High-Entropy Aqueous Electrolyte Induced Formation of Water-Poor Zn2+ Solvation Structures and Gradient Solid-Electrolyte Interphase for Long-Life Zn-Metal Anodes.

Electrolyte engineering has emerged as an effective strategy for stabilizing Zn-metal anodes. However, a single solute or solvent additive is far from sufficient to meet the requirements for electrolyte cycling stability. Here, we report a new-type high-entropy electrolyte composed of equal molar amounts of Zn(OTf)2 and LiOTf, along with equal volumes of H2O, triethyl phosphate, and dimethyl sulfoxide, which enhances electrolyte stability by increasing solvation entropy.

Examining the relationship between CDAI and frailty and its manifestation in Parkinson's disease: a cross-sectional study.

Background: Higher intake of antioxidants is associated with reduced risk of various chronic diseases. However, the relationship between composite dietary antioxidants and frailty has not been characterized, especially in neurodegenerative conditions like Parkinson's disease (PD) where frailty is highly prevalent. This study aimed to investigate the association between composite dietary antioxidant index (CDAI), a composite score reflecting antioxidant vitamin and mineral intakes, and frailty risk in the general United States (US) population and PD patients.

Case report: Asymmetric bilateral deep brain stimulation for the treatment of pantothenate kinase-associated neurodegeneration in a patient: a unique case of atypical PKAN with a novel heterozygous PANK2 mutation.

Pantothenate kinase-associated neurodegeneration (PKAN) is a rare autosomal recessive hereditary neurodegenerative disorder, usually caused by mutations in the pantothenate kinase 2 (PANK2) gene. We report a young female patient with atypical PKAN, harboring a novel heterozygous PANK2 mutation, diagnosed through clinical imaging and genetic analysis. The patient presented with dystonia and motor dysfunction after onset, but early brain MRI showed normal findings.

Building microcracked structure fibrous cathode coated by Poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(styrene sulfonate) for ultra-stable fiber-shaped aqueous zinc ions batteries.

Attributing to the advantages of intrinsic safety, high energy density, and good omnidirectional flexibility, fiber-shaped aqueous zinc ions batteries (FAZIBs), serving as energy supply devices, have multitude applications in flexible and wearable electronic devices. However, the detachment of active materials caused by bending stress generated during flexing process limits their practical application severely. To address the above issue, an effective integrated strategy employing microcracked activated cobalt hydroxide [A-Co(OH)] cathode with protective coating of poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene)poly(styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS) was proposed in this work to enhance the cyclic and bending performances of FAZIBs.

Facet-Dependent Evolution of Active Components on Spinel CoO for Electrochemical Ammonia Synthesis.

Spinel cobalt oxides (CoO) have emerged as a promising class of catalysts for the electrochemical nitrate reduction reaction (eNORR) to ammonia, offering advantages such as low cost, high activity, and selectivity. However, the specific role of crystallographic facets in determining the catalysts' performance remains elusive, impeding the development of efficient catalysts. In this study, we have synthesized various CoO nanostructures with exposed facets of {100}, {111}, {110}, and {112}, aiming to investigate the dependence of the eNORR activity on the crystallographic facets.

[Retracted] Association between vascular endothelial growth factor gene polymorphisms and the risk of osteonecrosis of the femoral head: Systematic review.

[This retracts the article DOI: 10.3892/br.2015.

Nanoengineering of Cathode Catalysts for Li-O Batteries.

Lithium-oxygen (Li-O) batteries have obtained widespread attention as next-generation energy storage systems due to their extremely high energy density. However, the high charge overpotential, attributed to the insulating property of LiO, significantly limits the energy efficiency and triggers solvent degradation. The high electrochemical activities of oxygen reduction reactions (ORR) and oxygen evolution reactions (OER) on the cathode are crucial for alleviating the high charging polarizations and enhancing the lifetime of Li-O batteries, which are also top challenges of state-of-art research.

High-Fluidity/High-Strength Dual-Layer Gel Electrolytes Enable Ultra-Flexible and Dendrite-Free Fiber-Shaped Aqueous Zinc Metal Battery.

Fiber-shaped aqueous zinc-ion batteries (FAZIBs) with intrinsic safety, highcapacity, and superb omnidirectional flexibility hold promise for wearable energy-supply devices. However, the interfacial separation of fiber-shaped electrodes and electrolytes caused by Zinc (Zn) stripping process and severe Zn dendrites occurring at the folded area under bending condition seriously restricts FAZIBs' practical application. Here, an advanced confinement encapsulation strategy is originally reported to construct dual-layer gel electrolyte consisting of high-fluidity polyvinyl alcohol-Zn acetate inner layer and high-strength Zn alginate outer layer for fiber-shaped Zn anode.

