Jiabin Liu

Evading the strength- ductility trade-off dilemma in steel through gradient hierarchical nanotwins

The strength–ductility trade-off has been a long-standing dilemma in materials science. This has limited the potential of many structural materials, steels in particular. Here we report a way of enhancing the strength of twinning-induced plasticity steel at no ductility trade-off. After applying torsion to cylindrical twinning-induced plasticity steel samples to generate a gradient nanotwinned structure along the radial direction, we find that the yielding strength of the material can be doubled at no reduction in ductility. It is shown that this evasion of strength–ductility trade-off is due to the formation of a gradient hierarchical nanotwinned structure during pre-torsion and subsequent tensile deformation. A series of finite element simulations based on crystal plasticity are performed to understand why the gradient twin structure can cause strengthening and ductility retention, and how sequential torsion and tension lead to the observed hierarchical nanotwinned structure through activation of different twinning systems.

Enhanced antitumor activity by a selective conditionally replicating adenovirus combining with MDA-7/interleukin-24 for B-lymphoblastic leukemia via induction of apoptosis

Conditionally replicating adenoviruses (CRAds) represent a promising new platform for anticancer therapy. However, CRAds have been evaluated little in hematopoietic malignancies because of the lack of expression of coxsackie adenovirus receptor (CAR) on their cell surface. In this study, we showed that CAR was expressed on two types of lymphoblastic leukemia cell lines and primary leukemia cells, and that ZD55, a CRAd, exerted a potent antileukemia effect in vitro and in vivo. Furthermore, ZD55 expressing melanoma differentiation-associated gene-7/interleukin-24 (ZD55-IL-24) elicited significant enhanced antileukemia activity comparing with ZD55, concomitant with upregulation of RNA-dependent protein kinase R (PKR), increased phosphorylation of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), and induction of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress. These data for the first time indicate that MDA-7/IL-24 exerts its antitumor effect on leukemia cells via multiple pathways, and suggest that oncolytic adenoviruses, ZD55 and ZD55-IL-24 could potentially be used against CAR-expressing hematological malignancies such as B-lymphoblastic leukemia/lymphoma and some myeloid leukemia.

In situ growth of FeS microsheet networks with enhanced electrochemical performance for lithium-ion batteries

A facile solution-based approach has been developed for the preparation of mackinawite FeS microsheet networks directly on Fe foil. It is found that sulfur sources significantly impact the uniformity and purity of the products, while ethylenediamine as a strong donor ligand plays an important role in the formation of FeS microsheet networks. For comparison, numerous FeS microspheres are obtained in the absence of ethylenediamine. The FeS microsheet networks deliver a promising Li storage capacity (772 mA h g−1 at the 1st cycle and 697 mA h g−1 at the 20th cycle), much higher than that of the FeS microspheres. The enhanced electrochemical performance of the FeS microsheet networks can be attributed to their layered structure and unique morphology, which possess a larger electrode–electrolyte contact area, shorter diffusion length of the ions and easier transportation of the electrons.

Effects of alfalfa and cereal straw as a forage source on nutrient digestibility and lactation performance in lactating dairy cows.

