Synergistic toxic effects of high-strength ammonia and ZnO nanoparticles on biological nitrogen removal systems and role of exogenous C10-HSL regulation.

The inhibitory effects of zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) and impacts of N-acyl-homoserine lactone (AHL)-based quorum sensing (QS) on biological nitrogen removal (BNR) performance have been well-investigated. However, the effects of ammonia nitrogen (NH4+-N) concentrations on NP toxicity and AHL regulation have seldom been addressed yet. This study consulted on the impacts of ZnO NPs on BNR systems when high NH4+-N concentration was available. The synergistic toxic effects of high-strength NH4+-N (200 mg/L) and ZnO NPs resulted in decreased ammonia oxidation rates and dropped the nitrogen removal efficiencies by 17.5% ± 0.2%. The increased extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) production was observed in response to the high NH4+-N and ZnO NP stress, which indicated the defense mechanism against the toxic effects in the BNR systems was stimulated. Furthermore, the regulatory effects of exogenous N-decanoyl-homoserine lactone (C10-HSL)-mediated QS system on NP-stressed BNR systems were revealed to improve the BNR performance under different NH4+-N concentrations. The C10-HSL regulated the intracellular reactive oxygen species levels, denitrification functional enzyme activities, and antioxidant enzyme activities, respectively. This probably synergistically enhanced the defense mechanism against NP toxicity. However, compared to the low NH4+-N concentration of 60 mg/L, the efficacy of C10-HSL was inhibited at high NH4+-N levels of 200 mg/L. The findings provided the significant application potential of QS system for BNR when facing toxic compound shock threats.

PtCo nanoalloy embedded nitrogen-doped carbon nanotube for rechargeable Zn-air batteries.

The large-scale application of metal-air batteries strongly depends on the development of cost-effective, highly efficient, and durable bifunctional oxygen catalysts. In this work, a facile approach for preparing the monodisperse PtCo nanoalloy anchored the nitrogen-doped carbon nanotubes (PtCo/NCNT) for zinc-air batteries is reported. The nitrogen-doped carbon shell prevents PtCo nanoalloy from exfoliation, dissolution, and aggregation and enables the accessibility of electrolytes to the alloy surface and the electron transfer. Besides, the strong interaction between PtCo nanoalloy and nitrogen-doped carbon can efficiently modulate the electronic structure of the formed active sites. When used as a cathode catalyst, the constructed rechargeable zinc-air battery presents higher power density (268 mW cm-2), specific capacity (840 mAh g-1), and excellent stability. More importantly, the PtCo/NCNT catalyst allows the all-solid-state cell to exhibit remarkable flexibility and high round-trip efficiency at various bending states, demonstrating a potential possibility to replace the conventional Pt/C and RuO2 catalysts.

Rational design of amorphous vanadium pentoxide and hollow porous carbon spheres hybrid for superior zinc-ion battery.

Aqueous zinc-ion batteries (AZIBs) are expected to be a promising large-scale energy storage system owing to their intrinsic safety and low cost. Nevertheless, the development of AZIBs is still plagued by the design and fabrication of advanced cathode materials. Herein, the amorphous vanadium pentoxide and hollow porous carbon spheres (AVO-HPCS) hybrid is elaborately designed as AZIBs cathode material by integrating vacuum drying and annealing strategy. Amorphous vanadium pentoxide provides abundant active sites and isotropic ion diffusion channels. Meanwhile, the hollow porous carbon sphere not only provides a stable conductive network, but also enhances the stability during charging/discharging process. Consequently, the AVO-HPCS exhibits a capacity of 474 mAh/g at 0.5 A/g and long-term cycle stability. Moreover, the corresponding reversible insertion/extraction mechanism is elucidated by ex-situ X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and transmission electron microscopy. Furthermore, the flexible pouch battery with AVO-HPCS cathode shows high comprehensive performance. Hence, this work provides insights into the development of advanced amorphous cathode materials for AZIBs.

Regulating the zinc ion transport kinetics of Mn3O4 through copper doping towards high-capacity aqueous Zn-ion battery.

