Spatial Analysis and Lead-Risk Assessment of Philadelphia, USA.

Childhood lead poisoning is an issue that continues to plague major U.S. cities. Despite efforts by the Philadelphia Department of Public Health to curtail systemic childhood lead poisoning, children continue to be identified with elevated blood lead levels. The persistence of elevated blood lead levels in children is concerning because lead poisoning has been linked to decreases in academic achievement and IQ, with associated repercussions for entire communities. This paper reports the results of an analysis of the spatial distribution of houses with lead paint (i.e., pre-1978), demolitions, and occurrence of historic smelters, in West and North Philadelphia, relative to elevated blood lead level data, to determine which lead sources act as primary lead-risk factors. The presence of lead paint in homes and the number of demolitions of older properties were found to have the highest correlations to elevated blood lead levels for children in Philadelphia. Using lead-risk factors including lead paint, housing code violations, demolitions, and owner-occupied housing units, a lead-risk assessment was performed at the census tract level to identify future soil sampling sites and high-risk neighborhoods in Philadelphia. These sites of high risk for lead exposure, and in particular the census tracts 175 and 172, should be prioritized for lead poisoning prevention initiatives.

Atomtronic circuits of diodes and transistors.

We illustrate that open quantum systems composed of neutral, ultracold atoms in one-dimensional optical lattices can exhibit behavior analogous to semiconductor electronic circuits. A correspondence is demonstrated for bosonic atoms, and the experimental requirements to realize these devices are established. The analysis follows from a derivation of a quantum master equation for this general class of open quantum systems.

N-substituted 2-isocyanoarylacetamides with antimicrobial activity.

In this study, N-substituted 2-formylaminoarylacetamides (3) were obtained by the Ugi four-component reaction between isocyanides (1), aldehydes (2), and ammonium formate. The reaction products (3) were dehydrated with POCl3/NEt3 to give the title compounds (4). The structure of the compounds 3 and 4 was confirmed by spectral data and elemental analysis. Tests of antimicrobial activity showed that compounds 4 were ineffective against E. coli and fairly active against K. pneumoniae and S. aureus. A better activity was shown against B. subtilis, but all the tested compounds showed a very good inhibitory effect against C. albicans.

Synthesis of N-substituted isocyanocarboxamides with antimicrobial activity.

The Ugi four-component condensation between isocyanides 1, cycloketones 2, and ammonium formate affords N-substituted formylaminocarboxamides 3 which are dehydrated with POCl3/NEt3 to give the title compounds 4. The structure of the compounds 3 and 4 was confirmed by spectral data and elemental analyses. In vitro tests of antibacterial activity showed that compounds 4 are ineffective against E. coli and fairly active against K. pneumoniae, B. subtilis and S. aureus. A very good antimicotic activity was shown against C. albicans.

New imidazole-5-carbohydroxamic acids with biological activity.

A series of 1-benzyl-2-arylthio (or heteroarylthio)-5-imidazolecarbohydroxamic acids (Va-e) was prepared starting from the corresponding imidazole-5-carboxylic acids IIIa-e via acid chlorides IVa-e. Tests of biological activity showed that compounds Va-e are fairly active against Escherichia coli and Candida albicans.

Effect of a new pyrimidine analog on Bacillus subtilis growth.

2-Amino-5-ethoxycarbonylpyrimidine-4(3H)-one, a pyrimidine analog, inhibited growth of Bacillus subtilis. Data were obtained which suggested that the analog interfered with the methylation process. A mutant resistant to the inhibitor was isolated, and the mutation was mapped.

Imidazole derivatives with potential biological activity.

A series of 1-substituted imidazole-5-carbohydroxamic acids Ia, Ib and Ic were prepared from the corresponding 5-methoxycarbonyl imidazoles (IX) obtained by a univocal synthesis starting with the reaction of the amines (III) with ethylchloroacetate. On treatment of 4(5)-methoxycarbonyl imidazoles (XI) with alkylaryl halides (X), on the contrary, mixtures of 1-substituted-4(or 5)-methoxycarbonyl imidazoles were obtained that, when separated by thin-layer chromatography, gave the carbohydroxamic acids Ia, Ib, Id and Ie and IIa leads to f. The structure of the imidazole derivatives were obtained by means of IR, NMR and UV spectra. On carrying out tests of biological activity on these compounds, it had been found that the 5-carbohydroxamic acids possess, compared to the 4-carbohydroxamic ones, a greater activity. Particularly Ib and Ib--HCl seem fairly active against Klebsiella pneumoniae and Clostridium bifermentans, Ib--HCl against Bacillus subtilis, too.

Synthesis of sulphonamidoquinoline derivatives.

In a research for new antimicrobial agents effective in therapy a new series of sulphonamidoquinoline derivatives have been studied. Their molecules, have got the feature of both 1-alkyl-1,4-dihydro-4-oxopyridine-3-carboxylic acid and sulphonamides. The structure of such compounds has been confirmed by chemical and physico-chemical methods and their antimicrobial activity has been tested.