Mass spectrometry imaging of surface lipids on intact Drosophila melanogaster flies

The spatial distribution of neutral lipids and semiochemicals on the surface of six‐day‐old separately reared naive Drosophila melanogaster flies has been visualized and studied using matrix‐assisted laser desorption/ionization‐time of flight (MALDI‐TOF) mass spectrometry and laser‐assisted desorption/ionization (LDI)‐TOF imaging (MSI). Metal targets were designed for two‐dimensional MSI of the surface of 3‐D biological objects. Targets with either simple grooves or profiled holes designed to accurately accommodate the male and female bodies were fabricated. These grooves and especially holes ensured correct height fixation and spatial orientation of the flies on the targets after matrix application and sample drying. For LDI‐TOF to be used, the flies were arranged into holes and fixed to a plane of the target using fast‐setting glue. In MALDI‐TOF mode, the flies were fixed as above and sprayed with a lithium 2,5‐dihydroxybenzoate matrix using up to 100 airbrush spray cycles. The scanning electron microscopy images revealed that the deposits of matrix were homogenous and the matrix formed mostly into the clusters of crystals (40–80 µm) that were separated from each other by an uncovered cuticle surface (30–40 µm). The MSI using target with profiled holes provided superior results to the targets with simple grooves, eliminating the ion suppression/mass deviation due to the 3‐D shape of the flies. Attention was paid to neutral lipids and other compounds including the male anti‐attractant 11‐cis‐vaccenyl acetate for which the expected distribution with high concentration on the tip of the male abdomen was confirmed. The red and blue mass shift (PlusMinus1 colour scale) was observed associated with mass deviation predominantly between ±0.2 and 0.3 Da. We use in‐house developed software for mass recalibration, to eliminate the mass deviation effects and help with the detection of low‐intensity mass signals. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Influence of Mn on the solidification of Fe–Si–Al alloy for non-oriented electrical steel

Differential scanning calorimetry, thermodynamic calculations, and metallographic analyses were used for a determination of the solidification sequence in a Fe–2.42 %Si–0.5 %Al–0.94 %Mn alloy. For the prediction of the solidification process of the Fe–Si–Al–Mn alloy also a modified Scheil–Gulliver solidification model was used. According to the thermodynamic calculations the two-phase region in the selected Fe–Si–Al–Mn alloy is stable between 1,303 and 913 °C. The highest mass-fraction of the γ-phase is reached at 1,150 °C. With decreasing temperature the austenite retransforms into ferrite. In the temperature range where the thermodynamic calculations predict the existence of the two-phase region in the DSC curves, weak thermal events were observed. A post-exposure metallographic analysis revealed that the substructures in the ferrite microstructure indicate the γ → α phase transformation. This suggests consistency between the differential scanning calorimetry, the thermodynamic calculations, and the metallographic analyses.     

Hydrosilylation Induced by N→Si Intramolecular Coordination: Spontaneous Transformation of Organosilanes into 1‐Aza‐Silole‐Type Molecules in the Absence of a Catalyst

Our attempts to synthesize the N→Si intramolecularly coordinated organosilanes Ph₂L¹SiH ( 1 a ), PhL¹SiH₂ ( 2 a ), Ph₂L²SiH ( 3 a ), and PhL²SiH₂ ( 4 a ) containing a CH?N imine group (in which L¹ is the C,N‐chelating ligand {2‐[CH?N(C₆H₃‐2,6‐iPr₂)]C₆H₄}^? and L² is {2‐[CH?N(tBu)]C₆H₄}^?) yielded 1‐[2,6‐bis(diisopropyl)phenyl]‐2,2‐diphenyl‐1‐aza‐silole ( 1 ), 1‐[2,6‐bis(diisopropyl)phenyl]‐2‐phenyl‐2‐hydrido‐1‐aza‐silole ( 2 ), 1‐tert‐butyl‐2,2‐diphenyl‐1‐aza‐silole ( 3 ), and 1‐tert‐butyl‐2‐phenyl‐2‐hydrido‐1‐aza‐silole ( 4 ), respectively. Isolated organosilicon amides 1 – 4 are an outcome of the spontaneous hydrosilylation of the CH?N imine moiety induced by N→Si intramolecular coordination. Compounds 1–4 were characterized by NMR spectroscopy and X‐ray diffraction analysis. The geometries of organosilanes 1 a – 4 a and their corresponding hydrosilylated products 1 – 4 were optimized and fully characterized at the B3LYP/6‐31++G(d,p) level of theory. The molecular structure determination of 1 – 3 suggested the presence of a Si?N double bond. Natural bond orbital (NBO) analysis, however, shows a very strong donor–acceptor interaction between the lone pair of the nitrogen atom and the formal empty p orbital on the silicon and therefore, the calculations show that the Si?N bond is highly polarized pointing to a predominantly zwitterionic Si⁺N^? bond in 1 – 4 . Since compounds 1 – 4 are hydrosilylated products of 1 a – 4 a , the free energies (ΔG₂₉₈), enthalpies (ΔH₂₉₈), and entropies (ΔH₂₉₈) were computed for the hydrosilylation reaction of 1 a – 4 a with both B3LYP and B3LYP‐D methods. On the basis of the very negative ΔG₂₉₈ values, the hydrosilylation reaction is highly exergonic and compounds 1 a – 4 a are spontaneously transformed into 1 – 4 in the absence of a catalyst.     

