Chemical studies on alkaloids in the root of Acronychia oligophylebia Merr

Nine alkaloids and β-sitosterol were isolated from the root of Acronychia oligophylebia Merr. (Rutaceae). Among these alkaloids, five were identified as preskimmianine (2), evolitrine (5), kokusaginine (6), skimmianine (7) and maculosidine (8). The alkaloids 2, 5 and 8 were isolated from Acronychia genus for the first time. Oligophylicidine (10) and oligophylidine (4) were new bases. Oligophyline (3) and oligophylicine (9) were first found from natural source. Based on spectroscopic data, the structures of 3, 4, 9 and 10 were postulated. The structures of 10 and 9 were confirmed by synthesis. 3 and 9 showed a wide spectrum of antifungal activity, but the actions were weak.     

Glutinoin, a novel antioxidative ellagitannin from Alnus glutinosa cones with glutinoic acid dilactone moiety

The crude aqueous ethanol extract of the cones of Alnus glutinosa (L.) Gaertn. (Betulaceae; black alder, European alder) was obtained and further partitioned between water and various organic phases. The active water and butanol phases were subjected to assay-guided (DPPH) fractionation using repetitive RP HPLC until individual compounds were isolated. Their antioxidative activities, measured as SC?? values, were evaluated. The chemical structures of the isolated compounds were elucidated with the help of mass spectroscopy, (1)H NMR technique, UV spectroscopy, and chemical approaches. One novel ellagitannin, glutinoin (2), along with two known compounds, pedunculagin (1) and praecoxin D (3), were isolated and found to contribute to antioxidative activity of the A. glutinosa cones extract. The activities (SC??) of 1-3 were evaluated as 0.95 (1), 1.00 (2) and 1.01?μg?mL?1 (3). The scavenging effects of glutinoin (2) and praecoxin D (3) were reported for the first time.     

Determination of the volatile composition in brown millet, milled millet and millet bran by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry

The volatile compounds from brown millet (BM), milled millet (MM) and millet bran (MB) were extracted using simultaneous distillation/extraction with a Likens-Nickerson apparatus. The extracts were analysed using gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (GC-MS). A total of 65 volatile compounds were identified in all of the samples. Among these compounds, 51, 51 and 49 belonged to BM, MM and MB, respectively. Aldehydes and benzene derivatives were the most numerous among all of the compounds. Three compounds (hexanal, hexadecanoic acid and 2-methylnaphthalene) were dominant in the BM and MM materials. Eight compounds (hexanal, nonanal, (E)-2-nonenal, naphthalene, 2-methylnaphthalene, 1-methylnaphthalene, hexadecanoic acid and 2-pentylfuran) were dominant in the MB materials. Apart from the aromatic molecules, which were present in all fractions, compounds present only in BM, MM or MB were also identified.     

The composition and antimicrobial activities of Cyperus conglomeratus, Desmos chinensis var. lawii and Cyathocalyx zeylanicus essential oils

The essential oil compositions of the rhizomes of Cyperus conglomeratus (Cyperaceae) collected from Oman and the leaves of two Annonaceae plants, Desmos chinensis var. lawii and Cyathocalyx zeylanicus collected from India were studied by GC, GC-MS and 13C NMR spectroscopy. Twenty-six compounds, representing 84.4% of the oil were identified in C. conglomeratus, where eugenol (31.3%), alpha-cyperone (10.5%) and cyperotundone (8.4%) were the major compounds. Twelve compounds, constituting 100%, were identified in D. lawii oil, of which benzyl benzoate (58.7%), beta-caryophyllene (23.2%), limonene (4.9%) and alpha-humulene (4.0%) were the major constituents. Thirty-two compounds, comprising 98.0%, were identified in C. zeylanicus oil, of which beta-caryophyllene (21.6%), alpha-pinene (20.4%) and E-beta-ocimene (11.8%) were the major components. The antibacterial and antifungal activities of the oils were tested against a panel of five bacterial and two fungal strains. The oils showed moderate activity against all the tested microbial strains. The minimum inhibitory concentrations of the oils were also determined.     

