Metabolic coupling between soil aerobic methanotrophs and denitrifiers in rice paddy fields.

Paddy fields are hotspots of microbial denitrification, which is typically linked to the oxidation of electron donors such as methane (CH4) under anoxic and hypoxic conditions. While several anaerobic methanotrophs can facilitate denitrification intracellularly, whether and how aerobic CH4 oxidation couples with denitrification in hypoxic paddy fields remains virtually unknown. Here we combine a ~3300 km field study across main rice-producing areas of China and 13CH4-DNA-stable isotope probing (SIP) experiments to investigate the role of soil aerobic CH4 oxidation in supporting denitrification. Our results reveal positive relationships between CH4 oxidation and denitrification activities and genes across various climatic regions. Microcosm experiments confirm that CH4 and methanotroph addition promote gene expression involved in denitrification and increase nitrous oxide emissions. Moreover, 13CH4-DNA-SIP analyses identify over 70 phylotypes harboring genes associated with denitrification and assimilating 13C, which are mostly belonged to Rubrivivax, Magnetospirillum, and Bradyrhizobium. Combined analyses of 13C-metagenome-assembled genomes and 13C-metabolomics highlight the importance of intermediates such as acetate, propionate and lactate, released during aerobic CH4 oxidation, for the coupling of CH4 oxidation with denitrification. Our work identifies key microbial taxa and pathways driving coupled aerobic CH4 oxidation and denitrification, with important implications for nitrogen management and greenhouse gas regulation in agroecosystems.

A Novel Sodium-Potassium Anode Supported by Fluorinated Aluminum Foam.

Sodium-potassium (NaK) liquid alloy is a promising candidate for use as an anode material in sodium batteries because of its fluidity, which effectively suppresses the growth of sodium or potassium dendrites. However, the poor wettability of NaK alloy on conventional metal substrates is unfavorable for cell fabrication due to its strong surface tension. In this paper, low-density and low-cost fluorinated aluminum foam is used as a substrate support material for NaK liquid alloy. By combining low-surface-tension NaKC with fluorinated aluminum foam, we obtain a uniformly distributed and structurally stable electrode material. The composite electrode has a cycling stability of more than 3000 h in a symmetrical cell. Furthermore, when coupled with a sulfurized polyacrylonitrile cathode in carbonate electrolyte, it maintains excellent stability even after 800 cycles, with 72% of capacity retention.

Anxiety, pain intensity, and decision regret of living liver donors during postoperative period.

AIM: The aim of this study was to explore and examine the relationship between anxiety, acute pain intensity, and decision regret of living liver donors in the postoperative stage. METHODS: This is a prospective correlational study. Data were collected consecutively for one year (from September 2017 to September 2018) at a medical center in northern Taiwan. Information about anxiety and acute pain intensity was collected preoperatively and on postoperative day (POD) 3 and POD 7. Satisfaction with pain management and decision regret was inquired about on POD 7. RESULTS: Data of 57 consecutive living liver donors (56.1 % male, mean age 34.12 ± 9.92 years) were analyzed. Living liver donors experienced moderate anxiety and acute pain levels in the postoperative period. The mean score of decision regret was 12.63 (range 0-60), indicating a low level of regret. The acute pain intensity decreased significantly between POD 3 and POD 7 (p < .001); however, the anxiety level slightly increased (p = .031). Older and married living liver donors had higher anxiety levels. The satisfaction level of pain management was negatively correlated with the POD 7 acute pain intensity (r = -0.26, p = .049) and decision regret (r = -0.37, p = .005), but it was positively correlated with POD 7 anxiety (r = 0.38, p = .004). CONCLUSIONS: The postoperative period was hard for living liver donors as they would experience moderate acute pain and anxiety. Although the decision regret was low, the satisfaction level of pain management would negatively affect it. Therefore, the effectiveness of pain management and anxiety management should be continually ensured in the postoperative period.

