Microporosity and Catalytic Activity for Hydrodesulfurization of Pharmacosiderite Mo4P3O16 Synthesized at a Moderate Temperature.

Pharmacosiderite Mo4P3O16 (Pharma-MoPO) consists of [Mo4O4] cubane unit and [PO4] tetrahedral to form an open framework with a microporous structure similar to that of LTA-type zeolite. Although attractive applications are expected due to its microporous structure and redox-active components, its physicochemical properties have been poorly investigated due to the specificity of its synthesis, which requires a high hydrothermal synthesis temperature of 360 °C. In this study, we succeeded in synthesizing Pharma-MoPO by hydrothermal synthesis at 230 °C, which can be applied using a commercially available autoclave by changing the metal source. Through the study of the solids and liquids obtained after hydrothermal syntheses, the formation process of Pharma-MoPO under our studied synthesis conditions was proposed. Advanced characterizations provided detailed structural information on Pharma-MoPO, including the location site of a countercation NH4+. Pharma-MoPO could adsorb CO2 with the amount close to the number of cages without removing NH4+. Pharma-MoPO exhibited stable catalytic activity for the hydrodesulfurization of thiophene while maintaining its crystal structure, except for the introduction of sulfide by replacing lattice oxygens. Pharmacosiderite Mo4P3O16 was successfully obtained by hydrothermal synthesis at a moderate temperature, and its microporosity for CO2 adsorption and catalytic properties for hydrodesulfurization were discovered.

A Zeolitic Octahedral Metal Oxide with Ultrahigh Porosity for High-temperature and High-humidity Alkyne/Alkene Separation.

Zeolitic octahedral metal oxide is a newly synthesized all-inorganic zeolitic material and has been used for adsorption, separation, and catalysis. Herein, a new zeolitic octahedral metal oxide was synthesized and characterized. The porous framework was established through the assembly of [P2Mo13O50] clusters with PO4 linkers. Guest molecules occupied the framework, which could be removed through heat treatment, thereby opening the micropores. The pore characteristics were controlled by the cations within the micropore, enabling the adjustment of the interactions with alkynes and alkenes. This resulted in good separation performance of ethylene/acetylene and propylene/propyne even under high temperature and humidity conditions. The high stability of the material enabled the efficient recovery and reuse without discernible loss in the separation performance. Due to the relatively weak interaction between the adsorbed alkyne and the framework, the adsorbent facilitated the recovery of a highly pure alkyne. This feature enhances the practical applicability of the material in various industrial processes.

Molybdenum Oxide Constructed by {Mo6O21}6- Pentagonal Unit Assembly and Its Redox Properties.

Molybdenum oxides are widely used in various fields due to their electronic and structural characteristics. These materials can generate lattice oxygen defects by reduction treatments, which sometimes play central roles in various applications. However, little has been understood about their properties since it is difficult to increase the amount of lattice oxygen defects due to the crystal structure changes in most cases. Here, we report a new class of high-dimensionally structured Mo oxide (HDS-MoOx) constructed by the random assembly of {Mo6O21}6- pentagonal units (PUs). Since the PU is a stable structural unit, the structural network based on the PU hardly caused structural changes to make the lattice oxygen defects vanish. Consequently, HDS-MoOx could generate a substantial amount of lattice oxygen defects, and their amount was controllable, at least in the range of MoO2.64-MoO3.00. HDS-MoOx was more redox active than typical Mo oxide (α-MoO3) and demonstrated an oxidation ability for gas-phase isopropanol oxidation under the reaction conditions, whereas α-MoO3 affords no oxidation products.

Oxidation Catalysis over Solid-State Keggin-Type Phosphomolybdic Acid with Oxygen Defects.

