T-symmetric 40-nucleus silver clusters assembled by hetero-anions

We report two anion-templated Ag₄₀ clusters, [Ag₄₀(E)₄(SO₄){S₂P(OEt)₂}₂₄](PF₆)₆ (E = S, 1 ; Se, 2 ). The anionic templates were generated in situ from the decomposition of dithiophosphate (dtp) ligands. The extrusion of sulfur undergoes disproportionation reactions to generate sulfide and sulfate anions, which provide the source of templates in the subsequent cluster assembly reactions. Two Ag₄₀ clusters display high similarity in their structures. The sulfide (selenide) anions and the central sulfate anion reveal a six-coordinate and a rare dodecametallic dodecaconnective pattern, respectively. Four near-equivalent [Ag₁₀(E){S₂P(OEt)₂}₆]²⁺ motifs were assembled via the connection of central sulfate anion to construct Ag₄₀ clusters. The cluster cation, [Ag₄₀(E)₄(SO₄){S₂P(OEt)₂}₂₄]⁶⁺, displayed in T symmetry, is unprecedented in anion-templated silver clusters.     

An efficient synthesis of medicinally important indole based triarylmethanes by using propylphosphonic anhydride (T3P®)

Abstract

We have developed an economical and efficient method for the synthesis of medicinally and synthetically important indole-based triarylmethanes by using indoles and benzhydrols in the presence of propylphosphonic anhydride (T3P^®). This methodology is an alternate approach for the C–C bond formation with good to excellent yields. In this T3P-mediated dehydration approach, the by-product is highly soluble in water, so that it can be done at larger scale also. In addition to that this efficient protocol has several advantages such as mild reaction conditions, short reaction time and operational simplicity. We have successfully synthesized pyrrole, imidazothiadiazole and imidazolo pyridine based triarylmethanes also.     

Theoretical investigations of spin-orbit coupling and intersystem crossing in reaction carbon dioxide activated by [Re(CO)2]+

In order to further explore the detailed reaction mechanism of carbon dioxide activated by [Re(CO)₂]⁺ complex, CCSD(T) methods was performed to determine related potential energy surface (PES). Crossing point is determined by using a partially optimized method. The result shows that larger spin-orbital coupling (155.37 cm⁻¹) and intersystem crossing probabilities in spin-forbidden region causes the electron to spin flip at the minimum energy crossing point and access to the lower singlet PES. Nonadiabatic rate constant k is estimated to be quite rapid, so transition state (¹TS1) is rate-controlled steps. In addition, the electronic structure of oxygen-atom transfer process is further analyzed by localized molecular orbital and Mayer bond order. The analysis finds that the form of main bonding orbital is the electron contribution from the p(O) in CO₂ to the empty d(Re) orbital.     

Multifunctional Zn0.3Al0.4O4.5 crystals: An efficient photocatalyst for formaldehyde degradation and EBT adsorption

The Zn_0.3Al_0.4O_4.5 nanoparticles (ZnAlONPs) with size of 70–90 nm are used as an efficient photocatalyst for formaldehyde (HCHO) degradation and effective adsorbent for the removal of eriochrome black-T (EBT) dye from synthetic aqueous solution. Degradation of HCHO reactions were studied using TiO₂ (homemade), TiO₂ (P-25) and ZnAlONPs by irradiating under 18 W daylight lamp source for photocatalytic degradation. The HCHO degradation rate is about 67, 76 and 89% for TiO₂ (homemade), TiO₂ (P25) and ZnAlONPs during 2 h reaction, respectively at initial formaldehyde gas concentration of 20 ppm. Maximum adsorption capacity was optimized by changing the parameters such as pH, EBT concentration and adsorbent dosage. A  200 mg of ZnAlONPs are useable for quick removal of EBT (>95%). Langmuir isotherm model showed a maximum adsorption capacity of 90.90 mgg⁻¹. The ZnAlONPs could be successfully reused upto 5^th adsorption/desorption cycle for EBT dye removal from water samples.     

Anti-Obesity Potential of Ponciri Fructus: Effects of Extracts,Fractions and Compounds on Adipogenesis in 3T3-L1 Preadipocytes

Background: Ponciri Fructus, a crude drug consisting of the dried immature fruits of Poncirus trifoliata (L.) Raf., is a popular folk medicine used for the treatment of allergy and gastrointestinal disorders in Korea and China. In this study, the anti-adipogenic activity of extracts and isolated compounds were evaluated using 3T3-L1 preadipocytes. Methods: Dried immature fruits were extracted and fractionated into n-hexane, ethyl acetate (EtOAc), n-butanol and water-soluble fractions. The ethanol extract and fractions were tested for anti-adipogenic activity in the 3T3-L1 cell line. The active fractions (n-hexane and EtOAc fractions) were further subjected to chromatographic techniques to isolate and identify active compounds. Furthermore, the isolated compounds were evaluated for their anti-adipogenic activity. Results: Altogether, seven compounds, including two flavonoids, one phytosteroid and four coumarin derivatives, were isolated. Ethanol extract, n-hexane fraction, EtOAc fraction and three isolated compounds (phellopterin, oxypeucedanin and poncirin) showed significant anti-adipogenic activity as observed by reduced lipid deposition in differentiated 3T3-L1 cells. Further, oxypeucedanin downregulated the key adipogenic markers, such as peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors proteins γ (PPAR-γ), sterol response element binding proteins-1 (SREBP-1), CCAAT/enhancer binding proteins-α (C/EBP-α), adipocyte-specific lipid binding proteins (FABP-4), adipocyte fatty acid binding proteins (aP2), lipoprotein lipase (LPL) and leptin. Conclusion: This study indicated that the ethanol extract, hexane fraction and ethyl acetate fraction of P. trifoliata fruits possess strong anti-adipogenic activity, containing the active compounds such as phellopterin, oxypeucedanin and poncirin. Further research is recommended to explore their efficacy and safety in animal and clinical models.     

