Design and synthesis of novel type somatostatin analogs with antiproliferative activities on A431 tumor cells

It was reported that the somatostatin analog TT-232, d-Phe-c(Cys-Tyr-d-Trp-Lys-Cys)-Thr-NH₂, exhibited a highly potent antitumor activity in vitro and in vivo. Using pyrazinone analogs and aliphatic amino acids instead of the disulfide bond, we prepared novel type somatostatin analogs including the sequence essential for antitumor activities, Tyr-d-Trp-Lys. These analogs exhibited antiproliferative effect on A431 tumor cells.     

Multiplexed hybridizations of positively charge-tagged peptide nucleic acids detected by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry

Peptide nucleic acid (PNA) is a novel class of DNA analogues in which the entire sugar-phosphate backbone is replaced by a pseudopeptide counterpart. Owing to its neutral character and the consequent lack of electrostatic repulsion, PNA exhibits very stable heteroduplex formation with complementary nucleic acid that is essentially ionic strength independent and enables hybridization under minimum salt conditions. This feature as well as its superior ion stability and easy ionization compared to DNA renders PNA very attractive for hybridization-based matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOFMS) applications. We have developed an approach to DNA characterization that takes advantage of multiplexed PNA hybridizations analyzed by MALDI-TOFMS. Our motivation was the further development of oligonucleotide fingerprinting, an efficient technique for cDNA and genomic DNA library characterization. Through positive 'charge-tagging' of PNA the efficiency of detection in MALDI-TOFMS was considerably enhanced permitting an unparalleled degree of multiplexing. Results from the simultaneous hybridization of 21 charge-tagged PNA hexamer oligonucleotides showed that genomic DNA and cDNA clones are successfully characterized on the basis of their hybridization profiles. The degree of multiplexing achieved may render a significant increase in throughput and hence efficiency of oligonucleotide fingerprinting possible.     

Bimetallic reactivity. One-site addition two-metal oxidation reaction of dioxygen with a bimetallic dicobalt(II) complex bearing five- and six-coordinate sites

The di-Co(2+) complex, [Co(2+)(mu-OH)(oxapyme)Co(2+)(H(2)O)](+), contains an unsymmetrical binucleating ligand (oxapyme) which provides five- and six-coordinate metal sites when a hydroxide bridge is introduced. This complex absorbs 1 equiv of O(2) irreversibly in solution, producing an unstable di-Co(3+) oxygenated product. The oxygenated product has been studied at low temperatures, where its electronic absorption and (1)H NMR spectra were recorded. It is probable that the oxygenation reaction involves a one-site addition two-metal oxidation reaction to produce an end-on-bonded peroxide ligand at the available coordination site, giving the complex [Co(3+)(mu-OH)(oxapyme)Co(3+)(mu(1)-O(2))](+). Addition of 1 equiv of HClO(4) to this oxygenation product gives a stable peroxide complex, [Co(3+)(mu,eta(1):eta(2)-O(2))(oxapyme)Co(3+)](2+), where one of the oxygen atoms bridges the two metals and is sideways bonded to one of the metals. The formation of this stable complex involves expulsion of the OH(-) bridge. Addition of NO(2)(-) to the sideways-bonded peroxide complex leads to the formation of another stable complex, [Co(3+)(mu,eta(1):eta(1)-O(2))(oxapyme)Co(3+)(NO(2))](+), where the peroxide forms a classic di-end-on bridge to the two metals. Both of these complexes have been fully characterized. Addition of acid to this second stable dioxygen complex leads to the release of HNO(2) and the formation of the mu,eta(1):eta(2) sideways-bonded peroxide complex.     

