[Effect of sirolimus combined with anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody desensitization on the prognosis of patients underwent haploidentical stem cell transplantation]

Objective: To investigate the effects of sirolimus combined with anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody desensitization on the prognosis of patients with haploidentical stem cell transplantation (haplo-SCT). Methods: Fifteen consecutive patients who received haplo-SCT and pre-transplant donor specific anti-human leukocyte antigen (HLA) antibody (DSA) positive [mean fluorescence intensity (MFI)≥2 000] in the Institute of Hematological Diseases from November 2021 to March 2023 were retrospectively recruited into the desensitized group. There were 4 males and 11 females, with a median age [M(Q1, Q3)] of 48 (37, 59) years. All patients were desensitized with sirolimus combined with anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody. The non-desensitized group included 29 patients with haplo-SCT who had not received desensitization treatment from August 2012 to June 2016. There were 12 males and 17 females with a median age of 42 (26, 50) years. Up to October 1, 2023, the median follow-up time was 13 (9, 18) months in the study group and 23 (14, 29) months in the control group. The changes of MFI before and after desensitization treatment and the prognosis of patients in the desensitized group were compared, including the incidence of primary implantation failure (pGF), neutrophil implantation time, platelet implantation time, grade Ⅱ-Ⅳ acute graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) and chronic GVHD incidence, non-recurrence related mortality, event-free survival rate, disease-free survival rate and overall survival rate. The survival curve was drawn by Kaplan-Meier method, and the survival rate between groups was compared with Log-rank test. Results: After desensitization treatment, the level of DSA MFI in the desensitized group decreased from 8 879 (7 544, 11 495) to 3 781 (1 638, 4 165) after desensitization treatment (P<0.01). All of the patients achieved hematopoietic recovery, and the median time for neutrophil and platelet engraftment were 14 (11, 15) and 20 (18, 25) days, respectively. The incidence of pGF in the desensitized group was 0, which was lower than that in the non-desensitized group (34.5%, 10/29) (P=0.011). The expected 1-year disease-free survival rate and overall survival rate in the desensitized group were 100% (15/15) and 100% (15/15) respectively, while those in the non-desensitized group were 75.9% (22/29) and 75.9% (22/29) respectively, the difference was not statistically significant (both P>0.05). The one-year event-free survival rate in the desensitized group was expected to be 100% (15/15), which was higher than that in the non-desensitized group (51.3%, 15/29) (P=0.002). Conclusion: Sirolimus combined with anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody desensitization therapy can reduce the DSA level of haplo-SCT recipients, promote hematopoietic engraftment after transplantation, and avoid the occurrence of pGF after transplantation.

[Clinical significance of monitoring NUP98::NSD1 fusion genes before and after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation]

Objective: This study aimed to observe the dynamic changes of NUP98::NSD1 expression before and after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) . Moreover, the clinical value of measurable residual disease (MRD) was analyzed. Methods: Sixteen AML patients who were diagnosed with the NUP98::NSD1 fusion gene and received allo-HSCT at Peking University People's Hospital were included. The NUP98::NSD1 fusion gene and leukemia-associated immunophenotype (LAIP) were monitored before and after transplantation to evaluate their MRD status. Results: The median follow-up time for all patients was 526 days (139-1136 days) , with four patients (25.0%) experiencing hematological recurrence at a median of 474 days (283-607 days) after transplantation. Three patients (18.8%) died, two of whom (12.5%) died of leukemia recurrence. The median expression level of NUP98::NSD1 in newly diagnosed patients with complete data was 78.5% (18.9%-184.4%) at the time of initial diagnosis. The recurrence rate was higher in NUP98::NSD1-positive patients after transplantation, with 44.4% of patients experiencing recurrence, whereas no recurrence occurred in NUP98::NSD1-negative patients after transplantation. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve predicted by the NUP98::NSD1 level after transplantation was 1.000 (95% confidence interval: 1.000-1.000, P=0.003) . Among the four patients with recurrence, NUP98::NSD1 was more sensitive than flow cytometry residual (FCM) and Wilms' tumor gene 1 (WT1) . Conclusions: The NUP98::NSD1 fusion gene can be used to evaluate the MRD status of allo-HSCT. NUP98::NSD1-positive patients after transplantation have a high relapse rate and poor prognosis. NUP98::NSD1 was more sensitive than FCM and WT1 in predicting posttransplant relapse.

Effect of fluoro and hydroxy analogies of diglyme on sodium-ion storage in graphite: a computational study

Diglyme co-intercalation with sodium ion (Na⁺) into graphite can enable the use of graphite as a potential anode for sodium-ion batteries (NIBs). However, the presence of diglyme molecules in Na⁺ intercalated graphite limits Na⁺ storage capacity and increases volume changes. In this work, the effect of functionalising diglyme molecules with fluoro and hydroxy groups on Na⁺ storage properties in graphite were computationally studied. It was found that the functionalisation can significantly alter the binding between sodium and the solvent ligand as well as between the sodium-solvent complex and the graphite. The hydroxy-functionalised diglyme exhibits the strongest binding to the graphite of the other functionalised diglyme compounds considered. The calculations also reveal that the graphene layer affects the electron distribution on the diglyme molecule and Na, so the diglyme complexed Na binds more strongly to the graphene layer than the Na alone. We also propose a mechanism for the early stages of the intercalation mechanism that involves a reorientation of the sodium-diglyme complex and suggest how the solvent can be designed to optimise the co-intercalation process.

[Prognostic significance of DEK-NUP214 fusion gene in patients with acute myeloid leukemia after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation]

Objective: To investigate the dynamic change and clinical impact of DEK-NUP214 fusion gene in patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) receiving allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT). Methods: Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RQ-PCR) and multicolor flow cytometry (FCM) were used to detect DEK-NUP214 gene expression and leukemia-associated immunophenotype (LAIP) in 15 newly diagnosed patients with positive DEK-NUP214 and receiving allo-HSCT from September 2012 to September 2017 at Peking University People's Hospital. The clinical outcome was analyzed using Kaplan-Meier survival curves. The impact of DEK-NUP214 expression was analyzed by log-rank test. Results: The subjects were followed-up with a median period of 657 (62-2 212) days. The median DEK-NUP214 expression level at diagnosis was 488% (274%-1 692%). Thirteen patients achieved complete remission before allo-HSCT. Thirteen patients had a residual DEK-NUP214 expression of 0.38% (0.029%-738.9%) before allo-HSCT. After allo-HSCT, DEK-NUP214 expression in 9/13 patients remained positive, which dropped by around 500 folds (5.7-5 663.0 folds) within a month post-transplant. Five patients died and 2 patients relapsed. The 3-year cumulative incidence of relapse in patients with positive DEK-NUP214 before transplant was 17.5%±11.3% and the 3-year overall survival was 60.5%±13.8%. After allo-HSCT, DEK-NUP214-negative patients had a better outcome. Conclusion: Quantitative monitor of DEK-NUP214 fusion gene could be a sensitive indicator of MRD status after allo-HSCT.

Lithium-Ion Transport Behavior in Thin-Film Graphite Electrodes with SEI Layers Formed at Different Current Densities

There has been rapidly growing interest in developing fast-charging batteries for electric vehicles. The solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) layer formed at the graphite/electrolyte interface plays an important role in determining the lithiation rate of lithium-ion batteries (LIBs). In this work, we investigated lithium-ion transport behavior in thin-film graphite electrodes with different graphite particle sizes and morphologies for understanding the role of the SEI layer in fast charging LIBs. We varied the properties of the SEI by changing the current rate during the SEI formation. We observed that forming the SEI layer at a much higher current density than is traditionally used leads to a substantial reduction in electrode impedance and a corresponding increase in ion diffusivity. This enables thin-film graphite electrodes to be charged at current rates as high as 12 C (i.e., about 5 min charging time), demonstrating that graphite is not necessarily prevented from fast charging. By comparing the SEI layers formed at different current densities, we observed that lithium-ion diffusivity across the SEI layer formed on a 23 μm commercial graphite at a current density currently used in the industry (e.g., 0.1 C) is approximately 8.9 × 10^-10 cm²/s.

