3D visualization of the microstructure of Quedius beesoni Cameron using micro-CT

The investigation of the internal morphology of insects is usually performed using classical microtomy yielding optical micrographs of stained thin sections. The achievement of high-quality cross sections for microtomy is time-consuming and the risk of damaging sections is unavoidable. Moreover, the approach is impractical, in particular when quick acquisition of 3D structural information is required. Recently, X-ray computed microtomography (micro-CT) with a high spatial resolution was considered as a potential tool for the morphological classification of insects. We used micro-CT to investigate Quedius beesoni Cameron at the cellular length scale. This method provides a new powerful and nondestructive approach to obtain 3D structural information on the biological organization of insects. The preliminary images presented in this contribution clearly reveal the endoskeleton and the muscles of the head and the thorax with a full 3D structure. We also reconstructed the 3D structure of the brain of Quedius beesoni Cameron, and this is the first reconstruction in Staphylinidae, which will be a great advancement for morphological and phylogenic research. We claim that both the spatial resolution and the contrast characteristic of micro-CT imaging may fulfill the requirements necessary for zoological insect morphology and phylogeny, in particular, when a classification of a rare and unique insect specimen is required.     

Preparation of polydivinylbenzene microspheres in supercritical carbon dioxide using acetone as cosolvent

Monodisperse polydivinylbenzene (PDVB) microspheres with clean surface were prepared by precipitation polymerization without stabilizer in supercritical carbon dioxide using acetone as cosolvent. Effects of the cosolvent, reaction time and pressure, and monomer concentration on the polymerization were studied. It was found that the conversions in all polymerization systems were above 95%. Examination by scanning electron microscopy showed that reaction pressure, divinylbenzene concentration, and level of the cosolvent had pronounced effects on the morphology of the microspheres. When 6?～?7 ml of acetone was used in a reactor of 50 ml, monodisperse PDVB microspheres of around 2.1 μm in diameter were obtained. Thermal gravimetrical analysis showed the products were of good thermostability up to about 400 °C.     

Polarized spectral properties of Nd3+ ions in CaYAlO4 crystal

Nd:CaYAlO₄ single crystal has been grown by the Czochralski technique. The cell parameters were analyzed with X-ray diffraction (XRD). The polarized absorption spectra, the polarized fluorescence spectra, and the fluorescence decay curve of the crystal were measured at room temperature. The spectroscopic parameters were determined by Judd–Ofelt theory and Fuchtbauer–Ladenburg formula. The effective intensity parameters Ω ₂, Ω ₄, and Ω ₆ were obtained to be 2.19, 8.16, and 8.57×10^?20 cm², respectively. The calculated radiative probabilities, branching ratios, and radiative lifetime were also evaluated for the ⁴F_3/2 excited state using the calculated intensity parameters. The results indicate Nd:CaYAlO₄ has potential as a laser gain medium for ultrashort laser system.     

Infrared and Raman spectra, conformational stability, ab initio calculations of structure, and vibrational assignment of 2-hexyne

The infrared spectra (3500–50 cm⁻¹) of the gas and solid and the Raman spectra (3500–50 cm⁻¹) of the liquid and solid have been recorded for 2-hexyne, CH₃–CC–CH₂CH₂CH₃. Variable temperature studies of the infrared spectrum (3500–400 cm⁻¹) of 2-hexyne dissolved in liquid krypton have also been recorded. Utilizing four anti/gauche conformer pairs, the anti(trans) conformer is found to be the lower energy form with an enthalpy difference of 74±8 cm⁻¹ (0.88±0.10 kJ/mol) determined from krypton solutions over the temperature range −105 to −150 °C. At room temperature it is estimated that there is 42% of the anti conformer present. Equilibrium geometries and energies of the two conformers have been determined by ab initio (HF and MP2) and hybrid DFT (B3LYP) methods using a number of basis sets. Only the HF and DFT methods predict the anti conformer as the more stable form as found experimentally. A vibrational assignment is proposed based on the force constants, relative intensities, depolarization ratios from the ab initio and DFT calculations and on rotational band contours obtained using the calculated equilibrium geometries. From calculated energies it is shown that the CH₃ group exhibits almost completely free rotation which is in agreement with the observation of sub-band structure for the degenerate methyl vibrations from which values of the Coriolis coupling constants, ζ, have been determined. The results are compared to similar properties of some corresponding molecules.     

NMR and Excess Volumes Studies in DMF–Alcohol Mixtures

Chemical shifts of the alcohol and DMF protons in DMF–alcohol mixtures with the mole fraction of alcohol are reported in order to study the hydrogen bond interaction present in the mixtures. The densities of DMF–methanol mixture at 22°C are also measured. Excess volumes and excess chemical shifts are correlated by the Redlich–Kister equation. The relation between excess volumes and excess chemical shifts in the mixtures is discussed. It is found that the maximum excess chemical shifts ^E(CHO-OH) and ^E(CH₃-OH) are positioned at about mole fraction methanol = 0.57 for the DMF–methanol system, as is V ^E. The results show that the NMR spectral method offers a valuable approach to similar future studies of interactions in mixtures.     

