Search

Selenium cathode attracts great attention due to its high theoretical volumetric capacity and better electrical conductivity than sulfur cathode. Herein, N/S co-doped microporous carbon (NS-K-PC) is designed and prepared as Se host by a spray drying process of the poly(styrenesulfonic acid)-melamine salt solution followed by carbonization and activation process. The as-prepared NS-K-PC shows a very high micropore contribution of 94.8% in the total surface area, and a total N/S heteroatom doping level of 2.5 wt% in the carbon matrix. The NS-K-PC/Se cathode delivers a high reversible capacity of 499.2 mA h g

Tuned tin chalcogenides rooted in hierarchical porous carbon (HPC) with N-carbon coating layers are prepared by thermal shock under various temperatures (denoted as HPC-SnS2-PAN-Various T). With the increase of annealing temperature, the morphology and phase structure of SnS2, as well as the cyclization degree of polyacrylonitrile (PAN), are significantly changed, which leads to the formation of rod-like SnS and ordered structure of conductive N-carbon layer. By combining HPC, N-carbon coating derived from the cyclization of PAN, with 1D SnS nanorods generated from structural phase transformation of SnS2, the optimized composite (HPC-SnS2-PAN-500) as anode for lithium ion batteries (LIBs) provides buffer space for volume changes during alloying/dealloying process, builds a highly conductive network as well as decreases irreversible capacity from solid electrolyte interphase and enhances the ion/electron transport. Attributed to the above merits from composition regulation and architecture modification by sulfur depletion and PAN cyclization, this target anode exhibits an extraordinary cycling stability with a high specific capacity of 652.5 mA h/g at 0.5 A/g after 900 cycles. It suggests that rod-like SnS embedded in HPC with cyclized PAN layers by thermal treatment approach renders a potential structural design of anode materials for LIBs.

Edwardsiella piscicida is an important pathogen that infects a wide range of hosts, from fish to human. Its infection leads to extensive losses in a diverse array of commercially important fish, like Japanese flounder, turbot, and tilapia. During the infection, type III secretion system (T3SS) and type VI secretion system (T6SS) of E. piscicida play significant roles, but how T3SS and T6SS cooperatively contribute to its virulence is still unknown. In this study, we first examined the roles of T3SS and T6SS in different processes during E. piscicida infection of host cells, and revealed that T3SS of E. piscicida is responsible for promoting bacterial invasion, the following intracellular replication and inducing cell death in host cells, while T6SS restrains E. piscicida intracellular replication and cell death in J774A.1 cells, which suggested that T3SS and T6SS antagonistically concert E. piscicida infection. Furthermore, we found an significant decrease in transcription level of IL-1β in zebrafish kidney infected with T3SS mutant and an drastically increase in transcription level of TNF- α infected with T6SS mutant when compared with the wild-type. Interestingly, both T3SS and T6SS mutants showed significant attenuated virulence in the zebrafish infection model when compared with the wild-type. Finally, considering the cooperative role of T3SS and T6SS, we generated a mutant strain WEDΔT6SS based on the existing live attenuated vaccine (LAV) WED which showed improved vaccine safety and comparable immune protection. Therefore, WEDΔT6SS could be used as an optimized LAV in the future. Taken together, this work suggested a bilateral role of T3SS and T6SS which respectively act as spear and shield during E. piscicida infection, together contribute to E. piscicida virulence.

Selenium–sulfur solid solutions show unique advantages beyond sulfur and selenium as cathode materials for lithium batteries. Herein, we propose a dual-confined SexSy-based cathode with a three-dimensional (3D) network structure where Se0.4S0.6 is first encapsulated in double-layered hollow carbon spheres (DLHCs) and embedded by 3D graphene-like material (3DG) shells. The dissolution of polysulfides/ polyselenides in the cathode is effectively inhibited through dual confinement from DLHCs and 3DG as well as chemical binding between sulfur and selenium. Benefiting from the indispensable advantages of Se0.4S0.6 and the uniquely designed host architecture, the 3DG-DLHC-Se0.4S0.6 cathode delivers a high reversible capacity of 627 mAh g−1 at 0.2 A g−1 after 200 cycles, good rate capability of 533 mAh g−1 at 2 A g−1, and outstanding long cycling stability over 500 cycles with Coulombic efficiency almost reaching 100%.

In this work, the V2O3 nanoparticles (NPs) with ultrathin carbon shells were synthesized by a facile solvothermal process. The V2O3 NPs were about 30 nm and contained a carbon shell of about 2 nm thick. The V2O3 NPs were homogeneously dispersed and loosely packed. When used as anode material, the V2O3 core-shell NPs showed a reversible capacity up to 525 mA h g−1 at 200 mA g−1 over 200 cycles with good cycle stability and rate capability. The excellent electrochemical performance promotes its practical application in lithium-ion batteries.

