Inhibitory effects of curcumin and piperine on fluorescent advanced glycation end products formation in a bovine serum albumin–fructose model

This study investigated the inhibitory effects of curcumin and piperine on fluorescent advanced glycation end products (fAGEs) formation in a bovine serum albumin (BSA)–fructose model. Model systems of BSA and fructose were prepared, and curcumin or piperine was added. fAGEs and BSA oxidation product (dityrosine, kynurenine and N'-formylkynurenine) contents were determined. The results showed that fAGEs content decreased with increasing concentration of curcumin and piperine (P < 0.05). Addition of curcumin and piperine at 160 µg mL⁻¹ could inhibit fluorescent AGEs by 100% and 93% respectively. Dityrosine and N'-formylkynurenine contents decreased as curcumin and piperine concentration increased (P < 0.05). Furthermore, the result of principal component analysis indicated that curcumin and piperine markedly impeded BSA oxidation, resulting in a lower level of fAGEs in model systems. Therefore, adding curcumin and piperine may facilitate reduced fAGEs levels in BSA–fructose model.     

Fabrication of high-efficiency Yb:Y2O3 laser ceramics without photodarkening

High-efficiency Yb:Y₂O₃ laser ceramics were fabricated using the vacuum-sintering plus hot isostatic pressing (HIP) without sintering additives. High-purity well-dispersed nanocrystalline Yb:Y₂O₃ powder was synthesized using a modified co-precipitation method in-house. The green bodies were first vacuum sintered at a temperature as low as 1430°C and then HIPed at 1450°C. Finally, the samples were air annealed at 800°C for 10 h. Although no sintering aids were used, full density of the samples with excellent optical homogeneity and an inline transmission of 80% at 400 nm could be obtained. Moreover, photodarkening phenomenon was not detected in the ceramics. Preliminary laser experiment with the fabricated ceramics in a two-mirror cavity has demonstrated 32 W continuous-wave (CW) output at ∼1077 nm with an optical-to-optical conversion efficiency of 58.2%. To the best of our knowledge, this is so far the highest CW output power and optical-to-optical conversion efficiency achieved with the Yb³⁺-doped sesquioxide ceramics in a simple two-mirror cavity.     

Acid–base transport model depicting the dynamic pH response of interfacial reactions

Acid–base transport is integral to many important interfacial reactions in various fields of chemistry, but its theoretical foundation is lacked. Herein, a common acid–base transport model is established owing to the success in deriving buffer transport equations. This model is applicable to most buffer systems by flexibly integrating the transport equations in terms of buffer components, and is verified through the model relationships of buffer transport limiting current by using hydrogen evolution reaction experiments. Based on model calculations, two diagram approaches are proposed to depict the dynamic pH response and aid buffer operation optimizations. The model and methods allow us to quantify the rate-limiting effect of acid–base transport on interfacial reactions and to precisely control the effect through medium regulations. Furthermore, the model has laid the foundation of dynamic pH effect on species transformation and process mechanism, which can be of wide interest in the chemistry encompassing interfacial reactions.     

Metal modified (Ni,Ce, Ta) Ti/SnO2–Sb2O5–RuO2 electrodes for enhanced electrochemical degradation of Orange G

Journal of Applied Electrochemistry - Ni, Ce, and Ta modified Ti/SnO2–Sb2O5–RuO2 anodes were first prepared by thermal decomposition strategy and applied for Orange G degradation to...     

Sparse spectrum fitting algorithm using signal covariance matrix reconstruction and weighted sparse constraint

Multidimensional Systems and Signal Processing - Although sparse spectrum fitting algorithm has good multi-target resolution, the performance is decreased under the influence of strong...