Synthesis and Bioinformatic Characterization of New Schiff Bases with Possible Applicability in Brain Disorders

(1) Background: The research aims to find new treatments for neurodegenerative diseases, in particular, Alzheimer’s disease. (2) Methods: This article presents a bioinformatics and pathology study of new Schiff bases, (EZ)-N′-benzylidene-(2RS)-2-(6-chloro-9H-carbazol-2-yl)propanehydrazide derivatives, and aims to evaluate the drug-like, pharmacokinetic, pharmacodynamic and pharmacogenomic properties, as well as to predict the binding to therapeutic targets by applying bioinformatics, cheminformatics and computational pharmacological methods. (3) Results: We obtained these Schiff bases by condensing (2RS)-2-(6-chloro-9H-carbazol-2-yl)propanehydrazide with aromatic aldehydes, using the advantages of microwave irradiation. The newly synthesized compounds were characterized spectrally, using FT-IR and NMR spectroscopy, which confirmed their structure. Using bioinformatics tools, we noticed that all new compounds are drug-likeness features and may be proposed as potentially neuropsychiatric drugs (4) Conclusions: Using bioinformatics tools, we determined that the new compound 1e had a high potential to be used as a good candidate in neurodegenerative disorders treatment.     

Electrochemical reduction of O2 in 1-butyl-1-methylpyrrolidinium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide ionic liquid containing Zn2+ cations: deposition of non-polar oriented ZnO nanocrystalline films

The influence of the Zn(2+) concentration and temperature on the electrochemical reduction of O(2) in a solution of zinc bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide (Zn(TFSI)(2)) salt in 1-butyl-1-methylpyrrolidinium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide (PYR(14)TFSI) ionic liquid is presented. ZnO nanocrystalline films were then electrodeposited, under enhanced O(2) reduction, at temperatures in the 75-150 °C range. Their morphology, chemical composition, structural and optical properties were analyzed. In contrast to the polar-oriented ZnO usually obtained from aqueous and conventional solvent based electrolytes, nanocrystalline films oriented along non-polar directions, (11 ?10) and (11 ?20), were obtained from this ionic liquid electrolyte. A significant content of carbon was detected in the films, pointing to the active participation and crucial effect of pyrrolidinium cation (and/or byproducts) during the electrodeposition. The films showed semiconducting behavior with an optical gap between 3.43 and 3.53 eV as measured by optical transmittance. Their room temperature photoluminescence spectra exhibited two different bands centered at ～3.4 and ～2.2 eV. The intensity ratio between both bands was found to depend on the deposition temperature. This work demonstrates the great potential of ionic liquids based electrolytes for the electrodeposition of ZnO nanocrystalline thin films with innovative microstructural and optoelectronic properties.     

Evidence of a surface plasmon-mediated mechanism in the generation of the SERS background

Herein, we correlate the SERS images recorded by Scanning Confocal Raman Microscopy with the plasmonic response of a Ag nanostructured film of controlled morphology to put forward direct evidence for the involvement of a plasmonic mechanism in the generation of the SERS background.     

Restriction Between Cohomology Algebras of Blocks of Finite Groups

Let k be an algebraically closed field of characteristic p and G be a finite group. Let N be a normal subgroup of G and c be a G-stable block of kN. We shall discuss the cohomology algebra of the block c, defined by M. Linckelmann and, in this case a generalized block cohomology which can be defined using some generalized Brauer pairs, denoted (c, G)-Brauer pairs, which are introduced by R. Kessar and R. Stancu. We also analyze the restriction map between these two cohomology algebras associated to the block c through transfer maps between the Hochschild cohomology algebras of kGc and of the block c.     

PDLC composites based on polyvinyl boric acid matrix – a promising pathway towards biomedical engineering

ABSTRACT

Polymer dispersed liquid crystal (PDLC) systems based on a smectic liquid crystal embedded in polyvinylalcohol-boric acid (PVAB) as biocompatible carrying matrix were prepared and characterised. The smectic liquid crystal contains biologically friendly structural blocks and was designed to have a direct isotropic–smectic transition and a mesophase stability range at human body temperature. The resulted PDLCs were characterised from morphological and thermotropic aspects by polarised light microscopy (POM), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Raman microspectroscopy, and their surface properties were determined by contact angle measurements and surface energy calculations.

It was concluded that the electron-deficient PVAB matrix constrains the ester liquid crystal to grow as spherical droplets with planar anchoring. The droplet diameter was comprised in the range 4–11 µm, with a predominant droplet population around 7 µm and a narrower polydispersity as the amount of the liquid crystal in the polymeric matrix increases. The resulted PDLC films exhibited versatile morphology and surface properties which allow targeting of their application.     

Measuring the ionic flux of an electrochemically actuated conducting polymer using modified scanning ion conductance microscopy

We propose a modification of a scanning ion conductance microscope suitable for probing an electrode in an operating electrochemical cell. We demonstrate its use by measuring salt concentration variations near a conducting polymer electrode as the polymer is electrochemically oxidized and reduced. The electrochemical control circuit is opened to isolate the working electrode, at a frequency sufficiently high that the electrode capacitance maintains the electrode potential. The local solution conductivity variations are detected through the probe current during the open-circuit time. We demonstrate two-stage ion exchange during oxidation and reduction of poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) films that develops strongly with repeated cycling and is correlated with actuation changes. Spatial composition variations of the film, caused by redox current distribution over the surface, and electromigration to the probe tip, causing local solution composition changes, have clear and characteristic effects on the measured transients.