The lithium–sulfur (Li–S) battery is regarded as a promising secondary battery. However, constant parasitic reactions between the Li anode and soluble polysulfide (PS) intermediates significantly ...deteriorate the working Li anode. The rational design to inhibit the parasitic reactions is plagued by the inability to understand and regulate the electrolyte structure of PSs. Herein, the electrolyte structure of PSs with anti‐reductive solvent shells was unveiled by molecular dynamics simulations and nuclear magnetic resonance. The reduction resistance of the solvent shell is proven to be a key reason for the decreased reactivity of PSs towards Li. With isopropyl ether (DIPE) as a cosolvent, DIPE molecules tend to distribute in the outer solvent shell due to poor solvating power. Furthermore, DIPE is more stable than conventional ether solvents against Li metal. The reactivity of PSs is suppressed by encapsulating PSs into anti‐reductive solvent shells. Consequently, the cycling performance of working Li–S batteries was significantly improved and a pouch cell of 300 Wh kg−1 was demonstrated. The fundamental understanding in this work provides an unprecedented ground to understand the electrolyte structure of PSs and the rational electrolyte design in Li–S batteries.
The electrolyte structure of lithium polysulfides (PSs) with anti‐reductive solvent shells was unveiled. The reduction resistance of the solvent shell is proven to be a key reason for the decreased reactivity of PSs towards Li. With isopropyl ether as a cosolvent, the reactivity of PSs is suppressed by encapsulating PSs into anti‐reductive solvent shells. The stability of practical Li–S batteries was improved and a pouch cell of 300 Wh kg−1 was demonstrated.
Non-symmorphic crystals are generating great interest as they are commonly found in quantum materials, like iron-based superconductors, heavy-fermion compounds, and topological semimetals. A new type ...of surface state, a floating band, was recently discovered in the nodal-line semimetal ZrSiSe, but also exists in many non-symmorphic crystals. Little is known about its physical properties. Here, we employ scanning tunneling microscopy to measure the quasiparticle interference of the floating band state on ZrSiSe (001) surface and discover rotational symmetry breaking interference, healing effect and half-missing-type anomalous Umklapp scattering. Using simulation and theoretical analysis we establish that the phenomena are characteristic properties of a floating band surface state. Moreover, we uncover that the half-missing Umklapp process is derived from the glide mirror symmetry, thus identify a non-symmorphic effect on quasiparticle interferences. Our results may pave a way towards potential new applications of nanoelectronics.
Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have been used in clinic for approximately 20 years. During this period, various new populations of MSCs have been found or manipulated. However, their characters and ...relative strength for bone regeneration have not been well known. For a comprehensive understanding of MSCs, we reviewed the literature on the multipotent cells ranging from the definition to the current research progress for bone regeneration. Based on our literature review, bone marrow MSCs have been most widely studied and utilized in clinical settings. Among other populations of MSCs, adipose-derived MSCs and perivascular MSCs might be potential candidates for bone regeneration, whose efficacy and safety still require further investigation.
Background
The sphenomandibular ligament (SML) is considered to originate from Meckel's cartilage (MC). However, no study has examined how the os goniale contributes to SML development.
Methods
...Semiserial histological sections of heads from 18 near‐term fetuses at 27–40 weeks of gestation were examined.
Observations
The os goniale and the anterior process of the malleus (AP) provided a long, bar‐like membranous bone complex that passed through the petrotympanic and tympanosquamosal fissures. Notably, the AP–goniale complex is sometimes elongated inferiorly to join the SML (n = 4 specimens). Along the complex in the bone fissures, a degenerating MC was often present (n = 12). With (n = 6) or without (n = 3) the MC remnant, the tympanic bone (TYB) protruded inferomedially near the tympanosquamosal fissure, and it sometimes continued to a cartilaginous SML (n = 3). The temporal bone squamosa or petrosa provided a similar bony process approaching the SML. The middle meningeal artery often ran between the sphenoid and petrosa.
Conclusions
Most of the specimens (n = 15) exhibited a sequential change from a cartilaginous SML as a continuation of the MC remnant to the ligament after the disappearance of the cartilage. The degenerating MC appeared to cause transformation from the AP–goniale complex and/or TYB to “another ligament” that replaced the usual SML at the upper part. Near the MC remnant, a similar transformation was also suggested on the squamosa or petrosa. The sphenoid spine appeared to originate often from the sphenoid ala major but sometimes from the TYB.
