Advanced TiO2/Al2O3 Bilayer ALD Coatings for Improved Lithium-Rich Layered Oxide Electrodes.

Surface modification is a highly effective strategy for addressing issues in lithium-rich layered oxide (LLO) cathodes, including phase transformation, particle cracking, oxygen gas release, and transition-metal ion dissolution. Existing single-/double-layer coating strategies face drawbacks such as poor component contact and complexity. Herein, we present the results of a low-temperature atomic layer deposition (ALD) process for creating a TiO2/Al2O3 bilayer on composite cathodes made of AS200 (Li1.08Ni0.34Co0.08Mn0.5O2). Electrochemical analysis demonstrates that TiO2/Al2O3-coated LLO electrodes exhibit improved discharge capacities and enhanced capacity retention compared with uncoated samples. The TAA-5/AS200 bilayer-coated electrode, in particular, demonstrates exceptional capacity retention (∼90.4%) and a specific discharge capacity of 146 mAh g-1 after 100 cycles at 1C within the voltage range of 2.2 to 4.6 V. The coated electrodes also show reduced voltage decay, lower surface film resistance, and improved interfacial charge transfer resistances, contributing to enhanced stability. The ALD-deposited TiO2/Al2O3 bilayer coatings exhibit promising potential for advancing the electrochemical performance of lithium-rich layered oxide cathodes in lithium-ion batteries.

Sequenced-based Rwanda population provides insights into demographic history.

Rwanda is known as the heart of Africa, reflecting the history of the world. Colonization and genocide have led to Rwanda's existing genetic structure. Herein, we used massively parallel sequencing to analyze 296 loci in 185 Rwandans and constructed a database for Rwandan forensic data for the first time. We found the following results: First, forensic parameters demonstrated that all loci were highly informative and could be used for forensic identification and paternity tests in Rwandans. Second, we found that the differences in genetic background between Rwandans and other African populations were similar but slight, as indicated by the massively parallel sequencing panel. Rwandans belonged to the African population and were inseparable from populations from neighboring countries. Also, Rwandans were closer to the European and American populations because of colonization, war, and other reasons. There was no scientific basis for racial classification established by colonization. Further research still needs to be carried out on more loci and larger Rwandan samples.

Micromagnetic calculation of the magnetite magnetosomal morphology control of magnetism in magnetotactic bacteria.

Magnetotactic bacteria (MTB), which precisely bio-synthesize magnetosomes of magnetite or greigite nanoparticles, have attracted broad interdisciplinary interests in microbiology, magnetic materials, biotechnology and geobiology. Previous experimental and numerical investigations demonstrate a close link among MTB species, magnetosome crystal habits, and magnetic characteristics, but quantitative constraints are currently lacking. In this study, we build three-dimensional finite-element micromagnetic models of intact magnetosome chains in common MTB species and corresponding collapsed chains. Realistic numerical microstructures were constructed for the three typical biogenic magnetite crystal forms-cuboctahedron, prism and bullet. Our calculations reveal characteristic magnetic properties associated with specific magnetite crystal forms and MTB species. Cuboctahedron and bullet crystals show distinct low coercivity (less than 30 mT) and high coercivity (greater than 50 mT) clusters, respectively. Prismatic crystals have a broad range of hysteresis parameters that are strongly controlled by chain structure. This magnetic property clustering, combined with magnetic unmixing methods and electron microscopy observations, can fingerprint biogenic magnetite components in geological and environmental samples. The passive magnetic orientation efficiency of various magnetosome chains was calculated. Some bullet-shaped magnetosome chains have higher magnetic moments than those with cuboctahedron and prism magnetosomes, which may enable larger MTB cells to overcome viscous resistance for efficient magnetic navigation.

Indian Ocean glacial deoxygenation and respired carbon accumulation during mid-late Quaternary ice ages.

Reconstructions of ocean oxygenation are critical for understanding the role of respired carbon storage in regulating atmospheric CO2. Independent sediment redox proxies are essential to assess such reconstructions. Here, we present a long magnetofossil record from the eastern Indian Ocean in which we observe coeval magnetic hardening and enrichment of larger, more elongated, and less oxidized magnetofossils during glacials compared to interglacials over the last ~900 ka. Our multi-proxy records of redox-sensitive magnetofossils, trace element concentrations, and benthic foraminiferal Δδ13C consistently suggest a recurrence of lower O2 in the glacial Indian Ocean over the last 21 marine isotope stages, as has been reported for the Atlantic and Pacific across the last glaciation. Consistent multi-proxy documentation of this repeated oxygen decline strongly supports the hypothesis that increased Indian Ocean glacial carbon storage played a significant role in atmospheric CO2 cycling and climate change over recent glacial/interglacial timescales.

