A polymeric composite protective layer for stable Li metal anodes

Guo Suogang,Wang Li,Jin Yuhong,Piao Nan,Chen Zonghai,Tian Guangyu,Li Jiangang,Zhao Chenchen,He Xiangming 나노기술연구협의회 2020 Nano Convergence Vol.7 No.21

Lithium (Li) metal is a promising anode for high-performance secondary lithium batteries with high energy density due to its highest theoretical specific capacity and lowest electrochemical potential among anode materials. However, the dendritic growth and detrimental reactions with electrolyte during Li plating raise safety concerns and lead to premature failure. Herein, we report that a homogeneous nanocomposite protective layer, prepared by uniformly dispersing ­AlPO 4 nanoparticles into the vinylidene fluoride-co-hexafluoropropylene matrix, can effectively prevent dendrite growth and lead to superior cycling performance due to synergistic influence of homogeneous Li plating and electronic insulation of polymeric layer. The results reveal that the protected Li anode is able to sustain repeated Li plating/stripping for > 750 cycles under a high current density of 3 mA cm −2 and a renders a practical specific capacity of 2 mAh cm −2 . Moreover, full-cell Li-ion battery is constructed by using ­LiFePO 4 and protected Li as a cathode and anode, respectively, rendering a stable capacity after 400 charge/discharge cycles. The current work presents a promising approach to stabilize Li metal anodes for next-generation Li secondary batteries.

Effects of habitat fragmentation on the functional diversity of insects in Thousand Island Lake, China

Tian‐Hao Tu,Ji-Rui WANG,Jian-Qiang GU,Tian-Qi LI,Kun LV,Guo-Xin ZHOU,Zhi-Hong XU 한국곤충학회 2019 Entomological Research Vol.49 No.2

Due to habitat fragmentation, the loss of species diversity has been extensively studied. On the contrary, the effects of habitat fragmentation on functional diversity is still poorly understood. In the Thousand Island Lake, we conducted studies of insect functional diversity on a set of 29 isolated islands. We used 10 functional diversity indices from three aspects (functional richness, functional evenness and functional divergence) to respectively describe functional diversity of insects on sample islands. We found the following results: (i) The functional indices selected could reflect the functional diversity of sample islands and it is further proved that in general, three components of functional diversity were independent of each other; (ii) Sample islands could be divided into two categories, island JSD and the remaining islands; (iii) Functional richness increased with island area and shape index, but had no significant correlation with isolation. Likewise, both functional evenness and functional divergence had no significant correlation with island attributes. The conclusion to emphasize from our research is that: (i) habitat fragmentation reduced the biological functional diversity to some extent, further demonstrating the importance of habitat continuity in biodiversity protection; and (ii) for functional diversity protection of insects in a fragmented landscape, an island which has high approximate shape index values of at least hundred hectare magnitude order has a critical promoting effect.

Orthogonal-Gradient Measurement Matrix Construction Algorithm

Pan, Tian,Choi, Youngjune,Tian, Shujuan,Fan, Xiaoping,Li, Zhetao,Sekiya, Hiroo Institution of Electrical Engineers 2016 Chinese journal of electronics Vol.25 No.1

<P>An orthogonal-gradient measurement matrix construction algorithm is proposed for reducing the maximum and average mutual-coherence of sensing matrix. It shrinks Gram matrix based on equiangular tight frame theory. An orthogonal-gradient factor matrix is deduced. It obtains an optimized measurement matrix with the orthogonal-gradient factor matrix. The results of experiments show that the proposed algorithm effectively reduces the maximum and average mutual-coherence of sensing matrix. This leads to a better reconstruction performance for signals with different sparsities compared with Gaussian matrix, Elad's, Xu's, Vahid's and Li's methods.</P>

Analysis of <i>Staphylococcus aureus</i> cell viability, sublethal injury and death induced by synergistic combination of ultrasound and mild heat

