Regiospecific synthesis of 4-alkoxy and 4-amino substituted 2-trifluoromethyl pyrroles

A simple and regiospecific synthesis of 4-alkoxy(amino)-2-trifluoromethyl pyrroles from 5-azido-4-alkoxy(amino)-1,1,1-trifluoro-pent-3-en-2-ones by an aza-Wittig cyclization of aminophosphoranes is described. The structures of the pyrroles and their synthetic intermediates were supported by NMR and HRMS analysis.     

Er, Yb Doped Yttrium Based Nanosized Phosphors: Particle Size, “Host Lattice” and Doping Ion Concentration Effects on Upconversion Efficiency

The upconverter phosphors studied herein have different percentages of Er³⁺ and Yb³⁺ as doping ions in different Y³⁺ matrixes (Y₂O₃, Y₂O₂S), and were prepared from different precursors (polymeric resin, oxalate, basic carbonate) and method (combustion). Upconversion emission spectra were recorded at 298 K for all the doped samples in the visible region, for efficiency and Green/Red emission relative intensity comparisons. Therefore, an investigation of the influence of the doping ion concentration, particle size and host lattice on the upconversion process is provided in view of the UPT (Upconverting phosphor technology application). On the basis of the results, it was possible to evaluate the best combination for a specific assay, considering whether it is advantageous to have the greatest contribution from the green or red emissions, or from both in comparable intensities.     

Use of Fluorescence Probes for Detection of Reactive Nitrogen Species: A Review

The biological and toxicological effects that have been attributed to reactive nitrogen species (RNS) are increasingly stirring the scientific inquisitiveness about the molecular mechanisms involved. However, RNS present some characteristics that complicate their detection, namely their short lifetime and the normal presence of a variety of endogenous compounds capable of reacting with these reactive species, when the studies are performed in biological matrices. The development of methodologies capable of circumvent these difficulties is thus of fundamental importance. Fluorescence probes are particularly important due to their high sensibility and usefulness in temporal and spatial monitoring of RNS, particularly in microanalysis conditions in biological media akin to cells or tissues. In the present review is given an account of the fluorescence probes that have been used for detection of nitric oxide (^⋅NO), peroxynitrite anion (ONOO⁻), as well as of some of its derivatives in biological and nonbiological media.     

Cytotoxicity and physico-chemical evaluation of acetylated and pegylated cellulose nanocrystals

The high hydrophilicity of cellulose nanocrystals (CNC) may result in poor dispersion in some matrices and solvents. So in this work, two different methodologies were used to reduce the hydrophilicity of CNC. In the first methodology, CNC were acetylated (CNC-Ac) in a mixture of acetic and hydrochloric acid, and in the second methodology, polyethylene glycol (PEG) was adsorbed onto CNC surface (CNC-PEG) under stirring in aqueous solution. CNC obtained by both methods were characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), dynamic light scattering (DLS), zeta potential, and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). Images of TEM showed that the intrinsic morphology of cellulose was preserved after both treatments. FTIR confirmed acetylation reaction by the presence of a new band at 1732 cm^?1 (acetate groups) and the consumption of OH groups. XRD showed a reduction in the crystallinity index for both applied methodologies. DLS showed reduced stability in water for CNC-Ac and CNC-PEG. Values of zeta potential changed after acetylation, from ??45 mV (CNC) to ??1 mV (CNC-Ac), and after adsorption of PEG, to ??26.7 mV (CNC-PEG). TGA showed a reduction in the thermal stability after both treatments and a change in the main degradation behavior for CNC-PEG. MTT assays showed that both proposed functionalizations induce cell proliferation, being even more evident for acetylation because, in addition to viability increase with time, it increased with the sample concentration.     

Entanglement generation through the interplay of harmonic driving and interaction in coupled superconducting qubits

We study the manipulation of quantum entanglement by periodic external fields. As an entanglement measure we compute numerically the concurrence of two coupled superconducting qubits both driven by a dc + ac external control parameter. We show that when the driving term of the Hamiltonian commutes with the qubit–qubit interaction term, it is possible to create or destroy entanglement in a controlled way by tuning the system at or near multiphoton resonances. On the other hand, when the driving does not commute with the qubit–qubit interaction, the control and generation of entanglement induced by the driving field is more robust and extended in parameter space, beyond the multiphoton resonances.     

