The Effect of Gravity and Shear Stress on a Liquid Film Driven in a Horizontal Minichannel at Local Heating

The present study is focused on the investigation of gravity effect on thermocapillary deformations in a film flowing under action of co-current gas flow, which creates the tangential force on the gas–liquid interface. The influence of local heating intensity on the heater at a substrate is also investigated. Effects of surface tension, temperature dependent viscosity and thermocapillarity are taken into account. Investigations have shown that gravity has a significant effect on the film deformations and pattern. Decreasing of gravity level leads to a flow destabilization. 3D liquid film pattern noticeably changes in spanwise direction. Increasing of heat flux leads to increasing of liquid film deformations. Dependence of film thinning on heat flux is strongly nonlinear. The most dangerous deformations (regions of minimum film thickness with possible disruption of liquid) take place behind the downstream edge of the heater at any gravity conditions.     

Precise measurement of refractive index spectral dependence of optical materials for laser,fiber, and integrated optics

An interferometric technique for measuring the spectral dependence of the refractive index of solid-state materials to an accuracy of 10^?5 over the entire transparency region is described. The possibilities of the technique are demonstrated by the example of new phosphate glasses formulated for laser and fiber optics. It is shown that, in the presence of absorption bands in the transmission spectrum, the technique allows their associated jumps in the refractive index values to be recorded on the order of 10^?4?10^?5 and below. The shift in the spectral dependence of the refractive index in the region of the absorption band with intensity at 1.7 cm^?1 is measured for the first time.     

Novel A-Ring Chalcone Derivatives of Oleanolic and Ursolic Amides with Anti-Proliferative Effect Mediated through ROS-Triggered Apoptosis

A series of A-ring modified oleanolic and ursolic acid derivatives including C28 amides (3-oxo-C2-nicotinoylidene/furfurylidene, 3β-hydroxy-C2-nicotinoylidene, 3β-nicotinoyloxy-, 2-cyano-3,4-seco-4(23)-ene, indolo-, lactame and azepane) were synthesized and screened for their cytotoxic activity against the NCI-60 cancer cell line panel. The results of the first assay of thirty-two tested compounds showed that eleven derivatives exhibited cytotoxicity against cancer cells, and six of them were selected for complete dose–response studies. A systematic study of local SARs has been carried out by comparative analysis of potency distributions and similarity relationships among the synthesized compounds using network-like similarity graphs. Among the oleanane type triterpenoids, C2-[4-pyridinylidene]-oleanonic C28-morpholinyl amide exhibited sub-micromolar potencies against 15 different tumor cell lines and revealed particular selectivity for non-small cell lung cancer (HOP-92) with a GI₅₀ value of 0.0347 μM. On the other hand, superior results were observed for C2-[3-pyridinylidene]-ursonic N-methyl-piperazinyl amide 29, which exhibited a broad-spectrum inhibition activity with GI₅₀ < 1 μM against 33 tumor cell lines and <2 μM against all 60 cell lines. This compound has been further evaluated for cell cycle analysis to decipher the mechanism of action. The data indicate that compound 29 could exhibit both cytostatic and cytotoxic activity, depending on the cell line evaluated. The cytostatic activity appears to be determined by induction of the cell cycle arrest at the S (MCF-7, SH-SY5Y cells) or G₀/G₁ phases (A549 cells), whereas cytotoxicity of the compound against normal cells is nonspecific and arises from apoptosis without significant alterations in cell cycle distribution (HEK293 cells). Our results suggest that the antiproliferative effect of compound 29 is mediated through ROS-triggered apoptosis that involves mitochondrial membrane potential depolarization and caspase activation.     

Magic Peptide: Unique Properties of the LRR11 Peptide in the Activation of Leukotriene Synthesis in Human Neutrophils

Neutrophil-mediated innate host defense mechanisms include pathogen elimination through bacterial phagocytosis, which activates the 5-lipoxygenase (5-LOX) product synthesis. Here, we studied the effect of synthetic oligodeoxyribonucleotides (ODNs), which mimic the receptor-recognized sites of bacterial (CpG-ODNs) and genomic (G-rich ODNs) DNAs released from the inflammatory area, on the neutrophil functions after cell stimulation with Salmonella typhimurium. A possible mechanism for ODN recognition by Toll-like receptor 9 (TLR9) and RAGE receptor has been proposed. We found for the first time that the combination of the magic peptide LRR11 from the leucine-rich repeat (LRR) of TLR9 with the CpG-ODNs modulates the uptake and signaling from ODNs, in particular, dramatically stimulates 5-LOX pathway. Using thickness shear mode acoustic method, we confirmed the specific binding of CpG-ODNs, but not G-rich ODN, to LRR11. The RAGE receptor has been shown to play an important role in promoting ODN uptake. Thus, FPS-ZM1, a high-affinity RAGE inhibitor, suppresses the synthesis of 5-LOX products and reduces the uptake of ODNs by neutrophils; the inhibitor effect being abolished by the addition of LRR11. The results obtained revealed that the studied peptide-ODN complexes possess high biological activity and can be promising for the development of effective vaccine adjuvants and antimicrobial therapeutics.     

