New prodrugs derived from 6-aminodopamine and 4-aminophenol as candidates for melanocyte-directed enzyme prodrug therapy (MDEPT)

Two novel tyrosinase mediated drug delivery pathways have been investigated for the selective delivery of cytotoxic units to melanocytes from urea and thiourea prodrugs. The synthesis of these prodrugs is reported, as well as oximetry data that illustrate that the targets are substrates for tyrosinase. The stability of each of the prodrugs in (i) phosphate buffer and (ii) bovine serum is discussed, and the urea prodrugs are identified as lead candidates for further studies. Finally, HPLC studies and preliminary cytotoxicity studies in a melanotic and an amelanotic cell line, that illustrate the feasibility of the approach, are presented.     

Concise quantum associative memories with nonlinear search algorithm

The model of Quantum Associative Memories (QAM) we propose here consists in simplifying and generalizing that of Rigui Zhou et al. 1 which uses the quantum matrix with the binary decision diagram put forth by David Rosenbaum 2 and the Abrams and Lloyd's nonlinear search algorithm 3 . Our model gives the possibility to retrieve one of the sought states in multi‐values retrieving scheme when a measurement is done on the first register in time complexity. It is better than Grover's algorithm and its modified form which need steps when they are used as the retrieval algorithm. n is the number of qubits of the first register and m the number of x values for which . As the nonlinearity makes the system highly susceptible to the noise, an analysis of the influence of the single qubit noise channels on the Nonlinear Search Algorithm of our model of QAM shows a fidelity of about 0.7 whatever the number of qubits existing in the first register, thus demonstrating the robustness of our model.     

Measurement of storage time, estimation of ion number and study of absorption line profile in a Paul trap

Europium (Eu⁺) ions were confined in a Paul trap and detected by non-destructive method. Storage time of Eu⁺ ions achieved in vacuum was improved by orders of magnitude employing buffer gas cooling. The experimentally detected signal was fitted to the ion response signal and the total number of ions trapped was estimated. It is found that the peak signal amplitude as well as the product of FWHM and the peak signal amplitude is proportional to the total number of trapped ions. The trapped ion secular frequency was swept at different rates and its effect on the absorption line profile was studied both experimentally and theoretically.     

Cascade reaction for 3-pyrrolines and pyrroles from nitroallylic acetates and N-mesyl 2-aminoethanones

Cascade reactions of nitroallylic acetates with methanesulfonyl 2-aminoethanones affords either the 3-pyrrolines or the pyrroles in one pot depending on reaction solvents and temperature. A possible mechanism for the entire sequence is proposed.     

Dynamics of the electromechanical sieve with hysteretic iron-core inductor

We study bifurcations and the chaotic behavior of a periodically forced electromechanical sieve. The dynamical behavior of the system is analyzed when supplied with the sinusoidal and square voltage sources. Analytical calculations and numerical simulations are also carried out for this electromechanical system and the results obtained are shown in terms of frequency–response diagrams, time–displacement diagrams, and phase portraits. Depending on the system parameters the analytical calculations and the numerical simulations exhibit regions of periodic and chaotic behaviors. For experimental validation, a small electromechanical sieve has been designed and realized. Amplitude jumps, hysteresis, and multistability are also observed. Good agreements are found between our theoretical results and experimental ones.

     

Bruch’s-Mimetic Nanofibrous Membranes Functionalized with the Integrin-Binding Peptides as a Promising Approach for Human Retinal Pigment Epithelium Cell Transplantation

