Permeability of Human Tooth Surfaces Studied In Vitro by Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy

Electrochemical Faradaic impedance spectroscopy was applied to evaluate dependence of the electrical resistance on human teeth. The experiments were performed using iodide anions as a redox probe to model permeability of teeth for fluoride upon an iontophoresis process. Tooth molars were used – as these are teeth most affected by tooth decay processes in vivo. Teeth compared included sound molars – with no evidence of pit and fissure decay, teeth with pits and fissures regarded ‘clinically’ as showing signs of decay, and teeth with crowns removed to present exposed dentin surfaces. A difference of more than an order of magnitude in electrical resistance was observed between sound molars and those regarded as showing evidence of tooth decay processes. Sound dentin, as expected from structural considerations demonstrated significantly lower resistance when compared to sound molars. Importantly, the difference in tooth resistance measured between carious and sound molars was shown to be much more representative of their structural integrity than comparison of digitally processed images of the teeth. The results support the utility of electrochemical Faradaic impedance spectroscopy for the development of understanding on how tooth electrical resistance may vary according to structural changes. This understanding may be useful to continued refinements in the use of electrical resistance measures as caries diagnostics and support generically the potential for iontophoretic processes in in‐office fluoride treatments of teeth.     

Phthalide metabolites produced by mangrove endophytic fungus Pestalotiopsis sp. SAS4

Two new phthalide derivatives ( 1 – 2 ) and four known phthalide compounds ( 3 – 6 ) were purified from the culture of a mangrove endophytic fungus Pestalotiopsis sp. SAS4. Their chemical structures were established by analyses of 1D and 2D nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and high resolution mass spectrometry (HR-MS) spectroscopic data. All of these compounds were evaluated in vitro for antibacterial, cytotoxicity, and resistance to hypoxic–ischemic injury activities.     

Robert Havemann. Chemiker im Widerstand

In the uncommon course of life of the German physical chemist and philosopher Robert Havemann resistance activities against National Socialism – for what he was sentenced to death in December 1943 – play a special role. Superiors, friends and Havemann himself led a successful struggle to prevent the execution. By declaring his research work to be highly essential to the war a research laboratory was established solely for Robert Havemann to continue his work from within the prison of Brandenburg‐Görden. In April 1945 he was liberated by the Red Army.     

Radiation curable materials – principles and new perspectives

Increasing environmental concerns and the ensuing legislation to cut emissions of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) have been major driving forces behind the development of radiation cured coatings over the past 25 years. Today radiation cured coatings are known for their good overall performance and their excellent resistance against chemical and physical surface damages. Advanced photoinitiator systems allow the light stabilisation of UV‐curable formulations and the outdoor application of the coating. The rapid curing, combined with the possibility of immediate processing of the coated objects opens the way for radiation curing – in 100%‐, water based‐, and dual cure systems as well as for radiation curable powder coatings – for a wide variety of application.     

Effect of acidity level Ro(H) on the corrosion of steel in concentrated HCL solutions

The corrosion of a carbon steel in (0.5 – 9.0 M) HCl media using weight loss, electrochemical polarization and polarization resistance measurements was investigated. The corrosion data are discussed as function of the Strehlow acidity function R_o(H) which is the extension of pH in concentrated solutions. Weight loss, corrosion current densities and resistance polarization values show a linear behaviour with the R_o(H) acidity function. The corrosion potential-R_o(H) plot is also linear using the ferricinium (Fc⁺) / ferrocene (Fc) reference electrode in concentrated acid solutions.     

Phase Diagram for a Lysyl-Phosphatidylglycerol Analogue in Biomimetic Mixed Monolayers with Phosphatidylglycerol: Insights into the Tunable Properties of Bacterial Membranes

Ion pairing between the major phospholipids of the Staphylococcus aureus plasma membrane (phosphatidylglycerol – PG and lysyl-phosphatidylglycerol – LPG) confers resistance to antimicrobial peptides and other antibiotics. We developed 3adLPG, a stable synthetic analogue which can substitute for the highy-labile native LPG, in biophysical experiments examining the membrane-protecting role of lipid ion pairing, in S. aureus and other important bacteria. Here we examine the surface charge and lipid packing characteristics of synthetic biomimetic mixtures of DPPG and DP3adLPG in Langmuir monolayers, using a combination of complementary surface-probing techniques such as infrared reflection-absorption spectroscopy and grazing-incidence x-ray diffraction. The resultant phase diagram for the ion paired lipids sheds light on the mixing behavior of lipids in monolayer models of resistant phenotype bacterial membranes, and provides a platform for future biophysical studies.     

