Simultaneous detection of resolved glutamate, glutamine, and gamma-aminobutyric acid at 4 T

A new approach is introduced to simultaneously detect resolved glutamate (Glu), glutamine (Gln), and gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) using a standard STEAM localization pulse sequence with the optimized sequence timing parameters. This approach exploits the dependence of the STEAM spectra of the strongly coupled spin systems of Glu, Gln, and GABA on the echo time TE and the mixing time TM at 4 T to find an optimized sequence parameter set, i.e., {TE, TM}, where the outer-wings of the Glu C4 multiplet resonances around 2.35 ppm, the Gln C4 multiplet resonances around 2.45 ppm, and the GABA C2 multiplet resonance around 2.28 ppm are significantly suppressed and the three resonances become virtual singlets simultaneously and thus resolved. Spectral simulation and optimization were conducted to find the optimized sequence parameters, and phantom and in vivo experiments (on normal human brains, one patient with traumatic brain injury, and one patient with brain tumor) were carried out for verification. The results have demonstrated that the Gln, Glu, and GABA signals at 2.2-2.5 ppm can be well resolved using a standard STEAM sequence with the optimized sequence timing parameters around {82 ms,48 ms} at 4 T, while the other main metabolites, such as N-acetyl aspartate (NAA), choline (tCho), and creatine (tCr), are still preserved in the same spectrum. The technique can be easily implemented and should prove to be a useful tool for the basic and clinical studies associated with metabolism of Glu, Gln, and/or GABA.     

New highly stable metallabenzenes via nucleophilic aromatic substitution reaction

Treatment of the ruthenabenzene [Ru{CHC(PPh(3))CHC(PPh(3))CH}Cl(2)(PPh(3))(2)]Cl (1) with excess 8-hydroxyquinoline in the presence of CH(3)COONa under air atmosphere produced the S(N)Ar product [(C(9) H(6)NO)Ru{CHC(PPh(3))CHC(PPh(3))C}(C(9)H(6)NO)(PPh(3))]Cl(2) (3). Ruthenabenzene 3 could be stable in the solution of weak alkali or weak acid. However, reaction of 3 with NaOH afforded a 7:1 mixture of ruthenabenzenes [(C(9)H(6)NO)Ru{CHC(PPh(3))CHCHC}(C(9)H(6)NO)(PPh(3))]Cl (4) and [(C(9)H(6)NO)Ru{CHCHCHC(PPh(3))C}(C(9)H(6)NO)(PPh(3))]Cl (5), presumably involving a P-C bond cleavage of the metallacycle. Complex 3 was also reactive to HCl, which results in a transformation of 3 to ruthenabenzene [Ru{CHC(PPh(3))CHC(PPh(3))C}Cl(2)(C(9)H(6)NO)(PPh(3))]Cl (6) in high yield. Thermal stability tests showed that ruthenabenzenes 4, 5, and 6 have remarkable thermal stability both in solid state and in solution under air atmosphere. Ruthenabenzenes 4 and 5 were found to be fluorescent in common solvents and have spectral behaviors comparable to those organic multicyclic compounds containing large π-extended systems.     

Reaction mechanisms and structural characterization of the reactive intermediates observed after the photolysis of 3-(hydroxymethyl)benzophenone in acetonitrile, 2-propanol, and neutral and acidic aqueous solutions

Nanosecond time-resolved resonance Raman (ns-TR(3)) spectroscopy was employed to investigate the photoinduced reactions of 3-(hydroxymethyl)benzophenone (1) in acetonitrile, 2-propanol, and neutral and acidic aqueous solutions. Density functional theory calculations were utilized to help the interpretation of the experimental spectra. In acetonitrile, the neutral triplet state 1 [denoted here as (m-BPOH)(3)] was observed on the nanosecond to microsecond time scale. In 2-propanol this triplet state appeared to abstract a hydrogen atom from the solvent molecules to produce the aryphenyl ketyl radical of 1 (denoted here as ArPK of 1), and then this species underwent a cross-coupling reaction with the dimethylketyl radical (also formed from the hydrogen abstraction reaction) to form a long-lived light absorbing transient species that was tentatively identified to be mainly 2-(4-(hydroxy(3-(hydroxymethyl)phenyl)methylene)cyclohexa-2,5-dienyl)propan-2-ol. In 1:1 H(2)O:CH(3)CN aqueous solution at neutral pH, (m-BPOH)(3) reacted with water to produce the ArPK of 1 and then underwent further reaction to produce a long-lived light absorbing transient species. Three photochemical reactions appeared to take place after 266 nm photolysis of 1 in acidic aqueous solutions, a photoreduction reaction, an overall photohydration reaction, and a novel photoredox reaction. TR(3) experiments in 1:1 H(2)O:CH(3)CN aqueous solution at pH 2 detected a new triplet biradical species, which is associated with an unusual photoredox reaction. This reaction is observed to be the predominant reaction at pH 2 and seems to face competition from the overall photohydration reaction at pH 0.     

