[Tumor Mechanomedicine]

Malignant tumors represent a significant health challenge, critically impacting human well-being. Historically, the focus has been on leveraging the biochemical cues of tumors for both diagnosis and treatment. While valuable, this strategy does not capture the full complexity of tumor diagnosis and management. Recently, the integration of biomechanics and mechanobiology with oncology has highlighted the importance of mechanical cues, which have emerged as new hallmarks of tumors, opening potential novel routes for cancer diagnosis and therapeutic interventions. Despite the advances, a thorough literature review suggests a pronounced gap in our understanding of the mechanical properties of tumors. The clinical community has not yet completely recognized the diagnostic and therapeutic relevance of the mechanical cues of tumors. To bridge this knowledge gap, we propose and introduce the paradigm of "Tumor Mechanomedicine". We provide a comprehensive overview of the multi-scale mechanical characteristics of tumors, exploring their influence on tumor biology, from the aspects of tumor biomechanics, tumor mechanobiology, tumor mechanodiagnostics, and tumor mechanotherapeutics. By elucidating the diagnostic and therapeutic potential of these mechanical cues, we aim to furnish the oncology community with fresh insights, paving the way for innovative solutions to persistent clinical conundrums.

Parallel kinetic resolution of aziridines via chiral phosphoric acid-catalyzed apparent hydrolytic ring-opening

We report a chiral phosphoric acid catalyzed apparent hydrolytic ring-opening reaction of racemic aziridines in a regiodivergent parallel kinetic resolution manner. Harnessing the acyloxy-assisted strategy, the highly stereocontrolled nucleophilic ring-opening of aziridines with water is achieved. Different kinds of aziridines are applicable in the process, giving a variety of enantioenriched aromatic or aliphatic amino alcohols with up to 99% yields and up to >99.5 : 0.5 enantiomeric ratio. Preliminary mechanistic study as well as product elaborations were inducted as well.

Stable Operation Induced by Plastic Crystal Electrolyte Used in Ni-Rich NMC811 Cathodes for Li-Ion Batteries

The LiNi0.8Mn0.1Co0.1O2 (NMC811) cathode material has been of significant consideration owing to its high energy density for Li-ion batteries. However, the poor cycling stability in a carbonate electrolyte limits its further development. In this work, we report the excellent electrochemical performance of the NMC811 cathode using a rational electrolyte based on organic ionic plastic crystal N-ethyl-N-methyl pyrrolidinium bis(fluorosulfonyl)imide C2mpyr[FSI], with the addition of (1:1 mol) LiFSI salt. This plastic crystal electrolyte (PC) is a thick viscous liquid with an ionic conductivity of 2.3 × 10-3 S cm-1 and a high Li+ transference number of 0.4 at ambient temperature. The NMC811@PC cathode delivers a discharge capacity of 188 mA h g-1 at a rate of 0.2 C with a capacity retention of 94.5% after 200 cycles, much higher than that of using a carbonate electrolyte (54.3%). Moreover, the NMC811@PC cathode also exhibits a superior high-rate capability with a discharge capacity of 111.0 mA h g-1 at the 10 C rate. The significantly improved cycle performance of the NMC811@PC cathode can be attributed to the high Li+ conductivity of the PC electrolyte, the stable Li+ conductive CEI film, and the maintaining of particle integrity during long-term cycling. The admirable electrochemical performance of the NMC811|C2mpyr[FSI]:[LiFSI] system exhibits a promising application of the plastic crystal electrolyte for high voltage layered oxide cathode materials in advanced lithium-ion batteries.

[Microanatomy and functional MRI study of arcuate fasciculus and superior longitudinal fasciculus]

Objectives: To explore the microanatomy and functional MRI(fMRI) of arcuate fasciculus(AF) and superior longitudinal fasciculus(SLF),and to analyze their functions. Methods: Ten normal adult cadaveric head specimens (20 cerebral hemispheres) were fixed with 10% methanal at the Translational Research Institute for Neurological Disorders of the Wannan Medical Collegefrom February to December 2022.The Klingler fiber dissection technique was utilized to perform white matter fiber dissection,with a magnification ranging from 6 to 40.The study focused on the microanatomical structures of the AF and SLF,aiming to explore their relationships with deep brain fibers.Furthermore, six healthy adult volunteers who underwent fMRI of the brain were included.The collected diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) data were processed and integrated with the microanatomical findings for a comprehensive analysis. Results: After removing the gray matter of the cerebral cortex,the superficial U fibers were exposed.The long association fibers that beneath the U fibers were the AF and SLF,which were the main long association fibers in the superficial layers of the brain.The AF could be divided into dorsal and ventral parts,while the SLF could be divided into Ⅰ,Ⅱ,and Ⅲ.SLF Ⅰ lied within the upper bank of the cingulate sulcus,travels medial to the callosal sulcus.The SLF Ⅱ,Ⅲ,and the AF were located on the lateral surface of the brain.By removing the gray matter of the insular cortex and the extreme capsule,exposing the external capsule and claustrum.Subsequently,the AF and SLF Ⅱ,Ⅲ were dissected,revealing the corona radiata and sagittal stratum,along with other deep brain fibers.During the dissection,it was observed that there was a close connection between the AF,SLF Ⅱ,and the deep brain fibers.Furthermore,in the regions above the lateral fissure of the cerebral hemisphere,there was no direct connection of long association fibers between the gray matter cortex and the deep U fibers in the coronal plane.These findings were further supported by DTI studies. Conclusions: The AF and SLF are the major long association fibers that located in the superficial layers of the brain,and closely connect to the gray matter cortex and U fibers,even closely relate with deep brain fibers.In the regions above the lateral fissure of the hemisphere,only the AF and SLF Ⅱ and Ⅲ serve as superficial long association fibers in the anterior-posterior direction.These fibers are likely involved in the transmission of brain functional information between the top and bottom gray matter cortex in the coronal plane above the lateral fissure.

