Unravelling Ultrafast Li Ion Transport in Functionalized Metal-Organic Framework-Based Battery Electrolytes

Nonaqueous fluidic transport and ion solvation properties under nanoscale confinement are poorly understood, especially in ion conduction for energy storage and conversion systems. Herein, metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) and aprotic electrolytes are studied as a robust platform for molecular-level insights into electrolyte behaviors in confined spaces. By employing computer simulations, along with spectroscopic and electrochemical measurements, we demonstrate several phenomena that deviate from the bulk, including modulated solvent molecular configurations, aggregated solvation structures, and tunable transport mechanisms from quasi-solid to quasi-liquid in functionalized MOFs. Technologically, taking advantage of confinement effects may prove useful for addressing stability concerns associated with volatile organic electrolytes while simultaneously endowing ultrafast transport of solvates, resulting in improved battery performance, even at extreme temperatures. The molecular-level insights presented here further our understanding of structure-property relationships of complex fluids at the nanoscale, information that can be exploited for the predictive design of more efficient electrochemical systems.

A prophylactic TXA administration effectively reduces the risk of intraoperative bleeding during open management of pelvic and acetabular fractures

This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of perioperative intravenous TXA in reducing blood loss in pelvic and acetabular fracture patients managed surgically. The study included 306 consecutive patients, divided as: group I, 157 patients who did not receive perioperative infusion of TXA and group II, 149 patients who received perioperative TXA. The perioperative blood test results and complication rates were compared between the two groups. The average perioperative hematocrit was higher during the preoperative period than during the first, second and third postoperative day in both groups. In the estimated blood loss between the two groups, there was a significant difference of 1391 (± 167.49) ml in group I and 725 (± 403.31) ml in group II respectively (p = 0.02). No significant difference was seen in the total of intraoperative transfusion units as well as in the total units of blood transfused. There was a reduced level of postoperative hemoglobin (9.28 ± 17.88 g/dl in group I and 10.06 ± 27.57 g/dl in group II compared to the values obtained in preoperative investigations (10.4 ± 2.37 g/dl in group I and 11.4 ± 2.08 g/dl in group II); with a significant difference in postoperative transfusion rates (p = 0.03). Therefore, the use of TXA effectively reduces the risk of intraoperative bleeding during open management of pelvic and acetabular fractures.

[Clinical features of non-cirrhotic portal hypertension in patients with common variable immunodeficiency]

We wished to summarize the clinical features of common variable immunodeficiency (CVID) complicated by non-cirrhotic portal hypertension (NCPH) and to deepen our understanding of it. The case data of CVID complicated with NCPH admitted to Peking Union Medical College Hospital from January 1983 to May 2021 were analyzed retrospectively to summarize their clinical characteristics. Six patients with CVID combined with NCPH (three of each sex; 16-45 years) were assessed. Four patients had portal hypertension. All patients had anemia, splenomegaly, a normal serum level of albumin and transaminases, and possibly increased levels of alkaline phosphatase and gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase. Two patients were diagnosed with esophagogastric fundic varices by gastroscopy. Two patients underwent splenectomy (which improved hematologic abnormalities partially). Four patients had autoimmune disease. Two cases were diagnosed with nodular regenerative hyperplasia (NRH) upon liver biopsy. Six patients were administered intravenous immunoglobulin-G (0.4-0.6 g/kg bodyweight) once every 3-4 weeks as basic therapy. Often, CVID complicated with NCPH has: (1) The manifestations of portal hypertension as the primary symptom. (2) Autoimmune-related manifestations. Imaging can provide important diagnostic clues. The etiology may be related to hepatic NRH and splenomegaly due to recurrent infections.

