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•Bamboo-leaf activated carbon was synthesized by chemical reaction method.•Bamboo-leaf AC is analyzed using various aqueous electrolyte solutions.•AC delivers a high capacity of CP ...290F/g at 1A/g using mixed electrolytes.•Good cyclic stability around 1000 cycles with 93% capacity retention.
Activated carbon (AC) material has been prepared from bamboo-leaf carbonized under high temperature at 500 °C for 2hr. Then, the chemical reaction method was processed on carbon material to activate using KOH solvent as activating agent. XRD and FT-Raman have confirmed the crystal structure and molecule interaction of the prepared activated carbon. The morphology was characterized using FE-SEM (EDS). The novelty of activated carbon was studied by various aqueous electrolyte such as 1 M Na2SO4, 0.5 M KOH and 1 M Na2SO4 + 0.5 M KOH. The activated carbon delivers the high specific capacitance found as 290F/g at 1A/g using mixed electrolyte (1 M Na2SO4 + 0.5 M KOH). In addition, capacity retention was achieved 93% after 1000 cycles at 10A/g. Mixed electrolytes can be used as a promising electrode material for supercapacitors with high power density.
We report the construction of N-rich C3N4/MoS2 nanospheres from 2D layered materials that serve as potential anode materials for lithium-ion battery delivering a reversible capacity of 857mAhg−1 at ...0.1C rate and superior rate performance of 383mAhg−1 at 10C rate.
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•3D N-rich C3N4@MoS2 nanospheres scaffolds reported from 2D layered g–C3N4.•TEM confirmed N-rich spheres coated by MoS2 sheets forming an interconnected architecture.•N-rich C3N4@MoS2 scaffolds were explored as potential anode material for lithium ion batteries.•The electrode exhibited a high reversible discharge capacity of 857mAhg−1 after 50 repeated cycles.•At 10C, the electrodes deliver capacity of 383mAhg−1, which is superior to the pristine graphite anode.
Deciphering the structural and volume changes occurring during electrode reactions in lithium-ion batteries is perhaps a boon for high energy density batteries. Here, we report the synthesis of 3D network of dichalcogenide molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) encapsulated over nitrogen rich graphitic carbon nitride nanosphere (g-C3N4) forming an interconnected and uniform g-C3N4/MoS2 scaffolds. The crystallinity, phase purity, morphological features and elemental composition were evaluated through XRD, FESEM, TEM, HRTEM, BET and XPS analyses. The electrochemical properties of N-rich g-C3N4/MoS2 scaffolds were investigated as potential anode materials for lithium-ion batteries. Electrochemical testing of the g-C3N4/MoS2 constructured electrode delivered reversible capacity of 857mAhg−1at 0.1C rate after fifty cycles and exhibited a high rate performance with reversible capacity of 383mAhg−1 at 10C rate (higher than theoretical capacity of graphite, 372mAhg−1). The superior electrochemical property of g-C3N4/MoS2 is attributed to N-rich carbon support which favors better electronic conductivity, and affords more sites for Li+ ions. The nitrogen rich carbon nitride accommodates volume changes caused during repeated charge/discharges and maintains high structural integrity and specific capacity.
Chronic pain remains a major clinical problem that needs effective therapeutic agents. Glutamate delta 1 (GluD1) receptors and the protein cerebellin 1 (Cbln1) are down-regulated in the central ...amygdala (CeA) in models of inflammatory and neuropathic pain. One treatment with Cbln1, intracerebroventricularly (ICV) or in CeA, normalized GluD1 and reduced AMPA receptor expression, resulting in lasting (7-10 days) pain relief. Unlike many CNS-targeting biological agents, the structure of Cbln1 suggests potential blood-brain barrier penetration. Here, we have tested whether systemic administration of Cbln1 provides analgesic effects via action in the CNS.
Analgesic effects of intravenous recombinant Cbln1 was assessed in complete Freund's adjuvant inflammatory pain model in mice. GluD1 knockout and a mutant form of Cbln1 were used.
A single intravenous injection of Cbln1 mitigated nocifensive and averse behaviour in both inflammatory and neuropathic pain models. This effect of Cbln1 was dependent on GluD1 receptors and required binding to the amino terminal domain of GluD1. Time course of analgesic effect was similar to previously reported ICV and intra-CeA injection. GluD1 in both spinal cord and CeA was down -regulated in the inflammatory pain model, whereas GluD1 expression in spinal cord but not in CeA, was partly normalized by intravenous Cbln1. Importantly, recombinant Cbln1 was detected in the synaptoneurosomes in spinal cord but not in the CeA.
