Resolvents of operators inverse to Schatten–von Neumann ones

The paper deals with linear operators in a Hilbert space, whose inverse ones belong to the Schatten–von Neumann ideal of compact operators, and whose imaginary Hermitian components are bounded. A sharp norm estimate for the resolvents of the considered operators is derived. That estimate enables us to investigate spectrum perturbations and to establish bounds for the norms of the semigroups and Hirsch operator functions. The operator logarithm and fractional powers are examples of the Hirsch functions.     

Sex Pheromone of Chilo Suppressalis: Efficient Syntheses of (Z)-11-Hexadecenal, (Z)-13-Octadecenal And (Z)-9-Hexadecenal

The constituents of the sex attractant pheromone of Chilo suppressalis: (Z)-11-Hexedecenal 1, (Z)-13-octadecenenal 2 and (Z)-9-Hexadecenal 3 have been synthesized as their ethylene acetals 19, 15 and 13, in six steps from easily available compounds. The synthetic methodology can be applied to preparative scale.     

Surface modification of vinylidene fluoride-hexafluoropropylene copolymer films by direct-current discharge treatment

Changes in the contact properties of the surface of a vinylidene fluoride-hexafluoropropylene copolymer film by dc discharge treatment were studied. It was found that the modification considerably improved the contact properties of the films because of the appearance of oxygen-containing polar groups on the polymer surface. The formation of these groups was detected by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and Fourier-transform IR spectroscopy.     

Benzoxocin, benzoxepin and benzofuran frameworks from 5-glyco-4-nitrocyclohex-1-enes through Nef reaction and intramolecular cyclization

By treatment of sodium nitronate salts of 5-glyco-4-nitrocyclohexenes with hydrochloric acid, five new bicyclic ethers with six-membered rings fused to five-, seven-, or eight-membered rings have been synthesized; also a mechanism for their formation is proposed. Structural elucidation of the new compounds is based on spectroscopic data, as well as on their comparison with those of closely related substances.     

Effects of ionization on N-glycylglycine peptide: influence of intramolecular hydrogen bonds

The ionization effects on 28 conformations of N-glycylglycine are analyzed by means of the hybrid B3LYP and the hybrid meta-MPWB1K density functionals and by single-point calculations at the CCSD(T) level of theory. The most favorable process observed corresponds to the ionization of the only neutral conformation that presents a OH...NH2 intramolecular hydrogen bond, which leads to CO2 elimination after a spontaneous proton transfer from -COOH to NH2. The remaining neutral structures evolve to 20 different conformations of N-glycylglycine radical cation, which lie about 25-40 kcal/mol higher than the decarboxylated [NH3CH2CONHCH2]+*...[CO2] complex. Structural changes induced by ionization depend on the intramolecular hydrogen bonds of the initial conformation, since they determine the nature of the electron hole formed. In most cases, ionization takes place at the terminal -NH2 and -CO of the amide bond, which produces a strengthening of the peptide bond and the formation of new -NH2...OC(amide) and -NH2...OCOH hydrogen bonds. However, if -NH2 and -CO(amide) simultaneously act as proton acceptor in the neutral conformation, ionization is mainly localized at the carboxylic group, which produces a strengthening of the -COOH...OC(amide) bond. Both functionals lead to similar trends and compare well with CCSD(T) results except for a few cases for which B3LYP provides a too delocalized picture of the electron hole and consequently leads to artificial geometry reorganization.     

Formation of gold-silver nanowires in thin surfactant solution films

Thin, long gold/silver nanowires were grown on substrates in thin surfactant solution films. This growth process occurred exclusively in thinning aqueous films as the water evaporated, and elongated surfactant template structures were formed. The nanowire growth depended on the presence of a relatively high concentration of silver ions (typical Ag:Au mole ratio of 1:1). Tuning the pH value to about 5 in the growth solution was crucial for the nanowire growth. Further development of this process may lead to a simple wet chemical technique for the fabrication of relatively uniform arrays of metal nanowires on surfaces.     

Comparative effects of curcuminoids on endothelial heme oxygenase-1 expression: ortho-methoxy groups are essential to enhance heme oxygenase activity and protection

Recently, it has been reported that curcumin, which is known as a potent antioxidant, acts as a non- stressful and non-cytotoxic inducer of the cytoprotective heme oxygenase (HO)-1. In this study, naturally occurring curcuminoids, such as pure curcumin, demethoxycurcumin (DMC) and bis-demethoxycurcumin (BDMC), were compared for their potential ability to modulate HO-1 expression and cytoprotective activity in human endothelial cells. All three curcuminoids could induce HO-1 expression and HO activity with differential levels. The rank order of HO activity was curcumin, DMC and BDMC. In comparison with endothelial protection against H2O2-induced cellular injury, cytoprotective capacity was found to be highest with curcumin, followed by DMC and BDMC. Interestingly, cytoprotective effects afforded by curcuminoids were considerably associated with their abilities to enhance HO activity. Considering that the main difference among the three curcuminoids is the number of methoxy groups (none for BDMC, one for DMC, and two for curcumin), the presence of methoxy groups in the ortho position on the aromatic ring was suggested to be essential to enhance HO-1 expression and cytoprotection in human endothelial cells. Our results may be useful in designing more efficacious HO-1 inducers which could be considered as promising pharmacological agents in the development of therapeutic approaches for the prevention or treatment of endothelial diseases caused by oxidative damages.