[4‐(Tri­fluoro­methyl)­phenyl]­aceto­nitrile

The crystal structure of the title compound, C₉H₆F₃N, at 123 K contains mol­ecules linked together via several C—H?F and C—H?N contacts, the strongest of which are 2.58 and 2.65 Å, respectively. Apparently, an F atom in the CF₃ group is able to compete with a cyano N atom for aromatic H atoms but is less prone to interact with the more acidic methyl­ene H atoms. The Ph–CH₂CN torsion angle is ?6.4 (2)° and the planar phenyl ring exhibits a typical deformation of the endo angles at the ipso‐C atoms, due to the difference in the electron‐withdrawing power of the CF₃ and CH₂CN substituents.     

Reduction of Deuterium Level Supports Resistance of Neurons to Glucose Deprivation and Hypoxia: Study in Cultures of Neurons and on Animals

The effect of a reduced deuterium (D) content in the incubation medium on the survival of cultured neurons in vitro and under glucose deprivation was studied. In addition, we studied the effect of a decrease in the deuterium content in the rat brain on oxidative processes in the nervous tissue, its antioxidant protection, and training of rats in the T-shaped maze test under hypoxic conditions. For experiments with cultures of neurons, 7–8-day cultures of cerebellar neurons were used. Determination of the rate of neuronal death in cultures was carried out using propidium iodide. Acute hypoxia with hypercapnia was simulated in rats by placing them in sealed vessels with a capacity of 1 L. The effect on oxidative processes in brain tissues was assessed by changes in the level of free radical oxidation and malondialdehyde. The effect on the antioxidant system of the brain was assessed by the activity of catalase. The study in the T-maze was carried out in accordance with the generally accepted methodology, the skill of alternating right-sided and left-sided loops on positive reinforcement was developed. This work has shown that a decrease in the deuterium content in the incubation medium to a level of −357‰ has a neuroprotective effect, increasing the survival rate of cultured neurons under glucose deprivation. When exposed to hypoxia, a preliminary decrease in the deuterium content in the rat brain to −261‰ prevents the development of oxidative stress in their nervous tissue and preserves the learning ability of animals in the T-shaped maze test at the level of the control group. A similar protective effect during the modification of the ²H/¹H internal environment of the body by the consumption of DDW can potentially be used for the prevention of pathological conditions associated with the development of oxidative stress with damage to the central nervous system.     

Detection of Circulating Serum microRNA/Protein Complexes in ASD Using Functionalized Chips for an Atomic Force Microscope

MicroRNAs, which circulate in blood, are characterized by high diagnostic value; in biomedical research, they can be considered as candidate markers of various diseases. Mature microRNAs of glial cells and neurons can cross the blood–brain barrier and can be detected in the serum of patients with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) as components of macrovesicles, macromolecular protein and low-density lipoprotein particles. In our present study, we have proposed an approach, in which microRNAs in protein complexes can be concentrated on the surface of AFM chips with oligonucleotide molecular probes, specific against the target microRNAs. MicroRNAs, associated with the development of ASD in children, were selected as targets. The chips with immobilized molecular probes were incubated in serum samples of ASD patients and healthy volunteers. By atomic force microscopy (AFM), objects on the AFM chip surface have been revealed after incubation in the serum samples. The height of these objects amounted to 10 nm and 6 nm in the case of samples of ASD patients and healthy volunteers, respectively. MALDI-TOF-MS analysis of protein components on the chip surface allowed us to identify several cell proteins. These proteins are involved in the binding of nucleic acids (GBG10, RT24, RALYL), in the organization of proteasomes and nucleosomes (PSA4, NP1L4), and participate in the functioning of the channel of active potassium transport (KCNE5, KCNV2).     

Measuring surface temperatures using Thermochromic Liquid Crystals

Thermochromic Liquid Crystals (TLCs) are used to measure the temperature distribution and to examine convective heat transfer on surfaces. This technique is specifically intended for investigating outer surface temperature fields and requires complex image data decomposition with colour analysis. This study presents a new method of using TLCs for the temperature measurement inside experimental models. The change of optical behaviour of TLCs is measured with a luminance camera. Therefore, it is possible to measure the complete distribution of the surface temperature, i.e. both inside and outside of the model. (© 2005 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Procedures for the calculation of leakproof butt joints

An algorithm is presented for plotting dependences that make it possible to predict the possibility sealing of joints with hot-melt adhesives. The effect of a surface treatment on the character of the dependences is considered. Recommendations are given concerning the determination of optimal technological parameters of joints.     

