A Stable High-Performance Zn-Ion Batteries Enabled by Highly Compatible Polar Co-Solvent.

Uncontrollable growth of Zn dendrites, irreversible dissolution of cathode material and solidification of aqueous electrolyte at low temperatures severely restrict the development of aqueous Zn-ion batteries. In this work, 2,2,2-trifluoroethanol (TFEA) with a volume fraction of 50% as a highly compatible polar-solvent is introduced to 1.3 M Zn(CF3SO3)2 aqueous electrolyte, achieving stable high-performance Zn-ion batteries. Massive theoretical calculations and characterization analysis demonstrate that TFEA weakens the tip effect of Zn anode and restrains the growth of Zn dendrites due to electrostatic adsorption and coordinate with H2O to disrupt the hydrogen bonding network in water. Furthermore, TFEA increases the wettability of the cathode and alleviates the dissolution of V2O5, thus improving the capacity of the full battery. Based on those positive effects of TFEA on Zn anode, V2O5 cathode, and aqueous electrolyte, the Zn//Zn symmetric cell delivers a long cycle-life of 782 h at 5 mA cm-2 and 2 mA h cm-2. The full battery still declares an initial capacity of 116.78 mA h g-1, and persists 87.73% capacity in 2000 cycles at -25 °C. This work presents an effective strategy for fully compatible co-solvent to promote the stability of Zn anode, V2O5 cathode and aqueous electrolyte for high-performance Zn-ion batteries.

Functional Validation of Different Alternative Splicing Variants of the Chrysanthemum lavandulifolium ClNUM1 Gene in Tobacco.

The Asteraceae are widely distributed throughout the world, with diverse functions and large genomes. Many of these genes remain undiscovered and unstudied. In this study, we discovered a new gene ClNUM1 in Chrysanthemum lavandulifolium and studied its function. In this study, bioinformatics, RT-qPCR, paraffin sectioning, and tobacco transgenics were utilized to bioinformatically analyze and functionally study the three variable splice variants of the unknown gene ClNUM1 cloned from C. lavandulifolium. The results showed that ClNUM1.1 and ClNUM1.2 had selective 3' splicing and selective 5' splicing, and ClNUM1.3 had selective 5' splicing. When the corresponding transgenic tobacco plants were subjected to abiotic stress treatment, in the tobacco seedlings, the ClNUM1.1 gene and the ClNUM1.2 gene enhanced salt and low-temperature tolerance and the ClNUM1.3 gene enhanced low-temperature tolerance; in mature tobacco plants, the ClNUM1.1 gene was able to enhance salt and low-temperature tolerance, and the ClNUM1.2 and ClNUM1.3 genes were able to enhance low-temperature tolerance. In summary, there are differences in the functions of the different splice variants and the different seedling stages of transgenic tobacco, but all of them enhanced the resistance of tobacco to a certain extent. The analysis and functional characterization of the ClNUM1 gene provided new potential genes and research directions for abiotic resistance breeding in Chrysanthemum.

Hemoglobin is associated with BMDs and risk of the 10-year probability of fractures in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Purpose: This study aimed to investigate the associations between hemoglobin (HGB) levels and bone mineral density (BMD) and fracture risk in type 2 diabetes mellitus(T2DM) population of different ages. Method: This cross-sectional study included 641 patients with T2DM (57.9% males). BMD of the femoral neck (FN), total hip (TH), and lumbar spine (LS) were measured using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. The 10-year probability of fracture was assessed using a fracture risk assessment tool (FRAX). HGB and other biochemical indices were measured in a certified laboratory at our hospital. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS 26.0 and R language (R version 4.1.0). Generalized additive models (GAMs) were used to identify the associations between HGB and BMD and fracture risk. Results: Patients with osteoporosis have lower HGB levels than the non-osteoporotic population and lower FN BMD in patients with anemia than in the non-anemic population. In patients with T2DM, there was sex- and age-related variability in the correlation between HGB levels and BMDs and fracture risk. In older men, HGB level was an independent determinant of BMD and was positively correlated with FN and TH BMD. In non-older women, HGB level was an independent determinant of BMD and fracture risk, positively associated with BMDs and negatively associated with 10-year probability of fracture risk. GAMs revealed a positive linear association between HGB level and BMDs in non-older female patients but not in older male patients. Conclusion: Our study provides a new perspective on the association of HGB level and BMDs with fracture risk. Relatively high HGB levels are a protective factor for bone quality in patients with T2DM. However, the bone-protective effect of HGB is influenced by age and sex and persists only in older men and non-older women with T2DM.

The Exploration of Flowering Mechanisms in Cherry Plants.