Our results describe a novel mechanism by which systemic Cbln1 induces analgesia potentially by central actions involving normalization of signalling by spinal cord GluD1 receptors.
Iron is an essential trace element required for several vital physiological and developmental processes, including erythropoiesis, bone, and neuronal development. Iron metabolism and oxygen ...homeostasis are interlinked to perform a vital role in the functionality of the heart. The metabolic machinery of the heart utilizes almost 90 % of oxygen through the electron transport chain. To handle this tremendous level of oxygen, the iron metabolism in the heart is utmost crucial. Iron availability to the heart is therefore tightly regulated by (i) the hepcidin/ferroportin axis, which controls dietary iron absorption, storage, and recycling, and (ii) iron regulatory proteins 1 and 2 (IRP1/2) via hypoxia inducible factor 1 (HIF1) pathway. Despite iron being vital to the heart, recent investigations have demonstrated that iron imbalance is a common manifestation in conditions of heart failure (HF), since free iron readily transforms between Fe2+ and Fe3+via the Fenton reaction, leading to reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and oxidative damage. Therefore, to combat iron-mediated oxidative stress, targeting Nrf2/ARE antioxidant signaling is rational. The involvement of Nrf2 in regulating several genes engaged in heme synthesis, iron storage, and iron export is beginning to be uncovered. Consequently, it is possible that Nrf2/hepcidin/ferroportin might act as an epicenter connecting iron metabolism to redox alterations. However, the mechanism bridging the two remains obscure. In this review, we tried to summarize the contemporary insight of how cardiomyocytes regulate intracellular iron levels and discussed the mechanisms linking cardiac dysfunction with iron imbalance. Further, we emphasized the impact of Nrf2 on the interplay between systemic/cardiac iron control in the context of heart disease, particularly in myocardial ischemia and HF.
Main conclusion
Circadian clock components exhibit structural variations in different plant systems, and functional variations during various abiotic stresses. These variations bear relevance for ...plant fitness and could be important evolutionarily.
All organisms on earth have the innate ability to measure time as diurnal rhythms that occur due to the earth's rotations in a 24-h cycle. Circadian oscillations arising from the circadian clock abide by its fundamental properties of periodicity, entrainment, temperature compensation, and oscillator mechanism, which is central to its function. Despite the fact that a myriad of research in
Arabidopsis thaliana
illuminated many detailed aspects of the circadian clock, many more variations in clock components’ organizations and functions remain to get deciphered. These variations are crucial for sustainability and adaptation in different plant systems in the varied environmental conditions in which they grow. Together with these variations, circadian clock functions differ drastically even during various abiotic and biotic stress conditions. The present review discusses variations in the organization of clock components and their role in different plant systems and abiotic stresses. We briefly introduce the clock components, entrainment, and rhythmicity, followed by the variants of the circadian clock in different plant types, starting from lower non-flowering plants, marine plants, dicots to the monocot crop plants. Furthermore, we discuss the interaction of the circadian clock with components of various abiotic stress pathways, such as temperature, light, water stress, salinity, and nutrient deficiency with implications for the reprogramming during these stresses. We also update on recent advances in clock regulations due to post-transcriptional, post-translation, non-coding, and micro-RNAs. Finally, we end this review by summarizing the points of applicability, a remark on the future perspectives, and the experiments that could clear major enigmas in this area of research.
Flowering of Arabidopsis is induced by long summer days (LDs). The transcriptional regulator CONSTANS (CO) promotes flowering, and its transcription is increased under LDs. We systematically ...misexpressed transcription factors in companion cells and identified several DOF proteins that delay flowering by repressing CO transcription. Combining mutations in four of these, including CYCLING DOF FACTOR 2 (CDF2), caused photoperiod-insensitive early flowering by increasing CO mRNA levels. CO transcription is promoted to differing extents by GIGANTEA (GI) and the F-box protein FKF1. We show that GI stabilizes FKF1, thereby reducing CDF2 abundance and allowing transcription of CO. Despite the crucial function of GI in wild-type plants, introducing mutations in the four DOF-encoding genes into gi mutants restored the diurnal rhythm and light inducibility of CO. Thus, antagonism between GI and DOF transcription factors contributes to photoperiodic flowering by modulating an underlying diurnal rhythm in CO transcript levels.