Glycopolypeptide hydrogels with adjustable enzyme-triggered degradation: A novel proteoglycans analogue to repair articular-cartilage defects

Proteoglycans (PGs), also known as a viscous lubricant, is the main component of the cartilage extracellular matrix (ECM). The loss of PGs is accompanied by the chronic degeneration of cartilage tissue, which is an irreversible degeneration process that eventually develops into osteoarthritis (OA). Unfortunately, there is still no substitute for PGs in clinical treatments. Herein, we propose a new PGs analogue. The Glycopolypeptide hydrogels in the experimental groups with different concentrations were prepared by Schiff base reaction (Gel-1, Gel-2, Gel-3, Gel-4, Gel-5 and Gel-6). They have good biocompatibility and adjustable enzyme-triggered degradability. The hydrogels have a loose and porous structure suitable for the proliferation, adhesion, and migration of chondrocytes, good anti-swelling, and reduce the reactive oxygen species (ROS) in chondrocytes. In vitro experiments confirmed that the glycopolypeptide hydrogels significantly promoted ECM deposition and up-regulated the expression of cartilage-specific genes, such as type-II collagen, aggrecan, and glycosaminoglycans (sGAG). In vivo, the New Zealand rabbit knee articular cartilage defect model was established and the hydrogels were implanted to repair it, the results showed good cartilage regeneration potential. It is worth noting that the Gel-3 group, with a pore size of 122 ​± ​12 ​μm, was particularly prominent in the above experiments, and provides a theoretical reference for the design of cartilage-tissue regeneration materials in the future.

Ultrafast Charge-Discharge Capable and Long-Life Na3.9 Mn0.95 Zr0.05 V(PO4 )3 /C Cathode Material for Advanced Sodium-Ion Batteries

Na₄ MnV(PO₄ )₃ /C (NMVP) has been considered an attractive cathode for sodium-ion batteries with higher working voltage and lower cost than Na₃ V₂ (PO₄ )₃ /C. However, the poor intrinsic electronic conductivity and Jahn-Teller distortion caused by Mn³⁺ inhibit its practical application. In this work, the remarkable effects of Zr-substitution on prompting electronic and Na-ion conductivity and also structural stabilization are reported. The optimized Na_3.9 Mn_0.95 Zr_0.05 V(PO₄ )₃ /C sample shows ultrafast charge-discharge capability with discharge capacities of 108.8, 103.1, 99.1, and 88.0 mAh g^-1 at 0.2, 1, 20, and 50 C, respectively, which is the best result for cation substituted NMVP samples reported so far. This sample also shows excellent cycling stability with a capacity retention of 81.2% at 1 C after 500 cycles. XRD analyses confirm the introduction of Zr into the lattice structure which expands the lattice volume and facilitates the Na⁺ diffusion. First-principle calculation indicates that Zr modification reduces the band gap energy and leads to increased electronic conductivity. In situ XRD analyses confirm the same structure evolution mechanism of the Zr-modified sample as pristine NMVP, however the strong ZrO bond obviously stabilizes the structure framework that ensures long-term cycling stability.

Graphene Hydrogel as a Porous Scaffold for Cartilage Regeneration

Porous scaffolds have widely been exploited in cartilage tissue regeneration. However, it is often difficult to understand how the delicate hierarchical structure of the scaffold material affects the regeneration process. Graphene materials are versatile building blocks for robust and biocompatible porous structures, enabling investigation of structural cues on tissue regeneration otherwise challenging to ascertain. Here, we utilize a graphene hydrogel with stable and tunable structure as a model scaffold to examine the effect of porous structure on matrix remodeling associated with ingrowth of chondrocytes on scaffolds. We observe much-accelerated yet balanced cartilage remodeling correlating the ingrowth of chondrocytes into the graphene scaffold with an open pore structure on the surface. Importantly, such an enhanced remodeling selectively promotes the expression of collagen type II fibrils over proteoglycan aggrecan, hence clearly illustrating that chondrocytes maintain a stable phenotype when they migrate into the scaffold while offering new insights into scaffold design for cartilage repair.

