Structure of low-density nanoporous dielectrics revealed by low-vacuum electron microscopy and small-angle X-ray scattering

Aerogels (AGs) are ultralow-density nanoporous solids that have numerous potential applications. However, as most AGs are strong insulators with poor mechanical properties, direct studies of the complex nanoporous structure of AGs by methods such as atomic force and conventional scanning electron microscopy (SEM) have not proven feasible. Here, we use low-vacuum SEM to image directly the ligament and pore size and shape distributions of representative AGs over a wide range of length scales (approximately 100-105 nm). The structural information obtained is used for unambiguous, real-space interpretation of small-angle X-ray scattering curves for these complex nanoporous systems. Low-vacuum SEM permits imaging of both cross-sections and skin layers of AG monoliths. Images of skin layers reveal the presence of microcracks, which alter the properties of cast monolithic AGs.     

The Potential of Parsley Polyphenols and Their Antioxidant Capacity to Help in the Treatment of Depression and Anxiety: An In Vivo Subacute Study

Depression and anxiety are major mental health problems in all parts of the world. These illnesses are associated with a number of risk factors, including oxidative stress. Psychotropic drugs of a chemical nature have demonstrated several side effects that elevated the impact of those illnesses. Faced with this situation, natural products appear to be a promising alternative. The aim of this study was to evaluate the anxiolytic and antidepressant effects of the Petroselinum sativum polyphenols in vivo, as well as its correlated antioxidant properties in vitro. Anxiolytic activity of the extract (50 and 100 mg/kg) was evaluated using the open field and the light-dark chamber tests, while the antidepressant activity was evaluated using the forced swimming test. The antioxidant activity of the extract was evaluated by the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radical test and the FRAP (iron-reducing capacity) test. The phenolic extract showed very powerful anxiolytic and antidepressant-like effects, especially at a dose of 100 mg/kg, decreasing the depressive behavior in mice (decreased immobility time) and also the anxiolytic behavior (tendency for discovery in the center and illuminated areas) better even than those of paroxetine and bromazepam (classic drugs) concomitant with those results the extract also showed an important antioxidant capacity. These preliminary results suggest that Petroselinum sativum exhibits anxiolytic and antidepressant potential for use as a complement or independent phytomedicine to treat depression and anxiety.     

Nd(III) and Gd(III) Sorption on Mesoporous Amine-Functionalized Polymer/SiO2 Composite

The strong demand for rare-earth elements (REEs) is driven by their wide use in high-tech devices. New processes have to be developed for valorizing low-grade ores or alternative metal sources (such as wastes and spent materials). The present work contributed to the development of new sorbents for the recovery of rare earth ions from aqueous solutions. Functionalized mesoporous silica composite was synthesized by grafting diethylenetriamine onto composite support. The physical and chemical properties of the new sorbent are characterized using BET, TGA, elemental analysis, titration, FTIR, and XPS spectroscopies to identify the reactive groups (amine groups: 3.25 mmol N g⁻¹ and 3.41 by EA and titration, respectively) and their mode of interaction with Nd(III) and Gd(III). The sorption capacity at the optimum pH (i.e., 4) reaches 0.9 mmol Nd g⁻¹ and 1 mmol Gd g⁻¹. Uptake kinetics are modeled by the pseudo-first-order rate equation (equilibrium time: 30–40 min). At pH close to 4–5, the sorbent shows high selectivity for rare-earth elements against alkali-earth elements. This selectivity is confirmed by the efficient recovery of REEs from acidic leachates of gibbsite ore. After elution (using 0.5 M HCl solutions), selective precipitation (using oxalate solutions), and calcination, pure rare earth oxides were obtained. The sorbent shows promising perspective due to its high and fast sorption properties for REEs, good recycling, and high selectivity.     

Endophytic Fungal Community of Huperzia serrata: Diversity and Relevance to the Production of Huperzine A by the Plant Host

