Sodium‐ion batteries (SIBs) are still confronted with several major challenges, including low energy and power densities, short‐term cycle life, and poor low‐temperature performance, which severely ...hinder their practical applications. Here, a high‐voltage cathode composed of Na3V2(PO4)2O2F nano‐tetraprisms (NVPF‐NTP) is proposed to enhance the energy density of SIBs. The prepared NVPF‐NTP exhibits two high working plateaux at about 4.01 and 3.60 V versus the Na+/Na with a specific capacity of 127.8 mA h g−1. The energy density of NVPF‐NTP reaches up to 486 W h kg−1, which is higher than the majority of other cathode materials previously reported for SIBs. Moreover, due to the low strain (≈2.56% volumetric variation) and superior Na transport kinetics in Na intercalation/extraction processes, as demonstrated by in situ X‐ray diffraction, galvanostatic intermittent titration technique, and cyclic voltammetry at varied scan rates, the NVPF‐NTP shows long‐term cycle life, superior low‐temperature performance, and outstanding high‐rate capabilities. The comparison of Ragone plots further discloses that NVPF‐NTP presents the best power performance among the state‐of‐the‐art cathode materials for SIBs. More importantly, when coupled with an Sb‐based anode, the fabricated sodium‐ion full‐cells also exhibit excellent rate and cycling performances, thus providing a preview of their practical application.
A high‐voltage sodium‐super‐ion‐conductor‐type cathode significantly enhances the energy density of sodium‐ion batteries. Its low‐strain crystal lattice during the successive (de‐)sodiation and superior Na transport kinetics promise high‐rate capabilities, long‐term cycle life, superior low‐temperature performance, and excellent full‐cell performance, providing a preview of their practical applications.
Differentiable programming is a fresh programming paradigm which composes parameterized algorithmic components and optimizes them using gradient search. The concept emerges from deep learning but is ...not limited to training neural networks. We present the theory and practice of programming tensor network algorithms in a fully differentiable way. By formulating the tensor network algorithm as a computation graph, one can compute higher-order derivatives of the program accurately and efficiently using automatic differentiation. We present essential techniques to differentiate through the tensor networks contraction algorithms, including numerical stable differentiation for tensor decompositions and efficient backpropagation through fixed-point iterations. As a demonstration, we compute the specific heat of the Ising model directly by taking the second-order derivative of the free energy obtained in the tensor renormalization group calculation. Next, we perform gradient-based variational optimization of infinite projected entangled pair states for the quantum antiferromagnetic Heisenberg model and obtain state-of-the-art variational energy and magnetization with moderate efforts. Differentiable programming removes laborious human efforts in deriving and implementing analytical gradients for tensor network programs, which opens the door to more innovations in tensor network algorithms and applications.
Since the emergence of the concept of chemical topology, interlocked molecular assemblies have graduated from academic curiosities and poorly defined species to become synthetic realities. ...Coordination-directed synthesis provides powerful, diverse, and increasingly sophisticated protocols for accessing interlocked molecules. Originally, metal ions were employed solely as templates to gather and position building blocks in entwined or threaded arrangements. Recently, metal centers have increasingly featured within the backbones of the integral structural elements, which in turn use noncovalent interactions to self-assemble into intricate topologies. By outlining ingenious recent examples as well as seminal classic cases, this Review focuses on the role of metal–ligand paradigms in assembling molecular links. In addition, the ever-evolving approaches to efficient assembly, the structural features of the resulting architectures, and their prospects for the future are also presented.
