Mononuclear and binuclear ruthenium(II) heteroleptic complexes based on 1,10-phenanthroline ligands. Part II: Spectroscopic and photophysical study in the presence of DNA

Photophysical and photochemical properties of a series of mononuclear and binuclear ruthenium(II) complexes of phen (phen=1,10-phenanthroline), in the absence or in the presence of calf-thymus DNA have been investigated by steady-state as well as time-resolved methods. The complexes of this series are [Ru(x)(phen)(2x)(L)](2x+) (x=1 or 2) type, where L is a bpy (4,4'-dimethyl-2,2'-bypiridine, with x=1) or a bis-bpy covalently linked by flexible chains including either polymethylene groups or polyamine functions (with x=2). Upon addition of DNA, the most important increasing luminescence and change of emission maxima wavelength are observed for the bimetallic compounds having amine functions in their spacer. A biexponential decay in luminescence is found with emission lifetimes of the complexes upon binding to DNA. Moreover, these complexes induce efficient photocleavage of DNA by irradiation at 450 nm. This efficiency is particularly important when the binuclear complexes include amino groups. Topoisomerization experiments have pointed out a similarity between the DNA cleaving ability of these complexes and their intercalation into DNA. Scavenging experiments have shown that the oxidative species involved in DNA cleavage was mainly (1)O(2), via a type II mechanism.     

Catalytic oxidation of α-pinene by transition metal using t-butyl hydroperoxide and hydrogen peroxide

The allylic oxidation of α-pinene 1 was investigated using various catalytic systems. By a proper choice of the latter, the reaction can be directed toward the selective synthesis of verbenol 2 or verbenone 3. High yield into verbenone was achieved under mild conditions with copper salts as catalysts and t-butyl hydroperoxide (TBHP) as oxidant. On the other hand, when Pd(acac)₂ was used with hydrogen peroxide, verbenol was obtained as the main product.     

Theoretical investigation of the low-lying electronic states of the alkaline hydride BeH2+ ion: Potential energy curves, spectroscopic constants, vibrational levels, and transition dipole functions

The structure and spectroscopic properties of the alkaline hydride BeH²⁺ ion have been investigated using an ab initio approach based on nonempirical pseudopotentials and parameterized l-dependent polarization potentials. The adiabatic potential energy curves and their spectroscopic constants for the ground and seventeen excited electronic states, dissociating into Be⁺(2s, 2p, 3s, 3p, 3d, 4s, 4p, and 4d) + H⁺ and Be²⁺ + H(1s and n = 2), of ²??⁺, ²??, and ²?? symmetries have been determined. As no experimental data are available, our results are discussed and compared with the few existing theoretical calculations. A very good agreement has been found with the previous theoretical data for the ground state; however many potential energy curves for the higher excited states are presented here, for the first time. Numerous avoided crossings between electronic states for ²??⁺ and ²?? symmetries have been localized and analyzed. Their existence is related to the interaction between the electronic states and to the charge transfer process between the two ionic systems Be²⁺H and Be⁺H⁺. In addition, we have calculated the vibrational energy level spacings of the bound electronic states. Furthermore, the adiabatic transition dipole functions from the X ²??⁺ and 2²??⁺ states to the higher excited states of ²??⁺ and ²?? symmetries have been evaluated and compared with the available theoretical work. This study represents the necessary initial step towards the investigation of the charge transfer processes in collision between Be⁺-H⁺ and Be²⁺-H.     

Dunkl-spherical maximal function

The purpose of this paper is to present some recent results for maximal functions and to study the \(L^p\)-boundedness of the spherical maximal function associated to the Dunkl operators.     

Existence of Positive Solutions for a Coupled System of Nonlinear Fractional Differential Equations

Ukrainian Mathematical Journal - We study the following nonlinear boundary-value problems for fractional differential equations: $$ {\displaystyle \begin{array}{c}{D}^{\alpha...     

Nuclear properties of the neutron-deficient nuclei near the shell closure

The two-neutron separation energy and the mean square charge radii of the neutron-deficient Yb isotopes are calculated in the framework of a microscopic model. The pairing correlations are included using the FBCS projection method.     

Existence of positive bounded solutions for some nonlinear elliptic systems

We prove some existence results of positive bounded continuous solutions to the semilinear elliptic system Δu=λp(x)g(v), Δv=μq(x)f(u) in domains D with compact boundary subject to some Dirichlet conditions, where λ and μ are nonnegative parameters. The functions f,g are nonnegative continuous monotone on (0,∞) and the potentials p, q are nonnegative and satisfy some hypotheses related to the Kato class K(D).     

Canadian forces global reach support hubs: facility location and aircraft routing models

The Canadian Forces (CF) is seeking to establish permanent and temporary operational support hubs at strategic locations around the globe to improve its logistics support effectiveness and responsiveness for deployed operations. This paper addresses two logistics problems associated with the hub-based support concept, namely, hub location optimization and aircraft routing problems. A discrete facility location model was developed to analyse the hub-based support effectiveness and to determine the optimal hub locations. An aircraft routing model was also developed to determine optimal aircraft routes for the movement of cargo and supplies from various support hubs to a theatre of operation. Both models were formulated using mixed integer nonlinear programming. Historical CF deployment and sustainment data were used to conduct the analysis and to illustrate the methodology. The study indicates that the hub-based support approach would offer potential cost avoidance on sustainment lift and could be an effective strategy for improvement of the CF's support capability. It also indicates that potential lift costs could be avoided through optimal routing of sustainment flights.     

A Dispersion Corrected DFT Investigation of the Inclusion Complexation of Dexamethasone with β-Cyclodextrin and Molecular Docking Study of Its Potential Activity against COVID-19

The encapsulation mode of dexamethasone (Dex) into the cavity of β-cyclodextrin (β-CD), as well as its potential as an inhibitor of the COVID-19 main protease, were investigated using density functional theory with the recent dispersion corrections D4 and molecular docking calculations. Independent gradient model and natural bond orbital approaches allowed for the characterization of the host–guest interactions in the studied systems. Structural and energetic computation results revealed that hydrogen bonds and van der Waals interactions played significant roles in the stabilization of the formed Dex@β-CD complex. The complexation energy significantly decreased from −179.50 kJ/mol in the gas phase to −74.14 kJ/mol in the aqueous phase. A molecular docking study was performed to investigate the inhibitory activity of dexamethasone against the COVID-19 target protein (PDB ID: 6LU7). The dexamethasone showed potential therapeutic activity as a SARS CoV-2 main protease inhibitor due to its strong binding to the active sites of the protein target, with predicted free energy of binding values of −29.97 and −32.19 kJ/mol as calculated from AutoDock4 and AutoDock Vina, respectively. This study was intended to explore the potential use of the Dex@β-CD complex in drug delivery to enhance dexamethasone dissolution, thus improving its bioavailability and reducing its side effects.