Ag₄L₂ Nanocage as a Building Unit toward the Construction of Silver Metal Strings

Self-assembly of AgNO3 with the semirigid tetratopic ligands 1,2,4,5-tetrakis(benzoimidazol-1-ylmethyl)benzene (TBim) and 1,2,4,5-tetrakis(5,6-dimethylbenzimidazol-1-ylmethyl)benzene (TDMBim) afforded compounds [Ag4(μ4-TBim)2(μ2-η2-NO3)2](NO3)2·1/2CH2Cl2·2CH3OH (1μ1/2CH2Cl2·2CH3OH) and [(NO3−)⊂{Ag4(μ4-TDMBim)2}][Ag(NO3)2](NO3)2·CH2Cl2·CH3OH·4H2O (2·CH2Cl2·CH3OH·4H2O), respectively. The structures of 1 and 2 were characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. Both compounds adopt a M4L2-type tetragonal metalloprismatic cage structure, [Ag4(μ4-L)2]4+, with strong intramolecular silver−silver contacts. Compound 1 is a discrete species, while compound 2 is a novel infinite chainlike supramolecular array involving silver metal strings assembled from a [Ag4(μ4-L)2]4+ nanocage and silver linkages. Thermogravimetric analyses of 1·1/2CH2Cl2·2CH3OH and 2·CH3OH·4H2O indicate that the Ag4L2-cage structures of 1 and 2 both are thermally stable up to 330 °C. Results from an in situ 1H NMR study of AgNO3 and TDMBim in different molar ratios unambiguously revealed the successive self-organization process, in which self-organization of the molecular cage takes place initially followed by crystallization of the corresponding supramolecular arrays with silver metal strings

Ag₄L₂ Nanocage as a Building Unit toward the Construction of Silver Metal Strings

Self-assembly of AgNO3 with the semirigid tetratopic ligands 1,2,4,5-tetrakis(benzoimidazol-1-ylmethyl)benzene (TBim) and 1,2,4,5-tetrakis(5,6-dimethylbenzimidazol-1-ylmethyl)benzene (TDMBim) afforded compounds [Ag4(μ4-TBim)2(μ2-η2-NO3)2](NO3)2·1/2CH2Cl2·2CH3OH (1μ1/2CH2Cl2·2CH3OH) and [(NO3−)⊂{Ag4(μ4-TDMBim)2}][Ag(NO3)2](NO3)2·CH2Cl2·CH3OH·4H2O (2·CH2Cl2·CH3OH·4H2O), respectively. The structures of 1 and 2 were characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. Both compounds adopt a M4L2-type tetragonal metalloprismatic cage structure, [Ag4(μ4-L)2]4+, with strong intramolecular silver−silver contacts. Compound 1 is a discrete species, while compound 2 is a novel infinite chainlike supramolecular array involving silver metal strings assembled from a [Ag4(μ4-L)2]4+ nanocage and silver linkages. Thermogravimetric analyses of 1·1/2CH2Cl2·2CH3OH and 2·CH3OH·4H2O indicate that the Ag4L2-cage structures of 1 and 2 both are thermally stable up to 330 °C. Results from an in situ 1H NMR study of AgNO3 and TDMBim in different molar ratios unambiguously revealed the successive self-organization process, in which self-organization of the molecular cage takes place initially followed by crystallization of the corresponding supramolecular arrays with silver metal strings

Multiple regression analysis of factors associated with the Ch-FDI-Dinner (<i>N</i> = 213).

<p>Multiple regression analysis of factors associated with the Ch-FDI-Dinner (<i>N</i> = 213).</p

Correlations between independent variables and the Ch-FDI (<i>N</i> = 213).

Correlations between independent variables and the Ch-FDI (N = 213).</p

Multiple regression analysis for factors associated with the Ch-FDI-Lunch (<i>N</i> = 213).