Heart rate variability (HRV) is a relevant marker reflecting cardiac modulation by sympathetic and vagal components of the autonomic nervous system (ANS). Although the clinical application of HRV is ...mainly associated with the prediction of sudden cardiac death and assessing cardiovascular and metabolic illness progression, recent observations have suggested its applicability to physical exercise training. HRV is becoming one of the most useful tools for tracking the time course of training adaptation/maladaptation of athletes and in setting the optimal training loads leading to improved performances. However, little is known regarding the role of HRV and the internal effects of physical exercise on an athlete, which may be useful in designing fitness programs ensuring sufficient training load that may correspond with the specific ability of the athlete. In this review, we offer a comprehensive assessment of investigations concerning the interrelation between HRV and ANS, and examine how the application of HRV to physical exercise may play a role in sports physiology.
Chronic kidney disease affects 10% of the population with notable differences in ethnic and sex-related susceptibility to kidney injury and disease. Kidney dysfunction leads to significant morbidity ...and mortality and chronic disease in other organ systems. A mouse-organ-centered understanding underlies rapid progress in human disease modeling and cellular approaches to repair damaged systems. To enhance an understanding of the mammalian kidney, we combined anatomy-guided single-cell RNA sequencing of the adult male and female mouse kidney with in situ expression studies and cell lineage tracing. These studies reveal cell diversity and marked sex differences, distinct organization and cell composition of nephrons dependent on the time of nephron specification, and lineage convergence, in which contiguous functionally related cell types are specified from nephron and collecting system progenitor populations. A searchable database, Kidney Cell Explorer (https://cello.shinyapps.io/kidneycellexplorer/), enables gene-cell relationships to be viewed in the anatomical framework of the kidney.
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•Proximal nephron segments show distinct expression profiles between the sexes•The time of nephron formation determines position and segmental cell diversity•Lineage convergence is observed at nephron-collecting system junctions•Data can be queried and viewed within an annotated anatomical database
Ransick et al. combined in-depth single-cell profiling of male and female adult kidneys with cluster registration to kidney structures to generate an anatomical atlas of the mammalian nephron and collecting system. Kidney Cell Explorer (https://cello.shinyapps.io/kidneycellexplorer/) enables gene-cell relationships to be viewed in the anatomical framework of the mammalian kidney.
Conventional ion batteries utilizing metallic ions as the single charge carriers are limited by the insufficient abundance of metal resources. Although supercapacitors apply both cations and anions ...to store energy through absorption and/or Faradic reactions occurring at the interfaces of the electrode/electrolyte, the inherent low energy density hinders its application. The graphite‐cathode‐based dual‐ion battery possesses a higher energy density due to its high working potential of nearly 5 V. However, such a battery configuration suffers from severe electrolyte decomposition and exfoliation of the graphite cathode, rendering an inferior cycle life. Herein, a new surface‐modification strategy is developed to protect the graphite cathode from the anion salvation effect and the deposition derived from electrolyte decomposition by generating an artificial solid electrolyte interphase (SEI). Such SEI‐modified graphite exhibits superior cycling stability with 96% capacity retention after 500 cycles under 200 mA g−1 at the upper cutoff voltage of 5.0 V, which is much improved compared with the pristine graphite electrode. Through several ex situ studies, it is revealed that the artificial SEI greatly stabilizes the interfaces of the electrode/electrolyte after reconstruction and gradual establishment of the optimal anion‐transport path. The findings shed light on a new avenue toward promoting the performance of the dual‐ion battery (DIB) and hence to make it practical finally.
An artificial layer of a solid electrolyte interphase is fabricated on a graphite cathode for a dual‐ion battery (DIB). Such surface modification can alleviate the electrolyte decomposition at the high working voltage of the anion de‐/intercalation processes and the solvation effect of anions, much improving the cycling stability of the Li//graphite DIB.
