The mean spherical model in a random external field and the replica method

We provide a quick elementary solution of the mean spherical model in a random external field. This also allows an immediate proof of the self-averaging property of the free energy. We calculate the free energy by means of the replica method, i.e., for any (not necessarily integer) replica numbern, and show that when a phase transition occurs the limits andn 0 are not interchangeable.     

Assessing the non-specific hydroxyl radical scavenging properties of melanoidins in a Fenton-type reaction system

Soluble high molecular weight fraction (>10 kDa, named melanoidins) was isolated from Maillard reaction model systems, coffee, beer and sweet wine by ultrafiltration. Deoxyribose method was adjusted for measuring the hydroxyl radical scavenging properties of melanoidins. The presence of competitive melanoidins with deoxyribose for OH decrease the rate of deoxyribose degradation. Possible interferences to the deoxyribose method have been evaluated. Most of isolated melanoidins exhibited a variable and measurable non-site-specific hydroxyl scavenging activity in a Fenton-type reaction system. The iron reducing properties of melanoidins at the reaction conditions were evaluated with ferrozine. It has established a kinetic approach to assess the second rate constants of hydroxyl radical scavenging reactions of melanoidins. This approach may be a valuable tool for addressing the structure-activity relationships of melanoidins in a future. There is no correlation between browning (absorbance at 420 nm) and efficiency for scavenging hydroxyl radicals in solution.     

Polarographic determination of glycine with a dropping copper amalgam electrode

The anodic oxidation of a dropping copper amalgam electrode in presence of dilute solutions of glycine in 0.50 M NaClO₄ has been studied. An anodic wave at ?0.28V (SCE) is observed, yielded by diffusion of glycinate anion in the solution towards the electrode surface. The wave-heights increase with the glycinate concentration (function of glycine concentration and pH value) until the anodic oxidation is controlled by the metal diffusion into mercury. The effect of pH is interpreted by attributing it to the depolarizer effects at glycinate anion even though the zwitterion is present in much larger concentrations. The applicability of anodic oxidation of a dropping copper amalgam electrode in the determination of glycine in the range of concentrations 10^?4–10^?2M with a rigorous control of pH (8.0<pH<10.5) is shown. The standard deviation of the proposed method is 4.1% and the minimum concentration determinable is in the 1×10^?4M range.     

Global optimization of ionic Mg(n)F(2n) (n=1-30) clusters

The global optimization basin-hopping (BH) method has been used to locate the global minima (GM) of Mg(n)F(2n) (n=1-30) clusters using a Born-Mayer-type potential. Some of the GM were particularly difficult to find, requiring more than 1.5 x 10(4) BH steps. We have found that both the binding energy per MgF2 unit and the effective volume of the GM isomers increase almost linearly with n, and that cluster symmetry decreases with cluster size. The data derived from the BH runs reveal a growing density of local minima just above the GM as n increases. Despite this, the attraction basin around each GM is relatively large, since after all their atomic coordinates are randomly displaced by values as high as 2.0 bohrs, the perturbed structures, upon reoptimization, relax back to the GM in more than 50% of the cases (except for n=10 and 11). The relative stabilities derived from energy second differences suggest that n=8,10,13,15, and 20 are probably the magic numbers for these systems. Mass spectrum experiments would be very useful to clarify this issue.     

Studies on polymers and composites from lignin and fiber derived from sugar cane

Sugarcane fiber (i.e. bagasse) lignin has a larger fraction of aromatics unsubstitution in the ortho position than hardwood or softwood lignin and hence has the greater ability to be derivatized. Furthermore, organosolv lignin has a higher purity than sulfonated and kraft lignins. This work examines the purification of organosolv lignin derived from bagasse and the physico‐chemical properties of the lignin and lignin‐phenol formaldehyde (PF) resin coatings, and composites. The wetability tests have shown that lignin and lignin‐PF resin films are effective water barrier coatings, though the contact angles of lignin‐PF resin films were considerably less than the wax films. The overall mechanical properties (i.e. peak stress, peak strain and modulus) of the bagasse fiber composites were lower than the values obtained with the composites without the inclusion of bagasse fiber. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Michael additions of benzoins versus Michael-Stetter additions of aldehydes

Triethylamine catalyzed Michael additions of benzoins to chalcone can prevail over the expected Michael-Stetter additions when certain thiazolium ion conjugate bases - prepared $\text{in situ}$ from the pertinent thiazolium salts and triethylamine- are used as catalysts.     

