Removal of major interference sources in aqueous near-infrared spectroscopy techniques

This work describes a hybrid procedure for eliminating major interference sources in aqueous near-infrared (NIR) spectra, that include aqueous influence, noise, and systemic variations irrelevant to concentration. The scheme consists of two parts: extension of wavelet prism (WPe) and orthogonal signal correction (OSC). First, WPe is employed to remove variations due to aqueous absorbance and noise; then OSC is applied to remove systemic spectral variations irrelevant to concentration. Although water possesses strong absorption bands that overshadow and overlap the absorption bands of analytes, along with noise and systematic interference, successful calibration models can be generated by employing the method proposed here. We show that the elimination of major interference sources from the aqueous NIR spectra results in a substantial improvement in the precision of prediction, and reduces the required number of PLS components in the model. In addition, the strategy proposed here can be applied to various analytical data for quantitative purposes as well.     

Impacts of PEG-6000 pretreatment for barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) seeds on the effect of their mature embryo in vitro culture and primary investigation on its physiological mechanism

In this paper, we studied polyetheneglycol (PEG) pretreatment effect on the mature embryo culture in vitro by using barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) seeds. Meanwhile, we analyzed and assayed its mineral element and endogenous hormone level. The experimental results were as follows: (1) PEG-6000 imbibition could obviously slow down the water timecourse absorbed by barley seeds; (2) 10% PEG-6000 treatment of barley seeds for 3 h had a positive effect on germination in vitro and callus induction of the barley seed mature embryos; (3) 10% PEG-6000 treatment inhibited soluble leakage from the seeds; (4) N leakage was mainly from the endosperms, Mn2+ leakage from embryos; (5) PEG-6000 treatment changed greatly the hormone level (ABA, IAA, GAs), which influenced the percentage of plantlets from the mature embryo callus. The results can provide some clues to scientific sowing of crop seeds, pretreatment for the purpose of uniform seedlings, and the explant response quality in plant tissue culture.     

Oxidative entry to α-oxy N-acyl aminals and hemiaminals: efficient formation of 2-(N-acylaminal) substituted tetrahydropyrans

An efficient new method to synthesize α-oxy N-acyl aminals and hemiaminals in a single step from readily synthesized N-acyl enamines has been developed using PhI(OAc)₂ as the oxidant. The reaction conditions are very mild and the products are obtained in good yields (65-92%). A possible mechanistic pathway is laid out.     

Quinine/selectfluor combination induced asymmetric semipinacol rearrangement of allylic alcohols: an effective and enantioselective approach to alpha-quaternary beta-fluoro aldehydes

A quinine/Selectfluor combination inducing rearrangement reaction of allylic alcohols was discovered, which involved a moderate yield with good enantioselective construction of alpha-quaternary carbon center and beta-fluoro aldehyde under base condition.     

Electrospun nanofibers of poly（vinyl pyrrolidone）/Eu^3＋ and its photoluminescence properties

Nanofibers of poly（vinyl pyrrolidone） （PVP）/Eu^3＋ with diameters of 300-900 nm were prepared by using sol-gel processing and electrospinning technique. The products were characterized by scanning electron microscope （SEM）, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy （FT-IR）, and photoluminescence （PL）. The results indicated that, Eu^3＋ was successfully embedded in the onedimensional hybrid nanofibers, and the PVP/Eu^3＋ hybrid nanofibers had favorable photoluminescence properties.     

2020 Roadmap on two-dimensional nanomaterials for environmental catalysis

This roadmap demonstrates a series of two-dimensional nanomaterials, such as graphene, black phosphorus, oxides, layered double hydroxides, chalcogenides, bismuth-based layered compounds, MXenes, metal organic frameworks, covalent organic frameworks, and others, for environmental catalysis.     

Synthesis and antimicrobial activity of a perfluoroalkyl-containing quaternary ammonium salt

A novel perfluoroalkyl-containing quaternary ammonium salt 5 was designed and synthesized. Consequently, the antimicrobial activities of compound 5 were measured with Escherichia coli 8099 as a Gram-negative strain and Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 6538 as a Gram-positive strain. Both the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC, the lowest concentration of compound 5 that inhibits microbial growth) values of quaternary ammonium salt 5 against Escherichia coli 8099 and Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 6538 were 7.8 μg/ml.     

Morin applied in speciation of aluminium in natural waters and biological samples by reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection

A reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatographic method with fluorescence detection for the determination of labile monomeric aluminium has been developed through pre-column complexation using morin as the analytical reagent. The highly fluorescent aluminium-morin complex (excitation wavelength 418 nm, emission wavelength 490 nm) was separated on a Spherisorb ODS 2 column with an eluent consisting of 30% methanol and 70% water (pH 1.0 with perchloric acid). The most remarkable point of this protocol was that only the most toxic aluminium species, that is, free aqua-aluminium ion and its monomeric hydroxo complex ions, selectively respond among various aluminium complexes. This strategy has been successfully applied to direct fractionation of the toxic aluminium in natural waters and biological samples without any pretreatment.     

Tetra‐μ‐acetato‐κ2O:O′‐bis[(4‐phenylpyridine‐κN)copper(II)]

The title compound, [Cu₂(C₂H₃O₂)₄(C₁₁H₉N)₂] or [Cu₂(MeCO₂)₄(phpy)₂] (phpy is 4‐phenyl­pyridine), consists of centrosymmetric dimers in which the Cu^II atoms display a square‐pyramidal CuO₄N coordination, with four acetate O atoms in the basal plane [Cu—O 1.975 (3)–1.987 (3) Å] and the phpy N atom in the apical position [Cu—N 2.150 (3) Å]. The Cu atoms are 2.654 (1) Å apart and are bridged by four acetate groups. The discrete dimers are extended into a three‐dimensional supramolecular array through intermolecular π–π‐stacking interactions.     

LC Determination of 4-Bromoaniline in Green Algae Chlamydomonas reinhardtii After Continuous-Flow Microextraction

In this study, the determination of 4-Bromoaniline (4-BA) in green algae Chlamydomonas reinhardtii (C. reinhardtii) was investigated by applying continuous-flow microextraction (CFME) combined with high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Continuous-flow microextraction was conducted in a homemade glass chamber, i.e. the sample solution flowed through a constant volume drop of solvent in the chamber at a constant flow rate. The effects of different factors on extraction efficiencies were also investigated and these factors included the kind of extraction solvent, solvent drop volume, sample flow rate, extraction time and addition amount of salt. Under the optimum extraction conditions (extraction solvent, carbon tetrachloride; solvent drop volume, 3.5 μL; sample flow rate, 1.0 mL min⁻¹; extraction time, 10 min; no addition of salt), the calibration plot was set up by plotting peak area against a series of 4-Bromoaniline concentrations (0.01–10 μg mL⁻¹) in aqueous solution. The correlation coefficient (r) was 0.9990. The limit of detection (LOD) was 0.6 ng mL⁻¹. The precision of this method was obtained by successive five time analyses of 100-ng mL⁻¹ standard solution of 4-Bromoaniline, and the relative standard deviation (RSD) was 3.5%. The concentration factor was calculated by the ratio of peak area of the analyte obtained after and before extraction and found to be 10.6. 4-Bromoaniline residues in Chlamydomonas. reinhardtii cells and tap water samples were satisfactorily analyzed according to the method described above.