LiF is successful used to modify the surface of layered LiNi1/3Co1/3Mn1/3O2 via a wet chemical method followed by an annealing process. The lattice structure of LiNi1/3Co1/3Mn1/3O2 is not changed ...distinctly after modification and part of F− dopes into the surface lattice of the oxide. The LiF-modified oxide exhibits capacity retentions of 97.5% at 0.1 C at room temperature and 93.5% at 1 C at 60 °C after 50 cycles, and delivers a high discharge capacity of 137 mAh g−1 at 10 C at room temperature. Furthermore, it has reversible capacities of 124.4 mAh g−1 at 1 C at 0 °C and 85.6 mAh g−1 at 0.1 C at −20 °C, respectively. Cyclic voltammetry (CV) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) tests show that the LiF-modified layer can reduce the dissolution of metal ions in the electrode and enhance the conductivity of the oxide surface through partly F-substitution. LiF modification will be promising for the application of layered oxide for lithium ion batteries.
► LiNi1/3Co1/3Mn1/3O2 is modified with LiF by a wet chemical method. ► Discharge capacity of 137 mAh g−1 is obtained at 10 C (2800 mA g−1). ► Capacity retention of 93.5% is obtained at 1 C at 60 °C after 50 cycles. ► Reversible capacity of 124.4 mAh g−1 is obtained at 1 C at 0 °C. ► Even at −20 °C, discharge capacity of 85.6 mAh g−1 is obtained at 0.1 C.
The strong genetic contribution of the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) region to rheumatoid arthritis (RA) has been generally attributed to human leukocyte antigen (
. However, due to the high ...polymorphisms and linkage disequilibrium within MHC, it is difficult to define novel and/or independent genetic risks using conventional HLA genotyping or chip-based microarray technology. This study aimed to identify novel RA risk variants by performing deep sequencing for MHC.
We first conducted target sequencing for the entire MHC region in 357 anticitrullinated protein antibodies (ACPA)-positive patients with RA and 1001 healthy controls, and then performed HLA typing in an independent case-control cohort consisting of 1415 samples for validation. All study subjects were Han Chinese. Genetic associations for RA susceptibility and severity were analysed. Comparative modelling was constructed to predict potential functions for the newly discovered RA association variants.
HLA-DQα1:160D conferred the strongest and independent susceptibility to ACPA-positive RA (p=6.16×10
, OR=2.29). DRβ1:37N had an independent protective effect (p=5.81×10
, OR=0.49). As predicted by comparative modelling, the negatively charged DQα1:160D stabilises the dimer of dimers, thus may lead to an increased T cell activation. The negatively charged DRβ1:37N encoding alleles preferentially bind with epitope P9 arginine, thus may result in a decreased RA susceptibility.
We provide the first evidence that HLA-DQα1:160D, instead of
, is the strongest and independent genetic risk for ACPA-positive RA in Han Chinese. Our study also illustrates the value of deep sequencing for fine-mapping disease risk variants in the MHC region.
Super‐plasticity of single‐crystal beta‐SiC 111 nanowires for > 200 % elongation was observed by in situ axial‐tensile experiments in a scanning electron microscope. The SiC nanowires were ...characterized by a bamboo‐like structure appearing as the 3C structured segments intergrowth along the nanowire. The axial localized plasticity and super‐plasticity are suggested to result only from the 3C segments, through dislocation generation, propagation and amorphization in contrast to the highly defected structural segments that conduct elastic‐deformation only, owing to the lack of slip systems. These results provide key information for understanding the mechanical behavior of SiC nanowires.
Super‐plasticity of single‐crystal β‐SiC 111 nanowires for > 200 % elongation was observed by in situ axial‐tensile experiments in a scanning electron microscope. The results of this study provide direct evidence of nanoscale super‐plasticity and fracture processes occurring in individual SiC nanowires at low temperature. The results also provide information for further study of nanoscale brittle‐ductile transformation, fracture, and strain induced charge‐transportation changes of other semiconductor nanowires with large‐strain plastic deformation.
High performance LBE corrosion-resistant- materials have great potential for application in the future 4th generation nuclear reactor. In this paper, LBE corrosion behavior of AlTiN coating was ...carefully evaluated at typical working temperatures of nuclear reactor. The coating was synthesized by cathodic arc ion plating on 316L stainless steel (SS) substrates and subjected to LBE corrosion at 550 and 600 °C for 500 h. We used SEM, AFM, EDS, XRD and Raman to carefully characterize the microstructure evolutions of the coating. The results show that the coating could effectively enhance the LBE corrosion resistance of the SS at both 550 and 600 °C. The excellent corrosion resistance performance could be attributed to the in-situ formation of a dense oxide layer on the coating surface, which mainly consists of TiO2 (Anatase and Rutile) and γ-Al2O3 phases with slow growth rate and stable structure. In addition, the dense oxide layer of the coating exhibits a lower wettability to liquid LBE metal because of the nano-scale surface morphology, which further enhance the corrosion resistance. While for bare SS substrate, porous oxide was formed after LBE corrosion. These results suggested that AlTiN coating is a promising material for improving the LBE corrosion-resistant performance of the component used in the future nuclear reactor.