CN(CH2)2Si(CH3)(OCH2CH2OCH3)2 (BNS) is used as electrolyte solvent to improve the safety for LiNi1/3Co1/3Mn1/3O2 (NCM)/graphite battery. BNS increases the thermal stability of the carbonate-based electrolyte with (de) lithiated cathode/anode and the electrochemical stability of coin cells. By using an optimal BNS-based electrolyte formula, 13 Ah NCM/graphite prismatic cell achieves 95.8% retain of capacity at 2 C/3 C (charge/discharge) rate after 600 cycles. Meanwhile, 13 Ah prismatic cell exhibits improved safety performance in the nail penetration test.

Constitutive activation of MAPK (RAS/RAF/MEK/ERK) pathway is frequently observed in many tumors and thus has become an interesting therapeutic target for cancer therapy. Despite the successful development of BRAF and MEK inhibitors in clinic treatment, resistance often appears to re-enhance ERK1/2 signaling. Inspired by the central role of the ERK1/2 signaling cascade in cancer, we describe the scaffold-hopping generation of a series of isoindolin-1-one ERK1/2 inhibitors. Our new compounds could inhibit proliferation of KRAS and BRAF mutant cells lines at low nanomolar concentrations. Compound 22a possesses acceptable pharmacokinetic profiles and showed considerable in vivo antitumor efficacy in a HCT-116 xenograft model, providing a promising basis for further optimization towards clinical ERK1/2 inhibitors.

The CD8+ T-cell response is an essential part of the adaptive immunity. Adjuvants are routinely required for priming of T cells against antigens encountered in lymph nodes (LNs) to generate antigen-specific immunity but may concomitantly trigger unexpected inflammatory responses. Sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) induces transient desensitization of S1P receptors on LN T cells and temporarily blocks their egress, leading to prolonged intranodal retention that allows effective immunosurveillance and increases the chance of priming. In light of the regulatory role of S1P in T-cell migration, we here develop a strategic approach to the T-cell priming with protein vaccine containing low-dose TLR-based adjuvants (LDAV) to induce antigen-specific CD8+ T cell responses as efficiently as using regular dose adjuvants in vaccine (RDAV). We found that when combined with one low dose of the S1P analog fingolimod administered into the same vaccination site posteriorly at a specific time, LDAV can elicit a primary response that reaches the level of that induced by RDAV with respect to the response magnitude and functionality. Time-course studies indicate that LDAV and fingolimod in combination act to mimic the expansion kinetics of RDAV-primed antigen-specific CD8+ T cells. Further, intranodal accumulation of cDC1 is markedly enhanced in mice receiving the combination vaccination despite the decrease in adjuvant use. Of particular note is the marginal cutaneous inflammation at the injection site, indicating an added benefit of using fingolimod. Therefore, fingolimod as a nonadjuvant agent essentially facilitates antigen-specific T-cell priming with reduced need of adjuvants and minimized adverse reactions.

Selenium disulfide (SeS2) exhibits attractive advantages beyond naked selenium and sulfur as an electroactive material for lithium storage. Herein, a three-dimensional (3D) interconnected, sulfur-doped mesoporous carbon (ISMC) with a sulfur content of 9.3 wt% has been prepared by a simple in-situ constructing strategy to confine SeS2 for lithium batteries. The sulfur doping enhances the conductivity of the carbon matrix and inhibits the diffusion of polysulfides and polyselenides, while the 3D mesoporous network facilitates fast electron and ion transport. Benefiting from the synergy between sulfur doping and 3D network architecture, the SeS2@ISMC composite displays a high reversible capacity of 486 mAh g−1 after 200 cycles at 0.5 A g−1 and outstanding rate capability of 465 mAh g−1 at 4 A g−1.

Polyvinyl alcohol grafted poly (acrylic acid) (PVA-g-PAA) is synthesized through graft polymerization of acrylic acid (AA) onto PVA backbone via a free radical reaction. PVA-g-PAA is used as a water-soluble binder for silicon (Si) anodes in lithium-ion batteries (LIBs). The enhanced adhesion strength, excellent flexibility and high electrolyte uptake after grafting reaction render PVA-g-PAA a robust binder for Si anodes. Compared to linear PVA, PAA and CMC, optimal Si-PVA-g-10PAA electrode exhibits better cycle stability, higher Coulombic efficiency and more excellent rate capability, possessing a high electrical conductivity, low SEI/charge transfer resistance and fast lithium-ion diffusion coefficient. PVA-g-PAA binder not only maintains the electrode's mechanical and electrical integrity, facilitates a favorable electrochemical kinetics, but also assists in forming a stable SEI layer on Si surface upon long-term cycling. Such a strategy sheds light on the design of novel polymer binders for practical applications of high-capacity active materials with great volume change.

