Improved Performance of LiFe0.25Mn0.75PO4 by using Graphene and Fluorine- Doped Carbon Coating

Lithium transition metal phosphatesusually need modification of morphology and electron conductivity for improving the electrochemical performance [1,2]. In this work, the electron conductivity of LiFe0.25Mn0.75PO4 is increased by adopting graphene and F-doped carbon.The reductive graphene oxide and F-doped carbon coating LiFe0.25Mn0.75PO4 (LFMP/C-F/rGO) is synthesized by a simple ball milling method

Generation of cardiomyocytes from human-induced pluripotent stem cells resembling atrial cells with ability to respond to adrenoceptor agonists

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common chronic arrhythmia presenting a heavy disease burden. We report a new approach for generating cardiomyocytes (CMs) resembling atrial cells from human-induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) using a combination of Gremlin 2 and retinoic acid treatment. More than 40% of myocytes showed rod-shaped morphology, expression of CM proteins (including ryanodine receptor 2, α-actinin-2 and F-actin) and striated appearance, all of which were broadly similar to the characteristics of adult atrial myocytes (AMs). Isolated myocytes were electrically quiescent until stimulated to fire action potentials with an AM profile and an amplitude of approximately 100 mV, arising from a resting potential of approximately −70 mV. Single-cell RNA sequence analysis showed a high level of expression of several atrial-specific transcripts including NPPA, MYL7, HOXA3, SLN, KCNJ4, KCNJ5 and KCNA5. Amplitudes of calcium transients recorded from spontaneously beating cultures were increased by the stimulation of α-adrenoceptors (activated by phenylephrine and blocked by prazosin) or β-adrenoceptors (activated by isoproterenol and blocked by CGP20712A). Our new approach provides human AMs with mature characteristics from hiPSCs which will facilitate drug discovery by enabling the study of human atrial cell signalling pathways and AF. This article is part of the theme issue ‘The heartbeat: its molecular basis and physiological mechanisms’

유선에서 Conjugated Linoleic Acid (CLA) 합성관련 단백질 탐색 및 기능 규명 연구

학위논문 (박사)-- 서울대학교 대학원 : 농생명공학부, 2011.2. 최윤재.Docto

Understanding Mn-Based Intercalation Cathodes from Thermodynamics and Kinetics

A series of Mn-based intercalation compounds have been applied as the cathode materials of Li-ion batteries, such as LiMn2O4, LiNi1−x−yCoxMnyO2, etc. With open structures, intercalation compounds exhibit a wide variety of thermodynamic and kinetic properties depending on their crystal structures, host chemistries, etc. Understanding these materials from thermodynamic and kinetic points of view can facilitate the exploration of cathodes with better electrochemical performances. This article reviews the current available thermodynamic and kinetic knowledge on Mn-based intercalation compounds, including the thermal stability, structural intrinsic features, involved redox couples, phase transformations as well as the electrical and ionic conductivity

Design and Evaluation of a Three Dimensionally Ordered Macroporous Structure within a Highly Patterned Cylindrical Sn-Ni Electrode for Advanced Lithium Ion Batteries

A 3-dimensionally ordered macroporous (3DOM) structure within a highly patterned cylindrical Sn-Ni alloy electrode was tailored by using various monodispersed polystyrene (PS) templates via a colloidal crystal templating process coupled with an electroplating process. The pore size and the wall thickness in the “inverse opal” 3DOM structure were increased with increasing the size of the PS template beads used in this study. The electrochemical performance of prepared electrodes was examined in order to reveal the correlation between the rate capability and the 3DOM structure. Except the electrode with 1.2 μm pores, the discharge capacities gradually decreased with increasing the current density, showing a capacity conservation ratio of 87% for the electrode with 0.5 μm pores and that of 84% for the electrode with 3.0 μm pores when the current density increased from 0.05 mA cm−2 to 2.0 mA cm−2. The reason for this difference is attributed to the fact that the wall thickness of less than 0.5 μm in the electrode with 1.2 μm pores has a short Li+ diffusion distance in solid-state walls. In addition, it is expected that high regularity of 3DOM structure plays a great role on rate capability. Consequently, the 3DOM structure prepared from 1.2 μm PS template beads was favorable for improving the rate capability

Beta-Sitosterol Promotes Milk Protein and Fat Syntheses-Related Genes in Bovine Mammary Epithelial Cells

β-sitosterol, a phytosterol with multiple biological activities, has been used in the pharmaceutical industry. However, there are only a few reports on the use of β-sitosterol in improving milk synthesis in dairy cows. This study aimed to investigate the effects of β-sitosterol on milk fat and protein syntheses in bovine mammary epithelial cells (MAC-T) and its regulatory mechanism. MAC-T cells were treated with different concentrations (0.01, 0.1, 1, 5, 10, 20, 30, or 40 μM) of β-sitosterol, and the expression levels of milk protein and fat synthesis-related genes and proteins were analyzed. β-sitosterol at 0.1, 1, and 10 μM concentrations promoted the mRNA and protein expression of β-casein. β-sitosterol (0.1, 1, 10 μM) increased the mRNA and protein expression levels of signal transducer activator of transcription 5 (STAT5), mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR), and ribosomal protein S6 kinase beta-1 (S6K1) of the JAK2/STAT5 and mTOR signaling pathways. It also stimulated the milk fat synthesis-related factors, including sterol regulatory element-binding protein 1 (SREBP1), peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma (PPARγ), acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC), lipoprotein lipase (LPL), and stearyl CoA desaturase (SCD). β-sitosterol (0.1, 1, 10 μM) also significantly increased the expression of growth hormone/insulin-like growth factor-1 (GH/IGF-1) axis and hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α)-related genes. Notably, the compound inhibited the expression of the negative regulator, the suppressor of cytokine signaling 2 (SOCS2) at the two lower concentrations (0.1, 1 μM), but significantly promoted the expression at the highest concentration (30 μM). These results highlight the role of β-sitosterol at concentrations ranging from 0.1 to 10 μM in improving milk protein and fat syntheses, regulating milk quality. Therefore, β-sitosterol can be used as a potential feed additive to improve milk quality in dairy cows