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Mesoporous activated carbon (AC)‐modified HKUST‐1 composites with different AC contents were prepared and were used for CO2 adsorption. The structure and physiochemical properties of the composites were characterized by scanning electron microscopy(SEM), X‐ray diffractometer(XRD), thermogravimetry(TG) and nitrogen adsorption techniques. The results showed that the surface area and micro pore volume for the HKUST‐1@AC composites increase obviously compared to the HKUST‐1. Especially, the HKUST‐1@AC/2% gave the maximum specific surface area of 1145.71 m2/g and micropore volume of 0.4363 mL/g, resulting in highest CO2 adsorption capacity of 155.7 mg/g, which is almost two times than that of the unmodified HKUST‐1. The content of oxygen‐containing functional groups in AC also play an important role in CO2 adsorption for the HKUST‐1@AC/2% composites, and the optimum content of oxygen‐containing functional groups for the coconut shell AC is about 2.9 mg/g. This might be due to that HKUST‐1 grows along the surface of AC with rich oxygen‐containing functional groups, and a large number of micropores are formed between the two interfaces, therefore increasing CO2 adsorption amount. HKUST‐1 grows along the surface of activated carbon with rich oxygen‐containing functional groups, a large number of micropores are formed between the two interfaces, thereby increasing CO2 adsorption amount. Especially, the HKUST‐1@AC/2% gave the maximum specific surface area of 1145.71 m2/g and micropore volume of 0.4363 mL/g, resulting in highest CO2 adsorption capacity of 155.7 mg/g, which is almost two times than that of the unmodified HKUST‐1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This is the first report of KCl templated carbon preparation from walnut shell. Activated carbon (AC) with high specific surface area (1958 m 2  g −1 ) was obtained by CO 2 activation of KCl templated biochar at 900 °C. The electrochemical properties were evaluated by cyclic voltammetry, galvanostatic charge/discharge and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. WS-90 had relatively low inner resistance of 1.7 Ω. The specific capacitance was 245.0 F g −1 in 6 mol L −1 KOH electrolyte at a current density of 0.1 A g −1 , and it can maintain very good cyclic stability with capacitance retention ratio of 95.4% (from 245.0 to 233.7 F g −1 at current density of 0.1 A g −1 after 4000 cycles (0.1, 0.5, 1.0 and 5.0 A g −1 for 1000 cycles, respectively)). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The stable operation of lithium metal batteries faces hindrances due to the persistent issue of uncontrolled lithium dendrite growth. In this study, we present a facile approach wherein 3D structured cuprous oxide (Cu 2 O) dendrites are constructed on flat copper foil through a straightforward process involving electrodeposition and subsequent high-temperature treatment. The thin lithium oxide (Li 2 O) layer stemming from lithiophilic Cu 2 O further establishes a conducive channel for the swift diffusion of lithium ions (Li+) at the solid-liquid interface. Notably, the staggered stacking of Cu 2 O dendrite results in a 3D structure with a significantly enlarged specific surface area, which not only mitigates current density but also promotes a uniform distribution of Li flow. The proposed Cu 2 O electrode yields superior performance, achieving a Coulombic efficiency of up to 98.2% and a sustained lithium deposition/stripping process lasting an impressive 880 h. In the full cells, employing Li/Cu 2 O dendrite electrode, an exceptional Coulombic efficiency (CE) of 99.9% is attained after 160 cycles at 1C, coupled with an admirable capacity retention rate of 84%. These findings underscore the promising potential of the Cu 2 O dendrite electrode for advancing the practical applications of lithium metal batteries. [Display omitted] • Strong Li adsorption energy enables uniform plating/stripping behaviors. • The staggered stack structure optimizes the space utilization. • The Li 2 O layer, derived in situ from Cu 2 O, establishes a rapid pathway for the diffusion of lithium ions. • The hollow structure effectively diminishes the overall mass. