Duodenal-Jejunal bypass improves metabolism and re-models extra cellular matrix through modulating ceRNA network.

BACKGROUND: Bariatric surgery (BS) is an effective approach in treating obesity and ameliorating T2DM with obesity. Our previous studies demonstrated that duodenal-jejunal bypass (DJB) altered long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) in the gastrointestinal system, which is associated with modulation of lipid metabolism, and glycemic control through entero-pancreatic axis and gut-brain axis. The adipose non-coding RNA expression profile and the underlying competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) regulatory network pattern post DJB needs further research and investigation. RESULTS: In this study, we compared the lncRNAs, circular RNAs (circRNAs) and messenger RNAs (mRNAs) expression in adipose tissues between the sham group and the DJB group. 2219 differentially expressed mRNAs (DEmRNAs), 722 differential expression of lncRNAs (DElncRNAs) and 425 differential expression of circRNAs (DEcircRNAs) were identified. GO terms and KEGG pathways analysis of the DEmRNAs implied that the dysregulated adipose mRNAs were associated with lipid, amino acid metabolism, insulin resistance, and extra cellular matrix (ECM)-related pathways. Moreover, via analyzing ceRNA regulatory networks of DElncRNAs and DEcircRNAs, 31 hub DE mRNAs, especially Mpp7, 9330159F19Rik, Trhde. Trdn, Sorbs2, were found on these pathways. CONCLUSIONS: The role of DJB in adipose tends to remodel ECM and improve the energy metabolism through the ceRNA regulatory network.

Pharmacology-Based Prediction of the Targets and Mechanisms for Icariin against Myocardial Infarction.

Background and Objectives: This study aims to illustrate the mechanisms underlying the therapeutic effect of Icariin after myocardial infarction (MI). Materials and Methods: Based on the network pharmacology strategy, we predict the therapeutic targets of Icariin against MI and investigate the pharmacological molecular mechanisms. A topological network was created. Biological process and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway enrichment were also performed. We also conducted the molecular docking analysis to stimulate the component-target interaction further and validate the direct bind effect. Results: Network pharmacology analysis identified 61 candidate genes related to the therapeutic effect of Icariin against MI. EGFR, AKT1, TP53, JUN, ESR1, PTGS2, TNF, RELA, HSP90AA1, and BCL2L1 were identified as hub genes. The biological processes of the candidate targets were significantly involved in the reactive oxygen species metabolic process, response to hypoxia, response to decreased oxygen levels, response to oxidative stress, regulation of reactive oxygen species metabolic process, and so forth. Overall, biological process enrichment analysis indicated that the protective effect of Icariin against MI might be associated with oxidative stress. Moreover, the pathway analysis showed that the candidate targets were closely associated with lipid and atherosclerosis, AGE-RAGE signaling pathway in diabetic complications, HIF-1 signaling pathway, etc. We identified the conformation with the lowest affinity score as the docking conformation. The simulated molecular docking was displayed to illustrate the topical details of the binding sites between Icariin and TNF protein. Conclusions: This study provides an overview of the mechanisms underlying the protective effect of Icariin against MI.

Towards High-Performance Supercapacitor Electrodes via Achieving 3D Cross-Network and Favorable Surface Chemistry.

