Negative compressibility property in hinging open-cell Kelvin structure

A new three-dimensional(3 D) cellular model based on hinging open-cell Kelvin structure is proposed for its negative compressibility property. It is shown that this model has adjustable compressibility and does exhibit negative compressibility for some certain conformations. And further study shows that the images of compressibility are symmetrical about the certain lines, which indicates that the mechanical properties of the model in the three axial directions are interchangeable and the model itself has a certain geometric symmetry. A comparison of the Kelvin model with its anisotropic form with the dodecahedron model shows that the Kelvin model has stronger negative compressibility property in all three directions.Therefore, a new and potential method to improve negative compressibility property can be derived by selecting the system type with lower symmetry and increasing the number of geometric parameters.     

Synthesis and characterization of new homologue multinary selenides,M2Sb5Bi5Se17 (M = Sn,Pb)

New quaternary selenides M₂Sb₅Bi₅Se₁₇ (M = Sn, Pb) were synthesized using solid-state sintering reactions that crystallize in the monoclinic system with C2/m (No. 12) space group with lattice parameters a = 27.914(7) Å, b = 4.0804(11) Å, c = 15.512(4) Å, and β = 114.881(9)° for M = Sn, and a = 27.987(3) Å, b = 4.1062(5) Å, c = 15.6372(19) Å, and β = 115.318(3)° for M = Pb, respectively. The crystal structure is related to a homologous series [A⁺²_2x−4B⁺³₄ Se⁻²_2x−2][B⁺³_2y−2Se⁻²_3y−3] with (x, y) = (3, 4) that contains building units of two-dimensional slabs of NaCl¹¹¹-type [Sb₂Bi₄Se₁₁] separated by 1D ribbons NaCl¹⁰⁰-type [Pb₂Sb₃BiSe₆]. The NaCl¹¹¹ unit contains edge-shared octahedra filled with Sb³⁺ and Bi³⁺ cations, which are parallel and overlapped to form a step-layer 2D network stacking alone [001]. The NaCl¹⁰⁰ type ribbons containing Pb²⁺ and Sb³⁺ in square or trigonal pyramidal environments with the general formula [M₆Se₆] filled in the space between 2D layers of NaCl¹¹¹ units. The conductivity measurement revealed semiconducting property with band gaps of ~0.1 eV. Pb₂Sb₅Bi₅Se₁₇ exhibits low thermal conductivity 3,000 μW cm⁻¹ K⁻¹ in a temperature range of 300–480 K.     

In silico study of novel niclosamide derivatives,SARS-CoV-2 nonstructural proteins catalytic residue-targeting small molecules drug candidates

The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2)-mediated coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection remains a global pandemic and health emergency with overwhelming social and economic impacts throughout the world. Therapeutics for COVID-19 are limited to only remdesivir; therefore, there is a need for combined, multidisciplinary efforts to develop new therapeutic molecules and explore the effectiveness of existing drugs against SARS-CoV-2. In the present study, we reported eight (SCOV-L-02, SCOV-L-09, SCOV-L-10, SCOV-L-11, SCOV-L-15, SCOV-L-18, SCOV-L-22, and SCOV-L-23) novel structurally related small-molecule derivatives of niclosamide (SCOV-L series) for their targeting potential against angiotensin-converting enzyme-2 (ACE2), type II transmembrane serine protease (TMPRSS2), and SARS-COV-2 nonstructural proteins (NSPs) including NSP5 (3CLpro), NSP3 (PLpro), and RdRp. Our correlation analysis suggested that ACE2 and TMPRSS2 modulate host immune response via regulation of immune-infiltrating cells at the site of tissue/organs entries. In addition, we identified some TMPRSS2 and ACE2 microRNAs target regulatory networks in SARS-CoV-2 infection and thus open up a new window for microRNAs-based therapy for the treatment of SARS-CoV-2 infection. Our in vitro study revealed that with the exception of SCOV-L-11 and SCOV-L-23 which were non-active, the SCOV-L series exhibited strict antiproliferative activities and non-cytotoxic effects against ACE2- and TMPRSS2-expressing cells. Our molecular docking for the analysis of receptor-ligand interactions revealed that SCOV-L series demonstrated high ligand binding efficacies (at higher levels than clinical drugs) against the ACE2, TMPRSS2, and SARS-COV-2 NSPs. SCOV-L-18, SCOV-L-15, and SCOV-L-09 were particularly found to exhibit strong binding affinities with three key SARS-CoV-2’s proteins: 3CLpro, PLpro, and RdRp. These compounds bind to the several catalytic residues of the proteins, and satisfied the criteria of drug-like candidates, having good adsorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion, and toxicity (ADMET) pharmacokinetic profile. Altogether, the present study suggests the therapeutic potential of SCOV-L series for preventing and managing SARs-COV-2 infection and are currently under detailed investigation in our lab.     

