Bucillamine Inhibits UVB-Induced MAPK Activation and Apoptosis in Human HaCaT Keratinocytes and SKH-1 Hairless Mouse Skin

Ultraviolet B (UVB) radiation is known as a culprit in skin carcinogenesis. We have previously reported that bucillamine (N-[2-mercapto-2-methylpropionyl]-L-cysteine), a cysteine derivative with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory capacity, protects against UVB-induced p53 activation and inflammatory responses in mouse skin. Since MAPK signaling pathways regulate p53 expression and activation, here we determined bucillamine effect on UVB-mediated MAPK activation in vitro using human skin keratinocyte cell line HaCaT and in vivo using SKH-1 hairless mouse skin. A single low dose of UVB (30 mJ cm⁻²) resulted in increased JNK/MAPK phosphorylation and caspase-3 cleavage in HaCaT cells. However, JNK activation and casaspe-3 cleavage were inhibited by pretreatment of HaCaT cells with physiological doses of bucillamine (25 and 100 µm ). Consistent with these results, bucillamine pretreatment in mice (20 mg kg⁻¹) inhibited JNK/MAPK and ERK/MAPK activation in skin epidermal cells at 6–12 and 24 h, respectively, after UVB exposure. Moreover, bucillamine attenuated UVB-induced Ki-67-positive cells and cleaved caspase-3-positive cells in mouse skin. These findings demonstrate that bucillamine inhibits UVB-induced MAPK signaling, cell proliferation and apoptosis. Together with our previous report, we provide evidence that bucillamine has a photoprotective effect against UV exposure.     

A New Amperometric Biosensor Based on HRP/Nano-Au/L-Cysteine/Poly（o-Aminobenzoic acid）-Membrane-Modified Platinum Electrode for the Determination of Hydrogen Peroxide

The third generation amperometric biosensor for the determination of hydrogen peroxide （H2O2） has been described. For the fabrication of biosensor, o-aminobenzoic acid （oABA） was first electropolymerized on the surface of platinum （Pt） electrode as an electrostatic repulsion layer to reject interferences. Horseradish peroxidase （HRP） absorbed by nano-scaled particulate gold （nano-Au） was immobilized on the electrode modified with polymerized o-aminobenzoic acid （poABA） with L-cysteine as a linker to prepare a biosensor for the detection of H2O2. Amperometric detection of H2O2 was realized at a potential of ＋20 mV versus SCE. The resulting biosensor exhibited fast response, excellent reproducibility and sensibility, expanded linear range and low interferences. Temperature and pH dependence and stability of the sensor were investigated. The optimal sensor gave a linear response in the range of 2.99×10^-6 to 3.55×10^-3 mol·L^-1 to H2O2 with a sensibility of 0.0177 A·L^-1·mol^-1 and a detection limit （S/N = 3） of 4.3×10^-7 mol·L^-1. The biosensor demonstrated a 95% response within less than 10 s.     

Electrokinetic flow in an elliptic microchannel covered by ion-penetrable membrane

The electrokinetic flow of an electrolyte solution in an elliptical microchannel covered by an ion-penetrable, charged membrane layer is examined theoretically. The present analysis extends previous results in that a two-dimensional problem is considered, and the system under consideration simulates the flow of a fluid, for example, in a microchannel of biological nature such as vein. The electroosmostic volumetric flow rate, the total electric current, the streaming potential, and the electroviscous effect of the system under consideration are evaluated. We show that, for a constant hydraulic diameter, the variations of these quantities as a function of the aspect ratio of a microchannel may have a local minimum or a local maximum at a medium level of ionic strength, which depends on the thickness of the membrane layer. For a constant cross-sectional area, the electroosmostic volumetric flow rate, the total electric current, and the streaming potential increase monotonically with the increase in the aspect ratio, but the reverse is true for the electroviscous effect.     

基于面式-三(2-(4-三氟甲基苯基)吡啶)合铱配合物为发光中心的高效绿光有机电致发光器件

用经典的方法合成了面式-三(2-(4-三氟甲基苯基)吡啶)合铱配合物(fac-Ir(tfmppy)₃), 并得到了其晶体结构。在CH₂Cl₂溶液中Ir(tfmppy)₃的发射光谱显示出了峰值位于525 nm的π→π^*跃迁吸收以及金属到配体电荷转移(MLCT)吸收, 色坐标(CIE)为(0.31, 0.62), 量子效率计算为4.59%(以Ru(bpy)₃]Cl₂为参照)。以Ir(tfmppy)₃为发光中心, 制备并研究了有机电致发光器件:ITO/TAPC (60 nm)/Ir(tfmppy)₃ (x%):mCP (30 nm)/TPBi (60 nm)/LiF (1 nm)/Al (100 nm)。4%掺杂浓度的器件在4 197 cd·m^-2的亮度下显示的最大电流效率为33.95 cd·A^-1, 在12.7 V时的最大亮度为43 612 cd·m^-2, 色坐标(CIE)为(0.31, 0.61)。利用瞬态电致发光法(transient electroluminescence (EL))、在1 300 (V·cm^-1)^1/2的电场强度下Ir(tfmppy)₃配合物的电子迁移率测定为4.24×10^-6 cm²·(V·s)^-1。非常接近于常用的电子传输材料八羟基喹啉铝(Alq₃)的电子迁移率。     

Composition and antimicrobial activities of the leaf essential oil of Machilus kusanoi from Taiwan

The hydrodistillated leaf essential oil of Machilus kusanoi was analyzed to determine its composition and yield. Twenty-three compounds were identified, the main components being beta-caryophyllene (23.3%), beta-eudesmol (17.1%), alpha-terpineol (16.0%), n-dodecanal (14.2%), and n-decanal (10.4%). Sesquiterpene hydrocarbons (28.1%) and non-terpenoids (25.0%) were the predominant groups of compounds. The leaf oil exhibited excellent antimicrobial and anti-wood-decay fungal activities.     

