Al-based metal organic framework derived self-assembled carbon nanosheets as innovative anodes for Li- and Na-ion batteries.

Functional modification and structural design of carbon electrode materials are considered as a cost-effective method to improve their electrochemical performance. In this study, a solvothermal method is applied to realize self-assembly of the metal-organic framework. After simple carbonization and acid treatment, carbon nanosheets with 2D adjustable defective sub-units are successfully prepared for the first time.

Conducting polymer-coated MIL-101/S composite with scale-like shell structure for improving Li-S batteries.

Lithium-sulfur batteries are regarded as a promising energy storage system. However, they are plagued by rapid capacity decay, low coulombic efficiency, a severe shuttle effect and low sulfur loading in cathodes. To address these problems, effective carriers are highly demanded to encapsulate sulfur in order to extend the cycle life.

Orexin-B modulates synaptic transmission of rod bipolar cells in rat retina.

Orexin-A, -B play a crucial role in arousal and feeding by activating two G-protein-coupled receptors: orexin receptor 1 (OXR) and orexin receptor 2 (OXR). Orexins, along with orexin receptors, are expressed in retinal neurons, and they have been shown to differentially modulate excitatory AMPA receptors of amacrine and ganglion cells in the inner retina. In this work we report that orexin-B modulates the activity of rod bipolar cells (RBCs) located in the outer retina of rat.

Transgene is specifically and functionally expressed in retinal inhibitory interneurons in the VGAT-ChR2-EYFP mouse.

Ectopic transgene expression in the retina has been reported in various transgenic mice, indicating the importance of characterizing retinal phenotypes. We examined transgene expression in the VGAT-ChR2-EYFP mouse retina by fluorescent immunohistochemistry and electrophysiology, with special emphasis on enhanced yellow fluorescent protein (EYFP) localization in retinal neuronal subtypes identified by specific markers. Strong EYFP signals were detected in both the inner and outer plexiform layers.

The Role of Retinal Dopamine in C57BL/6 Mouse Refractive Development as Revealed by Intravitreal Administration of 6-Hydroxydopamine.

Purpose: Although retinal dopamine (DA) has been long implicated in myopia development, current studies demonstrate that retinal DA levels are unaltered in C57BL/6 mice with form-deprivation myopia. This work was undertaken to explore whether and how refractive development is perturbed in this mouse strain when retinal DA levels are reduced by 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) administration.

Methods: On two successive days, 6-OHDA was injected into the vitreous of P18 mice.

[Aluminum-tolerant characteristics of different Chamaecrista genotypes].

A hydroponic culture experiment was conducted to study the responses of 40 Chamaecrista varieties (lines) to 120 mg x L(-1) of Al3+, with the correlations between the relative tolerance values of various characters of different genotypes and the comprehensive evaluation coefficient compared. Among the characters of the genotypes, the relative plant height, relative root dry mass, relative shoot dry mass, and relative root activity could be selected as the important indices for screening the Al-tolerant genotype of Chamaecrista. In the test 40 Chamaecrista varieties (lines), the 86134R2, 2208, 3170, 316, 2211, and 2232 had stronger Al-tolerant capability, belonging to Al-tolerant genotype, whereas the 34721R1, 92985, and 3184 had weaker Al-tolerant capacity, belonging to Al-sensitive genotype.

Natriuretic peptide receptors are expressed in rat retinal ganglion cells.

Natriuretic peptides (NPs) exert their actions through three membrane-bound receptors, which are known as NP receptors (NPRs: NPR-A, NPR-B and NPR-C). In this work we examined the expression of three NPRs in rat retinal ganglion cells (GCs), retrogradely labeled and intracellularly dye-injected, by double immunofluorescence labeling. In vertical sections, almost all GCs, retrogradely labeled by cholera toxin B, were stained by antibodies against the three NPRs.

Arsenic accumulation by the aquatic fern Azolla: comparison of arsenate uptake, speciation and efflux by A. caroliniana and A. filiculoides.

This study investigates As accumulation and tolerance of the aquatic fern Azolla. Fifty strains of Azolla showed a large variation in As accumulation. The highest- and lowest-accumulating ferns among the 50 strains were chosen for further investigations.

[The genetic diversity and homology of Anabaena azollae and its host plant (Azolla) based on rapd analysis].

Symbiotic Anabeana azollae and its host plant Anabeana-free Azolla were isolated from 16 Azolla accessions representing different Azolla species or geographic origins.DNA polymorphic fragments were obtained by simultaneous RAPD amplification of both symbiont and host. The UPGMA clusters of Anabeana azollae and its host Azolla were established separately based on Dice coefficient caculation and a coordinated relationship was shown between Anabeana azollae and its Azolla host along both individual genetic divergence,but this genetic homology was reduced among different strains within Azolla species while the obvious mutants of Anabeana azollae were detected in some Azolla tested strains collected from different geographic area in the same host species.

[Effects and mechanisms of endotoxin pretreatment on lung of rat in endotoxemia].

Objective: To observe the effects and mechanisms of endotoxin pretreatment on the rat lung in endotoxemia.

Methods: Eighty-four male Wistar rats were divided into seven groups (each group containing 12 rats): saline control and lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-treated 2 h, 4 h, 6 h groups and LPS-pretreated 2 h, 4 h, 6 h groups. LPS-pretreated rats were administrated with intraperitoneal injection of 0.