Rubesanolides F and G: Two Novel Lactone-Type Norditerpenoids from Isodon rubescens

A phytochemical investigation of the leaves of the medicinal plant Isodon rubescens led to the isolation of the two new degraded abietane lactone diterpenoids rubesanolides F (1) and G (2). Their structures were elucidated based on the analyses of the HRESIMS and 1D/2D NMR spectral data, and their absolute configurations were determined by ECD spectrum calculations and X-ray single crystal diffraction methods. Compounds 1 and 2, with a unique γ-lactone subgroup between C-8 and C-20, were found to form a carbonyl carbon at C-13 by removal of the isopropyl group in an abietane diterpene skeleton. Rubesanolide G (2) is a rare case of abietane that possesses a cis-fused configuration between rings B and C. The two isolates were evaluated for their biological activities against two cancer cell lines (A549 and HL60), three fungal strains (Candida alba, Aspergillus niger and Rhizopus nigricans) and three bacterial strains (Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus subtilis).     

Biotransformation of Timosaponin BII into Seven Characteristic Metabolites by the Gut Microbiota

Timosaponin BII is one of the most abundant Anemarrhena saponins and is in a phase II clinical trial for the treatment of dementia. However, the pharmacological activity of timosaponin BII does not match its low bioavailability. In this study, we aimed to determine the effects of gut microbiota on timosaponin BII metabolism. We found that intestinal flora had a strong metabolic effect on timosaponin BII by HPLC-MS/MS. At the same time, seven potential metabolites (M1–M7) produced by rat intestinal flora were identified using HPLC/MS-Q-TOF. Among them, three structures identified are reported in gut microbiota for the first time. A comparison of rat liver homogenate and a rat liver microsome incubation system revealed that the metabolic behavior of timosaponin BII was unique to the gut microbiota system. Finally, a quantitative method for the three representative metabolites was established by HPLC-MS/MS, and the temporal relationship among the metabolites was initially clarified. In summary, it is suggested that the metabolic characteristics of gut microbiota may be an important indicator of the pharmacological activity of timosaponin BII, which can be applied to guide its application and clinical use in the future.     

Imbert–Fedorov shifts of a Gaussian beam reflected from uniaxially anisotropic chiral media

We study the Imbert–Fedorov (IF) shifts of a reflected Gaussian beam from uniaxially anisotropic chiral media (UACM), where the chirality appears only in one direction and the host medium is a uniaxial crystal or an electric plasma. The numerical results are presented for three kinds of UACM, respectively. It is found that the IF shifts are closely related to the propagation properties of the two eigenwaves in the UACM. In general, when either of the eigenwaves is totally reflected, the IF shifts can change abruptly near the critical angle. The cross-polarized reflection coefficient has a greater effect on the spatial IF (SIF) shift than on the angular IF (AIF) shift, and the sign of the AIF shift depends mainly on that of the difference between the co-polarized reflectivity. By designing artificially the electromagnetic parameters of the UACM, we can control the IF shifts and acquire their more abundant properties.     

Variations in the Concentrations of Cu and Zn and in the Ratio of Cu to Zn in Whole Blood and Hair Samples from Hepatocellular Carcinoma Patients and from Healthy Controls in Taiwan

An atomic absorption spectrophotometer was used to determine concentrations of copper and zinc and the ratio of Cu to Zn in samples of whole blood and hair from hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients (n=51) and from healthy controls (n=50) in Taiwan. Our results indicate that the HCC patients have higher copper concentrations and higher ratios of Cu to Zn than do the healthy controls both in whole blood and hair samples, but only the concentration of copper and the ratio of Cu to Zn in whole blood were significantly different (p<0.001 and p<0.05). Conversely, a lower concentration of zinc was found in whole blood and hair samples of HCC patients. Similarly, only the concentration of zinc in whole blood showed a significant difference (p<0.001). We concluded that the whole blood concentrations of copper and zinc and the ratio of Cu to Zn seemed to have a higher correlation with HCC. Thus, we suggest that a sample of whole blood may be a more suitable diagnostic sample than is a hair sample for HCC.     