Isotope effects in dipole-bound anions of acetone

Precision measurements using the Rydberg charge-exchange and electric field-detachment methods find that the dipole-bound electron affinity (EA) of acetone (C3H6O) is 55+/-10 mueV greater than for deuterated acetone (C3D6O). The result agrees well with a theoretical prediction obtained with high-level electronic-structure and anharmonic vibrational calculations. The dipole moments calculated for the vibrationally averaged structures of C3H6O and C3D6O show that the isotope effect (2% reduction) on the EA of acetone is mainly due to a slight reduction (0.5%) of the average dipole moment upon deuteration.     

A comprehensive investigation of the chemistry and basicity of a parent amidoruthenium complex

trans-(DMPE)(2)Ru(H)(NH(2)) (1) dehydrogenates cyclohexadiene and 9,10-dihydroanthracene to yield benzene (or anthracene), (DMPE)(2)Ru(H)(2), and ammonia. Addition of fluorene to 1 results in the formation of the ion pair [trans-(DMPE)(2)Ru(H)(NH(3))(+)][A(-)] (A(-) = fluorenide, 4a). Complex 1 also reacts with weak acids A-H (A-H = phenylacetylene, 1,2-propadiene, phenylacetonitrile, 4-(alpha,alpha,alpha-trifluoromethyl)phenylacetonitrile, cyclobutanone, phenol, p-cresol, aniline) to form ammonia and trans-(DMPE)(2)Ru(H)(A) (7, 8, 9a, 9b, 10, 11b, 11c, 12, respectively). In the cases where A-H = phenylacetylene, cyclobutanone, aniline, phenol, and p-cresol, the reaction was observed to proceed via ion pairs analogous to 4a. Compound 1 is reactive toward even weaker acids such as toluene, propylene, ammonia, cycloheptatriene, and dihydrogen, but in these cases deuterium labeling studies revealed that only H/D exchange between A-H and the ND(2) group is observed, rather than detectable formation of ion pairs or displacement products. Addition of triphenylmethane to 1 results in the formation of an equilibrium mixture of 1, triphenylmethane, and the ruthenium/triphenylmethide ion pair 4h. If the energetics of ion-pair association are ignored, this result indicates that the basicity of 1 is similar to that of triphenylmethide. All these observations support the conclusion that the NH(2) group in amido complex 1 is exceptionally basic and as a result prefers to abstract a proton rather than a hydrogen atom from a reactive C-H bond. The energetics and mechanism of these proton-transfer and -exchange reactions are analyzed with the help of DFT calculations.     

Periodic and Homoclinic Solutions of Extended Fisher–Kolmogorov Equations

In this paper we study the existence of periodic solutions of the fourth-order equations u^iv − pu″ − a(x)u + b(x)u³ = 0 and u^iv − pu″ + a(x)u − b(x)u³ = 0, where p is a positive constant, and a(x) and b(x) are continuous positive 2L-periodic functions. The boundary value problems (P₁) and (P₂) for these equations are considered respectively with the boundary conditions u(0) = u(L) = u″(0) = u″(L) = 0. Existence of nontrivial solutions for (P₁) is proved using a minimization theorem and a multiplicity result using Clark's theorem. Existence of nontrivial solutions for (P₂) is proved using the symmetric mountain-pass theorem. We study also the homoclinic solutions for the fourth-order equation u^iv + pu″ + a(x)u − b(x)u² − c(x)u³ = 0, where p is a constant, and a(x), b(x), and c(x) are periodic functions. The mountain-pass theorem of Brezis and Nirenberg and concentration-compactness arguments are used.     

On the Secant method under generalized Lipschitz conditions for the divided difference operator

In this work we introduce for the first time the generalized Lipschitz conditions for the divided difference operator. A positive integrable function, partial case of which is usual Lipschitz constant, is suggested. Under the given conditions the convergence of the Secant method for solving the operator equations in Banach spaces is investigated, the uniqueness ball for the solution is obtained. As a partial case the known results for the Lipschitz constants are received. (© 2008 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)