Protective effects of extracts and flavonoids isolated from Scutia buxifolia Reissek against chromosome damage in human lymphocytes exposed to hydrogen peroxide

Flavonoids are claimed to protect against cardiovascular disease, certain forms of cancer and ageing, possibly by preventing initial DNA damage. Therefore, we investigated the protective effects of crude extract, ethyl acetate fraction and flavonoids (quercetin, quercitrin, isoquercitrin and rutin) isolated from the leaves from Scutia buxifolia against chromosome damage induced by H?O? in human lymphocytes by analyzing cellular growth rate, cell viability, mitotic index and chromosomal instability. We found a differential response among the compounds tested, with the ethyl acetate fraction being more effective than the crude extract, a difference perhaps related to the presence of the antioxidants identified and quantified by HPLC/DAD. In general, quercetin, isoquercitrin and rutin recovered the mitotic index and chromosomal instability more than quercitrin after treatment with hydrogen peroxide.     

On the redox behaviour of glycerol at TiO2 electrodes

An experimental work is presented in which alkaline solutions of glycerol are electrochemically treated at TiO₂ electrodes obtained by electrochemical oxidation of Ti foils annealed a 400 °C and 600 °C. The semiconductor properties of the material, strictly correlated to the presence of structural defects, and their different concentration and distribution originated by the different annealing temperature are investigated. In order to derive useful indications for possible application on reduction or photo-oxidation of glycerol, particular attention is paid on the working mechanism of the electrodes in a wide range of potential at which the semiconductor may be under accumulation or depletion regime.     

Investigation of scaling properties in monthly streamflow and Standardized Streamflow Index (SSI) time series in the Ebro basin (Spain)

Scaling behaviors in monthly streamflow and Standardized Streamflow Index (SSI) of 11 gauging stations in Ebro basin (Spain) were analyzed: four located in the mainstream and seven in tributaries. The time span is from 1950 to 2005. The methods used are the power spectrum and the detrended fluctuation analysis. All the streamflows are signaled by the presence of the yearly oscillation, which also plays the role of crossover between two regions: for frequencies smaller than the yearly cycle (or timescales higher than 1 year) the dynamics is approximately random, while for frequencies higher than the yearly frequency (or timescales smaller than 1 year) the dynamics is persistently correlated. The SSI shows approximately similar characteristics, although the annual oscillation is not evidenced. Except for a few peculiar features, the power spectrum and the detrended fluctuation analysis (DFA) have shown similar results for all the streamflow and SSI time series, indicating a universal scaling behavior over the Ebro basin.     

Visibility graph analysis of wind speed records measured in central Argentina

Hourly means of wind speed time series recorded at two wind stations in central Argentina (one inland and the other coastal) are analyzed by means of the visibility graph method. The degree distribution of both series was calculated along with that of their shuffled, Gaussian- and uniform-distributed surrogates. The original series as well as their surrogates show an apparent exponential degree distribution. The v$v$–k$k$ (value–degree) plot of the original wind series indicates that the higher values of the series are not necessarily “hubs” for the series, while that of the surrogates are characterized by a reduced connectivity degree of the higher hubs.     

The role of O2 in SERS-active thin metal film photodynamics

Optical emission from thin Ag films excited by visible light under a non-oxygen atmosphere was analyzed as a function of time and excitation power. The emission behavior under anaerobic conditions was strikingly different from that obtained under an oxygen-containing atmosphere. Specifically, emission intensity increased as a function of time with no photoinduced signal decay. A simple mechanistic model was developed and demonstrated to accurately predict the photodynamic trends observed under both conditions. The model involves oxygen-mediated cyclic production and destruction of photoactive silver clusters on the thin film. The evidence presented here strongly supports the hypothesis that oxygen plays a key role in the "blinking" phenomenon observed on SERS-active Ag films.     

Equilibrium and dynamics of Langmuir monolayers when the interface is a selective solvent: Polystyrene-b-poly(t-butyl acrylate) block copolymers

The surface pressure of monolayers of insoluble diblock copolymers has been measured. One of the blocks is made of poly(t-butyl acrylate) (PtBA), and the other one by polystyrene (PS). The interface is a good solvent for PtBA, while it is a poor solvent for PS. For the sake of comparison, monolayers of a PtBA homopolymer (good solvent conditions) and of poly(4-hydroxy styrene) (P4HS) (poor solvent conditions) have been also measured. It has been found that the relative length of the blocks plays an important role on the shape of the surface pressure Pi versus surface concentration Gamma curves and also on the shape of the equilibrium compressibility versus Gamma curves. However, it does not affect the maximum value of Pi reached at high Gamma's. Surprisingly, the ellipsometric thickness of the copolymer monolayers is almost independent of the relative length of the blocks. The dynamics of the monolayers has been studied by step compression and by surface-light scattering techniques. When M(w,PtBA) > M(w,PS) single exponential relaxations are observed. However, stretched exponentials are obtained for M(w,PS) > or = M(w,PtBA). The relaxation times decrease with increasing Gamma for all the copolymers studied. This is the behavior usually found for poor solvent conditions (P4HS) and opposite to that found for homopolymers under good solvent conditions [PtBA, poly(vinylacetate)]. This means that the solvent quality of the interface does not determine the pressure dependence of tau. The elasticity modulus of the monolayers in the kilohertz range takes values that are similar to those of the high-frequency limit of the relaxation experiments. This means that the relaxation processes have characteristic frequencies below 1 Hz.     

