Optimization of Ultrasound-Assisted Cellulase Extraction from Nymphaea hybrid Flower and Biological Activities: Antioxidant Activity,Protective Effect against ROS Oxidative Damage in HaCaT Cells and Inhibition of Melanin Production in B16 Cells

In this study, ultrasonic-assisted cellulase extraction (UCE) was applied to extract flavonoids and polyphenols from the Nymphaea hybrid flower. The extraction conditions were optimized using the response surface method (RSM) coupled with a Box-Behnken design. The crude extract of Nymphaea hybrid (NHE) was further purified using AB-8 macroporous resins, and the purified extract (NHEP) was characterized by FTIR and HPLC. In vitro activity determination by chemical method showed that NHEP displayed strong free radical scavenging abilities against the DPPH and ABTS radicals, good reduction power, and hyaluronidase inhibition. The cell viability by CCK-8 assays showed that NHEP had no significant cytotoxicity for B16 and HaCaT cells when the concentration was below 100 μg/mL and 120 μg/mL, respectively. NHEP with a concentration of 20–160 μg/mL can more effectively reduce the ROS level in H₂O₂ damaged HaCaT cells compared with 10 μg/mL of VC. The 40 μg/mL of NHEP had similar activity against intracellular melanin production in the B16 melanoma cells compared with 20 μg/mL Kojic acid. Good activities of antioxidation, whitening and protective effect against H₂O₂-induced oxidative damage promote the potential for NHEP as a functional raw material in the field of cosmetics and medicine.     

Investigating thermal dimerization of N-methyl-flindersine. Syntheses and characterizations of paraensidimerines

Thermal dimerization of N-methyl-flindersine is reported here. This work commenced with the intent to access new Diels-Alder-type dimeric bis-pyranylquinoline alkaloids melicodenines but uncovered and characterized naturally occurring paraensidimerine F, F′and C′, as well as two new bis-quinolone derivatives.     

Characterizing regions of attraction for piecewise affine systems by continuity of discrete transition functions

Nonlinear Dynamics - Based on an analysis of the continuity of discrete transition functions, this paper presents a new approach for characterizing piecewise affine (PWA) systems’ regions of...     

Regioselective TfOH-mediated hydroamidation of ynamides with nitriles

A new TfOH-mediated reaction of ynamides with nitriles as nucleophiles has been developed. The reaction works efficiently under mild reaction conditions to afford a new class of α-acylaminoenamides readily via the intermediacy of keteniminium ion. The reaction displays generality and a broad substrates scope. Additionally, the α-acylaminoenamides could be transformed to highly substituted pyridine, 4-aminopyrimidine or isoquinoline cores.     

Synthesis of Rod-Like Co3O4 Catalyst Derived from Co-MOFs with Rich Active Sites for Catalytic Combustion of Toluene

Catalysis Surveys from Asia - Co3O4 catalyst derived from Co-MOFs demonstrated rich active sites in the catalytic reaction. In this paper, we prepared the rod-like Co3O4 catalysts by calcining...     

Synthesis and mesomorphic properties of four-ring liquid crystals containing 2,3-difluorophenyl and 1,3-dioxane units

Two series of novel liquid crystalline materials were synthesized: 2-(2,3-difluoro-4-alkoxyphenyl)-5-[4-(4-alkylcyclohexyl)phenyl]-1,3-dioxanes (A _m-n and 2-(2,3-difluoro-4-alkylphenyl)-5-[4-(4-alkylcyclohexyl)phenyl]-1,3-dioxanes (B _m-n ). Their mesmorphic properties were characterized by polarizing optical microscopy and differential scanning calorimetry. All these compounds exhibit broad mesomorphic phases, and most of them show wide smectic C phases and the phase sequence Cr-SmC-SmA-N-I. The relationship between properties and chemical structures is discussed in detail.     

A fluorescent chemosensor for Cu2+ ions and its application in cell imaging

A new on-off fluorescent probe 1 for Cu²⁺ based on Schiff base compound was designed and synthesized by one-step reaction. The single probe 1 exhibited strong green fluorescence emission. A fluorescence quenching effect and faint color change were observed as soon as the Cu²⁺ was added to the probe system in H₂O/EtOH (v/v = 8:2, HEPES buffer, 0.05 M, pH = 7.4) solution. Other common metal cations did not cause the changes in the fluorescence and color of the probe 1. The optical properties were studied by the fluorescence emission and UV–Vis spectra. Meanwhile, the geometry optimizations of probe 1 and the [1-Cu²⁺] coordination complexes were also carried out by DFT using the Gaussian 09 program, in which the B3LYP function was used. Based on experimental measurement and theoretical analysis, we can know that the combination ratio of the probe and Cu²⁺ is 2:1 and the limit of detection (LOD) is as low as 5.3 × 10^?9 M Besides, the probe 1 was also used to analyze the Cu²⁺ in living cells.     

Artificial boundary conditions for out-of-plane motion in penta-graphene

In this paper, artificial boundary conditions are designed for out-of-plane waves in penta-graphene, a newly proposed allotrope of carbon. By matching the dispersion relation for acoustic branch phonons in the long wave limit, we determine parameters in proposed linear constraints among displacements and velocities at the boundary and nearby atoms. Reflection analysis for normal incidences and a numerical test demonstrate the effectiveness of the artificial boundary conditions. These conditions may be used for studying mechanical behaviours of the novel complex lattice of penta-graphene.