New analytical method for the study of the metabolism of gentiopicroside in rats after oral administration by LC–TOF‐MS following picolinoyl derivatization

The metabolism of gentiopicroside (GPS) in vivo was studied for the first time by LC–MS following picolinoyl derivatization. Incubation of erythrocentaurin, one of the main in vitro metabolites of GPS by intestinal bacteria, with liver microsome indicated that GPS might be metabolized to a final metabolite 3,4‐dihydro‐5‐(hydroxymethyl)isochroman‐1‐one (HMIO) in vivo. After hydrolysis with sulfatase, HMIO was successfully detected in rat plasma after oral administration of GPS by LC–MS following picolinoyl derivatization. 4‐Methoxyphenyl methanol was used as an internal standard to quantify HMIO in rat plasma. A metabolic pathway of GPS in rats is proposed. The monoterpene compound GPS was found to be metabolized to dihydroisocoumarin, which may be responsible for the pharmacological effect of GPS.     

Preparation and characterization of Ti0.7Sn0.3O2 as catalyst support for oxygen reduction reaction

Sn-doped TiO_2 nanoparticles with high surface area of 125.7 m~2·g~(-1) are synthesized via a simple one-step hydrothermai method and explored as the cathode catalyst support for proton exchange membrane fuel cells.The synthesized support materials are studied by X-ray diffraction analysis,energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy and transmission electron microscopy.It is found that the conductivity has been greatly improved by the addition of 30 mol%Sn and Pt nanoparticles are well dispersed on Ti_(0.7)Sn_(0.3)O_2 support with an average size of 2.44 run.Electrochemical studies show that the Ti_(0.7)Sn_(0.3)O_2 nanoparticles have excellent electrochemical stability under a high potential compared to Vulcan XC-72.The as-synthesized Pt/Ti_(0.7)Sn_(0.3)O_2 exhibits high and stable electrocatalytic activity for the oxygen reduction reaction.The Pt/Ti_(0.7)Sn_(0.3)O_2 catalyst reserves most of its electrochemically active surface area(ECA),and its half wave potential difference is 11 mV,which is lower than that of Pt/XC-72(36 mV) under 10 h potential hold at 1.4 V vs.NHE.In addition,the ECA degradation of Pt/Ti_(0.7)Sn_(0.3)O_2is 1.9 times lower than commercial Pt/XC-72 under 500 potential cycles between 0.6 V and 1.2 V vs.NHE.Therefore,the as synthesized Pt/Ti_(0.7)Sn_(0.3)O_2 can be considered as a promising alternative cathode,catalyst for proton exchange membrane fuel cells.     

Selection of Planar Chiral Conformations between Pillar[5,6]arenes Induced by Amino Acid Derivatives in Aqueous Media

Chiral α-amino acids play critical roles in the metabolic process in nearly all life forms. So far, chiral recognition of α-amino acids has mainly focused on the determination of l /d enantiomers. Herein, selection of planar chiral conformations between water-soluble pillar[5]arene WP5 and pillar[6]arene WP6 was observed due to α-side chain or ethyl ester moieties of l -α-amino acid ethyl ester hydrochlorides binding with WP5 and WP6 , respectively. Therefore, α-side chain and ethyl ester moieties of l -α-amino acid ethyl ester hydrochlorides were recognized by observing the induced CD signal and its inversion. This is a rare example of being able to detect the chiral region around α-carbon of a chiral α-amino acid molecule.     

Local electronic and electrical properties of functionalized graphene nano flakes

Based on experimental findings models of amorphous graphene related carbon materials were generated using graphene nano flakes. On the optimized structures detailed local electronic properties were investigated using density functional theory. The electrical conductivities of all these models were also estimated using an in-house program based on tight-binding method. The calculated electrical conductivity values of all the models agreed well with the trend of calculated energy gap and graphitic character.     

THEORY OF DIELECTRIC ELASTOMERS

In response to a stimulus, a soft material deforms, and the deformation provides a function. We call such a material a soft active material （SAM）. This review focuses on one class of soft active materials： dielectric elastomers. When a membrane of a dielectric elastomer is subject to a voltage through its thickness, the membrane reduces thickness and expands area, possibly straining over 100%. The dielectric elastomers are being developed as transducers for broad applications, including soft robots, adaptive optics, Braille displays, and electric generators. This paper reviews the theory of dielectric elastomers, developed within continuum mechanics and thermodynamics, and motivated by molecular pictures and empirical observations. The theory couples large deformation and electric potential, and describes nonlinear and nonequilibrium behavior, such as electromechanical instability and viscoelasticity. The theory enables the finite element method to simulate transducers of realistic configurations, predicts the efficiency of electromechanical energy conversion, and suggests alternative routes to achieve giant voltage-induced deformation. It is hoped that the theory will aid in the creation of materials and devices.     

An AIE-Active probe for detection and bioimaging of pH values based on lactone hydrolysis reaction

Cellular pH homeostasis is essential for many physiological and pathological processes. pH monitoring is helpful for the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of disorders and diseases. Herein, we developed a ratiometric fluorescent pH probe (TCC) based on a coumarin derivative containing a highly active lactone ring. TCC exhibited a typical AIE effect and emitted blue fluorescence under weak acidic condition. When under weak basic condition, the active lactone moiety underwent a hydrolysis reaction to afford a water-soluble product, which gave red-shifted emission. The emission color change from blue through cyan and then to yellow within pH 6.5–9.0 which is approximate to the biological pH range. And the fluorescence color change along with pH value is reversible. Furthermore, TCC was successfully utilized in the detection of the intracellular pH change of live HeLa cells, which indicated that TCC had practical potential in biomedical research.

     

Gas-nanoparticle scattering: a molecular view of momentum accommodation function

We examine the origin of diffuse gas-particle scattering by molecular dynamics simulation and show that diffuse scattering is the consequence of gas molecule trapping on the particle surface. Trapping occurs because of gas-particle interactions and the particle's ability of energy accommodation. These observations explain the transition from specular-to-diffuse scattering as the particle size becomes larger than the molecular size. We discuss the implication of this transition on the transport properties of nanometer-size particles.     

Necklacelike solitons in optically induced photonic lattices

We report the first observation of stationary necklacelike solitons. Such necklace structures were realized when a high-order vortex beam was launched appropriately into a two-dimensional optically induced photonic lattice. Our theoretical results obtained with continuous and discrete models show that the necklace solitons resulting from a charge-4 vortex have a pi phase difference between adjacent "pearls" and are formed in an octagon shape. Their stability region is identified.