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Nowadays, the extended usage of lithium/sodium ion batteries (LIBs/SIBs) encounters nerve-wracking issues, including a lack of suitable reservoirs and high thermal runaway hazards. Although using TiO2and Li4Ti5O12has been confirmed to be effective in improving battery safety, their low theoretical capacities inevitably cause damage to the electrochemical performance of the battery. Achieving win-win results has become an urgent necessity. This study designed a metal–organic framework (MOF)-derived in situ carbon-coated metal selenide (Ni–Se@G@C) as the anode. When the current density is 0.1–0.3 A g–1, the initial capacity of LIBs reaches 993.2 mAh g–1, which increases to 1478.9 mAh g–1after running 800 cycles. When running at 2 A g–1, the cell also offers a relatively high capacity of 458.3 mAh g–1after 1500 cycles. After the replacement of graphite with Ni–Se@G@C, the self-heating temperature (T0) and thermal runaway triggering temperature (T1) of half and full cells are significantly increased. Meanwhile, the maximum thermal runaway temperature (T2) and maximal heating release rate (HRRmax) are significantly reduced. Of note, the usage of Ni–Se@G@C enables the battery with superior cycling and rate performance. When used in SIBs, the cell gives an initial discharge capacity of 624.9 mAh g–1, which still remains at 269.4 mAh g–1after running 200 cycles at 1 A g–1. Notably, Eaof the Ni–Se@G@C cell is 5.6 times higher than that of the graphite cell, corroborating the promoted safety performance. This work provides a new paradigm for MOF-derived micro/nanostructures, enabling the battery with an excellent electrochemical and safety performance portfolio.

With the development of the new energy industry, battery life and rapid charge-discharge capacity have attracted much attention. At the same time, the high temperature inside the cell during high-rate charging and discharging may increase the probability of the battery thermal runaway. This paper studied the thermal runaway reaction of Li-ion batteries under different state of charge (SOC) and charge rates using a self-made experimental platform. The experimental phenomena and the changes in the temperature field were recorded. The key parameters, such as trigger temperature (T1,Lithium battery back thermal runaway triggers temperature), maximum temperature (Tmax),voltage, and mass loss (ML) of thermal runaway, were measured. The morphology changes of electrode materials, the battery remains, and the dynamics of thermal runaway reaction after high rate charge and discharge were further analyzed. The results show that for the 4 C-100 % battery, the T1and Eaare reduced by 22.6 ℃ and 82.2 %, and the Tmaxand maximum mass loss rate (MLRmax) are increased by 218.14 ℃ and five times, compared with the 1 C-50 % battery. With the increase of charge-discharge rate, the thermal stability of the battery decreases, and the gravity degree of accident increases.

Hydrogen is recognized as a promising energy source and the potential risks associated with leakage and jet fire accidents should be considered. The objective of this study is to explore the feasibility of utilizing wire mesh to suppress hydrogen jet flames. The experiments of hydrogen jet fire with ignitors below and above the wire mesh were performed to explore the effect of wire mesh on the burning behaviors at different mesh numbers, mesh-to-nozzle distances, and fuel flow rates. Compared to the free jet flame, the length of jet flame under the action of wire mesh is decreased by 50–90 %. The flame with topside ignition fails to pass through the mire mesh due to the cooling effect of the fuel jet. Experimental results reveal that the state of the flow field in the impingement area plays an important role in determining the upper flame height. Both the upper flame height and the flame extension length beneath the screen decrease with mesh-to-nozzle distance. As the mesh porosity decreases, the flame extension length increases, however, the upper flame height decreases. Based on the classical theory of flow resistance through porous media, a new dimensionless model was developed to predict the characteristic flame lengths of the jet flame inhibited by wire mesh. The findings presented in this paper offer fresh insight into the safeguarding of jet fires.

The structure–property relationship of poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC)/CaCO3nanocomposites is investigated by all-atom molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. MD simulation results indicate that the dispersity of nanofillers, interfacial bonding, and chain mobility are imperative factors to improve the mechanical performance of nanocomposites, especially toughness. The tensile behavior and dissipated work of the PVC/CaCO3model demonstrate that 12 wt % CaCO3modified with oleate anion and dodecylbenzenesulfonate can impart high toughness to PVC due to its good dispersion, favorable interface interaction, and weak migration of PVC chains. Under the guidance of MD simulation, we experimentally prepared a transparent PVC/CaCO3nanocomposite with good mechanical properties by in situpolymerization of monodispersed CaCO3in vinyl chloride monomers. Interestingly, experimental tests indicate that the optimum toughness of a nanocomposite (a 368% increase in the elongation at break and 204% improvement of the impact strength) can be indeed realized by adding 12 wt % CaCO3modified with oleic acid and dodecylbenzenesulfonic acid, which is remarkably consistent with the MD simulation prediction. In short, this work provides a proof-of-concept of using MD simulation to guide the experimental synthesis of PVC/CaCO3nanocomposites, which can be considered as an example to develop other functional nanocomposites

