Electronic structure of uracil-like nucleobases adsorbed on Si(001): uracil,thymine and 5-fluorouracil

We study the electronic properties of the Si(001):Uracil, Si(001):Thymine, andSi(001):5-Fluorouracil systems, focusing on the Si dimer-bridging configuration withadsorption governed by carbonyl groups. While the overall structural and electronicproperties are similar, with small differences due to chemical substitutions, much largereffects on the surface band dispersion and bandgap show up as a function of the molecularorientation with respect to the surface. An off-normal orientation of the molecular planesis favored, showing larger bandgap and lower total energy than the upright position. Wealso analyze the localization of gap-edge occupied and unoccupied surface states.     

An approach for the enantioselective synthesis of biologically active furanones from a Morita-Baylis-Hillman adduct

Herein, we disclose an approach for the asymmetric synthesis of both enantiomers of an anti-inflammatory furanone. The approach is based on the utilization of a Morita-Baylis-Hillman adduct as starting material and has as key step a selective epoxide-opening/benzylic oxidation mediated by Palladium (II). This sequence afforded an advanced intermediate, which was used to accomplish the total synthesis. Experimental evidences allowed us to suggest a mechanistic proposal for the oxidation Palladium(II)-mediated.     

Trips in Kerr-NUT spacetime

With reference to the recently published article (Abdujabbarov et al. in Gen Relativ Gravit 40:2515–2532, 2008), we question the correctness of the method employed and the physical consistency of the claimed results.     

Dimensional reduction of the 5D Kaluza–Klein geodesic deviation equation

In the work of Kerner et al. (Phys Rev D 63:027502, 2001) the problem of the geodesic deviation in a 5D Kaluza–Klein background is faced. The 4D space–time projection of the resulting equation coincides with the usual geodesic deviation equation in the presence of the Lorenz force, provided that the fifth component of the deviation vector satisfies an extra constraint which takes into account the q/m conservation along the path. The analysis was performed setting as a constant the scalar field which appears in Kaluza–Klein model. Here we focus on the extension of such a work to the model where the presence of the scalar field is considered. Our result coincides with that of Kerner et al. when the minimal case f = 1{phi=1} is considered, while it shows some departures in the general case. The novelty due to the presence of f{phi} is that the variation of the q/m between the two geodesic lines is not conserved during the motion; an exact law for such a behaviour has been derived.     

Low n-6/n-3 Gestation and Lactation Diets Influence Early Performance,Muscle and Adipose Polyunsaturated Fatty Acid Content and Deposition,and Relative Abundance of Proteins in Suckling Piglets

Elevated omega-6 (n-6) and omega-3 (n-3) polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) ratios in swine diets can potentially impose a higher risk of inflammatory and metabolic diseases in swine. A low ratio between the two omega PUFAs has beneficial effects on sows’ and piglets’ production performance and immunity status. At present, there are few studies on how sow nutrition directly affects the protein and fat deposition in suckling piglets. Two groups of sows were fed diets with high or low n-6/n-3 polyunsaturated ratios of 13:1 (SOY) and 4:1 (LIN), respectively, during gestation and lactation. Longissimus dorsi muscle and adipose tissue from newborn piglets, nourished only with sow’s milk, were subjected to fatty acid profiling by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and to proteomics assays based on nano-liquid chromatography coupled to high-resolution tandem mass spectrometry (nLC-HRMS). Fatty acid profiles on both muscle and adipose tissues resembled the magnitude of the differences between fatty acid across diets. Proteomic analysis revealed overabundance of 4 muscle and 11 adipose tissue proteins in SOY compared to LIN in both piglet tissues. The detected overabundance of haptoglobin, an acute-phase protein, and the stimulation of protein-coding genes and proteins related to the innate immune response and acute inflammatory response could be associated with the pro-inflammatory role of n-6 PUFAs.     

New Promising Therapeutic Avenues of Curcumin in Brain Diseases

Curcumin, the dietary polyphenol isolated from Curcuma longa (turmeric), is commonly used as an herb and spice worldwide. Because of its bio-pharmacological effects curcumin is also called “spice of life”, in fact it is recognized that curcumin possesses important proprieties such as anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-microbial, antiproliferative, anti-tumoral, and anti-aging. Neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s Diseases, Parkinson’s Diseases, and Multiple Sclerosis are a group of diseases characterized by a progressive loss of brain structure and function due to neuronal death; at present there is no effective treatment to cure these diseases. The protective effect of curcumin against some neurodegenerative diseases has been proven by in vivo and in vitro studies. The current review highlights the latest findings on the neuroprotective effects of curcumin, its bioavailability, its mechanism of action and its possible application for the prevention or treatment of neurodegenerative disorders.     

Baker's yeast mediated preparation of carbohydrate-like chiral synthons

Baker's yeast mediated reduction of the α-acetoxy ketones (1)–(3) proceeds with high enantio- and stereoselectivity to give the $\text{anti}$ carbinols (4)–(6), easily converted into the masked chiral deoxy sugars (12)–(14), from which {=D}- and {=L}-deoxysugars have been obtained.     

Lewis acid promoted aldol additions of α-thiosilylketeneacetals to α-alkoxy aldehydes: diastereoselective synthesis of syn-α-methylene-β-hydroxy-∂-alkoxy esters.

MgBr₂ mediated addition of Methyl α-methylthio propionate silylketene acetal to α and α,β-alkoxy aldehydes is highly 3,4 $\text{syn}$-selective (18:1). $\text{syn}$-α- methylene-β- hydroxy-?-alkoxy esters (6) and (8) are synthesized.