A multigrid perspective on the parallel full approximation scheme in space and time

For the numerical solution of time‐dependent partial differential equations, time‐parallel methods have recently been shown to provide a promising way to extend prevailing strong‐scaling limits of numerical codes. One of the most complex methods in this field is the “Parallel Full Approximation Scheme in Space and Time” (PFASST). PFASST already shows promising results for many use cases and benchmarks. However, a solid and reliable mathematical foundation is still missing. We show that, under certain assumptions, the PFASST algorithm can be conveniently and rigorously described as a multigrid‐in‐time method. Following this equivalence, first steps towards a comprehensive analysis of PFASST using blockwise local Fourier analysis are taken. The theoretical results are applied to examples of diffusive and advective type.     

Phase II monitoring of changes in mean from high‐dimensional data

The generalized T² chart (GT‐chart), which is composed of the T² statistic based on a small number of principal components and the remaining components, is a popular alternative to the traditional Hotelling's T² control chart. However, the application of the GT‐chart to high‐dimensional data, which are now ubiquitous, encounters difficulties from high dimensionality similar to other multivariate procedures. The sample principal components and their eigenvalues do not consistently estimate the population values, and the GT‐chart relying on them is also inconsistent in estimating the control limits. In this paper, we investigate the effects of high dimensionality on the GT‐chart and then propose a corrected GT‐chart using the recent results of random matrix theory for the spiked covariance model. We numerically show that the corrected GT‐chart exhibits superior performance compared to the existing methods, including the GT‐chart and Hotelling's T² control chart, under various high‐dimensional cases. Finally, we apply the proposed corrected GT‐chart to monitor chemical processes introduced in the literature.     

Spirocyclic azetidines for drug discovery: Novel Boc-protected 7'H-spiro[azetidine-3,5'-furo[3,4-d ]pyrimidines]

A novel spirocyclic scaffold of 7'H-spiro[azetidine-3,5'-furo[3,4-d]pyrimidine] chemotype was synthesized in N-Boc-protected form. However, the scaffold was revealed to be unstable to storage when deprotected. The solution was found in the brief removal of the Boc protecting group and rapid acylation of the liberated NH-azetidine with a carboxylic acid imidazolide.     

不同版本高中化学教科书中学生必做实验的分析与启示——基于“科学探究与创新意识”素养

以人教版、苏教版、鲁科版(2019年版)和沪科版(2020年版)高中化学教科书中的学生必做实验文本为研究对象,基于“科学探究与创新意识”素养构建高中化学教科书中学生必做实验文本的分析框架,分析和比较4个版本教科书中学生必做实验文本“科学探究与创新意识”素养的体现及其异同,为学生必做实验教学提供启示和建议。     

Amperometric Detection of Ethanol Vapors by Screen Printed Electrodes Modified by Paper Crowns Soaked with Room Temperature Ionic Liquids

A convenient assembly recently proposed for screen printed gold electrodes (SPEs) suitable for measurements in gaseous samples is here tested for the analysis of the ethanol content in alcoholic drinks. This assembly involves the use of a circular crown of filter paper, soaked in the room temperature ionic liquid (RTIL) 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium hydrogen sulfate, which is simply placed upon a disposable screen printed cell, so as to contact the outer edge of the gold disc working electrode, as well as peripheral counter and reference electrodes. The electrical contact between the paper crown soaked in RTIL and the SPE electrode is assured by a gasket and all components are installed in a polylactic acid holder. This assembly provides a portable and disposable electrochemical platform, assembled by the easy immobilization onto a porous and inexpensive supporting material such as paper of a RTIL characterized by profitable electrical conductivity and negligible vapor pressure. The electroanalytical performance of this device was assayed for the flow injection analysis of the ethanol concentration in some real samples of wine and beer and the results obtained are compared with the alcoholic degree reported in the relevant bottle-labels, thus highlighting a substantially satisfactory agreement. Repeatable sharp peaks (RSD=6–8 %) were detected for ethanol over a wide linear range (1–20 % v/v in water) and a detection and quantitation limit of 0.55 % v/v and 1.60 % v/v were inferred for a signal-to-noise ratio of 3 and 10, respectively.     

Fabrication of poly(ϵ-caprolactone)/paclitaxel (core)/chitosan/zein/multi-walled carbon nanotubes/doxorubicin (shell) nanofibers against MCF-7 breast cancer

In the present study, paclitaxel (PTX), multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs), and doxorubicin (DOX) have been simultaneously doped into the poly(ϵ-caprolactone) (PCL)/chitosan/zein core-shell nanofibers to increase its cytotoxicity for MCF-7 breast cancers killing. The physico-chemical properties of synthesized nanofibers were determined by scanning electron microscope, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, tensile strength, and degradation rate determinations. The in vitro release studies demonstrated the sustained release of drugs from core-shell nanofibrous scaffold. The cytotoxicity and compatibility of core-shell nanofibers were investigated by their treating with MCF-7 breast cancer cells and L929 normal cells, respectively. PCL/PTX/chitosan/zein/MWCNTs/DOX core-shell nanofibers containing 1 wt% MWCNTs, 100 μg ml⁻¹ DOX and 100 μg ml⁻¹ PTX had a high biocompatibility with a 84% MCF-7 cancer cells killing. The in vivo studies revealed the synergic effects of MWCNTs and anticancer drugs on the tumor inhibition. This method could be considered as a new way for developing of MWCNTs loaded-nanofibers for cancer treatment in future.     

