Influence of ThO<Subscript>2</Subscript> on the photocatalytic activity of TiO<Subscript>2</Subscript>

Microcomposites consisting of TiO₂ (or Ce-doped TiO₂) and ThO₂ (0.5–2% of the TiO₂ mass) are produced by sol-gel synthesis of TiO₂ in presence of ThO₂. X-ray diffraction study reveals the effects of ThO₂ (compared to the ThO₂-free TiO₂, obtained by the same method) on the anatase interplanar distances, crystallites size and phase composition. The photocatalytic tests in presence of the composites under UV irradiation reveal an increase of the Malachite Green degradation rate constant. The effect depends on the Th relative content, temperature of annealing of the catalyst and addition of other doping agent. The highest photocatalytic activity is observed for TiO₂ obtained at 550°C and containing 1% ThO₂. The composite exhibits activity in dark, also. The presence of Ce⁴⁺ ions is not an obligatory requirement for the realization of the ThO₂ effect. The reported results suggest that the radioactivity of the Th and/or its decay products is one of the main factors responsible for the increased photocatalytic activity of TiO₂.      

Biphotonic Ionization of DNA: From Model Studies to Cell

Oxidation reactions triggered by low‐intensity UV photons represent a minor contribution with respect to the overwhelming pyrimidine base dimerization in both isolated and cellular DNA. The situation is totally different when DNA is exposed to high‐intensity UVC radiation under conditions where biphotonic ionization of the four main purine and pyrimidine bases becomes predominant at the expense of singlet excitation processes. The present review article provides a critical survey of the main chemical reactions of the base radical cations thus generated by one‐electron oxidation of nucleic acids in model systems and cells. These include oxidation of the bases with the predominant formation of 8‐oxo‐7,8‐dihydroguanine as the result of preferential hole transfer to guanine bases that act as sinks in isolated and cellular DNA. In addition to hydration, other nucleophilic addition reactions involving the guanine radical cation give rise to intra‐ and interstrand cross‐links together with DNA–protein cross‐links. Information is provided on the utilization of high‐intensity UV laser pulses as molecular biology tools for studying DNA conformational features, nucleic acid–protein interactions and nucleic acid reactivity through DNA–protein cross‐links and DNA footprinting experiments.     

Flash point of organic binary mixtures containing alcohols: experiment and prediction

The flash points of three organic binary mixtures containing alcohols were measured in the present work. The experimental data was obtained using the Pensky-Martens closed cup tester. The experimental data were compared with the values calculated by the Liaw model. Activity coefficients were calculated by the Wilson equation and NRTL equation. The accuracy of predicted flash point values is dependent on the thermodynamic model used for activity coefficient.     

Almost strict total positivity and a class of Hurwitz polynomials

We establish sufficient conditions for a matrix to be almost totally positive, thus extending a result of Craven and Csordas who proved that the corresponding conditions guarantee that a matrix is strictly totally positive. Then we apply our main result in order to obtain a new criteria for a real algebraic polynomial to be a Hurwitz one. The properties of the corresponding “extremal” Hurwitz polynomials are discussed.     

Catalytic oxidation of CO and C6H6 on alumina-supported Cu-Cr and Co-Cr oxide catalysts in the presence of ozone

The activity of alumina-supported Cu-Cr and Co-Cr oxide catalysts in CO and C₆H₆ oxidation with both molecular and ozone-enriched oxygen was studied. It was proved that the use of ozonized oxygen leads to a considerable decrease of the reaction temperatures.     

Structural Features of Certain p‐substituted Phenyl 2‐nitrovinyl Sulfones

The structure of p‐substituted phenyl 2‐nitrovinyl sulfones was studied through different spectral methods. It has been found that the nucleophilic substitution reactions of sodium phenylsulfinates with 1‐chloro‐2‐nitroethene occur stereospecifically. The formation of E‐isomers of this type of substituted phenyl vinyl sulfones was confirmed by FTIR and NMR spectroscopy. It was suggested that the E‐isomers formation was determined by the more stable conformation of the carbanionic intermediate as a result of intramolecular rotation around single Cα‐Cβ bond. This appears to be the product‐determining pathway during the interaction of sodium phenyl sulfinates with the highly activated substrate 1‐chloro‐2‐nitroethene.     

Conformationally restricted goniofufurone mimics with halogen,azido or benzoyloxy groups at the C-7 position: Design,synthesis and antiproliferative activity

A series of new conformationally restricted goniofufurone mimics, bearing an additional 1,3-dioxan ring and a halogen, azido or benzoyloxy functionality at the C-7 position has been designed and synthesized. The Appel reaction was used for replacement of 7-OH group with Cl or Br functions in tricyclic lactone (3). 7-Iodo derivative (3d) was prepared by using the Ph₃P/I₂/2,6-lutidine reagent system. 7-Fluoro group was introduced by treatment of 3 with DAST, while the corresponding 7-azido and 7-benzoyloxy derivatives have been prepared by multistep sequences. Synthesized products were evaluated for their ability to inhibit growth of selected human malignant cell lines. Structure-activity relationships demonstrated that the nature of a substituent at the C-7 position could enhance the antiproliferative activity of the analogues. The preliminary study on the mechanisms indicated that all synthesized compounds induced apoptosis in 61–77% of K562?cells.     

The photocatalytic degradation of 17α-ethynylestradiol by pure and carbon nanotubes modified TiO<Subscript>2</Subscript> under UVC illumination

Commercial product Degussa TiO2 P25, sol-gel produced TiO₂ and TiO₂ modified by carbon nanotubes addition (5% of the TiO₂ mass) are tested as photocatalysts for the degradation of endocrine disrupting compound 17α-ethynylestradiol (1 μM aqueous solution). The molecular and crystal structure, phase composition, crystallite size, specific surface area, pore average diameter, their area and volume distribution, morphology, IR and UV/Vis spectra of the catalysts are characterized. HPLC is used for estrogen analysis. The sorption ability and photocatalytic activity (measured by degradation rate constant and percentage of the pollutant conversion) of the catalysts under UV (17 W, emission maximum at 254 nm) irradiation is determined. Full destruction of the pollutant is reached after 30 min irradiation in presence of Degussa P25. The performance of some of the catalysts is compared with literature data for their activity under 365 nm-illumination.