Dual-Anion-Rich Polymer Electrolytes for High-Voltage Solid-State Lithium Metal Batteries.

Solid polymer electrolytes (SPEs) are promising candidates for lithium metal batteries (LMBs) owing to their safety features and compatibility with lithium metal anodes. However, the inferior ionic conductivity and electrochemical stability of SPEs hinder their application in high-voltage solid-state LMBs (HVSSLMBs). Here, a strategy is proposed to develop a dual-anion-rich solvation structure by implementing ferroelectric barium titanate (BTO) nanoparticles (NPs) and dual lithium salts into poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF)-based SPEs for HVSSLMBs.

Rapid, multiplex and automated detection of bacteria and fungi in endophthalmitis via a microfluidic real-time pcr system.

Background: Endophthalmitis is an ophthalmologic emergency requiring accurate and rapid diagnosis for treatment. Currently, the diagnosis commonly relies on culture and molecular biology, which falls short of clinical rapid diagnosis. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the feasibility of a self-build Microfluidic Real-time Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) System for rapidly identifying potential pathogens of endophthalmitis.

Adjustments in energy metabolism of brown adipose tissue in heat-acclimated Kunming mice.

The thermogenic capacity of brown adipose tissue (BAT) in rodents decreases with prolonged heat exposure. However, the underlying mechanisms are not well understood. In this study, Kunming mice were acclimated at 23 ± 1 °C and 33 ± 1 °C for four weeks each to examine the body heat balance and BAT alterations.

Advances of Nanomaterials for High-Efficiency Zn Metal Anodes in Aqueous Zinc-Ion Batteries.

Aqueous zinc-ion batteries (AZIBs) have emerged as one of the most promising candidates for next-generation energy storage devices due to their outstanding safety, cost-effectiveness, and environmental friendliness. However, the practical application of zinc metal anodes (ZMAs) faces significant challenges, such as dendrite growth, hydrogen evolution reaction, corrosion, and passivation. Fortunately, the rapid rise of nanomaterials has inspired solutions for addressing these issues associated with ZMAs.

Successful secukinumab treatment of generalized pustular psoriasis.

Generalized pustular psoriasis is a rare variant of psoriasis. Evidence recommending generalized pustular psoriasis treatment with secukinumab is limited. This report aims to evaluate the use of secukinumab in two patients with generalized pustular psoriasis.

The efficacy and safety of perioperative glucocorticoid for total knee arthroplasty: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: An increasing number of individuals undergo total knee arthroplasty (TKA), which can result in pain, limited motor function and adverse complications such as infection, nausea and vomiting. Glucocorticoids have been shown anti-inflammatory and antiemetic effects, but can also elevate blood glucose levels and increase the risk of wound infection. Thus, it is essential to investigate the efficacy and safety of glucocorticoid usage in TKA.

Solid-waste-recycled CuO/CN S-scheme heterojunctions for efficient photocatalytic antibiotic degradation.

With the increasing severity of antibiotic pollution, the development of effective green photocatalysts for the degradation of organic pollutants in water has attracted extensive attention. Herein, we have prepared CuO/CN S-scheme heterogeneous photocatalysts recycling Cu resources from Cu-containing electroplating sludges. By mediating the acid leaching process, copper in electroplating sludges was dissolved selectively, while other metal species were retained in the residues.

Aspergillus fumigatus escape mechanisms from its harsh survival environments.

Aspergillus fumigatus is a ubiquitous pathogenic mold and causes several diseases, including mycotoxicosis, allergic reactions, and systemic diseases (invasive aspergillosis), with high mortality rates. In its ecological niche, the fungus has evolved and mastered many reply strategies to resist and survive against negative threats, including harsh environmental stress and deficiency of essential nutrients from natural environments, immunity responses and drug treatments in host, and competition from symbiotic microorganisms. Hence, treating A.

Comparative analysis of the biological characteristics and mechanisms of azole resistance of clinical strains.

is a common causative pathogen of aspergillosis. At present, triazole resistance of poses an important challenge to human health globally. In this study, the biological characteristics and mechanisms of azole resistance of five strains (AF1, AF2, AF4, AF5, and AF8) were explored.

A multi-level analysis on the causes of train-pedestrian collisions in Southwest China 2011-2020.

Collisions between trains and pedestrians are the primary cause of railway casualties. However, there remains a lack of comprehensive understanding regarding the underlying causes of this phenomenon. This study employs a multi-level approach to investigate the factors associated with the occurrence and severity of train-pedestrian collisions.

Effects of geo-climate factors on phenotypic variation in cone and seed traits of .

Evaluating variations in reproductive traits and the response of the variations to geo-climate conditions are essential for understanding the persistence, evolution, and range dynamics of plant populations. However, there are insufficient studies to attempt to analyze the importance of geo-climate factors in explaining within- or among-population variation in reproductive traits. We examined 14 traits for 2671 cones of collected from nine populations in the mountains of Southwest China to characterize the patterns of phenotypic variation of traits and estimate environmental effects on these trait performances and trait variation.

Nitrogen addition changes the canopy biological characteristics of dominant tree species in an evergreen broad-leaved forest.

