Light-evoked deformations in rod photoreceptors, pigment epithelium and subretinal space revealed by prolonged and multilayered optoretinography.

Phototransduction involves changes in concentration of ions and other solutes within photoreceptors and in subretinal space, which affect osmotic pressure and the associated water flow. Corresponding expansion and contraction of cellular layers can be imaged using optoretinography (ORG), based on phase-resolved optical coherence tomography (OCT). Until now, ORG could reliably detect only photoisomerization and phototransduction in photoreceptors, primarily in cones under bright stimuli.

Isthmocele and Infertility.

Isthmocele is a gynecological condition characterized by a disruption in the uterine scar, often associated with prior cesarean sections. This anatomical anomaly can be attributed to inadequate or insufficient healing of the uterine wall following a cesarean incision. It appears that isthmocele may impact a woman's quality of life as well as her reproductive capacity.

A resistive sensor for humidity detection based on cellulose/polyaniline.

Ambient humidity is an important parameter that affects the manufacturing and storage of several industrial and agricultural goods. In the view of the Internet of Things (IoT), single sensors could be associated with an object for smart monitoring enabling optimum conditions to be maintained. Nevertheless, the production of cost-effective humidity sensors for indoor and outdoor environmental monitoring currently represents the main bottleneck in the development of this technology.

A Cu(II)-MOF Based on a Propargyl Carbamate-Functionalized Isophthalate Ligand as Nitrite Electrochemical Sensor.

This paper investigates the electrochemical properties of a new Cu(II)-based metal-organic framework (MOF). Noted as Cu-YBDC, it is built upon a linker containing the propargyl carbamate functionality and immobilized on a glassy carbon electrode by drop-casting (GC/Cu-YBDC). Afterward, GC/Cu-YBDC was treated with HAuCl and the direct electro-deposition of Au nanoparticles was carried at 0.

Nanocellulose from Cotton Waste and Its Glycidyl Methacrylate Grafting and Allylation: Synthesis, Characterization and Adsorption Properties.

Nanocellulose (NC) is getting ahead as a renewable, biodegradable and biocompatible biomaterial. The NCs for this study were recovered from industrial cotton waste (CFT) by acid hydrolysis (HNC) and by 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine-1-oxyl (TEMPO) mediated oxidation (ONC). They were functionalized by radical based glycidyl methacrylate (GMA) grafting providing crystalline HNC-GMA and ONC-GMA, and by allylation (ALL) providing amorphous HNC-ALL and ONC-ALL.

A simple and industrially scalable method for making a PANI-modified cellulose touch sensor.

In this work we present a simple, inexpensive, and easily scalable industrial paper process to prepare sheets of conductive cellulose fibers coated with polyanilines. First, bare fibers were coated by in situ oxidative polymerization of polyaniline then, the resulting composite fibers were used to fabricate electroactive sheets. The resistivity of the sheets is 14 ± 1 Ω sq, a value around 1000 times lower than those reported in literature.

Does the Site of Origin of the Microcarcinoma with Respect to the Thyroid Surface Matter? A Multicenter Pathologic and Clinical Study for Risk Stratification.

It is unclear whether the site of origin of papillary thyroid microcarcinoma (mPTC) with respect to the thyroid surface has an influence on clinicopathologic parameters. The objectives of the study were to: (i) Accurately measure the mPTC distance from the thyroid surface; (ii) analyze whether this distance correlates with relevant clinicopathologic parameters; and (iii) investigate the impact of the site of origin of the mPTC on risk stratification. Clinicopathologic features and mutational status were analyzed and correlated with the site of origin of the mPTC in a multicenter cohort of 298 mPTCs from six Italian medical institutions.

Could EMA and cytokeratin 7 be useful in distinguishing tricholemmal carcinoma from clear-cell squamous cell carcinoma? A case series from our department and a brief review of the literature.

Tricholemmal carcinoma is a malignant cutaneous adnexal tumor showing outer root sheath differentiation, thought to be the malignant counterpart of trichilemmoma. Although the real existence of tricholemmal carcinoma continues to be a matter of debate, it has been introduced in the recently published 4th edition of World Health Organization classification of skin tumors. Herein, we evaluated whether immunohistochemistry (EMA, CK7, CK5/14, p63, p16, and Ber-EP4) supports tricholemmal carcinoma as a separate entity and whether it could be useful in this differential diagnosis.

