Liquid‐Phase Exfoliated Metallic Antimony Nanosheets toward High Volumetric Sodium Storage

Metallic antimony (Sb) with gray allotrope has rarely been considered from the viewpoint of two‐dimension layered system is actually a graphite‐like material, in which Sb layers consist of fused, ruffled, and six‐membered rings. Given that metallic Sb nanosheets can be played like graphene, it would be anticipated to obtain a new anode material with superior electrochemical performances for sodium storage. In this work, we propose an efficient strategy to fabricate free‐standing metallic Sb nanosheets via liquid‐phase exfoliation of gray Sb powder in an ios‐propyle alcohol (IPA) solution with a constant concentration of sodium hydroxide. As a proof of the concept, several hybrid films composed of metallic Sb nanosheets and graphene with tunable densities are achieved, in which the notorious volume change of metallic Sb can be efficiently alleviated with the aid of the good flexible graphene, and the whole density of electrode films can be significantly improved by harnessing the high density of Sb nanosheets. As a consequence, the optimized metallic Sb nanosheets‐graphene (SbNS‐G) film displays a high volumetric capacity of 1226 mAh cm^–3, high‐rate capability and good cycle performance for sodium storage.     

Determination of Benefits of Cochlear Implantation in Children with Auditory Neuropathy

BackgroundAuditory neuropathy (AN) is a recently recognized hearing disorder characterized by intact outer hair cell function, disrupted auditory nerve synchronization and poor speech perception and recognition. Cochlear implants (CIs) are currently the most promising intervention for improving hearing and speech in individuals with AN. Although previous studies have shown optimistic results, there was large variability concerning benefits of CIs among individuals with AN. The data indicate that different criteria are needed to evaluate the benefit of CIs in these children compared to those with sensorineural hearing loss. We hypothesized that a hierarchic assessment would be more appropriate to evaluate the benefits of cochlear implantation in AN individuals.MethodsEight prelingual children with AN who received unilateral CIs were included in this study. Hearing sensitivity and speech recognition were evaluated pre- and postoperatively within each subject. The efficacy of cochlear implantation was assessed using a stepwise hierarchic evaluation for achieving: (1) effective audibility, (2) improved speech recognition, (3) effective speech, and (4) effective communication.ResultsThe postoperative hearing and speech performance varied among the subjects. According to the hierarchic assessment, all eight subjects approached the primary level of effective audibility, with an average implanted hearing threshold of 43.8 ± 10.2 dB HL. Five subjects (62.5%) attained the level of improved speech recognition, one (12.5%) reached the level of effective speech, and none of the subjects (0.0%) achieved effective communication.ConclusionCIs benefit prelingual children with AN to varying extents. A hierarchic evaluation provides a more suitable method to determine the benefits that AN individuals will likely receive from cochlear implantation.     

水稻转基因系CX8621中Xa21的整合和表达

农杆菌介导的转基因技术在植物中已被广泛应用,而目的基因能否发挥功能受到多种因素的影响。前期,通过农杆菌介导的转化,实验室创制了无选择标记、无载体骨架残留的水稻转Xa21基因系CX8621。截止目前,CX8621已稳定遗传16代,依然保持着对水稻白叶枯病的优良抗性。在此基础上,本研究对外源基因Xa21在CX8621中的整合和表达情况进行了分析。首先,通过在转化载体p BXa21的左右边界与Xa21基因序列设计嵌套引物,确定Xa21被完整地整合到CX8621中。随后,利用改良的Tail-PCR方法体外克隆了整合位点的边界序列,明确了Xa21被整合在CX8621的2号染色体上。然后,通过RT-PCR分析了Xa21在CX8621中不同时期和不同组织的表达情况,结果表明Xa21在CX8621中能稳定表达,其表达量的变化与之前报道的抗病性反应吻合。此外,还制备了天然XA21蛋白的抗体,对CX8621不同时期、不同组织中XA21蛋白的表达量进行了检测,结果发现在种子中检测不到XA21蛋白。由此,通过对外源基因Xa21的整合和表达分析,为CX8621的转基因生物安全评价提供了部分科学依据。     

Enhanced acetoin production by Serratia marcescens H32 using statistical optimization and a two-stage agitation speed control strategy

Enhanced acetoin production was carried out by Serratia marcescens H32. First, medium compositions were optimized statistically for shake flask fermentations to produce acetoin. Sucrose and corn steep liquor powder (CSLP) were identified as the most significant factors by Plackett-Burman design. The path of steepest ascent and response surface methodology were then employed to determine the optimal concentrations of the two factors. Acetoin yield was up to 41.5 g/L in flask fermentations using the optimized medium. Furthermore, the optimal medium was used to conduct fermentation experiments in a 3.7-L bioreactor. The influences of different agitation speeds on acetoin production were investigated. Based on a process analysis, a two-stage agitation speed control strategy was proposed, in which the agitation speed was controlled at 700 rpm during the first 8 h and then switched to 600 rpm. A relatively high acetoin concentration (44.9 g/L) and high acetoin productivity (1.73 g/L/h) were achieved by applying this strategy. Fed-batch fermentation based on the two-stage agitation speed control strategy was performed, and a maximum acetoin concentration of 60.5 g/L with productivity of 1.44 g/L/h was achieved.     

