Fabrication of a Molecularly-Imprinted-Polymer-Based Graphene Oxide Nanocomposite for Electrochemical Sensing of New Psychoactive Substances.

As new psychoactive substances (commonly known as "the third generation drugs") have characteristics such as short-term emergence, rapid updating, and great social harmfulness, there is a large gap in the development of their detection methods. Herein, graphite oxide (GO) was first prepared and immobilized with a reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) agent, then a new psychoactive substance (4-MEC) was chosen as a template, and then the surface RAFT polymerization of methacrylamide (MAAM) was carried out by using azobisisobutyronitrile (AIBN) as an initiator and divinylbenzene (DVB) as a cross-linker. After the removal of the embedded template, graphene oxide modified by molecularly imprinted polymers (GO-MIPs) was finally obtained.

Synthesis, characterization, and evaluation of selective molecularly imprinted polymers for the fast determination of synthetic cathinones.

As a kind of new psychoactive substance (NPS), synthetic cathinones have drawn great worldwide attention. In this study, molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs), as adsorbents for the extraction and determination of 4-methyldimethcathinone (4-MDMC), were first synthesized by coprecipitation polymerization. The physicochemical analyses of MIPs were successfully performed by XRD, FTIR, FESEM and TGA techniques.

Membrane Nanopores Induced by Nanotoroids via an Insertion and Pore-Forming Pathway.

The formation of membrane nanopores is one of the crucial activities of cells and has attracted considerable attention. However, the understanding of their types and mechanisms is still limited. Herein, we report a novel nanopore formation phenomenon achieved through the insertion of polymeric nanotoroids into the cellular membrane.

Programmable Morphology Evolution of Rod-Coil-Rod Block Copolymer Assemblies Induced by Variation of Chain Ordering.

Morphology transition of block copolymer assemblies in response to external stimuli has attracted considerable attention. However, our knowledge about the mechanism of such a transition is still limited, especially for rod-coil block copolymers. Here, we report a programmable morphology evolution of assemblies induced by variation of chain ordering for rod-coil-rod triblock copolymers.

Self-assembly and stimuli-responsive behaviours of side-chain liquid crystalline copolymers: a dissipative particle dynamics simulation approach.

We conducted a dissipative particle dynamics simulation to explore the self-assembly behaviours of side-chain liquid crystalline copolymers in solvents poor for comb blocks. Our results show that the copolymers are able to self-assemble into various aggregates such as micelles and vesicles, and especially into deformed structures such as rectangle cylinders. The morphology of the aggregates depends on the concentration of copolymers and a series of structural parameters such as the length of the coil blocks.

Designed formation of CoO/ZnCoO/CuO hollow polyhedral nanocages derived from zeolitic imidazolate framework-67 for high-performance supercapacitors.

Zeolitic imidazolate frameworks have stimulated great attention due to their potential applications in energy storage, catalysis, gas sensing, drug delivery etc. In this paper, the three-dimensional porous nanomaterial Co3O4/ZnCo2O4/CuO with hollow polyhedral nanocage structures and highly enhanced electrochemical performances was synthesized successfully by a zeolitic imidazolate framework-67 route. The composites hold the shape of the ZIF-67 templates well and the shell has multiple compositions.

Antimicrobial Activity of Extracts of the Oyster Culinary Medicinal Mushroom Pleurotus ostreatus (Higher Basidiomycetes) and Identification of a New Antimicrobial Compound.

Pleurotus ostreatus is an edible mushroom that also has high medicinal values. In this study, P. ostreatus was tested for its ability to inhibit the growth of fungi and bacteria.

Medicinal Mushroom Extracts Possess Differential Antioxidant Activity and Cytotoxicity to Cancer Cells.

Many species of edible mushrooms are known to contain a wide array of compounds with high nutritional and medicinal values. However, these values vary widely among mushroom species because of the wide diversity of compounds with different solubilities to solvents used in extraction. We report here the comparison of antioxidant activity and cytotoxicity against cancer cells in extracts of Pleurotus ostreatus, P.

In vitro propagation of Gentiana scabra Bunge - an important medicinal plant in the Chinese system of medicines.

Background: Gentiana scabra Bunge commonly known as 'Long dan cao' in China has been used in traditional Chinese medicines for more than 2000 years. Dry roots and rhizome of the herb have been used for the treatment of inflammation, anorexia, indigestion and gastric infections. Iridoids and secoiridoids are the main bioactive compounds which attribute to the pharmacological properties of this plant.

Freeze-dried microalgae of Nannochloropsis oculata improve soybean oil's oxidative stability.

Marine microalga Nannochloropsis oculata possesses nutrients valuable for human health. In this study, we added freeze-dried N. oculata powder to soybean oil and observed a remarkable inhibition in oil oxidation.

Plant ferredoxin-like protein (PFLP) outside chloroplast in Arabidopsis enhances disease resistance against bacterial pathogens.

Protection of crops against bacterial disease is an important issue in agricultural production. One of the strategies to lead plants become resistant against bacterial pathogens is employing a transgene, like plant ferredoxin-like protein (PFLP). PFLP is a photosynthetic type ferredoxin isolated from sweet pepper and contains a signal peptide for targeting towards chloroplasts.

[Wheat transformation by electroporation with ring electrode].

Electroporation has been used effectively to deliver DNA into the tissue of intact wheat immature embryos. The physical parameters of electroporation were 770 V/cm field strength, 800 microF capacitor and 100 microg/mL of plasmid DNA, containing bar and GUS gene. The electroporation was carried out by a portable and permanent ring electrode that can be fitted into the wells of 24-well plates.