Teicoplanin-functionalized magnetic beads for detection of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Staphylococcus aureus</Emphasis> via inhibition of the luminol chemiluminescence by intracellular catalase

An affinity-based protocol is described for the detection of Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus). It is utilizing teicoplanin-functionalized magnetic beads as carriers. Teicoplanin, which binds to the walls of cells of S. aureus via five hydrogen bonds, acts as the recognition agent. Captured S. aureus is magnetically separated from the sample matrix and then specifically lysed by lysostaphin which cleaves the cross-linking pentaglycine bridges of peptidoglycan in the cell wall. Lastly, S. aureus is quantified via the inhibitory effect of released intracellular catalase on a chemiluminescent (CL) system composed of peroxidase, luminol, H₂O₂ and p-iodophenol because catalase decomposes H₂O₂. S. aureus can be detected with CL response in the 140 to 1.4?×?10⁷ CFU·mL^?1 concentration range and a detection limit as low as 47 CFU·mL^?1 at a signal-to-noise ratio of 3. The method was evaluated by analyzing spiked samples including milk, human urine and saline injection solutions. The reliability was demonstrated by a recovery test and by comparison with a conventional plate counting method.

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Graphical abstract An antibiotic-affinity protocol is developed to detect Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) by utilizing teicoplanin-functionalized magnetic beads (Teic-MBs) as carriers. S. aureus can be quantified by measuring the inhibition of luminol chemiluminescence (CL) signal by intracellular catalase.

     

Degradation mechanism of <Emphasis Type="Italic">p</Emphasis>-cresol in aqueous solutions by gamma-ray irradiation

Degradation mechanism of p-cresol in aqueous solutions by gamma-ray irradiation was investigated at various initial p-cresol concentrations with different absorbed doses. The results show that p-cresol in aqueous solutions can effectively be degraded by gamma-ray irradiation. Chemical oxygen demand was used to assess the degree of mineralization of p-cresol. The degradation can be enhanced by the additions of free Radical Scavengers. The degradation products were identified by high-performance liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometric. Degradation mechanism of p-cresol in aqueous solutions were proposed according to the products analysis.     

EPR study of the nature of the impurity centers responsible for the scintillation properties of the Li<Subscript>2</Subscript>Zn<Subscript>2</Subscript>(MoO<Subscript>4</Subscript>)<Subscript>3</Subscript> crystal

The binary molybdate Li₂Zn₂(MoO₄)₃ of a new crystal type was characterized by EPR, optical spectroscopy, and X-ray diffraction methods. The crystals have the Pnma symmetry group and the lattice parameters a = 5.1139(5) Å, b = 10.4926(13) Å, c = 17.6445(22) Å; Z = 4. The crystals possess scintillation properties; emission is caused by the presence of impurity levels in the forbidden band. The EPR studies of the nature of the impurity centers responsible for the scintillation characteristics of the crystal showed that the centers were Cu²⁺ ions substituted for zinc ions in the oxygen octahedra. The directions of the main values of the g and tensors (g _zz , A _zz ) correspond to the direction of O-Cu-O of the oxygen octahedron distorted along the Z axis. The EPR spectra of the copper ions are described by the spin Hamiltonian with the parameters g _‖ = 2.38, g _⊥ = 2.06; A _‖ = 116 G, A _⊥ = 0 G.     

Asymmetric calix[4]-thiacalix[4]arene tubes: Synthesis and ionophore properties

Asymmetric p-tert-butylcalix[4]-p-R-thiacalix[4]arene tubes (R = tert-Bu, H, 1-adamantyl) were prepared for the first time by reaction of tosyloxyethoxy derivative of p-tert-butylcalix-[4]arene and the corresponding p-R-thiacalix[4]arenas in acetonitrile in the presence of K₂CO₃. Complex formation of compounds obtained with sodium, potassium, and rubidium iodides in CDCl₃-CD₃OD, 4:1, was studied by means of ¹H NMR. The ionophore properties of the molecule were governed by the character of substituents on the upper rim of the thiacalixarene fragment, and only the molecular tube containing a fragment of the p-(1-adamantyl)-thiacalix[4]arene quantitatively bound potassium ions (quickly) and rubidium ions (slowly).     

