Weighted $${{L^p}}$$-Liouville theorems for hypoelliptic partial differential operators on Lie groups

We prove weighted \({L^p}\)-Liouville theorems for a class of second-order hypoelliptic partial differential operators \({\mathcal{L}}\) on Lie groups \({\mathbb{G}}\) whose underlying manifold is \({n}\)-dimensional space. We show that a natural weight is the right-invariant measure \(\check{H}\) of \({\mathbb{G}}\). We also prove Liouville-type theorems for \({C^{2}}\) subsolutions in \({L^{p}(\mathbb{G},\check{H})}\). We provide examples of operators to which our results apply, jointly with an application to the uniqueness for the Cauchy problem for the evolution operator \({\mathcal{L}-\partial_{t}}\).     

The occurrence of phenyl propanoid glycosides in endemic Teucrium species

The phenyl propanoid fraction of Teucrium subspinosum Pourrette ex Willd. (Lamiaceae) from Baleari Island, was examined together with the same fraction of T. subspinosum from Sardinia. In T. subspinosum, besides verbascoside as main component, a new phenyl-propanoid-glycoside was isolated and identified by (1)H- and (13)C-NMR spectra analysis. Comparison with molecular composition of T. marum confirmed the differences between these species and evidenced their endemic character.     

A regioselective approach toward the synthesis of pharmacologically important quinone-containing heterocyclic systems

An inexpensive and regioselective approach to dihydrothieno[3,2-g]quinoline-4,9-dione is reported. A combination of a mild version of Skraup reaction with a sequential substitution/Michael addition allowed the selective preparation in acceptable yield of a pharmacologically important quinone derivative, previously obtained only in trace and together with the other regioisomer.     

Diastereomeric half-sandwich Ru(II) cationic complexes containing amino amide ligands. Synthesis, solution properties, crystal structure and catalytic activity in transfer hydrogenation of acetophenone

The cationic complexes [(η⁶-arene)Ru(N,O-amino amide)X]Y (arene = p-cymene or indane; N,O-amino amide = (l)-proline amide or (l)-phenylalanine amide; X = Cl or I; Y = Cl, I or PF₆) have been synthesised and fully characterized by spectroscopic and analytical methods. In several cases (1a, 3a, 4a, 4b, 5) the metal configuration has been definitively established by X-ray analysis on single crystal. The lability of the metal center in solution has been studied by ¹H NMR and CD techniques. The highest configurational stability has been found in the complexes of the type [(η⁶-indane)Ru(N,O-proline amide)Cl]Y (4a,b). The complexes 1b, 2a-b, 3b, 4b and 5 are good precatalysts for the transfer hydrogenation of acetophenone in basic i-PrOH, with ee up to 76% at 30 °C. An ESI(+)-MS study of pre-catalytic solutions has provided useful information on the catalytic mechanism.     

Metabolomic Profiling of Fresh Goji (Lycium barbarum L.) Berries from Two Cultivars Grown in Central Italy: A Multi-Methodological Approach

The metabolite profile of fresh Goji berries from two cultivars, namely Big Lifeberry (BL) and Sweet Lifeberry (SL), grown in the Lazio region (Central Italy) and harvested at two different periods, August and October, corresponding at the beginning and the end of the maturation, was characterized by means of nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and electrospray ionization Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance (ESI FT-ICR MS) methodologies. Several classes of compounds such as sugars, amino acids, organic acids, fatty acids, polyphenols, and terpenes were identified and quantified in hydroalcoholic and organic Bligh-Dyer extracts. Sweet Lifeberry extracts were characterized by a higher content of sucrose with respect to the Big Lifeberry ones and high levels of amino acids (glycine, betaine, proline) were observed in SL berries harvested in October. Spectrophotometric analysis of chlorophylls and total carotenoids was also carried out, showing a decrease of carotenoids during the time. These results can be useful not only to valorize local products but also to suggest the best harvesting period to obtain a product with a chemical composition suitable for specific industrial use. Finally, preliminary studies regarding both the chemical characterization of Goji leaves generally considered a waste product, and the biological activity of Big Lifeberry berries extracts was also investigated. Goji leaves showed a chemical profile rich in healthy compounds (polyphenols, flavonoids, etc.) confirming their promising use in the supplements/nutraceutical/cosmetic field. MG63 cells treated with Big Lifeberry berries extracts showed a decrease of iNOS, COX-2, IL-6, and IL-8 expression indicating their significant biological activity.     

An unprecedented switching of the second-order nonlinear optical response in aggregate bis(salicylaldiminato)zinc(II) Schiff-base complexes

A luminescent bis(salicylaldiminato)zinc(II) Schiff-base complex, 1, is characterized by a concentration dependent second-order nonlinear optical response, related to the degree of aggregation of the complex in a dichloromethane solution. The formation of the monomeric adduct, by addition of a Lewis base, such as pyridine, to concentrated solutions of 1, leads to a switch-on of the quadratic hyperpolarizability. This represents an unprecedented mode of NLO switching in molecular materials.