With the miniaturization of personal wearable electronics, considerable effort has been expended to develop high‐performance flexible/stretchable energy storage devices for powering integrated active ...devices. Supercapacitors can fulfill this role owing to their simple structures, high power density, and cyclic stability. Moreover, a high electrochemical performance can be achieved with flexible/stretchable supercapacitors, whose applications can be expanded through the introduction of additional novel functionalities. Here, recent advances in and future prospects for flexible/stretchable supercapacitors with innate functionalities are covered, including biodegradability, self‐healing, shape memory, energy harvesting, and electrochromic and temperature tolerance, which can contribute to reducing e‐waste, ensuring device integrity and performance, enabling device self‐charging following exposure to surrounding stimuli, displaying the charge status, and maintaining the performance under a wide range of temperatures. Finally, the challenges and perspectives of high‐performance all‐in‐one wearable systems with integrated functional supercapacitors for future practical application are discussed.
Flexible/stretchable supercapacitors can be the next energy storage device for wearable electronics with the introduction of additional functionalities including biodegradability, self‐healing, shape memory, energy harvesting, electrochromism, and temperature tolerance. These features can contribute to reducing e‐waste, ensuring device integrity and performance, enabling the device to self‐charge, displaying the charge status, and maintaining the performance under a wide range of temperatures.
The effect of porous structures on the electrocatalytic activity of N-doped carbon is studied by using electrochemical analysis techniques and the result is applied to synthesize highly active and ...stable Fe–N–C catalyst for oxygen reduction reaction (ORR). We developed synthetic procedures to prepare three types of N-doped carbon model catalysts that are designed for systematic comparison of the porous structures. The difference in their catalytic activity is investigated in relation to the surface area and the electrochemical parameters. We found that macro- and mesoporous structures contribute to different stages of the reaction kinetics. The catalytic activity is further enhanced by loading the optimized amount of Fe to prepare Fe–N–C catalyst. In both N-doped carbon and Fe–N–C catalysts, the hierarchical porous structure improved electrocatalytic performance in acidic and alkaline media. The optimized catalyst exhibits one of the best ORR performance in alkaline medium with excellent long-term stability in anion exchange membrane fuel cell and accelerated durability test. Our study establishes a basis for rationale design of the porous carbon structure for electrocatalytic applications.
Gelatin methacryloyl (GelMA) is a versatile biomaterial that has been used in various biomedical fields. Thus far, however, GelMA is mostly obtained from mammalian sources, which are associated with ...a risk of transmission of diseases, such as mad cow disease, as well as certain religious restrictions. In this study, we synthesized GelMA using fish-derived gelatin by a conventional GelMA synthesis method, and evaluated its physical properties and cell responses. The lower melting point of fish gelatin compared to porcine gelatin allowed larger-scale synthesis of GelMA and enabled hydrogel fabrication at room temperature. The properties (mechanical strength, water swelling degree and degradation rate) of fish GelMA differed from those of porcine GelMA, and could be tuned to suit diverse applications. Cells adhered, proliferated, and formed networks with surrounding cells on fish GelMA, and maintained high initial cell viability. These data suggest that fish GelMA could be utilized in a variety of biomedical fields as a substitute for mammalian-derived materials.
Celotno besedilo
Dostopno za:
DOBA, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
Background
Microbes in the airway have been shown to be associated with the pathogenesis of asthma. The upper airway microbiome influences the dysbiosis of the lower airway microbiome. However, to ...date, the influence of upper airway microbiome for adult and elderly asthma has not been fully elucidated. Here, the metagenome of upper airway microbiome of young adults and elderly was analyzed to identify their association with adult asthma.
Methods
Nasopharyngeal swabs were collected from young adult and elderly asthma patients and non‐asthmatic subjects. The compositions and functional genes of airway microbiome were analyzed by high‐throughput sequencing.
Results
The composition of microbiota differed between young adult and elderly, and it was different between asthmatics and non‐asthmatics in each age group. Different bacteria were related to FEV1% predicted in each age group. Genes related to lysine degradation, N‐glycan biosynthesis, caprolactam degradation, and PPAR signaling pathway, which could be related to the reduction in inflammation and degradation of air pollutants, were higher in non‐asthmatics. Genes related to pentose phosphate pathway, lipopolysaccharide biosynthesis, flagella assembly, and bacterial chemotaxis—which may all be related to increased inflammation and colonization of pathogenic bacteria—were higher in young adult asthmatic patients. However, the functional genes of airway microbiome in elderly patients were not significantly different according to asthma morbidity.
