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The human gut microbiota regulates nutritional metabolism, especially by encoding specific ferulic acid esterases (FAEs) to release functional ferulic acid (FA) from dietary fiber. In our previous study, we observed seven upregulated FAE genes during

A woven structure has been gradually applied in capacitive pressure sensing due to its good performance for fabric integration. However, restricted by the square-cross arrangement of yarns, the woven structure sensors are typically limited to being implemented in rather rectangular areas of a fabric. For nonrectangular areas, a lockstitch structure is shown to be excellent for preparing textile-only capacitive sensors which are based on the conductive core-spun yarns. The lockstitch structure, which is inspired by the stitch type used for sewing, ensures the facile integration of the sensors on the fabric of interest at any position by sewing. The sensors with this novel approach only occupy small spaces, and hence will not affect the overall softness of the fabric at large. Importantly, they show good performance in signaling, sensitivity, stability, and robustness.

We study the coherent scattering process of photons in two waveguides chiral coupling to a Λ-type three-level system (3LS). The 3LS acts as a few-photon router that can direct photons with unity. By adjusting the classical field applied to the 3LS, the tunneling paths between two waveguides can be turned off and on, but two photons can not be routed simultaneously from one port of the incident waveguide to an arbitrarily selected port of the other waveguide. Moreover, driven field controls the number of the bi-photon bound states and the interference pattern of the bi-photon bound states.

Paeoniflorin (PF) is one of the important active components in peony that are known to produce the neuroprotective effects. However, the involved cytoprotective factors on brain astrocytes are remain unclear. Translocator protein 18 kDa (TSPO) and its downstream neurosteroids biosynthesis play a significant role in cytoprotection. Based on these, the role of TSPO and neurosteroids biosynthesis in the cytoprotective effects of PF is evaluated. The astrocyte cells were cultured and AC-5216 (TSPO ligand) was selected as the positive control drug. The cytoprotective effects of PF and the levels of neurosteroids were quantified by water-soluble tetrazolium assay and enzyme linked immunosorbent assay, respectively. The cytoprotective activities of PF were relevant to neurosteroids (e.g. progsterone and allopregnanolone) biosynthesis, while these effects were totally blocked by PK11195, trilostane and finasteride, respectively. In summary, the cytoprotective effects of PF maybe mediated by TSPO and neurosteroids biosynthesis. The findings may provide the new insights into the cytoprotective effects of PF.

YL-0919 has been identified as a novel dual 5-HT1A partial agonist and serotonin reuptake inhibitor. In the current study, we demonstrated that YL-0919 produced prominent antidepressant-like and anxiolytic-like effects in a chronic unpredictable stress (CUS) rat model. Male SD rats were exposed to CUS for 5 weeks; YL-0919 (1.25 and 2.5 mg/kg) or a positive control fluoxetine (Flx, 10 mg/kg) was orally administered daily. YL-0919 or Flx treatment significantly increased the sucrose preference rate, the locomotor activity in an open field test (OFT), the latency to feed in a novelty-suppressed feeding test (NSFT), and both the percentage of time spent in the open arms and the number of entries into the open arms in an elevated plus-maze test. YL-0919 or Flx treatment significantly suppressed the serum levels of ACTH and corticosterone in CUS-exposed rats. Additionally, YL-0919 or Flx treatment significantly enhanced the levels of cAMP, the expression of phosphorylated cAMP response element-binding protein (pCREB) and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in the hippocampus of CUS-exposed rats. Similar to Flx, YL-0919 treatment significantly enhanced the dendritic complexity, and increased the number of dendritic nodes as well as the spine length and number of branch nodes in the hippocampal pyramidal neurons of CUS-exposed rats. Overall, our results reveal that YL-0919 suppresses the HPA axis and exerts antidepressant-like and anxiolytic-like effects in CUS-exposed rats, which are associated with the enhanced cAMP signaling and hippocampal dendritic complexity.

