Impact of an Engineered Copper-Titanium Dioxide Nanocomposite and Parent Substrates on the Bacteria Viability,Antioxidant Enzymes and Fatty Acid Profiling

Due to the systematic increase in the production of nanomaterials (NMs) and their applications in many areas of life, issues associated with their toxicity are inevitable. In particular, the performance of heterogeneous NMs, such as nanocomposites (NCs), is unpredictable as they may inherit the properties of their individual components. Therefore, the purpose of this work was to assess the biological activity of newly synthesized Cu/TiO₂-NC and the parent nanoparticle substrates Cu-NPs and TiO₂-NPs on the bacterial viability, antioxidant potential and fatty acid composition of the reference Escherichia coli and Bacillus subtilis strains. Based on the toxicological parameters, it was found that B. subtilis was more sensitive to NMs than E. coli. Furthermore, Cu/TiO₂-NC and Cu-NPs had an opposite effect on both strains, while TiO₂-NPs had a comparable mode of action. Simultaneously, the tested strains exhibited varied responses of the antioxidant enzymes after exposure to the NMs, with Cu-NPs having the strongest impact on their activity. The most considerable alternations in the fatty acid profiles were found after the bacteria were exposed to Cu/TiO₂-NC and Cu-NPs. Microscopic images indicated distinct interactions of the NMs with the bacterial outer layers, especially in regard to B. subtilis. Cu/TiO₂-NC generally proved to have less distinctive antimicrobial properties on B. subtilis than E. coli compared to its parent components. Presumably, the biocidal effects of the tested NMs can be attributed to the induction of oxidative stress, the release of metal ions and specific electrochemical interactions with the bacterial cells.     

A model for multicomponent diffusion in oxide melts

A general flux equation for multicomponent diffusion in oxide melts is presented. An explicit method was developed to calculate the gradients of single-ion activities from those of oxides with the constraints of local equilibrium and electroneutrality. This resolves ambiguity in quantifying the thermochemical driving force for ionic diffusion. A model equation for multicomponent ionic diffusion was derived within the framework of non-equilibrium thermodynamics by de Groot and Mazur. The proposed model takes empirically measurable quantities as input variables, so the diffusion calculations are consistent with thermochemical data, as furnished by the CALPHAD (CALculation of PHAse Diagrams) method, as well as ionic mobility measurements. Although the model is derived for oxides, it can be applied to diffusion in other concentrated liquid electrolytes, such as chloride and fluoride melts. Formulas for multicomponent ionic diffusion in various reference frames are presented with respect to mole fraction.     

含膦酸酯结构单元的磺胺衍生物合成与抗菌活性

为了寻找抗菌候选化合物,采用基于片段的药物发现方法,以氨基膦酸酯和磺酰氯为原料,设计合成了15个含膦酸酯结构单元的磺胺衍生物,经IR、1HNMR和13CNMR确认结构。采用两倍稀释法测定目标化合物的MIC(最小抑菌浓度)。结果表明:部分目标化合物呈潜在的抗菌活性,对所测试标准菌和耐药菌均有抑制活性。其中,化合物Ⅱf〔N-[(二乙氧基膦酰基)-4-氟苯甲基]-4-甲氧基苯磺酰胺〕对金黄色葡萄球菌(S. aureus)、大肠埃希菌(E. coli)、耐甲氧西林金黄色葡萄球菌(MRSA)及耐氟喹诺酮类大肠杆菌(MREC)的MIC分别为32、64、128和128μg/mL,化合物Ⅱl〔N-[(二乙氧基膦酰基)-4-氟苯甲基]-4-氟苯磺酰胺〕对S. aureus、E. coli、MRSA及MREC的MIC分别为32、32、64和64μg/mL,抗菌活性优于对照药磺胺嘧啶。     

Application of Mono‐ and Disaccharides in Drug Targeting and Efficacy

Carbohydrates and their conjugates play important roles in many biological processes including fertilization, differentiation, development, immune response, and infection. Their activities are largely dependent on the properties of terminal mono‐ or disaccharides. Galactose, mannose, fucose, glucose, sialic acid, etc., are commonly used as powerful scaffolds installed on drug molecules for targeting specific tissues including brain, liver, and cancers, and as epitopes for enhancing the targeting of various vaccines. This review focuses on the influence of their structural variations, including changes in sugar type, substituent groups and their positions, as well as length of linker portion, on the targeting of drugs or their efficacy. Particular attention is paid to the targeting properties of mono‐ and disaccharides applied in drug design and discovery.     