Factors related to quality of life after video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery in patients with stage I adenocarcinoma lung cancer: A longitudinal study.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to assess the 5-year survival, quality of life for cancer- and lung-specific symptoms, and to identify predictive factors of quality of life during a 12-month period after video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) for early-stage lung adenocarcinoma. METHODS: A convenience sample of 53 patients who had undergone VATS for lung cancer was used for this longitudinal, prospective study. All participants provided responses to the cancer-specific quality-of-life European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer questionnaire as well as a questionnaire for lung cancer-specific symptoms using structured interviews at baseline (T0) and 3-, 6-, 9-, and 12-months post-surgery (T1, T2, T3, and T4, respectively). Generalized estimating equation models were used to investigate whether quality of life scores improved from baseline measures and to determine characteristics associated with changes in scores for quality-of-life post-surgery. RESULTS: The mean age of participants was 58.5 years (SD = 8.76), and most were female (64.2%). Participants received either a wedge or sublobular lobectomy (47.2%) or a lobectomy (52.8%). The size of the primary tumour for most participants was <2 cm (78.7%). The five-year survival rate was 90%. Lung-specific symptoms of insomnia were worse at T1 compared with baseline. Significant improvements in scores for function and cancer symptoms were seen at T4 compared with scores at T0. Age, marital status, smoking, alcohol consumption, and a history of previous cancer were significantly associated with quality of life. CONCLUSIONS: Surgical resection with VATS resulted in good 5-year survival rates and long-term improvements in quality of life. Our findings suggest VATS for patients with early-stage lung adenocarcinoma should be considered as a means of improving long-term survival and quality of life.

The impact of symptom distress on health-related quality of life in liver cancer patients receiving arterial chemoembolization: the mediating role of hope.

BACKGROUND: Trans-hepatic arterial chemoembolization (TACE) is a treatment option for liver cancer patients. It can prolong patients' survival but can also cause symptom distress. Symptom distress (SDs) can directly impact quality of life (QOL) and may indirectly influence QOL by lessening hope. In this study, we wanted to explore the mediating effect of hope on the relationship between SDs and QOL among patients with liver cancer receiving TACE. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted from December 20, 2017, to August 6, 2018, at a gastroenterology ward of a medical center. The participants were 92 liver cancer patients (69.6% male, mean age 67.8) who were admitted for TACE treatment. Information on SDs, hope, and QOL was collected by questionnaire on discharge day. Hayes' PROCESS model was used to test the mediating effect of hope on the relationship between SDs and QOL. RESULTS: The mean score and standard deviation (SD) of SDs, hope, and QOL were 32.08 (SD = 6.22), 27.09 (SD = 3.51), and 55.16 (SD = 17.33), respectively. SDs negatively impacts quality of life. The total effect of SDs on QOL was - 1.41 (95% confidence interval [CI]: - 1.96, - 0.86). The indirect effect via the mediation of hope was - 0.95 (95% CI: - 1.7, - 0.45). Hope partially mediated the effect of SDs on QOL. CONCLUSION: SDs after TACE is vital; it directly reduces a patient's overall QOL and can indirectly hinder it by reducing the patient's hope. In addition to symptom management, interventions that help patients maintain their hope are key to improving QOL among patients receiving TACE.

Constructing an In Situ Polymer Electrolyte and a Na-Rich Artificial SEI Layer toward Practical Solid-State Na Metal Batteries.

Sodium is one of the most promising anode candidates for the beyond-lithium-ion batteries. The development of Na metal batteries with a high energy density, high safety, and low cost is desirable to meet the requirements of both portable and stationary electrical energy storage. However, several problems caused by the unstable Na metal anode and the unsafe liquid electrolyte severely hinder their practical applications. Herein, we report a facile but effective methodology to construct an in situ polymer electrolyte and Na-rich artificial solid-electrolyte interface (SEI) layer concurrently. The obtained integrated Na metal batteries display long cycling life and admirable dynamic performance with total inhibition of dendrites, excellent contact of the cathode/polymer electrolyte, and reduction of side reactions during cycling. The modified Na metal electrode with the in situ polymer electrolyte is stable and dendrite-free in repeated plating/stripping processes with a life span of above 1000 h. Moreover, this method is compatible with different cathodes that demonstrate outstanding electrochemical performance in full cells. We believe that this approach provides a practical solution to solid-state Na metal batteries.

Post-Discharge Depression Status for Survivors of Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO): Comparison of Veno-Venous ECMO and Veno-Arterial ECMO.

Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) is one of the common invasive treatments for the care of critically ill patients with heart failure, respiratory failure, or both. There are two modes of ECMO, namely, veno-venous (VV) and veno-arterial (VA), which have different indications, survival rates, and incidences of complications. This study's aim was to examine whether depression status differed between patients who had received VV-ECMO or VA-ECMO and had been discharged from the hospital. This was a descriptive, cross-sectional, and correlational study of patients who had been discharged from the hospital at least one month after receiving ECMO at a medical center in northern Taiwan from June 2006 to June 2020 (N = 142). Participants were recruited via convenience and quota sampling. Data were collected in the cardiovascular outpatient department between October 2015-October 2016 (n = 52) and September 2019-August 2020 (n = 90). Participants completed the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale-Depression (HADS-D) as a measure of depression status. Post-discharge depression scores for patients who received VV-ECMO (n = 67) was significantly higher (p = 0.018) compared with participants who received VA-ECMO (n = 75). In addition, the mode of ECMO was a predictor of post-discharge depression (p = 0.008) for participants who received VV-ECMO. This study concluded that patients who received VV-ECMO may require greater mental health support. Healthcare professionals should establish a psychological clinical care pathway evaluated by multiple healthcare professionals.

Health-related outcomes of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation in adults: A cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Patients with critical illness may face challenges after hospital discharge; therapeutic outcomes of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) are typically measured by survival rate. However, ECMO is an integral part of treatment in critical care medicine, which requires an outcome measure beyond survival. Post-discharge health-related quality of life (HRQoL) is such an indicator. OBJECTIVES: To measure HRQoL in adult patients who had previously undergone ECMO and explore influential factors related to HRQoL. METHODS: This cross-sectional descriptive study used a convenience sample of patients discharged between April 2006-April 2016 after at least one month following ECMO. The study was conducted from October 2015 to October 2016, which included data collected from structured questionnaires: the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, Impact of Event Scale-Revised and Short-Form Survey-36-v2. Stepwise linear regression determined predictor variables of physical and mental HRQoL. RESULTS: Age of participants (N = 144) ranged from 24 to 81 years; long-term survival rate was 28.6% after a median follow-up of 1060 days (range = 44-3150 days). Mean scores for physical and mental components of HRQoL were 46.32 and 50.39, respectively. Level of HRQoL was low to moderate. Employment affected all physical components of HRQoL; depression was the main predictor for physical and mental components. Self-perceived health status and anxiety were also factors that influenced HRQoL. CONCLUSIONS: Variables of employment, self-perceived health status and mental health influenced HRQoL. Early assessment of these factors by healthcare professionals can allow integration of multidimensional interventions following hospital discharge, which could improve HRQoL for patients weaned from ECMO.

Long-Term Use of Statins Lowering the Risk of Rehospitalization Caused by Ischemic Stroke Among Middle-Aged Hyperlipidemic Patients: A Population-Based Study.

Background: The long-term effects of statin use on rehospitalization due to ischemic stroke (reHospIS) in hyperlipidemic patients are still unknown. Therefore, we aimed to assess the long-term risks of reHospIS for hyperlipidemic patients who were taking statins and nonstatin lipid-lowering medicines on a regular basis. Methods and Materials: The National Health Insurance Research Database in Taiwan was used to conduct a 6-year cohort study of patients >45 years old (n = 9,098) who were newly diagnosed with hyperlipidemia and hospitalized for the first or second time due to ischemic stroke (IS). The risk of reHospIS was assessed using Cox proportional hazards regression model. Results: Nonstatin lipid-lowering medicines regular users were associated with a higher risk of reHospIS compared to stains users (hazard ratio, HR = 1.29-1.39, p < 0.05). Rosuvastatin was the most preferred lipid-lowering medicine with lower HRs of reHospIS in hyperlipidemic patients whether they developed diabetes or not. Bezafibrate regular users of hyperlipidemic patients developing diabetes (HR = 2.15, p < 0.01) had nearly 50% lower reHospIS risks than those without diabetes (HR = 4.27, p < 0.05). Age, gender, drug dosage, comorbidities of diabetes and heart failure (HF), and characteristics of the first hospitalization due to IS were all adjusted in models. Moreover, increasing trends of HRs of reHospIS were observed from Rosuvastatin, nonstatin lipid-lowering medicines, Lovastatin, and Gemfibrozil to Bezafibrate users. Conclusion: Statins were associated with long-term secondary prevention of reHospIS for hyperlipidemic patients. Rosuvastatin seemed to have the best protective effects. On the other hand, Bezafibrate appears to be beneficial for hyperlipidemic patients developing diabetes. Further research into the combination treatment of statin and nonstatin lipid-lowering medicines in hyperlipidemic patients developing diabetes is warranted.

Genetic co-expression networks contribute to creating predictive model and exploring novel biomarkers for the prognosis of breast cancer.

