Emerging rechargeable sodium‐ion storage systems—sodium‐ion and room‐temperature sodium–sulfur (RT‐NaS) batteries—are gaining extensive research interest as low‐cost options for large‐scale ...energy‐storage applications. Owing to their abundance, easy accessibility, and unique physical and chemical properties, sulfur‐based materials, in particular metal sulfides (MSx) and elemental sulfur (S), are currently regarded as promising electrode candidates for Na‐storage technologies with high capacity and excellent redox reversibility based on multielectron conversion reactions. Here, we present current understanding of Na‐storage mechanisms of the S‐based electrode materials. Recent progress and strategies for improving electronic conductivity and tolerating volume variations of the MSx anodes in Na‐ion batteries are reviewed. In addition, current advances on S cathodes in RT‐NaS batteries are presented. We outline a novel emerging concept of integrating MSx electrocatalysts into conventional carbonaceous matrices as effective polarized S hosts in RT‐NaS batteries as well. This comprehensive progress report could provide guidance for research toward the development of S‐based materials for the future Na‐storage techniques.
Sulfur‐based electrode materials are currently regarded as promising candidates for sodium‐storage technologies, especially for sodium‐ion (Na‐ion) and room‐temperature sodium–sulfur (RT‐NaS) batteries. In this Minireview on the progress of electrodes based on metal sulfides and elemental sulfur, material design and performance enhancement are highlighted and sodium‐storage mechanisms for both battery systems are discussed.
Methodological quality (risk of bias) assessment is an important step before study initiation usage. Therefore, accurately judging study type is the first priority, and the choosing proper tool is ...also important. In this review, we introduced methodological quality assessment tools for randomized controlled trial (including individual and cluster), animal study, non-randomized interventional studies (including follow-up study, controlled before-and-after study, before-after/ pre-post study, uncontrolled longitudinal study, interrupted time series study), cohort study, case-control study, cross-sectional study (including analytical and descriptive), observational case series and case reports, comparative effectiveness research, diagnostic study, health economic evaluation, prediction study (including predictor finding study, prediction model impact study, prognostic prediction model study), qualitative study, outcome measurement instruments (including patient - reported outcome measure development, content validity, structural validity, internal consistency, cross-cultural validity/ measurement invariance, reliability, measurement error, criterion validity, hypotheses testing for construct validity, and responsiveness), systematic review and meta-analysis, and clinical practice guideline. The readers of our review can distinguish the types of medical studies and choose appropriate tools. In one word, comprehensively mastering relevant knowledge and implementing more practices are basic requirements for correctly assessing the methodological quality.
Herein, a novel dual single‐atom catalyst comprising adjacent Fe‐N4 and Mn‐N4 sites on 2D ultrathin N‐doped carbon nanosheets with porous structure (FeMn‐DSAC) was constructed as the cathode for a ...flexible low‐temperature Zn‐air battery (ZAB). FeMn‐DSAC exhibits remarkable bifunctional activities for oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) and oxygen evolution reaction (OER). Control experiments and density functional theory calculations reveal that the catalytic activity arises from the cooperative effect of the Fe/Mn dual‐sites aiding *OOH dissociation as well as the porous 2D nanosheet structure promoting active sits exposure and mass transfer during the reaction process. The excellent bifunctional activity of FeMn‐DSAC enables the ZAB to operate efficiently at ultra‐low temperature of −40 °C, delivering 30 mW cm−2 peak power density and retaining up to 86 % specific capacity from the room temperature counterpart.
A Fe/Mn dual single‐atom catalyst with an excellent bifunctional activity is prepared as the cathode for a flexible low‐temperature Zn‐air battery (ZAB). Profiting from the combined Fe/Mn dual‐site effect as well as the porous 2D nanosheet structure, the ZAB could operate efficiently at the ultra‐low temperature of −40 °C.
