Numerical analysis of spatial distortions in a single-grating chirped pulse amplification system

A numerical study of spatial distortions of a laser beam after propagation through an optical single-grating chirp pulse amplification (CPA) system was developed. This study is based on numerical simulation using the ray-tracing model from Rayica module of MATHEMATICA and it relates the behavior of the aberrated beam in terms of spatial distortions (eg. spatial chirp and pulse front tilt) in case of grating incident angle variation. The results are relevant for different applications which use CPA systems with needs of high quality laser beam profile.     

Stiffness constants prediction of nanocomposites using a periodic 3D‐FEM model

Predictive models, which enable the prediction of nanocomposite properties from their morphologies and account for polymer orientation, could greatly assist the exploitation of this new class of materials in more diversified and demanding market fields. This article focuses on the prediction of effective elastic properties (Young's moduli) of polymer nanocomposite films (copolyamide‐6/nanoclay) using 3D analytical (based on the Mori‐Tanaka theory) and 3D finite element (FE) models. The analytical model accounts for the orientation of polymer chains induced by drawing. 3D FE model exploits the representative volume element concept and accounts for the nanocomposite morphology as determined from transmission electron microscopy experiments. Model predictions were compared with experimental results obtained for nanocomposite films produced by means a pilot‐scale film blowing equipment and collected at different draw ratios. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys, 2012     

Novel Synthetic Routes to Prepare Biologically Active Quinoxalines and Their Derivatives: A Synthetic Review for the Last Two Decades

Quinoxalines, a class of N-heterocyclic compounds, are important biological agents, and a significant amount of research activity has been directed towards this class. They have several prominent pharmacological effects like antifungal, antibacterial, antiviral, and antimicrobial. Quinoxaline derivatives have diverse therapeutic uses and have become the crucial component in drugs used to treat cancerous cells, AIDS, plant viruses, schizophrenia, certifying them a great future in medicinal chemistry. Due to the current pandemic situation caused by SARS-COVID 19, it has become essential to synthesize drugs to combat deadly pathogens (bacteria, fungi, viruses) for now and near future. Since quinoxalines is an essential moiety to treat infectious diseases, numerous synthetic routes have been developed by researchers, with a prime focus on green chemistry and cost-effective methods. This review paper highlights the various synthetic routes to prepare quinoxaline and its derivatives, covering the literature for the last two decades. A total of 31 schemes have been explained using the green chemistry approach, cost-effective methods, and quinoxaline derivatives’ therapeutic uses.     

Comprehensive Thermal Characteristics of Different Cultivars of Flaxseed Oil (Linum usittatissimum L.)

The aim of this study was to describe the thermal properties of selected cultivars of flaxseed oil by the use of the differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) technique. The crystallization and melting profiles were analyzed depending on different scanning rates (1, 2, 5 °C/min) as well as oxidative induction time (OIT) isothermally at 120 °C and 140 °C, and oxidation onset temperatures (Ton) at 2 and 5 °C/min were measured. The crystallization was manifested as a single peak, differing for a cooling rate of 1 and 2 °C/min. The melting curves were more complex with differences among the cultivars for a heating rate of 1 and 2 °C/min, while for 5 °C/min, the profiles did not differ, which could be utilized in analytics for profiling in order to assess the authenticity of the flaxseed oil. Moreover, it was observed that flaxseed oil was highly susceptible to thermal oxidation, and its stability decreased with increasing temperature and decreasing heating rate. Significant negative linear correlations were found between unsaturated fatty acid content (C18:2, C18:3 n-3) and DSC parameters (OIT, Ton). Principal component analysis (PCA) also established a strong correlation between total oxidation value (TOTOX), peroxide value (PV) and all DSC parameters of thermo-oxidative stability.     

High Pressure Processing Impact on Alternariol and Aflatoxins of Grape Juice and Fruit Juice-Milk Based Beverages

High-pressure processing (HPP) has emerged over the last 2 decades as a good alternative to traditional thermal treatment for food safety and shelf-life extension, supplying foods with similar characteristics to those of fresh products. Currently, HPP has also been proposed as a useful tool to reduce food contaminants, such as pesticides and mycotoxins. The aim of the present study is to explore the effect of HPP technology at 600 MPa during 5 min at room temperature on alternariol (AOH) and aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) mycotoxins reduction in different juice models. The effect of HPP has also been compared with a thermal treatment performed at 90 °C during 21 s. For this, different juice models, orange juice/milk beverage, strawberry juice/milk beverage and grape juice, were prepared and spiked individually with AOH and AFB1 at a concentration of 100 µg/L. After HPP and thermal treatments, mycotoxins were extracted from treated samples and controls by dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction (DLLME) and determined by HPLC-MS/MS-IT. The results obtained revealed reduction percentages up to 24% for AFB1 and 37% for AOH. Comparing between different juice models, significant differences were observed for AFB1 residues in orange juice/milk versus strawberry juice/milk beverages after HPP treatment. Moreover, HPP resulted as more effective than thermal treatment, being an effective tool to incorporate to food industry in order to reach mycotoxins reductions.     

New Electrode Material GCE/AgNPs-LS/Hg Based on Nanosilver Produced with the Use of Biopolymers

A method of producing nanosilver by using lignosulfonic acid derivative and a new method of the obtained AgNPs-LS electrode material for developing a chemically modified GCE/AgNPs-LS/Hg electrode is presented. The data demonstrate that the modified electrode shows enhanced performance in determining Tl⁺ ions in comparison to unmodified electrode GCE. The stripping anodic peak current of thallium characterized in linearity over its concentration range from 1.22 ⋅ 10⁻⁸ to 1.15 ⋅ 10⁻⁷ mol dm⁻³, with detection limit 4.6 ⋅ 10⁻⁹ mol dm⁻³. It is assumed that the novel AgNPs-LS/Hg²⁺ complex is suitable for preparing functionalized nanostructured material and can be used as an electrochemical sensing platform for heavy metals.     

