Modeling and simulation of chemo-electro-mechanical behavior of pH-electric-sensitive hydrogel

A chemo-electro-mechanical multi-field model, termed the multi-effect-coupling pH-electric-stimuli (MECpHe) model, has been developed to simulate the response behavior of smart hydrogels subject to pH and electric voltage coupled stimuli when the hydrogels are immersed in a pH buffer solution subject to an externally applied electric field. The MECpHe model developed considers multiphysics effects and formulates the fixed charge density with the coupled buffer solution pH and electric voltage effects, expressed by a set of nonlinear partial differential governing equations. The model can be used to predict the hydrogel displacement and the distributive profiles of the concentrations of diffusive ionic species and the electric potential and the fixed charge density in both the hydrogels and surrounding solution. After validation of the model by comparison of current numerical results with experiment data extracted from the literature, one-dimensional steady-state simulations were carried out for equilibrium of the smart hydrogels subject to pH and electric coupled stimuli. The effects of several important physical conditions, including the externally applied electric voltage, on the distributions of the concentrations of diffusive ionic species, the electric potential, the fixed charge density, and the displacement of the hydrogel strip were studied in detail. The effects of the ionic strength on the bending deformation of the hydrogels under the solution pH and electric voltage coupled stimuli are also discussed.     

Production of carrier-free 188Re in the past ten years in Taiwan

Twenty clinical scale alumina-based ¹⁸⁸W/¹⁸⁸Re generators and carrier-free ¹⁸⁸Re has been produced at the Institute of Nuclear Energy Research (INER-Taiwan) for over ten years. 2845.6 GBq (76.9 Ci) of ¹⁸⁸Re-perrhenate solution has been eluted from generators during the past ten years. We have used the harvesting ¹⁸⁸Re solution for labeling radiopharmaceuticals, such as ¹⁸⁸Re-HEDP, ¹⁸⁸Re-MDP, ¹⁸⁸Re-microsphere, ¹⁸⁸Re-lipiodol, and ¹⁸⁸Re-sulfur colloid, etc. The average eluting yield of ¹⁸⁸Re is 78.6±5.8% that was investigated at 1115 harvesting times from 20 generators. Each generator can be used more than six months but the Millipore needs to be changed every two months for smooth harvesting and high yield of ¹⁸⁸Re solution.     

Different Behaviors of Glutathione in Aqueous and DMSO Solutions: Molecular Dynamics Simulation and NMR Experimental Study

An all-atom molecular simulation and NMR experiments have been carried out to investigate the interactions and conformations of glutathione (GSH) in aqueous and DMSO solutions. The simulations started, from different initial conformations, are characterized by intramolecular distance, radius of gyration, root-mean-square deviation, and solvent-accessible surface. Interestingly, different behaviors are found in the two different solutions. GSH is highly flexible in an aqueous solution with transitions to the extended, semifolded, and folded states. However, once GSH reaches the folded state in DMSO, it remains there and becomes difficult to break down. The NMR results show agreement with the MD simulations. The water molecule is small. It is also a good proton donor and a good proton acceptor. Water molecules can easily break down the “folded” conformation. In DMSO solution, the stronger hydrogen bonds and the hydrophobic interactions are more important, which can make the GSH in the folded state stable. Variations in the distribution of conformations and the hydrogen-bonding network may play an important role in its function under physiological conditions.     

Antioxidant activity of papaya seed extracts

The antioxidant activities of the ethanol, petroleum ether, ethyl acetate, n-butanol and water extract fractions from the seeds of papaya were evaluated in this study. The ethyl acetate fraction showed the strongest DPPH and hydroxyl free radical-scavenging activities, and its activities were stronger than those of ascorbic acid and sodium benzoate, respectively. The n-butanol fraction demonstrated the greatest ABTS? radicals scavenging activity. The ethyl acetate fraction and the n-butanol fraction not only showed higher antioxidant activities than the petroleum ether fraction, water fraction and ethanol fraction, but also showed higher superoxide anion and hydrogen peroxide radicals scavenging activities than those of the other extract fractions. The high amount of total phenolics and total flavonoids in the ethyl acetate and n-butanol fractions contributed to their antioxidant activities. The ethyl acetate fraction was subjected to column chromatography, to yield two phenolic compounds, p-hydroxybenzoic acid and vanillic acid, which possessed significant antioxidant activities. Therefore, the seeds of papaya and these compounds might be used as natural antioxidants.     

