| 32761. |
- Ekspong, Joakim, et al.
(författare)
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Surface activation of graphene nanoribbons for oxygen reduction reaction by nitrogen doping and defect engineering : An ab initio study
- 2018
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Ingår i: Carbon. - : Elsevier. - 0008-6223 .- 1873-3891. ; 137, s. 349-357
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Introducing heteroatoms and creating structural defects on graphene is a common and rather successful strategy to transform its inert basal plane into an efficient metal-free electrocatalyst for oxygen reduction reaction (ORR). However, the intricate atomic configuration of defective graphenes difficult their optimization as ORR electrocatalysts, where not only a large density of active sites is desirable, but also excellent electrical conductivity is required. Therefore, we used density functional theory to investigate the current-voltage characteristics and the catalytic active sites towards ORR of nitrogen-doped and defective graphene by using 8 zig-zag graphene nanoribbons as model systems. Detailed ORR catalytic activity maps are created for ten different systems showing the distribution of catalytic hot spots generated by each defect. Subsequently, the use of both current-voltage characteristics and catalytic activity maps allow to exclude inefficient systems that exhibit either low electrical conductivity or have adsorption energies far from optimal. Our study highlights the importance of considering not only the interaction energy of reaction intermediates to design electrocatalysts, but also the electrical conductivity of such configurations. We believe that this work is important for future experimental studies by providing insights on the use of graphene as a catalyst towards the ORR reaction.
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| 32762. |
- Ekspong, Joakim, et al.
(författare)
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Theoretical Analysis of Surface Active Sites in Defective 2H and 1T ' MoS2 Polymorphs for Hydrogen Evolution Reaction : Quantifying the Total Activity of Point Defects
- 2020
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Ingår i: Advanced Theory and Simulations. - : Wiley-VCH Verlagsgesellschaft. - 2513-0390. ; 3:3
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Defect engineering is a common and promising strategy to improve the catalytic activity of layered structures such as MoS2, where in particular the 2H and 1T ' polymorphs have been under intense study for their activity toward the hydrogen evolution reaction. However, the large variety of defects, each with its own distinct and usually unknown effects, complicates the design and optimization of such defective materials. Therefore, it is relevant to characterize in detail the effect of individual defects and to be able to combine these observations to describe more complex materials, such as those seen experimentally. Therefore, nine point defects (antisites defects and vacancies) are theoretically studied on single layer 1T, 1T ', and 2H MoS2 polymorphs, and the variation and spatial distribution in the active sites are identified. It is found that all defective 1T ' monolayers exhibit an increase in the exchange current density of at least 2.3 times when compared to pristine 1T ' MoS2, even if a reduced number of active sites are observed. The results are later used to propose a methodology to study materials containing a mixture of crystal phases, or other alterations that cause inhomogeneous changes in the activity of catalytic sites.
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| 32763. |
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| 32764. |
- Ekstrand-Hammarström, Barbro, et al.
(författare)
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Human primary bronchial epithelial cells respond differently to titanium dioxide nanoparticles than the lung epithelial cell lines A549 and BEAS-2B
- 2012
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Ingår i: Nanotoxicology. - : Informa UK Limited. - 1743-5390 .- 1743-5404. ; 6:6, s. 623-634
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- We have compared the cellular uptake and responses of five preparations of nanocrystalline titanium dioxide (TiO(2)) between normal human bronchial epithelial (NHBE) cells and epithelial cell lines (A549 and BEAS-2B). The P25 nanoparticles, containing both anatase and rutile modifications, induced reactive oxygen species (ROS) and secretion of the neutrophil chemoattractant IL-8 in all three cell types used. Pure anatase and rutile particles provoked differential IL-8 response in A549 and no response in BEAS-2B cells despite similar formation of ROS. The pure TiO(2) modifications also provoked release of the inflammatory mediators: IL-6, G-CSF and VEGF, in NHBE cells but not in the two cell lines. We conclude that the responsiveness of lung epithelial cells is strongly dependent on both the physicochemical properties of TiO(2) nanoparticles and the type of responder cells. The differential pro-inflammatory responsiveness of primary lung epithelial cells compared with immortalized cell lines should be considered in the assessment of adverse reactions to inhaled nanoparticles.
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| 32765. |
- Ekstrand-Hammarström, Barbro, et al.
(författare)
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Inhalation of alkylating mustard causes long-term T cell-dependent inflammation in airways and growth of connective tissue
- 2011
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Ingår i: Toxicology. - : Elsevier. - 0300-483X .- 1879-3185. ; 280:3, s. 88-97
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Low-dose exposure of alkylating mustard gas causes long-term respiratory complications characterized by bronchitis and lung fibrosis. In this study, we utilized a mouse model for lung exposure of the nitrogen mustard melphalan, in order to define early and late events in the pathogenesis such as expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines, recruitment of inflammatory cells to airways and late-phase fibrosis. We investigated the roles of different T lymphocyte subsets on the inflammatory response by using knockout mice lacking either the genes expressing T cell receptor (TCR)αβ or TCRγδ, and compared the responsiveness with that of wild type mice and double knockout mice completely deficient in T cells. Exposure to melphalan induced an early burst of the pro-inflammatory cytokines interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6 and IL-23 in airways, followed by extensive infiltration of neutrophils in the lung tissue and airways within 24h. The acute phase was followed by a sustained lymphocytic response that persisted for at least 14 days with resulting lung fibrosis. Engagement of T lymphocytes, particularly the γδ T cell subset, was crucial both for the acute cytokine and neutrophil response and for the late-phase lung fibrosis as indicated by the lack of response in γδ T cell deficient mice. Our data demonstrate that T lymphocytes play a prominent role in the pathogenesis of long-term lung injuries caused by strong alkylating agents.