Surfaces Resistant to Fouling from Biological Fluids: Towards Bioactive Surfaces for Real Applications

The fouling from four human body fluids – blood plasma, cerebrospinal fluid, urine and saliva – and four animal fluids – foetal bovine and calf sera, egg and milk – relevant to human and veterinary medicine, immunology, biology and diagnostics is assessed on antifouling SAMs and on polymer brushes of oligo(ethylene glycol) methacrylate, 2‐hydroxyethyl methacrylate, carboxybetaine acrylamide and N‐(2‐hydroxypropyl)methacrylamide synthesized via ATRP. While important deposits from the all biofluids are observed on SAMs, a superior resistance is achieved on polymer brushes. Importantly, only poly(CBAA) and poly(HPMA) are capable of resisting the fouling from the most challenging media, blood plasma and eggs.

     

Preparation of optically active cyclohexenones: Chirons for the lipophilic moiety of flowery- and woody-like odorant ketones

Optically active 2,5,6,6- and 2,4,4,5-tetraalkylcyclohex-2-en-1-ones ((+)- 2a – d and (?)- 5a – d ), important building blocks for flowery- and woody-like odorants, have been prepared. Compounds (+)- 2a – d and (?)- 5a – d were obtained by ozonolysis of the corresponding cyclopentenic precursors, followed by intramolecular aldol condensation. Alternatively, enones (+)- 2a – d were reduced to the corresponding allylic alcohols ad converted to enones (-)- 5a – d via acidic isomerization and oxidation. ¹³C-NMR assignments are presented.     

4‐Substituted 2,3‐Dihydroisoxazoles as Masked Azomethine Ylides: Access to Pyrrole Derivatives by 1,5‐ and 1,7‐Dipolar Electrocyclizations of Enynyl Derivatives

The enynyl‐substituted 2,3‐dihydroisoxazoles (‘isoxazolines') 9 – 14 were prepared by highly (Z)‐selective Peterson olefination reaction from the corresponding carbaldehydes 6 – 8 . On short‐time thermolysis (280 – 406°/10 s) the TMS derivatives 9 – 11 give rise to the annulated pyrrolines 18 – 20 , which, in some cases, suffer CH₄ elimination affording the pyrroles 15 – 17 . In contrast, thermolysis of the terminal alkyne derivatives 12 – 14 leads to the bicyclic compounds 21 – 23 . The reaction pathways are discussed on the basis of the formation of conjugated azomethine ylides as key intermediates, which either undergo a 1,5‐cyclization to 18 – 20 or a 1,7‐ring‐closure affording cycloallene intermediates of type V , which are further transformed into the azepino pyrroles 21 – 23 .     

Acid/Alkali Gated Photochromism of Diarylethenes with Quinoline Derivatives

Three new diarylethenes 1 – 3 combined with quinoline derivatives have been synthesized. Through controlled chemical condition of deprotonation/protonation, they presented some new irreversible photochromic phenomenons under UV/Vis light irradiation in chloroform solution. It was found that 1 – 3 had well photoisomerization upon UV/Vis light irradiation in neutral chloroform solution. Addition of acid to the solution of the ring‐opening isomers of 1 – 3 produced 1oa – 3oa , which performed reversible photochromic behavior under UV/Vis light irradiation and reversed back to 1 – 3 under neutralizing with adding lewis base. However, addtion of base to neutral soluton of the ring‐opening isomers of 1 – 3 produced 1ob – 3ob , which could not change to the deprotonated ring‐closing isomers under UV light irradiation.     

