The lateral parabrachial nucleus (LPBN) is known to relay noxious information to the amygdala for processing affective responses. However, it is unclear whether the LPBN actively processes ...neuropathic pain characterized by persistent hyperalgesia with aversive emotional responses. Here we report that neuropathic pain-like hypersensitivity induced by common peroneal nerve (CPN) ligation increases nociceptive stimulation-induced responses in glutamatergic LPBN neurons. Optogenetic activation of GABAergic LPBN neurons does not affect basal nociception, but alleviates neuropathic pain-like behavior. Optogenetic activation of glutamatergic or inhibition of GABAergic LPBN neurons induces neuropathic pain-like behavior in naïve mice. Inhibition of glutamatergic LPBN neurons alleviates both basal nociception and neuropathic pain-like hypersensitivity. Repetitive pharmacogenetic activation of glutamatergic or GABAergic LPBN neurons respectively mimics or prevents the development of CPN ligation-induced neuropathic pain-like hypersensitivity. These findings indicate that a delicate balance between excitatory and inhibitory LPBN neuronal activity governs the development and maintenance of neuropathic pain.
Ganoderma sinense is a Chinese unique medicinal fungus that has been used in folk medicine for thousands of years. Polysaccharides are considered to be biologically active ingredients due to their ...immune-modulating functions. Previously we found that GSP-2, a new polysaccharide isolated from Ganoderma sinense, exerts an immunomodulatory effect in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells but the underlying mechanism is unclear. The present study aimed to investigate how GSP-2 triggers immunologic responses and the implicated signaling pathways. GSP-2 effects were investigated both in a macrophagic cell line, RAW264.7, and in primary macrophages. Moreover, the molecular basis of GSP-2 recognition by immune cells, and the consequent activation of signaling cascades, were explored by employing recombinant human HEK293-TLR-Blue clones, individually overexpressing various Toll-like receptors. GSP-2 dose-dependently induced the overexpression of Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) but did not affect the expression of other TLRs. Moreover, GSP-2 induced TNFα secretion in primary macrophages from wild-type, but not TLR4-knockout mice. In addition, GSP-2 upregulated TLR4 protein expression and activated the MAPK pathway in RAW246.7 macrophages. Finally, GSP-2 induced the production of the cytokines TNFα, IL1β, and IL6. Our data demonstrated that GSP-2 was specifically recognized by TLR4, promoting cytokine secretion and immune modulation in macrophages.
Celotno besedilo
Dostopno za:
DOBA, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
This study discusses the integrated order batching, sequencing and routing problem (IOBSRP) in warehouses. Distinguished from the past studies, a comprehensive nonlinear mixed integer optimization ...model is developed to simultaneously determine three decisions, including order batching, batch sequencing, and picker׳s routing, under the consideration of the minimum total tardiness of customer orders. The IOBSRP can be proven as a NP-Hard problem. Consequently, an algorithm integrating hybrid-coded genetic algorithm and ant colony optimization is developed to efficiently tackle the proposed nonlinear IOBSRP model. The hybrid-coded genetic algorithm is responsible for searching the near-optimal solutions of order batching and batch sequencing decisions by the hybrid-coded chromosome design and the evolutionary processes. For the picker routing decision of each batch, the ant colony optimization adopts the shortest path strategy to calculate the minimum of total travel time and its completion time. In order to exhibit the merits of the proposed algorithm, illustrative examples and sensitivity analysis were performed with various demands, batch capacity, and items per order. The experimental results show that the proposed hybrid algorithm has more advantage in the light of solution quality as compared with multiple-GA and due-date first approach.
The band edges of metal-halide perovskites with a general chemical structure of ABX
(A, usually a monovalent organic cation; B, a divalent cation; and X, a halide anion) are constructed mainly of the ...orbitals from B and X sites. Hence, the structural and compositional varieties of the inorganic B-X framework are primarily responsible for regulating their electronic properties, whereas A-site cations are thought to only help stabilize the lattice and not to directly contribute to near-edge states. We report a π-conjugation-induced extension of electronic states of A-site cations that affects perovskite frontier orbitals. The π-conjugated pyrene-containing A-site cations electronically contribute to the surface band edges and influence the carrier dynamics, with a properly tailored intercalation distance between layers of the inorganic framework. The ethylammonium pyrene increased hole mobilities, improved power conversion efficiencies relative to that of a reference perovskite, and enhanced device stability.
Perovskite photovoltaics are strong potential candidates to drive low‐power off‐grid electronics for indoor applications. Compared with rigid devices, flexible perovskite devices can provide a more ...suitable surface for indoor small electronic devices, enabling them have a broader indoor application prospect. However, the mechanical stability of flexible perovskite photovoltaics is an urgent issue solved. Herein, a kind of 3D crosslinking agent named borax is selected to carry out grain boundary penetration treatment on perovskite film to realize full‐dimensional stress release. This strategy improves the mechanical and phase stabilities of perovskite films subjected to external forces or large temperature changes. The fabricated perovskite photovoltaics deliver a champion power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 21.63% under AM 1.5G illumination, which is the highest one to date. The merit of low trap states under weak light makes the devices present a superior indoor PCE of 31.85% under 1062 lux (LED, 2956 K), which is currently the best flexible perovskite indoor photovoltaic device. This work provides a full‐dimensional grain boundary stress release strategy for highly stable flexible perovskite indoor photovoltaics.