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| 32766. |
- Ekstrand-Hammarström, Barbro, et al.
(författare)
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Oxidative stress and cytokine expression in respiratory epithelial cells exposed to well-characterized aerosols from Kabul, Afghanistan
- 2013
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Ingår i: Toxicology in Vitro. - : Elsevier BV. - 0887-2333 .- 1879-3177. ; 27:2, s. 825-833
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- In this study aerosol samples collected in an Asian mega-city (Kabul, Afghanistan) were compared to PM samples collected in a European location with traffic (Umea, Sweden) and a reference urban dust material (SRM 1649b). The toxicity of each sample towards normal human bronchial epithelial (NHBE) cells and a human bronchial epithelial cell line (BEAS-2B) was tested along with their ability to induce reactive oxygen species (ROS) formation and inflammatory responses. The extracts' morphology and elemental composition was studied by SEM-EDXRF, and filter samples were analyzed for metals and organic compounds. The PM from Kabul contained a larger fraction of fine particles, 19 times more polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) and 37 times more oxygenated PAH (oxy-PAH) compared to samples from timed. The PM-samples from Kabul and the reference material (SRM 1649b) induced significantly stronger oxidative stress responses than the samples from Umea. Furthermore, samples collected in Kabul induced significantly higher secretion of the cytokines IL-6, IL-8 and GM-CSF while SRM1649b induced a cytokine pattern more similar to samples collected in Umea. Several properties of the particles could potentially explain these differences, including differences in their size distribution and contents of PAH and oxy-PAH, possibly in combination with their relative transition metal contents.
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| 32767. |
- Ekstrand-Hammarström, B, et al.
(författare)
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Vitamin E down-modulates mitogen-activated protein kinases, nuclear factor-kappaB and inflammatory responses in lung epithelial cells.
- 2007
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Ingår i: Clinical and Experimental Immunology. - : Oxford University Press (OUP). - 0009-9104 .- 1365-2249. ; 147:2, s. 359-369
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The airway epithelium plays an active role in acute lung inflammation by producing chemotactic factors and by expressing cell adhesion molecules involved in the migration of leucocytes to extravascular spaces. We have reported previously that neutrophil migration to airways can be down-modulated by exogenously administered vitamin E (α-tocopherol). The mechanism for this effect is not well understood, however. The action of α-tocopherol was investigated in human alveolar type II and bronchial epithelial cells stimulated with tumour necrosis factor-α. Treatment of alveolar epithelial cells with α-tocopherol resulted in down-regulated cell surface expression of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1). On bronchial epithelial cells, both ICAM-1 and vascular adhesion molecule-1 were decreased, leading to diminished adherence of leucocytes to the cells. The production of the neutrophil chemoattractant interleukin-8 was attenuated in both alveolar and bronchial cells. These effects were preceded by reduced activation of the mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPK), extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK1/2) and p38, as well as down-regulation of nuclear factor-κB. Comparing the effects of α-tocopherol with that of specific inhibitors of MAPK and protein kinase C (PKC) revealed that effects appear to be partly independent of PKC inhibition. These results implicate the anti-inflammatory action of α-tocopherol in addition to its anti-oxidant properties.
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| 32768. |
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| 32769. |
- Ekström, Fredrik, et al.
(författare)
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Crystallization and X-ray analysis of a bacterial non-haem iron-containing phenylalanine hydroxylase from the Gram-negative opportunistic pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa.
- 2003
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Ingår i: Acta Crystallogr D Biol Crystallogr. - 0907-4449. ; 59:Pt 7, s. 1310-2
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Monooxygenases are frequently involved in the pathways that mediate the pivotal role of microorganisms in recycling carbon from the environment. A structural study of a monooxygenase from Pseudomonas aeruginosa that was identified as a phenylalanine hydroxylase has been initiated. The single-domain monomeric protein harbours a non-haem iron at the active site. The sequence identity to the catalytic domains of tyrosine and tryptophan hydroxylases suggests that the enzyme is not restricted to the substrate phenylalanine alone. Here, the cloning, purification and crystallization of native and SeMet-labelled P. aeruginosa phenylalanine hydroxylase are reported. Crystals grew in space group P6(1), with unit-cell parameters a = b = 210.5, c = 100.7 A, and diffracted to a d spacing of 2.0 A. Crystals of SeMet-labelled protein were used to collect a three-wavelength multiple anomalous dispersion (MAD) data set around the Se K edge.
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| 32770. |
- Ekström, Fredrik, 1973-, et al.
(författare)
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Crystallization of the actin-binding domain of human alpha-actinin : analysis of microcrystals of SeMet-labelled protein
- 2003
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Ingår i: Acta Crystallographica Section D. - : Blackwell Munksgaard. - 0907-4449 .- 1399-0047. ; 59:Pt 4, s. 724-726
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Alpha-actinin forms antiparallel homodimers that cross-link actin filaments from adjacent sarcomeres within the Z-discs of striated muscle. The N-terminal actin-binding domain (ABD) is composed of two calponin homology (CH) domains followed by four spectrin-like repeats and a calmodulin-like EF-hand domain at the C-terminus. The ABD of human alpha-actinin crystallizes in space group P2(1), with unit-cell parameters a = 101.9, b = 38.4, c = 154.9 A, beta = 109.2 degrees. A complete native data set from a native crystal was collected extending to 2.0 A resolution and a single-wavelength anomalous dispersion (SAD) data set to 2.9 A resolution was collected from a selenomethionine-labelled microcrystal using the microfocusing beamline ID-13 at the ESRF. Analysis of the anomalous contribution shows a rapid decrease in the sigma(normal)/sigma(anomal) ratio owing to radiation damage.
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