Self‐adjoint Sturm–Liouville problems with an infinite number of boundary conditions

We study Sturm–Liouville (SL) problems on an infinite number of intervals, adjacent endpoints are linked by means of boundary conditions, and characterize the conditions which determine self‐adjoint operators in a Hilbert space which is the direct sum of the spaces for each interval. These conditions can be regular or singular, separated or coupled. Furthermore, the inner products of the summand spaces may be multiples of the usual inner products with different spaces having different multiples. We also extend the GKN Theorem to cover the infinite number of intervals theory with modified inner products and discuss the connection between our characterization and the classical one with the usual inner products. Our results include the finite number of intervals case.     

Thermodynamics of interactions between lead(II) and cadmium(II) ions and azulene-based complexing polymer films

In order to understand the essential processes/interactions between the metal ions and modified electrodes which are based on complexing polymeric films, access to thermodynamic characteristics is compulsory. The paper enlarges the information concerning the sorption of metal ions within complexing polymer films, particularly based on azulene, which can be involved in metal detection sensors. Interactions between lead(II) or cadmium(II) ions and complexing polymer films have been studied using chemical preconcentration–anodic stripping method. The films have been obtained by controlled potential electrolysis in millimolar solutions of 4-azulen-1-yl-2,6-bis(2-thienyl)pyridine (L) in acetonitrile. PolyL films affinities towards these metal ions have been quantified at different temperatures by means of sorption isotherms. Parameters for sorption of lead(II) and cadmium(II) ions within polyL films have been calculated for Freundlich, Langmuir and Redlich–Peterson isotherms. The best fit was obtained when using Langmuir isotherm. The results evidence that lead ions are better sorbed than cadmium within polyL film. Thermodynamic parameters for the chemical sorption of lead(II) and cadmium(II) ions within polyL films have been calculated.     

Thiacalix[4]monocrowns with terpyridine functional groups as new structural units for luminescent polynuclear lanthanide complexes

Abstract

The synthesis and structure of thiacalix[4]monocrowns in 1,3-alternate configuration substituted by terpyridyl fragments on the lower rim are being discussed. It has been shown that the number of oxyethylene units in oligoethylene glycol chain affects the distribution of the yields of the cross-linking products leading to either thiacalix[4]monocrowns or bisthiacalix[4]arenes. Their complexation ability towards alkali metal and lanthanide ions has been studied using liquid extraction and MALDI TOF MS, in addition to luminescent properties of ligands and their lanthanide complexes. The NMR titration data discovered the participation of both crown ether and terpyridyl fragment in the coordination of lanthanide cations. The fluorescent titration showed the nonlinear emission response to the amount of lanthanide ions.     

Structure modification in hen egg yolk low density lipoproteins layers between 30 and 45 mN/m observed by AFM

We have studied the structure of films made by low density lipoproteins (LDL) from hen egg yolk, which are composed of apoproteins, neutral lipids and phospholipids. These LDL have been deposited on air–water interface to form a monolayer which has been compressed to measure an isotherm using Langmuir balance. This isotherm presented three transitions (neutral lipid (surface pressure, π = 19 mN/m), apoprotein–lipid (π = 41 mN/m) and phospholipid (π = 51 mN/m) transitions). We have studied only the apoprotein–lipid transition. In order to observe the LDL film structure before (π = 30 mN/m) and after (π = 45 mN/m) the apoprotein–lipid transition, the formed films were transferred and visualised by atomic force microscopy (AFM). Our results have shown that the structures observed in the LDL film were different depending on the surface pressure. The apoproteins and neutral lipids appeared to be miscible up to the apoprotein–lipid transition, when demixing occured. The structures observed after the apoprotein–lipid transition should be due to the demixing between apoproteins and neutral lipids. On the other hand, apoproteins and phospholipids seemed miscible whatever the surface pressure. Hence, the first transition (π = 19 mN/m) should be attributed to the free neutral lipid collapse; the second transition (π = 41 mN/m) should be attributed to the demixing of apoprotein–neutral lipid complexes; and the last transition (π = 51 mN/m) should be attributed to phospholipid collapse or to demixing of apoprotein–phospholipid complexes.     

