Quality evaluation of fingerprints of herbal medicine with chromatographic data

In this study, local least squares (LLS) and principal component analysis (PCA) were applied to deal with the disturbances in a data set of chromatographic fingerprints after necessary data transformations. It has been demonstrated that PCA with standard normal variate (SNV) transformation of data led to meaningful classification of 33 different Erigeron breviscapus herbal samples. The result was also corroborated by variance squares discriminant method. The quality of herbal objects was further evaluated, and the causes of this fact have been explained from a chemical point of view. At the same time, it implied an idea for qualitative evaluation of the herbal objects with a common class pattern of chromatographic fingerprints.     

Synthesis and Kinetic Study on the Chromium(III) Complex [Cr(ASA)(en)2]Cl·2H2O

In order to explore the transfer mechanism of chromium(III) in mammals, a novel complex [Cr(ASA)(en)₂]Cl· 2H₂O, bis(ethylenediamine‐ κ ² N,N′)(4‐aminosalicylic acid‐ κ ² O,O′) chromium(III) monochloride dihydrate was synthesized (4‐aminosalicylic acid=H₂ASA, ethylenediamine=en). The crystal structure belongs to orthorhombic system with the space group P2₁2₁2₁ by means of X‐ray diffraction. The characteristic for transfer of Cr³⁺ from the compound to the low‐molecular‐mass chelator EDTA and the iron‐binding protein apoovotransferrin (apoOTf) was followed by UV‐visible (UV‐Vis) and fluorescence spectra in 0.01 mol·L^?1 Hepes at pH 7.4. The second order rate constants were calculated. Those spectra in conjunction were used to obtain more accurate information about the interaction of chromium complex with apoOTf. The experimental results indicate that Cr³⁺ can be transferred from the complex to apoOTf with the retention of the 4‐aminosalicylic acid acting as a synergistic anion.     

DNA electrochemistry through the base pairs not the sugar-phosphate backbone

Using intercalated, covalently bound daunomycin as a redox probe, ground state charge transport in DNA films with a perturbation in base pair stacking was examined in comparison with breaks in the sugar-phosphate backbone. While the introduction of one or even two nicks in the sugar-phosphate backbone yields no detectable effect on electron transfer, a CA mismatch significantly attenuates the electron transfer yield. These results confirm that the base pair stack is the pathway for DNA-mediated charge transfer, not the sugar-phosphate backbone.     

Synthesis and characterization of complexes of UO2(II) and Th(IV) of bis-schiff bases derived from furoylpyrazolone

Four new complexes of UO₂(II) and Th(IV) with bis-Schiff bases, derived from N,N'-bis[(l-phenyl-3-methyl-5-oxo-4-pyrazolinyl)-a-furylmethylidyne]-1,2-propylenediimine [1,2-BPMOPFP-H₂] and N,N'- bis[(l-phenyl-3-methyl-5-oxo-4-pyrazolinyl)-a-furylmethylidyne]-1,3-propylenediimine [1,3-BPMOPFP-H₂], were synthesized and characterized by elemental analysis, IR, UV, ¹HNMR spectroscopy, and molar conductivity. The general formula of the complexes was confirmed to be [UO₂(BPMOPFP)], [Th(BPMOPFP)(NO₃)]NO₃. A possible structure for the complexes have been proposed.     

Colloidal nano-MOFs nucleate and stabilize ultra-small quantum dots of lead bromide perovskites

The development of synthetic routes to access stable, ultra-small (i.e. <5 nm) lead halide perovskite (LHP) quantum dots (QDs) is of fundamental and technological interest. The considerable challenges include the high solubility of the ionic LHPs in polar solvents and aggregation to form larger particles. Here, we demonstrate a simple and effective host–guest strategy for preparing ultra-small lead bromide perovskite QDs through the use of nano-sized MOFs that function as nucleating and host sites. Cr₃O(OH)(H₂O)₂(terephthalate)₃ (Cr-MIL-101), made of large mesopore-sized pseudo-spherical cages, allows fast and efficient diffusion of perovskite precursors within its pores, and promotes the formation of stable, ∼3 nm-wide lead bromide perovskite QDs. CsPbBr₃, MAPbBr₃ (MA⁺ = methylammonium), and (FA)PbBr₃ (FA⁺ = formamidinium) QDs exhibit significantly blue-shifted emission maxima at 440 nm, 446 nm, and 450 nm, respectively, as expected for strongly confined perovskite QDs. Optical characterization and composite modelling confirm that the APbBr₃ (A = Cs, MA, FA) QDs owe their stability within the MIL-101 nanocrystals to both short- and long-range interfacial interactions with the MOF pore walls.

We demonstrate a simple and effective host–guest strategy for preparing ultra-small lead bromide perovskite QDs through the use of nano-sized MOFs that function as nucleating and host sites.     

