Buckwheat Hull-Enriched Pasta: Physicochemical and Sensory Properties

This work aimed to evaluate the effect of partial replacement of semolina with 0, 1, 5, 10, 15, and 20% of ground buckwheat hull (BH) on the chemical composition, antioxidant properties, color, cooking characteristics, and sensory properties of wheat pasta. Pasta samples were prepared by dough lamination (tagliatelle shape) and dried at 55 °C until the moisture content was 11–12% (wet basis). Analyses of samples showed that the addition of BH caused an increase in fiber content in pasta from 4.31% (control pasta) to 14.15% (pasta with 20% of BH). Moreover, the brightness and yellowness of BH-enriched products were significantly decreased compared to the control sample, and the total color difference ranged from 23.84 (pasta with 1% of BH) to 32.56 (pasta with 15% BH). In addition, a decrease in optimal cooking time, as well as an increased weight index and cooking loss, was observed in BH-enriched pasta samples. Furthermore, BH-enriched cooked pasta had significantly higher total phenolic content and antioxidant activity but an unpleasant smell and taste, especially if the level of BH was higher than 10%.     

Photoelectrochemical Properties of Annealed Anodic TiO2 Layers Covered with CuOx

In this work, we present a systematic study on the influence of Cu²⁺ ion concentration in the impregnation solution on the morphology, structure, optical, semiconducting, and photoelectrochemical properties of anodic CuO_x-TiO₂ materials. Studied materials were prepared by immersion in solutions with different concentrations of (CH₃COO)₂Cu and subjected to air-annealing at 400 °C, 500 °C, or 600 °C for 2 h. The complex characterization of all studied samples was performed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), X-ray diffraction (XRD), reflectance measurements, Mott–Schottky analyses, and photocurrent measurements. It was found that band gap engineering based on coupling CuO with TiO₂ (E_g~3.3 eV) is an effective strategy to increase the absorption in visible light due to band gap narrowing (CuO_x-TiO₂ materials had E_g~2.4 eV). Although the photoactivity of CuO-TiO₂ materials decreased in the UV range due to the deposition of CuO on the TiO₂ surface, in the Vis range increased up to 600 nm at the same time.     

In situ X‐ray data collection and structure phasing of protein crystals at Structural Biology Center 19‐ID

A prototype of a 96‐well plate scanner for in situ data collection has been developed at the Structural Biology Center (SBC) beamline 19‐ID, located at the Advanced Photon Source, USA. The applicability of this instrument for protein crystal diffraction screening and data collection at ambient temperature has been demonstrated. Several different protein crystals, including selenium‐labeled, were used for data collection and successful SAD phasing. Without the common procedure of crystal handling and subsequent cryo‐cooling for data collection at T = 100 K, crystals in a crystallization buffer show remarkably low mosaicity (<0.1°) until deterioration by radiation damage occurs. Data presented here show that cryo‐cooling can cause some unexpected structural changes. Based on the results of this study, the integration of the plate scanner into the 19‐ID end‐station with automated controls is being prepared. With improvement of hardware and software, in situ data collection will become available for the SBC user program including remote access.     

The Effect of Antiretroviral Therapy on SIRT1, SIRT3 and SIRT6 Expression in HIV-Infected Patients

Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infection and the chronic use of combined antiretroviral therapy (cART) may affect the occurrence of certain disturbances in the body. There is growing interest in sirtuins–enzymes involved in the regulation of many metabolic processes in the organism and in the pathogenesis of many diseases which also exhibit potential antiviral activity. The aim of the study was to investigate the connection of cART to the expression of Sirtuin 1 (SIRT1), Sirtuin 3 (SIRT3) and Sirtuin 6 (SIRT6) in HIV-infected men. The plasma levels of sirtuins were measured before and one year after cART, and related to HIV viral load, lymphocytes T CD4+ and CD8+ count as well as the applied cART. The levels of sirtuins in plasma were measured in HIV-infected patients (n = 53) and the control group (n = 35) by immunoassay methods. There were statistically significant (p < 0.05) differences between SIRT6 in the HIV-infected patients before therapy and in the subgroups, depending on the count of lymphocytes T CD8+. There were significant differences in the levels of SIRT1 depending on the applied treatment regimen. The obtained results indicate the most significant changes in the expression of SIRT6 in the course of HIV infection and suggest an influence of the type of cART on the level of SIRT1, which indicates its important role in the course of HIV.     