Growth of high-quality ZnO thin films on (11\bar{2}0) a-plane sapphire substrates by plasma-assisted molecular beam epitaxy

High-quality ZnO thin films were grown on a-plane sapphire substrates by plasma-assisted molecular beam epitaxy. X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy reveal that the ZnO films have high structural quality and an atomically sharp ZnO/Al₂O₃ interface. The full width at half maximum values of the 0002 and $30\bar{3}2$ ZnO ω-rocking curves are 467.8 and 813.5 arc sec for a 600 nm thick ZnO film. A screw dislocation density of 4.35×10⁸ cm^?2 and an edge dislocation density of 3.38×10⁹ cm^?2 are estimated by X-ray diffraction. The surface of the ZnO epilayers contains hexagonal pits, which can be observed in the Zn-polar ZnO. The films have a resistivity of 0.119 Ω?cm, an electron concentration of 6.85×10¹⁷ cm^?3, and a mobility of 76.5 cm²?V^?1?s^?1 at room temperature. Low temperature photoluminescence measurements show good optical properties comparable to ZnO single crystals.     

离子束辅助沉积对类金刚石膜结构影响的计算机模拟

采用分子动力学(MD)模拟研究了离子束辅助沉积(1BAD)生长类金刚石(DLC)膜的物理过程.分 别选C₂分子和Ar离子作为沉积源和辅助沉积粒子.改变Ar的入射能量和到达比(A r／C)，研 究了它对DLC膜结构的影响.重点讨论了Ar辅助沉积引起表面原子的瞬间活性变化对薄膜结构 产生的影响.分析表明，由于Ar离子的轰击引起的能量和动量的传递，大大地增强了C原子在 表面的反冲动能及迁移概率，增加了合成薄膜的SP³键含量.研究结果和实验 观察一致，并从合成机理上给出了一些定量解释. 关键词： 类金刚石膜 离子束辅助沉积 分子动力学模拟     

硅衬底上锗硅合金光波导设计及工艺的优化考虑

报道用射频加热化学气相沉积法制备Ｓｉ／ＧｅＳｉ／Ｓｉ大断面单模脊形光波导中设计和工艺的进一步完善，ＧｅＳｉ合金层中Ｇｅ的含量Ｘ要满足脊形光波导是单模，光波导的数值，孔径接近单模光纤值，脊高小于临界厚度值等，计算表明兼顾上述三项要求应取ｘ＝１～３％，脊的高与宽受大断面及单模的制约。Ｓｉ的晶体结构使脊的二个腐蚀侧壁是斜坡，为此起始脊宽取５～６μｍ为宜；腐蚀液，抛光液的选取人保证脊则壁及波导面端的优良镜     

Application of high field spectroscopic imaging in the evaluation of temporal lobe epilepsy

Previous spectroscopic imaging studies of temporal lobe epilepsy have used comparisons of metabolite content or ratios to lateralize the seizure focus. Although highly successful, these studies have shown significant variations within each of the groups of healthy subjects and patients. This variation may arise from the natural differences seen in metabolite concentration in gray and white matter, the complex anatomy seen about the hippocampus, and the large voxels typically employed at 1.5 T. Using a 4.1 T whole body system, we have acquired spectroscopic images with 0.5 cc nominal voxels (1 cc after filtering) to evaluate the regional variation in metabolite content of the hippocampus, temporal gray and white matter, midbrain, and cerebellar vermis. Using a threshold value of 0.90 for CR/NAA, a value 90% of all normal hippocampal voxels lay below, we have correctly identified the presence of epileptogenic tissue in patients with unilateral as well as bilateral seizures. By using comparisons to healthy values of the CR/NAA ratio, this method enables the visualization of bilateral disease and provides information on the extent of gray matter involvement.