IMPORTANCE: Early onset of myopia increases the risk of high myopia, which can lead to irreversible retinal damage and even loss of central vision. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the efficacy and safety of naked-eye 3-dimensional vision training (NVT) in preventing the progression of myopia in children. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: This randomized clinical trial was conducted in 3 hospitals from May 25, 2022, to February 24, 2023. Participants were children (aged 6-18 years) who had a diagnosis of myopia with a spherical equivalent refraction of −0.75 to −6.00 diopters (D). INTERVENTION: Children in the intervention group received 20 minutes of NVT treatment every day, whereas children in the control group lived as usual without vision training. MAIN OUTCOME AND MEASURE: The primary outcome was the change in axial length at 6 months. Spherical equivalent refraction (SER) was included as a secondary outcome. RESULTS: Among 263 participants, 125 (47.5%) were male and 138 (52.5%) were female; the mean (SD) age was 10.3 (1.9) years (range, 6.1-15.6 years). A total of 227 patients (86.3%) completed the 6-month follow-up, including 102 in the intervention group and 125 in the control group. In the intervention group, the changes in axial length and SER at 6 months were 0.18 mm (95% CI, 0.16 to 0.20 mm) and −0.25 D (95% CI, −0.31 to −0.19 D), respectively. In the control group, the changes in axial length and SER at 6 months were 0.23 mm (95% CI, 0.21 to 0.25 mm) and −0.35 D (95% CI, −0.41 to −0.30 D), respectively. The differences in AL and SER between the 2 groups were significant (AL difference: −0.06 mm; 95% CI, −0.09 to −0.03; P < .001; SER difference: 0.10 D; 95% CI, 0.02 to 0.19; P = .02). No study-related adverse reactions were reported during follow-up. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: NVT is a safe and promising means to control myopia progression in children with good adherence. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT05468775

Given the increasing popularity of high-rate charging and discharging for lithium-ion cells, this research aims to investigate the degradation and safety performance of these cells under high-rate scenarios. The study considers high rates including 4 C, 6 C, 8 C, and 10 C. The results show that high-rate charging and discharging leads to significant degradation of the cells, with the degradation rate linearly declining with the charging/discharging rate. Furthermore, cells that undergo long-term high-rate charging and discharging exhibit worsened safety performance at elevated temperatures, and this severity increases with the charging/discharging rate. It is also found that charging and discharging have different effects on the thermal runaway behaviour of cells when subjected to over-heating. Charging causes thermal runaway to occur much earlier than discharging, likely due to the difference in stored energy. Additionally, the intensity of thermal runaway is more severe during charging. Compared to the reference, high-rate charging deteriorates the safety features of cells, while high-rate discharging suppresses thermal runaway. Discharging has a more noticeable impact on thermal runaway. Eventually, cell’s state of charge is proved to be an especially vital factor determining the thermal runaway characteristics of cells.

CoS2-NCA with high affinity towards lithium polysulfides is facilely coated on Celgard separator surface to acquire CoS2-NCA@C separator, which enables lithium-sulfur batteries with promoted rate property and elevated thermal safety.

To provide new insights into the development and utilization of Douchi artificial starters, three common strains (Aspergillus oryzae, Mucor racemosus, and Rhizopus oligosporus) were used to study their influence on the fermentation of Douchi. The results showed that the biogenic amine contents of the three types of Douchi were all within the safe range and far lower than those of traditional fermented Douchi. Aspergillus-type Douchi produced more free amino acids than the other two types of Douchi, and its umami taste was more prominent in sensory evaluation (P <0.01), while Mucor-type and Rhizopus-type Douchi produced more esters and pyrazines, making the aroma, sauce, and Douchi flavor more abundant. According to the Pearson and PLS analyses results, sweetness was significantly negatively correlated with phenylalanine, cysteine, and acetic acid (P <0.05), bitterness was significantly negatively correlated with malic acid (P <0.05), the sour taste was significantly positively correlated with citric acid and most free amino acids (P <0.05), while astringency was significantly negatively correlated with glucose (P <0.001). Thirteen volatile compounds such as furfuryl alcohol, phenethyl alcohol, and benzaldehyde caused the flavor difference of three types of Douchi. This study provides theoretical basis for the selection of starting strains for commercial Douchi production.

Resistant starch III (RS3), as a prebiotic, provides health benefits. This study aimed to investigate the role of RS3 in lowering serum lipids and regulating gut microbiota by administering Novelose 330 to Kunming (KM) mice. The results demonstrated that RS3 intervention significantly decreased body weight, food intake, levels of serum total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), and liver fat. RS3 could remarkably improve the quality of the entire cecum, quality of the cecal wall, and wall surface area of mice; enhance the moisture content; and reduce the pH value. Moreover, the decrease in the liver TC content and the increase in the fecal TC content were related to RS3 intervention. The concentrations of total short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) in the colon and individual levels of acetate, propionate, and butyrate increased with RS3 supplementation. An Illumina-based sequencing approach showed that RS3 notably increased the Bacteroides/Firmicutes ratio in the mice fed a high-fat diet. At the genus level, the relative abundance of Bacteroides, Ruminococcus, and Bifidobacteriumand the number of main SCFA producers increased in the mice fed an RS3 diet. These findings provided insights into specific gut microbiota shifts to the hypolipidemic effect of RS3.

