Porous Aromatic Frameworks Enabling Polyiodide Confinement toward High Capacity and Long Lifespan Zinc-Iodine Batteries.

Aqueous zinc-iodine batteries (AZIBs) are attracting increasing attention because of their high safety and abundance of resources. However, the performance of AZIBs is compromised by inadequate confinement of soluble polyiodides, the undesired shuttle effect, and slow reaction kinetics. In this study, a porous aromatic framework (PAF) with abundant benzene motifs and a well-organized pore structure is adopted as the iodine host, which exhibits high iodine adsorption capacity and robust polyiodide confinement. Both experimental characterizations and theoretical simulations indicate that the interactions between iodine species and the PAF-1 facilitate the redox reaction by coupling the electronic structures of the active species in the framework. A comparison of PAF-1, PAF-5, and PAF-11 also emphasizes the structural advantages of the high surface area and interconnected three-dimensional channels of PAF-1. Consequently, the I2@PAF-1 cathode can deliver a high capacity of 328 mAh g-1 at 0.5 C, outstanding rate performance, and a stable cycling life of 20 000 cycles (86 % retention at 10 C). The robust polyiodide confinement and superb electrochemical performance of Zn-I2@PAF-1 provide insights into the practical application of PAFs as excellent electrode materials for AZIBs.

Inhibition of neuropilin-1 improves non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in high-fat-diet induced obese mouse.

BACKGROUND: Research findings indicate that neuropilin-1 plays a critical role in lipid metabolism and obesity-associated insulin resistance; on such a basis, the aim of this study was to explore the effects and working mechanism of neuropilin-1 inhibition on the non-alcoholic fatty liver (NAFLD) disease in high-fat-diet (HFD) induced obese mice. METHODS: Firstly, the pcDNA3.1-NRP-1 recombinant plasmid containing neuropilin-1 (NRP1) gene and NRP1 RNA interference plasmid shRNA-NRP1 were successfully constructed. A total of 36 C57BL/6 mice were randomly assigned to 6 groups, blank group, control group, pcDNA3.1 injection group, pcDNA3.1-NRP-1 injection group, pGenesil-1.1 injection group and shRNA-NRP1 injection group. Expression of phospho-PI3K, phospho-AKT, phospho-mTOR and neuropilin-1 in liver was measured as well as body and liver weight, blood glucose, serum transaminases and lipid levels of the mice. RESULTS: The weight and liver mass of HFD fed mice injected with pcDNA3.1-NRP-1 were significantly higher than those from the control group, but their body weight and liver mass decreased significantly after shRNA-NRP1 injection. The results also showed that neuropilin-1 expression can significantly influence the severity of hepatic steatosis in HFD fed mice, decreased serum FPG, LDL, AST, ALT levels and the expression of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-1ß (IL-1ß), and IL-6 mRNA. In addition, the Neuropilin-1 expression will also influence the p-PI3K, p-AKT and p-mTOR in mice. CONCLUSIONS: This study concluded that the inhibition of neuropilin-1 could improve NAFLD disease by decreasing body weight and reduce inflammation in HFD induced obese mice by modulating the PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway.

Green Recycling Supplier Selection of Shared Bicycles: Interval-Valued Pythagorean Fuzzy Hybrid Weighted Methods Based on Self-Confidence Level.

In the face of practical problems such as the increasing demand for shared bicycles and the number of faulty vehicles which are hard to handle and repair in time, shared bicycles operators tend to outsource recycling services to suppliers. To solve the problem of recycling supplier selection, this paper constructs a novel evaluation index system involving the three traditional dimensions and introduces an interval-valued Pythagorean fuzzy (IVPF) hybrid weighted decision-making model based on the self-confidence level. Subsequently, the self-confidence IVPF hybrid weighted average geometric operator and self-confidence IVPF ordered hybrid weighted average geometric operator are proposed by integrating the self-confidence level of experts, the superiority of the weighted and geometric average rules. The significant merit of the developed operators is that they can incorporate the self-confidence level of the expert as well as effectively combine the characteristics of the weighted and geometric average mechanism. A multi-attribute decision-making (MADM) framework is then constructed by using the proposed aggregation approach. Finally, on the basis of the established evaluation index system, a case concerning the green recycling supplier selection of shared bicycles is applied to display the superiority and practicability of the presented method.

Bioinformatics analysis identifies DYNC1I1 as prognosis marker in male patients with liver hepatocellular carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: Liver hepatocellular carcinoma (LIHC) is one of the most common malignant tumors. However, the etiology and exact molecular mechanism of LIHC are still not fully understood, which makes it urgent for us to further study the molecular events behind. METHODS: In this study, differences in mRNA expression between LIHC samples and normal adjacent samples were found through analyzing the TCGA database, and key targets were sought. We analyzed 371 LIHC samples and 50 normal adjacent samples according to P <0.01 and logFC>2.5, a total of 1092 genes were identified differentially expressed, including 995 up-regulated genes and 97 down-regulated genes. We predicted the interactions of these differentially expressed mRNAs, and used Cyto-Hubba to locate the hub gene-dynein cytoplasmic 1 intermediate chain 1 (DYNC1I1). RESULTS: Survival analysis showed that DYNC1I1 was a prognostic factor for LIHC male patients. Functional enrichment indicated that DYNC1I1 and differentially expressed interacting proteins were involved in the cell cycle. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, this study discovers that DYNC1I1 can be used as a prognostic marker for LIHC male patients.

