All solid-state battery with sulfur electrode and thio-LISICON electrolyte

A high-capacity type of all solid-state battery was developed using sulfur electrode and the thio-LISICON electrolyte. New nano-composite of sulfur and acetylene black (AB) with an average particle size of 1–10 nm was fabricated by gas-phase mixing and showed a reversible capacity of 900 mAh g⁻¹ at a current density of 0.013 mA cm⁻².     

First principles calculation of stable structure and adhesive strength of plated Ni/Fe（100） or Cu/Fe（100） interfaces

A study the with first principles calculation of the interfaces of the Ni layer or Cu layer on the Fe(100) surface formed with metal plating was performed. Ni or Cu atoms were shown to adopt the corresponding position to the bcc structure of the Fe(100) substrate. Other calculations showed that the interfaces of Ni (5 atomic layers)/Fe(100) (5 layers) or Cu (5 atomic layers)/Fe(100) (5 layers) had square lattices. The orientation relationship of Ni/Fe(100) interface corresponds to fcc-Ni(100)//bcc-Fe(100), Ni[011]//Fe[010], and Ni[0

1]//Fe[001]. Similar results were obtained for Cu/Fe(100) interfaces. This structure was supported by TEM analysis of plated Ni layer on Fe(100) surfaces. The adhesion strength of the Ni/Fe(100) interface evaluated by first principles calculation was higher than that of the Cu/Fe(100) interface. The experimental results of Hull cell iron plated with Ni or Cu supported the results of the calculation. These results indicate that the first principles calculation, which deals with the ideal interface at the atomic scale, has the potential to evaluate the adhesion strength of metallic material interfaces.     

Increased leukocyte aggregates are associated with atherosclerosis in patients with hemodialysis

Little data are available on the role of blood rheology in atherosclerosis in hemodialysis (HD) patients. This study sought to assess the relationship between leukocytes conjugated with platelets (leukocyte aggregates [LA]) and atherosclerosis in patients with HD. The present study included 118 patients on HD. As surrogate markers of atherosclerosis, aortic stiffness measured by brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity, and carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) were measured. As an assessment of LA, a method, microchannel array flow analyzer, which makes it possible to directly observe the flow of blood cell elements through the microchannel, was used. We measured a number of LA during 50 μL flow of whole blood through microchannels. In 12 age-matched healthy individuals, a number of LA during 50 μL flow of whole blood was 25.7±5.4, whereas in HD patients it was significantly increased up to 48.2±16.4 (P<0.001). Flow cytometry demonstrated that LA were predominantly monocytes. Leukocyte aggregates were positively associated with plasma levels of fibrinogen (P<0.01), or serum high-sensitive C-reactive protein (P<0.01). Moreover, LA had highly significant associations with brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (P<0.001) and IMT (P<0.001). In conclusion, we demonstrated hemorheologically that monocyte-platelet conjugates play an important role in aortic stiffness and IMT in HD patients.     

Effect of Compressive Stress in Tumor Microenvironment on Malignant Tumor Spheroid Invasion Process

In this study, we proposed an in vitro tumor model to simulate the mechanical microenvironment and investigate the effect of compressive stress on the invasion process of malignant tumors. It has been pointed out that the biomechanical environment, as well as the biochemical environment, could affect the transformation of cancer cell migration, invasion, and metastasis. We hypothesized that the solid stress caused by the exclusion of surrounding tissue could transform tumor cells from noninvasive to invasive phenotypes. Colorectal cell spheroids were embedded and cultured in agarose gels of varying concentrations to simulate the earliest stages of tumor formation and invasion. The spheroids embedded in gels at higher concentrations showed peculiar growth after 72 h of culture, and the external compressive loading imposed on them caused peculiar growth even in the gels at lower concentrations. In conclusion, the mechanical microenvironment caused the transformation of tumor cell phenotypes, promoting the growth and invasion of tumor cell spheroids.     

中空海胆状结构的碳包覆Fe2O3用作锂离子电池的高性能负极材料

Fe2O3由于成本低廉,储量丰富和理论比容量高(1007 mA hg^-1)等特点,在锂离子电池负极材料的应用中极具发展前景.然而一些问题仍然存在,如:充放电过程中比容量的迅速衰减,不可逆的体积膨胀以及较短的循环寿命等.这些问题严重制约了Fe2O3在锂离子电池中的实际应用.为了突破这些局限,本文以金属-有机骨架(MOF...     

Comparisons and correlations of phenolic profiles and anti-oxidant activities of seventeen varieties of pineapple

Major phenolic, β-carotene, and ascorbic acid (AA) contents in 17 pineapple varieties were quantified and compared. Anti-oxidant activities were evaluated using 2,2-Diphenyl-l-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), 2,2’-Azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid) (ABTS), ferric reducing anti-oxidant power (FRAP), and metal chelating capacity (MCC) assays. MD-2 exhibited the highest AA and total phenolic (TP) contents and DPPH and ABTS assay results, but was lower in β-carotene contents. Ripley had the highest total flavonoid (TF) content with a low AA content. Comte de Pairs exhibited the highest MCC and the lowest FRAP values. TP contents and both DPPH and ABTS activities, FRAP values and both AA contents and DPPH activities, and TF contents and ABTS activities were positively correlated. MD-2 exhibited the greatest diversity of phenolics and highest anti-oxidant activities in all assays. Information included herein can be useful for development of pineapple-based food products containing high levels of health promoting anti-oxidants.     

