Internal Electron-Donation Allocation Design for Intrinsic Solubilization of Lithium Nitrate in Ester Electrolyte for Stable Lithium Metal Batteries.

Lithium metal batteries (LMBs) have become a hot topic in the research of next-generation advanced battery technology due to their high specific energy. However, the high reaction activity between lithium metal and electrolyte is considered one of the key bottlenecks limiting large-scale applications of LMBs. As a classic electrolyte additive, lithium nitrate (LiNO) significantly improves the stability of lithium metal in ether-based electrolytes.

Mechanical homeostasis imbalance in hepatic stellate cells activation and hepatic fibrosis.

Chronic liver disease or repeated damage to hepatocytes can give rise to hepatic fibrosis. Hepatic fibrosis (HF) is a pathological process of excessive sedimentation of extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins such as collagens, glycoproteins, and proteoglycans (PGs) in the hepatic parenchyma. Changes in the composition of the ECM lead to the stiffness of the matrix that destroys its inherent mechanical homeostasis, and a mechanical homeostasis imbalance activates hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) into myofibroblasts, which can overproliferate and secrete large amounts of ECM proteins.

Genome wide analysis of kinesin gene family in Citrullus lanatus reveals an essential role in early fruit development.

Background: Kinesin (KIN) as a motor protein is a versatile nano-machine and involved in diverse essential processes in plant growth and development. However, the kinesin gene family has not been identified in watermelon, a valued and nutritious fruit, and yet their functions have not been characterized. Especially, their involvement in early fruit development, which directly determines the size, shape, yield and quality of the watermelon fruit, remains unclear.