Oxygen ionosorption on compressed semiconducting powders of zinc and germanium oxynitrides

Oxygen ionosorption on zinc and germanium oxynitrides, Zn_xGeO_yN_z, is observed through the electrical resistance variation of pellets of these materials. In vacuum the resistance versus temperature characteristics log R₀(1/T)_are nearly straight; they show good reproducibility and are used as references for isothermal adsorption and desorption experiments and for temperature programmed desorptions (TPD). Ionosorbed oxygen acts as an electron acceptor trap at the surface of an n-type semiconductor. That leads to a resistance increase, which depends on the adsorption temperature and on the conditions of preparing the material: several ionosorption energetic levels exist in the temperature range 40 – 300 °C. This study shows that temperatures higher than 150 °C should be preferred if zinc and germanium oxynitrides are to be used and reducing gas sensor materials.     

Efficient Synthesis of α‐Benzylidene‐γ‐methyl‐γ‐butyrolactones

A concise synthesis of α‐benzylidene‐γ‐methyl‐γ‐butyrolactones 5a – g from substituted benzaldehydes is described. Compounds 1a – g on reaction with phosphorane 2 , provide the pentenoates 3a – g , which can be hydrolyzed to the acids 4a – g . The latter are cyclized to the corresponding butyrolactones 5a – g in excellent yields. The pentenoates 3a – g , on acid catalyzed cyclization, also provide 5a – g in very high yields.     

Syntheses of the Macrocyclic Spermine Alkaloids (±)‐Budmunchiamine A – C

The syntheses of four macrocyclic spermine alkaloids, (±)‐budmunchiamine A – C ( 1a – c ) and (±)‐budmunchiamine L4 ( 1 ), were accomplished by Michael addition of spermine to the α,β‐unsaturated esters 3a – d , followed by cyclization of the resulting α,ω‐tetraamino esters 4a – d with triethoxyantimony; N‐methylation of the amino lactams 6a – c yielded the budmunchiamines A – C ( 1a – c ).     

Comportement Des Alumags Dilues En Déformation Plastique

Plastic deformation behaviour of aluminium – magnesium dilute alloys. The stamping of some Al-Mg alloys could be a problem for the manufacture of metal parts. Indeed, one could experience an instability of the plastic flow, an appearance of a localized plastic strain and a deterioration of the ductility. In this work, the plastic deformation at room temperature in various Al-Mg dilute alloys whose the tensile curve presents serrated yielding of Poitevin – Le Chatelier (PLC) effect has been investigated. Using a close simulation of the stamping behaviour, through uniaxial tensile tests for different orientations with respect to the rolling direction, we show the effects of the solute content and heat treatments on the amplitude of the PLC instability and their influence on the ductility as a function of the strain rate. We also show that the solute content of these alloys is the responsible factor for a more or less heterogeneous plastic strain. However, it seems that the amplitude of the instability is not the only parameter determining certain characteristics of the plastic jerky flow such as the ductility and the resistance to failure.     

Identification of the aromatic hydroxylamine group by mass spectrometry

The mass spectra of aromatic hydroxylamines are diagnostic; [M], [M – 2], [M – 16] and, in most instances, [M – 17] ions are observed.     

Research of the interaction mechanism between HCl and semiconductor metal oxides

Gas-sensitivity was investigated of n- and p-types conductivity semiconductor sensors based on zinc, indium and chrome oxides with the respect to hydrogen chloride (0.06 – 3 ppm). Disclosed were two mechanisms of interaction between НС1 and above metal oxides. It is demonstrated that HCl chemisorption results in decrease, and chlorine generation by HCl oxidation results in increase of semiconductor sensor resistance of n-type conductivity. Inverse relationship is observed for sensors with p-type conductivity. Calculation results of НСl conversion degree under the conditions of thermodynamic equilibrium of the reaction of HCl to Cl₂ oxidation are in good agreement with the experimental results for different sensor temperatures, gas humidity range and oxygen content.     

