Flexible MXene Hybrid Films with a Tuned Silver Nanowire Framework for Electromagnetic Interference Shielding and Ultralow Voltage-Driven Joule Heating

As wearable electronics and medical implants evolve, there is an increasing demand for protective devices that provide both electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding and heating capabilities while operating at weaker voltages to accommodate various power sources. Herein, a simple, cost-friendly, step-by-step vacuum-assisted filtration method is utilized to prepare asymmetrical layered “MXene–MXene@silver nanowires(AgNWs)-MXene-AgNWs” hybrid films, exhibiting a “mille-feuille”-like structure with a thickness of 9.02 μm, possessing enhanced flexibility suitable for various applications. This composite structure exploits the excellent electrical and thermal conductivity of AgNWs together with the notable EMI shielding performance of MXene (SE/t = 112,967 dB cm–1 ). By tuning the MXene layer and AgNW framework, the multilayer structured film achieves excellent EMI shielding effectiveness (SE/t = 68,825 dB cm–1). Due to the introduction of the AgNW layer, its interface reflection properties lead to differential electromagnetic wave (EMW) consumption in the structure, resulting in an excellent EMI shielding of 62.08 dB. The enhanced EMI shielding is attributed to the AgNW layer interface reflection, which significantly increases the effective consumption pathway of incident EMWs. Moreover, its Joule heating performance reaches 227.7 °C at 1.0 V, exhibiting a superior ultralow voltage drive characteristic. The flexible and self-supported composite film has significant potential applications in protecting human body implants, such as cardiac pacemakers, from the influence of EMI pollution. Furthermore, it can be utilized in extreme weather conditions for deicing, defogging, and antifreezing purposes

Puerarin Suppresses Proliferation of Endometriotic Stromal Cells Partly via the MAPK Signaling Pathway Induced by 17ß-estradiol-BSA

<div><h3>Background</h3><p>Puerarin is a major isoflavonoid compound extracted from <em>Radix puerariae</em>. It has a weak estrogenic action by binding to estrogen receptors (ERs). In our early clinical practice to treat endometriosis, a better therapeutic effect was achieved if the formula of traditional Chinese medicine included <em>Radix puerariae</em>. The genomic and non-genomic effects of puerarin were studied in our Lab. This study aims to investigate the ability of puerarin to bind competitively to ERs in human endometriotic stromal cells (ESCs), determine whether and how puerarin may influence phosphorylation of the non-genomic signaling pathway induced by 17ß-estradiol conjugated to BSA (E₂-BSA).</p> <h3>Methodology</h3><p>ESCs were successfully established. Binding of puerarin to ERs was assessed by a radioactive competitive binding assay in ESCs. Activation of the signaling pathway was screened by human phospho-kinase array, and was further confirmed by western blot. Cell proliferation was analyzed according to the protocol of CCK-8. The mRNA and protein levels of cyclin D1, Cox-2 and Cyp19 were determined by real-time PCR and western blotting. Inhibitor of MEK1/2 or ER antagonist was used to confirm the involved signal pathway.</p> <h3>Principal Findings</h3><p>Our data demonstrated that the total binding ability of puerarin to ERs on viable cells is around 1/3 that of 17ß-estradiol (E₂). E₂-BSA was able to trigger a rapid, non-genomic, membrane-mediated activation of ERK1/2 in ESCs and this phenomenon was associated with an increased proliferation of ESCs. Treating ESCs with puerarin abrogated the phosphorylation of ERK and significantly decreased cell proliferation, as well as related gene expression levels enhanced by E₂-BSA.</p> <h3>Conclusions/Significance</h3><p>Puerarin suppresses proliferation of ESCs induced by E₂-BSA partly via impeding a rapid, non-genomic, membrane-initiated ERK pathway, and down-regulation of Cyclin D1, Cox-2 and Cyp19 are involved in the process. Our data further show that puerarin may be a new candidate to treat endometriosis.</p> </div

Effect of E₂-BSA and puerarin on cell proliferation in ESCs.

<p>(A) ESCs were treated with various concentrations (10⁻¹⁰ to 10⁻⁶ mol/L) of E₂-BSA for 4 d. (B) Growth curves of ESCs incubated with E₂-BSA (10⁻⁸ mol/L) and/or puerarin (10⁻⁹ mol/L) for 0, 1, 2, 4 d. (C) Cells were treated for 4 d with E₂-BSA (10⁻⁸ mol/L) in the absence or presence of puerarin (10⁻⁹ mol/L) and/or pretreated with U0126 (20 µmol/L) for 60 min. The figures represent data obtained from three experiments; each experiment was performed in triplicate, and data are represented as the mean ± SD. DMSO treatment was used as the vehicle control. <i>Vs. control</i>,**, <i>P</i><<i>0.01,</i> *, <i>P</i><<i>0.05; vs. E₂-BSA, ▴, P</i><<i>0.05.</i></p

Seasonal variations of fine root biomass (a, c) and necromass (b, d) in the perennial grasses (a, b) and the shrubs (c, d) from April to September 2010 for soil layers 0–10, 10–20, and 20–30 cm.

<p>Vertical bars indicate standard errors of means (n = 3).</p

Phospho-proteomic profiling of E₂-BSA and puerarin effects on ERK1/2 phosphorylation in ESCs and confirmed by western blot analysis.

