Insight into the Enforced Stability of the Solid Electrolyte Interphase on the Graphite Anode by Prelithiation.

Prelithiation in a graphite anode is widely considered as an effective strategy to compensate for the lithium loss due to the formation of the solid electrolyte interphase (SEI), thus improving the cycle life of lithium-ion batteries (LIBs). However, less attention has been paid to the difference of the SEI established by prelithiation from that resulting from the charging process. To address this issue, a prelithiated graphite anode is prepared by thermal contact and its performances are investigated by electrochemical measurements and spectral characterizations. It is found that the significantly improved initial coulombic efficiency (ICE) and cyclic stability of the graphite anode by prelitiation are attributed to the formation of LiF-rich SEI. Different from the charging process that favors decomposition of solvents and results in a SEI mainly consisting of organic and inorganic carbonates, prelithiation is beneficial for the reduction of LiPF6 and results in a LiF-rich SEI that presents high stability and robustness, enabling the graphite anode with significantly improved cyclic stability.

Association between coffee intake and skeletal muscle mass among U.S. adults: a population-based study.

Background: A limited number of studies have reported that the possible effects of coffee intake on skeletal muscle mass, but the results have been inconsistently conclusive and there are no large sample studies concerning the U.S. population. Therefore, the purpose of our study was to explore the connection between coffee consumption and skeletal muscle mass in U.S. adults. Methods: The population for this cross-sectional study was drawn from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) from 2011 to 2018. Appendicular lean mass was accurately obtained from DXA, and skeletal muscle mass was assessed using appendicular skeletal muscle mass adjusted for body mass index (ASMBMI). Coffee and caffeine consumptions were obtained on a 24-h dietary recall questionnaire. Furthermore, the associations between coffee and caffeine intake and skeletal muscle mass were evaluated using three multiple linear regression models and smoothed curve fitting. Subgroup analyses based on age, gender, ethnicity and body mass index (BMI) were performed to assess the robustness of these relationships. Results: This cross-sectional survey included a total of 8,333 participants. After adjusting for all covariates, higher intake of coffee, caffeinated coffee, and caffeine was associated with elevated ASMBMI (coffee: ß = 0.01, 95% CI: 0.01, 0.02, P-value < 0.001; caffeinated coffee: ß = 0.01, 95% CI: 0.01, 0.02, P-value < 0.001; caffeine: ß = 0.02, 95% CI: 0.01, 0.04, P-value < 0.001). Meanwhile, smoothed curve fitting showed that coffee, caffeinated coffee, and caffeine intake were linearly and positively associated with ASMBMI. After further stratification by sex, age, and ethnicity, the positive relationships between coffee (especially caffeinated coffee) and caffeine intake and ASMBMI were not modified (P for interaction > 0.05). However, these relationships disappeared when the BMI over 30 kg/m2. Conclusions: In general, consumption of coffee and caffeine is positively associated with skeletal muscle mass. Therefore, an appropriate increase in coffee and caffeine intake may be advocated in populations at high risk for low skeletal muscle mass.

Association of the triglyceride-glucose index and its related parameters with frailty.

BACKGROUND: Frailty is a dynamic geriatric condition. Limited studies have examined the association of the triglyceride-glucose (TyG) index and its related indicators [TyG index, triglyceride glucose-waist to height ratio (TyG-WHtR), triglyceride glucose-waist circumference (TyG-WC), and triglyceride glucose-body mass index (TyG-BMI)] with frailty, and the potential links among them remain unclear. On the basis of data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), this study investigated the potential relationships of the TyG index and its related indices with frailty. METHODS: This research included 7,965 participants from NHANES 2003-2018. The relationship of the TyG index and its related indices with frailty was investigated with binary logistic regression analyses, restricted cubic spline (RCS), and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve. Potential influences were further investigated through stratified analyses and interaction tests. RESULTS: The prevalence of frailty in the participants of this study was 25.59%, with a average frailty index of 0.16 (0.00). In the three regression analysis models, the continuous TyG index and its associated indices were positively associated with frailty. In addition, quartiles of TyG, TyG-WC, TyG-WHtR, and TyG-BMI were significantly associated with increased frailty prevalence in the fully adjusted models (TyG Q4 vs. Q1, OR = 1.58, 95% CI: 1.19, 2.09, P = 0.002; TyG-WC Q4 vs. Q1, OR = 2.40, 95% CI: 1.90, 3.04, P < 0.001; TyG-WHtR Q4 vs. Q1, OR = 2.26, 95% CI: 1.82, 2.81, P < 0.001; TyG- BMI Q4 vs. Q1, OR = 2.16, 95% CI: 1.76, 2.64, P < 0.001). According to RCS analysis, TyG, TyG-WC, TyG-WHtR, and TyG-BMI were linearly and positively associated with frailty. ROC curves revealed that TyG-WHtR (AUC: 0.654) had greater diagnostic value for frailty than TyG (AUC: 0.604), TyG-BMI (AUC: 0.621), and TyG-WC (AUC: 0.629). All of the stratified analyses and interaction tests showed similar results. CONCLUSIONS: Elevated TyG and its associaed indices are associated with an increased prevalence of frailty. Reasonable control of blood glucose and blood lipids, and avoidance of obesity, may aid in reducing the occurrence of frailty in middle-aged and older adults.

