Improved dimensional stability of Nafion membrane modified using a layer by layer self-assembly of biophilic polymers

The modification of perfluorinated proton exchange membranes (e.g. Nafion) utilizing a layer by layer (LbL) electrostatic assembly of oppositely charged biophilic polymers such as poly-l-lysine as positive layer and dsDNA as a negative layer is developed to protect the interface between the catalyst layer and the membrane in a low temperature fuel cell. Various physicochemical measurements including water uptake, proton conductivity and surface tension were investigated for both the as-received Nafion and the biopolymeric LbL modified Nafion. The smaller water contact angle and the less swelling characteristics of the biopolymer modified Nafion membrane was founded compared to that of as-received Nafion. This clearly indicates that the more hydrophilic surface of biopolymeric layers on Nafion plays an important role in the enhanced dimensional stability. In addition, a potential hypothesis explaining the higher proton conductivity from the LbL biopolymeric film coated Nafion is suggested.     

Cobalt Based Nanoparticles Embedded Reduced Graphene Oxide Aerogel for Hydrogen Evolution Electrocatalyst

Efficient water electrolysis catalyst is highly demanded for the production of hydrogen as a sustainable energy fuel. It is reported that cobalt derived nanoparticle (CoS₂, CoP, CoS|P) decorated reduced graphene oxide (rGO) composite aerogel catalysts for highly active and reliable hydrogen evolution reaction electrocatalysts. 7 nm level cobalt derived nanoparticles are synthesized over graphene aerogel surfaces with excellent surface coverage and maximal expose of active sites. CoS|P/rGO hybrid aerogel composites show an excellent catalytic activity with overpotential of ≈169 mV at a current density of ≈10 mA cm^?2. Accordingly, efficient charge transfer is attained with Tafel slope of ≈52 mV dec^?1 and a charge transfer resistance (R_ct) of ≈12 Ω. This work suggests a viable route toward ultrasmall, uniform nanoparticles decorated graphene surfaces with well‐controlled chemical compositions, which can be generally useful for various applications commonly requiring large exposure of active surface area as well as robust interparticle charger transfer.     

Template‐free anion‐controlled synthesis of Pd (II) nano‐aggregates for the antifouling polymerization of CO and ethylene

The reaction of [(domppp) Pd (OAc)₂] [domppp = 1,3‐bis (di‐o‐methoxyphenylphosphino)propane] and imidazolium‐functionalized carboxylic acids containing various anions (Br^?, PF₆^?, SbF₆^? and BF₄^?) resulted in the formation of nano‐sized Pd (II) aggregates under template‐free conditions. The rate of formation of aggregates can be modulated by changing the anion, affecting the rate of polymerization of CO and olefins without fouling. Herein, we describe the analysis of Pd (II) catalysts by dynamic light scattering, atomic force microscopy, X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy and X‐ray crystallography, and co‐ and terpolymerization results including the catalytic activity, and bulk density and molecular weight of polymers.     

Simultaneous determination of 75 abuse drugs including amphetamines,benzodiazepines, cocaine,opioids, piperazines,zolpidem and metabolites in human hair samples using liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry

A liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometric method for the simultaneous determination of 75 abuse drugs and metabolites, including 19 benzodiazepines, 19 amphetamines, two opiates, eight opioids, cocaine, lysergic acid diethylamide, zolpidem, three piperazines and 21 metabolites in human hair samples, was developed and validated. Ten‐milligram hair samples were decontaminated, pulverized using a ball mill, extracted with 1 mL of methanol spiked with 28 deuterated internal standards in an ultrasonic bath for 60 min at 50°C, and purified with Q‐sep dispersive solid‐phase extraction tubes. The purified extracts were evaporated to dryness and the residue was dissolved in 0.1 mL of 10% methanol. The 75 analytes were analyzed on an Acquity HSS T3 column using gradient elution of methanol and 0.1% formic acid and quantified in multiple reaction monitoring mode with positive electrospray ionization. Calibration curves were linear (r ≥ 0.9951) from the lower limit of quantitation (2–200 pg/mg depending on the drug) to 2000 pg/mg. The coefficients of variation and accuracy for intra‐ and inter‐assay analysis at three QC levels were 4.3–12.9% and 89.2–109.1%, respectively. The overall mean recovery ranged from 87.1 to 105.3%. This method was successfully applied to the analysis of 11 forensic hair samples obtained from drug abusers.     

Determination of rimantadine in pharmaceutical preparations by capillary zone electrophoresis with indirect detection or after derivatization

Summary Rimantadine is synthetic analog of amantadine; both are antiviral agents used for prophylaxis and treatment of influenza A. A capillary zone electrophoretic (CZE) procedure for the determination of rimantadine has been developed. As the direct determination of rimantadine is poorly sensitive because the compound is almost transparent in the UV/Vis range, several indirect methods were studied. Two were found to be the particularly useful: (a) indirect detection using 5 mM 4-methylbenzylamine in 1:4 methanol-water as absorbing background electrolyte, with detection at 210 nm, and (b) derivatization of rimantadine with 1,2-naphthoquinone-4-sulfonic acid in alkaline medium and subsequent determination of the derivative by CZE (40 mM tetraborate, pH 9.2, detection at 280 nm). Uncoated capillary tubing, 44 cm length ×75 μM i.d., was used for both determinations. The detection limits were 0.1 and 2 ppm for methods a and b, respectively. The methods were used to determine rimantadine in pharmaceutical products and for dissolution testing of Flumadin^? tablets.     

