A Review on Multiple I-III-VI Quantum Dots: Preparation and Enhanced Luminescence Properties.

I-III-VI type QDs have unique optoelectronic properties such as low toxicity, tunable bandgaps, large Stokes shifts and a long photoluminescence lifetime, and their emission range can be continuously tuned in the visible to near-infrared light region by changing their chemical composition. Moreover, they can avoid the use of heavy metal elements such as Cd, Hg and Pb and highly toxic anions, i.e., Se, Te, P and As. These advantages make them promising candidates to replace traditional binary QDs in applications such as light-emitting diodes, solar cells, photodetectors, bioimaging fields, etc. Compared with binary QDs, multiple QDs contain many different types of metal ions. Therefore, the problem of different reaction rates between the metal ions arises, causing more defects inside the crystal and poor fluorescence properties of QDs, which can be effectively improved by doping metal ions (Zn2+, Mn2+ and Cu+) or surface coating. In this review, the luminous mechanism of I-III-VI type QDs based on their structure and composition is introduced. Meanwhile, we focus on the various synthesis methods and improvement strategies like metal ion doping and surface coating from recent years. The primary applications in the field of optoelectronics are also summarized. Finally, a perspective on the challenges and future perspectives of I-III-VI type QDs is proposed as well.

Neural Network-Based Hybrid Three-Dimensional Position Control for a Flapping Wing Aerial Vehicle.

This article presents a novel neural network-based hybrid mode-switching control strategy, which successfully stabilizes the flapping wing aerial vehicle (FWAV) to the desired 3-D position. First, a novel description for the dynamics, resolved in the proposed vertical frame, is proposed to facilitate further position loop controller design. Then, a radial base function neural network (RBFNN)-based adaptive control strategy is proposed, which employs a switching strategy to keep the system away from dangerous flight conditions and achieve efficient flight. The learning process of the neural network pauses, resumes, or alternates its update strategy when switching between different modes. Moreover, saturation functions and barrier Lyapunov functions (BLFs) are introduced to constrain the lateral velocity within proper ranges. The closed-loop system is theoretically guaranteed to be semiglobally uniformly ultimately bounded with arbitrarily small bound, based on Lyapunov techniques and hybrid system analysis. Finally, experimental results demonstrate the excellent reliability and efficiency of the proposed controller. Compared to existing works, the innovations are the put forward of the vertical frame and the cooperative switching learning and control strategies.

Dietary patterns and severity of symptom with the risk of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma and its histological precursor lesions in China: a multicenter cross-sectional latent class analysis.

BACKGROUND: Dietary patterns and symptoms research among Chinese with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) and its precursor lesions is limited, especially as it relates to multiple food consumption and multiple co-occurring symptoms. The aim of our study was to identify the dietary patterns and severity of symptom classes with the risk of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma and its histological precursor lesions, and develop a risk prediction model for different stages of esophageal disease. METHODS: We analyzed data from a multicenter cross-sectional study carried out in ESCC high incidence areas between 2017 and 2018, which included 34,707 individuals aged 40-69 years. Dietary patterns and severity of symptom classes were derived by applying a latent class analysis (LCA). A multiple logistic regression model was used to derive the odds ratio (ORs) and corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for ESCC and the different stages of esophageal disease according to the dietary patterns and severity of symptom classes identified. We built the risk prediction model by using a nomogram. RESULTS: We identified five dietary patterns and three severity of symptom classes. The dietary patterns were classified as follows: "Healthy", "Western", "Lower consumers-combination", "Medium consumers-combination" and "Higher consumers-combination" patterns based on the intake of foods such as red meat, vegetables and fruits. The severity of symptoms was categorized into "Asymptomatic", "Mild symptoms" and "Overt symptoms" classes based on health-related symptoms reported by the participants. Compared to the "Healthy" pattern, the other four patterns were all associated with an increased risk of esophageal disease. Similarly, the other two symptom classes present different degrees of increased risk of esophageal disease compared to the "Asymptomatic". The nomograms reflect the good predictive ability of the model. CONCLUSION: Among individuals aged 40-69 years in high incidence regions of upper gastrointestinal cancer, the results supplied that subjects with diets rich in livestock and poultry meat and low in fruits and vegetables and subjects with typical symptoms were at increased ESCC risk. The findings highlight the importance of considering food and symptom combinations in cancer risk evaluation.