二十面体对称性(Ih)分子的从头计算研究(Ⅲ)——过渡金属原子簇Sc13的电子结构

在I_k对称性约化的基础上,进行了Sc₁₃的从头计算研究,其基组态为a_g²t_1M⁶h_g¹⁰a_g²g_M⁸t_2M⁶t_1M⁵,谱项为²T_1M,与ESR谱的解释一致.计算表明Sc原子的满壳层(4s)²电子在成键时向未满的3d壳层转移,从而4s与3d电子均对成键起重要作用.结合能的计算值表明Sc₁₃可以稳定存在.计算还表明,收缩高斯基收缩程度的合理选择对Sc₁₃波函数的行为描述十分重要.     

Role of 5-thio-(2-nitrobenzoic acid)-capped gold nanoparticles in the sensing of chromium(vi): remover and sensor

This study describes a simple, rapid method for sensing Cr(vi) using 5-thio-(2-nitrobenzoic acid) modified gold nanoparticles (TNBA-AuNPs) as a remover for Cr(iii) and as a sensor for Cr(vi). We discovered that TNBA-AuNPs were dispersed in the presence of Cr(vi), whereas Cr(iii) induced the aggregation of TNBA-AuNPs. Due to this phenomenon, TNBA-AuNPs can be used as a sorbent material for the removal of >90% Cr(iii), without removing Cr(vi). After centrifuging a solution containing Cr(iii), Cr(vi), and TNBA-AuNPs, Cr(iii) and Cr(vi) were separately present in the precipitate and supernatant. In other words, TNBA-AuNPs are capable of separating a mixture of Cr(iii) and Cr(vi). The addition of ascorbic acid to the supernatant resulted in a reduction of Cr(vi) to Cr(iii), driving the aggregation of TNBA-AuNPs. The selectivity of this approach is more than 1000-fold for Cr(vi) over other metal ions. The minimum detectable concentration of Cr(vi) was 1 μM using this approach. Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry provided an alternative for the quantification of Cr(iii) and Cr(vi) after a mixture of Cr(iii) and Cr(vi) had been separated by TNBA-AuNPs. The applicability of this approach was validated through the analysis of Cr(vi) in environmental water samples.     

Evaluation of runaway thermal reactions of di-<Emphasis Type=Italic>tert</Emphasis>-butyl peroxide employing calorimetric approaches

Di-tert-butyl peroxide (DTBP) is an organic peroxide (OP) which has widespread use in the various chemical industries. In the past, thermal runaway reactions of OPs have been caused by their general thermal instability or by reactive incompatibility in storage or operation, which can create potential for thermal decomposition reaction. In this study, differential scanning calorimetry was applied to measure the heat of decomposition reactions, which can contribute to understand the reaction characteristics of DTBP. Vent sizing package 2 was also employed to evaluate rates of increase for temperature and pressure in decomposition reactions, and then the thermokinetic parameters of DTBP were estimated. Finally, hazard characteristics of the gassy system containing DTBP, specifically with respect to thermal criticality, were clearly identified.     

Thermal hazard evaluation of carbon nanotubes with sulfuric acid by DSC

Many concerns over unsafe or unknown properties of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) have been raised. The thermal characteristics regarding stability would represent potential hazards during the production or utilization stage and could be determined by calorimetric tests for various thermokinetic parameters. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) was employed to evaluate the thermokinetic parameters for MWNTs at various compositions. Thermoanalytical curves showed that the average heat of decomposition (ΔH _d) of the MWNTs samples in a manufacturing process was about 31,723 J g⁻¹, by identifying them as an inherently hazardous material. In this study, significant thermal analysis appeared in the presence of sulfuric acid (H₂SO₄). From the DSC experiments, the purification process of MWNTs could induce an unexpected reaction in the condition of batch addition with reactants of H₂SO₄. The results can be applied for designing emergency relief system and emergency rescue strategies during a perturbed situation or accident.     

Efficient transformation of 7,14-dihydroxy-ent-kaurenes to novel ent-abietanes having cis-fused α-methylene γ-lactones under Mitsunobu reaction conditions and their cytotoxicities

Transformation of plant-origin 7,14-dihydroxy-ent-kaurenes to ent-abietanes having a cis-fused α-methylene γ-lactones was accomplished efficiently under the Mitsunobu reaction conditions. The yields of the desired products were apparently influenced by the steric hindrance at C-1. The cytotoxic activity on P388 murine leukemia cells of the ent-abietanes having cis-fused α-methylene γ-lactones produced were assayed.