Correction to: Plasma processed carbon thin films applied to dye-sensitized solar cells

Journal of Solid State Electrochemistry - The authors regret an error in the Experimental section of the published article:     

Determination of trace elements in human brain tissues using neutron activation analysis

Neutron activation analysis was applied to assess trace element concentrations in brain tissues from normal (n = 21) and demented individuals (n = 21) of both genders aged more than 50 years. Concentrations of the elements Br, Fe, K, Na, Rb, Se and Zn were determined. Comparisons were made between the results obtained for the hippocampus and frontal cortex tissues, as well as, those obtained in brains of normal and demented individuals. Certified reference materials, NIST 1566b Oyster Tissue and NIST 1577b Bovine Liver were analyzed for quality of the analytical results.     

Nanoscale conformational ordering in polyanilines investigated by SAXS and AFM

Understanding the adsorption mechanisms in nanostructured polymer films has become crucial for their use in technological applications, since film properties vary considerably with the experimental conditions utilized for film fabrication. In this paper, we employ small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) to investigate solutions of polyanilines and correlate the chain conformations with morphological features of the nanostructured films obtained with atomic force microscopy (AFM). It is shown that aggregates formed already in solution affect the film morphology; in particular, at early stages of adsorption film morphology appears entirely governed by the chain conformation in solution and adsorption of aggregates. We also use SAXS data for modeling poly(o-ethoxyaniline) (POEA) particle shape through an ab initio procedure based on simulated annealing using the dummy atom model (DAM), which is then compared to the morphological features of POEA films fabricated with distinct pHs and doping acids. Interestingly, when the derivative POEA is doped with p-toluene sulfonic acid (TSA), the resulting films exhibit a fibrillar morphology-seen with atomic force microscopy and transmission electron microscopy-that is consistent with the cylindrical shape inferred from the SAXS data. This is in contrast with the globular morphology observed for POEA films doped with other acids.     

Catechins: Therapeutic Perspectives in COVID-19-Associated Acute Kidney Injury

Data obtained from several intensive care units around the world have provided substantial evidence of the strong association between impairment of the renal function and in-hospital deaths of critically ill COVID-19 patients, especially those with comorbidities and requiring renal replacement therapy (RRT). Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a common renal disorder of various etiologies characterized by a sudden and sustained decrease of renal function. Studies have shown that 5–46% of COVID-19 patients develop AKI during hospital stay, and the mortality of those patients may reach up to 100% depending on various factors, such as organ failures and RRT requirement. Catechins are natural products that have multiple pharmacological activities, including anti-coronavirus and reno-protective activities against kidney injury induced by nephrotoxic agents, obstructive nephropathies and AKI accompanying metabolic and cardiovascular disorders. Therefore, in this review, we discuss the anti-SARS-CoV-2 and reno-protective effects of catechins from a mechanistic perspective. We believe that catechins may serve as promising therapeutics in COVID-19-associated AKI due to their well-recognized anti-SARS-CoV-2, and antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties that mediate their reno-protective activities.     

Synthesis of Catechol Derived Rosamine Dyes and Their Reactivity toward Biogenic Amines

Functional organic dyes play a key role in many fields, namely in biotechnology and medical diagnosis. Herein, we report two novel 2,3- and 3,4-dihydroxyphenyl substituted rosamines (3 and 4, respectively) that were successfully synthesized through a microwave-assisted protocol. The best reaction yields were obtained for rosamine 4, which also showed the most interesting photophysical properties, specially toward biogenic amines (BAs). Several amines including n- and t-butylamine, cadaverine, and putrescine cause spectral changes of 4, in UV–Vis and fluorescence spectra, which are indicative of their potential application as an effective tool to detect amines in acetonitrile solutions. In the gas phase, the probe response is more expressive for spermine and putrescine. Additionally, we found that methanolic solutions of rosamine 4 and n-butylamine undergo a pink to yellow color change over time, which has been attributed to the formation of a new compound. The latter was isolated and identified as 5 (9−aminopyronin), whose solutions exhibit a remarkable increase in fluorescence intensity together with a shift toward more energetic wavelengths. Other 9-aminopyronins 6a, 6b, 7a, and 7b were obtained from methanolic solutions of 4 with putrescine and cadaverine, demonstrating the potential of this new xanthene entity to react with primary amines.     

