Conductive polymers (CPs) are promising organic semiconductors for many essential applications because of their tunable physical/chemical properties, mechanical flexibility, low weight, reversible ...doping, good biocompatibility, and scalable production. However, CPs have not achieved their expected application potential in conventional processing methods. Electrospinning is a simple and highly versatile technique that can be used for mass fabrication of continuous ultrafine fibers from various polymers and composites. Electrospun fibers have many advantages, including uniformity, porosity, large surface areas, and mechanical strength, which present new application areas of CPs, and solve a number of problems related to the applicability of the polymers. However, as CPs are soluble and brittle, electrospinning requires a specific strategy. Different approaches, including direct electrospinning of CPs into fibers, co-electrospinning of blends of CPs and other spinnable carrier polymers, and synthesizing of electrospun fiber-template, have been developed to solve this problem. In this review, the recent achievements of fabricating CP-based ultrafine fibers using an electrospinning process are summarized, along with the characterization of their physical–chemical properties, such as electrical conductivity, wettability, and mechanical and thermal properties, which are further improved by modification. More emphasis is placed on the potential applications of electrospun CP ultrafine fibers in bio-/chemical sensors, artificial muscles, neural electrodes/interfaces, tissue regeneration, controlled drug release, flexible/stretchable electronic devices, energy storage, and electromagnetic interference shielding materials. Furthermore, the current challenges and future opportunities are also addressed.
N6-methyladenosine (m6A) modification is the most pervasive modification in mRNA, and has been considered as a new layer of epigenetic regulation on mRNA processing, stability and translation. ...Despite its functional significance in various physiological processes, the role of the m6A modification involved in breast cancer is yet fully understood.
We used the m6A-RNA immunoprecipitation sequencing to identify the potential targets in breast cancer. To determine the underlying mechanism for the axis of FTO-BNIP3, we performed a series of in vitro and in vivo assays in 3 breast cancer cell lines and 36 primary breast tumor tissues and 12 adjunct tissues.
We showed that FTO, a key m6A demethylase, was up-regulated in human breast cancer. High level of FTO was significantly associated with lower survival rates in patients with breast cancer. FTO promoted breast cancer cell proliferation, colony formation and metastasis in vitro and in vivo. We identified BNIP3, a pro-apoptosis gene, as a downstream target of FTO-mediated m6A modification. Epigenetically, FTO mediated m6A demethylation in the 3'UTR of BNIP3 mRNA and induced its degradation via an YTHDF2 independent mechanism. BNIP3 acts as a tumor suppressor and is negatively correlated with FTO expression in clinical breast cancer patients. BNIP3 dramatically alleviated FTO-dependent tumor growth retardation and metastasis.
Our findings demonstrate the functional significance of the m6A modification in breast cancer, and suggest that FTO may serve as a novel potential therapeutic target for breast cancer.
Sluggish oxygen evolution kinetics are one of the key limitations of bismuth vanadate (BiVO4) photoanodes for efficient photoelectrochemical (PEC) water splitting. To address this issue, we report a ...vanadium oxide (VOx) with enriched oxygen vacancies conformally grown on BiVO4 photoanodes by a simple photo‐assisted electrodeposition process. The optimized BiVO4/VOx photoanode exhibits a photocurrent density of 6.29 mA cm−2 at 1.23 V versus the reversible hydrogen electrode under AM 1.5 G illumination, which is ca. 385 % as high as that of its pristine counterpart. A high charge‐transfer efficiency of 96 % is achieved and stable PEC water splitting is realized, with a photocurrent retention rate of 88.3 % upon 40 h of testing. The excellent PEC performance is attributed to the presence of oxygen vacancies in VOx that forms undercoordinated sites, which strengthen the adsorption of water molecules onto the active sites and promote charge transfer during the oxygen evolution reaction. This work demonstrates the potential of vanadium‐based catalysts for PEC water oxidation.
A vanadium oxide with enriched oxygen vacancies (VOx) was developed as an efficient oxygen evolution cocatalyst for BiVO4 photoanodes. The optimized BiVO4/VOx photoanode exhibits a high photocurrent density of 6.29 mA cm−2 at 1.23 V versus the reversible hydrogen electrode under AM 1.5 G illumination, and a high charge‐transfer efficiency of 96 % is attained. Stable PEC water splitting is achieved for 40 h.
