Evaluation of the electrochemical and expansion performances of the Sn-Si/graphite composite electrode for the industrial use

The future development of lithium-ion batteries for electric vehicles requires significantly higher energy density and this is largely dependent on the application of novel active materials with high specific capacity. Recently, Sn-Si hybrid materials have been shown to exhibit both high specific capacity and good cycle stability. In practice, Sn-Si materials are mixed with graphite to form composite anodes to further improve the stability. However, detailed investigations of Sn-Si/graphite anodes are scarce. This study examines the electrochemical and expansion performance of Sn-Si/graphite anodes and features a morphological, structural and chemical analysis. The percolation and lattice expansion models are shown to fit well for the capacity and expansion evolution law of the composite anodes, respectively, as a function of Sn-Si hybrid content. Based on a comparison with a conventional graphite anode, efficient Sn-Si/graphite composite anodes could be formed that achieve a high reversible capacity (450 mAh g-1), a promising 1st Coulombic efficiency (75%) and stable cycling (cycling coulombic efficiency > 98%), thereby making them some of the most promising Sn-based anodes for industrial applications

Integrated bioinformatics analysis for the identification of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis–related genes and potential therapeutic drugs

Abstract Objective The pathogenesis of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) remains unclear. We sought to identify IPF-related genes that may participate in the pathogenesis and predict potential targeted traditional Chinese medicines (TCMs). Methods Using IPF gene-expression data, Wilcoxon rank-sum tests were performed to identify differentially expressed genes (DEGs). Protein–protein interaction (PPI) networks, hub genes, and competitive endogenous RNA (ceRNA) networks were constructed or identified by Cytoscape. Quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) experiments in TGF-β1-induced human fetal lung (HFL) fibroblast cells and a pulmonary fibrosis mouse model verified gene reliability. The SymMap database predicted potential TCMs targeting IPF. The reliability of TCMs was verified in TGF-β1-induced MRC-5 cells. Materials Multiple gene-expression profile data of normal lung and IPF tissues were downloaded from the Gene Expression Omnibus database. HFL fibroblast cells and MRC-5 cells were purchased from Wuhan Procell Life Science and Technology Co., Ltd. (Wuhan, China). C57BL/12 mice were purchased from Beijing Vital River Laboratory Animal Technology Co., Ltd. (Beijing, China). Results In datasets GSE134692 and GSE15197, DEGs were identified using Wilcoxon rank-sum tests (both p < 0.05). Among them, 1885 DEGs were commonly identified, and 87% (1640 genes) had identical dysregulation directions (binomial test, p < 1.00E-16). A PPI network with 1623 nodes and 8159 edges was constructed, and 18 hub genes were identified using the Analyze Network plugin in Cytoscape. Of 18 genes, CAV1, PECAM1, BMP4, VEGFA, FYN, SPP1, and COL1A1 were further validated in the GeneCards database and independent dataset GSE24206. ceRNA networks of VEGFA, SPP1, and COL1A1 were constructed. The genes were verified by qPCR in samples of TGF-β1-induced HFL fibroblast cells and pulmonary fibrosis mice. Finally, Sea Buckthorn and Gnaphalium Affine were predicted as potential TCMs for IPF. The TCMs were verified by qPCR in TGF-β1-induced MRC-5 cells. Conclusion This analysis strategy may be useful for elucidating novel mechanisms underlying IPF at the transcriptome level. The identified hub genes may play key roles in IPF pathogenesis and therapy

Deep water bottom current deposition in the northern South China Sea

There are some active bottom currents on the northern continental slope of the South China Sea (SCS). Reflection seismic profiles show that the bottom current channels occur in the water depth range of 1000 to 2700 m, extending from the NE to the SW, leading to accumulation of discontinuous drifts with higher sedimentation rates on the eastern side of the channel. The stacking pattern of the layers suggests that these drifts propagated southwestward, following the direction of the bottom currents. One sedimentary drift to the southeast of the Dongsha Islands has the highest sedimentation rate of 97cm/ka in the last 12 ka. The sedimentary characteristics of the sediment layers indicate that these bottom currents are most likley caused by the water movement of a branch of the West Pacific Ocean Current, which enters the northern SCS via the Bashi Strait. Once formed, the bottom currents transport sediments along the northern slope of SCS southwestward and finally disappear into the central basin of the SCS. Due to the bottom current activity, the deep-sea sedimentary process in the northern SCS is complex