Keggin-type phosphomolybdic acid (PMo12O40), treated with pyridine (Py), forms a crystalline material (PyPMo-HT) following heat treatment under an inert gas flow at ∼420 °C. Although this material is known to have attractive catalytic properties for gas-phase oxidation, the origin of this catalytic activity requires clarification. In this study, we investigated the crystal structure of PyPMo-HT. PyPMo-HT comprises a one-dimensional array of Keggin units and pyridinium cations (HPy), with an HPy/Keggin unit ratio of ∼1.0. Two oxygen atoms were removed from the Keggin unit during crystal structure transformation, which resulted in an electron being localized on the Mo atom in close contact with the adjacent Keggin unit. Upon the introduction of molecular oxygen, electron transfer from this Mo atom resulted in the formation of an electrophilic oxygen species that bridged two Keggin units. The electrophilic oxygen species acted as a catalytically active oxygen species, as confirmed by the selective oxidation of propylene. PyPMo-HT showed excellent catalytic activity for the selective oxidation of methacrolein, with the methacrylic acid yield being superior to that obtained with PMo12O40 and comparable to that obtained with an industrial Keggin-type polyoxometalate (POM) catalyst. The oxidation catalysis observed over PyPMo-HT provides a deeper understanding of POM-based industrial catalytic processes.

Synthesis of Zeolitic Mo-Doped Vanadotungstates and Their Catalytic Activity for Low-Temperature NH3-SCR.

Mo was successfully introduced into a vanadotungstate (VT-1), which is a crystalline microporous zeolitic transition-metal oxide based on cubane clusters [W4O16]8- and VO2+ linkers (MoxW4-x. x: number of Mo in VT-1 unit cell determined by inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectroscopy (ICP-AES)). It was confirmed that W in the cubane units was substituted by Mo. The resulting materials showed higher microporosity compared with VT-1. The surface area and the micropore volume increased to 296 m2·g-1 and 0.097 cm3·g-1, respectively, for Mo0.6W3.4 compared with the those values for VT-1 (249 m2·g-1 and 0.078 cm3·g-1, respectively). The introduction of Mo changed the acid properties including the acid amount (VT-1: 1.06 mmol g-1, Mo0.6W3.4: 2.18 mmol·g-1) and its strength because of the changes of the chemical bonding in the framework structure. MoxW4-x showed substantial catalytic activity for the selective catalytic reduction of NO with NH3 (NH3-selective catalytic reduction (SCR)) at a temperature as low as 150 °C.

INTENSIVE TREATMENT OF A CAPTIVE BORNEAN ELEPHANT (ELEPHAS MAXIMUS BORNEENSIS) INFECTED WITH MYCOBACTERIUM CAPRAE IN JAPAN.

In 2015, an estimated 17-year-old female Bornean elephant (Elephas maximus borneensis) at Fukuyama Zoo in Japan exhibited anorexia and significant weight loss. Pan-susceptible Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (MTBC) was isolated from vaginal discharge, oral mucus, urine, and fecal samples by culture. The isolate was identified as Mycobacterium caprae by genetic analysis. Isoniazid, pyrazinamide, and levofloxacin were administered rectally. Body weight increased to normal, but subsequently decreased again. Elevation of liver enzymes occurred, likely related to the increase in isoniazid dosage. After recovery from side effects, the elephant's weight increased further. However, isoniazid-resistant M. caprae was isolated from oral mucus after anti-tuberculosis drug treatment for 9 mo. The regimen was changed to rifampicin, pyrazinamide, ethambutol, and levofloxacin, administered orally or rectally. The 18-mo treatment was completed in October 2018. This elephant has shown no clinical sign since. No MTBC-positive sample had been obtained as of March 2020.

Synthesis of High Dimensionally Structured Mo-Fe Mixed Metal Oxide and Its Catalytic Activity for Selective Oxidation of Methanol.

High-dimensionally structured Mo-Fe oxide (HDS-MoFeO) was synthesized through an assembly of structural units supplied from Keplerate-type polyoxometalate, {Mo72Fe30}, under an appropriate hydrothermal condition. HDS-MoFeO showed excellent catalytic activity for the selective oxidation of methanol with slightly lower selectivity for formaldehyde than that of a conventional Mo-Fe oxide catalyst.

Synthesis of Fluoride-Containing High Dimensionally Structured Nb Oxide and Its Catalytic Performance for Acid Reactions.