Extraction of lanthanum and gadolinium(III) at the cloud point using <Emphasis Type="Italic">p</Emphasis>-sulfonatocalyx[<Emphasis Type="Italic">n</Emphasis>]arenes as chelating agents

The extraction of gadolinium(III) and lanthanum(III) ions at the cloud point is studied in Triton X100 micellar solutions in a wide range of pH. In the absence of chelating agents, lanthanum(III) and gadolinium(III) ions are unselectively extracted at pH > 6. It is shown that the use of p-sulfonatothiacalyx[6(8)]arenes as chelating agents noticeably enhances the degree of extraction at pH 2–6. The composition and stability of lanthanum-p-sulfonatothiacalyx[n]arene complexes (n = 4, 6, 8) are estimated in a wide range of pH by pH-potentiometry. The degree of Gd³⁺ and La³⁺ ions extraction, which is performed at the cloud points employing calyxarene macrocycles of different sizes, is depended on the acidity of a medium.     

Paramagnetic centers related to Al,Sc, In,and Nb impurities in KTiOAsO<Subscript>4</Subscript>crystals

Electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) is applied to study Al-, Sc-, In-, and Nb-doped KTiOAsO₄ (KTA) crystals. Paramagnetic hole centers O^? are observed after ionizing irradiation of KTA crystals. These centers are, as a rule, unstable at room temperature and are slowly annealed for about two weeks. Oxygen ions are bridging two cations in KTA. Near the impurity, two p-orbitals of oxygen atoms participate in covalent bonding with cations, whereas the third p-orbital remains free and under the radiation effect captures the hole thus forming the paramagnetic center of M ⁿ⁺-O^?-M^(n?1)+ (here M ⁿ⁺ is the lattice cation and M^(n?1)+ is the impurity cation of Al, In, Sc, or Nb). In the centers investigated the specific principal direction of the g-factor g ～ 2 is normal to the M ⁿ⁺-O^?-M^(n?1)+ plane, and the main value of g _max falls in this plane. The direction of the O^?-M^(n?1)+ bond is close to the selected direction of the hyperfine interaction with the impurity ion. The models of six hole centers and the found parameters of EPR spectra are discussed.     

Oxygen Nonstoichiometry and Transport Properties of Mixed-Conducting Ce<Subscript>0.6–<Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis></Subscript>La<Subscript>0.4</Subscript>Pr<Subscript><Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis></Subscript>O<Subscript>2–δ</Subscript>

The oxygen nonstoichiometry and electrical conductivity of fluorite-type solid solutions Ce_0.6?xLa_0.4Pr _x O_2–δ (x = 0.1–0.2) were studied in the oxygen partial pressure range 10^–19–0.35 atm at 1023–1223 K. It was confirmed that the Pr^4+/3+ and Ce^4+/3+ redox pairs, which determine the concentration of p- and n-type electron charge carriers, play the dominant roles under oxidizing and reducing conditions, respectively. The conductivity vs. charge carrier concentration dependencies in these conditions are almost linear. Increasing praseodymium content leads to a substantially higher hole conductivity and an expanded range of the oxygen nonstoichiometry variations at high oxygen partial pressures. Under reducing conditions when praseodymium cations become trivalent opposite trends are observed on doping.     

Counterion effects on the isotopic properties of the Cl<Superscript>−</Superscript> and Li<Superscript>+</Superscript> ions in aqueous solutions

The reduced partition function ratios between isotopic forms (β-factors) were calculated by the ab initio RHF/6-311++G**(3df, 3p) and MP2/6-311++G**(3df, 3p) quantum-chemical methods for hydrated chloride ion and ion pair hydrates NaCl·nH₂O and LiOH · nH₂O. The influence of the Na⁺ cation on the β-factor value and the chlorine isotope separation factor in the precipitation of NaCl from concentrated aqueous solutions was found to be substantial. At the same time, the presence of OH^? counterions had no noticeable effect on the β-factor of the hydrated Li⁺ cation.     

