High entropy oxide (HEO) is a new class of lithium‐ion battery anode with high specific capacity and excellent cyclability. The beauty of HEO lies in the unique tailorable properties with respect to ...tunable chemical composition, which enables the use of infinite element combinations to develop new electrode materials. This study synthesizes a series of Co‐free spinel‐type HEOs via a facile hydrothermal method. Based on quaternary medium‐entropy (CrNiMnFe)3O4, the fifth elements of V, Mg, and Cu are added, and their ability to form single‐phase HEOs is investigated. It is demonstrated that the chemical composition of HEOs is critical to the phase purity and corresponding charge–discharge performance. The oxygen vacancy concentration seems to be decisive for the rate capability and reversibility of the HEO electrodes. An inactive spectator element is not necessary for achieving high cyclability, given that the phase purity of the HEO is wisely controlled. The single‐phase (CrNiMnFeCu)3O4 shows a great high‐rate capacity of 480 mAh g−1 at 2000 mA g−1 and almost no capacity decay after 400 cycles. Its phase transition behavior during the lithiation/delithiation process is characterized with operando X‐ray diffraction. A (CrNiMnFeCu)3O4||LiNi0.8Co0.1Mn0.1O2 cell is constructed with 590 Wh kg−1 (based on electrode materials) gravimetric energy density.
A series of Co‐free spinel‐type HEO anodes are fabricated via a facile hydrothermal method. Chemical composition of HEOs is critical to phase purity and oxygen vacancies. Entropy stabilization effects sustain the crystalline framework and electrode reversibility. An inactive spectator element is not needed for the high cyclability of HEO electrodes. A (CrNiMnFeCu)3O4||LiNi0.8Co0.1Mn0.1O2 cell shows an energy density of 590 Wh kg−1.
Background In enteric neural stem cell (ENSC) therapy for enteric neuropathy, the gut is ostensibly accessible via laparotomy, laparoscopy or endoscopy, whereas its elongated configuration and ...multilayered structures substantially complicate the targeting of ENSC delivery. This study aimed to evaluate the feasibility of ENSC delivery via trans-anal rectal submucosal injection. Methods ENSC transplantation was conducted in an immunologically compatible model of FVB/NCrl-Tg(Pgk1-EGFP)01Narl into FVB/N murine strain combination. Enteric neurospheres were mass-produced by the cultivation of dispersed enterocytes harvested from gestational day 14 FVB/NCrl-Tg(Pgk1-EGFP)01Narl murine fetuses. Dissociated neurosphere cells were injected into rectal submucosa of adult FVB/N mice after artificial prolapse of rectal mucosa. Ganglion reconstitution in recipients' colon was examined by immunohistochemcal and immunofluorescence staining. Results Cell spreading and ganglion assembly in recipients' colorectum were examined one week after transplantation. Donor ENSCs migrated rostrally within the colonic wall to intermuscularly repopulate the neighboring colorectum and assemble myenteric ganglia. It contributed to a chimeric state of myenteric plexuses with donor-origin ganglia of 41.2-67.5%. Two months later, transplanted ENSCs had undergone long-distance caudorostral migration almost up to the cecum to reconstitute myenteric and submucosal ganglia along the entire length of the colon. Conclusion This proof-of-principle study provided a viable justification for minimally invasive rectal ENSC transplantation to create long-term and long-range reconstitution of enteric ganglia. It opens up the new approach to ENSC delivery in laboratory animals and casts light on the feasibility of replacing damaged or replenishing missing enteric neurons by trans-anal rectal ENSC transplantation. Keywords: Enteric neurosphere, Enteric neural stem cell, Ganglion reconstitution, Rectal submucosal injection, Transplantation
Immunologic tolerance refers to a state of immune nonreactivity specific to particular antigens as an important issue in the field of transplantation and the management of autoimmune diseases. ...Tolerance conceptually originated from Owen's observation of blood cell sharing in twin calves. Owen's conceptual framework subsequently constituted the backbone of Medawar's "actively acquired tolerance" as the major tenet of modern immunology. Based upon this knowledge, the delivery of genetically distinct hematopoietic stem cells into pre-immune fetuses represented a novel and unique approach to their engraftment without the requirement of myeloablation or immunosuppression. It might also make fetal recipients commit donor alloantigens to memory of their patterns as "self" so as to create a state of donor-specific tolerance. Over the years, the effort made experimentally or clinically toward
