Large-Scale Reassessment of In-Vineyard Smoke-Taint Grapevine Protection Strategies and the Development of Predictive Off-Vine Models

Smoke taint in wine is thought to be caused by smoke-derived volatile phenols (VPs) that are absorbed into grape tissues, trapped as conjugates that are imperceptible by smell, and subsequently released into wines as their free odor-active forms via metabolism by yeasts during fermentation. Blocking VP uptake into grapes would, therefore, be an effective way for vineyards to protect ripening grape crops exposed to smoke. Here, we re-evaluated a biofilm that had previously shown promise in pilot studies in reducing levels of smoke-derived VPs. A suite of nine free and acid-labile VPs were quantitated in Pinot Noir grapes that had been exposed to smoke after being coated with the biofilm one, seven or 14 days earlier. In contrast with earlier studies, our results demonstrated that in all cases, the biofilm treatments led to increased concentrations of both free and total VPs in smoke-exposed grapes, with earlier applications elevating concentrations of some VPs more than the later time points. Tracking VP concentrations through the grape ripening process demonstrated that some (phenol, p/m-cresol, and guaiacol) were not entirely sequestered in grapes as acid-labile conjugates, suggesting the presence of VP storage forms beyond simple glycosides. Free VPs in grapes, though a minor portion of the total, most clearly correlated with concentrations present in the resulting wines. Finally, red table grapes, available year round, were observed to replicate the effects of the biofilm treatments and were capable of transforming most VPs into acid-labile conjugates in under 24 h, indicating that they might be an effective model for rapidly assessing smoke-taint prophylactic products in the laboratory.     

Dendritic molecular capsules for hydrophobic compounds

Reichardt's dye, a highly solvatochromic dye, was encapsulated within poly (glycerol succinic acid) ([Gn]-PGLSA-OH) dendrimers to investigate the interior environment of these dendritic macromolecules. The absorption maximum for the encapsulated Reichardt's dye in water was indicative of a relatively high dielectric constant present within the dye/dendrimer complex. (1)H NMR of the encapsulated complex showed the presence of aromatic protons from Reichardt's dye along with the aliphatic protons of the dendrimer. Additionally, there were substantial changes in T(1) and T(2) times of the encapsulated dye when compared with the free dye, and (1)H NOESY spectra for the complex showed a significant number of intermolecular NOE cross-peaks. These data reveal the close through-space proximity of the dye to the dendrimer and the restricted motion of the encapsulated dye. To demonstrate the potential use of these macromolecules as drug delivery vehicles, the poorly water-soluble anticancer drug 10-hydroxycamptothecin (10HCPT) was encapsulated within a carboxylated PGLSA dendrimer ([G4]-PGLSA-COONa). Cytotoxicity assays with human breast cancer cells showed a significant reduction of cell viability, demonstrating that 10HCPT retains activity upon encapsulation.     

Rhodium-catalyzed enantioselective diboration of simple alkenes

Enantioselective catalytic reactions that operate directly on inexpensive unactivated alkenes are extraordinarily useful for the preparation of chiral organic building blocks and new materials. While a number of such processes have been developed, our ability to meet the intensifying demand for inexpensive stereochemically complex materials will require a significant expansion of practical catalytic asymmetric reaction methodology. In this regard, the rhodium-catalyzed enantioselective diboration reaction has been developed in order to address a number of extant problems in catalytic alkene transformation simultaneously. This process provides an enantiomerically enriched reactive dimetalated intermediate which can be converted to a variety of difunctional reaction products.     

