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Among soft tissue sarcomas, undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcoma (UPS) has relatively higher potential of recurrence and metastasis. As serum lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) is associated with tumor progression and unfavorable outcomes in multiple malignancies, we designed this study to explore the relationship between preoperative serum LDH and prognosis in UPS patients.We extracted the data of UPS patients who underwent primary surgery in Shanghai Cancer Center, Fudan University. Receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to figure out the best cutoff value of LDH to classify them into high- or low-expression groups. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed using Cox proportional hazards regression to identify independent prognostic factors. Kaplan-Meier analysis was used to compare differences in overall survival (OS) and time to recurrence (TTR) between patients with high- or low-serum LDH.Multivariate analyses demonstrated that preoperative serum LDH was an independent factor for OS. Kaplan-Meier curves showed that patients with relatively high-serum LDH (P = 0.0004) had poorer OS compared with those with low-serum LDH. There was a trend that patients with relatively high-serum LDH had poorer TTR than those without (P = 0.1249). In addition, there were obvious trends that patients with decreased serum LDH after surgery showed better OS (P = 0.0954) and TTR (P = 0.1720) than those with elevated serum LDH. Moreover, high preoperative serum LDH was associated with female patients (P = 0.0004), positive margin (P 0.0001), worse survival (P = 0.0061), higher mitotic index (P = 0.0222) and necrosis (P = 0.0225).Preoperative serum LDH is an independent factor for OS in UPS patients, and it correlates with future surgical margin.

Zinc (Zn) metal is an attractive anode material for aqueous Zn-ion batteries (ZIBs). Three-dimensional (3D) carbon frameworks may serve as lightweight and robust hosts to enable porous Zn electrodes with a long cycle life. However, Zn electrode tests under a low depth of discharge (DOD) and current density often yield unreliable promises. We used 3D Zn electrodes with carbon nanofiber framework (CNF) backbones (Zn@CNF) as model electrodes to reveal how DOD and current density affect their performance. Plasma-treated CNFs provide sufficient surface hydrophilicity and surface area to allow uniform Zn plating/stripping of a thin and uniform Zn coating (5 mAh cm

Zinc-ion hybrid supercapacitors (ZHCs), based on the multivalent ion storage principle, are considered to be a promising candidate for large-scale energy storage devices. However, with the increasing demands for portable and miniaturized energy storage devices, how to obtain sufficient energy output in a limited volume is particularly critical, so that requires high volumetric energy density with no sacrifice of power density. Herein, we designed a compact three-dimensional porous graphene (3D-PG-1) cathode for ZHCs to balance the porous structure and high density by drying the graphene hydrogel with a short period of capillary evaporation. As for 3D-PG-1, the pore size range is 0.6–10 nm, where the micropore is for high capacity and the mesopore helps Zn2+ rapid transport, and the high density of 1.38 g cm−3 guaranteed its high volumetric capacitance. Therefore, the ZHC based on this 3D-PG-1 cathode delivered an excellent volumetric performance of 299 F cm−3 at 0.1 A g−1, excellent long cycle stability (225 F cm−3 at 5 A g−1, 85% retention after 30000 cycles) and extremely high volumetric energy density up to 118 Wh L−1 at 116 W L−1, which retained 61 Wh L−1 at the power density as high as 23.2 kW L−1.

Background Synovial sarcoma (SS) is an aggressive but chemosensitive soft tissue sarcoma. However, there are scarce data about the benefit of perioperative chemotherapy in high-grade SS patients. This study aimed to explore important prognostic factors and clinical efficacy of perioperative chemotherapy in high-grade SS patients. Methods This study included 143 high-grade SS patients who underwent curative surgery in Shanghai Cancer Center, Fudan University between 2006 and 2020. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to identify independent prognostic predictors. The effects of perioperative chemotherapy on overall survival (OS) or time to recurrence (TTR) were evaluated by Kaplan-Meier curves. Results Among 143 patients, pre- and post-operative chemotherapy were delivered in 17 cases and 88 cases, respectively. Kaplan-Meier curves did not identify obvious differences in OS or TTR concerning perioperative chemotherapy. However, there is a trend towards better OS and TTR in patients receiving preoperative chemotherapy. The corresponding TTR or OS probabilities at 5-year were 49.9%, and 84.4%, respectively in patients with preoperative chemotherapy while 36.2%, and 56.6%, respectively in patients without. Multivariate analyses identified age and tumor size as independent factors for TTR while tumor size and necrosis were independent predictors for worse OS. Conclusions High-grade SS patients might benefit from preoperative chemotherapy but not postoperative chemotherapy. Tumor size, age and necrosis were important factors influencing patients’ prognosis.

