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Abstract Lithium metal batteries (LMBs) have emerged in recent years as highly promising candidates for high‐density energy storage systems. Despite their immense potential, mutual constraints arise when optimizing energy density, rate capability, and operational safety, which greatly hinder the commercialization of LMBs. The utilization of oriented structures in LMBs appears as a promising strategy to address three key performance barriers: 1) low efficiency of active material utilization at high surface loading, 2) easy formation of Li dendrites and damage to interfaces under high‐rate cycling, and 3) low ionic conductivity of solid‐state electrolytes in high safety LMBs. This review aims to holistically introduce the concept of oriented structures, provide criteria for quantifying the degree of orientation, and elucidate their systematic effects on the properties of materials and devices. Furthermore, a detailed categorization of oriented structures is proposed to offer more precise guidance for the design of LMBs. This review also provides a comprehensive summary of preparation techniques for oriented structures and delves into the mechanisms by which these can enhance the energy density, rate capability, and safety of LMBs. Finally, potential applications of oriented structures in LMBs and the crucial challenges that need to be addressed in this field are explored.

Idiopathic granulomatous mastitis (IGM) is a rare form of chronic inflammatory breast disease. Although it is a benign breast lesion, it may be sometimes difficult to distinguish from breast cancer. The cause of IGM is unknown, but may be associated with autoimmunity, abnormal hormone levels and infection. While the clinical manifestations of IGM involve various manifestations of inflammation, the diagnosis is principally established by histopathology, characterized by non-caseating granulomas and microabscess formation centered on the breast lobules. Therapeutic options for IGM range from observation to various medical treatments, such as steroids, immunosuppressants, and antibiotics, to surgical intervention, particularly if secondarily infected. Given that the controversy on etiology and treatment choices, we accomplished the present review through reviewing IGM-related literature published in ‘Pubmed’ and ‘Web of science’ databases during 1997 to 2020, aiming to provide the basis for rational clinical diagnosis and treatment.

Lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) are at the forefront of energy storage and highly demanded in consumer electronics due to their high energy density, long battery life, and great flexibility. However, LIBs usually suffer from obvious capacity reduction, security problems, and a sharp decline in cycle life under low temperatures, especially below 0 °C, which can be mainly ascribed to the decrease in Li+ diffusion coefficient in both electrodes and electrolyte, poor transfer kinetics on the interphase, high Li+ desolvation barrier in the electrolyte, and severe Li plating and dendrite. Targeting such issues, approaches to improve the kinetics and stability of cathodes are also dissected, followed by the evaluation of the application prospects and modifications between various anodes and the strategies of electrolyte design including cosolvent, blended Li salts, high-concentration electrolyte, and additive introduction. Such designs elucidate the successful exploration of low-temperature LIBs with high energy density and long lifespan. This review prospects the future paths of research for LIBs under cold environments, aiming to provide insightful guidance for the reasonable design of LIBs under low temperature, accelerating their widespread application and commercialization.

NASICON- (Na superionic conductor-) based solid-state electrolytes (SSEs) are believed to be attracting candidates for solid-state sodium batteries due to their high ionic conductivity and prospectively reliable stability. However, the poor interface compatibility and the formation of Na dendrites inhibit their practical application. Herein, we directly observed the propagation of Na dendrites through NASICON-based Na3.1Zr2Si2.1P0.9O12 SSE for the first time. Moreover, a fluorinated amorphous carbon (FAC) interfacial layer on the ceramic surface was simply developed by in situ carbonization of PVDF to improve the compatibility between Na metal and SSEs. Surprisingly, Na dendrites were effectively suppressed due to the formation of NaF in the interface when molten Na metal contacts with the FAC layer. Benefiting from the optimized interface, both the Na||Na symmetric cells and Na3V2(PO4)3||Na solid-state sodium batteries deliver remarkably electrochemical stability. These results offer benign reference to the maturation of NASICON-based solid-state sodium batteries.