This study was conducted to investigate the nutrient digestibility and lactation performance when alfalfa was replaced with rice straw or corn stover in the diet of lactating cows. Forty-five multiparous Holstein dairy cows were blocked based on days in milk (164 ± 24.8 d; mean ± standard deviation) and milk yield (29.7 ± 4.7 kg; mean ± standard deviation) and were randomly assigned to 1 of 3 treatments. Diets were isonitrogenous, with a forage-to-concentrate ratio of 45:55 [dry matter (DM) basis] and contained identical concentrate mixtures and 15% corn silage, with different forage sources (on a DM basis): 23% alfalfa hay and 7% Chinese wild rye hay (AH), 30% corn stover (CS), and 30% rice straw (RS). The experiment was conducted over a 14-wk period, with the first 2 wk for adaptation. The DM intake of the cows was not affected by forage source. Yield of milk, milk fat, protein, lactose, and total solids was higher in cows fed diets of AH than diets of RS or CS, with no difference between RS and CS. Contents of milk protein and total solids were higher in AH than in RS, with no difference between CS and AH or RS. Feed efficiency (milk yield/DM intake) was highest for cows fed AH, followed by RS and CS. Cows fed AH excreted more urinary purine derivatives, indicating that the microbial crude protein yield may be higher for the AH diet than for RS and CS, which may be attributed to the higher content of fermentable carbohydrates in AH than in RS and CS. Total-tract apparent digestibilities of all the nutrients were higher in cows fed the AH diet than those fed CS and RS. The concentration of rumen volatile fatty acids was higher in the AH diet than in CS or RS diets, with no difference between CS and RS diets. When the cereal straw was used to replace alfalfa as a main forage source for lactating cows, the shortage of fermented energy may have reduced the rumen microbial protein synthesis, resulting in lower milk protein yield, and lower nutrient digestibility may have restricted milk production.

Molecular diversity analysis of rumen methanogenic Archaea from goat in eastern China by DGGE methods using different primer pairs.

Aims:  To screen a pair of primers suitable for denaturing gradient gel electrophoretic (DGGE) analysis of ruminal methanogenic Archaea and to detect the archaeal communities in the rumen of goat.

Spatially-confined lithiation–delithiation in highly dense nanocomposite anodes towards advanced lithium-ion batteries

Spatially-confined electrochemical reactions are firstly realized in a highly dense nanocomposite anode for high performance lithium ion batteries. The spatially-confined lithiation–delithiation effectively avoids inter-cluster migration and perfectly retains full structural integrity. Large reversible capacity, high rate capability and superior cycling stability are achieved simultaneously. This spatially-confined lithiation–delithiation offers novel insight to enhance cycling performance of high capacity anode materials.

Template-directed synthesis of pyrite (FeS2) nanorod arrays with an enhanced photoresponse

A high solar conversion efficiency is the key characteristic required for any semiconductor material to be a candidate for photovoltaic applications. Although pyrite (FeS2) is considered a promising candidate because of its extremely high light absorption coefficient, its solar conversion efficiency still remains below 3%. We report here the design of a novel one-dimensional pyrite nanostructure to enhance the photoresponsive properties of pyrite. Well-aligned pyrite nanorod arrays were successfully grown on a transparent and conductive glass substrate of fluorine-doped tin oxide using a template-directed method. ZnO nanorod arrays were used as the initial template to produce Fe(OH)3 nanotube arrays and then the Fe(OH)3 nanotube arrays were used as a template to produce pyrite nanorod arrays. The pyrite nanorods had an average diameter of 130 nm and a length of 600 nm. The prepared pyrite nanorod films showed outstanding light absorption and enhanced photocurrents compared with nanoparticle FeS2 films. The excellent optical and photoelectrical performance of FeS2 nanorod films is attributed to the unique one-dimensional ordered architecture, which has large surface areas for light harvest and provides a direct and short pathway for charge transport, reducing the combination loss of photoelectrons. The method offers a new strategy for designing nanostructured materials with one-dimensional ordered architectures for high-performance photovoltaic devices.

Effects of Saccharomyces cerevisiae fermentation product on in vitro fermentation and microbial communities of low-quality forages and mixed diets1

