Properties of nitrogen-oxygen surface compounds on ZrO2 samples with different phase compositions according to in situ IR spectroscopy data

Kinetics and Catalysis - The zirconium dioxide surface has a wide variety of adsorption sites differing in their nature. The proportions of these sites can be changed by varying the oxide...     

Immunosuppression of xenograft rejection in porcine kidney PK15 cells by porcine IL-18

Xenotransplantation, the transplantation of cells, tissues or organs between individuals of different species, would resolve the current shortage of organs, but rejection remains the major hurdle to successful xenotransplantation. In the present study, we analyzed mixed lymphocyte reactions (MLRs) and used 51Cr release assays in order to identify the proliferation and expansion of mouse CD8+ cytotoxic T lymphocyte cells against PK15, PK15/pIL-18 or PK15/mIL-18 cells. In addition, we identified T cell populations in mouse splenocytes and lymph node cells using two-color flow cytometry. It was found that the CD8+ T cells of xenograft recipients proliferated extensively and that the survival rates of populations of PK15/mIL-18 or PK15/pIL-18 cells were higher than untransfected controls. Moreover, CD3+ T cells were increased in mice injected with PK15 cells or PK15/pIL-18 cells but PK15/pIL-18 cell numbers were lower in lymph nodes than untransfected controls. CD8+ T cells numbers were reduced in the lymph nodes of PK15/pIL-18 injected mice. These results suggest that porcine IL-18 regulates anti-pig cellular rejection in C57BL/6 mice.     

Donor-acceptor-donor-type liquid crystal with a pyridazine core

[structure: see text] A new liquid crystalline material having an ethylenedioxythiophene-pyridazine-ethylenedioxythiophene (EDOT-PDZ-EDOT) core with two peripheral long alkyl chains was prepared. The designated donor-acceptor-donor (D-A-D)-type core structure induced a distinct smectic liquid crystalline phase due to the strong intermolecular interaction. The photophysical property and the layer structure of the liquid crystal were investigated by differential scanning calorimetry, polarized light microscopy, X-ray diffraction, and cyclic voltammetry.     

A serum-stable branched dimeric anti-VEGF peptide blocks tumor growth via anti-angiogenic activity

Angiogenesis is critical and indispensable for tumor progression. Since VEGF is known to play a central role in angiogenesis, the disruption of VEGF-VEGF receptor system is a promising target for anti-cancer therapy. Previously, we reported that a hexapeptide (RRKRRR, RK6) blocked the growth and metastasis of tumor by inhibiting VEGF binding to its receptors. In addition, dRK6, the D-form derivative of RK6, retained its biological activity with improved serum stability. In the present study, we developed a serum-stable branched dimeric peptide (MAP2-dRK6) with enhanced anti-VEGF and anti-tumor activity. MAP2-dRK6 is more effective than dRK6 in many respects: inhibition of VEGF binding to its receptors, VEGF- and tumor conditioned medium-induced proliferation and ERK signaling of endothelial cells, and VEGF-induced migration and tube formation of endothelial cells. Moreover, MAP2-dRK6 blocks in vivo growth of VEGF-secreting colorectal cancer cells by the suppression of angiogenesis and the subsequent induction of tumor cell apoptosis. Our observations suggest that MAP2-dRK6 can be a prospective therapeutic molecule or lead compound for the development of drugs for various VEGF-related angiogenic diseases.     

A separable approximation to the two-body t-matrix for short-range central local potentials

The S-wave potential in momentum space, V₀(p, p′), corresponding to a local two-body central short-range potential may be expanded in separable form with the help of suitable quadrature formulae. With a two-term separable expansion for a variety of nuclear potentials, the resulting t-matrix is found to be in close agreement with the corresponding result with a six-term expansion for small values of p and p′ which are important in the calculation of the trinucleon binding energy.     

