Brassinosteroids play diverse roles in plant growth and development. Plants deficient in brassinosteroid (BR) biosynthesis or defective in signal transduction show many abnormal developmental ...phenotypes, indicating the importance of both BR biosynthesis and the signaling pathway in regulating these biological processes. Recently, using genetics, proteomics, genomics, cell biology, and many other approaches, more components involved in the BR signaling pathway were identified. Furthermore, the physiological, cellular, and molecular mechanisms by which BRs regulate various aspects of plant development, are being discovered. These include root development, anther and pollen development and formation, stem elongation, vasculature differentiation, and cellulose biosynthesis, suggesting that the biological functions of BRs are far beyond promoting cell elongation. This review will focus on the up-to-date progresses about regulatory mechanisms of the BR signaling pathway and the physiological and molecular mechanisms whereby BRs regulate plant growth and development.
Graphene-based nanocomposites with unique two-dimensional (2D) structural feature have become the most potential candidate for energy storage systems due to the excellent electrical conductivity and ...large specific surface area of graphene sheets. However, the aggregation of graphene nanosheets inhibits their applications in lithium-sulfur batteries. Here we tackle this problem by designing a porous carbon wrapped graphene nanosheet (M-GN) via a facile IL-microemulsion method. During the Pickering emulsion process, graphene oxide (GO) serves as surfactant and the templates, while the hydrophobic ionic liquid (BMImFeCl4) stabilizes the GO and forms the emulsion environment. The electrostatic effect between negative graphene oxide (GO) and positive cation 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium (BMIm+) helps to form a stabilized system, which can facilitate the uniform growth of the carbon layers on GO. The obtained S/M-GN cathode delivers a high discharge capacity of 1331 mA h g−1 at 0.1C and 757 mA h g−1 after 100 cycles at 0.5C. The innovative IL-microemulsion method provides us with a new avenue for the synthesis of effective materials for energy storage devices.
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•The aggregation of graphene nanosheets inhibits their applications in lithium-sulfur batteries.•The Pickering emulsion process helps to inhibit the restacking of graphene nanosheets.•The obtained cathode materials exhibit well performances in lithium-sulfur batteries.
Sodium‐ion batteries are regarded as a promising alternative to lithium ion batteries. However, their application is restricted by the low capacity and poor rate performance of existing anodes. Here, ...a stibnite/reduced graphene oxide nanocomposite is reported, fabricated by an ionic liquid‐assisted hydrothermal method, for sodium‐ion batteries. The obtained nanocomposite gives a high capacity of 687.7 mA h g−1 at 50 mA g−1 and an impressive rate performance. The promising electrochemical properties can be attributed to the uniformly distribution of Sb2S3 on reduced graphene oxide layers and the close contact between the two composites, which can be ensured by the addition of ionic liquid during the synthesizing process. This facile method shall pave the way for the production of other graphene‐based nanocomposite for sodium ion batteries and other energy storage systems.
Ionic liquid‐assisted hydrothermal synthesis of uniformly distributed Sb2S3 on reduced graphene oxide nanocomposite for sodium‐ion batteries.
Six complexes based on a new rigid V-shaped ligand, 2,6-bis(3-(pyrid-4-yl)-1,2,4-triazolyl)pyridine (2,6-H2bptp), namely, Cd4(2,6-bptp)2(d-cam)(l-cam)(H2O)2 n ·4nH2O (1), Cd2(2,6-Hbptp)2(Hbtc) n ...·4nH2O (2), Zn(2,6-bptp)(H2O) n ·nH2O (3), (Mo8O26)Cu2(2,6-H2bptp)2 n (4), Co(2,6-H2bptp)2Mo8O260.5·5H2O (5), and (PMo12O40)Ag(2,6-H4bptp)·2H2O (6) (d/l-H2cam = d/l-camphoric acid; H3btc = 1,3,5-benzenetricarboxylic acid), have been synthesized under hydrothermal conditions. Among these complexes, 2,6-H2bptp adopts seven types of coordination modes; all display a central tridentate chelating plane. Complex 1 possesses a 3D porous metal–organic framework that exhibits an intriguing sandwich-like motif. Complex 2 is a 1D nanorod-like coordination polymer with a square section of 1.11 × 1.06 nm2. Complex 3 exhibits a 1D zigzag chain structure, which is extended to a supramolecular double-chain by hydrogen bonding. In complex 4, polyoxometalate β-Mo8O26 4– links Cu2(2,6-H2bptp)2 4+ dimer to form a 1D linear chain polymer. Complex 5 displays a 3D supramolecular architecture with nanosized tunnels in which β-Mo8O264– clusters embed. Complex 6 is a mononuclear silver complex constructed from Ag(2,6-H4bptp)3+ and PMo12O403– pieces, which is further extended to a 3D supramolecular framework. The metal–organic frameworks of 1 and 2 are thermally stable up to 440 °C. Both Cd(II) complexes emit blue luminescence originating from ligand-centered emission. Complex 4 shows weak antiferromagnetic coupling in the Cu2(2,6-H2bptp)2 4+ dimer.
Clostridioides (Clostridium) difficile is the major cause of healthcare antibiotic-associated diarrhoea. However, extra-intestinal manifestations of Clostridioides (Clostridium) difficile infection ...(CDI) (including bacteremia and tissue infection) are extremely rare. We report a case of extraintestinal CDI after surgery. The isolate of C. difficile was not the PCR ribotype 027. However, this isolate produced toxins A and B. The patient underwent a follow-up examination 30 days after discharge, which showed complete recovery. This case report adds to existing knowledge of CDI.
