OH Position Research Articles

Effect of hydrogen addition on early flame growth of lean burn natural gas–air mixtures

Effect of hydrogen addition on early flame growth of lean burn natural gas–air mixtures was investigated experimentally and numerically. The flame propagating photos of premixed combustion and direct-injection combustion was obtained by using a constant volume vessel and schlieren photographic technique. The pressure derived initial combustion durations were also obtained at different hydrogen fractions (from 0% to 40% in volumetric fraction) at overall equivalence ratio of 0.6 and 0.8, respectively. The laminar premixed methane–hydrogen–air flames were calculated with PREMIX code of CHEMKIN II program with GRI 3.0 mechanism. The results showed that the initial combustion process of lean burn natural gas–air mixtures was enhanced as hydrogen is added to natural gas in the case of both premixed combustion and direct-injection combustion. This phenomenon is more obvious at leaner mixture condition near the lean limit of natural gas. The mole fractions of OH and O are increased with the increase of hydrogen fraction and the position of maximum OH and O mole fractions move closing to the unburned mixture side. A monotonic correlation between initial combustion duration with the reciprocal maximum OH mole fraction in the flames is observed. The enhancement of the spark ignition of natural gas with hydrogen addition can be ascribed to the increase of OH and O mole fractions in the flames.

Mechanistic pathways for the reaction of quercetin with hydroperoxy radical

The extensive theoretical study of the interaction of one of the most abundant and reactive flavonols, quercetin, with hydroperoxy radical (HOO·), using the M052X/6-31 + Gd, p level of theory, was performed. Results indicating that quercetin is not a planar molecule are in accord with the X-ray analysis. The applied method successfully reproduces the bond dissociation enthalpy, and reveals that the reaction of quercetin with the hydroperoxy radical is governed by a hydrogen atom transfer mechanism. It is confirmed that the 3′OH and 4′OH are the most reactive sites, and that the reaction in the 3′OH position is faster than that in the 4′OH position.

Ultrashort Fluorescence Lifetimes of Hydrogen-Bonded Base Pairs of Guanosine and Cytidine in Solution

The optically excited electronic states of hydrogen-bonded homo- and heterodimers of guanosine (G) and deoxycytidine (C) were investigated by femtosecond fluorescence up-conversion spectroscopy. The base pairs were prepared in CHCl(3) solution by employing tert-butyldimethylsilyl (TBDMS) groups at the OH positions of the ribose (G) or deoxyribose (C) moieties to enhance the solubilities of the nucleosides in organic solvents. The H-bonded complexes that were obtained were characterized by FTIR spectroscopy. Fluorescence lifetime measurements were performed following electronic excitation at a series of UV wavelengths from lambda(pump) = 294 nm, close to the electronic origins of the bases, to lambda(pump) = 262 nm, where significant excess vibronic energy is deposited in the molecules, at nucleoside concentrations of c(0) = 0.1 and 1.0 mM. The experimental results revealed the existence of an ultrafast deactivation pathway for the optically prepared electronically excited state(s) of the G.C Watson-Crick base pair, which was found to have a lifetime of tau(GC) = 0.30(3) ps (with 2sigma error limits) irrespective of the pump wavelength. A similar short decay time, tau(GG) = 0.32(2) ps, was observed for the respective excited G.G homodimer. In contrast, the excited G monomer displayed a significantly longer-lived and wavelength-dependent deactivation, requiring three time constants, between 0.43(6) ps < or = tau(G,1) < or = 1.2(1) ps, 4.2(8) ps < or = tau(G,2) < or = 8(1) ps, and tau(G,3) = 195(32) ps. Self-complexation of C, on the other hand, led to a longer-lived excited state with a lifetime estimated between 1 ps < or = tau(CC) < or = 10 ps, compared to the dominant initial subpicosecond decay time of the C monomer of tau(C,1) = 0.80(4) ps.