Oxidation in vitro of chromium(III) dietary supplements <Emphasis Type="Italic">mer</Emphasis>-[Cr(pic)<Subscript>3</Subscript>] and <Emphasis Type="Italic">trans</Emphasis>(S,S)-[Cr(Cys)<Subscript>2</Subscript>]<Superscript>−</Superscript> by hydrogen peroxide

Biological tests performed using 3T3 fibroblasts indicated low cytotoxicities for the complexes mer-[Cr(pic)₃] and trans(S,S)-[Cr(Cys)₂]^?, where pic = picolinate anion and Cys = cysteine. Oxidation of these complexes by hydrogen peroxide was studied in NaOH and NaHCO₃ media. Electronic (UV–Vis) and EPR spectroscopies were used to monitor the reaction course. Hydrogen peroxide oxidizes chromium(III) to both [Cr^V(O₂)₄]^3? and Cr^VIO₄ ^2? anions in alkaline media and practically completely to CrO₄ ^2? anion in bicarbonate solution. The reactions follow consecutive biphasic or simple first-order kinetics. The first-order decay of [Cr^V(O₂)₄]^3? anion at pH ≈ 8 was followed by EPR spectroscopy. Based on the obtained kinetic and spectroscopic data, mechanisms for the redox transformations of these chromium(III) complexes are proposed.     

Progress in the Study of Bioluminescent Earthworms

Even though bioluminescent oligochaetes rarely catch people's eyes due to their secretive lifestyle, glowing earthworms sighting reports have come from different areas on all continents except Antarctica. A major breakthrough in the research of earthworm bioluminescence occurred in the 1960s with the studies of the North American Diplocardia longa. Comparative studies conducted on 13 earthworm species belonging to six genera showed that N‐isovaleryl‐3‐aminopropanal (Diplocardia luciferin) is the common substrate for bioluminescence in all examined species, while luciferases appeared to be responsible for the color of bioluminescence. The second momentous change in the situation has occurred with the discovery in Siberia (Russia) of two unknown luminous enchytraeids. The two bioluminescent systems belong to different types, have different spectral characteristics and localization, and different temperature and pH optima. They are unique, and this fact is confirmed by the negative results of all possible cross‐reactions. The bioluminescent system of Henlea sp. comprises four essential components: luciferase, luciferin, oxygen and calcium ion. For Friderica heliota, the luminescent reaction requires five components: luciferase, luciferin, ATP, magnesium ion and oxygen. Along with luciferin, more than a dozen analogues were isolated from worm biomass. These novel peptide‐like natural compounds represent an unprecedented chemistry found in terrestrial organisms.     

Kinetic studies on acid- and base-catalyzed aquation of bis-alaninatochromium(III) and on oxidation of tris- and bis-Aa–chromium(III) complexes (Aa = Gly,Ala, Asn) by H2O2

Two aqua derivatives of [Cr(Ala)₃] were characterized in solution. Acid-catalyzed aquation of cis-[Cr(Ala)₂(H₂O)₂]⁺ leads to inert [Cr(Ala)(H₂O)₄]²⁺, whereas base hydrolysis of cis-Cr(Ala)₂(OH)₂]^? causes dissociation of both the Ala ligands and formation of chromates(III). Kinetics of these processes have been studied spectrophotometrically in both 0.1–1.0 M HClO₄ and 0.2–0.9 M NaOH under first-order conditions. A linear dependence of the k _obs,H on [H⁺] and a small dependence of the (k _obs)_OH on [OH^?] were established. In the proposed mechanism, the rate determining step is Cr–N bond breaking in the reactive form of the substrate, i.e., in the protonated aqua- or dihydroxo complex. The effect of pH on the complex reactivity is discussed. The kinetic results are compared with those determined previously for analogous glycine and asparagine complexes. Additionally, oxidation of tris- and bis-Aa–chromium(III) complexes, where Aa = Gly, Ala or Asn, by hydrogen peroxide in alkaline medium was studied. Two reaction products were detected: thermodynamically stable CrO₄ ^2? and [Cr(O₂)₄]^3? that under a large excess of hydrogen peroxide is metastable. The rate-limiting stage of this process is an inner sphere two-electron transfer within the peroxido intermediate.     

In vivo evaluation of small-molecule thermoresponsive anticancer drugs potentiated by hyperthermia

Hyperthermia used as an adjuvant with chemotherapy is highly promising in the treatment of certain cancers. Currently, the small molecule drugs used in combination with hyperthermia were not designed for this application. Herein, we report the evaluation of a chlorambucil and a ruthenium compound modified with a long fluorous chain, which exhibit thermoresponsive activity in colorectal adenocarcinoma xenografts in athymic mice in combination with mild hyperthermia (42 °C). Intraperitoneal injection of the derivatives followed by local hyperthermia showed a synergistic tumor growth reduction by 79% and 90% for the chlorambucil and ruthenium-based derivatives, respectively, with the latter exhibiting a higher synergy in combination with hyperthermia compared to the monotherapies. Histological analysis shows that both derivatives in combination with hyperthermia significantly decrease the number of proliferating tumor cells.