Cancer-secreted exosomal miRNAs are emerging mediators of cancer-stromal cross-talk in the tumor environment. Our previous miRNAs array of cervical squamous cell carcinoma (CSCC) clinical specimens ...identified upregulation of miR-221-3p. Here, we show that miR-221-3p is closely correlated with peritumoral lymphangiogenesis and lymph node (LN) metastasis in CSCC. More importantly, miR-221-3p is characteristically enriched in and transferred by CSCC-secreted exosomes into human lymphatic endothelial cells (HLECs) to promote HLECs migration and tube formation in vitro, and facilitate lymphangiogenesis and LN metastasis in vivo according to both gain-of-function and loss-of-function experiments. Furthermore, we identify vasohibin-1 (VASH1) as a novel direct target of miR-221-3p through bioinformatic target prediction and luciferase reporter assay. Re-expression and knockdown of VASH1 could respectively rescue and simulate the effects induced by exosomal miR-221-3p. Importantly, the miR-221-3p-VASH1 axis activates the ERK/AKT pathway in HLECs independent of VEGF-C. Finally, circulating exosomal miR-221-3p levels also have biological function in promoting HLECs sprouting in vitro and are closely associated with tumor miR-221-3p expression, lymphatic VASH1 expression, lymphangiogenesis, and LN metastasis in CSCC patients. In conclusion, CSCC-secreted exosomal miR-221-3p transfers into HLECs to promote lymphangiogenesis and lymphatic metastasis via downregulation of VASH1 and may represent a novel diagnostic biomarker and therapeutic target for metastatic CSCC patients in early stages.
Commercial lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries suffer from low energy density and do not meet the growing demands of the energy storage market. Therefore, building next-generation rechargeable Li and ...Li-ion batteries with higher energy densities, better safety characteristics, lower cost and longer cycle life is of outmost importance. To achieve smaller and lighter next-generation rechargeable Li and Li-ion batteries that can outperform commercial Li-ion batteries, several new energy storage chemistries are being extensively studied. In this review, we summarize the current trends and provide guidelines towards achieving this goal, by addressing batteries using high-voltage cathodes, metal fluoride electrodes, chalcogen electrodes, Li metal anodes, high-capacity anodes as well as useful electrolyte solutions. We discuss the choice of active materials, practically achievable energy densities and challenges faced by the respective battery systems. Furthermore, strategies to overcome remaining challenges for achieving energy characteristics are addressed in the hope of providing a useful and balanced assessment of current status and perspectives of rechargeable Li and Li-ion batteries.
This review article summarizes the current trends and provides guidelines towards next-generation rechargeable lithium and lithium-ion battery chemistries.
Abstract
Objective
Metabolic signatures have emerged as valuable signaling molecules in the biochemical process of type 2 diabetes (T2D). To summarize and identify metabolic biomarkers in T2D, we ...performed a systematic review and meta-analysis of the associations between metabolites and T2D using high-throughput metabolomics techniques.
Methods
We searched relevant studies from MEDLINE (PubMed), Embase, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library as well as Chinese databases (Wanfang, Vip, and CNKI) inception through 31 December 2018. Meta-analysis was conducted using STATA 14.0 under random effect. Besides, bioinformatic analysis was performed to explore molecule mechanism by MetaboAnalyst and R 3.5.2.
Results
Finally, 46 articles were included in this review on metabolites involved amino acids, acylcarnitines, lipids, carbohydrates, organic acids, and others. Results of meta-analysis in prospective studies indicated that isoleucine, leucine, valine, tyrosine, phenylalanine, glutamate, alanine, valerylcarnitine (C5), palmitoylcarnitine (C16), palmitic acid, and linoleic acid were associated with higher T2D risk. Conversely, serine, glutamine, and lysophosphatidylcholine C18:2 decreased risk of T2D. Arginine and glycine increased risk of T2D in the Western countries subgroup, and betaine was negatively correlated with T2D in nested case-control subgroup. In addition, slight improvements in T2D prediction beyond traditional risk factors were observed when adding these metabolites in predictive analysis. Pathway analysis identified 17 metabolic pathways may alter in the process of T2D and metabolite-related genes were also enriched in functions and pathways associated with T2D.
