Coumarin-poly(2-oxazoline)s as synergetic and protein-undetected nanovectors for photodynamic therapy.

Because of the difficult challenges of nanopharmaceutics, the development of a variety of nanovectors is still highly desired. Photodynamic therapy, which uses a photosensitizer to locally produce reactive oxygen species to kill the undesired cells, is a typical example for which encapsulation has been shown to be beneficial. The present work describes the use of coumarin-functionalized polymeric nanovectors based on the self-assembly of amphiphilic poly(2-oxazoline)s.

Triterpenoid saponins and others glycosides from the stem barks of Pancovia turbinata Radlk.

In our continuing search of saponins from the plant of Sapindaceae family, phytochemical investigation of the stem barks of Pancovia turbinata Radlk., led to the isolation and structural characterization of two new triterpenoid saponins, named turbinatosides A-B (1-2), one new farnesyl glycoside, named turbinoside A (3), one new coumarin glucoside, named panturboside A (4), together with a known saponin (5). The structures of the new compounds were established, using extensive analysis of NMR techniques, mainly 1D NMR (H, C, and DEPT) and 2D NMR (COSY, NOESY, HSQC, HSQC-TOCSY and HMBC) experiments, HRESIMS and by comparison with the literature data, as 3-O-β-d-xylopyranosyl-(1 → 3)-α-l-arabinopyranosyl-(1 → 4)-β-d-glucopyranosyl-(1 → 3)-α-l-rhamnopyranosyl-(1 → 2)-α-l-arabinopyranosylhederagenin 28-O-β-d-glucopyranosyl ester (1), 3-O-α-l-arabinopyranosyl-(1 → 4)-β-d-glucopyranosyl-(1 → 3)-α-l-rhamnopyranosyl-(1 → 2)-α-l-arabinopyranosylhederagenin 28-O-β-d-xylopyranosyl-(1 → 4)-β-d-glucopyranosyl ester (2), 1-O-{β-d-glucopyranosyl-(1 → 3)-α-l-rhamnopyranosyl-(1 → 2)-[α-l-rhamnopyranosyl-(1 → 6)]-β-d-glucopyranosyl}-(2E,6E)-farnes-1,12-diol (3), and 5-O-β-d-glucopyranosyl-5,6,7-trihydroxy-8-methoxycoumarin (4), respectively.

Farnesyl glycosides and one new triterpenoid saponin from the roots of Lecaniodiscus cupanioides Planch. ex Benth.

Chemical investigation of the methanol extract of the roots of Lecaniodiscus cupanioides led to the isolation and characterisation of three new sesquiterpene glycosides, named cupanioidesosides A (1), B (2) and C (3), together with one new triterpenoid saponin named lecanioside A (4), Their structures were established by extensive analysis of spectroscopic methods including 1D and 2D NMR techniques (COSY, NOESY, TOCSY, HSQC, and HMBC) and HRESIMS. The four new compounds were evaluated for their antiproliferative activity against the Caco-2 cell line (human epithelial cell line). None of the isolated compounds showed positive activity in our assay.

Triterpenoid saponins from Calliandra calothyrsus Meisn. and their antiproliferative activity against two digestive carcinoma human cell lines.

The chemical investigation of the flowers and twigs of Calliandra calothyrsus (Fabaceae) led to the isolation of three new oleanane-type triterpenoid saponins, named calothyrsusosides AC (13). Their structures were established by direct interpretation of their spectral data, mainly HRESIMS, 1D NMR and 2D NMR (H, H NMR DOSY, C NMR, COSY, HSQC, HMBC, HSQC-TOCSY and NOESY) and by comparison with literature data. Compounds 1 and 2 were tested for their antiproliferative activity against two digestive carcinoma human cell lines: Hep3B (hepatocellular carcinoma) and Caco-2 (epithelial colorectal adenocarcinoma).

Severe and fatal forms of COVID-19 in children.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to describe severe forms of novel coronavirus disease 2019 in children, including patient characteristics, clinical, laboratory, and imaging findings, as well as the disease management and outcomes.

Methods: This was a retrospective, single-center, observational study conducted in a pediatric intensive and high-dependency care unit (PICU, HDU) in an urban hospital in Paris. All patients, aged from 1 month to 18 years, admitted for confirmed or highly suspected SARS-CoV-2 were included.

Nor-cucurbitacins from the leaves of Mareya micrantha (Benth.) Müll. Arg. (Euphorbiaceae).

