氧化物担载Ni（C5H5）2衍生催化剂的EXAFS表征

本文以二茂镍为母体化合物,以氧化铝和氧化硅为担体制备了担载镍催化剂。为了表征其结构特点,对这些催化剂热分解处理前后的样品在日本筑波高能物理研究所(Photon-Factory)的同步辐射加速器BL—10B EXAFS实验站进行了外延x-光精细结构谱测定(透射法)。以单散射球面波理论对实验结果进行了多参数拟合,同时对母体化合物也进行了平行测定和拟合,以验证数据及拟合方法的可靠性。研究结果表明,母体化合物的EXAFS结果与文献XRD相一致;母体化合物与担体表面发生了强烈的化学作用;镍组分在催化剂表面高度分散,氧化铝与Ni(C_5H_5)_2有更强的相互作用形成。Ni[(O)_s]_n(n≈4),近一半的镍原子周围有0.30 nm处的镍原子散射;氧化硅上除Ni[(CO)_s]_n(n≈3)外,在0.30 nm处有配位数为2的非成键Ni原子。     

Measuring local pH in electrochemistry

Localized pH measurements are important in various areas of electrochemistry, from corrosion to bio-electrochemistry and electrocatalysis. Different techniques are available to perform these measurements and offer numerous possibilities in terms of spatial and temporal resolution, sensitivity, and precision. In this brief review we present the recent progress made and summarize the main techniques available for localized pH measurements in electrochemistry such as scanning probe techniques (SECM, SICM, SIET), laser (confocal) fluorescence microscopy, rotating ring-disc electrode (RRDE) voltammetry, and infra-red spectroscopy, among others.     

Non-Toxic Dimeric Peptides Derived from the Bothropstoxin-I Are Potent SARS-CoV-2 and Papain-like Protease Inhibitors

The COVID-19 outbreak has rapidly spread on a global scale, affecting the economy and public health systems throughout the world. In recent years, peptide-based therapeutics have been widely studied and developed to treat infectious diseases, including viral infections. Herein, the antiviral effects of the lysine linked dimer des-Cys¹¹, Lys¹²,Lys¹³-(pBthTX-I)₂K ((pBthTX-I)₂K)) and derivatives against SARS-CoV-2 are reported. The lead peptide (pBthTX-I)₂K and derivatives showed attractive inhibitory activities against SARS-CoV-2 (EC₅₀ = 28–65 µM) and mostly low cytotoxic effect (CC₅₀ > 100 µM). To shed light on the mechanism of action underlying the peptides’ antiviral activity, the Main Protease (M^pro) and Papain-Like protease (PL^pro) inhibitory activities of the peptides were assessed. The synthetic peptides showed PL^pro inhibition potencies (IC₅₀s = 1.0–3.5 µM) and binding affinities (K_d = 0.9–7 µM) at the low micromolar range but poor inhibitory activity against M^pro (IC₅₀ > 10 µM). The modeled binding mode of a representative peptide of the series indicated that the compound blocked the entry of the PL^pro substrate toward the protease catalytic cleft. Our findings indicated that non-toxic dimeric peptides derived from the Bothropstoxin-I have attractive cellular and enzymatic inhibitory activities, thereby suggesting that they are promising prototypes for the discovery and development of new drugs against SARS-CoV-2 infection.     

Isoflavonoid-Antibiotic Thin Films Fabricated by MAPLE with Improved Resistance to Microbial Colonization

Staphylococcus aureus (Gram-positive) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (Gram-negative) bacteria represent major infectious threats in the hospital environment due to their wide distribution, opportunistic behavior, and increasing antibiotic resistance. This study reports on the deposition of polyvinylpyrrolidone/antibiotic/isoflavonoid thin films by the matrix-assisted pulsed laser evaporation (MAPLE) method as anti-adhesion barrier coatings, on biomedical surfaces for improved resistance to microbial colonization. The thin films were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, infrared microscopy, and scanning electron microscopy. In vitro biological assay tests were performed to evaluate the influence of the thin films on the development of biofilms formed by Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacterial strains. In vitro biocompatibility tests were assessed on human endothelial cells examined for up to five days of incubation, via qualitative and quantitative methods. The results of this study revealed that the laser-fabricated coatings are biocompatible and resistant to microbial colonization and biofilm formation, making them successful candidates for biomedical devices and contact surfaces that would otherwise be amenable to contact transmission.     

How to handle nanomaterials? The re-entry of individuals into the philosophy of chemistry

In this paper we will argue that the categories of physical individuals and chemical stuff are not sufficient to face the chemical ontology if nanomaterials are taken into account. From a perspective that considers ontological questions and wonders which the items involved in science are, we will argue that the domain of nanoscience must be considered as populated by entities that are neither individuals, as those of physics, nor stuff, as those items of macro-chemistry. This discussion, in virtue of the analysis of the nature of nanomaterials, leads to propose a proper ontological category for nanoparticles: nanoindividuals. Nanomaterials are sorts of individuals, but they are different from physical individuals and from chemical stuff. We will also claim to contribute to the growing field of the philosophy of chemistry, especially regarding discussions that manifest not only epistemological but also ontological issues. In this scenario, the field on nanoscience is particularly challenging.     

Zinc oxide nanostructured platform for electrochemical detection of heavy metals

ZnO nanoparticles (ZnO-NP) were prepared by a facile precipitation technique using di-isopropyl amine as precipitating agent. The morpho-structure and porosity of the as-prepared nano-powder were investigated by FT-IR analysis, X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and BET analysis. By drop-casting, a composite film was deposited to obtain ZnO-NP-Nafion/GCE modified electrode. The modified electrode was investigated by cyclic voltammetry, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, and square wave anodic stripping voltammetry (SWASV) for the detection of Pb²⁺, Cd²⁺, Cu²⁺, and Fe³⁺, and it was successfully applied for the detection of Pb²⁺ and Cu²⁺ in real water samples.     

The benefits of training with vibration in stabilizers and postural human muscle strengthening

The mechanical vibrations have been perceived as unhealthy, although in some circunstances these may lead to a human body fortification. The trainings that use the vibrating stimulus have certain advantages to the classical trainings. Stabilizers and postural muscles are less visible, being hidden by large muscle groups and have little growth potential. For this reason most types of training does not focus on training and strengthening them. This article presents the advantages of training muscular groups of the vertebral column performed on vibrating plates. This type of training has the advantage that besides the requiring to all muscles in where the vibratory stimulus reaches, leads to an increase flexibility of joints. (© 2013 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Calculus of Functorial Morphisms

We prove that, if F, G: 𝒞 → 𝒟 are two right exact functors between two Grothendieck categories such that they commute with coproducts and U is a generator of 𝒞, then there is a bijection between Nat(F, G) and the centralizer of Hom_𝒟(F(U), G(U)) considered as an Hom_𝒞(U, U)-Hom_𝒞(U, U)-bimodule. We also prove a dual of this result and give applications to Frobenius functors between Grothendieck categories.     

The Shapley value for arbitrary families of coalitions

We address the problem of finding a suitable definition of a value similar to that of Shapley’s, when the games are defined on a subfamily of coalitions with no structure. We present two frameworks: one based on the familiar efficiency, linearity and null player axioms, and the other on linearity and the behavior on unanimity games. We give several properties and examples in each case, and give necessary and sufficient conditions on the family of coalitions for the approaches to coincide.