High-Performance P- and N-Type SiGe/Si Strained Super-Lattice FinFET and CMOS Inverter: Comparison of Si and SiGe FinFET.

This research presents the optimization and proposal of P- and N-type 3-stacked Si0.8Ge0.2/Si strained super-lattice FinFETs (SL FinFET) using Low-Pressure Chemical Vapor Deposition (LPCVD) epitaxy. Three device structures, Si FinFET, Si0.8Ge0.2 FinFET, and Si0.8Ge0.2/Si SL FinFET, were comprehensively compared with HfO2 = 4 nm/TiN = 80 nm. The strained effect was analyzed using Raman spectrum and X-ray diffraction reciprocal space mapping (RSM). The results show that Si0.8Ge0.2/Si SL FinFET exhibited the lowest average subthreshold slope (SSavg) of 88 mV/dec, the highest maximum transconductance (Gm, max) of 375.2 µS/µm, and the highest ON-OFF current ratio (ION/IOFF), approximately 106 at VOV = 0.5 V due to the strained effect. Furthermore, with the super-lattice FinFETs as complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) inverters, a maximum gain of 91 v/v was achieved by varying the supply voltage from 0.6 V to 1.2 V. The simulation of a Si0.8Ge0.2/Si super-lattice FinFET with the state of the art was also investigated. The proposed Si0.8Ge0.2/Si strained SL FinFET is fully compatible with the CMOS technology platform, showing promising flexibility for extending CMOS scaling.

Predictors of time to relapse following ustekinumab withdrawal in patients with psoriasis who had responded to therapy: An 8-year multicenter study.

BACKGROUND: Data on predictors and time to relapse in patients with psoriasis who discontinue therapy in a real-world setting are scarce. OBJECTIVE: To investigate predictors of relapse after withdrawal of ustekinumab in patients with psoriasis. METHOD: This study screened 500 patients with psoriasis who received ustekinumab (669 treatment episodes) between 2011 and 2018. Overall, 202 patients (accounting for 304 treatment episodes) who had responded to therapy and were withdrawn from ustekinumab treatment were included. RESULTS: The cumulative probabilities of being relapse-free at 6, 12, 18, 24, and 36 months after withdrawal from ustekinumab treatment were 49.3%, 12.6%, 5.3%, 4.7%, and 1.6%, respectively. Multivariate regression analyses with a generalized estimating equation showed that after adjustments, biologic-naive status, maximum improvement in Psoriasis Area and Severity Index during ustekinumab treatment, time to achieve a 50% improvement in baseline Psoriasis Area and Severity Index score after initiation of ustekinumab, family history of psoriasis, chronic kidney disease, and immunosuppressant use while not taking ustekinumab were significant predictors of time to relapse following discontinuation of ustekinumab. LIMITATION: Nonrandomized allocation of duration of treatment and follow-up. CONCLUSION: Given the high rates of relapse, withdrawal of ustekinumab from patients with well-controlled psoriasis cannot be recommended.

Apolipoprotein A-IV reduced metabolic inflammation in white adipose tissue by inhibiting IKK and JNK signaling in adipocytes.

Apolipoprotein A-IV (ApoA-IV) plays a role in satiation and serum lipid transport. In diet-induced obesity (DIO) C57BL/6J mice, ApoA-IV deficiency induced in ApoA-IV-/-knock-out (KO mice) resulted in increased bodyweight, insulin resistance (IR) and plasma free fatty acid (FFA), which was partially reversed by stable ApoA-IV-green fluorescent protein (KO-A4-GFP) transfection in KO mice. DIO KO mice exhibited increased M1 macrophages in epididymal white adipose tissue (eWAT) as well as in the blood. Based on RNA-sequencing analyses, cytokine-cytokine receptor interactions, T cell and B cell receptors, and especially IL-17 and TNF-α, were up-regulated in eWAT of DIO ApoA-IV KO compared with WT mice. Supplemented ApoA-IV suppressed lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced IKK and JNK phosphorylation in Raw264.7 macrophage cell culture assays. When the culture medium was supplemented to 3T3-L1 adipocytes they exhibited an increased sensitivity to insulin. ApoA-IV protects against obesity-associated metabolic inflammation mainly through suppression in M1 macrophages of eWAT, IL17-IKK and IL17-JNK activity.