Quantitative determination of alpha(s2)- and alpha(s1)-casein in goat's milk with different genotypes by capillary electrophoresis

A capillary electrophoresis (CE) method has been applied for the quantitative determination of alpha(s1)- and alpha(s2)-CN in goat's milk. Several analytical parameters were evaluated showing the reliability of this CE method. Coefficients of determination (R2) greater than 99% were obtained and determination limits of 1.23 and 0.98 mg/ml were achieved for alpha(s1)- and alpha(s2)-CN, respectively. The analytical parameters studied in terms of accuracy, precision and recovery were within acceptable limits. Among 18 samples of 4 different genotypes (BB, EE, BF and FF) for alpha(s1)-CN were analysed, different amounts were obtained from the genotypes.     

Kinetics and thermodynamics of the adsorption of some dyestuffs and p-nitrophenol by chitosan and MCM-chitosan from aqueous solution

The effect of initial concentration, temperature, and shaking rate on the adsorption of three dyestuffs [orange II (O-II), crystal violet (CV), and reactive blue 5 (RB5)] and an ideal adsorbate, p-nitrophenol (PNP), by chitosan (Sigma C-3646) and the effect of temperature on the adsorption of O-II and CV by monocarboxymethylated chitosan (MCM-chitosan) were investigated. Kinetic data obtained for the adsorption of each dyestuff and PNP by chitosan and of O-II and CV by MCM-chitosan at different temperatures were applied to the Lagergren equation, and adsorption rate constants (k(ads)) at these temperatures were determined. These rate constants related to the adsorption of O-II and RB5 by chitosan and of O-II by MCM-chitosan were applied to the Arrhenius equation, and activation energies (E(a)) were determined. In addition, the isotherms for adsorption, at different temperatures, of each dyestuff and PNP by chitosan and of O-II and CV by MCM-chitosan were also determined. These isothermal data were applied to linear forms of isotherm equations that they fit, and isotherm constants were calculated. Because the isotherm curves obtained for the adsorption of O-II and CV by chitosan and of CV by MCM-chitosan fit the Langmuir adsorption isotherm, b constants were applied to thermodynamic equations, and thermodynamic parameters (delta G, delta H, and delta S) were calculated. Lastly, chitosan and MCM-chitosan were compared with respect to the ability to take up the dyestuffs and PNP.     

碱催化法衍生化气相色谱/质谱法分析青海湖裸鲤鱼油中的脂肪酸

用碱催化法将青海湖裸鲤鱼油甲酯化,以气相色谱/质谱法分析鱼油中的脂肪酸。青海湖裸鲤可食用部分中鱼油含量为25.13%。从鱼油中共鉴定出47种脂肪酸,包括直链、单支链、多支链饱和脂肪酸,单不饱和、多不饱和脂肪酸,环丙烷基、呋喃基脂肪酸等。不饱和脂肪酸含量为73.6%,其中多不饱和脂肪酸含量为25.4%,以C18∶2(4.9%),C18∶3(3.1%),C20∶4(1.3%),C20∶5(二十碳五烯酸（EPA）, 9.4%)和C22∶6(二十二碳六烯酸（DHA）, 6.7%)为主。单不饱和脂肪酸含量为48.2%,主要由C16∶1(20.3%),C18∶1(25.9%)构成。饱和脂肪酸含量为25.7%,主要有C14∶0(3.4%),C16∶0 (19.4%)和C18∶0(1.1%)。青海湖裸鲤鱼油中还存在不常见的环丙烷基和呋喃基脂肪酸及多种奇数碳链和支链脂肪酸。因此,青海湖裸鲤是功能性脂肪酸的重要膳食来源。     

Micro-CT参数对骨质疏松性椎体压缩性骨折术后复发的预测价值

本研究探讨Micro-CT参数对骨质疏松性椎体压缩性骨折(OVCF)患者术后复发的预测价值。选取OVCF患者127例,根据术后6个月骨折复发情况分为复发组(n=41)与未复发组(n=86)。患者均接受Micro-CT检查,对比两组Micro-CT参数,即骨体积分数(BV/TV)、骨小梁厚度(Tb.Th)、骨小梁间隙(Tb.Sp)、结构模型指数(SMI),以及骨密度(BMD)、骨矿含量(BMC),分析各参数与BMD、BMC及术后复发相关性,并评价各参数对术后复发的预测价值。结果显示,复发组骨体积分数(BV/TV)、骨小梁厚度(Tb.Th)低于未复发组,骨小梁间隙(Tb.Sp)、结构模型指数(SMI)高于未复发组(P<0.05);BV/TV、Tb.Th与骨密度(BMD)、骨矿含量(BMC)呈正相关,Tb.Sp、SMI与BMD、BMC呈负相关(P<0.05);将年龄、BMD、BMC等其他因素控制后,BV/TV、Tb.Sp、Tb.Th、SMI与OVCF术后骨折复发显著相关(P<0.05);BV/TV、Tb.Sp、Tb.Th、SMI联合预测OVCF术后骨折复发的曲线下面积(AUC)最大,为0.888(P<0.05)。提示Micro-CT参数在OVCF患者中呈异常表达,采用Micro-CT检查可为临床预测OVCF术后骨折复发提供科学指导。     

