Establishment and characterization of a gill cell line from Takifugu obscurus and transcriptome analysis of its gene expression profiles upon low temperature.

Takifugu obscurus is a farmed fish of great economic importance in China. The rapid development of T. obscurus aquaculture industry has been accompanied by disease and low temperature stress, resulting in huge economic losses. Cell lines are used extensively in teleost physiology and pathology as the most cost-effective platform for in vitro research. A novel gill cell line of T.obscurus (named TOG) was first successfully established, and passed through 52 generations. The optimal conditions for TOG growth were 20% FBS concentration and 24◦C, TOG could be grown in both hypotonic (150 mOsmol-kg-1) and hypertonic (600 mOsmol-kg-1) environments. TOG was determined to be derived from T.obscurus by sequencing the mitochondrial COI gene. Karyotype analysis revealed that the chromosome number of TOG was 44 (2n=44). Transfection experiment showed that TOG was able to express foreign genes. Furthermore, several immune-related genes were significantly up-regulated in TOG after LPS and poly (I:C) stimulation, including tlr3, isg15, il1ß and il10. Additionally, transcriptome analysis of TOG under low-temperature stress (24°C, 18°C, 12°C, 10°C and 8°C) found that differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were significantly clustered in several immunological and energy metabolic pathways, and cold stress could disrupt the immune barrier and reduce immunity by downregulating the immune-related pathways. Additionally, weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) revealed that bule module and turquoise module, which were closely correlated with low temperature and the degree of fish damage, were both predominantly found in PPAR, NOD-like receptor and Toll-like receptor signaling pathway. Hub genes were identified in these two modules, including mre11, clpb, dhx15, ddx18 and utp15. TOG cell line will become an effective experimental platform for genetic and immunological researches, and our results would help us gain a deeper insight into the molecular mechanism of cold tolerance in teleost.

First principles theoretical of designing Sandwich-like Metallic BP4 Monolayer as Anode for Alkali Metal-ion Batteries.

Phosphorene has been widely used as anode material for batteries. However, the huge volume change during charging and discharging process, the semiconductor properties, and the high open circuit voltage limit its application. Based on this, by introducing the electron-deficient boron atoms into blue phosphorene, we proposed a P-rich sandwich-like BP4 monolayer by density functional theory calculation and particle swarm optimization. The BP4 monolayer shows good thermodynamic and dynamic stability, as well as chemical stability in O2 atmosphere, mainly due to the strengthened P-P bond of the outer layer by the middle boron atoms adopting sp3 hybridization. According to the band structure, the BP4 monolayer shows metallic property, which is beneficial to electron conductivity. Furthermore, compared with blue phosphorene and black phosphorene, the P-rich BP4 monolayer shows higher theoretical capacity for Li, Na, and K of 1193.90, 1119.28, and 397.97 mA·h·g-1, respectively. The lattice constant of BP4 monolayer increases only 3.73 (Li), 2.52 (Na) after Li/Na fully adsorbed on the anode. More importantly, the wettability of BP4 monolayer in the electrolyte is comparable to that of graphene. These findings show that the stable sandwich-like BP4 monolayer has potential as a lightweight anode material.

A lower gender equality consciousness in rural and left-behind children: a latent class analysis.

Objective: School age is a critical period for the development of individual gender equality consciousness. The purpose of this study was to explore the potential classes of school-age children's gender equality consciousness, influencing factors and their differences in gender role, thus providing targeted guidance for the formulation and implementation of gender equality education strategies. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 1846 school-age children using the demographic information questionnaire, gender equality consciousness questionnaire and Bem Sex Role Inventory. A latent class analysis was performed to explore gender equality consciousness latent classes. Multinomial logistic regression analysis was conducted to examine the predictors of class membership, and chi-square test was used to compare the gender role of each latent class. Results: The average age of the included 1846 participants was 10.10 ± 1.82 years old. The proportion of boy, grade 6 and living in urban area, respectively, were 50.8, 25.3, and 60.2%. The only children was 16.3% and left-behind children was 22.5%. 60.5% of all children thought their parents had a good relationship. The core family structure in all participants was 54.1%. Mothers were the caregivers of most children (63.6%). The same-sex friends more than 3 was 73.5%, while opposite-sex friends ranged from 0 to 1 was 41.7%. Three latent classes were identified and labeled "high gender equality consciousness" class (20.6%), "moderate gender equality consciousness" class (42.3%) and "low high gender equality consciousness" class (37.1%). Factors affecting the different types of school-age children's gender equality consciousness include gender, grade, caregiver, place of residence, whether they are left-behind children and parental relationship. Rural and left-behind children are more likely to enter the "low gender equality consciousness" group. Children in the "low gender equality consciousness" group had a lower proportion of androgynous gender role. Conclusion: Rural children and left-behind children are the priority groups for gender equality education. Gender role is the important predictors and intervention targets of children's gender equality consciousness. Educators or policy makers can formulate targeted intervention measures according to the influencing factors of potential classes.

