CuO/graphene composite is synthesized from CuO and graphene oxide sheets following reduced by hydrazine vapor. As the electrode material for lithium-ion batteries, CuO nanoparticles with sizes of ...about 30nm homogeneously locate on graphene sheets, and act as spacers to effectively prevent the agglomeration of graphene sheets, keeping their high active surface. In turn, the graphene sheets with good electrical conductivity server as a conducting network for fast electron transfer between the active materials and charge collector, as well as buffered spaces to accommodate the volume expansion/contraction during discharge/charge process. The synergetic effect is beneficial for the electrochemical performances of CuO/graphene composite, such as improved initial coulombic efficiency (68.7%) and reversible capacity of 583.5mAhg−1 with 75.5% retention of the reversible capacity after 50 cycles.
Carbon coated FeS2 (FeS2/C) composite is prepared via a simple solid state reaction using glucose as carbon source. The porous FeS2 particles are uniformly surrounded by the amorphous carbon coating. ...As an anode material for lithium ion batteries, the FeS2/C composite exhibits higher reversible capacity and better cycling performance than the unmodified FeS2. The specific capacity of the FeS2/C composite after 50 cycles is 495 mAh g−1, much higher than that of FeS2 (345 mAh g−1). In order to investigate the effect of carbon coating, the cycled electrodes have been analyzed by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The improvement is attributed to the introduction of carbon coating, which can enhance the conductivity, reduce the dissolution of sulfur and corrosion from HF, and stabilize the porous structure during cycling.
► FeS2/C composite is prepared by a simple solid state reaction for the first time. ► The result of XPS shows the carbon coating can reduce the corrosion from HF. ► The result of ICP shows the carbon coating can reduce the dissolution of sulfur. ► FeS2/C composite shows superior electrochemical performance.
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the safety and efficacy of hydroxyurea (HU) in spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.
Twenty-eight patients ...with type 2 SMA and 29 patients with type 3 SMA were randomly assigned (2:1) to receive HU or matching placebo for 18 months. HU was initiated at 10 mg/kg/day with an 8-week titration to 20 mg/kg/day. Subjects were assessed at baseline (T0) and monthly for the first 2 months (T1-T2) and then every 2 months throughout treatment (T3-T10) and posttreatment periods (T11-T13). The primary outcome measures were the Gross Motor Function Measure (GMFM), Manual Muscle Test (MMT), and serum full-length survivor motor neuron (flSMN) mRNA. The secondary outcome measures were Modified Hammersmith Functional Motor Scale and forced vital capacity (FVC).
Fifty-five patients completed this trial, which lasted from March 2007 to June 2009. Except for neutropenia, we found no differences in adverse events between the 2 groups. Compared with the placebo group, the HU group had -1.88 for GMFM (p = 0.11), -0.55 for MMT (p = 0.49), and 2.17 for flSMN mRNA (p = 0.13). Similarly, we found no difference in mean improvement of the secondary endpoints. Both groups had a trend toward a decline in FVC with little change in strength and motor function.
Under the current regimen and schedule, HU brought about no improvement in patients with type 2 and 3 SMA, and its main side effect was neutropenia.
This trial provides Class I evidence that HU 20 mg/kg/day does not effectively treat SMA.
The three-particle quantization condition is partially diagonalized in the center-of-mass frame by using cubic symmetry on the lattice. To this end, instead of spherical harmonics, the kernel of the ...Bethe-Salpeter equation for particle-dimer scattering is expanded in the basis functions of different irreducible representations of the octahedral group. Such a projection is of particular importance for the three-body problem in the finite volume due to the occurrence of three-body singularities above breakup. Additionally, we study the numerical solution and properties of such a projected quantization condition in a simple model. It is shown that, for large volumes, these solutions allow for an instructive interpretation of the energy eigenvalues in terms of bound and scattering states.
