A cytotoxic dimeric furanoheliangolide from Piptocoma rufescens

A new sesquiterpene lactone, rufescenolide C (ass="boldFont">1), the first furanoheliangolide dimer, was isolated from the leaves of Piptocoma rufescens, collected in the Dominican Republic. Its structure was determined by interpretation of its spectroscopic data, with the absolute configuration being established by analysis of the CD spectrum. A plausible biogenesis of this dimer is proposed. This compound showed potent cytotoxicity with an IC₅₀ value of 150 nM, when tested against HT-29 human colon cancer cells.     

Monitoring abiotic degradation of branched polyethylenes formulated with pro-oxidants through different mechanical tests

The mechanical properties of two linear low density and low density polyethylenes containing a pro-oxidant additive were monitored during accelerated aging (60 °C in a convection oven) and weather exposure. Tearing tests (trouser) were performed for the first time in polyethylenes subjected to oxo-degradation revealing a transition from an extensible to a non-extensible material, at exposure times when standard tensile tests were not able to detect any changes in the materials. The essential work of fracture (EWF) technique was also applied and the results were in agreement with those of trouser tests. The specific essential work of fracture first increased with exposure time until the sample experienced a transition to a less ductile state where EWF was no longer applicable. EWF and trouser tear tests were more sensitive detecting the onset of degradation probably because they employ notched specimens that impose more critical stress concentration conditions than conventional tensile tests.     

Study of the degradation of a new PLA braided biomaterial in buffer phosphate saline,basic and acid media,intended for the regeneration of tendons and ligaments

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of hydrolytic degradation on the properties of a PLA hollow braid designed as a new concept of biodegradable prosthesis for the regeneration of tendons and ligaments. The main function of the braided material is to bear mechanical loads while it is being replaced by the newly-generated tissue. The kinetics of braided material degradation is thus an important factor in determining the success of the product. In order to study this mechanism, PLA braid was subjected to a 12-month degradation process at 37 °C in PBS at pH 7.4 (to simulate the human physiological medium) and to accelerated degradation for one month in pH 12 and pH 3 solutions. Degradation of the braid subjected to hydrolysis was evaluated by weight loss, molecular weight distribution, mechanical properties, and calorimetric and morphologic analyses. The weight loss in a basic medium reached 21%, versus no significant change in the other media. Average molecular weight was reduced by approximately 50% in the three media, with loss of mechanical properties in all cases. The morphological changes were more evident in the PLA degraded in the basic medium. The crystallinity of the material increased at the first stages of degradation, regardless of the medium used.     

Evolution and solar modulation of 7Be during the solar cycle 23

The modulation of ⁷Be-aerosols concentration due to solar activity during the cycle 23 is studied in the present research. For that purpose, was analyzed the differences in the long-term variation of geomagnetic and solar activity to assess the physical effects over the evolution of ⁷Be during the period 1996–2010. Furthermore, exploratory data analysis was applied to understand better the behavior of ⁷Be-aerosols in the surface atmosphere. This study shows that there is an inverse relationship among ⁷Be measured in the near ground air and solar activity. The modulation of ⁷Be-aerosols during the cycle 23 was divided in two steps. In the first stage, ascending phase, 1996–2002, the solar activity played an important role in the production rate of ⁷Be, r = ?0.75. However, during the descending phase, 2002–2009, the role of the solar activity was secondary, r = ?0.30, allowing that ⁷Be-aerosols reached the maximum concentration, 9.33 mBq m^?3 in August-09 when the solar activity was zero. Moreover, the remaining solar activity after the end of the ascending phase and the last important solar storm (December-06) caused the slowdown of ⁷Be production rate from 2001 to 2004 and the rupture of the seasonal behavior of ⁷Be in 2007, respectively. Finally, this research highlight the necessity to take into account the solar cycle phase, ascending or descending, to model studies of atmospheric process with ⁷Be as tracer since the contribution of the variables studied are so different in these stages.     

微米及纳米丝光沸石分子筛上二甲醚羰基化反应的积碳分析

对比研究了在传统微米尺寸和新结构纳米丝光沸石催化剂上二甲醚羰基化合成乙酸甲酯的反应行为.结果表明,通过减小分子筛的尺寸到纳米水平,可以有效提高反应物和产物到达或者脱离反应活性位的效率,从而提高了二甲醚的转化率;更重要的是,抑制了硬积碳的生成,使催化剂保持了更高的稳定性.     

