A Robust Hybrid Zn-Battery with Ultralong Cycle Life

Advanced batteries with long cycle life and capable of harnessing more energies from multiple electrochemical reactions are both fundamentally interesting and practically attractive. Herein, we report a robust hybrid zinc-battery that makes use of transition-metal-based redox reaction (M-O-OH → M-O, M = Ni and Co) and oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) to deliver more electrochemical energies of comparably higher voltage with much longer cycle life. The hybrid battery was constructed using an integrated electrode of NiCo₂O₄ nanowire arrays grown on carbon-coated nickel foam, coupled with a zinc plate anode in alkaline electrolyte. Benefitted from the M-O/M-O-OH redox reactions and rich ORR active sites in NiCo₂O₄, the battery has concurrently exhibited high working voltage (by M-O-OH → M-O) and high energy density (by ORR). The good oxygen evolution reaction (OER) activity of the electrode and the reversible M-O ↔ M-O-OH reactions also enabled smooth recharging of the batteries, leading to excellent cycling stabilities. Impressively, the hybrid batteries maintained highly stable charge-discharge voltage profile under various testing conditions, for example, almost no change was observed over 5000 cycles at a current density of 5 mA cm^-2 after some initial stabilization. With merits of higher working voltage, high energy density, and ultralong cycle life, such hybrid batteries promise high potential for practical applications.

NiMn layered double hydroxides as efficient electrocatalysts for the oxygen evolution reaction and their application in rechargeable Zn-air batteries

High performance catalysts for the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) are in demand to improve the re-chargeability of Zn-air batteries. In this work, atomically dispersed NiMn layered double hydroxides are prepared via simple hydrothermal synthesis and tested as the OER catalyst in rechargeable Zn-air batteries. NiMn layered double hydroxides with the optimized Ni : Mn molar feeding ratio have good crystallinity, big interlayer spacing, and large surface area, which are beneficial to enhance their catalytic activity. They are highly active and stable during the OER, showing an overpotential of 0.35 V, a Tafel slope of 40 mV dec^-1, and remarkable stability during 16 h of a chronopotentiometry test. Rechargeable Zn-air batteries with NiMn layered double hydroxides as the OER catalyst exhibit a low charge voltage of ≈2 V which is stable for up to 200 cycles. This study illustrates a platform to enhance the catalytic activity of the OER catalyst via fine-tuning the composition and physical properties of the materials and their application for rechargeable metal-air batteries.

In situ monitoring the viscosity change of an electrolyte in a Li–S battery

Li₂S₂is not a solid precipitate, but an electrolyte–soluble substance.

Submonolayered Ru Deposited on Ultrathin Pd Nanosheets used for Enhanced Catalytic Applications

Ultrathin Pd nanosheets (NSs) coated with submonolayered Ru, referred to as Pd@Ru NSs, are synthesized via a seed-mediated growth method. The underpotential deposition can be the driving force for the formation of Pd@Ru NSs. The Pd@Ru NSs exhibit superior catalytic properties in the reduction of 4-nitrophenol and the semihydrogenation of 1-octyne, compared to the pure Pd NSs and Ru NSs.

Preparation of Cobalt Sulfide Nanoparticle-Decorated Nitrogen and Sulfur Co-Doped Reduced Graphene Oxide Aerogel Used as a Highly Efficient Electrocatalyst for Oxygen Reduction Reaction

A novel 3D cobalt sulfide (CoS) nanoparticle-decorated nitrogen and sulfur co-doped reduced graphene oxide aerogel (NSGA), referred to as CoS/NSGA, is prepared via three sequential processes, i.e., freeze-drying, annealing, and sulfidization. The obtained CoS/NSGA exhibits excellent electrocatalytic performance in the alkaline solution.

