The sodium‐ion storage properties of FeS–reduced graphene oxide (rGO) and Fe3O4‐rGO composite powders with crumpled structures have been studied. The Fe3O4‐rGO composite powder, prepared by one‐pot ...spray pyrolysis, could be transformed to an FeS‐rGO composite powder through a simple sulfidation treatment. The mean size of the Fe3O4 nanocrystals in the Fe3O4‐rGO composite powder was 4.4 nm. After sulfidation, FeS nanocrystals of size several hundred nanometers were confined within the crumpled structure of the rGO matrix. The initial discharge capacities of the FeS‐rGO and Fe3O4‐rGO composite powders were 740 and 442 mA h g−1, and their initial charge capacities were 530 and 165 mA h g−1, respectively. The discharge capacities of the FeS‐rGO and Fe3O4‐rGO composite powders at the 50th cycle were 547 and 150 mA h g−1, respectively. The FeS‐rGO composite powder showed superior sodium‐ion storage performance compared to the Fe3O4‐rGO composite powder.
Nanostructured FeS‐rGO: FeS‐rGO composite powder with a crumpled structure, prepared by spray pyrolysis, shows superior sodium‐ion storage performance compared to Fe3O4‐rGO composite powder with a similar structure (see figure). The discharge capacities of the FeS‐rGO and Fe3O4‐rGO composite powders at the 50th cycle were 547 and 150 mA h g−1, respectively.
Lung cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer worldwide, and metastasis in lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer‐related deaths. Thus, understanding the mechanism of lung cancer metastasis ...will improve the diagnosis and treatment of lung cancer patients. Herein, we found that expression of cluster of differentiation 109 (CD109) was correlated with the invasive and metastatic capacities of lung adenocarcinoma cells. CD109 is upregulated in tumorous tissues, and CD109 overexpression was associated with tumor progression, distant metastasis, and a poor prognosis in patient with lung adenocarcinoma. Mechanistically, expression of CD109 regulates protein kinase B (AKT)/mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling via its association with the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR). Inhibition of CD109 decreases EGFR phosphorylation, diminishes EGF‐elicited activation of AKT/mTOR, and sensitizes tumor cells to an EGFR inhibitor. Taken together, our results show that CD109 is a potential diagnostic and therapeutic target in lung cancer patients.
CD109 promotes lung cancer metastasis through promoting EGFR‐AKT‐mTOR signaling and CD109 is an independent prognostic marker for lung adenocarcinoma.
Piezoelectric energy harvesters (PEHs) aim to generate sufficient power to operate targeting device from the limited ambient energy. PEH includes mechanical‐to‐mechanical, mechanical‐to‐electrical, ...and electrical‐to‐electrical energy conversions, which are related to PEH structures, materials, and circuits, respectively; these should be efficient for increasing the total power. This critical review focuses on PEH structures and materials associated with the two major energy conversions to improve PEH performance. First, the resonance tuning mechanisms for PEH structures maintaining continuous resonance, regardless of a change in the vibration frequency, are presented. Based on the manual tuning technique, the electrically‐ and mechanically‐driven self‐resonance tuning (SRT) techniques are introduced in detail. The representative SRT harvesters are summarized in terms of tunability, power consumption, and net power. Second, the figure‐of‐merits of the piezoelectric materials for output power are summarized based on the operating conditions, and optimal piezoelectric materials are suggested. Piezoelectric materials with large kij, dij, and gij values are suitable for most PEHs, whereas those with large kij and Qm values should be used for on‐resonance conditions, wherein the mechanical energy is directly supplied to the piezoelectric material. This comprehensive review provides insights for designing efficient structures and selection of proper piezoelectric materials for PEHs.
The piezoelectric energy harvester (PEH) aims to generate sufficient power to operate targeting devices from limited ambient energy. PEHs include mechanical‐to‐mechanical, mechanical‐to‐electrical, and electrical‐to‐electrical energy conversion, which are related to the structures, materials, and circuits, respectively; these should be efficient for increasing total power. Recent studies on self‐resonance tuning mechanisms for PEH structures and the figure‐of‐merit for piezoelectric materials are reviewed.
