Voltammetric behavior of triethylamine trihydrofluoride and anisole in acetonitrile as a first approach of studies for electro-fluorination of some adducts

This work focuses on kinetic studies of anisole and triethylamine trihydrofluoride (fluorinating agent) on platinum electrode and acetonitrile as solvent, in order to get a better understanding of their anodic behavior. Results show that both compounds can be oxidized and some kinetic parameters are calculated: the diffusion coefficient within the working media, the anodic electronic transfer coefficient and the apparent intrinsic heterogeneous electronic transfer constant. An unusual variation of these parameters occurs within the chosen reaction conditions, particularly by varying the triethylaminetrihydrofluoride concentration. Preliminary experiments for anodic fluorination of dimethoxy ethane (DME) and anisole were carried out and even if results show a possible electrofluorination for the DME (classically used as solvent), there is no fluorination of anisole when electrochemical microreactor was used

A DFT study of the G3-Factor and derivatives

We present theoretical studies of the G3-Factor and two derivatives, the methylated (G3Me) and the fluorinated (G3F) endoperoxides. These endoperoxides were previously tested as alternative drugs against the parasite causing malaria. They showed promisin activity.The geometry of each compound was optimized in its lowest singlet and triplet spin states at the B3LYP/6-311G* level of theory. It was followed by a NBO analysis. The ground state of the G-Factors is a singlet. The geometric parameters found by the DFT calculations are in agreement with available experimental results. The spin density distribution for the triplet state shows a biradical molecule. The singlet–triplet splitting is of 36.60, 33.96 and 34.09 kcal/mol (B3LYP/6-311G*) and of 36.07, 33.51 and 33.60 kcal/mol (B3LYP/6-311++G**) for the G3-Factor and the G3Me and G3F derivatives, respectively

Развитие мобильной учебной среды по высшей математике в подготовке инженеров-электромехаников

Дисертація на здобуття наукового ступеня кандидата педагогічних наук за спеціальністю 13.00.10 – інформаційно-комунікаційні технології в освіті. – Інститут інформаційних технологій та засобів навчання НАПН України. У роботі досліджено проблему розвитку та використання мобільного навчального середовища з вищої математики у підготовці інженерів-електромеханіків. Проведено комплексний аналіз підготовки бакалаврів електромеханіки у ВНЗ та зроблено висновок про те, що підвищення якості математичної підготовки бакалаврів електромеханіки забезпечується професійною спрямованістю навчання та використанням сучасних засобів ІКТ. Проведено аналіз сучасних засобів ІКТ, що використовуються в навчанні вищої математики бакалаврів електромеханіки. Уточнено поняття мобільного навчального середовища та розвитку мобільного навчального середовища з вищої математики. Удосконалено структуру мобільного навчального середовища з вищої математики та визначено напрями його розвитку. За допомогою сервісу Google Apps Education Edition сформовано мобільне навчальне середовище з вищої математики та розроблено методику його використання у підготовці інженерів-електромеханіків. Розроблено методичні рекомендації для викладачів щодо створення та використання мобільного навчального середовища з вищої математики та методичні вказівки для студентів з використання мобільного навчального середовища з вищої математики.Thesis for Candidate of Pedagogical Sciences Degree awarding on the speciality 13.00.10 – information and communication technologies in education. – Institute of Information Technologies and Learning Tools of NAPS of Ukraine. In this thesis, the problem of creating and developing a mobile learning environment in higher mathematics in the training of Electromechanics Engineers is analyzed. A complex research of conversion bachelors in electrical mechanics in Ukrainian universities is made, and it is concluded that improving the quality of mathematical training of bachelors in electrical mechanics is achieved by professional orientation of learning and usage of modern ICT tools. The analysis of modern ICT tools used in learning higher mathematics bachelors in electromechanics is made. The concept of mobile learning environment is clarified. The model of the mobile learning environment in higher mathematics and the ways of its development are made. A mobile learning environment in higher mathematics based on Google Apps Education Edition and methodic of its usage in training Electromechanics Engineers are created. Methodical recommendations in organization of the educational process with the usage of mobile learning environment in higher mathematics for teachers and students are made.Диссертация на соискание ученой степени кандидата педагогических наук по специальности 13.00.10 – информационно-коммуникационные технологии в образовании. – Институт информационных технологий и средств обучения НАПН Украины. В работе исследуется проблема развития и использования мобильной учебной среды по высшей математике в подготовке инженеров-электромехаников. Проведенный анализ дал возможность уточнить базовые понятия исследования: 1) мобильная учебная среда – это учебная среда, использование которой направлено на удовлетворение учебных потребностей субъектов обучения в любое время и в любом месте; 2) развитие мобильной учебной среды по высшей математике – прогрессивное, необратимое и закономерное изменение составляющих этой среды (содержания обучения высшей математики и средств поддержки учебной деятельности), направленное на учет особенностей развития сферы будущей профессиональной деятельности студентов. Под методикой использования мобильного учебной среды по высшей математике в подготовке инженеров-электромехаников будем понимать нормативную модель процесса использования среды, развитие которой направлено на удовлетворение учебных потребностей мобильных субъектов обучения на основе комплексного применения мобильных средств ИКТ обучения. Структурно методика использования мобильной учебной среды по высшей математике состоит из трех компонентов: целевого, содержательно-технологического и результатного. Формирование мобильной учебной среды по высшей математике осуществлялось с помощью Google Apps Education Edition, в котором можнао реализовать все выделенные направления использования ИКТ в обучении высшей математике: подача учебных ведомостей, выполнение вычислений и визуализации математических зависимостей, формирование умений и навыков проведения учебных математических исследований, автоматизация контроля и оценивание учебных достижений студентов по высшей математике, поддержка учебной деятельности студентов, организация самостоятельной работы студентов