Flowering cherry (Cerasus sp.) are significant spring-blooming trees. However, the short blooming period and the rarity of early and late-flowering varieties limit their use in gardens in northern China. The experiment incorporated annually early-flowering species such as Cerasus discoidea, Cerasus pseudocerasus 'Introtsa', Cerasus dielsiana, Cerasus campanulata 'Youkou', Cerasus yedoensis 'Somei-Yoshino', and Cerasus spachiana f. ascendens, as well as twice-a-year flowering species like Cerasus subhirtella 'Autumnalis' and Cerasus subhirtella 'Accolade'. We observed the timing of natural events and growth measurements for specific plants over a span of two years. This research involved a thorough examination of their ability to withstand cold temperatures, considering their physiological aspects. We examined the levels of nutrients and hormones in the flower buds at various stages of development in plants that bloom yearly and every two years. The findings indicated that C. subhirtella 'Autumnalis' is adaptable, offering the lengthiest autumn blooming phase lasting 54 days. The hierarchy of cold tolerance was as follows: C. pseudocerasus 'Introtsa' > C. discoidea > Cerasus × subhirtella 'Autumnalis' > C. dielsiana > C. 'Youkou'. Furthermore, the soluble protein content in leaves increased before autumn flower buds' sprout of twice-a-year flowering varieties but declined in C. yedoensis 'Somei-Yoshino' within the same time. We determined that changes in nutrient content significantly contribute to the autumn opening of C. subhirtella 'Autumnalis' robust short branch flower buds. During the final phase of flower bud development, the rise in trans-Zeatin-riboside (ZR) and indolacetic acid (IAA) promotes the initiation of the first flowering period in C. subhirtella 'Autumnalis' prior to its mandatory hibernation. The occurrence of secondary flowering involves a multifaceted regulatory process. These findings serve as valuable references for delving deeper into the mechanisms governing cherry blossom formation and secondary flowering.

Alternative Splicing for Leucanthemella linearis NST1 Contributes to Variable Abiotic Stress Resistance in Transgenic Tobacco.

Leucanthemella linearis is a marsh plant in the family Compositae. It has good water and moisture resistance and ornamental properties, which makes it one of the important materials for chrysanthemum breeding and genetic improvement. The NST1 (NAC secondary wall enhancement factor 1) gene is associated with the thickening of the secondary walls of fiber cells in the plant ducts and the secondary xylem and plays an important role in plant stress resistance. In this study, two variable spliceosomes of the NST1 gene were identified from a chrysanthemum plant by using bioinformatics, qRT-PCR, transgene, and paraffin section methods to explore the molecular mechanism of the variable splicing of NST1 under abiotic stress. The results show that only three amino acids were found to be different between the two LlNST1 variants. After being treated with salt, drought, and low temperatures, analysis of the expression levels of the LlNST1 and LlNST1.1 genes in Ll showed that LlNST1.1 could respond to low temperatures and salt stress and had a weak response to drought stress. However, the expression level of LlNST1 under the three treatments was lower than that of LlNST1.1. LlNST1 transgenic tobacco showed increased saline-alkali resistance and low-temperature resistance at the seedling stage. LlNST1.1 transgenic tobacco also showed enhanced saline-alkali resistance and drought resistance at the seedling stage. In conclusion, the functions of the two variable spliceosomes of the NST1 gene are very different under abiotic stress. Therefore, this study verified the function of the variable spliceosome of NST1 and improved the stress resistance of the chrysanthemum plant under examination by regulating the expression of the NST protein, which lays a material foundation for the improvement of plant stress resistance materials and has important significance for the study of the resistance of chrysanthemum plants to abiotic stress.

The associations between uric acid with BMDs and risk of the 10-year probability of fractures in Chinese patients with T2DM stratified by age and gender.

PURPOSE: Accumulating evidence suggests that serum uric acid (SUA) plays a beneficial role in bone health in the general population through antioxidant mechanisms. However, there is controversy over the association between SUA and bone in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). We aimed to investigate the association of serum UA with BMDs and future fracture risks and its potential influencing factors in those patients. METHOD: This was a cross-sectional study of 485 patients. BMDs at femoral neck (FN), Troch and the lumbar spine (LS) were measured by DXA. The 10-year probability of fracture risk was assessed using the fracture risk assessment tool (FRAX). SUA level and other biochemical indexes were measured. RESULTS: There were lower SUA concentrations in patients with osteoporosis/osteopenia compared with those in the normal group, which only existed in non-elderly men and elderly women with T2DM. After adjustment for potential confounders, SUA was positively associated with BMD and negatively with 10-year probability of fracture risk only in non-elderly men and elderly women with T2DM. Multiple stepwise regression analysis showed that SUA was an independent determinant of BMD and 10-year probability of fracture risk, which also occurred in the above patients. CONCLUSION: These results implied that relatively high SUA is a protective factor for bone in T2DM patients, but the osteoprotective effect of SUA was mediated by age and gender, and persisted only in non-elderly men and elderly women. Large intervention studies are needed to further confirm the outcomes and provide possible explanations.

