Global existence of strong solutions to the one-dimensional full model for phase transitions in thermoviscoelastic materials

This paper is devoted to the analysis of a one-dimensional model for phase transition phenomena in thermoviscoelastic materials. The corresponding parabolic-hyperbolic PDE system features a strongly nonlinear internal energy balance equation, governing the evolution of the absolute temperature ϑ, an evolution equation for the phase change parameter χ, including constraints on the phase variable, and a hyperbolic stress-strain relation for the displacement variable u. The main novelty of the model is that the equations for χ and u are coupled in such a way as to take into account the fact that the properties of the viscous and of the elastic parts influence the phase transition phenomenon in different ways. However, this brings about an elliptic degeneracy in the equation for u which needs to be carefully handled. First, we prove a global well-posedness result for the related initial-boundary value problem. Secondly, we address the long-time behavior of the solutions in a simplified situation. We prove that the ω-limit set of the solution trajectories is nonempty, connected and compact in a suitable topology, and that its elements solve the steady state system associated with the evolution problem. Dedicated to Jürgen Sprekels on the occasion of his 60th birthday     

Achillea moschata Wulfen: From Ethnobotany to Phytochemistry,Morphology, and Biological Activity

A multidisciplinary investigation on Achillea moschata Wulfen (Asteraceae) is outlined herein. This work, part of the European Interreg Italy–Switzerland B-ICE project, originated from an ethnobotanical survey performed in Chiesa in Valmalenco (Sondrio, Lombardy, Northern Italy) in 2019–2021 which highlighted this species’ relevance of use in folk medicine to treat gastrointestinal diseases. In addition, this contribution included analyses of the: (a) phytochemical profile of the aqueous and methanolic extracts of the dried flower heads using LC-MS/MS; (b) morpho-anatomy and histochemistry of the vegetative and reproductive organs through Light, Fluorescence, and Scanning Electron Microscopy; (c) biological activity of the aqueous extract concerning the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory potential through cell-based in vitro models. A total of 31 compounds (5 phenolic acids, 13 flavonols, and 13 flavones) were detected, 28 of which included in both extracts. Covering and secreting trichomes were observed: the biseriate 10-celled glandular trichomes prevailing on the inflorescences represented the main sites of synthesis of the polyphenols and flavonoids detected in the extracts, along with volatile terpenoids. Finally, significant antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities of the aqueous extract were documented, even at very low concentrations; for the first time, the in vitro tests allowed us to formulate hypotheses about the mechanism of action. This work brings an element of novelty due to the faithful reproduction of the traditional aqueous preparation and the combination of phytochemical and micromorphological research approaches.     

Investigation into the Use of Encorafenib to Develop Potential PROTACs Directed against BRAFV600E Protein

BRAF is a serine/threonine kinase frequently mutated in human cancers. BRAF^V600E mutated protein is targeted through the use of kinase inhibitors which are approved for the treatment of melanoma; however, their long-term efficacy is hampered by resistance mechanisms. The PROTAC-induced degradation of BRAF^V600E has been proposed as an alternative strategy to avoid the onset of resistance. In this study, we designed a series of compounds where the BRAF kinase inhibitor encorafenib was conjugated to pomalidomide through different linkers. The synthesized compounds maintained their ability to inhibit the kinase activity of mutated BRAF with IC₅₀ values in the 40–88 nM range. Selected compounds inhibited BRAF^V600E signaling and cellular proliferation of A375 and Colo205 tumor cell lines. Compounds 10 and 11, the most active of the series, were not able to induce degradation of mutated BRAF. Docking and molecular dynamic studies, conducted in comparison with the efficient BRAF degrader P5B, suggest that a different orientation of the linker bearing the pomalidomide substructure, together with a decreased mobility of the solvent-exposed part of the conjugates, could explain this behavior.     

Performance evaluation of shared and separate inverted files

In this paper, two different structures for inverted files are analyzed and compared, when the relational join operation is taken into account. The structures are called shared and separate inverted files. The results are given of some experiments which show that the shared inverted organization is always advantageous when the inverted files are not sorted and is almost always advantageous when the files are sorted.     

