Computational Study of the Electron Spectra of Vapor-Phase Indole and Four Azaindoles

After geometry optimization, the electron spectra of indole and four azaindoles are calculated by density functional theory. Available experimental photoemission and excitation data for indole and 7-azaindole are used to compare with the theoretical values. The results for the other azaindoles are presented as predictions to help the interpretation of experimental spectra when they become available.     

去甲斑蝥素对人胰腺癌PANC-1 细胞凋亡作用的研究

目的 探讨去甲斑蝥素对人胰腺癌PANC-1细胞凋亡的作用及其机制。方法 将PANC-1 细胞株随机分为处理组 和对照组,处理组加入不同浓度的去甲斑蝥素培养24h后,CCK-8 法检测细胞增殖情况;流式细胞术分析细胞的凋亡情况;免疫印迹法检测细胞内质网应激和凋亡相关蛋白的表达;荧光定量PCR 技术检测细胞内质网应激和凋亡相关蛋白mRNA表达。结果 不同浓度去甲斑蝥素处理PANC-1细胞24h后,与对照组相比,能降低细胞的存活率并诱导其凋亡。与对照组相比,处理组中内质网应激和凋亡相关蛋白的表达水平均上调（均P＜0.05）,同时其mRNA 的表达水平亦均上调（均P＜0.05）。结论 去甲斑蝥素能明显抑制人胰腺癌PANC-1 细胞的生长并诱导其凋亡,并且具有浓度依赖性,这一作用可能是通过内质网应激介导的凋亡途径实现的。     

一种宽能谱多球中子谱仪能量响应的MC模拟

利用蒙特卡罗程序FLUKA模拟计算了聚乙烯慢化球和辅助材料慢化球对低能中子到高能中子的响应函数曲线。结果表明,对纯聚乙烯球来说,随着聚乙烯层厚度的增加,响应曲线峰逐步右移,峰值在高能区有所下降,对20 Me V以上的中子,无论纯聚乙烯球的尺寸有多大,其响应均下降到很低的程度;对辅助材料慢化球来说,中子能量小于1 Me V时,辅助材料慢化球与聚乙烯慢化球的响应曲线相似,但当中子能量大于20 Me V时,中子与辅助材料层发生(n,xn)反应,慢化球的响应呈显著上升趋势。分析计算结果,最终能够确定宽能谱多球中子谱仪的尺寸组合。     

Interaction with the Surrounding Water Plays a Key Role in Determining the Aggregation Propensity of Proteins

Understanding the molecular determinants of the relative propensities of proteins to aggregate in a cellular environment is a central issue for treating protein‐aggregation diseases and developing peptide‐based therapeutics. Despite the expectation that protein aggregation can largely be attributed to direct protein–protein interactions, a crucial role the surrounding water in determining the aggregation propensity of proteins both in vitro and in vivo was identified. The overall protein hydrophobicity, defined solely by the hydration free energy of a protein in its monomeric state sampling its equilibrium structures, was shown to be the predominant determinant of protein aggregation propensity in aqueous solution. Striking discrimination of positively and negatively charged residues by the surrounding water was also found. This effect depends on the protein net charge and plays a crucial role in regulating the solubility of the protein. These results pave the way for the design of aggregation‐resistant proteins as biotherapeutics.     

Theoretical Study on Experimentally Detected Sc2S@C84

Sc₂S@C₈₄ has recently been detected but not structurally characterized. 1 Density functional theory calculations on C₈₄ and Sc₂S@C₈₄ show that the favored isomer of Sc₂S@C₈₄ shares the same parent cage as Sc₂C₂@C₈₄, whereas Sc₂S@C₈₄:51383, which violates the isolated‐pentagon rule, is the second lowest energy isomer with the widest HOMO–LUMO gap and shows high kinetic stability. The analysis shows that Sc₂S@C₈₄:51575 is favored when the temperature exceeds 2 800 K and it can transform into the most favorable isomer Sc₂S@C₈₄:51591. Molecular orbital analysis indicates that both Sc₂S and Sc₂C₂ formally transfer four electrons to the cage, and quantum theory of atoms in molecules analysis demonstrates that there is a covalent interaction between Sc₂S and C₈₄:51591. The IR spectra of Sc₂S@C₈₄ are provided to aid future structural identification.     