The growing popularity of quasi-solid-state supercapacitors inevitably leads to the unrestricted consumption of commonly used petroleum-derived polymer electrolytes, causing excessive carbon emissions and resulting in global warming. Also, the porosity and liquid electrolyte uptake of existing polymer membranes are insufficient for well-performed supercapacitors under high current and long cycles. To address these issues, poly(lactic acid) (PLA), a widely applied polymers in biodegradable plastics is employed to fabricate a renewable biocomposite membrane with tunable pores with the help of non-solvent phase inversion method, and a small amount of poly (vinylidene fluoride-co-hexafluoropropylene) (PVDF-HFP) is introduced as a modifier to interconnect with PLA skeleton for stabilizing the porous structure and optimizing the aperture of the membrane. Owing to easy film-forming and tunable non-solvent ratio, the porous membrane possesses high porosity (ca. 71%), liquid electrolyte uptake (366%), and preferable flexibility endowing the GPE with satisfactory electrochemical stability in coin and flexible supercapacitors after long cycles. This work effectively relieves the environmental stress resulted from undegradable polymers and reveals the promising potential and prospects of the environmentally friendly membrane in the application of wearable devices.

Solid-state batteries (SSBs) have attracted considerable attention for high-energy-density and high-safety energy storage devices. Many efforts have focused on the thin solid-state-electrolyte (SSE) films with high room-temperature ionic conductivity, flexibility, and mechanical strength. Here, we report a composite polymer electrolyte (CPE) reinforced by electrospun PI nanofiber film, combining with succinonitrile-based solid composite electrolyte. In situ photo-polymerization method is used for the preparation of the CPE. This CPE, with a thickness around 32.5 μm, shows a high ionic conductivity of 2.64 × 10−4 S cm−1 at room temperature. It is also fireproof and mechanically strong, showing great promise for an SSB device with high energy density and high safety.

Solid-state plastic crystal electrolytes (SPCEs) have attracted much attention due to their high ionic conductivity at room temperature and polymer-like plasticity. Herein, we made a LiFePO4||Li solid state battery based on SPCEs. A SPCE film is made up of glass fiber, succinonitrile (SN), lithium bis (triflu-romethanesulphonyl) imid (LiTFSI), and LiNO3. Glass fiber is introduced to improve the mechanical property, and LiNO3 served as an additive to stabilize electrolyte/Li interface. The SPCE film delivers a high ionic conductivity of 7.3 × 10−4 S cm−1 at room temperature and has excellent stability with Li-metal anode. SPCE is also infused into cathode electrode and used as the interface with cathode particles, which can access a large interface contact area and deform reversibly with volume change. The LiFePO4||Li solid state battery based on SPCE can work well at ambient temperature, which shows a high initial specific capacity of 121.4 mAh g−1 and has 86.9% retention after 90 cycles at 0.5 C.

Nuclear logging is one of most important logging services provided by many oil service companies. The main parameters of interest are formation porosity, bulk density, and natural radiation. Other services are also provided from using complex nuclear logging tools, such as formation lithology/mineralogy, etc. Some parameters can be measured by using neutron logging tools and some can only be measured by using a gamma ray tool. To understand the response of nuclear logging tools, the neutron transport/diffusion theory and photon diffusion theory are needed. Unfortunately, for most cases there are no analytical answers if complex tool geometry is involved. For many years, Monte Carlo numerical models have been used by nuclear scientists in the well logging industry to address these challenges. The models have been widely employed in the optimization of nuclear logging tool design, and the development of interpretation methods for nuclear logs. They have also been used to predict the response of nuclear logging systems for forward simulation problems. In this case, the system parameters including geometry, materials and nuclear sources, etc., are pre-defined and the transportation and interactions of nuclear particles (such as neutrons, photons and/or electrons) in the regions of interest are simulated according to detailed nuclear physics theory and their nuclear cross-section data (probability of interacting). Then the deposited energies of particles entering the detectors are recorded and tallied and the tool responses to such a scenario are generated. A general-purpose code named Monte Carlo N– Particle (MCNP) has been the industry-standard for some time. In this paper, we briefly introduce the fundamental principles of Monte Carlo numerical modeling and review the physics of MCNP. Some of the latest developments of Monte Carlo Models are also reviewed. A variety of examples are presented to illustrate the uses of Monte Carlo numerical models for the development of major nuclear logging tools, including compensated neutron porosity, compensated density, natural gamma ray and a nuclear geo-mechanical tool.

