An in situ STM/AFM and impedance spectroscopy study of the extremely pure 1-butyl-1-methylpyrrolidinium tris(pentafluoroethyl)trifluorophosphate/Au(111) interface: potential dependent solvation layers and the herringbone reconstruction

The structure and dynamics of the interfacial layers between the extremely pure air- and water-stable ionic liquid 1-butyl-1-methylpyrrolidinium tris(pentafluoroethyl)trifluorophosphate and Au(111) has been investigated using in situ scanning tunneling microscopy, cyclic voltammetry, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, and atomic force microscopy measurements. The in situ scanning tunnelling microscopy measurements reveal that the Au(111) surface undergoes a reconstruction, and at -1.2 V versus Pt quasi-reference the famous (22 × √3) herringbone superstructure is probed. Atomic force microscopy measurements show that multiple ion pair layers are present at the ionic liquid/Au interface which are dependent on the electrode potential. Upon applying cathodic electrode potentials, stronger ionic liquid near surface structure is detected: both the number of near surface layers and the force required to rupture these layers increases. The electrochemical impedance spectroscopy results reveal that three distinct processes take place at the interface. The fastest process is capacitive in its low-frequency limit and is identified with electrochemical double layer formation. The differential electrochemical double layer capacitance exhibits a local maximum at -0.2 V versus Pt quasi-reference, which is most likely caused by changes in the orientation of cations in the innermost layer. In the potential range between -0.84 V and -1.04 V, a second capacitive process is observed which is slower than electrochemical double layer formation. This process seems to be related to the herringbone reconstruction. In the frequency range below 1 Hz, the onset of an ultraslow faradaic process is found. This process becomes faster when the electrode potential is shifted to more negative potentials.     

Protonation states in a cobalt-oxide catalyst for water oxidation: fine comparison of ab initio molecular dynamics and X-ray absorption spectroscopy results

Ab initio molecular dynamics simulations of a recently proposed cobalt-based catalyst for water oxidation provide insight into the properties of protons at the water/oxide interface. Calculations and X-ray absorption spectroscopy data indicate a cubane-like structure of the catalyst, support the occurrence of protonated μ(2)-O atoms, suggest deprotonated μ(3)-O atoms and the presence of sites promoting low-barrier hydrogen bonds.     

In vitro antiprotozoal activity of extracts of five Turkish Lamiaceae species

The in vitro antiprotozoal activities of crude methanolic extracts from the aerial parts of five Lamiaceae plants (Salvia tomentosa, S. sclarea, S. dichroantha, Nepeta nuda subsp. nuda and Marrubium astracanicum subsp. macrodon) were evaluated against four parasitic protozoa, i.e. Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense, T. cruzi, Leishmania donovani and Plasmodium falciparum. The cytotoxic potentials of the extracts on L6 cells were also evaluated. Melarsoprol, benznidazole, miltefosine, chloroquine and podophyllotoxin were used as reference drugs. All crude MeOH extracts showed antiprotozoal potential against at least three parasites, so they were dispersed in water and partitioned against n-hexane and chloroform to yield three subextracts that were screened in the same test systems. The n-hexane extract of N. nuda was the most active against T. brucei rhodesiense while the CHCl3 extracts of S. tomentosa and S. dichroantha showed significant activity against L. donovani. All organic extracts displayed in vitro antimalarial and moderate trypanocidal activities against T. cruzi with the n-hexane extract of S. sclarea being the most active against the latter. The extracts displayed low or no cytotoxicity towards mammalian L6 cells.     

From A to B to Z

Semigroup Forum - The variety generated by the Brandt semigroup $$B_2$$ can be defined within the variety generated by the semigroup $$A_2$$ by the single identity $$x^2y^2\approx y^2x^2$$ . Edmond...     

Niclosamide Is Active In Vitro against Mycetoma Pathogens

Redox-active drugs are the mainstay of parasite chemotherapy. To assess their repurposing potential for eumycetoma, we have tested a set of nitroheterocycles and peroxides in vitro against two isolates of Madurella mycetomatis, the main causative agent of eumycetoma in Sudan. All the tested compounds were inactive except for niclosamide, which had minimal inhibitory concentrations of around 1 µg/mL. Further tests with niclosamide and niclosamide ethanolamine demonstrated in vitro activity not only against M. mycetomatis but also against Actinomadura spp., causative agents of actinomycetoma, with minimal inhibitory concentrations below 1 µg/mL. The experimental compound MMV665807, a related salicylanilide without a nitro group, was as active as niclosamide, indicating that the antimycetomal action of niclosamide is independent of its redox chemistry (which is in agreement with the complete lack of activity in all other nitroheterocyclic drugs tested). Based on these results, we propose to further evaluate the salicylanilides, niclosamide in particular, as drug repurposing candidates for mycetoma.     

Spacer length dependence of TGBC* and SmA phases in cholesteryl and dihydrocholesteryl-containing trimer liquid crystals

Two series of trimer liquid crystals were investigated that contain a biphenylyl central group and two cholesteryl or dihydrocholesteryl terminal mesogenic groups. Only compounds with even spacers were investigated. The dihydrocholesteryl-containing trimers show a triply intercalated smectic A (SmA) phase when the spacer lengths are greater than 8, whereas the cholesteryl-containing trimers exhibit this triply intercalated SmA phase when the spacer lengths are more than 6. With shorter spacers, a twist grain boundary C* (TGBC*) phase was found. This is revealed by the formation of a typical dotted square grid pattern upon cooling from the chiral nematic (N*) phase in the planar texture. The dots are spaced by a distance of about 1.5-1.8 µm. Upon cooling from the N* phase in the focal conic texture a striped pattern is observed with the same spacing. X-ray diffraction revealed a repeat distance for the TGBC* phase that corresponds with a monolayer ordering. The results show that the weaker interaction between the dihydrocholesteryl groups compared with cholesteryl groups or longer spacers destabilize the monolayer TGBC* phase.     

Sur les fonctions conjuguées

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