Synthesis and photo-physical properties of a series of BODIPY dyes

A series of 39 boron-dipyrrolylmethenes (BODIPYs) have been synthesized and characterized. Their spectroscopic properties, degree of lipophilicity, chemical stability under irradiation, and singlet-oxygen generation rate have also been studied. These compounds differ in the presence of ethyl groups (group A), hydrogens (group B) or iodines (group C) on the 2,6 positions; these appendices confer particular characteristics to each group. The presence of an aromatic substituent or hydrogen on the indacene 8 position produces 13 different molecules of each group. Besides the effects exerted by the group or atom on the 2,6 positions, the substituent on the 8 position exerts a further effect on the physico-chemical parameters, thus the desired properties of BODIPYs, concerning fluorescence, lipophilicity, and singlet oxygen production can be modulated accordingly

GROWTH AND YIELDS OF 'ARBEQUINA' HIGH-DENSITY PLANTING SYSTEMS IN THREE DIFFERENT OLIVE GROWING AREAS IN ITALY

The sustainability of the traditional olive-growing sector in EU countries characterised by high production costs and a low selling price for the oil was mainly determined by EU subsidies available for the sector. With the opening of the free trade area by the Barcellona Declaration of 1995 and a cut in EU subsidies in 2014, crucial changes in the sector are now needed. In order to increase the competitiveness of EU olive production, attention should be given to new high-yielding and mechanized cultivation systems. In the 1990s, Spain introduced new high-density planting systems (1,200-2,000 trees/ha) using three low-vigour and early-fruiting cultivars ( Arbequina , Arbosana and Koroneiki ). Italian olive production lies in a geographical area that stretches for about 6\ub0 in latitude (37-43\ub0 latitude N) and in the band of altitude which ranges from sea level to 400 m a.s.l. Studies on the ecophysiology of woody plants show the importance of adapting the planting system to the climate of the cultivation site, particularly for high-density groves. The evaluation of cultivars suitable for high-density systems, based on their vegetative characteristics, branching and fruiting, together with an analysis of product quality, may contribute significantly to the development and diffusion of new crop growing systems. To achieve this aim, joint research was carried out by three different research units operating in the three main olive-growing regions of Italy (Sicily, Apulia and Umbria). This paper illustrates the first results (2010 and 2011) obtained by the PRIN Project on Biological processes and environmental factors affecting the vegetative growth, fruiting and oil quality control in a high density olive (Olea europaea L.) planting system

Planning the Workday of Bus Drivers by a Graph List-Coloring Model

In this work, we address the problem of planning the workday of bus drivers in argentinian intercity bus transport companies. In particular, we focus on a company which needs to fulfill roughly 800 trips per day between 3 cities of the Province of Buenos Aires with a stuff of around 200 drivers and 100 buses. Planning consists of assigning one driver to each trip in a way the driver performs all the trips without scheduling conflicts and minimizing the overall amount of overtime among all bus drivers. We model the problem as a particular Graph Coloring Problem and we propose an Integer Linear Programming formulation. Computations experiments show that this formulation outperforms other ones given in the literature for the same problem. In order to address large instances as the one given by the company, we also propose a heuristic algorithm that delivers better solutions than the company actually uses in a reasonably amount of time. The heuristic has two phases where the first one constructs an initial solution and the second one improves the solution iteratively.Sociedad Argentina de Informática e Investigación Operativ

Enhancement of a pentacyclic tyrosine kinase inhibitor production in Cladosporium cf. cladosporioides by Cladosporol

The binaphthyl derivative cladosporol A was supplied from 60 to 200 mg l 121 to shaken cultures of Cladosporium cf. cladosporioides. Compared to blank, fungal biomass was not affected by adding cladosporol till 100 mg l 121: it rather increased at higher ratios between 150 and 200 mg l 121. The production of the major pentacyclic metabolite 1, a cytokine production and tyrosine kinase inhibitor, was enhanced tenfold when cladosporol was supplied at the highest ratio (200 mg l 121) to shaken growing cultures of the fungus. The bioconversion of cladosporol to cladosporol D through reductive cleavage of the epoxide group was also observed. Interest in this kind of metabolites lies in their potential activity vs DNA topoisomerase I

A novel secondary metabolite from the Eucalyptus pathogen Mycosphaerella cryptica

The most abundant metabolite of the eucalyptus leaf spot pathogen Mycosphaerella cryptica was extracted from agar cultures. The structure of the compound was elucidated by detailed studies of NMR and MS data and by comparison with derivatives. The compound is a previously undescribed diphenylether structurally related to pannaric acid found in lichens. Culture extracts from another species of Mycosphaerella isolated from the same environment yielded 5-hydroxymethylfuran- 3-carboxylic acid, a furan acidic compound previously isolated from a basidiomycete fungus. Assays for bioactivity of these metabolites revealed no evidence for antimicrobial activity. Some phytotoxicity was seen on newly emerged leaves of Eucalyptus globulus, but not on juvenile or adult leaves, when treated with either metabolite

Cryphonectric acid and other minor metabolites from a hypovirulent strain of Cryphonectria parasitica

Investigations carried out on secondary metabolites produced in culture by a hypovirulent strain of Cryphonectria parasitica allowed the isolation of several compounds which were characterized by NMR analysis and derivatization reactions. The most abundant metabolite was a new compound, called cryphonectric acid (1). Other metabolites were diaporthin, the only known phytotoxic compound isolated from both virulent and hypovirulent strains of C. parasitica, (+)-orthosporin, and L-p-hydroxyphenyllactic acid (HOPLA). Root growth activity of the purified compounds was evaluated both on tomato seedlings and maize subapical segments

Acremines H\u2013N, novel prenylated polyketide metabolites produced by a strain of Acremonium byssoides

Five novel metabolites, acremines H\u2013N, have been isolated from malt extract\u2013peptone\u2013glucose agar cultures of a strain of Acremonium byssoides. Their structures and stereochemistry were elucidated using a combination of 13C and 1H homo and heteronuclear 2D NMR experiments. Acremines H\u2013N inhibited the germination of sporangia of Plasmopara viticola

Secondary mould metabolites of Cladosporium tenuissimum, a hyperparasite of rust fungi

Investigation of the extracts of a culture of Cladosporium tenuissimum, a known hyperparasite of several rust fungi, gave rise to the isolation of cladosporols B\u2013E (2\u20135). Their structure and stereochemistry were elucidated on the basis of 1H and 13C NMR evidence and CD measures. Cladosporols 1\u20135 were active in inhibiting the urediniospore germination of the bean rust agent Uromyces appendiculatus

The analysis of European lacquer : optimization of thermochemolysis temperature of natural resins

In order to optimize chromatographic analysis of European lacquer, thermochemolysis temperature was evaluated for the analysis of natural resins. Five main ingredients of lacquer were studied: sandarac, mastic, colophony, Manila copal and Congo copal. For each, five temperature programs were tested: four fixed temperatures (350, 480, 550, 650 degrees C) and one ultrafast thermal desorption (UFD), in which the temperature rises from 350 to 660 degrees C in 1 min. In total, the integrated signals of 27 molecules, partially characterizing the five resins, were monitored to compare the different methods. A compromise between detection of compounds released at low temperatures and compounds formed at high temperatures was searched. 650 degrees C is too high for both groups, 350 degrees C is best for the first, and 550 degrees C for the second. Fixed temperatures of 480 degrees C or UFD proved to be a consensus in order to detect most marker molecules. UFD was slightly better for the molecules released at low temperatures, while 480 degrees C showed best compounds formed at high temperatures