Facilitated Li+ ion transfer across the water/1,2-dichloroethane interface by the solvation effect

National Basic Research Program of China [2012CB932902, 2009CB220100, 2011CB933700]; Open Foundation of State Key Laboratory for Physical Chemistry of Solid Surfaces, Xiamen University [2010-18]; Beijing Higher Institution Engineering Research Center of Power Battery and Chemical Energy Materials; National Science Foundation of China [20973142, 21061120456, 21021002]; Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST) of China [2010DFA72760]; US-China Collaboration on Cutting-edge Technology Development of Electric VehiclesWe demonstrate that the solvation effect can be the driving force for ion transfer across the water/1,2-dichloroethane interface. Voltammetric behaviours of facilitated Li+ ion transfer by the solvents of lithium-based batteries are investigated, which is valuable for the dual-electrolyte Li-air batteries, but also for the ion detection, separation and extraction

Identification of Novel Variants of Metadherin in Breast Cancer

Metadherin (MTDH, also known as AEG-1, and Lyric) has been demonstrated to play a potential role in several significant aspects of tumor progression. It has been reported that overexpression of MTDH is associated with progression of disease and poorer prognosis in breast cancer. However, there are no studies to date assessing variants of the MTDH gene and their potential relationship with breast cancer susceptibility. Thus, we investigated all variants of the MTDH gene and explored the association of the variants with breast cancer development. Our cohort consisted of full-length gene sequencing of 108 breast cancer cases and 100 healthy controls; variants were detected in 11 breast cancer cases and 13 controls. Among the variants detected, 9 novel variants were discovered and 2 were found to be associated with the susceptibility of breast cancer. However, additional studies need to be conducted in larger sample sizes to validate these findings and to further investigate whether these variants are prognostic in breast cancer patients

Metadherin Mediates Lipopolysaccharide-Induced Migration and Invasion of Breast Cancer Cells

BACKGROUND: Breast cancer is the most prevalent cancer in women worldwide and metastatic breast cancer has very poor prognosis. Inflammation has been implicated in migration and metastasis of breast cancer, although the exact molecular mechanism remains elusive. PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: We show that the pro-inflammatory endotoxin Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) upregulates the expression of Metadherin (MTDH), a recently identified oncogene, in a number of breast cancer lines. Stable knockdown of MTDH by shRNA in human breast MDA-MB-231 cells abolishes LPS-induced cell migration and invasion as determined by several in vitro assays. In addition, knockdown of MTDH diminishes Nuclear Factor-kappa B (NF-κB) activation by LPS and inhibited LPS-induced IL-8 and MMP-9 production. CONCLUSIONS: These results strongly suggest that MTDH is a pivotal molecule in inflammation-mediated tumor metastasis. Since NF-κB, IL-8 and MMP-9 play roles in LPS-induced invasion or metastasis, the mechanism of MTDH-promoted invasion and metastasis may be through the activation of NF-κB, IL-8 and MMP-9, also suggesting a role of MTDH in regulating both inflammatory responses and inflammation-associated tumor invasion. These findings indicate that MTDH is involved in inflammation-induced tumor progression, and support that MTDH targeting therapy may hold promising prospects in treating breast cancer

Aberrant T Helper 17 Cells and Related Cytokines in Bone Marrow Microenvironment of Patients with Acute Myeloid Leukemia

In this study, we mainly investigate the role of Th17 cells, Th1 cells, and their related cytokines in the pathophysiology of AML. BM and PB were extracted from ND, CR, and relapsed-refractory AML patients and controls. Th subsets frequencies were examined by flow cytometry. BM plasma Th-associated cytokines levels were determined by ELISA. The frequencies of Th17 and Th1, and IFN-γ or TGF-β concentrations were significantly decreased in ND compared with CR patients or controls. Th17 percentage was significantly lower in BM than in PB for ND patients but was higher in BM for CR patients. However, in CR or relapsed-refractory patients, Th1 percentage in BM was higher than that in PB. Moreover, BM IL-17A level showed a decreased trend in ND patients. A significant elevation of plasma IL-6 level was found in ND compared with CR patients or controls. IL-17A showed the positive correlation with IL-6 concentration. And Th17 cells frequencies and TGF-β1 concentration were increased in BM from AML patients achieving CR after chemotherapy. Moreover, a significant decrease of BM plasma TGF-β1 level was found in M3 patients compared with the other subtypes. Our findings suggest that Th17 and related cytokines may be implicated in AML pathogenesis