Opto Field-Effect Transistors for Detecting Quercetin-Cu2+ Complex.

In this study, we explored the potential of applying biosensors based on silicon nanowire field-effect transistors (bio-NWFETs) as molecular absorption sensors. Using quercetin and Copper (Cu2+) ion as an example, we demonstrated the use of an opto-FET approach for the detection of molecular interactions. We found that photons with wavelengths of 450 nm were absorbed by the molecular complex, with the absorbance level depending on the Cu2+ concentration. Quantitative detection of the molecular absorption of metal complexes was performed for Cu2+ concentrations ranging between 0.1 µM and 100 µM, in which the photon response increased linearly with the copper concentration under optimized bias parameters. Our opto-FET approach showed an improved absorbance compared with that of a commercial ultraviolet-visible spectrophotometry.

Fabry-Perot interferometric calibration of van der Waals material-based nanomechanical resonators.

One of the challenges in integrating nanomechanical resonators made from van der Waals materials in optoelectromechanical technologies is characterizing their dynamic properties from vibrational displacement. Multiple calibration schemes using optical interferometry have tackled this challenge. However, these techniques are limited only to optically thin resonators with an optimal vacuum gap height and substrate for interferometric detection. Here, we address this limitation by implementing a modeling-based approach via multilayer thin-film interference for in situ, non-invasive determination of the resonator thickness, gap height, and motional amplitude. This method is demonstrated on niobium diselenide drumheads that are electromotively driven in their linear regime of motion. The laser scanning confocal configuration enables a resolution of hundreds of picometers in motional amplitude for circular and elliptical devices. The measured thickness and spacer height, determined to be in the order of tens and hundreds of nanometers, respectively, are in excellent agreement with profilometric measurements. Moreover, the transduction factor estimated from our method agrees with the result of other studies that resolved Brownian motion. This characterization method, which applies to both flexural and acoustic wave nanomechanical resonators, is robust because of its scalability to thickness and gap height, and any form of reflecting substrate.

Photothermal Responsivity of van der Waals Material-Based Nanomechanical Resonators.

Nanomechanical resonators made from van der Waals materials (vdW NMRs) provide a new tool for sensing absorbed laser power. The photothermal response of vdW NMRs, quantified from the resonant frequency shifts induced by optical absorption, is enhanced when incorporated in a Fabry-Pérot (FP) interferometer. Along with the enhancement comes the dependence of the photothermal response on NMR displacement, which lacks investigation. Here, we address the knowledge gap by studying electromotively driven niobium diselenide drumheads fabricated on highly reflective substrates. We use a FP-mediated absorptive heating model to explain the measured variations of the photothermal response. The model predicts a higher magnitude and tuning range of photothermal responses on few-layer and monolayer NbSe2 drumheads, which outperform other clamped vdW drum-type NMRs at a laser wavelength of 532 nm. Further analysis of the model shows that both the magnitude and tuning range of NbSe2 drumheads scale with thickness, establishing a displacement-based framework for building bolometers using FP-mediated vdW NMRs.

Apolipoprotein A4 Restricts Diet-Induced Hepatic Steatosis via SREBF1-Mediated Lipogenesis and Enhances IRS-PI3K-Akt Signaling.

SCOPE: Hepatic steatosis and insulin resistance (IR) are risk factors for many metabolic syndromes such as NAFLD and T2DM. ApoA4 improves glucose hemostasis by increasing glucose-stimulated insulin secretion and glucose uptake via PI3K-Akt activation in adipocytes. However, whether ApoA4 has an effect on hepatic steatosis or IR remains unclear. METHODS AND RESULTS: ApoA4-knockout (KO) aggravates diet-induced obesity, hepatic steatosis, and IR in mice promoted by increased hepatic lipogenesis gene expression based on RNA-seq data. Conversely, liver-specific overexpression of ApoA4 via AAV-ApoA4 transduction reverses the effect in ApoA4-KO mice, accompanied by suppressed hepatic lipogenesis, increased lipolysis, and fatty acid oxidation. Short-term treatment with recombinant ApoA4 protein improves glucose clearance and liver insulin sensitivity, and reduces hepatic lipogenesis gene expression in the absence of insulin. Moreover, in primary hepatocytes and a hepatic cell line, ApoA4 improves hepatic glucose uptake via IRS-PI3K-Akt signaling and decreases fat deposition and hepatic lipogenesis gene expression by inhibiting SREBF1 activity. CONCLUSION: ApoA4 restricts hepatic steatosis by inhibiting SREBF1-mediated lipogenesis and improves insulin sensitivity and glucose uptake via IRS-PI3K-Akt signaling in the liver. These findings indicate that ApoA4 may serve as a therapeutic target for obesity-associated NAFLD.

