Achieving high-capacity and durable sodium storage by constructing a binder-free nanotube array architecture of iron phosphide/carbon

The conversion-type anode material of iron phosphide (FeP) promises enormous prospects for Na-ion battery technology due to its high theoretical capacity and cost-effectiveness. However, the poor reaction kinetics and large volume expansion of FeP significantly degrade the sodium storage, which remains a daunting challenge. Herein, we demonstrate a binder-free nanotube array architecture constructed by FeP@C hybrid on carbon cloth as advanced anodes to achieve fast and stable sodium storage. The nanotubular structure functions in multiple roles of providing short electron/ion transport distances, smooth electrolyte diffusion channels, and abundant active sites. The carbon layer could not only pave high-speed pathways for electron conductance but also cushion the volume change of FeP. Benefiting from these structural virtues, the FeP@C anode receives a high reversible capacity of 881.7 mAh/g at 0.1 A/g, along with a high initial Coulombic efficiency of 90% and excellent rate capability and cyclability in half and full cells. Moreover, the sodium energy reaction kinetics and mechanism of FeP@C are systematically studied. The present work offers a rational design and construction of high-capacity anode materials for high-energy-density Na-ion batteries.

Molecular Engineering to Regulate the Pseudo-Graphitic Structure of Hard Carbon for Superior Sodium Energy Storage

Resin-derived hard carbons have shown great advantages in serving as promising anode materials for sodium-ion batteries due to their flexible microstructure tunability. However, it remains a daunting challenge to rationally regulate the pseudo-graphitic crystallite and defect of hard carbon toward advanced sodium storage performance. Herein, a molecular engineering strategy is demonstrated to modulate the cross-linking degree of phenolic resin and thus optimize the microstructure of hard carbon. Remarkably, the resorcinol endows resin with a moderate cross-linking degree, which can finely tune the pseudo-graphitic structure with enlarged interlayer spacing and restricted surface defects. As a consequence, the optimal hard carbon delivers a notable reversible capacity of 334.3 mAh g-1 at 0.02 A g-1, a high initial Coulombic efficiency of 82.1%, superior rate performance of 103.7 mAh g-1 at 2 A g-1, and excellent cycling durability over 5000 cycles. Furthermore, kinetic analysis and in situ Raman spectroscopy are performed to reveal the electrochemical advantage and sodium storage mechanism. This study fundamentally sheds light on the molecular design of resin-based hard carbons to advance sodium energy for scale-up applications.

[Intraoperative neuromonitoring in surgery of cervical neurogenic tumors]

Objective: To investigate the application value of intraoperative motor nerve monitoring in cervical neurogenic tumor surgery. Methods: The efficacy of intraoperative neuromonitoring (IONM) was analyzed retrospectively in 18 patients, including 6 males and 12 females, aged from 15 to 74 years, treated in Affiliated Drum Tower Hospital, Medical School of Nanjing University from June 2019 to September 2022 who underwent total cystectomy of cervical neurogenic tumors under intraoperative nerve monitoring. Results: All 18 patients had complete tumor removal, including 8 patients with tumors from the vagus nerve and 10 patients with tumors from the brachial plexus nerve. Postoperative nerve functions were normal in patients with tumors from brachial plexus nerve, and incomplete vocal cord paralysis occurred in 2 patients with tumors from vagus vagus nerve. The total incidence of motor nerve injury was 11.1% (2/18). All patients were followed up for 6 to 45 months, with no tumor recurrence. Conclusion: Intraoperative neuromonitoring has significant values in surgery of cervical neurogenic tumors, which is helpful to remove completely the tumors on the basis of protecting the nerve functions to the maximum extent.

Discovery of New Isotopes ^{160}Os and ^{156}W: Revealing Enhanced Stability of the N=82 Shell Closure on the Neutron-Deficient Side

Using the fusion-evaporation reaction ^{106}Cd(^{58}Ni,4n)^{160}Os and the gas-filled recoil separator SHANS, two new isotopes _{76}^{160}Os and _{74}^{156}W have been identified. The α decay of ^{160}Os, measured with an α-particle energy of 7080(26) keV and a half-life of 201_{-37}^{+58}  μs, is assigned to originate from the ground state. The daughter nucleus ^{156}W is a β^{+} emitter with a half-life of 291_{-61}^{+86}  ms. The newly measured α-decay data allow us to derive α-decay reduced widths (δ^{2}) for the N=84 isotones up to osmium (Z=76), which are found to decrease with increasing atomic number above Z=68. The reduction of δ^{2} is interpreted as evidence for the strengthening of the N=82 shell closure toward the proton drip line, supported by the increase of the neutron-shell gaps predicted in theoretical models.

Binder-free barium-implanted MnO2 nanosheets on carbon cloth for flexible zinc-ion batteries

The intrinsically low electrical conductivity and poor structural fragility of MnO2 have significantly hampered the zinc storage performance. In this work, Ba2+-implanted δ-MnO2 nanosheets have been hydrothermally grown on a carbon cloth (Ba-MnO2@CC) as an extremely stable and efficient cathode material of aqueous zinc-ion batteries. The three-dimensionally porous architecture composed of interwoven thin MnO2 nanosheets effectively shortens the electron/ion transport distances, enlarges the electrode/electrolyte contact area, and increases the active sites for the electrochemical reaction. Meanwhile, Ba2+ could function as an interlayer pillar to stabilize the crystal structure of MnO2. Consequently, the as-optimized Ba-MnO2@CC exhibits remarkable Zn2+ storage capabilities, such as a high capacity (305 mAh g-1 at 0.2 A g-1), prolonged lifespan (95% retention after a 200-cycling test), and superb rate capability. The binder-free cathode is also applicable for flexible energy storage devices with attractive properties. The present investigation provides important insights into designing advanced cathode materials toward wearable electronics.

[Significance of TERT promoter mutation in differential diagnosis of non-invasive inverted urothelial lesions of bladder]

Objective: To investigate the gene mutation of telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT) promoter in inverted urothelial lesions of the bladder and its significance in differential diagnosis. Methods: From March 2016 to February 2022, a total of 32 patients with inverted urothelial lesions diagnosed in Department of Pathology at Qingdao Chengyang People's Hospital and 24 patients at the Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University were collected, including 7 cases of florid glandular cystitis, 13 cases of inverted urothelial papilloma, 8 cases of inverted urothelial neoplasm with low malignant potential, 17 cases of low-grade non-invasive inverted urothelial carcinoma, 5 cases of high-grade non-invasive inverted urothelial carcinoma, and 6 cases of nested subtype of urothelial carcinoma were retrospectively analyzed for their clinical data and histopathological features. TERT promoter mutations were analyzed by Sanger sequencing in all the cases. Results: No mutations in the TERT promoter were found in the florid glandular cystitis and inverted urothelial papilloma. The mutation rates of the TERT promoter in inverted urothelial neoplasm with low malignant potential, low grade non-invasive inverter urothelial carcinoma, high grade non-invasive inverted urothelial carcinoma and nested subtype urothelial carcinoma were 1/8, 8/17, 2/5 and 6/6, respectively. There was no significant difference in the mutation rate of TERT promoter among inverted urothelial neoplasm with low malignant potential, low-grade non-invasive inverted urothelial carcinoma, and high-grade non-invasive inverted urothelial carcinoma (P>0.05). All 6 cases of nested subtype of urothelial carcinoma were found to harbor the mutation, which was significantly different from inverted urothelial neoplasm with low malignant potential and non-invasive inverted urothelial carcinoma (P<0.05). In terms of mutation pattern, 13/17 of TERT promoter mutations were C228T, 4/17 were C250T. Conclusions: The morphology combined with TERT promoter mutation detection is helpful for the differential diagnosis of bladder non-invasive inverted urothelial lesions.