Design and optimization of electrochemical microreactors for continuous electrosynthesis

The study focuses on the design and construction, as well as the theoretical and experimental optimization of electrochemical filter press microreactors for the electrosynthesis of molecules with a high added value. The main characteristics of these devices are firstly a high-specific electrochemical area to increase conversion and selectivity, and secondly the shape and size of themicrochannels designed for a uniform residence time distribution of the fluid. A heat exchanger is integrated into the microstructured electrode to rapidly remove (or supply) the heat required in exo- or endothermic reactions. The microreactors designed are used to perform-specific electrosynthesis reactions such as thermodynamically unfavorable reactions (continuous NADH regeneration), or reactions with high enthalpy changes

Chronic erythropoietin treatment improves diet-induced glucose intolerance in rats

Erythropoietin (EPO) ameliorates glucose metabolism through mechanisms not fully understood. In this study, we investigated the effect of EPO on glucose metabolism and insulin signaling in skeletal muscle. A 2-week EPO treatment of rats fed with a high-fat diet (HFD) improved fasting glucose levels and glucose tolerance, without altering total body weight or retroperitoneal fat mass. Concomitantly, EPO partially rescued insulin-stimulated AKT activation, reduced markers of oxidative stress, and restored heat-shock protein 72 expression in soleus muscles from HFD-fed rats. Incubation of skeletal muscle cell cultures with EPO failed to induce AKT phosphorylation and had no effect on glucose uptake or glycogen synthesis. We found that the EPO receptor gene was expressed in myotubes, but was undetectable in soleus. Together, our results indicate that EPO treatment improves glucose tolerance but does not directly activate the phosphorylation of AKT in muscle cells. We propose that the reduced systemic inflammation or oxidative stress that we observed after treatment with EPO could contribute to the improvement of whole-body glucose metabolism.Corinne Caillaud, Mie Mechta, Heidi Ainge, Andreas N Madsen, Patricia Ruell, Emilie Mas, Catherine Bisbal, Jacques Mercier, Stephen Twigg, Trevor A Mori, David Simar and Romain Barrè

Experimental and theoretical studies of tetramethoxy-p-benzoquinone: infrared spectra, structural and lithium insertion properties

