Surface activation influencing the microstructure of Zn(Ca) phosphate coatings

Zinc and zinc calcium phosphate coatings on steel were formed by dipping in commercial baths. A surface activation with titanium phosphate influences not only the film morphology but also the composition of the conversion films. Qualitative phase analysis of the polycrystalline deposits reveals a typical phosphophyllite crystal growth apart from hopeite and scholzite respectively. The growth rate depends on the free surface of the steel; the contact area to the solution controls the rate of iron pickling.     

Natural Compounds Isolated from Stachybotrys chartarum Are Potent Inhibitors of Human Protein Kinase CK2

A large number of secondary metabolites have been isolated from the filamentous fungus Stachybotrys chartarum and have been described before. Fourteen of these natural compounds were evaluated in vitro in the present study for their inhibitory activity towards the cancer target CK2. Among these compounds, stachybotrychromene C, stachybotrydial acetate and acetoxystachybotrydial acetate turned out to be potent inhibitors with IC₅₀ values of 0.32 µM, 0.69 µM and 1.86 µM, respectively. The effects of these three compounds on cell proliferation, growth and viability of MCF7 cells, representing human breast adenocarcinoma as well as A427 (human lung carcinoma) and A431 (human epidermoid carcinoma) cells, were tested using EdU assay, IncuCyte^® live-cell imaging and MTT assay. The most active compound in inhibiting MCF7 cell proliferation was acetoxystachybotrydial acetate with an EC₅₀ value of 0.39 µM. In addition, acetoxystachybotrydial acetate turned out to inhibit the growth of all three cell lines completely at a concentration of 1 µM. In contrast, cell viability was impaired only moderately, to 37%, 14% and 23% in MCF7, A427 and A431 cells, respectively.     

Poly(2‐ethyl‐2‐oxazoline) as Alternative for the Stealth Polymer Poly(ethylene glycol): Comparison of in vitro Cytotoxicity and Hemocompatibility

Limitations of PEG in drug delivery have been reported from clinical trials. PEtOx (0.4–40 kDa) as alternative is synthesized by a living, microwave‐assisted polymerization, and is directly compared to PEG of similar molar mass regarding cytotoxicity and hemocompatibility. In short‐term treatments, both types of polymers are well tolerated even at high concentrations. Moderate concentration and molar mass dependent cytotoxic effects occurred only after long‐term incubation at concentrations higher than therapeutic doses. PEtOx possesses not only an easy route of synthesis and beneficial physicochemical characteristics such as low viscosity and high stability, which are advantageous over PEG, but additionally in vitro toxicology comparable to PEG.

     

Specific anion effects on glass electrode pH measurements of buffer solutions: bulk and surface phenomena

The effect of electrolytes on pH measurements via glass electrodes is explored with solutions buffered at pH 7 (phosphate and cacodylate). Salt and buffer concentrations are varied. Direct and reverse Hofmeister effects are observed. The phenomena are significant for salt concentrations above 0.1 M and for buffer concentrations below 20 mM. Changes in measured pH show up most strongly with anions. They can be related to the usual physicochemical parameters (anion molar volumes, molar refractivity, and surface tensions) that are characteristic of Hofmeister series. They correlate strongly with anionic excess polarizabilities; this suggests the involvement of non-electrostatic, or dispersion, forces acting on ions. These forces contribute to ionic adsorption at the glass electrode surface, and to the liquid junction potential.     

Solution of the Dirichlet Problem for the Laplace equation

For open sets with a piecewise smooth boundary it is shown that a solution of the Dirichlet problem for the Laplace equation can be expressed in the form of the sum of the single layer potential and the double layer potential with the same density, where this density is given by a concrete series.     

The Enantioselective Total Synthesis of Bisquinolizidine Alkaloids: A Modular “Inside‐Out” Approach

Bisquinolizidine alkaloids are characterized by a chiral bispidine core (3,7‐diazabicyclo[3.3.1]nonane) to which combinations of an α,N‐fused 2‐pyridone, an endo‐ or exo‐α,N‐annulated piperidin(on)e, and an exo‐allyl substituent are attached. We developed a modular “inside‐out” approach that permits access to most members of this class. Its applicability was proven in the asymmetric synthesis of 21 natural bisquinolizidine alkaloids, among them more than ten first enantioselective total syntheses. Key steps are the first successful preparation of both enantiomers of C₂‐symmetric 2,6‐dioxobispidine by desymmetrization of a 2,4,6,8‐tetraoxo precursor, the construction of the α,N‐fused 2‐pyridone by using an enamine‐bromoacrylic acid strategy, and the installation of endo‐ or, optionally, exo‐annulated piperidin(on)es.