The Total Solubility of the Co-Solubilized PAHs with Similar Structures Indicated by NMR Chemical Shift

The synergism/inhibition level, solubilization sites and the total solubility (S_t) of co-solubilization systems of phenanthrene, anthracene and pyrene in Tween 80 and sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) are studied by ¹H-NMR, 2D nuclear overhauser effect spectroscopy (NOESY) and rotating frame overhauser effect spectroscopy (ROESY). In Tween 80, inhibition for phenanthrene, anthracene and pyrene is observed in most binary and ternary systems. However, in SDS, synergism is predominant. After analysis, we find that the different synergism or inhibition situation between Tween 80 and SDS is related to the different types of surfactants used and the resulting different co-solubilization mechanisms. In addition, we also find that three polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) have similar solubilization sites in both Tween 80 and SDS, which are almost unchanged in co-solubilization systems. Due to the similar solubilization sites, the chemical shift changes of surfactant and PAH protons follow the same pattern in all solubilization systems, and the order of chemical shift changes is consistent with the order of changes in the St of PAHs. In this case, it is feasible to evaluate S_t of PAHs by chemical shift. In both Tween 80 and SDS solutions, the ternary solubilization system has relatively high S_t rankings. Therefore, in practical applications, a good overall solubilization effect can be expected.     

Kinetics of glass transition,crystallization and soft magnetic properties of the Fe76.5Nb3B20Cu0.5 glassy alloys

Journal of Thermal Analysis and Calorimetry - Differential scanning calorimetry was used to investigate the non-isothermal crystallization kinetics of the Fe76.5Nb3B20Cu0.5 glassy alloys. The...     

Effect of Freeze-Thaw Cycles on the Oxidation of Protein and Fat and Its Relationship with the Formation of Heterocyclic Aromatic Amines and Advanced Glycation End Products in Raw Meat

The aim of this research was to investigate the effect of the number of freeze–thaw cycles (0, 1, 3, 5, and 7) on porcine longissimus protein and lipid oxidation, as well as changes in heterocyclic aromatic amines (HAAs) and advanced glycation end products (AGEs) and their precursors. We analyzed the relationship among HAAs, AGEs, oxidation, and precursors and found the following results after seven freeze–thaw cycles. The HAAs, Norharman and Harman, were 20.33% and 16.67% higher, respectively. The AGEs, Nε-carboxyethyllysine (CEL) and Nε-carboxymethyllysine (CML), were 11.81% and 14.02% higher, respectively. Glucose, creatine, and creatinine were reduced by 33.92%, 5.93%, and 1.12%, respectively after seven freeze–thaw cycles. Norharman was significantly correlated with thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS; r² = 0.910) and glucose (r² = −0.914). Harman was significantly correlated to TBARS (r² = 0.951), carbonyl (r² = 0.990), and glucose (r² = −0.920). CEL was correlated to TBARS (r² = 0.992) and carbonyl (r² = 0.933). These changes suggest that oxidation and the Maillard reaction during freeze–thaw cycles promote HAA and AGE production in raw pork.     

Neuroprotection of N-benzyl Eicosapentaenamide in Neonatal Mice Following Hypoxic–Ischemic Brain Injury

Maca (Lepidium meyenii) has emerged as a popular functional plant food because of its medicinal properties and nutritional value. Macamides, as the exclusively active ingredients found in maca, are a unique series of non-polar, long-chain fatty acid N-benzylamides with multiple bioactivities such as antifatigue characteristics and improving reproductive health. In this study, a new kind of macamide, N-benzyl eicosapentaenamide (NB-EPA), was identified from maca. We further explore its potential neuroprotective role in hypoxic–ischemic brain injury. Our findings indicated that treatment with biosynthesized NB-EPA significantly alleviates the size of cerebral infarction and improves neurobehavioral disorders after hypoxic–ischemic brain damage in neonatal mice. NB-EPA inhibited the apoptosis of neuronal cells after ischemic challenge. NB-EPA improved neuronal cell survival and proliferation through the activation of phosphorylated AKT signaling. Of note, the protective property of NB-EPA against ischemic neuronal damage was dependent on suppression of the p53–PUMA pathway. Taken together, these findings suggest that NB-EPA may represent a new neuroprotectant for newborns with hypoxic–ischemic encephalopathy.     

