Bean-dreg-derived carbon materials used as superior anode material for lithium-ion batteries

The structures of modified carbons from bean dregs were regulated via graphitization treatment and chemical activation. The microstructure and electrochemical performance were studied using X-ray diffraction, Raman spectrometer, SEM and TEM techniques. The electrochemical performance was investigated using electrochemical methods. After heat-treatment at 2800 °C, the obtained BDC-2800 possessed a high degree of graphitization and showed an outstanding cycling performance, delivering capacity decay from 423 to 396 mAh g at 0.1 C after 100 cycles. The chemical-treated carbons also demonstrated enhanced electrochemical performance, especially for the KOH-treated sample. The BDC-K displayed superior specific charge capacity of 801 mAh g at 0.1 C, and showed an impressive rate capability of 643 mAh g at 1 C. In addition, this sample delivered capacity retention of 94% after 500 cycles at 1 C. This good electrochemical performance was mainly due to its high surface area and abundant mesoporous structure

Urchin-shaped Nb2O5 microspheres synthesized by the facile hydrothermal method and their lithium storage performance

Urchin-shaped NbO microspheres have been synthesized through the facile hydrothermal method. NbO microspheres, wrapped tightly by filaments about 10 nm in diameter and 1.5 μm in length, are about 0.8 μm in diameter. The initial discharge and charge capacities for NbO microspheres are 480.43 mA h g and 406.80 mA h g at 50 mA g, meanwhile it exhibits the capacity retention of 390.0 mA h g after 200 cycles. The urchin-shaped NbO microspheres are a potential anode material for lithium ion batteries

LiFePO4/carbon nanowires with 3D nano-network structure as potential high performance cathode for lithium ion batteries

LiFePO/carbon nanowires with three-dimensional (3D) nano-network structure were successfully synthesized via evaporative self-assembly method induced by amylose. The morphologies and structures are investigated by X-ray diffractometer, scanning electron microscope and transmission electron microscope. The co-axis one-dimensional LiFePO/C nanowires, which are 50 nm in diameter and between 400 nm and 1 μm in length, are tightly connected into 3D nano-network structure by the amorphous carbon from the short branched chains of amylase. They deliver high capacities of 167 and 138 mA h g at 0.1 C and 50 C respectively. After 100 cycles at 50C rate, the capacity retention of the composite can still maintain 92.8% (128 mA h g).The unique 3D nano-network structure can effectively increase the contact between active materials and electrolyte, and improve the poor electronic and ionic conductivity

Porous carbons derived from microalgae with enhanced electrochemical performance for lithium-ion batteries

Porous carbons derived from microalgae were prepared using a pyrolysis method. The microstructure and electrochemical performance were studied using X-ray diffraction, Raman spectrometer, scanning and electron microscopy techniques. The electrochemical performance was investigated using electrochemical methods. A carbon sample pyrolyzed at 900 °C exhibited a hierarchical pore structure with a large amount of microcrystalline graphitic domains. As a result, this sample delivered the best electrochemical performance with specific charge capacities of 445 mAh g at 0.1 C and 370 mA h g at 1 C, respectively. In addition, this sample showed a capacity retention of 95% after 500 cycles at 1 C. The good electrochemical performance of the pyrolytic carbon is attributed to the combined contributions of the hierarchical porous structure and microcrystalline graphitic carbon domains

Correction: Genome-wide association study of fish oil supplementation on lipid traits in 81,246 individuals reveals new gene-diet interaction loci.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1009431.]

Genome-wide association study of fish oil supplementation on lipid traits in 81,246 individuals reveals new gene-diet interaction loci.