Global freshwater fish invasion linked to the presence of closely related species

In the Anthropocene, non-native freshwater fish introductions and translocations have occurred extensively worldwide. However, their global distribution patterns and the factors influencing their establishment remain poorly understood. We analyze a comprehensive database of 14953 freshwater fish species across 3119 river basins and identify global hotspots for exotic and translocated non-native fishes. We show that both types of non-native fishes are more likely to occur when closely related to native fishes. This finding is consistent across measures of phylogenetic relatedness, biogeographical realms, and highly invaded countries, even after accounting for the influence of native diversity. This contradicts Darwin's naturalization hypothesis, suggesting that the presence of close relatives more often signifies suitable habitats than intensified competition, predicting the establishment of non-native fish species. Our study provides a comprehensive assessment of global non-native freshwater fish patterns and their phylogenetic correlates, laying the groundwork for understanding and predicting future fish invasions in freshwater ecosystems

Global freshwater fish invasion linked to the presence of closely related species

These datasets consist of R code, data, phylogenetic tree, and shapefile, along with introductions for the datasets. They are essential for reproducing the results and figures presented in the paper "Global freshwater fish invasion linked to the presence of closely related species" (Xu et al. Nature Communications).In the study, we used a comprehensive freshwater fish occurrence database to explore the biogeographical patterns of non-native fishes and their phylogenetic correlates worldwide. We first presented global biogeographical patterns for both exotic fishes introduced across countries and translocated fishes within those countries. Subsequently, we constructed a global phylogenetic tree of freshwater fish species to quantify the phylogenetic distances between each alien or translocated fish species and native fishes in each river basin within a country. Thereby, we examined the relationship between nonnative-native phylogenetic relatedness and the likelihood of non-native fish occurrence at global, biogeographical realm, and country scales, respectively. Additionally, we calculated the taxonomic and phylogenetic diversity of native fishes in each river basin and examined whether the relationship between phylogenetic relatedness and the occurrence of non-native fish species remains robust when considering the influence of native diversity.</p

Venetoclax Combined with Azacitidine and Homoharringtonine in Relapsed/Refractory AML: A Multicenter, Phase 2 Trial

Abstract Background Relapsed or refractory acute myeloid leukemia (R/R AML) has a dismal prognosis. The aim of this study was to investigate the activity and tolerability of venetoclax combined with azacitidine plus homoharringtonine (VAH) regimen for R/R AML. Methods This phase 2 trial was done at ten hospitals in China. Eligible patients were R/R AML (aged 18–65 years) with an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status of 0–2. Patients received venetoclax (100 mg on day 1, 200 mg on day 2, and 400 mg on days 3–14) and azacitidine (75 mg/m2 on days 1–7) and homoharringtonine (1 mg/m2 on days 1–7). The primary endpoint was composite complete remission rate [CRc, complete response (CR) plus complete response with incomplete blood count recovery (CRi)] after 2 cycles of treatment. The secondary endpoints include safety and survival. Results Between May 27, 2020, and June 16, 2021, we enrolled 96 patients with R/R AML, including 37 primary refractory AML and 59 relapsed AML (16 relapsed after chemotherapy and 43 after allo-HSCT). The CRc rate was 70.8% (95% CI 60.8–79.2). In the patients with CRc, measurable residual disease (MRD)-negative was attained in 58.8% of CRc patients. Accordingly, overall response rate (ORR, CRc plus partial remission (PR)) was 78.1% (95% CI 68.6–85.4). At a median follow-up of 14.7 months (95% CI 6.6–22.8) for all patients, median overall survival (OS) was 22.1 months (95% CI 12.7–Not estimated), and event-free survival (EFS) was 14.3 months (95% CI 7.0–Not estimated). The 1-year OS was 61.5% (95% CI 51.0–70.4), and EFS was 51.0% (95% CI 40.7–60.5). The most common grade 3–4 adverse events were febrile neutropenia (37.4%), sepsis (11.4%), and pneumonia (21.9%). Conclusions VAH is a promising and well-tolerated regimen in R/R AML, with high CRc and encouraging survival. Further randomized studies are needed to be explored. Trial registration clinicaltrials.gov identifier: NCT04424147