Aspects of trapping efficiency and matrix effects in the development of a restricted‐access‐media‐based trap‐and‐elute liquid chromatography with mass spectrometry method

Online restricted access media with liquid chromatography and tandem mass spectrometry for the direct analysis of small molecules in biological fluids represents an interesting alternative to time‐demanding traditional sample preparation techniques. In this study, important considerations concerning the development of a restricted access media with liquid chromatography and tandem mass spectrometry method for the analysis of dansylated estrogens in biological matrix are presented. Parameters influencing peak tailing and trapping efficiency were evaluated. The key factors included the ion strength of the mobile phase, a loading flow rate of the sample onto the trap column, and selection of a proper stationary phase of the trap column for a given set of analytes. These parameters have proven to be essential for minimizing any unwanted chromatographic peak tailing. The bulk derivatization of the analytes in the biological fluids and its relationship to the observed matrix effects was evaluated as well.     

Histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitor curcumin upregulates mitochondrial uncoupling protein1 (UCP1) and mitochondrial function in brown adipocytes,in-silico study and screening natural drug library

Mitochondrial dysfunction has been associated with diverse pathological conditions globally. Specifically, in adipose tissues, mitochondrial dysfunction is the primary cause of obesity and obesity-related illnesses. An existing drugs such as atorvastatin and other lipid-lowering drugs demonstrated adverse effects and initiated other diseases. Thus, we need to explore new methods to prevent and treat obesity. In this study, we used the cell screening method to identify several natural compounds that increase adipocyte UCP1 gene expression. The identified drug Curcumin was evaluated in cell models and the In-silico model. We found curcumin is an active compound of turmeric belonging to Zingiberaceae (ginger family), which activates the Nrf2 mechanism. Curcumin potentially endorses the expression of UCP1 in the brown adipocyte in vitro cellular model. Curcumin plays an important role that modulating mitochondrial function and improving mitochondrial DNA quantification, ATP production, and cell viability. We have established an efficient in vitro cell experiment system to study the metabolic regulation of UCP1. The in-silico model revealed curcumin-UCP1 interaction. Curcumin, via enhancing mitochondrial activity, could be a helpful therapeutic molecule against metabolic disorders or obesity-related diseases. Curcumin will be the subject of more research in both human and murine models, which will provide novel therapeutic pathways for the treatment of metabolic illnesses by modulating the control of mitochondrial function.     

Polarity guided extraction,HPLC based phytochemical quantification,and multimode biological evaluation of Otostegia limbata (Benth.) Boiss

Purpose of studyOtostegia limbata (Benth.) Boiss. (Family: Lamiacae) is an important underexplored ethnomedicinal plant that has been used as antinflammatory, anticancer and antibacterial herbal remedy previously. The present work was aimed to evaluate the antioxidant, antimicrobial, antileishmanial, and anticancer prospective of O. limbata stem and leaf extracts.ResultsThe highest amount of phenolic and flavonoid content was obtained in the methanol-acetone and methanol stem extracts i.e., 53.29 ± 1.33 and 28.64 ± 1.16, respectively with highest DPPH scavenging in MeH stem extract (IC₅₀ = 34.5 ± 1.34 μg/ml). Significant amount of catechin, gallic acid, apigenin and rutin was quantified. A moderate antibacterial and substantial antifungal activity was observed. Cytotoxicity against brine shrimps categorized 21% of stem (3 out of 14 extracts) and 57% (8 out of 14 extracts) of leaf extracts as potent. Substantial cytotoxicity against THP-1 cell line (IC₅₀ = 3.46 ± 0.25 μg/ml) and Leishmania (IC₅₀ = 1.50 ± 0.23 μg/ml) was exhibited by methanol-distilled water leaf extract while noteworthy antiproliferative activity against Hep-G2 (IC₅₀ = 0.44 ± 0.45 μg/ml) was manifested by n-hexane stem extract. Absence of hemolysis in normal RBCs signified plant’s selective cytotoxicity. Methanol-distilled water and chloroform stem extracts displayed prominent protein kinase inhibition and antidiabetic potential of plant.ConclusionThe results of present study recommend O. limbata as a potential source of antifungal, antileishmanial, anticancer, and α-amylase inhibitory agents.     