Retraction: Prussian blue without coordinated water as a superior cathode for sodium-ion batteries

Retraction of ‘Prussian blue without coordinated water as a superior cathode for sodium-ion batteries’ by Dezhi Yang et al., Chem. Commun., 2015, 51, 8181–8184, https://doi.org/10.1039/C5CC01180A.

Synergistic antibacterial effect of graphene-coated titanium loaded with levofloxacin

In this study, graphene coating was introduced to the modified titanium surface to prevent bacterial infection in oral implants. We modified the titanium surface through SLA and silanization treatment and then coated the surface with graphene. The structure and surface properties were characterized by XPS and SEM. Graphene-coated titanium sheet was incubated with bacteria to test the antibacterial property, which was enhanced by adsorption and release of levofloxacin. We further implanted the graphene-coated titanium sheet loaded with levofloxacin into rabbits to test the antibacterial properties in vivo. The graphene coating exhibited inherent antibacterial properties through membrane stress and the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). When loaded with levofloxacin, the graphene coating exhibited a synergistic antibacterial effect and effectively prevented bacterial infections following the implantation. The graphene coating is promising to improve the antibacterial functions of oral implant surfaces to prevent bacterial infection.

[Epidemic situation and diagnosis of imported malaria before and after malaria elimination in Nanjing City, Jiangsu Province]

OBJECTIVE

To analyze the epidemiological characteristics and diagnosis of imported malaria before and after malaria elimination in Nanjing City of Jiangsu Province, so as to provide the scientific evidence for formulating the malaria control strategy after malaria elimination.

METHODS

Data pertaining to the epidemic situation and individual investigation of malaria in Nanjing City before (from 2012 to 2016) and after malaria elimination (from 2017 to 2020) were captured from the National Notifiable Communicable Disease Reporting System and the Information System for Parasitic Diseases Control and Prevention and were analyzed statistically.

RESULTS

A total of 178 malaria cases were reported in Nanjing City from 2012 to 2020, and all were imported cases. There were 99 malaria cases reported before malaria elimination in Nanjing City, including 78 cases with Plasmodium falciparum malaria (78.79%), 5 cases with P. vivax malaria (5.05%), 10 cases with P. ovale malaria (10.10%), 3 cases with P. malariae malaria (3.03%) and 3 cases with mixed infections (3.03%), and 79 malaria cases reported after elimination, including 63 cases with P. falciparum malaria (79.75%), 5 cases with P. vivax malaria (6.33%), 9 cases with P. ovale malaria (11.39%), 2 cases with P. malariae malaria (2.53%). There was no significant difference in the proportion of each type of malaria cases in Nanjing City before and after malaria elimination (χ² =2.400, P > 0.05). Malaria cases mainly acquired Plasmodium infections in African regions, and no significant difference was seen in the proportion of malaria cases returning to Nanjing City from African countries before and after malaria elimination (χ² = 0.093, P > 0.05). The number of malaria cases peaked in Nanjing City in January and during the period from May to July before elimination, and there was no apparent seasonal variation in the distribution of malaria cases after elimination. The proportion of malaria cases living in Nanjing City was significantly greater after malaria elimination than before elimination (72.15% vs. 55.56%; χ² = 5.187, P = 0.023). The proportions of businessmen and international students were both 5.05% before malaria elimination, and increased to 15.19% and 13.92% after elimination, respectively (χ² = 5.229 and 4.229, both P values < 0.05). The percentage of definitive diagnosis of malaria at initial diagnosis was 18.75% in county-level hospitals before malaria elimination and increased to 61.11% after elimination (χ² = 6.275, P = 0.012), while the proportion of malaria cases with definitive diagnoses in county-level hospitals was 4.04% before malaria elimination and increased to 13.92% after elimination (χ² = 5.562, P = 0.018). During the period from 2012 to 2020, the proportion of malaria cases with definitive diagnoses within 1 to 3 days post-admission increased from 27.27% in Nanjing City before malaria elimination to 45.57% after elimination (χ² = 6.433, P = 0.011).

CONCLUSIONS

The epidemic situation of imported malaria remains serious in Nanjing City during the post-elimination stage, and malaria parasite infections predominantly occur in African regions. In addition, there are changes in regional and occupational distributions of malaria cases and the diagnostic capability of malaria increases in county-level hospitals in Nanjing City after malaria elimination. Further improvements in the malaria surveillance system and the diagnostic and treatment capability of malaria in medical institutions at each level are required to consolidate malaria elimination achievements in Nanjing City.

