Zn–air batteries are becoming the promising power sources for portable and wearable electronic devices and hybrid/electric vehicles because of their high specific energy density and the low cost for next‐generation green and sustainable energy technologies. An air electrode integrated with an oxygen electrocatalyst is the most important component and inevitably determines the performance and cost of a Zn–air battery. This article presents exciting advances and challenges related to air electrodes and their relatives. After a brief introduction of the Zn–air battery, the architectures and oxygen electrocatalysts of air electrodes and relevant electrolytes are highlighted in primary and rechargeable types with different configurations, respectively. Moreover, the individual components and major issues of flexible Zn–air batteries are also highlighted, along with the strategies to enhance the battery performance. Finally, a perspective for design, preparation, and assembly of air electrodes is proposed for the future innovations of Zn–air batteries with high performance.

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Fusarium graminearum is a destructive wheat pathogen. No fully resistant cultivars are available. Knowledge concerning the molecular weapons of F. graminearum to achieve infection remains limited. Here, we report that deletion of the putative secondary metabolite biosynthesis gene cluster fg3_54 compromises the pathogen’s ability to infect wheat through cell-to-cell penetration. Ectopic expression of fgm4 , a pathway-specific bANK-like regulatory gene, activates the transcription of the fg3_54 cluster in vitro. We identify a linear, C- terminally reduced and d -amino acid residue-rich octapeptide, fusaoctaxin A, as the product of the two nonribosomal peptide synthetases encoded by fg3_54 . Chemically-synthesized fusaoctaxin A restores cell-to-cell invasiveness in fg3_54 -deleted F. graminearum , and enables colonization of wheat coleoptiles by two Fusarium strains that lack the fg3_54 homolog and are nonpathogenic to wheat. In conclusion, our results identify fusaoctaxin A as a virulence factor required for cell-to-cell invasion of wheat by F. graminearum .

In recent years, rechargeable Li-air and Zn-air batteries have attracted wide attention due to their high theoretical specific energy densities. However, the high cost and poor stability of noble metal catalysts for the oxygen redox reactions limit their practical large-scale application. On contrast, low-cost transition metal oxide (TMO)-based composite materials exhibit considerable bifunctional activity for oxygen reduction and oxygen evolution, and excellent stability, which holds great potential over the precious metal-based catalysts. This work briefly introduces the recent advances in TMO-based composites as bifunctional oxygen electrocatalysts for Li-air and Zn-air batteries. After a brief introduction into the research field of air batteries, metal oxides (including Co-and Mn-based oxides) and polymetallic oxides (mainly spinel and perovskite types) are reviewed. In consideration of the poor electronic conductivity of metal oxide catalysts, composites including additional conductive materials are also introduced. Finally, challenges and perspectives of bifunctional TMOs are emphasized to stimulate innovations for the future development of practical Li-air and Zn-air batteries.[a] Dr.

SummaryWe investigated the effects of early rehabilitation therapy on prolonged mechanically ventilated patients after coronary artery bypass surgery (CABG).A total of 106 patients who underwent CABG between June 2012 and May 2015 were enrolled and randomly assigned into an early rehabilitation group (53 cases) and a control group (53 cases). The rehabilitation therapy consisted of 6 steps including head up, transferring from supination to sitting, sitting on the edge of bed, sitting in a chair, transferring from sitting to standing, and walking along a bed. The patients received rehabilitation therapy in the intensive care unit (ICU) after CABG in the early rehabilitation group. The control group patients received rehabilitation therapy after leaving the ICU.The results showed that the early rehabilitation therapy could significantly decrease the duration of mechanical ventilation (early rehabilitation group: 8.1 ± 3.3 days; control group: 13.9 ± 4.1 days, P < 0.01), hospital stay (early rehabilitation group: 22.0 ± 3.8 days; control group: 29.1 ± 4.6 days, P < 0.01), and ICU stay (early rehabilitation group: 11.7 ± 3.2 days; control group: 18.3 ± 4.2 days, P < 0.01) for patients requiring more than 72 hours prolonged mechanical ventilation. The results of Kaplan-Meier analysis showed that the proportions of patients remaining on mechanical ventilation in the early rehabilitation group were larger than that in the control group after 7 days of rehabilitation therapy (logrank test: P < 0.01).The results provide evidence for supporting the application of early rehabilitation therapy in patients requiring prolonged mechanical ventilation after CABG. (Int Heart J 2016; 57: 241-246) Key words: Postoperative recovery, Hospital stay, Randomized controlled trial, Intensive care unit C oronary artery disease is the primary cause of death worldwide. 1) Coronary artery bypass surgery (CABG) is commonly used for patients with severe coronary artery disease at the left anterior descending artery, circumflex artery, and right coronary artery.2,3) Cardiac rehabilitation is used for improving functional capacity and reducing cardiovascular mortality and morbidity in patients undergoing CABG. [4][5][6] Previous studies have shown that rehabilitation therapy could significantly reduce the length of hospitalization time, costs and complications, promote cardiac function recovery, and improve the quality of life in patients who underwent CABG. [7][8][9][10][11] Mechanical ventilation was routinely applied after CABG to reduce the power consumption of the respiratory system and the cardiac burden to improve postoperative cardiac recovery. [12][13][14] Due to a system of risk factors (such as the duration of surgery, anesthesia, clinical condition, mode of ventilator therapy, and method of weaning from mechanical ventilation), many patients should receive prolonged mechanical ventilation. [15][16][17] It was reported that the prolonged mechanical ventilation could prolong the hospital and intensive care unit (ICU) stay, 18) incre...

