An Inexact Modified Newton Method for Viscc and Application in Grasping Force

Acta Mathematicae Applicatae Sinica, English Series - For the variational inequality with symmetric cone constraints problem, we consider using the inexact modified Newton method to efficiently...     

Polystyrene-supported phosphine oxide-catalysed Beckmann rearrangement of ketoximes in 1,1,1,3,3,3-hexafluoro-2-propanol

A polystyrene-supported phosphine oxide-catalysed Beckmann rearrangement of ketoximes in 1,1,1,3,3,3-hexafluoro-2-propanol (HFIP) has been developed. Good substrate compatibility, mild reaction conditions, good yields as well as the reusability of the catalyst/solvent made this procedure more environmentally benign.     

Insight into shear‐induced modification for improving processability of polymers: Effect of shear rate on the evolution of entanglement state

Many experimental results have revealed that the re‐entanglement kinetics of disentangled polymers is much slower than that predicted by tube theory. This retarded recovery of fully entangled state is of practical significance that shear‐induced modification may offer a way to improve processability for a polymer by reducing viscosity. This work tried to figure out the shear‐rate dependence variation of viscosity in the view of evolution of entanglement state through disentanglement and re‐entanglement, aiming to provide fundamental insights into application prospect of shear‐induced modification in preparing “in‐pellet” disentangled polymers prior to final processing. High‐density polyethylene was sheared on a parallel‐plate rotational rheometer with a linearly increased shear rate. Results showed that higher shear rate could induce further disentanglement, resulting in a lower viscosity with a reduction rate up to 93.7%, larger molecular weight between entanglements M_e , and longer re‐entanglement time. Additionally, less entanglement would give a larger lamellar thickness of sheared samples after nonisothermal crystallization. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part B: Polym. Phys. 2019 , 57, 598–606     

Nukiangendines A and B,two novel 13,14-seco-abietanes from Abies nukiangensis

From Abies nukiangensis, two novel 13,14-seco-abietane diterpenes, nukiangendines A (1) and B (2) were isolated. Their relative structures were determined by extensive NMR and HRMS spectroscopic analysis. The absolute configuration of 1 was established by ECD calculations. Compound 1 showed significant anti-hepatitis C virus (HCV) effects.     

Metabolomic analysis of raw Pinelliae Rhizoma and its alum‐processed products via UPLC–MS and their cytotoxicity

Alum‐processing is a traditional method to attenuate the toxicity of Pinelliae Rhizoma (tubers of Pinellia ternate, PT). The present study aimed at investigating the chemical and cytotoxic changes during alum processing. Metabolomic profiles of raw and alum‐processed PT were studied based on ultra‐performance liquid chromatography coupled with Orbitrap mass spectrometry. More than 80 chemicals in positive MS mode and 40 chemicals in negative MS mode, such as organic acids, amino acids, glucosides and nucleosides, were identified after multivariate statistical analysis, including principal component analysis and orthogonal partial least‐square discriminant analysis. Almost all of the identified chemical markers were significantly decreased ~10‐ to 100‐fold after alum processing. Meanwhile, the correlations between the chemical markers were assimilated to a positive coefficient from disorderly distribution during the processing. Raw PT extracts could inhibit the proliferation of human carcinoma cells (HCT‐116, HepG2, and A549) at the rate of 40.5, 24.8 and 31.6% more strongly than processed PT. It was concluded that the alum processing of PT could decrease the number of actively water‐soluble principles at the same time as decreasing toxicity. Given the water‐insoluble property of toxic calcium oxalate raphides in PT, we suggest that a more scientific processing method should be sought.     

Thieno[3,2‐b]Thiophene End‐Capped all‐Sulfur Analog of 3,4‐Ethylenedioxythiophene and its Eletrosynthesized Polymer: Is Distorted Conformation Not Suitable for Electrochromism?

By employing planar thieno[3,2‐b]thiophene (TT) as end‐capped units and famous 3,4‐ethylenedioxythiophene (EDOT) or its all‐sulfur analog 3,4‐ethylenedithiathiophene (EDTT) as cores, two conjugated oligomer, TT‐EDOT‐TT and TT‐EDTT‐TT, have been synthesized and electropolymerized into electrochromic polymer films, P(TT‐EDOT‐TT) and P(TT‐EDTT‐TT), respectively. Due to strongly noncovalent inter/intramolecular interactions from S? S attraction of TT‐EDTT‐TT, it has twisted molecular configuration in contrast to planar TT‐EDOT‐TT. Spectroscopic, electrochemical, morphological as well as theoretical calculation studies of these oligomers or polymers were carried out to reveal the significant influence of such molecular geometry on their physicochemical and optoelectronic properties. According to electrochromic kinetics, P(TT‐EDTT‐TT) presented preferable electrochromic behavior such as the higher optical contrast (70.8%), favorable coloration efficiency (331.3 cm² C^?1) and fast response time (0.72 s). This research will help us deeply understand the effect of spatial organization of precursor molecules on the properties of electrochromic polymers and provides a promising strategy to develop high‐performance electrochromic materials. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2019 , 57, 1041–1048     

Hydrogen-Bond Cyclization Programming of Ultrasensitive Esters and Its Application in Gene Delivery

The ester bond as a universal linker has recently been applied in gene delivery systems owing to its efficient gene release by electrostatic repulsion after its cleavage. However, the ester bond is nonlabile and is difficult to cleave in cells. This work reports a method in which a secondary amine was introduced to the β-position of the ester bond to generate a hydrogen-bond cyclization (HBC) structure that can make the ester bond hydrolysis ultrafast. A series of molecules comprising ultrasensitive esters that can be activated by H₂O₂ were synthesized, and it was found that those able to form an HBC structure showed complete ester hydrolysis within 5 h in both water and phosphate-buffered saline solution, which was several times faster than other methods reported. Then, a series of amphiphilic poly(amidoamine) dendrimers were constructed, comprising the ultrasensitive ester groups for gene delivery; it was found that they could effectively release genes under quite a low concentration of H₂O₂ (<200 μm ) and transport them into the nucleus within 2 h in Hela cells with high safety. Their gene transfection efficiencies were higher than that of PEI_25k. The results demonstrated that the hydrogen-bond-induced ultrasensitive esters could be powerfully applied to construct gene delivery systems.     

A One-Dimensional Coordination Polymer Based on 1H-Benzimidazole-2-methanol

Crystallography Reports - A coordination polymer, [CuL]n (HL = 1H-benzimidazole-2-methanol), has been hydrothermally synthesized and structurally characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction....     

Non-isothermal thermogravimetric analysis of pyrolysis kinetics of four oil shales using Sestak–Berggren method

Journal of Thermal Analysis and Calorimetry - In this study, the non-isothermal pyrolysis method was used to investigate the pyrolysis characteristics of oil shale from four areas: namely Nongan,...