Fluorescence-based nitric oxide detection by ruthenium porphyrin fluorophore complexes

The ruthenium(II) porphyrin fluorophore complexes [Ru(TPP)(CO)(Ds-R)] (TPP = tetraphenylporphinato dianion; Ds = dansyl; R = imidazole (im), 1, or thiomorpholine (tm), 2) were synthesized and investigated for their ability to detect nitric oxide (NO) based on fluorescence. The X-ray crystal structures of 1 and 2 were determined. The Ds-im or Ds-tm ligand coordinates to an axial site of the ruthenium(II) center through a nitrogen or sulfur atom, respectively. Both exhibit quenched fluorescence when excited at 368 or 345 nm. Displacement of the metal-coordinated fluorophore by NO restores fluorescence within minutes. These observations demonstrate fluorescence-based NO detection using ruthenium porphyrin fluorophore conjugates.     

Orthogonal PbS nanowire arrays and networks and their Raman scattering behavior

Three-dimensional, orthogonal lead sulfide (PbS) nanowire arrays and networks have been prepared by using a simple, atmospheric pressure chemical vapor deposition (APCVD) method. These uniform nanowires (average diameter 30 nm) grow epitaxially from the surface of the initial PbS crystal seeds and form orthogonal arrays and networks in space. The growth mechanism has been explored, and the process was classified as homogeneous, epitaxial growth in the 200 directions. Furthermore, Raman spectra of PbS nanowires are reported here, and their characteristic Raman peak (190 cm(-1), no shoulder) could be used as a unique probe for the study of PbS nanomaterials.     

Photoactivation of pheophorbide a induces a mitochondrial-mediated apoptosis in Jurkat leukaemia cells

The mechanism of cell death by pheophorbide a (Pba) which has been established to be a potential photosensitizer was examined in experimental photodynamic therapy (PDT) on Jurkat cells, a human lymphoid tumor cell line. In 30-60 min after irradiation, Pba treated cells exhibited apoptotic features including membrane blebbing and DNA fragmentation. Pba/PDT caused a rapid release of cytochrome c from mitochondria into the cytosol. Sequentially, activation of caspase-3 and the cleavage of poly ADP-ribose polymerase (PARP) were followed. Meanwhile, no evidence of activation of caspase-8 was indicated in the cells. In experiments with caspase inhibitors, it was found that caspase-3 alone was sufficient initiator for the Pba-induced apoptosis of the cells. Pba specific emission spectra were confirmed in the mitochondrial fraction and the light irradiation caused a rapid change in its membrane potential. Thus, mitochondria were entailed as the crucial targets for Pba as well as a responsible component for the cytochrome c release to initiate apoptotic pathways. Taken together, it was concluded that the mode of Jurkat cell death by Pba/PDT is an apoptosis, which is initiated by mitochondrial cytochrome c release and caspase-3-pathways.     

利用高炉水淬渣制备(Ca/Y)-α-Sialon陶瓷的组织与性能

以高炉水淬渣合成的Ca-α-Sialon粉体为原料采用无压烧结技术制备了（Ca/Y）-α-Sialon陶瓷。通过用排水法、三点弯曲实验法、金相显微镜法、XRD法等手段研究了（Ca/Y）-α-Sialon陶瓷的烧结致密化过程、材料的力学性能、显微组织、相组成和材料的断裂特征。结果表明,适量的Y2O3促进材料的烧结致密化和提高材料的力学性能,但Y2O3过量（大于10%）时对材料的烧结和力学性能不利。掺杂Y^3＋的（Ca/Y）-α-Sialon呈柱状晶,随着Y2O3含量的增加和烧结温度的提高,（Ca/Y）-α-Sialon呈柱状晶出现粗化和等轴化。含10%Y2O3的材料在1700℃烧结时可获得较高的力学性能。     

碳纤维微电极恒电位活化及测定金属离子的研究

碳纤维微电极已被广泛应用于电化学研究和分析测定,该电极尺寸极小,在分析性能上与常规电极有显著不同,在不镀汞的情况下,用碳纤维电极直接测定金属离子几乎没有明显的伏安响应,本文提出用+2.5 V恒电位预先活化碳纤维电极,使测定灵敏度大为提高,在双电极体系和静止溶液中,采用溶出伏安法可测定10~(-9)级金属离子,以同样的方法清洗电极,测定结果重现性良好,由于分析过程中不使用汞,该电极的测定范围大大增加,特别是用于氧化还原电位较正的金属离子测试,根据循环伏安法、扫描电镜和电子能谱的研究,发现碳纤维表面状况在处理前后有很大变化,并与测定灵敏度密切相关。     

A direct quantitative analysis method for monitoring biogenic volatile organic compounds released from leaves of Pelargonium hortorum in situ

A direct quantitative method is presented that is based upon the use of multiple headspace solid phase microextraction (HS-SPME) to monitor biogenic volatile organic compounds (BVOCs) released from a living leaf of Pelargonium hortorum in situ. Seventeen BVOCs were detected by GC-MS after a single SPME extraction using a CAR/DVB/PDMS fibre. An internal standard was employed to determine the absolute amounts of seven terpenoid compounds released from a P. hortorum leaf. The quantitative analysis was performed over two days, with extraction preformed for 20 min every 3 h. The amount of volatiles extracted varied with the time of day, with two maxima recorded at 14:00 (day 1) and 17:00 (day 2), corresponding to 236 and 277 ng of the seven terpenoids recorded, respectively. These results indicate that multiple HS-SPME in combination with an internal standard is a simple, quick, and quantitative technique for analysising BVOC emissions from a live plant sample.     

