Analysis of variations in the contents of steroidal saponins in Fructus Tribuli during stir-frying treatment

Just as natural saponins transform into aglycones, secondary glycosides and their derivatives using biotransformation technology, steroidal saponins may also undergo similar transformation after stir-frying. The purpose of this study was to elucidate the variations and the reasons for these variations in the contents of steroidal saponins in Fructus Tribuli (FT) during a stir-frying treatment. Stir-fried FT was processed in different time–temperature conditions. An UHPLC–MS/MS method was established and fully validated for quantitative analysis. In addition, the simulation processing products of tribuluside A, terrestroside B, terrestrosin K, terrestrosin D and 25R-tribulosin were determined by qualitative analysis using UHPLC–Q-TOF–MS. The established UHPLC–MS/MS method provides a rapid, flexible, and reliable method for the quality assessment of FT. The present study revealed that furostanol saponins with a C22-OH group could transform into corresponding furostanol saponins with a C-20–C-22 double bond (FSDB) via dehydroxylation. Additionally, FSDB could be successively converted into its secondary glycosides via a deglycosylation reaction. The transformation of spirostanol saponins into corresponding aglycones via deglycosylation led to a decrease in spirostanol saponins and an increase in aglycones. The results of this research provided scientific evidence of variation and structural transformation among steroidal saponins. These findings might be helpful for elucidating the processing mechanism of FT.     

Pharmacokinetic study of tanshinol and ligustrazine in rat plasma after intravenous administration of tanshinol and Danshen Chuanxiongqin Injection

To investigate the effect of ligustrazine on the pharmacokinetic profile of tanshinol after intravenous administration in rats, a sensitive liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry method was developed and validated for quantitative determination of tanshinol and ligustrazine in rat plasma. After prepared by protein precipitation, the analytes were separated on a Waters Acquity HSS T3 column (100 × 2.1 mm, 1.8μm) and eluted by 0.1% formic acid in water and acetonitrile at a flow rate of 0.4 ml/min. The precursor–product ion transitions were m/z 197.0 → 135.0 for tanshinol, m/z 417.1 → 255.1 for liquiritin (internal standard) in negative ion mode and m/z 137.1 → 55.0 for ligustrazine in positive ion mode. To avoid the interference of tanshinol metabolite transformation, the stability of analytes in samples collected after administration was assessed. The validated method was successfully applied to a pharmacokinetic study after intravenous administration of single tanshinol and Danshen Chuanxiongqin Injection. After Danshen Chuanxiongqin injection administration, the values of elimination half-time, area under the concentration–time curve and C_o were 0.36 ± 0.13 h, 1.29 ± 0.37 μg/ml h and 10.51 ± 2.58 μg/ml for male rats, respectively. In the single tanshinol group, the corresponding values were 0.56 ± 0.24 h, 1.85 ± 0.44 μg/ml h and 14.11 ± 2.26 μg/ml for male rats—30–40% higher than those for the Danshen Chuanxiongqin Injection group. There was a significant different between male and female rats. This study provided information on the influence of ligustrazine on the pharmacokinetic characteristics of tanshinol after intravenous administration of Danshen Chuanxiongqin Injection in rats, which will be helpful for its clinical application.     

What is the form of muscimol from fly agaric mushroom (Amanita muscaria) in water? An insight from NMR experiment supported by molecular modeling

The biologically active alkaloid muscimol is present in fly agaric mushroom (Amanita muscaria), and its structure and action is related to human neurotransmitter _γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA). The current study reports on determination of muscimol form present in water solution using multinuclear ¹H and ¹³C nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) experiments supported by density functional theory molecular modeling. The structures of three forms of free muscimol molecule both in the gas phase and in the presence of water solvent, modeled by polarized continuous model, and nuclear magnetic isotropic shieldings, the corresponding chemical shifts, and indirect spin–spin coupling constants were calculated. Several J-couplings observed in proton and carbon NMR spectra, not available before, are reported. The obtained experimental spectra, supported by theoretical calculations, favor the zwitterion form of muscimol in water. This structure differs from NH isomer, previously determined in dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) solution. In addition, positions of signals C3 and C5 are reversed in both solvents.     

