The electrochemical performance of alloy anodes has been reviewed in a previous paper
1. In this work, the fundamental understanding of lithium-insertion/extraction mechanism in alloy anodes is ...discussed. The article summarizes the different types of lithium-reaction processes observed in Si, Sn, Sb, Al, Mg and their alloys, with particular emphasis on the characteristics unique to alloy anodes, including the sloping voltage profiles, lithiation amorphization, cycling hysteresis and reaction-potential depression. These unique characteristics are discussed with respect to the effect of interface and surface energies on the phase transformation and thermodynamic stability of fine alloy particles.
The human lung consists of multiple cell types derived from early embryonic compartments. The morphogenesis of the lung, as well as the injury repair of the adult lung, is tightly controlled by a ...network of signaling pathways with key transcriptional factors. Lung cancer is the third most cancer-related death in the world, which may be developed due to the failure of regulating the signaling pathways. Sox (sex-determining region Y (Sry) box-containing) family transcriptional factors have emerged as potent modulators in embryonic development, stem cells maintenance, tissue homeostasis, and cancerogenesis in multiple processes. Recent studies demonstrated that the members of the Sox gene family played important roles in the development and maintenance of lung and development of lung cancer. In this context, we summarize our current understanding of the role of Sox family transcriptional factors in the morphogenesis of lung, their oncogenic potential in lung cancer, and their potential impact in the diagnosis, prognosis, and targeted therapy of lung cancer.
The exploration of high nuclearity molecular metal oxide clusters and their reactivity is a challenge for chemistry and materials science. Herein, we report an unprecedented giant molecular ...cerium–bismuth tungstate superstructure formed by self‐assembly from simple metal oxide precursors in aqueous solution. The compound, {W14CeIV6O61(W3Bi6CeIII3(H2O)3O14B‐α‐BiW9O333)2}34− was identified by single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction and features 104 metal centers, a relative molar mass of ca. 24 000 and is ca. 3.0×2.0×1.7 nm3 in size. The cluster anion is assembled around a central {Ce6} octahedron which is stabilized by several molecular metal oxide shells. Six trilacunary Keggin anions (B‐α‐BiW9O339−) cap the superstructure and limit its growth. In the crystal lattice, water‐filled channels with diameters of ca. 0.5 nm are observed, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy shows pronounced proton conductivity even at low temperature.
A giant cerium–bismuth tungstate cluster featuring more than 100 metal ions and a relative molar mass of approximately 24 000 is structurally characterized. The cluster anions form a highly 3D‐porous crystalline lattice featuring water‐filled channels. Proton conductivity measurements show high proton mobility within the framework.
Nutrient inputs from the Mississippi/Atchafalaya River system into the northern Gulf of Mexico promote high phytoplankton production and lead to high respiration rates. Respiration coupled with water ...column stratification results in seasonal summer hypoxia in bottom waters on the shelf. In addition to consuming oxygen, respiration produces carbon dioxide (CO2), thus lowering the pH and acidifying bottom waters. Here we present a high‐resolution biogeochemical model simulating this eutrophication‐driven acidification and investigate the dominant underlying processes. The model shows the recurring development of an extended area of acidified bottom waters in summer on the northern Gulf of Mexico shelf that coincides with hypoxic waters. Not reported before, acidified waters are confined to a thin bottom boundary layer where the production of CO2 by benthic metabolic processes is dominant. Despite a reduced saturation state, acidified waters remain supersaturated with respect to aragonite.
Key Points
A biogeochemical model realistically simulates eutrophication‐induced acidification in the northern Gulf of Mexico
The sediments, which are a major source of dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC), cause low pH that is restricted to the bottom boundary layer
The contribution of river‐derived organic matter to DIC production and acidification is small in the river outflow region
With the development of flexible electronic devices and large‐scale energy storage technologies, functional polymer‐matrix nanocomposites with high permittivity (high‐k) are attracting more attention ...due to their ease of processing, flexibility, and low cost. The percolation effect is often used to explain the high‐k characteristic of polymer composites when the conducting functional fillers are dispersed into polymers, which gives the polymer composite excellent flexibility due to the very low loading of fillers. Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and graphene nanosheets (GNs), as one‐dimensional (1D) and two‐dimensional (2D) carbon nanomaterials respectively, have great potential for realizing flexible high‐k dielectric nanocomposites. They are becoming more attractive for many fields, owing to their unique and excellent advantages. The progress in dielectric fields by using 1D/2D carbon nanomaterials as functional fillers in polymer composites is introduced, and the methods and mechanisms for improving dielectric properties, breakdown strength and energy storage density of their dielectric nanocomposites are examined. Achieving a uniform dispersion state of carbon nanomaterials and preventing the development of conductive networks in their polymer composites are the two main issues that still need to be solved in dielectric fields for power energy storage. Recent findings, current problems, and future perspectives are summarized.