Risk factors in the development of gastric adenocarcinoma in the general population: A cross-sectional study of the Wuwei Cohort.

Several risk factors have been identified for the development of gastric adenocarcinoma (GAC), where the control group was usually a healthy population. However, it is unclear at what stage known risk factor exert their influence toward the progression to cancer. Based on the Wuwei Cohort, we enrolled 1,739 patients with chronic non-atrophic gastritis (no-CAG), 3,409 patients with chronic atrophic gastritis (CAG), 1,757 patients with intestinal metaplasia (IM), 2,239 patients with low-grade dysplasia (LGD), and 182 patients with high-grade dysplasia (HGD) or GAC to assess the risk factors between each two consecutive stages from no-CAG to GAC/HGD using adjusted logistic regression. We found that different groups of risk factors were associated with different stages. Age, occupation of farmer, low annual family income, Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection, drinking, eating hot food, histories of gastritis and peptic ulcer were associated with the development of CAG. Age, illiteracy, H. pylori infection, smoking, eating hot food, eating quickly, and histories of gastritis and gallbladder diseases were associated with the progression to IM from CAG. Male, occupation of farmer and history of peptic ulcer were associated with the development of LGD from IM. Age, male and polyp history appeared to be risk factors associated with the development of GAC/HGD from LGD. In conclusion, it seems that most risk factors function more as a set of switches that initiated the GAC carcinogenesis. H. Pylori eradication and control of other risk factors should be conducted before IM to decrease the incidence of GAC.

Risk factors for esophageal squamous cell carcinoma and its histological precursor lesions in China: a multicenter cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Despite research efforts, the causative factors that contribute to esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) in high-risk areas have not yet been understood. In this study, we, therefore, aimed to describe the risk factors associated with ESCC and its precursor lesions. METHODS: We performed an endoscopic examination of 44,857 individuals aged 40-69 years from five high incidence regions of China in 2017-2018. Participants were classified as 4 groups of normal control, esophagitis, low-grade intraepithelial neoplasia (LGIN) and high-grade intraepithelial neoplasia/esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (HGIN/ESCC) using an unconditional logistic regression determine risk factors. RESULTS: We identified 4890 esophagitis, 1874 LGIN and 437 HGIN/ESCC cases. Crude odds ratios (ORs) and adjusted odds ratios were calculated using unconditional logistic regression. Drinking well and surface water, salty diet, and positive family history of cancer were the common risk factors for esophagitis, LGIN and HGIN/ESCC. History of chronic hepatitis/cirrhosis was the greatest risk factor of esophagitis (adjusted OR 2.96, 95%CI 2.52-3.47) and HGIN/ESCC (adjusted OR 1.91, 95%CI 1.03-3.22). Pesticide exposure (adjusted OR 1.20, 95%CI 1.05-1.37) was essential risk factor of LGIN. CONCLUSIONS: Among individuals aged 40-69 years in high incidence regions of upper gastrointestinal cancer, the results provided important epidemiological evidence for the prevention of different precancerous lesions of ESCC.

Prevalence and risk factors of Helicobacter pylori infection in Wuwei, a high-risk area for gastric cancer in northwest China: An all-ages population-based cross-sectional study.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to determine the prevalence and risk factors of Helicobacter pylori infection across all age groups in Wuwei City, a high-risk area for gastric cancer in Northwest China. METHODS: We conducted this study from 2016 to 2017 in an urban and a rural community in Wuwei City. Stool antigen tests targeted individuals aged 0 to 3 years old, and 13 C-urea breath tests targeted individuals aged above 3 years. We selected participants based on hierarchical cluster sampling. We assessed the association between variables and H. pylori infection based on logistic regression models. RESULTS: Ultimately, the results of 2,163 participants (age: 0 to 77 years old) were included (1,238 minors and 925 adults) in the analysis. The overall prevalence of H. pylori infection was 35.6%. It increased with age, reaching the peak in the 30 to 39 age group, and then began to decline. In multivariate analysis, age was positively associated with prevalence of H. pylori infection, and factors negatively associated with the prevalence were drinking running water, the frequency of yoghurt consumption, and an annual household income of Renminbi (¥) 30,000-100,000 or 100,000 above. In the subgroup analyses, however, the same variables associated differently in different age groups. Additionally, we interestingly noticed that boarding, eating at school cafeterias over six times per week, and frequently drinking untreated water were independent predictors of H. pylori infection in junior and senior high school students. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of H. pylori infection is moderate and closely associated with the socioeconomic conditions of Wuwei City, as well as the sanitary situations and dietary habits of the participants in the city. Boarding, eating at school, and drinking untreated water are the main factors explaining the rising infection rate in junior-senior high school students.