Binding of 2CA1P (nocturnal inhibitor) to the active site of RubisCO using genetic algorithm (GA).

Ribulose-1, 5- Bisphosphate carboxylase/ oxygenase (RubisCO) catalyzes the first step in net photosynthetic assimilation and photorespiratory carbon oxidation. The activity of this enzyme is modulated in response to changes in light intensity as suggested in a number of early reports. Several studies found that the natural inhibitor 2CA1P is involved in the inhibition of the enzyme under reduced light intensity in rice (Oryza sativa). Due to the lack of studies and information on the interaction between this inhibitor and the active site of the enzyme, we attempted to predict the interaction between the amino acids in the active site and the inhibitor using both Hyperchem7.5 and GOLD software. After the docking; three possibilities having the highest fitness score were found (65.71, 64.72, 62.04), in these possibilities the inhibitor was bound to the enzyme, the phosphate and carboxylate groups in the same positions with a clear difference in the position of OH. In order to confirm the accuracy of the genetic algorithm, the artificial inhibitor 2CABP was docked back in the active site of the enzyme using the same parameters used in the case of the 2CA1P and the algorithm's predictions were compared with the experimentally observed binding mode. The results showed that the difference in the active sites before and after the docking was in the range of 0.93 A which indicated that the results were very accurate. Depending on this result it was concluded that the results obtained in the case of the 2CA1P were close to the experimental results.

Spatial regulation of PI3K signaling during chemotaxis

Phosphoinositide 3-kinases (PI3Ks) are a family of lipid kinases that phosphorylate the 3' OH position of the inositol ring of phosphoinositides on the inner leaf of the plasma membrane. Receptor-mediated activation of the PI3K pathway plays a crucial role in numerous signaling pathways and regulates a number of critical cellular processes, including growth, differentiation, survival and directed migration. In this focus article, we review the temporal and spatial regulation of PI3K in chemotaxing cells with particular emphasis on the amoeba Dictyostelium as well as neutrophils. We also briefly discuss one model used to elucidate the PI3K pathway.

Synthesis and characterization of lactobionic acid grafted pegylated chitosan and nanoparticle complex application

Abstract A series of chemical modifications of chitosan were conducted by grafting a hydrophilic methoxy poly(ethylene glycol) (MPEG) and a target sugar molecule lactobionic acid (LA). The MPEG was grafted onto C6–OH position of chitosan, and the grafting degree was reduced for chitosan with high degree of depolymerization. The lactobionic acid was proposed to graft onto C2–NH2 position of chitosan. The LA grafting ratio was dependent on pegylation degree of chitosan, where the flexibility and shielding effect of MPEG hindered LA grafting onto chitosan. The lactobionic acid grafted pegylated chitosan, DADP-CS-(O-MPEG)-(N-LA), successfully provoked DNA condensation into nanoparticle complexes due to electrostatic compaction. The presence of MPEG on DADP-CS-(O-MPEG)-(N-LA) played an important role on preventing nanoparticle aggregation.

Theoretical studies of phenol disubstituted porphyrins

Calculations on neutral and oxidized phenol disubstituted porphyrins were performed. Two electron oxidation may be accompanied by loss of one or more protons at either the central NH positions or the outer OH positions. These latter oxidized and deprotonated structures may be stabilized by quinonelike forms. Our calculations support the idea that quinonelike structures are important, based both upon energetic and rotational barrier calculations.