Resolving Deactivation of Low-Spin Fe Sites by Redistributing Electron Density toward High-Energy Sodium Storage

Prussian blue (PB) has been an emerging class of cathode material for sodium-ion batteries due to its low cost and high theoretical capacity. However, their working voltage and capacity are substantially restricted due to the deactivation of low-spin Fe sites. Herein, we demonstrate a universal strategy to activate the low-spin Fe sites of PB by hybridizing them with the π-π conjugated electronic conductors. The redistribution of electron density between π-π conjugated conductors and PB effectively promotes the participation of low-spin Fe sites in sodium storage. Consequently, the low-spin Fe-induced plateau is greatly aroused, resulting in a high specific capacity of 148.4 mAh g-1 and remarkable energy density of 444.2 Wh kg-1. In addition, the excellent structural stability enables superior cycling stability over 2500 cycles and outstanding rate performance. The work will provide fundamental insight into activating the low-spin Fe sites of PB for advanced battery technologies.

Manipulating the Host-Guest Chemistry of Cucurbituril to Propel Highly Reversible Zinc Metal Anodes

Rechargeable aqueous zinc-ion batteries are practically plagued by the short lifespan and low Coulombic efficiency (CE) of Zn anodes resulting from random dendrite deposition and parasitic reactions. Herein, the host-guest chemistry of cucurbituril additive with Zn2+ to achieve longstanding Zn anodes is manipulated. The macrocyclic molecule of cucurbit[5]uril (CB[5]) is delicately designed to reconstruct both the CB[5]-adsorbed electric-double layer (EDL) structure at the Zn interface and the hydrated sheath of Zn2+ ions. Especially benefiting from the desirable carbonyl rims and suitable hydrophobic cavities, the CB[5] has a strong host-guest interaction with Zn2+ ions, which exclusively permits rapid Zn2+ flux across the EDL interface but retards the H2 O radicals and SO4 2- . Accordingly, such a unique particle redistributor warrants long-lasting dendrite-free deposition by homogenizing Zn nucleation/growth and significantly improved CE by inhibiting side reactions. The Zn anode can deliver superior reversibility in CB[5]-containing electrolyte with a ninefold increase of cycle lifetime and an elevated CE of 99.7% under harsh test conditions (10 mA cm-2 /10 mA h cm-2 ). The work opens a new avenue from the perspective of host-guest chemistry to propel the development of rechargeable Zn metal batteries and beyond.

Crystallization mechanism of the Pt50Au50 alloy with grain boundary segregation during the solidification process

The crystalline mechanism of the Pt50Au50 alloy with grain boundary (GB) segregation during the rapid solidification process is investigated using molecular dynamics simulations. The cluster evolution and phase transformation processes during the GB segregation are analyzed by means of the energy temperature (E-T) curve, the pair distribution function (g(r)) curves, common neighborhood analysis (CNA), cluster-type index method (CTIM) and three-dimensional visualizing analyses. It is found that the GB segregation phenomenon of the Pt50Au50 alloy comes from various solidification temperatures of Pt- and Au-centered clusters. Four critical temperatures T1 (1153 K), T2 (1073 K), T3 (853 K) and T4 (753 K) are discovered during the liquid-solid transition, corresponding to the supercooled liquid, Pt-centered atom nucleation, Pt-centered cluster growth, Au-centered atom nucleation and grain growth process, respectively, which is observably different to the solidification process of other alloys. The Pt atoms begin to gather together in the high-temperature liquid before the liquid-solid transition. It is also found that the CTIM proposed by us would provide an effective tool to investigate the GB segregation process.

Recycling spent masks to fabricate flexible hard carbon anode toward advanced sodium energy storage

The massive discard of spent masks during the COVID-19 pandemic imposes great environmental anxiety to the human society, which calls for a reliable and sustainable outlet to mitigate this issue. In this work, we demonstrate a green design strategy of recycling the spent masks to fabricate hard carbon fabrics toward high-efficient sodium energy storage. After a simple carbonization treatment, flexible hard carbon fabrics composed of interwoven microtubular fibers are obtained. When serving as binder-free anodes of sodium-ion batteries, a large Na-ion storage capacity of 280 mAh g^-1 is achieved for the optimized sample. More impressively, the flexible anode exhibits an initial coulombic efficiency of as high as 86% and excellent rate/cycling performance. The real-life practice of the flexible hard carbon is realized in the full-cells. The present study affords an enlightening approach for the recycling fabrication of high value-added hard carbon materials from the spent masks for advanced sodium energy storage.

Establishment and characterization of an immortalized bovine intestinal epithelial cell line

Primary bovine intestinal epithelial cells (PBIECs) are an important model for studying the molecular and pathogenic mechanisms of diseases affecting the bovine intestine. It is difficult to obtain and grow PBIECs stably, and their short lifespan greatly limits their application. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to create a cell line for exploring the mechanisms of pathogen infection in bovine intestinal epithelial cells in vitro. We isolated and cultured PBIECs and established an immortalized BIEC line by transfecting PBIECs with the pCI-neo-hTERT (human telomerase reverse transcriptase) recombinant plasmid. The immortalized cell line (BIECs-21) retained structure and function similar to that of the PBIECs. The marker proteins characteristic of epithelial cells, cytokeratin 18 (CK18), occludin, zonula occludens protein 1 (ZO-1), E-cadherin and enterokinase, were all positive in the immortalized cell line, and the cell structure, growth rate, karyotype, serum dependence and contact inhibition were normal. The hTERT gene was successfully transferred into BIECs-21 where it remained stable and was highly expressed. The transport of short-chain fatty acids and glucose uptake by the BIECs-21 was consistent with PBIECs, and we showed that they could be infected with the intestinal parasite, Neospora caninum. The immortalized BIECs-21, which have exceeded 80 passages, were structurally and functionally similar to the primary BIECs and thus provide a valuable research tool for investigating the mechanism of pathogen infection of the bovine intestinal epithelium in vitro.

