Vanadium trioxide (V6O13) cathode has recently aroused intensive interest for aqueous zinc‐ion batteries (AZIBs) due to their structural and electrochemical diversities. However, it undergoes ...sluggish reaction kinetics and significant capacity decay during prolonged cycling. Herein, an oxygen‐vacancy‐reinforced heterojunction in V6O13−x/reduced graphene oxide (rGO) cathode is designed through electrostatic assembly and annealing strategy. The abundant oxygen vacancies existing in V6O13−x weaken the electrostatic attraction with the inserted Zn2+; the external electric field constructed by the heterointerfaces between V6O13−x and rGO provides additional built‐in driving force for Zn2+ migration; the oxygen‐vacancy‐enriched V6O13−x highly dispersed on rGO fabricates the interconnected conductive network, which achieves rapid Zn2+ migration from heterointerfaces to lattice. Consequently, the obtained 2D heterostructure exhibits a remarkable capacity of 424.5 mAh g−1 at 0.1 A g−1, and a stable capacity retention (96% after 5800 cycles) at the fast discharge rate of 10 A g−1. Besides, a flexible pouch‐type AZIB with real‐life practicability is fabricated, which can successfully power commercial products, and maintain stable zinc‐ion storage performances even under bending, heavy strikes, and pressure condition. A series of quantitative investigation of pouch batteries demonstrates the possibility of pushing pouch‐type AZIBs to realistic energy storage market.
The oxygen‐vacancy‐reinforced V6O13−x/reduced graphene oxide heterojunction cathode with interconnected conductive network demonstrates the superior rate capability and cycling stability for aqueous zinc‐ion batteries (AZIBs). Significantly, the encapsulated flexible pouch‐type AZIBs can effectively power for the tablet, confirming the vast commercialization potential.
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BFBNIB, FZAB, GIS, IJS, KILJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, SAZU, SBCE, SBMB, UL, UM, UPUK
There are concerns that the reported association of ambient fine particulate matter (PM2.5) with mortality might be a mixture of PM2.5 and weather conditions. We evaluated the effects of extreme ...weather conditions and weather types on mortality as well as their interactions with PM2.5 concentrations in a time series study. Daily non-accidental deaths, individual demographic information, daily average PM2.5 concentrations and meteorological data between 2012 and 2014 were obtained from Shanghai, China. Days with extreme weather conditions were identified. Six synoptic weather types (SWTs) were generated. The generalized additive model was set up to link the mortality with PM2.5 and weather conditions. Parameter estimation was based on Bayesian methods using both the Jeffreys' prior and an informative normal prior in a sensitivity analysis. We estimate the percent increase in non-accidental mortality per 10 μg/m3 increase in PM2.5 concentration and constructed corresponding 95% credible interval (CrI). In total, 336,379 non-accidental deaths occurred during the study period. Average daily deaths were 307. The results indicated that per 10 μg/m3 increase in daily average PM2.5 concentration alone corresponded to 0.26-0.35% increase in daily non-accidental mortality in Shanghai. Statistically significant positive associations between PM2.5 and mortality were found for favorable SWTs when considering the interaction between PM2.5 and SWTs. The greatest effect was found in hot dry SWT (percent increase = 1.28, 95% CrI: 0.72, 1.83), followed by warm humid SWT (percent increase = 0.64, 95% CrI: 0.15, 1.13). The effect of PM2.5 on non-accidental mortality differed under specific extreme weather conditions and SWTs. Environmental policies and actions should take into account the interrelationship between the two hazardous exposures.
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DOBA, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
The homologous recombination (HR) repair pathway for DNA damage, particularly the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes, has become a target for cancer therapy, with poly ADP-ribose polymerase (PARP) inhibitors ...showing significant outcomes in treating germline BRCA1/2 (gBRCA1/2) mutated breast cancer. Recent studies suggest that some patients with somatic BRCA1/2 (sBRCA1/2) mutation or mutations in HR-related genes other than BRCA1/2 may benefit from PARP inhibitors as well, particularly those with PALB2 mutations. The current analysis aims to evaluate the prevalence of genetic alterations specific to BRCA1, BRCA2, and PALB2 in a large cohort of Taiwanese breast cancer patients through tumor-targeted sequencing.
