The effect of external constraints on Li diffusion in high-capacity Li-ion battery electrodes is investigated using a coupled finite deformation theory. It is found that thinfilm electrodes on rigid substrates experie...The effect of external constraints on Li diffusion in high-capacity Li-ion battery electrodes is investigated using a coupled finite deformation theory. It is found that thinfilm electrodes on rigid substrates experience much slower diffusion rates compared with free-standing films with the same material properties and geometric dimensions. More importantly, the study reveals that mechanical driving forces tend to retard diffusion in highly-constrained thin films when lithiation-induced softening is considered, in contrast to the fact that mechanical driving forces always enhance diffusion when deformation is fully elastic. The results provide further proof that nano-particles are a better design option for nextgeneration alloy-based electrodes compared with thin films.展开更多
Plant hormone abscisic acid （ABA） serves as an integrator of environmental stresses such as drought to trig-ger stomatal closure by regulating specific ion channels in guard cells. We previously reported that SLAC1,...Plant hormone abscisic acid （ABA） serves as an integrator of environmental stresses such as drought to trig-ger stomatal closure by regulating specific ion channels in guard cells. We previously reported that SLAC1, an outward anion channel required for stomatal closure, was regulated via reversible protein phosphorylation events involving ABA signaling components, including protein phosphatase 2C members and a SnRK2-type kinase （OST1）. In this study, we reconstituted the ABA signaling pathway as a protein-protein interaction relay from the PYL/RCAR-type receptors, to the PP2C-SnRK2 phosphatase-kinase pairs, to the ion channel SLAC1. The ABA receptors interacted with and inhibited PP2C phosphatase activity against the SnRK2-type kinase, releasing active SnRK2 kinase to phosphorylate, and activate the SLAC1 channel, leading to reduced guard cell turgor and stomatal closure. Both yeast two-hybrid and bimolecular fluorescence complementation assays were used to verify the interactions among the components in the pathway. These biochemical assays demonstrated activity modifications of phosphatases and kinases by their interaction partners. The SLAC1 channel activity was used as an endpoint readout for the strength of the signaling pathway, depending on the presence of different combinations of signaling components. Further study using transgenic plants overexpressing one of the ABA receptors demonstrated that changing the relative level of interacting partners would change ABA sensitivity.展开更多
Indole-3-acetic acid （IAA）, a major plant auxin, is produced in both tryptophan-dependent and tryptophan-independent pathways. A major pathway in Arabidopsis thaliana generates IAA in two reactions from tryptophan. ...Indole-3-acetic acid （IAA）, a major plant auxin, is produced in both tryptophan-dependent and tryptophan-independent pathways. A major pathway in Arabidopsis thaliana generates IAA in two reactions from tryptophan. Step one converts tryptophan to indole-3-pyruvic acid （IPA） by tryptophan aminotransferases followed by a rate-limiting step converting IPA to IAA catalyzed by YUCCA proteins. We identified eight putative StYUC （Solanum tuberosum YUCCA） genes whose deduced amino acid sequences share 50%-70% identity with those of Arabidopsis YUCCA proteins. All include canonical, conserved YUCCA sequences： FATGY motif, FMO signature sequence, and FAD-binding and NADP-binding sequences. In addition, five genes were found with -50% amino acid sequence identity to Arabidopsis trypto-phan aminotransferases. Transgenic potato （Solanum tuberosum cv. Jowon） constitutively overexpressing Arabidopsis AtYUC6 displayed high-auxin phenotypes such as narrow downward-curled leaves, increased height, erect stature, and longevity. Transgenic potato plants overexpressing AtYUC6 showed enhanced drought tolerance based on reduced water loss. The phenotype was correlated with reduced levels of reactive oxygen species in leaves. The results suggest a func-tional YUCCA pathway of auxin biosynthesis in potato that may be exploited to alter plant responses to the environment.展开更多
Highly crystalline graphitic nanocarbons （GNC） have been prepared by the wet-air treatment of hydrothermally- derived graphitic porous carbon. The materials were characterized by scanning electron microscopy, X-ray ...Highly crystalline graphitic nanocarbons （GNC） have been prepared by the wet-air treatment of hydrothermally- derived graphitic porous carbon. The materials were characterized by scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, Raman spectroscopy, and electrochemical methods. The experimental results revealed that the treatment temperature has a significant effect on the morphology and degree of graphitic crystallinity. When GNC was treated at 450 ~C under a wet-air atmosphere, the product （GNC-450） consisted of aggregates of silkworm-shaped carbon nanoparticles with enhanced graphitic characteristics. GNC-450 was evaluated as a catalyst support in the electro-oxidation of methanol. The Pt/GNC-450 catalyst contained smaller Pt particles and had a higher electrochemically active surface area than a commercial carbon black-supported Pt catalyst. In the electro-oxidation of methanol, the Pt/GNC-450 catalyst showed the highest performance among the Pt catalysts examined in this study. The superior catalytic performance appears to be closely related to the enhanced graphitic characteristics with highly dispersed Pt nanoparticles on the graphitic layers, which have a positive effect on the electrochemical performance.展开更多
基金supported by the National Research Foundation of Korea through WCU(R31-2009-000-10083-0)
文摘The effect of external constraints on Li diffusion in high-capacity Li-ion battery electrodes is investigated using a coupled finite deformation theory. It is found that thinfilm electrodes on rigid substrates experience much slower diffusion rates compared with free-standing films with the same material properties and geometric dimensions. More importantly, the study reveals that mechanical driving forces tend to retard diffusion in highly-constrained thin films when lithiation-induced softening is considered, in contrast to the fact that mechanical driving forces always enhance diffusion when deformation is fully elastic. The results provide further proof that nano-particles are a better design option for nextgeneration alloy-based electrodes compared with thin films.
