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Abstract Micro-sized silicon anodes can significantly increase the energy density of lithium-ion batteries with low cost. However, the large silicon volume changes during cycling cause cracks for both organic-inorganic interphases and silicon particles. The liquid electrolytes further penetrate the cracked silicon particles and reform the interphases, resulting in huge electrode swelling and quick capacity decay. Here we resolve these challenges by designing a high-voltage electrolyte that forms silicon-phobic interphases with weak bonding to lithium-silicon alloys. The designed electrolyte enables micro-sized silicon anodes (5 µm, 4.1 mAh cm−2) to achieve a Coulombic efficiency of 99.8% and capacity of 2175 mAh g−1 for >250 cycles and enable 100 mAh LiNi0.8Co0.15Al0.05O2 pouch full cells to deliver a high capacity of 172 mAh g−1 for 120 cycles with Coulombic efficiency of >99.9%. The high-voltage electrolytes that are capable of forming silicon-phobic interphases pave new ways for the commercialization of lithium-ion batteries using micro-sized silicon anodes.

Abstract Introduction Psittacosis can cause severe community-acquired pneumonia (CAP). The clinical manifestations of psittacosis range from subclinical to fulminant psittacosis with multi-organ failure. It is essential to summarize the clinical characteristic of patients with severe psittacosis accompanied by acute hypoxic respiratory failure (AHRF). Methods This retrospective study included patients with severe psittacosis caused CAP accompanied by AHRF from 19 tertiary hospitals of China. We recorded the clinical data, antimicrobial therapy, respiratory support, complications, and outcomes. Chlamydia psittaci was detected on the basis of metagenomic next-generation sequencing performed on bronchoalveolar lavage fluid samples. Patient outcomes were compared between the treatment methods. Results This study included 45 patients with severe CAP and AHRF caused by psittacosis from April 2018 to May 2021. The highest incidence of these infections was between September and April. There was a history of poultry contact in 64.4% of the patients. The median PaO2/FiO2 of the patients was 119.8 (interquartile range, 73.2 to 183.6) mmHg. Four of 45 patients (8.9%) died in the ICU, and the median ICU duration was 12 days (interquartile range, 8 to 21) days. There were no significant differences between patients treated with fluoroquinolone initially and continued after the diagnosis, fluoroquinolone initially followed by tetracycline, and fluoroquinolone combined with tetracycline. Conclusion Psittacosis caused severe CAP seems not rare, especially in the patients with the history of exposure to poultry or birds. Empirical treatment that covers atypical pathogens may benefit such patients, which fluoroquinolones might be considered as an alternative.

ObjectiveThis study aimed to investigate whether the ventilation duration for children undergoing invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV) in pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) is correlated with pediatric sequential organ failure (pSOFA) score, white blood cell (WBC) count, blood lactate level, and duration of fever.MethodsRetrospectively reviewed that the medical records of patients who received IMV in the PICU of Jingzhou Central Hospital between January 2018 and December 2020. According to the duration of IMV in diagnosis-related groups, these patients were divided into two groups: group A, ventilation duration 0.05). Logistic regression analysis was conducted to analyze the influencing factors of mechanical ventilation duration ≥96 h. An ROC curve was drawn with pSOFA score as a test variable and duration of mechanical ventilation ≥96 h as a state variable, revealing that the area under the curve was 0.76 (SE = 0.075, 95% CI: 0.614–0.906, P = 0.005). The sensitivity and specificity were 68.4 and 73.9%, respectively, and the corresponding pSOFA score was 7.5.ConclusionWhen the pSOFA score ≥8, the risk of mechanical ventilation duration ≥96 h increases.

