Influence of the nickel content on the electrocatalytic activity of thin nanostructured Co–Te–Ni–O films

The influence of nickel addition in Co–Te–O catalytic films, obtained by vacuum co-evaporation of Co, Ni, and TeO₂ on electrocatalytic activity toward oxygen reactions in alkaline media has been investigated. Bifunctional gas-diffusion oxygen electrodes were prepared by direct deposition of catalyst films on gas-diffusion membranes consisting of hydrophobized carbon blacks. The method used allows the deposition of nanostructured films consisting of intertwined nanowires with high surface area. Thus, obtained electrodes with different atomic ratio R _(Co+Ni)/Te of the catalyst, fresh and thermally treated at 100 °C temperatures were electrochemically tested by means of cyclic voltammetry and steady-state voltammetry. It has been shown that the partial replacement of Co with about 30 at.% Ni leads to the increase in the film catalytic activity toward oxygen evolution reaction.     

Structural analysis and molecular modelling of the Cu/Zn-SOD from fungal strain Humicola lutea 103

The native form of Cu/Zn-superoxide dismutase, isolated from fungal strain Humicola lutea 103 is a homodimer that coordinates one Cu(2+) and one Zn(2+) per monomer. Cu(2+) and Zn(2+) ions play crucial roles in enzyme activity and structural stability, respectively. It was established that HLSOD shows high pH and temperature stability. Thermostability of the glycosylated enzyme Cu/Zn-SOD, isolated from fungal strain H. lutea 103, was determined by CD spectroscopy. Determination of reversibility toward thermal denaturation for HLSOD allowed several thermodynamic parameters to be calculated. In this communication we report the conditions under which reversible denaturation of HLSOD exists. The narrow range over which the system is reversible has been determined using the strongest test of two important thermodynamic independent variables (T and pH). Combining both these variables, the "phase diagram" was determined, as a result of which the real thermodynamic parameters (ΔC(p), ΔH(exp)°, and ΔG(exp)°) was established. Because very narrow pH-interval of transitions we assume they are as result of overlapping of two simple transitions. It was found that ΔH(o) is independent from pH with a value of 1.3 kcal/mol and 2.8 kcal/mol for the first and the second transition, respectively. ΔG(o) was pH-dependent in all studied pH-interval. This means that the transitions are entropically driven, these. Based on this, these processes can be described as hydrophobic rearrangement of the quaternary structure. It was also found that glycosylation does not influence the stability of the enzyme because the carbohydrate chain is exposed on the surface of the molecule.     

Biopreservation of Chocolate Mousse with Lactobacillus helveticus 2/20: Microbial Challenge Test

Probiotic bacteria are used for food biopreservation because their metabolic products might contribute to ensuring food microbiological safety and/or increase its shelf life without the addition of chemical preservatives. Moreover, biopreserved foods are excellent vehicles for the delivery of probiotic bacteria. The aim of the study was to investigate the potential of chocolate mousse food matrix for the delivery of the probiotic strain Lactobacillus helveticus 2/20 (Lb. helveticus 2/20) and to investigate its capacity to inhibit the growth of two foodborne pathogenic bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli). Therefore, the populations of free or encapsulated in calcium alginate Lb. helveticus 2/20 cells and/or of each pathogen (used to voluntarily contaminate each sample) were monitored both in complex nutrient medium (MRS broth) and in chocolate mousse under refrigeration conditions and at room temperature. Lb. helveticus 2/20 alone in free or encapsulated state effectively inhibited the growth of Escherichia coli ATCC 25922 and Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25923 in chocolate mousse when stored at 20 ± 2 °C. Practically no viable unwanted bacteria were identified on the 7th day from the beginning of the process. High viable Lb. helveticus 2/20 cell populations were maintained during storage under refrigerated conditions (4 ± 2 °C) and at room temperature. Chocolate mousse is thus a promising food matrix to deliver probiotic Lb. helveticus 2/20 cells, which could also protect it from contamination by unwanted bacteria.     

A chelating beta-diketonate/phenoxide ligand and its coordination behavior toward titanium and scandium

Dibenzoylmethane derivatives with one (L1H2) or both (L2H3, L3H3) benzenes linked at their ortho positions to 4,6-di-tert-butylphenol moieties by two-carbon linkers have been synthesized. The mono-beta-diketone-monophenol ligand L1H2 is metalated by titanium alkoxides to form the homoleptic complex (L1)2Ti and heteroleptic complexes (L1)Ti([OCH2CH2]2NR) (R = H, CH3), and reacts with Cp3Sc to form CpSc(L1). These are the first examples of complexes of a beta-diketonate ligand which is further chelating to a single metal center. Crystallographic analysis of (L1)2Ti indicates that the 10-membered ring allows chelation of the phenoxide with little strain, and both fac and mer geometries are accessible in solution. Protonolysis of the second cyclopentadienyl ring of Cp3Sc appears to take place by an indirect, Cp3Sc-catalyzed pathway.     

