Scaffold Effects on Osteogenic Differentiation of Equine Mesenchymal Stem Cells: An In Vitro Comparative Study

The in vitro viability, osteogenic differentiation, and mineralization of four different equine mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) from bone marrow, periosteum, muscle, and adipose tissue are compared, when they are cultured with different collagen‐based scaffolds or with fibrin glue. The results indicate that bone marrow cells are the best source of MSCs for osteogenic differentiation, and that an electrochemically aggregated collagen gives the highest cell viability and best osteogenic differentiation among the four kinds of scaffolds studied.

     

New Dual Donor–Acceptor (2D‐π‐2A) Porphyrin Sensitizers for Stable and Cost‐Effective Dye‐Sensitized Solar Cells

A series of porphyrin sensitizers that featured two electron‐donating groups and dual anchoring groups that were connected through a porphine π‐bridging unit have been synthesized and successfully applied in dye‐sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). The presence of electron‐donating groups had a significant influence on their spectroscopic, electrochemical, and photovoltaic properties. Overall, the dual anchoring groups gave tunable electronic properties and stronger attachment to TiO₂. These new dyes were readily synthesized in a minimum number of steps in gram‐scale quantities. Optical and electrochemical data confirmed the advantages of these dyes for use as sensitizers in DSSCs. Porphyrins with electron‐donating amino moieties provided improved charge separation and better charge‐injection efficiencies for the studied dual‐push–pull dyes. Attenuated total reflectance–Fourier‐transform infrared (ATR‐FTIR) and X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy of the porphyrin dyes on TiO₂ suggest that both p‐carboxyphenyl groups are attached onto TiO₂, thereby resulting in strong attachment. Among these dyes, cis-Zn2BC2A , with two electron‐donating 3,6‐ditertbutyl‐phenyl‐carbazole groups and dual‐anchoring p‐carboxyphenyl groups, showed the highest efficiency of 4.07 %, with J_SC=9.81 mA cm^?2, V_OC=0.63 V, and FF=66 %. Our results also indicated a better photostability of the studied dual‐anchored sensitizers compared to their mono‐anchored analogues under identical conditions. These results provide insight into the developments of a new generation of high‐efficiency and thermally stable porphyrin sensitizers.     

Synthesis of two-dimensional gallium nitride via spin coating method: influences of nitridation temperatures

This paper reports the synthesis and characterization of gallium nitride (GaN) thin films deposited on p-type silicon (100) substrates by using low cost spin coating method under various nitridation temperatures. This work demonstrated that spin coating with the new prepared precursor solution can be used as a versatile method for the successfully growth of GaN thin films. Furthermore, the influence of varying nitridation temperatures on the structural, morphological, and optical properties of synthesized GaN thin films were studied in this work. The GaN thin films were characterized by X-ray diffraction, field-emission scanning electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy, photoluminescence and Raman spectroscopy. All the characteristics of the GaN thin films were effectively improved with the increasing of the nitridation temperatures from 750 to 950 °C and degraded at temperature of 1,050 °C. The measured results show that nitridation temperature plays an important role in improving the crystalline quality of the GaN thin films and the most efficient nitridation temperature was at 950 °C.     

Determination of six polyynes in Oplopanax horridus and Oplopanax elatus using polyethylene glycol modified reversed migration microemulsion electrokinetic chromatography

A PEG‐modified reversed migration MEEKC method was developed for simultaneous determination of six polyynes, including oplopandiol, falcarindiol, oplopandiol acetate, (11S, 16S, 9Z)‐9,17‐octadecadiene‐12,14‐diyne‐1,11,16‐triol,1‐acetate, oplopantriol B, and oplopantriol A, in Oplopanax horridus and Oplopanax elatus. The running buffer containing 0.8% v/v ethyl acetate, 3.8% w/v SDS, 6.6% v/v n‐butanol in 20 mM phosphate buffer (pH 2.5), followed by mixing with propan‐2‐ol at 30% v/v and PEG‐1000 at 15% w/v, was applied in the analysis. The proposed method was successfully applied to determine the six polyynes in five samples of Oplopanax horridus and one of O. elatus. The result showed that the types and amounts of polyynes present were obviously different when comparing the two herbs. Besides, the developed PEG‐modified reversed MEEKC method might be suitable for the analysis of hydrophobic analytes in herbal medicines.     