Transition metal phosphides/phosphates (TMPs) are considered appealing electrode materials in energy-related fields, especially in supercapacitors. However, the dilemma of inadequate electrode kinetics and dimensional unreliability evoked by a huge volume variation during cycling significantly plagues their progress. To mitigate this issue, in this work, a 3D cross-network in situ assembled via self-derived N-doped carbon hybrid Ni-Co-P/POx 2D sheets is fabricated. Particularly, high-Fermi-level N-doped carbon well confines Ni-Co-P/POx nanoparticles at the molecular level, and N-doping leads to redistribution of spin/electron density in the carbon skeleton, effectively regulating the electron environment of nearby Ni-Co-based moieties, resulting in a relatively lower surface work function, as known via experimental and Kelvin probe force microscopy (KPFM) results, which favors electron flee from the electrode surface and facilitates electron transport toward a rapid supercapacitor response. Moreover, the well-defined 3D cross-network architectures featured with in-plane pores and interconnected with each other can provide more ion/electron transfer pathways and 2D sheets with excellent surface chemistry available for sustainable ion/electron mobility, synergistically affording the favorable electrode kinetics. Accordingly, the resultant Ni-Co-P/POx@NC electrode shows admirable specific capacitance, excellent rate survivability, and long-term cyclability. The as-assembled asymmetric device exhibits remarkable energy and power outputs (48.5 Wh kg-1 and 7500 W kg-1), superior to many reported devices. Furthermore, our devices possess the prominent ability to power a commercial electronic thermometer for 1560 s at least, showcasing superb application prospects.

Graphene Quantum Dots Pinned on Nanosheets-Assembled NiCo-LDH Hollow Micro-Tunnels: Toward High-Performance Pouch-Type Supercapacitor via the Regulated Electron Localization.

A combined delicate micro-/nano-architecture and corresponding surface modification at the nanometer level can co-tailor the physicochemical properties to realize an advanced supercapacitor electrode material. Herein, nanosheets-assembled nickel-cobalt-layered double hydroxide (NiCo-LDH) hollow micro-tunnels strongly coupled with higher-Fermi-level graphene quantum dots (GQDs) are reported. The unique hollow structure endows the electrolyte accessible to more electroactive sites, while 2D nanosheets have excellent surface chemistry, which favors rapid ion/electron transfer, synergistically resulting in more super-capacitive activities. The experimental and density functional theory calculations recognize that such a precise decoration generally tunes the charge density distribution at the near-surface due to the Fermi-level difference of two components, thus regulating the electron localization, while decorating with conductive GQDs co-improves the charge mobility, affording superior capacitive response and electrode integrity. The as-acquired GQDs@LDH-2 electrode yields excellent capacitance reaching ≈1628 F g-1 at 1 A g-1 and durable cycling longevity (86.2% capacitive retention after 8000 cycles). When coupled with reduced graphene oxide-based negative electrode, the hybrid device unveils an impressive energy/power density (46 Wh kg-1 / 7440 W kg-1 ); moreover, a flexible pouch-type supercapacitor can be constructed based on this hybrid system, which holds high mechanical properties and stable energy and power output at various situations, showcasing superb application prospects.

circ_ARF3 regulates the pathogenesis of osteosarcoma by sponging miR-1299 to maintain CDK6 expression.

Increasing evidence suggests that circular RNAs are emerging biomarkers or targets for early cancer diagnosis and treatment. However, the studies of circular RNA in osteosarcoma (OS) are limited. In this study we found that circ_ARF3 were highly expressed in osteosarcoma cell lines and tumor tissues. Knocking down circ_ARF3 greatly ceased OS cell growth, impaired cell colony formation and halted cell cycle transition from G1 to S phase. Bioinformatic analysis suggested that miR-1299 is the target of circ_ARF3. Luciferase assay and biotin labeled circ_ARF3 pull down assay confirmed their interactions in OS cells. The regulatory roles of circ_ARF3 on miR-1299 was also investigated. Further bioinformatic analysis showed that CDK6 is the target of miR-1299. Overexpressing miR-1299 in OS cells decreased CDK6 expression and arrested OS cell growth and cell cycle progression. However, the roles of miR-1299 in regulating CDK6 expression, OS cell growth and cell cycle progression were greatly impaired in the presence of circ_ARF3. In general, our study demonstrated that in the OS, highly expressed circ_ARF3 acts as a sponge of miR-1299 to inhibit miR-1299 mediated CDK6 downregulation which further promoted OS pathogenesis. circ_ARF3 could be a potential target for OS treatment in the future.

Apigenin sensitizes hepatocellular carcinoma cells to doxorubic through regulating miR-520b/ATG7 axis.