Subgroups of relational job characteristics and their differences in turnover intention and subjective well-being among nurses: a latent profile analysis.

OBJECTIVE: Relational job characteristics include perceived social worth and perceived social influence. Good relational job characteristics mean that nurses have high prosocial behavior. The purpose of this study was to explore the potential profile of nurses' relational job characteristics, influencing factors and their differences in turnover intention and subjective well-being, thus finding the most suitable clinical relationship job characteristics. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 1013 clinical nurses using the general demographic data questionnaire, Relational Job Characteristics scale, Turnover Intention Questionnaire and Campbell index of well-being. A latent profile analysis was performed to explore relational job characteristics latent profiles. Multinomial logistic regression analysis was conducted to examine the predictors of profile membership, and a one-way analysis of variance was applied to compare the turnover intention and subjective well-being in each latent profile. RESULTS: Five latent profiles were identified and labeled 'High prosocial job characteristics' profile (20.7%), 'Moderate prosocial job characteristics' profile (41.7%), 'High social worth-low social impact perceived' profile (6.3%), 'Low social worth-high social impact perceived' profile (18.8%) and 'Low prosocial job characteristics' profile (12.5%). Factors affecting the different types of nurse relationship job characteristics include age, marital status, hospital department, nursing years, professional title and hospital position. Among them, chief nurse, nurses with more than 20 years of nursing experience and obstetrics and gynecology nurses were more likely to be 'high prosocial job characteristics' profile. The turnover intention of nurses in 'high prosocial job characteristics' profile was significantly lower than that of other profiles, and their subjective well-being was significantly higher than that of other profiles. CONCLUSION: Improving nurses' perception of social worth and social impact on clinical work can improve nurses' prosocial behavior and subjective well-being, and reduce their turnover intention. Nursing managers or policy makers can formulate targeted intervention measures according to the influencing factors of potential profiles.

Evolutionary accumulation of FKS1 mutations from clinical echinocandin-resistant Candida auris.

INTRODUCTION: Drug resistance to echinocandins, first-line drugs used to treat Candida auris infection, is rapidly emerging. However, the accumulation of mutations in genes other than FKS1 (before an isolate develops to resistance via FKS1 mutations), remains poorly understood. Methods: Four clinical cases and 29 isolates associated with the incremental process of echinocandin resistance were collected and analyzed using antifungal drug susceptibility testing and genome sequencing to assess the evolution of echinocandin resistance. FINDINGS: Six echinocandin minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC)-elevated C. auris strains and seven resistant strains were isolated from the urinary system of patients receiving echinocandin treatment. Meanwhile, phylogenetic analyses illustrated that the echinocandin-resistant strains were closely related to other strains in the same patient. Genomic data revealed that the echinocandin-resistant strains had FKS1 mutations. Furthermore, three categories (ECN-S/E/R) of non-synonymous mutant SNP genes (such as RBR3, IFF6, MKC1, MPH1, RAD2, and MYO1) in C. auris appeared to be associated with the three-stage-evolutionary model of echinocandin resistance in C. glabrata: cell wall stress, drug adaptation, and genetic escape (FKS mutation). INTERPRETATION: Echinocandin-resistant C. auris undergoes spatial and temporal phase changes closely related to echinocandin exposure, particularly in the urinary system. These findings suggest that FKS1 mutations mediate an evolutionary accumulation of echinocandin resistance followed by modulation of chromosome remodelling and DNA repair processes that ultimately lead to FKS1 hot spot mutations and the development of drug resistance. This study provides an in-depth exploration of the molecular pathways involved in the evolution of Candida auris echinocandin resistance.

