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The lithium storage performance of binary transition metal oxide/graphene composites as anode materials has been attracting more interest from researchers, based on the fact that binary transition metal oxides and graphene are expected to create a synergistic effect and exhibit improved lithium storage characteristics. In this work, a NiO-CuO/reduced graphene oxide composite (NiO-CuO/RGO) was prepared by an ultrasonic agitation process. When the NiO-CuO/RGO is applied to the anode material for lithium-ion batteries (LIBs), the batteries display high discharge capacities (at 730 mA h/g after 100 cycles at 100 mA/g), high-rate performance (311 mA h/g with 5000 mA/g), and excellent stable cyclability (375 mA h/g within 2000 mA/g after 400 cycles). Such results indicate that the combination of NiO-CuO and RGO leads to enhanced lithium storage performance, for the RGO sheets inhibit the large volume change of binary NiO-CuO and enhance the fast transport of both lithium ions and electrons during the repeated lithium cycling processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper studies the optimal reinsurance-investment problem under Heston's stochastic volatility (SV) in the framework of Stackelberg stochastic differential game, in which an insurer and a reinsurer are the two players. The aim of the insurer as the follower in the game is to find the optimal reinsurance strategy and investment strategy such that its mean-variance cost functional is maximized, while the aim of the reinsurer as the leader is to maximize its mean-variance cost functional through finding its optimal premium pricing strategy and investment strategy. To overcome the time-inconsistency problem in the game, we derive the optimization problems of the two players as embedded games and obtain the corresponding extended Hamilton–Jacobi–Bellman (HJB) equations. Then we present the verification theorem and get the equilibrium reinsurance-investment strategies and the corresponding value functions of both the insurer and the reinsurer. Finally, we provide some numerical examples to draw the findings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study evaluated the effect of Lentinus edodes fermentation (LEF) on digestive enzyme activity, antioxidant capacity and morphology of the liver and intestine in largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides) fed high plant protein diets (HPPD). LEF was supplemented in HPPD with 0 g kg−1 (LEF0), 10 g kg−1 (LEF1), 20 g kg−1 (LEF2), 30 g kg−1 (LEF3), 40 g kg−1 (LEF4), 50 g kg−1 (LEF5), respectively, and then the six diets were fed to largemouth bass with a body weight of 28.8 ± 0.05 g for eight weeks. Juvenile fish were randomized into 6 groups and each group had 4 replicates with 40 fish. Dietary LEF supplementation alleviated the liver inflammatory reaction of largemouth bass caused by HPPD and improved liver morphology. Goblet cells multiplied and the gut muscle layer thickened after LEF supplementation. The LEF significantly increased amylase activity in the liver and intestine of largemouth bass in individual experimental groups. The LEF could increase the activity of catalase in the liver and intestine of largemouth bass (p < 0.05). The content of malondialdehyde was significantly lower than that in the control group (p < 0.05). Dietary LEF supplementation had no significant effect on the intestinal flora of largemouth bass. These findings imply that LEF supplementation can reduce liver inflammation, enhance intestinal tissue morphology, and eventually benefit largemouth bass health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Knee osteoarthritis (KOA) is one of the most common degenerative joint diseases in the elderly worldwide. The primary lesion in patients with KOA is the degeneration of articular cartilage. This study aimed to observe the biological effects of cyclic negative pressure on C28/I2 chondrocytes and to elucidate the underlying molecular mechanisms. We designed a bi-directional intelligent micro-pressure control device for cyclic negative pressure intervention on C28/I2 chondrocytes. Chondrocyte vitality and proliferation were assessed using Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) and 5-ethynyl-2'-deoxyuridine (EdU) assays. The extracellular matrix was analyzed using real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and western blot, while the molecular mechanism of the chondrocyte response to cyclic negative pressure was explored through mRNA sequencing. Experimental data demonstrated that cyclic negative pressure promoted chondrocyte proliferation and upregulated the expression of chondrocyte-specific protein, namely the collagen type II alpha 1 chain (COL2A1) protein, and the transcription factor SRY-box transcription factor 9 (SOX9). Additionally, RNA sequencing analysis revealed that the gene levels of insulin-like growth factor 2 (IGF-2) and early growth response 1 (EGR-1) were significantly elevated in the cyclic negative pressure group. This study demonstrates that cyclic negative pressure stimulates the proliferation of C28/I2 chondrocytes by promoting the expression of EGR-1 and IGF-2. This new discovery may provide novel insights into cartilage health and KOA prevention.

Objective: To study the early effects of ulinastatin (UTI) by aerosol inhalation on rabbits with acute lung injury induced by LPS, and to observe the early diagnostic value of 320-slice CT., Methods: According to the random number table, 18 specific pathogen free New Zealand white rabbits were divided into normal control group, group LPS, and group UTI, with 6 rabbits in each group. Rabbits in group LPS and group UTI were given 15 mL lipopolysaccharide (0.16 mg/mL, in the dose of 0.8 mg/kg) to reproduce acute lung injury model. Rabbits in normal control group were given equal volume of normal saline. Rabbits in UTI group were treated with UTI by aerosol inhalation for 10 min from 30 min after injury, while those in the other two groups received normal saline by aerosol inhalation. Rabbits in group LPS and group UTI were scanned by 320-slice CT at post injury hour (PIH) 6 and 24. After anesthesia, heart blood of rabbits in group LPS and group UTI was collected for determination of serum levels of TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6 by ELISA at PBH 24. At PBH 24, lung tissue samples were harvested for gross observation and histomorphological observation, measurement of wet to dry weight ratio, and detection of mRNA expressions of TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6 with RT-PCR. Above-mentioned indexes were detected in rabbits of normal control group at the same time point. Data were processed with one-way analysis of variance and LSD test., Results: (1) CT perfusion (CTP) image. The difference in CTP image of rabbits in group LPS between PBH 6 and PBH 24 was obvious, while that of rabbits in group UTI and normal control group was slight and not obvious respectively. (2) There were statistically significant differences in the serum levels of TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6 of rabbits among the three groups (with F values from 843.896 to 2 564.336, P values below 0.001). The serum levels of TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6 in group UTI were respectively (225 ± 9), (190 ± 8), (227 ± 6) pg/mL, and they were significantly lower than those in group LPS [(710 ± 25), (306 ± 16), (422 ± 16) pg/mL, with P values below 0.001]. (3) Gross observation. In group UTI, the degrees of pulmonary edema and pneumorrhagia of rabbits were lower than those in group LSP. (4) Histological observation. The damage to alveolar wall in group UTI was milder, and alveolar space hemorrhage and inflammatory cell infiltration were significantly less intense as compared with those in group LPS. (5) Compared with that in normal control group, the wet to dry weight ratio of lung tissue was increased in group LPS (P < 0.001). The wet to dry weight ratio of lung tissue in group UTI was significantly higher than that in normal control group but lower than that in group LPS (P values below 0.001). (6) There were statistically significant differences in mRNA levels of TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6 in lung tissue of rabbits among three groups (with F values from 24.700 to 69.538, P values below 0.001). The mRNA levels of TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6 in lung tissue of rabbits in group UTI were respectively (31.4 ± 2.7), (21.2 ± 3.3), (13.9 ± 2.4) pg/mL, which were significantly lower than those in group LPS [ (58.5 ± 10.0) , (35.1 ± 5.1), (20.7 ± 3.2) pg/mL, P values below 0.001]., Conclusions: UTI by aerosol inhalation can mitigate pulmonary edema and hemorrhage and inhibit inflammatory response. 320-slice CT may be used for detection of early lung injury.