Significantly Enhanced Thermoelectric Performance of γ-In2Se3 through Lithiation via Chemical Diffusion

γ-In2Se3 is selected as a thermoelectric candidate because it has a unique crystal structure and thermal stability at relatively high temperatures. In this work we have prepared lithiated γ-In2Se3 through chemical diffusion and investigated its band structures and thermoelectric performance. After lithiation of γ-In2Se3 in lithium acetate (CH3COOLi) solution at 50oC, we have observed a high Hall carrier concentration (nH) up to ≤1.71×1018 cm-3 at room temperature (RT), which is about ∼4 orders of magnitude compared to that of pristine γ-In2Se3. The enhancement in nH is directly responsible for the remarkable improvement in electrical conductivity, and can be elucidated as the Fermi level (Fr) unpinning and moving towards the conduction band (CB) through the dominant interstitial occupation of Li+ in the γ-In2Se3 lattice. Combined with the minimum lattice thermal conductivity (κL=0.30-0.34 WK-1m-1) at ~923 K, the highest ZT value of 0.62-0.67 is attained, which is about 9-10 times that of pristine γ-In2Se3, proving that the lithiation in γ-In2Se3 is an effective approach on the improvement of the thermoelectric performance

The NS1 protein of influenza a virus interacts with heat shock protein Hsp90 in human alveolar basal epithelial cells: Implication for virus-induced apoptosis

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Our previous study showed that the NS1 protein of highly pathogenic avian influenza A virus H5N1 induced caspase-dependent apoptosis in human alveolar basal epithelial cells (A549), supporting its function as a proapoptotic factor during viral infection, but the mechanism is still unknown.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>To characterize the mechanism of NS1-induced apoptosis, we used a two-hybrid system to isolate the potential NS1-interacting partners in A549 cells. We found that heat shock protein 90 (Hsp90) was able to interact with the NS1 proteins derived from both H5N1 and H3N2 viruses, which was verified by co-immunoprecitation assays. Significantly, the NS1 expression in the A549 cells dramatically weakened the interaction between Apaf-1 and Hsp90 but enhanced its interaction with cytochrome c (Cyt c), suggesting that the competitive binding of NS1 to Hsp90 might promote the Apaf-1 to associate with Cyt c and thus facilitate the activation of caspase 9 and caspase 3.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>The present results demonstrate that NS1 protein of Influenza A Virus interacts with heat hock protein Hsp90 and meidates the apoptosis induced by influenza A virus through the caspase cascade.</p

Toll-like receptor activation by helminths or helminth products to alleviate inflammatory bowel disease

Helminth infection may modulate the expression of Toll like receptors (TLR) in dendritic cells (DCs) and modify the responsiveness of DCs to TLR ligands. This may regulate aberrant intestinal inflammation in humans with helminthes and may thus help alleviate inflammation associated with human inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Epidemiological and experimental data provide further evidence that reducing helminth infections increases the incidence rate of such autoimmune diseases. Fine control of inflammation in the TLR pathway is highly desirable for effective host defense. Thus, the use of antagonists of TLR-signaling and agonists of their negative regulators from helminths or helminth products should be considered for the treatment of IBD

m7GHub: deciphering the location, regulation and pathogenesis of internal mRNA N7-methylguanosine (m7G) sites in human

Motivation Recent progress in N7-methylguanosine (m7G) RNA methylation studies has focused on its internal (rather than capped) presence within mRNAs. Tens of thousands of internal mRNA m7G sites have been identified within mammalian transcriptomes, and a single resource to best share, annotate and analyze the massive m7G data generated recently are sorely needed. Results We report here m7GHub, a comprehensive online platform for deciphering the location, regulation and pathogenesis of internal mRNA m7G. The m7GHub consists of four main components, including: the first internal mRNA m7G database containing 44 058 experimentally validated internal mRNA m7G sites, a sequence-based high-accuracy predictor, the first web server for assessing the impact of mutations on m7G status, and the first database recording 1218 disease-associated genetic mutations that may function through regulation of m7G methylation. Together, m7GHub will serve as a useful resource for research on internal mRNA m7G modification

Genome-wide association study reveals novel genes for the ear size in sheep (Ovis aries)

Supplementary data for publication: Lei Gao, Song-Song Xu, Jing-Quan Yang, Min Shen, Meng-Hua Li. (2018). Genome-wide association study reveals novel genes for the ear size in sheep (Ovis aries). Anim Genet. 2018 Aug;49(4):345-348