Uniform Lithium Plating for Dendrite-Free Lithium Metal Batteries: Role of Dipolar Channels in Poly(vinylidene fluoride) and PbZrxTi1-xO3 Interface.

Conventional polymer/ceramic composite solid-state electrolytes (CPEs) have limitations in inhibiting lithium dendrite growth and fail to meet the contradictory requirements of anodes and cathodes. Herein, an asymmetrical poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF)-PbZrxTi1-xO3 (PZT) CPE was prepared. The CPE incorporates high dielectric PZT nanoparticles, which enrich a dense thin layer on the anode side, making their dipole ends strongly electronegative. This attracts lithium ions (Li+) at the PVDF-PZT interface to transport through dipolar channels and promotes the dissociation of lithium salts into free Li+. Consequently, the CPE enables homogeneous lithium plating and suppresses dendrite growth. Meanwhile, the PVDF-enriched region at the cathode side ensures intermediate contact with positive active materials. Therefore, Li/PVDF-PZT CPE/Li symmetrical cells exhibit a stable cycling performance exceeding 1900 h at 0.1 mA cm-2 at 25 °C, outperforming Li/PVDF solid-state electrolyte/Li cells that fail after 120 h. The LiNi0.8Co0.1Mo0.1O2/PVDF-PZT CPE/Li cells show low interfacial impedances and maintain stable cycling performance for 500 cycles with a capacity retention of 86.2% at 0.5 C and 25 °C. This study introduces a strategy utilizing dielectric ceramics to construct dipolar channels, providing a uniform Li+ transport mechanism and inhibiting dendrite growth.

Circular RNA circ_0023404 serves as a miR-636 sponge to promote malignant behaviors in cervical cancer cells through upregulation of CYP2S1.

Cervical cancer is the most common malignant gynecological tumor. Circular RNA (circRNA) circ_0023404 is reported to be upregulated in cervical cancer cells. This aim is to explore the role and mechanism of circ_0023404 in cervical cancer. circ_0023404, microRNA-636 (miR-636), and cytochrome P450 2S1 (CYP2S1) levels were detected by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR). Cell proliferation, migration, invasion, and apoptosis were detected by 3-(4,5-dimethyl-2-thiazolyl)-2,5-diphenyl-2-H-tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay, 5-ethynyl-2'-deoxyuridine (EDU) assay, colony formation assay, transwell assay, and cytometry assay. Protein levels of cyclin D1, matrix metallopeptidase 9 (MMP9), Bcl-2-associated X protein (Bax), and CYP2S1 were examined by western blot assay. The binding relationship between miR-636 and circ_0023404 or CYP2S1 was predicted by Circinteractome or targetscan, and then verified by a dual-luciferase reporter assay and RNA pull-down assay. circ_0023404 and CYP2S1 expression were increased, and miR-636 was decreased in cervical cancer tissues and cells. Moreover, circ_0023404 knockdown could repress proliferation, migration, invasion, and promote apoptosis of cervical cancer cells in vitro. Mechanically, circ_0023404 could regulate CYP2S1 expression by sponging miR-636. circ_0023404 silencing could attenuate the progression of cervical cancer cells partly by targeting the miR-636/CYP2S1 axis, hinting at a promising therapeutic target for cervical cancer.

Effects of dexmedetomidine on cognitive function in elderly patients after laparoscopic cholecystectomy: A protocol for systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Although many studies have reported the effects of dexmedetomidine on cognitive function (CF) in elderly patients after laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LCT), to this date, its effects are still not well understood. The aim of this study is to produce a qualitative synthesis of assessing the effects of dexmedetomidine on CF in elderly patients after LCT. METHODS: We will conduct a comprehensive search in Cochrane Library, MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, PsycINFO, Scopus, VIP Database, WANGFANG Database, Chinese Biomedical Literature Database, and China National Knowledge Infrastructure from the commencement to March 31, 2020 without restrictions of language and publication status. In addition, we will also search grey literature, including conference abstracts, dissertations, reference lists of included studies and relevant reviews. All potential studies will be identified independently by 2 authors to determine their inclusion against previously defined eligibility criteria. The quality of selected papers will be assessed using Cochrane risk of bias tool. All statistical analysis will be performed using RevMan 5.3 software. RESULTS: This study will provide a synthesis of the current available data on assessing the effects of dexmedetomidine on CF in elderly patients after LCT. CONCLUSIONS: Its findings will provide qualitative evidence to better understand the effects of dexmedetomidine on CF in elderly patients after LCT.INPLASY Registration Number: INPLASY202040030.

