Stable anode performance of vanadium oxide hydrate semi-microspheres and their graphene based composite microspheres in sodium-ion batteries.

A simple and versatile method for preparation of new crystalline vanadium oxide hydrate semi-microspheres is developed via a simple hydrothermal route, which are tested as a novel high-energy anode materials for sodium-ion batteries. The enhancement of electrochemical performance for the vanadium oxide hydrate electrode is offered by addition of graphene. The graphene-based vanadium oxide hydrate microsphere composite shows a high discharge capacity of 336.

Edge-oriented MoS2 nanoporous films as flexible electrodes for hydrogen evolution reactions and supercapacitor devices.

A simple method to fabricate edge-oriented MoS2 films with sponge-like morphologies is demonstrated. They are directly fabricated through the reaction of sulfur vapor with anodically formed Mo oxide sponge-like films on flexible Mo substrates. The edge-oriented MoS2 film delivers excellent hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) activity with enhanced kinetics and long-term cycling stability.

Upregulating serotonin transporter expression and downregulating monoamine oxidase-A and indoleamine 2, 3-dioxygenase expression involved in the antidepressant effect of sodium valproate in a rat model.

Sodium valproate (VPA) is widely used as an antiepileptic agent and mood stabilizer. In recent years, VPA has been increasingly used as a psychotherapeutic drug to treat depression. In this article, a possible antidepressant mechanism of VPA was investigated by studying the expression and therefore the involvement of tryptophan hydroxylase, serotonin transporter (5-HTT), monoamine oxidase-A (MAO-A), and indoleamine 2, 3-dioxygenase (IDO) in rats exposed to chronic unpredicted stress.

Mitochondria-targeting phosphorescent iridium(III) complexes for living cell imaging.

Two phosphorescent iridium(III) complexes conjugated to a lipophilic triphenylphosphonium cation moiety, IrMitoOlivine and IrMitoNIR, were synthesized. The complexes show high mitochondria-specificity and relatively lower cytotoxicity. Time-lapse confocal imaging indicates that both complexes exhibit an excellent anti-photobleaching capability under continuous laser irradiation.

Facile synthesis of graphite nitrate-like ammonium vanadium bronzes and their graphene composites for sodium-ion battery cathodes.

A simple and versatile method for preparation of new crystalline graphite nitrate-like ammonium vanadium bronze (NH4)0.19V2O5·0.44H2O nano-microstructures is developed via a simple hydrothermal route following heat treatment.

Boron- and nitrogen-doped graphene quantum dots/graphene hybrid nanoplatelets as efficient electrocatalysts for oxygen reduction.

The scarcity and high cost of platinum-based electrocatalysts for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) has limited the commercial and scalable use of fuel cells. Heteroatom-doped nanocarbon materials have been demonstrated to be efficient alternative catalysts for ORR. Here, graphene quantum dots, synthesized from inexpensive and earth-abundant anthracite coal, were self-assembled on graphene by hydrothermal treatment to form hybrid nanoplatelets that were then codoped with nitrogen and boron by high-temperature annealing.

Hydrothermally formed three-dimensional nanoporous Ni(OH)2 thin-film supercapacitors.

A three-dimensional nanoporous Ni(OH)2 thin-film was hydrothermally converted from an anodically formed porous layer of nickel fluoride/oxide. The nanoporous Ni(OH)2 thin-films can be used as additive-free electrodes for energy storage. The nanoporous layer delivers a high capacitance of 1765 F g(-1) under three electrode testing.

Enhanced cycling stability of lithium sulfur batteries using sulfur-polyaniline-graphene nanoribbon composite cathodes.

A hierarchical nanocomposite material of graphene nanoribbons combined with polyaniline and sulfur using an inexpensive, simple method has been developed. The resulting composite, characterized by scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, X-ray photoelectron microscopy, and X-ray diffraction analysis, has a good rate performance and excellent cycling stability. The synergistic combination of electrically conductive graphene nanoribbons, polyaniline, and sulfur produces a composite with high performance.

