Transition metal dichalcogenides (TMD), analogue of graphene, could form various dimensionalities. Similar to carbon, one-dimensional (1D) nanotube of TMD materials has wide application in hydrogen ...storage, Li-ion batteries, and supercapacitors due to their unique structure and properties. Here we demonstrate the feasibility of tungsten disulfide nanotubes (WS2-NTs)/graphene (GS) sandwich-type architecture as anode for lithium-ion batteries for the first time. The graphene-based hierarchical architecture plays vital roles in achieving fast electron/ion transfer, thus leading to good electrochemical performance. When evaluated as anode, WS2–NTs/GS hybrid could maintain a capacity of 318.6 mA/g over 500 cycles at a current density of 1A/g. Besides, the hybrid anode does not require any additional polymetric binder, conductive additives, or a separate metal current-collector. The relatively high density of this hybrid is beneficial for high capacity per unit volume. Those characteristics make it a potential anode material for light and high-performance lithium-ion batteries.
Objectives
To report our single‐center experience of the management of children with prostatic utricle cysts.
Methods
We retrospectively analyzed 15 children who were incidentally found to have a ...prostatic utricle cyst and were admitted to our department between October 2013 and August 2020. Clinical characteristics and management were collected and catalogued.
Results
Recurrent genitourinary tract infections were the most frequent complaint, and two‐thirds of patients also had hypospadias. A connection between the posterior urethra and the prostatic utricle cyst was found in all cases. Two patients directly had their progressively enlarging prostatic utricle cyst resected laparoscopically. Endoscopic techniques were used in 13 patients, two of whom underwent laparoscopic excision for repeated symptoms. The mean (range) follow‐up period was 34.9 (2–82) months. No recurrences were observed in four patients who underwent prostatic utricle cyst excision and eight patients who received endoscopic treatment. Three patients had recurrent symptoms after endoscopic treatment and were managed by nonsurgical treatment.
Conclusions
Prostatic utricle cyst is a rare disease which can cause recurrent genitourinary tract infections. Extra attention should be paid to evaluation for prostatic utricle cyst in children with external genital anomalies. Retrograde urethrogram and magnetic resonance imaging are useful tools with which to distinguish prostatic utricle cyst from other cystic lesions that are located in the midline pelvis in male patients. Individualized treatment is appropriate when considering fertility preservation, recurrences and malignancy. Laparoscopic excision is feasible for symptomatic and large prostatic utricle cyst. Regular long‐term monitoring is recommended for all patients with prostatic utricle cyst.
The behavior of two-dimensional (2D) materials for energy storage systems relates to their morphology and physicochemical properties. Although various 2D materials can be found in different fields, ...the open access of these materials has greatly hampered their practical applications, such as in lithium–sulfur (Li–S) batteries, where the soluble intermediates should be controlled. Here, we have developed a facile approach to prepare 2D ultrathin interconnected carbon fabrics (ICFs) with “bubble-like” morphology and abundant mesopores using a “blowing bubble” method. Serving as independent meso-sized rooms, nanosulfur dots can be stitched in 2D “bubble-like” ICF, which afford a short electron-/ion-transfer path and thus is beneficial to high reversible capacity. Encapsulated with reduced graphene oxide, a binder-free/free-standing cathode was constructed for advanced Li–S batteries. In addition, the specific energy of a pouch Li–S battery with this interconnected cathode can be achieved to 1.55 Ah@315.98 Wh/kg at 0.1 C. These results suggest that the design of “bubble-like” interconnected porous carbon fabrics and their integration with reduced graphene oxide provide a facile strategy to enhance the electrochemical activity of S and have the potential to be applied to other semiconductors or insulating materials for a wide range of applications.