Mareya micrantha, an Ivoirian medicinal plant, was investigated for its chemical constituents and antioxidant properties. This study carried out on the hydroethanolic extract of the leaves led to three new nor-cucurbitacins named: 29-nor-1,2,3,4,5,10-dehydro-3,15α,20β-trihydroxy-16α-acetyl-11,22-dioxo-cucurbita-23-ene 2-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (1), 29-nor-2β,20β,25-trihydroxy-16α-acetyl-3,11,22-trioxo-cucurbita-4,23-diene (2) and 29-nor-2β,15α,20β-trihydroxy-16α-acetyl-3,11,22-trioxo-cucurbita-4,23-diene 2-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (3). The structures were established on the basis of spectral data (NMR, UV, MS and IR).

Modeling and model performance evaluation of sewage sludge gasification in fluidized-bed gasifiers using Aspen Plus.

A model was developed to simulate the sewage sludge gasification in an atmospheric fluidised bed gasifier using Aspen Plus. The model here presented was based on the Gibbs free energy minimisation and the restricted equilibrium method was used to calibrate it against previously published experimental data obtained in a lab-scale gasification plant. A sensitivity analysis of the model was carried out by modifying parameters such as the temperature, equivalence ratio (ER) and the steam-to-biomass ratio.

An integrated assessment of two decades of air pollution policy making in Spain: Impacts, costs and improvements.

This paper analyses the effects of policy making for air pollution abatement in Spain between 2000 and 2020 under an integrated assessment approach with the AERIS model for number of pollutants (NOx/NO2, PM10/PM2.5, O3, SO2, NH3 and VOC). The analysis of the effects of air pollution focused on different aspects: compliance with the European limit values of Directive 2008/50/EC for NO2 and PM10 for the Spanish air quality management areas; the evaluation of impacts caused by the deposition of atmospheric sulphur and nitrogen on ecosystems; the exceedance of critical levels of NO2 and SO2 in forest areas; the analysis of O3-induced crop damage for grapes, maize, potato, rice, tobacco, tomato, watermelon and wheat; health impacts caused by human exposure to O3 and PM2.

Enantio-differentiation of O-heterocycles using a binol-derived disulfonimide as a chiral solvating agent.

The disulfonimide (R)-1 enables enantio-differentiation of a large scope of chiral O-heterocycles, thanks to the formation of diastereomeric adducts. The underlying H-bond has been investigated by NMR. (R)-1 has been used as a chiral solvating agent (CSA) to determine the stereochemical purity of D/L lactide by (1)H NMR.

Emission inventories and modeling requirements for the development of air quality plans. Application to Madrid (Spain).

Modeling is an essential tool for the development of atmospheric emission abatement measures and air quality plans. Most often these plans are related to urban environments with high emission density and population exposure. However, air quality modeling in urban areas is a rather challenging task.

A ferrous oxalate mediated photo-Fenton system: toward an increased biodegradability of indigo dyed wastewaters.

This study assessed the applicability of a ferrous oxalate mediated photo-Fenton pretreatment for indigo-dyed wastewaters as to produce a biodegradable enough effluent, likely of being derived to conventional biological processes. The photochemical treatment was performed with ferrous oxalate and hydrogen peroxide in a Compound Parabolic Concentrator (CPC) under batch operation conditions. The reaction was studied at natural pH conditions (5-6) with indigo concentrations in the range of 6.

Characterization and detoxification of a mature landfill leachate using a combined coagulation-flocculation/photo Fenton treatment.

The aim of the present work was to characterize and treat a mature landfill leachate using a coagulation/flocculation process followed by a photo-Fenton oxidation treatment. The leachate was obtained from a landfill in Tetlama, Morelos (Mexico) during the drought season and was characterized in terms of its major pollutants. Considerable levels of chemical oxygen demand (COD), total carbon (TC) and NH4+ were identified, as well as high concentrations of Hg, Pb, and As.

Micelle-vesicle transition of fatty acid based ion-pair surfactants: interfacial evidence and influence of the ammonium counterion structure.

We describe the synthesis and the physicochemical study of new ion-pair amphiphiles from a mixture of bicyclic, cyclic, linear or branched amines and fatty acids of three chain lengths. Surface-tension measurements of bicyclic, cyclic and branched structures of ammonium/alkanoate acid ion pairs show a phase transition, with two plateaux in the plot of surface tension versus log(c) (c=concentration). Such behaviour is related to the structure of the counterion, the alkyl chain length and the temperature.