Carcinosarcoma and sarcomatoid carcinoma of the stomach: Two case reports.

RATIONALE: Carcinosarcoma and sarcomatoid carcinoma of the stomach are rare, malignant, and biphasic tumors with high mortality. The differential diagnosis of these 2 diseases remains challenging. In the present study, we present 2 cases of carcinosarcoma and sarcomatoid carcinoma of the stomach. PATIENT CONCERNS: A 54-year-old woman was admitted with complaints of epigastric pain for 4 months, but she became serious for 10 days accompanied by melena. A 75-year-old man was admitted with complaints of epigastric pain for 1 month. DIAGNOSIS: The female had a Borrmann type III irregular ulcerative lesion (5.0 × 4.0 × 1.0 cm) originating from the gastric antrum. The male had Borrmann type I tumor polypoid exophytic (5.0 × 4.0 × 2.0 cm) in the fundus of stomach near the cardia. Both cases were identified as malignant neoplasms by endoscopic biopsy and further confirmed by performing laparoscopic proximal gastrectomy, esophagogastrostomy, and palliative distal subtotal gastrectomy. The postoperative histopathological morphology and immunohistochemistry studies revealed sarcomatoid carcinoma for the female and gastric carcinosarcoma for the male respectively. INTERVENTIONS: The female patient subsequently underwent laparoscopy-assisted radical distal gastrectomy for gastric cancer followed by systemic chemotherapy with oxaliplatin plus tegafur. The male patient underwent laparoscopic proximal gastrectomy and esophagogastrostomy were performed. OUTCOMES: The female had a mixture of a little poorly-differentiated adenocarcinoma and abundant sarcomatoid spindle cell elements, and is still alive healthy up to date for 2 and a half years after surgery by phone follow-up. The male patient had both adenocarcinoma and fibrosarcoma in a single tumor, and died 1 month after the operation. LESSONS: The present study provides insight into the clinical findings, differential diagnosis, and prognosis of carcinosarcomas and sarcomatoid carcinomas of the stomach. More cases are needed for further studies in the future.

CoSe@N-Doped Carbon Nanotubes as a Potassium-Ion Battery Anode with High Initial Coulombic Efficiency and Superior Capacity Retention.

Potassium-ion batteries (KIBs) have gained significant interest in recent years from the battery research community because potassium is an earth-abundant and redox-active metal, thus having the potential to replace lithium-ion batteries for sustainable energy storage. However, the current development of KIBs is critically challenged by the lack of competitive electrode materials that can reversibly store large amounts of K+ and electrolyte systems that are compatible with the electrode materials. Here, we report that cobalt monochalcogenide (CoSe) nanoparticles confined in N-doped carbon nanotubes (CoSe@NCNTs) can be used as a K+-storing electrode. The CoSe@NCNT composite exhibits a high initial Columbic efficiency (95%), decent capacity (435 mAh g-1 at 0.1 A g-1), and stability (282 mAh g-1 2.0 A g-1 after 500 cycles) in a 1 M KPF6-DME electrolyte with K as the anode over the voltage range from 0.01 to 3.0 V. A full KIB cell consisting of this anode and a Prussian blue cathode also shows excellent electrochemical performance (228 mAh g-1 at 0.5 A g-1 after 200 cycles). We show that the NCNT shell is effective not only in providing high electronic conductivity for fast charge transfer but also in accommodating the volume changes during cycling. We also provide experimental and theoretical evidence that KPF6 in the electrolyte plays a catalytic role in promoting the formation of a polymer-like film on the CoSe surface during the initial activation process, and this amorphous film is of critical importance in preventing the dissolution of polyselenide intermediates into the electrolyte, stabilizing the Co0/K2Se interface, and realizing the reversibility of Co0/K2Se conversion.

