Circumventing the OCl versus OOH scaling relation in the chlorine evolution reaction: Beyond dimensionally stable anodes

The development of selective electrocatalysts for the chlorine evolution reaction (CER) is majorly restrained by a scaling relation between the OCl and OOH adsorbates, rendering that active CER catalysts are also reasonably active in the competing oxygen evolution reaction (OER). While theory predicts that the OCl versus OOH scaling relation can be circumvented as soon as the elementary reaction steps in the CER comprise the Cl rather than the OCl adsorbate, it was demonstrated recently that PtN₄ sites embedded in a carbon nanotube follow this theoretical prediction. Advanced experimental analyses illustrate that the PtN₄ sites also reveal a different reaction kinetics compared to the industrial benchmark of dimensionally stable anodes (DSA). A reverse Volmer–Heyrovsky mechanism was identified, in which the rate-determining Volmer step for small overpotentials is followed by the kinetically limiting Heyrovsky step for larger overpotentials. Since the PtN₄ sites excel DSA in terms of activity and chlorine selectivity, we suggest the Cl intermediate as well as the reverse Volmer–Heyrovsky mechanism as the design criteria for the development of next-generation electrode materials beyond DSA.     

Identification,Characterization and Antihypertensive Effect In Vivo of a Novel ACE-Inhibitory Heptapeptide from Defatted Areca Nut Kernel Globulin Hydrolysates

The areca (Areca catechu L.) nut kernel (ANK) is a good potential protein source for its high protein content of 9.89–14.62 g/100 g and a high yield of around 300,000 tons per year in China. However, utilization of the areca nut kernel is limited. To expand the usage of ANK in pharmaceutical or foods industries, areca nut kernel globulin was extracted and angiotensin-I converting enzyme (ACE) inhibition peptides were prepared and identified using gel chromatography, reversed phase HPLC separation, UPLC-ESI-MS/MS analysis and in silico screening. Finally, a novel ACE-inhibitory heptapeptide (Ala–Pro–Lys–Ile–Glu–Glu–Val) was identified and chemically synthesized. The combination pattern between APKIEEV and ACE, and the inhibition kinetics, antihypertensive effect and endothlein-1 inhibition activity of APKIEEV were studied. The results of the molecular docking demonstrated that APKIEEV could bind to four active sites (not the key active sites) of ACE via short hydrogen bonds and demonstrated high ACE-inhibitory activity (IC₅₀: 550.41 μmol/L). Moreover, APKIEEV exhibited a significantly lowering effect on both the systolic blood pressure and diastolic blood pressure of spontaneously hypertensive rats, and had considerable suppression ability on intracellular endothelin-1. These results highlight the potential usage of APKIEEV as ingredients of antihypertensive drugs or functional foods.     

Electro‐optic switching with liquid crystal graphene

Graphene oxide (GO) particles in aqueous dispersions can form liquid crystal (LC) phases at extremely low concentrations due to the extremely high aspect ratio of the flakes and noticeably, they possess an extremely large Kerr coefficient attractive for low power consumption electro‐optic devices. Reduced graphene does not easily form LC phases in water due to its hydrophobic nature but here we show that stable dispersions of reduced graphene oxide can be realized with surfactants and that they exhibit birefringence upon shearing as well as under application of electric fields. The performance of the system is largely superior to GO LC possessing longer time stability and drastically improved electro‐optic properties with an induced birefringence twice as large at the same field strength thanks to the almost recovery of graphene properties upon reduction. (© 2016 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH &Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Preparation of copper ferrite by sol–gel method and the synergistic catalytic for the thermal decomposition of ammonium perchlorate

Journal of Sol-Gel Science and Technology - In the present work, copper ferrite was prepared by a simple and mild sol–gel method followed by low-temperature calcination, and characterized by...     

Minimal Bosonization of Supersymmetry with ‐graded Parity

In this paper we consider the ‐graded parity generalizing the ordinary (or Z₂‐graded ) parity. Using the ‐graded parity operator, we discuss the minimal bosonization of the N=2 SUSY with ‐graded parity. The lowest energy level is shown to be infinitely degenerate. In order to avoid the infinite degeneracy of the ground state we introduce the paraboson algebra to obtain the para‐supersymmetry. Finally, we discuss the hidden SUSY with Z₃‐graded parity.     