Li, Jiao,Suo, Yuanjie,Liao, Xinyu,Ahn, Juhee,Liu, Donghong,Chen, Shiguo,Ye, Xingqian,Ding, Tian Elsevier 2017 Ultrasonics sonochemistry Vol.39 No.-

<P><B>Abstract</B></P> <P>This study was designed to investigate the combined effects of ultrasound and mild heat on the viability of <I>S. aureus</I> in association with the cell membrane integrity and intracellular enzyme activity. Cells were treated by ultrasound under 55°C for 3, 5, 7, 10, and 15min. The dynamic changes of <I>S. aureus</I> cell viability, sublethal injury and death were evaluated using flow cytometric assay. Microscopies were applied to identify the morphological appearance, ultrastructure and topography of <I>S. aureus</I>. The results showed the membrane damage was synchronous with esterase inhibition during the exposure to sonication, leading to the immediate lethal effect. On the other hand, bacteria under the mild heat at 55°C were inactivated via a sublethal injury process. The different lethal modes were observed between sonication and mild heat treatments, which could synergistically inactivate <I>S. aureus</I>. The antibacterial value of thermo-sonication was greater than the sum of the individual treatments. The thermo-sonication combination synergistically reduced the number of sublethal cells and also resulted in severe cell damage.</P> <P><B>Highlights</B></P> <P> <UL> <LI> The lethal modes induced by ultrasound and mild heat were different. </LI> <LI> Two sterilization techniques were synergistic in cell inactivation. </LI> <LI> Cell viability, sublethal injury and death were distinguished by flow cytometry. </LI> <LI> Thermo-sonication treatment reduced the number of sublethal cells. </LI> <LI> Microscopies revealed <I>S. aureus</I> morphological changes and bactericidal effect. </LI> </UL> </P>

Ejector performance prediction at critical and subcritical operational modes

Li, Fenglei,Tian, Qi,Wu, Changzhi,Wang, Xiangyu,Lee, Jae-Myung Pergamon 2017 Applied thermal engineering Vol. No.

<P><B>Abstract</B></P> <P>Traditional ejector models are focusing on the ejector performance predictions at critical mode under design conditions. In reality, ejector systems cannot be operated under these conditions perfectly. Thus, the study of ejector performance at subcritical mode under off-design conditions is important. In this paper, novel models for ejector performance predictions at critical point and breakdown point are developed based on constant-pressure mixing and constant-pressure disturbing assumptions. Then, the two models are integrated as the model to predict ejector performance at critical and subcritical operational modes. In order to determine the ejector component efficiencies in the models, a novel concept, the effect of the change (EOC) of efficiency, is introduced to identify the efficiencies which affect ejector performance significantly. Then, the identified efficiencies are determined by sparsity-enhanced optimization method. The predicted results obtained by our model are much more accurate than those obtained by existing methods.</P> <P><B>Highlights</B></P> <P> <UL> <LI> Novel models for ejector performance analysis at critical and breakdown points are developed. </LI> <LI> The models are integrated to predict ejector performance over entire operational range. </LI> <LI> An analysis method is developed for identifying the ejector component efficiencies. </LI> <LI> The performance prediction errors over entire operational range are within ±10%. </LI> </UL> </P>

Remote sensing of early-stage green tide in the Yellow Sea for floating-macroalgae collecting campaign

Xing, Qianguo,Wu, Lingling,Tian, Liqiao,Cui, Tingwei,Li, Lin,Kong, Fanzhou,Gao, Xuelu,Wu, Mengquan Elsevier 2018 Marine pollution bulletin Vol.133 No.-

