mTOR: from growth signal integration to cancer, diabetes and ageing

In all eukaryotes, the target of rapamycin (TOR) signalling pathway couples energy and nutrient abundance to the execution of cell growth and division, owing to the ability of TOR protein kinase to simultaneously sense energy, nutrients and stress and, in metazoans, growth factors. Mammalian TOR complex 1 (mTORC1) and mTORC2 exert their actions by regulating other important kinases, such as S6 kinase (S6K) and Akt. In the past few years, a significant advance in our understanding of the regulation and functions of mTOR has revealed the crucial involvement of this signalling pathway in the onset and progression of diabetes, cancer and ageing.National Institutes of Health (U.S.)Howard Hughes Medical InstituteWhitehead Institute for Biomedical ResearchJane Coffin Childs Memorial Fund for Medical Research (Postdoctoral Fellowship)Human Frontier Science Program (Strasbourg, France

Effect of Methanol Crossover in a Liquid-FeedPolymer-Electrolyte Direct Methanol Fuel Cell

The performance of a liquid-feed direct methanol fuel cell employing a proton-exchange membrane electrolyte with Pt-Ru/C as anode and Pt/C as cathode is reported. The fuel cell can deliver a power density of ca. 0.2 $W/cm^2$ at 95°C, sufficient to suggest that the stack construction is well worthwhile.Methanol crossover across the polymer electrolyte at concentrations beyond 2 M methanol affects the performance of the cell which appreciates with increasing operating temperature

Direct methanol fuel cells for vehicular applications

Dramatic technological advances for the proton exchange membrane fuel cell have focused attention on this technology for motor vehicles. The fuel cell vehicles (FCVs) have the potential to compete with the petroleum fueled internal combustion engine vehicles (ICEVs) in cost and performance while e€ectively addressing air quality, energy insecurity, and global warming concerns. Methanol being a liquid can be easily transported and can be supplied from the existing network of oil company distribution sites. Recently, combining improved catalysts with fuel cell engineering, it has been possible to overcome some of the diffculties that have frustrated previous research and development efforts in realizing a commercially viable direct methanol fuel cell. Direct methanol fuel cells (DMFCs) with power densities between 0.2 and $0.4 W/cm^2$ at operational temperatures in the range 95-130 °C have been developed. These power densities are suffcient to suggest that stack construction is well worth while. This paper reviews recent advances and technical challenges in the field of DMFCs

A nickel-iron battery with roll-compacted iron electrodes

The performance of a 6 V/6 Ah, commercial size, nickel-iron battery with roll-compacted iron electrodes is reported in terms of its discharge characteristics and cycle-life data. The battery can withstand prolonged charge/discharge schedules with little deterioration in its performance. The effect of varying discharge rate and temperature on the performance of a 1.2 V/2.5 Ah nickel-iron cell is also examined

Nickel/iron batteries

Nickel/iron batteries have been developed and tested extensively in the USA, Japan, Europe and the former Soviet Union with good results. The major factor that limits the commercial impact of this battery is that it cannot be made sealed, that is, maintenance-free. This review examines the performance characteristics of the nickel/iron battery under varying operational conditions