The purpose of the present study was to investigate the pharmacology of hypidone hydrochloride (YL-0919), a novel selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) and 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT)1A receptor agonist with high affinity for serotonin transporter (SERT) and 5-HT1A receptors. YL-0919 promoted [35S]GTPγS binding at 85% of the magnitude of the full 5-HT1A receptor agonist 8-hydroxy-2-(di-n-propylamino) tetralin (8-OH-DPAT), suggesting that YL-0919 is a high-efficacy partial agonist of 5-HT1A receptors. Compared with fluoxetine, YL-0919 produced a larger maximal increase in extracellular 5-HT in the ventral hippocampus of freely moving rats after acute treatment, but no significant changes were observed in the levels of noradrenaline or dopamine. In behavioral tests, acute YL-0919 treatment potentiated 5-hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP)-induced head twitches but showed no effect on high-dose apomorphine-induced hypothermia. In the novelty-suppressed feeding test (NSF), both subchronic (7 days) and chronic (14 days) treatment with YL-0919 decreased the latency to feed. In the learned helplessness paradigm, YL-0919 (1.25-5 mg/kg) significantly decreased the escape latencies and number of failures. In addition, YL-0919 exerted an anxiolytic effect in the Vogel-type conflict and elevated plus-maze tests in rats. Furthermore, rats treated with YL-0919 for 7 days and 21 days, and fluoxetine for 21 days, showed enhanced long-term potentiation (LTP). Finally, we also found that YL-0919 did not result in a marked inhibition of sexual function at doses close to those producing antidepressant-like effects. These data suggest that YL-0919 is likely a fast-onset potent antidepressant with few side effects. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

A novel liquefaction method was developed for transforming different types of biomass, such as fir, bamboo, pine, and corncob, into bio-oil efficiently with Raney nickel (R-Ni) and NaOH as combined catalysts in a 2-propanol/H2O system, which was carried out in a 50 mL stainless-steel autoclave at 245 °C, corresponding to the working pressure maintained at 8 MPa. The conversion of biomass could reach 97–99%. Besides, a high bio-oil yield of 63.98% and higher heating value of 30.09 MJ/kg were achieved when fir was used as the feedstock. The gas chromatography–mass spectrometry analyses indicated that the major compounds in bio-oils were phenols, followed by acids, alcohols, ketones, and hydrocarbons, which were mainly light-weighted molecules with low boiling points measured by thermogravimetric analysis. Additionally, the R-Ni catalyst could be repeatedly used at least 5 times without the loss of activity.

The present study aimed to examine the molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying the antidepressant-like effect of YL-IPA08, a novel TSPO ligand designed and synthesized at our institute. We firstly used the chronic unpredictable stress (CUS) procedure of rats, a well validated stress-related animal model of depression, to further determine the antidepressant-like of YL-IPA08. And we found that YL-IPA08 caused significant suppression of inhibiting of locomotor activity, reducing the sucrose preference and increasing the latency to eat induced by CUS. In addition, YL-IPA08 treatment increased the levels of progesterone and allopregnanolone in the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex of post- CUS rats. Furthermore, long-term YL-IPA08 administration reversed dendritic shrinkage, down-regulation of neurotrophic signaling pathway within the hippocampus, as well as HPA dysfunctions simultaneously observed in the CUS rats. Collectively, the evidence presented above supports the notion that binding to TSPO and the subsequent synthesis of neurosteroid, maintenance of hippocampal morphologic and functional plasticity, and preventing HPA axis dysfunction, may account for the profound molecular and cellular mechanism underlying the antidepressant-like effect of YL-IPA08.

Ethnopharmacology relevance Albiflorin, a monoterpene glycoside, is a main component of Radix paeoniae Alba, which could be a Chinese herbal medicine used in the treatment of psychiatric disorders. However, the exact role of albiflorin in depression is poorly understood. Aim of the study The current study aimed to evaluate the antidepressant effect of albiflorin in mice and rats, and the possible mechanism was also determined. Materials and methods The antidepressant-like effects of albiflorin was determined by using animal models of depression including forced swim and tail suspension tests in mice and chronic unpredictable stress (CUS) in rats. The acting mechanism was explored by determining the effect of albiflorin on the expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in the hippocampus by western blot and the levels of monoamine in the hippocampus by HPLC. Results Our results showed that 7 days treatment with albiflorin significantly decreased immobility time in the forced swimming test (FST) and the tail suspension test (TST) at doses of 3.5, 7.0 and 14.0 mg/kg without alter the locomotor activity in mice. Moreover, western blot analysis showed that albiflorin could increase the expression of BDNF in the hippocampus. We further exposed rats to a chronic unpredictable stress (CUS) protocol for a period of 35 d to induce depressive-like behaviors. We found that chronic treatment with albiflorin, at doses of 7.0 and 14.0 mg (i.g., once daily for 35 d), restored the sucrose preference in CUS rats. In the open-field test, albiflorin significantly increased the number of crossings and rearings in the CUS rats at three doses. Moreover, chronic treatment with albiflorin up-regulated the hippocampal BDNF expression levels and the hippocampal 5-HT, 5-HIAA, and NA levels. Conclusion Albiflorin produced significant antidepressant-like effects, which were closely related to the hippocampal 5-HT/NE increase and BDNF expression. Our data indicated that albiflorin could be a potential anti-depressant drug.

