Defective TiO_(2)-graphene heterostructures enabling in-situ electrocatalyst evolution for lithium-sulfur batteries

Lithium-sulfur (Li-S) batteries are considered as one of the promising next-generation energy storage systems because of their high energy density. While the low utilization of sulfur and sluggish reaction kinetics would lead to degradation of electrochemical performance and thus hinder the practical application of Li-S batteries. Herein, a double-shelled TiO_(2)-graphene heterostructure (H-TiO_(2)/rGO) with abundant oxygen vacancies (OVs) and highly exposed active plane as advanced host material in Li-S batteries is designed. This rational structure not only provides sufficient active sites and lower bandgap for lithium polysulfides (LiPSs), but also builds smooth adsorption-diffusion-conversion of LiPSs on catalyst, which greatly reduces interfacial energy barrier and promotes the utilization of sulfur through suppressing the devastating shuttling effect. Combining the synergetic merits of strong anchoring ability and catalyzing the of LiPSs, the electrode (S-TiO_(2)/rGO-1) exhibits superior rate performance and long lifespan (1000 cycles at 1C, 0.023% capacity loss per cycle) with high columbic efficiency. This work paves an alternative way to establish smooth adsorption-diffusion-conversion of polysulfides on catalyst in Li-S batteries and provides a new sight to understand catalyst design in energy storage devices.

补肾促卵方治疗肾虚肝郁型卵巢功能低下不孕症

目的:探索补肾促卵方治疗肾虚肝郁型卵巢功能低下不孕症的临床疗效。方法:选择在2019年10月至2022年1月收治的卵巢功能低下不孕症患者100例为研究对象,采用随机数字表法平均分为观察组、对照组。对照组采用雌激素序贯疗法,观察组采用补肾促卵方治疗,对比分析两组患者在治疗后临床疗效、性激素水平[卵泡刺激素(follicle stimulate hormone,FSH)、促黄体生成素(Luteinizing Hormone,LH)、雌二醇(Estradiol,E2)]、卵巢功能、卵巢血流状态[收缩期峰值流速(PSV)、窦卵泡计数(AFC)、动脉搏动指数(PI)、阻力指数(RI)]及妊娠结局等指标。结果:观察组有效率(96.00%)明显高于对照组(80.00%),差异具有统计学意义(P<0.05)。治疗前,两组患者性激素水平(FSH、LH、E2、FSH/LH)、卵巢功能(初级卵泡数量、优势卵泡数、排卵数、子宫内膜厚度)、卵巢血流(PSV、RI、PI、AFC)相比,差异无统计学意义(P>0.05)。治疗后,两组患者血清激素FSH、LH、E2、FSH/LH水平均明显下降;初级卵泡数量、优势卵泡数、排卵数均明显升高,子宫内膜厚度显著降低;卵巢血流PSV、RI、AFC指标明显升高,PI指标显著降低,且观察组各指标水平优于对照组,差异具有统计学意义(P<0.05)。观察组患者在治疗后1年内妊娠32例,妊娠率为64.00%;对照组患者在治疗后1年内妊娠21例,妊娠率为42.00%;观察组妊娠率高于对照组,组间比较差异具有统计学意义(〖STBX〗χ2〖STBZ〗=4.014,P=0.045<005)。结论:补肾促卵方对卵巢功能低下不孕症疗效确切,其作用机制可能是通过多成分、多靶点的刺激作用,发挥改善患者卵巢功能,调节性激素水平等作用,进而提高妊娠结局。

Development and validation of a tumor microenvironment-related prognostic signature in lung adenocarcinoma and immune infiltration analysis

