Fabrication of helical long-period fiber gratings by use of a CO2 laser

We present a method of helical long-period fiber grating (H-LPFG) fabrication by use of a CO2 laser for use as an optical torque sensor. A conventional optical fiber grating has periodic vertical index changes along its fiber axis, but a H-LPFG has a screw-type index modulation. The helical index modulation is obtained with the asymmetric index change caused by a single-side laser beam exposure. The H-LPFG shows peak shifts with codirectional or contradirectional torsion to the helix. Also, the polarization-dependent loss is measured to be relatively small compared with that of a conventional long-period fiber grating.     

Exfoliation and Noncovalent Functionalization of Graphene Surface with Poly-N-Vinyl-2-Pyrrolidone by In Situ Polymerization

Heteroatom functionalization on a graphene surface can endow the physical and structural properties of graphene. Here, a one-step in situ polymerization method was used for the noncovalent functionalization of a graphene surface with poly-N-vinyl-2-pyrrolidone (PNVP) and the exfoliation of graphite into graphene sheets. The obtained graphene/poly-N-vinyl pyrrolidone (GPNVP) composite was thoroughly characterized. The surface morphology of GPNVP was observed using field emission scanning electron microscopy and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy. Raman spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction studies were carried out to check for the exfoliation of graphite into graphene sheets. Thermogravimetric analysis was performed to calculate the amount of PNVP on the graphene surface in the GPNVP composite. The successful formation of the GPNVP composite and functionalization of the graphene surface was confirmed by various studies. The cyclic voltammetry measurement at different scan rates (5–500 mV/s) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy study of the GPNVP composite were performed in the typical three-electrode system. The GPNVP composite has excellent rate capability with the capacitive property. This study demonstrates the one-pot preparation of exfoliation and functionalization of a graphene surface with the heterocyclic polymer PNVP; the resulting GPNVP composite will be an ideal candidate for various electrochemical applications.     

Structure and mechanical properties of a polyglycerol ester at the air-water surface

We studied the structure and mechanical properties of surface films resulting from the adsorption of a dispersed L beta phase at the air-water interface. This L beta phase corresponds to multilamellar vesicles and is formed by a commercial polyglycerol fatty acid ester (PGE) in aqueous solution at temperatures below the main chain-melting temperature (Tm=58 degrees C). We measured the adsorption kinetics using the pendant drop technique and mechanical properties of PGE films using oscillatory surface shear and dilatational rheometric methods. Though the adsorption kinetics are very slow, we show that the L beta phase of PGE is surface-active and forms viscoelastic films at the air-water surface after sufficiently long adsorption times. The rheological response functions to shear and dilatational deformation are reminiscent of those of temporary networks, indicating an intermolecular connectivity at the surface. This temporary network is probably created by hydrophobic interactions of alkyl chains. We obtained more detailed information about the properties of this network by comparing the rheological signature of an adsorbed PGE film (unknown structure) with a solvent-spread monolayer (known structure). We characterized the structural features of spread PGE films by recording the Langmuir isotherm and Brewster angle micrographs (BAM).We show that the rheological responses of the adsorbed film and the solvent-spread monolayer are very close to each other, indicating a structural similarity. From this study, we conclude that a dispersed L beta phase of PGE is able to adsorb at the air-water surface at T相似文献   

Concise total synthesis of biologically interesting mallotophilippens C and e

This paper describes a new and efficient synthetic approach for biologically interesting natural mallotophilippens C and E. The key strategies involved ethylenediamine diacetate-catalyzed benzopyran formation reactions and base-catalyzed aldol reactions.     

Efficient one-pot synthetic approaches for cannabinoid analogues and their application to biologically interesting (−)-hexahydrocannabinol and (+)-hexahydrocannabinol

This Letter reports new and efficient synthetic approaches for biologically interesting cannabinoid analogues. The key strategies involve ethylenediamine diacetate/triethylamine-catalyzed cyclization. As an application of this methodology, one-step synthesis of biologically active natural (−)-hexahydrocannabinol and its unnatural enantiomer (+)-hexahydrocannabinol was carried out.     

