High‐Voltage‐Driven Surface Structuring and Electrochemical Stabilization of Ni‐Rich Layered Cathode Materials for Li Rechargeable Batteries

Layered lithium–nickel–cobalt–manganese oxide (NCM) materials have emerged as promising alternative cathode materials owing to their high energy density and electrochemical stability. Although high reversible capacity has been achieved for Ni‐rich NCM materials when charged beyond 4.2 V versus Li⁺/Li, full lithium utilization is hindered by the pronounced structural degradation and electrolyte decomposition. Herein, the unexpected realization of sustained working voltage as well as improved electrochemical performance upon electrochemical cycling at a high operating voltage of 4.9 V in the Ni‐rich NCM LiNi_0.895Co_0.085Mn_0.02O₂ is presented. The improved electrochemical performance at a high working voltage at 4.9 V is attributed to the removal of the resistive Ni²⁺O rock‐salt surface layer, which stabilizes the voltage profile and improves retention of the energy density during electrochemical cycling. The manifestation of the layered Ni²⁺O rock‐salt phase along with the structural evolution related to the metal dissolution are probed using in situ X‐ray diffraction, neutron diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, and X‐ray absorption spectroscopy. The findings help unravel the structural complexities associated with high working voltages and offer insight for the design of advanced battery materials, enabling the realization of fully reversible lithium extraction in Ni‐rich NCM materials.     

Interface Engineering of Hierarchical Branched Mo‐Doped Ni3S2/NixPy Hollow Heterostructure Nanorods for Efficient Overall Water Splitting

Rational design and construction of bifunctional electrocatalysts with excellent activity and durability is imperative for water splitting. Herein, a novel top‐down strategy to realize a hierarchical branched Mo‐doped sulfide/phosphide heterostructure (Mo‐Ni₃S₂/Ni_xP_y hollow nanorods), by partially phosphating Mo‐Ni₃S₂/NF flower clusters, is proposed. Benefitting from the optimized electronic structure configuration, hierarchical branched hollow nanorod structure, and abundant heterogeneous interfaces, the as‐obtained multisite Mo‐Ni₃S₂/Ni_xP_y/NF electrode has remarkable stability and bifunctional electrocatalytic activity in the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER)/oxygen evolution reaction (OER) in 1 m KOH solutions. It possesses an extremely low overpotential of 238 mV at the current density of 50 mA cm^?2 for OER. Importantly, when assembled as anode and cathode simultaneously, it merely requires an ultralow cell voltage of 1.46 V to achieve the current density of 10 mA cm^?2, with excellent durability for over 72 h, outperforming most of the reported Ni‐based bifunctional materials. Density functional theory results further confirm that the doped heterostructure can synergistically optimize Gibbs free energies of H and O‐containing intermediates (OH*, O*, and OOH*) during HER and OER processes, thus accelerating the catalytic kinetics of electrochemical water splitting. This work demonstrates the importance of the rational combination of metal doping and interface engineering for advanced catalytic materials.     

青海省鼠疫的防控策略

鼠疫曾给人类带来3次世界性灾难,剥夺了上亿人的生命。作为危害人类健康最为严重的烈性传染病之一,鼠疫的防控工作显得尤为重要。新中国成立后,党和政府大力开展鼠疫防控工作,开展流行病调查,制定各项防控措施。虽然全国范围在较短的时间内遏制了鼠疫流行的猛烈势头,但在西部地区人间鼠疫时有发生。青海省地处我国西部,就其鼠疫流行特征制定了适合本地鼠疫的防控模式。本文就“青海模式”的工作机制、调查监测、宣传教育、人员培训、隐患排查等进行介绍,阐述青海省鼠疫防控工作的成效,为中国传染病防控策略发展提出新的思考。     

持续镇痛分娩对产妇分娩结局和新生儿评分的影响

目的:研究持续镇痛分娩对产妇分娩结局和新生儿评分的影响。方法:选择2018年7月～2019年7月中国医科大学航空总医院(本院)采取硬膜外分娩镇痛的101例产妇,将其随机分为两组。当产生确切的镇痛效果,进入第二产程后,观察组的51例产妇采用0.4μg/m L舒芬太尼以及0.08%罗哌卡因进行持续镇痛分娩;对照组的50例产妇则在宫口开全后,使用生理盐水替代泵内的局麻药物,直到分娩结束。比较两组产妇催产素的使用率,宫口扩张度和第一、第二产程按压硬膜外自控镇痛泵的次数,分娩方式,新生儿的体质量,脐动脉血pH值,出生后1 min和5 min Apgar评分,产妇修复会阴部时的视觉模拟评分(visual analogue scale, VAS)评分及产妇对于第二产程镇痛的满意度评分。结果:两组产妇催产素的使用率、宫口扩张度和第一、第二产程按压硬膜外自控镇痛泵的次数、分娩方式(剖宫产率、器械助产率、自然分娩率)、第一产程镇痛时间、第一以及第二产程时间相比均无显著差异(P0.05);两组新生儿的体质量,脐动脉血pH值,出生后1 min和5 min Apgar评分小于8分的新生儿所占的比例相比没有明显的差异(P0.05);观察组产妇修复会阴部时的VAS评分明显低于对照组(P0.05),产妇对于第二产程镇痛的满意度评分明显高于对照组(P0.05)。结论:持续镇痛分娩对产妇分娩结局和新生儿评分无明显的影响,但可显著提高产妇对第二产程镇痛和修复会阴部时镇痛的满意度。     

