Biomimetic peptide bond formation in water with aminoacyl phosphate esters

Aminoacyl phosphates, biomimetic analogues of aminoacyl adenylates, react efficiently with amino acid esters to form dipeptides with retention of stereochemical integrity. The reactions are selective and occur readily in the presence of nucleophiles other than amino groups on their side chains. Aminoacyl phosphate esters that lack an amino-protecting group are also suitable for peptide bond formation, leading to a simplified overall process.     

Diastereoselective radical mediated alkylation of a chiral glycolic acid derivative

Radical alkylation of 2-(tert-butyl)-2-methyldioxolan-4-one, a chiral equivalent of glycolic acid, occurs with good to high diastereoselectivity that compares favorably with the corresponding enolate alkylation. The importance of the position of the transition state position, early or late, is highlighted.     

Heteroscedastic normal-exponential mixture models: Bayesian and classical approaches

In this paper, we introduce a Bayesian analysis for mixture of distributions belonging to the exponential family. As a special case we consider a mixture of normal exponential distributions including joint modeling of the mean and variance. We also consider joint modeling of the mean and variance heterogeneity. Markov Chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) methods are used to obtain the posterior summaries of interest. We also introduce and apply an EM algorithm, where the maximization is obtained applying the Fisher scoring algorithm. Finally, we also include analysis of real data sets to illustrate the proposed methodology.     

A novel lyotropic liquid crystal formed by triphilic star-polyphiles: hydrophilic/oleophilic/fluorophilic rods arranged in a 12.6.4. tiling

Triphilic star-polyphiles are short-chain oligomeric molecules with a radial arrangement of hydrophilic, hydrocarbon and fluorocarbon chains linked to a common centre. They form a number of liquid crystalline structures when mixed with water. In this contribution we focus on a hexagonal liquid crystalline mesophase found in star-polyphiles as compared to the corresponding double-chain surfactant to determine whether the hydrocarbon and fluorocarbon chains are in fact demixed in these star-polyphile systems, or whether both hydrocarbon and fluorocarbon chains are miscible, leading to a single hydrophobic domain, making the star-polyphile effectively amphiphilic. We report SANS contrast variation data that are compatible only with the presence of three distinct immiscible domains within this hexagonal mesophase, confirming that these star-polyphile liquid crystals are indeed hydrophilic/oleophilic/fluorophilic 3-phase systems. Quantitative comparison with scattering simulations shows that the experimental data are in very good agreement with an underlying 2D columnar (12.6.4) tiling. As in a conventional amphiphilic hexagonal mesophase, the hexagonally packed water channels (dodecagonal prismatic domains) are embedded in a hydrophobic matrix, but that matrix is split into oleophilic hexagonal prismatic domains and fluorophilic quadrangular prismatic domains.     

New organic–inorganic frameworks incorporating iso‐ and heteropolymolybdate units and a 3,3′,5,5′‐tetramethyl‐4,4′‐bi‐1H‐pyrazole‐2,2′‐diium multiple hydrogen‐bond donor

Poly[bis(3,3′,5,5′‐tetramethyl‐4,4′‐bi‐1H‐pyrazole‐2,2′‐diium) γ‐octamolybdate(VI) dihydrate], {(C₁₀H₁₆N₄)₂[Mo₈O₂₆]·2H₂O}_n, (I), and bis(3,3′,5,5′‐tetramethyl‐4,4′‐bi‐1H‐pyrazole‐2,2′‐diium) α‐dodecamolybdo(VI)silicate tetrahydrate, (C₁₀H₁₆N₄)₂[SiMo₁₂O₄₀]·4H₂O, (II), display intense hydrogen bonding between the cationic pyrazolium species and the metal oxide anions. In (I), the asymmetric unit contains half a centrosymmetric γ‐type [Mo₈O₂₆]⁴⁻ anion, which produces a one‐dimensional polymeric chain by corner‐sharing, one cation and one water molecule. Three‐centre bonding with 3,3′,5,5′‐tetramethyl‐4,4′‐bi‐1H‐pyrazole‐2,2′‐diium, denoted [H₂Me₄bpz]²⁺ [N...O = 2.770 (4)–3.146 (4) Å], generates two‐dimensional layers that are further linked by hydrogen bonds involving water molecules [O...O = 2.902 (4) and 3.010 (4) Å]. In (II), each of the four independent [H₂Me₄bpz]²⁺ cations lies across a twofold axis. They link layers of [SiMo₁₂O₄₀]⁴⁻ anions into a three‐dimensional framework, and the preferred sites for pyrazolium/anion hydrogen bonding are the terminal oxide atoms [N...O = 2.866 (6)–2.999 (6) Å], while anion/aqua interactions occur preferentially viaμ₂‐O sites [O...O = 2.910 (6)–3.151 (6) Å].     

