Can adsorption be studied in the electrode potential range of severe hydrogen evolution

Surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy(SERS) has been applied to obtain structural information of surface species adsorbed at electrode surface in the electrode potential range of severe hydrogen evolution, which is very difficult to be gained by using most of spectroelectrochemical and conventional electrochemical methods

Probing electrode/electrolyte interfacial structure in the potential region of hydrogen evolution by Raman spectroscopy

The detailed interfacial structure in the potential region of severe hydrogen evolution, to date, is far from clear due to lack of both experimental data and correlated theoretic models. It has been shown that it is possible to surmount, to some extent, the disturbance of the spectroelectrochemical measurement by strong hydrogen bubbling in the potential region of severe hydrogen evolution by using a surface enhancement effect and a thin-layer cell configuration. Using this approach, we have obtained surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) spectra of water at an Ag electrode at very negative potentials at various concentrations of NaClO4. To explain the abnormal reversal of the peak intensity ratio of the bending to the stretching vibration, a preliminary model of the electrode/electrolyte interface is presented. The water molecule is oriented with one hydrogen attached to the surface and the oxygen towards an adsorbed cation which is partially dehydrated owing to the very strong electrostatic force. Raman spectra of hydrogen bound at a Pt electrode in solutions of varying pH from 0 to 14 at potentials of mild hydrogen evolution have also been presented for the first time. The spectra reveal that the Pt-hydrogen interaction is influenced by both the potential and the interfacial structure. These primary studies may initiate more molecular-level research of electrochemical interfaces in the potential region of hydrogen evolution

The non-coding landscape of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma

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The one-sided inverse along an element in semigroups and rings

The concept of the inverse along an element was introduced by Mary in 2011. Later, Zhu et al. introduced the one-sided inverse along an element. In this paper, we first give a new existence criterion for the one-sided inverse along a product and characterize the existence of Moore–Penrose inverse by means of one-sided invertibility of certain element in a ring. In addition, we show that a∈ S † ⋂ S # if and only if (a∗a)k is invertible along a if and only if (aa∗)k is invertible along a in a ∗ -monoid S, where k is an arbitrary given positive integer. Finally, we prove that the inverse of a along aa ∗ coincides with the core inverse of a under the condition a∈ S { 1 , 4 } in a ∗ -monoid S.FCT - Fuel Cell Technologies Program(CXLX13-072)This research was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 11371089), the Specialized Research Fund for the Doctoral Program of Higher Education (No. 20120092110020), the Natural Science Foundation of Jiangsu Province (No. BK20141327) and the Foundation of Graduate Innovation Program of Jiangsu Province (No. KYZZ15-0049).info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Chemical-mechanical effects in Ni-rich cathode materials

The implementation of Ni-rich cathodes with high energy density has been critically restrained by stress corrosion. Herein, crack-free LiNbO3-coated LiNi0.88Co0.10Mn0.02O2, as theoretically predicted, demonstrates highly reversible lithiation/delithiation. Mechanically, the phase transition (H1 → H2 → H3) is significantly alleviated by the excogitation of the interfacial force invoked by the LiNbO3 coating layer, as verified by X-ray absorption spectroscopy and extended X-ray absorption near-edge structure spectroscopy. Meanwhile, the stabilities of the crystal structure are remarkably strengthened by the strong Nb-O bond activated by Nb5+ doping that is confirmed by Rietveld refinement of X-ray diffraction and differential capacitance curves. Chemically, the interface shielding effect is conducive to protecting the electrode against electrolyte corrosion along with subsequent transition-metal dissolution, ultimately rendering a faster/highly convertible lithium-ion diffusion. Greatly, the excellent electrochemical properties (74% capacity retention after 300 cycles at 2 C within 2.5-4.3 V) and structural stability (the morphology remains intact after 500 cycles at 5 C within 2.5-4.3 V) are successfully achieved. Given this, this elaborate work might inaugurate a potential avenue for rationally tuning the structure/interface evolution toward Ni-rich materials

Age-Related Changes in the Epithelial and Stromal Compartments of the Mammary Gland in Normocalcemic Mice Lacking the Vitamin D3 Receptor

The vitamin D3 receptor (VDR) serves as a negative growth regulator during mammary gland development via suppression of branching morphogenesis during puberty and modulation of differentiation and apoptosis during pregnancy, lactation and involution. To assess the role of the VDR in the aging mammary gland, we utilized 12, 14, and 16 month old VDR knockout (KO) and wild type (WT) mice for assessment of integrity of the epithelial and stromal compartments, steroid hormone levels and signaling pathways. Our data indicate that VDR ablation is associated with ductal ectasia of the primary mammary ducts, loss of secondary and tertiary ductal branches and atrophy of the mammary fat pad. In association with loss of the white adipose tissue compartment, smooth muscle actin staining is increased in glands from VDR KO mice, suggesting a change in the stromal microenviroment. Activation of caspase-3 and increased Bax expression in mammary tissue of VDR KO mice suggests that enhanced apoptosis may contribute to loss of ductal branching. These morphological changes in the glands of VDR KO mice are associated with ovarian failure and reduced serum 17β-estradiol. VDR KO mice also exhibit progressive loss of adipose tissue stores, hypoleptinemia and increased metabolic rate with age. These developmental studies indicate that, under normocalcemic conditions, loss of VDR signaling is associated with age-related estrogen deficiency, disruption of epithelial ductal branching, abnormal energy expenditure and atrophy of the mammary adipose compartment

Disparities and risks of sexually transmissible infections among men who have sex with men in China: a meta-analysis and data synthesis.