Investigating the effect of geocells on the erosion and deposition distribution of ephemeral gullies in the black soil area of Northeast China can provide a scientific basis for the allocation of soil and water conservation measures in ephemeral gullies. In this study, an artificial simulated confluence test and stereoscopic photogrammetry were used to analyze the distribution characteristics of erosion and deposition in ephemeral gullies protected by geocells and the effect of different confluence flows on the erosion process of ephemeral gullies. Results showed that when the confluence flow was larger, the effect of geocell was more evident, and the protection against ephemeral gully erosion was stronger. When the confluence flow rates were 0.6, 1.8, 2.4, and 3.0 m3/h, ephemeral gully erosion decreased by 37.84%, 26.09%, 21.40%, and 35.45%. When the confluence flow rates were 2.4 and 3.0 m3/h, the average sediment yield rate of the ephemeral gully was close to 2.14 kg/(m2·mm), and the protective effect of ephemeral gully erosion was enhanced. When the flow rate was higher, the surface fracture of the ephemeral gully was more serious. With an increase in confluence flow rate, the ratio of erosion to deposition increased gradually, the erosion area of ephemeral gullies was expanded, and erosion depth changed minimally. In conclusion, geocell measures changed erosion patterns by altering the rill erosion/deposition ratio, converting erosion from rill erosion to sheet erosion.

Qingke (highland hull-less barley) is a grain replete with substantial nutrients and bioactive ingredients. In this study, we evaluated the effects of boiling (BO), steaming (ST), microwave baking (MB), far-infrared baking (FB), steam explosion (SE), and deep frying (DF) on bioactive components, phenolic compounds, and antioxidant activities of Qingke compared with the effects of traditional roast (TR). Results showed that the soluble dietary fiber, beta-glucan and water-extractable pentosans of Qingke in dry heat processes of TR, SE, MB and FB had a higher content compared with other thermal methods and had a better antioxidant activity of hydroxyl radical scavenging and a better reduction capacity, while those in wet heat processes of BO and ST had a better antioxidant activity of ABTS radical scavenging and a better Fe2+chelating ability. DF- and SE-Qingke had a higher content of tocopherol, phenolic, and flavonoid. Overall, 6 free phenolic compounds and 12 bound phenolic compounds of Qingke were identified, and free phenolic compounds suffered more damage during thermal processing. Principal component analysis showed that SE had more advantages in retaining and improving the main biological active ingredients of Qingke, and it may be the best method for treating Qingke.

Mixed-valence is an effective way to achieve high electrochemical performance of anodes for supercapacitor. However, inordinate mixed valence with more structural defects leads to structural instability. The development of mixed valence electrodes that can maintain a stable structure during the defect formation process is the key to resolving this problem. Cu2-xSe with mixed-valence is a potential candidate, the stable monoclinic structure of Cu2Se can be transformed into another stable cubic structure (x > 0.15). Herein, Cu1.85Se anode with mixed valence reveals the ultrahigh specific capacity of 247.8 mA·h/g at 2 A/g. Furthermore, the introduction of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) into Cu1.85Se further improves the specific capacity (435 mA·h/g at 2 A/g). XRD shows that the introduction of MWCNTs can improve the reversibility viachemical interactions and accelerate the electron transfer in the Cu1.85Se/MWCNTs. Notably, the assembled symmetric supercapacitor (SC) device expresses a high energy density of 41.4 W·h/kg, and the capacity remains 83% even after 8000 charge/discharge cycles. This research demonstrates the great potential of developing high specific capacity anode materials for superior performance supercapacitor.

ABSTRACTIncreased bone resorption by osteoclasts after estrogen deficiency is the main cause of postmenopausal osteoporosis. TET2 (tet methylcytosine dioxygenase 2) is a DNA demethylase that regulates cellular function and differentiation potential. Macroautophagy/autophagy maintains cellular homeostasis by recycling unnecessary and damaged organelles. This study revealed that TET2 promoted bone loss in oophorectomized (OVX) mice and that TET2 promoted osteoclast differentiation by regulating autophagy. Tet2knockdown inhibited autophagy and osteoclast differentiation in vitro. Mechanistically, Tet2knockdown increased BCL2 (B cell leukemia/lymphoma 2) expression and BCL2 exhibited increased binding to BECN1 and negatively regulated autophagy. Small interfering RNA specific to Bcl2interfered with BCL2 expression in Tet2-knockdown bone marrow cells/precursors, partially reversing autophagy dysregulation and promoting osteoclast differentiation. Moreover, the LV-shTet2lentivirus prevented bone loss in OVX mice. In summary, our findings provide evidence that TET2 promotes osteoclast differentiation by inhibiting BCL2 expression and positively regulating BECN1-dependent autophagy.Abbreviations: ACP5/TRAP: acid phosphatase 5, tartrate resistant; ATP6V0D2: ATPase, H+ transporting, lysosomal V0 subunit D2; BCL2: B cell leukemia/lymphoma 2; BECN1: beclin 1, autophagy related; BMs: bone marrow cells; CTSK: cathepsin K; MAP1LC3B/LC3B: microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3 beta; MMP9: matrix metallopeptidase 9; OVX: oophorectomy; RUNX1: runt related transcription factor 1; SOCS3: suppressor of cytokine signaling 3; SPI1/PU.1: Spi-1 proto-oncogene; TNFSF11/RANKL: tumor necrosis factor (ligand) superfamily, member 11; TET2: tet methylcytosine dioxygenase 2.

As lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) continue to see pervasive application, the safety issues related to high-temperature accumulation arising from local hot spots have become increasingly critical. Therefore, the development of adaptive cooling measures and temperature management strategies is paramount. This study delves into a liquid cooling device for LIBs, based on a temperature sensitive hydrogel that adapts its flow control. The heat generated from LIBs at a 1C discharge rate is used as the boundary heat source. This research scrutinizes the effects of different flow rates, hot spot dimensions, and hot spot energy intensities on the cooling performance of the hydrogel-infused flow control plate. The results show that, compared with traditional liquid cooling device, the hydrogel augmented device can adjust its hydrogel volume in response to temperature variations, thereby effectively controlling flow distribution and efficiently dissipating heat at hot spot areas. Even with an increase in the hot spot's size and intensity, this adaptive hydrogel-based cooling apparatus maintains a relatively stable maximum temperature and homogeneous temperature distribution. Under various operational conditions, the heat transfer coefficient in scenarios employing the adaptive hydrogel exceeds 8000 W/(m2·K), demonstrating its strong cooling capacity. The results furnish valuable insights into thermal management and provide a solid basis to improve battery safety and promote its commercial applications.

•Fast discharging induces side reactions and generates heat after ESC.•Resistance of battery change affects ESC less.•Thermal runaway occurs to battery with 90 % SOH after ESC.•Joule heat from Polarization contributes the most to the total heat for fresh battery.

Charging rate increases q. Ambient temperature and aging decrease and increase qat first and then become contrary. Charging rate influences thermal runway caused by overcharging most in this manuscript.

Gastrodia elata Bl. Is susceptible to infestation by the fungus Fusarium oxysporum, which can cause severe post-harvest diseases. This paper presents the findings of an investigation into the control and bacteriostatic mechanisms of Lactobacillus curvatus2768-VOCs on F. oxysporum-infected G. elata. The results of both in vitroand in vivotests demonstrated that L. curvatus2768-VOCs exhibited inhibitory effects against F. oxysporum, with inhibition rates of 63.37% and 44.4%, respectively. The results of the in vivotest also demonstrated that the pre-fumigation approach exhibited superior efficacy compared to direct fumigation, with the former showing a preventive effect. Furthermore, it was discovered that VOCs disrupted the integrity of F. oxysporumcell membranes and altered their permeability, resulting in the leakage of cell contents. The fumigation caused damage to the mycelial structure, accompanied by a notable decline in the total lipid and ergosterol content, and an appreciable increase in MDA content. Moreover, the fumigation of VOCs markedly diminished the activities of ATPase and mitochondrial dehydrogenase, thereby disrupting the respiration of F. oxysporumand its energy metabolism. The VOCs were subjected to GC-MS analysis, which revealed that the relative content of acids was the highest, particularly formic acid and glyoxalic acid. The study offers a theoretical basis for the biological control of postharvest diseases in G. elata.

Background: Tartary buckwheat, Fagopyrum tataricum, is a pseudocereal crop with worldwide distribution and high nutritional value. However, the origin and domestication history of this crop remain to be elucidated. Results: Here, by analyzing the population genomics of 567 accessions collected worldwide and reviewing historical documents, we find that Tartary buckwheat originated in the Himalayan region and then spread southwest possibly along with the migration of the Yi people, a minority in Southwestern China that has a long history of planting Tartary buckwheat. Along with the expansion of the Mongol Empire, Tartary buckwheat dispersed to Europe and ultimately to the rest of the world. The different natural growth environments resulted in adaptation, especially significant differences in salt tolerance between northern and southern Chinese Tartary buckwheat populations. By scanning for selective sweeps and using a genome-wide association study, we identify genes responsible for Tartary buckwheat domestication and differentiation, which we then experimentally validate. Comparative genomics and QTL analysis further shed light on the genetic foundation of the easily dehulled trait in a particular variety that was artificially selected by the Wa people, a minority group in Southwestern China known for cultivating Tartary buckwheat specifically for steaming as a staple food to prevent lysine deficiency. Conclusions: This study provides both comprehensive insights into the origin and domestication of, and a foundation for molecular breeding for, Tartary buckwheat.

This study uses response surface methodology to investigate how ultrasonic-assisted extraction conducted under high pressure and no additional pressure affects chemical composition, structural characteristics, and biological activities of polysaccharides from ginger stems and leaves (GSLPs). High-pressure ultrasonic extraction (HUE) was found to obtain a 9.82 ± 0.37% extraction yield of HUE-GSLPs, while ultrasonic extraction with no additional pressurization (UE) obtained an 8.22 ± 0.65% yield of UE-GSLPs. In addition to the superior yield, the HUE-GSLPs had a lower molecular weight and possessed higher contents of total sugar, uronic acid, and sulfate radical. The compositions of the HUE-GSLPs and UE-GSLPs were qualitatively similar, with both featuring Man, Rha, Glc, Gal, Ara, GlcA, and GalA. X-ray diffraction, thermogravimetric analysis, and scanning electron microscope characterizations confirmed that the HUE-GSLPs and UE-GSLPs exhibited similar semi-crystalline structures, thermal properties, and morphologies featuring rod-like and flaky structures. Additionally, the HUE-GSLPs showed better α-glucosidase inhibitory activity with competitive inhibition type than did the UE-GSLPs. Antioxidant activity assays revealed that compared to the UE-GSLPs, the HUE-GSLPs showed stronger DPPH, ABTS, hydroxyl, and superoxide radical scavenging activities, as well as considerable chelating ability and reducing power. Altogether, these results suggest that GSLPs extracted under the correct conditions have great potential to serve extensively as an active agent in the nutrition and cosmetics industries.