Structural Tuning of a Flexible and Porous Polypyrrole Film by a Template-Assisted Method for Enhanced Capacitance for Supercapacitor Applications

Constructing a rational electrode structure for supercapacitors is critical to accelerate the electrochemical kinetics process and thus promote the capacitance. Focusing on the flexible supercapacitor electrode, we synthesized a three-dimensional (3D) porous polypyrrole (PPy) film using a modified vapor phase polymerization method with the use of a porous template (CaCO₃). The porous design provided the PPy film with an improved surface area and pore volume. The porous PPy film electrode was studied as a binder-free electrode for supercapacitors. It was found that the abundant interpenetrated pores created by the CaCO₃ templates within the 3D framework are beneficial to overcoming the diffusion-controlled limit in the overall electrochemical process. It was revealed by electrochemical investigation that a more pseudocapacitive contribution than diffusion-controlled process contribution was observed in the total charge in the redox reaction. The galvanostatic charge/discharge (GCD) measurements showed that the optimized 3D porous PPy film electrode delivered a high capacitance of 313.6 F g^-1 and an areal capacitance of 98.0 mF cm^-2 at 1.0 A g^-1 in a three-electrode configuration, which is nearly three times that of the dense counterpart electrode synthesized in the absence of the CaCO₃ template. A specific capacitance of 62.5 F g^-1 at 0.5 A g^-1 and 31.1 F g^-1 at 10 A g^-1 was obtained in a symmetric capacitor device. In addition, the porous structure provided the PPy film with the attractive capability of accommodating the volume change during the doping/dedoping process. This is essential for the PPy film to maintain a long cycling life in a practical operation for a supercapacitor. It turned out that a high capacitance retention up to 81.3% after 10,000 GCD cycles was obtained for the symmetric supercapacitor device with the 3D porous PPy electrode (57.1% capacitive retention was observed for the dense PPy electrode). The strategy and the insight analysis are expected to provide valuable guidance for the design and the synthesis of flexible and wearable film electrodes with high performance.

Spray-dried assembly of 3D N,P-Co-doped graphene microspheres embedded with core-shell CoP/MoP@C nanoparticles for enhanced lithium-ion storage

The advancement of novel synthetic approaches for micro/nanostructural manipulation of transition metal phosphide (TMP) materials with precisely controlled engineering is crucial to realize their practical use in batteries. Here, we develop a novel spray-drying strategy to construct three-dimensional (3D) N,P co-doped graphene (G-NP) microspheres embedded with core-shell CoP@C and MoP@C nanoparticles (CoP@C⊂G-NP, MoP@⊂G-NP). This intentional design shows a close correlation between the microstructural G-NP and chemistry of the core-shell CoP@C/MoP@C nanoparticle system that contributes towards their anode performance in lithium-ion batteries (LIBs). The obtained structure features a conformal porous G-NP framework prepared via the co-doping of heteroatoms (N,P) that features a 3D conductive highway that allows rapid ion and electron passage and maintains the overall structural integrity of the material. The interior carbon shell can efficiently restrain volume evolution and prevent CoP/MoP nanoparticle aggregation, providing excellent mechanical stability. As a result, the CoP@C⊂G-NP and MoP@⊂G-NP composites deliver high specific capacities of 823.6 and 602.9 mA h g^-1 at a current density of 0.1 A g^-1 and exhibit excellent cycling stabilities of 438 and 301 mA h g^-1 after 500 and 800 cycles at 1 A g^-1. The present work details a novel approach to fabricate core-shell TMPs@C⊂G-NP-based electrode materials for use in next-generation LIBs and can be expanded to other potential energy storage applications.

Improved Cycling Performance of P2-Na0.67Ni0.33Mn0.67O2 Based on Sn Substitution Combined with Polypyrrole Coating

P2-Na_0.67Ni_0.33Mn_0.67O₂ presents high working voltage with a theoretical capacity of 173 mAh g^-1. However, the lattice oxygen on the particle surface participates in the redox reactions when the material is charged over 4.22 V. The resulting oxidized oxygen aggravates the electrolyte decomposition and transition metal dissolution, which cause severe capacity decay. The commonly reported cation substitution methods enhance the cycle stability by suppressing the high voltage plateau but lead to lower average working voltage and reduced capacity. Herein, we stabilized the lattice oxygen by a small amount of Sn substitution based on the strong Sn-O bond without sacrificing the high voltage performance and further protected the particle surface by polypyrrole (PPy) coating. The obtained Na_0.67Ni_0.33Mn_0.63Sn_0.04O₂@PPy (3.3 wt %) composite showed excellent cycling stability with a reversible capacity of 137.6 (10) and 120.0 mAh g^-1 (100 mA g^-1) with a capacity retention of 95% (10 mA g^-1, 50 cycles) and 82.5% (100 mA g^-1, 100 cycles), respectively. The present work indicates that slight Sn substitution combined with PPy coating could be an effective approach to achieving superior cycling stability for high-voltage layered transition metal oxides.