Multiple regression analysis for factors associated with the Ch-FDI-Lunch (N = 213).</p

Prevalence and factors associated with food intake difficulties among residents with dementia

<div><p>Background</p><p>Few studies have examined the prevalence of food intake difficulties and their associated factors among residents with dementia in long-term care facilities in Taiwan. The purpose of the study was to identify the best cutoff point for the Chinese Feeding Difficulty Index (Ch-FDI), which evaluates the prevalence of food intake difficulties and recognizes factors associated with eating behaviors in residents with dementia.</p><p>Methods and findings</p><p>A cross-sectional design was adopted. In total, 213 residents with dementia in long-term care facilities in Taiwan were recruited and participated in this study. The prevalence rate of food intake difficulties as measured by the Chinese Feeding Difficulty Index (Ch-FDI) was 44.6%. Factors associated with food intake difficulties during lunch were the duration of institutionalization (beta = 0.176), the level of activities of daily living-feeding (ADL-Q1) (beta = -0.235), and the length of the eating time (beta = 0.416). Associated factors during dinner were the illuminance level (beta = -0.204), sound volume level (beta = 0.187), ADL-Q1 (beta = -0.177), and eating time (beta = 0.395).</p><p>Conclusions</p><p>Food intake difficulties may potentially be associated with multiple factors including physical function and the dining environment according to the 45% prevalence rate among dementia residents in long-term care facilities.</p></div

Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curve for the Ch-FDI.

<p>Notes: Ch-FDI’s AUC was 0.721(SE = 0.037, CI = 0.649–0.792) which provided acceptable discrimination; Ch-FDI’s AUC at lunch time and dinner time were 0.702 (SE = 0.037, CI = 0.629–0.775), and 0.68 (SE = 0.038, CI = 0.606–0.755).</p> <p>Abbreviations: Ch-FDI, Chinese feeding difficulty index; AUC, area under the curve.</p

Anti-inflammatory Cembranoids from the Soft Corals <i>Sinularia querciformis</i> and <i>Sinularia granosa</i>

Four new cembranoids, querciformolides A−D (1−4), along with two known cembranoids, 7 and 8, have been isolated from the soft coral Sinularia querciformis. Furthermore, chemical investigation of Sinularia granosa has afforded three new cembranoids, querciformolide B (2) and granosolides A (5) and B (6). The structures of the new metabolites were elucidated on the basis of extensive spectroscopic methods, and that of 2 was further confirmed by X-ray diffraction analysis. The absolute configurations of 1 and 2 were determined by a modified Mosher’s method. Among these metabolites, 2−6 are rarely found cembranoids possessing a tetrahydrofuran moiety with a 4,7-ether linkage; in addition, 1 is the first ε-lactone cembrane found that possesses a tetrahydropyran moiety with a 4,8-ether linkage. None of these compounds were found to be cytotoxic toward a limited panel of cancer cell lines. However, compounds 3, 7, and 8 significantly inhibited the accumulation of the pro-inflammatory iNOS and COX-2 proteins in LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 macrophage cells

Characteristics of residents and their dining environment (<i>N</i> = 213).

<p>Characteristics of residents and their dining environment (<i>N</i> = 213).</p

Anti-inflammatory Cembranoids from the Soft Corals <i>Sinularia querciformis</i> and <i>Sinularia granosa</i>

Four new cembranoids, querciformolides A−D (1−4), along with two known cembranoids, 7 and 8, have been isolated from the soft coral Sinularia querciformis. Furthermore, chemical investigation of Sinularia granosa has afforded three new cembranoids, querciformolide B (2) and granosolides A (5) and B (6). The structures of the new metabolites were elucidated on the basis of extensive spectroscopic methods, and that of 2 was further confirmed by X-ray diffraction analysis. The absolute configurations of 1 and 2 were determined by a modified Mosher’s method. Among these metabolites, 2−6 are rarely found cembranoids possessing a tetrahydrofuran moiety with a 4,7-ether linkage; in addition, 1 is the first ε-lactone cembrane found that possesses a tetrahydropyran moiety with a 4,8-ether linkage. None of these compounds were found to be cytotoxic toward a limited panel of cancer cell lines. However, compounds 3, 7, and 8 significantly inhibited the accumulation of the pro-inflammatory iNOS and COX-2 proteins in LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 macrophage cells