Poly (3, 4-ethylenedioxythiophene): tosylate (PEDOT: Tos) is synthesized by chemical oxidative polymerization with polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) as stabilizer in organic solvent. The effects of different molecular weight and additive amount of PVP stabilizer, various volume ratios of propylene carbonate (PC) to ethanol in organic system, different oxidative agents and various polymerization temperature/time on as-prepared PEDOT dispersion are taken into consideration and investigated systematically. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), film-forming property and electrical conductivity are studied and compared among different reaction conditions. The optimal polymerization scenario is to prepare PEDOT particles with 2 wt.% PVP (M.w. = 58,000) stabilizer and Fe2(SO4)3 oxidant at 80 °C for 24 h in organic system of PC and ethanol (volume ratio = 1: 3). Optimal PEDOT with PVP possesses more homogeneous particle size, better particle-particle connectivity in film and higher electrical conductivity (1.67*10−2 s cm−1) than that of PEDOT without PVP (5.2*10−4 s cm−1) and commercial organic PEDOT (4.7*10−4 s cm−1). The morphology and elemental composition of PEDOT particles with PVP are also investigated and compared with that of commercial organic PEDOT and aqueous PEDOT/PSS dispersion.

A dual-confined nanostructured reactor, featured with the small-sized platinum nanoparticles embedded in dendritic mesoporous silica nanospheres with a hierarchical porous graphene-like carbon protection shell, is designed and synthesized as an efficient SeS2 host for high-performance lithium-selenium/sulfur batteries. The rationally designed host framework, which combines the merits of strong chemical interaction effect, abundant catalytic active sites, and excellent conducting network, can realize efficient anchoring and fast conversion of lithium polysulfides/polyselenides during the electrochemical processes. Thus, this SeS2-based cathode shows a high initial capacity of 1013 mAh g−1 at 0.2 A g−1 and an outstanding cycling stability, with a capacity of 426 mAh g−1 over 500 cycles at 2 A g−1, corresponding to a low capacity decay of 0.07% per cycle. This study demonstrates a novel and efficient approach to overcome the hurdles of current lithium-sulfur systems for stable rechargeable batteries.

A novel molybdenum disulfide/carbon (MoS2/C) nanocomposite is synthesized by a simple hydrothermal method using glucose as a carbon source and Pluronic F127 as promoting agent in presence of MoS2 nanoparticles and followed by carbonization. Pluronic F127 is used as an essential agent which inhibits the spontaneous formation of carbon microspheres during the hydrothermal reaction. The composite electrode exhibits excellent cycling stability and rate capability, delivering a reversible capacity of 882.6 mA h g−1 at a current density of 50 mA g−1 and a capacity retention of 82.8% after 100 cycles at a current density of 100 mA g−1. At a higher current density of 300/500 mA g−1, it still retains a capacity of 603.6/461.6 mA h g−1 respectively, as compared to 295.6/228.4 mA h g−1 for the pristine MoS2 electrode. The composite shows favorable electrochemical kinetics compared with pristine MoS2 due to the incorporation of homogenous conductive carbon layer and its nanostructured morphology.

The development of solid state electrolytes is considered as an effective approach to build safer lithium-ion batteries by replacing the conventional liquid electrolytes. However, the solid state electrolytes face continuous challenges to improve their ionic conductivities and mechanical properties. Herein, we report the synthesis of novel polymer electrolytes based on cross-linked polyacrylonitrile-polyethylenimine (PAN-PEI) nanofiber membranes infiltrated with in-situ gelated electrolytes using tripropylene glycol diacrylate as crosslinking agent in the organic carbonate-based liquid electrolytes. The PAN-PEI nanofiber membranes with different mass ratios of PAN/PEI prepared by electrospinning method are constructed with entangled nanofibers of an average diameter of ~600 nm. The optimized PAN-PEI based electrolyte has a high ionic conductivity up to 3.39 mS cm−1 at room-temperature and decent tensile strength of 9.36 MPa. Linear sweep voltammetry shows that the polymer electrolyte also has a wide electrochemical window of 5.4 V (vs. Li/Li+). This polymer electrolyte exhibits excellent cycling stability even in the high energy density of LiNi0.8Co0.1Mn0.1O2/Graphite, delivering an initial discharge capacity of 175 mAh g−1 at 0.5 C with a capacity retention of 91.4% after 200 cycles.

