Distribution of amines in water/AOT/n-hexane reverse micelles: influence of the amine chemical structure

The distribution of different aliphatic and aromatic amines: n-butylamine (n-BA), isobutylamine (i-BA), tert-butylamine (t-BA), piperidine (PIP), N,N-dimethylaniline (DMA) and N-methylaniline (MA) in water/sodium 1,4-bis(2-ethylhexyl)sulfosuccinate(AOT)/n-hexane reverse micelles was investigated by steady-state fluorescence measurements. The partition constants were measured by an indirect method based on the effect that amine partitioning exert on the bimolecular rate of the reaction between a microphase incorporated fluorophore (Ru(bpy)2+(3)) and the quencher, (Fe(CN)3-(6)). For MA, that can act as a quencher of the fluorophore a direct method was used. The results show that primary amines have larger partition constants than the secondary ones. For tertiary amines the distribution constants were practically negligible. Laser flash photolysis experiments confirmed that tertiary amines, both aliphatic and aromatic, are not incorporated to the micellar pseudophase. The effect of the amine structure on the partition constant was analyzed through linear solvation free energy relationships (LSER) using solute parameters and compared with those obtained for alcohols. Hydrogen bond interactions with the AOT polar heads appear to be the main driving force for the distribution of amines between the organic and micellar pseudophases, whereas the size of the alkyl or aromatic group tends to hinder it.     

Limit cycles and update digraphs in Boolean networks

Boolean networks have been used as models of gene regulation and other biological networks, as well as for other kinds of distributed dynamical systems. One key element in these models is the update schedule, which indicates the order in which states have to be updated. In Salinas (2008) [22] and Aracena et al. (2009) [1], equivalence classes of deterministic update schedules according to the labeled digraph associated to a Boolean network (update digraph) were defined and it was proved that two schedules in the same class yield the same dynamical behavior. In this paper, we study the relations between the update digraphs and the preservation of limit cycles of Boolean networks iterated under non-equivalent update schedules. We show that the related problems lie in the class of NP-hard problems and we prove that the information provided by the update digraphs is not sufficient to determine whether two Boolean networks share limit cycles or not. Besides, we exhibit a polynomial algorithm that works as a necessary condition for two Boolean networks to share limit cycles. Finally, we construct some update schedule classes whose elements share a given limit cycle under certain conditions on the frozen nodes of it.     

Abiotic Hydrolysis of Poly[(R)-3-hydroxybutyrate] in Acidic and Alkaline Media

Poly[(R)-3-hydroxybutyrate)], P(3HB), is the most common member of polyhydroxyalkanoates, the natural biopolyesters of intrinsic biodegradability and biocompatibility. Abiotic hydrolysis of P(3HB) was investigated in acid and base media by monitoring the formation of two monomer products, 3-hydroxybutyric acid (3HB) and crotonic acid (CA), from three types of P(3HB) samples, amorphous granules, irregular precipitates and solvent cast films. The soluble monomeric products were not detected in acid solutions (0.1 to 4 N H⁺), but measured as the major hydrolytic products in base solutions (0.1 to 4 N OH⁻). Unlike the protons as catalyst in both hydrolysis and esterification, hydroxyl anions were consumed during formation of carboxylate anions. The amorphous granules of P(3HB) were decomposed 80- to 100-fold faster than the precipitates and solvent cast films. The latter two had around 71% crystallinity. The hydrolysis of amorphous grannules exhibited a quasi 0^th-order reaction rate and the activation energy of saponification was 82.2 kJ/mol, silimar to those of the biotic hydrolysis of P(3HB) by enzymes and living cells.     

200GeV/u的~(238)U+~(238)U核碰撞产生的双轻子谱(M≤4GeV/c~2)的计算

在夸克味动力学的计算中,除包含ｕ、ｄ、ｓ夸克及其反夸克外,还涉及粲夸克及其反夸克（ｃｃ）,采用包含夸克味动力学效应的相对论性流体力学模型,计算了碰撞能量为２００ＧｅＶ／ｕ的２３８Ｕ＋２３８Ｕ核碰撞时形成的膨胀ＱＧＰ及其在相变过程中发射的双轻子谱,轻子对的质量范围Ｍ≤４ＧｅＶ／ｃ２．计算结果与ＣＥＲＮＳＰＳ的实验测量数据进行了定性的比较和分析,得到初步的结论：由于夸克碎块和味动力学效应,Ｊ／ψ→μ＋＋μ－峰值被降低,导致低质量区（阈至１．３５ＧｅＶ／ｃ２）谱的提高．     