Background. Lepidium meyenii Walp. (Maca) has emerged as a functional plant food and traditional herb owing to its biological activities; Maca polysaccharides as an important active component of Maca have good immunomodulatory effect; however, studies on the immunomodulatory effect of Maca polysaccharides are mainly focused on macrophages; little attention has been devoted to the mechanisms and other immune cells. This study is aimed at investigating the immunomodulatory effects and mechanisms of Maca polysaccharides. Methods. Sixty mice were divided into five groups, and the mice were injected with cyclophosphamide to establish an immunosuppression model except for those in the common group. The body weights were measured, as well as immune-related indices, such as organ indices, haematological parameters, lymphocyte cycle, and proliferation, cytokine, and protein expression levels. Results. The weight loss and immune organ index decline caused by cyclophosphamide could be reversed by MP. Furthermore, MP increased WBC and HGB counts and reduced the ratio of G0/G1 phase obviously, increased the proportion of S phase and G2/M phase in peripheral blood lymphocytes, increased the counts of CD4+ T cells and the ratio of CD4+/CD8+, and reduced the inhibition rate of splenic lymphocytes. MP affected the production of cytokines by increasing IFN-γ, TNF-α, and IL-2 levels and by decreasing IL-4 levels. MP increased the mRNA expression of T-bet and the protein expression of Bcl-2 in the spleen and decreased the protein expression of caspase-3 and Bax. Conclusions. Maca polysaccharides might be the basic material for Maca’s immunomodulatory effect. The mechanism was perhaps related to inhibiting lymphocyte apoptosis and promoting the balance of Th1/Th2 cell subsets.

Ciliary neurotrophic factor has neuroprotective effects mediated through signal transducer and Janus kinase (JAK) 2/activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/Akt signaling pathways. Whether ciliary neurotrophic factor is neuroprotective for glutamate-induced excitotoxicity of dorsal root ganglion neurons is poorly understood. In the present study, the in vitro neuroprotective effects of ciliary neurotrophic factor against glutamate-induced excitotoxicity were determined in a primary culture of dorsal root ganglion neurons from Wistar rat embryos at embryonic day 15. Whether the JAK2/STAT3 and PI3K/Akt signaling pathways were related to the protective effects of ciliary neurotrophic factor was also determined. Glutamate exposure inhibited neurite outgrowth, cell viability, and growth-associated protein 43 expression and promoted apoptotic neuronal cell death, all of which were reversed by the administration of exogenous ciliary neurotrophic factor. Additionally, preincubation with either JAK2 inhibitor AG490 or PI3K inhibitor LY294002 blocked the neuroprotective effect of ciliary neurotrophic factor. These data indicate that the two pathways JAK2/STAT3 and PI3K/Akt play major roles in mediating the in vitro neuroprotective effects of ciliary neurotrophic factor on dorsal root ganglion neurons with glutamate-induced neurotoxicity.

Atomically flat superconducting NbN thin films have been grown on the SrTiO3 (111) substrate by plasma-assisted molecular beam epitaxy for the first time. Using scanning tunneling microscopy and in situ reflection high energy electron diffraction, we investigate the surface structure of epitaxial NbN thin films on the SrTiO3 (111) substrate. The orientation [101¯]NbN//[112¯]STO is dominating at substrate temperature above 700 °C. The quality of the as-grown films can be further improved by annealing at elevated temperatures. The homogeneous spatial distribution of superconducting gaps and magnetic vortices further demonstrates the high quality of the NbN films.