Michael additions of primary and secondary amines to acrylonitrile catalyzed by lipases

The present Letter details our findings on the lipase-catalyzed Michael reactions between primary or secondary amines and acrylonitrile. Several lipases were evaluated, and good results were obtained leading to the formation of Michael adducts in shorter reaction times than the uncatalyzed reactions.     

Effect of TiO<Subscript>2</Subscript> surface modification in Rhodamine B photodegradation

Commercial TiO₂ nanoparticles were superficially modified through polymeric resins obtained from polymerization of citrate complexes of Y³⁺ and Al³⁺ with ethylenglycol. The materials were treated at 450 °C for 4 h to obtain modified nanoparticles, which were characterized by HR-TEM, Zeta potential and surface area through N₂ fisisorption. Rhodamine B photodegradation by visible light irradiation and in presence of those modified nanoparticles was compared with the same process in presence of unmodified commercial TiO₂ nanoparticles. It was observed, by UV–visible spectroscopy, that the catalytic photoactivity in presence of modified nanoparticles was smaller than that observed with commercial TiO₂ nanoparticles. However, the surface modifier played an important role in the photodegradation kinetic process, showing a non-linear relation between modifier amount and photodegradation rate, presenting a maximum value at 0.8% (w/w).     

Spectroscopic and potentiometric characterization of oxovanadium(IV) complexes formed by 3-hydroxy-4-pyridinones. Rationalization of the influence of basicity and electronic structure of the ligand on the properties of V(IV)O species in aqueous solution

Aqueous solution studies regarding the identification and characterization of complexes formed by the VIVO ion and 11 3-hydroxy-4-pyridinone derivatives have been performed using EPR and UV/vis spectroscopic techniques. For the three ligands (HL) adequately soluble in water (1-methyl-3-hydroxy-4-pyridinone, 1-methyl-2-ethyl-3-hydroxy-4-pyridinone, and 1,2-diethyl-3-hydroxy-4-pyridinone), potentiometric titrations were performed; the results are consistent with the formation of [V(IV)OL]+, [V(IV)OL2], [V(IV)OL2H(-1)]-, [(V(IV)O)2L2H(-2)], and [V(IV)L3]+ species. Bis chelated complexes are characterized by a cis-trans isomerism, the trans isomer being strongly favored with respect to the cis arrangement. Tris chelated non-oxo V(IV) species were prepared in CH3COOH; their spectroscopic features point to a d(z2) ground state and a geometry intermediate between an octahedron and a trigonal prism, related to the steric requirements of the substituent on the carbon atom in position 2 of the pyridinone ring. Four new solid derivatives, [V(IV)O(1,2-diethyl-3-hydroxy-4-pyridinonato)2], [V(IV)O(1-(p-tolyl)-2-ethyl-3-hydroxy-4-pyridinonato)2], [V(IV)O(1-(p-(n-butyl)phenyl)-2-ethyl-3-hydroxy-4-pyridinonato)2], and [V(IV)O(1-(p-(n-hexyl)phenyl)-2-ethyl-3-hydroxy-4-pyridinonato)2], were isolated and characterized; they exhibited a five-coordinate geometry close to square-pyramid. A criterion for establishing the degree of distortion toward the trigonal-bipyramid on the basis of the electronic absorption spectra is provided. Relationships between the pKa of the -OH group in position 3 of the ring and (i) log K of mono and bis chelated complexes, (ii) pK of the water molecule in cis-[V(IV)OL2(H2O)], (iii) log K of tris chelated species [V(IV)L3]+, and (iv) 51V hyperfine coupling constant (Az) have been established and discussed for a number of pyrone, pyridinone, and catechol ligands. The results are rationalized by assuming for pyridinones an electronic structure intermediate between that of pyrones and catechols. The relationships are valuable to the understanding of the behavior of VIVO species in aqueous solution.