Catalytic enantioselective synthesis of optically active α-hydroxyl-β,γ-unsaturated acid esters as novel side chains of cerebrosides

Six optically active α-hydroxyl-β,γ-unsaturated acid esters 1a to 1f were synthesised, and they are significant moieties of the cerebrosides. The chiral intermediate alkynol 4 prepared by catalytic asymmetric addition had 99% ee, and which was converted into the target compounds 1a to 1f with high enantiomeric purity.     

BP neural network recognition algorithm for scour monitoring of subsea pipelines based on active thermometry

Scour monitoring is an important concern for subsea pipeline systems. The active-thermometry-based scour monitoring is based on the difference of heat transfer properties between sediment and sand, recognizes the surrounding media though temperature changing patterns during heating and cooling processes, and hence detects the free spans. Based on the scour monitoring system, a two-layer BP neural network was employed to process the monitoring data and achieved media recognition. The network's inputs were normalized temperature time histories. The network's outputs denoted different media: sediment and water. To validate the method, three experiments were conducted; one was used for training the network and the other two for testing. Also, the effect of noise on the network's performance was studied through simulation. The results demonstrated the feasibility and robustness of the neural network.     

A neurodynamic approach to zero-one quadratic programming

Numerical Algorithms - This paper proposes a neurodynamic approach to zero-one quadratic programming with linear constraints. Compared with one existing neurodynamic approach to such problems, the...     

Diagnosing the miR-141 prostate cancer biomarker using nucleic acid-functionalized CdSe/ZnS QDs and telomerase

The microRNA, miR-141, is a promising biomarker for prostate cancer. We implement here a two-step sensing platform for the sensitive detection of miR-141. The first step involves the use of semiconductor CdSe/ZnS quantum dots (QDs) modified by FRET quencher-functionalized nucleic acids, that include the recognition sequence for miR-141 and a telomerase primer sequence for the second step of the analytical platform. Subjecting the probe-modified QDs to miR-141, in the presence of duplex specific nuclease, DSN, leads to the formation of a miR-141/probe duplex and to its DSN-mediated cleavage, while regenerating the miR-141. The DSN-induced cleavage of the quencher units leads to the activation of the fluorescence of the QDs, thus allowing the optical detection of miR-141 with a sensitivity corresponding to 1.0 × 10^–12 M. The nucleic acid residues associated with the QDs after cleavage of the probe nucleic acids by DSN act as primers for telomerase. The subsequent telomerase/dNTPs-stimulated elongation of the primer units forms G-quadruplex telomer chains. Incorporation of hemin in the resulting G-quadruplex telomer chains yields horseradish peroxidase-mimicking DNAzyme units, that catalyze the generation of chemiluminescence in the presence of luminol/H₂O₂. The resulting chemiluminescence intensities provide a readout signal for miR-141, DL = 2.8 × 10^–13 M. The first step of the sensing platform is non-selective toward miR-141 and the resulting fluorescence may be considered only as an indicator for the existence of miR-141. The second step in the sensing protocol, involving telomerase, provides a selective chemiluminescence signal for the existence of miR-141. The two-step sensing platform is implemented for the analysis of miR-141 in serum samples from healthy individuals and prostate cancer carriers. Impressive discrimination between healthy individuals and prostate cancer carriers is demonstrated.     

UFLC–MS/MS method for simultaneous determination of six lignans of Schisandra chinensis (Turcz.) Baill. in normal and insomniac rats brain microdialysates and homogenate samples: towards an in‐depth study for its sedative‐hypnotic activity

Schisandra chinensis (Turcz.) Baill., a traditional Chinese medicine, has been clinically used for the treatment of insomnia for centuries. The insomnia mechanism and the possible active ingredients of S. chinensis remain largely unknown. The objective of this study was to develop a method to detect its components which could pass through the blood brain barrier (BBB) by determining the brain microdialysate and brain tissue homogenate samples and then obtain the pharmacokinetic profile in brain for comprehensive understanding of its hypnotic clinical efficacy. Therefore, an efficient, sensitive and selective ultra fast liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry method for the simultaneous determination of six sedative and hypnotic lignans (schisandrin, schisandrol B, schisantherin A, deoxyshisandrin, γ‐schisandrin and gomisin N) of Schisandra chinensis (Turcz.) Baill. in rat brain tissue homogenate and brain microdialysates has been developed and validated. The analysis was performed on a Shim‐pack XR‐ODS column (75 mm × 3.0 mm, 2.2 µm) using gradient elution with the mobile phase consisting of acetonitrile and 0.1% formic acid water. The method was validated in brain homogenate and microdialysate samples, which all showed good linearity over a wide concentration range (r² > 0.99), and the obtained lower limit of quantification was 0.1 ng · ml^?1 for the analytes in brain microdialysate samples. The intra‐ and inter‐day assay variability was less than 15% for all analytes. The study proved the six lignans, as sedative and hypnotic ingredients, could pass through the BBB with brain targeting, distributed mainly in the hypothalamus and possessed complete pharmacokinetics process in brain. The results also indicated that significant difference in pharmacokinetic parameters of the analytes was observed between two groups, while absorptions of these analytes in insomniac group were significantly better than those in normal group. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Electrogenerated Fe(I) Porphyrins: Efficient Electrocatalysts for Reductive Dechlorination of DDT in N,N′‐Dimethylformamide