Six isonitrogenous (390 g kg⁻¹) and isoenergetic (16.2 kJ g⁻¹) diets with varying carbohydrate : lipid (CHO : L) ratios (202.5-1.74), were fed to triplicate groups of 25 fish in indoor recirculation ...system. Over 8-week-growth trial, best weight gain (WG), specific growth rate, feed conversion ratio, protein efficiency ratio and protein production value (P < 0.05) were observed in fish-fed diets with CHO : L ratio of 7.5. Fish fed either the lowest (1.7) or highest (202.5) CHO : L ratio tended to produce lower (P < 0.05) growth and feed conversion efficiencies. The values of viscerosomatic index, hepatosomatic index and intraperitoneal fat ratio increased as dietary CHO : L ratios decreased. There were no significant differences in whole body and liver crude protein among dietary treatments. Whole body and liver lipid increased as CHO : L ratios decreased. Plasma cholesterol and triacylglyceride levels increased linearly as dietary CHO : L ratios decreased. Activities of glucokinase and pyruvate kinase were stimulated by elevated levels of dietary carbohydrate; however, activities of lipase (LPS) and alkaline phosphatase were stimulated by elevated levels of dietary lipid. Based on a second-order polynomial regression analysis of WG against dietary carbohydrate and lipid levels, 275 g kg⁻¹ of carbohydrate and 59 g kg⁻¹ of lipid, corresponding to a CHO : L ratio of 4.7, in a diet holding 390 g kg⁻¹ of crude protein and 16.3 kJ g⁻¹ of gross energy, proved to be optimal for grass carp. These results indicated that utilization of dietary lipid and carbohydrate was moderate in grass carp, but the fish were a little more capable of utilizing lipid compared with carbohydrate.
Relatively small hysteresis in voltage, appropriate electromotive force and low average delithiation voltage make MnO, among many transition metal oxides. MnO/reduced graphene oxide sheet (MnO/RGOS) ...hybrid is synthesized by a two-step electrode design consisting of liquid phase deposition of MnCO3 nanoparticles on the surface of graphene oxide sheets followed by heat treatment in flowing nitrogen. As an anode for Li-ion batteries, the MnO/RGOS hybrid electrode shows a reversible capacity of 665.5 mA h g−1 after 50 cycles at a current density of 100 mA g−1 and delivers 454.2 mA h g−1 at a rate of 400 mA g−1, which is obviously better than that of bare MnO electrode. Those reasons for such enhanced electrochemical properties are investigated by galvanostatic intermittent titration technique (GITT) as well as electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). The probable origins, in the term of thermodynamic and kinetic factors, for the marked hysteresis in voltage observed between charge and discharge are also discussed.
► MnO/RGOS hybrid is synthesized by a two-step electrode design. ► As an anode material, it displays superior lithium storage performance. ► Reasons for such enhanced performance are investigated by TEM, GITT and EIS. ► The probable origins of hysteresis in voltage are discussed.
► We synthesize a hierarchically porous NiO film. ► The hierarchically porous NiO film possesses large surface area (196.8
m
2
g
−1). ► A specific capacitance of 200
F
g
−1 can be obtained at a ...discharging current of 20
A. ► 87% of capacitance is retained when the current density changes from 2 to 20
A
g
−1.
A hierarchically porous NiO film on nickel foam substrate is prepared by a facile ammonia-evaporation method. The self-assembled film possesses a structure consisting of NiO triangular prisms and randomly porous NiO nanoflakes. The pseudocapacitive behaviors of the porous NiO film are investigated by cyclic voltammograms and galvanostatic charge–discharge tests in 1
M KOH. The hierarchically porous NiO film exhibits a high discharge capacitance and excellent rate capability with 232
F
g
−1, 229
F
g
−1, 213
F
g
−1 and 200
F
g
−1 at 2, 4, 10, and 20
A
g
−1, respectively. The specific capacitance of 87% is maintained from 2
A
g
−1 to 20
A
g
−1. The porous NiO film also shows rather good cycling stability and exhibits a specific capacitance of 348
F
g
−1 after 4000 cycles.
