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Ni-rich layered oxide LiNixCoyMn1-x-yO2 (x ≥ 0.8) is the most promising cathodes for future high energy automotive lithium-ion batteries. However, its application is hindered by the undesirable cycle stability, mainly due to the irreversible structure change at high voltage. Herein, we demonstrate that F substitution with the appropriate amount (1 at%) is capable for improve the electrochemical performance of LiNi0.9Co0.05Mn0.05O2 cathode significantly. It is revealed that F substitution can reduce cation mixing, stabilize the crystal structure and improve Li transport kinetics. The resulted LiNi0.9Co0.05Mn0.05O1.99F0.01 cathode can deliver a high capacity of 194.4 mAh g−1 with capacity retention of 95.5% after 100 cycles at 2C and 165.2 mAh g−1 at 5C. In-situ synchrotron X-ray technique proves that F ions in the cathode materials can suppress the irreversible phase transition from H2 phase to H3 phase in high voltage region by preventing oxygen gliding in a-b planes, ensuring a long-term cycle stability.

To get an optimal product of orthopaedic implant or regenerative medicine needs to follow trial-and-error analyses to investigate suitable product's material, structure, mechanical properites etc. The whole process from

LiNi0.8Co0.15Al0.05O2 (NCA) has been proven to be a good cathode material for lithium-ion batteries (LIBs), especially in electric vehicle applications. However, further elevating energy density of...

Municipal solid waste (MSW) is a porous medium comprising macropores and matrix, such that the flow pattern often takes the form of preferential flow. The objective of this paper was to study the preferential flow in MSW and to quantify the flow character. Dye tracing tests and solute breakthrough tests were carried out using MSW samples taken from different depths of a landfill. Test procedures were proposed to make the sectioning of MSW sample easy. The MSW columns were dyed and then sectioned in the horizontal and vertical direction. Digital image processing technology was used to investigate the preferential flow pattern. In order to quantitatively characterize the preferential flow in MSW, regression analysis was performed on the breakthrough curves using the bimodal probability density model. The dye tracing tests show that more preferential flow happened under a higher application rate, under higher initial water content, and in shallow MSW. The results of vertical sectioning tests are consistent with that of horizontal sectioning tests, showing that the test procedure has no obvious influence on the preferential flow pattern in MSW. The results of the solute breakthrough tests show that between 55 and 70% of the total solute was transported through large pores. The modeled proportion of solute movement through large pores decreases as the depth and age increase, and increases as the application rate increases. The results are beneficial to simulate water and solute migration in MSW using a dual-porosity model.

As for the long assembly cycle, high complexity, strongly professional layout design, high cost consumption and other issues of food engineering equipment, with the production line of PET hot filling beverages as the research object, this Paper achieves breakthroughs in the virtual assembly technology of the whole line, covering homogenization, sterilization, filling, packaging, cleaning and disinfection and other critical equipment of food processing, conducts a research on the mapping rules of food production technological parameters and equipment use parameters, and optimizes the equipment assembly model of PET hot filling beverages. At the same time, the virtual assembly system of PET hot filling beverages which has such functions as regional design, compliance verification and cross contamination pre-judgment of human flow and material flow is realized by virtual simulation technology of computer 3D image.

An in vitro model was established to simulate a diabetes-type environment by treating human periodontal stem cells with advanced glycation end-products (AGEs). Periostin (POSTN) plays a crucial role in maintaining the integrity of periodontal tissues. However, the role of POSTN in human periodontal stem cells stimulated by AGEs remains unknown. Diabetes mellitus is considered a metabolic disease, and DNA methylation of CpG islands is a biomarker of metabolic syndromes. Diabetes has been found to be closely related to the DNA methylation of certain genes. Here, we investigated the protective mechanism and effect of POSTN on osteogenesis and oxidative stress in the AGE environment, and further explored the CpG island methylation of specific genes potentially mediated by POSTN. The optimal concentration of AGEs was screened using CCK8. AGEs were found to contribute to oxidative stress. Conversely, reactive oxygen species production and malondialdehyde and superoxide activity indicated that the AGE + POSTN group decreased oxidative injury. According to an alkaline phosphatase assay, Alizarin Red S staining, and the expression of key genes and proteins involved in osteogenesis, POSTN mitigated the inhibitory effects of AGE on cell proliferation and osteogenic differentiation potential during osteogenic differentiation. In contrast, the growth and osteogenesis of human periodontal stem cells were notably suppressed by POSTN knockdown. Bisulfite sequencing PCR was used to evaluate the DNA methylation status. Moreover, AGE elevated the expression of DNA methyltransferas 1 (DNMT1) and inhibited the activation of CALAL promoter methylation, which was rescued by the addition of POSTN and 5-Azacytidine (5-AZA). In conclusion, POSTN attenuated the AGE-induced inhibition of osteogenesis in periodontal ligament stem cells by reducing AGE receptor levels and DNA methylation of the calcitonin-related polypeptide α (CALCA) promoter. Thus, POSTN is a promising candidate for dental bone regeneration, representing a novel therapeutic agent for diabetic patients. The mechanism underlying these processes may provide new insights into novel therapeutic targets for improving abnormal bone metabolism in patients with diabetes.