In this study, a cerium-Metal-Organic Framework/Graphene Oxide (Ce-MOF/GO) composite material with highly efficient phosphate removal was synthesized via a solvothermal method. The physiochemical properties and removal mechanism of phosphate on composite material were analyzed by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET). The influencing parameters such as, effect of reaction time, solution pH, initial concentration, adsorbent dosage, and temperature on the adsorption capacity of the adsorbent were investigated. The kinetic and isothermal adsorption data were consistent with the pseudo-second-order model and the Langmuir adsorption isotherm model. The result shows that the maximum adsorption capacity of Ce-MOF/GO-2% composite for phosphate removal was 308. 64 mg g-1, which is higher than that of Ce-MOF. The adsorbent shows excellent reusability and after four adsorption/regeneration cycles, still maintains (92%) adsorption capacity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A pair of DNA tweezers that can capture, hold, and release a target accompanying its 'close' and 'open' actions is described. The structure of the tweezers is shown to be a DAE tile that can be integrated into various DNA lattices toward cooperative and synergetic actions under multiplexed controls.

The traditional block lifting schemes often give rise to a host of problems such as the complexity of the lifting process, low degree of automation, and lack of theoretical guidance. To overcome the deficiencies, the authors of this paper have developed an automatic design system for the complex block lifting. Tribon is adopted as the data extraction method to identify the feature area of a block so as to lay out the lifting lugs properly and efficiently. Besides, Matlab is employed to analyze the stress on lifting wires and 3ds Max to simulate the block lifting process. In this way, the potential problems about mechanics and interference between the block and wires can be forecasted so as to enable the designers to improve the lifting scheme and ensure a safer and more reliable design. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Beyond state-of-the-art lithium-ion battery (LIB) technology with metallic lithium anodes to replace conventional ion intercalation anode materials is highly desirable because of lithium's highest specific capacity (3,860 mA/g) and lowest negative electrochemical potential (∼3.040 V vs. the standard hydrogen electrode). In this work, we report for the first time, to our knowledge, a 3D lithium-ion–conducting ceramic network based on garnet-type Li6.4La3Zr2Al0.2O12 (LLZO) lithium-ion conductor to provide continuous Li+ transfer channels in a polyethylene oxide (PEO)-based composite. This composite structure further provides structural reinforcement to enhance the mechanical properties of the polymer matrix. The flexible solid-state electrolyte composite membrane exhibited an ionic conductivity of 2.5 × 10−4 S/cm at room temperature. The membrane can effectively block dendrites in a symmetric Li j electrolyte j Li cell during repeated lithium stripping/plating at room temperature, with a current density of 0.2 mA/cm2 for around 500 h and a current density of 0.5 mA/cm2 for over 300 h. These results provide an all solid ion-conducting membrane that can be applied to flexible LIBs and other electrochemical energy storage systems, such as lithium–sulfur batteries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One-dimensional (1-D) nanostructures such as nanowires and nano-tubes have been widely explored for anodes with high specific capacity in Li-ion batteries, which effectively release the mechanical stress to avoid structure pulverization. However, 1-D nanostructures typically have a high surface area, which leads to a large irreversible capacity in the first cycle due to a solid electrolyte interface (SEI) formation. Two dimensional (2-D) nanowalls can address the same challenges as 1-D nanostructures, with a much lower surface area. For the first time, we demonstrated a 2-D nanowall structure with silicon for Li-ion batteries. Excellent performance for the first Coulombic efficiency (CE) has been achieved. Such a 2-D nanowall structure can also be applied in other devices with improved performance where nanostructures are needed but a high surface area is problematic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objectives of this investigation were as follows: (a) to validate a mechanism-based pharmacokinetic (PK) model of ADC for its ability to a priori predict tumor concentrations of ADC and released payload, using anti-5T4 ADC A1mcMMAF, and (b) to analyze the PK model to find out main pathways and parameters model outputs are most sensitive to. Experiential data containing biomeasures, and plasma and tumor concentrations of ADC and