Statistical Scaling of Geometric Characteristics in Millimeter Scale Natural Porous Media

We analyze statistical scaling of structural attributes of two millimeter scale rock samples, Estaillades limestone and Bentheimer sandstone. The two samples have different connected porosities and pore structures. The pore-space geometry of each sample is reconstructed via X-ray micro-tomography at micrometer resolution. Directional distributions of porosity and specific surface area (SSA), which are key Minkowski functionals (geometric observables) employed to describe the pore-space structure, are calculated from the images, and scaling of associated order- $q$ sample structure functions of absolute incremental values is analyzed. Increments of porosity and SSA tend to be statistically dependent and persistent (tendency for large and small values to alternate mildly) in space. Structure functions scale as powers $\xi (q)$ of directional separation distance or lag, $s$ , over an intermediate range of $s$ , displaying breakdown in power law scaling at large and small lags. Powers $\xi \!\!\left( q \right) $ of porosity and SSA inferred from moment and extended self-similarity (ESS) analyses of limestone and sandstone data tend to be quasi-linear and nonlinear (concave) in $q$ , respectively. We observe an anisotropic behavior for $\xi (q)$ , which appears to be mild for the porosity of the sandstone sample while it is marked for both porosity and SSA of the limestone rock sample. The documented nonlinear scaling behavior is amenable to analysis by viewing the variables as samples from sub-Gaussian random fields subordinated to truncated fractional Brownian motion or fractional Gaussian noise.     

Runaway vacuum and supersymmetry

We consider a supersymmetric variant of the vacuum alignment condition. Its consequences in theories with pseudo Goldstone bosons are discussed.     

2-Naphthol-phosphatidylethanolamine: A fluorescent phospholipid analogue for excited-state proton transfer studies in membranes

The fluorescence properties of the phospholipid derivative,N-[1-(2-naphthol)]-phosphatidylethanolamine (NAPH-PE), have been studied by steady-state and time-resolved fluorescence techniques. The new probe is a naphthol adduct of phosphatidylethanolamine. The emission spectrum of the fluorescent phospholipid depends on the pH and on the proton acceptor concentration as expected for a typical two-state excited-state proton transfer reaction. In ethanol solutions at an apparent pH of 6.7 and in the presence of acetate anion (0.14M), a biexponential decay is obtained from global analysis of the data. The lifetimes, ₁=3.9 ns and ₂=6.2 ns. are constant across the spectral region 350–460 nm. The decay-associated spectra and the species-associated spectra reproduce well the profiles reported for a two-state excited-state proton transfer reaction. The fluorescent phospholipid has been incorporated into dimyristoyllecithin and dipalmitoyllecithin vesicles. Although lower proton transfer is found, the reaction appears to be dependent on the gel-to-liquid-crystalline phase transition of the lipid membrane. In addition, the steady-state anisotropy of NAPH-PE measured as a function of temperature trace the phase transition of the two vesicle systems. Thus, it is shown that the physical state of the bilayer affects a reaction which takes place at the membrane surface. In the presence of acetate ions (0.3M), global analysis, performed in terms of fluorescence decay parameters, recovers preexponential coefficients that are consistent with an excited-state proton transfer reaction. The short lifetime drops from 3.9 to 0.44 ns without significant changes of the longer-lifetime component.     

meso-Me2Si(1-indenyl)2ZrCl2/methylalumoxane catalyzed polymerization of the ethylene to ethyl-branched polyethylene

The meso ansa zirconocene with dimethylsilyl bridge, activated by methylalumoxane, catalyses the ethylene polymerization, producing ethyl-branched polyethylene. With respect to the polymers obtained with the previously investigated meso zirconocenes, we have found higher branching amount and lower molecular weight. The rapid β-H transfer from the growing chain to the coordinated monomer could account for both these features of the polymer. The investigation on the structural parameters of the complex, through X-ray diffraction analysis, and on the electrophilicity of the cationic center, through NMR experiments, suggests, as a possible rationalization of this behavior, the obstruction in the inward site.     