The low initial Coulombic efficiency (ICE) is a significant problem hindering the practical uses of carbon anodes in sodium‐ion batteries (SIBs), especially for the carbons with large surface area. Presodiation is an effective way to solve the above problem, but it always needs complicated operations and cannot suppress the unavoidable electrolyte decomposition in the assembled battery. Herein, we develop an ultrafast chemical presodiation method for reduced graphene oxide (rGO) using sodium naphthalene (Na‐Nt) dissolved in dimethoxyethane (DME) solvent as a presodiation reagent. The presodiation effectively improves the ICE of rGO to 96.8% and forms an artificial solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) on its surface due to the decomposition of the formed complex between Na+ and DME. The formed artificial SEI suppresses the excessive decomposition of electrolytes in the assembled battery, leading to a formation of uniform and inorganic component–rich SEI on rGO surface, which enables a rapid interfacial ion transfer. Therefore, the presodiated rGO showed excellent rate performance with a high capacity of 198.5 mAh g−1 at 5 A g−1. Moreover, excellent cycle stability indicated by the high capacity retention of 68.4% over 1000 cycles was also achieved, showing the potential to promote the practical uses of high‐rate rGO anode in SIBs.

The practical uses of lithium-sulfur batteries are greatly restricted by the sluggish reaction kinetics of lithium polysulfides (LiPSs), leading to low sulfur utilization and poor cyclic stability. Using the heterostructure catalysts is an effective way to solve the above problems, but how to further enhance the conversion efficiency and avoid the surface passivation by the insulative Li2S has not been well investigated. Herein, a heterostructure catalyst with rich heterointerfaces was prepared by modifying Mo2N microbelt with SnO2 nanodots. The formed rich interfaces with high accessibility act as the profitable nucleation sites guiding the Li2S 3D growth, which avoids the catalyst surface passivation and facilitates the LiPS conversion. The introduction of SnO2 nanodots also enhances the LiPS adsorption. Thus, the assembled battery with the above catalyst as the cathode additive shows a high capacity of 738.3 mAh g-1 after 550 cycles at 0.5 C with an ultralow capacity decay of 0.025% per cycle. Even with high sulfur loading of 9.0 mg cm-2, good cyclic stability is also achieved at 0.5 C with a low E/S ratio of 5 μL mgs-1. This work shows an effective way to enhance the LiPS conversion kinetics and guide Li2S deposition in Li-S batteries.

Metal oxide/graphene hybrids are promising anode materials for sodium-ion batteries (SIBs). However, avoiding the overgrowth of the metal oxide nanoparticles (NPs) with high content and eliminating the blocking effect of graphene towards ion diffusion are still hard to achieve, lowering the active material utilization. Herein, we prepare a Fe2O3/holey graphene (FHG) anode for SIBs with enhanced electrochemical performance. The introduced hole edges and functional groups in holey graphene help adsorb Fe3+ and anchor the formed NPs to avoid their aggregation through the formation of Fe–O–C bonds, effectively confining the growth of Fe2O3 NPs and enhance their electrochemical activity. Besides, the holes on graphene facilitate the ion-transport to enhance the utilization of Fe2O3 and decrease the ion-diffusion resistance. As a result, FHG shows the uniformly distributed NPs with around 30 nm with a high Fe2O3 content of ∼73 wt%, and thus, the improved reversible capacity (923 mAh g−1 at 0.1 A g−1) and rate capability (318 mAh g−1 at 2 A g−1), much better than the Fe2O3/graphene hybrid without holes. This work demonstrates an effective method to improve the utilization and reaction kinetics of metal oxide, which can be extended to prepare the other hybrid materials for different applications.