Preparation of 3D Frame Material for Lithium Metal Battery Anode Based on Waste Lithium-ion Battery Anode Graphite

With the increase of waste lithium-ion batteries (WLIBs), the recycling of WLIBs has been paid more attention. Lithium metal battery (LMB) has extremely high theoretical specific capacity. However, the decline of cycle performance and the danger of short circuit caused by lithium dendrite formation and dead lithium accumulation are still the most thorny problems for the anode of LMB. Herein, the high value utilization of WLIBs anode graphite was explored, and it was prepared as a 3D frame material for LMB. Liquid-phase reduced graphite oxide nanosheets (lrGO) were prepared from AG, then, ZnO nanoparticles were loaded on lrGO. SEM, EDX and XRD were used to characterize lrGO and lrGO-ZnO , and the electrochemical tests were carried out. The results showed that lrGO and lrGO-ZnO maintained excellent cycle stability. Under the constant current density of 1mA cm-2, the stable cycle of lrGO-ZnO was 700 cycles, and the charge-discharge platform potential difference maintained at 22.5 mV after 200th cycle. The unique 3D structure of lrGO increased the electrode reaction area and suppressed the volume expansion of Li. The loading of ZnO significantly improved the lithiophilicity and cycle stability

Double spatial confinement on ruthenium nanoparticles inside carbon frameworks as durable catalysts for a quasi‐solid‐state Li–O2 battery

Abstract The rational design of large‐area exposure, nonagglomeration, and long‐range dispersion of metal nanoparticles (NPs) in the catalysts is critical for the development of energy storage and conversion systems. Little attention has been focused on modulating and developing catalyst interface contact engineering between a carbon substrate and dispersed metal. Here, a highly dispersed ultrafine ruthenium (Ru) NP strategy by double spatial confinement is proposed, that is, incorporating directed growth of metal–organic framework crystals into a bacterial cellulose templating substrate to integrate their respective merits as an excellent electrocatalytic cathode catalyst for a quasi‐solid‐state Li–O2 battery. The porous carbon matrix with highly dispersed ultrafine Ru NPs is well designed and used as cathode catalysts in a Li–O2 battery, demonstrating a high discharge areal capacity of 6.82 mAh cm–2 at 0.02 mA cm–2, a high‐rate capability of 4.93 mAh cm–2 at 0.2 mA cm–2, and stable discharge/charge cycling for up to 500 cycles (2000 h) with low overpotentials of ~1.4 V. This fundamental understanding of the structure–performance relationship demonstrates a new and promising approach to optimize highly efficient cathode catalysts for solid‐state Li–O2 batteries

Kinetics Tuning the Electrochemistry of Lithium Dendrites Formation in Lithium Batteries through Electrolytes

Lithium batteries are one of the most advance energy storage devices in the world and have attracted extensive research interests. However, lithium dendrite growth was a safety issue which handicapped the application of pure lithium metal in the negative electrode. In this investigation, two solvents, propylene carbonate (PC) and 2-methyl-tetrahydrofuran (2MeTHF), and four Li+ salts, LiPF6, LiAsF6, LiBF4 and LiClO4 were investigated in terms of their effects on the kinetics of lithium dendrite formation in eight electrolyte solutions. The kinetic parameters of charge transfer step (exchange current density, j(0), transfer coefficient, a) of Li+/Li redox system, the mass transfer parameters of Li+ (transfer number of Li+, t(Li+), diffusion coefficient of Li+, DLI+), and the conductivity (kappa) of each electrolyte were studied separately. The results demonstrate that the solvents play a critical role in the measured j(0), t(Li+), DLi+, and kappa of the electrolyte, while the choice of Li+ salts only slightly affect the measured parameters. The understanding of the kinetics will gain insight into the mechanism of lithium dendrite formation and provide guidelines to the future application of lithium metal.</p