Bunnlott2057

The PVDF-HFP-coated battery has a longer cycling lifetime (1700 h) than those with the PVDF coating (120 h) and a glass fiber separator (670 h). The Raman spectra show that there are lithium compounds (mainly lithium hydroxide) and residual PVDF-HFP on the aged anode surface. The dense PVDF-HFP coating on the Li anode plays dual roles it creates a strong protective layer for stabilizing the solid-electrolyte interface (in the solid phase), and acts as a separator for modulating the Li metal deposition and stripping behaviors in liquid electrolyte.Developing oxygen evolution reaction (OER) catalysts with high activity and long-term stability is critical to achieving efficient hydrogen production from water electrolysis. Herein, a porous bimetallic cobalt-iron phosphide (CoFe-P) nanofoam is synthesized via a novel one-pot glucose-blowing followed by oxidization and then phosphidization process. The CoFe-P nanofoam presents a porous nanostructure which contributes to contact with electrolytes and release of generated gas during electrocatalytic reactions. As OER catalysts in alkaline, the bimetallic porous CoFe-P nanofoam exhibit a lower overpotential (258 mV@10 mA cm-2) as well as outstanding stability (70 h@100 mA cm-2), which surpasses the RuO2 and is comparable to many high-performance Co and Fe-based catalysts. It is demonstrated that the surface of CoFe-P undergo a reconstruction process and form new high active (CoxFe1-x)OOH. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations reveal that the elevated activity is caused by the bimetal Co and Fe optimizing the d-band center (Ed) energy levels and thus balancing the adsorption-desorption capacities for OER intermediates. This work through constructing porous bimetallic nanofoam offers a feasible strategy to facilitate the reaction activity and prolong the long-term stability of OER.Micromorphology and conductivity are two vital factors for the practical capacitance of the electrode materials for supercapacitors. In this work, a novel two-step electrochemical activation method involving a cyclic voltammetry (CV) treatment within 0-0.7 V followed by a CV treatment within -1.2-0 V is explored to induce the micromorphology and phase transformation of the cobalt chloride carbonate hydroxide hydrate (CCCH) nanoneedle arrays. The first-step activation transforms the CCCH to Co(OH)2 and then the reversible transformation between Co(OH)2 and CoOOH generates plenty of pores in the sample, thereby increasing the specific capacitance from 0.54 to 1.74 F cm-2 at the current density of 10 mA cm-2. The second-step activation inducing the reversible transformation between Co(OH)2 and Co not only endows the final sample with a nanosheets-assembled fasciculate structure but also decreases the internal resistance via generating Co0 in the final sample (CCCH-P75N50). Consequently, the CCCH-P75N50 shows a high specific capacitance of 3.83 F cm-2 at the current density of 10 mA cm-2. Besides, the aqueous asymmetric supercapacitor assembled with CCCH-P75N50 and commercial conductive carbon cloth (CC) delivers a high energy density of 2.75 mWh cm-3 at a power density of 37.5 mW cm-3. This work provides a novel, facile and promising method to optimize the micromorphology and conductivity of Co-based electrodes.Persulfate activation technology based on sulfate radicals is currently a hot spot in the field of environmental governance. In our work, α-FeOOH was successful in situ loaded on kaolinite surface through a simple one-step hydrothermal process. The prepared composites were systematically characterized, and the relationship between the structural properties and peroxymonosulfate activation properties was explored. Interestingly, compared to bare α-FeOOH, the introduction of kaolinite in composite induced the transformation of α-FeOOH crystal and affected the morphology, where uniformly dispersed nanoparticles rather than rod-like agglomerated crystals appeared. The received FeOOH/kaolinite composite exhibited admirable adsorption and degradation of ciprofloxacin performance with the removal efficiency of 86.1%, and the degradation rate constant was up to 5.2 times higher than that of bare α-FeOOH. In addition, the main active species in the catalytic oxidation system are surface-bound SO4•-, •OH and free 1O2. This work would give a deep insight into the role of natural minerals in composite catalytic materials and the construction of high-efficient mineral-based composite materials.For photothermal therapy (PTT), the improved targeting can decrease the dosage and promote the therapeutic function of photothermal agents, which would effectively improve the antitumor effect. The tumor microenvironment (TME) and cells are targets in designing intelligent and responsive theranostics. However, most of these schemes have been limited to the traditional visible and first near-infrared (NIR-I) regions, eager to expand to the second near-infrared (NIR-II) window. We designed and synthesized a polyethylene glycol conjugated and disulfide-modified macromolecule fluorophore (MPSS). MPSS could self-assemble into core-shell micelles in an aqueous solution (MPSS-NPS), while the small molecule probes were in a high aggregation arrangement inside the nanoparticle. The pronounced aggregation quenching (ACQ) effect caused them to the "sleeping" state. After entering the tumor cells, the disulfide bonds in MPSS-NPS broke in response to a high concentration of glutathione (GSH) in TME, and the molecule probes were released. The highly aggregated state was effectively alleviated, resulting in distinct absorption enhancement in the near-infrared region. Therefore, the fluorescence signal was recovered, and the photothermal performance was triggered. selleck products In vitro and in vivo studies reveal that the Nano-system is efficient for the smart NIR-II fluorescence imaging-guided PTT, even at a low dosage and density of irradiation.Soil secondary salinization is a serious menace that has significant influence on the sustainability of agriculture and threatens food security around the world. Zinc (Zn) as an essential plant nutrient associated with many physio-biochemical processes in plants and improve resistance against various abiotic stresses. The role of Zn in acclimation of Solanum lycopersicum L. challenged with salt stress is miserly understood. A hydroponic study was performed with two tomato varieties (Riogrande and Sungold) exposed to the salinity stress (0 mM and 160 mM NaCl) under two Zn concentrations (15 μM and 30 μM ZnSO4). The results revealed that salt stress exerted strongly negative impacts on root and shoot length, fresh and dry biomass, plant water relations, membrane stability, chlorophyll contents, Na+/K+ ratio along with inferior gas exchange attributes and activities of antioxidant enzymes. Moreover, Riogrande was found to be more resistant to salinity stress than Sungold. However, Zn supply significantly alleviaenous Zn application helps tomato plant to combat adverse saline conditions by modulating photosynthetic and antioxidant capacity along with reduced Na+ uptake at the root surface of tomato plant.