Degradation and Transformation of Lignin by a Fungus Aspergillus Flavus Strain F-1.

BACKGROUND: Lignin is the largest natural aromatic polymer in nature and is also a unique aromatic-based biopolymer, accounting for nearly 30% of the earth's organic carbon. Generally, lignin is regarded as waste and is mainly used as a low- value fuel that is burned to generate heat and energy to solve the problem of biomass waste; for this obstacle of lignin, highly efficient biodegradation plays a critical role in developing an environmentally friendly technique for lignin biotransformation. OBJECTIVES: This study intends to isolate and purify several microbial strains from nature. It also explores how their lignin degradation is able to enhance the biodegradation and recycling of biomass and the reclamation of lignin in wastewater from pulp and paper mills. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Lignin-degrading microbial strains were isolated from soil using medium containing sodium lignosulphonate as the sole carbon source. They were then screened by aniline blue and guaiacol plate, and then the best strain was chosen and identified. The conventional one-factor method was used to optimize various parameters that affect lignin's degradation ability. RESULTS: The strain possessing the highest lignin biodegradation ability was identified and denominated as Aspergillus Flavus F-1. After optimization, the maximum degradation rate of lignin, 44.6% within 3 days, was obtained at pH 7.0, 30 ℃, 2.5 g·L-1 ammonium sulfate, 2 g·L-1 lignin and 0.5 g·L-1 glucose. The results show the LiP and Lac secreted from Aspergillus Flavus F-1 played the main role in the degradation of lignin. CONCLUSION: One microbial strain, Aspergillus Flavus F-1, was successfully isolated with a lignin-degrading ability that can cut the lignin into fragments. This provides a promising candidate for the transformation and utilization of crop waste biomass for various industrial purposes.

Analgesic effect of AG490, a Janus kinase inhibitor, on oxaliplatin-induced acute neuropathic pain.

Neuropathic pain often occurs during chemotherapy with oxaliplatin. AG490 has been shown to exert an antagonistic effect on inflammatory pain, but its effect on oxaliplatin-induced neuropathic pain remains poorly understood. This study sought to observe the analgesic effect of AG490 on acute neuropathic pain induced by a single oxaliplatin treatment and to address the possible mechanism. In this study, we established a model of oxaliplatin-induced acute neuropathic pain by intraperitoneal injection of 6 mg/kg oxaliplatin. On day 2 after injection, models were intraperitoneally injected with 1, 5, or 10 mg/kg AG490. Paw withdrawal threshold to mechanical stimuli and tail withdrawal latency to cold stimuli were determined. Western blot assay was performed to detect the expression of spinal phosphorylated signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (p-STAT3). Immunohistochemistry was used to determine the immunoreactivity of p-STAT3 and interleukin-6. Results demonstrated that paw withdrawal threshold and tail withdrawal latency were significantly increased by the treatment of AG490 in rats. There was no significant difference in the effect among the different doses of AG490. AG490 10 mg/kg decreased the expression of p-STAT3, the immunoreactivity of p-STAT3 and interleukin-6 in spinal cord of acute neuropathic pain rats. These findings confirm that AG490 can attenuate oxaliplatin-induced acute neuropathic pain and is associated with the inhibition in the JAK/STAT3 signaling pathway.

[Effects of hydrogen sulfide preconditioning on myocardial ischemia reperfusion injury in rats].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of hydrogen sulfide preconditioning on myocardial ischemia reperfusion injury in rats. METHODS: Sprague-Dawley male rats were divided into 4 groups with 10 in each group: in S group rats received sham operation; in IR group rats were given with NS (1.0 ml/kg iv) 24 h before ischemia; in H group rats were treated with NaHS (0.05 mg/kg iv) 24 h before ischemia; and in D group, NaHS-treated rats received 5-hydroxydecanoate (5-HD) 15 min before ischemia. Rats in IR group,H group and D group were subjected to ischemia by occlusion of coronary artery for 30 min followed by 2 h of reperfusion. At the end of the reperfusion,myocardial infarct size was measured. SAM-s was measured by Western blotting. Plasma SOD activity and MDA were determined at the end of reperfusion. RESULTS: The infarct size was significantly lesser in H group (25.40 % ± 3.54%) than that in IR group (38.27% ±5.64%,P<0.05). The SAM-s protein expression in myocardium was significantly lower in H group than that in IR group. The plasma MDA content was significantly lower and SOD activity was higher in H group than those in IR group,but there was no difference between IR group and D group. CONCLUSION: The hydrogen sulfide preconditioning attenuates myocardial IR injury possibly through down-regulating SAM-s expression,reducing the production of oxygen free radicals and enhancing anti-oxidize effect in rats.

