Functionalized graphene quantum dots loaded with free radicals combined with liquid chromatography and tandem mass spectrometry to screen radical scavenging natural antioxidants from Licorice and Scutellariae

A novel screening method was developed for the detection and identification of radical scavenging natural antioxidants based on a free radical reaction combined with liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry. Functionalized graphene quantum dots were prepared for loading free radicals in the complex screening system. The detection was performed with and without a preliminary exposure of the samples to specific free radicals on the functionalized graphene quantum dots, which can facilitate charge transfer between free radicals and antioxidants. The difference in chromatographic peak areas was used to identify potential antioxidants. This is a novel approach to simultaneously evaluate the antioxidant power of a component versus a free radical, and to identify it in a vegetal matrix. The structures of the antioxidants in the samples were identified using tandem mass spectrometry and comparison with standards. Fourteen compounds were found to possess potential antioxidant activity, and their free radical scavenging capacities were investigated. The order of scavenging capacity of 14 compounds was compared according to their free radical scavenging rate. 4′,5,6,7‐Tetrahydroxyflavone (radical scavenging rate: 0.05253 mL mg^?1 s^?1) showed the strongest capability for scavenging free radicals.     

Preparation and Photocatalytic Activity of Ce,H3PW12O40 co-doped TiO2 Hollow Fibers

A series of Ce, H3PW12O40 co-doped TiO2 hollow fibers photocatalysts have been prepared by sol-gel method using ammonium ceric nitrate, H3PW12O40 and tetrabutyltitanate as precursors and cotton fibers as template, followed by calcination at 500 ℃ in N2 atmosphere for 2 h. Scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, nitrogen adsorption-desorption mea- surements, and UV-Vis spectroscopy are employed to characterize the morphology, crystal structure, surface structure, and optical absorption properties of the samples. The photo- catalytic performance of the samples has been studied by photodegradation phenol in water under UV and visible light irradiation. The results show that the TiO2 fiber materials have hollow structures, and the co-doped TiO2 hollow fibers exhibit higher photocatalytic activities for the degradation of phenol than un-doped, single-doped TiO2 hollow fibers under UV and visible light. In addition, the recyclability of co-doped TiO2 fibers is also confirmed that the TiO2 fiber retains ca. 90% of its activity after being used four times. It is shown that the co-doped TiO2 fibers can be activated by visible light and may be potentially applied to the treatment of water contaminated by organic pollutants. The synergistic effect of Ce and H3PW12O40 co-doping plays an important role in improving the photocatalytic activity.     

Biological evaluation of 2-methylpyrimidine derivatives as active pan Bcr-Abl inhibitors

We designed a series of 2-methylpyrimidine derivatives as new BCR-ABL inhibitors using scaffold-hopping strategy.These synthetic compounds exhibited significant inhibition against a broad spectrum of Bcr-Abl mutants including the gatekeeper T315I mutant.Compound 7u showed very potent kinase inhibitory activities against Bcr-Abl WT,Bcr-Abl E255K,Bcr-Abl Q252H,Bcr-Abl G250E and Bcr-Abl T315I,with IC50 values of 0.13 nM,0.17 nM,0.24 nM,0.19 nM and 0.65μM,respectively.This compound also displayed anti-proliferation activity against K562 cell line with an IC50 value of 1.1 nM,thus representing a new lead for further optimization.     

Bimetallic amine-bridged bis(phenolate) lanthanide aryloxides and alkoxides: synthesis,characterization, and application in the ring-opening polymerization of rac-lactide and rac-β-butyrolactone

A series of neutral bimetallic lanthanide aryloxides p-C6H4[OLnL(THF)n]2 [Ln = Y(1), Yb(2), Sm(3)(n = 1) and La(4)(n = 2), L = Me2NCH2CH2N{CH2-(2-O–C6H2–tBu2-3,5)}2] and alkoxides p-C6H4CH2[OLnL(THF)]2 [Ln = Y(5), Yb(6)] supported by an amine-bridged bis(phenolate) ligand have been synthesized through one-pot reactions of Ln(C5H5)3(THF), LH2 with p-benzenediol and 1,4-benzenedimethanol, respectively. All complexes have been fully characterized by elemental analyses, single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis, and IR and multi-nuclear NMR spectroscopy(in the cases of 1, 4 and 5). Study of their catalytic behavior revealed that, in general, all complexes are efficient initiators for the polymerization of rac-lactide(LA) and rac-β-butyrolactone(BBL), except for 3 and 4 in the case of BBL. The influence imposed by lanthanides of different ionic radii and initiating groups of different structures on the activity, controllability, and stereoselectivity of polymerization were systematically studied and compared. Highly heterotactic PLA(Pr up to 0.99) and syndiotactic PHB(Pr ≈ 0.81) with high molecular weight and narrow polydispersity formed and were automatically capped with hydroxyl functionality at both ends.     

