Oxoisoaporphine Alkaloids: Prospective Anti‐Alzheimer's Disease,Anticancer, and Antidepressant Agents

Oxoisoaporphine alkaloids are a family of oxoisoquinoline‐derived alkaloids that were first isolated from the rhizome of Menispermum dauricum DC. (Menispermaceae). It has been demonstrated that oxoisoaporphine alkaloids possess various biological properties, such as cholinesterase and β‐amyloid inhibition, acting as a topoisomerase intercalator, monoamine oxidase A inhibition, and are expected to become anti‐Alzheimer's disease, anticancer, and antidepressant drugs. This review provides an overview of natural sources, synthetic routes, bioactivities, structure–function relationship, and modification investigations into oxoisoaporphine alkaloids, with the aim of providing references to the structure–activity relationships for the design and development of oxoisoaporphine derivatives with higher efficacy and therapeutic potential.     

Electrical conductivity of the graphene nanoplatelets coated natural and synthetic fibres using electrophoretic deposition technique

Herein, electrically conductive natural and synthetic yarns through electrophoretic deposition (EPD) technique were fabricated. A parametric study on the conductivity enhancement of the yarns is carried out by Taguchi method. Using this method, the desirable conditions are determined by studying the effects of important parameters on the electrical conductivity of the yarns in the EPD coating process. Based on the L₁₈ design of experiments table, the preferred combination of factors to obtain the highest electrical conductivity of the yarns is found by Taguchi analysis. In addition, the Pareto ANOVA analysis is conducted to identify the major contributing factors on the electrical conductivity of the yarns. Characterisation techniques, such as scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transformed infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) in attenuated total reflectance (ATR) mode, and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) are utilised for better understanding the microstructure and physical properties. When powered by only 3 V, the maximum temperature of a Joule heated conductive sample based on natural fibre yarns reached 102°C in less than 25 s.     

Scytodecamide from the Cultured Scytonema sp. UIC 10036 Expands the Chemical and Genetic Diversity of Cyanobactins

Cyanobactins are a large family of cyanobacterial ribosomally synthesized and post-translationally modified peptides (RiPPs) often associated with biological activities, such as cytotoxicity, antiviral, and antimalarial activities. They are traditionally described as cyclic molecules containing heterocyclized amino acids. However, this definition has been recently challenged by the discovery of short, linear cyanobactins containing three to five amino acids as well as cyanobactins containing no heterocyclized residues. Herein we report the discovery of scytodecamide ( 1 ) from the freshwater cyanobacterium Scytonema sp. UIC 10036. Structural elucidation based on mass spectrometry, 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopy, and Marfey's method revealed 1 to be a linear decapeptide with an N-terminal N-methylation and a C-terminal amidation. The genome of Scytonema sp. UIC 10036 was sequenced, and bioinformatic analysis revealed a cyanobactin-like biosynthetic gene cluster consistent with the structure of 1 . The discovery of 1 as a novel linear peptide containing an N-terminal N-methylation and a C-terminal amidation expands the chemical and genetic diversity of the cyanobactin family of compounds.     

Mammalian-Like Inflammatory and Pro-Resolving Oxylipins in Marine Algae

Oxylipins constitute a family of oxidized fatty acids, that are well known as tissue hormones in mammals. They contribute to inflammation and its resolution. The major classes of these lipid mediators are inflammatory prostaglandins (PGs) and leukotrienes (LTs) as well as pro-resolving resolvins (Rvs). Understanding their biosynthetic pathways and modes of action is important for anti-inflammatory interventions. Besides mammals, marine algae also biosynthesize mammalian-like oxylipins and thus offer new opportunities for oxylipin research. They provide prolific sources for these compounds and offer unique opportunities to study alternative biosynthetic pathways to the well-known lipid mediators. Herein, we discuss recent findings on the biosynthesis of oxylipins in mammals and algae including an alternative pathway to prostaglandin E₂, a novel pathway to a precursor of leukotriene B₄, and the production of resolvins in algae. We evaluate the pharmacological potential of the algal metabolites with implications in health and disease.     

自然时效效应及预时效处理对7A20铝合金组织性能的影响

研究了中强度7A20铝合金的自然时效硬化效应及预时效处理对组织和性能的影响。采用光学显微镜和透射电镜表征了其微观组织结构,采用维氏硬度计和万能拉伸试验机测试了其硬度和力学性能。结果表明:固溶态7A20试验铝合金的自然时效硬化效应明显,12天后硬度由56 HV0.5提高到122 HV0.5,提高了117.86%。经120 ℃×10 min预时效处理后,自然时效硬化增量最低,相比于固溶态降低了16 HV0.5,有效抑制自然时效硬化效应;同时,预时效处理提升了烘烤硬化效应,烘烤硬化后屈服强度提升了166 MPa,抗拉强度提高了51 MPa,伸长率降低了7%。烘烤处理前,其晶内的强化主要来自于与基体共格的GP区,烘烤处理后为尺寸小于5 nm、弥散分布的η′强化相。     

Social licence: power imbalances and levels of consciousness – two case studies

ABSTRACT

Social licence to operate (SLO) is a term that is finding increasing acceptance in a number of industries. Like all new terms, its precise meaning and implications are still being investigated. Using data from previous studies, this paper offers an analysis of the SLO of two case studies with each study being viewed separately through the grid of a distinct theoretical framework. Case study 1 looks at the development of differential social licence negotiated in the Hamlet of Cambridge Bay, Nunavut, as a result of an impact and benefit agreement negotiated between Tahera Diamond Corp. and the Kitikmeot Inuit Organisation in 2004. The study demonstrates that general acceptance of resource development can be uneven and reflect an unequal distribution of decision-making power. In case study 2, stakeholders of a failed mineral development project were queried across time about the specifics of the proposed mine development and were queried about resource development across different levels of consciousness. Perhaps, SLO is variable across different levels of consciousness. The paper concludes with observations about the variable nature of SLO acceptance across populations and across levels of consciousness within individuals. Perhaps, the concept of SLO is, in fact, complex, difficult to define and measure and, at this point, of limited utility as a measure of resource development acceptance.     

