Lithium-containing hybrid SEI layer enabling high mass loading and anode-less sodium metal batteries.

The continuous rupture and rebuilding of unstable solid electrolyte interphase layer during cycling would block Na+ diffusion and induce Na dendrite formation, ultimately limiting the practical application of high-energy-density sodium metal batteries. Herein, a hybrid SEI layer containing Li-species is dexterously constructed on the surface of sodium metal anode. Li-containing inorganic components (Li3N, LiF and Li2CO3) are introduced to stabilize the Na/electrolyte interface and enhance the mechanical and diffusion kinetic properties of the SEI layer, which can reduce the side reactions and gas generation, regulate Na+ flux during cycling and promote rapid Na+ migration for uniform dendrite-free Na deposition.

Determination and prediction of the energy content and amino acid digestibility of brewer's spent grain for growing pigs.

Two experiments were conducted to determine the energy content and amino acid (AA) digestibility of 10 brewer's spent grain (BSG) for growing pigs, with the goal of developing predictive models for these digestible nutrients based on their chemical composition. In Exp. 1, 66 crossbred barrows (initial body weight (BW): 35.

Kinetically Dormant Ni-Rich Layered Cathode During High-Voltage Operation.

The degradation of Ni-rich cathodes during long-term operation at high voltage has garnered significant attention from both academia and industry. Despite many post-mortem qualitative structural analyses, precise quantification of their individual and coupling contributions to the overall capacity degradation remains challenging. Here, by leveraging multiscale synchrotron X-ray probes, electron microscopy, and post-galvanostatic intermittent titration technique, the thermodynamically irreversible and kinetically reversible capacity loss is successfully deconvoluted in a polycrystalline LiNiMnCoO cathode during long-term charge/discharge cycling in full cell configuration.

Electrochemically in situ formed rocksalt phase in titanium dioxide determines pseudocapacitive sodium-ion storage.

Earth-abundant TiO is a promising negative electrode for low-cost sodium-ion batteries (SIBs) owing to its high capacity, rapid (dis)charging capability, safe operation potential and nonflammability. Crystalline anatase TiO is not suitable for reversible Na (de)intercalation, but it displays pseudocapacitive response after repeated cycles. Herein, we find and demonstrate that ordered rocksalt (RS) NaTiO nanograins are in situ formed by electrochemically cycling with Na ions in anatase and amorphous TiO.

Interplay between gut microbial communities and metabolites modulates pan-cancer immunotherapy responses.

Immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) therapy has revolutionized cancer treatment but remains effective in only a subset of patients. Emerging evidence suggests that the gut microbiome and its metabolites critically influence ICB efficacy. In this study, we performed a multi-omics analysis of fecal microbiomes and metabolomes from 165 patients undergoing anti-programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1)/programmed death ligand 1 (PD-L1) therapy, identifying microbial and metabolic entities associated with treatment response.

Energizing Robust Sulfur/Lithium Electrochemistry via Nanoscale-Asymmetric-Size Synergism.

Sluggish redox kinetics and dendrite growth perplex the fulfillment of efficient electrochemistry in lithium-sulfur (Li-S) batteries. The complicated sulfur phase transformation and sulfur/lithium diversity kinetics necessitate an all-inclusive approach in catalyst design. Herein, a compatible mediator with nanoscale-asymmetric-size configuration by integrating Co single atoms and defective CoTe (Co-CoTe@NHCF) is elaborately developed for regulating sulfur/lithium electrochemistry synchronously.

Does social support improve self-management among rural hypertensive patients? An empirical analysis based on generalized propensity score matching.

Background: This study aimed to examine the causal effect between perceived social support and self-management in rural patients with hypertension and to provide a basis for improving self-management.

Methods: A cross-sectional study of 1,091 rural hypertensive patients in Shanxi Province was conducted from March through June 2022 to analyze the factors influencing social support as well as the causal effects of social support and self-management using generalized propensity score matching.

Results: Rural hypertensive patients had a low level of social support (social support score = 0.

Ultra-remote robot-assisted right upper lobectomy between the Shanghai and Kashi Prefectures: a case report.

Background: Robot-assisted thoracic surgery has been shown to have several advantages over conventional surgery. As mobile communication technology and surgical robotic devices in China continue to progress rapidly, the conditions for performing remote surgery have been optimized. Consequently, informatized and remote advanced medical cooperation is becoming a new direction for supporting the medical development of border regions and promoting the equitable distribution of medical resources in China.

Layer-specific biomechanical and histological properties of normal and dissected human ascending aortas.

Recent studies have attempted to characterize the layer-specific mechanical and microstructural properties of the aortic tissues in either normal or pathological state to understand its structural-mechanical property relationships. However, layer-specific tissue mechanics and compositions of normal and dissected ascending aortas have not been thoroughly compared with a statistical conclusion obtained. Eighteen ascending aortic specimens were harvested from 13 patients with type A aortic dissection and 5 donors without aortic diseases, with each specimen further excised to obtain three tissue samples including an intact wall, an intima-media layer and an adventitia layer.

ECSIT-X4 is Required for Preventing Pressure Overload-Induced Cardiac Hypertrophy via Regulating Mitochondrial STAT3.