Surface Tuning to Promote the Electrocatalysis for Oxygen Evolution Reaction: From Metal-Free to Cobalt-Based Carbon Electrocatalysts

Heterogeneous electrocatalytic reactions only occur at the interface between the electrocatalyst and reactant. Therefore, the active sites are only necessary to be distributed on the surface of the electrocatalyst. Based on this motivation, here, we demonstrate a systematic study on surface tuning for a carbon-based electrocatalyst from metal-free (with the heteroatoms N and S, NS/C) to metal-containing surfaces (with Co, N, and S, CoNS/C). The CoNS/C electrocatalyst was obtained by pyrolyzing the Co precoordinated and p-toluenesulfonate-doped polypyrrole (PPy). It was found that the coordination of Co on the PPy ring tuned the final carbon electrocatalyst into a catalyst with a CoN_x moiety-rich surface. In addition, the as-synthesized CoNS/C was determined to have a very high loading of cobalt up to 2.02 wt %. The pyrolysis of the cobalt-containing precursor tends to proceed toward a characteristic of a higher sp² carbon content, a higher surface area, and more nitrogen as well as active nitrogen sites than its metal-free counterpart. The most distinguished feature for such a catalyst is that the truly most active component is only distributed on the surface, in contrast with that of the conventional metal-N-based catalyst present throughout the bulky structure. Especially, the electrocatalytic activity toward oxygen evolution reaction (OER) has been investigated experimentally and theoretically. The results showed that the OER performance of the carbon-based electrocatalyst was remarkably boosted after the introduction of Co with an overpotential decrease from 678 to 345 mV at 10 mA cm^-2. Furthermore, CoNS/C displayed an excellent durability upon a long-term measurement. The apparent activation energy measurements revealed that the metal-rich surface contributed to overcome the energy barrier for OER. In addition, density functional theory calculations have been conducted to explain the correlated OER mechanism. This study is expected to provide an effective strategy for the design and the synthesis of highly active metal-nitrogen-type electrocatalysts with a high metal loading for various electrocatalytic reactions.

Structural and chemical interplay between nano-active and encapsulation materials in a core–shell SnO2@MXene lithium ion anode system

Structural and chemical interplay between nano-active and encapsulation materials in a core–shell SnO₂@MXene lithium ion anode system was investigated in detail.

[Effect of integrated schistosomiasis control measures on Oncomelania snails in river channels connecting the Yangtze River in Nanjing City]

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the effectiveness of Oncomelania snails control following the implementation of integrated schistosomiasis control measures in river channels connecting the Yangtze River in endemic areas of Nanjing City.

METHODS

The river channels connecting the Yangtze River with snails in Nanjing City were selected as the study pilots. The integrated schistosomiasis control measures implemented in the study pilots were investigated by means of retrospective analyses and field surveys from 1998 to 2019, and the effectiveness of snail control was evaluated.

RESULTS

Integrated control measures with emphases on environmental improvements including water resource projects for schistosomiasis control were implemented in the study pilots during the period from 1998 to 2019, including river bank concretion with 84.51 km in length, marshland cutting and dredging with 50.41 km in length, building 2 sluices and 3 overflow dams, digging one floodway and snail control with chemical treatment that covered an area of 3 370.80 hm². No Schistosoma japonicum infection had been detected in snails since the completion of the integrated control measures. In addition, snails had been eliminated in 6 river channels connecting the Yangtze River until 2019, with the snail habitats reducing from 214.33 hm² to 52.22 hm² in 10 river channels connecting the Yangtze River and the snail density reducing to below 0.1 snails/0.1 m² in snail-breeding river channels connecting the Yangtze River.

CONCLUSIONS

The integrated schistosomiasis control measures with emphases on environmental improvements may effectively control snail breeding and spread in rivers connecting the Yangtze River in endemic areas of schistosomiasis; however, the maintenance of the project and snail surveillance and control should be intensified following the completion of the integrated schistosomiasis control measures.

MXene Frameworks Promote the Growth and Stability of LiF-Rich Solid-Electrolyte Interphases on Silicon Nanoparticle Bundles

Silicon-based materials are the desirable anodes for next-generation lithium-ion batteries; however, the large volume change of Si during the charging/discharging process causes electrode fracture and an unstable solid-electrolyte interphase (SEI) layer, which severely impair their stability and Coulombic efficiency. Herein, a bundle of silicon nanoparticles is encapsulated in robust micrometer-sized MXene frameworks, in which the MXene nanosheets are precrumpled by capillary compression force to effectively buffer the stress induced by the volume change, and the abundant covalent bonds (Ti-O-Ti) between adjacent nanosheets formed through a facile thermal self-cross-linking reaction further guarantee the robustness of the MXene architecture. Both factors stabilize the electrode structure. Moreover, the abundant fluorine terminations on MXene nanosheets contribute to an in situ formation of a highly compact, durable, and mechanically robust LiF-rich SEI layer outside the frameworks upon cycling, which not only shuts down the parasitic reaction between Si and an organic electrolyte but also enhances the structural stability of MXene frameworks. Benefiting from these merits, the as-prepared anodes deliver a high specific capacity of 1797 mA h g^-1 at 0.2 A g^-1 and a high capacity retention of 86.7% after 500 cycles at 2 A g^-1 with an average Coulombic efficiency of 99.6%. Significantly, this work paves the way for other high-capacity electrode materials with a strong volume effect.