High working voltage, large theoretical capacity and cheapness render Mn3O4 promising cathode candidate for aqueous zinc ion batteries (AZIBs). Unfortunately, poor electrochemical activity and bad structural stability lead to low capacity and unsatisfactory cycling performance. Herein, Mn3O4 material was fabricated through a facile precipitation reaction and divalent copper ions were introduced into the crystal framework, and ultra-small Cu-doped Mn3O4 nanocrystalline cathode materials with mixed valence states of Mn2+, Mn3+ and Mn4+ were obtained via post-calcination. The presence of Cu acts as structural stabilizer by partial substitution of Mn, as well as enhance the conductivity and reactivity of Mn3O4. Significantly, based on electrochemical investigations and ex-situ XPS characterization, a synergistic effect between copper and manganese was revealed in the Cu-doped Mn3O4, in which divalent Cu2+ can catalyze the transformation of Mn3+ and Mn4+ to divalent Mn2+, accompanied by the translation of Cu2+ to Cu0 and Cu+. Benefitting from the above advantages, the Mn3O4 cathode doped with moderate copper (abbreviated as CMO-2) delivers large discharge capacity of 352.9 mAh g-1 at 100 mA g-1, which is significantly better than Mn3O4 (only 247.8 mAh g-1). In addition, CMO-2 holds 203.3 mAh g-1 discharge capacity after 1000 cycles at 1 A g-1 with 98.6 % retention, and after 1000 cycles at 5 A g-1, it still performs decent discharge capacity of 104.2 mAh g-1. This work provides new ideas and approaches for constructing manganese-based AZIBs with long lifespan and high capacity.

Interfacial modulation of nicotinamide additive enables 9700 h Zn metal batteries.

Aqueous zinc-ion batteries (AZIBs) have recently been paid great attention due to their robust safety features, high theoretical capacity, and eco-friendliness, yet their practical application is hindered by the serious dendrite formation and side reactions of Zn metal anode during cycling. Herein, a low-cost small molecule, nicotinamide (NIC), is proposed as an electrolyte additive to effectively regulate the Zn interface, achieving a highly reversible and stable zinc anode without dendrites. NIC molecules not only modify the Zn2+ solvation structure but also preferentially adsorb on the Zn surface than solvated H2O to protect the Zn anode and provide numerous nucleation sites for Zn2+ to homogenize Zn deposition. Consequently, the addition of 1 wt% NIC enables Zn||Zn symmetric cells an ultra-long lifespan of over 9700 h at 1 mA cm-2, which expands nearly 808 times compared to that without NIC. The advantages of NIC additives are further demonstrated in NaVO||Zn full cells, which exhibit exceptional capacity retention of 90.3 % after 1000 cycles with a high Coulombic efficiency of 99.9 % at 1 A/g, while the cell operates for only 42 cycles without NIC additive. This strategy presents a promising approach to solving the anode problem, fostering advancements in practical AZIBs.

Boosted electrocatalytic activity and durability of CuFe/NC by modulating the interfacial composition and electronic structure for efficient oxygen reduction reaction.

Oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) serves as the foundation for various electrochemical energy storage devices. Fe/NC catalysts are expected to replace commercial Pt/C as oxygen electrode catalysts based on the structural tunability at the atomic level, abundant iron ore reserves and excellent activity. Nevertheless, the lack of durability and low active site density impede its advancement. In this work, a durable catalyst, CuFe/NC, for ORR was prepared by modulating the interfacial composition and electronic structure. The introduction of Cu nanoclusters partially eliminates the Fenton effect from Fe and optimizes the electron structure of FeNx, thereby effectively enhancing the long-term durability and activity. The prepared CuFe/NC exhibits a half-wave potential (E1/2) of 0.90 V and superior stability with a decrease in E1/2 of only 20 mV after 10,000 cycles. The assembled alkaline Zinc-Air batteries (ZABs) with CuFe/NC exhibit an open-circuit potential of 1.458 V. At a current density of 5 mA cm-2, the batteries are capable of operation for 600 h with a stable polarization. This CuFe/NC may promote the practical application of novel and renewable electrochemical energy storage devices.

Suppressing hydrogen evolution and promoting dendrite free zinc deposition by fluorinated triazine framework towards robust aqueous zinc ion batteries.

