Microwave-Assisted Metal-Organic Frameworks Derived Synthesis of Zn2GeO4 Nanowire Bundles for Lithium-Ion Batteries.

Germanium-based multi-metallic-oxide materials have advantages of low activation energy, tunable output voltage, and high theoretical capacity. However, they also exhibit unsatisfactory electronic conductivity, sluggish cation kinetics, and severe volume change, resulting in inferior long-cycle stability and rate performance in lithium-ion batteries (LIBs). To solve these problems, we synthesize metal-organic frameworks derived from rice-like Zn2GeO4 nanowire bundles as the anode of LIBs via a microwave-assisted hydrothermal method, minimizing the particle size and enlarging the cation's transmission channels, as well as, enhancing the electronic conductivity of the materials. The obtained Zn2GeO4 anode exhibits superior electrochemical performance. A high initial charge capacity of 730 mAhg-1 is obtained and maintained at 661 mAhg-1 after 500 cycles at 100 mA g-1 with a small capacity degradation ratio of ~0.02% for each cycle. Moreover, Zn2GeO4 exhibits a good rate performance, delivering a high capacity of 503 mA h g-1 at 5000 mA g-1. The good electrochemical performance of the rice-like Zn2GeO4 electrode can be attributed to its unique wire-bundle structure, the buffering effect of the bimetallic reaction at different potentials, good electrical conductivity, and fast kinetic rate.

Metal Oxide Wrapped by Reduced Graphene Oxide Nanocomposites as Anode Materials for Lithium-Ion Batteries.

The reduced graphene oxide/iron oxide (rGO/Fe2O3) and reduced graphene oxide/cobalt oxide (rGO/Co3O4) composite anodes have been successfully prepared through a simple and scalable ball-milling synthesis. The substantial interaction of Fe2O3 and Co3O4 with the rGO matrix strengthens the electronic conductivity and limits the volume variation during cycling in the rGO/Fe2O3 and rGO/Co3O4 composites because reduced graphene oxide (rGO) helps the metal oxides (MOs) to attain a more efficient diffusion of Li-ions and leads to high specific capacities. As anode materials for LIBs, the rGO/Fe2O3 and rGO/Co3O4 composites demonstrate overall superb electrochemical properties, especially rGO/Fe2O3T-5 and rGO/Co3O4T-5, showcasing higher reversible capacities of 1021 and 773 mAhg-1 after 100 cycles at 100 mAg-1, accompanied by the significant rate performance. Because of their superior electrochemical efficiency, high capacity and low cost, the rGO/Fe2O3 and rGO/Co3O4 composites made by ball milling could be outstanding anode materials for LIBs. Due to the excellent electrochemical performance, the rGO/Fe2O3 and rGO/Co3O4 composites prepared via ball milling could be promising anode materials with a high capacity and low cost for LIBs. The findings may provide shed some light on how other metal oxides wrapped by rGO can be prepared for future applications.

Use of Oral Vitamin-D Glass ampoule and tablet: Experience of patients and physicians.

OBJECTIVE: To ascertain patients and physician views regarding hazard and compliance of oral liquid Vitamin D glass ampoule and tablets. METHODS: This cross sectional survey was conducted from November 1st 2016 to 15th December 2016. Patients who were prescribed Vitamin D glass ampoule from oral route in last three months were included along with physicians who routinely prescribe vitamin D after taking informed consent. The participants were asked about injuries related to the use of glass ampoule, ease of using this from, after taste preference of tablet or injectable form as well as demography. Data was analysed with SPSS version 24.0. RESULTS: Total 182 patients were included in the study with mean ± SD age of 39.4 ± 12.4 years. Majority of patients, 80.2% (142) said they prefer oral tablet in preference to injectable ampule in oral form if given choice while prescribing Vitamin D. Moreover 66.7% (64) doctors prefer to prescribe tablet form of Vitamin D instead of injection as oral form for vitamin D deficiency among their patients. One third of patients, 33% (n=59) sustained injury while breaking the ampule which included minor self-controlled bleeding by glass particles in 50% (n=35). Less than half of doctors 46.9% (n=45) said they taught their patients about usage of injectable Vitamin D ampules. CONCLUSION: Majority of patients prefer Vitamin D tablet instead of Oral liquid in glass ampoule if they got the choice among two. The results of this study provide important implications for our doctors about patients concern of hazard, after taste and compliance with orally administered Vitamin D glass ampoules.

In vitro micropropagation of Dracaena sanderiana Sander ex Mast: An important indoor ornamental plant.

A protocol has been developed for in vitro plant regeneration from a nodal explant of Dracaena sanderiana Sander ex Mast. Nodal explant showed high callus induction potentiality on MS medium supplemented with 6.78 µM 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) followed by 46.5 µM chlorophenoxy acetic acid (CPA). The highest frequency of shoot regeneration (85%) and number of shoots per explant (5.6) were obtained on medium supplemented with 7.84 µM N(6)-benzylaminopurine (BA). Rooting was high on MS solid compared to liquid medium when added with 7.38 µM indole-3-butyric acid (IBA). Fifty percent of the roots were also directly rooted as microcuttings on soil rite, sand and peat mixture (1:1:1). In vitro and ex vitro raised plantlets were used for acclimatization. More than 90% of the plantlets was successfully acclimatized and established in plastic pots. Ex vitro transferred plantlets were normal without any phenotypic aberrations.

