Aluminum Corrosion Chemistry in High-Voltage Lithium Metal Batteries with LiFSI-Based Ether Electrolytes.

High-voltage Li metal batteries (LMBs) based on ether electrolytes hold potential for achieving high energy densities exceeding 500 Wh kg-1, but face challenges with electrolyte oxidative stability, particularly concerning aluminum (Al) current collector corrosion. However, the specific chemistry behind Al corrosion and its effect on electrolyte components remains unexplored. Here, our study delves into Al corrosion in the representative LiFSI-DME electrolyte system, revealing that low-concentration electrolytes exacerbate Al current collector corrosion and solvent decomposition. In contrast, high-concentration electrolytes mitigate these issues, enhancing long-term stability. Remarkably, LiFSI-0.7DME electrolyte demonstrates exceptional stability with up to 1000 cycles at high voltage without significant capacity decay. These findings offer crucial insights into Al corrosion mechanisms in ether-based electrolytes, advancing our comprehension of high-voltage LMBs and facilitating their development for practical applications.

Real-space imaging for discovering a rotated node structure in metal-organic framework.

Resolving the detailed structures of metal organic frameworks is of great significance for understanding their structure-property relation. Real-space imaging methods could exhibit superiority in revealing not only the local structure but also the bulk symmetry of these complex porous materials, compared to reciprocal-space diffraction methods, despite the technical challenges. Here we apply a low-dose imaging technique to clearly resolve the atomic structures of building units in a metal-organic framework, MIL-125. An unexpected node structure is discovered by directly imaging the rotation of Ti-O nodes, different from the unrotated structure predicted by previous X-ray diffraction. The imaged structure and symmetry can be confirmed by the structural simulations and energy calculations. Then, the distribution of node rotation from the edge to the center of a MIL-125 particle is revealed by the image analysis of Ti-O rotation. The related defects and surface terminations in MIL-125 are also investigated in the real-space images. These results not only unraveled the node symmetry in MIL-125 with atomic resolution but also inspired further studies on discovering more unpredicted structural changes in other porous materials by real-space imaging methods.

Cation Enrichment Promotes High-rate CO Electroreduction to C2+ Liquid Products.

Electrochemical reduction of CO into valuable multicarbon (C2+) liquids is crucial for reducing CO2 emissions and advancing clean energy, yet mastering efficiency and selectivity in this process remains a tough challenge. Herein, we employ a surface-modification strategy using electrochemically active polymeric 1,4,5,8-naphthalenete-tracarboxylic dianhydride (PNTCDA)-modified copper nanosheets (PM-Cu) to rearrange reactive species in the electric double layer, where the PNTCDA triggers a distinctive enolization that anchor potassium ions (K+) onto the cathode surface under reduction condition. Electrochemical analysis and computational simulations revealed that this approach fine-tunes K+ distribution in the double layer, making the dehydration of hydrated K+ more efficient and reducing active water molecules at the interface, thus inhibiting the hydrogen evolution reaction while concurrently promoting CO reduction via enhanced C‒C coupling. For the first time, the PM-Cu catalyst demonstrates ampere-scale current densities with the exclusive selectivity of a C2+ liquid product yield exceeding 90%. Thus, by tailoring the local microenvironment with electrochemically active organics, it is possible to modulate CO reduction, improve sustainable energy storage, and increase industrial carbon utilization.

Crystalline Texture Reengineering of Zinc Powder-Based Fibrous Anode for Remarkable Mechano-Electrochemical Stability.

The challenge of inadequate mechano-electrochemical stability in rechargeable fibrous Zn-ion batteries (FZIBs) has emerged as a critical challenge for their broad applications. Traditional rigid Zn wires struggle to maintain a stable electrochemical interface when subjected to external mechanical stress. To address this issue, a wet-spinning technique has been developed to fabricate Zn powder based fibrous anode, while carbon nanotubes (CNTs) introduced to enhance the spinnability of Zn powder dispersion. The followed annealing treatment has been conducted to reengineer the Zn crystalline texture with CNTs assisted surface tension regulation to redirect (002) crystallographic textural formation. The thus-derived annealed Zn@CNTs fiber demonstrates great mechano-electrochemical stability after a long-term bending and electrochemical process. The fabricated FZIB demonstrates a remarkable durability, surpassing 800 h at 1 mA cm-2 and 1 mAh cm-2, with a marginal voltage hysteresis increase of 21.7 mV even after 100 twisting cycles under 180 degree twisting angle. The assembled FZIB full cell displays an 88.6% capacity retention even after a long cycle of a series of bending, knotting, and straightening deformation. It has been also woven into a 200 cm2 size textile to demonstrate its capability to integrate into smart textiles.

