Hierarchical-Pore-Stabilization Strategy for Fabricating 18.3 wt% High-Loading Single-Atom Catalyst for Oxygen Reduction Reaction.

Metal single-atom catalysts (M-SACs) attract extraordinary attention for promoting oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) with 100% atomic utilization. However, low metal loading (usually less than 2 wt%) limits their overall catalytic performance. Herein, a hierarchical-structure-stabilization strategy for fabricating high-loading (18.

5-Fluorouracil monodispersed chitosan microspheres: Microfluidic chip fabrication with crosslinking, characterization, drug release and anticancer activity.

Different size and morphology monodispersed chitosan (CS) microspheres loaded with the anticancer drug of 5-fluorouracil (5-Fu) were prepared by the microfluidic method assisted by a crosslinking unit with crosslinkers of tripolyphosphate (TPP) and glutaraldehyde (GTA). The sizes, morphologies, drug loading, encapsulation efficiency, drug release and cytotoxicity of 5-Fu loaded CS microspheres were characterized and determined. Results indicated that the CS microspheres were uniform in size distributions.

Engine Oil Degradation Induced by Biodiesel: Effect of Methyl Oleate on the Performance of Zinc Dialkyldithiophosphate.

In the present work, the oxidation stability of blends of methyl oleate, zinc dialkyldithiophosphate (ZDDP), and a high viscosity index mineral base oil was determined by the method of a rotating pressure vessel, while the antiwear abilities were evaluated on a four-ball friction tester. Thereafter, the thermal decomposition characteristics and oxidation products of the oxidized blends were analyzed by a thermogravimetric analyzer and a gas chromatograph coupled to a mass spectrometer, respectively. The results showed that the antioxidation ability of ZDDP was substantially improved by methyl oleate, while the antiwear capacity is markedly impaired by methyl oleate.

Molecular determinants of caspase-9 activation by the Apaf-1 apoptosome.

Autocatalytic activation of an initiator caspase triggers the onset of apoptosis. In dying cells, caspase-9 activation is mediated by a multimeric adaptor complex known as the Apaf-1 apoptosome. The molecular mechanism by which caspase-9 is activated by the Apaf-1 apoptosome remains largely unknown.

A novel matrix additive, MCM-41-type mesoporous silica nanoparticles, used for analysis of peptides by MALDI-FT/ICRMS.

Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry (MALDI-MS) was thought to be unsuitable for the analysis of low-molecular-weight species since matrix peak noise made it difficult to identify analyte ions. In this study, MCM-41-type mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs) were used as a matrix additive with saturated 2,5-dihydroxybenzoic acid (DHB) or α-cyano-4-hydroxycinnannic acid (CHCA) solution for the analysis of six peptides of a wide range molecular weight, Leu-Val, Phe-Val, Lue-Phe, bradykinin fragment 1-7, angiotensin II and ACTH fragment 18-39. It was shown that MSNs were capable of reducing matrix peaks with laser power lower than 34% of saturated DHB especially for low polarity analyte or CHCA especially for high polarity analyte with molecular weight less than 500 regardless of the analyte-to-matrix ratio.

Crystal structure of the Caenorhabditis elegans apoptosome reveals an octameric assembly of CED-4.

The CED-4 homo-oligomer or apoptosome is required for initiation of programmed cell death in Caenorhabditis elegans by facilitating autocatalytic activation of the CED-3 caspase zymogen. How the CED-4 apoptosome assembles and activates CED-3 remains enigmatic. Here we report the crystal structure of the complete CED-4 apoptosome and show that it consists of eight CED-4 molecules, organized as a tetramer of an asymmetric dimer via a previously unreported interface among AAA(+) ATPases.

[Study of the acupuncture effect on monoamine transmitters in rabbit plasma and brain tissue by high performance liquid chromatography with electrochemical detection].

A rapid and simple method for the study of the acupuncture effect on monoamine transmitters and related compounds in rabbit plasma and brain tissue by high performance liquid chromatography with electrochemical detection was developed. An ODS column was selected as the separation column at 25 degrees C, and pH 4.50, 0.