A direct conversion receiver with optimized tolerance to local carrier interference is designed and implemented in a 0.18μm 1P6M mixed-signal CMOS process for a 900MHz RFID reader transceiver. A baseband amplifier wi...A direct conversion receiver with optimized tolerance to local carrier interference is designed and implemented in a 0.18μm 1P6M mixed-signal CMOS process for a 900MHz RFID reader transceiver. A baseband amplifier with series feedback topology is proposed to achieve passive mixer buffering,baseband DC cancellation,and signal amplification simultaneously. The receiver has a measured input ldB compression point of - 4dBm and a sensitivity of - 70dBm when 10dB SNR for digital demodulation is required. The receiver is integrated in a reader transceiver chip and consumes 90mA from a 1.8V supply.展开更多
An automatic IQ phase calibration method implemented in a 2.4GHz direct conversion receiver is proposed. It uses a delay locked loop （DLL） with a proposed quadrature phase detector to greatly reduce the phase error....An automatic IQ phase calibration method implemented in a 2.4GHz direct conversion receiver is proposed. It uses a delay locked loop （DLL） with a proposed quadrature phase detector to greatly reduce the phase error. The receiver is fabricated in a 0.18μm CMOS process. Measurements show that the IQ phase error can be calibrated within 1°,which satisfies the system requirement.展开更多
Direct conversion of methane using a metal-loaded ZSM-5 zeolite prepared viaacidic ion exchange was investigated to elucidate the roles of metal and acidity in the formation ofliquid hydrocarbons. ZSM-5 (SiO_2/Al_2O_3...Direct conversion of methane using a metal-loaded ZSM-5 zeolite prepared viaacidic ion exchange was investigated to elucidate the roles of metal and acidity in the formation ofliquid hydrocarbons. ZSM-5 (SiO_2/Al_2O_3=30) was loaded with different metals (Cr, Cu and Ga)according to the acidic ion-exchange method to produce metal-loaded ZSM-5 zeolite catalysts. XRD,NMR, FT-IR and N_2 adsorption analyses indicated that Cr and Ga species managed to occupy thealuminum positions in the ZSM-5 framework. In addition, Cr species were deposited in the pores ofthe structure. However, Cu oxides were deposited on the surface and in the mesopores of the ZSM-5zeolite. An acidity study using TPD-NH_3, FT-IR, and IR-pyridine analyses revealed that the totalnumber of acid sites and the strengths of the Broensted and Lewis acid sites were significantlydifferent after the acidic ion exchange treatment. Cu loaded HZSM-5 is a potential catalyst fordirect conversion of methane to liquid hydrocarbons. The successful production of gasoline via thedirect conversion of methane depends on the amount of aluminum in the zeolite framework and thestrength of the Broensted acid sites.展开更多
CexZr1-xO2 mixed oxides with different Ce/Zr ratios were prepared by coprecipitation. The characterizations of mixed oxides were studied by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and H2-TPR. And the performances were tested in a fix...CexZr1-xO2 mixed oxides with different Ce/Zr ratios were prepared by coprecipitation. The characterizations of mixed oxides were studied by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and H2-TPR. And the performances were tested in a fixed-bed quartz reactor. The results indicated that lattice oxygen of CexZr1-xO2 could oxidate methane to syngas and the incorporation of zirconium into the ceria lattice could improve the O2- mobility. The Ce0.7Zr0.3O2 had the best activity in investigative temperature ranging from 600 to 900 ℃. Effects of reaction time on H2/CO ratio were studied at 850 ℃ when using Ce0.7Zr0.3O2 as catalyst. The results indicated that the ratio was closed to 2 values in the first 10 min, however, it rapidly increased with reaction time after >10 min. The possible reason was that the direct partial oxidation of methane reaction was dominant in the first 10 min. However, the methane pyrogenation was responsible for the rapid increase of H2/CO ratio after 10 min. Thus, if syngas with H2/CO ratio of 2 wanted to be obtained, the reaction time needed to be controlled.展开更多
A convenient method for methane(CH_(4))direct conversion to methanol(CH_(3)OH)is of great significance to use methane-rich resources,especially clathrates and stranded shale gas resources located in remote regions.The...A convenient method for methane(CH_(4))direct conversion to methanol(CH_(3)OH)is of great significance to use methane-rich resources,especially clathrates and stranded shale gas resources located in remote regions.Theoretically,the activation of CH_(4) and the selectivity to the CH_(3)OH product are challenging due to the extreme stability of CH_(4) and relatively high reactivity of CH_(3)OH.The state-of-the-art‘methane reforming-methanol synthesis’process adopts a two-step strategy to avoid the further reaction of CH_(3)OH under the harsh conditions required for CH_(4) activation.In the electrochemical field,researchers are trying to develop conversion pathways under mild conditions.They have found suitable catalysts to activate the C–H bonds in methane with the help of external charge and have designed the electrode reactions to continuously generate certain active oxygen species.These active oxygen species attack the activated methane and convert it to CH_(3)OH,with the benefit of avoiding over-oxidation of CH_(3)OH,and thus obtain a high conversion efficiency of CH_(4) to CH_(3)OH.This mini-review focuses on the advantages and challenges of electrochemical conversion of CH4 to CH_(3)OH,especially the strategies for supplying electro-generated active oxygen species in-situ to react with the activated methane.展开更多
