Polyoxometalate solution passivation enabling dendrite-free and high-performance zinc anodes in aqueous zinc-ion batteries.

Zinc metal anodes in aqueous electrolytes commonly face challenges such as dendrite growth and undesirable side reactions, limiting their application in the field of aqueous zinc-ion batteries (AZIBs) for energy storage. Drawing inspiration from industrial practices involving molybdenum salt solutions for metal modification, a polyoxometalate solution was formulated as a passivation solution for zinc anodes (referred to as MO solution). The formed passivation layer, referred to as the MO layer, exhibited a uniform and protective nature with a thickness of approximately 10 µm. The experimental results demonstrated that this passivation layer effectively suppressed side reactions at the zinc anode interface, as evidenced by lower corrosion current density for MO-Zn anodes. Additionally, the newly plated Zn was uniformly deposited atop the MO layer, ensuring coating integrity and inhibiting dendrite growth. As a result, under more demanding conditions such as a larger current of 8 mA cm-2, the MO-Zn anode displayed an extended cycle life exceeding 420 h in a symmetric battery, with an overpotential as low as 98 mV. This performance significantly outperformed that of commercially available pure Zn foils (with a cycle life of 60 h and an overpotential of 192 mV). Notably, a self-made Na-doped V2O5 served as the cathode (referred to as NaVO), forming the MO-Zn//NaVO full battery. Even under high current test conditions of 2 A/g, the specific capacity of the MO-Zn//NaVO full battery remained substantial at 152.83 mAh/g after 1000 cycles. Furthermore, pouch batteries assembled with NaVO//MO-Zn successfully illuminated small bulbs. This study offers a viable optimization strategy for AZIB anodes and demonstrates the potential of using polyoxometalate solution for etching zinc anodes to inhibit dendrite growth and interfacial corrosion of zinc metal anodes.

Printing 3D mesh-like grooves on zinc surface to enhance the stability of aqueous zinc ion batteries.

Aqueous zinc ion batteries (AZIBs) are receiving broad attention owing to their high safety and low cost. However, the high mechanical strength and irreversible growth of zinc dendrites limit the practical application of AZIBs. Herein, regular mesh-like gullies are built on the surface of zinc foil (M150 Zn) by using simple model pressing method and stainless steel mesh as a mold. Due to the charge-enrichment effect, zinc ion deposition and stripping will be preferentially carried out in the grooves to keep the outer surface flat. In addition, zinc is exposed to 002 crystal surface in the gully after being pressed, and the deposited zinc is more inclined to grow at a small angle, so that it has a sedimentary morphology parallel to the basement. Consequently, at a current density of 0.5 mA cm-2, the M150 zinc anode has a voltage hysteresis of only 35 mV and a cycle life of up to 400 h (relative to a zinc foil of 96 mV and 160 h). Even more imposing is that the full cell has a capacity retention of approximately 100% after 1000 cycles at 2 A g-1 and a specific capacity of almost 60 mAh g-1 when activated carbon is used as the cathode. It is a promising method to improve the stable cycle performance of AZIBs by using a simple method to realize the non-prominent dendrites on the surface of zinc electrode.

Nitrogen-rich Graphite Flake from Hemp as Anode Material for High Performance Lithium-ion Batteries.

Biomass-derived carbon (BC) has attracted extensive attention as anode material for lithium ion batteries (LiBs) due to its natural hierarchical porous structure and rich heteroatoms that can adsorb Li+ . However, the specific surface area of pure biomass carbon is generally small, so we can help NH3 and inorganic acid produced by urea decomposition to strip biomass, improve its specific surface area and enrich nitrogen elements. The nitrogen-rich graphite flake obtained by the above treatment of hemp is named NGF. The product that has a high nitrogen content of 10.12% has a high specific surface area of 1151.1 m2 g-1 . In the lithium ion battery test, the capacity of NGF is 806.6 mAh g-1 at 30 mA g-1 , which is twice than that of BC. NGF also showed excellent performance that is 429.2 mAh g-1 under high current testing at 2000 mA g-1 . The reaction process kinetics is analyzed and we found that the outstanding rate performance is attributed to the large-scale capacitance control. In addition, the results of the constant current intermittent titration test indicate that the diffusion coefficient of NGF is greater than that of BC. This work proposes a simple method of nitrogen-rich activated carbon, which has a significantly commercial prospect.

Association between ADAMTS7 polymorphism and carotid artery plaque vulnerability.

