A simple and scalable method has been developed to fabricate nanostructured MnO2–carbon nanotube (CNT)–sponge hybrid electrodes. A novel supercapacitor, henceforth referred to as “sponge ...supercapacitor”, has been fabricated using these hybrid electrodes with remarkable performance. A specific capacitance of 1230 F/g (based on the mass of MnO2) can be reached. Capacitors based on CNT–sponge substrates (without MnO2) can be operated even under a high scan rate of 200 V/s, and they exhibit outstanding cycle performance with only 2% degradation after 100000 cycles under a scan rate of 10 V/s. The MnO2–CNT–sponge supercapacitors show only 4% of degradation after 10000 cycles at a charge–discharge specific current of 5 A/g. The specific power and energy of the MnO2–CNT–sponge supercapacitors are high with values of 63 kW/kg and 31 Wh/kg, respectively. The attractive performances exhibited by these sponge supercapacitors make them potentially promising candidates for future energy storage systems.
The materials that are used to make electrodes and their internal structures significantly affect microbial fuel cell (MFC) performance. In this study, we describe a carbon nanotube (CNT)sponge ...composite prepared by coating a sponge with CNTs. Compared to the CNT-coated textile electrodes evaluated in prior studies, CNTsponge electrodes had lower internal resistance, greater stability, more tunable and uniform macroporous structure (pores up to 1 mm in diameter), and improved mechanical properties. The CNTsponge composite also provided a three-dimensional scaffold that was favorable for microbial colonization and catalytic decoration. Using a batch-fed H-shaped MFC outfitted with CNTsponge electrodes, an areal power density of 1.24 W m
2
was achieved when treating domestic wastewater. The maximum volumetric power density of a continuously fed plate-shaped MFC was 182 W m
3
. To our knowledge, these are the highest values obtained to date for MFCs fed domestic wastewater: 2.5 times the previously reported maximum areal power density and 12 times the previously reported maximum volumetric power density.
A fed domestic wastewater CNTsponge equipped MFC achieved a power density of 182 W m
3
, 12-fold higher than previous reports.
In this study, a three-dimensional evaluation was performed to explore differences between bone-embedded and soft tissue-covered roots after mandibular third molar (M3M) coronectomy. Patients were ...recruited according to the results of cone-beam computed tomography, 6 months after coronectomy. Completely bone-embedded M3Ms were assigned to group B, while completely soft tissue-covered M3Ms were assigned to group S. Data were recorded using digital software. A total of 213 M3Ms in 181 patients were investigated, of which 170 were assigned to the two study groups. Age was the primary factor influencing root migration (P<0.001). The smaller the degree of angulation of the M3M, the more likely was the root complex to rotate distally (r=−0.37, P<0.001). The depth of the impacted M3M contributed to the regeneration of new bone (P≤0.008). The length of the root complex (odds ratio 0.82, P=0.048) and distance from the root to the alveolar crest (odds ratio 1.23, P=0.026) were two critical factors influencing whether the root complex was bone-embedded. Ensuring that the length of the root complex is <7.6mm and the distance between the root and alveolar crest is ≥5mm were both found to be critical to the remaining root being completely bone-embedded and thus preventing eruption and the need for secondary surgery.
Non‐covalent interactions are important for directing protein folding across multiple intermediates and can even provide access to multiple stable structures with different properties and functions. ...Herein, we describe an approach for mimicking this behavior in the self‐assembly of metal–organic cages. Two ligands, the bend angles of which are controlled by non‐covalent interactions and one ligand lacking the above‐mentioned interactions, were synthesized and used for self‐assembly with Pd2+. As these weak interactions are easily broken, the bend angles have a controlled flexibility giving access to M2(L1)4, M6(L2)12, and M12(L2)24 cages. By controlling the self‐assembly conditions this process can be directed in a stepwise fashion. Additionally, the multiple endohedral hydrogen‐bonding sites on the ligand were found to play a role in the binding and discrimination of neutral guests.
