Design hierarchical electrodes with highly conductive NiCo2S4 nanotube arrays grown on carbon fiber paper for high-performance pseudocapacitors.

We report on the development of highly conductive NiCo2S4 single crystalline nanotube arrays grown on a flexible carbon fiber paper (CFP), which can serve not only as a good pseudocapacitive material but also as a three-dimensional (3D) conductive scaffold for loading additional electroactive materials. The resulting pseudocapacitive electrode is found to be superior to that based on the sibling NiCo2O4 nanorod arrays, which are currently used in supercapacitor research due to the much higher electrical conductivity of NiCo2S4. A series of electroactive metal oxide materials, including CoxNi1-x(OH)2, MnO2, and FeOOH, were deposited on the NiCo2S4 nanotube arrays by facile electrodeposition and their pseudocapacitive properties were explored. Remarkably, the as-formed CoxNi1-x(OH)2/NiCo2S4 nanotube array electrodes showed the highest discharge areal capacitance (2.86 F cm(-2) at 4 mA cm(-2)), good rate capability (still 2.41 F cm(-2) at 20 mA cm(-2)), and excellent cycling stability (∼ 4% loss after the repetitive 2000 cycles at a charge-discharge current density of 10 mA cm(-2)).

The C-terminal domain of the type III secretion chaperone HpaB contributes to dissociation of chaperone-effector complex in Xanthomonas campestris pv. campestris.

Many animal and plant pathogenic bacteria employ a type three secretion system (T3SS) to deliver type three effector proteins (T3Es) into host cells. Efficient secretion of many T3Es in the plant pathogen Xanthomonas campestris pv. campestris (Xcc) relies on the global chaperone HpaB. However, how the domain of HpaB itself affects effector translocation/secretion is poorly understood. Here, we used genetic and biochemical approaches to identify a novel domain at the C-terminal end of HpaB (amino acid residues 137-160) that contributes to virulence and hypersensitive response (HR). Both in vitro secretion assay and in planta translocation assay showed that the secretion and translocation of T3E proteins depend on the C-terminal region of HpaB. Deletion of the C-terminal region of HpaB did not affect binding to T3Es, self-association or interaction with T3SS components. However, the deletion of C-terminal region sharply reduced the mounts of free T3Es liberated from the complex of HpaB with the T3Es, a reaction catalyzed in an ATP-dependent manner by the T3SS-associated ATPase HrcN. Our findings demonstrate the C-terminal domain of HpaB contributes to disassembly of chaperone-effector complex and reveal a potential molecular mechanism underpinning the involvement of HpaB in secretion of T3Es in Xcc.

Two lytic transglycosylases of Xanthomonas campestris pv. campestris associated with cell separation and type III secretion system, respectively.

The lytic transglycosylases (LTs) are important enzymes that degrade peptidoglycan of the bacterial cell wall and affect many biological functions. We present here that XC_0706 and XC_3001 are annotated as the LTs in Xanthomonas campestris pv. campestris. XC_0706 is associated with virulence and plays a pivotal role in cell division. Mutation on XC_3001 reduced hypersensitive response induction and the translocation of type III effector, but did not affect the function of the type II secretion system. Further studies showed that multiple LTs genes contribute to efficiency of the type III secretory system in X. campestris pv. campestris.

Scalable synthesis of freestanding sandwich-structured graphene/polyaniline/graphene nanocomposite paper for flexible all-solid-state supercapacitor.

We reported a scalable and modular method to prepare a new type of sandwich-structured graphene-based nanohybrid paper and explore its practical application as high-performance electrode in flexible supercapacitor. The freestanding and flexible graphene paper was firstly fabricated by highly reproducible printing technique and bubbling delamination method, by which the area and thickness of the graphene paper can be freely adjusted in a wide range. The as-prepared graphene paper possesses a collection of unique properties of highly electrical conductivity (340 S cm(-1)), light weight (1 mg cm(-2)) and excellent mechanical properties. In order to improve its supercapacitive properties, we have prepared a unique sandwich-structured graphene/polyaniline/graphene paper by in situ electropolymerization of porous polyaniline nanomaterials on graphene paper, followed by wrapping an ultrathin graphene layer on its surface. This unique design strategy not only circumvents the low energy storage capacity resulting from the double-layer capacitor of graphene paper, but also enhances the rate performance and cycling stability of porous polyaniline. The as-obtained all-solid-state symmetric supercapacitor exhibits high energy density, high power density, excellent cycling stability and exceptional mechanical flexibility, demonstrative of its extensive potential applications for flexible energy-related devices and wearable electronics.