High dimensionally structured niobium oxide (HDS-NbO) containing fluoride (F-) was prepared by a hydrothermal synthesis. F- could be introduced into HDS-NbO by replacing lattice oxygen up to a solid F-/Nb ratio of 0.55. The introduction of an appropriate amount of F- promoted the crystal growth of HDS-NbO, while niobium oxyfluoride having the hexagonal tungsten bronze structure (HTB-Nb(F,O)x) was concomitantly formed by excess F- addition. HAADF-STEM analysis suggested that the number of micropores (hexagonal and heptagonal channels) in HDS-NbO was increased by the introduction of an appropriate amount of F-. The catalytic activity for Brønsted acid reactions was evaluated by Friedel-Crafts alkylation. The catalytic activity was significantly increased by the introduction of F-, while excess introduction of F- significantly decreased the activity. Catalytic activity for the Lewis acid reaction in the presence of water was evaluated by the transformation of pyruvaldehyde into lactic acid. The catalytic activity was changed by the introduction of F- in a manner similar to that observed in the Friedel-Crafts alkylation. On the basis of the results obtained, we propose that the local catalyst structure around the micropores of HDS-NbO is crucial for the acid reactions.

The inflammation-nutrition score supports the prognostic prediction of the TNM stage for colorectal cancer patients after curative resection.

PURPOSE: Inflammation and the nutritional and immunologic status are known to be associated with the prognosis of malignant tumors. We aimed to examine inflammation-nutrition scores and predict the prognosis of colorectal cancer (CRC) patients by integrating nutritional and immunologic factors and tumor stage. METHODS: This study investigated 511 patients with CRC from 2007 to 2013: 380 in a training set (TS) and 131 in a validation set (VS). The Osaka Prognostic Score (OPS) used comprised 1 point each for C-reactive protein > 1.0 mg/dL, albumin (< 3.5 g/dL), and lymphocyte count < 1600. Patients were classified according to the total points. The modified Glasgow Prognostic Score and the Prognostic Nutritional Index were also examined. A nomogram for predicting the disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) was constructed based on the OPS and TNM stage. RESULTS: In the TS, a high OPS and high TNM stage were significant predictors of the DFS and OS. The C-indexes of the OPS for the DFS and OS were higher than those of other reported scoring systems. The C-index of the nomogram for the DFS was 0.762 in the TS and 0.675 in the VS. The C-index of the nomogram for the OS was 0.805 in the TS and 0.743 in the VS. CONCLUSION: Integrating the TNM stage and OPS accurately predicted the prognosis of patients with CRC.

Major and trace elements in the surface water of Tonle Sap Lake, Mekong River, and other tributary rivers in Cambodia.

To evaluate the seasonal water circulation of Tonle Sap Lake and its tributary rivers in Cambodia, the spatial distribution patterns of major and trace elements in surface water were investigated. Based on the similarity of the dissolved elemental concentrations, the water samples were mainly divided into the three groups: samples with relatively high percentages of Ca, Mo, and Sb (Subcluster B1); samples with high Si, Al, and Fe (B2); and samples with high Na, K, and Mg (B3). During the rainy season, the elemental composition of lake water (B1) appeared to be greatly influenced by the intrusion of water from the Mekong River (B1) through the Tonle Sap River (B1). During the dry season, the type of lake water shifted to B3, suggesting that the lake water stored during the rainy season was replaced by inflow from other tributaries and groundwater in its vicinity. Thus, the seasonal changes in the elemental composition of the lake water were largely controlled by surface water and groundwater circulation. The dissolved As concentration was higher in the lake water and during the dry season than that in the river water and during the rainy season, indicating the discharge of As from the lake's bottom sediment during the dry season. Although the redox cycling of Fe and Mn appeared to be less important due to the shallow water depth in the lake, there are potential risks of As poisoning induced by the formation of an anoxic water mass and increment in the concentration of phosphorus if eutrophication continues to progress.

Redox-Active Zeolitic Transition Metal Oxides Based on ε-Keggin Units for Selective Oxidation.

The design and development of zeolitic transition metal oxides for selective oxidation are interesting due to the combination of the redox properties and microporosities. Redox-active zeolitic transition metal oxides based on ε-Keggin iron molybdates were synthesized. O2 can be activated by the materials via an electron-transfer-based process, and the materials can be oxidized even at room temperature. The materials are oxidized and reduced reversibly while the crystal structures are maintained. V is uniformly incorporated in the materials without changing the basic structures, and the redox properties of the materials are tuned by V. The materials are used as robust catalysts for ethyl lactate oxidation to form ethyl pyruvate using O2 as an oxidant.

Mycobacterium caprae Infection in Captive Borneo Elephant, Japan.

In 2016, disseminated tuberculosis caused by Mycobacterium caprae was diagnosed in a captive Borneo elephant in Japan. The bacterium was initially identified from clinical isolates. An isolate collected during a relapse showed isoniazid monoresistance and a codon 315 katG mutation.

