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ACS Omega Jun 2023Highly crystalline double-walled boron nitride nanotubes (DWBNNTs ∼60%) were synthesized from ammonia borane (AB; HB-NH) precursors using a high-temperature thermal...
Highly crystalline double-walled boron nitride nanotubes (DWBNNTs ∼60%) were synthesized from ammonia borane (AB; HB-NH) precursors using a high-temperature thermal plasma method. The differences between the synthesized BNNTs using the hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN) precursor and AB precursor were compared using various techniques such as thermogravimetric analysis, X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and in situ optical emission spectroscopy (OES). The synthesized BNNTs were longer and had fewer walls when the AB precursor was used than when the conventional method was used (with the h-BN precursor). The production rate significantly improved from ∼20 g/h (h-BN precursor) to ∼50 g/h (AB precursor), and the content of amorphous boron impurities was significantly reduced, implying a self-assembly mechanism of BN radicals rather than the conventional mechanism involving boron nanoballs. Through this mechanism, the BNNT growth, which was accompanied by an increased length, a decreased diameter, and a high growth rate, could be understood. The findings were also supported by in situ OES data. Considering the increased production yield, this synthesis method using AB precursors is expected to make an innovative contribution to the commercialization of BNNTs.
PubMed: 37360428
DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.3c00498 -
Foods (Basel, Switzerland) Jun 2021Heterocyclic aromatic amines (HAAs) are potent carcinogenic compounds induced by the Maillard reaction in well-done cooked meats. Free amino acids, protein, creatinine,... (Review)
Review
Heterocyclic aromatic amines (HAAs) are potent carcinogenic compounds induced by the Maillard reaction in well-done cooked meats. Free amino acids, protein, creatinine, reducing sugars and nucleosides are major precursors involved in the production of polar and non-polar HAAs. The variety and yield of HAAs are linked with various factors such as meat type, heating time and temperature, cooking method and equipment, fresh meat storage time, raw material and additives, precursor's presence, water activity, and pH level. For the isolation and identification of HAAs, advanced chromatography and spectroscopy techniques have been employed. These potent mutagens are the etiology of several types of human cancers at the ng/g level and are 100- to 2000-fold stronger than that of aflatoxins and benzopyrene, respectively. This review summarizes previous studies on the formation and types of potent mutagenic and/or carcinogenic HAAs in cooked meats. Furthermore, occurrence, risk assessment, and factors affecting HAA formation are discussed in detail. Additionally, sample extraction procedure and quantification techniques to determine these compounds are analyzed and described. Finally, an overview is presented on the promising strategy to mitigate the risk of HAAs by natural compounds and the effect of plant extracts containing antioxidants to reduce or inhibit the formation of these carcinogenic substances in cooked meats.
PubMed: 34202792
DOI: 10.3390/foods10071466 -
ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces Oct 2021Recent advances in vat photopolymerization (VP) additive manufacturing of fully aromatic polyimides employed photoreactive high-molecular-weight precursors dissolved at...
Recent advances in vat photopolymerization (VP) additive manufacturing of fully aromatic polyimides employed photoreactive high-molecular-weight precursors dissolved at modest loadings (<20 wt %) in organic solvent. These earlier efforts revealed high isotropic shrinkage, approaching 52% on a linear basis while converting to the desired polyimide. To increase the polyimide precursor concentration and decrease shrinkage during VP processing of high-performance polyimides, photoreactive fully aromatic polyimide and thermoplastic polyetherimide (PEI) supramolecular salt precursors now serve as versatile alternatives. Both pyromellitic dianhydride-4,4'-oxydianiline (PMDA-ODA) and 4,4'-(4,4'-isopropylidene-diphenoxy)diphthalic anhydride- phenylene diamine (BPADA-PD) supramolecular dicarboxylate-diammonium salts, termed polysalts, provided prerequisite rheological performance and photoreactivity for VP. Solutions (50 wt %) of both photoactive polysalts exhibited viscosities more than two orders of magnitude lower than previously reported polyimide precursor solutions for VP. In addition, VP of 50 wt % polysalt solutions yielded high resolution, self-supporting organogel structures. During thermal postprocessing to the desired fully aromatic polyimide and PEI, photocrosslinked polysalt organogels exhibited retention of part shape in concert with linear isotropic shrinkage of only 26%, the lowest reported value using organogel strategies for VP of fully aromatic polyimides. Furthermore, the imidized structures exhibited comparable thermal and mechanical properties to analogous polyimides synthesized using classical methodologies for 2D films. The combination of facile synthesis and increased precursor concentrations designates polysalt polyimide precursors as a versatile platform for additive manufacturing of well-defined 3D polyimide structures.