Thermal cross-link between 2,5-furandicarboxylic acid-based polyimides and bismaleimide via Diels–Alder reaction

A series of cross-linked polyimides (PIs) were prepared via two-step solution polycondensation from 2,2-bis[4-(3,4-dicarboxyphenoxy)phenyl]propane dianhydride (BPADA) and 2,5-furandicarboxylic acid-based diamines, N,N′-bis(4-amino-2-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)furan-2,5-dicarboxamide (TFFDA) and N,N′-bis(4-aminophenyl)furan-2,5-dicarboxamide (p-FDDA), followed by thermal crosslinking reaction with bismaleimide. The thermal crosslinking reaction and its mechanism were studied by FTIR spectra and model reaction analysis, which showed Diels–Alder reaction between furan group and maleimide group played a main role in the thermal treatment. The properties of cross-linked PIs were characterized using dynamic mechanical thermal analysis, thermogravimetric analyses, tensile testing, ultraviolet-visible spectra, and wide-angle X-ray diffraction. The cross-linked polyimide film showed improved solvent-resistance, thermal and mechanical properties with T_g values of 234–306^oC, tensile strengths of 82–98 MPa and moduli of 2.3–3.0 GPa.     

Cobalt-Catalyzed Regio- and Stereoselective Hydroboration of Allenes

An efficient pincer-ligand-based cobalt-complex-catalyzed allene hydroboration affording Z-allylic boronates is described. The reaction demonstrates an excellent regio- as well as Z-stereoselectivity and a wide substrate scope that tolerates many functional groups. Based on solvent-assisted electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (SAESI-MS) studies, a rationale for the cobalt-catalyzed hydroboration involving the highly selective insertion of an allene into the Co−H bond to form Z-allylic cobalt intermediates is proposed.     

Redox-Active Two-Dimensional Covalent Organic Frameworks (COFs) for Selective Reductive Separation of Valence-Variable,Redox-Sensitive and Long-Lived Radionuclides

We report the first example of 2D covalent organic framework nanosheets (Redox-COF1) for the selective reduction and in situ loading of valence-variable, redox-sensitive and long-lived radionuclides (abbreviated as VRL nuclides). Compared with sorbents based on chemical adsorption and physical adsorption, the redox adsorption mechanism of Redox-COF1 can effectively reduce the impact of functional group protonation under the usual high-acidity conditions in chemisorption, and raise the adsorption efficiency from the monotonous capture by pores in physisorption. The adsorption selectivity for UO₂²⁺ reaches up to unprecedented ca. 97 % at pH 3, more than for any analogous adsorbing material.     

传输线方程的高精度龙格−库塔数值求解方法

提出了一种求解传输线方程的高精度龙格-库塔(RK)方法。此方法在空间上采取高阶泰勒展开,提高了对空间微分的近似精度,减少了数值色散所带来的误差。与传统的时域有限差分法(FDTD)方法相比,在每波长采样数相同时,RK方法的计算精度更高。同时,根据Taylor模型,对外界平面波激励源进行离散,成功利用RK方法对外部场激励传输线进行求解,扩大了龙格-库塔方法在求解传输线方程时的应用范围。通过编程对平面波辐照下无限大地平面上的单导体与双导体的算例分别应用FDTD方法与RK方法进行了计算,验证了RK方法的正确性。结果表明同等计算条件下RK方法的计算精度更高。     

Multi-reference lens-less Fourier-transform holography with a Greek-ladder sieve array

Lens-less Fourier-transform holography has been actively studied because of its simple optical structure and its single-shot recording.However,a low-contrast interferogram between the reference and object waves limits its signal to noise ratio.Here,multi-reference lens-less Fourier-transform holography with a Greek-ladder sieve array is proposed in the experiment and demonstrated effectively to improve the signal to noise ratio.The key technique in our proposed method is a Greek-ladder sieve array,which acts as not only a wave-front modulator but also a beam splitter.With advantages of the common path,single shot,and no need for a lens,this system has enormous potential in imaging and especially in extreme ultraviolet and soft X-ray holography.     

碳纳米管的可控长度拾取及导电性分析

拾取指定长度的半导体性碳纳米管对大规模制造碳纳米管场效应管具有重要意义.本文提出了一种利用原子力显微镜探针和钨针对碳纳米管进行可控长度拾取的方法并进行了碳纳米管导电性分析.在扫描电子显微镜下搭建微纳操作系统,针对切割操作过程中原子力显微镜探针、钨针和碳纳米管的接触情况进行了力学建模和拾取长度误差分析.建立了单根金属性碳纳米管、单根半导体性碳纳米管及碳纳米管束与钨针接触的电路模型,推导了接入不同性质碳纳米管后电路的电流电压特性方程.使用原子力显微镜探针对碳纳米管的空间位姿进行调整,控制钨针对碳纳米管上目标位置进行通电切割,同时获取切割电路中的电流电压数据.实验结果表明,本文提出的方法能够有效控制所拾取碳纳米管的长度,增加碳纳米管与原子力显微镜探针的水平接触长度能够减小碳纳米管形变导致的拾取长度误差,建立的电流电压特性方程能够用于分析碳纳米管的导电性.