Recent advances in the benzannulation of substituted 3-alkoxycarbonyl-3,5-hexadienoic acids and 3-alkoxycarbonylhex-3-en-5-ynoic acids to polysubstituted aromatics

The benzannulation reactions of substituted 3-alkoxycarbonyl-3,5-hexadienoic and 3-alkoxycarbonylhex-3-en-5-ynoic acids offer a straightforward access to various polysubstituted aromatic compounds. The process is very flexible, and can be applied to the regiospecific preparation of oligoaryls, naphthalenes, ring-fused heterocycles, chiral tetrahydronaphthalenes, C-aryl-glycosides and many natural products of different structure. In this Concept article, we highlight the potential of this annulation reaction by illustration of our recent contribution to this field, as well as the studies previous reported by others.     

Evaluation of different polymerase chain reaction methods for the identification of Vibrio parahaemolyticus strains isolated by cultural methods

Control of contamination by Vibrio parahaemolyticus in fishery products is often hampered by the lack of standardized methods and by the uncertainty associated with biochemical identification of the isolates. In this study, 5 polymerase chain reaction (PCR) methods for the identification of V. parahaemolyticus to the species level were evaluated by using 25 Vibrio reference strains and 163 isolates from fishery products, environmental sources, and clinical samples. Sequence targets of the methods were toxR, gyrB, and tlh genes (tested with 2 protocols), and the fragment pR72H. Isolate identification was confirmed by sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene and by PCR protocols for the identification of other Vibrio species. The PCR assay targeting the toxR gene achieved the highest performance (100% inclusivity and exclusivity). The 2 PCR protocols based on tlh gene detection, although showing the same inclusivity (100%), differed in the exclusivity (50 and 91%, respectively). Finally, the results provided by the PCR assays targeting the gyrB gene and pR72H fragment were less reliable and, in some cases, difficult to assess. According to the results of this study, the characteristics of accuracy expressed by the toxR identification method make it a suitable candidate as a reference method for the molecular identification of V. parahaemolyticus strains.     

Antioxidant Cardioprotection against Reperfusion Injury: Potential Therapeutic Roles of Resveratrol and Quercetin

Ischemia-reperfusion myocardial damage is a paradoxical tissue injury occurring during percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in acute myocardial infarction (AMI) patients. Although this damage could account for up to 50% of the final infarct size, there has been no available pharmacological treatment until now. Oxidative stress contributes to the underlying production mechanism, exerting the most marked injury during the early onset of reperfusion. So far, antioxidants have been shown to protect the AMI patients undergoing PCI to mitigate these detrimental effects; however, no clinical trials to date have shown any significant infarct size reduction. Therefore, it is worthwhile to consider multitarget antioxidant therapies targeting multifactorial AMI. Indeed, this clinical setting involves injurious effects derived from oxygen deprivation, intracellular pH changes and increased concentration of cytosolic Ca²⁺ and reactive oxygen species, among others. Thus, we will review a brief overview of the pathological cascades involved in ischemia-reperfusion injury and the potential therapeutic effects based on preclinical studies involving a combination of antioxidants, with particular reference to resveratrol and quercetin, which could contribute to cardioprotection against ischemia-reperfusion injury in myocardial tissue. We will also highlight the upcoming perspectives of these antioxidants for designing future studies.     

Microwave-Assisted Synthesis: Can Transition Metal Complexes Take Advantage of This “Green” Method?

Microwave-assisted synthesis is considered environmental-friendly and, therefore, in agreement with the principles of green chemistry. This form of energy has been employed extensively and successfully in organic synthesis also in the case of metal-catalyzed synthetic procedures. However, it has been less widely exploited in the synthesis of metal complexes. As microwave irradiation has been proving its utility as both a time-saving procedure and an alternative way to carry on tricky transformations, its use can help inorganic chemists, too. This review focuses on the use of microwave irradiation in the preparation of transition metal complexes and organometallic compounds and also includes new, unpublished results. The syntheses of the compounds are described following the group of the periodic table to which the contained metal belongs. A general overview of the results from over 150 papers points out that microwaves can be a useful synthetic tool for inorganic chemists, reducing dramatically the reaction times with respect to traditional heating. This is often accompanied by a more limited risk of decomposition of reagents or products by an increase in yield, purity, and (sometimes) selectivity. In any case, thermal control is operative, whereas nonthermal or specific microwave effects seem to be absent.