Application of the constant stoichiometry grouping concept to the Raman spectra of Pb(PO3)2-TeO2 glasses

Pb(PO₃)₂-TeO₂ glasses in the whole range of glass composition were first obtained and their properties (refractive index, density, T_g and light scattering losses) were determined. Based on the vibrational spectroscopy data a new approach was applied to investigate the interactions of initial oxides in melts resulted in so-called constant stoichiometry groupings (CSGs) formation symbolizing intermediate range order in glasses. Vibrational spectra of glasses are interpreted as a superposition of unchangeable spectral forms (principal spectral components (PSCs)) belonging to CSGs: PbO · P₂O₅, TeO₂ · 2PbO · 2P₂O₅, TeO₂ · PbO · P₂O₅, TeO₂, and possibly 2TeO₂ · PbO · P₂O₅ and 6TeO₂ · PbO · P₂O₅. In this work Multivariate Data Analysis has been applied as the independent mathematical tool to decompose Raman spectra of glasses and reveal the number of PSCs. It is shown that application of factor analysis results in the same five PSCs that confirms our data obtained from the CSG concept. This concept allows also the prediction of the existence of unknown compounds, and correspondingly some crystals (TeO₂⋅ 2PbO⋅2P₂O₅ and others) were revealed by XRPD of the crystallized glasses. The CSG concept opens the way for elaboration of low scattering glasses as candidates for Raman amplifiers. It is shown that Pb(PO₃)₂-TeO₂ glasses with small content of TeO₂ are of interest to photonic technology.     

Structure and properties of the surface alloy formed by irradiating a film/substrate system with a high-intensity electron beam

A film/substrate system has been treated with a submillisecond high-intensity electron beam. Examinations have shown that the electron-beam treatment of the film/substrate system resulted in alloying of the surface layer of the material throughout the melt which was accompanied by the formation of nanodimensional phases.     

Synthesis of nitrogen-containing metal dithiophosphates

Problems associated with synthesis of metal complexes and salts of dithiophosphates containing phosphorus, sulfur, and nitrogen heteroatoms and a sterically hindered hydroxy group in their molecule are considered.     

Electrochemical methods of analysis of inorganic substances. Publications for 1990–1999

The data of the scientometric study of publications in inorganic electrochemical analysis for 1990– 1999 were presented. Most of the published papers (from 60 to 80%) deal with voltammetry and potentiometry. Since 1997, the number of papers on voltammetry has been higher or equal to the number of papers on potentiometry, which is due to the successive development of modified electrodes, the use of ultramicroelectrodes, and the development of stripping voltammetry, including adsorption voltammetry. The role of electrochemical analysis in the development and production of sensors was discussed. The most advantageous methods are potentiometry and conductometry; the role of amperometry is also significant. It was underlined that, although the number of papers on coulometry is low, this method is the most precise absolute method of analytical chemistry. The contribution of conferences on analytical chemistry to the publications on electrochemical methods and the elements leading in the number of publications are considered. Presented at the V All-Russian Conference with the Participation of CIS Countries on Electrochemical Methods of Analysis (EMA-99), Moscow, December 6–8,1999.     

Hamiltonian Formalism for Bose Excitations in a Plasma with a Non-Abelian Interaction

Journal of Experimental and Theoretical Physics - We have developed the Hamiltonian theory for collective longitudinally polarized colorless excitations (plasmons) in a high-temperature gluon...     

A Cyclometalated IrIII Complex Conjugated to a Coumarin Derivative Is a Potent Photodynamic Agent against Prostate Differentiated and Tumorigenic Cancer Stem Cells

A cyclometalated Ir^III complex conjugated to a far-red-emitting coumarin, Ir^III-COUPY ( 3 ), was recently shown as a very promising photosensitizer suitable for photodynamic therapy of cancer. Therefore, the primary goal of this work was to deepen knowledge on the mechanism of its photoactivated antitumor action so that this information could be used to propose a new class of compounds as drug candidates for curing very hardly treatable human tumors, such as androgen resistant prostatic tumors of metastatic origin. Conventional anticancer chemotherapies exhibit several disadvantages, such as limited efficiency to target cancer stem cells (CSCs), which are considered the main reason for chemotherapy resistance, relapse, and metastasis. Herein, we show, using DU145 tumor cells, taken as the model of hormone-refractory and aggressive prostate cancer cells resistant to conventional antineoplastic drugs, that the photoactivated conjugate 3 very efficiently eliminates both prostate bulk (differentiated) and prostate hardly treatable CSCs simultaneously and with a similar efficiency. Notably, the very low toxicity of Ir^III-COUPY conjugate in the prostate DU145 cells in the dark and its pronounced selectivity for tumor cells compared with noncancerous cells could result in low side effects and reduced damage of healthy cells during the photoactivated therapy by this agent. Moreover, the experiments performed with the 3D spheroids formed from DU145 CSCs showed that conjugate 3 can penetrate the inner layers of tumor spheres, which might markedly increase its therapeutic effect. Also interestingly, this conjugate induces apoptotic cell death in prostate cancer DU145 cells associated with calcium signaling flux in these cells and autophagy. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study demonstrating that a photoactivatable metal-based compound is an efficient agent capable of killing even hardly treatable CSCs.     

Geometric applications of posets

We show the power of posets in computational geometry by solving several problems posed on a set S of n points in the plane: (1) find the n − k − 1 rectilinear farthest neighbors (or, equivalently, k nearest neighbors) to every point of S (extendable to higher dimensions), (2) enumerate the k largest (smallest) rectilinear distances in decreasing (increasing) order among the points of S, (3) given a distance δ > 0, report all the pairs of points that belong to S and are of rectilinear distance δ or more (less), covering k ≥ n/2 points of S by rectilinear (4) and circular (5) concentric rings, and (6) given a number k ≥ n/2 decide whether a query rectangle contains k points or less.     

Hydrogenation of nitrobenzonitriles using Raney nickel catalyst

2-, 3-, 4-Nitrobenzonitriles were hydrogenated using Raney nickel catalyst in the environment of two different solvents (methanol and dioxane). The position of the nitro group relative to the nitrile group plays the dominant role in the course of hydrogenation. The nearer the substituent to the nitrile group is, the larger is its effect. 3- and 4-nitrobenzonitriles were hydrogenated to their primary amines, in contrast to 2-nitrobenzonitrile, which was transformedvia intramolecular oxidation to 2-aminobenzamide. During hydrogenation, numerous intermediates were formed. The choice of the solvent is another significant parameter affecting the course of hydrogenation.