Glycodendrimers based on aromatic cores have an amphiphilic character and have been reported to generate supramolecuar assemblies in water. A new group of glycodendrimers with an aromatic rod-like core were recently described as potent antagonists of DC-SIGN-mediated viral infections. A full characterization of the aggregation properties of these materials is presented here. The results show th...

Context. Mid-infrared emission features originating from polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are observed towards photon dominated regions in space. Towards dense clouds, however, these emission features are quenched. Observations of dense clouds show that many simple volatile molecules are frozen out on interstellar grains, forming thin layers of ice. Recently, observations have shown that...

Here we describe a preliminary investigation on the ability of natural keratin to catalyze the nitroaldol (Henry) reaction between aldehydes and nitroalkanes. Both aromatic and heteroaromatic aldehydes bearing strong or moderate electron-withdrawing groups were converted into the corresponding β-nitroalcohol products in both DMSO and in water in the presence of tetrabutylammonium bromide (TBAB)...

An ethynylhelicene oligomer [(M)-D-4]-C12-TEG with six tri(ethylene glycol) (TEG) groups at the termini was synthesized, and double-helix formation was studied using CD, UV-Vis, vapor pressure osmometry, dynamic light scattering, and H NMR. [(M)-D-4]-C12-TEG reversibly changed its structure between a double helix and a random coil in response to heating and cooling in aromatic solvents, non-aro...

Increasing anthropogenic activities in the Arctic represent an enhanced threat for oil pollution in a marine environment that is already at risk from climate warming. In particular, this applies to species with free-living pelagic larvae that aggregate in surface waters and under the sea ice where hydrocarbons are likely to remain for extended periods of time due to low temperatures. We exposed...

Blue mussels (Mytilus edulis) were collected from coastal areas and voes in Shetland and Orkney during March and April 1998 and from various coastal locations around mainland Scotland and from the Islands during October and December 1999. The polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon concentration and composition (2- to 6-ring parent and branched) were determined for all samples. Additional analysis, inc...

Bulk (wet and dry) precipitation and surface water sampling was undertaken in the main plain of central Macedonia in Northern Greece. Fourteen polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) included in the US EPA's priority pollutant list were analysed. The concentrations determined in bulk precipitation were in general within the range of values worldwide reported. Concentrations were highest in the ...

Studies focused on the possible use of spider webs as environmental pollution indicators. This was a first time ever attempt to use webs as indicators of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) pollution. The aim of the study was (a) to evaluate whether webs are able to accumulate PM-associated road traffic emissions and be analyzed for organic toxics such as PAHs, (b) to assess if the distance...

A new method for the analysis of selected nitropolycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (NPAHs) at ultra-trace levels in water samples is proposed. Particulate NPAHs were collected on a GC glass fiber filter. Soluble NPAHs were collected on a C18 Empore disk. After simple clean-up and concentration of NPAHs in both phases, the NPAHs were analyzed using HPLC equipped with clean-up, reducer, concentratio...

The biodegradability of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons such as naphthalene, fluorene, anthracene and phenanthrene by a halotolerant bacterial consortium isolated from marine environment was investigated. The polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons degrading bacterial consortium was enriched from mixture saline water samples collected from Chennai (Port of Chennai, salt pan), India. The consortium po...