Intrinsically flame retardant epoxy resin - Fire performance and background - Part I

The flame retardant effect of newly synthesized phosphorus-containing reactive amine, which can be used both as crosslinking agent in epoxy resins and as a flame retardant, was investigated. The effect of montmorillonite and sepiolite additives on the fire induced degradation was compared to pristine epoxy resin. The effect of combining the organophosphorous amine with clay minerals was also studied. It could be concluded that the synthesized phosphorus-containing amine, TEDAP can substitute the traditional epoxy resin curing agents providing additionally excellent flame retardancy: the epoxy resins flame retarded this way reach 960 °C GWFI value, 33 LOI value and V-0 UL-94 rating - compared to the 550 °C GWFI value, 21 LOI value and “no rate” UL-94 classification of the reference epoxy resin. The peak of heat release was reduced to 1/10 compared to non-flame retarded resin, furthermore a shift in time was observed, which increases the time to escape in case of fire. The flame retardant performance can be further improved by incorporating clay additives: the LOI and the HRR results showed that the optimum of flame retardant effect of clay additives is around 1 mass% filler level in AH-16-TEDAP system. Applying a complex method for mechanical and structural characterization of the intumescent char it was determined that the flame retarded system forms significantly more and stronger char of better uniformity with smaller average bubble size. Incorporation of clay additives (owing to their bubble nucleating activity) results in further decrease in average bubble diameter.     

Complex formation of certain rare earth metals with 1-(2-pyridylazo)-2-naphthol (PAN) in alcohol-water solutions

The formation ofPAN complexes in the systems:Ln(III)—PAN—alcohol—water [whereLn(III) = Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb, alcohol - ethanol andLn(III) = Eu, alcohol =n-propanol, isopropanol] was investigated by a spectrophotometric method. Equilibrium constants for the reactionLn ³⁺+HLLnL ²⁺+H⁺ (HL =PAN) and stability constants of complexesLnL ²⁺ are reported.

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Komplexbildung einiger Seltenerdmetalle mit 1-(2-Pyridylazo)-2-naphthol (PAN) in alkoholisch-wäßrigen Lösungen

Zusammenfassung Die Bildung der Komplexe vonPAN in den SystemenLn(III)—PAN—Alkohol—Wasser [Ln(III) = Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb, Alkohol = Ethanol undLn(III) = Eu, Alkohol =n-Propanol, Isopropanol] wurde mit einer spektrophotometrischen Methode untersucht. Die Gleichgewichtskonstanten der ReaktionenLn ³⁺+HLLnL ²⁺+H⁺ (HL =PAN) und die Stabilitätskonstanten der KomplexeLnL ²⁺ wurden berechnet.

     

Characterization of the pores in hydrous ferric oxide aggregates formed by freezing and thawing

Hydrous ferric oxides (HFO) are efficient sorbents for inorganic and organic pollutants and therefore have great potentials in environmental science and engineering applications. Freezing and thawing of HFO suspensions leads to the formation of dense HFO aggregates. It facilitates the handling and increases the drying rate of HFO. In this study, we used a combination of pycnometry, gas adsorption (N(2) gas, water vapor), and small-angle neutron scattering (SANS) to characterize the porosity and pore size distribution of dense HFO aggregates formed by freezing dialyzed HFO suspensions at -25 degrees C and thawing them at room temperature. The crystallinity of the HFO, which was a 2-line ferrihydrite, was not affected by this treatment. Wet sieving and laser diffraction analysis showed that the dense HFO aggregates had a unimodal size distribution with an average diameter of 235+/-35 microm. Increasing the freezing rate by cooling with liquid N(2) (-196 degrees C) resulted in much smaller aggregates with an average diameter of 20 microm. Adding NaNO(3) electrolyte to the HFO suspensions prior to freezing also resulted in the formation of smaller aggregates. The dense HFO aggregates formed at -25 degrees C had a porosity of 0.73+/-0.02 ll(-1). SANS revealed a unimodal size distribution of pores, with an average pore diameter of 2.0 nm. The diameter of the HFO crystallites was estimated by transmission electron microscopy to be 1.9+/-0.5 nm. Geometrical considerations taking into account the unit particle and average pore size suggest that the crystallites retain 1-2 layers of hydration water during the coagulation induced by freezing. Analysis by N(2) gas adsorption showed that drying the dense HFO aggregates induced a reduction in porosity by about 25% and shifted the pore size distribution to smaller diameters. Rewetting during water vapor adsorption did not induce significant changes of the aggregate structure. The specific surface area of the dry HFO aggregates was between 320 and 380 m(2)g(-1).     