Recent genome-wide association studies (GWAS) indicated that polymorphisms in ADAMTS7 were associated with artery disease caused by atherosclerosis. However, the correlation between the ADAMTS7 polymorphism and plaque stability remains unclear. The objective of this study was to evaluate the association between 2 ADAMTS7 variants rs3825807 and rs7173743 and ischemic stroke or atherosclerotic plaque vulnerability.This research is an observational study. Patients with ischemic stroke and normal control individuals admitted to Beijing Tiantan Hospital from May 2014 to October 2017 were enrolled. High-resolution magnetic resonance imaging was used to distinguish vulnerable and stable carotid plaques. The ADAMTS7 SNPs were genotyped using TaqMan assays on real-time PCR system. The multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to adjust for multiple risk factors between groups.Three hundred twenty-six patients with ischemic stroke (189 patients with vulnerable plaque and 81 patients with stable plaque) and 432 normal controls were included. ADAMTS7 polymorphisms of both rs7173743 and rs3825807 were associated with carotid plaque vulnerability but not the prevalence of ischemic stroke. The T/T genotype of rs7173743 [odds ratio (OR) = 1.885, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.067-3.328, P = .028] and A/A genotype of rs3825807 (OR = 2.146, 95% CI = 1.163-3.961, P = .013) were considered as risk genotypes for vulnerable plaque susceptibility.In conclusion, ADAMTS7 variants rs3825807 and rs7173743 are associated with the risk for carotid plaque vulnerability.

Cortical representation of facial and tongue movements: a task functional magnetic resonance imaging study.

BACKGROUND: Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) mapping can present the activated cortical area during movement, while little is known about precise location in facial and tongue movements. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the representation of facial and tongue movements by task fMRI. METHODS: Twenty right-handed healthy subjects were underwent block design task fMRI examination. Task movements included lip pursing, cheek bulging, grinning and vertical tongue excursion. Statistical parametric mapping (SPM8) was applied to analysis the data. RESULTS: One-sample t-test was used to calculate the common activation area between facial and tongue movements. Also, paired t-test was used to test for areas of over- or underactivation in tongue movement compared with each group of facial movements. CONCLUSIONS: The common areas within facial and tongue movements suggested the similar motor circuits of activation in both movements. Prior activation in tongue movement was situated laterally and inferiorly in sensorimotor area relative to facial movements. Prior activation of tongue movement was investigated in left superior parietal lobe relative to lip pursing. Also, prior activation in bilateral cuneus lobe in grinning compared with tongue movement was detected.

Time-course of Changes in Activation Among Facial Nerve Injury: A Functional Imaging Study.

Patients suffering different intervals of facial nerve injury were investigated by functional magnetic resonance imaging to study changes in activation within cortex.Forty-five patients were divided into 3 groups based on intervals of facial nerve injury. Another 16 age and sex-matched healthy participants were included as a control group. Patients and healthy participants underwent task functional magnetic resonance imaging (eye blinking and lip pursing) examination.Functional reorganization after facial nerve injury is dynamic and time-dependent. Correlation between activation in sensorimotor area and intervals of facial nerve injury was significant, with a Pearson correlation coefficient of -0.951 (P < 0.001) in the left sensorimotor area and a Pearson correlation coefficient of 0.333 (P = 0.025) in the right sensorimotor area.Increased activation in integration areas, such as supramarginal gyrus and precunes lobe, could be detected in the early-middle stage of facial dysfunction compared with normal individuals. Decreased activation in sensorimotor area contralateral to facial nerve injury could be found in late stage of facial dysfunction compared with normal individuals. Dysfunction in the facial nerve has devastating effects on the activity of sensorimotor areas, whereas enhanced intensity in the sensorimotor area ipsilateral to the facial nerve injury in middle stage of facial dysfunction suggests the possible involvement of interhemispheric reorganization. Behavioral or brain stimulation technique treatment in this stage could be applied to alter reorganization within sensorimotor area in the rehabilitation of facial function, monitoring of therapeutic efficacy, and improvement in therapeutic intervention along the course of recovery.

"Dynamic spot sign" on CT perfusion source images predicts haematoma expansion in acute intracerebral haemorrhage.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the association between dynamic progressive enhancing foci ("dynamic spot sign") in acute haematoma on CT perfusion source images (CTP-SI) and haematoma expansion. METHODS: One hundred twelve consecutive patients with spontaneous intracerebral haemorrhage according to unenhanced CT, CTP and CT angiography within 6 h of symptom onset were prospectively evaluated. Patients were dichotomised according to the presence/absence of the dynamic spot sign on CTP-SI in haematoma. The predictive value of haematoma expansion was analysed. RESULTS: Haematoma expansion was detected in 28 patients (25.0 %) on follow-up unenhanced CT images. Thirty patients (26.8 %) demonstrated the dynamic spot sign on CTP-SI, about 83.3 % of patients with haematoma expansion (P < 0.001). Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value and kappa value for expansion were 89.3 %, 94.0 %, 96.3 %, 83.3 % and 0.814, respectively. In multiple regression, the presence of the CTP dynamic spot sign within acute haematomas independently predicted haematoma expansion; the univariate analysis OR value was 131.667 (29.386-590.289), P < 0.0001. Moreover, the multivariate analysis CTP dynamic spot sign OR value was 203.996 (32.123-1295.488), P < 0.0001. CONCLUSIONS: The CTP-SI dynamic spot sign is associated with acute haematoma expansion, is more direct in showing active ongoing bleeding and has a higher predictive value than the CTA spot sign. KEY POINTS: • It is important to identify potential progression of spontaneous intracerebral haemorrhage. • Dynamic enhancement within CT perfusion source images is associated with haemorrhage expansion. • The CTP dynamic spot sign may be present throughout arterial to venous phase imaging. • The CTP dynamic spot sign carries a higher predive value for haematoma expansion than CTA.

