Evaluation of the stability of ethanol in water certified reference material: measurement uncertainty under transport and storage conditions

This study simulated the transport and storage conditions of ethanol in water certified reference material (CRM) produced by the Chemical Metrology Division of Inmetro—DQUIM with the purpose of estimating the measurement uncertainty related to stability. The short-term stability study was performed on five different mass fractions (w) in terms of mg ethanol/g solution of the ethanol in water CRM. The nominal values are w = 0.5, 0.9, 1.1, 3.8 and 4.6 mg/g, at temperatures of 4 and 60 °C. On the other hand, the long-term stability study was developed on four different mass fractions (nominal values): w = 0.5, 0.9, 1.1 and 4.6 mg/g, at a temperature of 20 °C. This paper will show the data from the long-term stability study that took place over 52 weeks. The method used complies with ISO Guide 35, the BCR Guideline for Feasibility Studies and ISO Guide 34. According to the statistical parameters used in both studies, the stability of ethanol in water CRM was confirmed for all of the mass fractions studied.     

Simulation of human ischemic stroke in realistic 3D geometry

In silico research in medicine is thought to reduce the need for expensive clinical trials under the condition of reliable mathematical models and accurate and efficient numerical methods. In the present work, we tackle the numerical simulation of reaction–diffusion equations modeling human ischemic stroke. This problem induces peculiar difficulties like potentially large stiffness which stems from the broad spectrum of temporal scales in the nonlinear chemical source term as well as from the presence of steep spatial gradients in the reaction fronts, spatially very localized. Furthermore, simulations on realistic 3D geometries are mandatory in order to describe correctly this type of phenomenon. The main goal of this article is to obtain, for the first time, 3D simulations on realistic geometries and to show that the simulation results are consistent with those obtain in experimental studies or observed on MRI images in stroke patients.For this purpose, we introduce a new resolution strategy based mainly on time operator splitting that takes into account complex geometry coupled with a well-conceived parallelization strategy for shared memory architectures. We consider then a high order implicit time integration for the reaction and an explicit one for the diffusion term in order to build a time operator splitting scheme that exploits efficiently the special features of each problem. Thus, we aim at solving complete and realistic models including all time and space scales with conventional computing resources, that is on a reasonably powerful workstation. Consequently and as expected, 2D and also fully 3D numerical simulations of ischemic strokes for a realistic brain geometry, are conducted for the first time and shown to reproduce the dynamics observed on MRI images in stroke patients. Beyond this major step, in order to improve accuracy and computational efficiency of the simulations, we indicate how the present numerical strategy can be coupled with spatial adaptive multiresolution schemes. Preliminary results in the framework of simple geometries allow to assess the proposed strategy for further developments.     

Comparison between DAX-8 and C-18 solid phase extraction of rainwater dissolved organic matter

Rainwater is a very low concentrated matrix and, for dissolved organic matter (DOM) characterization, an efficient extraction procedure is essential. Isolation procedures based on the adsorption onto XAD-8 and C-18 sorbents have been used in the literature for rainwater DOM isolation, but a comparison between these procedures is lacking. In this work, UV-visible and molecular fluorescence spectroscopies highlighted differences between rainwater DOM isolated by DAX-8 (replacement for XAD-8) and by C-18. It was possible to recover higher rainwater DOM percentage by the C-18 based procedure than by the DAX-8 one. Rainwater protein-like compounds were better concentrated by the C-18 procedure than by the DAX-8 one, while humic-like compounds were similarly concentrated by both procedures. Furthermore, rainwater DOM extracted by the C-18 procedure was more representative of the global matrix, while DAX-8 preferentially extracted humic-like compounds.     

Selective arylation of aldehydes with di-rhodium(II)/NHC catalysts

Here is described the preparation of four new rhodium(II) complexes bearing axial NHC ligands. The presence of electron-withdrawing bridging ligands resulted in an enhanced reactivity in the arylation of aldehydes with boronic acids when compared with the tetraacetate counterparts. Complex 15 (Rh₂tfa₄(IPr)₂) proved to be the most active catalyst for this transformation allowing the selective conversion of aromatic, aliphatic and vinyl aldehydes into the respective alcohols in excellent yields. It was demonstrated that the good group tolerance could be further extended to aromatic and conjugated ketones. DFT calculations carried out on this system showed the complementarily of the bridging ligands and axial ligand in these dinuclear complexes. It was also disclosed that Rh(II)/NHC catalytic system can promote the racemization of 1-phenyl ethanol.     

Imbedding conditions for normal matrices

When can an (n-k)×(n-k) normal matrix B be imbedded in an n×n normal matrix A? This question was studied for the first time 50 years ago by Ky Fan and Gordon Pall, who gave the complete answer in the case k=1. Since then, a few authors obtained additional results. In this note, we show how an approach inspired by the Hermitian case can throw some light on the problem.     

Density Functional Study of Proline‐Catalyzed Intramolecular Baylis–Hillman Reactions

A rationalization of stereoselectivity : The mechanisms of proline‐catalyzed and imidazole‐co‐catalyzed intramolecular Baylis–Hillman reactions have been studied by using density functional theory methods. The computational data has allowed us to rationalize the experimental outcome, validating some of the mechanistic steps proposed in the literature, as well as to propose new ones that considerably change and improve our understanding of the full reaction path (see scheme).

