Adductor spasmodic dysphonia: case reports withacoustic analysis following botulinum toxin injection and acupuncture

We analyzed frequency and duration parameters of voice and speech in two men with adductor spasmodic dysphonia (SD). One was treated with botulinum toxin injection; the other received acupuncture therapy. Im provement after acupuncture therapy in terms of standard deviation of fundamental frequency, acoustic perturbation measurements, durational measurements of voice and speech, and spectrographic analysis was comparable to the results achieved with botulinum toxin injection. Voice and speech parameters were stable I year after acupuncture therapy.     

Strain hardening and fracture of heat-set fractal globular protein gels

Non-linear mechanical behavior at large shear deformation was been investigated for heat-set beta-lactoglobulin gels at pH 7 and 0.1 M NaCl using both oscillatory shear and shear flow. These gels have a self-similar structure at length scales smaller than the correlation length of the gel with fractal dimension d(f)=2. Strain hardening is observed that can be well described using the model proposed by Gisler et al. [T.C. Gisler, R.C. Ball, D.A. Weitz, Phys. Rev. Let. 82 (1999) 1064] for fractal colloidal gels. The increase of the shear modulus normalized by the low strain value (G(0)) is independent of G(0). For weak gels the elasticity increases up to a factor of ten, while for strong gels the increase is very small. At higher deformation irreversible fracture occurs, which leads eventually to macroscopic failure of the gel. For weak gels formed at low concentrations the deformation at failure is about 2, independent of the shear modulus. For strong gels fracture occurs at approximately constant stress (2 x 10(3) Pa).     

Photomagnetic properties of an iron(II) low-spin complex with an unusually long-lived metastable LIESST state

A comprehensive study of the photomagnetic behavior of the [Fe(L222N5)(CN)2].H2O complex has been carried out. This complex is characterized by a low-spin (LS) iron(II)-metal center up to 400 K and exhibits at 10 K the well-known Light-Induced Excited Spin State Trapping (LIESST) effect. The critical LIESST temperature (T(LIESST)) has been measured to be 105 K. The kinetics of the transition from the metastable high-spin (HS) state to the low-spin state have been determined and used for reproducing the experimental T(LIESST) curve. This study represents a second example of a fully low-spin iron(II)-metal complex up to 400 K, which can be photoexcited at low temperature with an atypical long-lived metastable HS state. This underlines the preponderant role of the inner coordination sphere for stabilizing the lifetime of the photoinduced HS state.     

Modelling the circularly and linearly polarised spectrum of [Ni(en)3]2+

The relative intensity and band shapes of the low energy spin-allowed transitions in the linearly polarised and circular dichroism spectrum of [Ni(en)(3)](2+) have been calculated using a time-dependent density functional theory approach. The effect of the trigonal ligand-field is minimal and no splitting of the bands is predicted by the simulations or observed experimentally. The 'd-d' transitions of the [Ni(en)(3)](2+) ion are electric dipole allowed but gain much of their intensity through Herzberg-Teller vibronic coupling. Its CD spectrum is dominated by the low energy band, which gains its rotatory strength through the magnetic dipole-allowed character of the parent octahedral transition and the electric dipole character due to the trigonal field. The simulation of the spectrum incorporates the contribution from all inducing vibrational modes with significant involvement of the {NiN(6)} unit. Vibrations which are centred on the chelate rings are not important in generating intensity, reflecting the localised d-d' character of the transitions. Simulated linearly polarised and circular dichroism spectra of such an open-shell system are presented for the first time and predict the essential elements of the experimental spectra.     

1H and 19F ultra-fast MAS double-quantum single-quantum NMR correlation experiments using three-spin terms of the dipolar homonuclear Hamiltonian

Measuring internuclear distances through dipolar interaction is a major challenge for solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. Obtaining reliable interatomic distances provides an access to the local structure in ordered or disordered solids. We show that at magic angle spinning (MAS) frequencies larger than ca. 50 kHz, some of the three-spin terms of the homogeneous homonuclear dipolar Hamiltonian can be used to promote the creation of double-quantum coherences between neighbouring (1)H or (19)F spins without using dipolar recoupling pulse sequences in the Dipolar Homonuclear Homogeneous Hamiltonian (DH(3)) double-quantum/single-quantum correlation experiment. This makes it possible to probe inter-nuclear spatial proximity with limited risk of probe or sample damage from radio-frequency (RF) irradiation, and is fully appropriate for fast repetition rate offering sensitivity gains in favourable cases. Experimental demonstrations are supported by multi-spin numerical simulations, which points to new possibilities for the characterization of spin-system geometries.     

