A Quadrilateral Element-based Method for Calculation of Multi-scale Temperature Field

AbstractIn the analysis of functionally graded materials (FGMs), the uncoupled approach is used broadly, which is based on homogenized material property and ignores the effect of local micro-structural interaction. The higher-order theory for FGMs (HOTFGM) is a coupled approach that explicitly takes the effect of micro-structural gradation and the local interaction of the spatially variable inclusion phase into account. Based on the HOTFGM, this article presents a quadrilateral element-based method for the calculation of multi-scale temperature field (QTF). In this method, the discrete cells are quadrilateral including rectangular while the surface-averaged quantities are the primary variables which replace the coefficients employed in the temperature function. In contrast with the HOTFGM, this method improves the efficiency, eliminates the restriction of being rectangular cells and expands the solution scale. The presented results illustrate the efficiency of the QTF and its advantages in analyzing FGMs

Quadruple bonding between iron and boron in the BFe(CO)3- complex.

While main group elements have four valence orbitals accessible for bonding, quadruple bonding to main group elements is extremely rare. Here we report that main group element boron is able to form quadruple bonding interactions with iron in the BFe(CO)3- anion complex, which has been revealed by quantum chemical investigation and identified by mass-selected infrared photodissociation spectroscopy in the gas phase. The complex is characterized to have a B-Fe(CO)3- structure of C3v symmetry and features a B-Fe bond distance that is much shorter than that expected for a triple bond. Various chemical bonding analyses indicate that the complex involves unprecedented B≣Fe quadruple bonding interactions. Besides the common one electron-sharing σ bond and two Fe→B dative π bonds, there is an additional weak B→Fe dative σ bonding interaction. This finding of the new quadruple bonding indicates that there might exist a wide range of boron-metal complexes that contain such high multiplicity of chemical bonds

Pt Nanoclusters Confined within Metal–Organic Framework Cavities for Chemoselective Cinnamaldehyde Hydrogenation

A highly selective and robust catalyst based on Pt nanoclusters (NCs) confined inside the cavities of an amino-functionalized Zr-terephthalate metal–organic framework (MOF), UiO-66-NH2 was developed. The Pt NCs are monodisperse and confined in the cavities of UiO-66-NH2 even at 10.7 wt % Pt loading. This confinement was further confirmed by comparing the catalytic performance of Pt NCs confined inside and supported on the external surface of the MOF in the hydrogenation of ethylene, 1-hexene, and 1,3-cyclooctadiene. The benefit of confining Pt NCs inside UiO-66-NH2 was also demonstrated by evaluating their performance in the chemoselective hydrogenation of cinnamaldehyde. We found that both high selectivity to cinnamyl alcohol and high conversion of cinnamaldehyde can be achieved using the MOF-confined Pt nanocluster catalyst, while we could not achieve high cinnamyl alcohol selectivity on Pt NCs supported on the external surface of the MOF. The catalyst can be recycled ten times without any loss in its activity and selectivity. To confirm the stability of the recycled catalysts, we conducted kinetic studies for the first 20 h of reaction during four recycle runs on the catalyst. Both the conversion and selectivity are almost overlapping for the four runs, which indicates the catalyst is very stable under the employed reaction conditions

Imprinting, methylation, and expression characterization of the maize ETHYLENE-INSENSITIVE 2-like gene

The endosperm plays essential roles in embryogenesis and seed germination and provides abundant resources for human food and industrial products. Identification of genes regulating the development of the endosperm and elucidation of their functions is of great importance for maize genetics and breeding. This study showed that the gene-specific imprinted gene, ETHYLENE-INSENSITIVE 2-like (EIN2-like), is maternally expressed in both endosperm and embryo. The maternally expressed pattern was maintained throughout later seed developmental stages. Bisulfite sequencing using DNA obtained from hybrid endosperm tissues showed that the upstream regions of the alleles of EIN2-like were highly methylated at symmetrical sites (CG and CHG). A differentially methylated region in the upstream part of the maternal allele of EIN2-like was identified and found to be hypomethylated. Expression analysis showed that EIN2-like was highly expressed in the maize endosperm as well as at different stages of cell differentiation (8–12 days after pollination) in the hybrid endosperm. These results suggest that the maternally expressed gene EIN2-like may play crucial roles in the regulation of seed development. Keywords: Maize, Gene imprinting, Methylation, EIN2-lik

Overexpression of a maize plasma membrane intrinsic protein ZmPIP1;1 confers drought and salt tolerance in <i>Arabidopsis</i>

<div><p>Drought and salt stress are major abiotic stress that inhibit plants growth and development, here we report a plasma membrane intrinsic protein ZmPIP1;1 from maize and identified its function in drought and salt tolerance in <i>Arabidopsis</i>. ZmPIP1;1 was localized to the plasma membrane and endoplasmic reticulum in maize protoplasts. Treatment with PEG or NaCl resulted in induced expression of <i>ZmPIP1;1</i> in root and leaves. Constitutive overexpression of <i>ZmPIP1;1</i> in transgenic <i>Arabidopsis</i> plants resulted in enhanced drought and salt stress tolerance compared to wild type. A number of stress responsive genes involved in cellular osmoprotection in <i>ZmPIP1;1</i> overexpression plants were up-regulated under drought or salt condition. <i>ZmPIP1;1</i> overexpression plants showed higher activities of reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenging enzymes such as catalase and superoxide dismutase, lower contents of stress-induced ROS such as superoxide, hydrogen peroxide and malondialdehyde, and higher levels of proline under drought and salt stress than did wild type. <i>ZmPIP1;1</i> may play a role in drought and salt stress tolerance by inducing of stress responsive genes and increasing of ROS scavenging enzymes activities, and could provide a valuable gene for further plant breeding.</p></div

