Novel Insights into Energy Storage Mechanism of Aqueous Rechargeable Zn/MnO2 Batteries with Participation of Mn2

Aqueous rechargeable Zn/MnO₂ zinc-ion batteries (ZIBs) are reviving recently due to their low cost, non-toxicity, and natural abundance. However, their energy storage mechanism remains controversial due to their complicated electrochemical reactions. Meanwhile, to achieve satisfactory cyclic stability and rate performance of the Zn/MnO₂ ZIBs, Mn²⁺ is introduced in the electrolyte (e.g., ZnSO₄ solution), which leads to more complicated reactions inside the ZIBs systems. Herein, based on comprehensive analysis methods including electrochemical analysis and Pourbaix diagram, we provide novel insights into the energy storage mechanism of Zn/MnO₂ batteries in the presence of Mn²⁺. A complex series of electrochemical reactions with the co-participation of Zn²⁺, H⁺, Mn²⁺, SO₄^2-, and OH^- were revealed. During the first discharge process, co-insertion of Zn²⁺ and H⁺ promotes the transformation of MnO₂ into Zn_xMnO₄, MnOOH, and Mn₂O₃, accompanying with increased electrolyte pH and the formation of ZnSO₄·3Zn(OH)₂·5H₂O. During the subsequent charge process, Zn_xMnO₄, MnOOH, and Mn₂O₃ revert to α-MnO₂ with the extraction of Zn²⁺ and H⁺, while ZnSO₄·3Zn(OH)₂·5H₂O reacts with Mn²⁺ to form ZnMn₃O₇·3H₂O. In the following charge/discharge processes, besides aforementioned electrochemical reactions, Zn²⁺ reversibly insert into/extract from α-MnO₂, Zn_xMnO₄, and ZnMn₃O₇·3H₂O hosts; ZnSO₄·3Zn(OH)₂·5H₂O, Zn₂Mn₃O₈, and ZnMn₂O₄ convert mutually with the participation of Mn²⁺. This work is believed to provide theoretical guidance for further research on high-performance ZIBs.

[Clinical features and reasons for missed diagnosis of allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis]

Objective: To summarize the clinical features of allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis (ABPA) and analyze the common causes of missed diagnosis. Methods: The clinical data of patients with ABPA who were admitted into Qilu Hospital of Shandong University from October 2014 to November 2017 were retrospectively analyzed, including baseline data, eosinophil count in peripheral blood, serum total IgE, A. fumigates-specific antibody (sIgE, sIgG and sIgM), pulmonary function tests and chest CT, etc. Then the correlations between serum total IgE, sIgE and forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV₁) as percentage of predicted value (FEV₁%pred) was conducted, as well as that between serum total IgE, sIgE and FEV₁/forced vital capacity (FEV₁/FVC). The clinical features of the patients were summarized and the causes of missed diagnosis were analyzed. Results: There were 46 patients with ABPA (21 males and 25 females, 48.3±13.2 years old) in total. Only 2 cases (4.3%) were diagnosed after the first symptom onset, and 44 cases (95.7%) were treated repeatedly for many years before being diagnosed. The misdiagnoses were asthma (26 cases, 56.5%), bronchiectasis (13 cases, 28.3%), pneumonia (4 cases, 8.7%), pulmonary tuberculosis (3 cases, 6.5%), and lung cancer (4 cases, 8.7%). Common symptoms of ABPA included cough, expectoration, wheezing, chest tightness, fever, weight loss, chest pain, etc. Peripheral blood eosinophil count increased in 37 patients (80.4%). Serum total IgE in 37 patients (80.4%) were higher than 1 000 U/ml, and 9 cases (19.6%) were less than 1 000 U/ml. The positive rate of sIgE, sIgG and sIgM was 100.0%, 89.1% and 54.3%, respectively. All patients underwent pulmonary function tests and 35 cases (76.1%) had obstructive ventilation dysfunction, 5 cases (10.9%) with mixed ventilation dysfunction, 5 cases (10.9%) were normal and 1 case (2.2%) with restrictive ventilation dysfunction. All patients underwent Chest CT examination, 28 cases (60.9%) showed bronchiectasis, 8 cases (17.4%) manifested mucus plugs (among them, 4 cases with high-attenuation mucus) and 10 cases (21.7%) had other atypical imaging. Serum total IgE and sIgE had no correlations with FEV₁%pred and FEV₁/FVC. Conclusions: ABPA is characterized by recurrent episodes of wheezing, fleeting pulmonary opacities and bronchiectasis. The main reasons of misdiagnosis in ABPA patients were: atypical symptoms, variety of predisposing diseases, early atypical imaging changes, limitations and misunderstandings of screening indicators, interference with tumor markers, and the presence of pulmonary aspergillus overlap syndrome. The severity of asthma attacks is not related to the degree of fungal sensitization.