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The hierarchical carbon, with high specific surface area (2959 m2 g−1) and high pore volume (1.65 cm3 g−1) was prepared from sustainable feedstock – biochar, which was a waste from a thermochemical process optimized for bio-oil production, using KOH catalytic activation. The hierarchical carbon after HNO3 treatment, as electrode materials, showed improved specific capacitance 260 F g−1 in 6 mol L−1 KOH at a current density of 0.6 A g−1, while the specific capacitance of carbon without oxidation exhibits relative high (200 F g−1) at a higher current density (0.5 A g−1) after 2000 cycles. More importantly, the capacitive performances of the hierarchical carbons are much better than general bio-inspired activated carbons, ordered mesoporous carbons and commercial graphene, thus highlighting the success of preparing high performance supercapacitor electrode material from biochar and potential for improving economic viability of thermochemical biofuel processes by converting biochar to a high value added carbon materials. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

[Display omitted] • Ultrasonic-assisted DES treatment produced a homogeneous CNF size distribution. • The basic properties of aerogel precursor suspensions were characterized. • M−LAs exhibited liquid and dye adsorption properties. Using renewable biomass resources to prepare porous materials can reduce the dependence on petroleum-based energy, promote green, low-carbon, and high-quality development, and achieve carbon neutrality. Here, we report a bio-inspired full-biomass-derived aerogel with an ultra-light (10.33–27.77 mg/cm3), highly porous (98.66–99.19 %), and vertically aligned structure. The fabrication involves an ultrasonic-assisted deep eutectic solvent (DES) extraction of cellulose nanofibrils (CNFs)-blending-directional freeze-drying-hydrophobic modification. Initially, CNFs were extracted from corncobs using DES pretreatment. Then, the aerogels were prepared by co-mixing CNFs with alkali lignin and freeze-drying the precursor suspension using the ice-templated method. Finally, the aerogels were modified using trimethoxymethylsilane chemical vapor deposition to render them hydrophobic. The silanization-modified aerogels exhibited superior static and dynamic hydrophobic properties, with a water contact angle of up to 153.4°, and demonstrated self-cleaning properties. These aerogels exhibited adsorption capabilities for various oils and organic solvents (9.6–29.8 g/g) and the ability to separate oil–water mixtures and adsorb methylene blue. Moreover, the aerogels with vertically aligned structures exhibited exceptional axial compression properties (up to 959 kPa), more than four times greater than the radial compression properties. Furthermore, the aerogels exhibited rapid liquid transport properties, with an axial transport rate of soybean oil that was more than 10 times higher than the radial transport rate. This study provides a green, eco-friendly, and sustainable strategy for preparing 3D porous aerogels, paving the way for developing full-biomass-derived aerogels as a promising alternative to petroleum-based adsorbent materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Catalytic liquefaction can effectively convert solid biomass into liquid bio-crude that could be upgraded to advanced biofuel, but the exploration of green and efficient catalysts remain a challenge. In this study, bifunctional Zn/HZSM-5 catalysts were firstly combined with supercritical ethanol to produce bio-crude in pine sawdust catalytic liquefaction. The catalysts were characterized by BET, NH 3 -TPD, XRD and TEM. The effects of Zn/HZSM-5 catalysts with different Zn loading ratios on the yield and quality of bio-crude and gas were investigated. The results showed that Zn/HZSM-5 and HZSM-5 catalysts improved the yields of bio-crude compared to no catalyst treatment. The use of HZSM-5 based catalysts reduced the contents of oxygenated compounds including acids, ketones, phenols and alcohols in bio-crude products. Hydrocarbons content of the bio-crudes produced by HZSM-5 based catalysts increased compared to bio-crude produced by no catalyst treatment. Compared to HZSM-5 catalyst, Zn/HZSM-5 catalysts exhibited better catalyst performance to improve bio-crude quality due to the additional decarbonylation, decarboxylation and dehydrogenation reactions induced by Zn loading. 15%Zn/HZSM-5 catalyst resulted in the highest yields of bio-crude at 59.09 wt.