Multivariate optimization and comparison between conventional extraction (CE) and ultrasonic-assisted extraction (UAE) of carotenoid extraction from cashew apple

Carotenoids are an essential component of cashew and can be used in pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, natural pigment, food additives, among other applications. The present work focuses on optimizing and comparing conventional and ultrasound-assisted extraction methods. Every optimization step took place with a 1:1 (w:w) mixture of yellow and red cashew apples lyophilized and ground in a cryogenic mill. A Simplex-centroid design was applied for both methods, and the solvents acetone, methanol, ethanol, and petroleum ether were evaluated. After choosing the extractor solvent, a central composite design was applied to optimize the sample mass (59–201 mg) and extraction time (6–34 min). The optimum conditions for the extractor solvent were 38% acetone, 30% ethanol, and 32% petroleum ether for CE and a mixture of 44% acetone and 56% methanol for UAE. The best experimental conditions for UAE were a sonication time of 19 min and a sample mass of 153 mg, while the CE was 23 min and 136 mg. Comparing red and yellow cashews, red cashews showed a higher carotenoid content in both methodologies. The UAE methodology was ca. 21% faster, presented a more straightforward composition of extracting solution, showed an average yield of superior carotenoid content in all samples compared to CE. Therefore, UAE has demonstrated a simple, efficient, fast, low-cost adjustment methodology and a reliable alternative for other applications involving these bioactive compounds in the studied or similar matrix.     

Direct visualization of structural defects in 2D semiconductors

Direct visualization of the structural defects in two-dimensional (2D) semiconductors at a large scale plays a significant role in understanding their electrical/optical/magnetic properties, but is challenging. Although traditional atomic resolution imaging techniques, such as transmission electron microscopy and scanning tunneling microscopy, can directly image the structural defects, they provide only local-scale information and require complex setups. Here, we develop a simple, non-invasive wet etching method to directly visualize the structural defects in 2D semiconductors at a large scale, including both point defects and grain boundaries. Utilizing this method, we extract successfully the defects density in several different types of monolayer molybdenum disulfide samples, providing key insights into the device functions. Furthermore, the etching method we developed is anisotropic and tunable, opening up opportunities to obtain exotic edge states on demand.     

基于有限体积虚拟区域方法的两相流动直接模拟

为提高计算效率，提出有限体积法离散下的虚拟区域颗粒两相流动直接模拟方法.在控制方程中加入相应的虚拟区域源项，保证了颗粒内部的刚体运动特性.该源项中含有颗粒信息部分及流体信息部分.在每次迭代后，对源项中的流体信息部分进行更新，从而更好地保证颗粒内速度的刚体分布.计算静止颗粒圆柱绕流及单个颗粒的沉降过程，验证了算法的准确性.     

Palladium‐Catalyzed Direct Cross‐Coupling of Carboranyllithium with (Hetero)Aryl Halides

A palladium‐catalyzed direct C‐arylation reaction of readily available cage carboranyllithium reagents with aryl halides has been developed for the first time. This method is applicable to a wide range of aryl halide substrates including aryl iodides, aryl bromides, and heteroaromatic halides.     

Analysis of diverse direct arylation polymerization (DArP) conditions toward the efficient synthesis of polymers converging with stille polymers in organic solar cells

Despite the emergence of direct arylation polymerization (DArP) as an alternative method to traditional cross‐coupling routes like Stille polymerization, the exploration of DArP polymers in practical applications like polymer solar cells (PSCs) is limited. DArP polymers tend to have a reputation for being marginally inferior to Stille counterparts due to the increased presence of defects that result from unwanted side reactions in direct arylation, such as unselective C‐H bond activation and homocoupling. We report ten DArP protocols across the three major classes of DArP to generate poly[(2,5‐bis(2‐hexyldecyloxy)phenylene)‐alt‐(4,7‐di(thiophen‐2‐yl)benzo[c][1,2,5]thiadiazole)] (PPDTBT). Through evaluation of the method and resulting photophysical and electronic properties, we show not all DArP methods are suitable for generating device‐quality alternating copolymers. When DArP PPDTBT was synthesized in superheated THF with Cs₂CO₃, neodecanoic acid, and P(o‐anisyl)₃, it generated polymers of exceptional quality that performed comparably to Stille counterparts in both roll coated ITO‐free and spin‐coated ITO devices. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2016 , 54, 2907–2918     

Hetaryl- and heteroarylvinyl-substituted nitrofurans identified as non-cytotoxic selective antitubercular agents

New (E)-5-[2-(5-nitrofuran-2-yl)vinyl]-1,2,4-oxadiazoles and 5-(5-nitrofuran-2-yl)-1,2,4-oxadiazoles were synthesized via the base-promoted condensation of nitrofuran-containing acyl chlorides with amidoximes. Testing these compounds against Gram-negative E. coli, Gram-positive B. subtilis and S. aureus as well as M. tuberculosis HRv37 strain revealed three compounds being selectively antimycobacterial. None of these compounds displayed any cytotoxicity towards human pancreatic epithelioid carcinoma cell line, PANC-1.     

Study of semileptonic decay of ${\bar{B}}_{s}^{0} \rightarrow \phi {l}^{+}{l}^{-}$ in QCD sum rule

In this work we study the semileptonic decay of ${\bar{B}}_{s}^{0}\to \phi {l}^{+}{l}^{-}$ (l=e, μ, τ) with the QCD sum rule method. We calculate the ${\bar{B}}_{s}^{0}\to \phi $ translation form factors relevant to this semileptonic decay, then the branching ratios of ${\bar{B}}_{s}^{0}\to \phi {l}^{+}{l}^{-}$ (l=e, μ, τ) decays are calculated with the form factors obtained here. Our result for the branching ratio of ${\bar{B}}_{s}^{0}\to \phi {\mu }^{+}{\mu }^{-}$ agree very well with the recent experimental data. For the unmeasured decay modes such as ${\bar{B}}_{s}^{0}\to \phi {e}^{+}{e}^{-}$ and ${\bar{B}}_{s}^{0}\to \phi {\tau }^{+}{\tau }^{-}$, we give theoretical predictions.     

相位可控的核四极矩共振激励脉冲发生器设计

在核四极矩共振（NQR）领域，射频激励脉冲信号的优劣对NQR响应信号有重要影响.针对常规方法中射频激励脉冲参数不可控的问题，本文基于32位闪存微型控制器STM32和直接数字频率合成（DDS）芯片AD9910设计了一种相位可控激励脉冲发生器.采用STM32控制AD9910产生波形参数（脉冲宽度、脉冲间隔、脉冲个数和共振频率等）可控的射频激励脉冲，利用LabVIEW软件平台设计脉冲参数设置界面，并建立计算机与微控制器通信，实现波形参数的精确优化控制.实验结果表明，该方法实现了相位可控的NQR激励脉冲序列，可为后续NQR信号检测提供有效激励源.