Synthesis of the two isomers of the potential sex pheromone of Thaumetopoea pityocampa (Lepidoptera, Notodontidae) and related model compounds

The synthesis of the major component of the sex pheromone secretion of the processionary moth, Tkawnztopoeja pltyocampa (Denis and Schiff.) (Lepidoptera, Notodontidae), (Z)-13-hexadecen-ll-ynyl acetate (1), the corresponding (E)-isomer (2) and the four structurally related model compounds (Z⁄E,Z,Z)-5,9,13-hexadecatrienyl acetate (3), (Z⁄E,Z,Z)-3,7,ll-hexadecatrienyl acetate (4), (Z⁄E,E,Z)-7,9,13-hexadecatrienyl acetate (5) and (Z)-7-hexadecen-5-ynyl acetate (6) is described.

[BMIM][PF6] Promotes the synthesis of halohydrin esters from diols using potassium halides

Haloesterification of diverse diols with various carboxylic acids was achieved using potassium halides (KX) as the only halide source in ionic liquids. The best yield was obtained in [BMIM][PF6] when 1,2-octanediol, palmitic acid and KBr were used. This yield was 85% and the regioisomer with the bromine in primary position was present in a 75:25 ratio. The regioisomeric ratio could be improved using either KCl or some phenylcarboxylic acids. [BMIM][PF6] acts as both reaction media and catalyst of the reaction. To the best of our knowledge, this type of combined reaction using an ionic liquid is unprecedented. The other solvents tested did not lead either to the same yield or to the same regioisomeric ratio.

Correlations of glycogen synthase and phosphorylase activities with glycogen concentration in human muscle biopsies. Evidence for a double-feedback mechanism regulating glycogen synthesis and breakdown.

The purpose of this study was to verify in man the relationships of muscle glycogen synthase and phosphorylase activities with glycogen concentration that were reported in animal studies. The upper level of glycogen concentration in muscle is known to be tightly controlled, and glycogen concentration was reported to have an inhibitory effect on synthase activity and a stimulatory effect on phosphorylase activity. Glycogen synthase and phosphorylase activity and glycogen concentration were measured in muscle biopsies in a group of nine normal subjects after stimulating an increase of their muscle glycogen concentration through either an intravenous glucose-insulin infusion to stimulate glycogen synthesis, or an Intralipid (Vitrum, Stockholm, Sweden) infusion in the basal state to inhibit glycogen mobilization by favoring lipid oxidation at the expense of glucose oxidation. Phosphorylase activity increased from 71.3 +/- 21.0 to 152.8 +/- 20.0 nmol/min/mg protein (P < .005) after the glucose-insulin infusion. Phosphorylase activity was positively correlated with glycogen concentration (P = .005 and P = .0001) after the glucose-insulin and Intralipid infusions, respectively. Insulin-stimulated glycogen synthase activity was significantly negatively correlated with glycogen concentration at the end of the Intralipid infusion (P < .005). In conclusion, by demonstrating a negative correlation of glycogen concentration with glycogen synthase and a positive correlation with phosphorylase, this study might confirm in man the double-feedback mechanism by which changes in glycogen concentration regulate glycogen synthase and phosphorylase activities. It suggests that this mechanism might play an important role in the regulation of glucose storage.

Optimized synthesis of O-carboxymethyl-N,N,N-trimethyl chitosan.

We present here the synthesis of a highly O-carboxymethylated chitosan derivative. First, an improved protocol for the two-step synthesis of N-trimethyl chitosan (TMC) from chitosan was developed, yielding a maximum degree of quaternization (DQ) of up to 46.6%. Successively, the chitosan derivative O-carboxymethyl-N-trimethyl chitosan (CMTMC) was synthesized from the TMC obtained by applying an optimized synthesis pathway. In contrast to previous reports, the optimized protocol was shown to yield very high rates (>85%) of O-carboxymethylation of CMTMC, as shown by (1)H NMR and heteronuclear single quantum correlation ((1)H-(13)C HSQC). Finally, in vitro cytocompatibility (viability >80%) of the polymer was demonstrated using human fibroblasts.

A diet enriched with cocoa prevents IgE synthesis in a rat allergy model

Previous studies in young rats reported the impact of cocoa intake on healthy immune status and allow suggesting it may have a role in the prevention of some immune-mediated diseases. The aim of this study was to ascertain the effect of a cocoa diet in a model of allergy in young rats. Three-week-old Brown Norway rats were immunized by i.p. injection of ovalbumin (OVA) with alum as adjuvant and Bordetella pertussis toxin. During the next 4 weeks rats received either a cocoa diet (containing 0.2% polyphenols, w/w) or a standard diet. Animals fed a standard diet showed high concentrations of anti-OVA IgG1, IgG2a, IgG2b and high anti-OVA IgE titres, which is the antibody involved in allergic response. In contrast, animals fed a cocoa diet showed significantly lower concentrations of anti-OVA IgG1 and IgG2a antibodies. Interestingly, the cocoa diet prevented anti-OVA IgE synthesis and decreased total serum IgE concentration. Analysis of cytokine production in lymph node cells at the end of the study revealed that, in this compartment, the cocoa diet decreased the tumor necrosis factor (TNF) - alpha and the interleukin (IL) -10 secretion but not IL-4 production. In conclusion, a cocoa-enriched diet in young rats produces an immunomodulatory effect that prevents anti-allergen IgE synthesis, suggesting a potential role for cocoa flavonoids in the prevention or treatment of allergic diseases.

Paper Surface Image Processing for Roughness Quality Measurement

Diplomityössä on käsitelty paperin pinnankarkeuden mittausta, joka on keskeisimpiä ongelmia paperimateriaalien tutkimuksessa. Paperiteollisuudessa käytettävät mittausmenetelmät sisältävät monia haittapuolia kuten esimerkiksi epätarkkuus ja yhteensopimattomuus sileiden papereiden mittauksissa, sekä suuret vaatimukset laboratorio-olosuhteille ja menetelmien hitaus. Työssä on tutkittu optiseen sirontaan perustuvia menetelmiä pinnankarkeuden määrittämisessä. Konenäköä ja kuvan-käsittelytekniikoita tutkittiin karkeilla paperipinnoilla. Tutkimuksessa käytetyt algoritmit on tehty Matlab® ohjelmalle. Saadut tulokset osoittavat mahdollisuuden pinnankarkeuden mittaamiseen kuvauksen avulla. Parhaimman tuloksen perinteisen ja kuvausmenetelmän välillä antoi fraktaaliulottuvuuteen perustuva menetelmä.

Level Set Methods in Image Processing

This thesis gives an overview of the use of the level set methods in the field of image science. The similar fast marching method is discussed for comparison, also the narrow band and the particle level set methods are introduced. The level set method is a numerical scheme for representing, deforming and recovering structures in an arbitrary dimensions. It approximates and tracks the moving interfaces, dynamic curves and surfaces. The level set method does not define how and why some boundary is advancing the way it is but simply represents and tracks the boundary. The principal idea of the level set method is to represent the N dimensional boundary in the N+l dimensions. This gives the generality to represent even the complex boundaries. The level set methods can be powerful tools to represent dynamic boundaries, but they can require lot of computing power. Specially the basic level set method have considerable computational burden. This burden can be alleviated with more sophisticated versions of the level set algorithm like the narrow band level set method or with the programmable hardware implementation. Also the parallel approach can be used in suitable applications. It is concluded that these methods can be used in a quite broad range of image applications, like computer vision and graphics, scientific visualization and also to solve problems in computational physics. Level set methods and methods derived and inspired by it will be in the front line of image processing also in the future.