Differentiating parts of Cinnamomum cassia using LC‐qTOF‐MS in conjunction with principal component analysis

Cinnamon bark (Rou Gui in Chinese), cinnamon twig (Gui Zhi) and shaved cinnamon bark (Gui Sin) have been widely used as spices and in traditional Chinese medicine since ancient times. On‐going issues related to quality and authenticity necessitate the development of analytical methods capable of providing an objective evaluation of samples. In this study, chemical fingerprints of cinnamon bark, cinnamon twigs and shaved cinnamon bark were established using liquid chromatography quadruple time‐of‐flight mass spectrometry in conjunction with principal component analysis (PCA). From 125 samples of cinnamon, we identified the following eight compounds and their the detection ratios: coumarin, cinnamaldehyde, cinnamyl alcohol, cinnamic acid, 2‐hydroxycinnamaldehyde, 2‐hydroxycinnamic acid, 2‐methoxycinnamaldehyde and 4‐methoxycinnamaldehyde. Of these, 4‐methoxycinnamaldehyde presented the largest variations in detection ratio, making up 64.0, 97.4 and 50.0% in cinnamon bark, cinnamon twig, and shaved cinnamon bark, respectively. The quantities of cinnamyl alcohol, coumarin and cinnamaldehyde also varied between the three parts of the plant. Chemical fingerprints of the three cinnamon samples were established using principal component analysis, the results of which indicate that cinnamon bark and shaved cinnamon bark could be easily differentiated, despite a marked similarity in outward appearance. Cinnamon twig was also shown to depart from the other clusters. The proposed method provides a fast and efficient means of identifying cinnamon herbs for quality control purposes. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Electroactive shape memory cyanate/polybutadiene epoxy composites filled with carbon black

Electroactive shape memory composites were synthesized using polybutadiene epoxy(PBEP) and bisphenol A type cyanate ester(BACE) filled with different contents of carbon black(CB). Dynamic mechanical analysis(DMA), scanning electron microscopy(SEM), electrical performance and electroactive shape memory behavior were systematically investigated. It is found that the volume resistivity decreased due to excellent electrical conductivity of CB, in turn resulting in good electroactive shape memory properties. The content of CB and applied voltage had significant influence on electroactive shape memory effect of developed BACE/PBEP/CB composites. Shape recovery can be observed within a few seconds with the CB content of 5 wt% and voltage of 60 V. Shape recovery time decreased with increasing content of CB and voltage. The infrared thermometer revealed that the temperature rises above the glass transition temperature faster with the increase of voltage and the decrease of resistance.     

UPLC-ELSD Determination of 1-Octacosanol in Raw Material and Health Products

Determination of the levels of 1-octacosanol is important in food stuff for the study of its pharmacological activities and health benefits. In this study, a novel, simple and fast internal standard method for the non-derivatization ultra-performance liquid chromatographic determination of 1-octacosanol in raw materials and health products was developed and validated based on evaporative light scattering detection. The linearity (r ² > 0.998), recovery (99.1–100.2%, RSD <2.7%), intra- and inter-day precision (RSD <3.8%), limit of detection (1.0 mg/L), limit of quantification (2.2 mg/L) of the 1-octacosanol were determined. The method was successfully applied to nine real 1-octacosanol products. The results of analyses had close agreement with the labeled claims of 1-octacosanol content in these products. Compared with the classical gas chromatography method, the developed method was simpler, faster and more environmentally friendly due to avoiding any derivatization step. This protocol represents a rapid and feasible method for quality control of 1-octacosanol products.

     

The roles of cysteines in the heme domain of human soluble guanylate cyclase

Soluble guanylate cyclase(sGC) is a critical heme-containing enzyme involved in NO signaling.The dimerization of sGC subunits is necessary for its bioactivity and its mechanism is a striking and an indistinct issue.The roles of heme domain cysteines of the sGC on the dimerization and heme binding were investigated herein.The site-directed mutations of three conserved cysteines(C78A,C122A and C174S) were studied systematically and the three mutants were characterized by gel filtration analysis,UV-vis spectroscopy and heme transfer examination.Cys78 was involved in heme binding but not referred to the dimerization,while Cys174 was demonstrated to be involved in the homodimerization.These results provide new insights into the cysteine-related dimerization regulation of sGC.     

Novel organometallic aromatic polyester based on ferrocene

<正>A novel polyester containing ferrocenyl was prepared by low-temperature interface polycondensation of 1,1'-ferrocenedicarboxylic acid chloride with 4-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-2,3-phthalazin-1-one(DHPZ),which is a twisted non-coplanar heterocyclic bisphenol-like monomer.The newly generated polymer was evaluated based on characterization of its solubility,viscosity measurements,elemental analysis,FTIR spectroscopy,differential scanning calorimetric and thermogravimetric studies.     

一类差分系统边值问题在渐近线性下的多解存在性

应用临界点理论,获得了一类差分系统边值问题在渐近线性下存在多个非平凡解的条件.     

Enhanced Catalytic Activity in Liquid‐Exfoliated FeOCl Nanosheets as a Fenton‐Like Catalyst

A facile liquid‐phase exfoliation method to prepare few‐layer FeOCl nanosheets in acetonitrile by ultrasonication is reported. The detailed exfoliation mechanism and generated products were investigated by combining first‐principle calculations and experimental approaches. The similar cleavage energies of FeOCl (340 mJ m^?2) and graphite (320 mJ m^?2) confirm the experimental exfoliation feasibility. As a Fenton reagent, FeOCl nanosheets showed outstanding properties in the catalytic degradation of phenol in water at room temperature, under neutral pH conditions, and with sunlight irradiation. Apart from the increased surface area of the nanosheets, the surface state change of the nanosheets also plays a key role in improving the catalytic performance. The changes of charge density, density of states (DOS), and valence state of Fe atoms in the exfoliated FeOCl nanosheets versus plates illustrated that surface atomistic relationships made the few‐layer nanosheets higher activity, indicating the exfoliation process of the FeOCl nanosheets also brought about surface state changes.     

A physical mechanism based investigation on the elasto-plastic-damage behavior of anisotropic aluminum alloys under finite deformation

The elasto-plastic-damage behavior of anisotropic aluminum alloys is investigated under finite deformation using a physical mechanism based constitutive model. With an application to the structural calculation, the present model is used to describe and analyze the mechanical response of anisotropic 6260-T6 aluminum alloy extrusions. For the tensile specimens extracted along three different material orientations from the extruded aluminum profile, twelve simulations are carried out covering four different specimen geometries. The simulation results in force-displacement response and central logarithmic axial strain evolution are compared with experimental results. From the comparisons, it can be concluded that the present model has the capacity to describe the behavior of anisotropic material. From the force-displacement curves, the anisotropy is observed in different material orientations, and the physical mechanism of anisotropy is analyzed.