Synthesis,characterization of Schiff base metal complexes and their biological investigation

A new Schiff base ligand named (E)‐2‐(((3‐aminophenyl)imino)methyl)phenol (HL) was prepared through condensation reaction of m‐phenylenediamine and 2‐hydroxybenzaldehyde in 1:1 molar ratio. The new ligand was characterized by elemental analysis and spectral techniques. The coordination behavior of a series of transition metal ions named Cr (III), Mn (II), Fe (III), Co (II), Ni (II), Cu (II), Zn (II) and Cd (II) with the newly prepared Schiff base ligand (HL) is reported. The nature of bonding and the stereochemistry of the complexes have been deduced from elemental analyses, IR, UV–Vis, ¹H NMR, mass, electronic spectra, magnetic susceptibility and conductivity measurements and further their thermal stability was confirmed by thermogravimetric analysis (TG). From IR spectra, it was observed that the ligand is a neutral tridentate ligand coordinates to the metal ions through protonated phenolic oxygen, azomethine nitrogen and nitrogen atom of NH₂ group. The existence, the number and the position of the water molecules was studied by thermal analysis. The molecular structures of the Schiff base ligand (HL) and its metal complexes were optimized theoretically and the quantum chemical parameters were calculated. The synthesized ligand and its complexes were screened for antimicrobial activities against bacterial species (Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillis subtilis, (gram positive bacteria)), (Salmonella SP., Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, (gram negative bacteria)) and fungi (Aspergillus fumigatus and Candida albicans). The complexes were found to possess high biological activities against different organisms. Molecular docking was used to predict the efficiency of binding between Schiff base ligand (HL) and both receptors of Escherichia coli (3 T88) and Staphylococcus aureus (3Q8U). The receptor of Escherichia coli (3 T88) showed best interaction with Schiff base ligand (HL) compared to receptor of Staphylococcus aureu (3Q8U).     

Polymer complexes. LXXVI. Synthesis,characterization, CT‐DNA binding,molecular docking and thermal studies of sulfoxine polymer complexes

Novel polymer complexes of 8‐hydroxyquinoline‐5‐sulfonic acid hydrate ( H ₂ L ) with Cu²⁺, Co²⁺ and Ni²⁺ chloride were prepared and characterized. Microanalysis, magnetic susceptibility, IR spectra, electron spin resonance, mass spectra, X‐ray, molar conductance, thermal, and UV–Vis spectra studies have been used to confirm the structure of the prepared polymer complexes. The molecular and electronic structures of the hydrogen bond conformers for ligand ( H ₂ L ) were optimized theoretically and the quantum chemical parameters were calculated. On the basis of elemental and IR data, the chemical structure of metal chelates commensurate that the tri‐dentate (H₂L) coordinate to metal chlorides through oxygen atom of phenolic OH and oxygen atom of SO₃‐H group by replacing H atoms and nitrogen of the quinoline ring. The magnetic studies suggested the octahedral geometrical structure for all produced polymer complexes with general formula {[ML (OH₂)₃] .xH₂O}_n (M = Cu²⁺, x = 1.; Co²⁺, x = 2 and Ni²⁺, x = 2) in molar ratio (1:1). Coats–Redfern and Horowitz–Metzger methods have been used for calculating the activation thermodynamic parameters of the thermal decomposition for H ₂ L and its polymer complexes. The interaction between H ₂ L and its transition metal complexes with the calf thymus DNA (CT‐DNA) was determined by UV–Vis spectra. Binding efficiency between H ₂ L with the receptors of the prostate cancer (PDB code 2Q7L Hormone) and the breast cancer (PDB code 1JNX Gene regulation) was studied by molecular docking. The inhibition behaviour of H ₂ L against the corrosion of carbon steel / HCl (2 M) solution was studied by weight loss, Tafel polarisation, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and electrochemical frequency modulation (EFM) techniques. The adsorption isotherm was found to be Friendlish isotherm. The morphology of inhibited carbon steel? s surface was studied using scanning electron microscope (SEM) and energy dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy (EDS).     

First Cr(III)-SNS complexes and their use as highly efficient catalysts for the trimerization of ethylene to 1-hexene

Cr(III) complexes of tridentate SNS ligands have been prepared and evaluated as catalysts for ethylene trimerization, with several giving very high activity and excellent selectivity toward 1-hexene when activated with methylaluminoxane. The new complexes illustrate the potential of sulfur-based ligands on early transition metals for catalysis.     

