Intelligent Tunable Wave-Absorbing CNTs/VO2/ANF Composite Aerogels Based on Temperature-Driving.

The development of new electromagnetic absorbing materials is the main strategy to address electromagnetic radiation. Once traditional electromagnetic wave-absorbing materials are prepared, it is difficult to dynamically change their electromagnetic wave-absorbing performance. Facing the complexity of the information age and the rapid development of modern radar, it is significant to develop intelligent modulation of electromagnetic wave-absorbing materials. Here, CNTs/VO2/ANF composite aerogels with dynamic frequency tunability and switchable absorption on/off were synthesized. Based on the phase change behavior of VO2, the degree of polarization and interfacial effects of multiple heterogeneous interfaces between VO2 and CNTs and aramid nanofibers (ANFs) were modulated at different temperatures. With the increase in temperature (from 25 to 200 °C), the maximum absorption frequency of the frequency tunable aerogel is modulated from 12.24 to 8.56 GHz in the X-band, and the absorption intensity remains stable. The maximum effective switching bandwidth (ΔEAB) of the wave-absorbing switchable aerogel is 3.70 GHz. This study provides insights into intelligent electromagnetic wave absorption performance and paves the way for temperature-driven application of intelligent modulation of electromagnetic absorbers.

Multifunctional carbon nanotubes-based hybrid aerogels with high-efficiency electromagnetic wave absorption at elevated temperature.

In the complex engineering applications of electromagnetic (EM) wave-absorbing materials, it is insufficient for these materials to exhibit only efficient EM wave attenuation ability. EM wave-absorbing materials featuring numerous multifunctional properties are increasingly attractive for next-generation wireless communication and smart devices. Herein, we constructed a lightweight and robust multifunctional hybrid aerogel consisting of carbon nanotubes/aramid nanofibers/polyimide with low shrinkage and high porosity. The hybrid aerogels exhibit excellent EM wave attenuation, with an effective absorption bandwidth covering the entire X-band from 25 °C to 400 °C. The conductive loss capacity of the hybrid aerogel is enhanced under thermal drive, which results in an enhanced ability to attenuate EM waves, as evidenced by the fact that the best-fit thickness drops from 5.3 to 3.6 mm with increasing temperature. In addition, the hybrid aerogels are capable to efficiently absorb sound waves, with an average absorption coefficient as high as 0.86 at 1-6.3 kHz, and they exhibit superior thermal insulation properties, with a thermal conductivity as low as 41 ± 2 mW/mK. They are thus suitable for applications in the anti-icing and infrared stealth fields. The prepared multifunctional aerogels have considerable potential for EM protection, noise reduction, and thermal insulation in harsh thermal environments.

Achieving Ultra-Wideband and Elevated Temperature Electromagnetic Wave Absorption via Constructing Lightweight Porous Rigid Structure.

Realizing ultra-wideband absorption, desirable attenuation capability at high temperature and mechanical requirements for real-life applications remains a great challenge for microwave absorbing materials. Herein, we have constructed a porous carbon fiber/polymethacrylimide (CP) structure for acquiring promising microwave absorption performance and withstanding both elevated temperature and high strength in a low density. Given the ability of porous structure to induce desirable impedance matching and multiple reflection, the absorption bandwidth of CP composite can reach ultra-wideband absorption of 14 GHz at room temperature and even cover the whole X-band at 473 K. Additionally, the presence of imide ring group in polymethacrylimide and hard bubble wall endows the composite with excellent heat and compressive behaviors. Besides, the lightweight of the CP composite with a density of only 110 mg cm-3 coupled with high compressive strength of 1.05 MPa even at 453 K also satisfies the requirements in engineering applications. Compared with soft and compressible aerogel materials, we envision that the rigid porous foam absorbing material is particularly suitable for environmental extremes.

Follistatin-like 1 suppresses sensory afferent transmission by activating Na+,K+-ATPase.

