Copper nanofiber-networked cobalt oxide composites for high performance Li-ion batteries

We prepared a composite electrode structure consisting of copper nanofiber-networked cobalt oxide (CuNFs@CoOx). The copper nanofibers (CuNFs) were fabricated on a substrate with formation of a network structure, which may have potential for improving electron percolation and retarding film deformation during the discharging/charging process over the electroactive cobalt oxide. Compared to bare CoOxthin-film (CoOxTF) electrodes, the CuNFs@CoOxelectrodes exhibited a significant enhancement of rate performance by at least six-fold at an input current density of 3C-rate. Such enhanced Li-ion storage performance may be associated with modified electrode structure at the nanoscale, improved charge transfer, and facile stress relaxation from the embedded CuNF network. Consequently, the CuNFs@CoOxcomposite structure demonstrated here can be used as a promising high-performance electrode for Li-ion batteries

Observation of transverse spin Nernst magnetoresistance induced by thermal spin current in ferromagnet/non-magnet bilayers

Electric generation of spin current via spin Hall effect is of great interest as it allows an efficient manipulation of magnetization in spintronic devices. Theoretically, spin current can be also created by a temperature gradient, which is known as spin Nernst effect. Here, we report spin Nernst effect-induced transverse magnetoresistance in ferromagnet (FM)/non-magnetic heavy metal (HM) bilayers. We observe that the magnitude of transverse magnetoresistance (i.e., planar Nernst signal) in FM/HM bilayers is significantly modified by HM and its thickness. This strong dependence of transverse magnetoresistance on HM evidences the spin Nernst effect in HM; the generation of thermally-induced spin current in HM and its subsequent reflection at the FM/HM interface. Our analysis of transverse magnetoresistance shows that the spin Nernst angles of W and Pt have the opposite sign to their spin Hall angles. Moreover, our estimate implies that the magnitude of the spin Nernst angle would be comparable to that of the spin Hall angle, suggesting an efficient generation of spin current by the spin Nernst effect

Polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) levels from two industrial zones (Sihwa and Banwal) located in An-san city of the Korean Peninsula and their influence on lake

The present research investigation was aimed at monitoring the levels of polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in the Korean ambient air, pine needle, and soil. Samples were collected from two large industrial zones of An-san city namely Sihwa and Banwal, both these industrial zones were further divided into major and minor zones in order to compare the levels of PAHs between the two industrial zones. Furthermore, the quality of the lake water near these two industrial zones was also monitored by analyzing water (dissolved phase, suspended solids) and sediment samples for the detection of PAHs. In this study, a high volume sampling method (HVAS-Sibata) was employed to collect airborne PAHs in both the particulate and gas phases. Hewlett Packard gas chromatographs equipped with mass spectrometer detectors (GC/MS) were used to analyze the samples. The monitoring data revealed that Sihwa major industrial zone have lower levels of PAHs in comparison to Sihwa minor industrial zone where increase levels of PAHs were observed in both the ambient air and soil samples, whereas in case of pine needle sample the PAHs levels were higher in Sihwa industrial zone. The sum of PAHs levels in ambient air from Sihwa major industrial and minor zones were found to be ranging between 50.17 ng/m3 and 96.46 ng/m3 whereas the estimated levels of PAHs from Banwal major industrial and minor zones were found to be ranging between 149.64 ng/m3 and 34.87 ng/m3 respectively. Since Banwal major industrial zone includes many sources, higher levels of PAHs were observed in almost all the samples as compared to Banwal minor industrial zone. Similarly, the level of PAHs in water and sediment samples from lake near Sihwa industrial zone showed an increase trend in dissolved and suspended solids in comparison to samples collected near Banwal industrial zone. Phenanthrene, Indeno[1,2,3-c,d]pyrene and Benzo[g,h,i]perylene showed the highest levels in both the zones. However, the levels of PAHs in sediment samples were lower near Sihwa industrial zone and vice versa, however lowest concentration of Anthracene was observed in both the zones. A detailed and thorough environmental monitoring for the presence of these toxic compounds in the environment is currently needed to set a baseline for future research. The work is still in progress to estimate the levels of PAHs from both these sites within our laboratory. @JASE

Serum high mobility group box-1 (HMGB1) is closely associated with the clinical and pathologic features of gastric cancer

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>High mobility group box-1 (HMGB1) is a newly recognized factor regulating cancer cell tumorigenesis, expansion and invasion. We investigated the correlation between the serum HMGB1 levels and the clinical and pathologic features of gastric cancer and evaluated the validity of HMGB1 as a potential biomarker for the early diagnosis of gastric cancer.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>A total of 227 subjects were classified into 5 disease groups according to the 'gastritis-dysplasia-carcinoma' sequence of gastric carcinogenesis and their serum levels of HMGB1 were analyzed by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) method. Clinical parameters, International Union Against Cancer (UICC) TNM stage, cancer size, differentiation or lymphatic invasion, vascular or perineural invasion and prognosis were used as analysis variables.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The serum HMGB1 levels were significantly different among disease groups (ANOVA, <it>p < 0.05</it>) and HMGB1 levels tended to increase according to the progression of gastric carcinogenesis. Serum HMGB1 levels were significantly associated with depth of invasion, lymph node metastasis, tumor size, and poor prognosis (<it>p < 0.05</it>). However, HMGB1 levels were not associated with patient gender or age, differentiation of tumor cells, or lymphatic, vascular and perineural invasion, or the existence of distant metastasis in advanced cancer (<it>p > 0.05</it>). The sensitivity and specificity of serum HMGB1 was 71% and 67% (cut-off value of 5 ng/ml) for the diagnosis of early gastric cancer, and 70% and 64% (cut-off value of 4 ng/ml) for the diagnosis of high-risk lesions, respectively. These values were greater than those for carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) (30–40% of sensitivity).</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>HMGB1 appears to be a useful serological biomarker for early diagnosis as well as evaluating the tumorigenesis, stage, and prognosis of gastric cancer.</p