Regulation of the d-band center of metal-organic frameworks for energy-saving hydrogen generation coupled with selective glycerol oxidation.

The hybrid electrolyzer coupled glycerol oxidation (GOR) with hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) is fascinating to simultaneously generate H2 and high value-added chemicals with low energy input, yet facing a challenge. Herein, Cu-based metal-organic frameworks (Cu-MOFs) are reported as model catalysts for both HER and GOR through doping of atomically dispersed precious and nonprecious metals. Remarkably, the HER activity of Ru-doped Cu-MOF outperformed a Pt/C catalyst, with its Faradaic efficiency for formate formation at 90% at a low potential of 1.40 V. Furthermore, the hybrid electrolyzer only needed 1.36 V to achieve 10 mA cm-2, 340 mV lower than that for splitting pure water. Theoretical calculations demonstrated that electronic interactions between the host and guest (doped) metals shifted downward the d-band centers (εd) of MOFs. This consequently lowered water adsorption and dissociation energy barriers and optimized hydrogen adsorption energy, leading to significantly enhanced HER activities. Meanwhile, the downshift of εd centers reduced energy barriers for rate-limiting step and the formation energy of OH*, synergistically enhancing the activity of MOFs for GOR. These findings offered an effective means for simultaneous productions of hydrogen fuel and high value-added chemicals using one hybrid electrolyzer with low energy input.

Vanadium Molybdenum Disulfide Nanosheets Anchoring on Carbon Cloth as High-Energy Density Cathode for Magnesium-Lithium Hybrid Batteries.

Magnesium-lithium-ion hybrid batteries (MLIBs) have gained significant attention since the combination of a dendrite-free and low-cost magnesium anode with lithium-ion storage cathodes. However, the lack of high-performance cathodes has severely hindered their development, limited by the lower operating voltages of electrolytes. Herein, vanadium molybdenum disulfide nanosheets anchoring on flexible carbon cloth (VMS@CC) are constructed as high-performance cathodes for MLIBs, which inherit the electrochemical properties of high-voltage VS2 and high-capacity MoS2, simultaneously. By adjusting the V and Mo atomic ratio, the VMS@CC cathode for MLIBs delivers a record maximum energy density of 275.5 Wh kg-1 with a high working voltage of 1.07 V at 50 mA g-1. Meanwhile, under the synergistic effects of the conductive carbon cloth matrix, abundant hetero-interfaces and defects, as well as expanded interlayer spacing, the VMS@CC cathode displays superior rate capability and long-term cycling stability. Ex situ analyses demonstrate the VMS nanosheets cathode exhibits a Li+/Mg2+ co-insertion/extraction mechanism in MLIBs, following the in situ insertion of organic species in the hybrid electrolyte during the aging process. The fabricated flexible cathode herein provides a new insight into the construction of high-energy density cathodes for MLIBs.

Nitrogen and Sulfur Co-Doped Carbon-Coated Ni3S2/MoO2 Nanowires as Bifunctional Catalysts for Alkaline Seawater Electrolysis.

Bifunctional catalysts have inherent advantages in simplifying electrolysis devices and reducing electrolysis costs. Developing efficient and stable bifunctional catalysts is of great significance for industrial hydrogen production. Herein, a bifunctional catalyst, composed of nitrogen and sulfur co-doped carbon-coated trinickel disulfide (Ni3S2)/molybdenum dioxide (MoO2) nanowires (NiMoS@NSC NWs), is developed for seawater electrolysis. The designed NiMoS@NSC exhibited high activity in alkaline electrolyte with only 52 and 191 mV overpotential to attain 10 mA cm-2 for hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) and oxygen evolution reaction (OER), respectively. Significantly, the electrolyzer (NiMoS@NSC||NiMoS@NSC) based on this bifunctional catalyst drove 100 mA cm-2 at only 1.71 V along with a robust stability over 100 h in alkaline seawater, which is superior to a platinum/nickel-iron layered double hydroxide couple (Pt||NiFe LDH). Theoretical calculations indicated that interfacial interactions between Ni3S2 and MoO2 rearranged the charge at interfaces and endowed Mo sites at the interfaces with Pt-like HER activity, while Ni sites on Ni3S2 surfaces at non-interfaces are the active centers for OER. Meanwhile, theoretical calculations and experimental results also demonstrated that interfacial interactions improved the electrical conductivity, boosting reaction kinetics for both HER and OER. This study presented a novel insight into the design of high-performance bifunctional electrocatalysts for seawater splitting.