Solutions to Constrained Optimal Control Problems with Linear Systems

This paper is devoted to present solutions to constrained finite-horizon optimal control problems with linear systems, and the cost functional of the problem is in a general form. According to the Pontryagin’s maximum principle, the extremal control of such problem is a function of the costate trajectory, but an implicit function. We here develop the canonical backward differential flows method and then give the extremal control explicitly with the costate trajectory by canonical backward differential flows. Moreover, there exists an optimal control if and only if there exists a unique extremal control. We give the proof of the existence of the optimal solution for this optimal control problem with Green functions.     

Global optimization by canonical dual function

In this paper, the canonical dual function (Gao, 2004 [4]) is used to solve a global optimization. We find global minimizers by backward differential flows. The backward flow is created by the local solution to the initial value problem of an ordinary differential equation. Some examples and applications are presented.     

Self-assembled multilayer films of poor water-soluble copper(II) complexes constructed from dipyrido[3,2-d:2′,3′-f]quinoxaline (Dpq) ligand as well as their fluorescent properties

New multilayer films were prepared by alternating adsorption of poly(sodium 4-styrenesulfonate) (PSS) and a new complex of [Cu₂(Dpq)₂(Ac)₂(H₂O)₂] (ClO₄)₂·H₂O (1) (Dpq=dipyrido[3,2-d:2′,3′-f]quinoxaline, Ac=acetate) or a related complex [Cu(Dpq)₂(H₂O)] (ClO₄)₂·H₂O (1a) by electrostatic layer-by-layer self-assembly technique, respectively. Compounds 1 and 1a have been synthesized and structurally characterized by elemental analyses, IR spectroscopy, and single-crystal X-ray diffraction analyses. Single-crystal X-ray analyses show that complexes 1 and 1a possess a dinuclear and a mononuclear structure, respectively, which are further extended into layered frameworks by π-π stacking and hydrogen-bonding interactions. The multilayer films were characterized by UV-vis spectroscopy, fluorescence spectroscopy, small-angle X-ray reflectivity measurements, and atomic force microscopy (AFM) imaging. UV spectroscopy shows that the deposition process is regular and highly reproducible from layer to layer. AFM image indicates that the film surface is uniform and smooth. The fluorescent properties of the films were studied and the results showed that the forming condition of the films had great influence on their properties.     

多功能纳米材料在肿瘤放疗增敏中的应用

放射治疗是利用放射线治疗肿瘤的一种局部治疗方法,目前已成为临床上最常用、最有效的恶性肿瘤治疗手段之一。但放射治疗仍存在辐射剂量高、对健康组织副作用大,特别是肿瘤细胞放射抵抗性强等缺点。随着纳米医学的发展,多功能纳米放疗增敏剂为增强肿瘤细胞放射敏感性、提高放疗效果提供了新机遇。本文结合纳米材料在放疗增敏中的优势和潜能,概括了纳米放疗增敏剂的主要类型和目前已进入临床实验的一些实例,简述了多功能纳米放疗增敏剂在肿瘤放射治疗中的应用,并归纳了纳米材料增敏放疗的主要途径和影响因素。最后总结和展望了多功能纳米放疗增敏剂面临的挑战和发展前景。     

Effects of organic micromolecules in coal on its wettability

Two types of bituminous coal were extracted with tetrahydrofuran solvent using microwave-assisted method at 50°C and atmospheric pressure. Pore structure parameters and wettability of raw coals and their residues were separately tested with nitrogen adsorption and capillary penetration method. Fourier transform infrared spectrometer was employed for analysis of surface functional groups of raw coals and their residues. Results showed remarkably degraded wettability of coal, especially gas coal, after extraction, whereas wetting height of raw coal reached more than twice that of residual coal within the same wetting time. Given the different storage characteristics of organic micromolecules in coal, pore volume of coal increased after extraction, and solvent extraction exerted different effects on pores. Pores of gas coal expanded with reduced specific surface area and improvement in hydrophobicity. Pores of coking coal increased with increasing specific surface area and degrading hydrophobicity. Organic micromolecules in coal and several side-chain groups in macromolecular skeleton structure were dissolved, reducing contents of functional groups in coal, decreasing quantities of groups, such as methyl and carbonyl, on coal surface, and modifying microcosmic surface characteristics of coal and improving hydrophobicity. Through comprehensive analysis, pore structure, and microcosmic surface characteristics of coal jointly determined its wettability.     

播种化学梦铸造科学魂——西北大学化学科普实验室的实践与反思

Under the background of college entrance examination reform, it becomes imperative to improve the students' interest in chemistry. During the effort to investigate how to present the chemistry knowledge, to cultivate and promote students' interest and professional attitude towards chemistry, we developed the public science education laboratory of College of Chemistry and Materials Science, Northwest University. In the current paper, we introduced the background of setting-up, the missions and targets of the laboratory, as well discussed the construction, evaluation systems and prospection of the laboratory.