Monolithic Microparticles Facilitated Flower-Like TiO2 Nanowires for High Areal Capacity Flexible Li-Ion Batteries.

Flexible lithium-ion batteries (FLIBs) are intensively studied using free-standing transition metal oxides (TMOs)-based anode materials. However, achieving high areal capacity TMO-based anode materials is yet to be effectively elucidated owing to the poor adhesion of the active materials to the flexible substrate resulting in low active mass loading, and hence low areal capacity is realized. Herein, a novel monolithic rutile TiO2 microparticles on carbon cloth (ATO/CC) that facilitate the flower-like arrangement of TiO2 nanowires (denoted ATO/CC/OTO) is demonstrated as high areal capacity anode for FLIBs. The optimized ATO/CC/OTO anode exhibits high areal capacity (5.02 mAh cm-2@0.4 mA cm-2) excellent rate capability (1.17 mAh cm-2@5.0 mA cm-2) and remarkable cyclic stability (over 500 cycles). A series of morphological, kinetic, electrochemical, in situ Raman, and theoretical analyses reveal that the rational phase boundaries between the microparticles and nanowires contribute to promoting the Li storage activity. Furthermore, a 16.0 cm2 all-FLIB pouch cell assembled based on the ATO/CC/OTO anode and LiNiCoMnO2 cathode coated on ATO/CC (ATO/CC/LNCM) exhibits impressive flexibility under different folding conditions, creating opportunity for the development of high areal capacity anodes in future flexible energy storage devices.

[Effects of PI3K/Akt-eNOS signaling pathway on total flavones in Clematis filamentosa post-conditioning alleviated of myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury in rats].

The aim of this paper was to study the effect of total flavones of Clematis filamentosa Dunn(TFCD) post-conditioning against myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury (MIRI) and the role of PI3K/Akt-eNOS signaling pathway. Forty male SD rats were divided randomly into five groups: Sham group, model group (I/R), TFCD post-conditioning group (TFCD), TFCD post-condition-ing+LY294002 (a PI3K/Akt signaling pathway inhibitor) group (TFCD+LY), and LY294002 group (LY). At the end of reperfusion, hemodynamic parameters were recorded, morphology changes of myocardial tissue were evaluated by using HE staining, and myocardial infarct size were observed, blood samples were obtained to determine plasma activation of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), creatine kinase (CK) nitric oxide (NO), endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS), superoxide dismutase (SOD), maleic dialdehyde (MDA) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px). The expressions of Akt, p-Akt, eNOS and p-eNOS proteins were assessed by using Western blot, and eNOS and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) mRNA was measured by RT-PCR. The results showed that, compared with the model group, TFCD post-conditioning remarkably improved hemodynamics function and myocardial structure, reduced myocardial infarct size and enhanced the contents of NO, eNOS, SOD and GSH-Px, and decreased the contents of LDH, CK and MDA, increased the levels of phosphorylation of Akt and eNOS protein expression, eNOS and iNOS mRNA expression significantly(P＜0.05 or P＜0.01). These effects were inhibited by LY294002, a blocker of PI3K/Akt signaling pathway. The above experiments indicated that TFCD post-conditioning could significantly reduce MIRI in rats, the mechanism of which may be associated with increasing antioxidation, scavenging oxygen free radicals, regulating NO generation and activating PI3K/Akt-eNOS signaling pathway.

Wireless, closed-loop, smart bandage with integrated sensors and stimulators for advanced wound care and accelerated healing.

'Smart' bandages based on multimodal wearable devices could enable real-time physiological monitoring and active intervention to promote healing of chronic wounds. However, there has been limited development in incorporation of both sensors and stimulators for the current smart bandage technologies. Additionally, while adhesive electrodes are essential for robust signal transduction, detachment of existing adhesive dressings can lead to secondary damage to delicate wound tissues without switchable adhesion. Here we overcome these issues by developing a flexible bioelectronic system consisting of wirelessly powered, closed-loop sensing and stimulation circuits with skin-interfacing hydrogel electrodes capable of on-demand adhesion and detachment. In mice, we demonstrate that our wound care system can continuously monitor skin impedance and temperature and deliver electrical stimulation in response to the wound environment. Across preclinical wound models, the treatment group healed ~25% more rapidly and with ~50% enhancement in dermal remodeling compared with control. Further, we observed activation of proregenerative genes in monocyte and macrophage cell populations, which may enhance tissue regeneration, neovascularization and dermal recovery.

