Study of electron transfer in ferrocene-labeled collagen-like peptides

This study describes the electron transfer (ET) phenomenon through a series of (Pro-Hyp-Gly) repeat units containing collagen mimics. The peptides contain redox-active ferrocene (Fc) and thiol-functionalized cystein (Cys) at the N- and C-terminals, respectively. Peptide films were prepared on gold surfaces and characterized by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), ellipsometry, and Fourier transform-reflection absorption infrared spectroscopy (FT-RAIRS). Electrochemical investigations of the films showed a linear but weakly distance-dependent ET. The importance of H-bonding was realized, and the possibility of a conformationally gated ET mechanism has been discussed.     

Existence of multiple and sign-changing solutions for a second-order nonlinear functional difference equation with periodic coefficients

In the present paper, we apply the method of invariant sets of descending flow to establish a series of criteria to ensure that a second-order nonlinear functional difference equation with periodic boundary conditions possesses at least one trivial solution and three nontrivial solutions. These nontrivial solutions consist of sign-changing solutions, positive solutions and negative solutions. Moreover, as an application of our theoretical results, an example is elaborated. Our results generalize and improve some existing ones.     

基于边缘破碎驱动裂纹推挤加工的破碎模拟实验研究

工程陶瓷基于边缘破碎驱动裂纹软推挤加工是一项创新性的非传统接触式加工技术,可采用单晶压头挤压破碎模拟实验研究新技术的加工特征.通过对挤压破碎曲线、微观形貌观察以及有限元仿真讨论了挤压驱动裂纹失稳的机理,以及预制缺陷的应力集中效应起到的重要作用.通过正交实验探讨了加载速度、凸缘宽度、压痕位置离外边缘距离、槽深对挤压破碎力的影响规律,并采用多元回归模型实现较好的拟合.     

CRITICAL MAGNETIC SHEAR FOR THE TOKAMAK IDEAL INTERNAL KINK MODE IN THE ION KINETIC REGIME

It is shown that for the ideal internal kink mode of tokamak plasma, there exists a critical magnetic shear s_0c for its excitation when the finite ion Larmor radius effect is considered in the mode singular layer. This can be related to the sudden onset of the sawtooth and also to the stabilization of the sawtooth by the trapped hot ions observed experimentally. The alpha particle effect on this mode is revisited and some new results are reported.     

A mixed‐valence CuII/CuI anion–cation complex: bis­[μ‐5‐sulfosali­cylato(3–)]bis­[(di‐2‐pyridylamine)­copper(II)] bis­[bis­(di‐2‐pyridyl­amine)copper(I)] dihydrate

The title compound, [Cu(C₇H₃O₆S)₂(C₁₀H₉N₃)₂][Cu^I(C₁₀H₉N₃)₂]₂·2H₂O, consists of anionic Cu^II moieties, cationic Cu^I species and uncoordinated water mol­ecules. The anionic dimeric unit consists of one crystallographically independent fully deprotonated 5‐sulfosalicylate (2‐oxido‐5‐sulfonatobenzoate) anion, a di‐2‐pyridylamine group and a Cu^II atom. Each Cu^II atom is five‐coordinate within a square‐pyramidal geometry. The anion lies on a special position of site symmetry. In the cationic monomer, the Cu^I atom adopts tetra­hedral geometry. The cations and anions are connected by O—H·O and N—H·O hydrogen bonds.     

Dual‐Modal Magnetic Resonance/Fluorescent Zinc Probes for Pancreatic β‐Cell Mass Imaging

Despite the contribution of changes in pancreatic β‐cell mass to the development of all forms of diabetes mellitus, few robust approaches currently exist to monitor these changes prospectively in vivo. Although magnetic‐resonance imaging (MRI) provides a potentially useful technique, targeting MRI‐active probes to the β cell has proved challenging. Zinc ions are highly concentrated in the secretory granule, but they are relatively less abundant in the exocrine pancreas and in other tissues. We have therefore developed functional dual‐modal probes based on transition‐metal chelates capable of binding zinc. The first of these, Gd ?1 , binds Zn^II directly by means of an amidoquinoline moiety (AQA), thus causing a large ratiometric Stokes shift in the fluorescence from λ_em=410 to 500 nm with an increase in relaxivity from r₁=4.2 up to 4.9 mM ^?1 s^?1. The probe is efficiently accumulated into secretory granules in β‐cell‐derived lines and isolated islets, but more poorly by non‐endocrine cells, and leads to a reduction in T₁ in human islets. In vivo murine studies of Gd ?1 have shown accumulation of the probe in the pancreas with increased signal intensity over 140 minutes.     

Enhancement of SrTiO<Subscript>3</Subscript>/BiPO<Subscript>4</Subscript> heterostructure for simulated organic wastewater degradation under UV light irradiation

A novel SrTiO₃/BiPO₄ heterostructure with different amounts of SrTiO₃ have been successfully prepared through the hydrothermal process. The photocatalysts were characterized by X-ray powder diffraction, UV–Vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy, high-resolution transmission electron microscopy, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The photocatalytic performance was evaluated by degrading the methylene blue dye solution under UV light. Results showed that the samples displayed excellent photocatalytic degradation efficiency due to the highly efficient suppression of the recombination of electron–hole pairs. A possible mechanism of SrTiO₃/BiPO₄ heterojunctions was discussed. The research indicated that the as-prepared SrTiO₃/BiPO₄ heterogeneous photocatalyst can be used as an effective material for degrading industrial organic wastewater.     

Peculiar field-dependent magnetic behavior of cyano-bridged coordination polymer Er(H2O)4[W(CN)8

The two-dimensional cyano-bridged coordination polymer Er(H(2)O)(4)[W(CN)(8)] exhibits a magnetic transition at 12 K and an unusual field-dependent transition from short-range to ferromagnetic ordering.