Trace Metal Impurities Induce Differences in Lithium-Sulfur Batteries.

Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) with exceptional conductivity have been widely adopted in lithium-sulfur (Li-S) batteries. While trace metal impurities in CNTs have demonstrated electrocatalytic activity in various catalytic processes, their influence on sulfur electrocatalysis in Li-S batteries has been largely overlooked. Herein, we reveal that the trace metal impurities content in CNTs significantly improves the specific capacity and cycling performance of Li-S batteries by analyzing both our own results and previous literature with CNTs as the sulfur hosts.

One-Pot and Gram-Scale Synthesis of Fe-Based Nanozymes with Tunable O Activation Pathway and Specificity Between Associated Enzymatic Reactions.

Nanozymes have recently gained attention for their low cost and high stability. However, unlike natural enzymes, they often exhibit multiple enzyme-like activities, complicating their use in selective bioassays. Since HO and O are common substrates in these reactions, controlling their activation-and thus reaction specificity-is crucial.

Enzymatic hydrolysis processing of soybean meal altered its structure and protein digestive dynamics in pigs.

Introduction: The study evaluated the enzymatic hydrolysis processing on physicochemical properties and protein digestive dynamics of soybean meal (SBM), as well as the relationship between protein secondary structure and digestive parameters was established.

Methods: Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) were employed to analyze the microstructure and protein structure of the SBM and enzymatic hydrolysis processed soybean meal (ESBM). SBM and ESBM were incubated with pepsin at pH 3.

Differences in microbial communities among different types of zaopei and their effects on quality and flavor of baijiu.

Three types of zaopei (fermented grain) of xiaoqu light-flavor baijiu (XQZP), daqu light-flavor baijiu (DQZP), and strong-flavor baijiu (SFZP) at the end of fermentation and their dominant lactic acid bacteria were systematically compared and analyzed in this study. The results showed that these three types of zaopei differed significantly in acidity, reducing sugar content, and ethanol content, and that the main factors influencing their microbial community were acidity and lactic acid. The diversity and contents of flavor substances were significantly higher in SFZP than in DQZP and XQZP.

Toxic effects of acute and chronic atorvastatin exposure on antioxidant systems, autophagy processes, energy metabolism and life history in Daphnia magna.

Atorvastatin (ATV) is a representative for hypolipidemic pharmaceuticals and is widely detectable in aquatic environments around the world. However, there are limited studies on the potential effects of ATV on aquatic non-target organisms, especially on aquatic invertebrates. In the present study, the model organism, Daphnia magna was used to investigate the responses of antioxidant system, autophagy process and energy metabolism under the acute exposure of ATV (24 h-96 h), and the changes of physiological parameters of D.

Manipulating the HO Reactivity on Pristine Anatase TiO with Various Surface Features and Implications in Oxidation Reactions.

Anatase TiO is commonly used as a catalyst/support in reactions involving HO, yet the understanding of interactions between common TiO surfaces and HO remains limited. Herein, we synthesized well-defined TiO crystallites with (101), (001), and fluorine-modified (001) [F-(001)] surfaces to examine how surface features, including the arrangement of five-coordinated Ti (Ti) sites and the presence of fluorine, influence HO activation. Our findings reveal that these surface features significantly affect the physiochemical properties of adsorbed HO.

Understanding the Impact of Extrusion Treatment on Cereals: Insights from Alterations in Starch Physicochemical Properties and In Vitro Digestion Kinetics.

In this study, three samples were randomly selected from corn, wheat, and broken rice before and after extrusion for electron microscope scanning, Fourier transform infrared spectral analysis, and in vitro digestion to investigate the impact of extrusion on physicochemical characteristics and starch digestion kinetics of cereals. The cereals used for extrusion were sourced identically before and after the process, with each analysis conducted in triplicate. The results showed that the extrusion compromised the physical structure of cereal, resulting in loose structure arrangement, and the ratio of Fourier transform infrared spectral absorbance at wavelength 1047 cm and 1022 cm, which characterized the short-range order of starch, was significantly reduced ( < 0.

Innovative nitrogen transformation: Coexistence of DNRA and denitrification under high alkalinity in a hydrogen-based membrane biofilm reactor.

