Facile preparation of urchin-like morphology VO-VN nano-heterojunction cathodes for high-performance Aqueous zinc ion battery.

Rechargeable aqueous zinc ion batteries (RAZIBs) are of interest for energy storage in smart grids. However, slow Zn diffusion kinetics, insufficient active sites, and poor intrinsic conductivity are always challenging to exploit the huge potential of the batteries. Here, we prepare VO-VN nano-heterojunction composites with sea urchin-like morphology as the cathode for AZIBs.

Prognostic value of IKBIP in papillary renal cell carcinoma.

Background: I kappa B kinase interacting protein, a highly conserved gene, has rarely been reported in cancer. According to previous study, IKBIP has only been shown to promote malignant progression of glioma. In other malignant tumors, few reports have examined the function of IKBIP, especially in papillary renal cell carcinoma.

Long noncoding RNA CLAN promotes lymphangiogenesis in the colorectal carcinoma.

Metastasis is the main cause of colorectal cancer (CRC)-related death and lymph node plays a vital role in this process. Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) are emerging as an important factor of biological progress in cancers. However, lncRNAs related to CRC metastasis was rarely reported.

Community assembly of bacteria and archaea in coastal waters governed by contrasting mechanisms: A seasonal perspective.

Marine planktonic bacteria and archaea commonly exhibit pronounced seasonal succession in community composition. But the existence of seasonality in their assembly processes and between-domain differences in underlying mechanism are largely unassessed. Using a high-coverage sampling strategy (including single sample for each station during four cruises in different seasons), 16S rRNA gene sequencing, and null models, we investigated seasonal patterns in the processes governing spatial turnover of bacteria and archaea in surface coastal waters across a sampling grid over ~300 km in the East China Sea.

Oil body bound oleosin-rhFGF9 fusion protein expressed in safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.) stimulates hair growth and wound healing in mice.

Background: Fibroblast growth factor 9 (FGF9) is a heparin-binding growth factor, secreted by both mesothelial and epithelial cells, which participates in hair follicle regeneration, wound healing, and bone development. A suitable source of recombinant human FGF9 (rhFGF9) is needed for research into potential clinical applications. We present that expression of oleosin-rhFGF9 fusion protein in safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.

[Expression of oleosin-rhFGF9 fusion protein in Carthamus tinctorius and determination of hair regeneration and wound repair potential in mice].

The expression of fibroblast growth factor 9 (FGF9) recombinant fusion protein in Carthamus tinctorius was used to identify its effect on hair regrowth and wound repair system in mice, providing a basis for C. tinctorius as a plant bioreactor, and establishing a foundation for commercial applications of FGF9 fusion protein in hair regrowth and wound repair. The identified pOTBar-oleosin-rhFGF9 plasmid was transformed into Agrobacterium tumefaciens EHA105 by freeze-thaw method, and the oleosin-rhFGF9 gene was transformed into safflower leaves by A.

Interactive effect of nitrogen source and high CO concentration on the growth of the dinoflagellate Alexandrium tamarense and its toxicity to zebrafish (Danio rerio) embryos.

The effects and interactive effects of different nitrogen (N) sources (ammonium, nitrate, and urea) and carbon dioxide (CO) concentrations were investigated on Alexandrium tamarense, a harmful marine dinoflagellate, by measuring its growth (μ), extracellular carbonic anhydrase (CA), and its toxicity to zebrafish (Danio rerio) embryo. The μ and CA were influenced more strongly by CO concentrations rather than by N sources; significant effects of CO on μ and CA were observed under low CO concentration (LC) conditions compared to high CO concentration (HC) conditions. The ammonium and nitrate media under LC conditions had the maximum μ and CA, which was inhibited under HC conditions.

Oil Body-Bound Oleosin-rhFGF-10: A Novel Drug Delivery System that Improves Skin Penetration to Accelerate Wound Healing and Hair Growth in Mice.

Recombinant human fibroblast growth factor 10 (rhFGF-10) is frequently used to treat patients with skin injuries. It can also promote hair growth. However, the effective application of rhFGF-10 is limited because of its poor stability and transdermal absorption.

Complete mitochondrial genome of the Sharpnose stingray Himantura gerrardi (Myliobatiformes: Dasyatidae).

In this study, we presented the complete mitochondrial genome of the Sharpnose stingray Himantura gerrardi for the first time, which was 17,685 bp in length and contained 13 protein-coding genes, 2 rRNA genes, 22 tRNA genes and a putative control region. The overall nucleotide composition was 30.1% A, 27.

Three sulphated polysaccharides isolated from the mucilage of mud snail, Bullacta exarata philippi: characterization and antitumour activity.

Three sulphated polysaccharides, coded as BEMPA, BEMPB(1), BEMPB(2), were extracted from the mucilage of mud snail of Bullacta exarata and purified by DEAE-cellulose ion-exchange and size-exclusion chromatography. Structural analysis of purified polysaccharides by chemical and biochemical methods revealed BEMPA was a high (1→3,4)-linked mannose-containing polysaccharide with molecular weight of 22,977 Da. BEMPB(1), with molecular weight of 64,117 Da, was a high (1→3)-linked arabinose-containing polysaccharide.

Downregulation of quinone reductase 2 attenuates vascular smooth muscle cells proliferation and neointimal formation in balloon injured rat carotid artery.

Background/aims: Quinone reductase 2 (NQO2) is a flavoprotein that catalyzes the metabolic reduction of quinines, but its biological mechanism in vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) is unclear. The aim of this study was to evaluate the role of NQO2 on VSMCs proliferation and the neointimal formation in balloon injured rat carotid artery.

