miR-24-3p promotes proliferation and inhibits apoptosis of porcine granulosa cells by targeting P27

Ovarian follicle development is associated with the physiological functions of granulosa cells(GCs),including proliferation and apoptosis.The level of miR-24-3p in ovarian tissue of high-yielding Yorkshire×Landrace sows was significantly higher than that of low-yielding sows.However,the functions of miR-24-3p on GCs are unclear.In this study,using flow cytometry,5-ethynyl-2′-de-oxyuridine(EdU)staining,and cell count,we showed that miR-24-3p promoted the proliferation of GCs increasing the proportion of cells in the S phase and upregulating the expression of cell cycle genes,moreover,miR-24-3p inhibited GC apoptosis.Mechanistically,on-line prediction,bioinformatics analysis,a luciferase reporter assay,RT-qPCR,and Western blot results showed that the target gene of miR-24-3p in proliferation and apoptosis is cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor 1B(P27/CDKN1B).Furthermore,the effect of miR-24-3p on GC proliferation and apoptosis was attenuated by P27 overexpression.These findings suggest that miR-24-3p regulates the physiological functions of GCs.

Sulfide-Based All-Solid-State Lithium-Sulfur Batteries:Challenges and Perspectives

Lithium-sulfur batteries with liquid electrolytes have been obstructed by severe shuttle effects and intrinsic safety concerns.Introducing inorganic solid-state electrolytes into lithium-sulfur systems is believed as an effective approach to eliminate these issues without sacrificing the high-energy density,which determines sulfidebased all-solid-state lithium-sulfur batteries.However,the lack of design principles for high-performance composite sulfur cathodes limits their further application.The sulfur cathode regulation should take several factors including the intrinsic insulation of sulfur,well-designed conductive networks,integrated sulfur-electrolyte interfaces,and porous structure for volume expansion,and the correlation between these factors into account.Here,we summarize the challenges of regulating composite sulfur cathodes with respect to ionic/electronic diffusions and put forward the corresponding solutions for obtaining stable positive electrodes.In the last section,we also outlook the future research pathways of architecture sulfur cathode to guide the develop high-performance all-solid-state lithium-sulfur batteries.

Lithium nitrate regulated carbonate electrolytes for practical Li-metal batteries: Mechanisms, principles and strategies

Li-metal batteries(LMBs)regain research prominence owing to the ever-increasing high-energy requirements.Commercially available carbonate electrolytes exhibit unfavourable parasitic reactions with Limetal anode(LMA),leading to the formation of unstable solid electrolyte interphase(SEI)and the breed of Li dendrites/dead Li.Significantly,lithium nitrate(LiNO_(3)),an excellent film-forming additive,proves crucial to construct a robust Li_(3)N/Li_(2)O/Li_(x)NO_(y)-rich SEI after combining with ether-based electrolytes.Thus,the given challenge leads to natural ideas which suggest the incorporation of LiNO_(3) into commercial carbonate for practical LMBs.Regrettably,LiNO_(3) demonstrates limited solubility(~800 ppm)in commercial carbonate electrolytes.Thence,developing stable SEI and dendrite-free LMA with the incorporation of LiNO_(3) into carbonate electrolytes is an efficacious strategy to realize robust LMBs via a scalable and cost-effective route.Therefore,this review unravels the grievances between LMA,LiNO_(3)and carbonate electrolytes,and enables a comprehensive analysis of LMA stabilizing mechanism with LiNO_(3),dissolution principle of LiNO_(3) in carbonate electrolytes,and LiNO_(3) introduction strategies.This review converges attention on a point that the LiNO_(3)-introduction into commercial carbonate electrolytes is an imperious choice to realize practical LMBs with commercial 4 V layered cathode.

Surplus energy utilization of spent lithium-ion batteries for high-profit organolithiums

It is challenging to efficiently and economically recycle many lithium-ion batteries(LIBs)because of the low valuation of commodity metals and materials,such as LiFePO_(4).There are millions of tons of spent LIBs where the barrier to recycling is economical,and to make recycling more feasible,it is required that the value of the processed recycled material exceeds the value of raw commodity materials.The presented research illustrates improved profitability and economics for recycling spent LIBs by utilizing the surplus energy in lithiated graphite to drive the preparation of organolithiums to add value to the recycled lithium materials.This study methodology demonstrates that the surplus energy of lithiated graphite obtained from spent LIBs can be utilized to prepare high-value organolithiums,thereby significantly improving the economic profitability of LIB recycling.Organolithiums(R-O-Li and R-Li)were prepared using alkyl alcohol(R-OH)and alkyl bromide(R-Br)as substrates,where R includes varying hindered alkyl hydrocarbons.The organolithiums extracted from per kilogram of recycled LIBs can increase the economic value between$29.5 and$226.5 kg^(−1) cell.The value of the organolithiums is at least 5.4 times the total theoretical value of spent materials,improving the profitability of recycling LIBs over traditional pyrometallurgical($0.86 kg^(−1) cell),hydrometallurgical($1.00 kg^(−1) cell),and physical direct recycling methods($5.40 kg^(−1) cell).