Rational Design of the Robust Janus Shell on Silicon Anodes for High-Performance Lithium-Ion Batteries

The high-capacity silicon anode is regarded as a promising electrode material for next-generation lithium-ion batteries. Unfortunately, its practical application is still severely hindered by electrode fracture and unstable solid electrolyte interphase during cycling. Herein, we design a structure of encapsulating silicon in a robust "janus shell", in which an internal graphene shell with sufficient void space is used to absorb the mechanical stress induced by volume expansion, and the conformal carbon outer shell is introduced to strongly bond the loosely stacked graphene shell and simultaneously seal the nanopores on the surface. With the ultrastable janus carbon shell, the excellent structural integrity of the electrode and stable solid electrolyte interphase layer could be effectively preserved, resulting in an impressive cycling behavior. Indeed, the as-synthesized anodes demonstrate superior cycle stability and excellent rate performance, delivering a high reversible capacity of 1416 mA h g^-1 at a current density of 0.2 A g^-1 and 852 mA h g^-1 at a high current density of 5 A g^-1. Remarkably, the superior capacity retention of 88.5% could be achieved even after 400 cycles at a high current density of 2 A g^-1. More importantly, this work opens up a novel avenue to address high-capacity anodes with a large volume change.

Coaxial Carbon Nanotube Supported TiO2@MoO2@Carbon Core-Shell Anode for Ultrafast and High-Capacity Sodium Ion Storage

The sluggish kinetic in electrode materials is one of the critical challenges in achieving high-power sodium ion storage. We report a coaxial core-shell nanostructure composed of carbon nanotube (CNT) as the core and TiO₂@MoO₂@C as shells for a hierarchically nanoarchitectured anode for improved electrode kinetics. The 1D tubular nanostructure can effectively reduce ion diffusion path, increase electrical conductivity, accommodate the stress due to volume change upon cycling, and provide additional interfacial active sites for enhanced charge storage and transport properties. Significantly, a synergistic effect between TiO₂ and MoO₂ nanostructures is investigated through ex situ solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance. The electrode exhibits a good rate capability (150 mAh g^-1 at 20 A g^-1) and superior cycling stability with a reversibly capacity of 175 mAh g^-1 at 10 A g^-1 for over 8000 cycles.

Cobalt phosphide embedded in a graphene nanosheet network as a high-performance anode for Li-ion batteries

Cobalt phosphide embedded in a graphene nanosheet network can be developed by a versatile strategy for advanced Li-ion battery anodes.

Nitrogen and Phosphorus Codoped Porous Carbon Framework as Anode Material for High Rate Lithium-Ion Batteries

Slow kinetics and low specific capacity of graphite anode significantly limit its applications in the rapidly developing lithium-ion battery (LIB) markets. Herein, we report a carbon framework anode with ultrafast rate and cycling stability for LIBs by nitrogen and phosphorus doping. The electrode structure is constructed of a 3D framework built from 2D heteroatom-doped graphene layers via pyrolysis of self-assembled supramolecular aggregates. The synergistic effect from the nanostructured 3D framework and chemical doping (i.e., N- and P-doping) enables fast kinetics in charge storage and transport. A high reversible capacity of 946 mAh g^-1 is delivered at a current rate of 0.5 A g^-1, and excellent rate capability (e.g., a capacity of 595 mAh g^-1 at 10 A g^-1) of the electrode is shown. Moreover, a moderate surface area from the 3D porous structure contributes to a relatively high initial Coulombic efficiency of 74%, compared to other graphene-based anode materials. The electrode also demonstrates excellent cycling stability at a current rate of 2 A g^-1 for 2000 cycles. The synthetic strategy proposed here is highly efficient and green, which can provide guidance for large-scale controllable fabrication of carbon-based anode materials.

Insight into Ca-Substitution Effects on O3-Type NaNi1/3 Fe1/3 Mn1/3 O2 Cathode Materials for Sodium-Ion Batteries Application

O3-type NaNi_1/3 Fe_1/3 Mn_1/3 O₂ (NaNFM) is well investigated as a promising cathode material for sodium-ion batteries (SIBs), but the cycling stability of NaNFM still needs to be improved by using novel electrolytes or optimizing their structure with the substitution of different elements sites. To enlarge the alkali-layer distance inside the layer structure of NaNFM may benefit Na⁺ diffusion. Herein, the effect of Ca-substitution is reported in Na sites on the structural and electrochemical properties of Na_1-x Ca_x/2 NFM (x = 0, 0.05, 0.1). X-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns of the prepared Na_1-x Ca_x/2 NFM samples show single α-NaFeO₂ type phase with slightly increased alkali-layer distance as Ca content increases. The cycling stabilities of Ca-substituted samples are remarkably improved. The Na_0.9 Ca_0.05 Ni_1/3 Fe_1/3 Mn_1/3 O₂ (Na_0.9 Ca_0.05 NFM) cathode delivers a capacity of 116.3 mAh g^-1 with capacity retention of 92% after 200 cycles at 1C rate. In operando XRD indicates a reversible structural evolution through an O3-P3-P3-O3 sequence of Na_0.9 Ca_0.05 NFM cathode during cycling. Compared to NaNMF, the Na_0.9 Ca_0.05 NFM cathode shows a wider voltage range in pure P3 phase state during the charge/discharge process and exhibits better structure recoverability after cycling. The superior cycling stability of Na_0.9 Ca_0.05 NFM makes it a promising material for practical applications in sodium-ion batteries.