Genetic co-expression network (GCN) analysis augments the understanding of breast cancer (BC). We aimed to propose GCN-based modeling for BC relapse-free survival (RFS) prediction and to discover novel biomarkers. We used GCN and Cox proportional hazard regression to create various prediction models using mRNA microarray of 920 tumors and conduct external validation using independent data of 1056 tumors. GCNs of 34 identified candidate genes were plotted in various sizes. Compared to the reference model, the genetic predictors selected from bigger GCNs composed better prediction models. The prediction accuracy and AUC of 3 ~ 15-year RFS are 71.0-81.4% and 74.6-78% respectively (rfm, ACC 63.2-65.5%, AUC 61.9-74.9%). The hazard ratios of risk scores of developing relapse ranged from 1.89 ~ 3.32 (p < 10-8) over all models under the control of the node status. External validation showed the consistent finding. We found top 12 co-expressed genes are relative new or novel biomarkers that have not been explored in BC prognosis or other cancers until this decade. GCN-based modeling creates better prediction models and facilitates novel genes exploration on BC prognosis.

Factors associated with registration for organ donation among clinical nurses.

PURPOSE: Healthcare professionals play an important role in the organ donation process. The aim of this study was to examine the organ donation registration rate and related factors among clinical nurses. MATERIAL AND METHODS: In this cross-sectional, correlational study, we used mailed questionnaires to collect data from four geographical areas and three hospital levels in Taiwan from June 6 to August 31, 2018. Two thousand and thirty-three clinical nurses participated in this study. RESULTS: Participants' mean age was 34.47 years, and 95.7% were women. Of them, 78.3% were willing to donate their organs and 20.6% had registered for organ donation after death. The results of logistic regression showed that in the personal domain, higher age (odds ratio (OR) = 1.03, p < 0.001), better knowledge of organ donation (OR = 1.09, p < 0.001), and a positive attitude toward organ donation (OR = 2.91, p < 0.001) were positively associated with organ donation registration, while cultural myths (OR = 0.69, p < 0.001) were negatively correlated. In the policy domain, the convenience of the registration procedure (OR = 1.45, p < 0.001) was positively associated with registration. A gap between willingness to donate and actual registration was observed. CONCLUSIONS: Personal factors played an important role in organ donation registration. Therefore, efforts to improve knowledge and inculcate positive cultural beliefs about organ donation among clinical nurses are recommended. There is also a need to cooperate with government policies to provide appropriate in-service training and policy incentives and establish an efficient registration process.

Improved Cycle Stability of LiSn Alloy Anode for Different Electrolyte Systems in Lithium Battery.

Lithium metal anode still confronts a series of problems at the way to commercialization though it has advantages in high energy density. The formation of Li dendrite is the major limitation need to be conquered. Here, a facile and simple LiSn alloy anode prepared by a direct metallurgy method is fabricated and evaluated in both liquid electrolyte and solid electrolyte. Structural analysis and electrochemical measurements reveal the promoted ionic transference of interface and enhanced cycling stability in different electrolyte systems, without dendrite formation. Furthermore, the application of this simple and sustainable LiSn alloy can be extended to more alloy anode and might unlock the next-generation anode in the future.

Using betaxolol for the prevention of paronychia induced by epidermal growth factor receptor inhibitors: a case-control cohort study.

BACKGROUND: High rates of posttreatment discomfort, infection, recurrence, and increased time to return to work have been noted after nail plate avulsion resulting from epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor(EGFR-TKI)-induced paronychia, which may even interrupt the course of treatment for EGFR-TKI therapy. Thus, we conducted this study to determine how effectively a topical ß-blocker, betaxolol, prevents EGFR-TKI-induced paronychia. METHODS: This case-control cohort study included a total of 131 non-small-cell lung cancer patients. The prevention group comprised 40 patients treated with topical betaxolol 0.25% solution to prevent paronychia while they received EGFR-TKI therapy. The control group comprised 91 patients who did not preventively use topical betaxolol 0.25% solution while receiving EGFR-TKI therapy. The patients' age, gender, antineoplastic regimen, duration of antineoplastic treatment before the appearance of lesions, number of involved digits (fingernails or toenails) with lesions, grading of paronychia, and pain score were recorded. RESULTS: In terms of the cumulative incidence of paronychia, significant differences (P < 0.01) were noted at both the 2nd and 3rd months after starting EGFR-TKIs. Furthermore, the average visual analogue scale scores were 3.125 and 6.29 in the prevention group and control group, respectively (P < 0.01). The average grades of paronychia were 1.5 and 2.12 in the prevention group and control group, respectively (P < 0.01). The average numbers of involved digits were 2.25 (range: 1-5 digits) in the prevention group and 3.03 (range: 1-7) in the control group (P = 0.07). CONCLUSIONS: Preventively using topical betaxolol can significantly decrease the incidence, VAS score, and grading of EGFR-TKI-induced paronychia.

