Vectorial Approach to Fast Correlation Attacks

A new, vectorial approach to fast correlation attacks on binary memoryless combiners is proposed. Instead of individual input sequences or their linear combinations, the new attack is targeting subsets of input sequences as a whole thus exploiting the full correlation between the chosen subset and the output sequence. In particular, the set of all the input sequences can be chosen as the target. The attack is based on a novel iterative probabilistic algorithm which is also applicable to general memoryless combiners over finite fields or finite rings. To illustrate the effectiveness of the introduced approach, experimental results obtained for random balanced combining functions are presentedMost of this work was done while he was with Rome CryptoDesign Center, Gemplus, Italy     

Copper-carbene complexes as catalysts in the synthesis of functionalized styrenes and aliphatic alkenes

(NHC)-Cu (NHC = N-heterocyclic carbene) complexes efficiently catalyzed the methylenation of a variety of aliphatic and aromatic aldehydes and ketones in the presence of trimethylsilyldiazomethane, triphenylphosphine, and 2-propanol. The copper catalysts are not only inexpensive compared to rhodium complexes, but they also exhibit better functional group compatibility with aromatic aldehydes and ketones. Indeed very high yields were obtained for the formation of styrenes containing nitro, trifluoromethyl, amino, and ester groups, as well as for pyridine-, pyrrole-, and indole-substituted alkenes.     

Determination of levofloxacin in pharmaceutical formulations and urine at reduced graphene oxide and carbon nanotube-modified electrodes

Journal of Solid State Electrochemistry - In this paper, we compare reduced graphene oxide (RGO) electrode with multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) as modifiers for the sensitive detection of...     

On the Motion of a Dynamic System with Minimal Dissipation

The motion of a holonomic scleronomic non-conservative mechanicalsystem with minimal dissipation is considered. As applicationsof the theory several problems are studied in detail.     

Crystal structure and theoretical calculations of Julocrotine,a natural product with antileishmanial activity

Julocrotine, N‐(2,6‐dioxo‐1‐phenethyl‐piperidin‐3‐yl)‐2‐methyl‐butyramide, is a potent antiproliferative agent against the promastigote and amastigote forms of Leishmania amazonensis (L.). In this work, the crystal structure of Julocrotine was solved by X‐ray diffraction, and its geometrical parameters were compared with theoretical calculations at the B3LYP and HF level of theory. IR and NMR spectra also have been obtained and compared with theoretical calculations. IR absorptions calculated with the B3LYP level of theory employed together with the 6‐311G+(d,p) basis set, are close to those observed experimentally. Theoretical NMR calculations show little deviation from experimental results. The results show that the theory is in accordance with the experimental data. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2008     

Lycopene,Mesoporous Silica Nanoparticles and Their Association: A Possible Alternative against Vulvovaginal Candidiasis?

Commonly found colonizing the human microbiota, Candida albicans is a microorganism known for its ability to cause infections, mainly in the vulvovaginal region known as vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC). This pathology is, in fact, one of the main C. albicans clinical manifestations, changing from a colonizer to a pathogen. The increase in VVC cases and limited antifungal therapy make C. albicans an increasingly frequent risk in women’s lives, especially in immunocompromised patients, pregnant women and the elderly. Therefore, it is necessary to develop new therapeutic options, especially those involving natural products associated with nanotechnology, such as lycopene and mesoporous silica nanoparticles. From this perspective, this study sought to assess whether lycopene, mesoporous silica nanoparticles and their combination would be an attractive product for the treatment of this serious disease through microbiological in vitro tests and acute toxicity tests in an alternative in vivo model of Galleria mellonella. Although they did not show desirable antifungal activity for VVC therapy, the present study strongly encourages the use of mesoporous silica nanoparticles impregnated with lycopene for the treatment of other human pathologies, since the products evaluated here did not show toxicity in the in vivo test performed, being therefore, a topic to be further explored.     

