Graphite-anchored lithium vanadium oxide as anode of lithium ion battery

Graphite-anchored lithium vanadium oxide (Li1.1V0.9O2) has been synthesized via a “one-pot” in situ method. The effects of the synthesis conditions, such as the ratio of reaction components and calcination temperature, on the electrochemical performance are systematically investigated by means of scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), galvanostatic discharge/charge tests and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). Compared with the simple mixture of graphite and lithium vanadium oxide, the graphite-anchored lithium vanadium oxide delivers an enhanced reversible capacity, rate capability and cyclic stability. It also shows better thermal stability.Web of Scienc

Potentiated interaction between ineffective doses of budesonide and formoterol to control the inhaled cadmium-induced up-regulation of metalloproteinases and acute pulmonary inflammation in rats.

The anti-inflammatory properties of glucocorticoids are well known but their protective effects exerted with a low potency against heavy metals-induced pulmonary inflammation remain unclear. In this study, a model of acute pulmonary inflammation induced by a single inhalation of cadmium in male Sprague-Dawley rats was used to investigate whether formoterol can improve the anti-inflammatory effects of budesonide. The cadmium-related inflammatory responses, including matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) activity, were evaluated. Compared to the values obtained in rats exposed to cadmium, pretreatment of inhaled budesonide (0.5 mg/15 ml) elicited a significant decrease in total cell and neutrophil counts in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) associated with a significant reduction of MMP-9 activity which was highly correlated with the number of inflammatory cells in BALF. Additionally, cadmium-induced lung injuries characterized by inflammatory cell infiltration within alveoli and the interstitium were attenuated by the pre-treatment of budesonide. Though the low concentration of budesonide (0.25 mg/15 ml) exerted a very limited inhibitory effects in the present rat model, its combination with an inefficient concentration of formoterol (0.5 mg/30 ml) showed an enhanced inhibitory effect on neutrophil and total cell counts as well as on the histological lung injuries associated with a potentiation of inhibition on the MMP-9 activity. In conclusion, high concentration of budesonide alone could partially protect the lungs against cadmium exposure induced-acute neutrophilic pulmonary inflammation via the inhibition of MMP-9 activity. The combination with formoterol could enhance the protective effects of both drugs, suggesting a new therapeutic strategy for the treatment of heavy metals-induced lung diseases

High Mixing Efficiency by Modulating Inlet Frequency of Viscoelastic Fluid in Simplified Pore Structure

Fluid mixing plays an essential role in microscale flow systems. Here, we propose an active mixing approach which enhances the mixing of viscoelastic fluid flow in a simplified pore T-junction structure. Mixing is actively controlled by modulating the driving pressure with a sinusoidal signal at the two inlets of the T-junction. The mixing effect is numerically investigated for both Newtonian and viscoelastic fluid flows under different pressure modulation conditions. The result shows that a degree of mixing as high as 0.9 is achieved in viscoelastic fluid flows through the T-junction mixer when the phase difference between the modulated pressures at the two inlets is 180°. This modulation method can also be used in other fluid mixing devices

Hierarchical Cu4V2.15O9.38 micro-/nanostructures: A lithium intercalating electrode material

Hierarchical Cu4V2.15O9.38 micro-/nanostructures have been prepared by a facile "forced hydrolysis" method, from an aqueous peroxovanadate and cupric nitrate solution in the presence of urea. The hierarchical architectures with diameters of 10-20 mu m are assembled from flexible nanosheets and rigid nanoplates with widths of 2-4 mu m and lengths of 5-10 mu m in a radiative way. The preliminary electrochemical properties of Cu4V2.15O9.38 have been investigated for the first time and correlated with its structure. This material delivers a large discharge capacity of 471 mA h g(-1) above 1.5 V, thus making it an interesting electrode material for primary lithium ion batteries used in implantable cardioverter defibrillators

