The effect of a trans-locked Gly-Pro alkene isostere on collagen triple helix stability

An alkene isostere of Gly-trans-Pro was synthesized and incorporated into a host Ac-(Gly-Pro-Hyp)8-Gly-Gly-Tyr-NH2 peptide to investigate the effect of locking a proline amide bond. Proline amide bond isomerization is the slow step in collagen folding. By locking the amide, we hypothesized an increase in stability of the collagen triple helix. The substitution instead destabilized the collagen host peptide. The Tm value of the host control peptide was 50.0 degrees C, while the peptide containing the isostere, Ac-(Gly-Pro-Hyp)3-Gly-psi[(E)CH C]-Pro-Hyp-(Gly-Pro-Hyp)4-Gly-Gly-Tyr-NH2, had a Tm value of 28.3 degrees C. There are clearly factors that contribute to collagen stability and folding that we do not yet understand.     

Synthesis and biological evaluation of rigid polycyclic derivatives of the Diels-Alder adduct tricyclo[6.2.1.02,7]undeca-4,9-dien-3,6-dione

Part of our research program concentrates on the discovery of new bioactive compounds prepared either by total synthesis or molecular transformation of compounds with bioactivity profiles. In this work we have focused our interest on chemical transformations of the Diels-Alder adduct tricyclo[6.2.1.0(2,7)]undeca-4,9-dien-3,6-dione in order to obtain cage-like compounds and derivatives, followed by an evaluation of their biological activity.     

Gas‐free initiators for high‐temperature free‐radical polymerization

Quaternary ammonium persulfates as free‐radical initiators for high‐temperature polymerization are synthesized and their shelf‐life stability investigated. These initiators do not have gaseous byproducts and are therefore ideal for frontal polymerization, a process in which polymeric materials are produced via a thermal front that propagates through the unreacted monomer/initiator solution. Quaternary ammonium persulfate initiators offer additional qualities such as high solubility in organic media and low volatility, which are desirable for frontal polymerization. The initiators are synthesized using two procedures, and the initiating efficacy of the respective products is compared to a peroxide initiator in the frontal polymerization of 1,6‐hexanediol diacrylate. Of all the quartenary ammonium persulfates synthesized, tricaprylmethylammonium (Aliquat) persulfate (APSO) is the best initiator for frontal polymerization because it is soluble in organic media, is very reactive, and does not produce volatile byproducts under decomposition. A study of the decomposition kinetics of APSO is performed, and frontal polymerization is proposed as a quicker analytical technique to assay the purity. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 38: 3984–3990, 2000     

Research about transmission of the mechanical vibration done by machine-tools on the group of bones shoulder-neck-head

Different researches have shown that long–term exposure to whole–body vibration can induce different injuries like back pain, injuries of the different part of the body, disturbing the physical and intellectual activities. The resulted diseases could be occasional or could be for ever. Bearing in mind that vibration is applied on the hand or feet, the health rick can be assessed if the forces transmitted in the shoulder during vibration are known. To estimate the forces a biomechanical model has been developed in which the shoulder, neck and head are represented by rigid bodies. The bodies are connected by visco–elastic joint elements. The applied forces are resulted from experimental measurements. To assess the health risk the forces must be divised in two components, an ascendant one and a descendent one. (© 2008 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

The Mechanical Stability for the Hand-Arm System

The present paper contains a study regarding importance stability in the mechanical systems, mechanical systems are emerging under mechanical vibrations action, it referring especially to the human hand–arm system. Mechanical systems stability is directly influenced of the dumper and the elasticity factors. (© 2008 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Fuzzy supervised neurocontrol of electrohydraulic servos

The work presents theoretical and experimental investigations concerning the neuro-fuzzy control of electrohydraulic servos. The control algorithm is built around a neurocontroller designed to optimize a performance index. Whenever the neurocontrol saturates or a system performance parameter decreases, the control scheme switches to a feasible and reliable fuzzy logic control. In accordance with simulation studies developed in previous works of the authors, the neuro-fuzzy controlled system proves often to be better than the corresponding classical PI or LQG systems. We emphasize that the entire control synthesis is thought as a model free approach, thus ensuring reduced design complexity and focusing on increased system robustness. (© 2006 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Ultrastructural Damages to H1N1 Influenza Virus Caused by Vapor Essential Oils

