A zincophilic molecular brush for a dendrite-free,corrosionresistant,zinc metal anode with a long life cycle

Zinc-based aqueous rechargeable batteries have attracted extensive attention due to their low cost,safety,and environmental friendliness.However,dendrite growth and hydrogen evolution of Zn anodes limit their large-scale application.A new strategy to produce a polyacrylamide/reduced graphene oxide(PAM@rGO)molecular nanobrush coating and control Zn electrolyte interface engineering is proposed for use in highly reversible Zn plating/stripping.Hydrogen evolution is inhibited,and Zn deposition is consolidated using the rich zincophilic functional groups of the branched polyacrylamide chain and the high conductivity of rGO.Due to the synergistic effects of corrosion resistance and dendrite-free growth,PAM@rGO/Zn provides prolonged and reversible Zn plating/stripping.Density functional theory(DFT)calculations expand on homogenized nucleation.The PAM@rGO/Zn||activated carbon(AC)capacitor exhibits long cyclic stability,fast ion transfer,and minimal interfacial impedance.This study provides experimental and theoretical bases for the structural design of Zn anode.

性状关联跨尺度推演:高寒草甸植物种内及种间性状的协同与权衡

功能性状及其关联可以反映有机体响应环境的生态对策,是探究各生态层次生物与环境相互作用的关键.大量的研究报道了区域至全球尺度上植物种间性状的协同或权衡.基于此,研究者试图推演环境变化下种群、群落至植被的功能结构动态.然而,各生态层次性状关联的主导机理不尽相同.性状关系跨尺度推演的核心在于局域群落种内及种间的性状关联,而相关研究极其缺乏.整合性状关联的机理与群落构建理论,我们推测,与大尺度下生态位特化主导物种性状关联类似,局域群落中多物种共存且生态位分化明显时,种间也应有显著的性状协同与权衡;功能平衡和结构优化主导性状关联时,种内与种间存在一致的协同或权衡关系,可推演至群落水平.以环境差异较小而多物种共存的青藏高原高寒草甸植物群落为例,检验了这些推测.结果表明,在生态位分化明显的高寒草甸,局域群落物种间叶片氮磷含量与比叶面积协同变化(与叶片干物质含量权衡),但大多数种内这两类性状的关联并不显著.无论是种间还是大多数种内,功能平衡下叶片氮磷含量协同变化,结构优化使比叶面积与叶干物质含量呈权衡关系.性状的协同与权衡关系在多性状分析中更加明显.这些结果支持了以上预测,为性状关联的跨尺度推演提供了理论基础和实验依据.

HBsAg Loss with Peg-interferon Alfa-2a in Hepatitis B Patients with Partial Response to Nucleos(t)ide Analog:New Switch Study

Background and Aims:Hepatitis B surface antigen(HBsAg)loss is seldom achieved with nucleos(t)ide analog(NA)therapy in chronic hepatitis B patients but may be enhanced by switching to finite pegylated-interferon(Peg-IFN)alfa-2a.We assessed HBsAg loss with 48-and 96-week Peg-IFN alfa-2a in chronic hepatitis B patients with partial response to a previous NA.Methods:Hepatitis B e antigen(HBeAg)-positive patients who achieved HBeAg loss and hepatitis B virus DNA<200 IU/mL with previous adefovir,lamivudine or entecavir treatment were randomized 1:1 to receive Peg-IFN alfa-2a for 48(n=153)or 96 weeks(n=150).The primary endpoint of this study was HBsAg loss at end of treatment.The ClinicalTrials.gov identifier is NCT01464281.Results:At the end of 48 and 96 weeks'treatment,14.4%(22/153)and 20.7%(31/150)of patients,respectively,who switched from NA to Peg-IFN alfa-2a cleared HBsAg.Rates were similar irrespective of prior NA or baseline HBeAg seroconversion.Among those who cleared HBsAg by the end of 48 and 96 weeks'treatment,77.8%(14/18)and 71.4%(20/28),respectively,sustained HBsAg loss for a further 48 weeks.Baseline HBsAg<1500 IU/mL and week 24 HBsAg<200 IU/mL were associated with the highest rates of HBsAg loss at the end of both 48-and 96-week treatment(51.4%and 58.7%,respectively).Importantly,extending treatment from 48 to 96 weeks enabled 48.3%(14/29)more patients to achieve HBsAg loss.Conclusions:Patients on long-term NA who are unlikely to meet therapeutic goals can achieve high rates of HBsAg loss by switching to Peg-IFN alfa-2a.HBsAg loss rates may be improved for some patients by extending treatment from 48 to 96 weeks,although the differences in our study cohort were not statistically significant.Baseline and on-treatment HBsAg may predict HBsAg loss with Peg-IFN alfa-2a.