Nitrogen and sulfur co-doped hierarchical porous carbon (N,S-HPC) is synthesized by using polyaniline and poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) as doping sources and polytetrafluoroethylene as the silica template removal agent for lithium-sulfur batteries. N,S-HPC shows the interconnected hierarchical porous network, which enables sulfur to be uniformly dispersed in the carbon matrix thus accelerating the transport of electrons and lithium ions. The S@N,S-HPC composite cathode exhibits a high capacity utilization of 1106 mA h/g at 0.2 C, together with excellent rate capacity of 600 mA h/g at 2 C, and also superior cycle life over 500 cycles with a capacity decay of 0.08 % per cycle at 1 C. The outstanding electrochemical performances for S@N,S-HPC cathode are mainly ascribed to the hierarchical porous structure of carbon and N/S co-doping, which offers sufficient interface for the deposition of solid discharge products and impedes the diffusion of polysulfides due to both physical confinement and chemical interaction by porous carbon matrix and N/S atoms.

Summary Staphylococcus aureus commonly infects the skin, but the host-pathogen interactions controlling bacterial growth remain unclear. S. aureus virulence is regulated by the Agr quorum-sensing system that controls factors including phenol-soluble modulins (PSMs), a group of cytotoxic peptides. We found a differential requirement for Agr and PSMα for pathogen growth in the skin. In neutrophil-deficient mice, S. aureus growth on the epidermis was unaffected, but the pathogen penetrated the dermis through mechanisms that require PSMα. In the dermis, pathogen expansion required Agr in wild-type mice, but not in neutrophil-deficient mice. Agr limited oxidative and non-oxidative killing in neutrophils by inhibiting pathogen late endosome localization and promoting phagosome escape. Unlike Agr, the SaeR/S virulence program was dispensable for growth in the epidermis and promoted dermal pathogen expansion independently of neutrophils. Thus, S. aureus growth and invasion are differentially regulated with Agr limiting intracellular killing within neutrophils to promote pathogen expansion in the dermis and subcutaneous tissue.

High voltage LiNi0.5Mn1.5O4 cathode material was prepared by two steps solid-state method with additive PEG dispersant. XRD, SEM, XPS and electrochemical tests have been carried out, and the results show that the PEG can promote the pyrolysis of MnO2 and limit the impurities formation. The secondary particle can also be effectively restrained in the pre-calcination of MnO2 and NiO, and the effect can be last to the final product. The capacity from Mn3+/Mn4+ couple was reduced and the whole capacity can reach 140.7 mAh g−1 with the retention rate of 81.33% after 100 cycles at 0.2C. Meanwhile, the product has better rate performance and surface stability than those prepared by traditional two-step solid-state method.

Xanthan Gum (XG) is systematically investigated and employed as water soluble binder for LiFePO4 (LFP) cathode in Li-ion batteries. XG binder exhibits good thermal stability and processes abundant functional groups such as carboxyl and hydroxyl, displaying a better adhesion strength of 0.085 N cm−1 than sodium carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC, 0.050 N cm−1), but inferior to polyvinylidene difluoride (PVDF, 0.170 N cm−1). The Rheology test reveals that the viscosity of LFP slurry prepared with XG binder is higher than that of PVDF, resulting in a better dispersion of LFP and carbon black particles. The electrochemical performances of LFP-XG electrode are investigated and compared with those of aqueous CMC and conventional PVDF binder. LFP-XG displays better cycle stability and rate performance than PVDF, comparable to CMC, which retains 55.3% capacity of C/5 at 5 C as compared to PVDF (34.8%) and CMC (57.8%). Cyclic voltammetry (CV) shows that LFP-XG has smaller redox polarization and faster lithium diffusion rate than PVDF while electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) measurement at specified intervals reveals its more favorable electrochemical kinetics than that with PVDF, similar to CMC, thus better rate capability. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) displays that LFP-XG has a more homogenous distribution of LFP and conductive carbon black particles with XG before cycling and better maintains its structure integrity after 100 cycles than that of PVDF. Furthermore, LFP-XG is observed to process a high ionic conductivity supported by dQ/dV profiles.

Inflammasome activation is an important innate immune defense mechanism against bacterial infection, and in return, bacteria express virulence determinants that counteract inflammasome activation. Many such effectors are secreted into host cells via specialized bacterial secretion systems. Here, the intracellular pathogenic bacterium Edwardsiella tarda was demonstrated to activate NLRC4 and NLRP3 inflammasomes via a type III secretion system (T3SS), and to inhibit NLRP3 inflammasome via a type VI secretion system (T6SS), indicating the antagonistic roles of these systems in inflammasome signaling. Furthermore, a non-VgrG T6SS effector, EvpP, was identified that significantly inhibited NLRP3 inflammasome activation. Subsequent studies revealed that EvpP significantly suppressed Jnk activation, thus impairing oligomerization of the inflammasome adaptor ASC. Moreover, EvpP counteracted cytoplasmic Ca2+ increase, which works upstream of Jnk activation to regulate the NLRP3 inflammasome. Finally, EvpP-mediated inflammasome inhibition promoted bacterial colonization in vivo. This work expands our understanding of bacterial T6SS in counteracting host immune responses.