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to compare the lesion detection rates of ocular toxocariasis (OT) between ultra-wide-field scanning laser ophthalmoscopy (UWF-SLO) and conventional fundus photography (CFP), and to evaluate the potential diagnostic ability of UWF-SLO in OT. Methods: A total of 56 patients with serological/immunological confirmed unilateral OT were enrolled. The presence of OT characteristic features included the posterior granuloma (postG), peripheral granuloma (periG), tractional retinal detachment (TRD), retinal folds (RF), and vitreous strands (VS) and was analyzed in 36 patients with UWF-SLO and 56 patients with CFP. Diagnostic tests were employed using the clinical examination as gold standard. Results: In total of the 56 OT eyes, granulomas were identified in 91.1% (51/56) of eyes, including postG in 46.4% (26/56) of eyes, periG in 41.1% (23/56) of eyes, and combined granulomas in 3.6% (2/56) of eyes. TRD, RF, and VS were found in 28.6% (16/56), 51.8% (29/56), and 83.9% (47/56) of patients, respectively. Although the specificities of the diagnosis in clinical features were similar by the diagnostic tests, the sensitivities of postG, periG, TRD, RF, and VS using UWF-SLO were 100%, 100%, 66.7%, 95%, and 81.8%, respectively, which were significantly higher those of CFP (72.2%, 31.3%, 11.1%, 55%, and 48.5%). Additionally, the extent of vitreous haze was milder graded by UWF-SLO compared to CFP (p= 0.0099). Conclusions: The diagnostic ability of UWF-SLO was superior to CFP using clinical examination as gold standard for the ascertainment of the characteristic manifestations of OT, especially for granulomas and RF.

Supplemental Digital Content is available in the text.

In this study, volatile organic compounds (VOCs) were generated by Pseudomonas fluorescensZX with incubation in nutrient broth (NB), on NA (NB with agar), and on healthy orange fruits, and pure individual components of VOCs were used to manage citrus green mold infected by Penicillium digitatum. At a concentration of 1 × 1010cfu/mL, the VOCs from antagonist-containing NA plates inhibited P. digitatumconidial germination and mycelial growth by about 60%, while the VOCs from bacterial fluid exhibited approximately 75% inhibitory effect. Biofumigation by VOCs significantly reduced the disease index, with a higher biocontrol efficacy by VOCs from bacterial fluid (about 51%) than from antagonist-containing NA plates (around 40%) or from antagonist-infested fruit (approximately 24%). Exposure to VOCs led to morphological abnormalities of P. digitatumconidia and hyphae. However, VOCs exhibited poor preventative and curative action against P. digitatum. The storage test showed that biofumigation had no negative effects on fruit quality. Antifungal assays suggested that dimethyl disulfide and dimethyl trisulfide exhibited the highest inhibitory effects, which afforded complete inhibition at the lowest concentrations. In addition, organic acids were also promising in controlling green mold, but only at suitable low concentrations to avoid eliciting fruit’s physiological diseases.

PurposeTo assess the incidence, clinical features and predictive risk factors of subretinal fibrosis after treatment of active myopic choroidal neovascularisation (mCNV) with anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF).MethodsThis post-hoc analysis of a randomised controlled trial included a total of 54 patients with active mCNV. The clinical data at baseline, month 3 and month 12 were used. Fundus photography and optical coherence tomography at month 3 were used to determine the presence of subretinal fibrosis after anti-VEGF therapy, and its incidence was calculated. Best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), Visual Function Questionnaire−25 score, macular integrity index (MI) and their changes were compared between eyes with and without subretinal fibrosis. A logistic regression model was used to evaluate the risk factors of subretinal fibrosis.ResultsSubretinal fibrosis occurred in 22 of 54 eyes with mCNV. Patients with subretinal fibrosis achieved similar BCVA improvement in comparison with those without fibrosis at 3 and 12 months after the treatment; however, they had lower visual acuity, more subfoveal CNV (p=0.002), higher CNV thickness at baseline (p=0.016), larger CNV size (p=0.030), larger leakage area (p=0.021) and higher presence of advanced myopic maculopathy (p=0.035). Age <45 years, BCVA <60 ETDRS letters, and MI index <20 at baseline were the predictors for subretinal fibrosis occurrence in a logistic regression model.ConclusionsThe incidence of subretinal fibrosis after anti-VEGF therapy was 40.7% in eyes with mCNV. Age, baseline BCVA and MI index could serve as predictive risk factors of subretinal fibrosis after anti-VEGF treatment in patients with mCNV.

Background/AimsTo describe some novel vitreoretinal microstructural findings in patients with mild familial exudative vitreoretinopathy (FEVR) on ultra-wide-field scanning laser ophthalmoscopy (UWF-SLO) and UWF optical coherence tomography (UWF-OCT) and to evaluate their clinical significance.MethodsA total of 32 patients and 32 healthy controls were studied. An additional independent 40 FEVR patients, 44 patients with non-FEVR retinopathies and 40 healthy controls participated in a diagnostic test to validate the abilities of novel findings in FEVR screening.ResultsA novel anatomic change, named Temporal Mid-Peripheral Vitreoretinal Interface Abnormality (TEMPVIA), was found on UWF-SLO in 88.3% of FEVR patients and in none of the healthy controls. The clinical significance of TEMPVIA was further validated by a diagnostic test in new independent cases, with satisfying sensitivity (91.5%) and specificity (98.8%) and Youden Index 0.90. In addition to foveal hypoplasia, some previously unrecognised, novel clinical changes in FEVR, for instance, retinoschisis, focal retinal thickening, sudden thinning of the retina and retinal ridge, were identified using UWF-OCT.ConclusionThe results of this study have led to an update of the clinical spectrum of FEVR and have improved our understanding of its pathogenesis. TEMPVIA is therefore suggested to be a useful biomarker in the screening strategy for mild FEVR.

