Cost-efficient nanoparticle carbocatalysts composed of fluorescent carbon dots (CDs) embedded in carbon matrix were synthesized via one-step acid-assisted hydrothermal treatment (200 °C) of glucose. ...These as-synthesized CD-based carbocatalysts have excellent photoluminescence (PL) properties over a broad range of wavelengths and the external visible or NIR irradiation on the carbocatalysts could produce electrons to form electron–hole (e––h+) pairs on the surface of carbocatalysts. These restant electron–hole pairs will react with the adsorbed oxidants/reducers on the surface of the CD-based carbocatalysts to produce active radicals for reduction of 4-nitrophenol and degradation of dye molecules. Moreover, the local temperature increase over CD-based carbocatalyst under NIR irradiation can enhance the electron transfer rate between the organic molecules and CD-based carbocatalysts, thus obviously increase the catalytic activity of the CD-based carbocatalyst for the reduction of 4-nitrophenol and the degradation of dye molecules. Such a type of CD-based carbocatalysts with excellent properties and highly efficient metal-free photocatalytic activities is an ideal candidate as photocatalysts for the reduction of organic pollutants under visible light and NIR radiation.
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IJS, KILJ, NUK, PNG, UL, UM
Smiles are universal but nuanced facial expressions that are most frequently used in face-to-face communications, typically indicating amusement but sometimes conveying negative emotions such as ...embarrassment and pain. Although previous studies have suggested that spatial and temporal properties could differ among these various types of smiles, no study has thoroughly analyzed these properties. This study aimed to clarify the spatiotemporal properties of smiles conveying amusement, embarrassment, and pain using a spontaneous facial behavior database. The results regarding spatial patterns revealed that pained smiles showed less eye constriction and more overall facial tension than amused smiles; no spatial differences were identified between embarrassed and amused smiles. Regarding temporal properties, embarrassed and pained smiles remained in a state of higher facial tension than amused smiles. Moreover, embarrassed smiles showed a more gradual change from tension states to the smile state than amused smiles, and pained smiles had lower probabilities of staying in or transitioning to the smile state compared to amused smiles. By comparing the spatiotemporal properties of these three smile types, this study revealed that the probability of transitioning between discrete states could help distinguish amused, embarrassed, and pained smiles.
Gas sorption and molecular (ionic) storages are important functionalities in porous materials. In molecular porous crystal {{RuIII(H2bim)3(TMA)}2·mH2O} n , the hydrophilic nanochannel accommodates ...the water nanotube (WNT) composed of a 4461074-polyhedral cage. The experiment on weight change reveals that the cage structure is maintained above 50% RH (relative humidity) at 294 K. As the relative humidity is reduced from 80 to 50% RH, the proton conductivity exponentially decreases from 0.02 to 0.01 (Ω cm)−1 owing to the dehydration of inner H2O molecules through WNT, which acts as a nanofluidic channel. Upon pressurizing Xe at 0.4 MPa for 50% RH, the proton conductivity exponentially decreases and approaches 0 (Ω cm)−1. The infrared and 129Xe-NMR experiments make clear that Xe together with about 25H2O molecules per cage are stabilized in WNT at low pressures compared to Xe-clathrate hydrate. Those results experimentally demonstrate that the Xe hydrate inhibits the proton conduction. The formation of Xe hydrate is characterized by fast and slow processes with a translational diffusion constant of 1 × 10–10 and 6 × 10–12 m2/s, respectively. The reorganization and hardening of the hydrogen-bonding water network are considered to diminish the conducting pass of proton, and to reduce the protonic transfer from H3O+ to adjacent H2O.
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Collagen films with proton conduction are a candidate of next generation of fuel-cell electrolyte. To clarify a relation between proton conductivity and formation of water networks in the collagen ...film originating from a tilapia’s scale, we systematically measured the ac conductivity, infrared absorption spectrum, and weight change as a function of relative humidity (RH) at room temperature. The integrated absorbance concerning an O–H stretching mode of water molecules increases above 60% RH in accordance with the weight change. The dc conductivity varies in the vicinity of 60 and 83% RH. From those results, we have determined the dc conductivity vs. hydration number (N) per unit (Gly-X-Y). The proton conduction is negligible in the collagen molecule itself, but dominated by the hydration shell, the development of which is characterized with three regions. For 0 < N < 2, the conductivity is extremely small, because the water molecule in the primary hydration shell has a little hydrogen bonded with each other. For 2 < N < 4, a quasi-one-dimensional proton conduction occurs through intra-water bridges in the helix. For 4 < N, the water molecule fills the helix, and inter-water bridges are formed in between the adjacent helices, so that a proton-conducting network is extended three dimensional.
•MIA was associated with rightward turning behavior in adolescents.•In adults, MIA was associated with reduced behavioral turning asymmetry.•MIA offspring show lower DRD2 mRNA expression in the ...prefrontal cortex.•Turning behavior after MIA is a useful paradigm to examine atypical asymmetries in models of neurodevelopmental disorders.