Treatment of As(V) and As(III) by electrocoagulation using Al and Fe electrode

A batch electrocoagulation (EC) process with bipolar electrode and potentiodynamic polarization tests with monopolar systems were investigated as methods to explore the effects of electrode materials and initial solution pH on the As(V) and As(III) removal. The results displayed that the system with Al electrode has higher reaction rate during the initial period from 0 to 25 minutes than that of Fe electrode for alkaline condition. The pH increased with the EC time because the As(V) and As(III) removal by either co-precipitation or adsorption resulted in that the OH positions in Al-hydroxide or Fe-hydroxide were substituted by As(V) and As(III). The pH in Fe electrode system elevate higher than that in Al electrode because the As(V) removal substitutes more OH position in Fe-hydroxide than that in Al-hydroxide. EC system with Fe electrode can successfully remove the As(III) but system with Al electrode cannot because As(III) can strongly bind to the surface of Fe-hydroxide with forming inner-sphere species but weakly adsorb to the Al-hydroxide surface with forming outer-sphere species. The acidic solution can destroy the deposited hydroxide passive film then allow the metallic ions liberate into the solution, therefore, the acidic initial solution can enhance the As(V) and As(III) removal. The over potential calculation and potentiodynamic polarization tests reveal that the Fe electrode systems possess higher over potential and pitting potential than that of Al electrode system due to the fast hydrolysis of and the occurrence of Fe-hydroxide passive film.

The Biosynthetic Pathway for Myxol-2′ Fucoside (Myxoxanthophyll) in the Cyanobacterium Synechococcus sp. Strain PCC 7002

Synechococcus sp. strain PCC 7002 produces a variety of carotenoids, which comprise predominantly dicylic beta-carotene and two dicyclic xanthophylls, zeaxanthin and synechoxanthin. However, this cyanobacterium also produces a monocyclic myxoxanthophyll, which was identified as myxol-2' fucoside. Compared to the carotenoid glycosides produced by diverse microorganisms, cyanobacterial myxoxanthophyll and closely related compounds are unusual because they are glycosylated on the 2'-OH rather than on the 1'-OH position of the psi end of the molecule. In this study, the genes encoding two enzymes that modify the psi end of myxoxanthophyll in Synechococcus sp. strain PCC 7002 were identified. Mutational and biochemical studies showed that open reading frame SynPCC7002_A2032, renamed cruF, encodes a 1',2'-hydroxylase [corrected] and that open reading frame SynPCC7002_A2031, renamed cruG, encodes a 2'-O-glycosyltransferase. The enzymatic activity of CruF was verified by chemical characterization of the carotenoid products synthesized when cruF was expressed in a lycopene-producing strain of Escherichia coli. Database searches showed that homologs of cruF and cruG occur in the genomes of all sequenced cyanobacterial strains that are known to produce myxol or the acylic xanthophyll oscillaxanthin. The genomes of many other bacteria that produce hydroxylated carotenoids but do not contain crtC homologs also contain cruF orthologs. Based upon observable intermediates, a complete biosynthetic pathway for myxoxanthophyll is proposed. This study expands the suite of enzymes available for metabolic engineering of carotenoid biosynthetic pathways for biotechnological applications.

Temperature and Solvent Effects on Radical Scavenging Ability of Phenols

In this work we have demonstrated the free radical scavenging ability of two-hydroxy (catechol, hydroquinone, resorcinol) and three-hydroxy (phloroglucinol, pyrogallol, 1,2,4-benzenetriol) phenols against the diphenylpicrylhydrazyl radical at various temperatures (15-40 degrees C) and in different solvent media. Kinetic measurements, made by the stopped-flow method, showed that the phenols with OH groups in the ortho positions have the largest rate coefficients compared to those with OH groups in the meta and para positions at all temperatures and in all solvent media. Among the ortho-structured phenols catechol, pyrogallol, and 1,2,4-benzenetriol, pyrogallol (three OH groups ortho to each other) had the greatest radical scavenging ability. This suggested that intramolecular hydrogen bonding in phenols controlled the rate of radical scavenging ability. The radical scavenging ability of phenols was fastest in methanol and slowest in THF, which emphasized the importance of the interactive behavior of the phenolic OH with the solvent. We concluded from our kinetic data together with our theoretically calculated OH bond dissociation enthalpies of phenols that the OH position played a crucial role in addition to the temperature and nature of the medium in determining the rate of the radical scavenging ability of polyphenols.

