[Expression of dopamine receptor D2 and adenosine receptor A2A in human retinal pigment epithelium].

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to identify the presence of dopamine receptor D2 and adenosine receptor A2A in human retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) in order to determine whether the RPE is a potential site of action for these two receptors. METHODS: RPE Cells were isolated and cultured. Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and immunocytochemistry were performed to detect the expression of D2 and A2A receptors in the RPE. RESULTS: RT-PCR analysis showed that mRNA of D2 and A2A receptors were expressed in the RPE. D2 and A2A receptors were distributed in the RPE by immunocytochemistry. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrated the presence of D2 and A2A receptors in human RPE at both mRNA and protein levels. D2 and A2A receptors may play an important role in the maintenance of the function of human retinal pigment epithelium. Furthermore, their cooperation appeared to be important in the development of axial myopia and retinal and choroidal neovascularization.

[Performance Improvement of Microbial Fuel Cell with Polyaniline Dopped Graphene Anode].

Microbial fuel cell (MFC) technology has potential in recovering bioelectricity from different types of waste, which attracts more and more attention in the field of environment and energy. However, low power density, high cost and low substrate degradation rate, closely associated with anode performance, limit its practical application. In this study, proportional polyaniline (PANI) together with graphene was chosen to obtain the PANI dopped graphene composite. The as-received composite was modified onto the surface of glassy carbon electrode. The results of electrochemical analysis showed that the optimal mass ratio of graphene was 20% for cyclic voltammetry (CV) and linear sweep voltammetry (LSV) analysis. The anodes with 5% graphene produced a peak power density of (831±45) mW·m-2, which was 1.2, 1.3, 1.3, 1.5, 1.8 times of those with 20% graphene, 1% graphene, graphene, PANI and carbon cloth, respectively. Moreover, 5% graphene reactors showed the maximum values in output voltage, open-circuit voltage (OCV), chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal rate, coulombic efficiency (CE), and biomass density. The polarization resistance was only (24±2)Ω in 5% graphene reactors,which was 19.8% of that of carbon cloth. The results of electrochemical analysis were not consistent with those of bioelectrochemical analysis, demonstrating that the biocompatibility of electrode was one of the important factors affecting MFC performance. 5% graphene anode showed full advantages of graphene and PANI, which improved the performance of MFC.

Lipase-catalyzed esterification of ferulic acid with lauryl alcohol in ionic liquids and antibacterial properties in vitro against three food-related bacteria.

Lauryl ferulate (LF) was synthesized through lipase-catalyzed esterification of ferulic acid (FA) with lauryl alcohol in a novel ionic liquid ([(EO)-3C-im][NTf2]), and its antibacterial activities was evaluated in vitro against three food-related bacteria. [(EO)-3C-im][NTf2] was first synthesized through incorporating alkyl ether moiety into the double imidazolium ring. [(EO)-3C-im][NTf2] containing hexane was found to be the most suitable for this reaction. The effects of various parameters were studied, and the maximum yield of LF (90.1%) was obtained in the optimum reaction conditions, in [(EO)-3C-im][NTf2]/hexane (VILs:Vhexane=1:1) system, 0.08mmol/mL of FA concentration, 50mg/mL Novozym 435, 60°C. LF exhibited a stronger antibacterial activity against Gram-negative (25 mm) than Gram-positive (21.5-23.2 mm) bacteria. The lowest MIC value was seen for E. coli (1.25mM), followed by L. Monocytogenes (2.5mM) and S.aureus (5mM). The MBCs for L. Monocytogenes, S.aureus and E. coli were 10, 20 and 5mM.

[Effect of Cu2+ on the power output of dual-chamber microbial fuel cell].

After addition of Cu2+ into the anodic and/or cathodic chamber, the effect of Cu2+ on the internal resistance and its distribution, power output and coulombic efficiency of dual-chamber microbial fuel cell (MFC) was investigated in this manuscript with the aid of analyzing the distribution of copper speciation. It could provide helpful information for correlative research on treatment of copper-containing wastewater by MFC. It showed that the addition of 10 mg x L(-1) Cu2+ into the anodic chamber inhibited the microbial activity, and increased the anodic activation resistance as well as the apparent internal resistance, consequently reduced the power output and coulombic efficiency of the system. However, the addition of 500 mg x L(-1) Cu2+ into the cathodic chamber significantly reduced the cathodic activation resistance as well as the apparent internal resistance, while improved the power output and the coulombic efficiency. Cu2+ in the anodic chamber was not transfered into the cathodic chamber. When adding Cu2+ into the cathodic chamber, it was mainly reduced and deposited on the cathodic chamber. It could also be transferred/diffused to the anodic chamber across the proton exchange membrane (2.8%) because of its concentration difference, thus affecting the microbial activity and power output. Only a small amount of Cu2+ remained in the supernatant of the cathodic chamber at the end of experiment.

Effect of ionic liquid [BMIM][PF6] on asymmetric reduction of ethyl 2-oxo-4-phenylbutyrate by Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

The effect of ionic liquid 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate ([BMIM][PF6]) on the asymmetric reduction of ethyl 2-oxo-4-phenylbutyrate (EOPB) to synthesize optical active ethyl 2-hydroxy-4-phenylbutyrate (EHPB) catalyzed by Saccharomyces cerevisiae was investigated. (R)-EHPB [70.4%, e.e.(R)] is obtained using ethyl ether or benzene as the solvent. The main product is (S)-EHPB [27.7%, e.e.(S)] in [BMIM][PF6]. However, in ionic liquid-water (10:1, v/v) biphasic system, the enantioselectivity of the reduction is shifted towards (R)-side, and e.e.(R) is increased from 6.6 to 82.5% with the addition of ethanol (1%, v/v). The effect of the use of [BMIM][PF6] as an additive in relatively small amounts on the reduction was also studied. We find that there is a decline in the enantioselectivity of the reduction in benzene. In addition, a decrease in the conversion of EOPB and the yield of EHPB with increasing [BMIM][PF6] concentrations occurs in either organic solvent-water biphasic systems or benzene.