Cu/CuO/Graphdiyne Tandem Catalyst for Efficient Electrocatalytic Nitrate Reduction to Ammonia.

The electrocatalytic reduction reaction of nitrate (NO ) to ammonia (NH) is a feasible way to achieve artificial nitrogen cycle. However, the low yield rate and poor selectivity toward NH product is a technical challenge. Here a graphdiyne (GDY)-based tandem catalyst featuring Cu/CuO nanoparticles anchored to GDY support (termed Cu/CuO/GDY) for efficient electrocatalytic NO reduction is presented.

Strong d-Ï€ Orbital Coupling of Co-C Atomic Sites on Graphdiyne Boosts Potassium-Sulfur Battery Electrocatalysis.

Potassium-sulfur (K-S) batteries are severely limited by the sluggish kinetics of the solid-phase conversion of KS/KS to KS, the rate-determining and performance-governing step, which urgently requires a cathode with facilitated sulfur accommodation and improved catalytic efficiency. To this end, we leverage the orbital-coupling approach and herein report a strong d-Ï€ coupling catalytic configuration of single-atom Co anchored between two alkynyls of graphdiyne (Co-GDY). The d-Ï€ orbital coupling of the Co-C moiety fully redistributes electrons two-dimensionally across the GDY, and as a result, drastically accelerates the solid-phase KS/KS to KS conversion and enhances the adsorption of sulfur species.

Space-Confined Synthesis of Monolayer Graphdiyne in MXene Interlayer.

Graphdiyne (GDY) is an artificial carbon allotrope that is conceptually similar to graphene but composed of sp- and sp -hybridized carbon atoms. Monolayer GDY (ML-GDY) is predicted to be an ideal 2D semiconductor material with a wide range of applications. However, its synthesis has posed a significant challenge, leading to difficulties in experimentally validating theoretical properties.

Hydrogen Radical-Induced Electrocatalytic N Reduction at a Low Potential.

Realizing efficient hydrogenation of N molecules in the electrocatalytic nitrogen reduction reaction (NRR) is crucial in achieving high activity at a low potential because it theoretically requires a higher equilibrium potential than other steps. Analogous to metal hydride complexes for N reduction, achieving this step by chemical hydrogenation can weaken the potential dependence of the initial hydrogenation process. However, this strategy is rarely reported in the electrocatalytic NRR, and the catalytic mechanism remains ambiguous and lacks experimental evidence.

One-dimensional semimetal contacts to two-dimensional semiconductors.

Two-dimensional (2D) semiconductors are promising in channel length scaling of field-effect transistors (FETs) due to their excellent gate electrostatics. However, scaling of their contact length still remains a significant challenge because of the sharply raised contact resistance and the deteriorated metal conductivity at nanoscale. Here, we construct a 1D semimetal-2D semiconductor contact by employing single-walled carbon nanotube electrodes, which can push the contact length into the sub-2 nm region.

Ammonium improved cell wall and cell membrane P reutilization and external P uptake in a putrescine and ethylene dependent pathway.

Ammonium promotes rice P uptake and reutilization better than nitrate, under P starvation conditions; however, the underlying mechanism remains unclear. In this study, ammonium treatment significantly increased putrescine and ethylene content in rice roots under P deficient conditions, by increasing the protein content of ornithine decarboxylase and 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid (ACC) oxidase compared with nitrate treatment. Ammonium treatment increased rice root cell wall P release by increasing pectin content and pectin methyl esterase (PME) activity, increased rice shoot cell membrane P release by decreasing phosphorus-containing lipid components, and maintained internal P homeostasis by increasing OsPT2/6/8 expression compared with nitrate treatment.

A High-Accuracy Calibration Method for a Telecentric Structured Light System.

We propose a method for accurately calibrating a telecentric structured light system consisting of a camera attached to a bilateral telecentric lens and a pin-hole projector. The proposed method can be split into two parts: axial calibration and transverse calibration. The first part is used for building the relationship between phase and depth by means of a planar plate with ring markers on its surface at several different positions in the measuring volume.

Rapid Synthesis of Graphdiyne Films on Hydrogel at the Superspreading Interface for Antibacteria.

Graphdiyne (GDY), a two-dimensional (2D) carbon material with diacetylenic linkages (-C≡C-C≡C-) structures, has attracted enormous attention in various fields. However, the controlled synthesis of GDY films is still challenging because of the low alkyne coupling efficiency and out-of-plane growth. Here, we employed a highly efficient Cu(II)-N,N,N',N'-tetramethylethylenediamine (Cu(II)-TMEDA) catalyst and constructed a superspreading liquid/liquid interface on a hydrogel for rapid and controllable synthesis of GDY thin films.

Unearthing the alleviatory mechanisms of hydrogen sulfide in aluminum toxicity in rice.

Hydrogen sulfide (HS) improves aluminum (Al) resistance in rice, however, the underlying mechanism remains unclear. In the present study, treatment with 30-μM Al significantly inhibited rice root growth and increased the total Al content, apoplastic and cytoplasm Al concentration in the rice roots. However, pretreatment with NaHS (HS donor) reversed these negative effects.

Inner nuclear membrane protein TMEM201 maintains endothelial cell migration and angiogenesis by interacting with the LINC complex.

The nuclear envelope comprises the outer nuclear membrane, inner nuclear membrane (INM), and nucleopore. Although ∼60 INM proteins have been identified, only a few of them have been well characterized, revealing their crucial roles. Our group focused on the INM protein transmembrane protein 201 (TMEM201), whose role in cellular function remains to be defined.