Chemo-resistance is a serious obstacle for successful treatment of cancer. Apigenin, a dietary flavonoid, has been reported as an anticancer drug in various malignant cancers. This study aimed to investigate the potential chemo-sensitization effect of apigenin in doxorubicin-resistant hepatocellular carcinoma cell line BEL-7402/ADM. We observed that apigenin significantly enhanced doxorubicin sensitivity, induced miR-520b expression and inhibited ATG7-dependent autophagy in BEL-7402/ADM cells. In addition, we also showed that miR-520b mimics increased doxorubicin sensitivity and inhibited ATG7-dependent autophagy. Meanwhile, we indicated that ATG7 was a potential target of miR-520b. Furthermore, APG inhibited the growth of hepatocellar carcinoma xenografts in nude mice by up-regulating miR-520b and inhibiting ATG7. Our finding provides evidence that apigenin sensitizes BEL-7402/ADM cells to doxorubicin through miR-520b/ATG7 pathway, which furtherly supports apigenin as a potential chemo-sensitizer for hepatocellular carcinoma.

Apigenin sensitizes BEL-7402/ADM cells to doxorubicin through inhibiting miR-101/Nrf2 pathway.

Chemo-resistance is one of the main obstacle in hepatocellular carcinoma therapy. Apigenin as a natural bioflavonoid has been exhibited anti-cancer properties in various malignant cancers. The aim of this study is to evaluate the potential chemo-sensitization effect of apigenin in doxorubicin-resistant hepatocellular carcinoma cell line BEL-7402/ADM and to investigate its possible mechanism. We found that apigenin significantly reversed doxorubicin sensitivity and induced caspase-dependent apoptosis in BEL-7402/ADM cells. Furthermore, apigenin induced miR-101 expression, and overexpression of miR-101 mimicked the doxorubicin-sensitizing effect of apigenin. Importantly, we showed that miR-101 was able to target the 3'-UTR of Nrf2. The results suggested that apigenin sensitizes BEL-7402/ADM cells to doxorubicin through miR-101/Nrf2 pathway, which furtherly supports apigenin as a potential chemo-sensitizer for hepatocellular carcinoma.

Supramolecule-Inspired Fabrication of Carbon Nanoparticles In Situ Anchored Graphene Nanosheets Material for High-Performance Supercapacitors.

The remarkable electrochemical performance of graphene-based materials has drawn a tremendous amount of attention for their application in supercapacitors. Inspired by supramolecular chemistry, the supramolecular hydrogel is prepared by linking ß-cyclodextrin to graphene oxide (GO). The carbon nanoparticles-anchored graphene nanosheets are then assembled after the hydrothermal reduction and carbonization of the supramolecular hydrogels; here, the ß-cyclodextrin is carbonized to carbon nanoparticles that are uniformly anchored on the graphene nanosheets. Transmission electron microscopy reveals that carbon nanoparticles with several nanometers are uniformly anchored on both sides of graphene nanosheets, and X-ray diffraction spectra demonstrate that the interlayer spacing of graphene is enlarged due to the anchored nanoparticles among the graphene nanosheets. The as-prepared carbon nanoparticles-anchored graphene nanosheets material (C/r-GO-1:3) possesses a high specific capacitance (310.8 F g-1, 0.5 A g-1), superior rate capability (242.5 F g-1, 10 A g-1), and excellent cycle stability (almost 100% after 10 000 cycles, at the scan rate of 50 mV s-1). The outstanding electrochemical performance of the resulting C/r-GO-1:3 is mainly attributed to (i) the presence of the carbon nanoparticles, (ii) the enlarged interlayer spacing of the graphene sheets, and (iii) the accelerated ion transport rates toward the interior of the electrode material. The supramolecule-inspired approach for the synthesis of high-performance carbon nanoparticles-modified graphene sheets material is promising for future application in graphene-based energy storage devices.

MicroRNA-93 inhibits ischemia-reperfusion induced cardiomyocyte apoptosis by targeting PTEN.

