We found that plasmonic Au particles on titanium(iv) oxide (TiO2) act as a visible-light-driven photocatalyst for overall water splitting free from any additives. This is the first report showing ...that surface plasmon resonance (SPR) in a suspension system effectively induces overall water splitting. Modification with various types of metal nanoparticles as co-catalysts enhanced the evolution of H2 and O2. Among these, Ni-modified Au/TiO2 exhibited 5-times higher rates of H2 and O2 evolution than those of Ni-free Au/TiO2. We succeeded in designing a novel solar energy conversion system including three elemental technologies, charge separation with light harvest and an active site for O2 evolution (plasmonic Au particles), charge transfer from Au to the active site for H2 production (TiO2), and an active site for H2 production (Ni cocatalyst), by taking advantage of a technique for fabricating size-controlled Au and Ni nanoparticles. Water splitting occurred in aqueous suspensions of Ni-modified Au/TiO2 even under irradiation of light through an R-62 filter.
Carbon-supported Pd and PdNi electrocatalysts with different Ni contents were prepared by metal ion chemical reduction with borohydride. XRF analyses showed that the actual compositions of the ...materials were close to the nominal compositions. XRD measurements revealed that the materials were crystalline, with small peak displacements when Ni and Pd ions were reduced on carbon support, and suggested a segregated phase and not a Ni incorporation into the Pd lattice. HRTEM micrographs showed homogeneous particle distributions on the carbon, with a narrow particle size distribution and few agglomerations of nanoparticles. All the materials presented electrochemical activity for the oxidation of methanol, ethanol, and glycerol in KOH, and the oxidation current peak increased as a function of the Ni content in the catalyst.
•Pd and PdNi show electrochemical activity for methanol, ethanol and glycerol.•The electrochemical oxidation current increases with Ni content increase on Pd.•The onset potential reduces with increase of Ni in Pd electrocatalysts.
Standard laboratory coagulation tests (SLTs) such as prothrombin time/international normalized ratio or partial thromboplastin time are frequently used to assess coagulopathy and to guide haemostatic ...interventions. However, this has been challenged by numerous reports, including the current European guidelines for perioperative bleeding management, which question the utility and reliability of SLTs in this setting. Furthermore, the arbitrary definition of coagulopathy (i.e. SLTs are prolonged by more than 1.5-fold) has been questioned. The present study aims to review the evidence for the usefulness of SLTs to assess coagulopathy and to guide bleeding management in the perioperative and massive bleeding setting. Medline was searched for investigations using results of SLTs as a means to determine coagulopathy or to guide bleeding management, and the outcomes (i.e. blood loss, transfusion requirements, mortality) were reported. A total of 11 guidelines for management of massive bleeding or perioperative bleeding and 64 studies investigating the usefulness of SLTs in this setting were identified and were included for final data synthesis. Referenced evidence for the usefulness of SLTs was found in only three prospective trials, investigating a total of 108 patients (whereby microvascular bleeding was a rare finding). Furthermore, no data from randomized controlled trials support the use of SLTs. In contrast, numerous investigations have challenged the reliability of SLTs to assess coagulopathy or guide bleeding management. There is actually no sound evidence from well-designed studies that confirm the usefulness of SLTs for diagnosis of coagulopathy or to guide haemostatic therapy.
Throughout the history of oxygen evolution, two types of photosystem reaction centres (PSI and PSII) have worked in a coordinated manner. The oxygen evolving centre is an integral part of PSII, and ...extracts an electron from water. PSI accepts the electron, and accumulates reducing power. Traditionally, PSI and PSII are thought to be spatially dispersed. Here, we show that about half of PSIIs are physically connected to PSIs in Arabidopsis thaliana. In the PSI-PSII complex, excitation energy is transferred efficiently between the two closely interacting reaction centres. PSII diverts excitation energy to PSI when PSII becomes closed-state in the PSI-PSII complex. The formation of PSI-PSII complexes is regulated by light conditions. Quenching of excess energy by PSI might be one of the physiological functions of PSI-PSII complexes.
Summary
Primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) is a multi‐factorial disease caused by the interaction of both genetic predisposition and environmental triggers. Bacterial infection has been investigated ...most intensively, both epidemiologically and experimentally, as a prime environmental aetiology in PBC. The association of recurrent history of urinary tract infection (UTI) with PBC has been frequently confirmed by several large‐scale, case–control studies, despite variation in geographic area or case‐finding methods. Escherichia coli is a predominant pathogen in most cases with UTI. Animal studies and molecular mimicry analysis between the human and E. coli E2 subunit of the 2‐oxo‐acid dehydrogenase complexes demonstrated that E. coli infection is a key factor in breaking immunological tolerance against the mitochondria, resulting in the production of anti‐mitochondrial autoantibodies (AMA), the disease‐specific autoantibodies of PBC. Novosphingobium aromaticivorans, a ubiquitous xenobiotic‐metabolizing bacterium, is another candidate which may be involved in the aetiology of PBC. Meanwhile, improved environmental hygiene and increased prevalence of PBC, especially in males, may argue against the aetiological role of bacterial infection in PBC. Multiple mechanisms can result in the loss of tolerance to mitochondrial autoantigens in PBC; nonetheless, bacterial infection is probably one of the dominant pathways, especially in female patients. Notably, there is a rising prevalence of male patients with PBC. With increasing exposure to environmental xenobiotics in both genders, studies directed towards identifying the environmental culprit with systematically designed case–control studies are much needed to further determine the environmental factors and role of bacterial infections in PBC.
In primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) ,the immunodominant epitopes of the disease‐specific autoantibodies, anti‐mitochondrial autoantibodies (AMA) epitopes and T cell epitopes of are mapped within the inner lipoyl domain of E2 subunit of the 2‐oxo‐acid dehydrogenase complexes (PDC‐E2, BCOADC‐E2, OGDC‐E2 and E3BP). Multiple mechanisms can result in the loss of tolerance to mitochondrial autoantigens in PBC; nonetheless, bacterial infection is probably one of the dominant pathways. Animal studies and molecular mimicry analysis between the human and microbial PDC‐E2 demonstrated that E. coli infection is a key factor in breaking immunological tolerance against the mitochondria, resulting in the production of AMA.
Fluid resuscitation after massive hemorrhage in major surgery and trauma may result in extensive hemodilution and coagulopathy, which is of a multifactorial nature. Although coagulopathy is often ...perceived as hemorrhagic, extensive hemodilution affects procoagulants as well as anticoagulant, profibrinolytic, and antifibrinolytic elements, leading to a complex coagulation disorder. Reduced thrombin activation is partially compensated by lower inhibitory activities of antithrombin and other protease inhibitors, whereas plasma fibrinogen is rapidly decreased proportional to the extent of hemodilution. Adequate fibrinogen levels are essential in managing dilutional coagulopathy. After extensive hemodilution, fibrin clots are more prone to fibrinolysis because major antifibrinolytic proteins are decreased.Fresh frozen plasma, platelet concentrate, and cryoprecipitate are considered the mainstay hemostatic therapies. Purified factor concentrates of plasma origin and from recombinant synthesis are increasingly used for a rapid restoration of targeted factors. Future clinical studies are necessary to establish the specific indication, dosing, and safety of novel hemostatic interventions.
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