The usage of lithium ion batteries (LIBs) and sodium ion batteries (SIBs) have been challenged by the absence of suitable Li+/Na+reservoirs. In this regard, a sea cucumber-inspired multi-phase metal sulfides with hierarchical structure (Bi2S3@C@CoS2) is developed. When used in LIBs, Bi2S3@C@CoS2electrode shows an original discharge capacity of 1226.4 mAh g−1, which remains at 1059.1 mAh g−1even after 229 cycles. When used in SIBs, this electrode shows an original discharge capacity of 750.4 mAh g−1, with an exceedingly-low capacity deterioration ratio of 0.008 % per cycle during long-term cycling at 2 A g−1. Comparisons with reported metal sulfides reveals the comparable or superior rate property of Bi2S3@C@CoS2, stemming from its favorable Li+/Na+storage actions kinetics. Of note, using Bi2S3@C@CoS2electrode promotes the thermal safety, viadelaying the emerging of maximum thermal runaway temperature. This contribution may be encouraging for developing hierarchical metal sulfides towards favorable and safe energy storage.

Solvent extraction is the main method used to separate and purify rare earth elements. In the process of rare earths extraction, emulsification often generated due to the instability of the aqueous and organic phases or improper operating conditions. Once emulsification occurs, it would not only lead to low rare earths recovery efficiency, small product quantities, high production costs and the losing of extractant and rare earth resources, but also result in serious environmental pollution. Therefore, it is very important to study the micro-mechanisms of emulsification and establish new methods to prevent emulsification at the source. In this paper, possible factors resulting in emulsification, such as the compositions and properties of the organic and aqueous phases, the operating conditions of the rare earths extraction are reviewed. The micro-mechanisms of emulsification are summarized basing on the microscopic structures in the bulk phase, aggregations of the extractants at the organic-aqueous interface, spectral characterizations and computational simulations. On this basis, new formation mechanisms are proposed for emulsification. Preliminary explorations are employed to verify the correctness of these new viewpoints. Finally, future directions for studies of the emulsification micro-mechanism are proposed. This study provides a theoretical basis for further understanding the micro-mechanisms of interfacial instability resulting in emulsification in the process of rare earths extraction.

In this study, a nonflammable all-fluorinated electrolyte for lithium-ion cells with a Li(Ni0.8Mn0.1Co0.1)O2cathode is investigated under high voltages. This electrolyte, named FT46, consists of fluoroethylene carbonate (FEC) and bis(2,2,2-trifluoroethyl) carbonate (TFEC) in a mass ratio of 4:6. Compared to a commercially available electrolyte and several other fluorinated electrolytes, cells containing FT46 demonstrate significantly better cycling performances under high voltage (3.0–4.5 V). This result may be ascribed to the generation of a stable, smooth, and thin passivation layer and the improved solvation structure formed by FT46. The LiF-rich passivation layer strengthens the electrode/electrolyte interface, inhibits the degradation of the electrode, and suppresses side reactions between the electrodes and electrolytes under high voltage. The solvation structure formed by FT46 is derived from anions, enabling an enhanced Li+migration rate and inhibiting lithium plating generation. Additionally, due to the nonflammability of the electrolyte and the stable passivation layers, FT46 cells also demonstrate promising safety characteristics when exposed to typical abusive conditions, such as thermal abuse, mechanical abuse, and electrical abuse.

ABSTRACTThe receptor-binding domain (RBD) of SARS-CoV-2 S protein is proved to be the major target of neutralizing antibodies. However, on the S protein, only a portion of epitopes in RBD can be effectively displayed with dynamic changes in spatial conformations. Using RBD fragment as antigen can better expose the neutralizing epitopes, but the immunogenicity of RBD monomer is suboptimal. Multimeric display of RBD molecules is a feasible strategy to optimize RBD-based vaccines. In this study, RBD single-chain dimer derived from Wuhan-Hu-1 was fused with a trimerization motif, and a cysteine was also introduced at the C-terminus. The resultant recombinant protein 2RBDpLC was expressed in Sf9 cells using a baculovirus expression system. Reducing/non-reducing PAGE, size-exclusion chromatography and in silico structure prediction indicated that 2RBDpLC polymerized and possibly formed RBD dodecamers through trimerization motif and intermolecular disulfide bonds. In mice, 2RBDpLC induced higher levels of RBD-specific and neutralizing antibody responses than RBD dimer, RBD trimer and prefusion-stabilized S protein (S2P). In addition, cross-neutralizing antibodies against Delta and Omicron VOC were also detected in the immune sera. Our results demonstrate that 2RBDpLC is a promising vaccine candidate, and the method of constructing dodecamers may be an effective strategy for designing RBD-based vaccines.