Occupancy of orbitals and the quadrupole collectivity in 45Sc nucleus

In the present work, the Doppler Shift Attenuation method (DSAM) was used to analyze the observed lineshapes of transitions from excited states in ⁴⁵Sc, populated in the reaction ³⁶Ar + ¹²C at a beam energy of 145 MeV. The interpretation and comparison of the experimental results have been performed with large-scale shell model calculations, involving different interactions like: GX1A, GX1J, FPD6, KB3 and ZBM2. KB3 and FPD6 (present work) interactions in the negative parity states, and in positive parity states ZBM2 are most pre-eminent in reproducing the results, due to the large configuration space describing strong collective effects. Furthermore, the present work also looks at the details of the shell model helping in improving the understanding for the occupancy of orbitals. The present investigation suggests the observation of stronger collectivity for positive parity states over negative parity states with predicted enhanced collectivity of states in ⁴⁵Sc nucleus.

A Seamless Metal-Organic Framework Interphase with Boosted Zn2+ Flux and Deposition Kinetics for Long-Living Rechargeable Zn Batteries

Zn metal has received immense interest as a promising anode of rechargeable aqueous batteries for grid-scale energy storage. Nevertheless, the uncontrollable dendrite growth and surface parasitic reactions greatly retard its practical implementation. Herein, we demonstrate a seamless and multifunctional metal-organic framework (MOF) interphase for building corrosion-free and dendrite-free Zn anodes. The on-site coordinated MOF interphase with 3D open framework structure could function as a highly zincophilic mediator and ion sifter that synergistically induces fast and uniform Zn nucleation/deposition. In addition, the surface corrosion and hydrogen evolution are significantly suppressed by the interface shielding of the seamless interphase. An ultrastable Zn plating/stripping is achieved with elevated Coulombic efficiency of 99.2% over 1000 cycles and prolonged lifetime of 1100 h at 10 mA cm^-2 with a high cumulative plated capacity of 5.5 Ah cm^-2. Moreover, the modified Zn anode assures the MnO₂-based full cells with superior rate and cycling performance.

Boosting large-current-density water oxidation activity and stability by phytic acid-assisted rapid electrochemical corrosion

Corrosion engineering is an efficient strategy to achieve durable oxygen evolution reaction (OER) catalysts at high current densities beyond 500 mA cm^-2. However, the spontaneous electrochemical corrosion has a slow reaction rate, and most of them need to add large amounts of salts (such as NaCl) to accelerate the corrosion process. In this report, a novel and effective phytic acid (PA)-assisted in situ electrochemical corrosion strategy is demonstrated to accelerate the the corrosion process and form bimetallic active catalysts to show excellent OER performance at large current densities. In situ rapid electrochemical corrosion of nickel foam substrate and PA ligands etching realize localized high concentrations of Ni and Fe ions. High concentrations of metal ions will combine with hydroxyl to effectively form defects-enriched NiFe layered double hydroxides porous nanosheets tightly anchoring on the underneath substrate. Remarkably, the activated electrode exhibits excellent OER catalytic activities with ultralow overpotentials of 289 and 315 mV to reach high current densities of 500 and 1000 mA cm^-2, respectively. When coupled with Ni-Mo-N hydrogen evolution reaction catalysts, the two-electrode cell merely requires 1.87 V to deliver 1000 mA cm^-2. The ligands-assisted rapid electrochemical corrosion strategy provides a fresh perspective for facile, cost-effective, and scale-up production of superior OER catalysts at large current densities.

Biomass-Derived Hard Carbon with Interlayer Spacing Optimization toward Ultrastable Na-Ion Storage

Hard carbons as a kind of nongraphitized amorphous carbon have been recognized as potential anode materials for sodium-ion batteries (SIBs) due to its large interlayer spacing. However, the issues in terms of onerous synthetic procedure and elusive working mechanism remains critical bottlenecks for practical implement. Herein, we report a facile production of tubular hard carbon through direct carbonization of platanus flosses (FHC) for the first time. Through optimizing the pyrolysis temperatures, the FHC obtained at 1300 °C possesses a key balance between the interlayer spacing and surface area, which can maintain the substantial active sites as well as reduce the irreversible sodium storage. Accordingly, it can deliver a reversible capacity of 324.6 mAh g^-1 with a high initial Coulombic efficiency of 80%, superb rate property of 107.2 mAh g^-1 at 2 A g^-1, and long operating stability over 1000 cycles. Furthermore, the in situ Raman spectroscopic studies certify that sodium ions are stored in FHC following the "adsorption-insertion" mechanism. Our study could provide a promising route for large-scale development of the biomass-derived carbonaceous anodes for high-performance SIBs.

Observation of a Strongly Isospin-Mixed Doublet in ^{26}Si via β-Delayed Two-Proton Decay of ^{26}P

β decay of proton-rich nuclei plays an important role in exploring isospin mixing. The β decay of ^{26}P at the proton drip line is studied using double-sided silicon strip detectors operating in conjunction with high-purity germanium detectors. The T=2 isobaric analog state (IAS) at 13 055 keV and two new high-lying states at 13 380 and 11 912 keV in ^{26}Si are unambiguously identified through β-delayed two-proton emission (β2p). Angular correlations of two protons emitted from ^{26}Si excited states populated by ^{26}P β decay are measured, which suggests that the two protons are emitted mainly sequentially. We report the first observation of a strongly isospin-mixed doublet that deexcites mainly via two-proton decay. The isospin mixing matrix element between the ^{26}Si IAS and the nearby 13 380-keV state is determined to be 130(21) keV, and this result represents the strongest mixing, highest excitation energy, and largest level spacing of a doublet ever observed in β-decay experiments.

N -(2-aminoethyl) Acetamide Additive Enables Phase-Pure and Stable α-FAPbI3 for Efficient Self-Powered Photodetectors

Formamidinium-lead triiodide (FAPbI₃ ) perovskite is considered as one of the most promising perovskite materials for high-performance photodetectors because of its narrow bandgap and superior thermal stability. Nevertheless, to realize efficient carrier transport and highly performing photodetectors, it imposes the requirement of fabricating α-FAPbI₃ with pure phase, preferred crystal orientation, large grain size, and passivated interface, which still remains challenging. Here, a facile strategy based on additive engineering to obtain pure-phase FAPbI₃ perovskite films by introducing N-(2-aminoethyl) acetamide into perovskite precursors is reported. The formation of chemical bond and hydrogen bond between N-(2-aminoethyl) acetamide and perovskite reduces the potential barrier in the phase-transition process from an intermediate yellow phase to a final black phase, passivates the defects of the film, and leads to a high-quality and phase-pure α-FAPbI₃ perovskite. A self-powered photodetector based on the as-fabricated FAPbI₃ film exhibits a maximum responsivity of 0.48 A W^-1 at 700 nm with a peak external quantum efficiency of 95% at 440 nm. Moreover, the optimized device remains 83% of the initial performance after 576 h storage at ambient condition. This work provides a simple and feasible scheme for the preparation of high-quality phase-pure α-FAPbI₃ perovskite and associated devices.

