Facile and sustainable functionalization of graphene layers with pyrrole compounds

A facile and sustainable functionalization of graphene layers was performed with pyrrole compounds (PyC) prepared through the Paal–Knorr reaction of a primary amine with 2,5-hexanedione. A good number of primary amines were used: hexanamine, dodecanamine, octadecanamine, 2-aminoacetic acid, 2-amino-1,3-propanediol, 3-(triethoxysilyl)propan-1-amine. The reactions were characterized by good yield, up to 96 %, and indeed satisfactory atom efficiency, up to 80 %. The functionalization of graphene layers was obtained by mixing PyC with a high surface area graphite and heating at a temperature range from 130 °C to 150 °C for 3 h. The yield of functionalization reaction was larger than 60 % and also up to about 90 % for the pyrrole compounds from dodecanamine and 2-amino-1,3-propanediol, respectively. The cycloaddition reaction between the graphene layers and the pyrrole compound, oxidized in two position, is proposed as working hypothesis to account for such efficient functionalization. Raman spectroscopy revealed that the structure of the graphitic substrate remained substantially unaltered, after the reaction. Stable dispersions of HSAG adducts with different PyC were prepared in solvents with different solubility parameters and HRTEM analysis showed the presence of aggregates of only few layers of graphene. Qualitative results of dispersion tests were used to calculate the Hansen sphere for the HSAG adduct with the pyrrole compound based on dodecanamine so to provide a first estimate of its Hansen solubility parameters. This work paves the way for the facile and sustainable modification of the solubility parameters of graphene layers and for the predictive assessment of their compatibility with different environments

Volumetric Lissajous confocal microscopy with tunable spatiotemporal resolution

Dynamic biological systems present challenges to existing three-dimensional (3D) optical microscopes because of their continuous temporal and spatial changes. Most techniques are rigid in adapting the acquisition parameters over time, as in confocal microscopy, where a laser beam is sequentially scanned at a predefined spatial sampling rate and pixel dwell time. Such lack of tunability forces a user to provide scan parameters, which may not be optimal, based on the best assumption before an acquisition starts. Here, we developed volumetric Lissajous confocal microscopy to achieve unsurpassed 3D scanning speed with a tunable sampling rate. The system combines an acoustic liquid lens for continuous axial focus translation with a resonant scanning mirror. Accordingly, the excitation beam follows a dynamic Lissajous trajectory enabling sub-millisecond acquisitions of image series containing 3D information at a sub-Nyquist sampling rate. By temporal accumulation and/or advanced interpolation algorithms, the volumetric imaging rate is selectable using a post-processing step at the desired spatiotemporal resolution for events of interest. We demonstrate multicolor and calcium imaging over volumes of tens of cubic microns with 3D acquisition speeds of 30 Hz and frame rates up to 5 kHz

Domino reaction for the sustainable functionalization of few-layer graphene

The mechanism for the functionalization of graphene layers with pyrrole compounds was investigated. Liquid 1,2,5-trimethylpyrrole (TMP) was heated in air in the presence of a high surface area nanosized graphite (HSAG), at temperatures between 80°C and 180°C. After the thermal treatments solid and liquid samples, separated by centrifugation, were analysed by means of Raman, Fourier Transform Infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, X-Rays Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS) and1H-Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (1H NMR) spectroscopy and High Resolution Transmission Electron Microscopy (HRTEM). FT-IR spectra were interpreted with the support of Density Functional Theory (DFT) quantum chemical modelling. Raman findings suggested that the bulk structure of HSAG remained substantially unaltered, without intercalation products. FT-IR and XPS spectra showed the presence of oxidized TMP derivatives on the solid adducts, in a much larger amount than in the liquid. For thermal treatments at T ≥ 150°C, IR spectral features revealed not only the presence of oxidized products but also the reaction of intra-annular double bond of TMP with HSAG. XPS spectroscopy showed the increase of the ratio between C(sp2)N bonds involved in the aromatic system and C(sp3)N bonds, resulting from reaction of the pyrrole moiety, observed while increasing the temperature from 130°C to 180°C. All these findings, supported by modeling, led to hypothesize a cascade reaction involving a carbocatalyzed oxidation of the pyrrole compound followed by Diels-Alder cycloaddition. Graphene layers play a twofold role: at the early stages of the reaction, they behave as a catalyst for the oxidation of TMP and then they become the substrate for the cycloaddition reaction. Such sustainable functionalization, which does not produce by-products, allows us to use the pyrrole compounds for decorating sp2 carbon allotropes without altering their bulk structure and smooths the path for their wider application

EFFECTS OF SIX MONTHS TRAINING ON PHYSICAL CAPACITY AND METABOREFLEX ACTIVITY IN PATIENTS WITH MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS.

Patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) have an increased systemic vascular resistance (SVR) response during the metaboreflex. It has been hypothesized that this is the consequence of a sedentary lifestyle secondary to MS. The purpose of this study was to discover whether a 6-month training program could reverse this hemodynamic dysregulation. Patients were randomly assigned to one of the following two groups: the intervention group (MSIT, n = 11), who followed an adapted training program: and the control group (MSCTL, n = 10), who continued with their sedentary lifestyle. Cardiovascular response during the metaboreflex was evaluated using the post-exercise muscle ischemia (PEMI) method and during a control exercise recovery (CER) test. The difference in hemodynamic variables such as stroke volume (SV), cardiac output (CO), and SVR between the PEMI and the CER tests was calculated to assess the metaboreflex response. Moreover, physical capacity was measured during a cardiopulmonary test till exhaustion. All tests were repeated after 3 and 6 months (T3 and T6, respectively) from the beginning of the study. The main result was that the MSIT group substantially improved parameters related to physical capacity (+5.31 +/- 5.12 ml-min(-1)/kg in maximal oxygen uptake at T6) in comparison with the MSCTL group (-0.97 +/- 4.89 ml.min(-1)/kg at T6; group effect: p = 0.0004). However, none of the hemodynamic variables changed in response to the metaboreflex activation. It was concluded that a 6-month period of adapted physical training was unable to reverse the hemodynamic dys-regulation in response to metaboreflex activation in these patients

Disease-specific and general health-related quality of life in newly diagnosed prostate cancer patients: The Pros-IT CNR study

Background: The National Research Council (CNR) prostate cancer monitoring project in Italy (Pros-IT CNR) is an observational, prospective, ongoing, multicentre study aiming to monitor a sample of Italian males diagnosed as new cases of prostate cancer. The present study aims to present data on the quality of life at time prostate cancer is diagnosed. Methods: One thousand seven hundred five patients were enrolled. Quality of life is evaluated at the time cancer was diagnosed and at subsequent assessments via the Italian version of the University of California Los Angeles-Prostate Cancer Index (UCLA-PCI) and the Short Form Health Survey (SF-12). Results: At diagnosis, lower scores on the physical component of the SF-12 were associated to older ages, obesity and the presence of 3+ moderate/severe comorbidities. Lower scores on the mental component were associated to younger ages, the presence of 3+ moderate/severe comorbidities and a T-score higher than one. Urinary and bowel functions according to UCLA-PCI were generally good. Almost 5% of the sample reported using at least one safety pad daily to control urinary loss; less than 3% reported moderate/severe problems attributable to bowel functions, and sexual function was a moderate/severe problem for 26.7%. Diabetes, 3+ moderate/severe comorbidities, T2 or T3-T4 categories and a Gleason score of eight or more were significantly associated with lower sexual function scores at diagnosis. Conclusions: Data collected by the Pros-IT CNR study have clarified the baseline status of newly diagnosed prostate cancer patients. A comprehensive assessment of quality of life will allow to objectively evaluate outcomes of different profile of care

Développement des nouvelles méthodes pour l’hydrogène isotope exchange catalysé par des nanoparticules métalliques