marrow transplantation could not reliably yield sufficient hematopoietic chimerism for curing candidate diseases as anticipated, nor did allogeneic graft tolerance universally develop as envisaged by Medawar following
exposure to various forms of alloantigens from exosomes, lymphocytes or marrow cells. Enduring graft tolerance was only conditional on a state of significant hematopoietic chimerism conferred by marrow inocula. Notably, fetal exposure to ovalbumin, oncoprotein and microbial antigens did not elicit immune tolerance, but instead triggered an event of sensitization to the antigens inoculated. These fetal immunogenic events might be clinically relevant to prenatal imprinting of atopy, immune surveillance against developmental tumorigenesis, and prenatal immunization against infectious diseases. Briefly, the immunological consequences of fetal exposure to foreign antigens could be tolerogenic or immunogenic, relying upon the type or nature of antigens introduced. Thus, the classical school of "actively acquired tolerance" might oversimplify the interactions between developing fetal immune system and antigens. Such interactions might rely upon fetal macrophages, which showed up earlier than lymphocytes and were competent to phagocytose foreign antigens so as to bridge toward antigen-specific adaptive immunity later on in life. Thus, innate fetal macrophages may be the potential basis for exploring how the immunological outcome of fetal exposure to foreign antigens is determined to improve the likelihood and reliability of manipulating fetal immune system toward tolerization or immunization to antigens.
Correspondence to Dr Jeng-Chang Chen, Department of Surgery, Chang Gung Children's Hospital, College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan 333, Taiwan; bx9619@cgmh.org.tw A 3-year-old boy ...without relevant family diseases and delayed meconium passage after birth has had chronic constipation since infancy, interspersed sometimes with normal passage of soft sausage-like stools. H&E staining of tissue sections showed aganglionosis (arrow, B) and hypertrophic nerve bundles (arrow, C) in the intermuscular space of the transition zone, caecum and other sites of the colon. TCA is defined as aganglionosis involving the whole colon and extending ≤50 cm to the ileum.1 Despite extensive aganglionosis, TCA may not necessarily show acute obstruction in neonates, but probably a later-than-expected presentation to hospitals.1–3 Thus, early-onset chronic constipation interspersed with intestinal obstruction refractory to medical or even surgical interventions merits TCA investigations.2 3 On TCA enema studies, delineation of a transition zone is technically challenging, with an accuracy of about 25%,1 4 and over 50% of cases display a normal-calibre colon with featureless contour,5 making it hard for clinicians to identify TCA.
Abstract
Self‐discharge, which is associated with energy efficiency loss, is a critical issue that hinders practical applications of rechargeable aluminum batteries (RABs). The self‐discharge ...properties of two commonly‐used RAB positive electrode materials, namely natural graphite (NG) and expanded graphite (EG), are investigated in this work. EG, which has a wider spacing between graphitic layers and a larger surface area, has a higher self‐discharge rate than that of NG. After 12 h of rest, NG and EG electrodes retain 74% and 63% of their initial capacities, respectively, after charging up to 2.4 V at 0.3 A g
−1
. Operando X‐ray diffraction, X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and energy‐dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy are employed to study the self‐discharge mechanism. The self‐discharge loss is related to the spontaneous deintercalation of AlCl
4
−
anions from the graphite lattice charge‐compensated by Cl
2
gas evolution at the same electrode and can be restored (i.e., no permanent damage is caused to the electrodes) in the next charge‐discharge cycle. It is found that the charging rate and depth of charge also affect the self‐discharge properties. In addition, the self‐discharge rates of NG in
1
‐ethyl‐
3
‐methylimidazolium chloride–AlCl
3
and urea–AlCl
3
electrolytes are compared.
