Preparation and Characterization of Vanillin Cross-Linked Chitosan Microspheres of Pterostilbene

A vanillin cross-linked chitosan microsphere delivery system was established for stabilization and controlled release of pterostilbene. The prepared microspheres were characterized by SEM images, FT-IR spectra, thermogravimetry, and X-ray diffraction. FT-IR spectra results indicated that chitosan was cross-linked by vanillin successfully. Thermal analysis showed that pterostilbene had been totally incorporated into the microspheres and the encapsulation of pterostilbene decreases the rate of degradation and increases the stability. XRD analysis was conducted to confirm the results of DSC analysis. The release rate of pterostilbene from microspheres in pH 3.6 buffer solution could be up to 58.1 % within 48 h.     

Ordered Mesoporous Carbon and Thiolated Polyaniline Modified Electrode for Simultaneous Determination of Cadmium(II) and Lead(II) by Anodic Stripping Voltammetry

The fabrication and evaluation of a glassy carbon electrode (GCE) modified with ordered mesoporous carbon (OMC), 2‐mercaptoethanesulfonate (MES)‐tethered polyaniline (PANI) and bismuth for simultaneous determination of trace Cd²⁺ and Pb²⁺ by differential pulse anodic stripping voltammetry (DPASV) are presented here. The morphology and electrochemical properties of the fabricated electrode were respectively characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). Experimental parameters such as PANI disposition, preconcentration potential, preconcentration time and bismuth concentration were optimized. Under optimum conditions, the fabricated electrode exhibited linear calibration curves ranged from 1 to 120 nM for Cd²⁺ and Pb²⁺. The limits of detection (LOD) were 0.26 nM for Cd²⁺ and 0.16 nM for Pb²⁺ (S/N=3), respectively. Additionally, repeatability, reproducibility, interference and application were also investigated, and the proposed electrode exhibited excellent performance. The proposed method could be extended for the development of other new sensors for heavy metal determination.     

A Novel Heterometallic Cluster-Based Coordinational Polymer with 2-[Bis-(2-hydroxy-ethyl)-Amino]-Ethanesulfonic Acid: Synthesis and Crystal Structure

A rare heterometallic cluster-based polymer [Cu₄(Hbhea)₄(μ ₂-OCH₃) K(CH₃OH))] _n ·(H₂O) _n (1) (H₃bhea = 2-[bis-(2-hydroxy-ethyl)-amino]-ethanesulfonic acid), has been synthesized and structurally determined by single crystal X-ray diffraction, elemental analysis. Crystallographic unit of 1 consists of four Cu(II), four Hbhea ligands, one methanol molecule, one methanol anion, one K ion and one crystal lattice water and formed anion cluster [Cu₄(Hbhea)₄(CH₃O)]^? which further constructed a 3-D polymer by linking the six-coordination K ions.     

Synthesis and Characterizations of Strongly Phosphorescent Copper(I) Halide Complexes with Bridged Bis[2-(diphenylphosphino)phenyl]ether Ligand

A series of strongly phosphorescent copper(I) halide complexes, namely [Cu(μ-X)POP]₂ (X = Cl (1), Br (2), I (3), Br_0.5Cl_0.5 (4), POP = bis[2-(diphenylphosphino)phenyl]ether), have been synthesized by reacting CuX with the diphosphine ligand in 1:1 molar ratio. All complexes were characterized by spectroscopic analysis (IR, UV–Vis), elemental analysis, and photoluminescence study. Single-crystal X-ray diffraction revealed that complex 2 is a dinuclear structure which is constructed by two μ-X bridges and two POP ligands as μ₂ bridges. Other complexes were determined as isologues of complex 2 by powder X-ray diffraction and elemental analysis. All complexes exhibit intense blue-green phosphorescence with a lifetime of ~1 μs in the solid state. The halogen-mixed complex presents a lightly change in the luminescence comparing to that of parent complexes. The excited states of all complexes have been assigned as halide-to-ligand charge transfer state mixed metal-to-ligand charge transfer character based on the time-dependent density functional theory calculations. All complexes are thermally stable according to thermogravimetric analysis so that they are suitable for applying in luminescent devices.     

Effect of TiMn1.5 alloying on the structure,hydrogen storage properties and electrochemical properties of LaNi3.8Co1.1Mn0.1 hydrogen storage alloys

A series of experiments were performed to investigate the effect of TiMn_1.5 alloying on the structure, hydrogen storage properties and electrochemical properties of LaNi_3.8Co_1.1Mn_0.1 hydrogen storage alloys at 303 K. For simple, A, B, and C are used to represent alloys (x = 0 wt %, x = 4 wt % and x = 8 wt %) respectively. The results of XRD and SEM show that LaNi_3.8Co_1.1Mn_0.1?xTiMn_1.5 hydrogen storage alloys have LaNi₅ phase and (NiCo)₃Ti phase. Based on the results of PCT curves, the hydrogen storage capacities of LaNi_3.8Co_1.1Mn_0.1?xTiMn_1.5 hydrogen storage alloys are about 1.28 wt % (A), 1.16 wt % (B) and 1.01 wt % (C) at 303 K. And the released pressure platform and the pressure hysteresis decrease with the increase of TiMn_1.5 content. Meanwhile the activation curves show that LaNi_3.8Co_1.1Mn_0.1?xTiMn_1.5 hydrogen storage alloy electrodes can be activated in three times and the maximum discharge capacity is 343.74 mA h/g at 303 K. In addition, with the increase of TiMn_1.5 content, the cyclic stability of the hydrogen storage alloy electrodes decreases obviously and the capacity retention decreases from 76.70% to 70.00% when TiMn_1.5 content increases from A to C. It also can be seen that LaNi_3.8Co_1.1Mn_0.1?xTiMn_1.5 hydrogen storage alloy electrode C and B have the best self-discharge ability and the best high-rate discharge ability from self-discharge curves and high-rate discharge curves.     

