Versatile Asymmetric Separator with Dendrite-Free Alloy Anode Enables High-Performance Li-S Batteries.

Lithium-sulfur batteries (LSBs) with extremely-high theoretical energy density (2600 Wh kg ) are deemed to be the most likely energy storage system to be commercialized. However, the polysulfides shuttling and lithium (Li) metal anode failure in LSBs limit its further commercialization. Herein, a versatile asymmetric separator and a Li-rich lithium-magnesium (Li-Mg) alloy anode are applied in LSBs.

Stable Zinc Anodes Enabled by a Zincophilic Polyanionic Hydrogel Layer.

The practical application of the Zn-metal anode for aqueous batteries is greatly restricted by catastrophic dendrite growth, intricate hydrogen evolution, and parasitic surface passivation. Herein, a polyanionic hydrogel film is introduced as a protective layer on the Zn anode with the assistance of a silane coupling agent (denoted as Zn-SHn). The hydrogel framework with zincophilic -SO functional groups uniformizes the zinc ions flux and transport.

Accelerating the activation of LiMnO in Li-rich high-Mn cathodes to improve its electrochemical performance.

Li-rich high-Mn oxides, xLi2MnO3·(1 - x)LiMO2 (x ≥ 0.5, M = Co, Ni, Mn…), have attracted extensive research interest due to their high specific capacity and low cost. However, slow Li2MnO3 activation and poor cycling stability have affected their electrochemical performance.

Synthesis and anti-gastric cancer activity evaluation of novel triazole nucleobase analogues containing steroidal/coumarin/quinoline moieties.

A series of novel triazole nucleobase analogues containing steroidal/coumarin/quinoline moieties have been synthesized based on copper-catalyzed azide-alkyne cycloaddition (CuAAC). The anti-cancer activity of the new triazole nucleobase analogues was studied in gastric cancer cell lines (MGC-803, SGC-7901) and normal gastric epithelial cells (GES-1) in vitro. Some of the synthesized compounds could significantly inhibit the proliferation of these tested cancer cells.

Design, synthesis and biological evaluation of new steroidal β-triazoly enones as potent antiproliferative agents.

β-Triazoly enones are biologically interesting scaffolds, incorporation of such scaffolds into the steroid nucleus may generate new bioactive steroids and further enrich structural types of steroids. In this work, a series of new steroidal β-triazoly enones were synthesized based on click chemistry and Claisen-Schmidt condensation reaction and further evaluated for their antiproliferative activity against a panel of cancer cells. Most of these compounds showed better potency against PC-3 and MGC-803 cells.

Enantioselective synthesis of enantiopure β-amino alcohols via kinetic resolution and asymmetric reductive amination by a robust transaminase from Mycobacterium vanbaalenii.

Chiral β-amino alcohols are very important chiral building block for preparing bioactive compounds for use in pharmaceutical and fine chemical industries. Synthesis of chiral β-amino alcohols by transaminase is big challenging due to the strict substrate specificities and very low activity of the enzyme. In this work, a (R)-selective ω-transaminase (MVTA) from Mycobacterium vanbaalenii was employed as a biocatalyst for the first time for the synthesis of chiral β-amino alcohol via kinetic resolution and asymmetric reductive amination.

Effects of spirodiclofen on life history traits and population growth of a spider mite predator Oligota flavicornis (Coleoptera: Staphyllinidae) based on the age-stage two-sex life table theory.

Background: Knowledge of the compatibility between spirodiclofen and the predator Oligota flavicornis is an important aspect for the management of spider mites.

Results: We used the age-stage, two-sex life table to assess the effects of spirodiclofen on the life history traits and population growth of O. flavicornis.

Protective effect of isoliquiritigenin against cerebral injury in septic mice via attenuation of NF-κB.

Background: The study was conducted to scrutinize the outcome of isoliquiritigenin (ISL) against cerebral injury in septic mice.