基于第一性原理方法研究ReOx在ReOx-Rh/ZrO2和ReOx-Ir/ZrO2催化的甘油氢解反应中的作用机制

采用密度泛函理论研究了ZrO₂负载的Ru基、Rh基以及Re改性的Rh基、Ir基催化剂上甘油氢解生成1,2-丙二醇和1,3-丙二醇的热力学过程, 重点考察了ReO_x调变催化剂活性和选择性的作用机制. 结果表明, Ru/ZrO₂和Rh/ZrO₂催化剂上甘油分解经由脱水-加氢反应途径, 1,2-丙二醇的生成是热力学有利过程, 其中Ru基催化剂活性更高. 在Re修饰的Rh基和Ir基催化剂上, 反应遵循直接氢解机理, 其中金属表面解离的氢原子进攻ReO_x团簇上与醇盐紧邻的C-O键是催化甘油转化为丙二醇最核心的步骤. ReO_x-Rh/ZrO₂催化剂上1,2-丙二醇为主要产物, 并伴随1,3-丙二醇的生成, ReO_x的修饰则显著提高了Ir/ZrO₂催化剂上1,3-丙二醇选择性. 与单金属催化剂上发生的间接氢解机理相比, 修饰催化剂上1,3-丙二醇选择性的提高可主要归因于Rh(Ir)-Re协同催化的直接氢解反应过程, 其中羟基化铼官能团有利于末端醇盐中间体的生成. ReO_x-Ir/ZrO₂催化剂上较大的Ir-Re团簇使得末端金属醇盐的立体优选性比次级醇盐更为突出, 从而具有最高的1,3-丙二醇选择性.     

金属对钛硅分子筛TS-1催化丁二烯环氧化性能的影响

制备了不同金属改性的钛硅分子筛样品M-TS-1 (M = V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Cd, La, 负载量为1%), 并研究了其催化丁二烯环氧化反应的性能. 结果表明, V, Cr, Mn的加入导致H₂O₂无效分解, 因而在丁二烯环氧化反应中表现出较高的H₂O₂转化率和较低有效利用率; Fe, Co, Ni以及稀土金属La均在一定程度上促进了TS-1对H₂O₂的有效利用; Cu, Zn抑制了H₂O₂的转化, 使得H₂O₂转化率和有效利用率都较低; Cd有效提高了TS-1的催化活性, H₂O₂转化率和有效利用率均接近100%. 采用X射线衍射、N₂吸附-脱附、X射线光电子能谱、傅里叶变换红外光谱等手段表征了上述各金属的改性对TS-1骨架结构以及Ti活性中心周围电子环境的影响. 结果表明, 各M-TS-1样品的骨架结构都仍保持原有的MFI构型, 但是TS-1中Ti活性中心周围的电子环境受到来自各种金属的不同程度影响, 关联催化活性时没有特定的规律性.     

三价铑催化亚甲胺内盐与丙烯酰胺氧化合成三取代吡唑

将三价铑离子配合物用于催化甲亚胺内盐与取代的丙烯酰胺之间的氧化偶联反应,实现了三取代的吡唑化合物的合成.在这个过程中,取代的丙烯酰胺的烯烃发生了C-H键活化.此类反应和用丙烯酸酯时的反应具有不同的选择性.     

仿生制备有机-无机复合微囊固定化葡萄糖氧化酶

将层层自组装技术与仿生矿化技术相结合,由聚苯乙烯磺酸钠、聚二甲基二烯丙基氯化铵和二氧化硅成功制备(聚苯乙烯磺酸钠-聚二甲基二烯丙基氯化铵)₂-二氧化硅复合微囊.采用扫描电子显微镜、红外光谱和热重对微囊的形貌和化学结构进行了表征.以该复合微囊作为理想载体固定化葡萄糖氧化酶.结果表明,固定于复合微囊中的葡萄糖氧化酶的热稳定性、pH稳定性、操作稳定性得到了提高;在最适条件下,复合微囊固定化葡萄糖氧化酶的酶活回收率为72.85%,米氏常数是游离葡萄糖氧化酶的2.21倍.复合微囊在化学/生物催化、药物/基因传递系统和生物传感器应用方面具有一定的潜能.     

载体表面氧化程度对Ni/SiC甲烷化催化剂性能的影响

采用等体积浸渍法制备了Ni/SiC甲烷化催化剂, 研究了SiC载体表面氧化程度对催化剂低温活性和高温稳定性的影响, 并采用热重-差示扫描量热、N₂物理吸附、傅立叶变换红外光谱、氨程序升温脱附、X射线衍射、氢程序升温还原和氢化学吸附技术对样品进行了表征. 结果表明, 随着载体氧化温度的提高, 催化剂的比表面积和镍分散度降低, 但还原性和反应稳定性提高. 未氧化载体所负载催化剂的高温稳定性最差, 其原因在于载体对镍粒子的固定作用最弱. 负载于500和700℃处理的SiC载体上的催化剂具有较好的低温活性和高温稳定性, 这是因为适度氧化后的载体能较好地分散并固定镍粒子. 900℃处理的载体因过度氧化形成了低活性的氧化层, 使负载的镍粒子变大, 因而催化剂的低温活性最差.