Electron transport in corona charged 12 μm teflon FEP with saturable deep traps

Surface-potential measurements carried out in negatively corona charged 12 m samples of fluorethylenepropylene (Teflon FEP) showed the following characteristics: 1) with a constant charging current, the potential initially rises linearly, and then sublinearly; 2) the potential saturates irrespectively of the charging process and 3) practically no potential decay is observed after switching off the corona. These results have been interpreted in terms of an usual model (field-independent trapping time) for charge transport in insulators, with saturable deep traps in both surface and bulk of the sample and a relatively high electron mobility in order to prevent free-space charge accumulation. The partial differential equations derived from the model are numerically solved and it was found that only the product of the mobility with the trapping time is relevant to the fitting of experimental results, provided that >10^–8 cm²/Vs. A field-dependent trapping time model leads to poorer fittings.     

Submanifolds of complex space forms admitting an almost contact metric compound structure

Summary Real hypersurfaces of an almost Hermitian manifold naturally admit an almost contact metric structure and the (f, g, u, v, w, , , )-structure is defined on submanifolds of codimension 3 of an almost Hermitian manifold. We study the so-called semi-invariant submanifolds of a complex space form with almost contact metric compound structure which is a general notion of (f, g, u, v, w, , , )-structure.Dedicated to professor Eulyong Pak on his 60th birthdayThis research was partially supported by Korean Science and Engineering Foundation Grant.     

Structural transformations during the gas chromatography of carbamates

Summary There is no apparent paucity of examples illustrative of the structural changes observed during the gas chromatography of diverse carbamates and thiocarbamates. In many cases the resultat thermal degradation products observed are analogous in some measure to the three possible modes of decomposition reported in nonchromatographic thermal studies for N-phenyl carbamates [4, 35, 36], e.g., Dyer andWright [35] have shown that when R is a primary or secondary alkyl group, all three modes of decomposition can occur when the reaction is carried out in the absence of solvents. If the amine and isocyanate products are allowed to remain in the formation mixture, diphenyl urea is also formed, viz., As has been shown, the thermal and hydrolytic stabilities of carbamates exhibit a marked dependence upon the degree and type of N-substitution. Disubstituted carbamates are quite resistant to thermal decomposition (as well as hydrolysis). Monosubstituted carbamates readily undergo thermal decomposition at elevated temperatures to yield primarily the respective isocyanate while unsubstituted carbamates have been reported to decompose to allophanates, cyanuric acid, and alcohol [37]. The thermal decomposition of unsubstituted carbamates is accelerated appreciably in the presence of eventrace amounts of metal salts, giving rise to the formation of cyamelide. The degradative scheme for the diol dicarbamates (as typified by the medicinal carbamates, meprobamate and soma) is more difficult to interpret.Paquin [38] reported that the pyrolysis of the dicarbamate of 1,3-butylene glycol (I), yielded an oxazolidone (II) and a cyclic urea (III) as follows: The further degradation of compounds II and III under pyrolytic conditions remains a distinct possibility.

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Strukturumwandlungen w?hrend der Gas-Chromatographie von Carbamaten

Zusammenfassung Es besteht offenbar kein Mangel an Beispielen für Strukturumwandlungen w?hrend der Gas-Chromatographie verschiedener Carbamate und Thiocarbamate. In vielen F?llen entsprechen die beobachteten resultierenden thermischen Abbauprodukte in gewissem Ma?e den drei m?glichen Abbauformen, über die in nichtchromatographischen thermischen Untersuchungen von N-Phenylcarbamaten berichtet wird [4, 35, 36], z.B. Dyer Wright [35] haben gezeigt, da?, wenn R eine prim?re oder sekund?re Alkylgruppe ist, alle drei Abbauformen vorkommen k?nnen, wenn die Reaktion in Abwesenheit von L?sungsmitteln stattfindet. Wenn die Amin- und Isocyanat-Produkte in der Mischung belassen werden, bildet sich auch Diphenylharnstoff, n?mlich: Wie gezeigt wurde, besitzt die thermische und hydrolytische Stabilit?t von Carbamaten eine starke Abh?ngigkeit von Grad und Art der N-Substitution. Disubstituierte Carbamate sind ziemlich resistent gegen therm?sche Zersetzung (wie auch gegen Hydrolyse). Monosubstitutierte Carbamate lassen sich bei h?heren Temperaturen leicht thermisch zersetzen, wobei haupts?chlich das entsprechende Isocyanat entsteht, w?hrend sich unsubstituierte Carbamate nach [37] in Allophanate, Cyanurs?ure und Alkohol zersetzen. Der thermische Abbau unsubstituierter Carbamate wird durch Anwesenheit selbst geringer Spuren von Metallsalzen nennenswert beschleunigt, wobei Cyamelid entsteht. Das Abbauschema für die Diol-Dicarbamate (typische Beispiele: medizinische Carbamate, Meprobamat und Soma) ist schwieriger zu interpretieren.Paquin [38] berichtet, da? bei der Pyrolyse des Dicarbamats von 1,3-Butylenglycol (I) ein Oxazolidon (II) und ein cyclischer Harnstoff (III) in der folgenden Weise entstanden: Der weitere Abbau der Verbindungen II und III unter Pyrolysebedingungen ist nicht auszuschlie?en.

