Synthesis and applications of some new antioxidant and anticorrosive additives for Egyptian diesel motor oils

Pyrimidine‐5‐carboxylate derivative Ia was utilised as a key intermediate for the synthesis of new pyrimidine derivatives. Thiopyrimidine derivative Ia undergo N‐methylation using methyl iodide afforded III. Methylsulfanyl moiety in II was easily removed when reacted with phenyl hydrazine and thiosemicarbazide afforded pyrimidine derivatives IV and VI, respectively. The reaction on nitrogen atom in Ia using 1,3‐dibromo‐propane, benzoyl chloride, phosphorous oxychloride afforded VIII, IX and X, respectively. The reaction using 1,3‐dibromo‐propane or 1,2‐dibromo‐ethane furnished the formation of the corresponding fused cycles containing sulfur. Representative compounds of the synthesised products were evaluated as antioxidant and corrosion inhibitors for gasoline lube oils. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Novel Potential Enantioselective Phase Transfer Catalysts Based on Lupinine

Ten N-alkylated lupininium derivatives 5–8 were prepared as potential enantioselective phase transfer catalysts. Compounds 5a–d , 6a–d contain four asymmetric centers (including one in the side chain) with known configuration resting on an X-ray structure. Preliminary PT catalytic experiments in several reactions gave high chemical yields but relatively disappointing enantioselectivities.     

In situ FTIR spectroelectrochemistry of poly[2-(3-thienyl)ethyl acetate] and its hydrolyzed derivatives

Poly[2-(3-thienyl)ethyl acetate] (PTEtAc) was chemically synthesized and transformed to partially hydrolyzed PTEtAc (PTEtAcOH) and poly[2-(3-thienyl)ethanol] (PTEtOH). The influence of the acetoxy and hydroxyl terminal functionalities in the side groups on the electrochemical properties of these polyalkylthiophenes was studied by cyclic voltammetry and in situ FTIR spectroelectrochemistry. The cyclic voltammograms point to a chemically reversible behaviour of the p-doping process for PTEtAc and PTEtAcOH, while for PTEtOH the redox activity of the polymer film is lost during consecutive potential scans.The attenuated total reflection Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR) was used to investigate the p-doping of the three different type of thiophene polymer films. In situ FTIR spectra taken at different electrode potentials in a cyclovoltammetric scan display the doping induced changes of the polymer pattern. Important differences in the behaviour of the polymers were observed and interpreted in terms of different film structures.     

Synthesis and evaluation of some new oxazolones and imidazolones as antioxidant additives for Egyptian lubricating oils

Oxazolone derivative 2 was utilized as a key intermediate for synthesis of some new oxazolone and imidazolone derivatives. Reaction of oxazolone derivative 2 with diamines under different conditions afforded the corresponding imidazolone derivatives 3-8, respectively. Moreover, oxazolone 2 reacted with some heterocyclic amines in glacial acetic acid giving the corresponding imidazolone derivatives 9-14, respectively. Cyclocondensation of thiosemicarbazide with compound 2 in dry pyridine afforded compound 15. Addition of secondary amines to olefin double bond of compound 2 gave the corresponding addition products 16-19, respectively. Michael addition of compound 2 with some active methylene compounds afforded oxazolone derivatives 20-23, respectively. These prepared products were evaluated as antioxidant and corrosion inhibitors for gasoline lubricating oil and compounds 6a-c, 10 and 15 exhibited the highest antioxidant and anticorrosive activities. The effect of concentration of additives was studied to recommend the optimum concentration to be used. The results showed, for additive 15, 0.1 g for 1 L oil was the more effective concentration. Measurements for thermal analysis and of surface tension of oil after oxidation were also carried out.     

Postharvest storage and cooking techniques affect the stability of glucosinolates and myrosinase activity of Andean mashua tubers (Tropaeolum tuberosum)

The identification and quantification of Glucosinolates (Gls) via UPLC^® MS-MS/PDA/qToF in ten mashua cultivars was carried out. Gls total contents were within the 4.9–54.2 μmol g⁻¹ dry matter range, of which 96–99% corresponded to glucoaubrietin. Other less abundant Gls were glucotropaeolin and tentatively two isomers of hydroxybenzyl Gls. Postharvest refrigeration and shade storage conditions increased the content of Gls up to day 6 in 39.7% and 51.5% respectively. Sun exposure increased the Gls content in 40% up to day 3 but from day 6 considerable losses were attained (92% at day 15). Low correlation levels (R²) between the Gls and myrosinase (MYR) activity of 0.57, 0.28 and 0.39 for the refrigeration, shade and sun exposure treatments were obtained. The cooking regimes tested, boiling, microwaving and baking totally inactivated MYR without affecting the Gls content.     

