Penicillamine Increases Free Copper and Enhances Oxidative Stress in the Brain of Toxic Milk Mice

Wilson disease (WD) is characterized by the accumulation of copper arising from a mutation in the ATP7B gene. Penicillamine (PA) makes 10–50% of the patients with neurologic symptoms neurologically worse at the early stage of administration. The aim of this study was to determine how the copper metabolism changes and whether the change impairs the brain of toxic milk (tx) mice, an animal model of WD, during the PA administration. The free copper and protein-bound copper concentrations in the serum, cortex and basal ganglia of tx mice with PA administration for 3 days, 10 days and 14 days, respectively, were investigated. The expression of copper transporters, ATP7A and CTR1,was analyzed by real-time quantitative PCR, immunofluorescence and Western blot. Then SOD, MDA and GSH/GSSG were detected to determine whether the oxidative stress changed correspondingly. The results revealed the elevated free copper concentrations in the serum and brain, and declined protein-bound copper concentrations in the brain of tx mice during PA administration. Meanwhile, transiently increased expression of ATP7A and CTR1 was observed generally in the brain parenchyma by immunofluorescence, real-time quantitative PCR and Western blot. Additionally, ATP7A and CTR1 were observed to locate mainly at Golgi apparatus and cellular membrane respectively. Intense staining of ATP7A in the choroid plexus was found in tx mice on the 3rd and 10th day of PA treatment, but rare staining of ATP7A and CTR1 in the blood-brain barrier (BBB). Decreased GSH/GSSG and increased MDA concentrations were also viewed in the cortex and basal ganglia. Our results suggested the elevated free copper concentrations in the brain might lead to the enhanced oxidative stress during PA administration. The increased free copper in the brain might come from the copper mobilized from brain parenchyma cells but not from the serum according to the ATP7A and CTR1 expression analysis

Nine New Cataclysmic Variable Stars with Negative Superhumps

Negative superhumps (NSHs) are signals a few percent shorter than the orbital period of a binary star and are considered to originate from the reverse precession of the tilted disk. Based on TESS photometry, we find nine new cataclysmic variable stars (CVs) with NSHs. Three (ASAS J1420, TZ Per, and V392 Hya) of these stars similar to AH Her still have NSHs during dwarf nova outbursts, and the NSH amplitude varies with the outburst. The variation in the radius of the accretion disk partially explains this phenomenon. However, it does not explain the rebound of the NSH amplitude after the peak of the outburst and the fact that the NSH amplitude of the quiescence is sometimes not the largest, and it is necessary to combine the disk instability model (DIM) and add other ingredients. Therefore, we suggest that the variation of NSH amplitude with outburst can be an essential basis for studying the origin of NSHs and improving the DIM. The six ( ASASSN-V J1137, ASASSN-V J0611, 2MASS J0715, LAMOST J0925, ASASSN-17qj, and ZTF18acakuxo) remaining stars have been poorly studied, and for the first time we determine their orbital periods, NSHs and Superorbital signal (SOR) periods. The NSH periods and amplitudes of ASASSN-V J1137 and ASASSN-17qj vary with the SOR, and based on the comparison of the observations with the theory, we suggest that a single change in tilted disk angle does not explain the observations of the SOR and that other ingredients need to be considered as well.Comment: 23 pages, 11 figure

Detection of Tidally Excited Oscillations in Kepler Heartbeat Stars

Heartbeat stars (HBSs) with tidally excited oscillations (TEOs) are ideal laboratories for studying the effect of equilibrium and dynamical tides. However, studies of TEOs in Kepler HBSs are rare due to {the need for better modeling of the equilibrium tide in light curves}. We revisit the HBSs reported by Li et al. {and study the TEOs in these HBSs based on the derived orbital parameters that could express the equilibrium tide.} We also compile a set of analysis procedures to examine the harmonic and anharmonic TEOs in their Fourier spectrum. The TEOs of 45 HBSs (excluding eight systems studied in previous works) have been determined and presented. 19 of them show prominent TEOs (the signal-to-noise ratio of the harmonics $S/N \ge 10$). The relation between the orbital eccentricities and the harmonic number of the TEOs shows a positive correlation. The relation between the orbital periods and the harmonic number also shows a positive correlation. Furthermore, the distribution of HBSs with TEOs in the Hertzsprung-Russell (H-R) diagram shows that TEOs are more visible in hot stars with surface temperatures $T$ $\gtrsim$ 6500 K. These samples may also be valuable targets for future studies of the effect of tidal action in eccentric orbits.Comment: submitted to Ap

A hybrid Si@FeSiy/SiOx anode structure for high performance lithium-ion batteries via ammonia-assisted one-pot synthesis

Synthesised via planetary ball-milling of Si and Fe powders in an ammonia (NH3) environment, a hybrid Si@FeSiy/SiOx structure shows exceptional electrochemical properties for lithium-ion battery anodes, exhibiting a high initial capacity of 1150 mA h g−1 and a retention capacity of 880 mA h g−1 after 150 cycles at 100 mA g−1; and a capacity of 560 mA h g−1 at 4000 mA g−1. These are considerably high for carbon-free micro-/submicro-Si-based anodes. NH3 gradually turns into N2 and H2 during the synthesis, which facilitates the formation of highly conductive FeSiy (y = 1, 2) phases, whereas such phases were not formed in an Ar atmosphere. Milling for 20–40 h leads to partial decomposition of NH3 in the atmosphere, and a hybrid structure of a Si core of mixed nanocrystalline and amorphous Si domains, shelled by a relatively thick SiOx layer with embedded FeSi nanocrystallites. Milling for 60–100 h results in full decomposition of NH3 and a hybrid structure of a much-refined Si-rich core surrounded by a mantle of a relatively low level of SiOx and a higher level of FeSi2. The formation mechanisms of the SiOx and FeSiy phases are explored. The latter structure offers an optimum combination of the high capacity of a nanostructural Si core, relatively high electric conductivity of the FeSiy phase and high structural stability of a SiOx shell accommodating the volume change for high performance electrodes. The synthesis method is new and indispensable for the large-scale production of high-performance Si-based anode materials

