlling the coherence of chaotic soliton bunch holds the promise to explore novel light-matter interactions and manipulate dynamic events such as rogue waves. However, the coherence control of chaotic soliton bunch remains challenging, as there is a lack of dynamic equilibrium mechanism for stochastic soliton interactions. Here, we develop a strategy to effectively control the coherence of chaotic soliton bunch in a laser. We show that by introducing a lumped fourth-order-dispersion (FOD), the soliton oscillating tails can be formed and generate the potential barriers among the chaotic solitons. The repulsive force between neighboring solitons enabled by the potential barriers gives rise to an alleviation of the soliton fusion/annihilation from stochastic interactions, endowing the capability to control the coherence in chaotic soliton bunch. We envision that this result provides a promising test-bed for a variety of dynamical complexity science and brings new insights into the nonlinear behavior of chaotic laser sources.

Petal-Shaped Graphene Porous Films with Enhanced Absorption-Dominated Electromagnetic Shielding Performance and Mechanical Properties.

The absorption-dominated graphene porous materials, considered ideal for mitigating electromagnetic pollution, encounter challenges related to intricate structural design. Herein, petal-like graphene porous films with dendritic-like and honeycomb-like pores are prepared by controlling the phase inversion process. The theoretical simulation and experimental results show that PVP K30 modified on the graphene surface via van der Waals interactions promotes graphene to be uniformly enriched on the pore walls. Benefiting from the regulation of graphene distribution and the construction of honeycomb pore structure, when 15 wt % graphene is added, the porous film exhibits absorption-dominated electromagnetic shielding performance, compared with the absence of PVP K30 modification. The total electromagnetic shielding effectiveness is 24.1 dB, an increase of 170%; the electromagnetic reflection coefficient reduces to 2.82 dB; The thermal conductivity reaches 1.1 W/(m K), representing a 104% increase. In addition, the porous film exhibits improved mechanical properties, the tensile strength increases to 6.9 MPa, and the elongation at break increases by 131%. The method adopted in this paper to control the enrichment of graphene in the pore walls during the preparation of honeycomb porous films by the phase inversion method can avoid the agglomeration of graphene and improve the overall performance of the porous graphene porous films.

CRLNet: A Multimodal Peach Detection Network Based on Cooperative Asymptotic Enhancement and the Fusion of Granularity Refinement.

Accurate peach detection is essential for automated agronomic management, such as mechanical peach harvesting. However, ubiquitous occlusion makes identifying peaches from complex backgrounds extremely challenging. In addition, it is difficult to capture fine-grained peach features from a single RGB image, which can suffer from light and noise in scenarios with dense small target clusters and extreme light. To solve these problems, this study proposes a multimodal detector, called CRLNet, based on RGB and depth images. First, YOLOv9 was extended to design a backbone network that can extract RGB and depth features in parallel from an image. Second, to address the problem of information fusion bias, the Rough-Fine Hybrid Attention Fusion Module (RFAM) was designed to combine the advantageous information of different modes while suppressing the hollow noise at the edge of the peach. Finally, a Transformer-based Local-Global Joint Enhancement Module (LGEM) was developed to jointly enhance the local and global features of peaches using information from different modalities in order to enhance the percentage of information about the target peaches and remove the interference of redundant background information. CRLNet was trained on the Peach dataset and evaluated against other state-of-the-art methods; the model achieved an mAP50 of 97.1%. In addition, CRLNet also achieved an mAP50 of 92.4% in generalized experiments, validating its strong generalization capability. These results provide valuable insights for peach and other outdoor fruit multimodal detection.

Characteristics of three organic fertilizers and their influence on the mobility of cadmium and arsenic in a soil-rice (Oryza sativa L.) system.

The properties of different organic fertilizers and their potential for stabilizing toxic metals(loids) in soil have not been fully investigated. This study characterized and evaluated three organic fertilizers from different raw materials. The mushroom residue organic fertilizer (MO) had higher C, H, and O contents and more functional groups (-OH, C-H, and C = O). Its application significantly increased pH (1.00 ~ 1.32 units), organic matter (OM) content (26.58 ~ 69.11%), and cation exchange capacity (CEC) (31.52 ~ 39.91%) of soil. MO treatments can simultaneously reduce the bioavailable TCLP-Cd and TCLP-As in soil, solving the difficulties of remediating the combined Cd and As pollution. MO treatments inhibited the migration of Cd and As from soil to plant, promoting plant growth. Redundancy analysis (RDA) revealed that metal(loid) variations in plants were related to soil properties (40.09%) and TCLP-Cd/As (44.74%). Furthermore, the toxic metals(loids) risk assessment for all organic fertilizers was at safe levels. This study provided a valuable reference for choosing organic fertilizers and presented a novel option for the "producing while remediating" of farmlands with low pollution.