A medium-strained (13% cold-drawing) 316L austenitic stainless steel rod was subjected to annealing between 750 and 1100 °C. Electron backscatter diffraction and electron channeling contrast imaging techniques were jointly employed to investigate the development of microstructures and grain boundary character distribution during the annealing treatments. Results show that annealing at temperatures below 900 °C does not evidently change microstructures of the as-drawn specimen. Full recrystallization is observed after the temperature reaches 1000 °C and the deformation microstructures are replaced by fine and uniform recrystallized grains. A large number of annealing twins (with Σ3 misorientation) are produced by the recrystallization, leading to markedly increased fractions of special boundaries (fSB). The maximum fSB is found to be 67.3% in the present study. In addition, for the recrystallized grains, rapid growth is noticed at relatively high temperatures due to easy migration of grain boundaries.

An annealed Inconel 718 alloy was surface-treated by pulsed laser at three different powers (100, 50 and 25 W). Microstructural changes induced by the laser treatments were characterized by use of electron backscatter diffraction and electron channeling contrast imaging techniques. Results show that both annealing twins and strengthening precipitates profusely existing in the as-received specimen are dissolved at elevated temperatures during the laser irradiation. Meanwhile, in the melting zone (MZ), densities of low angle boundaries (LABs) are greatly increased with a large number of Laves phases preferentially distributed along such LABs. For different specimens, widths and depths of their MZs are found to be gradually reduced with decreasing the laser powers. Orientation analyses reveal that the columnar grains in the MZ of the 100 W specimen could inherit orientations existing in the matrix while lower laser powers promote the formation of more nuclei with scattered orientations to grow to be granular grains in the MZ. Hardness tests reveal that the MZs of all laser-treated specimens are softer than the matrix probably due to both precipitate dissolution and grain coarsening.

LiNi

Because the red and bright color of corolla is the main indicator for the quality assessment of good safflower,the dyed safflower is sometimes found at the herbal market,what is influence on this herb quality and efficacy. A total of 127 safflower samples was therefore collected from different cultivating areas and herbal markets in China to develop a rapid method to identify the dyed safflower. Near-infrared spectroscopy(NIRS) combined with characteristic identification,high performance liquid chromatography(HPLC),principal component analysis(PCA) and partial least squares regression analysis(PLS) were employed to differentiate safflower from dyed safflower samples,and further quantify the levels of the 6 dyes,i.e. tartrazine,carmine,sunset yellow,azorubine,acid red 73 and orange Ⅱ in the dyed safflower. The results indicated that the 50 safflower samples and 77 dyed safflower samples were located at different regions in PCA cluster diagram by NIR spectra. Tartrazine,carmineand and sunset yellow were found in the 77 dyed safflower samples with the amounts of 0. 60-3. 66,0. 11-1. 37,0. 10-0. 71 mg·g-1,respectively. It indicated that the three dyes were the common and main dyes in the dyed safflower. However,azorubine,acid red 73 and orange Ⅱ were not detected in all herb samples. A total of 62 dyed safflower samples were chosen as calibration samples to develop the model for estimating the amount of dyes in dyed safflower. The estimating accuracy was verified by another 15 dyed safflower samples. The values of tartrazine,carmine and sunset yellow in dyed safflower samples were compared between the NIRS and HPLC methods. Each value of mean absolute difference(MAD) was less than 5%. The correlation coefficients of tartrazine,carmineand and sunset yellow were 0. 970,0. 975,0. 971,respectively. It indicated the data quantified by NIRS and HPLC were consistence. It is concluded that NIRS can not only differentiate safflower from dyed safflower,but also quantify the amount of the dyes. NIRS is suitable for rapidly identify the quality of safflower.

Background and Aim: Hepatic encephalopathy (HE) is a very common complication in patients after transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS). The purpose of this study is to determine the most robust predictors of post-TIPS HE by performing a systematic review of studies that identified the risk factors for patients with post-TIPS HE. Methods: A PUBMED search was performed using the predefined rule. Studies were selected for analysis based on certain inclusion and exclusion criteria. Data were extracted from each study on the basis of predefined items. Meta-analyses were executed to verify the relevant risk factors. Results: Thirty studies were included in this systematic review. In the 30 studies, the numbers of variables evaluated by univariate and multivariate analyses were 60 and 32, respectively. The numbers of variables found to be significant in univariate and multivariate analyses were 18 and 14, respectively. According to the accumulated number of studies that identified these variables as significant, the three most vigorous predictors of post-TIPS HE were age, prior HE and Child–Pugh class/score in both univariate analysis and multivariate analysis. Our meta-analysis showed that patients with HE before TIPS or higher Child–Pugh class/score had increased risk of post-TIPS HE. Conclusions: Increased age, prior HE and higher Child–Pugh class/score were the most robust predictors for post-TIPS HE.

