Synthesis and biological evaluation of <Superscript>99m</Superscript>Tc labeled aryl piperazine derivatives as cerebral radiotracers

The aim of this study is to develop cerebral radiotracers for central nervous system receptors imaging. The synthesis, characterization and biological evaluation of two aryl piperazine ^99mTc-radiocomplexes based on the piano stool motif [CpM(CO₃)] (Cp = cyclopentadienyl, M = ^99mTc/Re) is reported. The ^99mTc-radiocomplexes were obtained quickly (time < 5 min) with high radiochemical yields. The ^99mTc-radiocomplexes characterized by high performance liquid chromatography comparison with the rhenium surrogates have both a suitable lipophilicity and are able to cross the blood brain barrier with 0.43 ± 0.05 and 1.96 ± 0.06% ID/g of brain uptake, at 10 min post injection.     

Deuteration of Water Enables Self‐Organization of Phospholipid‐Based Reverse Micelles

Phospholipid‐based reverse micelles are composed of branched cylinders. Their branching points are known to attract themselves and to slide along branches. The rate of this sliding is governed by the lifetime of H(D)‐bonded water bridges between phospholipid molecules. This lifetime is increased when the water is deuterated. On condition that the water contains at least 40 D atoms %, water/dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine (DPPC)/deuterated pyridine reverse micelles with the composition 1.1:1:250 (v/v) have been shown to self‐organize into a liquid crystal in the 310–316 K temperature range. The mechanism of this self‐organization is unraveled by following the FTIR and ¹H NMR spectra of more concentrated micelles upon heating. During the preparation of micelles, pyridine‐(D⁺)H⁺ ions are formed. They give rise to hydron transfers, under the influence of the DPPC electric charges, evidenced by two broad FTIR absorptions above (BB1) and below (BB2) the ν(C? O) stretch. These hydron transfers occur along strong (D⁺)H⁺ bonds of pyridinium ions with pyridine (BB1) and DPPC C?O groups (BB2). The proton transfers at the interface of micelles, relayed in the continuous pyridine medium, create a tenuous link between separated micelles, thus facilitating their organization. Upon heating, DPPC heads shrink and DPPC chains expand to make wedge‐shaped DPPC molecules. The micelles then change in shape: cylinders constrict and enclosed water drifts towards branching points, which swell. Branching points of neighboring micelles come into contact. Due to the deuteration of water these contacts are prolonged and H bonds are formed between DPPC molecules located in each branching point. Upon storage at 39 °C, these branching points fuse. The lateral diffusion of DPPC molecules becomes free, as evidenced by a narrowing of all ¹H NMR resonances. Upon further heating, reorganization into a liquid crystal occurs.     

Étude structurale de britholite au césium Sr7La2Cs(PO4)5(SiO4)F2

Several studies demonstrated the ability of britholites to retain radionuclides such as the caesium and actinides. Therefore, three compounds with formulas Sr₈LaCs(PO₄)₆F₂, Sr₇La₂Cs(PO₄)₅(SiO₄)F₂ and Sr₂La₇Cs(SiO₄)₆F₂, were prepared by solid state reaction. However, it seems that only the mono-silicated composition was obtained in a pure state. In this present work, the X-ray diffraction and magnetic nuclear resonance have been used to investigate the structure for this composition. The results showed that in fact this phase was not pure, but it was mixed with a secondary phase, SrLaCs(PO₄)₂. The refinement by the Rietveld method allowed also to precise the distribution of La³⁺ and Cs⁺ ions between the two cationic sites of the apatite.     

Strategic analysis of the dairy transportation problem

The dairy transportation problem (DTP) consists of determining the best routes to be performed for collecting milk from farms and delivering it to processing plants. We study the particular case of the province of Quebec, where the Fédération des producteurs de lait du Québec is responsible for negotiating the transportation costs on behalf of producers. Several issues are highlighted in the actual process of designing contracts such as using historical data. We propose an approach based on scenario analysis that consists of revising both the steps and the information used to construct the routes. We develop a generalized tabu search algorithm that integrates the different characteristics of the DTP.     

Vibrational spectra and structures of H2O-NO, HDO-NO, and D2O-NO complexes. An IR matrix isolation and DFT study

The IR spectra of H2O+NO, HDO+NO, and D2O+NO, isolated in solid neon at low temperature have been investigated. Concentration effects and detailed vibrational analysis of deuterated and partially deuterated species allowed identification of three 1:1 HDO-NO species, two 1:1 D2O-NO species, and only one 1:1 H2O-NO complex. From comparison between the experimental spectra and the results of DFT calculations, it appeared that two different types of weakly bound complexes between water and nitric oxide can be formed in a neon matrix. The first species is a 1:1 complex where bonding occurs between water hydrogen and nitric oxide nitrogen, in which OH-N and OD-N intermolecular bonds are engaged. For this complex only DOD-NO, HOD-NO, and DOH-NO isotopic species have been experimentally detected and no IR bands of HOH-NO were observed. This result could be explained by the fact that the dissociation energy of HOH-NO is lower than those of DOD-NO, HOD-NO and DOH-NO. For the second detected 1:1 H2O-NO complex and its isotopic variants, the H2O-NO potential surface was explored systematically at the B3LYP level, but no stable species corresponding to the complex could be calculated. The structure of the second observed 1:1 H2O-NO complex results from columbic attractions between water and nitric oxide and could be stabilized only in matrix, probably by interaction between NO, water and (Ne)n.     

Heavy metals content in rain water collected in three different locations in Italy during 1999

Rain water samples collected at three different locations in Italy during 1999 were analysed for heavy metals determination. Results for V, Cr, Mn, Co, Cu, Cd, Sb, Pb, Al and Ni are reported in this paper. For most of the elements higher concentration values have been measured in the samples from Alpe Gera (rural site): only for Cd and V were the concentrations higher at Pisa. The total annual deposition (microg m(-2) y(-1)) shows a similar behaviour, with Alpe Gera being the location with highest total annual input for Cr, Mn, Co, and in particular for Cu, Sb, Pb and Al. The reason of the higher deposition at a rural site in comparison to a urban one (Milan) is not known: further experimental work and investigations are needed. Generally, no evident seasonal trends have been observed for the measured concentrations, while few correlations have been found among elements within the same station. Crustal contribution to total concentration varies from about 20% for V to less than 1% for Cu, Cd, Sb, Pb and Ni.     

Development of a Chitosan/Nickel Phthalocyanine Composite Based Conductometric Micro-sensor for Methanol Detection

Thin-film composite of chitosan/nickel phthalocyanine (NiPc) was electrochemically deposited on the fingers of interdigitated gold electrodes, applying chronoamperometric polymerization technique. The presence of crystallized NiPc in the chitosan was confirmed by EDX and FTIR analysis. Acetone, ethanol, and methanol gas-sensing properties of the films prepared at optimum conditions were studied at atmospheric temperature, through differential measurements at an optimized frequency of 10 kHz, using a lock-in amplifier. The conductometric sensor presents the highest sensitivity of 60.2 μS.cm⁻¹(v/v) for methanol and 700 ppm as the limit of detection. For validation, the methanol content of a commercial rubbing alcohol was determined.