Mitochondrial dysfunction is a key factor in exacerbating pressure overload-induced cardiac hypertrophy and is linked to increased morbidity and mortality. ECSIT, a crucial adaptor for inflammation and mitochondrial function, has been reported to express multiple transcripts in various species and tissues, leading to distinct protein isoforms with diverse subcellular localizations and functions. However, whether an unknown ECSIT isoform exists in cardiac cells and its potential role in regulating mitochondrial function and pathological cardiac hypertrophy has remained unclear.

Effects of compound immobilized bacteria on remediation and bacterial community of PAHs-contaminated soil.

Immobilized microorganism technology is expected to enhance microbial activity and stability and is considered an effective technique for removing soil polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). However, there are limited high-efficiency and stable bacterial preparations available. In this study, alkali-modified biochar (Na@CBC700) was used as the adsorption carrier, sodium alginate (SA) and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) as embedding agents, and CaCl as the cross-linking agent to prepare immobilized Acinetobacter (CoIMB) through a composite immobilization method.

Case Report: Treatment of a complex hand disfigurement injury by fully shaped reconstruction of a severed finger combined with ectopic banking.

One of the primary challenges in hand microsurgical reconstruction lies in addressing severe hand injuries, particularly those involving multiple finger amputations, as autologous replantation might not fully restore hand functionality. In such scenarios, fully shaped reconstruction of a severed finger combined with Ectopic banking could yield superior reconstructive outcomes and enhance the amputated limb's function. This case report presents a unique approach that combines ectopic replantation of an amputated finger with interphalangeal reconstruction methods to restore both the form and function of the hand.

Recent advancements in traditional Chinese medicine for COVID-19 with comorbidities across various systems: a scoping review.

Background: Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has developed a rich theoretical system and practical experience in fighting to infectious diseases over the past thousands of years, and has played an important role in controlling the spread owing to its unique advantages. In particular, its significant contribution to the prevention and control of Corona Virus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) is widely recognized. COVID-19 infection is mainly non-severe with a favorable overall outcome, but patients with comorbidities tend to have a poor prognosis.

Peli1 Deficiency in Macrophages Attenuates Pulmonary Hypertension by Enhancing Foxp1-Mediated Transcriptional Inhibition of IL-6.

Background: The infiltration of macrophages into the lungs is a common characteristic of perivascular inflammation, contributing to vascular remodeling in pulmonary hypertension (PH). Peli1 (pellino E3 ubiquitin-protein ligase 1) plays a critical role in regulating the production of proinflammatory cytokines and the polarization of macrophages in various diseases. However, the role of Peli1 in PH remains to be investigated.

Cation reactivity inhibits perovskite degradation in efficient and stable solar modules.

Perovskite solar modules (PSMs) show outstanding power conversion efficiencies (PCEs), but long-term operational stability remains problematic. We show that incorporating -dimethylmethyleneiminium chloride into the perovskite precursor solution formed dimethylammonium cation and that previously unobserved methyl tetrahydrotriazinium ([MTTZ]) cation effectively improved perovskite film. The in situ formation of [MTTZ] cation increased the formation energy of iodine vacancies and enhanced the migration energy barrier of iodide and cesium ions, which suppressed nonradiative recombination, thermal decomposition, and phase segregation processes.

Identification of the Prognostic Factors for Synchronous Multiple Primary Lung Cancer Treated With Staged Bilateral Surgery.

Introduction: Staged bilateral surgery is widely used to treat synchronous multiple primary lung cancer (SMPLC); however, the prognostic factors for survival outcomes remain unclear. This study aimed to identify prognostic factors and construct a predictive model for overall survival (OS) and recurrence-free survival (RFS) in patients with SMPLC who underwent staged bilateral surgery.

Methods: The study included 256 patients diagnosed with SMPLC and treated with staged bilateral surgery at our hospital between January 2010 and July 2017.

Finite element analysis of three internal fixations for the posteromedial split fracture fragment in tibial plateau fractures.

Posteromedial tibial plateau fracture is one of the most challenging traumatic fractures. We aimed to compare and explain the biomechanical advantages and disadvantages of different internal fixation methods for the treatment of the posteromedial split fracture fragment in tibial plateau fractures. Finite element models of the tibial plateau fracture were constructed.

Comparative toxic effect of tire wear particle-derived compounds 6PPD and 6PPD-quinone to Chlorella vulgaris.

N-(1,3-dimethylbutyl)-N'-phenyl-p-phenylenediamine (6PPD), a widely used antioxidant in rubber products, and its corresponding ozone photolysis product N-(1,3-Dimethylbutyl)-N'-phenyl-p-phenylenediamine-quinone (6PPD-Q), have raised public concerns due to their environmental toxicity. However, there is an existing knowledge gap on the toxicity of 6PPD and 6PPD-Q to aquatic plants. A model aquatic plant, Chlorella vulgaris (C.

In situ metabolomic analysis of osteonecrosis of the femoral head (ONFH) using MALDI MSI.

Osteonecrosis of the femoral head (ONFH) is a common orthopedic disease characterized by disability and deformity. To better understand ONFH at molecular level and to explore the possibility of early diagnosis, instead of diagnosis based on macroscopic spatial characteristics, a matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry imaging (MALDI MSI) method was developed for ONFH disease for the first time. The most challenging step for ONFH MSI is to deal with human bone tissues which are much harder than the other biological samples studied by the reported MSI studies.