Recycling the Spent LiNi1- x - yMnxCoyO2 Cathodes for High-Performance Electrocatalysts toward Both the Oxygen Catalytic and Methanol Oxidation Reactions.

The traditional recycling methods of the spent lithium ion batteries (LIBs) involve the intricate and cumbersome steps. This work proposes a facile method of acid leaching followed by the sulfurization treatment to achieve the high Li leaching efficiency, and obtain high-performance multi-function electrocatalysts for oxygen reduction (ORR), oxygen evolution (OER), and methanol oxidation reactions (MOR) from the spent LIB ternary cathodes. By this method, the Li leaching efficiency from the spent LIB ternary cathode can reach 98.3%, and the transition metal sulfide heterostructures (LNMCO-H-450S) consisting MnS, NiS2, and NiCo2S4 phases can be obtained. LNMCO-H-450S shows the superior bifunctional oxygen catalytic activities with ORR half-wave potential of 0.763 V and OER potential at 10 mA cm-2 of 1.561 V, surpassing most of the state-of-the-art electrocatalysts. LNMCO-H-450S also demonstrates the superior MOR catalytic activity with the potential at 100 mA cm-2 being 1.37 V. Using LNMCO-H-450S as the oxygen catalyst, this work can construct the aqueous and solid-state zinc-air batteries with high power density of 309 and 257 mW cm-2, respectively. This work provides a promising strategy for the efficient recovery of Li, and reutilization of Ni, Co, and Mn from the spent LIB ternary cathodes.

Meta-analysis of Nicorandil effectiveness on myocardial protection after percutaneous coronary intervention.

BACKGROUND: Using the current meta-analysis as well as systematic review, to determine the curative effect of Nicorandil in comparison of no Nicorandil after elective percutaneous coronary intervention(PCI) on patients. METHODS: Published literatures were identified via a computerized literature search of CENTRAL, PubMed, Cochrane, Embase Databases of Systematic Reviews. A set of randomized trials evaluating Nicorandil in comparison of no Nicorandil administered following PCI in patients harboring coronary artery disease were included. Outcomes were revealed based on the following parameters: peak creatine kinase-MB (CK-MB) value, left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), peak troponin I (cTnI), and major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs) per randomized patients. RESULTS: We included a total of 14 RCTs involving 1864 subjects in the present review. According to this meta-analysis, LVEF was significantly improved in Nicorandil group; the peak CK-MB level and the incidence of adverse cardiovascular events were remarkably lower in Nicorandil group. Nicorandil and no Nicorandil administered group appeared to be equivalent with regards to cTnI. CONCLUSIONS: Nicorandil is effective for patients undergoing elective PCI with coronary artery disease in terms of reducing the incidence of adverse cardiovascular events as well as improving heart function. Nicorandil may exert potential role as a valid and adjunctive therapy accompanied with PCI.

Morphology-Tuned Synthesis of NiCo2 O4 -Coated 3D Graphene Architectures Used as Binder-Free Electrodes for Lithium-Ion Batteries.

Nanostructured NiCo2O4 is directly grown on the surface of three-dimensional graphene-coated nickel foam (3D-GNF) by a facile electrodeposition technique and subsequent annealing. The resulting NiCo2O4 possesses a distinct flower or sheet morphology, tuned by potential or current variation electrodeposition, which are used as binder-free lithium-ion battery anodes for the first time. Both samples exhibit high lithium storage capacity, profiting from the unique binder-free electrode structures. The flower-type NiCo2O4 demonstrates high reversible discharge capacity (1459 mAh g(-1) at 200 mA g(-1)) and excellent cyclability with around 71% retention of the reversible capacity after 60 cycles, which are superior to the sheet-type NiCo2O4. Such superb performance can be attributed to high volume utilization efficiency with unique morphological character, a well-preserved connection between the active materials and the current collector, a short lithium-ion diffusion path, and fast electrolyte transfer in the binder-free NiCo2O4 coated 3D graphene structure. The simple preparation process and easily controllable morphology make the binder-free NiCo2O4/3D-GNF hybrid a potential material for commercial applications.

Synthesis and anti-tumor activity of new benzofuran-based chalcone derivatives as potent VEGFR-2 inhibitors.

