A density functional theory study of gold clusters supported on layered double hydroxides

The geometrical structure and electronic properties of a series of Au _N (N = 1–8) clusters supported on a Mg²⁺, Al³⁺-containing layered double hydroxides (MgAl–LDH) are investigated using density functional theory. The Au clusters are supported on two typical crystal faces of the LDH platelet, the basal {0001} and the lateral $ \{ 10\,\bar{1}\,0\} $ crystal face, respectively, corresponding to the top and edge site of monolayer MgAl–LDH lamella for the sake of simplicity. It is revealed that an increase in the charge transfer from the LDH lamella to the Au _N clusters at the edge site rather than clusters on the top surface, demonstrating a preferential adsorption for Au _N clusters at the edge of LDH lamella. Moreover, the calculated adsorption energy of the Au _N clusters on the LDH lamella increases with the cluster size, irrespective of the adsorption site. The investigation on the interaction between O₂ and Au _N clusters on the LDH lamella is further carried out for understanding the catalytic oxidation properties of the LDH-supported Au catalyst. The formation of reactive O₂ ^? species, a necessary prerequisite in catalytic oxidation of CO, by O₂ bridging two Au atoms of Au _N clusters indicates that the LDH-supported Au catalyst has the required characteristics of a chemically active gold catalyst in CO oxidation.     

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.     

Inhibition of phospholipase D2 induces autophagy in colorectal cancer cells

Autophagy is a conserved lysosomal self-digestion process used for the breakdown of long-lived proteins and damaged organelles, and it is associated with a number of pathological processes, including cancer. Phospholipase D (PLD) isozymes are dysregulated in various cancers. Recently, we reported that PLD1 is a new regulator of autophagy and is a potential target for cancer therapy. Here, we investigated whether PLD2 is involved in the regulation of autophagy. A PLD2-specific inhibitor and siRNA directed against PLD2 were used to treat HT29 and HCT116 colorectal cancer cells, and both inhibition and genetic knockdown of PLD2 in these cells significantly induced autophagy, as demonstrated by the visualization of light chain 3 (LC3) puncta and autophagic vacuoles as well as by determining the LC3-II protein level. Furthermore, PLD2 inhibition promoted autophagic flux via the canonical Atg5-, Atg7- and AMPK-Ulk1-mediated pathways. Taken together, these results suggest that PLD2 might have a role in autophagy and that its inhibition might provide a new therapeutic basis for targeting autophagy.     

Experimental research of effects of different rotation radii on the growth rate of potassium dihydrogen phosphate crystals

Comparing with the traditional concentric rotation method (rotation radius is 0 cm), the effects of different rotation radii on the growth rate of KDP crystals were studied by experimental methods. It was found that with the increase of rotation radius from 0 cm, the growth rate of each direction of crystals first increased and then decreased in a size‐unchanged vessel. The smaller the distance between the crystal and vessel wall, the less the growth rate. This phenomenon was named the “wall collision effect”. Also, the value of growth rate reached a maximum when the rotation radius was about half of its allowable largest value in the size‐unchanged vessel. In addition, an increase of the rotation radius could improve the crystal growth rate under the same linear velocity of crystal movement. Finally, the uniformity of crystal growth has also been analyzed compared with the concentric rotation radius. It was found that the uniformity of crystal growth was best when the rotation radius was half of its allowable maximum value, and it was more conducive to the actual application of KDP crystals.     

Comparison of cadmium manganese telluride crystals grown by traveling heater method and vertical Bridgman method

In this paper, the CdMnTe crystals were grown by the Travelling Heater Method (THM) and the Vertical Bridgman (VB) method, respectively. The crystal properties, including the Mn axial distribution, impurity concentrations, resistivity, Hall effects and energy response spectra, were characterized and compared. The results shown that the CdMnTe crystal grown by the THM had more uniform Mn distribution and lower impurity concentrations compared to the crystal grown by VB method. The resistivity of CdMnTe grown by THM was (1.5 ∼ 8) × 10¹⁰ Ω.cm, while the resistivity of CdMnTe grown by VB was 10⁷∼10⁸ Ω.cm. The In dopant distributed uniformly throughout the crystal ingot grown by THM with the doping concentration of 0.6–0.7 ppm, while the In dopant concentration throughout the crystal grown by VB method is in the range of 1.31–2.4 ppm. Hall measurements revealed that the conductivity of the THM grown crystal was weak n‐type conductivity and the VB grown crystal was p‐type conductivity. A planar CdMnTe detector from the THM grown crystal showed a resolution of 8% of the ²⁴¹Am radiation at 59.5 keV peak, however, no energy response was revealed with the CdMnTe detector by the VB method. The results demonstrate that CdMnTe crystal grown by THM have better crystal quality and detector properties compared to that by VB method.     

