Titanium oxynitride interlayer to influence oxygen reduction reaction activity and corrosion stability of Pt and Pt-Ni alloy.

A key advancement target for oxygen reduction reaction catalysts is to simultaneously improve both the electrochemical activity and durability. To this end, the efficacy of a new highly conductive support that comprises of a 0.5 nm titanium oxynitride film coated by atomic layer deposition onto an array of carbon nanotubes has been investigated.

Thermodynamically destabilized hydride formation in "bulk" Mg-AlTi multilayers for hydrogen storage.

Thermodynamic destabilization of MgH2 formation through interfacial interactions in free-standing Mg-AlTi multilayers of overall "bulk" (0.5 μm) dimensions with a hydrogen capacity of up to 5.5 wt% is demonstrated.

Body centered cubic magnesium niobium hydride with facile room temperature absorption and four weight percent reversible capacity.

We have synthesized a new metastable metal hydride with promising hydrogen storage properties. Body centered cubic (bcc) magnesium niobium hydride (Mg(0.75)Nb(0.

Herbal compound 861 regulates mRNA expression of collagen synthesis- and degradation-related genes in human hepatic stellate cells.

Aim: To identify the role of herbal compound 861 (Cpd 861) in the regulation of mRNA expression of collagen synthesis- and degradation-related genes in human hepatic stellate cells (HSCs).

Methods: mRNA levels of collagen types I and III, matrix metalloproteinase 1 (MMP-1), matrix metalloproteinase 2 (MMP-2), membrane type-1 matrix metalloproteinase (MT1-MMP), tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase 1 (TIMP-1), and transforming growth factor beta1 (TGF-beta1) in cultured-activated HSCs treated with Cpd 861 or interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) were determined by real-time PCR.

Results: Both Cpd 861 and IFN-gamma reduced the mRNA levels of collagen type III, MMP-2 and TGF-beta1.

Identification of human dopamine receptors agonists from Chinese herbs.

Aim: To find human dopamine receptors, especially D1-like receptor specific agonists from Chinese herbs as potential antihypertension drug leads.

Methods: Two D1-like receptor cell lines carrying a beta-lactamase reporter gene, and a D2 receptor cell line coexpressing a promiscuous G protein G15 were constructed using HEK293 cells. A natural compound library made from fractionated samples of herbal extracts was used for high-throughput screening (HTS) against one of the cell lines, HEK/D5R/CRE-blax.

[Identification of antiviral activity of Toddalia asiatica against influenza type A virus].

Objective: To identify antiviral activity of Toddalia asiatica against influenza virus type A in vitro.

Method: More than two hundred Chinese medicinal herb extracts were screened for antiviral activities against influenza A/PR/8/34 (H1N1) virus using 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-5-(3-carboxymethoxyphenyl)-2-(4-sulfophenyl)-2H-tetrazolium (MTS) assay for virus induced cytopathic effect (CPE) in a primary screening. Positive samples were picked up and were subjected to quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to quantify reduction of H1N1 virus genomic RNA.

Effects of herbal compound 861 on human hepatic stellate cell proliferation and activation.

Aim: To investigate the effects of herbal compound 861 (Cpd 861) on cell proliferation in human hepatic stellate cells (LX-2) and human hepatocellular liver carcinoma cells (HepG2), and expression of alpha-smooth muscle actin (alpha-SMA) in LX-2 cells.

Methods: LX-2 and HepG2 cells were incubated with various concentrations of Cpd 861 (0.1-0.