基金a grant from the Biogreen21 Program (PJ008222) Rural Development Administration and the Research Foundation of Korea (NFR) grant funded by the Korea government (No.2011-0007600)，the US National Science Foundation and Korean WCU Program of National Research Foundation (to S.L.).No conflict of interest declared
文摘Plant hormone abscisic acid （ABA） serves as an integrator of environmental stresses such as drought to trig-ger stomatal closure by regulating specific ion channels in guard cells. We previously reported that SLAC1, an outward anion channel required for stomatal closure, was regulated via reversible protein phosphorylation events involving ABA signaling components, including protein phosphatase 2C members and a SnRK2-type kinase （OST1）. In this study, we reconstituted the ABA signaling pathway as a protein-protein interaction relay from the PYL/RCAR-type receptors, to the PP2C-SnRK2 phosphatase-kinase pairs, to the ion channel SLAC1. The ABA receptors interacted with and inhibited PP2C phosphatase activity against the SnRK2-type kinase, releasing active SnRK2 kinase to phosphorylate, and activate the SLAC1 channel, leading to reduced guard cell turgor and stomatal closure. Both yeast two-hybrid and bimolecular fluorescence complementation assays were used to verify the interactions among the components in the pathway. These biochemical assays demonstrated activity modifications of phosphatases and kinases by their interaction partners. The SLAC1 channel activity was used as an endpoint readout for the strength of the signaling pathway, depending on the presence of different combinations of signaling components. Further study using transgenic plants overexpressing one of the ABA receptors demonstrated that changing the relative level of interacting partners would change ABA sensitivity.
文摘Indole-3-acetic acid （IAA）, a major plant auxin, is produced in both tryptophan-dependent and tryptophan-independent pathways. A major pathway in Arabidopsis thaliana generates IAA in two reactions from tryptophan. Step one converts tryptophan to indole-3-pyruvic acid （IPA） by tryptophan aminotransferases followed by a rate-limiting step converting IPA to IAA catalyzed by YUCCA proteins. We identified eight putative StYUC （Solanum tuberosum YUCCA） genes whose deduced amino acid sequences share 50%-70% identity with those of Arabidopsis YUCCA proteins. All include canonical, conserved YUCCA sequences： FATGY motif, FMO signature sequence, and FAD-binding and NADP-binding sequences. In addition, five genes were found with -50% amino acid sequence identity to Arabidopsis trypto-phan aminotransferases. Transgenic potato （Solanum tuberosum cv. Jowon） constitutively overexpressing Arabidopsis AtYUC6 displayed high-auxin phenotypes such as narrow downward-curled leaves, increased height, erect stature, and longevity. Transgenic potato plants overexpressing AtYUC6 showed enhanced drought tolerance based on reduced water loss. The phenotype was correlated with reduced levels of reactive oxygen species in leaves. The results suggest a func-tional YUCCA pathway of auxin biosynthesis in potato that may be exploited to alter plant responses to the environment.
文摘Highly crystalline graphitic nanocarbons （GNC） have been prepared by the wet-air treatment of hydrothermally- derived graphitic porous carbon. The materials were characterized by scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, Raman spectroscopy, and electrochemical methods. The experimental results revealed that the treatment temperature has a significant effect on the morphology and degree of graphitic crystallinity. When GNC was treated at 450 ~C under a wet-air atmosphere, the product （GNC-450） consisted of aggregates of silkworm-shaped carbon nanoparticles with enhanced graphitic characteristics. GNC-450 was evaluated as a catalyst support in the electro-oxidation of methanol. The Pt/GNC-450 catalyst contained smaller Pt particles and had a higher electrochemically active surface area than a commercial carbon black-supported Pt catalyst. In the electro-oxidation of methanol, the Pt/GNC-450 catalyst showed the highest performance among the Pt catalysts examined in this study. The superior catalytic performance appears to be closely related to the enhanced graphitic characteristics with highly dispersed Pt nanoparticles on the graphitic layers, which have a positive effect on the electrochemical performance.
