Recherches sur la polymerisation des derives acetyleniques

The thermal stabilities of certain unsaturated polymers of the polyacetylene group, such as polyphenylacetylene, poly-p-chlorphenylacetylene and poly-p-methyl-phenylacetylene were investigated by the methods of thermal analysis. The kinetic parameters of the thermal decomposition reactions, e.g. the activation energy and order of reaction, were determined by the method of Freeman and Carroll. The polymers were synthesized by the photochemical polymerisation procedure, by ion coordination and polycondensation. Both the soluble and the insoluble fractions were studied.     

On the polymerization of acetylenic derivatives—XXIX. Synthesis and properties of poly(3-ethynylphenanthrene) isomers

The Ziegler-Natta polymerization of 3-ethynylphenanthrene resulted in cis-cisoidal (red and insoluble) and cis-transoidal (red-brown and soluble) poly(3-ethynylphenanthrene) structures. Trans-cisoidal (brown and soluble) poly(3-ethynylphenanthrene) has been obtained using phosphine complexes or by a thermal initiation method. The cis-cisoidal and cis-transoidal structures thermally isomerize in the solid state (at about 240° and 220° respectively), leading to a soluble trans-cisoidal compound.     

Hypericin phototoxicity induces different modes of cell death in melanoma and human skin cells

Hypericin, the major component of St. John's Wort, absorbs light in the UV and visible ranges whereupon it becomes phototoxic through the production of reactive oxygen species. Although photodynamic mechanisms (i.e. through endogenous photosensitizers) play a role in UVA phototherapy for the treatment of skin disorders such as eczema and psoriasis, photodynamic therapy employing exogenous photosensitizers are currently being used only for the treatment of certain forms of non-melanoma skin cancers and actinic keratoses. There are few reports however on its use in treating melanomas. This in vitro study analyses the phototoxic effect of UVA (400-315 nm) - activated hypericin in human pigmented and unpigmented melanomas and immortalised keratinocytes and melanocytes. We show that neither hypericin exposure nor UV irradiation alone reduces cell viability. We show that an exposure to 1 microM UVA-activated hypericin does not bring about cell death, while 3 microM activated hypericin induces a necrotic mode of cell death in pigmented melanoma cells and melanocytes and an apoptotic mode of cell death in non-pigmented melanoma cells and keratinocytes. We hypothesis that the necrotic mode of cell death in the pigmented cells is possibly related to the presence of melanin-containing melanosomes in these cells and that the hypericin-induced increase in reactive oxygen species leads to an increase in permeability of melanosomes. This would result in toxic melanin precursors (of an indolic and phenolic nature) leaking into the cytoplasm which in turn leads to cell death. Hypericin localisation in the endoplasmic reticulum in these cells shown by fluorescent microscopy, further support a disruption in cellular processing and induction of cell death. In contrast, this study shows that cells that do not contain melanosomes (non-pigmented melanoma cells and keratinocytes) die by apoptosis. Further, using a mitochondrial-specific fluorescent dye, we show that intracellular accumulation of hypericin induces a mitochondrial-associated caspase-dependent apoptotic mode of cell death. This work suggests that UVA is effective in activating hypericin and that this phototoxicity may be considered as treatment option in some cases of lentigo maligna or lentigo maligna melanoma that are too large for surgical resection.     

Propolis-Based Nanofiber Patches to Repair Corneal Microbial Keratitis

In this research, polyvinyl-alcohol (PVA)/gelatin (GEL)/propolis (Ps) biocompatible nanofiber patches were fabricated via electrospinning technique. The controlled release of Propolis, surface wettability behaviors, antimicrobial activities against the S. aureus and P. aeruginosa, and biocompatibility properties with the mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) were investigated in detail. By adding 0.5, 1, and 3 wt.% GEL into the 13 wt.% PVA, the morphological and mechanical results suggested that 13 wt.% PVA/0.5 wt.% GEL patch can be an ideal matrix for 3 and 5 wt.% propolis addition. Morphological results revealed that the diameters of the electrospun nanofiber patches were increased with GEL (from 290 nm to 400 nm) and Ps addition and crosslinking process cause the formation of thicker nanofibers. The tensile strength and elongation at break enhancement were also determined for 13 wt.% PVA/0.5 wt.% GEL/3 wt.% Ps patch. Propolis was released quickly in the first hour and arrived at a plateau. Cell culture and contact angle results confirmed that the 3 wt.% addition of propolis reinforced mesenchymal stem cell proliferation and wettability properties of the patches. The antimicrobial activity demonstrated that propolis loaded patches had antibacterial activity against the S. aureus, but for P. aeruginosa, more studies should be performed.     

Comparison of two methods for 14C analysis from essential oils using LSC

Natural essential oil sample obtained from basil (Ocinum basilicum), and ethanol sample obtained from wine were measured to determine ¹⁴C specific activity, using two different sample preparation methods, and liquid scintillation counting method. The paper describes the use of two preparation methods, direct measurement method and CO₂ absorption method, and the results obtained for this comparative study. Depending on carbon content of the sample and bubbling time, different correction factors of carbon mass trapped in liquid scintillation cocktail were established for CO₂ absorption method.

     

On the convergence of the sequence of solutions for a family of eigenvalue problems

The asymptotic behavior of the sequence {u _n } of positive first eigenfunctions for a class of eigenvalue problems is studied in a bounded domain with smooth boundary ? Ω. We prove , where δ is the distance function to ? Ω. Our study complements some earlier results by Payne and Philippin, Bhattacharya, DiBenedetto, and Manfredi, and Kawohl obtained in relation with the “torsional creep problem .”     

Formation of 3-[amino(aryl)-methylidene]-1,3-dihydro-2H-indol-2-ones involving ring transformation of 2-aryl-5-(2-aminophenyl)-4-hydroxy-1,3-thiazoles

The reaction of 3-bromooxindole with substituted (hetero)aromatic thioamides in acetonitrile was studied. At room temperature the reaction preferably gives products of ring transformation i.e. 2-aryl-5-(2-aminophenyl)-4-hydroxy-1,3-thiazoles (3b-f,h) whereas at elevated temperature products of an Eschenmoser coupling reaction, i.e. 3-[amino(aryl)-methylidene]-1,3-dihydro-2H-indol-2-ones (2b-f), are formed exclusively. There exist only two exceptions (4-methoxy and 2-pyridinthioamide) in which the Eschenmoser coupling reaction always takes place giving 2a and 2g. Also N-methylation of the starting 3-bromooxindole completely prevents formation of thiazoles. The prepared thiazoles 3b-f are unstable in solution and they undergo slow ring transformation to 2b-f. The rate limiting step of this rearrangement involves cleavage of an intermediary thiirane ring, which is slowed down by electron-withdrawing substituents on the thioamide (ρ = ?1.15).     

Facile oxygen reduction on a three-dimensionally ordered macroporous graphitic C3N4/carbon composite electrocatalyst

Honeycomb catalysis: a facile oxygen reduction reaction has been observed on a graphitic C(3)N(4)/carbon catalyst with three-dimensional interconnected macropores (see picture with SiO(2) template). This material not only shows catalytic activity that is comparable to that of commercial Pt/C, but also has much higher organic-fuel tolerance and long-term stability.     

Generic Fiber of Power Series Ring Extensions

Let D be a Noetherian domain containing a field, a ∈ D a nonzero nonunit, and z an indeterminate over D. We prove that the generic fiber of the extension D[[z]]? D[1/a][[z]] has dimension ≥ dim(D/aD).