Lithium–sulfur batteries (LSBs) have received intensive attention in recent years due to their high theoretical energy density derived from the lithiation of sulfur. In the discharge process, sulfur transforms into lithium polysulfides (LiPSs) that dissolve in liquid electrolytes and then into insoluble Li2S precipitated on the electrode surface. The electronically and ionically insulating Li2S leads to two critical issues, including the sluggish reaction kinetics from LiPSs to Li2S and the passivation of the electrode. In this regard, controlling the Li2S deposition is significant for improving the performance of LSBs. In this perspective, we have summarized the recent achievements in regulating the Li2S deposition to enhance the performance of LSBs, including the solution-mediated growth of Li2S, sulfur host enhanced nucleation and catalysis induced kinetic improvement. Moreover, the challenges and possibilities for future research studies are discussed, highlighting the significance of regulating the Li2S deposition to realize the high electrochemical performance and promote the practical uses of LSBs.

Total omentectomy is often performed with gastrectomy as radical surgery for gastric cancer (GC) patients. However, it remains controversial whether GC patients can benefit from omentectomy. The aim of this study was to analyze the incidence and clinical significance of tumor deposits (TDs) in different anatomical subregions of perigastric omentum in GC patients undergoing gastrectomy with total omentectomy.From October 2011 to December 2013, 1253 patients who underwent gastrectomy with total omentectomy for GC were retrospective reviewed. The TDs in different anatomical subregions of perigastric omentum were examined.Of 1253 patients, TDs positivity was 11.2%. Tumor deposits in the omentum of greater curvature and in the omentum of lesser curvature were associated with lymphovascular invasion, perineural invasion, advanced tumor node metastasis stages, and unfavorable survival. Besides, TDs in the proximal omentum of greater curvature and in the omentum of lesser curvature correlated with older patients and larger tumors. Kaplan-Meier curves showed that patients with TDs had worser overall survival (OS) than those without, regardless of TD positions. Patients with TDs in the omentum of greater curvature had the worst prognosis, followed by patients with TDs in the omentum of lesser curvature and patients with no TDs. Tumor deposits in the proximal omentum of greater curvature was an independent prognostic factor for OS. Moreover, only patients classified as pT4 had TDs in the distal omentum of greater curvature.Patients with TDs in the omentum of greater curvature had the worst prognosis, followed by patients with TDs in the omentum of lesser curvature and patients with no TDs. In addition, partial omentectomy might be practicable for gastric cancer patients classified as T3 or shallower tumors.

BackgroundTreating patients with advanced sarcomas is challenging due to great histologic diversity among its subtypes. Leiomyosarcoma (LMS) and de-differentiated liposarcoma (DDLPS) are two common and aggressive subtypes of soft tissue sarcoma (STS). They differ significantly in histology and clinical behaviors. However, the molecular driving force behind the difference is unclear.MethodsWe collected 20 LMS and 12 DDLPS samples and performed whole exome sequencing (WES) to obtain their somatic mutation profiles. We also performed RNA-Seq to analyze the transcriptomes of 8 each of the LMS and DDLPS samples and obtained information about differential gene expression, pathway enrichment, immune cell infiltration in tumor microenvironment, and chromosomal rearrangement including gene fusions. Selected gene fusion events from the RNA-seq prediction were checked by RT-PCR in tandem with Sanger sequencing.ResultsWe detected loss of function mutation and deletion of tumor suppressors mostly in LMS, and oncogene amplification mostly in DDLPS. A focal amplification affecting chromosome 12q13–15 region which encodesMDM2,CDK4andHMGA2is notable in DDLPS. Mutations inTP53,ATRX,PTEN, andRB1are identified in LMS but not DDLPS, while mutation of HERC2 is only identified in DDLPS but not LMS. RNA-seq revealed overexpression ofMDM2,CDK4andHMGA2in DDLPS and down-regulation ofTP53andRB1in LMS. It also detected more fusion events in DDLPS than LMS (4.5 vs. 1,p = 0.0195), and the ones involving chromosome 12 in DDLPS stand out. RT-PCR and Sanger sequencing verified the majority of the fusion events in DDLPS but only one event in LMS selected to be tested. The tumor microenvironmental signatures are highly correlated with histologic types. DDLPS has more endothelial cells and fibroblasts content than LMS.ConclusionsOur analysis revealed different recurrent genetic variations in LMS and DDLPS including simultaneous upregulation of gene expression and gene copy number amplification ofMDM2andCDK4. Up-regulation of tumor related genes is favored in DDLPS, while loss of suppressor function is favored in LMS. DDLPS harbors more frequent fusion events which can generate neoepitopes and potentially targeted by personalized immune treatment.