Modeling electrokinetic flows with the discrete ion stochastic continuum overdamped solvent algorithm

In this article we develop an algorithm for the efficient simulation of electrolytes in the presence of physical boundaries. In previous work the discrete ion stochastic continuum overdamped solvent (DISCOS) algorithm was derived for triply periodic domains, and was validated through ion-ion pair correlation functions and Debye-Hückel-Onsager theory for conductivity, including the Wien effect for strong electric fields. In extending this approach to include an accurate treatment of physical boundaries we must address several important issues. First, the modifications to the spreading and interpolation operators necessary to incorporate interactions of the ions with the boundary are described. Next we discuss the modifications to the electrostatic solver to handle the influence of charges near either a fixed potential or dielectric boundary. An additional short-ranged potential is also introduced to represent interaction of the ions with a solid wall. Finally, the dry diffusion term is modified to account for the reduced mobility of ions near a boundary, which introduces an additional stochastic drift correction. Several validation tests are presented confirming the correct equilibrium distribution of ions in a channel. Additionally, the methodology is demonstrated using electro-osmosis and induced-charge electro-osmosis, with comparison made to theory and other numerical methods. Notably, the DISCOS approach achieves greater accuracy than a continuum electrostatic simulation method. We also examine the effect of under-resolving hydrodynamic effects using a "dry diffusion" approach, and find that considerable computational speedup can be achieved with a negligible impact on accuracy.

[Clinical effects of free peroneal artery perforator flaps in repairing forefoot skin and soft tissue defect wounds assisted with three-dimensional computed tomography angiography]

Objective: To investigate the clinical effects of free peroneal artery perforator flaps in repairing forefoot skin and soft tissue defect wounds assisted with three-dimensional computed tomography angiography (3D-CTA). Methods: A retrospective observational study was conducted. From March 2017 to September 2019, 15 patients with skin and soft tissue defect wounds in the forefoot were treated in the Department of Burn and Plastic Surgery of Yidu Central Hospital of Weifang, including 12 males and 3 females, with age of 18-60 years. The wound area on admission was 3.0 cm×3.0 cm-9.0 cm×8.0 cm. The 3D-CTA examination before operation was performed to select the peroneal artery perforating vessels with appropriate length of vascular pedicle and good blood perfusion. According to the wound area and the perforating vessels of the peroneal artery located by 3D-CTA, the peroneal artery perforator flaps of 3.5 cm×3.5 cm-9.5 cm×8.5 cm carried with lateral sural cutaneous nerve was designed and cut, and the nerve was anastomosed with the nerve of the wound. The wound in the donor site of the flap was directly sutured or covered with medium-thickness skin graft from the thigh. The consistencies of type, diameter, and perforating position of perforating vessel of the peroneal artery detected by 3D-CTA before the operation with those of the actual measurement during operation were observed. The length of time for flap cutting and the survival of the flap after operation were recorded. During follow-up of 12 months after the operation, the patients were instructed to evaluate the foot function according to the Maryland foot function score standard, and the wound healing in the donor area and the occurrence of complications affecting the motor function of limb were observed. Data were statistically analyzed with paired sample t test. Results: The types of peroneal artery perforating vessels in patients measured during the operation were septocutaneous perforator of 12 cases, musculocutaneous perforator of 2 cases, and musculomuscular septal perforator of 1 case, which were consistent with those measured by preoperative 3D-CTA. The diameter of the peroneal artery perforating vessel measured by preoperative 3D-CTA was (1.38±0.17) mm, which was close to (1.40±0.19) mm measured during the operation (t=0.30, P>0.05). The horizontal distance from the starting point of the perforating vessel to the outer edge of the shank was (42±6) mm, and the vertical distance from the starting point of the perforating vessel to the level of the lateral ankle tip was (219±14) mm measured by preoperative 3D-CTA, which were respectively close to (43±6) and (221±15) mm of intraoperative measurement (with t values of 0.46 and 0.38, respectively, P>0.05). The length of time for cutting flap was (31±6) min. All flaps survived post operation without vascular crisis. During follow-up of 12 months after the operation, the foot function was evaluated as excellent in 11 cases, good in 3 cases, and fair in 1 case, the donor site wound healed well, the scar was not noticeable with no contracture, and the motor function of joints was not affected. Conclusions: Free peroneal artery perforator flap is one of the effective methods to reconstruct skin and soft tissue defect wounds in the forefoot, and the risk of surgery can be reduced when the anatomical location of the perforating vessels is confirmed by 3D-CTA.

Probing ^{93m}Mo Isomer Depletion with an Isomer Beam

The isomer depletion of ^{93m}Mo was recently reported [Chiara et al., Nature (London) 554, 216 (2018)NATUAS0028-083610.1038/nature25483] as the first direct observation of nuclear excitation by electron capture (NEEC). However, the measured excitation probability of 1.0(3)% is far beyond the theoretical expectation. In order to understand the inconsistency between theory and experiment, we produce the ^{93m}Mo nuclei using the ^{12}C(^{86}Kr,5n) reaction at a beam energy of 559 MeV and transport the reaction residues to a detection station far away from the target area employing a secondary beam line. The isomer depletion is expected to occur during the slowdown process of the ions in the stopping material. In such a low γ-ray background environment, the signature of isomer depletion is not observed, and an upper limit of 2×10^{-5} is estimated for the excitation probability. This is consistent with the theoretical expectation. Our findings shed doubt on the previously reported NEEC phenomenon and highlight the necessity and feasibility of further experimental investigations for reexamining the isomer depletion under low γ-ray background.

Ultrafine MoS2 Nanosheets Vertically Patterned on Graphene for High-Efficient Li-Ion and Na-Ion Storage

Hierarchically two-dimensional (2D) heteroarchitecture with ultrafine MoS₂ nanosheets vertically patterned on graphene is developed by using a facile solvothermal method. It is revealed that the strong interfacial interaction between acidic Mo precursors and graphene oxides allows for uniform and tight alignment of edge-oriented MoS₂ nanosheets on planar graphene. The unique sheet-on-sheet architecture is of grand advantage in synergistically utilizing the highly conductive graphene and the electroactive MoS₂, thus rendering boosted reaction kinetics and robust structural integrity for energy storage. Consequently, the heterostructured MoS₂@graphene exhibits impressive Li/Na-ion storage properties, including high-capacity delivery and superior rate/cycling capability. The present study will provide a positive impetus on rational design of 2D metal sulfide/graphene composites as advanced electrode materials for high-efficient alkali–metal ion storage.