MicroRNAs have been implicated in some biological and pathological processes, including the myocardial ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury. Recent findings demonstrated that miR-93 might provide a potential cardioprotective effect on ischemic heart disease. This study was to investigate the role of miR-93 in I/R-induced cardiomyocyte injury and the potential mechanism. In this study, we found that hypoxia/reoxygenation (H/R) dramatically increased LDH release, MDA contents, ROS generation, and endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS)-mediated cardiomyocyte apoptosis, which were attenuated by co-transfection with miR-93 mimic. Phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN) was identified as the target gene of miR-93. Furthermore, miR-93 mimic significantly increased p-Akt levels under H/R, which was partially released by LY294002. In addtion, Ad-miR-93 also attenuated myocardial I/R injury in vivo, manifested by reduced LDH and CK levels, infarct area and cell apoptosis. Taken together, our findings indicates that miR-93 could protect against I/R-induced cardiomyocyte apoptosis by inhibiting PI3K/AKT/PTEN signaling.

All-Trans Retinoic Acid Attenuates Hypoxia-Induced Injury in NRK52E Cells via Inhibiting NF-x03BA;B/VEGF and TGF-ß2/VEGF Pathway.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Hypoxia has recently been proposed as one of the most important factors in progressive renal injury. Hypoxia-induced vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expression may play a critical role in maintaining peritubular capillary endothelium in renal disease. This study was designed to investigate the effect and underlying mechanism of all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) on hypoxia-induced injury in NRK52E cells. METHODS: For mimicking hypoxia, cells were treated with 100 µM of cobalt chloride (CoCl2). The cell viability, expression of VEGF, p65, transforming growth factor-ß2 (TGF-ß2) and serine carboxypeptidase 1 (Scpep1), and nuclear factor of kappaB (NF-x03BA;B) activities after ATRA treatment were determined by MTT, western blot and electrophoretic mobility shift assay. Co-immunoprecipitation analysis was performed to demonstrate whether Scpep1 interacted with TGF-ß2. RESULTS: It was found that CoCl2 triggered hypoxia injury and significantly reduced cell viability. ATRA pretreatment increased the cell survival rate. Under hypoxic conditions, the expression of VEGF, p65 and TGF-ß2 increased. Addition of ATRA significantly attenuated the expression of VEGF, p65 and TGF-ß2. There was a corresponding variation of NF-x03BA;B/DNA binding activities. In addition, ATRA stimulated Scpep1 expression under normoxic and hypoxia condition. Furthermore, TGF-ß2 interacted with Scpep1. CONCLUSIONS: This study indicated that ATRA may attenuate hypoxia-induced injury in NRK52E cells via inhibiting NF-x03BA;B/VEGF and TGF-ß2/VEGF pathway.

CRISPR-Cas9 for medical genetic screens: applications and future perspectives.

CRISPR-Cas9 (clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats-CRISPR associated nuclease 9) systems have emerged as versatile and convenient (epi)genome editing tools and have become an important player in medical genetic research. CRISPR-Cas9 and its variants such as catalytically inactivated Cas9 (dead Cas9, dCas9) and scaffold-incorporating single guide sgRNA (scRNA) have been applied in various genomic screen studies. CRISPR screens enable high-throughput interrogation of gene functions in health and diseases. Compared with conventional RNAi screens, CRISPR screens incur less off-target effects and are more versatile in that they can be used in multiple formats such as knockout, knockdown and activation screens, and can target coding and non-coding regions throughout the genome. This powerful screen platform holds the potential of revolutionising functional genomic studies in the near future. Herein, we introduce the mechanisms of (epi)genome editing mediated by CRISPR-Cas9 and its variants, introduce the procedures and applications of CRISPR screen in functional genomics, compare it with conventional screen tools and at last discuss current challenges and opportunities and propose future directions.