Aggravation of spinal cord compromise following new osteoporotic vertebral compression fracture prevented by teriparatide in patients with surgical contraindications

Patients with spinal cord deficits following new unstable osteoporotic compression fracture and surgical contraindications were considered to receive conservative treatment. Teriparatide was better than alendronate at improving bone mineral density and bone turnover parameters, as well as preventing aggravation of spinal cord compromise.

INTRODUCTION

This study compared the preventive effects of teriparatide and alendronate on aggravation of spinal cord compromise following new unstable osteoporotic vertebral compression fracture (OVCF) in patients with surgical contraindications.

METHODS

This was a 12-month, randomized, open-label study of teriparatide versus alendronate in 49 patients with new unstable OVCF and surgical contraindications. Neurological function was evaluated using modified Japanese Orthopedic Association (mJOA) score (11-point scale, the maximum score of 11 implies normalcy). Visual analog scale (VAS) scores, kyphotic angles, anterior-border heights and diameters of the spinal canal of the fractured vertebrae, any incident of new OVCFs (onset of OVCF during follow-up), spine bone mineral density (BMD), and serum markers of bone resorption and bone formation were also examined at baseline and 1, 3, 6, and 12 months after initiation of the medication regimen.

RESULTS

At 12 months, mean mJOA score had improved in the teriparatide group and decreased in the alendronate group. Mean concentrations of bone formation and bone resorption biomarkers, mean spine BMD, and mean anterior-border height and spinal canal diameter of the fractured vertebrae were significantly greater in the teriparatide group than in the alendronate group. Mean VAS score, mean kyphotic angle of the fractured vertebrae, and incidence of new OVCFs were significantly smaller in the teriparatide group than in the alendronate group.

CONCLUSIONS

In patients with neurological deficits following new unstable OVCF and with surgical contraindications, teriparatide was better than alendronate at improving the BMD and the bone turnover parameters, as well as preventing aggravation of spinal cord compromise.

One-Pot Synthesis of Highly Anisotropic Five-Fold-Twinned PtCu Nanoframes Used as a Bifunctional Electrocatalyst for Oxygen Reduction and Methanol Oxidation

Five-fold-twinned PtCu nanoframes (NFs) with nanothorns protruding from their edges are synthesized by a facile one-pot method. Compared to commercial Pt/C catalyst, the obtained highly anisotropic five-fold-twinned PtCu NFs show enhanced electrocatalytic performance toward the oxygen reduction reaction and methanol oxidation reaction under alkaline conditions.

Building better lithium-sulfur batteries: from LiNO3 to solid oxide catalyst

Lithium nitrate (LiNO₃) is known as an important electrolyte additive in lithium-sulfur (Li-S) batteries. The prevailing understanding is that LiNO₃ reacts with metallic lithium anode to form a passivation layer which suppresses redox shuttles of lithium polysulfides, enabling good rechargeability of Li-S batteries. However, this view is seeing more challenges in the recent studies, and above all, the inability of inhibiting polysulfide reduction on Li anode. A closely related issue is the progressive reduction of LiNO₃ on Li anode which elevates internal resistance of the cell and compromises its cycling stability. Herein, we systematically investigated the function of LiNO₃ in redox-shuttle suppression, and propose the suppression as a result of catalyzed oxidation of polysulfides to sulfur by nitrate anions on or in the proximity of the electrode surface upon cell charging. This hypothesis is supported by both density functional theory calculations and the nitrate anions-suppressed self-discharge rate in Li-S cells. The catalytic mechanism is further validated by the use of ruthenium oxide (RuO₂, a good oxygen evolution catalyst) on cathode, which equips the LiNO₃-free cell with higher capacity and improved capacity retention over 400 cycles.

Epitaxial growth of unusual 4H hexagonal Ir, Rh, Os, Ru and Cu nanostructures on 4H Au nanoribbons

This edge article reports the epitaxial growth of five 4H hexagonal metal nanostructures on 4H Au nanoribbons under ambient conditions.