[Negative effects of donor specific anti-HLA antibody on poor hematopoietic recovery in patients with hematological diseases receiving haploidentical stem cell transplantation and rituximab for desensitization]

Objective: To investigate the incidences and risk factors of poor hematopoietic reconstitution (PHR) in patients with hematological diseases who underwent haploidentical allograft and were treated with rituximab for desensitization. Methods: Eight-three donor specific anti-HLA antibody (DSA, 2000 ≤MFI<10 000) positive patients who underwent haploidentical allograft were prospectively enrolled. Rituximab (375 mg/m²) was used for desensitization day-3 of conditioning regimen. Incidence and factors associated with PHR, including primary poor graft function and prolonged thrombocytopenia, were investigated. Results: There were 22 males and 61 females with a median age of 39(range: 1-65) years. Kaplan-Meier analysis showed that the 100 day cumulative incidences of neutrophil and platelet engraftment were 93.0% and 90.7%, respectively. The incidences of PHR were 14.7%. The 3-year relapse rate, non-relapse mortality (NRM) rate, event-free survival (EFS), leukemia-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) were 6.5%, 15.1%, 70.8%, 79.4% and 79.4%, respectively. Patients with DSA MFI<5 000 (group A, n=46) experienced lower PHR (4.4% vs. 27.5%, P=0.003), and higher 3-year EFS (79.5% vs. 59.8%, P=0.020) compared to those with DSA MFI≥5 000 (group B, n=37). Multivariate analysis showed that DSA MFI≥5 000 was correlated with PHR (HR=6.101, P=0.021). PHR was associated with higher NRM (HR=4.110, P=0.026), lower DFS (HR=3.656, P=0.019) and OS (HR=3.656, P=0.019). Conclusion: Our data suggest that high pre-transplant DSA level is a risk factor for PHR in patients with hematological diseases receiving haploidentical allograft and rituximab for desensitization.

[Comparison of prognostic significance between multiparameter flow cytometry and real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction in the detection of minimal residual disease of Philadelphia chromosome-positive acute B lymphocytic leukemia before allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation]

目的

探讨多参数流式细胞术（MFC）与实时定量聚合酶链反应技术（RQ-PCR）两种方法检测费城染色体阳性（Ph⁺）急性B淋巴细胞白血病（B-ALL）患者异基因造血干细胞移植（allo-HSCT）前微小残留病（MRD）的预后意义。

方法

回顾性分析2014年7月至2018年2月在北京大学血液病研究所接受allo-HSCT的280例Ph⁺ B-ALL患者，同时用MFC和RQ-PCR法（检测BCR-ABL融合基因表达）检测移植前MRD。

结果

RQ-PCR与MFC检测MRD具有相关性（rs＝0.435，P<0.001）。MFC、RQ-PCR法检测移植前MRD的阳性率分别为25.7％（72/280）、60.7％（170/280）。移植前MFC-MRD阳性组患者移植后白血病3年累积复发率（CIR）明显高于MFC-MRD阴性组（23.6％对8.6％，P<0.001）。RQ-PCR检测BCR/ABL融合基因阳性组（RQ-PCR MRD阳性组）的3年CIR、非复发死亡（NRM）、无白血病生存（LFS）、总生存（OS）与BCR/ABL融合基因阴性组（RQ-PCR MRD阴性组）相比差异均无统计学意义（P>0.05）。移植前RQ-PCR MRD≥1％组比<1％组具有更高的3年CIR（23.1％对11.4％，P＝0.032）、更低的LFS率（53.8％对74.4％，P＝0.015）与OS率（57.7％对79.1％，P＝0.009）。多因素分析显示，移植前MFC-MRD阳性是影响移植后CIR的危险因素（HR＝2.488，95％CI1.216～5.088，P＝0.013），移植前RQ-PCR MRD≥1％是影响LFS（HR＝2.272，95％CI 1.225～4.215，P<0.001）、OS（HR＝2.472，95％ CI 1.289～4.739，P＝0.006）的危险因素。MFC检测MRD预测复发的敏感性、特异性、阳性预测值（PPV）、阴性预测值（NPV）分别为48.50％、77.56％、23.62％、87.16％。以RQ-PCR MRD≥1％预测复发的敏感性、特异性、PPV、NPV分别为23.00％、88.59％、17.15％、91.84％。移植前MFC-MRD阳性或RQ-PCR MRD≥1％二者任一成立为指标预测移植后复发的敏感性、特异性、PPV、NPV分别为54.29％、73.88％、45.70％、91.87％。

结论

MFC和RQ-PCR法检测移植前MRD水平均可预测Ph⁺ B-ALL患者移植预后。移植前MFC-MRD阳性是移植后复发的危险因素。联合使用两种方法（移植前MFC-MRD阳性状态或RQ-PCR MRD≥1％成立）可提高预测移植后复发的敏感性、阳性预测值与阴性预测值，有助于更好筛选出高危患者。

Exploring the effect of interlayer distance of expanded graphite for sodium ion storage using first principles calculations

Expanded graphite (EG) has been shown to be able to store a significant amount of sodium ions. Understanding the alkali metal ion storage in EG is of importance for improving EG electrode performance. In this work, the effect of interlayer distance of pure EG on sodium ion storage was investigated using the density functional theory calculation method. EG structure models with interlayer distances ranging from 3.4 Å to 10.0 Å were simulated. It was found that EG can store a fairly large amount of sodium ions through an intercalation mechanism without any contributions from the co-intercalation mechanism or adsorption mechanism if the interlayer distance is larger than 4.4 Å and smaller than 6.0 Å. It was also found that an interlayer distance of 6.0 Å gives strong binding energy of sodium ions with EG forming thermodynamically stable sodium-graphite intercalation compound (Na-GIC). However, when the interlayer distance becomes larger than 6.0 Å, the binding energy between sodium ions and EG becomes weaker. Computational results have also shown that the enthalpy of formation of the Na-GIC of EG is energetically more favourable when the interlayer distance is increased. An optimal d-spacing of EG for sodium ion storage was identified in this work. These findings provide atomistic insights into sodium ion storage in EG, providing guidelines for the design of graphite-based anode materials for sodium-ion batteries.

[Impact of splenomegaly on outcomes of allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation in patients with chronic myelomonocytic leukemia]

目的

探讨脾肿大对慢性粒-单核细胞白血病（CMML）异基因造血干细胞移植（allo-HSCT）预后的影响。

方法

对2004年至2018年在北京大学血液病研究所接受allo-HSCT后的25例CMML患者进行回顾性分析，根据预处理前2周是否伴有脾脏肿大分为脾肿大组和非脾肿大组，比较两组患者在植入、移植物抗宿主病（GVHD）、复发以及生存方面的差异。

结果

①脾肿大组15例（男8例，女7例），中位年龄45（23~61）岁；非脾肿大组10例（男、女各5例），中位年龄39（12~56）岁。两组患者基线特征差异无统计学意义（P>0.05）。②脾肿大组、非脾肿大组粒细胞植入率分别为93.3%（14/15）、100.0%（10/10），中位植入时间分别为17（11~20）d、14（11~18）d（χ²=5.303，P=0.021）；脾肿大组、非脾肿大组血小板植入率分别为80.0%（12/15）、90.0%（9/10）（P=0.212），中位植入时间分别为17（12~33）d、15（12~19）d（χ²=0.470，P=0.493）。③脾肿大组5例发生急性GVHD（Ⅰ/Ⅱ度4例，Ⅲ/Ⅳ度1例），非脾肿大组6例发生急性GVHD（Ⅰ/Ⅱ度5例，Ⅲ/Ⅳ度1例）（χ²=0.204，P=0.652）。脾肿大组、非脾肿大组移植后100 d的急性GVHD累积发生率分别为33.3%（95%CI 14.9%~51.7%）、20.0%（95%CI 2.8%~37.2%）（P=0.635）。脾肿大组5例发生慢性GVHD（广泛型3例），非脾肿大组未发生慢性GVHD（P=0.041）。④脾肿大组、非脾肿大组3年累积复发率分别为（42.7±2.6）%、（11.1±1.2）%（χ²=1.824，P=0.122），3年总生存率分别为（61.5±13.5）%、（68.6±15.1）%（χ²=0.351，P=0.554），3年无白血病生存率分别为（56.3±14.8）%、（80.0±17.9）%（χ²=1.148，P=0.284）。

结论

脾肿大可致CMML患者allo-HSCT后粒细胞植入延迟，对生存及复发无影响。

Efficient suppression of the shuttle effect in Na-S batteries with an As2S3 anchoring monolayer

Sodium-sulfur batteries (NaSBs) have emerged as a promising energy storage technology for large-scale stationary applications such as smart electrical grids due to their exceptionally high energy density and cost-effectiveness. However, one of the challenging problems impeding their practical applications is the sulfur shuttle effect by which the active redox intermediates are gradually dissolved in electrolytes. In this work, we have employed first-principles density functional theory (DFT) calculations to unravel the suppression of the shuttle effect in NaSBs with a two-dimensional (2D) As2S3 monolayer as the anchoring material. We show that semiconducting As2S3 is a suitable anchoring layer to inhibit the dissolution of the polysulfide intermediates in common electrolytes because of its stronger chemical binding with sodium polysulfides than with the electrolytes. The immense adsorption is attributed to the electron donation from the unfilled S-3p states of the polysulfides to As2S3. These mechanisms increase the carrier population and consequently improve the electrical conductivity of As2S3. Hence, the use of As2S3 can both reduce the shuttle effect and enhance the cathode electron conductivity to enable improved cycling stability and coulombic efficiency of the battery.