Iron-copper bimetallic photo-Fenton system promoted photothermal-hydrogen peroxide production for efficient low-temperature wastewater treatment.

Enhancing the velocity of the oxidation-reduction cycle is crucial for improving the catalytic efficiency of Fenton processes. Therefore, the development of an effective strategy for wastewater degradation at low temperatures is essential. In this context, we present the preparation of an NH2-MIL-88B (Fe)/CuInS2 S-scheme heterojunction. Specifically, CuInS2 nanoparticles are introduced onto the Ferro-organic skeleton, resulting in the exposure of a significant number of active surface sites. Furthermore, NH2-MIL-88B (Fe)/CuInS2 demonstrates an extended photoresponse into the long-wavelength region, which contributes to its excellent photothermal properties. Notably, the degradation rate of tetracycline in low-temperature aqueous environments reaches as high as 99.7 %, several times higher than that of the original sample. Additionally, the hydrogen production of NH2-MIL-88B (Fe)/CuInS2 is 2.23 times that of single NH2-MIL-88B (Fe) and 3.46 times that of single CuInS2. Moreover, the system exhibits good H2O2 evolution performance, forming an efficient photo-Fenton system. The charge transfer process in S-scheme heterojunction is confirmed using in-situ X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and electron paramagnetic resonance. Both transient photoluminescence and photo electrochemical tests further validate the enhanced photoelectrochemical properties of the NH2-MIL-88B (Fe)/CuInS2 S-scheme heterojunction. The exceptional performance of this system can be attributed to the synergistic effects of the S-scheme heterojunction and the bimetallic codoped photo-Fenton system. This research presents a novel approach for the breakdown of low-temperature wastewater using an improved photocatalytic Fenton system.

In-Situ Polymerized High-Voltage Solid-State Lithium Metal Batteries with Dual-Reinforced Stable Interfaces.

Solid polymer electrolytes (SPEs) represent a pivotal advance toward high-energy solid-state lithium metal batteries. However, inadequate interfacial contact remains a significant bottleneck, impeding scalability and application. Inadequate interfacial contact remains a significant bottleneck, impeding scalability and application. Recent efforts have focused on transforming liquid/solid interfaces into solid/solid ones through in situ polymerization, which shows potential especially in reducing interface impedance. Here, we designed high-voltage SSLMBs with dual-reinforced stable interfaces by combining interface modification with an in situ polymerization technology inspired by targeted effects in medicine. Theoretical calculations and time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (TOF-SIMS) analysis demonstrate that tetramethylene sulfone (TMS) and bis(2,2,2-trifluoromethyl) carbonate (TFEC) exhibit selective adsorption at the interface of the LiNi0.8Co0.1Mn0.1O2 (NCM) cathode and Li anode, respectively. These compounds further decompose to form a stable cathode-electrolyte interface (CEI) film and a solid electrolyte interface (SEI) film, thereby simultaneously achieving a superior interface between the SPE and both the Li anode and NCM cathode. The developed Li||SPE||Li cell sustained cycling for more than 1000 h at 0.3 mA cm-2, and the NCM||SPE||Li cell also demonstrated an excellent capacity retention of 86.8% after 1000 cycles at 1 °C. This work will provide valuable insights for the rational design of high-voltage SSLMBs with stable interfaces, leveraging in situ polymerization as a cornerstone technology.

Decoding human bone marrow hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells from fetal to birth.

Bone marrow (BM) is the dominant site of hematopoiesis after 20 post-conception weeks (PCWs), but the intricacies of hematopoietic development in fetal BM up to birth and its involvement in malignancies remain unknown. Here, we compared the single-cell transcriptomic profile of BM hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPCs) at the early (12-14 PCW), middle (19-22 PCW) second trimester, and the neonatal stage. The stemness of hematopoietic stem cell and multipotent progenitor (HSC/MPP) is established at the middle second trimester, then maintained until birth. Furthermore, differentiation potentials toward three lineages are enhanced after the middle second trimester for birth, accompanied by the upregulation of aerobic metabolism. Notably, decreased stemness in HSCs/MPPs and higher interferon signals in progenitors at the early second trimester rendered the HSPCs more proximal to leukemogenesis. Collectively, our work elucidated the dynamics of fetal hematopoiesis in preparation for birth, offering valuable insights into the pathological processes underlying leukemia.

Multiple pulp stones emerge across all teeth during mixed dentition: A case report.

