A tag-less method for direct isolation of human umbilical vein endothelial cells by gravitational field-flow fractionation

The analysis of cellular and molecular profiles represents a powerful tool in many biomedical applications to identify the mechanisms underlying the pathological changes. The improvement of cellular starting material and the maintenance of the physiological status in the sample preparation are very useful. Human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) are a model for prediction of endothelial dysfunction. HUVEC are enzymatically removed from the umbilical vein by collagenase. This method provides obtaining a good sample yield. However, the obtained cells are often contaminated with blood cells and fibroblasts. Methods based on negative selection by in vitro passages or on the use of defined marker are currently employed to isolate target cells. However, these approaches cannot reproduce physiological status and they require expensive instrumentation. Here we proposed a new method for an easy, tag-less and direct isolation of HUVEC from raw umbilical cord sample based on the gravitational field-flow fractionation (GrFFF). This is a low-cost, fully biocompatible method with low instrumental and training investments for flow-assisted cell fractionation. The method allows obtaining pure cells without cell culture procedures as starting material for further analysis; for example, a proper amount of RNA can be extracted. The approach can be easily integrated into clinical and biomedical procedures.     

Determination of the Wave Structure of the Three-Phase Flow Riemann Problem

In a previous paper (Transp. Porous Media,55(1): 47–70), algorithms are given for computing the analytical solution to the three-phase Riemann problem. Application of those algorithms requires that the wave configuration is known. The purpose of this note is to provide a procedure to determine the wave structure for any initial and injected saturation states.     

On the primary thermal decomposition pathways of hydroxycinnamic acids

Valorization of pyrolytic lignin to fuels and chemicals is still poorly understood due to its ill-defined structure and the complexity of the decomposition chemistry. To shed some light on the dominant reaction pathways of lignin thermolysis, novel experimental and first-principles based calculations of its building blocks have been carried out. Pyrolysis chemistry of hydroxycinnamic acids is investigated in this work using a unique Py-GC × GC-FID/TOF-MS coupled with a customized GC to detect water and gases, to gain an understanding of the role of the branching ratios in lignin and its linkages with hemicellulose. Mean residence times of cinnamic and ferulic acids were estimated to be 12 and 21 s at 573 K, based on time-resolved experiments. Cinnamic acid undergoes a CO₂ elimination reaction at temperatures higher than 873 K without an intermediate liquid phase. At temperatures as low as 573 K, –OH and –OCH₃ substituted cinnamic acids underwent decarboxylation despite bearing similar BDEs for Cβ–Cγ scission. At these temperatures, p-coumaric and ferulic acids were converted into 4-vinylphenol and 4-vinylguaiacol by 40 wt% and 30 wt%, respectively. On the other hand, sinapinic acid converted nearly by 80 wt% at temperatures below its boiling point of 676 K. In conjunction with novel quantum chemical calculations, it could be ruled out that decarboxylation was not occurring via concerted unimolecular reactions at low temperatures. Instead, water-catalyzed reactions of hydroxycinnamic acids seem to be the primary cause for the CO₂ elimination in the intermediate liquid phase via a 6-centered transition state.     

Finite Size Corrections for the Ising Model on Higher Genus Triangular Lattices

We study the topology dependence of the finite size corrections to the Ising model partition function by considering the model on a triangular lattice embedded on a genus two surface. At criticality we observe a universal shape dependent correction, expressible in terms of Riemann theta functions, that reproduces the modular invariant partition function of the corresponding conformal field theory. The period matrix characterizing the moduli parameters of the limiting Riemann surface is obtained by a numerical study of the lattice continuum limit. The same results are reproduced using a discrete holomorphic structure.     

Catalytic Photoinduced Intramolecular Decarboxylative and Desulfonylative sp3 Allylation Enabled by Sulfinate Salts

Herein, we describe a catalytic intramolecular decarboxylative/desulfonylative sp³ allylation triggered by sulfinate salts under light irradiation. The reaction is likely enabled by a non-classical, radical-polar crossover mechanism, allowing rapid and reliable access to valuable allyl architectures from readily accessible precursors. The protocol is characterized by its operational simplicity and scalability, employing abundant, commercially available catalysts.     

Lattice-solvent controlled spin transitions in iron(II) complexes

A series of spin transition (ST) iron(II) compounds of the type [FeII2](X)2.{S}2 (where is 4'-(4'-cyanophenyl)-1,2':6'1'-bispyrazolylpyridine, X=ClO4- or BF4-, and S is acetonitrile) was synthesized and magnetically investigated. The effects of the removal of the lattice-solvent molecules and of their different positions relative to the iron(II) cations on the ST process were investigated. Crystallization yields orange block (A.{S}2) crystals of the composition [FeII()2](ClO4)2.{S}2, and two polymorphic compounds of the stoichiometry [FeII()2](BF4)2.{S}2 as red coffin (B.{S}2) and orange block (C.{S}2) crystals. The Fe-N bond distances of A.{S}2 (from 1.921(9) to 1.992(3) A; at 150 K), B.{S}2 (from 1.943(2) to 2.017(2) A; at 180 K) and C.{S}2 (from 1.883(3) to 1.962(3) A; at 180 K) indicate low spin (LS) states of the respective iron(II) ions. Notably, the observed small difference in the Fe-N distances at 180 K for the two polymorphs B.{S}2and C.{S}2 are due to different positions of the acetonitrile molecules in the crystal lattices and illustrate the sensitivity of the spin transition properties on lattice-solvent effects. Variable-temperature single crystal X-ray studies display single-crystal thermochroism (red (LS)<-->orange (HS)) for A.{S}2 and B.{S}2 and ca. 3.6% decrease in the unit cell volume of A.{S}2 from 4403 A3 at 300 K to 4278 A3 at 150 K. The temperature dependent magnetic susceptibilities of A.{S}2 and B.{S}2 demonstrate systematic increase of the spin transition temperatures (T1/2) and continuous decreases of the hysteresis loop width (DeltaT1/2) upon slow lattice-solvent exclusion.