Despite their high theoretical specific capacity (1675 mA h g−1), the practical application of Li–S batteries remains limited because the capacity rapidly degrades through severe dissolution of ...lithium polysulfide and the rate capability is low because of the low electronic conductivity of sulfur. This paper describes novel hierarchical yolk–shell microspheres comprising 1D bamboo‐like N‐doped carbon nanotubes (CNTs) encapsulating Co nanoparticles (Co@BNCNTs YS microspheres) as efficient cathode hosts for Li–S batteries. The microspheres are produced via a two‐step process that involves generation of the microsphere followed by N‐doped CNTs growth. The hierarchical yolk–shell structure enables efficient sulfur loading and mitigates the dissolution of lithium polysulfides, and metallic Co and N doping improves the chemical affinity of the microspheres with sulfur species. Accordingly, a Co@BNCNTs YS microsphere‐based cathode containing 64 wt% sulfur exhibits a high discharge capacity of 700.2 mA h g−1 after 400 cycles at a current density of 1 C (based on the mass of sulfur); this corresponds to a good capacity retention of 76% and capacity fading rate of 0.06% per cycle with an excellent rate performance (752 mA h g−1 at 2.0 C) when applied as cathode hosts for Li–S batteries.
Hierarchical yolk–shell microspheres comprising 1D bamboo‐like N‐doped carbon nanotubes (CNTs) encapsulating Co nanocrystals are first introduced as efficient cathode hosts for Li–S batteries. The synergetic effect of the presence of the N‐doped CNTs with Co nanocrystals and the hierarchical structure of yolk‐shell microspheres is responsible for the superior performances as the cathode hosts for Li–S batteries.
Aberrant activation of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR/ERBB1) by erythroblastic leukemia viral oncogene homolog (ERBB) ligands contributes to various tumor malignancies, including lung ...cancer and colorectal cancer (CRC). Epiregulin (EREG) is one of the EGFR ligands and is low expressed in most normal tissues. Elevated EREG in various cancers mainly activates EGFR signaling pathways and promotes cancer progression. Notably, a higher EREG expression level in CRC with wild-type Kirsten rat sarcoma viral oncogene homolog (KRAS) is related to better efficacy of therapeutic treatment. By contrast, the resistance of anti-EGFR therapy in CRC was driven by low EREG expression, aberrant genetic mutation and signal pathway alterations. Additionally, EREG overexpression in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is anticipated to be a therapeutic target for EGFR-tyrosine kinase inhibitor (EGFR-TKI). However, recent findings indicate that EREG derived from macrophages promotes NSCLC cell resistance to EGFR-TKI treatment. The emerging events of EREG-mediated tumor promotion signals are generated by autocrine and paracrine loops that arise from tumor epithelial cells, fibroblasts, and macrophages in the tumor microenvironment (TME). The TME is a crucial element for the development of various cancer types and drug resistance. The regulation of EREG/EGFR pathways depends on distinct oncogenic driver mutations and cell contexts that allows specific pharmacological targeting alone or combinational treatment for tailored therapy. Novel strategies targeting EREG/EGFR, tumor-associated macrophages, and alternative activation oncoproteins are under development or undergoing clinical trials. In this review, we summarize the clinical outcomes of EREG expression and the interaction of this ligand in the TME. The EREG/EGFR pathway may be a potential target and may be combined with other driver mutation targets to combat specific cancers.
A novel anode material for sodium‐ion batteries consisting of 3D graphene microspheres divided into several tens of uniform nanospheres coated with few‐layered MoS2 by a one‐pot spray pyrolysis ...process is prepared. The first discharge/charge capacities of the composite microspheres are 797 and 573 mA h g−1 at a current density of 0.2 A g−1. The 600th discharge capacity of the composite microspheres at a current density of 1.5 A g−1 is 322 mA h g−1. The Coulombic efficiency during the 600 cycles is as high as 99.98%. The outstanding Na ion storage properties of the 3D MoS2–graphene composite microspheres may be attributed to the reduced stacking of the MoS2 layers and to the 3D structure of the porous graphene microspheres. The reduced stacking of the MoS2 layers relaxes the strain and lowers the barrier for Na+ insertion. The empty nanospheres of the graphene offer voids for volume expansion and pathways for fast electron transfer during repeated cycling.
3D MoS2–graphene composite microspheres consisting of multiple nanospheres are prepared by a one‐pot spray pyrolysis process with high scale‐up potential. The 3D MoS2–graphene composite microspheres show high reversible capacity and long cycle stability as anode materials for sodium‐ion batteries. The facile and continuous synthesis of 3D graphene‐based composite microspheres could be applied to the potential materials for various fields including energy storage.
Patients with resectable non–small-cell lung cancer had a greater response and longer event-free survival with preoperative durvalumab plus chemotherapy and adjuvant durvalumab than with chemotherapy ...alone.
