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A lattice-filled multicellular square tube features a regular cross-sectional shape, good energy consumption, and good crashworthiness, which is suitable for the design of energy absorbers in various protection fields such as automobiles, aerospace, bridges, etc. Based on the super folding theory, two reference planes are set to refine the energy consumption zone of the super folding element in this study. The energy consumption calculation of convex panel stretching is involved, and the critical crushing force formula is introduced in this study. Meanwhile, the calculation method from a single-cell square tube to a multicellular thin-walled square tube is extended and the structural optimization is investigated, in which the NSGAII algorithm is used to obtain the Pareto front (PF) of the crashworthiness performance index of the square multicellular tubes, the Normal Boundary Intersection (NBI) method is adopted to select knee points, and the influence of different cross-sectional widths on the number, as well as the thickness, of cells are discussed. This study's results indicate that the theoretical value is consistent with that obtained from the numerical simulation, meaning that the improved theoretical model can be applied to predict the crashworthiness of multicellular square cross-sectional tubes. Also, the optimization method and study results proposed in this study can provide a reference for the design of square lattice multicellular tubes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The positron source is one of the most important parts of the circular electron–positron collider (CEPC) linear accelerator. The design goal is to obtain a 3 nC bunch charge positron beam from a 4 GeV primary electron beam with an intensity of 10 nC/bunch. In this study, an all-solid-state, high-current pulse power system was developed to drive a flux concentrator to capture positrons by generating a magnetic field with a peak value of 6 T. Based on the inductive load topology circuit, the optimized parameters were designed to generate a pulse current with a high peak value and a high rise rate pulse current. In addition, a non-reverse voltage was realized to protect the solid-state switch components. For the characteristics of the long-distance transmission between the pulse power supply and the load in the system, the influences of the cable distribution parameters on the pulse were analyzed, and the design of the damping circuit was proposed to suppress the high-frequency ripples of the peak pulse current. An optimized coaxial discharge structure was designed to reduce the stray parameters in the main circuit. The design was verified through simulations and experiments, and the results demonstrated that the developed prototype successfully generated an ideal half-sinusoidal pulse current with a peak value of 15 kA, and a front pulsewidth of $2.5 ~\mu \text{s}$ at a repetition rate of 50 Hz. The pulse repetition stability is better than 0.1%. The final output was consistent with the theoretical analysis. The system can be applied in the CEPC positron source, which also provides a reference for the subsequent development of a positron source system at research facilities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Triglyceride glucose-body mass index (TyG-BMI) has been proven to be a reliable substitute for insulin resistance. However, whether a causal association exists between TyG-BMI and new-onset diabetes remains uncertain. The purpose of this study was to investigate the causal association and predictive performance between TyG-BMI and diabetes. Methods: A total of 116,661 subjects who underwent a physical examination were included in this study. The subjects were divided into five equal points according to the quintile of TyG-BMI, and the outcome of interest was the occurrence of diabetic events. TyG-BMI = ln [fasting plasma glucose (mg/dL) × fasting triglycerides (mg/dL)/2] × BMI. Results: During the average follow-up period of 3.1 (0.95) years, 1888 men (1.61 %) and 793 women (0.68 %) were newly diagnosed with diabetes. Multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that TyG-BMI was an independent predictor of new-onset diabetes (HR 1.50 per SD increase, 95 %CI: 1.40 to 1.60, P-trend < 0.00001), and the best TyG-BMI cutoff value for predicting new-onset diabetes was 213.2966 (area under the curve 0.7741, sensitivity 72.51 %, specificity 69.54 %). Additionally, the results of subgroup analysis suggested that the risk of TyG-BMI-related diabetes in young and middle-aged people was significantly higher than that in middle-aged and elderly people, and the risk of TyG-BMI-related diabetes in non-obese people was significantly higher than that in overweight and obese people (P for interaction < 0.05). Conclusions: This cohort study of the Chinese population shows that after excluding other confounding factors, there is a causal association of TyG-BMI with diabetes, and this independent association is more obvious in young, middle-aged and non-obese people. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pores and throats are the key parameters for determining the pore structure and fluid flow behavior in tight sandstone reservoirs. In this paper, pores and throats of the tight sandstone reservoir of the Upper Triassic Xujiahe Formation in the northern Sichuan Basin were investigated using classical petrography, scanning electron microscopy, and confocal laser scanning microscopy. In addition, a method of pore as well as throat identification and quantitatification using high-pressure mercury injection (HPMI) measurements was worked out. The results show that clay mineral-related pores are well developed in lithic sandstone and feldspathic lithic sandstone in addition to pores produced by dissolution of calcite cement and clastic grains. Intergranular pores are connected by lamellar, curved lamellar, and narrow pore throats. The pores and throats associated with intragranular dissolution and clay minerals are mostly tube shaped. The rapid-increasing and slow-increasing profiles of the mercury injection curves represent the dominance of pores and throats, respectively, allowing to differentiate pores and throats. Calculations show, in addition to fractured lithic sandstone, that has micron-sized pore–throat systems, the other lithic sandstones possess dominatly nano-sized pore–throat systems. In case of feldspathic lithic sandstones, micron-sized and nano-sized pore throat systems are equally important. In micron-sized pore throat dominated reservoirs, the pore volume is slightly larger than the throat volume, whereas for the nano-sized pore throat system, the pore volume is considerably larger than the throat volume. The key factors that are favorable for the formation of lithic sandstone pore throat systems are early calcite dissolution, lithic fragments dissolution, and early chlorite cementation. In contrast the key factors that are favorable for the formation of feldspathic lithic sandstone pore throat systems are dissolution of feldspars and lithic fragments. • A new method to distinguish pores and throats within tight sandstone reservoirs is proposed. • Lithic and feldspathic lithic sandstone reservoirs host different pore and throat types. • Pore volume is slightly larger than throat volume in the micron-size pore network. • Pore volume is considerably larger than throat volume in the nano-size pore network. • Compaction, cementation, and dissolution directly affected the development of pore throat systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pore structure is the key factor to control the quality and fluid flow of ultra-tight reservoir. The relationship between rock types, pore types, and pore sizes of ultra-tight sandstone reservoirs was identified by observing microscopic characteristics under a polarizing microscope and scanning electron microscope (SEM) and quantitively assessed using high-pressure mercury intrusion (HPMI) and fractal theory. By a comparative analysis of lithic sandstone and feldspar lithic sandstone reservoirs of Upper Triassic Xujiahe Formation of the Northern Sichuan Basin, we found that the pore type of the ultra-tight sandstone reservoir was linked to the rock type. Argillaceous lithic sandstone minly generates fracture pores, while fine-grained lithic sandstone and feldspar lithic sandstone formed dissolved pores by dissolution of carbonate cement, rock debris, and feldspar particles. Meanwhile, clay minerals such as kaolinite and chlorite in the reservoir possess pores between clay platelets and intraplatelet pores within clay aggregates, which are important pore types for ultra–tight sandstone reservoirs. A method to divided intervals of pore size distribution was proposed using high-pressure mercury intrusion (HPMI), and three intervals of pore diameter distribution were observed: 10–40 nm, 40 nm–1 μm, and 1–100 μm, which is largely controlled by pore type. The reservoir with only fracture pores is a one–interval reservoir with pore diameter in the range of 1–100 μm, while the reservoirs with dissolved pores and clay mineral-related pores have the above three intervals. Meanwhile, the fractal of pores in different scale range is different, and the larger the pore size, the stronger is the reservoir heterogeneity. A treelike pore structure model can be utilized to define pore development features in ultra–tight sandstone reservoirs. Micron–scale pores with diameters of 1–100 μm is mostly made up of fractures, cement and particle dissolution pores. However, nano–scale pores in the range of 40 nm–1 μm and 10–40 nm are predominantly pores formed between clay platelets and intraplatelet pores within clay aggregates, respectively. • Rock type, pore type, and pore size of ultra-tight sandstone reservoirs have a close relationship. • Pores between