The bifunctionality of chromism-integrated sensors and devices has been highlighted because of their reversibility, fast response, and visual indication. For example, one of the representative ...chromism electrochromic materials exhibits optical modulation under ion insertion/extraction by applying a potential. This operation mechanism can be integrated with various sensors (pressure, strain, biomolecules, gas, etc.) and devices (energy conversion/storage systems) as visual indicators for user-friendly operation. In this review, recent advances in the field of chromism-integrated systems for visual indicators are categorized for various chromism-integrated sensors and devices. This review can provide insights for researchers working on chromism, sensors, or devices. The integrated chromic devices are evaluated in terms of coloration-bleach operation, cycling stability, and coloration efficiency. In addition, the existing challenges and prospects for chromism-integrated sensors and devices are summarized for further research.
This study used a spatially controlled boron-doping technique that enables a p–n junction diode to be realized within a single 2D black phosphorus (BP) nanosheet for high-performance photovoltaic ...application. The reliability of the BP surface and state-of-the-art 2D p–n heterostructure’s gated junctions was obtained using the controllable pulsed-plasma process technique. Chemical and structural analyses of the boron-doped BP were performed using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and first-principles density functional theory (DFT) calculations, and the electrical characteristics of a field-effect transistor based on the p–n heterostructure were determined. The incorporated boron generated high electron density at the BP surface. The electron mobility of BP was significantly enhanced to ∼265 cm2/V·s for the top gating mode, indicating greatly improved electron transport behavior. Ultraviolet photoelectron spectroscopy and DFT characterizations revealed the occurrence of significant surface charge transfer in the BP. Moreover, the pulsed-plasma boron-doped BP p–n junction devices exhibited high-efficiency photodetection behavior (rise time: 1.2 ms and responsivity: 11.3 mA/W at V g = 0 V). This study’s findings on the tunable nature of the surface-transfer doping scheme reveal that BP is a promising candidate for optoelectronic devices and advanced complementary logic electronics.
A simultaneous Diophantine approximation (SDA) algorithm takes instances of the partial approximate common divisor (PACD) problem as input and outputs a solution. While several encryption schemes ...have been published and their securities depend on the presumed hardness of variant of the PACD problem, fewer studies have attempted to extend the SDA algorithm to be applicable to these variants. In this study, the SDA algorithm is extended to solve the general PACD problem. In order to proceed, first the variants of the PACD problem are classified and how to extend the SDA algorithm for each is suggested. Technically, the authors show that a short vector of some lattice used in the SDA algorithm gives an algebraic relation between secret parameters. Then, all the secret parameters can be recovered by finding this short vector. It is also confirmed experimentally that this algorithm works well.
Carbon capture, utilization, and sequestration technologies have been extensively studied to utilize carbon dioxide (CO
2
), a greenhouse gas, as a resource. So far, however, effective technologies ...have not been proposed owing to the low efficiency conversion rate and high energy requirements. Here, we present a hybrid Na-CO
2
cell that can continuously produce electrical energy and hydrogen through efficient CO
2
conversion with stable operation for over 1,000 hr from spontaneous CO
2
dissolution in aqueous solution. In addition, this system has the advantage of not regenerating CO
2
during charging process, unlike aprotic metal-CO
2
cells. This system could serve as a novel CO
2
utilization technology and high-value-added electrical energy and hydrogen production device.
