Fluorescence study of aggregation in water of PEO-grafted polydiphenylamine

Fluorescence spectra of water-soluble conducting poly(ethylene oxide)-grafted polydiphenylamines (PDPA-g-PEOs with the M(n)s of PEO 350, 750, and 2000) in water were determined and interpreted. The emissions of the PDPA-g-PEOs occurred in the range from 360 to 700 nm and were dependent on their concentrations, PEO chain length, extent of oxidation, pH, and temperature. An optimum concentration, above which the fluorescence intensity decreased dramatically because of quenching, was observed. This quenching was a result of the aggregation of PDPA-g-PEO macromolecules in water. The doped PDPA-g-PEO molecules provided a lower optimum concentration than the corresponding reduced-state macromolecules. A rod-shaped microstructure of nanoscale size was generated through the aggregation of the PDPA-g-PEO macromolecules. This microstructure was also confirmed by dynamic light scattering, atomic force microscopy, and surface elemental analysis.     

NMR studies of structure and reorganization dynamics of an [6Li]-allylic lithium compound complexed to [14N,15N]-N,N,N',N'-tetramethylethylenediamine: inversion and ligand lithium exchange

Proton, 13C, 6Li, and 15N NMR line-shape studies of exo,exo-1-trimethylsilyl-3-(dimethylethylsilyl)allyllithium-6Li complexed to [14N,15N]-N,N,N',N'-tetramethylethylenediamine (TMEDA) 2 as a function of temperature and of added diamine reveal the dynamics of three fast equilibrium reorganization processes. These are (with DeltaH values in kilocalories per mole and DeltaS values in entropic units): mutual exchange of lithium between two 2 molecules (6.3, -21), exchange of TMEDA between its free and complexed states (5.0 and -22), and first-order transfer of complexed ligand between the allyl faces (7.0 and -20). Intermediates that are dimeric in TMEDA are proposed for the first two of these reorganization processes.     

On Weak Regular ^＊-semigroups

In this paper, a special kind of partial algebras called projective partial groupoids is defined.It is proved that the inverse image of all projections of a fundamental weak regular ^*-semigroup under the homomorphism induced by the maximum idempotent-separating congruence of a weak regular ^*-semigroup has a projective partial groupoid structure. Moreover, a weak regular ^*-product which connects a fundamental weak regular ^*-semigroup with corresponding projective partial groupoid is defined and characterized. It is finally proved that every weak regular ^*-product is in fact a weak regular ^*-semigroup and any weak regular ^*-semigroup is constructed in this way.     

An Arc as the Inverse Limit of a Single Bonding Map of Type N on [0,1]

Let I = [0, 1], c ₁, c ₂ ∈ (0, 1) with c ₁ < c ₂ and f : I⊸I be a continuous map satisfying: are both strictly increasing and is strictly decreasing. Let A = {x ∈ [0, c ₁]∣f(x) = x}, a=max A, a ₁ =max(A\{a}), and B = {x ∈ [c ₂, 1]∣f(x) = x}, b=minB, b ₁ =min(B\{b}). Then the inverse limit (I, f) is an arc if and only if one of the following three conditions holds: (1) If c ₁ < f (c ₁) ≤ c ₂ (resp. c ₁ ≤ f (c ₂) < c ₂), then f has a single fixed point, a period two orbit, but no points of period greater than two or f has more than one fixed point but no points of other periods, furthermore, if A≠φ and B≠φ, then f (c ₂) > a (resp. f (c ₁) < b). (2) If f (c ₁) ≤ c ₁ (resp. f (c ₂) ≥ c ₂), then f has more than one fixed point, furthermore, if B≠φ and A\ {a} ≠φ, f (c ₂) ≥ a or if a ₁ < f (c ₂) < a, f ² (c ₂) > f (c ₂), (resp. f has more than one fixed point, furthermore, if A≠φ and B\{b}≠φ, f (c ₁) ≤ b or if b < f (c ₂) < b ₁, f ² (c ₁) < f (c ₁)). (3) If f (c ₁) > c ₂ and f (c ₂) < c ₁, then f has a single fixed point, a single period two orbit lying in I\(u, v) but no points of period greater than two, where u, v ∈ [c ₁, c ₂] such that f (u) = c ₂ and f (v) = c ₁. Supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 19961001, No. 60334020) and Outstanding Young Scientist Research Fund. (No. 60125310)     