Prevalence and associated risk factors of Helicobacter pylori infection in the Wuwei cohort of north-western China.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the prevalence of Helicobacter pylori infection and risk factors and to serotype the strains in Wuwei, located in north-western China, which has a high incidence of gastric cancer. METHODS: Helicobacter pylori infection was analysed in 21 291 adults by 14 C-urea breath test, and H. pylori antibody were detected in 9183 serum samples by latex immunoturbidimetric method. The correlation of H. pylori infection with demographic-economic, lifestyle factors and medical history among the participants was determined by questionnaire. The antibodies against H. pylori urease, VacA and CagA in serum were determined by dot immunobinding assay. RESULTS: The infection rate of H. pylori was 53.0%, and 90.1% of strains were type I strains. The H. pylori infection rate was higher among farmers (OR = 1.34, 95% CI: 1.19-1.50) and individuals who had a junior high school or higher education level (OR = 1.10, 95% CI: 1.06-1.15), and was lower in older individuals (OR = 0.86, 95% CI: 0.83-0.90), individuals with high income (OR = 0.93, 95% CI: 0.90-0.95), individuals with a habit of eating quickly (OR = 0.93, 95% CI: 0.87-0.99) and individuals who consumed more fruit and vegetables (OR = 0.90, 95% CI: 0.85-0.95). Individuals with history of cholecystitis/cholecystolithiasis, hypertension and asthma were negatively correlated with H. pylori infection (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The prevalence of H. pylori infection is high in Wuwei. The major prevalent strain is type I strain. Age, education, occupation, household income, consumption of fruit and vegetables, and habit of eating quickly are independent risk factors for H. pylori infection, which is also associated with individuals with a history of extragastric diseases.

OBJECTIFS: Evaluer la prévalence de l'infection à Helicobacter pylori et les facteurs de risque et déterminer le sérotype des souches à Wuwei, situé dans le nord-ouest de la Chine, où l'incidence du cancer gastrique est élevée. MÉTHODES: L'infection à H. pylori a été analysée chez 21.291 adultes par un test respiratoire à l'urée au 14 C, et des anticorps à H. pylori ont été détectés dans 9.183 échantillons de sérum par une méthode immuno-turbidimétrique au latex. La corrélation entre l'infection à H. pylori et les facteurs démographiques et économiques, le mode de vie et les antécédents médicaux des participants a été déterminée par un questionnaire. Les anticorps contre l'uréase de H. pylori, VacA et CagA dans le sérum ont été déterminés par un test dot par d'immuno-liaison. RÉSULTATS: Le taux d'infection à H. pylori était 53,0% et 90,1% des souches étaient du type I. Le taux d'infection à H. pylori est plus élevé chez les agriculteurs (OR = 1,34 ; IC95%: 1,19 à 1,50) et les personnes qui avaient un niveau d'instruction du premier cycle secondaire ou supérieur (OR = 1,10 ; IC95%: 01,06 à 01,15) et était plus faible chez les personnes âgées (OR = 0,86 ; IC95%: 0,83-0,90), les personnes à revenu élevé (OR = 0,93 ; IC95%: 0,90-0,95), les personnes ayant l'habitude de manger rapidement (OR = 0,93 ; IC9 %: 0,87-0,99) et les individus qui consommaient plus de fruits et de légumes (OR = 0,90 ; IC95%: 0,85-0,95). Les personnes ayant des antécédents de cholécystite/cholécystolithiase, d'hypertension et d'asthme avaient une corrélation négative avec l'infection à H. pylori (p <0,05 ). CONCLUSION: La prévalence de l'infection à H. pylori est élevée à Wuwei. La principale souche répandue est du type I. L'âge, l'éducation, la profession, le revenu du ménage, la consommation de fruits et de légumes et l'habitude de manger rapidement sont des facteurs de risque indépendants d'infection à H. pylori, qui est également associée à des personnes ayant des antécédents de maladies extra-gastriques.