Two ligands, the bend angles of which are controlled by hydrogen‐bonding interactions, were used for self‐assembly with Pd2+. As these weak interactions are easily broken, the bend angles are flexible giving access to M2L4, M6L12, and M12L24 cages. By controlling the self‐assembly conditions this process can be directed in a stepwise fashion (see scheme).
Growth differentiation factor 9 (GDF9) and bone morphogenetic protein 15 (BMP15) are members of the transforming growth factor‐β (TGF‐β) family, and their roles in oocyte maturation and cumulus ...expansion are well known in the mouse and human, but not in the pig. We investigated GDF9 and BMP15 expressions in porcine oocytes during in vitro maturation. A significant increase in the mRNA levels of GDF9 and BMP15 was observed at germinal vesicle breakdown, with expression levels peaking at metaphase I (MI), but decreasing at metaphase II (MII). GDF9 and BMP15 protein localized to the oocyte cytoplasm. While treatment with GDF9 and BMP15 increased the expression of genes involved in both oocyte maturation (c‐mos, cyclinb1 and cdc2) and cumulus expansion (has2, ptgs2, ptx3 and tnfaip6), SB431542 (a TGFβ–GDF9 inhibitor) decreased meiotic maturation at MII. Following parthenogenetic activation, the percentage of blastocysts in SB431542 treatment was lower than in the control (41.3% and 74.4%, respectively). Treatment with GDF9 and BMP15 also increased the mRNA levels of maternal genes such as c‐mos a regulatory subunit of mitogen‐activated protein kinase (MAPK), and cyclinb1 and cdc2 regulatory subunits of maturation/M‐phase‐promoting factor (MPF); however, SB431542 significantly decreased their mRNA levels. These data were supported by poly (A)‐test PCR and protein activity analyses. Our results show that GDF9 and BMP15 participate in cumulus expansion and that they stimulate MPF and MAPK activities in porcine oocytes during in vitro maturation.
The epithelial barrier plays an important role in the regulation of immune homeostasis. The effect of the immune environment on E-cadherin has been demonstrated in previous studies. This discovery ...prompted new research on the targeting mechanism of E-cadherin in chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS).
E-cadherin and p120 expression was determined by quantitative RT-PCR, and western blot. The interaction between E-cadherin and p120 was assessed by immunofluorescence staining and coimmunoprecipitation assays. Human nasal epithelial cells (HNECs) were cultured with submerged methods and transfected with p120-specific small interfering RNA. In other experiments, HNECs differentiated with the air-liquid interface (ALI) method were stimulated with various cytokines and Toll-like receptor (TLR) agonists. The barrier properties of differentiated HNECs were determined by assessing fluorescent dextran permeability.
E-cadherin and p120 expression was decreased in HNECs from patients with CRS, and the p120 protein expression level was positively correlated with that of E-cadherin. Two isoforms of p120 (p120-1 and p120-3) were expressed in HNECs, with p120-3 being the main isoform. Knocking down p120 in HNECs cultured under submerged conditions significantly reduced the E-cadherin protein expression. The Rac1 inhibitor NSC23766 reversed the protein expression of E-cadherin in p120 knockdown experiments. Inflammatory mediators, including IL-4, TNF-α, TGF-β1, LPS and IFN-γ, reduced E-cadherin and p120 protein expression and increased paracellular permeability. Dexamethasone abolished the downregulation of E-cadherin and p120 caused by inflammatory mediators.
p120 is involved in regulating E-cadherin protein expression in CRS. Dexamethasone may alleviate the reduction in E-cadherin and p120 protein expression caused by inflammatory mediators.
The polarizations of electromagnetic (EM) waves are very important for transceivers. We propose a broadband polarization-insensitive polarization rotator (PIPR), which can realize 90° polarization ...rotation for incident waves with an arbitrary azimuth angle. A unit of the PIPR is composed of two types of substrate integrated waveguide (SIW) units in a checkerboard pattern, which provides more than −0.2 dB transmission from 9.5 to 10.9 GHz. The electric field inside the cavity is analyzed to explain the working mechanism of the proposed rotator. A prototype is fabricated and measured to verify the proposed design, and satisfactory agreement between simulated and measured results is achieved, indicating that the converter has potential applications in imaging and communication systems.
