Morphological influence of graphitic carbon nanofibers by N–F dual-doping on Pt electrocatalytic activity and stability for oxygen reduction reaction in polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells

Morphology of carbon nanofibers significantly effects Pt nanoparticles dispersion and specific interaction with the support, which is an important aspect in the fuel cell performance of the electrocatalysts. This study emphasizes, the defects creation and structural evolution comprised due to N–F co-doping on graphitic carbon nanofibers (GNFs) of different morphologies, viz. GNF-linearly aligned platelets (L), antlers (A), herringbone (H), and their specific interaction with Pt nanoparticle in enhancing the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR). GNFs–NF–Pt catalysts exhibit better ORR electrocatalytic activity, superior durability that is solely ascribed to the morphological evolution and the doped N–F heteroatoms, prompting the charge density variations in the resultant carbon fiber matrices. Amongst, H–NF–Pt catalyst performed outstanding ORR activity with exceptional electrochemical stability, which shows only 20 mV loss in the half-wave potential whilst 100 mV loss for Pt/C catalyst on 20,000 potential cycling. The PEMFC comprising H–NF–Pt as cathode catalyst with minimum loading of 0.10 mg cm^?2, delivers power density of 0.942 W cm^?2 at current density of 2.50 A cm^?2 without backpressures in H₂–O₂ feeds. The H–NF–Pt catalyst owing to its hierarchical architectures, performs well in PEMFC at the minimized catalyst loading with outstanding stability that can significantly decrease total price for the fuel cell.     

Leucokinin and Associated Neuropeptides Regulate Multiple Aspects of Physiology and Behavior in Drosophila

Leucokinins (LKs) constitute a family of neuropeptides identified in numerous insects and many other invertebrates. LKs act on G-protein-coupled receptors that display only distant relations to other known receptors. In adult Drosophila, 26 neurons/neurosecretory cells of three main types express LK. The four brain interneurons are of two types, and these are implicated in several important functions in the fly’s behavior and physiology, including feeding, sleep–metabolism interactions, state-dependent memory formation, as well as modulation of gustatory sensitivity and nociception. The 22 neurosecretory cells (abdominal LK neurons, ABLKs) of the abdominal neuromeres co-express LK and a diuretic hormone (DH44), and together, these regulate water and ion homeostasis and associated stress as well as food intake. In Drosophila larvae, LK neurons modulate locomotion, escape responses and aspects of ecdysis behavior. A set of lateral neurosecretory cells, ALKs (anterior LK neurons), in the brain express LK in larvae, but inconsistently so in adults. These ALKs co-express three other neuropeptides and regulate water and ion homeostasis, feeding, and drinking, but the specific role of LK is not yet known. This review summarizes Drosophila data on embryonic lineages of LK neurons, functional roles of individual LK neuron types, interactions with other peptidergic systems, and orchestrating functions of LK.     

Alterations of Gut Microbiota by Overnutrition Impact Gluconeogenic Gene Expression and Insulin Signaling

A high-fat, Western-style diet is an important predisposing factor for the onset of type 2 diabetes and obesity. It causes changes in gut microbial profile, reduction of microbial diversity, and the impairment of the intestinal barrier, leading to increased serum lipopolysaccharide (endotoxin) levels. Elevated lipopolysaccharide (LPS) induces acetyltransferase P300 both in the nucleus and cytoplasm of liver hepatocytes through the activation of the IRE1-XBP1 pathway in the endoplasmic reticulum stress. In the nucleus, induced P300 acetylates CRTC2 to increase CRTC2 abundance and drives Foxo1 gene expression, resulting in increased expression of the rate-limiting gluconeogenic gene G6pc and Pck1 and abnormal liver glucose production. Furthermore, abnormal cytoplasm-appearing P300 acetylates IRS1 and IRS2 to disrupt insulin signaling, leading to the prevention of nuclear exclusion and degradation of FOXO1 proteins to further exacerbate the expression of G6pc and Pck1 genes and liver glucose production. Inhibition of P300 acetyltransferase activity by chemical inhibitors improved insulin signaling and alleviated hyperglycemia in obese mice. Thus, P300 acetyltransferase activity appears to be a therapeutic target for the treatment of type 2 diabetes and obesity.     