Dual-compressed photoacoustic single-pixel imaging.

Photoacoustic imaging, an acoustic imaging modality with potentially optical resolution in an optical turbid medium, has attracted great attention. However, the convergence of wavefront optimization and raster scanning in computational photoacoustic imaging leads to the challenge of fast mapping, especially for a spatial resolution approaching the acoustic deep-subwavelength regime. As a sparse sampling paradigm, compressive sensing has been applied in numerous fields to accelerate data acquisition without significant quality losses. In this work, we propose a dual-compressed approach for photoacoustic surface tomography that enables high-efficiency imaging with 3D spatial resolution unlimited by the acoustics in a turbid environment. The dual-compressed photoacoustic imaging with single-pixel detection, enabled by spatially optical modulation with synchronized temporally photoacoustic coding, allows decoding of the fine optical information from the modulated acoustic signal even when the variance of original photoacoustic signals is weak. We perform a proof-of-principle numerical demonstration of dual-compressed photoacoustic imaging, that resolves acoustic sub-acoustic-wavelength details with a significantly reduced number of measurements, revealing the potential for dynamic imaging. The dual-compressed concept, which transforms unobtrusive spatial difference into spatio-temporal detectable information, can be generalized to other imaging modalities to realize efficient, high-spatial-resolution imaging.

Topological Surface States in a Gyroid Acoustic Crystal.

The acoustic properties of an acoustic crystal consisting of acoustic channels designed according to the gyroid minimal surface embedded in a 3D rigid material are investigated. The resulting gyroid acoustic crystal is characterized by a spin-1 Weyl and a charge-2 Dirac degenerate points that are enforced by its nonsymmorphic symmetry. The gyroid geometry and its symmetries produce multi-fold topological degeneracies that occur naturally without the need for ad hoc geometry designs. The non-trivial topology of the acoustic dispersion produces chiral surface states with open arcs, which manifest themselves as waves whose propagation is highly directional and remains confined to the surfaces of a 3D material. Experiments on an additively manufactured sample validate the predictions of surface arc states and produce negative refraction of waves at the interface between adjoining surfaces. The topological surface states in a gyroid acoustic crystal shed light on nontrivial bulk and edge physics in symmetry-based compact continuum materials, whose capabilities augment those observed in ad hoc designs. The continuous shape design of the considered acoustic channels and the ensuing anomalous acoustic performance suggest this class of phononic materials with semimetal-like topology as effective building blocks for acoustic liners and load-carrying structural components with sound proofing functionality.

Moiré-Driven Topological Transitions and Extreme Anisotropy in Elastic Metasurfaces.

The twist angle between a pair of stacked 2D materials has been recently shown to control remarkable phenomena, including the emergence of flat-band superconductivity in twisted graphene bilayers, of higher-order topological phases in twisted moiré superlattices, and of topological polaritons in twisted hyperbolic metasurfaces. These discoveries, at the foundations of the emergent field of twistronics, have so far been mostly limited to explorations in atomically thin condensed matter and photonic systems, with limitations on the degree of control over geometry and twist angle, and inherent challenges in the fabrication of carefully engineered stacked multilayers. Here, this work extends twistronics to widely reconfigurable macroscopic elastic metasurfaces consisting of LEGO pillar resonators. This work demonstrates highly tailored anisotropy over a single-layer metasurface driven by variations in the twist angle between a pair of interleaved spatially modulated pillar lattices. The resulting quasi-periodic moiré patterns support topological transitions in the isofrequency contours, leading to strong tunability of highly directional waves. The findings illustrate how the rich phenomena enabled by twistronics and moiré physics can be translated over a single-layer metasurface platform, introducing a practical route toward the observation of extreme phenomena in a variety of wave systems, potentially applicable to both quantum and classical settings without multilayered fabrication requirements.

