Electrical impedance spectroscopy of epoxy systems: The case of 1,4-butanediol diglycidyl ether/cis-1,2-cyclohexanedicarboxylic anhydride and triethylamine as initiator

A series of epoxy cured samples, with different molar composition of 1,4-butanediol diglycidyl ether (EP), cis-1,2-cyclohexanedicarboxylic anhydride (CH) and triethylamine (TEA) as initiator, was studied by Electrical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS) in the frequency range 10⁻²-10⁵ Hz. The resistivity of the system was evaluated by using the complex impedance analysis method. Resistivity values in the range between 10⁷ and 10¹³ Ω cm were obtained and related to the composition (molar fraction x_EP or x_CH) of the epoxy system. The gel formation characteristics of the samples were obtained as theoretically described by Flory.     

Characterization of must and wine of six varieties of grapes by direct infusion electrospray ionization mass spectrometry

Samples of must derived from six different varieties of grapes taken during the fermentation process, as well as the respective wine samples directly after the end of the malolactic fermentation, were analyzed by direct infusion negative ion mode electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS). Diagnostic ions for must were different from those of wine samples, although small variations for each of the grape varieties were also detected. The addition of unfermented must or sugar to wine could also be clearly detected. The spectra were acquired in a few minutes per sample, indicating that ESI-MS can be used for high-throughput analysis of samples and should prove useful for quality control during and after the fermentation process.     

Formation of Mixed Ionic Complementary Peptide Fibrils

Summary: Two peptides (FEFEFKFK and HHHHHHFEFEFKFK) have been synthesised and their phase diagrams mapped out as a function of concentration and temperature. Both peptides formed self-supporting fibrillar hydrogels above a similar critical molar gelation concentration with a fibril diameter corresponding to the length of the fully stretched monomer. Mixing the peptides in a 9:1 ratio of FEFEFKFK to histadine functionalized FEFEFKFK in the presence of nanogold particles (binds to the histadine groups) resulted in thicker fibres suggesting that two fibrils associate together to form a fibre. TEM studies revealed that the gold particles were distributed throughout the hydrogel and adjacent to both sides of the fibrillar structures with an average distance between particles of 21 nm. It is postulated that the peptides form anti-parallel beta sheet fibrils that associate together via π-stacking interactions between the imidazole side chains of the histadine groups to form a fibre, where on average 1 in every 44 peptides is functionalized.     

钴掺杂Sr1.5La0.5MnO4的合成及高温电化学性能研究

采用EDTA-柠檬酸法合成了中温固体氧化物燃料电池阴极材料Sr_(1.5)La_(0.5)Mn_(1-x)Co_xO_4(SLMCOx),并利用粉末X射线衍射(XRD)、X射线光电子能谱(XPS)以及电化学交流阻抗谱(EIS)进行表征。结果表明,该材料与Ce0.9Gd0.1O1.95(CGO)在1 200℃烧结12 h不发生化学反应。随着Co掺入量的增加,氧化物中Mn~(3+)和Co~(2+)含量增多,晶格氧含量降低,晶格畸变率增大。交流阻抗谱(EIS)测试结果显示,钴的掺杂明显降低电极的极化电阻,其中Sr_(1.5)La_(0.5)Mn_(0.7)Co_(0.3)O_4阴极在700℃空气中的极化电阻为0.62Ω·cm~2,明显小于Sr_(1.5)La_(0.5)MnO_4阴极在750℃的极化电阻(1.5Ω·cm~2),表明钴掺杂的Sr_(1.5)La_(0.5)Mn_(1-x)CoxO_4是一种潜在的IT-SOFC阴极材料。     

Nanofibrillar Peptide Hydrogels for the Immobilization of Biocatalysts for Chemical Transformations

Enzymes are attractive, “green” alternatives to chemical catalysts within the industrial sector, but their robustness to environmental conditions needs optimizing. Here, an enzyme is tagged chemically and recombinantly with a self‐assembling peptide that allows the conjugate to spontaneously assemble with pure peptide to form β‐sheet‐rich nanofibers decorated with tethered enzyme. Above a critical concentration, these fibers entangle and form a 3D hydrogel. The immobilized enzyme catalyzes chemical transformations and critically its stability is increased significantly where it retains activity after exposure to high temperatures (90 °C) and long storage times (up to 12 months).