PubMed: 34587443
DOI: 10.1021/acsami.1c13493 -
Nature Communications Oct 2023Solid-state synthesis plays an important role in the development of new materials and technologies. While in situ characterization and ab-initio computations have...
Solid-state synthesis plays an important role in the development of new materials and technologies. While in situ characterization and ab-initio computations have advanced our understanding of materials synthesis, experiments targeting new compounds often still require many different precursors and conditions to be tested. Here we introduce an algorithm (ARROWS) designed to automate the selection of optimal precursors for solid-state materials synthesis. This algorithm actively learns from experimental outcomes to determine which precursors lead to unfavorable reactions that form highly stable intermediates, preventing the target material's formation. Based on this information, ARROWS proposes new experiments using precursors it predicts to avoid such intermediates, thereby retaining a larger thermodynamic driving force to form the target. We validate this approach on three experimental datasets, containing results from over 200 synthesis procedures. In comparison to black-box optimization, ARROWS identifies effective precursor sets for each target while requiring substantially fewer experimental iterations. These findings highlight the importance of domain knowledge in optimization algorithms for materials synthesis, which are critical for the development of fully autonomous research platforms.
PubMed: 37907493
DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-42329-9 -
FASEB Journal : Official Publication of... Apr 2021Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD ) homeostasis is constantly compromised due to degradation by NAD -dependent enzymes. NAD replenishment by supplementation with...
Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD ) homeostasis is constantly compromised due to degradation by NAD -dependent enzymes. NAD replenishment by supplementation with the NAD precursors nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN) and nicotinamide riboside (NR) can alleviate this imbalance. However, NMN and NR are limited by their mild effect on the cellular NAD pool and the need of high doses. Here, we report a synthesis method of a reduced form of NMN (NMNH), and identify this molecule as a new NAD precursor for the first time. We show that NMNH increases NAD levels to a much higher extent and faster than NMN or NR, and that it is metabolized through a different, NRK and NAMPT-independent, pathway. We also demonstrate that NMNH reduces damage and accelerates repair in renal tubular epithelial cells upon hypoxia/reoxygenation injury. Finally, we find that NMNH administration in mice causes a rapid and sustained NAD surge in whole blood, which is accompanied by increased NAD levels in liver, kidney, muscle, brain, brown adipose tissue, and heart, but not in white adipose tissue. Together, our data highlight NMNH as a new NAD precursor with therapeutic potential for acute kidney injury, confirm the existence of a novel pathway for the recycling of reduced NAD precursors and establish NMNH as a member of the new family of reduced NAD precursors.
Topics: Animals; Cell Line; Cell Survival; Epithelial Cells; Homeostasis; Humans; Kidney Tubules; Male; Mice; Mice, Inbred C57BL; Molecular Structure; NAD; Nicotinamide Mononucleotide; Reperfusion Injury
PubMed: 33724555
DOI: 10.1096/fj.202001826R -
The Science of the Total Environment Aug 2021Limnetic, marine and soil samples of the German environmental specimen bank (ESB) were analyzed for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) using target analysis and...