Excitatory synaptic transmission is modulated by inhibitory neurotransmitters and neuromodulators. We found that the synaptic transmission of somatic sensory afferents can be rapidly regulated by a presynaptically secreted protein, follistatin-like 1 (FSTL1), which serves as a direct activator of Na(+),K(+)-ATPase (NKA). The FSTL1 protein is highly expressed in small-diameter neurons of the dorsal root ganglion (DRG). It is transported to axon terminals via small translucent vesicles and secreted in both spontaneous and depolarization-induced manners. Biochemical assays showed that FSTL1 binds to the α1 subunit of NKA and elevates NKA activity. Extracellular FSTL1 induced membrane hyperpolarization in cultured cells and inhibited afferent synaptic transmission in spinal cord slices by activating NKA. Genetic deletion of FSTL1 in small DRG neurons of mice resulted in enhanced afferent synaptic transmission and sensory hypersensitivity, which could be reduced by intrathecally applied FSTL1 protein. Thus, FSTL1-dependent activation of NKA regulates the threshold of somatic sensation.

Inhibition of inflammatory pain by activating B-type natriuretic peptide signal pathway in nociceptive sensory neurons.

B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) has been known to be secreted from cardiac myocytes and activate its receptor, natriuretic peptide receptor-A (NPR-A), to reduce ventricular fibrosis. However, the function of BNP/NPR-A pathway in the somatic sensory system has been unknown. In the present study, we report a novel function of BNP in pain modulation. Using microarray and immunoblot analyses, we found that BNP and NPR-A were expressed in the dorsal root ganglion (DRG) of rats and upregulated after intraplantar injection of complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA). Immunohistochemistry showed that BNP was expressed in calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP)-containing small neurons and IB4 (isolectin B4)-positive neurons, whereas NPR-A was present in CGRP-containing neurons. Application of BNP reduced the firing frequency of small DRG neurons in the presence of glutamate through opening large-conductance Ca2+-activated K+ channels (BKCa channels). Furthermore, intrathecal injection of BNP yielded inhibitory effects on formalin-induced flinching behavior and CFA-induced thermal hyperalgesia in rats. Blockade of BNP signaling by BNP antibodies or cGMP-dependent protein kinase (PKG) inhibitor KT5823 [(9S,10R,12R)-2,3,9,10,11,12-hexahydro-10-methoxy-2,9-dimethyl-1-oxo-9,12-epoxy-1H-diindolo[1,2,3-fg:3',2',1'-kl]pyrrolo[3,4-i][1,6]benzodiazocine-10-carboxylic acid methyl ester] impaired the recovery from CFA-induced thermal hyperalgesia. Thus, BNP negatively regulates nociceptive transmission through presynaptic receptor NPR-A, and activation of the BNP/NPR-A/PKG/BKCa channel pathway in nociceptive afferent neurons could be a potential strategy for inflammatory pain therapy.

Inflammation and nerve injury induce expression of pancreatitis-associated protein-II in primary sensory neurons.

Pancreatitis-associated protein (PAP)-I and -II, lectin-related secretory proteins, are members of the regenerating gene (Reg) family. Although expression of PAP-I was found in the dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons following peripheral nerve injury and cystitis, whether PAP-II could be expressed in DRG neurons in chronic pain models remains unclear. The present study shows an inflammation- and nerve injury-triggered expression of PAP-II in rat DRG neurons. In situ hybridization showed that only a few DRG neurons normally contained PAP-I and -II mRNAs. After peripheral inflammation, PAP-I and -II mRNAs were present in over half of small DRG neurons. Such an elevated expression of PAP-I and -II reached the peak level on the second day. Immunostaining showed that the expression of PAP-II was mostly increased in the isolectin B4-positive subset of small DRG neurons after inflammation. Furthermore, the expression of PAP-II was also induced in DRG neurons after peripheral nerve injury. Interestingly, PAP-II expression was shifted from small neurons on day 2 to large DRG neurons that expressed neuropeptide Y during the later post-injury days. These results suggest that PAP-II may play potential roles in the modulation of spinal sensory pathways in pathological pain states.