The effect of the deposition parameters on size, distribution and antimicrobial properties of photoinduced silver nanoparticles on titania coatings

Controlled photodeposition of silver nanoparticles (AgNP) on titania coatings using two different sources of UV light is described. Titania (anatase) thin films were prepared by the sol-gel dip-coating method on silicon wafers. AgNPs were grown on the titania surface as a result of UV illumination of titania films immersed in aqueous solutions of silver nitrate. UV xenon lamp or excimer laser, both operating at the wavelength 351 ± 5 nm, was used as illumination sources. The AFM topography of AgNP/TiO₂ nanocomposites revealed that silver nanoparticles could be synthesized by both sources of illumination, however the photocatalysis carried out by UV light from xenon lamp illumination leads to larger AgNP than those synthesized using the laser beam. It was found that the increasing concentration of silver ions in the initial solution increases the number of Ag nanoparticles on the titania surface, while longer time of irradiation results the growth of larger size nanoparticles. Antibacterial tests performed on TiO₂ covered by Ag nanoparticles revealed that increasing density of nanoparticles enhances the inhibition of bacterial growth. It was also found that antibacterial activity drops by only 10-15% after 6 cycles compared to the initial use.     

Synthesis of phenylene–silylene–ethylene polymers via transition metal complex catalyzed hydrosilylation polymerization

New phenylene–silylene–ethylene polymers have been successfully synthesized using platinum–divinylsiloxane or rhodium and iridium siloxide complex‐catalysed polyhydrosilylation of divinylsubstituted carbosilanes with dihydrocarbosilanes or intermolecular hydrosilylation of new hydrovinylcarbosilane. Polycarbosilanes have been obtained with high molecular weights. They seem to be potential parent substances for future applications as preceramic and membrane materials. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Selective removal of the 2'- and 3'-O-acyl groups from 2',3',5'-tri-O-acylribonucleoside derivatives with lithium trifluoroethoxide

Selective cleavage of O2' and O3' ester groups from ribonucleoside derivatives has been accomplished with Dowex 1 x 2 (CF3CH2O-) in 2,2,2-trifluoroethanol (TFE) or lithium trifluoroethoxide/TFE. Deacylations with Li+ -OCH2CF3/TFE proceed at ambient temperature (or with mild heating) to give the 5'-O-acyl derivatives in superior yields and higher purity than prior approaches for selective O2' and O3' ester deprotection.     

Structure and synthesis of 6-(substituted-imidazol-1-yl)purines: versatile substrates for regiospecific alkylation and glycosylation at N9

X-ray crystal structures of several 6-(azolyl)purine base and nucleoside derivatives show essentially coplanar conformations of the purine and appended 6-(azolyl) rings. However, the planes of the purine and imidazole rings are twisted approximately 57 degrees in a 2-chloro-6-(4,5-diphenylimidazol-1-yl)purine nucleoside, and a twist angle of approximately 61 degrees was measured between the planes of the purine and pyrrole rings in the structure of a 6-(2,5-dimethylpyrrol-1-yl)purine nucleoside derivative. Shielding "above" N7 of the purine ring by a proximal C-H on the 6-azolyl moiety is apparent with the coplanar compounds, but this effect is diminished in those without coplanarity. Syntheses of 6-(azolyl)purines from both base and nucleoside starting materials are described. Treatment of 2,6-dichloropurine with imidazole gave 2-chloro-6-(imidazol-1-yl)purine. Modified Appel reactions at C6 of trityl-protected hypoxanthine and guanine derivatives followed by detritylation gave 6-(imidazol-1-yl)- and 2-amino-6-(imidazol-1-yl)purines. Imidazole was introduced at C6 of 2',3',5'-tri-O-acetylinosine by a modified Appel reaction, and solvolysis of the glycosyl linkage gave 6-(imidazol-1-yl)purine. Guanosine triacetate was transformed into the protected 2,6-dichloropurine nucleoside, which was subjected to S(N)Ar displacement with imidazoles at C6 followed by glycosyl solvolysis to provide 2-chloro-6-(substituted-imidazol-1-yl)purines. Potential applications of these purine derivatives are outlined.     

Possibilities of Practical Use of Historical Distributions of Ash,Sulfur and Mercury Contents in Commercial Steam Coal of the USCB

In the process of extracting hard coal, extensive databases are created on its quality parameters. A statistical assessment was made of the ash, sulfur, and mercury content of commercial coals produced in the Upper Silesian Coal Basin (USCB). The statistical methods applied: non-parametric tests of compatibility for two populations, parametric significance tests, and non-parametric tests of compatibility for the three populations, showed that the distributions of ash and sulfur content in 2014 and 2015 are comparable and the average values are similar. Statistical tests indicated significant differences in the mercury content distributions and their variances. This demonstrates the need for ongoing monitoring of mercury content in commercial coals, as a prediction of mercury content from historical data is hardly possible.     

Effects of Insecticides and Microbiological Contaminants on Apis mellifera Health

Over the past two decades, there has been an alarming decline in the number of honey bee colonies. This phenomenon is called Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD). Bee products play a significant role in human life and have a huge impact on agriculture, therefore bees are an economically important species. Honey has found its healing application in various sectors of human life, as well as other bee products such as royal jelly, propolis, and bee pollen. There are many putative factors of CCD, such as air pollution, GMO, viruses, or predators (such as wasps and hornets). It is, however, believed that pesticides and microorganisms play a huge role in the mass extinction of bee colonies. Insecticides are chemicals that are dangerous to both humans and the environment. They can cause enormous damage to bees’ nervous system and permanently weaken their immune system, making them vulnerable to other factors. Some of the insecticides that negatively affect bees are, for example, neonicotinoids, coumaphos, and chlorpyrifos. Microorganisms can cause various diseases in bees, weakening the health of the colony and often resulting in its extinction. Infection with microorganisms may result in the need to dispose of the entire hive to prevent the spread of pathogens to other hives. Many aspects of the impact of pesticides and microorganisms on bees are still unclear. The need to deepen knowledge in this matter is crucial, bearing in mind how important these animals are for human life.     

Nucleic acid related compounds. 127. Selective N-deacylation of N,O-peracylated nucleosides in superheated methanol

[reaction: see text] Solutions of peracylated adenosine, cytidine, and related nucleoside derivatives undergo selective N-deacylation upon heating at elevated temperatures (oil bath > or = 105 degrees C) in methanol. An increase in the bulk of the N-acyl group has little effect on the rate of N-deacylation but increases the N/O selectivity ratio. Extended heating is required for N-deacylation with arylcarboxylic acid derivatives. Contamination with acidic or basic reagent residues is avoided.     

Sensors Based on SNO2 As a Detector for CO Oxidation in Air

This work describes properties of sensors based on SnO₂ , which were used as detectors in the temperature-programmed surface reaction (TPSR) of CO oxidation. Usually, the detection in temperature-programmed processes is realized by using TCD (katharometer) or a mass spectrograph. In our work we present preliminary results which show that the sensors manufactured from SnO₂ can also be used to this aim.     

Hydrothermal deamidation of 4-N-acylcytosine nucleoside derivatives: efficient synthesis of uracil nucleoside esters

[reaction: see text] N,O-Peracylated cytidine and 2'-deoxycytidine derivatives in superheated water/DME solutions (oil bath at 125 degrees C) undergo hydrolytic deamidation (and/or N-deacylation). Acylated starting materials derived from arylcarboxylic acids give the corresponding uridine esters cleanly, and such derivatives crystallize selectively from the cooled reaction mixtures in high yields.