Altered Lipid Composition of Secretory Cells Following Exposure to Zinc Can Be Correlated to Changes in Exocytosis

A micromolar concentration of zinc has been shown to significantly change the dynamics of exocytosis as well as the vesicle contents in a model cell line, providing direct evidence that zinc regulates neurotransmitter release. To provide insight into how zinc modulates these exocytotic processes, neurotransmitter release and vesicle content were compared with single cell amperometry and intracellular impact vesicle cytometry with a range of zinc concentrations. Additionally, time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (ToF-SIMS) images of lipid distributions in the cell membrane after zinc treatment correlate to changes in exocytosis. By combining electrochemical techniques and mass spectrometry imaging, we proposed a mechanism by which zinc changes the fusion pore and the rate of neurotransmitter release by changing lipid distributions and results in the modulation of synaptic strength and plasticity.     

A New Insight into the Stereoelectronic Control of the Pd0-Catalyzed Allylic Substitution: Application for the Synthesis of Multisubstituted Pyran-2-ones via an Unusual 1,3-Transposition

Pyran-2-ones 3 undergo a novel Pd⁰-catalyzed 1,3-rearrangement to afford isomers 6 . The reaction proceeds via an η²-Pd complex, the pyramidalization of which (confirmed by quantum chemistry calculations) offers a favorable antiperiplanar alignment of the Pd−C and allylic C−O bonds ( C ), thus allowing the formation of an η³-Pd intermediate. Subsequent rotation and rate-limiting recombination with the carboxylate arm then gives isomeric pyran-2-ones 6 . The calculated free energies reproduce the observed kinetics semi-quantitatively.     

Influence of imide functionalized organo‐modified Mg‐Al layered double hydroxide on the thermal and mechanical properties of new aliphatic‐aromatic poly (amide‐imide)

A new dicarboxylic acid modified Mg‐Al LDH (DLDH) containing imide groups was prepared and its effects on the thermal and mechanical properties of the new synthesized aliphatic‐aromatic poly (amide‐imide) (PAI) were investigated via preparation of PAI/nanocomposite films by solution casting method. The results of X‐ray diffraction (XRD), field emission‐scanning electron microscopy (FE‐SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) showed a uniform dispersion for LDH layers into the PAI matrix. For comparison, the effects of polyacrylic acid‐co‐poly‐2‐acrylamido‐ 2‐methylpropanesulfonic acid (PAMPS‐co‐PAA) modified Mg‐Al LDH (ALDH) on the PAI properties were also studied. The thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) results exhibited that the temperature at 5 mass% loss (T₅) increased from 277 °C to 310 °C for nanocomposite containing 2 mass% of DLDH, while T₅ for nanocomposite containing 2 mass% of ALDH increased to 320 °C, along with the more enhancement of char residue compared to the neat PAI. According to the tensile test results, with 5 mass% DLDH loading in the PAI matrix, the tensile strength increased from 51.6 to 70.8 MPa along with an increase in Young's modulus. Also the Young's modulus of PAI nanocomposite containing 5 mass% ALDH reduced from 1.95 to 0.81 GPa.     

Synthesis of chromene derivatives in the presence of mordenite zeolite/MIL‐101 (Cr) metal–organic framework composite as catalyst

In the present study, the synthesis of mordenite zeolite/MIL‐101(Cr) metal–organic framework (MOF) composite [MOR/MIL‐101(Cr)] using the ship in a bottle method was suggested. The properties of prepared composite and individual MOF and MOR zeolite were characterized by X‐ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), nitrogen adsorption–desorption measurement, and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The XRD results indicated diffraction peaks for each compound (MOR and MOF) in composite. The SEM and TEM images showed the formation of plates MOR (with size of 2.5 × 3 μm) along with spherical particles MIL‐101. The Brunauer–Emmett–Teller results showed that the surface area of the composite was smaller than individual MOF and MOR zeolite. Based on TGA plots, the hybrid zeolite/MOF composite was more thermally stable compared with the isolated MIL‐101(Cr). The composite was functionalized by post‐synthetic modification to obtain acid–base bifunctionality (H‐MOR/MIL‐101‐ED) for the synthesis of chromene derivatives. The acidity from framework Al‐O(H)‐Si sites in MOR and basicity from amine groups in MIL‐101 were obtained by post‐synthetic modification.     

