Metabolomics techniques applied in the investigation of phenolic acids from the agro-industrial by-product of Carapa guianensis Aubl

Processing of Carapa guianensis seeds to obtain oil on an industrial scale generates a significant amount of by-product, approximately 66% w/w, which is called cake and is a potential source of biomolecules, including simple phenolic structures. For this reason, studies were carried out on the chemical profiles of hydrolyzed extract from this agro-industrial by-product through High Performance Thin-Layer Chromatography (HPTLC) and Gas Chromatography coupled to Mass Spectrometry (GC–MS). These techniques were used to detect metabolic classes and/or groups, and to identify, for the first time, thirteen simple phenolic acids in this by-product. The sample antioxidant capacity was determined by methods of 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH)and 2,2′-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) diammonium salt (ABTS⁺) radicals direct sequestration. The hydrolyzed fraction showed a total of 63.47% in the relative abundance of the total of compounds, standing out: p-hydroxybenzoic acid (39.19%) and protocatechuic acid (3,4-dihydroxybenzoic acid) (5.62%), both from hydroxybenzoic acids and 3-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)lactic acid, (7.76%) hydroxycinnamic acids derivatives. In these results, the fraction rich in simple phenolic acids was obtained, attributing the prominent behavior of this matrix antioxidant activity, expressed by (IC₅₀: of 16.42 µg/mL and 6.52 µg/mL for DPPH and ABTS⁺ radicals, respectively). The research demonstrated an alternative to applicability that involves sustainability from agro-industrial. These techniques were used to detect metabolic classes and/or groups, and to identify, for the first time, thirteen simple phenolic acids in this by-product, generating a process capable of converting biomass into a bioproduct, consisting of bioactive compounds, in addition to adding value to the industrial chain.     

UPLC-Q/TOF-MS coupled with multivariate analysis for comparative analysis of metabolomic in Dendrobium nobile from different growth altitudes

Dendrobium nobile alkaloids (DNLA) and glycosides are the main active components extracted from Dendrobium nobile Lindl. (D. nobile) used for thousands of years in China. The pharmacological effects of the above chemical components are significantly different. D. nobile is mainly grown at an altitude ranging from 230 to 800 m in Chishui City, Northwest Guizhou Province. However, it is unclear whether the metabolite in D. nobile is influenced by the planting altitude. Hence, to reveal the different metabolite in D. nobile cultivated at the altitude of 336 m, 528 m, and 692 m, ultra-high performance liquid chromatography with Q/TOF-MS couple with multivariate analysis were developed. Using the orthogonal partial least squares-discriminant analysis, 19 different metabolites were discovered and then tentatively assigned their structures as alkaloids and glycosides by comparing mass spectrometry data with in-house database and literature. Moreover, the result of semiquantitative analysis showed the content of dendrobine that was belonged to alkaloids significantly increased at the altitude of 692 m, whereas the content of glycosides demonstrated an accumulation trend at the altitude of 528 m. The results could provide valuable information for the optimal clinical drug therapeutics and provide a reference for quality control.     

二维金属有机框架材料的合成及电催化应用

二维金属有机框架材料(MOFs)由于具备高比表面积、 多孔性以及丰富的活性位点等优异特性而受到广泛关注, 并且在电催化领域展现出巨大的应用潜力. 研究者们已在二维MOFs的可控制备与电催化性能调控方面取得许多突破性进展, 显示出相关研究对开发高性能电催化剂的关键作用. 本文总结了二维MOFs的自上而下和自下而上合成策略以及二维MOFs衍生物的典型合成方法, 概述了二维MOFs在各尺度下的电催化性能调控策略, 并介绍了各种合成方法和调控策略在电催化中的应用. 最后讨论了该领域面临的挑战, 并对未来的发展方向进行了展望.     