Synthesis and Crystal Structure of the Coordination Polymer of Ni-Mo8-Pyrazinecarboxylic Acid

An inorganic–organic hybrid compound [Ni₄(pzac)₄(H₂O)₈(β-Mo₈O₂₆)]·2H₂O (1), pzac = 2- pyrazinecarboxylic acid, was synthesized hydrothermally and characterized by IR spectrum, TGA, X-ray single-crystal diffraction. Photoluminescence property has been investigated. In 1 pzac coordinates to Ni1 with a chelating mode and bridges Ni2 forming a one-dimensional undulate chain structure. Ni atom accepts a terminal oxygen atom of [β-Mo₈O₂₆]^4? anion with a little longer Ni–O distances of 2.685 Å and 2.767 Å. [β-Mo₈O₂₆]^4? anion links four Ni atoms of four chains, forming a three-dimensional covalent framework. Lattice water molecules fill the vacancies of the framework.     

Novel 1D Mn(II) complexes containing aromatic dicarboxylic acids

Three Mn(II) complexes of [MnL(Bipy)(H₂O)] _n (I), [Mn₃(Phen)₂(HL)₂(L)₂]n (II), and [Mn(Phen)₂(HL)(OH)] (III), where L = 4,4′-(2-acetylpropane-1,3-diyl)dibenzoic acid, Bipy = 2,2′-bipyridine, and Phen = 1,10-phenanthroline, were hydrothermally synthesized and characterized by single crystal X-ray diffractions, infrared spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analyses, and magnetic analyses. Complexes I and II are one dimensional (1D) coordination polymers which can form the supramolecules with the help of the intermolecular hydrogen bond interactions. Finally, the landé factors are simulated by magentochemical analysis to be 2.15 and 1.80 for I and II with S = 5/2, respectively.     

Alleviation of ion suppression effect in sonic spray ionization with induced alternating current voltage

In this study, alleviation of ion suppression effect in sonic spray ionization mass spectrometry (SSI‐MS) was investigated. Ion suppression effect was firstly compared between electrospray ionization (ESI) and conventional SSI, and more severe ion suppression effect was observed with SSI. Ion suppression effect of SSI was also found difficult to be alleviated by simply optimizing major parameters. Alternatively, we found that with the assistance of an alternating current (AC) voltage with low amplitude, the ion suppression effect was greatly alleviated (comparable with conventional ESI). That AC voltage was applied outside the SSI spray tip, and no direct contact between the electrode and spray solution was necessary. Besides the alleviation of the ion suppression effect, this newly‐developed method, termed as induced electrosonic spray ionization (IESSI), appeared to preserve similar charge state distribution with SSI for protonated cytochrome c, hemoglobin, and bradykinin. IESSI could also obtain significantly improved ion intensities (~1000‐fold over conventional SSI). In addition, tolerance of concentrated salts for IESSI‐MS was investigated through the analysis of cytochrome c in the presence of concentrated sodium chloride (NaCl) or ammonium acetate (NH₄OAc). Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

miR-98 suppresses melanoma metastasis through a negative feedback loop with its target gene IL-6

Dysregulated microRNA (miRNA) expression has a critical role in tumor development and metastasis. However, the mechanism by which miRNAs control melanoma metastasis is unknown. Here, we report reduced miR-98 expression in melanoma tissues with increasing tumor stage as well as metastasis; its expression is also negatively associated with melanoma patient survival. Furthermore, we demonstrate that miR-98 inhibits melanoma cell migration in vitro as well as metastatic tumor size in vivo. We also found that IL-6 is a target gene of miR-98, and IL-6 represses miR-98 levels via the Stat3-NF-κB-lin28B pathway. In an in vivo melanoma model, we demonstrate that miR-98 reduces melanoma metastasis and increases survival in part by reducing IL-6 levels; it also decreases Stat3 and p65 phosphorylation as well as lin28B mRNA levels. These results suggest that miR-98 inhibits melanoma metastasis in part through a novel miR-98-IL-6-negative feedback loop.     

Electrospinning synthesis and photocatalytic property of CaFe2O4/MgFe2O4 heterostructure for degradation of tetracycline

CaFe₂O₄/MgFe₂O₄ nanowires with heterostructure had been successfully synthesized by electrospinning method. The obtained samples were systematically characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X‐Ray diffraction (XRD), UV–Vis diffuse reflectance spectra (UV‐Vis DR) and Environment scanning electron microscopy (ESEM). The novel CaFe₂O₄/MgFe₂O₄ nanowires exhibit an enhanced photocatalytic activity for degrading of tetracycline (TC) under visible light. Compared with bare CaFe₂O₄ or MgFe₂O₄ samples, the prepared CaFe₂O₄/MgFe₂O₄ (Ca:Mg:Fe = 3:2:10) composited nanowires show the best photocatalytic performance with a degradation efficiency of 40% after 150 min reaction time. This enhancement is attributed to the heterostructure of CaFe₂O₄/MgFe₂O₄ nanowires, which effectively repress the recombination of photo‐generated electrons and holes. Based on heterostructure and energy band positions, the enhancement of mechanism under visible‐light enhances the photocatalytic activity.