Probing of a human proteome microarray with a recombinant pathogen protein reveals a novel mechanism by which hookworms suppress B-cell receptor signaling.

Na-ASP-2 is an efficacious hookworm vaccine antigen. However, despite elucidation of its crystal structure and studies addressing its immunobiology, the function of Na-ASP-2 has remained elusive. We probed a 9000-protein human proteome microarray with Na-ASP-2 and showed binding to CD79A, a component of the B-cell antigen receptor complex.

Efficient electrocatalytic oxygen evolution on amorphous nickel-cobalt binary oxide nanoporous layers.

Nanoporous Ni-Co binary oxide layers were electrochemically fabricated by deposition followed by anodization, which produced an amorphous layered structure that could act as an efficient electrocatalyst for water oxidation. The highly porous morphologies produced higher electrochemically active surface areas, while the amorphous structure supplied abundant defect sites for oxygen evolution. These Ni-rich (10-40 atom % Co) binary oxides have an increased active surface area (roughness factor up to 17), reduced charge transfer resistance, lowered overpotential (∼325 mV) that produced a 10 mA cm(-2) current density, and a decreased Tafel slope (∼39 mV decade(-1)).

Vortex-mediated bouncing drops on an oscillating liquid.

We have investigated the behavior of bouncing drops on a liquid surface by using particle image velocimetry analysis. A drop on an oscillating liquid surface is observed to not coalesce with the liquid and to travel along the surface if the oscillation is strong enough. A streaming vortex pair, induced by the alternatively distorted liquid surface, shows up below a bouncing drop.

Nanoporous silicon oxide memory.

Oxide-based two-terminal resistive random access memory (RRAM) is considered one of the most promising candidates for next-generation nonvolatile memory. We introduce here a new RRAM memory structure employing a nanoporous (NP) silicon oxide (SiOx) material which enables unipolar switching through its internal vertical nanogap. Through the control of the stochastic filament formation at low voltage, the NP SiOx memory exhibited an extremely low electroforming voltage (∼ 1.

Three-dimensional thin film for lithium-ion batteries and supercapacitors.

Three-dimensional heterogeneously nanostructured thin-film electrodes were fabricated by using Ta2O5 nanotubes as a framework to support carbon-onion-coated Fe2O3 nanoparticles along the surface of the nanotubes. Carbon onion layers function as microelectrodes to separate the two different metal oxides and form a nanoscale 3-D sandwich structure. In this way, space-charge layers were formed at the phase boundaries, and it provides additional energy storage by charge separation.

The checkpoint 1 kinase inhibitor LY2603618 induces cell cycle arrest, DNA damage response and autophagy in cancer cells.

Chemotherapy- or radiotherapy-induced DNA damage activates the Chk1-dependent DNA damage response (DDR) and cell cycle checkpoints to facilitate cell survival. Numerous attempts have been made to identify specific Chk1 inhibitors to enhance the efficiency of chemotherapy or radiotherapy. In this study, we investigated the molecular mechanisms underlying the antitumor activity of LY2603618, a potent and selective small molecule inhibitor of Chk1 protein kinase, in human lung cancer cells.

Facile synthesis of ammonium vanadium oxide nanorods for Na-ion battery cathodes.

A simple and versatile method for preparation of NH4V4O10 nanorods is developed via a simple hydrothermal route. NH4V4O10 nanorods display better cycling stability than NH4V4O10 microflowers as a cathode material for sodium-ion batteries because of the changes in crystalline structure, which would be in favor of superior discharge capacity. Furthermore, the enhancement of electrochemical performance for NH4V4O10 nanorods at high current rates is offered in addition of fluoroethylene carbonate to electrolyte.

Effects of tsaoko (Fructus tsaoko) cultivating on tree diversity and canopy structure in the habitats of eastern hoolock gibbon (Hoolock leuconedys).