The shuttling of lithium polysulfides (LiPSs) in lithium-sulfur (Li-S) batteries results in low sulfur utilization and fast capacity decay, hindering their practical applications. Constructing an interlayer is an efficient way to block the LiPS shuttling, but maintaining a low Li ion diffusion resistance with such an interlayer is hard to achieve. Herein, a thin porous carbon nanosheet embedded with TiO2 nanoparticles (denoted PCNS-TiO2) was used to fabricate an interlayer on the separator, which effectively solves the above problem. The PCNS-TiO2 was prepared by using the Ti3C2Tx MXene as the two-dimensional (2D) template directing the porous carbon sheet formation, and the Ti3C2Tx transformed into TiO2 nanoparticles embedded in the PCNS. The decomposition of the MXene eliminates the ion blocking effect by the 2D nanosheet structure. The thin and hierarchical porous structure allows fast Li ion diffusion across the interlayer, and at the same time, the porous structure and the strong adsorption ability of TiO2 effectively block the polysulfide diffusion. Thus, the Li-S battery with this interlayer shows good rate performance with a high capacity of 627 mA h g-1 at 2 C. Meanwhile, stable cycling performance is also achieved, showing a low capacity decay of 0.063% per cycle after 300 cycles at 0.5 C.

Catalysis is an effective way to improve the performance of lithium-sulfur (Li-S) batteries by enhancing the reaction kinetics of polysulfides. However, the bidirectional catalysis for discharging and charging processes in Li-S battery is still challenging. Herein, a (110) facet-dominated VO2 is prepared through the thermal-induced partial decomposition of (NH4)2V4O9 (NVO), forming a (110)VO2@NVO hybrid with the bidirectional catalysis ability. This (110) facet-dominated VO2 shows the ability to break the S-S bond to guide the Li2S deposition in the reduction process and reduce the delithiation barrier of Li2S to promote the oxidation process. The above hybrid is loaded on carbon nanofiber (CNF) to build an interlayer, where the 3D CNF and the conductive NVO ensure the fast electron transfer. The assembled battery with the above interlayer exhibits a high capacity of 1038 mAh g-1 after 300 cycles at 0.1 C (capacity retention: 70%). At a high rate of 5 C, a high capacity of 521 mAh g-1 after 1000 cycles is reached. Even under an ultrahigh sulfur loading of 10.3 mg cm-2 and a low electrolyte/sulfur ratio of 4 μL mgS-1, stable cycling performance with a high capacity of >3 mAh cm-2 is also achieved.

Lithium-sulfur batteries (LSBs) have received intensive attention in recent years due to their high theoretical energy density derived from the lithiation of sulfur. In the discharge process, sulfur transforms into lithium polysulfides (LiPSs) that dissolve in liquid electrolytes and then into insoluble Li

