The further application of Ni-Zn aqueous batteries is majorly restricted by nickel-based cathodes due to their low capacity and poor cycling stability, which requires the development of ...hierarchically nanostructured nickel and nickel oxides. Herein, we prepare a novel nickel-based electrode with hierarchical 3D networks by configuring nanostructured Ni and Ni/NiO nanoparticles onto bamboo-derived cellulose nanofibers (denoted as Ni/NiO-BCF). Owing to the high conductivity of carbonized nanofibers and enhanced Ni/NiO active sites exposed, the Ni/NiO-BCF electrode delivers a capacity of 248 mA h g
−1
at 0.625 A g
−1
and exhibits a good cycling stability (94.5% after 2000 cycles). The as-fabricated Ni/NiO-BCF//Zn battery shows a high capacity of 296 mA h g
−1
at 0.625 A g
−1
and excellent cycling stability (almost no decay after 1000 cycles). Notably, a peak energy density of 313.4 W h kg
−1
is also achieved from the Ni/NiO-BCF//Zn battery. This work provides novel insights into developing elaborately-nanostructured electrodes from natural and sustainable resources for high-capacity and long-cycle energy storage systems.
A hierarchically nanostructured nickel-based composite electrode constructed by configuring nickel and nickel oxide nanoparticles onto bamboo nanofiber networks is used as the enhanced cathode for high-performance Ni-Zn batteries.
This manuscript introduces a newly developed method for in situ analysis of bulk water samples, called micro-gas column assisted LIBS (MGC-LIBS). A specially designed MGC assistance system was ...employed to generate a 1.28 mm diameter stable micro-gas column in situ underwater and laser pulses were focused on the gas-liquid interface of the column to improve LIBS spectral signal of metal elements in water sample. The detection experiments on metal elements in the solution showed that the intensity of ion line in the signal was enhanced by up to 14 times, and the signal RSD value was less than 1%. The detection limits (LOD) of Mg, Ca, Sr, Na, K and Li were all less than 1 mg/L. Compared with the results obtained by direct breakdown experiments in bulk water, the LODs of MGC-LIBS were significantly improved, in which the LOD of Mg element could be reduced by nearly 7.6 times. The concentration calibration curves of the above 6 elements were obtained in the possible concentration ranges of seawater samples, and quantitative inversion experiments were carried out. The results show that the estimated value using MGC-LIBS was basically consistent with the actual value, and the minimum error was 0.12%. This method is expected to be developed into an in situ, online, real-time and highly sensitive detection method for marine investigation or natural water environment monitoring.
LIBS signal can be improved in the field of underwater in situ analysis by using a self-developed micro-gas column device to assist LIBS (MGC-LIBS). The experimental results showed that the stability and sensitivity of LIBS signal could be significantly improved by using MGC-LIBS. The quantitative analysis ability of MGC-LIBS was discussed by detecting the solution samples of known concentration in the seawater concentration range. The results showed that the method can accurately estimate the concentration of elements in seawater samples. Display omitted
•A newly developed method named micro-gas column assisted LIBS (MGC-LIBS) which can improve LIBS signal in situ under water is introduced.•The special designed MCG auxiliary device which is simple and portable can stably generate a millimeter scale gas column in bulk water.•Compared with the breakdown in bulk water, the ionic line intensities of LIBS with MGC assistance is enhanced by 14 times, and the limit of detection of Mg, Ca, Sr, Na, K, Li are all less than 1 mg/L.•Within the range of possible seawater concentration, the estimated concentration values obtained by the MGC-LIBS quantitative analysis experiment are basically consistent with the actual value, with a minimum error of 0.12%.
To observe autophagy induced by starvation in non-small cell lung cancer A459 and 95D cells.
A549 and 95D cells in logarithmic growth in 1640 medium were cultured in Earle's balanced salt solution ...(EBSS) for 0, 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5 h. Autophagosome formation in the cell culture was observed by MDC fluorescent staining, and the expression of microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3 (LC3) and Beclin1 in the cells were detected using Western blotting.
Compared with the control cells, the cells with prolonged starvation showed increased MDC-positive cells and autophagosome formation. The expression of Beclin-1 and the LC3-II/LC3-I ratio also increased as the starvation prolonged, reaching the peak levels at 3 h and 4 h, respectively.