Metal nanomaterials normally adopt the same crystal structure as their bulk counterparts. Herein, for the first time, the unusual 4H hexagonal Ir, Rh, Os, Ru and Cu nanostructures have been synthesized on 4H Au nanoribbons (NRBs) via solution-phase epitaxial growth under ambient conditions. Interestingly, the 4H Au NRBs undergo partial phase transformation from 4H to face-centered cubic (fcc) structures after the metal coating. As a result, a series of polytypic 4H/fcc bimetallic Au@M (M = Ir, Rh, Os, Ru and Cu) core–shell NRBs has been obtained. We believe that the rational crystal structure-controlled synthesis of metal nanomaterials will bring new opportunities for exploring their phase-dependent physicochemical properties and promising applications.

Synthesis of 4H/fcc-Au@M (M = Ir, Os, IrOs) Core-Shell Nanoribbons For Electrocatalytic Oxygen Evolution Reaction

The high-yield synthesis of 4H/face-centered cubic (fcc)-Au@Ir core-shell nanoribbons (NRBs) is achieved via the direct growth of Ir on 4H Au NRBs under ambient conditions. Importantly, this method can be used to synthesize 4H/fcc-Au@Os and 4H/fcc-Au@IrOs core-shell NRBs. Significantly, the obtained 4H/fcc-Au@Ir core-shell NRBs demonstrate an exceptional electrocatalytic activity toward the oxygen evolution reaction under acidic condition, which is much higher than that of the commercial Ir/C catalyst.

3D Hierarchical Porous Mo2 C for Efficient Hydrogen Evolution

Porous electrocatalyst for hydrogen production. 3D hierarchical porous molybdenum carbide provides a low operating potential (97 mV at 10 mA cm(-2) ). These beneficial textures of large specific surface area (302 m(2) g(-1) ) and hierarchical porous architecture containing dominant pore size distribution peak at 11 Å in width can provide large surface active sites and facilitate proton mass transport.

[Factors related to adjuvant ovarian function suppression in premenopausal breast cancer patients]

OBJECTIVE

To analyze the applied condition of ovary function suppression (OFS) before and after joint analysis of TEXT and SOFT trials and SOFT trial, and to identify the relevant factors of OFS usage.

METHODS

The analysis was performed in premenopausal women with hormone receptor (HR) positive breast cancer receiving surgical treatment from Apr 2013 to Oct 2015 in Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine. Adjuvant treatment strategy was made in the multidisciplinary team (MDT) meetings. We analyzed the applied condition of OFS before and after joint analysis, SOFT trial and its relevant factors.

RESULTS

Among 454 patients, 114 (25.1%) patients received OFS. Before the results of joint analysis came out, all the patients (38/38) received OFS together with tamoxifen (TAM); after the results came out, clinicians began to put OFS with exemestane into practice, among 76 patients, 41(53.9%) patients received OFS with exemestane while 35 (46.1%) patients received OFS together with TAM. Before the results of SOFT trial came out, 71 out of 310 (22.9%) patients received OFS while 43 out of 144 (29.9%) patients received OFS after that. No significant difference was found between the proportion of patients receiving OFS before and after the results of SOFT trial came out (P=0.112). Age, histological grade, pN status, Ki-67 status, molecular subtype and acceptance of chemotherapy were correlated with OFS treatment (P<0.05). Age, tumor grade and pN were independent significant predictors of OFS usage.

CONCLUSIONS

After the results of joint analysis came out, clinicians began to apply OFS with exemestane to premenopausal women with HR positive breast cancer. There is no significant difference between the proportion of patients receiving OFS before and after SOFT trial. Age, tumor grade and pN status are independent significant predictors of OFS treatment. Patients younger than 40, with histological grade Ⅱ or Ⅲ tumor and with pN1 or pN2 status are prone to receive OFS.