Removal of odors and VOCs in municipal solid waste comprehensive treatment plants using a novel three-stage integrated biofilter:Performance and bioaerosol emissions

A novel three-stage integrated biofilter(TSIBF)composed of acidophilic bacteria reaction segment(ABRS),fungal reaction segment(FRS)and heterotrophic bacteria reaction segment(HBRS)was constructed for the treatment of odors and volatile organic compounds(VOCs)from municipal solid waste(MSW)comprehensive treatment plants.The performance,counts of predominant microorganisms,and bioaerosol emissions of a flill-scale TSIBF system were studied.High and stable removal efficiencies of hydrogen sulfide,ammonia and VOCs could be achieved with the TSIBF system,and the emissions of culturable heterotrophic bacteria,fungi and acidophilic sulfur bacteria were relatively low.The removal efficiencies of different odors and VOCs,emissions of culturable microorganisms,and types of predominant microorganisms were different in the ABRS,FRS and HBRS due to the differences in reaction conditions and mass transfer in each segment.The emissions of bioaerosols from the TSIBF depended on the capture of microorganisms and their volatilization from the packing.The rational segmentation,filling of high-density packings and the accumulation of the predominant functional microorganisms in each segment enhanced the capture effect of the bioaerosols,thus reducing the emissions of microorganisms from the bioreactor.

A Potential Functional Cure in Chinese HBeAg-negative Chronic Hepatitis B Patients Treated with Peg-interferon Alpha-2a

Background and Aims:Data are limited on the use of pegylated-interferon alpha-2a(peg-IFNα)in Chinese patients with chronic hepatitis B virus(HBV)infection(CHB).We evaluated the effectiveness and safety of peg-IFNαin Chinese patients with hepatitis B envelope antigen-negative CHB in routine clinical practice.Methods:In this prospective,multicenter,observational,non-interventional cohort study,patients were assessed for up to 1 year after peg-IFNαtreatment cessation.Treating physicians established the dosing and treatment duration according to Chinese clinical practice.Effectiveness of peg-IFNαtreatment was measured by the percentage of:patients with HBV DNA<2000 IU/mL and loss of hepatitis B surface antigen(commonly known as HBsAg);HBV DNA level at end of treatment(EOT),and 6 months and 1 year posttreatment;and time course change in quantitative HBV DNA and HBsAg.Results:At EOT,6 months posttreatment,and 1 year posttreatment,the percentage of patients with HBV DNA<2000 IU/mL was 90.0%,81.8%,and 82.2%,and that of patients with HBsAg loss was 6.5%,9.4%,and 9.5%,respectively.The HBV DNA level decreased from 5.61 log IU/mL at baseline to 2.48 log IU/mL at EOT and 2.67 log IU/mL at 1 year posttreatment.The HBsAg level decreased from 3.08 log IU/mL at baseline to 2.24 log IU/mL at EOT and 2.10 log IU/mL at 1 year posttreatment.The incidence of adverse events was 52.0%.Conclusions:Peg-IFNαhas the potential to provide functional cure(HBsAg loss)for CHB and is well tolerated in hepatitis B envelope antigen-negative CHB patients in routine clinical practice in China.

Volumetric comparative analysis of anatomy through far-lateral approach:surgical space and exposed tissues

Background:The three-dimensional(3D)visualization model has ability to quantify the surgical anatomy of farlateral approach.This study was designed to disclose the relationship between surgical space and exposed tissues in the far-lateral approach by the volumetric analysis of 3D model.Methods:The 3D skull base models were constructed using MRI and CT data of 15 patients(30 sides)with trigeminal neuralgia.Surgical corridors of the far-lateral approach were simulated by triangular pyramids to represent two surgical spaces exposing bony and neurovascular tissues.Volumetric comparison of surgical anatomy was performed using pair t test.Results:The morphometric results were almost the same in the two surgical spaces except the vagus nerve(CN X)exposed only in one corridor,whereas the volumetric comparison represented the statistical significant differences of surgical space and bony and neurovascular tissues involved in the two corridors(P<0.001).The differences of bony and neurovascular tissues failed to equal the difference of surgical space.Conclusions:For far-lateral approach,the increase of exposure for the bony and neurovascular tissues is not necessarily matched with the increase of surgical space.The volumetric comparative analysis is helpful to provide more detailed anatomical information in the surgical design.

