Recent Progress on Electrochemical Capacitors Based on Carbon Nanotubes

This review is focused on the theoretical and practical aspects of electrochemical capacitors based on carbon nanotubes. In particular, recent improvements in the capacitance properties of the systems are discussed. In the first part, the charge storage mechanisms of the electrochemical capacitors are briefly described. The next part of the review is devoted to the capacitance properties of pristine single- and multi-walled carbon nanotubes. The major portion of the review is focused on the capacitance properties of modified carbon nanotubes. The electrochemical properties of nanotubes with boron, nitrogen, and other atoms incorporated into the carbon network structure as well as nanotubes modified with different functional groups are discussed. Special attention is paid to the composites of carbon nanotubes and conducting polymers, transition metal oxides, carbon nanostructures, and carbon gels. In all cases, the influences of different parameters such as porosity, structure of the electroactive layer, conductivity of the layer, nature of the heteroatoms, solvent and supporting electrolyte on the capacitance performance of hybrid materials are discussed. Finally, the capacitance properties of different systems containing carbon nanotubes are compared and summarized

Stężenie wybranych czynników angiogennych w płynie otrzewnowym i surowicy krwi pacjentek z endometriozą

Introduction: Endometriosis is a sex hormone-dependent and successively progressing gynecological disease, characterized by the presence of endometrial tissue outside the uterus. The etiology of endometriosis is known to be multifactorial, and its growth depends on immunological, hormonal, genetic and environmental factors. Angiogenesis plays a key role in implantation and growth of endometriotic lesions, as well as in adhesion formation. Physiologically angiogenesis is responsible for neoangiogenesis and recruitment of new capillaries from the already existing capillaries. It is well-documented that altered angiogenesis provokes improper follicular maturation, infertility, recurrent miscarriages, ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome, and carcinogenesis. Factors stimulating angionesis include angiogenin, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and fibroblast growth factor (FGF). Objectives: The aim of the study was to analyze angiogenic factor concentration (angiogenin, VEGF, FGF) in blood serum and peritoneal fluid in patients with diagnosed endometriosis and idiopathic infertility. Material and methods: A total of 39 patients were recruited for the study, including 19 patients (study group) diagnosed with endometriosis during the laparoscopic procedure and 20 patients (control group) with idiopathic infertility and no morphologic changes within the pelvis revealed during the laparoscopic procedure. All patients underwent laparoscopy during the follicular phase of the menstrual cycle. Vein blood sample was obtained before the procedure and during laparoscopy the entire peritoneal fluid was aspirated for further measurement of VEGF, FGF and angiogenin concentrations. Results: Angiogenin concentration in peritoneal fluid was statistically higher in patient with idiopathic infertility in comparison to endometriosis (p0.05). There were no significant differences between serum and peritoneal fluid in case of VEGF, FGF and angiogenin in any of the groups. Conclusions: Angiogenic factors concentration (VEGF, FGF, agiogenin) in the peritoneal fluid and blood serum during the follicular phase of the menstrual cycle is not a diagnostic criterion for endometriosis.Wstęp: Endometrioza jest hormonozależną, przewlekłą i postępującą chorobą charakteryzującą się występowaniem funkcjonującej tkanki endometrialnej poza jamą macicy. Etiologia endometriozy jest wieloczynnikowa, a rozwój jej zależy od czynników immunologicznych, hormonalnych, genetycznych i środowiskowych. Jednym z kluczowych procesów odpowiedzialnych za implantację i wzrost zmian endometriotycznych oraz tworzenie zrostów jest angiogeneza. Fizjologicznie proces ten odpowiada za powstawanie nowych naczyń oraz przebudowę już istniejących. Udowodniono związek pomiędzy występowaniem zaburzeń procesu angiogenezy a brakiem owulacji, niepłodnością, nawracającymi poronieniami, zespołem hiperstymulacji jajników oraz nowotworzeniem. Do czynników pobudzających angiogenezę możemy zaliczyć między innymi angiogeninę, naczyniowy czynnik wzrostu śródbłonka (VEGF) oraz czynnik wzrostu fibroblastów (FGF). Cel pracy: Celem pracy była ocena stężenia czynników angiogennych (angiogenina, VEGF, FGF) w surowicy krwi żylnej oraz płynie otrzewnowym pacjentek z endometriozą i niepłodnością idiopatyczną. Materiały i metody: Do badania włączono 39 pacjentek. Grupę badaną stanowiło 19 pacjentek, u których w trakcie laparoskopii zdiagnozowano endometriozę, natomiast do grupy kontrolnej włączono 20 pacjentek z niepłodnością o niewyjaśnionej etiologii, u których w trakcie laparoskopii nie stwierdzono zmian morfologicznych w obrębie narządów miednicy mniejszej. Pacjentki zostały poddane laparoskopii w fazie folikularnej cyklu miesiączkowego. Przed zabiegiem od wszystkich pacjentek pobrano krew z żyły łokciowej, a podczas operacji, bezpośrednio po wprowadzeniu trokarów aspirowano całą widoczną objętość płynu otrzewnowego w celu oznaczenia stężenia VEGF, FGF i angiogeniny. Wyniki: W grupie pacjentek z niewyjaśnioną niepłodnością stwierdzono istotnie statystycznie (p0,05). Stężenie VEGF i FGF w surowicy krwi oraz w płynie otrzewnowym było podobne u pacjentek z endometriozą i z niepłodnością idiopatyczną. (p>0,05). Nie wykazano istotnych różnic między surowicą a płynem otrzewnowym dotyczących stężeń VEGF, FGF i angiogeniny w każdej z grup. Wniosek: Stężenie czynników angiogennych (VEGF, FGF, angiogenina) w płynie otrzewnowym i w surowicy krwi kobiet w folikularnej fazie cyklu nie jest markerem odzwierciedlającym występowanie endometriozy