Identifying approaches for treating neurodegeneration is a thorny task but is important for a growing number of patients.Researchers have focused on discovering the underlying molecular mechanisms of reprogramming and...Identifying approaches for treating neurodegeneration is a thorny task but is important for a growing number of patients.Researchers have focused on discovering the underlying molecular mechanisms of reprogramming and optimizing the technologies for acquiring neurons.Direct conversion is one of the most important processes for treating neurological disorders.Induced neurons derived from direct conversion,which bypass the pluripotency stage,are more effective,more quickly obtained,and are safer than those produced via induced pluripotent stem cells(iPSCs).Based on iPSC strategies,scientists have derived methods to obtain functional neurons by direct conversion,such as neuron-related transcriptional factors,small molecules.microRNAs,and epigenetic modifiers.In this review,we discuss the present strategies for direct conversion of somatic cells into functional neurons and the potentials of direct conversion for producing functional neurons and treating neurodeeeneration.展开更多
A characteristic of neurological disorders is the loss of critical populations of cells that the body is unable to replace,thus there has been much interest in identifying methods of generating clinically relevant num...A characteristic of neurological disorders is the loss of critical populations of cells that the body is unable to replace,thus there has been much interest in identifying methods of generating clinically relevant numbers of cells to replace those that have been damaged or lost.The process of neural direct conversion,in which cells of one lineage are converted into cells of a neural lineage without first inducing pluripotency,shows great potential,with evidence of the generation of a range of functional neural cell types both in vitro and in vivo,through viral and non-viral delivery of exogenous factors,as well as chemical induction methods.Induced neural cells have been proposed as an attractive alternative to neural cells derived from embryonic or induced pluripotent stem cells,with prospective roles in the investigation of neurological disorders,including neurodegenerative disease modelling,drug screening,and cellular replacement for regenerative medicine applications,however further investigations into improving the efficacy and safety of these methods need to be performed before neural direct conversion becomes a clinically viable option.In this review,we describe the generation of diverse neural cell types via direct conversion of somatic cells,with comparison against stem cell-based approaches,as well as discussion of their potential research and clinical applications.展开更多
Over the past decade,a growing number of studies have reported transcription factor-based in situ reprogramming that can directly conve rt endogenous glial cells into functional neurons as an alternative approach for ...Over the past decade,a growing number of studies have reported transcription factor-based in situ reprogramming that can directly conve rt endogenous glial cells into functional neurons as an alternative approach for n euro regeneration in the adult mammalian central ne rvous system.Howeve r,many questions remain regarding how a terminally differentiated glial cell can transform into a delicate neuron that forms part of the intricate brain circuitry.In addition,concerns have recently been raised around the absence of astrocyte-to-neuron conversion in astrocytic lineage-tra cing mice.In this study,we employed repetitive two-photon imaging to continuously capture the in situ astrocyte-to-neuron conversion process following ecto pic expression of the neural transcription factor NeuroD1 in both prolife rating reactive astrocytes and lineage-tra ced astrocytes in the mouse cortex.Time-lapse imaging over several wee ks revealed the ste p-by-step transition from a typical astrocyte with numero us short,tapered branches to a typical neuro n with a few long neurites and dynamic growth cones that actively explored the local environment.In addition,these lineage-converting cells were able to migrate ra dially or to ngentially to relocate to suitable positions.Furthermore,two-photon Ca2+imaging and patch-clamp recordings confirmed that the newly generated neuro ns exhibited synchronous calcium signals,repetitive action potentials,and spontaneous synaptic responses,suggesting that they had made functional synaptic connections within local neural circuits.In conclusion,we directly visualized the step-by-step lineage conversion process from astrocytes to functional neurons in vivo and unambiguously demonstrated that adult mammalian brains are highly plastic with respect to their potential for neuro regeneration and neural circuit reconstruction.展开更多
CO_(2) conversion into value-added products by electro-, photoand plasma catalysis under mild operating conditions(ambient temperature and pressure) is an emerging area to achieve carbon circularity by producing chemi...CO_(2) conversion into value-added products by electro-, photoand plasma catalysis under mild operating conditions(ambient temperature and pressure) is an emerging area to achieve carbon circularity by producing chemicals and fuels using directly renewable energy. Among all CO_(2) conversion approaches, the electrocatalytic reduction of CO_(2) is the most mature technology, capable of achieving high productivity(i.e. high current densities) at large scale, especially for producing carbon monoxide(CO), but with many examples showing selectivity to C_(2) carbon products.展开更多