Reduction of Platinum(IV) Prodrug Hemoglobin Nanoparticles with Deeply Penetrating Ultrasound Radiation for Tumor-Targeted Therapeutically Enhanced Anticancer Therapy

The development of Pt^IV prodrugs that are reduced into the therapeutically active Pt^II species within the tumor microenvironment has received much research interest. In order to provide spatial and temporal control over the treatment, there is a high demand for the development of compounds that could be selectively activated upon irradiation. Despite recent progress, the majority of Pt^IV complexes are excited with ultraviolet or blue light, limiting the use of such compounds to superficial application. To overcome this limitation, herein, the first example of Pt^IV prodrug nanoparticles that could be reduced with deeply penetrating ultrasound radiation is reported, enabling the treatment of deep-seated or large tumors. The nanoparticles were found to selectively accumulate inside a mouse colon carcinoma tumor upon intravenous injection and were able to eradicate the tumor upon exposure to ultrasound radiation.     

Biological and Catalytic Applications of Pd(II)-Indenyl Complexes Bearing Phosphine and N-Heterocyclic Carbene Ligands

A general synthetic entryway into novel cationic Pd(II) indenyl complexes bearing one alkyl/aryl phosphine and one N-heterocyclic carbene is reported. All metal complexes have been exhaustively characterized by spectroscopic and structural analyses, highlighting that the indenyl fragment has an hapticity intermediate between η³ and η⁵. Most of the target complexes are stable in solid state and in solution for a long time. Two different applications of these organopalladium compounds are proposed. Firstly, they have been tested as antiproliferative agents towards three different ovarian cancer cell lines, showing a cytotoxicity significantly higher than that of cisplatin, with a clear dependence on the nature of the coordinated phosphine. Moreover, the similar cytotoxicity towards cisplatin-sensitive and cisplatin-resistant cell lines suggests that these new palladium derivatives act with a different mechanism of action with respect to classical platinum-based drugs. Finally, the water-soluble palladium complexes bearing 1,3,5-triaza-7-phosphaadamantane (PTA) have demonstrated interesting catalytic performances in Suzuki–Miyaura coupling in aqueous media, being, inter alia, readily and efficiently recyclable.     

Hydrogen Peroxide Production of Individual Nanosecond Pulsed Discharges Submerged in Water of Elevated Conductivity

The production of hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) is a key parameter for the performance of pulsed discharges submerged in water utilized as advanced oxidation process. So far, any related assessment of the underlying mechanism was conducted for the application of several hundred discharges, which did not allow for a correlation with physical processes. Moreover, the production was rarely investigated depending on water conductivity as one of the most important parameters for the development of submerged discharges. Accordingly, hydrogen peroxide generation was investigated here for individual single discharge events instigated with 100 ns high-voltage pulses in water with three different conductivities and was associated with the discharge development, i. e. spatial expansion and dissipated electrical energy. The approach necessitated the improvement of an electrochemical flow injection analysis based on the reaction of Prussian blue with H₂O₂. Hydrogen peroxide concentrations were quadratically increasing with propagation time and stable for different water conductivities. H₂O₂ production per unit volume of a discharge was constant over time with an estimated rate constant of 3.2 mol ⋅ m⁻¹ s⁻¹, averaged over the crosssectional area of all discharge filaments. However, the individually dissipated energy increased with conductivity, hence, the production efficiency decreased from 6.1 g ⋅ kWh⁻¹ to 1.4 g ⋅ kWh⁻¹, which was explained by increased resistive losses within the bulk liquid.     

Cover Picture: Nanomaterials for Fluorescence and Multimodal Bioimaging (Chem. Rec. 3/2023)

Bioconjugated nanomaterials replace molecular probes in bioanalysis and bioimaging in vitro and in vivo. Nanoparticles of silica, metals, semiconductors, polymers, and supramolecular systems, conjugated with contrast agents and drugs for image-guided (MRI, fluorescence, PET, Raman, SPECT, photodynamic, photothermal, and photoacoustic) therapy infiltrate into preclinical and clinical settings. Small bioactive molecules like peptides, proteins, or DNA conjugated to the surfaces of drugs or probes help us to interface them with cells and tissues. Nevertheless, the toxicity and pharmacokinetics of nanodrugs, nanoprobes, and their components become the clinical barriers, underscoring the significance of developing biocompatible next-generation drugs and contrast agents. This account provides state-of-the-art advancements in the preparation and biological applications of bioconjugated nanomaterials and their molecular, cell, and in vivo applications. It focuses on the preparation, bioimaging, and bioanalytical applications of monomodal and multimodal nanoprobes composed of quantum dots, quantum clusters, iron oxide nanoparticles, and a few rare earth metal ion complexes.