The invasion of Spartina alterniflora Loisel, a perennial herb that was introduced into China in 1979, has become an important environmental problem in coastal zones of Jiangsu Province. Although microorganisms play an important role in the structure of ecosystems, the effect of S. alterniflora on soil microbial metabolic diversity remains unexplored. In this work, the variations produced by S. alterniflora in the seasonal dynamics of soil microbial metabolism were examined and compared with the soil microbial metabolism of bare flat. The obtained results indicated that S. alterniflora increases soil total carbon content during the whole year, and decreases soil salinity in spring, summer and winter. The presence of S. alterniflora enhanced the metabolic activity of soil microbes in summer. In autumn, Shannon (H’) and Pielou (J) indices were significantly decreased in S. alterniflora-invaded soil. S. alterniflora altered microbial carbohydrate, amino acid, carboxylic acid, and phenolic acid metabolism in a season-dependent manner, and enhanced microbial amine metabolism during the four seasons. Redundancy analysis demonstrated that soil pH and salinity are driving the metabolic functional diversity in coastal wetlands. Taken together, these results confirmed that the invasion of S. alterniflora is modifying soil physicochemical properties and, subsequently, altering soil microbial metabolic diversity.

Bistability (coexistence of two stable steady states in a dynamical system) is a key mechanism of cellular decision-making and has been observed in many biochemical reaction networks such as mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathways. Theoretical studies have shown that bistability can arise in a single two-site MAPK phosphorylation and dephosphorylation cycle. However, the bistable behavior mostly relies on the kinetic mechanisms and parameters of this two-site modification. In exploring the system-level properties of MAPK regulation, most models to date focus on two limiting reaction regimes, distributive and processive, and are characterized by high levels of parametric uncertainty. Here, we developed a combined kinetic method which applies a continuous spectrophotometric enzyme-coupled assay incorporated with the viscosity approach, to perform detailed kinetic analyses of p38α MAPK dual phosphorylation by MKK6. Almost all kinetic rate constants for the first and second phosphorylation steps in p38α activation have been quantitatively determined, supporting that the phosphorylation occurs randomly in the first step, albeit preferring the tyrosine residue. The release rates of monophosphorylated p38α from MKK6, either as the product in the first modification or as the substrate in the second step, were comparable to the respective adjacent phosphoryl transfer steps. These results indicated that dual phosphorylation of p38α by MKK6 involves a random, partially processive mechanism. Based on the experimentally determined models and parameters, dynamics of the p38α-MKK6-MKP5 system were explored, demonstrating for the first time that bistability can arise with this model at biologically feasible parameter values. ENZYMES: p38α (EC 2.7.11.24); MKK6 (EC 2.7.12.2).

After developing for several years, massive open online courses (MOOCs) have actually become compliments rather than competitors to traditional higher education. However, a series of questions have to be resolved for the deep fusion of MOOC into traditional higher education. Based on a survey of MOOCs development status in China higher education, some congenital defects of MOOCs, some attentions of the combining of MOOCs with higher education and the future tendency of MOOCs were discussed briefly, in order to make MOOCs sever the China higher education better.

Sucrose non-fermenting (Snf1)-related kinase (SNRK) is a novel member of the AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) family and is involved in many metabolic processes. Here we report the crystal structure of an N-terminal SNRK fragment containing kinase and adjacent ubiquitin-associated (UBA) domains. This structure shows that the UBA domain binds between the N- and C-lobes of the kinase domain. The mode of UBA binding in SNRK largely resembles that in AMPK and brain specific kinase (BRSK), however, unique interactions play vital roles in stabilizing the KD-UBA interface of SNRK. We further propose a potential role of the UBA domain in the regulation of SNRK kinase activity. This study provides new insights into the structural diversities of the AMPK kinase family.