Freeze-drying of mononuclear cells and whole blood of human cord blood

The research on haematopoietic stem cells of human cord blood has become more important recently. People have concentrated on the preservation of cord blood stem cells. At present, cord blood can be preserved at ultra-low temperatures. In this study, we try to preserve cord blood and its constituents by freeze-drying. The experiments on both the mononuclear cell content and the whole blood of human cord blood were carried out respectively. The samples were frozen firstly by different cooling protocols in the presence of PVP, sucrose, and mannitol. Afterwards, they were vacuum-dried at a selected shelf temperature of -30 degree C for the main drying stage, and then vacuum-dried at 15 degree C for the second drying stage. The entire time of the freeze drying was 52 hours. Samples were stored at room temperature for 2 days prior to evaluation. Subsequently, the dried samples were suspended in an isotonic phosphate-buffered saline solution. The recovery of the cells were tested by a haemacytometer, and the highest cell numerical count recovery of MNC was 75.0 percent (SD = 4.1 percent) (P = 0.01), obtained in the protocol of 40 percent PVP + 20 percent sucrose + 10 percent Mannitol. The viability of the nucleated cells measured by PI staining and the ratio of the number of CD34+ to the number of lymphocytes (by the FITC anti-human CD34+ conjugated antibody method) were measured using a flow cytometer (FCM). The protocol of 40 percent PVP + 20 percent sucrose + 10 percent fetal bovine serum had the highest viability of 98.6 percent (SD = 0.7 percent) (P = 0.01). The highest ratio of CD34+ to lymphocytes was 1.2%, and the highest recovery of CD34+ was 68.4 percent (SD = 39.5 percent) (P = 0.05). Comparing the results of the lyophilized MNC subfraction with that of the whole blood, the lyophilization of the isolated MNC was more successful than that of whole blood.     

The first fluorescent diboronic acid sensor specific for hepatocellular carcinoma cells expressing sialyl Lewis X

Carbohydrate antigens with subterminal fucosylation have been implicated in the development and progression of several cancers, including hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Fluorescent sensors targeting fucosylated carbohydrate antigens could potentially be used for diagnostic and other applications. We have designed and synthesized a series of 26 diboronic acid compounds as potential fluorescent sensors for such carbohydrates. Among these compounds, 7q was able to fluorescently label cells expressing high levels of sLex (HEPG2) within a concentration range of 0.5 to 10 microM. This compound (7q) did not label cells expressing Lewis Y (HEP3B), nor cells without fucosylated antigens (COS7). This represents the first example of a fluorescent compound labeling cells based on cell surface carbohydrate structures.     

A QM/MM study of a nucleophilic aromatic substitution reaction catalyzed by 4-chlorobenzoyl-CoA dehalogenase

Calculated using a QM/MM method, the free energy profile for the conversion of 4-chlorobenzoate to 4-hydroxybenzoate catalyzed by 4-chlorobenzoyl-CoA dehalogenase indicates the existence of a stable Meisenheimer complex.     

Genetic differentiation and subspecies development of the giant panda as revealed by DNA fingerprinting

Over the last 100 years giant pandas (Ailuropoda melanoleuca) have been separated into six completely isolated mountain ranges. DNA fingerprinting revealed different differentiation patterns in giant pandas, including early-stage, late-stage, recent divergence and recent genetic depression. A separation around 10 000 years ago resulted in highly significant differences in DNA fingerprints and morphological characteristics between Qinling and Sichuan populations. Supported by morphological differences, the genetic data were used to classify the Qinling population as a new subspecies, A. m. qinlingensis, while the Sichuan populations were classified into the original subspecies, A. m. melanoleuca. Thus, the Qinling population deserves management as a separate unit. In the Sichuan populations, two management units were defined, including Qionglai-Minshan and Daxiangling-Xiaoxiangling-Liangshan. Our data suggest urgent measures are needed to establish green corridors between subpopulations in each mountain range to increase gene flow and genetic variation to ensure long-term survival.     

Highly proton conductive polyimide electrolytes containing fluorenyl groups

Novel sulfonated polyimides containing fluorenyl groups show good thermal and oxidative stability as well as a high proton conductivity of 1.67 S cm(-1) at 120 degrees C and 100% RH.     

A Novel Gelatin–Carbon Nanotubes Hybrid Hydrogel

This letter focuses on the first result of the preparation and the swelling behavior of a novel hybrid gelatin hydrogel with carbon nanotubes. A novel hybrid gelatin hydrogel with carbon nanotubes was synthesized by a physical mixing method. The structure of the novel hydrogel obtained was characterized by SEM. Besides, the swelling behavior of the synthesized hydrogel was measured at two different temperatures. The results indicate that carbon nanotubes added could maintain the stability of the hybrid hydrogel without cross‐linking at 37 °C. This suggests that the hybrid gelatin hydrogel with carbon nanotubes could be used in biomedical field. Besides, its application in protein separation is discussed.

SEM image of the gelatin‐MWNTs hybrid gel at 10 000 × magnification.