Growing degree days is the dominant factor associated with cellulose deposition in cotton fiber

Two field experiments were conducted to study the effect of temperatures on the cellulose content of cotton fiber at various stages of fiber development. In the first study, cotton was sown on three different dates so that temperatures were different during fiber development. In the second study, cotton was grown in semi-mobile chambers and night-time temperatures were controlled within the chambers. During the period from anthesis until the onset of rapid cellulose deposition, the average cellulose deposition rate was significantly correlated with growing degree days (GDD) and daily minimum temperature. The onset time of rapid cellulose deposition was significantly affected by GDD and daily maximum temperature. During the period of rapid cellulose deposition, the duration of rapid cellulose deposition and the average rate of cellulose deposition were significantly correlated with GDD. Therefore, GDD had the largest effect on cellulose deposition cotton fiber. The requisite number of GDD during cellulose synthesis must be reached during two stages of cotton fiber development in order to maximize cellulose content. The average cellulose deposition rate between anthesis and the onset of rapid cellulose deposition can be increased by warmer daily minimum. Warmer daily maximum temperatures advanced the onset of rapid cellulose deposition. The cellulose content of cotton fiber is also be affected by conditions during the period of rapid cellulose deposition. Cellulose contents are highest when cellulose accumulates at moderate rates during this period and when the duration of rapid cellulose deposition is long as possible.     

Direct Observation of Apatite Formation on Bioglass in Simulated Body Fluid by Atomic Force Microscopy

An in situ atomic force microscope (AFM) combined with surface potential measurement was used to observe the apatite formation on the 45S5 Bioglass-type glass in simulated body fluid (SBF). From the observation, it can be seen that small islands with 5-10 nm size are formed on the glass surface in the initial soaking period within 1 h.     

Recent quantitative research of near infrared spectroscopy in traditional Chinese medicine analysis

Traditional Chinese medicines (TCMs) have been used in China to prevent and cure diseases for centuries. Due to the complexity of TCMs, fast and highly efficient techniques are required to develop their quality control. Near infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) has been widely applied in TCM analysis for both nonpolar and polar components. This review describes an overview of experimental conditions (spectra pretreatments and multivariate techniques) investigated in NIRS for TCM components that are related to individual compounds such as lipids, essential oils, phenolics, alkaloids, saponins and carbohydrates. Their potential in the separation of TCMs using relevant applications with a particular focus on quantitative analysis is also demonstrated.     

Internal Dynamics in Halogen‐Bonded Adducts: A Rotational Study of Chlorotrifluoromethane–Formaldehyde

The rotational spectra of two isotopologues of the 1:1 complex between chlorotrifluoromethane and formaldehyde have been recorded and analyzed by using Fourier‐transform microwave spectroscopy. Only one rotamer was detected, with the two constituent molecules held together through a Cl???O halogen bond (R_Cl???O=3.048 Å). The dimer displays two simultaneous large‐amplitude intramolecular motions. The internal rotation of formaldehyde around its symmetry axis (V₂=28(5) cm^?1) splits all the rotational transitions into two component lines with a relative intensity ratio of 1:3. On the other hand, the almost free internal rotation (V₃≈2.5 cm^?1) of the CF₃ symmetric top increases the “rigid” value of the rotational constant A by almost one order of magnitude. In addition, all the transitions display a hyperfine structure due to the ³⁵Cl (or ³⁷Cl) nucleus quadrupole effects.     

Blockade of airway inflammation and hyper-responsiveness by an angiopoietin-1 variant, COMP-Ang1

Inflammation of the asthmatic airway is usually accompanied by increased vascular permeability and plasma exudation. Angiopoietin-1 (Ang1) has potential therapeutic applications in preventing vascular leakage. Recently, we developed a soluble, stable, and potent Ang1 variant, COMP-Ang1. COMP-Ang1 is more potent than native Ang1 in phosphorylating the tyrosine kinase with immunoglobulin and epidermal growth factor homology domain 2 receptor in lung endothelial cells. We have used a mouse model for allergic airway disease to determine effects of COMP-Ang1 on allergen-induced bronchial inflammation and airway hyper-responsiveness. These mice develop the following typical pathophysiological features of allergic airway disease in the lungs: increased numbers of inflammatory cells of the airways, airway hyper-responsiveness, increased levels of Th2 cell cytokines (IL-4, IL-5, and IL-13), adhesion molecules (intercellular adhesion molecule-1 and vascular cell adhesion molecule-1), and chemokines (eotaxin and RANTES), and increased vascular permeability. Intravenous administration of COMP-Ang1 reduced bronchial inflammation and airway hyper-responsiveness. In addition, the increased plasma extravasation in allergic airway disease was significantly reduced by the administration of COMP-Ang1. These results suggest that COMP-Ang1 attenuates airway inflammation and hyper-responsiveness, prevents vascular leakage, and may be used as a therapeutic agent in allergic airway disease.     

Synthesis, characterization and biological evaluation of platinum(II) complexes with a chiral N-monosubstituted 1,2-cyclohexyldiamine derivative

Eight platinum(II) compounds with a new chiral ligand, 2-(((1R,2R)-2-aminocyclohexylamino)methyl)phenol (HL), were designed, prepared and spectrally characterized. All compounds showed better aqueous solubility than cisplatin and oxaliplatin. In vitro cytotoxicity of these compounds against human HepG-2, MCF-7, A549 and HCT-116 cell lines was evaluated. Results indicated that all compounds showed cytotoxicity against A549 and HepG-2 cell lines. Particularly, compounds B1 and B8, which have CF?SO?? and (CH?)?COCH?COO(-) as leaving groups, respectively, exhibited better cytotoxicitiy than that of carboplatin in these two cell lines.     

Highly enantioselective cyanation of aldehydes catalyzed by a multicomponent titanium complex

A new multicomponent bifunctional catalytic system based on a titanium complex was used for the efficient enantioselective cyanation of aldehydes. The catalyst was readily prepared from tetraisopropyl titanate (Ti(Oi-Pr)4), (S)-6,6'-dibromo-1,1'-bi-2-naphthol (1e), cinchonine (2a), and (1R,2S)-(-)-N-methylephedrine (3b). It was revealed that the combination of 1e, 2a, 3b, and Ti(IV) was essential in this cyanation. The reaction proceeded smoothly in the presence of a catalytic amount of the multicomponent catalyst to afford the desired cyanohydrins ethyl carbonates in moderate to excellent isolated yields (up to 95%) with high enantioselectivities (up to 94% ee). A catalytic cycle based on experimental phenomena was proposed to explain the origin of the asymmetric induction.     

DNA-Targeting RuII-Polypyridyl Complex with a Long-Lived Intraligand Excited State as a Potential Photodynamic Therapy Agent

Subtle ligand modifications on Ru^II-polypyridyl complexes may result in different excited-state characteristics, which provides the opportunity to tune their photo-physicochemical properties and subsequently change their biological functions. Here, a DNA-targeting Ru^II-polypyridyl complex (named Ru1 ) with highly photosensitizing ³IL (intraligand) excited state was designed based on a classical DNA-intercalator [Ru(bpy)₂(dppz)] ⋅ 2 PF₆ by incorporation of the dppz (dipyrido[3,2-a:2′,3′-c]phenazine) ligand tethered with a pyrenyl group, which has four orders of magnitude higher potency than the model complex [Ru(bpy)₂(dppz)] ⋅ 2 PF₆ upon light irradiation. This study provides a facile strategy for the design of organelle-targeting Ru^II-polypyridyl complexes with dramatically improved photobiological activity.