Background. The microglia cell transfer has been shown to play a protective role in ischemic stroke. Microglia cells may play this nerve-protective role via the promotion of angiogenesis. However, the underlying mechanisms are largely unknown and need further investigation. Objectives. The aim of this study was to investigate the pro-angiogenesis effects of unpolarized, interleukin 4 (IL-4)-polarized or lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-polarized BV2 microglia cells both in vivo and in vitro. We also investigated the potential mechanisms of these pro-angiogenesis effects. Material and methods. BV2 cells were polarized using phosphate-buffered saline (PBS), LPS or IL-4, respectively. The gene expression pattern was analyzed with reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). The transfer of polarized BV2 cells was performed with an intravenous injection into mice 45 min after the middle cerebral artery (MCA) occlusion. Angiogenin expression was assessed with immunofluorescence. We also examined the angiogenesis effect of polarized BV2 cells and their exosomes through 3-dimensional co-cultures in vitro. Finally, the microRNA (miRNA) profiles of exosomes released by BV2 cells under different polarization conditions were examined using miRNA microarray. Results. The IL-4-polarized BV2 transplantation promoted angiogenin expression in the ischemic brain. Interleukin 4-polarized microglia increased the tube formation of endothelial cells by secreting exosomes. The miRNA profiles of exosomes released by BV2 cells under different polarization conditions were different. Exosomes from IL-4-polarized BV2 cells contained higher amounts of miRNA-26a compared to those from the LPS-polarized and unpolarized BV2 cells. Conclusions. Interleukin 4-polarized microglia cells might ameliorate the damage caused by ischemic stroke by promoting angiogenesis through the secretion of exosomes containing miRNA-26a.

BACKGROUND: For patients in intensive care unit (ICU), mechanical ventilation is an effective treatment to survive from acute illness and improve survival rates. However, long periods of bed rest and restricted physical activity can result in side effects. This study aimed to investigate the feasibility of early rehabilitation therapy in patients with mechanical ventilation. METHODS:A randomized controlled trial was carried out. Sixty patients, with tracheal intubation or tracheostomy more than 48 hours and less than 72 hours, were admitted to the ICU of the Affi liated Hospital of Medical College, Qingdao University, from May 2010 to May 2012. These patients were randomly divided into a rehabilitation group and a control group. In the rehabilitation group, rehabilitation therapy was performed twice daily, and the training time and intensity were adjusted according to the condition of the patients. Early rehabilitation therapy included heading up actively, transferring from the supine position to sitting position, sitting at the edge of the bed, sitting in chair, transferring from sitting to standing, and ambulating bedside. The patient's body mass index, days to fi rst out of bed, duration of mechanical ventilation, length of ICU stay, APACHE II score, highest FiO 2 , lowest PaO 2 /FiO 2 and hospital mortality of patients were all compared between the rehabilitation group and the control group. The differences between the two groups were compared using Student's t test. RESULTS:There was no signifi cant difference in body mass index, APACHE II score, highest CONCLUSION: Early rehabilitation therapy was feasible and effective in improving the outcomes of patients with mechanical ventilation.

The rate of apoptosis in PC-2 cells was higher after treatment with butoxamine than propranolol, suggesting that propranolol induces apoptosis in PC-2 cells via the beta2-adrenoceptors principally. Our data could be useful for developing beta-adrenoceptor antagonists for inducing apoptosis in pancreatic cancer cells.