In this study, the quadrat method was used to study the effects of tsaoko (Fructus tsaoko) plantation on tree diversity and canopy structure of two natural habitats of eastern hoolock gibbon (Hoolock leuconedys): Nankang (characterized by extensive tsaoko plantation) and Banchang (relatively well reserved and without tsaoko plantation). Totally, 102 tree species from 25 families and 16 woody liana species from 10 families were recorded in Nankang, whereas 108 tree species from 30 families and 17 woody liana species from 12 families were recorded in Banchang. Although the tree species between two habitats is different, both habitats are characterized by enriched food resources for eastern hoolock gibbons, sharing similar dominant plant families.

LiFePO4 nanoparticles encapsulated in graphene nanoshells for high-performance lithium-ion battery cathodes.

LiFePO4 encapsulated in graphene nanoshells (LiFePO4@GNS) nanoparticles were synthesized by solid state reaction between graphene-coated Fe nanoparticles and LiH2PO4. The resulting nanocomposite was demonstrated to be a superior lithium-ion battery cathode with improved cycle and rate performances.

Graphene nanoribbon/V2O5 cathodes in lithium-ion batteries.

Nanocrystalline V2O5 particles were successfully entrapped by graphene nanoribbons (GNRs) derived from unzipped carbon nanotubes. The electrical conductivity of V2O5 nanoparticles was enhanced after introducing the GNRs. The 3-dimensional conductive framework in the composites plays a significant role in improving the rate performance and cyclability of the material when used as a cathode in lithium-ion batteries.

The redistribution of Drosophila vesicular monoamine transporter mutants from synaptic vesicles to large dense-core vesicles impairs amine-dependent behaviors.

Monoamine neurotransmitters are stored in both synaptic vesicles (SVs), which are required for release at the synapse, and large dense-core vesicles (LDCVs), which mediate extrasynaptic release. The contributions of each type of vesicular release to specific behaviors are not known. To address this issue, we generated mutations in the C-terminal trafficking domain of the Drosophila vesicular monoamine transporter (DVMAT), which is required for the vesicular storage of monoamines in both SVs and LDCVs.

CCT128930 induces cell cycle arrest, DNA damage, and autophagy independent of Akt inhibition.

PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway plays an important role in tumor progression and anti-cancer drug resistance. The aim of the present study is to determine the antitumor effect of CCT128930, a novel small molecule inhibitor of Akt, in the HepG2 hepatoma cancer cells. Our results showed that at low concentrations, CCT128930 increased, but not inhibited, the phosphorylation of Akt in HepG2 and A549 cells.

Individuality and stability in male songs of cao vit gibbons (Nomascus nasutus) with potential to monitor population dynamics.

Vocal individuality and stability has been used to conduct population surveys, monitor population dynamics, and detect dispersal patterns in avian studies. To our knowledge, it has never been used in these kinds of studies among primates. The cao vit gibbon is a critically endangered species with only one small population living in a karst forest along China-Vietnam border.

Facile synthesis of V6O13 micro-flowers for Li-ion and Na-ion battery cathodes with good cycling performance.

A simple and versatile method for the preparation of V6O13 microflowers is developed via a simple hydrothermal route with the aid of an alkali metal nitrate salt, which has important effects on the formation of V6O13. It is found that V6O13 microflowers display good cycling stability as cathode materials for lithium-ion battery. In addition, they show high capacities for sodium-ion battery.

Structure-based design and synthesis of bicyclic fused-pyridines as MEK inhibitors.

The MAPK pathway is identified as one of the most important pathways involved in cell proliferation and differentiation. A key kinase in the pathway, the Mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase (MEK) is recognized as a promising target for antitumor drugs. Structure-based design and optimization of known MEK inhibitors resulted in identification of compound 10a as a potent non-ATP competitive MEK inhibitor in both in vitro and in vivo tests.

A robust, catalytic metal-organic framework with open 2,2'-bipyridine sites.

We report two synthetic approaches to prepare a highly crystalline Zr(IV)-based metal-organic framework (MOF) containing open 2,2'-bipyridine (bpy) chelating sites. The resulting UiO-67-bpydc readily forms complexes with PdCl2 to produce a MOF that exhibits efficient and recyclable catalytic activity for the Suzuki-Miyaura cross-coupling reaction.