Formation of solvate structures by the <Emphasis Type="Italic">ortho</Emphasis>-, <Emphasis Type="Italic">meta</Emphasis>-, and <Emphasis Type="Italic">para</Emphasis>-isomers of hydroxybenzoic acid in supercritical fluid

The solvate structures formed by the ortho-, meta-, and para-isomers of hydroxybenzoic acid (o-HBA, m-HBA, and p-HBA) with a polar co-solvent (methanol at a concentration of 0.030 and 0.035 mole fractions) in supercritical carbon dioxide at a constant density of 0.7 g/cm³ and temperatures of 318 and 328 K have been studied by the classic molecular dynamics. It has been determined that a stable hydrogen-bonded complex with the co-solvent forms via the hydrogen of the carboxyl group for all isomers. The probability of this complex existence is high at all temperatures and concentrations. In the o-HBA molecule, the other functional groups are engaged in the intramolecular hydrogen bond, but not involved in interactions with methanol. It has been found that m-HBA and p-HBA can be involved in hydrogen bonds with methanol via hydroxyl hydrogen and oxygen atoms; they are characterized by the presence of one more co-solvent molecule (rarely, two molecules) in their solvation shell and intermittent formations/breakages of hydrogen bonds via other functional groups. These bonds are far less stable, and their formation is sensitive to change of temperature and co-solvent concentration. It has been concluded that the degree of selective solvation of m-HBA and p-HBA by co-solvent molecules is approximately the same, but the rate of structural rearrangements in the nearest environment of m-HBA is higher than that of p-HBA.     

Diazo Reactions with Unsaturated Compounds: X. Reactions of <Emphasis Type="Italic">p</Emphasis>-Chloro- and <Emphasis Type="Italic">p</Emphasis>-Bromophenysulfonyl-1,3-Butadienes with Aryldiazonium Chlorides and 1-Aryl-3,3-dimethyl-1-triazenes

1-(p-Chlorophenylsulfonyl)- and 1-(p-bromophenylsulfonyl)-1,3-butadienes in aqueous acetone solutions in the presence of cuprous chloride or cupric chloride react with aryldiazonium chlorides and 1-aryl-3,3-dimethyl-1-triazenes to form 1-(p-chlorophenylsulphonyl)- and 1-(p-bromophenylsulfonyl)-4-aryl-3-chloro-1-butenes, respectively.     

Molecular dynamic studies of amyloid-beta interactions with curcumin and Cu<Superscript>2+</Superscript> ions

Amyloid-beta (Aβ) peptide readily forms aggregates that are associated with Alzheimer’s disease. Transition metals play a key role in this process. Recently, it has been shown that curcumin (CUA), a polyphenolic phytochemical, inhibits the aggregation of Aβ peptide. However, interactions of Aβ peptide with metal ions or CUA are not entirely clear. In this work, molecular dynamics (MD) simulations were carried out to clear the nature of interactions between the 42-residue Aβ peptide (Aβ-42) and Cu²⁺ ions and CUA. Altogether nine different models were investigated, and more than 2 µs of the simulation data were analyzed. The models represent the possible modes of arrangement between Aβ-42 and Cu²⁺ ions and CUA, respectively, and were used to shed light on the Aβ-42 conformational behavior in the presence of Cu²⁺ ions and CUA molecules. Obtained data clearly showed that the presence of a CUA molecule or a higher concentration of copper ions significantly affect the conformational behavior of Aβ-42. Calculations showed that the change of the His13 protonation state (Aβ(H13δ)-Cu²⁺, Aβ(H13δ)-Cu²⁺ -CUA models) leads to higher occurrence of the Asp23-Lys28 salt bridge. Analyzes of trajectories revealed that C-terminal β-sheet structures occurred significantly less frequently, and CUA promoted the stabilization of the α-helical structure. Further, calculations of the Aβ-42 complex with CUA and Cu²⁺ ions showed that CUA can chelate the Cu²⁺ ion and directly interact with Aβ, which may explain why CUA acts as an inhibitor of Aβ aggregation.     

