3D dendritic-Fe2O3@C nanoparticles as an anode material for lithium ion batteries

3D dendritic Fe2O3 nanoparticles wrapped with carbon (denoted as 3DD-Fe2O3@C hereafter) were synthesized.</p

TFPI-2 is a putative tumor suppressor gene frequently inactivated by promoter hypermethylation in nasopharyngeal carcinoma

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Epigenetic silencing of tumor suppressor genes play important roles in NPC tumorgenesis. Tissue factor pathway inhibitor-2 (TFPI-2), is a protease inhibitor. Recently, <it>TFPI-2 </it>was suggested to be a tumor suppressor gene involved in tumorigenesis and metastasis in some cancers. In this study, we investigated whether <it>TFPI-2 </it>was inactivated epigenetically in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC).</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Transcriptional expression levels of <it>TFPI-2 </it>was evaluated by RT-PCR. Methylation status were investigated by methylation specific PCR and bisulfate genomic sequencing. The role of <it>TFPI-2 </it>as a tumor suppressor gene in NPC was addressed by re-introducing <it>TFPI-2 </it>expression into the NPC cell line CNE2.</p> <p>Results</p> <p><it>TFPI-2 </it>mRNA transcription was inactivated in NPC cell lines. <it>TFPI-2 </it>was aberrantly methylated in 66.7% (4/6) NPC cell lines and 88.6% (62/70) of NPC primary tumors, but not in normal nasopharyngeal epithelia. <it>TFPI-2 </it>expression could be restored in NPC cells after demethylation treatment. Ectopic expression of TFPI-2 in NPC cells induced apoptosis and inhibited cell proliferation, colony formation and cell migration.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Epigenetic inactivation of <it>TFPI-2 </it>by promoter hypermethylation is a frequent and tumor specific event in NPC. <it>TFPI-2 </it>might be considering as a putative tumor suppressor gene in NPC.</p

Preparation of Modified Fluorographene Oxide with Interlayer Supporting Structure

Fluorinated graphene (FGi) is easy to agglomerate, after which it turns into a curly and wavy shape, which results in a great decrease in the properties of the resultant composite materials and coatings. In this study, fluorinated graphene oxide (FGO) modified with p-phenylenediamine (PPD) was prepared, but with a view to avoid its agglomeration and retain a sheet-like structure. Through the reaction between PPD and the epoxy groups of FGO, the modified FGO with an amino group (N-PGO) had a larger interlayer d-spacing than FGO. The stability of N-PGO was also improved, and nitrogen, fluorine, oxygen, and carbon were evenly distributed in the N-PGO sheets. All the results indicate that PPD can act as an effective spacer to separate graphene sheets for good anti-agglomeration properties. This method produced modified graphene with fluorine, amino, and carbonyl groups. It shows potential in introducing N-PGO as a reactive modifier in composite materials and coatings for a variety of industrial applications including waterborne epoxy materials

Formalin-induced pain prolongs sub- to supra-second time estimation in rats

Background. Temporal estimation can be influenced by pain, which is a complex psychological and physiological phenomenon. However, the time range in which perception is most sensitive to pain remains unclear. Methods. In the present study, we explored the effects of acute inflammatory pain on time perception in the sub- to supra-second (0.6-2.4-s) and supra-second (2-8-s) ranges in rats. Plantar formalin injection was used to induce acute inflammatory pain, and a temporal bisection task was used to measure time perception. Task test sessions were held for five consecutive days (one per day): the day before injection (baseline), immediately after injection, and the three post-injection days. The point of subjective equality (PSE, which reflects the subjective duration) and Weber fraction (which reflects temporal sensitivity) were calculated and analysed. Results. In the 0.6-2.4-s range, the PSE was significantly lower, indicating prolonged subjective duration, in the formalin group relative to the saline group (p = 0.049) immediately after injection. Formalin-induced pain also tended to lengthened time perception in the 0.6-2.4-s range on post-injection days 2 (p = 0.06) and 3 (p = 0.054). In the 2-8-s range, formalin injection did not affect the PSE or Weber fraction. Conclusions. The enhanced effect of pain on temporal perception in the sub- to supra-second range is observed in this study and this effect is attenuated with the prolongation of estimated time, even in rats.</p

Formalin-induced and neuropathic pain altered time estimation in a temporal bisection task in rats