The phase diagram of KNO3-KClO3

The binary phase diagram of KNO₃-KClO₃ is studied by means of differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and high-temperature X-ray diffraction. The limited solid solutions, K(NO₃)_1−x(ClO₃)_x (0<x<0.20) and K(NO₃)_1−x(ClO₃)_x (0.90<x<1.0), were formed in the KNO₃-based solid solutions and KClO₃-based solid solutions phase, respectively. For KNO₃-based solid solutions, KNO₃ ferroelectric phase can be stable from 423 to 223 K as a result of substituting of NO₃ by ClO₃-radicals. The temperatures for solidus and liquidus have been determined based on limited solid solutions. Two models, Henrian solution and regular solution theory for KNO₃-based (α) phase and KClO₃-based (β) phase, respectively, are employed to reproduce solidus and liquidus of the phase diagram. The results are in good agreement with the DSC data. The thermodynamic properties for α and β solid solutions have been derived from an optimization procedure using the experimental data. The calculated phase diagram and optimized thermodynamic parameters are thermodynamically self-consistent.     

Study of the interaction of Zn^2＋ with Aβ（10-21） by fluorescamine assay

Zinc may play a role as a co-factor in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease(AD)through influencing the conformation and neurotoxicity of amyloidβ-protein(Aβ).Using the fluorescamine assay,we show for the first time that Zn~(2 )induced Aβ(10-21) aggregate in a concentration-dependent manner.These results indicate that Aβ(10-21)can be used as an in vitro model in Zn~(2 )- induced Aβaggregation and that the region 10-21 to be the minimal fragment of zinc-binding domain of full length Aβ(1-42).     

Pervaporation from a dense membrane: roles of permeant-membrane interactions, Kelvin effect, and membrane swelling

Dense polymeric membranes with extremely small pores in the form of free volume are used widely in the pervaporative separation of liquid mixtures. The membrane permeation of a component followed by its vaporization on the opposite face is governed by the solubility and downstream pressure. We measured the evaporative flux of pure methanol and 2-propanol using dense membranes with different free volumes and different affinities (wettabilities and solubilities) for the permeant. Interestingly, the evaporative flux for different membranes vanished substantially (10-75%) below the equilibrium vapor pressure in the bulk. The discrepancy was larger for a smaller pore size and for more wettable membranes (higher positive spreading coefficients). This observation, which cannot be explained by the existing (mostly solution-diffusion type) models ofpervaporation, suggests an important role for the membrane-permeant interactions in nanopores that can lower the equilibrium vapor pressure. The pore sizes, as estimated from the positron annihilation, ranged from 0.2 to 0.6 nm for the dry membranes. Solubilities of methanol in different composite membranes were estimated from the Flory-Huggins theory. The interaction parameter was obtained from the surface properties measured by the contact angle goniometry in conjunction with the acid-base theory of polar surface interactions. For the membranes examined, the increase in the "wet" pore volume due to membrane swelling correlates almost linearly with the solubility of methanol in these membranes. Indeed, the observations are found to be consistent with the lowering of the equilibrium vapor pressure on the basis of the Kelvin equation. Thus, a higher solubility or selectivity of a membrane also implies stronger permeant-membrane interactions and a greater retention of the permeant by the membrane, thus decreasing its evaporative flux. This observation has important implications for the interpretation of existing experiments and in the separation of liquid mixtures by pervaporation.     

Ternary interpenetrating networks of polyurethane-poly(methyl methacrylate)-silica: Preparation by the sol–gel process and characterization of films

Novel organic/inorganic interpenetrating networks composed of polyurethane (PU), poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) and silica generated from tetraethoxysilane (TEOS), were prepared by in situ bulk polymerization. Optically transparent films were successfully synthesized using 3-(trimethoxysilyl)propyl methacrylate (TMSPM) and isocyanatopropyl triethoxysilane (IPTES) as dual coupling agents. An experimental protocol was established to minimize undesirable side-reactions. According to infrared spectroscopic analysis and thermogravimetric studies of the hybrid materials, the degree of silica condensation was unfavorably affected by the presence of the organic components. Consequently, storage modulus (E′) at 25 °C, and hardness of the films decreased with increasing silica content.     

Kinetics of the degradation of polystyrene in supercritical acetone

The kinetic analysis of the degradation of polystyrene (PS) in supercritical acetone has been studied using the nonisothermal weight loss technique with heating rates of 3, 5 and 7 °C/min. The weight loss data according to degradation temperature have been analyzed using the integral method based on Arrhenius form to obtain the kinetic parameters such as apparent activation energy and overall reaction order. The kinetic parameters obtained from this work were also compared with those of the thermal degradation of PS in nitrogen atmosphere. From this work, it was found that the activation energies of PS degradation in supercritical acetone were 73.3-200.7 kJ/mol and lower than those of the thermal degradation in nitrogen atmosphere.