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Li metal batteries (LMBs) have been widely studied due to the unprecedented theoretical specific capacity and ultralow redox potential of Li metal anode (LMA). Nevertheless, out-of-control growth of lithium dendrite and fragile solid-electrolyte interphase (SEI) seriously limit their practical applications. Herein, 2D sp2-carbon-linked covalent organic framework (sp2c-COF) is prepared and constructed as artificial SEI film on the surface of LMA for impeding the formation of Li dendrite and regulating the interface stability. The sp2c-COF is designed to be fully π-conjugated along both the xand yorientations with high conductivity, which can reduce interface impedance and facilitate the uniform distribution of Li+flux. Consequently, the sp2c-COF-modified symmetric batteries exhibit high Li+transference number (tLi+) of 0.85, excellent cycle life (4000 h) and extremely low over-potential (10 mV) at a current density of 5 mA cm−2with 5 mA h cm−2. Meanwhile, the Li deposition behavior is analyzed by in-situlight microscopy, indicating sp2c-COF significantly enhances interfacial stability of LMA. This strategy possesses potential value for restraining Li dendrite formation and promoting the progress of COF artificial SEI film.

To analyze and summarize the research hotspots and advancement of post-traumatic growth (PTG) over the past 15 years based on co-word analysis of keywords, and provide references for PTG-related research and clinical intervention.

Background: Realgar, a Chinese herbal decoction, has been used to treat various types of tumors with positive outcomes; however, there is a lack of convincing evidence on its use for the treatment of esophageal cancer (EC). In this study, the role of the p62-Kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1 (Keap1)-nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) pathway in the regulation of EC cell proliferation, migration, and ferroptosis in response to realgar was assessed. Methods: Different concentrations of realgar (0, 10, 20, 40, 60, 80, and 100 μmol/L) were applied to the EC cell lines Eca109 and KYSE150. The inhibition rate and half-inhibitory concentration (IC50) were determined using the Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) method. Subsequently, the cells were treated with realgar (1/2IC50, IC50, 2IC50). Cell migration was measured using the scratch assay, and cell invasion was measured using the transwell assay. The mRNA expression of p62, Keap1, and Nrf2 was measured by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR), and the protein expression of p62, Keap1, Nrf2, matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2, MMP-9, E-cadherin, Slug, N-cadherin, and vimentin was measured by Western blot. The control, 2IC50, shRNA-NC, shRNA-p62, 2IC50 + shRNA-NC, 2IC50 + shRNA-p62, shRNA-Keap1, 2IC50 + shRNA-Keap1, and 2IC50 + shRNA-p62 + shRNA-Keap1 groups were defined. The CCK-8 method was used to measure the cell inhibition rate, and the clone formation assay was used to measure the clone formation ability. Moreover, the scratch assay was used to detect the cell migration ability, and the transwell assay was used to detect the cell invasion ability. Transmission electron microscopy was used to observe the mitochondrial morphology, Prussian blue staining was used to observe the intracellular iron particle distribution, and flow cytometry was used to detect changes in intracellular reactive oxygen species. In addition, qRT-PCR was performed to detect p62, Keap1, Nrf2, and glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4) mRNA expression, and Western blot was performed to detect p62, Keap1, Nrf2, E-cadherin, Slug, N-cadherin, and GPX4 protein expression. Results: Realgar inhibited Eca109 and KYSE150 cell proliferation in a time- and concentrationdependent manner. It also significantly inhibited the migration and invasion of Eca109 and KYSE150 cells and affected the mRNA and protein expression of p62, Keap1, and Nrf2. In response to realgar, low p62 expression inhibited the proliferation, migration, and invasion of Eca109 and KYSE150 cells, as well as ferroptosis induction. Conclusion: The findings demonstrate that inhibiting the p62-Keap1-Nrf2 signaling pathway promotes the inhibitory effects of realgar on EC cells.

Schematic illustrations of ionic transport regulation process on TiO2−x@PP and application for lithium metal battery.

The bilayer PEO-SN-NaClO4|NZSP-NSO electrolyte with close interface contact has been successfully prepared and applied for high-voltage SSIBs. It exhibits ultralong cycling and high rate performance for SSIBs.

This paper aims to increase the through-plane thermal conductivity of polymer composites by adjusting the filler orientation. Two methods were tested: a combination of immiscible polymers (PP-PET) and adding a foaming agent to a PA6-based composite. In both cases, graphite was used as a thermal conductive filler. Compounds with 10, 20 and 30 wt-% graphite were made for both methods. The through-plane thermal conductivity increased for all PA6- foaming agent composites, while the in-plane thermal conductivity decreased compared to PA6 without foaming agent. PP-PET combinations generally outperformed the PP in through-plane performances as well. Tensile strength decreased with increasing amounts of graphite. As expected, adding foaming agents and a second phase decreased strength as well compared with virgin materials. With further optimisation, a combination of fillers and foaming agents in thermoplastics or two-phase systems could prove to be valuable in thermal management applications.