Reversal of B-cell hyperactivation and functional impairment is associated with HBsAg seroconversion in chronic hepatitis B patients

B cells play an important role in the clearance of hepatitis B virus （HBV） and protection against reinfection. However, the functional characteristics of these cells that are associated with the outcome of chronic HBV infection remain unknown. We comprehensively investigated the frequency, phenotype, and function of peripheral B-cell subsets from CHB patients in different phases： immune tolerance （IT）, immune activation （IA）, immune clearance （IC）, responders with HBsAg seroconversion （resolved patients, RP）, and healthy controls （HC）. IA patients displayed lower percentages of peripheral blood memory B cells compared with the other groups. Overall polyclonal activation of B cells, indicated by higher levels of activation markers and secretion of IgG and IgM, was observed in IA patients. This B-cell hyperactivation could be induced by increased IFN-a and soluble CD40 ligands in IA patients. Notably, the expression of the co-stimulator molecule CD80 and serum HBsAb and the frequency of HBsAg-specific B cells were significantly decreased in IT, IA, and IC patients compared with HC subjects. More importantly, the B-cell hyperactivation, co-stimulatory molecule downregulation and HBsAg-specific B-cell impairment were reversed in RP patients. The reversal of B-cell hyperactivation and functional impairment is associated with HBsAg seroconversion in chronic hepatitis B patients.

Tenofovir disoproxil fumarate therapy in patients with chronic hepatitis B and advanced fibrosis or compensated cirrhosis

Background and aims:Tenofovir disoproxil fumarate(TDF)is the first-line therapy for chronic hepatitis B.This interim analysis presents the efficacy and safety data for TDF at Week 144 in patients with chronic hepatitis B and advanced fibrosis or compensated cirrhosis from China.Methods:Patients were assessed for incidence of newly diagnosed hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)and disease progression,liver stiffness measurement(LSM),virological suppression(serum hepatitis B virus DNA<20 IU/mL),alanine aminotransferase normalization,hepatitis B e antigen(HBeAg)loss and seroconversion,histological liver fibrosis score,and safety at Week 144.Results:Overall,197 patients were enrolled.At Week 144,the incidence of newly diagnosed HCC was observed in 2.1%patients,and the incidence of disease progression was observed in 3.6%patients.The mean(standard deviation)change in LSM from baseline was
5.1(5.85)kPa.Serum hepatitis B virus DNA<20 IU/mL was observed in 94.1%patients,alanine aminotransferase normalization in 33.5%patients,HBeAg loss in 35.6%patients,and HBeAg seroconversion in 14.4%patients.Among patients with stage F3 or F4 fibrosis at baseline by LSM,38.3%patients regressed to stage F0/1,and 22.0%of patients regressed to stage F2 at Week 144.Overall,67.7%patients experienced≥1 adverse events,13.8%patients experienced TDF-related adverse events,and 16.4%patients experienced serious(none were TDF-related).Conclusions:At Week 144 of TDF treatment,low incidence of HCC and disease progression were reported.Virological suppression was observed in 94.1%patients,which was associated with fibrosis regression.No new safety events were identified.

Distilling base-and-meta network with contrastive learning for few-shot semantic segmentation

Current studies in few-shot semantic segmentation mostly utilize meta-learning frameworks to obtain models that can be generalized to new categories.However,these models trained on base classes with sufficient annotated samples are biased towards these base classes,which results in semantic confusion and ambiguity between base classes and new classes.A strategy is to use an additional base learner to recognize the objects of base classes and then refine the prediction results output by the meta learner.In this way,the interaction between these two learners and the way of combining results from the two learners are important.This paper proposes a new model,namely Distilling Base and Meta(DBAM)network by using self-attention mechanism and contrastive learning to enhance the few-shot segmentation performance.First,the self-attention-based ensemble module(SEM)is proposed to produce a more accurate adjustment factor for improving the fusion of two predictions of the two learners.Second,the prototype feature optimization module(PFOM)is proposed to provide an interaction between the two learners,which enhances the ability to distinguish the base classes from the target class by introducing contrastive learning loss.Extensive experiments have demonstrated that our method improves on the PASCAL-5i under 1-shot and 5-shot settings,respectively.