Determination of Ascorbic Acid,Total Ascorbic Acid,and Dehydroascorbic Acid in Bee Pollen Using Hydrophilic Interaction Liquid Chromatography-Ultraviolet Detection

Ascorbic acid (AA) is one of the essential nutrients in bee pollen, however, it is unstable and likely to be oxidized. Generally, the oxidation form (dehydroascorbic acid (DHA)) is considered to have equivalent biological activity as the reduction form. Thus, determination of the total content of AA and DHA would be more accurate for the nutritional analysis of bee pollen. Here we present a simple, sensitive, and reliable method for the determination of AA, total ascorbic acids (TAA), and DHA in rape (Brassica campestris), lotus (Nelumbo nucifera), and camellia (Camellia japonica) bee pollen, which is based on ultrasonic extraction in metaphosphoric acid solution, and analysis using hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography (HILIC)-ultraviolet detection. Analytical performance of the method was evaluated and validated, then the proposed method was successfully applied in twenty-one bee pollen samples. Results indicated that contents of AA were in the range of 17.54 to 94.01 µg/g, 66.01 to 111.66 µg/g, and 90.04 to 313.02 µg/g for rape, lotus, and camellia bee pollen, respectively. In addition, percentages of DHA in TAA showed good intra-species consistency, with values of 13.7%, 16.5%, and 7.6% in rape, lotus, and camellia bee pollen, respectively. This is the first report on the discriminative determination between AA and DHA in bee pollen matrices. The proposed method would be valuable for the nutritional analysis of bee pollen.     

Preparation of Antioxidant Protein Hydrolysates from Pleurotus geesteranus and Their Protective Effects on H2O2 Oxidative Damaged PC12 Cells

Pleurotus geesteranus is a promising source of bioactive compounds. However, knowledge of the antioxidant behaviors of P. geesteranus protein hydrolysates (PGPHs) is limited. In this study, PGPHs were prepared with papain, alcalase, flavourzyme, pepsin, and pancreatin, respectively. The antioxidant properties and cytoprotective effects against oxidative stress of PGPHs were investigated using different chemical assays and H₂O₂ damaged PC12 cells, respectively. The results showed that PGPHs exhibited superior antioxidant activity. Especially, hydrolysate generated by alcalase displayed the strongest 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activity (91.62%), 2,2-azino-bis (3-ethylbenzothia zoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) radical scavenging activity (90.53%), ferric reducing antioxidant power, and metal ion-chelating activity (82.16%). Analysis of amino acid composition revealed that this hydrolysate was rich in hydrophobic, negatively charged, and aromatic amino acids, contributing to its superior antioxidant properties. Additionally, alcalase hydrolysate showed cytoprotective effects on H₂O₂-induced oxidative stress in PC12 cells via diminishing intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation by stimulating antioxidant enzyme activities. Taken together, alcalase hydrolysate of P. geesteranus protein can be used as beneficial ingredients with antioxidant properties and protective effects against ROS-mediated oxidative stress.     

Antiperovskite Intermetallic Nanoparticles for Enhanced Oxygen Reduction

Antiperovskite Co₃InC_0.7N_0.3 nanomaterials with highly enhanced oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) performance were prepared by tuning nitrogen contents through a metal–organic framework (MOF)‐derived strategy. The nanomaterial surpasses all reported noble‐metal‐free antiperovskites and even most perovskites in terms of onset potential (0.957 V at J=0.1 mA cm^?2) and half‐wave potential (0.854 V). The OER and zinc–air battery performance demonstrate its multifunctional oxygen catalytic activities. DFT calculation was performed and for the first time, a 4 e^? dissociative ORR pathway on (200) facets of antiperovskite was revealed. Free energy studies showed that nitrogen substitution could strengthen the OH desorption as well as hydrogenation that accounts for the enhanced ORR performance. This work expands the scope for material design via tailoring the nitrogen contents for optimal reaction free energy and hence performance of the antiperovskite system.     

Designing Sub‐2 nm Organosilica Nanohybrids for Far‐Field Super‐Resolution Imaging

Stimulated emission depletion (STED) microscopy enables ultrastructural imaging of biological samples with high spatiotemporal resolution. STED nanoprobes based on fluorescent organosilica nanohybrids featuring sub‐2 nm size and near‐unity quantum yield are presented. The spin–orbit coupling (SOC) of heavy‐atom‐rich organic fluorophores is mitigated through a silane‐molecule‐mediated condensation/dehalogenation process, resulting in bright fluorescent organosilica nanohybrids with multiple emitters in one hybrid nanodot. When harnessed as STED nanoprobes, these fluorescent nanohybrids show intense photoluminescence, high biocompatibility, and long‐term photostability. Taking advantage of the low‐power excitation (0.5 μW), prolonged singlet‐state lifetime, and negligible depletion‐induced re‐excitation, these STED nanohybrids present high depletion efficiency (>96 %), extremely low saturation intensity (0.54 mW, ca. 0.188 MW cm^?2), and ultra‐high lateral resolution (ca. λ_em/28).     

Unraveling Dual Aggregation‐Induced Emission Behavior in Steric‐Hindrance Photochromic System for Super Resolution Imaging

Unprecedented dual aggregation‐induced emission (AIE) behavior based on a steric‐hindrance photochromic system is presented, with incorporation one or two bulky aryl groups, resulting in different flexibleness. The dual AIE behavior of open and closed isomers can be explained by restriction of intramolecular rotation (RIR), restriction of intramolecular vibration (RIV), and intermolecular stacking. The large bulky benzothiophene causes restricted rotation, enhancing the emission of open form in solution and weak π–π molecular packing, thereby efficiently enhancing the luminescence performance in the solid state. With incorporation of two large bulky benzothiophene groups, BBTE possesses the most outstanding AIE activity, undergoing highly efficient and reversible off‐to‐on fluorescence in film upon alternating UV and visible light irradiation along with excellent fatigue resistance. The off‐to‐on fluorescent photoswitch is successfully established in super resolution imaging.     