Nanostructured (Co, Ni)-based compounds coated on a highly conductive three dimensional hollow carbon nanorod array (HCNA) scaffold for high performance pseudocapacitors.

The electrochemical performance of the pseudocapacitive materials is seriously limited by poor electron and ions transport. Herein, an advanced integrated electrode has been designed by growing the pseudocapacitive materials, including Co(x)Ni(1-x)(OH)2, Co(x)Ni(1-x)O, and (Co(x)Ni(1-x))9S8, on a three-dimensional hollow carbon nanorod arrays (HCNA) scaffold. The HCNA scaffold not only can provide large surface area for increasing the mass loading of the pseudocapacitive materials, but also is with good electrical conductivity and hollow structure for facilitating fast electron and electrolyte ions transport, and thus improve the electrochemical performance. Particularly, in comparison with Co(x)Ni(1-x)(OH)2 and Co(x)Ni(1-x)O nanosheets, (Co(x)Ni(1-x))9S8 nanosheets on the HCNA scaffold exhibit better electrochemical performance. The discharge areal capacitance of the (CoxNi1-x)9S8/HCNA electrode can be achieved to 1.32 F cm(-2) at 1 mA cm(-2), ∼1.5 times as that of the Co(x)Ni(1-x)(OH)2/HCNA electrode. The rate capability performance is also improved. 71.8% of the capacitance is retained with increasing the discharge current density from 1 to 10 mA cm(-2), in contrast to ∼59.9% for the Co(x)Ni(1-x)(OH)2/HCNA electrode. Remarkably, the cycling stability is significantly enhanced. ∼111.2% of the initial capacitance is gained instead of decaying after the 3000 cycles at 8 mA cm(-2), while there is ∼11.5% loss for the Co(x)Ni(1-x)(OH)2/HCNA electrode tested under the same condition. Such good electrochemical performance can be ascribed by that (Co(x)Ni(1-x))9S8 exhibits the similar energy storage mechanism as Co(x)Ni(1-x)(OH)2 and Co(x)Ni(1-x)O, and more importantly, is with better electrical conductivity.

Novel homozygous p.R454C mutation in the CYP11B1 gene leads to 11ß-hydroxylase deficiency in a Chinese patient.

OBJECTIVE: To show mutational analysis for 11ß-hydroxylase deficiency (11ß-OHD). DESIGN: Case report. SETTING: A laboratory of endocrinology at a university hospital. PATIENT(S): One Chinese woman with 11ß-OHD referred to our clinic was observed in our study. INTERVENTION(S): Genomic DNA was extracted from peripheral blood leukocytes, and coding sequence abnormalities of the CYP11B1 gene were assessed by polymerase chain reaction and then direct sequencing analysis. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Molecular characterization of the CYP11B1 gene. RESULT(S): A novel missense mutation (p.R454C) in the CYP11B1 gene was identified in our patient. CONCLUSION(S): Our study identified one novel mutation in the CYP11B1 gene. The expanded mutation database should benefit patients in the diagnosis and treatment of 11ß-OHD.

Randomised controlled trials relevant to aggressive and violent people, 1955-2000: a survey.

BACKGROUND: Randomised trials remain the gold standard for evaluating health interventions. This applies to the criminal justice system as well as to health. AIMS: To identify and survey randomised trials relevant to forensic mental health services. METHOD: We searched 29 electronic bibliographic databases and acquired randomised trials involving sex offenders, arsonists or people clearly and actively aggressive, or abusive of children or spouse. Two researchers reliably extracted data. RESULTS: Of 409 studies found, we able to acquire 300 for further inspection. They all involved particularly violent people (total n=28 669), mostly adult men; the mean study size was 197 (median 52, mode 60, range 1-1200).In these randomised trials over 700 interventions were evaluated and short-term outcomes were recorded on 345 different scales. CONCLUSIONS: Wider collaboration, rationalising treatments and simplifying outcomes could further strengthen the tradition of trialling in forensic psychiatry. Systematic reviews of these studies are overdue.