Negative Electron Transfer Dissociation Sequencing of 3-<Emphasis Type="Italic">O</Emphasis>-Sulfation-Containing Heparan Sulfate Oligosaccharides

Among dissociation methods, negative electron transfer dissociation (NETD) has been proven the most useful for glycosaminoglycan (GAG) sequencing because it produces informative fragmentation, a low degree of sulfate losses, high sensitivity, and translatability to multiple instrument types. The challenge, however, is to distinguish positional sulfation. In particular, NETD has been reported to fail to differentiate 4-O- versus 6-O-sulfation in chondroitin sulfate decasaccharide. This raised the concern of whether NETD is able to differentiate the rare 3-O-sulfation from predominant 6-O-sulfation in heparan sulfate (HS) oligosaccharides. Here, we report that NETD generates highly informative spectra that differentiate sites of O-sulfation on glucosamine residues, enabling structural characterizations of synthetic HS isomers containing 3-O-sulfation. Further, lyase-resistant 3-O-sulfated tetrasaccharides from natural sources were successfully sequenced. Notably, for all of the oligosaccharides in this study, the successful sequencing is based on NETD tandem mass spectra of commonly observed deprotonated precursor ions without derivatization or metal cation adduction, simplifying the experimental workflow and data interpretation. These results demonstrate the potential of NETD as a sensitive analytical tool for detailed, high-throughput structural analysis of highly sulfated GAGs.

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Phytochemical analysis and antioxidant activity of the seed of Telfairia occidentalis Hook (Cucurbitaceae)

The 2,2-diphenyl-1-picryl hydrazyl (DPPH) radical, nitric oxide, reducing power, hydrogen peroxide scavenging, and total antioxidant activities of the methanol extract, n-hexane, dichloromethane, ethyl acetate, butanol and aqueous fractions of the seed of Telfairia occidentalis were evaluated. Total phenolic content was determined using the Folin–Ciocalteu method. The dichloromethane fraction exhibited the highest DPPH radical scavenging, reducing power and total antioxidant activities. Two pure compounds which were identified by FTIR, H-and 2D NMR and Mass spectroscopy as 9-octadecenoic acid (TOS B) and 10-hydroxyoctadecanoic acid (TOS C) and four oily isolates, TOS A, TOS D, TOS E and TOS F were obtained from the dichloromethane fraction. TOS E had the highest DPPH radical scavening activity comparable to that of ascorbic acid. GC-MS analysis revealed the major compounds in TOS E as 4-(2,2-Dimethyl-6-methylene cyclohexylidene)-2-butanol; 3-(3-hydroxybutyl)-2,4,4-trimethyl-2-cyclohexene-1-one and 1,2-Benzenedicarboxylic acid disooctyl ester. Thus, the seed of T. occidentalis can be consumed for its antioxidant property.     

Supramolecular Adduct of γ-Cyclodextrin and [{Re<Subscript>6</Subscript>Q<Subscript>8</Subscript>}(H<Subscript>2</Subscript>O)<Subscript>6</Subscript>]<Superscript>2+</Superscript> (Q=S,Se)

Slow evaporation of water solution of [{Re₆S₈}(H₂O)₆]²⁺ generated in situ from [{Re₆S₈}(OH)₆]^4– in presence of γ-cyclodextrin (CD) leads to crystallization of {[{Re₆S₈}(H₂O)₆] ? [γ-CD]}(NO₃)₂·12H₂O (1·12H₂O) supramolecular complex, which was characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction crystallography, IR-spectroscopy, thermogravimetric and elemental analyses. X-ray analysis confirms the formation of 1:1 {[{Re₆S₈}(H₂O)₆] ? [γ-CD]}²⁺ inclusion compound in the solid state. However, no adduct formation was detected between [{Re₆S₈}(H₂O)₆]²⁺ and γ-cyclodextrin in solution, according to ¹H NMR spectroscopy. In the case of in situ generated [{Re₆Se₈}(H₂O)₆]²⁺ the reaction solution with γ-cyclodextrin is unstable and during the crystallization only amorphous precipitate has been obtained.     

Fast pyrolysis of coals under N2 and CO2 atmospheres

Oxyfuel combustion represents one way for cleaner energy production using coal as combustible. The comparison between the oxycombustion and the conventional air combustion process starts with the investigation of the pyrolysis step. The aim of this contribution is to evaluate the impact of N₂ (for conventional air combustion) and CO₂ (for oxy-fuel combustion) atmospheres during pyrolysis of three different coals. The experiments are conducted in a drop tube furnace over a wide temperature range 800–1400 °C and for residence time ranging between 0.2 and 1.2 s. Coal devolatilized in N₂ and CO₂ atmospheres at low temperatures (?1200 °C) and longer residence times (>?0.5 s), the char-CO₂ reaction is clearly observed, whose intensity depends on the nature of the coal. Furthermore, the volatile yields are simulated using Kobayashi’s scheme and kinetic parameters are predicted for each coal. The char gasification under CO₂ is also accounted for by the model.

     

Graphene‐Based Inverted Planar Perovskite Solar Cells: Advancements,Fundamental Challenges,and Prospects

Metal halide based perovskite solar cells (PSCs) are considered among the most promising photovoltaic technologies, and already present certified efficiencies that surpass 22 %. The high performance and low fabrication cost make this technology competitive with that of state‐of‐the‐art thin‐film photovoltaics. However, PSCs present some striking disadvantages that hinder their commercialization, including short operational lifetimes, high toxicity, and hysteresis effects, which lower both the performance and long‐term stability of the devices. Herein, work conducted within the last two years is summarized with regard to addressing the challenges of low‐temperature‐processed planar inverted PSCs composed of graphene‐based materials. In addition, critical challenges and the prospects of this field are discussed and some prospects for future research directions are proposed.     

Development of Abraham model correlations for describing the transfer of molecular solutes into propanenitrile and butanenitrile from water and from the gas phase

Experimental solubilities were measured for 20 crystalline organic solutes dissolved in propanenitrile and for 13 crystalline organic solutes dissolved in butanenitrile at 298.15 K. Infinite dilution activity coefficient data for solutes dissolved in propanenitrile and butanenitrile have been compiled from the published chemical and engineering literature and converted into gas-to-liquid partition coefficients and water-to-organic solvent partition coefficients through standard thermodynamic relationships. Abraham model correlations were developed for describing solute transfer into both propanenitrile and butanenitrile by combining our measured solubility data with the partition coefficients that we calculated from the published activity coefficient data. The derived Abraham model correlations were found to back-calculate the observed partition coefficients and molar solubility data to within 0.14 log units.