Osteosarcoma is one of the most lethal malignancies, and the prognosis remains dismal due to the paucity of effective therapeutic targets. Bmi-1 and TRIM-14 are associated with the initiation and progression of osteosarcoma, which could promote angiogenesis, invasion, and apoptotic resistance in bone cancer tissue. In this study, we constructed a bispecific antibody of BsAbBmi/TRIM targeting Bmi-1 and TRIM-14 and investigated the therapeutic value in bone carcinoma cells and xenograft mice. Our results showed that Bmi-1 and TRIM-14 expression levels were markedly upregulated correlated with nuclear factor-κB nuclear translocation in bone cancer cells and clinical carcinoma tissues. Results have demonstrated that overexpression of Bmi-1 and TRIM-14 promoted growth, proliferation, aggressiveness, and apoptosis resistance of osteosarcoma cells. BsAbBmi/TRIM administration significantly inhibited nuclear factor-κB expression derived by matrix metalloproteinase–9 promoter. BsAbBmi/TRIM administration inhibited growth of osteosarcoma cells and downregulated Bmi-1 and TRIM-14 expression levels. Data also demonstrated that migration and invasion of osteosarcoma cells were also inhibited by BsAbBmi/TRIM. In addition, results illustrated that BsAbBmi/TRIM inhibited tumor growth and tumorigenicity by blockaded sensor expression in nuclear factor-κB signal pathway. Furthermore, in vivo study showed that BsAbBmi/TRIM treatment markedly inhibited the tumorigenicity and growth of osteosarcoma cells compared to either AbBmi-1 or AbTRIM-14 treatment. Notably, survival of xenograft mice was prolonged by BsAbBmi/TRIM treatment compared to either AbBmi-1 or AbTRIM-14 treatment. In conclusion, these results provided new evidence that BsAbBmi/TRIM inhibited the progression of osteosarcoma, which suggest that BsAbBmi/TRIM may be a novel anti-cancer agent for osteosarcoma therapy.

Somatic hybridization is performed to obtain significant cytoplasmic male sterility (CMS) lines, whose CMS genes are derived either from the transfer of sterile genes from the mitochondrial genome of donor parent to the counterpart of receptor or production of new sterile genes caused by mitochondrial genome recombination of the biparent during protoplast fusion. In this study, a novel male sterile line, SaNa-1A, was obtained from the somatic hybridization between Brassica napus and Sinapis alba. The normal anther development of the maintainer line, SaNa-1B, and the abortive process of SaNa-1A were described through phenotypic observations and microtome sections. The floral organ of the sterile line SaNa-1A was sterile with a shortened filament and deflated anther. No detectable pollen grains were found on the surface of the sterile anthers. Semi-thin sections indicated that SaNa-1A aborted in the pollen mother cell (PMC) stage when vacuolization of the tapetum and PMCs began. The tapetum radically elongated and became highly vacuolated, occupying the entire locule together with the vacuolated microspores. Therefore, SaNa-1A is different from other CMS lines, such as ogu CMS, pol CMS and nap CMS as shown by the abortive process of the anther.

Articulated steering is affected by the position of the articulated points of the steering cylinder. When the two steering cylinders turn, there is a stroke difference and arm of force difference. The existence of the above differences causes the pressure fluctuation of the steering system. Firstly, the mathematical model of the steering mechanism is established through theoretical analysis. Then, the coordinates of the hinge points of the steering cylinder are optimized using genetic algorithm (GA) with the stroke difference function and cylinder pressure function as the objective functions. The curves of the stroke difference and the arm of force difference of the steering cylinder are obtained by mathematical modeling, and the correctness of the GA is verified. According to the optimization results, the wheel loader prototype was reconstructed, and the reconstruction verified by corresponding sensors. The experimental curves show that the steering system has no obvious pressure fluctuation. Finally, the arm of force difference and stroke difference curves were analyzed, and it was concluded that the arm of force difference was the main cause of pressure fluctuation. The objective function was improved, and the arm of force function and cylinder pressure function were taken as the objective functions to continue the optimization by GA. The arm of force difference and stroke difference after optimization were reduced, which provides a constructive reference for the design of articulated steering systems in the future.

The synthesis, structures and magnetic properties of a new trinuclear spin crossover complex [FeII3(pyrtrz)6(TsO)6]·10H2O·2CH3OH (C2) and its analogue binuclear [FeII2(pyrtrz)5(SCN)4]·7H2O (C1), are reported here. These two compounds are synthesized based on the pyrrolyl functionalized Schiff base 1,2,4-triazole ligand 4-((1H-pyrrol-2-yl)methylene-amino)-4H-1,2,4-triazole (pyrtrz), which represent rare discrete multi-nuclear species, with µ2-N1,N2-triazole bridges linking the FeII centers. DC magnetic susceptibility measurements revealed an abrupt single-step spin crossover (SCO) behavior for compound 2 on the central FeII site and single-crystal X-ray diffraction (173 K) showed that this compound crystallizes in the monoclinic space group (P21/c), and multiple intramolecular interactions were found responsible for the abrupt transition. Compound 1 is a binuclear complex with thiocyanate as terminal ligands. This compound stays in high spin state over the whole temperature range and displays weak antiferromagnetic exchange coupling.