Rotation-Inversion Isomerization of Tertiary Carbamates: Potential Energy Surface Analysis of Multi-Paths Isomerization Using Boltzmann Statistics

Potential energy surface (PES) analyses at the SMD[MP2/6–311++G(d,p)] level and higher-level energies up to MP4(fc,SDTQ) are reported for the fluorinated tertiary carbamate N-ethyl-N-(2,2,2-trifluoroethyl) methyl carbamate ( VII ) and its parent system N,N-dimethyl methyl carbamate ( VI ). Emphasis is placed on the analysis of the rotational barrier about the CN carbamate bond and its interplay with the hybridization of the N-lone pair (NLP). All rotational transition state (TS) structures were found by computation of 1D relaxed rotational profiles but only 2D PES scans revealed the rotation-inversion paths in a compelling fashion. We found four unique chiral minima of VII , one pair each of E- and Z-rotamers, and we determined the eight unique rotational TS structures associated with every possible E/Z-isomerization path. It is a significant finding that all TS structures feature N-pyramidalization whereas the minima essentially contain sp²-hybridized nitrogen. We will show that the TS stabilities are affected by the synergetic interplay between NLP/CO₂ repulsion minimization, NLP→σ^*(CO) negative hyperconjugation, and two modes of intramolecular through-space electrostatic stabilization. We demonstrate how Boltzmann statistics must be applied to determine the predicted experimental rotational barrier based on the energetics of all eight rotamerization pathways. The computed barrier for VII is in complete agreement with the experimentally measured barrier of the very similar fluorinated carbamate N-Boc-N-(2,2,2-trifluoroethyl)-4-aminobutan-1-ol II . NMR properties of VII were calculated with a variety of density functional/basis set combinations and Boltzmann averaging over the E- and Z-rotamers at our best theoretical level results in good agreement with experimental chemical shifts δ(¹³C) and J(¹³C,¹⁹F) coupling constants of II (within 6 %).     

亲水头基大小对正负离子表面活性剂混合体系的影响

<正>负离子表面活性剂混合体系曾被认为是表面活性剂配方的禁忌,但通过增大表面活性剂头基的面积,正负混合体系在很宽的物质的量比下都不会产生沉淀,而且还会产生显著的增效效应。头基大的离子型表面活性剂甚至能够用来增溶难溶的反电荷表面活性剂。     

锂离子电容器(LIC)产业前沿技术研究进展

新能源战略体系的建设和电子技术的飞速发展对储能器件的性能提出了更高的要求,锂离子电容器是将锂离子电池和双电层电容器“内部交叉”的新型混合储能器件,兼具高能量密度和高功率密度,近年来引起了国内外的广泛关注.本文阐述了锂离子电容器的工作原理和国内外产业发展现状,总结了碳负极的预赋锂技术、电极材料与体系匹配性研究等关键技术前沿的研究成果,并提出了后续产业化研究中所需要解决的实际问题.     

Pinensins: The First Antifungal Lantibiotics

Lantibiotics (lanthionine‐containing antibiotics) from Gram‐positive bacteria typically exhibit activity against Gram‐positive bacteria. The activity and structure of pinensin A ( 1 ) and B ( 2 ), lantibiotics isolated from a native Gram‐negative producer Chitinophaga pinensis are described. Surprisingly, the pinensins were found to be highly active against many filamentous fungi and yeasts but show only weak antibacterial activity. To the best of our knowledge, lantibiotic fungicides have not been described before. An in‐depth bioinformatic analysis of the biosynthetic gene cluster established the ribosomal origin of these compounds and identified candidate genes encoding all of the enzymes required for post‐translational modification. Additional encoded functions enabled us to build up a hypothesis for the biosynthesis, export, sensing, and import of this intriguing lantibiotic.     

An Accurate In Vitro Model of the E. coli Envelope

Gram‐negative bacteria are an increasingly serious source of antibiotic‐resistant infections, partly owing to their characteristic protective envelope. This complex, 20 nm thick barrier includes a highly impermeable, asymmetric bilayer outer membrane (OM), which plays a pivotal role in resisting antibacterial chemotherapy. Nevertheless, the OM molecular structure and its dynamics are poorly understood because the structure is difficult to recreate or study in vitro. The successful formation and characterization of a fully asymmetric model envelope using Langmuir–Blodgett and Langmuir–Schaefer methods is now reported. Neutron reflectivity and isotopic labeling confirmed the expected structure and asymmetry and showed that experiments with antibacterial proteins reproduced published in vivo behavior. By closely recreating natural OM behavior, this model provides a much needed robust system for antibiotic development.     

Tutorial review on validation of liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry methods: Part I

This is the part I of a tutorial review intending to give an overview of the state of the art of method validation in liquid chromatography mass spectrometry (LC–MS) and discuss specific issues that arise with MS (and MS/MS) detection in LC (as opposed to the “conventional” detectors). The Part I briefly introduces the principles of operation of LC–MS (emphasizing the aspects important from the validation point of view, in particular the ionization process and ionization suppression/enhancement); reviews the main validation guideline documents and discusses in detail the following performance parameters: selectivity/specificity/identity, ruggedness/robustness, limit of detection, limit of quantification, decision limit and detection capability. With every method performance characteristic its essence and terminology are addressed, the current status of treating it is reviewed and recommendations are given, how to determine it, specifically in the case of LC–MS methods.