A novel mimetic enzymatic fluorescence immunoassay for hepatitis B surface antigen by using a thermal phase separating polymer

Iron tetrasulfonatophthalocyanine (FeTSPc), a peroxidase mimic, was used as a labeling reagent and poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIP) as the separation support of the immune complex for the mimetic-enzymatic immunoassay of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg). PNIP was precipitated from aqueous solution when the ambient temperature was higher than its lower critical solution temperature of 31 degrees C. In a sandwich immunoassay, the antigen (HBsAg) first reacted with mouse anti-human HBsAg antibody immobilized on PNIP (PNIP-antibody) and then further reacted with FeTSPc-labeled mouse anti-HBsAg antibody (antibody-FeTSPc) at room temperature in a homogeneous format. After changing the temperature to separate the PNIP-antibody-HBsAg-antibody-FeTSPc conjugate moiety, it was re-dissolved and determined by coupling with the fluorogenic reaction of hydrogen peroxide and p-hydroxyphenylpropionic acid. The sensitivity of this method (3 ng mL-1) was close to that of the traditional ELISA using the same reactants. However, the assay was much faster (the assay time decreased from 100-120 to 45 min). This method was applied to determine HBsAg in human serum with satisfactory results.     

Sensitive detection of trace hemoglobin using fluorescence method based on functionalized quantum dots

The fluorescence quenching of quantum dots by hemoglobin has been demonstrated to depend on surface functionalization, and this property has been utilized to construct a novel fluorescent method for rapid, sensitive, and selective detection of trace hemoglobin in urine at microgram level. This method shows low interference and high selectivity for hemoglobin with a limit of detection of 4.3 μg L^?1 in water and 66.1 μg L^?1 in urine, which are lower than those of currently used methods in labs and clinics. Spike and recovery tests in raw, acidified, and alkalized urine samples exhibit good recovery rates for the spiked concentrations close to the limit of detection.

Copper-catalyzed oxidative coupling of carboxylic acids with formamides for the synthesis of α,β-unsaturated amides

A novel and efficient protocol for the synthesis of α,β-unsaturated amides has been developed using catalytic amount of Cu(OAc)₂ and TBHP as an available oxidant. Oxidative coupling of various unsaturated carboxylic acids with N,N-disubstituted formamides was examined to furnish the desired products in good yields.     

Rapid,General Synthesis of PdPt Bimetallic Alloy Nanosponges and Their Enhanced Catalytic Performance for Ethanol/Methanol Electrooxidation in an Alkaline Medium

We have demonstrated a rapid and general strategy to synthesize novel three‐dimensional PdPt bimetallic alloy nanosponges in the absence of a capping agent. Significantly, the as‐prepared PdPt bimetallic alloy nanosponges exhibited greatly enhanced activity and stability towards ethanol/methanol electrooxidation in an alkaline medium, which demonstrates the potential of applying these PdPt bimetallic alloy nanosponges as effective electrocatalysts for direct alcohol fuel cells. In addition, this simple method has also been applied for the synthesis of AuPt, AuPd bimetallic, and AuPtPd trimetallic alloy nanosponges. The as‐synthesized three‐dimensional bimetallic/trimetallic alloy nanosponges, because of their convenient preparation, well‐defined sponge‐like network, large‐scale production, and high electrocatalytic performance for ethanol/methanol electrooxidation, may find promising potential applications in various fields, such as formic acid oxidation or oxygen reduction reactions, electrochemical sensors, and hydrogen‐gas sensors.     

A New Series of C‐6 Unsubstituted Tetrahydropyrimidines: Convenient One‐Pot Chemoselective Synthesis,Aggregation‐Induced and Size‐Independent Emission Characteristics

A new series of C‐6 unsubstituted tetrahydropyrimidines 6 have been directly synthesized via a convenient urea‐catalyzed chemoselective five‐component reaction (5CR) under mild conditions. Compounds 6 show typical aggregation‐induced emission enhancement (AIEE) characteristics because they are practically no emissive in solution but emit blue or green fluorescence in aggregates with fluorescence yield up to 93 %. One of the 5CR products, 6 aa , exhibits blue‐ and green‐fluorescence aggregates (bf‐ and gf‐aggregates). The bf‐ and gf‐aggregates are prepared under different conditions and proved to result from different J‐aggregations by single‐crystal X‐ray analysis. In addition, the bf‐ and gf‐aggregates of 6 aa show unusual size‐independent emission (SIE) characteristics because their maximum emission wavelengths in different sizes (suspension particles, film, powder and crystals) are the same, 434 and 484 nm, respectively. Based on the obtained experimental results, the 5CR mechanism, the origins of AIEE and SIE characteristics are discussed.