Search

Nfκb2(p52/p100) plays essential roles in many chronic inflammatory diseases. Tracing the dynamic expression of Nfκb2 during different biological processes in vivo can provide valuable clues to understand the biological functions of this gene and develop anti-inflammatory drugs. In this study, B6-Tg(Nfκb2-luc) Mlit transgenic mouse line, a mouse model in which the expression of firefly luciferase gene is under the control of a 14.6-kb mouse Nfκb2 promoter, was generated to monitor the expression of p52/p100 in vivo. Bioluminescence imaging was used for tracking the luciferase signal in living mice in a variety of inflammatory processes, including LPS-induced sepsis and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). The data of in vivo bioluminescence imaging in this mouse model showed that luciferase activity coincided with the endogenous p52/p100 expression. Moreover, dexamethasone or aspirin, two routine anti-inflammatory drugs, could decrease the high-level expression of luciferase induced by LPS. Overall, our results suggest that the B6-Tg(Nfκb2-luc) Mlit mice represent a valuable reporter mouse model not only to monitor the expression of p52/p100 in physiological or pathological processes but also to evaluate the effects of various anti-inflammatory drug treatments in vivo., (Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

The electrode-electrolyte interface stability is a critical factor influencing cycle performance of All-solid-state lithium batteries (ASSLBs). Here, we propose a LiF- and Li 3 N-enriched artificial solid state electrolyte interphase (SEI) protective layer on metallic lithium (Li). The SEI layer can stabilize metallic Li anode and improve the interface compatibility at the Li anode side in ASSLBs. We also developed a Li 1.5 Al 0.5 Ge 1.5 (PO 4 ) 3 -poly(ethylene oxide) (LAGP-PEO) concrete structured composite solid electrolyte. The symmetric Li/LAGP-PEO/Li cells with SEI-protected Li anodes have been stably cycled with small polarization at a current density of 0.05 mA cm -2 at 50 °C for nearly 400 h. ASSLB-based on SEI-protected Li anode, LAGP-PEO electrolyte, and LiFePO 4 (LFP) cathode exhibits excellent cyclic stability with an initial discharge capacity of 147.2 mA h g -1 and a retention of 96% after 200 cycles.

Objective: To research the effects of five Chinese herbs of Artemisia argyi, Chimonanthus praecox, Agastache rugosa , pine needles and Osmamthus fragrans on human demodicid mites in vitro ., Methods: The human demodicid mites were acquired with the cellophane tape method. The ethanol heat reflux extractions were carried out on the 5 kinds of Chinese herbs to be studied and Stemona sessilifolia as the positive control, so as to get the herbal extracts. Next, the drug administration was carried out to the demodicid mites, and the inhibitory or killing effects of the 6 kinds of Chinese herbs above mentioned on the vermiform mites were observed under a microscope. It was considered to be dead when the bodies of the demodicid mites stopped moving. Besides, the duration from drug administration to death of the vermiform mites was recorded., Results: Artemisia argyi, Chimonanthus praecox and Agastache rugosa could effectively inhibit and kill human demodicid mites. The effect of Artemisia argyi and Agastache rugosa was similar to the effect of Stemona sessilifolia , and the effect of Chimonanthus praecox was weaker than Stemona sessilifolia 's effect. Among them, Agastache rugosa took a relatively short time (4.60 min ± 1.66 min) min and Osmamthus fragrans took the longest time (114.65min ± 80.14min) to Demodex folliculorum ; Whereas, Artemisia argyi took the shortest time (3.56min ± 1.92 min) min and Osmamthus fragrans took the longest time (194.24min ± 134.96 min) min to Demodex brevis., Conclusions: The effects of Artemisia argyi and Agastache rugosa on human demodicid mites are similar to that of Stemona sessilifolia. The effects of Chimonanthus praecox and pine needles are weaker than that of S temona sessilifolia. Osmamthus fragrans has no acaricidal effect.

Silicon is considered as one of the most favorable anode materials for next-generation lithium-ion batteries. Nanoporous silicon is synthesized via a green, facile, and controllable vacuum distillation method from the commercial Mg 2 Si alloy. Nanoporous silicon is formed by the evaporation of low boiling point Mg. In this method, the magnesium metal from the Mg 2 Si alloy can be recycled. The pore sizes of nanoporous silicon can be secured by adjusting the distillated temperature and time. The optimized nanoporous silicon (800 °C, 0.5 h) delivers a discharge capacity of 2034 mA h g -1 at 200 mA g -1 for 100 cycles, a cycling stability with more than 1180 mA h g -1 even after 400 cycles at 1000 mA g -1 , and a rate capability of 855 mA h g -1 at 5000 mA g -1 . The electrochemical properties might be ascribed to its porous structure, which may accommodate large volume change during the cycling process. These results suggest that the green, scalable, and controllable approach may offer a pathway for the commercialization of high-performance Si anodes. This method may also be extended to construct other nanoporous materials.

Three-dimensional (3D) carbon-wrapped iron sulfide interlocked graphene (Fe7S8@C-G) composites for high-performance sodium-ion storage are designed and produced through electrostatic interactions and subsequent sulfurization. The iron-based metal-organic frameworks (MOFs, MIL-88-Fe) interact with graphene oxide sheets to form 3D networks, and carbon-wrapped iron sulfide (Fe7S8@C) nanoparticles with high individual-particle conductivity are prepared following a sulfurization process, surrounded by interlocked graphene sheets to enhance the interparticle conductivity. The prepared Fe7S8@C-G composites exhibit not only improved individual-particle and interparticle conductivity to shorten electron/ion diffusion pathways, but also enhanced structural stability to prevent the aggregation of active materials and buffer large volume changes during sodiation/desodiation. As a sodium-ion storage material, the Fe7S8@C-G composites exhibit a reversible capacity of 449 mA h g-1 at 500 mA g-1 after 150 cycles and a retention capacity of 306 mA h g-1 under a current density of 2000 mA g-1. The crucial factors related to the structural changes and stability during cycles have been further investigated. These results demonstrate that the high-performance sodium-ion storage properties are mainly attributed to the uniquely designed three-dimensional configuration.

