Direct dissolution of cellulose in NaOH/thiourea/urea aqueous solution

Untreated cellulose was directly and quickly dissolved in NaOH/thiourea/urea aqueous solution. The mechanism of dissolution was investigated by SEM, WXRD and (13)C NMR. The components of this solvent cannot dissolve cellulose on their own, and the interactions between NaOH and urea, as well as between NaOH and thiourea, play an important role in improving the dissolution of cellulose. Moreover, (13)C NMR spectra proved that NaOH, thiourea, and urea were bound to cellulose molecules, which brings cellulose molecules into aqueous solution to a certain extent and prevents cellulose macromolecules from associating. (13)C NMR spectra of the cellulose solution show that this novel mixture is a direct solvent. Optical microscopy and CP MAS (13)C NMR were used to study the process of dissolution. The results reveal that cellulose is dissolved completely and that cellulose I (cotton linter) first changes to amorphous cellulose chains in solution, and then to cellulose II during regeneration. Moreover, a new, more effective dissolution method is proposed, as confirmed by dynamic rheology measurements.     

The structural properties of magainin in water, TFE/water, and aqueous urea solutions: molecular dynamics simulations

Here, the MD simulations and comparative structural analysis of Magainin in water, TFE/water, and 2M, 4M, and BM urea solutions is reported. For MAG-TFE/water and MAG-2M urea the largely alpha helical conformation of the peptide is maintained throughout the 9-ns simulation. While in water, 4M urea, and 8M urea, the helix length decreases and at the same time helix radius increases. This suggests a more destabilized magainin secondary structure. Our simulation data reveals that the stabilizing effect of TFE is induced by preferential accumulation of TFE molecules around the alpha helical peptide. These results indicate that an aqueous urea solution solvates the surface of polypeptide chain more favorably than pure water. Urea molecules interact more favorably with nonpolar groups of the peptide in comparison with water, and the presence of urea improves the interactions of water molecules with the hydrophilic groups of the peptide. At 8M urea, there are more direct interactions between the urea and solute, and the helix is destabilized. At 2M urea, the interaction of urea molecules and nonpolar residues are weak, therefore, the presence of urea molecules decreases the interactions of water molecules with hydrophilic groups. Urea could not deteriorate the peptide secondary structure with time from an initial helix structure.     

Experimental Study of Aqueous Humor Flow in a Transparent Anterior Segment Phantom by Using PIV Technique

Pupillary block is considered as an important cause of primary angle-closure glaucoma (PACG). In order to investigate the effect of pupillary block on the hydrodynamics of aqueous humor (AH) in anterior chamber (AC) and potential risks, a 3D printed eye model was developed to mimic the AH flow driven by fluid generation, the differential pressure between AC and posterior chambers (PC) and pupillary block. Particle image velocimetry technology was applied to visualize flow distribution. The results demonstrated obvious differences in AH flow with and without pupillary block. Under the normal condition (without pupillary block), the flow filed of AH was nearly symmetric in the AC. The highest flow velocity located at the central of AC when the differential pressure between AC and PC was under 5.83 Pa, while it appeared near the cornea and iris surface when the differential pressure was greater than 33.6 Pa. Once pupillary block occurred, two asymmetric vortices with different sizes were observed and the shear stress in the paracentral cornea and iris epithelium increased greatly. It can be concluded that the pupillary block and the elevated differential pressure between AC and PC could change the flow distribution and thus increase the risk of corneal endothelial cells detachment. This study could make a further understanding of the pathogenesis of PACG.     

Aqueous ammonia pretreatment of oil palm empty fruit bunches for ethanol production

Oil palm empty fruit bunches (EFB) were pretreated by aqueous ammonia soaking for ethanol production. Pretreated EFB, which were pretreated at the optimal conditions of 60 °C, 12 h, and 21% (w/w) aqueous ammonia, showed 19.5% and 41.4% glucose yields during an enzymatic digestibility test for 96 h when using 15 and 60 FPU of cellulase, respectively. Using the pretreated EFB, simultaneous saccharification and fermentation for 168 h with 5% (w/v) glucan loading and 60 FPU of cellulase and 30 CBU of β-glucosidase per gram glucan resulted in ethanol production of 18.6 g/L titer, 65.6% of theoretical maximum yield, and 0.11 g/L/h of productivity.     

