Investigations in annealing effects on structure and properties of β-isotactic polypropylene with X-ray synchrotron experiments

The influence of annealing on the microstructure and mechanical properties of β-form isotactic polypropylene (iPP) was investigated via in situ synchrotron small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS), wide-angle X-ray diffraction (WAXD), and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). Transition of β-iPP to α-iPP was investigated via recrystallization at high annealing temperatures (T _a?>?120 °C). And crystallinity, crystal sizes, and long period of ordered structure increased with increasing annealing temperature. Abrupt changes were found in both mechanical properties and structural features at the same T _a range (～120 °C). The in situ synchrotron SAXS and WAXD shows that the destruction of b phase at yielding and after yielding should account for the ductility of β-iPP. The thermodynamics and kinetics of annealing were investigated with DSC and X-ray synchrotron experiments. A characteristic annealing time was investigated, which measures the rate of phase evolution in annealing of β-iPP. Eventually, a hypothesized model can be used to describe the property/structure relations during this process.     

An oxovanadium(IV) complex with o-vanillin-valine Schiff base and 1,10-phenanthroline ligands: synthesis,crystal structure and DNA interactions

A new mixed-ligand V(IV) complex, [VO(o-Van-Val)(phen)]·CH₃CN (o-Van-val = Schiff base derived from o-vanillin and l-valine, phen = 1,10-phenanthroline), was synthesized and characterized by physico-chemical methods and single-crystal X-ray diffraction. In the crystal, the V(IV) atom is six-coordinated by one oxo ligand, two oxygen atoms and one nitrogen atom from a valine Schiff base ligand, and two nitrogen atoms from 1,10-phenanthroline, giving a distorted octahedral arrangement. The DNA-binding properties of the complex were investigated by spectroscopic methods and viscosity measurements. The results suggest that the oxovanadium(IV) complex binds to DNA in an intercalation mode.     

Enhanced mechanical and thermal properties of poly(l-lactide) nanocomposites assisted by polydopamine-coated multiwalled carbon nanotubes

Herein, a facile and noncovalent modification for multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) is adopted by the self-polymerization of dopamine (DOPA). And, the polydopamine-coated MWNTs (D-MWNTs) were further incorporated into poly(l-lactide) (PLLA) matrix through the solvent-casting method. It is found that the D-MWNTs tend to be well dispersed in PLLA matrix than the pristine MWNTs and the D-MWNTs that can act as heterogeneous nucleators that evidently affect the morphology and crystallization behavior of PLLA. In addition, the significant improvement of dispersion and the interface interaction of PLLA/D-MWNTs, via dopamine coating between the MWNTs and PLLA matrix, results in enhanced mechanical and thermal properties and electrical conductivity. This facile methodology is believed to afford broad application potential in carbon nanotubes (CNTs)-based polymer nanocomposites.     

高效液相色谱法测定强化食品中维生素C的含量

建立了强化食品(饮料、奶粉、含乳饮料、大米、果泥及果冻)中维生素C含量的高效液相色谱检测方法。优化了样品处理方法,在水浴控温和避光条件下处理样品,避免维生素C被氧化。选用Tech Mate C18–ST(250 mm×4.6 mm,5μm)反相色谱柱,以0.05 mol/L磷酸二氢钾缓冲溶液(p H 3)为流动相,流量为1.0m L/min,检测器为光电二极管阵列检测器,检测波长为266 nm。线性范围为0.2~100μg/m L,相关系数为0.999 6,果泥中维生素C的定量限为20 mg/kg,其它为100 mg/kg,加标回收率为82.2%~107%,测定结果的相对标准偏差为1.23%~6.86%(n=8)。该方法简单快速,其灵敏度、准确度和精密度均能满足强化食品中维生素C的检测要求。     

基于磁性纳米颗粒和金纳米粒子构建DNA电化学生物传感技术

本文构建了一种基于纳米粒子、茎环DNA和丝网印刷电极(SPCE)的电化学生物传感技术用于乳腺癌基因的快速、灵敏检测。该传感技术中,探针DNA的两端分别标记了巯基和生物素,巯基用于与金纳米粒子(AuNPs)作用,生物素用于与磁性纳米颗粒(MNPs)表面修饰的链酶亲和素作用以达到富集的目的,之后利用SPCE进行电化学检测。无目标DNA存在时,双标记DNA保持茎环结构,使得生物素分子很难和MNPs上的亲和素接触。一旦加入目标DNA,茎环结构打开,生物素得以与MNPs上的链霉亲和素发生特异性结合,形成的复合物(MNPs-DNA-AuNPs)通过磁性富集到SPCE表面,从而获得AuNPs的电化学信号。该DNA电化学生物传感对单碱基错配有良好的分辨能力,完全互补DNA的检出限为8.0×10-13 mol/L。     