[An interlaboratory comparison study on the detection of RUNX1-RUNX1T1 fusion transcript levels and WT1 transcript levels]

Objective: To investigate the current status and real performance of the detection of RUNX1-RUNX1T1 fusion transcript levels and WT1 transcript levels in China through interlaboratory comparison. Methods: Peking University People's Hospital (PKUPH) prepared the samples for comparison. That is, the fresh RUNX1-RUNX1T1 positive (+) bone morrow nucleated cells were serially diluted with RUNX1-RUNX1T1 negative (-) nucleated cells from different patients. Totally 23 sets with 14 different samples per set were prepared. TRIzol reagent was added in each tube and thoroughly mixed with cells for homogenization. Each laboratory simultaneously tested RUNX1-RUNX1T1 and WT1 transcript levels of one set of samples by real-time quantitative PCR method. All transcript levels were reported as the percentage of RUNX1-RUNX1T1 or WT1 transcript copies/ABL copies. Spearman correlation coefficient between the reported transcript levels of each participated laboratory and those of PKUPH was calculated. Results: ①RUNX1-RUNX1T1 comparison: 9 samples were (+) and 5 were (-) , the false negative and positive rates of the 20 participated laboratories were 0 (0/180) and 5% (5/100) , respectively. The reported transcript levels of all 9 positive samples were different among laboratories. The median reported transcript levels of 9 positive samples were from 0.060% to 176.7%, which covered 3.5-log. The ratios of each sample's highest to the lowest reported transcript levels were from 5.5 to 12.3 (one result which obviously deviated from other laboratories' results was not included) , 85% (17/20) of the laboratories had correlation coefficient ≥0.98. ②WT1 comparison: The median reported transcript levels of all 14 samples were from 0.17% to 67.6%, which covered 2.6-log. The ratios of each sample's highest to the lowest reported transcript levels were from 5.3-13.7, 62% (13/21) of the laboratories had correlation coefficient ≥0.98. ③ The relative relationship of the reported RUNX1-RUNX1T1 transcript levels between the participants and PKUPH was not always consistent with that of WT1 transcript levels. Both RUNX1-RUNX1T1 and WT1 transcript levels from 2 and 7 laboratories were individually lower than and higher than those of PKUPH, whereas for the rest 11 laboratories, one transcript level was higher than and the other was lower than that of PKUPH. Conclusion: The reported RUNX1-RUNX1T1 and WT1 transcript levels were different among laboratories for the same sample. Most of the participated laboratories reported highly consistent result with that of PKUPH. The relationship between laboratories of the different transcript levels may not be the same.

[Observation on the efficacy of consolidation chemotherapy combined with allogeneic natural killer cell infusion in the treatment of low and moderate risk acute myeloid leukemia]

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of consolidation chemotherapy combined with allogeneic natural killer (NK) cell infusion in the treatment of low or intermediate-risk (LIR) acute myeloid leukemia (AML) . Methods: A cohort of 23 LIR AML patients at hematologic complete remission (CR) received NK cell transfusion combined with consolidation chemotherapy after 3 consolidation courses from January 2014 to June 2019 were reviewed. Control group cases were concurrent patients from Department of Hematology, and their gender, age, diagnosis, risk stratification of prognosis, CR and the number of courses of consolidate chemotherapy before NK cell transfusion were matched with LIR AML patients. Results: A total of 45 times of NK cells were injected into 23 LIR AML patients during 4 to 7 courses of chemotherapy. The median NK cell infusion quantity was 7.5 (6.6-8.6) ×10(9)/L, and the median survival rate of NK cells was 95.4% (93.9%-96.9%) . Among them, the median CD3(-)CD56(+) cell number was 5.0 (1.4-6.4) ×10(9)/L, accounting for 76.8% (30.8%-82.9%) ; The number of CD3(+) CD56(+) cells was 0.55 (0.24-1.74) ×10(9)/L, accounting for 8.8% (4.9%-20.9%) . Before NK cell infusion, the number of patients with positive MRD in the treatment and control groups were 9/23 (39.1%) and 19/46 (41.3%) (χ(2)=0.030, P=0.862) respectively. After NK infusion, There was no significant difference in terms of MRD that went from negative to positive between the treatment and the control groups (14.3% vs 22.2%, χ(2)=0.037, P=0.847) . In the treatment group, 66.7% (6/9) of the MRD were converted from positive to negative, which was significantly higher than that in the control group (10.5%, 2/19) (χ(2)=6.811, P=0.009) . Morphological recurrence occurred in 1 case of MRD negative in the treatment group and 2 cases of MRD positive in the control group. By the end of follow-up, the median follow-up was 35 (10-59) months, the number of patients with morphological recurrence in the treatment group was 30.4% (7/23) , which was significantly lower than that in the control group (50.2%, 24/46) (χ(2)=2.929, P=0.087) , although there was no statistically significant difference between the two groups. There was no significant difference on MRD-negative between the treatment and the control groups (43.5% vs 43.5%, χ(2)=1.045, P=0.307) . The 3-year leukemia-free survival was better in the treatment group [ (65.1±11.1) %] than that in the control group [ (50.0±7.4) %] (P=0.047) . The 3-year overall survival in the treatment and control groups were (78.1±10.2) % and (65.8±8.0) % (P=0.212) , respectively. Conclusion: The consolidation of chemotherapy combined with allogeneic NK cell infusion contributed to the further remission of patients with LMR AML and the reduction of long-term recurrence.

Improvement of Hard Carbon Electrode Performance by Manipulating SEI Formation at High Charging Rates

There is a growing demand for high-rate rechargeable batteries for powering electric vehicles and portable electronics. Here, we demonstrate a strategy for improving electrode performance by controlling the formation of solid electrolyte interphase (SEI). A composite electrode consisting of hard carbon (HC) and carbon nanotubes (CNTs) was used to study the formation of the SEI at different charging rates in an electrolyte consisting of 1 M NaClO₄ in a mixed solvent with ethylene carbonate (EC) and propylene carbonate (PC), as well as fluoroethylene carbonate (FEC) additive. The half-cell method was used to form the SEI at different charging rates (e.g., 1, 10, and 100 A/g). Symmetric capacitor cells were employed to study ion transport properties through the SEI. It was found that the SEI is a primary factor responsible for limiting the capacity of the composite anode material in conventional ester-based electrolytes. The electrode with the SEI formed at 100 A/g exhibited the lowest impedance and delivered nearly twice the capacity of the electrode with the SEI formed at 1 A/g. This significant difference is due to a thin SEI formed at the fast charging rate, as has been observed with ether-based electrolytes. An identical decay rate (0.11 mA h/g per cycle) was observed on the electrodes with SEIs formed at different charging rates in an ester electrolyte. No chemical difference among the three SEI layers was found. However, morphological differences of the SEI layers were observed. This difference is believed to account for the different electrochemical behaviors of the electrodes. This work shows that high charging rates can result in the formation of an optimal SEI layer, contradicting the widely accepted practice of using low charging rates during the SEI formation in alkali-ion batteries.