Methods: Left common carotid arteries from Sprague-Dawley rats were injured by a balloon catheter, and the injured arteries were incubated with 50 μL solution of NQO2-siRNA-GFP lentiviral vectors, NC-siRNA-GFP lentiviral vectors or PBS for 1 h.

Rapid component I(Kr) of cardiac delayed rectifier potassium currents in guinea-pig is inhibited by alpha(1)-adrenoreceptor activation via protein kinase A and protein kinase C-dependent pathways.

Ventricular tachyarrhythmias are often precipitated by physical or emotional stress, indicating a link between increased adrenergic stimulation and cardiac ion channel activity. Human ether-a-go-go related gene (hERG) potassium channels conduct the rapid component of delayed rectifier potassium current, I(kr), a crucial component for action potential repolarization. To evaluate the correlation between increased alpha(1)-adrenergic activity and the rapid component of cardiac I(kr), whole-cell patch-clamp recording was performed in isolated guinea-pig ventricular myocytes.

Negative regulation of quinone reductase 2 by resveratrol in cultured vascular smooth muscle cells.

1. Resveratrol, a polyphenol in red wine, has a cardioprotective effect. Resveratrol-targeting protein (RTP) has been purified using a resveratrol affinity column (RAC) and has been identified as quinone reductase type 2 (NQO2).

Magnetic properties and heavy metal contents of automobile emission particulates.

Measurements of the magnetic properties and total contents of Cu, Cd, Pb and Fe in 30 automobile emission particulate samples indicated the presence of magnetic particles in them. The values of frequency dependent susceptibility (chi(fd)) showed the absence of superparamagnetic (SP) grains in the samples. The IRM(20 mT) (isothermal remanent magnetization at 20 mT) being linearly proportional to SIRM (saturation isothermal remanent magnetization) (R(2)=0.

Stratified waveguide grating coupler for normal fiber incidence.

We propose a new stratified waveguide grating coupler (SWGC) to couple light from a fiber at normal incidence into a planar waveguide. SWGCs are designed to operate in the strong coupling regime without intermediate optics between the fiber and the waveguide. Two-dimensional finite-difference time-domain simulation in conjunction with microgenetic algorithm optimization shows that approximately 72% coupling efficiency is possible for fiber (core size of 8.

Three-dimensional analysis of a hybrid photonic crystal-conventional waveguide 90 degree bend.

We present a three-dimensional (3D) analysis of a hybrid photonic crystal-conventional waveguide 90 degree bend proposed previously [Opt. Express 10, 1334 (2002)] as an ultracompact component for large-scale planar lightwave circuit integration. Both rigorous 3D finite-difference time-domain modeling and a simple perfect mirror model analysis were carried out for different Si post heights in the photonic crystal region.

New ring resonator configuration using hybrid photonic crystal and conventional waveguide structures.

We propose a new method of realizing ring resonators based on hybrid photonic crystal and conventional waveguide structures. The proposed ring resonator configuration is advantageous compared with general ring resonator structures for its controllability of the quality (Q) factor, free spectral range (FSR), and full width at half maximum (FWHM) over a wide range. We show ring resonator structures based on a single mode waveguide with core and clad refractive indices of 1.

Ultracompact high-efficiency polarizing beam splitter with a hybrid photonic crystal and conventional waveguide structure.

We propose an ultracompact high-efficiency polarizing beam splitter that operates over a wide wavelength range and is based on a hybrid photonic crystal and a conventional waveguide structure. Within a small area (15 microm x 10 microm), this polarizing beam splitter separates TM- and TE-polarized modes into orthogonal output waveguides. Results of simulations with the two-dimensional finite-difference time-domain method show that 99.

Parallel microgenetic algorithm design for photonic crystal and waveguide structures.

We have developed a powerful parallel genetic algorithm design tool for photonic crystal and waveguide structures. The tool employs a small-population-size genetic algorithm (microgenetic algorithm) for global optimization and a two-dimensional finite-difference time-domain method to rigorously design and optimize the performance of photonic devices. We discuss the implementation and performance of this design tool.

Hybrid integration of conventional waveguide and photonic crystal structures.

We propose the hybrid integration of conventional index-guided waveguides (CWGs) and photonic crystal (PhC) regions of very limited spatial extent as a promising path toward large-scale planar lightwave circuit (PLC) integration. In CWG/PhC structures the PhC regions do not perform the function of waveguiding, but instead augment the CWGs to permit a drastic reduction in the size of photonic components. For single mode waveguides with a refractive index contrast of only 2.

VEGF enhances functional improvement of postinfarcted hearts by transplantation of ESC-differentiated cells.

Despite considerable advances in medicine, the incidence of heart failure remains high in patients after myocardial infarction (MI). This study investigated the effects of engrafted early-differentiated cells (EDCs) from mouse embryonic stem cells, with or without transfection of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) cDNA (phVEGF(165)), on cardiac function in postinfarcted mice. EDCs were transfected with green fluorescent protein (GFP) cDNA and transplanted into infarcted myocardium.

Enhancement of nitric oxide production by methylecgonidine in cultured neonatal rat cardiomyocytes.

1. In the present experiments, we investigated the effects of methylecgonidine (MEG) on nitric oxide (NO) production in cultured neonatal rat cardiomyocytes. Incubation of cultured cardiomyocytes with carbachol or MEG for 48 h significantly enhanced NO production.