Aqueous zinc-ion batteries (AZIBs) have become a research hotspot, but the inevitable zinc dendrites and parasitic reactions in the zinc anode seriously hinder their further development. In this study, three covalent triazine frameworks (DCPY-CTF, CTF-1 and FCTF) have been synthesized and used as artificial protective coatings, in which the fluorinated triazine framework (FCTF) increases the zinc-philic site, thus better promoting dendritic free zinc deposition and inhibiting hydrogen evolution reactions. Excitingly, both experimental results and theoretical calculations indicate that the FCTF interface adjusts the deposition of Zn2+ along the (002) plane, effectively alleviating the formation of zinc dendrites. As expected, Zn@FCTF symmetric cells exhibit cycling stability of over 4000 h (0.25 mA cm-2), meanwhile Zn@FCTF//NHVO full cells provide a high specific capacity of 280 mAh/g at 1.0 A/g, which are superior to those of bare Zn anode. This work provides new insights for suppressing hydrogen evolution and promoting dendrite-free zinc deposition to construct highly stable and reversible AZIBs.

MOF-on-MOF-derived FeCo@NC OER&ORR bifunctional electrocatalysts for zinc-air batteries.

Zinc-air batteries, as one of the emerging areas of interest in the quest for sustainable energy solutions, are hampered by the intrinsically sluggish kinetics of the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) and oxygen evolution reaction (OER), and still suffer from the issues of low energy density. Herein, we report a MOF-on-MOF-derived electrocatalyst, FeCo@NC-II, designed to efficiently catalyze both ORR (Ehalf = 0.907 V) and OER (Ej=10 = 1.551 V) within alkaline environments, surpassing esteemed noble metal benchmarks (Pt/C and RuO2). Systematically characterizations and density functional theory (DFT) calculations reveal that the synergistic effect of iron and cobalt bimetallic and the optimized distribution of nitrogen configuration improved the charge distribution of the catalysts, which in turn optimized the adsorption / desorption of oxygenated intermediates accelerating the reaction kinetics. While the unique leaf-like core-shell morphology and excellent pore structure of the FeCo@NC-II catalyst caused the improvement of mass transfer efficiency, electrical conductivity and stability. The core and shell of the precursor constructed through the MOF-on-MOF strategy achieved the effect of 1 + 1 > 2 in mutual cooperation. Further application to zinc-air batteries (ZABs) yielded remarkable power density (212.4 mW/cm2), long cycle (more than 150 h) stability and superior energy density (∼1060 Wh/kg Zn). This work provides a methodology and an idea for the design, synthesis and optimization of advanced bifunctional electrocatalysts.

Encapsulating CoNi nanoparticles into nitrogen-doped carbon nanotube arrays as bifunctional oxygen electrocatalyst for rechargeable zinc-air batteries.

The high theoretical specific energy and environmental friendliness of zinc-air batteries (ZABs) have garnered significant attention. However, the practical application of ZABs requires overcoming the sluggish kinetics associated with oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) and oxygen evolution reaction (OER). Herein, 3D self-supported nitrogen-doped carbon nanotubes (N-CNTs) arrays encapsulated by CoNi nanoparticles on carbon fiber cloth (CoNi@N-CNTs/CFC) are synthesized as bifunctional catalysts for OER and ORR. The 3D interconnected N-CNTs arrays not only improve the electrical conductivity, the permeation and gas escape capabilities of the electrode, but also enhance the corrosion resistance of CoNi metals. DFT calculations reveal that the co-existence of Co and Ni synergistically reduces the energy barrier for OOH conversion to OH, thereby optimizing the Gibbs free energy of the catalysts. Additionally, analysis of the change in energy barrier during the rate-determining step suggests that the primary catalytic active center is Ni site for OER. As a result, CoNi@N-CNTs/CFC exhibits superior catalytic activity with an overpotential of 240 mV at 10 mA cm-2 toward OER, and the onset potential of 0.92 V for ORR. Moreover, utilization of CoNi@N-CNTs/CFC in liquid and solid-state ZABs exhibited exceptional stability, manifesting a consistent cycling operation lasting for 100 and 15 h, respectively.

Investigating the role of non-ionic surfactants as electrolyte additives for improved zinc anode performance in aqueous batteries.