Preparation of sulfated-chitins under homogeneous conditions

Sulfated-chitins of varying degrees of sulfation were prepared by the reaction of chitin with sulfur trioxide–pyridine complex under homogeneous conditions in 5% LiCl/DMAc solvent system. Sulfation at 8 °C or room temperature was regio-selective for the C6–OH position with the degree of sulfation (D.S.) ranging from 0.53 to 1.00 depending on the reaction time. When the reaction temperature was elevated, sulfation at the C3–OH position also occurred. The extent of sulfation at the C3 position was a function of the concentration of sulfating reagent, reaction time and temperature. The structure of sulfated-chitins was established by 1H, 13C NMR and 2D HMQC. The degree of sulfation at the C6 position was estimated by 1H NMR while that of the C3 position was by elemental analyses. The anticoagulant activity of the prepared sulfated-chitins correlated closely with D.S. The higher the D.S. yielded, the better the anticoagulant activity. In particular, a continuous sequence of 36S units was critical for obtaining high anticoagulation activity.

To probe the structure of methanol and Aerosol OT (AOT) in AOT reverse micelles by FTIR measurements

We have reported the study of methanol/AOT/n-heptane reverse micellar aggregates using Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. We have divided our whole work into two parts. In the first part we have studied the structural properties of Aerosol OT (AOT) reverse micelles by monitoring the changes in the symmetrical sulfonate stretching region (1000-1100 cm(-1)), asymmetrical sulfonate stretching region (1130-1330 cm(-1)) and carbonyl frequency region (1695-1770 cm(-1)), and in the other part we have measured the changes in the maximum position of OH stretching frequency region (3140-3650 cm(-1)) with increasing methanol content of the reverse micellar solution. Finally we have defined and established the presence of different types of methanol inside the reverse micelle by splitting the OH frequency region using multiple Gaussian curve fitting. Though methanol is partially soluble in n-heptane, this work certainly proves the existence of stable methanol/AOT/n-heptane reverse micelles.

Photocatalytic Oxidation of Paracetamol: Dominant Reactants, Intermediates, and Reaction Mechanisms

The role of primary active species (ecb(-), hvb(+), *OH, HO2*, O2*(-), and H2O2) during photocatalytic degradation of paracetamol (acetaminophen) using TiO2 catalyst was systematically investigated. Hydroxyl radicals (*OH) are responsible for the major degradation of paracetamol with a second-order rate constant (1.7 x 10(9) M(-1) s(-1)) for an *OH-paracetamol reaction. A total of 13 intermediates was identified and classified into four categories: (i) aromatic compounds, (ii) carboxylic acids, (iii) nitrogen-containing straight chain compounds, and (iv) inorganic species (ammonium and nitrate ions). Concentration profiles of identified intermediates indicate that paracetamol initially undergoes hydroxylation through *OH addition onto the aromatic ring at ortho (predominantly), meta, and para positions with respect to the -OH position of paracetamol. This initial *OH hydroxylation is followed by further oxidation generating carboxylic acids. Subsequent mineralization of smaller intermediates eventually increases ammonium and nitrate concentration in the system.

Targeted Paclitaxel by Conjugation to Iron Oxide and Gold Nanoparticles

The Fe(3)O(4) nanoparticles, tailored with maleimidyl 3-succinimidopropionate ligands, were conjugated with paclitaxel molecules that were attached with a poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) spacer through a phosphodiester moiety at the (C-2')-OH position. The average number of paclitaxel molecules/nanoparticles was determined as 83. These nanoparticles liberated paclitaxel molecules upon exposure to phosphodiesterase.