Methods: The sepsis was introduced using cecal ligation and puncture (CLP) method in experimental mice. The effect of ISL was quantified using the content of brain water and blood brain barrier (BBB) permeability.

Temperature-Dependent Development of Oligota flavicornis (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae) Preying on Tetranychus cinnabarinus (Acarina: Tetranychidae).

The effect of nine constant temperatures on developmental time of Oligota flavicornis (Boisduval and Lacordaire) preying on Tetranychus cinnabarinus (Boisduval) (Acari: Tetranychidae) eggs was determined under laboratory conditions of 75 ± 5% RH and a 16:8 (L:D) h photoperiod. O. flavicornis survival rates were highest between 18 and 30°C, although O.

One pot simultaneous preparation of both enantiomer of β-amino alcohol and vicinal diol via cascade biocatalysis.

Objectives: To investigate the efficiency of a new cascade biocatalysis system for the conversion of R, S-β-amino alcohols to enantiopure vicinal diol and β-amino alcohol.

Results: An efficient cascade biocatalysis was achieved by combination of a transaminase, a carbonyl reductase and a cofactor regeneration system. An ee value of > 99% for 2-amino-2-phenylethanol and 1-phenyl-1, 2-ethanediol were simultaneously obtained with 50% conversion from R, S-2-amino-2-phenylethanol.

Dynamics of Bemisia tabaci biotypes and insecticide resistance in Fujian province in China during 2005-2014.

The whitefly Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius) is an important agricultural insect pest worldwide. The B and Q biotypes are the two most predominant and devastating biotypes prevalent across China. However, there are few studies regarding the occurrence of the Q biotype in Fujian Province, China, where high insecticide resistance has been reported in the B biotype.

[Pollution Characteristics of Surface Runoff of Typical Town in Chongqing City].

Six kinds of impermeable underlying surface, cement tile roof, asbestos roof, cement flat roof, residential concrete pavement, asphalt pavement of restaurants, asphalt pavement of oil depot, and a combined sewer overflow canal in the Jiansheng town of Dadukou district in Chongqing city were chosen as sample plots to study the characteristics of nutritional pollutants and heavy metals in town runoff. The research showed that the average mass concentrations of TSS, COD, TN, TP in road runoff were (1681.2 +/- 677.

Lethal and sublethal effects of thiamethoxam on the whitefly predator Serangium japonicum (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) through different exposure routes.

Given expectations for a booming usage of thiamethoxam and increasing availability of the promising biological agent Serangium japonicum for the control of Bemisia tabaci in China, an evaluation of their compatibility is crucial for integrated pest management (IPM). This study examined the lethal and sublethal effects of thiamethoxam on S. japonicum through three exposure routes.

[Research on stormwater runoff quality of mountain city by source area monitoring].

Stormwater runoff samples were collected from 10 source areas in Mountain City, Chongqing, during five rain events in an attempt to investigate the characteristics of runoff quality and influencing factors. The outcomes are expected to offer practical guidance of sources control of urban runoff pollution. The results indicated that the stormwater runoff of Mountain City presented a strong first flush for almost all events and constituents.

[Response of phosphorus components in sediments from eutrophic lake to external sulfate].

A six week experiment under indoor simulated condition was carried out to investigate the external sulfate transformation between the sediments and overlying water from Lake Nanhu in Wuhan, China, and the influence of sulfate on the phosphorus components was also studied. The results showed that the sulfate input increased the pH and lowered the Eh in the overlying water. The sulfate concentration in the overlying water decreased with time, and it was assumed that there existed an obvious transformation of sulfate to other forms of sulfur compounds according to the variation of sulfate concentration in the pore water.

Antihypertensive effects of olmesartan compared with other angiotensin receptor blockers: a meta-analysis.

