Actinide–lanthanide co-extraction by rigidified diglycolamides

Within the actinide and lanthanide co-extraction strategy, three rigidified diglycolamides, namely 2,6-bis (N-dodecyl-carboxamide)-4-oxo-4H-pyran (1), 2,6-bis-[N-(4-tert-butylphenyl)carboxamide]-4-oxo-4H-pyran (2), 2,6-?bis[(N-docecyl-N-methyl)carboxamide]-?4-methoxy-?tetrahydro-pyran (3), were synthesized. Moreover, the effect of structural rigidification on Am(III) and Eu(III) extraction under different conditions was investigated. The carboxamide extractant 3 resembles the extracting behavior of N,N,N′,N′‐tetraoctyl diglycolamide (TODGA) in terms of efficiency and affinity within the lanthanide family, together with fast kinetics and satisfactory cation back-extraction. The presence of 1-octanol in the diluent mixture strongly affects the ligand stability. Moreover, despite the low extraction efficiency showed by 1 and 2, all the three ligands exhibit a higher affinity for Am with respect to TODGA, resulting in a lower lanthanide/Americium separation factor, of around 4 for ligand 3 and close to 1 for ligands 1 and 2.     

Virtual Fragment Screening Identification of a Quinoline‐5,8‐dicarboxylic Acid Derivative as a Selective JMJD3 Inhibitor

The quinoline‐5,8 dicarboxylic acid scaffold has been identified by a fragment‐based approach as new potential lead compound for the development of JMJD3 inhibitors. Among them, 3‐(2,4‐dimethoxypyrimidin‐5‐yl)quinoline‐5,8‐dicarboxylic acid (compound 3 ) shows low micromolar inhibitory activity against Jumonji domain‐containing protein 3 (JMJD3). The experimental evaluation of inhibitory activity against seven related isoforms of JMJD3 highlighted an unprecedented selectivity toward the biological target of interest.     

Synthesis and Biological Evaluation of Tripartin,a Putative KDM4 Natural Product Inhibitor,and 1‐Dichloromethylinden‐1‐ol Analogues

The natural product tripartin has been reported to inhibit the N‐methyl‐lysine histone demethylase KDM4A. A synthesis of tripartin starting from 3,5‐dimethoxyphenylacrylic acid was developed, and the enantiomers were separated by chiral HPLC. We observed that both tripartin enantiomers manifested an apparent increase in H3K9me3 levels when dosed in cells, as measured by western blot analysis. Thus, there is no enantiomeric discrimination toward this natural product in terms of its effects on cellular histone methylation status. Interestingly, tripartin did not inhibit isolated KDM4A–E under our assay conditions (IC₅₀>100 μm ). Tripartin analogues with a dichloromethylcarbinol group derived from the indanone scaffold were synthesized and found to be inactive against isolated recombinant KDM4 enzymes and in cell‐based assays. Although the precise cellular mode of action of tripartin is unclear, our evidence suggests that it may affect histone methylation status via a mechanism other than direct inhibition of the KDM4 histone demethylases.     

Investigation of liquid water in gas diffusion layers of polymer electrolyte fuel cells using X-ray tomographic microscopy

In polymer electrolyte fuel cells (PEFCs), condensation of water within the pore network of the gas diffusion layers (GDL) can influence the gas transport properties and thus reduce the electrochemical conversion rates. The use of X-ray tomographic microscopy (XTM), which allows for a resolution in the order of one micrometer is investigated for studying ex situ the local saturation in GDL's. The strength of XTM is the high spatial resolution with simultaneous contrast for water and carbon, allowing for non-destructive 3D-imaging of the solid and the contained water. The application of this method for imaging the ex situ water intrusion into the porous network of GDLs is explored using absorption and phase contrast methods. It is shown that the inhomogeneous filling behavior of GDL materials can indeed be visualized with sufficient resolution. For Toray paper TGP-H-060 the local saturation was measured as function of the water pressure. The results, evaluated in 1D, 2D and 3D show a liquid water retention effect at the denser layers near the surface. A comparison with established capillary pressure functions is presented. Altogether, the results show the potential of the XTM-method as a tool for studying the liquid water behavior in PEFC on a microscopic scale.     

Polymeric nanostructured items electrospun on a cylindrical template: a simple procedure for their removal

Tubular structures, obtained by electrospinning on a rotating mandrel, are of interest for use as devices in medical and industrial applications. However, removal of electrospun tubes from the collecting mandrel has been a major problem and various techniques have been proposed, though having severe drawbacks. In our study, a method to safely remove electrospun tubes from a template mandrel (collector) is described. Before electrospinning, a copper wire is rolled up on the mandrel to form a helix, with the purpose of creating a gap between mandrel and electrospun tube once the wire is easily removed from the mandrel. Adopting the described methodology, uniform electrospun polymeric tubes can be easily removed from the mandrel. The procedure for fast rolling up of the wire on the rotating mandrel is also described. Copyright © 2011 Society of Chemical Industry     

Coating of glass and polycarbonate with aqueous two‐component polyurethane resin

Hard polyurethane coatings combine several features as high flexibility and toughness, good chemical resistance, improved clarity, and spontaneous air‐drying. However, the coating design (thicknesses, interface pretreatments, substrate features, etc.) is often troublesome. In this respect, the present investigation deals with the application of high‐clarity polyurethane coatings on transparent glass and polycarbonates. In particular, the role of the coating thicknesses and, above all, of the different compliance of the substrates was investigated. Progressive mode scratch and dry sliding linear reciprocating tribological tests were carried out and scanning electron microscopy images were captured to analyze the deformation response of the polyurethane coatings. The experimental findings allow to better interpret the way to ruptures of the investigated coating systems and the mechanisms involved. Accordingly, new strategies to prevent them could be elicited. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci., 2014 , 131, 40021.     

A Role for Human DNA Polymerase λ in Alternative Lengthening of Telomeres

Telomerase negative cancer cell types use the Alternative Lengthening of Telomeres (ALT) pathway to elongate telomeres ends. Here, we show that silencing human DNA polymerase (Pol λ) in ALT cells represses ALT activity and induces telomeric stress. In addition, replication stress in the absence of Pol λ, strongly affects the survival of ALT cells. In vitro, Pol λ can promote annealing of even a single G-rich telomeric repeat to its complementary strand and use it to prime DNA synthesis. The noncoding telomeric repeat containing RNA TERRA and replication protein A negatively regulate this activity, while the Protection of Telomeres protein 1 (POT1)/TPP1 heterodimer stimulates Pol λ. Pol λ associates with telomeres and colocalizes with TPP1 in cells. In summary, our data suggest a role of Pol λ in the maintenance of telomeres by the ALT mechanism.     

Management of Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia (CDH): Role of Molecular Genetics

Congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) is a relatively common major life-threatening birth defect that results in significant mortality and morbidity depending primarily on lung hypoplasia, persistent pulmonary hypertension, and cardiac dysfunction. Despite its clinical relevance, CDH multifactorial etiology is still not completely understood. We reviewed current knowledge on normal diaphragm development and summarized genetic mutations and related pathways as well as cellular mechanisms involved in CDH. Our literature analysis showed that the discovery of harmful de novo variants in the fetus could constitute an important tool for the medical team during pregnancy, counselling, and childbirth. A better insight into the mechanisms regulating diaphragm development and genetic causes leading to CDH appeared essential to the development of new therapeutic strategies and evidence-based genetic counselling to parents. Integrated sequencing, development, and bioinformatics strategies could direct future functional studies on CDH; could be applied to cohorts and consortia for CDH and other birth defects; and could pave the way for potential therapies by providing molecular targets for drug discovery.