An ionically driven molecular IMPLICATION gate operating in fluorescence mode

An asymmetrically core-extended boron-dipyrromethene (BDP) dye was equipped with two electron-donating macrocyclic binding units with different metal ion preferences to operate as an ionically driven molecular IMPLICATION gate. A Na(+)-responsive tetraoxa-aza crown ether (R(2)) was integrated into the extended pi system of the BDP chromophore to trigger strong intramolecular charge transfer (ICT(2)) fluorescence and guarantee cation-induced spectral shifts in absorption. A dithia-oxa-aza crown (R(1)) that responds to Ag(+) was attached to the meso position of BDP in an electronically decoupled fashion to independently control a second ICT(1) process of a quenching nature. The bifunctional molecule is designed in such a way that in the absence of both inputs, ICT(1) does not compete with ICT(2) and a high fluorescence output is obtained (In(A)=In(B)=0-->Out=1). Accordingly, binding of only Ag(+) at R(1) (In(A)=1, In(B)=0) as well as complexation of both receptors (In(A)=In(B)=1) also yields Out=1. Only for the case in which Na(+) is bound at R(2) and R(1) is in its free state does quenching occur, which is the distinguishing characteristic for the In(A)=0 and In(B)=1-->Out=0 state that is required for a logic IMPLICATION gate and Boolean operations such as IF-THEN or NOT.     

Ultra-performance liquid chromatography coupled to time of flight mass spectrometry (UPLC-TOF): a novel tool for multiresidue screening of veterinary drugs in urine

A multiresidue method for the screening of veterinary drugs in urine with ultra-performance liquid chromatography (UPLC) coupled to time of flight mass spectrometry (TOF) is proposed. The method covers currently more than 100 analytes belonging to different families of veterinary drugs. Urine samples are simply diluted and injected unfiltered into the UPLC-TOF. The short run time permit high-throughput of large series under a routine environment. The suggested approach includes the detection of some metabolites which are relevant to the urine matrix. The paper discusses the usefulness of metabolites as additional confirmation criteria for positive findings and suggests a revisiting of the identification point system in the light of additional resolution, as provided by the TOF and the UPLC technology. The proposed multiresidue approach was further broadened by monitoring drug group specific collision induced fragments (CID). Examples show the monitoring of generic CID fragments typical for sulfonamides and penicillins.     

N-linked peptidocalix[4]arene bisureas as enantioselective receptors for amino acid derivatives

Bisurea calix[4]arenes 1 and 2 possessing L-amino acid moieties at the lower rim were synthesized by reaction of the methyl esters of glycine, L-alanine, or L-isoleucine with the appropriate isocyanate (12 or 13), obtained with a safe and efficient Curtius rearrangement from the corresponding carboxylic acid derivatives. The conformational properties of the ligands 1 and 2 were investigated by means of a combined NMR and molecular modeling study which evidences that they are deeply influenced by strong intramolecular H-bonds between the urea NH groups and the vicinal phenolic oxygen atoms or the opposite urea C=O group. Complexation studies performed by ESI-MS and NMR spectroscopy in acetone solution show that the binding ability of these bisurea hosts decreases by increasing the side chain size of the amino acid. Host 2b has a remarkable binding ability for the N-acetyl-D-phenylalaninate anion with an interesting enantioselectivity (KDass/KLass=4.14), which is explained on the basis of a three-point interaction mode of binding.     

Microwave-Assisted Synthesis,Characterization and Modeling of CPO-27-Mg Metal-Organic Framework for Drug Delivery

The coordination polymer CPO-27-Mg was rapidly synthesized under microwave irradiation. This material exhibits a sufficiently high drug loading towards aspirin (~8% wt.) and paracetamol (~14% wt.). The binding of these two molecules with the inner surface of the metal-organic framework was studied employing the Gaussian and Plane Wave approach of the Density Functional Theory. The structure of CPO-27-Mg persists after the adsorption of aspirin or paracetamol and their desorption energies, being quite high, decrease under solvent conditions.