BACKGROUND: This paper reports a rare presentation of multiple pulp stones (PSs) emerging in all teeth during mixed dentition. It offers valuable insights into the clinical diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis of multiple PSs, shedding light on their occurrence during the mixed dentition period. CASE SUMMARY: A 10-year-old girl presented with repeated pain in the mandibular right posterior teeth. Intraoral examination revealed carious lesions, abnormal tooth shapes, and anomalies in tooth number. Radiographic examinations showed multiple PSs with diverse shapes, sizes, and quantities in all teeth, alongside anomalies in tooth shape and number. Root canal therapy was initiated, but the patient initially lacked timely follow-up. Upon return for treatment completion, an extracted tooth revealed irregular calculus within the pulp cavity. CONCLUSION: This case underscores the importance of considering multiple PSs in mixed dentition, necessitating comprehensive evaluation and management strategies.

Influence of ground motion parameters on seismic response of a large-longitudinal-slope and small-radius curved girder bridge.

The mechanical performance of curved bridges under the action of an earthquake is complex. To obtain the influence of seismic parameters on the seismic response of curved girder bridges, this paper relies on a large slope small-radius curved steel box girder bridge (LSCGB) and selects seismic wave incidence angle, vertical component of ground motion, and site category as seismic parameters to carry out nonlinear time history analysis. Based on the analysis results of the case bridge, it is shown that the torsional vibration of the first 10 modes of LSCGB is significant, the modes are dispersed, and the contribution of high-order modes of vibration cannot be ignored. The most unfavorable seismic wave incidence angle is in the direction of 45°âˆ¼60° counterclockwise Angle from the central connection line of Pier No. 1 and Pier No. 4 of the bridge. The seismic response of the curved bridge components increases with the vertical seismic intensity, and the influence on displacement responses is more significant. The basic vibration period of curved girder bridges built on soft soil sites is extended by approximately 18.23%, and the seismic response of key components increases with the softening of the site soil. Therefore, when analyzing the seismic response of LSCGBs, the influence of vertical component of ground motion and site category should not be ignored.

Establishment and Validation of a Multiplex PCR Detection System for the Identification of Six Common Edible Meat Components.

OBJECTIVES: To establish a rapid, accurate, and sensitive multiplex PCR detection method for the simultaneous identification of the six common edible meats (beef, lamp, chicken, pork, goose, duck), and to evaluate its application value in meat adulteration identification. METHODS: Based on complete mitochondrial genomic sequences of six species in the GenBank database, DNA sequences (cattle：16S rRNA; sheep：COX-1; chickens：Cytb; pig：COX-1; goose：NADH2; duck：16S rRNA) with intra-species conservation and inter-species specificity were screened, and species-specific primers were designed to construct a multiplex PCR detection system that can simultaneously detect the meat of six common species. The species specificity, sensitivity and reproducibility of the system were studied, and the simulated mixture sample detection was performed. RESULTS: This study successfully constructed a multiplex PCR detection system that can detect the meats of six common species simultaneously. The system was not effective in DNA amplification of non-target species. When the DNA template sizes were 0.062 5-2 ng/µL, the amplified products of all six species could be detected. The duck component was still detected when the mixing ratio of duck and beef was as low as 0.5%. CONCLUSIONS: This study constructs and establishes a multiplex PCR detection system with strong specificity, high sensitivity, and good reproducibility. It can accurately identify the components of animal origin in common edible meats and provide a simple and practical method for identifying adulteration of common edible meats and meat products in China.

Research on the Analysis of Residual Stress in Heat Treatment of Bellows Using ABAQUS.

Taking austenitic stainless-steel bellows as the research object, a finite element model for the heat treatment of austenitic stainless-steel bellows was constructed based on ABAQUS CAE 2022. The physical properties of the bellows after the heat treatment were analyzed using experimental and simulated curve processing analysis methods. The changes in residual stress and deformation in relation to the bellows under different cooling times were explored, as well as the distribution of residual stress and deformation at a certain cooling time. The results show that as the cooling time of the heat treatment increases, the residual stress of the bellow decreases significantly, the reduction rate accelerates, and the degree of deformation gradually decreases. When the cooling time of the heat treatment is 900 s, the residual stress of the wave peak in the middle position of the bellow is relatively small, and the residual stress value of the wave valley along the axis direction does not change significantly. The deformation degree of the wave peak and valley axis direction is relatively uniform.

Safety and efficacy of Kaffes intraductal self-expanding metal stents in the management of post-liver transplant anastomotic strictures.