Desmoid tumors (DTs), derived from the abdomen, are a type of rare and aggressive borderline tumor exhibiting high recurrence and malignant potential. The aim of the present study was to investigate the clinicopathological and molecular characteristics of abdominal DT in a Chinese population and to provide clues for selecting the optimal treatment strategy for different types of abdominal DT. The clinicopathological data of 15 consecutive patients with DT was collected. Matched fresh-frozen tumor tissues and peripheral blood samples were used to detect mutations of adenomatous polyposis coli gene (APC), β-catenin (CTNNB1) and MutY DNA glycosylase (MUTYH) using Sanger sequencing. Pearson's test was conducted to analyze the differences between sporadic DT and familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) associated with DT. Time to progress (TTP) and overall survival curves were estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method and compared using the log-rank test. A review of the patient clinicopathological characteristics revealed that FAP-associated DT exhibited a higher rate of abdominal surgery history (P=0.011), with no significant differences in any other characteristics. Sequencing revealed that mutations in the APC, CTNNB1 and MUTYH genes were common in DT, and only one patient harbored no mutations in these genes. Survival analyses revealed that patients with FAP exhibited shorter TTP (P=0.030). Log-rank test demonstrated a tendency towards shorter TTP in the cases where an R2 resection was performed (P=0.072) and a tendency towards poor prognosis in the cases of DT associated with FAP (P=0.087). In conclusion, Abdominal DTs were prone to occur in patients with FAP with a history of abdominal surgery. Mutations in the APC, CTNNB1 and MUTYH genes were detected in patients with DTs. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study of abdominal DT occurrence in patients with MUTYH-associated FAP. The prognosis of DT associated with FAP may be worse compared with that of sporadic DT.

Porous carbons with a high specific surface area (SSA) have been widely investigated as anodes for sodium-ion batteries (SIBs). Despite their high initial capacity, they are not ideal anodes due to the very low initial coulombic efficiency (ICE) derived from the uncontrollable irreversible reactions of the large carbon surface with the electrolyte resulting in SEI formation. In this study, an ion-conducting SnS–SnS2 hybrid coating is designed that thoroughly coats the outer surface of the porous carbon to prevent contact of the electrolyte with the inner pore surface, while allowing the diffusion of sodium ions to the inside. With an SnS–SnS2 hybrid coating, a commercial activated carbon with a high SSA of 1960 m2 g−1 shows a significant increase in ICE from 15.7% to 68.6%, and at the same time, high capacity and high rate capability are achieved. The capacities reach 380 and 110 mA h g−1 at the current densities of 0.05 and 5 A g−1, respectively. The unique design of the ion-conducting coating suggests an effective way to modify a high surface area porous carbon into a high-performance anode for metal ion batteries, not limited to SIBs.

The density and ion channel abundancy of an electrode material must be elaborately balanced to achieve a high volumetric energy density for any energy storage devices. As a typical example, graphene shows great potential in different energy storage devices but its low density and ion diffusion barrier effect limit its practical uses. In the present work, H2O2 etching was introduced into the hydrothermal assembly of graphene oxide (GO) to decrease the lateral size of GO and create in-plane holes, and after a capillary drying process, a high-density holey graphene monolith (HHGM) with numerous and interconnected ion transporting channels was obtained. The smaller sheet size leads to a more densified assembly while in-plane holes are beneficial to ion transportation in the HHGM, which well balance the high density and fast ion diffusion in the electrode. As a result, the HHGM shows an impressive rate performance, coupled with a high volumetric capacitance.

Lithium metal is the most promising candidate anode material for high energy density batteries, but its high activity and severe dendrite growth lead to safety concerns and limit its practical use. Constructing a protective layer (PL) on the lithium surface to avoid the side reactions and stabilize the electrode-electrolyte interface is an effective approach to solve these problems. In this review, the recent progress on PLs is summarized, and their desired properties and design principles are discussed from the aspects of materials selection and the corresponding fabrication methods. Advanced PLs with different properties are then highlighted, including a self-adjusting feature to increase structural integrity, the synergistic effect of organic and inorganic hybrids to improve mechanical properties and ionic conductivity, the use of embedded groups and ion diffusion channels to regulate ion distribution and flux, and a protective barrier to suppress corrosion from humid air or water. Finally, the remaining challenges and the possible solutions for PL design in future studies are proposed.