Two experiments were conducted to investigate the effects of a Saccharomyces cerevisiae fermentation product (XP, Diamond V, Cedar Rapids, IA) on in vitro ruminal fermentation of single forage and mixed diets. In Exp. 1, an in vitro test was used to determine the effects of various concentrations (0, 1, 2, and 3 g/L) of XP on ruminal fermentation of the major forage sources of China (rice straw, RS; corn stover, CS; corn silage without grain, CSNG; and corn silage with grain, CSG). Total VFA reached a peak at 1 g/L XP for RS, CSNG, and CSG and increased linearly (P < 0.01) for CS. The molar proportion of acetate decreased and propionate increased linearly (P < 0.01) with an increasing amount of XP for RS, CS, and CSNG. Microbial protein (MCP) increased linearly (P < 0.01) with an increasing level of XP for RS, and it reached peak values at 1 and 2 g/L XP for CSG and CSNG, respectively. Fungi population was increased (P < 0.05) with 1 g/L XP for all forages except CSNG. The population of Ruminococcus flavefaciens increased (P < 0.05) at 1 or 2 g/L XP for RS, CSNG, and CSG. In Exp. 2, the effects of 3 concentrations of XP (0, 1, and 2 g/L) were tested on in vitro ruminal fermentation of 3 mixed diets with various ingredient combinations: 1) CSC (corn:soybean meal:corn stover = 33:22:45), 2) CSCC (corn:soybean meal:corn stover:corn silage = 33:22:22.5:22.5), and 3) CSCCA (corn:soybean meal:corn stover:corn silage:alfalfa = 33:22:19:21:5). Total VFA concentrations were influenced by diets (P < 0.01) and were enhanced linearly by increasing concentrations of XP (P < 0.01). The molar proportion of acetate was reduced (P < 0.01), but the propionate proportion was enhanced with increasing concentrations of XP (P < 0.01). Ammonia N was decreased and MCP was increased by the addition of XP (linear, P < 0.01; quadratic, P < 0.05). The fungi population was greater with XP addition (quadratic, P < 0.01). The percentage of R. albus was affected by diets (P < 0.01), the level of XP (linear and quadratic, P < 0.01), and their interaction (P < 0.01). From these 2 in vitro studies, it is inferred that the addition of XP could improve the rumen fermentation of forages and mixed diets by stimulating the number of fiber-digesting rumen microbes, especially fungi populations.

Porcine adipose triglyceride lipase complementary deoxyribonucleic acid clone, expression pattern, and regulation by resveratrol

Adipose triglyceride lipase (ATGL) was recently identified and described as a major novel triglyceride lipase in animals. In this study, we aimed to study the tissue-specific and developmental expression pattern of porcine ATGL (pATGL) and the effect of resveratrol (RES) on expression of pATGL in vitro. The full-length cDNA sequence of pATGL was 1,958 bp (accession no. EF583921), with a 1,458-bp open reading frame encoding a 486-AA protein (the predicted molecular mass of 53.2 kDa, accession no. ABS58651). Comparison of the deduced AA sequence with the bovine, mouse, rat, dog, and human adipose triglyceride lipase showed 87, 84, 83, 81, and 80% similarity, respectively. Furthermore, the pATGL was highly expressed in porcine adipose tissue, to a lesser degree in kidney, heart, and muscle, and least but detectable in brain. In s.c. adipose tissue, pATGL mRNA was low at birth (1 kg of BW) and then increased, reaching a maximal value at 20 kg of BW (approximately 8 wk old; P < 0.01). In peritoneal and omental adipose tissue, the greatest expression of pATGL was observed at 40 kg of BW (approximately 12 wk old). In vitro, exposure of cultured adipocytes to 40 and 80 muM RES for 24 h increased the mRNA levels of pATGL by 95.3% (P < 0.05) and 146.8% (P < 0.01), respectively. Accordingly, lipid accumulation was decreased by 25.7% (P < 0.05) and 60.8% (P < 0.01), respectively. When treated with RES for 48 h, the mRNA levels of pATGL were increased by 104.1% (P < 0.05) and 163.1% (P < 0.01), respectively. As expected, lipid accumulation was decreased by 9.7% (P > 0.05) and 29.0% (P < 0.05), respectively. These results add to our understanding of the role of pATGL in adipose tissue development and as a potential target for regulating fat deposition and meat quality.

Oral allergy syndrome and anaphylactic reactions in BALB/c mice caused by soybean glycinin and β-conglycinin

Background Soybean protein is used in a number of food products but is also a common cause of food allergy. Soybean glycinin and β‐conglycinin represent up to one‐third of protein in the soybean. Many reports have indicated that glycinin and β‐conglycinin have been characterized as major soybean allergens involved in food hypersensitivity.