Out‐of‐Plane Strain Induced in a Moiré Superstructure of Monolayer MoS2 and MoSe2 on Au(111)

Making contact of transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDCs) with a metal surface is essential for fabricating and designing electronic devices and catalytic systems. It also generates strain in the TMDCs that plays significant role in both electronic and phonon structures. Therefore, detailed understanding of mechanism of the strain generation is important to fully comprehend the modulation effect for the electronic and phonon properties. Here, MoS₂ and MoSe₂ monolayers are grown on Au surface by chemical vapor deposition and it is demonstrated that the contact with a crystalline Au(111) surface gives rise to only out‐of‐plane strain in both MoS₂ and MoSe₂ layers, whereas no strain generation is observed on polycrystalline Au or SiO₂/Si surfaces. Scanning tunneling microscopy analysis provides information regarding consequent specific adsorption sites between lower S (Se) atoms in the S? Mo? S (Se? Mo? Se) structure and Au atoms via unique moiré superstructure formation for MoS₂ and MoSe₂ layers on Au(111). This observation indicates that the specific adsorption sites give rise to out‐of‐plane strain in the TMDC layers. Furthermore, it also leads to effective modulation of the electronic structure of the MoS₂ or MoSe₂ layer.     

The Role of Circular RNAs in the Physiology and Pathology of the Mammalian Ovary

Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are an abundant class of endogenous non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) generated from exonic, intronic, or untranslated regions of protein-coding genes or intergenic regions. The diverse, stable, and specific expression patterns of circRNAs and their possible functions through cis/trans regulation and protein-coding mechanisms make circRNA a research hotspot in various biological and pathological processes. It also shows practical value as biomarkers, diagnostic indicators, and therapeutic targets. This review summarized the characteristics, classification, biogenesis and elimination, detection and confirmation, and functions of circRNAs. We focused on research advances circRNAs in the mammalian ovary under conditions including ovarian cancer, polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), and maternal aging, as well as during reproductive status, including ovarian follicle development and atresia. The roles of circRNAs in high reproductive traits in domestic animals were also summarized. Finally, we outlined some obstructive factors and prospects to work with circRNA, aiming to provide insights into the functional research interests of circRNAs in the reproduction and gynecology areas.     

Possible Involvement of the Upregulation of ΔNp63 Expression Mediated by HER2-Activated Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor in Mammosphere Maintenance

Cancer stem cells (CSCs) contribute to the drug resistance, recurrence, and metastasis of breast cancers. Recently, we demonstrated that HER2 overexpression increases mammosphere formation via the activation of aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR). In this study, the objective was to identify the mechanism underlying mammosphere maintenance mediated by HER2 signaling-activated AHR. We compared the chromatin structure of AHR-knockout (AHRKO) HER2-overexpressing MCF-7 (HER2-5) cells with that of wild-type HER2-5 cells; subsequently, we identified TP63, a stemness factor, as a potential target gene of AHR. ΔNp63 mRNA and protein levels were higher in HER2-5 cells than in HER2-5/AHRKO cells. Activation of HER2/HER3 signaling by heregulin treatment increased ΔNp63 mRNA levels, and its induction was decreased by AHR knockdown in HER2-5 cells. The results of the chromatin immunoprecipitation assay revealed an interaction between AHR and the intronic region of TP63, which encodes ΔNp63. A luciferase reporter gene assay with the intronic region of TP63 showed that AHR expression increased reporter activity. Collectively, our findings suggest that HER2-activated AHR upregulates ΔNp63 expression and that this signaling cascade is involved in CSC maintenance in HER2-expressing breast cancers.     

基于威胁传播采样的复杂信息系统风险评估

互联网时代的信息安全已成为全社会关注的问题之一.信息系统是信息的载体,为有效评估大规模分布式复杂信息系统的风险,构建了一种基于威胁传播采样的复杂信息系统风险评估方法.该方法考虑到威胁在复杂信息系统中传播时,对资产结点的转移状态以及资产结点发出的威胁传播边进行采样来生成威胁传播树(threat propagation trees, TPT),然后通过计算威胁传播树中各资产结点的期望损失以及威胁传播树的概率来对整个复杂信息系统进行风险评估.实验分析表明,基于威胁传播采样的复杂信息系统风险评估方法,在生成威胁传播树时具有高效的时间效率,能够对复杂信息系统进行客观准确的风险评估,且在对复杂信息系统资产结点制定安全防护策略时,能够为安全风险管理者提供较为合理的安全指导建议.