Modelling of photodegradation effect on elastic-viscoplastic behaviour of amorphous polylactic acid films

Polylactic acid (PLA) films were subjected to accelerated ultra-violet (UV) ageing. The UV irradiation leads to the alteration of the chemical structure which influences directly the mechanical response of the polymer. The chemical modification of the polymer was followed by gel permeation chromatography. Uniaxial tension tests were conducted at 50 °C and for different strain rates in order to characterize the large deformation response of PLA. The influence of UV irradiation on the alteration of the large deformation response of PLA was examined. A physically based elastic-viscoplastic model was used to describe the mechanical response of virgin PLA. The photodegradation effect was incorporated into the constitutive model to capture the stress-strain behaviour up to failure of aged PLA. To that end, the measured molecular weight was used as a direct input into the model. The model is shown to be in good agreement with experimental results over a wide range of UV irradiation doses.     

Synthesis and In-Vivo Evaluation of Benzoxazole Derivatives as Promising Anti-Psoriatic Drugs for Clinical Use

2-(4-Chlorophenyl)-5-benzoxazoleacetic acid (CBA) and its ester, methyl-2-(4-chloro-phenyl)-5-benzoxazoleacetate (MCBA), were synthesized, and their structures were confirmed by ¹HNMR, IR, and mass spectrophotometry. The anti-psoriatic activities of CBA and MCBA were tested using an imiquimod (IMQ)-induced psoriatic mouse model, in which mice were treated both topically (1% w/w) and orally (125 mg/kg) for 14 days. The erythema intensity, thickness, and desquamation of psoriasis were scored by calculating the psoriasis area severity index (PASI). The study also included the determination of histopathological alterations in the skin tissues of treated mice. Topical and oral administration of CBA and MCBA led to a reduction in erythema intensity, thickness, and desquamation, which was demonstrated by a significant decrease in the PASI value. In addition, skin tissues of mice treated with CBA and MCBA showed less evidence of psoriatic alterations, such as hyperkeratosis, parakeratosis, scale crust, edema, psoriasiform, and hyperplasia. After administration of either topical or oral dosing, the anti-psoriatic effects were found to be stronger in MCBA-treated than in CBA-treated mice. These effects were comparable to those produced by Clobetasol propionate, the reference drug. This drug discovery could be translated into a potential new drug for future clinical use in psoriasis treatment.     

Substrate structural effects in micellar catalysis with perfluorooctanoic acid

Rates of hydrolysis of a series of hydroxamic acids in aqueous acetonitrile, with perfluorooctanoic acid serving as a reactive counterion surfactant, have been determined. The pseudophase ion exchange model satisfactorily explains the surfactant effects. Variation in the structure of the hydrophobic moiety of the hydroxamic acid substrates was obtained by the incorporation of different chain lengths and differently substituted aryl groups into the substrate. The major influence of the change in substrate structure is on the binding constant for binding of the substrate to the surfactant aggregate. The number of substitutions on the aryl ring appears to be more important than the total number of carbon atoms in the substrate. © John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

On constructing bases for ideals in polynomial rings over the integers

The author defines canonical bases for ideals in polynomial rings over Z and develops an algorithm for constructing such a basis for a given ideal. Results of previous authors are discussed and a comparison between those and the results obtained here is included.     

Variables affecting simulated use determination of residual ethylene oxide in medical devices

In autumn 1993, AAMI/ST/WG 63, Sterilization Residuals Working Group undertook the task of studying factors involved in determining the amount of residual ethylene oxide in medical devices after sterilization and developing a protocol for controlling the relevant variables. The protocol was evaluated by conducting a round robin study consisting of 8 participating laboratories from around the country. Results of this round robin study demonstrated the range over which results may vary despite controls placed on the time and temperature at which determinations were conducted. The data from the study suggest that small, random variations in technique during short sample extraction times can lead to variability in the results. Variables such as initial water temperature, oven temperature, weighing of sample, and length of extraction should be carefully controlled. Inherent variations in the material composition of similar devices are possible contributing factors. The efforts of this working group and the subsequent evaluation and discussion of its findings are presented.     