Co@Co3 O4 @PPD Core@bishell Nanoparticle-Based Composite as an Efficient Electrocatalyst for Oxygen Reduction Reaction

Durable electrocatalysts with high catalytic activity toward oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) are crucial to high-performance primary zinc-air batteries (ZnABs) and direct methanol fuel cells (DMFCs). An efficient composite electrocatalyst, Co@Co3 O4 core@shell nanoparticles (NPs) embedded in pyrolyzed polydopamine (PPD) is reported, i.e., in Co@Co3 O4 @PPD core@bishell structure, obtained via a three-step sequential process involving hydrothermal synthesis, high temperature calcination under nitrogen atmosphere, and gentle heating in air. With Co@Co3 O4 NPs encapsulated by ultrathin highly graphitized N-doped carbon, the catalyst exhibits excellent stability in aqueous alkaline solution over extended period and good tolerance to methanol crossover effect. The integration of N-doped graphitic carbon outer shell and ultrathin nanocrystalline Co3 O4 inner shell enable high ORR activity of the core@bishell NPs, as evidenced by ZnABs using catalyst of Co@Co3 O4 @PPD in air-cathode which delivers a stable voltage profile over 40 h at a discharge current density of as high as 20 mA cm(-2) .

Preparation of Single-Layer MoS(2x)Se2(1-x) and Mo(x)W(1-x)S2 Nanosheets with High-Concentration Metallic 1T Phase

The high-yield and scalable production of single-layer ternary transition metal dichalcogenide nanosheets with ≈66% of metallic 1T phase, including MoS(2x)Se2(1-x) and Mo(x)W(1-x)S2 is achieved via electrochemical Li-intercalation and the exfoliation method. Thin film MoS(2x)Se2(1- x) nanosheets drop-cast on a fluorine-doped tin oxide substrate are used as an efficient electrocatalyst on the counter electrode for the tri-iodide reduction in a dye-sensitized solar cell.

Mussel-inspired one-pot synthesis of transition metal and nitrogen co-doped carbon (M/N-C) as efficient oxygen catalysts for Zn-air batteries

Transition metal and nitrogen co-doping into carbon is an effective approach to promote the catalytic activities towards the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) and/or oxygen evolution reaction (OER) in the resultant electrocatalysts, M/N-C. The preparation of such catalysts, however, is often complicated and in low yield. Herein we report a robust approach for easy synthesis of M/N-C hybrids in high yield, which includes a mussel-inspired polymerization reaction at room temperature and a subsequent carbonization process. With the introduction of selected transition metal salts into an aqueous solution of dopamine (DA), the obtained mixture self-polymerizes to form metal-containing polydopamine (M-PDA) composites, e.g. Co-PDA, Ni-PDA and Fe-PDA. Upon carbonization at elevated temperatures, these metal-containing composites were converted into M/N-C, i.e. Co-PDA-C, Ni-PDA-C and Fe-PDA-C, respectively, whose morphologies, chemical compositions, and electrochemical performances were fully studied. Enhanced ORR activities were found in all the obtained hybrids, with Co-PDA-C standing out as the most promising catalyst with excellent stability and catalytic activities towards both ORR and OER. This was further proven in Zn-air batteries (ZnABs) in terms of discharge voltage stability and cycling performance. At a discharge-charge current density of 2 mA cm(-2) and 1 h per cycle, the Co-PDA-C based ZnABs were able to steadily cycle up to 500 cycles with only a small increase in the discharge-charge voltage gap which notably outperformed Pt/C; at a discharge current density of 5 mA cm(-2), the battery continuously discharged for more than 540 h with the discharge voltage above 1 V and a voltage drop rate of merely 0.37 mV h(-1). With the simplicity and scalability of the synthetic approach and remarkable battery performances, the Co-PDA-C hybrid catalyst is anticipated to play an important role in practical ZnABs.