Novel energy-saving window coating based on F doped TiO2 nanocrystals with enhanced NIR shielding performance

To reduce the energy consumption of cooling in the hot summer days, searching for novel NIR shielding materials for buildings is of great value. In this report, monodispersed F doped TiO₂ nanocrystals with an average size of 8.6 nm were synthesized as novel solar shielding materials for energy-saving windows. All the products adopted an anatase TiO₂ structure. After doping of F ions, the morphology of TiO₂ was transformed from an irregular shape to a pseudospherical shape. The Raman shift and XPS depth analysis confirmed the successful doping of F⁻ ions into the lattice oxygen sites in the TiO₂ structure. The introduction of F⁻ ions generated free electrons and bulk Ti³⁺ in TiO₂ crystals, which activated a localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) absorption in the NIR region. Correspondingly, the NIR shielding performance of the TiO₂ films improved with increasing F doping amounts. The NIR shielding value of the films increased from 1.3% to 43.2% when the molar ratio of F to Ti increased from 0 to 0.3. The reason can be attributed to the enhanced NIR absorption induced by the increased electron concentration after doping of fluorine ions. The F–TiO₂ films showed superior visible transmittance (90.1–96.7%). Moreover, the F–TiO₂ films lowered the indoor temperature of the heat box by 5.3 °C in the thermal tests. Overall, the prepared F–TiO₂ nanocrystals show a great potential to be used for energy-saving windows.     

The alginate fermentation strain Pantoea sp. F16-PCAi-T3P21 and ethanol production

Bio-ethanol production from algae is a promising way to help solve the energy problem. Alginate is a major component of algae, but it cannot be utilized by existing ethanol fermentation microorganisms. In order to improve the utilization rate of brown algae, high alginate fermentation strains should be obtained. In this research, strains for algae fermentation were got from several experiments. The ethanol yield of strain A was the highest, which was 0.095 g/g (ethanol to alginate). The identification of strain A was carried out and it was 99% identical to Pantoea sp. F16-PCAi-T3P21. Fermentation experiments with different substrates were carried out, such as laminaran, mannitol, L. japonica and acid hydrolysate of L. japonica, and the ethanol yield rate of L. japonica acid hydrolysate was the highest, which reached 0.17 g/g ethanol to L. japonica. It showed that strain A can converse alginate to ethanol in a relatively high yield rate, and might be a promising strain with L. japonica as the substrate, we believe more research should be carried out on this strain.     

300M超高强钢在中性盐雾环境中的腐蚀行为及机制

摘要：为了研究300M超高强钢在中性盐雾环境中的腐蚀行为及腐蚀机制，采用失重法，宏观、微观腐蚀形貌分析，三维表面轮廓分析及电化学分析的研究方法，来表征腐蚀实验现象并进行分析。结果表明：300M超高强钢在中性盐雾环境中的腐蚀产物为FeOOH、Fe2O3、Fe(OH)3和Fe3O4；腐蚀速率随着腐蚀时间逐渐降低，腐蚀后期（72h）腐蚀速率降低50%；腐蚀初期以点蚀为主，点蚀坑通过横向扩展，逐渐发展为后期的均匀腐蚀，腐蚀表面形貌呈沟壑状；外腐蚀层对基体的保护能力很弱，Cr元素在锈层靠近基体的一侧偏聚使内腐蚀层具有一定的抗腐蚀性。     

某燃气电厂NOx排放测值异常分析与处理

某F级燃气电厂运行中发现NOx数值存在较大波动,通过分析和排查,发现烟气分析仪存在老化现象,同时CEMS仪表间存在布置不合理情况,通过处理NOx数值波动得以有效改善,可为同类电厂烟气系统数据异常处理提供参考。     

Enthalpies of formation of selected Pd2YZ Heusler compounds

Standard enthalpies of formation of selected ternary Pd-based Heusler type compositions Pd₂YZ (Y = Cu, Hf, Mn, Ti, Zr; Z = Al, Ga, In, Ge, Sn) were measured using high temperature direct synthesis calorimetry. The measured enthalpies of formation (in kJ/mole of atoms) of the Heusler compounds are, Pd₂HfAl (−81.6 ± 2.4); Pd₂HfGa (−79.9 ± 2.9); Pd₂HfIn (−76.4 ± 1.4); Pd₂HfSn (−77.6 ± 1.6); Pd₂MnSn (−54.6 ± 3.1); Pd₂TiGa (−65.6 ± 3.6); Pd₂TiIn (−69.9 ± 2.1); Pd₂TiSn (−78.6 ± 2.4); Pd₂ZrAl (−85.3 ± 3.0); Pd₂ZrGa (−76.2 ± 1.9); Pd₂ZrIn (−85.1 ± 3.9); Pd₂ZrSn (−92.2 ± 3.1); for the B2 compounds, Pd₂MnAl (−87.1 ± 3.0); Pd₂MnGa (−54.5 ± 1.7); Pd₂MnIn (−41.0 ± 2.5); Pd₂TiAl (−81.4 ± 1.9); for the tetragonal compound Pd₂CuAl (−55.2 ± 3.0) and for the orthorhombic compound Pd₂CuSn (−43.1 ± 2.3). Values were compared with those from published first principles calculation and the Open Quantum Materials Database (OQMD). Lattice parameters of these compounds were determined by X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD). Microstructures were identified using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS). Selected alloys were annealed at various temperatures to investigate phase transformations and phase relationships.