Significant population genetic structuring in Rhyzopertha dominica across Turkey: Biogeographic and practical implications

Rhyzopertha dominica is a key pest of stored grain. Understanding the movement of this beetle on broad geographic scales is crucial, particularly when developing strategies to prevent the spread of phosphine resistance. We assessed population genetic structuring in this pest across Turkey, using a combination of mitochondrial (cytochrome oxidase I) and microsatellite markers. In addition, we screened samples for Wolbachia, as this endosymbiont has previously been suggested to be associated with low mitochondrial genetic diversity in this beetle. Mitochondrial genetic diversity was low, with only six haplotypes identified. The genetic diversity was, however, substantially higher than that previously found in Australia or India, suggesting that R. dominica may have originated in the Middle East. Wolbachia were detected only at a single site, indicating they are not impacting the mitochondrial genetic diversity of R. dominica across Turkey. Microsatellite markers indicated there is significant geographic genetic structuring across Turkey, even among sites less than 100 km apart, suggesting there is little movement of beetles across regions within the country. This contrasts with the significantly higher levels of gene-flow found in Australia and the United States. We suggest that the limited movement of beetles across Turkey may be due to a combination of the historically localised agricultural practices (which limits anthropogenic movement among regions), and the mountainous landscape (which limits active flight among regions). Our results demonstrate that the movement of stored product pests may differ significantly across studies conducted in different countries. As a consequence, phosphine resistance management strategies must incorporate region specific information on the extent of beetle movement.     

RHT系列渣油加氢催化剂在胜利炼油厂VRDS装置上的工业应用

介绍由北京石油化工研究院研制、开发、用于渣油加氢装置固定床反应器的RHT系列催化剂在胜利炼油厂VRDS装置的首次工业应用情况。该催化剂采用自行开发的级配路线,较好地结合了脱金属剂、脱硫剂、脱氮剂的性能特点,使整个运行周期的催化剂活性和稳定性达到较好地匹配,已达到同类进口催化剂的水平。     

提高电脱盐效果的措施

中国石油天然气股份有限公司庆阳石化分公司常压蒸馏装置一、二期技术改造结束后,装置加工能力由0．5 Mt/a增加到1．0 Mt／a,最高时达到1．3 Mt/a。但电脱盐装置脱后原油中盐的质量浓度一直在4．0-5．0 mgNaCL／L居高不下。为了降低脱后原油中盐的质量浓度,提高催化裂化装置催化剂活性,对电脱盐装置进行了技术改造,优化了操作参数,这到了脱后原油中盐的质量浓度小于3 mg- NaCl/L的预期效果,取得了较好的经济效益。     

北部湾盆地福山凹陷CO2气成因探讨

北部湾盆地福山凹陷油气钻探中发现了高含CO₂气的天然气气藏。对CO₂气稳定碳同位素、伴生稀有气体氦和氩同位素进行了分析研究，结果显示，福山凹陷CO₂气稳定碳同位素偏重，(13C_CO2为-5.01～-10.08‰，绝大多数样品大于-7.0‰，为无机成因CO₂气特征；伴生稀有气体氦同位素³He/⁴He值为(4.74~5.03)×10^-6，R/Ra值为3.38～3.59；伴生稀有气体氩同位素⁴⁰Ar/³⁶Ar值为1881～2190，也显示出幔源或壳幔混合CO₂气的特征。综合判定认为，福山凹陷CO₂为壳幔混合成因。始新统流沙港组岩浆岩体分布特征与CO₂气藏分布范围基本一致，也表明幔源-岩浆可能是福山凹陷CO₂气的主要来源。与南海北部边缘盆地其它地区如珠江口盆地西部、琼东南盆地东部CO₂气成因一致，都为幔源-岩浆来源，或壳幔混合来源。     

Valorisation of waste fractions from autohydrolysis of selected lignocellulosic materials

Non‐isothermal processing of lignocellulosic materials in aqueous media (autohydrolysis reaction) under mild conditions leads to solutions containing valuable chemicals (oligosaccharides, sugars and acetic acid) and other, undesired, compounds (belonging to the extractive and acid‐soluble lignin fractions) which have to be removed in further purification treatments. Liquors obtained by non‐isothermal autohydrolysis of Eucalyptus globulus wood and corncobs under a variety of operational conditions were extracted with ethyl acetate in order to remove non‐saccharide components, and the suitability of the fraction dissolved in the organic phase was assayed for possible utilisation as an antioxidant. The yield and antioxidant activity of ethyl acetate extracts (measured by the α,α‐diphenyl‐β‐picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging capacity) showed a strong dependence on the autohydrolysis conditions. The antioxidant activity of extracts obtained under selected operational conditions compared well with synthetic antioxidants. © 2003 Society of Chemical Industry