Ultrasmall NiS_(2)Nanocrystals Embedded in Ordered Macroporous Graphenic Carbon Matrix for Efficiently Pseudocapacitive Sodium Storage

Sodium-ion hybrid capacitor(SIHC)is one of the most promising alternatives for large-scale energy storage due to its high energy and power densities,natural abundance,and low cost.However,overcoming the imbalance between slow Na^(+)reaction kinetics of battery-type anodes and rapid ion adsorption/desorption of capacitive cathodes is a significant challenge.Here,we propose the high-rate-performance NiS_(2)@OMGC anode material composed of monodispersed NiS_(2) nanocrystals(8.8±1.7 nm in size)and N,S-co-doped graphenic carbon(GC).The NiS_(2)@OMGC material has a three-dimensionally ordered macroporous(3DOM)morphology,and numerous NiS_(2) nanocrystals are uniformly embedded in GC,forming a core-shell structure in the local area.Ultrafine NiS_(2) nanocrystals and their nano-microstructure demonstrate high pseudocapacitive Na-storage capability and thus excellent rate performance(355.7 mAh/g at 20.0 A/g).A SIHC device fabricated using NiS_(2)@OMGC and commercial activated carbon(AC)cathode exhibits ultrahigh energy densities(197.4 Wh/kg at 398.8 W/kg)and power densities(43.9 kW/kg at 41.3 Wh/kg),together with a long life span.This outcome exemplifies the rational architecture and composition design of this type of anode material.This strategy can be extended to the design and synthesis of a wide range of high-performance electrode materials for energy storage applications.

Dynamic Elastic Modulus and Damping Ratio of Lignin-Modified Loess

To effectively improve the poor engineering properties of loess and enhance its seismic performance,the industrial by-product lignin is used as a modified material.Based on lots of dynamic triaxial tests,the dynamic elastic modulus and damping ratio of lignin-modified loess were tested.The effects of lignin content on the dynamic elastic modulus and damping ratio of lignin-modified loess were analyzed.Combined with scanning electron microscopy(SEM)and X-ray diffraction(XRD),the microscopic mechanism of lignin to improve the dynamic properties of loess was studied.The results show that lignin can effectively modify the dynamic deformation of loess under dynamic load.Under the same dynamic stress condition,the dynamic strain of lignin-modified loess is smaller than compacted loess.The dynamic elastic modulus of modified loess with different lignin content are quite different,but both decrease with the increase of dynamic strain.And the dynamic elastic modulus of modified loess is greater than compacted loess.The maximum dynamic elastic modulus of modified loess with a lignin content of 1%are significantly greater than others.Under the same dynamic strain condition,the damping ratio of lignin-modified loess is smaller than compacted loess.Lignin can effectively fill loess pores and cement loess particles.Compared with compacted loess,no new mineral components are generated in the lignin-modified loess.The optimum lignin content of dynamics characteristic of modified loess is present,and the optimum lignin content is 1%.

A refined representation method of the particle size distribution curve based on grading entropy

The particle size distribution(PSD)curve is an important expression of the basic properties of the soil.The characteristic parameters such as median particle size D 50,effective particle size D 10,and some combinations of characteristic parameters can only represent some points of the PSD curve,failing to represent all information of the PSD curve.In this paper,a fraction characteristic parameter F that could reflect the fraction size variation of the PSD curve was introduced based on grading entropy.And a new presentation method of the A-B-F three parameters was proposed for a refined representation of the PSD curve.It was found that the newly constructed model not only better represents the differences in the width of PSD curves but also has a higher sensitivity than the A-B two-parameter model proposed by Lőrincz.For PSD curves with similar distributions,the new presentation method has a higher degree of discrimination than that of the D 50-C u-C c three-parameter or the four-parameter combination G c proposed by Arshad.Finally,the application of this new method in describing the spatial nonuniformity distribution of depositions and predicting the soil hydraulic conductivity was discussed.The research results can provide a reference for the refined representation of PSD curves.

The altered PD-1/PD-L1 pathway delivers the ‘one-two punch’ effects to promote the Treg/Th17 imbalance in pre-eclampsia

The programmed cell death-1(PD-1)/PD-ligand 1(PD-L1)pathway is critical for normal pregnancy by promoting regulatory T(Treg)cell development and inhibiting the Th17 response.However,the relationship between the PD-1/PD-L1 pathway and the Treg/Th17 imbalance in pre-eclampsia(PE)is an enigma.In this study,decreased PD-1 and PD-L1 expression and a Treg/Th17 imbalance were observed at the maternal-fetal interface in PE.The regulatory effects of the PD-1/PD-L1 pathway on the Treg and Th17 cell quantities were determined in vitro by targeting T-cell proliferation,differentiation and transdifferentiation.First,decreased PD-1 expression might contribute to a higher Th17 cell frequency by promoting proliferation in PE.Second,the percentages of Treg but not Th17 cells differentiated from peripheral naive CD4+T cells were increased by PD-L1 Fc administration.This effect was accompanied by decreased PI3K/AKT/m-TOR and increased PTEN mRNA expression and was completely reversed by PD-1 blockade.Finally,the percentage of IL-17-producing Treg cells increased and was positively associated with the Th17 cell frequency in PE.Increased RORγt and IL-17 but not Foxp3 and IL-10 mRNA expression by Treg cells was observed with PD-1 blockade.Similar findings occurred when Treg cells were exposed to IL-6/IL-23/IL-1βand were reversed by PD-L1 Fc.Taken together,our findings indicate that the PD-1/PD-L1 pathway contributes to the Treg/Th17 imbalance via‘one-two punch’approaches:(i)promoting Th17 cell proliferation,(ii)inhibiting Treg cell differentiation and(iii)enhancing Treg cell plasticity into Th17 cells in PE.The therapeutic value of PD-L1 Fc for PE treatment will be explored in the future.