Nonclassical diffusion with memory

We consider the nonclassical diffusion equation with hereditary memory on a bounded three‐dimensional domain. Setting the problem in the past history framework, and with very general assumptions on the memory kernel κ, we prove that the related solution semigroup possesses a global attractor of optimal regularity. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Metastable effects on martensitic transformation in SMA

The efficiency of shape memory alloy (SMA) as damper and/or standard actuator is truly enhanced when the material can be cycled without any relevant accumulation of the permanent deformation (i.e. under 0.5% for several hundreds of cycles). The particular properties of the CuAlBe alloy permit relevant grain growth with reasonable reduction of mechanical properties (from 300–350 to 250–300 MPa at fracture). Samples prepared with an appropriate heat thermal treatment (HTT) and relevant mean diameter of grain avoids accumulative deformation for series of cycles (near 500) up to 3.5% of deformation. The analysis of different wires of CuAlBe alloy shows, in the first part of HTT, a proportionality between the grain surface and the time at 1123 K. In the last part of the HTT the grain growth shows an increased complexity related with interactions between the grain boundaries and the external surface of the samples.     

Diffusion in zeolites: is surface resistance a critical parameter?

Gravimetric uptake measurements were performed with cyclohexane for different Silicalite-1 crystals sizes. It was observed that the apparent diffusion coefficients vary with crystal size, confirming the existence of a surface resistance. Considering that surface and the intracrystalline characteristic diffusion times are additives, it was possible to dissociate the two resistances. Surface mass transfer coefficient was found to be in the same order of magnitude for the different samples and activated with temperature. The contribution of surface resistance to mass transfer limitation is lower at high temperatures and for the bigger crystals. Surface resistance is far from being negligible for the smaller crystals: for crystals of 2 μm, surface resistance represents more than 60% of the total mass transfer resistance at 398 K. And crystals of that size (in the order of 2 μm) are usually used industrially, in order to minimize mass transfer resistance. The surface of one of our sample was purified by etching with a solution of hydrogen fluoride, without any enhancement of the adsorption kinetic. Surface resistance may not be located at the extreme surface of the crystals but in a layer of non negligible thickness of distorted crystal structure around the crystals.     

Gallium Oxide Nanorods: Novel,Template‐Free Synthesis and High Catalytic Activity in Epoxidation Reactions

Gallium oxide nanorods with unprecedented small dimensions (20–80 nm length and 3–5 nm width) were prepared using a novel, template‐free synthesis method. This nanomaterial is an excellent heterogeneous catalyst for the sustainable epoxidation of alkenes with H₂O₂, rivaling the industrial benchmark microporous titanosilicate TS‐1 with linear alkenes and being much superior with bulkier substrates. A thorough characterization study elucidated the correlation between the physicochemical properties of the gallium oxide nanorods and their catalytic performance, and underlined the importance of the nanorod morphology for generating a material with high specific surface area and a high number of accessible acid sites.     

Synthesis of A Novel Sialyl Lewis X Analogue Containing A Pyrrolidine in Place of N-Acetyl Glucosamine

ABSTRACT

The synthesis of the new sialyl Lewis X analogue, 4-O-(α-L-fucopyranosyl)-3-O-(3-O-sodium sulfonato-β-D-galactopyranosyl)-(2S,3R, 4R)-2-ethyl-3,4-dihydroxypyrrolidine 2 has been achieved. The N-acetyl glucosamine unit of natural Lewis X has been replaced by a rigid 3R/4R-dihydroxylated pyrrolidine 12. This one has been synthezised from the methyl 4-O-benzoyl-2,3-di-O-benzyl-6-deoxy-6-iodo-α-D-altropyranoside sugar precursor 10 using the Ganem/Bernotas one-pot elimination-reductive amination ring contraction reaction. The (2S, 3R, 4R)-1-benzyloxycarbonyl-3,4-dihydroxy-2-ethylpyrrolidine 12 obtained was subsequently regioselectively glycosylated, using 2,3,4-tri-O-benzyl-α-L-fucopyranosyl fluoride and 2,3,4,6-tetra-O-benzoyl-β-D-galactopyranosyl bromide as glycosyl donors. Disaccharide containing pyrrolidine 21 was finally transformed into the target O-sulfated analog 2, after regioselective sulfation and usual deprotection.     

