Fatty acid desaturation index in human plasma: comparison of different analytical methodologies for the evaluation of diet effects

Stearoyl-CoA desaturase 1 (SCD1) plays a role in the development of obesity and related conditions, such as insulin resistance, and potentially also in neurological and heart diseases. The activity of SCD1 can be monitored using the desaturation index (DI), the ratio of product (16:1n-7 and 18:1n-9) to precursor (16:0 and 18:0) fatty acids. Here, different analytical strategies were applied to identify the method which best supports SCD1 biology. A novel effective approach was the use of the SCD1-independent fatty acid (16:1n-10) as a negative control. The first approach was based on a simple extraction followed by neutral loss triglyceride fatty acid analysis. The second approach was based on the saponification of triglycerides followed by fatty acid analysis (specific for the position of the double bond within monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFAs)). In addition to the analytical LC-MS assays, different matrices (plasma total triglyceride fraction and the very low-density lipoprotein (VLDL) fraction) were investigated to identify the best for studying changes in SCD1 activity. Samples from volunteers on a high-carbohydrate diet were analyzed. Both ultra HPLC (UHPLC)-MS-based assays showed acceptable accuracies (75–125 % of nominal) and precisions (<20 %) for the analysis of DI-specific fatty acids in VLDL and plasma. The most specific assay for the analysis of the liver SCD activity was then validated for specificity and selectivity, intra- and interday accuracy and precision, matrix effects, dilution effects, and analyte stability. After 3 days of high-carbohydrate diet, only the specific fatty acids in human plasma VLDL showed a significant increase in DI and associated SCD1 activity.     

Environmental gamma background measurements in China Jinping Underground Laboratory

To determine the environmental gamma background levels which affects rare events experiments, we measured in situ gamma spectrum at four locations in the China Jinping Underground Laboratory. The integral background count rates (40–2,700 keV) varied from 3.76 to 74.1 cps. The average count rate of the measurements inside the CJPL was 73.4 cps. The spectrometer was calibrated with a ¹⁵²Eu point source and Monte Carlo simulation to obtain the activity conversion factors for the rock and the air, respectively. The rocks that surrounded the CJPL was characterized by very low activity concentrations of ²³⁸U (3.69–4.21 Bq kg^?1), ²³²Th (0.52–0.64 Bq kg^?1) and ⁴⁰K (4.28 Bq kg^?1).     

Two‐Component Supramolecular Gels Derived from Amphiphilic Shape‐Persistent Cyclo[6]aramides for Specific Recognition of Native Arginine

A unique supramolecular two‐component gelation system was constructed from amphiphilic shape‐persistent cyclo[6]aramides and diethylammonium chloride (or triethylammonium chloride). This system has the ability to discriminate native arginine from 19 other amino acids in a specific fashion. Cyclo[6]aramides show preferential binding for the guanidinium residue over ammonium groups. This specificity was confirmed by both experimental results and theoretical simulations. These results demonstrated a new modular displacement strategy, exploring the use of species‐binding hydrogen‐bonded macrocyclic foldamers for the construction of two‐component gelation systems for selective recognition of native amino acids by competitive host–guest interactions. This strategy may be amenable to developing a variety of functional two‐component gelators for specific recognition of various targeted organic molecular species.     

Fluorocarbon and Hydrocarbon N‐Heterocyclic (C5–C7) Imidazole‐Based Liquid Crystals

By using three synthetic protocols, a series of fluorocarbon and hydrocarbon N‐heterocyclic imidazole‐based liquid crystals (LCs) and related imidazolium‐based ionic liquid crystals (ILCs) have been prepared. The ring size of the N‐heterocycle and the length of the N‐terminal chain (on the imidazolium unit in the ILCs) were modified, and the influence of these structural parameters on liquid‐crystal phases was investigated by means of polarizing optical microscopy (POM), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and X‐ray diffraction (XRD). These new ILCs exhibit a disordered smectic phase (SmA), good thermal stabilities, a broad smectic phase range, a high dipole moment, relatively low melting points, but high clearing points and strong emission fluorescence relative to imidazole‐based LCs. These encouraging results have led us to believe these fluorocarbon and hydrocarbon N‐heterocyclic imidazole‐based LCs and related imidazolium‐based ILCs could be used as new liquid‐crystalline materials.     

Domino free radical photopolymerization based on phototriggered base proliferation reaction and redox initiation

A detailed evaluation of the kinetics of domino free radical photopolymerization (DFRP) based on phototriggered base proliferation reaction and redox initiation was described in the condition of eliminating the heat of polymerization via reacting in the thin polymer films. First, domino photoinitiating system made a substantial breakthrough in the photoefficiency of amine generation in contrast to photocaged base system, exhibiting marked improvement in the photosensitivity. Second, both the structural feature of base amplifier (BA) and reaction temperature as two important factors impacting the proliferation rate have been detailed. Third, different domino photoinitiating components, such as BAs, peroxides, and acrylates, were investigated in the thin polymer films. It is shown that both primary and secondary BAs are efficient catalysts for DFRP. Furthermore, polymerization rate shows a consistent dependence on the pK_a value of the proliferated amine. Finally, remarkable post conversion after irradiation was achieved in DFRP. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2014 , 52, 1560–1569     

发光可调Au:ZnCdS合金量子点的水相合成

以巯基丙酸作为配体,在水溶液中合成了发光位置在495~583 nm可调的Au∶Zn Cd S合金量子点,研究了掺杂含量、Zn/Cd比和p H等对量子点光学性质的影响。对预提纯的Au∶Zn Cd S核量子点进行Zn S包覆,量子点表面的缺陷被有效去除,发光效率明显提高。利用X-射线粉末衍射、透射电子显微镜对其结构和形貌进行了表征。     

From Anilines to Isatins: Oxidative Palladium‐Catalyzed Double Carbonylation of C?H Bonds

A novel palladium‐catalyzed C H double carbonylation introduces two adjacent carbonyl groups for the synthesis of isatins from readily available anilines. The reaction proceeds under atmospheric pressure of CO with high regioselectivity and without any additives. Density functional theory investigations indicate that the palladium‐catalyzed double carbonylation catalytic cycle is plausible.