'Breakdown and healing' - adaptation experiences of postpartum nurses returning to work: a descriptive phenomenological study.

BACKGROUND: Promoting the work adaptation of nurses returning to work after childbirth is key to improving their physical and mental health and ensuring the quality of nursing care. Although postpartum nurses have reported high work stress and poor adaptation after returning to work, little is known regarding the experiences, problems and further needs. This study aimed to explore the adaptation experiences of postpartum nurses returning to work. METHODS: This was a qualitative study with descriptive phenomenological approach. Individual semi-structured interviews were conducted between March and May 2023 in four tertiary hospitals in Changsha, mainland China, which were selected using convenience sampling. A total of 16 postpartum nurses returning to work within one year were recruited using purposive sampling and maximum variation sampling. The interviews were analysed using the Colaizzi's 7-step method. RESULTS: 'Breakdown and healing' is a strong thread in postpartum nurses' work adaptation. It links 13 subthemes in the interview data, which can be grouped under three overarching themes: (a) changes and challenges of multiple roles; (b) self-coping and social support; and (c) further needs after returning to work. The phrase 'breakdown and healing' reflects the mutual relationship between stress and coping among postpartum nurses. The changes and challenges associated with being required to fulfil multiple roles of mothers, wives and nurses make the subjects feel on the verge of 'breakdown'. When returning to work, most of them move slowly towards 'healing' through positive self-management and support from their partners, families, supervisors and colleagues. Moreover, their ongoing demands and unsolved problems - such as their desire for a workplace that is friendly and serves their needs - were generated by the constant process of 'breakdown and healing'. CONCLUSIONS: Understanding how postpartum nurses returning to work perceive adaptation experiences is essential for nursing managers, who can use the findings to implement targeted measures to shorten postpartum nurses' maladaptation period after returning to work and promote their work adaptation. This study underscores the critical importance of personalized return-to-work training, flexible work arrangements, support from colleagues and managers, well-established maternal facilities and services, and targeted policy efforts in enhancing postpartum nurses' work adaptation.

HRCT findings predict 1-year mortality in patients with acute exacerbation of idiopathic inflammatory myopathies-associated interstitial lung disease.

Background: Acute exacerbation of idiopathic inflammatory myopathies-associated interstitial lung disease (AE-IIM-ILD) is a significant event associated with increased morbidity and mortality. However, few studies investigated the potential prognostic factors contributing to mortality in patients who experience AE-IIM-ILD. Objectives: The purpose of our study was to comprehensively investigate whether high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) findings predict the 1-year mortality in patients who experience AE-IIM-ILD. Methods: A cohort of 69 patients with AE-IIM-ILD was retrospectively created. The cohort was 79.7 % female, with a mean age of 50.7. Several HRCT features, including total interstitial lung disease extent (TIDE), distribution patterns, and radiologic ILD patterns, were assessed. A directed acyclic graph (DAG) was used to evaluate the statistical relationship between variables. The Cox regression method was performed to identify potential prognostic factors associated with mortality. Results: The HRCT findings significantly associated with AE-IIM-ILD mortality include TIDE (HR per 10%-increase, 1.64; 95%CI, 1.29-2.1, p < 0.001; model 1: C-index, 0.785), diffuse distribution pattern (HR, 3.75, 95%CI, 1.5-9.38, p = 0.005; model 2: C-index, 0.737), and radiologic diffuse alveolar damage (DAD) pattern (HR, 6.37, 95 % CI, 0.81-50.21, p = 0.079; model 3: C-index, 0.735). TIDE greater than 58.33 %, diffuse distribution pattern, and radiologic DAD pattern correlate with poor prognosis. The 90-day, 180-day, and 1-year survival rates of patients who experience AE-IIM-ILD were 75.3 %, 66.3 %, and 63.3 %, respectively. Conclusion: HRCT findings, including TIDE, distribution pattern, and radiological pattern, are predictive of 1-year mortality in patients who experience AE-IIM-ILD.