Combined detection of circulating tumor cells, α-fetoprotein heterogene-3 and α-fetoprotein in the early diagnosis of HCC for the prediction of efficacy, prognosis, recurrence after microwave ablation.

BACKGROUND: Early diagnosis can significantly improve treatment outcomes for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients. Currently, the dosage of serum alpha fetoprotein (AFP) is widely used in the diagnosis of HCC, but this biomarker has low specificity and may cause false positive or false negative results. Thus, it's necessary to find and validate other serum tumor markers that in association for AFP would increase the sensitivity and the specificity in the HCC diagnosis. This study investigated the predictive value of combined of AFP, AFP-L3, and Circulating tumor cells (CTCs). METHODS: A total of 105 patients with HCC after microwave ablation (MWA) were divided into non recurrence group, recurrence group, good prognosis (CR + PR group, CR: Complete remission, PR: Partial remission) and poor prognosis (SD + PD group, SD: Stable, PD: Progression). ROC curve was used to analyze the short-term efficacy, prognosis and clinical value of combined detection of the three indicators in predicting postoperative recurrence of HCC patients with MWA. RESULTS: The positive rate of serum CTCs, AFP-L3 and AFP combined detection in the diagnosis of HCC is higher than that of single index and two index detection. The AUC, sensitivity and specificity of serum CTCs, AFP-L3 and AFP combined detection was better than that of single index and two indexes in patients with HCC after MWA. CONCLUSIONS: Combined detection of AFP, AFP-L3, and CTCs can effectively make up for the shortcomings of the detection with single and pairwise indicators. It can't only diagnose HCC in early, but also has a high clinical value of predicting the short-term efficacy, prognosis and recurrence of HCC patients after MWA treatment.

Effects of sevoflurane exposure on apoptosis and cell cycle of peripheral blood lymphocytes, and immunologic function.

BACKGROUND: Waste anesthetic gases (WAGs) leaked from new-type halogenated inhalational anesthetics such as sevoflurane have been were reported to pose a risk for the health of operating room personnel. The effects of WAGs on peripheral blood lymphocytes, however, remain yet controversial. The present study was undertaken to examine the effects of occupational sevoflurane exposure on the peripheral blood lymphocytes of medical personnel who work in the operating room. METHODS: A cohort of 56 medical residents were divided into exposed group (n = 28) and control group (non-exposed group) (n = 28). Gas chromatography was used to measure the concentration of sevoflurane in the medical resident's breathing zone during surgeries under inhalation anesthesia in the exposure group. The gas collection lasted an hour. Peripheral blood lymphocytes were isolated from venous blood, and then apoptosis and cell cycle were analyzed by flow cytometry. EDTA-anticoagulated whole blood was harvested to analyze the lymphocyte subsets by flow cytometry. Immunoglobulins (IgA, IgM, IgG) were quantified by immunoturbidimetry. RESULTS: The average concentration of sevoflurane in the exposed group was 1.03 ppm with a range from 0.03 ppm to 2.24 ppm. No significant effects were found on the apoptosis rates or cell cycles of peripheral blood lymphocytes in the exposed group relative to the control group (P > 0.05). Similarly, there were no significant differences in the lymphocyte subsets or the levels of immunoglobulins (IgA, IgM, IgG) between the two groups (P > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Occupational exposure to low-level sevoflurane has no significant effect on the peripheral blood lymphocytes of operating room staff, but this conclusion needs to be confirmed by multicenter and long-term follow-up studies with large samples. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER AND DATE OF REGISTRATION: ChiCTR2000040772 , December 9, 2020 (Retrospective registration).

Human Umbilical Cord Mesenchymal Stem Cells for Adjuvant Treatment of a Critically Ill COVID-19 Patient: A Case Report.

BACKGROUND: COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 2019) has become a global public health emergency since patients were first detected in Wuhan, China, in December 2019. Currently, there are no satisfying antiviral medications and vaccines available. CASE PRESENTATION: We reported the treatment process and clinical outcome of a 48-year-old man critically ill COVID-19 patient who received transfusion of allogenic human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells (UC-MSCs). CONCLUSIONS: We proposed that UC-MSC transfusion might be a new option for critically ill COVID-19. Although only one case we were shown, more similar clinical cases are inquired for further evidence providing the potential effectiveness of UC-MSC treatment.

Description of Alocobisium tibetense sp. nov., representing the first record of the pseudoscorpion family Syarinidae (Arachnida: Pseudoscorpiones) from China.

Alocobisiun tibetense sp. nov. is described from Xizang Autonomous Region, representing the first record of Syarinidae from China. Alocobisium rahmi Beier, 1976 is re-described from type material and a key is given to the genus.

Description of two new Stenohya species from China (Pseudoscorpiones, Neobisiidae).

Two new species of the genus Stenohya Beier, 1967 are described from China: Stenohya pengaesp. n. (male and female; type locality Daming Mountain, Nanning City, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region) and Stenohya huangisp. n. (female; type locality Gushan Mountain, Fuzhou City, Fujian Prov.).The presence of Stenohya pengaesp. n. in the tree crown of Castanopsis fabri represents a new habitat for Neobisiidae. A key and a distribution map of the Chinese Stenohya species are also provided.