BACKGROUND: Endoscopic management is the first-line therapy for post-liver-transplant anastomotic strictures. Although the optimal duration of treatment with plastic stents has been reported to be 8-12 months, data on safety and duration for metal stents in this setting is scarce. Due to limited access to endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic in our centre, there was a change in practice towards increased usage and length-of-stay of the Kaffes biliary intraductal self-expanding stent in patients with suitable anatomy. This was mainly due to the theoretical benefit of Kaffes stents allowing for longer indwelling periods compared to the traditional plastic stents. AIM: To compare the safety and efficacy profile of different stenting durations using Kaffes stents. METHODS: Adult liver transplant recipients aged 18 years and above who underwent ERCP were retrospectively identified during a 10-year period through a database query. Unplanned admissions post-Kaffes stent insertion were identified manually through electronic and scanned medical records. The main outcome was the incidence of complications when stents were left indwelling for 3 months vs 6 months. Stent efficacy was calculated via rates of stricture recurrence between patients that had stenting courses for ≤ 120 d or > 120 d. RESULTS: During the study period, a total of 66 ERCPs with Kaffes insertion were performed in 54 patients throughout their stenting course. In 33 ERCPs, the stent was removed or exchanged on a 3-month interval. No pancreatitis, perforations or deaths occurred. Minor post-ERCP complications were similar between the 3-month (abdominal pain and intraductal migration) and 6-month (abdominal pain, septic shower and embedded stent) groups - 6.1% vs 9.1% respectively, P = 0.40. All strictures resolved at the end of the stenting course, but the stenting course was variable from 3 to 22 months. The recurrence rate for stenting courses lasting for up to 120 d was 71.4% and 21.4% for stenting courses of 121 d or over (P = 0.03). There were 28 patients that were treated with a single ERCP with Kaffes, 21 with removal after 120 d and 7 within 120 d. There was a significant improvement in stricture recurrence when the Kaffes was removed after 120 d when a single ERCP was used for the entire stenting course (71.0% vs 10.0%, P = 0.01). CONCLUSION: Utilising a single Kaffes intraductal fully-covered metal stent for at least 4 months is safe and efficacious for the management of post-transplant anastomotic strictures.

Grain Protein Content Phenotyping in Rice via Hyperspectral Imaging Technology and a Genome-Wide Association Study.

Efficient and accurate acquisition of the rice grain protein content (GPC) is important for selecting high-quality rice varieties, and remote sensing technology is an attractive potential method for this task. However, the majority of multispectral sensors are poor predictors of GPC due to their broad spectral bands. Hyperspectral technology provides a new analytical technology for bridging the gap between phenomics and genomics. However, the small size of typical datasets is a constraint for model construction for estimating GPC, limiting their accuracy and reducing their ability to generalize to a wide range of varieties. In this study, we used hyperspectral data of rice grains from 515 japonica varieties and deep convolution generative adversarial networks (DCGANs) to generate simulated data to improve the model accuracy. Features sensitive to GPC were extracted after applying a continuous wavelet transform (CWT), and the estimated GPC model was constructed by partial least squares regression (PLSR). Finally, a genome-wide association study (GWAS) was applied to the measured and generated datasets to detect GPC loci. The results demonstrated that the simulated GPC values generated after 8,000 epochs were closest to the measured values. The wavelet feature (WF1743, 2), obtained from the data with the addition of 200 simulated samples, exhibited the highest GPC estimation accuracy (R 2 = 0.58 and RRMSE = 6.70%). The GWAS analysis showed that the estimated values based on the simulated data detected the same loci as the measured values, including the OsmtSSB1L gene related to grain storage protein. This study provides a new technique for the efficient genetic study of phenotypic traits in rice based on hyperspectral technology.

Differences in Clinical Outcomes between One-Stage and Staged Flexible Ureteroscopy for the Treatment of Upper Urinary Tract Stones.

