ABSTRACT
Owing to the excellent electrical properties and inherently complex crystal structure, Cu2Se has been considered as a promising thermoelectric (TE) material. Herein, a series of Cu2Se1-xTex (x = 0, 0.02, 0.04, 0.06, and 0.08) bulk samples are prepared by combining mechanical alloying (MA) and spark plasma sintering (SPS) to investigate the effect of Te content (x) on the phase structure, microstructure and TE properties of stoichiometric Cu2Se. It is found that a maximum TE figure of merit (ZT) value of 1.25 could be achieved for Cu2Se0.98Te0.02 sample at 773 K, which essentially stemmed from the elevated power factor (PF) and reduced thermal conductivity (κ). The results obtained in our study indicate that the introduction of Te into stoichiometric Cu2Se is an effective and convenient strategy to improve ZT by enhancing PF and decreasing κ.
ABSTRACT
The key signaling networks regulating cancer cell proliferation remain to be defined. The leucine-rich repeat containing G-protein coupled receptor 48 (GPR48) plays an important role in multiple organ development. In the present study, we investigated whether GPR48 functions in cancer cells using MCF-7, HepG2, NCI-N87 and PC-3 cells. We found that GPR48 overexpression promotes while its knockdown using small interfering RNA oligos inhibits cell proliferation. In addition, Wnt/ß-catenin signaling was activated in cells overexpressing GPR48. Therefore, our results indicated that GPR48 activates Wnt/ß-catenin signaling to regulate cancer cell proliferation.
Subject(s)
Cell Proliferation , Neoplasms/metabolism , Neoplasms/pathology , Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled/metabolism , Signal Transduction , Wnt Proteins/metabolism , Blotting, Western , Humans , RNA, Small Interfering/genetics , Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled/antagonists & inhibitors , Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled/genetics , Tumor Cells, CulturedABSTRACT
By using IPCC carbon emission calculation formula (2006 edition), economy-carbon emission dynamic model, and cement carbon emission model, a regional carbon emission calculation framework was established, and, taking Guangdong Province as a case, its energy consumption carbon emission, cement production CO2 emission, and forest carbon sink values in 2008-2050 were predicted, based on the socio-economic statistical data, energy consumption data, cement production data, and forest carbon sink data of the Province. In 2008-2050, the cement production CO2 emission in the Province would be basically stable, with an annual carbon emission being 10-15 Mt C, the energy consumption carbon emission and the total carbon emission would be in inverse U-shape, with the peaks occurred in 2035 and 2036, respectively, and the carbon emission intensity would be decreased constantly while the forest carbon sink would have a fluctuated decline. It was feasible and reasonable to use the regional carbon emission calculation framework established in this paper to calculate the carbon emission in Guangdong Province.
