Influence of RNA Strand Rigidity on Polyion Complex Formation with Block Catiomers

Polyion complexes (b‐PICs) are prepared by mixing single‐ or double‐stranded oligo RNA (aniomer) with poly(ethylene glycol)‐b‐poly(l ‐lysine) (PEG‐PLL) (block catiomer) to clarify the effect of aniomer chain rigidity on association behaviors at varying concentrations. Here, a 21‐mer single‐stranded RNA (ssRNA) (persistence length: 1.0 nm) and a 21‐mer double‐stranded RNA (small interfering RNA, siRNA) (persistence length: 62 nm) are compared. Both oligo RNAs form a minimal charge‐neutralized ionomer pair with a single PEG‐PLL chain, termed unit b‐PIC (uPIC), at low concentrations (<≈0.01 mg mL⁻¹). Above the critical association concentration (≈0.01 mg mL⁻¹), ssRNA b‐PICs form secondary associates, PIC micelles, with sizes up to 30–70 nm, while no such multimolecular assembly is observed for siRNA b‐PICs. The entropy gain associated with the formation of a segregated PIC phase in the multimolecular PIC micelles may not be large enough for rigid siRNA strands to compensate with appreciably high steric repulsion derived from PEG chains. Chain rigidity appears to be a critical parameter in polyion complex association.

     

Gallium iodide/iodine as a versatile reagent for the aza-Prins cyclization: an expeditious synthesis of 4-iodopiperidines

4-Iodopiperidines are prepared in good yields and with high selectivity by means of aza-Prins-cyclization using a catalytic amount of gallium(III) iodide and a stoichiometric amount of iodine under mild reaction conditions. This is the first report on the preparation of 4-iodopiperidines via aza-Prins-cyclization.     

Phytochemical and antioxidant properties of some Cassia species

In this study, the antioxidant activity of aqueous and ethanol extracts of four plants from the genus Cassia were evaluated by various antioxidant assays, including ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), DPPH free radical scavenging, metal chelating activity, phosphomolybdenum reducing power, hydrogen peroxide radical scavenging, hydroxyl radical scavenging, deoxyribose degradation and β-carotene bleaching assay. The various antioxidant activities were compared to standard antioxidant such as ascorbic acid. All the extracts showed antioxidant activity in the tested methods. Among the four species, Cassia auriculata has been found to possess highest activity in most of the tested models. In addition to the antioxidant activity, the total phenolics and flavonoids were measured in the extracts. The ethanolic extract exhibited highest phenolics and flavonoid contents and had also shown potent antioxidant activity in comparison to the aqueous extracts. The possible antioxidant mechanism of the ethanol extract can be due to its hydrogen or electron donating and direct free radical scavenging properties. Hence, the ethanol extract represents a source of potential antioxidants that could be used in pharmaceutical industries.     

Improved bounds on the Hadwiger–Debrunner numbers

Let HD _d (p, q) denote the minimal size of a transversal that can always be guaranteed for a family of compact convex sets in Rd which satisfy the (p, q)-property (p ≥ q ≥ d + 1). In a celebrated proof of the Hadwiger–Debrunner conjecture, Alon and Kleitman proved that HD _d (p, q) exists for all p ≥ q ≥ d + 1. Specifically, they prove that \(H{D_d}(p,d + 1)is\tilde O({p^{{d^2} + d}})\).We present several improved bounds: (i) For any \(q \geqslant d + 1,H{D_d}(p,d) = \tilde O({p^{d(\frac{{q - 1}}{{q - d}})}})\). (ii) For q ≥ log p, \(H{D_d}(p,q) = \tilde O(p + {(p/q)^d})\). (iii) For every ? > 0 there exists a p₀ = p₀(?) such that for every p ≥ p₀ and for every \(q \geqslant {p^{\frac{{d - 1}}{d} + \in }}\) we have p ? q + 1 ≤ HD _d (p, q) ≤ p ? q + 2. The latter is the first near tight estimate of HD _d (p, q) for an extended range of values of (p, q) since the 1957 Hadwiger–Debrunner theorem.We also prove a (p, 2)-theorem for families in R² with union complexity below a specific quadratic bound.     

The stochastic interdiction median problem with disruption intensity levels

In this paper we introduce a stochastic interdiction problem for median systems in which the operational state of the system??s disrupted elements in the aftermath of the disruption is uncertain as it is based on the intensity of the disruption. We assume that a disruption disables a facility with a given probability and this probability depends on the intensity of the disruption. The objective of this problem is to identify which disruption scenario entails a maximum overall traveling distance in serving all customers. We show that the initial two stage stochastic formulation can be reformulated into a deterministic counterpart whose size is polynomial in the number of facilities and intensity levels. Then, our ensuing efforts to solve the problem efficiently focus on studying alternative deterministic formulations that allow the solution of realistic size instances of the model. We observe that the most efficient of the deterministic formulations provide great scalability with respect to variations in the input parameters and size of the instances solved. Finally, we analyze the robustness of the optimal solutions due to misestimations in the probability functions that relate disruption intensity levels with the probabilities of facility survivability.     

Nucleophilic perfluoroalkylation of aldehydes, ketones, imines, disulfides, and diselenides

Using a procedure analogous to that developed for nucleophilic trifluoromethylation, the perfluoroalkyl anion reagents created by mixing C2F5I and n-C4F9I with tetrakis(dimethylamino)ethylene (TDAE) were effective in their nucleophilic reactions with aldehydes, ketones, imines, disulfides, and diselenides. Irradiation proved beneficial in the aldehyde and ketone reactions.     

Effect of helium/neon laser irradiation on nerve growth factor synthesis and secretion in skeletal muscle cultures

Low energy laser irradiation therapy in medicine is widespread but the mechanisms are not fully understood. The aim of the present study was to elucidate the mechanism by which the light might induce therapeutic effects. Skeletal muscle cultures were chosen as a target for light irradiation and nerve growth factor (NGF) was the biochemical marker for analysis. It was found that there is a transient elevation of intracellular calcium in the myotubes immediately after irradiation (P<0.001). Preincubation of the myotubes with either the photosensitizers 5-amino-levulinic acid (5-ALA), or with hematoporphyrin (Hp) enhanced the elevation of cytosolic calcium (P<0.001) after helium/neon irradiation (633 nm) with an energy of 3 J/cm(2). In addition, helium/neon irradiation augmented the level of NGF mRNA fivefold and increased NGF release to the medium of the myotubes. Thus, it is speculated that transient changes in calcium caused by light can modulate NGF release from the myotubes and also affect the nerves innervating the muscle. The NGF is probably responsible for the beneficial effects of low-level light.