Active Chemical Constituents from Sauropus androgynus

This paper describes the chemical investigation on BuOH-soluble EtOH extract from the aerial part of Sauropus androgynus. This study led to the characterization of six bioactive ingredients including three nucleosides—adenosine (1), 5′-deoxy-5′-methylsulphinyl-adenosine ( 2 ), and uridine ( 3 ), two flavonol dioside — 3-O-β-D-glucosyl-7-O-α-L-rhamnosyl-kaempferol ( 4 ), 3-O-β-D-glucosyl-(1→6)-β-D-glucosyl-kaempferol ( 5 ), and one rare flavonol trioside — 3-O-β-D-glucosyl-(1→6)-β-D-glucosyl-7-O-α-L-rhamno-syl-kaempferol ( 6 ). Their structures were determined on the basis of spectral analysis.     

Sequential centrifugal layer chromatography (SCLC): A new technique for the isolation of natural compounds. Part 2: Comparative study on centrifugal layer chromatography (CLC) and SCLC for the separation of furocoumarin isomers

The new sequential centrifugal layer chromatography extends the possibilities for preparative separation of furocoumarin isomers. In the present work, isobergapten, pimpinellin, bergapten, isopimpinellin, and sphondin were isolated from a prepurified extract of Heracleum sphondylium roots using two different techniques, namely, centrifugal layer chromatography (CLC) and sequential centrifugal layer chromatography (SCLC). The former technique was carried out with four plates, whereas the latter method required only one plate, using the same mobile phase in each case. A further advantage of the SCLC method was that all completely separated compounds could be quickly and efficiently eluted in small volumes of mehtanol.     

Effect of Coriolis force on counter-current chromatographic separation by centrifugal partition chromatography

The effect of Coriolis force on the counter-current chromatographic separation was studied using centrifugal partition chromatography (CPC) with four different two-phase solvent systems including n-hexane-acetonitrile (ACN); tert-butyl methyl ether (MtBE)-aqueous 0.1% trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) (1:1); MtBE-ACN-aqueous 0.1% TFA (2:2:3); and 12.5% (w/w) polyethylene glycol (PEG) 1000-12.5% (w/w) dibasic potassium phosphate. Each separation was performed by eluting either the upper phase in the ascending mode or the lower phase in the descending mode, each in clockwise (CW) and counterclockwise column rotation. Better partition efficiencies were attained by the CW rotation in both mobile phases in all the two-phase solvent systems examined. The mathematical analysis also revealed the Coriolis force works favorably under the CW column rotation for both mobile phases. The overall results demonstrated that the Coriolis force produces substantial effects on CPC separation in both organic-aqueous and aqueous-aqueous two-phase systems.     

Solid Particle Distribution in Centrifugal Impeller Contactors

The recently developed centrifugal impeller is examined to investigate the solid–liquid mixing in a mechanically agitated contactor. Using the sample withdrawal method, the effects of impeller geometrical parameters, impeller rotational speed (200–700 rpm), solid particle size (500–1100 µm), and solid loading (2–10 vol%) on the degree of homogeneity are studied. The axial and the radial solid concentration profiles and the minimum impeller speed for the complete homogenization are also determined. In comparison with a widely used propeller impeller, considerably higher homogeneity values in lower impeller speeds are obtained (90% homogeneity against 16% homogeneity at 200 rpm at the same conditions). Having also lower power consumption makes this a superior impeller in solid–liquid mixing processes especially in shear-sensitive systems.      

Experimental investigation of fully developed falling film flow in the presence of conduction pumps

Conduction pumping is appropriate way for liquid pumping due to its benefits like being noise free and easy controlling. In the present work fully developed falling film flow in the presence of conduction pumps has been experimentally investigated. Two different arrangements were selected and Transformer oil was used. Results indicated that, applying electric field would decrease thickness of falling film in wide range of Re number. The variation of wave's frequency and velocity regarding to Re number is also presented and compared for arrangements. Conduction pumps increased wave's frequency at low Re numbers conversely decreased it at high Re numbers.     

Metal–Organic Framework Membrane Nanopores as Biomimetic Photoresponsive Ion Channels and Photodriven Ion Pumps

Biological ion channels and ion pumps with sub-nanometer sizes modulate ion transport in response to external stimuli. Realizing such functions with sub-nanometer solid-state nanopores has been an important topic with wide practical applications. Herein, we demonstrate a biomimetic photoresponsive ion channel and photodriven ion pump using a porphyrin-based metal–organic framework membrane with pore sizes comparable to hydrated ions. We show that the molecular-size pores enable precise and robust optoelectronic ion transport modulation in a broad range of concentrations, unparalleled with conventional solid-state nanopores. Upon decoration with platinum nanoparticles to form a Schottky barrier photodiode, photovoltage across the membrane is generated with “uphill” ion transport from low concentration to high concentration. These results may spark applications in energy conversion, ion sieving, and artificial photosynthesis.     

