大都市区的棋盘博弈：区域设计中形态学主题的运用

中国空前的城市化速度与规模亟需更先进的规划设计策略。探索基于形态学的区域设计研究教学方法,从而制定体现中国大都市区特征的空间策略。在设计课程背景下,介绍了以形态学主题为基础的探索性棋盘博弈这一方法论,并应用到粤港澳大湾区空间转型的场景设计中。评估了香港理工大学设计学院和代尔夫特理工大学城市学系连续4年的一系列合作成果。1）沿着设计课程的流程,阐明了教学轨迹。2）调查了不同形态学主题如何影响学生的设计成果,对比了成果的空间特异性以及设计提案的激进程度。3）探讨了是否部分形态学主题更适用于大湾区社会文化与环境的特殊性。在6次课程中,学生们研究了8个形态学主题：点状、线状、条状、巨型街区、放射状、环状、交叉状和边缘状。实践表明存在冗余的主题,因此对主题的进一步确立值得深入研究。需要指出,2所大学的设计课程存在差异,这似乎也影响了棋盘博弈法在各自课程中扮演的作用。整体而言,此教学方法论可以产生远超传统空间规划的设计策略。因此,以形态学主题为基础的棋盘博弈是一套充满前景的方法论,并且今后有望结合更多利益相关方的参与,进行进一步深化和测试。     

Composition, quality control and antimicrobial activity of the essential oil of cumin (Cuminum cyminum L.) seeds from Bulgaria that had been stored for up to 36 years

The essential oil of seeds of cumin (Cuminum cyminum L.) from Bulgaria stored for more than 35 years was analyzed by physicochemical methods, GC, GC‐MS and olfactometry and its antimicrobial activity tested using different strains of microorganisms. More than sixty constituents of this cumin oil could be identified as essential volatiles, responsible for the pleasant fresh, clean, spicy (typical cumin‐like) odour of a high quality product. Cumin aldehyde (36%), β‐pinene (19.3%), p‐cymene (18.4%) and γ‐terpinene (15.3%) were the principal compounds found. Antimicrobial testing showed high activity of the essential C. cyminum oil against the mold Aspergillus niger, the Gram (+) bacteria Bacillus subtilis and Staphylococcus epidermidis as well as the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Candida albicans.     

An efficient method for the synthesis of peptide aldehyde libraries employed in the discovery of reversible SARS coronavirus main protease (SARS-CoV Mpro) inhibitors

A method for the parallel solid-phase synthesis of peptide aldehydes has been developed. Protected amino acid aldehydes obtained by the racemization-free oxidation of amino alcohols with Dess-Martin periodinane were immobilized on threonyl resins as oxazolidines. Following Boc protection of the ring nitrogen to yield the N-protected oxazolidine linker, peptide synthesis was performed efficiently on this resin. A peptide aldehyde library was designed for targeting the SARS coronavirus main protease, SARS-CoV M(pro)(also known as 3CL(pro)), on the basis of three different reported binding modes and supported by virtual screening. A set of 25 peptide aldehydes was prepared by this method and investigated in inhibition assays against SARS-CoV M(pro). Several potent inhibitors were found with IC(50) values in the low micromolar range. An IC(50) of 7.5 muM was found for AcNSTSQ-H and AcESTLQ-H. Interestingly, the most potent inhibitors seem to bind to SARS-CoV M(pro) in a noncanonical binding mode.     

Carotenoid Composition and Vitamin A Values of Oils from Four Brazilian Palm Fruits

In oils extracted from fresh and sterilized palm fruits (Elaeis guineensis, Jacq. tenera, dura dumpy and psifera and E. oleifera), cis-phytofluene, 13-cis-α-carotene, α-carotene, 13-cis-β-carotene, β-carotene, 9-cis-β-carotene, σ-carotene, zeaxanthin, --cryptoxanthin, poly-cis-lycopene, mono-lycopene and lycopene, were identified and quantified by normal phase open column chromatography (stepwise-elution), TLC, UV/Vis spectroscopy and specific chemical reactions. The sum of α- and β-carotene in all samples analysed was higher than 80% of the total carotenoid content, while the α/β-carotene ratios were W.9, 1/11.1, 1/22 and V2.6 for oils extracted from fresh fruits of dura dumpy, psifera, tenera and E. oleifera, respectively. Total carotenoid contents (pg/g) and vitamin A values (R. E./100 g) of these samples were 1 120.7 and 12 404 for dura dumpy, 283.2 and 3612 for psifera, 660.5 and 7630 for tenera and 1576.8 and 21691 for E. oleifera. The sterilization of fruits (127°C × 35 min.) resulted in isomerization of pigments and reduction of vitamin A values of approximately 45% and 25%, respectively.     

Surface properties of wood and MDF after ultrasonic-assisted cutting

Surfaces created by ultrasonic-assisted cutting (UC) of beech and spruce and of medium density fibreboard (MDF) are compared to surfaces obtained by conventional linear cutting (CC) using a sharp tool. Topography is evaluated performing roughness measurements and scanning electron microscopy. No effect of UC procedure on mean roughness is found. The surface of MDF and large areas of the surfaces of the woods appear similar after UC and CC, whereas other regions show impact marks and microscopic reels produced by the periodic oscillation of the tool in UC. The wettability of surfaces produced with both wood processing techniques is similar. Surface free energy measurements indicate accelerated ageing caused by UC, probably due to heating.     

Synthesis of Aminopyridazines from Aminocyclopropenylium Salts and Diazomethyl Compounds [1]

Amino-substituted cyclopropenylium salts ( 11a,b ) react with diazomethyl compounds ( 12a-i ) in dichloromethane or acetonitrile in the presence of a base (ethyldiisopropylamine, 1,5-diazabicyclo[4.3.0] non-5-ene) to form 4-aminopyridazines ( 13a-i ) specifically. The reaction is interpreted in terms of an initial electrophilic diazoalkane substitution to give diazomethylcyclopropenes ( 11 + 12 → 14 ) which undergo a [1.5]-cyclisation to form the betaines 16 which, in turn, isomerise with opening of the bridging bond to give the aminopyridazines 13 . In a similar manner, the tris[amino] cyclopropenylium salts 8a,b and 10a-c are converted to the 3,4,5-tris[amino]-pyridazines ( 21a-k ) by treatment with diazomethyl compounds ( 12a, c-f ).