Peripheral Arterial Stiffness Increases the Risk of Progression of Renal Disease in Type 2 Diabetic Patients.

Our aim was to investigate the effects of peripheral arterial stiffness on the risk of progression of renal disease in patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D). This was a single center, retrospective cohort study. Brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV) tests were performed on T2D patients in 2015.

Metal-free, polyether-mediated H2-release from ammonia borane: roles of hydrogen bonding interactions in promoting dehydrogenation.

Polyetheral additives were found to be efficient promoters to enhance the rate of H2-release from ammonia borane (AB) at various temperatures. In particular, tetraethylene glycol dimethyl ether (T4EGDE, 29 wt% relative to AB + T4EGDE) exhibited significantly improved activities for AB dehydrogenation, with the material-based hydrogen storage capacity of 10.3 wt% at 125 °C within 40 min.

Effect of particle size of PtRu nanoparticles embedded in WO3 on electrocatalysis.

Size-controlled PtRu nanoparticles embedded in WO3 were prepared by simultaneous multigun sputtering on pure targets of Pt, Ru, and WO3. The mean diameter of the PtRu nanoparticles, as confirmed by high-resolution transmission electron microscopy, can be varied from -2.3 to -3.

Supported core@shell electrocatalysts for fuel cells: close encounter with reality.

Core@shell electrocatalysts for fuel cells have the advantages of a high utilization of Pt and the modification of its electronic structures toward enhancement of the activities. In this study, we suggest both a theoretical background for the design of highly active and stable core@shell/C and a novel facile synthetic strategy for their preparation. Using density functional theory calculations guided by the oxygen adsorption energy and vacancy formation energy, Pd₃Cu₁@Pt/C was selected as the most suitable candidate for the oxygen reduction reaction in terms of its activity and stability.

Role of electronic perturbation in stability and activity of Pt-based alloy nanocatalysts for oxygen reduction.

The design of electrocatalysts for polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells must satsify two equally important fundamental principles: optimization of electrocatalytic activity and long-term stability in acid media (pH <1) at high potential (0.8 V). We report here a solution-based approach to the preparation of Pt-based alloy with early transition metals and realistic parameters for the stability and activity of Pt(3)M (M = Y, Zr, Ti, Ni, and Co) nanocatalysts for oxygen reduction reaction (ORR).

One-pot synthesis of intermetallic electrocatalysts in ordered, large-pore mesoporous carbon/silica toward formic acid oxidation.

This study describes the one-pot synthesis and single-cell characterization of ordered, large-pore (>30 nm) mesoporous carbon/silica (OMCS) composites with well-dispersed intermetallic PtPb nanoparticles on pore wall surfaces as anode catalysts for direct formic acid fuel cells (DFAFCs). Lab-synthesized amphiphilic diblock copolymers coassemble hydrophobic metal precursors as well as hydrophilic carbon and silica precursors. The final materials have a two-dimensional hexagonal-type structure.

Role of Small Pd Ensembles in Boosting CO Oxidation in AuPd Alloys.

We present a theoretical explanation on how PdAu alloy catalysts can enhance the oxidation of CO molecules based on density functional theory calculations of CO adsorption and oxidation on AuPd/Pd(111) surfaces. Our study suggests that the enhanced activity is largely attributed to the possible existence of "partially-poisoned" Pd ensembles that accommodate fewer CO molecules than Pd atoms. Whereas the oxidation of preadsorbed CO is likely governed by O2 trapping, our study shows that small Pd ensembles such as dimers and compact trimers tend to provide more active sites than larger ensembles; CO adsorbed on a Pd monomer is found to react hardly with O2 to form CO2.

Enhanced stability and activity of Pt-Y alloy catalysts for electrocatalytic oxygen reduction.

We report Pt-based alloys with early transition metals. Significant electrocatalysis occurs during oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) at the Pt-Y alloy electrodes, and the extent depends on the alloy composition. The Pt-Y alloy electrode activity is related to the d-band center position, and the lattice strain and stability for oxygen reduction reaction.

Multilayered Pt/Ru nanorods with controllable bimetallic sites as methanol oxidation catalysts.

A physical synthesis of multilayered Pt/Ru nanorods with controllable bimetallic sites as methanol oxidation catalysts is reported for the first time. The novel nanorods were synthesized via the oblique angle deposition method, deposited prior to the formation of each individual noble metal layer, in a sequential fashion. It has been shown that the oblique angle deposition controls the morphology and electrochemical properties of the resultant nanostructures.

Facile synthesis of highly active and stable Pt-Ir/C electrocatalysts for oxygen reduction and liquid fuel oxidation reaction.

A facile room temperature synthesis technique has been developed for Pt-Ir/C electrocatalysts for applications to low-temperature fuel cells. The prepared Pt(x)Ir(y) electrocatalyst was highly stable and active toward the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR), as well as liquid fuel oxidation reaction with high CO tolerance.

PtRu nano-dandelions on thiolated carbon nanotubes: a new synthetic strategy for supported bimetallic core-shell clusters on the atomic scale.

Core-shell PtRu clusters resembling dandelions were formed on thiolated carbon nanotubes by the difference in bond strength with surface thiol groups between Pt and Ru single atoms. The formation mechanism was clearly understood using a different release timing concept based on EXAFS and XPS analyses during heat treatment.

Modification of Au nanoparticles dispersed on carbon support using spontaneous deposition of Pt toward formic acid oxidation.

This work presents formic acid oxidation on Pt deposits on Au nanoparticles dispersed on Vulcan XC-72R. The Pt deposits were produced using spontaneous deposition method contacting the Au nanoparticles with solutions containing Pt complex ions in various concentrations. The Pt deposits were characterized using CO stripping coulometry, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy.

Concentration of vascular endothelial growth factor after intracameral bevacizumab injection in eyes with neovascular glaucoma.

Purpose: To study the concentration of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in the aqueous humor before and after intracameral injection of bevacizumab in eyes with neovascular glaucoma, and to detect the duration of an anti-VEGF effect of bevacizumab in the anterior chamber.

Methods: In this prospective interventional case series, 1.25 mg of bevacizumab was injected into the anterior chamber of five eyes in five neovascular glaucoma patients.

Electrocatalytic oxidation of formic acid and methanol on Pt deposits on Au(111).

This work presents characteristics of Pt deposits on Au(111) obtained by the use of spontaneous deposition and investigated by electrochemical scanning tunneling microscopy (EC-STM). On such prepared and STM characterized Au(111)/Pt surfaces, we studied electrocatalytic oxidation of formic acid and methanol. We show that the first monatomic layer of Pt displays a (square root 3 x square root 3)R30 degrees surface structure, while the second layer is (1 x 1).

Surface characterization of argon-plasma-modified perfluorosulfonic acid membranes.

The perfluorosulfonic acid membranes which are used in direct methanol fuel cells were modified with argon plasma under various conditions, and the physicochemical and transport properties of the resulting membranes were investigated using various analytical techniques. The plasma treatment was found to change the surface morphology and physicochemical properties of the membranes. The surface roughness of the membranes was increased by the etching effect of plasma.