ABSTRACTThis paper aims to increase the through-plane thermal conductivity of polymer composites by adjusting the filler orientation. Two methods were tested: a combination of immiscible polymers (PP-PET) and adding a foaming agent to a PA6-based composite. In both cases, graphite was used as a thermal conductive filler. Compounds with 10, 20 and 30 wt-% graphite were made for both methods. The through-plane thermal conductivity increased for all PA6- foaming agent composites, while the in-plane thermal conductivity decreased compared to PA6 without foaming agent. PP-PET combinations generally outperformed the PP in through-plane performances as well. Tensile strength decreased with increasing amounts of graphite. As expected, adding foaming agents and a second phase decreased strength as well compared with virgin materials. With further optimisation, a combination of fillers and foaming agents in thermoplastics or two-phase systems could prove to be valuable in thermal management applications.

Although the serum-abundant metal-binding protein transferrin (encoded by the Trf gene) is synthesized primarily in the liver, its function in the liver is largely unknown. Here, we generated hepatocyte-specific Trf knockout mice (Trf-LKO), which are viable and fertile but have impaired erythropoiesis and altered iron metabolism. Moreover, feeding Trf-LKO mice a high-iron diet increased their susceptibility to developing ferroptosis-induced liver fibrosis. Importantly, we found that treating Trf-LKO mice with the ferroptosis inhibitor ferrostatin-1 potently rescued liver fibrosis induced by either high dietary iron or carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) injections. In addition, deleting hepatic Slc39a14 expression in Trf-LKO mice significantly reduced hepatic iron accumulation, thereby reducing ferroptosis-mediated liver fibrosis induced by either a high-iron diet or CCl4 injections. Finally, we found that patients with liver cirrhosis have significantly lower levels of serum transferrin and hepatic transferrin, as well as higher levels of hepatic iron and lipid peroxidation, compared with healthy control subjects. Taken together, these data indicate that hepatic transferrin plays a protective role in maintaining liver function, providing a possible therapeutic target for preventing ferroptosis-induced liver fibrosis.

Although the serum-abundant metal-binding protein transferrin (encoded by the Trfgene) is synthesized primarily in the liver, its function in the liver is largely unknown. Here, we generated hepatocyte-specific Trfknockout mice (Trf-LKO), which are viable and fertile but have impaired erythropoiesis and altered iron metabolism. Moreover, feeding Trf-LKO mice a high-iron diet increased their susceptibility to developing ferroptosis-induced liver fibrosis. Importantly, we found that treating Trf-LKO mice with the ferroptosis inhibitor ferrostatin-1 potently rescued liver fibrosis induced by either high dietary iron or carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) injections. In addition, deleting hepatic Slc39a14expression in Trf-LKO mice significantly reduced hepatic iron accumulation, thereby reducing ferroptosis-mediated liver fibrosis induced by either a high-iron diet or CCl4injections. Finally, we found that patients with liver cirrhosis have significantly lower levels of serum transferrin and hepatic transferrin, as well as higher levels of hepatic iron and lipid peroxidation, compared with healthy control subjects. Taken together, these data indicate that hepatic transferrin plays a protective role in maintaining liver function, providing a possible therapeutic target for preventing ferroptosis-induced liver fibrosis.

Highly sensitive conductive polymer composites (CPCs) are designed employing a facile and low-cost extrusion manufacturing process for both low- and high-strain sensing in the field of, for example, structural health/damage monitoring and human body movement tracking. Focus is on the morphology control for extrusion-processed carbon black (CB)-filled CPCs, utilizing binary and ternary composites based on thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) and olefin block copolymer (OBC). The relevance of the correct CB amount, kinetic control through a variation of the compounding sequence, and thermodynamic control induced by annealing is highlighted, considering a wide range of experimental (e.g., static and dynamic resistance/scanning electron microscopy/rheological measurements) and theoretical analyses. High CB mass fractions (20 m %) are needed for OBC (or TPU)–CB binary composites but only lead to an intermediate sensitivity as their conductive network is fully packed and therefore difficult to be truly destructed. Annealing is needed to enable a monotonic increase of the relative resistance with respect to strain. With ternary composites, a much higher sensitivity with a clearer monotonic increase results, provided that a low CB mass fraction (10–16 m %) is used and annealing is applied. In particular, with CB first dispersed in OBC and annealing, a less compact, hence, brittle conductive network (10–12 m % CB) is obtained, allowing high-performance sensing.