“Green” approach for self-assembly of platinum nanoparticles into nanowires in aqueous glucose solutions

A completely “green” synthetic approach has been developed for the reduction and stabilization of Pt nanoparticles followed by self-assembly into nanowires in an aqueous β-d-glucose solution. Hydrothermal treatment initiated the reduction of Pt(IV) ions dispersed in a pH 8.0 β-d-glucose solution. The Pt nanoparticles were stabilized with oxidized glucose molecules. The Pt nanoparticles continued growing into nanowires followed by transformation into cubic nanocrystals with a rough needle surface. Evidence from TEM and FT-IR spectra reveal that carboxylate groups, which are generated by the oxidation of β-d-glucose, strongly interact with and stabilize the surface of these Pt nanostructures.     

The p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase is involved in stress-induced phospholipase D activation in vascular smooth muscle cells

Oxidative stress has been implicated in mediation of vascular disorders. Earlier study showed that the exposure of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC) to pervanadate (hydrogen peroxide plus orthovanadate) resulted in the accumulation of [3H]phosphatidylbutanol. In this study, the effect of pervanadate on the activation of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (p38 MAPK) was studied in the VSMC. Pervanadate treatment activated p38 MAPK in a dose-and time-dependent manner. Interestingly, specific inhibition of p38 MAPK with SB203580 attenuated pervanadate-induced PLD activation. This correlates with the finding that expression of dominant negative mutants of MKK3/6 inhibited the PLD activation. SB203580 pretreatment also inhibited other cellular stressors (i.e. high osmolarity and UV light)-induced PLD activation. The possible correlationship of p38 MAPK activation with PKC was examined since PKC is reported to be involved in the pervanadate-induced PLD activation. Calphostin C, a PKC inhibitor, suppressed pervanadate-induced p38 MAPK and PLD activation in a dose-dependent manner. These results suggest that PKC-p38 MAPK may represent an upstream pathway of PLD in the signal transduction of cellular stress.     

A beta-lactone route to chiral gamma-substituted alpha-amino acids: application to the concise synthesis of (S)-alpha-azidobutyro lactone and a natural amino acid

[reaction: see text] Beta-lactones are useful synthetic intermediates allowing access to a number of functional arrays. In this report, enantiomerically pure 4-trichloromethyl-2-oxetanone is shown to be a versatile amino acid synthon leading to a variety of gamma-substituted alpha-amino acid precursors. The utility of this methodology was demonstrated by the concise synthesis of a protected homoserine equivalent, alpha-azidobutyro lactone, and a naturally occurring alpha-amino acid from the seeds of Blighia unijugata.     

Optimization of nisin production by Lactococcus lactis

Applied Biochemistry and Biotechnology - The production of nisin by batch culture of Lactococcus lactis ATCC 11454 in MRS broth (pH 6.5), as treated in 30 assays, that were set up by a fractional...     

Size‐Dependence of the Activity of Gold Nanoparticle‐Loaded Titanium(IV) Oxide Plasmonic Photocatalyst for Water Oxidation

Mesoporous TiO₂ nanocrystalline film was formed on fluorine‐doped tin oxide electrode (TiO₂/FTO) and gold nanoparticles (NPs) of different sizes were loaded onto the surface with the loading amount kept constant (Au/TiO₂/FTO). Visible‐light irradiation (λ>430 nm) of the Au/TiO₂/FTO photoanode in a photoelectrochemical cell with the structure of photoanode|0.1 m NaClO4 aqueous solution|Ag/AgCl (reference electrode)|glassy carbon (cathode) leads to the oxidation of water to oxygen (O₂). We show that the visible‐light activity of the Au/TiO₂/FTO anode increases with a decrease in Au particle size (d) at 2.9≤d≤11.9 nm due to the enhancement of the charge separation and increasing photoelectrocatalytic activity.     

Doping‐Induced Absorption Bands in P3HT: Polarons and Bipolarons

In this work, we focus on the formation of different kinds of charge carriers such as polarons and bipolarons upon p‐type doping (oxidation) of the organic semiconductor poly(3‐ hexylthiophene‐2,5‐diyl) (P3HT). We elucidate the cyclic voltammogram during oxidation of this polymer and present spectroscopic changes upon doping in the UV/Vis/near‐IR range as well as in the mid‐IR range. In the low‐oxidation regime, two absorption bands related to sub‐gap transitions appear, one in the UV/Vis range and another one in the mid‐IR range. The UV/Vis absorption gradually decreases upon further doping while the mid‐IR absorption shifts to lower energy. Additionally, electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) measurements are performed, showing an increase of the EPR signal up to a certain doping level, which significantly decreases upon further doping. Furthermore, the absorption spectra in the UV/Vis range are analyzed in relation to the morphology (crystalline vs. amorphous) by using theoretical models. Finally, the calculated charge carriers from cyclic voltammogram are linked together with optical transitions as well as with the EPR signals upon p‐type doping. We stress that our results indicate the formation of polarons at low doping levels and the existence of bipolarons at high doping levels. The presented spectroscopic data are an experimental evidence of the formation of bipolarons in P3HT.     

Syngas conversion beyond chemical equilibrium by in situ bimolecular reaction

An in situ bimolecular reaction, in which syngas is fed with toluene as a secondary reactant (hereafter Tol in situ methylation), was studied over bifunctional catalysts comprised of methanol synthesis catalyst and H-ZSM-5 in a fixed-bed down-flow reactor at 460 psig. When physically mixed with H-ZSM-5 to form bifunctional catalysts, CrZ_HZ (Cr₂O₃/ZnO + HZSM-5) catalyst showed much higher activity than CZA_HZ (CuO/ZnO/Al₂O₃ + H-ZSM-5) in the Tol in situ methylation, while CrZ catalyst exhibited substantially lower activity than CZA in methanol synthesis. CO conversion to methanol in the Tol in situ methylation was estimated by Bz in situ methylation. The CO conversion to methanol was calculated to be in the range of 11–27 %, while that in methanol synthesis over CrZ was about 5 % at most due to chemical equilibrium limitation. By employing a silicalite-coated H-ZSM-5 (Sil/HZ) in bifunctional catalyst, xylene selectivity and para-xylene yield were much improved in the Tol in situ methylation.     

Dimethyl carbonate synthesis via transesterification of ethylene carbonate and methanol using ionic liquid catalysts immobilized on mesoporous cellular foams

Dimethyl carbonate (DMC) was synthesized via transesterification of ethylene carbonate and methanol with ionic liquid catalysts. For this reaction, 1,4-diazobicyclo[2.2.2]octane (DABCO), [Choline]OH, and [BMIM]Cl were used as a homogeneous catalyst, and hydrotalcite, [DABCO]OH@MCF, [DABCO]Cl@MCF, and DABCO/MCF were used as a heterogeneous catalyst. To support the ionic liquids, mesoporous cellular foam (MCF) was prepared and characterized by SEM, TEM and BET surface area analyzer. The average cell and window sizes of the prepared MCF were 34.4 and 21.3 nm, respectively. The prepared MCF had a well structured three-dimensional structure. Among the homogeneous catalysts used, DABCO showed the highest DMC yield about 84 %, and among the heterogeneous catalysts, [DABCO]OH@MCF showed the highest DMC yield about 77 %. In the reusability test of the used catalysts, there was only 8 % point decrease in DMC yield with [DABCO]OH@MCF, whereas 58 percent point decrease in DMC yield with DABCO/MCF after four times recycling tests. The effects of an anion on the catalytic activity were investigated. The optimum reaction condition for DMC synthesis was also investigated with [DABCO]OH@MCF catalyst.