Inclined Substrate Deposition of Nanostructured TiO2 Thin Films for DSSC Application

Nanostructured TiO₂ films were deposited onto Indium Tin Oxide (ITO) and glass substrates by dc reactive magnetron sputtering at different substrate inclination angles. The structural and optical properties of the deposited films were studied by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy and UV–Vis spectrophotometer, respectively. Dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSC) were assembled using these TiO₂ films as photoelectrodes and the effect of the substrate inclination angle in the preparing process of TiO₂ films on the DSSC conversion efficiency was studied.     

基于多肽识别的电化学生物传感技术

多肽具有分子量小、易于合成、生物兼容性好、稳定性高及序列灵活多样等优点。因此,多肽作为新型生物识别元件,已被广泛应用于生物传感器的构建。电化学分析灵敏度高、准确度好、设备简单、检测范围广且易于操作。本文介绍了基于多肽识别的电化学生物传感器技术,包括多肽的修饰与固定化、多肽与待测物的识别及检测原理;综述了近五年多肽电化学生物传感器对重金属离子、小分子、蛋白质、细菌和病毒的检测;展望了肽基电化学生物传感器的发展趋势。     

Hyperterpenoids A and B: Two pairs of unprecedented 6/6/4/6/6 polycyclic cyclobutane meroterpenoids with potent neuroprotective and anti-inflammatory activities from Hypericum beanii

Hyperterpenoid A (1) and B (2), two pairs of enantiomers, with an unprecedented 6/6/4/6/6 polycyclic skeleton, along with one known compoud hypermonone A (3) were isolated from Hypericum beanii. The racemate (±)-1 and (±)-2 were successfully separated into the two optically pure enantiomers (ee ≥ 99%) using a preparative HPLC system. Their absolute configurations were elucidated by extensive spectroscopic analyses and single-crystal X-ray diffraction method. The related plausible biogenetic pathways were presented. Compound 1-3 showed significant neuroprotective activity and potential anti-inflammatory activity. The result that (+)-2 and (-)-2 presented different anti-inflammatory properties, may lead us to new discovery of structure activity relationship between racemates, enantiomers, and diastereomers, as well as further research regarding the binding of drugs to target proteins.     

Formation and Structures of the μ4-Oxygen-Bridged High-Nuclearity Lead(II) Clusters from a Lead Propane-2-thiolate Complex

Journal of Cluster Science - Interaction of [Pb(SiPr)2]n with 1.5 equiv. of AgNO3 in DMF under aerobic conditions at room temperature gave a cationic lead-centered thiolate cluster...     

杂质浓度对Zr替位掺杂γ-TiAl合金的结构延性和电子性质的影响

以Zr替代Ti(或Al)掺杂γ-TiAl体系为研究对象, 掺杂浓度(摩尔比)分别为1/54, 1/36, 1/24和1/16. 采用基于密度泛函理论的第一性原理方法, 计算研究了Zr掺杂γ-TiAl体系的晶体结构及其稳定性、延性和电子性质等. 结果显示, Zr替位掺杂, 可以改变γ-TiAl基合金的结构对称性. 计算的形成能表明, Zr替代Ti原子会使体系的形成能降低, 而Zr替代Al原子会使体系的形成能增加. 因而, 在掺入γ-TiAl时, Zr更倾向于替代Ti 原子, 但是Zr替代Al原子也具有一定的可能性, 从而会产生多样的掺杂体系, 对于改善合金的性质具有重要意义. 对各个体系轴比的计算与分析表明, 当掺杂浓度为1.85 at%–6.25 at% 时, Zr替代Al原子会使体系的轴比减小、接近于1, 从而改善合金的延性效果明显. 能带结构显示各个Zr掺杂γ-TiAl体系均具有金属导电性. 对电子态密度和布居数的分析表明, Zr替代Al原子后, Zr与其邻近Ti原子的共价键结合强度大为降低, 导致合金体系中的Ti-Al(Zr)键的平均强度明显减弱, 金属键增强, 这是改善γ-TiAl合金延性的重要因素.