Objective The present bioequivalence study was designed to compare the newly-developed levamlodipine besylate 2.5-mg tablet (test) with that of its 2.5-mg marketed counterpart (reference) in healthy Chinese adult male volunteers. Methods A single-dose, randomized, open-label, two-period, and two-treatment self-crossover study was conducted in healthy Chinese volunteers after informed consent was obtained. In each part of the study, the subjects were randomly assigned to receive the test or reference product (5 mg levamlodipine) in a 1 : 1 ratio, and then received the alternative product, following a 14-day washout period. Plasma levamlodipine concentrations were analyzed by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. Pharmacokinetic parameters (noncompartmental model) were assessed with WinNonlin software. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) and FDA (USA) bioequivalence statistical criterion of 90% CI for 80 - 125% range (set at p ≤ 0.05) of geometric means ratios of test : reference product for Cmax, AUC0-t, and AUC0-∞ were determined. Tolerability was assessed during the entire study period. Results ANOVA indicated that the period, sequence, and formulation had no significant effect on the PK parameters (p ≥ 0.05), although there was a statistically-significant difference between formulations in AUC0-t (p ≤ 0.05). The test formulation was bioequivalent to the marketed formulation as the 90% CI for the ratio of geometric means of Cmax (84.52 - 103.00%), AUC0-t (87.49 - 98.23%), and AUC0-∞ (84.30 - 103.25%) were within equivalence limits (80 - 125%) under fasting condition. No serious adverse events were found among the subjects. Conclusion This study confirmed that test and reference levamlodipine besylate tablets were bioequivalent under fasting condition. .

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) has become a major psychiatric and neurological issue. Resveratrol is shown to be effective on depression and anxiety. However, the mechanism of anti-PTSD-like effects of resveratrol remains unknown. The present study aimed to explore the possible molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying the anti-PTSD-like effects of resveratrol. Following a 2-day exposure to inescapable electric foot shocks, animals were administered resveratrol (10, 20, and 40mg/kg, i.g.) during the behavioral tests, which included contextual freezing measurement, elevated plus maze test, staircase test, and open field test. Similar to the positive control drug sertraline (15mg/kg, i.g.), the behavioral deficits of stressed mice were blocked by resveratrol (20 and 40mg/kg, i.g.), which reversed the increased freezing time in contextual freezing measurement and the number of rears in the staircase test and blocked the decrease in time and number of entries in open arms in the elevated plus maze test without affecting the locomotor activity in the open field test. In addition, resveratrol (20 and 40mg/kg, i.g.) antagonized the decrease in the levels of progesterone and allopregnanolone in the prefrontal cortex and hippocampus. Furthermore, long-term resveratrol attenuated the dysfunctions of hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis simultaneously. Collectively, the evidence indicated that the anti-PTSD-like effects of resveratrol were associated with the normalization of biosynthesis of neurosteroids in the brain and prevention of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis dysfunction.

// Dai Li 1, * , Sumei Xu 2, * , Yulu Wang 2 , Dan Li 1 , Xiaomin Li 1 , Jing Pan 1 and Pingsheng Xu 1 1 National Institution of Drug Clinical Trial, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410008, China 2 Department of Pharmacy, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410008, China * These authors have contributed equally to this work Correspondence to: Pingsheng Xu, email: xups2016@126.com Keywords: enalapril, enalaprilat, felodipine, interaction, pharmacokinetics Received: March 06, 2017 Accepted: July 18, 2017 Published: August 07, 2017 ABSTRACT Since angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors and calcium antagonists have complimentary mechanisms of action, enalapril, an ACE inhibitor, is used in combination with felodipine, a vascular selective dihydropyridine calcium antagonist, for the treatment of hypertension. The present study was designed to investigate the possible drug-drug interaction between these two agents in Chinese healthy subjects. A randomized, open-label, multiple-dose, 3-treatment, 3-period, 6-sequence cross-over study enrolling 12 healthy subjects (six male and six female subjects) was performed. Plasma pharmacokinetic studies were performed after 5 mg of enalapril and 5 mg of felodipine were administered alone or concomitantly twice per day for six days, and once in the morning of day seven. All 12 healthy subjects (mean [SD] age, 24.3 [2.8] years; body weight, 57.3 [5.7] kg; height, 163.2 [5.2] cm) completed all scheduled pharmacokinetic studies. Geometric mean ratios (with 90% CIs) of AUC τ,ss and C max,ss for enalapril administered concomitantly with felodipine vs. enalapril administered alone were 1.025 (0.80-1.25) and 1.065 (0.70-1.43), respectively. Geometric mean ratios (with 90% CIs) of AUC τ,ss and C max,ss for felodipine administered concomitantly with enalapril vs. felodipine administered alone were 1.14 (0.97-1.31) and 0.80 (0.65-0.95), respectively. There were no severe or serious drug-related adverse events observed during the study. Our results revealed that the co-administration of enalapril and felodipine affected the pharmacokinetics of felodipine, but not that of enalapril. Although the difference in PK parameters was statistically significant, its clinical significance may be limited, considering safety profile observed in the present study.