A total of 924 consecutive assays from 879 Taiwanese breast cancer patients underwent tumor-targeted sequencing (Thermo Fisher Oncomine Comprehensive Assay v3). We evaluated BRCA1, BRCA2, and PALB2 mutational profiles, with variants annotated and curated by the ClinVAR, the Oncomine™ Knowledgebase Reporter, and the OncoKB™. We also conducted reflex germline testing using either whole exome sequencing (WES) or whole genome sequencing (WGS), which is ongoing.
Among the 879 patients analyzed (924 assays), 130 had positive mutations in BRCA1 (3.1%), BRCA2 (8.6%), and PALB2 (5.2%), with a total of 14.8% having genetic alterations. Co-occurrence was noted between BRCA1/BRCA2, BRCA1/PALB2, and BRCA2/PALB2 mutations. In BRCA1-mutated samples, only p.K654fs was observed in three patients, while other variants were observed no more than twice. For BRCA2, p.N372H was the most common (26 patients), followed by p.S2186fs, p.V2466A, and p.X159_splice (5 times each). For PALB2, p.I887fs was the most common mutation (30 patients). This study identified 176 amino acid changes; 60.2% (106) were not documented in either ClinVAR or the Oncomine™ Knowledgebase Reporter. Using the OncoKB™ for annotation, 171 (97.2%) were found to have clinical implications. For the result of reflex germline testing, three variants (BRCA1 c.1969_1970del, BRCA1 c.3629_3630del, BRCA2 c.8755-1G > C) were annotated as Pathogenic/Likely pathogenic (P/LP) variants by ClinVar and as likely loss-of-function or likely oncogenic by OncoKB; while one variant (PALB2 c.448C > T) was not found in ClinVar but was annotated as likely loss-of-function or likely oncogenic by OncoKB.
Our study depicted the mutational patterns of BRCA1, BRCA2, and PALB2 in Taiwanese breast cancer patients through tumor-only sequencing. This highlights the growing importance of BRCA1/2 and PALB2 alterations in breast cancer susceptibility risk and the treatment of index patients. We also emphasized the need to meticulously annotate variants in cancer-driver genes as well as actionable mutations across multiple databases.
The task group (TG) for quality assurance of medical accelerators was constituted by the American Association of Physicists in Medicine’s Science Council under the direction of the Radiation Therapy ...Committee and the Quality Assurance and Outcome Improvement Subcommittee. The task group (TG-142) had two main charges. First to update, as needed, recommendations of Table II of the AAPM TG-40 report on quality assurance and second, to add recommendations for asymmetric jaws, multileaf collimation (MLC), and dynamic/virtual wedges. The TG accomplished the update to TG-40, specifying new test and tolerances, and has added recommendations for not only the new ancillary delivery technologies but also for imaging devices that are part of the linear accelerator. The imaging devices include x-ray imaging, photon portal imaging, and cone-beam CT. The TG report was designed to account for the types of treatments delivered with the particular machine. For example, machines that are used for radiosurgery treatments or intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) require different tests and/or tolerances. There are specific recommendations for MLC quality assurance for machines performing IMRT. The report also gives recommendations as to action levels for the physicists to implement particular actions, whether they are inspection, scheduled action, or immediate and corrective action. The report is geared to be flexible for the physicist to customize the QA program depending on clinical utility. There are specific tables according to daily, monthly, and annual reviews, along with unique tables for wedge systems, MLC, and imaging checks. The report also gives specific recommendations regarding setup of a QA program by the physicist in regards to building a QA team, establishing procedures, training of personnel, documentation, and end-to-end system checks. The tabulated items of this report have been considerably expanded as compared with the original TG-40 report and the recommended tolerances accommodate differences in the intended use of the machine functionality (non-IMRT, IMRT, and stereotactic delivery).
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BFBNIB, FZAB, GIS, IJS, KILJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, SAZU, SBCE, SBMB, UL, UM, UPUK
Given the highly increased incidence of human diseases, a better understanding of the related mechanisms regarding endogenous metabolism is urgently needed. Mass spectrometry-based metabolomics has ...been used in a variety of disease research areas. However, the deep research of metabolites remains a difficult and lengthy process. Fortunately, mass spectrometry is considered to be a universal tool with high specificity and sensitivity and is widely used around the world. Mass spectrometry technology has been applied to various basic disciplines, providing technical support for the discovery and identification of endogenous substances in living organisms. The combination of metabolomics and mass spectrometry is of great significance for the discovery and identification of metabolite biomarkers. The mass spectrometry tool could further improve and develop the exploratory research of the life sciences. This mini review discusses metabolomics biotechnology with a focus on recent applications of metabolomics as a powerful tool to elucidate metabolic disturbances and the related mechanisms of diseases.