%, and 10%Zn/HZSM-5 catalyst produced bio-crude with the highest hydrocarbons content at 15.03%. The four stages of mechanism for biomass liquefaction reactions on Zn/HZSM-5 catalysts in supercritical ethanol was proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Owing to their large specific surface area and well-defined porosity, metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) have long been considered as promising materials for energy storage. Unfortunately, their straightforward utilization in supercapacitors was hindered for years due to poor conductivity until the emergence of 2D conductive MOF materials. To date, several 2D conductive MOF-based supercapacitors have been reported. Nevertheless, almost all these supercapacitors were fabricated from MOF powders through a slurry coating method or dense packing method, which negatively affected their capacitor performance. Herein, we have developed an anodic electrodeposition (AED) approach to fabricate a uniformly deposited 2D conducting MOF on nickel foam and use it directly as electrodes for supercapacitors without any additives. The superior performance of the 2D conducting MOF on nickel foam in both aqueous and organic electrolytes was then disclosed by a series of electrochemical measurements, demonstrating the significant advantages of the AED approach over traditional methods. [Display omitted] • Anodic electrodeposition approach was first used to construct 2D conductive MOF. • AED approach could effectively suppress aggregation of NiPc-MOF. • AED approach is one-step approach without binders/conductive additives. • NiPc-MOF AED @NF supercapacitor demonstrate outstanding performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Incorporation Fe considerably adjusts Pt electronic structure and further lowers the binding strength of CO intermediates on Pt sites. Moreover, ordered PtFe structure exhibits stronger strain, ligand and synergistic effect between Pt and Fe compared to the disordered PtFe due to the favorable crystallographic phase. [Display omitted] • Pt can be converted to structure-controlled PtFe via NaCl space-confined annealing. • PtFe structure can be regulated from disorder to order via altering Fe content. • The geometric/electronic nature in ordered and disordered PtFe is quite different. • The strain, charge and synergistic effect in ordered PtFe structure is stronger. Rationally regulating compositions and atomic arrangements is essential to tune the geometric and electronic structures of Pt alloy nanoparticles (NPs), thus largely optimizing their electrocatalytic performance towards methanol oxidation reaction (MOR). Herein, we present a facile alloying-ordering strategy to directly convert pure Pt NPs into size-controlled PtFe ordered intermetallic NPs by virtue of thermal interdiffusions under an easily-removable NaCl cover. And the disordered counterparts can be also obtained by simply varying the feeding contents of Fe precursors. Experimental results indicate that incorporating Fe considerably adjusts Pt electronic structure and further lowers the binding strength of CO intermediates on Pt sites. Moreover, the strain, ligand and synergistic effect between Pt and Fe are much stronger in ordered PtFe catalyst than in the disordered one, endowing the ordered PtFe with an obvious higher activity, stability and anti-CO poisoning for methanol oxidation as compared to disordered PtFe as well as commercial Pt/C. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sodium-ion batteries (SIBs) are considered as a promising alternative to lithium-ion batteries in large-scale energy storage due to the abundant sodium resources and low cost. However, the practical applications are still hindered by several factors such as limited cycling life and low mass loading of the electrode. Herein, a uniform free-standing Sn-based (Sn@CFC) electrode was synthesized via a facile electrospinning method. The cross-link nitrogen-doped carbon fiber and ultrasmall metallic Sn nanoparticles together provide fast ions and electrons pathway, enabling a dominant pseudocapacitance contribution of 87.1% at a scan rate of 0.5 mV s−1. The Sn@CFC electrode hence exhibits a high reversible area capacity of 1.68 mAh cm−2 at 50 mA g−1 and long cycle life of 1000 cycles at 200 mA g−1 with more than 80% capacity retention. Moreover, the facile manufacturing technique yields the Sn@CFC electrode with an extremely high mass loading of 5.5 mg cm−2 with very little sacrifice of electrochemical performances. This study provides a promising route to scalably fabricate electrodes with high area capacity and high energy density for advanced SIBs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High cost and environmentally unfavourable considerations are the major obstacles that prohibit renewable energy storage from many applications. To solve these issues, novel renewable materials such as biomass-derived carbon that have low cost, ecofriendly, and deliver high-energy storage performance should be employed. In this work, renewable carbon YP-50, biochar synthesized from coconut, was activated