87 research outputs found
Recent Progress of Biomass-derived Carbon Materials used for Secondary Batteries
With rapid economic development, utilization of energy storage is increasingly important. Carbon materials derived from biomass are widely applied in energy storage systems due to their inexpensive and environmentally friendly nature. Compared to other advanced anode materials that have been explored, biomass carbon materials have high specific surface areas, adjustable porous structures, and heteroatoms that facilitate ion transfer and diffusion. To date, a series of porous biomass-derived carbon materials prepared through various methods have been used as anode electrodes of secondary batteries which greatly promoted their capacities. In this paper, we summarize the morphology and pore structure of biomass-derived materials from different precursors and discuss the electrochemical performance of secondary batteries (LIBs, SIBs, KIBs and ASSLMBs) equipped with biomass-derived carbon materials including monomers and composites as anode electrodes. Current research challenges along with future prospects for carbon-based electrode materials to improve secondary battery energy storage performance are emphasized
In Situ Growth of a Featherâlike MnO2 Nanostructure on Carbon Paper for HighâPerformance Rechargeable SodiumâIon Batteries
Recently, sodiumâion batteries have attracted great attention, owing to the rich resource and low cost. In the present work, a featherâlike MnO2 nanostructure was prepared directly on carbon paper by using a rapid and simple hydrothermal route for the first time. The formation mechanism was proposed by investigating the intermediate products during the reaction. When applied as an anode for a sodiumâion battery, the featherâlike MnO2 nanostructure on carbon paper exhibited a high discharge capacity, good rate reversibility, and longâterm cycling stability. A high specific capacity of approximately 300 mAhâgâ1 could be obtained even after cycling 400 times with a current density of 0.1 Aâgâ1. Furthermore, the Na+ storage mechanism of MnO2 on carbon paper in the sodiumâion battery was also investigated in this work. Such high performance can be attributed to the porous structure of the substrate and high specific surface area of the featherâlike nanostructure
SNHG17 Serves as an Oncogenic lncRNA by Regulating the miR-361-3p/STC2 Axis in Rectal Cancer
Long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) have been reported to be crucial regulators for carcinogenesis, including rectal cancer. This work aimed to explore the roles and associated mechanisms of small nucleolar RNA host gene 17 (SNHG17) in rectal cancer. A quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction was performed to measure the expression level of SNHG17 in rectal cancer tissues and cells. Cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) assay and flow cytometry assay were conducted to measure the biological roles of SNHG17 in rectal cancer. In addition, luciferase activity reporter assay, RNA immunoprecipitation (RIP) assay, and rescue experiments were conducted to explore the mechanisms of SNHG17 in rectal cancer. The upregulation status of SNHG17 was identified in rectal cancer tissues and cells. Functionally, knockdown the expression of SNHG17 inhibits rectal cancer cell proliferation via stimulating cell apoptosis. In vivo assay showed that the knockdown of SNHG17 inhibits tumor growth. Furthermore, we showed that microRNA-361-3p (miR-361-3p) has decreased expression in tumor tissues and cells, and SNHG17 functions as a sponge for miR-361-3p. The upregulation status of stanniocalcin 2 (STC2) was also found in rectal cancer, and the knockdown of STC2 hinders cancer progression. In conclusion, lncRNA SNHG17 functions as an oncogenic lncRNA in rectal cancer by regulating the miR-361-3p/STC2 axis
A Significantly High Abundance of âCandidatus Liberibacter asiaticusâ in Citrus Fruit Pith: in planta Transcriptome and Anatomical Analyses
Huanglongbing, a highly destructive disease of citrus, is associated with the non-culturable phloem-limited α-proteobacterium âCandidatus Liberibacter asiaticusâ (CLas). The distribution patterns of CLas in infected plant are variable and not consistent, which make the CLas detection and characterization more challenging. Here, we performed a systemic analysis of CLas distribution in citrus branches and fruits of 14 cultivars. A significantly high concentration of CLas was detected in fruit pith (dorsal vascular bundle) of 14 citrus cultivars collected at fruit maturity season. A 2-year monitoring assay of CLas population in citrus branches of âShatangjuâ mandarin (Citrus reticulata Blanco âShatangjuâ) revealed that CLas population already exhibited a high level even before the appearance of visual symptoms in the fruit rind. Quantitative analyses of CLas in serial 1.5-cm segments of fruit piths showed the CLas was unevenly distributed within fruit pith and tended to colonize in the middle or distal (stylar end) regions of pith. The use of CLas-abundant fruit pith for dual RNA-seq generated higher-resolution CLas transcriptome data compared with the leaf samples. CLas genes involved in transport system, flagellar assembly, lipopolysaccharide biosynthesis, virulence, stress response, and cell surface structure, as well as host genes involved in biosynthesis of antimicrobial-associated secondary metabolites, was up-regulated in leaf midribs compared with fruit pith. In addition, CLas infection caused the severe collapse in phloem and callose deposition in the plasmodesmata of fruit pith. The ability of fruit pith to support multiplication of CLas to high levels makes it an ideal host tissue for morphological studies and in planta transcriptome analyses of CLasâhost interactions