In the title compound, C33H38N4O3, the mean planes of the 9H-xanthene unit and spirolactam (nine-atom) core are almost mutually perpendicular at 87.26 (6)°. Intramolecular N—H...O and C—H...N interactions influence the 4-oxopent-2-en-2-ylamino conformation. In the crystal, weak C—H...O hydrogen bonds link the molecules into chains along [001].

In the title compound, C8H6N4O3S, the dihedral angle between the pyrazine rings is 85.04 (1)°. In the crystal, molecules are arranged along the a axis and are linked by C—H...N hydrogen bonds and pyrazine–pyrazine π–π interactions [centroid–centroid distance = 3.800 (1) Å, forming an infinite chain array. The chains are connected by C—H...O(oxide) hydrogen bonds into layers lying parallel to the ab plane. Along the c axis, the layers are stacked and linked through C—H...O(sulfonyl) interactions, forming a three-dimensional network.

In the title complex, {[Cd(CH3COO)2(C11H8N2O)(H2O)]·2H2O}n, the CdII ion adopts an O5N2 pentagonal–bipyramidal coordination geometry with four acetate O atoms and one water O atom at the equatorial sites and two pyridine N atoms at the axial sites. The (pyridin-3-yl)(pyridin-4-yl)methanone ligand acts in a μ2-bridging mode, linking the metal atoms, leading to an infinite chain along [-110]. O—H...O hydrogen bonds involving the lattice water molecules connect these chains into a three-dimensional network.

In the title molecular salt, C11H10N2O2+·2ClO4−, the complete cation is generated by crystallographic twofold symmetry. The dihedral angle between the pyridyl rings is 67.07 (7)°. The crystal structure features N—H...Cl hydrogen bonds, forming sheets in the ab plane.

The adsorption of phenol from aqueous solution onto the hypercrosslinked polymeric adsorbent NDA-100 and its dimethylamine aminated derivatives AH-1, AH-2 and AH-3, the commercial resin Amberlite XAD-4 and the weakly basic anion-exchange resin D301 was compared. Of the tested polymers, the aminated hypercrosslinked resins had the highest adsorption capacities. The empirical Freundlich equation was successfully employed to describe the adsorption process. The specific surface area and the micropore structure of the adsorbent together with the tertiary amino group on the matrix affected the adsorption performance towards phenol. Furthermore, these factors also influenced the thermodynamic properties. Kinetic studies demonstrated that the presence of the tertiary amino group on the polymer matrix decreased the adsorption rate and increased the apparent activation energy of the adsorption process.

A hypercrosslinked polymeric adsorbent with sulphonic groups, NG-5, was employed to remove p -toluidine, p -aminophenol and phenol from aqueous solutions and its performance and thermodynamic behaviour compared to that of the hypercrosslinked polymeric adsorbent CHA-111 containing no functional groups. It was found that the equilibrium adsorption data for the three aromatic compounds could be well fitted by the Langmuir and Freundlich isotherms. The results showed that the equilibrium adsorption capacities for p -toluidine and p -aminophenol on NG-5 were all greater than on CHA-111. This may be attributed to the strong hydrogen-bonding interaction between the adsorbent and the adsorbate, electrostatic interaction and π–π interaction. However, the adsorption capacity for phenol on NG-5 was lower than that on CHA-111 because of the larger surface area and micropore volume of the latter adsorbent. The sorption enthalpy changes were used to interpret the adsorption mechanism. In addition, the sorption of p -toluidine and p -aminophenol onto NG-5 was studied kinetically. The results showed that the adsorption process was mainly controlled by intraparticle diffusion.