Hot-Film Anemometry in Air-Water Flow

The paper presents local measurements of void fraction and liquid velocity in a steady-state air- water bubbly flow at atmospheric pressure. Use is made of a constant temperature anemometer and of a conical hot-film probe. The signal is processed with a multi-channel analyzer. Void fraction and liquid velocities are determined from the amplitude histogram of the signal. The integrated void fraction over a diameter is compared with the average void fraction along the same diameter obtained with a γ-ray absorption method. The liquid volumetric flow-rate is calculated from the void fraction and liquid velocity profiles and compared with the indication given by a turbine flowmeter

Різнолігандні комплекси ренію(i): від флуоресцентних міток до гетеробіметалічних зон- дів з цікавою топологією для подвійної візуалізації

In this paper, five new ternary tricarbonylrhenium(I) complexes based on a pyridinetriazole moiety, the so-called pyta, have been investigated. These cationic complexes of the general formula [Re(CO)3(pyta-COOMe)L] (L = substituted pyridine derivatives) combine a carboxylate functionalization, for further biomolecule conjugation, with a metal chelating site – a pyta-based tricarbonylrhenium moiety – which can act as a fluorescent reporter. The complexes have been prepared using a two-steps pathway involved the activation of [Re(CO)3Cl(bipy)] with triflate silver salts in the presence of acetonitrile followed by the thermally activated substitution of the acetonitrile adduct by commercially available substituted pyridine derivatives. They have been prepared from modest to good yields, fully characterized by means of NMR, IR and mass spectrometry, and their photophysical properties have been investigated. Upon excitation into the MLCT band of each complex (absorption band at ca. 300 nm), three of them exhibit a bright green luminescence centered at c.a. 494 nm, with a quantum yield of 0.60% in acetonitrile. These interesting photophysical features make them potential fluorescent cellular imaging agents. Moreover, thank to their ancillary ligand, they could be also considered as interesting scaffolds for the preparation of dual-imaging heterobimetallic species.В данной работе представлены результаты исследований пяти новых разнолигандных трис-карбонильных комплексов рения(I) на основе пиридинтриазольных производных, так называемых pyta. Такие катионные комплексы общей формулы [Re(CO)3(pyta-COOMe)L] (L = производные пиридина) сочетают в себе карбоксилатную функциональную группу для дальнейшего биомолекулярного связывания с хелатированным металлсодержащим фрагментом – на основе pyta-трискарбонильных комплексных частиц, которые могут выступать в качестве флуоресцентного центра. Комплексы были получены двухстадийной реакцией, основанной на активации [Re(CO)3Cl(bipy)] трифлатом серебра в присутствии ацетонитрила с дальнейшим взаимодействием термически активированного ацетонитрильного аддукта с коммерчески доступными замещенными пиридинпроизводными. Координационные соединения были получены с разными выходами, исследованы методами ЯМР-, ИК- и масс-спектроскопии и изучены их фотофизические свойства. При использовании длины волны возбуждения, соответствующей центру полосы переноса заряда металл-лиганд (MLCT) для каждого комплекса (полоса поглощения ~ 300 нм), три из них проявляют ярко-зеленую люминесценцию в ацетонитриле с центром ~ 494 нм и квантовым выходом 0,60%. Такие фотофизические особенности делают их потенциальными флуоресцентными биовизуализирующими агентами. Кроме того, благодаря дополнительным лигандам они могут быть использованы как основа для получения гетеробиметаллических частиц для двойственной визуализации.В даній публікації представлені результати досліджень п’яти нових різнолігандних трис-карбонільних комплексів ренію(I) на основі піридинтриазольних похідних, так званих pyta. Такі катіонні комплекси загальної формули [Re(CO)3(pyta-COOMe)L] (L = похідні піридину) поєднують карбоксилатну функціональну групу, яка може бути використана для подальшого біомолекулярного зв’язування з хелатованим металовмісним фрагментом на основі pyta-трис-карбонільних комплексних часточок, які можуть виступати в якості флуоресцентного центру. Комплекси були отримані двостадійною реакцією, заснованою на активації [Re(CO)3Cl(bipy)] трифлатом срібла в присутності ацетонітрилу з подальшою взаємодією термічно активованого ацетонітрильного аддукту з комерційно доступними заміщеними піридинпохідними. Координаційні сполуки були отримані з різними виходами, охарактеризовані методами ЯМР-, ІЧ- та мас-спектроскопії і досліджені їх фотофізичні властивості. При використанні довжини хвилі збудження, яка відповідає центру смуги переносу заряду метал-ліганд (MLCT) для кожного комплексу (смуга поглинання ~300 нм), три з них виявляють яскраво-червону люмінесценцію в ацетонітрилі з центром ~494 нм та квантовим виходом 0,60%. Такі фотофізичні особливості роблять їх потенційними флуоресцентними біовізуалізуючими агентами. До того ж, завдяки додатковим лігандам вони можуть бути використані як основа для створення гетеробіметалічних часточок для подвійної візуалізації