High entropy oxide (HEO) has emerged as a new class of anode material for Li‐ion batteries (LIBs) by offering infinite possibilities to tailor the charge–discharge properties. While the advantages of ...single‐phase HEO anodes are realized, the effects of a secondary phase are overlooked. In this study, two kinds of Co‐free HEOs are prepared, containing Cr, Mn, Fe, Ni, and Zn, for use as LIB anodes. One is a plain cubic‐structure high entropy spinel oxide HESO (C) prepared using a solvothermal method. The other HESO (C+T) contains an extra secondary phase of tetragonal spinel oxide and is prepared using a hydrothermal method. It is demonstrated that the secondary tetragonal spinel phase introduces phase boundaries and defects/oxygen vacancies within HESO (C+T), which improve the redox kinetics and reversibility during electrode lithiation/delithiation. Density functional theory calculation is performed to assess the phase stability of cubic spinel, tetragonal spinel, and rock‐salt structures, and validate the cycling stability of the electrodes upon charging–discharging. The secondary‐phase‐induced rate capability and cyclability enhancement of HEO electrodes are for the first time demonstrated. A HESO (C+T)||LiNi0.8Co0.1Mn0.1O2 full cell is assembled and evaluated, showing a promising gravimetric energy density of ≈610 Wh kg−1 based on electrode‐active materials.
Co‐free cubic high entropy spinel oxide (HESO (C)) and cubic+tetragonal high entropy spinel oxide (HESO (C+T)) are prepared using a solvothermal and hydrothermal methods, respectively. The secondary tetragonal spinel phase in HESO (C+T) introduces phase boundaries and extra defects/oxygen vacancies, that enhance the redox kinetics and electroactivity during the lithiation/delithiation reactions.
To find new candidate loci predisposing individuals to Kawasaki disease, an acute vasculitis that affects children, we conducted a genome-wide association study in 622 individuals with Kawasaki ...disease (cases) and 1,107 controls in a Han Chinese population residing in Taiwan, with replication in an independent Han Chinese sample of 261 cases and 550 controls. We report two new loci, one at BLK (encoding B-lymphoid tyrosine kinase) and one at CD40, that are associated with Kawasaki disease at genome-wide significance (P < 5 × 10(-8)). Our findings may lead to a better understanding of the role of immune activation and inflammation in Kawasaki disease pathogenesis.
Celotno besedilo
Dostopno za:
DOBA, IJS, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
Background Neurosphere medium (NSM) and self-renewal medium (SRM) were widely used to isolate enteric neural stem cells (ENSCs) in the form of neurospheres. ENSCs or their neurosphere forms were ...neurogenic and gliogenic, but the compelling evidence for their capacity of assembling enteric neural networks remained lacking, raising the question of their aptitude for rebuilding the enteric nervous system (ENS) in ENSC therapeutics. It prompted us to explore an effective culture protocol or strategy for assembling ENS networks, which might also be employed as an in vitro model to simplify the biological complexity of ENS embedded in gut walls. Methods NSM and SRM were examined for their capacity to generate neurospheres in mass culture of dispersed murine fetal enterocytes at serially diluted doses and assemble enteric neural networks in two- and three-dimensional cell culture systems and ex vivo on gut explants. Time-lapse microphotography was employed to capture cell activities of assembled neural networks. Neurosphere transplantation was performed via rectal submucosal injection. Results In mass culture of dispersed enterocytes, NSM generated discrete units of neurospheres, whereas SRM promoted neural network assembly with neurospheres akin to enteric ganglia. Both were highly affected by seeding cell doses. SRM had similar ENSC mitosis-driving capacity to NSM, but was superior in driving ENSC differentiation in company with heightened ENSC apoptosis. Enteric neurospheres were motile, capable of merging together. It argued against their clonal