Vibrational and electrochemical studies of pectin-a candidate towards environmental friendly lithium-ion battery development.

Pectin polymers are considered for lithium-ion battery electrodes. To understand the performance of pectin as an applied buffer layer, the electrical, magnetic, and optical properties of pectin films are investigated. This work describes a methodology for creating pectin films, including both pristine pectin and Fe-doped pectin, which are optically translucent, and explores their potential for lithium-ion battery application. The transmission response is found extended in optimally Fe-doped pectin, and prominent modes for cation bonding are identified. Fe doping enhances the conductivity observed in electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, and from the magnetic response of pectin evidence for Fe3+ is identified. The Li-ion half-cell prepared with pectin as binder for anode materials such as graphite shows stable charge capacity over long cycle life, and with slightly higher specific capacity compare with the cell prepared using polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) as binder. A novel enhanced charging specific capacity at a high C-rate is observed in cells with pectin binder, suggesting that within a certain rate (∼5 C), pectin has higher capacity at faster charge rates. The pectin system is found as a viable base material for organic-inorganic synthesis studies.

Effect of improvement in antibiotic use strategy on the short-term clinical outcome of preterm infants with a gestational age of <35 weeks / 中国当代儿科杂志

OBJECTIVES@#To study the effect of improvement in antibiotic use strategy on the short-term clinical outcome of preterm infants with a gestational age of <35 weeks.@*METHODS@#The medical data were retrospectively collected from 865 preterm infants with a gestational age of <35 weeks who were admitted to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit of Xiangya Hospital of Central South University from January 1, 2014 to December 31, 2016. The improved antibiotic use strategy was implemented since January 1, 2015. According to the time of implementation, the infants were divided into three groups: pre-adjustment (January 1, 2014 to December 31, 2014; n=303), post-adjustment Ⅰ (January 1, 2015 to December 31, 2015; n=293), and post-adjustment Ⅱ (January 1, 2016 to December 31, 2016; n=269). The medical data of the three groups were compared.@*RESULTS@#There were no significant differences among the three groups in gestational age, proportion of small-for-gestational-age infants, sex, and method of birth (P>0.05). Compared with the pre-adjustment group, the post-adjustment I and post-adjustment Ⅱ groups had a significant reduction in the rate of use of antibiotics and the duration of antibiotic use in the early postnatal period and during hospitalization (P<0.05), with a significant increase in the proportion of infants with a duration of antibiotic use of ≤3 days or 4-7 days and a significant reduction in the proportion of infants with a duration of antibiotic use of >7 days in the early postnatal period (P<0.05). Compared with the post-adjustment Ⅰ group, the post-adjustment Ⅱ group had a significant reduction in the duration of antibiotic use in the early postnatal period and during hospitalization (P<0.05), with a significant increase in the proportion of infants with a duration of antibiotic use of ≤3 days and a significant reduction in the proportion of infants with a duration of antibiotic use of 4-7 days or >7 days (P<0.05). Compared with the pre-adjustment group, the post-adjustment I and post-adjustment Ⅱ groups had significantly shorter duration of parenteral nutrition and length of hospital stay (P<0.05). There were gradual reductions in the incidence rates of grade ≥Ⅲ intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH) and late-onset sepsis (LOS) after the adjustment of antibiotic use strategy. The multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that the adjustment of antibiotic use strategy had no effect on short-term adverse clinical outcomes, and antibiotic use for >7 days significantly increased the risk of adverse clinical outcomes (P<0.05).@*CONCLUSIONS@#It is feasible to reduce unnecessary antibiotic use by the improvement in antibiotic use strategy in preterm infants with a gestational age of <35 weeks, which can also shorten the duration of parenteral nutrition and the length of hospital stay and reduce the incidence rates of grade ≥Ⅲ IVH and LOS.

Perception of the threat, mental health burden, and healthcare-seeking behavior change among psoriasis patients during the COVID-19 pandemic.