Biological Control of a Root-Knot Nematode Meloidogyne incognita Infection of Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) by the Oomycete Biocontrol Agent Pythium oligandrum.

The biocontrol agent Pythium oligandrum, which is a member of the phylum Oomycota, can control diseases caused by a taxonomically wide range of plant pathogens, including fungi, bacteria, and oomycetes. However, whether P. oligandrum could control diseases caused by plant root-knot nematodes (RKNs) was unknown. We investigated a recently isolated P. oligandrum strain GAQ1, and the P. oligandrum strain CBS530.74, for the control of an RKN Meloidogyne incognita infection of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.). Initially, P. oligandrum culture filtrates were found to be lethal to M. incognita second-stage juveniles (J2s) with up to 84% mortality 24 h after treatment compared to 14% in the control group. Consistent with the lethality to M. incognita J2s, tomato roots treated with P. oligandrum culture filtrates reduced their attraction of nematodes, and the number of nematodes penetrating the roots was reduced by up to 78%. In a greenhouse pot trial, the P. oligandrum GAQ1 inoculation of tomato plants significantly reduced the gall number by 58% in plants infected with M. incognita. Notably, the P. oligandrum GAQ1 mycelial treatment significantly increased tomato plant height (by 36%), weight (by 27%), and root weight (by 48%). A transcriptome analysis of tomato seedling roots inoculated with the P. oligandrum GAQ1 strain identified ~2500 differentially expressed genes. The enriched GO terms and annotations in the up-regulated genes suggested a modulation of the plant hormone-signaling and defense-related pathways in response to P. oligandrum. In conclusion, our results support that P. oligandrum GAQ1 can serve as a potential biocontrol agent for M. incognita control in tomato. Multiple mechanisms appear to contribute to the biocontrol effect, including the direct inhibition of M. incognita, the potential priming of tomato plant defenses, and plant growth promotion.

Prophylatic use of IV nalmefene to prevent epidural opioid-induced pruritus: A multicenter, randomized clinical trial.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: The incidence of pruritus from neuraxial opioids is about 60%. Pruritus causes discomfort and decreases the quality of recovery. This randomized double-blinded clinical trial was aimed to evaluate the prophylactic effects of a single dose IV nalmefene on the incidence and severity of epidural opioid-induced pruritus within 24 h after surgeries. DESIGN: A two-center, randomized, double blinded, controlled clinical trial. SETTING: The study was conducted from March 2022 to February 2023 at two tertiary care hospitals in China. PATIENTS: Patients aged between 18 and 80 years-old who underwent elective surgeries and received epidural analgesia intra- and post-operatively were screened for study enrollment. A total of 306 patients were enrolled, 302 patients underwent randomization and 296 patients were included in the final analysis. INTERVENTIONS: The nalmefene group was prophylactically given 0.5 µg/kg nalmefene intravenously while the control group was given the same volume of saline. MEASUREMENTS: The primary endpoint was the incidence of pruritus within 24 h after surgeries. The secondary endpoints included time of the first patient-reported pruritus, severity of pruritus after surgeries, severity of acute pain scores after surgeries and other anesthesia/analgesia related side effects. MAIN RESULTS: Pruritus occurred in 51 of the 147 (34.69%) patients in the control group and 35 of the 149 (23.49%) patients in the nalmefene group (odds ratio, 0.58; 95% CI, 0.35 to 0.96; P = 0.034) within 24 h postoperatively. Nalmefene group demonstrated delayed onset of pruritus, reduced severity of pruritus and decreased vomiting within 24 h after surgery. There were no significant differences in postoperative analgesia and the incidence of other anesthesia/analgesia associated side effects. CONCLUSIONS: A single dose of 0.5 µg/kg nalmefene intravenously significantly reduced the incidence and severity of epidural-opioid induced pruritus within 24 h after surgery without affecting the efficacy of epidural analgesia. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (www.chictr.org.cn) and the registration number is ChiCTR2100050463. Registered on August 27th, 2021.