As the population ages globally, there seem to be more people with Alzheimer’s disease. Unfortunately, there is currently no specific treatment for the disease. At present, Huperzine A (HupA) is one of the best drugs used for the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease and has been used in clinical trials for several years in China. HupA was first separated from Huperzia serrata, a traditional medicinal herb that is used to cure fever, contusions, strains, hematuria, schizophrenia, and snakebite for several hundreds of years in China, and has been confirmed to have acetylcholinesterase inhibitory activity. With the very slow growth of H. serrata, resources are becoming too scarce to meet the need for clinical treatment. Some endophytic fungal strains that produce HupA were isolated from H. serrate in previous studies. In this article, the diversity of the endophytic fungal community within H. serrata was observed and the relevance to the production of HupA by the host plant was further analyzed. A total of 1167 strains were obtained from the leaves of H. serrata followed by the stems (1045) and roots (824). The richness as well as diversity of endophytic fungi within the leaf and stem were higher than in the root. The endophytic fungal community was similar within stems as well as in leaves at all taxonomic levels. The 11 genera (Derxomyces, Lophiostoma, Cyphellophora, Devriesia, Serendipita, Kurtzmanomyces, Mycosphaerella, Conoideocrella, Brevicellicium, Piskurozyma, and Trichomerium) were positively correlated with HupA content. The correlation index of Derxomyces with HupA contents displayed the highest value (CI = 0.92), whereas Trichomerium showed the lowest value (CI = 0.02). Through electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS), it was confirmed that the HS7-1 strain could produce HupA and the total alkaloid concentration was 3.7 ug/g. This study will enable us to screen and isolate the strain that can produce HupA and to figure out the correlation between endophytic fungal diversity with HupA content in different plant organs. This can provide new insights into the screening of strains that can produce HupA more effectively.     

Microwave-assisted synthesis and crystal structure of some novel 1,2,4-oxadiazol-5-ylmethyl-1,2,3-triazoles

Microwave-assisted 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of 5-azidomethyl 3-aryl-substituted 1,2,4-oxadiazoles to electron-deficient alkyne; phenyl propiolic acid affords a series of 1,2,3-triazole derivatives carrying 3-p-substitutedphenyl-1,2,4-oxadiazolyl methyl unit. The structures of all the cycloadducts were elucidated by IR, NMR (¹H, ¹³C, 2D), MASS (low and high resolution) spectra, X-ray diffraction data, and physical characteristics (melting points and R_f values).     

Poly[diaquadi‐μ6‐oxalato‐μ5‐oxalato‐chromium(III)rubidium(I)]: a new supramolecular isomer

The title compound, [CrRb(C₂O₄)₂(H₂O)₂]_n, obtained under hydrothermal conditions and investigated structurally at 100 K, is a three‐dimensional supramolecular isomer of the layered structure compound studied at room temperature. This novel polymer is built up from crosslinked heterobimetallic units. The linkage of alternating edge‐ and vertex‐shared RbO₇(H₂O)₂ and CrO₄(H₂O)₂ polyhedra running along three different directions gives a dense packing. The two independent ligands display two η⁴‐chelation modes and two conventional carboxylate bridges. However, the pentadentate ligand connects the Cr^III and Rb^I ions through one O‐atom bridge, while the hexadentate ligand exhibits an additional η³‐chelation and two O‐atom bridges. Each coordinated water molecule forms an O‐atom bridge between the two metals. Moreover, in the absence of protonated ligands, these water molecules act as donors through their four H atoms in strong‐to‐weak hydrogen bonds. This results in zigzag chains of alternating oxalate and aqua ligands parallel to the twofold screw axis. The six double oxalates known to date containing an alkali and Cr^III all present layered two‐dimensional structures. In the series, this supramolecular isomer is the first three‐dimensional framework.     

Investigation of critical phenomena and magnetism in amorphous Ising nanowire in the presence of transverse fields

A cylindrical magnetic nanowire system composed of ferromagnetic core and shell layers has been investigated by using effective field theory (EFT) with correlations in the presence of transverse fields and surface shell amorphization. Both weak and strong exchange couplings at the core–shell interface have been considered. The main attention has been focused on the former situation where the system exhibits similar characteristic features with that observed in thin film and semi-infinite systems in which the surface effects are prominent. A complete picture of the phase diagrams and magnetization profiles has been represented and the effect of the surface shell amorphization on these properties has been discussed. Furthermore, we have investigated the ground state behavior of total magnetization _mT$m_T$ curves and we have observed that _mT$m_T$ curves exhibit highly non-monotonous and exotic ground states in the presence of frustration in the surface shell. We have also analyzed the necessary conditions for the occurrence of reentrant behavior in the system.     

Blow-up behavior for the Klein–Gordon and other perturbed semilinear wave equations

We give blow-up results for the Klein–Gordon equation and other perturbations of the semilinear wave equations with superlinear power nonlinearity, in one space dimension or in higher dimension under radial symmetry outside the origin.     

Complexity analysis research of financial and economic system under the condition of three parameters’ change circumstances

This paper studies the characteristics of a series of complex systems, which are in combination of interest rate, investment, and price index parameters meeting the condition c?b?abc??0, including stable node, saddle points, bifurcation, Hopf bifurcation, and chaos, and the corresponding mathematical expressions of Lyapunov index are given. Based on this, we perform complexity analysis of the system and study the change circumstances of Lyapunov index when one or two parameters synchronously change. Numerical simulation results verify the theoretical analysis and conclusion. The results of this economic and financial system provide reference to practical problems, and have a positive effect on the actual application of the system of this type.