clay platelets and pores within clay aggregates are essential pore types in ultra-tight sandstones. • Three intervals of pore distribution were divided using high-pressure mercury intrusion (HPMI). • The heterogeneity of pores in ultra-tight reservoirs is mostly dictated by pore size and fractures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on a thermal pressure simulation experiment under formation conditions, we found that hydrocarbon generation in organic-rich shales can result in extreme overpressure, and that the key factor controlling such overpressure is gas rather than oil. Our experiment was conducted under formation conditions using organic-rich shale samples from the Upper Triassic Chang 7 member of the southern of Ordos Basin with the goal of exploring the overpressure caused by hydrocarbon generation. The results showed that hydrothermal pressures at 73–130 °C ranged from 5.6 to 49 MPa, while those at simulated temperatures of 300–425 °C and vitrinite reflectances of 0.71–1.99% ranged from 23.5 to 116.1 MPa when the system was completely closed. The weights of oil and gas generated in every stage of the experiment were similar, but the volume of gas was up to 1720 times greater than that of oil. The correlation between the volume of oil generated and hydrocarbon generation pressure was poor, but the increased volumes of oil-associated gas during the oil generation stage and gas in the gas generation stage were strongly and positively correlated with hydrocarbon generation pressure. Therefore, gas was the main factor controlling hydrocarbon generation pressures in this study. Higher pressures can exceed the fracture pressures of rocks, resulting in the formation of fractures and leading to the expulsion of oil and gas. The overpressure of a source rock can be transferred into a tight reservoir to become the main driving force for tight oil charging. When the overpressure exceeds 15 MPa, the oil in a reservoir can be charged into <5-nm pore throats, which is important for predicting tight oil potential. • Thermal pressure simulation experiments were conducted under formation conditions. • Hydrothermal and hydrocarbon-induced overpressures reached 49 and 116.1 MPa. • Gas generation in different stages controls hydrocarbon generation pressures. • Tight oil can be charged into <5-nm pore throats when overpressure >15 MPa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was designed to investigate the role of miR-671-5p in in vitro and in vivo models of ischemic stroke (IS). Middle cerebral artery occlusion and reperfusion (MCAO/R) in C57BL/6 mice as well as oxygen–glucose deprivation and reoxygenation (OGD/R) in a mouse hippocampal HT22 neuron line were used as in vivo and in vitro models of IS injury, respectively. miR-671-5p agomir, miR-671-5p antagomir, pcDNA3.1-NF-κB, and negative controls were transfected into cells using riboFECT CP reagent. miR-671-5p agomir, pcDNA3.1-NF-κB, and negative vectors were administered into MCAO/R mice via intracerebroventricular injection. The results showed that miR-671-5p was significantly downregulated and that miR-671-5p agomir alleviated injury and neuroinflammation induced by ischemic reperfusion. A dual-luciferase reporter assay confirmed that NF-κB is a direct target of miR-671-5p. Reverse experiments showed that miR-671-5p agomir reduced neuroinflammation via suppression of NF-κB expression in both in vitro and in vivo models of IS. Our data suggest that miR-671-5p may be a viable therapeutic target for diminishing neuroinflammation in patients with IS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Powdery mildew is a very destructive disease that threatens yield and quality of wheat. In the present study, 262 recombinant inbred lines derived from a cross between Zhongmai 578 (ZM578) with moderate resistance to powdery mildew and Jimai 22 (JM22) with high resistance to powdery mildew in the field were used to map powdery mildew resistance loci using the high‐density Illumina iSelect 50K single‐nucleotide polymorphism array. Three quantitative trait loci (QTLs) on chromosomes 2B, 5B, and 5D were identified by inclusive composite interval mapping, designated as QPm.caas‐2BL.1, QPm.caas‐5BL, and QPm.caas‐5DL, respectively, explaining 5.0%–37.0% of the phenotypic variances. The resistance allele of QPm.caas‐5BL was contributed by ZM578, whereas alleles of QPm.caas‐2BL.1 and QPm.caas‐5DL were from JM22. QPm.caas‐2BL.1, detected in all the six experimental environments, was a major and stable QTL. QPm.caas‐5DL was detected in five of the six environments and is likely to be a new QTL for powdery mildew resistance. The kompetitive allele‐specific PCR (KASP) markers Kpm‐2BL and Kpm‐5DL for QPm.caas‐2BL.1 and QPm.caas‐5DL, respectively, were validated in a diverse panel of 287 cultivars. These KASP markers, tightly linked with the QTLs, can be used for marker‐assisted breeding targeting the improvement of powdery mildew resistance in wheat. Core Ideas: Three major quantitative trait loci (QTLs) for powdery mildew resistance were identified in the Zhongmai 578/Jimai 22 population.QPm.caas‐5DL is likely a new QTL, with the resistance allele from Jimai 22.Two kompetitive allele‐specific PCR (KASP) markers for QPm.caas‐2BL.1 and QPm.caas‐5DL were validated in a panel of 287 wheat cultivars. