Ring Opening of 2‐(Benzylamino)‐2H‐1,4‐benzoxazin‐3(4H)‐ones and 2‐Bromo‐2H‐1,4‐benzoxazin‐3(4H)‐ones

Substituted 2‐(benzylamino)‐2H‐1,4‐benzoxazin‐3(4H)‐ones are unstable under alkaline and acidic conditions, undergoing opening of the benzoxazinone ring. 2‐Bromo‐2H‐1,4‐benzoxazin‐3(4H)‐ones show similar degradation under alkaline conditions, while replacement of Br at C(2) to give 2‐hydroxy‐2H‐1,4‐benzoxazin‐3(4H)‐ones was observed only under mild alkaline conditions. Mechanisms of ring opening and degradation to 2‐aminophenol derivatives are proposed.     

Beta-amyloid toxicity increases with hydrophobicity in the presence of metal ions

Abstract  

Alzheimer’s disease is a multifactorial neurodegenerative disorder characterized by the pathological brain deposition of neurofibrillary tangles and senile plaques. The latter consist mainly of insoluble β-amyloid (Aβ) fibril deposition. Aβ aggregation and deposition can be increased by several factors, including metal ions. In this study we investigated the role played by metal ions in affecting Aβ oligomerization in the presence and in the absence of its hydrophobic fragment Aβ_17–28. This was done not as a physiological investigation, but as a paradigmatic study to confirm the key role of Aβ superficial hydrophobicity as a relevant aggravating factor that contributes to the toxicity of Aβ and Aβ–metal complexes. The structural conformations of Aβ–metal complexes were monitored through fluorescence and turbidity measurements as well as transmission electron microscopy. Results reported herein indicate that various metals differentially influence Aβ conformation, with aluminum being the only metal ion for which we are able to determine a dramatic enhancement of peptide oligomer formation with a consequent toxic effect. This scenario was further enhanced by the presence of Aβ_17–28, which resulted in a marked toxicity in a neuroblastoma cell culture as a consequence of the enhancement of the hydrophobicity of the amyloid and amyloid–metal complexes.     

The efficient synthesis of amphiphilic oximes of galactose and glucosamine

New amphiphilic oximes of galactose and glucosamine have been synthesized and characterized. The oxime functionality has been introduced to the first and sixth positions of a nonionic surfactant, consisting of a sugar polar head and a lipophilic side chain. The compounds are soluble in pyridine and sparingly soluble in other polar organic solvents and water.     

Microwave-assisted synthesis of amphiphilic spin probes

New amphiphilic nitroxide spin probes have been synthesized. The key reaction is based on microwave-assisted epoxide ring opening with amines as nucleophiles using calcium trifluoromethanesulfonate as a catalyst. High yields, in short reaction times, were obtained without any detectable nitroxide decomposition.     

The effect of cooling rate on the solidification and microstructure evolution in duplex stainless steel

The effects of the cooling rate on the solidification and microstructure evolution in the duplex stainless steel SAF 2205 was studied using DSC and light microscopy. A ferritoscope was used to measure the ferrite content. It was revealed that the cooling rate has an influence on the ??-ferrite nucleation temperature and the width of the solidification interval. Moreover, with an increase in cooling rate, the content of ??-ferrite increases, while the quantity of austenite in the ferrite matrix decreases and its morphology changes to acicular. A two-cycle DSC experiment made possible a more accurate interpretation of the collected data.     

Four algorithms to solve symmetric multi-type non-negative matrix tri-factorization problem

Journal of Global Optimization - In this paper, we consider the symmetric multi-type non-negative matrix tri-factorization problem (SNMTF), which attempts to factorize several symmetric...     

Multifunctional superhydrophobic/oleophobic and flame-retardant cellulose fibres with improved ice-releasing properties and passive antibacterial activity prepared via the sol–gel method

In this research, a two-component sol–gel inorganic–organic hybrid coating was prepared on a cotton fibre surface. An equimolar sol mixture of the precursors 1H,1H,2H,2H-perfluorooctyltriethoxysilane (SiF) and P,P-diphenyl-N-(3-(trimethoxysilyl)propyl) phosphinic amide (SiP) was applied to cotton fabric samples using the pad-dry-cure method. The surfaces of the untreated and coated cotton fibres were characterised using scanning electron microscopy, Fourier transform-infrared spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and time-of-flight-secondary ion mass spectrometry. The functional properties of the coated cotton fabric samples were investigated using static contact angle measurements with water and n-hexadecane, the ice-releasing test, antibacterial testing against Gram-positive Staphylococcus aureus and Gram-negative Escherichia coli, thermogravimetric analysis in an air atmosphere, and vertical flammability tests. The results reveal the formation of a nanocomposite two-component inorganic–organic hybrid polymer network that is homogenously distributed over the cotton fibre surface. The presence of the SiP component in the two-component inorganic–organic hybrid coating did not hinder the functional properties imparted by the presence of the SiF component and vice versa, illustrating their compatibility. The cooperative action of the SiF and SiP components in the two-component coating provided the cotton fabric with exceptional multifunctionality, including simultaneous superhydrophobicity and high oleophobicity, passive antibacterial activity, and improved thermo-oxidative stability.     

Intercalation of a Heterocyclic Ligand between Quartets in a G-Rich Tetrahelical Structure

YES G-rich oligonucleotide VK2 folds into an AGCGA-quadruplex tetrahelical structure distinct and significantly different from G-quadruplexes, even though it contains four G₃ tracts. Herein, a bis-quinolinium ligand 360A with high affinity for G-quadruplex structures and selective telomerase inhibition is shown to strongly bind to VK2. Upon binding, 360A does not induce a conformational switch from VK2 to an expected G-quadruplex. In contrast, NMR structural study revealed formation of a well-defined VK2–360A complex with a 1:1 binding stoichiometry, in which 360A intercalates between GAGA- and GCGC-quartets in the central cavity of VK2. This is the first high-resolution structure of a G-quadruplex ligand intercalating into a G-rich tetrahelical fold. This unique mode of ligand binding into tetrahelical DNA architecture offers insights into the stabilization of an AGCGA-quadruplex by a heterocyclic ligand and provides guidelines for rational design of novel VK2 binding molecules with selectivity for different DNA secondary structures.     

Phase boundary propagation in large LiFePO4 single crystals on delithiation

Large single crystals of LiFePO(4) have been chemically delithiated. The relevance of chemical oxidation in comparison with electrochemical delithiation is discussed. Analyses of the Li content and profiles were done by electron energy loss spectroscopy and secondary ion mass spectrometry. The propagation of the FePO(4) phase growing on the surface of the large single crystal was followed by in situ optical microscopy as a function of time. The kinetics were evaluated in terms of linear irreversible thermodynamics and found to be characterized by an induction period followed by parabolic growth behavior of the FePO(4) phase indicating transport control. The growth rate was shown to depend on the crystallographic orientation. Scanning electron microscopy images showed cracks and a high porosity of the FePO(4) layer due to the significant changes in the molar volumes. The transport was found to be greatly enhanced by the porosity and crack formation and hence greatly enhanced over pure bulk transport, a result which is supposed to be very relevant for battery research if coarse-grained powder is used.     

Heat transfer from laminar flow through cylindrical tubes

Zusammenfassung Die Differentialgleichung für Wärmeleitung in einer durch ein zylindrisches Rohr strömenden Flüssigkeit, die wie bekannt schon öfters behandelt wurde, wird in der vorliegenden Arbeit mittels der konfluenten hypergeometrischen Funktion gelöst. Bei der Berechnung des ersten Eigenwertes wird von den neulich herausgegebenen Tafeln Gebrauch gemacht.