Background: This study aimed to develop an ultrathin nanofibrous membrane able to, firstly, mimic the natural fibrous architecture of human Bruch’s membrane (BM) and, secondly, promote survival of retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells after surface functionalization of fibrous membranes. Methods: Integrin-binding peptides (IBPs) that specifically interact with appropriate adhesion receptors on RPEs were immobilized on Bruch’s-mimetic membranes to promote coverage of RPEs. Surface morphologies, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy spectra, contact angle analysis, Alamar Blue assay, live/dead assay, immunofluorescence staining, and scanning electron microscopy were used to evaluate the outcome. Results: Results showed that coated membranes maintained the original morphology of nanofibers. After coating with IBPs, the water contact angle of the membrane surfaces varied from 92.38 ± 0.67 degrees to 20.16 ± 0.81 degrees. RPE cells seeded on IBP-coated membranes showed the highest viability at all time points (Day 1, p < 0.05; Day 3, p < 0.01; Days 7 and 14, p < 0.001). The proliferation rate of RPE cells on uncoated poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL) membranes was significantly lower than that of IBP-coated membranes (p < 0.001). SEM images showed a well-organized hexa/polygonal monolayer of RPE cells on IBP-coated membranes. RPE cells proliferated rapidly, contacted, and became confluent. RPE cells formed a tight adhesion with nanofibers under high-magnification SEM. Our findings confirmed that the IBP-coated PCL membrane improved the attachment, proliferation, and viability of RPE cells. In addition, in this study, we used serum-free culture for RPE cells and short IBPs without immunogenicity to prevent graft rejection and immunogenicity during transplantation. Conclusions: These results indicated that the biomimic BM-IBP-RPE nanofibrous graft might be a new, practicable approach to increase the success rate of RPE cell transplantation.     

Isolation performance of a quasi-zero stiffness isolator in vibration isolation of a multi-span continuous beam bridge under pier base vibrating excitation

Nonlinear Dynamics - This paper considers a vibration control problem for a multi-span beam bridge under pier base vibrating excitation by using nonlinear quasi-zero stiffness (QZS) vibration...     

Electronic properties of polyoxometalate derivatives [(C2B9H11) M'M5O18]n‐ (M' = TiIV,MoVI, WVI; M = MoVI,WVI): Protonation,Electronic Spectra,and Redox Properties

Density functional theory is used to study the electronic structures and properties of Lindqvist‐type polyoxometalates‐supported organometallic compounds [LM'M₅O₁₈]^n– (L = [C₂B₉H₁₁]^2– (Cb), [C₅H₅]^– (Cp); M' = Ti^IV, Mo^VI, W^VI; M = Mo^VI, W^VI). [(Cb)M'M₅O₁₈]^n– are a series of novel compounds designed in this work, based on related experiment. The calculated results reveal that the Cb ligand is able to form a σ, 2π triple bond with M', which is similar to the bond character in [(Cp)M'M₅O₁₈]^n–. However, comparing with the protonation, electronic spectra and redox properties of [(Cp)M'M₅O₁₈]^n– and [M'M₅O₁₉]^n–, [(Cb)M'M₅O₁₈]^n– species show the advantageous electronic properties owning to the superior electron donating ability of the Cb ligand. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Research on factors affecting heavy oil-in-water emulsion rheology and pressure drop

The effects of the types and contents of surfactants, alkali types and concentrations, oil-water ratios, mixing speeds, and emulsifying temperatures on the rheology of heavy oil-in-water (O/W) emulsions were studied. The experimental results showed that the apparent viscosity increased as the formulated surfactant content increased. The organic/inorganic alkali played a twofold role in the apparent viscosity of the O/W emulsion, promoting the ionization of these interfacial active components and compressing the diffused double layer, the competition of which determined whether the apparent viscosity increased or decreased. With increasing oil-water ratios, the apparent viscosity increased, whereas an increase in the emulsifying temperature resulted in a decrease of the apparent viscosity. When the mixing speed was increased from 500 to 1000?r/min, the apparent viscosity increased. However, the apparent viscosity changed minimally for mixing speeds in the range of 1000–1500?r/min. To further discuss the impacts of these factors on the emulsion rheology and pressure drop, the results of an orthogonal test were analyzed through ANOVA using SPSS software; the pressure drops in the samples were calculated using Matlab software. The results demonstrated that the effects of the oil-water ratios on emulsion viscosity and pressure drop were the most prominent.