Kinetic micellar effects in tetradecyltrimethylammonium bromide-pentanol micellar solutions

The reactions 1,1,1-trichloro-2,2-bis(p-chlorophenyl)ethane + OH(-) and 2-(p-nitrophenyl)ethyl bromide + OH(-) were studied in tetradecyltrimethylamonium bromide, TTAB, and TTAB-pentanol micellar solutions. The influence of changes in the surfactant concentration as well as changes in the hydroxide ion concentration on the observed rate constant was investigated. If changes in the cmc and ionization degree provoked by the presence of the different amounts of n-pentanol in the micellar solutions are taken into account, the experimental kinetic data can be rationalized quantitatively by using the PIE model. Assuming that the ion-exchange equilibrium constant, K(OH(-)/Br(-)), for the competition between the bromide and the hydroxide ions in all TTAB and in TTAB-pentanol micellar solutions studied is the same, a good agreement between the theoretical and the experimental kinetic data was found in all the micellar media for the two processes studied. This assumption was checked by experimentally determining the ion-exchange equilibrium constant K(OH(-)/Br(-)) in TTAB and TTAB-pentanol micellar solutions through a spectroscopic method, results showing that the presence of n-pentanol does not affect substantially the value of K(OH(-)/Br(-)). The second-order rate constants obtained from the fittings decrease slightly when the amount of pentanol increases, being greater than that in aqueous solution. This acceleration can be explained considering that micelles accelerate the reactions in which the charge is delocalized in the transition state.     

Kinetic Effects in non Ionic Micellar Solutions

The elimination reaction between 2-(p-nitrophenyl)ethyl bromide and OH^- ions was studied in nonionic aqueous micellar solutions of two esters of long chain fatty acids and sorbitan polyethylene glycol, Tween 20 (monolaurate) and Tween 80 (monooleate). The equilibrium binding constants of the 2-(p-nitrophenyl)ethyl bromide molecules to the nonionic micellar aggregates were obtained by spectroscopic measurements. The experimental kinetic data were quantitatively rationalized by the treatment of first-order reactions based on the pseudophase model. Results from this work and from previous studies show that, whereas the presence of cationic and sulfobetaine micelles accelerates the reaction, the presence of nonionic micelles inhibits the reaction.     

Simple and efficient microwave assisted N-alkylation of isatin

We present herein the results of microwave promoted N-alkylations of isatin (1)with different alkyl, benzyl and functionalized alkyl halides. Reactions were carried out under different conditions, always employing methodologies compatible with MW assisted chemistry. Generation of isatin anion employing diverse bases and solvents or using the preformed isatin sodium salt was tested. The best results were achieved using K(2)CO(3) or Cs(2)CO(3) and a few drops of N,N-dimethylformamide or N-methyl-2-pyrrolidinone. These reactions present noteworthy advantages over those carried out employing conventional heating.     

Analysis of optical configurations for ESPI

An ESPI optical arrangement consisting of a combination of three illumination and one reference beams is compared to a system with three optical arms corresponding to an out-of-plane and two in-plane interferometers. Experimental data for each component of the displacement vector obtained with both systems are presented and discussed.     

Fast Large-Scale Joint Inversion for Deep Aquifer Characterization Using Pressure and Heat Tracer Measurements

Characterization of geologic heterogeneity is crucial for reliable and cost-effective subsurface management operations, especially in problems that involve complex physics such as deep aquifer storage of carbon dioxide. With recent advances in computational power and sensor technology, large-scale aquifer characterization using various types of measurements has been a promising approach to achieve high-resolution subsurface images. However, large-scale inversion requires high, often prohibitive, computational costs associated with a number of large-scale coupled numerical simulation runs and large dense matrix multiplications. As a result, traditional inversion techniques have limited utility for problems that require fine discretization of large domains and a large number of measurements to capture small-scale heterogeneity, like \(\text {CO}_2\) monitoring in the subsurface. In this work, we apply the principal component geostatistical approach (PCGA), an efficient inversion method, for large-scale aquifer characterization. The domain considered is a synthetic three-dimensional deep saline aquifer intended for \(\text {CO}_2\) storage with 24,000 unknown permeability grid blocks. Transient pressure and heat tracer measurements from multiple dipole pumping tests are simulated with the TOUGH2 simulator and are used to estimate the heterogeneous permeability field and the corresponding uncertainty. For this scenario, we investigate the worth of combining heat and pumping tracer data for characterization. We demonstrate that with the PCGA, the inversion can be performed at a reasonable computational cost, while also resolving the main features of the permeability field. This presents opportunities for using inverse modeling to improve monitoring design and data collection strategies in field applications.     

Thermal,mineralogical and spectroscopic study of plasters from three post-Byzantine churches from Kastoria (northern Greece)

Several plaster samples were collected from the wall paintings of post-Byzantine monuments from Kastoria town, northern Greece. They were analysed mainly by simultaneous thermal analysis (TG-DTG/DTA) and X-ray diffraction and supplementary by electron microscope (ESEM-EDX) and Raman spectroscopy. Whitish and dark plaster layers were evident in most cases. Calcite, micas, and quartz were the dominant minerals, while dolomite, gypsum, and feldspar were detected as minor phases in most of the samples. Hydromagnesite and chlinochlore were also determined in a few samples. The utilisation of the results for chronological purposes (i.e. for assignment of different painting periods) was also suggested and the presence of dolomite and hydromagnesite could be characteristic for the provenance of the raw material. Gypsum was regarded mainly as a weathering product due to sulfation process, and secondly as a binding material of the plaster. The thermoanalytical results are in good agreement with the mineralogical data. The white plasters are categorized as hydraulic lime mortars, while the dark ones as natural pozzolanic mortars. Calcite and gypsum correlates well with their respective mass losses at certain temperature ranges and their Raman spectra are clearly detected. ESEM-EDX revealed fine calcareous components with aluminolisilicate aggregates and the application of the fresco technique either as a multi-layer or a single-layer plaster. The deterioration caused by salts (gypsum, halite, and nitratine) and micro-organisms was also determined. The detrimental effect of the salt crystallization and dissolution was also confirmed using the so-called Peltier-stage experiment.     

