Bis(μ-N,N′,N′′-tri-3-pyridylpyridine-1,3,5-tricarboxamide-κ2 N:N′)bis­[di­chloridomercury(II)] methanol disolvate

The title dinuclear centrosymmetric complex, [Hg2Cl4(C24H18N6O3)2]·2CH3OH, comprises HgII atoms coordinated by two Cl atoms and two N atoms from ligands in a distorted tetra­hedral geometry. The solvent mol­ecules are linked by hydrogen bonds

A Computational Perspective on Network Coding

From the perspectives of graph theory and combinatorics theory we obtain some new upper bounds on the number of encoding nodes, which can characterize the coding complexity of the network coding, both in feasible acyclic and cyclic multicast networks. In contrast to previous work, during our analysis we first investigate the simple multicast network with source rate h=2, and then h≥2. We find that for feasible acyclic multicast networks our upper bound is exactly the lower bound given by M. Langberg et al. in 2006. So the gap between their lower and upper bounds for feasible acyclic multicast networks does not exist. Based on the new upper bound, we improve the computational complexity given by M. Langberg et al. in 2009. Moreover, these results further support the feasibility of signatures for network coding

A Novel Whole-Cell Biocatalyst with NAD+ Regeneration for Production of Chiral Chemicals

Background: The high costs of pyridine nucleotide cofactors have limited the applications of NAD(P)-dependent oxidoreductases on an industrial scale. Although NAD(P)H regeneration systems have been widely studied, NAD(P) + regeneration, which is required in reactions where the oxidized form of the cofactor is used, has been less well explored, particularly in whole-cell biocatalytic processes. Methodology/Principal Findings: Simultaneous overexpression of an NAD + dependent enzyme and an NAD + regenerating enzyme (H2O producing NADH oxidase from Lactobacillus brevis) in a whole-cell biocatalyst was studied for application in the NAD +-dependent oxidation system. The whole-cell biocatalyst with (2R,3R)-2,3-butanediol dehydrogenase as the catalyzing enzyme was used to produce (3R)-acetoin, (3S)-acetoin and (2S,3S)-2,3-butanediol. Conclusions/Significance: A recombinant strain, in which an NAD + regeneration enzyme was coexpressed, displayed significantly higher biocatalytic efficiency in terms of the production of chiral acetoin and (2S,3S)-2,3-butanediol. The application of this coexpression system to the production of other chiral chemicals could be extended by using differen

Infection of inbred BALB/c and C57BL/6 and outbred Institute of Cancer Research mice with the emerging H7N9 avian influenza virus

A new avian-origin influenza virus A (H7N9) recently crossed the species barrier and infected humans; therefore, there is an urgent need to establish mammalian animal models for studying the pathogenic mechanism of this strain and the immunological response. In this study, we attempted to develop mouse models of H7N9 infection because mice are traditionally the most convenient models for studying influenza viruses. We showed that the novel A (H7N9) virus isolated from a patient could infect inbred BALB/c and C57BL/6 mice as well as outbred Institute of Cancer Research (ICR) mice. The amount of bodyweight lost showed differences at 7 days post infection (d.p.i.) (BALB/c mice 30%, C57BL/6 and ICR mice approximately 20%), and the lung indexes were increased both at 3 d.p.i. and at 7 d.p.i.. Immunohistochemistry demonstrated the existence of the H7N9 viruses in the lungs of the infected mice, and these findings were verified by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and 50% tissue culture infectious dose (TCID50) detection at 3 d.p.i. and 7 d.p.i.. Histopathological changes occurred in the infected lungs, including pulmonary interstitial inflammatory lesions, pulmonary oedema and haemorrhages. Furthermore, because the most clinically severe cases were in elderly patients, we analysed the H7N9 infections in both young and old ICR mice. The old ICR mice showed more severe infections with more bodyweight lost and a higher lung index than the young ICR mice. Compared with the young ICR mice, the old mice showed a delayed clearance of the H7N9 virus and higher inflammation in the lungs. Thus, old ICR mice could partially mimic the more severe illness in elderly patients. </p

Secure Network Coding against Wiretapping and Byzantine Attacks

<p/> <p>In wireless networks, an attacker can tune a receiver and tap the communication between two nodes. Whether or not some meaningful information is obtained by tapping a wireless connection depends on the transmission scheme. In this paper, we design some secure network coding by combining information-theoretic approaches with cryptographic approaches. It ensures that the wiretapper cannot get any meaningful information no matter how many channels are wiretapped. In addition, if each source packet is augmented with a hash symbol which is computed from a simple nonlinear polynomial function of the data symbols, then the probability of detecting the modification is very high.</p