Fabrication of Pascal-triangle Lattice of Proteins by Inducing Ligand Strategy

A protein Pascal triangle has been constructed as new type of supramolecular architecture by using the inducing ligand strategy that we previously developed for protein assemblies. Although mathematical studies on this famous geometry have a long history, no work on such Pascal triangles fabricated from native proteins has been reported so far due to their structural complexity. In this work, by carefully tuning the specific interactions between the native protein building block WGA and the inducing ligand R-SL , a 2D Pascal-triangle lattice with three types of triangular voids has been assembled. Moreover, a 3D crystal structure was obtained based on the 2D Pascal triangles. The distinctive carbohydrate binding sites of WGA and the intralayer as well as interlayer dimerization of RhB was the key to facilitate nanofabrication in solution. This strategy may be applied to prepare and explore various sophisticated assemblies based on native proteins.     

An E1-Catalyzed Chemoenzymatic Strategy to Isopeptide-N-Ethylated Deubiquitylase-Resistant Ubiquitin Probes

Triazole-based deubiquitylase (DUB)-resistant ubiquitin (Ub) probes have recently emerged as effective tools for the discovery of Ub chain-specific interactors in proteomic studies, but their structural diversity is limited. A new family of DUB-resistant Ub probes is reported based on isopeptide-N-ethylated dimeric or polymeric Ub chains, which can be efficiently prepared by a one-pot, ubiquitin-activating enzyme (E1)-catalyzed condensation reaction of recombinant Ub precursors to give various homotypic and even branched Ub probes at multi-milligram scale. Proteomic studies using label-free quantitative (LFQ) MS indicated that the isopeptide-N-ethylated Ub probes may complement the triazole-based probes in the study of Ub interactome. Our study highlights the utility of modern protein synthetic chemistry to develop structurally and new families of tool molecules needed for proteomic studies.     

Thermal and Nonthermal Effects in Plasmon-Mediated Electrochemistry at Nanostructured Ag Electrodes

Hot carriers (HCs) and thermal effects, stemming from plasmon decays, are crucial for most plasmonic applications. However, quantifying these two effects remains extremely challenging due to the experimental difficulty in accurately measuring the temperature at reaction sites. Herein, we provide a novel strategy to disentangle HCs from photothermal effects based on the different traits of heat dissipation (long range) and HCs transport (short range), and quantitatively uncover the dominant and potential-dependent role of photothermal effect by investigating the rapid- and slow-response currents in plasmon-mediated electrochemistry at nanostructured Ag electrode. Furthermore, the plasmoelectric surface potential is found to contribute to the rapid-response currents, which is absent in the previous studies.     

Incorporating Rare-Earth Terbium(III) Ions into Cs2AgInCl6:Bi Nanocrystals toward Tunable Photoluminescence

The incorporation of impurity ions or doping is a promising method for controlling the electronic and optical properties and the structural stability of halide perovskite nanocrystals (NCs). Herein, we establish relationships between rare-earth ions doping and intrinsic emission of lead-free double perovskite Cs₂AgInCl₆ NCs to impart and tune the optical performances in the visible light region. Tb³⁺ ions were incorporated into Cs₂AgInCl₆ NCs and occupied In³⁺ sites as verified by both crystallographic analyses and first-principles calculations. Trace amounts of Bi doping endowed the characteristic emission (⁵D₄→⁷F_6-3) of Tb³⁺ ions with a new excitation peak at 368 nm rather than the single characteristic excitation at 290 nm of Tb³⁺. By controlling Tb³⁺ ions concentration, the emission colors of Bi-doped Cs₂Ag(In_1−xTb_x)Cl₆ NCs could be continuously tuned from green to orange, through the efficient energy-transfer channel from self-trapped excitons to Tb³⁺ ions. Our study provides the salient features of the material design of lead-free perovskite NCs and to expand their luminescence applications.     

Stereospecific 1,2-Migrations of Boronate Complexes Induced by Electrophiles

The stereospecific 1,2-migration of boronate complexes is one of the most representative reactions in boron chemistry. This process has been used extensively to develop powerful methods for asymmetric synthesis, with applications spanning from pharmaceuticals to natural products. Typically, 1,2-migration of boronate complexes is driven by displacement of an α-leaving group, oxidation of an α-boryl radical, or electrophilic activation of an alkenyl boronate complex. The aim of this article is to summarize the recent advances in the rapidly expanding field of electrophile-induced stereospecific 1,2-migration of groups from boron to sp² and sp³ carbon centers. It will be shown that three different conceptual approaches can be utilized to enable the 1,2-migration of boronate complexes: stereospecific Zweifel-type reactions, catalytic conjunctive coupling reactions, and transition metal-free sp²–sp³ couplings. A discussion of the reaction scope, mechanistic insights, and synthetic applications of the work described is also presented.