Effect of Novel Compound Redox Initiators on Polymerization Mechanism and Mechanical Properties of Acrylic Resin.

Aiming at the problems of long reaction time and the risk of explosion polymerization of acrylate resin, a small amount of ferrocene (Fc) is added to the existing dibenzoyl peroxide (BPO)/N,N-dimethylaniline (DMA) initiators, and the compound redox initiators (BPO/DMA/ (Fc)) are proposed for acrylate resin polymerization at room temperature. The effect of the content of Fc in the resin on the reaction efficiency and the molding quality of products is researched, and the initiation mechanism of the compound redox initiators is analyzed. It is found that with the addition of Fc, the reaction time of the resin can be shortened by 68% at maximum, the heat release temperature of the resin can be reduced by 40% at maximum, the molecular weight of the reaction products can be increased by 74% at maximum, the tensile and bending properties of the resin castings are increased by 23% and 35% at maximum, respectively, and the bending strength and bending modulus are increased by 57% and 27% at maximum, respectively. The compound redox initiators proposed in this paper can improve the molding efficiency and quality of the product, lay a foundation for the application of acrylic resin in the field of pultrusion molding, perfusion molding, and other in situ molding of thermoplastic composites.

Carbon Superstructure-Supported Half-Metallic V2O3 Nanospheres for High-Efficiency Photorechargeable Zinc Ion Batteries.

Photorechargeable zinc ion batteries (PZIBs), which can directly harvest and store solar energy, are promising technologies for the development of a renewable energy society. However, the incompatibility requirement between narrow band gap and wide coverage has raised severe challenges for high-efficiency dual-functional photocathodes. Herein, half-metallic vanadium (III) oxide (V2O3) was first reported as a dual-functional photocathode for PZIBs. Theoretical and experimental results revealed its unique photoelectrical and zinc ion storage properties for capturing and storing solar energy. To this end, a synergistic protective etching strategy was developed to construct carbon superstructure-supported V2O3 nanospheres (V2O3@CSs). The half-metallic characteristics of V2O3, combined with the three-dimensional superstructure assembled by ultrathin carbon nanosheets, established rapid charge transfer networks and robust framework for efficient and stable solar-energy storage. Consequently, the V2O3@CSs photocathode delivered record zinc ion storage properties, including a photo-assisted discharge capacities of 463 mA ⋅ h ⋅ g-1 at 2.0 A ⋅ g-1 and long-term cycling stability over 3000 cycles. Notably, the PZIBs assembled using V2O3@CSs photocathodes could be photorecharged without an external circuit, exhibiting a high photo conversion efficiency (0.354 %) and photorecharge voltage (1.0 V). This study offered a promising direction for the direct capture and storage of solar energy.

Stress Dissipation Driven by Multi-Interface Built-In Electric Fields and Desert-Rose-Like Structure for Ultrafast and Superior Long-Term Sodium Ion Storage.

The kinetics and durability of conversion-based anodes greatly depend on the intrinsic stress regulating ability of the electrode materials, which has been significantly neglected. Herein, a stress dissipation strategy driven by multi-interface built-in electric fields (BEFs) and architected structure, is innovatively proposed to design ultrafast and long-term sodium ion storage anodes. Binary Mo/Fe sulfide heterostructured nanorods with multi-interface BEFs and staggered cantilever configuration are fabricated to prove our concept. Multi-physics simulations and experimental results confirm that the inner stress in multiple directions can be dissipated by the multi-interface BEFs at the micro-scale, and by the staggered cantilever structure at the macro-scale, respectively. As a result, our designed heterostructured nanorods anode exhibits superb rate capability (332.8 mAh g-1 at 10.0 A g-1 ) and durable cyclic stability over 900 cycles at 5.0 A g-1 , outperforming other metal chalcogenides. This proposed stress dissipation strategy offers a new insight for developing stable structures for conversion-based anodes.