Epidermal growth factor improves intestinal morphology by stimulating proliferation and differentiation of enterocytes and mTOR signaling pathway in weaning piglets

Epidermal growth factor(EGF) has been shown to improve piglet intestinal morphology and epithelial recovery. In an attempt to further understand the mechanisms behind these improvements, this study tested the hypothesis that dietary EGF may affect intestinal morphology by stimulating the proliferation and differentiation of enterocytes in weaning piglets. In piglets receiving200 μg kg–1 EGF, crypt depth and villus height increased(P0.05). Adding 400 μg kg–1 EGF increased villus height-to-crypt depth ratio(P0.05), but reduced crypt depth(P0.05). Dietary supplementation with 200 μg kg–1 EGF significantly increased the number of Ki67-positive cells(P0.01) and tended to increase the mRNA level of proliferating cell nuclear antigen(P0.10).However, this supplementation decreased the expression level of intestinal fatty acid-binding protein(P0.05). Piglets fed with400 μg kg–1 EGF had an increased mRNA level of intestinal alkaline phosphatase(P0.05). The phosphorylation of m TOR(mammalian target of rapamycin) was observed in the 200 μg kg–1 EGF group. These results suggest that dietary supplementation with a low level of EGF improved piglet intestinal morphology through stimulating the proliferation and differentiation of enterocytes, and the mTOR signaling pathway may partly be involved in this process.     

Rice stripe virus coat protein induces the accumulation of jasmonic acid,activating plant defence against the virus while also attracting its vector to feed

The jasmonic acid (JA) pathway plays crucial roles in plant defence against pathogens and herbivores. Rice stripe virus (RSV) is the type member of the genus Tenuivirus. It is transmitted by the small brown planthopper (SBPH) and causes damaging epidemics in East Asia. The role(s) that JA may play in the tripartite interaction against RSV, its host, and vector are poorly understood. Here, we found that the JA pathway was induced by RSV infection and played a defence role against RSV. The coat protein (CP) was the major viral component responsible for inducing the JA pathway. Methyl jasmonate treatment attracted SBPHs to feed on rice plants while a JA-deficient mutant was less attractive than wild-type rice. SBPHs showed an obvious preference for feeding on transgenic rice lines expressing RSV CP. Our results demonstrate that CP is an inducer of the JA pathway that activates plant defence against RSV while also attracting SBPHs to feed and benefitting viral transmission. This is the first report of the function of JA in the tripartite interaction between RSV, its host, and its vector.     

A Phytophthora capsici effector suppresses plant immunity via interaction with EDS1

EDS1 (Enhanced Disease Susceptibility 1) plays a crucial role in both effector-triggered immunity activation and plant basal defence. However, whether pathogen effectors can target EDS1 or an EDS1-related pathway to manipulate immunity is rarely reported. In this study, we identified a Phytophthora capsici Avirulence Homolog (Avh) RxLR (Arg-any amino acid-Leu-Arg) effector PcAvh103 that interacts with EDS1. We demonstrated that PcAvh103 can facilitate P. capsici infection and is required for pathogen virulence. Furthermore, genetic evidence showed that PcAvh103 contributes to virulence through targeting EDS1. Finally, PcAvh103 specifically interacts with the lipase domain of EDS1 and can promote the disassociation of EDS1–PAD4 (Phytoalexin Deficient 4) complex in planta. Together, our results revealed that the P. capsici RxLR effector PcAvh103 targets host EDS1 to suppress plant immunity, probably through disrupting the EDS1–PAD4 immune signalling pathway.     

Review: Helicobacter pylori infection in children

Helicobacter pylori infection in children and adolescents differs in comparison to adults with respect to epidemiology, host responses, and disease manifestations. Furthermore, treatment options are limited in this population and antibiotic resistance rates continue to increase. Therefore, ongoing research is vital to understand disease pathogenesis and provide optimal management of children with infection. This review summarizes relevant publications from April 2019 to March 2020. Similar to adults, recent studies show a decreasing prevalence of infection in the pediatric population. Studies of pathogenesis investigated serum immune responses and the potential inverse association of infection and allergy. Several studies investigated the effect of H pylori and related inflammation on the gut microbiome. The recommendation of endoscopy‐based testing to identify the cause of symptoms and not just H pylori, reserving noninvasive UBT or stool antigen tests for post‐eradication follow‐up, was supported by the current literature.