A water-soluble conductive composite binder consisting of carboxymethyl chitosan (CCTS) as a binder and poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS) as a conduction-promoting agent is reported for the LiFePO 4 (LFP) cathode in Li-ion batteries. The introduction of conductive PEDOT:PSS as a conductive composite binder facilitates the formation of homogeneous and continuous conducting bridges throughout the electrode and raises the compaction density of the electrode sheet by decreasing the amounts of the commonly used conducting agent of acetylene black. The optimized replacement ratios of acetylene black with PEDOT:PSS (acetylene black/PEDOT:PSS = 1:1, by weight) are obtained by measuring electrical conductivity, peel strength and compaction density of the electrode sheets. The LFP half-cell with the optimized conductive binder exhibits better cycling and rate performance and more favorable electrochemical kinetics than that using only acetylene black conducting agent. The pilot application of PEDOT:PSS/CCTS binder in 10 Ah CCTS-LFP prismatic cell exhibits a comparable cycling performance, retaining 89.7% of capacity at 1 C/2 C (charge/discharge) rate as compared with 90% for commercial PVDF-LFP over 1000 cycles, and better rate capability than that of commercial PVDF-LFP, retaining 98% capacity of 1 C at 7 C rate as compared with 95.4% for PVDF-LFP.

Two fluorosilanes with oligo(ethylene oxide) unites were synthesized through hydrosilylation of chlorosilane with allyl substituted oligo(ethylene oxide) ether followed by fluorination with potassium fluoride. The synthesized fluorosilane compounds exhibited lower viscosity, higher dielectric constant and higher oxidation potential, compared with their non-fluorination counterparts. Difluoro(3-(2-(2-methoxyethoxy)ethoxy)propyl)methylsilane (DFSM 2 ), one of the two compounds, was evaluated as high-voltage and thermal stable electrolyte co-solvent with the conventional carbonate-based electrolytes. Using an optimized electrolyte of 1M LiPF 6 in EC/DFSM 2 /EMC (2/3/5 in vol .) with addition of 5 wt % fluoroethylene carbonate (FEC), high-voltage LiCoO 2 (LCO)/graphite full cell displayed outstanding cycling stability of 92.5% capacity retention after 135 cycles at 4.4 V upper cutoff voltage. Characterized by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) analysis, the DFSM 2 -based electrolyte demonstrated higher thermal stability with lithiated graphite anode and delithiated LCO cathode, thus better safety feature compared with the conventional electrolyte.

Structural hierarchy of porous carbon has been a key role in the sulfur hosts for lithium sulfur (Li-S) batteries. Herein, coral-like hierarchical porous carbon (HPC) is developed by a dual alkaline activation process. The production of HPC is inexpensive and scalable, which gives a great promise as sulfur host for the future application of Li-S batteries. Moreover, the as-prepared material achieves an admirable interconnected conductive network, hierarchical pore size distribution and notably high pore volume. This architecture contributes to ultrafast ion diffusion, rapid mass transport, robust electrode configuration as well as effective physical adsorption for soluble polysulfide, thus enabling a favorable scaffold for Li-S battery cathodes with high sulfur utilization and exceptionally electrochemical stability. As a consequence, the HPC based sulfur cathode manifests high areal capacity of 7.5mAh/cm2 with a high sulfur loading and superb cycling stability over 500 cycles with lower sulfur loading. The classification of alkali significantly affects on the hierarchical porosity of the resultant carbon. And the correlation between the pore size distribution and electrochemical performance is revealed. This work offers a hierarchical material engineering of a sulfur host material for restricting the mobile polysulfide moieties, thus achieving a high efficiency and stable Li-S battery.