Theoretical modeling of the mechanism of aniline oxidation by singlet O<Subscript>2</Subscript>

The mechanism of aniline oxidation by singlet oxygen was studied by the DFT-PBE/L2 method. According to the calculations, aniline endoperoxide cannot participate in the reaction because of its energy instability. The addition of ¹O₂ to aniline proceeds with the simultaneous proton transfer to the oxygen molecule from the NH₂ group (for the syn-approach of oxygen) or from the aromatic ring (for the anti-approach). For the syn-approach of the ¹O₂ molecule, the HNC₆H₄(H)OOH intermediate is formed, whose decomposition leads to aniline p-hydroperoxide (predominantly) or p-iminoquinone. In the case of the anti-approach, the ¹O₂ molecule is inserted at the C–H bond to form aniline p-hydroperoxide (H₂NC₆H₄OOH). The decomposition of aniline p-hydroperoxide with the formation of p-aminophenol and H₂O₂ molecule proceeds via concerted mechanism.     

Synthesis and characterization of Sr<Subscript>0.75</Subscript>Y<Subscript>0.25</Subscript>Co<Subscript>0.9</Subscript>Ru<Subscript>0.1</Subscript>O<Subscript>3−<Emphasis Type="Italic">δ</Emphasis></Subscript> perovskite as a solid oxide fuel cell cathode material

The oxygen-deficient Sr_0.75Y_0.25Co_0.9Ru_0.1O_3?δ (SYCR) cathode is systematically evaluated for the application of solid oxide fuel cells. X-ray diffraction analysis indicates that SYCR presents a tetragonal structure with space group of I4/mmm (139). In the measured high oxygen partial pressure (pO₂) region (0.01–0.21 atm), the conductivity increases with increasing pO₂ because of the oxygen vacancy annihilation and hole creation, relating to a general p-type semiconducting mechanism. To get an insight into the rate-limiting step of SYCR cathode, behaviors of individual polarization resistance (R ₁ and R ₂) are investigated in different pO₂. The obtained fitting results reveal that R ₁ is nearly independent on the pO₂, while R ₂ presents a (pO₂)^?0.5 dependence. At 800 °C, SYCR cathode exhibits an R _p value of 0.14 Ω cm², moreover, when using the wet hydrogen (～ 3% H₂O) as fuel and ambient air as oxidant, the maximum power density of single cell Ni-YSZ (yttria-stabilized zirconia)|YSZ|SYCR reaches 452.9 W cm^?2.     

Tri-<Emphasis Type="Italic">p</Emphasis>-Tolylbismuth Diperchlorate and μ-Oxo-bis[(perchlorato)tri-<Emphasis Type="Italic">p</Emphasis>-tolylbismuth]: Synthesis and Structure

Tri-p-tolylbismuth perchlorate (1) and μ-oxo-bis[(perchlorato)tri-p-tolylbismuth] (2) have been synthesized by the reaction between tri-p-tolylbismuth dibromide and silver perchlorate and its hydrate. The complexes have been studied by chemical analysis, IR spectroscopy, and X-ray diffraction. Complex 1 is triclinic, space group Pī, Z = 4, a =10.7271(9) Å, b = 13.5585(11) Å, c = 18.1592(13) Å, α = 110.867(3)°, β = 94.944(3)°, γ = 96.888(3)°, V = 2426.3(3) Å3, ρ_calcd = 1.865 g/cm3; complex 2 crystallizes in trigonal symmetry, space group R\(\bar 3\), a = 13.1157(2) Å, c = 22.1959(2) Å, γ = 120°, V = 3306.64(8) ų, ρ_calcd = 1.777 g/cm³. The bismuth atoms in the molecular structure of complex 1 have a distorted trigonal bipyramidal coordination to the apically arranged oxygen atoms of perchlorate ions (Bi–C, 2.180(5)–2.201(5) Å; Bi–O, 2.324(4)–2.355(4) Å; OBiO axial angles, 170.1(1)°, 174.5(1)°). The structure of complex 2 contains binuclear [p-Tol₃Bi(ClO₄)]₂O molecules (Bi–O, 2.371(15), 1.9107(7) Å; OBiO axial angle, 180.0°).     

