Cocrystallization-driven Formation of fcc-based Ag110 Nanocluster with Chinese Triple Luban Lock Shape.

Luban locks with mortise and tenon structure have structural diversity and architectural stability, and it is extremely challenging to synthesize Luban lock-like structures at the molecular level. In this work, we report the cocrystallization of two structurally related atom-precise fcc silver nanoclusters Ag110 (SPhF)48 (PPh3 )12 (Ag110 ) and Ag14 (µ6 -S)(SPhF)12 (PPh3 )8 (Ag14 ). It is worth noting that the Ag110 cluster is the first compound to simulate the complex Luban lock structure at the molecular level. Meanwhile, Ag110 is the largest known fcc-based silver nanocluster, so far, there is no precedent for fcc silver nanocluster with more than 100 silver atoms. DFT calculations show that Ag110 is a 58-electron superatom with an electronically closed shell1S2 1P6 1D10 2S2 1F14 2P6 1G18 . Ag110 ⋅Ag14 can rapidly catalyze the reduction of 4-nitrophenol within 4 minutes. In addition, Ag110 presents clear structural evidence to reveal the critical size and mechanism of the transformation of metal core from fcc stacking to quasi-spherical superatom. This research work provides an important structural model for studying the nucleation mechanism and structural assembly of silver nanoclusters.

Transgenic mice producing the trans 10, cis 12-conjugated linoleic acid present reduced adiposity and increased thermogenesis and fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21).

Trans 10, cis 12-conjugated linoleic acid (t10c12-CLA) from ruminant-derived foodstuffs can induce body fat loss after oral administration. In the current study, a transgenic mouse that produced t10c12-CLA had been generated by inserting the Propionibacterium acnes isomerase (Pai) expression cassette into the Rosa26 locus, and its male offspring were used to elucidate the enduring influence of t10c12-CLA on overall health. Compared to their wild-type (wt) C57BL/6J littermates, both biallelic Pai/Pai and monoallelic Pai/wt mice exhibited reduced plasma triglycerides levels, and Pai/wt mice exclusively showed increased serum fibroblast growth factor 21. Further analysis of Pai/Pai mice found a decrease in white fat and an increase in brown fat, with more heat release and less physical activity. Analysis of Pai/Pai brown adipose tissues revealed that hyperthermia was associated with the over-expression of carnitine palmitoyltransferase 1B, uncoupling proteins 1 and 2. These findings suggest that the systemic and long-term impact of t10c12-CLA on obesity might be mediated through the pathway of fibroblast growth factor 21 when low doses are administered or through enhanced thermogenesis of brown adipose tissues when high doses are employed.

Selective Photochromic Response to Low-Dose X-ray Radiation Detection in One-Dimensional Cadmium-Viologen Complexes.

Photochromic viologen-based materials have emerged as one of the most promising candidates for the development of X-ray light detection applications, including medical diagnosis and treatment, environmental radiation inspection, and industrial crack detection. However, the design and construction of low-dose X-ray-sensitive complexes remains an immense challenge, especially for the in-depth dissection of their response mechanisms. Herein, by using N,N'-4,4'-bipyridiniodipropionate (CV) as functional sensitive structural units and cadmium as heavy atoms, two cadmium-viologen complexes with one-dimensional chained structures, namely, [Cd2Cl4(CV)(H2O)2]n (1) and [CdBr2(CV)]n (2), have been constructed, which exhibit a remarkable and selective photochromic response to low-dose X-ray radiation detection. Compound 1 is visually sensitive to both X-ray and UV light due to the more accessible photoinduced electron transfer (ET) pathways, while compound 2 only shows a slight color-changing process in response to UV light, in conformity with UV-vis absorbance analyses and kinetic studies. Surprisingly, compound 2 has longer ET pathways than 1, but not in response to high-energy X-ray light, seeming to contradict the previous phenomena. On further analysis, the key point in achieving X-ray-sensitive behavior should be a good balance among the electron donor-acceptor distance, intermolecular interaction, and X-ray absorbing capacity, as verified by density functional theory (DFT) and X-ray absorption strength calculations, X-ray photoelectron spectra, electron paramagnetic resonance measurements, and independent gradient model analysis. In particular, compound 1 is unprecedentedly sensitive to soft X-ray radiation, accompanied by an X-ray detection limit of as low as 2.91 Gy. These findings push forward the further development of low-dose X-ray sensing materials.

A One-Dimensional Broadband Emissive Hybrid Lead Iodide with Face-Sharing PbI6 Octahedral Chains.