High-Temperature Superconductors (HTS) are potential materials for high-field magnets, low-loss transmission cables, and Superconducting Magnetic Energy Storage (SMES) due to their high upper critical magnetic field (H c2 ) and critical temperature (T c ). The critical current (I c ) of HTS, which is one of the most important parameters for superconductor application, depends strongly on the magnetic fields and temperatures. A new I c measurement system that can carry out accurate I c measurement for HTS short samples with various temperatures (4.2-80 K), magnetic fields (0-14 T), and angles of the magnetic field (0°-90°) has been developed. The I c measurement system mainly consists of a measurement holder, temperature-control system, background magnet, test cryostat, data acquisition system, and DC power supply. The accuracy of temperature control is better than ±0.1 K over the 20-80 K range and ±0.05 K when measured below 20 K. The maximum current is over 1000 A with a measurement uncertainty of 1%. The system had been successfully used for YBa 2 Cu 3 O 7-x (YBCO) tapes I c determination with different temperatures and magnetic fields.

3D porous N-doped reduced graphene oxide (N-rGO) aerogels were synthesized by a hydrothermal reduction of graphene oxide (GO) with urea and following freeze-drying process. N-rGO aerogels have a high BET surface of 499.70 m 2 /g and a high N doping content (5.93-7.46 at%) including three kinds of N (graphitic, pyridinic and pyrrolic). Their high catalytic performance for phenol oxidation in aqueous solution was investigated by catalytic activation of persulfate (PS). We have demonstrated that N-rGO aerogels are promising metal-free catalysts for phenol removal. Kinetics studies indicate that phenol degradation follows first-order reaction kinetics with the reaction rate constant of 0.16799 min -1 for N-rGO-A(1:30). Interestingly, the comparison of direct catalytic oxidation with adsorption-catalytic oxidation experiments indicates that adsorption plays an important role in the catalytic oxidation of phenol by decreasing the phenol degradation time. Spin density and adsorption modeling demonstrates that graphitic N in N-rGO plays the most important role for the catalytic performance by inducing high positive charge densities to adjacent carbon atoms and facilitating phenol adsorption on these carbon sites. Furthermore, the activation mechanism of persulfate (PS) on N-rGO was first investigated by DFT method and PS can be activated to generate strongly oxidative radical (SO 4 · - ) by transferring electrons to N-rGO., (Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Biomass waste treatment and detrimental dye adsorption are two of the crucial environmental issues nowadays. In this study, we investigate to simultaneously resolve the aforementioned issues by synthesizing chitosan sponges as adsorbents toward rose bengal (RB) dye adsorption. Through a temperature-controlled freeze-casting process, robust and recyclable chitosan sponges are fabricated with hierarchical porosities resulted from the control of concentrations of chitosan solutions. Tested as the adsorbents for RB, to the best of our knowledge, the as-prepared chitosan sponge in this work reports the highest adsorption capacity of RB (601.5 mg/g) ever. The adsorption mechanism, isotherm, kinetics, and thermodynamics are comprehensively studied by employing statistical analysis. Importantly and desirably, the sponge type of chitosan adsorbents exceedingly facilitates the retrieving and elution of chitosan sponges for recyclable uses. Therefore, the chitosan sponge adsorbent is demonstrated to possess dramatically squeezable capability with durability for 10,000 cycles and recyclable adsorption for at least 10 cycles, which provides an efficient and economical way for both biomass treatment and water purification.

Perovskite solar cells (PSCs) have great potentials in photovoltaics due to their high power conversion efficiency and low processing cost. PSCs are usually fabricated from PbI 2 /dimethylformamide solution with some toxic additives, such as N-methyl pyrrolidone and hexamethylphosphoramide. Here, we use an environmental friendly aprotic polar solvent, 1,3-dimethyl-2-imidazolidinone (DMI), to fabricate perovskite films. By adding 10 vol% DMI in the precursor solution, high-quality perovskite films with smooth surface are obtained. By increasing annealing temperature from 100 to 130 °C, the average grain size of the perovskite increases from ~ 216 to 375 nm. As a result, the efficiency of the PSCs increases from 10.72 to 14.54%.

Hepatocytes perform most of the functions of the liver and are considered terminally differentiated cells. Recently, it has been suggested that hepatocytes might have the potential to transdifferentiate or dedifferentiate under physiological or pathological conditions in vivo. Epithelial-mesenchymal transition of hepatocytes in liver fibrosis has also been proposed. However, these findings have not been fully confirmed. In this study, hepatocytes were genetically labelled for cell fate tracing using lacZ via the tamoxifen-induced CreERT/loxP system. After induction with tamoxifen, alb + cells were permanently marked by lacZ expression, and all progeny lacZ + cells were derived from a single source with no interference. We did not observe transdifferentiation or dedifferentiation of hepatocytes into cholangiocytes or hepatic progenitor cells under conditions of liver homeostasis or following a 2/3 partial hepatectomy. Meanwhile, lacZ/OPN-positive cells were observed in livers of 3,5-diethoxycarbonyl-1,4-dihydrocollidine-fed mice, and lacZ/alpha-smooth muscle actin-positive cells were detected in carbon tetrachloride-induced chronic liver injury models. These results suggested that some existing differentiated alb + cells might have the potential of transdifferentiation/dedifferentiation or epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition in vivo in some liver injury models, but the proportion of these alb + cells in liver was very low, and their significance and actual function during the pathological process remains to be elucidated.

