IL-1β-secreting nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain protein 3 (NLRP3) inflammasomes play a pivotal role in triggering innate immune responses in metabolic disease. We investigated the role of soluble uric acid in NLRP3 inflammasome activation in macrophages to demonstrate the effect of systemic hyperuricemia on progressive kidney damage in type 2 diabetes. THP-1 cells, human acute monocytic leukemia cells, were cultured to obtain macrophages, and HK-2 cells, human renal proximal tubule cells, were cultured and stimulated with uric acid. In vivo, we designed four rat groups as follows: 1) Long-Evans Tokushima Otsuka (LETO); 2) Otsuka Long-Evans Tokushima Fatty (OLETF); 3) OLETF+high-fructose diet (HFD) for 16 wk; and 4) OLETF+HFD+allopurinol (10 mg/dl administered in the drinking water). Soluble uric acid stimulated NLRP3 inflammasomes to produce IL-1β in macrophages. Uric acid-induced MitoSOX mediates NLRP3 activation and IL-1β secretion. IL-1β from macrophages activates NF-κB in cocultured proximal tubular cells. In vivo, intrarenal IL-1β expression and macrophage infiltration increased in HFD-fed OLETF rats. Lowering the serum uric acid level resulted in improving the albuminuria, tubular injury, macrophage infiltration, and renal IL-1β (60% of HFD-fed OLETF) independently of glycemic control. Direct activation of proximal tubular cells by uric acid resulted in (C-X-C motif) ligand 12 and high mobility group box-1 release and accelerated macrophage recruitment and the M1 phenotype. Taken together, these data support direct roles of hyperuricemia in activating NLRP3 inflammasomes in macrophages, promoting chemokine signaling in the proximal tubule and contributing to the progression of diabetic nephropathy through cross talk between macrophages and proximal tubular cells.
First-principles calculation and x-ray diffraction simulation methods have been used to explore crystal structures and reaction mechanisms of the intermediate phases involved in dehydriding of LiBH 4 . LiBH 4 was found to dehydride via two sequential steps: first dehydriding through LiBH, followed by the dehydriding of LiBH through LiB. The first step, which releases 13.1 wt. % hydrogen, was calculated to have an activation barrier of 2.33 eV per formula unit and was endothermic by 1.28 eV per formula unit, while the second step was endothermic by 0.23 eV per formula unit. On the other hand, if LiBH 4 and LiBH each donated one electron, possibly to the catalyst doped on their surfaces, it was found that the barrier for the first step was reduced to 1.50 eV. This implies that the development of the catalyst to induce charge migration from the bulk to the surface is essential to make LiBH 4 usable as a hydrogen storage material in a moderate temperature range, which is also important to stabilize the low-temperature structure of Pnma ͑no. 62͒ LiBH on dehydrogenation. Consequently, the high 13.1 wt. % hydrogen available from the dehydriding of LiBH 4 and LiBH and their phase stability on Pnma when specific catalysts were used suggest that LiBH 4 has good potential to be developed as the hydrogen storage medium capable of releasing the Department of Energy target of 6.5 wt. % for a hydrogen fuel cell car in a moderate temperature range. © 2005 American Institute of Physics. ͓DOI: 10.1063/1.2042632͔There is great interest in small and lightweight hydrogen storage materials. 1,2 Hydrogen fuel, which can be produced from renewable energy sources, contains a much larger chemical energy per mass ͑142 MJ kg −1 ͒ than any hydrocarbon fuel, thus making a hydrogen fuel cell an attractive alternative to the internal combustion engine for transportation. A hydrogen fuel cell car needs to store at least 4 kg hydrogen to cover the same range as a gasoline-powered car. 1 On the other hand, to store this hydrogen at room temperature and atmospheric pressure requires such a large volume that corresponds to a balloon with a 4.5 m diameter, which is hardly a practical volume for a small vehicle. To reduce this problem, one could consider using liquid hydrogen for hydrogen storage since it has a high mass density 1 ͑70.8 kg m −3 ͒. However, to liquefy hydrogen requires expensive processes due to its low condensation temperature 1 ͑−252°C at 1 bar͒. An additional problem is that heat transfer through the available modern containers can result in a loss of up to 40% of the energy content in hydrogen. 3 Currently, in this respect, there is much interest in storing hydrogen on advanced carbons and lightweight metals. Dillon et al. 4 reported that 6 -8 wt. % hydrogen was stored in singlewalled nanotubes ͑SWNTs͒. However, controversial results 5,6 have been reported concerning the true hydrogen storage capacity on advanced carbons. Hirscher and his coworkers 5 argued against Dillon's report by showing that titanium hydrides in the SWNT stor...