Preconditioning with PEP-1-SOD1 fusion protein attenuates ischemia/reperfusion-induced ventricular arrhythmia in isolated rat hearts.

PEP 1-Cu/Zn superoxide dismutase (PEP-1-SOD1) fusion protein preconditioning has been reported to protect the myocardium from ischemia/reperfusion (I/R)-induced injury by decreasing the infarct size, reducing levels of cardiomyocyte apoptosis and reducing the release of myocardial-specific biomarkers. The aim of the present study was to examine the effects of PEP-1-SOD1 pretreatment on I/R-induced ventricular arrhythmias in Langendorff-perfused rat hearts. The isolated rat hearts were pretreated with PEP-1-SOD1 prior to I/R, and the I/R-induced hemodynamic parameters, infarct size and ventricular arrhythmias were then assessed. Compared with the unprotected hearts, PEP-1-SOD1 preconditioning significantly improved the hemodynamic parameters, decreased the cardiac lactate dehydrogenase and creatine kinase-MB (CK-MB) levels, reduced the infarct size and attenuated the ventricular arrhythmia. Further investigation showed that PEP-1-SOD1 preconditioning reduced both the incidence and duration of ventricular tachycardia/ventricular fibrillation. In addition, the intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels were decreased. The results of the present study suggest that PEP-1-SOD1 preconditioning can protect the heart against I/R injury and attenuate I/R-induced arrhythmia by downregulating the generation of ROS.

The Cardioprotective Effect of Icariin on Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury in Isolated Rat Heart: Potential Involvement of the PI3K-Akt Signaling Pathway.

AIMS: Icariin (ICA), a flavonoid isolated from epimedii, has been reported to have potential protective effects on the cardiovascular system. This study is to investigate the effect and the underlying mechanisms of ICA on ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury. METHODS: Wister rat hearts were subjected to I/R using Langendorff perfusion system. Cardiac function, myocardial infarct size, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), and creatine kinase-MB (CK-MB) activities in coronary effluent, and superoxide dismutase (SOD) and malondialdehyde (MDA) content in heart tissue and cardiomyocyte apoptosis were assayed. RESULTS: Compared with the I/R group, ICA treatment significantly improved cardiac function, decreased myocardial infarct size, enzyme activity, oxidative stress, and apoptosis. In addition, ICA treatment lead to an increased p-Akt level, which was partially reversed by LY294002, a PI3K pathway inhibitor. CONCLUSION: Our study suggests that ICA has a cardioprotective effect against I/R injury, which is associated with its antioxidative and anti-apoptotic effect, at least partially, through the activation of PI3K-Akt signaling pathway.

Chrysin enhances sensitivity of BEL-7402/ADM cells to doxorubicin by suppressing PI3K/Akt/Nrf2 and ERK/Nrf2 pathway.

Nuclear factor-E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) is an important cytoprotective transcription factor which plays a key role in antioxidant and detoxification processes. Recent studies have reported that development of chemoresistance is associated with the constitutive activation of the Nrf2-mediated signaling pathway in many types of cancer cells. Here, we investigated whether Nrf2 was associated with drug resistant in doxorubicin resistant BEL-7402 (BEL-7402/ADM) cells, and if chrysin could reverse drug resistance in BEL-7402/ADM cells. We found that remarkable higher level of Nrf2 and its target proteins in BEL-7402/ADM cells compared to BEL-7402 cells. Similarly, intracellular Nrf2 protein level was significantly decreased and ADM resistance was partially reversed by Nrf2 siRNA in BEL-7402/ADM cells. chrysin is a potent Nrf2 inhibitor which sensitizes BEL-7402/ADM cells to ADM and increases intracellular concentration of ADM. Mechanistically, chrysin significantly reduced Nrf2 expression at both the mRNA and protein levels through down-regulating PI3K-Akt and ERK pathway. Consequently, expression of Nrf2-downstream genes HO-1, AKR1B10, and MRP5 were reduced and the Nrf2-dependent chemoresistance was suppressed. In conclusion, these results clearly indicate that activation of Nrf2 is associated with drug resistance in BEL-7402/ADM cells and chrysin may be an effective adjuvant sensitizer to reduce anticancer drug resistance by down-regulating Nrf2 signaling pathway.