An Exceptional Peroxide Birefringent Material Resulting from d–π Interactions

Birefringent materials, which can modulate the polarization of light, are almost exclusively limited to oxides. Peroxides have long been overlooked as birefringent materials, because they are usually not stable in air. Now, the first peroxide birefringent material Rb₂VO(O₂)₂F is reported, the single crystals of which keep transparency after being exposed in the air for two weeks. Interestingly, Rb₂VO(O₂)₂F does not feature an optimal anisotropic structure, but its birefringence (Δn=0.189 at 546 nm) exceeds those of the majority of oxides. According to the first‐principles calculations, this exceptional birefringence should be attributed to the strong electronic interactions between localized π orbital of O₂^2? anions and V⁵⁺ 3d orbitals, which may be also favorable to the stability in the air for Rb₂VO(O₂)₂F. These findings distinguish peroxides as a brand‐new class of birefringent materials that may possess birefringence superior to the traditional oxides.     

Complex Polypropionates from a South China Sea Photosynthetic Mollusk: Isolation and Biomimetic Synthesis Highlighting Novel Rearrangements

Placobranchus ocellatus is well known to produce diverse and complex γ‐pyrone polypropionates. In this study, the chemical investigation of P. ocellatus from the South China Sea led to the discovery and identification of ocellatusones A–D, a series of racemic non‐γ‐pyrone polyketides with novel skeletons, characterized by a bicyclo[3.2.1]octane ( 1 , 2 ), a bicyclo[3.3.1]nonane ( 3 ) or a mesitylene‐substituted dimethylfuran‐3(2H)‐one core ( 4 ). Extensive spectroscopic analysis, quantum chemical computation, chemical synthesis, and/or X‐ray diffraction analysis were used to determine the structure and absolute configuration of the new compounds, including each enantiomer of racemic compounds 1 – 4 after chiral HPLC resolution. An array of new and diversity‐generating rearrangements is proposed to explain the biosynthesis of these unusual compounds based on careful structural analysis and comparison with six known co‐occurring γ‐pyrones ( 5 – 10 ). Furthermore, the successful biomimetic semisynthesis of ocellatusone A ( 1 ) confirmed the proposed rearrangement through an unprecedented acid induced cascade reaction.     

Insight into 6π Electrocyclic Reactions of 1,8‐Dioxatetraene

A variety of benzofuranone‐based spiroisochromenes were originally designed and synthesized to gain insight into the oxa‐6π electrocyclic reaction of cis,cis‐1,8‐dioxatetraene for the first time. The stability of the 1,8‐dioxatetraene intermediate is governed by its steric congestion and can be fine‐tuned through modification of the backbone structure, leading to the reactivity differences in the 6π electrocyclic reaction and the emergence of photochromic properties.     

Dehydrogenative Silylation of Alkenes for the Synthesis of Substituted Allylsilanes by Photoredox,Hydrogen‐Atom Transfer,and Cobalt Catalysis

A synergistic catalytic method combining photoredox catalysis, hydrogen‐atom transfer, and proton‐reduction catalysis for the dehydrogenative silylation of alkenes was developed. With this approach, a highly concise route to substituted allylsilanes has been achieved under very mild reaction conditions without using oxidants. This transformation features good to excellent yields, operational simplicity, and high atom economy. Based on control experiments, a possible reaction mechanism is proposed.     

A glassy carbon electrode modified with poly(eriochrome black T) for sensitive determination of adenine and guanine

A thin film of poly(eriochrome black T) was deposited on the surface of glassy carbon electrode by cyclic voltammetry, and this system is shown to enable the sensitive determination of adenine (A) and guanine (G). Scanning electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy were carried out to characterize the film which exhibits excellent electrocatalytic activity toward the oxidation of A and G in 0.1 M phosphate buffer solution (pH 4.0). Square wave voltammetry reveals an oxidation peak at 1084 mV whose current is linearly related to the concentration of A in the range from 0.05 to 1.00 μM. The oxidation peak for G occurs at 788 mV, and its current is linearly related to the concentration of G in the range from 0.025 to 1.00 μM. The detection limits are 0.017 μM for A and 0.008 μM for G (at S/N?=?3), respectively. The modified electrode displays good reproducibility and selectivity for the determination of A and G. The sensor was applied to quantify A and G in fish sperm DNA with satisfactory results.

Preparation of graphene platelet-Ru(phen) 3 2+ assemblies and their application in electrochemiluminescence detection

Graphene platelet (GP)-Ru(phen) ₃ ²⁺ assembles have been prepared through self-assembly of poly sodium styrenesulfonate (PSS) functionalized GPs and Ru(phen) ₃ ²⁺ driven by electrostatic attraction interactions in aqueous solution. The resultant assembled GP-Ru(phen) ₃ ²⁺ hybrid structure modified electrode exhibits excellent electrochemiluminescence (ECL) behaviors because of the ECL active species Ru(phen) ₃ ²⁺ contained therein.