miR-21a-5p Promotes Inflammation following Traumatic Spinal Cord Injury through Upregulation of Neurotoxic Reactive Astrocyte (A1) Polarization by Inhibiting the CNTF/STAT3/Nkrf Pathway

Reactive astrocytes are implicated in traumatic spinal cord injury (TSCI). Interestingly, naïve astrocytes can easily transform into neurotoxic reactive astrocytes (A1s) with inflammatory stimulation. Previous studies demonstrated that microRNA(miR)-21a-5p was up-regulated in spinal cord tissue after TSCI; however, it is not clear whether this affected reactive astrocyte polarization. Here, we aim to detect the effects of miR-21a-5p on the induction of A1 formation and the underlying mechanisms. Our study found that the expression of miR-21a-5p was significantly increased while that of Cntfr α was decreased, since naïve astrocytes transformed into A1s 3 days post-TSCI; the binding site between miR-21a-5p and Cntfr α was further confirmed in astrocytes. After treatment with CNTF, the levels of A1 markers decreased while that of A2 increased. The expression of A1 markers significantly decreased with the downregulation of miR-21a-5p, while Cntfr α siRNA treatment caused the opposite both in vitro and in vivo. To summarize, miR-21a-5p/Cntfr α promotes A1 induction and might enhance the inflammatory process of TSCI; furthermore, we identified, for the first time, the effect and potential mechanism by which CNTF inhibits naïve astrocytes transformation into A1s. Collectively, our findings demonstrate that targeting miR-21a-5p represents a prospective therapy for promoting the recovery of TSCI.     

饲料铜水平对斑节对虾血细胞中酚氧化酶原系统相关基因表达的影响

以不同铜离子添加水平(0 mg·kg-1、10 mg·kg-1、25 mg·kg-1、40 mg·kg-1、55 mg·kg-1和110 mg·kg-1)的饲料喂养斑节对虾Penaeus monodon 8周,测定对虾血细胞中酚氧化酶原系统相关基因(pro PO1、pro PO2、PE、PPAF和BGBP)表达水平的变化。结果显示,与对照组相比,当铜添加水平为40~55 mg·kg-1时,proPO1的表达量显著上升;当铜添加水平为25~55 mg·kg-1时,pro PO2、PE和PPAF的表达量显著上升;铜添加水平对BGBP的表达量没有显著影响。血清PO活力也在铜添加水平为25~55 mg·kg-1时显著提高。这些结果表明,饲料中添加一定量的铜离子可诱导pro PO1、pro PO2、PE和PPAF表达量的上调,从而提高血清PO活力。根据上述结果,针对提高酚氧化酶原系统免疫功能,在本基础饲料配方中适宜的铜添加水平为25~55 mg·kg-1。     

OPA1, a molecular regulator of dilated cardiomyopathy

Dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) is a disease with no specific treatment, poor prognosis and high mortality. During DCM development, there is apoptosis, mitochondrial dynamics imbalance and changes in cristae structure. Optic atrophy 1 (OPA1) appears at high frequency in these three aspects. DCM LMNA (LaminA/C) gene mutation can activate TP53, and the study of P53 shows that P53 affects OPA1 through Bak/Bax and OMA1 (a metalloprotease). OPA1 can be considered the missing link between DCMp53 and DCM apoptosis, mitochondrial dynamics imbalance and changes in cristae structure. OPA1 regulates apoptosis by regulating the release of cytochrome c from the mitochondrial matrix through CJs (crisp linkages, located in the inner mitochondrial membrane) and unbalances mitochondrial fusion and fission by affecting mitochondrial inner membrane (IM) fusion. OPA1 is also associated with the formation and maintenance of mitochondrial cristae. OPA1 is not the root cause of DCM, but it is an essential mediator in P53 mediating the occurrence and development of DCM, so OPA1 also becomes a molecular regulator of DCM. This review discusses the implication of OPA1 for DCM from three aspects: apoptosis, mitochondrial dynamics and ridge structure.     

高频喷射通气治疗海水淹溺肺水肿兔肺AKP活性变化的图像定量分析

用海水灌注的方法诱发海水淹溺肺水肿（ＰＥＳＷＤ）,采取高频喷射通气（ＨＦＪＶ）治疗之。以细胞化学反应和图像定量分析为手段从碱性磷酸酶（ＡＫＰ）角度研究其病理生理变化机理。结果表明,海水灌注后ＡＫＰ产物数量和密度显著增加,ＨＦＪＶ治疗后均回落至接近正常水平。推测ＰＥＳＷＤ引起ＡＫＰ活性代偿性升高,ＨＦＪＶ后,肺部氧供应改善可能是导致ＡＫＰ活性下降的原因