Rocking-Chair Aqueous Fluoride-Ion Batteries Enabled by Hydrogen Bonding Competition

Aqueous fluoride ion batteries (FIBs) have garnered attention for their high theoretical energy density, yet they are challenged by sluggish fluorination kinetics, active material dissolution, and electrolyte instability. Here, we present a room temperature rocking-chair aqueous FIBs featuring KOAc-KF binary salt electrolytes, enabling concurrent fluorination and defluorination reactions at both cathode and anode electrodes. Experimental and theoretical results reveal that acetate ions in the electrolyte compete with fluoride ions in hydrogen bonding formation, weakening the excessively strong solvation between H2O and F- ions. This results in the suppression of detrimental HF formation and a reduced desolvation energy of F- ions, enhancing the electrochemical reaction kinetics. The bismuth-based cathode exhibits direct conversion in the optimized electrolyte, effectively suppressing the detrimental disproportionation reactions from Bi2+ intermediates. Additionally, zinc anode undergoes a typical fluorination process, forming solid KZnF3 as the electrode product, minimizing the risks of hydrogen evolution. The proposed aqueous FIBs with the optimized electrolyte demonstrate high discharge capacity, long-term cycling stability and excellent rate capabilities.

Stabilized four-electron aqueous zinc-iodine batteries by quaternary ammonium complexation

Four-electron aqueous zinc-iodine batteries (4eZIBs) leveraging the I-/I0/I+ redox couple have garnered attention for their potential high voltage, capacity, and energy density. However, the electrophilic I+ species is highly susceptible to hydrolysis due to the nucleophilic attack by water. Previous endeavors to develop 4eZIBs primarily relied on highly concentrated aqueous electrolytes to mitigate the hydrolysis issue, nonetheless, it introduced challenges associated with dissolution, high electrolyte viscosity, and sluggish electrode kinetics. In this work, we present a novel complexation strategy that capitalizes on quaternary ammonium salts to form solidified compounds with I+ species, rendering them impervious to solubilization and hydrolysis in aqueous environments. The robust interaction in this complexation chemistry facilitates a highly reversible I-/I0/I+ redox process, significantly improving reaction kinetics within a conventional ZnSO4 aqueous electrolyte. The proposed 4eZIB exhibits a superior rate capability and an extended lifespan of up to 2000 cycles. This complexation chemistry offers a promising pathway for the development of advanced 4eZIBs.

Practical four-electron zinc-iodine aqueous batteries enabled by orbital hybridization induced adsorption-catalysis

The successive I-/I0/I+ redox couples in the four-electron zinc-iodine aqueous battery (4eZIB) is plagued by the instability of the electrophilic I+ species, which could either be hydrolyzed or be neutralized by the I3- redox intermediates. We present an adsorption-catalysis approach that effectively suppresses the hydrolysis of ICl species and also provides an enhanced reaction kinetics to surpass the formation of triiodide ions. We elucidate that the improved stability is attributed to the pronounced orbital hybridization between the d orbitals of Fe-N4 moieties (atomic Fe supported on nitrogen doped carbon) and the p orbitals of iodine species (I2 and ICl). Such d-p orbital hybridization leads to enhanced adsorption for iodine species, increased energy barrier for proton detachment from the ICl·HOH intermediate during hydrolysis, and efficient catalysis of the iodine redox reactions with high conversion efficiency. The proposed 4eZIB demonstrates practical areal capacity (>3 mAh cm-2) with a near-unity coulombic efficiency, high energy density of 420 Wh kg-1 (based on cathode mass), and long-term stability (over 10,000 cycles). Even at -20 °C, the battery exhibits stable performance for over 1000 cycles with high iodine utilization ratio.

Secondary ear reconstruction based on the Nagata method after unsatisfactory microtia surgery outcomes

BACKGROUND

Follow-up studies on auricular reconstruction procedures have reported postoperative complications; some of which can only be reversed with revision surgery. This study aims to provide a feasible surgical strategy based on the Nagata method for patients requiring secondary revision and verify mid-term aesthetic outcomes.

METHODS

Secondary auricular reconstructions based on the Nagata method were performed on seven patients seeking secondary revision between 2017 and 2021. Scores of a five-point Likert scale and artificial intelligence ratings based on convolutional nerve networks were used as outcome measures.

RESULTS

Five patients underwent complete two-stage ear reconstruction, and the other two patients underwent the first-stage microtia procedure only. Few complications were observed, except in Case 4; this patient required an additional minor surgery after frame exposure 6 weeks after the first-stage procedure. All revised ears showed clear anatomical structures, and all patients were satisfied with the aesthetic results. Statistical analysis showed a significant increase in postoperative versus preoperative scores by convolutional neural network models (p < 0.05). Cases 5 and 6, which involved projection surgeries only, had decreased artificial intelligence appearance scores postoperatively.

CONCLUSION

After adequate preoperative evaluation, secondary auricle reconstruction based on the Nagata method can achieve reliable aesthetic outcomes with few complications.

CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION INFORMATION

ClinicalTrials.gov ID: NCT05604456.

Facial expression of patients with Graves' orbitopathy

PURPOSE

Patients with Graves' orbitopathy (GO) have characteristic facial expressions that are different from those of healthy individuals due to the combination of somatic and psychiatric symptoms. However, the facial expressions of GO patients have not yet been described and analyzed systematically. Thus, the present study aimed to present the facial expressions of GO patients and explore their applications in clinical practice.

METHODS

Facial image and clinical data of 943 GO patients were included, and 126 patients answered quality of life (GO-QOL) questionnaires. Each patient was labeled for one facial expression. Then, a portrait was drawn for every facial expression. Logistic and linear regression was performed to analyze the correlation between facial expression and clinical indicators, including QOL, disease activity and severity. The VGG-19 network model was utilized to discriminate facial expressions automatically.

RESULTS

Two groups, i.e., the non-negative emotion (neutral, happy) and the negative emotion (disgust, angry, fear, sadness, surprise), and seven expressions of GO patients were systematically analyzed. Facial expression was statistically associated with GO activity (P = 0.002), severity (P < 0.001), QOL visual functioning subscale scores (P = 0.001), and QOL appearance subscale score (P = 0.012). The deep learning model achieved satisfactory results (accuracy 0.851, sensitivity 0.899, precision 0.899, specificity 0.720, F1 score 0.899, and AUC 0.847).

