Apelin-13's Actions in Controlling Hypertension-Related Cardiac Hypertrophy and the Expressions of Inflammatory Cytokines.

As a key molecule for improving cardiovascular diseases, Apelin-13 was surveyed in this work to explain its actions in controlling inflammation, pyroptosis, and myocardial hypertrophy. First, mouse models with myocardial hypertrophy were established. Then, assessments were made on the pathological variation in the heart of mouse, on the cardiac functions, as well as on the expressions of cardiac hypertrophy markers (β-MHC, ANP, and BNP), inflammatory factors (TNF-α, COX2, IL-6, ICAM-1, and VCAM-1), myocardial cell pyroptosis markers (NLRP3, ASC, c-caspase-1, and GSDMD-N), and Hippo pathway proteins (p-YAP, YAP, LATS1, and p-LATS1) by HE staining, echocardiography scanning, and western blot tests separately.

Six-electron organic redoxmers for aqueous redox flow batteries.

We have developed a novel molecular design that enables six-electron redox activity in fused phenazine-based organic scaffolds. Combined electrochemical and spectroscopic tests successfully confirm the two-step 6e redox mechanism. This work offers an opportunity for achieving energy-dense redox flow batteries, on condition that the solubility and stability issues are addressed.

Molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulation study the mechanism of progesterone in the treatment of spinal cord injury.

Purpose: Spinal cord injury can lead to incomplete or complete loss of voluntary movement and sensory function, leading to serious complications. Numerous studies have shown that progesterone exhibits strong therapeutic potential for spinal cord injury. However, the mechanism by which progesterone treats spinal cord injury remains unclear.

Quarantine and demographic characteristics as predictors of perceived stress and stress responses during the third year of COVID-19 in China.

Background: Quarantine as one of the most effective epidemic prevention measures, significantly increased people's stress levels. Ongoing monitoring of the stress status of people under quarantine during the pandemic is an important part of assessing the long-term impact of COVID-19 on mental health. This study aimed to gain a more comprehensive understanding of the stress status of people under quarantine, including perceived stress and stress responses, during the third year of the COVID-19 pandemic in China.

Coalescence of Au-Pd Nanoropes and their Application as Enhanced Electrocatalysts for the Oxygen Reduction Reaction.

Lattice distortions and defects can lead to a strain effect that greatly affects the electronic structure of the noble metal surface and the chemical adsorption of ligands on the surfaces. Introducing defects is an efficient strategy to improve the activity of noble metal catalysts. Herein, a fusion approach is developed to fine-tune the defects and lattice strain in Au-Pd nanowires.

Fluorination Enables Simultaneous Improvements of a Dialkoxybenzene-Based Redoxmer for Nonaqueous Redox Flow Batteries.

Redoxmers or redox-active organic materials, are one critical component for nonaqueous redox flow batteries (RFBs), which hold high promise in enabling the time domain of the grid. While tuning redox potentials of redoxmers is a very effective way to enhance energy densities of NRFBs, those improvements often accompany accelerated kinetics of the charged species, undermining stability and cycling performance. Herein, a strategy for designing redoxmers with simultaneous improvements in redox potential and stability is proposed.

M1 Bone Marrow-Derived Macrophage-Derived Extracellular Vesicles Inhibit Angiogenesis and Myocardial Regeneration Following Myocardial Infarction via the MALAT1/MicroRNA-25-3p/CDC42 Axis.

Myocardial infarction (MI) is a severe cardiovascular disease. Some M1 macrophage-derived extracellular vesicles (EVs) are involved in the inhibition of angiogenesis and acceleration dysfunction during MI. However, the potential mechanism of M1 phenotype bone marrow-derived macrophages- (BMMs-) EVs (M1-BMMs-EVs) in MI is largely unknown.

A study on the morphology of natural microfractures in marine and continental transitional shale based on scanning electron microscopy image.

The development of natural microfractures not only directly affects exploitation efficiency of a shale gas reservoir, but also determines the quality and production of the shale gas reservoir. The environment, in which the shale forms, is considered to be the fundamental cause of shale pore formation and deformation. However, the traditional method of observing shale samples using field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) can be interfered by a large number of fractures caused by artificial damage on the shale surface during sample preparation, such as mechanical damage during polishing and shrinkage damage of shale mineral particles.

Nanoscale Pore Fractal Characteristics of Permian Shale and Its Impact on Methane-Bearing Capacity: A Case Study from Southern North China Basin, Central China.

