Display omitted
The improvements of cyclability and rate capability of lithium ion batteries with spinel LiMn2O4 as cathode are imperative demands for the large-scale practical applications. Herein, ...a nickel (Ni) and magnesium (Mg) co-doping strategy was employed to synthesize LiNi0.03Mg0.05Mn1.92O4 cathode material via a facile solid-state combustion approach. The effects of the Ni-Mg co-doping on crystalline structure, micromorphology and electrochemical behaviors of the as-prepared LiNi0.03Mg0.05Mn1.92O4 are investigated by a series of physico-chemical characterizations and performance tests at high-rate and elevated-temperature. The resultant LiNi0.03Mg0.05Mn1.92O4 has the intrinsic spinel structure with no any impurities, and exhibits an elevated average valence of manganese in comparison to the pristine LiMn2O4. Owing to the Ni and Mg dual-doped merits, the LiNi0.03Mg0.05Mn1.92O4 sample demonstrates a robust spinel structure and high first discharge specific capacity of 112.3 mAh g−1, whilst undergoing a long cycling of 1000 cycles at 1 C. At a high current rate of 20 C, the capacity of 91.2 mAh g−1 with an excellent retention of 77% is obtained after 1000 cycles. Even at 10 C under 55 °C, an excellent capacity of 97.6 mAh g−1 is also delivered. These results offer a new opportunity for developing high-performance lithium ion batteries with respect to the Ni-Mg co-doping strategy.
In lineages of allopolyploid origin, sets of homoeologous chromosomes may coexist that differ in gene content and syntenic structure. Presence or absence of genes and microsynteny along chromosomal ...blocks can serve to differentiate subgenomes and to infer phylogenies. We here apply genome-structural data to infer relationships in an ancient allopolyploid lineage, the walnut family (Juglandaceae), by using seven chromosome-level genomes, two of them newly assembled. Microsynteny and gene-content analyses yield identical topologies that place Platycarya with Engelhardia as did a 1980s morphological-cladistic study. DNA-alignment-based topologies here and in numerous earlier studies instead group Platycarya with Carya and Juglans, perhaps misled by past hybridization. All available data support a hybrid origin of Juglandaceae from extinct or unsampled progenitors nested within, or sister to, Myricaceae. Rhoiptelea chiliantha, sister to all other Juglandaceae, contains proportionally more DNA repair genes and appears to evolve at a rate 2.6- to 3.5-times slower than the remaining species.
Display omitted
•139 types of ARGs were found in sludge vermicompost, affiliated to 30 classes.•Types and sequences of plasmids and integrons were decreased by vermicomposting.•Proteobacteria and ...Actinobacteria were the dominant hosts of ARGs in vermicompost.•Earthworms could reduce the total HPB abundance and modify their diversity.•Environmental risk of ARGs and HPB in sludge vermicompost should be concerned.
This study used a metagenomic approach to investigate the effects of earthworms on ARGs and HPB during the vermicomposting of dewatered sludge. Results showed that 139 types of ARGs were found in sludge vermicompost, affiliated to 30 classes. Compared with the control, the total abundance of ARGs in sludge vermicompost decreased by 41.5%. Moreover, the types and sequences of plasmids and integrons were also decreased by vermicomposting. Proteobacteria and Actinobacteria were the most dominant hosts of ARGs in sludge vermicompost. In addition, earthworms reduced the total HPB abundance and modified their diversity, thus leading to higher abundance of Enterobacteriaceae in sludge vermicompost. However, the sludge vermicompost was still ARG and HPB enriched, indicating a remaining environmental risk for agricultural purpose. The observed change of microbial community and the reduction of mobile genetic elements caused by earthworm activity are the main reasons for the alleviation of ARG pollution during vermicomposting.
Aim Investigating phytogeographical divides can help provide a better understanding of the evolution of floras. Tertiary relict floras in East Asia have been subdivided into a northern region (NEA) ...and a southern region (SEA), separated by an arid belt, although this division remains little-studied since it was proposed in 2002. To test its validity, we investigated the evolutionary history of a Tertiary relict species, Lindera obtusiloba. Location East Asia. Methods Chloroplast DNA (cpDNA) and nuclear microsatellites (nSSRs) were genotyped in 34 populations. Regional genetic diversities were compared, and genetic differentiation was calculated between and within regions. Bayesian phylogenetics and Bayesian clustering were employed for phylogeographic reconstruction. The time to the most recent common ancestor (TMRCA) and divergence time between the two regions were estimated. Historical rates of gene flow were calculated using the maximum-likelihood method. The potential habitat at present, during the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM) and during the Last Interglacial (LIG) were predicted by ecological niche modelling (ENM). Results Both markers revealed sharp genetic discontinuities and limited migration between regions. The TMRCA and population divergence can probably both be dated to the Pliocene. Clear genetic structure was found within each region. The genetic diversity of both markers and the age of chlorotypes decreased with increasing longitude within SEA. Japan harboured the highest genetic diversity within NEA, with abundant private and ancestral chlorotypes. NEA had greater genetic diversity than SEA in nSSRs, whereas the opposite was true for cpDNA. ENM in LGM and LIG may support long-term isolation in multiple locations in both regions. Main conclusions Our study provides solid evidence for the proposed floral subdivision along the arid belt within East Asia. Populations in both regions remained stable over a long period and sustained multiple glacial refugia. Westernmost SEA and easternmost NEA sustained ancestral populations. Clear eastward expansion was detected within SEA.