Boosting photoelectrochemical activity of bismuth vanadate by implanting oxygen-vacancy-rich cobalt (oxy)hydroxide

Surface charge recombination is regarded as a detrimental factor that severely downgrades the photoelectrochemical (PEC) performance of bismuth vanadate (BiVO₄). In this work, we demonstrate defect-rich cobalt (oxy)hydroxides (Co(O)OH) as an excellent cocatalyst nanolayer sheathed on BiVO₄ to substantially improve the PEC water oxidation activity. The self-transformation of metal-organic framework produces an ultrathin Co(O)OH layer rich in oxygen vacancies, which could serve as a powerful hole extraction engine to promote the charge transfer/separation efficiency as well as an excellent oxygen evolution reaction catalyst to accelerate the surface water oxidation kinetics. As a result, the BiVO₄/Co(O)OH hybrid photoanode achieves remarkably inhibited surface charge recombination and presents a prominent photocurrent density of 4.2 mA cm^-2 at 1.23 V vs. RHE, which is around 2.6-fold higher than that of the pristine BiVO₄. Moreover, the Co(O)OH cocatalyst nanolayer significantly reduces the onset potential of BiVO₄ photoanodes by 200 mV. This work provides a versatile strategy for rationally preparing oxygen-vacancy-rich cocatalysts on various photoanodes toward high-efficient PEC water oxidation.

Fractal microstructure effects on effective gas diffusivity of a nanoporous medium based on pore-scale numerical simulations with lattice Boltzmann method

The interaction between gas diffusion and complex microstructures of a nanoporous medium is important to gas diffusion in shale formation, but this interaction is complex and has not been fully understood. Those approaches based on fractal theory can well describe the fractal multiscale microstructure with simple boundaries. The lattice Boltzmann method (LBM) can consider the effects of complex microstructures at one scale. This study proposes a combination approach of fractal theory and LBM to simulate the gas diffusion process in fractal multiscale microstructures of a nanoporous medium. In this study, the gas diffusion in a complex microstructure at base scale is numerically simulated by the LBM and the gas diffusion in finer microstructures is described through a diffusion equation with a local gas diffusion coefficient. First, a microstructure of a nanoporous medium is reconstructed by a random reconstruction algorithm. Then, a local gas diffusion coefficient is proposed based on fractal theory to consider the effects of coupling molecular diffusion and Knudsen diffusion with the fractal structures of a nanoporous medium on the gas diffusion in finer microstructures. This local gas diffusion coefficient is validated by experimental data and introduced into the governing equation of gas diffusion. The LBM simulation is verified with experimental data and two other model results on the effective gas diffusivity of a nanoporous medium. Finally, key parameters for the effective gas diffusivity of a nanoporous medium are identified through sensitivity analysis. It is found that the effective gas diffusivity in a microstructure is higher for a smaller range of Knudsen number. Bigger pore diameter fractal dimension and smaller tortuosity fractal dimension represent lower gas diffusion resistance and have higher effective gas diffusivity. This combination approach provides a powerful tool to estimate the effective gas diffusivity in a complex nanoporous medium.

Direct Measurement of the Astrophysical ^{19}F(p,αγ)^{16}O Reaction in the Deepest Operational Underground Laboratory

Fluorine is one of the most interesting elements in nuclear astrophysics, where the ^{19}F(p,α)^{16}O reaction is of crucial importance for Galactic ^{19}F abundances and CNO cycle loss in first generation Population III stars. As a day-one campaign at the Jinping Underground Nuclear Astrophysics experimental facility, we report direct measurements of the essential ^{19}F(p,αγ)^{16}O reaction channel. The γ-ray yields were measured over E_{c.m.}=72.4-344  keV, covering the Gamow window; our energy of 72.4 keV is unprecedentedly low, reported here for the first time. The experiment was performed under the extremely low cosmic-ray-induced background environment of the China JinPing Underground Laboratory, one of the deepest underground laboratories in the world. The present low-energy S factors deviate significantly from previous theoretical predictions, and the uncertainties are significantly reduced. The thermonuclear ^{19}F(p,αγ)^{16}O reaction rate has been determined directly at the relevant astrophysical energies.

[Methods and effects of high-frequency color Doppler ultrasound assisted reverse island flap of dorsal digital artery of ulnar thumb for repairing skin and soft tissue defects in the distal end of the same finger]

Objective: To explore the methods and effects of high-frequency color Doppler ultrasound assisted reverse island flap of dorsal digital artery of ulnar thumb for repairing skin and soft tissue defects in the distal end of the same finger. Methods: The retrospective cohort study method was applied. From March 2014 to January 2020, 43 patients with skin and soft tissue defects in the distal end of thumb were hospitalized in the Department of Hand and Foot Surgery of Yidu Central Hospital of Weifang, including 28 males and 15 females, aged 19-58 years. The time from injury to operation was 4 to 10 hours, and the area of wound defect was 1.5 cm×1.0 cm-5.0 cm×3.0 cm. The type and course of dorsal digital artery of ulnar thumb were detected by high-frequency color Doppler ultrasound before operation, based on which the reverse transfer of the island flap of dorsal digital artery of ulnar thumb was designed to repair the skin and soft tissue defects in the distal end of the same finger. The patients with absence of the dorsal digital artery of ulnar thumb were repaired by the greater fish reverse island flap pedicled with the radial palmar artery. The area of the flap was 2.0 cm×1.5 cm-5.5 cm×3.5 cm. The donor site wound was directly closed by suturing or covered with split-thickness skin graft from the inner side of the upper arm in the same arm. The status of dorsal digital artery of ulnar thumb detected by high frequency color Doppler ultrasound before operation was recorded. The type, course, and distribution of the dorsal digital artery of ulnar thumb detected before operation were compared with those observed during the operation. The survival of the flap was observed after operation. During the last follow-up, the appearance of the donor and recipient area of flaps was observed, the thumb function was evaluated with trial standard for the evaluation of the functions of the upper limbs of the Hand Surgery Society of the Chinese Medical Association, and the sensory function of the area transplanted with flap was evaluated with the sensory function evaluation standard. Results: The results of high-frequency color Doppler ultrasound showed that the dorsal digital artery of ulnar thumb was absent in 2 patients, while 41 patients had the dorsal digital artery of ulnar thumb, among which 20 cases were type 1 that started from the first dorsal metacarpal artery and ran on the surface of the first interosseous dorsal muscle; 16 cases were type 2 that started from the deep branch of the radial artery or the main artery of thumb and ran in the deep surface of the first interosseous dorsal muscle, including 10 cases of type 2a with the starting point in the basal region of the first metacarpal bone and 6 cases of type 2b with the starting point in the first metacarpal bone region; 5 cases were type 3 that started from the confluence of the first dorsal metacarpal artery and the main thumb artery in the region of the first metacarpophalangeal joint. The outer diameter of the vessel at the beginning of the dorsal digital artery of ulnar thumb was (1.12±0.31) mm, and the outer diameter of the vessel at the beginning of the accompany vein was (0.63±0.21) mm. The dorsal digital artery of ulnar thumb was concentrated in the ulnar side of the first metacarpophalangeal joint and snuff box region. The type, course, and distribution range of the dorsal digital artery of ulnar thumb observed during the operation were consistent with the results detected by high-frequency color Doppler ultrasound before operation. After the operation, the flaps survived in 43 patients. The patients were followed up for 6 months to 1 year. During the last follow-up, only linear scars were left in the donor area; there were no obvious pigmentation in the area transplanted with reverse island flap of dorsal digital artery of ulnar thumb, with good texture and elasticity, and beautiful appearance; the thumb function was evaluated as excellent in 23 cases, good in 17 cases, and fair in 3 cases; the sensory function of the area transplanted with flap was evaluated as S₄ level in 16 cases, S₃ level in 22 cases, and S₂ level in 5 cases. Conclusions: The reverse island flap of dorsal digital artery of ulnar thumb is one of the ideal methods to repair the skin and soft tissue defect in the distal end of the same finger, especially that beyond the distal interphalangeal joint. Preoperative detection with high-frequency color Doppler ultrasound can identify the type and distribution of dorsal digital artery of ulnar thumb, so as to design a personalized operation plan, resulting in good appearance of the donor and recipient area and thumb function after operation.

