Essential (Mg,Fe, Zn and Cu) and Non-Essential (Cd and Pb) Elements in Predatory Insects (Vespa crabro and Vespa velutina): A Molecular Perspective

The recent introduction of the Asian yellow-legged hornet, Vespa velutina, into Europe has raised concern regarding the threat to honeybees and the competition with the European hornet, Vespa crabro. The aim of this study was to investigated essential (Mg, Fe, Zn, Cu) and non-essential (Cd and Pb) elements in these two species. Element concentrations were determined in the whole body and separately in the head, thorax and abdomen using atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS). The changes in essential element concentration and speciation during metamorphosis were also studied using size exclusion chromatography followed by AAS and proteomic analysis. In both species, the essential elements were more concentrated in the abdomen due to the presence of fat bodies. Magnesium, Fe and Zn concentrations were significantly higher in V. crabro than in V. velutina and could have been related to the higher aerobic energy demand of the former species required to sustain foraging flight. Low concentrations of Cd and Pb were indicative of low environmental exposure. The concentration and speciation of essential elements, particularly Fe, varied among the developmental stages, indicating a modification of ligand preferences during metamorphosis. Overall, the results in the present study provide a better understanding of the hornet metal metabolism and a foundation for additional studies.     

A Structure−Activity Relationship Study of Novel Hydroxamic Acid Inhibitors around the S1 Subsite of Human Aminopeptidase N

Aminopeptidase N (APN/CD13) is a zinc-dependent ubiquitous transmembrane ectoenzyme that is widely present in different types of cells. APN is one of the most extensively studied metalloaminopeptidases as an anti-cancer target due to its significant role in the regulation of metastasis and angiogenesis. Previously, we identified a potent and selective APN inhibitor, N-(2-(Hydroxyamino)-2-oxo-1-(3′,4′,5′-trifluoro-[1,1′-biphenyl]-4-yl)ethyl)-4-(methylsulfonamido)benzamide ( 3 ). Herein, we report the further modifications performed to explore SAR around the S1 subsite of APN and to improve the physicochemical properties. A series of hydroxamic acid analogues were synthesised, and the pharmacological activities were evaluated in vitro. N-(1-(3′-Fluoro-[1,1′-biphenyl]-4-yl)-2-(hydroxyamino)-2-oxoethyl)-4-(methylsulfonamido)benzamide ( 6 f ) was found to display an extremely potent inhibitory activity in the sub-nanomolar range.     

A Complexing Agent to Enable a Wide-Temperature Range Bromine-Based Flow Battery for Stationary Energy Storage

Bromine-based flow batteries (Br-FBs) are considered one of the most promising energy storage systems due to their features of high energy density and low cost. However, they generally suffer from uncontrolled diffusion of corrosive bromine particularly at high temperatures. That is because the interaction between polybromide anions and the commonly used complexing agent (N–methyl–N–ethyl–pyrrolidinium bromide [MEP]) decreases with increasing temperatures, which causes serious self-discharge and capacity fade. Herein, a novel bromine complexing agent, 1–ethyl–2–methyl–pyridinium bromide (BCA), is introduced in Br-FBs to solve the above problems. It is proven that BCA can combine with polybromide anions very well even at a high temperature of 60 °C. Moreover, the BCA contributes to decreasing the electrochemical polarization of Br⁻/Br₂ couple, which in turn improves their power density. As a result, a zinc–bromine flow battery with BCA as the complexing agent can achieve a high energy efficiency of 84% at 40 mA cm⁻², even at high temperature of 60 °C and it can stably run for more than 400 cycles without obvious performance decay. This paper provides an effective complexing agent to enable a wide temperature range Br-FB.     

ZnO Nanoplatelets with Controlled Thickness: Atomic Insight into Facet-Specific Bimodal Ligand Binding Using DNP NMR

Colloidal nanoplatelets (NPLs) and nanosheets with controlled thickness have recently emerged as an exciting new class of quantum-sized nanomaterials with substantially distinct optical properties compared to 0D quantum dots. Zn-based NPLs are an attractive heavy-metal-free alternative to the so far most widespread cadmium chalcogenide colloidal 2D semiconductor nanostructures, but their synthesis remains challenging to achieve. The authors describe herein, to the best of their knowledge, the first synthesis of highly stable ZnO NPLs with the atomically precise thickness, which for the smallest NPLs is 3.2 nm (corresponding to 12 ZnO layers). Furthermore, by means of dynamic nuclear polarization-enhanced solid-state ¹⁵N NMR, the original role of the benzamidine ligands in stabilizing the surface of these nanomaterials is revealed, which can bind to both the polar and non-polar ZnO facets, acting either as X- or L-type ligands, respectively. This bimodal stabilization allows obtaining hexagonal NPLs for which the surface energy of the facets is modulated by the presence of the ligands. Thus, in-depth study of the interactions at the organic–inorganic interfaces provides a deeper understanding of the ligand–surface interface and should facilitate the future chemistry of stable-by-design nano-objects.     