using different plasma gases including methane (CH 4), carbon dioxide (CO 2), hydrogen (H 2) , and argon (Ar). Compared with the conventional activation method, plasma treatment takes less time and effort. A significant increase in the specific surface area (SSA) and improvement in the specific capacitance (SC) were found with different plasma treatments. Specifically, the CH 4 plasma-treated YP-50 exhibited the highest SC of 181.6 F g−1 at 0.05 A g−1 compared with other gases. In addition, the highest energy density of 25.3 Wh kg−1 was obtained at the specific power of 0.12 kW kg−1 for CH 4 treated biochar. This enhancement of charge storage capacity is highly associated with the distribution of a variety of pore sizes and a large surface area. Furthermore, the charge transfer resistance reduced from 21.7 Ω to 1.4 Ω after CH 4 treatment, and high capacitance retention was achieved due to its excellent electrochemical stability and good performance. Hence, this high-energy plasma treatment with a short time opens p a new opportunity for the efficient activation of carbon materials of supercapacitors with high electrochemical performances. Image, graphical abstract [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Gold nanoparticles and zeolitic imidazolate framework-8 nanocomposites (Au@ZIF-8) were synthesized. • Au@ZIF-8/GCE possessed an excellent electrochemical performance to dopamine. • The proposed sensor exhibited acceptable stability and repeatability. Gold nanoparticles and zeolitic imidazolate framework-8 nanocomposites (Au@ZIF-8) were synthesized through a simple hydrothermal method and used as an enzyme-free sensor for dopamine detection. Various characterizations were used to investigate the structure and morphology of Au@ZIF-8 nanocomposites. The electrochemical performance of Au@ZIF-8 nanocomposite modified glassy carbon electrode (Au@ZIF-8/GCE) was examined in 0.1 M phosphate-buffered saline with different concentrations of dopamine. Consequently, Au@ZIF-8/GCE possessed an excellent electrochemical catalytic performance to dopamine, having been reported to its wider linear range from 0.1 to 50 μM, lower detection limit of 0.01 μM (S/N = 3) and higher sensitivity of 6.452 μA mM−1 cm−2. The proposed sensor exhibited acceptable stability and repeatability due to the coupling effect of Au nanoparticles and ZIF-8. All the evidence suggested a potential application of Au@ZIF-8 nanocomposites in a non-enzymatic dopamine sensor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: Vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC) is a prevalent condition affecting a significant proportion of women worldwide, with recurrent episodes leading to detrimental effects on quality of life. While treatment with clotrimazole is common, the specific alterations it evokes in the vaginal bacteriome and metabolome were previously underexplored., Methods and Results: In this prospective study, we enrolled reproductive-age women diagnosed with single VVC and conducted comprehensive analyses of vaginal fungi, bacteriome, and metabolome before and after local clotrimazole treatment. We observed a significant reduction in Candida albicans and notable improvements in vaginal cleanliness. Advanced sequencing revealed substantial shifts in the vaginal bacteriome, with an increase in Lactobacillus-dominant communities post-treatment. Our findings identified 17 differentially abundant bacterial species, including notable decreases in pathogenic anaerobes such as Gardnerella vaginalis, Dialister micraerophilus, and Aerococcus christensenii, suggesting a restoration of a healthier microbial balance. Furthermore, metabolomic analysis revealed significant changes in 230 metabolites, particularly within lipid metabolism pathways, with marked downregulation of lipid-related compounds linked to inflammation. Correlation studies indicated a strong interplay between lipid metabolites and specific bacterial species, emphasizing the influence of clotrimazole treatment on microbial and metabolic interactions. Importantly, predictive models using microbiota and metabolite signatures demonstrated high accuracy in distinguishing pre- and post-treatment states., Conclusions: This research highlights clotrimazole's dual role in effectively clearing Candida infection and promoting a healthier vaginal microenvironment, paving the way for novel microbial and metabolomic-based diagnostic approaches to enhance VVC management and understand its underlying mechanisms., (© The Author(s) 2024. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Applied Microbiology International.)