Synthesis,spectroscopic investigations,and computational study of 4-((9,10-dioxo-9,10-dihydroanthracen-1-yl)oxy)-3-methoxybenzaldehyde

4-((9,10-dioxo-9,10-dihydroanthracen-1-yl)oxy)-3-methoxybenzaldehyde has been synthesized in an attempt to obtain a new photochromic compound. The optimized molecular structure, mole fractions of title compound in trans and ana forms have been investigated. UV-visible spectra of the compound were also recorded. Upon irradiation with 300 nm light, the camel solid turned orange, in which a visible absorption band was observed at 475 nm. The electronic properties, such as HOMO, LUMO and band gap energies were obtained by the time-dependent DFT (TD-DFT) approach. The predicted nonlinear optical properties of the title compound are much greater than those of urea. Transition structures were calculated by QST3 and IRC methods which yielded the potential energy surface and activation energy.     

Synthesis of poly(ether esters) from reaction of alpha-cyano-4-hydroxycinnamic acid and group IVB metallocenes

Poly(ether esters) are rapidly synthesized in moderate yield employing the interfacial polycondensation reaction system from the reaction of alpha-cyano-4-hydroxycinnamic acid and Group IVB metallocenes. The products are high polymers. Infrared spectroscopy shows the formation of new bands derived from the M-O and M-O(CO) linkages. It also shows that the products exist as alternating M-O and M-O(CO) linkages. The products show outstanding inhibition of a variety of cancer cell lines including two pancreatic cancer cell lines. EC₅₀ values for the polymers are in the nanogram/mL range. The ability to inhibit the cancer cell lines is generally Hf>Zr>Ti. Thus, future synthesis and testing might consider using compounds containing hafnocene and zirconocene in addition to the titanocene moiety.     

Photochemistry of ethyl chloride caged in amorphous solid water

Caging and photo-induced decomposition of ethyl chloride molecules (EC) within a layer of amorphous solid water (ASW) on top of clean and oxygen-covered Ru(001) under ultra-high vacuum (UHV) conditions are presented. The caged molecules were estimated to reside 1.5 +/- 0.2 nm above the solid surface, based on parent molecule thermal decomposition on the clean ruthenium. Dissociative electron attachment (DEA) of the caged molecules following 193 nm laser irradiation, result in initial fragmentation to ethyl radical and chloride anion. It was found that photoreactivity on top of the clean ruthenium surface (Ru) is twenty times faster than on the oxygen-covered surface (O/Ru), with DEA cross sections: sigma(Ru) = (3.8 +/- 1) x 10(-19) cm(2) and sigma(O/Ru) = (2.1 +/- 0.3) x 10(-20) cm(2). This difference is attributed to the higher work function of oxygen-covered ruthenium, leading to smaller electron attachment probability due to mismatch of the ruthenium photo-electron energy with the adsorbed EC excited electron affinity levels. EC molecules fragmented within the cage, result in post-irradiation TPD spectra that reveal primarily C(4)H(8), C(3)H(5) and C(3)H(3), without any oxygen-containing molecules. Unique stabilization of the photoproducts has been observed with the first layer of water molecules in direct contact with the substrate, desorbing near 180 K, a significantly higher temperature than the desorption of fully caged molecules. This study may contribute for understanding stratospheric photochemistry and processes in interstellar space.     

The potential off-target neuroprotective effect of sister gliflozins suggests their repurposing despite not crossing the blood–brain barrier: From bioanalytical assay in rats into theory genesis

Gliflozins are successfully marketed antidiabetic agents with a reported neuroprotective effect, and this study tests their blood–brain barrier crossing ability. Henceforward, a computational hypothesis interpreting their effects was reasonable after failure to cross into the brain. A chromatographic bioassay for canagliflozin, dapagliflozin, and empagliflozin was developed, validated, and applied to the rat's and rat's plasma and brain. HPLC method robustness was tested over two levels using Design of Experiment on MINITAB. It is the first method for gliflozins’ detection in rats’ brain tissue. The method was applied on 18 rats and six for each drug. Concentrations in plasma were determined but neither of them was detected in brain at the described chromatographic conditions. A computational study for the three drugs was endorsing two techniques. First, ligand-based target fishing reveals possible targets for gliflozins. They showed an ability to bind with human equilibrative nucleoside transporter 1, a regulator of adenosine extracellularly. Second, a docking study was carried out on this protein receptor. Results showed perfect alignment with a minimum of one hydrogen bond. Dapagliflozin achieved the lowest energy score with two hocking hydrogen bonds. This is proposing gliflozins ability to regulate equilibrative nucleoside transporter 1 receptors in peripheries, elevating the centrally acting neuroprotective adenosine.