An 8-week community-based resilience group intervention for Chinese parents who lost their only child: A two-armed pragmatic waitlist-control trial.

OBJECTIVE: This study developed and evaluated a structured, 8-week community-based resilience group intervention for Chinese parents who have lost their only child and exhibit extended bereavement and suboptimal levels of resilience. METHOD: Eighty parents were recruited from two communities and allocated to the intervention group (n = 42) or the waitlist-control group (n = 38). The 8-week community-based resilience group intervention was developed based on Kumpfer's resilience theory and previous studies. The primary outcomes were resilience and depression, and the secondary outcomes were posttraumatic growth (PTG), subjective well-being (SWB), social avoidance (SAD), sleep quality, and serum dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) levels. Outcomes were assessed at four time points: before (T0), immediately after (T1), 3 months after (T2), and 12 months after (T3) the intervention. The data were analyzed following the intention-to-treat principle. RESULTS: The general linear model results indicated a significant Group × Time interaction effect on resilience, depression, PTG, SWB, and SAD, with medium and large effect sizes (Cohen's d: 0.58-1.41). Those in the intervention group experienced better resilience from T1 to T2 and better depression, PTG, SWB, and SAD from T1 to T3 compared to the waitlist-control group. No significant differences were found between groups over time for sleep quality and DHEA levels. CONCLUSIONS: This intervention effectively increased resilience by T2 and improved PTG, SWB, depression, and SAD by T3 compared with control group, which can be implemented in the local community setting and collaborated with social workers to assist bereaved parents in the future. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

Enhanced redox kinetics in hierarchical tubular FeSe2 by incorporating Se quantum dots towards high-performance sodium-ion batteries.

Metal selenides have emerged as promising Na-storage anode materials owing to their substantial theoretical capacity and high cost-effectiveness. However, the application of metal selenides is hindered by inferior electronic conductivity, huge volume variation, and sluggish kinetics of ionic migration. In response to these challenges, herein, a hierarchical hollow tube consisting of FeSe2 nanosheets and Se quantum dots anchored within a carbon skeleton (HT-FeSe2/Se/C) is strategically engineered and synthesized. The most remarkable feature of HT-FeSe2/Se/C is the introduction of Se quantum dots, which could lead to high electron density near the Fermi level and significantly enhance the overall charge transfer capability of the electrode. Moreover, the distinctive hollow tubular structure enveloped by the carbon skeleton endows the HT-FeSe2/Se/C anode with robust structural stability and fast surface-controlled Na-storage kinetics. Consequently, the as-synthesized HT-FeSe2/Se/C demonstrates a reversible capacity of 253.5 mAh/g at a current density of 5 A/g and a high specific capacity of 343.9 mAh/g at 1 A/g after 100 cycles in sodium-ion batteries (SIBs). Furthermore, a full cell is assembled with HT-FeSe2/Se/C as the anode, and a vanadium-based cathode (Na3V2(PO4)2O2F), showcasing a high specific capacity of 118.1 mAh/g at 2 A/g. The excellent performance of HT-FeSe2/Se/C may hint at future material design strategies and advance the development and application of SIBs.

Financial toxicity, family resilience and negative emotions among young and middle-aged breast cancer patients: A multicentre cross-sectional study.

PURPOSE: To determine financial toxicity in young and middle-aged women with breast cancer and examine the associations between family resilience and negative emotions. METHODS: A multicentre cross-sectional study was conducted, 538 women with breast cancer were recruited from four hospitals. FT, family resilience, and negative emotions were collected using the Comprehensive Score for FT, the Chinese version of the Family Resilience Assessment in Breast Cancer Patients, Patient Health Questionnaire-9 item, and Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7. This study adhered to the STROBE guidelines. RESULTS: The valid response rate was 96.8 % (N = 521). Overall, the score for FT was 19.63 ± 10.13. FT was significantly correlated with family resilience (r = 0.30, p < 0.010) and depression (r = -0.11, p < 0.050). The hierarchical multiple linear regression analysis showed that career status, monthly income, religion, and family resilience were the main factors influencing FT in patients with breast cancer (R2 = 0.37; F = 6.83; p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: FT was more prevalent among women from low-income career. Women with poor family resilience, no religious also suffer greater financial toxicity. It is necessary to pay more attention of the financial toxicity of female' low-income career, no religious belief and poor family resilience. Developing effective interventions based on family resilience might be helpful in promoting their well-being.

