High-Entropy and Component Stoichiometry Tuning Strategies Boost the Sodium-Ion Storage Performance of Cobalt-Free Prussian Blue Analogues Cathode Materials.

Prussian blue analogs (PBAs) are appealing cathode materials for sodium-ion batteries because of their low material cost, facile synthesis methods, rigid open framework, and high theoretical capacity. However, the poor electrical conductivity, unavoidable presence of [Fe(CN)6] vacancies and crystalline water within the framework, and phase transition during charge-discharge result in inferior electrochemical performance, particularly in terms of rate capability and cycling stability. Here, cobalt-free PBAs are synthesized using a facile and economic co-precipitation method at room temperature, and their sodium-ion storage performance is boosted due to the reduced crystalline water content and improved electrical conductivity via the high-entropy and component stoichiometry tuning strategies, leading to enhanced initial Coulombic efficiency (ICE), specific capacity, cycling stability, and rate capability. The optimized HE-HCF of Fe0.60Mn0.10-hexacyanoferrate (referred to as Fe0.60Mn0.10-HCF), with the chemical formula Na1.156Fe0.599Mn0.095Ni0.092Cu0.109Zn0.105 [Fe(CN)6]0.724·3.11H2O, displays the most appealing electrochemical performance of an ICE of 100%, a specific capacity of around 115 and 90 mAh·g-1 at 0.1 and 1.0 A·g-1, with 66.7% capacity retention observed after 1000 cycles and around 61.4% capacity retention with a 40-fold increase in specific current. We expect that our findings could provide reference strategies for the design of SIB cathode materials with superior electrochemical performance.

E3 ubiquitin ligase BTBD3 inhibits tumorigenesis of colorectal cancer by regulating the TYRO3/Wnt/ß-catenin signaling axis.

Clinical trials and studies have implicated that E3 ubiquitin ligase BTBD3 (BTB Domain Containing 3) is a cancer-associated gene. However, the role and underlying mechanism of BTBD3 in colorectal cancer (CRC) is not fully understood yet. Herein, our study demonstrated that the mRNA and protein levels of BTBD3 were decreased in CRC tissues and associated with TYPO3 and Wnt/ß-catenin pathway. Our results showed that circRAE1 knockdown and TYRO3 overexpression activated Wnt/ß-catenin signaling pathway and the EMT process-associated markers, indicating that circRAE1/miR-388-3p/TYRO3 axis exacerbated tumorigenesis of CRC by activating Wnt/ß-catenin signaling pathway. In addition, overexpression of BTBD3 reduced CRC cell migration and invasion in vitro and inhibited tumor growth in vivo. Our data demonstrated that BTBD3 suppressed CRC progression through negative regulation of the circRAE1/miR-388-3p/TYRO3 axis and the Wnt/ß-catenin pathway. Our data further confirmed that BTBD3 bound and ubiquitinated ß-catenin and led to ß-catenin degradation, therefore blocked the Wnt/ß-catenin pathway and suppressed the CRC tumorigenesis. This study explored the mechanism of BTBD3 involved in CRC tumorigenesis and provided a new theoretical basis for the prevention and treatment of CRC.

Investigating the Electrochemical Performance of MnFe2O4@xC Nanocomposites as Anode Materials for Sodium-Ion Batteries.

Transition metal oxides (TMOs) are important anode materials in sodium-ion batteries (SIBs) due to their high theoretical capacities, abundant resources, and cost-effectiveness. However, issues such as the low conductivity and large volume variation of TMO bulk materials during the cycling process result in poor electrochemical performance. Nanosizing and compositing with carbon materials are two effective strategies to overcome these issues. In this study, spherical MnFe2O4@xC nanocomposites composed of MnFe2O4 inner cores and tunable carbon shell thicknesses were successfully prepared and utilized as anode materials for SIBs. It was found that the property of the carbon shell plays a crucial role in tuning the electrochemical performance of MnFe2O4@xC nanocomposites and an appropriate carbon shell thickness (content) leads to the optimal battery performance. Thus, compared to MnFe2O4@1C and MnFe2O4@8C, MnFe2O4@4C nanocomposite exhibits optimal electrochemical performance by releasing a reversible specific capacity of around 308 mAh·g-1 at 0.1 A·g-1 with 93% capacity retention after 100 cycles, 250 mAh·g-1 at 1.0 A g-1 with 73% capacity retention after 300 cycles in a half cell, and around 111 mAh·g-1 at 1.0 C when coupled with a Na3V2(PO4)3 (NVP) cathode in a full SIB cell.