Association of greenspace and natural environment with brain volumes mediated by lifestyle and biomarkers among urban residents.

OBJECTIVES: To examine the associaiton between environmental measures and brain volumes and its potential mediators. STUDY DESIGN: This was a prospective study. METHODS: Our analysis included 34,454 participants (53.4% females) aged 40-73 years at baseline (between 2006 and 2010) from the UK Biobank. Brain volumes were measured using magnetic resonance imaging between 2014 and 2019. RESULTS: Greater proximity to greenspace buffered at 1000 m at baseline was associated with larger volumes of total brain measured 8.8 years after baseline assessment (standardized ß (95% CI) for each 10% increment in coverage: 0.013(0.005,0.020)), grey matter (0.013(0.006,0.020)), and white matter (0.011(0.004,0.017)) after adjustment for covariates and air pollution. The corresponding numbers for natural environment buffered at 1000 m were 0.010 (0.004,0.017), 0.009 (0.004,0.015), and 0.010 (0.004,0.016), respectively. Similar results were observed for greenspace and natural environment buffered at 300 m. The strongest mediator for the association between greenspace buffered at 1000 m and total brain volume was smoking (percentage (95% CI) of total variance explained: 7.9% (5.5-11.4%)) followed by mean sphered cell volume (3.3% (1.8-5.8%)), vitamin D (2.9% (1.6-5.1%)), and creatinine in blood (2.7% (1.6-4.7%)). Significant mediators combined explained 18.5% (13.2-25.3%) of the association with total brain volume and 32.9% (95% CI: 22.3-45.7%) of the association with grey matter volume. The percentage (95% CI) of the association between natural environment and total brain volume explained by significant mediators combined was 20.6% (14.7-28.1%)). CONCLUSIONS: Higher coverage percentage of greenspace and environment may benefit brain health by promoting healthy lifestyle and improving biomarkers including vitamin D and red blood cell indices.

Endovascular treatment of aorta-iliac arterial pseudoaneurysm caused by Brucella.

We aimed to analyze the feasibility of endovascular treatment for brucellosis-related aorta-iliac artery pseudoaneurysm. We did a statistical analysis that among the 11 cases, the thoracic aorta was involved in 3 cases, the abdominal aorta was involved in 6 cases, and the iliac artery was involved in 2 cases. Five patients had a history of contact with cattle and sheep, 3 had a history of drinking raw milk, 10 patients had a fever before the operation, and 11 patients had positive serum agglutination test. Blood culture was positive in 2 patients. All patients were given anti-brucellosis treatment immediately after diagnosis. One died of aortic rupture 5 days after emergency endovascular gastrointestinal bleeding. Endovascular-covered stent implantation and active anti-brucellosis therapy were used to treat 10 patients. The follow-up period was 8 years without aortic complications or death for all patients. We think early diagnosis and a combination of anti-brucellosis drugs and endovascular therapy may be the first choice for treating the pseudoaneurysm caused by Brucella.

Gut microorganisms of Locusta migratoria in various life stages and its possible influence on cellulose digestibility.

Locusta migratoria is an important phytophagous pest, and its gut microbial communities play an important role in cellulose degradation. In this study, the gut microbial and cellulose digestibility dynamics of Locusta migratoria were jointly analyzed using high-throughput sequencing and anthrone colorimetry. The results showed that the gut microbial diversity and cellulose digestibility across life stages were dynamically changing. The species richness of gut bacteria was significantly higher in eggs than in larvae and imago, the species richness and cellulose digestibility of gut bacteria were significantly higher in early larvae (first and second instars) than in late larvae (third to fifth instars), and the diversity of gut bacteria and cellulose digestibility were significantly higher in imago than in late larvae. There is a correlation between the dynamics of gut bacterial communities and cellulose digestibility. Enterobacter, Lactococcus, and Pseudomonas are the most abundant genera throughout all life stages. Six strains of highly efficient cellulolytic bacteria were screened, which were dominant gut bacteria. Carboxymethyl cellulase activity (CMCA) and filter paper activity (FPA) experiments revealed that Pseudomonas had the highest cellulase enzyme activity. This study provides a new way for the screening of cellulolytic bacteria and lays the foundation for developing insects with significant biomass into cellulose-degrading bioreactors. IMPORTANCE: Cellulose is the most abundant and cheapest renewable resource in nature, but its degradation is difficult, so finding efficient cellulose degradation methods is an urgent challenge. Locusta migratoria is a large group of agricultural pests, and the large number of microorganisms that inhabit their intestinal tracts play an important role in cellulose degradation. We analyzed the dynamics of Locusta migratoria gut microbial communities and cellulose digestibility using a combination of high-throughput sequencing technology and anthrone colorimetry. The results revealed that the gut microbial diversity and cellulose digestibility were dynamically changed at different life stages. In addition, we explored the intestinal bacterial community of Locusta migratoria across life stages and its correlation with cellulose digestibility. The dominant bacterial genera at different life stages of Locusta migratoria were uncovered and their carboxymethyl cellulase activity (CMCA) and filter paper activity (FPA) were determined. This study provides a new avenue for screening cellulolytic bacteria and lays the foundation for developing insects with significant biomass into cellulose-degrading bioreactors.

