Lithium Pre-Storage Enables High Initial Coulombic Efficiency and Stable Lithium-Enriched Silicon/Graphite Anode.

Application of silicon-based anodes is significantly challenged by low initial Coulombic efficiency (ICE) and poor cyclability. Traditional pre-lithiation reagents often pose safety concerns due to their unstable chemical nature. Achieving a balance between water-stability and high ICE in prelithiated silicon is a critical issue. Here, we present a lithium-enriched silicon/graphite material with an ultra-high ICE of ≥110 % through a high-stable lithium pre-storage methodology. Lithium pre-storage prepared a nano-drilled graphite material with surficial lithium functional groups, which can form chemical bonds with adjacent silicon during high-temperature sintering. This results in an unexpected O-Li-Si interaction, leading to in situ pre-lithiation of silicon nanoparticles and providing high stability in air and water. Additionally, the lithium-enriched silicon/graphite materials impart a combination of high ICE, high specific capacity (620 mAh g-1), and long cycling stability (>400 cycles). This study opens up a promising avenue for highly air- and water-stable silicon anode prelithiation methods.

Expression and Correlation Research of MicroRNA10a-5p and PIK3CA in Middle Ear Cholesteatoma.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to examine the roles of miR-10a-5p and phosphatidylinositol-4,5-bisphosphonate 3-kinase catalytic subunit α in the pathogenesis of middle ear cholesteatoma. METHODS: We enrolled 27 patients with middle ear cholesteatoma and collected samples of intraoperative cholesteatoma and normal posterior ear skin tissues. The mRNA expression levels of miR-10a-5p and PIK3CA were detected using real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction. PIK3CA protein expression was measured by immunohistochemistry and western blotting. RESULTS: Middle ear cholesteatoma tissues showed significantly lower miR-10a-5p expression levels and significantly higher PIK3CA expression levels than normal posterior ear skin tissues (both P < .05). Furthermore, the miR-10a-5p and PIK3CA expression levels were significantly negatively correlated in middle ear cholesteatoma tissues (r = -0.926, P < .001). CONCLUSION: Low miR-10a-5p expression levels in middle ear cholesteatoma tissues may inhibit the growth and proliferation of cholesteatoma, whereas high PIK3CA expression level may promote its growth and proliferation. In addition, miR-10a-5p may affect the proliferation and differentiation of cholesteatoma by negatively regulating its target gene, PIK3CA.

Improvement of gut-vascular barrier by terlipressin reduces bacterial translocation and remote organ injuries in gut-derived sepsis.

Gut-vascular barrier (GVB) serves as the last barrier to limit the migration of intestinal toxins into the blood circulation. The efficacy of terlipressin (a vasopressin V1 receptor agonist) in reducing GVB and multiple organ damage in gut-derived sepsis is unknown. In this study, we hypothesized that, besides other intestinal barriers, GVB play a key role in gut-derived sepsis and terlipressin improve GVB damage and then reduce bacterial translocation and organ injuries. In vivo, a cecal ligation and puncture mouse model was established. The mice were subjected to examine the damage of GVB determined by intestinal plasmalemma vesicle-associated protein-1(PV-1) and vascular endothelial-cadherin. And the intestinal permeability was assessed by translocation of intestinal bacteria and macromolecules. In vitro, transendothelial electrical resistance (TER) during interleukin (IL)-1ß stimulation was measured on endothelial cells with or without small interfering RNA targeting ß-catenin (si ß-catenin). Terlipressin significantly improved GVB damage and reduced translocation of intestinal macromolecules and bacteria by activating PI3K signaling. Of note, intestinal PV-1 expression was significantly correlated with translocation of macromolecules, and dramatic increase of macromolecules was observed in intestinal tissues whereas fewer macromolecules and bacteria were observed in blood, liver and lung following terlipressin treatment. In vitro, terlipressin restored TER during IL-1ß stimulation and si ß-catenin transfection blocked the changes delivered by terlipressin. Collectively, terlipressin alleviated GVB damage and subsequent bacterial translocation via blood vessels after sepsis challenge, resulting in reduced distant organ injuries and the responsible mechanisms may involve the activation of PI3K/ß-catenin pathway.

Recent progress in the mechanisms, preparations and applications of polymeric antifogging coatings.

Fog on a solid surface is prejudicial to its optical properties and will even cause hygienic and safety concerns in some exceptional cases. Thus, antifogging coatings have attracted great interest in fundamental research and industry applications. Superhydrophilic and superhydrophobic coatings have been mainly explored and described in the antifogging field. In recent years, hygroscopic antifogging coatings of hydrophilic and hydrophobic parties have been introduced due to their unique properties. In this review, three antifogging mechanisms are reviewed to provide design strategies for antifogging surfaces. The current techniques for fabricating polymeric antifogging coatings are discussed in depth. The recent progress in materials and structures for antifogging surfaces is briefly summarize. Finally, the practical applications and outlooks related to multifunctional antifogging coatings are mentioned.

Instant and Tough Adhesives for Rapid Gastric Perforation and Traumatic Pneumothorax Sealing.