Self-assembled Fe3O4-COOH @ hydrogen-bonded organic framework composites for magnetic solid-phase extraction of tetracycline in food samples coupled with HPLC determination.

Magnetic solid-phase extraction (MSPE) technology for tetracycline (TCC) was developed by employing the novel and pre-designed Fe3O4-COOH@hydrogen-bonded organic frameworks (HOFs) adsorbents in complex food samples. The HOF shell was grown onto the Fe3O4-COOH core by in-situ self-assembled method. The excellent MSPE performances with less solvent, less adsorbent and time consumption were derived from the hydrogen bonding, π-π and hydrophobic interactions between HOF shell and TCC. Combined with HPLC analysis, Fe3O4@ HOFs adsorbent reduced matrix effects and the established MSPE-HPLC method for TCC gave the linearity of 0.001-6 µg mL-1 with the limit of detection 0.0003 µg mL-1. The recoveries in pure milk, canned yellow peach and carrot were 82.4-103.7 %. The method provided a simple, efficient and dependable alternative to monitor trace TCC antibiotics in food or environmental samples.

A Convenient In Situ Preparation of Cu2ZnSnS4-Anatase Hybrid Nanocomposite for Photocatalysis/Photoelectrochemical Water-Splitting Hydrogen Production.

This study details the rational design and synthesis of Cu2ZnSnS4 (CZTS)-doped anatase (A) heterostructures, utilizing earth-abundant elements to enhance the efficiency of solar-driven water splitting. A one-step hydrothermal method was employed to fabricate a series of CZTS-A heterojunctions. As the concentration of titanium dioxide (TiO2) varied, the morphology of CZTS shifted from floral patterns to sheet-like structures. The resulting CZTS-A heterostructures underwent comprehensive characterization through photoelectrochemical response assessments, optical measurements, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy analyses. Detailed photoelectrochemical (PEC) investigations demonstrated notable enhancements in photocurrent density and incident photon-to-electron conversion efficiency (IPCE). Compared to pure anatase electrodes, the optimized CZTS-A heterostructures exhibited a seven-fold increase in photocurrent density and reached a hydrogen production efficiency of 1.1%. Additionally, the maximum H2 production rate from these heterostructures was 11-times greater than that of pure anatase and 250-times higher than the original CZTS after 2 h of irradiation. These results underscore the enhanced PEC performance of CZTS-A heterostructures, highlighting their potential as highly efficient materials for solar water splitting. Integrating Cu2ZnSnS4 nanoparticles (NPs) within TiO2 (anatase) heterostructures implied new avenues for developing earth-abundant and cost-effective photocatalytic systems for renewable energy applications.

Constructing a P2W18O626--Containing Hybrid Photocatalyst via Noncovalent Interactions for Enhanced H2 Production.

Polyoxometalates (POMs) have gained significant research attention because of their excellent properties in photocatalytic (PC) hydrogen production. Exploring POM-based compounds for heterogeneous photocatalysis is an ongoing task. Here, we obtain a water-insoluble inorganic-organic hybrid compound, (P2W18O62)3(C12N3H10)6(C12N3H11)6·9.5H2O (P-PW), formed by Dawson-type POM P2W18O626- (P2W18) anions and protonated 2-(pyridin-4-yl)-1H-benzo[d]imidazole (PHB) cations via noncovalent interactions. In the presence of the sacrificial agent triethanolamine, P-PW exhibits a PC H2 generation rate of 0.418 mmol/g/h, surpassing that of P2W18 and PHB by 15 and 17 times, respectively. This enhancement in PC performance of P-PW can be attributed to its band structure change from the precursor compounds, leading to increased light absorption and therefore more efficient PC hydrogen production.