In the past 30 years, researchers have worked towards reducing the size of ordinary three-dimensional (3D) materials into 1D or 2D materials in order to obtain new properties and applications of ...these low-dimensional systems. Among them, functional nanofibers with large surface area and high porosity have been widely studied and paid attention to. Because of the interesting properties of nanofibers, they find extensive application in filtration, wound dressings, composites, sensors, capacitors, nanogenerators, etc. Recently, a variety of nanofiber preparation methods such as melt blowing, electrospinning (e-spinning), centrifugal spinning and solution blow spinning (SBS) have been proposed. This paper includes a brief review of the fundamental principles of the preparation of nanofibers for solution jet spinning, the influence of experimental parameters, and the properties and potential applications of the solution-blown fibers. And the industrialization and challenges of SBS are also included.
Highly stretchable and electrically conductive thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) nanofibrous composite based on electrospinning for flexible strain sensor and stretchable conductor has been fabricated ...via in situ polymerization of polyaniline (PANI) on TPU nanofibrous membrane. The PANI/TPU membrane-based sensor could detect a strain from 0 to 160% with fast response and excellent stability. Meanwhile, the TPU composite has good stability and durability. Besides, the composite could be adapted to various non-flat working environments and could maintain opportune conductivity at different operating temperatures. This work provides an easy operating and low-cost method to fabricate highly stretchable and electrically conductive nanofibrous membrane, which could be applied to detect quick and tiny human actions.
The indoor air quality is of prime importance for human daily life and health, for which the adsorbents like zeolites and silica‐gels are widely used for air dehumidification and harmful gases ...capture. Herein, we develop a pore‐nanospace post‐engineering strategy to optimize the hydrophilicity, water‐uptake capacity and air‐purifying ability of metal‐organic frameworks (MOFs) with long‐term stability, offering an ideal candidate with autonomous multi‐functionality of moisture control and pollutants sequestration. Through variant tuning of organic‐linkers carrying hydrophobic and hydrophilic groups in the pore‐nanospaces of prototypical UiO‐67, a moderately hydrophilic MOF (UiO‐67‐4Me‐NH2‐38 %) with high thermal, hydrolytic and acid‐base stability is screened out, featuring S‐shaped water sorption isotherms exactly located in the recommended comfortable and healthy ranges of relative humidity for indoor ventilation (45 %–65 % RH) and adverse health effects minimization (40–60 % RH). Its exceptional attributes of water‐uptake working capacity/efficiency, contaminants removal, recyclability and regeneration promise a great potential in confined indoor environment application.
A moderately hydrophilic MOF of UiO‐67‐4Me‐NH2‐38 % with high thermal, hydrolytic and acid‐base stability has been obtained by a pore‐nanospace post‐engineering strategy, which shows ideal S‐shaped water‐sorption isotherm, high water‐uptake working capacity and efficiency in the ASHRAE recommended humidity range, and prior capture ability of harmful organic and inorganic vapors, providing a promising candidate for autonomous indoor humidity control and air purification.
Display omitted
•Chitosan/g-C3N4/TiO2 (CS/CNT) nanofibers were fabricated for Cr(VI) removal.•The addition of g-C3N4/TiO2 enhanced the acid resistance of nanofibers.•CS/CNT nanofibers exhibited ...synergistic effect of adsorption and photocatalysis.•The possible mechanism of Cr(VI) removal was proposed.
Chitosan/g-C3N4/TiO2 (CS/CNT) nanofibers were fabricated by electrospinning technique for Cr(VI) removal through the adsorption and photocatalytic processes. The effects of crucial factors in the adsorption process including contact time (0–1440 min), pH (1–7), initial concentration of Cr(VI) (20–800 mg/L) were investigated. The photocatalytic experiment was executed in a photochemical reactor with an 800 W xenon lamp to simulate visible light. In adsorption process, at pH = 2, the adsorption capacities of chitosan (CS) nanofibers, CS/CNT10:1 (CS : g-C3N4/TiO2 = 10:1) nanofibers and CS/CNT5:1 nanofibers were 20.8, 165.3 and 68.9 mg/g, respectively, suggesting the addition of g-C3N4/TiO2 (CNT) could notably enhance the acid resistance of CS and widen its practical application. Under visible-light irradiation, the removal efficiency of Cr(VI) using CS/CNT nanofibers was appreciably improved, which was about 50 % higher than that of pure adsorption, indicating that the CS/CNT nanofibers exhibited the effective synergistic effect of adsorption and photocatalysis.