Corrosion Behavior of High-Cr-Ni Materials in Biomass Incineration Atmospheres.

In this paper, the corrosion test of high-Cr-Ni tubes was carried out in a biomass incinerator by replacing the original heated surface tube with a test tube. The investigated materials are high-Cr-Ni stainless steels (TP347H, SP2215, and Sanicro25) and alloy (HT700T). Long-term services (>4000 h) to investigate the corrosion rates and corrosion characteristics of the materials have been carried out. The appearance, element content, and composition of corrosion products after corrosion of the specimens were analyzed. Analysis indicates that the deposits are mainly composed of alkali metal salts, iron oxides, iron sulfates, and complex salts. Moreover, the corrosion morphology of the materials with different Cr-Ni contents varies greatly. TP347H has a high corrosion rate (0.11 mm/1000 h) with intergranular corrosion cracks and pitting on the windward side. However, the corrosion pattern of HT700T is comprehensive corrosion and the corrosion rate is low (0.015 mm/1000 h). Using corrosion rate as a criterion for corrosion resistance, HT700T has the highest corrosion resistance, while TP347H has the lowest. The corrosion behavior is also related to the corrosion resistance index (CI) value based on the content of critical elements. The order of material corrosion resistance predicted by the CI value is the same as reflected by the corrosion rate.

Topological supramolecular network enabled high-conductivity, stretchable organic bioelectronics.

Intrinsically stretchable bioelectronic devices based on soft and conducting organic materials have been regarded as the ideal interface for seamless and biocompatible integration with the human body. A remaining challenge is to combine high mechanical robustness with good electrical conduction, especially when patterned at small feature sizes. We develop a molecular engineering strategy based on a topological supramolecular network, which allows for the decoupling of competing effects from multiple molecular building blocks to meet complex requirements. We obtained simultaneously high conductivity and crack-onset strain in a physiological environment, with direct photopatternability down to the cellular scale. We further collected stable electromyography signals on soft and malleable octopus and performed localized neuromodulation down to single-nucleus precision for controlling organ-specific activities through the delicate brainstem.

Antipyretic Effect of Herba Ephedrae-Ramulus Cinnamomi Herb Pair on Yeast-Induced Pyrexia Rats: A Metabolomics Study.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the antipyretic mechanism of Herba Ephedrae (Eph)-Ramulus Cinnamomi (RC) herb pair on yeast-induced pyrexia in rats. METHODS: Totally 30 qualified male SD rats were randomly assigned to the normal control (NC) group, the pyrexia model (model) group, the Eph, RC and Eph-RC treatment groups by a random digital table, 6 rats in each group. Each rat received a 20% aqueous suspension of yeast (10 mL/kg) except the NC group. The 3 treatment groups were administered 8.1, 5.4 and 13.5 g/kg Eph, RC and Eph-RC respectively at 5 and 12 h after yeast injection, the NC group and the model groups were administered equal volume of distilled water. Rectal temperatures were measured at 0, 6, 8, 10, 12, 15, 18, 24 and 30 h and urine was collected prior to yeast injection and at 6, 10, 18, 24, 30, and 36 h after yeast injection. Then urine metabolomic profiling by gas chromatography tandem mass spectrometry, coupled with multivariate statistical analysis and pattern recognition techniques were used to explore the antipyretic effects of Eph-RC. Partial least squares discriminate analysis was used to analyze the metabolomics dataset including classification and regression in metabolomics plot profiling. RESULTS: Compared with the NC group, rectal temperatures were significantly higher in the model group (P<0.01), while 3 treatment groups decreased significantly compared with the model group (P<0.05 or P<0.01). Rectal temperatures of Eph-RC-treated rats started to go down at 6 h, and markedly decreased at 8, 12, 15, 18 and 24 h (P<0.05 or P<0.01), while those of the Eph and RC groups had decreased firstly at 8 h and were markedly lower at 12 h (P<0.05 or P<0.01). Seventeen potential biomarkers related to pyrexia were confirmed and identified, including pyruvic acid, L-phenylalanine, L-tyrosine, phenylacetic acid, hippuric acid, succinic acid, citrate and so on. Eight potential alterations of metabolic pathways including phenylalanine metabolism, citrate cycle, tryptophan metabolism, biosynthesis of valine, leucine and isoleucine, were identified in relation to the antipyretic effects of Eph-RC using MetPA software. CONCLUSION: The antipyretic effect of Eph-RC herb pair on yeast-induced pyrexia in rats involved correction of perturbed amino acid, fatty acid, and carbohydrate metabolism according to the metabolic pathway analysis with MetPA.