Dual-Strategy of Cation-Doping and Nanoengineering Enables Fast and Stable Sodium-Ion Storage in a Novel Fe/Mn-Based Layered Oxide Cathode.

Iron/manganese-based layered transition metal oxides have risen to prominence as prospective cathodes for sodium-ion batteries (SIBs) owing to their abundant resources and high theoretical specific capacities, yet they still suffer from rapid capacity fading. Herein, a dual-strategy is developed to boost the Na-storage performance of the Fe/Mn-based layered oxide cathode by copper (Cu) doping and nanoengineering. The P2-Na0.76Cu0.22Fe0.30Mn0.48O2 cathode material synthesized by electrospinning exhibits the pearl necklace-like hierarchical nanostructures assembled by nanograins with sizes of 50-150 nm. The synergistic effects of Cu doping and nanotechnology enable high Na+ coefficients and low ionic migration energy barrier, as well as highly reversible structure evolution and Cu/Fe/Mn valence variation upon repeated sodium insertion/extraction; thus, the P2-Na0.76Cu0.22Fe0.30Mn0.48O2 nano-necklaces yield fabulous rate capability (125.4 mA h g-1 at 0.1 C with 56.5 mA h g-1 at 20 C) and excellent cyclic stability (≈79% capacity retention after 300 cycles). Additionally, a promising energy density of 177.4 Wh kg-1 is demonstrated in a prototype soft-package Na-ion full battery constructed by the tailored nano-necklaces cathode and hard carbon anode. This work symbolizes a step forward in the development of Fe/Mn-based layered oxides as high-performance cathodes for SIBs.

Structural Insight into the Abnormal Capacity of a Co-Substituted Tunnel-Type Na0.44MnO2 Cathode for Sodium-Ion Batteries.

Tunnel-type (T-type) Na0.44MnO2 (NMO) is a promising cathode material for sodium-ion batteries (SIBs) owing to its high rate performance and cycling stability compared to manganese-based layered oxides. However, the low specific capacity still restricts its practical applications. Herein, a Co-doped T-type NMO is synthesized through a facile solid-state reaction method and utilized as a cathode material for SIBs. A T-type Na0.44Mn0.9925Co0.0075O2 (NMO-3) electrode can deliver a high reversible capacity of 138 mAh g-1 at 0.1C, a superior rate capability (133, 130, 121, 106, and 93 mAh g-1 at 0.5, 1, 2, 5, and 10C, respectively), and excellent cycling stability (85.2% at 10C after 500 cycles). The substitution of Co3+ by Mn3+ leads to the enlargement of small and S-shaped tunnel spaces, which facilitates the insertion/deinsertion of Na+ into/from NMO-3 and greatly enhances its rate capability and cycling stability. Moreover, the reduced energy barriers for Na+ diffusion in small tunnels make the inactive Na+ easier to be deintercalated, which should be responsible for its high specific capacity that exceeds the theoretical capacity of T-type NMO.

Construction of heterostructured NiFe2O4-C nanorods by transition metal recycling from simulated electroplating sludge leaching solution for high performance lithium ion batteries.

NiFe2O4 has been regarded as one of the promising candidates for lithium-ion battery (LIB) anode materials due to its high theoretical specific capacity. However, the large volume expansion and pulverization of NiFe2O4 during the charge/discharge process result in severe capacity fading. Herein, heterostructured NiFe2O4-C nanorods have been successfully fabricated by recovering transition metals from simulated electroplating sludge leaching solution. The constructed NiFe2O4-C heterointerface plays a vital role in accommodating volume change, stabilizing the reaction products and providing rapid electron and Li+ ion transportation ability, resulting in a high and stable Li+ accommodation performance. The fabricated NiFe2O4-C nanorods demonstrate a high specific capacity (889.9 mA h g-1 at 100 mA g-1), impressive rate capability (861.5, 704.5, 651.4, 579.6 and 502.1 mA h g-1 at 0.2, 0.6, 1.0, 2.0 and 5.0 A g-1) and cycling stability (650.2 mA h g-1 at 2 A g-1 after 500 cycles). This work exemplifies a facile and effective approach for the fabrication of high performance LIB electrode materials by recycling metals from electroplating sludge in an application-oriented manner.