Energy conditions of the f(T,B) gravity dark energy model with the validity of thermodynamics

In this article, the analysis of Tsallis holographic dark energy(which turns into holographic dark energy for a particular choice of positive non-additivity parameter δ) in modified f(T, B) gravity with the validity of thermodynamics and energy conditions for a homogeneous and isotropic FLRW Universe has been studied. The enlightenment of the field equation towards f(T,B)=αT~m+βB~n, made possible by the fact that the model is purely accelerating,corresponds to q=-0.54(Mamon and Das 2017 Eur. Phys.J.C 77 49). The generalized second law of thermodynamics is valid not only for the same temperature inside the horizon, but also for the apparent horizon for a change in temperature. The essential inspiration driving this article is to exhibit the applicability that the holographic dark energy achieved from standard Tsallis holographic dark energy and the components acquired from f(T, B) gravity are identical for the specific bounty of constants. The analysis of energy conditions confirms that the weak energy condition and the null energy condition are fulfilled throughout the expansion, while violation of the strong energy condition validates the accelerated expansion of the Universe.With the expansion, the model becomes a quintessence dominated model. The dominant energy condition is not observed initially when the model is filled with genuine baryonic matter,whereas it appears when the model is in the quintessence dominated era.     

二元乙丙橡胶的环氧官能化及其增韧尼龙6的研究

在双螺杆挤出机中制备了环氧官能化的二元乙丙橡胶(gEPR) ,采用红外光谱工作曲线法测量了EPR的接枝率.将环氧官能化的EPR与尼龙6 (Nylon- 6 )熔融共混,并对共混体系的相形态、断裂形貌、增韧机理、力学性能进行了研究.结果表明,gEPR的环氧官能团与Nylon- 6的端羧基和(或)端氨基发生了化学反应生成Nylon -6 co EPR共聚物,该共聚物作为界面改性剂降低了Nylon -6与EPR之间的界面张力,使EPR在Nylon -6基体中均匀、稳定地分散,而且随着EPR接枝率的增加,EPR的粒径尺寸逐渐减小.断面形貌观察发现,与Nylon -6 EPR体系相比,Nyon -6 gEPR共混体系呈现明显的韧性断裂特征.通过对Nylon -6 gEPR共混体系缺口冲击形变区的研究得出EPR增韧Nylon -6的机理是橡胶粒子的空洞化和塑料基体的剪切屈服.力学性能测试表明gEPR的引入显著提高了Nylon -6的缺口冲击强度.     

PICVib: An accurate,fast, and simple procedure to investigate selected vibrational modes at high theoretical levels

A new approach Procedure for Investigating Categories of Vibrations (PICVib) for estimating vibrational frequencies of selected modes using only the structure and energy calculations at a more demanding computational level is presented and explored. The PICVib has an excellent performance at only a small fraction of the computational demand required for a complete analytical calculation. The errors are smaller than ca. 0.5% when DFT functionals are combined with high level ab initio methods. The approach is general because it can use any quantum chemical program and electronic structure method. It is very robust because it was validated for a wide range of frequency values (ca. 20–4800 cm^–1) and systems: XH₃ (D_3h) with X = B, Al, Ga, N, P, As, O, S, and Se, YH₄ (D_4h) with Y = C, Si, and Ge, conformers of RDX, S_N2 and E2 reactions, [W(dppe)₂(NNC₅H₁₀)] complex, carbon nanotubes, and hydrogen‐bonded complexes including guanine‐cytosine pair. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

紧凑拉剪试样中Ⅰ/Ⅱ复合型穿透裂纹的三维特性分析

进行了Ⅰ/Ⅱ复合型载荷作用下航空结构铝合金CTS试样线弹性的全场三维有限元计算,分析了复合型离面应力约束因子Tz和面内约束T应力的分布特性,研究了厚度和载荷条件对应力各分量及应力三轴性水平Rσ、应变能密度U0的影响以及这些量在实验中观察到的裂纹起裂方向上的特点。结果表明：（1）平面内约束T应力在此种试样形式下为零;（2）复合型裂纹的三维效应区与厚度成正比,为0.4-0.5B,与载荷条件基本无关,但是厚度效应随着载荷角的减小逐渐变小,到II型载荷时基本消失;（3）离面约束因子Tz随着径向和厚度尺寸的增加逐渐减小,但在周向基本不发生变化;（4）最小应变能密度U0min的方位能够表征此种材料三维复合型断裂的裂纹起裂方向。研究结果为建立三维复合型断裂准则提供了理论基础。     

玻璃基质微流控芯片用于DNA片段的分离和C677T基因突变的快速检测

基于微加工方法,在一般实验条件下,成功地制备了玻璃芯片。利用水溶性聚合物对玻璃通道进行动态修饰,从而抑制了DNA分子的吸附作用,并成功地用于DNA片段的分离和四氢叶酸还原酶基因(MTHFR)中C677T的突变检测。