Natural history of liver cirrhosis is divided into compensated and decompensated stage. Traditionally, the markers of decompensated cirrhosis include ascites, variceal hemorrhage, hepatic encephalopathy and jaundice. The clinical importance of portal vein thrombosis (PVT) is increasingly recognized in patients with liver cirrhosis. The presence of PVT is not only an independent predictor of failure to control active variceal bleeding and prevent variceal rebleeding, but also significantly associated with increased mortality in patients with liver cirrhosis. Besides, it greatly influences the technical success and outcome of endovascular interventional treatment and liver transplantation for liver cirrhosis and its secondary portal hypertension. Thus, we hypothesize that PVT should be regarded as a critical marker of decompensated cirrhosis, whether clinical events such as the development of ascites, encephalopathy, and variceal bleeding occur or not. Our hypothesis adds PVT into the definition of decompensated cirrhosis and reminds clinicians and investigators that PVT plays a vital role in natural history of liver cirrhosis. Further, it is essential to construct a new system of preventing and treating liver cirrhosis in the presence of PVT.

To analyze the clinical features and genotype in a 8-year-old boy with dyskeratosis congenita (DC).We reviewed the clinical data of the case and amplified 7 DC-related genes (including DKC1,TERT,TERC,TINF2,NOP10, NHP2 and WRAP53) using polymerase chain reaction for DNA sequence analysis to identify the abnormal exons.DNA sequence analysis showed a c.85-15TC mutation in DKC1 gene of the patient. His mother was a carrier of the mutated gene and presented with partial clinical features such as abnormal nails.The mutation of c.85-15TC in DKC1 gene was reported for the first time in China. The diagnosis of DC should be considered if a young patient presents with mucocutaneous abnormalities, bone marrow failure, cancer susceptibility and a family history of cancer. Early genetic tests can improve the diagnosis rates and reduce misdiagnosis and missed diagnosis.

To explore the relationship between aggressive behaviors, parent-child separation and experience of childhood abuse among junior high school students.A total of 1417 students in ordinary junior high schools from 3 townships in Huoshan, Anhui were involved in this study. Self-made questionnaire was used to estimate aggressive behaviors, parent-child separation in childhood, child abuse and social demographic information of the students under this study.Related scores (2.52 ± 0.78) on physical aggression in boys was higher than in girls (2.29 ± 0.79) while the scores related to anger (2.60 ± 0.82) and hostility (2.58 ± 0.80) in girls, were higher than those in boys (2.41 ± 0.75, 2.47 ± 0.78), all with statistically significant differences (P0.05). Scores related to different types of aggressive behaviors and the scores in total, were higher in students from the senior class (P0.001). Scores on items as verbal aggression, hostility and in total, were higher in those adolescents which had undergone maternal-child separation during their childhood (P0.05). Scores on hostility and in total, were higher in those adolescents which had suffered from father-child separation during their childhood (P0.05). Scores related to anger, hostility and in total, were higher in those adolescents which had undergone both parent-child separation when they were much younger (P0.05). Students who had suffered from various types of repeated abuse showed higher scores in various types of aggressive behaviors and in total, than those who did not have the same experience. Most of the differences among groups were statistically significant (P0.05).Students that suffered parent-child separation in their earlier childhood and with repeated experiences of abuse in childhood appeared to be risk factors causing aggressive behaviors to develop during the age of adolescence.

To identify the risk factors of early post-TIPS hepatic encephalopathy (HE) and the long-time survival of patients with or without early post-TIPS HE.Consecutive cirrhotic patients who underwent TIPS for variceal rebleeding or refractory ascites in our center from January 2003 to December 2008 were included in this study. More than 60 clinical characteristics were enrolled in univariate analysis and logistic regression analysis to define the risk factors of HE in 3 months after TIPS procedure (early post-TIPS HE). The long-time survival of patients with or without early post-TIPS HE was compared by Cox regression with several covariates.According to our inclusion criteria, 190 patients were included. The median follow-up was 30.5 months. Lower serum concentration of fibrinogen and higher Child-Pugh score were the independent risk factors for suffering early post-TIPS HE. Patients without early post-TIPS HE after TIPS showed better prognosis than those with early post-TIPS HE after TIPS (P = 0.044).Patients with lower serum fibrinogen and higher Child-Pugh score before TIPS might be more probably attacked by early post-TIPS HE which indicated worse long-term survival.