<p>Cells were treated as indicated. A. AKT, Chk2 and ERK1/2 were activated by E₂-BSA and suppressed by puerarin. B. Western blot analysis of E₂-BSA on phosphorylation in ESCs. Cells were treated with vehicle (DMSO) or E₂-BSA (10⁻⁸ mol/L) for 15 min. AKT, Chk2 and ERK1/2 were activated by E₂-BSA. Expression was normalized to total ERK1/2.</p

Table_1_Plant life history strategies vary in subtropical forests with different disturbance histories: an assessment of biodiversity, biomass, and functional traits.docx

Disturbance alters environmental conditions in forests. Plants growing in forests with different disturbance histories in diverse environments may adopt varying life history strategies, but few studies focus on this effect. This study comprehensively investigated plant biodiversity, biomass, and functional traits in subtropical forests with two different disturbance histories in east China to explore differences in life history strategies. Biodiversity was slightly higher in disturbed compared to conserved forests. Significantly higher biomass was measured in conserved relative to disturbed evergreen broadleaved forests (P < 0.05). In conserved forests, leaf tissue density (LTD) was significantly higher and leaf thickness (LT), leaf dry matter content (LDMC), twig tissue density (TTD), twig dry matter content (TDMC), bark tissue density (BTD) and dry matter content (BDMC), and stem tissue density (STD) and dry matter content (SDMC) were significantly lower than in disturbed forests (P < 0.05). In terms of associated plant biodiversity, biomass, and functional traits, conserved forests adopted a resource acquisition strategy, reducing biodiversity and developing multiple functional traits such as high leaf area and specific leaf area and low LT, LDMC, TTD, TDMC, BTD, BDMC, STD, and SDMC to support a high biomass accumulation rate. Disturbed forests adopted a resource conservation strategy, enhancing biodiversity and developing converse trait combinations to lower the rate of biomass accumulation. A comprehensive investigation of plant biodiversity, biomass, and functional traits and subsequent assessment of plant life history strategies in conserved and disturbed forests will aid investigations of regional biodiversity and carbon reserves, contribute data to the TRY and Chinese plant trait databases, and improve ecological management and restoration efforts in east China.</p

Novel Combination of Efficient Perovskite Solar Cells with Low Temperature Processed Compact TiO₂ Layer via Anodic Oxidation

In this work, a facile and low temperature processed anodic oxidation approach is proposed for fabricating compact and homogeneous titanium dioxide film (AO-TiO₂). In order to realize morphology and thickness control of AO-TiO₂, the theory concerning anodic oxidation (AO) is unveiled and the influence of relevant parameters during the process of AO such as electrolyte ingredient and oxidation voltage on AO-TiO₂ formation is observed as well. Meanwhile, we demonstrate that the planar perovskite solar cells (p-PSCs) fabricated in ambient air and utilizing optimized AO-TiO₂ as electron transport layer (ETL) can deliver repeatable power conversion efficiency (PCE) over 13%, which possess superior open-circuit voltage (Voc) and higher fill factor (FF) compared to its counterpart utilizing conventional high temperature processed compact TiO₂ (c-TiO₂) as ETL. Through a further comparative study, it is indicated that the improvement of device performance should be attributed to more effective electron collection from perovskite layer to AO-TiO₂ and the decrease of device series resistance. Furthermore, hysteresis effect about current density–voltage (<i>J</i>–<i>V</i>) curves in TiO₂-based p-PSCs is also unveiled

Soil microbial biomass carbon (a), soil microbial activity (b) and <i>q</i>CO₂ (c) in the perennial grasses and the shrubs in May, July and September in 2010.

<p>Vertical bars indicate standard errors of means (n = 3). Difference letters indicate statistically significant differences (P<0.05), and absence of letters implies that no significant differences were detected.</p

Analysis of expression of cyclin D1, cyp19 and cox-2 genes in ESCs subjected to various treatments.

<p>ESCs were treated with E₂-BSA, puerarin or both for 24 h, in the absence and presence of pretreatment with U0126 for 60 min. Total RNA was isolated, RT quantitative real-time PCR was performed and relative expression of cyclin D1 (A), cyp19 (B) and cox-2 (C) were obtained. GAPDH served as an internal control. Individual bars show relative mRNA levels expressed as the mean ± S.E.M., determined from three separate assays. Protein levels were detected by western blotting (D). Group <i>vs.</i> control, **, <i>P</i><<i>0.01 and</i> *, <i>P</i><<i>0.05;</i> Group <i>vs.</i> E₂-BSA, <i>▴▴, P</i><<i>0.01</i> and <i>▴, P</i><<i>0.05</i>.</p

Estrogen receptor competitive binding assay.

<p>ESCs were incubated in the presence of E₂ or puerarin solutions for 1 h. After removal of the medium, [³H]-E₂ binding capacity was measured. (A) Total binding of [³H]-E₂ to ERs in ESCs; the concentrations of [³H]-E₂ used were 0, 0.1950, 0.3906, 0.7813, 1.5625, 3.125, 6.25, 12.5, 25, 50, 100, 200 and 400 nmol/L. (B) Non-specific binding of [³H]-E₂. (C) Specific binding of [³H]-E₂, calculated by subtracting the non-specific binding values from the total binding values. (D) Measurement of [³H]-E₂ binding to ERs in the presence of varying concentrations of E₂ (0, 0.0061, 0.0183, 0.0549, 0.1646, 0.4938, 1.4815, 4.4444, 13.3333 and 40 µmol/L) or puerarin (0, 0.0061, 0.0183, 0.0549, 0.1646, 0.4938, 1.4815, 4.4444, 13.3333 and 40 µmol/L). The figures represent data from three experiments; each experiment was performed in triplicate, and data are represented as the mean ± SD.</p