Complexation of lanthanides, actinides and transition metal cations with a 6-(1,2,4-triazin-3-yl)-2,2’:6’,2’’-terpyridine ligand: implications for actinide(III) /lanthanide(III) partitioning

The quadridentate N-heterocyclic ligand 6-(5,5,8,8-tetramethyl-5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-1,2,4-benzotriazin-3-yl)-2,2’:6’,2’’-terpyridine (CyMe4-hemi-BTBP) has been synthesized and its interactions with Am(III), U(VI), Ln(III) and some transition metal cations have been evaluated by X-ray crystallographic analysis, Am(III)/Eu(III) solvent extraction experiments, UV absorption spectrophotometry, NMR studies and ESI-MS. Structures of the 1:1 complexes with Eu(III), Ce(III) and the linear uranyl (UO22+) ion were obtained by X-ray crystallographic analysis, and showed similar coordination behavior to related BTBP complexes. In methanol, the stability constants of the Ln(III) complexes are slightly lower than those of the analogous quadridentate bis-triazine BTBP ligands, while the stability constant for the Yb(III) complex is higher. 1H NMR titrations and ESI-MS with lanthanide nitrates showed that the ligand forms only 1:1 complexes with Eu(III), Ce(III) and Yb(III), while both 1:1 and 1:2 complexes were formed with La(III) and Y(III) in acetonitrile. A mixture of isomeric chiral 2:2 helical complexes was formed with Cu(I), with a slight preference (1.4:1) for a single directional isomer. In contrast, a 1:1 complex was observed with the larger Ag(I) ion. The ligand was unable to extract Am(III) or Eu(III) from nitric acid solutions into 1-octanol, except in the presence of a synergist at low acidity. The results show that the presence of two outer 1,2,4-triazine rings is required for the efficient extraction and separation of An(III) from Ln(III) by quadridentate N-donor ligand

Effects of the Histone Deacetylase Inhibitor Valproic Acid on Human Pericytes In Vitro

Microvascular pericytes are of key importance in neoformation of blood vessels, in stabilization of newly formed vessels as well as maintenance of angiostasis in resting tissues. Furthermore, pericytes are capable of differentiating into pro-fibrotic collagen type I producing fibroblasts. The present study investigates the effects of the histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitor valproic acid (VPA) on pericyte proliferation, cell viability, migration and differentiation. The results show that HDAC inhibition through exposure of pericytes to VPA in vitro causes the inhibition of pericyte proliferation and migration with no effect on cell viability. Pericyte exposure to the potent HDAC inhibitor Trichostatin A caused similar effects on pericyte proliferation, migration and cell viability. HDAC inhibition also inhibited pericyte differentiation into collagen type I producing fibroblasts. Given the importance of pericytes in blood vessel biology a qPCR array focusing on the expression of mRNAs coding for proteins that regulate angiogenesis was performed. The results showed that HDAC inhibition promoted transcription of genes involved in vessel stabilization/maturation in human microvascular pericytes. The present in vitro study demonstrates that VPA influences several aspects of microvascular pericyte biology and suggests an alternative mechanism by which HDAC inhibition affects blood vessels. The results raise the possibility that HDAC inhibition inhibits angiogenesis partly through promoting a pericyte phenotype associated with stabilization/maturation of blood vessels

Intronic Cis-Regulatory Modules Mediate Tissue-Specific and Microbial Control of angptl4/fiaf Transcription

The intestinal microbiota enhances dietary energy harvest leading to increased fat storage in adipose tissues. This effect is caused in part by the microbial suppression of intestinal epithelial expression of a circulating inhibitor of lipoprotein lipase called Angiopoietin-like 4 (Angptl4/Fiaf). To define the cis-regulatory mechanisms underlying intestine-specific and microbial control of Angptl4 transcription, we utilized the zebrafish system in which host regulatory DNA can be rapidly analyzed in a live, transparent, and gnotobiotic vertebrate. We found that zebrafish angptl4 is transcribed in multiple tissues including the liver, pancreatic islet, and intestinal epithelium, which is similar to its mammalian homologs. Zebrafish angptl4 is also specifically suppressed in the intestinal epithelium upon colonization with a microbiota. In vivo transgenic reporter assays identified discrete tissue-specific regulatory modules within angptl4 intron 3 sufficient to drive expression in the liver, pancreatic islet β-cells, or intestinal enterocytes. Comparative sequence analyses and heterologous functional assays of angptl4 intron 3 sequences from 12 teleost fish species revealed differential evolution of the islet and intestinal regulatory modules. High-resolution functional mapping and site-directed mutagenesis defined the minimal set of regulatory sequences required for intestinal activity. Strikingly, the microbiota suppressed the transcriptional activity of the intestine-specific regulatory module similar to the endogenous angptl4 gene. These results suggest that the microbiota might regulate host intestinal Angptl4 protein expression and peripheral fat storage by suppressing the activity of an intestine-specific transcriptional enhancer. This study provides a useful paradigm for understanding how microbial signals interact with tissue-specific regulatory networks to control the activity and evolution of host gene transcription

