Parameter identification of a nonlinear model: replicating the motion response of an autonomous underwater vehicle for dynamic environments

Nonlinear Dynamics - This study presents a system identification algorithm to determine the linear and nonlinear parameters of an autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) motion response prediction...     

Syntheses of stereodefined β-alkylidene-γ-lactones and substituted β, γ-unsaturated δ-lactones

1-Trimethylsilyl-1,3-diyne derived trans-bis(trimethylstannyl) enynes undergo stepwise transmetallation with methyllithium to furnish the corresponding enynyllithium reagents. The application, in various orders, of a sequence of transmetallation-protonation-alkylation-hydroxyalkylation-hydroboration-oxidation reactions provides a novel approach to stereo-defined β-alkylidene γ-lactones and β, γ-unsaturated δ-lactones.     

Phytochemistry,Bioactivities and Traditional Uses of Michelia × alba

Michelia × alba (M. alba) is a flowering tree best known for its essential oil, which has long been used as a fragrance ingredient for perfume and cosmetics. In addition, the plant has been used in traditional medicine in Asia and dates back hundreds of years. To date, there is a limited number of publications on the bioactivities of M. alba, which focused on its tyrosinase inhibition, antimicrobial, antidiabetic, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant activities. Nevertheless, M. alba may have additional unexplored bioactivities associated with its bioactive compounds such as linalool (72.8% in flower oil and 80.1% in leaf oil), α-terpineol (6.04% flower oil), phenylethyl alcohol (2.58% flower oil), β-pinene (2.39% flower oil), and geraniol (1.23% flower oil). Notably, these compounds have previously been reported to exhibit therapeutic activities such as anti-cancer, anti-inflammation, anti-depression, anti-ulcer, anti-hypertriglyceridemia, and anti-hypertensive activities. In this review paper, we examine and discuss the scientific evidence on the phytochemistry, bioactivities, and traditional uses of M. alba. Here, we report a total of 168 M. alba biological compounds and highlight the therapeutic potential of its key bioactive compounds. This review may provide insights into the therapeutic potential of M. alba and its biologically active components for the prevention and treatment of diseases and management of human health and wellness.     

Correction: Biofunctional Janus particles promote phagocytosis of tumor cells by macrophages

Correction for ‘Biofunctional Janus particles promote phagocytosis of tumor cells by macrophages’ by Ya-Ru Zhang et al., Chem. Sci., 2020, 11, 5323–5327, https://doi.org/10.1039/D0SC01146K.

The authors regret an error in Fig. 4a, where two of the panels contain partial overlap.Open in a separate windowFig. 1Tf–SPA3–aSIRPα JMPs promote the interaction and subsequent phagocytosis of B16F10 cells by BMDMs. (A) Representative confocal images of phagocytosis assays treated with different formulations for 2 or 4 h, respectively. (B) Time-dependent of phagocytosis treated with Tf–SPA3–aSirpα JMPs. In (A) and (B), B16F10 cells were labelled with CFSE (green), BMDMs were labelled with eFluor 670 (red) and particles were labelled with RB (blue). Scale bar: 20 μm.The panels for 2 h SPA3 and 2 h Tf + aSIRPα + SPA3 contain overlap, as the wrong data was initially used for 2 h SPA3. An independent expert has viewed the new data and has concluded that it is consistent with the discussions and conclusions presented.The correct Fig. 4 is shown below.The Royal Society of Chemistry apologises for these errors and any consequent inconvenience to authors and readers.     

Stabilization of Pt nanoparticles by single stranded DNA and the binary assembly of Au and Pt nanoparticles without hybridization

The non-specific interaction between single stranded DNA (ssDNA) and 12 nm Pt nanoparticles is investigated in this work. The data show a strong and non-specific interaction between the two which can be exploited for the stabilization of Pt nanoparticles in aqueous solutions. Based on the experimental findings, a non-hybridization based protocol to assemble 17 nm Au and Pt nanoparticles (12 nm cubic and 3.6 nm spherical) by single-stranded DNA was developed. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and UV–visible spectroscopy confirmed that Au and Pt nanoparticles could be assembled by the non-specific interaction in an orderly manner. The experimental results also caution against the potential pitfalls in using DNA melting point analysis to infer metal nanoparticle assembly by DNA hybridization.     

Separation and determination of organic acids and phenolic compounds in fruit juices and drinks by high-performance liquid chromatography

New anion-exchange stationary phases On (n = 1, 2 and 3) with a dimethylamino terminal functional group, where n is the number of oxyethylene units [-(CH2CH2O)n-], were prepared by the reaction of chloromethylated porous styrene-divinylbenzene copolymer beads and amines [(CH3)2N-(CH2CH2O)nCH2CH2-N(CH3)2]. HPLC separations of monosaccharides (sorbitol, fucose, glucosamine, mannose, glucose, galactose, fructose, allose and altrose) and disaccharides (trehalose, lactose, cellobiose and maltose) were performed successfully on these stationary phases. The ether group of the stationary phases On was found to affect the separation of carbohydrates.     

Biofunctional Janus particles promote phagocytosis of tumor cells by macrophages

Herein, a versatile strategy for the construction of biofunctional Janus particles (JPs) through the combination of Pickering emulsion and copper-free click chemistry is developed for the study of particle-mediated cell–cell interactions. A variety of biomolecules including bovine serum albumin (BSA), ferritin, transferrin (Tf), and anti-signal regulatory protein alpha antibodies (aSIRPα), etc., can be incorporated into the Janus platform in a spatially defined manner. JPs consisting of Tf and aSIRPα (Tf–SPA1–aSIRPα JPs) demonstrate a significantly improved binding affinity to either macrophages or tumor cells compared to their uniformly modified counterparts. More importantly, Tf–SPA1–aSIRPα JPs mediate more efficient phagocytosis of tumor cells by macrophages as revealed by real-time high-content confocal microscopy. This study demonstrates the potential advantages of JPs in mediating cell–cell interactions and may contribute to the emerging cancer immunotherapy.

A versatile Janus particle platform modified with biological ligands can facilitate tumor cell phagocytosis by macrophages for promising cancer immunotherapy.