CONCLUSIONS

As a novel clinical sign, facial expression holds the potential to be incorporated into GO assessment system in the future. The discrimination model may assist clinicians in real-life patient care.

[Impact of different diagnostic criteria for assessing mild micro-hepatic encephalopathy in liver cirrhosis: an analysis based on a prospective, multicenter, real-world study]

Objective: To compare the differences in the prevalence of mild micro-hepatic encephalopathy (MHE) among patients with cirrhosis by using the psychometric hepatic encephalopathy score (PHES) and the Stroop smartphone application (Encephal App) test. Methods: This prospective, multi-center, real-world study was initiated by the National Clinical Medical Research Center for Infectious Diseases and the Portal Hypertension Alliance and registered with International ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT05140837). 354 cases of cirrhosis were enrolled in 19 hospitals across the country. PHES (including digital connection tests A and B, digital symbol tests, trajectory drawing tests, and serial management tests) and the Stroop test were conducted in all of them. PHES was differentiated using standard diagnostic criteria established by the two studies in China and South Korea. The Stroop test was evaluated based on the criteria of the research and development team. The impact of different diagnostic standards or methods on the incidence of MHE in patients with cirrhosis was analyzed. Data between groups were differentiated using the t-test, Mann-Whitney U test, and χ (2) test. A kappa test was used to compare the consistency between groups. Results: After PHES, the prevalence of MHE among 354 cases of cirrhosis was 78.53% and 15.25%, respectively, based on Chinese research standards and Korean research normal value standards. However, the prevalence of MHE was 56.78% based on the Stroop test, and the differences in pairwise comparisons among the three groups were statistically significant (kappa = -0.064, P < 0.001). Stratified analysis revealed that the MHE prevalence in three groups of patients with Child-Pugh classes A, B, and C was 74.14%, 83.33%, and 88.24%, respectively, according to the normal value standards of Chinese researchers, while the MHE prevalence rates in three groups of patients with Child-Pugh classes A, B, and C were 8.29%, 23.53%, and 38.24%, respectively, according to the normal value standards of Korean researchers. Furthermore, the prevalence rates of MHE in the three groups of patients with Child-Pugh grades A, B, and C were 52.68%, 58.82%, and 73.53%, respectively, according to the Stroop test standard. However, among the results of each diagnostic standard, the prevalence of MHE showed an increasing trend with an increasing Child-Pugh grade. Further comparison demonstrated that the scores obtained by the number connection test A and the number symbol test were consistent according to the normal value standards of the two studies in China and South Korea (Z = -0.982, -1.702; P = 0.326, 0.089), while the other three sub-tests had significant differences (P < 0.001). Conclusion: The prevalence rate of MHE in the cirrhotic population is high, but the prevalence of MHE obtained by using different diagnostic criteria or methods varies greatly. Therefore, in line with the current changes in demographics and disease spectrum, it is necessary to enroll a larger sample size of a healthy population as a control. Moreover, the establishment of more reliable diagnostic scoring criteria will serve as a basis for obtaining accurate MHE incidence and formulating diagnosis and treatment strategies in cirrhotic populations.

A twelve-electron conversion iodine cathode enabled by interhalogen chemistry in aqueous solution

The battery chemistry aiming for high energy density calls for the redox couples that embrace multi-electron transfer with high redox potential. Here we report a twelve-electron transfer iodine electrode based on the conversion between iodide and iodate in aqueous electrolyte, which is six times than that of the conventional iodide/iodine redox couple. This is enabled by interhalogen chemistry between iodine (in the electrode) and bromide (in the acidic electrolyte), which provides an electrochemical-chemical loop (the bromide-iodate loop) that accelerates the kinetics and reversibility of the iodide/iodate electrode reaction. In the deliberately designed aqueous electrolyte, the twelve-electron iodine electrode delivers a high specific capacity of 1200 mAh g-1 with good reversibility, corresponding to a high energy density of 1357 Wh kg-1. The proposed iodine electrode is substantially promising for the design of future high energy density aqueous batteries, as validated by the zinc-iodine full battery and the acid-alkaline decoupling battery.

A DNA Replication Stress-Based Prognostic Model for Lung Adenocarcinoma

Tumor cells endure continuous DNA replication stress, which opens the way to cancer development. Despite previous research, the prognostic implications of DNA replication stress on lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) have yet to be investigated. Here, we aimed to investigate the potential of DNA replication stress-related genes (DNARSs) in predicting the prognosis of individuals with LUAD. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) originated from the TCGA-LUAD dataset, and we constructed a 10-gene LUAD prognostic model based on DNARSs-related DEGs (DRSDs) using Cox regression analysis. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve demonstrated excellent predictive capability for the LUAD prognostic model, while the Kaplan-Meier survival curve indicated a poorer prognosis in a high-risk (HR) group. Combined with clinical data, the Riskscore was found to be an independent predictor of LUAD prognosis. By incorporating Riskscore and clinical data, we developed a nomogram that demonstrated a capacity to predict overall survival and exhibited clinical utility, which was validated through the calibration curve, ROC curve, and decision curve analysis curve tests, confirming its effectiveness in prognostic evaluation. Immune analysis revealed that individuals belonging to the low-risk (LR) group exhibited a greater abundance of immune cell infiltration and higher levels of immune function. We calculated the immunopheno score and TIDE scores and tested them on the IMvigor210 and GSE78220 cohorts and found that individuals categorized in the LR group exhibited a higher likelihood of deriving therapeutic benefits from immunotherapy intervention. Additionally, we predicted that patients classified in the HR group would demonstrate enhanced sensitivity to Docetaxel using anti-tumor drugs. To summarize, we successfully developed and validated a prognostic model for LUAD by incorporating DNA replication stress as a key factor.