Isothiocyanates (ITCs), prevalent in cruciferous vegetables, are known for their anticarcinogenic properties. Prior research has indicated that heparin can stimulate the growth of colon cancer cells. However, the implications of ITCs in the diet of cancer patients receiving heparin-based therapies have yet to be fully understood. This exploratory in vitro study examines the proliferative effects of low-molecular-weight heparin (LMWH) on human colon cancer cells and assesses the antiproliferative potential of four ITC compounds, exploring possible epidermal growth factor family of receptor tyrosine kinases (Erb-B) related mechanisms. We evaluated cell viability in HCT-116 and HT-29 cell lines following treatment with ITCs alone or combined with LMWH (20 μg/mL) at various concentrations (1-100 μM). Clonogenic and wound-healing assays were performed after 24 h of treatment with 5 μM ITCs. Additionally, messenger RNA (mRNA) and protein expression of Erb-B family genes was measured using quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) and Western blotting. Statistical analysis was conducted using analysis of variance (ANOVA) with Dunnett's post hoc test. Results indicated that the half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC 50 ) values for Phenylethyl isothiocyanate (PEITC), Benzyl isothiocyanate (BITC), and Sulforaphane (SFN) were lower than those of Allyl isothiocyanate (AITC) in LMWH-stimulated HCT-116 (20.77, 19.10, and 44.05 μM, respectively) and HT-29 (74.94, 26.77, and 43.49 μM, respectively). PEITC and SFN significantly reduced ErbB1 (epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)) and ErbB4 (receptor tyrosine-protein kinase erbB-4) expression, while BITC decreased ErbB2 (receptor tyrosine-protein kinase erbB-2) and transforming growth factor beta (TGF- β ) expression in HCT-116 cells (all, p  < .05). PEITC, BITC, and SFN also increased proapoptotic Bax expression and decreased the antiapoptotic B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2) expression (all, p  < .05). These findings suggest that specific ITCs may mitigate cancer cell proliferation induced by LMWH in cancer therapies, highlighting their potential therapeutic efficacy., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (© 2024 The Author(s). Food Science & Nutrition published by Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

The review delves into the intricate interplay between metabolic dysregulation and the onset and progression of gastric cancer (GC), shedding light on a pivotal aspect of this prevalent malignancy. GC stands as one of the leading causes of cancer-related mortality worldwide, its trajectory influenced by a multitude of factors, among which metabolic dysregulation and aberrant gene expression play significant roles. The article navigates through the fundamental roles of metabolic dysregulation in the genesis of GC, unveiling phenomena such as aberrant glycolysis, epitomized by the Warburg effect, alongside anomalies in lipid and amino acid metabolism. It delineates how these disruptions fuel the cancerous process, facilitating uncontrolled cell proliferation and survival. Furthermore, the intricate nexus between metabolism and the vitality of GC cells is elucidated, underscoring the profound influence of metabolic reprogramming on tumor energy dynamics and the accrual of metabolic by-products, which further perpetuate malignant growth. A pivotal segment of the review entails an exploration of key metabolic-related genes implicated in GC pathogenesis. MYC and TP53 are spotlighted among others, delineating their pivotal roles in driving tumorigenesis through metabolic pathway modulation. These genetic pathways serve as critical nodes in the intricate network orchestrating GC development, providing valuable targets for therapeutic intervention. This review embarks on a forward-looking trajectory, delineating the potential therapeutic avenues stemming from insights into metabolic dysregulation in GC. It underscores the promise of targeted therapies directed towards specific metabolic pathways implicated in tumor progression, alongside the burgeoning potential of combination therapy strategies leveraging both metabolic and conventional anti-cancer modalities. In essence, this comprehensive review serves as a beacon, illuminating the intricate landscape of metabolic dysregulation in GC pathogenesis. Through its nuanced exploration of metabolic aberrations and their genetic underpinnings, it not only enriches our understanding of GC biology but also unveils novel therapeutic vistas poised to revolutionize its clinical management., Competing Interests: Conflicts of Interest: All authors have completed the ICMJE uniform disclosure form (available at https://tcr.amegroups.com/article/view/10.21037/tcr-23-2244/coif). The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare., (2024 Translational Cancer Research. All rights reserved.)

Background: The importance of the gut microbiota in maintaining bone homeostasis has been increasingly emphasized by recent research. This study aimed to identify whether and how the gut microbiome of postmenopausal women with osteoporosis and osteopenia may differ from that of healthy individuals., Methods: Fecal samples were collected from 27 individuals with osteoporosis (OP), 44 individuals with osteopenia (ON), and 23 normal controls (NC). The composition of the gut microbial community was analyzed by 16S rRNA gene sequencing., Results: No significant difference was found in the microbial composition between the three groups according to alpha and beta diversity. At the phylum level, Proteobacteria and Fusobacteriota were significantly higher and Synergistota was significantly lower in the ON group than in the NC group. At the genus level, Roseburia, Clostridia&#95;UCG.014, Agathobacter, Dialis ter and Lactobacillus differed between the OP and NC groups as well as between the ON and NC groups ( p < 0.05). Linear discriminant effect size (LEfSe) analysis results showed that one phylum community and eighteen genus communities were enriched in the NC, ON and OP groups, respectively. Spearman correlation analysis showed that the abundance of the Dialister genus was positively correlated with BMD and T score at the lumbar spine ( p < 0.05). Functional predictions revealed that pathways relevant to amino acid biosynthesis, vitamin biosynthesis, and nucleotide metabolism were enriched in the NC group. On the other hand, pathways relevant to metabolites degradation and carbohydrate metabolism were mainly enriched in the ON and OP groups respectively., Conclusions: Our findings provide new epidemiologic evidence regarding the relationship between the gut microbiota and postmenopausal bone loss, laying a foundation for further exploration of therapeutic targets for the prevention and treatment of postmenopausal osteoporosis (PMO)., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no competing interests., (© 2024 Ji et al.)