Many studies have focused on the impact of nitrogen deposition on plants, but due to technical limitations, research on the responses of forest canopy to manipulated nitrogen deposition is relatively scarce. Based on a canopy nitrogen addition (CN) platform, this study used laboratory analysis and unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) observations to assess the impact of CN on the canopy traits of dominant tree species (Engelhardia roxburghiana, Schima superba, and Castanea henryi) in an evergreen broad-leaved forest in China. The results showed that nitrogen application at 25 kg N ha y (CN25) and 50 kg N ha y (CN50) significantly increased the actual net photosynthetic rate (A) of all the three tree species.

Preparation and Properties of Natural Polysaccharide-Based Drug Delivery Nanoparticles.

In recent years, natural polysaccharides have been widely used in the preparation of drug delivery systems. In this paper, novel polysaccharide-based nanoparticles were prepared by layer-by-layer assembly technology using silica as a template. The layers of nanoparticles were constructed based on the electrostatic interaction between a new pectin named NPGP and chitosan (CS).

The potential role of plant secondary metabolites on antifungal and immunomodulatory effect.

With the widespread use of antibiotic drugs worldwide and the global increase in the number of immunodeficient patients, fungal infections have become a serious threat to global public health security. Moreover, the evolution of fungal resistance to existing antifungal drugs is on the rise. To address these issues, the development of new antifungal drugs or fungal inhibitors needs to be targeted urgently.

In Situ Polymerized Flame Retardant Gel Electrolyte for High-Performance and Safety-Enhanced Lithium Metal Batteries.

A flame retardant gel electrolyte (FRGE) is deemed as one of the most promising electrolytes to relieve the problems of safety hazards and interfacial incompatibility of Li metal batteries. Herein, a novel solvent triethyl 2-fluoro-2-phosphonoacetate (TFPA) with outstanding flame retardancy is introduced in the polymer skeleton synthesized by in situ polymerization of the monomer polyethylene glycol dimethacrylate (PEGDMA) and the cross-linker pentaerythritol tetraacrylate (PETEA). The FRGE exhibits superb interfacial compatibility with Li metal anodes and inhibits uncontrolled Li dendrite growth.

Construction and Performance Evaluation of (Linn.) Gaertn. Polysaccharide-Based Nanogel.

The nanogels made from these polysaccharides and their derivatives are often used to construct drug delivery systems owing to their biocompatible, biodegradable, non-toxic, water-soluble, and bioactive characteristics. In this work, a novel pectin with unique gelling properties was extracted from the seed of (NPGP). The structural research indicated that NPGP was a low methoxyl pectin with a high content of galacturonic acid.

Integrating surface structure via triphenyl phosphate treatment to stabilize Li-rich Mn-based cathode materials.

Li-rich Mn-based layered oxides (LLOs) have emerged as one of the most promising cathode materials for the next-generation lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) because of their high energy density, high specific capacity, and environmental friendliness. These materials, however, have drawbacks such as capacity degradation, low initial coulombic efficiency (ICE), voltage decay, and poor rate performance due to irreversible oxygen release and structural deterioration during cycling. Herein, we present a facile method of triphenyl phosphate (TPP) surface treatment to create an integrated surface structure on LLOs that includes oxygen vacancies, LiPO, and carbon.

Secretions from Serratia marcescens Inhibit the Growth and Biofilm Formation of Candida spp. and Cryptococcus neoformans.

Candida spp. and Cryptococcus are conditional pathogenic fungi that commonly infect immunocompromised patients. Over the past few decades, the increase in antifungal resistance has prompted the development of new antifungal agents.

Riboflavin Targets the Cellular Metabolic and Ribosomal Pathways of Candida albicans and Exhibits Efficacy against Oropharyngeal Candidiasis.

Oropharyngeal candidiasis (OPC), which has a high incidence in immunocompromised and denture stomatitis patients, is commonly caused by Candida albicans infection and in some cases develops into disseminated candidiasis throughout the throat and esophagus, resulting in high mortality. New drugs are needed to combat OPC because of the limited treatment options currently available and increasing resistance to existing drugs. Here, we confirmed that riboflavin (RF), a cofactor of flavin adenine mononucleotide and flavin adenine dinucleotide, has broad-spectrum anti- activity.

Simulated nitrogen deposition promotes the carbon assimilation of shrubs rather than tree species in an evergreen broad-leaved forest.

Although understory addition of nitrogen (UAN) is commonly used to simulate nitrogen deposition in field studies in forest ecosystems, it ignores the effects of atmospheric nitrogen deposition on the canopy. We studied the effects of nitrogen deposition simulated by UAN and by canopy addition of nitrogen (CAN) on leaf structure, chemical properties, Calvin cycle, and photosynthate distribution strategy of representative woody plant species in a subtropical evergreen broadleaved forest in South China. The results showed that maximum photosynthetic rate (A) of shrub species Blastus cochinchinensis and Ardisia quinquegona under CAN treatments was significantly higher than that of UAN treatments at the same N addition concentration.

Antifungal activity of vitamin D against Candida albicans in vitro and in vivo.

The incidence of intra-abdominal candidiasis (IAC), characterized by high morbidity and mortality, has become a serious concern. The limitations of current antifungal drugs on the market underscores the importance of the development of novel antifungal agents. In the present study, the antifungal activity of vitamin D (VD) against various Candida species was investigated.

Maturation of subtilisin-like protease NbSLP1 from microsporidia .

Microsporidia are obligate intracellular parasites and possess a unique way of invading hosts, namely germination. Microsporidia are able to infect almost all animal cells by germination. During the process, the polar tube extrudes from the spores within, thus injecting infectious sporoplasm into the host cells.