Diagnostic Value of Neutrophil-Lymphocyte Ratio and Platelet-Lymphocyte Ratio in Patients with Severe COVID-19 - 7 PLADs, China, January 21-February 10, 2020.

What is already known about this topic?: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) causes symptoms ranging from mild to severe. Indicators for identifying severe COVID-19 infection have not been well identified, especially for young patients. What is added by this report?: Both neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) [area under curve (AUC): 0.80; the odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI): 1.30 (1.13-1.50)] and platelet-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) [AUC: 0.87; OR (95% CI): 1.05 (1.01-1.09)] were determined to be indicators for recognition of patients with severe COVID-19 in young patients less than age 40. What are the implications for public health practice?: NLR and PLR are useful indicators for identifying patients with severe COVID-19, especially in young patients less than age 40.

Genomic Insights into the Origin and Evolution of Molluscan Red-Bloodedness in the Blood Clam Tegillarca granosa.

Blood clams differ from their molluscan kins by exhibiting a unique red-blood (RB) phenotype; however, the genetic basis and biochemical machinery subserving this evolutionary innovation remain unclear. As a fundamental step toward resolving this mystery, we presented the first chromosome-level genome and comprehensive transcriptomes of the blood clam Tegillarca granosa for an integrated genomic, evolutionary, and functional analyses of clam RB phenotype. We identified blood clam-specific and expanded gene families, as well as gene pathways that are of RB relevant. Clam-specific RB-related hemoglobins (Hbs) showed close phylogenetic relationships with myoglobins (Mbs) of blood clam and other molluscs without the RB phenotype, indicating that clam-specific Hbs were likely evolutionarily derived from the Mb lineage. Strikingly, similar to vertebrate Hbs, blood clam Hbs were present in a form of gene cluster. Despite the convergent evolution of Hb clusters in blood clam and vertebrates, their Hb clusters may have originated from a single ancestral Mb-like gene as evidenced by gene phylogeny and synteny analysis. A full suite of enzyme-encoding genes for heme synthesis was identified in blood clam, with prominent expression in hemolymph and resembling those in vertebrates, suggesting a convergence of both RB-related Hb and heme functions in vertebrates and blood clam. RNA interference experiments confirmed the functional roles of Hbs and key enzyme of heme synthesis in the maintenance of clam RB phenotype. The high-quality genome assembly and comprehensive transcriptomes presented herein serve new genomic resources for the super-diverse phylum Mollusca, and provide deep insights into the origin and evolution of invertebrate RB.

Urchin-Type Architecture Assembled by Cobalt Phosphide Nanorods Encapsulated in Graphene Framework as an Advanced Anode for Alkali Metal Ion Batteries.

Urchin-type cobalt phosphide microparticles assembled by nanorod were encapsulated in a graphene framework membrane (CoP@GF), and used as a binder-free electrode for alkali metal ion batteries. Electrochemical measurements indicate that this membrane exhibits enhanced reversible lithium, sodium, and potassium storage capabilities. Moreover, the energy storage properties of CoP@GF electrodes in alkali metal ion batteries display an order of Li>Na>K. DFT calculations on adsorption energy of CoP surfaces for Li, Na, and K indicated that CoP surfaces were more favorable to transfer electrons to Li atoms than Na and K, and the surface reactivity can be ordered as Li-CoP>Na-CoP>K-CoP; thus, CoP@GF exhibits better storage capacity for lithium. This work provides experimental and theoretical basis for understanding the electrochemical performance of cobalt phosphide-based membranes for alkali metal ion batteries.

A Concentrated AlCl3-Diglyme Electrolyte for Hard and Corrosion-Resistant Aluminum Electrodeposits.

A concentrated aluminum chloride (AlCl3)-diglyme (G2) electrolyte is used to prepare hard and corrosion-resistant aluminum (Al) electrodeposited films. The Al electrodeposits obtained from the electrolyte with an AlCl3/G2 molar ratio x = 0.4 showed a void-free microstructure composed of spherical particles, in stark contrast to flake-like morphologies with micro-voids for lower x. Neutral complexes rarely exist in the x = 0.4 electrolyte, resulting in a relatively high conductivity despite the high concentration and high viscosity. Nanoindentation measurements for the Al deposits with >99% purity revealed that the nanohardness was 2.86 GPa, three times higher than that for Al materials produced through electrodeposition from a well-known ionic liquid bath or through severe plastic deformation. Additionally, the void-free Al deposits had a <100> preferential crystal orientation, which accounted for better resistance to free corrosion and pitting corrosion. Discussions about the compact microstructure and <100> crystal orientation of deposits obtained only from the x = 0.4 concentrated electrolyte are also presented.

Study of a nanocrystalline cobalt coating prepared by area-selective electrodeposition.

Nanocrystalline Co coatings were successfully prepared on the surface of a steel substrate by droplet contact electrodeposition. Area-selective electrodeposition is performed by electrolyte drops contacting the surface of the substrate. By analyzing the current-time curve during the preparation of the coating, the influence of the selected area deposition pattern on the current-time curve is summarized. Meanwhile, microscopic observation, phase composition analysis, and performance testing of the coating were performed. The results show that the control procedure and deposition method directly affect the organization, morphology, and quality of the coating. The limited electrodeposition area and its continuous movement increase the nucleation rate and limit the growth of crystal nuclei. Therefore, the area-selective electrodeposition method has great advantages in preparing nanocrystals. The nanocrystalline Co coating was prepared on the surface of a steel substrate, and the surface hardness and corrosion resistance were improved.

3D Graphene Networks Encapsulated with Ultrathin SnS Nanosheets@Hollow Mesoporous Carbon Spheres Nanocomposite with Pseudocapacitance-Enhanced Lithium and Sodium Storage Kinetics.

The lithium and sodium storage performances of SnS anode often undergo rapid capacity decay and poor rate capability owing to its huge volume fluctuation and structural instability upon the repeated charge/discharge processes. Herein, a novel and versatile method is described for in situ synthesis of ultrathin SnS nanosheets inside and outside hollow mesoporous carbon spheres crosslinked reduced graphene oxide networks. Thus, 3D honeycomb-like network architecture is formed. Systematic electrochemical studies manifest that this nanocomposite as anode material for lithium-ion batteries delivers a high charge capacity of 1027 mAh g-1 at 0.2 A g-1 after 100 cycles. Meanwhile, the as-developed nanocomposite still retains a charge capacity of 524 mAh g-1 at 0.1 A g-1 after 100 cycles for sodium-ion batteries. In addition, the electrochemical kinetics analysis verifies the basic principles of enhanced rate capacity. The appealing electrochemical performance for both lithium-ion batteries and sodium-ion batteries can be mainly related to the porous 3D interconnected architecture, in which the nanoscale SnS nanosheets not only offer decreased ion diffusion pathways and fast Li+ /Na+ transport kinetics, but also the 3D interconnected conductive networks constructed from the hollow mesoporous carbon spheres and reduced graphene oxide enhance the conductivity and ensure the structural integrity.