Load‐bearing biodegradable polycaprolactone‐poly (lactic‐co‐glycolic acid)‐ beta tri‐calcium phosphate scaffolds for bone tissue regeneration

A biodegradable scaffold with tissue ingrowth and load‐bearing capabilities is required to accelerate the healing of bone defects. However, it is difficult to maintain the mechanical properties as well as biodegradability and porosity (necessary for bone ingrowth) at the same time. Therefore, in the present study, polycaprolactone (PCL) and poly (lactic‐co‐glycolic acid) (PLGA5050) were mixed in varying ratio and incorporated with 20 wt.% beta tri‐calcium phosphate (βTCP). The mixture was shaped under pressure into originally nonporous cylindrical constructs. It is envisioned that the fabricated constructs will develop porosity with the time‐dependent biodegradation of the polymer blend. The mechanical properties will be sustained since the decrease in mechanical properties associated with the dissolution of the PLGA, and the formation of the porous structure will be compensated with the new bone formation and ingrowth. To prove the hypothesis, we have systematically studied the effects of samples composition on the time‐dependent dissolution behavior, pore formation, and mechanical properties of the engineered samples, in vitro. The highest initial (of as‐prepared samples) values of the yield strength (0.021 ± 0.002 GPa) and the Young's modulus (0.829 ± 0.096 GPa) were exhibited by the samples containing 75 wt.% of PLGA. Increase of the PLGA concentration from 25 to 75 wt.% increased the rate of biodegradation by a factor of 3 upon 2 weeks in phosphate buffered saline (1 × PBS). The overall porosity and the pore sizes increased with the dissolution time indicating that the formation of in situ pores can indeed enable the migration of cells followed by vascularization and bone growth.     

General Health Benefits and Pharmacological Activities of Triticum aestivum L.

Common wheat (Triticum aestivum), one of the world’s most consumed cereal grains, is known for its uses in baking and cooking in addition to its medicinal uses. As this plant’s medical benefits are enormous and scattered, this narrative review was aimed at describing the pharmacological activities, phytochemistry, and the nutritional values of Triticum aestivum. It is a good source of dietary fiber, resistant starch, phenolic acids, alkylresorcinols, lignans, and diverse antioxidant compounds such as carotenoids, tocopherols and tocotrienols. These constituents provide Triticum aestivum with a wide range of pharmacological properties, including anticancer, antimicrobial, antidiabetic, hypolipemic, antioxidant, laxative, and moisturizing effects. This review summarized the established benefits of wheat in human health, the mode of action, and different clinical, in vitro and in vivo studies for different varieties and cultivars. This review also gives an insight for future research into the better use of this plant as a functional food. More clinical trials, in vivo and in vitro studies are warranted to broaden the knowledge about the effect of Triticum aestivum on nutrition-related diseases prevention, and physical and mental well-being sustenance.     

Pharmacological Activities of Soursop (Annona muricata Lin.)

Soursop (Annona muricata Lin.) is a plant belonging to the Annonaceae family that has been widely used globally as a traditional medicine for many diseases. In this review, we discuss the traditional use, chemical content, and pharmacological activities of A.muricata. From 49 research articles that were obtained from 1981 to 2021, A.muricata’s activities were shown to include anticancer (25%), antiulcer (17%), antidiabetic (14%), antiprotozoal (10%), antidiarrhea (8%), antibacterial (8%), antiviral (8%), antihypertensive (6%), and wound healing (4%). Several biological activities and the general mechanisms underlying the effects of A.muricata have been tested both in vitro and in vivo. A.muricata contains chemicals such as acetogenins (annomuricins and annonacin), alkaloids (coreximine and reticuline), flavonoids (quercetin), and vitamins, which are predicted to be responsible for the biological activity of A. muricata.     

Computational Study of Benzosultam Formation through Gold(I)-Catalyzed Ammoniumation/Nucleophilic Substitution Reaction

The Au(I)-catalyzed reactions of (2-alkynyl)phenylsulfonyl azetidines bearing terminal and non-terminal alkynes in the presence of methanol as protic nucleophile to form benzosultams derivatives were studied by density functional theory (DFT) calculations. Our study highlights that gold(I) catalyzed nucleophilic addition of the nitrogen on the alkyne is favored over the direct ring opening of the azetidine by methanol, confirming the ammonium-based mechanism. In addition, the reverse regioselectivity observed experimentally where non-terminal alkynes favors the formation of 6-endo-dig-benzosultams while terminal alkynes favor 5-exo-dig products is also explored through two different scenarios. The first one embraces the classical activation of the alkyne by a single Au(I) species while the second one tackles the formation of a σ,π-digold acetylide complex. Calculations identify both pathways as competitive although only mono Au(I) complexes can lead to final products, in good agreement with experimental observation. Further details on the importance of the presence of an excess of the protic nucleophile on the protodemetallation step and the final aminal formation is also discussed.