[Correlation of miR-155 Expression with Drug Sensitivity of FLT3-ITD+ Acute Myeloid Leukemia Cell Line and Its Mechanism].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the correlation of miR-155 expression with drug sensitivity of FLT3-ITD+ acute myeloid leukemia (AML) cell line and its potential regulatory mechanism. METHODS: By knocking out miR-155 gene in FLT3-ITD+ AML cell line MV411 through CRISPR/Cas9 gene-editing technology, monoclonal cells were screened. The genotype of these monoclonal cells was validated by PCR and Sanger sequencing. The expression of mature miRNA was measured by RT-qPCR. The treatment response of doxorubicin, quizartinib and midostaurin were measured by MTT assay and IC50 of these drugs were calculated to identify the sensitivity. Transcriptome sequencing was used to analyze change of mRNA level in MV411 cells after miR-155 knockout, gene set enrichment analysis to analyze change of signaling pathway, and Western blot to verify expressions of key molecules in signaling pathway. RESULTS: Four heterozygotes with gene knockout and one heterozygote with gene insertion were obtained through PCR screening and Sanger sequencing. RT-qPCR results showed that the expression of mature miR-155 in the monoclonal cells was significantly lower than wild-type clones. MTT results showed that the sensitivity of MV411 cells to various anti FLT3-ITD+ AML drugs increased significantly after miR-155 knockout compared with wild-type clones. RNA sequencing showed that the mTOR signaling pathway and Wnt signaling pathway were inhibited after miR-155 knockout. Western blot showed that the expressions of key molecules p-mTOR, Wnt5α and ß-catenin in signaling pathway were down-regulated. CONCLUSION: Drug sensitivity of MV411 cells to doxorubicin, quizartinib and midostaurin can be enhanced significantly after miR-155 knockout, which is related to the inhibition of multiple signaling pathways including mTOR and Wnt signaling pathways.

Short- and long-term outcomes of Roux-en-Y and Billroth II with Braun reconstruction in total laparoscopic distal gastrectomy: a retrospective analysis.

BACKGROUND: The controversy surrounding Roux-en-Y (R-Y) and Billroth II with Braun (BII + B) reconstruction as an anti-bile reflux procedure after distal gastrectomy has persisted. Recent studies have demonstrated their efficacy, but the long-term outcomes and postoperative quality of life (QoL) among patients have yet to be evaluated. Therefore, we compared the short-term and long-term outcomes of the two procedures as well as QoL. METHODS: The clinical data of 151 patients who underwent total laparoscopic distal gastrectomy (TLDG) at the Gastrointestinal Surgery Department of the Second Hospital of Fujian Medical University from January 2016 to December 2019 were retrospectively analyzed. Of these, 57 cases with Roux-en-Y procedure (R-Y group) and 94 cases with Billroth II with Braun procedure were included (BII + B group). Operative and postoperative conditions, early and late complications, endoscopic outcomes at year 1 and year 3 after surgery, nutritional indicators, and quality of life scores at year 3 postoperatively were compared between the two groups. RESULTS: The R-Y group recorded a significantly longer operative time (194.65 ± 21.52 vs. 183.88 ± 18.02 min) and anastomotic time (36.96 ± 2.43 vs. 27.97 ± 3.74 min) compared to the BII + B group (p < 0.05). However, no other significant differences were observed in terms of perioperative variables, including blood loss (p > 0.05). Both groups showed comparable rates of early and late complications. Endoscopic findings indicated similar food residuals at years 1 and 3 post-surgery for both groups. The R-Y group had a lower occurrence of residual gastritis and bile reflux at year 1 and year 3 after surgery, with a statistically significant difference (p < 0.001). Reflux esophagitis was not significantly different between the R-Y and BII + B groups in year 1 after surgery (p = 0.820), but the R-Y group had a lower incidence than the BII + B group in year 3 after surgery (p = 0.023). Nutritional outcomes at 3 years after surgery did not differ significantly between the two groups (p > 0.05). Quality of life scores measured by the QLQ-C30 scale were not significantly different between the two groups. However, on the QLQ-STO22 scale, the reflux score was significantly lower in the R-Y group than in the BII + B group (0 [0, 0] vs. 5.56 [0, 11.11]) (p = 0.003). The rest of the scores were not significantly different (p > 0.05). CONCLUSION: Both R-Y and B II + B reconstructions are equally safe and efficient for TLDG. Nevertheless, the R-Y reconstruction reduces the incidence of residual gastritis, bile reflux, and reflux esophagitis, as well as postoperative reflux symptoms, and provides a better quality of life for patients. R-Y reconstruction is superior to BII + B reconstruction for TLDG.

Comparison of proximal gastrectomy with double-flap technique and double-tract reconstruction for proximal early gastric cancer: a meta-analysis.