温度对外源性32P在水、铜绿微囊藻和底泥中迁移的影响

采用同位素示踪法,在实验室模拟研究不同温度下外源性无机磷酸盐在水、铜绿微囊藻(Microcystis aeruginosa)和底泥中的迁移过程.外源性³²P加入水中后,首先是一种与温度无关的快速物理化学分配,大量溶解性磷酸盐迅速进入底泥和微囊藻中.随后水中³²P的迁移主要受微囊藻生长状况的影响.温度升高有利于微囊藻的生长,并提高了微囊藻吸磷的速度.微囊藻中最大外源性磷浓度只与水环境中的初始磷浓度有关.25℃时铜绿微囊藻的生长曲线有7d的对数期,没有明显的稳定期就转入衰亡期.在25℃时,当微囊藻超积累P到一定程度后,其对数生长同细胞内含P量无关.随着时间的推移,外源性³²P不断向底泥中迁移,实验末期所有的³²P都转移到底泥中.提高温度使水中溶解性外源性磷的下降速率加快,7d后水中溶解的外源性磷浓度低于0.00716mg·L^-1.     

曲伏前列素滴眼液联合复方丹参片对老年青光眼患者房水屏障功能 及MMP2 水平的影响

目的:研究曲伏前列素滴眼液联合复方丹参片对老年青光眼患者房水屏障功能、MMP2及临床疗效的影响。方法:选择2012年5月-2015年10月期间在我院就诊的90例青光眼患者作为研究对象,随机分为实验组和对照组,实验组患者接受曲伏前列素滴眼液联合复方丹参片治疗,对照组患者接受曲伏前列素滴眼液治疗,比较两组患者治疗前后的平均眼压水平、房水屏障功能以及血清MMP2含量、MMP2/TIMP1比值。结果:治疗后1个月、2个月、3个月时,实验组患者的平均眼压水平(17.2±2.2 vs 19.7±3.1 mm Hg)、(17.0±2.8 vs 20.2±3.2 mm Hg)、(16.7±2.5 vs 18.2±3.5 mm Hg)均显著低于对照组(P0.05);治疗后3个月时,实验组患者的房水闪辉值(18.3±2.8 vs 33.1±5.6 pc/ms)、房水细胞数以及血清MMP2含量(2.77±0.46 vs 4.02±0.72μg/L)及MMP2/TIMP1比例(0.48±0.07 vs 0.76±0.09)均显著低于对照组(P0.05)。结论:曲伏前列素滴眼液联合复方丹参片治疗能够更为有效地降低眼压水平、改善房水屏障功能,可能与其降低MMP2含量有关。     

高寒草场优势杂草黄帚橐吾水浸液对牧草的化感作用

研究了高寒草场中主要毒杂草——黄帚橐吾水浸液对同域分布的5种牧草的化感作用.将反应指数(RI)相加平均后分为一、二、三级敏感指数,分别评价不同测定指标、不同发育期和物种水平对化感作用的敏感性;从供体角度对相应RI值做同样处理,以综合评价不同水浸液及其不同浓度的化感效应.结果表明,5种牧草对黄帚橐吾化感作用的敏感性从强到弱依次为早熟禾>大雀麦>中华羊茅>羊茅>垂穗披碱草;牧草种子萌发期的敏感性强于幼苗生长期,尤以萌发指数受化感作用的影响明显.黄帚橐吾根、叶水浸液对牧草生物测定结果大多达到显著差异水平,物种水平的化感效应均表现为抑制作用,说明雨水淋溶是黄帚橐吾向环境中释放化感物质的途径之一.黄帚橐吾根部化感效应强于叶片,可能与其地下种间激烈的资源竞争有关.化感作用在增强黄帚橐吾生存竞争力、扩大种群和入侵草场中起着不容忽视的作用,可能是黄帚橐吾单优势种群落形成和草场退化的原因之一.     