Interface conditions simulating influence of a thin elastic wedge with smooth contacts

The paper presents a method for deriving interface conditions simulating the influence of a thin wedge in a multi-wedge system with smooth contacts. It consists in successive (i) employing the Mellin’s transform, (ii) separation of the symmetric and anti-symmetric parts of a solution, (iii) distinguishing terms tending to infinity, when the wedge angle tends to zero, (iv) appropriate re-arrangement of the terms to avoid degeneration, (v) using truncated power series in equations for the thin wedge and (vi) inspection of the characteristic determinant and finding models simulating the influence of the thin wedge for various combinations of parameters. The paper extends and improves the results previously obtained by the authors for a harmonic problem. The analysis leads to three physical models of contact interaction, which cover all the ratios of shear modules of a thin wedge and neighbour wedges. Numerical examples illustrate the accuracy provided by the method employed and the models derived.     

Assessment of the In Vivo Release and Biocompatibility of Novel Vesicles Containing Zinc in Rats

This paper is focused on the in vivo release and biocompatibility evaluation in rats of some novel systems entrapping zinc chloride in lipid vesicles. The particles were prepared by zinc chloride immobilization inside lipid vesicles made using phosphatidylcholine, stabilized with 0.5% chitosan solution, and dialyzed for 10 h to achieve a neutral pH. The submicrometric systems were physico-chemically characterized. White Wistar rats, assigned into four groups of six animals each, were treated orally with a single dose, as follows: Group I (control): deionized water 0.3 mL/100 g body weight; Group II (Zn): 2 mg/kg body weight (kbw) zinc chloride; Group III (LV-Zn): 2 mg/kbw zinc chloride in vesicles; Group IV (LVC-Zn): 2 mg/kbw zinc chloride in vesicles stabilized with chitosan. Haematological, biochemical, and immune parameters were assessed after 24 h and 7 days, and then liver fragments were collected for histopathological examination. The use of zinc submicrometric particles—especially those stabilized with chitosan—showed a delayed zinc release in rats. No substantial changes to blood parameters, plasma biochemical tests, serum complement activity, or peripheral neutrophils phagocytic capacity were noted; moreover, the tested substances did not induce liver architectural disturbances. The obtained systems provided a delayed release of zinc, and showed good biocompatibility in rats.     

Total Aseptization of Boar Semen,to Increase the Biosecurity of Reproduction in Swine

The aim of the study was to establish the complete microbiological profile of boar semen (Sus scrofa domesticus) and to choose the most effective antiseptic measures in order to control and optimize AI reproduction in pig farms. One hundred and one semen samples were collected and analyzed from several pig farms. The microbiological profile of ejaculates was determined by evaluating the degree of contamination of fresh semen and after dilution with specific extenders. The bacterial and fungal load of fresh boar semen recorded an average value of 82.41/0.149 × 10³ CFU/mL, while after diluting the ejaculates the contamination value was 0.354/0.140 × 10³ CFU/mL. Twenty-four germs (15 bacterial and 9 fungal species) were isolated, the most common being Candida parapsilosis/sake (92%) and Escherichia coli (81.2%). Modification of the sperm collection protocol (HPBC) reduced contamination in raw sperm by 49.85% in bacteria (significant (p < 0.00001) and by 9.67% in fungi (non-significant (p < 0.111491). The load in bacteria and filamentous fungi can be controllable, but not in levuras fungi. Some fluconazole-added extenders (12.5 mg%), ensure fungal aseptization, and even an increase in sperm progressivity (8.39%) for at least a 12 h shelf life after dilution. Validation of sperm aseptization was done by maintaining sow fecundity unchanged after AI (insignificant p > 0.05).     

Novel Supports Based on Polysaccharides for Sustained‐Release of Isosorbide Dinitrate

Novel supports based on carboxymethylcellulose (CMC), crosslinked with epichlorohydrin (EPC), and microparticles based on acetylphthalylcellulose (APC), for sustained‐release of isosorbide dinitrate (Isoket, Ik), were obtained. The drug has been included into CMC hydrogels through diffusion from ethanol‐water solution. Studies about the ethanol–water ratio influence on including the drug have shown an increased amount of included drug at higher content of water in the alcohol‐water mixture. Isoket–ACP microparticles have been obtained by drug and polymer co‐precipitation from emulsified aqueous solution.

The kinetics for “in vitro” release of Ik from polymeric materials, in simulated conditions for intestinal tract medium, where the drug is preferentially absorbed, has been analyzed. The experimental data have shown a “zero” order kinetic for drug release, which is characteristic for systems controlled by diffusion.