Structure and dynamics of biological liquid crystals

A review of thermodynamic and flow liquid crystal models is presented and applied to a wide range of biological liquid crystals (BLCs), including helicoidal plywoods, biopolymer solutions and in vivo liquid crystals. The key characteristics of liquid crystals (self-assembly, packing, defects, functionalities, processability) are discussed in relation to biological materials and the strong correspondence between different synthetic and biological materials is discussed. Viscoelastic models for nematic and chiral nematics are reviewed and discussed in terms of key parameters that facilitate understanding and quantitative information from experimental measurements. The range and consistency of the predictions demonstrates that the use of mesoscopic liquid crystal models is an efficient tool to develop the science and biomimetic applications of mesogenic biological materials.     

Structural Diversity from the Transannular Cyclizations of Natural Germacrone and Epoxy Derivatives: A Theoretical–Experimental Study

Treatment of germacrone ( 1 ) with different electrophiles, and of its epoxy derivatives germacrone‐4,5‐epoxide ( 2 ), germacrone‐1,10‐epoxide ( 3 ) and isogermacrone‐4,5‐epoxide ( 4 ) with Brönsted/Lewis acids and Ti^III, gives rise to a great structural diversity. Thus, by using a maximum of two steps, the production of more than 40 compounds corresponding to 14 skeletons is described. Computational calculations rationalizing the structural divergence produced are also described. Finally, since some of the compounds generated are bioactive natural sesquiterpenes, the mechanisms of formation of these substances will provide new insights in their biosynthesis.     

Gold‐Decorated Chiral Macroporous Films by the Self‐Assembly of Functionalised Block Copolymers

We describe a new and very versatile method to place chosen chemical functionalities at the edge of the pores of macroporous materials. The method is based on the synthesis and self‐assembly of inorganic block copolymers (BCPs) having chiral rigid segments bearing controllable quantities of randomly distributed functional groups. The synthesis of a series of optically active block copolyphosphazenes (PP) with the general formula [N?P(R‐O₂C₂₀H₁₂)_0.9(FG)_0.2]_n‐b‐[N?PMePh]_m (FG=‐OC₅H₄N ( 6 ), ‐NC₄H₈S ( 7 ), and ‐NC₄H₈O ( 8 )), was accomplished by the sequential living cationic polycondensation of N‐silylphosphoranimines, using the mono‐end‐capped initiator [Ph₃P?N?PCl₃][Cl] ( 3 ). The self‐assembly of the phosphazene BCPs 6 – 8 led to chiral porous films. The functionality present on those polymers affected their self‐assembly behaviour resulting in the formation of pores of different diameters (D_n=111 ( 6 ), 53 ( 7 ) and 77 nm ( 8 )). The specific functionalisation of the pores was proven by decorating the films with gold nanoparticles (AuNPs). Thus, the BCPs 6 and 7 , having pyridine and thiomorpholine groups, respectively, were treated with HAuCl₄, followed by reduction with NaBH₄, yielding a new type of block copolyphosphazenes, which self‐assembled into chiral porous films specifically decorated with AuNPs at the edge of the pores.     

Consequences of weak Allee effect on prey in the May–Holling–Tanner predator–prey model

In this work, a modified Holling–Tanner predator–prey model is analyzed, considering important aspects describing the interaction such as the predator growth function is of a logistic type; a weak Allee effect acting in the prey growth function, and the functional response is of hyperbolic type. Making a change of variables and time rescaling, we obtain a polynomial differential equations system topologically equivalent to the original one in which the non‐hyperbolic equilibrium point (0,0) is an attractor for all parameter values. An important consequence of this property is the existence of a separatrix curve dividing the behavior of trajectories in the phase plane, and the system exhibits the bistability phenomenon, because the trajectories can have different ω ? limit sets; as example, the origin (0,0) or a stable limit cycle surrounding an unstable positive equilibrium point. We show that, under certain parameter conditions, a positive equilibrium may undergo saddle‐node, Hopf, and Bogdanov–Takens bifurcations; the existence of a homoclinic curve on the phase plane is also proved, which breaks in an unstable limit cycle. Some simulations to reinforce our results are also shown. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Surface Tension of Binary Mixtures of 1-Alkyl-3-Methyl-Imidazolium Bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide Ionic Liquids with Alcohols

New experimental surface tension data have been provided at 283.15, 298.15, 313.15 K and atmospheric pressure for binary mixtures of 1-butyl-3-methyl-imidazolium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide and 1-octyl-3-methyl-imidazolium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide ionic liquids with the alcohols: methanol, ethanol, 1-propanol, 2-propanol, l-butanol and 1-pentanol. The experimental results show that the surface tensions of these mixtures depend systematically on the alkyl chain length of the ionic liquid and alcohol, composition and temperature. Surface tension changes on mixing have been calculated and adequately fitted by the Redlich–Kister polynomial equation. The adjustable parameters and the standard deviations between experimental and calculated values are reported.     