The generation of functional retinal pigment epithelium （RPE） is of great therapeutic interest to the field of regenerative medicine and may provide possible cures for retinal degenerative diseases, including age-re...The generation of functional retinal pigment epithelium （RPE） is of great therapeutic interest to the field of regenerative medicine and may provide possible cures for retinal degenerative diseases, including age-related macular degeneration （AMD）. Although RPE cells can be produced from either embryonic stem cells or induced pluripotent stem cells, direct cell reprogramming driven by lineage-determining transcription factors provides an immediate route to their generation. By monitoring a human RPE specific Bestl：：GFP reporter, we report the conversion of human fibroblasts into RPE lineage using defined sets of transcription factors. We found that Bestl：：GFP positive cells formed colonies and exhibited morphological and molecular features of early stage RPE cells. Moreover, they were able to obtain pigmen- tation upon activation of Retinoic acid （RA） and Sonic Hedgehog （SHH） signaling pathways. Our study not only established an ideal platform to investigate the tran- scriptional network regulating the RPE cell fate deter- mination, but also provided an alternative strategy to generate functional RPE cells that complement the useof pluripotent stem cells for disease modeling, drug screening, and cell therapy of retinal degeneration.展开更多
Since the generation of induced pluripotent stem cells in 2006, cellular reprogramming has attracted increasing attention as a revolutionary strategy for cell replacement therapy. Recent advances have revealed that so...Since the generation of induced pluripotent stem cells in 2006, cellular reprogramming has attracted increasing attention as a revolutionary strategy for cell replacement therapy. Recent advances have revealed that somatic cells can be directly converted into other mature cell types, which eliminates the risk of neoplasia and the generation of undesired cell types. Astrocytes become reactive and undergo proliferation, which hampers axon regeneration following injury, stroke, and neurodegenerative diseases. An emerging technique to directly reprogram astrocytes into induced neural stem cells （iNSCs） and induced neurons （iNs） by neural fate determinants brings potential hope to cell replacement therapy for the above neurological problems. Here, we discuss the development of direct reprogramming of various cell types into iNs and iNSCs, then detail astrocyte-derived iNSCs and iNs in vivo and in vitro. Finally, we highlight the unsolved challenges and opportunities for improvement.展开更多
Many wave energy conversion devices have not been well received. The main reasons are that they are too complicated and not economical. However, in the last two decades direct conversion systems have drawn the attenti...Many wave energy conversion devices have not been well received. The main reasons are that they are too complicated and not economical. However, in the last two decades direct conversion systems have drawn the attention of researchers to their widely distributed energy source due to their simple structure and low cost. The most well-known direct conversion systems presently in use include the Archimedes Wave Swing (AWS) and Power Buoy (PB). In this paper, these two systems were simulated in the same conditions and their behaviors were studied in different wave conditions. In order to verify the simulations, results of the generator of the finite element computations were followed. An attempt was made to determine the merits and drawbacks of each method under different wave conditions by comparing the performance of the two systems. The wave conditions suitable for each system were specified.展开更多
Dear Editor, In 2011, Son et al. （2011） reported that the forced expression of selected transcription factors is sufficient to convert mouse and human fibroblasts into induced motor neurons （iMNs）. The authors use...Dear Editor, In 2011, Son et al. （2011） reported that the forced expression of selected transcription factors is sufficient to convert mouse and human fibroblasts into induced motor neurons （iMNs）. The authors used three factors （Ascll, Brn2, and Mytll） to convert fibroblasts into neuronal-like ceils. After confirming that the cells had neuronal morphology, but with absence of motor neuron markers, eight candidate transcription factors were added, which participate in various stages of motor neuron specification. As expected, a significant number of motor cells emerged with known characteristics of cultured embryonic motor neurons.展开更多
Piezoelectric transduction technology enables the direct conversion between mechanical and electrical energy,finding extensive applications in sensing,acoustics,imaging,actuation,and energy harvesting[1].Previous stud...Piezoelectric transduction technology enables the direct conversion between mechanical and electrical energy,finding extensive applications in sensing,acoustics,imaging,actuation,and energy harvesting[1].Previous studies on piezoelectric materials have primarily focused on ceramics or single-crystal materials characterized by wide band gaps(E_(g)>2.0 e V[2])and low electrical conductivity.In contrast,narrow-bandgap(E_(g)<0.5 eV[3])semiconductor materials typically exhibit high electrical conductivity,which is unfavorable for the effective accumulation of charges required to establish a stable voltage response.Consequently,experimental investigations into the piezoelectric effect of narrow-bandgap semiconductors are scarce.展开更多
Solid oxide fuel cell(SOFC)is a promising energy conversion device because of its high efficiency and fuel/oxidant flexibility,enabling the direct conversion of chemical energy to electrical power.By using N_(2)O as a...Solid oxide fuel cell(SOFC)is a promising energy conversion device because of its high efficiency and fuel/oxidant flexibility,enabling the direct conversion of chemical energy to electrical power.By using N_(2)O as an oxidant instead of air,we develop a dual-phase catalyst La_(0.6)Sr_(0.4)Co_(0.2)Fe_(0.8)O_(3-δ)-Gd_(0.1)Ce_(0.9)O_(2-δ)(LSCF-GDC),which exhibits efficient bifunctionality as a cathode for SOFC,synergistic ally promoting simultaneous N_(2)O decomposition and oxygen reduction kinetics.展开更多