Golden bristlegrass‐like unique nanostructures comprising reduced graphene oxide (rGO) matrixed nanofibers entangled with bamboo‐like N‐doped carbon nanotubes (CNTs) containing CoSe2 nanocrystals at ...each node (denoted as N‐CNT/rGO/CoSe2 NF) are designed as anodes for high‐rate sodium‐ion batteries (SIBs). Bamboo‐like N‐doped CNTs (N‐CNTs) are successfully generated on the rGO matrixed nanofiber surface, between rGO sheets and mesopores, and interconnected chemically with homogeneously distributed rGO sheets. The defects in the N‐CNTs formed by a simple etching process allow the complete phase conversion of Co into CoSe2 through the efficient penetration of H2Se gas inside the CNT walls. The N‐CNTs bridge the vertical defects for electron transfer in the rGO sheet layers and increase the distance between the rGO sheets during cycles. The discharge capacity of N‐CNT/rGO/CoSe2 NF after the 10 000th cycle at an extremely high current density of 10 A g−1 is 264 mA h g−1, and the capacity retention measured at the 100th cycle is 89%. N‐CNT/rGO/CoSe2 NF has final discharge capacities of 395, 363, 328, 304, 283, 263, 246, 223, 197, 171, and 151 mA h g−1 at current densities of 1, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, and 20 A g−1, respectively.
As high‐performance anodes for sodium‐ion batteries, golden bristlegrass‐like graphene nanofibers entangled with N‐doped CNTs containing CoSe2 nanocrystals are designed and synthesized. The synthesized unique nanostructure exhibits high cycling and rate performances even at extremely high current densities. The synergistic effect of the golden bristlegrass‐like unique structure and the N‐doped CNTs/graphene composite results in efficient anode materials for sodium‐ion batteries.
Recently, we demonstrated that
(PG2), the active ingredient in dried roots of
ameliorates cancer symptom clusters and improves quality of life (QoL) in patients with metastatic disease by modulating ...inflammatory cascade against the background roles of inflammatory cells, including macrophages, dendritic cells (DCs), and cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) in tumor initiation, metastasis, and progression. Nevertheless, the role of PG2 in the modulation of anticancer immunogenicity and therapeutic response remains relatively underexplored and unclear.
The present study investigates how and to what extent PG2 modulates cellular and biochemical components of the inflammatory cascade and enhances anticancer immunity, as well as the therapeutic implication of these bio-events in patients with lung cancer.
Herein, we demonstrated that PG2 significantly increased the M1/M2 macrophage polarization ratio in non-small cell carcinoma (NSCLC) H441 and H1299 cells. This PG2-induced preferential pharmacologic up-regulation of tumoral M1 population in vitro positively correlated with the downregulation of tumor-promoting IL-6 and IL-10 expression in NSCLC cell-conditioned medium, with concomitant marked inhibition of cell proliferation, clonogenicity, and tumorsphere formation. Our ex vivo results, using clinical sample from our NSCLC cohort, demonstrated that PG2 also promoted the functional maturation of DCs with consequent enhancement of T cell-mediated anticancer immune responses. Consistent with the in vitro and ex vivo results, our in vivo studies showed that treatment with PG2 elicited significant time-dependent depletion of the tumor-associated M2 population, synergistically enhanced the anti-M2-based anticancer effect of cisplatin, and inhibited xenograft tumor growth in the NSCLC mice models. Moreover, in the presence of PG2, cisplatin-associated dyscrasia and weight-loss was markedly suppressed.
These results do indicate a therapeutically-relevant role for PG2 in modulating the M1/M2 macrophage pool, facilitating DC maturation and synergistically enhancing the anticancer effect of conventional chemotherapeutic agent, cisplatin, thus laying the foundation for further exploration of the curative relevance of PG2 as surrogate immunotherapy and/or clinical feasibility of its use for maintenance therapy in patients with lung cancer.
For existing triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs), it is important to explore unique methods to further enhance the output power under realistic environments to speed up their commercialization. We ...report here a practical TENG composed of three layers, in which the key layer, an electric double layer, is inserted between a top layer, made of Al/polydimethylsiloxane, and a bottom layer, made of Al. The efficient charge separation in the middle layer, based on Volta's electrophorus, results from sequential contact configuration of the TENG and direct electrical connection of the middle layer to the earth. A sustainable and enhanced output performance of 1.22 mA and 46.8 mW cm
under low frequency of 3 Hz is produced, giving over 16-fold enhancement in output power and corresponding to energy conversion efficiency of 22.4%. Finally, a portable power-supplying system, which provides enough d.c. power for charging a smart watch or phone battery, is also successfully developed.
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