Quantitative Microarray Analysis of Intact Glycolipid−CD1d Interaction and Correlation with Cell-Based Cytokine Production

The protein CD1d binds self and foreign glycolipids for presentation to CD1-restricted T cells by means of TCR recognition and activates T(H)1 and T(H)2 chemokine release. In this study, a variety of glycolipid ligands were attached to a microarray surface and their binding with dimeric CD1d was investigated. An alpha-galactosyl ceramide (alpha-GalCer) bearing a carbamate group at the 6'-OH position was tethered to the surface, and the dissociation constant on surface with CD1d was determined to reflect the multivalent interaction. Competition assays were then used to determine the dissociation constants (Ki) of new and intact glycolipids in solution. The 4-fluorophenyloctanoyl-modified alpha-GalCer (18) was found to bind most strongly with CD1d (Ki 0.21 microM), 2 orders of magnitude stronger than alpha-GalCer and more than three times more selective than alpha-GalCer for IFN-gamma release from NKT cells. Various alpha-GalCer analogues were analyzed, and the results showed that the binding affinity of glycolipids to CD1d correlates well with IFN-gamma production but poorly with IL-4 secretion by NKT cells, suggesting that tighter binding ligands could bias cytokine release through the T(H)1 pathway.

Syntheses of dopa glycosides using glucosidases

Syntheses of L: -dopa 1a glucoside 10a,b and DL: -dopa 1b glycosides 10-18 with D: -glucose 2, D: -galactose 3, D: -mannose 4, D: -fructose 5, D: -arabinose 6, lactose 7, D: -sorbitol 8 and D: -mannitol 9 were carried out using amyloglucosidase from Rhizopus mold, beta-glucosidase isolated from sweet almond and immobilized beta-glucosidase. Invariably, L: -dopa and DL: -dopa gave low to good yields of glycosides 10-18 at 12-49% range and only mono glycosylated products were detected through glycosylation/arylation at the third or fourth OH positions of L: -dopa 1a and DL: -dopa 1b. Amyloglucosidase showed selectivity with D: -mannose 4 to give 4-O-C1beta and D: -sorbitol 8 to give 4-O-C6-O-arylated product. beta-Glucosidase exhibited selectivity with D: -mannose 4 to give 4-O-C1beta and lactose 7 to give 4-O-C1beta product. Immobilized beta-glucosidase did not show any selectivity. Antioxidant and angiotensin converting enzyme inhibition (ACE) activities of the glycosides were evaluated glycosides, out of which L: -3-hydroxy-4-O-(beta-D: -galactopyranosyl-(1'-->4)beta-D: -glucopyranosyl) phenylalanine 16 at 0.9 +/- 0.05 mM and DL: -3-hydroxy-4-O-(beta-D: -glucopyranosyl) phenylalanine 11b,c at 0.98 +/- 0.05 mM showed the best IC(50) values for antioxidant activity and DL: -3-hydroxy-4-O-(6-D: -sorbitol)phenylalanine 17 at 0.56 +/- 0.03 mM, L: -dopa-D: -glucoside 10a,b at 1.1 +/- 0.06 mM and DL: -3-hydroxy-4-O-(D: -glucopyranosyl)phenylalanine 11a-d at 1.2 +/- 0.06 mM exhibited the best IC(50) values for ACE inhibition.

Deuterium isotope effects on 13C chemical shifts of nitromalonamide

The OH chemical shift of the enol form of nitromalonamide is found at 18.9 ppm both in DMSO-d(6) and in DMF-d(7) indicating a very strong hydrogen bond. The OH chemical shift is insensitive to temperature changes. Contrary to the large OH chemical shift, a small two-bond deuterium isotope effect of 0.135 ppm due to deuteration at the OH position is found at the enolic carbon. This is confirmed by density functional theory calculations. The observed effects are interpreted as due to an equilibrium between identical enolic forms. These show a strong OH...O hydrogen bond as well as a NH...O-N=O hydrogen bond.