Ketones are one of the most important classes of organic compounds, and widely present in various pharmacological compounds, biologically active molecules and functional materials. Over the past few decades, transitio...Ketones are one of the most important classes of organic compounds, and widely present in various pharmacological compounds, biologically active molecules and functional materials. Over the past few decades, transition metal-catalyzed conversion of aldehydes has been found to be a powerful method.With the continuous development in recent years, it has become an efficient and uncomplicated strategy for constructing ketones. There are four major mechanisms for transition metal-catalyzed ketone synthesis from aldehyde:(1) carbonyl-Heck reaction, that is 1,2-insertion of organometal species to aldehydic C=O double bond,(2) direct insertion of transition metal catalysts to aldehydic C-H bond,(3) aldehyde as acyl radical,(4) aldehyde as carbon radical acceptor. This article summarizes related reports on the transformations of aldehydes to generate corresponding ketones under different reaction conditions.展开更多
Despite the long tradition of fossil carbon(coal,char,and related carbon-based materials)for fueling mankind,the science of transforming them into chemicals is still demandingly progressing in the current energy scena...Despite the long tradition of fossil carbon(coal,char,and related carbon-based materials)for fueling mankind,the science of transforming them into chemicals is still demandingly progressing in the current energy scenario,especially when considering its responsibilities to the global climate change.Traditionally,there are four routes of preparing chemicals directly from fossil carbon,including hydrogasification,gasification,direct liquefaction,and oxidation,in the macroscope of gas-solid reaction(hydrogasification and gasification)and liquid-solid reaction(direct liquefaction and oxidation).When the study goes to microscale,the gas-solid reaction can be considered as the reaction between the severe condensed radicals and gas,while the liquid-solid reaction is the direct reaction between the radical and the activated-molecule.To have a full overview of the area,this review systematically summarizes the main factors in these processes and shows our own perspectives as follows,(ⅰ)stabilizing the free radicals generated from coal and then directly converting them has the highest efficiency in coal utilization;(ⅱ)the research on the self-catalytic process of coal structure will have a profound impact on the direct preparation of chemicals from fossil carbon.Further discussions are also proposed to guide the future study of the area into a more sustainable direction.展开更多
The aim of this paper is to give direct and converse theorems for the approximation by using a discretely defined method Ln (see D. H. Mache [10], which is a modification of the Lagrange operator. Furthermore we obtai...The aim of this paper is to give direct and converse theorems for the approximation by using a discretely defined method Ln (see D. H. Mache [10], which is a modification of the Lagrange operator. Furthermore we obtain with a matrix construction technique (see M. D. Ye and D. X. Zhou [11]) a Lagrange-type operator n, for which we get a characterization for Lipschitz functions by the approximation rate of these methods.展开更多
Direct conversion of methane to benzene or other valuable chemicals is a very promising process for the efficient application of natural gas. Compared with conversion processes that require oxidants, non-oxidative dir...Direct conversion of methane to benzene or other valuable chemicals is a very promising process for the efficient application of natural gas. Compared with conversion processes that require oxidants, non-oxidative direct conversion is more attractive due to high selectivity to the target product. In this paper, an alternative route for methane dehydrogenation and selective conversion to benzene and hydrogen without the participation of oxygen is discussed. A brief review of the catalysts used in methane dehydroaromatization （MDA） is first given, followed by our current understanding of the location and the active phase of Mo species, the reaction mechanism, the mechanism of carbonaceous deposit and the deactivation of Mo/zeolite catalysts are systematically discussed. Ways to improve the catalytic activity and stability are described in detail based on catalyst and reaction as well as reactor design. Future prospects for methane dehydroaromatization process are also presented.展开更多
This paper presents a programmable gain amplifier（PGA） circuit with a digitally assisted DC offset cancellation（DCOC） scheme for a direct conversion WLAN receiver.Implemented in a standard 0.13-μm CMOS process,th...This paper presents a programmable gain amplifier（PGA） circuit with a digitally assisted DC offset cancellation（DCOC） scheme for a direct conversion WLAN receiver.Implemented in a standard 0.13-μm CMOS process,the PGA occupies 0.39 mm2 die area and dissipates 6.5 mW power from a 1.2 V power supply.By using a single loop single digital-to-analog converter（DAC） mixed signal DC offset cancellation topology,the minimum DCOC settling time achieved is as short as 1.6μs with the PGA gain ranging from -8 to 54 dB in a 2 dB step.The DCOC loop utilizes a segmented DAC structure to lower the design complexity without sacrificing accuracy and a digital control algorithm to dynamically set the DCOC loop to fast or normal response mode,making the PGA circuit in compliance with the targeted WLAN specifications.展开更多
基金the Science and Technology Commission of Shanghai Municipality(No.057062010)the EU BRIDGE Project(No.033546)~~
文摘A direct conversion receiver with optimized tolerance to local carrier interference is designed and implemented in a 0.18μm 1P6M mixed-signal CMOS process for a 900MHz RFID reader transceiver. A baseband amplifier with series feedback topology is proposed to achieve passive mixer buffering,baseband DC cancellation,and signal amplification simultaneously. The receiver has a measured input ldB compression point of - 4dBm and a sensitivity of - 70dBm when 10dB SNR for digital demodulation is required. The receiver is integrated in a reader transceiver chip and consumes 90mA from a 1.8V supply.