Improving the efficiency of kesterite (Cu 2 ZnSn(S,Se) 4 ; CZTSSe) solar cells requires understanding the effects of Na doping. This paper investigates these effects by applying a NaF layer at various positions within precursors. The NaF position is important because Na produces Na-related defects in the absorber and suppresses the formation of intrinsic defects. By investigating precursors with various NaF positions, the sulfo-selenization mechanism and the characteristics of defect formation are confirmed. Applying a NaF layer onto a Zn layer in a CZTSSe precursor limits Zn diffusion and suppresses Cu-Zn alloy formation, thus changing the sulfo-selenization mechanism. In addition, the surface NaF layer provides reactive Se and S to the absorber layer by generating Na 2 Se x and Na 2 S x liquid phases during sulfo-selenization, thus limiting the incorporation of Na into the absorber and reducing the Na effects. Efficiency values of 11.16% and 11.19% are obtained for a flexible CZTSSe solar cell by applying NaF between the Zn layer and back contact and between the Cu and Sn layers, respectively. This study presents methods for doping with alkali metals and improving the efficiency of photovoltaics.
Nickel oxide-encapsulated hollow carbon nitride spheres with multiporosity show an ∼250% enhancement in capacitance, in addition to their robust cycle life.
Interaction of a transition metal atom with defects in single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) were investigated through density functional theory calculations. For three kinds of intrinsic defects (single vacancies, double vacancies and Stone-Wales defects) in (5,5) armchair and (10,0) zigzag SWNTs, stable configurations were analyzed. The orientation of the specific bonds of the defects is related to the most stable configuration among several possible configurations. The stable adsorption sites and binding energies of a Ni atom on three intrinsic defects were calculated and compared to those on perfect side walls. All defects enhance Ni adsorption, and the single vacancy shows the most exothermic binding. These results shed light on the nature of the interaction of the transition metal with defects in SWNT, an important topic to the many aspects of carbon nanotubes interacting with transition metals. Particularly, this is useful for the fabrication of nanosized transition metal particles supported on carbon nanotubes.
Due to its excellent capacity, around 4000 mA h g 21 , silicon has been recognized as one of the most promising lithium-ion battery anodes, especially for future large-scale applications including electrical vehicles and utility power grids. Nevertheless, Si suffers from a short cycle life as well as limitations for scalable electrode fabrication. Herein, we report a novel design for highly robust and scalable Si anodes: Si nanoparticles embedded in porous nitrogen-doped carbon spheres (NCSs). The porous nature of NCSs buffers the volume changes of Si nanoparticles and thus resolves critical issues of Si anode operations, such as pulverization, vulnerable contacts between Si and carbon conductors, and an unstable solid-electrolyte interphase. The unique electrode structure exhibits outstanding performance with a gravimetric capacity as high as 1579 mA h g 21 at a C/10 rate based on the mass of both Si and C, a cycle life of 300 cycles with 94% capacity retention, as well as a discharge rate capability of 6 min while retaining a capacity of 702 mA h g 21 . Significantly, the coulombic efficiencies of this structure reach 99.99%. The assembled structure suggests a design principle for high capacity alloying electrodes that suffer from volume changes during battery operations.