Regulation of Impedance Matching and Dielectric Loss Properties of N-Doped Carbon Hollow Nanospheres Modified With Atomically Dispersed Cobalt Sites for Microwave Energy Attenuation.

The rational design of lightweight, broad-band, and high-performance microwave absorbers is urgently required for addressing electromagnetic pollution issue. Metal single atoms (M-SAs) absorbers receive considerable interest in the field of microwave absorption due to the unique electronic structures of M-SAs. However, the simultaneous engineering of the morphology and electronic structure of M-SAs based absorbers remains challenging. Herein, a template-assisted method is utilized to fabricate isolated Co-SAs on N-doped hollow carbon spheres (NHCS@Co-SAs) for high-performance microwave absorption. The combination of atomically dispersed Co sites and hollow supports endows NHCS@Co-SAs with excellent microwave absorption properties. Typically, at an ultralow filler content of 8 wt%, the minimum reflection loss and effective absorption bandwidth of the NHCS@Co-SAs are up to -44.96 dB and 5.25 GHz, respectively, while the absorbing thickness is only 2 mm. Theoretical calculations and experimental results indicate that the impedance matching characteristic and dielectric loss of the NHCSs can be tuned via the introduction of M-SAs, which are responsible for the excellent microwave absorption properties of NHCS@Co-SAs. This work provides an atomic-level insight into the relationship between the electronic states of absorbers and their microwave absorption properties for developing advanced microwave absorbers.

NiO/Ni Heterojunction on N-Doped Hollow Carbon Sphere with Balanced Dielectric Loss for Efficient Microwave Absorption.

Hollow carbon spheres are potential candidates for lightweight microwave absorbers. However, the skin effect of pure carbon-based materials frequently induces a terrible impedance mismatching issue. Herein, small-sized NiO/Ni particles with heterojunctions on the N-doped hollow carbon spheres (NHCS@NiO/Ni) are constructed using SiO2 as a sacrificing template. The fabricated NHCS@NiO/Ni displayed excellent microwave absorbability with a minimum reflection loss of -44.04 dB with the matching thickness of 2 mm and a wider efficient absorption bandwidth of 4.38 GHz with the thickness of 1.7 mm, superior to most previously reported hollow absorbers. Experimental results demonstrated that the excellent microwave absorption property of the NHCS@NiO/Ni are attributed to balanced dielectric loss and optimized impedance matching characteristic due to the presence of NiO/Ni heterojunctions. Theoretical calculations suggested that the redistribution of charge at the interfaces and formation of dipoles induced by N dopants and defects are responsible for the enhanced conduction and polarization losses of NHCS@NiO/Ni. The simulations for the surface current and power loss densities reveal that the NHCS@NiO/Ni has- applicable attenuation ability toward microwave under the practical application scenario. This work paves an efficient way for the reasonable design of small-sized particles with well-defined heterojunctions on hollow nanostructures for high-efficiency microwave absorption.

Expression of Phospholipase D Family Member 6 in Bovine Testes and Its Molecular Characteristics.

Spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs) are the only primitive spermatogonial cells in males that can naturally transmit genetic information to their offspring and replicate throughout their lives. Phospholipase D family member 6 (PLD6) has recently been found to be a surface marker for SSCs in mice and boars; however, it has not been validated in cattle. The results of reversed transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) found that the relative expression of the PLD6 gene in the testicular tissues of two-year-old Simmental calves was significantly higher than that of six-month-old calves. Immunofluorescent staining further verified the expression of PLD6 protein in bovine spermatogenic cells like germ cell marker DEAD box helicase 4 (DDX4, also known as VASA). Based on multiple bioinformatic databases, PLD6 is a conservative protein which has high homology with mouse Q5SWZ9 protein. It is closely involved in the normal functioning of the reproductive system. Molecular dynamics simulation analyzed the binding of PLD6 as a phospholipase to cardiolipin (CL), and the PLD6-CL complex showed high stability. The protein interaction network analysis showed that there is a significant relationship between PLD6 and piwi-interacting RNA (piRNA) binding protein. PLD6 acts as an endonuclease and participates in piRNA production. In addition, PLD6 in bovine and mouse testes has a similar expression pattern with the spermatogonium-related genes VASA and piwi like RNA-mediated gene silencing 2 (PIWIL2). In conclusion, these analyses imply that PLD6 has a relatively high expression in bovine testes and could be used as a biomarker for spermatogenic cells including SSCs.

Dual-Functional Z-Scheme TiO2 @MoS2 @NC Multi-Heterostructures for Photo-Driving Ultrafast Sodium Ion Storage.

Exploiting dual-functional photoelectrodes to harvest and store solar energy is a challenging but efficient way for achieving renewable energy utilization. Herein, multi-heterostructures consisting of N-doped carbon coated MoS2 nanosheets supported by tubular TiO2 with photoelectric conversion and electronic transfer interfaces are designed. When a photo sodium ion battery (photo-SIB) is assembled based on the heterostructures, its capacity increases to 399.3 mAh g-1 with a high photo-conversion efficiency of 0.71 % switching from dark to visible light at 2.0 A g-1 . Remarkably, the photo-SIB can be recharged by light only, with a striking capacity of 231.4 mAh g-1 . Experimental and theoretical results suggest that the proposed multi-heterostructures can enhance charge transfer kinetics, maintain structural stability, and facilitate the separation of photo-excited carriers. This work presents a new strategy to design dual-functional photoelectrodes for efficient use of solar energy.

Regulated lytic cell death in breast cancer.

Breast cancer (BC) is a very common cancer among women and one of the primary causes of death in women worldwide. Because BC has different molecular subtypes, the challenges associated with targeted therapy have increased significantly, and the identification of new therapeutic targets has become increasingly urgent. Blocking apoptosis and inhibiting cell death are important characteristics of malignant tumours, including BC. Under adverse conditions, including exposure to antitumour therapy, inhibition of cell death programmes can promote cancerous transformation and the survival of cancer cells. Therefore, inducing cell death in cancer cells is fundamentally important and provides new opportunities for potential therapeutic interventions. Lytic forms of cell death, primarily pyroptosis, necroptosis and ferroptosis, are different from apoptosis owing to their characteristic lysis, that is, the production of cellular components, to guide beneficial immune responses, and the application of lytic cell death (LCD) in the field of tumour therapy has attracted considerable interest from researchers. The latest clinical research results confirm that lytic death signalling cascades involve the BC cell immune response and resistance to therapies used in clinical practice. In this review, we discuss the current knowledge regarding the various forms of LCD, placing a special emphasis on signalling pathways and their implications in BC, which may facilitate the development of novel and optimal strategies for the clinical treatment of BC.

Lightweight, Fire-Retardant, and Anti-Compressed Honeycombed-Like Carbon Aerogels for Thermal Management and High-Efficiency Electromagnetic Absorbing Properties.

Ordered porous carbon materials (PCMs) have potential applications in various fields due to their low mass densities and porous features. However, it yet remains extremely challenging to construct PCMs with multifunctionalization for electromagnetic wave absorption. Herein, the honeycombed-like carbon aerogels with embedded Co@C nanoparticles are fabricated by a directionally freeze-casting and carbonization method. The optimized aerogel possesses low density (0.017 g cm-3 ), fire-retardant, robust mechanical performance (compression moduli reach 1411 and 420 kPa in the longitudinal and transverse directions at 80% strain, respectively), and high thermal management (high thermal insulation capability and high-efficiency electrothermal conversion ability). Notably, the optimized aerogel exhibits the excellent electromagnetic wave absorption properties with broad effective absorption bandwidth (13.12-17.14 GHz) and strong absorption (-45.02 dB) at a thickness of only 1.5 mm. Density functional theory calculations and the experimental results demonstrate that the excellent electromagnetic wave absorption properties stem from the synergetic effects among high electrical conductivity, numerous interfaces and dipoles and unique ordered porous structure. Meanwhile, the computer simulation technology (CST) simulation confirms that the multifunctional aerogel can attenuate more electromagnetic energy in a practical environment. This work paves the way for rational design and fabrication of the next-generation electromagnetic wave absorbing materials.

