Silicon (Si) is considered to be one of the most suitable anode materials for high energy density lithium-ion batteries due to its high theoretical specific capacity. However, the practical ...application of Si anode is limited by its huge volume change, leading to the rupture of electrode during cycling. In this study, a natural polymer of poly-glutamic acid (γ-PGA) is derived from nattomycin gum and poly-acrylic acid (PAA) through thermal cross-linking method and served as a dual force cross-linked binder. The two polymers are firmly bonded by dehydration to form the cross-linked γ-PGA-PAA binder with stable ester bonds, which readily creates hydrogen bonding forces with the hydroxyl groups on Si surface. The γ-PGA-PAA exhibits robust mechanical properties to achieve excellent electrochemical performance of Si-based electrode. When the γ-PGA-PAA is used as binder of Si nanoparticle anodes, the capacity retention of Si/γ-PGA-PAA electrode can reach 63.1% after 300 cycles at charge/discharge current density of 420 mA g−1 with a mass loading of about 0.7 mg cm−2. As a comparison, the capacity retentions of the Si/PAA and Si/γ-PGA electrodes are respectively 8.7 and 17.9% under the same conditions. At higher current density of 2940 mA g−1, the capacity retention of Si/PAA electrode has dropped dramatically to 23.3%, and the Si/γ-PGA-PAA electrode keeps still high-capacity retention of 72.5% after 400 cycles, while the Si/γ-PGA electrode can only last 40 cycles. When the three binders are applied to SiO electrode with 1 mg cm−2 loading, the γ-PGA-PAA binder yields also the highest capacity retention of 87.3% after 100 cycles at 160 mA g−1, while those corresponding to PAA and γ-PGA binders are 81.3% and 74.9%, respectively. XPS characterization results indicate that the γ-PGA-PAA binder has a strong adhesion to Si particles. This cross-linked binder network of γ-PGA-PAA effectively enhances the cycling performance and maintains the structural integrity of Si and SiO electrodes.
Full text
Available for:
GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UILJ, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZAGLJ, ZRSKP
Display omitted
•Pyrolysis in N2 atmosphere at 300 °C produced the highest total PAHs in lignin biochar.•Increasing pyrolysis temperature reduced the formation of PAHs.•Pyrolysis in a CO2 atmosphere ...generated small levels of PAHs in lignin biochar.•Heteroatom doping, specifically N–B co-doping, suppressed PAHs significantly.
Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons are toxic byproducts of biochar production. The effects of pyrolysis atmosphere (i.e., N2 and CO2) and temperature (i.e., 300–900 °C) and element doping (i.e., N, B, O, and S) on the production of sixteen high priority polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in lignin-based biochar was investigated. N2 atmosphere at 300 °C produced the highest total polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon content (1698 ± 50 ng/g). Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon formation decreased with increase in temperature (31 ± 15 ng/g at 900 °C). CO2 atmosphere significantly decreased yield of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. The effects of heteroatom doping on polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon formation were investigated for the first time in the pyrolysis synthesis of lignin-based biochar. N-, B-, O, N–B-, and N–S-doping of biochar reduced polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon formation by 90, 85, 87, 97, and 89%, respectively. Results bring new insights into the role of heteroatom-doping and pyrolysis conditions in controlling polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon formation in biochars.
Full text
Available for:
GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UILJ, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZAGLJ, ZRSKP
Objects
Previous studies have suggested a potential correlation between rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and biological aging, but the intricate connections and mechanisms remain elusive.
Methods
In our ...study, we focused on two specific measures of biological age (PhenoAge and BioAge), which are derived from clinical biomarkers. The residuals of these measures, when compared to chronological age, are defined as biological age accelerations (BAAs). Utilizing the extensive UK Biobank dataset along with various genetic datasets, we conducted a thorough assessment of the relationship between BAAs and RA at both the individual and aggregate levels.
Results
Our observational studies revealed positive correlations between the two BAAs and the risk of developing both RA and seropositive RA. Furthermore, the genetic risk score (GRS) for PhenoAgeAccel was associated with an increased risk of RA and seropositive RA. Linkage disequilibrium score regression (LDSC) analysis further supported these findings, revealing a positive genetic correlation between PhenoAgeAccel and RA. PLACO analysis identified 38 lead pleiotropic single nucleotide polymorphisms linked to 301 genes, providing valuable insights into the potential mechanisms connecting PhenoAgeAccel and RA.
Conclusion
In summary, our study has successfully revealed a positive correlation between accelerated biological aging, as measured by BAAs, and the susceptibility to RA.
