Spin Effect to Promote Reaction Kinetics and Overall Performance of Lithium-Sulfur Batteries under External Magnetic Field.

Lithium-sulfur batteries (LSBs) are still limited by the shuttle of lithium polysulfides (LiPS) and the slow Li-S reaction. Herein, we demonstrate that when using cobalt sulfide as a catalytic additive, an external magnetic field generated by a permanent magnet can significantly improve the LiPS adsorption ability and the Li-S reaction kinetics. More specifically, the results show both experimentally and theoretically how an electron spin polarization of Co ions reduces electron repulsion and enhances the degree of orbital hybridization, thus resulting in LSBs with unprecedented performance and stability. Under an external magnetic field, LSBs with 0.0084 % per cycle decay rate at 2 C during 8150 cycles are produced. Overall, this work not only demonstrates an effective strategy to promote LiPS adsorption and electrochemical conversion in LSBs at no additional energy cost but also enriches the application of the spin effect in the electrocatalysis fields.

[PM2.5 Pollution Characterization and Cause Analysis of a Winter Heavy Pollution Event, Liaocheng City].

Heavy pollution events frequently occur during fall and winter seasons in northern areas. In order to understand the characteristics and chemical composition of PM2.5 during heavy pollution in winter in Liaocheng City, ambient PM2.5 samples were collected between January 7-11,2016. Mass concentration, water-soluble ions, carbonaceous species, and elements were analyzed, as well as the causes of pollution. Results showed that PM2.5 mass concentration was 238.3 µg·m-3 with the trend clearly that of an inverted V; this concentration represents exceedance of the National Ambient Air Quality Standard (GB 3095-2012) by more than 2.2 times. NO3-, SO42-, and NH4+(SNA)were the main water-soluble ions. As pollution increased or decreased, NH4+, SO42-, NO3-, and Cl- exhibited the same trend, which contrasted with that of Ca2+. During the peak of pollution, NH4+, NO3-, and SO42- concentrations were 48.96, 68.45, and 80.55 µg·m-3, with these representing levels 6.29, 7.31, and 7.84 times those of the initial stage, respectively. During the pollution event, OC and EC concentration variation ranges were 20.8-60.2 µg·m-3, and 3.0-7.5 µg·m-3, respectively. The concentration of OC was significantly higher than that of EC and the variation amplitude was significantly larger. During the event, the mass concentrations of 27 inorganic elements on each day were 10.2, 22.4, 16.0, 19.6, and 8.2 µg·m-3, respectively. Enrichment factors (EF) of all elements were less than 10, indicating lack of enrichment and showing that sources were mainly natural. PM2.5 mass concentration reconstruction results showed that organic matter (OM), SO42-, and NO3- were major components, followed by NH4+, crustal material, and other ions. EC and trace element content was relatively low. As PM2.5 pollution worsened, secondary inorganic salt (NH4+, SO42-, NO3-) concentrations and proportions increased, OM concentration increased but its proportion decreased, while crustal material concentration and proportion both decreased, showing that secondary inorganic conversion was the main cause of this pollution event, mainly driven by coal and motor vehicle emissions.

Enhanced expression and phosphorylation of the MET oncoprotein by glioma-specific PTPRZ1-MET fusions.

PTPRZ1-MET (ZM) proteins are a group of fusion proteins identified in human gliomas by high-throughput transcriptome sequencing. ZM fusions are associated with poor prognosis in afflicted glioma patients and mediate oncogenic effects in assays. In this study, we show that ZM-carrying patients have increased hepatocyte growth factor receptor (MET) mRNA expression levels induced by fusion with receptor-type tyrosine-protein phosphatase zeta (PTPRZ1). Furthermore, ZM fusions preserve fundamental properties of wild-type MET with respect to processing and dimerization, and enhance phosphorylation in an hepatocyte growth factor (HGF)-dependent and independent manner. Our findings suggest that ZM induces gliomas through elevated expression and phosphorylation of the MET oncoprotein.

RNA-seq of 272 gliomas revealed a novel, recurrent PTPRZ1-MET fusion transcript in secondary glioblastomas.

Studies of gene rearrangements and the consequent oncogenic fusion proteins have laid the foundation for targeted cancer therapy. To identify oncogenic fusions associated with glioma progression, we catalogued fusion transcripts by RNA-seq of 272 gliomas. Fusion transcripts were more frequently found in high-grade gliomas, in the classical subtype of gliomas, and in gliomas treated with radiation/temozolomide. Sixty-seven in-frame fusion transcripts were identified, including three recurrent fusion transcripts: FGFR3-TACC3, RNF213-SLC26A11, and PTPRZ1-MET (ZM). Interestingly, the ZM fusion was found only in grade III astrocytomas (1/13; 7.7%) or secondary GBMs (sGBMs, 3/20; 15.0%). In an independent cohort of sGBMs, the ZM fusion was found in three of 20 (15%) specimens. Genomic analysis revealed that the fusion arose from translocation events involving introns 3 or 8 of PTPRZ and intron 1 of MET. ZM fusion transcripts were found in GBMs irrespective of isocitrate dehydrogenase 1 (IDH1) mutation status. sGBMs harboring ZM fusion showed higher expression of genes required for PIK3CA signaling and lowered expression of genes that suppressed RB1 or TP53 function. Expression of the ZM fusion was mutually exclusive with EGFR overexpression in sGBMs. Exogenous expression of the ZM fusion in the U87MG glioblastoma line enhanced cell migration and invasion. Clinically, patients afflicted with ZM fusion harboring glioblastomas survived poorly relative to those afflicted with non-ZM-harboring sGBMs (P < 0.001). Our study profiles the shifting RNA landscape of gliomas during progression and reveled ZM as a novel, recurrent fusion transcript in sGBMs.

2-[4-(Chloro-meth-yl)phen-oxy]-4,6-dimeth-oxy-pyrimidine.

The title compound, C(13)H(13)ClN(2)O(3), was synthesized in the course of the search for novel bioactive pyrimidine derivatives. The C-O-C angle at the phen-oxy O atom is widened to 119.87 (18)°. The dihedral angle between the pyrimidine and benzene rings is 64.2 (3)°.

Vacuum electron acceleration driven by two crossed Airy beams.

Using numerical simulation, we have studied in detail vacuum electron acceleration driven by two crossed Airy beams with identical characteristics except for opposite accelerating directions. An electron injected along the longitudinal central axis is only affected by the combined longitudinal electric field. In addition, a suitable crossed Airy beams scheme is more beneficial to the energy gain of an electron than the single Airy beam acceleration scheme [Opt. Lett. 35, 3258 (2010)]. Meanwhile, the cross angle, the injection energy of the electron, and the initial phase of the Airy beams play significant roles in the energy gain of the electron.

Adenoviruses use lactoferrin as a bridge for CAR-independent binding to and infection of epithelial cells.

Most adenoviruses bind to the coxsackie- and adenovirus receptor (CAR). Surprisingly, CAR is not expressed apically on polarized cells and is thus not easily available to viruses. Consequently, alternative mechanisms for entry of coxsackievirus and adenovirus into cells have been suggested. We have found that tear fluid promotes adenovirus infection, and we have identified human lactoferrin (HLf) as the tear fluid component responsible for this effect. HLf alone was found to promote binding of adenovirus to epithelial cells in a dose-dependent manner and also infection of epithelial cells by adenovirus. HLf was also found to promote gene delivery from an adenovirus-based vector. The mechanism takes place at the binding stage and functions independently of CAR. Thus, we have identified a novel binding mechanism whereby adenovirus hijacks HLf, a component of the innate immune system, and uses it as a bridge for attachment to host cells.