Autophagy can be induced by starvation in A549 and 95D cells in correlation with the expression of autophagy-related proteins LC3 and Beclin-1. These cell models of nutritional deficiency-induced autophagy may allow for a better understanding of the role of autophagy in the developm
This study aimed to use computed tomography (CT) images to assess PD-L1 expression in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and predict response to immunotherapy.
We retrospectively analyzed a PD-L1 ...expression dataset that consisted of 939 consecutive stage IIIB-IV NSCLC patients with pretreatment CT images. A deep convolutional neural network was trained and optimized with CT images from the training cohort (n = 750) and validation cohort (n = 93) to obtain a PD-L1 expression signature (PD-L1ES), which was evaluated using the test cohort (n = 96). Finally, a separate immunotherapy cohort (n = 94) was used to assess the prognostic value of PD-L1ES with respect to clinical outcome.
PD-L1ES was able to predict high PD-L1 expression (PD-L1 ≥ 50%) with areas under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) of 0.78 (95% confidence interval (CI): 0.75~0.80), 0.71 (95% CI: 0.59~0.81), and 0.76 (95% CI: 0.66~0.85) in the training, validation, and test cohorts, respectively. In patients treated with anti-PD-1 antibody, low PD-L1ES was associated with improved progression-free survival (PFS) (median PFS 363 days in low score group vs 183 days in high score group; hazard ratio HR: 2.57, 95% CI: 1.22~5.44;
= 0.010). Additionally, when PD-L1ES was combined with a clinical model that was trained using age, sex, smoking history and family history of malignancy, the response to immunotherapy could be better predicted compared to either PD-L1ES or the clinical model alone.
The deep learning model provides a noninvasive method to predict high PD-L1 expression of NSCLC and to infer clinical outcomes in response to immunotherapy. Additionally, this deep learning model combined with clinical models demonstrated improved stratification capabilities.
ABC-stacked trilayer graphene/hexagonal boron nitride moiré superlattice (TLG/hBN) has emerged as a playground for correlated electron physics. We report spectroscopy measurements of dual-gated ...TLG/hBN using Fourier transform infrared photocurrent spectroscopy. We observed a strong optical transition between moiré minibands that narrows continuously as a bandgap is opened by gating, indicating a reduction of the single-particle bandwidth. At half-filling of the valence flat band, a broad absorption peak emerges at ~18 milli-electron volts, indicating direct optical excitation across an emerging Mott gap. Similar photocurrent spectra are observed in two other correlated insulating states at quarter- and half-filling of the first conduction band. Our findings provide key parameters of the Hubbard model for the understanding of electron correlation in TLG/hBN.
•PDW was decreased in SLE patients and correlates with SLE disease activity.•LN was the top complication of SLE and the low-PDW group had more LN patients.•PDW was correlated with LN.•PDW may be a ...potential marker for predicting LN.•Low PDW combined with high 24-h urine protein may be a good group to diagnose LN.
Lupus nephritis (LN) is an important manifestation of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). The aim of this study was to investigate the predictive value of platelet distribution width (PDW) in LN.
A retrospective study involving 212 SLE patients and 201 healthy controls were performed. All clinical characteristics and laboratory data were collected from their medical records.
The level of PDW was significantly decreased in SLE patients, which was negatively correlated with SLE disease activity index 2000 (SLEDAI-2K) score, disease duration, and 24-hour (24-h) urine protein, while positively correlated with serum IgG and IgM. There were more LN patients in low-PDW group than normal-PDW and high-PDW groups. In low-PDW group, SLEDAI-2K score, 24-h urine protein level, and anti-dsDNA antibody level was significantly higher, while serum IgG level was markedly lower. Moreover, PDW was negatively correlated with 24-h urine protein and disease duration, and it was positively correlated with serum IgG in LN patients. In addition, the area under the ROC curve of PDW was 0.87 and the optimal clinical cutoff level was 12.9, which provided a 87.41% sensitivity and a 74.63% specificity. Decreased PDW combined with high 24-h urine protein exhibited an excellent diagnostic value for LN. Importantly, 16.67% LN patients with negative 24-h urine protein can be detected in low PDW group.
PDW may be a potential marker for predicting LN. Low PDW accompanied with high 24-h urine protein may be a useful indicator for diagnosing LN.