Evaluation of Multi-Objective Optimization Algorithms for NMR Chemical Shift Assignment

An automated NMR chemical shift assignment algorithm was developed using multi-objective optimization techniques. The problem is modeled as a combinatorial optimization problem and its objective parameters are defined separately in different score functions. Some of the heuristic approaches of evolutionary optimization are employed in this problem model. Both, a conventional genetic algorithm and multi-objective methods, i.e., the non-dominated sorting genetic algorithms II and III (NSGA2 and NSGA3), are applied to the problem. The multi-objective approaches consider each objective parameter separately, whereas the genetic algorithm followed a conventional way, where all objectives are combined in one score function. Several improvement steps and repetitions on these algorithms are performed and their combinations are also created as a hyper-heuristic approach to the problem. Additionally, a hill-climbing algorithm is also applied after the evolutionary algorithm steps. The algorithms are tested on several different datasets with a set of 11 commonly used spectra. The test results showed that our algorithm could assign both sidechain and backbone atoms fully automatically without any manual interactions. Our approaches could provide around a 65% success rate and could assign some of the atoms that could not be assigned by other methods.     

真空紫外光电离质谱技术进展及其在快速分析中的应用

真空紫外光电离源(VUV-PI)是一种普适性的质谱软电离源,真空紫外光电离质谱谱图无碎片、易解析、灵敏度高,适合于在线快速分析。真空紫外光电离质谱根据分析对象不同可以直接采用单光子电离或添加掺杂剂实现化学电离,能实现气、液、固体分析,也可实现成像分析。该文介绍了真空紫外光电离源的电离原理、光源类型,分析了光电离质谱灵敏度的影响因素及其技术改进措施,并阐述了真空紫外光电离质谱技术在环境污染物、化工产物在线分析、国家安全分析以及生物医学分析中的相关应用研究。最后,总结了真空紫外光电离源的优缺点,并对真空紫外光电离技术在性能和应用方面的发展前景进行了展望。     

A method for C(alpha) direct-detection in protonless NMR

Attempts are made to efficiently decouple (13)C nuclei without significant loss of coherence during the application of the decoupling package. Such attempts are based on the S(3)E spin-state selection method. A newly developed double S(3)E (DS(3)E) is particularly efficient for C(alpha) detection for proteins as large as 480 kDa.     

一种新的六氢喹啉衍生物的NMR研究

应用¹H NMR,¹³C NMR,DEPT,¹H-¹H COSY,HSQC,HMBC等多种NMR实验测试分析方法,确证了一种新的六氢喹啉衍生物2,7,7-三甲基-4-(4-羟基-3-甲氧基）苯基-5-氧代-1,4,5,6,7,8-六氢喹啉-3-羧酸甲酯的结构,并对它的¹H、¹³C信号进行了归属.     

8×8APD阵列激光三维成像接收机研制

为了实现对目标的无扫描阵列激光三维成像并研究系统参数对三维成像距离分辨率的影响,研制了8×8 pixel激光三维成像接收机。接收机采用线性模式APD阵列,设计了模拟信号放大、阈值处理将回波光信号转换为数字信号后,利用FPGA设计实现64通道高精度阵列计时系统,实现了对目标的无扫描实时三维成像功能。首先对设计完成的三维成像接收机组成及成像原理进行了介绍,对三维成像接收机中APD探测器阵列信号的模拟处理和数字处理流程和实现方式进行了说明。随后分别对三维成像的核心FPGA计时系统及探测器整体进行了电子学测试和实验测试。测试结果表明,FPGA计时子系统的时间分辨率优于140 ps,三维成像系统整体距离分辨率在0.2 m左右。最后对分辨率的误差进行了分析,结果表明,激光回波强度波动是影响此接收机距离分辨率的最主要因素。     

Nonlinear properties of the lattice network-based nonlinear CRLH transmission lines

The nonlinear properties of lattice network-based(LNB) composite right-/left-handed transmission lines(CRLH TLs)with nonlinear capacitors are experimentally investigated.Harmonic generation,subharmonic generation,and parametric excitation are clearly observed in an unbalanced LNB CRLH TL separately.While the balanced design of the novel nonlinear TL shows that the subharmonic generation and parametric processes can be suppressed,and almost the same power level of the higher harmonics can be achieved over a wide bandwidth range,which are difficult to find in conventional CRLH TLs.     

520nm泵浦780nm+1560nm双共振光学参量振荡器

我们在实验中演示了520nm单频绿光泵浦的基于周期极化磷酸钛氧钾(PPKTP)晶体的780nm+1560nm双共振光参量振荡器,高效制备780nm+1 560nm连续可调谐双色下转换光场。该参量振荡器可输出93.3 mW的1 560nm单频激光和44.6mW的780nm单频激光。通过改变PPKTP晶体的温度所得到的波长粗调范围为:信号光1 529.81nm~1 573.83nm(~44nm),闲置光788.26nm~777.20nm(~11nm);通过连续调谐520nm泵浦激光频率初步得到的闲置光在780.24nm(铷原子D2线)处频率连续调谐范围约1.6GHz。