The association of OPG polymorphisms with risk of osteoporotic fractures: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Subjects with low bone mineral density and osteoporosis are more likely to suffer osteoporotic fractures during their lifetime. Polymorphisms in osteoprotegerin (OPG) gene are found to be associated with low bone mineral density and osteoporosis risk but their association with fracture risk is inconclusive. Here, we performed a meta-analysis to investigate the relationship between OPG polymorphisms with susceptibility to osteoporotic fractures. METHODS: Eligible studies investigating the association between common OPG polymorphisms (A164G, T245G, T950C, and G1181C) and risk of osteoporotic fracture were retrieved from PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Library. Odds ratio (OR) and the 95% confidence interval (CI) were calculated in the allelic, dominant, recessive, and homozygous model. Subgroup analyses of vertebral fractures, Caucasians, and postmenopausal women were also performed. RESULTS: A total of 14 studies comprising 5459 fracture cases and 9860 non-fracture controls were included. A163G was associated with fracture risk in dominant (OR = 1.29, 95%CI 1.11-1.50), recessive (OR = 1.64, 95%CI 1.10-2.44), and homozygous model (OR = 1.73, 95%CI 1.16-2.59). T245G was significantly correlated with susceptibility to fractures in all genetic models. Subjects with CC genotype of T950C had a reduced risk of fracture compared to those with CT or TT genotypes (OR = 0.81, 95%CI 0.70-0.94, P = .004). Subgroup analysis showed that A163G and T245G but not T950C and G1181C were associated with vertebral fracture risk. CONCLUSION: OPG A163G and T245G polymorphisms were risk factors of osteoporotic fractures while T950C had a protective role. These polymorphisms can be used as predictive markers of fractures.

Increasing greenhouse production by spectral-shifting and unidirectional light-extracting photonics.

Improving photosynthesis and light capture increases crop yield and paves a sustainable way to meet the growing global food demand. Here we introduce a spectral-shifting microphotonic thin film as a greenhouse envelope that can be scalably manufactured for augmented photosynthesis. By breaking the intrinsic propagation symmetry of light, the photonic microstructures can extract 89% of the internally generated light and deliver most of that in one direction towards photosynthetic organisms. The microphotonic film augments lettuce production by more than 20% in both indoor facilities with electric lighting and in a greenhouse with natural sunlight, offering the possibility of increasing crop production efficiency in controlled environments.

Cemented versus uncemented total knee arthroplasty in younger patients: A protocol of retrospective cohort trial.

BACKGROUND: Recently, controversy still exists regarding the clinical effects of cemented or cementless technique in young patients in total knee arthroplasty (TKA). In this context, the present study aimed to determine the functional outcomes and clinical reliability of cementless components versus those of conventional cemented components for young patients in primary TKA. METHODS: A retrospective review of primary TKAs performed with cementless or cemented fixation between May 2010 and February 2019 was conducted with Institutional Review Board approval. All cases were performed by a single surgeon. Institutional review board approval was obtained prior to conducting chart review and analysis. The primary outcome compared between the 2 fixation groups was the rate of postoperative complications and revision related to TKA, occurring at any point in follow-up. Secondary outcome measures included surgical time, Oxford Knee Score, range of motion, and radiographic outcomes such as progressive radiolucent lines, osteolysis, or component migration. RESULTS: We were able to directly compare the outcomes of cemented versus cementless techniques and might reveal a better technique in TKA. TRIAL REGISTRATION: This study protocol was registered in Research Registry (researchregistry5459).

Topological guiding of elastic waves in phononic metamaterials based on 2D pentamode structures.

A topological state with protected propagation of elastic waves is achieved by appropriately engineering a phononic metamaterial based on 2D pentamode structures in silicon. Gapless edge states in the designed structure, which are characterized by pseudospin-dependent transport, provide backscattering-immune propagation of the elastic wave along bend paths. The role of the states responsible for forward and backward transfer can be interchanged by design.

[Relationship Between the Phytoplankton Distribution and Environmental Factors in Fenhe Scenic Spot of Taiyuan].

In order to explore the structural characteristics of phytoplankton community and the water quality and the water quality of the Fenhe scenic spot in Taiyuan, the species composition and the biomass of phytoplankton as well as their correlation with the environmental factors were monitored. The survey selected 9 sampling sites along the up and lower reaches in Fenhe scenic spot of Taiyuan, from Chaicun Bridge to Xiangyun Bridge. During the wet season (June-Octoher) in 2014, specimens were collected, qualitative and quantitative investigation on the algae and monitoring on physicochemical indexes of the water were studied. Meanwhile, the water quality was analyzed and evaluated combining all the physicochemical indexes and cell density. Correlation analysis and RDA were conducted to analyze the relationship of algal community structure and the environmental factors. The main results showed that the dominant phytoplanktons were Cyanophyta, Chlorophyta and Bacillariophyta. The algal biomass first increased and then reduced during the wet season, and the maximum value of hiomass occurred in July. There were many differences among different sampling points. The cell densities of phytoplankton were much higher in three central areas than the other sampling sites. Physical and chemical factors showed a variation tendency in time and space. Based on the results of RDA hetween phytoplankton cell densities and the physic-chemical parameters, the cell densities and the physic..chemical parameters had different correlations. The total cell density had significant positive correlation with dissolved oxygen, and negative correlation with COD. There were extremely significant positive correlations between diatom cell densities and water temperature, air temperature. But the diatom cell density was obviously negatively correlated with COD. It was distinct that the functions of the environment factors were different in temporal and spatial distrihution. The state index of comprehensive nutrition indicated that the total nitrogen content was beyond the standard in all sampling sites during the whole wet season. The water quality varied from oligotrophic to light eutrophic.

