Fluorescence resonance energy transfer between cerium ion(III) and levofloxacin in micellar solution and its analytical application to the determination of levofloxacin

Fluorescence resonance energy transfer between cerium ion(III) and levofloxacin is studied in a micellar solution of cetyltrimethyl ammonium bromide. A non-fluorescent 1:2 complex was formed between excited cerium ion(III) and ground state levofloxacin. The fluorescence of cerium ion(III) is quenched by levofloxacin with the quenching in accordance with the Stern–Volmer relation. The analytical relationship was established between the ratio of the fluorescence of levofloxacin present and absent cerium ion (III) and the concentration of levofloxacin, which helped to estimate the content of levofloxacin directly.     

Radiolabeling of EGCG with 125I and its biodistribution in mice

The aim of the present study was to label EGCG with ¹²⁵I and to determine its radiopharmaceutical potential in mice. EGCG was labeled with ¹²⁵I using the iodogen method. The labeling yield and the radiochemical purity of ¹²⁵I–EGCG were determined by radio thin-layer chromatography (RTLC). The Labeling yield was approximately 89.4 %. The radiochemical purity was approximately 96.4 %. The biodistribution studies of the labeled compound (specific activity; 0.47 TBq/μg) were performed in male Kunming mice. The uptakes of ¹²⁵I–EGCG in some organs were determined at different time after injection to the mice. The radioactivity in each organ was counted and the percentage of injected activity per gram of tissue weight (%ID/g) for each organ and blood was calculated. Incorporation of radioactivity in the various tissue/organ was confirmed by microautoradiography. ¹²⁵I–EGCG uptake in the stomach and salivary gland was higher than other organ/tissue. The black silver grains was concentrated in the nucleus, cytoplasm, intercellular substance and capillaries of that various organs, and its unevenly distributed. Thus, ¹²⁵I–EGCG may be radiopharmaceutical for the imaging of the stomach and salivary gland.     

Metal flux through consuming interfaces in ligand mixtures: boundary conditions do not influence the lability and relative contributions of metal species

In a mixture of metal ions and complexes, it is difficult to predict ecological risk without understanding the contribution of each metal species to biouptake. For microorganisms, the rate of uptake (internalization flux) has not only a major influence on the total metal flux but also on the bioavailability of the various metal species and their relative contributions to the total flux. In this paper, the microorganism is considered as a consuming interface, which interacts with the metal ion, M, via the Michaelis-Menten boundary conditions. The contribution of each metal complex to the overall metal flux, in relation to its lability, is examined for a number of important boundary parameters (the equilibrium constant K(a) of metal with transport sites, internalization rate constant k(int) and total transport sites concentration {R}(t)). Computations were performed for Cu(II) complexes, in a multicomponent culture medium for microoganisms. For a one-ligand system, results were acquired using rigorous mathematical expressions, whereas approximate expressions, based on the reaction layer approximation (RLA) and rigorous numerical computations (computer codes MHEDYN and FLUXY), were employed for ligand mixtures. Under the condition of ligand excess, as often found in the natural environment, the relative contribution of each metal species to the total flux is shown to be independent of the boundary conditions. This finding has important implications, including an improved basis for relating the analytical signals of dynamic metal speciation sensors to metal bioavailability.     

Spin Manipulation in a Metal–Organic Layer through Mechanical Exfoliation for Highly Selective CO2 Photoreduction

Spin manipulation of transition-metal catalysts has great potential in mimicking enzyme electronic structures to improve activity and/or selectivity. However, it remains a great challenge to manipulate room-temperature spin state of catalytic centers. Herein, we report a mechanical exfoliation strategy to in situ induce partial spin crossover from high-spin (s=5/2) to low-spin (s=1/2) of the ferric center. Due to spin transition of catalytic center, mixed-spin catalyst exhibits a high CO yield of 19.7 mmol g⁻¹ with selectivity of 91.6 %, much superior to that of high-spin bulk counterpart (50 % selectivity). Density functional theory calculations reveal that low-spin 3d-orbital electronic configuration performs a key function in promoting CO₂ adsorption and reducing activation barrier. Hence, the spin manipulation highlights a new insight into designing highly efficient biomimetic catalysts via optimizing spin state.     

Dynamic system for reference signal transmission and reconstruction in distributed MIMO radars

The renormalization method based on the Taylor expansion for asymptotic analysis of differential equations is generalized to difference equations. The proposed renormalization method is based on the Newton–Maclaurin expansion. Several basic theorems on the renormalization method are proven. Some interesting applications are given, including asymptotic solutions of quantum anharmonic oscillator and discrete boundary layer, the reductions and invariant manifolds of some discrete dynamics systems. Furthermore, the homotopy renormalization method based on the Newton–Maclaurin expansion is proposed and applied to those difference equations including no a small parameter. In addition, some subtle problems on the renormalization method are discussed.     

Roles of dynamic metal speciation and membrane permeability in metal flux through lipophilic membranes: general theory and experimental validation with nonlabile complexes

The study of the role of dynamic metal speciation in lipophilic membrane permeability in aqueous solution requires accurate interpretation of experimental data. To meet this goal, a general theory is derived for describing 1:1 metal complex flux, under steady-state and ligand excess conditions, through a permeation liquid membrane (PLM). The theory is applicable to fluxes through any lipophilic membrane. From this theory, fluxes in the three rate-limiting conditions for metal transport are readily derived, corresponding, namely, to (i) diffusion in the source solution, (ii) diffusion in the membrane, and (iii) the chemical kinetics of formation/dissociation of the metal complex in the interfacial reaction layer. The theory enables discussion of the reaction layer concept in a more general frame and also provides unambiguous criteria for the definition of an inert metal complex. The theoretical flux equations for fully labile complexes were validated in a previous paper. The general theory for semi- or nonlabile complexes is validated here by studying the flux of Pb(II) through PLMs in contact with solutions of Pb(II)-NTA and Pb(II)-TMDTA at different pHs and flow rates.