In this paper, cobalt oxide‐modified graphite felt electrodes were prepared by electrodepositing cobalt nitrate on graphite felt and calcined. The surface morphology of graphite felt modified by ...cobalt oxide was characterized in detail by scanning electron microscope X‐ray diffraction and X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Shape, microstructure, etc. And using the three‐electrode system to conduct cyclic voltammetry, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, and single‐cell constant current charge and discharge detection on the graphite felt electrodes modified with different concentrations of cobalt oxide, and study its use as an electrode for iron‐chromium redox flow battery performance. The results show that the method of calcination after electrodeposition successfully attaches cobalt oxide to the graphite felt fiber uniformly in granular form, increases a large number of oxygen‐containing functional groups, and has the highest coulombic efficiency for the first charge‐discharge cycle at a current density of 142mAcm−2 It can reach 82 %, and the charging capacity is also increased by 1.59 times compared with the original graphite felt.
Iron‐chromium flow battery: The cobalt oxide was attached to the graphite felt using electrodeposition followed by calcination. And as an electrode material for iron‐chromium flow battery. Due to the effect of cobalt, the performance of the electrode is greatly improved, which ultimately increases the energy efficiency of the flow battery by 1.25 times.
Summary The May 2008 earthquake in Wenchuan drew attention to the important but largely unrecognised public-health problem of injury-related mortality and morbidity in China. Injuries account for ...more than 10% of all deaths and more than 30% of all potentially productive years of life lost due to premature mortality in China. Traffic-related injuries (mainly among cyclists and pedestrians), suicide, drowning, and falls account for 79% of all injury deaths. Rural injury death rates are double those of urban rates and male rates are double those of female rates. Despite an 81% increase in the traffic-related mortality from 1987 to 2006—associated with rapid motorisation—the overall injury mortality decreased by 17%, largely due to a surprising (and unexplained) 57% reduction in the suicide rate. Low-cost prevention measures that are most likely to produce large reductions in injury deaths include enforcement of laws for drinking and driving and for seat belt and helmet use, restriction of access to the most potent pesticides, and teaching children to swim. China needs to improve monitoring of fatal and non-fatal injuries, promote intersectoral collaboration, build institutional capacities, and, most importantly, mobilise community support and political will for investment in prevention.
Abstract Background Patient–physician mistrust has become deeply embedded in medical clinics within a wide variety of settings, including many in China. The purpose of this research was to develop a ...series of actionable policy recommendations to rebuild patient–physician trust in China. Methods Our interdisciplinary group included experts in medicine, public health, philosophy, ethics, law, regulation, China studies, anthropology, sociology, and communications. Recommendations were identified by team members and presented at a two-day workshop at the Harvard Center, Shanghai, China. The group divided into three teams (medical education, ethics and law, and healthcare systems) in order to revise and finalise the recommendations. Findings We identified a total of 18 recommendations focused on medical schools, ethical guidance, legal systems, and health systems to rebuild patient-physician trust. Medical education recommendations included a requirement for medical humanities as a core component, promotion of experiential learning and community–medical school partnerships, and improvement of evaluation of medical humanities education. Ethical and legal recommendations included encouragement of more transparency in doctor practices and the healthcare system, creating laws to promote mandatory medical error reporting, and acceleration of the development of neutral procedures for recording and resolving medical disputes. Healthcare systems recommendations included promoting healthcare systems that facilitate and acknowledge caregiving, transitioning from red packets (gifts to physicians) and towards higher physician salaries, strengthening primary healthcare systems, and establishment of non-punitive systems for error reporting in hospitals. Interpretation Several educational, legal, ethical, and healthcare system reforms to rebuild patient–physician trust are feasible. Our recommendations go beyond the healthcare sector alone, suggesting that policy responses within education, legal, and ethical norms are also critical. The presence of mistrust should not be misconstrued as an errant medical system, but rather as an opportunity and a responsibility to rebuild patient–physician trust. Our recommendations are relevant within the Chinese context and in other transitioning healthcare systems. Funding Harvard China Fund and the China Medical Board
Abstract Background Depression is one of the most common complaints in people aged 60 years or older. Pharmacological treatments can cause adverse effects and increase medical costs. A safe treatment ...for depression in these people is needed. The aim of this study was to examine the effect of listening to sedative music on depression in people aged 60 years or older in China. Methods We recruited people aged 60 years or older from four communities in Xi'an, China. The participants were randomly assigned to two groups (music or control) by computer-generated randomisation. All participants received brief health education. Each participant in the music group also received an MP3 player and was instructed to listen to music for 45 minutes per day for three months. Depression, the primary outcome of the study, was measured by the 15-item Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS) at baseline, 1 month, 2 months, and 3 months. A research assistant who was unaware of the group allocation collected the data. Generalised estimation equation model was used for data analysis. This study was approved by the Human Research Ethics Committee of the Xian Jiaotong University. The trial was not registered. Findings We recruited 68 participants (mean age 68·38 SD 5·46) whose baseline GDS scores were 2·24 (2·12) in the music group and 2·76 (3·08) in the control group. No adverse events or complaints were reported. The depression score in both groups consistently improved over time: GDS scores were 0·72 (1·02) in the music group and 1·00 (1·90) in the control group after 3 months. The generalized estimation equation model revealed significant time effects at 2 months (β=–2·108, p<0·001) and 3 months (β=–1·765, p=0·001). However, no significant interaction effects were noted (p>0·05). Interpretation Although the music group demonstrated continuous improvements, listening to music did not improve depression in Chinese old people in 3 months. Future studies could explore the effects of longer music interventions on depression in a larger sample. Funding None.