Silicon oxycarbonitride (SiOCN) composites with different carbon contents were synthesized by pyrolysis of precursors generated from aldimine condensation of 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane (APTES) with different aldehydes and simultaneous hydrolysis of APTES. Both SiOCN-1 and SiOCN-5 composites, derived from formaldehyde and glutaraldehyde respectively, display similar bulky structure composed by aggregated nanospheres with a diameter of 70–100 nm. SiOCN-5 has a higher carbon content of 30.4% than 15.9% for SiOCN-1, while a lower specific surface area of 38.2 m2 g−1 than 76.0 m2 g−1 for SiOCN-1. SiOCN/S cathodes with sulfur loading of 1.2–1.5 mg cm−2 were fabricated using SiOCN as sulfur host on different current collector of aluminum foil (AL) or carbon paper (CP). When using aluminum foil as current collector, SiOCN-5/S-AL cathode exhibits better electrochemical performance than SiOCN-1/S-AL, primarily due to the higher electrical conductivity of SiOCN-5 comparing with SiOCN-1. When using porous carbon paper as current collector, SiOCN-5/S-CP cathode shows the best cycling performance with a discharge capacity of 648.9 mA h g−1 at 0.2C after 100 cycles. Even at a high rate of 1C, SiOCN-5/S-CP also exhibits an excellent cycling stability, delivering a reversible discharge capacity of 374.5 mA h g−1 after 500 cycles with a capacity retention of 73.0%.

Nitroaromatic compounds (NACs) have received much attention as a kind of toxic and important light-absorbing components in atmospheric PM2.5. In order to clarify the chemical composition, concentration levels and sources of NACs in the atmosphere, PM2.5 samples were collected from April 2016 to April 2017 in Beijing. Selective and non-targeted analytical method based on liquid chromatography-Orbitrap MS (LC-Orbitrap MS) was used to characterize atmospheric NACs for the first time. A total of 190 NACs were quantified and semi-quantified with authentic standards or surrogates, of which 165 NACs were identified tentatively. Nitro-polyaromatic compounds (NPCs) were identified and semi-quantified for the first time, including nitronaphthol, nitroacenaphthenol, nitrofluorenol, nitroaceanthrylenol, nitropyrenol and their methyl derivatives, etc. The seasonal average concentrations of total NACs were from 10.8 in summer to 100 ng/m3 in winter, which was higher than in many other areas. Nitrophenols (NP) and nitrocatechols (NC) were the most abundant NACs species, and the proportion to total NACs were 31% and 32%, respectively. The seasonal average concentration of NPCs ranged from 1.5 in summer to 9.6 ng/m3 in winter with an annual average contribution of 12%, which cannot be ignored. In winter, the contribution of NACs to organic matter (OM) and PM2.5 were up to 2.88‰ and 1.59‰, respectively. Four major sources were assigned, coal combustion and secondary formation had the highest contribution of 35%, followed by biomass combustion (32%), dust (18%), and transportation (6%).

s Arabic gum grafted poly (acrylic acid) (GA-g-PAA) is prepared through a free radical graft polymerization of acrylic acid onto Arabic gum. Crosslinkable aqueous binder is developed by combining GA-g-PAA and branched polyols (pentaerythrotol, PER; triethanolamine, TEOA) as crosslinking agent for Si anodes of lithium-ion batteries. The aqueous composite binder undergoes crosslinking at about 110 °C to form robust crosslinked networks, matching well with the processing temperature of the electrode sheet in industry. GA-g-PAA/PER binder displays higher adhesion strength than GA-g-PAA and GA-g-PAA/TEOA. The Si electrode with GA-g-PAA/PER exhibits a slightly better cycling stability at 0.2C for 100 cycles, better rate capability than GA-g-PAA and GA-g-PAA/TEOA. At a high rate of 1C, Si electrode with GA-g-PAA/P delivers a higher specific capacity of 1968.1 mAhg−1 with a better capacity retention of 57.5% when compared with those with GA-g-PAA and GA-g-PAA/T binder.

Three choline-based ionic liquids functionalized with trimethylsilyl, allyl, and cynoethyl groups are synthesized in an inexpensive route as safe electrolytes for high-voltage lithium-ion batteries. The thermal stabilities, viscosities, conductivities, and electrochemical windows of these ILs are reported. Hybrid electrolytes were formulated by doping with 0.6 M LiPF6/0.4 M lithium oxalydifluoroborate (LiODFB) as salts and dimethyl carbonate (DMC) as co-solvent. By using 0.6 M LiPF6/0.4 M LiODFB trimethylsilylated choline-based IL (SN1IL-TFSI)/DMC as electrolyte, LiCoO2/graphite full cell showed excellent cycling performance with a capacity of 152 mAh g-1 and 99% capacity retention over 90 cycles at a cut-off voltage of 4.4 V. The propagation rate of SN1IL-TFSI)/DMC electrolyte is only one quarter of the commercial electrolyte (1 M LiPF6 EC/DEC/DMC, v/v/v = 1/1/1), suggesting a better safety feature.