Neuronal wiring diagram of an adult brain

Connections between neurons can be mapped by acquiring and analyzing electron microscopic (EM) brain images. In recent years, this approach has been applied to chunks of brains to reconstruct local connectivity maps that are highly informative, yet inadequate for understanding brain function more globally. Here, we present the first neuronal wiring diagram of a whole adult brain, containing 5×107 chemical synapses between ~130,000 neurons reconstructed from a female Drosophila melanogaster. The resource also incorporates annotations of cell classes and types, nerves, hemilineages, and predictions of neurotransmitter identities. Data products are available by download, programmatic access, and interactive browsing and made interoperable with other fly data resources. We show how to derive a projectome, a map of projections between regions, from the connectome. We demonstrate the tracing of synaptic pathways and the analysis of information flow from inputs (sensory and ascending neurons) to outputs (motor, endocrine, and descending neurons), across both hemispheres, and between the central brain and the optic lobes. Tracing from a subset of photoreceptors all the way to descending motor pathways illustrates how structure can uncover putative circuit mechanisms underlying sensorimotor behaviors. The technologies and open ecosystem of the FlyWire Consortium set the stage for future large-scale connectome projects in other species.

A consensus cell type atlas from multiple connectomes reveals principles of circuit stereotypy and variation

The fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster combines surprisingly sophisticated behaviour with a highly tractable nervous system. A large part of the fly's success as a model organism in modern neuroscience stems from the concentration of collaboratively generated molecular genetic and digital resources. As presented in our FlyWire companion paper ¹ , this now includes the first full brain connectome of an adult animal. Here we report the systematic and hierarchical annotation of this ∼130,000-neuron connectome including neuronal classes, cell types and developmental units (hemilineages). This enables any researcher to navigate this huge dataset and find systems and neurons of interest, linked to the literature through the Virtual Fly Brain database ² . Crucially, this resource includes 4,179 cell types of which 3,166 consensus cell types are robustly defined by comparison with a second dataset, the "hemibrain" connectome ³ . Comparative analysis showed that cell type counts and strong connections were largely stable, but connection weights were surprisingly variable within and across animals. Further analysis defined simple heuristics for connectome interpretation: connections stronger than 10 unitary synapses or providing >1% of the input to a target cell are highly conserved. Some cell types showed increased variability across connectomes: the most common cell type in the mushroom body, required for learning and memory, is almost twice as numerous in FlyWire than in the hemibrain. We find evidence for functional homeostasis through adjustments of the absolute amount of excitatory input while maintaining the excitation-inhibition ratio. Finally, and surprisingly, about one third of the cell types recorded in the hemibrain connectome could not be robustly identified in the FlyWire connectome, cautioning against defining cell types based on single connectomes. We propose that a cell type should be robust to inter-individual variation, and therefore defined as a group of cells that are more similar to cells in a different brain than to any other cell in the same brain. We show that this new definition can be consistently applied to whole connectome datasets. Our work defines a consensus cell type atlas for the fly brain and provides both an intellectual framework and open source toolchain for brain-scale comparative connectomics.

Postoperative clinical outcome and complications of combined cannulated cancellous screw with Kirschner wire in adolescent femoral neck fractures

Purpose

Fractures of the femoral neck account for less than 1% of pediatric and adolescent fractures. Due to the high incidence of complications, and the age of the patients, the choice of fixation approach remains controversial among orthopedic surgeons. This study aimed to evaluate the postoperative outcomes and complications of femoral neck fracture in adolescents with open physis, following transphyseal fixation using a combined cannulated cancellous screw and Kirschner wire fixation.

Methods

Data of 19 patients aged between 12 and 19 years from January 2010 to January 2021 were retrospectively studied. The follow-up period was 1-11 years (5.83 ± 3.76 years). The variables of interest including demographic and clinical variables [age, BMI, gender, side of injury, fracture classification, operation time, time to surgery, and length of hospital stay (LOS)], postoperative outcomes, and complications (fracture healing time, nonunion, coxa vara, osteoarthritis, avascular necrosis, screw loosening, and femoral shortening) were analyzed. The assessment of the hip function was done on the final follow-up using the Ratliff scoring system.

Results

There was a male predominance of 76%; the mean age was 16.14 ± 1.57 years and the most frequent mechanism of injury was fall from a height. Delbet type II and III were the most encountered. The mean intraoperative time was 54.71 ± 7.85 min, the LOS was 8.34 ± 1.81days, and the time to surgery was 2.60 ± 1.16 days; the fracture healing time was 3.31 ± 1.04 months. The postoperative complications encountered were coxa vara osteoarthritis, spontaneous dislocation, and neck shortening. Clinical assessment revealed good results in 89% of patients and fair results in 11% of patients.