The objective of present study was to investigate changes in salivary components during restraint to identify potential markers of stress. Pigs were subjected to a nasal snare stress (Experiment 1) or an immobilization stress (Experiment 2) by being enclosed in a steel cage. Saliva was collected before, during and after the stress, respectively. Salivary cortisol, serum amyloid A (SAA), haptoglobin (HP), chromogranin A (CgA), amylase, K + , Ca 2+ and lactoferrin content were detected. The results showed that in Experiment 1, HP and CgA content increased significantly at 10min during the restraint (P<0.05, P<0.05), in agreement with the significantly increased cortisol and SAA levels (P<0.01, P<0.05), while amylase, K + and lactoferrin concentrations did not significantly change. In Experiment 2, salivary HP and CgA concentrations also changed significantly during the restraint (P<0.01, P<0.01), yet cortisol, SAA, amylase, K + and lactoferrin levels did not show obvious change. The results confirmed that salivary HP and CgA content may be useful candidate biomarkers to monitor the physical state in pigs during stress., (Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

High-quality perovskite films can be fabricated from Lewis acid-base adducts through molecule exchange. Substantial work is needed to fully understand the formation mechanism of the perovskite films, which helps to further improve their quality. Here, we study the formation of CH 3 NH 3 PbI 3 perovskite films by introducing some dimethylacetamide into the PbI 2 /N,N-dimethylformamide solution. We reveal that there are three key processes during the formation of perovskite films through the Lewis acid-base adduct approach: molecule intercalation of solvent into the PbI 2 lattice, molecule exchange between the solvent and CH 3 NH 3 I, and dissolution-recrystallization of the perovskite grains during annealing. The Lewis base solvents play multiple functions in the above processes. The properties of the solvent, including Lewis basicity and boiling point, play key roles in forming smooth perovskite films with large grains. We also provide some rules for choosing Lewis base additives to prepare high-quality perovskite films through the Lewis adduct approach.

Lack of mucoadhesive properties is the major drawback to poloxamer 407 (F127)-based in situ hydrogels for mucosal administration. The objective of the present study was to construct a novel mucoadhesive and thermosensitive in situ hydrogel drug delivery system based on an amino-functionalized poloxamer for vaginal administration. First, amino-functionalized poloxamer 407 (F127-NH 2 ) was synthesized and characterized with respect to its micellization behavior and interaction with mucin. Then using acetate gossypol (AG) as model drug, AG-loaded F127-NH 2 -based in situ hydrogels (NFGs) were evaluated with respect to rheology, drug release, ex vivo vaginal mucosal adhesion, in vivo intravaginal retention and local irritation after vaginal administration to healthy female mice. The results show that F127-NH 2 is capable of forming a thermosensitive in situ hydrogel with sustained drug release properties. An interaction between positively charged F127-NH 2 and negatively charged mucin was revealed by changes in the particle size and zeta potential of mucin particles as well as an increase in the complex modulus of NFG caused by mucin. Ex vivo and in vivo fluorescence imaging and quantitative analysis of the amount of AG remaining in mouse vaginal lavage all demonstrated greater intravaginal retention of NFG than that of an unmodified F127-based in situ hydrogel. In conclusion, amino group functionalization confers valuable mucoadhesive properties on poloxamer 407.

In an animal body, coronary arteries cover around the whole heart and supply the necessary oxygen and nutrition so that the heart muscle can survive as well as can pump blood in and out very efficiently. Inspired by this, we have designed a novel heart-coronary arteries structured electrode by electrospinning carbon nanofibers to cover active anode graphene/silicon particles. Electrospun high conductive nanofibers serve as veins and arteries to enhance the electron transportation and improve the electrochemical properties of the active "heart" particles. This flexible binder free carbon nanofibers/graphene/silicon electrode consists of millions of heart-coronary arteries cells. Besides, in the graphene/silicon "hearts", graphene network improves the electrical conductivity of silicon nanopaticles, buffers the volume change of silicon, and prevents them from directly contacting with electrolyte. As expected, this novel composite electrode demonstrates excellent lithium storage performance with a 86.5% capacity retention after 200 cycles, along with a high rate performance with a 543 mAh g -1 capacity at the rate of 1000 mA g -1 .

There have been a number of theoretical and experimental studies on tensile properties of carbon nanotubes (CNT), reporting the Young's modulus of the individual CNT up to 1 TPa. Although CNT shows the promise to be used as reinforcement in a high modulus/strength composite material, it exhibits quite disappointing in terms of modulus or strength. Along with recent advance in CNT growth technique, we will be able to directly measure tensile properties of millimeter-long MWCNTs. This study firstly tackles the direct measurement of the tensile properties of millimeter-long MWCNTs that can be used as reinforcement in a composite system. A carefully designed tensile testing technique for the MWCNTs is developed, which allows us to obtain more accurate and reliable measured values. The average tensile strength and Young's modulus of the CNTs investigated in this study are measured to be 0.85 GPa and 34.65 GPa, respectively. Also, this work statistically investigates the effect of the CNT dimensions including length, diameter and volume on the tensile properties. To the best of our knowledge, this is the very first report on the tensile properties of macroscopically long and continuous CNTs.

We achieved excellent anode performance for PIBs based on a metal-organic framework MIL-125(Ti) for the first time. It can deliver a capacity of 208 mA h g -1 at a rate of 10 mA g -1 and a high capacity retention of 90.2% after 2000 cycles at a high rate of 200 mA g -1 with a high coulombic efficiency. The K + storage mechanism is investigated by the ex situ XRD and IR techniques and confirms that potassium ions are reversibly inserted into the organic moiety without direct engagement of Ti ions.

