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Carbon fluoride/graphene oxide/polyacrylonitrile (CF x/GO/PAN, denoted as CGP) electrodes are prepared for lithium primary and sodium secondary batteries. The introduction of GO sheets and PAN built a sandwich-like structure. The rate performances of Li/CGP batteries verify that PAN and GO materials have negligible effects on the electrochemical properties of lithium primary batteries. In Na/CGP batteries, GO sheets have more defects to facilitate sodium ions transfer and offer more active sites for NaF deposition and decomposition. Meanwhile, the GO network coating of the CF x particles confines active fluorine during the cycles. Cubic and nanoscale discharge products of NaF form both on the surface of CF x particles and the GO sheets, respectively. Na/CGF batteries achieve an initial discharge capacity of 507.0 mAh g−1 and a voltage polarization of 0.75 V, except in the first cycle. These results demonstrate that CGP electrodes with a sandwich-like structure have favorable electrochemical properties, resulting in the synergetic effect of GO sheets and PAN. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Warburg effect is characterized by an increased utilization of glucose via glycolysis in cancer cells, even when enough oxygen is present to properly respire. Recent studies demonstrate that deregulation of microRNAs contributes to the Warburg effect. In the present study, we show that miR-144 is downregulated while glucose transporter 1 (Glut1) is upregulated in ovarian cancers. In vitro studies further showed that miR-144 inhibits Glut1 expression through targeting its 3′-untranslated region. As a result, cells overexpressing miR-144 exhibited a metabolic shift, including enhanced glucose uptake and lactate production. The altered glucose metabolism induced by miR-144 also leads to a rapid growth of ovarian cancer cells. Taken together, our results indicate that miR-144 may serve as a molecular switch to regulate glycolysis in ovarian cancer by targeting the expression of Glut1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Graphene nanosheets (GNS) were employed as an air electrode for a sodium–air battery (SAB). High discharge capacity of 9268 mA h g−1 with low overpotential was achieved, indicating its superiority to a normal carbon film electrode. Our results indicate that GNS as air electrodes could improve the electrochemical performance of rechargeable SABs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highly active and stable electrocatalysts at low cost for hydrogen evolution reaction are essential for large scale hydrogen production. The Ni 3 P-Ni heterostructure confined in 3D networks of carbon nanotube (CNT) has been successfully prepared as the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) electrode. The morphology and phase composition of Ni 3 P-Ni heterostructure are tunable by varying the acid pickling time. The Ni 3 P-Ni/CNT composite electrode with optimized Ni:Ni 3 P ratio of 22.29 wt% demonstrate high catalytic activity and excellent stability for HER. It demonstrates a comparable HER activity to the standard Pt electrode in alkaline solution, i.e., overpotentials of 116 vs 67 mV at 10 mA·cm−2 and Tafel slops of 59 vs 37 mV·dec−1. No degradation is observed after 1000 cyclic voltammetry (CV) cycles or 50 h operation under constant 0.3 V overpotential. • Pickling affects the morphology of heterogeneous structure and the content of Ni. • The Ni 3 P-Ni heterostructure was anchored to the carbon nanotube network by ball milling. • The electrode was prepared by mixing with PTFE and pressing. • The results show that Ni 3 P-Ni/CNT electrode has the best hydrogen evolution activity when the Ni/Ni 3 P ratio is 22.29 %. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]