Chemical Composition of Natural Hydrolates and Their Antimicrobial Activity on Arcobacter-Like Cells in Comparison with Other Microorganisms

Hydrolates obtained via the hydrodistillation and steam distillation of Lavandula angustifolia Mill., Syzygium aromaticum L., Foeniculum vulgare Mill., and Laurus nobilis L. were analyzed by gas chromatography with flame ionization detector (GC-FID) and gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Additionally, the hydrolates were evaluated for antimicrobial activity (disk-diffusion and microdilution method), influence on biofilm formation (Christensen method) and cytotoxicity of concentrated hydrolates against human cell lines (A549) by xCELLigence system. Using chemical analysis, 48, 9, 13 and 33 different components were detected in lavender, clove, fennel and laurel hydrolates, respectively. Lavender hydrolate contained the largest proportion of 1,8-cineol, linalool furanoxide, and linalool. The main components of laurel hydrolate were 1,8-cineol, 4-terpineol and α-terpineol. Fenchone and estragole were the most abundant in fennel hydrolate, and eugenol and eugenyl acetate in clove hydrolate. Concentrated hydrolates showed significant antimicrobial activity. Clove hydrolate was among the most antimicrobially active agents, most preferably against C. albicans, with an inhibition zone up to 23.5 mm. Moreover, concentrated hydrolates did not show any cytotoxic effect again8 st human A549 cells. In the presence of the non-concentrated hydrolates, significantly reduced biofilm formation was observed; however, with concentrated clove hydrolate, there was an increase in biofilm formation, e.g., of A. thereius, A. lanthieri, and A. butzleri. Research shows new findings about hydrolates that may be important in natural medicine or for preservation purposes.     

Determination of boron and hydrogen in materials for multicrystalline solar cell production with prompt gamma activation analysis

Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry - For the optimization of the manufacturing process of multicrystalline silicon (mc-Si) for solar cells in order to reduce energy consumption and...     

Inter-laboratory exercise with an aim to compare methods for 90Sr and 239,240Pu determination in environmental soil samples

In order to deliver reliable results for a multitude of different scenarios, e.g. emergency preparedness, environmental monitoring, nuclear decommissioning and waste management, there is a constant process of method development in the field of radioanalytical chemistry. This work presents the results of a method comparison exercise aimed at quantifying ⁹⁰Sr and ^239,240Pu in environmental soil samples, with the intention of evaluating the performance and applicability of different methods. From the methods examined in this work, recommendations are given in order to find a radioanalytical measurement procedure, for ⁹⁰Sr and ^239,240Pu analysis, which is fit-for-purpose for a particular scenario.

     

Addition reaction and characterization of chlorotris(triphenylphosphine)iridium(I) on silicon(1 1 1) surfaces

Studies were performed to determine the chemical addition of a metal complex molecule, chlorotris(triphenylphosphine)iridium(I), on hydrogen passivated Si(1 1 1) surfaces to form a self-assembled monolayer (SAM). The iridium complex was synthesized prior to chemical addition, for which modified reaction conditions were chosen. Following addition, the silicon surfaces were characterized with X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and cyclic voltammetry (CV). The XPS results revealed that the surfaces consisted of the expected elemental percentages and that the iridium has a slightly higher success rate at attaching to oxide-free surfaces. XPS data also strongly indicate that the iridium complex remained intact upon chemisorption and did not decompose during the addition reaction. CV data show a difference between iridium treated surfaces and control samples. Hydrogen passivated wafers with iridium complex were much more conductive than those which were terminated with just an oxide or with an oxide and iridium complex. Furthermore, no free iridium reagent was detected as an additional feature in the current profile, indicating there was no physisorbed layer.     

Far‐ and Mid‐Infrared Spectroscopic Analysis of the Substrate‐Induced Structural Dynamics of Respiratory Complex I

The catalytic activity of the respiratory NADH:ubiquinone oxidoreductase (complex I) is based on conformational reorganizations. Herein we probe the effect of substrates on the conformational flexibility of complex I by means of ¹H/²H exchange kinetics at the level of the amide proton in the mid‐infrared spectral range (1700–1500 cm^?1). Slow, medium, and fast exchanging domains are distinguished that reveal different accessibilities to the solvent. Whereas amide hydrogens undergo rapid exchange with the solvent in an open structure, hydrogens experience much slower exchange when they are involved in H‐bonded structures or when they are sterically inaccessible for the solvent. The results indicate a structure that is more open in the presence of both NADH and quinon. Complementary information on the overall internal hydrogen bonding of the protein was probed in the far infrared (300–30 cm^?1), a spectral range that includes a continuum mode of the hydrogen bonding signature.     

Microengineered PEG Hydrogels: 3D Scaffolds for Guided Cell Growth

Designing three‐dimensional (3D) scaffolds for selective manipulation of cell growth is of high relevance for applications in regenerative medicine. Especially, scaffolds with oriented morphologies bear high potential to guide the restoration of specific tissues. The fabrication of hydrogel scaffolds that support long‐term survival, proliferation, and unidirectional growth of embedded cells is presented here. Parallel channel structures are introduced into the bulk hydrogels by uniaxial freezing, providing stable, and uniform porosity suitable for cell invasion (pore diameters of 5–15 µm). In vitro assessment of the scaffolds with murine fibroblasts (NIH L929) shows a remarkable unidirectional movement along the channels, with the cells traveling several millimeters through the hydrogel.

     

Self-assembly of 5,11,17,23-tetranitro-25,26,27,28-tetramethoxythiacalix[4]arene with neutral molecules and its use for anion recognition

Methylation of 5,11,17,23-tetranitrothiacalix[4]arene with diazomethane leads to the tetramethoxy derivative, which was studied using single-crystal X-ray crystallography. It revealed that this compound, albeit in the 1,3-alternate conformation, can form the inclusion complexes with various solvent molecules possessing acidic methyl groups (ethyl acetate, nitromethane, acetone, acetonitrile) and creates interesting infinite channels filled with solvent molecules. The subsequent transformation of nitro groups into the ureido moieties gave receptors capable of anion recognition even in a highly HB-competitive solvent like DMSO.