<P><B>Abstract</B></P> <P>The world's largest green tide originated from the Jiangsu Shoal of the Yellow Sea was due to fast reproduction of floating green macroalgae (<I>Ulva prolifera</I>). It brought significant impacts on marine environment and ecosystem in the Yellow Sea. In this study, we examined the expansion of green tide from the Jiangsu Shoal during the period from 29 April to 25 June 2016. Using high-resolution satellite images, we revealed a declined growth rate during the northward drifting of early-stage green tide for the first time, i.e., the green tide had higher growth rate (up to 25% per day) in the turbid waters of the Jiangsu Shoal in May and a lower growth rate (low to 3% per day) in the relatively clear waters in the middle of the western Yellow Sea in June, which suggests that water clarity might not be the key factor controlling the growth rate of the floating macroalgae in the surface waters under natural conditions. The high growth rate led to shortened time windows for controlling the green tide by employing macroalgae collecting campaigns at the initial sites of the green tide, which was no more than 14 days in the 2016 case.</P> <P><B>Highlights</B></P> <P> <UL> <LI> Using high-resolution satellite image for detecting early-stage green tide </LI> <LI> Found changing growth rate of green tide </LI> <LI> Assessed the countermeasure of collecting floating-macroalgae at the initial sites </LI> </UL> </P>

Neutrophil Count and the Inflammation-based Glasgow Prognostic Score Predict Survival in Patients with Advanced Gastric Cancer Receiving First-line Chemotherapy

Li, Qing-Qing,Lu, Zhi-Hao,Yang, Li,Lu, Ming,Zhang, Xiao-Tian,Li, Jian,Zhou, Jun,Wang, Xi-Cheng,Gong, Ji-Fang,Gao, Jing,Li, Jie,Li, Yan,Shen, Lin Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2014 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.15 No.2

Purpose: To explore the value of systemic inflammatory markers as independent prognostic factors and the extent these markers improve prognostic classification for patients with inoperable advanced or metastatic gastric cancer (GC) receiving palliative chemotherapy. Methods: We studied the prognostic value of systemic inflammatory factors such as circulating white blood cell count and its components as well as that combined to form inflammation-based prognostic scores (Glasgow Prognostic Score (GPS), Neutrophil-Lymphocyte Ratio (NLR), Platelet Lymphocyte Ratio (PLR), Prognostic Index (PI) and Prognostic Nutritional Index (PNI)) in 384 patients with inoperable advanced or metastatic gastric cancer (GC) receiving first-line chemotherapy. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to examine the impact of inflammatory markers on overall survival (OS). Results: Univariate analysis revealed that an elevated white blood cell, neutrophil and/or platelet count, a decreased lymphocyte count, a low serum albumin concentration, and high CRP concentration, as well as elevated NLR/PLR, GPS, PI, PNI were significant predictors of shorter OS. Multivariate analysis demonstrated that only elevated neutrophil count (HR 3.696, p=0.003) and higher GPS (HR 1.621, p=0.01) were independent predictors of poor OS. Conclusion: This study demonstrated elevated pretreatment neutrophil count and high GPS to be independent predictors of shorter OS in inoperable advanced or metastatic GC patients treated with first-line chemotherapy. Upon validation of these data in independent studies, stratification of patients using these markers in future clinical trials is recommended.

Overview of Methodological Quality of Systematic Reviews about Gastric Cancer Risk and Protective Factors

Li, Lun,Ying, Xiang-Ji,Sun, Tian-Tian,Yi, Kang,Tian, Hong-Liang,Sun, Rao,Tian, Jin-Hui,Yang, Ke-Hu Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2012 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.13 No.5

Background and Objective: A comprehensive overall review of gastric cancer (GC) risk and protective factors is a high priority, so we conducted the present study. Methods: Systematic searches in common medical electronic databases along with reference tracking were conducted to include all kinds of systematic reviews (SRs) about GC risk and protective factors. Two authors independently selected studies, extracted data, and evaluated the methodological qualities and the quality of evidence using R-AMSTAR and GRADE approaches. Results: Beta-carotene below 20 mg/day, fruit, vegetables, non-fermented soy-foods, whole-grain, and dairy product were GC protective factors, while beta-carotene 20 mg/day or above, pickled vegetables, fermented soy-foods, processed meat 30g/d or above, or salty foods, exposure to alcohol or smoking, occupational exposure to Pb, overweight and obesity, helicobacter pylori infection were GC risk factors. So we suggested screening and treating H. pylori infection, limiting the amount of food containing risk factors (processed meat consumption, beta-carotene, pickled vegetables, fermented soy-foods, salty foods, alcohol), stopping smoking, avoiding excessive weight gain, avoidance of Pb, and increasing the quantity of food containing protective components (fresh fruit and vegetables, non-fermented soy-foods, whole-grain, dairy products). Conclusions: The conclusions and recommendations of our study were limited by including SRs with poor methodological bases and low quality of evidence, so that more research applying checklists about assessing the methodological qualities and reporting are needed for the future.