Atypical asymmetries have been reported in individuals diagnosed with schizophrenia, linking higher symptom severity to weaker lateralization. Furthermore, both lateralization and schizophrenia are influenced by the dopaminergic system. However, whether a direct link between the etiology of schizophrenia and atypical asymmetries exists is yet to be investigated. In this study, we examined whether maternal immune activation (MIA), a developmental animal model for schizophrenia and known to alter the dopaminergic system, induces atypical lateralization in adolescent and adult offspring. As the dopaminergic system is a key player in both, we analyzed neuronal dopamine D2 receptor (DRD2) mRNA expression. MIA was induced by injecting pregnant rats with 10 mg/kg polyinosinic:polycytidylic (PolyI:C) at gestational day 15. Controls were injected with 0.9 % NaCl. Offspring were tested at adolescence or early adulthood for asymmetry of turning behavior in the open field test. The total number of left and right turns per animal was assessed using DeepLabCut. Strength and preferred side of asymmetry were analyzed by calculating lateralization quotients. Additionally, DRD2 mRNA expression in the prefrontal cortex of offspring at both ages was analyzed using real-time PCR. MIA was associated with a rightward turning behavior in adolescents. In adults, MIA was associated with an absence of turning bias, indicating reduced asymmetry after MIA. The analysis of DRD2 mRNA expression revealed significantly lower mRNA levels after MIA compared to controls in adolescent, but not adult animals. Our results reinforce the association between atypical asymmetries, reduced DRD2 mRNA expression, and schizophrenia. However, more preclinical research is needed.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UILJ, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZAGLJ, ZRSKP
A triaminotriborane(3) was isolated as purple crystals through the reduction of (TMP)BCl2 (TMP=2,2,6,6‐tetramethylpiperidino) by sodium naphthalenide. Single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction and ...computational studies of the obtained triaminotriborane(3) revealed a bent structure of the B(NR2)3 chain. The bond lengths between the central and terminal boron atoms were similar to those observed in neutral diborene species. The multiple‐bonding character may be best described by a three‐center two‐electron π‐bond along the B3 chain. The distance between the two terminal boron atoms (2.177 Å) in the solid‐state structure implies a weak interaction between them. When an excess amount of Li was used as the reducing agent, the reaction yielded an unusual dianionic species. The isolation and characterization of these two reduction products are reported herein.
No weakest link: A triaminotriborane(3) was synthesized by the reduction of dichloro(2,2,6,6‐tetramethylpiperidino)borane and fully characterized (see scheme). The homocatenated boron chain is connected by boron–boron multiple bonds: A combination of experimental and computational methods reveals a three‐center two‐electron π bond out of the plane of the B3 chain.
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BFBNIB, FZAB, GIS, IJS, KILJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, SAZU, SBCE, SBMB, UL, UM, UPUK
A surface-functionalized hydrophilic charge-neutral monolayer of titanate was exfoliated from the precursor layered composite in aqueous media without addition of a delamination agent. The ...hydrophilic monolayer was applied for the detection of dopamine based on visible-light absorption originating from charge-transfer excitation from adsorbed dopamine to titanate.
This review focuses on recent progress in noncomputational methods to introduce catalytic function into proteins, peptides, and peptide assemblies. We discuss various approaches to creating catalytic ...activity and classification of noncomputational methods into rational and combinatorial classes. The section on rational design covers recent progress in the development of short peptides and oligomeric peptide assemblies for various natural and unnatural reactions. The section on combinatorial design describes recent advances in the discovery of catalytic peptides. We present the future prospects of these and other new approaches in a broader context, including implications for functional material design.
Diacetyl (2,3-butanedione) is a key contributor to unpleasant odors emanating from the axillae, feet, and head regions. To investigate the mechanism of diacetyl generation on human skin, resident ...skin bacteria were tested for the ability to produce diacetyl via metabolism of the main organic acids contained in human sweat. L-lactate metabolism by Staphylococcus aureus and Staphylococcus epidermidis produced the highest amounts of diacetyl, as measured by high-performance liquid chromatography. Glycyrrhiza glabra root extract (GGR) and α-tocopheryl-L-ascorbate-2-O-phosphate diester potassium salt (EPC-K1), a phosphate diester of α-tocopherol and ascorbic acid, effectively inhibited diacetyl formation without bactericidal effects. Moreover, a metabolic flux analysis revealed that GGR and EPC-K1 suppressed diacetyl formation by inhibiting extracellular bacterial conversion of L-lactate to pyruvate or by altering intracellular metabolic flow into the citrate cycle, respectively, highlighting fundamentally distinct mechanisms by GGR and EPC-K1 to suppress diacetyl formation. These results provide new insight into diacetyl metabolism by human skin bacteria and identify a regulatory mechanism of diacetyl formation that can facilitate the development of effective deodorant agents.
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DOBA, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
Assessment of van der Waals (VDW) interactions is fundamental to all of the central quest of structure that regulates the biological function. VDW interactions contributing to intramolecular weak ...hydrogen bonding are regarded as an important force to regulate the thermal stimuli-sensitive function of sulfobetaine methacrylate, DMAPS. We present here the conversion from the thermal-motion form at room temperature to the weak-hydrogen-bonded form against thermal motion as a terahertz spectral change with a definite isosbestic point from an absorption peak of one form to the other. Vibrational absorptions are used as a probe for assessing VDW interactions in conjunction with highly reliable and well-established density functional theory (DFT) calculations for analysis. Complicated spectral features and uncertain conformations of DMAPS in the amorphous state are clearly resolved under the polarizable continuum model and the dispersion correction for the pure DFT calculations.
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