Time perception is an important ability that is related closely to humans&#39; and animals&#39; daily activities. It can be distorted by various emotional states. In human studies, experimental pain has been shown to prolong the perception of time. However, related animal studies are lacking. In this study, we used a temporal bisection task to investigate how acute inflammatory pain (induced by hind-paw formalin injection) and chronic neuropathic pain [induced by spinal nerve ligation (SNL)] affected time perception in rats. Rats were trained to recognize &quot;short&quot; (1200-ms) and &quot;long&quot; (2400-ms) anchor-duration pure tones and were rewarded for corresponding lever presses. During testing, rats perceived a series of intermediate-duration and anchor-duration pure tones, and selected levers corresponding to the &quot;short&quot; and &quot;long&quot; tones. After formalin injection, rats gave more &quot;long&quot; lever-press responses than after saline injection. The point of subjective equality after formalin injection also increased, suggesting that formalin-induced acute pain extended time perception. In contrast, rats that had undergone SNL gave fewer &quot;long&quot; lever-press responses compared with the sham surgery group. This animal study suggests that formalin-induced pain and neuropathic pain may have different effects on time perception.</p

中脑导水管周围灰质电刺激与丘脑电刺激对大鼠伤害感知行为的差异调节

深部脑刺激是一种广泛用于治疗中枢神经及精神疾病的功能型手术疗法。深部脑刺激在临床应用于疼痛治疗起源于半个多世纪以前,能够有效治疗多种类型的顽固疼痛,然而其作用机制尚不清楚。为了进一步探索其神经机制,首先需要建立合适的深部脑刺激治疗疼痛的动物模型。本研究在大鼠的中脑导水管周围灰质腹外侧区(ventrolateral periaqueductal gray, vlPAG)或丘脑腹后外侧核(ventral posterior lateral nucleus, VPL)埋置刺激电极,研究深部脑刺激对正常大鼠急性痛、完全弗式佐剂(complete Freund&#39;s adjuvant, CFA)注射引起的慢性炎症痛大鼠模型以及脊神经结扎(spinal nerve ligation, SNL)手术引起神经病理痛大鼠模型的镇痛效果。主要结果如下:(1)在正常大鼠中,单侧vlPAG刺激能够显著提高双侧足底的热辐射痛阈,即产生显著的双侧镇痛作用;(2)在CFA建立的慢性炎症痛模型中,对侧vlPAG刺激和VPL刺激都能够显著提高CFA侧足底的热辐射痛阈,即产生显著的镇痛作用;(3)在SNL手术引发的慢性神经源性痛模型中,对侧VPL刺激能够显著提高SNL侧足底的机械痛阈,而vlPAG刺激对SNL引发的触诱发痛没有影响。以上结果提示,PAG刺激对于急性痛以及慢性炎症痛有着较好的镇痛效果,而VPL刺激更适合慢性炎症痛和慢性神经病理痛的镇痛研究

Synthesis of Highly Stretchable, Mechanically Tough, Zwitterionic Sulfobetaine Nanocomposite Gels with Controlled Thermosensitivities

Novel nanocomposite (NC) gels with zwitterionic characteristics were prepared by in situ free-radical polymerization of sulfobetaine monomers in the presence of exfoliated clay platelets in aqueous media. Two specific sulfobetaine monomers, <i>N</i>,<i>N</i>-dimethyl­(acrylamidopropyl)­ammonium propanesulfonate and butanesulfonate, were selected on the basis of the interactions between the monomers and clay, which result in uniform aqueous solutions of low viscosity and gel formation without using an organic cross-linker. The resulting NC gels with polymer–clay network structures were insoluble in NaCl solution or hot water, unlike conventional physically cross-linked gels. Also, NC gels with high mechanical properties and well-controlled thermosensitivities were effectively prepared by copolymerization with a small amount of <i>N</i>,<i>N</i>-dimethylacrylamide. The copolymer NC gels were uniform and simultaneously showed high stretchability, tough mechanical properties, and well-defined upper critical solution temperature (UCST) phase-transitions. Furthermore, the tensile mechanical properties and UCST were controlled over a wide range by altering the clay concentration and copolymerization ratio

Strategies and methods for fabricating high quality metal halide perovskite thin films for solar cells

With the development of human society, the problems of environmental deterioration and energy shortage have become increasingly prominent. In order to solve these problems, metal halide perovskite solar cells (PSCs) stand out because of their excellent properties (i.e., high optical absorption coefficient, long carrier lifetime and carrier diffusion length, adjustable band gap) and have been widely studied. PSCs with low cost, high power conversion efficiency and high stability are the future development trend. The quality of perovskite film is essential for fabricating PSCs with high performance. To provide a full picture of realizing high performance PSCs, this review focuses on the strategies for preparing high quality perovskite films (including antisolvent, Lewis acid-base, additive engineering, scaleable fabrication, strain engineering and band gap adjustment), and therefore to fabricate high performance PSCs and to accelerate the commercialization