Conclusion

Transphyseal fixation using cannulated cancellous screw combined with Kirschner wire in our patients provided acceptable results. Thus, this approach can be a viable alternative in the management of adolescent femoral neck fracture with open physis.

Predictive value of DEEPVESSEL-fractional flow reserve and quantitative plaque analysis based on coronary CT angiography for major adverse cardiac events

AIM

To investigate the predictive value of the combination of DEEPVESSEL-fractional flow reserve (DVFFR) and quantitative plaque analysis using coronary computed tomographic angiography (CCTA) for major adverse cardiac events (MACE).

METHOD

In this retrospective study, data from 69 vessels from 58 consecutive patients were collected. These patients who underwent coronary angiography (CAG) with DVFFR were divided into MACE-positive and MACE-negative groups. DVFFR measurements were obtained from CCTA images acquired before CAG, and an FFR or DVFFR value ≤ 0.80 was considered haemodynamically significant. CCTA images were analysed quantitatively using automated software to obtain the following indices: total plaque volume (TPV) and burden (TPB), calcified plaque volume (CPV) and burden (CPB), non-calcified plaque volume (NCPV) and burden (NCPB), low-attenuation plaque (LAP), minimum lumen area (MLA), stenosis grade (SG) and lesion length (LL). Univariate and multivariate logistic regression, correlation, and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analyses were used for statistical analysis.

RESULTS

DVFFR was highly correlated with invasive FFR (R=0.728), and the Bland-Altman plot showed good agreement between DVFFR and FFR (95% CI: -0.109-0.087) on a per-vessel level. DVFFR showed a high diagnostic performance in identifying abnormal haemodynamic vessels, with an area under the ROC curve (AUC) of 0.984. In multivariate analysis, the following biomarkers were predictors of MACE: DVFFR ≤ 0.8, SG, TPB, NCPB, and LL values. The combination of the above independent risk factors yielded the most valuable prediction for MACE (AUC:0.888).

CONCLUSIONS

DVFFR was highly correlated with FFR with satisfactory diagnostic accuracy. DVFFR, together with plaque analysis indices, yielded valuable predictions for MACE.

[Progress in research of relationship between metal or metalloid and persistent organic pollutants exposures and cardiovascular disease]

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of mortality and healthy life expectancy loss, ranking first in causing the global burden of disease. In addition to the traditional CVD risk factors, such as hypertension and diabetes, environmental chemical pollutants may also play a role in the development of CVD. This paper summarizes the evidence regarding the relation of exposures to metal or metalloid and persistent organic pollutants with risk for CVD and introduces the research progress in the relation between the exposures to two environmental chemical pollutants and CVD risk. The study aims to provide scientific evidence for the effective prevention of CVD through the management of chemical pollutants in environment.

[Thinking about development of multi-channel surveillance and multi-dimensional early warning system of emerging respiratory communicable diseases]

The world has paid a heavy price for the pandemic of the emerging respiratory communicable disease, so more concern about communicable disease surveillance and early warning has been aroused. This paper briefly reviews the establishment of the surveillance and early warning system of respiratory communicable diseases in China, discusses its future development and introduces the novel surveillance methods and early warning models for the purpose of establishment of a multi-channel surveillance and multi-dimensional early warning system of communicable diseases in the future and the improvement of the prevention and control of emerging respiratory communicable diseases in China.

Braille recognition by E-skin system based on binary memristive neural network

Braille system is widely used worldwide for communication by visually impaired people. However, there are still some visually impaired people who are unable to learn Braille system due to various factors, such as the age (too young or too old), brain damage, etc. A wearable and low-cost Braille recognition system may substantially help these people recognize Braille or assist them in Braille learning. In this work, we fabricated polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS)-based flexible pressure sensors to construct an electronic skin (E-skin) for the application of Braille recognition. The E-skin mimics human touch sensing function for collecting Braille information. Braille recognition is realized with a neural network based on memristors. We utilize a binary neural network algorithm with only two bias layers and three fully connected layers. Such neural network design remarkably reduces the calculation burden and, thus, the system cost. Experiments show that the system can achieve a recognition accuracy of up to 91.25%. This work demonstrates the possibility of realizing a wearable and low-cost Braille recognition system and a Braille learning-assistance system.

