It has been reported that ischemic insult increases the formation of autophagosomes and activates autophagy. However, the role of autophagy in ischemic neuronal damage remains elusive. This study was taken to assess the role of autophagy in ischemic brain damage. Focal cerebral ischemia was introduced by permanent middle cerebral artery occlusion (pMCAO). Activation of autophagy was assessed by morphological and biochemical examinations. To determine the contribution of autophagy/lysosome to ischemic neuronal death, rats were pretreated with a single intracerebral ventricle injection of the autophagy inhibitors 3-methyl-adenine (3-MA) and bafliomycin A1 (BFA) or the cathepsin B inhibitor Z-FA-fmk after pMCAO. The effects of 3-MA and Z-FA-fmk on brain damage, expression of proteins involved in regulation of autophagy and apoptosis were assessed with 2,3,5-triphenyltetrazolium chloride (TTC) staining and immunoblotting. The results showed that pMACO increased the formation of autophagosomes and autolysosomes, the mRNA and protein levels of LC3-II and the protein levels of cathepsin B. 3-MA, BFA and Z-FA-fmk significantly reduced infarct volume, brain edema and motor deficits. The neuroprotective effects of 3-MA and Z-FA-fmk were associated with an inhibition on ischemia-induced upregulation of LC3-II and cathepsin B and a partial reversion of ischemia-induced downregulation of cytoprotective Bcl-2. These results demonstrate that ischemic insult activates autophagy and an autophagic mechanism may contribute to ischemic neuronal injury. Thus, autophagy may be a potential target for developing a novel therapy for stroke.

Solar cells based on dye-sensitized nanostructured metal oxides are promising for low-cost solar energy conversion and are intensively investigated nowadays. In this paper, the possibilities to use nanocrystalline ZnO electrodes in dye-sensitized solar cells are investigated. ZnO films have been grown on fluorine-doped SnO 2 coated glass by cathodic electrodeposition from a simple aqueous zinc nitrate solution containing organic additives. Under optimal deposition conditions, nanoporous ZnO films with grain sizes between 20 and 40 nm are obtained. X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscope are used to characterize the films. Nanoporous ZnO electrodes, dye-sensitized with a ruthenium bipyridyl complex, are used as photoanodes in solar cells. The solar cell performance is studied and the cell exhibits a short circuit photocurrent, an open-circuit photovoltage and the photoelectron conversion efficiency of 1.379 mA/cm 2 , 0.612 V and 1.47%, respectively.

The successful practice of benefit reducing supplying water cost, Thus the water plant has stressed to issue on saving power, water conservation, cut water cost, increase economic return, promoting pump efficiency from applying additional energy technique to centrifugal pump in Renqiu number 7 supplying water stations.

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Photoelectric thin film is an important information functional material transforming optical signals into electric signals. Composite dielectric photoelectric thin film formed by burying metal nanoparticles in semiconductors is different from traditional photoelectric thin film. It has ultra-fast time response, plays a vital role in the conversion of photoelectric pulses and the diagnosis and measurement of multi-wavelength ultra-short pulses and may be applied in high-speed optical and optoelectronic devices.