A posteriori error estimation for a singularly perturbed Volterra integro-differential equation

Numerical Algorithms - A singularly perturbed Volterra integro-differential equation with an integrable singularity in the integral term is considered. The upwind difference method is used to...     

Metabolic profiles of dioscin in rats revealed by ultra‐performance liquid chromatography quadrupole time‐of‐flight mass spectrometry

Dioscin (DIS), one of the most abundant bioactive steroidal saponins in Dioscorea sp., is used as a complementary medicine to treat coronary disease and angina pectoris in China. Although the pharmacological activities and pharmacokinetics of DIS have been well demonstrated, information regarding the final metabolic fates is very limited. This study investigated the in vivo metabolic profiles of DIS after oral administration by ultra‐performance liquid chromatography quadrupole time‐of‐flight mass spectrometry method. The structures of the metabolites were identified and tentatively characterized by means of comparing the molecular mass, retention time and fragmentation pattern of the analytes with those of the parent compound. A total of eight metabolites, including seven phase I and one phase II metabolites, were detected and tentatively identified for the first time. Oxidation, deglycosylation and glucuronidation were found to be the major metabolic processes of the compound in rats. In addition, a possible metabolic pathway on the biotransformation of DIS in vivo was proposed. This study provides valuable and new information on the metabolism of DIS, which will be helpful for further understanding its mechanism of action. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

DFT mechanistic study of the H2‐assisted chain transfer copolymerization of propylene and p‐methylstyrene catalyzed by zirconocene complex

DFT computations have been performed to investigate the mechanism of H₂‐assisted chain transfer strategy to functionalize polypropylene via Zr‐catalyzed copolymerization of propylene and p‐methylstyrene (pMS). The study unveils the following: (i) propylene prefers 1,2‐insertion over 2,1‐insertion both kinetically and thermodynamically, explaining the observed 1,2‐insertion regioselectivity for propylene insertion. (ii) The 2,1‐inserion of pMS is kinetically less favorable but thermodynamically more favorable than 1,2‐insertion. The observation of 2,1‐insertion pMS at the end of polymer chain is due to thermodynamic control and that the barrier difference between the two insertion modes become smaller as the chain length becomes longer. (iii) The pMS insertion results in much higher barriers for subsequent either propylene or pMS insertion, which causes deactivation of the catalytic system. (iv) Small H₂ can react with the deactivated [Zr]?pMS?PP_n facilely, which displace functionalized pMS?PP_n chain and regenerate [Zr]? H active catalyst to continue copolymerization. The effects of counterions are also discussed. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2015 , 53, 576–585     

A Photoactivated Cu–CeO2 Catalyst with Cu-[O]-Ce Active Species Designed through MOF Crystal Engineering

Fully utilizing solar energy for catalysis requires the integration of conversion mechanisms and therefore delicate design of catalyst structures and active species. Herein, a MOF crystal engineering method was developed to controllably synthesize a copper–ceria catalyst with well-dispersed photoactive Cu-[O]-Ce species. Using the preferential oxidation of CO as a model reaction, the catalyst showed remarkably efficient and stable photoactivated catalysis, which found practical application in feed gas treatment for fuel cell gas supply. The coexistence of photochemistry and thermochemistry effects contributes to the high efficiency. Our results demonstrate a catalyst design approach with atomic or molecular precision and a combinatorial photoactivation strategy for solar energy conversion.     

Dimeric Manganese-Catalyzed Hydroarylation and Hydroalkenylation of Unsaturated Amides

An unprecedented Mn(I)-catalyzed selective hydroarylation and hydroalkenylation of unsaturated amides with commercially available organic boronic acids is reported. Alkenyl boronic acids have been successfully employed for the first time in Mn(I)-catalyzed carbon–carbon bond formation. A wide array of β-alkenylated amide products can be obtained in moderate to good yields, which offers practical access to five- and six-membered lactams. This protocol has predictable regio- and chemoselectivity, excellent functional group compatibility and ease of operation in air, representing a significant step-forward towards manganese-catalyzed C−C coupling.     

激光能量对反钙钛矿GaCMn_3薄膜结构与物性的影响

本文采用脉冲激光沉积方法在LaAlO3(001)单晶衬底上制备了反钙钛矿GaCMn3薄膜,通过控制制备过程中脉冲激光的能量,研究了不同激光能量条件对GaCMn3薄膜结构与物理性能的影响.分别利用X射线衍射仪、原子力显微镜、超导量子干涉仪和物理性能测试系统,对所制备的薄膜的晶体结构、表面形貌和磁性、电输运性质进行了研究.结果表明,制备的样品均为具有多个晶面取向的反钙钛矿薄膜,且薄膜结构和物性明显随制备激光能量的变化而变化.当激光能量为450mJ时,制备的薄膜多晶面取向性最弱,结晶性和表面形貌最优良.实验所得的薄膜均表现出顺磁-铁磁-反铁磁相转变,然而转变过程比块材较平缓,同时薄膜的电阻率并未表现出块材中的突变特征,我们推测该现象很可能是由衬底的应力及衬底的晶格膨胀对薄膜反常晶格变化的抑制作用造成的.     

A new strategy for synthesis of branched cyclic peptide by Asn side-chain hydrazide ligation

Here, we report a new strategy for rapid synthesis of branched peptide by side-chain hydrazide ligation at Asn. The hydrazide was converted to thioester at Asn side chain by NaNO₂ and thiol reagent, and sequential ligation with an N-terminus Cys-peptide efficiently afforded the branched peptide. A branched cyclic peptide was successfully synthesized by side-chain ligation with a two-Cys-peptide and formation of a disulfide bond. This approach provides a new way for expeditious synthesis of branched peptides and facilitates the design of neopeptides as functional bio-mimics.     

Numerical Evaluation of a Two-Loop Diagram in the Cutoff Regularization

The sunset diagram of λφ4 theory is evaluated numerically in cutoff scheme and a nonzero finite term(in accordance with dimensional regularization (DR) result) is found in contrast to published calculations. This findingdramatically reduces the critical couplings for symmetry breaking in the two-loop effective potential discussed in ourprevious work.     

Unidirectional Quantum Remote Control:Teleportation of Control-State

We investigate the problem of teleportation of unitary operations by unidirectional control-state telepor-tation and propose a scheme called unidirectional quantum remote control. The scheme is based on the isomorphismbetween operation and state. It allows us to store a unitary operation in a control state, thereby teleportation of theunitary operation can be implemented by unidirectional teleportation of the control-state. We find that the probabilityof success for implementing an arbitrary unitary operation on arbitrary M-qubit state by unidirectional control-stateteleportation is 4-M, and 2M ebits and 4M cbits are consumed in each teleportation.