Metal-Air Batteries: Metal Deposition and Alloying in Aprotic Electrolytes for Anode Materials : Kinetic Behaviour

Metal air batteries concerning the increase in storage capacity, increase the lifetime, and reduction of weight, size and costs leads to more and more interest in battery research. The alloying-type anodes (Sb, Sn, and Bi as host material) for magnesium and calcium batteries are good choices for rechargeable metal batteries because of their high electrochemical properties. The lithium deposition/dissolution are investigated in 1 M and 3 M LiTFSI/DMSO solution on Au and Pt electrode. The highest coulombic efficiency of Li deposition/dissolution is observed in 3 M solution on Au electrode. MACC/TG and Mg(BH4)2/TG electrolyte systems show high reversibility and high coulombic efficiency (99 %). However, the freshly prepared MACC/TG electrolyte needs to be conditioned until it shows high reversible magnesium plating and stripping and the Al and Cl co-deposition is observed. High concentration of Mg(BH4)2/TG (1.5 M) electrolytes results in a coulombic efficiency of 70 % without addition of MgCl2. With an addition of 0.5 M MgCl2 the coulombic efficiency increase to 98 %. No reversible Ca deposition or alloying were observed in most Ca2+ containing electrolytes except 1.5 M Ca(BH4)2/THF (up to 98 % coulombic efficiency and 100 mV overpotential). The cyclic voltammogram for alloying/de-alloying with Sb, Sn, and Bi modified electrode shows a positive shift of the onset potential of bulk deposition compared to that at bare Au electrode. The ratio of moles agrees with the stoichiometry of Li2Sb and Li3Sb for Li alloying; Mg3Sb2, Mg2Sn, and Mg3Bi2 for Mg alloying; and CaSb2, Ca3Sn, and CaBi2 for Ca alloying. Three completely different behaviours were observed. First, the metal alloying is controlled first by the nucleation and charge transfer after the double-layer charging and then by the diffusion; or first by the charge transfer after the double-layer charging and then by the diffusion. Second, the other behaviour was controlled simultaneously by both charge transfer and diffusion. The current drops directly after the double-layer charge. Third, the metal alloying is only diffusion-determined process. The current drops directly after the double-layer charge. The diffusion coefficients were estimated to be 4-7×10-14 cm2/s for Mg alloying with Sb and 1-4×10-14 cm2/s for Mg alloying with Bi, which are one magnitude less than the diffusion coefficient 4-8×10-13 cm2/s for Mg alloying Sn. The diffusion coefficients of Ca alloying were estimated to be 0.9-1×10-13 cm2/s for Ca alloying with Sb and 2-3×10-13 cm2/s for Ca alloying with Bi, which is one magnitude higher than the diffusion coefficient of 3×10-14 cm2/s for Ca alloying with Sn. Furthermore, the diffusion rate of divalent cations (Mg and Ca) is less than the diffusion rate of Li in the Sb adlayers (4-6×10-12 cm2/s) The Bi bulk shows similar crystalline structure before (in aqueous solution) and after (in organic solution) transfer into the glovebox. After the Mg alloying/de-alloying the surface of Bi is smoother and the crystalline structure disappears

Reactive oxygen species promote chloroplast dysfunction and salicylic acid accumulation in fumonisin B1-induced cell death

AbstractWe report a novel regulatory mechanism by which reactive oxygen species (ROS) regulate fumonisin B1 (FB1)-induced cell death. We found that FB1 induction of light-dependent ROS production promoted the degradation of GFP-labeled chloroplast proteins and increased phenylalanine ammonia lyase (PAL) activity, PAL1 gene expression and SA content, while pretreatment with ROS manipulators reversed these trends. Moreover, treatment with H2O2 or 3-amino-1,2,4-triazole increased PAL activity, PAL1 gene expression and SA content. PAL inhibitor significantly blocked FB1-induced lesion formation and SA increase. Our results demonstrate that light-dependent ROS accumulation stimulates the degradation of chloroplastic proteins and up-regulates PAL-mediated SA synthesis, thus promoting FB1-induced light-dependent cell death

Transferrin, a Cell Pilot and Iron Provider Based on its Interaction with the Overexpressed Transferrin Receptors

Transferrin (Tf) is the serum protein responsible for delivering iron to the erythron and peripheral tissues. Transferrin receptor (TfR), a key receptor in the regulation of iron and is activated by the ferric ion loaded Tf, is overexpressed on the surface of various cancer cells due to their malignant transformation. Based on the Tf-TfR transport mechanism, Tf has been projected to be dually used as a pilot for nanoparticles to target the tumor cells with over expressed TfRs and an intracellular iron provider. Dihydroartemisinin (DHA) is believed a promising tumor therapeutic agent for its unique mechanism of cytotoxicity. When DHA chemically damaging cells, ferrous ions are required to react with the drug. In this research highlight, we discuss our latest published findings which demonstrate the enhanced cytotoxicity of DHA helped with a nanographene oxide carrier and the Tf-TfR transport system, and the potential for its anti-tumor application. This approach gives a further understanding on the role of ligand and receptor in tumor treatments