Building Hierarchical Microcubes Composed of One-Dimensional CoSe2 @Nitrogen-Doped Carbon for Superior Sodium Ion Batteries.

Designing and synthesizing highly stable anode materials with high capacity is critical for the practical application of sodium ion batteries (SIBs), however, to date, this remains an insurmountable barrier. The introduction of hierarchical architectures and carbon supports is proving an effective strategy for addressing these challenges. Thus, we have fabricated a hierarchical CoSe2 @nitrogen-doped carbon (CoSe2 @NC) microcube composite using the Prussian blue analogue Co3 [Co(CN)6 ]2 as template. The rational combination of the unique hierarchical construction from one to three dimensions and a nitrogen-doped carbon skeleton facilitates sodium ion and electron transport as well as stabilizing the host structure during repeated discharge/charge processes, which contributes to its excellent sodium storage capability. As expected, the as-prepared CoSe2 @NC composite delivered remarkable reversible capacity and ultralong cycling lifespan even at a high rate of 2.0 A g-1 (384.3 mA h g-1 after1800 loops) when serving as the anode material for SIBs. This work shows the great potential of the CoSe2 -based anode for practical application in SIBs, and the original strategy may be extended to other anode materials.

Diagnosis of severe scrub typhus infection by next-generation sequencing:a case report.

BACKGROUND: Scrub typhus is an acute febrile illness, which was caused by Orientia tsutsugamushi and transmitted through the bite of chiggers. The diagnosis of scrub typhus could be missed diagnosis due to the absence of the pathognomonic eschar. CASE PRESENTATION: A 76-year-old man was hospitalized with fever and kidney injury and was diagnosed of hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome first. However, the situation of the illness deteriorated into refractory septic shock and multiple organ dysfunction rapidly,although the treatment of anti-sepsis was used in 3rd-5th day. Orientia tsutsugamushi was determined to be the causative pathogen by Next-generation sequencing of his plasma sample in 6th day. Then, the patient was treated with doxycycline and azithromycin and recovered quickly. CONCLUSIONS: Next-generation sequencing was a new diagnostic technology and could identify scrub typhus in accurately and fast without the pathognomonic eschar.

In Situ Fabrication of Carbon-Encapsulated Fe7X8 (X = S, Se) for Enhanced Sodium Storage.

Sodium-ion batteries (SIBs) have been regarded as a promising alternative to lithium-ion batteries due to the natural abundance of sodium in the earth's crust. In our work, fusiform Fe7X8@C (X = S, Se) composites were obtained via a one-step pyrolysis strategy applied to SIB anode materials. The formed carbon skeleton could prevent the Fe7X8 nanoparticles from agglomeration and stabilize the interface of Fe/Na2X generated in the redox reactions. Fe7X8@C (X = S, Se) exhibits excellent reversible specific capacity (1005.3 mAh g-1 under 0.2 A g-1 for Fe7S8@C and 458.5 mAh g-1 under 0.5 A g-1 for Fe7Se8@C), outstanding rate performance (654.7 mAh g-1 for Fe7S8@C and 392.9 mAh g-1 for Fe7Se8@C going through 300 loops even under 2 A g-1), and excellent cycling properties (795.8 mAh g-1 after 50 loops under 0.2 A g-1 for Fe7S8@C and 399.9 mAh g-1 going through 150 loops under 0.5 A g-1 for Fe7Se8@C). The excellent electrochemical performance of Fe7X8@C composites makes them promising anode materials for SIBs.

Biomimetic Straw-Like Bundle Cobalt-Doped Fe2 O3 Electrodes towards Superior Lithium-Ion Storage.

Biomimetic straw-like bundles of Co-doped Fe2 O3 (SCF), with Co2+ incorporated into the lattice of α-Fe2 O3 , was fabricated through a cost-effective hydrothermal process and used as the anode material for lithium-ion batteries (LIBs). The SCF exhibited ultrahigh initial discharge specific capacity (1760.7 mA h-1 g-1 at 200 mA g-1 ) and cycling stability (with the capacity retention of 1268.3 mA h-1 g-1 after 350 cycles at 200 mA g-1 ). In addition, a superior rate capacity of 376.1 mA h-1 g-1 was obtained at a high current density of 4000 mA g-1 . The remarkable electrochemical lithium storage of SCF is attributed to the Co-doping, which increases the unit cell volume and affects the whole structure. It makes the Li+ insertion-extraction process more flexible. Meanwhile, the distinctive straw-like bundle structure can accelerate Li ion diffusion and alleviate the huge volume expansion upon cycling.

