Significant Enhancement of Photocatalytic Reduction of CO₂ with H₂O over ZnO by the Formation of Basic Zinc Carbonate

Electron–hole pair separation efficiency and adsorption performance of photocatalysts to CO₂ are the two key factors affecting the performance of photocatalytic CO₂ reduction with H₂O. Distinct from conventional promoter addition, this study proposed a novel approach to address these two issues by tuning the own surface features of semiconductor photocatalyst. Three ZnO samples with different morphologies, surface area, and defect content were fabricated by varying preparation methods, characterized by XRD, TEM, and room-temperature PL spectra, and tested in photoreduction of CO₂ with H₂O. The results show that the as-prepared porous ZnO nanosheets exhibit a much higher activity for photoreduction of CO₂ with H₂O when compared to ZnO nanoparticles and nanorods attributed to the existence of more defect sites, that is, zinc and oxygen vacancies. These defects would lower the combination rate of electron–hole pair as well as promote the formation of basic zinc carbonate by Lewis acid–base interaction, which is the active intermediate species for photoreduction of CO₂. ZnO nanoparticles and ZnO nanorods with few defects show weak adsorption for CO₂ leading to the inferior photocatalytic activities. This work provides new insight on the CO₂ activation under light irradiation

Schematic diagram of sample and position of gas blast tube.

Schematic diagram of sample and position of gas blast tube.</p

PRRT2 mutations in a cohort of Chinese families with paroxysmal kinesigenic dyskinesia and genotype–phenotype correlation reanalysis in literatures

<p><b>Purpose</b><b>of the study</b>: Though rare, children are susceptible to paroxysmal dyskinesias such as paroxysmal kinesigenic dyskinesia, and infantile convulsions and choreoathetosis. Recent studies showed that the cause of paroxysmal kinesigenic dyskinesia or infantile convulsions and choreoathetosis could be proline-rich transmembrane protein 2 (<i>PRRT2</i>) gene mutations.</p> <p><b>Material and methods:</b> This study analysed <i>PRRT2</i> gene mutations in 51 families with paroxysmal kinesigenic dyskinesia or infantile convulsions and choreoathetosis by direct sequencing. In particular, we characterize the genotype–phenotype correlation between age at onset and the types of <i>PRRT2</i> mutations in all published cases.</p> <p><b>Results:</b> Direct sequencing showed that 12 out of the 51 families had three different pathogenic mutations (c.649dupC, c.776dupG, c.649C>T) in the <i>PRRT2</i> gene. No significant difference of age at onset between the patients with and without <i>PRRT2</i> mutations was found in this cohort of patients. A total of 97 different <i>PRRT2</i> mutations have been reported in 87 studies till now. The <i>PRRT2</i> mutation classes are wide, and most mutations are frameshift mutations but the most common mutation remains c.649dupC. Comparisons of the age at onset in paroxysmal kinesigenic dyskinesia or infantile convulsions patients with different types of mutations showed no significant difference.</p> <p><b>Conclusions:</b> This study expands the clinical and genetic spectrums of Chinese patients with paroxysmal kinesigenic dyskinesia and infantile convulsions and choreoathetosis. No clear genotype–phenotype correlation between the age at onset and the types of mutations has been determined.</p

The basic principle of GLCM.

CO2 blasting has been identified as a potent method for enhancing the permeability of coal seams and improving gas drainage efficiency. This study is focused on elucidating the deformation and fracture mechanisms of coal and rock during CO2 blasting and on identifying the precursor characteristics of these processes. To this end, a CO2 blasting-induced coal rock fracture pressure model and a gas pressure distribution model were developed. The research utilized a self-developed CO2 blasting test platform along with a non-contact full-strain field measurement analysis system. Briquette samples were subjected to CO2 blasting tests under controlled experimental conditions, which included an axial pressure of 1.0 MPa and variable gas pressures of 0.5, 1.0, and 1.5 MPa. This methodology enabled the capture of the principal strain field on the surface of the samples. The Gray Level Co-occurrence Matrix (GLCM) was employed to extract and analyze the grayscale and texture features of the strain cloud maps, facilitating a quantitative assessment of their evolution. The aim was to pinpoint the precursor characteristics associated with coal rock cracking and crack propagation. The results revealed that: (1) During the cracking and subsequent propagation of samples, the strain field’s grayscale histogram underwent a transformation from a “broad and low” to a “narrow and high” configuration, with a consistent increase in peak frequency. Specifically, at 3 ms, a primary crack was observed in the sample, evidenced by a grayscale peak frequency of 0.0846. By 9 ms, as the crack propagated, the grayscale peak frequency escalated to 0.1626. (2) The texture feature parameters experienced their initial abrupt change at 3ms. Correlation with the gas pressure distribution model indicated that this was the crack initiation moment in the sample. (3) A secondary abrupt shift in the texture feature parameters occurred at 9ms, in conjunction with experimental phenomena, was identified as the crack propagation phase. Monitoring the grayscale and texture features of the principal strain field on the coal rock surface proved effective in recognizing the precursor characteristics of crack initiation and propagation. This research has the potential to reduce blasting costs in coal mines, optimize blasting effects, and provided theoretical guidance for enhancing gas extraction efficiency from deep and low permeability coal seams.</div

