The cycling stability of lithium metal batteries is steadily improving. The safety issues, which mainly result from the employment of flammable solvents, should be strongly considered for practical ...Li metal batteries. Nonflammable solvents can mitigate fire hazards; however, their employment irreversibly deteriorates the cycling stability of working batteries owing to intrinsic high reactivity against Li metal. Herein, regulating solvation structure in a dimethylacetamide (DMAC)‐based electrolyte is proposed to achieve compatibility between cycling stability and nonflammability of electrolytes. DMAC, a nonflammable solvent, is employed to construct a nonflammable localized high‐concentration electrolyte (LHCE). In the DMAC‐based LHCE, there are abundant aggregate clusters resulting in the formation of anion‐derived solid electrolyte interphase to circumvent parasitic reactions between DMAC solvents and Li metal and to improve the uniformity of Li deposition, which ensures the compatibility between cycling stability under practical conditions and nonflammability of electrolytes. This work opens an emerging avenue to construct long‐cycling and safe Li metal batteries by manipulating solvation structure in nonflammable electrolytes.
Regulating solvation structure in a dimethylacetamide‐based nonflammable electrolyte is explored to achieve compatibility between cycling stability and safety of electrolytes for practical lithium metal batteries. In the localized high‐concentration electrolyte, aggregate clusters are generated and result in the formation of an anion‐derived solid electrolyte interphase, and also improve the uniformity of Li deposition.
The stability of high-energy-density lithium metal batteries depends on the uniformity of solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) on lithium metal anodes. Rationally improving SEI uniformity is hindered ...by poorly understanding the effect of structure and components of SEI on its uniformity. Herein, a bilayer structure of SEI formed by isosorbide dinitrate (ISDN) additives in localized high-concentration electrolytes was demonstrated to improve SEI uniformity. In the bilayer SEI, LiN
O
generated by ISDN occupies top layer and LiF dominates bottom layer next to anode. The uniformity of lithium deposition is remarkably improved with the bilayer SEI, mitigating the consumption rate of active lithium and electrolytes. The cycle life of lithium metal batteries with bilayer SEI is three times as that with common anion-derived SEI under practical conditions. A prototype lithium metal pouch cell of 430 Wh kg
undergoes 173 cycles. This work demonstrates the effect of a reasonable structure of SEI on reforming SEI uniformity.
Exploring non-noble metal and high-activity electrocatalysts through a simple and controllable protocol remains a great challenge for oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) and zinc–air batteries. Herein, ...we developed a melt polymerization strategy to synthesize iron-polyphthalocyanine (FePPc) metallic–organic frameworks (MOFs) over the carbon black matrix (FePPc@CB). Through non-covalent
π
–
π
interactions, FePPc molecules can anchor on carbon matrix, thus facilitating the electron transfer process and stabilizing the systems. Owing to abundant free electrons and atomically MN
4
catalytic sites in the macrocycle structure, FePPc@CB exhibits excellent oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) and oxygen evolution reaction (OER) electrocatalytic activity. The FePPc@CB also delivers excellent performances for liquid and flexible all-solid-state batteries compared to that of commercial Pt/C, making it a promising ORR/OER electrocatalyst.
Graphic abstract
The stability of lithium metal anodes essentially dictates the lifespan of high‐energy‐density lithium metal batteries. Lithium nitrate (LiNO3) is widely recognized as an effective additive to ...stabilize lithium metal anodes by forming LiNxOy‐containing solid electrolyte interphase (SEI). However, its poor solubility in electrolytes, especially ester electrolytes, hinders its applications in lithium metal batteries. Herein, an organic nitrate, isosorbide nitrate (ISDN), is proposed to replace LiNO3. ISDN has a high solubility of 3.3 M in ester electrolytes due to the introduction of organic segments in the molecule. The decomposition of ISDN generates LiNxOy‐rich SEI, enabling uniform lithium deposition. The lifespan of lithium metal batteries with ISDN significantly increases from 80 to 155 cycles under demanding conditions. Furthermore, a lithium metal pouch cell of 439 Wh kg−1 delivers 50 cycles. This work opens a new avenue to develop additives by molecular modifications for practical lithium metal batteries.