Rhodium(I) complexes with 1′-(diphenylphosphino)ferrocenecarboxylic acid as active and recyclable catalysts for 1-hexene hydroformylation

The rhodium complex trans-[Rh(CO)(Hdpf-κP)(dpf-κ²O,P)] (1), (Hdpf = 1′-(diphenylphosphino)ferrocenecarboxylic acid) was used as an efficient and recyclable catalyst for 1-hexene hydroformylation producing ca. 80% of aldehydes at 10 atm CO/H₂ and 80 °C. After the reaction, unchanged complex 1 was separated from the reaction mixture and used again three times with the same catalytic activity. The effect of modifying ligands, phosphines and phosphites, on the reactivity of 1 was investigated. The active catalytic systems containing 1 or trans-[Rh(CO)(L)(dpf-κ²O,P)] (2) were formed in situ from acetylacetonato rhodium(I) precursors [Rh(CO)₂(acac)] (3) or [RhL(CO)(acac)] (4) and Hdpf or Medpf (L = phosphine, Medpf = methyl ester of Hdpf).     

Kinetic parameters from thermogravimetric study of used rubber granulates–polyurethane composites

From the TG data of rubber granulates, different polyurethane and composites it can be seen that the thermal decomposition for the rubber granulate and all of the composites start above 520 K. Two major mass losses for the rubber granulates and majority of the composites were observed and thermal decomposition is essentially complete by ~820 K. The changes of activation energies of lower and higher temperature decomposition, calculated according to the different equations were observed for a priori assumed first-order reaction for devolatilisation. Differences between determined and calculated results could suggest a possible reaction between polyurethane agents and rubber granulate during the composites formations.     

o-quinone methides 2. Stereoselectivity in cycloaddition reactions of o-quinone methides with vinyl ethers

Cycloaddition reactions between vinyl ethers 3 and $\text{o}$-quinone methides 2, thermally generated from 2-hydroxybenzyl alcohols 1, have been studied. The structure and conformational preferences of the 4-substituted 2-ethoxy-(2,3)-dihydro-2$\text{H}$-benzopyrans 4–9 obtained, which show new interesting features, are discussed together with competitive kinetic data. The cycloaddition process is concerted and involves $\text{o}$-quinone methides in the $\text{E}$-configuration. The OEt-$\text{endo}$ transition state seems to be preferred with ethyl vinyl ether and $\text{Z}$-1-propenyl ethyl ether, whereas with $\text{E}$-1-propenyl ethyl ether the stereoselectivity of the cycloaddition process depends on substituents on the methylene group of the starting alcohol 1. These results are discussed in terms of $\text{endo}$ and $\text{exo}$ preference of the propenyl ether methyl group.     

Blood lead monitoring in Italy: Assessment of the quality of results obtained between 1992 and 1994

Between 1992 and 1994, a new screening campaign for blood Pb monitoring in the Italian general population was carried out. Since the first campaign (started in 1978, in accomplishment of the European Community Directive 77/312/EEC) a working group of the Laboratory of Clinical Biochemistry at the Italian National Institute of Health (Istituto Superiore di Sanità), as the Reference Centre (RC), has coordinated the activity of various laboratories spread over the national territory. Appropriate quality assurance procedures, including an external quality assessment scheme (EQAS), were elaborated. Within the EQAS, three or four trials were carried out every year. Each laboratory participating in the trial analyzed eight control samples prepared from cow blood at different Pb concentrations. The results obtained by each peripheral laboratory and the RC between 1992 and 1994 have been compared by regression analysis. The same statistical method was adopted to compare the results obtained by each peripheral laboratory and the RC in the duplicate analysis of about 10 per cent of the human samples collected during the 1992–1994 monitoring campaign. There was no evidence of systematic differences between the regression lines obtained on control and human samples. In spite of the lower Pb concentration in the control samples analyzed during the 1992–1994 campaign, the analytical performance of the laboratories was better than that obtained in the previous screening campaign (1985–1986). Blood Pb levels observed in human samples collected between 1992 and 1994, confirm the downward time trend observed in the campaigns carried out in 1978–1979, 1980–1981 and 1985–1986. This study confirms that the results obtained in an EQAS are representative of the actual performance in the analysis of real (human) samples.