OXYGEN QUENCHING IN MICELLAR SOLUTION AND ITS EFFECT ON THE PHOTOCYCLIZATION OF N-METHYLDIPHENYLAMINE

Abstract— Oxygen effects on the photocyclization of N-methyldiphenylamine to N-methylcarbazole were investigated in n-hexane, water, and aqueous surfactant solutions by steady state irradiations and flash photolysis measurements. The reaction sequence in micelles was found to involve the same intermediate steps as in homogeneous solutions. In aerated micellar solutions, the quantum yield of N-methylcarbazole is significantly higher than in n-hexane, while the rate constants of the unimolecular reaction steps show no solvent dependence. The bimolecular dehydrogenation of the intermediate 4a, 4b-dihydro-N-methylcarbazole by oxygen is enhanced in aqueous and micellar solutions, whereas the quenching rate of triplet intermediates by oxygen was not affected. The lesuhs are interpreted using a dispersed phase model of micellar solutions. Special 'micellar effects' need not be invoked since the dependence of the quantum yield on the solvent is shown to be due to the difference in the overall oxygen concentration.     

Manipulation of microalgal lipid production using genetic engineering

Applied Biochemistry and Biotechnology - Genetic transformation of two species of diatoms has been accomplished by introducing chimeric plasmid vectors containing a bacterial antibiotic resistance...     

Trigonal-prismatic versus octahedral molecular structures in [CH3)nMX6-n]] compounds

The molecular structures of [(CH3)5MoOCH3], [(CH3)4Mo(OCH3)2], [(CH3)5WCl], and [(CH3)3WCl(OCH3)2] are reported. The first three structures are based on trigonal-prismatic geometry, the last one on octahedral geometry.     

Chemical Probing of the Human Sirtuin 5 Active Site Reveals Its Substrate Acyl Specificity and Peptide‐Based Inhibitors

Sirtuins are NAD⁺‐dependent deacetylases acting as sensors in metabolic pathways and stress response. In mammals there are seven isoforms. The mitochondrial sirtuin 5 is a weak deacetylase but a very efficient demalonylase and desuccinylase; however, its substrate acyl specificity has not been systematically analyzed. Herein, we investigated a carbamoyl phosphate synthetase 1 derived peptide substrate and modified the lysine side chain systematically to determine the acyl specificity of Sirt5. From that point we designed six potent peptide‐based inhibitors that interact with the NAD⁺ binding pocket. To characterize the interaction details causing the different substrate and inhibition properties we report several X‐ray crystal structures of Sirt5 complexed with these peptides. Our results reveal the Sirt5 acyl selectivity and its molecular basis and enable the design of inhibitors for Sirt5.     

A conjecture of Beauville and Catanese revisited

A theorem of Green, Lazarsfeld and Simpson (formerly a conjecture of Beauville and Catanese) states that certain naturally defined subvarieties of the Picard variety of a smooth projective complex variety are unions of translates of abelian subvarieties by torsion points. Their proof uses analytic methods. We refine and give a completely new proof of their result. Our proof combines galois-theoretic methods and algebraic geometry in positive characteristic. When the variety has a model over a function field and its Picard variety has no isotrivial factors, we show how to replace the galois-theoretic results we need by results from model theory (mathematical logic). Furthermore, we prove partial analogs of the conjecture of Beauville and Catanese in positive characteristic.     

Structural Characterization of Y2Pd14B5

Y₂Pd₁₄B₅ is the major phase in as‐cast and annealed multiphase alloys with nominal compositions near YPd₅B₃C_0.3. Its crystal structure determined the first time here by single crystal X‐ray diffraction is body‐centered tetragonal (space group I4₁/amd). Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) reveals that in as‐cast specimens the tetragonal phase has a modulated structure and is oriented intergrown with a face‐centered cubic phase of similar composition, namely YPd₇B₂. According to Rietveld analyses of the multiphase system the structure of this phase can be well‐described by space group Fm m. Annealing the sample for 150 hrs at 973 K results in a coarsening and enrichment of the tetragonal phase as well as a disappearance of the modulations allowing a detailed structure analysis by single crystal diffractometry.     