Electrolyte Chemistry toward Ultrawide-Temperature (-25 to 75 °C) Sodium-Ion Batteries Achieved by Phosphorus/Silicon-Synergistic Interphase Manipulation.

All-weather operation is considered an ultimate pursuit of the practical development of sodium-ion batteries (SIBs), however, blocked by a lack of suitable electrolytes at present. Herein, by introducing synergistic manipulation mechanisms driven by phosphorus/silicon involvement, the compact electrode/electrolyte interphases are endowed with improved interfacial Na-ion transport kinetics and desirable structural/thermal stability. Therefore, the modified carbonate-based electrolyte successfully enables all-weather adaptability for long-term operation over a wide temperature range. As a verification, the half-cells using the designed electrolyte operate stably over a temperature range of -25 to 75 °C, accompanied by a capacity retention rate exceeding 70% even after 1700 cycles at 60 °C. More importantly, the full cells assembled with Na3V2(PO4)2O2F cathode and hard carbon anode also have excellent cycling stability, exceeding 500 and 1000 cycles at -25 to 50 °C and superb temperature adaptability during all-weather dynamic testing with continuous temperature change. In short, this work proposes an advanced interfacial regulation strategy targeted at the all-climate SIB operation, which is of good practicability and reference significance.

A latent profile analysis of resilience and their relation to differences in sleep quality in patients with lung cancer.

PURPOSE: Sleep problems are a significant issue in patients with lung cancer, and resilience is a closely related factor. However, few studies have identified subgroups of resilience and their relationship with sleep quality. This study aimed to investigate whether there are different profiles of resilience in patients with lung cancer, to determine the sociodemographic characteristics of each subgroup, and to determine the relationship between resilience and sleep quality in different subgroups. METHODS: A total of 303 patients with lung cancer from four tertiary hospitals in China completed the General Sociodemographic sheet, the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale, and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index. Latent profile analysis was applied to explore the latent profiles of resilience. Multivariate logistic regression was used to analyze the sociodemographic variables in each profile, and ANOVA was used to explore the relationships between resilience profiles and sleep quality. RESULTS: The following three latent profiles were identified: the "high-resilience group" (30.2%), the "moderate-resilience group" (46.0%), and the "low-resilience group" (23.8%). Gender, place of residence, and average monthly household income significantly influenced the distribution of resilience in patients with lung cancer. CONCLUSION: The resilience patterns of patients with lung cancer varied. It is suggested that health care providers screen out various types of patients with multiple levels of resilience and pay more attention to female, rural, and poor patients. Additionally, individual differences in resilience may provide an actionable means for addressing sleep problems.

A metallic two-dimensional b-BS2 monolayer as a superior Na/K-ion battery anode.

Two-dimensional (2D) materials with light weight and ultra-high electrical conductivity are expected to exhibit high capacity as anodes of batteries. We have explored the curved square lattice BS2 (b-BS2) monolayer possessing a space group similar to the transition metal chloride (space group: P4̄M2). The electrochemical performance of the b-BS2 monolayer as the anode for various metal-ion batteries (Li, Na, K, Mg, Ca, and Al) has been investigated. It exhibits low diffusion energy barrier, high theoretical capacity, and low open circuit voltage for Na/K-ion batteries (SIBs/PIBs). The ultrahigh energy densities of 2146.08 and 715.36 mA h g-1 can be achieved with the stoichiometries BS2Na6 and BS2K2, respectively. Furthermore, the b-BS2 monolayer may be synthesized on the surfaces of metal substrate materials (Ag(111), Al(111), and Au(111)). These results indicate that the b-BS2 monolayer is a good candidate for the anode material of SIBs/PIBs.

Dynamic Li+ Capture through Ligand-Chain Interaction for the Regeneration of Depleted LiFePO4 Cathode.