Aims: The present study examined the role of cystathionine γ-lyase (CSE) in carbon tetrachloride (CCl 4 )-induced liver damage., Results: A CSE gene knock-out and luciferase gene knock-in (KI) mouse model was constructed to study the function of CSE and to trace its expression in living status. CCl 4 or lipopolysaccharide markedly downregulated CSE expression in the liver of mice. CSE-deficient mice showed increased serum alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase levels, and liver damage after CCl 4 challenge, whereas albumin and endogenous hydrogen sulfide (H 2 S) levels decreased significantly. CSE knockout mice showed increased serum homocysteine levels, upregulation of inflammatory cytokines, and increased autophagy and IκB-α degradation in the liver in response to CCl 4 treatment. The increase in pro-inflammatory cytokines, including tumor necrosis factor-alpha in CSE-deficient mice after CCl 4 challenge, was accompanied by a significant increase in liver tissue hydroxyproline and α-smooth muscle actin and histopathologic changes in the liver. However, H 2 S donor pretreatment effectively attenuated most of these imbalances., Innovation: Here, a CSE knock-out and luciferase KI mouse model was established for the first time to study the transcriptional regulation of CSE expression in real time in a non-invasive manner, providing information on the effects and potential mechanisms of CSE on CCl 4 -induced liver injury., Conclusion: CSE deficiency increases pro-inflammatory cytokines in the liver and exacerbates acute hepatitis and liver fibrosis by reducing H 2 S production from L-cysteine in the liver. The present data suggest the potential of an H 2 S donor for the treatment of liver diseases such as toxic hepatitis and fibrosis. Antioxid. Redox Signal. 27, 133-149.

Background: It has been previously demonstrated that conjugation of paclitaxel to a linear poly(l-γ-glutamylglutamine) backbone can enhance water solubility of paclitaxel. However, intratumoral penetration of the nanoscale poly(l-γ-glutamylglutamine)-paclitaxel conjugate (PGG-PTX) was still limited due to dysfunctional tumor blood vessels as well as high interstitial pressure in the tumor microenvironment., Purpose: The objective of the present research was to investigate the feasibility of co-administration of a tumor penetration enhancing peptide tLyp-1 for improving intratumoral accumulation and consequent anti-tumor efficacy of PGG-PTX., Methods: The influence of co-administration of tLyP-1 with PGG-PTX on intratumoral accumulation (via HPLC-MS/MS) and anti-tumor efficacy (by monitoring the change in the tumor volume) was investigated using a breast cancer (4T1) tumor-bearing mouse model. In addition, the systemic toxicity of co-administration of tLyP-1 with PGG-PTX was assessed by monitoring the change in the animal body weight., Results: It was observed that co-administration of tLyP-1 with PGG-PTX dramatically improved PGG-PTX accumulation in the tumors, resulting in improved inhibition efficiency against tumor growth. Moreover, co-administration of tLyP-1 with PGG-PTX did not change the systemic toxicity profile of PGG-PTX., Conclusion: Co-administration of tLyp-1 may be a promising strategy for improving the passive tumortargeting performance of polymeric drug conjugates.

The identification of useful biological indicators to monitor the body response before the presentation of clinical diseases has practical value in livestock production. To identify potential biomarkers in pigs at the early stage during inflammation, 12 pigs were intramuscularly injected with 2mL of Lipopolysaccharide (LPS, 15μg/kg BW) or saline. Serum protein expression profiles were detected with two-dimensional electrophoresis (2-DE) and matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF-MS) techniques. Serum biochemical indicators and acute phase protein (APP) concentrations were analyzed with an automatic biochemical analyzer and ELISA, respectively. Of the serum biochemical indicators, creatinine concentration significantly increased 6h post infection, whereas albumin showed a decreased tendency. The 2-DE and MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry technique detected 17 protein spots representing 10 proteins: α-1-antichymotrypsin, albumin, bovine lactoferrin, serotransferrin, serpin A3-6, immunoglobulin light chain (κ chain, mu chain), complement C3 precursor, zinc-α-2-glycoprotein (ZAG), and ceruloplasmin. Two proteins were selected to confirm the mass spectrometry results, and resulting differences accorded with the proteomics results. Of the four typical acute phase protein (APPs) measured, the C-reactive protein (CRP) and haptoglobin (HP) concentrations increased significantly, while no differences were observed in the pig-major acute phase protein (Pig-MAP) and transthyretin (TTR) contents. The results showed that serum creatinine, CRP, HP, and ten other proteins content changed significantly after LPS injection. Of these proteins, ZAG was first reported in pigs during inflammation. These proteins show great promise as biomarkers to monitor the health status and welfare of pigs during the early stage of LPS-induced inflammation., (Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

A novel three-dimensional (3D) agar/graphene oxide (AGO) composite aerogel was prepared by a vacuum freeze drying method. The AGO aerogel was tested for its adsorption capacity of methylene blue (MB) and was found to have a maximum adsorption capacity of 578mg/g, as determined from the Langmuir isotherm. The adsorption kinetic studies revealed that adsorption followed pseudo-second-order model. The thermodynamic parameters calculated from the Van't Hoff equation indicate that the adsorption was an endothermic and spontaneous process. The adsorption mechanism may be attributed to electrostatic interaction between MB and AGO aerogel. Furthermore, the AGO aerogel can easily be recycled with a dilute NaOH solution wash, retaining over 91% of the adsorption capacity after recycling three times., (Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Graphene@nitrogen doped carbon@ultrafine TiO 2 nanoparticles (G-NC@TiO 2 ) with porous structure are obtained through annealing the precursor of graphene oxide/metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) for the first time. As an anode material for sodium ion batteries (SIB), the G-NC@TiO 2 composite can deliver an excellent capacity retention of 93% even after 5000 cycles, and a superior rate capability.

