Morphology effects on the biofunctionalization of nanostructured ZnO

A stepwise surface functionalization methodology was applied to nanostructured ZnO films grown by metal organic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD) having three different surface morphologies (i.e., nanorod layers (ZnO films-N), rough surface films (ZnO films-R), and planar surface films (ZnO films-P). The films were grown on glass substrates and on the sensing area of a quartz crystal microbalance (nano-QCM). 16-(2-Pyridyldithiol)-hexadecanoic acid (PDHA) was bound to ZnO films-N, -R, and -P through the carboxylic acid unit, followed by a nucleophilic displacement of the 2-pyridyldithiol moiety by single-stranded DNA capped with a thiol group (SH-ssDNA). The resulting ssDNA-functionalized films were hybridized with complementary ssDNA tagged with fluorescein (ssDNA-Fl). In a selectivity control experiment, no hybridization occurred upon treatment with non complementary DNA. The ZnO films' surface functionalization, characterized by FT-IR-ATR and fluorescence spectroscopy and detected on the nano-QCM, was successful on films-N and -R but was barely detectable on the planar surface of films-P.     

An organocatalytic Michael-aldol cascade: formal [3+2] annulation to construct enantioenriched spirocyclic oxindole derivatives

An efficient organocatalytic Michael-aldol cascade reaction for the asymmetric synthesis of spirocyclic oxindole derivatives fused with tetrahydrothiophenes has been developed through a formal [3+2] annulation strategy.     

Nickel-catalyzed C-H direct amination of benzoxazoles with secondary amines

In this article, a facile, efficient and practical method for Ni-catalyzed direct C-H amination of benzoxazole with secondary amines has been developed. This procedure requires Ni(OAc)(2)·4H(2)O as catalyst, TBHP as oxidant and acid as the additive. A variety of substituted benzoxazol-2-amines were synthesized in moderate to good yields.     

One-Pot Synthesis of Tetraarylpyrrolo[3, 2-b]pyrrole Dopant-Free Hole-Transport Materials for Inverted Perovskite Solar Cells

Four organic small-molecule hole transport materials ( D41 , D42 , D43 and D44 ) of tetraarylpyrrolo[3, 2-b]pyrroles were prepared. They can be used without doping in the manufacture of the inverted planar perovskite solar cells. Tetraarylpyrrolo[3, 2-b]pyrroles are accessible for one-pot synthesis. D42 , D43 and D44 possess acceptor-\begin{document}$ \pi $\end{document}-donor-\begin{document}$ \pi $\end{document}-acceptor structure, on which the aryl bearing substitutes of cyan, fluorine and trifluoromethyl, respectively. Instead, the aryl moiety of D41 is in presence of methyl with a donor-\begin{document}$ \pi $\end{document}-donor-\begin{document}$ \pi $\end{document}-donor structure. The different substitutes significantly affected their molecular surface charge distribution and thin-film morphology, attributing to the electron-rich properties of fused pyrrole ring. The size of perovskite crystalline growth particles is affected by different molecular structures, and the electron-withdrawing cyan group of D42 is most conducive to the formation of large perovskite grains. The D42 fabricated devices with power conversion efficiency of 17.3% and retained 55% of the initial photoelectric conversion efficiency after 22 days in dark condition. The pyrrolo[3, 2-b]pyrrole is efficient electron-donating moiety for hole transporting materials to form good substrate in producing perovskite thin film.      

Theoretical Investigating Mechanisms of Drug-Resistance Generated by Mutation-Induced Changes in Influenza Viruses

Influenza A (A/H\begin{document}$ x $\end{document}N\begin{document}$ y $\end{document}) is a significant public health concern due to its high infectiousness and mortality. Neuraminidase, which interacts with sialic acid (SIA) in host cells, has become an essential target since its highly conserved catalytic center structure, while resistance mutations have already generated. Here, a detailed investigation of the drug resistance mechanism caused by mutations was performed for subtype N9 (A/H7N9). Molecular dynamics simulation and alanine-scanning-interaction-entropy method (ASIE) were used to explore the critical differences between N9 and Zanamivir (ZMR) before and after R294K mutation. The results showed that the mutation caused the hydrogen bond between Arg294 and ZMR to break, then the hydrogen bonding network was disrupted, leading to weakened binding ability and resistance. While in wild type (A/H7N9\begin{document}$ ^{ \rm{WT}} $\end{document}), this hydrogen bond was initially stable. Meanwhile, N9 derived from A/H11N9 was obtained as an R292K mutation. Then the relative binding free energy of N9 with five inhibitors (SIA, DAN, ZMR, G28, and G39) was predicted, basically consistent with experimental values, indicating that the calculated results were reliable by ASIE. In addition, Arg292 and Tyr406 were hot spots in the A/H11N9\begin{document}$ ^{ \rm{WT}} $\end{document}-drugs. However, Lys292 was not observed as a favorable contributing residue in A/H11N9\begin{document}$ ^{ \rm{R292K}} $\end{document}, which may promote resistance. In comparison, Tyr406 remained the hotspot feature when SIA, ZMR, and G28 binding to A/H11N9\begin{document}$ ^{ \rm{R292K}} $\end{document}. Combining the two groups, we speculate that the resistance was mainly caused by the disruption of the hydrogen bonding network and the transformation of hotspots. This study could guide novel drug delivery of drug-resistant mutations in the treatment of A/H\begin{document}$ x $\end{document}N9.     