Speciation of Gold Nanoparticles by Ex Situ Extended X-ray Absorption Fine Structure and X-ray Absorption Near Edge Structure.

A combined X-ray absorption near edge structure (XANES) and extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) methodology is here presented on a series of partially and fully reduced Au(III) samples. This allows monitoring the relative fraction of Au(III) and Au(0) in the studied samples, displaying a consistent and independent outcome. The strategy followed is based, for the first time, on two structural models that can be fitted simultaneously, and it evaluates the correlation among strongly correlated parameters such as coordination number and the Debye-Waller factor.

Thiol-yne coupling: revisiting old concepts as a breakthrough for up-to-date applications.

Radical thiol-yne coupling (TYC) has emerged as one of the most appealing click chemistry procedures, appearing as a sound candidate for replacing/complementing other popular click reactions such as the thiol-ene coupling (TEC) and the Cu-catalysed azide-alkyne cycloaddition (CuAAC). Radical TYC is indeed a metal-free reaction suitable for biomedical applications, and its mechanistic features often make it more efficient than its TEC sister reaction and more suitable for multifaceted derivatisations in the materials chemistry and bioconjugation realms. This article reviews the fascinating results obtained in those fields in very recent years.

Gas-phase generation and cyclisation reactions of imidoyl radicals.

Some 1,2-diarylimidoyl radicals were generated in the gas-phase by intramolecular radical translocation from ortho-imino-aryloxyl radicals, in turn generated under flash vacuum pyrolysis (FVP) conditions. The imidoyls reacted with XR ortho'-substituents in the N-aryl group to give (in most cases) modest yields of cyclisation products. Depending on the nature of the bridging atom (X), the formation of these products was initiated either by a further hydrogen atom translocation (X = CH(2)), or by ipso-attack onto the aryl group (R = Ph), or by direct substitution at the heteroatom (X = S).

Effective analysis of rotundone at below-threshold levels in red and white wines using solid-phase microextraction gas chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry.

Rotundone is an oxygenated sesquiterpene belonging to the family of guaianes, giving the 'peppery' aroma to white and black pepper and to red wines. Here we describe a novel, convenient protocol for the synthesis of rotundone, starting from a commercially available compound and requiring only two reaction steps, and an improved, faster method of GC separation (30 min) with selective quantisation of rotundone using tandem mass spectrometry in multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) mode with d(5)-rotundone as internal standard. With limits of detection (LODs) of 1.

An insight into the radical thiol/yne coupling: the emergence of arylalkyne-tagged sugars for the direct photoinduced glycosylation of cysteine-containing peptides.

An explorative study of the Thiol-Yne Coupling (TYC) reaction has been carried out using an aliphatic (1-octyne) and an aromatic alkyne (phenylacetylene) and two alkanethiols (methyl thioglycolate and N-acetyl-L-cysteine methyl ester). The outcomes of the TYC reactions strongly depend on the experimental conditions (e.g.

EPR and pulsed ENDOR study of intermediates from reactions of aromatic azides with group 13 metal trichlorides.

The reactions of group 13 metal trichlorides with aromatic azides were examined by CW EPR and pulsed ENDOR spectroscopies. Complex EPR spectra were obtained from reactions of aluminium, gallium and indium trichlorides with phenyl azides containing a variety of substituents. Analysis of the spectra showed that 4-methoxy-, 3-methoxy- and 2-methoxyphenyl azides all gave 'dimer' radical cations [ArNHC₆H₄NH₂](+•) and trimers [ArNHC₆H₄NHC₆H₄NH₂](+•) followed by polymers.

EPR and ENDOR spectroscopic study of the reactions of aromatic azides with gallium trichloride.

The reactions of gallium trichloride with phenyl and deuterio-phenyl azides, as well as with 4-methoxyphenyl azide and deuterium isotopomers, were examined by product analysis, CW EPR spectroscopy and pulsed ENDOR spectroscopy. The products included the corresponding anilines together with 4-aminodiphenylamine type dimers, and polyanilines. Complex CW EPR spectra of the radical cations of the dimers [ArNHC(6)H(4)NH(2)](+)˙ and trimers [ArNHC(6)H(4)NHC(6)H(4)NH(2)](+)˙ were obtained.