One-dimensional (1D) organic-inorganic hybrid lead halides with unique core-shell quantum wire structures and splendid photoluminescence properties have been considered one of the most promising high-efficiency broadband emitters. However, studies on the broadband emissions in 1D purely face-shared lead iodide hybrids are still rare so far. Herein, we report on a new 1D lead iodide hybrid, (2cepyH)PbI3 (2cepy = 1-(2-chloroethyl)pyrrolidine), characterized with face-sharing PbI6 octahedral chains. Upon UV photoexcitation, this material shows broadband yellow emissions originating from the self-trapped excitons associated with distorted Pb-I lattices on account of the strong exciton-phonon coupling, as proved by variable-temperature emission spectra. Moreover, experimental and calculated results reveal that (2cepyH)PbI3 is an indirect bandgap semiconductor, the band structures of which are governed by inorganic parts. Our work represents the first broadband emitter based on a 1D face-shared lead iodide hybrid and opens a new way to obtain the novel broadband emission materials.

Highly efficient self-trapped exciton emission in a one-dimensional face-shared hybrid lead bromide.

A new one-dimensional (1D) face-shared hybrid lead bromide of (2cepiH)PbBr3, which exhibits intrinsic broadband yellow-light emission with a quantum yield of 16.8% outperforming all previously reported 1D face-shared hybrid metal halides, is obtained. The origin of broadband emission and the coexistence of free excitons and self-trapped excitons are deeply investigated by variable-temperature photoluminescence spectra. Our work paves the way to discovering more wonderful light-emitting materials.

Tri(pyridinyl)pyridine Viologen-Based Kagome Dual Coordination Polymer with Selective Chromic Response to Soft X-ray and Volatile Organic Amines.

The development of new responsive smart materials has been highly desirable in the recent decade due to growing demand in our daily life, and extended viologen-based coordination polymers are regarded as proper and promising candidates for stimuli-responsive study. A tri(pyridinyl)pyridine viologen-based Kagome dual (kgd) topological coordination polymer, [Mn3Cl4(tpptb)2]·Cl2·(H2O)2, (tpptb = N,N',N″-tri(3-carboxybenzyl)-2,4,6-tri(pyridinium-4-yl)pyridine; 1) has been solvothermally synthesized, which can selectively respond to soft X-ray Al-Kα (λ = 8.357 Å) irradiation but not to UV light and hard X-rays of λ < 1.5418 Å at room temperature. Appealingly, 1 is very sensitive and convenient for the visual detection of various volatile amine vapors, especially ethylamine vapors at a low concentration of 100 ppm, and the vapochromic sample can be recovered after exposure in the air at room temperature. The sequence of amines in vapochromism could be rationalized by combined consideration of vapor pressure, the molecular size, and electron-donor ability of various amine molecules as well as the void spaces of 1. In addition, 1 exhibits an obvious hydrochromic transformation upon heating in the air and an anhydrous atmosphere. Combined XPS and EPR confirmed that these physical and chemical stimuli can cause electron transfer from electron-rich groups to quaternary nitrogen atoms of the ligand to generate charge-separated radicals, leading to soft X-ray-induced photochromic and selective vapochromic behavior of 1. Such behavior indicates that it will become a convenient, recyclable, and practical multifunctional material for chemical and environmental sensing. These results provide an effective avenue for the rational design and synthesis of multifunctional chromic materials for potential use in sensing devices.

A single amino acid substitution in the FAD-binding domain causes the inactivation of Propionibacterium Acnes isomerase.

We previously demonstrated the efficient production of trans 10, cis 12-conjugated linoleic acid (t10c12-CLA) in Lactococcus lactis by ectopically expressing a Propionibacterium acnes isomerase (pai) gene and also mentioned that a recombinant strain was unable to accumulate t10c12-CLA product, despite the normal transcription. Here, the molecular analysis indicated that this mutated strain harbors a pai gene with a single-nucleotide mutation converting GC50A to GTA, leading to a corresponding change of Alanine residue into Valine. The expression of the reverse mutation resulted in the recovery for enzyme activity. Site-directed mutagenesis indicated that the codon usage of Val17 was not responsible for the enzyme inactivation in the Ala17Val mutation. Western blot analysis revealed that the recombinant PAI protein was not detectable in the His tag-marked Ala17Val mutant. It is, therefore, reasonable to assume that Ala17 residue is critical for PAI functionality.Abbreviations: pai: propionibacterium acnes isomerase; CLA: conjugated linoleic acid; t10c12-CLA: trans 10, cis 12-CLA; LA: linoleic acid (18:2n-6); FAD: flavin adenine dinucleotide.

