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Lithium metal stands out as an advanced anode material for next-generation rechargeable high-energy-density batteries. Nevertheless, the non-uniform behavior of Li plating/stripping causes severe dendrite growth and volume expansion, inducing rapid lifespan decay and even safety hazards. Introducing a Li host with a three-dimensional (3D) structure and interconnecting pores has been proven effective for solving these issues. In this contribution, natural wood, which possesses an exquisite 3D interconnected hierarchical porous structure, is employed as a Li host. The wood host facilitates homogenization of the electric field intensity near the Li anode, thereby regulating the homogeneity during Li plating/stripping. As demonstrated in Li‖Cu half cells, the wood host enables 66 cycles with a coulombic efficiency retention of 80%, surpassing the mere 25 cycles achievable without the host. Furthermore, the wood/Li composite anode exhibits reduced polarizations and extended cycling lifespans in both Li‖LFP and Li‖S full coin cells. Leveraging the unique characteristics of the natural wood structure, an all-wood-based Li‖S full coin cell is also assembled. This study not only illuminates the promise of wood as a material for optimizing Li anode performance, but also offers valuable insights for the design of structures for materials used in rechargeable batteries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: To compare the clinical outcomes and complication rates of convective water vapor energy ablation (Rezum®) and prostatic urethral lift (Urolift®). To identify predictive factors for treatment failures in both treatments. Materials & Methods: Prospective clinico-epidemiological data of patients who underwent Urolift® or Rezum® in a single institution for benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) was collected. The choice of intervention depended on the preference of the patients after patient-centric discussions. Results: From October 2019 to October 2022, 86 patients underwent Rezum®, and 62 patients underwent Urolift®. Rezum® involved a longer indwelling catheter duration (12.38 ± 5.548 vs 1.39 ± 3.010 days, p < 0.001) compared with Urolift®. Rezum® was associated with more complications compared with Urolift® (36 [41.9%] vs 10 [16.1%] cases, p < 0.001). Rezum® had more cases of hematuria (17 [19.8%] vs 4 [6.5%] cases [p = 0.022]) and urinary tract infections (27 [31.4%] vs 3 [4.8%] cases, p < 0.001) compared with Urolift®. There were no significant differences in Clavien–Dindo Grade 3–5 complications between the interventions. Urolift® was associated with higher reoperation rates (5 [8.1%] vs 0 [0%] cases, p = 0.010) compared Rezum®. Rezum® had higher anticholinergic usage rates compared with Urolift® post-operation (22 [25.6%] vs 8 [12.9%] cases, p = 0.024). Both interventions showed improvement in the International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS), quality of life score, and peak velocity flow over the 2 years with no significant difference between the two. Based on receiver operating characteristic curve, preoperation IPSS ≥16 had 95.7% sensitivity and 38.4% specificity to predict the probability of treatment failures after the interventions. Conclusions: There was no difference in clinical outcomes of patients who underwent Rezum® and Urolift®. However, patients who had undergone Rezum® faced more minor complications and more required anti-cholinergic medications. Lastly, physicians should note that patients with IPSS ≥16 would unlikely benefit from either intervention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the development of urban industry and technology, environmental issues have raised increasing concerns toward gas monitoring. Flexible, portable, and low-cost sensors for detecting gas analytes in real-time have emerged as next-generation gas analytical devices. Among them, flexible chemiresistive gas sensors stand out due to their high operability, intuitive response signal and because the conditions required are not harsh. As a result, flexible chemiresistive gas sensors are endowed with huge potential toward a wide range of applications and should be paid more attention. This review mainly covers four types of flexible chemiresistive gas sensors based on different sensing materials, including metal oxide semiconductor (MOX)-based, graphene-based, MXene-based, and polymer-based gas sensors. The definition and sensing mechanisms of gas sensing materials are first combed. Recent advances of flexible chemiresistive gas sensors are summarized to afford design strategies toward different sensing materials, and the current applications are also introduced. Finally, challenges and prospects for flexible chemiresistive gas sensors are further discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the present study, lignin from eucalyptus was extracted with 80% alkaline dioxane (0.05 M NaOH) from ball-milled wood and subsequently fractionated by gradient acid precipitation from the filtrate. Meanwhile, the residual lignin was prepared by a double enzymatic hydrolysis process. The yield of the lignin extracted by alkaline dioxane (L A-2 ) was 29.5%. The carbohydrate contents and molecular weights of the gradient acid precipitated lignin fractions gradually decreased from 4.90 to 1.36% and from 7770 to 5510 g/mol, respectively, with the decline of the pH value from 6 to 2. Results from two-dimensional heteronuclear single quantum coherence nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and 31 P NMR spectroscopy showed an evident reduction of β- O-4 ' linkages with the pH value decrease, while the contents of aliphatic -OH, phenolic -OH, and carboxylic groups displayed an increasing trend. Moreover, the residual lignin exhibited the highest molecular weight (11690 g/mol), the most abundant β- O-4 ' linkages (71.1%), and the highest S/G ratio (4.68).

Objective: To construct a non-viral vector for targeting cancer gene therapy., Methods: The coding sequence of H1s-EGFc was inserted into the expression vectors of Pichia pastoris, and the fusion protein was expressed in secretary way. H1s-EGFc was purified by anion exchange chromatography and size exclusion chromatography. H1s-EGFc fusion protein and "killing gene" expression recombinant pKG plasmid DNA were dissolved in serum-free RPMI-1640 culture to produce H1s-EGFc/pKG complex. HeLa cells, an epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) highly expressing cell line, and Jurkat cells, an EGFR non-expressing cell line, were cultured and transfected with H1s-EGFc/pKG complex of different concentrations. Trypan blue staining was used to calculate the number of live cells and the killing rate of H1s-EGFc/pKG., Results: H1s-EGFc fusion protein was constructed and expressed with a purity of over 90%. When the concentrations of H1s-EGFc/pKG complex were 3 microg/ml, 6 microg/ml, and 9 microg/ml respectively the killing rates were 30.6%, 36.2%, and 58.1% respectively., Conclusion: The fusion protein H1s-EGFc binds functional gene efficiently and targets it into specific cells. It can be used as non-viral vector in target cancer gene therapy.