Non-oxo vanadium(IV) alkoxide chemistry: solid state structures, aggregation equilibria and thermochromic behaviour in solution

The reversible thermochromic behaviour of homoleptic [{V(OR)(4)}(n)] complexes in solution [R = Pr(i) (product I), Bu(s) (B(s)), Nep (N) and Cy (C)] is accounted for the existence of an aggregation equilibrium involving dimeric and monomeric species in which vanadium(iv) is respectively five- and four-coordinate. Bulky R groups such as Bu(t) and Pe(t) (tert-pentoxide) prevent aggregation and therefore give rise to exclusively mononuclear compounds (B(t) and P(t), respectively) that are not thermochromic. The complexes and their temperature-dependent interconversion were characterised by single crystal X-ray diffractometry, magnetic susceptibility measurements and electronic, FTIR and EPR spectroscopies in a wide temperature range. Equilibrium constants and enthalpy and entropy changes for the dimerization reactions have been determined and compared with literature data.     

Transition-metal-catalyzed chemoselective methylenation of dicarbonyl substrates

Rhodium- and copper-catalyzed methylenation reactions with trimethylsilyldiazomethane, triphenylphosphine, and 2-propanol were used to react chemoselectively with aldehydes, alkoxymethylketones, and trifluoromethylketones in substrates also containing a less reactive carbonyl group. Terminal alkenes were obtained in high yields, and no protecting group was necessary in the methylenation process.     

Mercury bis(phenyltellurolate) as a precursor for the synthesis of binary and ternary nanoclusters

The reaction of Hg(TePh)2 with AgX (X = Cl, NO3) in the presence of PPh3 and PMePh2 in dimethylformamide (DMF) affords the cluster [Hg6Ag4(TePh)16] (1) at room temperature or [Hg6Ag4Te(TePh)14]2 (2) with heating. When Hg(TePh)2 is reacted with [Co(PPh3)2Cl2] or [Ni(PPh3)2Cl2], the clusters [Hg8Te(PhTe)12Cl4]Q [3; Q = [Co(DMF)6]2+ (3a), [Ni(DMF)6]2+ (3b)] are formed. The syntheses of 1 and 2 occur with the incorporation of AgI into the cluster, and the single-crystal analyses show that the two ternary clusters consist of Hg, Ag, and Te centers occupying well-defined positions. Compounds 3a and 3b do not show the incorporation of the metal into the cluster, but the CoII and NiII salts provide the Cl atom to generate the anionic cluster 3 stabilized by the [Co(DMF)6]2+ or [Ni(DMF)6]2+ ion.     

Application of copper(i) iodide/diorganoyl dichalcogenides to the synthesis of 4-organochalcogen isoquinolines by regioselective cn and cchalcogen bond formation

A copper-catalyzed cyclization of (ortho-alkynyl)benzaldimines with diorganoyl dichalcogenides allowed the synthesis of 4-organochalcogen isoquinolines, whereas the presence of base in the reaction medium inhibited the product formation producing the undesirable isoquinoline without the organochalcogen atom at the 4-position. The cyclization reaction was carried out by using CuI (20?%) as a catalyst with diorganoyl dichalcogenides (1.5?equiv) in the presence of DMF at 100?°C. Furthermore, the reaction did not require an argon atmosphere and was carried out in an open flask. The cyclization reaction tolerated a variety of functional groups both in ortho-alkynylbenzaldimines and diorganoyl dichalcogenides, such as trifluoromethyl, chloro, fluorine, and methoxyl, to give the six-membered heterocyclic ring exclusively through a 6-endo-dig cyclization process. The organochalcogen group present at the 4-position of the isoquinoline ring was further subjected to a selective chalcogen-lithium exchange reaction followed by the addition of aldehydes to afford the desired secondary alcohols in good yields. The obtained isoquinolines also proved to be suitable substrates for the Suzuki and Sonogashira coupling conditions affording the corresponding products through C?C bond formation.