A convenient route to 4-carboxy-4-anilidopiperidine esters and acids

The route selection and development of a convenient synthesis of 4-carboxy-4-anilidopiperidines is described. Previous routes were hampered by the low yield of the target esters as well as the inability to convert the esters to the required free acids. Considerations for large-scale production led to a modified synthesis that utilised a tert-butyl ester of 4-carboxy-4-anilidopiperidines which resulted in a dramatic increase in the overall yield of the target N-propionylated- 4-anilidopiperidine-4-carboxylic acids and their corresponding methyl esters. These compounds are now available for use as precursors and reference standards, of particular value for the production of 11C and 18F-labelled 4-carboxy-4-anilidopiperidine radiotracers.     

A fixed point formula of Lefschetz type in Arakelov geometry I: statement and proof

We consider arithmetic varieties endowed with an action of the group scheme of n-th roots of unity and we define equivariant arithmetic K ₀-theory for these varieties. We use the equivariant analytic torsion to define direct image maps in this context and we prove a Riemann-Roch theorem for the natural transformation of equivariant arithmetic K ₀-theory induced by the restriction to the fixed point scheme; this theorem can be viewed as an analog, in the context of Arakelov geometry, of the regular case of the theorem proved by P. Baum, W. Fulton and G. Quart in [BaFQ]. We show that it implies an equivariant refinement of the arithmetic Riemann-Roch theorem, in a form conjectured by J.-M. Bismut (cf. [B2, Par. (l), p. 353] and also Ch. Soulé’s question in [SABK, 1.5, p. 162]). Oblatum 22-I-1999 & 20-II-2001?Published online: 4 May 2001     

Fiber-optic Raman spectroscopy of joint tissues

In this study, we report adaptation of Raman spectroscopy for arthroscopy of joint tissues using a custom-built fiber-optic probe. Differentiation of healthy and damaged tissue or examination of subsurface tissue, such as subchondral bone, is a challenge in arthroscopy because visual inspection may not provide sufficient contrast. Discrimination of healthy versus damaged tissue may be improved by incorporating point spectroscopy or hyperspectral imaging into arthroscopy where the contrast is based on the molecular structure or chemical composition. Articular joint surfaces of knee cadaveric human tissue and tissue phantoms were examined using a custom-designed Raman fiber-optic probe. Fiber-optic Raman spectra were compared against reference spectra of cartilage, subchondral bone and cancellous bone collected using Raman microspectroscopy. In fiber-optic Raman spectra of the articular surface, there was an effect of cartilage thickness on recovery of signal from subchondral bone. At sites with intact cartilage, the bone mineralization ratio decreased but there was a minimal effect in the bone mineral chemistry ratios. Tissue phantoms were prepared as experimental models of the osteochondral interface. Raman spectra of tissue phantoms suggested that optical scattering of cartilage has a large effect on the relative cartilage and bone signal. Finite element analysis modeling of light fluence in the osteochondral interface confirmed experimental findings in human cadaveric tissue and tissue phantoms. These first studies demonstrate the proof of principle for Raman arthroscopic measurement of joint tissues and provide a basis for future clinical or animal model studies.     

A Precious‐Metal‐Free Hybrid Electrolyzer for Alcohol Oxidation Coupled to CO2‐to‐Syngas Conversion

Electrolyzers combining CO₂ reduction (CO₂R) with organic substrate oxidation can produce fuel and chemical feedstocks with a relatively low energy requirement when compared to systems that source electrons from water oxidation. Here, we report an anodic hybrid assembly based on a (2,2,6,6‐tetramethylpiperidin‐1‐yl)oxyl (TEMPO) electrocatalyst modified with a silatrane‐anchor ( STEMPO ), which is covalently immobilized on a mesoporous indium tin oxide (mesoITO) scaffold for efficient alcohol oxidation (AlcOx). This molecular anode was subsequently combined with a cathode consisting of a polymeric cobalt phthalocyanine on carbon nanotubes to construct a hybrid, precious‐metal‐free coupled AlcOx–CO₂R electrolyzer. After three‐hour electrolysis, glycerol is selectively oxidized to glyceraldehyde with a turnover number (TON) of ≈1000 and Faradaic efficiency (FE) of 83 %. The cathode generated a stoichiometric amount of syngas with a CO:H₂ ratio of 1.25±0.25 and an overall cobalt‐based TON of 894 with a FE of 82 %. This prototype device inspires the design and implementation of nonconventional strategies for coupling CO₂R to less energy demanding, and value‐added, oxidative chemistry.