Constructing a Highly Robust Interface Film for Enhancing Rate Performance of Graphite Anode via a Novel Electrolyte Additive.

Solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) is regarded as a key factor to enable high power outputs of Lithium-ion batteries (LIBs). Herein, we demonstrate a modified electrolyte consisting of a novel electrolyte additive, 1H,1H,2H,2H-perfluorooctyltrimethoxysilane (FTMS) to construct a highly robust and stable SEI on a graphite anode for LIBs to enhance its rate performance. With 2% FTMS, the anode presents an improved capacity retention from 77.6 to 91.2% at 0.5 C after 100 cycles and an improved capacity from 86 to 229 mAh g-1 at 2 C. Experimental characterizations and theoretical calculations reveal that FTMS is preferentially absorbed and reduced on graphite to construct an interface chemistry with uniform fluoride-containing organic lithium salt and silicon-containing polymer, which exhibits high flexibility and conductivity and endows the SEI with high robustness and stability. This work provides an effective way to address the issue of slow lithium insertion/desertion kinetics of graphite anodes.

High power density output and durability of microbial fuel cells enabled by dispersed cobalt nanoparticles on nitrogen-doped carbon as the cathode electrocatalyst.

To endow microbial fuel cells (MFCs) with low cost, long-term stability and high-power output, a novel cobalt-based cathode electrocatalyst (Nano-Co@NC) is synthesized from a polygonal metal-organic framework ZIF-67. After calcining the resultant ZIF-67, the as-synthesized Nano-Co@NC is characteristic of cobalt nanoparticles (Nano-Co) embedded in nitrogen-doped carbon (NC) that inherits the morphology of ZIF-67 with a large surface area. The Nano-Co particles that are highly dispersed and firmly fixed on NC not only ensure electrocatalytic activity of Nano-Co@NC toward the oxygen reduction reaction on the cathode, but also inhibit the growth of non-electrogenic bacteria on the anode. Consequently, the MFC using Nano-Co@NC as the cathode electrocatalyst demonstrates excellent performance, delivering a comparable initial power density and exhibiting far better durability than that using Pt/C (20 wt%) as the cathode electrocatalyst. The low cost and the excellent performance of Nano-Co@NC make it promising for MFCs to be used in practice.

A facile synthesis of FeS/Fe3C nanoparticles highly dispersed on in situ grown N-doped CNTs as cathode electrocatalysts for microbial fuel cells.

A novel composite of iron sulfide, iron carbide and nitrogen carbides (Nano-FeS/Fe3C@NCNTs) as a cathode electrocatalyst for microbial fuel cells (MFCs) is synthesized by a one-pot solid state reaction, which yields a unique configuration of FeS/Fe3C nanoparticles highly dispersed on in situ grown nitrogen-doped carbon nanotubes (NCNTs). The highly dispersed FeS/Fe3C nanoparticles possess large active sites, while the NCNTs provide an electronically conductive network. Consequently, the resultant Nano-FeS/Fe3C@NCNTs exhibit excellent electrocatalytic activity towards the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR), with a half-wave potential close to that of Pt/C (about 0.88 V vs. RHE), and enable MFCs to deliver a power density of 1.28 W m-2 after two weeks' operation, which is higher than that of MFCs with Pt/C as the cathode electrocatalyst (1.02 W m-2). Theoretical calculations and experimental data demonstrate that there is a synergistic effect between Fe3C and FeS in Nano-FeS/Fe3C@NCNTs. Fe3C presents a strong attraction and electron-donating tendency to oxygen molecules, serving as the main active component, while FeS reduces charge transfer resistance by transferring electrons to Fe3C, synergistically improving the kinetics of the ORR and power density of MFCs.

B-/Si-containing electrolyte additive efficiently establish a stable interface for high-voltage LiCoO2 cathode and its synergistic effect on LiCoO2/graphite pouch cells.