A grain boundary stress release strategy is proposed for high‐stability flexible perovskite indoor photovoltaics by the grain boundary penetration with borax 3D stretchable molecules. The full‐dimensional grain boundary stress release enables the flexible perovskite photovoltaics deliver a champion power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 21.63% under AM 1.5G illumination and an indoor PCE of 31.85% under 1062 lux.
Deep‐blue perovskite light‐emitting diodes (PeLEDs) based on quasi‐two‐dimensional (quasi‐2D) systems exist heightened sensitivity to the domain distribution. The top‐down crystallization mode will ...lead to a vertical gradient distribution of quantum well (QW) structure, which is unfavorable for deep‐blue emission. Herein, a thermal gradient annealing treatment is proposed to address the polydispersity issue of vertical QWs in quasi‐2D perovskites. The formation of large‐n domains at the upper interface of the perovskite film can be effectively inhibited by introducing a low‐temperature source in the annealing process. Combined with the utilization of NaBr to inhibit the undesirable n=1 domain, a vertically concentrated QW structure is ultimately attained. As a result, the fabricated device delivers a narrow and stable deep‐blue emission at 458 nm with an impressive external quantum efficiency (EQE) of 5.82 %. Green and sky‐blue PeLEDs with remarkable EQE of 21.83 % and 17.51 % are also successfully achieved, respectively, by using the same strategy. The findings provide a universal strategy across the entire quasi‐2D perovskites, paving the way for future practical application of PeLEDs.
In this study, we propose a thermal‐gradient annealing treatment to address the issue of vertical quantum well (QW) polydispersity in quasi‐2D perovskites. Combined with the utilization of NaBr to inhibit the undesirable n=1 domain, a vertically concentrated QW structure is ultimately attained, which enables a narrow and stable deep‐blue emission at 458 nm with an impressive external quantum efficiency (EQE) of 5.82 %.
Achieving efficient blue electroluminescence (EL) remains the fundamental challenge that impedes perovskite light‐emitting diodes (PeLEDs) towards commercial applications. The bottleneck accounting ...for the inefficient blue PeLEDs is broadly attributed to the poor‐emissive blue perovskite emitters based on either mixed halide engineering or reduced‐dimensional strategy. Herein, we report the high‐performing sky‐blue PeLEDs (490 nm) with the maximum EQE exceeding 15 % by incorporating a molecular modifier, namely 4,4′‐Difluorophenone, for significantly suppressing the non‐radiative recombination and tuning of the low‐dimensional phase distribution of quasi‐2D blue perovskites, which represents a remarkable paradigm for developing the new generation of blue lighting sources.
The high‐performing sky‐blue perovskite light‐emitting diodes (PeLEDs) with peak external quantum efficiency exceeding 15 % are attained by the use of a synergetic modulation strategy, regarding defect passivation and phase distribution regulation, via the incorporation of a bifunctional molecular additive.
Tissue regeneration, energy conversion & storage, and water treatment are some of the most critical challenges facing humanity in the 21st century. In order to address such challenges, ...one-dimensional (1D) materials are projected to play a key role in developing emerging solutions for the increasingly complex problems. Eletrospinning technology has been demonstrated to be a simple, versatile, and cost-effective method in fabricating a rich variety of materials with 1D nanostructures. These include polymers, composites, and inorganic materials with unique chemical and physical properties. In this tutorial review, we first give a brief introduction to electrospun materials with a special emphasis on the design, fabrication, and modification of 1D functional materials. Adopting the perspective of chemists and materials scientists, we then focus on the recent significant progress made in the domains of tissue regeneration (
e.g.
, skin, nerve, heart and bone) and conversion & storage of clean energy (
e.g.
, solar cells, fuel cells, batteries, and supercapacitors), where nanofibres have been used as active nanomaterials. Furthermore, this review's scope also includes the advances in the use of electrospun materials for the removal of heavy metal ions, organic pollutants, gas and bacteria in water treatment applications. Finally a conclusion and perspective is provided, in which we discuss the remaining challenges for 1D electrospun nanomaterials in tissue regeneration, energy conversion & storage, and water treatment.
This
Tutorial Review
focuses on recent applications of electrospun materials in tissue regeneration, energy conversion & storage, and water treatment areas.
Taking the 11th Five-Year Plan in China as a quasi-natural experiment, this paper explores the impact of environmental regulation on corporate tax avoidance based on firm-level data and the ...difference-in-difference-in-differences (DDD) method. We find that: (1) Environmental regulation has a significant positive effect on corporate tax avoidance, and several robustness checks confirm our findings; (2) Heterogeneity analysis show that this effects are more significant for private firms and for firms in the regions with less fiscal stress and that in the east part of China; (3) Two channels identified are the operating risks and financing constraints; (4) Further analysis show that the 11th Five-Year Plan has spillover effects on firms in low-emission industries. The increased tax avoidance of firms in high-emission industries contributes to a raised tax burden on firms in low-emission industries. Our study provides implications for the formulation of environmental policies in developing countries
•The impact of environmental regulation on corporate tax avoidance is explored.•Environmental regulation makes firms become more tax aggressive.•Two channels identified are the operating risks and the financing constraints.•Environmental regulation has spillover effects on firms in low-emission industries.
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