The photochromic behaviour of two viologen salts modulated by the distances between the halide anions and the cationic N atoms of viologen.

In recent years, viologens and their derivatives have received much attention due to their various potential applications, ranging from electro- or photochromic devices to clean energy. Generally, viologen compounds exhibit a colour change upon being subjected to an external stimulus. However, the chromic mechanism is still ambiguous, because there are many electron-transfer pathways for a chromic compound that need to be considered. Thus, exploring new chromic viologen-based compounds with one pathway should be important and meaningful. In this article, two new viologen-based derivatives, namely 1-(2-cyanobenzyl)-4,4'-bipyridinium chloride (o-CBbpy·Cl), C18H14N3+·Cl- (1), and 1-(2-cyanobenzyl)-4,4'-bipyridinium bromide (o-CBbpy·Br), C18H14N3+·Br- (2), have been synthesized and characterized. Interestingly, both isomorphic compounds possess only one electron-transfer pathway, in which 1-(2-cyanobenzyl)-4,4'-bipyridinium cations (o-CBbpy) and halide anions are employed as electron donors and acceptors, respectively. Salts 1 and 2 consist of o-CBbpy cations involved in π-π interactions and hydrogen-bond interactions, and halide anions weakly hydrogen bonded to the viologen cations. The salts show different photoresponsive characteristics under identical conditions, which should be mainly related to the distances between the halide cations and the cationic N atoms of o-CBbpy but not the electronegativities of the halogen atoms. These results should not only help in understanding that the distance of the electron-transfer pathway plays an important role in viologen-based photochromism, but should also guide the design and synthesis of additional photochromic materials.

X-ray and UV Dual Photochromism, Thermochromism, Electrochromism, and Amine-Selective Chemochromism in an Anderson-like Zn7 Cluster-Based 7-Fold Interpenetrated Framework.

Smart materials are highly desirable over the recent decade due to the growing demand of complicated nature. Stable stimuli-responsive smart materials exhibit widespread potential for applications in smart windows, sensors, separators, chemical valves, and release platforms but are rare. Despite being good candidates, viologen-based multifunctional smart materials are still a challenging task for chemists. To obtain such materials, the judicious strategy is to introduce polynuclear metal-carboxylate clusters as electron donors into a stable framework to increase chromic sensitivity. Toward this endeavor, we have synthesized a novel viologen-based polymer with a unique Anderson-like metal-carboxylate cluster, [Zn7(bpybc)3(o-BDC)6]·2NO3·6H2O (bpybc = 1,1'-bis(4-carboxyphenyl)-4,4'-bipyridinium, o-BDC = o-benzenedicarboylic acid) (1), which is a particular 7-fold interpenetrated framework with a 3D pcu network in which bpybc ligand as the linker and Zn7O30C12 as the second building unit (Zn7 SBU) were used as 6-connected nodes. More importantly, it shows excellent chromic behavior in response to multiple external stimuli especially soft X-ray and UV dual light, temperature, electricity, and organic amines, which stand out in the viologen-based polymers. Interestingly, the coloration process of 1 from "core" to "edge" is observed upon heating at the appropriate temperature, which has not yet been found in other reported thermochromic materials. Of particular interest for 1 is the couple of quaternary stimuli-sensitive abilities because it simultaneously meets the following conditions: (i) the capability of withstanding high light, higher temperature, extreme pH, and other harsh conditions; and (ii) the high sensitivity to external stimuli keeping away from photodegradation, thermal relaxation, side reactions, and so on. To be noted, 1 has high thermal stability and chemical stability, which are excellent advantages as smart materials. To further develop possible practical utilization, 1 has been doped into the polymer matrixes to construct a hybrid film, which not only keeps the response to external stimuli but also significantly improves the repeatability of the photochromic process, indicating that a new smart device with multi-stimuli-responsive functions will emerge successively in the future.

Observation of Contrary Thermo-responsive Trend for Single Crystal and Powder Samples in Mechano-, Thermo- and Solvato-responsive Luminescent Cubane [Ag4I4L4] Cluster.

A new silver(I) iodide cluster [Ag4I4(TMP)4] (TMP = tris(3-methylphenyl)-phosphine) 1 shows triply stimuli-responsive luminescent chromism, namely, mechano-, thermo- and solvent-responsive chromism, which is isostructural to our previously reported [Cu4I4(TMP)4] 2 but shows quite different luminescence in response to the external stimuli. Especially, during the mechanical grinding, the relative intensities of HE and LE of 1 varied with a concomitant hypsochromic shift, and when the temperature was decreased from 300 to 5 K, unprecedented contrary thermo-responsive trend for single crystal and powered samples (blueshift of single crystals and redshift of powdered samples) was observed. These distinct characters of 1 should be due to the different molecular packing modes, metallic interactions and the unique character of Ag(I) ion.