Two iron(I) porphyrins were electrogenerated and then utilized as catalysts for the reductive dechlorination of 1,1‐bis(4‐chlorophenyl)‐2,2,2‐trichloroethane (DDT) in N,N′‐dimethylformamide. No reaction is observed between DDT and the Fe(III) or Fe(II) forms of the porphyrin, but the electrogenerated Fe(I) porphyrin efficiently catalyzes the electroreduction of DDT to give (1,1‐bis(4‐chlorophenyl)‐2,2‐dichloroethane) DDD, (1,1‐bis(4‐chlorophenyl)‐2,2‐dichloroethylene) DDE and (1,1‐bis(4‐chlorophenyl)‐2‐dichloroethane) DDMU as determined by GC‐MS analysis. The reductive dechlorination was monitored by electrochemistry, controlled potential electrolysis and spectroelectrochemistry and a mechanism for the reaction involving the reduced porphyrins and DDT is proposed. Comparisons are also made between the catalytic properties of metalloporphyrins containing iron, cobalt and manganese central metal ions under the same solution conditions.     

Preparation of a butyl–silica hybrid monolithic column with a “one-pot” process for bioseparation by capillary liquid chromatography

A butyl–silica hybrid monolithic column for bioseparation by capillary liquid chromatography (cLC) was prepared with butyl methacrylate and alkoxysilanes through a “one-pot” process. The effects of polycondensation temperature, volume percentage of N,N′-dimethylformamide, and content of cetyltrimethylammonium bromide and butyl methacrylate on the morphologies of the hybrid monolithic columns prepared were investigated in detail. Baseline separations of proteins and small peptides on the hybrid monolithic column were achieved by cLC with gradient elution. In addition, the resulting hybrid column was also applied for analysis of tryptic digests of bovine serum albumin by cLC coupled with tandem mass spectrometry. The results demonstrate its potential application in separation of complex biological samples.     

Natural products and their derivatives as G-quadruplex binding ligands

G-quadruplexes comprise a class of secondary structures that are formed in guanine-rich sequences in eukaryotic genomes and play a crucial role in the regulation of many biological events. G-quadruplexes have become targets for anticancer drugs with high selectivity vs. duplex DNA and low cytotoxicity against normal cells. Natural products and their derivatives display polymorphism, structural complexity, and potent activity. It is, therefore, reasonable to seek ligands targeting G-quadruplexes from natural products. Recently, many successful examples have been reported, showing ligands with excellent anticancer activities. In this review, we summarized the development of research on natural products and derivatives that target G-quadruplex structures in an effort to guide future studies.     

Polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxanes as functional monomer to prepare hybrid monolithic columns for capillary electrochromatography and capillary liquid chromatography

A simple approach to fabricate hybrid monolithic column within the confines of fused-silica capillaries (75 μm i.d.) was introduced. A polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxanes (POSS) reagent containing a methacrylate group was selected as functional monomer, and copolymerized with bisphenol A dimethacrylate (BPADMA) or ethylene dimethacrylate (EDMA) in the presence of porogenic solvents via thermally initiated free radical polymerization. After optimization of the preparation conditions, two POSS-containing hybrid monoliths were successfully prepared and exhibited good permeability and stability. By comparison of the separation efficiencies of the resulting poly(POSS-co-BPADMA) and poly(POSS-co-EDMA) monoliths in capillary electrochromatography (CEC) and capillary liquid chromatography (cLC), it was indicated the former has better column efficiencies for alkylbenzenes, phenols, anilines and PAHs in CEC and cLC than the latter. Particularly, the hybrid poly(POSS-co-BPADMA) monolith is more suitable for separation of PAHs due to π–π interaction between the analytes and aromatic rings in the surface of monolithic stationary phase.