An effective electrolyte additive, 3-(tert-Butyldimethylsilyoxy) phenylboronic acid (TBPB), is proposed to significantly improve the cycle stability of high voltage LiCoO2 (LCO) cathode. Experimental and computational results show that TBPB has a relatively higher oxidation activity than base electrolyte, and preferentially constructs a stable cathode electrolyte interphase (CEI) containing B-/Si- components on LCO surface. Theoretical calculation, XPS and NMR data show that TBPB-derived CEI layer contains B-F species and has the function of eliminating HF. The as-formed CEI effectively inhibits the detrimental side reactions from electrolyte decomposition and LCO surface structure reconstruction. The capacity retention of LCO/Li half-cell increases from 38.92% (base electrolyte) to 83.70% after 150 cycles at 1 C between 3.0 V and 4.5 V by adding 1% TBPB. Moreover, TBPB is also reduced prior to base electrolyte, forming an ionic conducting solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) on graphite surface. Benefiting from the synergistic effect between CEI layer on LCO cathode and SEI layer on graphite anode to effectively decrease the electrolyte decomposition, the capacity retention of commercial LCO/graphite pouch cell with 1% TBPB increases from 10.44% to 76.13% after 400 cycles at 1 C between 3.0 V and 4.5 V. This work demonstrates that TBPB can act as an effective film-forming additive for high energy density LCO cathode at high voltage, and provides novel insights for its commercial application from the aspect of synergistically interfacial stability.

Insight into the Contribution of Nitriles as Electrolyte Additives to the Improved Performances of the LiCoO2 Cathode.

Nitriles have been successfully used as electrolyte additives for performance improvement of commercialized lithium-ion batteries based on the LiCoO2 cathode, but the underlying mechanism is unclear. In this work, we present an insight into the contribution of nitriles via experimental and theoretical investigations, taking for example succinonitrile. It is found that succinonitrile can be oxidized together with PF6- preferentially on LiCoO2 compared to the solvents in the electrolyte, making it possible to avoid the formation of hydrogen fluoride from the electrolyte oxidation decomposition, which is detrimental to the LiCoO2 cathode. Additionally, inorganic LiF and -NH group-containing polymers are formed from the preferential oxidation of succinonitrile, constructing a protective interphase on LiCoO2, which suppresses electrolyte oxidation decomposition and prevents LiCoO2 from structural deterioration. Consequently, the LiCoO2 cathode presents excellent stability under cycling and storing at high voltages.

Achieving a Highly Stable Electrode/Electrolyte Interface for a Nickel-Rich Cathode via an Additive-Containing Gel Polymer Electrolyte.

The nickel-rich cathode LiNi0.8Co0.1Mn0.1O2 (NCM811) is deemed as a prospective material for high-voltage lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) owing to its merits of high discharge capacity and low cobalt content. However, the unsatisfactory cyclic stability and thermostability that originate from the unstable electrode/electrolyte interface restrict its commercial application. Herein, a novel electrolyte composed of a polyethylene (PE) supported poly(vinylidene fluoride-co-hexafluoropropylene) (P(VdF-HFP)) based gel polymer electrolyte (GPE) strengthened by a film-forming additive of 3-(trimethylsilyl)phenylboronic acid (TMSPB) is proposed. The porous structure and good oxidative stability of the P(VdF-HFP)/PE membrane help to expand the oxidative potential of GPE to 5.5 V compared with 5.1 V for the liquid electrolyte. The developed GPE also has better thermal stability, contributing to improving the safety performance of LIBs. Furthermore, the TMSPB additive constructs a low-impedance and stable cathode electrolyte interphase (CEI) on the NCM811 cathode surface, compensating for GPE's drawbacks of sluggish kinetics. Consequently, the NCM811 cathode matched with 3% TMSPB-containing GPE exhibits remarkable cyclicity and rate capability, maintaining 94% of its initial capacity after 100 cycles at a high voltage range of 3.0-4.35 V and delivering a capacity of 133.5 mAh g-1 under 15 C high current rate compared with 68% and 75.8 mAh g-1 for the one with an additive-free liquid electrolyte. By virtue of the enhanced stability of the NCM811cathode, the cyclability of graphite||NCM811 full cell also increases from 48 to 81% after 100 cycles. The incorporation of P(VdF-HFP)-based GPE and TMSPB electrolyte additive points out a viable and convenient pathway to unlock the properties of high energy density and satisfactory safety for next-generation LIBs.