文摘An automatic IQ phase calibration method implemented in a 2.4GHz direct conversion receiver is proposed. It uses a delay locked loop （DLL） with a proposed quadrature phase detector to greatly reduce the phase error. The receiver is fabricated in a 0.18μm CMOS process. Measurements show that the IQ phase error can be calibrated within 1°,which satisfies the system requirement.
文摘Direct conversion of methane using a metal-loaded ZSM-5 zeolite prepared viaacidic ion exchange was investigated to elucidate the roles of metal and acidity in the formation ofliquid hydrocarbons. ZSM-5 (SiO_2/Al_2O_3=30) was loaded with different metals (Cr, Cu and Ga)according to the acidic ion-exchange method to produce metal-loaded ZSM-5 zeolite catalysts. XRD,NMR, FT-IR and N_2 adsorption analyses indicated that Cr and Ga species managed to occupy thealuminum positions in the ZSM-5 framework. In addition, Cr species were deposited in the pores ofthe structure. However, Cu oxides were deposited on the surface and in the mesopores of the ZSM-5zeolite. An acidity study using TPD-NH_3, FT-IR, and IR-pyridine analyses revealed that the totalnumber of acid sites and the strengths of the Broensted and Lewis acid sites were significantlydifferent after the acidic ion exchange treatment. Cu loaded HZSM-5 is a potential catalyst fordirect conversion of methane to liquid hydrocarbons. The successful production of gasoline via thedirect conversion of methane depends on the amount of aluminum in the zeolite framework and thestrength of the Broensted acid sites.
基金the National Natural Science Foundation of China (50574046)National Natural Science Foundationof Major Research Projects (90610035)High School Doctoral Subject Special Science and Research Foundation of Ministry of Education (20040674005)
文摘CexZr1-xO2 mixed oxides with different Ce/Zr ratios were prepared by coprecipitation. The characterizations of mixed oxides were studied by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and H2-TPR. And the performances were tested in a fixed-bed quartz reactor. The results indicated that lattice oxygen of CexZr1-xO2 could oxidate methane to syngas and the incorporation of zirconium into the ceria lattice could improve the O2- mobility. The Ce0.7Zr0.3O2 had the best activity in investigative temperature ranging from 600 to 900 ℃. Effects of reaction time on H2/CO ratio were studied at 850 ℃ when using Ce0.7Zr0.3O2 as catalyst. The results indicated that the ratio was closed to 2 values in the first 10 min, however, it rapidly increased with reaction time after >10 min. The possible reason was that the direct partial oxidation of methane reaction was dominant in the first 10 min. However, the methane pyrogenation was responsible for the rapid increase of H2/CO ratio after 10 min. Thus, if syngas with H2/CO ratio of 2 wanted to be obtained, the reaction time needed to be controlled.
基金support from National Science Foundation of China(No.22075012).
文摘A convenient method for methane(CH_(4))direct conversion to methanol(CH_(3)OH)is of great significance to use methane-rich resources,especially clathrates and stranded shale gas resources located in remote regions.Theoretically,the activation of CH_(4) and the selectivity to the CH_(3)OH product are challenging due to the extreme stability of CH_(4) and relatively high reactivity of CH_(3)OH.The state-of-the-art‘methane reforming-methanol synthesis’process adopts a two-step strategy to avoid the further reaction of CH_(3)OH under the harsh conditions required for CH_(4) activation.In the electrochemical field,researchers are trying to develop conversion pathways under mild conditions.They have found suitable catalysts to activate the C–H bonds in methane with the help of external charge and have designed the electrode reactions to continuously generate certain active oxygen species.These active oxygen species attack the activated methane and convert it to CH_(3)OH,with the benefit of avoiding over-oxidation of CH_(3)OH,and thus obtain a high conversion efficiency of CH_(4) to CH_(3)OH.This mini-review focuses on the advantages and challenges of electrochemical conversion of CH4 to CH_(3)OH,especially the strategies for supplying electro-generated active oxygen species in-situ to react with the activated methane.