Somatic embryogenesis, scanning electron microscopy, histology and biochemical analysis at different developing stages of embryogenesis in six date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.) cultivars.

An efficient somatic embryogenesis system has been established in six date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.) cultivars (Barhee, Zardai, Khalasah, Muzati, Shishi and Zart). Somatic embryogenesis (SE) was growth regulators and cultivars dependent. Friable embryogenic callus was induced from excised shoot tips on MS medium supplemented with various auxins particularly 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D, 1.5 mg 1(-l)). Suspension culture increased embryogenesis potentiality. Only a-naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA, 0.5 mg 1(-1)) produced somatic embryos in culture. Somatic embryos germinated and converted into plantlets in N(6)-benzyladenine (BAP, 0.75 mg 1(-l)) added medium following a treatment with thidiazuron (TDZ, 1.0 mg 1(-l)) for maturation. Scanning electron microscopy showed early stages of somatic embryo particularly, globular types, and was in masses. Different developing stages of embryogenesis (heart, torpedo and cotyledonary) were observed under histological preparation of embryogenic callus. Biochemical screening at various stages of somatic embryogenesis (embryogenic callus, somatic embryos, matured, germinated embryos and converted plantlets) of date palm cultivars has been conducted and discussed in detail. The result discussed in this paper indicates that somatic embryos were produced in numbers and converted plantlets can be used as a good source of alternative propagation. Genetic modification to the embryo precursor cell may improve the fruit quality and yield further.

Salinity stress enhances production of solasodine in Solanum nigrum L.

Various in vitro grown tissues (non-regenerative callus, regenerative callus and microshoot derived leaves) of Solanum nigrum L. were cultured under salinity stress (0-150 mM NaCl) for enhanced production of solasodine, a steroidal alkaloid and an alternative to diosgenin, which is used as a precursor for the commercial production of steroidal drugs. The role of plant growth regulators and various concentrations of NaCl during in vitro production of solasodine was studied. The in vitro yield was compared with the yield from leaves of field grown plant. Solasodine content was maximum (2.39 mg/g dry wt.) in regenerative callus when grown on medium added with 150 mM NaCl; followed by in vitro raised leaf of microshoot. Quantitative estimation of solasodine was carried out using a new HPTLC method, which is validated for its recovery and precession. The proposed HPTLC method showed a good linear relationship (r(2)=0.994) in 50-2000 ng/spot concentration ranges. The data demonstrate that the solasodine production in cultures was growth dependent.

The NeuroProbes project: a concept for electronic depth control.

The European project NeuroProbes has introduced a new methodology to allow the fine positioning of electrodes within an implantable probe with respect to individual neurons. In this approach, probes are built with a very large number of electrodes which are electronically selectable. This feature is implemented thanks to the modular approach adopted in NeuroProbes, which will allow the implementation of integrated electronics both along the probe shaft and on the array backbone.

Association between smallpox vaccination and hepatitis C antibody positive serology in Pakistani volunteers.

GOALS: To determine whether the smallpox vaccination program has significantly contributed to the widespread prevalence of hepatitis C infection in Pakistan. BACKGROUND: Hepatitis C virus has become a worldwide pandemic and has especially devastated developing nations such as Pakistan. There continues to be an increase in fatalities due to hepatitis C-related cirrhosis in Pakistan. STUDY: We studied 523 volunteers in the city of Lahore to determine whether the smallpox vaccination program, which ran from 1964 to 1982 in Pakistan, may be responsible for the national surge in hepatitis C viral infection, perhaps because of repetitive use of vaccination devices without proper sterilization or to contaminated vaccine contents. RESULTS: There was a significantly higher likelihood of hepatitis C antibody seroprevalence in individuals vaccinated for smallpox versus nonvaccinated individuals (21.0% vs. 4.6%, P < 0.001, age-adjusted odds ratio, 3.39; 95% confidence interval, 1.36-8.46). Subjects with positive hepatitis C serology were also more likely to have a history of transfusions (19.2% vs. 9.0%, P = 0.01), but anti-HCV positive serology was not significantly associated with a history of surgery or dental procedures. Following adjustment for age, sex, and history of other conditions, including transfusion, the association between prior smallpox vaccination and hepatitis C antibody seroprevalence remained strong and highly significant (multivariate adjusted odds ratio, 6.11; 95% confidence interval, 2.58-14.51). CONCLUSION: These results suggest that the widespread prevalence of hepatitis C infection in Pakistan may be an unintended consequence of the country's smallpox vaccination program and that blood transfusion is also a significant risk factor.