光纤中基于双布里渊增益线的受激布里渊散射快光

为了解决受激布里渊散射快光在高吸收区产生损耗的问题,通过分析普通单模光纤中双线泵浦产生的双布里渊增益线特性及在增益峰间实现脉冲的超光速传输理论,利用有限元法数值模拟了双布里渊增益线处受激布里渊散射引起的快光特性。结果表明,当频率分离因子大于0.596时,可以观察到双增益峰;当频率分离因子在1~5.25范围内时,两个泵浦波产生的双增益峰之间可以明显地产生快光;当频率分离因子为1.75时,在双布里渊增益线之间的最大时间提前可达25 ps。当频率分离因子为2.42时,三阶色散所对应的归一化色散长度为无穷大,三阶色散可以得到完全补偿;当频率分离因子大于2.464时,脉冲展宽因子趋近于1,可以实现无畸变传输,但时间提前量小于13.52 ps。本文的研究结论对于在布里渊增益区实现快光具有一定的理论意义,并对设计基于受激布里渊散射快光器件具有理论指导作用。     

Metal–Organic Framework Membrane Nanopores as Biomimetic Photoresponsive Ion Channels and Photodriven Ion Pumps

Biological ion channels and ion pumps with sub‐nanometer sizes modulate ion transport in response to external stimuli. Realizing such functions with sub‐nanometer solid‐state nanopores has been an important topic with wide practical applications. Herein, we demonstrate a biomimetic photoresponsive ion channel and photodriven ion pump using a porphyrin‐based metal–organic framework membrane with pore sizes comparable to hydrated ions. We show that the molecular‐size pores enable precise and robust optoelectronic ion transport modulation in a broad range of concentrations, unparalleled with conventional solid‐state nanopores. Upon decoration with platinum nanoparticles to form a Schottky barrier photodiode, photovoltage across the membrane is generated with “uphill” ion transport from low concentration to high concentration. These results may spark applications in energy conversion, ion sieving, and artificial photosynthesis.     

The flow simulation of a low-specific-speed high-speed centrifugal pump

In this paper a general three-dimensional simulation of turbulent fluid flow is presented to predict velocity and pressure fields for a centrifugal pump. A commercial CFD code was used to solve the governing equations of the flow field. In order to study the most suitable turbulence model, three known turbulence models of standard k–ε, RNG and RSM were applied. The complex flow configuration required us to use around 5,800,000 cells, and 12 computational nodes (processors) for parallel computing. Simulation results in the form of characteristic curves were compared with available experimental data, and an acceptable agreement was obtained. Additionally, effect of number of blades on the efficiency of pump was studied. The number of blades was changed from 5 to 7. The results show that the impeller with 7 blades has the highest head coefficient. Finally, it was observed also that the position of blades with respect to the tongue of volute has great effect on the start of the separation. Thus, to analyze the effect of blade number on the characteristics of the pump, the position of blade and tongue should be similar to each other. Investigations of this kind may help to reduce the required experimental work for the development and design of such devices.     

Influence of cell packing by centrifugation on 40-MHz ultrasound backscatter

High-frequency ultrasound (HFUS) signals backscattered from RBL-2H3 cell pellets prepared under different centrifugal forces were analyzed to investigate the packing effect of cell aggregates. The measurements were performed in a pulse-echo setup with a 40-MHz transducer. The changes of ultrasound signals from cell pellet in backscattered power, statistical parameter, and pellet thickness were monitored after centrifugation at between 100g and 1600g. Experimental results showed that the HFUS backscattered power from cell pellets was inversely proportional to centrifugal force and increased to a plateau within 1-2 h after centrifugation. The initial thickness of cell pellets decreased with higher centrifugal force, but the changes in thickness and time that took to reach a plateau increased at higher centrifugal force. The envelope statistics of backscattered signals with Nakagami distribution indicates that the centrifugal force and elapsed time after centrifugation affected the backscattering characteristics. The present study suggests that centrifugal force and data acquisition time after cell pellet formation should be considered in in vitro cell packing method with centrifugation to emulate the tissue in vivo.