Shear-induced particle segregation in binary mixtures:Verification of a percolation theory

Granular materials composed of different-sized grains may experience undesired segregation.Segrega-tion is detrimental for a lot of industries because it leads ...     

Thiosemicarbazide-Substituted Coumarins as Selective Inhibitors of the Tumor Associated Human Carbonic Anhydrases IX and XII

A novel series of thiosemicarbazide-substituted coumarins was synthesized and the inhibitory effects against four physiologically relevant carbonic anhydrase isoforms I, II, IX and XII showed selective activities on the tumor-associated IX and XII isozymes. Molecular modeling studies on selected compounds 14a and 22a were performed. The binding modes of such compounds were determined assuming their enzymatically active structures (i.e., cinnamic acid) in the thermodynamically favored, and not previously explored, E geometry. Molecular modelling suggests multiple interactions within the enzymatic cavity and may explain the high potency and selectivity reported for the hCAs IX and XII.     

The Glycolytic Pathway as a Target for Novel Onco-Immunology Therapies in Pancreatic Cancer

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDA) is one of the most lethal forms of human cancer, characterized by unrestrained progression, invasiveness and treatment resistance. To date, there are limited curative options, with surgical resection as the only effective strategy, hence the urgent need to discover novel therapies. A platform of onco-immunology targets is represented by molecules that play a role in the reprogrammed cellular metabolism as one hallmark of cancer. Due to the hypoxic tumor microenvironment (TME), PDA cells display an altered glucose metabolism—resulting in its increased uptake—and a higher glycolytic rate, which leads to lactate accumulation and them acting as fuel for cancer cells. The consequent acidification of the TME results in immunosuppression, which impairs the antitumor immunity. This review analyzes the genetic background and the emerging glycolytic enzymes that are involved in tumor progression, development and metastasis, and how this represents feasible therapeutic targets to counteract PDA. In particular, as the overexpressed or mutated glycolytic enzymes stimulate both humoral and cellular immune responses, we will discuss their possible exploitation as immunological targets in anti-PDA therapeutic strategies.     

Spin-Phonon Coupling and Slow-Magnetic Relaxation in Pristine Ferrocenium

We report the spin dynamic properties of non-substituted ferrocenium complexes. Ferrocenium shows a field-induced single-molecule magnet behaviour in DMF solution while cobaltocene lacks slow spin relaxation neither in powder nor in solution. Multireference quantum mechanical calculations give a non-Aufbau orbital occupation for ferrocenium with small first excitation energy that agrees with the relatively large measured magnetic anisotropy for a transition metal S=1/2 system. The analysis of the spin relaxation shows an important participation of quantum tunnelling, Raman, direct and local-mode mechanisms which depend on temperature and the external field conditions. The calculation of spin-phonon coupling constants for the vibrational modes shows that the first vibrational mode, despite having a low spin-phonon constant, is the most efficient process for the spin relaxation at low temperatures. In such conditions, vibrational modes with higher spin-phonon coupling constants are not populated. Additionally, the vibrational energy of this first mode is in excellent agreement with the experimental fitted value obtained from the local-mode mechanism.     

Characterization of natural cellulosic fibers from Yucca aloifolia L. leaf as potential reinforcement of polymer composites

Cellulose - In this work lignocellulosic fibers were obtained from Yucca aloifolia L. leaves and their chemical, morphological, thermal and mechanical properties were studied. The fibers were...     

Buffering effects on the solution behavior and hydrolytic degradation of poly(β-amino ester)s

With a vast, synthetically accessible compositional space and highly tunable hydrolysis rates, poly(β-amino ester)s (PBAEs) are an attractive degradable polymer platform. Leveraging PBAEs in a wide range of applications hinges on the ability to program degradation, which, thus far, has been frustrated by multiple confounding phenomena contributing to the degradation of these charged polyesters. Basic conditions accelerate hydrolysis, yet reduce solubility, limiting water access to amines and esters. Further, the high buffering capacity of PBAEs can render buffers ineffective at controlling solution pH. To unify understanding of PBAE degradation and solution properties, this study examines PBAE hydrolysis as a function of pH and buffer concentration as well as polymer hydrophobicity. At low buffer concentrations, the PBAE amines and the acid produced during hydrolysis control solution pH. Meanwhile, at high buffer concentrations that afford relatively constant pH, hydrolysis rate increases with pH, despite the reduced PBAE solubility. Increasing the hydrophobic content of PBAEs eventually hinders the capacity of the polymer to accept protons from solution, limiting the pH increase and slowing hydrolysis. These studies showcase the role of buffering on the pH-dependent degradation and solution properties of PBAEs, providing guidance for programming degradation in applications ranging from drug delivery to thermosets.     

Multiple linear regression models for predicting the n‑octanol/water partition coefficients in the SAMPL7 blind challenge

Journal of Computer-Aided Molecular Design - A multiple linear regression model called MLR-3 is used for predicting the experimental n-octanol/water partition coefficient (log PN) of 22...