Survivable potential of germ cells after trehalose cryopreservation of bovine testicular tissues.

Germplasm preservation of livestock or endangered animals and expansion of germline stem cells are important. The purpose of this study is to investigate whether supplementation of trehalose to the freezing medium (FM) reduces tissular damage and improves the quality of testicular cells in the cryopreserved bovine testicular tissues. We herein established an optimized protocol for the cryopreservation of bovine testicular tissues, and the isolation as well as culture of bovine germ cells containing spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs) from these tissues. The results showed that FM containing 10% dimethyl sulfoxide (Me2SO/DMSO), 10% knockout serum replacement (KSR) and 20% trehalose (FM5) combined with the uncontrolled slow freezing (USF) procedures has the optimized cryoprotective effect on bovine testicular tissues. The FM5 + USF protocol reduced the cell apoptosis, maintained high cell viability, supported the structural integrity and seminiferous epithelial cohesion similar to that in the fresh tissues. Viable germ cells containing SSCs were effectively isolated from these tissues and they maintained germline marker expressions in the co-testicular cells and co-mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEF) feeder culture systems respectively, during the short-term culture. Additionally, upregulated transcriptions of spermatogenic differentiation marker C-KIT and meiotic marker SYCP3 were detected in these cells after retinoic acid-induced differentiation. Together, FM5 + USF is suitable for the cryopreservation of bovine testicular tissues, with benefits of reducing the apoptosis, maintaining the cell viability, supporting the testicular structure integrity, and sustaining the survival and differentiation potential of bovine germ cells containing SSCs.

miR-485 suppresses inflammation and proliferation of mesangial cells in an in vitro model of diabetic nephropathy by targeting NOX5.

Diabetic nephropathy (DN) is among the common complications of diabetes and is a major cause of end-stage kidney disease. Emerging data indicate that renal inflammation is involved in DN progression and aggravation. Still, the exact cellular mechanisms remain unclear. Dysregulated expression of microRNAs (miRNAs) is associated with multiple diseases, including DN. The relationship between miRNAs and inflammation in DN is also unexplored. Here, we evaluated the role of miR-485 in mediating the response of human mesangial cells (HMCs) to a high glucose (HG) concentration, and the potential underlying mechanism. We found that miR-485 expression is significantly decreased in HG-stimulated HMCs. Overexpression of miR-485 suppressed HG-induced proliferation of HMCs. Lower production of proinflammatory cytokines (i.e., TNF-α, IL-1ß, and IL-6) was observed in miR-485-overexpressing HMCs. Overexpression of miR-485 markedly suppressed the overexpression of extracellular-matrix proteins, e.g., collagen IV (Col IV) and fibronectin (FN), in HG-stimulated HMCs. Furthermore, miR-485 suppressed the expression of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) oxidase 5 (NOX5), restrained the HG-induced HMC proliferation, downregulated the expression of proinflammatory cytokines, and inhibited the production of extracellular-matrix proteins in HMCs. These results provide new insights into the involvement of the miR-485-NOX5 signaling pathway in DN progression.

Inhibitory Effects of Antimicrobial Peptide JH-3 on Salmonella enterica Serovar Typhimurium Strain CVCC541 Infection-Induced Inflammatory Cytokine Release and Apoptosis in RAW264.7 Cells.