Chirality control in optically active polysilane aggregates

A novel strategy for controlling the higher order chirality of aggregates prepared from enantiopure polysilanes is experimentally probed and discussed. Structurally similar poly[n-alkyl(aryl)]silanes were synthesized in which one side chain comprised the chiral (S)-2-methylbutyl group and the other an achiral m- or p-alkyl-substituted phenyl ring. In solution the polymers adopt helical conformations with the same induced preferential screw sense chirality, as evidenced by circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopy. Aggregates, however, formed by addition of a nonsolvent to a polymer solution, show oppositely signed CD spectra. Consistent results were obtained for another series of poly[p-n-alkyl(aryl)]silanes where alkyl is butyl, propyl, and ethyl. The sense of the aggregate higher order chirality is dependent on the chemical composition and environment and is coarse-tunable by adjusting the length of the achiral side chain and fine-tunable by adjusting the good/poor solvent ratio. The origin of these effects is discussed with reference to a simple model.     

A comparison between the SBR vulcanizates reinforced by magnesium methacrylate added directly or prepared in situ

The styrene-butadiene rubber (SBR) cured by dicumyl peroxide was reinforced by magnesium methacrylate [Mg(MAA)₂], which was added into SBR directly or prepared in situ in SBR through the neutralization of magnesium oxide (MgO) and methacrylic acid (MAA). The experimental results show that the SBR vulcanizates reinforced by Mg(MAA)₂ prepared in situ have better mechanical properties than those reinforced by Mg(MAA)₂ added directly. The SBR vulcanizates with Mg(MAA)₂ prepared in situ are semi-transparent, but those with Mg(MAA)₂ added directly are opaque. The Fourier transform infrared analysis shows that the polymerization conversion of Mg(MAA)₂ in the SBR vulcanizates with Mg(MAA)₂ prepared in situ is much higher than that in the SBR vulcanizates with Mg(MAA)₂ added directly. The scan probe microscopy photographs show that the particles in the SBR vulcanizates with Mg(MAA)₂ prepared in situ are much finer and disperse more evenly than that in the SBR vulcanizates with Mg(MAA)₂ added directly.     

Systematic investigation of the hydrothermal syntheses of Pr(III)-PDA (PDA = pyridine-2,6-dicarboxylate anion) metal-organic frameworks

A series of novel two-dimensional (2D) and three-dimensional (3D) praseodymium coordination polymers, namely, {[Pr3(PDA)4(HPDA)(H2O)8] x 8H2O}n (2), {[Pr2(PDA)3(H2O)3] x H2O}n (3), {[Pr(PDA)(H2O)4] x ClO4}n (4), and { [Pr2(PDA)2(H2O)5SO4] x 2H2O}n (5) (PDA = pyridine-2,6-dicarboxylic anion), was designed and synthesized under hydrothermal conditions. Complexes 1-3 (chainlike polymer, {[Pr(PDA)(HPDA)(H2O)2] x 4H2O}n (1) was also obtained independently by us, although it has been reported recently by Ghosh et al.) were fabricated successfully by simply tuning the Pr/PDA ratio and exhibited various and intriguing topological structures from a 1D chain to a 3D network. While the synthetic strategy of 5 was triggered and further performed only after 1 was structurally characterized. The complexes were characterized by X-ray single-crystal determination, spectroscopic, and variable-temperature magnetic susceptibility analyses. In complex 2 an unusual nanosized square motif as a building block constructed by eight Pr ions was further assembled into a highly ordered 2D grid compound. In complex 3 the decanuclear Pr metal-based structure as a repeat unit interpenetrated to form a novel 3D polymer. Complex 4 was a 3D network polymer fabricated through a hexanuclear Pr ring as a building block, and ClO4- anions as guests were trapped in the cavity. In complex 5 six Pr atoms, two SO4(2-) anions, and carboxylic oxygen bridges constructed an intriguing rectangle structure as a repeat unit in the grid to form a 2D coordination polymer in which the unique bi-bidentate coordination mode of SO4(2-) anion was observed.     

Study of the reactions and reaction mechanisms of phosphine (Ph3P) and of phosphite ((PhO)3P) with sulphur (S8)

The reactions of sulphur with phosphine and phosphite were investigated by low-energy electron impact mass spectrometry and fast atom bombardment mass spectrometry. A previously reported mechanism of the Ph₃P–S₈ reaction was supported and a possible mechanism for the (PhO)₃P–S₈ reaction is proposed.