Effects of childbirth on podocyturia in women with normotensive, uncomplicated pregnancies.

Changes in hemodynamics and blood pressure occur shortly before and after childbirth regardless of the mode of delivery. This study aimed to test the hypothesis that parturition induces a temporal increase in podocyturia monitored by podocyte-specific protein podocin mRNA expression levels (Pod-mRNA). A total of 105 urine specimens, consisting of 43 and 62 from 18 and 20 otherwise healthy women with vaginal delivery (VD) and elective cesarean delivery (ECS), respectively, were studied. Determination of urine protein and creatinine (Cr) concentrations and quantitative analyses of Pod-mRNA, nephrin mRNA (Nep-mRNA), synaptopodin mRNA (Syn-mRNA), and aquaporin 2 mRNA expression were performed using RT-PCR in pelleted urine samples. Levels of mRNA expression were corrected by urine Cr concentration. Podocyturia increased significantly, concomitant with a significantly decreased Nep:Pod-mRNA ratio (NPR) in the urine, collected immediately before or after childbirth regardless of the delivery mode compared with urine collected before commencement of labor or on postpartum day 3 or later. Podocyturia was significantly negatively correlated with NPR [correlation coefficient (r) = -0.614/-0.750 for VD/ECS women, respectively], as well as the Syn:Pod-mRNA ratio. Systolic blood pressure exceeded 140 mmHg during labor in 50% of VD women, and mean arterial pressure was significantly positively correlated with podocyturia during labor in VD women (r = 0.733). Thus parturition induces a transient increase in urine podocytes with reduced Nep- and Syn-mRNA expressions. Glomerular podocytes with reduced Nep- and Syn-mRNA levels were suggested to be likely to detach from the glomerular basement membrane around childbirth.

Increased podocyturia in pregnant women compared to non-pregnant women.

AIM: Hyperfiltration is a cause of podocyturia and occurs physiologically in the kidney of pregnant women. Podocyturia is increased in preeclamptic pregnancies, but it is unclear whether there is also any increase in uncomplicated pregnancies. This study was performed to examine whether podocyturia and urine aquaporin 2 mRNA expression are increased in healthy pregnant women (PW) compared to healthy non-pregnant women (NPW). METHODS: Eleven urines obtained from 11 NPW and longitudinal 76 urines from 40 PW with uncomplicated pregnancies (median number [range] of urine samples/person, 2 [1 - 3]) were studied. Determination of protein and creatinine concentrations and number of cells in urine other than blood cells, and quantitative analyses of the mRNA expression of aquaporin 2 (AQP2-mRNA), podocin (Pod-mRNA), and nephrin (Nep-mRNA) were performed using RT-PCR in pelleted urine samples. Podocyturia was monitored with urine Pod- and Nep-mRNA expression levels normalized relative to creatinine. RESULTS: Urine cell density and urine AQP2-, Pod-, and Nep-mRNA expression normalized relative to creatinine were significantly higher in PW than NPW. The number of cells per milligram of creatinine was significantly positively correlated with expression of all three mRNAs with correlation coefficients (R-value) of 0.442, 0.481, and 0.561 for Pod-, Nep-, and AQP2-mRNA, respectively. AQP2-mRNA expression was strongly (R  >  0.8) positively correlated with both Pod- and Nep-mRNA expression. CONCLUSION: Podocyturia monitored by Pod- and Nep-mRNA expression and urine cells expressing AQP2-mRNA were increased in uncomplicated pregnancies compared to healthy non-pregnant women. Urine cells expressing AQP2-mRNA increased with increasing podocyturia in healthy women.

Association between nephrinuria, podocyturia, and proteinuria in women with pre-eclampsia.