Room-Temperature Synthesis of Two-Dimensional Hexagonal Boron Nitride Nanosheet-Stabilized CsPbBr3 Perovskite Quantum Dots

Poor stability always restricts the application of all-inorganic perovskite quantum dots (PQDs). Herein, 2D hexagonal boron nitride ( h-BN) nanosheets were firstly utilized to stabilize CsPbBr₃ PQDs through a facile heterogeneous nucleation-growth process at room temperature. In synthesized h-BN/CsPbBr₃ PQD nanocomposites, cubic CsPbBr₃ PQDs adhere on h-BN nanosheet surfaces, benefiting from the high specific surface area and abundant mesopores of 2D nanosheets. The nanocomposites prepared at optimized loading of h-BN nanosheets and reaction time display good green-emitting performance with a narrow full width at half maximum of ∼20.0 nm and high color purity of 92.0%. Unique 2D structure and excellent thermal conductivity of h-BN nanosheets endow the h-BN/CsPbBr₃ PQD nanocomposites with significantly enhanced humidity stability and thermal stability. The white light-emitting diodes (LEDs) assembled with green-emitting nanocomposites, a blue chip, and a commercial red phosphor possess a low correlated color temperature of 4190 K, color-rendering index of 76, and high luminous efficacy of 57 lm/W. Further, the color gamut of the synthetic white light based on blue-emitting h-BN/CsPbBr_1.5Cl_1.5 PQDs, green-emitting h-BN/CsPbBr₃ PQDs, and red-emitting h-BN/CsPbBr_1.2I_1.8 PQDs is 114% of the National Television System Committee standard. This work paves a new way for utilizing 2D nanomaterials to synthesize stable all-inorganic PQDs for white LEDs and displays.

Methylation and expression analysis of mismatch repair genes in extramammary Paget's disease

BACKGROUND

Extramammary Paget's disease (EMPD) is a rare skin cancer with relative high frequencies of germline and somatic mismatch repair (MMR) genes mutations. However, the methylation and expression of these genes have not been validated in EMPD.

OBJECTIVE

This study aims to confirm the methylation and expression of MMR genes in EMPD.

METHODS

Immunohistochemical (IHC) staining detection and Methylation-specific PCR (MSP) were used to analyse MLH1, MSH2, MSH6 and PMS2 proteins' expression and promoters' methylation in 57 EMMD samples, and pyro-sequence was used to find highly methylated CpG sites in MSH2 promoter.

RESULTS

Immunohistochemical detection displayed reduced expression of MSH2 in 38.6% EMPD cases but normal expression of MLH1, MSH6 and PMS2 in all tumour tissues. Hypermethylation also was found in the promoter of MSH2 but not in other MMR genes. Pyrosequencing of MSH2 promoter showed CpG6 (-87) and CpG3 (-98) were the most common two methylated CpG dinucleotides. There is a significant correlation between reduced MSH2 expression and MSH2 methylation.

