AFM study of the extracellular connective tissue matrix in patients with pelvic organ prolapse

The method of atomic force microscopy (AFM) is used for the first time for morphological investigation of pathological changes in the extracellular matrix of skin connective tissue upon the prolapse of pelvic organs (common disorder among women). Skin samples of patients with clinically proven pelvic-organ prolapse and of patients that do not have any connective tissue related disease (control group) are investigated via AFM. The AFM study reveals that the extracellular matrix of the skin connective tissues from patients with pelvic-organ prolapse diverges from the normal in various organization levels including both micro- and nanotexture (packing of collagen fibers and fibrils, respectively). The results of AFM study of the normal and pathologically changed skin connective tissues are in good agreement with the data of clinical morphological analysis, which indicates the potential of AFM as an independent diagnostic tool.     

Molecular structure of N,N′-o-phenylene-bis(salicylideneaminato)copper(II) studied by gas-phase electron diffraction and quantum-chemical calculations

The molecular structure of N,N′-o-phenylene-bis(salicylideneaminato)copper(II) (Cu(saloph)) was determined using the combination of gas-phase electron diffraction (GED), mass spectrometry, and quantum-chemical calculations. According to both experimental and theoretical approaches the molecule of Cu(saloph) is planar and possesses C _2v symmetry. Main structural parameters determined by GED experiment are the following (total error is given in a brackets): r _h1(Cu–N) = 1.960(20) Å, r _h1(Cu–O) = 1.913(17) Å, ∠NCuN = 82.7(18)°, ∠OCuO = 91.6(21)°, ∠NCuO = 92.9(9)°. The experimental structural parameters of Cu(saloph) molecules determined by X-ray single crystal analysis and GED experiments were discussed and compared to the theoretical ones.

     

Thermodynamic properties of Al-Y system melts

The thermochemical properties of Al-Y melts were determined by isoperibolic calorimetry. It was established that the minimal value of integral mixing enthalpies is equal to −40.8 + 0.4 kJ/mol at 1770 K and x _Y = 0.41. The thermodynamic properties of liquid alloys were modeled by the developed procedure using the coordinates of a liquidus line in the phase diagram of the Al-Y system, and by the theory of ideal associated solutions. The component activities exhibit high negative deviations from the Raoult law. The Gibbs energies of mixing of Al-Y melts have a minimum of −30.6 kJ/mol at x _Y = 0.48.     

Effect of the structure of a network matrix on the formation of gold nanoparticles during photoreduction of its salts in solutions of acrylic oligomers

The effect of network parameters of three-dimensionally crosslinked polyacrylic optically transparent matrices on the generation of surface plasmon resonance of gold nanoparticles forming during irradiation of Au³⁺ salt solutions in a liquid acrylic composite is studied. During the UV irradiation of a solution, the photoreduction of gold and the photoinitiated polymerization of acrylates proceed simultaneously to form transparent colorless films in which, after subsequent light and/or heat treatment, an absorption band near 550 nm that corresponds to the plasmon resonance of nanosize metal particles is generated. During the photoreduction of gold salt in matrices of oligo(urethane acrylate) composites with similar structures of the oligomeric block, the parameters of the three-dimensional network—the internodal and interchain distances—affect the rate of generation of gold nanoparticles but not the limiting value of optical density for the plasmon-resonance band of nanoparticles. Polyacrylate matrices may serve as a registering medium for optical data recording.     

Influence of Process Factors on the Structure of Urea-Formaldehyde Resin

The influence of preparation conditions on the structure of low-toxic urea-formaldehyde resins and the possibility of preparing resins of linear-branched structure and resins containing urone rings were examined.     

Hantzsch reaction in urea-formaldehyde resins

The effect of acetylacetone and ammonia in urea-formaldehyde resins on the reactions occurring in their presence was examined. The formation of 2,6-dimethyl-3,5-diacetyl-l,4-dihydropyridine in urea-formaldehyde resins was confirmed by ¹H NMR spectroscopy.     

Exchange equilibrium in the H-sulfocationite KU-2 × 8-phenylalanine-histidine system

The equilibrium properties of the joint sorption of phenylalanine and histidine on KU-2 × 8 sulfocationite from mixed solution were studied. The effect of the ratio between the concentrations of the amino acids in the solution on their sorption characteristics was reveled. The coefficients of separation and distribution of the amino acids between the sorbent and solution phases were determined.     

Glues based on carborane-containing siloxanes

The results of studying the effect of carborane groups on the properties of elementorganic adhesive systems are given. The modification of organosilicon compositions using bis(hydroxymethyl)carborane is shown to cause an increase in the strength characteristics of its adhesive composites and their resistance to 400°C.     

Synthesis of N-Substituted 3-Aminothiazolidin-4-ones Containing Hetaryl Fragments

Condensation of the N-(3,5-dichloropyridyl-2)- and N-(benzothiazolyl-2-thioacetyl)hydrazones of carbonyl compounds with thioglycolic acid gave the 3-(3,5-dichloropyridyl-2)amino- and 3-[N-(benzothiazolyl-2-thioacetyl)amino]-2-R¹-2-R²-thiazolidin-4-ones. Reaction of 1-(benzothiazolyl-2-thioacetyl)-4-R-thiosemicarbazides with chloroacetic acid in the presence of sodium acetate gave the 2-[N-(benzothiazolyl-2-thioacetyl)hydrazono]-3-R-thiazolidin-4-ones. It was found that the N-(benzothiazolyl-2-thioacetyl)hydrazones, both in the solid state and in solution, exist in the form of an equilibrium mixture of the EZ'- and EE'-isomers as a result of hindered rotation around the amide N-CO bond.