Modeling the reaction mechanisms for redox regulation of protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B activity

Protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B (PTP1B) functions by removing the phosphoryl group from tyrosinephosphorylated proteins in insulin signaling and metabolism. The regeneration of the active site involves a sulphenylamide intermediate derived from the intrastrand cross-linking between the catalytic serine and the neighboring backbone nitrogen. Two mechanisms have been proposed for the formation of the sulphenylamide intermediate and the subsequent reactivation of the catalytic site. In the current work, the proposed mechanisms have been investigated by the use of density functional theory calculations. Our results suggest that these two mechanisms have similar overall energy barriers and that the preferred route will be determined by the availability of hydrogen peroxide or other oxidizing reagents.     

Water as an Efficient Solvent for Oxygenation Transformations with 34% Hydrogen Peroxide Catalyzed by some Heteropolyoxometalates

Summary. A highly efficient, selective, fast, and cheap protocol is developed for oxidation of aromatic amines and alcohols utilizing 34% hydrogen peroxide in water catalyzed by some W- and Mo-based heteropolyoxometalates. Findings showed that dodecatungstophosphoric acid, H₃PW₁₂O₄₀, was the most efficient catalyst in the examined oxidation reactions. This methodology may prove to be a valuable alternative for eco-friendly green oxidation. Inherent simplicity, easy work up, and using regenerable catalysts were other key aspects of this oxidation protocol.     

Homogeneous chemiluminescence system in neutral and near neutral aqueous solution with ClO2 as oxidant and its analytical application

Using ClO₂ as chemiluminescence (CL) oxidant, a novel homogeneous CL system in neutral and near neutral aqueous solution is proposed in this paper. ClO₂ could oxidize sulfite in pH 5.0–8.5 acetate buffer to produce CL emission, and pipemidic acid could sensitize the CL system. The ClO₂–SO₃²⁻–pipemidic acid reaction was used as a model CL system and explored the possibility of highly active and eco-friendly ClO₂ being used as CL oxidant in neutral and near neutral aqueous solution. Combined with flow-injection analysis, the proposed CL system was applied to the automated dissolution testing of pipemidic acid tablet. Compared with the common strong acidic or strong basic CL system, this proposed CL owns its advantages.     

Disposable ionic liquid coating for headspace solid-phase microextraction of benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylenes in paints followed by gas chromatography-flame ionization detection

Solid-phase microextraction (SPME) with a disposable ionic liquid (IL) coating was developed for headspace extraction of benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylenes (BTEX) in paints. The SPME fiber was coated with IL prior to every extraction, then the analytes were extracted and desorbed on the injection port of gas chromatography, and finally the IL coating on the fiber was washed out with solvents. The coating and washing out of IL from the fiber can be finished in a few minutes. This disposable IL-coated fiber was applied to determine BTEX in water-soluble paints with results in good agreement with that obtained by using commercially available SPME fibers. For all the four studied paints samples, the benzene contents were under the detection limits, but relatively high contents of toluene, ethylbenzene and xylenes (56-271 microg g(-1)) were detected with spiked recoveries in the range of 70-114%. Compared to the widely used commercially available SPME fibers, this proposed disposable IL-coated fiber has much lower cost per determination, comparable reproducibility (RSD < 11%), and no carryover between each determination. Considering that IL possess good extractability for various organic compounds and metals ions, and that task-specific IL can be designed and synthesized for selective extraction of target analytes, this disposable IL coating SPME might has great potential in sample preparation.     

Identification of a chemical indicator of the rupture of 1,4-β-glycosidic bonds of cellulose in an oil-impregnated insulating paper system

In this study, headspace gas chromatography/mass spectrometry has been used to assess the volatile by-products generated by the ageing of oil-impregnated paper insulation of power transformers. Sealed-glass ampoules were used to age under oxidative conditions 0.5-g specimens of insulating paper in 9 mL of inhibited mineral oil in a temperature range of 60–120 °C and moisture of 0.5, 1 and 2% (w/w). A linear relationship between one of the oil-soluble degradation by-products, i.e. methanol, and the number of ruptured 1,4-β-glycosidic bonds of cellulose, regardless of the type of paper (ordinary Kraft or thermally-upgraded (TU) Kraft paper), was established for the first time in this field. Ageing at 130 °C of model compounds of the Kraft paper constituents (α-cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin) and two cellulosic breakdown by-products (D-(+)-glucose and 1,6-anhydro-β-d-glucopyranose) confirmed that the α-cellulose degradation was mostly responsible for the presence of this molecule in the system. Furthermore, additional 130 °C-tests with six different papers and pressboard samples under a tight control of initial moisture indicated that at least one molecule of methanol is formed for each rupture of 1,4-β-glucosidic bond of the molecular chains. Stability tests showed that the ageing indicator is stable under the oxygen and temperature conditions of open-breathing transformers. The presence of methanol was detected in 94% of oil samples collected from over than 900 in-service pieces of equipment, confirming the potential for this application. Lastly, the tests have shown that oil-oxidation by-products and TU-nitrogenous agents modify the methanol partitioning coefficients in the paper/oil/air system, which makes their study essential over a range of field conditions encountered by power transformers. Results are presented and discussed in comparison with 2-furfuraldehyde, which is the current reference in the domain.     

