Non-quadratic-intensity dependence of two-photon absorption induced fluorescence of organic chromophores in solution

We have provided a model to interpret the non-quadratic-intensity dependence behavior commonly observed in the two-photon fluorescence (TPF) experiment excited with high laser intensity. The model also provides one with a different technique to measure the two-photon absorption cross section of an organic chromophore in solution. In contrast to the commonly used low intensity technique that depends on the quadratic-intensity law, the present technique is based on the non-quadratic-intensity dependence of two-photon fluorescence. Auxiliary data such as two-photon quantum efficiency and fluorescence collection efficiency, essential in the low intensity method, are not required in the present technique. TPF measurements of Rhodamine B in methanol are carried out to demonstrate the validity of the present method. The method is used to determine the two-photon absorption cross section of a new chromophore attached with tricyano-derivatized furan as the electron acceptor. The two-photon absorption cross section measured using this method is also compared with that using a conventional transmission technique.     

Two new standard reference materials for the determination of drugs of abuse in human hair

Two new standard reference materials (SRM) for drugs of abuse in human hair have been developed. SRM 2379 consists of hair spiked with cocaine, benzoylecgonine, cocaethylene, phencyclidine, amphetamine, and methamphetamine. SRM 2380 consists of hair spiked with codeine, morphine, monoacetylmorphine, and tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). The SRMs were prepared by soaking the hair in a solution of the target analytes in water-dimethylsulfoxide. The concentration of each analyte was determined using two methods, one based upon gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) and one based upon liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry (LC/MS). Both methods used 0.1 M HCl for extraction of all the analytes from the hair, except for THC, which was extracted with 1 M NaOH. For isolation of the analytes from the extracts, the GC/MS-based methods used different clean-up procedures from those used for the LC/MS-based methods. The results from the two methods were in good agreement with mean differences for the analytes ranging from 4% to 16%. These materials will enable laboratories performing analyses of hair for drugs of abuse to test the accuracy of their methods.     

Dysfunction of Shh signaling activates autophagy to inhibit trophoblast motility in recurrent miscarriage

In early pregnancy, the placenta anchors the conceptus and supports embryonic development and survival. This study aimed to investigate the underlying functions of Shh signaling in recurrent miscarriage (RM), a serious disorder of pregnancy. In the present study, Shh and Gli2 were mainly observed in cytotrophoblasts (CTBs), Ptch was mainly observed in syncytiotrophoblasts (STBs), and Smo and Gli3 were expressed in both CTBs and STBs. Shh signaling was significantly impaired in human placenta tissue from recurrent miscarriage patients compared to that of gestational age-matched normal controls. VEGF-A and CD31 protein levels were also significantly decreased in recurrent miscarriage patients. Furthermore, inhibition of Shh signaling impaired the motility of JAR cells by regulating the expression of Gli2 and Gli3. Intriguingly, inhibition of Shh signaling also triggered autophagy and autolysosome accumulation. Additionally, knockdown of BECN1 reversed Gant61-induced motility inhibition. In conclusion, our results showed that dysfunction of Shh signaling activated autophagy to inhibit trophoblast motility, which suggests the Shh pathway and autophagy as potential targets for RM therapy.Subject terms: Embryology, Endocrine reproductive disorders, Autophagosomes     

Electrostatic layer-by-layer assembled carbon nanotube multilayer film and its electrocatalytic activity for O2 reduction

Multilayer films of shortened multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) are homogeneously and stably assembled on glassy carbon electrodes with the layer-by-layer (LBL) method, based on electrostatic interaction of positively charged poly(diallyldimethylammonium chloride) and negatively charged and shortened MWNTs. The film assembly and electrochemical property as well as the electrocatalytic activity toward O2 reduction of the MWNT multilayer film are studied. Scanning electron microscopy, the quartz crystal microbalance technique, ultraviolet-visible-near-infrared spectroscopy, and cyclic voltammetry are used for characterization of film assembly. Experimental results revealed that film growth is uniform, almost with the same coverage of the MWNTs in each layer, and that the assembled MWNTs are mainly in the form of small bundles or single tubes on the electrodes. Electrochemical studies indicate that the LBL assembled MWNT films possess a remarkable electrocatalytic activity toward O2 reduction in alkaline media. This property, combined with the well-dispersed, porous and conductive features of the MWNT film illustrated with the LBL method, suggests the potential application of the MWNT film for constructing an efficient alkaline air electrode for energy conversions.     

Fabrication and evaluation of bacterial cellulose-polyaniline composites by interfacial polymerization

The fabrication and evaluation of nanocomposites based on microbial cellulose and polyaniline (PANi) are described. Microbial cellulose, so called, bacterial cellulose (BC) was introduced to interfacial polymerization of aniline. Two different phases based on water and chloroform made it easy for nanosized PANi particles to be synthesized on BC. Without any help of a surfactant or templates, BC played a critical role of supporting the growth of PANi. As a function of aniline concentration, the corresponding PANi content and volume resistivity were checked. From morphological images observed by FE-SEM, PANi nanoparticles were densely arrayed along every fiber of BC. The conjugated backbone of PANi was thought to contribute to the improvements of thermal stability of PANi/BC composites. The stiffness and brittleness of PANi were compensated by more ductile BC, suggesting BC can be a promising substrate for it. By the simple and facile interfacial polymerization, the electrical conductivity of PANi/BC composites reached up to 3.8?×?10^?1?S/cm when 0.32?M of aniline was used. This PANi/BC nanocomposite can be useful in applications requiring biocompatibility and electrical conductivity such as biological and chemical sensors.     

New Methods for β-Lactam Formation from β-Amino Acids Using (C6H5)3P/CC14 and (C6H5)3P/NBS

Triphenylphosphine/carbon tetrachloride and triphenyl-phosphine/N-bromosuccinimide were found to be very effective for β-lactam formation from β-amino acids in acetonitrile.     

基于Matlab GUI的微观化学反应过程可视化设计

Based on the quasi-classical trajectory (QCT) method and Matlab GUI technology, we developed a program code for visualizing the collision process of the elementary chemical reactions of the a + bc type. The general methodology of QCT, abstraction of dynamical properties of molecular collisions and the making of Graphical User Interface are introduced. The running results of an application to the reaction F + HCl→HF + Cl is also presented. The results showed that this program could vividly demonstrate the behavior and final state of the atom-diatom collision process in animated form. Students can interact with internal MATLAB code through graphical user interface, observe the reactive behavior and final results in real-time from multiple angles, which helps students to understand the complex reaction mechanism and deepen their perceptual impression of the chemical process at a microscopic atomic/molecular level.     

Static Retention of Dynamic Chiral Arrangements for Achiral Shear Thinning Metal–Organic Colloids

Chiral compounds are known to be important not only because they are the fundamental components of living organisms, but also for their unique chiroptical properties. In recent years, scientists have fabricated several chiral organic supramolecular aggregates by using chiral physical fields, such as vortex flow. Herein, the relationship between dynamic chiroptical properties and rheological nature is discussed, suggesting the shear thinning properties of non-Newtonian fluids might help colloidal particles adopt a chiral arrangement in vortices. Furthermore, the storage modulus of colloids could be increased by adding a linking agent, which successfully kept the dynamic chiroptical properties in the static state. Moreover, the salt effect on the host–guest interaction involved in the colloids was studied, the results suggested a significant enhancement of the transferred dynamic circular dichroism for the achiral guest molecule.