International audienceIn the search for low-polluting electrode materials for batteries, the use of redox-active organic compounds represents a promising alternative to conventional metal-based systems. In this article we report a combined experimental and theoretical study of tetramethoxy-p-benzoquinone (TMQ). In carbonate-based electrolytes, electrochemical behaviour of this compound is characterized by a reversible insertion process located at approximately 2.85 V vs. Li+/Li0. This relatively high potential reactivity, coupled with our effort to develop computational methodologies in the field of organic electrode materials, prompted us to complement these experimental data with theoretical studies performed using density functional theory (DFT). Single crystals of TMQ were synthesized and thoroughly characterized showing that this quinonic species crystallised in the P21/n space group. The experimental crystal structure of TMQ was then used to assess various DFT methods. The structural features and vibrational spectra were thus predicted by using as a whole five common density functionals (PBE, LDA, revPBE, PBEsol, B3PW91) with and without a semi-empirical correction to account for the van der Waals interactions using either Grimme's (DFT-D2) or Tkatchenko-Scheffler (TS) scheme. The most reliable combination of the DFT functional and the explicit dispersion correction was chosen to study the Li-intercalated molecular crystal (LiTMQ) with the view of indentifying Li insertion sites. A very close agreement with the experiment was found for the average voltage by using the most stable relaxed hypothetical LiTMQ structure. Additionally, a comparison of vibrational spectra gained either for TMQ molecule and its dimer in gas phase or through periodic calculation was undertaken with respect to the experimentally measured infrared spectra. The topological features of the bonds were also investigated in conjunction with estimates of net atomic charges to gain insight into the effect of chemical bonding and intermolecular interaction on Li intercalation. Finally, π-electron delocalization of both quinone and alkali salts of p-semiquinone were determined using the Harmonic Oscillator model of Aromaticity (HOMA) or aromatic fluctuation index (FLU) calculations

Acute Exercise Remodels Promoter Methylation in Human Skeletal Muscle

SummaryDNA methylation is a covalent biochemical modification controlling chromatin structure and gene expression. Exercise elicits gene expression changes that trigger structural and metabolic adaptations in skeletal muscle. We determined whether DNA methylation plays a role in exercise-induced gene expression. Whole genome methylation was decreased in skeletal muscle biopsies obtained from healthy sedentary men and women after acute exercise. Exercise induced a dose-dependent expression of PGC-1α, PDK4, and PPAR-δ, together with a marked hypomethylation on each respective promoter. Similarly, promoter methylation of PGC-1α, PDK4, and PPAR-δ was markedly decreased in mouse soleus muscles 45 min after ex vivo contraction. In L6 myotubes, caffeine exposure induced gene hypomethylation in parallel with an increase in the respective mRNA content. Collectively, our results provide evidence that acute gene activation is associated with a dynamic change in DNA methylation in skeletal muscle and suggest that DNA hypomethylation is an early event in contraction-induced gene activation

L’espace architectural en pli

Les espaces d’architecture fluide se rapportent à des chantiers centrés sur une valorisation des matériaux, sur une redéfinition des paramètres d’expériences et sur un renouvellement des outils de conception, ouverts à des dynamiques plastiques innovantes organisées autour d’une relation entre modèle et modelé. Ces constructions délivrent à l’échelle de l’espace architectural et de l’espace urbain des jeux perspectifs et perceptifs qui instaurent une tension permanente entre le flux et le lieu. Les sites investis, les territoires marqués rejoignent de nouvelles manières d’habiter ou de vivre l’espace et encouragent de nouvelles expériences sociales.Fluid architectural spaces refer to approaches based on the raising of the value of materials, the redefinition of the parameters of the experiments and the renewal of the tools of conception. These approaches are open to innovative plastic dynamics. The architectural buildings motivate new approaches based on the relationship between the movement and the place. At an architectural and urban scale, these buildings give you a sense of perspective and feeling. This interplay implies a permanent relationship between our movement and the locale by encouraging and stimulating new social experiences thus creating new ways of living and feeling the space