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Transformations de structure pendant la chromatographie en phase gazeuse de carbamates

Sommaire On ne manque pas d'exemples qui illustrent les transformations de structure observées pendant la chromatographie en phase gazeuse de divers carbamates et thiocarbamates. Souvent les produits de dégradation thermiques obtenus sont analogues, dans une certaine mesure, a ceux formés par décomposition thermique selon un des schémas probable signalé ci-après, procédés qui furent decrits pour des carbamates N-phényliques [4, 35, 36] dans des études de stabilité thermique non-chromatographiques, par exemple: Dyer etWright [35] ont démontré, si R est un groupe alkyle primaire ou secondaire, les trois modes de décomposition peuvent avoir lieu si la réaction se produit en l'absence de solvants. Si les amines et les isocyanates sont laissés dans le mélange, il y a aussi formation de diphénylurée, c'est-à-dire Il a été montré que la stabilité thermique et hydrolytique de carbamates dépend fortement du degré et type de la N-substitution. Des carbamates disubstitués sont assez résistants à la décomposition thermique (ainsi qu'à l'hydrolyse). Les carbamates monosubstitutés sont facilement sujets à la décomposition thermique à des températures élevées, produisant surtout l'isocyanate correspondant, tandis que, selon la littérature, des carbamates non-substitués sont décomposés en formant des allophanates, acide cyanurique, et alcool [37]. La décomposition thermique de carbamates non-substitués est accélérée sensiblement par la présence de sels métalliques, même à l'état de trace, provoquant la formation de cyamélide. Le schéma de dégradation des diol-dicarbamates (exemples typiques: carbamates médicinaux, méprobamate, soma) est plus difficile à interpréter.Paquin [38] a trouvé que la pyrolyse du dicarbamate de 1,3-butylène glycol (I) produit un oxazolidone (II) et une urée cyclique (III) d'après le schéma suivant: La dégradation ultérieure des composés II et III sous des conditions pyrolytiques n'est pas à exclure.

     

Quantitative studies on the peroxidation of human low-density lipoprotein initiated by superoxide and by charged and neutral alkylperoxyl radicals.

Rates of peroxidation of human LDL and rates of consumption of the LDL's alpha-tocopherol (TocH) have been measured at 37 degrees C. Peroxidation was initiated by radicals generated in the aerated aqueous phase at known rates by thermal decomposition of appropriate precursors: superoxide (O2(*-)/HOO(*)) from a hyponitrite and alkylperoxyls (ROO(*), two positively charged, one negatively charged and one neutral) from azo compounds. The efficiencies of escape from the solvent cage of the geminate pair of neutral carbon-centered radicals was found to be 0.1, but it was 0.5 for the three charged radicals, a result attributed to radical/radical Coulombic repulsion within the cage. All four alkylperoxyls initiated and terminated tocopherol-mediated peroxidation (TMP) with about equal efficiency and essentially all of these radicals that were generated were consumed in these two reactions. TMP is a radical chain process, and when initiated by the alkylperoxyls, the rate of LDL peroxidation was faster in the early stages while TocH was present than later, after all of this "antioxidant" had been consumed. In contrast, only about 3-4% of the generated superoxide radicals reacted in any measurable fashion with TocH-containing LDL at pH's from 7.6 to 6.5 and peroxidation was much slower than with a similar rate of generation of alkylperoxyls. After all the TocH had been consumed, LDL peroxidation was negligible at pH 7.6 and 7.4, but at pH 6.8 and 6.5, the peroxidation rates showed a large increase over the rates while the TocH had been present. That is, endogenous TocH behaves as an antioxidant in LDL subjected to attack by the physiologically relevant superoxide radical, whereas TocH behaves as a prooxidant in LDL subjected to attack by the probably far less physiologically important alkylperoxyls. Rates of LDL peroxidation initiated by superoxide increased as the pH was decreased, and the results are consistent with the initiation of peroxidation of fresh LDL occurring via H-atom abstraction from TocH by HOO(*) to form the Toc(*) radical and termination by reaction of O2(*-) with Toc(*), a process that occurs partly by addition leading to TocH consumption and partly by electron plus proton transfer leading to the regeneration of TocH.     