     

Synthesis and structural characterization of silver(I) complexes with moon-shaped benzo[1,2-b;4,3-b′]dithiophene phosphine derivative ligands

New silver complexes of general formula [Ag(O₃SCF₃)(PPh₂{bzt})_n] (n = 1–3, bzt = benzo[1,2-b;4,3-b′]dithiophene) have been synthesized and characterized. Spectroscopic studies shown neutral ligand fluxionallity, typical of silver(I) complexes. The solid state structure of the complexes was determined by X-ray crystallographic studies, showing a decrease in structure complexity with increasing number of neutral ligands in silver coordination sphere: [Ag(O₃SCF₃)(PPh₂{bzt})] is a dimer with two bridging triflate anions, further linked into polymeric bidimensional chains along bc plane, through Ag?Ph close contacts; Ag(O₃SCF₃)(PPh₂{bzt})₂] is also a dimmer with two bridging triflate anions, displaying an interesting packing feature, with zig-zag alignment of bzt groups along direction b; [Ag(O₃SCF₃)(PPh₂{bzt})₃] is a monomer.     

trans‐Chlorido(phenyl)bis(triphenylphosphine)nickel(II) and its 1:1 cocrystal with chloridobis(triphenylphosphine)nickel(I)

Two conformational polymorphs of trans‐chlorido(phenyl)bis(triphenylphosphine)nickel(II), [Ni(C₆H₅)Cl(C₁₈H₁₅P)₂], (1), viz. orange needle‐shaped crystals (form I) and brown prism‐shaped crystals (form II), were obtained under different crystallization conditions from a mixture of toluene and n‐hexane, and characterized by single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction at low temperature. These two forms were compared with that published previously [Zeller, Herdtweck & Strassner (2003). Eur. J. Inorg. Chem. pp. 1802–1806], characterized at room temperature. Additionally, blue–green prisms of a 1:1 cocrystal of complex (1) with chloridobis(triphenylphosphine)nickel(I), (2), viz.trans‐chlorido(phenyl)bis(triphenylphosphine)nickel(II)–chloridobis(triphenylphosphine)nickel(I) (1/1), [Ni(C₆H₅)Cl(C₁₈H₁₅P)₂]·[NiCl(C₁₈H₁₅P)₂], (3), were obtained concomitantly with form I. In forms I and II, as well as in the cocrystal, the overall crystal packings are determined by an energetic interplay between intramolecular torsions and weak intermolecular C—H...π and C—H...Cl interactions.     

Salivary peptidome in type 1 diabetes mellitus

Diabetic patients show a high susceptibility to oral diseases of inflammatory, catabolic and chronic nature with potential impact on saliva composition. In this study, our purpose was to characterize type 1 diabetes‐induced alterations in the salivary peptidome aiming to find prospective biomarkers for type 1 diabetes oral health evaluation. Peptidomic analysis of saliva from controls (n = 5) and type 1 diabetic patients (n = 5) were performed by liquid chromatography followed by mass spectrometry. The proteolytic activity and metalloproteinases expression was accessed by zymography and slot blot analysis, respectively. Data evidenced a significant increase in the percentage of peptides in diabetic patients paralleled by a higher proteolytic activity, compared with healthy individuals. The nonsalivary gland protein fragments identified in saliva were mainly derived from collagen and extracellular matrix proteins, namely collagen type I. The cleavage site frequency analysis showed significant differences between healthy and type 1 diabetic individuals, highlighting the activity of proteases such as matrix metalloproteinase‐9 and cathepsin D. Our results highlight salivary collagen fragments as potential biomarkers to follow up diabetes‐related oral damage. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A Tri‐copper(II) Complex Displaying DNA‐Cleaving Properties and Antiproliferative Activity against Cancer Cells

A new disubstituted terpyridine ligand and the corresponding tri‐copper(II) complex have been prepared and characterised. The binding affinity and binding mode of this tri‐copper complex (as well as the previously reported mono‐ and di‐copper analogues) towards duplex DNA were determined by using UV/Vis spectroscopic titrations and fluorescent indicator displacement (FID) assays. These studies showed the three complexes to bind moderately (in the order of 10⁴ M ^?1) to duplex DNA (ct‐DNA and a 26‐mer sequence). Furthermore, the number of copper centres and the nature of the substituents were found to play a significant role in defining the binding mode (intercalative or groove binding). The nuclease potential of the three complexes was investigated by using circular plasmid DNA as a substrate and analysing the products by agarose‐gel electrophoresis. The cleaving activity was found to be dependent on the number of copper centres present (cleaving potency was in the order: tri‐copper>di‐copper>mono‐copper). Interestingly, the tri‐copper complex was able to cleave DNA without the need of external co‐reductants. As this complex displayed the most promising nuclease properties, cell‐based studies were carried out to establish if there was a direct link between DNA cleavage and cellular toxicity. The tri‐copper complex displayed high cytotoxicity against four cancer cell lines. Of particular interest was that it displayed high cytotoxicity against the cisplatin‐resistant MOLT‐4 leukaemia cell line. Cellular uptake studies showed that the tri‐copper complex was able to enter the cell and more importantly localise in the nucleus. Immunoblotting analysis (used to monitor changes in protein levels related to the DNA damage response pathway) and DNA‐flow cytometric studies suggested that this tri‐copper(II) complex is able to induce cellular DNA damage.