新型NO供体的合成及其体外释放NO性能

新型NO供体的合成及其体外释放NO性能;金属卟啉;NO载体;合成;体外释NO作用     

Resonance light scattering technique for the determination of proteins with polymethacrylic acid (PMAA)

As a resonance light scattering (RLS) probe, the polyelectrolyte polymethacrylic acid (PMAA) was applied in this assay. The bovine serum albumin (BSA) and human serum albumin (HSA) were determined by the electrostatic interaction of PMAA and proteins. At pH 3.8 Na(2)HPO(4)-citric acid buffer solution, the RLS intensities of PMAA-BSA (HSA) system were greatly enhanced. The characteristic peaks were appeared at the wavelength 320, 546 and 594 nm. The optimization conditions of the reaction were also examined and selected. Under the selected conditions, the RLS intensities were proportional to the protein concentrations in the range of (0.0200-2.00) x 10(-6) mol/L for BSA and (0.0200-2.40) x 10(-6) mol/L for HSA. The influences of some foreign substances were also examined. The synthetic samples containing proteins and some real samples were analyzed and the results obtained were satisfactory.     

NMR, UV, FT-IR, FT-Raman spectra and molecular structure (monomeric and dimeric structures) investigation of nicotinic acid N-oxide: A combined experimental and theoretical study

In this work, the experimental and theoretical UV, NMR, and vibrational features of nicotinic acid N-oxide (abbreviated as NANO, C(6)H(5)NO(3)) were studied. The ultraviolet (UV) absorption spectrum of studied compound that dissolved in water was examined in the range of 200-800nm. FT-IR and FT-Raman spectra in solid state were observed in the region 4000-400cm(-1) and 3500-50cm(-1), respectively. The (1)H and (13)C NMR spectra in DMSO were recorded. The geometrical parameters, energies and the spectroscopic properties of NANO were obtained for all four conformers from density functional theory (DFT) B3LYP/6-311++G(d,p) basis set calculations. There are four conformers, C(n), n=1-4 for this molecule. The computational results identified the most stable conformer of title molecule as the C1 form. The complete assignments were performed on the basis of the total energy distribution (TED) of the vibrational modes, calculated with scaled quantum mechanics (SQM) method. (13)C and (1)H nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) chemical shifts of the molecule were calculated by using the gauge-invariant atomic orbital (GIAO) method. The electronic properties, such as excitation energies, absorption wavelengths, HOMO and LUMO energies, were performed by CIS approach. Finally the calculation results were applied to simulate infrared, Raman, and UV spectra of the title compound which show good agreement with observed spectra.     

Slightly surface-functionalized polystyrene microspheres prepared via Pickering emulsion polymerization using for electrophoretic displays

Europium (III) (Eu(3+))-doped nanoporous silica spheres were synthesized, and the states of Eu(3+) ions in the silica framework structure were investigated. The ordered nanopores were preserved with the doping at the Eu(3+) molar concentration to Si up to 10 mol%, and the O-Si-O and Si-OH groups in the structures were clearly rearranged with the doping, indicating the interaction of Eu(3+) with the O atoms. The significant morphological changes in the spheres were observed with the doping. The photoluminescence spectral shapes due to the transitions of (5)D(0)-(7)F(1) and (5)D(0)-(7)F(2) were indicative of the presence of the Eu(3+) in an environment of a low symmetry. It was found that the Eu(3+) was located inside the silica framework to electrostatically interact with the environmental O atoms, which would prevent the aggregation among Eu(3+) ions to show the efficient luminescence. Therefore, the interactions between the Eu(3+) ions and silica framework structures in the spheres were successfully clarified.     