Zeb1 for RCP-induced oral cancer cell invasion and its suppression by resveratrol

Rab coupling protein (RCP) is upregulated in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) and is correlated with the progression and survival of patients. However, the role of RCP in one of the aggressive types of HNSCC, oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC), remains elusive. In the present study, we identified the important role of Zeb1 in RCP-induced OSCC epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and invasion. RCP induces Zeb1 expression, and silencing Zeb1 expression significantly inhibits RCP-induced OSCC invasion. In addition, Zeb1 upregulates MT1-MMP expression to promote OSCC EMT and invasion. Furthermore, we observed that the β1 integrin/EGFR/β-catenin signaling cascade mediates RCP-induced Zeb1 expression to promote OSCC invasion. Notably, we provide evidence that resveratrol (REV) strongly inhibits RCP-induced Zeb1 expression through blocking β1 integrin endosome recycling and EGFR activation, leading to suppression of RCP-induced OSCC invasion, demonstrating the important role of RCP in OSCC invasion and its reversion by REV. Collectively, the present study provides evidence for the first time that RCP aggravates OSCC invasion through increasing Zeb1 expression and subsequently upregulating MT1-MMP expression and that this process is reversed by REV, providing novel biomarkers and indicating the therapeutic potential of REV in OSCC.Subject terms: Oral cancer, Cell invasion     

Simultaneous Two-Photon Activation of Type-I Photodynamic Therapy Agents

The excitation and emission properties of several psoralen derivatives are compared using conventional single-photon excitation and simultaneous two-photon excitation (TPE). Two-photon excitation is effected using the output of a mode-locked titanium: sapphire laser, the near infrared output of which is used to promote non-resonant TPE directly. Specifically, the excitation spectra and excited-state properties of 8-methoxypsoralen and 4′-aminomethyl-4,5,8-trimethylpsoralen are shown to be equivalent using both modes of excitation. Further, in vitro feasibility of two-photon photodynamic therapy (PDT) is demonstrated using Salmonella typhimurium. Two-photon excitation may be beneficial in the practice of PDT because it would allow replacement of visible or UV excitation light with highly penetrating, nondamag-ing near infrared light and could provide a means for improving localization of therapy. Comparison of possible laser excitation sources for PDT reveals the titanium: sapphire laser to be exceptionally well suited for nonlinear excitation of PDT agents in biological systems due to its extremely short pulse width and high repetition rate that together provide efficient PDT activation and greatly reduced potential for biological damage     

CHIP-mediated hyperubiquitylation of tau promotes its self-assembly into the insoluble tau filaments

The tau protein is a highly soluble and natively unfolded protein. Under pathological conditions, tau undergoes multiple post-translational modifications (PTMs) and conformational changes to form insoluble filaments, which are the proteinaceous signatures of tauopathies. To dissect the crosstalk among tau PTMs during the aggregation process, we phosphorylated and ubiquitylated recombinant tau in vitro using GSK3β and CHIP, respectively. The resulting phospho–ub-tau contained conventional polyubiquitin chains with lysine 48 linkages, sufficient for proteasomal degradation, whereas unphosphorylated ub-tau species retained only one–three ubiquitin moieties. Mass-spectrometric analysis of in vitro reconstituted phospho–ub-tau revealed seven additional ubiquitylation sites, some of which are known to stabilize tau protofilament stacking in the human brain with tauopathy. When the ubiquitylation reaction was prolonged, phospho–ub-tau transformed into insoluble hyperubiquitylated tau species featuring fibrillar morphology and in vitro seeding activity. We developed a small-molecule inhibitor of CHIP through biophysical screening; this effectively suppressed tau ubiquitylation in vitro and delayed its aggregation in cultured cells including primary cultured neurons. Our biochemical findings point to a “multiple-hit model,” where sequential events of tau phosphorylation and hyperubiquitylation function as a key driver of the fibrillization process, thus indicating that targeting tau ubiquitylation may be an effective strategy to alleviate the course of tauopathies.

Multiple-hit model for tau aggregation, where sequential events of tau phosphorylation and hyperubiquitylation function as a key driver of the fibrillization process.     

A supramolecular microfluidic optical chemosensor

A supramolecular microfluidic optical chemosensor (muFOC) has been fabricated. A serpentine channel has been patterned with a sol-gel film that incorporates a cyclodextrin supramolecule modified with a Tb(3+) macrocycle. Bright emission from the Tb(3+) ion is observed upon exposure of the (mu)FOC to biphenyl in aqueous solution. The signal transduction mechanism was elucidated by undertaking steady-state and time-resolved spectroscopic measurements directly on the optical chemosensor patterned within the microfluidic network. The presence of biphenyl in the cyclodextrin receptor site triggers Tb(3+) emission by an absorption-energy transfer-emission process. These results demonstrate that the intricate signal transduction mechanisms of supramolecular optical chemosensors are successfully preserved in microfluidic environments.     

Synthesis of an azacrown template for phosphatidylinositol-4,5-bis(phosphate) recognition

An azacrown system has been developed for selective membrane binding of phosphatidylinositol-4,5-bis(phosphate) recognition. Neutral and cationic forms of the metacyclophane macrocycles have been synthesized by divergent routes in acceptable yields. Such diversity will be useful in identifying anion receptors that operate best at membrane interfaces.