A Porphyrin Iron(III) π-Dication Species and its Relevance in Catalyst Design for the Umpolung of Nucleophiles

Isoporphyrins have recently been identified as remarkable species capable of turning the nucleophile attached to the porphyrin ring into an electrophile, thereby providing umpolung of reactivity (Inorg. Chem. 2022 , 61, 8105–8111). They are generated by nucleophilic attack on an iron(III) π-dication, a class of species that has received scant attention. Here, we explore the effect of the porphyrin meso-substituent and report a iron(III) π-dication bearing the meso-tetraphenylporphyrin (TPP) ligand. We provide an extensive study of the species by UV/Vis absorption, ²H NMR, EPR, applied field Mössbauer, and resonance Raman spectroscopy. We further explore the system's highly dynamic and tunable properties and address the nature of the axial ligands as well as the conformation of the porphyrin ring. The insights presented are essential for the rational design of catalysts for the umpolung of nucleophiles. Such catalytic avenues could for example provide a novel method for electrophilic chlorinations. We further examine the importance of electronic tuning of the porphyrin by nature of the meso-substituent as a factor in catalyst design.     

Singularity structure of a self-similar Tolman type model in a higher-dimensional spacetime

A Tolman-Bondi type inhomogeneous, spherically symmetric metric is obtained in an (n+2)-dimensional spacetime withn2. The metric form admits the familiar shell focusing singularity which, depending on the inhomogeneity parameter, may become naked. Moreover, for the particular case of a marginally bound collapsing model one may also obtain strong-curvature singularities, which provides yet another counterexample to the cosmic censorship hypothesis. It is interesting to point out that it is the assumption of self similarity rather than spherical symmetry which determines the nature of the singularity. This, however, extends an earlier observation of Lake and Zannias in four-dimensional spacetime.     

Studies on the Complexation of Transition Metal Ions with Macrocyclic Compounds in Mixed Solvents by Competitive Potentiometry and Polarography

Complexation of Cu(II), Zn(II), Ni(II), Co(II), Pb(II), Cd(II), Cr(III) and Fe(III) ions with 15-crown-5, benzo-15-crown-5, 18-crown-6, dibenzo-18-crown-6, dicyclohexano-18-crown-6, dibenzo-24-crown-8, 5,6,14,15-dibenzo-1,4-dioxa-8,12-diazacyclopentadeca-5,14-diene, 1,4,10-trioxa-7,13-diazacyclopentadecane and cyclam has been investigated in 75% (v/v) DMF+water using the silver(I) ion as an auxiliary cation at 0.05?M ionic strength adjusted with tetrabutylammonium perchlorate (TBAP) by competitive potentiometry. Stability constant values obtained for the metal ion–aza macrocyclic complexes are higher than those for the oxa crowns. Shifts in the peak potential and reduction in the peak current in the differential pulse polarography (DPP) method were also used to determine the stability constants of some of the metal ions with aza and tosylated-aza macrocycles using TBAP as supporting electrolyte in 75% (v/v) DMF+water and 90% (v/v) DMSO+water media. Stability constant values determined both by shifts in the potential and by reduction in the peak current were found to be in good agreement with each other.     

Properties of surface compounds in methanol conversion on copper-containing catalysts based on CeO2 according to in situ IR-spectroscopic data

Formate and carbonate complexes and bridging and linear methoxy groups were detected on the surfaces of CeO₂ and 5.0% Cu/CeO₂ under the reaction conditions of methanol conversion using IR spectroscopy. The reaction products were H₂, methyl formate, CO, CO₂, and H₂O. The bridging and linear methoxy groups were the sources of formation of bi- and monodentate formate complexes, respectively. Methyl formate was formed as a result of the interaction of the linear methoxy group and the formate complex. The study demonstrated that the recombination of hydrogen atoms on copper clusters and the decomposition of methyl formate were the main reactions of hydrogen formation. Formate and carbonate complexes were the source of CO₂ formation in the gas phase, and the decomposition of methyl formate was the source of CO. It was found that the addition of water vapor to the reaction flow considerably decreased the rate of CO formation at a constant yield of hydrogen. The effects of water vapor and oxygen on the course of surface reactions and the formation of products are discussed. To explain the mechanism of methanol conversion, a scheme of surface reactions is proposed.