Objectives: Angiotensin II type 1 receptor antagonists (angiotensin receptor blockers [ARBs]) have been shown to be effective and well tolerated in hypertensive patients. Olmesartan is the seventh angiotensin receptor blocker licensed by the US Food and Drug Administration. The aim of this meta-analysis was to determine the efficacy and tolerability of olmesartan medoxomil in comparison with other ARBs.

[Biological activity of capsaicin and its effects on development and fecundity in Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius) (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae)].

Biological activity of capsaicin and its effects on development and fecundity in Bemisia tabaci were tested in the laboratory. The results showed that capsaicin induced direct mortality in different developmental stages of B. tabaci, and the mortality of whiteflies were significantly dosage-dependent.

[Development of insecticide resistance and its effect factors in field population of Bemisia tabaci in Fujian Province, East China].

Abstract: The development of insecticide resistance in field populations of Bemisia tabaci from different regions of Fujian Province, China were monitored with adult leaf-dipping bioassay. Compared with bioassay data of 2005, all field populations tested in 2009 still had high levels of resistance to the lambda-cyhalothrin, fenpropathrin and chlorpyrifos, low levels of resistance to methomyl, and no resistance to abamectin. However, resistance to the neonicotinoids imidacloprid and thiamethoxam had increased from moderate levels (23 folds and 25 folds, respectively) in 2005 to high levels (103 folds and 228 folds, respectively) in 2009 in Zhangzhou population, and low levels (1.

Synthesis of a novel series of diphenolic chromone derivatives as inhibitors of NO production in LPS-activated RAW264.7 macrophages.

A novel series of diphenolic chromone derivatives were synthesized and their inhibitory activity on nitric oxide (NO) production and cytotoxicity were evaluated using LPS-activated murine macrophages RAW264.7 assay and MTT method, respectively. Among these compounds, (5,7-dihydroxy-4-oxo-4H-chromen-3-yl) methyl esters (6b, 6c, 6f, 6g, and 6h) showed quite potent inhibitory activities with IC(50) values of 2.

[Effects of host plants on selection behavior and biological parameters of Bemisia tabaci Gennadius biotype B].

Based on the observation of free diffusion in petri dish and biology, the selection behavior and biological parameters of Bemisia tabaci Gennadius biotype B on host plants cucumber, eggplant, pepper, cotton, and sweet potato were investigated. No difference was observed in the individual number of B. tabaci on the five host plant leaves during the early period of free diffusion (within 2 h), but changes were found within the following periods (4-48 h), i.

Luteolin protects dopaminergic neurons from inflammation-induced injury through inhibition of microglial activation.

Parkinson's disease is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by progressive degeneration of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra. Accumulating evidence has suggested that inflammation in the brain participates in the pathogenesis of Parkinson's disease. Luteolin, a polyphenolic compound found in foods of plant origin, belongs to the flavone subclass of flavonoids, and has been shown to possess antimutagenic, antitumorigenic, antioxidant and antiinflammatory properties.

Mechanism studies on chlorine and potassium permanganate degradation of microcystin-LR in water using high-performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry.

The presence of microystins (MCs) in water has the potential to harm people's health. In the MCs various isomers, MC-LR has the strongest toxicity and is the most harmful one. At present, several kinds of pre-oxidants, which are commonly used in water treatment process, are effective to remove MC-LR.

Protective effect of isoflavones from Trifolium pratense on dopaminergic neurons.

In the present study, protective effect of five isoflavones (formononetin, daidzein, pratensein, calycosin and irilone) from Trifolium pratense on lipopolysaccharide-induced dopaminergic neurodegeneration was studied for the first time. The results showed that all five isoflavones attenuated LPS-induced decrease in dopamine uptake and the number of dopaminergic neurons in a dose-dependent manner in rat mesencephalic neuron-glia cultures. Moreover, they also significantly inhibited LPS-induced activation of microglia and production of tumor necrosis factor-alpha, nitric oxide and superoxide in mesencephalic neuron-glia cultures and microglia-enriched cultures.