Conclusions
These results suggest that the composition and function of upper airway microbiome could influence asthma pathogenesis, and the microbiome could play various roles depending on the age group.
The upper airway microbiome was different between young adults and elderly, and their association with asthma was also different.
The microbiome genes reducing airway inflammation and degrading air pollutants were lower in asthmatics, whereas genes enhancing inflammation and mucosal bacterial colonization were higher in asthmatics of young adults.
The composition and function of upper airway microbiome could influence asthma pathogenesis, and the microbiome could play various roles depending on the age group.
The aim of this study was to investigate the anti-inflammatory effects of Ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated RAW 264.7 macrophages.
We induced an inflammatory process ...in RAW 264.7 macrophages using LPS. The anti-inflammatory effects of UDCA on LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 macrophages were analyzed using nitric oxide (NO). Pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines were analyzed by quantitative real time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The phosphorylations of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK), c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK), and p38 in mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathways and nuclear factor kappa-light polypeptide gene enhancer in B-cells inhibitor, alpha (IκBα) signaling pathways were evaluated by western blot assays.
UDCA decreased the LPS-stimulated release of the inflammatory mediator NO. UDCA also decreased the pro-inflammatory cytokines tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin 1-α (IL-1α), interleukin 1-β (IL-1β), and interleukin 6 (IL-6) in mRNA and protein levels. In addition, UDCA increased an anti-inflammatory cytokine interleukin 10 (IL-10) in the LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 macrophages. UDCA inhibited the expression of inflammatory transcription factor nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 macrophages. Furthermore, UDCA suppressed the phosphorylation of ERK, JNK, and p38 signals related to inflammatory pathways. In addition, the phosphorylation of IκBα, the inhibitor of NF-κB, also inhibited by UDCA.
UDCA inhibits the pro-inflammatory responses by LPS in RAW 264.7 macrophages. UDCA also suppresses the phosphorylation by LPS on ERK, JNK, and p38 in MAPKs and NF-κB pathway. These results suggest that UDCA can serve as a useful anti-inflammatory drug.
Celotno besedilo
Dostopno za:
DOBA, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
Summary
Nanocellulose materials are promising sustainable and environmentally friendly candidates for green and renewable energy storage applications. Herein, hierarchical Co3O4@CNC nanohybrid ...structure was fabricated in conjunction with cobalt acetate tetrahydrate and cellulose nanocrystals (CNC) as a bio‐carbon source using green ball‐milling pathway for the first time. For comparison, pristine Co3O4 nanostructure was prepared using a similar method without adding CNC. The structural and morphological characteristics of nanohybrid composites were investigated using X‐ray diffractometer (XRD), Raman, X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), Fourier‐transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and Brunauer‐Emmett‐Teller (BET) techniques. Furthermore, the electrochemical properties of the nanohybrid composites evaluated using cyclic voltammetry (CV), Galvanostatic Charge‐Discharge (GCD), and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) techniques. The hierarchical Co3O4@CNC nanohybrid electrode showed the highest specific capacitance of 396 F/g that of pristine Co3O4 nanostructure electrode (was 268 F/g) at a current density of 1.0 A/g for a three‐electrode assembly. The hierarchical Co3O4@CNC nanohybrid electrode showed appreciable capacitive behavior with 96% cyclic retention even after 5,000 cycles at 1.0 A/g with energy density of 12.5 Wh k−1 at a power density of 230.5 W k−1. Thus, it is suitable for improving and/or designing active electrocatalysts for enhanced supercapacitor applications.
Nanocellulose based composite materials has attracted much attention in the fabrication of supercapacitor electrodes. Green ball‐milling technique was set forth for the fabrication of hierarchical Co3O4 nano‐hybrid structures in connotation with cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs). The nano‐hybrid hierarchical electrode (Co3O4@CNC) showed excellent specific capacitance of 396 F/g than its pristine Co3O4 nanostructure electrode (268 F/g) at a current density of 1.0 A/g for three‐electrode cell assembly.
Perturbations of the infant gut microbiota can shape development of the immune system and link to the risk of allergic diseases.
We sought to understand the role of the gut microbiome in patients ...with atopic dermatitis (AD). The metagenome of the infant gut microbiome was analyzed according to feeding types.
Composition of the gut microbiota was analyzed in fecal samples from 129 infants (6 months old) by using pyrosequencing, including 66 healthy infants and 63 infants with AD. The functional profile of the gut microbiome was analyzed by means of whole-metagenome sequencing (20 control subjects and 20 patients with AD). In addition, the total number of bacteria in the feces was determined by using real-time PCR.