Simple electrooptical sensors for inorganic anions

[reaction: see text] Electrooptical sensors consisting of a conjugated chromophore undergoing a change in color and a redox-active moiety such as quinone fused to the chromophore were synthesized. Strong changes in colorimetric and electrochemical properties were observed in the presence of inorganic anions. A unique anion-specific response was observed for fluoride, pyrophosphate, and acetate. DFT (B3LYP/6-31G) calculations performed for both "on/off" states of a sensor-fluoride model are in good agreement with the observed electrochemical and spectroscopic data.     

Development of zinc alkyl/air systems as radical initiators for organic reactions

This paper reports a series of comparative experiments on the activity of carbon- and oxygen-centred radical species in a model reaction of the radical addition of THF to imines mediated by a series of zinc alkyl/air reaction systems. The study strongly contradicts the notion that generally R˙ radicals are the initiating species in organic reactions mediated by R_nM/air systems, and simultaneously demonstrates that oxygen-centred radical species are the key intermediates responsible for the initiation process. In addition, a new efficient RZn(L)/air initiating system for radical organic reactions exampled by a model reaction of radical addition of THF to imines is developed. Moreover, the isolation and structural characterization of the first zinc alkylperoxide supported by a carboxylate ligand, [Zn₄(μ₃-OOtBu)₃(μ₄-O)(O₂CEt)₃]₂, as well as the novel octanuclear zinc oxo(alkoxide) aggregate with entrapped O–THF species, [Zn₄(μ₄-O)(μ₃-2-O–THF)(O₂CEt)₅]₂, provide clear mechanistic signatures for the mode of function of the RZn(O₂CR′)/air system.     

Analysis of Fragmentation Pathways of New-Type Synthetic Cannabinoids Using Electrospray Ionization

Recently, dozens of new psychoactive substances have appeared on the European drug market every year. The most abundant group of these compounds is synthetic cannabinoids. In the first few years of the “legal highs” phenomenon, JWH (John W. Huffman) compounds were especially popular among drug users. However, the group of synthetic cannabinoids is constantly expanding, as new compounds are created by replacing known structural elements with different chemical groups. The problem with the identification of novel substances in forensic laboratories results from the structural similarity of the compounds and the rapid introduction of newer designer drugs on the black market. In this study, the fragmentation patterns of 29 new-type synthetic cannabinoids using electrospray ionization were investigated. The analysis was performed using quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry. Based on measurements carried out under various conditions, the way of fragmentation of the tested compounds that were divided into groups due to their chemical structure was established. The study showed that the bond between the carbon atom of the carbonyl group and the ring or NH group attached to the ring was mainly cleaved. This mechanism was adequate for the fragmentation of first-generation synthetic cannabinoids. This paper presents characteristic ions formed by synthetic cannabinoids (i.e., ions originating from an indole/indazole ring and an adamanyl/naphthalene/quinoline ring) using electrospray ionization. Knowledge of these specific fragments can be used in forensic laboratories to determine the structure of novel compounds from the group of synthetic cannabinoids.

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Chemometric outlook on correlations between retention parameters of polar and semipolar HPLC columns and physicochemical characteristics of ampholytic substances of biological and pharmaceutical relevance

The Quantitative Property-Retention Relation (QPRR) approach was applied to analyze the correlations between the retention parameters of ampholytic, biologically active substances and their physicochemical (predicted/spectral) characteristics. The retention parameters were obtained for polar and semipolar HPLC columns at various compositions of mobile phases and pH conditions. These values are a unique collection of chromatographic parameters that are a measure of lipophilicity and, consequently, can be very helpful in assessing pharmacological potency of the compounds investigated. Three QPRR models that meet the predictive capability criteria were developed. The relationships can be used to gain pharmacologically interesting information on the biologically active ampholytic substances.

     

Thermal and spectral analysis of copolymers with sulphur groups

Journal of Thermal Analysis and Calorimetry - The paper presents the synthesis, structure and polymerization of S-phenyl 2-methylprop-2-enethioate (PSM). This compound was prepared in the reaction...