Community of practice (COP) is an important informal learning style in companies. This paper analyzes the moderating effect of COP’s identity and COP’s competition on the relationship between network structure of COP and knowledge sharing performance. The empirical analysis illustrates that the relationship between the COP’s relation strength and knowledge sharing performance is fully mediated by COP’s identity and COP’s competition, and the relationship between the COP’s status disparity and knowledge sharing performance is partly mediated by COP’s identity and COP’s competition.

Plantar pressure measurement plays an important role in monitoring health and sports performance. Here, instead of embedding force sensitive resistors in the insole, we developed a simple and low-cost, highly integrated, textile-only sensing insole for the measurement of plantar pressures. These sensors were composed entirely of fabric, and utilized a capacitive mechanism, with silver cloth as electrodes and cotton cloth as the dielectric element. The similarity of elasticity and flexibility between sensor and insole enabled them to be closely integrated, and avoided negative impact on comfort. Additionally, the silver cloth electrodes contributed good antibacterial properties. The sensors exhibited fast response, negligible hysteresis, high sensitivity (0.947 MPa−1), and good stability. Based upon capacitive responses to plantar pressures from the instrumented insole, gait phases (events) in different patterns were detected, giving the potential to monitor the health of the foot.

This paper explains the mechanism that environmental technology innovation influences the green firm-specific advantage of high-carbon enterprises. The empirical analysis illustrates that green resources have a significant effect on the green firm-specific advantage of high-carbon enterprises, the relationship between green resources and green firm-specific advantage is partly mediated by environmental technology innovation, and the relationship between environmental technology innovation and green firm-specific advantage is partly mediated by environmental legitimacy.

Objective The present study was designed to evaluate the bioequivalence of a newly developed sildenafil citrate tablet 50 mg (Jinge®, Test) and a marketed counterpart (Viagra®, 100 mg, Reference) in healthy adult male Chinese volunteers. Methods This single-dose, randomized, open-label, four-period, and two-treatment self-crossover study included two parts: fasting and postprandial studies. In each part of the study, the subjects were randomly assigned to receive test or reference products (100 mg sildenafil) in a 1 : 1 ratio, and then received the alternative products, following a 1-week washout period. Plasma sildenafil concentrations were analyzed by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. Tolerability was assessed during the entire study period. Results 32 healthy volunteers (aged 19 - 30) were enrolled in the study; 31 volunteers completed the fasting study, while 32 volunteers completed the postprandial study. The test formulation was bioequivalent to the marketed formulation as the 90% CIs for the ratio of geometric means of Cmax (fasting: 98.79 - 119.61%; fed: 94.47 - 119.65%), AUClast (fasting: 98.70 - 109.71%; fed: 96.39 - 112.89%), and AUC∞ (fasting: 98.45 - 108.87%; fed: 96.36 - 112.74%) were within equivalence limits (80 - 125%) under both fasting and postprandial conditions. When sildenafil was given with high-fat meals, mean Cmax was reduced by 23%, and median tmax ranged from 0.75 to 1.50 hours (p ≤ 0.05). However, both AUClast and AUC∞ were comparable between fasting and postprandial conditions. No serious adverse events were found among the subjects. Conclusions This study confirmed that test and reference sildenafil citrate tablets were bioequivalent under fasting and postprandial conditions. .

