Generic Uniqueness of Solutions for a Class of Vector Ky Fan Inequalities

This paper is intended mainly to present some generic uniqueness results for a class of vector Ky Fan inequalities. By employing the methods of set-valued analysis, we prove that, in the sense of Baire category, most of the problems in a complete metric space, consisting of vector Ky Fan inequalities satisfying some conditions, have unique solution and that every vector Ky Fan inequality, possessing more than one solution, can be approached arbitrarily by a sequence of vector Ky Fan inequalities each of which has a unique solution. Our discussions are under two different settings. One setting is related to vector Ky Fan inequalities defined on a compact set; the other is related to vector Ky Fan inequalities defined on a noncompact set. The corollaries of our results generalized the corresponding results in the literature.     

Quantitative study of cellular heterogeneity in doxorubicin uptake and its pharmacological effect on cancer cells

Cellular heterogeneity in doxorubicin (DOX) uptake and its relationship with pharmacological effect on cancer cells were quantitatively investigated for the first time. An in vitro experimental model was established by treating human leukemia K562 and breast cancer MCF‐7 cells with different schedules of DOX with or without surface P‐glycoprotein (P‐gp) inhibitor verapamil (VER). The cellular heterogeneity in DOX uptake was quantitatively examined by single‐cell analysis using capillary electrophoresis coupled with laser‐induced fluorescence detection. The corresponding cytotoxic effect was tested by cellular morphology, 3‐(4,5‐dimethylthiazol‐2‐yl)‐2,5‐diphenyl‐tetrazolium and flow cytometry assays. The expression of cellular membrane surface P‐gp was determined by flow cytometry. Results showed that the cellular heterogeneity exists in DOX uptake. The single‐high DOX schedule leads to lower uptake heterogeneity and higher mean drug uptake. The cellular heterogeneity in DOX uptake was found to be negatively correlated with drug cytotoxicity and surface P‐gp expression, with r = ?0.7680 to ~ ?0.9587. VER reduces the cellular variation in DOX uptake, suggesting that surface P‐gp may be one of the causes of the cellular heterogeneity in DOX uptake. This research demonstrates the importance of quantitative study of cellular heterogeneity in drug uptake and its potential application in drug schedule design, response prediction and therapy modulation. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Telaprevir fragments as organocatalysts in asymmetric direct aldol reactions of aldehydes

We have demonstrated that the fragments of Telaprevir can act as organocatalysts for asymmetric aldol reactions between aromatic aldehydes and acetone under mild conditions. The reaction conditions have been optimized in terms of the catalyst nature, choice of temperature, solvent, additive, and the catalyst loading. Under proper conditions, fairly good yield and enantioselectivity have been achieved.     

Two 2D Metal‐organic Networks Based on a Rigid Imidazolate/Sulfonate Functionalized Ligand – Effect of the Coordination Modes of the Ligand on Crystal Structures

A rigid imidazolate/sulfonate functionalized ligand, 6‐(4‐sulfonatopheny)imidazo[4, 5‐f]isoindole‐5, 7‐dione (SPID) was designed and used for assembling reactions with Mn²⁺ and Cu²⁺ ions. Two 2D frameworks compounds, [Mn(H_‐1SPID)₂(DMAC)₂] ( 1 ) and [Cu(H_‐2SPID)(H₂O)₂] · 0.7DMAC · 0.3H₂O ( 2 ) (DMAC = N,N‐dimethylacetamide) were obtained. Single crystal X‐ray analyses show that 1 has a 2D (4, 4)‐net based on 4‐connected Mn²⁺ nodes and μ₂‐coordinated H_‐1SPID spacers, whereas compound 2 has a 2D (6, 3)‐net built of 3‐connected Cu²⁺ nodes and μ₃‐coordinated H_‐2SPID spacers. Additionally, the thermal behavior of 1 and 2 is presented.     

