Origins of Large Voltage Hysteresis in High Energy-Density Metal Fluoride Lithium-Ion Battery Conversion Electrodes

Metal fluoride and oxides can store multiple lithium-ions through conversion chemistry to enable high energy-density lithium-ion batteries. However, their practical applications have been hindered by an unusually large voltage hysteresis between charge and discharge voltage-profiles and the consequent low energy efficiency (< 80%). The physical origins of such hysteresis are rarely studied and poorly understood. Here we employ in situ X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), density-functional-theory (DFT) calculations, and galvanostatic intermittent titration technique (GITT) to first correlate the voltage profile of iron fluoride ($FeF_3$), a representative conversion electrode material, with evolution and spatial distribution of intermediate phases in the electrode. The results reveal that, contrary to conventional belief, the phase evolution in the electrode is symmetrical during discharge and charge. However, the spatial evolution of the electrochemically active phases, which is controlled by reaction kinetics, is different. We further propose that the voltage hysteresis in the $FeF_3$ electrode is kinetic in nature. It is the result of Ohmic voltage drop, reaction overpotential, and different spatial distributions of electrochemically-active phases (i.e. compositional inhomogeneity). Therefore, the large hysteresis can be expected to be mitigated by rational design and optimization of material microstructure and electrode architecture to improve the energy efficiency of lithium-ion batteries based on conversion chemistry

A genetic study of the NOS3 gene for ischemic stroke in a Chinese population

We recruited 560 unrelated patients with ischemic stroke and 153 unrelated controls to undertake a genetic analysis for association between the NOS3 gene and ischemic stroke. All the subjects were Chinese of Han descent. Because the NOS3 gene spans about 21 kb of DNA and contains 26 exons, we selected a single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) rs3918181, an A to G base change located in intron 14 of the gene, as a DNA marker. PCR-based restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis was applied to genotype rs3918181 (RsaI site). The chi-square (χ2) goodness-of-fit test showed that the genotypic distributions of the marker were not deviated from Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium in both the patient group (χ2 = 0.166, p = 0.684) and the control group (χ2 = 0.421, p = 0.517). The cocaphase analysis showed allelic association of rs3918181 with ischemic stroke in males (χ2 = 4.04, p = 0.044, OR = 1.43, 95% CI 1.01∼2.02) and frequency of allele A was significantly higher in male patients than male control subjects. The χ2 test revealed genotypic association between rs3918181 and ischemic stroke in males (χ2 = 4.26, df = 1, p = 0.039, OR = 1.61, 95% CI 1.02∼2.53) but not in females. The present work suggests that rs3918181 is associated with ischemic stroke in male patients. This finding gives further evidence in support of the eNOS association with ischemic stroke in the Chinese population

Differential Expression of miRNAs in Colorectal Cancer: Comparison of Paired Tumor Tissue and Adjacent Normal Mucosa Using High-Throughput Sequencing

We present the results of a global study of dysregulated miRNAs in paired samples of normal mucosa and tumor from eight patients with colorectal cancer. Although there is existing data of miRNA contribution to colorectal tumorigenesis, these studies are typically small to medium scale studies of cell lines or non-paired tumor samples. The present study is to our knowledge unique in two respects. Firstly, the normal and adjacent tumor tissue samples are paired, thus taking into account the baseline differences between individuals when testing for differential expression. Secondly, we use high-throughput sequencing, thus enabling a comprehensive survey of all miRNAs expressed in the tissues. We use Illumina sequencing technology to perform sequencing and two different tools to statistically test for differences in read counts per gene between samples: edgeR when using the pair information and DESeq when ignoring this information, i.e., treating tumor and normal samples as independent groups. We identify 37 miRNAs that are significantly dysregulated in both statistical approaches, 19 down-regulated and 18 up-regulated. Some of these miRNAs are previously published as potential regulators in colorectal adenocarcinomas such as miR-1, miR-96 and miR-145. Our comprehensive survey of differentially expressed miRNAs thus confirms some existing findings. We have also discovered 16 dysregulated miRNAs, which to our knowledge have not previously been associated with colorectal carcinogenesis: the following significantly down-regulated miR-490-3p, -628-3p/-5p, -1297, -3151, -3163, -3622a-5p, -3656 and the up-regulated miR-105, -549, -1269, -1827, -3144-3p, -3177, -3180-3p, -4326. Although the study is preliminary with only eight patients included, we believe the results add to the present knowledge on miRNA dysregulation in colorectal carcinogenesis. As such the results would serve as a robust training set for validation of potential biomarkers in a larger cohort study. Finally, we also present data supporting the hypothesis that there are differences in miRNA expression between adenocarcinomas and neuroendocrine tumors of the colon

A Unique Combination of Male Germ Cell miRNAs Coordinates Gonocyte Differentiation