Zinc metal anodes encounter significant challenges, including dendrite growth, hydrogen evolution, and corrosion, all of which impede the rate capability and longevity of aqueous zinc-ion batteries (AZIBs). To effectively tackle these issues, we introduced Tween-80 into the traditional ZnSO4 electrolyte as an additive. Tween-80 possesses electronegative oxygen atoms that enable it to adsorb onto the zinc (Zn) anode surface, facilitating the directional deposition of Zn metal along the (002) orientation. The hydroxyl and ether groups within Tween-80 can displace some of the coordinated water molecules in the Zn2+ inner solvation shell. This disruption of the hydrogen bond network regulates the solvation structure of Zn2+ ions and suppresses the possibility of hydrogen evolution. Moreover, the long hydrocarbon chain present in Tween-80 exhibits excellent hydrophobic properties, aiding in the resistance against corrosion of the Zn anode by water molecules and reducing hydrogen evolution. Consequently, a symmetric cell equipped with the Tween-80 additive can cycle stably for over 4000 h at 1 mA cm-2 and 1 mA h cm-2. When paired with the V2O5 cathode, the full cell demonstrates a high-capacity retention rate exceeding 80 % over 1000 cycles at a current density of 2 A g-1. This study underscores the advantages of utilizing non-ionic surfactants for achieving high-performance aqueous zinc-ion batteries.

Superabsorbent starch protective layer modulates zinc anode interface for long-life aqueous zinc ion batteries.

Aqueous zinc ion batteries (AZIBs) have attracted much attention for their safety, low cost and high theoretical capacity. Nevertheless, Zn dendrites and the adverse reactions such as corrosion, hydrogen evolution and passivation on the anode affect the cycle life and stability of AZIBs. Herein, superabsorbent starch (SS) was employed on Zn foil to form an artificial interface protection layer, which inhibited the formation of dendrites by guiding the uniform deposition of Zn2+. SS with a large amount of oxygen-containing functional group is superabsorbent, which can attract the active water around the hydrated Zn2+, promoting the desolvation process of the hydrated Zn2+ and significantly inhibiting the occurrence of hydrogen evolution reaction. In addition, the inherent pore structure of the SS artificial interfacial layer can induce uniform nucleation of Zn2+ and inhibit the dendrites growth. Moreover, compared to bare Zn//MnO2 cell (44.1 %), the capacity retention of Zn@SS//MnO2 cell remained as high as 87.8 % after 1000 cycles at 1.5 A g-1. The simple method provided a new method for the rapid development of AZIBs.

Inhibition of jarosite heterogeneous crystallization on anglesite via in-situ formation of competitive substrate.

Heterogeneous crystallization is a common occurrence during the formation of solid wastes. It leads to the encapsulation of valuable/hazardous metals within the primary phase, presenting significant challenges for waste treatment and metal recovery. Herein, we proposed a novel method involving the in-situ formation of a competitive substrate during the precipitation of jarosite waste, which is an essential process for removing iron in zinc hydrometallurgy. We observed that the in-situ-formed competitive substrate effectively inhibits the heterogeneous crystallization of jarosite on the surface of anglesite, a lead-rich phase present in the jarosite waste. As a result, the iron content on the anglesite surface decreases from 34.8% to 1.65%. The competitive substrate was identified as schwertmannite, characterized by its loose structure and large surface area. Furthermore, we have elucidated a novel mechanism underlying this inhibition of heterogeneous crystallization, which involves the local supersaturation of jarosite caused by the release of ferric and sulfate ions from the competitive substrate. The local supersaturation promotes the preferential heterogeneous crystallization of jarosite on the competitive substrate. Interestingly, during the formation of jarosite, the competitive substrate gradually vanished through a dissolution-recrystallization process following the Ostwald rule, where a metastable phase slowly transitions to a stable phase. This effectively precluded the introduction of impurities and reduced waste volume. The goal of this study is to provide fresh insights into the mechanism of heterogeneous crystallization control, and to offer practical crystallization strategies conducive to metal separation and recovery from solid waste in industries.

Design of Bionanomaterial of Chitosan Carbohydrate Polymer Composited with Broccoli Extract and Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles: Anticancer Activity in Human Osteosarcoma.