PTCH1+/− Dermal Fibroblasts Isolated from Healthy Skin of Gorlin Syndrome Patients Exhibit Features of Carcinoma Associated Fibroblasts

Gorlin's or nevoid basal cell carcinoma syndrome (NBCCS) causes predisposition to basal cell carcinoma (BCC), the commonest cancer in adult human. Mutations in the tumor suppressor gene PTCH1 are responsible for this autosomal dominant syndrome. In NBCCS patients, as in the general population, ultraviolet exposure is a major risk factor for BCC development. However these patients also develop BCCs in sun-protected areas of the skin, suggesting the existence of other mechanisms for BCC predisposition in NBCCS patients. As increasing evidence supports the idea that the stroma influences carcinoma development, we hypothesized that NBCCS fibroblasts could facilitate BCC occurence of the patients. WT (n = 3) and NBCCS fibroblasts bearing either nonsense (n = 3) or missense (n = 3) PTCH1 mutations were cultured in dermal equivalents made of a collagen matrix and their transcriptomes were compared by whole genome microarray analyses. Strikingly, NBCCS fibroblasts over-expressed mRNAs encoding pro-tumoral factors such as Matrix Metalloproteinases 1 and 3 and tenascin C. They also over-expressed mRNA of pro-proliferative diffusible factors such as fibroblast growth factor 7 and the stromal cell-derived factor 1 alpha, known for its expression in carcinoma associated fibroblasts. These data indicate that the PTCH1+/− genotype of healthy NBCCS fibroblasts results in phenotypic traits highly reminiscent of those of BCC associated fibroblasts, a clue to the yet mysterious proneness to non photo-exposed BCCs in NBCCS patients

Kisspeptin regulation of genes involved in cell invasion and angiogenesis in first trimester human trophoblast cells

The precise regulation of extravillous trophoblast invasion of the uterine wall is a key process in successful pregnancies. Kisspeptin (KP) has been shown to inhibit cancer cell metastasis and placental trophoblast cell migration. In this study primary cultures of first trimester human trophoblast cells have been utilized in order to study the regulation of invasion and angiogenesis-related genes by KP. Trophoblast cells were isolated from first trimester placenta and their identity was confirmed by immunostaining for cytokeratin-7. Real-time quantitative RT-PCR demonstrated that primary trophoblast cells express higher levels of GPR54 (KP receptor) and KP mRNA than the trophoblast cell line HTR8Svneo. Furthermore, trophoblast cells also expressed higher GPR54 and KP protein levels. Treating primary trophoblast cells with KP induced ERK1/2 phosphorylation, while co-treating the cells with a KP antagonist almost completely blocked the activation of ERK1/2 and demonstrated that KP through its cognate GPR54 receptor can activate ERK1/2 in trophoblast cells. KP reduced the migratory capability of trophoblast cells in a scratch-migration assay. Real-time quantitative RT-PCR demonstrated that KP treatment reduced the expression of matrix metalloproteinase 1, 2, 3, 7, 9, 10, 14 and VEGF-A, and increased the expression of tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases 1 and 3. These results suggest that KP can inhibit first trimester trophoblast cells invasion via inhibition of cell migration and down regulation of the metalloproteinase system and VEGF-A

Interaction of 6,6′′-bis(5,5,8,8-tetramethyl-5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-1,2,4-benzotriazin-3-yl)-2,2′:6′,2′′-terpyridine (CyMe4-BTTP) with some trivalent ions such as lanthanide(iii) ions and americium(iii)

The new ligand 6,6 ''-bis(5,5,8,8-tetramethyl-5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-1,2,4-benzotriazin-3-yl)2,2':6 ',2 ''-terpyridine (CyMe4-BTTP) has been synthesized in 4 steps from 2,2':6',2 ''-terpyridine. Detailed NMR and mass spectrometry studies indicate that the ligand forms 1 : 2 complexes with lanthanide(III) perchlorates where the aliphatic rings are conformationally constrained whereas 1 : 1 complexes are formed with lanthanide(III) nitrates where the rings are conformationally mobile. An optimized structure of the 1 : 2 solution complex with Yb(III) was obtained from the relative magnitude of the induced paramagnetic shifts. X-Ray crystallographic structures of the ligand and of its 1 : 1 complex with Y(III) were also obtained. The NMR and mass spectra of [Pd(CyMe4-BTTP)](n)(2n+) are consistent with a dinuclear double helical structure (n = 2). In the absence of a phase-modifier, CyMe4-BTTP in n-octanol showed a maximum distribution coefficient of Am(III) of 0.039 (+/-20%) and a maximum separation factor of Am(III) over Eu(III) of 12.0 from nitric acid. The metal(III) cations are extracted as the 1 : 1 complex from nitric acid. The generally low distribution coefficients observed compared with the BTBPs arise because the 1 : 1 complex of CyMe4-BTTP is considerably less hydrophobic than the 1 : 2 complexes formed by the BTBPs. In M(BTTP)(3+) complexes, there is a competition between the nitrate ions and the ligand for the complexation of the metal