Proline is an important amino acid, which is crucial to plant growth and development. Accurate analysis of proline content is of great significance for understanding its physiological mechanism in ...plants. In this paper, according to the requirements for in‐situ detection in plants in precision agriculture, an electrochemical molecular imprinted polymers (MIP) sensor for determining proline in living plants was developed. Polypyrrole (PPy) was used as the functional monomer. To improve the performance of the MIP sensor, Au nanoparticles (NPs) were electrodeposited on the screen‐printed electrodes (SPEs) electrode. Thionine (Thi) was then electropolymerized on the SPEs to be used as an internal reference signal molecule. The MIP‐based proline sensor has the widest detection range of 1×10−16 −0.01 M. And its detection limit is the lowest (9.18 aM) so far. It was also used for measuring free proline in the leaves of living cucumber seedlings under salt stress. The MIP‐based proline sensor has an important prospect for detecting the physiological status of plants in situ and will play an important role in smart agriculture.
An electrochemical MIP sensor for determining proline was developed. Polypyrrole was used as the functional monomers. Thionine was used as an internal reference signal. The MIP‐based sensor has the lowest LOD and the widest detection range for proline so far. It is a very interesting method for the preparation of MIP‐based electrochemical sensors for determining proline in situ in plants.
As an essential amino acid, cysteine is involved in various biosynthetic and metabolic processes, such as protein synthesis, hormone synthesis, and redox homeostatic maintenance. Inordinate cysteine ...levels are often associated with serious diseases. Thus, designing and synthesizing a novel fluorescent probe for determining the concentration of cellular cysteine, which could indirectly monitor the prevalence of these diseases, is essential. We developed a florescence probe P−Cy with good sensitivity for cysteine detection in vivo. P−Cy only exhibited good response toward cysteine but did not show response toward other biothiols, such as homocysteine (Hcy) and glutathione (GSH). In this study, we used P−Cy by successfully imaging cellular endogenous and exogenous cysteine levels. Furthermore, P−Cy was also performed in mice to detect cysteine level, indicating that P−Cy is a powerful tool for cysteine detection in situ.
No more hiding for Cys: A highly selective fluorescent probe P−Cy is synthesized for the detection of cysteine both in vitro and in vivo. P−Cy shows a weak response to homocysteine and glutathione, which could specifically give a response to cysteine. The probe can be used for the fluorescence imaging of cysteine in cells and in mice with low cytotoxicity.
Lithium‐ion batteries (LIBs) have gained widespread attention due to their numerous advantages, including high energy density, prolonged cycle life, and environmental friendliness. Nevertheless, ...their electrochemical performance deteriorates rapidly under extreme temperature conditions, accompanied by a series of safety issues. Electrolyte optimization has emerged as a crucial and feasible strategy to expand the operational temperature range of LIBs. This review comprehensively summarizes the challenges, advances, and characterization methodologies of electrolytes at both subzero and elevated temperatures. Initially, it discusses the degradation mechanisms of different types of electrolytes at extreme temperatures, integrates recent advances, and offers insights into future research directions. Subsequently, various experimental techniques are systematically presented to evaluate the fundamental physical properties, stability, and dynamic behaviors of electrolytes in non‐ambient environments. Finally, it also provides relevant computational methods across the electronic, molecular, and macroscopic scales, and explores the application of high‐throughput techniques in this field. This review offers valuable guidance for breaking the working temperature limits of electrolytes and promoting the development of next‐generation LIBs.