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: When frozen pathological results of suspicious peritoneal nodules found in gastric cancer (GC) patients are negative or indeterminant, whether to perform gastrectomy will always be a dilemma for surgeons. This study aimed to facilitate intraoperative surgical decision-making based on frozen section (FS) results and clinicopathological characteristics. Methods: From January 2015 to July 2021, 318 GC patients were enrolled retrospectively. The correlations between frozen and paraffin pathology of peritoneal nodules were examined. Then, predictive factors of positive paraffin section (PS) results were identified, and a nomogram was constructed. The survival significance of gastrectomy was also explored. Results: Of 70 FS-negative patients, 59 (84.3%) had concordant negative PS results, while the PS results of 11 (15.7%) were positive. Forty-six (93.9%) and 3 (6.1%) of 49 patients with indeterminant FS results had positive and negative PS results, respectively. The PS results of 95 FS-positive patients were all positive. A nomogram for predicting positive PS results was developed based on Lauren type, nodule distribution, and CA125. Gastrectomy for FS-negative patients improved survival compared to no gastrectomy (HR 0.26, 95% CI 0.11–0.62; P = 0.0012). Survival benefits for gastrectomy vs. no gastrectomy were not demonstrated in patients with indeterminant (HR 0.74, 95% CI 0.27–2.01; P = 0.53) and positive (HR 0.87, 95% CI 0.43–1.74; P = 0.69) FS results. Conclusions: Gastrectomy can be justified for the treatment of operable GC patients with negative frozen pathological results of peritoneal nodules. For patients with positive and indeterminant frozen pathological results, gastrectomy is not recommended unless it is performed as palliative surgery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The original article can be found online at https://doi.org/10.1007/s11064-021-03321-1. Correction to: Neurochemical Research (2021) 46:1801-1813 https://doi.org/10.1007/s11064-021-... The original version of the article, Fig. Correction to: miR-671-5p Attenuates Neuroinflammation via Suppressing NF- B Expression in an Acute Ischemic Stroke Model. [Extracted from the article]

The southwest vortex (SWV) is a critical weather system in China, but our knowledge of this system remains incomplete. Here, we investigate the cloud properties in the SWV. First, we search for the SWVs with time steps and center locations that are consistent between the SWV yearbook and ERA-Interim reanalysis data. Second, we supplement these SWVs' life spans and movement paths. Third, we relocate the Fengyun (FY) satellite FY-4A cloud retrievals in the 10° × 10° region centered on each SWV and analyze the cloud occurrence frequency (COF), cloud-top height (CTH), and cloud optical thickness (COT). A distribution mode of cloud types is summarized from the COFs, with water clouds, supercooled clouds, mixed clouds, ice clouds, cirrus clouds, and overlap clouds occurring sequentially from west to east. The CTH probability density (PD) distribution features a significant north–south difference. In addition, the COT PD distributions exhibit a common trend: with increasing COT, the PD increases rapidly and then slowly before peaking, whereupon the PD decreases abruptly. From spring to summer, the region with the highest convective COF shifts from the northeast to the northwest, and an east–west gradient of the convective COF appears in autumn and winter. Furthermore, we investigate the cloud properties during SWV-related heavy rainfall. Heavy rain occurs mainly in the west of the SWV, and convective clouds are mainly in the northwest, partly in the southwest and near the SWV center. The average CTH in heavy rainfall is generally higher than 6 km, and the average COT is greater than 20. Significance Statement: The southwest vortex (SWV) is an important weather system in China. However, we do not yet comprehensively know this weather system. The cloud properties can indicate the structures of weather systems and are key parameters in numerical weather prediction (NWP) models. Thus, investigating cloud properties is necessary and meaningful to understand the SWV and accurately predict SWV-related precipitation in NWP models. In this paper, a typical distribution mode of six cloud types in the SWV is summarized from the cloud occurrence frequency, and the distribution features of convective clouds, cloud-top height, and cloud optical thickness in the SWV are analyzed. Furthermore, the cloud properties in SWV-related heavy rain are also studied. