Existence and physical uniqueness of the restricted evolution problem of the Einstein relativistic mechanics

The existence and physical uniqueness is proved for the restricted evolution problem in general relativity. Precisely, the Einstein equations for the gravitational field are analyzed in harmonic and generic adapted coordinates in order to prove the existence and uniqueness of solution in both systems of coordinates.     

Biodegradation of tobacco waste by composting: Genetic identification of nicotine-degrading bacteria and kinetic analysis of transformations in leachate

The tobacco industry produces large quantities of solid and liquid waste. This waste poses a significant environmental problem, as some major components are harmful and toxic. The aim of this work is to isolate and identify the nicotine-degrading microorganisms in the composting of tobacco waste. The bioremediation process for the detoxification of waste was carried out in a column reactor at an airflow-rate of 0.4 L min^?1 kg^?1. The concentrations of nicotine and number of CFU in the samples taken from reactor were monitored over nineteen days. After nineteen days, 89.8 % of nicotine conversion was obtained. A nicotine-degrading bacterium, strain FN, was isolated from the composting mass and identified as Pseudomonas aeruginosa on the basis of morphology, 16S rDNA sequence, and the phylogenetic characteristics. To confirm that the isolated Pseudomonas aeruginosa FN is the actual nicotine degrader, batch experiments were performed using tobacco leachate. It was confirmed that the strain FN possesses a considerable capacity to degrade nicotine with simultaneous COD removal. The Monod kinetic model for single substrate was applied to obtain the substrate degradation rate and half saturation constant.     

Structure and in vitro antifungal activity of [2,6‐bis(dimethylaminomethyl)phenyl]diphenyltin(IV) compounds

A set of seven [2,6‐bis(dimethylaminomethyl)phenyl]diphenyltin(IV) ({[(CH₃)₂NCH₂]₂(C₆H₃)}­(C₆H₅)₂Sn⁺X^?) ionic organotin(IV) compounds (X = Br, NO₃, CN, SCN, SeCN, BF₄ and PF₆) has been prepared and characterized by electrospray ionization mass spectrometry, ¹H NMR spectroscopy in CDCl₃,¹¹⁹Sn NMR in CDCl₃ and DMSO‐d₆ solution, as well as by ¹³C and ¹¹⁹Sn CP/MAS NMR spectroscopy and X‐ray diffraction techniques in the solid state. The in vitro antifungal activity of these water‐soluble ionic organotin(IV) compounds was compared with starting compounds and the antifungal drugs currently in clinical use. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Ultrasonic extraction of oil from tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L.) seeds

The ultrasonic extraction (UE) of oil from the seeds of a semi-oriental tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L.) plant strain by using n-hexane and petroleum ether was studied at different temperatures and seeds-to-solvent ratios. The oil yield depended on the seed comminution, the extraction temperature, the seeds-to-solvent ratio and the type of solvent. The oil yield was much higher if the seeds were ground before extraction. The oil yield increased with increasing the extraction temperature and with decreasing the seeds-to-solvent ratio. n-Hexane was somewhat more efficient in the oil extraction than petroleum ether. In recovering the tobacco seed oil (TSO), the UE was less efficient than the Soxhlet extraction. The advantage of the UE was a relatively high oil yield at 25 degrees C in a shorter time. The kinetics of UE of TSO was described using the model of unsteady diffusion through plant material.     

Photoswitching the Cytotoxic Properties of Platinum(II) Compounds

The photoactivation of potential anticancer metal complexes is a hot topic of current research as it may lead to the development of more selective drugs. Photoactivated chemotherapy (PACT) with coordination compounds is usually based on a (photo)chemical reaction taking place at the metal center. Herein, a new strategy is exploited that consists of “photomodifying” a ligand coordinated to metal ions. Platinum(II) complexes from photoswitchable 1,2‐dithienylethene‐containing ligands have been prepared, which exhibit two interconvertible photoisomeric forms that present distinct DNA‐interacting properties and cytotoxic behaviors.     

Palladium(II)‐Catalyzed meta‐CH Olefination: Constructing Multisubstituted Arenes through Homo‐Diolefination and Sequential Hetero‐Diolefination

Divinylbenzene derivatives represent an important class of molecular building blocks in organic chemistry and materials science. Reported herein is the palladium‐catalyzed synthesis of divinylbenzenes by meta‐C? H olefination of sulfone‐based arenes. Successful sequential olefinations in a position‐selective manner provided a novel route for the synthesis of hetero‐dialkenylated products, which are difficult to access using conventional methods. Additionally, 1,3,5‐trialkenylated compounds can be generated upon successful removal of the directing group.     

Separation and characterization of oxidized isomeric lipid–peptide adducts by ion mobility mass spectrometry

Phospholipids are major components of cell membranes and lipoprotein complexes. They are prone to oxidation by endogenous and exogenous reactive oxygen species yielding a large variety of modified lipids including small aliphatic and phospholipid bound aldehydes and ketones. These carbonyls are strong electrophiles that can modify proteins and, thereby, alter their structures and functions triggering various pathophysiological conditions. The analysis of lipid–protein adducts by liquid chromatography‐MS is challenged by their mixed chemical nature (polar peptide and hydrophobic lipid), low abundance in biological samples, and formation of multiple isomers. Thus, we investigated traveling wave ion mobility mass spectrometry (TWIMS) to analyze lipid–peptide adducts generated by incubating model peptides corresponding to the amphipathic β₁ sheet sequence of apolipoprotein B‐100 with 1‐palmitoyl‐2‐(oxo‐nonanoyl)‐sn‐glycerophosphatidylcholine (PONPC). The complex mixture of peptides, lipids, and peptide–lipid adducts was separated by TWIMS, which was especially important for the identification of two mono‐PONPC‐peptide isomers containing Schiff bases at different lysine residues. Moreover, TWIMS separated structural conformers of one peptide–lipid adduct possessing most likely different orientations of the hydrophobic sn‐1 fatty acyl residue and head group of PONPC, relative to the peptide backbone. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.