The relationship between self-organization and membrane effects of aqueous dispersion systems of the thyroliberin oligopeptide

The relationship between rearrangement of the dispersed phase inducing considerable changes in the pH and nonmonotonic concentration dependences of membrane effects in aqueous systems of the endogenous regulatory peptide, thyroliberin (thyrotropin-releasing hormone), in 10^–3–10^–16 mol/L concentration range was demonstrated for the first time. The membrane structure modification in the 10^–13–10^–16 mol/L range was found to be due to accumulation of nanoassociates, while the oppositely directed pronounced structural changes in the 10^–6–10^–12 mol/L range may be associated with the coexistence and rearrangement of dispersed phases of various nature (domains and associates) whose action on membrane lipid components is regulated in this concentration range by the correlated changes in the dispersed phase parameters and pH.     

Supercomputer technologies for structural-kinetic study of mechanisms of enzyme catalysis: A quantum-chemical description of aspartoacylase catalysis

The results of modeling of the complete catalytic cycle of aspartoacylase-catalyzed N-acetylaspartate hydrolysis by the combined quantum mechanics/molecular mechanics method and with the use of umbrella sampling replica-exchange molecular dynamics simulations are reported. It has been shown that the decrease in the high-energy barriers of rate-limiting stages is achieved through the preceding equilibrium stages, such as proton transfer and conformational changes. General features of the catalytic behavior of enzymes have been formulated.     

Production and characteristics of substituted lanthanum niobate LaNb<Subscript>1–<Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis></Subscript>W<Subscript><Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis></Subscript>O<Subscript>4 + δ</Subscript>

Solid solutions LaNb_1–x W _x O_{4 + δ} (x = 0.02–0.10, Δx = 0.02) were investigated, which crystallize in the monoclinic system (space group I2/c) at room temperature and undergo a phase transition into the tetragonal modification with increasing temperature. The stability of various modifications was analyzed by high-temperature X-ray powder diffraction analysis. The electrical conductivity of sintered samples was studied by impedance spectroscopy. Insertion of tungsten into the niobium sublattice leads to an increase in the conductivity of the solid solutions.     

Separation of rare earth elements in the tributyl phosphate–Ln(NO<Subscript>3</Subscript>)<Subscript>3</Subscript>–Ca(NO<Subscript>3</Subscript>)<Subscript>2</Subscript> system in the counter current process

The 40-step extraction process to separate rare earth elements (RЕEs) according to the praseodymium–cerium line with the use of mixer–settler extractors in a 100% TBP–Ln(NO₃)₃–Ca(NO₃)₂ system is implemented. A lanthanum–cerium concentrate containing less than 0.03 wt % of the remaining REEs is obtained. The flow diagram of the separation process of a rare earth (RE) concentrate isolated from phosphogypsum is considered.     

Complex-forming and ion-selective properties of bis(2-diphenylphosphorylalkyl)phenyl ethers of ethylene glycols. Crystal structures of cadmium complexes

New complexes of cadmium iodide with 1,3-bis[2-(diphenylphosphoryl)phenoxy]propane [CdL⁰I₂], 1,2-bis[2-(diphenylphosphorylethyl)phenoxy]ethane [CdL^{1, 2}I₂], and 1,8-bis[2-(diphenylphosphorylethyl) phenoxy]-3,6-dioxaoctane [CdL^{3, 2}I₂] are synthesized and their IR spectra and crystal structures are studied. Electroanalytical characteristics of membranes of ion-selective electrodes based on L⁰, L^{1, 2}, L^{3, 2}, and known crown ethers are compared for cations of alkali, alkaline-earth, and transition metals. Ligand L^{3, 2} is the first podand with terminal diphenylphosphoryl fragments to exhibit selectivity with respect to the cadmium cation.     