Influence of the metabolic profile on the in vivo antioxidant activity of quercetin under a low dosage oral regimen in rats

Flavonoids are known to possess a broad set of pharmacological effects, some of which have been attributed to their antioxidant properties and, more recently, to cell signalling modulation. Nevertheless, flavonoids are extensively metabolized and their metabolites are the potential bioactive forms in vivo. Therefore, a first and crucial step to understand the mechanisms underlying potential health benefits of flavonoids is knowledge of their metabolites and their biological activities. To approximate a human dietary pattern of intake of flavonoids, regular rat chow was supplemented with 0.02% quercetin and fed to Sprague-Dawley rats over 3 weeks. Plasma samples were analysed by HPLC and electrospray tandem mass spectrometry, and plasma antioxidant capacity was measured by the 2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline sulphonate) assay. Major metabolites were 3'-methylquercetin (isorhamnetin) glucuronide sulphate conjugates, the most plausible conjugation positions being at the 3-, 5- and 7-hydroxyl positions. Isorhamnetin conjugates are methylated at the 3'-OH position, which decreases the high antioxidant activity of quercetin and its metabolites and their contribution to plasma antioxidant potential. This metabolic pattern differs from that observed after a single high-dose administration, where the major metabolites were quercetin conjugates at 5- and 7-hydroxyl positions and a significantly increased plasma antioxidant activity was observed. These data show altogether that the different metabolic patterns obtained under a prolonged low-dosage regimen or after a single high dose, crucially affected the antioxidant potential of plasma in treated animals. Our data also allow for the establishment of structure-antioxidant activity relationships for quercetin metabolites.

Investigations on the fluorescence quenching of 2,3-diazabicyclo[2.2.2]oct-2-ene by certain flavonoids

The fluorescence quenching of 2,3-diazabicyclo[2.2.2]oct-2-ene (DBO) by seven flavonoids namely flavone, flavanone, quercetin, rutin, genistein, diadzein and chrysin has been investigated in acetonitrile and dichloromethane solvents. The bimolecular quenching rate constants lie in the range of 0.09–5.75 × 10 9 M −1 s −1 and are explained in terms of structure of the flavonoids studied. The reactivity of flavonoids are in the order: quercetin > rutin > genistein > diadzein > chrysin > flavone > flavanone. The quenching rate constants ( k q) increase with increase in the number of –OH groups. The endergonic thermodynamic values of Δ G et reveal that electron transfer quenching mechanism can be ruled out. Bond dissociation enthalpy calculations reveal that the position of –OH is important. Further in vitro-antioxidant activities of flavonoids were evaluated with rat liver catalase by gel electrophoresis. The deuterium isotope effect thus observed in this work provides evidence for hydrogen abstraction involved in the quenching process of singlet excited DBO by flavonoids. The data suggest the involvement of direct hydrogen atom transfer (radical scavenging) in the fluorescence quenching of DBO. Bond dissociation enthalpy calculation performed at B3LYP/6-31G(p′)//B3LYP/3-21G ∗ level are in excellent agreement with the above observations and further reveal that the number OH groups and position of them decide the quenching ability of the flavonoids.

Structural Behaviour of 2-Hydroxypropyl-β-Cyclodextrin in Water: Molecular Dynamics Simulation Studies

To investigate the effect of 2-hydroxypropyl side group substitutions on the structure of beta-cyclodextrin (CD) in water. Molecular dynamics simulations were carried out on four HPBCDs that broadly represent a range of degree of substitutions in order to investigate the effect of substitution of beta-cyclodextrin with 2-hydroxypropyl groups at various O2 and O6 positions of the glucose units. The 2-hydroxypropyl side groups located at the O2 positions widen the cavity entrance at the secondary OH position of the CD molecule. These groups are spatially more spread out but dynamically more restricted, due to the formation of a hydrogen bond network between the hydroxyl groups of the side chains and the glucose units. On the other hand, the 2-hydroxypropyl groups at the O6 positions are dynamically more flexible. The extent and the location of the substitution can affect the cavity structure of the CD molecule, and thus possibly the molecular encapsulation capabilities.