[Evaluation of the effect of free fibular flap transplantation in repairing mandibular osteoradionecrosis defect in 151 cases]

Objective: To investigate the clinical effect of free fibula flap transplantation in repairing the defect of mandibular osteoradionecrosis (ORN). Methods: A total of 151 mandibular ORN patients undergoing free fibular flap transplantation were selected from August 2005 to September 2020 in the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University. Among them, 109 patients were males and 42 patients were females, aged (54.1±10.1) (ranged 31-85) years old. The clinical data of the patients was collected and the survival rate of the flaps and postoperative function were calculated to evaluate the surgical efficacy. The χ² test was used for difference analysis. Results: Among the 151 patients, mandibular ORN caused by radiotherapy for nasopharyngeal carcinoma accounted for 79.5% (120/151). The average time for mandibular ORN appeared was 5(6) years after radiotherapy. Facial artery [57.2%(87/152)] and superior thyroid artery (50/152, 32.9%) were the main anastomotic arteries in the recipient area. There was no significant difference in the necrosis rates of the two flaps [10.3%(9/87) and 12.5%(5/50), respectively, P=0.949]. The main anastomotic veins in the recipient area were the external jugular vein [48.4%(135/279)] and the common facial vein [26.5%(74/279)]. Twenty-five cases (16.6%) had one vein anastomosed, and 126 cases (83.44%) had two veins anastomosed. There was no significant difference in the flap necrosis rate between the two conditions [20.0%(5/25) and 7.1%(9/126), respectively, P=0.100]. Ninety-seven cases (64.2%) used the peroneal musculocutaneous-fascia composite flap to repair the maxillofacial soft and hard tissue defects. Thirteen cases (8.6%) underwent the restorations with digital virtual surgery design, of which 5 cases were repaired with dental implants at the same time. After the operations, lower respiratory tract infection occurred in 17 patients (11.3%), and upper respiratory tract obstruction occurred in 3 cases (2.0%). The survival rate of the flap after operation was 90.7% (136/151), and 21 patients (13.9%) had flap vascular crisis. Delayed healing of maxillofacial wounds occurred in 33 cases (21.9%). After 3 to 24 months of follow-ups, 110 patients (76.9%) had no fistula inside/outside the oral cavity, 118 patients (82.5%) had an improvement in opening mouth of increasing (≥0.5 cm) after surgery, 135 patients (94.4%) had pain relief, 97 cases (67.8%) could eat normal diet, semi-liquid or soft food, and 137 cases (95.8%) were satisfied or basically satisfied with the treatment effects. Conclusions: The free fibular flap transplantation is an effective method to repair mandibular ORN defects. Preoperative vascular assessment is helpful for the selection of recipient vessels. Facial artery, superior thyroid artery, external jugular vein and common facial vein can be used as the main recipient vessels. The repair of the peroneal musculocutaneous-fascia composite flap facilitates the closure of internal and external fistulas. Digital technology can help to restore the maxillofacial shape more accurately, improve the patient's occlusal and chewing function and enhance the quality of life of mandibular ORN patients.

New α-Emitting Isotope ^{214}U and Abnormal Enhancement of α-Particle Clustering in Lightest Uranium Isotopes

A new α-emitting isotope ^{214}U, produced by the fusion-evaporation reaction ^{182}W(^{36}Ar,4n)^{214}U, was identified by employing the gas-filled recoil separator SHANS and the recoil-α correlation technique. More precise α-decay properties of even-even nuclei ^{216,218}U were also measured in the reactions of ^{40}Ar, ^{40}Ca beams with ^{180,182,184}W targets. By combining the experimental data, improved α-decay reduced widths δ^{2} for the even-even Po-Pu nuclei in the vicinity of the magic neutron number N=126 are deduced. Their systematic trends are discussed in terms of the N_{p}N_{n} scheme in order to study the influence of proton-neutron interaction on α decay in this region of nuclei. It is strikingly found that the reduced widths of ^{214,216}U are significantly enhanced by a factor of two as compared with the N_{p}N_{n} systematics for the 84≤Z≤90 and N<126 even-even nuclei. The abnormal enhancement is interpreted by the strong monopole interaction between the valence protons and neutrons occupying the π1f_{7/2} and ν1f_{5/2} spin-orbit partner orbits, which is supported by the large-scale shell model calculation.

[Establishment and validation of a predictive nomogram model for advanced gastric cancer with perineural invasion]

