Lithium−sulfur (Li−S) batteries suffer from multiple complex and often interwoven issues, such as the low electronic conductivity of sulfur and Li 2 S/Li 2 S 2 , shuttle effect, and sluggish electrochemical kinetics of lithium polysulfides (LiPSs). Guided by theoretical calculations, a multifunctional catalyst of isolated single-atom nickel in an optimal Ni−N 5 active moiety incorporated in hollow nitrogen-doped porous carbon (Ni−N 5 /HNPC) is constructed and acts as an ideal host for a sulfur cathode. The host improved electrical conductivity, enhanced physical-chemical dual restricting capability toward LiPSs, and, more importantly, boosted the redox reaction kinetics by the Ni−N 5 active moiety. Therefore, the Ni−N 5 /HNPC/S cathode exhibits superior rate performance, long-term cycling stability, and good areal capacity at high sulfur loading. This work highlights the important role of the coordination number of active centers in single-atom catalysts and provides a strategy to design a hollow nanoarchitecture with single-atom active sites for high-performance Li−S batteries.

According to recent studies, long noncoding RNA urothelial carcinoma associated 1 (UCA1) is involved in the development and progression of many malignant tumors, including gastric cancer (GC). We validated the detailed role of UCA1 in human GC cell lines and GC tissues so as to determine its exact function and the underlying mechanism of GC invasion and migration. In our research, lncRNA-UCA1 was specifically upregulated in GC tissues and cell lines, and augmented GC cell proliferation, and invasive and migratory capabilities. High UCA1 expression in GC was related with poorer prognosis (poorer invasion depth, lymph node metastasis, advanced TNM [T is for the original (primary) tumor, N for nearby (regional) lymph nodes that are involved, and M for distant metastasis] stage, and shorter overall survival). Epithelial mesenchymal transition (EMT), associated with malignancy of cancers, was reported to be responsible for invasion and migration of cancer cells. Transforming growth factor β1 (TGFβ1)-induced EMT was well evaluated. UCA1 silence reduced the protein levels of EMT-related factors, vimentin and snail, while promoted E-cadherin and zonula occludens-1 protein levels in GC cells; the effect of UCA1 could be partly restored by TGFβ1 treatment. Taken together, UCA1 might regulate the tumor proliferation, invasion, and metastasis under TGFβ1 induction. Taken together, UCA1 might present a potential oncogenic factor by promoting GC cell proliferation, invasion, and migration. UCA1 could serve as a novel biomarker for prognosis and a novel therapeutic target of GC treatment.

Background:The objective of this investigation was to develop a new class of antibacterial material in the form of nanofibers coated with silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) using a modified coaxial electrospinning approach. Through manipulation of the distribution on the surface of nanofibers, the antibacterial effect of Ag can be improved substantially. Methods: Using polyacrylonitrile (PAN) as the filament-forming polymer matrix, an electrospinnable PAN solution was prepared as the core fluid. A silver nitrate (AgNO 3 ) solution was exploited as sheath fluid to carry out the modified coaxial electrospinning process under varied sheath-to-core flow rate ratios. Results: Scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy demonstrated that the sheath AgNO 3 solution can take a role in reducing the nanofibers' diameters significantly, a sheath-to-core flow rate ratio of 0.1 and 0.2 resulting in PAN nanofibers with diameters of 380 ± 110 nm and 230 ± 70 nm respectively. AgNPs are well distributed on the surface of PAN nanofibers. The antibacterial experiments demonstrated that these nanofibers show strong antimicrobial activities against Bacillus subtilis Wb800, and Escherichia coli dh5α. Conclusion: Coaxial electrospinning with AgNO 3 solution as sheath fluid not only facilitates the electrospinning process, providing nanofibers with reduced diameters, but also allows functionalization of the nanofibers through coating with functional ingredients, effectively ensuring that the active antibacterial component is on the surface of the material, which leads to enhanced activity. We report an example of the systematic design, preparation, and application of a novel type of antibacterial material coated with AgNPs via a modified coaxial electrospinning methodology.

Epidermal nerves lie in close proximity to Langerhans cells (LC) and are capable of releasing peptides that modulate LC function, including calcitonin gene-related peptide and pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide. The neuropeptide vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) has also been found in cutaneous nerves and mRNA, for the VIP receptor vasoactive intestinal peptide receptor type 1, and vasoactive intestinal peptide receptor type 2 have been found in murine LC and the LC-like cell line XS106. We examined the effects of VIP on LC function and cutaneous immunity. VIP inhibited elicitation of a delayed-type hypersensitivity response in previously immunized mice by epidermal cells enriched for LC content pulsed with Ag in vitro. VIP also inhibited the ability of unseparated epidermal cells to present Ag to a T cell clone and hybridoma and the ability of highly enriched LCs to present to the T cell clone. Inhibition of presentation to the hybridoma was observed with an antigenic peptide that does not require processing, suggesting that VIP is active at a step independent of Ag processing. To elucidate the mechanism(s) by which VIP may mediate these effects, we determined the effects of VIP on LC cytokine production using the XS106 cell line as a surrogate for LC. VIP augmented the production of the IL-10 in LPS-stimulated XS106 cells while down-regulating IL-12 and IL-1β production. Thus, VIP, like pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide and calcitonin gene-related peptide, down-regulates LC function and the associated immune response.