New Anode Material for Lithium-Ion Batteries: Aluminum Niobate (AlNb11O29)

This paper describes the syntheses and electrochemical properties of a new niobate compound, aluminum niobate (AlNb₁₁O₂₉), for Li⁺ storage. AlNb₁₁O₂₉-microsized particles and nanowires were synthesized based on the solid-state reaction and solvothermal methods, respectively. In situ X-ray diffraction results confirmed the intercalating mechanism of Li⁺ in AlNb₁₁O₂₉ and revealed its high structural stability against cycling. The AlNb₁₁O₂₉ nanowires with a novel bamboo-like morphology afforded a large interfacial area and short charge transport pathways, thus leading to the observed excellent electrochemical properties, including high reversible Li⁺-storage capacity (266 mA h g^-1), safe operating potential (around 1.68 V), and high initial Coulombic efficiency (93.3%) at 0.1 C. At a very high rate (10 C), the AlNb₁₁O₂₉ nanowires still exhibited a capacity as high as 192 mA h g^-1, indicating their good rate capability. In addition, at 10 C, 96.3% capacity was retained over 500 cycles, indicating superior cycling stability. A full cell fabricated with AlNb₁₁O₂₉ nanowires as the anode and LiNi_0.5Mn_1.5O₄ microparticles as the cathode delivered a high energy density of 390 W h kg^-1 at 0.1 C. This work suggests that the AlNb₁₁O₂₉ nanowires hold a great promise for the development of high-performance lithium-ion batteries for large-scale energy-storage applications.

[Clinical significance of monitoring ETV6-RUNX1 fusion gene expression in children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation]

Objective: To investigate the clinical significance of monitoring ETV6-RUNX1 fusion gene in children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) after allogeneic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) . Methods: Clinical data of 13 children received allo-HSCT in Peking University Institute of Hematology from May 2009 to March 2016 were retrospectively collected. The ETV6-RUNX1 gene was examined by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RQ-PCR) . The correlation between its expression level and the disease status was analyzed. Results: Of 13 enrolled ALL cases, the ETV6-RUNX1 expression of 7 patients converted to positive after transplant at a median time of 137 days (range, 28-270 days) . The expression level of the first positive sample was 0.034% (range, 0.004%-0.061%) . The duration from ETV6-RUNX1 positive to hematological relapse was 196 days (range, 28-666 days) . Four patients experienced relapse at a median time of 294 days (range, 104-803 days) after allo-HSCT. The ETV6-RUNX1 expression converted to positive prior to MRD. Patients with positive ETV6-RUNX1 gene expression pre-transplantation would be more likely to relapse. Conclusion: Monitoring ETV6-RUNX1 by RQ-PCR could be used to evaluate MRD status after allo-HSCT. Patients with positive ETV6-RUNX1 after transplant had a poor prognosis.

[Significance of PCR detection of HHV6 in gastro biopsy on the course of diarrhea in patients with severe diarrhea after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation]

目的

探讨肠黏膜人疱疹病毒6型（HHV6）检测在异基因造血干细胞移植（allo-HSCT）术后重度腹泻患者中的意义。

方法

回顾性分析2015年2月至2016年8月于北京大学血液病研究所行allo-HSCT后出现重度腹泻并行肠镜检查及肠黏膜活检的患者资料；HHV6、CMV、EBV检测采用RT-PCR方法；肠黏膜病理检查也包括免疫组化方法检测CMV早期抗原、CMV晚期抗原，原位杂交检测EBV。

结果

共有45例患者纳入研究，其中21例（46.7%）肠黏膜活检HHV6阳性，包括男13例，女8例，中位年龄29（14~54）岁；肠黏膜HHV6阳性与阴性组患者血CMV阳性检出率差异无统计学意义（76.2%对87.5%，P>0.05），但EBV血症发生率前者（6/21，28.6%）明显高于后者（1/24，4.2%）（P=0.028）；两组患者在腹泻发生的时间、次数及量方面差异无统计学意义（P值均>0.05）。45例患者中44例接受了膦甲酸钠和（或）更昔洛韦抗病毒治疗，抗病毒治疗并没有影响腹泻的进程。

结论

肠黏膜HHV6阳性在allo-HSCT术后重症腹泻患者中发生率高，未发现其对于治疗及预后有临床意义。肠黏膜HHV6阳性并不能证明HHV6在肠道的感染。

Tailored Polyimide-Graphene Nanocomposite as Negative Electrode and Reduced Graphene Oxide as Positive Electrode for Flexible Hybrid Sodium-Ion Capacitors

Redox-active polyimide materials hold a great promise for electrochemical energy storage applications, especially for flexible energy storage devices. However, the low utilization efficiency due to poor electrical conductivity of the materials remains one of the greatest challenges. In this work, we designed and prepared polyimide-graphene composite materials and tested their electrochemical properties in sodium-ion capacitors. By manipulating the interfacial chemistry and interactions between the polyimide and graphene, composite electrode materials with different polyimide particle sizes and morphologies were obtained. Sodium-ion storage capacity was significantly improved, from ∼50 mAh g^-1 for pure polyimide to 225 mAh g^-1 for a polyimide-graphene composite. A hybrid sodium-ion capacitor fabricated with freestanding polyimide-graphene composite as the negative electrode and reduced graphene oxide as the positive electrode delivered energy densities of 55.5 and 21.5 Wh kg^-1 at power densities of 395 and 3400 W kg^-1, respectively. A flexible sodium-ion capacitor with outstanding mechanical properties was also demonstrated.

Polymer Electrode Materials for Sodium-ion Batteries

Sodium-ion batteries are promising alternative electrochemical energy storage devices due to the abundance of sodium resources. One of the challenges currently hindering the development of the sodium-ion battery technology is the lack of electrode materials suitable for reversibly storing/releasing sodium ions for a sufficiently long lifetime. Redox-active polymers provide opportunities for developing advanced electrode materials for sodium-ion batteries because of their structural diversity and flexibility, surface functionalities and tenability, and low cost. This review provides a short yet concise summary of recent developments in polymer electrode materials for sodium-ion batteries. Challenges facing polymer electrode materials for sodium-ion batteries are identified and analyzed. Strategies for improving polymer electrochemical performance are discussed. Future research perspectives in this important field are projected.

[Risk stratification of type-specific human papillomavirus for cervical precancers: evidence from a cross-sectional study in Shenzhen]

Objective: To analyze the epidemiological genotype features of human papillomavirus (HPV) in cervical infection and their risks for cervical precancers among women in Shenzhen area. Methods: A total of 2 717 individuals ranging in age from 30~59 years were recruited in 18 community health centers of Shenzhen city from March 1 to June 15, 2015 by a cluster sampling method. The results of genotype of HPV, liquid-based cytology (LBC), colposcopy and pathology were analyzed. The clinical sensitivity and specificity as well as positive (PPV) and negative (NPV) predictive values of the combination of different HPV genotype in screening the cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) 2 and above were estimated. Results: The HPV infection rate in Shenzhen area was 15.9% (432/2 717). The most common HPV genotype was HPV52 (22.9%), followed by HPV16 (12.7%), HPV53 (10.0%), HPV51 (8.6%) and HPV58 (8.1%). Compared with HPV16/18 genotyping, HPV33/16 genotyping had a higher sensitivity (57.1% vs. 42.9%, P<0.05) and an analogous specificity (87.3% vs. 86.9%, P>0.05) in predicting CIN2+ . The sensitivity of combination of HPV33/16 genotyping and low grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (LSIL) positive tested by LBC in predicting CIN2+ was 75.0%, significantly higher than 64.3% of atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance (ASC-US) positive tested by LBC alone (P<0.05). The specificities of these two methods mentioned above in predicting CIN2+ were 83.5% and 89.2%, respectively, without statistical difference (P>0.05). Conclusions: Women infected by HPV have distinct risks for CIN2+ according to different high-risk HPV genotypes. The top five risks were HPV 33, 16, 58, 56, and 68. HPV-positive women triaged by LBC LSIL+ combined with HPV33/16 genotyping may be a potential strategy for cervical cancer screening in developed urban area.

