trans‐Di­aqua­tetrakis(3,5‐di­methyl­pyrazole‐N2)­nickel(II) dichloride

The X‐ray structure analysis of [Ni(C₅H₈N₂)₄(H₂O)₂]Cl₂ was undertaken to elucidate the geometry around the Ni²⁺ ion. The molecule lies on a twofold axis which runs through the O—Ni—O atoms. The geometry around the Ni²⁺ ion is best described as slightly distorted tetragonal bipyramidal.     

Chemical and enzymatic stability of the oleanoyl oxime ibuprofenate

The stress tests as well as photostability analysis in solutions and the solid phase of the oleanoyl oxime ibuprofenate (Ibu-OxOA) were determined according the International Conference on Harmonization guidelines. For observation of the degradation of tested compounds, the reversed phase high-performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC) method was used. The study included the effect of temperature, water, H⁺ and OH⁻ ions, hydrogen peroxide, and light (6.0 × 10⁶, 1.2 × 10⁶ lux·h) on the stability of the tested hybrid. Studies have shown that these compounds are not stable in a neutral, acidic, or oxidizing medium; very unstable in an alkaline medium; and photostable in a solution and photostable in the solid phase. Studies on the enzymatic stability of the tested hybrid showed that it is not susceptible to degradation in the presence of plasma enzymes as well as in the presence of esterase (37°C, 80% human plasma). The degradation of this compound was observed in the presence of lipase (from Candida antarctica), and the linear dependence of the determined kinetic parameters of the reaction on the enzyme activity was demonstrated.     

Understanding the Effect of Different Synthesis Conditions on the Physicochemical Properties of Mixed-Ion Perovskite Solar Cells

Perovskite solar cells, composed of a mixture of methylammonium (MA) and formamidinium (FA) cations [in the benchmark proportions of (FAPbI₃)_0.85(MAPbBr₃)_0.15] and titania as an electron-accepting material, are prepared under different conditions, with the objective of finding correlations between the solar cell performance and several important stationary and dynamical parameters of the material. The effects of humidity, oxygen, the use of anti-solvent, and the presence and quality of a mesoporous titania layer are investigated. It is found that an increase in the photocurrent corresponds to a higher content of the desired cubic perovskite phase and to increased long-wavelength absorption of the sample. On the contrary, for poorer-quality cells, additional short-wavelength bands in both absorption and emission spectra are present. Furthermore, a higher photocurrent of the cells is correlated with faster interfacial charge-transfer dynamics. For the highest photocurrent of >20 mA cm⁻², the characteristic times of about 1 μs are observed by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, and emission half-lifetimes of about 6 ns by time-resolved fluorescence spectroscopy (upon excitation with 420 nm pulses of ≈0.5 mW power). Both first- and second-order rate constants, extracted from the emission measurements, are greater for the cells showing higher photocurrents, probably owing to a more rapid charge injection.     

The study of thermal,microstructural and magnetic properties of manganese–zinc ferrite prepared by co-precipitation method using different precipitants

Mn–Zn ferrite was prepared from the solution after acid leaching of spent batteries by co-precipitation method using ammonia oxalate, sodium carbonate and sodium hydroxide as precipitating agents. The co-precipitation process was performed at temperature of over 50 °C by continuous magnetic stirring. The precipitates were pre-sintered at 850 °C in air. Dilatometric study has revealed that lowest shrinkage (only 5.6%) showed a material obtained from an oxalate precipitant. After pressing and high-temperature sintering at 1325 °C, it showed both insufficient density and the presence of pores, which contribute to the deterioration in the magnetic properties of the ferrites: the low magnetic permeability value and high magnetic losses. Ferrite prepared from hydroxide and carbonate precipitant showed a much higher shrinkage, sintered density and much higher magnetic permeability compared with the ferrite prepared from oxalate precursor.     

