Non-invasive nanoscale imaging of protein micro- and nanocrystals for screening crystallization conditions.

Crystallography has been the routine technique for studying high-resolution structures of proteins for over five decades. A major bottleneck in structure determination of macromolecules is obtaining crystals of a size and quality suitable for single-crystal X-ray crystallography experiments. Many challenging proteins either fail to grow into crystals or fail to grow into crystals of a size suitable for obtaining high-resolution structures using conventional X-ray crystallography.

Effect of Ga substitution with Al in ZSM-5 zeolite in methanethiol-to-hydrocarbon conversion.

The catalytic properties of conventional H-[Al]-ZSM-5 and gallium-substituted H-[Ga]-ZSM-5 were evaluated in the conversion of methanethiol to ethylene (CHSH → 1/2CH + HS). Dimethyl sulfide (DMS), aromatics, and CH were formed as byproducts on the H-[Al]-ZSM-5 catalyst. The introduction of Ga into the ZSM-5 structure provided a high ethylene yield with relatively high selectivity for olefins.

Synthesis of 2,5-dimethylhexene by isobutene dimerization with HS co-feeding.

This study investigates the effect of hydrogen sulfide (HS) co-feeding on the synthesis of 2,5-dimethyl-1-hexene, 2,5-dimethyl-2-hexene, and 2,5-dimethylhexane (2,5-DMHs), useful compounds, using the dimerization of isobutene under mild pressure conditions. The dimerization of isobutene did not proceed in the absence of HS, whereas the desired products of 2,5-DMHs were produced under HS co-feeding conditions. The effect of reactor size on the dimerization reaction was then examined, and the optimal reactor was discussed.

Highly stable Fe/CeO catalyst for the reverse water gas shift reaction in the presence of HS.

This study focused on evaluating the catalytic properties for the reverse water gas shift reaction (RWGS: CO + H → CO + HO Δ = 42.1 kJ mol) in the presence of hydrogen sulfide (HS) over a Fe/CeO catalyst, commercial Cu-Zn catalyst for the WGS reaction (MDC-7), and Co-Mo catalyst for hydrocarbon desulfurization. The Fe/CeO catalyst exhibited a relatively high catalytic activity to RWGS, compared to the commercial MDC-7 and Co-Mo catalysts.

Suppression of intrinsic thermal conductivity in Sr Gd TiO ceramics phonon-point defect scattering for enhanced thermoelectric application.

A substantial reduction in the thermal conductivity for strontium titanate (ABO) perovskite structure was realized for the A-site substitution of gadolinium (rare earth element) in SrTiO ceramics. The effect of Gd substitution on the structure, composition, and thermoelectric properties of SrTiO was investigated. The substitution of Gd in the SrTiO matrix resulted in the minimalization of thermal conductivity.

Oxide-based catalysis: tailoring surface structures organic ligands and related interfacial charge carrier for environmental remediation.

Hierarchical nanostructures and the effects of ligands on their structure formation were investigated. Morphological analysis showed the change in the morphology from nanospindles to hollow hexagonal nanodisks with the change in ligands. Structural analysis exhibited the formation of both hexagonal ZnO and monoclinic CuO structures in the composition.

Interface enriched highly interlaced layered MoS/NiS nanocomposites for the photocatalytic degradation of rhodamine B dye.

In the past few decades, air and water pollution by organic dyes has become a serious concern due to their high toxicity. Removal of these organic dyes from polluted water bodies is a serious environmental concern and the development of new advanced photocatalytic materials for decomposing organic dyes can be a good solution. In this work, layered molybdenum disulfide/nickel disulfide (MoS/NiS) nanocomposites with various NiS content was synthesized by a one-step hydrothermal method using citric acid as a reducing agent.

Singular value decomposition analysis of the electron density changes occurring upon electrostatic polarization of water.

In-depth elucidation of how molecules are electrically polarized would be one key factor for understanding the properties of those molecules under various thermodynamic and/or spatial conditions. Here this problem is tackled for the case of hydrogen-bonded water by conducting singular value decomposition of the electron density changes that occur upon electrostatic polarization. It is shown that all those electron density changes are approximately described as linear combinations of ten orthonormal basis "vectors".

Correction: Insects ( (Morgan)) change the stereochemical configuration of 1-phenylethanol emitted from tea () flowers.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1039/C7RA03219F.].

Ultrathin layered MoS nanosheets with rich active sites for enhanced visible light photocatalytic activity.

Edge-rich active sites of ultrathin layered molybdenum disulphide (MoS) nanosheets were synthesized by a hydrothermal method. The effect of pH on the formation of MoS nanosheets and their photocatalytic response have been investigated. Structural and elemental analysis confirm the presence of S-Mo-S in the composition.

Curcumin-Loaded PLA Nanoparticles: Formulation and Physical Evaluation.

Curcumin is a polyphenolic compound derived from Curcuma domestica (Zingiberaceae) that possesses diverse pharmacological effects including anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antimicrobial, and anticarcinogenic activities. Although phase I clinical trials have shown curcumin as a safe drug even at high doses (12 g/day) in humans, poor bioavaibility largely limits its pharmacological activity. Nanoencapsulation in biodegradable polymers is a promising alternative to improve curcumin bioavaibility.

Robust holographic storage system design.

Demand is increasing daily for large data storage systems that are useful for applications in spacecraft, space satellites, and space robots, which are all exposed to radiation-rich space environment. As candidates for use in space embedded systems, holographic storage systems are promising because they can easily provided the demanded large-storage capability. Particularly, holographic storage systems, which have no rotation mechanism, are demanded because they are virtually maintenance-free.