Copper(II), nickel(II), and zinc(II) complexes with <Emphasis Type="Italic">o</Emphasis>-tozylaminobenzaldehyde 4,6-dimethylpyrimidyl hydrazone

o-Tosylaminobenzaldehyde dimethylpyrimidyl hydrazone and its copper(II), nickel(II), and zinc(II) complexesare synthesized and studied. According to the X-ray diffraction data, the zinc(II) complex has the structure of a tetragonal pyramid with the N₃O donor ligand environment. According to EPR and magnetochemistry data, the copper(II) complex has a similar structure of the chelate core. In the nickel(II) complex, the solvent molecule completes the coordination core to an octahedron.     

Synthesis,structure, and optical properties of iridium(III) complex with 1-benzyl-2-phenylbenzimidazole and 4,4'-dicarboxy-2,2'-bipyridyne

A new cyclometalated iridium(III) complex [Ir(L)₂(Hdcbpy)] (1) has been synthesized, where L is 1-benzyl-2-phenylbenzimidazole and Hdcbpy is monoprotonated 4,4′-dicarboxy-2,2′-bipyridine. The structure of complex 1 has been determined by X-ray diffraction. The optical properties of complex 1 have been studied, and the quantum yield of luminescence has been measured.     

Study of lithium complexes with benzo-15-crown-5 ether by X-ray diffraction and IR spectroscopy

The complex formation of lithium with benzo-15-crown-5 (B15C5) was investigated. The complexes LiB15C5H₂OX, where X = Cl^? (1), I^? (2), (3), (5), and LiBF₄B15C5 (4) were synthesized and studied by IR spectroscopy. Complexes 1–4 were examined by X-ray diffraction. According to IR spectroscopy data, the crown ether conformation changes upon dissolution. The interaction of the extracted complex with the solvent was identified.     

Speed of flame propagation in CH<Subscript>3</Subscript>Cl + Cl<Subscript>2</Subscript> mixtures during combustion initiated by continuous UV radiation

Flame propagation in a closed tube over mixtures of chloromethane and chlorine of different compositions following ignition by continuous UV radiation is studied. It is found that the rate of combustion in all mixtures except limiting ones grows along with the propagation of the flame front up to its maximum values at nearly 1/3 the tube length and then slows. In limiting mixtures, the speed’s behavior is completely different. It is greatest near the source of UV light and gradually slows with distance from the source. The high speed in the initial section is due to the effect of UV light. The temperature of combustion is lowest in limiting mixtures, and the rate of chlorine molecule photodissociation at this temperature is comparable to and even faster than that of their thermal dissociation. The light in these mixtures thus contributes substantially to the initiation of the chemical reaction. It is concluded that when limiting mixtures are ignited by UV pulses, the speed of flame propagation falls markedly as it proceeds without the influence of radiation, and the character of changes in the speed’s behavior becomes identical to those for other mixtures.     

Kinetics and mechanism of the chain reaction between <Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>-phenyl-1,4-benzoquinone monoimine and thiophenol

The kinetics of the reaction between N-phenyl-1,4-benzoquinone monoimine (quinone monoimine) and thiophenol is studied in chlorobenzene at 343 K. The reaction has the same mechanism proposed earlier for a similar reaction involving N,N'-diphenyl-1,4-benzoquinone diimine (quinone diimine). This mechanism has two paths: chain and nonchain. An important difference between the kinetics of the two reactions is the apparent reversible nature of the chain reaction in the quinone monoimine + thiophenol system. This nature reveals itself when the concentrations of thiophenol are comparable to or slightly higher than the concentrations of quinone imine. In light of this, kinetic research is conducted under conditions where the concentrations of thiophenol are significantly higher than those of quinone monoimine, allowing us to simplify the kinetic features and obtain interpretable data. The rate constants of the reaction’s elementary steps are estimated and found to be three to five times lower for the reaction involving quinone monoamine than for the one involving quinone diimine. Both reactions have relatively short chains whose lengths do not exceed several tens of units.