Semi‐specific biosensors for measuring BOD in dairy wastewater

BACKGROUND: Semi‐specific microbial biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) biosensors were constructed using living cells of Escherichia coli R17.1.3 (E. coli) and Raoultella terrigena P74.3 (R. terrigena) immobilized in agarose gel matrix. The research involved comparison with the Pseudomonas fluorescens P75 (P. fluorescens) biosensor that had no specificity in decomposing lactose and milk derivates. The constructed BOD biosensors were calibrated with OECD synthetic wastewater and tested with different wastewater samples. RESULTS: The linear range of the calibration curve was 5–200 mg L^?1 BOD₇ for R. terrigena and P. fluorescens based biosensors and 150 mg L^?1 BOD₇ for the E. coli based biosensor. Service life was 60 days for E. coli and P. fluorescens based biosensors and 40 days for R. terrigena based biosensors. BOD values for dairy industry wastewater obtained with current semi‐specific biosensors considerably overestimate BOD₇, while universal biosensors underestimate BOD₇ obtained by the conventional 7‐day BOD test. CONCLUSION: In spite of extensive overestimation of BOD₇ the semi‐specific biosensors enabled better estimation of BOD in dairy industry wastewater than a reference P. fluorescens biosensor. The best result, in terms of service life, stability, sensitivity and reproducibility was accomplished with semi‐specific E.coli biosensor. Copyright © 2010 Society of Chemical Industry     

Regulatory Proteolysis in Arabidopsis-Pathogen Interactions

Approximately two and a half percent of protein coding genes in Arabidopsis encode enzymes with known or putative proteolytic activity. Proteases possess not only common housekeeping functions by recycling nonfunctional proteins. By irreversibly cleaving other proteins, they regulate crucial developmental processes and control responses to environmental changes. Regulatory proteolysis is also indispensable in interactions between plants and their microbial pathogens. Proteolytic cleavage is simultaneously used both by plant cells, to recognize and inactivate invading pathogens, and by microbes, to overcome the immune system of the plant and successfully colonize host cells. In this review, we present available results on the group of proteases in the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana whose functions in microbial pathogenesis were confirmed. Pathogen-derived proteolytic factors are also discussed when they are involved in the cleavage of host metabolites. Considering the wealth of review papers available in the field of the ubiquitin-26S proteasome system results on the ubiquitin cascade are not presented. Arabidopsis and its pathogens are conferred with abundant sets of proteases. This review compiles a list of those that are apparently involved in an interaction between the plant and its pathogens, also presenting their molecular partners when available.     

Schizosaccharomyces pombe Arc3 is a conserved subunit of the Arp2/3 complex required for polarity, actin organization, and endocytosis

We characterized the Schizosaccharomyces pombe arc3 gene, whose product shares sequence homology with that of the budding yeast ARC18 and human ARPC3/p21 subunits of the Arp2/3 complex. Our data showed that Arc3p co-localizes with F-actin patches at the cell ends, but not with F-actin cables or the equatorial actin ring, and binds other subunits of the Arp2/3 complex. Gene deletion analysis showed that arc3 is essential for viability. When arc3 expression was repressed, F-actin patches became dispersed throughout the cell with greatly reduced mobility. Furthermore, in arc3-repressed cells, endocytosis was also inhibited. Human ARPC3 rescued the viability of the Sz. pombe arc3 null mutant; in addition, ARPC3 also localized to F-actin patches in human cells. These data suggest that Arc3p is an evolutionarily conserved subunit of the Arp2/3 complex required for proper F-actin organization and efficient endocytosis.     

Layered specifications to support reusability and integrability

Building systems by integrating components and building systems by reusing components are but two sides of the same coin. In both cases one faces the problem of producing systems out of prefabricated parts, either parts which have been designed for a different environment than the one they will be used in now, or parts which have been designed for a yet undefined target system.This situation differs from classical software design situations. It demands that in parts engineering as well as in systems engineering, certain interface decisions are postponed to a rather late point in time. This is only permissible, though, if other aspects are very precisely specified. Having the right model of specification of both, the target (system) and source (component) will substantially aid the retrieval and integration problem.This article argues for a layered approach towards system specification. It will show, how relational specifications will help system designers not to bind themselves too early into premature decisions and how designs aiming for heavy reuse can grow by stepwise enriching specifications.