Comparative study of microwave absorption properties of Ni–Zn ferrites obtained from different synthesis technologies

Spinel ferrites are widely used for electromagnetic wave (EMW) absorption applications. In this study, spinel Ni–Zn ferrites with excellent microwave absorption properties were synthesized. Their EMW absorption characteristics and interaction mechanisms were studied to lay the foundation for the study of the role of Ni–Zn ferrite as a magnetic substrate for composites. Herein, Ni_0·5Zn_0·5Fe₂O₄ was prepared by the hydrothermal method (H-NZFO) and the sol–gel auto-combustion method (S-NZFO); both samples exhibited distinct microwave absorption properties. The S-NZFO absorber (thickness = 3.72 mm) demonstrated the best dual-zone microwave absorption with two strong reflection loss peaks at 5.1 and 10.5 GHz. The corresponding effective absorption bandwidth (EAB) reached 9.0 GHz, which covered part of the S-band and all of the C- and X-bands. These results were attributed to the high saturation magnetization, outstanding complex permeability, and multiple magnetic loss channels of S-NZFO. The H-NZFO sample exhibited excellent absorption capability and matching thickness. At a thickness as low as 1.71 mm, the minimum reflection loss (RL_min) of the H-NZFO absorber reached -60.2 dB at 13.1 GHz. The maximum bandwidth corresponding to RL below -10 dB was 4.6 GHz. These results can be attributed to small particle size, high complex permittivity, and multiple dielectric loss channels of H-NZFO. The observed wide effective absorption bandwidth of S-NZFO and strong microwave absorption capability of H-NZFO suggest the potential of both materials as substrates for efficient microwave absorbers in military as well as civilian absorption applications.     

机械力化学制备锡酸锌及其在PVC中的阻燃应用

以二氧化锡（SnO₂）和氧化锌（ZnO）为原料,通过机械力化学湿法球磨,制备了锡酸锌（ZS）,再与水滑石按一定比例研磨得到锡酸锌改性的水滑石（ZS/HT）。通过扫描电子显微镜、X射线衍射、透射电子显微镜对合成的ZS与ZS/HT做了表征。将制得的ZS/HT应用于PVC制得阻燃PVC样品,当加入10%（ZS与水滑石的质量比）ZS/HT时材料的极限氧指数比纯PVC样品高3.5%,同时材料的力学性能有所增加。热重分析结果表明,ZS/HT的加入促使PVC提前分解成炭,有效提高PVC材料的残炭量。     

分光光度法和光度滴定法联合测定湿法炼锌流程中钴渣浸出液中锌钴镍

湿法炼锌流程中钴渣浸出液中含有高浓度的Fe²⁺和Mn²⁺,用分光光度法测定Co²⁺和Ni²⁺时,Fe²⁺-EDTA会严重干扰Co²⁺和Ni²⁺的测定;在用光度滴定法测定Zn²⁺和Co²⁺合量时,Ni²⁺对二甲酚橙指示剂具有封闭作用,Mn²⁺亦与EDTA螯合,导致滴定结果偏高。为消除Fe²⁺和Mn²⁺对Zn²⁺、Co²⁺和Ni²⁺测定的干扰,实验进行氧化分离Fe²⁺和Mn²⁺预处理,在NaAc/Hac缓冲体系下,以EDTA作显色剂用分光光度法测定Co²⁺、Ni²⁺。在波长466nm处,Co²⁺的线性范围为50~500mg/L时与吸光度呈线性,相关系数R²为0.9992;在384nm处,Ni²⁺的线性范围为50~500mg/L时与吸光度呈线性,相关系数R²为0.9998。根据分光光度法测出Ni²⁺物质的量,加入1.1倍的丁二酮肟以除去Ni²⁺,用二甲酚橙为指示剂,EDTA鳌合-光度滴定法测定Zn²⁺、Co²⁺合量,扣减Co²⁺含量得出Zn²⁺含量。选取4个锌湿法炼锌流程中钴渣浸出液实际样品,按照实验方法中的分光光度法测定Co²⁺和Ni²⁺,光度滴定法测定Zn²⁺、Co²⁺合量,Zn²⁺、Co²⁺和Ni²⁺测定结果的相对标准偏差(RSD,n=6)均不大于0.70%,加标回收率分别为99.59%~100.41%、99.69%~100.64%、99.92%~100.08%。     

黔北桑木场背斜铅锌矿深部找矿实例分析*#br#

黔北桑木场背斜位于上扬子地块黔北隆起区毕节弧形褶皱带与赤水克拉通盆地的交汇部位，属于有利的铅锌成矿区带。区内铅锌矿的赋矿层位主要有震旦系灯影组、寒武系清虚洞组、高台组及石冷水组，矿体多产于背斜核部并受断层或裂隙控制。通过对地层岩性特征、地表矿化特征、控容矿构造特征、化探异常特征、物探异常特征等进行综合研究，选择在成矿有利地段进行了工程验证，为进一步开展桑木场背斜铅锌矿深部找矿工作提供了思路。