Trace determination of sulphur mustard and related compounds in water by headspace-trap gas chromatography–mass spectrometry

A method for trace determination of sulphur mustard (HD) and some of its cyclic decomposition compounds in water samples has been developed using headspace-trap in combination with gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS). Factorial design was used for optimisation of the method. The trap technology allows enrichment and focusing of the analytes on an adsorbent, hence the technique offers better sensitivity compared to conventional static headspace. A detection limit of 1 ng/ml was achieved for HD, while the cyclic sulphur compounds 1,4-thioxane, 1,3-dithiolane and 1,4-dithiane could be detected at a level of 0.1 ng/ml. The method was validated for the stable cyclic compounds in the concentration range from the limit of quantification (LOQ: 0.2–0.4 ng/ml) to hundred times LOQ. The within and between assay precisions at hundred times LOQ were 1–2% and 7–8% relative standard deviation, respectively. This technique requires almost no sample handling, and the total time for sampling and analysis was less than 1 h. The method was successfully employed for muddy river water and sea water samples.     

Modulating rhodopsin receptor activation by altering the pKa of the retinal Schiff base

The visual pigment rhodopsin is a seven-transmembrane (7-TM) G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR). Activation of rhodopsin involves two pH-dependent steps: proton uptake at a conserved cytoplasmic motif between TM helices 3 and 6, and disruption of a salt bridge between a protonated Schiff base (PSB) and its carboxylate counterion in the transmembrane core of the receptor. Formation of an artificial pigment with a retinal chromophore fluorinated at C14 decreases the intrinsic pKa of the PSB and thereby destabilizes this salt bridge. Using Fourier transform infrared difference and UV-visible spectroscopy, we characterized the pH-dependent equilibrium between the active photoproduct Meta II and its inactive precursor, Meta I, in the 14-fluoro (14-F) analogue pigment. The 14-F chromophore decreases the enthalpy change of the Meta I-to-Meta II transition and shifts the Meta I/Meta II equilibrium toward Meta II. Combining C14 fluorination with deletion of the retinal beta-ionone ring to form a 14-F acyclic artificial pigment uncouples disruption of the Schiff base salt bridge from transition to Meta II and in particular from the cytoplasmic proton uptake reaction, as confirmed by combining the 14-F acyclic chromophore with the E134Q mutant. The 14-F acyclic analogue formed a stable Meta I state with a deprotonated Schiff base and an at least partially protonated protein counterion. The combination of retinal modification and site-directed mutagenesis reveals that disruption of the protonated Schiff base salt bridge is the most important step thermodynamically in the transition from Meta I to Meta II. This finding is particularly important since deprotonation of the retinal PSB is known to precede the transition to the active state in rhodopsin activation and is consistent with models of agonist-dependent activation of other GPCRs.     

Determination of thromboxanes,leukotrienes and lipoxins using high-temperature capillary liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry and on-line sample preparation

An on-line strong cation-exchange (SCX)–reversed-phase (RP) capillary liquid chromatographic (cLC) method with ion-trap tandem mass spectrometric (IT-MS/MS) detection for the simultaneous determination of thromboxane (TX) B₂, TXB₃, leukotriene (LT) B₄, LTD₄ and lipoxin (LX) A₄ in cell culture supernatants was developed and validated. In the present method, a high temperature (70 °C) was used for the separation on the analytical column to obtain efficient chromatography of the thromboxanes. An on-line sample preparation was performed, where peptides/proteins contained in the matrix were removed by the SCX column. Sample pre-treatment included dilution and filtration, and the analysis time including all sample preparation steps was 60 min per sample. Limits of detection in the range of 1–4 ng/mL cell culture supernatant, recoveries between 30% and 100%, within day precisions of less than 20% RSD and between day precisions of less than 30% RSD were obtained. Human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) were stimulated with cytokine-containing supernatants derived from activated human T lymphocytes, and thromboxane, leukotriene and lipoxin production was analysed using the developed method. TXB₂ was found in cultures from both non-differentiated and differentiated hMSCs that were stimulated with a cytokine-containing supernatant obtained from activated T-cells.