Vacuolar protein sorting 35 (VPS35) is a retromer complex component regulating membrane protein trafficking and retrieval. Mutations or dysfunction of VPS35 have been linked to Parkinson's disease (PD), which is pathologically characterized by the loss of dopamine neurons in brain substantia nigra region. Dopamine plays a key role in regulating various brain physiological functions by binding to its receptors and triggering their endocytosis and signaling pathways. However, it is unclear whether there is a link between VPS35 and dopamine signaling in PD. Herein, we found that VPS35 interacted with dopamine receptor D1 (DRD1). Notably, overexpression and downregulation of VPS35 increased and decreased steady-state cell surface levels of DRD1 and phosphorylation of cAMP-response element binding protein (CREB) and extracellular regulated protein kinases (ERK) that are important dopamine signaling effectors, respectively. In addition, overexpression of VPS35 promoted cell surface recycling of endocytic DRD1. Furthermore, downregulation of VPS35 abolished dopamine-induced CREB/ERK phosphorylation. More importantly, although the PD-associated VPS35 mutant VPS35 (D620N) still interacted with DRD1, its expression did not affect cell surface recycling of DRD1 and phosphorylation of CREB/ERK nor rescue the reduction of CREB/ERK phosphorylation caused by VPS35 downregulation. These results demonstrate that VPS35 regulates DRD1 trafficking and DRD1-mediated dopamine signaling pathway, and that the PD-associated VPS35 (D620N) mutant loses such functions, providing a novel molecular mechanism underlying PD pathogenesis.

Synthesis of a novel small molecule accepter with perylenediimide linked through thiophene ring with triphenylamine is described. Introducing thiophene unit leads to extending the molecular absorption spectrum to the range of 330 nm–700 nm. The molecule showed the lowest unoccupied molecular orbital level (LUMO) of −3.80 eV and the highest occupied molecular orbital level (HOMO) of −5.60 eV. The X-ray Diffraction (XRD) spectra confirmed that the molecule self-assemble in the solid phase by edge-to-face aromatic interaction, and the addition of 1, 8-diiodooctane in the solvent can adjust its stacking, and thus improve the crystallinity and electron mobility. Solution-processed bulk-heterojunction organic solar cells constructed using the small molecule as acceptor and the polymer of PBDTTT-C-T as donor showed the best efficiency of 1.92%.

Edwardsiella tarda, an important fish pathogenic bacterium, could utilize type III secretion system (T3SS) to transfer multiple effector proteins into host cells during infection. EseG was identified to be an E. tarda T3SS effector, which could be injected by T3SS into non-phagocytic cells. Since E. tarda is a facultative intracellular pathogen that resides and replicates in macrophage, it is interesting to expand our knowledge about EseG translocation and localization within phagocytic cells. Here utilizing murine macrophage cell line J774A.1 as the cell model, we demonstrated that EseG could be transported into J774A.1 via T3SS only after E. tarda was internalized into macrophage cells, indicating that extracellular E. tarda could not inject EseG into host cells. Subcellular fractionation analysis gave the evidence that EseG was specifically localized in the membrane fraction of infected host cells. Furthermore, immunofluorescence detection indicated that EseG specifically targeted the E. tarda-containing vacuoles (ECVs) within macrophage cells. Finally the unique features for EseG were also confirmed in non-phagocytic cells. In summarize, this work illuminates internalization-depending translocation and ECV-targeting localization of E. tarda T3SS effector in both non-phagocytic and phagocytic cells, which might be important to interpret the interaction of EseG with host cells upon infection.

Al-substituted Ni(OH) 2 samples with Al 3+ /Ni 2+ mole ratio of 0%, 10% and 20% have been prepared by a very facile chemical co-precipitation method. The microstructure of the prepared samples are analyzed by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), thermo-gravimetric analysis (TGA), and Field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM). The results reveal that the pure Ni(OH) 2 sample is β -Ni(OH) 2 with nanosheets hierarchical structure; the sample with 10% Al is mixed phase α / β- Ni(OH) 2 with hybrid nanosheets/nanoparticles hierarchical structure; the sample with 20% Al is α- Ni(OH) 2 with irregular nanoparticles hierarchical structure. The lithium storage performances of the prepared samples are characterized by cyclic voltammograms (CV), electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), and charge–discharge tests. The results demonstrate that Al substitution could improve the lithium storage performances of nickel hydroxide. In particular, the mixed phase α / β- Ni(OH) 2 with 10% Al exhibited the highest electrochemical activity, the best rate performance, and superior cycling stability. For example, after 30 charge/discharge cycles under a current density of 200 mA g −1 , the mixed phase α / β- Ni(OH) 2 with 10% Al can still deliver a specific discharge capacity of 964 mAh g −1 , much higher than of for the α- Ni(OH) 2 with 20% Al (681 mAh g −1 ) and the pure Ni(OH) 2 (419 mAh g −1 ).