Surgical resection is the main treatment for proximal gastric cancer, but there is no consensus on its reconstruction. We carried out a meta-analysis to evaluate the effects of double-tract reconstruction (DTR) and double-flap technique (DFT) on postoperative quality of life in patients with proximal gastric cancer. Systematic searches of PubMed, Web of Science, EBSCO, and the Cochrane Library were performed. Literature for the last 5 years was searched without language restrictions. The cutoff date for the search was 12 April 2023. Literature and research searches were conducted independently by two researchers and data were extracted. Statistical analyses were performed using Review Manager (Revman) 5.4 software. Fixed models were used when heterogeneity was small and random-effects models were used for meta-analysis when heterogeneity was large. The study was registered with PROSPERO, CRD 42023418520. Surgical time was significantly shorter in the DTR group than in the DFT group (P = 0.03). There were no significant differences between DFT and DTR in terms of age, gender, pathological stage, preoperative body mass index, surgical bleeding, and perioperative complications. There was no statistically significant difference between the two groups in terms of reflux esophagitis and PPI intake, but DFT was superior to DTR in weight improvement at 1 year after surgery (P < 0.0001). Compared with DTR, DFT reconstruction is more demanding and time-consuming, but its postoperative nutritional status is better, so it should be the first choice for GI reconstruction in most patients with early proximal gastric cancer. However, DTR should be the best choice for patients who have difficulty operating.

Cerium Synchronous Doping in Anatase for Enhanced Photocatalytic Hydrogen Production from Ethanol-Water Mixtures.

Cerium element with a unique electric structure can be used to modify semiconductor photocatalysts to enhance their photocatalytic performances. In this work, Ce-doped TiO2 (Ce/TiO2) was successfully achieved using the sol-gel method. The structural characterization methods confirm that Ce was doped in the lattice of anatase TiO2, which led to a smaller grain size. The performance test results show that the Ce doped in anatase TiO2 significantly enhances the charge transport efficiency and broadens the light absorption range, resulting in higher photocatalytic performance. The Ce/TiO2 exhibited a photocurrent density of 10.9 µA/cm2 at 1.0 V vs. Ag/AgCl, 2.5 times higher than that of pure TiO2 (4.3 µA/cm2) under AM 1.5 G light. The hydrogen (H2) production rate of the Ce/TiO2 was approximately 0.33 µmol/h/g, which is more than twice as much as that of the pure anatase TiO2 (0.12 µmol/h/g). This work demonstrates the effect of Ce doping in the lattice of TiO2 for enhanced photocatalytic hydrogen production.

Effects of Dexmedetomidine on Systemic Inflammation and Postoperative Complications in Laparoscopic Pancreaticoduodenectomy: A Double-blind Randomized Controlled Trial.

BACKGROUND: Laparoscopic pancreaticoduodenectomy (LPD) may induce intense inflammatory response which might be related to the patient's outcomes. Clinical dexmedetomidine (DEX) has been widely used for opioid-sparing anesthesia and satisfactory sedation. The objective of this study was to investigate the influence of DEX on inflammatory response and postoperative complications in LPD. METHODS: Ninety-nine patients undergoing LPD were randomly assigned to two groups: normal saline (NS) and DEX. The primary outcome was the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) differences postoperatively within 48 h. Secondary outcomes were postoperative complications, the length of postoperative hospital stay and the incidence of ICU admission. Other outcomes included anesthetics consumption and intraoperative vital signs. RESULTS: NLR at postoperative day 2 to baseline ratio decreased significantly in the DEX group (P = 0.032). Less major complications were observed in the DEX group such as pancreatic fistula, delayed gastric emptying and intra-abdominal infection (NS vs. DEX, 21.7% vs. 13.6%, P = 0.315; 10.9% vs. 2.3%, P = 0.226; 17.4% vs. 11.4%, P = 0.416, respectively) though there were no statistical differences. Three patients were transferred to the ICU after surgery in the NS group, while there was none in the DEX group (P = 0.242). The median postoperative hospital stay between groups were similar (P = 0.313). Both intraoperative propofol and opioids were less in the DEX group (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Intraoperative DEX reduced the early postoperative inflammatory response in LPD. It also reduced the use of narcotics that may related to reduced major complications, which need additional research further.

Mendelian randomization study highlights hypothyroidism as a causal determinant of alopecia areata.