Abstract
The supraspinal mechanism plays a key role in developing and maintaining chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CP/CPPS). However, it is not clear how white matter changes in ...young and middle‐aged males with CP/CPPS. In this cross‐sectional study, 23 CP/CPPS patients and 22 healthy controls (HCs) were recruited. Tract‐based spatial statistics was applied to investigate the differences in diffusion tensor imaging metrics, including fractional anisotropy (FA), mean diffusion (MD), radial diffusion (RD) and axial diffusion (AD), between CP/CPPS patients and HCs. The study also examined the association between white matter alterations and clinical variables in patients using correlation analysis. Compared with HCs, patients showed decreased FA, MD, RD and AD in the body and genu of the corpus callosum and right anterior corona radiata. In addition, they showed increased FA along with decreased MD, RD and AD in the left posterior limb of the internal capsule (PLIC‐L), left external capsule and left cerebral peduncle. The FA of PLIC‐L was negatively correlated with disease duration (
r
= −.54, corrected
p =
.017), while MD and RD were positively correlated (
r
= .45, corrected
p =
.042;
r
= .57, corrected
p =
.017). These results suggest that CP/CPPS is associated with extensive changes in white matter tracts, which are involved in pain processing. In particular, the FA, MD and RD values in the PLIC‐L were correlated with the disease duration, indicating that the long‐term course of CP/CPPS may have effects on the white matter microstructure of the pain perception pathways.
A novel interrogation system for large scale sensing network with identical ultra-weak fiber Bragg gratings (FBG) is proposed, theoretically analyzed and experimentally studied. Based on ...time-division multiplexing (TDM) technique, two semiconductor optical amplifiers are introduced to the interrogation system to achieve fast and flexible demodulation. A simulation depending on the formula of reflected pulse spectra, derived by analyzing the source of disturbance along the optical path, is processed for evaluating the performance theoretically. Experiment was demonstrated on an 843 serial FBGs sensor network, with a peak reflectivity of -40 to -45 dB and a spatial resolution of 2 m along a single optical fiber by launching a 50 kHz scanning frequency with 20 ns effective pulse width to the system. Due to the low crosstalk, it is possible to integrate several thousands of FBG sensors in a single optical fiber.
Abstract Introduction The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of warm vertical compaction on the physical properties of root canal sealers. Methods The physical properties of 4 sealers ...(zinc oxide –eugenol ZOE, AH Plus Dentsply International, York, PA, RoekoSeal Roeko/Coltene/Whaledent, Langenau, Germany, and iRoot SP Innovative Bioceramix, Vancouver, Canada) were tested. The setting time and flow of these sealers were measured at standard and high temperatures using ISO 6876 (2012) specifications. The percentage of voids in each sealer after complete setting at 37°C and 140°C was analyzed under a stereoscopic microscope. Results The setting time of ZOE sealer increased significantly from 144.0 ± 4.1 minutes to 274.2 ± 7.4 minutes when the temperature increased from 37°C to 140°C, whereas there was a significant reduction in the other 3 sealers. At 37°C, the setting time of AH Plus, iRoot SP, and RoekoSeal was 543.8 ± 16.4, 245.8 ± 15.9, and 49.3 ± 1.5 minutes, and at 140°C the setting time decreased significantly to 12.9 ± 0.7, 14.2 ± 0.6, and 2.7 ± 0.4 minutes ( P < .05). The flow of AH Plus increased when the temperature changed from 25°C to 140°C ( P < .05), whereas the flow reduced for RoekoSeal and iRoot SP (for RoekoSeal from 24.8 ± 0.9 to 12.4 ± 1.3 mm and for iRoot SP from 22.9 ± 0.9 to 13.3 ± 1.5 mm) ( P < .05). However, the flow of ZOE sealer was unaffected by the high temperature. ZOE sealer and iRoot SP exhibited a reduction of porosity at a high temperature ( P < .05). Conclusions Warm vertical compaction influenced some properties (the setting time, flow, and porosity) of 4 sealers. A significant reduction of setting time and flow was found in RoekoSeal and iRoot SP sealers at a high temperature.