     

Antimicrobial and cytotoxic activities of leaves, twigs and stem bark of Scutia buxifolia Reissek

The antimicrobial and cytotoxic activities of the dichloromethane, ethyl acetate and butanolic fractions from the leaves, twigs and stem bark of Scutia buxifolia were evaluated using the broth microdilution method and the brine shrimp lethality method, respectively. Phytochemical analysis was performed by thin layer chromatography (TLC) and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The antimicrobial results demonstrated that the strongest effect occurred with the butanol fraction from the twigs and the ethyl acetate fraction from the stem bark against Saccharomyces cerevisiae (minimal inhibitory concentration; MIC?=?62.5?μg?mL(-1)), whereas the ethyl acetate and butanolic fractions from the twigs and stem bark were effective against Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus, with MIC values ranging from 125 to 500?μg?mL(-1). LD(50) values varied from 50.00?±?0.22 to 82.23?±?0.34?μg?mL(-1). Quercetin, quercitrin, isoquercitrin and rutin were identified by HPLC and may be partially responsible for the antimicrobial activities observed. This study reports for the first time the antimicrobial and cytotoxic activities of S. buxifolia leaves, twigs and stem bark.     

12‐ to 22‐Membered Bridged β‐Lactams as Potential Penicillin‐Binding Protein Inhibitors

As potential inhibitors of penicillin‐binding proteins (PBPs), we focused our research on the synthesis of non‐traditional 1,3‐bridged β‐lactams embedded into macrocycles. We synthesized 12‐ to 22‐membered bicyclic β‐lactams by the ring‐closing metathesis (RCM) of bis‐ω‐alkenyl‐3(S)‐aminoazetidinone precursors. The reactivity of 1,3‐bridged β‐lactams was estimated by the determination of the energy barrier of a concerted nucleophilic attack and lactam ring‐opening process by using ab initio calculations. The results predicted that 16‐membered cycles should be more reactive. Biochemical evaluations against R39 DD‐peptidase and two resistant PBPs, namely, PBP2a and PBP5, revealed the inhibition effect of compound 4d , which featured a 16‐membered bridge and the N‐tert‐butyloxycarbonyl chain at the C3 position of the β‐lactam ring. Surprisingly, the corresponding bicycle, 12d , with the PhOCH₂CO side chain at C3 was inactive. Reaction models of the R39 active site gave a new insight into the geometric requirements of the conformation of potential ligands and their steric hindrance; this could help in the design of new compounds.     

Design of amphoteric mixed oxides of zinc and Group 3 elements (Al, Ga, In): migration effects on basic features

The design of new amphoteric catalysts is of great interest for several industrial processes, especially those covering dehydration and dehydrogenation phenomena. Adsorption microcalorimetry was used to monitor the design of mixed oxides of zinc with Group 3 elements (aluminium, gallium, indium) with amphoteric character and enhanced specific surface area. Acid-base features were found to evolve non-linearly with the relative amounts of metal, and the strengths of the created acidic or basic sites were measured by adsorption microcalorimetry. A panel of bifunctional catalysts of various acid-base (amounts, strengths) and redox character was obtained. Besides, special interest was given to In-Zn mixed oxides for their enhanced basicity: this series of catalysts displays important basic features of high strength (q(diff) (SO? ads.) > 200 kJ mol(SO?)?1 in substantial amounts (1 - 2 μmol m(catalyst)?2), whose impact on efficiency or selectivity in catalytic dehydration/dehydrogenation can be valuable.     

Surface-induced structural modification in ZnO nanoparticles

Cobalt?Ccobalt carbide [Co _x C (x?=?2 or 3)] and cobalt (FCC-Co) microwires have been synthesized using a polyol method in the presence of a high external magnetic field of 4.3?kOe. It was reported before that the synthesis of these particles in the absence of magnetic field leads to the formation of spherical particles. Analysis of the X-ray diffraction (XRD) scans indicates that the synthesized Co _x C wires consist of four phases?? ??-Co, ??-Co, Co₃C, and Co₂C. The percent composition of these phases was 53.3?% Co₃C, 26.8?% Co₂C, 12.5?% ??-Co, and 7.4?% ??-Co. XRD analysis of the as-synthesized cobalt wires shows that it consists of single-phase FCC-Co. Based on Scherrer analysis of the XRD data, the average crystallite sizes of the cobalt carbide and the cobalt particles are 18.5 and 16.3?nm, respectively. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) studies show that the diameter of Co _x C wires is in the range of 1.6(±0.2)???m with their length varying between 18 and 30???m while the diameter of the cobalt wires is 1.65(±0.1). The SEM results infer that the morphology of the growing particles was controlled by the magnetic field with the applied field directs the growth of the particles into wires. The magnetic measurements indicate a superparamagnetic character of the cobalt wires and a soft ferromagnetic nature of the synthesized Co _x C chains. The degree and field range of the interactions between magnetic domains have been investigated using a Henkel plot.