Role of end-groups and catalyst in polyester cyclodepolymerization and cycle-chain equilibria

The influence of polyesters end-groups on cyclic oligoester formation is investigated using a series of hydroxy-, carboxy- and methylester-terminated aliphatic polyesters, in the presence of various ester interchange catalysts. The presence of hydroxy end-groups is the preponderant factor on cyclodepolymerization kinetics. This indicates that the main reaction is the intramolecular hydroxy–ester interchange reaction between hydroxy end-groups and ester functions in the chain. Carboxy-ester and ester–ester interchanges play a minor role, as the cycle-chain equilibrium is reached only very slowly when carboxy- or ester-terminated polyesters are reacted. High temperature and the presence of tin catalysts are also favorable factors, while, as expected, dilution shifts the equilibrium toward the formation of high yields of cyclic oligoesters. A mechanism is proposed, based on the reverse of the “coordination-insertion” mechanism established for the ring-opening polymerization of lactones.     

Limitations of Preferential Enrichment: A Case Study on Tryptophan Ethyl Ester Hydrochloride

Since eutomer and distomer show different biological effects, access to pure enantiomers is essential. Preferential enrichment is a relatively new process of chiral resolution developed in the 90s. Extension of its scope was attempted with tryptophan ethyl ester hydrochloride. This salt meets one of the most important requirements for preferential enrichment, namely, a larger solubility for the pure enantiomers with reference to the racemic compound. But, due to the absence of a solid solution, this salt cannot perform preferential enrichment. This impossibility was endorsed by semi‐empirical molecular modeling.     

Effect of heat treatment on foaming properties of ostrich (Struthio camelus) egg white proteins

The effect of heat-treatment on foaming properties of ostrich albumen was investigated. At pH 7.5, coagulation of ovotransferrin (OT) resulted in minimum foaming capacity (FC) and maximum foam density (FD). While both exposure of sulfhydryl groups of ovalbumin (OV) and OT-OV interactions improved FC at lower pH, neither of them had beneficial effect on FC at pH 9. At pH 9, FC and FD were mildly affected by heat-treatment because of less aggregation of OT, then FC decreased due to covalent aggregates composed of ovomucin and OV, but at higher temperatures, higher level of OV unfolding resulted in enhanced FC.     

The control of sea lice in Atlantic salmon by selective breeding

Sea lice threaten the welfare of farmed Atlantic salmon and the sustainability of fish farming across the world. Chemical treatments are the major method of control but drug resistance means that alternatives are urgently needed. Selective breeding can be a cheap and effective alternative. Here, we combine experimental trials and diagnostics to provide a practical protocol for quantifying resistance to sea lice. We then combined quantitative genetics with epidemiological modelling to make the first prediction of the response to selection, quantified in terms of reduced need for chemical treatments. We infected over 1400 young fish with Lepeophtheirus salmonis, the most important species in the Northern Hemisphere. Mechanisms of resistance were expressed early in infection. Consequently, the number of lice per fish and the ranking of families were very similar at 7 and 17 days post infection, providing a stable window for assessing susceptibility to infection. The heritability of lice numbers within this time window was moderately high at 0.3, confirming that selective breeding is viable. We combined an epidemiological model of sea lice infection and control on a salmon farm with genetic variation in susceptibility among individuals. We simulated 10 generations of selective breeding and examined the frequency of treatments needed to control infection. Our model predicted that substantially fewer chemical treatments are needed to control lice outbreaks in selected populations and chemical treatment could be unnecessary after 10 generations of selection. Selective breeding for sea lice resistance should reduce the impact of sea lice on fish health and thus substantially improve the sustainability of Atlantic salmon production.     

Relaxor behavior in (Ba1−3x/2Bix)(ZryTi1−y)O3 ceramics

New ferroelectric ceramics Bi-BZT of ABO₃ perovskite type were synthesized in the (Ba_1−3x/2Bi_x)(Zr_yTi_1−y)O₃ system by solid state reaction route. The effect of the substitution of barium by bismuth in the A cationic site on structural and dielectric properties was investigated. The dielectric constant was studied in the temperature range from 20 K to 320 K at frequencies ranging from 0.2 to 100 kHz. A clear relaxor behavior was observed for samples with x ≥ 0.075 and y = 0.1. In this case the value of the relaxation parameter γ ≈ 2 estimated from the linear fit of the modified Curie–Weiss law, indicates the relaxor nature of the Bi-BZT ceramics. The dielectric relaxation rate follows Vogel–Fulcher relation with an activation energy of 0.26 eV and 0.27 eV, an attempt frequency f₀ = 3.4 × 10¹² Hz and 5.7 × 10¹² Hz and a static freezing temperature T_VF = 98 K and 94 K respectively for x = 0.075 and x = 0.1.     

Synthesis and Electrical Properties of Well-Ordered Layered α-MoO3 Nanosheets

Nano-Micro Letters - α-MoO3 ordered nanosheets have been synthesized under hydrothermal conditions using commercial MoO3 and hydroquinone as structuring agent. X-ray diffraction (XRD),...     

Novel Tacrine‐Grafted Ugi Adducts as Multipotent Anti‐Alzheimer Drugs: A Synthetic Renewal in Tacrine–Ferulic Acid Hybrids

Herein we describe the design, multicomponent synthesis, and biological, molecular modeling and ADMET studies, as well as in vitro PAMPA‐blood–brain barrier (BBB) analysis of new tacrine–ferulic acid hybrids (TFAHs). We identified (E)‐3‐(hydroxy‐3‐methoxyphenyl)‐N‐{8[(7‐methoxy‐1,2,3,4‐tetrahydroacridin‐9‐yl)amino]octyl}‐N‐[2‐(naphthalen‐2‐ylamino)2‐oxoethyl]acrylamide (TFAH 10 n ) as a particularly interesting multipotent compound that shows moderate and completely selective inhibition of human butyrylcholinesterase (IC₅₀=68.2 nM ), strong antioxidant activity (4.29 equiv trolox in an oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC) assay), and good β‐amyloid (Aβ) anti‐aggregation properties (65.6 % at 1:1 ratio); moreover, it is able to permeate central nervous system (CNS) tissues, as determined by PAMPA‐BBB assay. Notably, even when tested at very high concentrations, TFAH 10 n easily surpasses the other TFAHs in hepatotoxicity profiling (59.4 % cell viability at 1000 μM ), affording good neuroprotection against toxic insults such as Aβ_1–40, Aβ_1–42, H₂O₂, and oligomycin A/rotenone on SH‐SY5Y cells, at 1 μM . The results reported herein support the development of new multipotent TFAH derivatives as potential drugs for the treatment of Alzheimer′s disease.     

Analysis of tunnel diode antenna using iterative method

An efficient iterative method, based on the wave concept has been used to analyze the printed tunnel diode integrated antenna. A high computational speed has been achieved by introducing a 2D fast Fourier transformation (2D-FFT) in wave-guide environment. The simulated results are compared with published data and a good agreement is observed.