AIM: Podocyte depletion in the kidney is associated with end-stage kidney disease (ESKD). Pre-eclampsia (PE) increases the risk of ESKD in later life. This study was performed to determine whether nephrinuria (soluble nephrin in the urine) is correlated with proteinuria and/or podocyturia (podocytes in the urine) in PE women. METHODS: Eighty-three urine samples, consisting of 45 and 38 samples from 27 normotensive and nine PE women, respectively, underwent simultaneous determination of nephrin, protein, and creatinine concentrations in the urine supernatant and quantitative analysis of podocyte-specific protein mRNA expression. This included podocin (Pod-mRNA) and nephrin (Nep-mRNA), using real-time polymerase chain reaction in the pelleted urine. Nephrinuria and proteinuria were corrected by creatinine concentration. Pod- and Nep-mRNA expression levels were corrected by GAPDH. RESULTS: Nephrinuria, proteinuria, Pod-mRNA expression, and Nep-mRNA expression all increased with advancing gestation in PE women, while not in normotensive women. The nephrinuria was strongly correlated with proteinuria (R = 0.901, P <  0.001), Pod-mRNA expression level (R = 0.824, P < 0.001), and Nep-mRNA expression level (R  =  0.724, P <  0.001) in urine samples from PE women, while the nephrinuria was significantly correlated with proteinuria alone (R  =  0.419, P <  0.005) in urine samples from normotensive women. CONCLUSION: Nephrinuria reflected well the degrees of proteinuria and podocyturia in PE women. This suggested that increased nephrinuria/proteinuria was associated with podocyte loss in the kidneys of PE women.

Risk factors for central serous chorioretinopathy in pregnant Japanese women.

AIM: This study was performed to determine risk factors for central serous chorioretinopathy (CSC) in pregnant women. METHODS: This retrospective observational study was performed in a cohort of all 1881 women giving birth at a single center. The hospital database was searched to abstract all women diagnosed with pre-eclampsia (PE) as well as those visiting the eye clinic during the current pregnancy. Medical chart review was performed in all women diagnosed with CSC and PE. RESULTS: PE developed in 73 (3.9%) women, six (8.2%) of whom visited the eye clinic for problems occurring in the current pregnancy; 47 of 1808 (2.6%) women without PE visited the eye clinic (P  = 0.015). Four women were identified as having developed CSC after onset of PE, and none of those without PE developed CSC (5.5% [4/73] vs 0.0% [0/1808], respectively, P <  0.0001). Stepwise regression analysis selected four risk factors for CSC: hematocrit value > 38.0% (odds ratio [OR], 22.9; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.12-247), serum creatinine > 0.7 mg/dL (OR, 21.7; 95%CI, 1.12-422), time interval from diagnosis of PE until delivery > 14 days (OR, 20.0; 95%CI, 1.87-214), and urine protein : creatinine ratio (mg/mg) > 4.5 (OR, 15.7; 95%CI, 0.81-304). Hematocrit value > 38.0% was finally identified as the only independent risk factor (OR, 22.9; 95%CI, 2.12-1716) for CSC in PE women. CONCLUSION: CSC was likely to occur in PE women, especially in those with hemoconcentration as a result of plasma leakage from the circulating blood due to increased vascular permeability.

Post-partum podocyturia following pre-eclamptic pregnancy.

AIM: Urine podocin mRNA expression and urine podocin : nephrin mRNA expression ratio (PNR) increase with increasing proteinuria during pregnancy complicated with pre-eclampsia (PE). This suggests that urine podocytes with reduced nephrin mRNA expression are abundant in pathological podocyturia. The aim of this study was therefore to determine post-partum changes in podocyturia and PNR in relation to proteinuria after pre-eclampsia (PE). METHODS: A total of 137 peripartum urine specimens, consisting of 72 and 65 from 24 and 30 women with PE and normotensive control pregnancies (NCP), respectively, were studied. Determination of urine protein and creatinine concentration and quantitative analysis of podocyte-specific podocin and nephrin mRNA expression were carried out using reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction in pelleted urine samples. Podocyturia was monitored via urine podocin mRNA expression. Podocyturia and proteinuria were normalized by urine creatinine concentration. RESULTS: Podocyturia and urine PNR decreased with decreasing proteinuria as well as with increasing time after delivery in the urine from PE women. In physiological proteinuria (i.e. protein : creatinine ratio [P/Cr] 0.005-0.1 mg/mg), however, both podocyturia and PNR were significantly greater in the urine from PE women compared with NPC women, although P/Cr was similar between the groups (median, 0.037 mg/mg for PE vs 0.029 mg/mg for NCP). CONCLUSIONS: Podocyturia decreases with decreasing proteinuria in PE women after childbirth. In PE women, however, pathological podocyturia consisting of podocytes with decreased nephrin mRNA expression persisted even after proteinuria decreased to a level similar to that in NCP women.