The antibiotic resistance of Salmonella has become increasingly serious due to the increased use of antibiotics, and antimicrobial peptides have been considered as an ideal antibiotic alternative. Salmonella can induce macrophage apoptosis and thus further damage the immune system. The antimicrobial peptide JH-3 has been shown to have a satisfactory anti-Salmonella effect in previous research, but its mechanism of action remains unknown. In this study, the effects of JH-3 on macrophages infected with Salmonella Typhimurium CVCC541 were evaluated at the cellular level. The results showed that JH-3 significantly alleviated the damage to macrophages caused by S. Typhi infection, reduced the release of lactic dehydrogenase (LDH), and killed the bacteria in macrophages. In addition, JH-3 decreased the phosphorylation level of p65 and the expression and secretion of interleukin 2 (IL-2), IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) by inhibiting the activation of the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) (p38) signaling pathway and alleviating the cellular inflammatory response. From confocal laser scanning microscopy and flow cytometry assays, JH-3 was observed to inhibit the release of cytochrome c in the cytoplasm; the expression of TNF-αR2, caspase-9, and caspase-8; to further weaken caspase-3 activation; and to reduce the S.-Typhi-induced apoptosis of macrophages. In summary, the mechanism by which JH-3 inhibits Salmonella infection was systematically explored at the cellular level, laying the foundation for the development and utilization of JH-3 as a therapeutic alternative to antibiotics.

MiR-455-3p suppresses renal fibrosis through repression of ROCK2 expression in diabetic nephropathy.

Emerging evidence has shown that microRNAs (miRNAs) play a mediatory role in the pathogenesis of diabetic nephropathy (DN), but the function of the involved miRNAs is still incomplete. Here, we found that miR-455-3p was down-regulated in the human mesangial cells (HMC) and human proximal tubule epithelial cells (HK-2) stimulated with high glucose (HG) or transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF-ß1). Rho-associated coiled coil-containing protein kinase 2 (ROCK2) was identified as a directed target of miR-455-3p. Overexpression of ROCK2 significantly attenuated the inhibitory effects of miR-455-3p on cell proliferation, extracellular matrix (ECM) synthesis and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in HG-treated cells. Furthermore, the DN model was prepared by using high-fat feeding combined with Streptozotocin (STZ) induced rats, and the DN group was treated by injecting miR-455-3p agomir. The results of periodic acid-Schiff (PAS) and Masson staining showed that miR-455-3p overexpression improved the pathological changes of glomerular hypertrophy, mesangial amplification, and renal fibrosis. Additionally, miR-455-3p overexpression decreased ROCK2, proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) and Collagen I levels, and also reduced inflammatory cytokines TNF-α, MCP-1 and IL-1ß levels in vivo. Altogether, these results suggest that miR-455-3p plays an essential role in the treatment of renal fibrosis through repressing ROCK2 expression; and miR-455-3p might be an effective therapy for DN.

Whole-genome sequence of the Tibetan frog Nanorana parkeri and the comparative evolution of tetrapod genomes.

The development of efficient sequencing techniques has resulted in large numbers of genomes being available for evolutionary studies. However, only one genome is available for all amphibians, that of Xenopus tropicalis, which is distantly related from the majority of frogs. More than 96% of frogs belong to the Neobatrachia, and no genome exists for this group. This dearth of amphibian genomes greatly restricts genomic studies of amphibians and, more generally, our understanding of tetrapod genome evolution. To fill this gap, we provide the de novo genome of a Tibetan Plateau frog, Nanorana parkeri, and compare it to that of X. tropicalis and other vertebrates. This genome encodes more than 20,000 protein-coding genes, a number similar to that of Xenopus. Although the genome size of Nanorana is considerably larger than that of Xenopus (2.3 vs. 1.5 Gb), most of the difference is due to the respective number of transposable elements in the two genomes. The two frogs exhibit considerable conserved whole-genome synteny despite having diverged approximately 266 Ma, indicating a slow rate of DNA structural evolution in anurans. Multigenome synteny blocks further show that amphibians have fewer interchromosomal rearrangements than mammals but have a comparable rate of intrachromosomal rearrangements. Our analysis also identifies 11 Mb of anuran-specific highly conserved elements that will be useful for comparative genomic analyses of frogs. The Nanorana genome offers an improved understanding of evolution of tetrapod genomes and also provides a genomic reference for other evolutionary studies.