Apigenin sensitizes doxorubicin-resistant hepatocellular carcinoma BEL-7402/ADM cells to doxorubicin via inhibiting PI3K/Akt/Nrf2 pathway.

Nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) is a redox- sensitive transcription factor regulating expression of a number of cytoprotective genes. Recently, Nrf2 has emerged as an important contributor to chemoresistance in cancer therapy. In the present study, we found that non-toxic dose of apigenin (APG) significantly sensitizes doxorubicin-resistant BEL-7402 (BEL-7402/ADM) cells to doxorubicin (ADM) and increases intracellular concentration of ADM. Mechanistically, APG dramatically reduced Nrf2 expression at both the messenger RNA and protein levels through downregulation of PI3K/Akt pathway, leading to a reduction of Nrf2-downstream genes. In BEL-7402 xenografts, APG and ADM cotreatment inhibited tumor growth, reduced cell proliferation and induced apoptosis more substantially when compared with ADM treatment alone. These results clearly demonstrate that APG can be used as an effective adjuvant sensitizer to prevent chemoresistance by downregulating Nrf2 signaling pathway.

[Therapeutic effect of indole-3-carbinol on pig serum-induced hepatic fibrosis in rats].

This study is to investigate the therapeutic effect and mechanism of indole-3-carbinol (I3C) on pig serum-induced liver fibrosis of rats. The liver fibrotic model of rats was induced by pig serum. After models were successfully established, rats in the treatment groups were administered with I3C through intraperitoneal injection or curcumin by intragastric administration, daily for 17 days. Hepatic hydroxyproline (Hyp) content was measured. The liver histology and immunohistochemistry with a-smooth muscle actin (alpha-SMA) were assayed. Hepatic stellate cells line, HSC-T6 was incubated with different concentrations of I3C (25, 50, and 100 micromol x L(-1)) for 24 h. The effect of I3C on cell apoptosis was identified by FITC-Annexin V/PI double labeled assay. And the mRNA expressions of Bax and Bcl-2 were measured by real time RT-PCR. The results showed that hepatic content of Hyp decreased by I3C treatment, as compared with the fibrotic model control. Histopathological changes, such as steatosis, necrosis, deposition of collagenous fiber reduced remarkably and the expression of alpha-SMA was significantly down-regulated in the I3C-treated groups (P < 0.01). Apoptosis analysis showed that I3C significantly increased HSC-T6 apoptosis rate and the expressional ratio of Bax to Bcl-2. The results indicated that I3C could effectively cure pig serum-induced liver fibrosis in vivo by inducing HSC apoptosis and promoting ECM degradation.

Indole-3-carbinol enhances the resolution of rat liver fibrosis and stimulates hepatic stellate cell apoptosis by blocking the inhibitor of κB kinase α/inhibitor of κB-α/nuclear factor-κB pathway.

Hepatic stellate cells (HSC) play a pivotal role in liver fibrosis, and the clearance of activated HSC by apoptosis is associated with the resolution of liver fibrosis. The development of strategies that promote this process in a selective way is therefore important. We evaluated the effects of indole-3-carbinol (I3C), a nutritional component derived from vegetables from the Brassica family, on liver fibrosis and HSC apoptosis. The in vivo therapeutic effects of I3C were monitored in three rat models of liver fibrosis induced by porcine serum, bile duct ligation, or multiple hepatotoxic factors, and its proapoptotic effect and molecular mechanism were studied in vitro in HSC-T6, a rat HSC line. The results showed that I3C treatment significantly reduced the number of activated HSC in the livers of rats with liver fibrosis. In histopathology, I3C reduced hepatocyte degeneration and necrosis, accelerated collagen degradation, and promoted the reversal of liver fibrosis. I3C prescribed to HSC-T6 resulted in morphologic alterations typical of apoptosis and DNA cleavage to a nucleosomal ladder. Moreover, I3C significantly increased the HSC-T6 apoptosis rate and the expression ratio of Bax to Bcl-2. High-throughput protein array analysis indicated that the tumor necrosis factor-α/nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) signal pathway participated in I3C-induced HSC-T6 apoptosis. Western blot and electrophoretic mobility-shift assay confirmed that I3C inhibited the phosphorylation of inhibitor of κB kinase α and inhibitor of κB-α and NF-κB DNA binding activity. In conclusion, I3C could promote the reverse process of liver fibrosis in vivo and induce apoptosis of activated HSC in vitro, which indicates the use of I3C as a potential therapeutic agent in liver fibrosis treatment.