Activities of autonomic neurotransmitters in meibomian gland tissues are associated with menopausal dry eye

The secretory activities of meibomian glands are regulated by the autonomic nervous system, The change in density and activity of autonomic nerves in meibomian glands during menopause play an important role in the pathogenesis of dry eye. In view of this, we established a dry eye rat model by removing the bilateral ovaries. We used neuropeptide Y and vasoactive intestinal polypeptide as markers of autonomic neurotransmitters. Our results showed that the concentration of estradiol in serum significantly decreased, the density of neuropeptide Y immunoreactivity in nerve fibers significantly increased, the density of vasoactive intestinal polypeptide immunoreactivity in nerve fibers significantly decreased, and the ratio of vasoactive intestinal polypeptide/neuropeptide Y positive staining significantly decreased. These results suggest that a decrease in ovary activity may lead to autonomic nervous system dysfunction, thereby affecting the secretory activity of the meibomian gland, which participates in sexual hormone imbalance-induced dry eye.

Oleic acid reduces steroidogenesis by changing the lipid type stored in lipid droplets of ovarian granulosa cells

Background:Oleic acid is an abundant free fatty acid present in livestock that are in a negative energy-balance state,and it may have detrimental effects on female reproduction and fertility.Oleic acid induces lipid accumulation in bovine granulosa cells,which leads to a foam cell-like morphology and reduced steroidogenesis.However,why oleic acid increases lipid accumulation but decreases steroidogenesis remains unclear.This study focused on oleic acid’s effects on lipid type and steroidogenesis.Results:Oleic acid increased the lipid accumulation in a concentration-dependent manner and mainly increased the triglyceride level and decreased the cholesterol ester level.Oleic acid also led to a decline in estradiol and progesterone production in porcine granulosa cells in vitro.In addition,oleic acid up-regulated the expression of CD36 and diacylglycerol acyltransferase 2,but down-regulated the expression of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutarylcoenzyme A reductase,scavenger receptor class B member 1 and acetyl-Coenzyme A acetyltransferase 2,as well as steroidogenesis-related genes,including cytochrome P450 family 11 subfamily A member 1,cytochrome P450family 19 subfamily A member 1 and 3 as well as steroidogenic acute regulatory protein at the mRNA and protein levels.An oleic acid-rich diet also enhanced the triglyceride levels and reduced the cholesterol levels in ovarian tissues of female mice,which resulted in lower estradiol levels than in control-fed mice.Compared with the control,decreases in estrus days and the numbers of antral follicles and corpora lutea,as well as an increase in the numbers of the atretic follicles,were found in the oleic acid-fed female mice.Conclusions:Oleic acid changed the lipid type stored in lipid droplets of ovarian granulosa cells,and led to a decrease in steroidogenesis.These results improve our understanding of fertility decline in livestock that are in a negative energy-balance state.

Random step maneuver algorithm with normally distributed starting times

The random step maneuver with uniformly distributed starting times has the disadvantage that it cannot focus the starting time on the more efficiency time. It decreases the penetration probability. To resolve this problem, a random step penetration algorithm with normal distribution starting time is proposed. Using the shaping filters and adjoint system method, the miss distance with different starting times can be acquired. According to the penetration standard, the time window ensuring successful penetration can be calculated and it is used as the 3σ bound of the normally distributed random maneuver. Simulation results indicate that the normally distributed random maneuver has higher penetration probability than the uniformly distributed random maneuver.

An advanced low-cost cathode composed of graphene-coated Na_(2.4)Fe_(1.8)(SO_(4))_(3) nanograins in a 3D graphene network for ultra-stable sodium storage

Iron-based electrodes have attracted great attention for sodium storage because of the distinct cost effectiveness.However,exploring suitable iron-based electrodes with high power density and long duration remains a big challenge.Herein,a spray-drying strategy is adopted to construct graphene-coated Na_(2.4)Fe_(1.8)(SO_(4))_(3) nanograins in a 3D graphene microsphere network.The unique structural and compositional advantages endow these electrodes to exhibit outstanding electrochemical properties with remarkable rate performance and long cycle life.Mechanism analyses further explain the outstanding electrochemical properties from the structural aspect.