It is generally recognized that excess selenium (Se) has a negative effect on the growth and development of plants. Numerous studies have identified key genes involved in selenium tolerance in plants; however, our understanding of its molecular mechanisms is far from complete. In this study, we isolated an Arabidopsis selenium-resistant mutant from the mutant XVE pool lines because of its increased root growth and fresh weight in Se stress, and cloned the gene, which encodes the cytosolic ascorbate peroxidase (APX1). Two other APX1 gene knockout allelic lines were also selenium resistant, and the APX1-complementary COM1 restored the growth state of wild type under Se stress. In addition, these APX1 allelic lines accumulated more Se than did wild-type plants when subjected to Se stress. Further analysis revealed that the APX1-mediated Se tolerance was associated, at least in part, with the enhanced activities of antioxidant enzymes catalase, glutathione peroxidase and glutathione reductase. Moreover, enhanced Se resistance of the mutants was associated with glutathione (GSH), which had the higher expression level of GSH1 gene involved in GSH synthesis and consequently increased GSH content. Our results provide genetic evidence indicating that loss-of-function of APX1 results in tolerance to Se stress., (© 2016 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

In situ quantitative tensile tests of individual carbon nanotube (CNT)/SiC core-shell nanofibers are carried out in both a scanning electron microscope (SEM) and a transmission electron microscope (TEM). The incorporation of CNTs into a SiC matrix led to improved elastic modulus and fracture strength of the CNT/SiC nanofibers as compared to SiC alone., (© 2016 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.)

To investigate the influence of maternal dietary fat intake on the fatty acid composition and lipid metabolism of progeny subcutaneous fat (SQ), fourteen sows were randomly assigned to a control or high fat (HF) group which received a diet containing 8% corn oil starting seven days before farrowing until weaning. The results showed the fatty acid composition in progeny SQ at weaning age generally demonstrated a similar pattern with the sow milk. However, this pattern was not observed at the finishing stage. The stearoyl-CoA desaturase 1 mRNA and protein levels in the progeny SQ of the HF group decreased at both sampling stages when compared with controls. The study demonstrated that maternal dietary fat during lactation significantly affected the fatty acid composition of progeny SQ at the weaning stage, yet no obvious lasting effect was observed in progeny SQ at the finishing stage., (Copyright © 2015. Published by Elsevier Ltd.)

We have developed a rapid, sensitive, one-step, and selective colorimetric detection method for melamine (MEL) in milk powder based upon an in-situ formation of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) through modified Tollens process at room temperature. The triazine ring N atoms of MEL molecule were strategically designed to complex the Ag(+) through electron donor-acceptor interaction. During the AgNPs formation procedure, the MEL molecule, which has been covalently bonded with the Ag(+) ions, was adsorbed to the surface of as-prepared AgNPs, resulting in the aggregation of the adjacent AgNPs with detectable decreases of absorption signal. The concentration of MEL can be determined with the naked eye or a UV-vis spectrometer at which the yellow-to-brown color change associated with aggregate enhancement takes place. This method enables rapid (less than 30 min) and sensitive (limit of detection, LOD, 10 nM) detection, and it was also able to discriminate MEL from sixteen other milk relevant coexisting compounds. This assay does not utilize organic cosolvents, enzymatic reactions, light-sensitive dye molecules, lengthy protocols, or sophisticated instrumentation thereby overcoming some of the limitations of conventional methods., (Copyright © 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Well dispersed rice-like FeCO3 nanoparticles were produced and combined with reduced graphene oxide (RGO) via a one-pot solvothermal route. SEM characterization shows that rice-like FeCO3 nanoparticles are homogeneously anchored on the surface of the graphene nanosheets; the addition of RGO is helpful to form a uniform morphology and reduce the particle size of FeCO3 to nano-grade. As anode materials for lithium-ion batteries, the FeCO3/RGO nanocomposites exhibit significantly improved lithium storage properties with a large reversible capacity of 1345 mA h g(-1) for the first cycle and a capacity retention of 1224 mA h g(-1) after 50 cycles with a good rate capability compared with pure FeCO3 particles. The superior electrochemical performance of the FeCO3/RGO nanocomposite electrode compared to the pure FeCO3 electrode can be attributed to the well dispersed RGO which enhances the electronic conductivity and accommodates the volume change during the conversion reactions. Our study shows that the FeCO3/RGO nanocomposite could be a suitable candidate for high capacity lithium-ion batteries.

The present study was conducted to investigate whether maternal dietary fat affects the fatty acid composition of the longissimus thoracis (LT) muscle in offspring pigs at weaning and finishing stages. Fourteen sows were randomly assigned to a control or a high fat (HF) group. The HF sows received a diet containing 8% corn oil starting seven days before farrowing until weaning. The results showed that a high-fat diet significantly increased the contents of serum-lipid-related indexes in the sows. Although the triglyceride content did not change, the C18:2n-6 content was higher in the colostrum and in the LT muscle of offspring pigs at both investigated stages. The total n-6 content and the n-6/n-3 ratio generally increased. This study demonstrated that maternal dietary fat during lactation affects the fatty acid composition of the LT muscle of progeny at weaning, and can have persistent effects in later life., (© 2013.)

Controlling the Dirac point of graphene is essential for complementary circuits. Here, we describe the use of 2-(2-methoxyphenyl)-1,3-dimethyl-2,3-dihydro-1H-benzoimidazole (o-MeO-DMBI) as a strong n-type dopant for chemical-vapor-deposition (CVD) grown graphene. The Dirac point of graphene can be tuned significantly by spin-coating o-MeO-DMBI solutions on the graphene sheets at different concentrations. The transport of graphene can be changed from p-type to ambipolar and finally n-type. The electron transfer between o-MeO-DMBI and graphene was additionally confirmed by Raman imaging and photoemission spectroscopy (PES) measurements. Finally, we fabricated a complementary inverter via inkjet printing patterning of o-MeO-DMBI solutions on graphene to demonstrate the potential of o-MeO-DMBI n-type doping on graphene for future applications in electrical devices.