BACKGROUND: Sexually transmitted infections (STIs), including Hepatitis B and C virus, are emerging public health risks in China, especially among men who have sex with men (MSM). This study aims to assess the magnitude and risks of STIs among Chinese MSM. METHODS: Chinese and English peer-reviewed articles were searched in five electronic databases from January 2000 to February 2013. Pooled prevalence estimates for each STI infection were calculated using meta-analysis. Infection risks of STIs in MSM, HIV-positive MSM and male sex workers (MSW) were obtained. This review followed the PRISMA guidelines and was registered in PROSPERO. RESULTS: Eighty-eight articles (11 in English and 77 in Chinese) investigating 35,203 MSM in 28 provinces were included in this review. The prevalence levels of STIs among MSM were 6.3% (95% CI: 3.5-11.0%) for chlamydia, 1.5% (0.7-2.9%) for genital wart, 1.9% (1.3-2.7%) for gonorrhoea, 8.9% (7.8-10.2%) for hepatitis B (HBV), 1.2% (1.0-1.6%) for hepatitis C (HCV), 66.3% (57.4-74.1%) for human papillomavirus (HPV), 10.6% (6.2-17.6%) for herpes simplex virus (HSV-2) and 4.3% (3.2-5.8%) for Ureaplasma urealyticum. HIV-positive MSM have consistently higher odds of all these infections than the broader MSM population. As a subgroup of MSM, MSW were 2.5 (1.4-4.7), 5.7 (2.7-12.3), and 2.2 (1.4-3.7) times more likely to be infected with chlamydia, gonorrhoea and HCV than the broader MSM population, respectively. CONCLUSION: Prevalence levels of STIs among MSW were significantly higher than the broader MSM population. Co-infection of HIV and STIs were prevalent among Chinese MSM. Integration of HIV and STIs healthcare and surveillance systems is essential in providing effective HIV/STIs preventive measures and treatments. TRIAL REGISTRATION: PROSPERO NO: CRD42013003721

Mucin Variable Number Tandem Repeat Polymorphisms and Severity of Cystic Fibrosis Lung Disease: Significant Association with MUC5AC

Variability in cystic fibrosis (CF) lung disease is partially due to non-CFTR genetic modifiers. Mucin genes are very polymorphic, and mucins play a key role in the pathogenesis of CF lung disease; therefore, mucin genes are strong candidates as genetic modifiers. DNA from CF patients recruited for extremes of lung phenotype was analyzed by Southern blot or PCR to define variable number tandem repeat (VNTR) length polymorphisms for MUC1, MUC2, MUC5AC, and MUC7. VNTR length polymorphisms were tested for association with lung disease severity and for linkage disequilibrium (LD) with flanking single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). No strong associations were found for MUC1, MUC2, or MUC7. A significant association was found between the overall distribution of MUC5AC VNTR length and CF lung disease severity (p = 0.025; n = 468 patients); plus, there was robust association of the specific 6.4 kb HinfI VNTR fragment with severity of lung disease (p = 6.2 x 10(-4) after Bonferroni correction). There was strong LD between MUC5AC VNTR length modes and flanking SNPs. The severity-associated 6.4 kb VNTR allele of MUC5AC was confirmed to be genetically distinct from the 6.3 kb allele, as it showed significantly stronger association with nearby SNPs. These data provide detailed respiratory mucin gene VNTR allele distributions in CF patients. Our data also show a novel link between the MUC5AC 6.4 kb VNTR allele and severity of CF lung disease. The LD pattern with surrounding SNPs suggests that the 6.4 kb allele contains, or is linked to, important functional genetic variation

High Resolution Genomic Scans Reveal Genetic Architecture Controlling Alcohol Preference in Bidirectionally Selected Rat Model

Investigations on the influence of nature vs. nurture on Alcoholism (Alcohol Use Disorder) in human have yet to provide a clear view on potential genomic etiologies. To address this issue, we sequenced a replicated animal model system bidirectionally-selected for alcohol preference (AP). This model is uniquely suited to map genetic effects with high reproducibility, and resolution. The origin of the rat lines (an 8-way cross) resulted in small haplotype blocks (HB) with a corresponding high level of resolution. We sequenced DNAs from 40 samples (10 per line of each replicate) to determine allele frequencies and HB. We achieved ~46X coverage per line and replicate. Excessive differentiation in the genomic architecture between lines, across replicates, termed signatures of selection (SS), were classified according to gene and region. We identified SS in 930 genes associated with AP. The majority (50%) of the SS were confined to single gene regions, the greatest numbers of which were in promoters (284) and intronic regions (169) with the least in exon\u27s (4), suggesting that differences in AP were primarily due to alterations in regulatory regions. We confirmed previously identified genes and found many new genes associated with AP. Of those newly identified genes, several demonstrated neuronal function involved in synaptic memory and reward behavior, e.g. ion channels (Kcnf1, Kcnn3, Scn5a), excitatory receptors (Grin2a, Gria3, Grip1), neurotransmitters (Pomc), and synapses (Snap29). This study not only reveals the polygenic architecture of AP, but also emphasizes the importance of regulatory elements, consistent with other complex traits