Carbon-coated FeP nanoparticles anchored on carbon nanotube networks as an anode for long-life sodium-ion storage

Carbon-coated FeP nanoparticles anchored on carbon nanotube networks with enhanced cycling stability for sodium-ion storage.

[Report and analysis of 2 cases of nerve paralysis with aspiration pneumonia after infection of herpes zoster virus]

Two cases of patients were hospitalized for sore throat with Dysphagia.Check:Wall of the pharynx,tongue and epiglottis scattered the ulcer.The patients were loss of pharynx reflex.Oropharynx and piriform fossa has a lot of saliva retention.Posterior pharyngeal wall was drooping like waterfull.CT scan showed may be the aspiration pneumonia in right lower lung.The admission diagnosiswere pharyngeal herpes zoster virus infection,pharyngeal side muscle paralysis,and inhalation pneumonia.The patients' clinical data were retrospectively analyzed,and the report is as follows.

Multilayered Graphene Hydrogel Membranes for Guided Bone Regeneration

A multilayered graphene hydrogel (MGH) membrane is used as an excellent barrier membrane for guided bone regeneration. The unique multilayered nanostructure of the MGH membrane results in improved material properties, which benefits protein adsorption, cell adhesion, and apatite deposition, and allows higher quality and fast bone regeneration.

Carbon coated SnO2 nanoparticles anchored on CNT as a superior anode material for lithium-ion batteries

Hierarchically structured carbon coated SnO2 nanoparticles well-anchored on the surface of a CNT (C-SnO2/CNT) material were synthesized by a facile hydrothermal process and subsequent carbonization. The as-obtained C-SnO2/CNT hybrid, when applied as an anode material for lithium ion batteries (LIBs), showed a high reversible capacity up to 1572 mA h g(-1) at 200 mA g(-1) with a superior rate capability (685 mA h g(-1) at 4000 mA g(-1)). Even after 100 charge/discharge cycles at 1000 mA g(-1), a specific capacity of 1100 mA h g(-1) can still be maintained. Such impressive electrochemical performance can be mainly attributed to the hierarchical sandwiched structure and strong synergistic effects of the ultrafine SnO2 nanoparticles and the carbon coating, and thus presents this material a promising anode material for LIBs.

A dual-spatially-confined reservoir by packing micropores within dense graphene for long-life lithium/sulfur batteries

In lithium/sulfur batteries, micropores could bring about strong interactions with polysulfides, but could not alleviate the partial polysulfide overflowing outside because of the volume expansion of the lithiated sulfur. A dual-spatially-confined reservoir for sulfur by wrapping microporous carbon with dense graphene, micro@meso-porous DSC (dual-spatial carbon), is synthesized to solve this issue. Such a structure is prepared through two distinctive methods: graphene promoted in situ hydrothermal carbonization of organics to grow micropores on itself, and liquid mediated drying of graphene hydrogel to form mesoporous graphene frameworks. In contrast to previously reported hierarchical carbon/S, the inner micropores are mainly responsible for loading sulfur, which could help confine its particle size, thus increasing the electrical/ionic conductivity and the utilization of sulfur, and restrain lithium polysulfide dissolution because of strong interaction with pore walls; while the outer mesopores act as another reservoir to stabilize the overflowed polysulfide and to enhance the Li(+) transport. The S-micro@meso-porous DSC cathode exhibits better discharge capacity and cycling performance than S-microporous AC and S-micro@macro-porous DSC, i.e., 59% and 37% higher capacity remaining at 0.5 C than the latter two, respectively.

A nitrogen-containing carbon film derived from vapor phase polymerized polypyrrole as a fast charging/discharging capability anode for lithium-ion batteries

A nitrogen-containing carbon film was derived from a vapor phase polymerized PPy precursor and developed as a fast charge/discharge capability anode for lithium-ion batteries.