Tumor-Derived Transforming Growth Factor-β is Critical for Tumor Progression and Evasion from Immune Surveillance

Li, Zheng,Zhang, Li-Juan,Zhang, Hong-Ru,Tian, Gao-Fei,Tian, Jun,Mao, Xiao-Li,Jia, Zheng-Hu,Meng, Zi-Yu,Zhao, Li-Qing,Yin, Zhi-Nan,Wu, Zhen-Zhou Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2014 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.15 No.13

Tumors have evolved numerous mechanisms by which they can escape from immune surveillance. One of these is to produce immunosuppressive cytokines. Transforming growth factor-${\beta}$(TGF-${\beta}$) is a pleiotropic cytokine with a crucial function in mediating immune suppression, especially in the tumor microenvironment. TGF-${\beta}$ produced by T cells has been demonstrated as an important factor for suppressing antitumor immune responses, but the role of tumor-derived TGF-${\beta}$ in this process is poorly understood. In this study, we demonstrated that knockdown of tumor-derived TGF-${\beta}$ using shRNA resulted in dramatically reduced tumor size, slowing tumor formation, prolonging survival rate of tumor-bearing mice and inhibiting metastasis. We revealed possible underlying mechanisms as reducing the number of myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSC) and $CD4^+Foxp3^+$ Treg cells, and consequently enhanced IFN-${\gamma}$ production by CTLs. Knockdown of tumor-derived TGF-${\beta}$ also significantly reduced the conversion of na$\ddot{i}$ve $CD4^+$ T cells into Treg cells in vitro. Finally, we found that knockdown of TGF-${\beta}$ suppressed cell migration, but did not change the proliferation and apoptosis of tumor cells in vitro. In summary, our study provided evidence that tumor-derived TGF-${\beta}$ is a critical factor for tumor progression and evasion of immune surveillance, and blocking tumor-derived TGF-${\beta}$ may serve as a potential therapeutic approach for cancer.

Genotypic Characteristics of Haemophilus influenzae Isolates from Pediatric Pneumonia Patients in Chengdu City, Sichuan, China

Tian Guozhong,Zhang Li,Li Machao,Wang Xiaolei,Zheng Yuhong,Li Xiaojing,Huang Cheng,Li Xuechun,Xie Yongqiong,Xu Li,Ren Hongyu,Shao Zhujun 한국미생물학회 2009 The journal of microbiology Vol.47 No.4

Two hundred and seventy-three Haemophilus influenzae strains isolated from pediatric pneumonia patients in China were studied. We used Multilocus Sequence Typing (MLST) to analyze genotypic characteristics. All strains were biotyped and serotyped. Relatedness and patterns of genes among isolates were determined by the analysis of MLST and eBURST. H. influenzae primarily causes acute pneumonia in children under 1 year old. Nontypeable H. influenzae was responsible for most cases of pediatric pneumonia. All 273 strains were classified into eight biotypes. They mostly belonged to the I, II, and III biotypes (17.6%, 43.6%, and 22.7%, respectively). 62 strains (22.7%) produced β-lactamase. We found 28 novel alleles. Fifty different STs were found by MLST, of which 39 were novel. These were ST477 through ST508 and ST521 through ST527. Group 17 and predicted founders 503 were new groups in this study. No STs correlated with strains from Korea, which is adjacent to China. The H. influenzae strains from China appeared to have heterogeneous ST types patterns which may be the reason no outbreaks or epidemics of H. influenzae infections have occurred in Chengdu city, Sichuan, China.