Given the highly increased incidence of human diseases, a better understanding of the related mechanisms regarding endogenous metabolism is urgently needed.
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IJS, KILJ, NUK, UL, UM, UPUK
It is a common practice to export
instruments developed in one culture to another. Little is
known about the consequences of making inappropriate
comparisons in cross-cultural research. Several ...studies were
conducted to fill in this gap. Study 1 examined the impact
of lacking factor loading invariance on regression slope
comparisons. When factor loadings of a predictor are higher
in the reference group (e.g., United States), for which the
scale was developed, than in the focal group (e.g., China),
into which the scale was imported, the predictive
relationship (e.g., self-esteem predicting life
satisfaction) is artificially stronger in the reference
group but weaker in the focal group, creating a bogus
interaction effect of predictor by group (e.g., self-esteem
by culture); the opposite pattern is found when the
reference group has higher loadings in an outcome variable.
Studies 2 and 3 examined the impact of lacking loading and
intercept (i.e., point of origin) invariance on factor
means, respectively. When the reference group has higher
loadings or intercepts, the mean is overestimated in that
group but underestimated in the focal group, resulting in a
pseudo group difference.
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CEKLJ, FFLJ, NUK, ODKLJ, PEFLJ, UPUK
The massive release of the greenhouse gas CO2 has resulted in numerous environmental issues. In searching for advanced technologies for CO2 capture/conversions, recent advances in electrochemical ...reduction of CO2 in molten salts shed a light on potential solutions to CO2 mitigation. Electro‐reduction of CO2 in molten salts exhibits features like high selectivity and efficiency towards sustainable carbons and fuels, low toxicity, and possibility to combine with in situ CO2 capture. In this Minireview, we highlight the tuning of the products in this process and mainly discuss two categories of electrolyte, carbonate‐based molten salts (CMS) and those based on halides (HMS). Depending on the synthetic conditions, fuels such as CO or hydrocarbons (in the presence of hydrogen source, i. e., LiOH, NaOH, or KOH in the electrolyte) as well as high‐value nanostructured carbons including carbon nanotubes, carbon nanofibers, carbon nano‐onions, and graphene can be obtained with high efficiency. The synthesis parameters are compared, and the applications of as‐obtained carbons are briefly summarized. Additionally, some perspectives on this technology are also discussed.
Melting away: The emission of the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide is challenging the sustainability of the global climate. Here, capture and conversion of CO2 in carbonate and halide molten salts electrolytes are summarized. The composition, morphology, and structures of products derived from CO2 can be tuned by electrolysis conditions, including electrolyte composition, operation temperature, electrode, and electrolysis current or voltage.
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BFBNIB, FZAB, GIS, IJS, KILJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, SAZU, SBCE, SBMB, UL, UM, UPUK
The charges on this task group (TG) were as follows: (a) provide specific procedural guidelines for performing the tests recommended in TG 142; (b) provide estimate of the range of time, appropriate ...personnel, and qualifications necessary to complete the tests in TG 142; and (c) provide sample daily, weekly, monthly, or annual quality assurance (QA) forms. Many of the guidelines in this report are drawn from the literature and are included in the references. When literature was not available, specific test methods reflect the experiences of the TG members (e.g., a test method for door interlock is self‐evident with no literature necessary). In other cases, the technology is so new that no literature for test methods was available. Given broad clinical adaptation of volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT), which is not a specific topic of TG 142, several tests and criteria specific to VMAT were added.
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BFBNIB, FZAB, GIS, IJS, KILJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, SAZU, SBCE, SBMB, UL, UM, UPUK
The study of spatial symmetries was accomplished during the last century and had greatly improved our understanding of the properties of solids. Nowadays, the symmetry data of any crystal can be ...readily extracted from standard first-principles calculation. On the other hand, the topological data (topological invariants), the defining quantities of nontrivial topological states, are in general considerably difficult to obtain, and this difficulty has critically slowed down the search for topological materials. Here we provide explicit and exhaustive mappings from symmetry data to topological data for arbitrary gapped band structure in the presence of time-reversal symmetry and any one of the 230 space groups. The mappings are completed using the theoretical tools of layer construction and symmetry-based indicators. With these results, finding topological invariants in any given gapped band structure reduces to a simple search in the mapping tables provided.