[Hereditary pulmonary hypertension family with BMPR2 gene variation: a case report and literature review]

Objective: To describe the clinical characteristics, diagnosis, genetic features and treatment of hereditary pulmonary hypertension complicated with suspected hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT). Methods: Firstly, we summarized and analyzed the clinical data of two cases of suspected HHT admitted to the Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, the Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University. Secondly, the genes of peripheral blood of patients and their families were completely sequenced and sanger sequencing was performed to verify the variation sites, and then the mRNA deletion caused by the variation was further verified. Thirdly, "HHT" "FPAH" and "BMPR2 gene variation" were used as keywords,and the related literatures of Wanfang database and PubMed database from January 2000 to November 2021 were searched and reviewed. Results: We found two patients in a family from Yiyang, Hunan province, who had symptoms of hemoptysis or pulmonary hypertension without epistaxis or other clinical features of HHT. However, both patients had pulmonary vascular abnormalities and pulmonary hypertension in their lungs. We found that BMPR2 gene variation (NM_001204.7:c.1128+1G>T) was positive and ENG, ACVRL1 and SMAD4 genes were negative. Family analysis and Sanger verification were carried out on 16 individuals in 4 generations of the family (7 of whom were found to carry the mutant gene), and then transcriptional level mRNA sequencing further confirmed that the variation resulted in the deletion of exon 8 and exon 9, and amino acid sequence estimation revealed that the amino acids of the protein from 323 to 425 were deleted. We thought that the incomplete translation of BMPR2 gene could lead to BMPRⅡ dysfunction. Therefore, it was diagnosed as hereditary pulmonary hypertension with suspected HHT. Both patients were suggested to reduce the pulmonary artery pressure, and at the same time, the whole-body imaging examination should be performed to screen other arteriovenous malformations, and the annual cardiac color Doppler ultrasound should be reviewed to evaluate the changes of pulmonary artery pressure. Conclusions: Hereditary pulmonary hypertension (HPAH) is a group of diseases with increasing pulmonary vascular resistance caused by genetic factors, including familial PAH and simple PAH. Variation in the BMPR2 gene is an important pathogenic factor of HPAH. Therefore, we should pay attention to the inquiry of family history when we clinically encounter young patients with pulmonary hypertension. If the cause is unknown, genetic testing is recommended. HHT is a rare autosomal dominant genetic disease. The possibility of this disease should be considered in clinical manifestations such as familial pulmonary vascular abnormality, pulmonary hypertension and recurrent epistaxis. There is no effective specific treatment for HPAH and HHT, which are treated symptomatically (including blood pressure reduction and hemostasis, etc.). It is suggested for these patients that pulmonary artery pressure should be dynamically monitored and have genetic counseling before giving birth.

Unravelling rechargeable zinc-copper batteries by a chloride shuttle in a biphasic electrolyte

The zinc-copper redox couple exhibits several merits, which motivated us to reconstruct the rechargeable Daniell cell by combining chloride shuttle chemistry in a zinc chloride-based aqueous/organic biphasic electrolyte. An ion-selective interface was established to restrict the copper ions in the aqueous phase while ensuring chloride transfer. We demonstrated that the copper-water-chloro solvation complexes are the descriptors, which are predominant in aqueous solutions with optimized concentrations of zinc chloride; thus, copper crossover is prevented. Without this prevention, the copper ions are mostly in the hydration state and exhibit high spontaneity to be solvated in the organic phase. The zinc-copper cell delivers a highly reversible capacity of 395 mAh g^-1 with nearly 100% coulombic efficiency, affording a high energy density of 380 Wh kg^-1 based on the copper chloride mass. The proposed battery chemistry is expandable to other metal chlorides, which widens the cathode materials available for aqueous chloride ion batteries.

Segmental Motion Adjustment of the Polycarbonate Electrolyte for Lithium-Metal Batteries

Carbonyl oxygen atoms are the primary active sites to solvate Li salts that provide a migration site for Li ions conducting in a polycarbonate-based polymer electrolyte. We here exploit the conductivity of the polycarbonate electrolyte by tuning the segmental motion of the structural unit with carbonyl oxygen atoms, while its correlation to the mechanical and electrochemical stability of the electrolyte is also discussed. Two linear alkenyl carbonate monomers are designed by molecular engineering to combine methyl acrylate (MA) and the commonly used ethylene carbonate (EC), w/o dimethyl carbonate (DMC) in the structure. The integration of the DMC structural unit in the side chain of the in situ constructed polymer (p-MDE) releases the free motion of the terminal EC units, which leads to a lower glass-transition temperature and higher ionic conductivity. While pure polycarbonates are normally fragile with high Young's modulus, such a prolonged side chain also manipulates the flexibility of the polymer to provide a mechanical stable interface for Li-metal anode. Stable long-term cycling performance is achieved at room temperature for both LiFePO₄ and LiCoO₂ electrodes based on the p-MDE electrolyte incorporated with a solid plasticizer.

Electrolyte Solvation Chemistry for the Solution of High-Donor-Number Solvent for Stable Li-S Batteries

Passivation of the sulfur electrode by insulating lithium sulfide (Li₂ S) restricts the reversibility and sulfur utilization of lithium-sulfur (Li-S) batteries. Although electrolytes with high donor number (DN) solvents induce tri-sulfur radical intermediate thus 3D nucleation of Li₂ S with fast kinetics can be achieved, their catastrophic reactivities with Li metal hinder practical applications. Here, the use of high DN solvent as an additive instead of as co-solvent to solve their incompatibility between cathode and anode is proposed, by adopting N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP) as a proof-of-concept. Such a strategy is accomplished by the unique solvation structure of the NMP added electrolyte, where the preference of NMP-Li⁺ coordination squeezes out partial 1,2-dimethoxyethane (DME) molecules while enriching 1,3-dioxolane (DOL) molecules in the first solvation sheath of Li⁺ ions. It affords the robust SEI on Li metal from corrosion either by NMP or the dissolved polysulfides. Spectral analyses (Raman and UV-vis) also verify that the coordinated NMP additive preserves its S₃ ^•- radicals stabilization ability as it does as a co-solvent, which effectively improves the sulfur conversion kinetics and reversibility. This approach enables competitive capacity retention and a stable cycling performance of 340 cycles, which is one of the longest lifespans known for the high DN solvent involved Li-S batteries.

