New oxacalix[4]arene carboxylate detects viologen in protic media

ABSTRACT

We demonstrate that Ullman fragment-coupling can be used to synthesise an oxacalix[4]arene monocarboxylic acid, which provides easy access to its water-soluble carboxylato derivatives. Crystallographic and computational data suggest that the new carboxyl-substituted oxacalix[4]arene adopts a 1,3-alternate conformation both in the solid-state and in methanol solution. Its water-soluble tetrabutylammonium derivate can detect the herbicide paraquat at neutral pH in aqueous media (K _a = 111 ± 3 M^–1) and in methanol (K _a = 2020 ± 70 M^–1).     

Free radical oxidation reaction for selectively solvatochromic sensors with dynamic sensing ability

A novel BODIPY (boradiazaindacene) dye denoted as BODIPY-DT containing terpyridine unit has been designed and characterized. The dye is found to be selective and visual solvatochromic sensor toward DMF among test organic solvents. The sensing process displays time-controllable, dynamic signal outputs in the emission colors including red, purple, yellow and even white emission colors. It is presented that selective free radical oxidation reaction happens during the recognition process.     

B-, N-doped and BN codoped C60 heterofullerenes for environmental monitoring of NO and NO2: a DFT study

ABSTRACT

Using density functional theory calculations, we investigate the gas sensing performance of B-, N-doped and BN-codoped C₆₀ fullerenes towards NO and NO₂ molecules. The calculated adsorption energies and net charge-transfer values indicate that NO and NO₂ molecules have a stronger interaction with the BN-codoped fullerenes compared to the B- or N-doped ones. It is also found that the electronic properties of the BN-codoped C₆₀ exhibit a larger sensitivity towards NO and NO₂ molecules. An increase in the concentration of doped/co-doped B and N atoms tends to weaken the gas sensing ability of these systems.     

Well-posedness for the massive nonlinear wave equation on asymptotically AdS spacetimes

In this paper, we prove some well-posedness theorems for the nonlinear massive wave equation (with the mass satisfying the Breitenlohner-Freedman bound) on asymptotically anti-de Sitter spaces. The solution is constructed by contraction mapping method and also as a limit of solutions to an initial boundary value problem with boundary at a finite location in spacetime by finally pushing the boundary out to infinity. The solution obtained is unique within the energy class.     

Approximate Entropy of Brain Network in the Study of Hemispheric Differences

Human brain, a dynamic complex system, can be studied with different approaches, including linear and nonlinear ones. One of the nonlinear approaches widely used in electroencephalographic (EEG) analyses is the entropy, the measurement of disorder in a system. The present study investigates brain networks applying approximate entropy (ApEn) measure for assessing the hemispheric EEG differences; reproducibility and stability of ApEn data across separate recording sessions were evaluated. Twenty healthy adult volunteers were submitted to eyes-closed resting EEG recordings, for 80 recordings. Significant differences in the occipital region, with higher values of entropy in the left hemisphere than in the right one, show that the hemispheres become active with different intensities according to the performed function. Besides, the present methodology proved to be reproducible and stable, when carried out on relatively brief EEG epochs but also at a 1-week distance in a group of 36 subjects. Nonlinear approaches represent an interesting probe to study the dynamics of brain networks. ApEn technique might provide more insight into the pathophysiological processes underlying age-related brain disconnection as well as for monitoring the impact of pharmacological and rehabilitation treatments.     

Broadband mode converter and multiplexer based on dielectric-loaded plasmonic waveguides

We theoretically demonstrate a broadband mode converter and multiplexer based on plasmonic waveguides loaded with structured dielectrics. The proposed device can realize conversions between a fundamental TM₀ mode and a first order TM₁ mode, as well as (de)multiplex them with another TM₀ mode. Our design exhibits as wide as 400 nm bandwidth and as short as 6~7 μm coupling length. This work has potential application in high density photonic integrated devices for both computing and communication applications.     

Facet-dependent antibacterial activity of Au nanocrystals

Engineered nanomaterials have attracted significantly attention as one of the most promising antimicrobial agents for against multidrug resistant infections. The toxicological responses of nanomaterials are closely related to their physicochemical properties, and establishment of a structure-activity relationship for nanomaterials at the nano-bio interface is of great significance for deep understanding antibacterial toxicity mechanisms of nanomaterials and designing safer antibacterial nanomaterials. In this study, the antibacterial behaviors of well-defined crystallographic facets of a series of Au nanocrystals, including {100}-facet cubes, {110}-facet rhombic dodecahedra, {111}-facet octahedra, {221}-facet trisoctahedra and {720}-facet concave cubes, was investigated, using the model bacteria Staphylococcus aureus. We find that Au nanocrystals display substantial facet-dependent antibacterial activities. The low-index facets of cubes, octahedra, and rhombic dodecahedra show considerable antibacterial activity, whereas the high-index facets of trisoctahedra and concave cubes remained inert under biological conditions. This result is in stark contrast to the previous paradigm that the high-index facets were considered to have higher bioactivity as compared with low-index facets. The antibacterial mechanism studies have shown that the facet-dependent antibacterial behaviors of Au nanocrystals are mainly caused by differential bacterial membrane damage as well as inhibition of cellular enzymatic activity and energy metabolism. The faceted Au nanocrystals are unique in that they do not induce generation of reactive oxygen species, as validated for most antibiotics and antimicrobial nanostructures. Our findings may provide a deeper understanding of facet-dependent toxicological responses and suggest the complexities of the nanomaterial-cell interactions, shedding some light on the development of high performance Au nanomaterials-based antibacterial therapeutics.     

思维导图促进分析化学课堂思政教学的探索——以“酸碱滴定法基本原理”为例

在分析化学课程的教学中,通过充分发掘其中的思政元素,将其与教学内容进行有机结合,达到育人的目的。通过引入思维导图教学法,搭建思政元素与教学内容的桥梁,学生可以快速把握所学知识。通过学生的表现,分析教学效果,存在的问题等,为课堂思政与本科化学教学有机结合提供一定的借鉴。     

初中化学青年教师常态课教学课例研究* ——基于弗兰德斯互动分析系统

弗兰德斯互动分析系统可以量化课堂教学中的语言行为。以初中化学一节常态课为研究课例,基于弗兰德斯互动分析系统,结合教师他评和自评,从教学目标、教学内容、教学过程和教学效果等4方面进行了全面的分析与评价,并根据评价结果,针对教学目标制订、有效提问、科学的课堂语言结构的营造以及实验探究的实施等提出了可行性的有效策略,从而为青年教师通过教学实践来促进个人专业发展提供依据。