Alcohol Consumption and Ankle-to-Brachial Index: Results from the Cardiovascular Risk Survey

BACKGROUND AND METHODOLOGY: A low ankle-to-brachial index (ABI) is a strong correlate of cardiovascular disease and subsequent mortality. The relationship between ABI and alcohol consumption remains unclear. Data are from the Cardiovascular Risk Survey (CRS), a multiple-ethnic, community-based, cross-sectional study of 14,618 Chinese people (5757 Hans, 4767 Uygurs, and 4094 Kazakhs) aged 35 years and over at baseline from Oct. 2007 to March 2010. The relationship between alcohol intake and ABI was determined by use of analysis of covariance and multivariable regressions. PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: In men, alcohol consumption was significantly associated with ABI (P<0.001). After adjusted for the confounding factors, such as age, sex, ethnicity, body mass index, smoking, work stress, diabetes, and fasting blood glucose, the difference remained significant (P<0.001); either the unadjusted or multivariate-adjusted odds ratio (OR) for peripheral artery disease (PAD) was significantly higher in men who consumed >60.0 g/d [OR = 3.857, (95% CI: 2.555-5.824); OR = 2.797, (95% CI: 1.106-3.129); OR = 2.878, (95% CI: 1.215-4.018); respectively] and was significantly lower in men who consumed 20.1-40.0 g/d [OR= 0.330, (95% CI: 0.181-0.599); OR = 0.484, (95% CI: 0.065-0.894); OR = 0.478, (95% CI: 0.243-1.534); respectively] and 40.1-60.0 g/d [OR= 0.306, (95% CI: 0.096-0.969); OR = 0.267, (95% CI: 0.087-0.886); OR = 0.203, (95% CI: 0.113-0.754); respectively] compared with never drinking, respectively (all P<0.01). Neither in unadjusted nor in multivariate-adjusted model was the association between ABI and alcohol consumption significant (all P>0.05) in women. Similarly, PAD was not correlated with alcohol intake in women (all P>0.05). CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: Our results indicated that in Chinese men, alcohol consumption was associated with peripheral artery disease, and consumption of less than 60 g/d had an inverse association with peripheral atherosclerosis whereas consumption of 60 g/d or more had a positive association

Platinum-nickel alloy excavated nano-multipods with hexagonal close-packed structure and superior activity towards hydrogen evolution reaction

铂镍合金在氢析出(HER)、氧还原(ORR)等重要能量转化反应中具有优异催化性质，受到了人们广泛的关注。近日，谢兆雄教授课题组通过简单的溶剂热方法，首次合成出六方晶系的铂镍合金枝状纳米晶，其中每个枝杈结构由六个{11-20}高能晶面裸露的超薄纳米片组装而成。与面心立方晶系铂镍合金相比，亚稳态的六方晶系铂镍合金在HER反应中表现出更加优异的性质。当电流密度为10 mA·cm-2时，其过电位仅有65 mV，同时质量电流密度高达3.03 mA·µgPt-1 (-70 m V vs. RHE)，是目前为止报道的HER催化剂中质量活性最高的，其突出的催化性能主要来源于晶相作用(同质异晶)及大的比表面积。该项工作为发展高催化性能的铂基合金纳米晶提供了新的研究思路。该研究是在谢兆雄教授和蒋亚琪副教授指导下，与傅钢教授共同合作完成。实验部分由博士生曹振明（第一作者）、陈巧丽、沈守宇、卢邦安，硕士生李慧齐以及博士后张嘉伟共同完成，理论计算部分由傅钢教授课题组完成。【Abstract】Crystal phase regulations may endow materials with enhanced or new functionalities. However, syntheses of noble metal-based allomorphic nanomaterials are extremely difficult, and only a few successful examples have been found. Herein, we report the discovery of hexagonal close-packed Pt–Ni alloy, despite the fact that Pt–Ni alloys are typically crystallized in face-centred cubic structures. The hexagonal close-packed Pt–Ni alloy nano-multipods are synthesized via a facile one-pot solvothermal route, where the branches of nano-multipods take the shape of excavated hexagonal prisms assembled by six nanosheets of 2.5nm thickness. The hexagonal close-packed Pt–Ni excavated nano-multipods exhibit superior catalytic property towards the hydrogen evolution reaction in alkaline electrolyte. The overpotential is only 65mV versus reversible hydrogen electrode at a current density of 10 mAcm-2 , and the mass current density reaches 3.03mA µgPt-1 at -70mV versus reversible hydrogen electrode, which outperforms currently reported catalysts to the best of our knowledge.This work was supported by the National Basic Research Program of China (Grant 2015CB932301), the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grants 21333008, 21603178 and J1030415) and the Natural Science Foundation of Fujian Province of China (No. 2014J01058). 该研究工作得到科技部（批准号：2015CB932301）、国家自然科学基金委（批准号：21333008, 21603178 和 J1030415）和福建省自然科学基金委（No. 2014J01058）的大力资助与支持