Hydrogel adhesives are hot spots due to their ubiquity and practical relevance. However, achieving a robust wet adhesion is still a challenge due to the preferential formation of hydrogen bonds between interfacial fluids and bulk hydrogel, as well as targeted substrates. Herein, a half-dry adhesive consisting of a silk fibroin (SF) semi-interpenetrating network and poly(acrylic acid) covalent network, which can allow a rapid liquid adsorption and repulsion process encountering a wet tissue, is reported. The remaining water enables excellent hydrogel flexibility to a dynamic surface, while the ß-sheet fold endows its tough bulk strength under the peeling-off process. Notably, the wet adhesion energy versus porcine skin is 1440 J m-2 due to the combination of hydrogen bonds, electrostatic interactions, and chain entanglement derived from SF. In particular, both in vitro and in vivo outcomes indicate excellent hemostatic effects and result in incision closure of skin, artery, gastric perforation, and lung. After the first-stage closure, polyacrylic-silk fibroin adhesive (PSA) sealants can detach from the lung surface, fitting well to the healing period. By virtue of the reliable adhesion and good noncytotoxicity, PSA may be a prospective candidate for tissue sealant and drug carrier applications.

Skeletal muscle metastasis from extrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma: A case report and literature review.

Background: Cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) is a type of malignant tumor that arises from the epithelium of the bile ducts. According to anatomical location, CCA can be classified as intrahepatic (ICC), perihilar (PCC), or extrahepatic (ECC). CCA can invade and metastasize to other tissues in various ways, but distal skeletal muscle metastasis (SMM) is extremely rare. There are several reports on SMM from ICC or PCC, but SMM from ECC has not yet been reported. Case presentation: A 71-year-old woman was diagnosed with ECC, for which she underwent pancreatoduodenectomy and partial hepatectomy. Nine months after surgery, she was re-admitted to the hospital complaining of a rapidly growing mass on her right thigh with progressive lower extremity edema. Magnetic resonance imaging of the right thigh showed two masses with iso-signal intensity on T1-weighted images and hyper-intensity on T2-weighted images compared with the surrounding muscles. Pathological examination of the fine-needle biopsy specimen revealed that it was similar to the previously detected ECC, and the diagnosis was metastasis of ECC. The patient was treated with opioid analgesics and died of systemic failure three months later. Conclusion: SMM should be considered during the follow-up period despite its low incidence, and perineural invasion may be an essential pathway of distant metastasis in CCA.

Ferrocene-modified Uio-66-NH2 hybrids with g-C3N4 as enhanced photocatalysts for degradation of bisphenol A under visible light.

Designing graphitic carbon nitride (CN) based heterostructured photocatalysts with high catalytic activity is highly desired for peroxymonosulfate (PMS) activation to degrade organic pollutants from water. Herein, a novel heterostructured composite (U-F@CN) consisting of ferrocene-modified Uio-66-NH2 (U-F) and CN was synthesized. The U-F@CN exhibited superior photocatalytic performance to degrade bisphenol A (BPA) in the presence of PMS under visible light. The experimental results indicated that BPA could be removed entirely by U-F@CN within 60 min under visible light irradiation. In addition, the outstanding photocatalytic activity could be maintained at high level in a wide pH range, appropriate temperature region and natural water condition. Benefiting from the good chemical stability, outstanding optical property and in-situ generation of interfacial heterojunction of U-F@CN, the interfacial transport of photogenerated charges could follow the Z-scheme mechanism, which can accelerate the charge separation and transport to yield abundant reactive active species (ROS) to efficiently active PMS and under visible light. This work provides a novel approach to design CN-based heterostructured photocatalysts with high stability and superior photocatalytic activity for environmental remediation.

State of the Art and Prospects in Metal-Organic Framework-Derived Microwave Absorption Materials.

Microwave has been widely used in many fields, including communication, medical treatment and military industry; however, the corresponding generated radiations have been novel hazardous sources of pollution threating human's daily life. Therefore, designing high-performance microwave absorption materials (MAMs) has become an indispensable requirement. Recently, metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) have been considered as one of the most ideal precursor candidates of MAMs because of their tunable structure, high porosity and large specific surface area. Usually, MOF-derived MAMs exhibit excellent electrical conductivity, good magnetism and sufficient defects and interfaces, providing obvious merits in both impedance matching and microwave loss. In this review, the recent research progresses on MOF-derived MAMs were profoundly reviewed, including the categories of MOFs and MOF composites precursors, design principles, preparation methods and the relationship between mechanisms of microwave absorption and microstructures of MAMs. Finally, the current challenges and prospects for future opportunities of MOF-derived MAMs are also discussed.

Low-Density Granulocytes Are Elevated in Mycobacterial Infection and Associated with the Severity of Tuberculosis.

Tuberculosis remains a global health problem caused by infection with Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Numerous studies have established a close correlation between the development of tuberculosis and the roles of neutrophils. Recently, a distinct population of CD15+ granulocytes was found to be present in the peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) fraction in humans. This population of granulocytes, termed low-density granulocytes (LDGs), was reported to be elevated and associated with disease activity or severity in a number of different conditions including SLE, asthma and HIV infection. However, both the frequency and clinical significance of LDGs associated with tuberculosis are unclear. Here we determined LDG levels and made comparisons between subjects with active pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) and healthy controls, between PTB patients with mild-to-moderate disease and patients with advanced disease, and among PTB patients following anti-tuberculous therapy of varying durations. The direct correlation between M. tuberculosis infection and LDG levels was confirmed by in vitro infection of whole peripheral blood and isolated granulocytes with mycobacteria. Our results demonstrated that PBMCs in PTB patients contained significantly elevated percentages of LDGs compared with control subjects. LDGs in tuberculosis expressed higher levels of activation markers compared to normal-density granulocytes (NDGs). M. tuberculosis induced the generation of LDGs in both whole blood and isolated NDGs from control subjects, which suggests that LDGs associated with M. tuberculosis infection are likely to originate from in situ activation. Furthermore, our results revealed that the frequency of LDGs is associated with the severity of tuberculosis.