1D/2D carbon nanomaterial‐polymer dielectric composites are a promising way to realize excellent dielectric properties and high energy density with low filler concentration, which are essential in power energy storage application. Progress in recent years is summarized and the advantages and disadvantages of different strategies are identified to provide clearer paths for researchers in this field.
The hierarchical aggregation of molecular nanostructures from multiple components is a grand synthetic challenge, which requires highly selective linkage control. We demonstrate how two orthogonal ...linkage groups, that is, organotin and lanthanide cations, can be used to drive the aggregation of a giant molecular metal oxide superstructure. The title compound {(Sn(CH3)2)2O4{CeW5O18 TeW4O16CeSn(CH3)24TeW8O314}2}46− (1 a) features dimensions of ca. 2.2×2.3×3.4 nm3 and a molecular weight of ca. 25 kDa. Structural analysis shows the hierarchical aggregation from several independent subunits. Initial biomedical tests show that 1 features an inhibitory effect on the proliferation of HeLa cells based on an apoptosis pathway. In vivo experiments in mice reveal the antiproliferative activity of 1 and open new paths for further development of this new compound class.
Hierarchical assembly of a giant heterometallic polyoxotungstate supercluster with a molecular weight of ca. 25 kDa is reported. Geometrically unrestricted cerium(III) and geometrically restricted dimethyl tin cation linkers are used to gain access to a giant molecular species featuring three different polyoxometalate building units. The compound demonstrates in vitro and in vivo antiproliferative activity against HeLa cervical cancer cell lines.
The Buchwald‐Hartwig C‐N coupling reaction has found widespread applications in organic synthesis. Over the past two decades or so, many improved catalysts have been introduced, allowing various ...amines and aryl electrophiles to be readily used nowadays. However, there lacks a protocol that could be used to couple a wide range of chiral amines and aryl halides, without erosion of the enantiomeric excess (ee). Reported in this article is a method based on molecular Ni catalysis driven by light, which enables stereoretentive C‐N coupling of optically active amines, amino alcohols, and amino acid esters with aryl bromides, with no need for any external photosensitizer. The method is effective for a wide variety of coupling partners, including those bearing functional groups sensitive to bases and nucleophiles, thus providing a viable alternative to accessing synthetically important chiral N‐aryl amines, amino alcohols, and amino acids esters. Its viability is demonstrated by 92 examples with up to 99 % ee.
A stereoretentive C−N coupling of optically active amines and amino acid esters with aryl bromides is achieved by nickel catalysis under light irradiation, without the use of any external photosensitizers.
Surface reactions constitute the foundation of various energy conversion/storage technologies, such as the lithium–sulfur (Li‐S) batteries. To expedite surface reactions for high‐rate battery ...applications demands in‐depth understanding of reaction kinetics and rational catalyst design. Now an in situ extrinsic‐metal etching strategy is used to activate an inert monometal nitride of hexagonal Ni3N through iron‐incorporated cubic Ni3FeN. In situ etched Ni3FeN regulates polysulfide‐involving surface reactions at high rates. Electron microscopy was used to unveil the mechanism of in situ catalyst transformation. The Li‐S batteries modified with Ni3FeN exhibited superb rate capability, remarkable cycling stability at a high sulfur loading of 4.8 mg cm−2, and lean‐electrolyte operability. This work opens up the exploration of multimetallic alloys and compounds as kinetic regulators for high‐rate Li‐S batteries and also elucidates catalytic surface reactions and the role of defect chemistry.
Inert hexagonal Ni3N can be activated by an extrinsic metal‐incorporating strategy with in situ etching that uses cubic Ni3FeN. Vacancy‐rich Ni3FeN catalysts kinetically regulate polysulfide‐involving reactions at high rates for use in advanced lithium–sulfur batteries.
BRI1-EMS suppressor (BES)/brassinazole-resistant (BZR) family transcription factors are involved in a variety of physiological processes, but the biological functions of some BES/BZR transcription ...factors remain unknown; moreover, it is not clear if any of these proteins function in the regulation of plant stress responses. Here, wheat (
) brassinazole-resistant 2 (
)-overexpressing plants exhibited drought tolerant phenotypes, whereas downregulation of
in wheat by RNA interference resulted in elevated drought sensitivity. electrophoretic mobility shift assay and luciferase reporter analysis illustrate that TaBZR2 directly interacts with the gene promoter to activate the expression of
glutathione s-transferase-1 (
), which functions positively in scavenging drought-induced superoxide anions (O
). Moreover, TaBZR2 acts as a positive regulator in brassinosteroid (BR) signaling. Exogenous BR treatment enhanced TaBZR2-mediated O
scavenging and antioxidant enzyme gene expression. Taken together, we demonstrate that a BES/BZR family transcription factor, TaBZR2, functions positively in drought responses by activating
and mediates the crosstalk between BR and drought signaling pathways. Our results thus provide new insights into the mechanisms underlying how BES/BZR family transcription factors contribute to drought tolerance in wheat.
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