Curcuma longa L. Rhizome Extract as a Poly(vinyl chloride)/Graphene Nanocomposite Green Modifier

In this work, a method to increase the dispersion of graphene (GN) in the matrix of rigid poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) by using a natural plant extract from Curcuma longa L. (CE) is proposed. Currently, despite the increasing number of reports on the improvement of GN dispersion in PVC blends, still there is a need to find environmentally friendly and economical dispersion stabilizers. We proposed a stabilizer that can be easily obtained from a plant offering thermal stability and high effectiveness. PVC/GN nanocomposites stabilized with the proposed extract were investigated by SEM, AFM (structure), TGA, and Congo red test (thermal properties). Additionally, static and dynamic mechanical properties and electrical resistivity were measured. The use of CE as a graphene dispersant improved its dispersion in the PVC matrix, influenced tensile properties, increased the storage modulus and glass transition temperature, and extended the thermal stability time of nanocomposites. In this work, a CE extract is proposed as an efficient eco-friendly additive for the production of nanocomposites with an improved homogeneity of a nanofiller in the matrix and promising characteristics.     

Computer- and NMR-Aided Design of Small-Molecule Inhibitors of the Hub1 Protein

By binding to the spliceosomal protein Snu66, the human ubiquitin-like protein Hub1 is a modulator of the spliceosome performance and facilitates alternative splicing. Small molecules that bind to Hub1 would be of interest to study the protein-protein interaction of Hub1/Snu66, which is linked to several human pathologies, such as hypercholesterolemia, premature aging, neurodegenerative diseases, and cancer. To identify small molecule ligands for Hub1, we used the interface analysis, peptide modeling of the Hub1/Snu66 interaction and the fragment-based NMR screening. Fragment-based NMR screening has not proven sufficient to unambiguously search for fragments that bind to the Hub1 protein. This was because the Snu66 binding pocket of Hub1 is occupied by pH-sensitive residues, making it difficult to distinguish between pH-induced NMR shifts and actual binding events. The NMR analyses were therefore verified experimentally by microscale thermophoresis and by NMR pH titration experiments. Our study found two small peptides that showed binding to Hub1. These peptides are the first small-molecule ligands reported to interact with the Hub1 protein.     

In Vitro Screening for Anti-Acetylcholinesterase and Antioxidant Activities of Hottonia palustris L. Extracts and Their Unusual Flavonoids

Hottonia palustris L. is from the genus Hottonia (Primulaceae), and the understanding of its phytochemical and pharmacological properties is limited. In this study, the use of chromatographic techniques led to the isolation of a further eleven compounds, including three new flavonoids: 2′,5-dihydroxyflavone 2′-O-β-glucopyranoside, 5,6-dihydroxyflavone 6-O-(6”-O-glucopyranosyl)-β-glucopyranoside (hottonioside A), and 4′,5,7-trihydroxyflavone 7-O-(2”-O-β-glucuronide)-β-glucopyranoside. Their structures were determined using extensive 1D and 2D NMR data and mass spectrometry (HRMS). The qualitative assessment of the chemical composition of the investigated extracts and fractions was performed using the LC-HRMS technique. Furthermore, the antioxidant potential of extracts, fractions, and compounds and their ability to inhibit acetylcholinesterase were also evaluated. Thus, we may conclude that the observed biological effects are the result of the presence of many biologically active compounds, of which dibenzoylmethane is the most active. Therefore, H. palustris is a source of substances with desirable properties in the prevention and treatment of neurodegenerative diseases.     

Development of a Tellurium Speciation Study Using IC-ICP-MS on Soil Samples Taken from an Area Associated with the Storage,Processing, and Recovery of Electrowaste

The optimization and validation of a methodology for determining and extracting inorganic ionic Te(VI) and Te(IV) forms in easily-leached fractions of soil by Ion Chromatography-Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometry (IC-ICP-MS) were studied. In this paper, the total concentration of Te, pH, and red-ox potential were determined. Ions were successfully separated in 4 min on a Hamilton PRPX100 column with 0.002 mg/kg and 0.004 mg/kg limits of detection for Te(VI) and Te(IV), respectively. Soil samples were collected from areas subjected to the influence of an electrowaste processing and sorting plant. Sequential chemical extraction of soils showed that tellurium was bound mainly with sulphides, organic matter, and silicates. Optimization of soil extraction allowed 20% average extraction efficiency to be obtained, using 100 mM citric acid as the extractant. In the tested soil samples, both tellurium species were present. In most cases, the soils contained a reduced Te form, or the concentrations of both species were similar.     

Physicochemical properties and thermal behavior of nitrocellulose granules with eutectic mixtures of stabilizers

Journal of Thermal Analysis and Calorimetry - Examinations of two-component mixtures, namely: triphenylamine?+?centralite I (TPA?+?CI) and...