Infrared Photodissociation Spectroscopy of Mass Selected Homoleptic Copper Carbonyl Cluster Cations in the Gas Phase

Infrared spectra of mass-selected homoleptic copper carbonyl cluster cations including dinuclear Cu₂(CO)₆⁺ and Cu₂(CO)₇⁺, trinuclear Cu₃(CO)₇⁺, Cu₃(CO)₈⁺, and Cu₃(CO)₉⁺, and tetranuclear Cu₄(CO)₈⁺ are measured via infrared photodissociation spectroscopy in the carbonyl stretching frequency region. The structures are established by comparison of the experimental spectra with simulated spectra derived from density functional calculations. The Cu₂(CO)₆⁺ cation is characterized to have an unbridged <i>D</i>_3<i>d</i> structure with a Cu–Cu half bond. The Cu₂(CO)₇⁺ cation is determined to be a weakly bound complex involving a Cu₂(CO)₆⁺ core ion. The trinuclear Cu₃(CO)₇⁺ and Cu₃(CO)₈⁺ cluster cations are determined to have triangle Cu₃ core structures with <i>C</i>₂ symmetry involving two Cu­(CO)₃ groups and one Cu­(CO)_<i>x</i> group (<i>x</i> = 1 or 2). In contrast, the trinuclear Cu₃(CO)₉⁺ cluster cation is determined to have an open chain-like (OC)₃Cu–Cu­(CO)₃–Cu­(CO)₃ structure. The tetranuclear Cu₄(CO)₈⁺ cluster cation is characterized to have a tetrahedral Cu₄⁺ core structure with all carbonyl groups terminally bonded

MSCs overexpressing GDNF restores brain structure and neurological function in rats with intracerebral hemorrhage

Abstract Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have been applied in transplantation to treat intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) but with limited efficacy. Accumulated evidence has shown that glial cell-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) plays a crucial part in neuronal protection and functional recovery of the brain after ICH; however, GDNF has difficulty crossing the blood–brain barrier, which limits its application. In this study, we investigated the influences of MSCs overexpressing GDNF (MSCs/GDNF) on the brain structure as well as gait of rats after ICH and explored the possible mechanisms. We found that cell transplantation could reverse the neurological dysfunction and brain damage caused by ICH to a certain extent, and MSCs/GDNF transplantation was superior to MSCs transplantation. Moreover, Transplantation of MSCs overexpressing GDNF effectively reduced the volume of bleeding foci and increased the level of glucose uptake in rats with ICH, which could be related to improving mitochondrial quality. Furthermore, GDNF produced by transplanted MSCs/GDNF further inhibited neuroinflammation, improved mitochondrial quality and function, promoted angiogenesis and the survival of neurons and oligodendrocytes, and enhanced synaptic plasticity in ICH rats when compared with simple MSC transplantation. Overall, our data indicate that GDNF overexpression heightens the curative effect of MSC implantation in treating rats following ICH

Cerebral Ischemic Preconditioning Aggravates Death of Oligodendrocytes

Neurodegeneration can benefit from ischemic preconditioning, a natural adaptive reaction to sublethal noxious stimuli. Although there is growing interest in advancing preconditioning to preserve brain function, preconditioning is not yet considered readily achievable in clinical settings. One of the most challenging issues is that there is no fine line between preconditioning stimuli and lethal stimuli. Here, we show deleterious effect of preconditioning on oligodendrocyte precursor cells (OPCs). We identified Bcl-2/adenovirus E1B 19-kDa interacting protein 3 (BNIP3), a mitochondrial BH3-only protein specifically involved in OPCs loss after preconditioning. Repeated ischemia stabilized BNIP3 and increased the vulnerability of OPCs to subsequent ischemic events. BNIP3 became mitochondrial-bound and was concurrent with the dysfunction of monocarboxylate transporter 1 (MCT1). Inhibition of BNIP3 by RNAi or necrostatin-1 (Nec-1) and knocking out of BNIP3 almost completely prevented OPCs loss and preserved white matter integrity. Together, our results suggest that the unfavorable effect of BNIP3 on OPCs should be noted for safe development of ischemic tolerance. BNIP3 inhibition appears to be a complementary approach to improve the efficacy of preconditioning for ischemic stroke

A small molecule fluorescent probe for mercury ion analysis in broad low pH range: Spectral, optical mechanism and application studies

Development of new fluorescent probes for mercury ion analysis in environmental or living organism is un-dergoing quick growth due to its detrimental toxicity to environmental safety, ecological security, and human being. However, in most cases, the industrial waste water is acidic whereas it remains a great challenge to real-time monitor mercury ion directly at low pH using small molecule fluorescence probe. In this study, we have successfully designed and synthesized the Naph (1, 8-Naphthalimide derivative)-based small molecule probe termed as Naph-NSS capable of monitoring mercury ion in a broad range at low pH (from 2.0 to 7.0). The solid spectral studies demonstrated the high sensitivity and selectivity of the probe towards mercury ion among various species. After binding with Hg2+, the fluorescence of Naph-NSS greatly enhanced, and the mechanism of which was investigated by DFT studies. The probe was able to be loaded on paper strip for instant and fast detection of mercury ions. In addition, the probe is also suitable for detection of mercury ion in environmental samples, living cells and in vivo