Designing Sphere-like FeSe2-Carbon Composites with Rational Construction of Interfacial Traits towards Considerable Sodium-storage Capabilities.

Due to their low cost and high stability, sodium-ion batteries have been increasingly studied. However, their further development is limited by the relative energy density, resulting in the search for high-capacity anodes. FeSe2 displays high conductivity and capacity but still suffers from sluggish kinetics and serious volume expansion. Herein, through sacrificial template methods, a series of sphere-like FeSe2-carbon composites are successfully prepared, displaying uniform carbon coatings and interfacial chemical FeOC bonds. Moreover, benefiting from the unique traits of precursor and acid treatment, rich structural voids are prepared, effectively alleviating volume expansion. Utilized as anodes of sodium-ion batteries, the optimized sample displays considerable capacity, achieving 462.9 mAh g-1, with 88.75% coulombic efficiency at 1.0 A g-1. Even at 5.0 A g-1, their capacity can be kept at approximately 318.8 mAh g-1, while the stable cycling can be prolonged to 200 cycles above. Supported by the detailed kinetic analysis, it can be noted that the existing chemical bonds facilitate the fast shuttling of ions at the interface, and the enhanced surface/near-surface properties are further vitrified. Given this, the work is expected to offer valuable insights for the rational design of metal-based samples toward advanced sodium-storage materials.

Genetic recombination of Orientia tsutsugamushi strains from scrub typhus patients in Guangxi, Southwest China, and the analysis of clinical features.

Three Orientia tsutsugamushi genotypic groups belonging to two prototypes (Gilliam and Karp) were identified in scrub typhus patients from Guangxi, Southwest China. Fever, headache, pneumonia, fatigue, chill, and anorexia were the most common clinical signs. Frequent recombination was observed for their 47-kDa gene compared to 56-kDa and 16S genes. Furthermore, patients infected with the Gilliam prototype represent a much higher proportion of pneumonia (6/6, 100%) than those infected with the Karp prototype (4/8, 50%) (p-value = 0.040). This discrepancy is consistent with recent animal tests on rhesus and may indicate different virulence and tissue tropism between different O. tsutsugamushi prototypes.

Red blood cell distribution width-to-platelet ratio as a disease activity-associated factor in systemic lupus erythematosus.

BACKGROUND: Although different clinical and experimental parameters have been used to estimate disease activity in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients, the relationship between red blood cell distribution width-to-platelet ratio (RPR) and disease activity in SLE has not been previously illuminated. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the association between RPR levels and disease activity in SLE. METHODS: This study enrolled 105 SLE patients and 105 healthy subjects. We divided the patients into 2 groups using the SLE Disease Activity Index (SLEDAI) 2000. Group 1 included patients with SLEDAI score ≤9 (mild disease activity group) and group 2 with SLEDAI >9 (severe disease activity group). Correlations between RPR and disease activity were then analyzed. A subgroup follow-up analysis of 93 patients was conducted to explore the effect of SLE-related glucocorticoid therapy. RESULTS: The PLR and RPR values of SLE patients were significantly higher compared with the controls (both P < .001), whereas mean platelet volume was decreased (P < .05). The RPR level was found to be positively correlated with SLEDAI (r = 0.368, P < .001) and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (r = 0.313, P = .027). According to the receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) curve, the optimal cut-off value for predicting SLE using RPR was 0.073, and the area under ROC curve was 0.817. RPR level was correlated with clinical disease activity in SLE, and its value was normalized after treatment. CONCLUSION: RPR may be a useful measurement for the assessment of disease activity in SLE patients.