Applications of Cryogenic Electron Microscopy in Biomineralization Research

Biological mineralization is a natural process manifested by living organisms in which inorganic minerals crystallize under the scrupulous control of biomolecules, producing hierarchical organic-inorganic composite structures with physical properties and design that galvanize even the most ardent structural engineer and architect. Understanding the mechanisms that control the formation of biominerals is challenging in the biomimetic engineering of hard tissues. In this regard, the contribution of cryogenic electron microscopy (cryo-EM) has been nothing short of phenomenal. By preserving materials in their native hydrated status and reducing damage caused by ion beam radiation, cryo-EM outperforms conventional transmission electron microscopy in its ability to directly observe the morphologic evolution of mineral precursor phases at different stages of biomineralization with nanoscale spatial resolution and subsecond temporal resolution in 2 or 3 dimensions. In the present review, the development and applications of cryo-EM are discussed to support the use of this powerful technique in dental research. Because of the rapid development of cryogenic sample preparation techniques, direct electron detection, and image-processing algorithms, the last decade has witnessed an exponential increase in the use of cryo-EM in structural biology and materials research. By amalgamating with other analytic techniques, cryo-EM may be used for qualitative and quantitative analyses of the kinetics and thermodynamic mechanisms in which organic macromolecules participate in the transformation of mineral precursors from their original liquid state to amorphous and ultimately crystalline phases. The present review concentrates on the biomineralization of calcium phosphate mineral phases, while that of calcium carbonate, silica, and magnetite is only briefly mentioned. Bioinspired organic matrix-mediated inorganic crystallization strategies are discussed from the perspective of tissue regeneration engineering.

Role of carbon nanoparticle suspension in sentinel lymph node biopsy for early-stage cervical cancer: a prospective study

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the clinical diagnostic validity of carbon nanoparticle suspension (CNS) in sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) for assessing lymphatic spread of early-stage cervical cancer.

DESIGN

A prospective study.

SETTING AND POPULATION

356 cases.

METHODS

We enrolled 356 stage Ia2-IIa2 cervical cancer patients to undergo SLNB using CNS, followed by systematic pelvic lymphadenectomy. All lymph node specimens were assessed using conventional histopathologic ± pathologic ultrastaging analyses.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Sentinel lymph node detection rate (DR), clinical diagnostic validity and various related factors were analysed.

RESULTS

CNS identified 1456 SLNs in 325 patients. The overall SLN DR was 91.29%. A significantly higher DR was found for patients with tumours <20 mm (97.75% versus 71.91%; P < 0.001). Two patients had false-negative results. SLNB with CNS had sensitivity of 96.65%, false-negative rate (FNR) of 4.35% and negative predictive value (NPV) of 99.29%. Importantly, sensitivity (100%), NPV (100%) and FNR (0%) were improved when testing the subgroup of patients with tumours <20 mm (267 cases). There were no observed differences in DR based on pathological type or grade, stage, depth of stromal invasion, surgical approach, menopausal status or prior treatment with chemotherapy (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Sentinel lymph node biopsy with CNS results in favourable DR, sensitivity and NPV for women with early-stage cervical cancer with small tumour sizes. SLNB with CNS is safe, feasible and relatively effective for guiding precise surgical treatment of early-stage cervical cancer.

TWEETABLE ABSTRACT

Sentinel lymph node biopsy with carbon nanoparticle suspension is safe and feasible for early-stage cervical cancer.

[Later approach sinus floor elevation using deproteinized bovine bone mineral with staged implant placement: follow-up for more than 3 years in a prospective clinical study]

Objective: To evaluate clinical effect of deproteinized bovine bone for delayed implantation after fenestration. Methods: This trial is a continuation of a prospective clinical trial. From May 2011 to February 2015 in Department of Implantology, School of Stomatology, The Fourth Military Medical University after planting division of 55 cases of maxillary teeth missing area of residual alveolar bone height ≤5 mm patients. There were 21 female and 34 male patients, their average age were (55.2±7.1) years. A total of 62 side fenestration of maxillary sinus floor lift, clinical and imaging examination, evaluation of implant retention rate, complications, peripheral soft tissue health and marginal bone resorption. Results: A total of 82 implants were followed up in 41 patients. The average follow-up time was (51.8±14.3) months (36-78 months). The follow-up rate of the maxillary sinus was 75.8% (47/62), the follow-up rate of the implant was 73.9% (82/111), and the implant survival rate was 98.8% (81/82). The bone resorption results at the implant margins were (0.64±0.63) mm (-0.28 mm, 1.47 mm) in the near and (0.49±0.73) mm (-0.51 mm, 1.21 mm) in the far, the improved hemorrhage index was 0.46±0.72, the improved plaque index was 0.60±0.87, and the keratinized mucosa width was (2.14±1.22) mm. The incidence rate of peri-implant mucositis was 28.4% (23/81) among 23 implants, and there was no complication of peri-implant inflammation. Conclusions: This study shows that under the condition of insufficient sinus ridge spacing in the maxillary posterior area, it is feasible to use bovine bone alone to remove protein for delayed implantation of maxillary sinus floor elevation by windowing, and the clinical effect is reliable.

Genetic diversity of mitochondrial cytochrome b gene in swamp buffalo

The swamp buffalo (Bubalus carabanensis) is mainly bred for meat, transport and rice cultivation in China and Southeast Asian countries. In the current study, we investigated the genetic diversity, maternal origin and phylogenetic relationship of swamp buffalo by analyzing 1,786 mitochondrial cytochrome b (cytb) sequences from China, Vietnam, Laos, Thailand, India and Bangladesh. Our results indicated that the swamp buffalo can be divided into two major lineages (SA and SB with the sublineages) and three rare lineages (SC, SD and SE), which showed strong geographic differentiation. The SA1 lineage represented a major domestication event, which involved population expansion. Regions III and V showed higher haplotype diversity than the other regions, indicating that the regions of Southwest China and IndoChina are potential domestication centers for the swamp buffalo. In addition, the swamp buffalo showed a closer phylogenetic relationship to tamaraw. In conclusion, our findings revealed a high level of genetic diversity and the phylogenetic pattern of the swamp buffalo.

A SNP in PLAG1 is associated with body height trait in Chinese cattle

Stature is an important quantitative trait for cattle performance, which influences herd productivity. Previous studies have reported that an SNP (AC_000171.1:g.25015640G>T, rs109815800) in Pleomorphic adenoma gene 1 (PLAG1) on chromosome 14 (CHR14) is associated with bovine stature. To validate whether rs109815800 is associated with the body height of Chinese cattle, we carried out an association analysis using 558 adult cattle samples from seven populations. Then, 1038 samples from 38 Chinese cattle breeds were used to show the geographical distribution of this variant in China. The results showed that the Q allele (G allele) increased the height of cattle. Furthermore, the frequencies of Q allele in Chinese native breeds tend to decrease from northern China to southern China, and the frequency of Q allele in two Chinese beef cattle breeds is much higher than that in another 36 Chinese local cattle breeds. Our data suggest that the prevalence of the Q allele is correlated with latitude in China.