Human midbrain dopaminergic progenitors (mDAPs) are one of the most representative cell types in both basic research and clinical applications. However, there are still many challenges for the ...preparation and quality control of mDAPs, such as the lack of standards. Therefore, the establishment of critical quality attributes and technical specifications for mDAPs is largely needed. “Human midbrain dopaminergic progenitor” jointly drafted and agreed upon by experts from the Chinese Society for Stem Cell Research, is the first guideline for human mDAPs in China. This standard specifies the technical requirements, test methods, inspection rules, instructions for usage, labelling requirements, packaging requirements, storage requirements, transportation requirements and waste disposal requirements for human mDAPs, which is applicable to the quality control for human mDAPs. It was originally released by the China Society for Cell Biology on 30 August 2022. We hope that the publication of this guideline will facilitate the institutional establishment, acceptance and execution of proper protocols, and accelerate the international standardization of human mDAPs for clinical development and therapeutic applications.
Motor handicap is prevalent in patients with traumatic brain injury, but currently. there is a challenging task to prevent the degeneration of motor neurons and to fully recover the. voluntary ...movement after injury.
For the first time, we propose to apply needlestick injuries to the primary motor cortex to create mouse model of voluntary movement deficits. Rotarod test, cylinder test and forepaw grip strength test were used to assay motor coordination of both C57BL/6 J and the triple immunodeficient NCG mice. Immunofluorescence staining of PKC-gamma, UCHL1, GFAP, Iba1 and Fluoro-Jade C was performed to analyze the numbers of motor neurons, microglia, astrocytes and degenerating neurons.
Mice on either C57BL/6 J or immunodeficient background with the unilateral primary motor cortex injury exhibit motor neuron death, activation of glial cells and deficits in voluntary movement.
The main finding of this study was that the unilateral primary motor cortex injured by needlesticks leads to reactive gliosis, motor neuron death and voluntary movement deficits in mice. This needlestick injury model of primary motor cortex might be useful for future exploration of underlying mechanisms of motor neuron degeneration and of promising treatment modalities such as cell transplantation to improve locomotor deficiency following neurotrauma.
•Novel animal model of voluntary movement deficits.•Needlestick injuries to the primary motor cortex.•Provide tools for developing therapeutics for motor disabilities.
This study aimed to understand whether sex-related variations existed in responses to the pandemic as well as campus climate change of anti-epidemic measures. An online survey was distributed to ...full-time undergraduates in 13 postsecondary institutions located in an eastern province in China. First, we matched “similar” students in terms of a set of observational variables. Second, we compared female students with these “similar” male peers in terms of their responses to COVID-19 and responses to the campus climate change of anti-epidemic measures. Finally, the robustness of matching estimators was checked for the potential biases that might be caused by unobserved variables. The primary results showed that female students had higher awareness, preparedness, and fear, but lesser knowledge of the pandemic, and considered getting vaccinated of lesser necessity compared with male students. Also, we observed a pronounced pattern of sex-related difference in responding to campus climate changes; male students were more likely to be indifferent in keeping social distance, adopting other measures, and participating in campus activities. The findings inform postsecondary administrators and other related stakeholders to avoid making the existing sex-related disparities larger and help every student well prepare for and appropriately respond to COVID-19.
•Measuring methods and influencing factors of soil air permeability are summarized.•Variations of air permeability with soil properties are discussed.•Pore structure and connected air-filled pore are ...key factors of soil air permeability.•A database about air permeability of soils is provided for further investigations.
Air permeability of soils reflects the ability to allow the passage of air, which is significantly important to explore related issues in geotechnical, environmental, agricultural, and petroleum engineering. The current understanding of soil air permeability is based on a limited number of influencing factors with the strict control of soil properties. It would be beneficial for future investigations if a clear knowledge base about the air permeability of soils has formed. This paper presents an overview of the measuring methods and influencing factors of air permeability of soils, as well as a database of soil air permeability based on a large collection of literature. The test methods for the air permeability of soils can be generally divided into steady and transient state methods, and corresponding equations are necessary to determine air permeability. Both characteristics and limitations of the two methods and various test devices are discussed. The relationships between air permeability and soil parameters including density, porosity, and water content of soils, are summarized and discussed, and some empirical formulas for quantifying their relations are compared. The research challenges in the study of soil air permeability are discussed and perspectives on the challenging topic are offered. It has been found that the air permeability of soil shows a wide test range, i.e., from 1E-7 to 1E-19 m2, due to the influence of various soil properties. The specimens used in the laboratory are cylindrical and the sample size is mainly determined by the test apparatus, with a height between 1 and 25 cm and a diameter in a range of 3.91 to 30 cm. The results also indicate that test devices that are capable of considering air slippage effects and inertial effects, should be designed and developed. The influence of the pore structure indexes of soils on air permeability and their quantitative relationships should be further investigated.