Identification and characterization of a symbiotic alga from soil bryophyte for lipid profiles.

A symbiotic alga was successfully isolated from the soil moss Entodon obtusatus found in the Guandi Mountains, Shanxi Province, China, and cultivated under axenic conditions. Morphological observations showed that the symbiotic alga was similar to Chlorococcum Based on phylogenetic analysis of 18S rRNA and rbcL genes and internal transcribed spacer (ITS) regions, Chlorococcum sp. GD was identified as Chlorococcum sphacosum The three data sets were congruent for those aspects of the topologies that were relatively robust, and differed for those parts of the topologies that were not. This strain was cultured in BG11 medium to test its growth and biodiesel properties. It produced a lipid content of nearly 40%, and achieved biomass concentration of 410 mg l(-1) and lipid productivity of 6.76 mg l(-1) day(-1), with favorable C16:0 (23.10%) and C18:1 (21.62%) fatty acid content. This alga appears to have potential for use in biodiesel production.

Effect of oblique force source induced by laser ablation on ultrasonic generation.

The effect of asymmetry caused by oblique line-shaped laser ablation on the generation of ultrasonic waves in metal, especially the effect of transverse component of the ablation force source on the ultrasonic waves is analyzed. Due to the oblique force source, the displacements of shear wave increase obviously by the enhanced shear force, the energy concentration area of longitudinal wave deflects to the small range centered on the incident direction while that of shear wave is approximately perpendicular to incident direction. In addition, surface wave enhances in the direction of transverse power flow. Furthermore, some ultrasonic characteristics under vortex laser ablation condition are inferred.

Influence of initial time of laser ultrasonic on calculating its propagation velocity in a diamond anvil cell.

Sound velocity is important to study the elastic behaviors of materials in high pressure physics and the accuracy acquisition of travel time for velocity calculation is very essential. Thermoelastic finite element models of ultrasonic displacement field induced by a subnanosecond pulsed laser in metal films with a diamond anvil cell are established and the processes of laser ultrasonic generation are analyzed in detail. By confirming the initial time, we improved the accuracy of calculating the longitudinal wave velocity in the aluminum and copper thin films. The formulas of delay time are obtained by a set of simulations, and the overall errors of modified longitudinal velocity are reduced by 10-60 times of the unmodified ones.

Finite element modeling of bulk ultrasonic waves generated by ring-shaped laser illumination in a diamond anvil cell.

Thermoelastic finite element models are established to study the bulk ultrasonic waves of an aluminum film generated by ring-shaped laser illumination in a diamond anvil cell. By analyzing the amplitudes of bulk ultrasonic waves arrived at the rear surface of film in detail, it shows that there exists strong enhancement effects on the central axis of the ring due to the constructive interference among the waves created by different parts of the ring source. The displacement distributions along the central axis indicate that the focal depth of shear wave is mainly determined by its directivity induced by a point-like laser source in a DAC system while it is more complicated to determine the focal depth of longitudinal wave. In particular, through changing the ring radius, we quantitatively demonstrate that the signal amplitudes generated by a ring source are far greater than those generated by a point-like source.

[Study on the cholelitholytic effect and safety of the preparation of Chinese medicine compound].

OBJECTIVE: To study the cholelitholytic effect and safety of the preparation of Chinese medicine compound. METHOD: Experiments were performed to study the efficacy of gallstones dissolution of the preparation of Chinese medicine compound in vitro and in vivo. The toxicity was studied by pathological and blood biochemical changes. RESULT: The preparation of Chinese medicine compound dissolved cholesterol and mixing gallstones in 7 days in vitro and in vivo, no influence on the blood biochemistry and the other organs of the rabbits. CONCLUSION: The preparation of Chinese medicine compound is effective and safe for treatment of chololithiasis.