The electrolyte additive plays an important role in determining the crucial properties of batteries such as cycling stability and safety. Compared to material development, research on electrolyte and ...interphase is still in the early stage for sodium ion batteries (SIBs). Herein, for the first time, succinic anhydride (SA) is investigated as a synergistic filming additive to fluoroethylene carbonate (FEC), and the lifespan of the dual‐additive Na/Na0.6Li0.15Ni0.15Mn0.55Cu0.15O2 (NLNMC) cell is significantly improved, maintaining capacity retention of 87.2% over 400 cycles at 1 C rate. For comparison, the batteries with only one of the two additives or without any additive show much inferior electrochemical performance. After the addition of SA, the interphase layer on the surface of cycled NLNMC material becomes uniform and stable, which contains more oxygen‐rich organic species and less NaF. Additionally, the addition of SA also has an impact on the interphase layer in the sodium anode part as indicated by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and energy dispersive spectrometer (EDS) results. Moreover, the online differential electrochemical mass spectrometry (OEMS) tests show the dual‐additive cell has less CO2 generation during the initial two cycles compared to that with only FECs which demonstrates another advantage of SA for practical application.
For the first time, succinic anhydride (SA) is applied as a synergistic electrolyte additive for fluoroethylene carbonate (FEC) in sodium ion batteries. The coexistence of SA and FEC regulates the interphase layer both on the cathode and anode. Optimized electrochemical performance of Na/Na0.6Li0.15Ni0.15Mn0.55Cu0.15O2 (NLNMC) is achieved in the dual‐additive cell with 87.2% of capacity retention after 400 cycles at a 1 C rate.
Gastric cancer (GC) is one of the most malignant tumors, accounting for 10% of deaths caused by all cancers. Chemotherapy is often necessary for treatment of GC; the FOLFOX regimen is extensively ...applied. However, multidrug resistance (MDR) of GC cells prevents wider application of this treatment. Ubenimex, an inhibitor of CD13, is used as an immune adjuvant to treat hematological malignancies. Here, we demonstrate that CD13 expression positively correlates with MDR development in GC cells. Moreover, Ubenimex reverses the MDR of SGC7901/X and MKN45/X cells and enhances their sensitivity to FOLFOX, in part by decreasing CD13 expression, which is accompanied by downregulation of Bcl-xl, Bcl-2, and survivin expression; increased expression of Bax; and activation of the caspase-3-mediated apoptotic cascade. In addition, Ubenimex downregulates expression of membrane transport proteins, such as P-gp and MRP1, by inhibiting phosphorylation in the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway to increase intracellular accumulations of 5-fluorouracil and oxaliplatin, a process for which downregulation of CD13 expression is essential. Therefore, the present results reveal a previously uncharacterized function of CD13 in promoting MDR development in GC cells and suggest that Ubenimex is a candidate for reversing the MDR of GC cells.
Cisplatin (CDDP)-based chemotherapy is a standard treatment for gastric cancer (GC). However, chemoresistance is a major obstacle for CDDP application. Exploring underlying mechanisms of CDDP ...resistance development in GC and selecting an effective strategy to overcome CDDP resistance remain a challenge. Here, we demonstrate that a transmembrane ectoenzyme, CD13, endows GC patients with insensitivity to CDDP and predicts an undesirable prognosis in GC patients with CDDP treatment. Similarly, CD13 expression is positively related with CDDP resistance in GC cells. A CD13 inhibitor, Ubenimex, reverses CDDP resistance and renders GC cells sensitivity to CDDP, for which CD13 reduction is essential, and epithelial membrane protein 3 (EMP3) is a putative target downstream of CD13. Furthermore, Ubenimex decreases EMP3 expression by boosting its CpG island hypermethylation for which CD13 down-regulation is required. In addition, EMP3 is a presumptive modifier by which CD13 exerts functions in the phosphoinositol 3-kinase/protein kinase B (PI3K/AKT) pathway. Ubenimex inhibits the activation of the CD13/EMP3/PI3K/AKT/NF-κB pathway to overcome CDDP resistance in GC cells by suppressing autophagy and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). Therefore, CD13 is a potential indicator of CDDP resistance formation, and Ubenimex may serve as a potent candidate for reversing CDDP resistance in GC.
The gut microbiota contributes to host physiology through the production of a myriad of metabolites. These metabolites exert their effects within the host as signalling molecules and substrates for ...metabolic reactions. Although the study of host-microbiota interactions remains challenging due to the high degree of crosstalk both within and between kingdoms, metabolite-focused research has identified multiple actionable microbial targets that are relevant for host health. Metabolites, as the functional output of combined host and microorganism interactions, provide a snapshot in time of an extraordinarily complex multi-organism system. Although substantial work remains towards understanding host-microbiota interactions and the underlying mechanisms, we review the current state of knowledge for each of the major classes of microbial metabolites with emphasis on clinical and translational research implications. We provide an overview of methodologies available for measurement of microbial metabolites, and in addition to discussion of key challenges, we provide a potential framework for integration of discovery-based metabolite studies with mechanistic work. Finally, we highlight examples in the literature where this approach has led to substantial progress in understanding host-microbiota interactions.