Graphene, laterally confined within narrow ribbons, exhibits a bandgap and is envisioned as a next-generation material for high-performance electronics. To take advantage of this phenomenon, there is a critical need to develop methodologies that result in graphene ribbons <10 nm in width. Here we report the use of metal salts infused within stretched DNA as catalysts to grow nanoscopic graphitic nanoribbons. The nanoribbons are termed graphitic as they have been determined to consist of regions of sp(2) and sp(3) character. The nanoscopic graphitic nanoribbons are micrometres in length, <10 nm in width, and take on the shape of the DNA template. The DNA strand is converted to a graphitic nanoribbon by utilizing chemical vapour deposition conditions. Depending on the growth conditions, metallic or semiconducting graphitic nanoribbons are formed. Improvements in the growth method have potential to lead to bottom-up synthesis of pristine single-layer graphene nanoribbons.

c-Rel plays important roles in many inflammatory diseases. Revealing the dynamic expression of c-Rel in disease processes in vivo is critical for understanding c-Rel functions and for developing anti-inflammatory drugs. In this paper, a transgenic mouse line, B6-Tg(c-Rel-luc)(Mlit), which incorporated the transgene firefly luciferase driven by a 14.5-kb fragment containing mouse c-Rel gene Rel promoter, was generated to monitor Rel expression in vivo. Luciferase expression could be tracked in living mice by the method of bioluminescence imaging in a variety of inflammatory processes, including LPS induced sepsis and EAE disease model. The luciferase expression in transgenic mice was comparable to the endogenous Rel expression and could be suppressed by administration of anti-inflammatory drug dexamethasone or aspirin. These results indicate that the B6-Tg(c-Rel-luc)(Mlit) mouse is a valuable animal model to study Rel expression in physiological and pathological processes, and the effects of various drug treatments in vivo.

Doping is a common and effective approach to tailor semiconductor properties. Here, we demonstrate the growth of large-area sulfur (S)-doped graphene sheets on copper substrate via the chemical vapor deposition technique by using liquid organics (hexane in the presence of S) as the precursor. We found that S could be doped into graphene's lattice and mainly formed linear nanodomains, which was proved by elemental analysis, high resolution transmission microscopy and Raman spectra. Measurements on S-doped graphene field-effect transistors (G-FETs) revealed that S-doped graphene exhibited lower conductivity and distinctive p-type semiconductor properties compared with those of pristine graphene. Our approach has produced a new member in the family of graphene based materials and is promising for producing graphene based devices for multiple applications.

Stable iron nanoparticles have been synthesized from naturally occurring and abundant Fe-containing bio-precursors, namely hemoglobin and myoglobin. The formation of stable iron nanoparticles was achieved through a one-pot, single-phase chemical reduction approach. The reduction of iron ions present in the bio-precursors was carried out at room temperature and avoids the use of harsh chemical reagents. The size distribution of the product falls into the narrow 2-5 nm range and the particles were found to be crystalline. This method can be a valuable synthetic approach for producing bio-conjugated nanoparticle systems for biological applications.

We report on the current-carrying capability and the high-current-induced thermal burnout failure modes of 5-20 μm diameter double-walled carbon nanotube (DWNT) fibers made by an improved dry-spinning method. It is found that the electrical conductivity and maximum current-carrying capability for these DWNT fibers can reach up to 5.9 × 10(5) S m(-1) and over 1 × 10(5) A cm(-2) in air. In comparison, we observed that standard carbon fiber tended to be oxidized and burnt out into cheese-like morphology when the maximum current was reached, while DWNT fiber showed a much slower breakdown behavior due to the gradual burnout in individual nanotubes. The electron microscopy observations further confirmed that the failure process of DWNT fibers occurs at localized positions, and while the individual nanotubes burn they also get aligned due to local high temperature and electrostatic field. In addition a finite element model was constructed to gain better understanding of the failure behavior of DWNT fibers.

Microscale supercapacitors provide an important complement to batteries in a variety of applications, including portable electronics. Although they can be manufactured using a number of printing and lithography techniques, continued improvements in cost, scalability and form factor are required to realize their full potential. Here, we demonstrate the scalable fabrication of a new type of all-carbon, monolithic supercapacitor by laser reduction and patterning of graphite oxide films. We pattern both in-plane and conventional electrodes consisting of reduced graphite oxide with micrometre resolution, between which graphite oxide serves as a solid electrolyte. The substantial amounts of trapped water in the graphite oxide makes it simultaneously a good ionic conductor and an electrical insulator, allowing it to serve as both an electrolyte and an electrode separator with ion transport characteristics similar to that observed for Nafion membranes. The resulting micro-supercapacitor devices show good cyclic stability, and energy storage capacities comparable to existing thin-film supercapacitors.

A novel approach for bulk synthesis of lithium-intercalated graphene sheets through the reduction of exfoliated graphene oxide in liquid ammonia and lithium metal is reported. It is demonstrated here that as-synthesized lithiated graphite oxide sheets (Li-RGO) can be directly used as an electrode material in lithium batteries. The electrochemical studies on Li-RGO electrodes show a significant enhancement in the specific capacity of the lithium battery over commercially available graphite electrodes. Partial intercalation of lithium ions in between graphene layers makes this material a good candidate for electrochemical energy storage applications.

We experimentally demonstrate a nearly wavelength-independent optical reflection from an extremely rough carbon nanotube sample. The sample is made of a vertically aligned nanotube array, is a super dark material, and exhibits a near-perfect blackbody emission at T=450 K-600 K. No other material exhibits such optical properties, i.e., ultralow reflectance accompanied by a lack of wavelength scaling behavior. This observation is a result of the lowest ever measured reflectance (R=0.0003) of the sample over a broad infrared wavelength of 3 μm < λ < 13 μm. This discovery may be attributed to the unique interlocking surface of the nanotube array, consisting of both a global, large scale and a short-range randomness.

