What is the form of muscimol from fly agaric mushroom (Amanita muscaria) in water? An insight from NMR experiment supported by molecular modeling

The biologically active alkaloid muscimol is present in fly agaric mushroom (Amanita muscaria), and its structure and action is related to human neurotransmitter _γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA). The current study reports on determination of muscimol form present in water solution using multinuclear ¹H and ¹³C nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) experiments supported by density functional theory molecular modeling. The structures of three forms of free muscimol molecule both in the gas phase and in the presence of water solvent, modeled by polarized continuous model, and nuclear magnetic isotropic shieldings, the corresponding chemical shifts, and indirect spin–spin coupling constants were calculated. Several J-couplings observed in proton and carbon NMR spectra, not available before, are reported. The obtained experimental spectra, supported by theoretical calculations, favor the zwitterion form of muscimol in water. This structure differs from NH isomer, previously determined in dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) solution. In addition, positions of signals C3 and C5 are reversed in both solvents.     

Recyclable carbon fiber‐reinforced plastics (CFRP) containing degradable acetal linkages: Synthesis,properties, and chemical recycling

Two epoxy resins containing degradable acetal linkages were synthesized by the reaction of cresol novolak‐type phenolic resin (CN) with vinyl ethers containing a glycidyl group [cyclohexane dimethanol vinyl glycidyl ether (CHDMVG) and 4‐vinyloxybutyl glycidyl ether (VBGE). Carbon fiber‐reinforced plastics (CFRPs) were prepared by heating laminated prepreg sheets with CN‐CHDMVG resin (derived from CN and CHDMVG) and CN‐VBGE resin (derived from CN and VBGE), in which carbon fibers are impregnated with epoxy resins containing curing agents [dicyandiamide (DICY)] and curing accelerator [3‐(3,4‐dichlorophenyl)‐1,1‐dimethylurea (DCMU)]. CN‐CHDMVG‐based CFRPs and CN‐VBGE‐based CFRPs exhibited almost the same tensile strength as the conventional bisphenol‐A‐based CFRPs. CN‐CHDMVG‐based CFRPs and CN‐VBGE‐based CFRPs underwent smooth breakdown with the treatment of hydrochloric acid in tetrahydrofuran at room temperature for 24 h to regenerate strands of carbon fibers. The surface conditions of the recovered carbon fibers had little changes during degradation and recovery processes on the basis of scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The recovered carbon fibers exhibited almost the same tensile strength as virgin carbon fibers and hence would be reused for the production of CFRPs. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2015 , 53, 1052–1059     

Indirect ultraviolet detection of alkaline earth metal ions using an imidazolium ionic liquid as an ultraviolet absorption reagent in ion chromatography

A convenient and versatile method was developed for the separation and detection of alkaline earth metal ions by ion chromatography with indirect UV detection. The chromatographic separation of Mg²⁺, Ca²⁺, and Sr²⁺ was performed on a carboxylic acid base cation exchange column using imidazolium ionic liquid/acid as the mobile phase, in which the imidazolium ionic liquid acted as an UV‐absorption reagent. The effects of imidazolium ionic liquids, detection wavelength, acids in the mobile phase, and column temperature on the retention of Mg²⁺, Ca²⁺, and Sr²⁺ were investigated. The main factors influencing the separation and detection were the background UV absorption reagent and the concentration of hydrogen ion in ion chromatography with indirect UV detection. The successful separation and detection of Mg²⁺, Ca²⁺, and Sr²⁺ within 14 min were achieved using the selected chromatographic conditions, and the detection limits (S /N = 3) were 0.06, 0.12, and 0.23 mg/L, respectively. A new separation and detection method of alkaline earth metal ions by ion chromatography with indirect UV detection was developed, and the application range of ionic liquids was expanded.     

Functional Properties and Molecular Degradation of Schizostachyum Brachycladum Bamboo Cellulose Nanofibre in PLA-Chitosan Bionanocomposites

The degradation and mechanical properties of potential polymeric materials used for green manufacturing are significant determinants. In this study, cellulose nanofibre was prepared from Schizostachyum brachycladum bamboo and used as reinforcement in the PLA/chitosan matrix using melt extrusion and compression moulding method. The cellulose nanofibre(CNF) was isolated using supercritical carbon dioxide and high-pressure homogenisation. The isolated CNF was characterised with transmission electron microscopy (TEM), FT-IR, zeta potential and particle size analysis. The mechanical, physical, and degradation properties of the resulting biocomposite were studied with moisture content, density, thickness swelling, tensile, flexural, scanning electron microscopy, thermogravimetry, and biodegradability analysis. The TEM, FT-IR, and particle size results showed successful isolation of cellulose nanofibre using this method. The result showed that the physical, mechanical, and degradation properties of PLA/chitosan/CNF biocomposite were significantly enhanced with cellulose nanofibre. The density, thickness swelling, and moisture content increased with the addition of CNF. Also, tensile strength and modulus; flexural strength and modulus increased; while the elongation reduced. The carbon residue from the thermal degradation and the glass transition temperature of the PLA/chitosan/CNF biocomposite was observed to increase with the addition of CNF. The result showed that the biocomposite has potential for green and sustainable industrial application.     