In the current research, a chitosan/broccoli extract/ZnO nanoparticle (CH/BE/ZnO) bionanocomposite was created. The physicochemical properties of CH/BE/ZnO bionanocomposite were investigated using a variety of methods, including field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), elemental analysis (CHN-O), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectrum (FTIR), Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The CH/BE/ZnO bionanocomposite's biological activity was assessed by examining its cytotoxicity capabilities against a bone cancer cell line (MG63). The total pore volume and specific surface area of CH/BE/ZnO are 0.134 cm3/g and 16.99 m2/g, respectively. The IC50 results for CH/BE/ZnO bionanocomposite in bone cancer investigations using the MTT test against the MG63 cell line was 115 µg/mL. The results indicate that the CH/BE/ZnO bionanocomposite is an effective chemotherapeutic agent against human osteosarcoma. The CH/BE/ZnO bionanocomposite showed high performance and structure, which means innovating nanomaterial agents for biological applications in the future.

Sirtuin Expression in Insulin-Sensitive Tissues of Rats with Impaired Glucose Tolerance is not Affected by Resistance Training or Zinc Supplementation.

While physical activity and zinc supplementation have shown benefits in diabetes management, little is known about their effect on less severe glucose homeostasis disorders, such as impaired glucose tolerance. On the other hand, sirtuins have an important role in glucose metabolism and insulin sensitivity, but to date, there is no information about the impact of zinc supplementation or physical activity on their regulation in individuals with impaired glucose homeostasis. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of supplemental zinc, muscle-resistance training, and their combination on the expression of selected sirtuins in insulin-sensitive tissues of rats with impaired glucose tolerance. Thirty male Wistar rats with impaired glucose tolerance were fed a high-fat diet for 12 weeks while subjected to zinc supplementation, resistance training, both, or none. Morphometric and metabolic evaluations were performed at the end of the experimental period, and gene expression of sirtuins 1, 2, 4, and 7 was assessed in liver, gastrocnemius muscle, and white adipose tissue. Results showed that zinc supplementation and/or resistance training did not improve metabolic parameters of rats with impaired glucose tolerance, nor did they affect the expression of selected sirtuins in any of the tissues evaluated. However, the expression of some sirtuins was associated with metabolic parameters in a tissue-specific manner. Additional studies are needed to evaluate whether zinc supplementation and/or resistance training can improve metabolic status or modulate sirtuins expression in advanced stages of impaired glucose homeostasis.

Customizing H2O-Poor Electric Double Layer and Boosting Texture Exposure of Zn (101) Plane towards Super-High Areal Capacity Zinc Metal Batteries.

The catastrophic dendrite hyperplasia and parasitic reactions severely impede the future deployment of aqueous Zn-ion batteries. Controlling zinc orientation growth is considered to be an effective method to overcome the aforementioned concerns, especially for regulating the (002) plane of deposited Zn. Unfortunately, Zn (002) texture is difficult to obtain stable cycling under high deposition capacity resulting from its large lattice distortion and nonuniform distribution in electric field. Herein, different from traditional cognition, a crystallization orientation regulation tactic is proposed to boost Zn (101) texture exposure and inhibit zinc dendrite proliferation during plating/stripping. Experimental results and theoretical calculations demonstrate the malate molecules preferentially adsorb on the Zn (002) facet, leading to the texture exposure of distinctive Zn (101) plane. Meanwhile, the -COOH and -OH groups of malate molecules exhibit strong adsorption on the Zn anode surface and chelate with Zn2+, achieving H2O-poor electrical double layer. Very impressively, the multifunctional malate additive enlists zinc anode to survive for 600 h under a harsh condition of 15 mAh cm-2/15 mAh cm-2. Moreover, the symmetric cell harvests highly-reversible cycling life of 6600 h at 5 mA cm-2/1.25 mAh cm-2, remarkably outperforming the ZnSO4 electrolyte. The assembled Zn//MnO2 full cells also demonstrate prominent electrochemical reversibility.

The zinc-finger transcription factor Sfp1 imprints specific classes of mRNAs and links their synthesis to cytoplasmic decay.