Fractal dimension is closely related to the nanoscale pore structure of shale, and it also has an important influence on the gas content of shale. To investigate the correlation between the fractal dimension and the methane (CH₄) bearing features of shale, seven Permian shale samples were analyzed with field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), low temperature nitrogen (N₂), carbon dioxide (CO₂) and CH₄ adsorption and on-site gas desorption experiments. Based on the N₂ adsorption and desorption data, we proposed a new method to better determine the gas adsorption stage at different relative pressure (/) points in the multilayer adsorption or capillary condensation stage.

MiR-703 protects against hypoxia/reoxygenation-induced cardiomyocyte injury via inhibiting the NLRP3/caspase-1-mediated pyroptosis.

Myocardial infarction represents one of the severe cardiovascular diseases and is one of the high-risk factors for mortality, and ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury is one of the risk factors that contribute to the high mortality of myocardial infarction. MicroRNAs have been proven as key regulators in various diseases including myocardial infarction. The present study was sought to determine the role of miR-703 in the myocardial I/R injury and to explore detailed mechanisms.

The prevalence of 30-day readmission after acute myocardial infarction: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Objective: The 30-day readmission is associated with increased medical costs, which has become an important quality metric in several medical institutions. This current study is aimed at clarifying the prevalence, the underlying risk factors, and reasons of the 30-day readmission after acute myocardial infarction (AMI).

Methods: PubMed, Cochrane Library, and EMBASE were systematically searched to identify eligible studies.

Altered Plasma miR-144 as a Novel Biomarker for Coronary Artery Disease.

Background: MicroRNAs (miRNAs) have been found to be involved in coronary artery disease (CAD) and corresponding disease severity. The aim of this study is to determine plasma levels of miR-144 in CAD and its association with the severity of this disease.

Methods: Plasma levels of miR-144 in 60 CAD patients including stable angina pectoris (SAP) (n=29), unstable angina pectoris (UAP) or non-ST elevation myocardial infarction (MI) (NSTEMI) (n=17), or ST-elevation MI (STEMI) (n=14) and 20 non-CAD subjects were detected by real-time polymerase chain reaction (QRT-PCR).

A Protocol for Electrochemical Evaluations and State of Charge Diagnostics of a Symmetric Organic Redox Flow Battery.

Redox flow batteries have been considered as one of the most promising stationary energy storage solutions for improving the reliability of the power grid and deployment of renewable energy technologies. Among the many flow battery chemistries, non-aqueous flow batteries have the potential to achieve high energy density because of the broad voltage windows of non-aqueous electrolytes. However, significant technical hurdles exist currently limiting non-aqueous flow batteries to demonstrate their full potential, such as low redox concentrations, low operating currents, under-explored battery status monitoring, etc.

Tuning the Perfluorosulfonic Acid Membrane Morphology for Vanadium Redox-Flow Batteries.

The microstructure of perfluorinated sulfonic acid proton-exchange membranes such as Nafion significantly affects their transport properties and performance in a vanadium redox-flow battery (VRB). In this work, Nafion membranes with various equivalent weights ranging from 1000 to 1500 are prepared and the morphology-property-performance relationship is investigated. NMR and small-angle X-ray scattering studies revealed their composition and morphology variances, which lead to major differences in key transport properties related to proton conduction and vanadium-ion permeation.

The lightest organic radical cation for charge storage in redox flow batteries.

In advanced electrical grids of the future, electrochemically rechargeable fluids of high energy density will capture the power generated from intermittent sources like solar and wind. To meet this outstanding technological demand there is a need to understand the fundamental limits and interplay of electrochemical potential, stability, and solubility in low-weight redox-active molecules. By generating a combinatorial set of 1,4-dimethoxybenzene derivatives with different arrangements of substituents, we discovered a minimalistic structure that combines exceptional long-term stability in its oxidized form and a record-breaking intrinsic capacity of 161 mAh/g.

miR-22 contributes to the pathogenesis of patients with coronary artery disease by targeting MCP-1: An observational study.

The aim of this study is to determine miR-22 expression levels in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) and to investigate whether MCP-1 expression is regulated by miR-22. miR-22 expression in PBMCs from 60 CAD patients including stable angina pectoris (SAP) (n = 29), unstable angina pectoris (UAP) or non-ST elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) (n = 17), or ST-elevation MI (STEMI) (n = 14) and 20 non-CAD subjects by real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). The luciferase activity assays were employed to determine whether miR-22 binds to 3'UTR of MCP-1.

Plasma miR-10a: A Potential Biomarker for Coronary Artery Disease.

Aims. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are involved in the pathogenesis of coronary artery disease (CAD). The objective of this study is to determine plasma levels of miR-10a in CAD and analyze its association with the severity of CAD.

Hierarchically branched Fe2O3@TiO2 nanorod arrays for photoelectrochemical water splitting: facile synthesis and enhanced photoelectrochemical performance.