Highly Enforced Rate Capability of a Graphite Anode via Interphase Chemistry Tailoring Based on an Electrolyte Additive.

The rate capability of lithium-ion batteries is highly dependent on the interphase chemistry of graphite anodes. Herein, we demonstrate an anode interphase tailoring based on a novel electrolyte additive, lithium dodecyl sulfate (LiDS), which greatly improves the rate capability and cyclic stability of graphite anodes. Upon application of 1% LiDS in a base electrolyte, the discharge capacity at 2 C is improved from 102 to 240 mAh g-1 and its capacity retention is enhanced from 51% to 94% after 200 cycles at 0.5 C. These excellent performances are attributed to the preferential absorption of LiDS and the as-constructed interphase chemistry that is mainly composed of organic long-chain polyether and inorganic lithium sulfite. The long-chain polyether possesses flexibility endowing the interphase with robustness, while its combination with inorganic lithium sulfite accelerates lithium intercalation/deintercalation kinetics via decreasing the resistance for charge transfer.

Construction of Low-Impedance and High-Passivated Interphase for Nickel-Rich Cathode by Low-Cost Boron-Containing Electrolyte Additive.

The nickel-rich cathode LiNi0.8 Co0.1 Mn0.1 O2 (NCM811) possesses the advantages of high reversible specific capacity and low cost, thus regarded as a promising cathode material for lithium-ion batteries (LIBs). However, the capacity of the NCM811 decays rapidly at high voltage due to the extremely unstable electrode/electrolyte interphase. The discharge capability at low temperature is also impaired because of the increasing interfacial impedance. Herein, a low-cost film-forming electrolyte additive with multi-function, phenylboronic acid (PBA), was employed to modify the interphasial properties of the NCM811 cathode. Theoretical calculation and experimental results showed that PBA constructed a highly conductive and steady cathode electrolyte interphase (CEI) film through preferential oxidation decomposition, which greatly improved the interfacial properties of the NCM811 cathode at room (25 °C) and low temperature (-10 °C). Specifically, the capacity retention of NCM811/Li cell was increased from 68 % to 87 % after 200 cycles with PBA additive. Moreover, the NCM811/Li cell with PBA additive delivered higher discharge capacity under -10 °C at 0.5 C (173.7 mAh g-1 vs. 111.1 mAh g-1 ). Based on the improvement of NCM811 interphasial properties by additive PBA, the capacity retention of NCM811/graphite full-cell was enhanced from 49 % to 65 % after 200 cycles.

Concentrated Growth Factor Promotes Wound Healing Potential of HaCaT Cells by Activating the RAS Signaling Pathway.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to explore the effect of concentrated growth factor (CGF) on the wound healing potential of human epidermal cells (HaCaT) in vitro and in vivo. METHODS: CGF was extracted from venous blood using the centrifugal separation method. The CGF-conditioned medium was prepared from CGF gel immersed in Dulbecco's Modified Eagle medium. Crystal violet staining and wound healing assay were used to evaluate the proliferation and migration of HaCaT cells, respectively. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) was used to test the anti-inflammatory function of CGF. An ELISA kit was employed to detect the concentration of growth factors and interleukins in CGF medium. mRNA and protein levels of angiogenic biomarkers (Angiopoietin-1 (ANGPT-1), vascular endothelial growth factor-A (VEGF-A) and Angiopoietin-2 (ANGPT-2) ) were determined by quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) and Western blot, respectively. A dorsal excisional wound model was recruited to test the wound healing effect of CGF in mice. RESULTS: Three-day treatment of HaCaT cells with CGF significantly promoted cell proliferation, which was followed by an increase in Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF) and Fibroblast Growth Factor (FGF) levels in the medium. Cytokines (IL-6, IL-8 and TNF-α) were increased in LPS-stimulated HaCaT cells after 3 days, and CGF slightly inhibited the mRNA expression of these cytokines. The RAS signaling pathway was activated upon CGF treatment. Both RAS knockdown and an inhibitor of RAS (zoledronic acid) could block the migration of HaCaT cells after CGF treatment. Protein expressions of CD31, ANGPT-1, and VEGF-A were up-regulated in a dose-dependent manner upon CGF exposure. The protein level of ANGPT-2 was down-regulated after CGF treatment. CGF could promote wound healing in vivo, as demonstrated using the full skin defect model in nude mice. CONCLUSIONS: CGF was shown to promote wound repair in vitro and in vivo. The RAS cell signaling pathway was responsible for CGF stimulating the wound healing potential of HaCaT cells.