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chlorite is beneficial to the preservation of primary pores, and its formation mechanism in marine sandstone has been widely reported. However, few studies have focused on the genetic mechanism of various types of chlorite in lacustrine deltaic sandstone. Therefore, the occurrence, diagenetic time and origin of chlorite in Xujiahe tight sandstone were investigated using microscopic images and mineralogical chemical analysis, and three stages of chlorite were identified, namely, grain-coating (Ch1), pore-lining (Ch2), and pore-filling (Ch3) chlorite, which belong to the Fe chlorite, Al chlorite and transitional types, respectively. The variations in morphology and chemical composition reflect differences in the sources and formation mechanisms. Chlorite sandstones are mainly distributed in the underwater distributary channel, which has strong hydrodynamic conditions. The formation of Ch1 is controlled by the sedimentary environment and flocculation. Salinity differences resulted in a larger amount of flocculation deposits in the estuaries during the syngenetic period. In the shallow burial stage, the clay coating underwent in situ transformation under thermal impacts and formed the Ch1. Xujiahe sandstones experienced complex diagenetic processes, which include early compaction, three stages of chlorite cementation, two stages of quartz precipitation, dissolution and two stages of carbonate cementation. Organic acid dissolution of volcanic rock fragments, phyllite, and biotite likely supplied sufficient Fe2+ for the growth of Ch2 in a relatively closed diagenetic system. As the pore water became weakly alkaline, diagenetic fluid migration originating from the clay mineral transformation in mudstone mainly provided Fe2+ and Mg2+ for Ch3 growth in sandstones. Chlorite is considered to have "composite" impacts on deep tight sandstones, with grain-coating and pore-lining chlorites protecting the primary pores by restricting the silica supply and occupying potential quartz nucleation sites; however, grain-coating chlorite caused throat obstruction or even closure under strong mechanical compaction, which reduced the permeability of the reservoir. • Three different types of chlorite have been found in the Xujiahe tight sandstones. • It has been clear that the formation time of chlorite and the paragenetic sequence of authigenic minerals. • The origin and formation mechanism of authigenic chlorite in three types have been investigated. • We considerd that authigenic chlorite has a "composite" impact on deep tight sandstone: preserve primary porosity but reduce the permeability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Small and complex petroliferous sags have gradually become one of the key areas of succession in the mature exploration areas. Taking Weibei Sag of Bohai Bay Basin as a case, the geological and geochemical characteristics of the source rocks of Kong-2 Member was analyzed, the basin simulation method was used to determine the main hydrocarbon generation area, and investigate its control on the distribution and enrichment of hydrocarbon. The results show that the abundance, type, and maturity of organic matter have a large spatial variation range, and the upper and middle sub-members of Kong-2 Member in the study area are the most important source rocks. The periods of the late deposition of the Sha-4 Member and the structural uplift are the main hydrocarbon generation periods. The Migration of hydrocarbon-generating center from subsidence center to southeast direction, resulting a large amount of hydrocarbon-generating in the slope zone, leading to the main migration and accumulation direction of hydrocarbon in the Zaohu Faulted Nose Belt. Therefore, the hydrocarbon were enriched in the southeast and poor in the central and western regions, so the next favorable exploration areas include Zaohu Faulted Nose Belt, Eastern Wacheng Step Belt, and Southern Northern Sag Belt. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A lithium–sulfur battery, a potential next-generation secondary battery, is affected by poor conductivity of sulfur and the dissolution of intermediate polysulfides. Here we report a lithium–sulfur battery with ultrahigh sulfur loading and excellent cycling stability using porous graphitic carbon (PGC) as a high-conductivity carrier of sulfur and carbon fiber with crisscross conductive framework as an electric attachment site of sulfur. PGC is fabricated through a simple and environmentally friendly synthesis process involving high-temperature graphitization in a N2 atmosphere followed by an annealing process in air. Due to the presence of porous graphitic structure, with C–O termination groups, PGC endows the lithium–sulfur battery system with excellent cycling performance. The lithium–sulfur battery cathode constructed by PGC with a sulfur loading of 2.5 mg cm−2 still