[Analysis of the impact of job characteristics and organizational support for workplace violence]

Objective: To analyze the effect of job characteristics and organizational support for workplace violence, explore the influence path and the theoretical model, and provide a theoretical basis for reducing workplace violence. Methods: Stratified random sampling was used to select 813 medical staff, conductors and bus drivers in Chongqing with a self-made questionnaire to investigate job characteristics, organization attitude toward workplace violence, workplace violence, fear of violence, workplace violence, etc from February to October, 2014. Amos 21.0 was used to analyze the path and to establish a theoretical model of workplace violence. Results: The odds ratio of work characteristics and organizational attitude to workplace violence were 6.033 and 0.669, respectively, and the path coefficients were 0.41 and-0.14, respectively (P<0.05). The Fitting indexes of the model: Chi-square (χ(2)) =67.835, The ratio of the chi-square to the degree of freedom (χ(2)/df) =5.112, Good-of-fit index (GFI) =0.970, Adjusted good-of-fit index (AGFI) =0.945, Normed fit index (NFI) =0.923, Root mean square error of approximation (RMSEA) =0.071, Fit criterion (Fmin) =0.092, so the model fit well with the data. Conclusion: The job characteristic is a risk factor for workplace violence while organizational attitude is a protective factor for workplace violence, so changing the job characteristics and improving the enthusiasm of the organization to deal with workplace violence are conducive to reduce workplace violence and increase loyalty to the unit.

[Source and Distribution of Dissolved Metal Ions in the Backwater Area of Pengxi River in Three Gorges Reservoir]

This study uses the Gaoyang Lake section of the Pengxi River, the largest tributary on the northern bank of the Three Gorges Reservoir (TGR), as an example for exploring the distributions and dynamics of Ca, Zn, Fe, Cr, Pb, Cu, and Hg ions in the tributaries of TGR where the water level fluctuates due to dam regulation. Samples were taken 21 times, once every 17.3 days, at four sampling sites in Gaoyang Lake, which is in a perennial backwater zone of the Pengxi River, during one year from June 5, 2013 to May 29, 2014. At each sampling site, water samples were taken from the surface layer (0-0.5 m), middle layer, and bottom layer (0.5 m above the bed mud). During winter when the water was not stratified, the middle layer samples were taken at 1/2 depth, and when water was stratified in other seasons, the middle layer samples were taken from the thermal layer. Inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry (ICP-AES) and cold-vapor atomic absorption methods were adopted to determine the concentrations of the metals. Excel and SPSS were used for data analysis and Matlab for building 3-D prisms displaying concentration distributions of Hg ions in the high water level period (175 m, November-April in the ensuing year), sluicing period (May-middle June), low water level in the flooding season (145 m, June-August), and the storage period (September-November). The results provided the following observations ① Concentrations of Cr, Pb, Cu, Zn, and Hg ions were lower than those in Class Ⅲ of the water environment quality standard (GB 3838-2002). ② Cr, Pb, and Cu had high peak values during the storage and sluicing period, and the lowest values during the high water level period. Cr, Pb, and Cu were derived from the main stream of Yangtze, while Fe and Zn were from the Pengxi River locally. The concentration of Hg ions was affected by both the main stream and endogenous sources. As the water column stratified, metal ions did not mix among the stratified layers in Gaoyang Lake. ③ The conductivity was significantly lower during the high water level period than during other water level periods. The main material that affects the conductivity of Gaoyang Lake could be nonmetallic ions.

[Distribution and associated factors of high-risk HPV genotypes infection among HPV-positive women who participated cervical screening test in Shenzhen, 2014-2016, China]

Objective: To analyze the distribution and associated factors of high-risk genotypes of HPV in cervical infection among women in Shenzhen. Methods: The information on sociodemographic characteristics and HPV genotypes of HPV-positive women who participated cervical screening test from January 2014 to December 2016 was downloaded from Shenzhen Maternity and Child Healthcare Management Information System. According to the pathogenicity, the high-risk HPV genotypes were divided into 15 types including HPV 16, 18, 31, 33, 35, 39, 45, 51, 52, 53, 56, 58, 59, 66 and 68; and there were 6 low-risk genotypes including HPV 6, 11, 42, 43, 44, and 81. Chi-square tests were applied to compare the proportions of high-risk HPV infection among women who had different sociodemographic characteristics. A non-conditional logistic regression model was used to analyze the associated factors for high-risk HPV infection. Results: In total, all HIV positives received HPV genotyping, with an average age of (38.08±9.38) years old. There were 9 979 (93.9%) high-risk and 645 (6.1%) low-risk HPV infections. The proportions of HPV infections for high-risk type in each year were 91.5%, 93.8%, and 95.6%, increasing with the screening years (χ(2)=54.79, P<0.001). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that compared with women younger than 25 years old, women in other age groups (at age 26 to 30 years, 31 to 35 years, 36 to 40 years, 41 to 45 years, and 50 years or older) had increased risks of high-risk HPV infection, with OR (95%CI) of 1.67 (1.20-2.31), 1.49 (1.09-2.03), 1.71 (1.23-2.37), 1.65 (1.19-2.31), and 1.84 (1.26-2.67), respectively; compared with the married, single women had a decreased risk of high-risk HPV infection (OR (95%CI): 0.71 (0.50-1.00)); women received HPV testing in 2015 and 2016 showed higher risk of high-risk HPV infection than those in 2014 (OR (95%CI): 1.43 (1.17-1.74) and 2.03 (1.68-2.46)). The 5 most common HPV genotypes were HPV52 (25.1%, 2 670 cases), followed by HPV16 (19.2%, 2 041 cases), HPV58 (13.3%, 1 413 cases), HPV18 (9.9%, 1 048 cases), and HPV51 (9.3%, 993 cases). Conclusion: Age, marital status, and screening year were associated with high-risk HPV infections. Besides HPV16 and HPV18, the prevention and control on HPV infections for HPV52, HPV58, and HPV51 should be prioritized in Shenzhen area.

[An analysis of the characteristics of perioperative cardiac troponin elevation in orthopaedic surgical patients]

Objective: Perioperative myocardial infarction remains a severe complication in non-cardiac surgery and is one of the major causes of death. Cardiac troponin (cTn) I elevation is associated with short-term and long-term mortality. The aim of the study was to assess the proportion rate of cTnI elevation and its clinical characteristics among patients admitted for orthopaedic surgery with or without cardiovascular events. Methods: This is a retrospective study including 27 744 patients aged 50 years or older who admitted for orthopaedic surgery from 2009-2015 in Beijing Jishuitan Hospital. Results: Two hundred and sixty-five patients [age (71.7±9.9) years] had cTnI level> 0.04 μg/L with 66% (175 patients) of them being female. Among them, 59 patients were isolated troponin rise (ITR) (n=59), 13 were preoperative acute myocardial infarction (AMI), and 193 were postoperative AMI. The proportion of postoperative AMI was 0.69%. Those patients were more likely to have a history of coronary artery disease or hypertension. Non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) was more common (93.3%) than ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction in these patients. Most of them did not experience ischemic symptoms. Totally 76.7% of the AMI occurred within 3 days of surgery; and the in-hospital mortality rate was 10.4%. Conclusions: Perioperative elevation of troponin is common in patients undergoing orthopaedic surgery. Most postoperative AMI were NSTEMI and with absent or atypical ischemia symptoms. Monitoring troponin levels and electrocardiograph in at-risk patients is needed to find most of the AMI.

Electrospun γ-Fe2O3 nanofibers as bioelectrochemical sensors for simultaneous determination of small biomolecules

Nanofibers of α-Fe₂O₃ and γ-Fe₂O₃ have been obtained after the controlled calcination of precursor nanofibers synthesized by electrospinning. α-Fe₂O₃ nanofibers showed an irregular toruloid structure due to the decomposition of poly (4-vinyl) pyridine in air while γ-Fe₂O₃ nanoparticles decorated nanofibers were observed after the calcination under N₂ atmosphere. Electrochemical measurements showed that different electrochemical behaviors were observed on the glassy carbon electrodes modified by α-Fe₂O₃ and γ-Fe₂O₃ nanofibers. The electrode modified by γ-Fe₂O₃ nanofibers exhibited high electrocatalytic activities toward oxidation of dopamine, uric acid and ascorbic acid while α-Fe₂O₃ nanofibers cannot. Furthermore, the γ-Fe₂O₃ modified electrode can realize the selective detection of biomolecules in ternary electrolyte solutions. The synthesis of nanofibers of α-Fe₂O₃ and γ-Fe₂O₃ and their electrochemical sensing properties relationship have been discussed and analyzed based on the experimental results.