Dimers of N‐Heterocyclic Carbene Copper,Silver, and Gold Halides: Probing Metallophilic Interactions through Electron Density Based Concepts

Homobimetallic metallophilic interactions between copper, silver, and gold‐based [(NHC)MX]‐type complexes (NHC=N‐heterocyclic carbene, i.e, 1,3,4‐trimethyl‐4,5‐dihydro‐1H‐1,2,4‐triazol‐5‐ylidene; X=F, Cl, Br, I) were investigated by means of ab initio interaction energies, Ziegler–Rauk‐type energy‐decomposition analysis, the natural orbital for chemical valence (NOCV) framework, and the noncovalent interaction (NCI) index. It was found that the dimers of these complexes predominantly adopt a head‐to‐tail arrangement with typical M ??? M distance of 3.04–3.64 Å, in good agreement with the experimental X‐ray structure determined for [{(NHC)AuCl}₂], which has an Au ??? Au distance of 3.33 Å. The interaction energies between silver‐ and gold‐based monomers are calculated to be about ?25 kcal mol^?1, whereas that for the Cu congener is significantly lower (?19.7 kcal mol^?1). With the inclusion of thermal and solvent contributions, both of which are destabilizing, by about 15 and 8 kcal mol^?1, respectively, an equilibrium process is predicted for the formation of dimer complexes. Energy‐decomposition analysis revealed a dominant electrostatic contribution to the interaction energy, besides significantly stabilizing dispersion and orbital interactions. This electrostatic contribution is rationalized by NHC(δ⁺) ??? halogen(δ^?) interactions between monomers, as demonstrated by electrostatic potentials and derived charges. The dominant NOCV orbital indicates weakening of the π backdonation in the monomers on dimer formation, whereas the second most dominant NOCV represents an electron‐density deformation according to the formation of a very weak M ??? M bond. One of the characteristic signals found in the reduced density gradient versus electron density diagram corresponds to the noncovalent interactions between the metal centers of the monomers in the NCI plots, which is the manifestation of metallophilic interaction.     

Cost effective,robust, and reliable coupled separation techniques for the identification and quantification of phospholipids in complex biological matrices: Application to insects

The quantification of phospholipid classes and the determination of their molecular structures are crucial in physiological and medical studies. This paper's target analytes are cell membrane phospholipids, which play an important role in the seasonal acclimation processes of poikilothermic organisms. We introduce a set of simple and cost‐effective analytical methods that enable efficient characterization and quantification of particular phospholipid classes and the identification and relative distribution of the individual phospholipid species. The analytical approach involves solid‐phase extraction and high‐performance thin‐layer chromatography, which facilitate the separation of particular lipid classes. The obtained fractions are further transesterified to fatty acid methyl esters and subjected to gas chromatography coupled to flame ionization detection, which enables the determination of the position of double bonds. Phospholipid species separation is achieved by high‐performance liquid chromatography with mass spectrometry, which gives information about the headgroup moiety and attached fatty acids. The total content of each phospholipids class is assessed by phosphorus determination by UV spectrophotometry. The simultaneous analysis of phosphorus, fatty acid residues, and phospholipid species provides detailed information about phospholipid composition. Evaluation of these coupled methods was achieved by application to an insect model, Pyrrhocoris apterus. High correlation was observed between fatty acid compositions as determined by gas chromatography and high‐performance liquid chromatography analysis.     

Reactivity of Hydroxy and Amino Derivatives of 2‐Phenyl‐1H‐imidazoline and 2‐Phenyl‐1H‐imidazole toward Isocyanates: Synthesis of Appropriate Carbamates and Ureas

Reactivity of 2‐(4‐hydroxyphenyl)‐1H‐imidazoline and 2‐(4‐hydroxyphenyl)‐1H‐imidazole toward substituted phenyl isocyanates was studied. When mentioned imidazoline was treated with 2.5 equiv of substituted phenyl isocyanate, three N,O‐dicarboxamides were prepared (substituents are H, 4‐NO₂, and 4‐CH₃). Subsequently, N,O‐diacetylated 2‐(4‐hydroxyphenyl)‐1H‐imidazoline was prepared and selective deprotection method was developed for preparation of 1‐acetyl‐2‐(4‐hydroxyphenyl)‐1H‐imidazoline using diethylamine in acetone. Six carbamates derived from this imidazoline were then prepared using 1.1 equiv of substituted phenyl isocyanates (substituents are H, 4‐CH₃, 4‐OCH₃, 4‐NO₂, 4‐CN, and 3‐CF₃). Finally, two carbamates were prepared from 2‐(4‐hydroxyphenyl)‐1H‐imidazole (substituents are 4‐NO₂ and 4‐CN). No reactivity to imidazole ring was observed in this case. Eight derivatives were subjected to antimycobacterial screening. Concurrently, reactivity of 2‐(2‐aminophenyl)‐ and 2‐(2‐hydroxyphenyl)‐1H‐imidazole toward aliphatic and aromatic isocyanates was studied. Eight ureas were prepared using equivalent mixture of 2‐(2‐aminophenyl)‐1H‐imidazole and isocyanate (Et, Pr, isoPr, terc‐Bu, Cy, Ph, 4‐CH₃C₆H₄, 4‐CNC₆H₄). Similar attempts to obtain related carbamates from 2‐(2‐hydroxyphenyl)‐1H‐imidazole lead only to three substituted phenyl carbamates (substituents are 4‐CH₃, 4‐NO₂, and 4‐CN). In both cases, no reactivity to imidazole ring was observed again.     

Distribution of the maximum of sums of random variables belonging to the region of attraction of a stable law

Lithuanian Mathematical Journal -     

Endomorphism monoids and topological subgraphs of graphs

We prove, that, given a finite graph Y there exists a finite monoid (semigroup with unity) M such that any graph X whose endomorphism monoid is isomorphic to M contains a subdivision of Y. This contrasts with several known results on the simultaneous prescribability of the endomorphism monoid and various graph theoretical properties of a graph. It is also related to the analogous problems on graphs having a given permutation group as a restriction of their automorphism group to an invariant subset.