Mo (CO)6‐assisted Pd‐supported magnetic graphene oxide‐catalyzed carbonylation‐cyclization as an efficient way for the synthesis of 4(3H)‐quinazolinones

In this paper, a novel catalyst is introduced based on the immobilization of palladium on modified magnetic graphene oxide nanoparticles. The catalyst is characterized by several methods, including transmission electron microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, X‐ray fluorescence, vibrating‐sample magnetometer, Fourier transform‐infrared and dynamic light scattering (DLS) analysis. The activity of the catalyst was investigated in the synthesis of 4(3H)‐quinazolinones via Pd‐catalyzed carbonylation‐cyclization of N‐(2‐bromoaryl) benzimidamides by Mo (CO)₆. The Mo (CO)₆ is used as a carbon monoxide source for performing the reaction under mild conditions. The catalyst showed good reusability, and no change in activity was observed after 10 cycles of recovery.     

Synthesis of boronic acid‐functionalized poly(glycerol‐oligoγ‐butyrolactone): Nano‐networks for efficient electrochemical sensing of biosystems

Despite the outstanding properties of hyperbranched polyglycerols such as biocompatibility and multifunctionality, enough attention has not been paid to the synthesis of their functional copolymers. This problem has limited the structural diversity of hyperbranched polyglycerols and hampers further developments and their practical usage. In this work, butyrolactone segments were incorporated into the backbone of polyglycerols by one‐pot ring‐opening copolymerization of a mixture of glycidol and γ‐butyrolactone in the presence of tin(II) 2‐ethylhexanoate. Poly(glycerol‐oligoγ‐butyrolactone)s were then crosslinked by 2,5‐thiophenediylbisboronic acid to obtain polymeric nanonetworks with 140 nm average size. Afterwards, the gold electrode was modified by the polymeric nano‐networks, and it was used for the determination of glucose, glycated hemoglobin, and Escherichia coli in phosphate buffer solution (pH = 9.0) through cyclic voltammetry and impedance spectroscopic. Taking advantage of the straightforward synthesis, cheap precursors and multifunctionality of poly(glycerol‐oligoγ‐butyrolactone)s, they could be used for real‐time sensing of a wide range of biosystems. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2019, 57, 1430–1439     

Relativistic n-body wave equations in scalar quantum field theory

The variational method in a reformulated Hamiltonian formalism of Quantum Field Theory (QFT) is used to derive relativistic n-body wave equations for scalar particles (bosons) interacting via a massive or massless mediating scalar field (the scalar Yukawa model). Simple Fock-space variational trial states are used to derive relativistic n-body wave equations. The equations are shown to have the Schrödinger non-relativistic limits, with Coulombic interparticle potentials in the case of a massless mediating field and Yukawa interparticle potentials in the case of a massive mediating field. Some examples of approximate ground state solutions of the n-body relativistic equations are obtained for various strengths of coupling, for both massive and massless mediating fields.     

CaCl2 as a bifunctional reusable catalyst: diversity-oriented synthesis of 4H-pyran library under ultrasonic irradiation

CaCl₂ is applied as an efficient reusable and eco-friendly bifunctional catalyst for the one-pot three-component synthesis of 4H-pyrans under ultrasonic irradiation. A broad range of substrates including the aromatic and heteroaromatic aldehydes, indoline-2,3-dione (isatin) derivatives, acenaphthylene-1,2-dione (acenaphthenequinone) and 2, 2-dihydroxy-2H-indene-1,3-dione (ninhydrin) were condensed with carbonyl compounds possessing a reactive ??-methylene group and alkylmalonates. All reactions are completed in short times, and the products are obtained in good to excellent yields. The catalyst could be recycled and reused several times without any loss of efficiency.     

Litter on the beaches of the Red Sea of Yemen

Distribution of litter: ropes, netting, lamb bulbs, foot wear, plastic bags, bottles, aluminum cans, cardboard, wood loges, rubber, polystyrene blocks and plastic sheets accumulating on Red Sea beaches of Yemen were examined. The results of the study reflected these wastes to be varied from a region to region but they were similar in almost all-coastal areas. Most of the litter were plastics including food bags, oil and water bottles, bait bags, and also vehicles tires. Most of pollution occurred from the sea, due to the heavy traffic and to the fishing vessels, which fish in the area.