payload, following A1mcMMAF administration in two different xenografts, were used to build and validate the model. The model performed reasonably well in terms of a priori predicting tumor exposure of total antibody, ADC, and released payload, and the exposure of released payload in plasma. Model predictions were within two fold of the observed exposures. Pathway analysis and local sensitivity analysis were conducted to investigate main pathways and set of parameters the model outputs are most sensitive to. It was discovered that payload dissociation from ADC and tumor size were important determinants of plasma and tumor payload exposure. It was also found that the sensitivity of the model output to certain parameters is dose-dependent, suggesting caution before generalizing the results from the sensitivity analysis. Model analysis also revealed the importance of understanding and quantifying the processes responsible for ADC and payload disposition within tumor cell, as tumor concentrations were sensitive to these parameters. Proposed ADC PK model provides a useful tool for a priori predicting tumor payload concentrations of novel ADCs preclinically, and possibly translating them to the clinic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cation exchange (CX) in the nonfluorescent ZnS nanocrystal clusters (NCCs) was employed to detect trace biomolecules with immunoassays. The NCCs were porous and allowed fast cation exchange reaction to release an ultralarge number of Zn2+ from each cluster that turned on the Zn-responsive dyes for fluorescence detection. The ZnS NCCs were highly stable in biological buffers and more biocompatible than quantum dots. Zn2+ release efficiency and target binding by NCCs with average diameters of 44 nm, 86 nm, and 144 nm were investigated. The smallest NCCs exhibited the highest CX efficiency because of its larger surface area and bigger pores inside the cluster structure, and 71.0% of the enclosed Zn2+ were freed by CX with 2-min microwave irradiation. They also experienced the least space hindrance and the fastest rate when binding to target molecules immobilized on surface. When the 44-nm NCCs were used to detect IgE in a sandwich assay, the limit of detection (LOD) was 5 pg/mL (33 fM), 1,000 times better than that of ELISA. Our results well demonstrate that CX in the ZnS NCCs is superior to the conventional signaling strategies in its high amplification efficiency, robustness, and biocompatibility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nanoparticles that respond to various chemical and physical stimuli form the basis for various conceivable applications including sensors, chemical logic, biomedical imaging, and therapies. In this work, we demonstrate that the electrostatic and chemical (complexing and gold–thiol bonding) interactions existing in a gold nanoparticle/Zn2+/dithiothreitol-based ternary chemical system is “programmable” and can be utilized to regulate the aggregation and dispersion of nanoparticles via XOR and INHIBIT logics. The resulting solutions alter their colors according to different input combinations because of the well-controlled aggregation or dispersion of plasmonic gold nanoparticles, opening up new possibilities for the developments of advanced sensors and nanobiomedical devices based on the coupling, gating, and signaling of different chemical stimuli. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Investigates the solution structure of DNA.RNA hybrid duplex containing MMI backbone linker, 3'-CH2N(CH3)-O-5'. Structuralization of the MMI linker; Effect of MMI linker to the neighboring residues; Comparison between R4 and other analogous hybrid duplexes; Role of MMI linker in the formation of stable hyrid duplexes.

An ideal supporting material improves both activity and durability of noble metal nanoparticles in electrocatalytic reactions. Graphene possesses a high transport rate of electrons in-plane, a low cost, and stability, but, the restacking of graphene layers trap noble metal nanoparticles and make them inaccessible to reactants and results in reduced catalytic activity. Here, holey-graphene as the supporting materials for Pt nanoparticle catalysts is deeply investigated in the electrocatalytic reaction of methanol oxidation. The holey-graphene can be scalable to synthesize using our simple method described herein. The holes on the holey-graphene layer promote the access of reactants with Pt nanoparticle catalysts compared with carbon black and graphene when used as supporting materials. Density functional theory calculations and molecule dynamic simulation further explain the function of holey-graphene in the promotion of electrocatalytic activity. Holey-graphene may open extraordinary possibilities as a supporting material for electrocatalysts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]