[Clinical features and early treatment effects in intermediate risk and poor risk acute myeloid leukemia with EVI1 positive]

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the clinical biological characteristics of EVI1 positive acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and its effect on early chemotherapy.

METHODS

The clinical and biological cha-racteristics of 33 AML patients with EVI1 positive were retrospectively analyzed in 361 AML patients who were diagnosed and treated in our institute from March 2015 to July 2016, and the clinical and biological features, and rates of the induced remission were compared between the intermediate risk and poor risk with EVI1 positive AML, moreover, the influential factors on complete remission (CR) were analyzed. The expression of EVI1/ABL was tested in 32 healthy donors to confirm the abnormal threshold of EVI1 expression.

RESULTS

The definition of EVI1 positive was that the quantitative expression of EVI1/ABL was more than 8.0%. The 33 AML patients with EVI1 positive were found in 361 newly diagnosed AML patients, in which the female and male patients were 17 and 16 respectively, the median age was 45 (18-67) years, with a median follow-up of 6.6 (0.7-13.2) months. Intermediate karyotype was found in 17 patients(including 9 patients with normal karyotypes,1 patient with +8);unfavorable karyotype was found in 14 patients [including 7 patients with -7/7q^-,4 patients with t (v;11q23),3 patients with inv(3)/t(3;3), and 2 patients without mitotic figures]. The rate of CR in the first induction chemotherapy was 42.4%, and the rate of total CR was 60.6%. According to the NCCN, 16 intermediate risk patients and poor risk patients were divided, without favorable risk patients. The rate of CR in the first induction chemotherapy were 68.8% and 17.6% (P=0.005) in the intermediate risk and poor risk respectively, that of total CR were 81.3% and 41.2%(P=0.032), and the rates of relapse were 7.7% and 14.3%.Univariable analysis revealed that unfavorable karyotype could affect the rate of CR in the first reduction chemotherapy and that of total CR (P=0.004, 0.029). The poor risk patients had higher mortality (41.2% vs. 6.3%, P=0.039) and lower overall survival (OS)(P=0.012).

CONCLUSION

EVI1 may be not an independent prognostic factor for the AML patients considering the appea-rance in the intermediate and poor risk patients. It predicts poor outcome in the EVI1 positive AML patients who have unfavorable karyocytes, such as -7/7q^-, t(v;11q23), and inv(3)/t(3;3), and also a low rate of both CR in the first induction chemotherapy and total CR. It also has a low rate of long-term survival and high mortality in the AML patients with EVI1 positive, who may benefit from allogeneic bone marrow transplantation as soon as possible.

Jujube leaf green tea extracts inhibits hepatocellular carcinoma cells by activating AMPK

Here we evaluated the anti-hepatocellular carcinoma activity by the Jujube leaf green tea extracts (JLGTE). We showed that JLGTE exerted anti-proliferative, cytotoxic and pro-apoptotic activities against HepG2 and primary human hepatocellular carcinoma cells. It was however non-cytotoxic to the normal hepatocytes. JLGTE activated AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) signaling, which was required for its cytotoxicity against hepatocellular carcinoma cells. Silence of AMPKα1, via targeted short hairpin RNAs or CRISPR-Cas9 genome editing, inhibited JLGTE-induced AMPK activation and HepG2 cell apoptosis. Further, in-activation of AMPK by a dominant negative AMPKα1 (T172A) also alleviated JLGTE's cytotoxicity against HepG2 cells. On the other hand, forced-activation of AMPK by introduction of a constitutively-active AMPKα1 (T172D) mimicked JLGTE's actions and led to HepG2 cell apoptosis. These results suggest that JLGTE inhibits human hepatocellular carcinoma cells possibly via activating AMPK.

[Clinical value of PCR for viral detection of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid in the diagnosis and treatment of pneumonia after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation]

Objective: To analyze the clinical value of real-time PCR for virus detection in the diagnosis and treatment of patients after allo-HSCT who had no infection evidence of pneumonia using routine pathogen detection panel. Methods: The clinical data of 71 episodes with acute lung injury from May 2015 to March 2017 after allo-HSCT in hematology department of Peking University People's Hospital (PKUPH) were retrospectively analyzed. PCR for virus detection and other routine pathogen detection tests were performed on bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) samples. Results: Among 71 episodes with acute lung injury, a total of 15 patients were diagnosed as lower respiratory tract disease merely associated with virus (detection rate of 21.13%) , 19 episodes were absent of lower respiratory tract infection. The median time from allo-HSCT to the occurrence of lung injury were 176 (49-1 376) d and 196 (57-457) d respectively (z=-0.191, P=0.864) . There were no statistical differences for baseline characteristics and clinical features between two groups. The 100-day attributable mortalities were 13.3% (2/15) and 26.3% (5/19) (χ(2)=0.864, P=0.426) . Patients with low-dose steroids treatment had favorable outcome than those with high-dose steroids treatment (the dose of methylprednisolone ≥250 mg/d as standard) [4.2% (1/24) vs 60.0% (6/10) ]. In patients with detectable virus in BALF, 2 patients died with early high-dose steroids treatment, while 11 patients survived with no steroids treatment or late application. Conclusions: Virus infection should be considered in post-HSCT pneumonia patient with negative result using routine pathogen detection panel. Expanding virus detection panel by PCR in BALF could increase diagnostic precision and might be instructive to treatment.

An Improved Binary Differential Evolution Algorithm for Feature Selection in Molecular Signatures

The discovery of biomarkers from high-dimensional data is a very challenging task in cancer diagnoses. On the one hand, biomarker discovery is the so-called high-dimensional small-sample problem. On the other hand, these data are redundant and noisy. In recent years, biomarker discovery from high-throughput biological data has become an increasingly important emerging topic in the field of bioinformatics. In this study, we propose a binary differential evolution algorithm for feature selection. Firstly, we suggest using a two-stage approach, where three filter methods including the Fisher score, T-statistics, and Information gain are used to generate the feature pool for input to differential evolution (DE). Secondly, in order to improve the performance of differential evolution algorithm for feature selection, a new variant of binary DE called BDE is proposed. Three optimization strategies are incorporated into the BDE. The first strategy is the heuristic method in initial stage, the second one is the self-adaptive parameter control, and the third one is the minimum change value to improve the exploration behaviour thus enhance the diversity. Finally, Support vector machine (SVM) is used as the classifier in 10 fold cross-validation method. The experimental results of our proposed algorithm on some benchmark datasets demonstrate the effectiveness of our algorithm. In addition, the BDE forged in this study will be of great potential in feature selection problems.

Structural Regulation of PdCu2 Nanoparticles and Their Electrocatalytic Performance for Ethanol Oxidation

Two types of PdCu₂ nanoparticles were prepared through one-pot synthesis and a two-step reducing process, named as PdCu₂-1 and PdCu₂-2, respectively. The morphology and structure of as-prepared samples were investigated by transmission electron microscopy, high-resolution transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectrometry. Results showed that more Pd atoms were buried in the inside of PdCu₂-1, whereas more available Pd sites were distributed on the surface of PdCu₂-2. The electrochemical measurements indicated that both PdCu₂-1 and PdCu₂-2 nanoparticles showed a higher electrocatalytic activity than that for pure Pd nanoparticles. In particular, PdCu₂-2 predictably exhibited a better stability and durability as well as a lower onset potential and a higher catalytic current density than that of PdCu₂-1 toward ethanol oxidation in alkaline media. On the basis of these studies, the formation mechanisms of both the PdCu₂ catalysts and the relationship between their structure and properties were discussed in this paper.

Capacitance of Nanoporous Carbon-Based Supercapacitors Is a Trade-Off between the Concentration and the Separability of the Ions

Nanoporous carbon-based supercapacitors store electricity through adsorption of ions from the electrolyte at the surface of the electrodes. Room temperature ionic liquids, which show the largest ion concentrations among organic liquid electrolytes, should in principle yield larger capacitances. Here, we show by using electrochemical measurements that the capacitance is not significantly affected when switching from a pure ionic liquid to a conventional organic electrolyte using the same ionic species. By performing additional molecular dynamics simulations, we interpret this result as an increasing difficulty of separating ions of opposite charges when they are more concentrated, that is, in the absence of a solvent that screens the Coulombic interactions. The charging mechanism consistently changes with ion concentration, switching from counterion adsorption in the diluted organic electrolyte to ion exchange in the pure ionic liquid. Contrarily to the capacitance, in-pore diffusion coefficients largely depend on the composition, with a noticeable slowing of the dynamics in the pure ionic liquid.