CONCLUSION

Reduced MSH2 expression and hypermethylation in this gene promoter were common genetic changes in EMPD, which expands our understanding of the role of MMR function in this skin cancer.

Regulatory T-cell levels in systemic lupus erythematosus patients: a meta-analysis

Background

The contribution of regulatory T-cells (Tregs) to systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) pathogenesis remains a matter of debate. The objective of this study was to quantify the association between peripheral blood Tregs and disease status in SLE patients.

Method

EMBASE and PubMed databases were searched using ‘systemic lupus erythematosus’ and ‘regulatory T-cells’ as relevant key terms. A meta-analysis of studies that examined the proportion of Tregs among peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and CD4+T-cells was performed using Stata software. Subgroup analysis was performed based on ethnic groups and Treg definition markers.

Results

The Treg/PBMC and Treg/CD4+T-cell ratios were significantly lower in SLE patients than in healthy controls (HCs), whereas patients with active and inactive SLE showed no difference in these indicators. A subgroup analysis indicated that Asian SLE patients had a substantially lower proportion of Tregs/PBMCs than HCs, but this difference was not seen for white and Latin American SLE patients. Patients defined by CD4+CD25+Foxp3+, CD4+CD25+ and CD4+Foxp3+ had a much lower Treg/PBMC ratio compared with HCs. Ethnic groups and choice of Treg definition markers had no influence on the proportion of Tregs/CD4+T-cells.

Conclusion

The proportion of Tregs among both PBMCs and CD4+T-cells was significantly decreased in SLE patients. Ethnic group and Treg definition markers may influence the proportion of Tregs among PBMCs. Further study of the correlation between SLE disease activity and the proportion of Tregs in peripheral blood is needed to determine the physiological role of this association.

Association between IL-10 polymorphisms rs1800896 and rs1800871 and risk of acute pancreatitis in Chinese Han population: An update systemic review and meta-analysis

The association between interleukin-10 (IL-10) promoter region (1082 A/G (rs1800896), 819 C/T (rs1800871)) polymorphisms, and acute pancreatitis (AP) is inconclusive in Chinese Han population. In this study, six eligible studies extracted from the databases of PubMed, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library were evaluated. The results revealed a significant association between 1082 A/G (rs1800896) polymorphism and AP risk in all these five models (AG/AA: OR = 1.19, 95% Cl = 1.02-1.40, P = 0.03; GG/AA: OR = 1.80, 95% Cl = 1.38-2.23, P = 0.01; AG+GG/AA: OR = 1.29, 95% Cl = 1.11-1.50, P = 0.01; GG/AG+AA: OR = 1.62, 95% Cl = 1.27-2.08, P = 0.01; G/A: OR = 1.29, 95% Cl = 1.15-1.45, P = 0.01). In contrast, no statistically significant association was found in all these five models for 819 C/T (rs1800871) polymorphism. In summary, IL-10 polymorphism 1082 A/G (rs1800896) could increase the risk of AP in Chinese Han population.

[Effect of transcutaneous oximetry on prognosis of patients with severe acute respiratory failure receiving extracorporeal membrane oxygenation]