Diabetic kidney disease (DKD) is among the most important causes for chronic kidney disease. Anthocyanins (ANT) are polyphenolic compounds present in various food and play an important role in ...ameliorating hyperglycemia and insulin sensitivity. However, the effects of ANT in DKD are still poorly understood. This study aimed to investigate the effect of ANT (cyanidin-3-O-glucoside C3G) on the renal function of DKD, and whether the anti-DKD effect of ANT is related to metabolic pathways.
To explore the role of ANT in DKD, we performed the examination of blood glucose, renal function, and histopathology. As for the mechanism, we designed the label-free quantification proteomics and nontargeted metabolomics analysis for kidney and serum. Subsequently, we revealed the anti-DKD effect of ANT through the bioinformatic analysis.
We showed that the fasting blood glucose level (- 6.1 mmol/L, P = 0.037), perimeter of glomerular lesions (- 24.1 μm, P = 0.030), fibrosis score of glomerular (- 8.8%, P = 0.002), and kidney function (Cystatin C: - 701.4 pg/mL, P = 0.043; urine creatinine: - 701.4 mmol/L, P = 0.032) were significantly alleviated in DKD mice after ANT treatment compared to untreated in the 20th week. Further, proteins and metabolites in the kidneys of DKD mice were observed to be dramatically altered due to changes in amino acid metabolism with ANT treatment; mainly, taurine and hypotaurine metabolism pathway was upregulated (P = 0.0001, t value = 5.97). Furthermore, upregulated tryptophan metabolism (P < 0.0001, t value = 5.94) and tyrosine metabolism (P = 0.0037, t value = 2.91) pathways had effects on serum of DKD mice as responsed ANT regulating.
Our results suggested that prevention of the progression of DKD by ANT could be related to the regulation of amino acid metabolism. The use of dietary ANT may be one of the dietary strategies to prevent and treat DKD.
Additive manufacturing (AM) zirconia shows excellent prospects for use in clinical applications. In this work, AM zirconia samples were fabricated in horizontal (H) and upright (U) fashion using a ...stereolithography appearance (SLA) system. The dimensional accuracy, density, translucency, surface quality, flexural strength and fracture toughness (KIc) of the samples were then assessed. AM zirconia fabricated in a H fashion shows excellent dimensional accuracy. Samples fabricated in a U fashion exhibit a higher density (relative density 95.4%) and translucency (4.393), but H group samples exhibit a higher KIc value (12.635 ± 1.372 MPa m1/2). The flexural strengths of the samples were measured and the values were compared according to their different build orientations, surface quality and fracture modes. Manual defects that arose in the samples as a result of their separation from the build platform in which they were made were found to lead to samples with irregular surface morphologies and increased surface roughness. However, this type of defect does not affect the flexural strength of samples fabricated in a H fashion. Polished-H samples that fracture from the stress concentration area exhibit the highest flexural strength (1151.08 ± 166.41 MPa) amongst all the samples prepared in this work. However, the flexural strength of the samples prepared in a U fashion is obviously low, even after polishing (225.44 ± 46.10 MPa). The Weibull characteristic strengths and Weibull moduli of the as-sintered samples are 920.22 MPa and 6.50 for H and 219.59 MPa and 7.99 for U, respectively. Overall, it was found that the dimensional accuracy, density, translucency, surface quality and mechanical properties of materials vary according to their different build orientations.
Solar methane dry reforming (MDR) reaction is a highly promising technology for long‐term energy storage due to its eco‐friendly nature and high‐value‐added product. Numerous present works mainly ...focused on the photo‐thermal catalysts, few of them discussed photo‐thermal coupled kinetics. Therefore, this article proposed a light‐dependent kinetic model for MDR. In the model, not only the effect of temperature and species concentration were included, but also the radiation was considered, which is different from the conventional kinetic model. Solar radiation is divided into thermal‐effect and light‐promoted‐effect part and coupled with the heat and mass transportation and chemical reaction. The average relative error of established model is only 0.97% under dark condition, and 13.2% under light condition. Then, the impacts of operating condition in a cavity reactor were investigated by established coupled optical‐photo‐thermal dynamics–computational fluid dynamic model to improve the efficiency of chemical conversion. The results show that when GHSV is 48.21 h−1, light increased the reaction rate by 1.59 times and thermochemical energy storage efficiency by 18.5%. When CH4/CO2 = 1, the formation rates of syngas and thermochemical energy storage efficiency are the highest. This work provides a highly coupled photo‐thermal kinetic model and a method for modeling and condition optimization.