An organic nitrate is proposed to replace LiNO3 to stabilize Li metal anodes. The isosorbide nitrate with organic segments and nitrate group exhibits a high solubility of 3.3 M in ester electrolytes and advantageous reactions with Li metal anodes, which generates LiNxOy‐rich solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) to enhance the uniformity of Li deposition. In contrast, the solubility of LiNO3 is less than 0.12 M.
A process for the recovery of high-purity metallic cobalt from NMC-type Li-ion battery, which uses lithium nickel manganese cobalt oxide as the cathode material, is reported in this manuscript. ...First, leaching experiments of the cathode material were done with different types of acid and base solutions to compare the leaching efficiency of cobalt and the other metals. Complete leaching of cobalt is required for the recovering process and was eventually achieved when using a reductive leaching method. Second, extraction experiments were done by using different extractants to extract different metals from the leachate solution. It was found that a consecutive and selective separation of manganese first and cobalt second could result in the highest yield and selectivity of cobalt. P-204 (di(2-ethylhexyl)phosphoric acid) was used for extracting manganese, and P-507 (2-ethyl(hexyl)phosphonic acid mono-2-ethylhexyl ester) was used for extracting cobalt. Last, electrowinning was applied using the cobalt solution after back-extraction to recover cobalt into its metallic form. The overall recovery ratio for cobalt was calculated to be about 93% with a high purity of 98.8%.
Background
Meningioma incidence was reported to have risen substantially in the United States during the first decade of the 21st century. There are few reports about subsequent incidence trends. ...This study provides updated data to investigate trends in meningioma incidence by demographic and tumor characteristics at diagnosis in the United states from 2004 to 2015.
Methods
Trends in meningioma incidence were analyzed using data from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results‐18 (SEER‐18) registry database of the National Cancer Institute. The joinpoint program was used to calculate annual percent change (APC) in incidence rates.
Results
The overall incidence of meningioma increased by 4.6% (95% CI, 3.4‐5.9) annually in 2004‐2009, but remained stable from 2009 to 2015 (APC, 0; 95% CI, −0.8 to 0.8). Females (10.66 per 100 000 person‐years) and blacks (9.52 per 100 000 person‐years) had significant predominance in meningioma incidence. Incidence in many subgroups increased significantly up to 2009 and then remained stable until 2015. However, meningioma incidence in young and middle‐aged people increased significantly throughout the entire time period from 2004 to 2015 (APC: 3.6% for <20‐year‐olds; 2.5% for 20‐39‐year‐olds; 1.8% for 40‐59‐year‐olds). The incidence of WHO II meningioma increased during 2011‐2015 (APC = 5.4%), while the incidence of WHO III meningioma decreased during 2004‐2015 (APC = −5.6%).
Conclusion
In this study, the incidence of meningioma was found to be stable in recent years. Possible reasons for this finding include changes in population characteristics, the widespread use of diagnostic techniques, and changes in tumor classification and risk factors in the US population.
We evaluated trends in meningioma incidence according to demographic and tumor characteristics at diagnosis in the United States during 2004‐2015. We found the incidence of meningioma increased significantly in 2004‐2009 and became stable in 2009‐2015. It challenged the prevailing notion that the US meningioma incidence has increased for decades.
Display omitted
•The development of scientific research in acute bone loss after fracture was elaborated in a complete and clear perspective.•The possible mechanisms, including the new achievements ...in microgravity, muscle-bone crosstalk and the sympathetic nervous system, of acute bone loss after fracture were reviewed.•Several key molecules and current treatments as well as the potential targets and promising therapies were also briefly reviewed and compared.•The challenges we faced and the future directions are also summarized and elaborated.
Acute bone loss after fracture is associated with various effects on the complete recovery process and a risk of secondary fractures among patients. Studies have reported similarities in pathophysiological mechanisms involved in acute bone loss after fractures and osteoporosis. However, given the silence nature of bone loss and bone metabolism complexities, the actual underlying pathophysiological mechanisms have yet to be fully elucidated.