Frequency of malformed infants in a tertiary center in Hokkaido, Japan over a period of 10 years.

AIM: This retrospective study was performed to determine the frequency of malformed infants born at a tertiary center in Hokkaido, Japan. The accuracy of prenatal diagnosis rates was also investigated. METHODS: An observational study was performed using data of 1509 and 1743 newborn infants at a single center during two study periods, 2005-2009 (first) and 2010-2014 (second), respectively. Cases including minor anomalies (accessory auricle, nevus and fistula auris congenita) were not included. RESULTS: In total, 274 and 569 malformations were identified in 191 and 337 newborn infants in the first and second study periods, respectively. The number of malformed infants increased significantly over time (13% [191/1509] vs 19% [337/1743], respectively; P < 0.001), mainly as a result of an increase in cases of congenital heart disease (CHD), from 59 to 141 (31% [59/191] vs 42% [141/337] of all malformed infants in the first and second periods, respectively). The overall accurate prenatal diagnosis rate improved over time from 47% (128/274) to 58% (329/569) because of significant improvements in accurate prenatal diagnosis of CHD subtypes (23% [16/70] vs 65% [151/232] in the first and second periods, respectively, P < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: The frequency of malformed newborns was higher in the tertiary center than in the general population. The increased number of cases with prenatal suspicion and diagnosis of CHD contributed to the increased frequency of malformed infants during the study period.

Serum placental growth factor and soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase 1 at mid-gestation in healthy women: Association with small-for-gestational-age neonates.

AIM: This study was performed to determine the associations between serum placental growth factor (PlGF) and soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase 1 (sFlt-1) levels at mid-gestation with the risk of small-for-gestational-age (SGA) neonates born at gestational week (GW) ≥ 36 in healthy women. METHODS: PlGF and sFlt-1 concentrations were determined at GW 24-27 in 183 women with births at GW ≥ 36, but without gestational diabetes mellitus and hypertension. RESULTS: Thirteen (7.1%) SGA neonates were born. Median (range) GW at blood sampling was similar between women with and without SGA (25 [24-25] and 24 [24-27], respectively, P = 0.671). Pre-pregnancy body mass index (BMI) and PlGF levels were significantly lower in women with than without SGA, while sFlt-1 levels and sFlt-1 : PlGF ratio (sFlt-1/PlGF) did not differ significantly between the two groups. PlGF and sFlt-1/PlGF, but not BMI or sFlt-1, showed significant correlations with birthweight z-score; the correlation was positive for PlGF and negative for sFlt-1/PlGF. Women with PlGF level < 10th percentile and those with sFlt-1/PlGF level > 90th percentile showed significantly increased risk of SGA compared to those with respective counterpart characteristics; relative risk was 3.8 (95% confidence interval, 1.3-11.3; 21% [4/19] vs 5.5% [9/164]) for PlGF and 7.9 (95% confidence interval, 3.0-20.8, 33.3% [6/18] vs 4.2% [7/165]) for sFlt-1/PlGF. CONCLUSION: Maternal PlGF and sFlt-1/PlGF determined during GW 24-27 were associated with the risk of SGA neonates born at GW ≥ 36, even in women with uncomplicated pregnancies.

New crystalline complex metal oxides created by unit-synthesis and their catalysis based on porous and redox properties.

The development of new complex metal oxides having structural complexity suitable for solid-state catalysis is of great importance in fundamental catalysis research and practical applications. However, examples of these materials are rare. Herein, we report two types of crystalline complex metal oxides with new structures and their catalytic properties. The first one is an all-inorganic ε-Keggin polyoxometalate-based material with intrinsic microporosity. The framework of the material is formed by the assembly of ε-Keggin polyoxomolybdate units with metal ion linkers in a diamondoid topology. The micropores of the material can be opened without change of the structures, and the material adsorbs small molecules. This material has both redox properties and acidity and can be applied to O2 adsorption, selective oxidation of methacrolein, and hydrolysis of cellobiose. The other material is a crystalline metal oxide based on molecular nanowires. The hexagonal POM units stack along the c axis to form prismatic clusters as molecular wires. The molecular wires further assemble in a hexagonal fashion to form the crystals, and NH4(+) and water are present in between the molecular wires. The material is active as an acid catalyst for cellobiose conversion.