retains a high specific capacity of 734.4 mA h g−1 after 200 cycles. Meanwhile, an ultrahigh sulfur loading of 12.8 mg cm−2 for a CR2025 coin cell is achieved, which is the highest sulfur loading reported in the literature for the coin cell. The ultrahigh sulfur loading cell also shows good electrochemical properties, profiting from the mesopores terminated with C–O groups, high specific surface area of 1129.9 m2 g−1 and high-conductivity graphitic structure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • A strategy to fabricate conductive SiO 2 @Ga core–shell microparticles is developed. • Maximizing catalytically active surface gallium for electrocatalysis of Li 2 S x. • The addition of microparticles promote the ion transfer kinetics of the electrodes. • A mechanism of conductive electron-given-surface and fast Li+ transport is proposed. • Li-S batteries with high sulfur loading and high specific capacity are achieved. A novel silica@gallium core–shell structure is designed to maximize catalytically active surface gallium for highly efficient electrocatalysis of lithium polysulfides in lithium-sulfur batteries. The fabricated SiO 2 @Ga/S cathode battery exhibits a high reversible capacity of 927.1 mAh g−1 at 0.75C and excellent cycling stability with a capacity retention rate of 85.97% for 600 cycles. When the sulfur mass loading is up to 6.5 mg cm−2, the battery displays a high discharge capacity of ~ 4.145 mAh cm−2 with high Coulombic efficiency of 85.04% after 200 cycles. Finally, a mechanism that the highly conductive electron-given-surface of liquid metal Ga shell on the surface of SiO 2 in the thick electrodes for reversible electrocatalysis of lithium polysulfides in lithium-sulfur batteries is proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Key message: We fine-mapped QBp.caas-3BL for black point resistance in an interval of 1.7 Mb containing five high-confidence annotated genes and developed a KASP marker suitable for selection of QBp.caas-3BL. Wheat black point, which occurs in most wheat-growing regions of the world, is detrimental to grain appearance, processing and nutrient quality. Mining and characterization of genetic loci for black point resistance are helpful for breeding resistant wheat cultivars. We previously identified a major QTL QBp.caas-3BL in a recombinant inbred line (RIL) population of Linmai 2/Zhong 892 across five environments. Here we confirmed the QTL in two additional environments. The genetic region of QBp.caas-3BL was enriched with newly developed markers. Using four sets of near isogenic lines, QBp.caas-3BL was narrowed down to a physical interval of approximately 1.7 Mb, including five annotated genes according to IWGSC reference genome. TraesCS3B02G404300, TraesCS3B02G404600 and TraesCS3B02G404700 were predicted as candidate genes based on the analyses of sequence polymorphisms and differential expression. We also converted a SNP of TraesCS3B02G404700 into a breeding-applicable KASP marker and verified its efficacy for marker-assisted breeding in a panel of germplasm. The findings not only lay a foundation for map-based cloning of QBp.caas-3BL but also provide a useful marker for selection of resistant cultivars genotypes in wheat breeding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The practical applications of lithium sulfur batteries have been greatly restricted by the polysulfide shuttle effect and non-conductivity of sulfur. Here, we report a nickel-catalyzed carbonization method to synthesize three-dimensional (3D) nickel@N-doped carbon-nanotube (CNT) foams for lithium-sulfur batteries. The corresponding carbon/sulfur cathode with a high sulfur loading of 3.71 mg cm−2 possesses a high initial capacity of 855.6 mAh g−1 at 135 mA g−1 and good cyclic stability with a low fading rate of 0.153% per cycle for 100 cycles at 270 mA g−1. The growth of carbon thin layers on the nickel nanoparticles results in the encapsulation of the nanoparticles in the CNTs, which makes the carbon forms highly conductive and prevents the metal nanoparticles from being oxidized by polysulfides. The high conductivity is favorable for the electron transfer between polysulfides and carbon electrode. Moreover, the doped nitrogen atoms on the CNTs have strong chemical adsorption ability for polysulfides, accelerating redox reaction of polysulfides on the carbon electrode (i.e., suppressing the shuttle effect). These unique structural characteristics well explain the excellent electrochemical performance of the assembled batteries. It is believed that the fabricated carbon foam is a promising material for high sulfur-loading lithium-sulfur battery. [Display omitted] • Encapsulates carbon-coated Ni metal nanoparticles in N-doped carbon nanotube. • 3D highly conductive network and strongly chemisorptionto polysulfides. • Stable cycle performance of lithium-sulfur battery under high sulfur loading. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]