Background: Although observational studies have found an association between hypothyroidism and alopecia areata, the causality of this relationship remains unclear. Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the genetic variants associated with hypothyroidism and their potential impact on the risk of developing alopecia areata. Methods: genome-wide association study summary statistics for hypothyroidism (30,155 cases and 379,986 controls) and alopecia areata (289 cases and 211,139 controls) were obtained from the IEU OpenGwas project. The inverse variance-weighted method was used as the primary analysis method to evaluate the causality between hypothyroidism and alopecia areata, supplemented by the weighted median, MR-Egger, simple mode and weighted mode. Furthermore, the function of causal SNPs was evaluated by gene ontology (GO) analysis, Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment analysis, and protein-protein interaction networks. Result: Utilizing two-sample Mendelian randomization analysis, we found that the single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of hypothyroidism (OR = 1.40, 95% CI: 1.12-1.75, p = 3.03×10-3) significantly increased the risk of alopecia areata ( 289 cases and 211,139 controls ). KEGG pathway analysis showed that the candidate genes were mainly enriched in virion-herpesvirus, Th1 and Th2 cell differentiation, Th17 cell differentiation, T-cell receptor signaling pathway, PD-L1/PD-1 checkpoint pathway in cancer and Toll-like receptor signaling pathway. Protein-protein interaction networks results showed that CTLA4, STAT4, IL2RA, TYK2, IRF7, SH2B3, BACH2, TLR3, NOD2, and FLT3. Conclusion: This study provided compelling genetic evidence supporting a causative association between hypothyroidism and alopecia areata, which could potentially inform the development of more efficacious treatment strategies for patients afflicted by alopecia areata.

Cerium-Doped Iron Oxide Nanorod Arrays for Photoelectrochemical Water Splitting.

In this work, a simple one-step hydrothermal method was employed to prepare the Ce-doped Fe2O3 ordered nanorod arrays (CFT). The Ce doping successfully narrowed the band gap of Fe2O3, which improved the visible light absorption performance. In addition, with the help of Ce doping, the recombination of electron/hole pairs was significantly inhibited. The external voltage will make the performance of the Ce-doped sample better. Therefore, the Ce-doped Fe2O3 has reached superior photoelectrochemical (PEC) performance with a high photocurrent density of 1.47 mA/cm2 at 1.6 V vs. RHE (Reversible Hydrogen Electrode), which is 7.3 times higher than that of pristine Fe2O3 nanorod arrays (FT). The Hydrogen (H2) production from PEC water splitting of Fe2O3 was highly improved by Ce doping to achieve an evolution rate of 21 µmol/cm2/h.

Pollen Carbon-Based Rare-Earth Composite Material for Highly Efficient Photocatalytic Hydrogen Production from Ethanol-Water Mixtures.

The unique electronic structure of rare-earth elements makes their modified semiconductor photocatalysts show great advantages in solar energy conversion. Herein, the pollen-like N, P self-doped biochar-based rare-earth composite catalyst (Er/LP-C) has been successfully synthesized, which combines the advantages of biochar and Er and is used for the first time in the field of photocatalytic hydrogen production from ethanol-water mixtures. Experimental results confirmed that the performance of photocatalytic hydrogen production under the full spectrum is up to 33.70 µmol/g in 6 h; this is due to the introduction of Er, which improves the carrier concentration, separation and transfer efficiency, and the driving force for the reduction reaction.

N, P Self-Doped Porous Carbon Material Derived from Lotus Pollen for Highly Efficient Ethanol-Water Mixtures Photocatalytic Hydrogen Production.

Porous biochar materials prepared with biomass as a precursor have received widespread attention. In this work, lotus pollen (LP) was used as the carbon source, a variety of the pollen carbon photocatalyst were prepared by a two-step roasting method. A series of characterizations were carried out on the prepared samples, and it was found that the average particle size was about 40 µm. They also exhibit a typical amorphous carbon structure and a porous structure with a network-like interconnected surface. The photocatalytic hydrogen production performances of lotus pollen carbon (LP-C) and commercial carbon black (CB) were measured under the full spectrum illumination. LP-C-600 showed the best hydrogen production performance (3.5 µmol·g-1·h-1). In addition, the photoelectrochemical (PEC) measurement results confirmed that the LP-C materials show better incident photon-current efficiency (IPCE) performance than the CB materials in the neutral electrolyte. This is because the unique surface wrinkling, hierarchical porous structure, and the N, P self-doping behavior of the LP-C samples are able to improve the light utilization efficiency and the carrier separation/transfer efficiency, thereby further improving the overall hydrogen production efficiency.

Auditory Sensory Gating in Children With Cochlear Implants: A P50-N100-P200 Study.