Volatile constituents of different parts of Smyrnium olusatrum from Greece

The essential oils from stems, leaves, inflorescences, and both unripe and ripe infructescences of Smyrnium olusatrum L. (Umbelliferae) collected in Greece were obtained by hydrodistillation and analyzed by GC-FID and GC-MS. Fifty-eight components were identified. Among the samples analyzed, the differences observed were mainly quantitative. All oils were characterized by the abundance of sesquiterpenes. The major components of the stem and leaf oils were furanoeremophil-1-one (54.3% and 28.7%, respectively) and curzerene (18.8%, 29.0%). The main constituents of the inflorescence oil were curzerene (38.1%), germacrone (20.2%) and furanoeremophil-1-one (20.0%), while those of the unripe and ripe infructescence oils were 1beta-acetoxy-furanoeudesm-4(15)-ene (22.1%, 30.8%) and curzerene (29.7%, 17.4%).     

Molybdenum disulfide nanowires and nanoribbons by electrochemical/chemical synthesis

Molybdenum disulfide nanowires and nanoribbons have been synthesized by a two-step, electrochemical/chemical synthetic method. In the first step, MoO(x) wires (a mixture of MoO(2) and MoO(3)) were electrodeposited size-selectively by electrochemical step-edge decoration on a highly oriented pyrolytic graphite (HOPG) surface. Then, MoO(x) precursor wires were converted to MoS(2) by exposure to H(2)S either at 500-700 degrees C, producing "low-temperature" or LT MoS(2) nanowires that were predominantly 2H phase, or above 800 degrees C producing "high-temperature" or HT MoS(2) ribbons that were predominantly 3R phase. The majority of these MoS(2) wires and ribbons were more than 50 microm in length and were organized into parallel arrays containing hundreds of wires or ribbons. MoS(2) nanostructures were characterized by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, scanning and transmission electron microscopy, selected area electron diffraction, X-ray diffraction, UV-visible absorption spectrometry, and Raman spectroscopy. HT and LT MoS(2) nanowires were structurally distinct: LT MoS(2) wires were hemicylindrical in shape and nearly identical in diameter to the MoO(x) precursor wires from which they were derived. LT MoS(2) wires were polycrystalline, and the internal structure consisted of many interwoven, multilayer strands of MoS(2); HT MoS(2) ribbons were 50-800 nm in width and 3-100 nm thick, composed of planar crystallites of 3R-MoS(2). These layers grew in van der Waals contact with the HOPG surface so that the c-axis of the 3R-MoS(2) unit cell was oriented perpendicular to the plane of the graphite surface. Arrays of MoS(2) wires and ribbons could be cleanly separated from the HOPG surface and transferred to glass for electrical and optical characterization. Optical absorption measurements of HT MoS(2) nanoribbons reveal a direct gap near 1.95 eV and two exciton peaks, A1 and B1, characteristic of 3R-MoS(2). These exciton peaks shifted to higher energy by up to 80 meV as the wire thickness was decreased to 7 nm (eleven MoS(2) layers). The energy shifts were proportional to 1/ L( parallel)(2), and the effective masses were calculated. Current versus voltage curves for both LT and HT MoS(2) nanostructures were probed as a function of temperature from -33 degrees C to 47 degrees C. Conduction was ohmic and mainly governed by the grain boundaries residing along the wires. The thermal activation barrier was found to be related to the degree of order of the crystallites and can be tuned from 126 meV for LT nanowires to 26 meV for HT nanoribbons.     

Supercritical fluid extraction for identification and determination of volatile metabolites from Angelica dahurica by GC-MS

The volatile components of Angelica dahurica were obtained by supercritical fluid extraction (SFE) method. These oils obtained were analyzed by GC-MS (identification and determination of metabolites). The compounds were identified according to their retention indices and mass spectra (electron impact (EI), 70 eV). The effects of different parameters, such as pressure, temperature, flow rate of CO(2), and the amount of modifier, on the SFE of A. dahurica oil were investigated. A total of 50 compounds of SFE extracts were identified. Phellopterin (PO), isoimperatorin (IO), imperatorin (IM), alloimperatorin (AM), byakangelicin, isooxypeucedanin, and pimpinellin were the major coumarin compounds identified in A. dahurica SFE extracts. The quantitations of PO, IO, IM, and AM were then accomplished. The calibration curves showed good linearity (R(2) >0.99) in the concentration ranges tested. The recoveries were higher than 85%, with RSDs less than 10%. The GC-MS method was successfully validated and applied to the quantitation of A. dahurica.     