Fish oil supplementation is widely used for reducing serum triglycerides (TAGs) but has mixed effects on other circulating cardiovascular biomarkers. Many genetic polymorphisms have been associated with blood lipids, including high- and low-density-lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C, LDL-C), total cholesterol, and TAGs. Here, the gene-diet interaction effects of fish oil supplementation on these lipids were analyzed in a discovery cohort of up to 73,962 UK Biobank participants, using a 1-degree-of-freedom (1df) test for interaction effects and a 2-degrees-of-freedom (2df) test to jointly analyze interaction and main effects. Associations with P G; minor allele frequency = 0.041), shows exclusively interaction effects. The minor allele is significantly associated with decreased TAGs in individuals with fish oil supplementation, but with increased TAGs in those without supplementation. This locus is significantly associated with higher GJB2 expression of connexin 26 in adipose tissue; connexin activity is known to change upon exposure to omega-3 fatty acids. Significant interaction effects were also found in three other loci in the genes SLC12A3 (HDL-C), ABCA6 (LDL-C), and MLXIPL (LDL-C), but highly significant main effects are also present. Our study identifies novel gene-diet interaction effects for four genetic loci, whose effects on blood lipids are modified by fish oil supplementation. These findings highlight the need and possibility for personalized nutrition

Prognostic Significance of the Metabolic Marker Hexokinase-2 in Various Solid Tumors: A Meta-Analysis

<div><p>Objective</p><p>Recently, numerous studies have reported that hexokinase-2 (HK2) is aberrantly expressed in cancer, indicating that HK2 plays a pivotal role in the development and progression of cancer. However, its prognostic significance in solid tumor remains unclear. Accordingly, we performed a meta-analysis to assess the prognostic value of HK2 in solid tumor.</p><p>Methods</p><p>Eligible studies were identified using PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science databases. Pooled hazard ratios (HRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for overall survival (OS) or progression-free survival (PFS)/disease-free survival (DFS)/relapse-free survival (RFS) were estimated with random effects or fixed effects models, respectively. Subgroup analysis was also performed according to patients’ ethnicities, tumor types, detection methods, and analysis types.</p><p>Results</p><p>Data from 21 included studies with 2532 patients were summarized. HK2 overexpression was significantly associated with worse OS (pooled HR = 1.90, 95% CI = 1.51–2.38, <i>p</i> < 0.001) and PFS (pooled HR = 2.91, 95% CI = 2.02–4.22, <i>p</i> < 0.001) in solid tumor. As to a specific form of cancer, the negative effect of HK2 on OS was observed in hepatocellular carcinoma (pooled HR = 2.06, 95% CI = 1.67–2.54, <i>p</i> < 0.001), gastric cancer (pooled HR = 1.72, 95% CI = 1.09–2.71, <i>p</i> = 0.020), colorectal cancer (pooled HR = 2.89, 95% CI = 1.62–5.16, <i>p</i> < 0.001), but not in pancreatic cancer (pooled HR = 1.13, 95% CI = 0.28–4.66, <i>p</i> = 0.864). No publication bias was found in the included studies for OS (Begg’s test, <i>p</i> = 0.325; Egger’s test, <i>p</i> = 0.441).</p><p>Conclusion</p><p>In this meta-analysis, we identified that elevated HK2 expression was significantly associated with shorter OS and PFS in patients with solid tumor, but the association varies according to cancer type.</p></div

Comparative Study of Short-Term Efficacy and Safety of Mitomycin versus Lobaplatin for Hyperthermic Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy after Radical Surgery in Colorectal Cancer with High-Risk Factors for Peritoneal Carcinomatosis: A Propensity Score Matching Analysis

Background: The drug selection of radical surgery (RS), with hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC), in pT4 colorectal cancer (CRC) remains controversial. Methods: Adverse events after HIPEC were estimated by common terminology criteria for adverse events version 5.0. The efficacy was evaluated using overall survival (OS) and recurrence-free rate (RFR). Propensity score matching (PSM) was used to reduce the influence of confounders between Mitomycin and Lobaplatin groups. Results: Of the 146 patients, from April 2020 to March 2021, 47 were managed with mitomycin and 99 with lobaplatin. There was no significant difference in the incidence of all adverse events between the two groups after PSM. OS and RFR were not significantly different between the two groups at 22 months (p = 0.410; p = 0.310). OS and RFR of the two groups also showed no significant difference for patients with T4a or T4b stage, tumor size p = 0.028). Conclusions: In summary, the safety of mitomycin and lobaplatin for HIPEC was not different. Compared with lobaplatin, mitomycin for HIPEC after RS could benefit patients with colon cancer in RFR