Our previous studies revealed that hypidone hydrochloride (YL-0919), which acts as a selective 5-HT (serotonin) reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) and displays partial 5-HTWe first investigated the target profile of YL-0919 using [Data from the present study demonstrated that YL-0919 displays partial 5-HTThese data suggest that YL-0919 is probably a fast-onset potent antidepressant with few side effects.

It is well known that the inflammatory cytokines play important roles in osteoarthritis (OA). In the present study, we investigated the anti-inflammatory properties of morin in chondrocytes. The nitric oxide (NO) production was determined by Griess method, the prostaglandin E2 (PGE(2)) production was detected by Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The expression of inducible NO synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 were investigated by quantitative real-time PCR and western blot. In addition, western blotting and immunofluorescence staining were performed to investigate the protein level of inhibitor of nuclear factor-κB (IκB-α) and the translocation of nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB). For the in vivo study, morin was administered by intra-articular injection in rats, and the gene expression of iNOS and COX-2 was assessed. We showed that morin inhibited the production of NO and PGE(2) as well as the expression of iNOS and COX-2 in interleukin-1-beta (IL-1β)-induced chondrocytes. In addition, morin suppressed the degradation of IκB-α as well as the translocation of NF-κB. In vivo study, morin exerted anti-inflammatory properties in an IL-1β-induced rat OA model. Our data suggest that morin possess potential value in the treatment of OA.

Liposomes are widely used as drug delivery systems. However, inefficient delivery limits their application in serum containing systems. In this study, two cholesterol derivatives were synthesized and incorporated into liposomes. The charge influence on drug delivery was investigated. The results indicated that the positively charged liposomes showed a higher delivery efficiency for drugs with both small molecular weight (DOX, doxorubicin) and macromolecular weight (polyethylene glycol 6000 conjugated with rhodamine B, PEG-RhB) into cells, compared with neutral liposomes even in the presence of serum. The cytotoxicity of the positive liposomes was lower than that of DOTAP (N-(1-(2,3-dioleoyloxy) propyl-N,N,N-trimethylammonium mesylate) liposomes. Moreover, results from confocal microscopy indicated that the positive DOX-liposomes underwent a quick binding process onto the cell membrane, followed by drug uptake by the cell. In vivo experiments also revealed that the positive DOX-liposomes had a higher drug delivery ability into rat retina than the neutral ones.

In this paper, we derive exact traveling wave soluti-ons of (2+1) dimensional breaking soliton equation by a proposed Bernoulli sub-ODE method. The method appears to be efficient in seeking exact solutions of nonlinear equations. We also make a comparison between the present method and the known (G’/G) expansion method.

In this paper, gelatin-based films were prepared by mixing gelatin with glycerol, and microbial transglutaminase (mTG) which was used as cross linking agent. The result of SEM confirmed that a dense network structure was formed after mTG treatment comparing to the native. The effect of mTG on water barrier property of films was investigated by measuring the water vapor permeability (WVP). The results showed that the concentration of gelatin has a significant influence on the water barrier property of gelatin-based film which was treated with mTG. The WVP value of the films decreased sharply after enzymatic cross-linking when gelatin concentration increased to 8%, while no evident change of the WVP can be found when the gelatin concentrations was lower than 8%.

Type I collagen was isolated from calf skin and its assembly on PVA film induced by glutaraldehyde vapor was investigated. It was found that the collagen molecules were firstly orientationally assembled into collagen fibers under the inducement of glutaraldehyde vapor. Then the collagen fibers could be further aggregated into novel network structure in proper conditions of the induced reaction. The morphology of the assembled collagen fibers was depended on induced time and concentration of collagen. The network arrangement could be obtained after being induced for 72h when collagen concentration was 2.5mg/ml. At higher concentration of collagen (5 mg/ml), the collagen fibers with larger dimension were obtained, but the growth of fibers was almost in one direction.

The unique physical properties of leather make it ideally suited for the manufacture of a variety of products. Retanning has important effects on the mechanical and physical properties of the resultant leather. In this paper, a novel amphoteric acrylic copolymer as retanning material was prepared by free radical copolymerization. The effects of this copolymer on the physical properties of the resultant leather have been investigated by measuring physical and mechanical indexes of the retanned leather. The function mechanism of this copolymer was also researched. Results showed that this copolymer could improve the properties of the resultant leather including softness and strength, and increase leather’s dyeability in contrast to anionic acrylic polymer.

meso-Tetraarylporphyrins are synthesized from pyrrole and substituted benzaldehydes by a catalytic amount of I2 as catalyst and o-iodoxybenzoic acid (IBX) as oxidant in two steps and one flask. The advantages of this method include the use of inexpensive and easily available catalyst, avoidance of heavy consumption of CH2Cl2, innocuous oxidant, and good yields.

