Experimental intensity patterns obtained from a 2D shearing interferometer with adaptable sensitivity

The interferometric intensity patterns from a 2D shearing interferometer are shown and discussed. The intensity patterns can be obtained in two different approaches incorporating differential and extended wavefront controlled displacements. The reliable directional sensitivity of this interferometer allows the optimization of the measurement parameters to estimate the wavefront of the intensity patterns by regularization techniques.     

Periodic solutions of nonlinear impulsive differential inclusions with constraints

In this paper we obtain the existence of periodic solutions for nonlinear ``invariance' problems monitored by impulsive differential inclusions subject to impulse effects.

     

Effects of tributyltin(IV) chloride on the gametes and fertilization of Ascidia malaca (Ascidiacea: Tunicata)

Ascidia malaca gametes before fertilization incubated in 10^?5 or 10^?7 M solutions of tributyltin(IV) chloride, TBTCl, for 3 h appear highly damaged under transmission electron microscopy observation. Also, the fertilization process is affected by the compound: the damaged spermatozoa are present in the vitelline coat and the egg does not cleave. An increase of microbodies, structurally similar to peroxisomes, have been detected in the egg peripheral cytoplasm, probably in relation to their role in alleviating damage to some cellular components. The results have shown that the reproduction of ascidians under unfavourable environmental conditions is prevented. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Vascular endothelial and smooth muscle cell culture on NaOH-treated poly(epsilon-caprolactone) films: a preliminary study for vascular graft development

Tissue engineering offers the potential of providing vessels that can be used to replace diseased and damaged native blood vessels. The endothelization of a synthetic vascular graft minimizes the failures associated with blood clotting and platelet activation. The aim of this study was to culture vascular-derived endothelial and smooth muscle cells on both untreated and NaOH-treated poly(epsilon-caprolactone) (PCL) films, a biocompatible and bio-resorbable polymer, and to evaluate the behavior of both cell types as a preliminary study for vascular graft development. PCL films were prepared by hot pressing; characterized by DSC, IR, SEM, and scanning force microscopy; and treated with NaOH to increase the surface hydrophilicity before cell culture. Endothelial and smooth muscle cells, isolated from pig cava vein, were characterized by immunofluorescence and confocal microscopy studies of endothelial nitric oxide synthase and alpha-smooth muscle actin. Good adhesion, growth, viability and morphology of both the endothelial and smooth muscle cells on PCL films were obtained, but a light stimulation of mitochondrial activity was observed during short culture times. NaOH treatment improved the adhesion and enhanced the proliferation in both cell types. This verified the possible use of this modified polymer as a support in the preparation of a synthetic vascular graft. [Diagram: see text] SEM micrograph of smooth muscle cells cultured on NaOH-treated PCL film. (Original magnification: 1000x).     

Solid-state photodimerization of steroid enones

Androst-4-ene-3,17-dione (1) and 17alpha-methyltestosterone (2) are dimerized in the solid-state by UV radiation. These substances were selected by a search in the CSD among the steroid enones presenting in the crystalline state an intermolecular short contact between a hydrogen alpha to a carbonyl group and the oxygen of an enone system. Dimerization occurs by transfer of the hydrogen to the oxygen and connection between the two involved carbons. Androst-4-ene-3,17-dione (1) affords dimer 3 and trimer 4, both formed by connection of the C-16 of a molecule with the C-3 of a near one. Irradiation of 17alpha-methyltestosterone (2) gives the isomeric trienones 5 and 6. These compounds are reasonably formed by dehydration of unisolated intermediate products 7 and/or 8 obtained by coupling of two molecules through a linkage between the C-2 and the C-3' carbons. The formation mechanisms of the photoproducts are satisfactory explained on the basis of the molecular arrangement of the monomers in the crystal state. Modeling of the dimeric molecules was done using molecular mechanics calculations. A single-crystal X-ray of the dimer of androst-4-ene-3,17-dione confirms the structural interpretation of spectral data. The conformer found in the solid-state agrees well with the results of molecular mechanics calculations.     

Rheology of a lyotropic mesophase through a stress-relaxation experiment

We report on the first rheological study of the structural relaxations in a nematic liquid crystalline phase. Linear dynamic and transient shear experiments were applied to a polydomain nematic phase of the CTAB/water system: a liquid crystalline mixture composed of 28 wt% CTAB at 35 degrees C. The decay of the shear modulus, G(t), was analyzed using the CONTIN inverse Laplace transform to obtain a distribution of relaxation times which were compared with ones from the usual fitting procedure based on a generalized Maxwell model. The behavior of the nematic lyotropic structure of the CTAB/water system is characterized by the presence of both slow and fast relaxation times. These were interpreted as being due to a progressive loss of the lyotropic domain orientation and to the breaking/reforming process of the cylindrical aggregates, respectively.     

High-performance liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization mass spectrometry and multiple mass spectrometry studies of hyperforin degradation products

The alcoholic extract of the aerial parts of Hypericum perforatum L. finds wide application because of its antidepressant activity. The extract contains a number of constituents with documented biological activity including chlorogenic acid, a broad range of flavonoids, naphthodianthrones and phloroglucinols. Hyperforin and adhyperforin are the major phloroglucinol constituents found in the lipophilic fraction of the extracts. Since the stability of hyperforin has been shown to be limited, an investigation of the hyperforin degradation products using HPLC-electrospray ionization mass spectrometry and multiple mass spectrometry was undertaken.