Lithium-ion batteries with high state of charge (SOC), low state of health (SOH) and at summer are prone to fire accidents. The influence of these factors on thermal runaway triggered by external heating in confined space is studied in this manuscript. Based on the results of temperature, voltage changes and video, gas explosion occurs before thermal runaway in confined space. The results of heat calculation indicate that radiation and conduction contribute the most to thermal runaway. Thermal runaway of lithium-ion battery triggered by external heating is determined by the accumulated exothermic side reactions, remaining reactants and surface temperature of battery. Accumulated exothermic side reactions increase with higher SOC and lower SOH. Remaining reactants increase with the increase of SOC and SOH. Surface temperature of lithium-ion battery increases to high temperature at a shorter time for battery at higher initial temperature. Thermal runaway time interval decreases with the increase of SOC and ambient temperature, and the decrease of SOH. High SOC and ambient temperature and low SOH increase hazardous risk of lithium-ion battery to some extent. The results can explain why batteries with high SOC, low SOH and at high ambient temperature are prone to fire accidents. This is important for battery safety control.

MicroRNAs (miRs) are post-transcriptional regulators involved in the initiation and progression of many tumors. Recently, naturally occurring circular RNAs (circRNAs) have been described in eukaryotic cells:;they comprise a new class of gene regulators. Naturally occurring circular miR sponges, which induce miR loss-of-function, can prevent endogenous onco-miRs from binding to their cognate mRNA targets. These findings suggest that synthetic (artificial) circular RNAs could be constructed as therapeutic molecular sponges to suppress harmful onco-miRs. Using enzymatic ligation, we designed and constructed a circular RNA containing both miR-21 and miR-93 binding sites. The synthetic circular sponge was resistant to digestion with RNase R. Luciferase assays and functional experiments showed that the circular multi-miR sponge was more stable than its linear counterpart. Moreover, endogenous miR-21 and miR-93 were inhibited by the circular sponge. In addition, the synthetic sponge significantly suppressed cellular proliferation and migration while promoting apoptosis in esophageal carcinoma cells. Finally, in a murine xenograft model, the circular sponge significantly inhibited tumor growth in vivo. Taken together, these findings establish that the design and construction of efficient artificial miR sponges represent a novel strategy to achieve miR loss-of-function in molecular cancer therapeutics.

MicroRNAs (miRs) are post-transcriptional regulators involved in the initiation and progression of many tumors. Recently, naturally occurring circular RNAs (circRNAs) have been described in eukaryotic cells:;they comprise a new class of gene regulators. Naturally occurring circular miR sponges, which induce miR loss-of-function, can prevent endogenous onco-miRs from binding to their cognate mRNA targets. These findings suggest that synthetic (artificial) circular RNAs could be constructed as therapeutic molecular sponges to suppress harmful onco-miRs. Using enzymatic ligation, we designed and constructed a circular RNA containing both miR-21 and miR-93 binding sites. The synthetic circular sponge was resistant to digestion with RNase R. Luciferase assays and functional experiments showed that the circular multi-miR sponge was more stable than its linear counterpart. Moreover, endogenous miR-21 and miR-93 were inhibited by the circular sponge. In addition, the synthetic sponge significantly suppressed cellular proliferation and migration while promoting apoptosis in esophageal carcinoma cells. Finally, in a murine xenograft model, the circular sponge significantly inhibited tumor growth in vivo. Taken together, these findings establish that the design and construction of efficient artificial miR sponges represent a novel strategy to achieve miR loss-of-function in molecular cancer therapeutics.

Osteoblast differentiation plays a critical role in bone formation and maintaining balance in bone remodeling. Runt-related transcription factor 2 (Runx2) is a central transcription factor regulating osteoblast differentiation and promoting bone mineralization. Until now, the molecular regulatory basis and especially the gene regulatory network of osteogenic differentiation have been unclear. Krüppel-like factor 2 (KLF2) is a zinc finger structure and DNA-binding transcription factor. The current study aimed to investigate the physiological function of KLF2 in osteoblast differentiation. Our results indicate that KLF2 is expressed in pre-osteoblast MC3T3-E1 cells and primary osteoblasts. Interestingly, KLF2 expression is increased in osteoblasts during the osteoblastic differentiation process. Overexpression of KLF2 in MC3T3-E1 cells promoted the expression of the osteoblastic differentiation marker genes Alp, Osx, and Ocn, and stimulated mineralization by increasing Runx2 expression at both the mRNA and protein levels. In contrast, knockdown of KLF2 produced the opposite effects. Importantly, we found that KLF2 could physically interact with Runx2. KLF2 promoted osteoblast differentiation by regulating Runx2 and physically interacting with Runx2. Taken together, the findings of this study identify KLF2 as a novel regulator of osteoblast differentiation. Our findings suggest that KLF2 might be a new therapeutic target for bone disease.

Osteoblast differentiation plays a critical role in bone formation and maintaining balance in bone remodeling. Runt-related transcription factor 2 (Runx2) is a central transcription factor regulating osteoblast differentiation and promoting bone mineralization. Until now, the molecular regulatory basis and especially the gene regulatory network of osteogenic differentiation have been unclear. Krüppel-like factor 2 (KLF2) is a zinc finger structure and DNA-binding transcription factor. The current study aimed to investigate the physiological function of KLF2 in osteoblast differentiation. Our results indicate that KLF2 is expressed in pre-osteoblast MC3T3-E1 cells and primary osteoblasts. Interestingly, KLF2 expression is increased in osteoblasts during the osteoblastic differentiation process. Overexpression of KLF2 in MC3T3-E1 cells promoted the expression of the osteoblastic differentiation marker genes Alp, Osx, and Ocn, and stimulated mineralization by increasing Runx2 expression at both the mRNA and protein levels. In contrast, knockdown of KLF2 produced the opposite effects. Importantly, we found that KLF2 could physically interact with Runx2. KLF2 promoted osteoblast differentiation by regulating Runx2 and physically interacting with Runx2. Taken together, the findings of this study identify KLF2 as a novel regulator of osteoblast differentiation. Our findings suggest that KLF2 might be a new therapeutic target for bone disease.