A number of structurally diverse amides were synthesized by reaction of the corresponding amines with benzoyl chloride under microwave irradiation. The proposed procedure ensures short reaction time, high yields, and excellent selectivity and considerably broadens the series of amines as compared to the microwave-assisted synthesis of amides directly from carboxylic acids. It can also be used for selective protection of various amines, including aromatic, aliphatic, and heterocyclic.

A series of 1-aryl-2-p-toluenesulfonyl hydrazides were synthesized by microwave irradiation under solvent-free conditions. The regioselectivity was excellent, the reaction time was short, the yields were moderate to high (64–91%), and the manipulation process was simple.

An efficient and a quick microwave-assisted synthesis of benzimidazoles and trisubstituted imidazoles was developed. Three benzimidazoles were obtained as a result of the condensation of 1,2-phenylenediamine with carboxylic acids and acetoacetic ester without catalyst. A series of trisubstituted imidazoles were synthesized by condensation of benzil, aromatic aldehyde and ammonium acetate in the presence of glacial acetic acid.

A new nanoscale drug delivery system incorporating a synthetic phototrigger (a cholesterol lipid containing an azobenzene moiety) can achieve zero-order, sustained and multi-pulsatile release upon ...

Reduction of azo compounds using hydrazine hydrate as reducant without catalyst is described, which proceeded smoothly in mild condition and did not pollute the environment.

Eight new-typed α,β-unsaturated acyl azo compounds were prepared for the first time using NaBrO3/H2SO4 as the oxidant with simple stirring apparatus at room temperature. NaBrO3 was first reported as an efficient dehydrogenating agent in this paper.

In this paper, ten diaryl carbazide undergo selective and rapid oxidation to the corresponding diaryl carbazone using NaNO2–acetic anhydride as a novel oxidant under mild conditions for the first time.

The color reaction of palladium(II) with the new reagent OPT was studied. In the presence of cetyltrimethyl ammonium bromide (CTMAB), in pH 5.0-5.6 HAc-NaAc buffer solution, a yellow-brown soluble complex with the ratio of 1:4 was formed. The maximum absorption was at 299.0 nm, the apparent molar absorptivity e 2 9 9 . 0 n m = 1.38 × 10 5 l mol - 1 cm - 1 . Beer's law was obeyed in the range of 2-12 μg Pd(II)/25 mL. The method's sensitivity and selectivity were very good. It could be used to determine palladium(II) in a catalyst with satisfactory results.

The new reagent N-(m-Methylphenyl)-N'-(sodium p-aminobenzenesulfonate)-thiourea (MMPT) was synthesized and its structure was confirmed by elemental analysis, IR, UV and (1)HNMR spectra. The apparent molar absorptivities of usual ions were determined and the chromogenic reaction with microamounts of platinum(IV) was studied in detail. In the medium of an HAc-NaAc buffer solution, MMPT can react with platinum(IV) to form a green soluble complex. The maximum absorbance of the complex is at 754.4 nm (epsilon(754.4)=8.58 x 10(4) L.mol(-1).cm(-1)) and 332.8 nm (epsilon(332.8)=1.14 x 10(5) L.mol(-1).cm(-1)). Beer's law was obeyed for platinum concentrations in the range of 0 approximately 1.28 mg.L(-1); the correlation coefficient was r=0.9995. At 754.4 nm, over 50 ions did not interfere with the reaction. It is one of the simplest and most selective methods available. It was convenient and rapid and has been applied to the direct determination of Pt(IV) in ores and catalysts with satisfactory results.

Fourteen diaryl thioureas which are physiologically active have been synthesized in the solid state at room temperature. The reaction needs only simple equipment and gives excellent yields.

In this paper, seven new-typed α,β-unsaturated acyl azo compounds were prepared for the first time with good yields by dehydrogenating the corresponding acyl hydrazides in solid state. Here ferric nitrate, a cheap and readily available reagent, was used as the oxidant.