Effects of substituted ligands on the mobility of complexed anions

From conductance and viscosities measurements on Pr₄NCl, Et₄NBr, and AgNO₃ in acetonitrile and Et₃NBr in nitrobenzene, the Walden products of the anion at infinite dilution were determined in presence of various concentrations of substituted benzoic acids. From these data it was possible to compute the values of the Walden products of the once complexed anions and to estimate the order of magnitude of the Walden products of twice complexed anions. Stokes' law is not obeyed, and the Walden products are not proportional to the third root of the molar volume of the complexed ions, as a consequence of their lack of sphericity. The assumption that the drag force which acts on the ions is proportional to the volume of the substituents results in a linear expression between the reciprocals of the Walden products and the molar volume of the ligands. The experimental results fit this expression within the limits of the experimental errors, and the slopes of the lines are nearly the same for all the anions and for the two solvents studied here, namely, 2.5×10^–4 ohm-cm^–5 mole-cP^–1.     

Tetrathiafulvalene hydrazone: efficient synthon for the synthesis of novel bidentate redox active ligands

The synthesis and the ability of TTF-hydrazone to act as a versatile precursor for the design of electroactive ligands are reported together with the chelating ability of these ligands through their M(CO)₄ complexes, (M = Mo, W).     

Revealing Phosphorus Nitrides up to the Megabar Regime: Synthesis of α′-P3N5, δ-P3N5 and PN2

Non-metal nitrides are an exciting field of chemistry, featuring a significant number of compounds that can possess outstanding material properties. These properties mainly rely on maximizing the number of strong covalent bonds, with crosslinked XN₆ octahedra frameworks being particularly attractive. In this study, the phosphorus–nitrogen system was studied up to 137 GPa in laser-heated diamond anvil cells, and three previously unobserved phases were synthesized and characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction, Raman spectroscopy measurements and density functional theory calculations. δ-P₃N₅ and PN₂ were found to form at 72 and 134 GPa, respectively, and both feature dense 3D networks of the so far elusive PN₆ units. The two compounds are ultra-incompressible, having a bulk modulus of K₀=322 GPa for δ-P₃N₅ and 339 GPa for PN₂. Upon decompression below 7 GPa, δ-P₃N₅ undergoes a transformation into a novel α′-P₃N₅ solid, stable at ambient conditions, that has a unique structure type based on PN₄ tetrahedra. The formation of α′-P₃N₅ underlines that a phase space otherwise inaccessible can be explored through materials formed under high pressure.     

Comparison of the Effect of Hydrostatic and Dynamic High Pressure Processing on the Enzymatic Activity and Physicochemical Quality Attributes of ‘Ataulfo’ Mango Nectar

The effects of hydrostatic (HHP) and dynamic (HPH) high-pressure treatments on the activity of pectin methylesterase (PME) and polyphenol oxidase (PPO) as well as the physicochemical quality attributes of ‘Ataulfo’ mango nectar were assessed. HHP reduced PME relative activity by 28% at 100 MPa for 5 min but increased PPO activity almost five-fold. Contrarily, HPH did not affect PME activity, but PPO was effectively reduced to 10% of residual activity at 300 MPa and at three passes. Color parameters (CIEL*a*b*), °hue, and chroma were differently affected by each type of high-pressure processing technology. The viscosity and fluid behavior were not affected by HHP, however, HPH changed the apparent viscosity at low dynamic pressure levels (100 MPa with one and three passes). The viscosity decreased at high shear rates in nectar samples, showing a shear-thinning effect. The results highlight how different effects can be achieved with each high-pressure technology; thus, selecting the most appropriate system for processing and preserving liquid foods like fruit beverages is recommended.     

Characterization of Two Light-Harvesting Subunits Isolated from the Brown Alga Pelvetia canaliculata: Heterogeneity of Xanthophyll Distribution

The main light-harvesting fraction from Pelvetia canaliculata was isolated on a sucrose density gradient from digitonin-solubilized chloroplasts. After further solubilization by dodecyl maltoside, the bulk fraction was separated into two subunits by preparative isoelectric focusing. The more acidic brown fraction was mainly composed of 22 kDa polypeptides having an apparent pI of 4.55. Its pigment composition was very simple, containing chlorophyll (Chi) a, Chi c and fucoxanthin. The in vivo spectral properties of fucoxanthin, namely a shift in light absorption to the green and efficient energy transmission to Chi a, were conserved in this subunit. No xanthophyll associated with photoprotection was found in this band, even when obtained from photoinhibited thalli. The less acidic green band contained predominantly 22 kDa polypeptides that were resolved into numerous components by denaturing isoelectric focusing. Its pigment composition was more complex, containing, in addition, pigments of the so-called xanthophyll cycle. In photoinhibited thalli, about half of the violaxanthin was converted into antheraxanthin and zeaxanthin. All the pigments of the xanthophyll cycle were specifically associated with this subunit, and it may thus have a central role in the thermal dissipation of the absorbed light energy as postulated for light-harvesting complex II isolated from green plants.