Alongside rare‐earth metals, Ni, Fe, Co, Cu are some of the critical materials that will be in huge demand thanks to growth in clean‐energy sector. Herein scrap stainless steel wires (SSW) from ...worn‐out tires are employed as a support material for catalyst integration in the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). In addition, SSW by corrosion engineering is exercised as an in situ formed freestanding robust electrode for the oxygen evolution reaction (OER). By superficial corrosion of SSW, inherent active species are unmasked in the form of Ni/FeOOH nanocrystallites displaying efficient water oxidation by reaching 500 mA cm−2 at low overpotential (η500) of 287 mV in 1 m KOH. Similarly, cathode scrap SSW with active (alloy) coatings of MoNi4 catalyzes the HER at η‐200 = 77 mV, with a low activation energy (Ea = 16.338 kJ mol−1) and high durability of 150 h. Promisingly, when used in industrial conditions, 5 m KOH, 343 K, these electrodes demonstrate abnormal activity by yielding high anodic and cathodic current density of 1000 mA cm−2 at η = 233 mV and η = 161 mV, respectively. This work may inspire researchers to explore and reutilize high‐demand metals from scrap for addressing critical material shortfalls in clean‐energy technologies.
Stainless steel wires retrieved from worn‐out tires are employed directly as an active electrode material for efficient oxygen evolution by corrosion engineering. The discarded metal in turn is also used as an electrode for hydrogen generation by integration of a catalyst designed by alloy engineering.
Background and Purpose
Charcot–Marie–Tooth (CMT) disease is the most common hereditary peripheral neuropathy. CMT type 1A (CMT1A) accounts for approximately 50% of CMT patients and is linked to PMP22 ...gene duplication. Histone deacetylase‐6 (HDAC6) has pleiotropic effects, such as regulating lipid homeostasis and cellular stress. Although HDAC6 has been regarded as a promising drug target for neurodegenerative diseases, its inhibition has not yet been tested in CMT1A. Here we have tested the therapeutic potential of CKD‐504, a clinical stage HDAC6 inhibitor, in a mouse model of CMT1A
Experimental Approach
The potency and selectivity of CKD‐504 was evaluated, using a HDAC enzyme panel assay and western blots. The therapeutic potential of CKD‐504 was evaluated using behavioural testing and electrophysiological assessments in the C22 mouse model of CMT1A. PMP22 protein expression and aggregation were analysed in mesenchymal stem cell‐derived Schwann cells from CMT1A patients and sciatic nerves from C22 mice.
Key Results
The HDAC6 inhibitor, CKD‐504, modulated molecular chaperon proteins such as HSP90 and HSP70, which are involved in the folding/refolding of proteins such as PMP22. CKD‐504 treatment restored myelination in both mesenchymal stem cell‐derived Schwann cells from CMT1A patients and sciatic nerves of C22 mice and improved the axonal integrity of the sciatic nerve, leading to behavioural, electrophysiological, and histological improvements in C22 mice.
Conclusion and Implications
A novel HDAC6 inhibitor, CKD‐504, has potent therapeutic efficacy for CMT1A.
The plant hormone abscisic acid (ABA) regulates many key processes involved in plant development and adaptation to biotic and abiotic stresses. Under stress conditions, plants synthesize ABA in ...various organs and initiate defense mechanisms, such as the regulation of stomatal aperture and expression of defense-related genes conferring resistance to environmental stresses. The regulation of stomatal opening and closure is important to pathogen defense and control of transpirational water loss. Recent studies using a combination of approaches, including genetics, physiology, and molecular biology, have contributed considerably to our understanding of ABA signal transduction. A number of proteins associated with ABA signaling and responses--especially ABA receptors--have been identified. ABA signal transduction initiates signal perception by ABA receptors and transfer via downstream proteins, including protein kinases and phosphatases. In the present review, we focus on the function of ABA in stomatal defense against biotic and abiotic stresses, through analysis of each ABA signal component and the relationships of these components in the complex network of interactions. In particular, two ABA signal pathway models in response to biotic and abiotic stress were proposed, from stress signaling to stomatal closure, involving the pyrabactin resistance (PYR)/PYR-like (PYL) or regulatory component of ABA receptor (RCAR) family proteins, 2C-type protein phosphatases, and SnRK2-type protein kinases.
Disposal of e‐wastes in prescribed landfills poses serious environmental concerns at both a local and global scale. Recovering valuable materials from e‐wastes and utilizing them for development of ...eco‐design devices guides one to a more productive way of managing wastes. Recycled copper is capable of retaining its intrinsic properties and can be reused with same expectation of performances; capitalizing on this fact, herein, it is attempted to utilize copper from e‐waste as an economically viable catalytic substrate for overall water splitting. Upon deposition of amorphous nickel cobalt phosphide films, the scrap copper wires are highly efficient for catalyzing hydrogen and oxygen evolution reaction at low overpotential (10η‐HER = 178 mV, 10η‐OER = 220 mV), and considerably promote water catalysis at 1.59 V@10 mA cm−2. Moreover, the electrodes demonstrate long‐term stability in alkaline electrolyte that can potentially be employed for large‐scale electrolyzer application. The proposed electrode architecture, by the explicit growth of bimetallic phosphide on highly conductive Cu substrate, facilitates fast electron transport and promises a minimum contact resistance between electrocatalyst and current collector. This work paves the way for development of environmentally sound electrode materials from e‐waste that can be exercised for a myriad of other clean energy reactions.