基金supported by grants from the CAS Strategic Priority Research Program(XDA16020602)the National Key R&D Program of China(2019YFA0110300)+1 种基金the National Science Foundation of China(81825006,31730033 and 31621004)the K.C.Wong Education Foundation
文摘Identifying approaches for treating neurodegeneration is a thorny task but is important for a growing number of patients.Researchers have focused on discovering the underlying molecular mechanisms of reprogramming and optimizing the technologies for acquiring neurons.Direct conversion is one of the most important processes for treating neurological disorders.Induced neurons derived from direct conversion,which bypass the pluripotency stage,are more effective,more quickly obtained,and are safer than those produced via induced pluripotent stem cells(iPSCs).Based on iPSC strategies,scientists have derived methods to obtain functional neurons by direct conversion,such as neuron-related transcriptional factors,small molecules.microRNAs,and epigenetic modifiers.In this review,we discuss the present strategies for direct conversion of somatic cells into functional neurons and the potentials of direct conversion for producing functional neurons and treating neurodeeeneration.
基金Supported by The Charles Sturt University Writing Up Award
文摘A characteristic of neurological disorders is the loss of critical populations of cells that the body is unable to replace,thus there has been much interest in identifying methods of generating clinically relevant numbers of cells to replace those that have been damaged or lost.The process of neural direct conversion,in which cells of one lineage are converted into cells of a neural lineage without first inducing pluripotency,shows great potential,with evidence of the generation of a range of functional neural cell types both in vitro and in vivo,through viral and non-viral delivery of exogenous factors,as well as chemical induction methods.Induced neural cells have been proposed as an attractive alternative to neural cells derived from embryonic or induced pluripotent stem cells,with prospective roles in the investigation of neurological disorders,including neurodegenerative disease modelling,drug screening,and cellular replacement for regenerative medicine applications,however further investigations into improving the efficacy and safety of these methods need to be performed before neural direct conversion becomes a clinically viable option.In this review,we describe the generation of diverse neural cell types via direct conversion of somatic cells,with comparison against stem cell-based approaches,as well as discussion of their potential research and clinical applications.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China,No.31970906(to WLei)the Natural Science Foundation of Guangdong Province,No.2020A1515011079(to WLei)+4 种基金Key Technologies R&D Program of Guangdong Province,No.2018B030332001(to GC)Science and Technology Projects of Guangzhou,No.202206060002(to GC)the Youth Science Program of the National Natural Science Foundation of China,No.32100793(to ZX)the Pearl River Innovation and Entrepreneurship Team,No.2021ZT09 Y552Yi-Liang Liu Endowment Fund from Jinan University Education Development Foundation。
文摘Over the past decade,a growing number of studies have reported transcription factor-based in situ reprogramming that can directly conve rt endogenous glial cells into functional neurons as an alternative approach for n euro regeneration in the adult mammalian central ne rvous system.Howeve r,many questions remain regarding how a terminally differentiated glial cell can transform into a delicate neuron that forms part of the intricate brain circuitry.In addition,concerns have recently been raised around the absence of astrocyte-to-neuron conversion in astrocytic lineage-tra cing mice.In this study,we employed repetitive two-photon imaging to continuously capture the in situ astrocyte-to-neuron conversion process following ecto pic expression of the neural transcription factor NeuroD1 in both prolife rating reactive astrocytes and lineage-tra ced astrocytes in the mouse cortex.Time-lapse imaging over several wee ks revealed the ste p-by-step transition from a typical astrocyte with numero us short,tapered branches to a typical neuro n with a few long neurites and dynamic growth cones that actively explored the local environment.In addition,these lineage-converting cells were able to migrate ra dially or to ngentially to relocate to suitable positions.Furthermore,two-photon Ca2+imaging and patch-clamp recordings confirmed that the newly generated neuro ns exhibited synchronous calcium signals,repetitive action potentials,and spontaneous synaptic responses,suggesting that they had made functional synaptic connections within local neural circuits.In conclusion,we directly visualized the step-by-step lineage conversion process from astrocytes to functional neurons in vivo and unambiguously demonstrated that adult mammalian brains are highly plastic with respect to their potential for neuro regeneration and neural circuit reconstruction.
文摘CO_(2) conversion into value-added products by electro-, photoand plasma catalysis under mild operating conditions(ambient temperature and pressure) is an emerging area to achieve carbon circularity by producing chemicals and fuels using directly renewable energy. Among all CO_(2) conversion approaches, the electrocatalytic reduction of CO_(2) is the most mature technology, capable of achieving high productivity(i.e. high current densities) at large scale, especially for producing carbon monoxide(CO), but with many examples showing selectivity to C_(2) carbon products.
