Bharathiar University

About: Bharathiar University is a education organization based out in Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Thin film & Adsorption. The organization has 5812 authors who have published 8628 publications receiving 143934 citations. The organization is also known as: BU.

Few-Layer Black Phosphorus Nanosheets as Electrocatalysts for Highly Efficient Oxygen Evolution Reaction

Abstract: Black phosphorus (BP) is a new rediscovered layered material, which has attracted enormous interests in the field of electrocatalysis. Recent investigations reveal that bulk BP is a promising electrocatalyst for oxygen evolution reactions (OER), whereas its bulk crystal structure restricts sufficient active sites for achieving highly efficient OER catalytic performances. Toward this end, few-layer BP nanosheets prepared by facile liquid exfoliation are applied as electrocatalysts and exhibit preferable electrocatalytic OER activity in association with structural robustness; subsequently, the dependence of current density and applied bias potential on the concentration of OH− has also been uncovered. Most importantly, we are aware that reduction in the thickness of BP nanosheets would generate extra active sites from the ultrathin planar structure and complimenting to the electrocatalytic activities. It is further anticipated that the current work might provide further implementation about the OER performance of BP nanosheets, thereby, offering extendable availabilities for BP-based electrocatalysts in constructing high-performance OER devices.

Antioxidant response elements: Discovery, classes, regulation and potential applications.

Abstract: Exposure to antioxidants and xenobiotics triggers the expression of a myriad of genes encoding antioxidant proteins, detoxifying enzymes, and xenobiotic transporters to offer protection against oxidative stress. This articulated universal mechanism is regulated through the cis-acting elements in an array of Nrf2 target genes called antioxidant response elements (AREs), which play a critical role in redox homeostasis. Though the Keap1/Nrf2/ARE system involves many players, AREs hold the key in transcriptional regulation of cytoprotective genes. ARE-mediated reporter constructs have been widely used, including xenobiotics profiling and Nrf2 activator screening. The complexity of AREs is brought by the presence of other regulatory elements within the AREs. The diversity in the ARE sequences not only bring regulatory selectivity of diverse transcription factors, but also confer functional complexity in the Keap1/Nrf2/ARE pathway. The different transcription factors either homodimerize or heterodimerize to bind the AREs. Depending on the nature of partners, they may activate or suppress the transcription. Attention is required for deeper mechanistic understanding of ARE-mediated gene regulation. The computational methods of identification and analysis of AREs are still in their infancy. Investigations are required to know whether epigenetics mechanism plays a role in the regulation of genes mediated through AREs. The polymorphisms in the AREs leading to oxidative stress related diseases are warranted. A thorough understanding of AREs will pave the way for the development of therapeutic agents against cancer, neurodegenerative, cardiovascular, metabolic and other diseases with oxidative stress.