Discovery of Quinoline‐Derived Trifluoromethyl Alcohols,Determination of Their in vivo Toxicity and Anticancer Activity in a Zebrafish Embryo Model

In this study the rational design, synthesis, and anticancer activity of quinoline‐derived trifluoromethyl alcohols were evaluated. Members of this novel class of trifluoromethyl alcohols were identified as potent growth inhibitors in a zebrafish embryo model. Synthesis of these compounds was carried out with an sp³‐C?H functionalization strategy of methyl quinolines with trifluoromethyl ketones. A zebrafish embryo model was also used to explore the toxicity of ethyl 4,4,4‐trifluoro‐3‐hydroxy‐3‐(quinolin‐2‐ylmethyl)butanoate ( 1 ), 2‐benzyl‐1,1,1‐trifluoro‐3‐(quinolin‐2‐yl)propan‐2‐ol ( 2 ), and trifluoro‐3‐(isoquinolin‐1‐yl)‐2‐(thiophen‐2‐yl)propan‐2‐ol ( 3 ). Compounds 2 and 3 were found to be more toxic than compound 1 ; apoptotic staining assays indicated that compound 3 causes increased cell death. In vitro cell proliferation assays showed that compound 2 , with an LC₅₀ value of 14.14 μm , has more potent anticancer activity than cisplatin. This novel class of inhibitors provides a new direction in the discovery of effective anticancer agents.     

住宅景观绩效评价:基于现场数据的视觉与生物气候学分析

2011至2012年间,美国风景园林基金会(Landscape Architecture Foundation,简称LAF)的景观绩效系列(Landscape Performance Series)发表了70余个案例研究。住宅景观的项目虽然在专业实践中相当常见,但LAF的文集中却没有涉及。为了填补这一空缺,文章介绍了位于美国科罗拉多州皮特金县(Pitkin County)的3个住宅景观的评估。文章重点关注了其中2个不同项目基于一手现场数据的视觉和生物气候学分析,突出了景观设计实现社会效益的可能性。视觉分析表明,景观设计可以为将近98%的不佳视线提供缓;中。而生物气候学分析表明,归为人体舒适区的户外空间与居民自我感知的区域相一致。除了证实景观设计的有效性,本研究还能为衡量社会层面的景观绩效提供有效的方法,从而有助于改善未来的住宅景观设计。     

Degradation of bromoxynil and trifluralin in natural water by direct photolysis and UV plus H2O2 advanced oxidation process

The degradation of two pesticides, bromoxynil and trifluralin, was investigated in ultrapure and natural water solutions under ultraviolet (UV) light and a combination of UV and hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂). The effect of pH on the photooxidation of the pesticides was also studied. The results indicated that under direct photolysis with monochromatic light at 253.7 nm and different conditions, the photochemical rates followed first-order kinetics, with fluence-based rate constants ranging from 9.15 × 10⁻⁴ to 6.37 × 10⁻³ cm² mJ⁻¹ and 7.63 × 10⁻³ to 1.47 × 10⁻² cm² mJ⁻¹ for bromoxynil and trifluralin, respectively. Quantum yields, in the range of 0.08-0.25 for bromoxynil and 0.12-0.72 for trifluralin, were observed in experiments using ultrapure water. The study also found that the UV/H₂O₂ process enhanced the oxidation rate in comparison to direct photolysis. A 90% degradation with UV dose of 333 and 188 mJ cm⁻² was achieved for bromoxynil and trifluralin, respectively, in natural water, in presence of 8.8 × 10⁻⁴ M H₂O₂. To assess the aquatic toxicity, the Microtox^® 81.9% screening test protocol was used before and after treatment. The test results indicated a decrease in the acute toxicity of the samples after treatment for both pesticides.     