Two rare guanidine-type alkaloids, Buthutin A (
) and Buthutin B (
), along with two other compounds (
,
), were isolated from
Karsch, and determined using extensive spectroscopic data analysis and ...high resolution-mass spectrometry. Compound
showed the most potent inhibition on AChE and BChE with IC
values of 7.83 ± 0.06 and 47.44 ± 0.95 μM, respectively. Kinetic characterization of compound
confirmed a mixed-type of AChE inhibition mechanism in accordance with the docking results, which shows its interaction with both catalytic active (CAS) and peripheral anionic (PAS) sites. The specific binding of compound
to PAS domain of AChE was also confirmed experimentally. Moreover, compounds
and
exhibited satisfactory biometal binding abilities toward Cu
, Fe
, Zn
and Al
ions. These results provide a new evidence for further development and utilization of
in health and pharmaceutical products.
Metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) have been intensively used as the templates/precursors to synthesize complex hollow structures for various energy‐related applications. Herein we report a facile ...two‐step diffusion‐controlled strategy to generate novel MOFs derived hierarchical hollow prisms composed of Nanosized CoS2 bubble‐like subunits. Uniform zeolitic imidazolate framework‐67 (ZIF‐67) hollow prisms assembled by interconnected nanopolyhedra are first synthesized via a transformation process. Afterwards, these ZIF‐67 building blocks are converted into CoS2 bubble‐like hollow particles to form the complex hollow prisms through a sulfidation reaction with an additional annealing treatment. When evaluated as an electrode material for lithium‐ion batteries, the as‐obtained CoS2 nanobubble hollow prisms show remarkable electrochemical performance with good rate capability and long cycle life.
Bubble wrap: Novel hollow prisms formed from CoS2 nanobubbles have been synthesized via a facile two‐step self‐templating strategy. The diffusion‐controlled processes are responsible for the formation of internal voids in the prism‐like precursors and the ZIF‐67 building blocks. The as‐obtained hierarchical CoS2 hollow prisms show enhanced electrochemical properties when evaluated as an anode material for lithium‐ion batteries.
The International League Against Epilepsy (ILAE) defined drug‐resistant epilepsy (DRE) that epilepsy seizure symptoms cannot be controlled with two well‐tolerated and appropriately chosen ...antiepileptic drugs, whether they are given as monotherapy or in combination. According to the WHO reports, there is about 30%‐40% of epilepsy patients belong to DRE. These patients need some treatments other than drugs, such as epilepsy surgery, and neuromodulation treatment. Traditional surgical approaches may be limited by the patient's clinical status, pathological tissue location, or overall prognosis. Thus, neuromodulation is an alternative choice to control their symptoms. Vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) is one of the neuromodulation methods clinically, which have been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). In this review, we systematically describe the clinical application, clinical effects, possible antiepileptic mechanisms, and future research directions of VNS for epilepsy.
Polyoxometalates (POMs) are a series of molecular metal oxide clusters, which span the two domains of solutes and solid metal oxides. The unique characters of POMs in structure, geometry, and ...adjustable redox properties have attracted widespread attention in functional material synthesis, catalysis, electronic devices, and electrochemical energy storage and conversion. This review is focused on the links between the intrinsic charge carrier behaviors of POMs from a chemistry‐oriented view and their recent ground‐breaking developments in related areas. First, the advantageous charge transfer behaviors of POMs in molecular‐level electronic devices are summarized. Solar‐driven, thermal‐driven, and electrochemical‐driven charge carrier behaviors of POMs in energy generation, conversion and storage systems are also discussed. Finally, present challenges and fundamental insights are discussed as to the advanced design of functional systems based upon POM building blocks for their possible emerging application areas.
The links between the intrinsic charge‐carrier behaviors of polyoxometalates (POMs) from a chemistry‐oriented view are discussed and their recent ground‐breaking developments in related areas, including molecular‐level electronic devices, solar‐driven, thermally driven, and electrochemically driven energy generation, conversion, and storage systems are reviewed. Finally, present challenges and the fundamental insights for advanced design and self‐assembly of POM building blocks are also discussed.
Although the relationship among urbanization, energy consumption and CO2 emissions has been extensively studied in recent years, little attention has been paid to the effect of urbanization on ...residential energy consumption. China as the largest developing country still has tremendous potential for urbanization in the future, and this paper thus explores the effect of urbanization on the changes of residential energy consumption during 1996–2012 for China both from aggregated and disaggregated perspectives, using the Divisia decomposition method. The findings on aggregated energy show that the urbanization contributes 15.4% to the increase of residential energy consumption during 1996–2012 but with a diminishing trend over time. Meanwhile, from the disaggregated perspective, the urbanization process contributes to an improvement of residential energy consumption structure. Specifically, 1% of increase in urbanization rate may result in a decrease of 420 thousand million tonnes of residential coal consumption and an increase of 301 thousand tonnes of oil consumption.
Microcirculation dysfunction and organ injury after ischemia and reperfusion (I/R) result from a complex pathologic process consisting of multiple links, with metabolism impairment in the ischemia ...phase and oxidative stress in the reperfusion phase as initiators, and any treatment targeting a single link is insufficient to cope with this. Compound Chinese medicine (CCM) has been applied in clinics in China and some Asian nations for >2000years. Studies over the past decades revealed the protective and therapeutic effect of CCMs and major ingredients on I/R-induced microcirculatory dysfunction and tissue injury in the heart, brain, liver, intestine, and so on. CCM contains diverse bioactive components with potential for energy metabolism regulation; antioxidant effect; inhibiting inflammatory cytokines release; adhesion molecule expression in leukocyte, platelet, and vascular endothelial cells; and the protection of thrombosis, albumin leakage, and mast cell degranulation. This review covers the major works with respect to the effects and underlying mechanisms of CCM and its ingredients on microcirculatory dysfunction and organ injury after I/R, providing novel ideas for dealing with this threat.