Two-dimensional self-assembly of a porphyrin-polypyridyl ruthenium(II) hybrid on hopg surface through metal-ligand interactions.

The synthesis and self-assembly behavior of porphyrin-polypyridyl ruthenium(II) hybrid, which consists of a flexible alkyl chain attached with two conjugated moieties is described. The electronic absorption spectrum and emission spectra show that the [C(8)-TPP-(ip)Ru(phen)(2)](ClO(4))(2), abbreviated as (C(8)ip)TPPC has optical properties. Scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) studies found that the pi-pi interaction and metal-ligand interaction allow (C(8)ip)TPPC to form self-assembled structure and have an edge-on orientation on the highly oriented pyrolytic graphite (HOPG) surface. The multidentate structure in (C(8)ip)TPPC molecules act as linkers between the molecules and form metal-ligand coordination, which forces the assembly process in the direction of stable columnar arrays. In addition, although the sample was stored for two months in ambient conditions, STM experiments showed that the order of (C(8)ip)TPPC self-assembly only slightly decreased which indicates that the self-assembled monolayer is stable. This work demonstrates that introducing a metal-ligand in the porphyrin-polypyridyl compound is a useful strategy to obtain novel surface assemblies.

Reducing reaction of Fe3O4 in nanoscopic reactors of a-CNTs.

A reduction of Fe3O4 nanowires in nanoscopic reactors of amorphous C:H nanotubes (a-CNTs) was taken to understand features of the chemical reaction mechanism in nanoscale reactors. Fe3O4 nanowires encapsulated in a-CNTs were reduced into iron at a relatively low temperature of 570 degrees C, producing iron nanoparticles encapsulated in CNTs accompanied by the crystallization of the a-CNT shell. It was found that carbon in the a-CNT shell rather than hydrogen (5.5 wt % in it) reduced Fe3O4, showing features different from those in a macroscopic system. The possible mechanisms behind this phenomenon are discussed.

Reduction features of NO over a potassium-doped C12A7-O- catalyst.

The NO reduction features over a noble-metal-free NO(x) storage/reduction catalyst ([Ca24Al28O64](4+*)4O-/K, defined as C12A7-O-/K), including the NO conversion, the N2 selectivity, and sulfur tolerance, were investigated with hydrogen and C3H6 as the reducing agents in a fixed-bed continuous flow reactor. The NO conversion and the N2 selectivity on the C12A7-O-/K catalyst mainly depends on the sample temperature, the percentage of potassium, the reducing agents, and the composition of the mixture of gases. The C12A7-O-/10%K catalyst possessed the highest selective reduction ability (to N2) among the catalysts C12A7-O-/x%K. Over 50% of NO can be reduced to N2 with H2 as the reduction agent at 550-700 degrees C. The C12A7-O-/K catalyst also shows higher NO(x) storage capacity (183.9 micromol/g at about 550 degrees C) as well as sulfur tolerance for both the NO(x) storage and the reduction processes. The catalyst characteristics and the intermediate species formed in the NO storage and reduction processes were investigated by the X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and time-of-flight mass spectrometry. The mechanism of NO(x) reduction was addressed according to the above investigations.