This paper presents the inner ear modifications in Dar-es-Soltane II H5, an Aterian fossil possibly dated to 100ka.

The remains consist of a large portion of the cranium including the face, the left frontal and temporal bones, part of the left parietal bone and greater wing of the sphenoid.

The bony labyrinth anatomy was investigated on existing micro-CT data acquired by the MPI-EVA.

The observation of micro-CT sections revealed a partial filling of the semi-circular canals that raises question about its origin. A careful examination of the micro-CT sections shows that the elements present in the semicircular canals were denser than the sediments observed in other regions and cavities of the temporal bone.

The current evidence suggests a pathological origin of this condition with partial ossification of the membranous labyrinth. The differential diagnosis indicates a case of labyrinthitis ossificans in its early stages.

This pathological condition can be responsible for permanent hearing loss and is associated with dizziness and vertigo. Along with the Singa skull, Dar-es-Soltane II H5 represents one of the oldest known cases of labyrinthitis ossificans.

The early stage of disease and the absence of the right temporal bone limit conclusions about the degree of disability of the individual and their dependence on the rest of the group.

To carry out a paleopathological study of all the fossils from Dar-es-Soltane II.

To carry out a paleopathological study of all the fossils from Dar-es-Soltane II.To facilitate the movement of retinoids through the visual cycle and to limit nonspecific chemical reaction, multiple mechanisms are utilized to handle these molecules when not contained within the binding pocket of opsin. Vitamin A aldehyde is sequestered by reversible Schiff base formation with phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) and subsequently undergoes NADPH-dependent reduction. Otherwise inefficient handling of retinaldehyde can lead to the formation of fluorescent di-retinal compounds within the outer segments of photoreceptor cells. These bisretinoid fluorophores initiate photooxidative processes having adverse consequences for retina. Various carrier proteins confer water solubility and maintain the 11-cis-retinoid configuration. Mechanisms for sequestration of retinoid include the formation of a reversible Schiff base between retinaldehyde and taurine (A1-taurine, A1T), the most abundant amino acid in photoreceptor cells. Here we have undertaken to examine the effects of taurine depletion using the transbisretinoid formation.Microorganisms occupy almost every niche on earth. They play critical roles in maintaining ecological balance, atmospheric C/N cycle, and human health. Microbes live in consortia with metabolite exchange or signal communication. Quantitative and analytical tools are becoming increasingly important to study microbial consortia dynamics. We argue that a combined reductionist and holistic approach will be important to understanding the assembly rules and spatiotemporal population dynamics of the microbial community (MICOM). Reductionism allows us to reconstruct complex MICOM from isolated or simple synthetic consortia. Holism allows us to understand microbes as a community with cooperation and competition. Here we review the recent development of quantitative and analytical tools to uncover the underlying principles in microbial communities that govern their spatiotemporal change and interaction dynamics. Mathematical models and analytical tools will continue to provide essential knowledge and expand our capability to manipulate and control microbial consortia.Antimicrobial resistance is the main threat to biomaterial failure with a huge impact on National Health Systems and patients' quality of life. Materials engineering and biotechnology have experienced great advances and have converged in the development of new and more sophisticated biomimetic systems with antimicrobial properties. In this sense, polymeric biomaterials play and will play a key role in the development of new antimicrobial devices for biomedical applications. In this Current Opinion article, we review recent and relevant advances reported in the field of polymeric biomaterials with antimicrobial properties with the potential to be applied in the clinic, that is, antimicrobial polymers, antifouling surfaces, nanodelivery systems of antibiotics and antiseptic drugs, biocide polymer-metal hybrid systems, and engineered living materials that actively interact with the pathogen. We conclude with a discussion on the implications of the results for clinical practice and future research.