Les composés marqués aux isotopes de l’hydrogène possèdent des nombreuses applications lors des phases précliniques de développement des médicaments. Par exemple, les composés deutérés sont utilisés comme étalons internes dans la quantification par LC-MS de métabolites alors que les molécules tritiées sont souvent des radiotraceurs de choix dans les études d’absorption, distribution, métabolisme et excrétion (ADME) moléculaire des candidats médicaments. Après une brève introduction, un premier chapitre discutera du développement d’une méthode douce et sélective, catalysée par des nanoparticules de ruthénium, qui permet d’effectuer le marquage en une étape de bases azotées et de médicaments dérivés. En changeant le ligand qui stabilise le nanocatalyseur, on a réalisé des échanges isotopiques compliqués tels que des tritiations en utilisant une pression sous-atmosphérique de tritium gaz et des deutérations d’oligonucleotides sensibles. Le chapitre suivant décrira la modification des catalyseurs commerciaux à base de ruthénium grâce à la coordination de carbènes N-hétérocycliques (NHCs). La modification assure une régio- et une chimiosélectivité améliorées lors de la deutération d’alcools aliphatiques. Certains des catalyseurs modifiés ont permis l’échange hydrogène/deutérium sur des molécules, particulièrement sensibles à la réduction, qui n’ont pas pu être isolées en utilisant le catalyseur commercial. Dans le dernier chapitre, la synthèse et l’évaluation de l’activité catalytique des nanoparticules à base d’iridium seront discutées. Ces nanocatalyseurs ont démontré une réactivité intéressante dans le marquage des composés complexes. Dans certains cas, les nanoparticules d’iridium ont permis l’incorporation de deutérium sur des positions inhabituelles en comparaison avec d’autres réactions d’échange isotopique déjà décrites.Hydrogen isotopes labelled compounds possess a broad range of application in the early pre-clinical phases of drug development process. For instance, deuterated compounds are applied as internal standard in quantitative LC-MS techniques while tritiated molecules are often the preferred radioactive tracers for the study of molecular absorption, distribution, metabolism and excretion (ADME). After a brief introduction, a first chapter will discuss the development of a mild and selective method to perform late stage labelling of variously functionalized nucleobases and drug analogues catalyzed by ruthenium nanoparticles. By changing the ligand which stabilizes the nanocatalyst, we achieved challenging isotopic exchanges such as tritiations of pharmaceuticals using subatmospheric pressure of tritium gas and deuteration of sensible oligonucleotides. The next chapter will describe the modification of commercially available ruthenium nanocatalysts via the coordination of N-Heterocyclic carbenes (NHCs). The modification granted enhanced regio and chemoselectivity for the deuteration of aliphatic alcohols. Some of the modified ruthenium catalysts allowed the hydrogen/deuterium exchange on easily reducible compounds which were not obtainable using the unmodified commercial catalyst. The final chapter will discuss the synthesis and the evaluation of the catalytic activity of iridium nanoparticles. The latter, showed an interesting reactivity for the labelling of challenging substrates. In some of the investigated compounds, IrNps were able to introduce deuterium with unusual regioselectivities compared to already described hydrogen isotope exchange reactions

The Evolution and Adaptive Governance of the 22@ Innovation District in Barcelona

The paper analyzes the prominent 22@ Innovation District project, which was initiated at the beginning of the 2000s by the city of Barcelona to regenerate part of the Poblenou district, a former industrial area. The goal was to create an innovation district able to generate economic activity and employment by focusing on knowledge economy and new technologies. The innovative features of the project emphasize the uncertainty and the need to adapt to new technologies and their economic and social influence in urban regeneration projects. The paper uses the adaptive governance framework to analyze how the dynamic process of urban regeneration and creation of an innovation district has been able to adapt to internal and external changes of political, economic and technological nature. Adaptive governance has been conceptualized by focusing on three key aspects (i.e., level of complexity, conflict and uncertainty) and three main actions (i.e., anticipate, learn and adapt) that have been considered in the case study. These elements emphasize the need for bridging organizations that are able to work cross-level and cross-scale. The article shows the suitability of adaptive governance systems in urban regeneration projects, aiming to combine top-down and bottom-up initiatives within a comprehensive strategy

Facile and sustainable functionalization of graphene layers with pyrrole compounds

A facile and sustainable functionalization of graphene layers was performed with pyrrole compounds (PyC) prepared through the Paal–Knorr reaction of a primary amine with 2,5-hexanedione. A good number of primary amines were used: hexanamine, dodecanamine, octadecanamine, 2-aminoacetic acid, 2-amino-1,3-propanediol, 3-(triethoxysilyl)propan-1-amine. The reactions were characterized by good yield, up to 96 %, and indeed satisfactory atom efficiency, up to 80 %. The functionalization of graphene layers was obtained by mixing PyC with a high surface area graphite and heating at a temperature range from 130 °C to 150 °C for 3 h. The yield of functionalization reaction was larger than 60 % and also up to about 90 % for the pyrrole compounds from dodecanamine and 2-amino-1,3-propanediol, respectively. The cycloaddition reaction between the graphene layers and the pyrrole compound, oxidized in two position, is proposed as working hypothesis to account for such efficient functionalization. Raman spectroscopy revealed that the structure of the graphitic substrate remained substantially unaltered, after the reaction. Stable dispersions of HSAG adducts with different PyC were prepared in solvents with different solubility parameters and HRTEM analysis showed the presence of aggregates of only few layers of graphene. Qualitative results of dispersion tests were used to calculate the Hansen sphere for the HSAG adduct with the pyrrole compound based on dodecanamine so to provide a first estimate of its Hansen solubility parameters. This work paves the way for the facile and sustainable modification of the solubility parameters of graphene layers and for the predictive assessment of their compatibility with different environments