This research delves into the aspects of communication and connectivity problems within random Wireless Sensor Networks (WSNs). It takes into account the distinctive role of the sink node, its ...placement, and application-specific requirements for effective communication while conserving valuable network resources. Through mathematical modeling, theoretical analysis, and simulation evaluations, we derive, compare, and contrast the probabilities of partial and full connectivity within a random WSN, factoring in network parameters and the maximum allowable hop distance/count hmax. hmax captures the diverse range of delay-sensitive requirements encountered in practical scenarios. Our research underscores the significant impact of the sink node and its placement on network connectivity and the sensor connection rate. The results exemplify a noteworthy decline in the sensor connection rate, dropping from 98.8% to 72.5%, upon relocating the sink node from the network center to the periphery. Moreover, as compared with full connectivity, partial connectivity and the sensor connection rate are more suitable metrics for assessing the communication capability of random WSNs. The results illustrate that 1.367 times more energy is required to connect less than 4% of the remote sensors, based on the examined network settings. Additionally, to increase the sensor connection rate slightly from 96% to 100%, an additional 538% more energy is required in multipath fading based on the widely adopted energy consumption model. This research and its outcomes contribute to establishing appropriate performance metrics and determining critical network parameters for the practical design and implementation of real-world wireless sensor networks.
The low-cost room-temperature sodium-sulfur battery system is arousing extensive interest owing to its promise for large-scale applications. Although significant efforts have been made, resolving low ...sulfur reaction activity and severe polysulfide dissolution remains challenging. Here, a sulfur host comprised of atomic cobalt-decorated hollow carbon nanospheres is synthesized to enhance sulfur reactivity and to electrocatalytically reduce polysulfide into the final product, sodium sulfide. The constructed sulfur cathode delivers an initial reversible capacity of 1081 mA h g
with 64.7% sulfur utilization rate; significantly, the cell retained a high reversible capacity of 508 mA h g
at 100 mA g
after 600 cycles. An excellent rate capability is achieved with an average capacity of 220.3 mA h g
at the high current density of 5 A g
. Moreover, the electrocatalytic effects of atomic cobalt are clearly evidenced by operando Raman spectroscopy, synchrotron X-ray diffraction, and density functional theory.
Cancer is a global epidemic and is considered a leading cause of death. Various cancer treatments such as chemotherapy, surgery, and radiotherapy are available for the cure but those are generally ...associated with poor long-term survival rates. Consequently, more advanced and selective methods that have better outcomes, fewer side effects, and high efficacies are highly in demand. Among these is the use of superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIONs) which act as an innovative kit for battling cancer. Low cost, magnetic properties and toxicity properties enable SPIONs to be widely utilized in biomedical applications. For example, magnetite and maghemite (Fe
3
O
4
and γ-Fe
2
O
3
) exhibit superparamagnetic properties and are widely used in drug delivery, diagnosis, and therapy. These materials are termed SPIONs when their size is smaller than 20 nm. This review article aims to provide a brief introduction on SPIONs, focusing on their fundamental magnetism and biological applications. The quality and surface chemistry of SPIONs are crucial in biomedical applications; therefore an in-depth survey of synthetic approaches and surface modifications of SPIONs is provided along with their biological applications such as targeting, site-specific drug delivery and therapy.
Usefulness of Superparamagnetic Iron oxide Nanoparticulate system for biomedical applications through targeting, drug delivery and therapy.
