Importance of supersuperexchange interactions in determining the dimensionality of magnetic properties. Determination of strongly interacting spin exchange paths in A(2)Cu(PO(4))(2) (A = Ba, Sr), ACuP(2)O(7) (Ba, Ca, Sr, Pb), CaCuGe(2)O(6), and Cu(2)UO(2)(PO(4))(2) on the basis of qualitative spin dimer analysis

The patterns of the Cu(2+) ion arrangements in the magnetic oxides A(2)Cu(PO(4))(2) (A = Ba, Sr), ACuP(2)O(7) (Ba, Ca, Sr, Pb), CaCuGe(2)O(6), and Cu(2)UO(2)(PO(4))(2) are quite different from the patterns of the strongly interacting spin exchange paths deduced from their magnetic properties. This apparently puzzling observation was explained by evaluating the strengths of the Cu-O-Cu superexchange and Cu-O...O-Cu supersuperexchange interactions of these oxides on the basis of qualitative spin dimer analysis. Supersuperexchange interactions are found to be crucial in determining the dimensionality of magnetic properties of these magnetic oxides.     

Synthesis of titanium dioxide nanoparticles with mesoporous anatase wall and high photocatalytic activity

Mesoporous titanium dioxide nanosized powder with high specific surface area and anatase wall was synthesized via hydrothermal process by using cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) as surfactant-directing agent and pore-forming agent. The resulting materials were characterized by XRD, nitrogen adsorption, FESEM, TEM, and FT-IR spectroscopy. The as-synthesized mesoporous TiO2 nanoparticles have mean diameter of 17.6 nm with mean pore size of 2.1 nm. The specific surface area of the as-synthesized mesoporous nanosized TiO2 exceeded 430 m2/g and that of the samples after calcination at 600 degrees C still have 221.9 m2/g. The mesoporous TiO2 nanoparticles show significant activities on the oxidation of Rhodamine B (RB). The large surface area, small crystalline size, and well-crystallized anatase mesostructure can explain the high photocatalytic activity of mesoporous TiO2 nanoparticles calcined at 400 degrees C.     

A new tetrathiafulvalene–diamide cation salt with [Cu2Br4]2− anions

The title salt, bis[2,3‐bis(aminocarbonyl)‐8,9‐bis(methylsulfanyl)tetrathiafulvalenium] di‐μ‐bromido‐bis[bromidocopper(II)], (C₁₀H₁₀N₂O₂S₆)₂[Cu₂Br₄], contains 2,3‐bis(aminocarbonyl)‐8,9‐bis(methylsulfanyl)tetrathiafulvalenium radical cations, [DMT‐TTF(CONH₂)₂]^·+, and [Cu₂Br₄]²⁻ anions. The cations are associated across centres of inversion in a head‐to‐tail fashion via short face‐to‐face S...S stacking (TTF moiety). These dimers are further assembled into a one‐dimensional chain structure via interdimer double S...S contacts involving the methylsulfanyl groups. The one‐dimensional chains give rise to a two‐dimensional structure through intermolecular double N—H...O hydrogen bonds involving the amide group. The [Cu₂Br₄]²⁻ anions, which straddle centres of inversion, are located between the cation layers. Electron paramagnetic resonance measurements show a radical signal, indicating that the two TTF^·+ radicals are not completely coupled in the dimer.     

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     

The effect of the trifluoropropyl group in polysiloxane stationary phases used for capillary gas chromatography

Four poly(methyl 3,3,3-trifluoropropyl siloxanes) with trifluoro-propyl group content (group substitution) between 8 and 35 percent have been synthesized and characterized as stationary phases for gas chromatography in borosilicate glass capillary columns. Results are compared with those from two commercial stationary phases–a polydimethylsiloxane and a poly(methyl 3,3,3-trifluoropropyl siloxane) with a fifty percent trifluoropropyl group content (group substitution). Retention index values, McReynolds constants, polarity (as defined by McReynolds) and retention polarity (as defined by Takács) increase regularly with the trifluoropropyl group content of the stationary phase. The temperature coefficient of the retention indices of the McReynolds probes, and that of the polarities, have been determined at temperatures between 60 and 180 °C. Specific retention volumes do not follow the linear dependence on trifluoropropyl group content observed for retention indices or polarities. Substances with electron-donor groups show maximum retention for a trifluoropropyl group content of ca 30%, whereas the retention of hydrocarbons, halogenated compounds, and alcohols decreases as the degree of trifluoropropyl group substitution increases from 0 to 50%. It is felt that a polysiloxane with a trifluoropropyl group content of ca 30 to 35% would be the best choice for the separation of ketones, nitro compounds or amines.     

Oxidation resistant germanium nanowires: bulk synthesis, long chain alkanethiol functionalization, and Langmuir-Blodgett assembly

A simple method is developed to synthesize gram quantities of uniform Ge nanowires (GeNWs) by chemical vapor deposition on preformed, monodispersed seed particles loaded onto a high surface area silica support. Various chemical functionalization schemes are investigated to passivate the GeNW surfaces using alkanethiols and alkyl Grignard reactions. The stability of functionalization against oxidation of germanium for various alkyl chain lengths is elucidated by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Among all schemes tested, long chain alkanethiols (> or = C12) are found to impart the most stable GeNW passivation against oxidation upon extended exposure to ambient air. Further, the chemically functionalized oxidation-resistant nanowires are soluble in organic solvents and can be readily assembled into close-packed Langmuir-Blodgett films potentially useful for future high performance electronic devices.     