In this paper, the realization of a circularly polarized multiple-input, multiple-output (MIMO) array antenna with a cosecant squared pattern, is presented. The proposed antenna structure consists of ...microstrip patches with rectangular slots etched from the top. The desired radiation pattern is generated using amplitude tapering obtained by modifying patch widths and slot lengths, based upon the amplitude coefficients of the Woodward-Lawson method for pattern synthesis. A MIMO arrangement with circular polarization is formed by connecting two such arrays excited by two ports. A Z -shaped slot is used to minimize the mutual coupling. Using two shorting pins, the isolation is enhanced and kept above 30 dB. This arrangement offers a small size (52 mm ×24 mm × 0.8 mm), wide bandwidth, and high gain antenna operating at 13.2 and 16.6 GHz. The antenna operates in a wide bandwidth, from 12.6 GHz to 14.25 GHz, and from 16 to 17.61 GHz, with admirable directional characteristics. The achieved gain is 16.9 dB and 16.6 dB with a cosecant pattern and low side lobe level. The analysis of the, VSWR, gain, axial ratio, group delay, efficiency, and MIMO performance metrics are also investigated, both in simulation and in experiment.
Parvalbumin interneuron (PVI) activity synchronizes the medial prefrontal cortex circuit for normal cognitive function, and its impairment may contribute to schizophrenia (SZ). NMDA receptors in PVIs ...participate in these activities and form the basis for the NMDA receptor hypofunction hypothesis of SZ. However, the role of the GluN2D subunit, which is enriched in PVIs, in regulating molecular networks relevant to SZ is unknown.
Using electrophysiology and a mouse model with conditional deletion of GluN2D from PVIs (PV-GluN2D knockout KO), we examined the cell excitability and neurotransmission in the medial prefrontal cortex. Histochemical, RNA sequencing analysis and immunoblotting were conducted to understand molecular mechanisms. Behavioral analysis was conducted to test cognitive function.
PVIs in the medial prefrontal cortex were found to express putative GluN1/2B/2D receptors. In a PV-GluN2D KO model, PVIs were hypoexcitable, whereas pyramidal neurons were hyperexcitable. Excitatory neurotransmission was higher in both cell types in PV-GluN2D KO, whereas inhibitory neurotransmission showed contrasting changes, which could be explained by reduced somatostatin interneuron projections and increased PVI projections. Genes associated with GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid) synthesis, vesicular release, and uptake as well as those involved in formation of inhibitory synapses, specifically GluD1-Cbln4 and Nlgn2, and regulation of dopamine terminals were downregulated in PV-GluN2D KO. SZ susceptibility genes including Disc1, Nrg1, and ErbB4 and their downstream targets were also downregulated. Behaviorally, PV-GluN2D KO mice showed hyperactivity and anxiety behavior and deficits in short-term memory and cognitive flexibility.
These findings demonstrate that GluN2D in PVIs serves as a point of convergence of pathways involved in the regulation of GABAergic synapses relevant to SZ.
The purpose of this work was to study the mechanistic pathways of degradation of polysorbates (PS) 20 and PS80 in parenteral formulations. The fate of PS in typical protein formulations was monitored ...and analyzed by a variety of methods, including 1H NMR, high-performance liquid chromatography/evaporative light scattering detection, and ultraviolet–visible spectroscopy. Oxidative degradation of PS in neat raw material was studied using thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and headspace gas chromatography–mass spectrometry. TGA–DSC studies revealed that autoxidation via a radical mechanism is dominated by statistical random scission in PS20 and PS80. Thermal initiation of radical formation occurs at the polyoxyethylene (POE) as well as the olefin sites. In PS80, radical initiation at the olefinic site precedes initiation at the POE site, leading to modified degradation profile. Corresponding to these results, in aqueous formulations, a surge peroxide content was detected in PS20-containing samples and in higher concentrations in those containing PS80. Hydrolysis in aqueous formulations, as followed by 1H NMR, was found to have a half-life of 5months at 40°C. On the basis of the obtained results, PSs degrade mainly via autoxidation and also via hydrolysis at higher temperatures. Further studies are required to investigate on potential effects of degradation on surface activity and protein stability in PS-containing formulations.
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