Prediction of African Swine Fever Virus Inhibitors by Molecular Docking-Driven Machine Learning Models

African swine fever virus (ASFV) causes a highly contagious and severe hemorrhagic viral disease with high mortality in domestic pigs of all ages. Although the virus is harmless to humans, the ongoing ASFV epidemic could have severe economic consequences for global food security. Recent studies have found a few antiviral agents that can inhibit ASFV infections. However, currently, there are no vaccines or antiviral drugs. Hence, there is an urgent need to identify new drugs to treat ASFV. Based on the structural information data on the targets of ASFV, we used molecular docking and machine learning models to identify novel antiviral agents. We confirmed that compounds with high affinity present in the region of interest belonged to subsets in the chemical space using principal component analysis and k-means clustering in molecular docking studies of FDA-approved drugs. These methods predicted pentagastrin as a potential antiviral drug against ASFVs. Finally, it was also observed that the compound had an inhibitory effect on AsfvPolX activity. Results from the present study suggest that molecular docking and machine learning models can play an important role in identifying potential antiviral drugs against ASFVs.     

ZIP8 exacerbates collagen-induced arthritis by increasing pathogenic T cell responses

Zinc is a trace element that is essential for immune responses. Therefore, changes in cellular zinc levels in specific immune cells may influence inflammatory autoimmune diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA). However, the regulation of zinc mobilization in immune cells and its role in the pathogenesis of RA are not fully understood. Thus, we investigated the roles of zinc transporters in RA pathogenesis. We demonstrated that ZIP8 was specifically upregulated in CD4⁺ T cells that infiltrated the inflamed joint and that ZIP8 deficiency in CD4⁺ T cells abrogated collagen-induced arthritis. ZIP8 deficiency dramatically affected zinc influx in effector T cells and profoundly reduced T cell receptor (TCR)-mediated signaling, including NF-κB and MAPK signaling, which are pathways that are involved in T helper (Th) 17 cell differentiation. Taken together, our findings suggest that ZIP8 depletion in CD4⁺ T cells attenuates TCR signaling due to insufficient cellular zinc, thereby reducing the function of effector CD4⁺ T cells, including Th17 cells. Our results also suggest that targeting ZIP8 may be a useful strategy to inhibit RA development and pathogenesis.Subject terms: Autoimmunity, Immunological disorders     

Nuclear magnetic resonance studies of acetic acid inhibition of rec Zymomonas mobilis ZM4(pZB5)

The fermentation characteristics and effects of lignocelulosic toxic compounds on recombinant Zymomonas mobilis ZM4(pZB5), which is capable of converting both glucose and xylose to ethanol, and its parental strain, ZM4, were characterized using ¹³C and ³¹P nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) in vivo. From the ³¹P NMR data, the levels of nucleoside triphosphates (NTP) of ZM(pZB5) using xylose were lower than those of glucose. This can be related to the intrinsically slower assimilation and/or metabolism of xylose compared to glucose and is evidence of a less energized state of ZM4(pZB5) cells during xylose fermentation. Acetic acid was shown to be strongly inhibitory to ZM4(pZB5) on xylose medium, with xylose utilization being completely inhibited at pH 5.0 or lower in the presence of 10.9 g/L of sodium acetate. From the ³¹P NMR results, the addition of sodium acetate caused decreased NTP and sugar phosphates, together with acidification of the cytoplasm. Intracellular deenergization and acidification appear to be the major mechanisms by which acetic acid exerts its toxic effects on this recombinant strain.     

Stereoconversion of amino acids and peptides in uryl-pendant binol schiff bases

(S)-2-Hydroxy-2'-(3-phenyluryl-benzyl)-1,1'-binaphthyl-3-carboxaldehyde (1) forms Schiff bases with a wide range of nonderivatized amino acids, including unnatural ones. Multiple hydrogen bonds, including resonance-assisted ones, fix the whole orientation of the imine and provoke structural rigidity around the imine C==N bond. Due to the structural difference and the increase in acidity of the alpha proton of the amino acid, the imine formed with an L-amino acid (1-l-aa) is converted into the imine of the D-amino acid (1-D-aa), with a D/L ratio of more than 10 for most amino acids at equilibrium. N-terminal amino acids in dipeptides are also predominantly epimerized to the D form upon imine formation with 1. Density functional theory calculations show that 1-D-Ala is more stable than 1-L-Ala by 1.64 kcal mol(-1), a value that is in qualitative agreement with the experimental result. Deuterium exchange of the alpha proton of alanine in the imine form was studied by (1)H NMR spectroscopy and the results support a stepwise mechanism in the L-into-D conversion rather than a concerted one; that is, deprotonation and protonation take place in a sequential manner. The deprotonation rate of L-Ala is approximately 16 times faster than that of D-Ala. The protonation step, however, appears to favor L-amino acid production, which prevents a much higher predominance of the D form in the imine. Receptor 1 and the predominantly D-form amino acid can be recovered from the imine by simple extraction under acidic conditions. Hence, 1 is a useful auxiliary to produce D-amino acids of industrial interest by the conversion of naturally occurring L-amino acids or relatively easily obtainable racemic amino acids.