By an effortless single‐step electrodeposition approach, scrap copper wires from e‐waste are transformed into high‐performance current collectors for water electrolysis application. The proposed electrode architecture (NiCoP/scrap Cu wire) is highly efficient for catalyzing hydrogen and oxygen evolution reactions at low overpotential (10η‐HER = 178 mV, 10η‐OER = 220 mV) and considerably promotes water catalysis at 1.59 V@10 mA cm−2.
Objective: To determine the effects of naturally derived probiotic strains individually or combination on a short‐term diet‐induced obesity model.
Design and Methods: C57BL/6J mice (n = 50) were ...randomly divided into five groups, then fed a high‐fat high‐cholesterol diet (HFCD), HFCD and Lactobacillus plantarum KY1032 (PL, 1010cfu/day), HFCD and Lactobacillus curvatus HY7601 (CU, 1010cfu/day), HFCD and in combination with PL+CU (1010cfu/day), or a normal diet (ND) for 9 weeks.
Results: PL and CU showed distinct and shared metabolic activity against a panel of 50 carbohydrates. Fat accumulation in adipose tissue and liver was significantly reduced by probiotic strains CU or PL+CU. Probiotic strains CU or PL+CU reduced cholesterol in plasma and liver, while PL+CL had a synergistic effect on hepatic triglycerides. Probiotic strains PL+CU combination was more effective for inhibiting gene expressions of various fatty acid synthesis enzymes in the liver, concomitant with decreases in fatty acid oxidation‐related enzyme activities and their gene expressions.
Conclusions: Multi‐strain probiotics may prove more beneficial than single‐strain probiotics to combat fat accumulation and metabolic alterations in diet‐induced obesity.
Background and Aims
The effects of low‐level alcohol consumption on fatty liver disease and the potential for effect modification by obesity is uncertain. We investigated associations among low‐level ...alcohol consumption, obesity status, and the development of incident hepatic steatosis (HS), either with or without an increase in noninvasive liver fibrosis score category (from low to intermediate or high category).
Approach and Results
A total of 190,048 adults without HS and a low probability of fibrosis with alcohol consumption less than 30 g/day (men) and less than 20 g/day (women) were followed for up to 15.7 years. Alcohol categories of no, light, and moderate consumption were defined as 0, 1‐9.9, and 10‐29.9 g/day (10‐19.9 g/day for women), respectively. HS was diagnosed by ultrasonography, and the probability of fibrosis was estimated using the fibrosis‐4 index (FIB‐4). Parametric proportional hazards models were used to estimate multivariable‐adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). A total of 43,466 participants developed HS, 2,983 of whom developed HS with an increase in FIB‐4 index (to intermediate or high scores). Comparing light drinkers and moderate drinkers with nondrinkers, multivariable‐adjusted HRs (95% CI) for incident HS were 0.93 (0.90‐0.95) and 0.90 (0.87‐0.92), respectively. In contrast, comparing light drinkers and moderate drinkers with nondrinkers, multivariable‐adjusted HRs (95% CI) for developing HS plus intermediate/high FIB‐4 were 1.15 (1.04‐1.27) and 1.49 (1.33‐1.66), respectively. The association between alcohol consumption categories and incident HS plus intermediate/high FIB‐4 was observed in both nonobese and obese individuals, although the association was stronger in nonobese individuals (P for interaction by obesity = 0.017).
Conclusions
Light/moderate alcohol consumption has differential effects on the development of different stages of fatty liver disease, which is modified by the presence of obesity.
Since the discovery of stem cells and multipotency characteristics of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), there has been tremendous development in regenerative medicine. MSCs derived from bone marrow have ...been widely used in various research applications, yet there are limitations such as invasiveness of obtaining samples, low yield and proliferation rate, and questions regarding their practicality in clinical applications. Some have suggested that MSCs from other sources, specifically those derived from palatine tonsil tissues, that is, tonsil‐derived MSCs (TMSCs), could be considered as a new potential therapeutic tool in regenerative medicine due to their superior proliferation rate and differentiation capabilities with low immunogenicity and ease of obtaining. Several studies have determined that TMSCs have differentiation potential not only into the mesodermal lineage but also into the endodermal as well as ectodermal lineages, expanding their potential usage and placing them as an appealing option to consider for future studies in regenerative medicine. In this review, the differentiation capacities of TMSCs and their therapeutic competencies from past studies are addressed. Stem Cells 2019;37:1252–1260
Schematic illustration of lineage differentiation of tonsil‐derived mesenchymal stem cells.
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