Asymptotic stability of constant steady states for a 2×2 reaction–diffusion system arising in cancer modelling

The dependence of tumor on essential nutrients is known to be crucial for its evolution and has become one of the targets for medical therapies. Based on this fact a reaction–diffusion system with chemotaxis term and nutrient-based growth of tumors is presented. The formulation of the model considers also an influence of tumor and pharmacological factors on nutrient concentration. In the paper, convergence of solutions to constant, stationary states in the one-dimensional case for small perturbation of the equilibria is investigated. The nonlinear stability results are obtained by means of the classical symmetrization method and energy Sobolev estimates.     

Analysis of NH3-TPD Profiles for CuSSZ-13 SCR Catalyst of Controlled Al Distribution – Complexity Resolved by First Principles Thermodynamics of NH3 Desorption,IR and EPR Insight into Cu Speciation**

NH₃ temperature-programmed desorption (NH₃-TPD) is frequently used for probing the nature of the active sites in CuSSZ-13 zeolite for selective catalytic reduction (SCR) of NO_x. Herein, we propose an interpretation of NH₃-TPD results, which takes into account the temperature-induced dynamics of NH₃ interaction with the active centers. It is based on a comprehensive DFT/GGA+D and first-principles thermodynamic (FPT) modeling of NH₃ adsorption on single Cu²⁺, Cu⁺, [CuOH]⁺ centers, dimeric [Cu-O-Cu]²⁺, [Cu-O₂²⁻-Cu]² species, segregated CuO nanocrystals and Brønsted acid sites (BAS). Theoretical TPD profiles are compared with the experimental data measured for samples of various Si/Al ratios and distribution of Al within the zeolite framework. Copper reduction, its relocation, followed by the intrazeolite olation/oxolation processes, which are concomitant with NH₃ desorption, were revealed by electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) and IR. DFT/FPT results show that the peaks in the desorption profiles cannot be assigned univocally to the particular Cu and BAS centers, since the observed low-, medium- and high-temperature desorption bands have contributions coming from several species, which dynamically change their speciation and redox states during NH₃-TPD experiment. Thus, a rigorous interpretation of the NH₃-TPD profiles of CuSSZ-13 in terms of the strength and concentration of the active centers of a particular type is problematic. Nonetheless, useful connections for molecular interpretation of TPD profiles can be established between the individual component peaks and the corresponding ensembles of the adsorption centers.     

Identification of complex,naturally occurring flavonoid glycosides in kale (Brassica oleracea var. sabellica) by high‐performance liquid chromatography diode‐array detection/electrospray ionization multi‐stage mass spectrometry

Kale is a member of the Brassicaceae family and has a complex profile of flavonoid glycosides. Therefore, kale is a suitable matrix to discuss in a comprehensive study the different fragmentation patterns of flavonoid glycosides. The wide variety of glycosylation and acylation patterns determines the health‐promoting effects of these glycosides. The aim of this study is to investigate the naturally occurring flavonoids in kale. A total of 71 flavonoid glycosides of quercetin, kaempferol and isorhamnetin were identified using a high‐performance liquid chromatography diode‐array detection/electrospray ionization multi‐stage mass spectrometry (HPLC‐DAD/ESI‐MSⁿ) method. Of these 71 flavonol glycosides, 27 were non‐acylated, 30 were monoacylated and 14 were diacylated. Non‐acylated flavonol glycosides were present as mono‐, di‐, tri‐ and tetraglycosides. This is the first time that the occurrence of four different fragmentation patterns of non‐acylated flavonol triglycosides has been reported in one matrix simultaneously. In addition, 44 flavonol glycosides were acylated with p‐coumaric, caffeic, ferulic, hydroxyferulic or sinapic acid. While monoacylated glycosides existed as di‐, tri‐ and tetraglycosides, diacylated glycosides occurred as tetra‐ and pentaglycosides. To the best of our knowledge, 28 compounds in kale are reported here for the first time. These include three acylated isorhamnetin glycosides (isorhamnetin‐3‐O‐sinapoyl‐sophoroside‐7‐O‐D‐glucoside, isorhamnetin‐3‐O‐feruloyl‐sophoroside‐7‐O‐diglucoside and isorhamnetin‐3‐O‐disinapoyl‐triglucoside‐7‐O‐diglucoside) and seven non‐acylated isorhamnetin glycosides. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Analytical pyrolysis of proteins

Summary Gelatine and silk have been thermally degraded at 330° C in a melt of nylon 6.10 and by addition of small amounts of sodium and potassium hexanoate.Both proteins yield cyclic dimers (diketopiperazines) and smaller amounts of cyclic tetramers and higher oligomers. The mixture of degradation products were investigated by temperature resolved field ionization mass spectrometry and provide informations about neighbouring amino acids (diade sequences). Integral mass spectra give the relative intensities of diades.In accordance with data reported in literature glycine, proline, hydroxyproline, glutamic acid and alanine could be proved as most frequently incorporated amino acids in gelatine and glycine, alanine and tyrosine in silk.

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Analytische Pyrolyse von Proteinen

Zusammenfassung Gelatine und Seide wurden in einer Schmelze von Nylon 6,10 und unter Zusatz von kleinen Mengen an Natrium- und Kaliumhexanoat bei 330° C thermisch abgebaut.Beide Proteine liefern cyclische Diniere (Diketopiperazine) und kleine Mengen an cyclischen Tetrameren und höheren Oligomeren. Die jeweiligen Mischungen der Abbauprodukte wurden durch temperaturaufgelöste Feldionisationsmassenspektrometrie untersucht und liefern Informationen über benachbarte Aminosäuren (Diadensequenzen). Integrale Massenspektren liefern die relativen Intensitäten dieser Diaden.In Übereinstimmung mit in der Literatur beschriebenen Angaben wurden auf diese Weise in der Gelatine Glycin, Prolin, Hydroxyprolin, Glutaminsäure und Alanin, sowie in der Seide Glycin, Alanin und Tyrosin als häufigste Aminosäuren nachgewiesen.

     

Polymerization kinetics and microstructure of waterborne acrylic/alkyd nanocomposites synthesized by miniemulsion

Waterborne acrylic‐alkyd nanocomposites are expected to combine the positive properties of alkyd resins and acrylic polymers. In this work, the kinetics of the miniemulsion polymerization used to synthesize these nanocomposites and the effect of the process variables on the polymer architecture and particle morphology was investigated. It was found that resin hydrophobicity and the type of initiator strongly affected the microstructure of these materials. The mechanisms responsible for these effects were discussed. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 47: 4871–4885, 2009     

Thermal analytical and infrared spectroscopic investigations on polymorphic organic compounds-III

Six polymorphic compounds, having between two and five modifications, are described. Enantiotropic modifications were found for three of them: 9-fluorenylmethanol (2 modifications), polyester red A (3 modifications) and polyester red B (3 modifications). There were no indications of enantiotropy in the other three: diphenylcarbamoyl chloride (4 modifications), 4-hydroxyphenylacetic acid (5 modifications) and 2-hydroxy-1-naphthalenecarbaldehyde (5 modifications).