•
Hybrid Na-CO
2
cell continuously produces electricity and H
2
through CO
2
conversion
•
Hybrid Na-CO
2
does not regenerate CO
2
during charging, unlike aprotic metal-CO
2
cells
•
Highly stable operation over 1,000 hr was achieved with CO
2
utilization
Environmental Chemical Engineering; Environmental Science; Energy Materials
Functional encryption (FE) is a novel cryptographic paradigm. In comparison to conventional encryption schemes, FE allows producing secret keys
s
k
f
corresponding to a function
f
that decrypt ...encryptions of
x
0
to
f
(
x
0
)
. Recently, Lin proposed FE for arbitrary degree polynomials from the SXDH assumption to an exact multilinear map (CRYPTO’17). However, there is no concrete instantiation of the scheme in the absence of an exact multilinear map. Although Lin’s FE can be instantiated by noisy multilinear maps such as the GGH13, CLT13, and GGH15 schemes, the security of FE instantiated by noisy multilinear maps is unclear. In this paper, we point out the weakness of the Lin’s FE when it is instantiated by well-known candidates of noisy multilinear maps. In other words, we present a polynomial time attack of the FE on each noisy multilinear map. In the proposed method, our attack captures Lin’s FE for arbitrary degree polynomials instantiated by GGH13 and CLT13 and is also applicable to FE for polynomials of degree
O
(
log
2
λ
)
when instantiated by GGH15 under the current parameters where
λ
is the security parameter.
Linear ubiquitination is an atypic ubiquitination process that directly connects the N- and C-termini of ubiquitin and is catalyzed by HOIL-1-interacting protein (HOIP). It is involved in the immune ...response or apoptosis by activating the nuclear factor-κB pathway and is associated with polyglucosan body myopathy 1, an autosomal recessive disorder with progressive muscle weakness and cardiomyopathy. However, little is currently known regarding the function of linear ubiquitination in muscles. Here, we investigated the role of linear ubiquitin E3 ligase (LUBEL), a DrosophilaHOIP ortholog, in the development and aging of muscles. The muscles of the flies with down-regulation of LUBEL or its downstream factors, kenny and Relish, developed normally, and there were no obvious abnormalities in function in young flies. However, the locomotor activity of the LUBEL RNAi flies was reduced compared to age-matched control, while LUBEL RNAi did not affect the increased mitochondrial fusion or myofiber disorganization during aging. Interestingly, the accumulation of polyubiquitinated protein aggregation during aging decreased in muscles by silencing LUBEL, kenny, or Relish. Meanwhile, the levels of autophagy and global translation, which are implicated in the maintenance of proteostasis, did not change due to LUBEL down-regulation. In conclusion, we propose a new role of linear ubiquitination in proteostasis in the muscle aging.
Display omitted
•LUBEL is an E3 ubiquitin ligase that catalyzes linear ubiquitination in Drosophila.•Silencing LUBEL reduced muscle strength but restored proteostasis in old flies.•Silencing key and Rel, LUBEL downstream factors, improved proteostasis.•LUBEL-Rel pathway is implicated in muscle function and proteostasis during aging.
Purpose
Western diet, rich in carbohydrates and fat, is said to be a major factor underlying metabolic syndrome. Interventions with prebiotics, the key modulators of the gut microbiota, have ...paramount impact on host-associated metabolic disorders. Herein, we investigated the effect of fungus-derived (1,3)/(1,6)-β-glucan, a highly soluble dietary fiber, on high-fat diet (HFD)-induced metabolic distress.
Methods
Male C57BL/6 J mice were fed with different diet groups (
n
= 11): control diet, HFD, 3 g/kg or 5 g/kg of β-glucan-incorporated HFD. At the end of experimental study period (12th week), body weight, feces weight and fecal moisture content were observed. Further, colonic motility was measured using activated charcoal meal study. Proteins extracted from liver and intestine tissues were subjected to western blot technique. Paraffin-embedded intestinal tissues were sectioned for histochemical Periodic acid-Schiff (PAS) and Alcian blue (AB) staining analysis. Fecal microbiota analysis was performed using MOTHUR bioinformatic software.
Results
β-glucan consumption exhibited anti-obesity property in mice groups fed with HFD. In addition, β-glucan ameliorated HFD-induced hepatic stress, colonic motility and intestinal atrophy (reduction in colon length, goblet cells, and mucosal layer thickness). Further, β-glucan incorporation shifted bacterial community by increasing butyrate-producing bacteria such as
Anaerostipes
,
Coprobacillus
, and
Roseburia
and decreasing reportedly obesity-associated bacteria such as
Parabacteroides
and
Lactococcus.