文摘The generation of functional retinal pigment epithelium （RPE） is of great therapeutic interest to the field of regenerative medicine and may provide possible cures for retinal degenerative diseases, including age-related macular degeneration （AMD）. Although RPE cells can be produced from either embryonic stem cells or induced pluripotent stem cells, direct cell reprogramming driven by lineage-determining transcription factors provides an immediate route to their generation. By monitoring a human RPE specific Bestl：：GFP reporter, we report the conversion of human fibroblasts into RPE lineage using defined sets of transcription factors. We found that Bestl：：GFP positive cells formed colonies and exhibited morphological and molecular features of early stage RPE cells. Moreover, they were able to obtain pigmen- tation upon activation of Retinoic acid （RA） and Sonic Hedgehog （SHH） signaling pathways. Our study not only established an ideal platform to investigate the tran- scriptional network regulating the RPE cell fate deter- mination, but also provided an alternative strategy to generate functional RPE cells that complement the useof pluripotent stem cells for disease modeling, drug screening, and cell therapy of retinal degeneration.
基金supported by a grant from Department of Neurology, Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical Universityl, China (2014257)
文摘Since the generation of induced pluripotent stem cells in 2006, cellular reprogramming has attracted increasing attention as a revolutionary strategy for cell replacement therapy. Recent advances have revealed that somatic cells can be directly converted into other mature cell types, which eliminates the risk of neoplasia and the generation of undesired cell types. Astrocytes become reactive and undergo proliferation, which hampers axon regeneration following injury, stroke, and neurodegenerative diseases. An emerging technique to directly reprogram astrocytes into induced neural stem cells （iNSCs） and induced neurons （iNs） by neural fate determinants brings potential hope to cell replacement therapy for the above neurological problems. Here, we discuss the development of direct reprogramming of various cell types into iNs and iNSCs, then detail astrocyte-derived iNSCs and iNs in vivo and in vitro. Finally, we highlight the unsolved challenges and opportunities for improvement.
文摘Many wave energy conversion devices have not been well received. The main reasons are that they are too complicated and not economical. However, in the last two decades direct conversion systems have drawn the attention of researchers to their widely distributed energy source due to their simple structure and low cost. The most well-known direct conversion systems presently in use include the Archimedes Wave Swing (AWS) and Power Buoy (PB). In this paper, these two systems were simulated in the same conditions and their behaviors were studied in different wave conditions. In order to verify the simulations, results of the generator of the finite element computations were followed. An attempt was made to determine the merits and drawbacks of each method under different wave conditions by comparing the performance of the two systems. The wave conditions suitable for each system were specified.
基金2013 Six Peak Talents in Jiangsu Province,Project No.WSN-022333 Key Talents of Science and Technology in Jiangsu Province,Project No.BRA2012094+1 种基金Scientific Project of Traditional Chinese Medicine of Jiangsu Province,Project No.LZ131952011 Project of Scientific Technology and Social Development in Yangzhou,Project No.YZ2011084
文摘Dear Editor, In 2011, Son et al. （2011） reported that the forced expression of selected transcription factors is sufficient to convert mouse and human fibroblasts into induced motor neurons （iMNs）. The authors used three factors （Ascll, Brn2, and Mytll） to convert fibroblasts into neuronal-like ceils. After confirming that the cells had neuronal morphology, but with absence of motor neuron markers, eight candidate transcription factors were added, which participate in various stages of motor neuron specification. As expected, a significant number of motor cells emerged with known characteristics of cultured embryonic motor neurons.
文摘Piezoelectric transduction technology enables the direct conversion between mechanical and electrical energy,finding extensive applications in sensing,acoustics,imaging,actuation,and energy harvesting[1].Previous studies on piezoelectric materials have primarily focused on ceramics or single-crystal materials characterized by wide band gaps(E_(g)>2.0 e V[2])and low electrical conductivity.In contrast,narrow-bandgap(E_(g)<0.5 eV[3])semiconductor materials typically exhibit high electrical conductivity,which is unfavorable for the effective accumulation of charges required to establish a stable voltage response.Consequently,experimental investigations into the piezoelectric effect of narrow-bandgap semiconductors are scarce.
基金financially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.52336009)Guangdong Basic and Applied Basic Research Foundation(No.2023A1515010429)+4 种基金the Natural Science Basic Research Plan in Shaanxi Province of China(No.2024JC-YBQN-0475)Xidian University Specially Funded Project for Interdisciplinary Exploration(No.TZJH2024063)the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities(No.QTZX23061)Qinchuangyuan Project(No.QCYRCXM-2022-236)the Innovation Center of Nuclear Power Technology(No.HDLCXZX-2022-ZH-013)
文摘Solid oxide fuel cell(SOFC)is a promising energy conversion device because of its high efficiency and fuel/oxidant flexibility,enabling the direct conversion of chemical energy to electrical power.By using N_(2)O as an oxidant instead of air,we develop a dual-phase catalyst La_(0.6)Sr_(0.4)Co_(0.2)Fe_(0.8)O_(3-δ)-Gd_(0.1)Ce_(0.9)O_(2-δ)(LSCF-GDC),which exhibits efficient bifunctionality as a cathode for SOFC,synergistic ally promoting simultaneous N_(2)O decomposition and oxygen reduction kinetics.
