Unique double-layer solid electrolyte interphase formed with fluorinated ether-based electrolytes for high-voltage lithium metal batteries

Li metal batteries using high-voltage layered oxides cathodes are of particular interest due to their high energy density.However,they suffer from short lifespan and extreme safety concerns,which are attributed to the degradation of layered oxides and the decomposition of electrolyte at high voltage,as well as the high reactivity of metallic Li.The key is the development of stable electrolytes against both highvoltage cathodes and Li with the formation of robust interphase films on the surfaces.Herein,we report a highly fluorinated ether,1,1,1-trifluoro-2-[(2,2,2-trifluoroethoxy)methoxy]ethane(TTME),as a cosolvent,which not only functions as a diluent forming a localized high concentration electrolyte(LHCE),but also participates in the construction of the inner solvation structure.The TTME-based electrolyte is stable itself at high voltage and induces the formation of a unique double-layer solid electrolyte interphase(SEI)film,which is embodied as one layer rich in crystalline structural components for enhanced mechanical strength and another amorphous layer with a higher concentration of organic components for enhanced flexibility.The Li||Cu cells display a noticeably high Coulombic efficiency of 99.28%after 300 cycles and Li symmetric cells maintain stable cycling more than 3200 h at 0.5 mA/cm^(2) and 1.0m Ah/cm^(2).In addition,lithium metal cells using LiNi_(0.8)Co_(0.1)Mn_(0.1)O_(2) and Li CoO_(2) cathodes(both loadings~3.0 m Ah/cm^(2))realize capacity retentions of>85%over 240 cycles with a charge cut-off voltage of 4.4 V and 90%for 170 cycles with a charge cut-off voltage of 4.5 V,respectively.This study offers a bifunctional ether-based electrolyte solvent beneficial for high-voltage Li metal batteries.

超声引导低位前锯肌平面阻滞对腹腔镜胃癌根治术患者术后镇痛的影响

目的:评价超声引导低位前锯肌平面阻滞对腹腔镜胃癌根治术患者术后镇痛效果的影响。方法:选取2022年5月至2023年10月在天津医科大学肿瘤医院择期全麻下行腹腔镜胃癌根治术患者60例,按随机数字表法分为全身麻醉组(C组)和全身麻醉联合超声引导低位前锯肌平面阻滞(serratus anterior plane block,SAPB)组(S组)。术毕均行舒芬太尼自控静脉镇痛泵,记录患者术后1、6、12、24、48 h静息时视觉模拟评分(visual analogue scale,VAS),术后VAS≥4分时静脉注射舒芬太尼0.1μg/kg补救镇痛,记录镇痛泵有效按压次数、补救镇痛次数、术后首次排气时间、首次下床时间、首次进食时间和住院时长。结果:与C组比较,S组术后1、6、12 h静息状态下VAS评分明显降低(P<0.05),S组术后镇痛泵有效按压次数、补救镇痛次数明显减少C组[(6.1±0.4)次vs.(18.6±1.4)次,2次vs.17次;P<0.001],术后首次排气时间、首次下床时间、首次进食时间和住院时间缩短(P<0.05)。两组患者其余指标比较差异无统计学意义(P>0.05)。结论:超声引导低位前锯肌平面阻滞可有效减轻腹腔镜胃癌根治术患者术后疼痛,有助于促进患者术后快速康复。

Evaluation of IFIT3 and ORM1 as Biomarkers for Discriminating Active Tuberculosis from Latent Infection

Objective Current commercially available immunological tests cannot be used for discriminating active tuberculosis(TB)from latent TB infection.To evaluate the value of biomarker candidates in the diagnosis of active TB,this study aimed to identify differentially expressed genes in peripheral blood mononuclear cells(PBMCs)between patients with active TB and individuals with latent TB infection by transcriptome sequencing.Methods The differentially expressed genes in unstimulated PBMCs and in Mycobacterium tuberculosis(Mtb)antigen-stimulated PBMCs from patients with active TB and individuals with latent TB infection were identified by transcriptome sequencing.Selected candidate genes were evaluated in cohorts consisting of 110 patients with TB,30 individuals with latent TB infections,and 50 healthy controls by quantitative real-time RT-PCR.Receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve analysis was performed to calculate the diagnostic value of the biomarker candidates.Results Among the differentially expressed genes in PBMCs without Mtb antigen stimulation,interferon-induced protein with tetratricopeptide repeats 3(IFIT3)had the highest area under curve(AUC)value(0.918,95%CI:0.852-0.984,P<0.0001)in discriminating patients with active TB from individuals with latent TB infection,with a sensitivity of 91.86%and a specificity of 84.00%.In Mtb antigen-stimulated PBMCs,orosomucoid 1(ORM1)had a high AUC value(0.833,95%CI:0.752-0.915,P<0.0001),with a sensitivity of 81.94%and a specificity of 70.00%.Conclusion IFIT3 and ORM1 might be potential biomarkers for discriminating active TB from latent TB infection.