Propanediol (and) Caprylic Acid (and) Xylitol as a New Single Topical Active Ingredient against Acne: In Vitro and In Vivo Efficacy Assays

In addition to dermatological complications, acne can affect the quality of life of individuals in numerous ways, such as employment, social habits and body dissatisfaction. According to our expertise, caprylic acid and propanediol would not have a direct action on Cutibacterium acnes. Despite this, we investigated the existence of a synergistic effect among xylitol, caprylic acid and propanediol as a mixture of compounds representing a single topical active ingredient that could benefit the treatment against acne. In vitro and in vivo assays were performed to challenge and to prove the efficacy of propanediol, xylitol and caprylic acid (PXCA) against acne. PXCA had its MIC challenged against C. acnes (formerly Propionibacterium acnes) and Staphylococcus aureus, resulting in concentrations of 0.125% and 0.25%, respectively, and it also developed antimicrobial activity against C. acnes (time-kill test). PXCA was able to reduce the 5-alpha reductase expression in 24% (p < 0.01) in comparison with the testosterone group. By the end of 28 days of treatment, the compound reduced the skin oiliness, porphyrin amount and the quantity of inflammatory lesions in participants. According to the dermatologist evaluation, PXCA improved the skin’s general appearance, acne presence and size.     

Quantification of Caffeine and Chlorogenic Acid in Green and Roasted Coffee Samples Using HPLC-DAD and Evaluation of the Effect of Degree of Roasting on Their Levels

Chlorogenic acid and caffeine are among the important components in coffee beans, determining the taste and aroma. In addition, phenols and antioxidants content possess vital health values. The main aim of this study is to determine the levels of caffeine and chlorogenic acid in several coffee samples of different origins and degrees of roasting. The coffee samples were extracted using hot water. The levels of caffeine and chlorogenic acid were quantified using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) equipped with a diode array detector, a reverse phase system, and an ODS column (C18). Total phenol and antioxidant contents were previously determined for the same samples. The results showed that the highest content of caffeine was found in the medium roasted coffee (203.63 mg/L), and the highest content of chlorogenic acid content was found in the green coffee (543.23 mg/L). The results demonstrated a negative correlation between the chlorogenic acid levels with the degree of roasting, while it showed a positive correlation between the caffeine levels with the degree of roasting till a certain point where the levels dropped in the dark roasted coffee. The origin of coffee samples did not show any effect on any of the measured variables. Antioxidant effects of coffee samples were largely determined by chlorogenic acid content.     

In situ measurement of localization error in particle tracking microrheology

A method is presented to estimate the static error ?? in a multiple particle tracking microrheology experiment. This in situ estimate of ?? is measured under the same conditions of the material under test, and without any additional experiments. The correction of the mean-squared displacement by the in situ method is potentially more reliable than methods that rely on characterizing ?? in a separate gel sample. With the true mean-squared displacements accessible at short lag times, experimental artifacts introduced by static error can be distinguished from true rheological properties, even in highly viscous (>10,000 mPa?s) samples.     

7,8‐Dihydr­oxy‐4‐propyl‐1,2,3,4,4a,5,6,10b‐octa­hydro­benzo[f]quinolinium bromide monohydrate,a dopamine agonist

In the crystal structure of the title dopamine­rgic compound, C₁₆H₂₄NO₂⁺·Br⁻·H₂O, protonation occurs at the piperidine N atom. The piperidine ring adopts a chair conformation and the cyclo­hexene ring adopts a half‐chair conformation; together with the planar benzene ring, this results in a relatively planar shape for the whole mol­ecule. Classical hydrogen bonds (N—H⋯Br, O—H⋯Br and O—H⋯O) produce an infinite three‐dimensional network. Hydrogen bonds between water ­mol­ecules and Br⁻ anions create centrosymmetric rings throughout the crystal structure. Structural comparison of the mol­ecule with the ergoline dopamine agonist pergolide shows that it is the hydrogen‐bond‐forming hydr­oxy or imino group that is necessary for dopamine­rgic activity, rather than the presence of a phenyl or a pyrrole ring per se.