Nitrate (NO) contamination has become a significant global environmental issue. Traditional nitrate reduction processes typically require external pH control to maintain neutral conditions and prevent nitrite accumulation. In this study, a hydrogen-based membrane biofilm reactor (H-MBfR) was constructed without external pH regulation.

Postoperative tumor bed radiation versus T-shaped field radiation in the treatment of locally advanced thoracic esophageal squamous cell carcinoma: a phase IIb multicenter randomized controlled trial.

Background: Postoperative radiotherapy (PORT) is crucial for patients with thoracic locally advanced esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (LA-ESCC, pT3-4aN0-3M0) following esophagectomy. However, the appropriate radiation volume has not been well established. This study aimed to determine the optimal PORT volume for LA-ESCC patients.

Assessing visual motor performance in autistic children based on Kinect and fNIRS: A case study.

In recent years, the incidence rate of children with autism has shown a significant upward trend. Rehabilitation training is an important part of recovery or improvement in autism children. However, during autism rehabilitation training, the methods that can visually reflect and objectively evaluate its effects are seldom considered.

Internal audit quality and accounting information comparability: Evidence from China.

This study employs the impact and mechanism of internal audit quality on the comparability of corporate accounting information. Using manually collected internal audit data, the study focuses on non-financial listed companies of A-share market spanning from 2007 to 2022 in China. The findings are as follows: (1) Internal audit significantly enhances the comparability of accounting information, the higher the quality of internal audit, the more pronounced its contribution.

Parent-child communication and educational anxiety: a longitudinal analysis based on the common fate model.

Background: In the face of family stress and emerging family problems, the transactional model of stress and coping provides new perspectives for solving stress problems in the family. This study integrates it with the common fate model to reveal new paths for coping with educational anxiety problems from the level of parent-child dichotomous interaction in the family environment, aiming to provide some theoretical and practical support for alleviating parents' education anxiety.

Methods: This study used a combination of interviews and questionnaires to stratify students and their parents from a public junior high school in Jinan City to participate in the study.

Elucidating the Photo-Induced Electronic Structure and Mechanisms of ZnAl-Layered Double Hydroxide: A DFT Study.

Layered double hydroxides (LDHs) have been regarded as excellent catalysts for a variety of photocatalytic applications including the hydrogen production, carbon dioxide reduction, and nitrogen fixation, et al. The elucidation of the photocatalytic mechanism of LDH-based photocatalysts under light irradiation, especially at the ultraviolet (UV) and deep ultraviolet (DUV) region, at the molecular level has remained elusive. In this study, the photo-induced electronic structure of ZnAl-LDH materials was investigated, and a comprehensive understanding of its underlying mechanism, both in the UV and DUV region, was gained using density functional theory (DFT) calculations.

A [F]FDG PET based nomogram to predict cancer-associated cachexia and survival outcome: A multi-center study.

Objectives: Cancer patients with cachexia face poor prognosis and shortened survival. Early diagnosis and accurate prognosis prediction remain challenging. This multi-center study aims to develop and externally validate a nomogram integrating [F]fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose ([F]FDG) PET findings and routine clinical biochemistry tests for predicting cancer-associated cachexia, while also assessing its potential prognostic value.

Functional Verification of Transcription Factor comp54181_c0 in Monascus purpureus.

Monacolin K is a valuable secondary metabolite produced after a period of fermentation by Monascus purpureus; however, our current understanding of the regulatory mechanisms of its synthesis remains incomplete. This study conducted functional analysis on the key transcription factor, comp54181_c0, that is involved in the synthesis of monacolin K in Monascus. Mutant strains with either knockout or overexpression of comp54181_c0 were constructed using CRISPR/Cas9.

Functional Liver Imaging Score Derived from Gadoxetic Acid-enhanced MRI Predicts Cachexia and Prognosis in Hepatocellular Carcinoma Patients.

Objective: Cachexia occurs in approximately half of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients as the disease progresses and is correlated with a poor prognosis. Therefore, early identification of HCC patients at risk of developing cachexia and their prognosis is crucial. This study investigated the functional liver imaging score (FLIS) derived from gadoxetic acid-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to identify cachexia in HCC patients and their prognosis.