This is the author accepted manuscript. The final version is available from Elsevier via http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jallcom.2017.04.070The pursuing aim of high reflection loss and broad frequency bandwidth for electromagnetic wave (EMW) absorbing materials is a long-term task and under a close scrutiny. To construct rational microstructures for the absorber have significant impacts on increasing reflection loss and broadening frequency bandwidth. Herein, we presented a sandwich microstructured expand graphite (EG)/BaFe12O19 (BF) nanocomposite successfully prepared by in-situ sol-gel auto-combustion method. The experimental results showed that EG/BF nanocomposite has better EMW absorbing performance than pure EG and BF, the sandwich microstructured EG/BF connected with carbon nanotubes (CNTs) could further improve the electromagnetic performance effectively. The obtained CNT/EG/BF nanocomposite exhibited a saturation magnetization of 26.5 emu g?1 at room temperature and an excellent EMW absorbing performance. The maximum reflection loss of the sandwich microstructured CNT/EG/BF composites with a thickness of 1 mm was up to ?45.8 dB and the frequency bandwidth below ?10 dB could reach to 4.2 GHz within the frequency range of 2?18 GHz. The research results indicated that the prepared nanocomposite showed great potential as a new type of microwave absorbing materialPeer reviewe

NUCB21–83 has been recently reported as an anorexigenic and anti-hyperglycemic peptide. Here we report that NUCB21–83 promotes osteogenesis. It was found after two months of once-a-day intravenous injection of NUCB21–83, bone mineral density of femora and lumbar vertebrae were increased in ovariectomized rats. NUCB21–83 also increased the alkaline phosphatase activity and promoted mineralization in mouse MC3T3-E1 preosteoblastic cell line. When either both Arg60 and Arg63 or Ser72 were mutated to Ala, the pro-osteogenic activity was completely lost, indicating that these residues are structurally important for its biological function. Furthermore, it encumbered osteoclastic differentiation of RAW 264.7 macrophage. It also excluded any possibility of the effect caused by contaminants or experimental faults, and demonstrated that the pro-osteogenic activity observed was a specific effect of NUCB21–83 itself. These findings warranted that further studies on NUCB21–83 would be valuable for the treatment of bone metabolic diseases especially for osteoporosis.

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The development of high capacity and long-life lithium-ion batteries is a long-term pursuing and under a close scrutiny. Most of the researches have been focused on exploring electrode materials and structures with high store capability of lithium ions and at the same time with a good electrical conductivity. Thermal conductivity of an electrode material will also have significant impacts on boosting battery capacity and prolonging battery lifetime, which is, however, underestimated. Here, we present the development of an expanded graphite embedded with Al metal nanoparticles (EG-MNPs-Al) synthesized by an oxidation-expansion process. The synthesized EG-MNPs-Al material exhibited a typical hierarchical structure with embedded Al metal nanoparticles into the interspaces of expanded graphite. The parallel thermal conductivity was up to 11.6 W·m−1·K−1 with a bulk density of 453 kg·m−3 at room temperature, a 150% improvement compared to expanded graphite (4.6 W·m−1·K−1) owing to the existence of Al metal nanoparticles. The first reversible capacity of EG-MNPs-Al as anode material for lithium ion battery was 480 mAh·g−1 at a current density of 100 mA·g−1, and retained 84% capacity after 300 cycles. The improved cycling stability and system security of lithium ion batteries is attributed to the excellent thermal conductivity of the EG-MNPs-Al anodes.

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