To elaborate the latest findings in basic research with a focus on acute bone loss after fracture. To briefly highlight potential therapeutic targets and current representative drugs. To arouse researchers' attention and discussion on acute bone loss after fracture.
Bone loss after fracture is associated with immobilization, mechanical unloading, blood supply damage, sympathetic nerve regulation, and crosstalk between musculoskeletals among other factors. Current treatment strategies rely on regulation of osteoblasts and osteoclasts, therefore, there is a need to elucidate on the underlying mechanisms of acute bone loss after fractures to inform the development of efficacious and safe drugs. In addition, attention should be paid towards ensuring long-term skeletal health.
This paper presents a vibration control method for the vibration suppression of a robotic arm. To understand the causes of the vibration in the six-axis manipulator and then eliminate the vibration ...through an effective control method, the vibration control structure can be divided into two parts. First, variational mode decomposition (VMD) and the Hilbert–Huang transform (HHT) algorithm are integrated to analyze the vibration signal and extract the vibration characteristics. Second, a smooth trajectory planning method is used to eliminate the residual vibration. Then, a feedback controller and iterative learning controller are used for controlling the vibration to stabilize the system while compensating for the torque of the elastic-joint model and repetitive errors caused by the vibration through the repeated operation of the arm. In addition, to improve the iterative learning control (ILC) performance, the integration of VMD and the HHT is used to distinguish useless information. The ILC is able to learn more quickly and compensate for the error caused by the vibration. The proposed VMD-HHT iterative learning control for the elastic joint (VH-ILC-EJ) method, along with a laboratory-developed six-axis degree-of-freedom (6-DOF) robotic arm, has been numerically and experimentally validated for vibration suppression.
Purpose
No study so far has paid attention to strabismus-related spinal imbalance. This study aimed to determine the epidemiology of thoracic scoliosis in children and adolescents with strabismus and ...investigate the association of two diseases.
Methods and design
A cross-sectional study. Study group consists of 1935 consecutive candidates for strabismus surgery (4–18 years); Control group consists of the age- and sex-matched patients with respiratory diseases. All subjects underwent a screening program based on chest plain radiographs using the Cobb method. Their demographic information, clinical variables and results of Cobb angle were recorded and analyzed.
Results
A significantly higher prevalence of thoracic scoliosis (289/1935, 14.94% versus 58/1935, 3.00%) was found in study group compared with control group. Among strabismic patients, the coronal thoracic scoliosis curve mainly distributed in right and in main thoracic (198/289) and in the curves 10°–19° (224/289); Age range 7–9 years (103/1935), female (179/1935) and concomitant exotropia patients (159/851) were more likely to have thoracic scoliosis. According to the logistic regression, thoracic scoliosis had no significant association with age, BMI, duration of illness and onset age (
p
> 0.05). However, gender, BCVA, type of strabismus and degree of strabismus showed a significant relationship with the prevalence of thoracic scoliosis (
p
< 0.05).
Conclusions
With a pooled prevalence of 14.94%, strabismus patients showed a great higher risk of developing thoracic scoliosis. Screening for scoliosis in strabismus patients can be helpful to discover a high prevalence of potential coronal scoliosis. More attention should be paid to ophthalmological problems in patients with scoliosis.
Graphic abstract
These slides can be retrieved under Electronic Supplementary Material.
The tremendous personal and economic burden worldwide caused by low back pain (LBP) has been surging in recent years. While intervertebral disc degeneration (IVDD) is the leading cause of LBP and ...vast efforts have been made to develop effective therapies, this problem is far from being resolved, as most treatments, such as painkillers and surgeries, mainly focus on relieving the symptoms rather than reversing the cause of IVDD. However, as stem/progenitor cells possess the potential to regenerate IVD, a deeper understanding of the early development and role of these cells could help to improve the effectiveness of stem/progenitor cell therapy in treating LBP. Single-cell RNA sequencing results provide fresh insights into the heterogeneity and development patterns of IVD progenitors; additionally, we compare mesenchymal stromal cells and IVD progenitors to provide a clearer view of the optimal cell source proposed for IVD regeneration.
PDF