Transitions of serum albumin in patients with glomerulosclerosis 'in vivo' characterization by electrophoretic titration curves

HSA functions as a physiological transporter of solutes and small molecules that induce structural transitions 'in vitro'. Analysis of these transitions requires prior purification of HSA that could introduce bias due to conformational changes. We utilized electrophoretic titration curves to describe a neutral to acid (N-A) transition of HSA directly in sera of seven patients with active focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS). The divergent electrophoretic profile of HSA was characterized by a shift in the range of pHs between 4.5 and 7.5 with an average variation of free electrophoretic mobility corresponding to loss of 1 positive charge in the pKa protonation range of histidyl residues and should involve domain I of HSA. 'In-gel' determination by maleimide-PEO2-biotin of free SH 34 of domain I showed inaccessibility of the dye at this site in pathological HSA and alkylation with the same complex induced N-A transition in normal HSA. Potential binders of free imidazoles such as Ca++ and/or of SH 34 such as NO were excluded on the basis of direct titration and studies on binding stimulation. This is the first report describing a transition of HSA directly 'in vivo', and the utilization of electrophoretic titration curves was critical to this purpose. This transition appears to be specific to FSGS and is unrelated to the nephrotic syndrome, Ca++ and NO binding. Spectroscopic analysis will elucidate the structural implication.     

The imidazole role in strontium beta-diketonate complexes formation

A selection of new strontium beta-diketonate derivatives (imH2)2[Sr2(beta-dike)6] [where imH = imidazole and beta-dike = tfac (tfacH = 1,1,1-trifluoro-2,4-pentanedione), tfbz (tfbzH = 1,1,1-trifluoro-4-phenyl-2,4-butanedione), or hfac (hfacH = 1,1,1,5,5,5-hexafluoro-2,4-pentanedione)], [Sr2(tfac)4(Meim)2(H2O)2], (MeimH)2[Sr(beta-dike)4] (where Meim = 1-methylimidazole and beta-dike = tfbz or hfac), [Sr2(thd)4(imH)2(EtOH)], and [Sr2(thd)4(Meim)2(EtOH)] (where thdH = 2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-3,5-heptanedione) have been synthesized and fully characterized. (imH2)2[Sr2(beta-dike)6] and (MeimH)2[Sr(beta-dike)4] are di- and mononuclear Sr anionic complexes, respectively, while [Sr2(tfac)4(Meim)2(H2O)2], [Sr2(thd)4(imH)2(EtOH)], and [Sr2(thd)4(Meim)2(EtOH)] are neutral dinuclear molecular derivatives. The derivative (imH2)2[Sr2(hfac)6] slowly decomposes in solution under aerobic conditions, giving (imH2)2[Sr(H2O)2(tfa)3](tfa) (tfaH = trifluoroacetic acid), which is an ionic compound containing polynuclear anionic chains composed of Sr(H2O)2(tfa)3 units. When a deficiency of imH is employed, the thdH proligand forms not only the dinuclear derivative [Sr2(thd)4(imH)2(EtOH)] but also an additional product with the formula [Sr(thd)2(H2O)2(EtOH)], in which the Sr atom is seven-coordinated. A complete solid-state characterization has been accomplished by comparing X-ray and solid-state 13C NMR data. Elucidation of the H-bond interaction between the heterocyclic rings and metal complexes by cross-polarization magic-angle-spinning 15N NMR is also reported.     

Equilibrium free energies from nonequilibrium metadynamics

In this Letter we propose a new formalism to map history-dependent metadynamics in a Markovian process. We apply this formalism to model Langevin dynamics and determine the equilibrium distribution of a collection of simulations. We demonstrate that the reconstructed free energy is an unbiased estimate of the underlying free energy and analytically derive an expression for the error. The present results can be applied to other history-dependent stochastic processes, such as Wang-Landau sampling.     

Temperature as a variable in liquid chromatography: development and application of a model for the separation of model drugs using water as the eluent

The use of high temperatures in liquid chromatography allows for the use of a purely aqueous mobile phase. At elevated temperatures water possesses many of the characteristics of organic solvents in terms of eluotropic strength, as well as having a lower viscosity. A model is developed, based on data obtained using a range of model drugs, which demonstrates the relationship between temperature, flow and pressure. Experimental data from different column types, at temperatures from 40 degrees C to 180 degrees C, is presented which matches well with the predicted data from the model.