Structural performance of alkali/acid-ultrasound modified Agave fibers during the melt mixing process with polyvinyl alcohol

This study aims to investigate changes in the structural properties of alkali/acid-ultrasound modified Agave fibers and their performance immersed on a polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) matrix with plasticizer during melt mixing processing. Structural analysis revealed that ultrasound enhances the effectiveness of the conventional alkaline/acid treatments to modify fibers since the simultaneous treatment increased the partial removal of lignocellulosic components, water molecules, and amorphous regions which improved their processability on a PVA matrix. Specific energy consumption values indicated that during melt mixing the modified fibers required more energy to expose the chains of cellulose fraction to function as an interaction site for PVA chains. Once the mixture was homogenized, the fiber-matrix interactions promoted high viscosity, friction, and mechanical stress in the chamber. Therefore, the modified fibers restricted the interaction between plasticizer and PVA in the obtained films, resulting in a highly structured, and reinforced network, increasing the storage modulus as dynamic mechanical analysis indicated. These findings highlight a feasible way to valorize Agave fibers and allow the understanding of the matrix-fiber interactions during melt mixing processing, useful to predict the structural and mechanical properties of the films.     

Drinking to regulate positive and negative emotions: A motivational model of alcohol use.

The present study proposed and tested a motivational model of alcohol use in which people are hypothesized to use alcohol to regulate both positive and negative emotions. Two central premises underpin this model: (a) that enhancement and coping motives for alcohol use are proximal determinants of alcohol use and abuse through which the influence of expectancies, emotions, and other individual differences are mediated and (b) that enhancement and coping motives represent phenomenologically distinct behaviors having both unique antecedents and consequences. This model was tested in 2 random samples (1 of adults, 1 of adolescents) using a combination of moderated regression and path analysis corrected for measurement error. Results revealed strong support for the hypothesized model in both samples and indicate the importance of distinguishing psychological motives for alcohol use. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

H3+ in dense and diffuse clouds

Interstellar H3+ has been detected in dense as well as diffuse clouds using three 3.7 microns infrared spectral lines of the nu 2 fundamental band. Column densities of H3+ from (1.7-5.5) x 10(14) cm-2 have been measured in dense clouds in absorption against the infrared continua of the deeply embedded young stellar objects GL2136, W33A, MonR2 IRS 3, GL961E, and GL2591. Strong and broad H3+ absorptions have been detected in dense and diffuse clouds towards GC IRS 3 and GCS3-2 in the region of the galactic center. A large column density of H3+, comparable to that of a dense cloud, has been detected towards the visible star Cygnus OB2 No. 12, which has a line of sight that crosses mostly diffuse clouds. The H3+ chemistry of dense and diffuse clouds are discussed using a very simple model. Some future projects and problems are discussed.     

Gender differences in peer relations of children with neurodevelopmental conditions.

Objective: To examine gender differences in the peer relations of children with congenital neurodevelopmental conditions (NDC). Participants: Thirty-four children with cerebral palsy or spina bifida and 41 typically developing (TD) children, ages 6-12. Measures: Personality Inventory for Children-Second Edition (PIC-2), Social Network Inventory for Children-Child Version, and the Friendship Quality Questionnaire-Revised (FQQ-R). Results: Children with NDC report smaller social networks and lower quality of friendships than TD peers. Group × Gender interaction effects were not significant. Conclusion: Prior to adolescence, the social differences and risks associated with NDC do not appear to be gender specific. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Acute kidney injury secondary to chlorine dioxide use for COVID-19 prevention

Chlorine dioxide has been historically used as a disinfecting agent for drinking water supplies and surfaces. Widespread use as an alternative option for prevention and treatment of COVID-19 has emerged due to a lack of specific treatment. We present the case of a 55-year-old male who developed acute kidney injury and disseminated intravascular coagulation after chlorine dioxide prophylactic ingestion, with regression after therapy with hemodialysis.     

Hypnotic underestimation of time: The busy beaver hypothesis.

Two experiments tested the hypothesis that the hypnotic underestimation of time is mediated by attentional processing. In Exp 1, variations in the demands placed on attentional resources produced substantial differences in the subjective estimates of identical length intervals occurring within a hypnotic context. ln Exp 2, attentional manipulation was assessed in both hypnotic and waking contexts. Time judgments were again found to vary with attentional demands but not with hypnotic context. The results are consistent with a busy beaver hypothesis, which holds that hypnotic, as well as nonhypnotic, time estimates are a by-product of the attentional processing demands of the task. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)