Co3+ -Rich Na1.95 CoP2 O7 Phosphates as Efficient Bifunctional Catalysts for Oxygen Evolution and Reduction Reactions in Alkaline Solution

Implementing sustainable energy conversion and storage technologies is highly reliant on crucial oxygen electrocatalysis, such as the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) and oxygen reduction reaction (ORR). However, the pursuit of low cost, energetic efficient and robust bifunctional catalysts for OER and ORR remains a great challenge. Herein, the novel Na-ion-deficient Na_2-x CoP₂ O₇ catalysts are proposed to efficiently electrocatalyze OER and ORR in alkaline solution. The engineering of Na-ion deficiency can tune the electronic structure of Co, and thus tailor the intrinsically electrocatalytic performance. Among the sodium cobalt phosphate catalysts, the Na_1.95 CoP₂ O₇ (NCPO5) catalyst exhibits the lowest ΔE (E_J10,OER -E_J-1,ORR ) of only 0.86 V, which favorably outperforms most of the reported non-noble metal catalysts. Moreover, the Na-ion deficiency can stabilize the phase structure and morphology of NCPO5 during the OER and ORR processes. This study highlights the Na-ion deficient Na_2-x CoP₂ O₇ as a promising class of low-cost, highly active and robust bifunctional catalysts for OER and ORR.

Influences of position of ytterbium-doped fiber and ASE pump on spectral properties of random fiber laser

The influences of the position of the ytterbium-doped fiber and the parasitic lasing in the amplified spontaneous emission (ASE) pump source on the spectral properties of the random fiber laser are analyzed and discussed in this paper. The experimental results show that putting ytterbium-doped fiber in the random fiber laser's cavity and using an ASE pump source with parasitic lasing are beneficial for the generation of high-order Stokes. A near-infrared supercontinuum with 20 dB bandwidth of more than 500 nm can be generated directly from a random fiber laser, which proved that a random laser fiber cannot only works as a traditional random fiber laser, but also can be a novel, simple, low-cost, low-coherence and robust near-infrared supercontinuum generation method.

Genetic diversity and maternal origin of Northeast African and South American donkey populations

To investigate the mtDNA variation and origin of maternal lineages in South American donkeys and to reassess the domestication of donkeys in northeast Africa, we analyzed sequences (489 bp of the D-loop) from 323 domestic donkeys sampled from Peru, Brazil, Ethiopia and Egypt. Altogether, the 323 sequences displayed 53 different haplotypes (45 in Ethiopia, 14 in Egypt, eight in Peru and six in Brazil). Among the four populations, Egyptian donkeys possessed the highest haplotype diversity (0.910 ± 0.032), followed by Brazilian donkeys (0.879 ± 0.060). The Clade I haplotypes dominated in Peruvian donkeys (65%), whereas Clade II haplotypes dominated in Brazilian donkeys (67%). Estimates of F_ST values showed a high genetic differentiation between Peruvian and Brazilian donkey populations (F_ST  = 0.4066), which could be explained by the complex introduction history of South American donkeys. Phylogeographic analysis indicates that northeast Africa could be the most probable domestication center for Clade I donkeys. Analysis of molecular variance confirmed a weak genetic structure in domestic donkey populations among four continents (Europe, Asia, Africa and South America).

Comprehensive analysis of the mitochondrial DNA diversity in Chinese cattle

Complete mitochondrial DNA D-loop sequences of 1105 individuals were used to assess the diversity of maternal lineages of cattle populations in China. In total, 250 taurine and 88 zebu haplotypes were identified. Five main haplogroups-T1a, T2, T3, T4 and T5-were identified in Bos taurus, whereas Bos indicus harbored two haplogroups-I1 and I2. Our results suggest that the distribution of T1a in Asia was concentrated mainly in the northeast region (northeast China, Korea and Japan); haplogroups T2, T3 and T4 were predominant in Chinese cattle; and T5 was sporadically detected in Mongolian and Pingwu cattle. In contrast to the widespread presence of I1, I2 was distributed only in southwestern China (Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau and the Tibet Autonomous Region) and Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. This is the first time that all five taurine haplogroups and two zebu haplogroups have been found in Mongolian cattle. In addition, eight individuals in Tibetan cattle carried the Bos grunniens mtDNA type. The high mtDNA diversity (H = 0.904 ± 0.008) and the weak genetic structure among the 57 Chinese cattle breeds/populations are consistent with their complex historical background, migration route and ecological environment.

Genetic diversity of Chinese cattle revealed by Y-SNP and Y-STR markers

With its vast territory and complex natural environment, China boasts rich cattle genetic resources. To gain the further insight into the genetic diversity and paternal origins of Chinese cattle, we analyzed the polymorphism of Y-SNPs (UTY19 and ZFY10) and Y-STRs (INRA189 and BM861) in 34 Chinese cattle breeds/populations, including 606 males representative of 24 cattle breeds/populations collected in this study as well as previously published data for 302 bulls. Combined genotypic data identified 14 Y-chromosome haplotypes that represented three haplogroups. Y2-104-158 and Y2-102-158 were the most common taurine haplotypes detected mainly in northern and central China, whereas the indicine haplotype Y3-88-156 predominates in southern China. Haplotypes Y2-108-158, Y2-110-158, Y2-112-158 and Y3-92-156 were private to Chinese cattle. The population structure revealed by multidimensional scaling analysis differentiated Tibetan cattle from the other three groups of cattle. Analysis of molecular variance showed that the majority of the genetic variation was explained by the genetic differences among groups. Overall, our study indicates that Chinese cattle retain high paternal diversity (H = 0.607 ± 0.016) and probably much of the original lineages that derived from the domestication center in the Near East without strong admixture from commercial cattle carrying Y1 haplotypes.

