SummaryThe nature of pathogenic mechanisms associated with the development of multiple sclerosis (MS) have long been debated. However, limited research was conducted to define the interplay between infiltrating lymphocytes and resident cells of the central nervous system (CNS). Data presented in this report describe a novel role for astrocyte-mediated alterations to myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG)35-55-specific lymphocyte responses, elicited during the development of experimental autoimmune encephalitomyelitis (EAE). In-vitro studies demonstrated that astrocytes inhibited the proliferation and interferon (IFN)-g, interleukin (IL)-4, IL-17 and transforming growth factor (TGF)-b secretion levels of MOG35-55-specific lymphocytes, an effect that could be ameliorated by astrocyte IL-27 neutralization. However, when astrocytes were pretreated with IFN-g, they could promote the proliferation and secretion levels of MOG35-55-specific lymphocytes, coinciding with apparent expression of major histocompatibility complex (MHC)-II on astrocytes themselves. Quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) demonstrated that production of IL-27 in the spinal cord was at its highest during the initial phases. Conversely, production of IFN-g in the spinal cord was highest during the peak phase. Quantitative analysis of MHC-II expression in the spinal cord showed that there was a positive correlation between MHC-II expression and IFN-g production. In addition, astrocyte MHC-II expression levels correlated positively with IFN-g production in the spinal cord. These findings suggested that astrocytes might function as both inhibitors and promoters of EAE. Astrocytes prevented MOG35-55-specific lymphocyte function by secreting IL-27 during the initial phases of EAE. Then, in the presence of higher IFN-g levels in the spinal cord, astrocytes were converted into antigen-presenting cells. This conversion might promote the progression of pathological damage and result in a peak of EAE severity.

Hybrid capacitors, which bear the advantages of secondary batteries and supercapacitors, can deliver high power with a relatively fair amount of energy. However, its kinetic performance, especially at low temperatures, is strongly limited by the battery-type electrode and electrolyte. In this work, Na-ion, which has a lower solvation energy than Li-ion, is chosen as the charge carrier to build the hybrid capacitor. A sodium-ion hybrid capacitor is built with an activated carbon cathode and a pre-sodiated hard carbon anode. To achieve a better kinetic performance, the de-solvation energy and interphase resistance is decreased through replacing conventional carbonate electrolyte with a diethylene glycol dimethyl ether (DEGDME) based electrolyte. As a result, the sodium-ion capacitor delivers an energy density of 42 Wh kg -1 and a high power of 4565 W kg -1 for 3000 cycles at 2.5 A g -1 . Furthermore, this capacitor could sustain an energy density of 36 Wh kg -1 at the low temperature of −30 °C and maintain 70% of the capacity after 500 cycles. The strategies of reducing de-solvation energy and optimizing the solid electrolyte interphase property offers a clear path for developing electrochemical energy storage devices at lower temperatures.

Due to the low intrinsic hole mobility caused by orthogonal conformation of two fluorene units in Spiro-OMeTAD which is a classic hole-transporting material (HTM) in perovskite solar cells (PSCs), Spiro-OMeTAD...