Extraction of coal-tar pitch using NMP/ILs mixed solvents

Coal-tar pitch(CP)is a promising carbon raw material for producing needle coke,carbon fiber etc.During processing,the H/C ratio,ash content,and quinoline insoluble(QI)in the CP are the key factors that influence the material preparation.In this study,NMP was selected to extract CP first;then[BMIM]Cl/NMP mixed solvent was used;and finally a series of ionic liquids(ILs)mixtures with NMP were developed for the extraction of CP to obtain the refined pitch.The extracts were analyzed via elemental analysis,TGA,FT-IR,and 13C-NMR.Results indicate that different NMP/IL mass ratios or different kinds of ILs have impact on the extraction yield.The relationship of the hydrogen to carbon(H/C)ratio changed with different solvents and QI extracts were obtained.Results showed that the H/C ratios changed little between NMP extracts and could be adjusted by changing the NMP/ILs mass ratio or using different ILs.The extracts are suitable for preparation mesophase pitch because of no ash content,low QI,and appropriate H/C ratios.As a result,NMP can be used to refine pitch.In addition,[BMIM]Cl is good mixed with NMP for CP extraction,because it can obtain a relatively high yield under the same extraction conditions.     

Fabrication of Predominantly Mn4+‐Doped TiO2 Nanoparticles under Equilibrium Conditions and Their Application as Visible‐Light Photocatalyts

The chemical state of a transition‐metal dopant in TiO₂ can intrinsically determine the performance of the doped material in applications such as photocatalysis and photovoltaics. In this study, manganese‐doped TiO₂ is fabricated by a near‐equilibrium process, in which the TiO₂ precursor powder precipitates from a hydrothermally obtained transparent mother solution. The doping level and subsequent thermal treatment influence the morphology and crystallization of the TiO₂ samples. FTIR spectroscopy and X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy analyses indicate that the manganese dopant is substitutionally incorporated by replacing Ti⁴⁺ cations. The absorption band edge can be gradually shifted to 1.8 eV by increasing the nominal manganese content to 10 at %. Manganese atoms doped into the titanium lattice are associated with the dominant 4+ valence oxidation state, which introduces two curved, intermediate bands within the band gap and results in a significant enhancement in photoabsorption and the quantity of photogenerated hydroxyl radicals. Additionally, the high photocatalytic performance of manganese‐doped TiO₂ is also attributed to the low oxygen content, owing to the equilibrium fabrication conditions. This work provides an important strategy to control the chemical and defect states of dopants by using an equilibrium fabrication process.     

Transformations of iodine species inside elliptical channels of AlPO4‐11 crystals at low temperature: a Raman study

Raman spectra of iodine species confined in one‐dimensional elliptical channels of AlPO₄‐11 (AEL) crystals have been studied from room temperature down to −196 °C. As temperature decreases, thermal fluctuations of individual iodine molecules confined in AEL channels are slowed down and they prefer to rotate to channel axis direction, which increases the population of iodine molecules along channel axis (i.e., lying molecules and chains). Such temperature‐driven orientation transformation of iodine molecules is found to be reversible upon heating up to room temperature. The experimental observations are in good agreement with our theoretical simulations by molecular dynamics on low density iodine‐filled AEL crystals. We thus provide a new way to modulate the orientation of iodine molecules in nanochannels, which may have implications in low‐temperature‐sensitive nanoscale devices. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

“海水提镁”项目式教学设计与实践*

依托广西北海市丰富的海洋资源,创设了“在北海能否建提镁厂”的驱动性总任务,师生合议将任务规划为3个大问题和6个子任务。学生采用信息收集、分类、比较、推理、实验、系统分析等认知策略,最终以ppt的形式进行成果汇报,通过组间评价、核心问题讨论、决策性问题辩论等方式逐步落实项目目标。     

A novel 3D Tesla valve micromixer for efficient mixing and chitosan nanoparticle production

Current three-dimensional micromixers for continuous flow reactions and nanoparticle synthesis are complex in structure and difficult to fabricate. This paper investigates the design, fabrication, and characterization of a novel micromixer that uses a simple spatial Tesla valve design to achieve efficient mixing of multiple solutions. The flow characteristics and mixing efficiencies of our Tesla valve micromixer are investigated using a combination of numerical simulations and experiments. The results show that in a wide range of flow rates, viscoelastic solutions with different concentrations can be well mixed in our micromixer. Finally, experiments on the synthesis of chitosan nanoparticles are conducted to verify the practicability of our micromixer. Compared with nanoparticles prepared by conventional magnetic stirring, the size of nanoparticles prepared by micromixing is smaller and the distribution is more uniform. Therefore, our Tesla valve micromixer has significant advantages and implications for mixing chemical and biological reactions.