Involvement of HDAC6 in ischaemia and reperfusion-induced rat retinal injury

Abstract Background The role of histone deacetylases 6 (HDAC6) has been elucidated in various neurodegenerative diseases. However, the effect of HDAC6 on retinal degenerative processes remains unknown. The aim of this study was to elucidate the potential role of HDAC6 in the retinal ischaemia and reperfusion (I/R) injury model. Methods The retinal pathological lesion was evaluated by haematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining. HDAC expression or activity was detected by immunohistochemistry, Western blotting assays or colorimetric assays. The expression of apoptotic- and autophagic- related proteins were quantified by Western blotting and RT-PCR. The expression of peroxiredoxin 2 (Prx2) was determined by RT-PCR and ELISA. The levels of acetylated α-tubulin and acetylated histone 3 in the retina were assayed by Western blotting. Results We found that I/R-induced reduction of the retinal thickness was ameliorated, and the survival of RGCs was increased by the histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitor Trichostatin A (TSA) as well as by tubacin (an HDAC6 selective inhibitor). The decreased expression of THY (thymus cell antigen) in the I/R-induced retinas was also reversed by TSA and tubacin. Elevated HDAC6 expression and activity in the retina from I/R injury were significantly inhibited by tubacin, which also attenuated I/R-mediated apoptosis by decreasing TUNEL-positive RGCs and Bax expression and increasing Bcl-2 expression. Additionally, tubacin increased the expression of autophagy-related gene Beclin 1 and microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3B (LC3B) and the levels of Prx2. Furthermore, the protective effect of tubacin was associated with acetylated α-tubulin and was independent of acetylated histone 3. Conclusions Our findings suggest that tubacin exhibits neuroprotective effects after I/R retinal injury, and HDAC6 may be a potential therapeutic target for the retinal neurodegenerative disease of glaucoma

Linear correlation between MMP-9 activity with inflammatory cell counts and severity score of inflammatory injuries.

<p>The relationship between individual values of MMP-9 activity and the different inflammatory parameters obtained in cadmium group and in rats pretreated with low concentrations of formoterol and/or budesonide is represented. Coefficient of correlation is indicated for each figure.</p

Effects of formoterol in combination with budesonide on the concentrations of total cells (A), neutrophils (B) and macrophages (C) in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid in rats exposed to cadmium.

<p>FMT 0.5+BUD 0.25+Cd: group pretreated with a combination of 0.5 mg/30 ml formoterol and 0.25 mg/15 ml budesonide before cadmium. For other abbreviation meaning: see <a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0109136#pone-0109136-g001" target="_blank">Fig. 1</a> legend. * Indicates a significant difference in comparison with sham group (* P<0.05, ** P<0.01, *** P<0.001); # indicates a significant difference in comparison with cadmium-exposed group (# P<0.05, ## P<0.01, ###P<0.001); § indicates a significant difference in comparison with FMT 0.5+BUD 0.25+Cd group (§ P<0.05, §§ P<0.01).</p

Protective effects of formoterol and budesonide on the concentrations of total cells (A), neutrophils (B) and macrophages (C) in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid in rats exposed to cadmium.

<p>CdCl₂: 0.1% CdCl₂ cadmium group; FMT 0.5+Cd and FMT 1+Cd: animals pretreated with increasing concentrations of formoterol (0.5 mg/30 ml; 1 mg/30 ml respectively) before cadmium inhalation; BUD 0.25+Cd and BUD 0.5+Cd: animals exposed to budesonide (0.25 mg/15 ml and 0.5 mg/15 ml respectively) followed by cadmium exposure; * Indicates a significant difference in comparison with sham group (* P<0.05, ** P<0.01, *** P<0.001); # indicates a significant difference in comparison with cadmium-exposed group (# P<0.05, ## P<0.01, ###P<0.001).</p

Inflammatory scores attributed to the severity (A, C) and extent (B, D) of histological injuries.

<p>For abbreviation meaning: see <a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0109136#pone-0109136-g001" target="_blank">Fig. 1</a> and <a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0109136#pone-0109136-g002" target="_blank">Fig. 2</a> legend. * Indicates a significant difference in comparison with sham group (* P<0.05, ** P<0.01, *** P<0.001); # indicates a significant difference in comparison with cadmium-exposed group (# P<0.05, ## P<0.01, ### P<0.001). § indicates a significant difference in comparison with FMT 0.5+BUD 0.25+Cd group (§ P<0.05, §§ P<0.01).</p