Covingtonmaloney5887

Cu12Sb4S13 has aroused great interest because of its earth-abundant constituents and intrinsic low thermal conductivity. However, the applications of Cu12Sb4S13 are hindered by its poor thermoelectric performance. Herein, it is shown that Gd substitution not only causes a significant increase in both electrical conductivity σ and thermopower S but also leads to dramatic drop in lattice thermal conductivity κL. Consequently, large ZT reaches 0.94 at 749 K for Cu11.7Gd0.3Sb4S13, which is ∼41% higher than the ZT value of undoped sample. Rietveld refinements of XRD results show that accompanying inhibition of impurity phase Cu3SbS4, the number of Cu vacancies increases substantially with substituted content x (x ≤ 0.3), which leads to reduced κL owing to intensive phonon scattering by the point defects and increased σ arising from the charged defects (VCu'). Crucially, synchrotron radiation photoelectron spectroscopy reveals substantial increment of electronic density of states at Fermi level upon Gd substitution, which is proven, by our first-principle calculations, to originate from contribution of Gd 4f orbit, resulting in enhancement of S. Our study provides us with a new path to enhance thermoelectric performance of Cu12Sb4S13.Microsized SiOx has been vigorously investigated as an advanced anode material for next-generation lithium-ion batteries. However, its practical application is seriously hampered by its huge volume variation during the repeated (de)lithiation process, which destroys the microparticle structure and results in rapid capacity fading. PCB chemical in vitro Herein, we propose the usage of trans-difluoroethylene carbonate (DFEC) as an electrolyte additive to maintain the structural integrity of microsized SiOx with a uniform carbon layer (SiOx@C). Compared with ethylene carbonate and fluoroethylene carbonate, DFEC has lower lowest unoccupied molecular orbital energy and higher reduction potential, which is easily reduced and promotes the in situ formation of a more stable LiF-rich solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) on the surface of anode materials. The LiF-rich SEI exhibits enhanced mechanical rigidity and ionic conductivity, thus enabling the microsized SiOx@C anodes' excellent lithium storage stability and high average Coulombic efficiency.Polyacrylamide-based hydrogels are widely used as potential candidates for cartilage replacement. However, their bioapplicability is sternly hampered due to their limited mechanical strength and puncture resistance. In the present work, the strength of polyacrylamide (PAM) hydrogels was increased using titanium oxide (TiO2) and carbon nanotubes (CNTs) separately and a combination of TiO2 with CNTs in a PAM matrix, which was interlinked by the bonding between nanoparticles and polymers with the deployment of density functional theory (DFT) approach. The synergistic effect and strong interfacial bonding of TiO2 and CNT nanoparticles with PAM are attributed to high compressive strength, elastic modulus (>0.43 and 2.340 MPa, respectively), and puncture resistance (estimated using the needle insertion test) for the PAM-TiO2-CNT hydrogel. The PAM-TiO2-CNT composite hydrogel revealed a significant self-healing phenomenon along with a sign toward the bioactivity and cytocompatibility by forming the apatite crystals in simulated body fluid as well as showing a cell viability of ∼99%, respectively. Furthermore, for new insights on interfacial bonding and structural and electronic features involved in the hydrogels, DFT was used. The PAM-TiO2-CNT composite model, constructed by two interfaces (PAM-TiO2 and PAM-CNT), was stabilized by H-bonding and van der Waals-type interactions. Employing the NCI plot, HOMO-LUMO gap, and natural population analysis tools, the PAM-TiO2-CNT composite has been found to be most stable. Therefore, the prepared polyacrylamide hydrogels in combination with the TiO2 and CNT can be a remarkable nanocomposite hydrogel for cartilage repair applications.Nitric oxide synthases (NOS) are the major sources of nitric oxide (NO), a small bioactive molecule involved in the regulation of many cellular processes. One of the most prominent functions of NO is regulation of vasodilatation and thereby control of blood pressure. Most important for vascular tone is NOS3. Endothelial NOS3-generated NO diffuses into the vascular smooth muscle cells, activates the soluble guanylate cyclase resulting in enhanced cGMP concentrations and smooth muscle cell relaxation. However, more and more evidence exist that also NOS1 and NOS2 contribute to vascular function. We summarize the current knowledge about the regulation of NOS expression in the vasculature by transcriptional, post-transcriptional and post-translational mechanisms, in regard to inflammation and innate immune pathways.Recently, Up-frameshift protein 1 (UPF1) is reported to be downregulated in various cancers and its low expression is closely correlated with poor prognosis. UPF1 is well known as a master regulator of nonsense-mediated mRNA decay (NMD), which serves as a highly conserved mRNA surveillance process protecting cells from aberrant toxic transcripts. Due to dysfunction of UPF1, NMD fails to proceed, which contributes to tumor initiation and progression. This review shows a brief summary of the aberrant expression, functional roles and molecular mechanisms of UPF1 during tumorigenesis. Increasing evidence has indicated that UPF1 could serve as a potential biomarker for cancer diagnosis and treatment for future clinical applications in cancer.In 2020, a novel strain of coronavirus (COVID-19) has led to a significant morbidity and mortality worldwide. As of the date of this writing, a total