Mesenchymal-epithelial Transition Factor Regulates Monocyte Function during Mycobacterial Infection via Indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase

Objective Mycobacterium tuberculosis(Mtb),the causative agent of tuberculosis(TB),causes an estimated 1.6 million human deaths annually,but the pathogenesis of TB remains unclear.Immunity plays a critical role in the onset and outcome of TB.This study aimed to uncover the roles of innate and adaptive immunity in TB.Methods The gene expression profiles generated by RNA sequencing from human peripheral blood mononuclear cells(PBMCs)stimulated with or without Mtb strain H37Rv antigens were analyzed.A total of 973 differentially expressed mRNAs were identified.Results The differentially expressed genes were enriched in innate immunity signaling functions.The mesenchymal-epithelial transition factor(MET)gene was significantly upregulated in CD14^(+)monocytes.A MET inhibitor improved the uptake of the BCG strain by monocytes and macrophages as well as inhibited the expression of indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase(IDO).The expression of IDO was increased in PBMCs stimulated with Mtb antigens,and the IDO inhibitor promoted the expression of CD40,CD83,and CD86.Conclusion Our results might provide clues regarding the immunomodulatory mechanisms used by Mtb to evade the host defense system.

A two-step three dimensional marine magnetotelluric inversion method with considering rugged seafloor topography:Synthetic studies

Inversion of magnetotelluric(MT) responses has been used to explore the electrical conductivity distribution of the Earth’s interior. In three-dimensional(3-D) inversions, it is significant to use a good initial model, because final model obtained by most 3-D inversion methods is influenced by the initial model. Although uniform initial models are widely used in 3-D inversions, one-dimensional(1-D) initial models are alternatives, which could more appropriately represent the actual conductivity variations in the Earth’s interior. This study presents a two-step 3-D inversion method, especially for marine cases. This inversion method first concentrates on obtaining a 1-D initial model and then inverts for 3-D conductivity structures with it, in both of which the 3-D topography is carefully taken into consideration. This method was tested by synthetic models of different topography variations(depression-shaped, smoothly varying, channel-shaped and square-shaped plateau topography) and of heterogeneous layers with different checkerboard-type anomalies(sharp or smooth lateral conductivity variations) embedded in1-D model of depth-dependent conductivity. The comparisons were done about obtaining an initial model by the proposed method and that inverted from the corrected responses. The results of 3-D inversions by using the method of this study were also compared to that with different uniform initial models. Results of synthetic tests and comparisons were discussed by using directional information of newly introduced model-vector parameters. The performance and validity of this method was verified.It also revealed that some of the newly introduced model-vector parameters could be used to show the convergence of inversions and help to select inverse model.

Benzofuran-isatin-hydroxylimine/thiosemicarbazide hybrids:Design,synthesis and in vitro anti-mycobacterial activity evaluation

A series of novel benzofuran-isatin-hydroxylimine/thiosemicarbazide hybrids were designed, synthesized and evaluated for their in vitro anti-TB activities against drug-sensitive MTB H_(37)Rv and MDR-TB isolates as well as cytotoxicity. All benzofuran-isatin-hydroxylimine/thiosemicarbazide hybrids exhibited considerable in vitro anti-mycobacterial activities against the tested three MTB strains, and all of them also showed acceptable cytotoxicity. The most active hybrid 7f was >4.8 and >51 folds more potent than the first line anti-TB agents RIF and INH against both drug-sensitive MTB H_(37)Rv and MDR-TB isolates, respectively. The results demonstrated the potential utility of benzofuran-isatin-hydroxylimine/-thiosemicarbazide hybrids as anti-TB agents.