New q‐Hermite polynomials: characterization,operators algebra and associated coherent states

This paper addresses a construction of new q‐Hermite polynomials with a full characterization of their main properties and corresponding raising and lowering operator algebra. The three‐term recursive relation as well as the second‐order differential equation obeyed by these new polynomials are explicitly derived. Relevant operator actions, including the eigenvalue problem of the deformed oscillator and the self‐adjointness of the related position and momentum operators, are investigated and analyzed. The associated coherent states are constructed and discussed with an explicit resolution of the induced moment problem. The phase collapse in a q‐deformed boson system is studied.     

CDK5-dependent inhibitory phosphorylation of Drp1 during neuronal maturation

Mitochondrial functions are essential for the survival and function of neurons. Recently, it has been demonstrated that mitochondrial functions are highly associated with mitochondrial morphology, which is dynamically changed by the balance between fusion and fission. Mitochondrial morphology is primarily controlled by the activation of dynamin-related proteins including dynamin-related protein 1 (Drp1), which promotes mitochondrial fission. Drp1 activity is regulated by several post-translational modifications, thereby modifying mitochondrial morphology. Here, we found that phosphorylation of Drp1 at serine 616 (S616) is mediated by cyclin-dependent kinase 5 (CDK5) in post-mitotic rat neurons. Perturbation of CDK5 activity modified the level of Drp1^S616 phosphorylation and mitochondrial morphology in neurons. In addition, phosphorylated Drp1^S616 preferentially localized as a cytosolic monomer compared with total Drp1. Furthermore, roscovitine, a chemical inhibitor of CDKs, increased oligomerization and mitochondrial translocation of Drp1, suggesting that CDK5-dependent phosphorylation of Drp1 serves to reduce Drp1''s fission-promoting activity. Taken together, we propose that CDK5 has a significant role in the regulation of mitochondrial morphology via inhibitory phosphorylation of Drp1^S616 in post-mitotic neurons.     

含硅功能化聚烯烃:合成及应用

聚烯烃功能化改性是获得高性价比新材料的有效途径。含硅功能化聚烯烃(SFPO)是聚烯烃分子结构中含有机硅功能基团或有机硅聚合物链段的一类功能化聚烯烃的统称。由于有机硅功能基团及有机硅聚合物特殊的理化性质,SFPO通常具有丰富反应性或优异性能,成为一类有代表性的功能化聚烯烃。SFPO可以作为反应性中间体,用于制备具有复杂拓扑结构的功能化聚烯烃(如星型聚合物、梳型聚合物、接枝共聚物)或聚烯烃共价键接枝改性纳米材料;SFPO还可作为功能性添加剂(如增容剂、加工助剂,表面改性剂),用于开发聚烯烃新材料。近年来,研究人员在含硅功能化聚烯烃研究领域取得了系列进展,本文旨在对相关工作进行系统总结,以期引起同行注意并促进相关研究深入发展。     

The effect of 3D printing on the morphological and mechanical properties of polycaprolactone filament and scaffold

Three‐dimensional (3D) printing becomes an attractive technique to fabricate tissue engineering scaffolds through its high control on fabrication and repeatability using the printing parameters. This technique can be combined by the finite element method (FEM), and tissue‐specific scaffolds with desirable morphological and mechanical properties can be designed and manufactured. In this study, the influential 3D printing parameters on the morphological and mechanical properties of polycaprolactone (PCL) filament and scaffold were studied experimentally and numerically. First, the effects of printing parameters and process on the properties of extruded PCL filament were investigated. Then, using FEM, the effects of filament specifications on the overall characteristics of the scaffold were evaluated. Results showed that both the printing process in terms of resting time and remaining time and the printing parameters like pressure, printing speed, and printing path length have influenced the filament properties. In addition, both the filament diameter and elastic modulus had significant effects on the properties of scaffold especially, a 20% increase in the filament diameter caused the scaffold compressive elastic modulus to rise by around 72%. It is concluded that the printing parameters and process must be tuned very well in fabricating scaffolds with the desired morphology and mechanical property.