Pt–Cu Bimetallic Nanoparticles Loaded in the Lumen of Halloysite Nanotubes

In this study, we demonstrate that Pt–Cu bimetallic nanoparticles with different compositions (Pt3Cu, PtCu, PtCu3) can be loaded in the lumen of halloysite nanotube (HNT) via a simple one-pot reduction. Increasing the pH of metallic precursor (H2PtCl6 and CuCl2)/HNT solutions enhances the dissociation of H2PtCl6, advancing the association of [PtCl6]2– with the positively charged inner surface (Al–OH) of HNT. Moreover, the shrinkage of bond length from Pt–Cl in [PtCl6]2– to Pt–O in [PtCl4(OH)2]2– due to pH-modulated ligand exchange may also assist Pt­(IV) being trapped inside the halloysite. In the meantime, Cu­(II) cations may complex with Pt­(IV) anions via electrostatic force that would help the formation of Pt–Cu bimetallic nanoparticles inside the halloysite. The obtained PtCu3@HNT system shows a significantly enhanced catalytic performance in the reduction of 4-nitrophenol by sodium borohydride, with a mass activity approximating 60 times higher than that of unloaded Pt nanoparticles. The high catalytic efficiency can be maintained after thermal treatment at 200 or 400 °C

Photo-degradation of five neonicotinoids in water of different quality.

a = imidacloprid, b = acetamiprid, c = clothianidin, d = thiamethoxam, and e = dinotefuran.</p

Visualization 1: Theoretical investigation of SERS nanosensors based on hybrid waveguides made of metallic slots and dielectric strips

Excitation of plasmon in Part 3 Originally published in Optics Express on 19 September 2016 (oe-24-19-21244

The effect of bamboo vinegar on the photo-degradation of five neonicotinoids.

a = imidacloprid, b = acetamiprid, c = clothianidin, d = thiamethoxam, and e = dinotefuran.</p

Glucose and Its Derivatives as Interfacial Materials for Inverted Organic Solar Cells

Glucose, a widely distributed biomaterial in nature, is presented as a new cathode interfacial material for highly efficient inverted organic solar cells. The interactions between glucose and the indium tin oxide (ITO) substrate as well as the formation mechanisms of the glucose interlayer were investigated by molecular dynamics simulation and relevant experimental tests. The results revealed that the In–OH coordination between the oxygen atom of glucose and the indium of ITO is the key factor for the formation of interfacial dipoles, thereby reducing the work function of the ITO cathode for efficient charge transfer. With PM6:Y6 as the active layer, the power conversion efficiency (PCE) of the organic solar cells was significantly increased from 1.99 to 15.42% after ITO was modified by a glucose interlayer through the traditional spin-coating method. More importantly, glucose can be adsorbed on the ITO surface by a simple immersion process, and the devices based on the modified ITO by immersed glucose achieved a PCE of 14.48%, which is comparable to that of the traditional spin-coating method. Furthermore, we found that the OSCs with the ITO cathodes modified with glucose derivatives including sorbitol and sodium gluconate by different preparation methods also exhibited high performance. The overall performance of the devices with ITO modified by a simple and low-cost immersion method can be maintained at more than 93% of that prepared with the traditional spin-coating method. The results demonstrated that low-price glucose and its derivatives are good candidates as ITO interlayer materials for OSCs, and the effectiveness of the immersion process paves a way for simplifying the manufacture of low-cost and large-area organic solar cells

DNA–Protein Cross-Linking Sequencing for Genome-Wide Mapping of Thymidine Glycol

Thymidine glycol (Tg) is the most prevalent form of oxidatively induced pyrimidine lesions in DNA. Tg can arise from direct oxidation of thymidine in DNA. In addition, 5-methyl-2′-deoxycytidine (5-mdC) can be oxidized to 5-mdC glycol, and its subsequent deamination also yields Tg. However, Tg's distribution in the human genome remains unknown. Here, we presented a DNA–protein cross-linking sequencing (DPC-Seq) method for genome-wide mapping of Tg in human cells. Our approach capitalizes on the specificity of a bifunctional DNA glycosylase, i.e., NTHL1, for the covalent labeling, as well as DPC pulldown, SDS-PAGE fractionation, and membrane transfer for highly efficient and selective enrichment of Tg-bearing DNA. By employing DPC-Seq, we detected thousands of Tg sites in the human genome, where dual ablation of NTHL1 and NEIL1, the major DNA glycosylases responsible for Tg repair, led to pronounced increases in the number of Tg peaks. In addition, Tg is depleted in genomic regions associated with active transcription but enriched at nucleosome-binding sites, especially at heterochromatin sites marked with H3K9me2. Collectively, we developed a DPC-Seq method for highly efficient enrichment of Tg-containing DNA and for genome-wide mapping of Tg in human cells. Our work offers a robust tool for future functional studies of Tg in DNA, and we envision that the method can also be adapted for mapping other modified nucleosides in genomic DNA in the future

The structures of five neonicotinoids.

The structures of five neonicotinoids.</p

Visualization 2: Theoretical investigation of SERS nanosensors based on hybrid waveguides made of metallic slots and dielectric strips

Radiation of one dipole in Part 3 Originally published in Optics Express on 19 September 2016 (oe-24-19-21244

Additional file 1 of Enhancement of linalool production in Saccharomyces cerevisiae by utilizing isopentenol utilization pathway

Additional file 1: Fig. S1. Inhibitory effects of linalool on strain BY4742-MC-02. Strain BY4742-MC-02 was grown in SS-URA medium with 0.5 % Tween 80 (v v-1) and cultured at 30°C, 200 rpm for 72 h. Then different concentrations of linalool were added to the culture and recorded the cell growth curve. All values represent the mean ± standard deviation from three biological replicates. Fig. S2. Effects of different combinations of isoprenol and prenol on S. cerevisiae growth. (A) Isoprenol was added to the YPD medium of strain BY4742 to a final concentration of 10, 25, 35, 50, 100 and 200 mM. (B) Prenol was added to the YPD medium of strain BY4742 to a final concentration of 10, 25, 35, 50, 100 and 200 mM. (C) Isoprenol and prenol were together added to the YPD medium of strain BY4742 to a final concentration of 10, 25, 35, 50, 100 and 200 mM. All values represent the mean ± standard deviation from three biological replicates. Table S1. Plasmids used in this study. Table S2. Primers used in this study

Photo-degradation pathways and products of five neonicotinoids.

a = imidacloprid, b = acetamiprid, c = clothianidin, d = thiamethoxam, and e = dinotefuran.</p