Structural characterization of aldehyde-terminated self-assembled monolayers

The structure of aldehyde-terminated alkanethiol self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) on Au(111) is investigated using scanning tunneling microscopy (STM), atomic force microscopy (AFM), and density functional theory (DFT) calculations. For the first time, the structures of aldehyde-terminated SAMs are revealed with molecular resolution. SAMs of 11-mercapto-1-undecanal exhibit the basic (radical3xradical3)R30 degrees periodicity and form various c(4x2) superstructures upon annealing. In conjunction with DFT studies, the models of the (radical3xradical3)R30 degrees and the c(4x2) superstructures are constructed. In comparison with alkanethiol SAMs, the introduction of aldehyde-termini results in smaller domain size, lower degree of long-range order, large coverage of disordered areas, and higher density of missing molecules and other point defects within domains of closely packed molecules. The origin of these structural differences is mainly attributed to the strong dipole-dipole interactions among the aldehyde termini.     

Reaction of sulfenes with heterocyclic N,N-disubstituted α-aminomethyleneketones. XII. Synthesis of [1]benzothiepino[4,5-e][1,2]oxathiin derivatives

The 1,4-cycloaddition of sulfene to N,N-disubstituted (E)-4-aminomethylene-3,4-dihydro[1]benzothiepin-5(2H)-ones I occurred only in the case of aliphatic N,N-disubstitution to give in good yield 4-dialkylamino-3,4,5,6-tetrahydro[1]benzothiepino[4,5-e][1,2]oxathiin 2,2-dioxides, which are derivatives of the new heterocyclic system [1]benzothiepino[4,5-e][1,2]oxathiin. Also the reaction of I with chlorosulfene occurred only in the case of aliphatic N,N-disubstitution to afford chiefly trans-4-dialkylamino-3-chloro-3,4,5,6-tetrahydro-[1]benzothiepino[4,5-e][1,2]oxathiin 2,2-dioxides III in satisfactory yield. Adducts III were dehydrochlorinated with DBN to 4-dialkylamino-5,6-dihydro[1]benzothiepino[4,5-e][1,2]oxathiin 2,2-dioxides in good yield.     

Nutrient Removal Efficiency and Physiological Responses of Desmodesmus communis at Different HRTs and Nutrient Stress Condition Using Different Sources of Urban Wastewater Effluents

The objective of the present study was to evaluate the nutrient removal efficiency and the physiological responses in terms of growth, biochemical composition and photosynthetic activity of the autochthonous freshwater algal strain Desmodesmus communis. Microalgae were grown in a primary municipal effluent under different hydraulic retention times (HRTs) and in a two-phases process using both primary and secondary wastewater effluents. Semi-continuous cultures were operated for 7 day at 5-, 3- and 1.5-day HRT and the different dilution rate showed a greater influence on the biomass composition and nutrient removal efficiency. Removal of N-NH₃ and P-PO₄ was over 99 % and the highest accumulation of polysaccharides (57.2 wt.%) was obtained at high HRT (5 day); the maximum content of proteins (26.9 wt.%) was achieved at 1.5-day HRT, even if, under this condition, a clear inefficiency in terms of ammonia removal was observed. Moreover the accumulation of N-NH₃ occurring at 1.5-day HRT caused the decrease of the photosynthetic response in terms of efficiency of light capture (α) and relative electron transport rate (rETR), both parameters extracted from the rapid light curves (RLC) measurements. No significant differences were observed for the total fatty acids (TFAs), with a content of 2–3.5 wt.% for each HRT condition. On the other hand, in the two-phases process, when a nutrient deprivation condition was induced by diluting the culture with the secondary wastewater effluent, the algal cells accumulated TFAs, achieving a maximum content of 9.7 wt.% and a great increment in terms of biomass (1.64?±?0.02 g L^?1) due to the ability of this algal strain to accumulate intracellular N. The wide and accurate investigation of the different aspects related to the whole process represents a relevant point of novelty in this research field and suggests the operational conditions for the start-up of an open pond system for wastewater treatment and biomass production for further applications.     

Oligopeptide Helical Conformations Control Gold Nanoparticle Cross-Linking

Peptide sequences functionalized with primary amines at the N- and C-terminus are able to induce the aggregation of gold nanoparticles in ethanol as a consequence of their folding into a helical conformation. Random coil peptides are unable to induce such an aggregation process. Aggregation can be monitored spectrophotometrically by following the shift of the surface plasmon resonance (SPR) band of the nanoparticles and is confirmed by transmission electron microscopy and dynamic light scattering analyses. Partial denaturation of the peptides results in diminished cross-linking ability. The helicity parameter θ₂₂₂/θ₂₀₈ correlates fairly well with the shift of the SPR band to longer wavelengths, supporting the relationship between the amount of helical content of a peptide sequence and its ability to induce aggregation.     

Invariant Metrics for the Quaternionic Hardy Space

We find Riemannian metrics on the unit ball of the quaternions, which are naturally associated with reproducing kernel Hilbert spaces. We study the metric arising from the Hardy space in detail. We show that, in contrast to the one-complex variable case, no Riemannian metric is invariant under all regular self-maps of the quaternionic ball.     

Simultaneous HPLC determination of 14 tricyclic antidepressants and metabolites in human plasma

A HPLC method has been developed for the simultaneous determination of seven tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs) and seven metabolites in human plasma. The analyte separation was obtained using a C8 reversed phase column and a mobile phase composed of 68% aqueous phosphate buffer at pH 3.0 and 32% ACN. The UV detector was set at 220 nm and loxapine was used as the internal standard. A careful pre‐treatment procedure for plasma samples was developed, using SPE on C2 cartridges, which gives satisfactory extraction yields (>80%) and good sample purification. The LOQs were always lower than 9.1 ng/mL and the LODs always lower than 3.1 ng/mL for all analytes. The method was successfully applied to plasma samples from depressed patients undergoing therapy with one or more TCA drugs. Precision data (RSD <8.1%), as well as accuracy results (recovery >80%), were satisfactory and no interference from other drugs was found. Hence the method seems to be suitable for the therapeutic drug monitoring of patients treated with TCAs under monotherapy or polypharmacy regimens.     

Lectin recognition of a new SOD mimic bioconjugate studied with surface plasmon resonance imaging

Surface plasmon resonance imaging is used to demonstrate the recognition by the Ricinus communis agglutinin of a new SOD mimic, a bioconjugate of the manganese(II) complex of 1,4,7,10,13-pentaazacyclopentadecane with galactose.     

The synthesis of trianglimines: on the scope and limitations of the [3 + 3] cyclocondensation reaction between (1R,2R)-diaminocyclohexane and aromatic dicarboxaldehydes

The synthesis of aromatic dicarboxaldehydes, using dilithiation methodology is described along with their reactivity, in the [3 + 3] cyclocondensation reaction, with (1R,2R)-diaminocyclohexane to give trianglimine macrocycles. The scope and limitations of the cyclocondensation reaction are studied and some comments on the properties of the novel macrocycles are made such as their conformation in solution and temperature dependent dynamic NMR behaviour.