Dysregulated autophagy is associated with many pathological disorders such as cardiovascular diseases. Emerging evidence has suggested that circular RNAs (circRNAs) have important roles in some ...biological processes. However, it remains unclear whether circRNAs participate in the regulation of autophagy. Here we report that a circRNA, termed autophagy-related circular RNA (ACR), represses autophagy and myocardial infarction by targeting Pink1-mediated phosphorylation of FAM65B. ACR attenuates autophagy and cell death in cardiomyocytes. Moreover, ACR protects the heart from ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury and reduces myocardial infarct sizes. We identify Pink1 as an ACR target to mediate the function of ACR in cardiomyocyte autophagy. ACR activates Pink1 expression through directly binding to Dnmt3B and blocking Dnmt3B-mediated DNA methylation of Pink1 promoter. Pink1 suppresses autophagy and Pink1 transgenic mice show reduced myocardial infarction sizes. Further, we find that FAM65B is a downstream target of Pink1 and Pink1 phosphorylates FAM65B at serine 46. Phosphorylated FAM65B inhibits autophagy and cell death in the heart. Our findings reveal a novel role for the circRNA in regulating autophagy and ACR-Pink1-FAM65B axis as a regulator of autophagy in the heart will be potential therapeutic targets in treatment of cardiovascular diseases.
Many healthcare workers were infected by coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) early in the epidemic posing a big challenge for epidemic control. Hence, this study aims to explore perceived infection ...routes, influencing factors, psychosocial changes, and management procedures for COVID-19 infected healthcare workers.
This is a cross-sectional, single hospital-based study. We recruited all 105 confirmed COVID-19 healthcare workers in the Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University from February 15 to 29, 2020. All participants completed a validated questionnaire. Electronic consent was obtained from all participants. Perceived causes of infection, infection prevention, control knowledge and behaviour, psychological changes, symptoms and treatment were measured.
Finally, 103 professional staff with COVID-19 finished the questionnaire and was included (response rate: 98.1%). Of them, 87 cases (84.5%) thought they were infected in working environment in hospital, one (1.0%) thought their infection was due to the laboratory environment, and 5 (4.9%) thought they were infected in daily life or community environment. Swab of throat collection and physical examination were the procedures perceived as most likely causing their infection by nurses and doctors respectively. Forty-three (41.8%) thought their infection was related to protective equipment, utilization of common equipment (masks and gloves). The top three first symptoms displayed before diagnosis were fever (41.8%), lethargy (33.0%) and muscle aches (30.1%). After diagnosis, 88.3% staff experienced psychological stress or emotional changes during their isolation period, only 11.7% had almost no emotional changes. Arbidol (Umifenovir; an anti-influza drug; 69.2%) was the drug most commonly used to target infection in mild and moderate symptoms.
The main perceived mode of transmission was not maintaining protection when working at a close distance and having intimate contact with infected cases. Positive psychological intervention is necessary.
Under the concept of "united airway diseases," the airway is a single organ wherein upper and lower airway diseases are commonly comorbid. The upper and lower airways are lined with respiratory ...epithelium that plays a vital role in immune surveillance and modulation as the first line of defense to various infective pathogens, allergens, and physical insults. Recently, there is a common hypothesis emphasizing epithelium‐derived cytokines, namely IL‐25, IL‐33, and TSLP, as key regulatory factors that link in immune‐pathogenic mechanisms of allergic rhinitis (AR), chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS), and asthma, mainly involving in type 2 inflammatory responses and linking innate and adaptive immunities. Herein, we review studies that elucidated the role of epithelium‐derived triple cytokines in both upper and lower airways with the purpose of expediting better clinical treatments and managements of AR, CRS, asthma, and other associated allergic diseases via applications of the modulators of these cytokines.
Lithium-air batteries show a great promise in electrochemical energy storage with their theoretical specific energy comparable to gasoline. Discharge products such as Li2O2 or Li2CO3 are insoluble in ...several major nonaqueous electrolytes, and consequently precipitate at the reaction sites. These materials are also low in electric conductivity. As a result, the reduced pore space and electrode passiviation increase the reaction resistance and consequently reduce discharge voltage and capability. This work presents a modeling study of discharge product precipitation and effects for lithium-air batteries. Theoretical analysis is also performed to evaluate the variations of important quantities including temperature, species concentrations, and electric potentials. Precipitation growth modes on planar, cylindrical and spherical surfaces are discussed. A new approach, following the study of ice formation in PEM fuel cells, is proposed. Validation is carried out against experimental data in terms of discharge voltage loss.
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