Secure Network Coding against Wiretapping and Byzantine Attacks

In wireless networks, an attacker can tune a receiver and tap the communication between two nodes. Whether or not some meaningful information is obtained by tapping a wireless connection depends on the transmission scheme. In this paper, we design some secure network coding by combining information-theoretic approaches with cryptographic approaches. It ensures that the wiretapper cannot get any meaningful information no matter how many channels are wiretapped. In addition, if each source packet is augmented with a hash symbol which is computed from a simple nonlinear polynomial function of the data symbols, then the probability of detecting the modification is very high

Turn-on fluorescent detection of cyanide based on the inner filter effect of silver nanoparticles

A simple, sensitive fluorescent method for detecting cyanide has been developed based on the inner filter effect (IFE) of silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs). With a high extinction coefficient and tunable plasmon absorption feature, Ag NPs are expected to be a powerful absorber to tune the emission of the fluorophore in the IFE-based fluorescent assays. In the present work, we developed a turn-on fluorescent assay for cyanide based on the strong absorption of Ag NPs to both excitation and emission light of an isolated fluorescence indicator. In the presence of cyanide, the absorber Ag NPs will dissolve gradually, which then leads to recovery of the IFE-decreased emission of the fluorophore. The concentration of Ag NPs in the detection system was found to affect the fluorescence response toward cyanide greatly. Under the optimum conditions, the present IFE-based approach can detect cyanide ranging from 5.0 Â 10 À7 to 6.0 Â 10 À4 M with a detection limit of 2.5 Â 10 À7 M, which is much lower than the corresponding absorbance-based approach and compares favorably with other reported fluorescent methods. In addition, the present method possesses a good selectivity for cyanide over other common anions and further application in cyanide-spiked water samples suggested a recovery between 98.2 and 101.4%. Therefore, our proposed IFE-based fluorescent method is expected to be applied for cyanide determination in practical applications

Mo-doped boron nitride monolayer as a promising single-atom electrocatalyst for CO2 conversion

The design of new, efficient catalysts for the conversion of CO2 to useful fuels under mild conditions is urgent in order to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and alleviate the energy crisis. In this work, a series of transition metals (TMs), including Sc to Zn, Mo, Ru, Rh, Pd and Ag, supported on a boron nitride (BN) monolayer with boron vacancies, were investigated as electrocatalysts for the CO2 reduction reaction (CRR) using comprehensive density functional theory (DFT) calculations. The results demonstrate that a single-Mo-atom-doped boron nitride (Mo-doped BN) monolayer possesses excellent performance for converting CO2 to CH4 with a relatively low limiting potential of −0.45 V, which is lower than most catalysts for the selective production of CH4 as found in both theoretical and experimental studies. In addition, the formation of OCHO on the Mo-doped BN monolayer in the early hydrogenation steps is found to be spontaneous, which is distinct from the conventional catalysts. Mo, as a non-noble element, presents excellent catalytic performance with coordination to the BN monolayer, and is thus a promising transition metal for catalyzing CRR. This work not only provides insight into the mechanism of CRR on the single-atom catalyst (Mo-doped BN monolayer) at the atomic level, but also offers guidance in the search for appropriate earth-abundant TMs as electrochemical catalysts for the efficient conversion of CO2 to useful fuels under ambient conditions

High capacity and reversible hydrogen storage on two dimensional C2N monolayer membrane

Searching advanced materials with high capacity and efficient reversibility for hydrogen storage is a key issue for the development of hydrogen as a clean energy. Here, we have explored the potential application of C2N monolayer using as a promising material for hydrogen storage through a comprehensive density functional theory (DFT) investigation. Our calculational results indicate that hydrogen molecule can only form weak interaction on neutral C2N monolayer with the adsorption energy of 0.06 eV. However, if extra charges (5 e−) are introduced to the system, the adsorption energy of hydrogen molecule on C2N will be dramatically enhanced to 0.27 eV. Moreover, once the extra charges are moved from the system, the adsorbed hydrogen molecule will be spontaneously released from C2N monolayer without any barrier. Interestingly, the average adsorption energy for each of the 48 absorbed H2 molecules is 0.28 eV with the charge injection (8 e−). This adsorption energy meets the criterion of the Department of Energy (DOE) for hydrogen storage (0.2–0.6 eV). Moreover, C2N has a high hydrogen storage capacity of 10.5 wt %. Overall, this investigation demonstrates that the new fabricated C2N can be used as an efficient material for hydrogen storage with high capacity and reversibility by modifying the charges that it carried. The narrow band gap (1.70 eV) of C2N also ensures the electrochemical methods can be easily realized in experiment