OBJECTIVE: Upper urinary tract stones (UUTSs) are among the most common types of urinary stones, and their incidence rate has been increasing annually in recent years, seriously affecting the daily lives of patients. This study aimed to compare the treatment efficacy of one-stage and staged flexible ureteroscopic lithotripsy (FURL) for UUTSs. METHODS: A total of 142 patients with UUTSs admitted to our hospital between December 2019 and March 2023 were selected for retrospective analysis, including 76 patients who received staged FURL (control group) and 66 patients who received one-stage FURL (observation group). The duration of surgery, length of stay, stone clearance rate, incidence of postoperative complications (from postsurgery to discharge), and total hospitalization cost were analyzed in both groups. The visual analog scale (VAS) score and activities of daily living (ADL) score were assessed before surgery (T0), 3 days after surgery (T1), and 7 days after surgery (T2). Patients were followed up for 1 month after surgery, and their quality of life was assessed using the MOS Item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36). RESULTS: There was no difference in the stone clearance rate or incidence of postoperative complications between the two groups (p > 0.05). The operation time, hospitalization time and hospitalization cost in the observation group were 75.58 ± 15.91 min, 4.20 ± 1.24 days and 14312.62 ± 1078.89 yuan, respectively, which were lower than those in the control group (p < 0.05). In addition, the VAS score at T3 was decreased to 1.49 ± 0.70, while the ADL and SF-36 scores were higher in the observation group (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: One-stage FURL shortens the duration of surgery and length of stay, reduces hospitalization costs, and improves the quality of life of patients with UUTSs.

High-Performance Organic-Inorganic Hybrid Conductive Hydrogels for Stretchable Elastic All-Hydrogel Supercapacitors and Flexible Self-Powered Integrated Systems.

Conductive polymer hydrogels exhibit unique electrical, electrochemical, and mechanical properties, making them highly competitive electrode materials for stretchable high-capacity energy storage devices for cutting-edge wearable electronics. However, it remains extremely challenging to simultaneously achieve large mechanical stretchability, high electrical conductivity, and excellent electrochemical properties in conductive polymer hydrogels because introducing soft insulating networks for improving stretchability inevitably deteriorates the connectivity of rigid conductive domain and decreases the conductivity and electrochemical activity. This work proposes a distinct confinement self-assembly and multiple crosslinking strategy to develop a new type of organic-inorganic hybrid conductive hydrogels with biphase interpenetrating cross-linked networks. The hydrogels simultaneously exhibit high conductivity (2000 S m-1), large stretchability (200%), and high electrochemical activity, outperforming existing conductive hydrogels. The inherent mechanisms for the unparalleled comprehensive performances are thoroughly investigated. Elastic all-hydrogel supercapacitors are prepared based on the hydrogels, showing high specific capacitance (212.5 mF cm-2), excellent energy density (18.89 µWh cm-2), and large deformability. Moreover, flexible self-powered luminescent integrated systems are constructed based on the supercapacitors, which can spontaneously shine anytime and anywhere without extra power. This work provides new insights and feasible avenues for developing high-performance stretchable electrode materials and energy storage devices for wearable electronics.

Evaluation of a novel vaginal cells self-sampling device for human papillomavirus testing in cervical cancer screening: A clinical trial assessing reliability and acceptability.

Cervical cancer is a significant public health concern, particularly in low- and middle-income countries where resources for prevention and treatment are limited. Routine screening, such as the Papanicolaou test (Pap smears) and human papillomavirus (HPV) testing, plays a crucial role in the early detection and prevention of cervical cancer. However, the participation rate in cervical cancer screening programs remains below optimal levels due to various factors. This study aimed to evaluate the reliability and acceptability of the HygeiaTouch Self Sampling Kit for Women in collecting vaginal samples for HPV typing, comparing the results with samples collected by physicians. The study included 1210 women aged 21-65 from three medical centers in Taiwan. The findings indicated that the self-sampling kit was as effective as physician-collected specimens in terms of obtaining valid samples and identifying HPV. The agreement between the two methods was 88%, with a κ value of 0.75. Furthermore, the study assessed the mechanical characteristics of the self-sampling applicator through tensile, bending, and torque tests, and determined that it was safe for intravaginal use. Additionally, the study evaluated the safety and satisfaction of self-sampling and found a low rate of adverse events (0.7%) and high levels of satisfaction (over 90%) among participants. Overall, we demonstrated that the HygeiaTouch Self Sampling Kit for Women is a reliable and acceptable device for HPV testing and cervical screening, providing a convenient, safe, and effective alternative for women.

Gut microbiota plays pivotal roles in benign and malignant hematopoiesis.

Accumulated evidence emerges that dynamic changes in human gut microbiota and microbial metabolites can alter the ecological balance of symbiotic hosts. The gut microbiota plays a role in various diseases through different mechanisms. More and more attention has been paid to the effects that human microbiota extends beyond the gut. This review summarized the current understanding of the roles that gut microbiota plays in hematopoietic regulation and the occurrence and development of benign and malignant hematologic diseases. The progress of the application of microbiota in treatment was discussed in order to provide new insights into clinical diagnosis and treatment in the future.