Background: While a cochlear implant (CI) can restore access to audibility in deaf children, implanted children may still have difficulty in concentrating. Previous studies have revealed a close relationship between sensory gating and attention. However, whether CI children have deficient auditory sensory gating remains unclear. Methods: To address this issue, we measured the event-related potentials (ERPs), including P50, N100, and P200, evoked by paired tone bursts (S1 and S2) in CI children and normal-hearing (NH) controls. Suppressed amplitudes for S2 compared with S1 in these three ERPs reflected sensory gating during early and later phases, respectively. A Swanson, Nolan, and Pelham IV (SNAP-IV) scale was performed to assess the attentional performance. Results: Significant amplitude differences between S1 and S2 in N100 and P200 were observed in both NH and CI children, indicating the presence of sensory gating in the two groups. However, the P50 suppression was only found in NH children and not in CI children. Furthermore, the duration of deafness was significantly positively correlated with the score of inattention in CI children. Conclusion: Auditory sensory gating can develop but is deficient during the early phase in CI children. Long-term auditory deprivation has a negative effect on sensory gating and attentional performance.

Design and Solvothermal Synthesis of Polyoxometalate-Based Cu(II)-Pyrazolate Photocatalytic Compounds for Solar-Light-Driven Hydrogen Evolution.

Polyoxometalates (POMs) are known for their photocatalytic hydrogen production activity, but their solubility and limited stability often restrict their practical applications. Herein, we designed and solvothermally synthesized two new Cu-H2bpz (3,3',5,5'-tetramethyl-4,4'-bipyrazole, abbreviated as H2bpz) compounds, namely, Cu0.5(H2bpz)(NO3) (1) and Cu(Hbpz)(Cl)·DMF (2), and three new polyoxometalate-based Cu(II)-pyrazolate compounds, namely, Cu(PW12O40)0.5(H2bpz)2(H2O)·(OH)0.5(H2O)5.5 (3), Cu(HPMo12O40)(H2bpz)2(H2O)2·(H2O)4 (4), and Cu2(SiW12O40)(H2bpz)3(H2O)3·(H2O)6 (5). Compound 3 (Cu(PW12O40)0.5(H2bpz)2(H2O)·(OH)0.5(H2O)5.5) exhibits the best photocatalytic activity of 44.4 µ L h-1 g-1, which may be related to the stability of compounds. Herein, the solvothermal method has been proven to be an effective method in synthesizing stable organic-inorganic hybrid compounds with soluble POMs, metal ions, and organic ligands. Thus, heterogeneous catalysts with outstanding solar-light-driven photocatalytic properties were obtained.

[Effect of Inhibiting NCL Expression on Drug-Resistance of Chronic Myeloid Leukemia Cell Line K562 and Its Resistant Cells].

OBJECTIVE: To construct a K562 and adriamycin-resistant K562 (KAR) cell line with stably down-regulation of NCL (nucleolin) expression, and to investigate the effect of NCL down-regulation on the drug resistance in K562 and KAR cells. METHODS: K562 and KAR cells were infected with lentivirus, and stably transfected cell clones were obtained by puromycin screening. The cell proliferation was detected by MTS assay, the cell apoptosis was detected by flow cytometry, and the expression level of drug resistance related genes was detected by real-time PCR. RESULTS: The K562 and KAR cells with stable down-regulation of NCL were successfully constructed. Compared with the control group, the proliferation of K562 and KAR cells with down-regulating NCL expression decreased significantly (P ＜0.05), the apoptosis of cells increased significantly (P ＜0.05), and cell resistance to adriamycin was down-regulated. CONCLUSION: Inhibition of NCL expression may increase the sensitivity of cells to adriamycin, which may be related with the promotion of apoptosis of K562 and KAR cells.

Metalization of Li2S particle surfaces in Li-S batteries.

The Li-S battery is the most promising candidate for future electric vehicles. The study of stabilities and conductivities of Li2S nanoparticles, which are used as pre-lithiated cathode materials, is crucial for the development of Li-S batteries. Here, we investigate the atomic and electronic structures as well as stabilities of Li2S surfaces and nanoparticles using density functional theory (DFT) and classical electrostatic models. We show that Li2S nanoparticles have octahedral shape and consist of only (111) facets. At low concentrations of Li, the surfaces of nanoparticles are metalized non-polar Li2S(111) surfaces. The metalization is found to be due to the depletion of valence bands of surface states. However, for higher concentrations of Li, the nanoparticle faces are insulator non-polar Li2S(111) surfaces. This study suggests that Li2S nanoparticles with (111) surfaces are very promising cathode materials for Li-S batteries.