Formation of Nanometer-Thick Water Layer at High Humidity on Dynamic Crystalline Material Composed of Multi-Interactive Molecules

Crystalline powders self-assembled from interactive discrete molecules reversibly transformed from a porous structure to a 2D one with a nanometer-thick H2O layer by hydration/dehydration. Multi-point weak intermolecular interactions contributed to maintenance of each phase. This structure transformation induced a humidity-dependent ion conductivity change from insulator to 3.4 x 10(-3) S cm(-1).open1122sciescopu

Nitrogen-Doped Reduced Graphene Oxide Supported Pd4.7Ru Nanoparticles Electrocatalyst for Oxygen Reduction Reaction

It is imperative to design an inexpensive, active, and durable electrocatalyst in oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) to replace carbon black supported Pt (Pt/CB). In this work, we synthesized Pd4.7Ru nanoparticles on nitrogen-doped reduced graphene oxide (Pd4.7Ru NPs/NrGO) by a facile microwave-assisted method. Nitrogen atoms were introduced into the graphene by thermal reduction with NH3 gas and several nitrogen atoms, such as pyrrolic, graphitic, and pyridinic N, found by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Pyridinic nitrogen atoms acted as efficient particle anchoring sites, making strong bonding with Pd4.7Ru NPs. Additionally, carbon atoms bonding with pyridinic N facilitated the adsorption of O2 as Lewis bases. The uniformly distributed ~2.4 nm of Pd4.7Ru NPs on the NrGO was confirmed by transmission electron microscopy. The optimal composition between Pd and Ru is 4.7:1, reaching −6.33 mA/cm2 at 0.3 VRHE for the best ORR activity among all measured catalysts. Furthermore, accelerated degradation test by electrochemical measurements proved its high durability, maintaining its initial current density up to 98.3% at 0.3 VRHE and 93.7% at 0.75 VRHE, whereas other catalysts remained below 90% at all potentials. These outcomes are considered that the doped nitrogen atoms bond with the NPs stably, and their electron-rich states facilitate the interaction with the reactants on the surface. In conclusion, the catalyst can be applied to the fuel cell system, overcoming the high cost, activity, and durability issues

Acetylated Diacylglycerol 1-palmitoyl-2-linoleoyl-3-acetyl-rac-glycerol in Autoimmune Arthritis and Interstitial Lung Disease in SKG Mice

Acetylated diacylglycerol 1-palmitoyl-2-linoleoyl-3-acetyl-rac-glycerol (PLAG) is a lipid molecule from the antlers of sika deer that might reduce inflammation by effectively controlling neutrophil infiltration, endothelial permeability and inflammatory chemokine production. Therefore, we evaluated the modulatory effect of PLAG on arthritis and interstitial lung disease (ILD) in an autoimmune arthritis model. We injected curdlan into SKG mice and PLAG was orally administered every day from 3 weeks to 20 weeks after the curdlan injection. The arthritis score was measured every week after the curdlan injection. At 20 weeks post-injection, the lung specimens were evaluated with H&E, Masson’s trichrome and multiplexed immunofluorescent staining. Serum cytokines were also analyzed using a Luminex multiple cytokine assay. PLAG administration decreased the arthritis score until 8 weeks after the curdlan injection. However, the effect was not sustained thereafter. A lung histology revealed severe inflammation and fibrosis in the curdlan-induced SKG mice, which was attenuated in the PLAG-treated mice. Furthermore, immunofluorescent staining of the lung tissue showed a GM-CSF+ neutrophil accumulation and a decreased citrullinated histone 3 expression after PLAG treatment. PLAG also downregulated the levels of IL-6 and TNF-α and upregulated the level of sIL-7Rα, an anti-fibrotic molecule. Our results indicate that PLAG might have a preventative effect on ILD development through the resolution of NETosis in the lung

Selective Formation of Conductive Network by Radical-Induced Oxidation

Cd-based coordination networks having channels were formed selectively by using a redox-active aromatic ligand 2,5,8-tri­(4-pyridyl)­1,3-diazaphenalene (TPDAP, <b>H</b>^<b>+</b><b>1</b>^<b>–</b>). An electron-conductive network having a π–π stacking columnar structure of TPDAP formed in the presence of a trace amount of TPDAP radical (<b>1</b>^•). In contrast, a nonconductive network having a dimer unit of <b>H</b>^<b>+</b><b>1</b>^<b>–</b> formed in the absence of <b>1</b>^•. These results suggest the presence of a unique oxidation mechanism of TPDAP induced by formation of <b>H</b>^<b>+</b><b>1</b>^<b>–</b><b>-1</b>^• dimer, which was initiated by a trace amount of <b>1</b>^•. The dimerization increased HOMO level of <b>H</b>^<b>+</b><b>1</b>^<b>–</b> moiety within the dimer to generate further radicals that could not form when <b>H</b>^<b>+</b><b>1</b>^<b>–</b> was well isolated in CH₃OH

Selective Formation of Conductive Network by Radical-Induced Oxidation

Cd-based coordination networks having channels were formed selectively by using a redox-active aromatic ligand 2,5,8-tri­(4-pyridyl)­1,3-diazaphenalene (TPDAP, <b>H</b>^<b>+</b><b>1</b>^<b>–</b>). An electron-conductive network having a π–π stacking columnar structure of TPDAP formed in the presence of a trace amount of TPDAP radical (<b>1</b>^•). In contrast, a nonconductive network having a dimer unit of <b>H</b>^<b>+</b><b>1</b>^<b>–</b> formed in the absence of <b>1</b>^•. These results suggest the presence of a unique oxidation mechanism of TPDAP induced by formation of <b>H</b>^<b>+</b><b>1</b>^<b>–</b><b>-1</b>^• dimer, which was initiated by a trace amount of <b>1</b>^•. The dimerization increased HOMO level of <b>H</b>^<b>+</b><b>1</b>^<b>–</b> moiety within the dimer to generate further radicals that could not form when <b>H</b>^<b>+</b><b>1</b>^<b>–</b> was well isolated in CH₃OH