基金financial support from the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 21801206)the Chunhui Program of Ministry of Education of China (No.5180210003)+3 种基金Program for Young Talents of Shaanxi Province (No.5113190023)the Joint Research Funds of Department of Science&Technology of Shannxi Province and Northwestern Polytechnical University (No. 2020GXLH-Z-015)the Science,Technology and Innovation Commission of Shenzhen (No. JCYJ20190809160211372)the Ao’xiang Overseas Scholars Program of NPU and the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities。
文摘Ketones are one of the most important classes of organic compounds, and widely present in various pharmacological compounds, biologically active molecules and functional materials. Over the past few decades, transition metal-catalyzed conversion of aldehydes has been found to be a powerful method.With the continuous development in recent years, it has become an efficient and uncomplicated strategy for constructing ketones. There are four major mechanisms for transition metal-catalyzed ketone synthesis from aldehyde:(1) carbonyl-Heck reaction, that is 1,2-insertion of organometal species to aldehydic C=O double bond,(2) direct insertion of transition metal catalysts to aldehydic C-H bond,(3) aldehyde as acyl radical,(4) aldehyde as carbon radical acceptor. This article summarizes related reports on the transformations of aldehydes to generate corresponding ketones under different reaction conditions.
基金supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China(52161145403 and 22072164)the Joint Fund of the Yulin University and the Dalian National Laboratory for Clean Energy(Grant.YLU-DNL Fund 2022002)。
文摘Despite the long tradition of fossil carbon(coal,char,and related carbon-based materials)for fueling mankind,the science of transforming them into chemicals is still demandingly progressing in the current energy scenario,especially when considering its responsibilities to the global climate change.Traditionally,there are four routes of preparing chemicals directly from fossil carbon,including hydrogasification,gasification,direct liquefaction,and oxidation,in the macroscope of gas-solid reaction(hydrogasification and gasification)and liquid-solid reaction(direct liquefaction and oxidation).When the study goes to microscale,the gas-solid reaction can be considered as the reaction between the severe condensed radicals and gas,while the liquid-solid reaction is the direct reaction between the radical and the activated-molecule.To have a full overview of the area,this review systematically summarizes the main factors in these processes and shows our own perspectives as follows,(ⅰ)stabilizing the free radicals generated from coal and then directly converting them has the highest efficiency in coal utilization;(ⅱ)the research on the self-catalytic process of coal structure will have a profound impact on the direct preparation of chemicals from fossil carbon.Further discussions are also proposed to guide the future study of the area into a more sustainable direction.
基金The second author is supported by the Alexander von Humboldt-Stiftung.
文摘The aim of this paper is to give direct and converse theorems for the approximation by using a discretely defined method Ln (see D. H. Mache [10], which is a modification of the Lagrange operator. Furthermore we obtain with a matrix construction technique (see M. D. Ye and D. X. Zhou [11]) a Lagrange-type operator n, for which we get a characterization for Lipschitz functions by the approximation rate of these methods.
基金the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.21103181)
文摘Direct conversion of methane to benzene or other valuable chemicals is a very promising process for the efficient application of natural gas. Compared with conversion processes that require oxidants, non-oxidative direct conversion is more attractive due to high selectivity to the target product. In this paper, an alternative route for methane dehydrogenation and selective conversion to benzene and hydrogen without the participation of oxygen is discussed. A brief review of the catalysts used in methane dehydroaromatization （MDA） is first given, followed by our current understanding of the location and the active phase of Mo species, the reaction mechanism, the mechanism of carbonaceous deposit and the deactivation of Mo/zeolite catalysts are systematically discussed. Ways to improve the catalytic activity and stability are described in detail based on catalyst and reaction as well as reactor design. Future prospects for methane dehydroaromatization process are also presented.
文摘This paper presents a programmable gain amplifier（PGA） circuit with a digitally assisted DC offset cancellation（DCOC） scheme for a direct conversion WLAN receiver.Implemented in a standard 0.13-μm CMOS process,the PGA occupies 0.39 mm2 die area and dissipates 6.5 mW power from a 1.2 V power supply.By using a single loop single digital-to-analog converter（DAC） mixed signal DC offset cancellation topology,the minimum DCOC settling time achieved is as short as 1.6μs with the PGA gain ranging from -8 to 54 dB in a 2 dB step.The DCOC loop utilizes a segmented DAC structure to lower the design complexity without sacrificing accuracy and a digital control algorithm to dynamically set the DCOC loop to fast or normal response mode,making the PGA circuit in compliance with the targeted WLAN specifications.