Abstract
Background
There is a substantially increasing need for general practitioners (GPs) for future unpredictable pandemic crises, especially at the community-based health services (CBHS) level ...to protect the vast and varied grassroot-level population in China. Thus, it is crucial to understand the factors that affect Chinese medical students’ GP career choices and commitments to CBHS.
Methods
Leveraging the self-administered data collected across the country, this study conducted logistic regressions with 3,438 medical students. First, descriptive statistics of outcome variables and independent variables were provided. Then, stepwise logistic regression models were built, starting from adding individual characteristics, and then familial and institutional characteristics. Last, post-estimation was conducted to further assess whether there were significant marginal effects.
Results
Results showed that women students were 24% less likely to choose GP careers but were 1.25 times more likely to commit to CBHS than their men peers, holding other individual, familial, and institutional characteristics constant. In addition, students who major in GP-orientated were more likely to choose GP careers and commit to CBHS, respectively, than those who major in clinical medicine. Furthermore, familial characteristics like annual income and mother’s educational level only significantly predicted commitments to CBHS. Notably, sex-related differences in GP career choices and commitments to CBHS – by different regions – were observed.
Conclusions
Understanding the factors that affect medical students’ GP career choices sheds light on how medical education stakeholders can make informed decisions on attracting more medical students to GP-orientated majors, which in turn cultivates more GP professionals to meet the nation’s demand for GPs. In addition, by understanding the factors that influence medical students’ commitment to CBHS, policymakers could make beneficial policies to increase medical students’ motivations to the grassroot-level health institutions, and devote to CBHS as gatekeepers for a large population of residents’ health.
A stereoselective 1,4-reduction protocol for α-substituted α,β-unsaturated N-tert-butanesulfinyl ketimines has been developed, providing a flexible pathway to various geometry-defined acyclic ...β,β-disubstituted enesulfinamides featuring two electronically and sterically similar β-substituents. The reductant-controlled stereodivergent synthesis of both (Z)- and (E)-geometric isomers of these challenging enesulfinamides is achieved using L-Selectride and InBr3/nBu3SnH, respectively. This dual reductive approach enables the selective access to either geometric isomer from the C=C bond position isomers of α,β-unsaturated ketimines. The utility of this method is exemplified through the enantioselective total synthesis of (–)-daucene, showcasing its synthetic applicability.
Controlling charge‐spin current conversion by electric fields is crucial in spintronic devices, which can now be realized in diatom ferroelectric semiconductor GeTe. It is well demonstrated that ...ferroelectricity can change the spin texture in this compound. Herein, it is shown that the spin Hall conductivity (SHC) can be further tuned by ferroelectricity based on the density functional theory calculations. The spin texture variation driven by the electric fields is elucidated from the symmetry point of view, highlighting the interlocked spin and orbital degrees of freedom. It is observed that the origin of SHC can be attributed to the Rashba effect and the intrinsic spin–orbit coupling. The magnitude of one component of SHC σxyz can reach as large as 100 ℏ/e (Ω−1 cm−1) in the vicinity of the band edge, which is promising for engineering spintronic devices. The work on tunable spin transport properties via the ferroelectric polarization brings novel assets into the field of spintronics.
The spin texture in the ferroelectric semiconductor GeTe can be tuned by the ferroelectric polarization (Ps) due to the Rashba effect. At the same time, the transportation of the spin can also be controlled by the polarization. The spin Hall conductivity varies under the variation of the polarization and even changes its sign when the Ps is reversed.
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