Objective Tumor-infiltrating immune cells and stromal cells in the tumor microenvironment(TME)significantly affect the prognosis of and immune response to lung adenocarcinoma(LUAD).In this study,we aimed to develop a novel TME-related prognostic model based on immune and stromal genes in LUAD.Methods LUAD data from the TCGA database were used as the training cohort,and three Gene Expression Omnibus(GEO)datasets were used as the testing cohort.The Estimation of STromal and Immune cells in MAlignant Tumor tissues using Expression data algorithm was used to analyze the immune and stromal genes involved in the TME.Kaplan-Meier and Cox regression analyses were used to identify prognostic genes and construct a TME-related prognostic model.Gene set enrichment analysis and TIMER were used to analyze the immune features and signaling pathways of the model.Results A TME-related prognostic model based on six hub genes was generated that significantly stratified patients into the high-and low-risk groups in terms of overall survival.The model had strong predictive ability in both the training(TCGA)and testing(GEO)datasets and could serve as an independent prognostic factor for LUAD.Moreover,the low-risk group was characterized by greater immune cell infiltration and antitumor immune activity than the high-risk group.Importantly,the signature was closely associated with immune checkpoint molecules,which may serve as a predictor of patient response to immunotherapy.Finally,the hub genes BTK,CD28,INHA,PIK3CG,TLR4,and VEGFD were considered novel prognostic biomarkers for LUAD and were significantly correlated with immune cells.Conclusion The TME-related prognostic model could effectively predict the prognosis and reflect the TME status of LUAD.These six hub genes provided novel insights into the development of new therapeutic strategies.

From non-carbon host toward carbon-free lithium-sulfur batteries

Lithium-sulfur(Li-S)batteries with advantages of high energy densities(2600 Wh·kg^(-1)/2800 Wh·L^(-1))and sulfur abundance are regarded as promising candidates for next-generation high-energy batteries.However,the conventional carbon host used in sulfur cathodes suffers from poor chemical adsorption towards Li-polysulfides(LPS)in liquid electrolyte and sluggish redox kinetics,leading to low capacity and rate capability.Besides,carbon host used in Li metal anode with the intrinsic property of poor lithiophilicity and high Li-nucleation barrier gives rise to uncontrollable dendrite growth and further battery failure.Therefore,non-carbon hosts with chemical adsorption toward LPS and catalytic activity for accelerating LPS redox conversion as well as lithiophilic property for guiding uniform Li deposition are proposed and demonstrated a high efficiency in both sulfur cathodes and Li metal anodes.In this review,the principle and challenges of Li-S batteries are first presented,then recent work using non-carbon hosts in Li-S batteries is summarized comprehensively,and the mechanism of non-carbon host in improving sulfur utilization and stabilizing Li metal anode is discussed in detail.Furthermore,remaining challenges and outlook on the implementation of non-carbon host for practical carbon-free Li-S batteries are also provided.

Enlarged interlayer of separator coating enabling high-performance lithiumsulfur batteries

Lithiumsulfur batteries have been intensively studied due to their high theoretical energy density and abundant sulfur resources. However, their commercial application is hindered by the low redox kinetics and high sulfur losses. In principle, in the design of cathodes and separators, the adsorption toward lithium-polysulfides should be enhanced and the conversion of soluble high-order lithium-polysulfides should be catalyzed. Herein, a KV_(3)O_(8)·0.75H_(2)O separator is designed as an effective lithium-polysulfides mediator in lithiumsulfur batteries. The intercalated K+ would enlarge the interlayer spacing of vanadium oxides, preventing the collapse of the layer structure and improving the electrical/ion conductivity of the interface. Moreover, the KV_(3)O_(8)·0.75H_(2)O modified separator possess a prior adsorption and high redox kinetics toward lithium-polysulfides due to the enhanced diffusion kinetics, which guarantees the high-rate capability and efficient utilization of sulfur. As a result, lithiumsulfur batteries exhibit a high capacity of 1362 mAh·g^(-1) and a long lifespan with a low capacity loss of 0.073% per cycle. This work may provide an alternative way to establish a functional separator to balance the adsorption and conversion of polysulfides during the redox back and forth.