Molecular Engineering Enables Hydrogel Electrolyte with Ionic Hopping Migration and Self-Healability toward Dendrite-Free Zinc-Metal Anodes.

Hydrogel electrolytes (HEs), characterized by intrinsic safety, mechanical stability, and biocompatibility, can promote the development of flexible aqueous zinc-ion batteries (FAZIBs). However, current FAZIB technology is severely restricted by the uncontrollable dendrite growth arising from undesirable reactions between the HEs with sluggish ionic conductivity and Zn metal. To overcome this challenge, this work proposes a molecular engineering strategy, which involves the introduction of oxygen-rich poly(urea-urethane) (OR-PUU) into polyacrylamide (PAM)-based HEs.

Reliable lateral Zn deposition along (002) plane by oxidized PAN separator for zinc-ion batteries.

Aqueous zinc ion batteries (AZIBs) are the promising candidate for energy storage where safety and low cost are the major concerns. However, the uneven and random electrodeposition of Zn has become a serious impediment to the deep recharging of AZIBs. Conventional modifications on zinc substrate can promote homogenous zinc deposition initially, but not sustainably.

Etching of Multifunctional Three-Dimensional Interfacial Layers for the Construction of Porous Zn Anodes with Enhanced Surface Textures.

Aqueous Zn-ion batteries offer the advantages of greater security and lower fabrication costs over their lithium-ion counterparts. However, their further advancement and practical application are hindered by the drastic decay in their performance due to the uncontrollable dendrite growth on Zn anodes. In this study, we fabricated a versatile three-dimensional (3D) interfacial layer (3D PVDF-Zn(TFO) (PVDF: poly(vinylidene fluoride); TFO: trifluoromethanesulfonate), which simultaneously formed porous Zn-metal anodes (PZn) with an enhanced (002) texture, via a etching scheme.

New Emerging Fast Charging Microscale Electrode Materials.

Fast charging lithium (Li)-ion batteries are intensively pursued for next-generation energy storage devices, whose electrochemical performance is largely determined by their constituent electrode materials. While nanosizing of electrode materials enhances high-rate capability in academic research, it presents practical limitations like volumetric packing density and high synthetic cost. As an alternative to nanosizing, microscale electrode materials cannot only effectively overcome the limitations of the nanosizing strategy but also satisfy the requirement of fast-charging batteries.

Use of a digital contact tracing system in Singapore to mitigate COVID-19 spread.

Background: Contact tracing has been essential to reducing spread of COVID-19. Singapore leveraged technology to assist with contact tracing efforts using a Bluetooth-based app and token platform called 'TraceTogether'.

Methods: We reviewed the impact of this system during the country's Delta and Omicron waves (24 August 2021 to 17 February 2022) to identify differences in number of close contacts and time savings between full automation using TraceTogether alone as compared to manual contact tracing supplemented by TraceTogether.

Elevated visceral adiposity index linked to improved cognitive function in middle-aged and elderly Chinese: evidence from the China health and retirement longitudinal study.

Object: Cognitive decline and obesity are major global public health issues, and their association has been widely acknowledged. The link between the visceral adiposity index (VAI) and cognitive function in the Chinese population remains uncertain. This study aims to investigate the effects of VAI levels on cognitive function in the Chinese middle-aged and elderly population.

Sintilimab-induced inflammatory myopathy in a patient with esophageal cancer: a case report.

The use of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) has shown remarkable efficacy in the treatment of various malignancies, significantly reshaping cancer treatment. However, as a result of the widespread use of ICIs, several immune-related adverse events (iRAEs) have emerged, some of which can be rare and potentially fatal. In this paper, we reported the earliest case of Sintilimab used in the treatment of esophageal cancer with severe inflammatory myopathy (involving the cardiac, respiratory, and skeletal muscles)in China.

Whole-exome sequencing enables rapid and prenatal diagnosis of inherited skin disorders.

Background: Genodermatoses are a broad group of disorders with specific or non-specific skin-based phenotypes, most of which are monogenic disorders. However, it's a great challenge to make a precise molecular diagnosis because of the clinical heterogeneity. The genetic and clinical heterogeneity brings great challenges for diagnosis in dermatology.

Electrolyte and Interphase Engineering of Aqueous Batteries Beyond "Water-in-Salt" Strategy.