Most materials respond either elastically or inelastically to applied stress, while repeated loading can result in mechanical fatigue. Conversely, bones and other biomechanical tissues have the ability to strengthen when subjected to recurring elastic stress. The cyclic compressive loading of vertically aligned carbon nanotube/poly(dimethylsiloxane) nanocomposites has revealed a self-stiffening response previously unseen in synthetic materials. This behavior results in a permanent increase in stiffness that continues until the dynamic stress is removed and resumes when it is reapplied. The effect is also specific to dynamic loads, similar to the localized self-strengthening that occurs in biological structures. These observations help to elucidate the complex interactions between matrix materials and nanostructures, and control over this mechanism could lead to the development of adaptable structural materials and active, load-bearing artificial connective tissues.

Various three-dimensional (3D) battery architectures have been proposed to address effective power delivery in micro/nanoscale devices and for increasing the stored energy per electrode footprint area. One step toward obtaining 3D configurations in batteries is the formation of core-shell nanowires that combines electrode and electrolyte materials. One of the major challenges however in creating such architectures has been the coating of conformal thin nanolayers of polymer electrolytes around nanostructured electrodes. Here we show conformal coatings of 25-30 nm poly(methyl methacralate) electrolyte layers around individual Ni-Sn nanowires used as anodes for Li ion battery. This configuration shows high discharge capacity and excellent capacity retention even at high rates over extended cycling, allowing for scalable increase in areal capacity with electrode thickness. Our results demonstrate conformal nanoscale anode-electrolyte architectures for an efficient Li ion battery system.

A simple, sensitive and rapid flow-injection chemiluminescence (CL) method has been developed for the determination of cefotaxime sodium based on the chemiluminescence reaction of cefotaxime sodium with ceric sulfate and rhodamine 6G in nitric acid solution. The concentration of cefotaxime sodium was proportional with the CL intensity in the range of 4×10(-8)-8×10(-6) mol L(-1). The detection limit (signal-to-noise ratio=3) was 1×10(-8) mol L(-1). Coupled to the technique of on-line microdialysis sampling, this method was successfully applied to study cefotaxime sodium-protein interaction. The drug and protein were mixed in different molar ratios in Ringer's solution, pH 7.4, and incubated at 37°C in a water bath. The microdialysis probe was utilized to sample the mixed solution at a perfusion rate of 5 μL min(-1) and the recovery of cefotaxime sodium under experimental condition was 16.2%. The data obtained by the present Microdialysis-Flow Injection Analysis-CL method was analyzed with the Scatchard analysis and Klotz plot. The estimated association constant (K) and the number of the binding sites (n) on one of BSA molecule were 5.94×10(4) M(-1) and 1.29 (Klotz equation), respectively., (Copyright © 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Aqueous dispersions of graphene oxide (GO) have been found to emit a structured, strongly pH-dependent visible fluorescence. Based on experimental results and model computations, this is proposed to arise from quasi-molecular fluorophores, similar to polycyclic aromatic compounds, formed by the electronic coupling of carboxylic acid groups with nearby carbon atoms of graphene. Sharp and structured emission and excitation features resembling the spectra of molecular fluorophores are present near 500 nm in basic conditions. The GO emission reversibly broadens and red-shifts to ca. 680 nm in acidic conditions, while the excitation spectra remain very similar in shape and position, consistent with excited state protonation of the emitting species in acidic media. The sharp and structured emission and excitation features suggest that the effective fluorophore size in the GO samples is remarkably well defined.

We report on the usage of a simple microfabricated device that works in conjunction with a quantitative Nanoindenter within a scanning electron microscope (SEM) chamber, for the in situ quantitative tensile testing of individual catalytically grown pristine and nitrogen-doped multiwall carbon nanotubes (MWNTs). The two types of MWNTs were found to possess similar strengths but different load-bearing abilities owing to the differences in their wall structures. Also, stress versus strain curves and fracture surfaces showed that while the pristine MWNTs deform and fail in a brittle fashion, the nitrogen-doped MWNTs deform plastically to varying degrees prior to failure. High resolution transmission electron microscope (TEM) images of the nitrogen-doped MWNT fracture specimens showed the presence of regions of reduced cross-section areas and kinks in close proximity to the fracture surfaces. The presence of nitrogen atoms in the graphitic sheets was assumed to have led to the formation of kinks whose motion induced by straining could have resulted in the plastic deformation of the carbon nanotubes.

Carbon nanotube (CNT) reinforcement of polymer composites has not yielded optimum results in that the composite properties are typically compromised by poor dispersion and random orientation of CNTs in polymers. Given the short lengths available for nanotubes, opportunities lie in incorporating CNTs with other structural reinforcements such as carbon fibers (CFs) to achieve improvement over existing composite designs. Growth of vertically aligned CNTs (VACNTs) offers new avenues for designing high-performance composites by integrating CFs and nanotubes into layered 3D architectures. To obtain composites with high rigidity and damping, we have designed and fabricated VACNT-based sandwich composites from simply stacking the freestanding VACNTs and CF fabrics and infiltrating with epoxy matrix. Comparing with the CF/epoxy laminates, the VACNT-based sandwich composites exhibit higher flexural rigidity and damping, which is achieved due to the effective integration of the VACNTs as an interfacial layer between the CF stacks. Furthermore, the lighter weight of these VACNT-based sandwich composites offers advantages in aerospace and transportation applications.