静电纺丝法制备PLLA/g-HNTs复合纳米纤维膜及其性能研究

以辛酸亚锡为催化剂,利用HNTs表面的羟基引发L-LA开环聚合,合成了表面接枝聚(L-乳酸)(PLLA)链段的埃洛石纳米管(g-HNTs),通过红外、热失重和透射电镜对改性前后HNTs的组成与形貌进行了观察;然后采用静电纺丝技术制备了PLLA纳米纤维膜以及不同组成的PLLA/HNTs和PLLA/g-HNTs复合纳米纤维膜,探讨了纺丝条件对纳米纤维膜形貌的影响,并对复合膜的组成、形貌、力学性能和细胞相容性进行了研究.结果表明,当HNTs与L-LA的摩尔投料比为1∶10时,g-HNTs表面PLLA链段的接枝率为14.22％,HNTs纳米管的形态在接枝后变化不大,易于在无水乙醇中分散.电压强度和进样速率对纤维膜的形貌有一定影响,当电压强度为15 kV、进样速率为1 mL/h时,电纺纤维的直径较为均匀.复合纤维膜中g-HNTs在基体PLLA中的分散性以及与基体的界面相容性要优于相应的HNTs,当g-HNTs含量高达40％时,复合纳米纤维膜中的纤维形态仍然保持较好,可以得到连续、粗细较均匀的纤维;随着HNTs和g-HNTs含量增加,复合纳米纤维膜的拉伸强度和模量先增大后下降,当HNTs和g-HNTs的含量为5％时,两种复合纳米纤维膜的拉伸强度和模量均达到最大值,但PLLA/g-HNTs组复合纳米纤维膜的拉伸强度始终大于相应的PLLA/HNTs组.体外3T3细胞培养结果显示,PLLA/g-HNTs复合纳米纤维膜具有良好的细胞相容性,且优于相应的PLLA和PLLA/HNTs纳米纤维膜.     

Large-scale failure modes of dielectric elastomer actuators

Dielectric elastomer actuators (DEAs) show promise for robotic and mechatronic applications. However, to date, these actuators have experienced high rates of failure that have prevented their practical application. Here, large scale modes of failure of DEAs and their performance limits are studied. The objective is to provide design guidelines and bound the performance of DEAs that avoid failure. An idealized DEA is modeled and its failure is predicted as a function of film pre-stretch used during actuator fabrication, actuation voltage, and stretch rate. Three failure modes are considered: pull-in, dielectric strength, and material strength. Each failure mode is shown to dominate for different combinations of pre-stretch and stretch rate. High stretch rates lead to dielectric strength failure while low stretch rates lead to pull-in failure. Material strength failure is less important for most cases. Model predictions are validated experimentally using practical DEAs operating under load. This study suggests that DEAs cannot be operated reliably under load for long periods of time or low stretch rates due to pull-in failure limitations. To be reliable, DEAs must be used for short periods of time with high stretch rates.     

Information spreading in Delay Tolerant Networks based on nodes’ behaviors

Information spreading in DTNs (Delay Tolerant Networks) adopts a store–carry–forward method, and nodes receive the message from others directly. However, it is hard to judge whether the information is safe in this communication mode. In this case, a node may observe other nodes’ behaviors. At present, there is no theoretical model to describe the varying rule of the nodes’ trusting level. In addition, due to the uncertainty of the connectivity in DTN, a node is hard to get the global state of the network. Therefore, a rational model about the node’s trusting level should be a function of the node’s own observing result. For example, if a node finds k nodes carrying a message, it may trust the information with probability p(k). This paper does not explore the real distribution of p(k), but instead presents a unifying theoretical framework to evaluate the performance of the information spreading in above case. This framework is an extension of the traditional SI (susceptible-infected) model, and is useful when p(k) conforms to any distribution. Simulations based on both synthetic and real motion traces show the accuracy of the framework. Finally, we explore the impact of the nodes’ behaviors based on certain special distributions through numerical results.     

Novel metrics and methodology for the characterisation of 3D imaging systems

The modelling, benchmarking and selection process for non-contact 3D imaging systems relies on the ability to characterise their performance. Characterisation methods that require optically compliant artefacts such as matt white spheres or planes, fail to reveal the performance limitations of a 3D sensor as would be encountered when measuring a real world object with problematic surface finish. This paper reports a method of evaluating the performance of 3D imaging systems on surfaces of arbitrary isotropic surface finish, position and orientation. The method involves capturing point clouds from a set of samples in a range of surface orientations and distances from the sensor. Point clouds are processed to create a single performance chart per surface finish, which shows both if a point is likely to be recovered, and the expected point noise as a function of surface orientation and distance from the sensor. In this paper, the method is demonstrated by utilising a low cost pan-tilt table and an active stereo 3D camera. Its performance is characterised by the fraction and quality of recovered data points on aluminium isotropic surfaces ranging in roughness average (Ra) from 0.09 to 0.46 µm at angles of up to 55° relative to the sensor over a distances from 400 to 800 mm to the scanner. Results from a matt white surface similar to those used in previous characterisation methods contrast drastically with results from even the dullest aluminium sample tested, demonstrating the need to characterise sensors by their limitations, not just best case performance.     

高效毛细管电泳法测定全天麻胶囊中天麻素的含量

建立了利用毛细管电泳技术测定全天麻胶囊中天麻素含量的新方法.所用熔融石英毛细管规格为50μm×60cm(有效长度为45cm),检测波长为220nm,分离电压为12kV,缓冲液为pH7.6的200mmol/L硼酸缓冲溶液.结果表明,天麻素在10-800μg/mL范围内线性关系良好(r=0.9995),加样回收率为98.5...