To function effectively as an integrated system, the transcriptional and post-transcriptional machineries must communicate through mechanisms that are still poorly understood. Here, we focus on the zinc-finger Sfp1, known to regulate transcription of proliferation-related genes. We show that Sfp1 can regulate transcription either by binding to promoters, like most known transcription activators, or by binding to the transcribed regions (gene bodies), probably via RNA polymerase II (Pol II). We further studied the first mode of Sfp1 activity and found that, following promoter binding, Sfp1 binds to gene bodies and affects Pol II configuration, manifested by dissociation or conformational change of its Rpb4 subunit and increased backtracking. Surprisingly, Sfp1 binds to a subset of mRNAs co-transcriptionally and stabilizes them. The interaction between Sfp1 and its client mRNAs is controlled by their respective promoters and coincides with Sfp1's dissociation from chromatin. Intriguingly, Sfp1 dissociation from the chromatin correlates with the extent of the backtracked Pol II. We propose that, following promoter recruitment, Sfp1 accompanies Pol II and regulates backtracking. The backtracked Pol II is more compatible with Sfp1's relocation to the nascent transcripts, whereupon Sfp1 accompanies these mRNAs to the cytoplasm and regulates their stability. Thus, Sfp1's co-transcriptional binding imprints the mRNA fate, serving as a paradigm for the cross-talk between the synthesis and decay of specific mRNAs, and a paradigm for the dual-role of some zinc-finger proteins. The interplay between Sfp1's two modes of transcription regulation remains to be examined.

The ability to fine-tune the production of proteins in a cell is essential for organisms to exist. An imbalance in protein levels can be the cause of various diseases. Messenger RNA molecules (mRNA) link the genetic information encoded in DNA and the produced proteins. Exactly how much protein is made mostly depends on the amount of mRNA in the cell's cytoplasm. This is controlled by two processes: the synthesis of mRNA (also known as transcription) and mRNA being actively degraded. Although much is known about mechanisms regulating transcription and degradation, how cells detect if they need to degrade mRNA based on the levels of its synthesis and vice versa is poorly understood. In 2013, researchers found that proteins known as 'RNA decay factors' responsible for mRNA degradation are actively moved from the cell's cytoplasm into its nucleus to instruct the transcription machinery to produce more mRNA. Kelbert, Jordán-Pla, de-Miguel-Jiménez et al. ­ including some of the researchers involved in the 2013 work ­ investigated how mRNA synthesis and degradation are coordinated to ensure a proper mRNA level. The researchers used advanced genome engineering methods to carefully manipulate and measure mRNA production and degradation in yeast cells. The experiments revealed that the protein Sfp1 ­ a well-characterized transcription factor for stimulating the synthesis of a specific class of mRNAs inside the nucleus ­ can also prevent the degradation of these mRNAs outside the nucleus. During transcription, Sfp1 bound directly to mRNA. The investigators could manipulate the co-transcriptional binding of Sfp1 to a certain mRNA, thereby changing the mRNA stability in the cytoplasm. This suggests that the ability of Sfp1 to regulate both the production and decay of mRNA is dependent on one another and that transcription can influence the fate of its transcripts. This combined activity can rapidly change mRNA levels in response to changes in the cell's environment. RNA plays a key role in ensuring correct levels of proteins. It can also function as an RNA molecule, independently of its coding capacity. Many cancers and developmental disorders are known to be caused by faulty interactions between transcription factors and nucleic acids. The finding that some transcription factors can directly regulate both mRNA synthesis and its destruction introduces new angles for studying and understanding these diseases.

Zinc finger 4 negatively controls the transcriptional activator Fzf1 in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

Fzf1 is a Saccharomyces cerevisiae transcription factor containing five zinc fingers (ZFs). It regulates the expression of at least five downstream genes, including SSU1, YHB1, DDI2/3, and YNR064c, by recognizing a consensus sequence, CS2, found in these gene promoters. These gene products are involved in cellular responses to various chemical stresses. For example, SSU1 encodes a sodium sulfite efflux protein that confers sulfite resistance. However, the underlying molecular mechanism through which Fzf1 responds to chemical stress and coordinates target gene activation remains elusive. Interestingly, several mutations in the fourth ZF (ZF4) of Fzf1 have previously been reported to confer either sulfite resistance or elevated basal-level expression of YHB1, indicating that ZF4 negatively impacts Fzf1 activity. Since ZF4 is dispensable for CS2 binding in vitro, we hypothesized that ZF4 is a negative regulator of Fzf1 and that chemically induced Fzf1-regulated gene expression occurs via de-repression. All five genes examined were cross-induced by corresponding chemicals in an Fzf1-dependent manner, and all three ZF4 mutations and a ZF4 deletion conferred increased basal-level expression and SSU1-dependent sulfite resistance. A ZF4 deletion did not alter the target DNA binding, consistent with the observed codominant phenotype. These observations collectively reveal that Fzf1 remains inactive by default at the target promoters and that its activation is at least partially achieved by self-derepression through chemical modification and/or a conformational change.