One step synthesis of pyrimido[1,2-a][1,8]naphthyridinones,pyrido[1,2-a]pyrimidinones and 1,8-naphthyridinones. Antihypertensive agents. V

The condensation of 2,6-diaminopyridine and 2-acetamido-6-aminopyridine with β-keto esters in polyphosphophoric acid was studied. In this reaction some 1,8-naphthyridinones, pyrido[1,2-a]pyrimidinones and pyrimido[1,2-a][1,8]naphthyridinones variously substituted were obtained.     

Absorbed weak polyelectrolytes: Impact of confinement,topology, and chemically specific interactions on ionization,conformation free energy,counterion condensation,and absorption equilibrium

Absorption of weak polyelectrolytes impacts on properties such as ionization, conformations, and counterion (CI) condensation that are important in several areas of applied and fundamental science. We used a weak polyelectrolyte model and Monte Carlo simulations to investigate how the mentioned properties depend on pH or the size of a spherical cavity (SC) permeable to CIs but not to polyelectrolytes; the latter have either linear or starlike topologies and may be allowed to form charged hydrogen bonds (c? H‐bonds) between ionized and neutral monomers. Average ionization decreases upon increasing the number of arms at a constant number of monomers; it instead increases with the arm length in large SC due to CI screening. The way SC size, c? H‐bonds, and pH values interrelate to define ionization is instead more complicate due to arm pairing or clustering when c? H‐bonds are possible. These induce oscillations in the arm local ionization and impact on both monomer and CI distributions in the complete simulation cell in a way that also depends on polymer topology. The impact of ionization on the confinement free energy is also estimated; this highlighted that c? H‐bonding may enhance absorption compared with neutral chains. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part B: Polym. Phys. 2019 , 57, 491–510     

Unusual cytotoxic sulfated cadinene-type sesquiterpene glycosides from cottonseed (Gossypium hirsutum)

Two new sulfated cadinene-type sesquiterpene glycosides, 13-hydroxy-7-O-(6′-O-sulfate-β-d-glucopyranosyl)-desoxyhemigossypol (1) and 13,15-dihydroxy-7-O-(6′-O-sulfate-β-d-glucopyranosyl)-desoxyhemigossypol (2), have been isolated from whole cottonseed (Gossypium hirsutum). Their structures, which possess an unusual 6-O-sulfate-glucopyranosyl moiety, were determined through the interpretation of 2D NMR spectral data and H/D exchange ESI-MS experiments. Compounds 1 and 2 were screened for their toxicity on Jurkat cells. Both compounds inhibited cellular proliferation with IC₅₀ values of 8.1 and 4.2 μg, respectively.     

Interacting physical states of the bosonic string. II

The Diff anomaly for the standard sigma model lagrangian is considered, and some puzzling aspects of the dilation coupling are clarified. It is shown how the central charge is related to the Diff anomaly and some of its properties are illustrated. The consistency of the BRST invariance requirement with the existence of different vacua for the string is discussed.     

Iron-related toxicity effects of single-walled carbon nanotubes in human placental cells (BeWo) investigated by X-ray fluorescence microscopy

As the prospect of human beings exposed to new nanomaterials increases, there are growing concerns about the foetal exposure and effects of such nanomaterials during pregnancy. Among others, due to their ample usage, it becomes urgent to address the vulnerability of the human placental barrier to carbon nanotubes (CNTs). Recently, by applying a combination of advanced synchrotron-based X-ray microscopy and X-ray fluorescence (XRF) techniques, we demonstrated that raw single-walled CNTs (SWCNTs) may cause an asbestos-like iron-related toxicity in mesothelial (MeT5A) cells. This work shows the results obtained with the same approach and experimental conditions in human choriocarcinoma (BeWo) cells as a placental model. XRF microscopy in mild and soft X-ray regimes was used to map the distribution of P, S, Ca, and Fe in exposed and control cells, whereas absorption and phase-contrast imaging (soft X-ray microscopy) provided simultaneous morphological information. The findings show that exposure to SWCNTs affects cell viability and causes a small increase in intracellular iron content, further confirmed by the stimulation of the ferritin protein. It is interesting to note that the iron changes are negligible when highly purified SWCNTs are used. In all tested conditions, including exposure to iron sulfate, the iron accumulation or ferritin increase was much lower in BeWo cells than in MeT5A ones, suggesting a different iron metabolism and possibly a lower vulnerability of the placental barrier to iron-rich nanomaterials.