Construction of MoS2/C Hierarchical Tubular Heterostructures for High-Performance Sodium Ion Batteries.

Molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) has been considered to be a promising anode material for sodium ion batteries (SIBs), because of its high capacity and graphene-like layered structure. However, irreversible conversion reaction during the sodiation/desodiation process is a major problem that must be overcome before its practical applications. In this work, MoS2/amorphous carbon (C) microtubes (MTs) composed of heterostructured MoS2/C nanosheets have been developed via a simple template method. The existence of MoS2/C heterointerface plays a key role in achieving high and stable performance by stabilizing the reaction products Mo and sulfide phases, providing fast electronic and Na+ ions diffusion mobility, and alleviating the volume change. MoS2/C MTs exhibit a high reversible specific capacity of 563.5 mA h g-1 at 0.2 A g-1, good rate performance (520.5, 489.4, 452.9, 425.1, and 401.3 mA h g-1 at 0.5, 1.0, 2.0, 5.0, and 10.0 A g-1, respectively), and excellent cycling stability (484.9 mA h g-1 at 2.0 A g-1 after 1500 cycles).

Uniform Li deposition regulated via three-dimensional polyvinyl alcohol nanofiber networks for effective Li metal anodes.

Lithium metal anodes are considered to be the most promising anode material for next-generation advanced energy storage devices due to their high reversible capacity and extremely low anode potential. Nevertheless, the formation of dendritic Li, induced by the repeated breaking and repairing of solid electrolyte interphase layers, always causes poor cycling performance and low coulombic efficiency, as well as serious safety problems, which have hindered the practical application of Li anodes for a long time. Herein, we design an electrode by covering a polyvinyl alcohol layer with a three-dimensional nanofiber network structure through an electrospinning technique. The polar functional groups on the surface of the polymer nanofibers can restrict the deposition of Li along the fibers and regulate the deposition of Li uniformly in the voids between the nanofibers. Owing to the structural features of the polymer, the modified Li|Cu electrode displays excellent cycle stability, with a high coulombic efficiency of 98.6% after 200 cycles at a current density of 1 mA cm-2 under a deposition capacity of 1 mA h cm-2, whilst the symmetric cell using the polymer modified Li anode shows stable cycling with a low hysteresis voltage of ∼80 mV over 600 h at a current density of 5 mA cm-2.

The association of neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio, mean platelet volume, and platelet distribution width with diabetic retinopathy and nephropathy: a meta-analysis.

The aim of the present study was to investigate the correlation of neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR), mean platelet volume (MPV), and platelet distribution width (PDW) with diabetic nephropathy (DN) and diabetic retinopathy (DR). We searched for eligible studies from PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and CNKI up to 1 December 2017. Standardized mean difference (SMD) was calculated with a confidence interval (CI) of 95%. A total of 48 studies were included in our meta-analysis. Compared with patients with type Ⅱ diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and without DR, NLR, MPV, and PDW were higher in patients with DR (SMD = 0.77; 95% CI: 0.49-1.05; P<0.001; SMD = 0.68; 95% CI: 0.36-0.99; P<0.001; SMD = 0.52; 95% CI: 0.28-0.76; P<0.01). Compared with patients with T2DM and without DN, NLR, MPV, and PDW were higher in patients with DN (SMD = 0.63; 95% CI: 0.43-0.83; P<0.001; SMD = 0.81; 95% CI: 0.36-1.25; P<0.001; SMD = 0.70; 95% CI: 0.50-0.90; P<0.001). We also found that MPV was strongly associated with the severity of DR, and NLR was closely related to the degree of DN. Our findings indicated that NLR, MPV, and PDW could be recommended as inexpensive diagnostic biomarkers for DN and DR. However, considering several limitations in the present study, further high-quality clinical studies should be performed to investigate the relationship of NLR, MPV, and PDW to DN and DR.