Enhanced Catalytic Activity in Liquid‐Exfoliated FeOCl Nanosheets as a Fenton‐Like Catalyst

A facile liquid‐phase exfoliation method to prepare few‐layer FeOCl nanosheets in acetonitrile by ultrasonication is reported. The detailed exfoliation mechanism and generated products were investigated by combining first‐principle calculations and experimental approaches. The similar cleavage energies of FeOCl (340 mJ m^?2) and graphite (320 mJ m^?2) confirm the experimental exfoliation feasibility. As a Fenton reagent, FeOCl nanosheets showed outstanding properties in the catalytic degradation of phenol in water at room temperature, under neutral pH conditions, and with sunlight irradiation. Apart from the increased surface area of the nanosheets, the surface state change of the nanosheets also plays a key role in improving the catalytic performance. The changes of charge density, density of states (DOS), and valence state of Fe atoms in the exfoliated FeOCl nanosheets versus plates illustrated that surface atomistic relationships made the few‐layer nanosheets higher activity, indicating the exfoliation process of the FeOCl nanosheets also brought about surface state changes.     

Bruceines K and L from the Ripe Fruits of Brucea javanica

Bruceine K ( 1 ), a pentacyclic C₂₀‐quassinoid bearing a unique 12,20‐epoxy moiety, and bruceine L ( 2 ), along with the ten known compounds (6S,7E)‐6,9,10‐trihydroxy‐ and (6S,7E)‐6,9‐dihydroxymegastigma‐4,7‐dien‐3‐one ( 3 and 4 , resp.), cleomiscosins A–C, luteoline, quercetine, bruceantinol, pinoresinol, and thevetiaflavone, were isolated from the ripe fruits of Brucea javanica. Bruceines K ( 1 ) and L ( 2 ) were determined to be (1β,2α,11β,12β,14ξ,15β)‐12,20‐epoxy‐1,2,11,13,14,15‐hexahydroxypicras‐3‐en‐16‐one and (1β,2α,11β,12β,15β)‐13,20‐epoxy‐1,2,11,12‐tetrahydroxy‐16‐oxo‐15‐(senecioyloxy)picras‐3‐en‐21‐oic acid methyl ester (senecioic acid=3‐methylbut‐2‐enoic acid), respectively, on the basis of NMR (¹H‐ and ¹³C‐NMR, DEPT, ¹H,¹H‐COSY, NOESY, HMQC, and HMBC) and ESI‐MS data. Among the known compounds, (6S,7E)‐6,9,10‐trihydroxy‐ and (6S,7E)‐6,9‐dihydroxymegastigma‐4,7‐dien‐3‐one ( 3 and 4 , resp.), cleomiscosin C, luteoline, quercetine, and thevetiaflavone were isolated for the first time from the Brucea plants.     

Synthesis,Characterization, and Magnetic Properties of Novel Cobalt(II) and Copper(II) Complexes with 5‐(Isonicotinamido)isophthalate Ligand

Two new complexes, {[Co(INAIP) · H₂O] · 2H₂O}_n ( 1 ), and {[Cu(INAIP)] · H₂O}_n ( 2 ) [H₂INAIP = 5‐(isonicotinamido)isophthalic acid] were synthesized under hydrothermal conditions, and characterized by single‐crystal X‐ray structure determination, thermogravimetric analysis, X‐ray powder diffraction, and magnetic studies. In complex 1 both Co^II atoms and INAIP^2– ligands act as four‐connected node, whereas in 2 both Cu^II atoms and INAIP^2– ligands act as three‐connected node.     

Photocatalytic property of surface-modified TiO<Subscript>2</Subscript> nanobelts under visible light irradiation

A novel plasmonic photocatalyst, i.e., acid-etched TiO₂ nanobelts attached with Ag/AgI nanoparticles (NPs) was prepared by deposition–precipitation-photoreduction method. Such surface-modified nanobelts had larger area than the normal one. Ag NPs were formed from AgI by photo-reduction under Xenon lamp irradiation. X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy analysis, UV–Vis diffuse reflectance spectra and fluorescence spectra were used to characterize the structure and optical properties of the sample. The obtained sample exhibited strong photodegradation of methyl orange (MO) under visible light irradiation, which were attributed to both the surface plasmon resonance of Ag NPs and the visible light actived AgI. The photodegradation was accomplished by the transfer of photoexcited electrons from the Ag NPs to the acid-etched TiO₂ nanobelts. After four cycles of photodegradation the photocatalyst was still stable. This novel photocatalyst had a high potential application in wastewater-treatment and biomedical engineering.