Desired crystal oriented LiFePO4 nanoplatelets in situ anchored on a graphene cross-linked conductive network for fast lithium storage

Electron transfer and lithium ion diffusion rates are the key factors limiting the lithium ion storage in anisotropic LiFePO4 electrodes. In this work, we employed a facile solvothermal method to synthesize a "platelet-on-sheet" LiFePO4/graphene composite (LFP@GNs), which is LiFePO4 nanoplatelets in situ grown on graphene sheets with highly oriented (010) facets of LiFePO4 crystals. Such a two-phase contact mode with graphene sheets cross-linked to form a three-dimensional porous network is favourable for both fast lithium ion and electron transports. As a result, the designed LFP@GNs displayed a high rate capability (∼56 mA h g(-1) at 60 C) and long life cycling stability (∼87% capacity retention over 1000 cycles at 10 C). For comparison purposes, samples ex situ modified with graphene (LFP/GNs) as well as pure LiFePO4 platelets (LFP) were also prepared and investigated. More importantly, the obtained LFP@GNs can be used as a basic unit for constructing more complex structures to further improve electrochemical performance, such as coating the exposed LFP surface with a thin layer of carbon to build a C@LFP@GN composite to further enhance its cycling stability (∼98% capacity retention over 1000 cycles at 10 C).

[Decline of ATP-binding cassette transporter G1 expressions with a liver X receptor-independent pathway in patients with type 2 diabetes]

OBJECTIVE

To examine the cholesterol efflux and the expressions of ATP-binding cassette transporter G1 (ABCG1) in macrophages of diabetic patients and the roles of liver-X receptor (LXR) in regulation of ABCG1 expressions.

METHODS

Blood was collected from patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus and healthy controls. The peripheral blood monocytes were differentiated into macrophages with macrophage colony stimulating factor (M-CSF). The cells were radio labeled with [(3)H] cholesterol and were performed with cholesterol efflux assays. Quantitative real-time PCR (qRT PCR) and Western blot were performed to measure the mRNA and protein expressions of ABCA1 and ABCG1. To test the effects of LXR on ABCG1 expressions, inhibition of LXRα and LXRβ by siRNA were performed. The DNA-protein complex of LXR and LXR element (LXRE) located in the promoter region of ABCG1 gene were detected with electrophery mobility supershift assay (EMSA).

RESULTS

Macrophage ABCG1 expressions and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) induced cholesterol efflux were significantly reduced (19.0%±1.2% vs. 12.8%±3.6%, t=2.532, P=0.016) in the diabetic subjects whereas ABCA1 expressions and apolipoprotein A1 (ApoA1) induced cholesterol efflux were comparable (12.0%±1.2% vs. 10.2%±2.3%, t=1.771, P=0.109) between the diabetic patients and healthy subjects. The mRNA expressions of LXRα and LXRβ had no changes between the diabetes subjects and healthy controls (t=1.025, P=0.315; t=-0.531, P=0.600). The LXR-LXRE DNA-protein complex detected by EMSA were also similar between the diabetes subjects and healthy controls (t=1.483, P=0.164). Moreover, ABCG1 expressions were not altered by inhibition of LXRα/β siRNA (t=2.143, P=0.061).

CONCLUSION

Our data indicated that expression of ABCG1 and HDL induced cholesterol efflux were reduced in type 2 diabetic patients. However, the LXR mRNA expression and binding complex of LXR and ABCG1 promoter were not changed. The impairment of cholesterol efflux and ABCG1 gene expressions might be regulated via an LXR-independent pathway.

A new approach to nanoporous graphene sheets via rapid microwave-induced plasma for energy applications

We developed a novel approach to the fabrication of three-dimensional, nanoporous graphene sheets featuring a high specific surface area of 734.9 m(2) g(-1) and an ultrahigh pore volume of 4.1 cm(3) g(-1) through a rapid microwave-induced plasma treatment. The sheets were used as electrodes for supercapacitors and for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) for fuel cells. Argon-plasma grown sheets exhibited a 44% improvement of supercapacitive performance (203 F g(-1)) over the plasma grown sheets (141 F g(-1)). N-doped sheets with Co3O4 showed an outstanding ORR activity evidenced from the much smaller Tafel slope (42 mV/decade) than that of Pt/C (82 mV/decade), which is caused by the high electrical conductivity of the graphene sheets, the planar N species content and the nanoporous morphology.

Mesoporous carbon-coated LiFePO4 nanocrystals co-modified with graphene and Mg2+ doping as superior cathode materials for lithium ion batteries

In this work, mesoporous carbon-coated LiFePO4 nanocrystals further co-modified with graphene and Mg(2+) doping (G/LFMP) were synthesized by a modified rheological phase method to improve the speed of lithium storage as well as cycling stability. The mesoporous structure of LiFePO4 nanocrystals was designed and realized by introducing the bead milling technique, which assisted in forming sucrose-pyrolytic carbon nanoparticles as the template for generating mesopores. For comparison purposes, samples modified only with graphene (G/LFP) or Mg(2+) doping (LFMP) as well as pure LiFePO4 (LFP) were also prepared and investigated. Microscopic observation and nitrogen sorption analysis have revealed the mesoporous morphologies of the as-prepared composites. X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Rietveld refinement data demonstrated that the Mg-doped LiFePO4 is a single olivine-type phase and well crystallized with shortened Fe-O and P-O bonds and a lengthened Li-O bond, resulting in an enhanced Li(+) diffusion velocity. Electrochemical properties have also been investigated after assembling coin cells with the as-prepared composites as the cathode active materials. Remarkably, the G/LFMP composite has exhibited the best electrochemical properties, including fast lithium storage performance and excellent cycle stability. That is because the modification of graphene provided active sites for nuclei, restricted the in situ crystallite growth, increased the electronic conductivity and reduced the interface reaction current density, while, Mg(2+) doping improved the intrinsically electronic and ionic transfer properties of LFP crystals. Moreover, in the G/LFMP composite, the graphene component plays the role of "cushion" as it could quickly realize capacity response, buffering the impact to LFMP under the conditions of high-rate charging or discharging, which results in a pre-eminent rate capability and cycling stability.

Formic acid-assisted synthesis of palladium nanocrystals and their electrocatalytic properties

Palladium (Pd) nanocrystals have been synthesized by using formic acid as the reducing agent at room temperature. When the concentration of formic acid was increased continuously, the size of Pd nanocrystals first decreased to a minimum and then increased slightly again. The products have been investigated by a series of techniques, including X-ray diffraction, high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), UV-vis absorption, and electrochemical measurements. The formation of Pd nanocrystals is proposed to be closely related to the dynamical imbalance of the growth and dissolution rate of Pd nanocrystals associated with the adsorption of formate ions onto the surface of the intermediates. It is found that small Pd nanocrystals showed blue-shifted adsorption peaks compared with large ones. Pd nanocrystals with the smallest size display the highest electrocatalytic activity for the electrooxidation of formic acid and ethanol on the basis of cyclic voltammetry and chronoamperometric data. It is suggested that both the electrochemical active surface area and the small size effect are the key roles in determining the electrocatalytic performances of Pd nanocrystals. A "dissolution-deposition-aggregation" process is proposed to explain the variation of the electrocatalytic activity during the electrocatalysis according to the HRTEM characterization.

Bimetallic ruthenium-copper nanoparticles embedded in mesoporous carbon as an effective hydrogenation catalyst

Bimetallic ruthenium-copper nanoparticles embedded in the pore walls of mesoporous carbon were prepared via a template route and evaluated in terms of catalytic properties in D-glucose hydrogenation. The existence of bimetallic entities was supported by Ru L3-edge and Cu K-edge X-ray absorption results. The hydrogen spillover effect of the bimetallic catalyst on the hydrogenation reaction was evidenced by the results of both hydrogen and carbon monoxide chemisorptions. The bimetallic catalyst displayed a higher catalytic activity than the single-metal catalysts prepared using the same approach, namely ruthenium or copper nanoparticles embedded in the pore walls of mesoporous carbon. This improvement was due to the changes in the geometric and electronic structures of the bimetallic catalyst because of the presence of the second metal.