This study aimed to investigate the perceived threat, mental health outcomes, behavior changes, and associated predictors among psoriasis patients during the COVID-19 pandemic. The COVID-19 has been known to increase the health risks of patients with psoriasis owing to patients' immune dysregulation, comorbidities, and immunosuppressive drug use. A total of 423 psoriasis patients not infected with COVID-19 was recruited from the Department of Dermatology, National Taiwan University Hospital Hsin-Chu Branch, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, and China Medical University Hospital from May 2020 to July 2020. A self-administered questionnaire was used to evaluate the perceived threat, mental health, and psychological impact on psoriasis patients using the Perceived COVID-19-Related Risk Scale score for Psoriasis (PCRSP), depression, anxiety, insomnia, and stress-associated symptoms (DAISS) scales, and Impact of Event Scale-Revised (IES-R), respectively. Over 94% of 423 patients with psoriasis perceived threat to be ≥ 1 due to COVID-19; 18% of the patients experienced psychological symptoms more frequently ≥ 1, and 22% perceived psychological impact during the pandemic to be ≥ 1. Multivariable linear regression showed that the higher psoriasis severity and comorbidities were significantly associated with higher PCRSP, DAISS, and IES-R scores. The requirement for a prolonged prescription and canceling or deferring clinic visits for psoriasis treatment among patients are the two most common healthcare-seeking behavior changes during the COVID-19 pandemic. Psoriasis patients who perceived a higher COVID-19 threat were more likely to require a prolonged prescription and have their clinic visits canceled or deferred. Surveillance of the psychological consequences in psoriasis patients due to COVID-19 must be implemented to avoid psychological consequences and inappropriate treatment delays or withdrawal.

Imaging Off-Resonance Nanomechanical Motion as Modal Superposition.

Observation of resonance modes is the most straightforward way of studying mechanical oscillations because these modes have maximum response to stimuli. However, a deeper understanding of mechanical motion can be obtained by also looking at modal responses at frequencies in between resonances. Here, an imaging of the modal responses for a nanomechanical drum driven off resonance is presented. By using the frequency modal analysis, these shapes are described as a superposition of resonance modes. It is found that the spatial distribution of the oscillating component of the driving force, which is affected by both the shape of the actuating electrode and inherent device properties such as asymmetry and initial slack, greatly influences the modal weight or participation. This modal superposition analysis elucidates the dynamics of any nanomechanical system through modal weights. This aids in optimizing mode-specific designs for force sensing and integration with other systems.

Evaluation of a Custom SNP Panel for Identifying and Rectifying of Misjudged Paternity in Deficiency Cases.

Parentage testing is routinely performed by genotyping short tandem repeat (STR) through capillary electrophoresis in the present. However, ambiguous or even misjudged paternity based on STRs happens from time to time in cases where only one putative parent is available. We analyzed STR data of 7,818,969 unrelated pairs and 75 close-relative pairs and found that although the probability of a random false match between non-relatives was 4.22 × 10-6, the incidence of false or ambiguous paternity results between children and first-degree relatives of their true parent was as high as 18.67%. These results highlight the risk of false inclusion of a relative or even non-relatives in parentage testing with STRs. We then validated all ambiguous STR results by targeted sequencing with a custom panel containing 4,830 individual identification single nucleotide polymorphisms (IISNP), found that the ratio of mismatch loci to total SNPs was 1.78-6.95% in close relatives compared with 10.93-13.49% in unrelated pairs. Last, we reported three real cases with undetermined paternity by STRs and rectified them by dissecting with our IISNP panel. These results suggested that high-density IISNP panel can be used to identify and rectify misjudged cases effectively.

Quantitative Outcome Assessment of Color Match and the Extent of Repigmentation after Pixel Array Epidermal Grafting for Head and Neck Stable Vitiligo: A Prospective Cohort Study.