A AlTiN coating exhibited excellent corrosion resistance against liquid LBE at temperatures of 550–600 °C, which could be attributed to the in-situ formation of a dense oxide layer with nano-scale structure on the coating surface. Display omitted
•Thick AlTiN coatings were deposited on stainless steel for LBE corrosion test.•The coating exhibited excellent corrosion resistance at 550–600 °C.•Dense oxide layer with stable structure was formed on the coating surface.•Oxide layer with nano-scale surface structures showed low-wettability to liquid LBE.
A biodegradable drug delivery system (DDS) is one the most promising therapeutic strategies for cancer therapy. Here, we propose a unique concept of light activation of black phosphorus (BP) at ...hydrogel nanostructures for cancer therapy. A photosensitizer converts light into heat that softens and melts drug-loaded hydrogelbased nanostructures. Drug release rates can be accurately controlled by light intensity, exposure duration, BP concentration, and hydrogel composition. Owing to sufficiently deep penetration of near-infrared (NIR) light through tissues, our BP-based system shows high therapeutic efficacy for treatment of s.c. cancers. Importantly, our drug delivery system is completely harmless and degradable in vivo. Together, our work proposes a unique concept for precision cancer therapy by external light excitation to release cancer drugs. If these findings are successfully translated into the clinic, millions of patients with cancer will benefit from our work.
ABSTRACT
Fast transitions between different types of power density spectra (PDS) happening over time-scales of several tens of seconds are rare phenomena in black hole X-ray binaries. In this paper, ...we report a broad-band spectral-timing analysis of the fast transitions observed in the 2021 outburst of GX 339−4 using NICER and Insight-HXMT observations. We observe transitions between band-limited noise-dominated PDS and type-B quasi-periodic oscillations (QPOs), and their rapid appearance or disappearance. We also make a detailed comparison between the fast transitions in GX 339−4 with those seen in MAXI J1820+070 and MAXI J1348−630. By comparing the spectra of the periods with and without type-B QPOs, we find that the spectral ratios above 10 keV are nearly constant or slightly decreasing, and the values are different between sources. Below 10 keV, the flux change of the Comptonization component is inversely proportional to the flux change of the thermal component, suggesting that the appearance of type-B QPOs is associated with a redistribution of the accretion power between the disc and the Comptonizing emission region. The spectral ratios between the periods with type-B QPO and those with broad-band noise are significantly different from that with type-B QPO and without type-B QPO, where the ratios (type-B QPO/broad-band noise) show a maximum at around 4 keV and then decrease gradually towards high energies. Finally, we discuss the possible change of the geometry of the inner accretion flow and/or jet during the transitions.
Three enzymes, triosephosphate isomerase (orange in picture), aldolase (cyan), and fructose 1,6‐bisphosphatase (purple), which contained dockerins (red), self‐assembled into a static trifunctional ...enzyme complex through interaction with a mini‐scaffoldin protein consisting of three different cohesins (green). The synthetic enzyme complex exhibited an enhanced reaction rate compared to the noncomplexed three‐enzyme mixture at the same enzyme concentration.
Asparagine synthetase (ASNS) is associated with drug resistance in leukaemia, and the function of this enzyme in the context of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is not clear. In this study, the ...relationship between ASNS expression and clinical outcomes after surgical resection was investigated, and the therapeutic value of ASNS was also evaluated.
The expression of ASNS was evaluated in HCC samples by real-time PCR and immunohistochemistry assays. The correlation between ASNS expression and clinicopathological features was investigated. Potential clinicopathological prognostic factors were examined by univariate and multivariate survival analysis. Asparagine synthetase was overexpressed and knocked down in HCC cell lines to assess the influence of the enzyme on cell proliferation, migration and tumourigenicity. L-asparaginase was used to treat HCC cells with high or low levels of ASNS in vitro and in vivo to examine the therapeutic efficacy.
The expression of ASNS was higher in HCC tumour tissues and was closely correlated with the serum AFP level, tumour size, microscopic vascular invasion, tumour encapsulation, TNM stage and BCLC stage. Patients with low ASNS expression levels had a poor prognosis with respect to overall survival (OS). The multivariate survival analysis indicated that ASNS is an independent prognostic factor for OS. Furthermore, functional studies demonstrated that ASNS significantly inhibits the proliferation, migration and tumourigenicity of HCC cells. The knockdown of ASNS markedly increased sensitivity to L-asparaginase, indicating that cells with different ASNS protein levels have different sensitivities to L-asparaginase.
The expression of ASNS is an independent factor affecting the survival of HCC patients, and low ASNS expression in HCC was correlated with worse surgical outcomes. The ASNS may be a promising therapeutic target for the treatment of HCC.
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