白地霉脂肪酶的双水相萃取和反胶团提取

对影响双水相萃取和反胶团提取脂肪酶的各种因素进行了探讨,并通过正交实验进一步优化提取条件,PEG浓度15%,(NH4)2SO4浓度22.5%,pH8.0的条件下进行双水相萃取,脂肪酶纯化倍数达到7.5倍;CTAB浓度150mmol/L,相体积比4/2,水相pH8.0,温度40℃的条件下进行反胶团提取,脂肪酶的比活力达到最大,但其比活力稍有下降,约为原来的0.9倍。     

湿润和干旱条件下喀斯特地区洼地表层土壤水分的空间变异性

在桂西北喀斯特洼地,用地统计学方法研究了旱季初期湿润和干旱条件下表层(0～5和5～10 cm)土壤水分的空间结构及其分布特征.结果表明,表层土壤水分存在明显的空间异质性和各向异性,呈现差异显著的斑块状分布格局.湿润条件下,土壤水分具有中等和较强的空间相关性,变程分别为33.15 m和15.75 m,其中0～5 cm层具有明显的趋势效应;干旱条件下,土壤水分则呈现出强烈的空间相关性,而且相似斑块的空间尺度有所减小,变程最小仅为8.22m;在平均含水量较低时(干旱条件)其变异程度较大,实际应用中应根据平均含水量水平采取不同的取样设计.实验区表层土壤水分空间变异及其分布格局的显著差异,主要是受地貌、平均含水量(降水)和地形等因素的影响.     

Comparative study of antifungal activity of two preparations of green silver nanoparticles from Portulaca oleracea extract

The green silver nanoparticles (green AgNPs) exhibit an exceptional antimicrobial property against different microbes, including bacteria and fungi. The current study aimed to compare the antifungal activities of both the crude aqueous extract of Portulaca oleracea or different preparations of green AgNPs biosynthesized by mixing that aqueous extract with silver nitrate (AgNO₃). Two preparations of the green AgNPs were synthesized either by mixing the aqueous extract of P. oleracea with silver nitrate (AgNO₃) (normal AgNPs) or either irradiation of the AgNPs, previously prepared, under ⁶⁰Co γ-ray using chitosan (gamma-irradiated AgNPs). Characterization of different AgNPs were tested by Zeta potential analyzer, Ultraviolet (UV) Visible Spectroscopy, and Fourier-Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectrometry. Three different plant pathogenic fungi were tested, Curvularia spicifera, Macrophomina phaseolina, and Bipolaris sp. The antifungal activities were evaluated by Transmission Electron Microscope (TEM) for either the crude aqueous extract of P. oleracea at three doses (25%, 50%, and 100%) or the newly biosynthesized AgNPs, normal or gamma-irradiated. With a few exceptions, the comparative analysis revealed that the irradiated green AgNPs at all three concentrations showed a relatively stronger antifungal effect than the normal AgNPs against all the three selected fungal strains. UV–visible spectroscopy of both preparations showed surface plasmon resonance at 421 nm. TEM results showed that both AgNPs were aggregated and characterized by a unique spherical shape, however, the gamma-irradiated AgNPs were smaller than the non-irradiated AgNPs (0.007–0.026 µM vs. 0.009–0.086 µM). TEM photographs of the fungal strains treated with the two AgNPs preparations showed flaccid structures, condensed hyphae, and shrunken surface compared with control cells. The data suggested that the biosynthesized P. oleracea AgNPs have antifungal properties against C. spicifera, M. phaseolina, and Bipolaris sp. These AgNPs may be considered a fungicide to protect different plants against phytopathogenic fungi.