Abstract P3-01-13: Risk factors of non-sentinel lymph node metastasis in breast cancer patients with metastatic sentinel lymph node

Objective To study the factors influencing the non-sentinel lymph node(NSLN) status and to assess Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC) nomogram performance in predicting SLN metastases in a sentinel lymph node(SLN) positive Chinese breast cancer population. Methods Data were collected from breast cancer patients who were diagnosed with pathological positive sentinel lymph node and received further axillary lymph node dissection(ALND) in Shanghai Ruijin Hospital from January 2011 to August 2014. Use MSKCC nomogram to calculate each patient's NSLN metastasis risk score. The receiver operator characteristic curve(ROC curve)and the area under the ROC curve(AUC)was used to assess the predictive accuracy of the model. Results Among the 1147 patients who received sentinel biopsy in our center, 150 SLN positive patients who received ALND were enrolled in this study. By univariate analysis, multifocal breast cancer (P = 0.017), SLN+/SLN ratio (P = 0.010) and axillary lymphadenopathy displayed by ultrasound(P = 0.005) are the influencing factors of NSLN metastases. By multivariate analysis, multifocal breast cancer (OR 7.25, 95% CI 1.73∼30.43, P = 0.007), SLN+/SLN ratio≥0.5 (OR 2.564, 95% CI 1.22∼5.39, P = 0.013) and axillary lymphadenopathy displayed by ultrasound (OR 2.471, 95% CI 1.18∼5.19, P = 0.017) are the independent influencing factors of NSLN metastases. The AUC of MSKCC nomogram in this population is 0.677. Conclusion For breast cancer patients with positive sentinel lymph node, multifocality, SLN+/SLN ratio and axillary lymphadenopathy displayed by ultrasound is related to NSLN metastasis. MSKCC has low accuracy in predicting NSLN status of this population.

Citation Format: Huang J, Chen X, Shen K, Li Y, Chen W, He J, Zhu L, Huang O, Zong Y, Fei X, Jin X. Risk factors of non-sentinel lymph node metastasis in breast cancer patients with metastatic sentinel lymph node. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Thirty-Eighth Annual CTRC-AACR San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium: 2015 Dec 8-12; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2016;76(4 Suppl):Abstract nr P3-01-13.

Two-Dimensional Tin Disulfide Nanosheets for Enhanced Sodium Storage

Sodium-ion batteries (SIBs) are considered as complementary alternatives to lithium-ion batteries for grid energy storage due to the abundance of sodium. However, low capacity, poor rate capability, and cycling stability of existing anodes significantly hinder the practical applications of SIBs. Herein, ultrathin two-dimensional SnS2 nanosheets (3-4 nm in thickness) are synthesized via a facile refluxing process toward enhanced sodium storage. The SnS2 nanosheets exhibit a high apparent diffusion coefficient of Na(+) and fast sodiation/desodiation reaction kinetics. In half-cells, the nanosheets deliver a high reversible capacity of 733 mAh g(-1) at 0.1 A g(-1), which still remains up to 435 mAh g(-1) at 2 A g(-1). The cell has a high capacity retention of 647 mA h g(-1) during the 50th cycle at 0.1 A g(-1), which is by far the best for SnS2, suggesting that nanosheet morphology is beneficial to improve cycling stability in addition to rate capability. The SnS2 nanosheets also show encouraging performance in a full cell with a Na3V2(PO4)3 cathode. In addition, the sodium storage mechanism is investigated by ex situ XRD coupled with high-resolution TEM. The high specific capacity, good rate capability, and cycling durability suggest that SnS2 nanosheets have great potential working as anodes for high-performance SIBs.

[Effects of lifestyle and quantitative nutrition interventions on individuals with prediabetes]

OBJECTIVE

To explore the impact of lifestyle and quantitative nutrition intervention on individuals with prediabetes.