In recent decades, a conducting polymer film: poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) polymerized with poly(4-styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS) has been employed as an essential component of flexible electronics used in practical products, owing to obvious advantages of its electrical and mechanical properties. Generally, the PEDOT:PSS shows an high electrical conductivity (>1000 S cm −1), deep work function (>5.0 eV), and good compatibility with other materials such as organic dopants, carbon nanomaterials, and inorganic nanowires, which has opened limitless possibilities for electronic application such as electrodes, charge transport layers, and thermoelectric active materials. [1-8] Some organic dopants include polar solvent additives such as dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) and glycerol that contribute to a decrease in the Coulomb interactions between PEDOT and PSS chains and changed molecular arrangement of the PEDOT and PSS chains. [9] In addition, some non-ionic polymer surfactants have also been utilized to increase electrical conductivity of the PEDOT:PSS films by forming interconnected PEDOT networks in the PEDOT:PSS films. [10] Despite excellent electrical and mechanical properties, practical application of poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) polymerized with poly(4-styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS) face the challenge of ensuring air stability in electronic industry. Here, degradation mechanism of PEDOT:PSS-based films in air is clearly demonstrated through X-ray/ultraviolet photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS/ UPS) and its depth-profiling technique. As the duration of air-exposure increases, the PEDOT:PSS-based films alter molecular structures with the formation of SO x bond in PEDOT and CN x bond growth, changing ratios of insulating part (PSS − , PSSH, oxidized PEDOT) to conducting part and deteriorating their electrical conductivities. These transition behaviors are similar in all PEDOT:PSS-based films regardless of additives such as dopant or multi-walled carbon nanotube. Additionally, methanol treatment to various PEDOT:PSS-based films for inducing conformational change between PEDOT and PSS molecules, partly restore the electrical properties of the denatured PEDOT:PSS films. Finally, thermoelectric properties of the PEDOT:PSS-based films are characterized by investigating the effects of air-aging and methanol treatment on electrical conductivities, Seebeck coefficients, and power factors. To sum up, this study provides a useful guideline for establishing a strategy to ensure air stability of PEDOT:PSS-based films by clarifying the degradation mechanism and property recovery methods.
Background: Anti-phospholipase A2 receptor antibody (PLA2R-Ab) is useful in diagnosing idiopathic membranous nephropathy (IMN). We investigated the clinical relevance of PLA2R-Ab enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in patients with IMN. Methods: We measured PLA2R-Ab with an ELISA kit from the serum of 160 patients with IMN (n = 93), secondary MN (n = 14) and other glomerulonephritis (n = 41) as well as healthy controls (n = 12) at the time of renal biopsy and investigated the correlation of titers of PLA2R-Ab with clinical parameters. Results: PLA2R-Ab was positive in 41 of 93 patients (44.1%) with IMN. No samples from the patients with secondary MN and other glomerulonephritis or healthy controls were positive with the ELISA test. The PLA2R-Ab-positive patients showed severe disease activity and a low remission rate. The PLA2R-Ab titer positively correlated with proteinuria and was negatively associated with renal function and serum albumin. The patients with a high titer of PLA2R-Ab had significantly decreased remission rates. The cumulative probabilities of remission was significantly lower in patients with PLA2R-Ab (p = 0.01) and even so in patients with a high titer of PLA2R-Ab (p = 0.04). When we compared the ELISA titers with Western blot (WB) data of 43 patients who had been enrolled in our previous study, 18 and 30 patients were positive on ELISA (41.9%) and WB (69.8%), respectively. WB and ELISA had a concordance rate of 72.1% and were positively correlated (r = 0.590, p < 0.001). Conclusion: The presence, as well as a high titer, of PLA2R-Ab on ELISA was associated with poor prognosis of IMN. Assessment of PLA2R-Ab with ELISA is an easy and reliable tool for the diagnosis and guidance of therapeutic plans.
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