Distribution of wall shear stress in carotid plaques using magnetic resonance imaging and computational fluid dynamics analysis: a preliminary study.

BACKGROUND: Wall shear stress is an important factor in the destabilization of atherosclerotic plaques. The purpose of this study was to assess the distribution of wall shear stress in advanced carotid plaques using high resolution magnetic resonance imaging and computational fluid dynamics. METHODS: Eight diseased internal carotid arteries in seven patients were evaluated. High resolution magnetic resonance imaging was used to visualize the plaque structures, and the mechanic stress in the plaque was obtained by combining vascular imaging post-processing with computational fluid dynamics. RESULTS: Wall shear stresses in the plaques in all cases were higher than those in control group. Maximal shear stresses in the plaques were observed at the top of plaque hills, as well as the shoulders of the plaques. Among them, the maximal shear stress in the ruptured plaque was observed in the rupture location in three cases and at the shoulder of fibrous cap in two cases. The maximal shear stress was also seen at the region of calcification, in thrombus region and in the thickest region of plaque in the other three cases, respectively. CONCLUSION: Determination of maximal shear stress at the plaque may be useful for predicting the rupture location of the plaque and may play an important role in assessing plaque vulnerability.

Clinical value of computed tomography perfusion source images in acute stroke.

Computed tomography perfusion (CTP) map can sensitively and accurately distinguish between infarct core and ischemic penumbra. However, CTP mapping software might not generate a perfusion map because of head movement; thus, analysing CTP source images (CTP-SI) is necessary in this situation to provide information for stroke diagnosis and therapy. In our work, 'one-stop shop' computed tomography (CT) examination including non-contrast-enhanced CT (NCCT), CTP, CT angiography (CTA) were performed in 24 patients with symptoms of acute stroke less than 9 hours. We divided patients into two groups (with and without delayed perfusion on CTP-SI), and compared the Alberta Stroke Program Early CT Score (ASPECTS) on CTP-SI and CTA-SI with follow-up imaging. Using follow-up imaging ASPECTS as the final infarct size, our results suggests that the ASPECTS of both CTP-SI and CTA-SI effectively predict final infarct core in the group without delayed perfusion, whereas CTP-SI has a potential advantage over CTA-SI in being able to predict final infarct core in the group with delayed perfusion. In conclusion, CTP-SI provides useful complementary information when CTP map software could not generate perfusion maps.

Computed tomography perfusion source images assessment of infarct core and penumbra in acute stroke.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to develop a methodology on computed tomography (CT) perfusion source images for an acute ischemic stroke in predicting infarct core and penumbra. METHODS: Computed tomography examinations, including non-contrast enhanced CT, CT perfusion and CT angiography, were performed on 24 patients with symptoms of stroke in less than 9 hours. The Alberta Stroke Program Early CT Score (ASPECTS) was analysed on arterial and venous phase CT perfusion source images and then compared with the ASPECTS on follow-up imaging for an efficacy assessment. RESULTS: The ASPECTS on arterial phase CT perfusion source images was significantly different from venous phase CT perfusion source images (z=-2.812, p=0.005); linear regression analysis revealed that there was a statistically significant relationship between venous phase CT perfusion source images and the follow-up imaging (beta=0.715, p=0.003). CONCLUSION: The limited data suggested that CT perfusion source images of both arterial and venous phases may have the potential of being used as an assessment for infarct core and penumbra in acute ischemic stroke.

Brain magnetic resonance elastography on healthy volunteers: a safety study.

BACKGROUND: Magnetic resonance elastography (MRE) is a recently developed imaging technique that can directly visualize and quantitatively measure tissue elasticity. PURPOSE: To evaluate the safety of brain MRE on human subjects. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study included 20 healthy volunteers. MRE sequence scan (drive signal not applied to external force actuator) and MRE study were separately performed on each volunteer at an interval of more than 24 hours. The heart rate and blood pressure of each volunteer were measured immediately before and after MRE sequence scan and MRE study. Electroencephalography (EEG) was also performed within 2 hours after each scan. The volunteers were asked about their experience of the two scans. Randomized-block analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to analyze the data of blood pressure and heart rate. Paired t test was used to analyze the data of the two EEG examinations. The volunteers were followed up 1 week after the examination. RESULTS: All procedures were performed on each volunteer, and no one complained of obvious discomfort. No related adverse events were reported during follow-up. There was no statistically significant difference in heart rate or blood pressure. There was a statistically significant difference (P<0.05) in EEG results in the right temporoparietal region. Increased power was found in the theta, delta, alpha, and beta2 bands. No brain injury was detected by the EEG examinations. CONCLUSION: Based on the study results, brain MRE examinations are safe to perform on human subjects.