ABSTRACT
Studies of high-redshift radio galaxies can shed light on the activity of active galactic nuclei (AGNs) in massive elliptical galaxies, and on the assembly and evolution of galaxy clusters ...in the Universe. J1606+3124 has been tentatively identified as a radio galaxy at a redshift of 4.56, at an era of one-tenth of the current age of the Universe. Very long baseline interferometry (VLBI) images show a compact triple structure with a size of 68 pc. The radio properties of J1606+3124, including the edge-brightening morphology, peaked GHz radio spectrum, slow variability, and low jet speed, consistently indicate that it is a compact symmetric object (CSO). The radio source size and expansion rate of the hotspots suggest that J1606+3124 is a young (kinematic age of ∼3600 yr) radio source. Infrared observations reveal a gas- and dust-rich host galaxy environment, which may hinder the growth of the jet; however, the ultra-high jet power of J1606+3124 gives it an excellent chance to grow into a large-scale double-lobe radio galaxy. If its redshift and galaxy classification can be confirmed by further optical spectroscopic observations, J1606+3124 will be the highest redshift CSO galaxy known to date.
X-ray diffraction microscopy (XDM) is a new form of X-ray imaging that is being practiced at several third-generation synchrotron-radiation X-ray facilities. Nine years have elapsed since the ...technique was first introduced and it has made rapid progress in demonstrating high-resolution three-dimensional imaging and promises few-nanometer resolution with much larger samples than can be imaged in the transmission electron microscope. Both life- and materials-science applications of XDM are intended, and it is expected that the principal limitation to resolution will be radiation damage for life science and the coherent power of available X-ray sources for material science. In this paper we address the question of the role of radiation damage. We use a statistical analysis based on the so-called “dose fractionation theorem” of Hegerl and Hoppe to calculate the dose needed to make an image of a single life-science sample by XDM with a given resolution. We find that the needed dose scales with the inverse fourth power of the resolution and present experimental evidence to support this finding. To determine the maximum tolerable dose we have assembled a number of data taken from the literature plus some measurements of our own which cover ranges of resolution that are not well covered otherwise. The conclusion of this study is that, based on the natural contrast between protein and water and “Rose-criterion” image quality, one should be able to image a frozen-hydrated biological sample using XDM at a resolution of about 10
nm.
The periodontal healing distal to the mandibular second molar (M2M) after coronectomy of the M3M has shown controversial results. We aimed to combine a digital method with cone-beam computed ...tomography (CBCT) and estimate periodontal healing of M2M after M3M coronectomy. An accurate and stable indicator in three dimensions was also explored tentatively.
Patients with a M3M in contact with the inferior alveolar canal were included. CBCT was applied immediately after coronectomy (baseline) and 6-months later. Data were investigated with digital software for registration. Previously reported and coronectomy-related factors were included for univariate and multivariate analyses.
A total of 181 patients (213 M3Ms) completed 6-month follow-up. Significant reduction in the distal intra-bony defect (DBD) depth of the M2M was shown (1.28 ± 1.24 mm, P < 0.001). DBD depth of the M2M at baseline was the most influential factor (r = 0.59), followed by preoperative M3M condition, age, rotation and migration of the root complex. Remaining enamel (OR = 6.93) and small retromolar space (0.67) contributed to re-contact of the root complex and M2M. Bone volume regenerated in the distal 2 mm was associated significantly with DBD-depth reduction (r = 0.74, P < 0.001).
Bone volume regenerated in the distal 2 mm of the M2M denoted stability of distal periodontal healing of the M2M. DBD depth at baseline was the most influential factor for healing of a DBD of the M2M after M3M coronectomy. The remaining enamel and a small retromolar space could contribute to re-contact of the root complex and the M2M.
China Clinical Trial Center, ChiCTR1800014862 . Registered 10 February 2018.
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