We report experimental studies on enhancing the magnetoelectric (ME) coupling of Co
4
Nb
2
O
9
by substituting the non-magnetic metal Mg for Co. A series of single crystal Co
4–
x
Mg
x
Nb
2
O
9
(
x
= ...0, 1, 2, 3) with a single-phase corundum-type structure are synthesized using the optical floating zone method, and the good quality and crystallographic orientations of the synthesized samples are confirmed by the Laue spots and sharp XRD peaks. Although the Néel temperatures (
T
N
) of the Mg substituted crystals decrease slightly from 27 K for pure Co
4
Nb
2
O
9
to 19 K and 11 K for Co
3
MgNb
2
O
9
and Co
2
Mg
2
Nb
2
O
9
, respectively, the ME coupling is doubly enhanced by Mg substitution when
x
= 1. The ME coefficient α
ME
of Co
3
MgNb
2
O
9
required for the magnetic field (electric field) control of electric polarization (magnetization) is measured to be 12.8 ps/m (13.7 ps/m). These results indicate that the Mg substituted Co
4–
x
Mg
x
Nb
2
O
9
(
x
= 1) could serve as a potential candidate material for applications in future logic spintronics and logic devices.
Objective: To investigate apoptosis in the thyroid of Graves disease (GD) induced by thyroid arterial embolization. Materials and methods: Forty one patients with clinically and laboratorily ...ascertained GD were treated with thyroid arterial embolization and followed up for 3-54 months following embolization. Prior to embolization and at 1, 3, 6, 12 and 36 months following embolization, thyroid autoimmunue antibodies were tested respectively, including thyroid stimulating antibody (TSAb), thyroglobulin antibody (TGAb) and thyroid microsomal antibody (TMAb). Thyroid biopsy was performed under the guidance of computed tomography for immunohistochemistry examination using semi-quantity analysis. Results: The positive staining of Fas and FasL was mostly in the cytoplasma and cell membrane, the positive expression of Bax was mainly in the cytoplasma, and no positive expression of P53 was detected in the thyroid cells before embolization. After arterial embolziation, the positive cell number and staining degree of these genes were both greater than before embolization. Conclusion: The treatment method of thyroid arterial embolization can effectively enhance the positive expression of pro-apoptotic genes of Fas, FasL, Bax, Bcl-2 and P53 in GD thyroid, thus promoting apoptosis of GD thyroid and helping restore the thyroid size and function to normal conditions.
Objective
The aim of this study was to investigate long-term immunological changes after the treatment of Graves’ disease (GD) with thyroid arterial embolization and the effect of thyroid arterial ...embolization on the body’s immunological functions.
Materials and methods
Forty-one patients with clinically and laboratorily ascertained GD were treated with thyroid arterial embolization and followed up for 3–54 months following embolization. Prior to embolization and at 1, 3, 6, 12, and 36 months following embolization, thyroid autoimmune antibodies were tested respectively, including thyroid stimulating antibody (TSAb), thyrotropin antibody (TRAb), thyroglobulin antibody (TGAb), and thyroid microsomal antibody (TMAb), as well as subgroup lymphocytes of CD16+CD56+, CD19+, CD3+, CD3+CD4+ and CD3+CD8+. The autoimmune status of GD patients prior to embolization and the dynamic changes of the immunological function after embolization were analyzed.
Results
The therapy of thyroid arterial embolization could effectively decrease the activity/titer and positive rate of TRAb and the ratio of CD4+/ CD8+ to normal levels at 6 months following embolization, while the ratio of CD3+CD8+ increased gradually to normal level at 1 year following embolization. In patients with recurrence, TSAb and TRAb remained at a higher level, while the rate of CD3+CD8+ and the ratio of CD4+/CD8+ were not statistically significantly different from those before embolization.
Conclusion
Immunological functional disorder exists in GD patients. The treatment method of thyroid arterial embolization can effectively resume the basic immunological function to normal range while patients with recurrence have no significant improvement, suggesting that thyroid arterial embolization has an effective role in adjusting the immunological function.
Abstract
Sodium‐ion batteries are regarded as a promising alternative to lithium ion batteries. However, their application is restricted by the low capacity and poor rate performance of existing ...anodes. Here, a stibnite/reduced graphene oxide nanocomposite is reported, fabricated by an ionic liquid‐assisted hydrothermal method, for sodium‐ion batteries. The obtained nanocomposite gives a high capacity of 687.7 mA h g
−1
at 50 mA g
−1
and an impressive rate performance. The promising electrochemical properties can be attributed to the uniformly distribution of Sb
2
S
3
on reduced graphene oxide layers and the close contact between the two composites, which can be ensured by the addition of ionic liquid during the synthesizing process. This facile method shall pave the way for the production of other graphene‐based nanocomposite for sodium ion batteries and other energy storage systems.
We report experimental studies on enhancing the magnetoelectric (ME) coupling of Co 4Nb 2O 9 by substituting the non-magnetic metal Mg for Co. A series of single crystal Co 4−xMg xNb 2O 9 ( x = 0, 1, ...2, 3) with a single-phase corundum-type structure are synthesized using the optical floating zone method, and the good quality and crystallographic orientations of the synthesized samples are confirmed by the Laue spots and sharp XRD peaks. Although the Néel temperatures ( T N ) of the Mg substituted crystals decrease slightly from 27 K for pure Co 4Nb 2O 9 to 19 K and 11 K for Co 3MgNb 2O 9 and Co 2Mg 2Nb 2O 9, respectively, the ME coupling is doubly enhanced by Mg substitution when x = 1. The ME coefficient α ME of Co 3MgNb 2O 9 required for the magnetic field (electric field) control of electric polarization (magnetization) is measured to be 12.8 ps/m (13.7 ps/m). These results indicate that the Mg substituted Co 4−xMg xNb 2O 9 ( x = 1) could serve as a potential candidate material for applications in future logic spintronics and logic devices.
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