Stability of isooctane mixtures with 3-pentanone or biacetyl as fluorescence tracers in combustion experiments

Evidence is presented in the literature that common fluorescence tracer/fuel mixtures used in engine experiments, 3-pentanone/isooctane and biacetyl/isooctane, may decompose during extended use and storage. Investigations presented here show that preferential evaporation of the tracer and not chemical decomposition is responsible for observed decreases in fluorescence signal strength in these experiments.     

Screening an In-House Isoquinoline Alkaloids Library for New Blockers of Voltage-Gated Na+ Channels Using Voltage Sensor Fluorescent Probes: Hits and Biases

Voltage-gated Na⁺ (Na_V) channels are significant therapeutic targets for the treatment of cardiac and neurological disorders, thus promoting the search for novel Na_V channel ligands. With the objective of discovering new blockers of Na_V channel ligands, we screened an In-House vegetal alkaloid library using fluorescence cell-based assays. We screened 62 isoquinoline alkaloids (IA) for their ability to decrease the FRET signal of voltage sensor probes (VSP), which were induced by the activation of Na_V channels with batrachotoxin (BTX) in GH3b6 cells. This led to the selection of five IA: liriodenine, oxostephanine, thalmiculine, protopine, and bebeerine, inhibiting the BTX-induced VSP signal with micromolar IC₅₀. These five alkaloids were then assayed using the Na⁺ fluorescent probe ANG-2 and the patch-clamp technique. Only oxostephanine and liriodenine were able to inhibit the BTX-induced ANG-2 signal in HEK293-hNa_V1.3 cells. Indeed, liriodenine and oxostephanine decreased the effects of BTX on Na⁺ currents elicited by the hNa_V1.3 channel, suggesting that conformation change induced by BTX binding could induce a bias in fluorescent assays. However, among the five IA selected in the VSP assay, only bebeerine exhibited strong inhibitory effects against Na⁺ currents elicited by the hNav1.2 and hNav1.6 channels, with IC₅₀ values below 10 µM. So far, bebeerine is the first BBIQ to have been reported to block Na_V channels, with promising therapeutical applications.     

Development of Novel Indole-Based Bifunctional Aldose Reductase Inhibitors/Antioxidants as Promising Drugs for the Treatment of Diabetic Complications

Aldose reductase (AR, ALR2), the first enzyme of the polyol pathway, is implicated in the pathophysiology of diabetic complications. Aldose reductase inhibitors (ARIs) thus present a promising therapeutic approach to treat a wide array of diabetic complications. Moreover, a therapeutic potential of ARIs in the treatment of chronic inflammation-related pathologies and several genetic metabolic disorders has been recently indicated. Substituted indoles are an interesting group of compounds with a plethora of biological activities. This article reviews a series of indole-based bifunctional aldose reductase inhibitors/antioxidants (ARIs/AOs) developed during recent years. Experimental results obtained in in vitro, ex vivo, and in vivo models of diabetic complications are presented. Structure–activity relationships with respect to carboxymethyl pharmacophore regioisomerization and core scaffold modification are discussed along with the criteria of ‘drug-likeness”. Novel promising structures of putative multifunctional ARIs/AOs are designed.     

Are pore size distributions in microfiltration membranes measurable by two-phase flow porosimetry?

The issue of evaluating equivalent pore diameter distributions in membrane microfilters from gas-liquid (g-l) porosimetry data has been critically examined. Experiments performed with one isotropic and one composite anisotropic membrane in both possible orientations revealed conspicous dependence of the obtained (g-l) porosimetry peaks on imposed pressure ramp rates, p. Interference of this kinetic effect can be eliminated from the measured data by extrapolation to p = 0. The ramp rate effect is most likely caused by tortuous pore length distribution, and relatively long times required for liquid expulsion. For two experiments, the observed effects of p could be reconciled with predictions of the Schlesinger-Bechhold theory [Bechold et al., Kolloid Z., 55 (1931) 172–198]. The data obtained with the thin top layer of the composite membrane facing intruding air directly did deviate somewhat from the theory. Pores characterized by (g-l) porosimetry are likely of the “throat type”, and their size distribution is considerably more narrow than that obtained for the “node-type” pores by SEM-image analysis [Zeman and Denault, J. Membrane Sci., 71 (1992) 221–231]. A single bivariate distribution function was constructed for these two distinct pore populations. Flow-weighted or number fraction distributions can be calculated from the extrapolated porosimetry data. For narrow ranges of “throat” diameters, these distributions are fairly similar.     