Urinary RBP and NGAL Levels are Associated with Nephropathy in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The diagnosis of type 2 diabetic nephropathy (T2DN) patients is important to prevent the long-term damaging effects of kidney loss in patients with diabetes and is decisive for patient outcomes. The aim of this study was to explore urine retinol binding protein (RBP) and neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) in T2DN patients with and without albuminuria. METHODS: A total of 293 T2DN patients were divided into three groups according to their urine albumin/urine creatinine ratio (UACR): normoalbuminuria group (UACR<30 mg/g, n=100), microalbuminuria group (UACR 30-300 mg/g, n=100) and macroalbuminuria group (UACR>300 mg/g, n=93); 50 non-diabetic subjects were recruited as the control group. The levels of urine RBP, NGAL, TNF-α and IL-18 in T2DN patients and non-diabetic subjects were measured using ELISA assays. RESULTS: We first analyzed the clinical characteristics of the control and T2DN groups and found that urine NGAL, RBP, TNF-α and IL-18 levels were significantly increased and significantly correlated with the degree of albuminuria. In addition, univariate linear regression analysis showed that urine RBP was associated with UACR, BMI, Scr, BUN, TG, disease duration, SBP, NGAL, TNF-α and IL-18 levels, and urine NGAL was positively correlated with UACR, Scr, BUN, RBP, TNF-α and IL-18 levels. CONCLUSION: The results indicate that urine levels of NGAL and RBP may be independently associated with albuminuria in T2DN and may serve as novel biomarkers for the identification of T2DN.

Highly Stable Three-Dimensional Porous Nickel-Iron Nitride Nanosheets for Full Water Splitting at High Current Densities.

A noble-metal-free and highly efficient bifunctional catalyst for overall water splitting is greatly desirable to generate clean and sustainable energy carriers such as hydrogen, but enormous challenges remain. Herein, porous interconnected iron-nickel nitride nanosheets are designed and grown on carbon fiber cloth (FeNi-N/CFC); combining a facile electrodeposition method and in situ nitriding process. The as-synthesized FeNi-N/CFC, with a low mass loading of 0.25 mg cm-2 , exhibits excellent catalytic activities for both the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) with 20 mA cm-2 at an overpotential (η) of 232 mV and also the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) with 10 mA cm-2 at η=106 mV. As a bifunctional electrocatalyst for overall water splitting FeNi-N/CFC only requires a cell voltage of 1.55 V to drive a current density (j) of 10 mA cm-2 and shows robust long-term durability at j>360 mA cm-2 with a negligible change in current density over 60 h; revealing its promising application in commercial electrolyzers.

Genomic Analyses Reveal Potential Independent Adaptation to High Altitude in Tibetan Chickens.

Much like other indigenous domesticated animals, Tibetan chickens living at high altitudes (2,200-4,100 m) show specific physiological adaptations to the extreme environmental conditions of the Tibetan Plateau, but the genetic bases of these adaptations are not well characterized. Here, we assembled a de novo genome of a Tibetan chicken and resequenced whole genomes of 32 additional chickens, including Tibetan chickens, village chickens, game fowl, and Red Junglefowl, and found that the Tibetan chickens could broadly be placed into two groups. Further analyses revealed that several candidate genes in the calcium-signaling pathway are possibly involved in adaptation to the hypoxia experienced by these chickens, as these genes appear to have experienced directional selection in the two Tibetan chicken populations, suggesting a potential genetic mechanism underlying high altitude adaptation in Tibetan chickens. The candidate selected genes identified in this study, and their variants, may be useful targets for clarifying our understanding of the domestication of chickens in Tibet, and might be useful in current breeding efforts to develop improved breeds for the highlands.