Cancer is one of the most significant public health problems worldwide, and the discovery and development of efficient VEGFR-2 inhibitors has been a research hotspot in cancer treatment. In the present work, a series of novel benzofuran-based chalcone derivatives have been prepared, and in vitro anti-tumor activities of them have been evaluated. The results indicated that the compounds displayed potent anticancer activity against HCC1806, HeLa and A549 cell lines. The preliminary mechanism study showed that 4g could effectively induce the apoptosis of HCC1806 cells, and showed inhibitory effect on VEFGR-2. The molecular docking study indicated that 4g had an obvious binding site with the target VEGFR-2 (PDB ID: 4BSK). Therefore, the benzofuran-based chalcone derivatives could be considered as potent VEGFR-2 inhibitors.

MW-19, a dihydropyrazole derivative, induces human triple-negative breast cancer cell apoptosis by targeting apoptosis-related pathways.

Previous studies have indicated that heterocyclic substituted dihydropyrazole derivatives, particularly MW-19, potentially exert anticancer activity in vitro; however, the underlying mechanism remains unknown. The present study was designed to investigate the mechanisms underlying MW-19 activity in triple-negative breast cancer cells. A sulforhodamine B assay was performed to evaluate cell proliferation inhibition rates, and the antitumor effect of MW-19 was evaluated in mice with HCC-1806 xenografts. Apoptosis was analyzed by Hoechst 33342 and annexin V/propidium iodide staining. Expression of pro- and antiapoptotic proteins and mRNA were analyzed by western blotting and reverse transcription-quantitative (RT-q) PCR, respectively. We found that MW-19 significantly inhibited HCC-1806 cell proliferation in a dose- and time-dependent manner, and significantly inhibited MDA-MB-231 cell migration. Importantly, oral administration of MW-19 significantly inhibited HCC-1806 tumor growth in BALB/c-nu/nu mice. Moreover, MW-19 treatment induced marked apoptosis and G2/M arrest in the sensitive cell line, HCC-1806. RT-qPCR analysis showed that levels of proapoptotic genes (Bax, caspase-3, caspase-7, and Fas) were considerably increased in the MW-19 group relative to the control group, while those of antiapoptotic factors (Bcl-2, C-MYC) were dramatically decreased. Consistently, Bax, caspase-3, and caspase-7 were significantly induced after MW-19 treatment, while levels of phosphorylated (p-)AKT, p-PI3K, p-ERK, and the antiapoptotic protein, Bcl-2, were clearly diminished, and the P38 MAPK signaling pathway was activated. Furthermore, P38 pharmacological inhibitors abrogated MW-19-induced apoptosis. Together, our findings indicate that MW-19 exerts antitumor effects by targeting PI3K/AKT and ERK/P38 signaling pathways.

Effect of heat treatment on H2O2/HCl etched pure titanium dental implant: an in vitro study.

BACKGROUND: Surface chemistry of dental implant plays an important role in osseointegration. Heat treatment might alter surface chemistry and result in different biological response. The aim of this study was to investigate the roles of heat treatment of H2O2/HCl-treated Ti implants in cell attachment, proliferation and osteoblastic differentiation. MATERIAL/METHODS: Sandblasted, dual acid-etched and H2O2/HCl heat-treated discs were set as the control group and sandblasted, dual acid-etched H2O2/HCl-treated discs were the test group. Both groups' discs were sent for surface characterization. MC3T3-E1 cells were seeded on these 2 groups' discs for 3 hours to 14 days, and then cell attachment, cell proliferation and cell differentiation were evaluated. RESULTS: Scanning electron microscope analysis revealed that the titanium discs in the 2 groups shared the same surface topography, while x-ray diffraction examination showed an anatase layer in the control group and titanium hydride diffractions in the test group. The cell attachment of the test group was equivalent to that of the control group. Cell proliferation was slightly stimulated at all time points in the control group, but the alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity and osteocalcin (OC) production increased significantly in the test group compared with those in the control group at every time point investigated (p<0.05 or p<0.01). Moreover, the osteoblastic differentiation-related genes AKP-2, osteopontin (OPN) and OC were greatly up-regulated in the test group (p<0.05 or p<0.01). CONCLUSIONS: The results implied that surface chemistry played an important role in cell response, and H2O2/HCl etched titanium surface without subsequent heat treatment might improve osseointegration response.