Transformed steroids. 186. Use of the diacetoxyiodobenzeneiodine system for the conversion of epimeric 17-ethynylandrost-4-en-17-ol-3-ones to pregnanes

Epimeric 17-acetoxy-17-ethynylandrost-4-en-3-ones react with diacetoxyiodobenzene and iodine in acetic acid or methanol in an unusual manner to give 17-acetoxy-21,21-diiodo-17-pregn-4-en-3,20-diones, which are then converted to 21-monoiodides and 21-acetates. Epimeric 17-hydroxy-17-ethynylandrost-4-en-3-ones are inert under these conditions.Translated from Izvestiya Akademii Nauk SSSR, Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 12, pp. 2875–2878, December, 1991.     

Loading polyelectrolytes onto porous microspheres: impact of molecular and electrochemical parameters

The impact of macromolecule constitution and electrostatic dimensions on the adsorption of cationic model polyelectrolytes (PELs) onto oppositely charged porous microspheres (MSs) suspended in aqueous media is demonstrated. The contour length (L) of the PEL, the chemical structure of the substituents at the ionic group, the ionic strength of the solution (I), and the average pore radius of the microspheres (R) are considered as variable. Adsorption isotherms quantitatively reveal how PEL parameters, MS geometry, and medium characteristics affect the adsorbed amount and surface coverage. Electrostatic exclusion from pores was proved as long as the Debye length (lD) exceeded R, even if L was considerably smaller than the pore diameter. Two charge parameters (CRcalc and CRexp) and the ratio thereof (CR) were derived and served to evaluate the loading process. All three parameters are applicable to two limiting cases, first, adsorption only on the outer surface of the MS and, second, additional adsorption inside the pores. The findings are seen as valuable contributions to basic research in the field of PELs. Precise data, which were not available before, are provided for comparison with theoretical models and simulations. Overall, conclusions from this model system may be useful for technical applications such as surface modification, chromatographic processes, or materials development.     

Adsorption of charged macromolecules on oppositely charged porous column materials

A family of cationic polyelectrolytes possessing defined chain lengths, narrow chain length distributions, uniform charge density, but substituents of different hydrophilicity at the quaternary ammonium group served as model compounds for adsorption studies. These studies quantitatively revealed that polymer characteristics and electrostatic parameters affect the adsorption behavior on oppositely charged porous column materials. The presence of electrostatic exclusion, in addition to size exclusion, was proved comparing molecular, electrostatic and geometrical parameters. The dominance of electrostatic effects could be concluded evaluating the relation between molecular and electrostatic dimensions. The results provide a contribution how to estimate the threshold for electrostatic exclusion from pores as a function of dimensions and experimental conditions.     

Efficient Synthesis of Fluorescent Coumarins and Phosphorous-Containing Coumarin-Type Heterocycles via Palladium Catalyzed Cross-Coupling Reactions

Quantum-chemical calculations on the spectral properties of some aryl substituted 3-phosphonocoumarins were performed, and the effect of the substituents in the aryl moiety was evaluated. The structures possessing promising fluorescent properties were successfully synthesized via Suzuki and Sonogashira cross-coupling. The synthetic protocol was also applied for the phosphorous chemoisomer of 3-phosphonocoumarin, 1,2-benzoxaphosphorin, and their carboxylate analogues. The optical properties of the arylated and alkynylated products were experimentally determined. The obtained quantum-chemical and experimental results give the possibility for a fine tuning of the optical properties of phosphorous-containing coumarin systems by altering the substituent at its C-6 position.     

Structure/activity study of tris(2-aminoethyl)amine-derived translocases for phosphatidylcholine

Sulfonamide and amide derivatives of tris(aminoethyl)amine (TREN) are known to facilitate phospholipid translocation across vesicle and erythrocyte membranes; that is, they act as synthetic translocases. In this report, a number of new TREN-based translocases are evaluated for their abilities to bind phosphatidylcholine and translocate a fluorescent phosphatidylcholine probe. Association constants were determined from (1)H NMR titration experiments, and translocation half-lives were determined via 7-nitrobenz-2-oxa-1,3-diazol-4-yl (NBD)/dithionite quenching assays. A rough correlation exists between translocase/phosphatidylcholine association constants and translocation half-lives. The tris-sulfonamide translocases are superior to the tris-amide versions because they associate more strongly with the phospholipid headgroup. The stronger association is due to the increased acidity of the sulfonamide NHs as well as a molecular geometry (as shown by X-ray crystallography) that is able to form tridentate complexes with one of the phosphate oxygens. Two fluorescent translocase analogues were synthesized and used to characterize membrane partitioning properties. The results indicate that the facilitated translocation of phospholipids by TREN-derived translocases is due to the formation of hydrogen-bonded complexes with the phospholipid headgroups. In the case of zwitterionic phosphatidylcholine, it is the neutral form of the translocases that rapidly associates with the phosphate portion of the phosphocholine headgroup. Complexation masks the headgroup polarity and promotes diffusion of the phospholipid-translocase complex across the lipophilic interior of the membrane.