Nuclear protein in testis (NUT) carcinoma (NC) is a rare and aggressive neoplasm associated with a rearrangement of the NUT gene on chromosome 15q14. To date, genomic alterations of NCs, especially ...those in the lung, are poorly understood. In this study, immunohistochemistry staining, fluorescence in situ hybridization, and two next-generation sequencing (NGS) panels of 56 and 701 genes were used to explore the clinical, pathological, and genetic profiling of pulmonary NCs. Six pulmonary NC cases were confirmed, with a mean age of 41 years (range: 22–69 years) and a median survival time of 6.5 months (range: 2–19 months). Morphologically, typical abrupt keratinization was observed in four of six cases (67%), and two patients presented a mixed pattern of classical squamous component and micropapillary adenocarcinoma morphology. We also identified a case with NUT gene amplification instead of rearrangement. Furthermore, NGS analysis demonstrated the following fusions: BRD4-NUTM1 (2/4 cases) and NSD3-NUTM1 (2/4 cases), and the analysis highlighted 53 gene mutations, including 50 (94.3%, 50/53) single-nucleotide variations (SNVs) and three (5.7%, 3/53) long insertions/deletions. SNVs of MUC16 were the most common and occurred in three cases (75%). Moreover, SNVs of EPHA8, FANCA, TRIO, and USP6 were detected in two of four cases (50%). These 53 mutated genes were involved in 13 functional pathways based on enrichment analysis, especially in the PI3K-Akt signaling pathway. Finally, none of the cases showed obvious copy number variations and had low tumor mutational burden and stable microsatellite sites.
By using near‐equilibrium chemical vapor deposition, it is demonstrated that high‐quality single‐crystal graphene can be grown on dielectric substrates. The maximum size is about 11 μm. The carrier ...mobility can reach about 5650 cm2 V−1 s−1, which is comparable to those of some metal‐catalyzed graphene crystals, reflecting the good quality of the graphene lattice.
Graphene-based composite phase change materials (CPCMs) have great potential for energy storage applications due to their excellent loading capacities and thermal conductivity, their ability to store ...PCMs and suppress liquid leakage during phase change. However, there are few graphene-based CPCMs capable of storing low-temperature industrial waste heat. In this paper, 1-hexadecylamine (HDA) was selected as the PCMs and 3D graphene aerogel (GA) was used as the support material to prepare HDA/GA CPCMs by melt impregnation method. The results show that the HDA is uniformLy distributed in the GA, and the HDA/GA CPCMs with high latent heat and high thermal conductivity were obtained. The melting temperature was 56.8 °C and the solidification temperature was 55.0 °C, and the latent heat was as high as 284.5 kJ/kg, which was 1.05 times higher than that of pure HDA, and the sub-cooling degree was in the range of 4–10 °C. The thermal conductivity of the HDA/GA at 25 °C was 0.238 W/(m·K), which was 1.61 times higher than the thermal conductivity of the HDA, and the loading of the GA on the HDA was up to 5600%. The above results indicate that HDA/GA CPCMs have promising applications in low-temperature energy storage.
•HDA/GA composite phase change material suitable for storage of low temperature industrial waste heat.•The latent heat of HDA/GA-1 reaches 284.5 kJ/kg, which was 1.05 times than that of HDA.•The thermal conductivity of 3D graphene aerogel is 0.238 W/(m·K), which is 1.61 times than that of HDA.
This work reports a facile procedure to regulate the size of Bi2WO6 nanolayers by adjusting their Zeta potentials in aqueous dispersions. The as-resultant small-size Bi2WO6 nanolayers have exhibited ...excellent structural characteristics like highly exposed metal active sites and large surface areas, which are favorable for converting CO2 to formate. At the applied potential of −0.9 V (vs. RHE), the small-size Bi2WO6 nanolayers have demonstrated the maximum FE of 82.3% with a current density of 106.1 mA cm−2 in a flow-type electrochemical cell. Further mechanism study had been achieved by using density functional theory (DFT) computations that highlight the potential-limiting step of CO2*➔ OCHO* that reveals the presence of *COOH intermediates adsorbed on the catalyst surface during the electrocatalysis process.
•A general procedure has been demonstrated to regulate the size of two-dimensional nanolayers in aqueous dispersions.•The as-produced small-size Bi2WO6 nanolayers have exhibited excellent activities for converting CO2 to formic acid.•Density function theory (DFT) calculations highlighte the potential-limiting step of CO2*➔ OCHO* for CRR.•In situ Raman tests have been performed to probe the change of intermediates adsorbed on Bi2WO6 during CRR.
PDF