Although ether‐based electrolytes have been extensively applied in anode evaluation of batteries, anodic instability arising from solvent oxidability is always a tremendous obstacle to matching with ...high‐voltage cathodes. Herein, by rational design for solvation configuration, the fully coordinated ether‐based electrolyte with strong resistance against oxidation is reported, which remains anodically stable with high‐voltage Na3V2(PO4)2O2F (NVPF) cathode under 4.5 V (versus Na+/Na) protected by an effective interphase. The assembled graphite//NVPF full cells display superior rate performance and unprecedented cycling stability. Beyond that, the constructed full cells coupling the high‐voltage NVPF cathode with hard carbon anode exhibit outstanding electrochemical performances in terms of high average output voltage up to 3.72 V, long‐term cycle life (such as 95 % capacity retention after 700 cycles) and high energy density (247 Wh kg−1). In short, the optimized ether‐based electrolyte enriches systematic options, the ability to maintain oxidative stability and compatibility with various anodes, exhibiting attractive prospects for application.
By rational design of the solvation configuration, a cation–solvent fully coordinated ether‐based electrolyte with strong oxidation resistance up to 4.5 V (versus Na+/Na) was developed and applied in graphite//NVPF and LHC//NVPF full cells which showed superior rate performance and unprecedented cycling stability.
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•A focus on the recent developments of supramolecular catalysis based on HCCs.•Metalloligand and self-sorting approaches are commonly used to construct HCCs.•Instances of catalytic ...macrocyclic or cage-like HCCs are discussed in detail.
The rational design and facile construction of discrete heterometallic supramolecular catalysts have precipitated a surge of research interest in emulating sophisticated natural catalysts with well-defined cavities and inlaid active sites, allowing conversion of encapsulated substrates with high chemo-, regio-, and stereoselectivity. This review briefly highlights such discrete, heterometallic, coordination-driven metallacycles and metallacages obtained by the strategic utilization of a range of predesigned building blocks in the supramolecular chemist’s toolkit. The two major synthetic strategies toward these metalla-architectures are presented, and special attention has been paid to discussing both the fascinating structures and the unique catalytic performance of various heterometallic macrocycles and cages.
It's a difficult task for researchers to identify the gender of chicken eggs by nondestructive approach in the early of incubation, which not only could reduce the cost of incubation, but also could ...improve the welfare of chicks. Therefore, SPME/GC-MS has been applied to investigate its potential as a nondestructive tool for characterizing the differences of odor between male and female chicken eggs during early of incubation and even before hatch. The results showed that more volatiles were found in female White leghorn eggs during early of incubation and 6,10-dimethyl-5,9-undecadien-2-one, 6-methyl-5-hepten-2-one, nonanal, decanal, octanal, 2-nonen-1-ol, etc. were important for the distinction of male and female White leghorn eggs during E1-E9 of incubation. 2-ethyl-1-hexanol; octanal, nonanal, 2,2,4-trimethyl-3-carboxyisopropyl pentanoic acid isobutyl ester; 2-nonen-1-ol, cyclopropanecarboxamide, heptadecane were correlated with gender of unhatched White leghorn, Hy-line brown and Jing fen eggs, respectively. Moreover, sex-related volatiles have been strongly influenced by incubation process and egg breed, and to be related to steroid hormone biosynthesis. What's more, this study enables us to develop a new visual for ovo sexing of chicken eggs and advances our understanding of the biological significance behind volatiles emitted from chicken eggs.
A novel Mg-8Al-2Sn-1Zn alloy with a bimodal structure prepared by hard-pate-rolling (HPR) exhibits both higher tensile strength and ductility than its fine-grained counterparts prepared by ...conventional rolling. By delicate electron back-scatter diffraction (EBSD) analysis, we found fine grains with weak basal texture is beneficial for basal slip and favors initial deformation. Meanwhile, coarse grains with a strong basal texture could accommodate abundant newly generated dislocations, promoting work hardening after fine grains are saturated with dislocations. For the first time, individual roles of fine and coarse grains and their synergy effect on enhancing ductility in bimodal structured Mg alloys is clarified.
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•A bimodal grain-structured Mg alloy is fabricated by hard-pate-rolling.•The bimodal sample has higher strength and ductility than fine-grained samples.•The synergy effect of fine and coarse grains on enhancing ductility is clarified.
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