[Detecting the isoflurane in the air of workplaces with chromatographic method].

OBJECTIVE: To establish a solvent desorption Gas chromatographic method for detecting the isoflurane in air of workplaces. METHODS: This method is based on "Standardization of methods for determination of toxic substances in workplace air". RESULTS: This method presents the linear relation with the minimum detectable limit 1.0 µg/ml and the minimum detectable concentration 0.07 mg/m(3). The precision (RSD) was 0.5% ∼ 5.0%, the mean dsorption efficiencies were 96.7% ∼ 98.9%, the absorption efficiencies were 92.1% ∼ 100%, the breakthrough volume was 3.7 mg isoflurane/100 mg active carbon. Other volatile organic solvents (Sevoflurane, Enflurane and Ethyl Alcohol) did not interfere the detection. The sample could be stored in the active carbon tube at least for 10 days. CONCLUSION: This method is meet the requirement of GBZ/T 210.4-2008 "Guide for establishing occupational health standards-Part4: Determination methods of air chemicals in workplace" and is feasible for determining the isoflurane in the air of workplaces.

[Effect of hydrogen sulfide-induced delayed preconditioning on glutathione S-transferase expression during myocardial ischemia-reperfusion in rats].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of hydrogen sulfide-induced delayed preconditioning on glutathione S-transferase (GST) expression during myocardial ischemia-reperfusion in rats. METHODS: Sprague-Dawley male rats were randomly divided into 4 groups (n= 10 in each): Group S (sham operation group), Group IR (ischemia/reperfusion group), Group H (IR+ NaHS 0.05 mg/kg iv, 24 h before ischemia) and Groups D receiving IR+NaHS 24 h before ischemia and 5-hydroxydecanoate (5-HD)15 min before ischemia. Animals in groups IR, H and D were subjected to ischemia by 30 min of coronary artery occlusion followed by 2 h of reperfusion. At the end of the reperfusion, myocardial infarct size (IS) was examined. Glutathione S-transferase (GST) was measured by Western blotting. The myocardial ultrastructures were observed under the electron microscopy. RESULTS: The IS was significantly smaller in Group H than that in Group IR [(25.40 ± 3.54)% compared with (38.27 ± 5.64)%, P<0.05]. The GST expression in myocardium was significantly higher in Group H than that in Group IR. Microscopic examination showed less myocardial damage in Group H than in Group IR. The protective effects of delayed preconditioning by hydrogen sulfide was prevented by 5-HD pre-treatment. CONCLUSION: The hydrogen sulfide-induced delayed preconditioning attenuates myocardial IR injury possibly through up-regulating glutathione S-transferase expression in rats.

[Determination of phosphoric acid in the air of workplace by ion chromatography].

OBJECTIVE: To develop a method to determine phosphoric acid in the air of workplace by ion chromatography. METHODS: Phosphoric acid was collected by millipore filter and washed by deionized water then detected by ion chromatography. RESULTS: Linearity range of test was 0 ∼ 20 µg/ml, relative standard deviation (RSD) was 1.95% ∼ 3.31%, the elution efficiency was 103.0% ∼ 109.6%, determination limit was 0.1 µg/ml (when sample size was 20.01) concentration limit was 0.01 mg/m(3) (when the collected air was 75 L). CONCLUSION: This method is convenient for air collection, simple, with high sensitivity and good precision, is a good method for determination of phosphoric acid in the air of workplace.

[Simultaneous determination of seven chemicals of halogenated alkanes and aromatic hydrocarbons in the air of workplace by gas chromatography].

OBJECTIVE: To establish a gas chromatographic method for determination of halogenated alkanes and aromatic hydrocarbons including trichloromethane, 1,2-dichloroethane, carbon tetrachloride, benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene and xylene in the air of workplace. METHODS: After the air samples collected with activated carbon tubes and desorbed with CS(2), the target toxicants were separated with FFAP capillary columns and detected with flame ionization detector. RESULTS: The coefficient of correlation was above 0.999 and the lowest detectable concentrations were 0.2 ∼ 3.6 mg/m(3) with the RSD of 1.2% ∼ 4.6%. The desorption efficiencies was 94.9% ∼ 100.7%. CONCLUSION: The method shows lower detection limit, high accuracy and precision. It is feasible for determination of the seven halogenated alkanes and aromatic hydrocarbons in the air of workplace.