On‐plate enzyme and inhibition assay of glucose‐6‐phosphate dehydrogenase using thin‐layer chromatography

We performed on‐plate enzyme and inhibition assays of glucose 6‐phosphate dehydrogenase using thin‐layer chromatography. The assays were accomplished based on different retardation factors of the substrates, enzyme, and products. All the necessary steps were integrated on‐plate in one developing process, including substrate/enzyme mixing, reaction starting, and quenching as well as product separation. In order to quantitatively measure the enzyme reaction, the developed plate was then densitometrically evaluated to determine the peak area of the product. Rapid and high‐throughput assays were achieved by loading different substrate spots and/or enzyme (and inhibition) spots in different tracks on the plate. The on‐plate enzyme assay could be finished in a developing time of only 4 min, with good track‐to‐track and plate‐to‐plate repeatability. Moreover, we determined the K_m values of the enzyme reaction and K_i values of the inhibition (Pb²⁺ Cd²⁺ and Cu²⁺ as inhibitors), as well as the corresponding kinetics using the on‐plate assay. Taken together, our method expanded the application of thin‐layer chromatography in enzyme assays, and it could be potentially used in research fields for rapid and quantitative measurement of enzyme activity and inhibition.     

Structural study by X-ray diffraction, magnetic susceptibility and Mössbauer spectroscopy of the Na2Mn2(1 − x)Cd2xFe(PO4)3 (0 ≤ x ≤ 1) solid solution

Na₂Mn_{2(1 − x)}Cd_2xFe(PO₄)₃ (0 ≤ x ≤ 1) phosphates were prepared by solid state reaction and characterized by powder X-ray diffraction, magnetic susceptibility and Mössbauer spectroscopy. The X-ray diffraction patterns indicated the formation of a continuous solid solution which crystallizes in the alluaudite structural type characterized by the general formula X(2)X(1)M(1)M(2)₂(PO₄)₃. The cation distribution, deduced from a structure refinement of the x = 0, 0.5 and 1 compositions, is ordered in the X(2) sites and disordered in the remaining X(1), M(1) and M(2) sites. The magnetic susceptibility study revealed an antiferromagnetic behaviour of the studied compounds. The ⁵⁷Fe Mössbauer spectroscopy confirmed the structural results and proved the exclusive presence of Fe³⁺ ions.     

Analysis of the first thermal response test in Algeria

Ground source heat pumps (GSHPs) mean attractive heating and cooling systems. Optimum design of a borehole heat exchanger (BHE), as the outer part of a GSHP heating system, requires knowledge of the thermal properties of the soil. Those data, the effective thermal conductivity of the soil λ_eff and the average temperature of the soil T ₀ enable us to determine the necessary number and depth of boreholes. The determination of thermal conductivity of the soil in laboratory experiments does not usually coincidence with the data under in situ conditions. Therefore, an in situ method of experimental determination of these parameters, thermal response testing (TRT) is used primarily for in situ determination of design data for BHEs. In this study, which was the first TRT in Algeria (Tlemcen site), the purpose was to determine the effective ground thermal conductivity. Measured data were evaluated by the line source model. Used method and performed evaluation are presented for a borehole drilled in clay, silt, and sand. The resulting effective ground thermal conductivity was 1.364 W/m K and the borehole thermal resistance was 0.18 K/(W/m).     

Solvent-free double aza-Michael under ultrasound irradiation: diastereoselective sequential one-pot synthesis of pyrrolidine Lobelia alkaloids analogues

Novel 2,5-meso-pyrrolidines have been straightforwardly synthesized from readily available symmetrical double Michael acceptors. The key step rested on an aza-Michael addition of primary alkylamines to bis-enones. Competitive Rauhut-Currier and aza-Michael reactions have been highlighted in protic solvent. Ultrasound activation associated with solvent-free conditions led to the expected pyrrolidines in quantitative yields and excellent stereoselectivities. The optimized conditions have been extended to the sonochemical synthesis of pyrrolidine Lobelia alkaloids analogues in short sequences.     

Amine-mediated tandem conjugative isomerization-bridging Michael addition: concise synthesis of 1-azabicyclo[3.3.1]nonanes

To reach densely functionalized 1-azabicyclo[3.3.1]nonane frameworks synthesis, a stereocontrolled bridging Michael addition involving an unexplored C-5/C-6 disconnection strategy was studied. 1-Azabicyclo[3.3.1]nonane scaffolds have been diastereoselectively elaborated in fairly good yields by two concise pathways implying pyrrolidine derivative organocatalyst or enantiopure 1-phenylethylamine.     

Effect of different dopant elements (Al,Mg and Ni) on microstructural,optical and electrochemical properties of ZnO thin films deposited by spray pyrolysis (SP)

In the present work we studied the influence of the dopant elements and concentration on the microstructural and electrochemical properties of ZnO thin films deposited by spray pyrolysis. Transparent conductive thin films of zinc oxide (ZnO) were prepared by the spray pyrolysis process using an aqueous solution of zinc acetate dehydrate [Zn(CH₃COO)₂·2H₂O] on soda glass substrate heated at 400 ± 5 °C. AlCl₃, MgCl₂ and NiCl₂ were used as dopant. The effect of doping percentage (2–4%) has been investigated. Afterwards the samples were thermally annealed in an ambient air during one hour at 500 °C. X-ray diffraction showed that films have a wurtzite structure with a preferential orientation along the (0 0 2) direction for doped ZnO. The lattice parameters a and c are estimated to be 3.24 and 5.20 ?, respectively. Transmission allowed to estimate the band gaps of ZnO layers. The electrochemical studies revealed that the corrosion resistance of the films depended on the concentration of dopants.     

Oscillation theorems for Sturm-Liouville problems with distribution potentials

The Sturm-Liouville problem

$\begin{array}{*{20}c} { - y'' + q(x)y = \lambda y,} \\ {y(0) = y(1) = 0} \\ \end{array} $

is considered with a singular potential q(x) representing the derivative of a real function from the space L ₂[0, 1] in the distributional sense. Two approaches are developed for the study of oscillation properties of eigenfunctions of this problem. The first approach is based on generalization of methods of the Sturm theory. The second one is based on development of variational principles.

     

Synthesis of amorpha-4,11-diene from dihydroartemisinic acid

Amorphadiene is a natural product involved in the biosynthesis of the antimalarial drug artemisinin. A convenient four-step synthesis of amorphadiene, starting from commercially available dihydroartemisinic acid, is reported. The targeted molecule is isolated with an overall yield of 85% on a multi-gram scale in four steps with only one chromatography.     

Synthesis and Magnetic Properties of a Copper Cube: [Cu4(OH)4(C16H18N2)4]4+ (ClO4)4 C3H6O [C16H18N2=(E)-1,6-[Di(pyridin-4-yl)hex-3-ene]

The synthesis of a Cu₄(OH)₄ cube which is coordinated by four molecules of the dipyridyl ligand 1,6-[di(pyridin-4-yl)hex-3-ene] is reported. This compound has a trans double bond which restricts the conformational freedom of the ligand and favours coordination within a unique copper cube. The structure was solved by an X-Ray single crystal structure determination and low temperature magnetic susceptibility measurements examined its magnetic properties. The cube classification corresponds to the type I classification of Mergehenn and Haase and the short/long distribution of Cu ⋅⋅⋅ Cu separations in the cube as defined by Ruiz. The magnetic susceptibility measurements show paramagnetic behaviour down to 50 K but below this the copper cube shows weak ferromagnetic exchange interactions. The low temperature magnetic susceptibility characteristics are examined in detail then modelled and compared to other similar Cu₄O₄ copper cubes.