Downregulation of Chilo suppressalis alkaline phosphatase genes associated with resistance to three transgenic Bacillus thuringiensis rice lines

Insecticidal crystal (Cry) proteins produced by the bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis are highly toxic to lepidopteran pests. Strains of transgenic rice expressing cry genes have been developed that are resistant to rice pests. Understanding the mode of action of Cry toxins in rice pests will improve our ability to use them effectively as insecticides. In this study, we tested the hypothesis that alkaline phosphatases (ALPs) are involved in Cry1A, Cry2Aa and Cry1Ca toxicity in Chilo suppressalis, an important insect pest of rice crops in China. We first cloned three novel C. suppressalis alps (Csalps) from the larval midgut of C. suppressalis. RNA interference knockdown of six different Csalp genes (Csalp1, Csalp2, Csalp3, Csalp4, Csalp5 and Csalp6) showed that knockdown of three of these, Csalp1, Csalp2 and Csalp4, reduced larval mortality to the transgenic rice strain TT51, which expresses a fusion protein of Cry1Ab and Cry1Ac, whereas suppression of Csalp1, Csalp2, Csalp3, Csalp4 and Csalp6 transcripts decreased the susceptibility of larvae to the transgenic rice strain T2A-1, which expresses cry2Aa. Moreover, downregulation of Csalp1, Csalp2, Csalp3, Csalp4 and Csalp5 transcripts conferred significant tolerance to the transgenic rice strain T1C-19, which expresses cry1Ca. These results suggest that these ALPs play a key role in the toxicity of Cry1A, Cry2A and Cry1C to C. suppressalis.

Genetic diversity and paternal origin of domestic donkeys

Numerous studies have been conducted to investigate genetic diversity, origins and domestication of donkey using autosomal microsatellites and the mitochondrial genome, whereas the male-specific region of the Y chromosome of modern donkeys is largely uncharacterized. In the current study, 14 published equine Y chromosome-specific microsatellites (Y-STR) were investigated in 395 male donkey samples from China, Egypt, Spain and Peru using fluorescent labeled microsatellite markers. The results showed that seven Y-STRs-EcaYP9, EcaYM2, EcaYE2, EcaYE3, EcaYNO1, EcaYNO2 and EcaYNO4-were male specific and polymorphic, showing two to eight alleles in the donkeys studied. A total of 21 haplotypes corresponding to three haplogroups were identified, indicating three independent patrilines in domestic donkey. These markers are useful for the study the Y-chromosome diversity and population genetics of donkeys in Africa, Europe, South America and China.

3D semiconducting nanostructures via inverse lipid cubic phases

Well-ordered and highly interconnected 3D semiconducting nanostructures of bismuth sulphide were prepared from inverse cubic lipid mesophases. This route offers significant advantages in terms of mild conditions, ease of use and electrode architecture over other routes to nanomaterials synthesis for device applications. The resulting 3D bicontinous nanowire network films exhibited a single diamond topology of symmetry Fd3m (Q₂₂₇) which was verified by Small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) and Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and holds great promise for potential applications in optoelectronics, photovoltaics and thermoelectrics.

Bioinformatics Analysis on Molecular Mechanism of Green Tea Compound Epigallocatechin-3-Gallate Against Ovarian Cancer

Epigallocatechin‐3‐gallate (EGCG) is the most abundant and biologically active catechin in green tea, and it exerts multiple effects in humans through mechanisms that remain to be clarified. The present study used bioinformatics to identify possible mechanisms by which EGCG reduces the risk of ovarian cancer. Possible human protein targets of EGCG were identified in the PubChem database, possible human gene targets were identified in the National Center for Biotechnology Information database, and then both sets of targets were analyzed using Ingenuity Pathway Analysis (IPA). The results suggest that signaling proteins affected by EGCG in ovarian cancer, which include JUN, FADD, NFKB1, Bcl‐2, HIF1α, and MMP, are involved primarily in cell cycle, cellular assembly and organization, DNA replication, etc. These results identify several specific proteins and pathways that may be affected by EGCG in ovarian cancer, and they illustrate the power of integrative informatics and chemical fragment analysis for focusing mechanistic studies.

Inertial focusing of ellipsoidal Euglena gracilis cells in a stepped microchannel

Euglena gracilis (E. gracilis) has recently been attracting attention as a potential renewable source for the production of biofuels, livestock feed, cosmetics, and dietary supplements. Research has focused on strain isolation, productivity improvement, nutrient and resource allocation, and co-product production, key steps that ultimately determine the economic viability and compatibility of the biomass produced. To achieve these characteristics, approaches to select E. gracilis mutants with desirable properties, such as high wax ester content, high growth rate, and high environmental tolerance for biodiesel and biomass production, are needed. Flow-based analysis and sorting can be rapid and highly automated but calls for techniques that can precisely control the position of E. gracilis with varying sizes and shapes in a tightly focused stream in a high-throughput manner. In this work, we use a stepped microchannel consisting of a low-aspect-ratio straight channel and a series of expansion regions along the channel height. We study horizontal and vertical focusing, orientation, rotational, and translational behaviors of E. gracilis as a function of aspect ratio (AR) and channel Reynolds number (Re). By making use of inertial focusing and local secondary flows, E. gracilis with diverse shapes are directed to a single equilibrium position in a single focal stream. As an application of on-chip flow cytometry, we integrate a focusing microchip with a custom laser-two-focus (L2F) optical system and demonstrate the detection of chlorophyll autofluorescence as well as the measurement of the velocity of E. gracilis cells flowing through the microchannel.

HSFY and ZNF280BY show copy number variations within 17 water buffalo populations

Recent transcriptomic analysis of the bovine Y chromosome revealed abundant presence of multi-copy protein coding gene families on the male-specific region of the Y chromosome (MSY). Copy number variations (CNVs) of several MSY genes are closely related to semen quality and male reproduction in cattle. However, the CNVs of MSY genes in water buffalo are largely unknown. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the CNVs of HSFY and ZNF280BY of 298 buffaloes from 17 populations distributed in China, Vietnam and Laos using quantitative PCR. Our results revealed that the median copy numbers of the HSFY and ZNF280BY genes were 47 (ranging from 20 to 145) and 269 (ranging from 73 to 974) respectively. In conclusion, this study indicated that HSFY and ZNF280BY showed abundant CNVs within swamp buffalo populations.