Molecular mechanisms of cell proliferation induced by low power laser irradiation

Low power laser irradiation (LPLI) promotes proliferation of multiple cells, which (especially red and near infrared light) is mainly through the activation of mitochondrial respiratory chain and the initiation of cellular signaling. Recently, the signaling proteins involved in LPLI-induced proliferation merit special attention, some of which are regulated by mitochondrial signaling. Hepatocyte growth factor receptor (c-Met), a member of tyrosine protein kinase receptors (TPKR), is phosphorylated during LPLI-induced proliferation, but tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) receptor has not been affected. Activated TPKR could activate its downstream signaling elements, like Ras/Raf/MEK/ERK, PI3K/Akt/eIF4E, PI3K/Akt/eNOS and PLC-gamma/PKC pathways. Other two pathways, ΔΨm/ATP/cAMP/JNK/AP-1 and ROS/Src, are also involved in LPLI-induced proliferation. LPLI-induced cell cycle progression can be regulated by the activation or elevated expressions of cell cycle-specific proteins. Furthermore, LPLI induces the synthesis or release of many molecules, like growth factors, interleukins, inflammatory cytokines and others, which are related to promotive effects of LPLI

Elliptic soliton solutions: τ\tau functions, vertex operators and bilinear identities

We establish a bilinear framework for elliptic soliton solutions which are composed by the Lam\'e-type plane wave factors. $\tau$ functions in Hirota's form are derived and vertex operators that generate such $\tau$ functions are presented. Bilinear identities are constructed and an algorithm to calculate residues and bilinear equations is formulated. These are investigated in detail for the KdV equation and sketched for the KP hierarchy. Degenerations by the periods of elliptic functions are investigated, giving rise to the bilinear framework associated with trigonometric/hyperbolic and rational functions. Reductions by dispersion relation are considered by employing the so-called elliptic $N$-th roots of the unity. $\tau$ functions, vertex operators and bilinear equations of the KdV hierarchy and Boussinesq equation are obtained from those of the KP. We also formulate two ways to calculate bilinear derivatives involved with the Lam\'e-type plane wave factors, which shows that such type of plane wave factors result in quasi-gauge property of bilinear equations.Comment: 41 page

The Lam\'e functions and elliptic soliton solutions: Bilinear approach

The Lam\'e function can be used to construct plane wave factors and solutions to the Korteweg-de Vries (KdV) and Kadomtsev-Petviashvili (KP) hierarchy. The solutions are usually called elliptic solitons. In this chapter, first, we review recent development in the Hirota bilinear method on elliptic solitons of the KdV equation and KP equation, including bilinear calculations involved with the Lam\'e type plane wave factors, expressions of $\tau$ functions and the generating vertex operators. Then, for the discrete potential KdV and KP equations, we give their bilinear forms, derive $\tau$ functions of elliptic solitons, and show that they share the same vertex operators with the KdV hierarchy and the KP hierarchy, respectively.Comment: 24 page

Three new synonyms of Pohlia (Bryaceae) from China

Three species of Webera and Pohlia described from China were reduced to new synonyms of other species of Pohlia. Webera ciliifera Broth. is a synonym of Pohlia elongata Hedw., W. pygmaea Broth. is a synonym of P. minor Schleich. ex Schwaegr. and P. subflexuosa Broth. is a synonym of P. flexuosa Hook

Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinase Plays a Vital Role in Regulation of Rice Seed Vigor via Altering NADPH Oxidase Activity

Phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) has been reported to be important in normal plant growth and stress responses. In this study, it was verified that PI3K played a vital role in rice seed germination through regulating NADPH oxidase activity. Suppression of PI3K activity by inhibitors wortmannin or LY294002 could abate the reactive oxygen species (ROS) formation, which resulted in disturbance to the seed germination. And then, the signal cascades that PI3K promoted the ROS liberation was also evaluated. Diphenylene iodonium (DPI), an NADPH oxidase inhibitor, suppressed most of ROS generation in rice seed germination, which suggested that NADPH oxidase was the main source of ROS in this process. Pharmacological experiment and RT-PCR demonstrated that PI3K promoted the expression of Os rboh9. Moreover, functional analysis by native PAGE and the measurement of the 2, 3-bis-(2-methoxy-4-nitro-5-sulfophenyl)-2H-tetrazo-lium-5- carboxanilide (XTT) formazan concentration both showed that PI3K promoted the activity of NADPH oxidase. Furthermore, the western blot analysis of OsRac-1 demonstrated that the translocation of Rac-1 from cytoplasm to plasma membrane, which was known as a key factor in the assembly of NADPH oxidase, was suppressed by treatment with PI3K inhibitors, resulting in the decreased activity of NADPH oxidase. Taken together, these data favored the novel conclusion that PI3K regulated NADPH oxidase activity through modulating the recruitment of Rac-1 to plasma membrane and accelerated the process of rice seed germination