Limnetic, marine and soil samples of the German environmental specimen bank (ESB) were analyzed for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) using target analysis and a modified total oxidizable precursor (TOP) assay (direct TOP assay (dTOP)) that works without prior extraction. Target analysis determined ∑PFAS concentrations in bream livers of 8.7-282 μg kg wet weight (ww) in 2019, with highest contaminations in the Rhine and lower Elbe. In bream fillet, concentrations were lower (<0.5-10.6 μg kg ∑PFAS). Contamination of suspended particulate matter (SPM) was highest in the upper Elbe downstream the Czech border (5.5 μg kg dry weight (dw) in 2018). Herring gull eggs from the North and Baltic Seas showed ∑PFAS levels around 53.0-69.6 μg kg ww in 2019. In soil, concentrations ranged between <0.5 and 4.6 μg kg dw with highest levels in the Dueben Heath near Leipzig and the low mountain range Solling. PFOS dominated in most samples. Of the targeted precursors, only FOSA, EtFOSAA, MeFOSAA, 6:2-FtS and 6:2 diPAP were found. Replacement chemicals (ADONA, HFPO-DA, F-53B) were not detected. The dTOP assay revealed that considerable amounts of precursors were present at most riverine sampling sites. Particularly high precursor concentrations were observed in samples from the Upper Elbe at the Czech border and the Upper and Middle Rhine. In herring gull eggs and most soil samples, though, concentrations of precursors were low. Time trend analysis showed decreasing trends for most detected PFAS since 2005. In SPM, however, C4-C6 perfluoroalkyl carboxylic acids seem to increase indicating growing use of precursors based on shorter fluorinated chains. The results demonstrate that target analysis detects only a minor fraction of the PFAS burdens in environmental samples. The dTOP assay can support risk assessment and chemical monitoring with more comprehensive exposure data of the actual contamination.
PubMed: 33838381
DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.146825 -
Heliyon May 2023A growing interest in alternative cements has emerged with the sole purpose of reducing the environmental footprint associated with cement production. One of the... (Review)
Review
A growing interest in alternative cements has emerged with the sole purpose of reducing the environmental footprint associated with cement production. One of the promising alternatives is to use non-carbonate materials such as alkali-activated materials. They have demonstrated to have a similar performance as traditional Portland cement and have the potential to significantly reduce CO emissions. This paper reviews the main relevant technologies that are already available in the construction industry and explains how to consider them for alkali-activated cement and concrete production. This includes aluminosilicate pre-treatment methods (drying, grinding, and calcining) to increase the precursor's reactivity and degree of amorphization, alkali activation by two-part or one-part mix, as well as, mixing and casting fresh alkali-activated concrete ensuring low porosity and adequate strength development. This review also presents an overview of the alkali-activated cements market, providing examples of commercialized products, estimating related CO and costs, as well as future considerations for standardization and commercialization. Most of the commercialized alkali-activated materials are two-part mixes despite their limitations for in-situ applications. CO emissions can be reduced by more than 68% when compared to Portland cements. However, they have been estimated to be 2 to 3 times more expensive and the cost is primarily dependent on the aluminosilicate and alkali activators source.
PubMed: 37180902
DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e15718 -
Differentiation; Research in Biological... Jun 2024Osteoclast (OC) differentiation, vital for bone resorption, depends on osteoclast and precursor fusion. Osteoprotegerin (OPG) inhibits osteoclast differentiation. OPG's...
Osteoclast (OC) differentiation, vital for bone resorption, depends on osteoclast and precursor fusion. Osteoprotegerin (OPG) inhibits osteoclast differentiation. OPG's influence on fusion and mechanisms is unclear. Osteoclasts and precursors were treated with OPG alone or with ATP. OPG significantly reduced OC number, area and motility and ATP mitigated OPG's inhibition. However, OPG hardly affected the motility of precusors. OPG downregulated fusion-related molecules (CD44, CD47, DC-STAMP, ATP6V0D2) in osteoclasts, reducing only CD47 in precursors. OPG reduced Connexin43 phosphorylated forms (P1 and P2) in osteoclasts, affecting only P2 in precursors. OPG disrupted subcellular localization of CD44, CD47, DC-STAMP, ATP6V0D2, and Connexin43 in both cell types. Findings underscore OPG's multifaceted impact, inhibiting multinucleated osteoclast and mononuclear precursor fusion through distinct molecular mechanisms. Notably, ATP mitigates OPG's inhibitory effect, suggesting a potential regulatory role for the ATP signaling pathway. This study enhances understanding of intricate processes in osteoclast differentiation and fusion, offering insights into potential therapeutic targets for abnormal bone metabolism.