The shuttling of lithium polysulfides (LiPSs) in lithium-sulfur (Li-S) batteries results in low sulfur utilization and fast capacity decay, hindering their practical applications. Constructing an interlayer is an efficient way to block the LiPS shuttling, but maintaining a low Li ion diffusion resistance with such an interlayer is hard to achieve. Herein, a thin porous carbon nanosheet embedded with TiO2 nanoparticles (denoted PCNS-TiO2) was used to fabricate an interlayer on the separator, which effectively solves the above problem. The PCNS-TiO2 was prepared by using the Ti3C2Tx MXene as the two-dimensional (2D) template directing the porous carbon sheet formation, and the Ti3C2Tx transformed into TiO2 nanoparticles embedded in the PCNS. The decomposition of the MXene eliminates the ion blocking effect by the 2D nanosheet structure. The thin and hierarchical porous structure allows fast Li ion diffusion across the interlayer, and at the same time, the porous structure and the strong adsorption ability of TiO2 effectively block the polysulfide diffusion. Thus, the Li-S battery with this interlayer shows good rate performance with a high capacity of 627 mA h g-1 at 2 C. Meanwhile, stable cycling performance is also achieved, showing a low capacity decay of 0.063% per cycle after 300 cycles at 0.5 C.

Background Extra-pelvic intravenous leiomyomatosis (IVL) extending into inferior vena cava (IVC) or heart (i.e. intracardiac leiomyomatosis, ICL) is an extremely rare benign disease. No consensus has been reached on the optimal surgical strategy. The aim of this study is to introduce four types of one-stage surgical strategies including less invasive options and a guideline to select patient-specific strategy for this disease. Methods Twenty-four patients of extra-pelvic IVLs receiving one-stage resections at the Zhongshan Hospital from July 2011 to November 2019 were reviewed retrospectively. Base on the initial experiences of the indiscriminate choices of tumor thrombectomies through sterno-laparotomy under cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) in 6 ICLs, an anatomy-based guideline for four types of surgical strategies was developed and applied for the next 18 patients. Results Under the direction of guideline, tumor thrombectomies through single laparotomy were applied without CPB in 2 ICLs and 4 IVLs confined in IVC, or with CPB in 7 ICLs. Guideline-directed double-incisions with CPB were applied in only 5 ICLs, including 1 receiving mini-thoracotomy and 4 receiving sternotomy because of tumor adherences with right atriums in 2 and with pulmonary arteries in 2. All 24 patients accomplished one-stage panhysterectomy, bilateral adnexectomy and complete resections of intracaval and intracardiac tumors. For residual pelvic intravenous tumors in 19 patients, 17 received macroscopically complete resections while the other 2 failed because of high risk of hemorrhage. Intraoperative blood losses, operation time and hospitalization expense in the single-laparotomy non-CPB group were significantly lesser than the other groups. In CPB groups, inpatient stay and hospitalization expense in the single-incision group were significantly lesser than the double-incisions group. All patients were alive and free of recurrences during a mean follow-up of 35.4 ± 27.2 months (range, 1–100 months). The pelvic tumor residues in 2 patients remained unchanged for 51 and 52 months since operation, respectively. Conclusions For various extra-pelvic IVLs, the 4 types of surgical strategies including less invasive options are feasible, providing these are selected by a guideline base on the tumor extension and morphology. The proposed guideline is believed to accommodate more patients receiving less invasive surgery without compromising the curative effect.

Tumor-infiltrating tertiary lymphoid structures (TLS) are thought to have anti-tumor activity and are believed to indicate a favorable prognosis in cancer patients. However, the prognostic value of TLS in gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST) is unknown. We evaluated the prognostic value of TLS using two independent GIST cohorts. Pathological examinations identified TLS in 44.9% of patients in our discovery cohort (DC). TLS was significantly associated with smaller tumor size (P = .011), relatively well morphological classification (P

本工作借助1,4-丁二醇二缩水甘油醚(BDGE)与氧化石墨烯上羧基的相互作用, 实现了氧化石墨烯的快速三维组装. 基于此方法, 我们通过表面活性剂分散其他二维材料并实现材料表面官能化, 借助于这些表面官能团与BDGE的相互作用, 发展出一种普适的二维材料快速三维自组装方法. 以二硫化钼为例, 组装形成的三维结构显著提高了表面利用率, 极大地改善了其作为钠离子电池负极材料的电化学性能.