of 116 M cases has been diagnosed worldwide leading to 2.5 M deaths. The number of mortalities is directly correlated with the rise of innate immune cells (especially macrophages) in the lungs that secrete inflammatory cytokines (IL-1β and IL-6) leading to the development of "Cytokine Storm Syndrome" (CSS), multi-organ-failure and death. Given that currently the treatment of this condition is rare and release of effective vaccine might be months away, here, we review the plants and their pharmacologically active-compounds as potential phytopharmaceuticals for the virus induced inflammatory response. Experimental validation of the effectiveness of these natural compounds to prevent or reduce the cytokine storm might be beneficial as an adjunct treatment of SARS-CoV-2.Circular RNAs are single-stranded RNAs which are closed by covalent bonds during splicing. Different from other RNAs, circular RNAs are well known due to their circular structure. In recent years, many researches were conducted to investigate the role of circular RNAs in multiple diseases. To better understand the structure of circular RNAs, we reviewed the biogenesis and related regulation at first. Mechanisms by which circular RNAs exert effects were summarized then. Due to the conserved and brain-specific characteristic, circular RNAs in brain were depicted next. At last, considering the high mortality rate and disability rate caused by stroke globally, we reviewed related articles and summarized the results of original articles. Circular RNAs are suggested to be involved in the pathogenesis of stroke as well as some other neurological diseases which provides new insights and potential targets in clinical application.Being polymorphic, deoxyribonucleic acid is worthy of raise a variety of structure like right-handed B to left-handed Z conformation. In left-handed contour of DNA consecutive nucleotides substitute between syn-arrangement and anti-arrangement, through the chain. 2D gel electrophoresis comprising d(PCpG)n of topo isomers of a plasmid inserts d(pCpG)n, in this 'n' ranges among 8 to 21, indicate the change of B-Z DNA. The high denseness of salt is required for conversion of B configuration d(CG)n toward Z configuration. The rate of B to Z transition is measured by "Cytosine Analogues" and "Fluorescence Spectroscopy". h-ZαADAR1 that a Z-DNA's binding domain, binds and stabilizes one part in Z configuration and therefore the remaining half in B deoxyribonucleic acid configuration. At halfway point, it creates B-Z junction. "Stacking" is the main reason for the B-Z DNA junction construction. Upregulation of ADAM-12, related with Z-DNA is said to a cause for cancer, arthritis, and hypertrophy. Z-DNA forming sequence (ZFS) conjointly generates massive - scale deletion in cells from mammals.Cardiovascular diseases including myocardial infarctions, myocarditis, strokes, coronary artery disease, chronic granulomatous disease, atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, etc. can be regarded as the severe health trouble round the globe. The reasons behind the heart related complications have been well chalked our so far. Interestingly, along with the non-infectious reasons, an array of bacteria, fungi, parasites and viruses is known to cause different types of heart complications. Unfortunately, the role of microorganisms in inducing heart diseases is not that much known by the mass community in the underdeveloped and even in the developing countries over the world. However, among the microorganisms causing heart diseases, the multifaceted bionetwork by the gut microorganisms especially drew the interests of microbiologists. The impairment of cardiac membrane, the metabolic malfunction of heart, and imbalance in the functionality of the immune cells by the alternation in the composition of gut microorganisms are currently not unknown. Present review outlined the onset of heart diseases caused by the gut microflora in a simple way which would be important in public health regard.Intestinal and hepatic lipid metabolism plays an essential role in regulating plasma lipid levels. These lipids are mobilized on apolipoprotein B (apoB)-containing lipoproteins and their plasma homeostasis is maintained by balancing production and catabolism. Microsomal triglyceride transfer protein (MTP) which is expressed mainly in the intestine and liver plays an essential role in regulating the assembly and secretion of apoB-lipoproteins. Any imbalance in the production or clearance of lipoproteins leads to hyperlipidemia which is a major risk factor for atherosclerosis, obesity, diabetes, and metabolic syndrome. Here, we identify a new role of inositol-requiring transmembrane kinase/endoribonuclease 1α (IRE1α) in the regulation of plasma lipids. We generated intestine specific IRE1α knockout mice to study whether intestinal IRE1α regulates plasma lipids by modulating intestinal lipid absorption. Intestine specific deletion of Ire1a gene in mice fed chow diet, significantly reduced plasma cholesterol and triglycerides by 29% and 43% in Ire1a-⁣/- mice (P less then 0.01 & P less then 0.001, respectively). These changes were not associated with any alteration of MTP activity nor its mRNA expression. On the other hand, Western diet increased plasma triglyceride by 37% (P less then 0.01) without affecting total plasma cholesterol in Ire1a-⁣/- mice. Interestingly, this effect was associated with a significant increase in the intestinal MTP activity and its mRNA expression (25%, P less then 0.01 and 70%, P less then 0.05, respectively). Collectively, our findings reveal key role of intestinal IRE1α in the regulation of plasma lipids that may provide a therapeutic target for disorders of lipid metabolism.