Aging Relevant Metabolite Itaconate Inhibits Inflammatory Bone Loss
Progressive bone loss during aging makes osteoporosis one of the most common and life impacting conditions in geriatric populations. The bone homeostasis is maintained through persistent remodeling mediated by bone-forming osteoblast and bone-resorbing osteoclast. Inflammaging, a condition characterized by increased pro-inflammatory markers in the blood and other tissues during aging, has been reported to be associated with skeletal stem/progenitor cell dysfunction, which will result in impaired bone formation. However, the role of age-related inflammation and metabolites in regulation of osteoclast remains largely unknown. In the present study, we observed dichotomous phenotypes of anti-inflammatory metabolite itaconate in responding to inflammaging. Itaconate is upregulated in macrophages during aging but has less reactivity in responding to RANKL stimulation in aged macrophages. We confirmed the inhibitory effect of itaconate in regulating osteoclast differentiation and activation, and further verified the rescue role of itaconate in lipopolysaccharides induced inflammatory bone loss animal model. Our findings revealed that itaconate is a crucial regulatory metabolite during inflammaging that inhibits osteoclast to maintain bone homeostasis
Evidence for lunar tide effects in Earthâs plasmasphere
Tides are universal and affect spatially distributed systems, ranging from planetary to galactic scales. In the EarthâMoon system, effects caused by lunar tides were reported in the Earthâs crust, oceans, neutral gas-dominated atmosphere (including the ionosphere) and near-ground geomagnetic field. However, whether a lunar tide effect exists in the plasma-dominated regions has not been explored yet. Here we show evidence of a lunar tide-induced signal in the plasmasphere, the inner region of the magnetosphere, which is filled with cold plasma. We obtain these results by analysing variations in the plasmasphereâs boundary location over the past four decades from multisatellite observations. The signal possesses distinct diurnal (and monthly) periodicities, which are different from the semidiurnal (and semimonthly) variations dominant in the previously observed lunar tide effects in other regions. These results demonstrate the importance of lunar tidal effects in plasma-dominated regions, influencing understanding of the coupling between the Moon, atmosphere and magnetosphere system through gravity and electromagnetic forces. Furthermore, these findings may have implications for tidal interactions in other two-body celestial systems
The Effects of Surface Mechanical Deformation and Bovine Serum Albumin on the Tribological Properties of Polyvinyl Alcohol Hydrogel as an Artificial Cartilage
The mechanical and tribological properties of polyvinyl alcohol hydrogel as an artificial cartilage were studied under water and bovine serum albumin-lubricated sliding conditions. The frictional properties of the polyvinyl alcohol hydrogel were investigated via reciprocating frictional tests. The effect of surface mechanical deformation on the tribological properties of the polyvinyl alcohol hydrogel as an artificial cartilage was studied by concurrently recording the z-axis displacement and friction coefficient time. Three different factors were chosen including load, speed, and lubrication. The results showed that the albumin solution could reverse the trend in the coefficient of friction in tests at different loading levels. There was no improvement in the friction condition in albumin at low speeds. However, when the speed was increased to 2âHz, the coefficient of friction was significantly reduced. Wear testing was also conducted, and wear tracks were found on the sample surface. The results also showed that even though the surface deformation could recover as the water phase of the porous structure recovered, the coefficient of friction continued to increase simultaneously. This relationship between mechanical and frictional tests indicated that biphasic lubrication effects may not be the only dominant factor underlying the excellent friction properties of polyvinyl alcohol hydrogel
Effect of water bath-assisted water extraction on physical and chemical properties of soybean oil body emulsion
Soybean oil body (SOB), rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids and biologically active substances, is used as a natural emulsifier in food processing. In addition, SOB is healthier than synthetic emulsifiers. However, the physical and chemical properties of the SOB emulsion directly affect its application in food processing. In order to study the effect of water bath extraction (WBAE) on SOBs, the effects of WBAE method on the composition of SOBs, the zeta potential, average particle size, oxidation stability, and viscosity characteristics of SOB emulsions were researched. It was found that both protein and moisture contents of SOB decreased with increasing WBAE temperature; however, lipid content increased. These results were attributed to the exogenous proteins gradually denatured and dissociated with extraction temperature from 60°C to 100°C. Increasing the extraction temperature, the average particle size of the SOB emulsions increased, the oxidative stability was improved, the Zeta potential and viscosity decreased, and the fluidity of emulsions was improved. The SOB extracted at 100°C has broad application prospects in food, and this research is meaningful for supplying fundamental information for selecting proper extraction temperature of SOBs
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