Conclusion
Altogether, the outcomes of this present pre-clinical animal study show β-glucan to be a promising therapeutic candidate in the treatment of HFD-induced metabolic distress. Further comprehensive research has to be conducted to brace its clinical relevance, reproducibility and efficacy for aiding human health.
Graphical abstract
Interleukin-6 (IL-6) is involved in fibroblast-like synoviocyte (FLS) activation and promotes pannus formation and bone and cartilage destruction in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Cysteine-rich 61 ...(Cyr61) protein regulates cell proliferation, migration, and differentiation. The aim of this study was to investigate the role of Cyr61 in RA-FLS migration and invasion after IL-6 stimulation.
Western blotting, immunohistochemistry, reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction, and real time-polymerase chain reaction were used to examine protein and mRNA levels of Cyr61, matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), and other signalling proteins. Knockdown of gene expression was performed with siRNA, and RNA sequencing was performed for differential gene analysis. Migration and invasion were assessed by wound healing and Boyden chamber assays.
Cyr61 levels were elevated in FLSs from RA patients compared to those in osteoarthritis patients. Control and IL-6-treated FLSs showed differential gene expression. IL-6 stimulated protein synthesis of Cyr61, which was attenuated by the extracellular signal-related kinase 1/2 (ERK 1/2) inhibitor, PD98059, and knockdown of early growth response 3 (EGR3), but not of JUN. IL-6-induced Cyr61 protein synthesis increased expression of MMP2. Cyr61 promoted FLS migration and invasion in an autocrine manner. Knockdown of CYR61 and a neutralising antibody attenuated Cyr61 synthesis and IL-6-induced FLS migration.
By modulating the ERK/EGR3 pathway, IL-6 stimulated Cyr61 production and in turn increased invasiveness of FLS. Our data suggest that Cyr61 might be a potential target to prevent the progression of joint damage in RA.
Converting unstable earth-abundant group VIIIB transition metals into stable catalysts with high oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) performances remains a critical challenge for electrochemical ...technologies. Iron (Fe)-nitrogen (N)-carbon (C)-based electrocatalysts have recently demonstrated ORR performances comparable to platinum (Pt)-based catalysts. However, as their poor stability remains a critical issue, which needs to be resolved to satisfy commercial requirements. Here, we describe a methodology for preparing a high-performance and stable Fe-based ORR catalyst. The catalyst was obtained by the in-situ sandwiching of a Fe3+ precursor in a nitrogenated holey two-dimensional network (denoted as C2N). Reduction of the sandwiched Fe3+ results in the formation of Fe oxide (FexOy) nanoparticles, which are simultaneously transformed into highly crystalline Fe0 nanoparticle cores, while the C2N is catalysed into well-defined, encapsulating, nitrogenated graphitic shells (Fe@C2N nanoparticles) during heat-treatment. The resultant Fe0@C2N nanoparticles are uniformly distributed on the C2N substrate, becoming the Fe@C2N catalyst, which displayed ORR activities superior to commercial Pt/C in both acidic and alkaline media. Furthermore, the Fe@C2N catalyst remained rust-free during harsh electrochemical testing even after 650h, suggesting that its unusual durability originates from indirect-contact electrocatalysis.
Oxygen reduction catalyst from iron encapsulated in C2N framework (Fe@C2N) exhibits outstanding catalytic activities in both alkaline and acidic media. The Fe@C2N catalyst holds great potential for commercialization. Display omitted
•Iron (Fe) nanoparticle cores encapsulated in electrochemically transparent and stable shells (Fe@C2N) are prepared.•The Fe@C2N catalyst displays superb oxygen reduction (ORR) performance in both alkaline and acidic media.•The advantages of Fe@C2N catalyst over commercial Pt/C are low-cost and comparable ORR activity and superior durability.•The unusual ORR performance is the result of the electrochemically stable and transparent encapsulating shells.•Encapsulating shells allow not only an efficient electron tunneling but also protecting unstable active Fe cores.
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