Role of radiolytically formed protonating agents in gas phase competitive reactions

Radiolytically formed O₂H⁺, N₂H⁺, and CO₂H⁺ ions were allowed to react with gaseous p-cymene. Dealkylation and isomerization reactions were observed with O₂H⁺ and N₂H⁺ ions, while only the first process occurred when CO₂H⁺ ions were employed. The results show that dealkylation is favored with respect to isomerization as the protonation exothermicity decreases.     

Analysis of conformational equilibria in aplidine using selective excitation 2D NMR spectroscopy and molecular mechanics/dynamics calculations

Aplidine (dehydrodidemnin B), a natural product with potent antitumor activity currently in multicenter phase II clinical trials, exists in DMSO as a mixture of four slowly interconverting conformations in a ratio of 47:33:13:7. NMR spectroscopy shows that these arise as a consequence of cis/trans isomerization about the NMe-Leu(7)-Pro(8) and Pro(8)-Pyr amide bonds of the molecule's side chain. Two major conformations account for 47% and 33% of the total population, a ratio of 60:40 between the two. They correspond to the cis- and trans-isomers, respectively, about the Pro(8)-Pyr amide bond. Two minor conformers arise as a consequence of similar isomerism about the Pro(8)-Pyr amide bond, but in structures in which the NMe-Leu(7)-Pro(8) amide bond is cis rather than trans. These account for approximately 13% and 7% of the total population, corresponding to a ratio of 65:35 cis/trans, respectively. Molecular dynamics simulations show that the three-dimensional structures of all four conformational isomers are similar in the macrocycle and that all are essentially unchanged with respect to the macrocycle of didemnin B. Significant differences in the conformation of the molecule's side chain are, however, observed between major and minor pairs. Analysis of hydrogen-bonding patterns shows that each major conformer exhibits a beta-turn like structure and is stabilized by hydrogen bonding between a different carbonyl group of the pyruvyl unit of the molecule's side chain and the NH of the Thr(6) residue. The minor isomers have a cis-amide bond between the NMe-Leu(7) and Pro(8) residues that obliges the side chain to adopt an extended disposition where hydrogen bonding to the macrocycle is absent. These results suggest that the ability of the molecule's side chain to adopt a beta-turn-like conformation may not be a prerequisite for biological activity in the didemnins and that conformations having an extended side-chain may play a role in the biological activity of aplidine.     

Insecticidal Activity of Organic Extracts of Solidago graminifolia and Its Main Metabolites (Quercetin and Chlorogenic Acid) against Spodoptera frugiperda: An In Vitro and In Silico Approach

Spodoptera frugiperda (S. frugiperda) remains a global primary pest of maize. Therefore, new options to combat this pest are necessary. In this study, the insecticidal activity of three crude foliar extracts (ethanol, dichloromethane, and hexane) and their main secondary metabolites (quercetin and chlorogenic acid) of the species Solidago graminifolia (S. graminifolia) by ingestion bioassays against S. frugiperda larvae was analyzed. Additionally, the extracts were phytochemically elucidated by ultra-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS) analysis. Finally, an in silico study of the potential interaction of quercetin on S. frugiperda acetylcholinesterase was performed. Organic extracts were obtained in the range from 5 to 33%. The ethanolic extract caused higher mortality (81%) with a half-maximal lethal concentration (LC₅₀) of 0.496 mg/mL. Flavonoid secondary metabolites such as hyperoside, quercetin, isoquercetin, kaempferol, and avicularin and some phenolic acids such as chlorogenic acid, solidagoic acid, gallic acid, hexoside, and rosmarinic acid were identified. In particular, quercetin had an LC₅₀ of 0.157 mg/mL, and chlorogenic acid did not have insecticidal activity but showed an antagonistic effect on quercetin. The molecular docking analysis of quercetin on the active site of S. frugiperda acetylcholinesterase showed a −5.4 kcal/mol binding energy value, lower than acetylcholine and chlorpyrifos (−4.45 and −4.46 kcal/mol, respectively). Additionally, the interactions profile showed that quercetin had π–π interactions with amino acids W198, Y235, and H553 on the active site.