Advancing Zinc Anodes: Strategies for Enhanced Performance in Aqueous Zinc-Ion Batteries.

The promising features of aqueous zinc ion batteries (AZIBs), including their inherent safety, environmental friendliness, abundant raw materials, cost-effectiveness, and simple manufacturing process, position them as strong candidates for large-scale energy storage. However, their practical application faces significant challenges, such as uncontrolled dendritic growth, undesirable side reactions, and hydrogen evolution reactions (HER), which undermine the efficiency and longevity of the system. To address these issues, extensive research has been conducted to improve these batteries' energy density and lifespan. This comprehensive review explores the fundamental mechanisms of zinc dendrite formation, its properties, and the interfacial chemistry between the electrode and electrolyte. It also delves into strategies for protecting the zinc anode, with a focus on the modulation of zinc ion deposition dynamics at the electrolyte interface. The discussion concludes with an evaluation of the current challenges and future prospects of AZIB, aiming to enhance their viability for grid-scale energy storage solutions.

Cutting-Edge Progress in Aqueous Zn-S Batteries: Innovations in Cathodes, Electrolytes, and Mediators.

Rechargeable aqueous zinc-sulfur batteries (AZSBs) are emerging as prominent candidates for next-generation energy storage devices owing to their affordability, non-toxicity, environmental friendliness, non-flammability, and use of earth-abundant electrodes and aqueous electrolytes. However, AZSBs currently face challenges in achieving satisfied electrochemical performance due to slow kinetic reactions and limited stability. Therefore, further research and improvement efforts are crucial for advancing AZSBs technology. In this comprehensive review, it is delved into the primary mechanisms governing AZSBs, assess recent advancements in the field, and analyse pivotal modifications made to electrodes and electrolytes to enhance AZSBs performance. This includes the development of novel host materials for sulfur (S) cathodes, which are capable of supporting higher S loading capacities and the refinement of electrolyte compositions to improve ionic conductivity and stability. Moreover, the potential applications of AZSBs across various energy platforms and evaluate their market viability based on recent scholarly contributions is explored. By doing so, this review provides a visionary outlook on future research directions for AZSBs, driving continuous advancements in stable AZSBs technology and deepening the understanding of their charge-discharge dynamics. The insights presented in this review signify a significant step toward a sustainable energy future powered by renewable sources.

LncRNA ZFAS1/miR-186-5p axis is involved in oxidative stress inhibition of myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury by targeting BTG2.

OBJECTIVE: To probe the involvement of long noncoding RNA zinc finger antisense 1 (ZFAS1)/microRNA (miR)-186-5p axis in inhibiting oxidative stress in myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury (MIRI) by targeting B-cell translocation gene 2 (BTG2). METHODS: The MIRI mice model was established by ligating the left anterior descending branch of the left coronary artery in C57BL/6 mice. The in vitro MIRI model was constructed by hypoxia and reoxygenation of HL-1 cardiomyocytes. Cardiomyocyte apoptosis and the extent of myocardial injury in mice were detected. The apoptosis rates, malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activities in HL-1 cells were assessed. The relationship among ZFAS1, miR-186-5p, and BTG2 was verified. RESULTS: High ZFAS1 and BTG2 levels and low miR-186-5p levels were demonstrated in I/R-injured myocardial tissues and in H/R-treated cardiomyocytes. Interference with ZFAS1 or elevation of miR-186-5p inhibited apoptosis and oxidative stress in H/R model cardiomyocytes and I/R-injured myocardial tissues. Overexpressing BTG2 impaired the ameliorative effects of miR-186-5p on MIRI. ZFAS1 negatively regulated miR-186-5p expression by acting as a molecular sponge. miR-186-5p targeted to regulate BTG2 negatively. CONCLUSION: Interfering with ZFAS1 can upregulate miR-186-5p and thus inhibit BTG2 expression, thereby ameliorating MIRI.