PubMed: 38896972
DOI: 10.1016/j.diff.2024.100789 -
Faraday Discussions Jul 2022Crystallization in media comprised of amorphous precursors is becoming a more common phenomenon for numerous synthetic, biological, and natural materials that grow by a...
Crystallization in media comprised of amorphous precursors is becoming a more common phenomenon for numerous synthetic, biological, and natural materials that grow by a combination of classical and nonclassical pathways. Amorphous phases can exhibit a wide range of physicochemical properties that may evolve during the course of nucleation and crystal growth. This creates challenges for establishing causal relationships between amorphous precursor properties and their effect(s) on the selection of mechanistic pathways of crystallization and ultimately the properties of the crystalline product. In this study, we examine ways to manipulate the composition and colloidal stability of amorphous (alumino)silicate precursors that are prevalent in nanoporous zeolite syntheses. Changes in the amorphous precursor properties are evaluated on the basis of their ability to enhance rates of crystal formation. Here, we use fumed silica as the primary silicon source and examine the effects of infusing the source or growth medium with additional alkali metal, which serves as an inorganic structure-directing agent to facilitate the formation of porous crystal structures. We also assess the impact of adding a polymer additive, which reduces the colloidal stability of precursors, wherein we posit that the confined pockets of solution within the interstitial spaces of the precursor aggregates play an important role in regulating the rate of zeolite crystallization. Three commercially relevant zeolites (mordenite, SSZ-13, and ZSM-5) were selected for this study based on their diverse frameworks and methods of preparation. Our findings reveal that alkali infusion significantly reduces the crystallization times for mordenite and SSZ-13, but has little impact on ZSM-5 synthesis. Conversely, we find that polymer addition markedly enhanced the rates of crystallization among all three zeolites, suggesting that this method may be a general approach to reduce zeolite synthesis times. Given the relatively high costs associated with commercial zeolite production, identifying new methods to improve the efficiency of hydrothermal syntheses can have significant practical implications beyond the fundamental benefits of developing new routes to tailor nonclassical crystallization.
Topics: Crystallization; Polymers; Porosity; Silicon Dioxide; Zeolites
PubMed: 35411361
DOI: 10.1039/d1fd00096a -
G3 (Bethesda, Md.) Nov 2022Multipotent stem and progenitor cells have the capacity to generate a limited array of related cell types. The Caenorhabditis elegans somatic gonadal precursors are...
Multipotent stem and progenitor cells have the capacity to generate a limited array of related cell types. The Caenorhabditis elegans somatic gonadal precursors are multipotent progenitors that generate all 143 cells of the somatic gonad, including complex tissues and specialized signaling cells. To screen for candidate regulators of cell fate and multipotency, we identified transcription factor genes with higher expression in somatic gonadal precursors than in their differentiated sister, the head mesodermal cell. We used RNA interference or genetic mutants to reduce the function of 183 of these genes and examined the worms for defects in the somatic gonadal precursor cell fate or the ability to generate gonadal tissue types. We identify 8 genes that regulate somatic gonadal precursor fate, including the SWI/SNF chromatin remodeling complex gene swsn-3 and the Ci/GLI homolog tra-1, which is the terminal regulator of sex determination. Four genes are necessary for somatic gonadal precursors to generate the correct number and type of descendant cells. We show that the E2F homolog, efl-3, regulates the cell fate decision between distal tip cells and the sheath/spermathecal precursor. We find that the FACT complex gene hmg-4 is required for the generation of the correct number of somatic gonadal precursor descendants, and we define an earlier role for the nhr-25 nuclear hormone receptor-encoding gene, in addition to its previously described role in regulating the asymmetric division of somatic gonadal precursors. Overall, our data show that genes regulating cell fate are largely different from genes regulating developmental potential, demonstrating that these processes are genetically separable.
Topics: Animals; Caenorhabditis elegans; Transcription Factors; Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins; Gonads; RNA Interference
PubMed: 36063055
DOI: 10.1093/g3journal/jkac232