► CaF2 is well coated on LiNi1/3Co1/3Mn1/3O2 by a wet chemical method. ► The well coated CaF2 layer has a thickness of 4–8nm. ► Improved discharge capacity of 146.3mAhg−1 can be obtained at 5C ...(1400mAg−1). ► 98.1% of capacity is retained after 50 cycles at 0.1C and 86.5% at 5C.
CaF2-coated LiMn1/3Ni1/3Co1/3O2 cathode material is prepared via a wet chemical process followed by a solid state reaction. High-resolution transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) show that the well coated CaF2 layer has a thickness of 4–8nm, and no interaction of chemical bonding is observed. The CaF2-coated LiMn1/3Ni1/3Co1/3O2 exhibits discharge capacity retention of 98.1% at 0.1C after 50 cycles and high initial discharge capacity of 146.3mAhg−1 at 5C. Furthermore, even at an elevated charge–discharge rate of 5C, capacity retention maintains above 85%. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) shows that the CaF2 coating can stabilize the surface structure and reduce the charge transfer resistance. The CaF2 modification has a promising application in improving the performance of layered oxide cathode materials for Li-ion batteries.
Hierarchical, nanostructured nickel phosphide (h-Ni2P) spheres are synthesized by a one-pot reaction from an organic-phase mixture of nickel acetylacetonate, trioctylphosphine, tri-n-octylamine, and ...oleylamine (OAm). OAm is used as a surfactant to modify the surface morphology of Ni2P spheres. The h-Ni2P spheres are composed of ordered nanoparticles with 5–10 nm sizes and filled by amorphous carbon. The hierarchical structure can greatly increase the contact area between Ni2P and electrolyte, which provides more sites for Li+ accommodation, shortens the diffusion length of Li+, and enhances the reactivity of the electrode reaction. Also, the amorphous carbon and the hierarchical Ni2P nanostructures can buffer volume expansion and thus increase the electrode stability during cycling. In the context of storage behavior, the h-Ni2P electrode exhibits high capacity as well as Coulombic efficiency. After 50 cycles, the reversible capacity of h-Ni2P spheres is 365.3 mA h g–1 at 0.5 C and 257.8 mA h g–1 at 1 C, much higher than that of Ni2P spheres (97.2 mA h g–1 at 0.5 C). At a high rate of 3 C, the specific capacity of h-Ni2P is still as high as 167.1 mA h g–1.
Distant metastasis is the major cause of cancer-related death, and epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) has a critical role in this process. Accumulating evidence indicates that EMT can be ...regulated by microRNAs (miRNAs). miR-29c has been implicated as a tumor suppressor in several human cancers. However, the role of miR-29c in the progression of colorectal cancer (CRC) metastasis remains largely unknown.
The expression of miR-29c was examined by qRT-PCR in a cohort of primary CRC (PC) and distant liver metastasis (LM) tissues. A series of in vivo and in vitro assays were carried out in order to elucidate the functions of miR-29c and the molecular mechanisms underlying the pathogenesis of metastatic CRC.
miR-29c was markedly downregulated in PCs with distant metastasis and determined to be an independent predictor of shortened patient survival. But LM tissues showed higher levels of miR-29c than that in PC tissues. In CRC cells, miR-29c dramatically suppressed cell migration and invasion abilities in vitro and cancer metastasis in vivo. In addition, miR-29c inhibited EMT and negatively regulated Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway. Guanine nucleotide binding protein alpha13 (GNA13) and protein tyrosine phosphatase type IVA (PTP4A) were identified as direct targets of miR-29c, which acted through ERK/GSK3β/β-catenin and AKT/GSK3β/β-catenin pathways, respectively, to regulate EMT. Furthermore, significant associations between miR-29c, its target genes (GNA13 and PTP4A) and EMT markers were validated in both PC and LM tissues.
Our findings highlight the important role of miR-29c in regulating CRC EMT via GSK-3β/β-catenin signaling by targeting GNA13 and PTP4A and provide new insights into the metastatic basis of CRC.
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