Precision of a dual energy X-ray absorptiometry device

The standard method to diagnose and follow-up osteoporosis is the measurement of bone mineral density (BMD) using dual X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA). Manufacturers' manuals of DEXA devices state the intrascanner coefficient of variance is less than 0.01 g/cm². The aim of this study was to evaluate the in vivo coefficient of variance of a Lunar DPX scanner in male and female healthy adult subjects. Average BMD for females and males were 1.170±0.091 g/cm² and 1.272±0.115 g/cm², respectively. Monthly phantom measurements provided and controlled by the manufacturer were 1.243±0.008 g/cm² (range 1.222 to 1.257) and the coefficient of variance was 0.006. It is concluded that the in vivo coefficient of variance of DEXA devices can slightly be higher than that proposed by the manufacturer. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Synthesis and structure of cyclopropano-annelated homosesquinorbornene derivatives containing pyramidalized double bonds: evidence for the sterical effect of a cyclopropyl group on the degree of C=C double-bond pyramidalization

[reaction: see text] endo- and exo-2,3,4,7-tetrahydro-1H-1,4-methanobenzocycloheptene-7-carboxylic acid ethyl esters have been synthesized, and their Diels-Alder cycloaddition reactions with maleic anhydride, dimethyl acetylenedicarboxylate and singlet oxygen have been investigated. The X-ray analysis of four adducts indicated the pyramidalization of the central double bond. Density functional theory calculations on the isolated products and model compounds showed excellent agreement between the experimental and theoretical determined butterfly angles. Furthermore, it has been shown that a cyclopropyl group fused to [2.2.2] system decreases significantly the degree of the pyramidalization which is attributed to the steric interactions between the cyclopropyl group and ethano bridge of the norbornene systems. Due to the instability of the bicyclic endoperoxides, their X-ray analysis could not be carried out. DFT calculations on model compounds showed increased bending in the case of the product obtained by the addition of singlet oxygen to endo-2,3,4,7-tetrahydro-1H-1,4-methanobenzocycloheptene-7-carboxylic acid ethyl ester.     

Synthesis and characterization of a bifunctional amido-thiophene monomer and its copolymer with thiophene and electrochemical properties

A bifunctional amido-thiophene namely hexamethylene (bis-3-thiophene acetamide) (HMTA) was synthesized by the reaction of 3-thiophene acetic acid with hexamethylene diamine. Copolymerization in the presence of thiophene was achieved electrochemically in tetrabutylammonium tetrafluoroborate/acetonitrile (TBAFB/AN). Spectroelectrochemical analysis of the resulting copolymer [P(HMTA-co-Th)] reflected electronic transitions at 505 nm, 740 nm and ∼1000 nm, revealing π to π* transition, polaron and bipolaron band formation respectively. Switching ability was evaluated by a kinetic study via measuring the transmittance (%T) at the maximum contrast. Dual type polymer electrochromic devices (ECDs) based on P(HMTA-co-Th) and poly(ethylene dioxythiophene) (PEDOT) have been constructed. Spectroelectrochemistry, switching ability and stability of the devices were investigated by UV-vis spectroscopy and cyclic voltammetry. These devices exhibit low switching voltages (between 0.0 V and +1.6 V), short switching times with reasonable switching stability under atmospheric conditions.     

Azocalixarenes. 6: Synthesis, complexation, extraction and thermal behaviour of four new azocalix[4]arenes

Four new azocalix[4]arenes {5,11,17,23-tetrakis[(2-hydroxy-5-tert-butylphenylazo)]-25,26,27,28-tetrahydroxycalix[4]arene (1), 5,11,17,23-tetrakis[(2-hydroxy-5-nitro phenylazo)]-25,26,27,28-tetrahydroxycalix[4]arene (2), 5,11,17,23-tetrakis[(2-amino-5-carboxylphenylazo)]-25,26,27,28-tetrahydroxycalix[4]arene (3) and 5,11,17,23-tetrakis[(1-amino-2-hydroxy-4-sulfonicacidnapthylazo)]-25,26,27,28-tetrahydroxycalix[4]arene (4)} have been synthesized from p-tert-butylphenol, p-nitrophenol, p-aminobenzoic acid and 1-amino-2-hydroxy-4-sulphonic acid by diazo coupling reaction with p-aminocalix[4]arene. The resulting ligands (1–4) were treated with three transition metal salts (e.g., CuCl₂·2H₂O, NiCl₂·6H₂O or CoCl₂·6H₂O). Cu(II), Ni(II) and Co(II) complexes of the azocalix[4]arene derivatives were obtained and characterized by UV-vis, IR, ¹H-NMR spectroscopic techniques and elemental analysis. All the complexes have a metal:ligand ratio of 2:1. The Cu(II) and Ni(II) complexes of azocalix[4]arenes are square-planar, while the Co(II) complexes of azocalix[4]arenes are octahedral with water molecules as axial ligands. The solvent extraction of various transition metal cations from the aqueous phase to the organic phase was carried out by using azocalix[4]arenes (1–4). It was found that, azocalix[4]arenes 1, 2 and 3 examined selectivity for transition metal cations such as Ag⁺, Hg⁺ and Hg²⁺. In addition, the thermal stability of metal:azocalix[4]arene complexes were also reported. Dedicated to Prof. Dr. Mustafa Yılmaz on the occasion of his 50th birthday     

Transfer hydrogenation of aryl ketones with homogeneous ruthenium catalysts containing diazafluorene ligands

Novel cationic ruthenium(II) complexes bearing a 4,5‐diazafluorene unit and p‐cymene as ligands have been synthesised. The complexes were characterised based on elemental analysis and Fourier transform infrared and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopies. The synthesised Ru(II) complexes were employed as pre‐catalysts for the transfer hydrogenation of aromatic ketones using 2‐propanol as both hydrogen source and solvent in the presence of NaOH. All complexes showed high catalytic activity as catalysts in the reduction of substituted acetophenones to corresponding secondary alcohols. The products of catalysis were obtained with conversion rates of between 80 and 99%. Among the seven new complexes investigated, the most efficient catalyst showed turnover frequencies in the range 255–291 h^?1 corresponding to 85 to 97% conversion, respectively. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

PHA-L lectin and carbohydrate relationship: conjugation with CdSe/CdS nanoparticles, radiolabeling and in vitro affinities on MCF-7 cells

This research aims to investigate the interaction between phytohemagglutinin-L (PHA-L) and sialic acid, which is abundant on the breast cancer cell (MCF-7) surface and displays monosaccharide characteristics, by experimental and computational methods. Experimentally, CdSe/CdS nanoparticles (QDs) were synthesized; PHA-L was conjugated with QDs and labeled with ¹²⁵I. Radiolabeling yield was found to be 97 ± 1.2 %. Afterwards, in vitro bioaffinities of radiolabeled PHA-L conjugated QDs have been investigated on MCF-7 cells and it has been observed that the cell incorporation increased with time. The results indicated that ¹²⁵I labeled QD-PHA-L conjugates represent significant affinity on MCF-7 cells. In the second step of the study, the crystal structure of carbohydrate interaction surface of PHA-L was extracted from the crystal structure of PHA-L. The interactions between this surface and sialic acid were calculated by computational tools. These calculations revealed specific interactions between PHA-L and sialic acid. Semi-empirical methods, PM3 and AM1, were used in these calculations. Significant outcomes have been obtained from the experimental and computational studies and these results demonstrated that PHA-L may be an effective agent for imagining MCF-7 cells.