Synergistic effect of cobalt, nitrogen-codoped hollow carbon sphere hosts for high performance lithium sulfur batteries

Lithium-sulfur (Li-S) batteries are considered to be one of the most promising candidates for the next generation of rechargeable batteries due to their high theoretical energy density and low cost. However, the practical application of Li-S batteries is seriously hindered by the dissolution of polysulfide and the intrinsic insulation of sulfur. Herein, we demonstrate a novel strategy to address these two problems by designing and synthesizing a cobalt, nitrogen-codoped hollow carbon sphere (Co, N@CPDA-HCS) with a highly conductive carbon shell to accommodate the sulfur. In this unique material architecture, each component synergistically serves a specific purpose: the highly conductive shell carbon can provide fast electron conduction paths and structural stability; the superfine Co nanoparticles uniformly embedded in the carbon shell can accelerate the conversion kinetics of the polysulfides by strong chemical interaction; moreover, the hollow structure provides a buffer space for the volume change of sulfur during charging and discharging, thus leading to a good cycle stability of sulfur cathodes. Co, N@CPDA-HCS exhibits balanced high electrochemical performance with respect to specific capacity, rate capability, and cycling stability. Specifically, S/Co, N@CPDA-HCS presents a high initial gravimetric capacity of 1365 mA h g(-1) at 0.1 A g(-1). The discharge capacity of 588 mA h g(-1) still remained at the current density of 1 A g(-1) after 300 cycles

MOESM1 of Metabolic regulations of a decoction of Hedyotis diffusa in acute liver injury of mouse models

Additional file 1. The minimum standards checklist

Proteomics analysis of chicken peripheral blood lymphocyte in Taishan Pinus massoniana pollen polysaccharide regulation.

The natural polysaccharides extracted from the pollen of Pinus massoniana (TPPPS) have been shown to be a promising immune adjuvant against several viral chicken diseases. However, the exact mechanism through which TPPPS enhances the host immune response in chicken remains poorly understood. In the current study, chicken peripheral blood lymphocytes were treated with varying concentrations of TPPPS and pro-inflammatory cytokines such as IFN-γ, iIL-2 and IL-6 were measured to determine the optimal dose of the polysaccharide. A comparative analysis was subsequently performed between the proteome of lymphocytes subjected to the best treatment conditions and that of untreated cells. Protein identification and quantitation revealed a panel of three up-regulated and seven down-regulated candidates in TPPPS-treated chicken peripheral blood lymphocytes. Further annotation and functional analysis suggested that a number of those protein candidates were involved in the regulation of host innate immune response, inflammation and other immune-related pathways. We believe that our results could serve as a stepping stone for further research on the immune-enhancing properties of TPPPS and other polysaccharide-based immune adjuvants

MOESM2 of Metabolic regulations of a decoction of Hedyotis diffusa in acute liver injury of mouse models

Additional file 2. The up-regulated and down-regulated metabolites in different categories among control, LPS/GALN group and LPS/GALN + HD group

Hillock formation and suppression on c-plane homoepitaxial GaN Layers grown by metalorganic vapor phase epitaxy

Hillocks on c-plane homoepitaxial GaN epilayers were investigated. They were observed on epilayers grown on [1 (1) over bar 00] direction miscut free-standing GaN substrates with miscut angle not larger than 0.2 degrees and were absent when substrate miscut angle increased to 0.4 degrees. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) and cathodoluminescence measurements reveal a close correlation between hillocks and dislocation clusters, while hillocks are absent on layers grown on GaN substrate free of dislocation clusters. We believe that the hillocks originate from spiral growth around dislocation clusters. Larger strain induced by dislocation accumulation may be responsible for the hillock formation around dislocation clusters. (C) 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved

Taishan <i>Pinus massoniana</i> Pollen Polysaccharides Enhance Immune Responses in Chickens Infected by Avian Leukosis Virus Subgroup B

<p>Immunosuppressive virus, which can cause suppressed immunity and vaccination failure, frequently occurs in chicken flocks and seriously destroys the poultry industry. Our previous studies have reported that Taishan <i>Pinus massoniana</i> pollen polysaccharide (TPPPS) possess immunomodulatory effects and improve the immune effects of vaccines. In this study, avian leukosis virus subgroup B (ALV-B) was chosen as immunosuppressive virus to artificially establish immunosuppressive models in chickens, and the immune modulatory ability of TPPPS on the immune response of chickens was evaluated. Four randomly assigned groups (Group I–IV) of these immunosuppressed chickens were administered with TPPPS at doses of 0, 100, 200, and 400 mg/kg (every kilogram chick), respectively. Group V was administered with saline as control. At seven day old, 10 chickens randomly selected from Group I–V were inoculated with the attenuated Newcastle disease (ND) vaccine. The results showed that during the monitoring period, TPPPS significantly enhanced weight of immune organs, peripheral lymphocyte proliferation, the percentage of CD4+ and the ratio of CD4+/CD8+, IL-2 and IFN-γ production, and ALV-B antibody positive rate of chickens in a dose-dependent manner, with 400 mg/kg TPPPS being the most effective. In addition, the antibody titer against Newcastle disease virus (NDV) in Group IV with 400 mg/kg was significantly higher than those in other groups. We observed the stronger immunity in the TPPPS group, which indicates that TPPPS could be used as an immunoenhancer to relieve immunosuppression caused by ALV-B in the poultry industry.</p