The Assessment of Meloxicam Phototoxicity in Human Normal Skin Cells: In Vitro Studies on Dermal Fibroblasts and Epidermal Melanocytes

Meloxicam (MLX), which belongs to the oxicam nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug derivatives, is an inhibitor of the cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) enzyme. Cutaneous adverse effects caused by interaction between UVA radiation and exogenous factors can manifest as phototoxic reactions. Phototoxicity may be a reason for the accumulation of genetic and molecular changes in long-lived cells with low proliferation potential, leading to tumor development. There are several potentially phototoxic drugs, the active component of which is meloxicam. The research aimed to evaluate the influence of MLX and UVAR on skin cells—fibroblasts and melanocytes homeostasis. The obtained results indicated that co-treatment with MLX and UVAR inhibited skin cell proliferation, proportionally to the drug concentration. The observation was confirmed by cytometric analysis of the cell number and viability. The phototoxic effect of MLX was revealed in morphological changes. It was stated that MLX with UVAR lowered the mitochondrial transmembrane potential and changed the cell cycle profile. Additionally, MLX and UVAR caused the disruption of redox homeostasis by lowering the intracellular level of reduced thiols. The presented study revealed that the phototoxic activity of MLX is associated with oxidative stress induction and disruptions in cell homeostasis. The differences in the phototoxic effects of MLX at the cellular level may be related to the different content of melanin pigments.     

Sustainable Synthesis of Bright Fluorescent Nitrogen-Doped Carbon Dots from Terminalia chebula for In Vitro Imaging

In this study, sustainable, low-cost, and environmentally friendly biomass (Terminalia chebula) was employed as a precursor for the formation of nitrogen-doped carbon dots (N-CDs). The hydrothermally assisted Terminalia chebula fruit-derived N-CDs (TC-CDs) emitted different bright fluorescent colors under various excitation wavelengths. The prepared TC-CDs showed a spherical morphology with a narrow size distribution and excellent water dispensability due to their abundant functionalities, such as oxygen- and nitrogen-bearing molecules on the surfaces of the TC-CDs. Additionally, these TC-CDs exhibited high photostability, good biocompatibility, very low toxicity, and excellent cell permeability against HCT-116 human colon carcinoma cells. The cell viability of HCT-116 human colon carcinoma cells in the presence of TC-CDs aqueous solution was calculated by MTT assay, and cell viability was higher than 95%, even at a higher concentration of 200 μg mL⁻¹ after 24 h incubation time. Finally, the uptake of TC-CDs by HCT-116 human colon carcinoma cells displayed distinguished blue, green, and red colors during in vitro imaging when excited by three filters with different wavelengths under a laser scanning confocal microscope. Thus, TC-CDs could be used as a potential candidate for various biomedical applications. Moreover, the conversion of low-cost/waste natural biomass into products of value promotes the sustainable development of the economy and human society.     

Nanoformulated Single-Stranded RNA-Based Adjuvant with a Coordinative Amphiphile as an Effective Stabilizer: Inducing Humoral Immune Response by Activation of Antigen-Presenting Cells

As agonists of TLR7/8, single-stranded RNAs (ssRNAs) are safe and promising adjuvants that do not cause off-target effects or innate immune overactivation. However, low stability prevents them from mounting sufficient immune responses. This study evaluates the adjuvant effects of ssRNA derived from the cricket paralysis virus intergenic region internal ribosome entry site, formulated as nanoparticles with a coordinative amphiphile, containing a zinc/dipicolylamine complex moiety as a coordinative phosphate binder, as a stabilizer for RNA-based adjuvants. The nanoformulated ssRNA adjuvant was resistant to enzymatic degradation in vitro and in vivo, and that with a coordinative amphiphile bearing an oleyl group ( CA-O ) was approximately 100 nm, promoted effective recognition, and improved activation of antigen-presenting cells, leading to better induction of neutralizing antibodies following single immunization. Hence, CA-O may increase the efficacy of ssRNA-based adjuvants, proving useful to meet the urgent need for vaccines during pathogen outbreaks.     

Nucleation process in Cu3Au(001) surface region around the order-disorder phase transition

The element distribution in the Cu(3)Au(001) surface region has been determined on the basis of directional Auger electron spectroscopy polar profiles measurements and interpreted in the frame of thermodynamic approach formulated for the inhomogeneous systems by using the Néel sublattices concept. Both approaches, experimental and theoretical, allowed us to present the temperature dependence of element concentration in a layer resolved mode. The wide temperature range explored in the experiment ensured the large data base for the theoretical analysis which enabled us to propose the distribution of intra-layer and inter-layer pairwise interactions leading to proper temperature dependence of segregation profiles in the surface region. This kind of interaction distribution can be understood as strain induced.