Emerging roles of RNA methylation in gastrointestinal cancers.

RNA methylation has emerged as a fundamental process in epigenetic regulation. Accumulating evidences indicate that RNA methylation is essential for many biological functions, and its dysregulation is associated with human cancer progression, particularly in gastrointestinal cancers. RNA methylation has a variety of biological properties, including N6-methyladenosine (m6A), 2-O-dimethyladenosine (m6Am), N1-methyladenosine (m1A), 5-methylcytosine (m5C) and 7-methyl guanosine (m7G). Dynamic and reversible methylation on RNA is mediated by RNA modifying proteins called "writers" (methyltransferases) and "erasers" (demethylases). "Readers" (modified RNA binding proteins) recognize and bind to RNA methylation sites, which influence the splicing, stability or translation of modified RNAs. Herein, we summarize the biological functions and mechanisms of these well-known RNA methylations, especially focusing on the roles of m6A in gastrointestinal cancer development.

Usability of Wearable Devices With a Novel Cardiac Force Index for Estimating the Dynamic Cardiac Function: Observational Study.

BACKGROUND: Long-distance running can be a form of stress to the heart. Technological improvements combined with the public's gradual turn toward mobile health (mHealth), self-health, and exercise effectiveness have resulted in the widespread use of wearable exercise products. The monitoring of dynamic cardiac function changes during running and running performance should be further studied. OBJECTIVE: We investigated the relationship between dynamic cardiac function changes and finish time for 3000-meter runs. Using a wearable device based on a novel cardiac force index (CFI), we explored potential correlations among 3000-meter runners with stronger and weaker cardiac functions during running. METHODS: This study used the American product BioHarness 3.0 (Zephyr Technology Corporation), which can measure basic physiological parameters including heart rate, respiratory rate, temperature, maximum oxygen consumption, and activity. We investigated the correlations among new physiological parameters, including CFI = weight * activity / heart rate, cardiac force ratio (CFR) = CFI of running / CFI of walking, and finish times for 3000-meter runs. RESULTS: The results showed that waist circumference, smoking, and CFI were the significant factors for qualifying in the 3000-meter run. The prediction model was as follows: ln (3000 meters running performance pass probability / fail results probability) = -2.702 - 0.096 × [waist circumference] - 1.827 × [smoke] + 0.020 × [ACi7]. If smoking and the ACi7 were controlled, contestants with a larger waist circumference tended to fail the qualification based on the formula above. If waist circumference and ACi7 were controlled, smokers tended to fail more often than nonsmokers. Finally, we investigated a new calculation method for monitoring cardiac status during exercise that uses the CFI of walking for the runner as a reference to obtain the ratio between the cardiac force of exercise and that of walking (CFR) to provide a standard for determining if the heart is capable of exercise. A relationship is documented between the CFR and the performance of 3000-meter runs in a healthy 22-year-old person. During the running period, data are obtained while participant slowly runs 3000 meters, and the relationship between the CFR and time is plotted. The runner's CFR varies with changes in activity. Since the runner's acceleration increases, the CFR quickly increases to an explosive peak, indicating the runner's explosive power. At this period, the CFI revealed a 3-fold increase (CFR=3) in a strong heart. After a time lapse, the CFR is approximately 2.5 during an endurance period until finishing the 3000-meter run. Similar correlation is found in a runner with a weak heart, with the CFR at the beginning period being 4 and approximately 2.5 thereafter. CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, the study results suggested that measuring the real-time CFR changes could be used in a prediction model for 3000-meter running performance.

Effects of tyrosine kinase inhibitor therapy on skin toxicity and skin-related quality of life in patients with lung cancer: An observational study.

Epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor (EGFR-TKI) therapy is the primary treatment option for patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). However, one of the major adverse effects associated with this therapy is skin toxicity, which impacts the patient's quality of life. This study aimed to describe the severities and locations of skin toxicity, and to analyze their association with the quality of life in patients with advanced NSCLC who received EGFR-TKI therapy as first-line treatment.This cross-sectional and correlation study was conducted at a tertiary medical center in northern Taiwan between July 2015 and March 2016. Skin toxicity was assessed and graded using the National Cancer Institute Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (version 4.03). The Skindex-16 scale was used to measure the skin disease-related quality of life.A total of 146 NSCLC patients who received EGFR-TKI therapy within the first 3 months of diagnosis were included in this study; 93.2% of these patients experienced skin toxicities. Approximately 70% of the patients developed xerosis and pruritus, while 50% had papulopustular eruptions and paronychia. The mean skin symptom impact score was 5.38 (standard deviation = 2.65). The skin-related quality of life varied widely among the participants but remained acceptable (mean score = 13.96, standard deviation = 16.55). Skin symptoms correlated significantly with poor quality of life (r = 0.50, P < .001). Younger patients and those treated with afatinib were the most affected, reporting the poorest quality of life. Patients who required EGFR-TKI dose reduction had experienced more severe skin symptoms than had patients who did not require it (7.35 vs 5.01, P < .001).Skin toxicity related to EGFR-TKI treatment impacts the quality of life in patients with NSCLC. During the treatment period, skin assessment and tailored management should be incorporated into the daily care plan.

Upregulation of BCAM and its sense lncRNA BAN are associated with gastric cancer metastasis and poor prognosis.

Patients with metastatic gastric cancer (GC) have a poor prognosis; however, the molecular mechanism of GC metastasis remains unclear. Here, we employed bioinformatics to systematically screen the metastasis-associated genes and found that the levels of basal cell adhesion molecule (BCAM) were significantly increased in GC tissues from patients with metastasis, as compared to those without metastasis. The upregulation of BCAM was also significantly associated with a shorter survival time. Depletion of BCAM inhibited GC cell migration and invasion. Knockout (KO) of BCAM by the CRISPR/Cas9 system reduced the invasion and metastasis of GC cells. To explore the mechanism of BCAM upregulation, we identified a previously uncharacterized BCAM sense lncRNA that spanned from exon 6 to intron 6 of BCAM, and named it as BCAM-associated long noncoding RNA (BAN). Knockdown of BAN inhibited BCAM expression at both mRNA and protein levels. Knockdown of BAN suppressed GC cell migration and invasion, which was effectively rescued by ectopic expression of BCAM. Further clinical data showed that BAN upregulation was associated with GC metastasis and poor prognosis. Importantly, BAN expression was also significantly associated with that of BCAM in GC tissues. Taken together, these results indicate that increased expression of BCAM and its sense lncRNA BAN promote GC cell invasion and metastasis, and are associated with poor prognosis of GC patients.

Highly stable performance of lithium-sulfurized polyacrylonitrile batteries using a lean ether-based electrolyte.

Lithium dendrites are considered the worst problem for lithium metal batteries. Herein, an ether-based electrolyte is proposed for highly stable performance of lithium-sulfurized polyacrylonitrile batteries with lean electrolyte and high areal capacity. This lean ether-based electrolyte not only suppresses the growth of lithium dendrites, but also prevents the shuttle effect of lithium polysulfides and maintains low volatility. By employing this ether-based electrolyte in lithium-sulfurized polyacrylonitrile batteries, a reversible specific capacity of 670 mA h g-1 with 7 µl mg-1 electrolyte and 4 mA h cm-2, and a capacity fading rate of 0.08% per cycle for 300 cycles were obtained.

Strong texture in nanograin bulk Nd-Fe-B magnets via slow plastic deformation at low temperatures.

Nanograin magnets are potential candidates for ultrastrong magnets with high coercivity and high energy product. However, existing nanograin bulk magnets exhibit modest energy products because desired structures with nanoscale grain size and strong orientation (texture) are often difficult to obtain. This study describes a synchrony of the nanoscale grain size and strong texture in bulk Nd-Fe-B magnets by plastic deformation with slow strain rates at temperatures well below the melting point of the Nd-rich phase. High grain orientation (>90%) has been achieved for nanoscale grain sizes of 80-110 nm, giving the nanograin bulk magnets record high energy products (≥45 MGOe). Loosely-packed thick grain boundaries and creep-like stress-strain curves have been observed. Grain boundary mediated creep-like deformation is proposed as the mechanism for the high-degree nanoscale grain alignment under the deformation conditions without liquid phase. The effect of the strain rate on the texture and magnetic properties has been investigated systematically.