Conclusions
Several metabolites and metabolic pathways associated with T2D have been identified, which provide valuable biomarkers and novel targets for prevention and drug therapy.
Abstract
With the continual progress of sequencing techniques, genome-scale data are increasingly used in phylogenetic studies. With more data from throughout the genome, the relationship between ...genes and different kinds of characters is receiving more attention. Here, we present version 4 of RASP, a software to reconstruct ancestral states through phylogenetic trees. RASP can apply generalized statistical ancestral reconstruction methods to phylogenies, explore the phylogenetic signal of characters to particular trees, calculate distances between trees, and cluster trees into groups. RASP 4 has an improved graphic user interface and is freely available from http://mnh.scu.edu.cn/soft/blog/RASP (program) and https://github.com/sculab/RASP (source code).
Perovskite photovoltaics are strong potential candidates to drive low‐power off‐grid electronics for indoor applications. Compared with rigid devices, flexible perovskite devices can provide a more ...suitable surface for indoor small electronic devices, enabling them have a broader indoor application prospect. However, the mechanical stability of flexible perovskite photovoltaics is an urgent issue solved. Herein, a kind of 3D crosslinking agent named borax is selected to carry out grain boundary penetration treatment on perovskite film to realize full‐dimensional stress release. This strategy improves the mechanical and phase stabilities of perovskite films subjected to external forces or large temperature changes. The fabricated perovskite photovoltaics deliver a champion power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 21.63% under AM 1.5G illumination, which is the highest one to date. The merit of low trap states under weak light makes the devices present a superior indoor PCE of 31.85% under 1062 lux (LED, 2956 K), which is currently the best flexible perovskite indoor photovoltaic device. This work provides a full‐dimensional grain boundary stress release strategy for highly stable flexible perovskite indoor photovoltaics.
A grain boundary stress release strategy is proposed for high‐stability flexible perovskite indoor photovoltaics by the grain boundary penetration with borax 3D stretchable molecules. The full‐dimensional grain boundary stress release enables the flexible perovskite photovoltaics deliver a champion power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 21.63% under AM 1.5G illumination and an indoor PCE of 31.85% under 1062 lux.
Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) have emerged as a significant class of porous crystalline materials constructed from metal nodes and multidentate linkers. Many research studies have shown the ...promising applications of MOFs in gas adsorption and separation, electrocatalysis, photocatalysis, biomedicine
etc.
, mainly due to the advantages of high porosity, large surface areas and easily tunable optical and electronic structures. Particularly, light-sensitive Ti-oxo clusters in Ti-based MOFs result in promising photocatalytic activity. Recently, a few Ti-carboxylate MOFs based on infinite Ti-oxo chains and sheets were reported, which open a new horizon for the photocatalytic activity of Ti-MOF chemistry. This review highlights some typical Ti-MOFs based on discrete Ti-oxo clusters and recent progress in the fabrication of Ti-MOFs based on infinite Ti-oxo chains and sheets. Moreover, facile modification methods for improving the photocatalytic activity under visible light irradiation are exemplified in detail. We hope that the photocatalytic applications of Ti-MOFs in photocatalytic H
2
generation, photocatalytic reduction of CO
2
, dye photodegradation, photocatalytic alcohol oxidation and photocatalytic polymerization will benefit researchers who are interested in this field.
This review highlights recent progress in Ti-MOFs based on discrete Ti-oxo clusters and infinite Ti-oxo chains and sheets.
Online social networking (OSN) has deeply penetrated university campuses, influencing multiple aspects of student life. Standing from a pedagogical perspective, this study investigates how university ...students’ OSN engagement affect their learning outcomes. Drawn upon social learning theory, this study proposes that OSN engagement help university students’ establishing the self-efficacy belief, achieving social acceptance and acculturation with environment, and these attributions further lead them to attain positive learning outcomes which are shaped by self-esteem development, satisfaction with university life, and the grade point average (GPA) based performance. Results from a survey accompanied by focus group discussions support these embedded self-conceptualization and social learning in OSN. This study contributes to the extant research on OSN for learning by highlighting the role of OSN for the whole person development, especially the students’ self-conceptulization and psychological well-beings. The revealed mediating mechanisms also adds values to social learning theory and imply the design foci of e-learning activities and applications.