Characterization of emission properties of Er3+ ions in TeO2-CdF2-WO3 glasses

TeO(2)-CdF(2)-WO(3) glasses with various compositions and Er(3+) concentrations were prepared by conventional melting method. Their optical properties were studied by measuring the absorption, luminescence spectra and the decay patterns at room temperature. From the optical absorption spectra the Judd-Ofelt parameters (Ω(t)), transition probabilities, branching ratios of various transitions, and radiative lifetimes were calculated. The absorption and emission cross-section spectra of the (4)I(15/2) to (4)I(13/2) transition of erbium were determined. Emission quantum efficiencies and the average critical distance R(0) which provides a measure for the strength of cross relaxation were determined.     

Determination of Cadmium(ii), Copper(ii), Mercury(ii), and Lead(ii) in Water Using Stochastic Sensors Based on Graphite and Diamond Paste Modified with 1H-Pyrrole-1-Hexanoic Acid

Graphite/diamond pastes modified with 1H-pyrrole-1-hexanoic acid were used for the design of stochastic sensors. The proposed stochastic sensors were used to determine four heavy metals, copper(II), cadmium(II), mercury(II), and lead(II), in water samples. The sensitivities of the stochastic sensors were high for all four metal ions, and their limits of determination were sufficiently low to enable detection at very minute concentrations; in some cases, unreachable using standard methods of analysis. The recoveries of copper(II), cadmium(II), mercury(II), and lead(II) in water samples were higher than 93.00%, with relative standard deviation values lower than 1.00%. The sensors were used to simultaneously determine copper(II), cadmium(II), mercury(II), and lead(II) in water samples. The obtained results were in agreement with those obtained using standard analytical methods.     

Preparation of porous solids composed of layered niobate walls from colloidal mixtures of niobate nanosheets and polystyrene spheres

Macroporous solids with crystalline layered walls were fabricated from colloidal mixtures of size-controlled niobate nanosheets and polystyrene spheres. The macroporous solids, obtained after burning off the spheres, were characterized by scanning electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction. The obtained structures strongly depended on the lateral dimension L of the nanosheets used. When small nanosheets (L=100 nm) were used, partly ordered macroporous solids with interconnected pores were obtained, whereas sponge-like random macroporous structures were obtained with larger nanosheets (L=190 and 270 nm). Peapod-like hollow structures were obtained when we used small (L=190 nm) and very large (L=3 microm) nanosheets at the same time. The microstructure of the pore walls was controllable by changing the calcination conditions. The walls were composed of propylammonium/K(4)Nb(6)O(17) intercalation compound which has a layered structure with exchangeable cations in the interlayer space, stable up to 350 degrees C for 6 h on calcination. The walls were converted to crystalline K(8)Nb(18)O(49) after calcination at 500 degrees C for 6 h.     

Artificial neural networks for determination of enantiomeric composition of alpha-phenylglycine using UV spectra of cyclodextrin host-guest complexes: comparison of feed-forward and radial basis function networks

In this work feed-forward neural networks and radial basis function networks were used for the determination of enantiomeric composition of alpha-phenylglycine using UV spectra of cyclodextrin host-guest complexes and the data provided by two techniques were compared. Wavelet transformation (WT) and principal component analysis (PCA) were used for data compression prior to neural network construction and their efficiencies were compared. The structures of the wavelet transformation-radial basis function networks (WT-RBFNs) and wavelet transformation-feed-forward neural networks (WT-FFNNs), were simplified by using the corresponding wavelet coefficients of three mother wavelets (Mexican hat, daubechies and symlets). Dilation parameters, number of inputs, hidden nodes, learning rate, transfer functions, number of epochs and SPREAD values were optimized. Performances of the proposed methods were tested with regard to root mean square errors of prediction (RMSE%), using synthetic solutions containing a fixed concentration of beta-cyclodextrin (beta-CD) and fixed concentration of alpha-phenylglycine (alpha-Gly) with different enantiomeric compositions. Although satisfactory results with regard to some statistical parameters were obtained for all the investigated methods but the best results were achieved by WT-RBFNs.