Regioselective 1,3‐Dipolar Cycloadditions of (1Z)‐1‐(Arylmethylidene)‐5,5‐dimethyl‐3‐oxopyrazolidin‐1‐ium‐2‐ide Azomethine Imines to Acetylenic Dipolarophiles

The 5,5‐dimethylpyrazolidin‐3‐one ( 4 ), prepared from ethyl 3‐methylbut‐2‐enoate ( 3 ) and hydrazine hydrate, was treated with various substituted benzaldehydes 5a – i to give the corresponding (1Z)‐1‐(arylmethylidene)‐5,5‐dimethyl‐3‐oxopyrazolidin‐1‐ium‐2‐ide azomethine imines 6a – i . The 1,3‐dipolar cycloaddition reactions of azomethine imines 6a – h with dimethyl acetylenedicarboxylate (=dimethyl but‐2‐ynedioate; 7 ) afforded the corresponding dimethyl pyrazolo[1,2‐a]pyrazoledicarboxylates 8a – h , while by cycloaddition of 6 with methyl propiolate (=methyl prop‐2‐ynoate; 9 ), regioisomeric methyl pyrazolo[1,2‐a]pyrazolemonocarboxylates 10 and 11 were obtained. The regioselectivity of cycloadditions of azomethine imines 6a – i with methyl propiolate ( 9 ) was influenced by the substituents on the aryl residue. Thus, azomethine imines 6a – e derived from benzaldehydes 5a – e with a single substituent or without a substituent at the ortho‐positions in the aryl residue, led to mixtures of regioisomers 10a – e and 11a – e . Azomethine imines 6f – i derived from 2,6‐disubstituted benzaldehydes 5f – i gave single regioisomers 10f – i .     

Laser-Induced Hydrogen Radical Removal in UV MALDI-MS Allows for the Differentiation of Flavonoid Monoglycoside Isomers

Negative-ion matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI) time-of-flight mass spectra and tandem mass spectra of flavonoid mono-O-glycosides showed the irregular signals that were 1 and/or 2 Da smaller than the parent deprotonated molecules ([M – H]^–) and the sugar-unit lost fragment ions ([M – Sugar – H]^–). The 1 and/or 2 Da mass shifts are generated with the removing of a neutral hydrogen radical (H*), and/or with the homolytic cleavage of the glycosidic bond, such as [M – H* – H]^–, [M – Sugar – H* – H]^–, and [M – Sugar – 2H* – H]^–. It was revealed that the hydrogen radical removes from the phenolic hydroxy groups on the flavonoids, not from the sugar moiety, because the flavonoid backbones themselves absorb the laser. The glycosyl positions depend on the extent of the hydrogen radical removals and that of the homolytic cleavage of the glycosidic bonds. Flavonoid mono-glycoside isomers were distinguished according to their TOF MS and tandem mass spectra.

The chemistry and physics of zinc oxide surfaces

Metal oxides are virtually everywhere – only gold has the property not to form an oxide on its surface when exposed to the ambient. As a result, understanding the physics and chemistry of oxide surfaces is a topic of pronounced general interest and, of course, also a necessary prerequisite for many technical applications. The most important of these is certainly heterogeneous catalysis, but one has to realize that – under ambient conditions – virtually all phenomena occurring at liquid/metal and gas/metal interfaces are determined by the corresponding oxide. This applies in particular to friction phenomena, adhesion and corrosion. A necessary – but not necessarily sufficient – condition for unravelling the fundamentals governing this complex field is to analyze in some detail elementary chemical and physical processes at oxide surfaces. Although the Surface Science of metal surfaces has seen a major progress in the past decades, for oxides detailed experimental investigations for well-defined single crystal surfaces still represent a formidable challenge – mostly because of technical difficulties (charging), but to some extent also due to fundamental problems related to the stabilization of polar surfaces. As a result, the amount of information available for this class of materials is – compared to that at hand for metals – clearly not satisfactory. A particular disturbing lack of information is that about the presence of hydrogen at oxide surfaces – either as hydroxy-species or in form of metal hydrides.In the present review we will summarize recent experimental and theoretical information which has become available from single crystal studies on ZnO surfaces. While the number of papers dealing with another oxide, rutile TiO₂, is significantly larger (although titania does not exhibit a polar surface), also for zinc oxide a basis of experimental and theoretical knowledge as been accumulated, which – at least for the non-polar surfaces – allows to understand physico-chemical processes on an atomic level for an increasing number of cases. In particular with regards to the interaction with hydrogen a number of – often surprising – observations have been reported recently. Some of them carry implications for the behaviour of hydrogen on oxide surfaces in general. We will present the currently available information for both, experiment and theory, and demonstrate the rather large variety of this material’s surface properties.