Effect of the topology on the antibacterial activity of cationic polythioether synthesized by all-click chemistry

Cationic compounds often serve as antibacterial materials for a wide range of applications. However, the relationship of topology−antibacterial activity has been rarely revealed. Herein, three cationic polythioethers (CPTEs) with hyperbranched topologies are well designed and facilely synthesized via an all-click chemistry strategy (including thiol-ene and epoxy-amine additions). These as-prepared CPTEs were found to exhibited outstanding antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus with minimum inhibitory concentrations against E. coli of 7.3, 14.6, and 14.6 μg ml⁻¹, and against S. aureus of 14.6, 29.2, and 29.2 μg ml⁻¹, respectively. The antibacterial activity is coincident with their degree of branching (DB, their DB values of 0.81, 0.48, and 0.27), which is mainly attributed to the inherent three-dimensional structure. The present strategy reveals the relationship of polymer topology and antibacterial activity, providing a novel possibility for designing and/or synthesis of high-efficiency antibacterial agents.     

一类变号(k,n-k)共轭边值问题正解的存在性

通过构造一个特殊的锥,利用范数形式的锥拉伸锥压缩不动点定理,在允许非线性项变号无下界且没有任何单调性假设的条件下,得出了一类高阶(k,n-k)共轭两点边值问题方程组正解的存在性结论.     

具有复合幂函数和共存吸引子的新混沌系统的动力学分析与电路仿真

构造一个具有复合幂函数的三维连续自治混沌系统。系统的状态方程仅有5项，其中一项是指数小于1的复合幂函数。该系统具有结构简单、非双曲平衡点、吸引子共存的性质，展现出了复杂的动力学行为。首先，对系统的动力学行为进行分析，包括李雅普诺夫（Lyapunov）指数谱、分岔图以及庞加莱映射等，结果表明此系统具有混沌特性。然后进行混沌系统的电路设计，电路仿真结果验证了理论分析的正确性。     

Insights into the Intraspecific Variability of the above and Belowground Emissions of Volatile Organic Compounds in Tomato

The in-vivo monitoring of volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions is a potential non-invasive tool in plant protection, especially in greenhouse cultivation. We studied VOC production from above and belowground organs of the eight parents of the Multi-Parent Advanced Generation Intercross population (MAGIC) tomato population, which exhibits a high genetic variability, in order to obtain more insight into the variability of constitutive VOC emissions from tomato plants under stress-free conditions. Foliage emissions were composed of terpenes, the majority of which were also stored in the leaves. Foliage emissions were very low, partly light-dependent, and differed significantly among genotypes, both in quantity and quality. Soil with roots emitted VOCs at similar, though more variable, rates than foliage. Soil emissions were characterized by terpenes, oxygenated alkanes, and alkenes and phenolic compounds, only a few of which were found in root extracts at low concentrations. Correlation analyses revealed that several VOCs emitted from foliage or soil are jointly regulated and that above and belowground sources are partially interconnected. With respect to VOC monitoring in tomato crops, our results underline that genetic variability, light-dependent de-novo synthesis, and belowground sources are factors to be considered for successful use in crop monitoring.     

两例相同混合配体构筑的Pb(Ⅱ)/Ag(I)配位聚合物及其荧光性质

多齿配体2-咪唑乙酸(Hima)、4,4'-连吡啶分别与金属盐Pb(NO₃)₂和AgNO₃反应,得到[Pb₂(4,4'-bipy)(ima)(NO₃)₃]_n(1, 3D framework)和[Ag₄(4, 4'-bipy)₃(ima)₂(NO₃)₂(H₂O)₂]_n(2, 3D framework)两个配位聚合物。根据配位聚合物的结构特点,研究了这两个配位聚合物荧光性质等物理化学性能。配位聚合物1在最大激发波长(λ_ex=346 nm)激发下,荧光的最大发射波长为552 nm,配位聚合物2在最大激发波长(λ_ex=369 nm)激发下,荧光的最大发射波长为444 nm。这可能是由于金属和配体之间发生了电荷转移(LMCT)。     

