We construct a new family of quantum MDS codes from classical generalized Reed-Solomon codes and derive the necessary and sufficient condition under which these quantum codes exist. We also give code bounds and show how to construct them analytically. We find that existing quantum MDS codes can be unified under these codes in the sense that when a quantum MDS code exists, then a quantum code of this type with the same parameters also exists. Thus as far as is known at present, they are the most important family of quantum MDS codes.

In the short zigzag-edged aza-Mö bius graphene ribbon [2,7], a Li atom monosubstitutes the end H atom from the knot subring (1) to the subring (7), respectively, seven structures of short monolithiated aza-Mö bius graphene ribbon isomers [Mö Li (1), Mö Li (2), Mö Li (3), Mö Li (4), Mö Li (5), Mö Li (6), and Mö Li (7)

Adsorption of enzymes on solid surfaces may lead to conformational changes that reduce their catalytic conversion activity and are thus detrimental to the efficiency of biotechnology or biosensing applications. This work is a joint theoretical and experimental endeavor in which we identify and quantify the conformational changes that 1 Page 2 of 46 ACS Paragon Plus Environment ACS Biomaterials Science & Engineering chymotrypsin undergoes when in contact with the surface of amorphous silica nanoparticles. For this purpose, we use circular dichroism spectroscopy, standard molecular dynamics and advanced-sampling methods. Only the combination of these techniques allowed us to pinpoint a destabilization effect of silica on specific structural motifs of chymotrypsin. They are linked by the possibility of theoretically predicting CD spectra, allowing us to elucidate the source of the experimentally observed spectral changes.We find that chymotrypsin loses part of its helical content upon adsorption, with minor perturbation of its overall tertiary structure, associated to changes in the aromatic interactions. We demonstrate that the C-terminal helical fragment is unfolded as an isolated oligopeptide in pure water, folded as an α-helix as terminus of chymotrypsin in solution, and again partly disordered when the protein is adsorbed on silica. We believe that the joint methodology introduced in this manuscript has a direct general applicability to investigate any biomolecule -inorganic surface system. Methods to theoretically predict Circular Dichroism spectra from atomistic simulations were compared and improved. The drawbacks of the approaches are discussed; in particular the limited capability of advanced-sampling MD schemes to explore the conformational phase space of large proteins, and the dependency of the predicted ellipticity bands on the choice of calculation parameters.

(24R)-pseudo-ginsenoside HQ (R-PHQ) and (24S)-pseudo-ginsenoside HQ (S-PHQ) are the main metabolites of (20S)-ginsenoside Rh2 (Rh2) in vivo. In this study, we found that Rh2, R-PHQ, and S-PHQ upregulated the innate and adaptive immune response in cyclophosphamide (CTX) induced-immunocompromised mice as evidenced by the number of leukocytes, cellular immunity, and phagocytosis of macrophages. Spleen T-lymphocyte subpopulations and the serum cytokines level were also balanced in these immunosuppressed mice. Furthermore, co-administration with R-PHQ or S-PHQ did not compromise the antitumor activity of CTX in the hepatoma H22-bearing mice. Treatment with R-PHQ and S-PHQ clearly induced the apoptosis of tumor cells, significantly increased the expression of Bax, and remarkably inhibited the expression of Bcl-2 and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in H22 tumor tissues. The anti-tumor activity of R-PHQ and S-PHQ could be related to the promotion of tumor apoptosis and inhibition of angiogenesis and may involve the caspase and VEGF signaling pathways. This study provides a theoretical basis for further study on R-PHQ and S-PHQ.