Theoretical investigation on gas-phase reaction of CF3CH2OCH3 with OH radicals and fate of alkoxy radicals (CF3CH(O)OCH3/CF3CH2OCH2O)

Detailed theoretical investigation has been performed on the mechanism, kinetics and thermochemistry of the gas phase reactions of CF₃CH₂OCH₃ (HFE-263fb2) with OH radicals using ab-initio and DFT methods. Reaction profiles are modeled including the formation of pre-reactive and post-reactive complexes at entrance and exit channels, respectively. Our calculations reveal that hydrogen abstraction from the CH₂ group is thermodynamically and kinetically more facile than that from the CH₃ group. Using group-balanced isodesmic reactions, the standard enthalpies of formation for CF₃CH₂OCH₃ and radicals (CF₃CHOCH₃ and CF₃CH₂OCH₂) are also reported for the first time. The calculated bond dissociation energies for the CH bonds are in good agreement with experimental results. At 298 K, the calculated total rate coefficient for CF₃CH₂OCH₃ + OH reactions is found to be in good agreement with the experimental results. The atmospheric fate of the alkoxy radicals, CF₃CH(O)OCH₃ and CF₃CH₂OCH₂O are also investigated for the first time using the same level of theory. Out of three plausible decomposition channels, our results clearly point out that reaction with O₂ is not the dominant path leading to the formation of CF₃C(O)OCH₃ for the decomposition of CF₃CH(O)OCH₃ radical in the atmosphere. This is in accord with the recent report of Osterstrom et al. [CPL 524 (2012) 32] but found to be in contradiction with experimental finding of Oyaro et al. [JPCA 109 (2005) 337].     

An approximation approach of the clothoid curve defined in the interval [0, π/2] and its offset by free-form curves

We propose an algorithm to approximate the clothoid curve defined in the interval [0, π/2] and its offset curves with Bézier curves and the approximation errors converge to zero as the degree of the Bézier curves is increased. Secondly, we discuss how to approximate the clothoid curve by B-spline curves of low degrees. By employing our method, the clothoid curve and its offset can be efficiently incorporated into CAD/CAM systems, which are important for the development of 3D civil engineering CAD systems, especially for 3D highway road design systems. The proposed method has been implemented on AutoCAD R14.     

Proteomic characterization of differentially expressed proteins in breast cancer: Expression of hnRNP H1, RKIP and GRP78 is strongly associated with HER-2/neu status

The human epidermal growth factor receptor type 2 (HER‐2/neu) oncoprotein is overexpressed in about 30% of breast cancers and associates with metastatic phenotypes of breast tumours. Dissecting the HER‐2/neu‐modulated molecules in cancer will be helpful in elucidating the underlying molecular mechanisms of HER‐2/neu‐driven tumourigenesis. We investigated the differential proteome profiles between microdissected HER‐2/neu‐positive and ‐negative tumours and unambiguously identified 21 proteins with diverse biological functions by peptide sequencing and NCBInr database interrogation. Six proteins were up‐regulated whereas 15 were down‐regulated in the HER‐2/neu‐positive tumours. Differential expressions of heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein H1 (hnRNP H1), 78 kDa glucose‐regulated protein (GRP78/Bip) and Raf‐1 kinase inhibitor protein (RKIP), which have not been previously reported as being linked to HER‐2/neu signalling, were further verified. Immunohistochemical staining on tissue microarray sections demonstrated a positive correlation of hnRNP H1 (p = 0.008) and negative correlations of GRP78 and RKIP (p = 0.018 and 0.013, respectively) with HER‐2/neu. Heregulin α1 enhanced hnRNP H1, but reduced GRP78 and RKIP expression in BT474 cells in a dose‐dependent manner, providing evidence of crosstalk between HER‐2/neu signalling and these modulators. Our studies have identified novel modulators that are likely to be intricately involved in HER‐2/neu‐driven tumour proliferation, invasion and metastasis.