Analysis of the Safety and Pregnancy Outcomes of Fertility-sparing Surgery in Ovarian Malignant Sex Cord-stromal Tumours: A Multicentre Retrospective Study

AIMS

To assess the difference in survival between fertility-sparing surgery (FSS) and radical surgery and explore pregnancy outcomes after FSS in stage I malignant sex cord-stromal tumours (MSCSTs).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We carried out a multicentre retrospective cohort study on patients who were diagnosed with MSCSTs and the tumour was confined to one ovary. The patients were divided into FSS and radical surgery groups. Inverse probability of treatment weighting (IPTW) was used to balance variables between the two groups. Kaplan-Meier analysis was used to compare the difference in disease-free survival (DFS). Univariate and multivariate Cox regression analysis was used to find risk factors of DFS. Univariate logistic regression analysis was used to assess risk factors of pregnancy.

RESULTS

In total, 107 patients were included, of whom 54 (50.5%) women underwent FSS and 53 (49.5%) received radical surgery. After IPTW, a pseudo-population of 208 was determined and all of the covariates were well balanced. After a median follow-up time of 50 months (range 7-156 months), 10 patients experienced recurrence and two died. There was no significant difference in DFS between the two groups, both in unweighted (P = 0.969) or weighted cohorts (P = 0.792). In the weighted cohort, stage IC (P = 0.014), tumour diameter >8 cm (P = 0.003), incomplete staging surgery (P = 0.003) and no adjuvant chemotherapy (P < 0.001) were the four high-risk factors associated with a shorter DFS. Among 14 patients who had pregnancy desire, 11 (78.6%) women conceived successfully; the live birth rate was 76.9%. In univariate analysis, only adjuvant chemotherapy (P = 0.009) was associated with infertility.

CONCLUSIONS

On the premise of complete staging surgery, FSS is safe and feasible in early stage MSCSTs with satisfactory reproductive outcomes.

Femoral neck fractures in non-geriatric patients: femoral neck system versus cannulated cancellous screw

BACKGROUND

The fractures of femoral neck account for 50% among hip fractures with around 3%-10% occurring in younger population of below 65 years. The newly introduced FNS as management approach appears to be a potential alternative to the traditional CCS. The aim of this study was to compare the clinical efficacy and outcome of the femoral neck system (FNS) and the cannulated cancellous screw (CCS) in the treatment of femoral neck fractures in adult below 65 years of age.

METHODS

Data of 114 patients between 18-65 years, admitted in our department for femoral neck fracture from January 2019 to March 2021 were retrospectively studied and ranged into two groups based on the surgical methods: FNS group (56 patients) and CCS group (58 patients). The variables of interest including demographic and clinical variables (age, gender, fracture mechanism, injury side and classification), perioperative parameters(operation time, intraoperative bleeding, incision length and hospitalization time), postoperative outcomes and complications (fracture healing time, nonunion rate, femoral neck avascular necrosis, aseptic screw loosening and the Harris Hip Score), were analyzed and compared between the two groups.

RESULTS

All 114 patients presented satisfactory reduction and were followed-up for a period of 12 to 36 months (mean 27 ± 2.07 months); there were no significant differences between both groups in terms of age, gender, fracture classification, side of injury, mechanism of injury, the operative time, intraoperative blood loss and the hospital length of stay. However, the fracture healing time between FNS group and CCS group was statistically significant (p < 0.05), respectively 2.86 ± 0.77 and 5.10 ± 0.81 months. The significant differences were also found in terms of numbers of fluoroscopies 8.34 ± 1.38 Vs 17.72 ± 2.19, the HHS 87.80 ± 1.92 Vs 84.28 ± 2.24, postoperative complications 8 (14.28%) Vs 26 (44.82) respectively in FNS and CCS group.

CONCLUSION

FNS presented satisfactory outcomes had significantly lower complications rate, therefore, can be one of the alternatives for internal implantation devices in treatment of femoral neck fracture in non-geriatric population.