Bone loss with aging and menopause increases the risk of fragile vertebral fracture, osteoporotic vertebral compression fracture (OVCF). The fracture causes severe pain, impedes respiratory function, ...lower the quality of life, and increases the risk of new fractures and deaths. Various medications have been prescribed to prevent a secondary fracture, but few study summarized their effects. Therefore, we investigated their effects on preventing subsequent OVCF via meta-analyses of randomized controlled trials.
Electronic databases, including MEDLINE, EMBASE, CENTRAL, and Web of Science were searched for published randomized controlled trials from June 2015 to June 2019. The trials that recruited participants with at least one OVCF were included. We assessed the risk of bias of every study, estimated relative risk ratio of secondary OVCF, non-vertebral fracture, gastrointestinal complaints and discontinuation due to adverse events. Finally, we evaluated the quality of evidence.
Forty-one articles were included. Moderate to high quality evidence proved the effectiveness of zoledronate (Relative Risk, RR: 0.34; 95% CI, 0.17-0.69, p = 0.003), alendronate (RR: 0.54; 95% CI: 0.43-0.68; p < 0.0001), risedronate (RR: 0.61; 95% CI: 0.51-0.73; p < 0.0001), etidronate (RR, 0.50; 95% CI, 0.29-0.87, p < 0.01), ibandronate (RR: 0.52; 95% CI: 0.38-0.71; p < 0.0001), parathyroid hormone (RR: 0.31; 95% CI: 0.23-0.41; p < 0.0001), denosumab (RR, 0.41; 95% CI, 0.29-0.57; p < 0.0001) and selective estrogen receptor modulators (Raloxifene, RR: 0.58; 95% CI: 0.44-0.76; p < 0.0001; Bazedoxifene, RR: 0.66; 95% CI: 0.53-0.82; p = 0.0002) in preventing secondary fractures. Moderate quality evidence proved romosozumab had better effect than alendronate (Romosozumab vs. alendronate, RR: 0.64; 95% CI: 0.49-0.84; p = 0.001) and high quality evidence proved that teriparatide had better effect than risedronate (risedronate vs. teriparatide, RR: 1.98; 95% CI: 1.44-2.70; p < 0.0001).
Zoledronate, alendronate, risedronate, etidronate, ibandronate, parathyroid hormone, denosumab and selective estrogen receptor modulators had significant secondary prevention effects on OVCF. Moderate quality evidence proved romosozumab had better effect than alendronate. High quality evidence proved PTH had better effect than risedronate, but with higher risk of adverse events.
In recent years, it has become clear that there is an extensive cross-talk between the nervous and the immune system. Somewhat surprisingly, the immune cells themselves do express components of the ...neuronal neurotransmitters systems. What role the neurotransmitters, their ion channels, receptors and transporters have in immune function and regulation is an emerging field of study. Several recent studies have shown that the immune system is capable of synthesizing and releasing the classical neurotransmitter GABA (γ-aminobutyric acid). GABA has a number of effects on the immune cells such as activation or suppression of cytokine secretion, modification of cell proliferation and GABA can even affect migration of the cells. The immune cells encounter GABA when released by the immune cells themselves or when the immune cells enter the brain. In addition, GABA can also be found in tissues like the lymph nodes, the islets of Langerhans and GABA is in high enough concentration in blood to activate, e.g., GABA-A channels. GABA appears to have a role in autoimmune diseases like multiple sclerosis, type 1 diabetes, and rheumatoid arthritis and may modulate the immune response to infections. In the near future, it will be important to work out what specific effects GABA has on the function of the different types of immune cells and determine the underlying mechanisms. In this review, we discuss some of the recent findings revealing the role of GABA as an immunomodulator.