The gut microbiome of 6-month-old infants was different based on feeding types, and 2 microbiota groups (Bifidobacterium species–dominated and Escherichia/Veillonella species–dominated groups) were found in breast-fed and mixed-fed infants. Bacterial cell amounts in the feces were lower in infants with AD than in control infants. Although no specific taxa directly correlated with AD in 16S rRNA gene results, whole-metagenome analysis revealed differences in functional genes related to immune development. The reduction in genes for oxidative phosphorylation, phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase–Akt signaling, estrogen signaling, nucleotide-binding domain–like receptor signaling, and antigen processing and presentation induced by reduced colonization of mucin-degrading bacteria (Akkermansia muciniphila, Ruminococcus gnavus, and Lachnospiraceae bacterium 2_1_58FAA) was significantly associated with stunted immune development in the AD group compared with the control group (P < .05).
Alterations in the gut microbiome can be associated with AD because of different bacterial genes that can modulate host immune cell function.
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Adipose tissue-derived mesenchymal stem cells (AT-MSCs) offer potential as a therapeutic option for chronic discogenic low back pain (LBP) because of their immunomodulatory functions and capacity for ...cartilage differentiation. The goal of this study was to assess the safety and tolerability of a single intradiscal implantation of combined AT-MSCs and hyaluronic acid (HA) derivative in patients with chronic discogenic LBP.
We performed a single-arm phase I clinical trial with a 12-month follow-up and enrolled 10 eligible chronic LBP patients. Chronic LBP had lasted for more than 3 months with a minimum intensity of 4/10 on a visual analogue scale (VAS) and disability level ≥ 30% on the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI). The 10 patients underwent a single intradiscal injection of combined HA derivative and AT-MSCs at a dose of 2 × 10
cells/disc (n = 5) or 4 × 10
cells/disc (n = 5). Safety and treatment outcomes were evaluated by assessing VAS, ODI, Short Form-36 (SF-36), and imaging (lumbar spine X-ray imaging and MRI) at regular intervals over 1 year.
No patients were lost at any point during the 1-year clinical study. We observed no procedure or stem cell-related adverse events or serious adverse events during the 1-year follow-up period. VAS, ODI, and SF-36 scores significantly improved in both groups receiving both low (cases 2, 4, and 5) and high (cases 7, 8, and 9) cell doses, and did not differ significantly between the two groups. Among six patients who achieved significant improvement in VAS, ODI, and SF-36, three patients (cases 4, 8, and 9) were determined to have increased water content based on an increased apparent diffusion coefficient on diffusion MRI.
Combined implantation of AT-MSCs and HA derivative in chronic discogenic LBP is safe and tolerable. However, the efficacy of combined AT-MSCs and HA should be investigated in a randomized controlled trial in a larger population.
ClinicalTrials.gov NCT02338271 . Registered 7 January 2015.
This study reports on the fabrication of pressure/temperature/strain sensors and all‐solid‐state flexible supercapacitors using only polydimethylsiloxane coated microporous polypyrrole/graphene foam ...composite (PDMS/PPy/GF) as a common material. A dual‐mode sensor is designed with PDMS/PPy/GF, which measures pressure and temperature with the changes of current and voltage, respectively, without interference to each other. The fabricated dual‐mode sensor shows high sensitivity, fast response/recovery, and high durability during 10 000 cycles of pressure loading. The pressure is estimated using the thermoelectric voltage induced by simultaneous increase in temperature caused by a finger touch on the sensor. Additionally, a resistor‐type strain sensor fabricated using the same PDMS/PPy/GF could detect the strain up to 50%. Flexible, high performance supercapacitor used as a power supply is fabricated with electrodes of PPy/GF for its high surface area and pseudocapacitance. Furthermore, an integrated system of such fabricated multifunctional sensors and a supercapacitor on a skin‐attachable flexible substrate using liquid–metal interconnections operates well, whereas sensors are driven by the power of the supercapacitor. This study clearly demonstrates that the appropriate choice of a single functional material enables fabrication of active multifunctional sensors for pressure, temperature, and strain, as well as the supercapacitor, that could be used in wirelessly powered wearable devices.
High‐performance solid‐state supercapacitors and multifunctional sensors sensitive to pressure, temperature, and strain are fabricated using a single common active material of microporous polydimethylsiloxane coated microporous polypyrrole/graphene foam composite. Furthermore, these sensors could be wirelessly driven with the integrated supercapacitors on a single flexible and skin‐attachable substrate.