Atomically Dispersed Mo Supported on Metallic Co9S8 Nanoflakes as an Advanced Noble‐Metal‐Free Bifunctional Water Splitting Catalyst Working in Universal pH Conditions

Water splitting requires development of cost‐effective multifunctional materials that can catalyze both the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) and the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) efficiently. Currently, the OER relies on the noble‐metal catalysts; since with other catalysts, its operation environment is greatly limited in alkaline conditions. Herein, an advanced water oxidation catalyst based on metallic Co₉S₈ decorated with single‐atomic Mo (0.99 wt%) is synthesized (Mo‐Co₉S₈@C). It exhibits pronounced water oxidization activity in acid, alkali, and neutral media by showing positive onset potentials of 200, 90, and 290 mV, respectively, which manifests the best Co₉S₈‐based single‐atom Mo catalyst till now. Moreover, it also demonstrates excellent HER performance over a wide pH range. Consequently, the catalyst even outperforms noble metal Pt/IrO₂‐based catalysts for overall water splitting (only requiring 1.68 V in acid, and 1.56 V in alkaline). Impressively, it works under a current density of 10 mA cm^?2 with no obvious decay during a 24 h (0.5 m H₂SO₄) and 72 h (1.0 m KOH) durability experiment. Density functional theory (DFT) simulations reveal that the synergistic effects of atomically dispersed Mo with Co‐containing substrates can efficiently alter the binding energies of adsorbed intermediate species and decrease the overpotentials of the water splitting.     

Half‐Heusler Thermoelectric Module with High Conversion Efficiency and High Power Density

Half‐Heusler (HH) compounds have shown great potential in waste heat recovery. Among them, p‐type NbFeSb and n‐type ZrNiSn based alloys have exhibited the best thermoelectric (TE) performance. However, TE devices based on NbFeSb‐based HH compounds are rarely studied. In this work, bulk volumes of p‐type (Nb_0.8Ta_0.2)_0.8Ti_0.2FeSb and n‐type Hf_0.5Zr_0.5NiSn_0.98Sb_0.02 compounds are successfully prepared with good phase purity, compositional homogeneity, and matchable TE performance. The peak zTs are higher than 1.0 at 973 K for Hf_0.5Zr_0.5NiSn_0.98Sb_0.02 and at 1200 K for (Nb_0.8Ta_0.2)_0.8Ti_0.2FeSb. Based on an optimal design by a full‐parameters 3D finite element model, a single stage TE module with 8 n‐p HH couples is assembled. A high conversion efficiency of 8.3% and high power density of 2.11 W cm^?2 are obtained when hot and cold side temperatures are 997 and 342 K, respectively. Compared to the previous TE module assembled by the same materials, the conversion efficiency is enhanced by 33%, while the power density is almost the same. Given the excellent mechanical robustness and thermal stability, matchable thermal expansion coefficient and TE properties of NbFeSb and ZrNiSn based HH alloys, this work demonstrates their great promise for power generation with both high conversion efficiency and high power density.     

The Fruit Dropping Characters of Sweet Cherry and Its Interior Causes in Insufficient Chilling Zone

Russian Journal of Plant Physiology - Attempts had been made to provide evidences insight into the pattern and physiological mechanism of sweet cherry fruit dropping. However, the fruit abscission...     

Platelet‐rich plasma inhibits osteoblast apoptosis and actin cytoskeleton disruption induced by gingipains through upregulating integrin β1

The aim of this study was to explore the effects of platelet‐rich plasma on gingipain‐caused changes in cell morphology and apoptosis of osteoblasts. Mouse osteoblasts MC3T3‐E1 cells were treated with gingipain extracts from Porphyromonas gingivalis in the presence or absence of platelet‐rich plasma. Apoptosis was detected with terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase‐mediated dUTP nick‐end labeling staining. F‐actin was determined by phalloidin‐fluorescent staining and observed under confocal microscopy. Western blot analysis was used to detect integrin β1, F‐actin, and G‐actin protein expressions. A knocking down approach was used to determine the role of integrin β1. The platelet‐rich plasma protected osteoblasts from gingipain‐induced apoptosis in a dose‐dependent manner, accompanied by upregulation of integrin β1. Platelet‐rich plasma reversed the loss of F‐actin integrity and decrease of F‐actin/G‐actin ratio in osteoblasts in the presence of gingipains. By contrast, the effects of platelet‐rich plasma were abrogated by knockdown of integrin β1. The platelet‐rich plasma failed to reduce cell apoptosis and reorganize the cytoskeleton after knockdown of integrin β1. In conclusion, platelet‐rich plasma inhibits gingipain‐induced osteoblast apoptosis and actin cytoskeleton disruption by upregulating integrin β1 expression.     

Glycine metabolomic changes induced by anticancer agents in A549 cells

Amino Acids - Glycine plays a key role in rapidly proliferating cancer cells such as A549 cells. Targeting glycine metabolism is considered as a potential means for cancer treatment. However, the...     

Systematic profiling of staralog response to acquired drug resistant kinase gatekeeper mutations in targeted cancer therapy

Amino Acids - Kinase-targeted therapy has been widely used as a lifesaving strategy for cancer patients. However, many patients treated with targeted cancer drugs are clinically observed to rapidly...     

MAGE-C2/CT10 promotes growth and metastasis through upregulating c-Myc expression in prostate cancer

Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry - Prostate cancer (PC) is the most common reproductive cancer in men and the third leading cause of cancer death among men worldwide. Recently targeted therapy...     

Morphology and Genetic Diversity of Phragmites australis in Beijing

为探明北京地区芦苇(Phragmites australis)的资源状态和多样性, 实地考察北京主要河流、湿地和水库, 发现北京地区芦苇总生长面积已超过600 hm²。芦苇染色体倍性以八倍体为主, 四倍体次之。在面积较大的湿地内, 八倍体单一芦苇群落占据优势地位; 而在城市的浅河内有形态和遗传性多样的混合种群。研究表明, 植物性状和倍性水平之间无显著相关性。在小清河发现了6种形态各异的芦苇克隆, 均属于叶绿体DNA片段的P单倍型; 其单倍体基因组大小为(0.499±0.019) pg, 变异系数为3.8%。这表明表型与单倍型之间也不具相关性。此外, 发现1个具有变叶特性的芦苇, 将其命名为金条芦苇。北京地区芦苇形态和遗传多样性为研究芦苇基因型与环境适应性之间的关系提供了珍贵的资源。     

Blockade of JAK2 signaling produces immunomodulatory effect to preserve pancreatic homeostasis in severe acute pancreatitis

JAK/STAT plays an important role in cytokine signal transduction and it is potentially involved in the proinflammatory response during the early phase of severe acute pancreatitis (SAP). However, whether JAK2 activity is upregulated and whether JAK2 inhibition plays a role in the maintenance of pancreatic homeostasis during SAP is incompletely understood. Here we show that JAK2/STAT3 activity is highly elevated in SAP and blockade of JAK2 by AG-490 protects against SAP-induced pancreatic inflammation and injury. Gene expression and ELISA studies showed that JAK2 inhibition altered the cytokine profiles in both the circulation and pancreases. Further analysis revealed that JAK2 inhibition restored the level of cytokines critical for macrophage polarization towards M2 macrophage. Our findings suggest that pharmacological targeting at JAK2/STAT signalling may be an effective choice of therapeutic interventions against SAP.