Intercalation of Porphyrin‐Based SURMOF in Layered Eu(III) Hydroxide: An Approach Toward Symbimetic Hybrid Materials

A strategy for rational design of synergetic hybrid materials exploiting stabilization of intercalated layered matrices via coordination bonding is described. A new hybrid material is assembled through subsequent intercalation of the surface‐anchored metal–organic framework (SURMOF) components, zinc acetate and 5,10,15,20‐tetrakis(4‐carboxyphenyl)‐porphyrin‐zinc(II) (ZnTCPP), into the layered europium(III) hydroxychloride (LEuH). The formation of the SURMOF clusters intercalated in LEuH is confirmed by X‐ray diffraction, FTIR and Raman spectroscopy, and BET nitrogen absorption methods. The catalytic function of the SURMOF/LEuH hybrid and its components in the model reaction of hydrolysis of bis(4‐nitrophenyl) phosphate in the acidic solution is studied by UV–vis and MALDI‐TOF spectroscopy. Both the non‐intercalated matrix and the MOF powder are inactive and unstable in the substrate solution. Unlike its components, the SURMOF/LEuH hybrid exhibits synergetic catalytic activity increasing with the amount of the intercalated compounds because of the mutual stabilization of the components through coordination interactions. The results provide a basis for symbimetic (mimicking the symbiotic behavior in biological systems) hybrid materials, in which stabilization of functional units in the intercalated structure translates into a synergy of useful properties.     

A study of the effect of the adsorbed molecules of concanavalin A on characteristics of the bound water in the hydrate coat of the disperse silica by 1H NMR of the frozen water suspensions

The experimental technique is presented which allows the investigation of water at the adsorbent-biopolymer interface by record of temperature dependencies of 1H NMR signals during the heating of previously frozen water suspensions. It was found that the adsorption of protein conconovalin A resulted in twofold decrease of strong bound water amount and in 70% increase of loosely bound one. The mean-value of Gibbs energy decreased twice for strong bound water and increased twice for loosely bound one. The external layer of hydrate shell of silica particles with adsorbed conconovalin A was organized by protein molecules. This conclusion is based on the observed total increase of loosely bound water amount, as a result, of protein adsorption, although its amount with respect to a protein molecule decreased.     

Cobalt-Catalyzed Green Cross-Dehydrogenative C(sp<Superscript>2</Superscript>)-H/P-H Coupling Reactions

Joined electrolysis of arenes (benzene or coumarin derivatives) and diethyl-H-phosphonate (EtO)₂P(O)H in the presence of [CoCl₂(bpy)] catalyst (5%) in an ethanol-aqueous solution in reductive conditions allows obtaining the desired products in a single step by aromatic C–H bonds phosphonation with yields up to 70%. The only by-product is hydrogen; the reaction proceeds at room temperature and does not require specially added reducing agents and oxidants or other initiators. Radical mechanism has been confirmed for the catalytic reaction proceeding via bicobalt phosphonates with Co–P bond, the structure of which also has been identified.     

Nitrogen‐doped graphene as an alternative to ecotoxic zinc oxide in rubbers

Zinc oxide (ZnO) is an essential ingredient in industrial rubber production; it regulates the onset of vulcanization, accelerates the kinetics of vulcanization, and improves the mechanical properties of rubber. However, environmental pollution with ZnO is a concern because it is recognized to be significantly ecotoxic and might also have adverse effects on human health. One of the major sources of ZnO environmental pollution is rubber items, tires in particular. Nitrogen (N)‐doped graphene is a promising next‐generation catalyst. We show here that the replacement of 3 phr ZnO by just 0.1 phr N‐doped graphene in styrene–butadiene rubber reduced the vulcanization onset time by more than a factor of two while retaining the fast vulcanization kinetics and enhancing the tensile strength in comparison with rubber with just ZnO. A shorter vulcanization time implies energy savings, which, together with the nontoxicity of N‐graphene, should make the resulting rubbers substantially more environmentally friendly. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2018 , 135, 46116.