Organic–inorganic nanocomposites prepared from fluoro-aramid and silica

Fluoro-aramid-based sol/gel-derived nanocomposites were synthesized by condensing a mixture of 4,4′-(hexafluoro-isopropylidene)dianiline and 1,3-phenylenediamine with terephthaloylchloride (TPC) in dimethylacetamide. TPC was added in slight excess to produce amide chains with carbonyl chloride end groups and then replaced with alkoxy groups using aminophenyltrimethoxysilane to develop bonding with the silica network. Mechanical, dynamic mechanical thermal, water absorption and morphological measurements were carried out on the thin hybrid films. Increase in the tensile strength and modulus was observed as compared to pristine polyamide. The thermal decomposition temperature was found in the range of 400–500 °C. The water absorption was found to be reduced with higher silica content. The glass transition temperature and the storage moduli increased with increasing silica concentration. The maximum increase in the T _g value (345 °C) was observed with 20 wt% silica. Scanning electron microscopy revealed the uniform distribution of silica in the matrix with an average particle size ranging from 8 to 50 nm.     

A new piezoelectric response model for population growth of bacteria

A piezoelectric response model on the population growth of microorganism is proposed. This model is based on a novel population growth model, which has a more obvious ecological meaning and the fact that the series piezoelectric quartz crystal (SPQC) sensor responses to conductivity changes of the medium during the growth of the microorganism. From the response model four parameters can be obtained including the maximum specific growth rate mu(m), saturated population size N(m), and two constants C and K(1). The influence of the parameters on the response curve is discussed in which the influences of mu(m) and N(m) are more obvious. With the proposed model the quantitative determination of bacteria may be more accurate than the frequency detection time (FDT) method. Then the growth of Escherichia coliform (E. coli) monitored with a SPQC sensor is compared with the simulated growth curve obtained by the proposed model and a good agreement is obtained.     

从蓖麻油制取10-羟基癸酸的研究

本文报道了从蓖麻油制取10-羟基癸酸的研究,发现了从蓖麻油制取10-羟基癸酸的新的工艺路线和最佳的工艺条件,用氢氧化钠用量、2-辛醇量、反应时间和反应温度四因子三水平L_9(3~4)进行了正交试验,发现最佳工艺条件是:氢氧化钠(g)/蓖麻油(g):1.25:2-辛醇量(g)/蓖麻油(g):2:反应时间:6h;反应温度:180℃。在这一新的工艺路线和最佳工艺条件下,10-羟基癸酸产率可达75％。     

Pulsed photothermal phase-shift spectroscopy for weak absorption measurement

A novel photothermal phase-shift spectroscopy configuration based on the retro-reflected beam interference has been developed and its operational principle is described. The weak absorption measurement ability of this technique is experimentally proven with a water/ethanol solution of standard Pyronine G dye and the limit of detection is found to be 1.8 x 10(-6) absorbance. Potential applications of the technique are discussed.     

Extraction of Americium(III) and Europium(III) with Two Open-Chain Crown Ethers of Amide Type

The extraction of Am³⁺ and Eu³⁺ from aqueous picric acid solution by N, N-dinaphthyl-N, N-diphenyl-3,6-dioxaoctanediamide (L^I) and 1, 1-(3, 6, 9-trioxaundecanedionyl)diphenothiazine (L^II) was investigated by a radioactive tracer technique. Extraction distribution ratios of Am³⁺ and Eu³⁺ have been measured as a function of pH, picric acid concentration, extractant concentration, diluent and temperature. The extraction of Am³⁺ is preferred to that of Eu³⁺ for both L^I and L^II, and the latter gives larger separation factor than the former. The equilibrium constants and thermodynamic parameters of extraction reactions were also calculated.