Fabrication of Highly Crystalline SnNb₂O₆ Shell with a Visible-Light Response on a NaNbO₃ Nanowire Core

A visible-light-absorbing SnNb₂O₆ shell with high crystallinity was successfully fabricated on a NaNbO₃ nanowire through a molten salt treatment of the NaNbO₃ nanowire of the starting material with SnCl₂, whereas the fabrication was not successful on the TT phase of a niobia nanowire. The difference will come from the formation processes of SnNb₂O₆ crystals (ion-exchange reaction vs thermally induced crystallization reaction). The core/shell nanowire obtained from NaNbO₃ showed photocatalytic activity comparable to that of H₂ evolution in the presence of an electron donor under visible-light irradiation (λ > 420 nm), compared with the corresponding bulky counterpart

Metabolome analysis revealing the alterations in the urea cycle.

<p>(<b>A</b>) PCA (principal component analysis) of metabolomics datasets of the livers in each group. The PCA analysis was performed with the detected peaks by using SampleStat ver.3.14. (<b>B</b>) Relative peak areas of coffee-derived metabolites. Mean values with their standard errors of the relative peak areas of these metabolites are shown. (<b>C</b>) Relative peak areas of urea cycle-related metabolites. Mean values with their standard errors of the relative peak areas of these metabolites are shown.</p

Proteomics revealing the up-regulation of TCA cycle-related proteins in the coffee groups.

<p>(<b>A</b>) Representative 2DE images obtained from livers of each groups. 2DE was performed using dry strips with a pH range of 3–11 for the first dimension and SDS-PAGE for the second dimension using 450 µg of protein extract. The gels were then stained using Flamingo gel staining dye. Calibration of molecular weight and pI was performed using PDQuest software. (<b>B</b>) Changes in TCA cycle-related proteins are shown in the boxes.</p

List of identified proteins differentially expressed in livers of the HFCC group.

<p>HFCC: high-fat caffeinated coffee diet; HF: high-fat diet. Up: The protein abundance was increased by coffee compared to the HF group, Down: The protein abundance was decreased by coffee compared to the HF group. ¹Experimental value of pI. ²Experimental value of molecular mass (kDa). ³Theoretical value of molecular mass (Da).</p

List of identified proteins differentially expressed in livers of HFGC group.

<p>See the <a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0091134#pone-0091134-t001" target="_blank">Table 1</a> legend. HFGC: high-fat green unroasted caffeinated coffee diet.</p

An Integrated Multi-Omics Study Revealed Metabolic Alterations Underlying the Effects of Coffee Consumption

<div><p>Many epidemiological studies have indicated that coffee consumption may reduce the risks of developing obesity and diabetes, but the underlying mechanisms of these effects are poorly understood. Our previous study revealed the changes on gene expression profiles in the livers of C57BL/6J mice fed a high-fat diet containing three types of coffee (caffeinated, decaffeinated and green unroasted coffee), using DNA microarrays. The results revealed remarkable alterations in lipid metabolism-related molecules which may be involved in the anti-obesity effects of coffee. We conducted the present study to further elucidate the metabolic alterations underlying the effects of coffee consumption through comprehensive proteomic and metabolomic analyses. Proteomics revealed an up-regulation of isocitrate dehydrogenase (a key enzyme in the TCA cycle) and its related proteins, suggesting increased energy generation. The metabolomics showed an up-regulation of metabolites involved in the urea cycle, with which the transcriptome data were highly consistent, indicating accelerated energy expenditure. The TCA cycle and the urea cycle are likely be accelerated in a concerted manner, since they are directly connected by mutually providing each other's intermediates. The up-regulation of these pathways might result in a metabolic shift causing increased ATP turnover, which is related to the alterations of lipid metabolism. This mechanism may play an important part in the suppressive effects of coffee consumption on obesity, inflammation, and hepatosteatosis. This study newly revealed global metabolic alterations induced by coffee intake, providing significant insights into the association between coffee intake and the prevention of type 2 diabetes, utilizing the benefits of multi-omics analyses.</p></div

Integrated analysis of transcriptomics, metabolomics and proteomics.

<p>(<b>A</b>) Transcriptome and metabolome data were mapped onto KEGG (Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes, <a href="http://www.genome.jp/kegg/" target="_blank">http://www.genome.jp/kegg/</a>) pathways on the web. (<b>B</b>) Effects of coffee on the mRNA expression of urea cycle genes analyzed by qPCR. The total RNA samples obtained from mice fed a high-fat diet with or without coffee were subjected to qPCR. Mean values with their standard errors of relative mRNA expression are shown. Mean values with asterisks are significantly different compared to the HF group by the Tukey-Kramer test (*p<0.05, **p<0.01). (<b>C</b>) “Whole picture” of the metabolic alterations in the TCA cycle and the urea cycle. The relationship among these changes in the TCA cycle- and urea cycle-relevant molecules is shown. (<b>D</b>) Summary of the findings from the present study.</p

List of identified proteins differentially expressed in livers of HFDC group.

<p>See the <a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0091134#pone-0091134-t001" target="_blank">Table 1</a> legend. HFDC: high-fat decaffeinated coffee diet.</p

Intercrystal Self-Assembly for the Design of High-Quality Nickel Molybdate Nanocrystals

Nanowire of nickel molybdate hydrate, being recognized as an emerging supercapacitor material, was synthesized from the intercrystal self-assembly process (commonly referred to as oriented aggregation or attachment). The detailed lattice image of a NiMoO₄·0.75H₂O nanowire and the intermediate nanostructure before reaching the interplanar binding were successfully captured by means of high-resolution transmission and scanning electron microscopies. NiMoO₄·0.75H₂O possessed highly crystalline surface and internal nanostructures

Photocatalytic Reduction of Carbon Dioxide over Ag Cocatalyst-Loaded ALa₄Ti₄O₁₅ (A = Ca, Sr, and Ba) Using Water as a Reducing Reagent

Ag cocatalyst-loaded ALa₄Ti₄O₁₅ (A = Ca, Sr, and Ba) photocatalysts with 3.79–3.85 eV of band gaps and layered perovskite structures showed activities for CO₂ reduction to form CO and HCOOH by bubbling CO₂ gas into the aqueous suspension of the photocatalyst powder without any sacrificial reagents. Ag cocatalyst-loaded BaLa₄Ti₄O₁₅ was the most active photocatalyst. A liquid-phase chemical reduction method was better than impregnation and in situ photodeposition methods for the loading of the Ag cocatalyst. The Ag cocatalyst prepared by the liquid-phase chemical reduction method was loaded as fine particles with the size smaller than 10 nm on the edge of the BaLa₄Ti₄O₁₅ photocatalyst powder with a plate shape during the CO₂ reduction. CO was the main reduction product rather than H₂ even in an aqueous medium on the optimized Ag/BaLa₄Ti₄O₁₅ photocatalyst. Evolution of O₂ in a stoichiometric ratio (H₂+CO:O₂ = 2:1 in a molar ratio) indicated that water was consumed as a reducing reagent (an electron donor) for the CO₂ reduction. Thus, an uphill reaction of CO₂ reduction accompanied with water oxidation was achieved using the Ag/BaLa₄Ti₄O₁₅ photocatalyst