Protolytic properties of cyanic and thiocyanic acids and their isoforms

The electronic structure of HOCN, HSCN, HNCO, and HNCS molecules and [OCN]^? and [SCN]^? anions has been studied by ab initio calculations at HF/6-31G(d), HF/6-31G(d, p), MP2/6-31G(d)//HF/6-31G(d), and MP2/6-31G(d, p)//HF/6-31G(d, p) levels of theory. The HNCO and HNCS molecules are shown to have higher thermodynamic stability than HOCN and HSCN, respectively. The protolyte strength series are substantiated: HSCN > HOCN, HNCS > HNCO, HOCN > HNCO, HSCN > HNCS. Computations including electron correlation [MP2/6-31G(d)//HF/6-31G(d) and MP2/6-31G(d, p)//HF/6-31G (d, p)] reproduce the general sequence of proton-donor properties: HSCN > HOCN > HNCS > HNCO, which coincides with the hydrophobicity series for the compounds. The relative proton-donor capacity of these acids in water solutions is generally governed by the electronic structure and by the size of their molecules and [OCN]^? and [SCN]^? anions, but not by medium effects.     

Conducting materials prepared by the oxidation of <Emphasis Type="Italic">p</Emphasis>-phenylenediamine with <Emphasis Type="Italic">p</Emphasis>-benzoquinone

p-Phenylenediamine was oxidized with p-benzoquinone in the aqueous solutions of methanesulfonic acid (MSA). The conductivity of the products increased with increasing concentration of MSA from 1.5?×?10^?12 S cm^?1 in 0.1 M MSA up to 3.4?×?10^?4 S cm^?1 in 5 M MSA. The low-molecular-weight products are basically composed of one p-benzoquinone and two p-phenylenediamine molecules. Their molecular structure is discussed on the basis of mass, Fourier-transform infrared, Raman, NMR and electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopies. The formation of 2,5-di(p-phenylenediamine)-p-benzoquinone protonated with methanesulfonic acid best complies with the information provided by spectroscopic techniques. Its conversion to hydroquinone tautomer explains the formation of unpaired spins observed by EPR and their potential contribution to the conduction.     

Effect of phosphate doping on electric properties and chemical stability of Ba<Subscript>4</Subscript>Ca<Subscript>2</Subscript>Nb<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>11</Subscript> protonic conductor

Conductivity of perovskite phosphate–substituted solid solutions of Ba₄Ca₂Nb_{2 –x} P _x O₁₁ (0.0 ≤ x ≤ 0.5) was studied as a function of temperature, partial pressure of oxygen and water vapors. It is proved that the studied systems are protonic conductors at the temperatures below 600°C in the atmosphere with elevated content of water vapors (pH₂O = 1.92 × 10^–2 atm). Introduction of the tetrahedral [PO₄] group in the complex oxide matrix of Ba₄Ca₂Nb₂O₁₁ results in an increase in the oxygen–ionic (dry air, pH₂O = 1.91 × 10^–4 atm) and protonic conductivities (wet air, pH₂O = 1.92 × 10^–2 atm). Is it found that the doping causes a considerable increase in chemical stability of phases with respect to carbon dioxide.     