Time-dependent density functional theory study on intramolecular charge transfer and solvent effect of dimethylaminobenzophenone

The lower singlet excited states for dimethylaminobenzophenone have been investigated as a function of the twisting motion with inclusion of solvent effects. Theoretical calculations have been performed using time-dependent density functional theory. The B3LYP and MPW1PW91 functionals with a 6-311+G(2d,p) basis set have been used to compute transition energies. The solvent effects have been described within the polarizable continuum model. Ground-state geometries are optimized using density functional theory with both B3LYP and MPW1PW91 functionals combined with 6-31G(d) basis sets. Vertical absorption energy calculations characterize the lower singlet excited states both in vacuum and in different kinds of solvents. A large redshift of the absorption maximum in the polar solvent suggests an intramolecular charge transfer character of the excited state. We have constructed the potential energy curves of two possible twisting motions of the excited states both in vacuum and in the polar solvent of acetonitrile: the twisting of only the dimethylamino group and the twisting of the dimethylaminophenyl group with respect to the benzoyl group. Both twisting processes predict the formation of the twisted intramolecular charge transfer state associated with the crossing of a low barrier. The presence of the polar solvent significantly changes the shape of the energy curves. Calculated emission energies for both the isolated and the solvated systems show a large Stokes shift between the absorption and fluorescence maxima. Two possible twisting motions produce similar fluorescence spectroscopic consequences. Our results including solvent effects explain the weak "dual-fluorescence" feature of dimethylaminobenzophenone, and imply that the two possible twisting motions may occur in the excited-state relaxation dynamics, but the twisting of the dimethylamino group seems to take place easier.     

Separation and determination of carnosine-related peptides using capillary electrophoresis with laser-induced fluorescence detection

A capillary electrophoresis (CE) method with laser-induced fluorescence (LIF) detection was developed for the separation and detection of carnosine-related peptides (carnosine, anserine, and homocarnosine). A sensitive and fluorogenic regent, 3-(4-carboxybenzoyl) quinoline-2-carboxaldehyde (CBQCA) was selected as a precapillary labeling reagent for imidazole dipeptides to form isoindole derivatives. The optimized molar ratio between CBQCA and peptide was found to be 75:1, and 50 mmol/L borate buffer (pH 9.2) was used for the derivatization in order to achieve good efficiency. Three imidazole dipeptides were baseline-separated within 20 min by using 112 mmol/L sodium borate (pH 10.4-10.8) as running buffer. Concentration detection limits (signal-to-noise ratios) for carnosine, anserine, and homocarnosine were 4.73, 4.37, and 3.94 nmol/L, respectively. This method has been applied to the analysis of human cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and meat dry powder of pig and sheep. Recoveries were in the range of 82.9-104.8% for homocarnosine in CSF. For carnosine and anserine, the recoveries are 98.3% and 80.2% in meat dry powder of pig and 111.2% and 112.8% in meat dry powder of sheep, respectively.     

Linear alkyl benzene sulphonate (LAS) degradation by immobilized Pseudomonas aeruginosa under low intensity ultrasound

We studied the LAS degradation of immobilized Pseudomonas aeruginosa with low-intensity ultrasonic and the influence of original LAS concentration, pH, rotary velocity and different conditions of low-intensity ultrasonic irradiation on the degradation of LAS. In our experiment, the degradation rate of LAS was the main index. We found that low-intensity ultrasonic irradiation could improve the metabolism of microorganism cells and promote the LAS biodegradation of immobilized cells. In the experiment, 50 mg/l LAS were used to simulate wastewater, and low-intensity ultrasonic was considered. We found the influence was obvious, and the optimal degradation rate was acquired when the conditions of ultrasonic were frequency 24 kHz, power 8 W, stimulation time 5 s, intermissive time 30 s, and total time 10 min. The LAS degradation rate of immobilized cells with ultrasonic were respectively 40% and 9.5% higher than that of the suspending cells and immobilized cells without irradiation.     

Exon Array Analysis of Alternative Splicing of Genes in SOD1G93A Transgenic Mice

Alternative splicing is a common strategy for creating functional diversities of proteins. While conventional identification of splice variants generally targets individual genes in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, we present a novel exon-centric array that allows genome-wide identification of splice variants and concurrently provides analysis of gene expression. Compare 1 was asymptomatic SOD1G93A transgenic mice with nontransgenic littermates; compare 2 was symptomatic with asymptomatic transgenic mice. RT-PCR was performed to validate. Pathway and GO analysis were performed on abnormal genes. These findings could guide us to demonstrated the potential influence of mutant human CuZn-SOD1 and of splicing regulation in pathological processes.