Retention of Eucalyptol,a Natural Volatile Insecticide,in Delivery Systems Based on Hydroxypropyl‐β‐Cyclodextrin and Liposomes

Eucalyptol (Euc) is a natural monoterpene with insecticide effects. Being highly volatile and sensitive to ambient conditions, its encapsulation would enlarge its application. Euc‐loaded conventional liposomes (CL), cyclodextrin/drug inclusion complex, and drug‐in‐cyclodextrin‐in‐liposomes (DCL) are prepared to protect Euc from degradation, reduce its evaporation, and provide its controlled release. The liposomal suspension is freeze‐dried using hydroxypropyl‐β‐cyclodextrin (HP‐β‐CD) as cryoprotectant. The liposomes are characterized before and after freeze‐drying. The effect of Euc on the fluidity of liposomal membrane is also examined. A release study of Euc from delivery systems, in powder and reconstituted forms, is performed by multiple head extraction at 60 °C after 6 months of storage at 4 °C. CL and DCL suspensions are homogeneous, show nanometric vesicles size, spherical shape, and negative surface charge before and after freeze‐drying. Moreover, HP‐β‐CD does not affect the fluidity of liposomes. CL formulations present a weak encapsulation for Euc. The loading capacity of eucalyptol in DCL is 38 times higher than that in CL formulation. In addition, freeze‐dried DCL and HP‐β‐CD/Euc inclusion complex show a higher retention of eucalyptol than CL delivery system. Both carrier systems HP‐β‐CD/Euc and Euc‐loaded DCL decrease Euc evaporation and improve its retention. Practical Applications: Eucalyptol is a natural insecticide. It is highly volatile and poorly soluble in water. To enlarge its application, its encapsulation in three delivery systems (conventional liposomes, cyclodextrin/drug inclusion complex, combined system composed of cyclodextrin inclusion complex and liposome) is studied. In this paper it is proved that cyclodextrin/eucalyptol inclusion complex and eucalyptol‐in‐cyclodextrin‐in‐liposome are effective delivery systems for encalyptol encapsulation, retention, and release.     

The Effect of Deflazacort Treatment on the Functioning of Skeletal Muscle Mitochondria in Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy

Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is a severe hereditary disease caused by a lack of dystrophin, a protein essential for myocyte integrity. Mitochondrial dysfunction is reportedly responsible for DMD. This study examines the effect of glucocorticoid deflazacort on the functioning of the skeletal-muscle mitochondria of dystrophin-deficient mdx mice and WT animals. Deflazacort administration was found to improve mitochondrial respiration of mdx mice due to an increase in the level of ETC complexes (complexes III and IV and ATP synthase), which may contribute to the normalization of ATP levels in the skeletal muscle of mdx animals. Deflazacort treatment improved the rate of Ca²⁺ uniport in the skeletal muscle mitochondria of mdx mice, presumably by affecting the subunit composition of the calcium uniporter of organelles. At the same time, deflazacort was found to reduce the resistance of skeletal mitochondria to MPT pore opening, which may be associated with a change in the level of ANT2 and CypD. In this case, deflazacort also affected the mitochondria of WT mice. The paper discusses the mechanisms underlying the effect of deflazacort on the functioning of mitochondria and contributing to the improvement of the muscular function of mdx mice.     

固溶处理对TiB2/6061复合材料硬度及耐磨性的影响

采用氟盐法制备了TiB₂质量分数为3%的原位合成TiB₂/6061复合材料,研究了固溶温度和固溶时间对复合材料硬度和耐磨性能的影响。结果表明:TiB₂颗粒弥散分布在6061铝合金基体中,明显细化6061铝合金基体晶粒。当固溶温度一定时,随固溶时间延长,复合材料的硬度和耐磨性可获得明显提高,但固溶时间在6~10 h时,复合材料的性能变化不显著。当固溶时间一定时,随固溶温度升高,复合材料硬度和耐磨性呈现先上升后下降的趋势。3wt%TiB₂/6061复合材料经530 ℃×10 h固溶处理后,硬度和耐磨性能最佳,相较于铸态硬度值提高了79.5％,磨损量减少了59.1%。固溶处理后复合材料的磨损表面犁沟变细变浅,材料脱落现象减少。     

离子交换水软化技术研究与应用进展

离子交换法是目前最常见的水软化技术之一，其基于可逆的离子交换反应将溶液中的硬度离子选择性去除，属于典型的特种分离过程。本文介绍并总结了离子交换水软化的基本原理、水软化用离子交换树脂的结构和分类、离子交换水软化技术研究和应用，并针对离子交换水软化存在的问题提出了相应的解决思路。     

相变温度附近等温热处理对Mg97Zn1Y2合金组织演化的影响

研究了相变温度附近等温热处理温度和保温时间对含长周期结构Mg97Zn1Y2合金的组织的影响，并对演变机理进行了探讨。主要研究结论如下：500℃固溶处理时，随着时间的增加，长周期结构有增长的趋势。采用等温热处理可以将Mg97Zn1Y2合金中的枝晶组织转变为球状晶，当合金保温温度范围从540℃~600℃时，组织尺寸由大-小-大的顺序变化，即经过了粗化、分离及球化至最后粗化三个过程。在等温热处理温度为575℃的组织大致演变趋势为：枝晶态-不规则球形+块状-球形状，当保温时间15min，其组织为均匀、圆整的球状晶。     