Cost-Efficient Film-Forming Additive for High-Voltage Lithium-Nickel-Manganese Oxide Cathodes.

The operating voltage of lithium-nickel-manganese oxide (LiNi0.5Mn1.5O4, LNMO) cathodes far exceeds the oxidation stability of the commercial electrolytes. The electrolytes undergo oxidation and decomposition during the charge/discharge process, resulting in the capacity fading of a high-voltage LNMO. Therefore, enhancing the interphasial stability of the high-voltage LNMO cathode is critical to promoting its commercial application. Applying a film-forming additive is one of the valid methods to solve the interphasial instability. However, most of the proposed additives are expensive, which increases the cost of the battery. In this work, a new cost-efficient film-forming electrolyte additive, 4-trifluoromethylphenylboronic acid (4TP), is adopted to enhance the long-term cycle stability of LNMO/Li cell at 4.9 V. With only 2 wt % 4TP, the capacity retention of LNMO/Li cell reaches up to 89% from 26% after 480 cycles. Moreover, 4TP is effective in increasing the rate performance of graphite anode. These results show that the 4TP additive can be applied in high-voltage LIBs, which significantly increases the manufacturing cost while improving the battery performance.

Preoperative assessment clinics and case cancellations: a prospective study from a large medical center in China.

BACKGROUND: Preoperative assessment clinics have great benefits in reducing surgical cancellations, saving hospital resources and improving patient satisfaction. However, previous studies did not focus on patients with comorbidities. With advancements in medicine and aging population, the number of elderly patients with multiple comorbidities is increasing. This study was designed to assess the effectiveness of a preoperative assessment clinic for patients with multiple comorbidities. METHODS: This prospective, observational study enrolled patients with multiple comorbidities from Nov 1, 2019 to Oct 31, 2020 in a tertiary teaching hospital in China. Patients either visited the preoperative assessment clinic before admission or received an anesthesia consultation after admission. The impact of clinic visits on operating room cancellations, length of hospital stay before surgery, length of hospital stay after surgery, major postoperative complications, incidence of postoperative intensive care unit (ICU) admission, readmission to any hospital within 30 days after surgeries and total in-hospital costs were analyzed. RESULTS: A total of 326 eligible cases were included. Eighty-seven of 108 cases who visited the clinic before admission were scheduled for selective surgeries. In all, 218 patients received an anesthesia consultation after admission. The cancellation rate in the inpatient group was 7.80%, while no surgeries were cancelled in preclinic group (P=0.016). A preoperative assessment clinic visit statistically decreased the length of in-hospital stays before surgery from 93.02 to 76.11 h (P=0.010). After propensity score matching, significant differences in operating room cancellations (0 vs. 6.48%; P=0.015) and length of stay before surgery (76.11 vs. 92.22 h; P=0.038) persisted between two groups. No significant differences between the two groups were found in terms of prognosis, including major postoperative complications, incidence of postoperative ICU admissions, and readmissions to any hospital within 30 days (P>0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Among patients with comorbidities undergoing major surgeries, a preoperative assessment clinic visit was more efficient than an anesthesia consultation after admission. These findings may provide impetus for the opening of preoperative assessment clinics for critical patients in China.

Therapeutic effect of autologous concentrated growth factor on lower-extremity chronic refractory wounds: A case report.

BACKGROUND: Management of chronic refractory wounds is one of the toughest clinical challenges for surgeons. Because of poor blood supply, less tissue coverage, and easy exposure, the lower leg is a common site for chronic refractory wounds. The current therapeutic regimens often lead to prolonged hospital stay and higher healthcare costs. Concentrated growth factor (CGF) is a novel blood extract that contains various growth factors, platelets, and fibrins to promote wound healing process. However, there has been little research reported on the treatment of lower extremity wounds with CGF. CASE SUMMARY: A 37-year-old man, without any past medical history, presented an ulcerated chronic wound on his right lower leg. The skin defect exhibited clear boundaries, with a size of 2.0 cm × 3.5 cm. The depth of wound was up to the layer of deep fascia. Staphylococcus aureus was detected by bacterial culture. The final diagnosis was right lower extremity ulcers with infection. Cefathiamidine, silver sulfadiazine, and mupirocin cream were applied to control the infection. CGF gel was prepared from the patient's blood sample, and was used to cover the wound after thorough debridement. The skin wound was successfully healed after three times of CGF treatment. CONCLUSION: CGF displays an excellent wound healing promoting effect in patients with lower-extremity chronic refractory wounds.