The adhesion and friction behavior of soft materials, including compliant brushes and hairs, depends on the temporal and spatial evolution of the interfaces in contact. For compliant nanofibrous materials, the actual contact area individual fibers make with surfaces depends on the preload applied upon contact. Using in situ microscopy observations of preloaded nanotube hairs, we show how nanotubes make cooperative contact with a surface by buckling and conforming to the surface topography. The overall adhesion of compliant nanohairs increases with increasing preload as nanotubes deform and continuously add new side-wall contacts with the surface. Electrical resistance measurements indicate significant hysteresis in the relative contact area. Contact area increases with preload (or stress) and decreases suddenly during unloading, consistent with strong adhesion observed for these complaint nanohairs.

The μ-opioid receptor (MOR) plays an important role in modulating analgesia, feeding behavior, and a range of autonomic functions. In the current study, we investigated the degree to which 13 naturally occurring missense mutations affect the pharmacological properties of the human MOR. After expression of each receptor in human embryonic kidney 293 cells, signaling (Gα(i/o)-mediated) induced by peptide agonists was assessed using luciferase reporter gene assays. Multiple mutants (S66F, S147C, R260H, R265C, R265H, and S268P) show a significant reduction in agonist potency. At the N190K variant, agonist-mediated signaling was essentially absent. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, microscopic analysis, and radioligand binding assays revealed that this mutant shows markedly reduced cell-surface expression, whereas all other receptor variants were expressed at normal levels. Surface expression of the N190K variant could be increased by incubation with the alkaloid agonist buprenorphine or with either naltrexone or naloxone, structurally related MOR antagonists. We were surprised to find that both putative antagonists, despite being inactive at the wild-type MOR, triggered a concentration-dependent increase in N190K receptor-mediated signaling. In contrast, peptidic ligands failed to promote expression or rescue function of the N190K mutant. Subsequent analysis of the N190K variant in an ethnically diverse cohort identified this isoform in a subgroup of African Americans. Taken together, our studies reveal that the N190K mutation leads to severe functional alterations and, in parallel, changes the response to established MOR ligands. The extent to which this mutation results in physiological abnormalities or affects drug sensitivity in selected populations (e.g., those with chronic pain or addiction) remains to be investigated.

Hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN), a layered material similar to graphite, is a promising dielectric. Monolayer h-BN, so-called "white graphene", has been isolated from bulk BN and could be useful as a complementary two-dimensional dielectric substrate for graphene electronics. Here we report the large area synthesis of h-BN films consisting of two to five atomic layers, using chemical vapor deposition. These atomic films show a large optical energy band gap of 5.5 eV and are highly transparent over a broad wavelength range. The mechanical properties of the h-BN films, measured by nanoindentation, show 2D elastic modulus in the range of 200-500 N/m, which is corroborated by corresponding theoretical calculations.

We report a simple etching process to modify surface of vertically aligned carbon nanotube (VACNT) arrays for their applications in superhydrophobic surface, field emission display, and sun energy conversion, etc. At a high temperature (700-800 degrees C), very low concentration water vapor in presence with Ar and hydrogen flow can be a weak oxidant, and mildly etch nanotube tips without damaging their walls. This process can be performed right after the CNT growth process. Surface of nanotube arrays becomes multi-tiered nanotube patterns with open-ended nanotubes standing straightly. Surface morphology of nanotube arrays can be tuned by changing the etching time. Water droplets on a modified nanotube surface show a large contact angle and sliding angle, which make the etched nanotube film suitable for application such as small amount liquid transport. Light absorption measurement indicated that surface roughness has no effect to improve the light absorption, indicating a different mechanism from other black material. The surface modified nanotube arrays have much increased field enhancement factor in our field emission test, showing the better field emission ability of the nanotube arrays with open tips.

Two-dimensional materials, such as graphene and monolayer hexagonal BN (h-BN), are attractive for demonstrating fundamental physics in materials and potential applications in next-generation electronics. Atomic sheets containing hybridized bonds involving elements B, N and C over wide compositional ranges could result in new materials with properties complementary to those of graphene and h-BN, enabling a rich variety of electronic structures, properties and applications. Here we report the synthesis and characterization of large-area atomic layers of h-BNC material, consisting of hybridized, randomly distributed domains of h-BN and C phases with compositions ranging from pure BN to pure graphene. Our studies reveal that their structural features and bandgap are distinct from those of graphene, doped graphene and h-BN. This new form of hybrid h-BNC material enables the development of bandgap-engineered applications in electronics and optics and properties that are distinct from those of graphene and h-BN.

We report the use of transition metal nanoparticles (Ni or Co) to longitudinally cut open multiwalled carbon nanotubes in order to create graphitic nanoribbons. The process consists of catalytic hydrogenation of carbon, in which the metal particles cut sp(2) hybridized carbon atoms along nanotubes that results in the liberation of hydrocarbon species. Observations reveal the presence of unzipped nanotubes that were cut by the nanoparticles. We also report the presence of partially open carbon nanotubes, which have been predicted to have novel magnetoresistance properties.(1) The nanoribbons produced are typically 15-40 nm wide and 100-500 nm long. This method offers an alternative approach for making graphene nanoribbons, compared to the chemical methods reported recently in the literature.

Graphite oxide is one of the main precursors of graphene-based materials, which are highly promising for various technological applications because of their unusual electronic properties. Although epoxy and hydroxyl groups are widely accepted as its main functionalities, the complete structure of graphite oxide has remained elusive. By interpreting spectroscopic data in the context of the major functional groups believed to be present in graphite oxide, we now show evidence for the presence of five- and six-membered-ring lactols. On the basis of this chemical composition, we devised a complete reduction process through chemical conversion by sodium borohydride and sulfuric acid treatment, followed by thermal annealing. Only small amounts of impurities are present in the final product (less than 0.5 wt% of sulfur and nitrogen, compared with about 3 wt% with other chemical reductions). This method is particularly effective in the restoration of the π-conjugated structure, and leads to highly soluble and conductive graphene materials.