The developmental transcriptome landscape of bovine skeletal muscle defined by Ribo-Zero ribonucleic acid sequencing

Ribonucleic acid sequencing (RNA-Seq) libraries are normally prepared with oligo(dT) selection of poly(A)+ mRNA, but it depends on intact total RNA samples. Recent studies have described Ribo-Zero technology, a novel method that can capture both poly(A)+ and poly(A)- transcripts from intact or fragmented RNA samples. We report here the first application of Ribo-Zero RNA-Seq for the analysis of the bovine embryonic, neonatal, and adult skeletal muscle whole transcriptome at an unprecedented depth. Overall, 19,893 genes were found to be expressed, with a high correlation of expression levels between the calf and the adult. Hundreds of genes were found to be highly expressed in the embryo and decreased at least 10-fold after birth, indicating their potential roles in embryonic muscle development. In addition, we present for the first time the analysis of global transcript isoform discovery in bovine skeletal muscle and identified 36,694 transcript isoforms. Transcriptomic data were also analyzed to unravel sequence variations; 185,036 putative SNP and 12,428 putative short insertions-deletions (InDel) were detected. Specifically, many stop-gain, stop-loss, and frameshift mutations were identified that probably change the relative protein production and sequentially affect the gene function. Notably, the numbers of stage-specific transcripts, alternative splicing events, SNP, and InDel were greater in the embryo than in the calf and the adult, suggesting that gene expression is most active in the embryo. The resulting view of the transcriptome at a single-base resolution greatly enhances the comprehensive transcript catalog and uncovers the global trends in gene expression during bovine skeletal muscle development.

Facile production of thermoelectric bismuth telluride thick films in the presence of polyvinyl alcohol

Bismuth telluride is currently the best performing thermoelectric material for room temperature operations in commercial thermoelectric devices. We report the reproducible and facile production of 600 micron thick bismuth telluride (Bi2Te3) layers by low cost and room temperature pulsed and potentiostatic electrodeposition from a solution containing bismuth and tellurium dioxide in 2 M nitric acid onto nickel in the presence of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA). This was added to the electrolyte to promote thick layer formation and its effect on the structure, morphology and composition of the electrodeposits was investigated by SEM and EDX. Well adherent, uniform, compact and stoichiometric n-type Bi2Te3 films with a high Seebeck coefficient of up to -200 μV K(-1) and a high electrical conductivity of up to 400 S cm(-1) resulting in a power factor of 1.6 × 10(-3) W m(-1) K(-2) at film growth rates of 100 μm h(-1) for potentiostatic electrodeposition were obtained. The films also exhibited a well defined hexagonal structure as determined by XRD.

Indels within the bovine visfatin gene affect its mRNA expression in longissimus muscle and subcutaneous fat

Abstract. Visfatin, an adipokine hormone produced primarily by visceral adipose tissue in mammals, has been identified as having a crucial role in growth and development of skeletal muscle and lipids. In this research, the effects of two indel loci (35 bp indel: AC_000161.1: g. 20540–20541 Ins ACTGGAATTCTAGTTTAAAAATTGCTACTAATGAA located in intron 4; 6 bp indel: AC_000161.1: g. 25873–25878 Del: TAAAAA located in intron 5) of the visfatin gene on mRNA expression levels were studied by means of real-time quantitative PCR (qPCR) in longissimus muscle and subcutaneous fat from 95 Qinchuan cattle. Firstly, visfatin expression level in longissimus muscle of fetal cattle was prominently greater than that in calves and adult cattle (P < 0.05). The expression level of visfatin in subcutaneous fat was notably higher than that in longissimus muscle of calves and adult cattle (P < 0.05). Secondly, there were three genotypes (ins/ins, del/del and ins/del) and two genotypes (ins/del and ins/ins) detected in the 35 bp locus and 6 bp locus, respectively. Visfatin showed a minimum expression level in longissimus muscle in the homozygous deletion genotype at the 35 bp indel locus. Especially in calves, expression of visfatin was significantly greater in the heterozygous genotype than that in the homozygous insertion genotpye (P < 0.05). No statistical differences were found among visfatin expression level based on genotypes in the 6 bp indel locus (P > 0.05). Compared to heterozygous genotype, the expression level of homozygous insertion genotype was lower in longissimus muscle but greater in subcutaneous fat. These results imply that the expression levels of bovine visfatin vary with age and its indels might be putative variants mediating the expression of the bovine visfatin gene. This study provides useful information for further functional studies of bovine visfatin.

A survey of outcomes and management of patients post fragility fractures in China

We found that the fragility hip and vertebral fractures caused excess mortality rates in this Chinese female population, which was unexpectedly lower than those in western countries and other Asian countries. This was the first nationwide survey relating to post-fracture outcomes conducted among Chinese population in Mainland China.

INTRODUCTION

This study aimed to investigate the mortality, self-care ability, diagnosis, and medication treatment of osteoporosis following fragility hip and vertebral fractures through a nationwide survey among female patients aged over 50 in Mainland China.

METHODS

This was a multicenter, retrospective cohort study based on medical chart review and patient questionnaire. Female patients aged 50 or older admitted for low-trauma hip or vertebral fractures and discharged from Jan 1, 2008 to Dec 31, 2012 were followed.

RESULTS

Total of 1151 subjects of hip fracture and 842 subjects of vertebral fracture were included. The mean age was 73.4 ± 10.0, and the median of duration from index fracture to interview was 2.6 years. The overall 1-year, 2-year, 3-year, 4-year, and 5-year cumulative mortality rates were 3.5, 7.0, 11.2, 13.1, and 16.9 %, respectively. The first year mortality rates in hip (3.8 %, 95% CI 3.3-4.4 %) and vertebral fracture (3.1 %, 95% CI 2.5-3.7 %) were significantly higher than that in the general population (1.6 %). Impaired self-care ability was observed in 33.2, 40.6, and 23.8 % of overall, hip fracture, and vertebral fracture group, respectively. The overall diagnosis rate of osteoporosis was 56.8 %, and bone mineral density (BMD) measurement had never been conducted in 42.0 % among these women. After the index fracture, 69.6 % of them received supplements and/or anti-osteoporotic medications, among which 39.6 % only received calcium with/without vitamin D supplementation.