METHODS

A total of 214 prediabetic patients from epidemiologic survey in Ximazhuang and Guangrunmen community centers in Nanchang from January 2011 to January 2012 were enrolled in the study. All the participants were randomly divided into two groups: the intervention group and the control group, with 107 patients in each group. Intensified lifestyle and quantitative nutrition interventions were carried out in the intervention group, and routine lifestyle intervention was carried out in control group. Height and weight were measured, and the body mass index (BMI) was calculated. Blood glucose was tested by glucose oxidase method, and glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) was detected by high performance liquid chromatography. Various parameter changes were compared between two groups after two year's follow-up, and the outcome data of patients was collected. The study was approved by the Ethics Committee of the Third Hospital of Nanchang.

RESULTS

There were no significant differences in each parameter between two groups before intervention (all P>0.05). No obvious change was found for the parameters in the control group after two year's follow-up (all P>0.05), but weight, BMI, fasting blood glucose, postprandial two-hour blood glucose and HbA1c decreased in the intervention group (P<0.05). There were 11 (13.1%) diabetic cases and 1 (1.2%) participant with normal glucose tolerance in the control group, and 3 (3.4%) diabetic cases and 7 (8.0%) participants with normal glucose tolerance in the intervention group (P<0.05). The risk of diabetes in two groups was performed using cox regression model analysis, and the primary end-point was the incidence of diabetes. The risk of diabetes in the control group was significantly higher than that in the intervention group [HR=3.903, 95% CI: 1.089-13.992, P=0.037].

CONCLUSION

The lifestyle and quantitative nutrition interventions may improve the blood glucose control and delay the progression of diabetes in prediabetes patients.

One-Pot Synthesis of Tunable Crystalline Ni3 S4 @Amorphous MoS2 Core/Shell Nanospheres for High-Performance Supercapacitors

Transition metal sulfides gain much attention as electrode materials for supercapacitors due to their rich redox chemistry and high electrical conductivity. Designing hierarchical nanostructures is an efficient approach to fully utilize merits of each component. In this work, amorphous MoS(2) is firstly demonstrated to show specific capacitance 1.6 times as that of the crystalline counterpart. Then, crystalline core@amorphous shell (Ni(3)S(4)@MoS(2)) is prepared by a facile one-pot process. The diameter of the core and the thickness of the shell can be independently tuned. Taking advantages of flexible protection of amorphous shell and high capacitance of the conductive core, Ni(3)S(4) @amorphous MoS(2) nanospheres are tested as supercapacitor electrodes, which exhibit high specific capacitance of 1440.9 F g(-1) at 2 A g(-1) and a good capacitance retention of 90.7% after 3000 cycles at 10 A g(-1). This design of crystalline core@amorphous shell architecture may open up new strategies for synthesizing promising electrode materials for supercapacitors.

A non-invasive navigation system for retargeting gastroscopic lesions

Biopsy is a traditional endoscopic surveillance of premalignant gastric lesions, and endoscopic tattooing is used for marking the biopsy's location. However, the tattooing has several disadvantages. For example, the procedure is an invasive operation and may not be durable due to the diffusion. Moreover, it is procedurally cumbersome with an associated risk of technical failure. In this study, a computer aided endoscopic navigation system (CAEN system) was developed for a non-invasive biopsy procedure. The CAEN system consists of a new, designed six degree of freedom (6-DOF) tracking endoscope device and a computer simulated work station. During the procedure, the endoscopist uses the tip of the tracking endoscope to touch the lesion. Then, the lesion's location is recorded in the work station, which then guides the endoscopist in retargeting the lesions in the follow-ups. The clinical experimental results demonstrate that the accuracy at the angularis is 5.2 ± 2.8 mm, at the antral lesser curvature is 7.2 ± 2.0 mm, at the antral greater curvature is 6.3 ± 3.1 mm, at the antral posterior wall is 8.2 ± 1.6 mm, and at the antral anterior wall is 7.9 ± 1.3 mm. The mean accuracy is 7.5 mm, and the P-value is 0.023, which is likely suitable for clinical practice. Furthermore, the proposed CAEN system requires less procedural time than the tattooing.