Aqueous batteries are promising alternatives to non-aqueous lithium-ion batteries due to their safety, environmental impact, and cost-effectiveness. However, their energy density is limited by the narrow electrochemical stability window (ESW) of water. The "Water-in-salts" (WIS) strategy is an effective method to broaden the ESW by reducing the "free water" in the electrolyte, but the drawbacks (high cost, high viscosity, poor low-temperature performance, etc.

Research Progress on the Mechanism of Acupuncture in the Prevention and Treatment of Allergic Rhinitis.

Objective: To research the mechanism of acupuncture and moxibustion in treating and preventing allergic rhinitis.

Methods: We searched PubMed; Google Scholar; Semantic Scholar; Academic Keys; Citation; Dimensions; EuroPub; Index (A & HCI); Compendex; Conference Proceedings Citation; and Science Citation Index. We reviewed the mechanism of acupuncture and moxibustion in the prevention and treatment of allergic rhinitis from the perspectives of Th1/Th2 balance regulation, IgE level reduction, lowering of inflammatory cell infiltration in the nasal mucosa, regulation of nasal neuropeptide (substance P) level, inhibition of Toll-like receptors, and NFκB protein expression.

Dietary Copper Intake and Risk of Parkinson's Disease: a Cross-sectional Study.

Copper is an essential trace element for the human body. The epidemiological evidence for the association of dietary intake of copper with the risk of Parkinson's disease (PD) is limited. We conducted an evaluation of the cross-sectional data gathered from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys spanning from 2007 to 2018, which comprised a total of 17,948 participants.

Insights into Electrode Architectures and Lithium-Ion Transport in Polycrystalline V O Cathodes of Solid-State Batteries.

Polymer-based solid-state batteries (SSBs) have received increasing attentions due to the absence of interfacial problems in sulfide/oxide-type SSBs, but the lower oxidation potential of polymer-based electrolytes greatly limits the application of conventional high-voltage cathode such as LiNi Co Mn O (NCM) and lithium-rich NCM. Herein, this study reports on a lithium-free V O cathode that enables the applications of polymer-based solid-state electrolyte (SSE) with high energy density due to the microstructured transport channels and suitable operational voltage. Using a synergistic combination of structural inspection and non-destructive X-ray computed tomography (X-CT), it interprets the chemo-mechanical behavior that determines the electrochemical performance of the V O cathode.

High-Voltage and Stable Manganese Hexacyanoferrate/Zinc Batteries Using Gel Electrolytes.

Because of the high safety and environmental friendliness, aqueous zinc-ion batteries have gained a lot of attention in recent years. Prussian blue and its analogues are regarded as a promising cathode material of zinc-ion batteries. Manganese hexacyanoferrate is appropriate among them due to its high operating voltage, large capacity, and cheap price.

Electronic and Optoelectronic Monolayer WSe Devices via Transfer-Free Fabrication Method.

Monolayer transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) have drawn significant attention for their potential applications in electronics and optoelectronics. To achieve consistent electronic properties and high device yield, uniform large monolayer crystals are crucial. In this report, we describe the growth of high-quality and uniform monolayer WSe film using chemical vapor deposition on polycrystalline Au substrates.

DFT characterization of a new possible two-dimensional BN allotrope with a biphenylene network structure.

The pioneering work on the newly experimentally synthesized biphenylene network C has triggered a worldwide tide of research on its family material counterparts. In this study, a biphenylene network BN structure was theoretically characterized by density functional theory (DFT) calculations. Initially, the structure's mechanical and thermal stabilities were evaluated.

Diagnostic value and mechanism of plasma S100A1 protein in acute ischemic stroke: a prospective and observational study.

Background: Plasma S100A1 protein is a novel inflammatory biomarker associated with acute myocardial infarction and neurodegenerative disease's pathophysiological mechanisms. This study aimed to determine the levels of this protein in patients with acute ischemic stroke early in the disease progression and to investigate its role in the pathogenesis of acute ischemic stroke.

Methods: A total of 192 participants from hospital stroke centers were collected for the study.

Bifunctional Alloy/Solid-Electrolyte Interphase Layer for Enhanced Potassium Metal Batteries Via Prepassivation.

Potassium (K) metal batteries have attracted great attention owing to their low price, widespread distribution, and comparable energy density. However, the arbitrary dendrite growth and side reactions of K metal are attributed to high environmental sensitivity, which is the Achilles' heel of its commercial development. Interface engineering between the current collector and K metal can tailor the surface properties for K-ion flux accommodation, dendrite growth inhibition, parasitic reaction suppression, etc.