Objective: Peripheral nerve invasion (PNI) is associated with local recurrence and poor prognosis in patients with advanced gastric cancer. A risk-assessment model based on preoperative indicators for predicting PNI of gastric cancer may help to formulate a more reasonable and accurate individualized diagnosis and treatment plan. Methods: Inclusion criteria: (1) electronic gastroscopy and enhanced CT examination of the upper abdomen were performed before surgery; (2) radical gastric cancer surgery (D2 lymph node dissection, R0 resection) was performed; (3) no distant metastasis was confirmed before and during operation; (4) postoperative pathology showed an advanced gastric cancer (T2-4aN0-3M0), and the clinical data was complete. Those who had other malignant tumors at the same time or in the past, and received neoadjuvant radiochemotherapy or immunotherapy before surgery were excluded. In this retrospective case-control study, 550 patients with advanced gastric cancer who underwent curative gastrectomy between September 2017 and June 2019 were selected from the Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University for modeling and internal verification, including 262 (47.6%) PNI positive and 288 (52.4%) PNI negative patients. According to the same standard, clinical data of 50 patients with advanced gastric cancer who underwent radical surgery from July to November 2019 in Qingdao Municipal Hospital were selected for external verification of the model. There were no statistically significant differences between the clinical data of internal verification and external verification (all P>0.05). Univariate analysis and multivariate logistic regression analysis were used to determine the independent risk factors for PNI in advanced gastric cancer, and the clinical indicators with statistically significant difference were used to establish a preoperative nomogram model through R software. The Bootstrap method was applied as internal verification to show the robustness of the model. The discrimination of the nomogram was determined by calculating the average consistency index (C-index). The calibration curve was used to evaluate the consistency of the predicted results with the actual results. The Hosmer-Lemeshow test was used to examine the goodness of fit of the discriminant model. During external verification, the corresponding C-index index was also calculated. The area under ROC curve (AUC) was used to evaluate the predictive ability of the nomogram in the internal verification and external verification groups. Results: A total of 550 patients were identified in this study, 262 (47.6%) of which had PNI. Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that carcinoembryonic antigen level ≥ 5 μg/L (OR=5.870, 95% CI: 3.281-10.502, P<0.001), tumor length ≥5 cm (OR=5.539,95% CI: 3.165-9.694, P<0.001), mixed Lauren classification (OR=2.611, 95%CI: 1.272-5.360, P=0.009), cT3 stage (OR=13.053, 95% CI: 5.612-30.361, P<0.001) and the presence of lymph node metastasis (OR=4.826, 95% CI: 2.729-8.533, P<0.001) were significant independent risk factors of PNI in advanced gastric cancer (all P<0.05). Based on these results, diffused Lauren classification and cT4 stage were included to establish a predictive nomogram model. CEA ≥ 5 μg/L was for 68 points, tumor length ≥ 5 cm was for 67 points, mixed Lauren classification was for 21 points, diffused Lauren classification was for 38 points, cT3 stage was for 75 points, cT4 stage was for 100 points, and lymph node metastasis was for 62 points. Adding the scores of all risk factors was total score, and the probability corresponding to the total score was the probability that the model predicted PNI in advanced gastric cancer before surgery. The internal verification result revealed that the AUC of nomogram was 0.935, which was superior than that of any single variable, such as CEA, Lauren classification, cT stage, tumor length and lymph node metastasis (AUC: 0.731, 0.595, 0.838, 0.757 and 0.802, respectively). The external verification result revealed the AUC of nomogram was 0.828. The C-ndex was 0.931 after internal verification. External verification showed a C-index of 0.828 from the model. The calibration curve showed that the predictive results were good in accordance with the actual results (P=0.415). Conclusion: A nomogram model constructed by CEA, tumor length, Lauren classification (mixed, diffuse), cT stage, and lymph node metastasis can predict the PNI of advanced gastric cancer before surgery.

Large Isospin Asymmetry in ^{22}Si/^{22}O Mirror Gamow-Teller Transitions Reveals the Halo Structure of ^{22}Al

β-delayed one-proton emissions of ^{22}Si, the lightest nucleus with an isospin projection T_{z}=-3, are studied with a silicon array surrounded by high-purity germanium detectors. Properties of β-decay branches and the reduced transition probabilities for the transitions to the low-lying states of ^{22}Al are determined. Compared to the mirror β decay of ^{22}O, the largest value of mirror asymmetry in low-lying states by far, with δ=209(96), is found in the transition to the first 1^{+} excited state. Shell-model calculation with isospin-nonconserving forces, including the T=1, J=2, 3 interaction related to the s_{1/2} orbit that introduces explicitly the isospin-symmetry breaking force and describes the loosely bound nature of the wave functions of the s_{1/2} orbit, can reproduce the observed data well and consistently explain the observation that a large δ value occurs for the first but not for the second 1^{+} excited state of ^{22}Al. Our results, while supporting the proton-halo structure in ^{22}Al, might provide another means to identify halo nuclei.

[CD20-positive T cell lymphoma: clinicopathological features of five cases]

Objective: To investigate the clinicopathological characteristics of the T cell lymphomas with CD20 expression, and to better understand this rare entity. Methods: Two-hundred cases of T-cell lymphoma diagnosed in the Department of Pathology of the Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University from November 2016 to February 2020 were examined, and 5 cases of CD20-positive T-cell lymphomas were identified and included. Combined with clinical data and review of the literature, the clinicopathological characteristics of the disease were analyzed. Results: The five patients were all male, and had an average age of 56 years (range, 47 to 64 years). There were 2 cases of monomorphic epitheliotropic intestinal T-cell lymphoma, 2 cases of mycosis fungoides (1 case was plaque stage and the other was tumor stage) and 1 case of indolent T-cell lymphoproliferative disorder of the gastrointestinal tract. Immunohistochemistry showed that all 5 cases expressed multiple T cell markers (CD3/CD4/CD5/CD7/CD8) and only one of B cell markers (CD20). Three of the 5 cases were negative for CD20 at the first diagnosis, while CD20 was diffusely positive on the second biopsy from the recurrence or progression of the disease, without expression of CD79a or PAX5. Epstein-Barr encoding region (EBER) in situ hybridization was negative in all 5 cases. T-cell receptor gene analysis showed monoclonal rearrangement of β or/and δ chains;Ig rearrangements were all polyclonal. None of the five patients were treated with rituximab, and 4 patients survived with disease and 1 patient survived without disease at the end of follow-up. Among them, the patient with mycosis fungoides at the cancerous stage has progressed rapidly and had poor quality of life. Conclusions: CD20-positive T-cell lymphoma is extremely rare. Its prognosis is closely related to the type of T-cell lymphoma, clinical stage and initial therapeutic effect. However, the expression of CD20 indicates the recurrence or progression of the disease, and the prognosis is relatively poor. When CD3 expression is absent in T-cell lymphoma, it is easy to be misdiagnosed as B-cell lymphoma. The combination of multiple immunohistochemical antibodies and molecular detection can improve the accuracy of diagnosis.

Genomic and transcriptional heterogeneity of multifocal hepatocellular carcinoma

BACKGROUND

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) often presents with multiple nodules within the liver, with limited effective interventions. The high genetic heterogeneity of HCC might be the major cause of treatment failure. We aimed to characterize genomic heterogeneity, infer clonal evolution, investigate RNA expression pattern and explore tumour immune microenvironment profile of multifocal HCC.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Whole-exome sequencing and RNA sequencing were carried out in 34 tumours and 6 adjacent normal liver tissue samples from 6 multifocal HCC patients. Protein expression of Ki67, AFP, P53, Survivin and CD8 was detected by immunohistochemistry. Fluorescence in situ hybridization was carried out to validate the amplification status of sorafenib-targeted genes.

RESULTS

We deciphered genomic and transcriptional heterogeneity among tumours in each multifocal HCC patient including mutational profiles, copy number alterations, tumour evolutionary trajectory and tumour immune microenvironment profiles. Of note, sorafenib-targeted alterations were identified in the trunk of phylogenetic tree in only one out of the six patients, which may explain the relative low treatment response rate to sorafenib in clinical practice. Moreover, we demonstrated RNA expression patterns and tumour immune microenvironment profiles of all nodules. We found that RNA expression pattern was associated with Edmondson-Steiner grading. Based on the differential expression of 66 reported immune markers, unsupervised hierarchical clustering analysis of 34 nodules identified immune subsets: one low expression cluster with seven nodules and one high expression cluster with 11 nodules. CD8+ T cells were more enriched in nodules of the high expression cluster.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study provided a detailed view of genomic and transcriptional heterogeneity, clonal evolution and immune infiltration of multifocal HCC. The heterogeneity of druggable targets and immune landscape might help interpret the clinical responsiveness to targeted drugs and immunotherapy for multifocal HCC patients.