Flexible smart surfaces with tunable wettability are promising for emerging wearable uses. However, currently, wearable superhydrophobic surfaces with dynamic wetting behaviors are rarely reported. ...Here, a skin‐like superhydrophobic elastomer surface with switchable lotus leaf and rose petal states is reported. Direct laser writing technique is employed for one‐step, programmable, large‐scale fabrication of monolithic and hierarchical micro‐nanostructures on elastomer, leading to strong water repellence. The surface topography can be finely regulated in a rapid and reversible manner by simple stretching, providing the feasibility of controlling the surface wettability by simple body motions. The ability to switch wetting states enables the surface to capture and release multiple droplets in parallel. Furthermore, the active surface can be applied to the joints of fingers and operate as a droplet manipulator under finger motions without requiring energy supply or external appliance. In this work, dynamic tuning of wetting properties is integrated into the design of skin‐like wearable surfaces, revealing great potential in versatile applications such as wearable droplet manipulator, portable actuator, adaptive adhesion control, liquid repellent skin, and smart clothing.
A skin‐like wearable superhydrophobic surface with switchable lotus leaf and rose petal states is reported. One‐step laser processing on a deformable elastomer enables rapid and reversible tailoring of hierarchical structures and wetting properties. The wearable surface can be compliant to finger joints and operates as droplet tweezers under finger motions without energy supply or external appliance.
A series of new heteroleptic copper(i) complexes Cu(N^N)(P^P)BF4 (1–6), where N^N is a pyrazole-substituted 2,2′-bipyridine (5-(1H-pyrazol-4-yl)-2,2′-bipyridine (5-pzbpy, L1), ...4,4′-di(1H-pyrazol-4-yl)-2,2′-bipyridine (4,4′-pz2bpy, L2), 5,5′-di(1H-pyrazol-4-yl)-2,2′-bipyridine (5,5′-pz2bpy, L3), and 3,8-di(1H-pyrazol-4-yl)-1,10-phenanthroline (3,8-pz2phen, L4)) and P^P is either oxybis(2,1-phenylene)bis(diphenylphosphane) (POP) or 1,3-bis(diphenylphosphanyl)propane (dppp), were successfully prepared and investigated. The crystal structures of 1, 2, 3 and 6 were determined by single X-ray diffraction. The novel copper(i) complexes 1, 2 and 3 show turn-on emission sensing for halogen ions. The fluorescence enhancement of the copper(i) complexes increases in the order of F− < I− < Br− < Cl−, and the differences in fluorescence intensity could be easily distinguished with the naked eye under UV light illumination. The 1H NMR titration indicated that the interaction involves hydrogen-bond formation between the halide (Cl−, Br− and I−) and the acidic H of the pyrazole group, with N–H deprotonation occurring at increasing F− concentrations. The result was further confirmed by carrying out theoretical calculations.
Electrolyte as the most flammable component of lithium ion battery is always considered to be closely related to its safety. Great efforts are made to optimize electrolyte since it is the ultimate ...means to improve the lithium ion battery safety. This article reviews the thermal risk of commercial electrolytes and the development of safer electrolytes. The main reason for the thermal instability of the traditional nonaqueous electrolyte is the thermal decomposition of lithium hexafluorophosphate (LiPF6) and highly flammable solvents. Substitution technique of the lithium salt is under developing and the electrolyte flame retardant additives are widely studied. Novel addition technologies like electrospinning and microcapsules are introduced to reduce the restrictions on physical properties of flame retardants and improve electrochemical performances. Overcharge protection additives are simply summarized according to their reaction mechanism. For the breakthrough of new generations of safer electrolytes, nonflammable solvents with new salts and solid state electrolytes are reviewed as well as their existing problems at present. This shall serve as a summary for the development of electrolytes and a reference for the design of next generation of safer electrolytes.
Lithium ion battery safety is widely concerned and using more stable electrolytes is an effective way to solve the safety problems. Efforts to design safer electrolytes is provided including stable lithium salts, electrolyte additives, nonflammable solvents and solid state electrolytes. These methods and technologies are becoming mature and advanced providing the possibility for future applications of high-safety lithium ion batteries. Display omitted
•The safety problems of lithium ion battery related to electrolytes are reviewed.•Various means to improve the safety of electrolytes are summarized.•The essentials and further directions of next generation electrolytes are pointed out.
PDF