Hybrid sonochemic urea-nitrate combustion preparation of CuO/ZnO/Al2O3 nanocatalyst used in fuel cell-grade hydrogen production from methanol: Effect of sonication and fuel/nitrate ratio

Fuel cell-grade hydrogen production has been studied via steam reforming of methanol (SRM) over a series of CuO/ZnO/Al₂O₃ nanocatalysts fabricated by the combustion method. The effect of sonication and urea/nitrate ratio on the characteristics and catalytic properties of the prepared catalysts has been investigated. The synthesized catalysts were characterized by x-ray diffraction (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM), Particle Size Distribution (PSD), energy dispersive x-ray (EDX), Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) and FTIR analyses XRD patterns showed positive influence of urea/nitrate ratio on CuO and ZnO crystallite sizes. The ultrasonic mixing of primary gel compared with conventional mixing led to lower crystallite size. FESEM images showed that the sample mixed by sonication with a urea/nitrate ratio of 1 had more homogeneous morphology with narrow particle size distribution. EDX results proved the presence of all metals on the surface of the nanocatalysts and better consistence between the gel and surface composition of elements in samples prepared by sonication. Catalytic performance showed that sonication during the mixing of primary gel dramatically increased the methanol conversion. It was also proved that increasing the amount of urea led to lower catalytic activity. The ultrasound-treated nanocatalyst with urea/nitrate?=?1 was the best sample in terms of activity and selectivity. It was stable in the SRM for 1200?min without considerable change in methanol conversion and product selectivity.     

红色红曲菌组蛋白去乙酰化酶MrSir2的原核表达及活性分析

根据基因组序列信息,利用cDNA末端快速扩增技术(rapid-amplification of cDNA ends,RACE)得到了红色红曲菌中组蛋白去乙酰化酶mrsir2基因的完整cDNA序列,其编码序列(coding sequence,CDS)为1539 bp,编码512个氨基酸,含有一个SIR2蛋白保守结构域。根据大肠杆菌的密码子的偏好性对mrsir2序列进行优化,优化后的序列与p ET-28b载体连接后转入宿主菌E.coli BL21中进行IPTG诱导表达,并优化表达条件。实验结果表明:在16℃条件下用终浓度为0.25 mM的IPTG诱导培养16 h后,目的蛋白Mr Sir2可溶性表达效果良好。Ni2+柱亲和层析纯化后的Mr Sir2重组蛋白在SDS-PAGE上显示为一条约75 ku大小的条带,蛋白定量浓度达1.97 mg/mL,经Western blot鉴定为目的蛋白,测定酶活为78.5(OD/min/mg),780μM的二氢香豆素(dihydrocoumarin,DHC)对Mr Sir2蛋白的酶活抑制率为47%。Mr Sir2蛋白的可溶性表达为全面了解其酶学特征提供了材料,也为体外分析蛋白相互作用奠定了基础。     

Role of Cyclooxygenase-2 in Head and Neck Tumorigenesis

The cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) is a potent enzyme that converts arachidonic acid to prostaglandins (PG), including PGE2, a key mediator of inflammation and angiogenesis. Importantly, COX-2 is activated in response to inflammatory stimuli, where it is also believed to promote the development and progression of head and neck cancers (HNC). COX-2 can mediate its protumorigenic effect through various mechanisms, such as inducing cell proliferation, inhibition of apoptosis, and suppressing the host’s immune response. Furthermore, COX-2 can induce the production of vascular endothelial growth factors, hence, promoting angiogenesis. Indeed, the ability of COX-2 inhibitors to selectively restrict the proliferation of tumor cells and mediating apoptosis provides promising therapeutic targets for cancer patients. Thus, in this comprehensive review, we summarized the reported differential expression patterns of COX-2 in different stages of head and neck carcinogenesis—from potentially premalignant lesions to invasive carcinomas. Furthermore, we examined the available meta-analysis evidence for COX-2 role in the carcinogenesis of HNC. Finally, further understanding of the biological processes of COX-2 and its role in orchestrating cell proliferation, apoptosis, and angiogenesis may give therapeutically beneficial insight to develop the management plan of HNC patients and improve their clinical outcomes.     

Microwave dielectric properties of SrLa[Ga1−x(Mg0.5Ti0.5)x]O4 and SrLa[Ga1−x(Zn0.5Ti0.5)x]O4 (x = 0.2-0.8) ceramics

SrLa[Ga_1−x(R_0.5Ti_0.5)_x]O₄ (R = Mg, Zn) ceramics were prepared by a standard solid state sintering method. The single-phase ceramics with K₂NiF₄-type layered perovskite structure and I4/mmm space group were obtained, indicating that SrLa(R_0.5Ti_0.5) and SrLaGaO₄ can form the unlimited solid solutions. With increasing x for R = Mg and Zn, ε_r increases monotonously, the Qf value first increases and then decreases, while τ_f increases from a negative to a positive value. The optimized microwave dielectric properties were obtained as following: ε_r = 23.3, Qf = 89 400 GHz, τ_f = −0.8 ppm/°C for SrLa[Ga_0.6(Mg_0.5Ti_0.5)_0.4]O₄ and ε_r = 23.3, Qf = 76 200 GHz, τ_f = 0.2 ppm/°C for SrLa[Ga_0.7(Zn_0.5Ti_0.5)_0.3]O₄, indicating that the present solid solution ceramics are the promising candidates as microwave resonator materials for the telecommunication applications.