Superfine MnO2 Nanowires with Rich Defects Toward Boosted Zinc Ion Storage Performance

The core challenge of MnO₂ as the cathode material of zinc-ion batteries remains to be their poor electrochemical kinetics and stability. Herein, MnO₂ superfine nanowires (∼10 nm) with rich crystal defects (oxygen vacancies and cavities) are demonstrated to possess high efficient zinc-ion storage capability. Experimental and theoretical studies demonstrate that the defects facilitate the adsorption and diffusion of hydrogen/zinc for fast ion transportation and the build of a local electric field for improved electron migration. In addition, the superfine nanostructure could provide sufficient active sites and short diffusion pathways for further promotion of capacity and reaction kinetics of MnO₂. Remarkably, the defect-enriched MnO₂ nanowires manifest an energy density as high as 406 W h kg^-1 and an excellent durability over 1000 cycles without noticeable capacity degradation. Mechanistic analysis substantiates a reversible coinsertion/extraction process of H⁺ and Zn²⁺ with a simultaneous deposition/dissolution of zinc sulfate hydroxide hydrate nanoflakes. This work could enrich the fundamental understanding of defect engineering and nanostructuring on the development of advanced MnO₂ materials toward high-performance zinc-ion batteries.

[Clinicopathological features and gene phenotypes of benign metastasizing leiomyoma]

Objective: To study the clinicopathological features, immunophenotypes and MED12 gene status in benign metastasizing leiomyoma (BML). Methods: Nine cases of BML diagnosed at the Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University from 2012 to 2018 were collected, and the radiologic and histologic features were analyzed. The protein expression of leiomyosarcoma-related driver genes, including RB1, PTEN,ATRX,p16,p53, as well as ER,PR,CD34,FH, and Ki-67 were detected using immunohistochemistry, and the mutation status of MED12 gene exon 2 was detected by Sanger sequencing. Results: All the nine patients with BML were female, and the age range was 48 to 64 years (median 55 years). All patients had history of uterine fibroids. The morphologic features of BML were similar to a benign uterine leiomyoma and did not exhibit malignant characteristics. All cases were positive for ER and PR, and negative for CD34. In addition, RB1, PTEN, ATRX, and FH were positive in all cases (wild type), while p16 showed a focally positive pattern. P53 positive index was less than 5% (wild type), and Ki-67 positive index was less than 1%. Sanger sequencing was done in six BML samples; one sample harbored a nonsense mutation c. 142_144delinsTAA (p.Glu48Ter), and another exhibited a synonymy mutation (c.192C>T, p.Phe64=)and one missense mutation c.196C>T (p.Pro66Ser). Conclusions: The present study suggests that BML is a unique leiomyoma entity that is pathologically and genetically different from leiomyosarcomas and conventional uterine leiomyomas. Evaluating the genetic phenotype of BML, especially the expression of leiomyosarcoma-related driver genes protein and MED12 gene status, may be helpful in understanding the pathogenesis of BML and in its differentiation from leiomyosarcoma.

Spatiotemporal characteristics of neural activity in tibial nerves with carbon nanotube yarn electrodes

BACKGROUND

Reliable interfacing with peripheral nervous system is essential to extract neural signals. Current implantable peripheral nerve electrodes cannot provide long-term reliable interfaces due to their mechanical mismatch with host nerves. Carbon nanotube (CNT) yarns possess excellent mechanical flexibility and electrical conductivity. It is of great necessity to investigate the selectivity of implantable CNT yarn electrodes.

NEW METHOD

Neural interfaces were fabricated with CNT yarn electrodes insulated with Parylene-C. Acute recordings were carried out on tibial nerves of rats, and compound nerve action potentials (CNAPs) were electrically evoked by biphasic current stimulation of four toes. Spatiotemporal characteristics of neural activity and spatial selectivity of the electrodes, denoted by selectivity index (SI), were analyzed in detail.

RESULTS

Conduction velocities of sensory afferent fibers recorded by CNT yarn electrodes varied between 4.25 m/s and 37.56 m/s. The SI maxima for specific toes were between 0.55 and 0.99 across seven electrodes. SIs for different CNT yarn electrodes are significantly different among varied toes.

COMPARISON WITH EXISTING METHODS

Most single CNT yarn electrode with a ∼ 500 μm exposed length can be sensitive to one or two specific toes in rodent animals. While, it is only possible to discriminate two non-adjacent toes by multisite TIME electrodes.

CONCLUSION

Single CNT yarn electrode exposed ∼ 500 μm showed SI values for different toes comparable to a multisite TIME electrode, and had high spatial selectivity for one or two specific toes. The electrodes with cross section exposed could intend to be more sensitive to one specific toe.

Highly Lithiophilic Cobalt Nitride Nanobrush as a Stable Host for High-Performance Lithium Metal Anodes

Lithium metal is considered to be a holy grail of the battery anode chemistry due to its large specific capacity. Nevertheless, the uncontrollable formation of lithium dendrites resulting from uneven lithium nucleation/growth and the associated safety risk and short cyclability severely impede the practical use of lithium metal anodes. Herein, we demonstrate a highly lithiophilic cobalt nitride nanobrush on a Ni foam (Co₃N/NF) current collector as a stable three-dimensional (3D) framework to inhibit the dendrite formation of lithium. The 3D Co₃N/NF nanobrush electrode could enable a low nucleation overpotential for homogeneous deposition of dendrite-free lithium. Compared to the CoO/NF counterpart and the bare Cu foil/Ni foam, the Co₃N/NF nanobrush host is of great benefit for enhanced Coulombic efficiencies and longer lifespan at various current densities. The present work will offer a new insight for the exploration of the highly lithiophilic scaffold based on metal nitrides toward high-performance lithium metal anodes.

Double Electron Capture in H^{+}+H^{-} Collisions

We have investigated the double electron capture process in the H^{+}+H^{-} collision system for energies from 60 eV to 20 keV. Despite the apparent simplicity of this highly correlated system, all previous calculations fail to reproduce the experimental total cross sections. Moreover, the latter exhibit oscillations that have been previously attributed to quantum interferences between the gerade and ungerade ionic states of the transient molecule formed during the collision. For this process, we present the absolute cross sections obtained from a fully correlated two-active-electron semiclassical atomic-orbital close-coupling approach. Our results reproduce well the experimental data in both magnitude and shape. Furthermore, we demonstrate that the oscillations stem from coherence effects between double electron capture and other two-electron inelastic channels, namely the transfer-excitation processes. This alternative interpretation is supported by a Rosenthal-like model based on a molecular treatment of the collision. Our results shed new light on this old but challenging problem.