After application in electric vehicles, spent LiFePO4 (LFP) batteries are typically decommissioned. Traditional recycling methods face economic and environmental constraints. Therefore, direct regeneration has emerged as a promising alternative. However, irreversible phase changes can significantly hinder the efficiency of the regeneration process owing to structural degradation. Moreover, improper storage and treatment practices can lead to metamorphism, further complicating the regeneration process. In this study, a sustainable recovery method is proposed for the electrochemical repair of LFP batteries. A ligand-chain Zn-complex (ZnDEA) is utilized as a structural regulator, with its ─NH─ group alternatingly facilitating the binding of preferential transition metal ions (Fe3+ during charging and Zn2+ during discharging). This dynamic coordination ability helps to modulate volume changes within the recovered LFP framework. Consequently, the recovered LFP framework can store more Li-ions, enhance phase transition reversibility between LFP and FePO4 (FP), modify the initial Coulombic efficiency, and reduce polarization voltage differences. The recovered LFP cells exhibit excellent capacity retention of 96.30% after 1500 cycles at 2 C. The ligand chain repair mechanism promotes structural evolution to facilitate ion migration, providing valuable insights into the targeted ion compensation for environmentally friendly recycling in practical applications.

Problem-Solving Skills Training for Parents of Children With Chronic Health Conditions: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Importance: Problem-solving skills training (PSST) has a demonstrated potential to improve psychosocial well-being for parents of children with chronic health conditions (CHCs), but such evidence has not been fully systematically synthesized. Objective: To evaluate the associations of PSST with parental, pediatric, and family psychosocial outcomes. Data Sources: Six English-language databases (PubMed, Embase, CINAHL, PsycINFO, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library), 3 Chinese-language databases (China National Knowledge Infrastructure, China Science and Technology Journal Database, and Wanfang), gray literature, and references were searched from inception to April 30, 2023. Study Selection: Randomized clinical trials (RCTs) that performed PSST for parents of children with CHCs and reported at least 1 parental, pediatric, or family psychosocial outcome were included. Data Extraction and Synthesis: Study selection, data extraction, and quality assessment were conducted independently by 2 reviewers. Data were pooled for meta-analysis using the standardized mean difference (SMD) by the inverse variance method or a random-effects model. Subgroup analyses of children- and intervention-level characteristics were conducted. Main Outcomes and Measures: The psychosocial outcomes of the parents, their children, and their families, such as problem-solving skills, negative affectivity, quality of life (QOL), and family adaptation. Results: The systematic review included 23 RCTs involving 3141 parents, and 21 of these trials were eligible for meta-analysis. There was a significant association between PSST and improvements in parental outcomes, including problem-solving skills (SMD, 0.43; 95% CI, 0.27-0.58), depression (SMD, -0.45; 95% CI, -0.66 to -0.23), distress (SMD, -0.61; 95% CI, -0.81 to -0.40), posttraumatic stress (SMD -0.39; 95% CI, -0.48 to -0.31), parenting stress (SMD, -0.62; 95% CI, -1.05 to -0.19), and QOL (SMD, 0.45; 95% CI, 0.15-0.74). For children, PSST was associated with better QOL (SMD, 0.76; 95% CI, 0.04-1.47) and fewer mental problems (SMD, -0.51; 95% CI, -0.68 to -0.34), as well as with less parent-child conflict (SMD, -0.38; 95% CI, -0.60 to -0.16). Subgroup analysis showed that PSST was more efficient for parents of children aged 10 years or younger or who were newly diagnosed with a CHC. Significant improvements in most outcomes were associated with PSST delivered online. Conclusions and Relevance: These findings suggest that PSST for parents of children with CHCs may improve the psychosocial well-being of the parents, their children, and their families. Further high-quality RCTs with longer follow-up times and that explore physical and clinical outcomes are encouraged to generate adequate evidence.

High anhydrous proton conductivity and a smart proton transportation approach of a sulfate coordination polymer.

We successfully synthesized a one-dimensional cobalt sulfate coordinating polymer, whose simple hydrogen bond web structure facilitated the analysis of the proton transfer process. At 175 °C, without humidity, the conductivity is 0.0311 S cm-1, which exceeds those of most of the organic inorganic hybrid materials under anhydrous conditions (world record rank 8). Based on its crystal structure and theoretical calculations, the subversive proton conduction pathway was inferred clearly. We, for the first time, found that the proton smartly chose the path with a lower energy barrier but not the one with short distance to transport avoiding short circuit.

