Enhanced methyl nitrite carbonylation to dimethyl carbonate fully exposed palladium cluster catalysts.

This work reports a fully exposed palladium cluster catalyst that exhibits superior activity and selectivity for methyl nitrite (MN) carbonylation compared to atomically dispersed Pd catalysts and Pd nanoparticles. Mechanistic studies reveal that the distinct geometric structure of the fully exposed palladium cluster enables surface-mediated Langmuir-Hinshelwood reactions, efficiently producing dimethyl carbonate (DMC) while minimizing dimethyl oxalate (DMO) formation. In contrast, atomically dispersed Pd catalysts rely on Eley-Rideal mechanisms, leading to lower activity, while the continuous surface sites of Pd NPs promote DMO formation.

Electrosynthesis of Atomically Precise Au Nanoclusters.

Innovation in synthesis methodologies is crucial for advancing the discovery of new materials. This work reports the electrosynthesis of a [Au(4-BuPhC≡C)(Dppe)]Cl nanocluster (Au NC) protected by alkynyl and phosphine ligands. From simple precursor, HAuCl and ligands, the whole synthesis is driven by a constant potential in single electrolytic cell.

NLRP3 inflammasome in cardiovascular diseases: an update.

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) continues to be the leading cause of mortality worldwide. The nucleotide oligomerization domain-, leucine-rich repeat-, and pyrin domain-containing protein 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome is involved in numerous types of CVD. As part of innate immunity, the NLRP3 inflammasome plays a vital role, requiring priming and activation signals to trigger inflammation.

The Effects of Sika Deer Antler Peptides on 3T3-L1 Preadipocytes and C57BL/6 Mice via Activating AMPK Signaling and Gut Microbiota.

(1) Background: To explore the anti-obesity effects and mechanisms of sika deer velvet antler peptides (sVAP) on 3T3-L1 preadipocytes and in high-fat diet (HFD)-induced obese mice. (2) Methods: sVAP fractions of different molecular weights were obtained via enzymatic hydrolysis and ultrafiltration. Their anti-lipid effects on 3T3-L1 cells were assessed with Oil Red O staining.

Construction of ZnO/r-GO Composite Photocatalyst for Improved Photodegradation of Organic Pollutants.

In this work, a simple hydrothermal method was used to prepare a series of ZnO/r-GO (ZGO-x) catalysts. The obtained products were subjected to a series of characterizations, which showed that the zinc oxide particles were deposited onto r-GO and that the crystal structure was not disrupted. In addition, due to the large specific surface area and the good electrical conductivity of r-GO, more photogenerated electrons can be rapidly transferred from ZnO to r-GO to participate in the reaction, thus improving the photocatalytic performance.