Postpartum depression (PPD) is the most common psychological condition following childbirth, and may have a detrimental effect on the social and cognitive health of spouses, infants, and children. ...The aim of this study was to complete a comprehensive overview of the current literature on the global epidemiology of PPD. A total of 565 studies from 80 different countries or regions were included in the final analysis. Postpartum depression was found in 17.22% (95% CI 16.00-18.51) of the world's population. Meta-regression analysis showed that study size, country or region development, and country or region income were the causes of heterogeneity. Multivariable meta-regression analysis found that study size and country or area development were the most important predictors. Varied prevalence rates were noted in geographic regions with the highest rate found in Southern Africa (39.96%). Of interested was a significantly lower rate of PPD in developed countries or high-income countries or areas. Furthermore, the findings showed that there was a substantial difference in rates of PPD when marital status, educational level, social support, spouse care, violence, gestational age, breast feeding, child mortality, pregnancy plan, financial difficulties, partnership, life stress, smoking, alcohol intake, and living conditions were considered in the pooled estimates. Our results indicated that one out of every five women experiences PPD which is linked to income and geographic development. It is triggered by a variety of causes that necessitate the attention and committed intervention of primary care providers, clinicians, health authorities, and the general population.
Objective
Inflammatory injury plays a critical role in intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH)‐induced secondary brain injury. However, the upstream events that initiate inflammatory responses following ICH ...remain elusive. Our previous studies suggested that Toll‐like receptor 4 (TLR4) may be the upstream signal that triggers inflammatory injury in ICH. In addition, recent clinical findings indicated that both TLR2 and TLR4 may participate in ICH‐induced brain injury. However, it is unclear how TLR2 functions in ICH‐induced inflammatory injury and how TLR2 interacts with TLR4.
Methods
The role of TLR2 and TLR2/TLR4 heterodimerization in ICH‐induced inflammatory injury was investigated in both in vivo and in vitro models of ICH.
Results
TLR2 mediated ICH‐induced inflammatory injury, which forms a heterodimer with TLR4 in both in vivo and in vitro models of ICH. Hemoglobin (Hb), but not other blood components, triggered inflammatory injury in ICH via assembly of TLR2/TLR4 heterodimers. MyD88 (myeloid differentiation primary response gene 88), but not TRIF (Toll/IR‐1 domain–containing adaptor protein inducing interferon‐beta), was required for ICH‐induced TLR2/TLR4 heterodimerization. Mutation of MyD88 Arg196 abolished the TLR2/TLR4 heterodimerization.
Interpretation
Our results suggest that a novel TLR2/TLR4 heterodimer induced by Hb initiates inflammatory injury in ICH. Interfering with the assembly of the TLR2/TLR4 heterodimer may be a novel target for developing effective treatment of ICH. Ann Neurol 2014;75:876–889
The diagnosis of biliary atresia (BA) remains a clinical challenge because affected infants have signs, symptoms, and serum liver biochemistry that are also seen in those with other causes of ...neonatal cholestasis (non‐BA). However, an early diagnosis and prompt surgical treatment are required to improve clinical outcome. Recently, the relative abundance of serum matrix metalloproteinase‐7 (MMP‐7) was suggested to have discriminatory features for infants with BA. To test the hypothesis that elevated serum concentration of MMP‐7 is highly diagnostic for BA, we determined the normal serum concentration of MMP‐7 in healthy control infants, and then in 135 consecutive infants being evaluated for cholestasis. The median concentration for MMP‐7 was 2.86 ng/mL (interquartile range, IQR: 1.32‐5.32) in normal controls, 11.47 ng/mL (IQR: 8.54‐24.55) for non‐BA, and 121.1 ng/mL (IQR: 85.42‐224.4) for BA (P < 0.0001). The area under the curve of MMP‐7 for the diagnosis of BA was 0.9900 with a cutoff value of 52.85 ng/mL; the diagnostic sensitivity and specificity were 98.67% and 95.00%, respectively, with a negative predictive value of 98.28%. Conclusion: Serum MMP‐7 assay has high sensitivity and specificity to differentiate BA from other neonatal cholestasis, and may be a reliable biomarker for BA.
PDF