Direct Imaging of Atomically Dispersed Molybdenum that Enables Location of Aluminum in the Framework of Zeolite ZSM‐5

Integrated differential phase‐contrast scanning transmission electron microscopy (iDPC‐STEM) is capable of directly probing guest molecules in zeolites, owing to its sufficient and interpretable image contrast for both heavy and light elements under low‐dose conditions. This unique ability is demonstrated by imaging volatile organic compounds adsorbed in zeolite Silicalite‐1; iDPC‐STEM was then used to investigate molybdenum supported on various zeolites including Silicalite‐1, ZSM‐5, and mordenite. Isolated single‐Mo clusters were observed in the micropores of ZSM‐5, demonstrating the crucial role of framework Al in driving Mo atomically dispersed into the micropores. Importantly, the specific one‐to‐one Mo‐Al interaction makes it possible to locate Al atoms, that is, catalytic active sites, in the ZSM‐5 framework from the images, according to the positions of Mo atoms in the micropores.     

Deciphering an Abnormal Layered‐Tunnel Heterostructure Induced by Chemical Substitution for the Sodium Oxide Cathode

Demands for large‐scale energy storage systems have driven the development of layered transition‐metal oxide cathodes for room‐temperature rechargeable sodium ion batteries (SIBs). Now, an abnormal layered‐tunnel heterostructure Na_0.44Co_0.1Mn_0.9O₂ cathode material induced by chemical element substitution is reported. By virtue of beneficial synergistic effects, this layered‐tunnel electrode shows outstanding electrochemical performance in sodium half‐cell system and excellent compatibility with hard carbon anode in sodium full‐cell system. The underlying formation process, charge compensation mechanism, phase transition, and sodium‐ion storage electrochemistry are clearly articulated and confirmed through combined analyses of in situ high‐energy X‐ray diffraction and ex situ X‐ray absorption spectroscopy as well as operando X‐ray diffraction. This crystal structure engineering regulation strategy offers a future outlook into advanced cathode materials for SIBs.     

Solid-Solution Effect on Grain Boundary Character Distribution and Corrosion Resistance of 304 Stainless Steel

Russian Journal of Electrochemistry - In this study, we focus on the effect of solid-solution treatment on the susceptibility to intergranular corrosion and electrochemical corrosion of 304...     

One‐step synthesis of polysiloxane graft polyethylene mimic: Non‐expensive compatibilizer for polyethylene/polysiloxane blend

Polysiloxane/polyolefin copolymers have drawn much attention recently and emerged as a new group of functional polyolefin since they possess distinctive properties and find great potential applications in many areas (eg, compatibilizer, processing aid and surface modifier). However, traditional routes to synthesize polysiloxane/polyolefin copolymers generally require multi‐step labor‐consuming procedures. Herein, we report a novel one‐step synthesis of polydimethylsiloxane graft polyethylene (PDMS‐g‐PE) mimics. It was found that PDMS‐g‐PE mimics, namely vinylmethylsiloxane‐dimethylsiloxane‐(C30‐45 alkyl)methylsiloxane copolymers (short for VD‐AMS), could be formed via a one‐step synthetic procedure based on the siloxane equilibrium process between silanol‐terminated vinylmethylsiloxane‐methylsiloxane copolymer and (C30‐45 alkyl)methylsilicone. The chemical structures of VD‐AMS were characterized unambiguously using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, nuclear magnetic resonance, gel permeation chromatography, differential scanning calorimetry. The correlation between reaction conditions and the structural parameters of VD‐AMS was established. Based on our experimental results, a plausible mechanism for the synthesis of VD‐AMS was proposed. Scanning electron microscopy micrographs showed that VD‐AMS could function as an efficient compatibilizer for immiscible PE/silicone blend. Given that the precursors of VD‐AMS are commercially available with low prices and that VD‐AMS can be easily synthesized under mild conditions, we believe VD‐AMS can represent as a competitive potential compatibilizer due to its relatively low cost.     

Switchable Polymerization Triggered by Fast and Quantitative Insertion of Carbon Monoxide into Cobalt–Oxygen Bonds

A strategy that uses carbon monoxide (CO) as a molecular trigger to switch the polymerization mechanism of a cobalt Salen complex [salen=(R,R)‐N,N′‐bis(3,5‐di‐tert‐butylsalicylidene)‐1,2‐cyclohexanediamine] from ring‐opening copolymerization (ROCOP) of epoxides/anhydrides to organometallic mediated controlled radical polymerization (OMRP) of acrylates is described. The key phenomenon is a rapid and quantitative insertion of CO into the Co?O bond, allowing for in situ transformation of the ROCOP active species (Salen)Co^III‐OR into the OMRP photoinitiator (Salen)Co^III‐CO₂R. The proposed mechanism, which involves CO coordination to (Salen)Co^III‐OR and subsequent intramolecular rearrangement via migratory insertion has been rationalized by DFT calculations. Regulated by both CO and visible light, on‐demand sequence control can be achieved for the one‐pot synthesis of polyester‐b‐polyacrylate diblock copolymers (?<1.15).