Preparation,crystal structure and mechanism of thermal decomposition of complex [Dy(<Emphasis Type="Italic">p</Emphasis>-MOBA)<Subscript>3</Subscript>Phen]<Subscript>2</Subscript>

1,10-Phenanthrolinetris(4-methoxybenzoate)dysprosium, Dy(p-MOBA)₃Phen (where p-MOBA = p-methoxybenzoate and Phen = 1,10-phenanthroline), (I) has been synthesized. The complex was characterized by various techniques including elemental analysis, UV, IR, XRD, molar conductance, and TG-DTG. The crystals consist of binuclear molecules and monoclinic, space group P2 ₁/n: a = 14.143(6) Å, b = 17.550(7) Å, c = 14.493(6) Å, β = 117.357(4)°, Z = 2, ρ _c = 1.655 g cm^?3, F(000) = 1588; R ₁ = 0.0176, wR ₂ = 0.0455. In the complex, each Dy³⁺ ion is nine-coordinate to one 1,10-phenanthroline molecule, one bidentate chelating carboxylate group, and four bridging carboxylate groups in which the carboxylate groups are bonded to the Dy³⁺ ions in three modes: bridging bidentate, bridging tridentate, and chelating bidentate. The thermal decomposition mechanism of I has been determined on the basis of thermal analysis. In addition, the lifetime equation at a weight-loss of 10% was deduced as lnτ = ?28.8361 + 19478.37/T by isothermal thermogravimetric analysis.     

The effect of chemisorbed sulfide ions on the gold electrodeposition from acidic thiocarbamide electrolytes

Introducing sodium sulfide (about 10^?5 M) into acidic thiocarbamide solutions reduces the gold reduction overpotential. The reaction rate passes through a maximum at a potential of 0.1 V. The overpotential depends on the sulfide ion concentration and the time of electrode exposure to solution prior to the beginning of scanning. Transients of potential measured on a renewable gold electrode in thiocarbamide electrolytes containing catalytically active species served as the basis for calculations of the coefficient of trapping of sulfide ions by the growing gold deposit. The kinetics of gold electrodeposition at fixed surface coverages with adsorbed sulfide ions θ is studied. It is shown that at θ = const, the dependence of the reaction rate on the overpotential is described by the Tafel equation. It is shown that with an increase in θ, the effective values of exchange current and transfer coefficient increase from i ₀ ≌ 10^?5 A/cm² and α ≌ 0.25 in pure solutions to α ≌ 0.5 and i ₀ ≌ 10^?4 A/cm² at θ ≥ 0.3 and then remains virtually unchanged. The reaction order decreases in the absolute magnitude, remaining negative. Thus for θ ≌ 0, p _k = ?logi/?logc = ?1, whereas for θ ≥ 0.3, p _k = ?0.3. A possible explanation is proposed for the catalytic effect of the sulfide ion adsorption on the mechanism of the gold reduction from acidic thiocarbamide electrolytes.     

Electronic and magnetic structures and conductivity of strontium ferrite: An ab initio LSDA + U approach

Using the first-principle nonempirical linear muffin-tin orbital method in the tight-binding approximation (TB-LMTO) to the LSDA + U approximation, the electronic and magnetic structures and defect formation in strontium ferrite Sr₃Fe₂O₆ are studied. It is found that Sr₃Fe₂O₆ is a G type antiferromagnetic with the semiconductor electronic structure. The calculated band gap of 1.82 eV agrees well with experimental value (～2 eV). The ferrite spectrum corresponds to that of a semiconductor with a band gap of charge transfer. Iron ions in Sr₃Fe₂O₆ are in a high-spin state and have configuration t _2g ^↑3 e _g ^↑2 e _g ^↓1 . The calculated local magnetic moment on the iron ions is 3.9 μ_B. The presence of iron ions with a magnetic moment approaching 4 μ_B in Sr₃Fe₂O₆ is explained by strong hybridization of 3d orbitals of iron and 2p orbitals of oxygen. The high-spin state of iron ions is described by d ⁵ + d ⁶ L states with predominant contribution d ⁶L, where L is a hole on oxygen. Based on ab initio LSDA + U calculations, various types and configurations of defects in the oxygen sublattice (oxygen vacancies, anti-Frenkel defects) are studied and a model for ionic transport in Sr₃Fe₂O₆ is proposed.