Thermal conductivity behavior of SiC–Nylon 6,6 and hBN–Nylon 6,6 composites

A study was performed to determine the effect of the content and orientation of fillers on the thermal conductivity of a polymeric composite packed with hexagonal boron nitride (hBN) and silicon carbide (SiC) fillers. The thermal conductivity behavior of SiC–Nylon 6,6 and hBN–Nylon 6,6 composites was more dependent on the orientation and shape of the filler than on its thermal conductivity. The thermal conductivity of SiC–Nylon 6,6 composites with 59 % (v/v) isotropic SiC fillers increased from 0.25 to 3.83 W/m K. That of hBN–Nylon 6,6 composites with 62 % (v/v) anisotropic hBN fillers increased from 0.25 to 2.16 W/m K in the perpendicular direction whereas in the parallel direction it increased rapidly to 8.55 W/m K .     

离子印迹磁固相萃取-石墨炉原子吸收光谱法联用分析环境水样中痕量Ni(Ⅱ)

本文通过乳液聚合法制备磁性离子印迹材料Fe3O4@SiO2@IIM,并运用多种技术手段对其进行了表征。所制备的Fe3O4@SiO2@IIM磁材料颗粒较均一,粒径约为20nm,单分散性好,具有超顺磁性(饱和磁化强度为8.66emu·g-1)。基于此,建立了离子印迹磁固相萃取(IIMSPE)-石墨炉原子吸收光谱法(GFAAS)联用技术分析环境水样中Ni(Ⅱ)的新方法。对影响MSPE的因素进行了详细的考察。在最优实验条件下,方法对Ni(Ⅱ)的检出限为0.015ng·mL-1,相对标准偏差(RSDs)为7.3%(n=7,c=0.1ng·mL-1),富集倍数为24.8,所制备的磁性离子印迹材料不同批次间RSDs为10.9%(n=5,c=0.1ng·mL-1),所合成的材料可以重复使用5次以上。采用该方法分析了标准水样(GSBZ50009-88)中的Ni(Ⅱ)含量,验证方法的准确性,测定值和标准值吻合良好。将该方法应用于东湖水和长江水中Ni(Ⅱ)的测定,加标回收率为90.6%~107.2%。     

Natural Soft/Rigid Superlattices as Anodes for High-Performance Lithium-Ion Batteries

Volume expansion and poor conductivity are two major obstacles that hinder the pursuit of the lithium-ion batteries with long cycling life and high power density. Herein, we highlight a misfit compound PbNbS₃ with a soft/rigid superlattice structure, confirmed by scanning tunneling microscopy and electrochemical characterization, as a promising anode material for high performance lithium-ion batteries with optimized capacity, stability, and conductivity. The soft PbS sublayers primarily react with lithium, endowing capacity and preventing decomposition of the superlattice structure, while the rigid NbS₂ sublayers support the skeleton and enhance the migration of electrons and lithium ions, as a result leading to a specific capacity of 710 mAh g⁻¹ at 100 mA g⁻¹, which is 1.6 times of NbS₂ and 3.9 times of PbS. Our finding reveals the competitive strategy of soft/rigid structure in lithium-ion batteries and broadens the horizons of single-phase anode material design.     

Dual Illumination Enhances Transformation of an Engineered Green-to-Red Photoconvertible Fluorescent Protein

The molecular mechanisms for the photoconversion of fluorescent proteins remain elusive owing to the challenges of monitoring chromophore structural dynamics during the light-induced processes. We implemented time-resolved electronic and stimulated Raman spectroscopies to reveal two hidden species of an engineered ancestral GFP-like protein LEA, involving semi-trapped protonated and trapped deprotonated chromophores en route to photoconversion in pH 7.9 buffer. A new dual-illumination approach was examined, using 400 and 505 nm light simultaneously to achieve faster conversion and higher color contrast. Substitution of UV irradiation with visible light benefits bioimaging, while the spectral benchmark of a trapped chromophore with characteristic ring twisting and bridge-H bending motions enables rational design of functional proteins. With the improved H-bonding network and structural motions, the photoexcited chromophore could increase the photoswitching-aided photoconversion while reducing trapped species.     

Nickel‐Catalyzed α‐Carbonylalkylarylation of Vinylarenes: Expedient Access to γ,γ‐Diarylcarbonyl and Aryltetralone Derivatives

We report a Ni‐catalyzed regioselective α‐carbonylalkylarylation of vinylarenes with α‐halocarbonyl compounds and arylzinc reagents. The reaction works with primary, secondary, and tertiary α‐halocarbonyl molecules, and electronically varied arylzinc reagents. The reaction generates γ,γ‐diarylcarbonyl derivatives with α‐secondary, tertiary, and quaternary carbon centers. The products can be readily converted to aryltetralones, including a precursor to Zoloft, an antidepressant drug.