Anomalous freezing and melting behaviour of capillary confined CO2

In this paper we present our recent positron annihilation study of the liquid»solid phase boundary for CO₂ confined in nanometer pores of VYCOR glass. We find that CO₂ remains liquid in the pores far below the bulk freezing temperature and there is pronounced hysteresis between freezing and melting compared to that seen at the gas-liquid boundary in the pores. On freezing we see evidence of open space created in the pores. This leads to complex melting behaviour possibly involving the formation of gas-liquid interfaces. We see that frezing in the pores is totally irreversible, so that any solid which forms (no matter how small) remains stable up to the higher melting temperature. In contrast melting is more reversible (possibly indicating nucleation centres which permit immediate re-freezing). Finally, the pre-frozen state in the pores is different to the post-melted state.     

The aftermath of the interplay between the endoplasmic reticulum stress response and redox signaling

The endoplasmic reticulum (ER) is an essential organelle of eukaryotic cells. Its main functions include protein synthesis, proper protein folding, protein modification, and the transportation of synthesized proteins. Any perturbations in ER function, such as increased demand for protein folding or the accumulation of unfolded or misfolded proteins in the ER lumen, lead to a stress response called the unfolded protein response (UPR). The primary aim of the UPR is to restore cellular homeostasis; however, it triggers apoptotic signaling during prolonged stress. The core mechanisms of the ER stress response, the failure to respond to cellular stress, and the final fate of the cell are not yet clear. Here, we discuss cellular fate during ER stress, cross talk between the ER and mitochondria and its significance, and conditions that can trigger ER stress response failure. We also describe how the redox environment affects the ER stress response, and vice versa, and the aftermath of the ER stress response, integrating a discussion on redox imbalance-induced ER stress response failure progressing to cell death and dynamic pathophysiological changes.Subject terms: Mechanisms of disease, Cell biology     

Crystal structure of dicyclohexano-18-crown-6 potassium 2-nitrophenoxide

The first crystal structure of a potassium cation complex with dicyclohexano-18-crown-6 is reported. The potassium 2-nitrophenoxide complex ofsyn-cis-syn dicyclohexano-18-crown-6 crystallizes in the triclinic space group P with cell constantsa=8.604(2),b=10.772(4),C=16.123(5)Å, =73.86(3)°,=77.61(3)°, =82.68(3)° andZ=2 forD _c =1.31 g cm^–3. Least-squares refinement based on 2742 observed reflections led to a final conventionalR value of 0.040. Dicyclohexano-18-crown-6 has the shape of a saddle with the potassium cation sitting at the saddlepoint. The structure of the 2-nitrophenoxide anion is dominanted by the quinoid resonance contributor. Because the complex is devoid of significant intercomplex interactions, it is a prototypical 1:1:1 complex. Supplementary Data relating to this article are deposited with the British Library as Supplementary Publication No. SUP 82043 (26 pages).Now Mrs. K. M. Balo.     

Thiol-mediated radical cyclization: regioselective formation of indole-annulated sulfur heterocycles by tandem cyclization

Indole-2-yl-prop-2-ynyl sulfides, under thiophenol-mediated alkenyl radical cyclization conditions, afforded exclusively 4-thiophenyl-2,3,4,9-tetrahydrothiopyrano[2,3-b]indoles or 3-thiophenylmethyl-2,3,8-trihydrothieno[2,3-b]indoles depending on the substituent at the indole nitrogen.