Full text
Available for:
FZAB, GIS, IJS, KILJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, SAZU, SBCE, SBMB, UL, UM, UPUK
Background/Aims: This aim of the present study was to identify specific markers determining the recurrence of the giant cell tumor of bone (GCTB). Methods: This study involved the clinicopathological ...analysis of 80 cases. All of the clinical features, pathological fracture, Campanacci grade, histological features and surgical methods were reviewed. Immunohistochemistry was used to detect the expression of Ki-67, CD147, mutant p53 and p63 in GCTB. Comparisons between different groups were performed using the Chi-square test. The risk factors affecting recurrence were analyzed using a binary logistic model. Kaplan-Meier analysis was employed for the survival analysis between the groups. Cell proliferation assays, migration and invasion assays were used to detect the function of CD147 on GCTB in vitro. Results: The univariate analysis showed that Ki-67 and CD147 expression, pathological fracture, Campanacci grade and surgical method were associated with recurrence. The multivariate analysis revealed that CD147 expression, Campanacci grade and surgical method were the factors affecting GCTB recurrence. In addition, the Kaplan-Meier analysis revealed that these factors affected tumor-free survival time. In vitro study revealed that the CD147 knockdown by small interfering RNA (siRNA) technique dramatically reduced the proliferation, migration and invasion of GCTB. Conclusion: Our results suggest that CD147 may serve as an adequate marker for GCTB recurrence. Campanacci grade is a risk factor for GCTB recurrence, which is also affected by the surgical method used.
Circularly polarized luminescence (CPL) with polychromatic colors has been widely studied due to its great applications in chiroptical, optoelectronics, and spintronics. However, the realization of ...white CPL in single‐component solid‐state materials remains a great challenge and suffers from the incompatibility between high efficient luminescence and large asymmetric discrimination. Here, by exploiting self‐trapped exciton mechanism and chirality induction strategy, a pair of 1D chiral perovskites, (RR/SS‐DMPZ)PbBr4 (where DMPZ = cis‐2,5‐dimethylpiperazine divalent cation), is reported to achieve white CPL with both high quantum yield of 28.4% and large photoluminescence asymmetry factor |glum| of 2.32 × 10−2. The crystal structures are featured by 1D double‐chain structure composed of distorted octahedra with short PbPb distances as the structural origin of the high photoluminescence yield. The high |glum| value is caused by efficient chiral induction due to the multiple hydrogen bonds between the chiral host composed of the enantiopure organic cations containing two stereocenters and the inorganic emitting guest. The self‐trapped exciton emission mechanism is demonstrated by density functional theory calculations and variable‐temperature photoluminescence and femtosecond‐transient absorption spectroscopy studies. The photo‐luminescent white light‐emitting diodes exhibit good stability and can be used as single‐component white light emitters. This work provides applicable strategies to explore single‐component white CPL emitters.
A pair of single‐component circularly polarized white light emitters with an ultra‐broadband emission are successfully synthesized. The white circularly polarized light emission originates from the self‐trapped exciton mechanism. The perovskite enantiomers with a double 1D chain exhibit excellent performance with a high quantum yield (28.4%) and large photoluminescence asymmetry factor (2.32 × 10−2).
Full text
Available for:
BFBNIB, FZAB, GIS, IJS, KILJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, SAZU, SBCE, SBMB, UL, UM, UPUK
Aims
Most naturalized plants are escapees from cultivation. Inventories of cultivated introduced species thus offer unique, still underutilized, opportunities to assess naturalization drivers of ...introduced plants. We used a comprehensive inventory of 13,718 introduced species cultivated in China's botanical gardens to test which species characteristics distinguish the 739 species that have naturalized.
Locations
China.
Methods
We used generalized linear models to test whether the naturalization of cultivated introduced plants in China is associated with functional traits, propagule pressure, environmental niche and introduction history. To test direct and indirect effects of those variables and their relative importance in driving naturalization, we used structural equation models.
Results
We showed that species were more likely to naturalize when they originate from the Americas, are more widely cultivated, and have a longer residence time. Moreover, species were more likely to naturalize if they have a good environmental match, are short‐lived herbs, are predominantly propagated from seeds, and, in the case of herbs, are relatively tall compared to other herbs. Part of the latter effects are mediated by how these variables relate to propagule pressure proxies, and this varies among short‐lived herbs, long‐lived herbs and woody plants.
Main Conclusions
Naturalization is partly driven by life‐form‐dependent cultivation biases.
Full text
Available for:
BFBNIB, DOBA, FZAB, GIS, IJS, IZUM, KILJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBMB, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
Introduction: Neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF-1) is caused by mutations in the NF1 gene that encodes neurofibromin, a negative regulator of RAS proto-oncogene. Approximately one-third of the reported ...pathogenic mutations in NF1 are splicing mutations, but most consequences are unclear. The objective of this study was to identify the pathogenicity of splicing mutation in a Chinese family with NF-1 and determine the effects of the pre-mRNA splicing mutation by in vitro functional analysis. Methods: Next-generation sequencing was used to screen candidate mutations. We performed a minigene splicing assay to determine the effect of the splicing mutation on NF1 expression, and three-dimensional structure models of neurofibromin were generated using SWISS-MODEL and PROCHECK methods, respectively. Results: A pathogenic splicing mutation c.479+1G>C in NF1 was found in the proband characterized by childhood-onset refractory hypertension. In vitro analysis demonstrated that c.479+1G>C mutation caused the skipping of exon 4, leading to a glutamine-to-valine substitution at position 97 in neurofibromin and an open reading frame shift terminating at codon 108. Protein modeling showed that several major domains were missing in the truncated neurofibromin protein. Conclusion: The splicing mutation c.479+1G>C identified in a Chinese patient with NF-1 and childhood-onset refractory hypertension caused the skipping of exon 4 and a truncated protein. Our findings offer new evidence for the molecular diagnosis of NF-1.