Approximation of Functions by Quadratic Mapping in (<i>&beta;</i>, <i>p</i>)-Banach Space

In this paper, we study the functions with values in (&beta;, p)-Banach spaces which can be approximated by a quadratic mapping with a given error.

On Maps Preserving Unitarily Invariant Norms of the Spectral Geometric Mean

We consider maps on positive definite cones of von Neumann algebras preserving unitarily invariant norms of the spectral geometric means. The main results concern Jordan *-isomorphisms between C*-algebras, and show that they are characterized by the preservation of unitarily invariant norms of those operations.

A Note on the Perturbation of MF Algebras and Quasidiagonal C^*-Algebras

Perturbation problem of operator algebras was first introduced by Kadison and Kastler. In this short note, we consider the uniform perturbation of two classes of operator algebras, i.e., MF algebras and quasidiagonal C*-algebras. We show that the sets of MF algebras and quasidiagonal C*-algebras of a given C*-algebra are closed under the perturbation of uniform norm.

微血管侵犯及手术切缘对肝细胞癌患者术后生存预后的影响

目的:探讨微血管侵犯(MVI)及手术切缘对肝细胞癌(HCC)术后生存预后的影响。方法:回顾性分析2016年1月至2020年12月佛山市第一人民医院收治的513例HCC肝切除患者临床资料。患者均签署知情同意书,符合医学伦理学规定。其中男419例,女94例;年龄25~86岁,中位年龄54岁。MVI分为3个等级:M0(无MVI组)、M1(低危组)、M2(高危组)。肿瘤切缘分为窄切缘(<1 cm)、宽切缘(≥1 cm)。采用χ^(2)检验及Logistic回归多因素分析HCC患者MVI发生的影响因素。生存分析采用Kaplan-Meier法和Log-rank检验。结果:单因素分析显示,AFP、肿瘤直径、肿瘤数目、CNCL与HCC患者MVI发生有关(χ^(2)=28.068,29.657,4.375,10.208;P<0.05)。Logistic回归多因素分析显示,AFP、肿瘤直径是HCC患者MVI发生的独立影响因素(OR=0.408,0.394;P<0.05)。M0组术后1、2、3年无瘤生存率分别为79.6%、71.0%、63.4%,M1组相应为59.6%、48.0%、43.3%,M2组相应为31.0%、27.5%、25.2%,差异有统计学意义(χ^(2)=61.889,P<0.05)。M0组术后1、2、3年总体生存率分别为97.3%、88.2%、84.6%,M1组相应为87.0%、71.5%、66.1%,M2组相应为79.3%、61.9%、52.6%,差异有统计学意义(χ^(2)=44.138,P<0.05)。对于MVI阴性患者,宽切缘组术后1、2、3年无瘤生存率分别为82.6%、70.7%、65.4%,而窄切缘组相应为79.4%、64.7%、60.5%,差异无统计学意义(χ^(2)=0.983,P>0.05);宽切缘组术后1、2、3年总体生存率分别为97.5%、89.6%、85.2%,而窄切缘组相应为97.1%、86.0%、82.8%,差异无统计学意义(χ^(2)=0.051,P>0.05)。对于MVI阳性患者,宽切缘组术后1、2、3年无瘤生存率分别为58.1%、45.4%、40.3%,而窄切缘组相应为42.9%、37.3%、36.1%,差异有统计学意义(χ^(2)=4.874,P<0.05);宽切缘组术后1、2、3年总体生存率分别为88.8%、71.9%、64.3%,窄切缘组相应为82.6%、64.8%、61.0%,差异有统计学意义(χ^(2)=4.604,P<0.05)。结论:肿瘤大小、AFP是HCC患者发生MVI的独立危险因素。MVI分级越高,患者预后越差。对于MVI阳性患者,肿瘤切缘宽者长期预后优于切缘窄者;而对于MVI阴性患者,肿瘤切缘对预后无明显影响。