The regeneration of weight-bearing bone defects and critical-sized cartilage defects remains a significant challenge. A wide range of nano-biomaterials are available for the treatment of bone/cartilage defects. However, their poor compatibility and biodegradability pose challenges to the practical applications of these nano-based biomaterials. Natural biomaterials inspired by the cell units (e.g., nucleic acids and proteins), have gained increasing attention in recent decades due to their versatile functionality, compatibility, biodegradability, and great potential for modification, combination, and hybridization. In the field of bone/cartilage regeneration, natural nano-based biomaterials have presented an unparalleled role in providing optimal cues and microenvironments for cell growth and differentiation. In this review, we systematically summarize the versatile building blocks inspired by the cell unit used as natural nano-based biomaterials in bone/cartilage regeneration, including nucleic acids, proteins, carbohydrates, lipids, and membranes. In addition, the opportunities and challenges of natural nano-based biomaterials for the future use of bone/cartilage regeneration are discussed., (© 2023. BioMed Central Ltd., part of Springer Nature.)

Objective: To investigate the morphology of coronal femoral intertrochanteric fracture and its effect on reduction and internal fixation., Methods: The clinical and imaging data of 46 patients with femoral intertrochanteric fracture who met the selection criteria between August 2017 and October 2018 were reviewed. There were 15 males and 31 females; the age ranged from 62 to 91 years, with an average of 72.8 years. The causes of injury included walking falls in 35 cases, falling out of bed in 4 cases, and traffic accidents in 7 cases. The AO/Orthopaedic Trauma Association classification was type 31-A1 in 11 cases and type 31-A2 in 35 cases. All patients underwent closed reduction and internal fixation with intramedullary nails. During the operation, fracture reduction and fixation were performed according to the preoperative evaluation results. According to the patients' preoperative X-ray film and CT three-dimensional reconstruction images, the direction of the coronal fracture line of the femoral intertrochanter and the morphological characteristics of the fracture block were observed; and the coronal fracture discrimination analysis was carried out for the fractures of different AO/OTA types. The percentages of coronal femoral intertrochanteric fractures diagnosed by preoperative X-ray film and CT three-dimensional reconstruction were calculated and statistically analyzed. The fracture reduction, the position of internal fixation [measurement of tip-apex distance (TAD)]. and the reliability of internal fixation were observed after operation., Results: X-ray film was not easy to identify coronary fracture, and the coronal fracture line and the shape of the fracture piece weree clearly visible in CT three-dimensional reconstruction images. The morphological characteristics of the coronary fracture block: in AO/OTA 31-A1 type, the fracture line extended obliquely backward from the anterior tip of the large rotor, above the small rotor with or without small rotor fracture; in AO/OTA 31-A2 type, fracture line extended obliquely backward from the anterior tip of the large rotor to below the small rotor. Thirteen cases (28.3%) of coronal fractures were found on preoperative X-ray films, and 35 cases (76.1%) were found by CT three-dimensional reconstruction, showing significant difference ( χ 2 =21.083, P =0.000). In AO/OTA 31-A1 type patients, the proportion of coronal fractures found by X-ray film and CT three-dimensional reconstruction was 18.2% (2/11) and 54.5% (6/11), respectively, and that in AO/OTA 31-A2 type patients was 31.4% (11/35) and 82.9% (29/35), respectively, showing significant differences ( χ 2 =3.143, P =0.000; χ 2 =20.902, P =0.000). Among the 35 patients with coronal fractures, 6 cases (17.1%) of AO/OTA 31-A1 type, 29 cases (82.9%) of AO/OTA 31-A2 type. The operation time of the patient was 80-112 minutes, with an average of 95 minutes; the intraoperative blood loss was 180-450 mL, with an average of 360 mL. There was no complication such as infection, falling pneumonia, and deep vein thrombosis of the lower extremities. At 3 days after operation, the internal fixators were all in the proper position. The TAD was 0.9-1.8 cm, with an average of 1.4 cm. All patients were followed up 14-18 months, with an average of 16 months. All the fractures healed osseously, and there was no complication such as nonunion and loosening of internal fixation., Conclusion: CT three-dimensional reconstruction can better identify coronal femoral intertrochanteric fractures than X-ray films, and accurately recognize and analyze the incidence and morphological characteristics of coronal fractures, which can help formulate more effective surgical strategies to promote patient recovery.

