The preparation and electrochemical characterization of a new material consisting of carbon coated ZnFe 2 O 4 nanoparticles is presented. This material, which offers an interesting combination of alloying and conversion mechanisms, is capable of hosting up to nine equivalents of lithium per unit formula, corresponding to an exceptional specifi c capacity, higher than 1000 mAh g − 1 . Composite electrodes of such a material, prepared using environmentally friendly sodium carboxymethyl cellulose as binder, showed the highest, ever reported, specifi c capacity and high rate performance upon long-term testing. Furthermore, in situ X-ray diffraction analysis allowed identifying the reduction process occurring upon initial lithiation. 514 wileyonlinelibrary.com

Herein, we present a new synthesis method for transition-metal-doped zinc oxide nanoparticles utilized and characterized for the first time as anode material for lithium-ion batteries. In fact, the introduction of a transition metal (for instance, iron or cobalt) into the zinc oxide lattice results in an advanced performance with reversible lithium storage capacities exceeding 900 mAh g–1, i.e., more than twice that of graphite. In situ XRD analysis reveals the electrochemical reduction of the wurtzite structure and the reversible formation of a LiZn alloy. The additional application of a carbon coating of such nanoparticles enables further improvement in terms of capacity retention and high rate (dis)charge capability. Moreover, the newly developed, simple, and environmentally friendly synthesis of these n-type doped nanoparticles is considered to be also applicable to other transition metals, presumably showing comparable electrochemical performances.

OBJECTIVELong-term dietary intervention frequently induces a rapid weight decline followed by weight stabilization/regain. Here, we sought to identify adipokine biomarkers that may reflect continued beneficial effects of dieting despite partial weight regain.RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODSWe analyzed the dynamics of fasting serum levels of 12 traditional metabolic biomarkers and novel adipokines among 322 participants in the 2-year Dietary Intervention Randomized Controlled Trial (DIRECT) of low-fat, Mediterranean, or low-carbohydrate diets for weight loss.RESULTSWe identified two distinct patterns: Pattern A includes biomarkers (insulin, triglycerides, leptin, chemerin, monocyte chemoattractant protein 1, and retinol-binding protein 4) whose dynamics tightly correspond to changes in body weight, with the trend during the weight loss phase (months 0–6) going in the opposite direction to that in the weight maintenance/regain phase (months 7–24) (P < 0.05 between phases, all biomarkers). Pattern B includes biomarkers (high molecular weight adiponectin, HDL cholesterol [HDL-C], high-sensitivity C-reactive protein [hsCRP], fetuin-A, progranulin, and vaspin) that displayed a continued, cumulative improvement (P < 0.05 compared with baseline, all biomarkers) throughout the intervention. These patterns were consistent across sex, diabetic groups, and diet groups, although the magnitude of change varied. Hierarchical analysis suggested similar clusters, revealing that the dynamic of leptin (pattern A) was most closely linked to weight change and that the dynamic of hsCRP best typified pattern B.CONCLUSIONShsCRP, HDL-C, adiponectin, fetuin-A, progranulin, and vaspin levels display a continued long-term improvement despite partial weight regain. This may likely reflect either a delayed effect of the initial weight loss or a continuous beneficial response to switching to healthier dietary patterns.

Given the vast phenotypic and genetic heterogeneity of acute and chronic myeloid malignancies, hematologists have eagerly awaited the introduction of next-generation sequencing (NGS) into the routine diagnostic armamentarium to enable a more differentiated disease classification, risk stratification, and improved therapeutic decisions. At present, an increasing number of hematologic laboratories are in the process of integrating NGS procedures into the diagnostic algorithms of patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML), myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS), and myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs). Inevitably accompanying such developments, physicians and molecular biologists are facing unexpected challenges regarding the interpretation and implementation of molecular genetic results derived from NGS in myeloid malignancies. This article summarizes typical challenges that may arise in the context of NGS-based analyses at diagnosis and during follow-up of myeloid malignancies.Table 1Challenges accompanying the introduction of massive parallel sequencing in clinical routine diagnostics in hemato-oncologyChallengeBackgroundCurrent and future approachDiscrimination of leukemia-related mutations from polymorphisms or passenger mutationsDriver mutations expected to occur at higher allele frequency in patient samples than passenger mutations; driver mutations more likely to have an impact on protein function than polymorphisms or passenger mutationsOptimization of cancer-specific databases including reporting of rare physiological gene variantsImplementation of novel bioinformatic algorithms based on prediction of functional impactQuantitative and dynamic VAF monitoring (separately and together with other mutations) at follow-upDiscrimination of somatic leukemia-related mutations from CHIPCHIP is presented in ~10% of individuals aged 70 to 80 and in up to 20% in the age group > 80 yearsQuantitative and dynamic VAF monitoring (separately and together with other mutations) at follow-upClarifying the significance of CHIP in the context of myeloid malignanciesDiscrimination of leukemia-related somatic mutations from pathogenic germline alterationsChallenge to differentiate acquired somatic mutations from germline pathogenic variants at diagnosisMutation detection in germline control samples (e.g., skin fibroblasts, saliva) in mutations such as in RUNX1, CEBPAThorough medical family history followed by molecular genetic tests in relatives if necessaryHigh and stable VAF (e.g., 40–50%) at follow-up despite clinical response to treatment may be indicative for germline alterationDiscrimination of true genetic alterations from PCR, sequencing and post-sequencing artifactsMany artefacts are known to arise during NGS library preparation, sequencing and data analysisError correction using molecular identifiers that individually label original input DNA moleculesRefinement of error-correction computational methods in post-sequencing NGS data analysisConfirmation using Sanger sequencingLimited sensitivity of NGS for minimal residual diseas...