多组件学习器实现有机分子沸点的精准预测

沸点(BP)是有机分子液体的基本物理化学量, 也是化学工业生产中的重要参数. 有机分子的沸点由分子结构决定, 呈现复杂的结构-沸点关系, 函数法(Function Method)、基团贡献法(Group Contribution Method)等传统方法无法应对复杂多样有机分子结构的预测, 应用范围狭窄, 预测精度低. 本研究中, 我们利用基于人工神经网络(ANN)和支持向量机(SVM)的多组件学习器实现有机分子沸点的精准预测. 我们构建了基于可解释性描述符的ANN、基于相关性描述符的ANN及基于复合分子指纹的SVM三个异质模型, 并通过包含4550个各种类别的有机分子沸点的数据集进行训练得到了三个异质性学习器, 最后集成三个学习器对有机分子沸点进行预测. 相比于传统方法和此前的定量结构性质关系(QSPR)模型, 多组件模型结合了三种模型的优点, 展现出很好的预测精度和泛化能力以及低的过拟合, 实现了对多种类型有机分子的沸点的有效预测.     

Investigating the Disordered and Membrane-Active Peptide A-Cage-C Using Conformational Ensembles

The driving forces and conformational pathways leading to amphitropic protein-membrane binding and in some cases also to protein misfolding and aggregation is the subject of intensive research. In this study, a chimeric polypeptide, A-Cage-C, derived from α-Lactalbumin is investigated with the aim of elucidating conformational changes promoting interaction with bilayers. From previous studies, it is known that A-Cage-C causes membrane leakages associated with the sporadic formation of amorphous aggregates on solid-supported bilayers. Here we express and purify double-labelled A-Cage-C and prepare partially deuterated bicelles as a membrane mimicking system. We investigate A-Cage-C in the presence and absence of these bicelles at non-binding (pH 7.0) and binding (pH 4.5) conditions. Using in silico analyses, NMR, conformational clustering, and Molecular Dynamics, we provide tentative insights into the conformations of bound and unbound A-Cage-C. The conformation of each state is dynamic and samples a large amount of overlapping conformational space. We identify one of the clusters as likely representing the binding conformation and conclude tentatively that the unfolding around the central W23 segment and its reorientation may be necessary for full intercalation at binding conditions (pH 4.5). We also see evidence for an overall elongation of A-Cage-C in the presence of model bilayers.     

In Vitro Antiplasmodial and Cytotoxic Activities of Compounds from the Roots of Eriosema montanum Baker f. (Fabaceae)

Malaria remains one of the leading causes of death in sub-Saharan Africa, ranked in the top three infectious diseases in the world. Plants of the Eriosema genus have been reported to be used for the treatment of this disease, but scientific evidence is still missing for some of them. In the present study, the in vitro antiplasmodial activity of the crude extract and compounds from Eriosema montanum Baker f. roots were tested against the 3D7 strain of Plasmodium falciparum and revealed using the SYBR Green, a DNA intercalating compound. The cytotoxicity effect of the compounds on a human cancer cell line (THP-1) was assessed to determine their selectivity index. It was found that the crude extract of the plant displayed a significant antiplasmodial activity with an IC₅₀ (µg/mL) = 17.68 ± 4.030 and a cytotoxic activity with a CC₅₀ (µg/mL) = 101.5 ± 12.6, corresponding to a selective antiplasmodial activity of 5.7. Bioactivity-guided isolation of the major compounds of the roots’ crude extract afforded seven compounds, including genistein, genistin and eucomic acid. Under our experimental conditions, using Artemisinin as a positive control, eucomic acid showed the best inhibitory activity against the P. falciparum 3D7, a well-known chloroquine-sensitive strain. The present results provide a referential basis to support the traditional use of Eriosema species in the treatment of malaria.     

单壁碳纳米管上毒性苯气体净化的分子模拟(英文)

采用巨正则系综蒙特卡罗(GCMC)方法研究了空气中微量苯组分在单臂碳纳米管(SWNTs)上的吸附净化.模拟表明,具有较大孔径的(20,20)纳米管比较适合吸附纯苯蒸汽,而对于移除空气中的毒性苯物质,苯的吸附选择性分别在(12,12)纳米管及4.0 MPa时和(18,18)纳米管及0.1 MPa时出现最小值和最大值.为了解释这一异常行为,我们进一步分析了N2-O2-C6H6混合物的局部密度分布、吸附分子构型和概率密度分布,发现(18,18)纳米管内外完全被苯分子占据,而对于(12,12)纳米管,由于存在更强的吸附质-吸附剂相互作用,空气分子更倾向于吸附在管与管之间的间隙.此外,吸附分子的空间有序参数表明大多数苯分子采取"平躺"在纳米管表面的定位,而线性的N2和O2分子则多数平行于孔轴方向.最后研究了温度和苯分子主体相浓度对分离效果的影响.我们发现较大孔中的选择性随着温度的增加比小孔下降更加明显.与此对比,主体相苯浓度对小孔中的选择性起到更加重要的作用.     

Coherence transfer delay optimisation in PSYCOSY experiments

PSYCOSY is an f1 broadband homonuclear decoupled version of the COSY nuclear magnetic resonance pulse sequence. Here, we investigate by a combination of experimental measurements, spatially distributed spin dynamics simulations, and analytical predictions the coherence evolution delay necessary in PSYCOSY experiments to ensure intensity discrimination in favour of the correlations typically arising from short range (ⁿJ, n ≤ 3) ¹H–¹H couplings and show that, in general, a coherence evolution delay of around 35 ms is optimum.     

Extension of the GHJW theorem for operator ensembles

The Gisin-Hughston-Jozsa-Wootters theorem plays an important role in analyzing various theories about quantum information, quantum communication, and quantum cryptography. It means that any purifications on the extended system which yield indistinguishable state ensembles on their subsystem should have a specific local unitary relation. In this Letter, we show that the local relation is also established even when the indistinguishability of state ensembles is extended to that of operator ensembles.