Simultaneous isolation and label‐free identification of bacteria using contactless dielectrophoresis and Raman spectroscopy

The traditional bacterial identification method of growing colonies on agar plates can take several days to weeks to complete depending on the growth rate of the bacteria. Successfully decreasing this analysis time requires cell isolation followed by identification. One way to decrease analysis time is by combining dielectrophoresis (DEP), a common technique used for cell sorting and isolation, and Raman spectroscopy for cell identification. DEP‐Raman devices have been used for bacterial analysis, however, these devices have a number of drawbacks including sample heating, cell‐to‐electrode proximity that limits throughput and separation efficiency, electrode fouling, or inability to address sample debris. Presented here is a contactless DEP‐Raman device to simultaneously isolate and identify particles from a mixed sample while avoiding common drawbacks associated with other DEP designs. Using the device, a mixed sample of bacteria and 3 μm polystyrene spheres were isolated from each other and a Raman spectrum of the trapped bacteria was acquired, indicating the potential for cDEP‐Raman devices to decrease the analysis time of bacteria.     

Super-hydrophobic, highly adhesive, polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) surfaces

Super-hydrophobic surfaces have been fabricated by casting polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) on a textured substrate of known surface topography, and were characterized using contact angle, atomic force microscopy, surface free energy calculations, and adhesion measurements. The resulting PDMS has a micro-textured surface with a static contact angle of 153.5° and a hysteresis of 27° when using de-ionized water. Unlike many super-hydrophobic materials, the textured PDMS is highly adhesive, allowing water drops as large as 25.0 μL to be inverted. This high adhesion, super-hydrophobic behavior is an illustration of the "petal effect". This rapid, reproducible technique has promising applications in transport and analysis of microvolume samples.     

Synthesis and characterisation of sterically stabilised polypyrrole particles using a chemically reactive poly(vinyl amine)-based stabiliser

Poly(vinyl amine) (PVAm) was derivatised using 2-thiophenecarboxaldehyde via Michael addition to prepare a statistical copolymer stabiliser for the synthesis of primary amine-functionalised polypyrrole (PPy) particles. A minimum stabiliser concentration of around 20 % (w/v) relative to pyrrole was required for well-defined PPy particles of approximately 100–200 nm, as judged by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and dynamic light scattering (DLS). FTIR spectroscopy confirmed that stabiliser grafting had occurred, while x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) studies indicated a stabiliser surface coverage on the PPy particles of around 53 %. PPy particles prepared at stabiliser concentrations below 20 % (w/v) were not colloidally stable above pH 6. However, higher stabiliser concentrations (e.g., 50 % (w/v) based on pyrrole) led to a significant improvement, with colloidal stability being retained above pH 7. Long-term colloidal stability studies of PPy particles stored at pH 7.5 confirmed that the amine-based stabiliser produced more stable aqueous dispersions than the imine-based stabiliser, since the latter bond is hydrolytically unstable.     

Identification and Preliminary Structure-Activity Relationship Studies of 1,5-Dihydrobenzo[e][1,4]oxazepin-2(3H)-ones That Induce Differentiation of Acute Myeloid Leukemia Cells In Vitro

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is the most aggressive type of blood cancer, and there is a continued need for new treatments that are well tolerated and improve long-term survival rates in patients. Induction of differentiation has emerged as a promising alternative to conventional cytotoxic chemotherapy, but known agents lack efficacy in genetically distinct patient populations. Previously, we established a phenotypic screen to identify small molecules that could stimulate differentiation in a range of AML cell lines. Utilising this strategy, a 1,5-dihydrobenzo[e][1,4]oxazepin-2(3H)-one hit compound was identified. Herein, we report the hit validation in vitro, structure-activity relationship (SAR) studies and the pharmacokinetic profiles for selected compounds.