On the Size Evolution of Monolayer‐Protected Gold Clusters during Ligand Place‐Exchange Reactions: The Effect of Solvents

Ligand place‐exchange (LPE) reactions are extensively applied for the post‐functionalization of monolayer‐protected gold clusters (MPCs) by using excessive incoming ligands to displace initial ones. However, the modified MPCs are often enlarged or degraded; this results in ill‐defined size‐dependent properties. The growth of MPCs essentially involves an unprotected surface that is subsequently has gold atoms added or is fused with other gold cores owing to collision. Reported herein is a guideline for the selection of solvents to suppress unwanted MPC growth. Favorable solvents are those with significant affinity to gold or with low solubility for desorbed ligands because these properties retard LPE reactions and minimize the time available for unprotected gold cores. This finding provides a general and convenient approach to regulate the size of functionalized MPCs.     

Biosynthesis of Streptolidine Involved Two Unexpected Intermediates Produced by a Dihydroxylase and a Cyclase through Unusual Mechanisms

Streptothricin‐F (STT‐F), one of the early‐discovered antibiotics, consists of three components, a β‐lysine homopolymer, an aminosugar D ‐gulosamine, and an unusual bicyclic streptolidine. The biosynthesis of streptolidine is a long‐lasting but unresolved puzzle. Herein, a combination of genetic/biochemical/structural approaches was used to unravel this problem. The STT gene cluster was first sequenced from a Streptomyces variant BCRC 12163, wherein two gene products OrfP and OrfR were characterized in vitro to be a dihydroxylase and a cyclase, respectively. Thirteen high‐resolution crystal structures for both enzymes in different reaction intermediate states were snapshotted to help elucidate their catalytic mechanisms. OrfP catalyzes an Fe^II‐dependent double hydroxylation reaction converting L ‐Arg into (3R,4R)‐(OH)₂‐L ‐Arg via (3S)‐OH‐L ‐Arg, while OrfR catalyzes an unusual PLP‐dependent elimination/addition reaction cyclizing (3R,4R)‐(OH)₂‐L ‐Arg to the six‐membered (4R)‐OH‐capreomycidine. The biosynthetic mystery finally comes to light as the latter product was incorporation into STT‐F by a feeding experiment.     

A well‐balanced upstream flux‐splitting finite‐volume scheme for shallow‐water flow simulations with irregular bed topography

This study extends the upstream flux‐splitting finite‐volume (UFF) scheme to shallow water equations with source terms. Coupling the hydrostatic reconstruction method (HRM) with the UFF scheme achieves a resultant numerical scheme that adequately balances flux gradients and source terms. The proposed scheme is validated in three benchmark problems and applied to flood flows in the natural/irregular river with bridge pier obstructions. The results of the simulations are in satisfactory agreement with the available analytical solutions, experimental data and field measurements. Comparisons of the present results with those obtained by the surface gradient method (SGM) demonstrate the superior stability and higher accuracy of the HRM. The stability test results also show that the HRM requires less CPU time (up to 60%) than the SGM. The proposed well‐balanced UFF scheme is accurate, stable and efficient to solve flow problems involving irregular bed topography. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Molecular symmetry and exciton interaction in photosynthetic primary events

In this paper, the molecular details of the recently proposed energy upconversion theory of photosynthesis are reviewed. The primary light reactions are explained in terms of aC ₂ symmetrical structure of the reaction center involving a (Chl?H₂O)₂ adduct. It is shown that exciton interaction within the (Chl?H₂O)₂ complex leads to an antisymmetric triplet state which may act as an energy trap. The presence of the energy trap in the reaction center suggests that the trigger step for the photoionization of active chlorophylls may involve the summation of two red excitation photons. Under normal conditions, the steadystate one-photon-per-electron quantum requirement is obtained. The functional properties of the various molecular constituents of the Chl-a molecule, such as the Ring V β-ketoester group, the phytyl tail, the central Mg atom, and the π-system of the macrocycle are explained within the present theoretical framework. A detailed analysis is given of the postulates and the consequences of the proposed model. The ramifications of the theory are probed, and their biological consequences are suggested for future study.     

Electronic and optical properties of SbSBr,SbSI and SbSeI

Band structures of SbSBr and SbSeI have been obtained by using the empirical pseudopotential method (EPM) to fit our measured optical reflectivity data and earlier gap measurements. An SbSI band structure has been determined by fitting to earlier reflectivity and Raman spectroscopic data, and the results agree better with the data than do the results of an earlier preliminary EPM calculation. Secondary conduction band minima may in part be responsible for the observed microwave oscillation (Gunn effect) in SbSI. Similar minima in SbSBr and SbSeI are reported, suggesting these crystals might also show microwave properties. The total densities of states are presented.     

Effect of a radial temperature gradient on the stability of the flow of a second-order fluid between two co-axial cylinders

Summary It has been found that the effect of a radial temperature gradient on the Taylor stability problem for a viscoelastic fluid and for a Newtonian fluid is the same.

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Résumé On montre que l'effet d'un gradient de la température radial sur le problème de stabilité de Taylor pour un fluide viscoélastique est semblable à celui d'un fluide Newtonien.