A Novel Electrolyte Additive Enables High-Voltage Operation of Nickel-Rich Oxide/Graphite Cells.

Nickel-rich oxide/graphite cells under high voltage operation provide high energy density but present short cycle life because of the parasitic electrolyte decomposition reactions. In this work, we report a novel electrolyte additive, N,O-bis(trimehylsilyl)-trifluoroacetamide (NOB), which enables nickel-rich oxide/graphite cells to operate stably under high voltage. When evaluated in a nickel-rich oxide-based full cell, LiNi0.5Co0.2Mn0.3O2 (NCM523)/graphite using a carbonate electrolyte, 1 wt % NOB provides the cell with capacity retention improved from 38% to 73% after 100 cycles at 1C under 4.5 V. It is found that NOB is able to eliminate hydrogen fluoride in the electrolyte. The radicals resulting from the interaction of NOB with the fluoride ion can be preferentially oxidized on the cathode compared with the electrolyte solvents, with its reaction products constructing N-containing interphases simultaneously on the cathode and anode, which suppress the parasitic electrolyte decomposition reactions, leading to the significantly improved cycle stability of nickel-rich oxide/graphite cells under high voltage.

Significantly enhanced electrocatalytic activity of copper for hydrogen evolution reaction through femtosecond laser blackening.

In this work, we report on the creation of a black copper via femtosecond laser processing and its application as a novel electrode material. We show that the black copper exhibits an excellent electrocatalytic activity for hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) in alkaline solution. The laser processing results in a unique microstructure: microparticles covered by finer nanoparticles on top. Electrochemical measurements demonstrate that the kinetics of the HER is significantly accelerated after bare copper is treated and turned black. At -0.325 V (v.s. RHE) in 1 M KOH aqueous solution, the calculated area-specific charge transfer resistance of the electrode decreases sharply from 159 Ω cm2 for the untreated copper to 1 Ω cm2 for the black copper. The electrochemical surface area of the black copper is measured to be only 2.4 times that of the untreated copper and therefore, the significantly enhanced electrocatalytic activity of the black copper for HER is mostly a result of its unique microstructure that favors the formation and enrichment of protons on the surface of copper. This work provides a new strategy for developing high-efficient electrodes for hydrogen generation.

Strong adsorption, catalysis and lithiophilic modulation of carbon nitride for lithium/sulfur battery.

Lithium/sulfur (Li/S) batteries have emerged as one of the most promising next-generation energy storage systems with advantages of high theoretical energy density, low cost and environmental friendliness. However, problems regarding to severe shuttle effect of soluble polysulfide, poor electronic/ionic conductor of solid charged/discharged products (S8 and Li2S), and fatal swell of volume along with the growth of Li dendrites greatly deteriorate the sulfur utilization and capacity retention during extended charge-discharge cycles. With advantages of high nitrogen content, lithiophilic modulation and tunable charge density and charge transfer, carbon nitride (g-C3N4) has played a positive role in restricting the shuttle effects and dendrite formation. This minireview mainly discusses these research achievements of g-C3N4 in Li/S batteries, aiming to provide a basic understanding and direct guidance for further research and development of functionalized g-C3N4 materials in electrical energy storage. The two-dimensional (2D) structure of g-C3N4 with abundant hierarchical pores improves its accommodation capacity for sulfur by effectively confining the lithium polysulfides (LiPSs) into the pores, and provides favorable channels for ion diffusion. The rich nitrogen and carbon defects further offer more active sites for strongly adsorbing LiPSs and bridge electron transfer pathway at atomic scale for catalytic reactions to accelerate redox kinetics of Li/S conversion chemistry. Moreover, the features of lithiophilic wettability, high adsorption energy and densely distributed lithiophilic N of g-C3N4 provide a large number of adhesive sites for lithium cation (Li+) and disperse the nucleation sites to enable uniform nucleation and deposition of Li on the anode surface and to suppress formation and growth of Li dendrites. Finally, the g-C3N4 also effectively regulates the wettability between Li anode and solid inorganic electrolyte, and reduces the crystallinity of solid polymer electrolyte to enhance the Li+ migration ability and ionic conductivity.