Nab-paclitaxel, cisplatin, and capecitabine versus cisplatin and gemcitabine as first line chemotherapy in patients with recurrent or metastatic nasopharyngeal carcinoma: randomised phase 3 clinical trial.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the effectiveness and safety of nab-paclitaxel, cisplatin, and capecitabine (nab-TPC) with gemcitabine and cisplatin as an alternative first line treatment option for recurrent or metastatic nasopharyngeal carcinoma. DESIGN: Phase 3, open label, multicentre, randomised trial. SETTING: Four hospitals located in China between September 2019 and August 2022. PARTICIPANTS: Adults (≥18 years) with recurrent or metastatic nasopharyngeal carcinoma. INTERVENTIONS: Patients were randomised in a 1:1 ratio to treatment with either nab-paclitaxel (200 g/m2 on day 1), cisplatin (60 mg/m2 on day 1), and capecitabine (1000 mg/m2 twice on days 1-14) or gemcitabine (1 g/m2 on days 1 and 8) and cisplatin (80 mg/m2 on day 1). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Progression-free survival was evaluated by the independent review committee as the primary endpoint in the intention-to-treat population. RESULTS: The median follow-up was 15.8 months in the prespecified interim analysis (31 October 2022). As assessed by the independent review committee, the median progression-free survival was 11.3 (95% confidence interval 9.7 to 12.9) months in the nab-TPC cohort compared with 7.7 (6.5 to 9.0) months in the gemcitabine and cisplatin cohort. The hazard ratio was 0.43 (95% confidence interval 0.25 to 0.73; P=0.002). The objective response rate in the nab-TPC cohort was 83% (34/41) versus 63% (25/40) in the gemcitabine and cisplatin cohort (P=0.05), and the duration of response was 10.8 months in the nab-TPC cohort compared with 6.9 months in the gemcitabine and cisplatin cohort (P=0.009). Treatment related grade 3 or 4 adverse events, including leukopenia (4/41 (10%) v 13/40 (33%); P=0.02), neutropenia (6/41 (15%) v 16/40 (40%); P=0.01), and anaemia (1/41 (2%) v 8/40 (20%); P=0.01), were higher in the gemcitabine and cisplatin cohort than in the nab-TPC cohort. No deaths related to treatment occurred in either treatment group. Survival and long term toxicity are still being evaluated with longer follow-up. CONCLUSION: The nab-TPC regimen showed a superior antitumoural efficacy and favourable safety profile compared with gemcitabine and cisplatin for recurrent or metastatic nasopharyngeal carcinoma. Nab-TPC should be considered the standard first line treatment for recurrent or metastatic nasopharyngeal carcinoma. Longer follow-up is needed to confirm the benefits for overall survival. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Chinese Clinical Trial Registry ChiCTR1900027112.

The role of electrocatalytic materials for developing post-lithium metal||sulfur batteries.

The exploration of post-Lithium (Li) metals, such as Sodium (Na), Potassium (K), Magnesium (Mg), Calcium (Ca), Aluminum (Al), and Zinc (Zn), for electrochemical energy storage has been driven by the limited availability of Li and the higher theoretical specific energies compared to the state-of-the-art Li-ion batteries. Post-Li metal||S batteries have emerged as a promising system for practical applications. Yet, the insufficient understanding of quantitative cell parameters and the mechanisms of sulfur electrocatalytic conversion hinder the advancement of these battery technologies. This perspective offers a comprehensive analysis of electrode parameters, including S mass loading, S content, electrolyte/S ratio, and negative/positive electrode capacity ratio, in establishing the specific energy (Wh kg-1) of post-Li metal||S batteries. Additionally, we critically evaluate the progress in investigating electrochemical sulfur conversion via homogeneous and heterogeneous electrocatalytic approaches in both non-aqueous Na/K/Mg/Ca/Al||S and aqueous Zn||S batteries. Lastly, we provide a critical outlook on potential research directions for designing practical post-Li metal||S batteries.