Lithium-ion battery (LIB) thermal runaway at elevated temperatures generates heat, smoke, and a jet fire and high-temperature mixture (JFHM) of gases, vapours, and particles. The ejection of the JFHM may damage the surrounding humans and facilities. In this study, an 18650 battery was heated at different State of Charges (SOCs) or heating powers to have a thermal runaway, and the ejection process was captured by a high-speed infrared camera. The evolution of the JFHM was obtained in the experiment in a semi-quantitative way. The vertical ejection of the JFHM presented a clear V-shape, and the horizontal ejection appeared more dispersed from the front side. A semi-quantitative analysis to evaluate the high temperature scope of the ejection was developed. The results indicate that the ejection has positive correlation with the SOC or heating power. The vertical flame length of the JFHM peaks at 79.33 mm, and the longest horizontal flame length is 68.82 mm. Based on the analysis results, new calculation method was developed to predict the ejection dimensions. A better understanding of the thermal runaway ejection can contribute to the design of devices with LIBs.

The present study prepared five types of cells (the fresh cells, the cells degraded to 90 % and 80 % SOH (state of health) after overcharge cycling and the cells degraded to 90 % and 80 % SOH after over-discharge cycling) to illustrate the topographic, electrochemical and thermal features of aged cells induced by overcharge and over-discharge cycling. Cell's internal resistance aggravates significantly after overcharge and over-discharge cycling, notably for the charge transfer impedance and Warburg impedance. Both electrodes become expanded along the overcharge and over-discharge cycle. The lattice of positive electrode materials varies and the graphite degree of the negative electrode material decreases following the overcharge and over-discharge cycle; meanwhile, the passivation layer of the positive electrode material is revealed to grow obviously and the transition metal dissolution is found to aggravate. The thermal stability of the aged positive electrode materials is somewhat decreased, which further leads to the aggravation of thermal runaway behaviors for the aged cells; moreover, the severity exacerbates with the deepening of cell aging. In comparison with overcharge, the aging induced by over-discharge seems to decline the safety of cells more.

Mannosyl (alpha-1,6-)-Glycoprotein beta-1,6-N-acetyl-glucosaminyltransferase (MGAT5) is exclusively expressed in gastric carcinoma, and plays an essential role in cancer progression, but no targeted drug is available so far. The potential anti-cancer effect of Hydrogen Sulfide (H2S), has not been widely recognized. It intrigued broad interest to explore the clinical benefits of cancer therapy, with the current understanding of molecular mechanisms of H2S which remains very limited. In this study, we identify that H2S is an effective inhibitor of MGAT5, leading to reduce the expression of exclusively abnormal glycoprotein processes in gastric carcinoma. H2S specifically dissociation of karyopherin subunit alpha-2 (KPNA2) with Jun proto-oncogene (c-Jun) interaction, and blocking c-Jun nuclear translocation, and downregulation of MGAT5 expression at the level of gene and protein. Consequently, H2S impairs growth and metastasis in gastric carcinoma by targeting inhibits MGAT5 activity. In an animal tumor model study, H2S is well tolerated, inhibits gastric carcinoma growth and metastasis. Our preclinical work therefore supports that H2S acts as a novel inhibitor of MGAT5 that block tumorigenesis in gastric carcinoma. SIGNIFICANCE:This study shows that H2S can effective targeting inhibits MGAT5 activity, and demonstrates promising antitumor efficacy. These findings gain mechanistic insights into the anti-cancer capacity of H2S and may provide useful information for the clinical explorations of H2S in cancer treatment.

The size effects on a methane–air mixture explosion in the interconnected vessels were investigated in this article. The vessels were interconnected by pipes of various lengths or diameters. Varied pipe lengths were analyzed by experiment. The results indicate that the maximum explosion pressure and the maximum rate of pressure rise in the primary and secondary vessels increase with pipe length. To investigate the effects of pipe diameter and volume ratio on methane–air mixtures’ explosion in the interconnected vessels, a computational fluid dynamics model was implemented. The model was validated by comparison with experimental results. A fair agreement was observed between the simulation results and experimental data. The simulation results indicate that an increase in the pipe diameter will reduce the danger of explosion. The maximum explosion pressure in both vessels increases when the volume ratio increases. When the primary vessel is larger than the secondary vessel, the maximum rate of pressure rise in the primary vessel decreases with volume ratio. However, the maximum rate of pressure rise in the secondary vessel increases. The maximum rate of pressure rise changes inconspicuously while the secondary vessel is larger than the primary one. Hence, the cubic-root law is not applicable to an explosion in the interconnected vessels. These conclusions can support the safe design of chemical equipment.

Oral anticoagulation is underused in patients with atrial fibrillation. We assessed the impact of a multifaceted educational intervention, versus usual care, on oral anticoagulant use in patients with atrial fibrillation.