Indirectly Detected DNP-Enhanced 17O NMR Spectroscopy: Observation of Non-Protonated Near-Surface Oxygen at Naturally Abundant Silica and Silica-Alumina

Recent studies have shown that dynamic nuclear polarization (DNP) can be used to detect ¹⁷O solid-state NMR spectra of naturally abundant samples within a reasonable experimental time. Observations using indirect DNP, which relies on ¹H mediation in transferring electron hyperpolarization to ¹⁷O, are currently limited mostly to hydroxyls. Direct DNP schemes can hyperpolarize non-protonated oxygen near the radicals; however, they generally offer much lower signal enhancements. In this study, we demonstrate the detection of signals from non-protonated ¹⁷O in materials containing silicon. The sensitivity boost that made the experiment possible originates from three sources: indirect DNP excitation of ²⁹Si via protons, indirect detection of ¹⁷O through ²⁹Si nuclei using two-dimensional ²⁹Si{¹⁷O} D-HMQC, and Carr-Purcell-Meiboom-Gill refocusing of ²⁹Si magnetization during acquisition. This ²⁹Si-detected scheme enabled, for the first time, 2D ¹⁷O−²⁹Si heteronuclear correlation spectroscopy in mesoporous silica and silica-alumina surfaces at natural abundance. In contrast to the silanols showing motion-averaged ¹⁷O signals, the framework oxygens exhibit unperturbed powder patterns as unambiguous fingerprints of surface sites. Along with hydroxyl oxygens, detection of these moieties will help in gaining more atomistic-scale insights into surface chemistry.     

离子色谱法-间接紫外检测离子液体中三种含氟酸根阴离子

建立了离子色谱-间接紫外检测法同时分析离子液体中的三氟乙酸根(CF3COO-)、四氟硼酸根(BF4-)和三氟甲烷磺酸根(CF3SO3-)的方法。用Shodex IC NI-424阴离子交换柱作为分离柱,探讨了影响上述三种离子保留和检测的因素及其保留规律。最终选用色谱条件为:以1.75 mmol·L-1邻苯二甲酸-1.68 mmol·L-1三(羟甲基)氨基甲烷为淋洗液,柱温45℃,流速1.0 m L·min-1,UV检测波长设定在265 nm。在此条件下,可实现上述三种阴离子的同时分析,且色谱峰形良好。所测阴离子的检出限(S/N=3)为0.39~1.57 mg·L-1,保留时间和峰面积的相对标准偏差(n=5)均在1%以下。将此方法应用于测定离子液体中的三氟乙酸根、四氟硼酸根及三氟甲烷磺酸根,加标回收率为99%~102%。该方法简单、准确、可靠,具有较好的实用性。     

对岩体加固工程的水文地质条件分析

裂隙岩体的透水性各向异性和透水率大小的随机性,决定着渗控 (加固 )工程钻孔方位、倾角的多样性。它说明渗控工程设计中把裂隙岩体透水性假定成各向同性是不合实际的。应根据岩体的水文地质条件,寻找出裂隙隙宽、透水性和透水率相对较大的方位和倾角作为渗控工程钻孔的矢量。     

钢筋混凝土圆形截面非均匀配筋的图算法

圆形截面是工程中常使用的截面形式之一,但圆形截面的配筋计算较为困难,存在双重非线性(材料和截面宽度变化的非线性),《混凝土结构设计规范》给出了计算均匀配筋的超越方程组,且须迭代求解,无法手算.另外,一些圆形截面构件(如桥墩、桩基的预制桩和灌注桩等)的截面尺寸大,构件长,钢筋用量大,若采用均匀布置的配筋方式,中性轴附近的钢筋应力小,强度利用率低,经济性差.若采用非均匀配筋,在远离中性轴的外围区域布置受力钢筋,可大幅节省钢筋用量,且能充分利用钢筋及混凝土的强度.为此本文通过应变计算应力,再计算出内力的方法推导计算圆形截面配筋的公式,并将计算结果绘制成了能计算配筋的无量纲诺模图,由此可快速手算配筋,该图通用性强,可用于任意直径大小及C50以下的混凝土强度等级,是一能快速计算配筋的实用工具.     

Solving the Stress Problem for a Finite Cylinder by the Schwarz Method with Hybrid Approximations

An axisymmetric elastic problem is solved by a heterogeneous numerical scheme of the alternating Schwarz method based on the finite- and boundary-element methods. The Schwarz method and the modified scheme are compared. A relaxation parameter is used to accelerate the iterative process     

Study on the Collapse of Pin-Reinforced Foam Sandwich Panel Cores

New fabrication technologies now allow for hybrid sandwich structures, known as X-core, to be manufactured. The X-core panels consist of a pin reinforced polymer foam core with carbon fiber face sheets. Carbon fiber or metallic (Titanium/Steel) pins are inserted into the foam core in the out-of-plane direction and extend from face sheet to face sheet. The through thickness three-point simply supported bending behavior of these panels is used to evaluate the collapse characteristics of the panels. Explicit experimental observations are used to calibrate analytical energy balance models describing the panel collapse as a function of geometry and properties. The mechanical response of X-core sandwich panels is compared to current sandwich materials for material selection.