Lithium‐ion batteries, the predominant energy storage technology, are increasingly challenged to function across a broad thermal spectrum. As essential carriers for ion transport, electrolytes necessitate adaptability to these extensive temperature variations. This review meticulously examines the constraints of various electrolyte types – liquid, solid, polymer, and unconventional – under extreme temperature conditions, outlining the current state of research and anticipating directions for future exploration and innovation. To extend the thermal versatility of liquid electrolytes, the creation of novel lithium salts, solvents, and additives is imperative, as well as harnessing the synergistic effects among current materials. For non‐liquid electrolytes, promising approaches include the integration of liquid variants and the fusion of diverse electrolyte types. Afterward, this review summarizes methods for characterizing the electrolyte performance under such rigorous conditions. In the experimental aspect, the fundamental, stability, and dynamic properties of electrolytes are analyzed. To thoroughly comprehend the issues that electrolytes encounter at varied temperatures, developing in‐situ techniques for real‐time monitoring of interfacial interactions is essential. The computational realm is also explored, ranging from electronic, and molecular to macroscopic scales, alongside high‐throughput computing. This review guides future research toward overcoming the thermal limitations of electrolytes, thereby enhancing the utility of lithium‐ion batteries in a wide range of environments.
Abstract Background Metastatic bone disease is a frequent complication of advanced non-small-cell lung cancer and causes skeletal-related events which result in a poor prognosis. A standard method to ...assess the therapeutic response of bone metastases does not currently exist. We used dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI to obtain quantitative measures to assess the suitability of this technique to gauge therapeutic response to vinorelbine–cisplatin plus rh-endostatinfor previously untreated non-small cell lung cancer with bone metastases. Methods We did a phase 4, randomised, prospective, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial in Shanghai Sixth People's Hospital, Shanghai, China. Inclusion criteria were non-small-cell lung cancer patients with bone metastases confirmed by pathology or cytology; available imaging data of pelvic metastatic lesions; aged 18 to 75 years old; expected survival at least 3 months; not receiving taxane, bevacizumab, thalidomide, rh-endostatin, or bisphosphonate; not having radiation therapy within 3 months of enrollment into study; normal results of routine blood tests, liver and kidney function, and electrocardiogram; absence of cardiovascular disease, autoimmune disease, vasculitis, severe infection, diabetes, and other concomitant disease; and signed informed consent. Exclusion criteria were receiving granulocyte colony stimulating factor or granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor during chemotherapy, intolerance to adverse reaction, and allergy to contrast agents. Patients were randomly assigned to treatment group and control group at a ratio of 2:1 by random code generation by an independent biostatistician in a double-blind fashion. Participants received either vinorelbine–cisplatin plus rh-endostatin or vinorelbine–cisplatin plus placebo. Vinorelbine (25 mg/m2 ) and cisplatin (75 mg/m2 ) were administered intravenously on the first day of a 21 day cycle. Patients received rh-endostatin (7·5 mg/m2 ) or placebo on days 1–14 of a cycle. The primary end points were objective response rate (complete remission+partial remission)/total × 100) and disease control rate (complete remission+partial remission+stable disease)/total × 100). Measurements including Ktrans , Kep , and Ve were evaluated by dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI before treatment and after completion of 2 treatment cycles. Blood concentrations of bone metabolites, tumour markers, and tumour vascular growth related factors were measured before and after treatment. Comparisons were made using paired t-test. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis was used to indicate the correlation between some measurements and progression-free survival or overall survival. The difference in Ktrans between patients who had partial remission or stable disease group and those who had disease progression was tested using the Chi-square test. All statistical analyses were performed with SPSS version 21.0. This trial was approved by the State Food and Drug Administration (No: S20050088) and China State Food and Drug Administration. The trial is registered with China Clinical Trials Registry, number chictr-ctr-09000569. Written informed consent and ethical approval was obtained. Findings We enrolled 33 patients (aged 52–70, 15 men and 18 women) of whom 28 were evaluable (20 in treatment group and 8 in control group). Five patients were excluded: 2 patients in treatment group and 1 patient in control group used granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor, and 2 patients in the control group refused treatment. Objective response rate was higher (30% vs 0%; p<0·00001), mean overall survival was longer (21·44 SD 17·28 vs 7·71 4·68 months, p=0·008), and reduction in capillary permeability (measured by Ktrans) was greater (60·0% vs 4·4%; p=0·026) in the group given rh-endostatin than in the control group. Disease control rate was 80% in the treatment group and 75% in the control group (p=0·07). Overall survival was longer in patients with a greater than 50% reduction in Ktrans than in patients with a decrease of up to 50% (13·2 1·8 vs 9·8 0·2 months, p=0·026). Interpretation Addition of rh-endostatin to treatment with vinorelbine–cisplatin increased the treatment response in patients with non-small cell lung cancer and bone metastases. Quantitative analysis using dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI can be used to evaluate therapeutic response and to predict survival of bone metastases after anti-angiogenesis therapy. Limitations of this study include the small number of patients and the single-centre design. Funding National Natural Science Foundation of China grant number 81201628 .
PDF