Aliovalently Ce 3+ -doped Li 4 Ti 5 O 12 (LTO) is firstly synthesized by a sol-gel method using Ce(CH 3 COOH) 3 as the dopant and CH 3 COOLi/(C 4 H 9 O ) 4 Ti as starting materials. The structure and morphology of Ce 3+ -doped LTO with various doping level (Li 4 Ti 5-x Ce x O 12 ; x = 0, 0.05, 0.10, 0.15 and 0.20) are characterized by XRD, EDX, Raman, XPS, SEM and TEM. Pure phase Ce 3+ -doped Li 4 Ti 5 O 12 is obtained when x ≤ 0.10, while CeO 2 impurity is observed when x > 0.10. The Ce 3+ -doped LTO with appropriate content of CeO 2 impurity shows much improved rate capability and specific capacity compared with the pristine and Ce 3+ -doped LTO without CeO 2 impurity. Particularly, the Li 4 Ti 5-x Ce x O 12 (x = 0.15) electrode exhibits the best rate capability and long-term cycling stability among all samples, delivering a capacity of 120.0 mAh g −1 at 5C even after 1000 cycles. This work demonstrates that aliovalently Ce 3+ -doping is an effective approach for enhancing LTO’s rate-performance.

This work reports on a newly observed synergistic inhibition between indigo carmine and cetyl trimethyl ammonium bromide (CTAB) on 1045 carbon steel (CS) corroded in a 0.5 M HCl solution. The results of electrochemical measurements showed that CTAB could change indigo carmine in a manner that would accelerate corrosion and produce an effective inhibitor. The maximal protection efficiency was significantly greater than 0.985, with the concentration of the combination inhibitors reaching approximately 5 × 10 −5 M. The microstructure of the CS corrosion surface demonstrated that the indigo disulfonate anions and cetyltrimethylammonium cations were adsorbed simultaneously on the CS surface to protect it from corrosion. Diffusion coefficient analysis and the surface concentration profiles of the corrosive species were used to investigate the synergistic effect of the indigo carmine/CTAB combination inhibitors, and the results demonstrate the existence of synergy.

Driven by intriguingly high energy density up to 2600 Wh/kg, lithium sulfur (Li-S) battery is considered as one of the most promising energy storage devices compared with conventional lithium ion battery. The main obstructions plaguing Li-S batteries associated with the electrical resistivity of sulfur/lithium sulfides, the dissolution of polysulfides in ether-based electrolyte and the large volume variation, result in poor cycling performance and rate capability. Here, we develop a polymer optimized cathode that is polydopamine layer coated on the surface of sulfur loaded hierarchical porous graphitic carbon composites (HPGC-S-PD) by a simple in-situ polymerization method toward the highly suppressed shuttle effect, thus the significantly improved cell performance. Attributed to the superiorities of the structure engineering including the strengthened polysulfide trapping, accelerated ionic conductivity and stable electrode construction, this cathode can deliver an excellent cycling performance over 700 cycles at 1 C, a high areal capacity of 7.25 mAh/cm2 with raised sulfur loading as high as 5.15 mg/cm2. Meanwhile, the obtained cathode can work well with a lower E/S ratio compared with the non-coated cell, which suggests the immense possibility for yielding a practically Li-S battery with high energy density based on this electrode architecture. Strikingly, the pouch cell with optimized cathode material can realize an energy density of 272 Wh/kg after 40 cycles at 0.1 C. This rational design of sulfur cathode combining HPGC with polymer coating by a scalable strategy provides a comprehensive understanding of the structural engineering for sulfur cathodes in pursuit of practically high performance Li-S batteries.

Nanostructured sulfur cathode with a multiple core-shelled structure, featured with the spherical double-layered hollow carbon/sulfur composite (DLHC/S) coated with a conductive layer of poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS), is designed and synthesized for lithium-sulfur batteries. Transmission electron microscope images of DLHC/S single nanoparticle show that the sulfur aggregates predominantly in the interior space between the two carbon shells by using a vacuum infiltration process. The electric conductivity of DLHC/S@PEDOT:PSS increases over 5 times as comparing to DLHC/S without PEDOT:PSS coating. The composite cathode exhibits a high reversible capacity of 1089 mAh g−1 at 0.2C and superior rate capacity of 510 mAh g−1 even at 4 C, and also remarkable cycling stability with a capacity decay of 0.097% per cycle after 500 cycles at 1 C. The excellent electrochemical performances for DLHC/S@PEDOT:PSS cathode are primarily attributed to the engineering of the unique multiple core-shell structure of DLHC/S@PEDOT:PSS, which inhibits the sulfur dissolution into the electrolyte and the polysulfide shuttle effect, together with the conductivity enhancement due to PEDOT:PSS coating.