Graphdiyne/Graphene/Graphdiyne Sandwiched Carbonaceous Anode for Potassium-Ion Batteries.

Graphdiyne (GDY) has been considered as an appealing anode candidate for K-ion storage since its triangular pore channel, alkyne-rich structure, and large interlayer spacing would endow it with abundant active sites and ideal diffusion paths for K-ions. Nevertheless, the low surface area and disordered structure of bulk GDY typically lead to unsatisfied K storage performance. Herein, we have designed a GDY/graphene/GDY (GDY/Gr/GDY) sandwiched architecture affording a high surface area and fine quality throughout a van der Waals epitaxy strategy.

Inner nuclear membrane protein TMEM201 promotes breast cancer metastasis by positive regulating TGFβ signaling.

Emerging evidence shows the association between nuclear envelope and tumor progression, however, the functional contributions of specific constituents of the nuclear envelope remain largely unclear. We found that the expression level of transmembrane protein 201 (TMEM201), an integral inner nuclear membrane protein of unknown function, was significantly elevated in invasive breast cancer and predicted poor breast cancer prognosis. We showed that TMEM201, as a positive modulator, was both necessary and sufficient to regulate the migration and invasion of breast cancer cells in vitro and in vivo.

Graphdiyne/Graphene Heterostructure: A Universal 2D Scaffold Anchoring Monodispersed Transition-Metal Phthalocyanines for Selective and Durable CO Electroreduction.

Electrochemical CO reduction (COR) is a sustainable way of producing carbon-neutral fuels, yet the efficiency is limited by its sluggish kinetics and complex reaction pathways. Developing active, selective, and stable COR electrocatalysts is challenging and entails intelligent material structure design and tailoring. Here we show a graphdiyne/graphene (GDY/G) heterostructure as a 2D conductive scaffold to anchor monodispersed cobalt phthalocyanine (CoPc) and reduce CO with an appreciable activity, selectivity, and durability.

Evaluation of the anticancer and anti-metastasis effects of novel synthetic sodium channel blockers in prostate cancer cells in vitro and in vivo.

Background: Voltage-gated sodium channels (VGSCs) are involved in several cellular processes related to cancer cell growth and metastasis, including adhesion, proliferation, apoptosis, migration, and invasion. We here in investigated the effects of S0154 and S0161, two novel synthetic sodium channel blockers (SCBs), on human prostate cancer cells (PC3, DU145, and LnCaP) and a prostate cancer xenograft model.

Methods: The MTT assay was used to assess the anticancer effects of SCBs in PC3, DU145, and LnCaP cells.

CuO@β-cyclodextrin as a synergistic catalyst for hydroxyl radical generation and molecular recognitive destruction of aromatic pollutants at neutral pH.

Wastewater systems contain a large number of compounds, such as anthropogenic aromatic pollutants and natural organic matter (NOM), and usually have pH higher than 4. Fenton-like reaction is the most widespread method for removal of organic pollutants, but their reactivity with HO may be inhibited by NOM due to the competition of hydroxyl radicals and chelating agents. In this work, CuO@β-cyclodextrin was developed to achieve the collaboration between molecular recognition and Fenton-like catalysis to destruct aromatic pollutants at neutral pH.

Ophiopogonin D', a Natural Product From , Induces and RIPK1-Dependent and Caspase-Independent Apoptotic Death in Androgen-Independent Human Prostate Cancer Cells.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the anticancer effects of Ophiopogonin D' (OPD', a natural product extracted from a traditional Chinese medicine () against androgen-independent prostate cancer cells and to explore the underlying molecular mechanism(s) of action. The CCK-8 assay was used to assess the viability of prostate cancer cells. The cell morphology was examined by an ultrastructural analysis via transmission electron microscopy.

Two cadmium(II) fluorous coordination compounds tuned by different bipyridines.

Fluorine is the most electronegative element and can be used as an excellent hydrogen-bond acceptor. Fluorous coordination compounds exhibit several advantageous properties, such as enhanced high thermal and oxidative stability, low polarity, weak intermolecular interactions and a small surface tension compared to hydrocarbons. C-H.

GPCR Activation and Endocytosis Induced by a 2D Material Agonist.

Agonist-induced activation and endocytosis of G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) are crucial for a number of physiological and pathological processes. However, tools that are available for probing GPCR endocytosis have been insufficient. Here, we developed a two-dimensional (2D) material agonist by supramolecular self-assembly between an endogenous agonist of κ-opioid receptor (KOR) and 2D molybdenum disulfide.

Platycodin D, a metabolite of Platycodin grandiflorum, inhibits highly metastatic MDA-MB-231 breast cancer growth in vitro and in vivo by targeting the MDM2 oncogene.

The objective of the present study was to explore the in vitro and in vivo anticancer effects of Platycodin D (PD), derived from Platycodin grandiflorum, on highly metastatic MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells. Using the MTT assay, we found that PD inhibited MDA-MB-231 cell growth in a concentration-dependent manner, with an IC50 value of 7.77±1.

S-equol, a Secondary Metabolite of Natural Anticancer Isoflavone Daidzein, Inhibits Prostate Cancer Growth In Vitro and In Vivo, Though Activating the Akt/FOXO3a Pathway.

Forkhead box O3 (FOXO3a) is a transcription factor with tumor suppressor functions that plays an important role in prostate cancer. Daidzein, one of the soy isoflavones present in soy-based foods, has been shown to exert anti-tumor effects in vitro and in vivo. We herein investigated the inhibitory effects of S-equol, an isoflavandiol metabolized from daidzein by bacterial flora in the intestines, on the LnCaP, DU145 and PC3 human prostate cancer cell lines.