Photochromic and Nonphotochromic Luminescent Supramolecular Isomers Based on Carboxylate-Functionalized Bipyridinium Ligand: (4,4)-Net versus Interpenetrated (6,3)-Net.

Photochromic and nonphotochromic luminescent bipyridinium-based supramolecular isomers [Cd(CPBPY)(BDC)(H2O)]n (1) and {[Cd(CPBPY)(BDC)]·H2O}n (2) (CPBPY = N-(3-carboxyphenyl)-4,4'-bipyridinium, BDC= terephthalate) have been successfully obtained by solvothermal reactions at 100 °C via tuning stoichiometric ratios of starting reagents. Isomer 1 features (4,4)-topological layer constructed by edge-shared Cd2 SBUs and BDC linkers attached by N-pendent CPBPY groups. Isomer 2 has (6,3)-topological layers with Cd atoms as nodes and BDC and double CPBPY as linkers, which are 4-fold interpenetrated into 3D network. Although both 1 and 2 contain bipyridinium ligands, only isomer 1 possesses reversible photochromic behavior with quick-switchable luminescence in the solid state. Compound 2 does not show photochromic behavior even after exposure to UV light for more than 2 h. Photochromism process of 1 originates from photostimulated reduction of CPBPY ligands to generate CPBPY(•-) radicals after irradiation, confirmed by EPR spectra. Careful check on structure reveals that the offset π-π stacking interaction between the pyridine ring of CPBPY and benzene ring of BDC with inter-ring shortest C···C distance of 3.214 Å in 1 is responsible for electron transfer to form the CPBPY(•-) radicals. The speculation is further supported by DFT calculation of frontier orbital matching of electron donor and acceptor. HOMO and HOMO-2 orbitals of BDC involve the carbon atoms of benzene ring while LUMO and LUMO+1 orbitals of CPBPY involve the carbon atoms of pyridinium ring. Importantly, the photoinduced formed CPBPY(•-) radicals in 1 have a long-lived lifetime (at least six months in air and room temperature condition), which is mainly attributed to the close packing mode.

Simultaneous Luminescent Thermochromism, Vapochromism, Solvatochromism, and Mechanochromism in a C3-Symmetric Cubane [Cu4I4P4] Cluster without Cu-Cu Interaction.

A chiral C3-symmetric cubane cluster, [Cu4I4(TMP)4], with enough long Cu-Cu distances to eliminate the presence of Cu-Cu interaction has been synthesized and characterized, which shows simultaneous luminescent thermochromism, solvatochromism, vapochromism, and mechanochromism and is a multiply stimuli-responsive chromic luminescent material. This complex could partly transform into a yellow-emissive bicapped cubane cluster, [Cu6I6(TMP)4(MeCN)2], in acetonitrile (MeCN) vapor and solution, which provides some insight into vapochromism and solvatiochromism. This work challenges and makes us reconsider the conventional viewpoint that Cu-Cu interaction is involved in thermochromism and mechanochromism of copper complexes.

An organic-ligand-free thermochromic luminescent cuprous iodide trinuclear cluster: evidence for cluster centered emission and configuration distortion with temperature.

An organic-ligand-free cuprous iodide trinuclear cluster with significant temperature-dependent structural distortion has been synthesized and characterized, which shows thermochromic luminescence originating from a single cluster-centered triplet due to the absence of an organic ligand. This compound also shows interesting reversible temperature dependent phase transition from chiral to centrosymmetric space groups.

Cu3I7 trimer and Cu4I8 tetramer based cuprous iodide polymorphs for efficient photocatalysis and luminescent sensing: unveiling possible hierarchical assembly mechanism.