Radical allylations by reaction of azides with allylindium dichloride.

Allylindium dichloride is an effective reagent for carrying out photolytically initiated radical allylation reactions, as also proved by EPR experiments. In the presence of suitable azides that can give rise to electrophilic radicals, a homolytic chain reaction occurs with formation of allylated compounds. With delta-azido esters and chlorides generation of primary indiumaminyl radicals is followed by a very efficient 1,5-H shift process that gives rise to electrophilic carbon-centred radicals, whose subsequent allylation by the starting indium reagent, followed by aqueous workup, eventually affords allylated nitrogen heterocycles in good yields.

From azides to nitrogen-centered radicals: applications of azide radical chemistry to organic synthesis.

Over the last thirty years organic azides have drawn a great deal of attention as radical traps for carbon- and heteroatom-centered radicals, both in intra- and in intermolecular processes. The resulting intermediates (nitrogen-centered radicals such as triazenyls, aminyls, or even iminyls) can be conveniently employed in the synthesis of a variety of cyclic and acyclic nitrogen-containing compounds.

Iminyl radicals from alpha-azido o-iodoanilides via 1,5-H transfer reactions of aryl radicals: new transformation of alpha-azido acids to decarboxylated nitriles.

The radical reaction of tributyltin hydride with o-iodo- N-methylanilides derived from alpha-azido acids provides an excellent access to alpha-(aminocarbonyl)iminyl radicals through 1,5-hydrogen transfer reaction of initially formed aryl radicals followed by beta-elimination of dinitrogen from ensuing alpha-azido-alpha-(aminocarbonyl)alkyl radicals. The outcoming iminyls display a peculiar tendency to form corresponding nitriles by beta-elimination of aminocarbonyl radicals.

Tin-free generation of alkyl radicals from alkyl 4-pentynyl sulfides via homolytic substitution at the sulfur atom.

Homolytic substitution at the sulfur atom of beta-(phenylsulfanyl)vinyl radicals, obtained by radical reaction of benzenethiol with easily accessible alkyl 4-pentynyl sulfides, is a mild, effective, tin-free route for the generation of all types of alkyl radicals. This protocol can be employed in reductive defunctionalizations as well as cyclizations onto both electron-rich and electron-poor C-C double bonds.

Osteonecrosis of the jaw in prostate cancer patients with bone metastases treated with zoledronate: a retrospective analysis.

Osteonecrosis of the jaw (ONJ) has recently been reported as a potentially serious complication of prolonged treatment with intravenous bisphosphonates. We studied its frequency in prostate cancer patients receiving intravenous zoledronate. The medical and dental records of 52 consecutive patients with prostate cancer and bone metastases treated at our institute between January 2002 and October 2005 were reviewed.

Radical reduction of aromatic azides to amines with triethylsilane.

Aromatic azides are inert toward triethylsilane under thermal conditions in the presence of a radical initiator, but in the presence of additional catalytic amounts of tert-dodecanethiol, they afford anilinosilanes and thence the corresponding anilines in virtually quantitative yields.

Reaction of azides with dichloroindium hydride: very mild production of amines and pyrrolidin-2-imines through possible indium-aminyl radicals.

Organic azides are easily reduced to the corresponding amines by reaction with dichloroindium hydride under very mild conditions and in a highly chemoselective fashion. Gamma-azidonitriles give rise to outstanding five-membered cyclizations affording pyrrolidin-2-imines. A rationalization of the overall experimental data cannot exclude the occurrence of competitive radical and nonradical pathways, but certain results are, however, soundly consistent with the intermediacy of indium-bound nitrogen-centered radicals.

Generation and cyclization of unsaturated carbamoyl radicals derived from S-4-pentynyl carbamothioates under tin-free conditions.

The radical reaction of benzenethiol with S-4-pentynyl carbamothioates provides a valuable protocol for the tin-free generation of carbamoyl radicals, which arise from intramolecular substitution at sulfur by the initial sulfanylvinyl radicals. This procedure can be usefully employed to achieve N-benzylcarbamoyl radical 5-exo and 4-exo cyclizations leading, respectively, to pyrrolidinones and azetidinones, although, for the latter, it seems of lesser utility. Novel evidence is presented that N-tosyl-substituted carbamoyl radicals display a peculiar tendency to yield the corresponding isocyanate by beta-elimination of the tosyl radical.