Increased B cell activating factor is associated with B cell class switching in patients with tuberculous pleural effusion.

B cell activating factor (BAFF), a member of the tumor necrosis factor family, is a key cytokine for B cell survival, a function that is essential for B cell maturation and memory. The expression levels of BAFF and its potential contribution to B cell maturation remain elusive in patients with tuberculous pleural effusion (TPE). The present study enrolled 40 healthy controls (HC) and 45 TPE patients, and investigated the levels of BAFF in the plasma and pleural effusion. Concomitantly, B cell subsets including naïve B cell (CD19+IgD+CD27­), unswitched B cell (CD19+IgD+CD27+), switched B cell (CD19+IgD­CD27+), total memory B cell (CD19+CD27+), plasma B cell (CD19+IgD­CD38+CD27+) and transitional B cell (CD19+IgDdim CD38+) in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and pleural fluid mononuclear cells (PFMCs) were assessed using multicolor flow cytometry. Finally, the associations between BAFF and each sub­group of B cells in TPE patients were analyzed. Compared with HC cases, an increased BAFF level and elevated frequency of switched B cell were observed in the blood and pleural effusion from patients with TPE. The proportions of naïve B cell, plasma B cell and transitional B cell were lower in the PFMCs of TPE patients. Furthermore, a significant correlation was observed between the level of BAFF, and the proportion of switched B cell in the peripheral blood and pleural effusion of TPE patients. These findings indicated that the B cell profile may be different in the pleural effusion, and BAFF may activate switched B cells to enhance the humoral immune responses in patients with TPE. Further studies are required to elucidate the underlying mechanisms and determine the potential immunotherapy of the BAFF­switched B cell axis.

Profiling dendritic cell subsets in the patients with active pulmonary tuberculosis.

Dendritic cell (DC) plays an important role in the immune response against pulmonary tuberculosis. However, the phenotypic profile of DC subsets in peripheral blood in individuals with active pulmonary tuberculosis (APT) is still inconclusive. Here, we demonstrated that the absolute numbers of total DC (tDC), myeloid DC (mDC) and plasmacytoid DC (pDC) in individuals with APT were decreased compared to healthy controls (HCs). The decreased number of DCs, especially of pDC, seems to be a useful diagnostic marker of APT. Meanwhile, the number of DCs was associated with the prolonged/complicated TB, ATD treatment effect and lymphocyte immune reactions, as manifested that relapsed APT patients with a higher number of tDC and lower number of pDC compared to newly diagnosed patients. Interestingly, mDC from APT patients displayed high expressions of CD83 and CCR7, but pDC displayed low expressions of CD83 and CCR7. Moreover, DCs from APT patients expressed lower levels of HLA-DR and CD80, but expressed a higher level of CD86 than those from HCs. However, the antigen uptake capacity of DC subsets was not different between APT and HCs, despite the antigen uptake capacity of pDC was much lower than that of mDC in both APT patients and HCs. Our data represent a systematic profile of DC subsets in the blood of APT patients, and would represent a useful biomarker for APT.

Anisotropic oxygen plasma etching of colloidal particles in electrospun fibers.

Oxygen plasma etching of electrospun polymer fibers containing spherical colloids is presented as a new approach towards anisotropic colloidal nanoparticles. The detailed morphology of the resulting nanoparticles can be precisely controlled in a continuous way. The same approach is also amenable to prepare inorganic nanoparticles with double-sided patches.

Antitumor efficacy of poly(dimer acid-dodecanedioic acid) copolymer in mice bearing Sarcoma-180 tumor.

The drug release profiles of poly(dimer acid-dodecanedioic acid) P(DA-DDDA) copolymer containing 5% adriamycin hydrochloride (ADM) in vitro were evaluated. The biocompatibility of P(DA-DDDA) under mice skin was also evaluated, macroscopic observation and microscopic analysis demonstrated that the copolymer is biocompatible and well tolerated in vivo. Antitumor efficacy of P(DA-DDDA) copolymers containing 5% adriamycin hydrochloride (ADM) implanted subcutaneously in mice bearing Sarcoma-180 tumor exhibited increased volume doubling time (VDT) (31 +/- 1.5 days) compared to plain subcutaneous injection of ADM (7 +/- 0.9 days). The studies suggest that P(DA-DDDA) copolymer as an effective carrier for antineoplastic drug like adriamycin hydrochloride has a very good prospect in the treatment of noumenon tumors.