As a promising candidate for large-scale energy storage systems, sodium-ion batteries (SIBs) are experiencing a rapid development. Organic conjugated carboxylic acid anodes not only have tailorable electrochemical properties but also are easily accessible. However, the low stability and electrical conductivity hamper their practical applications. In this study, disodium terephthalate (Na2 TP), the most favorable organic conjugated carboxylic acid anode material for SIBs, was proposed to integrate with graphene oxide (GO) by an anti-solvent precipitation process, which ensures the uniform and tight coating of GO on the Na2 TP surface. GO is electrochemically reduced during the first several cycles of the electrochemical measurement, which buffers the volume change and improves the electrical conductivity of Na2 TP, resulting in a better cyclic and rate performance. The incorporation of only 5 wt % GO onto Na2 TP leads to a reversible capability of 235 mA h g-1 after 100 cycles at a current rate of 0.1 C, which is the best among the state of the art organic anodes for SIBs. The one-step synthesis together with the low costs of the raw materials show a promise for the scalable preparation of anode materials for practical SIBs.

Sodium-ion batteries (SIBs) are promising for large-scale energy storage systems and carbon materials are the most likely candidates for their electrodes. The existence of defects in carbon materials is crucial for increasing the sodium storage ability. However, both the reversible capacity and efficiency need to be further improved. Functionalization is a direct and feasible approach to address this issue. Based on the structural changes in carbon materials produced by surface functionalization, three basic categories are defined: heteroatom doping, grafting of functional groups, and the shielding of defects. Heteroatom doping can improve the electrochemical reactivity, and the grafting of functional groups can promote both the diffusion-controlled bulk process and surface-confined capacitive process. The shielding of defects can further increase the efficiency and cyclic stability without sacrificing reversible capacity. In this Review, recent progresses in the ways to produce surface functionalization are presented and the related impact on the physical and chemical properties of carbon materials is discussed. Moreover, the critical issues, challenges, and possibilities for future research are summarized.

Background: Undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcomas (UPS) were one of the most common soft tissue sarcomas. As UPS had relatively high potentials of recurrence and metastasis, we designed two nomograms to better predict the overall survival (OS) and time to recurrence (TTR) for patients who underwent primary surgery. Methods: The data of UPS patients who underwent primary surgery were extracted from Shanghai Cancer Center, Fudan University. Multivariate analyses were performed using Cox proportional hazards regression to identify independent prognostic factors. Kaplan–Meier analysis was used to compare differences for patients who underwent primary surgery in OS and TTR. Nomograms were designed with the help of R software and validated using calibration curves and receiver operating characteristic curves (ROC). Results: Kaplan–Meier curves showed that patients with older ages (p = 0.0024), deeper locations (p = 0.0422), necrosis (p &lt, 0.0001), G3 French Federation Nationale des Centres de Lutte Contre le Cancer (FNCLCC) classification (p &lt, 0.0001), higher Ki-67 (p &lt, 0.0001), higher mitotic index (p &lt, 0.0001), R1/R2 resections (p = 0.0002) and higher invasive depth (p = 0.0099) had shorter OS than the other patients while patients with older ages (p = 0.0108), necrosis (p = 0.0001), G3 FNCLCC classification (p &lt, 0.0001), higher Ki-67 (p = 0.0006), higher mitotic index (p &lt, 0.0001) and R1/R2 resections (p &lt, 0.0001) had shorter TTR compared with those without. Multivariate analyses demonstrated that mitotic rates and surgical margin were independent factors for TTR while age and invasive depth were independent factors for OS. Three parameters were adopted to build the nomograms for 3- and 5-year OS and TTR. The Area Under Curve (AUC) of this nomogram at 3- and 5-year TTR reached 0.802, 0.814, respectively, while OS reached 0.718, 0.802, respectively. Calibration curves for the prediction of 3- and 5-year OS and TTR showed excellent agreement between the predicted and the actual survival outcomes. Conclusions: Some important parameters could be used to predict the outcome of individual UPS patients such as mitotic age, rates, surgical margin, and invasive depth. We developed two accurate and practicable nomograms that could predict 3- and 5-year OS and TTR for UPS patients, which could be involved in the modern medical decision-making process.