Solvothermal reactions of CuI, 1,4-diazabicyclo[2.2.2]octane (DABCO), and HI in an ethanol solution at 140 °C/150 °C for 7 days resulted in two 24-membered-ring-based layered semiconducting iodocuprate open-network polymorphs formulated as [deDABCO]2[meDABCO]Cu11I17 (deDABCO = N,N'-diethyl-1,4-diazabicyclo[2.2.2] octane and meDABCO = N-methyl-N'-ethyl-1,4-diazabicyclo[2.2.2]octane). The deDABCO and meDABCO templates were in situ generated via alkylation of DABCO during solvothermal reactions. The formation of layered Cu11I17(6-) polymorphs can be rationalized via analyses of hierarchical building units. There are four hierarchical building units in polymorphs, namely, primary CuI3 triangle and CuI4 tetrahedron, secondary Cu3I7 trimer and Cu4I8 tetramer, tertiary Cu6I12 hexamer, and quaternary Cu12I22 dodecamer. The trimeric Cu3I7 secondary building unit (SBU) is constructed by three edge-shared CuI4 tetrahedra, while the tetrameric Cu4I8 SBU with an inversion center is formed by edge-shared two CuI3 triangles and two CuI4 tetrahedra. Two Cu3I7 SBUs are fused together via the sharing of two iodine atoms to form a Cu6I12 tertiary building unit (TBU), and two TBUs are further fused via the sharing of two iodine atoms into a Cu12I22 quaternary building unit (QBU). In colorless polymorph 1, each Cu3I7 SBU is connected to three neighbors via one Cu4I8 and two Cu6I12 linkers to form a 6,3-connected layer with 24-membered ring window. Different from 1, each Cu6I12 TBU in yellowish polymorph 2 is connected to four neighbors via two Cu4I8 and two Cu12I22 linkers to form a (4,4) topological layer also with 24-membered-ring window. These two compounds are very rare examples of copper halide polymorphs that exhibit similar local coordination geometries of copper(I) but different layered open networks. Electrical conductivity, band structure calculation, and UV-vis diffuse-reflectance spectrometry indicate that 1 and 2 are potential semiconductor materials, and the performance on the photocatalytic degradation of organic pollutants upon UV-light irradiation reveals that both 1 and 2 are highly efficient photocatalysts. Two polymorphs exhibit very similar green photoluminescence at room temperature in the solid state, and the study of the luminescent response to solvent on two polymorphs exhibits highly sensitive sensing of nitro explosives via quenching.

[Laboratory diagnosis of HIV/AIDS patients complicated with Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia].

Pneumocystis jirovecii was detected in sputum samples and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) obtained from HIV/AIDS patients complicated with Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia by Giemsa staining. CD4+ T lymphocytes of 500 patients were counted by flow cytometer. P. jirovecii positive rate in sputum samples (46.8%, 845/1 806) significantly lower than that of BALF (55.8%, 10(6)/190) (P < 0.05). The proportion of patients developing clinical symptoms in P. jirovecii positive cases (96.6%, 816/845) was higher than that of P. jirovecii negative cases (64.0%, 615/961) (P < 0.05). P. jirovecii positive rate increased with the decrease of CD4+ T lymphocyte number. P. jirovecii positive rates in cases with CD4+ > 200 x 10(6)/L, CDC 200 x 10(6)/L-100 x 10(6)n/L, and CD4+ < 100x10(6)/12.0% (6/50), 39.0%( 39/100), 54.6% (191/350), respectively (P < 0.05). Giemsa staining is an efficient, simple and feasible method for P. jirovecii detection, relying on the experience and skill of the operator.

In situ alkylation of N-heterocycles in organic templated cuprous halides.

Five new cuprous halides formulated as [etpy][Cu(3)I(4)] 1, [mepy][Cu(2)Br(3)] 2, [mepy][Cu(2)I(3)] 3 [dmebpp][Cu(7)Br(9)] 4 and [dmeDABCO](4)[Cu(8)I(16)] 5 (etpy = N-ethylpyridyl; mepy = N-methylpyridyl; dmebpp = N,N'-dimethyl-1,3-bis(4-pyridyl)propane; dmeDABCO = N,N'-dimethyl-1,4-diazabicyclo-[2.2.2]octane) have been prepared by solvothermal reactions of a copper source, halides and N-heterocyclic ligands in alcoholic solution. 1 contains an unprecedented trigonal two-dimensional cuprous halide layer Cu(3)I(4)(-) constructed from trimeric Cu(3)I(8) units via sharing peripheral mu(3)-iodines; isostructural 2 and 3 contain infinite Cu(2)X(3)(-) chains in which the copper atoms are arranged into a ladder; 4 is composed of novel twofold helical cuprous halide chains Cu(7)Br(9)(2-) built up by CuBr(4) and CuBr(3); 5 contains an infinite edge-sharing tetrahedral chain with a periodic sequence of eight CuI(4) tetrahedra. In situ alkylation reactions of N-heterocycles with alcohols generated organic cationic templates, which played an important role in the control of the structures of anionic cuprous halides. A possible alkylation mechanism of N-heterocycles in the system has been proposed. The fluorescence properties of 1 and 4 were investigated. Time-dependent density functional theory (TD-DFT) calculations were carried out on the excited electronic states 1 of in order to understand the emission mechanism.