Both dendritic cells (DCs) and macrophages are bone marrow‐derived cells that perform antigen presentation. The distribution of DCs and CD68‐positive macrophages were immunohistochemically examined ...in 103 thoracic nodes obtained from 23 lung cancer patients (50–84 years old) without metastasis. Among three antibodies tested initially—CD209/DCsign, fascin, and CD83—DCsign was chosen as the DC marker. For comparison, 137 nodes from 12 patients with cancer metastasis were also examined histologically. In patients without metastasis, DCs were found as (1) clusters along the subcapsular sinus and in a border area between the medullary sinus and cortex (mean sectional area of multiple nodes at one site, 8.4%) and, (2) rosette‐like structures in the cortex (mean number in multiple nodes at one site, 20.5). Notably, DC clusters and rosettes contained no or few macrophages and were surrounded by smooth muscle actin (SMA)‐positive, endothelium‐like cells. The subcapsular linear cluster corresponded to 5%–85% (mean, 34.0%) of the nodal circumferential length and was shorter in older patients (p = 0.009). DC rosettes, solitary, or communicating with a cluster, were usually connected to a paracortical lymph sinus. Few differences were found between nodes with or without metastasis, but DC cluster sometimes contained abundant macrophages in cancer metastasis patients. The subcapsular DC cluster is not known in the rodent model, in which the subcapsular sinus is filled with macrophages. This quite different, even complementary, distribution suggests no, or less, cooperation between DCs and macrophages in humans.
Dendritic cell (DC) clusters and rosettes contained no or few macrophages and were surrounded by smooth muscle actin‐positive, endothelium‐like cells. Few differences between nodes with or without metastasis, but DC cluster sometimes contained abundant macrophages in cancer metastasis patients.
•We study the role of social networks in peer-to-peer lending on the Internet.•Borrowers with social ties are more likely to get funded and with lower interest rates.•Most borrowers with social ties ...do not perform better ex post.•Lenders may not fully understand the relationship between social ties and borrower quality.•We find evidence of gaming on borrower participation in social networks.
We examine whether social networks facilitate online markets using data from a leading peer-to-peer lending website. We find that borrowers with social ties are consistently more likely to have their loans funded and receive lower interest rates; however, most borrowers with social ties are more likely to pay late or default. We provide evidence that these findings are driven by lenders not fully understanding the relationship between social ties and unobserved borrower quality. Overall, our findings suggest caution for using online social networks as a signal of quality in anonymous transactions.
In this paper, we propose a ranking-based locality sensitive hashing inspired two-factor cancelable biometrics, dubbed "Index-of-Max" (IoM) hashing for biometric template protection. With externally ...generated random parameters, IoM hashing transforms a real-valued biometric feature vector into discrete index (max ranked) hashed code. We demonstrate two realizations from IoM hashing notion, namely, Gaussian random projection-based and uniformly random permutation-based hashing schemes. The discrete indices representation nature of IoM hashed codes enjoys several merits. First, IoM hashing empowers strong concealment to the biometric information. This contributes to the solid ground of non-invertibility guarantee. Second, IoM hashing is insensitive to the features magnitude, hence is more robust against biometric features variation. Third, the magnitude-independence trait of IoM hashing makes the hash codes being scale-invariant, which is critical for matching and feature alignment. The experimental results demonstrate favorable accuracy performance on benchmark FVC2002 and FVC2004 fingerprint databases. The analyses justify its resilience to the existing and newly introduced security and privacy attacks as well as satisfy the revocability and unlinkability criteria of cancelable biometrics.
Exciton and charge delocalization across π‐stacked assemblies is of importance in biological systems and functional polymeric materials. To examine the requirements for exciton and hole ...stabilization, cofacial bifluorene (F2) torsionomers were designed, synthesized, and characterized: unhindered (model) MeF2, sterically hindered tBuF2, and cyclophane‐like CF2, where fluorenes are locked in a perfect sandwich orientation via two methylene linkers. This set of bichromophores with varied torsional rigidity and orbital overlap shows that exciton stabilization requires a perfect sandwich‐like arrangement, as seen by strong excimeric‐like emission only in CF2 and MeF2. In contrast, hole delocalization is less geometrically restrictive and occurs even in sterically hindered tBuF2, as judged by 160 mV hole stabilization and a near‐IR band in the spectrum of its cation radical. These findings underscore the diverse requirements for charge and energy delocalization across π‐stacked assemblies.
Swinging cofacially: A set of carefully designed pi‐stacked bichromophores with varied rigidity and orbital overlap were designed and synthesized. This work demonstrates disparate requirements for the exciton and cationic charge delocalization in pi‐stacked assemblies.
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