Objective: To investigate the prognostic value of transcutaneous oximetry in patients with severe acute respiratory failure receiving extracorporeal membrane oxygenation(ECMO). Methods: Forty-nine patients diagnosed as severe acute respiratory failure receiving Venous-Venous(V-V)ECMO were enrolled from January 2013 to December 2015 in intensive care unit(ICU) of Wuxi People's Hospital Affiliated to Nanjing Medical University.The 10-min oxygen challenge test was performed using transcutaneous oximetry 6 h after the initiation of ECMO, and the 10-min oxygen challenge test value(OCT(10)) and oxygen challenge index(OCI) were calculated.The following data were collected: patients' baseline characteristics, results of arterial blood gas analysis, ventilator settings, APACHEⅡ, SOFA and Murray lung injury score. Patients were stratified into the survival group and the death group based on their mortality status at 60 d after initiation of ECMO.Patients' characteristics and clinical data were analyzed with SPSS 22.0 software. Receiver operating characteristics (ROC) analysis for predicting 60 d mortality was carried out to find area under curve (AUC) and threshold levels of OCT(10) and OCI. Analysis of survival probability was carried out by Kaplan-Meier method and log-rank test. Multivariable logistic regression was used to identify factors associated with outcomes. Results: There were 25 patients in the survival group and 24 patients in the death group. The characteristics(i.e., age, sex, primary disease) and clinical data(i.e., results of arterial blood gas, ventilator settings) of the 2 groups were similar (P>0.05). The survival group had a significant higher OCT(10) and OCI [(77±11) mmHg(1 mmHg=0.133 kPa), 0.77±0.17] than the death group [(57±12) mmHg, 0.55±0.13, all P<0.05]. The AUC value of OCT(10) and OCI for predicting 60 d mortality were 0.87±0.07(95%CI: 0.69-0.96, P<0.05) and 0.83±0.18(95%CI: 0.64-0.94, P<0.05) respectively, and the cutoff points for OCT(10) and OCI were 72.00 mmHg and 0.80. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis showed that a OCT(10)≥72 mmHg (81.3% vs 15.4%, χ(2)=7.04, P<0.01) and a OCI≥0.8(77.8% vs 21.7%, χ(2)=13.15, P<0.01) were related to better outcome. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that OCT(10)(OR=0.88, 95%CI: 0.80-0.96, P<0.01) and OCI (OR=0.01, 95%CI: 0.001-0.086, P<0.01) were both risk factors associated with 60 d mortality. Conclusion: The OCT(10) and OCI are predictive of mortality for patients with severe acute respiratory failure receiving ECMO support.

Resonance/non-resonance doublet-based self-absorption-free LIBS for quantitative analysis with a wide measurement range

A resonance/non-resonance, doublet-based, self-absorption-free, laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (SAF-LIBS) technique is proposed for greatly expanding the measurement range of quantitative elemental analysis by using a quasi-optically thin line. The quasi-optically thin spectral line is obtained by matching the measured doublet atomic lines' intensity ratios with the theoretical one, and the applicable measurement range is expanded by utilizing the resonance and non-resonance lines. The specific calibration process consists of two parts: the nonlinear LIBS calibration and the linear SAF-LIBS calibration. For quantitative measurements, the approximate content of the unknown sample is determined first by using the LIBS calibration curve, and then the SAF-LIBS spectra and the resonance or non-resonance calibration curve that corresponds to the predetermined content are used for further implementing the quantitative analysis. Univariate quantitative analysis results of Cu show that this resonance/non-resonance doublet-based SAF-LIBS technique not only captures the quasi-optically thin spectral line in a wide range of elemental content, but also possesses high correlation coefficients of calibration curves, small relative errors of measurement and low limits of detection. The applicability and limitations of this technique are also discussed, and the evolution as well as the related major determinants of self-absorption are analyzed by taking advantage of the spatial-temporal evolution images of plasma emissivity.

Effect of bamboo vinegar powder on the expression of the immune-related genes MyD88 and CD14 in weaning piglets

The aim was to explore the feasibility of using bamboo vinegar powder as an antibiotics substitute in weaning piglets. Forty-five healthy Duroc × Landrance × Yorshire piglets (weight 6.74 ± 0.17 kg; age 31 days) were randomly divided into the control group (basic diet), ANT group (basic diet + 0.12% compound antibiotics), BV1 group (basic diet + 0.1% bamboo vinegar powder), BV5 group (basic diet + 0.5% bamboo vinegar powder) and BV10 group (basic diet + 1% bamboo vinegar powder). MyD88 and CD14 expression in immune tissues was examined using real-time PCR. MyD88 expression in the control group were significantly lower than that in other groups in all tissues (p⟨0.05), while CD14 expression showed the opposite trend. MyD88 expression was significantly higher in the BV10 group than in other groups in lung tissue (P⟨0.05), significantly higher in the ANT group than in the BV1 group in the kidneys (P⟨0.05), significantly higher in the BV10 group than in the BV1 group in the thymus (P⟨0.05), and signifi- cantly higher in the BV1 group than in the BV10 group in the lymphatic tissue (P⟨0.05). These differences between experimental groups were not observed for the CD14 gene (P>0.05). Thus, adding bamboo vinegar powder to the basic diet of weaning piglets had immune effects similar to antibiotics and the effect was dose-dependent. Moreover, the MyD88 and CD14 genes appear to play a role in these immune effects.

