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  • Michelsen posted an update 9 months, 1 week ago

    We have observed that the dominant contribution comes from the O-H bond length; the O···O distance plays a secondary role, and the other geometrical properties do not significantly influence the gap. Furthermore, we analyze the electronic density of states (DOS), where the KIPZ functional shows good agreement with the DOS obtained with state-of-art approaches employing quasi-particle self-consistent GW plus vertex corrections. The O-H bond length also significantly influences the DOS. When nuclear quantum effects are considered, broadening of the peaks driven by the broader distribution of the O-H bond lengths is observed, leading to a closer agreement with the experimental photoemission spectra.Deactivation of honeycomb V2O5-WO3/TiO2 catalysts by arsenic has been studied widely in coal-fired power plants but rarely in glass furnaces. In this paper, deactivated catalysts that had been used for more than 4000 h were analyzed. We maintained the catalysts in their original monolith shape to retain their adhered substance and used appropriate methods to strip the substance layer by layer. With various characterization techniques, it was determined that the adhered substance was composed almost entirely of Na2SO4 and CaSO4. learn more We also quantified the penetration depth of arsenic visually, which was more than 370 μm. A three-stage penetration and deactivation process induced by arsenic was proposed. It was pointed out that molten and volatile As2O3 played a key role in the deactivation process, while substances in the solid state had little impact on the deep bulk of the catalyst. In this study, we proposed an integrated deactivation process consisting of adhesion, penetration, and deactivation in a honeycomb V2O5-WO3/TiO2 catalyst by arsenic in a glass furnace. Finally, we also provided guidance on alleviating the deactivation caused by arsenic. The key is to convert molten and volatile As2O3 to solid-state substances before it contacts the catalyst.With the increasing volume of cardiovascular surgeries and the rising adoption rate of new methodologies that serve as a bridge to cardiac transplantation and that require multiple surgical interventions, the formation of postoperative intrapericardial adhesions has become a challenging problem that limits future surgical procedures, causes serious complications, and increases medical costs. To prevent this pathology, we developed a nanotechnology-based self-healing drug delivery hydrogel barrier composed of silicate nanodisks and polyethylene glycol with the ability to coat the epicardial surface of the heart without friction and locally deliver dexamethasone, an anti-inflammatory drug. After the fabrication of the hydrogel, mechanical characterization and responses to shear, strain, and recovery were analyzed, confirming its shear-thinning and self-healing properties. This behavior allowed its facile injection (5.75 ± 0.15 to 22.01 ± 0.95 N) and subsequent mechanical recovery. The encapsulation of dexamethasone within the hydrogel system was confirmed by 1H NMR, and controlled release for 5 days was observed. In vitro, limited cellular adhesion to the hydrogel surface was achieved, and its anti-inflammatory properties were confirmed, as downregulation of ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 was observed in TNF-α activated endothelial cells. In vivo, 1 week after administration of the hydrogel to a rabbit model of intrapericardial injury, superior efficacy was observed when compared to a commercial adhesion barrier, as histological and immunohistochemical examination revealed reduced adhesion formation and minimal immune infiltration of CD3+ lymphocytes and CD68+ macrophages, as well as NF-κβ downregulation. We presented a novel nanostructured drug delivery hydrogel system with unique mechanical and biological properties that act synergistically to prevent cellular infiltration while providing local immunomodulation to protect the intrapericardial space after a surgical intervention.In the light of the ongoing single-cell revolution, scientific disciplines are combining forces to retrieve as much relevant data as possible from trace amounts of biological material. For single-cell proteomics, this implies optimizing the entire workflow from initial cell isolation down to sample preparation, liquid chromatography (LC) separation, mass spectrometer (MS) data acquisition, and data analysis. To demonstrate the potential for single-cell and limited sample proteomics, we report on a series of benchmarking experiments where we combine LC separation on a new generation of micropillar array columns with state-of-the-art Orbitrap MS/MS detection and high-field asymmetric waveform ion mobility spectrometry (FAIMS). This dedicated limited sample column has a reduced cross section and micropillar dimensions that have been further downscaled (interpillar distance and pillar diameter by a factor of 2), resulting in improved chromatography at reduced void times. A dilution series of a HeLa tryptic digest (5-0.05 ng/μL) was used to explore the sensitivity that can be achieved. Comparative processing of the MS/MS data with Sequest HT, MS Amanda, Mascot, and SpectroMine pointed out the benefits of using Sequest HT together with INFERYS when analyzing sample amounts below 1 ng. Here, 2855 protein groups were identified from just 1 ng of HeLa tryptic digest hereby increasing detection sensitivity as compared to a previous contribution by a factor well above 10. By successfully identifying 1486 protein groups from as little as 250 pg of HeLa tryptic digest, we demonstrate outstanding sensitivity with great promise for use in limited sample proteomics workflows.DNA-binding proteins play an important role in gene regulation and cellular function. The transcription factors MarA and Rob are two homologous members of the AraC/XylS family that regulate multidrug resistance. They share a common DNA-binding domain, and Rob possesses an additional C-terminal domain that permits binding of low-molecular weight effectors. Both proteins possess two helix-turn-helix (HTH) motifs capable of binding DNA; however, while MarA interacts with its promoter through both HTH-motifs, prior studies indicate that Rob binding to DNA via a single HTH-motif is sufficient for tight binding. In the present work, we perform microsecond time scale all-atom simulations of the binding of both transcription factors to different DNA sequences to understand the determinants of DNA recognition and binding. Our simulations characterize sequence-dependent changes in dynamical behavior upon DNA binding, showcasing the role of Arg40 of the N-terminal HTH-motif in allowing for specific tight binding. Finally, our simulations demonstrate that an acidic C-terminal loop of Rob can control the DNA binding mode, facilitating interconversion between the distinct DNA binding modes observed in MarA and Rob.

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