Ultralow-Temperature Li/CFx Batteries Enabled by Fast-Transport and Anion-Pairing Liquefied Gas Electrolytes

Lithium fluorinated-carbon (Li/CF_x ) is one of the most promising chemistries for high-energy-density primary energy-storage systems in applications where rechargeability is not required. Though Li/CF_x demonstrates high energy density (>2100 Wh kg^-1 ) under ambient conditions, achieving such a high energy density when exposed to subzero temperatures remains a challenge, particularly under high current density. Here, a liquefied gas electrolyte with an anion-pair solvation structure based on dimethyl ether with a low melting point (-141 °C) and low viscosity (0.12 mPa s, 20 °C), leading to high ionic conductivity (>3.5 mS cm^-1 ) between -70 and 60 °C is reported. Besides that, through systematic X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy integrated with transmission electron microscopy characterizations, the interface of CF_x is evaluated for low-temperature performance. The fast transport and anion-pairing solvation structure of the electrolyte are concluded to bring about reduced charge-transfer resistance at low temperatures, which results in significantly enhanced performance of Li/CF_x cells (1690 Wh kg^-1 , -60 °C based on active materials). Utilizing 50 mg cm^-2 loading electrodes, the Li/CF_x still displays 1530 Wh kg^-1 at -60 °C. This work provides insights into the electrolyte design that may overcome the operational limits of batteries in extreme environments.

The current issues and challenges in the management of floating knee injury: a retrospective study

Purpose

The management of floating knee injuries is still controversial and challenging for trauma specialists. This study aims to evaluate the incidence of the floating knee in lower limb trauma, analyzing the challenges in its management, and factors affecting clinical outcomes.

Methods

In this mono-center retrospective study, 36 consecutive patients were included. All individuals were diagnosed with an ipsilateral fracture of the femur and tibia, managed surgically according to their fracture pattern (Fraser classification), and the severity of the injury. The timing for each operation was determined based on the general condition of the patient and the local physiological condition of soft tissues. The patients' clinical outcomes were finally evaluated based on their Karlstrom and Olerud scores and were categorized as excellent, good, acceptable, fair, or poor.

Results

In this study, the mean follow-up period was 51.39 ± 16.02 months (11-130 months). Incidence of the floating knee was 2.32% in all lower limb traumas. From this number, 16 patients suffered from floating knee injury in the left lower extremity, and 18 in the right lower limb, while in 2 patients the condition was bilateral. The most common injury mechanism was road traffic accidents, accounting for 28 (77.78%) cases. The outcome was as follows; Excellent to good results in 22 (61.11%) cases, acceptable results in 2 (5.56%) cases, and fair to poor results in 12 (33.33%) cases according to the Karlström-Olerud scoring system. The most frequent early complications were wound infection and deep venous thrombosis in 5 (13.88%) of the cases. The most common late complication was common peroneal nerve palsy recorded in 2 (5.56%) cases.

Conclusion

The presence of important concomitant injuries to the floating knee together with poor soft tissue conditions constituted important factors influencing possible management options and may have led to poorer clinical outcomes.

Aging-induced down-regulation of Pka/Bkca pathway in rat cerebral arteries

The incidence of cerebrovascular diseases increases significantly with aging. This study aimed to test the hypothesis that aging may influence the protein kinase A (PKA)-dependent vasodilation via RyR/BKCa pathway in the middle cerebral arteries (MCA). Male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into control (4-6 month-old) and aged (24-month-old) groups. The functions of MCA and ion channel activities in smooth muscle cells were examined using myograph system and patch-clamp. Aging decreased the isoproterenol/forskolin-induced relaxation in the MCA. Large-conductance Ca2+-activated-K+ (BKCa) channel inhibitor, iberiotoxin, significantly attenuated the forskolin-induced vasodilatation and hyperpolarization in the young group, but not in the aged group. The amplitude and frequency of spontaneous transient outward currents (STOCs) were significantly decreased in the aged group. Single channel recording revealed that the mean open time of BKCa channels were decreased, while an increased mean closed time of BKCa channels were found in the aged group. The Ca2+/voltage sensitivity of the channels was decreased accompanied by reduced BKCa α and β1-subunit, the expression of RyR2, PKA-Cα and PKA-Cβ subunits were also declined in the aged group. Aging induced down-regulation of PKA/BKCa pathway in cerebral artery in rats. The results provides new information on further understanding in cerebrovascular diseases resulted from age-related cerebral vascular dysfunction.