Platelet CMK-5 as an excellent mesoporous carbon to enhance the pseudocapacitance of polyaniline

A high-performance supercapacitor electrode consisting of platelet ordered mesoporous carbon CMK-5 and polyaniline (PANi) was prepared by chemical oxidative polymerization of aniline in the presence of CMK-5. The PANi with uniform size of 2-5 nm was primarily confined in the mesochannels of CMK-5 at low PANi loadings (40 and 51 wt %), whereas at a high loading of 64 wt %, additional PANi thin films with thicknesses of 5-10 nm were coated on the surface of the CMK-5 particles. Such CMK-5-PANi composites afforded a high electrochemical active surface area for surface Faradic redox reactions, leading to a more than 50% utilization efficiency when considering the theoretical capacitance of PANi of about 2000 F/g. As a result, a specific capacitance of 803 F/g and an energy density of 27.4 Wh/kg were achieved for CMK-5-PANi composite electrode with 64 wt % PANi, showing substantial improvement as compared with symmetric capacitors configured with CMK-5 electrodes (10.1 Wh/kg) or pure PANi electrodes (16.4 Wh/kg). Moreover, an excellent rate capability and a substantially enhanced electrochemical stability with 81% capacitance retention as compared with 68% of pure PANi were also observed over 1000 charge-discharge cycles at a constant current density of 4.0 A/g.

Facile synthesis of ZnFe2O4 nanoparticles with tunable magnetic and sensing properties

Nanoparticles (NPs) and colloidal nanocrystal clusters (CNCs) of ZnFe2O4 were synthesized by using a solvothermal method in a controlled manner through simply adjusting the solvents. When a glycerol/water mixture was used as the solvent, ZnFe2O4 NPs were obtained. However, using ethylene glycol solvent yielded well-dispersed ZnFe2O4 CNCs. X-ray diffraction (XRD) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) data confirmed that the ZnFe2O4 NPs were a single crystalline phase with tunable sizes ranging from 12 to 20 nm, while the ZnFe2O4 CNCs of submicrometer size consisted of single-crystalline nanosheets. Magnetic measurement results showed that the ZnFe2O4 NPs were ferromagnetic with a very small hysteresis loop at room temperature. However, CNCs displayed a superparamagnetic behavior due to preferred orientations of the nanosheets. Electrochemical sensing properties showed that both the size of the NPs and the structure of the CNCs had a great influence on their electrochemical properties in the reduction of H2O2. Based on the experimental results, the formation mechanisms of both the ZnFe2O4 CNCs and NPs as well as their structure-property relationship were discussed.

An improved convective self-assembly method for the fabrication of binary colloidal crystals and inverse structures

We report an improved convective self-assembly method for the fabrication of highly ordered, crack-free binary colloidal crystals (BCCs) and the associated inverse structures in large domains at length scales of several centimeters. With this method, BCCs can be fabricated in a non-close packed pattern and binary inverse opal films can be obtained over a centimeter scale. The presence of tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS) sol in the self-assembly system was found to play a significant role in the resultant structures. The pseudostop band positions are adjustable via varying the number ratio of small to large polystyrene (PS) spheres. At a given TEOS-to-PS ratio, the binary inverse opal film thickness was controllable by varying the colloidal volume fraction with an upper thickness threshold (>16 layers).

On the configuration of supercapacitors for maximizing electrochemical performance

Supercapacitors, which are attracting rapidly growing interest from both academia and industry, are important energy-storage devices for acquiring sustainable energy. Recent years have seen a number of significant breakthroughs in the research and development of supercapacitors. The emergence of innovative electrode materials (e.g., graphene) has clearly provided great opportunities for advancing the science in the field of electrochemical energy storage. Conversely, smart configurations of electrode materials and new designs of supercapacitor devices have, in many cases, boosted the electrochemical performance of the materials. We attempt to summarize recent research progress towards the design and configuration of electrode materials to maximize supercapacitor performance in terms of energy density, power density, and cycle stability. With a brief description of the structure, energy-storage mechanism, and electrode configuration of supercapacitor devices, the design and configuration of symmetric supercapacitors are discussed, followed by that of asymmetric and hybrid supercapacitors. Emphasis is placed on the rational design and configuration of supercapacitor electrodes to maximize the electrochemical performance of the device.

One-step solvothermal synthesis of Fe3O4@C core-shell nanoparticles with tunable sizes

We report the synthesis of Fe3O4@C core-shell nanoparticles (FCNPs) by using a facile one-step solvothermal method. The FCNPs consisted of Fe3O4 particles as the cores and amorphous uniform carbon shells. The content of Fe3O4 is up to 81.6 wt%. These core-shell nanoparticles are aggregated by primary nanocrystals with a size of 10-12 nm. The FCNPs possess a hollow interior, high magnetization, excellent absorption properties and abundant surface hydroxyl groups. A possible growth mechanism of the FCNPs is proposed. The role of glucose in regulating the grain size and morphology of the particles is discussed. The absorption properties of the FCNPs towards Cr(VI) in aqueous solution is investigated. We demonstrate that the FCNPs can effectively remove more than 90 wt% of Cr(VI) from aqueous solution.

Fabrication of large scale nanostructures based on a modified atomic force microscope nanomechanical machining system

The atomic force microscope (AFM) tip-based nanomechanical machining has been demonstrated to be a powerful tool for fabricating complex 2D∕3D nanostructures. But the machining scale is very small, which holds back this technique severely. How to enlarge the machining scale is always a major concern for the researches. In the present study, a modified AFM tip-based nanomechanical machining system is established through combination of a high precision X-Y stage with the moving range of 100 mm × 100 mm and a commercial AFM in order to enlarge the machining scale. It is found that the tracing property of the AFM system is feasible for large scale machining by controlling the constant normal load. Effects of the machining parameters including the machining direction and the tip geometry on the uniform machined depth with a large scale are evaluated. Consequently, a new tip trace and an increasing load scheme are presented to achieve a uniform machined depth. Finally, a polymer nanoline array with the dimensions of 1 mm × 0.7 mm, the line density of 1000 lines/mm and the average machined depth of 150 nm, and a 20 × 20 polymer square holes array with the scale of 380 μm × 380 μm and the average machined depth of 250 nm are machined successfully. The uniform of the machined depths for all the nanostructures is acceptable. Therefore, it is verified that the AFM tip-based nanomechanical machining method can be used to machine millimeter scale nanostructures.

Fabrication of TiO2 binary inverse opals without overlayers via the sandwich-vacuum infiltration of precursor

A sandwich-vacuum method was demonstrated for the fabrication of titania (TiO(2)) binary inverse opals with an open surface. In this method, a moisture-stable TiO(2) precursor was backfilled into the interstitial spaces of polystyrene binary colloidal crystals (PS bCCs), which served as a template. Removal of the template by calcination yielded TiO(2) binary inverse opals with a 3D-ordered macroporous (3DOM) structure. Optical reflectance spectra revealed the existence of a pseudostop band gap in the 3DOM TiO(2) samples. The position of the pseudostop band gap shifted to the low-wavelength region as the number ratio of small over large PS spheres was increased in the template. The sandwich-vacuum method proved to be simple and rapid for the fabrication of TiO(2) binary inverse opals without overlayers in large domains. The 3DOM TiO(2) materials were used as a photocatalyst for the degradation of benzoic acid. Results showed that in comparison to TiO(2) nanoparticles prepared under the same sintering conditions, the 3DOM TiO(2) materials displayed enhanced photocatalytic activity.

Synthesis, characterization and capacitive performance of hydrous manganese dioxide nanostructures

Hydrous manganese dioxide nanostructures were synthesized via a catalytic oxidation reaction mechanism at mild temperatures. It was found that the morphology of the manganese dioxide nanostructures was significantly influenced by the pH of the reaction system. With increasing pH the morphology of manganese dioxide nanostructures changed from urchin-like structures to nanobelts. The capacitive performance was investigated by using cycle voltammetry and galvanostatic charge/discharge techniques. Hydrous manganese dioxide nanostructures obtained from a basic solution exhibited a capacitance of 262 F g(-1) at a current density of 250 mA g(-1) and a capacitive retention of 75% after 1200 cycles, suggesting that this is a promising electrode material for supercapacitors. The high specific capacitance is attributed to the hydrous nature coupled with a high surface area (181 m(2) g(-1)) of the manganese dioxide nanostructure.