Evaluation of alternative solvents in common amide coupling reactions : replacement of dichloromethane and N,N-dimethylformamide

A range of alternative solvents have been evaluated within amidation reactions employing common coupling reagents with a view to identifying suitable replacements for dichloromethane and N,N-dimethylformamid

This doesn\u27t happen here : Child sex trafficking in rural Oklahoma

The sex trafficking of minors is a hard-to-detect and underreported crime. Its insidiousness makes it exceedingly difficult to recognize, and treatment, once a victim is recovered, is long-term and costly. Urban areas are in the spotlight when it comes to the trafficking of minors. However, the unsuspecting rural context consists of specific dynamics that may make children in the countryside more vulnerable than in the city. Using the case of an Oklahoma town, the researchers conducted a presentation on child sex trafficking for school personnel at a K-8 rural school. They administered pre- and post-surveys and conducted follow-up interviews with a few of the school staff. Findings indicate that several factors influence the persistence of sex trafficking in rural areas, some of which are geographically specific, such as tight small-town networks and a lack of victim services. Another finding was that Oklahoma and other rural states lack comprehensive sex education, which leaves children more vulnerable to sexual predators. Anthony Down’s theory of rational ignorance and Bryan Caplan’s rational irrationality help explain the cost-benefit ratio that works to maintain the lack of comprehensive sex education and professional training on this issue. The researchers recommend a campaign to promote the benefits of comprehensive sex education while emphasizing the vulnerability of children’s safety without it, showing the ties between drug use, gangs, and sex trafficking

On DABAL-Me₃ promoted formation of amides

The range and utility of DABAL-Me3 couplings of methyl esters and free carboxylic acids with primary and secondary amines under a variety of conditions (reflux, sealed tube, microwave) has been compared for a significant range of coupling partners of relevance to the preparation of amides of interest in pharmaceutical chemistry. Commercial microwave reactors promote the fastest couplings and allow the use of significantly sterically hindered amines (primary and secondary) and carboxylic acids derivatives. The influence of microwave energy on the reaction system was shown to be typically related to thermal effects (over-pressuring and superheating)

Preparation and frst biological evaluation of novel Re-188/Tc-99m peptide conjugates with substance-P

Introduction: New 188Re and 99mTc peptide conjugates with substance- P (SP) were prepared and biologically evaluated. The radiopharmaceuticals have been labelled with the [M=N]2+ (M=99mTc, 188Re) core using a combination of pi-donor tridentate and pi-acceptor monodentate ancillary ligands. Methods: The new radiopharmaceuticals have been prepared through a two-step reaction by simultaneous addition of the tridentate and monodentate ligands to a vial containing a preformed [M=N]2+ core. The tridentate ligand was formed by linking two cysteine residues to the terminal arginine of the undecapeptide SP, whereas the monodentate ligand was a tertiary phosphine. The preparation of the corresponding Re-188 derivative required developing a more complex chemical procedure to obtain the [Re=N]2+ core in satisfactory yields. Characterization of the resulting products was obtained by chromatographic methods. Biological evaluation was performed for both Tc-99m and Re-188 derivatives by in-vitro studies on isolated cells expressing NK1-receptors. In-vivo imaging in mice was carried out using a small-animal YAP(S)PET tomograph. Conclusion: New Tc-99m and Re-188 peptide radiopharmaceuticals with SP have been prepared in high yield and with high-specifc activity. Both Tc-99m and Re-188 peptide radioconjugates exhibit high affnity for NK1 receptors, thus giving further evidence to the empirical rule that structurally related Tc-99m and Re-188 radiopharmaceuticals exhibit identical biological properties

School board governance in changing times: A school’s transition to policy governance

The expansion of the school choice movement and greater flexibility allowed by Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) means that education governance is emerging as an important issue for school effectiveness. This longitudinal case study sought to gain an understanding of the implementation of a new governance structure, Policy Governance, in a private, independent school with deeply entrenched culture and patterns of behavior. Findings suggest an immediate positive influence on leadership and culture in the district, including a “trickle down” effect on shared leadership. However, challenges to sustainability indicate that even strict adherence to the model, unanimous support among board members, and strong board and administrator leadership may not be enough to support sustainability

Management of Orbital and Periorbital Venous Malformation

BackgroundTo review our management of common venous malformation (VM) affecting the orbit and/or periorbital area.MethodsConsecutive patients with orbital and/or periorbital VM were identified from our vascular anomalies database. Demographic details of the patients, anatomic site(s) affected, symptoms and signs, presence of a family history of VM, and types of treatment(s) were collected, supplemented by chart review.ResultsA total of 24 patients’ age 1–68 (mean, 30) years with orbital and/or periorbital VM presented with cosmetic concerns (n = 17, 71%), distensibility (n = 15, 63%), pain (n = 9, 38%), diplopia (n = 4, 17%), and spontaneous thrombosis (n = 1, 8%). The VM caused globe dystopia (n = 13, 54%), enophthalmos (n = 6, 25%), proptosis (n = 3, 12%), exotropia (n = 3, 12%), and pseudoptosis with visual obstruction (n = 3, 13%). A total of 11 (46%) patients were managed conservatively. 13 (54%) patients underwent active treatment. Ethanol sclerotherapy (ES) was performed in six patients with extensive facial VM associated with orbital/periorbital involvement, resulting in symptomatic improvement in five patients, one of whom developed skin necrosis and another patient developed reduced infraorbital nerve sensation. Surgery was performed for localized lesion (n = 3, 23%), for extensive lesions (n = 4, 31%) and as an adjunct to ES (n = 6, 46%) resulting in symptomatic improvement in all patients. One patient required correction of lower lid ectropion.ConclusionOrbital and/or periorbital VMs are heterogeneous, and management needs to be individualized. Surgery is used for localized lesions aiming for complete excision, as a debulking procedure for extensive orbital/periorbital VM when ES was not possible, or following ES for extensive facial VM with orbital and/or periorbital involvement