How does the skin sense sun light? An integrative view of light sensing molecules

The consensus on the effects of excessive sun exposure on human health has long emphasized the negative effects of solar UV radiation. Nevertheless, although UV radiation has been demonized, less is known about the consequences of sun exposure while using sunscreen, which can lead to high visible light exposure. UV and visible light play key roles in vitamin D synthesis, reduction of blood pressure, among other beneficial effects. In this review, we aim to provide a comprehensive view of the wide range of responses of the human skin to sunlight by revisiting data on the beneficial and harmful effects of UV and visible light. We start by exploring the interaction of photons in the skin at several levels including physical (depth of photon penetration), chemical (light absorption and subsequent photochemical events), and biological (how cells and tissues respond). Skin responses to sun exposure can only be comprehensively understood through a consideration of the light-absorbing molecules present in the skin, especially the light-sensing proteins called opsins. Indeed, many of the cellular responses to sun exposure are modulated by opsins, which act as the “eyes of the skin”.     

Ag_3PO_4/MoS_2纳米片复合催化剂制备及可见光催化性能

采用机械球磨法成功制备Ag_3PO_4/MoS_2纳米片复合催化剂。运用X射线衍射仪(XRD)、透射电子显微镜(TEM)、扫描电子显微镜(SEM)、紫外可见漫反射光谱(UV-Vis)和荧光发射光谱(PL)对复合催化剂的结构和形貌进行了表征。结果表明,Ag_3PO_4纳米粒子均匀地附着在MoS_2纳米片层结构上,两者形成紧密结合。以亚甲基蓝为模拟污染物,研究复合催化剂在可见光照射下的光催化特性;通过循环实验考察复合催化剂的稳定性。结果显示,含有1%的MoS_2纳米片与Ag_3PO_4形成的复合催化剂在30 min内对亚甲基蓝的降解率为95%,其降解动力学常数是纯相Ag_3PO_4的2倍。经过5次循环实验后复合催化剂对于亚甲基蓝的降解率为84%,而纯Ag_3PO_4对于亚甲基蓝的降解率仅为35%。Ag_3PO_4/MoS_2纳米片复合催化剂具有优良的光催化活性和高稳定性,主要归因于二硫化钼纳米片与磷酸银形成异质结,磷酸银激发的电子和二硫化钼纳米片产生的空穴直接复合,从而促使光生电子从磷酸银晶体表面快速分离,减轻了磷酸银的光电子腐蚀,同时也提高了复合物的光催化活性。     

中空花状可见光响应催化剂g-C_3N_4@BiOCl的制备及其光催化活性

以g-C_3N_4/H_2SO_4溶液和硝酸铋为前驱体,采用自组装法制备了中空花状且具有可见光响应能力的异质结光催化剂gC_3N_4@BiOCl。利用X射线衍射、电子扫描显微镜、高分辨透射电镜、X射线能谱、紫外可见漫反射光谱及X射线光电子能谱等表征手段确证了催化剂的结构。该催化剂能够有效地实现光生电子-空穴的分离,表现出优异的可见光催化活性。通过对50 mg·L~(-1)罗丹明B的降解实验验证了g-C_3N_4@BiOCl的光催化活性,在可见光条件下(λ≥420 nm)的降解效率优良,12 min即可达到99%。     

铌酸锰-还原氧化石墨烯复合光催化剂的构建以及可见光下降解亚甲基蓝

通过水热法和光还原方法成功地制备了铌酸锰-还原氧化石墨烯复合光催化剂。这种复合光催化剂可以明显地提高光催化降解亚甲基蓝的光催化活性,降解效率在60 min内达到了78.2%,是单体铌酸锰降解效率的2倍。通过活性物质捕获实验的研究,增强的光催化性能可以归因于还原氧化石墨烯加速了光生电子-空穴的分离效率,进而解决了低光催化活性的问题。     