A new MM algorithm for constrained estimation in the proportional hazards model

The constrained estimation in Cox’s model for the right-censored survival data is studied and the asymptotic properties of the constrained estimators are derived by using the Lagrangian method based on Karush–Kuhn–Tucker conditions. A novel minorization–maximization (MM) algorithm is developed for calculating the maximum likelihood estimates of the regression coefficients subject to box or linear inequality restrictions in the proportional hazards model. The first M-step of the proposed MM algorithm is to construct a surrogate function with a diagonal Hessian matrix, which can be reached by utilizing the convexity of the exponential function and the negative logarithm function. The second M-step is to maximize the surrogate function with a diagonal Hessian matrix subject to box constraints, which is equivalent to separately maximizing several one-dimensional concave functions with a lower bound and an upper bound constraint, resulting in an explicit solution via a median function. The ascent property of the proposed MM algorithm under constraints is theoretically justified. Standard error estimation is also presented via a non-parametric bootstrap approach. Simulation studies are performed to compare the estimations with and without constraints. Two real data sets are used to illustrate the proposed methods.     

Experimental study on combustion stability and performance of hydrogen-enriched compressed natural gas of a free-piston linear generator

Free Piston linear Generator (FPLG) engine fueled by compressed natural gas (CNG) has recently gained increased research attention. However, due to the low-velocity burning and poor lean limit of CNG fuel, the FPLG engine combustion stability, performance, and efficiency are still low. Hydrogen has a greater burning velocity with wider flame limits that could extend the lean burn limits and combustion characteristics of CNG. This paper compares pure CNG and 10% hydrogen-enriched CNG at various ignition speeds (0.6 ms, 0.8 m/s, and 1 m/s), injection positions (0 mm, 5 mm, 10 mm and 15 mm), and lambda ratios (0.9, 1.4 and 1.7) on the combustion characteristics, performance, and conversion efficiency are duly discussed. The findings show that the FPLG combustion stability limits increase with the hydrogen addition into the CNG. The CNG in-cylinder pressure increases significantly when the injection position is advanced, whereas the hydrogen addition reduces the influence of the injection position. The heat release rate increases by 15.62% and 23.72% with hydrogen addition, corresponding to the advanced and retarded injection positions. Consequently, the hydrogen addition increases the power RMS to 209.21 W and 232.64 W with an increment of 3.46% and 3.13%, respectively. Conclusively, the hydrogen addition into the CNG evidently shortens the combustion duration while improving the heat release rate, combustion stability, power RMS, Cycle-to-Cycle variation, and conversion efficiency.     

Regulation of sensory nerve conduction velocity of human bodies responding to annual temperature variations in natural environments

The extensive research interests in environmental temperature can be linked to human productivity / performance as well as comfort and health; while the mechanisms of physiological indices responding to temperature variations remain incompletely understood. This study adopted a physiological sensory nerve conduction velocity (SCV) as a temperature‐sensitive biomarker to explore the thermoregulatory mechanisms of human responding to annual temperatures. The measurements of subjects’ SCV (over 600 samples) were conducted in a naturally ventilated environment over all four seasons. The results showed a positive correlation between SCV and annual temperatures and a Boltzmann model was adopted to depict the S‐shaped trend of SCV with operative temperatures from 5°C to 40°C. The SCV increased linearly with operative temperatures from 14.28°C to 20.5°C and responded sensitively for 10.19°C‐24.59°C, while tended to be stable beyond that. The subjects’ thermal sensations were linearly related to SCV, elaborating the relation between human physiological regulations and subjective thermal perception variations. The findings reveal the body SCV regulatory characteristics in different operative temperature intervals, thereby giving a deeper insight into human autonomic thermoregulation and benefiting for built environment designs, meantime minimizing the temperature‐invoked risks to human health and well‐being.     

白云岩与砂岩致密储集体质量的差异性

白云岩与砂岩致密储集体质量参数为随机分布的连续谱系，孔隙结构、物理参数复杂多变，表征难度较大。基于铸体薄片、压汞、核磁共振、孔隙度和渗透率等测试技术，结合大量天然气勘探开发实际资料，采用统计分析对比方法，重点讨论了储层质量宏观与微观参数特征。结果表明，白云岩与砂岩致密储集体质量参数具有正态分布特征，是一种金字塔数据结构，常规储层比例一般为15%~20%，是砂岩或白云岩致密储层的“甜点”；致密砂岩储层微观孔隙发育，孔、喉连通性较好，分布比较均匀，储层孔、渗关系较好，表现为相对高孔和低渗；白云岩致密储层质量尽管具有孔、喉连通性差和孔、渗关系较差的不利因素，但也具有相对高渗、低束缚水饱和度、低排驱压力及裂缝网络发育等有利因素，天然气渗流能力较好，勘探开发潜力较大。我国发育碳酸盐岩沉积，应加强致密白云岩气藏成藏条件研究与勘探。