The last 100 years have seen a concerning decline in male reproductive health associated with decreased sperm production, sperm function and male fertility. Concomitantly, the incidence of defects in reproductive development, such as undescended testes, hypospadias and testicular cancer has increased. Indeed testicular cancer is now recognised as the most common malignancy in young men. Such cancers develop from the pre-invasive lesion Carcinoma in Situ (CIS), a dysfunctional precursor germ cell or gonocyte which has failed to successfully differentiate into a spermatogonium. It is therefore essential to understand the cellular transition from gonocytes to spermatogonia, in order to gain a better understanding of the aetiology of testicular germ cell tumours. MicroRNA (miRNA) are important regulators of gene expression in differentiation and development and thus highly likely to play a role in the differentiation of gonocytes. In this study we have examined the miRNA profiles of highly enriched populations of gonocytes and spermatogonia, using microarray technology. We identified seven differentially expressed miRNAs between gonocytes and spermatogonia (down-regulated: miR-293, 291a-5p, 290-5p and 294*, up-regulated: miR-136, 743a and 463*). Target prediction software identified many potential targets of several differentially expressed miRNA implicated in germ cell development, including members of the PTEN, and Wnt signalling pathways. These targets converge on the key downstream cell cycle regulator Cyclin D1, indicating that a unique combination of male germ cell miRNAs coordinate the differentiation and maintenance of pluripotency in germ cells

Effect of laser powers on the mechanical properties 27SiMn steel with Inconel 718 cladding coatings

In order to know the influence of laser power on the steel (27SiMn) used for repairing the column with Inconel 718 powder materials, and to obtain the optimal laser power parameters with the best mechanical properties of cladding layer, the microstructure, tensile properties and fracture morphology of the Inconel 718 alloy under three laser powers (1800 W, 2100 W and 2400 W) were investigated by using the single-factor variable method, keeping the scanning speed, powder feeding amount and spot diameter unchanged. The results show that with increase of laser power the mechanical properties of the Inconel 718 alloy coating prepared on the surface for the column steel gradually decreased, and the mechanical properties were the best when the laser power is 1800 W. The yield strength of Inconel 718 alloy coating prepared at 1800 W was 61.7% higher than that of the substrate, and its value is 970 MPa. The elongation is reduced by 50% compared with the substrate, and its value is 7%. The microstructure of 27SiMn steel with cladding coating is (Ni, Fe, Cr) phase and Ni _3 Fe phase, and the microstructure of the coating is mainly composed of uniform cellular crystals. This study provides a valuable reference for the additive manufacturing of industrial materials of 27SiMn steel with laser-cladding coating

Comparison of clinical outcomes and prognosis between surgery and endoscopic submucosal dissection in patients with synchronous multifocal early gastric cancer

Abstract Background Synchronous multiple early gastric cancer (SMEGC) refers to the simultaneous occurrence of two or more malignant cancer lesions in the stomach. For patients with multiple early gastric carcinomas, the choice of appropriate treatment remains controversial. This study is dedicated to comparing the clinical outcomes and prognosis of patients with SMEGC who underwent endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) or gastrectomy. Methods A total of 180 patients with more than one malignant cancer lesion in the stomach who had received gastrectomy or ESD between 2012 and 2021 were retrospectively evaluated to determine their clinical outcomes and prognosis. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression were utilized to identify risk factors for tumor recurrence. Results Over the 57.5 months median follow-up period for the 140 enrolled cases, tumor recurrence occurred in 8 (12%) in the ESD group but only 1 (1%) in the surgery group. Relapse-free survival (RFS) was higher in the surgery group (p = 0.023) in all cases; however, there was no significant difference in Overall survival (OS, p = 0.772). Complications were significantly higher in the surgery group than in the ESD group, but fewer in the radical distal gastrectomy group. Multivariate regression analysis revealed that ESD(p = 0.034), the main lesion size > 2 cm(p = 0.019), and undifferentiated tumor(p = 0.022) were independent risk factors for tumor recurrence. Conclusions For the treatment of simultaneous multifocal early gastric cancer, ESD has a good short-term effect and higher quality of life. However, ESD has a higher risk of recurrence than surgery. And we found that the partial gastrectomy appears to be considered as adequate treatment for some SMEGC patients

Risk Factor Analysis of Calcification in Aortic and Mitral Valves in Maintenance Peritoneal Dialysis Patients

Background/Aims: This study aimed to investigate potential risk factors for calcification in aortic and mitral valves in maintenance peritoneal dialysis (MPD) patients. Methods: We enrolled MPD patients who had undergone over 18 months of dialysis in our dialysis center, examined their cardiac valve calcification status by echocardiography, and recorded their biochemical data and dialysis-related indicators. These results were compared by logistic regression analyses to identify the risk factors associated with calcification in aortic and mitral valves. Results: Among the 117 enrolled MPD patients, 41 exhibited calcification in aortic or mitral valves, including 38 with aortic valve calcification (AVC) and 17 with mitral valve calcification (MVC); 14 of them had calcification in both aortic and mitral valves. Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that age (OR=1.965, p=0.01), diabetes history (OR=4.693, p=0.029), calcium-phosphorus product (OR=2.373, p=0.001) and prealbumin (OR=0.908, p=0.012) were independently related to AVC, whereas age (OR=3.179, p=0.023), calcium-phosphorus product (OR=6.512, p=0.001), prealbumin (OR=0.885, p=0.033), high-density lipoprotein (OR=19.540, p=0.011) and diabetes history (OR=6.948, p=0.038) were independently related to MVC. Conclusions The incidence of cardiac valve calcification in MPD patients is high, and the incidence of AVC is higher than MVC. Age, diabetes history, calcium-phosphorus product and hypo-prealbuminemia are independent risk factors for AVC, whereas age, calcium-phosphorus product and hypo-prealbuminemia are independent risk factors for MVC