Tungsten silicide formation by XeCl excimer-laser irradiation of W/Si samples

We report a study of the formation of tungsten silicide at the W-Si interface, induced by multipulse (up to 300 shots) XeCl excimer-laser irradiation of W(150 nm)/Si and W(500 nm)/Si samples. Laser fluences ranging from 0.6 to 1.8 J/cm² were used. After laser treatment the samples were examined by different diagnostic techniques: Rutherford backscattering spectrometry, X-ray scattering, resistometry, and surface profilometry. Numerical computations of the evolution and depth profiles of the temperature in the samples as a consequence of a single 30 ns laser pulse were performed as well. The results indicate that it is possible to obtain a tungsten silicide layer at the W-Si interface at quite low fluences. The layer thickness increases with the number of laser pulses. Complete reaction of the 150 nm thick W film with silicon was obtained at the fluence of 1.2 J/cm² between 30 and 100 laser pulses and at 1.5 J/cm² after 30 laser pulses. The sheet resistance of these silicides was 5–10 . At the used fluences for the 500 nm thick W film only the onset of silicide synthesis at the W-Si interface was observed.     

Optimization of NRZ Data Transmission at 10 Gbit/s over G.652 Without In-Line DFAs

Performance limits of NRZ data transmission at 10 Gbit/s over standard single mode fiber (SSMF, G.652) without the deployment of in-line erbium-doped fiber amplifiers (EDFAs) are evaluated by means of numerical simulation. The fiber system was modeled using the standard split-step Fourier algorithm for the solution of nonlinear Schroedinger equation. The effect of group velocity dispersion (GVD) compensation scheme, degree of GVD compensation of the SSMF, and input optical powers to SSMF and to the dispersion compensating fiber (DCF) have been investigated with the aim to maximize the distance between transmitter and receiver. We have found that a post-compensation scheme performs better than the pre-compensation scheme and that, by careful selection of input powers and degree of GVD compensation, it should be possible to keep the bit-error-ratio (BER) below 10 upper index = 15 for an SSMF length of 270 km.     

'Ribozoomin'--translation initiation from the perspective of the ribosome-bound eukaryotic initiation factors (eIFs)

Protein synthesis is a fundamental biological mechanism bringing the DNA-encoded genetic information into life by its translation into molecular effectors - proteins. The initiation phase of translation is one of the key points of gene regulation in eukaryotes, playing a role in processes from neuronal function to development. Indeed, the importance of the study of protein synthesis is increasing with the growing list of genetic diseases caused by mutations that affect mRNA translation. To grasp how this regulation is achieved or altered in the latter case, we must first understand the molecular details of all underlying processes of the translational cycle with the main focus put on its initiation. In this review I discuss recent advances in our comprehension of the molecular basis of particular initiation reactions set into the context of how and where individual eIFs bind to the small ribosomal subunit in the pre-initiation complex. I also summarize our current knowledge on how eukaryotic initiation factor eIF3 controls gene expression in the gene-specific manner via reinitiation.     

Kristallzüchtung von Arsentrisulfid

The solubility of As₂S₃ in organic amines was determined. As₂S₃ crystals were prepared under pressure from CS₂-solution and hydrothermally. The (α − β) transition in As₂S₃ could not be verified, but the color change from yellow to red is probably caused by lattice defects.