Highly photoactive and durable photoanode materials are the key to photoelectrochemical water splitting. In this paper, hierarchically branched Fe2O3@TiO2 nanorod arrays (denoted as Fe2O3@TiO2 BNRs) composed of a long Fe2O3 trunk and numerous short TiO2 nanorod branches were fabricated and used as photoanodes for water splitting. Significant improvement of photoelectrochemical water splitting performance was observed based on Fe2O3@TiO2 BNRs.

Construction of inorganic-organic 2D/2D WO₃/g-C₃N₄ nanosheet arrays toward efficient photoelectrochemical splitting of natural seawater.

Hydrogen production from seawater and solar energy based on photoelectrochemical cells is extremely attractive due to earth-abundance of seawater and solar radiation. Herein, we report the successful fabrication of novel inorganic-organic 2D/2D WO3/g-C3N4 nanosheet arrays (WO3/g-C3N4 NSAs) grown on a FTO substrate via a facile hydrothermal growth and deposition-annealing process, and their application in natural seawater splitting. The results indicate that the WO3/g-C3N4 NSAs exhibit a photocurrent density of 0.

Anion-Tunable Properties and Electrochemical Performance of Functionalized Ferrocene Compounds.

We report a series of ionically modified ferrocene compounds for hybrid lithium-organic non-aqueous redox flow batteries, based on the ferrocene/ferrocenium redox couple as the active catholyte material. Tetraalkylammonium ionic moieties were incorporated into the ferrocene structure, in order to enhance the solubility of the otherwise relatively insoluble ferrocene. The effect of various counter anions of the tetraalkylammonium ionized species appended to the ferrocene, such as bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide, hexafluorophosphate, perchlorate, tetrafluoroborate, and dicyanamide on the solubility of the ferrocene was investigated.

Radical Compatibility with Nonaqueous Electrolytes and Its Impact on an All-Organic Redox Flow Battery.

Nonaqueous redox flow batteries hold the promise of achieving higher energy density because of the broader voltage window than aqueous systems, but their current performance is limited by low redox material concentration, cell efficiency, cycling stability, and current density. We report a new nonaqueous all-organic flow battery based on high concentrations of redox materials, which shows significant, comprehensive improvement in flow battery performance. A mechanistic electron spin resonance study reveals that the choice of supporting electrolytes greatly affects the chemical stability of the charged radical species especially the negative side radical anion, which dominates the cycling stability of these flow cells.

TEMPO-based catholyte for high-energy density nonaqueous redox flow batteries.

A TEMPO-based non-aqueous electrolyte with the TEMPO concentration as high as 2.0 m is demonstrated as a high-energy-density catholyte for redox flow battery applications. With a hybrid anode, Li|TEMPO flow cells using this electrolyte deliver an energy efficiency of ca.

Diffusional motion of redox centers in carbonate electrolytes.

Ferrocene (Fc) and N-(ferrocenylmethyl)-N,N-dimethyl-N-ethylammonium bistrifluoromethyl-sulfonimide (Fc1N112-TFSI) were dissolved in carbonate solvents and self-diffusion coefficients (D) of solutes and solvents were measured by (1)H and (19)F pulsed field gradient nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. The organic solvents were propylene carbonate (PC), ethyl methyl carbonate (EMC), and a ternary mixture that also includes ethylene carbonate (EC). Results from NMR studies over the temperature range of 0-50 °C and for various concentrations (0.

Capacity decay mechanism of microporous separator-based all-vanadium redox flow batteries and its recovery.

The results of the investigation of the capacity decay mechanism of vanadium redox flow batteries with microporous separators as membranes are reported. The investigation focuses on the relationship between the electrochemical performance and electrolyte compositions at both the positive and negative half-cells. Although the concentration of total vanadium ions remains nearly constant at both sides over cycling, the net transfer of solution from one side to the other and thus the asymmetrical valance of vanadium ions caused by the subsequent disproportionate self-discharge reactions at both sides lead to capacity fading.

Nanorod niobium oxide as powerful catalysts for an all vanadium redox flow battery.

A powerful low-cost electrocatalyst, nanorod Nb2O5, is synthesized using the hydrothermal method with monoclinic phases and simultaneously deposited on the surface of a graphite felt (GF) electrode in an all vanadium flow battery (VRB). Cyclic voltammetry (CV) study confirmed that Nb2O5 has catalytic effects toward redox couples of V(II)/V(III) at the negative side and V(IV)/V(V) at the positive side to facilitate the electrochemical kinetics of the vanadium redox reactions. Because of poor conductivity of Nb2O5, the performance of the Nb2O5 loaded electrodes is strongly dependent on the nanosize and uniform distribution of catalysts on GF surfaces.