entities. When nurtured in SRM, enteric neurospheres proved competent to assemble neural networks on two-dimensional coverslips, in three-dimensional hydrogels and on gut explants. In the course of neural network assembly from enteric neurospheres, neurite extension was preceded by migratory expansion of gliocytes. Assembled neural networks contained motile ganglia and gliocytes that constantly underwent shapeshift. Neurospheres transplanted into rectal submucosa might reconstitute myenteric plexuses of recipients' rectum. Conclusion Enteric neurospheres mass-produced in NSM might assemble neural networks in SRM-immersed two- or three-dimensional environments and on gut explants, and reconstitute myenteric plexuses of the colon after rectal submucosal transplantation. Our results also shed first light on the dynamic entity of ENS and open the experimental avenues to explore cellular activities of ENS and facilitate ENS demystification. Keywords: Apoptosis, Enteric neurosphere, Enteric neural stem cell, Enteric neural network, Enteric nervous system, Differentiation, Neurosphere medium, Self-renewal medium
G9a is a mammalian histone methyltransferase that contributes to the epigenetic silencing of tumor suppressor genes. Emerging evidence suggests that G9a is required to maintain the malignant ...phenotype, but the role of G9a function in mediating tumor metastasis has not been explored. Here, we show that G9a is expressed in aggressive lung cancer cells, and its elevated expression correlates with poor prognosis. RNAi-mediated knockdown of G9a in highly invasive lung cancer cells inhibited cell migration and invasion in vitro and metastasis in vivo. Conversely, ectopic G9a expression in weakly invasive lung cancer cells increased motility and metastasis. Mechanistic investigations suggested that repression of the cell adhesion molecule Ep-CAM mediated the effects of G9a. First, RNAi-mediated knockdown of Ep-CAM partially relieved metastasis suppression imposed by G9a suppression. Second, an inverse correlation between G9a and Ep-CAM expression existed in primary lung cancer. Third, Ep-CAM repression was associated with promoter methylation and an enrichment for dimethylated histone H3K9. G9a knockdown reduced the levels of H3K9 dimethylation and decreased the recruitment of the transcriptional cofactors HP1, DNMT1, and HDAC1 to the Ep-CAM promoter. Our findings establish a functional contribution of G9a overexpression with concomitant dysregulation of epigenetic pathways in lung cancer progression.
Although solid-state Li-metal batteries (LMBs) featuring polymer-based solid electrolytes might one day replace conventional Li-ion batteries, the poor Li-ion conductivity of solid polymer ...electrolytes at low temperatures has hindered their practical applications. Herein, we describe the first example of using a co-precipitation method in a Taylor flow reactor to produce the metal hydroxides of both the Ga/F dual-doped Li7La3Zr2O12 (Ga/F-LLZO) ceramic electrolyte precursors and the Li2MoO4-modified Ni0.8Co0.1Mn0.1O2 (LMO@T-LNCM 811) cathode materials for LMBs. The Li/Nafion (LiNf)-coated Ga/F-LLZO (LiNf@Ga/F-LLZO) ceramic filler was finely dispersed in the poly(vinylidene fluoride)/polyacrylonitrile/lithium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonimide)/succinonitrile matrix to give a trilayer composite polymer electrolyte (denoted “Tri-CPE”) through a simple solution-casting. The bulk ionic conductivity of the Tri-CPE at room temperature was approximately 4.50 × 10–4 S cm–1 and exhibited a high Li+ ion transference number (0.84). It also exhibits a broader electrochemical window of 1–5.04 V versus Li/Li+. A full cell based on a CR2032 coin cell containing the LMO@T-LNCM811-based composite cathode, when cycled under 1 C/1 C at room temperature for 300 cycles, achieved an average Columbic efficiency of 99.4% and a capacity retention of 89.8%. This novel fabrication strategy for Tri-CPE structures has potential applications in the preparation of highly safe high-voltage cathodes for solid-state LMBs.
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