Regiospecific synthesis of 1-acetamide-5-methoxy-2-oxindoles in two steps: (Ugi-SN2)/xanthate mediated free radical cyclization

A series of twelve novel 1-acetamide-5-methoxy-2-oxindoles were prepared in moderate to good yields (30–88%) by an Ugi-S_N2 one pot process with a xanthate mediated free radical cyclization. Additionally, Density Functional Theory (DFT) based calculations were performed at UB3LYP/6-311G(d) level in order to rationalize the energy profile of the xanthate mediated free radical cyclization because the benzo-fused γ-lactams (ortho products) were obtained as sole regioisomers over the spiro β-lactams (ipso products).     

An updated version of the computational package SIMPRE that uses the standard conventions for Stevens crystal field parameters

The crystal field approach used by SIMPRE is analyzed, verifying the exactness of the results concerning energy levels and magnetic properties calculated by the package. To coincide with the prevailing conventions, we reformulate the presentation of the crystal field parameters, so that the results are now, also from a formal point of view, strictly correct. New calculations are presented to test the influence of neglecting the excited J states, a common but critical approximation employed by SIMPRE. For that, we examine the case of Er(trensal) complex (H₃trensal = 2,2′,2″‐tris(salicylideneimino)triethylamine) where the influence of this approximation is found to be minimal. A patched version of the code, SIMPRE 1.1, and an updated version of the user manual are now available. Finally, we comment on “Software package SIMPRE – revisited,” which apparently revisits a software package without inspecting or using the code. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

A new rotating-disk sorptive extraction mode,with a copolymer of divinylbenzene and N-vinylpyrrolidone trapped in the cavity of the disk,used for determination of florfenicol residues in porcine plasma

A novel extraction approach was developed based on rotating-disk sorptive extraction (RDSE). In this approach the rotating-disk extraction device consists of a Teflon disk, with a cavity that is loaded with a commercial sorbent phase selected according to the polarity of the analyte. To avoid leakage of the sorbent, the cavity is covered with a fiberglass filter and sealed with a Teflon ring. The proposed novel analytical RDSE technique was used in this study to determine florfenicol levels in plasma as a model analyte, or sample system, to describe the pharmacokinetics of a veterinary formulation. The sorbent used for this application was the copolymer of divinylbenzene and N-vinylpyrrolidone (Oasis HLB), which was selected because the florfenicol molecule contains both hydrophilic and lipophilic moieties. After the extraction, final determination of the analyte was performed by HPLC–DAD. Calibration plots and other analytical features were obtained after 90 min of extraction. The calibration plot was linear over the interval 0.4–16 μg mL^?1 (n?=?6), with R ²?=?0.9999. Recovery and repeatability were determined using a blank plasma sample spiked with 4.8 μg mL^?1 florfenicol. A recovery of 91.5 %, with a relative standard deviation (RSD) of 8.8 %, was obtained when the extraction was evaluated using six different rotating-disk devices. Precision was also assessed, using the same disk (containing the same sorbent phase) for eight aliquots of the same sample. The RSD under these conditions was 10.2 %, clearly indicating that the sorptive phase could possibly be re-used. Accordingly, RDSE is a suitable sample preparation alternative to liquid–liquid extraction (LLE), solid-phase extraction (SPE), and stir-bar sorptive extraction (SBSE).     

Synthesis and Antifungal Activity of New Valine-Azole Hybrids

Russian Journal of General Chemistry - Herein, the synthesis of six new derivatives via molecular hybridization of imidazole or triazole and valine methyl ester as a rational design for accessing...     

Hypertension in Prenatally Undernourished Young-Adult Rats Is Maintained by Tonic Reciprocal Paraventricular–Coerulear Excitatory Interactions

Prenatally malnourished rats develop hypertension in adulthood, in part through increased α₁-adrenoceptor-mediated outflow from the paraventricular nucleus (PVN) to the sympathetic system. We studied whether both α₁-adrenoceptor-mediated noradrenergic excitatory pathways from the locus coeruleus (LC) to the PVN and their reciprocal excitatory CRFergic connections contribute to prenatal undernutrition-induced hypertension. For that purpose, we microinjected either α₁-adrenoceptor or CRH receptor agonists and/or antagonists in the PVN or the LC, respectively. We also determined the α₁-adrenoceptor density in whole hypothalamus and the expression levels of α_1A-adrenoceptor mRNA in the PVN. The results showed that: (i) agonists microinjection increased systolic blood pressure and heart rate in normotensive eutrophic rats, but not in prenatally malnourished subjects; (ii) antagonists microinjection reduced hypertension and tachycardia in undernourished rats, but not in eutrophic controls; (iii) in undernourished animals, antagonist administration to one nuclei allowed the agonists recover full efficacy in the complementary nucleus, inducing hypertension and tachycardia; (iv) early undernutrition did not modify the number of α₁-adrenoceptor binding sites in hypothalamus, but reduced the number of cells expressing α_1A-adrenoceptor mRNA in the PVN. These results support the hypothesis that systolic pressure and heart rate are increased by tonic reciprocal paraventricular–coerulear excitatory interactions in prenatally undernourished young-adult rats.