Induction of Osteogenic Differentiation of Human Adipose-Derived Stem Cells by a Novel Self-Supporting Graphene Hydrogel Film and the Possible Underlying Mechanism

Graphene and its derivatives have received increasing attention from scientists in the field of biomedical sciences because of their unique physical properties, which are responsible for their interesting biological functions. With a range of extraordinary properties such as high surface area, high mechanical strength, and ease of functionalization, graphene is considered highly promising for application in bone tissue engineering. Here, we examined the effect of using a self-supporting graphene hydrogel (SGH) film to induce the osteogenic differentiation of human adipose-derived stem cells (hADSCs). In comparison to conventional graphene and carbon fiber films, the SGH film had higher mechanical strength and flexibility. Moreover, we found that the SGH film was nontoxic and biocompatible. Of particular interest is the fact that the film alone could stimulate the osteogenic differentiation of hADSCs, independent of additional chemical inducers. Such effects are stronger for the SGH film than for graphene or carbon fiber films, although the induction capacity of the SGH film is not as high as that of the osteogenic-induced medium. The excellent osteoinductivity of the SGH film is closely related to its remarkable physical properties that include specific nanostructures, surface morphology, strong cell adherence, reasonable surface hydrophilicity, and high protein absorption.

Sulfur-based composite cathode materials for high-energy rechargeable lithium batteries

There is currently an urgent demand for highly efficient energy storage and conversion systems. Due to its high theoretical energy density, low cost, and environmental compatibility, the lithium sulfur (Li-S) battery has become a typical representative of the next generation of electrochemical power sources. Various approaches have been explored to design and prepare sulfur cathode materials to enhance their electrochemical performance. This Research News article summarizes and compares different sulfur materials for Li-S batteries and particularly focuses on the fine structures, electrochemical performance, and electrode reaction mechanisms of pyrolyzed polyacrylo-nitrile sulfur (pPAN@S) and microporous-carbon/small-sulfur composite materials.

Prussian blue without coordinated water as a superior cathode for sodium-ion batteries

Prussian blue without coordinated water delivered super-high electrochemical performances with sufficient redox reactions when employed as a cathode in sodium ion batteries.

First Report of Gray Mold of Rhizoma paridis Caused by Botrytis cinerea in China

Rhizoma paridis is a perennial, traditional Chinese medicinal herb. In May 2013, a disease was observed in an approximately 10 ha cultivated field in Enshi, Hubei Province, China. Approximately 80% of plants in the field were affected. Symptoms were visible on the basal leaves of affected plants. Chlorosis followed by necrosis started at the leaf tips and margins and gradually spread inward until the entire leaf was necrotic. Thick, gray mycelium and conidia were visible on both sides surface of leaves under wet, humid conditions. The leading edge of the chlorotic leaves was excised from 20 plant samples surface disinfested with 1% NaOCl solution for 1 min, rinsed in sterile water, air dried, and placed on potato dextrose agar (PDA). Plates were incubated at 22°C in the dark. Mycelia were initially hyaline and white, and became dark gray after 72 h. Mycelia were septate with dark branched conidiophores. Conidia were smooth, hyaline, ovoid, aseptate, and ranged from 8 to 14.5 × 7 to 8.5 μm. Numerous hard, small, irregular, and black sclerotia that were 1 to 3 × 2 to 5 mm were visible on PDA plates after 12 days. The fungus was identified as Botrytis cinerea on the basis of these characters (1). The internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region of rDNA was amplified using the ITS1 and ITS4 primer and sequenced (GenBank Accession No. KF265499). BLAST analysis of the PCR product showed 99% identity to Botryotinia fuckeliana (perfect stage of B. cinerea) (EF207415.1, EF207414.1). The pathogen was further identified to the species level as B. cinerea using gene sequences from glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (G3PDH), heat-shock protein 60 (HSP60), and DNA-dependent RNA polymerase subunit II (RPB2) (2) (KJ638600, KJ638602, and KJ638601). Pathogenicity was tested by spraying the foliage of 40 two-year-old plants with a suspension of 10⁶ conidia per ml of sterile distilled water. Each plant received 30 ml of the inoculum. Ten healthy potted plants were inoculated with sterilized water as control. All plants were covered with plastic bags for 5 days after inoculation to maintain high relative humidity and were placed in a growth chamber at 22°C. The first foliar lesions developed on leaves 7 days after inoculation and were similar to those observed in the field. No symptoms developed on the control plants. B. cinerea was consistently re-isolated from all artificially inoculated plants. The pathogenicity test was completed twice. To our knowledge, this is the first report of gray mold of R. paridis caused by B. cinerea in China. The root of R. paridis is the most commonly used Chinese herbal medicine to treat viper bites. In recent years, cultivation of this herb has increased in China because of its high value. Consequently, the economic importance of this disease is likely to increase with the greater prevalence of this host species. References: (1) H. L. Barnett and B. B. Hunter. Illustrated Genera of Imperfect Fungi. Burgess Publishing Company, Minneapolis, MN, 1972. (2) M. Staats et al. Mol. Biol. Evol. 22:333, 2005.

Structure optimization of Prussian blue analogue cathode materials for advanced sodium ion batteries

A Prussian blue analogue Na_1.76Ni_0.12Mn_0.88[Fe(CN)₆]_0.98 containing electrochemically inactive Ni²⁺ with active Mn^2+/3+ simultaneously exhibits particularly excellent cycle life and high capacity.