Deep-Breathing Honeycomb-like Co-Nx-C Nanopolyhedron Bifunctional Oxygen Electrocatalysts for Rechargeable Zn-Air Batteries.

Metal organic framework (MOF) derivatives have been extensively used as bifunctional oxygen electrocatalysts. However, the utilization of active sites is still not satisfactory owing to the sluggish mass transport within their narrow pore channels. Herein, interconnected macroporous channels were constructed inside MOFs-derived Co-Nx-C electrocatalyst to unblock the mass transfer barrier. The as-synthesized electrocatalyst exhibits a honeycomb-like morphology with highly exposed Co-Nx-C active sites on carbon frame. Owing to the interconnected ordered macropores throughout the electrocatalyst, these active sites can smoothly "exhale/inhale" reactants and products, enhancing the accessibility of active sites and the reaction kinetics. As a result, the honeycomb-like Co-Nx-C displayed a potential difference of 0.773 V between the oxygen evolution reaction potential at 10 mA cm-2 and the oxygen reduction reaction half-wave potential, much lower than that of bulk-Co-Nx-C (0.842 V). The rational modification on porosity makes such honeycomb-like MOF derivative an excellent bifunctional oxygen electrocatalyst in rechargeable Zn-air batteries.

Periodontal treatment and HbA1c levels in subjects with diabetes mellitus.

It has earlier been reported that individuals with poorly controlled diabetes have severe periodontal disease (PD) compared to well-controlled diabetes. This longitudinal interventional study compared periodontal treatment outcomes with HbA1c level changes in four groups of diabetic and non-diabetic patients with or without PD, respectively. HbA1c, bleeding on probing (BOP), plaque index and periodontal pocket depth (PPD) 4 < 6 mm and ≥6 mm were recorded at baseline to 3 months after non-surgical treatment and 3-6 months for surgical treatment in subjects with or without T2D, and with or without PD. A total of 129 patients were followed from baseline to 6 months. Diabetics with PD and without PD showed reductions in HbA1c levels with a mean value of 0·3% after 3 months and mean values of 1% and 0·8%, respectively, after 6 months. Diabetics with PD showed higher levels of BOP versus non-diabetics without PD (P < 0·01) and versus diabetics without PD (P < 0·05) at baseline. After 6 months, diabetics with PD showed higher number of PPD 4 < 6 mm versus diabetics without PD (P < 0·01) and non-diabetics with PD (P < 0·01). Diabetics without PD showed higher levels of PPD 4 < 6 mm versus non-diabetics without PD (P < 0·01). Surgical and non-surgical periodontal treatment in all groups improved periodontal inflammatory conditions with a decrease in HbA1c levels in a period of three and 6 months. No change was seen in the number of pockets PPD 4 < 6 mm in diabetic subjects with PD after non-surgical and surgical treatment.

Temporal characterization of protein production levels from baculovirus vectors coding for GFP and RFP genes under non-conventional promoter control.

The ease of use and versatility of the Baculovirus Expression Vector System (BEVS) has made it one of the most widely used systems for recombinant protein production However, co-expression systems currently in use mainly make use of the very strong very late p10 and polyhedron (polh) promoters to drive expression of foreign genes, which does not provide much scope for tailoring expression ratios within the cell. This work demonstrates the use of different Autographa californica multicapsid nucleopolyhedrovirus (AcMNPV) promoters to control the timing and expression of two easily traceable fluorescent proteins, the enhanced green fluorescent protein (eGFP), and a red fluorescent protein (DsRed2) in a BEVS co-expression system. Our results show that gene expression levels can easily be controlled using this strategy, and also that modulating the expression level of one protein can influence the level of expression of the other protein within the system, thus confirming the concept of genes "competing" for limited cellular resources. Plots of "expression ratios" of the two model genes over time were obtained, and may be used in future work to tightly control timing and levels of foreign gene expression in an insect cell co-expression system.

Self-perceived oral health and salivary proteins in children with type 1 diabetes.

The aim was to validate self-perceived oral health with salivary IgG as an inflammatory parameter in children with type 1 diabetes. Unstimulated whole saliva samples were collected from 36 children with well controlled and 12 with poorly controlled type 1 diabetes and 40 non-diabetic children (Controls). Salivary flow rate, random blood glucose level, salivary protein concentration and immunoglobulin A and G levels were recorded using standard techniques. Data concerning oral health and diabetes status were collected. Self-perceived gingival bleeding (bleeding gums), bad breath and dry mouth were higher in diabetic children when compared with those in controls (P < 0.05). Gingival bleeding was frequently perceived by children with poorly controlled compared to well-controlled type 1 diabetes (P < 0.05) and controls (P < 0.001). Bad breath was common perceived by children with poorly controlled compared to well-controlled type 1 diabetes (P < 0.05) and controls (P < 0.0001). Salivary flow rate was lower in the diabetic children compared to controls (P < 0.01) with no difference between children with poorly controlled and well-controlled type 1 diabetes. Salivary IgG per mg protein concentration was higher in the diabetics when compared with the control group (P < 0.0001). IgG per mg protein levels were also higher in children with poorly controlled when compared with well-controlled type 1 diabetes (P < 0.05). There was no difference in IgA per mg protein and total protein concentrations between children with poorly controlled and well-controlled type 1 diabetes. Self-perceived gingival bleeding and salivary IgG per mg protein concentration were increased in children with type 1 diabetes compared with controls. These variables were also increased in children with poorly controlled compared with well-controlled type 1 diabetes.

The importance of coherence length in laser phototherapy of gingival inflammation: a pilot study.

The aim of this study was to investigate if coherence length is of importance in laser phototherapy. Twenty patients with moderate periodontitis were selected. After oral hygiene instructions, scaling and root planing (SRP), one side of the upper jaw was randomly selected for HeNe (632.8 nm, 3 mW) or InGaAlP (650 nm, 3 mW) laser irradiation. One week after SRP, the following parameters were measured: pocket depth, gingival index, plaque index, gingival crevicular fluid volume, matrix metalloproteinase (MMP-8), interleukin (IL-8) and subgingival microflora. The irradiation (180 s per point, energy 0.54 J) was then performed once a week for 6 weeks. At the follow up examination, all clinical parameters had improved significantly in both groups. A more pronounced decrease of clinical inflammation was observed after HeNe treatment. MMP-8 levels were considerably reduced on the HeNe side, while there was no difference for IL-8 or microflora. Coherence length appears to be an important factor in laser phototherapy.