Goos-Hänchen and Imbert-Fedorov shifts in tilted Weyl semimetals

We establish the beam models of Goos-Hänchen (GH) and Imbert-Fedorov (IF) effects in tilted Weyl semimetals (WSMs), and systematically study the influences of Weyl cone tilting and chemical potential on the GH and IF shifts at a certain photon energy 1.96 eV. It is found that the GH and IF shifts in tilted type-I and type-Ⅱ WSMs are both almost symmetric about the Weyl cone tilting. Meanwhile, the GH and IF shifts in type-I WSMs almost do not change with the tilt degree of Weyl cones, while those in type-Ⅱ WSMs are extremely dependent on tilt degree. These trends are mainly due to the nearly symmetric distribution of WSMs conductivities, where the conductivities keep stable in type-I WSMs and gradually decrease with tilt degree in type-Ⅱ WSMs. By adjusting the chemical potential, the boundary between type-I and type-Ⅱ WSMs widens, and the dependence of the beam shifts on the tilt degree can be manipulated. Furthermore, by extending the relevant discussions to a wider frequency band, the peak fluctuation of GH shifts and the decrease of IF shifts occur gradually as the frequency increases, and the performance of beam shifts at photon energy 1.96 eV is equally suitable for other photon frequencies. The above findings provide a new reference for revisiting the beam shifts in tilted WSMs and determining the types of WSMs.     

Rice husk silica as a sustainable filler in the tire industry

In this paper, we studied commercially available precipitated rice husk silica (RHS) with conventional precipitated silica, which has nearly the same surface area, and replaced part of the carbon black with RHS and conventional silica in a basic tread formulation. All formulations were mixed with the same amount of filler during the study. Silica was used at 15, 30 and 50 phr loading, and part of the carbon black was replaced by silica. Compound curing characteristics, physical properties, rebound resilience, heat generation, abrasion loss, dynamic properties and morphology were analyzed. The results indicated that RHS demonstrated compound properties comparable to those of conventional silica. As part of the carbon black was replaced with conventional silica, a slower cure rate, higher rebound resilience, lower heat generation, lower abrasion loss, and lower tan delta were observed with no significant change in physical properties, but some changes in physical properties were observed using one way ANOVA analysis. We found the same trend when replacing part of the carbon black with RHS, such as a slower cure rate, higher rebound resilience, lower heat generation, lower abrasion loss, and lower tan delta with no significant change in physical properties, but some changes in physical properties were observed using one way ANOVA. This sustainable material could be used to replace conventional silica in tire compounding, as well as to replace a portion of carbon black with RHS for improved heat build-up, rolling resistance, and abrasion loss.     

Electrophoretic mobility of ester betulin derivatives and their complexation with γ-cyclodextrin studied by capillary electrophoresis in aqueous solutions at different pH values

In this article, capillary electrophoresis was used to measure the effective electrophoretic mobility of ester betulin derivatives as a pH function and to study their complexation with γ-cyclodextrin (γ-CD). The electrophoretic mobility of betulin 3,28-diphthalate (DPhB) and 3,28-disuccinate (DScB) changed unusually with decreasing pH: instead of decreasing, it first increased and then decreased. This fact as well as the turbidity of sample solutions at pH from 2.5 to 6, broadening of electrophoretic peaks and a decrease in the surface tension of the solutions indicates that these betulin derivatives, being amphiphilic compounds and weak acids, exist as micelles in aqueous solutions at pH 6 and below. The inclusion complexation of betulin derivatives with γ-CD at pH 9.18 and 4.5 was studied by mobility shift affinity capillary electrophoresis. At pH 9.18, the apparent binding (stability) constant logarithms for 1:1 γ-CD complexes of DPhB, betulin 3,28-disulfate (DSB) and DScB with 95% confidence interval limits were equal to 7.44 ± 0.02, 7.09 (7.01–7.19), and 6.97 (6.87–7.08) at 25°C, respectively. At pH 4.5, the binding constant for the DSB complex was slightly lower, while the micelle formation did not allow determining the exact values of the constants for the DPhB and DScB complexes.     

Colossal Stability of SiB11(BO)12−: An Implication as Potential Electrolyte in High-Voltage Alkali-ion Battery

High-voltage alkali metal-ion batteries (AMIBs) require a non-hazardous, low-cost, and highly stable electrolyte with a large operating potential and rapid ion conductivity. Here, we have reported a halogen-free high-voltage electrolyte based on SiB₁₁(BO)₁₂⁻. Because of the weak π-orbital interaction of −BO as well as the mixed covalent and ionic interaction between SiB₁₁-cage and −BO ligand, SiB₁₁(BO)₁₂⁻ has colossal stability. SiB₁₁(BO)₁₂⁻ possesses extremely high vertical detachment energy (9.95 eV), anodic voltage limit (∼10.05 V), and electrochemical stability window (∼9.95 V). Furthermore, SiB₁₁(BO)₁₂⁻ is thermodynamically stable at high temperatures, and its large size allows for faster cation movement. The alkali salts MSiB₁₁(BO)₁₂ (M=Li, Na, and K) are easily dissociated into ionic components. Electrolytes based on SiB₁₁(BO)₁₂⁻ greatly outperform commercial electrolytes. In short, SiB₁₁(BO)₁₂⁻-based compound is demonstrated to be a high-voltage electrolyte for AMIBs.