BACKGROUND: Epidermal grafting with an automatic harvesting system has been reported as a simple and efficacious procedure for stable vitiligo. However, no prospective cohort study has quantitatively evaluated the color matching and extent of repigmentation in the head and neck area by this method. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the color matching and extent of repigmentation after pixel array epidermal grafting by image analysis software and physicians' naked eye. METHODS: Ten Asian patients with head and neck vitiligo lesions stable for at least 6 months were treated with pixel array epidermal grafting with an automatic harvesting system and post-grafting phototherapy. The patients were evaluated 1, 3, and 6 months post grafting for the percentage of repigmentation by blinded physicians' assessment and image analysis software. The color matching index of repigmentation was evaluated by measuring the melanin index in the grafted area and the juxta non-vitiliginous area. RESULTS: The average blister harvest time was 46.3 ± 9.7 min. The area percentile of repigmentation by the image analysis software were 32.3 ± 26.8, 64.6 ± 29.4, and 76.5 ± 25.9 at 1, 3, and 6 months post grafting, respectively. There were no significant differences between the physicians' assessments and the results from the image analysis software. The change in the area percentile of repigmentation between 3 and 6 months post grafting was only statistically significant using image analysis software. The grafted area achieved a color match of 83.1 ± 13.4% that of the juxta non-vitiliginous area 6 months after grafting. Three patients had repigmentation of leukotrichia. CONCLUSION: By quantitative measurement, uniform pixel array micrografts provide a very good extent of repigmentation and color match in the head and neck area. Image analysis software revealed a steady increase in repigmentation after POM3 until POM6, which was not detected by subjective assessment.

Predictors of hepatitis B and C virus reactivation in patients with psoriasis treated with biologic agents: a 9-year multicenter cohort study.

BACKGROUND: The increasing use of biologics is accompanied by a risk of hepatitis B (HBV) and C virus (HCV) reactivation. OBJECTIVE: To determine the predictors of HBV and HCV reactivation in patients with psoriasis receiving biologics. METHODS: This study screened 2060 patients with psoriasis (3562 treatment episodes) who were taking biologics from 2009 to 2018. There were 359 patients with psoriasis with HBV (561 treatment episodes) and 61 with HCV infection (112 treatment episodes). RESULTS: During 8809 and 1522 person-months of follow-up, 88 treatment episodes for HBV involved HBV reactivation, and 14 episodes of HCV involved reactivation. The reactivation rate was significantly higher in treatment episodes of chronic HBV infection than in that of occult HBV (34.3% vs 3.2%, P = .001) and resolved HBV (34.3% vs 5.0%, P < .001). The multivariate analysis revealed that being hepatitis B surface antigen seropositive, being hepatitis B e-antigen seropositive, and tumor necrosis factor-α-inhibitor therapy were risk factors for HBV reactivation, whereas antiviral prophylaxis was effective in reducing the risk of HBV reactivation. No predictors were significantly associated with HCV reactivation. LIMITATIONS: Observational design and a lack of a comparison group. CONCLUSION: Patients with psoriasis on biologics have a risk of HBV and HCV reactivations, particularly those who are seropositive for hepatitis B surface antigen and hepatitis B e-antigen and undergoing tumor necrosis factor-α-inhibitor therapy.

A novel forensic panel of 186-plex SNPs and 123-plex STR loci based on massively parallel sequencing.

The MiSeq® FGX Forensic system and the HID-Ion AmpliSeq Panel were previously developed for massively parallel sequencing (MPS) for forensic casework. Among the three major sequencing platforms, BGISEQ-500TM, which is based on multiple PCRs, is still lacking in forensics. Here, a novel forensic panel was constructed to detect 186 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and 123 short tandem repeats (STRs) with MPS technology on the BGISEQ-500™ platform. First, the library preparation, sequencing process, and data analysis were performed, focusing on the average depth of coverage and heterozygote balance. We calculated the allelic frequencies and forensic parameters of STR and SNP loci in 73 unrelated Chinese Han individuals. In addition, performance was evaluated with accuracy, uniformity, sensitivity, PCR inhibitor, repeatability and reproducibility, mixtures, degraded samples, case-type samples, and pedigree analyses. The results showed that 100% accurate and concordant genotypes can be obtained, and the loci with an abundance in the interquartile range accounted for 92.90% of the total, suggesting reliable uniformity in this panel. We obtained a locus detection rate that was higher than 98.78% from 78 pg of input DNA, and the optimal amount was 1.25-10 ng. The maximum concentrations of hematin and humic acid were 200 and 100 µM, respectively (the ratios of detected loci were 96.52% and 92.41%), in this panel. As a mixture, compared with those of SNPs, minor-contributor alleles of STRs could be detected at higher levels. For the degraded sample, the ratio of detected loci was 98.41%, and most profiles from case-type samples were not significantly different in abundance in our studies. As a whole, this panel showed high-performance, reliable, robust, repeatable, and reproducible results, which are sufficient for paternity testing, individual identification, and use for potentially degraded samples in forensic science.