It has been a challenge to use transition metal oxides as anode materials in Li-ion batteries due to their low electronic conductivity, poor rate capability and large volume change during charge/discharge processes. Here, we present the first demonstration of a unique self-recovery of capacity in transition metal oxide anodes. This was achieved by reducing tungsten trioxide (WO3) via the incorporation of urea, followed by annealing in a nitrogen environment. The reduced WO3 successfully self-retained the Li-ion cell capacity after undergoing a sharp decrease upon cycling. Significantly, the reduced WO3 also exhibited excellent rate capability. The reduced WO3 exhibited an interesting cycling phenomenon where the capacity was significantly self-recovered after an initial sharp decrease. The quick self-recoveries of 193.21%, 179.19% and 166.38% for the reduced WO3 were observed at the 15th (521.59/457.41 mA h g-1), 36th (538.49/536.61 mA h g-1) and 45th (555.39/555.39 mA h g-1) cycles respectively compared to their respective preceding discharge capacity. This unique self-recovery phenomenon can be attributed to the lithium plating and conversion reaction which might be due to the activation of oxygen vacancies that act as defects which make the WO3 electrode more electrochemically reactive with cycling. The reduced WO3 exhibited a superior electrochemical performance with 959.1/638.9 mA h g-1 (1st cycle) and 558.68/550.23 mA h g-1 (100th cycle) vs. pristine WO3 with 670.16/403.79 mA h g-1 (1st cycle) and 236.53/234.39 mA h g-1 (100th cycle) at a current density of 100 mA g-1.

Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of repairing the deltoid ligament with ankle fracture., Methods: Between January 2010 and January 2013, 11 patients with ankle fractures associated with deltoid ligament injury were treated. There were 7 males and 4 females, with an average age of 38.2 years (range, 18-72 years). The interval between injury and operation was 6 hours to 7 days (mean, 4 days). According to Lauge-Hansen classification, ankle fracture was rated as pronation-external rotation type in 5 cases, as supination-external rotation type in 4 cases, and as pronation-abduction type in 2 cases. The MRI and color Doppler ultrasound showed deltoid ligament rupture. The results of valgus stress test, talus valgus tilt test, and anterior drawer test after anesthesia were all positive. Fracture was treated by open reduction and internal fixation, and deltoid injury was repaired., Results: All incisions healed primarily. All patients were followed up 12-18 months (mean, 13.3 months). The X-ray films showed anatomical reduction, good position of internal fixation and stable distal tibiofibular syndesmosis. The mean fracture union time was 7.6 weeks (range, 6-8 weeks). MRI at 3 months after operation showed normal shape of the deltoid ligament. According to American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) score, the results were excellent in 6 cases, good in 3 cases, fair in 1 case, and poor in 1 case, with an excellent and good rate of 81.8%., Conclusion: It is an effective method to treat ankle fracture with deltoid ligament injury by open reduction and internal fixation of ankle fracture and repair of the deltoid ligament injury, which can effectively rebuild medial instability and has satisfactory effectiveness.

Transgenic plants producing recombinant proteins are a potential low-cost substitute for complex bioreactors. However, the development of new robust downstream processes to improve protein recovery and isolation from plant feedstock is critical to promote this new technique because downstream processing costs typically contribute to more than 80 % of the total cost. Polishing separation platforms for protein purification, such as chromatography and membrane filtration, have been well established, while little attention has been allocated to initial concentration and separation procedures. In this chapter, application of aqueous two-phase partitioning (ATPP), as an attractive alternative to traditional processes for recovering and isolating target proteins from plant green tissues or seeds, as well as the main advances reported in literature concerning ATPP for the isolation and purification of proteins from plant feedstock are reviewed. The potential application of ATPP as an integrated extraction and isolation step and isolation step after extraction or protein characterization method is discussed separately. The connection of ATPP with traditional protein separation processes is discussed. The separation mechanisms of ATPP are explained based on surface properties of proteins and polymer systems. Finally, the future trends in applying ATPP for protein separation are discussed.