Influenza viruses are transmitted from human to human via airborne droplets and can be transferred through contaminated environmental surfaces. Some works have demonstrated the efficacy of essential oils (EOs) as antimicrobial and antiviral agents, but most of them examined the liquid phases, which are generally toxic for oral applications. In our study, we describe the antiviral activity of Citrus bergamia, Melaleuca alternifolia, Illicium verum and Eucalyptus globulus vapor EOs against influenza virus type A. In the vapor phase, C. bergamia and M. alternifolia strongly reduced viral cytopathic effect without exerting any cytotoxicity. The E. globulus vapor EO reduced viral infection by 78% with no cytotoxicity, while I. verum was not effective. Furthermore, we characterized the EOs and their vapor phase by the head-space gas chromatography–mass spectrometry technique, observing that the major component found in each liquid EO is the same one of the corresponding vapor phases, with the exception of M. alternifolia. To deepen the mechanism of action, the morphological integrity of virus particles was checked by negative staining transmission electron microscopy, showing that they interfere with the lipid bilayer of the viral envelope, leading to the decomposition of membranes. We speculated that the most abundant components of the vapor EOs might directly interfere with influenza virus envelope structures or mask viral structures important for early steps of viral infection.     

Syntheses and characterization of nickel(II) dithiocarbamate complexes containing NiS4 and NiS2PN moieties: Nickel sulphide nanoparticles from a single source precursor

In this study, ammonium N-benzyldithiocarbamate was synthesized and used to prepare homoleptic Ni(II) bis(N-benzyldithiocarbamate) (1) and heteroleptic Ni(II) complexes involving isocyanate (2) and cyanide (3) ions. The complexes were characterized by elemental analysis, Fourier transform infra-red (FTIR), and NMR (¹H and ¹³C) spectroscopic techniques. Complex 2 was further characterized by single crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. The FTIR showed bidentate co-ordination for all the complexes as the v(CN) stretching frequency were in the 980–1050 cm^?1 region without any splitting. Thermal decomposition profile of the complexes showed decomposition resulting in the formation of nickel sulphides. The homoleptic complex 1 was utilized as single source precursor (SSP) to prepare Nickel sulphide nanoparticles. The synthesis of the nanoparticles was conducted using different capping molecules (with various alkyl chain lengths), and at different reaction temperature and time. Pure phase Heazlewoodite (Ni₃S₂) nanoparticles were obtained from the X-ray diffraction study. The TEM analysis showed that the type of capping agent, reaction temperature, and time of reaction have significant effect on the morphology and size of the nanoparticles. The optical properties of the nanoparticles were studied using absorption and fluorescence spectroscopies, and they displayed evidence of quantum confinement effect.     

Early transition-metal perfluoroalkyl complexes

Elusive early transition-metal perfluoroalkyl complexes have been isolated and structurally characterized for the first time. Trifluoromethyltrimethylsilane, CF3SiMe3, serves as an excellent trifluoromethyl group-transfer reagent and reacts with the known Ti(IV) fluoride complex Cp2TiF2 to yield the novel Ti(IV) trifluoromethyl fluoride compound, Cp2Ti(CF3)(F) (1). Reaction of complex 1 with trimethylsilyltriflate (Me3SiOTf) affords the Ti(IV) trifluoromethyl triflate complex Cp2Ti(CF3)(OTf) (2). Both titanium perfluoroalkyl compounds have been characterized spectroscopically and by single-crystal X-ray analysis. The Ti-CF3 linkage in these complexes is remarkably robust and shows no evidence of an alpha-fluoride interaction (Ti...F-CF2) between the electrophilic Ti(IV) metal center and any of the C-F bonds in the trifluoromethyl group in the solid state or in solution.     

1H and 13C NMR spectral data of bioactive cage‐like polycyclic compounds

Bioactive cage‐like polycyclic compounds have attracted the attention of several research groups because of their unique appearance and their biological activities. Their structures were established on the basis of ¹H NMR and ¹³C NMR spectroscopic data. The ¹H and ¹³C signal assignments and most homonuclear hydrogen coupling constants were assigned by use of techniques such as 1D ¹H and ¹³C NMR and 2D gCOSY, non‐edited gHSQC and gHMBC. The gNOESY experiments proved the endo‐stereochemistry. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.