In addition to its well-characterized role in the lens, αB-crystallin performs other functions. Methylglyoxal (MGO) can alter the function of the basement membrane of retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells. Thus, if MGO is not efficiently detoxified, it can induce adverse reactions in RPE cells. In this study, we examined the mechanisms underlying the anti-apoptotic activity of αB-crystallin in...

The hydrogen peroxide dissociation on MgO(001) films deposited on Mo(001) surface is investigated by employing periodic density-functional theory methods. The pristine MgO(001) surface showing chemical inertness prefers the weak adsorbing molecular configuration and is extremely difficult to react with hydrogen peroxide. As far as we know, energetically favorable decomposition state of hydrogen...

Density functional theory calculations reveal that the work function of Au supported on MgO(001) is substantially reduced because of an interfacial dipole moment formed at the Au/MgO interface. Consequently, the Au/MgO interface plays an active role in the activation of O2 molecules by promoting charge transfer to the O2 2π* orbital. The presence of F-centers in the MgO substrate can further pr...

High quality double-walled carbon nanotubes (DWNTs) were synthesized by decomposition of methane over cobalt (Co) nanoparticles supported on porous MgO nanoparticles. The growth was significantly influenced by catalyst concentration and MgO type. Catalysts with 2.5–5 wt% Co loaded MgO (pore size: 4 nm) efficiently grow DWNTs with diameters of 2–4 nm, high graphitization, clean surfaces, and cle...

The 1,2-dicarbonyl compounds 3-deoxyglucosulose (3-DG), glyoxal (GO), and methylglyoxal (MGO) were measured as the corresponding quinoxalines after derivatization with orthophenylendiamine using RP-HPLC and UV-detection in commercially available honey samples. Whereas for most of the samples values for 3-DG, MGO, and GO were comparable to previously published data, for six samples of New Zealan...

Methylglyoxal (MGO), an active metabolite of glucose, has been reported to induce vascular cell apoptosis in diabetic complication. Polydatin (PD), a small natural compound from Polygonum cuspidatum, has a number of biological functions, such as antioxidative, anti-inflammatory, and nephroprotective properties. However, the protective effects of PD on MGO-induced apoptosis in endothelial cells ...

Heterostructures and interfacial defects in a 40-nm-thick SrTiO(3) (STO) film grown epitaxially on a single-crystal MgO (001) were investigated using aberration-corrected scanning transmission electron microscopy and geometric phase analysis. The interface of STO/MgO was found to be of the typical domain-matching epitaxy with a misfit dislocation network having a Burgers vector of ½ a(STO) <100...

We report a hydrothermal synthesis method for MgO shell coatings directly onto the surface of ZnO nanowire arrays. The entire process can be carried out below 100 °C. The MgO shells are produced by the addition of 10 mM magnesium nitrate with 0.2 M sodium hydroxide in water, resulting in a shell thickness of up to 8 nm, verified by high resolution transmission electron microscopy. The viability...

Composite (La0.67Ca0.33MnO3)12x :(MgO)x films were prepared by metalorganic aerosol deposition on a ~100!MgO substrate for different concentrations of the ~MgO! phase (0<x<0.8). At x'0.3 a percolation threshold in conductivity is reached, at which an infinite insulating MgO cluster forms around the La0.67Ca0.33MnO3 grains. This yields a drastic increase of the electrical resistance for films wi...

All refractory, NbN/MgO/NbN (superconductor-insulator-superconductor) tunnel junctions have been fabricated by in situ sputter deposition. The influence ofMgO thickness (0.8-6.0 nm) deposited under different sputtering ambients at various deposition rates on current-voltage (IV) characteristics of small-area ( 30 X 30 pm) tunnel junctions is studied. The NbN/MgO/NbN trilayer is deposited in sit...