ERCC polymorphisms and risk of osteosarcoma: a meta-analysis

OBJECTIVE

The association between excision repair cross-complementation (ERCC) gene family (ERCC1 and ERCC2) and osteosarcoma risk was controversial. The aim of this study was to evaluate the association between ERCC1 or ERCC2 and osteosarcoma risk by systematic meta-analysis.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Relative studies were retrieved from electronic databases without language restriction. The last search was updated on March 2017. Quality assessment was analyzed by the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (NOS) score, which was recommended by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ). Meta-analysis was conducted by R language package (R 3.12).

RESULTS

This meta-analysis was performed based on 4 case-control studies that included 1208 cases and 2448 controls. The ERCC2-rs1799793 AA+AC > CC (OR=1.3428, 95% CI=1.0201; 1.7674) had an effect on the risk of osteosarcoma development, whereas, there were no significant associations among the other ERCC SNPs (ERCC1 rs3212986, ERCC1 rs11615, and ERCC2 rs13181) and osteosarcoma.

CONCLUSIONS

The ERCC2 rs1799793 polymorphism is related to the high risk of osteosarcoma development.

[Research progression on triage of human papillomavirus positive women]

Persistently high risk human papillomavirus (HPV) infection is one of the indispensable factors of cervical cancer, which is the secondly most common cancer of women in developing countries. Nowadays HPV DNA detection has been more frequently used in cervical cancer initial screening. However, the specificity and sensitivity of HPV DNA detection are low and the triage of HPV positive women is necessary to identify the authentically high-risk population, and avoid the waste of health care resource and excessive treatment. There are different advantages and disadvantages in triage methods including the cytology, HPV DNA genotype, HPV mRNA detection and biological markers such as p16/Ki-67, respectively. Here we briefly describe and evaluate each triage method.

Genomewide association study for economic traits in the large yellow croaker with different numbers of extreme phenotypes

A traditional genomewide association study (GWAS) detects genotype-phenotype associations by the vast number of genotyped individuals. This method requires large-scale samples and considerable sequencing costs. Extreme phenotypic sampling proposes make GWAS more cost-efficient and are applied more widely. With extreme phenotypic sampling, we performed a GWAS for n-3 highly unsaturated fatty acids (HUFA) and eviscerated weight (EW) traits in the large yellowcroaker population. Of the 32,249 and 29,748 detected SNPs for the two traits, three candidate regions were found in each trait. Three candidate regions associated with HUFA were known near genes on chromosomes 4 and 11, and three candidate regions were on chromosome 6, and 15 for the EW trait. By combing through our GWAS results and the biological functional analysis of the genes, we suggest that the FABP, DGAT, ATP8B1, FAF2 and CERS2 genes, as well as the IGF2, BORA, CYP1A1, GRTP1 and HOX genes are promising candidate genes for n-3 HUFA and EW, respectively, in the large yellow croaker.Moreover, compared with the different numbers of the extreme phenotypic sampling, we conclude that 60% of the extreme phenotypic subsample can obtain a similar result as GWAS with whole phenotypes. Thus, extreme phenotypic sampling could save 40% of the cost for genotyping and DNA extraction without loss of the candidate regions and functional genes. Our study may provide a basis for further genomic breeding and a reference for others who want to perform GWAS with extreme phenotypes.