Aqueous Zinc-Iodine Pouch Cells with Long Cycling Life and Low Self-Discharge.

Aqueous zinc batteries are practically promising for large-scale energy storage because of cost-effectiveness and safety. However, application is limited because of an absence of economical electrolytes to stabilize both the cathode and anode. Here, we report a facile method for advanced zinc-iodine batteries via addition of a trace imidazolium-based additive to a cost-effective zinc sulfate electrolyte, which bonds with polyiodides to boost anti-self-discharge performance and cycling stability. Additive aggregation at the cathode improves the rate capacity by boosting the I2 conversion kinetics. Also, the introduced additive enhances the reversibility of the zinc anode by adjusting Zn2+ deposition. The zinc-iodine pouch cell, therefore, exhibits industrial-level performance evidenced by a ∼99.98% Coulombic efficiency under ca. 0.4C, a significantly low self-discharge rate with 11.7% capacity loss per month, a long lifespan with 88.3% of initial capacity after 5000 cycles at a 68.3% zinc depth-of-discharge, and fast-charging of ca. 6.7C at a high active-mass loading >15 mg cm-2. Highly significant is that this self-discharge surpasses commercial nickel-metal hydride batteries and is comparable with commercial lead-acid batteries, together with the fact that the lifespan is over 10 times greater than reported works, and the fast-charging performance is better than commercial lithium-ion batteries.

Carbon performance analysis of upgraded wastewater treatment plants in key control areas of the Ziya River Basin in China.

Wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) are one of the largest sources of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, and they are also one of the largest energy consumption industries in urban systems. With the progression of upgrading and standard-rising, WWTPs both directly and indirectly increase carbon emissions from the increased investments in facilities and usages in electricity as well as chemical agents. Here, we collected operational data from 15 WWTPs in the key control areas of the Ziya River Basin in North China and accounted for the changes in carbon performance at different technical upgrade methods. Results showed that the average carbon emission performance increased by 0.487 kg CO2/m3 after the upgrade. Carbon emissions from electricity consumption, chemical usage, biochemical process and sludge treatment accounted for 42%, 17%, 24%, and 17% of the total improvement in carbon emission performance, respectively. Reducing energy consumption, regulating chemical use and sludge comprehensive utilization are the key to carbon emission reduction. It further proposes that the development of wastewater treatment discharge standards should fully consider the comprehensive utilization of water quality classification. Regions with favorable natural conditions should make full use of their advantages by adopting economically feasible, low-energy-consuming technologies such as constructed wetlands, which offer carbon sequestration and landscaping benefits. This study provides guidance on the selection of technological pathways for pollution reduction and carbon mitigation in the wastewater treatment industry and on achieving sustainable water resource utilization.

PNA-Functionalized, Silica Nanowires-Filled Glass Microtube for Ultrasensitive and Label-Free Detection of miRNA-21.

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are endogenous and noncoding single-stranded RNA molecules with a length of approximately 18-25 nucleotides, which play an undeniable role in early cancer screening. Therefore, it is very important to develop an ultrasensitive and highly specific method for detecting miRNAs. Here, we present a bottom-up assembly approach for modifying glass microtubes with silica nanowires (SiNWs) and develop a label-free sensing platform for miRNA-21 detection. The three-dimensional (3D) networks formed by SiNWs make them abundant and highly accessible sites for binding with peptide nucleic acid (PNA). As a receptor, PNA has no phosphate groups and exhibits an overall electrically neutral state, resulting in a relatively small repulsion between PNA and RNA, which can improve the hybridization efficiency. The SiNWs-filled glass microtube (SiNWs@GMT) sensor enables ultrasensitive, label-free detection of miRNA-21 with a detection limit as low as 1 aM at a detection range of 1 aM-100 nM. Noteworthy, the sensor can still detect miRNA-21 in the range of 102-108 fM in complex solutions containing 1000-fold homologous interference of miRNAs. The high anti-interference performance of the sensor enables it to specifically recognize target miRNA-21 in the presence of other miRNAs and distinguish 1-, 3-mismatch nucleotide sequences. Significantly, the sensor platform is able to detect miRNA-21 in the lysate of breast cancer cell lines (e.g., MCF-7 cells and MDA-MB-231 cells), indicating that it has good potential in the screening of early breast cancers.