Rapidly reconstructing the active surface of cobalt-based perovskites for alkaline seawater splitting.

As a potential oxygen evolution reaction (OER) catalyst, Co-based perovskites have received intensive attention. However, Sr readily accumulates on their surface, and makes them inert toward the OER. Herein, we propose a simple but versatile electrochemical reduction method to reconstruct the active surface of Co-based perovskites within a few seconds. By this method, Sr rapidly precipitates from Co-based perovskites, accompanied by the introduction of Sr and oxygen vacancies. After reconstruction, the electrochemical active surface areas of Co-based perovskites greatly increase, and the OER overpotential of the optimized SrNb0.1Co0.7Fe0.2O3-δ (ER-SNCF-20s) reaches 278 mV at 10 mA cm-2. This can be explained by the decrease of overpotentials at the rate-determining step. Using ER-SNCF-20s, the splitting voltage of alkaline natural seawater can reach 1.56 V at 10 mA cm-2, and remains steady for 300 h. This effort offers a feasible method for reconstructing the active surface of Co-based perovskites.

Self-Templated Formation of Fluffy Graphene-Wrapped Ni5P4 Hollow Spheres for Li-Ion Battery Anodes with High Cycling Stability.

Transition-metal phosphides have gained great importance in the field of energy conversion and storage such as electrochemical water splitting, fuel cells, and Li-ion batteries. In this study, a rationally designed novel fluffy graphene (FG)-wrapped monophasic Ni5P4 (Ni5P4@FG) is in-situ-synthesized using a chemical vapor deposition method as a Li-ion battery anode material. The porous and hollow structure of Ni5P4 core is greatly helpful for lithium-ion diffusion, and at the same time, the cilia-like graphene nanosheet shell provides an electron-conducting layer and stabilizes the solid electrolyte interface formed on the Ni5P4 surface. The Ni5P4@FG sample shows a high reversible capacity of 739 mAh g-1 after 300 cycles at a specific current density of 500 mA g-1. The high capacity, superior cycling stability, and improved rate capability of Ni5P4@FG are ascribed to its unique hierarchical structure. Moreover, the present efficient fabrication methodology of Ni5P4@FG has potential to be developed as a general method for the synthesis of other transition-metal phosphides.

Self-Limiting Growth of Single-Layer N-Doped Graphene Encapsulating Nickel Nanoparticles for Efficient Hydrogen Production.

Effective nonprecious metal catalysts are urgently needed for hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). The hybridization of N-doped graphene and a cost-effective metal is expected to be a promising approach for enhanced HER performance but faces bottlenecks in controllable fabrication. Herein, a silica medium-assisted method is developed for the high-efficient synthesis of single-layer N-doped graphene encapsulating nickel nanoparticles (Ni@SNG), where silica nanosheets molecule sieves tactfully assist the self-limiting growth of single-layer graphene over Ni nanoparticles by depressing the diffusion of gaseous carbon radical reactants. The Ni@SNG sample synthesized at 800 °C shows excellent activity for HER in alkaline medium with a low overpotential of 99.8 mV at 10 mA cm-2, which is close to that of the state-of-the-art Pt/C catalyst. Significantly, the Ni@SNG catalyst is also developed as a binder-free electrode in magnetic field, exhibiting much improved performance than the common Nafion binder-based electrode. Therefore, the magnetism adsorption technique will be a greatly promising approach to overcome the high electron resistance and poor adhesive stability of polymer binder-based electrodes in practical applications.

Dose-effect relationships of 12C6+ ions-induced dicentric plus ring chromosomes, micronucleus and nucleoplasmic bridges in human lymphocytes in vitro.