超声萃取-高效液相色谱法同时测定人造革中7种苯并三唑类紫外线吸收剂含量

建立了超声萃取-高效液相色谱法(HPLC)同时测定人造革中7种苯并三唑类紫外线吸收剂UV-P、UV-326、UV-327、UV-329、UV-350、UV-320和UV-328含量的方法。该方法以甲醇为萃取溶剂,超声萃取人造革中的苯并三唑类紫外线吸收剂,萃取液经处理后直接进行HPLC分析,外标法定量。在信噪比(S/N)=3的条件下,UV-P、UV-326、UV-327、UV-329、UV-350的检出限均为0.05mg/kg,UV-320、UV-328的检出限均为0.10 mg/kg。在3个不同加标浓度水平下,各组分的平均加标回收率为88.19%~98.32%,相对标准偏差(RSD)为0.61%~3.74%。该方法简便快捷、灵敏度高,可用于人造革中苯并三唑类紫外线吸收剂的测定。采用该方法对市售人造革样品进行测定,结果在6个样品中检出了不同浓度水平的UV-P和UV-329。     

水杨酸钠紫外分光光度法测定烟草中的总氮

建立水杨酸钠紫外分光光度法测定烟草中总氮含量的方法。烟草样品经硫酸铜–硫酸钾–浓硫酸消化,用水杨酸钠–二氯异氰尿酸钠显色后用紫外分光光度计检测,并对波长、显色剂用量和反应时间等实验条件进行了优化。总氮的质量浓度在5~60 mg/L范围内与其吸光度呈良好的线性关系,线性相关系数为0.998 8,方法的检出限为0.14 mg/L。样品分析结果的相对标准偏差为3.22%(n=6),样品加标回收率为99.30%~101.62%。该方法具有较高的精密度和准确度,尤其适用于样品量少时对烟草中总氮的测定。     

Simulating Light Scattering Behavior of Branched Molecules

Monte Carlo simulations reveal long chain branching (LCB) topology based on kinetics of systems like low‐density polyethylene (ldPE). Examining the topologies computed shows the majority of branch arms to be short as compared to backbone length, while also a significant branch‐on‐branch fine structure is observed. Until now, predicting scattering function P ⁻¹(θ) from LCB has only been successful for structures like simple combs or stars. Topologies in graph theoretical form are used to predict scattering function P ⁻¹(θ) and by summating intramolecular distances, accounting for branching and excluded volume. Experimental size exclusion chromatography with multiangle light scattering can be brought in line with the predicted branching character. Branching is less than predicted due to a different fine structure in ldPE leading to stronger size contraction.     

New evaporative light scattering detector for high temperature gel permeation chromatography

A new evaporative light scattering detector (ELSD) for the analysis of polyolefins by high temperature gel permeation chromatography (GPC) was recently introduced by Agilent Technologies. For the first time, we investigated the possibility to use this detector to measure the molecular weight distributions (MWD) of different type of polyolefines (polypropylene, linear, and low-density polyethylene). These samples were previously characterized by GPC with a differential refractive index (DRI) detector by several companies, in an interlaboratory study conducted by International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry.^[1 Luruli, N. 2010. PHASE 1: IUPAC SEC/GPC Round Robin Project Report: Repeatability and Reproducibility of Sample Preparation and Analysis in High-Temperature SEC, http://media.iupac.org/projects/2005/2005-011-3-400_rpt-phase1_110510.pdf [Google Scholar]^] The excellent baseline stability of ELSD as compared with DRI was reflected in a better reproducibility of the measured average molecular weights. More importantly, after applying required corrections to linearize the response of the ELSD as a function of concentration, we obtained similar results as previously obtained with DRI for the MWD of analyzed resins, covering typical applications of polyolefins.     

Behavior of thermosensitive graft copolymer with aromatic polyester backbone and poly-2-ethyl-2-oxazoline side chains in aqueous solutions

Thermoresponsive graft copolymers with alkylene-aromatic polyester main chain and poly-2-ethyl-2-oxazoline side chains were synthesized. Two copolymer samples which differed in grafting density (0.5 and 0.7) were studied using dynamic and static light scattering and turbidimetry in aqueous solutions at concentration 0.0053?g?cm^?3. Hydrodynamic radii of scattering objects and their contribution to light scattering were obtained as a function of temperature in a wide temperature interval. Temperatures of phase separation were found out. Effect of grafting density on the copolymer behavior in aqueous solutions upon heating was determined. In particular, the phase separation temperature reduces with the decreasing grafting density.