Tunable Oxygen Activation for Catalytic Organic Oxidation: Schottky Junction versus Plasmonic Effects

The charge state of the Pd surface is a critical parameter in terms of the ability of Pd nanocrystals to activate O₂ to generate a species that behaves like singlet O₂ both chemically and physically. Motivated by this finding, we designed a metal–semiconductor hybrid system in which Pd nanocrystals enclosed by {100} facets are deposited on TiO₂ supports. Driven by the Schottky junction, the TiO₂ supports can provide electrons for metal catalysts under illumination by appropriate light. Further examination by ultrafast spectroscopy revealed that the plasmonics of Pd may force a large number of electrons to undergo reverse migration from Pd to the conduction band of TiO₂ under strong illumination, thus lowering the electron density of the Pd surface as a side effect. We were therefore able to rationally tailor the charge state of the metal surface and thus modulate the function of Pd nanocrystals in O₂ activation and organic oxidation reactions by simply altering the intensity of light shed on Pd–TiO₂ hybrid structures.     

Effects of alumina phases on CO2 sorption and regeneration properties of potassium-based alumina sorbents

A range of potassium-based alumina sorbents were fabricated by impregnation of alumina with K₂CO₃ to examine the effects of the structural and textural properties of alumina on the CO₂ sorption and regeneration properties. Alumina materials, which were used as supports, were prepared by calcining alumina at various temperatures (300, 600, 950, and 1,200 °C). The CO₂ sorption and regeneration properties of these sorbents were examined during multiple tests in a fixed-bed reactor in the presence of 1 vol% CO₂ and 9 vol% H₂O. The regeneration capacities of the potassium-based alumina sorbents increased with increasing calcination temperature of alumina. The formation of KHCO₃ increased with increasing calcination temperature during CO₂ sorption, whereas the formation of KAl(CO₃)(OH)₂, which is an inactive material, decreased. These results is due to the fact that the structure of alumina by the calcination temperature is related directly to the formation of the by-product [KAl(CO₃)(OH)₂]. The structure of alumina plays an important role in enhancing the regeneration capacity of the potassium-based alumina sorbent. Based on these results, a new potassium-based sorbent using δ-Al₂O₃ as a support was developed for post-combustion CO₂ capture. This sorbent maintained a high CO₂ capture capacity of 88 mg CO₂/g sorbent after two cycles. In particular, it showed a faster sorption rate than the other potassium-based alumina sorbents examined.     

Facile Access to cis‐2,6‐Disubstituted Tetrahydropyrans by Palladium‐Catalyzed Decarboxylative Allylation: Total Syntheses of (±)‐Centrolobine and (+)‐Decytospolides A and B

cis‐2,6‐Tetrahydropyran is an important structural skeleton of bioactive natural products. A facile synthesis of cis‐2,6‐disubstituted‐3,6‐dihydropyrans as cis‐2,6‐tetrahydropyran precursors has been achieved in high regio‐ and stereoselectivity with high yields. This reaction involves a palladium‐catalyzed decarboxylative allylation of various 3,4‐dihydro‐2H‐pyran substrates. Extending this reaction to 1,2‐unsaturated carbohydrates allowed the achievement of challenging β‐C‐glycosylation. Based on this methodology, the total syntheses of (±)‐centrolobine and (+)‐decytospolides A and B were achieved in concise steps and overall high yields.     

A Phosphine‐Catalyzed Novel Asymmetric [3+2] Cycloaddition of C,N‐Cyclic Azomethine Imines with δ‐Substituted Allenoates

Catalytic asymmetric [3+2] cycloadditions of C,N‐cyclic azomethine imines with δ‐substituted allenoates have been developed in the presence of (S)‐Me‐f‐KetalPhos, affording functionalized tetrahydroquinoline frameworks in good yields with high diastereo‐ and good enantioselectivities under mild condition. The substrate scope has been also examined. This is the first time that δ‐substituted allenoates have been applied as a δ,γ‐C?C bond participated C₂ synthon in asymmetric synthesis.     

Cube‐in‐Cube Hollow Cu9S5 Nanostructures with Enhanced Photocatalytic Activities in Solar H2 Evolution

Hydrogen produced from water under solar energy is an ideal clean energy source, and the efficiency of hydrogen production usually depends on the catalytic systems based on new compounds and/or a unique nanostructure. Herein, well‐defined cube‐in‐cube hollow Cu₉S₅ nanostructures have been successfully prepared with Cu₂O nanocubes and CS₂ as precursors, and single‐shell hollow Cu₉S₅ nanocubes could be obtained by replacing CS₂ with Na₂S. The formation mechanism of cube‐in‐cube hollow nanostructures has been proposed based on the Kirkendell effect and an outward self‐assembly process. Further studies revealed that the cube‐in‐cube hollow Cu₉S₅ nanostructures exhibited better photocatalytic activity toward solar H₂ evolution and would be a promising photocatalyst in the solar hydrogen industry.