腹腔镜右半肝切除术治疗肝癌的安全性与疗效

目的探讨腹腔镜右半肝切除术(LRH)治疗肝细胞癌(肝癌)的安全性和疗效。方法回顾性分析2014年1月至2020年7月佛山市第一人民医院收治的85例肝癌患者临床资料。患者均签署知情同意书,符合医学伦理学规定。其中男75例,女10例;年龄29~74岁,中位年龄52岁。肝功能均为Child-Pugh分级A级,肿瘤直径<8 cm。根据手术方式不同分为LRH组与开腹右半肝切除术(ORH)组,两组均采用标准化、流程化前入路右半肝切除术。两组手术时间、术后住院时间等比较采用t检验或秩和检验,术后并发症等率的比较采用χ2检验或Fisher确切概率法,生存分析采用Kaplan-Meier法和Log-rank检验。结果LRH组平均手术时间为(332±52)min,明显长于ORH组的(287±59)min(t=3.316,P<0.05)。LRH组术后肛门排气时间为(1.5±0.9)d,明显短于ORH组的(2.8±0.8)d(t=-3.119,P<0.05)。LRH组术后住院时间中位数为9(2)d,明显短于ORH组的12(4)d(Z=-3.210,P<0.05)。LRH组无围手术期死亡,ORH组围手术期死亡2例,差异无统计学意义(P=0.508)。LRH组术后并发症发生率为16%(4/25),ORH组为33%(20/60),差异无统计学意义(χ2=2.617,P>0.05)。LRH组无肝切缘旁复发,腹腔种植性转移1例;ORH组肝切缘旁复发1例,腹腔种植性转移2例,切缘旁复发差异无统计学意义(P=1.000),腹腔种植性转移差异亦无统计学意义(χ2=0.243,P>0.05)。LRH组术后1、3年无瘤生存率分别为72.0%、62.6%,ORH组相应为65.6%、41.0%,差异无统计学意义(χ2=2.835,P>0.05)。LRH组术后1、3年总体生存率分为96.0%、75.4%,ORH组相应为88.3%、76.5%,差异亦无统计学意义(χ2=0.016,P>0.05)。结论标准化、流程化前入路LRH治疗肝癌安全、可行,具有微创、术后恢复快等优势,在无瘤生存及总体生存等方面与ORH相当。

Empowering higher energy sodium-ion battery cathode by oxygen chemistry

Sodium(Na)ion batteries(SIBs)promise low-cost energy storage systems but are still restricted by insufficient energy density.Introducing oxygen(O)redox into the design of the Na-storage cathode is presently considered an effective avenue to generate extra capacity in solving the energy density bottleneck.The succeeding issues are how to overcome the irreversible electrochemical behavior accompanied by O release.Meanwhile,the O redox chemistry and subsequent structural evolution remain ambiguous so far.Here,we deliberate on the O redox mechanism in Na-storage transition metal oxides.Challenges associated with the reaction irreversibility and structural collapse are summarized by virtue of the advanced characterization techniques.Beyond that,strategies that potentially enhance the electrochemical properties of O redox and future research perspectives on exploring useable O redox cathode materials are outlined.

Boosting the activity of Fe–N_x moieties in Fe–N–C electrocatalysts via phosphorus doping for oxygen reduction reaction

The Fe–N–C material is a promising non-noblemetal electrocatalyst for oxygen reduction reaction(ORR).Further improvement on the ORR activity is highly desired in order to replace Pt/C in acidic media.Herein,we developed a new-type of single-atom Fe–N–C electrocatalyst,in which Fe–Nxactive sites were modified by P atoms.The half-wave potential of the optimized material reached 0.858 V,which is 23 mV higher than that of the pristine one in a 0.1 mol L-1 HClO4 solution.Density functional theory(DFT)calculations revealed that P-doping can reduce the thermodynamic overpotential of the rate determining step and consequently improve the ORR activity.

Mass production of high-performance single atomic FeNC electrocatalysts via sequenced ultrasonic atomization and pyrolysis process

Mass production of highly efficient,durable,and inexpensive single atomic catalysts is currently the major challenge associated with the oxygen reduction reaction(ORR)for fuel cells.In this study,we develop a general strategy that uses a simple ultrasonic atomization coupling with pyrolysis and calcination process to synthesize single atomic FeNC catalysts(FeNC SACs)at large scale.The microstructure characterizations confirm that the active centers root in the single atomic Fe sites chelating to the four-fold pyridinic N atoms.The identified specific Fe active sites with the variable valence states facilitate the transfer of electrons,endowing the FeNC SACs with excellent electrochemical ORR activity.The FeNC SACs were used as cathode catalysts in a homemade Zn-air battery,giving an open-circuit voltage(OCV)of 1.43 V,which is substantially higher than that of commercial Pt/C catalysts.This study provides a simple approach to the synthesis of single atomic catalysts at large scale.

新冠肺炎疫情下科技出版面临的挑战及应对举措——以中国中医药出版社为例

新冠肺炎疫情影响下,图书市场的科技出版板块整体销售出现下滑,但可喜的是,中医学图书的新书品种数和销量持续走高。应对市场环境的变化以及出版和阅读方式改变的新挑战,科技类出版社应发挥各自学科特色和优势,在内容生产上进行供给侧结构性改革,出精品出力作,打造特色品牌;借助新媒体、新技术,推动科技数字融合出版,实现高质量发展。