Extreme Value Laws for Dynamical Systems with Countable Extremal Sets

We consider stationary stochastic processes arising from dynamical systems by evaluating a given observable along the orbits of the system. We focus on the extremal behaviour of the process, which is related to the entrance in certain regions of the phase space, which correspond to neighbourhoods of the maximal set \(\mathcal M\), i.e.,the set of points where the observable is maximised. The main novelty here is the fact that we consider that the set \(\mathcal M\) may have a countable number of points, which are associated by belonging to the orbit of a certain point, and may have accumulation points. In order to prove the existence of distributional limits and study the intensity of clustering, given by the Extremal Index, we generalise the conditions previously introduced in Freitas (Adv Math 231(5): 2626–2665, 2012, Stoch Process Appl 125(4): 1653–1687, 2015).     

Chemical Physical Characterization and Profile of Fruit Volatile Compounds from Different Accesses of Myrciaria floribunda (H. West Ex Wild.) O. Berg through Polyacrylate Fiber

Among the many species of native fruit of Brazil that have been little explored, there is Myrciaria floribunda (also known as rumberry, cambuizeiro, or guavaberry), a species with significant variability, which has fruits of different colors (orange, red, and purple) when ripe. The physical-chemical characteristics evaluated were fruit weight (FW), seed weight (SW), pulp weight (PW), number of seeds (NS), longitudinal diameter (LD), transverse diameter (TD), format (LD/TD), hydrogen potential (pH), soluble solids (SS), titratable acidity (TA), and ratio (SS/TA); further, the volatile organic compounds (VOCs) of nine accesses of rumberry orchards were identified. The averages of the variables FW, SW, PW, NS, LD, TD, shape, and firmness were 0.76 g, 0.22 g, 0.54 g, 1.45, 10.06 mm, 9.90 mm, 1.02, 2.96 N, respectively. LD/TD data showed that the fruits have a slightly rounded shape (LD/TD = 1). The averages for pH, SS, TA, and SS/TA were 3.74, 17.58 Brix, 4.31% citric acid, and 4.31, respectively. The evaluated parameters indicated that the fruits can be consumed both in natura and industrialized, with the red-colored fruits presenting a good balance of SS/TA, standards demanded by the processing industries. Thirty-six VOCs were identified, with emphasis on the sesquiterpenes. Caryophyllene (21.6% to 49.3%) and γ-selinene (11.3% to 16.3%) were the most predominant compounds in rumberry fruits.     

Multiphase thermoplastic hybrid for controlled release of antimicrobial essential oils in active packaging film

Active packaging, a new technology concept in the field of food packaging, has been introduced in recent years in order to provide quality and safety, as well as extend the shelf life of food products. Antimicrobial (AM) agents can be incorporated directly into the active packaging and migrate in a controlled manner to the headspace between the food and the package, inhibiting bacteria growth on the food surface. Naturally derived AM agent, such as essential oils (EOs), has received considerable attention for food preservation purposes, because of their effective AM activity against various bacteria and fungi. In the present study, AM active film systems based on polypropylene/polyamide blends, montmorillonite nanoclays, and thymol EO were produced to investigate the feasibility of controlling the release rate of thymol from food packaging systems. Selective localization of thymol in a specific phase in the system that derives from thermodynamic affinity was assumed to be useful in controlling its migration rate from the film to the headspace. EO retention in the film under two different time conditions was measured by spectroscopic analysis. The release rate of EO was determined using Gas chromatography technique and analyzed by diffusion model approach. Inhibition of bacterial growth was periodically tested for Listeria and Escherichia coli bacteria. This study confirms the thermodynamic affinity of polyamide phase with thymol that has a positive effect in retaining the EO. Results show controlled AM behavior of the active packaging films, based on various blend compositions. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

RP-HPLC method for estimation of sesamin in two Zanthoxylum species

Zanthoxylum naranjillo and Z. tingoassuiba (Rutaceae) are traditional herbal medicines with various biological activities including anti-inflammatory, analgesic, and antimalarial action. In this work, we have developed a simple HPLC-DAD method to quantify sesamin, a bioactive lignan present in Z. naranjillo and Z. tingoassuiba; egonol was the internal standard. According to the developed method, 11.07 ± 1.66, 8.69 ± 0.95, and 15.11 ± 0.72 µg/mL sesamin was present in the ethanol extract of Z. naranjillo leaves, in the methanol extract of Z. naranjillo leaves, and in the methanol extract of Z. tingoassuiba bark, respectively. The limits of detection and quantification were 0.32 and 1.06 µg/mL, respectively. The developed method can be easily applied during routine analysis of sesamin in these medicinal plants.     

Some optical specificity of ultrathin crystalline films

The changes of optical properties under boundary presence in molecular crystal nanofilm were theoretically investigated in this work. The dispersion law and states of excitons as well as their space distribution along boundary direction have been determined using adjusted Green's function method and also by combined analytical and numerical calculations. On the basis of real and imaginary part of relative permittivity, both absorption and refraction indices were determined, and the influences of boundary parameters on occurrence of a very selective and strictly discrete absorption were analyzed.