PURPOSE: The objective of this research was to explore the dose-effect relationships of dicentric plus ring (dic + r), micronucleus (MN) and nucleoplasmic bridges (NPB) induced by carbon ions in human lymphocytes. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Venous blood samples were collected from three healthy donors. 12C6+ ions beam was used to irradiate the blood samples at the energy of 330 MeV and linear energy transfer (LET) of 50 keV/µm with a dose rate of 1 Gy/min in the spread-out Bragg peak. The irradiated doses were 0 (sham irradiation), 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 Gy. Dic + r chromosomes aberrations were scored in metaphases. The cytokinesis-block micronucleus cytome (CBMN) was conducted to analyze MN and NPB. The maximum low-dose relative biological effectiveness (RBEM) values of the induction of dic + r, MN and NPB in human lymphocytes for 12C6+ ions irradiation was calculated relative to 60Co γ-rays. RESULTS: The frequencies of dic + r, MN and NPB showed significantly increases in a dose-depended manner after exposure to 12C6+ ions. The distributions of dic + r and MN exhibited overdispersion, while the distribution of NPB agreed with Poisson distribution at all doses. Linear-quadratic equations were established based on the frequencies of dic + r and MN. The dose-response curves of NPB frequencies followed a linear model. The derived RBEM values for dic + r, MN and NPB in human lymphocytes irradiated with 12C6+ ions were 8.07 ± 2.73, 2.69 ± 0.20 and 4.00 ± 2.69 in comparison with 60Co γ-rays. CONCLUSION: The dose-response curves of carbon ions-induced dic + r, MN and NPB were constructed. These results could be helpful to improve radiation risk assessment and dose estimation after exposed to carbon ions irradiation.

Silicon core-mesoporous shell carbon spheres as high stability lithium-ion battery anode.

An innovative and simple synthesis strategy of silicon nanoparticle (Si NP) core covered by mesoporous shell carbon (MSC) structure is demonstrated. The Si core@MSC (SCMSC) composite is developed for addressing the issues for Si anode material in lithium ion batteries (LIBs) such as high volume expansion and low electrical conductivity. Significant improvement in the electrochemical performance for the SCMSC anode is observed compared with bare Si anode. The SCMSC composite delivers an initial specific capacity of 2450 mAh g-1 at 0.166 A g-1 with Coulombic efficiency of 99.2% for 100 cycles. Compared to bare Si anode, the SCMSC anode exhibits much higher Li storage capacity, superior cyclability, and good rate capability, highlighting the advantages of hierarchical MSC in the SCMSC structure.

Bicontinuous Spider Network Architecture of Free-Standing MnCoO X @NCNF Anode for Li-Ion Battery.

Herein, a smart strategy is proposed to tailor unique interwoven nanocable architecture consisting of MnCoO x nanoparticles embedded in one-dimensional (1D) mesoporous N-doped carbon nanofibers (NCNFs) by using electrospinning technique. The as-prepared network mat of N-doped carbon nanofibers with embedded MnCoO x nanoparticles (MnCoO x @NCNFs) is tested as a current collector-free and binder-free flexible anode, which eliminates slurry preparation process during electrode fabrication in the Li-ion battery (LIB). The MnCoO x @NCNFs possess versatile structural characteristics that can address simultaneously different issues such as poor conductivity, low cycling stability, volume variation, flexibility, and binder issue associate with the metal oxide. The free-standing mat electrode shows not only high initial discharge and charge capacities but also reversible discharge cycling stability of almost 80% retention up to 100 cycles and 60% retention up to 500 cycles at 1.0 A/g. Such high Li storage capacity and excellent cycling stability are attributed to the unique flexible and free-standing spider network-like architecture of the 1D MnCoO x @NCNFs that provides the platform for bicontinuous electron/ion pathways for superior electrochemical performance. Along with excellent electrochemical performance, simple synthesis procedure of unique binder-free MnCoO x @NCNFs can achieve cost-effective scalable mass production for practical use in a flexible mode, not merely in LIBs but also in a wide spectrum of energy storage fields.

Synthesis of Water-Dispersible Single-Layer CoAl-Carbonate Layered Double Hydroxide.

Despite extensive study on single-layer layered double hydroxides (SL-LDHs) with NO3- counterions, SL-LDHs with CO32- counterions (CO32- SL-LDHs) have never been prepared before. Herein, a CoAl-CO32- SL-LDH which stays stable in water and powdery state is first synthesized using ethylene glycol as a reaction medium. The SL-LDH, with thickness of ∼0.85 nm, is composed of one Co(Al)O6 layer sandwiched between two CO32- layers. The SL-LDH powder shows high specific surface area (∼289 m2/g) and excellent electrocatalytic oxygen evolution efficiency. This work provides the first simple way to prepare CO32- SL-LDHs and will open an avenue for synthesizing other SL-LDHs.