Podocyte apoptosis coincides with albuminuria onset and precedes podocytopenia in diabetic nephropathy. However, there is a lack of effective therapeutic drugs to protect podocytes from apoptosis. ...Here, we demonstrated that resveratrol relieved a series of indicators of diabetic nephropathy and attenuated apoptosis of podocytes in db/db diabetic model mice. In addition, resveratrol induced autophagy in both db/db mice and human podocytes. Furthermore, inhibition of autophagy by 3-methyladenine (3-MA) and autophagy gene 5 (Atg5) short hairpin RNA (shRNA) reversed the protective effects of resveratrol on podocytes. Finally, we found that resveratrol might regulate autophagy and apoptosis in db/db mice and podocytes through the suppression of microRNA-383-5p (miR-383-5p). Together, our results indicate that resveratrol effectively attenuates high glucose-induced apoptosis via the activation of autophagy in db/db mice and podocytes, which involves miR-383-5p. Thus, this study reveals a new possible strategy to treat diabetic nephropathy.
Full text
Available for:
IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, UL, UM, UPUK
Mafic‐ultramafic intrusions occur sporadically but are pivotal to constrain the tectonic evolution of the Chinese Altay, a key part of the Central Asian Orogenic Belt. The tectonic setting of the ...Early‐Middle Devonian is well documented, but that of the Late Devonian remains a matter of ongoing debate. The Kayinde gabbro occurs in the Ashele Basin of the South Altay. This paper reports petrologic, zircon U‐Pb geochronological, geochemical, and Sr‐Nd isotopic data of the Kayinde gabbro, with the aims to investigate its formation time, petrogenesis, and geodynamic significance. Zircons separated from the gabbro yield a cluster of concordant data points and a weighted mean age of 373.1 ± 4.1 Ma, representing a Late Devonian emplacement. Geochemically, the Kayinde gabbro is subalkaline, tholeiitic, and characterized by high Mg# values (68–73), enrichment in large‐ion lithophile elements (including Ba, Sr, Rb, and U), depletion in high‐field‐strength elements (including Nb, Ta, Zr, and Hf), fairly flat REE patterns, low (87Sr/86Sr)i (0.70366–0.70440) and positive εNd(t) (3.4–5.4) values. The geochemical characteristics collectively suggest that the Kayinde gabbro was derived from a spinel‐stable lithospheric mantle source, which was depleted by previous magma extraction and metasomatized by later slab‐derived fluids or melts in an island arc setting. The geochemical similarities between the Kayinde gabbro and other contemporary mafic‐ultramafic intrusions reveal that the subduction continued during the Late Devonian in the Chinese Altay. In combination with the published research, we favour a two‐unit arc system composed of a continental arc and an island arc, spanning across the Early to Late Devonian. The Ashele Basin can be considered to be an oceanward setting in this model.
Full text
Available for:
FZAB, GIS, IJS, KILJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, SAZU, SBCE, SBMB, UL, UM, UPUK
Previous studies implicated the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR)/hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α)/vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) pathway in renal fibrosis and found that curcumin ...could suppress the expression of mTOR. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to investigate the therapeutic effects of curcumin against chronic renal failure (CRF) in a rat model induced by 5/6 nephrectomy through inhibition of mTOR/HIF-1α/VEGF signaling. A total of 70 male Sprague–Dawley rats were divided into seven groups: a sham group, a CRF group, and five treatment groups. Except for the sham rats, all rats underwent 5/6 nephrectomy to induce CRF. The 5/6 nephrectomized rats received treatment with curcumin vehicle, everolimus vehicle, curcumin, everolimus, or the combination of curcumin and everolimus. Everolimus, a specific inhibitor of mTOR, was used as a positive control. At the end of treatment, blood biochemical indexes, proteinuria and the kidney index were detected. Moreover, histological change was examined by hematoxylin and eosin staining, and protein expression levels were detected by Western blotting. The blood biochemical indexes, proteinuria, and kidney index were increased in the CRF group as compared to the sham group, which was accompanied by marked activation of the mTOR/HIF-1α/VEGF pathway. However, curcumin, as well as everolimus, restored or ameliorated these changes. These results indicate that activation of the mTOR/HIF-1α/VEGF signaling pathway plays an important role in the occurrence and development of CRF, and that curcumin has renoprotective effects by blocking activation of this pathway.
PDF