ATMP(氨基三甲叉膦酸)及其顺磁性Co(Ⅱ)配合物的核磁共振研究

本文用¹H、³¹P和¹³C核磁共振谱研究了ATMP(氨基三甲叉膦酸,以简式H₆L表示)及其顺磁性Co(Ⅱ)配合物。测定了不同C_co/C_ATMP摩尔比在不同pH值下的各向同性位移。定性地讨论顺磁性Co(Ⅱ)配合物在不同pH条件下的组成、电荷和空间构型变化对化学位移的影响。运用快速交换反应中化学位移与配合物浓度的关系,确定不同pH下的条件稳定常数。     

负折射介质中可控自陡峭效应对孤子传输的影响

研究了具有非线性极化的负折射介质中孤子脉冲的传输特性,着重分析了在常规非线性传输模型中不曾出现的由负折射介质色散磁导率导致的可控自陡峭效应对孤子传输的影响.结果表明,与正自陡峭效应一样,负自陡峭效应同样造成孤子脉冲的非对称、中心偏移和高阶孤子衰减,但脉冲偏移的方向与正自陡峭效应情形相反.此外,利用可控自陡峭效应可以从某种程度上抵消三阶色散效应导致的孤子脉冲偏移,从而实现孤子脉冲中心的无偏移传输.     

Hepatoprotective Effects of Ixeris chinensis on Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease Induced by High-Fat Diet in Mice: An Integrated Gut Microbiota and Metabolomic Analysis

Ixeris chinensis (Thunb.) Nakai (IC) is a folk medicinal herb used in Mongolian medical clinics for the treatment of hepatitis and fatty liver diseases even though its pharmacological mechanism has not been well characterized. This study investigated the hepatoprotective mechanism of IC on mice with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) by integrating gut microbiota and metabolomic analysis. A high-fat diet (HFD) was used to develop nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, after which the mice were treated with oral IC (0.5, 1.5 and 3.0 g/kg) for 10 weeks. HFD induced NAFLD and the therapeutic effects were characterized by pathological and histological evaluations, and the serum indicators were analyzed by ELISA. The gut microbial and metabolite profiles were studied by 16S rRNA sequencing and untargeted metabolomic analysis, respectively. The results showed that the administration of IC resulted in significant decreases in body weight; liver index; serum biomarkers such as ALT, TG, and LDL-C; and the liver inflammatory factors IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α. The 16S rRNA sequencing results showed that administration of IC extract altered both the composition and abundance of the gut microbiota. Untargeted metabolomic analysis of liver samples detected a total of 212 metabolites, of which 128 were differentially expressed between the HFD and IC group. IC was found to significantly alter the levels of metabolites such as L-glutamic acid, pyridoxal, ornithine, L-aspartic acid, D-proline, and N4-acetylaminobutanal, which are involved in the regulation of glutamine and glutamate, Vitamin B6 metabolism, and arginine and proline metabolic pathways. Correlation analysis indicated that the effects of the IC extract on metabolites were associated with alterations in the abundance of Akkermansiaceae, Lachnospiraceae, and Muribaculaceae. Our study revealed that IC has a potential hepatoprotective effect in NAFLD and that its function might be linked to improvements in the composition of gut microbiota and their metabolites.     

A Novel Gelatin-Based Sustained-Release Molluscicide for Control of the Invasive Agricultural Pest and Disease Vector Pomacea canaliculata

Pomacea canaliculata, one of the 100 most destructive invasive species in the world, and it is an important intermediate host of Angiostrongylus cantonensis. The molluscicides in current use are an effective method for controlling snails. However, most molluscicides have no slow-release effect and are toxic to nontarget organisms. Thus, these molluscicides cannot be used on a large scale to effectively act on snails. In this study, gelatin, a safe and nontoxic substance, was combined with sustained-release molluscicide and was found to reduce the toxicity of niclosamide to nontarget organisms. We assessed the effects of gelatin and molluscicide in controlling P. canaliculata snails and eggs. The results demonstrated that the niclosamide retention time with 1.0% and 1.5% gelatin sustained-release agents reached 20 days. Additionally, the mortality rate of P. canaliculata and their eggs increased as the concentration of the niclosamide sustained-release agents increased. The adult mortality rate of P. canaliculata reached 50% after the snails were exposed to gelatin with 0.1 mg/L niclosamide for 48 h. The hatching rate of P. canaliculata was only 28.5% of the normal group after the treatment was applied. The sustained-release molluscicide at this concentration was less toxic to zebrafish, which means that this molluscicide can increase the safety of niclosamide to control P. canaliculata in aquatic environments. In this study, we explored the safety of using niclosamide sustained-release agents with gelatin against P. canaliculata. The results suggest that gelatin is an ideal sustained-release agent that can provide a foundation for subsequent improvements in control of P. canaliculata.