CONCLUSIONS

The osteoporotic hip and vertebral fractures caused excess mortality rates in this population of Mainland China. The current diagnosis and medical treatment following the fragility fractures is still insufficient in Mainland China.

Tetra-primer ARMS-PCR identified a missense mutation of the bovine <i>NRIP1</i> gene associated with growth traits

Abstract. Nuclear receptor-interacting protein 1 (NRIP1) specifically interacts with the hormone-dependent activation domain AF2 of nuclear receptors to inhibit transcription. Previous work has demonstrated this protein to be a key regulator in modulating transcriptional activity of many transcription factors, some of which are closely related to development and growth. In this study, we have successfully genotyped two newly identified bovine NRIP1 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) (c.605A > G and c.1301G > A) using the T-ARMS-PCR method and validated the accuracy by means of PCR-RFLP assay using 1809 individuals of 9 different cattle breeds. The association analyses results indicated that c.605A > G locus was significantly associated with body weight and average daily gain in Nanyang cattle at 18 months (P < 0.05). Thus it can be inferred that T-ARMS-PCR is a rapid, reliable, and cheap method for SNP genotyping and that c.605A > G polymorphism in bovine NRIP1 is associated with growth traits. These findings will be of benefit for the application of DNA markers related to growth traits in marker-assisted selection (MAS), and will improve the promotion of beef cattle.

HMGB1 may act via RAGE to promote angiogenesis in the later phase after intracerebral hemorrhage

Following intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH), high-mobility group box 1 protein (HMGB1) may promote vascular remodeling. Whether HMGB1 supports angiogenesis after ICH is unclear, as are the receptors and downstream signaling pathway(s) involved. We used the rat model of collagenase-induced ICH to determine whether HMGB1 acts via the receptor for advanced glycation end-products (RAGE) to upregulate vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), a potent mitogen of endothelial cells and key regulator of normal and abnormal angiogenesis in the late phase of injury. At 3d after ICH induction, rats were treated with saline, ethyl pyruvate (EP) or N-benzyl-4-chloro-N-cyclohexylbenzamide (FPS-ZM1). ICH induced the movement of HMGB1 from the nucleus into the cytoplasm. Levels of HMGB1 and RAGE in the ipsilateral striatum increased within a few days of induction and continued to rise for 7-14d afterward. By 14d after induction, levels of VEGF and vessel density were higher than in the Sham group. Administering EP 3 days after ICH induction prevented much of the stroke-induced increases in vessel density and in expression of HMGB1, RAGE, and VEGF. Administering FPS-ZM1 after ICH blocked much of the stroke-induced increases in vessel density and VEGF expression. Our results suggest that after ICH, HMGB1 may upregulate VEGF in the ipsilateral striatum predominantly via RAGE. Hence, targeting the HMGB1/RAGE signaling pathway may help reduce inappropriate angiogenesis after ICH.

Altered microRNA expression in bovine skeletal muscle with age

Age-dependent decline in skeletal muscle function leads to several inherited and acquired muscular disorders in elderly individuals. The levels of microRNAs (miRNAs) could be altered during muscle maintenance and repair. We therefore performed a comprehensive investigation for miRNAs from five different periods of bovine skeletal muscle development using next-generation small RNA sequencing. In total, 511 miRNAs, including one putatively novel miRNA, were identified. Thirty-six miRNAs were differentially expressed between prenatal and postnatal stages of muscle development including several myomiRs (miR-1, miR-206 and let-7 families). Compared with miRNA expression between different muscle tissues, 14 miRNAs were up-regulated and 22 miRNAs were down-regulated in the muscle of postnatal stage. In addition, a novel miRNA was predicted and submitted to the miRBase database as bta-mir-10020. A dual luciferase reporter assay was used to demonstrate that bta-mir-10020 directly targeted the 3'-UTR of the bovine ANGPT1 gene. The overexpression of bta-mir-10020 significantly decreased the DsRed fluorescence in the wild-type expression cassette compared to the mutant type. Using three computational approaches - miranda, pita and rnahybrid - these differentially expressed miRNAs were also predicted to target 3609 bovine genes. Disease and biological function analyses and the KEGG pathway analysis revealed that these targets were statistically enriched in functionality for muscle growth and disease. Our miRNA expression analysis findings from different states of muscle development and aging significantly expand the repertoire of bovine miRNAs now shown to be expressed in muscle and could contribute to further studies on growth and developmental disorders in this tissue type.

Polarization dressed multi-order fluorescence of Pr³⁺:Y₂SiO₅

We report polarization dressed second-, fourth- and sixth-order fluorescence processes in a Pr(3+):Y2SiO5 crystal. By changing the polarization states of dressing fields and generating fields, the fluorescence baselines, suppression and Autler-Townes splitting of emission peaks can be controlled. The polarization dependencies of fluorescence generated from two inequivalent crystallographic sites are compared. The experimental results agree with the dressing theoretical calculations well.

Novel isoforms of the bovine Nuclear factor I/X (CCAAT-binding transcription factor) transcript products and their diverse expression profiles

The aim of this study was to detect splicing variants of the bovine NFIX gene and determine their expression regulations. Through bioinformatics analysis, we predicted five isoforms of the bovine NFIX transcript product and validated their existence using cDNA pool and sequencing methods. The five isoforms had a common 5'-terminal sequence and various 3'-terminal sequences. Nuclear factor I family genes can activate or repress transcription by a highly variable C-terminal region. Thus, the five isoform products from a single gene may function differently. Quantitative PCR results showed that NFIX had highest expression in brain; medial expression in lung and muscle; and lower expression in spleen, kidney, liver and heart of both embryo and adult cattle. However, the expression levels NFIX in adult tissues were significantly decreased, and the diversity of its alternative splicing events was lower. Each isoform was expressed differently in different tissues at the embryo and adult stages. One of the isoforms (Nfix2) was not detected in tissues of adult cattle. In brain, another of the isoforms (Nfix3) was not detected, whereas the other four isoforms were highly expressed. In the embryo, of the five isoforms, the profile of the one labeled Nfix4 was the most similar to that of total Nfix, and we proved that it was the major isoform. This study is the first that has detected five novel isoforms of the bovine NFIX transcript products and that has examined their profiles at spatial and temporal levels, which will provide essential information for better understanding the bovine NFIX gene.