Directional turnover towards larger-ranged plants over time and across habitats

Species turnover is ubiquitous. However, it remains unknown whether certain types of species are consistently gained or lost across different habitats. Here, we analysed the trajectories of 1827 plant species over time intervals of up to 78 years at 141 sites across mountain summits, forests, and lowland grasslands in Europe. We found, albeit with relatively small effect sizes, displacements of smaller- by larger-ranged species across habitats. Communities shifted in parallel towards more nutrient-demanding species, with species from nutrient-rich habitats having larger ranges. Because these species are typically strong competitors, declines of smaller-ranged species could reflect not only abiotic drivers of global change, but also biotic pressure from increased competition. The ubiquitous component of turnover based on species range size we found here may partially reconcile findings of no net loss in local diversity with global species loss, and link community-scale turnover to macroecological processes such as biotic homogenisation

New genetic loci link adipose and insulin biology to body fat distribution.

Body fat distribution is a heritable trait and a well-established predictor of adverse metabolic outcomes, independent of overall adiposity. To increase our understanding of the genetic basis of body fat distribution and its molecular links to cardiometabolic traits, here we conduct genome-wide association meta-analyses of traits related to waist and hip circumferences in up to 224,459 individuals. We identify 49 loci (33 new) associated with waist-to-hip ratio adjusted for body mass index (BMI), and an additional 19 loci newly associated with related waist and hip circumference measures (P < 5 × 10(-8)). In total, 20 of the 49 waist-to-hip ratio adjusted for BMI loci show significant sexual dimorphism, 19 of which display a stronger effect in women. The identified loci were enriched for genes expressed in adipose tissue and for putative regulatory elements in adipocytes. Pathway analyses implicated adipogenesis, angiogenesis, transcriptional regulation and insulin resistance as processes affecting fat distribution, providing insight into potential pathophysiological mechanisms

Abstracts from the 20th International Symposium on Signal Transduction at the Blood-Brain Barriers

https://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/138963/1/12987_2017_Article_71.pd

<scp>ReSurveyEurope</scp>: A database of resurveyed vegetation plots in Europe

AbstractAimsWe introduce ReSurveyEurope — a new data source of resurveyed vegetation plots in Europe, compiled by a collaborative network of vegetation scientists. We describe the scope of this initiative, provide an overview of currently available data, governance, data contribution rules, and accessibility. In addition, we outline further steps, including potential research questions.ResultsReSurveyEurope includes resurveyed vegetation plots from all habitats. Version 1.0 of ReSurveyEurope contains 283,135 observations (i.e., individual surveys of each plot) from 79,190 plots sampled in 449 independent resurvey projects. Of these, 62,139 (78%) are permanent plots, that is, marked in situ, or located with GPS, which allow for high spatial accuracy in resurvey. The remaining 17,051 (22%) plots are from studies in which plots from the initial survey could not be exactly relocated. Four data sets, which together account for 28,470 (36%) plots, provide only presence/absence information on plant species, while the remaining 50,720 (64%) plots contain abundance information (e.g., percentage cover or cover–abundance classes such as variants of the Braun‐Blanquet scale). The oldest plots were sampled in 1911 in the Swiss Alps, while most plots were sampled between 1950 and 2020.ConclusionsReSurveyEurope is a new resource to address a wide range of research questions on fine‐scale changes in European vegetation. The initiative is devoted to an inclusive and transparent governance and data usage approach, based on slightly adapted rules of the well‐established European Vegetation Archive (EVA). ReSurveyEurope data are ready for use, and proposals for analyses of the data set can be submitted at any time to the coordinators. Still, further data contributions are highly welcome.</jats:sec

Electrochemical Detection of Dopamine at a Gold Electrode Modified with a Polypyrrole–Mesoporous Silica Molecular Sieves (MCM-48) Film

A gold electrode modified with a polypyrrole&ndash;mesoporous silica molecular sieves (polypyrrole&mdash;MCM-48) nanostructure film was used for the electrochemical determination of small concentrations of dopamine (DA) by cyclic voltammetry and square-wave voltammetry techniques. This electrode showed good electrocatalytic activity for the oxidation of dopamine. The oxidation potential of dopamine was decreased significantly compared with that obtained at the bare gold electrode. The observed linear range for the determination of the dopamine concentration, without interferents through cyclic voltammetry measurements, was from 10 &mu;M to 1.2 mM (R2 = 0.9989) for the gold electrode modified with the polypyrrole&mdash;MCM-48 nanostructure, with a detection limit of 2.5 &mu;M. In the case of square-wave voltammetry, the linear range was 2&ndash;250 &mu;M, with a correlation coefficient of 0.9996, and the detection limit was estimated to be 0.7 &mu;M. The effects of interferents, such as ascorbic acid (AA) and uric acid (UA), on the electrochemical detection of dopamine were also examined. The modified electrode can successfully separate the oxidation potentials for ascorbic acid and dopamine, shifting the oxidation peak potential of ascorbic acid to a more positive potential, and significantly decreasing the peak current. The presence of ascorbic acid increased the sensitivity of dopamine determination at the modified electrode, and the detection limit was estimated to be 0.5 &mu;M with 0.1 mM ascorbic acid to imitate physiological solutions. Additionally, studies showed that the presence of uric acid does not affect the electrochemical detection of dopamine. The modified electrode can be successfully applied for the quantitative analysis of dopamine both with and without interferents