Selenium Dioxide–Mediated Synthesis of Fused 1,2,4-Triazoles as Cytotoxic Agents

<div><p></p><p>A series of fused 1,2,4-triazoles has been prepared by oxidative intramolecular cyclization of heterocyclic hydrazones with selenium dioxide. General applicability of this practical protocol was confirmed by the synthesis of moderate to high yields of 1,2,4-triazolo[4,3-<i>a</i>]pyridines, 1,2,4-triazolo[4,3-<i>a</i>]pyrimidines, 1,2,4-triazolo[4,3-<i>a</i>]pyramidines and 1,2,4-triazolo-[4,3-<i>a</i>]quinoxa lines. All compounds were tested in vitro for their cytotoxic activity against HCT-116, A549 and Colo-205 cell lines. Two compounds, 3-(4-methoxyphenyl)-7-methyl-[1,2,4]triazolo[4,3-<i>a</i>]pyridine and 1-(4-methoxyphenyl)-[1,2,4]triazolo[4,3-<i>a</i>]quinoxaline, showed potent antiproliferative activity against the three cell lines.</p></div

PRRT2 mutations in a cohort of Chinese families with paroxysmal kinesigenic dyskinesia and genotype–phenotype correlation reanalysis in literatures

<p><b>Purpose</b><b>of the study</b>: Though rare, children are susceptible to paroxysmal dyskinesias such as paroxysmal kinesigenic dyskinesia, and infantile convulsions and choreoathetosis. Recent studies showed that the cause of paroxysmal kinesigenic dyskinesia or infantile convulsions and choreoathetosis could be proline-rich transmembrane protein 2 (<i>PRRT2</i>) gene mutations.</p> <p><b>Material and methods:</b> This study analysed <i>PRRT2</i> gene mutations in 51 families with paroxysmal kinesigenic dyskinesia or infantile convulsions and choreoathetosis by direct sequencing. In particular, we characterize the genotype–phenotype correlation between age at onset and the types of <i>PRRT2</i> mutations in all published cases.</p> <p><b>Results:</b> Direct sequencing showed that 12 out of the 51 families had three different pathogenic mutations (c.649dupC, c.776dupG, c.649C>T) in the <i>PRRT2</i> gene. No significant difference of age at onset between the patients with and without <i>PRRT2</i> mutations was found in this cohort of patients. A total of 97 different <i>PRRT2</i> mutations have been reported in 87 studies till now. The <i>PRRT2</i> mutation classes are wide, and most mutations are frameshift mutations but the most common mutation remains c.649dupC. Comparisons of the age at onset in paroxysmal kinesigenic dyskinesia or infantile convulsions patients with different types of mutations showed no significant difference.</p> <p><b>Conclusions:</b> This study expands the clinical and genetic spectrums of Chinese patients with paroxysmal kinesigenic dyskinesia and infantile convulsions and choreoathetosis. No clear genotype–phenotype correlation between the age at onset and the types of mutations has been determined.</p

Principal strain field, grayscale image and gray histogram of the sample during CO₂ blasting.

Principal strain field, grayscale image and gray histogram of the sample during CO2 blasting.</p

This is the MTALAB code that converts the RGB strain image to grayscale image and plots the normalized gray histogram.

This is the MTALAB code that converts the RGB strain image to grayscale image and plots the normalized gray histogram.</p

The following is the MATLAB code for extracting texture feature parameters in RGB strain image.

The following is the MATLAB code for extracting texture feature parameters in RGB strain image.</p

Unprecedented Phthalocyanines Bearing Eight Di-butylamino Peripheral Substituents: Synthesis, Spectroscopy, and Structure

Unprecedented 2,3,9,10,16,17,23,24-octakis­(di-butylamino)­phthalocyanine compounds M­{Pc­[N­(C₄H₉)₂]₈} (M = 2H, Mg, Cu, Zn) (<b>1</b>–<b>4</b>) were prepared and structurally characterized on the basis of single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis, representing the first structurally characterized alkylamino-substituted phthalocyanine examples. These novel phthalocyanine derivatives have also been characterized by a wide range of spectroscopic methods including MALDI-TOF mass spectra, NMR, electronic absorption, and IR spectroscopy in addition to elemental analysis. Their electrochemistry was also studied by cyclic voltammetry