Synergistic effect of organic matter-floc size-bound water and multifactorial quantitative model of optimal reagent demand in sewage sludge conditioning process prior to dewatering.

The high amount of densely hydrated organic substance present in sewage sludge impedes its filterability, thus restricting sludge disposal. Although chemical conditioning can facilitate filtration, the diverse sludge properties complicate the quantitative control of conditioning process. Investigating how to accurately quantify the optimal reagent demand (ORD) based on the critical physicochemical properties of the target sludge is an effective way to address the current issue. This study focused on the sewage and stockpiled sludge with varying properties, and their ORD under different chemical conditioning. The results showed that organic content, floc size, and bound water synergistically influenced conditioning process. The quantitative models were established between their coupling indicators and ORD, with coupling indicators including the ratio of organic content to floc size, the ratio of flow viscosity to floc size, and the ratio of the product of organic content and bound water to floc size. The linear correlation of the coupling indicator with ORD was higher than that of the traditional single-factor indicator. Furthermore, the inherent filterability of the sludge was somewhat separate from the adjustability of its filtration. A "dual-system" impact model was proposed to characterized the conditioning and filtration processes. These results provide theoretical guidance for the quantitative regulation of conditioning and filtration processes of sludge with complex characteristics.

Enhancing the Functionality of Immunoisolated Human SC-ßeta Cell Clusters through Prior Resizing.

The transplantation of immunoisolated stem cell derived beta cell clusters (SC-ß) has the potential to restore physiological glycemic control in patients with type I diabetes. This strategy is attractive as it uses a renewable ß-cell source without the need for systemic immune suppression. SC-ß cells have been shown to reverse diabetes in immune compromised mice when transplanted as ≈300 µm diameter clusters into sites where they can become revascularized. However, immunoisolated SC-ß clusters are not directly revascularized and rely on slower diffusion of nutrients through a membrane. It is hypothesized that smaller SC-ß cell clusters (≈150 µm diameter), more similar to islets, will perform better within immunoisolation devices due to enhanced mass transport. To test this, SC-ß cells are resized into small clusters, encapsulated in alginate spheres, and coated with a biocompatible A10 polycation coating that resists fibrosis. After transplantation into diabetic immune competent C57BL/6 mice, the "resized" SC-ß cells plus the A10 biocompatible polycation coating induced long-term euglycemia in the mice (6 months). After retrieval, the resized A10 SC-ß cells exhibited the least amount of fibrosis and enhanced markers of ß-cell maturation. The utilization of small SC-ß cell clusters within immunoprotection devices may improve clinical translation in the future.

Self-Adaptive Liquid Film: Dynamic Realization of Dendrite-Free Zn Deposition Toward Ultralong-Life Aqueous Zn Battery.

The poor reversibility and stability of Zn metal anode (ZMA) caused by uncontrolled Zn deposition behaviors and serious side reactions severely impeded the practical application of aqueous Zn metal battery. Herein, a liquid-dynamic and self-adaptive protective layer (LSPL) was constructed on the ZMA surface for inhibiting dendrites and by-products formation. Interestingly, the outer LSPL consists of liquid perfluoropolyether (PFPE), which can dynamically adapt volume change during repeat cycling and inhibit side reactions. Moreover, it can also decrease the de-solvation energy barrier of Zn2+ by strong interaction between C-F bond and foreign Zn2+ , improving Zn2+ transport kinetics. For the LSPL inner region, in-situ formed ZnF2 through the spontaneous chemical reaction between metallic Zn and part PFPE can establish an unimpeded Zn2+ migration pathway for accelerating ion transfer, thereby restricting Zn dendrites formation. Consequently, the LSPL-modified ZMA enables reversible Zn deposition/dissolution up to 2000 h at 1 mA cm-2 and high coulombic efficiency of 99.8% at 4 mA cm-2 . Meanwhile, LSPL@Zn||NH4 V4 O10 full cells deliver an ultralong cycling lifespan of 100 00 cycles with 0.0056% per cycle decay rate at 10 A g-1 . This self-adaptive layer provides a new strategy to improve the interface stability for next-generation aqueous Zn battery.