Antioxidant and Starch-Hydrolyzing Enzymes Inhibitory Properties of Striga-Resistant Yellow-Orange Maize Hybrids

Most of the health benefits derived from cereals are attributed to their bioactive compounds. This study evaluated the levels of the bioactive compounds, and the antioxidant and starch-hydrolyzing enzymes inhibitory properties of six pipeline Striga-resistant yellow-orange maize hybrids (coded AS1828-1, 4, 6, 8, 9, 11) in vitro. The maize hybrids were grown at the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Nigeria. The bioactive compounds (total phenolics, tannins, flavonoids, and phytate) levels, antioxidant (DPPH^• and ABTS^•+ scavenging capacity and reducing power) and starch-hydrolyzing enzymes (α-amylase and α-glucosidase) inhibitory activities of the maize hybrids were determined by spectrophotometry. At the same time, carotenoids were quantified using a reverse-phase HPLC system. The ranges of the bioactive compounds were: 11.25–14.14 mg GAE/g (total phenolics), 3.62–4.67 mg QE/g (total flavonoids), 3.63–6.29 mg/g (tannins), 3.66–4.31% (phytate), 8.92–12.11 µg/g (total xanthophylls), 2.42–2.89 µg/g (total β-carotene), and 3.17–3.77 µg/g (total provitamin A carotenoids). Extracts of the maize hybrids scavenged DPPH^• (SC₅₀: 9.07–26.35 mg/mL) and ABTS^•+ (2.65–7.68 TEAC mmol/g), reduced Fe³⁺ to Fe²⁺ (0.25 ± 0.64–0.43 ± 0.01 mg GAE/g), and inhibited α-amylase and α-glucosidase, with IC₅₀ ranges of 26.28–52.55 mg/mL and 47.72–63.98 mg/mL, respectively. Among the six clones of the maize hybrids, AS1828-9 had the highest (p < 0.05) levels of tannins and phytate and the strongest antioxidant and starch-hydrolyzing enzymes inhibitory activities. Significant correlations were observed between total phenolics and the following: ABTS^•+ (p < 0.01, r = 0.757), DPPH^• SC₅₀ (p < 0.01, r = −0.867), reducing power (p < 0.05, r = 0.633), α-amylase IC₅₀ (p < 0.01, r = −0.836) and α-glucosidase IC₅₀ (p < 0.05, r = −0.582). Hence, the Striga-resistant yellow-orange maize hybrids (especially AS1828-9) may be beneficial for alleviating oxidative stress and postprandial hyperglycemia.     

Nonclassical Features of Intra-Cavity and Transmitted Fields in a Coherently-Pumped Correlated-Emission Laser with Injected Thermal Light†

Journal of Russian Laser Research - We discuss effects of phase fluctuations and thermal light on the entanglement, squeezing, and intensity of the two-mode intra-cavity and transmitted fields...     

Synthesis and characterization of polylactide‐PAMAM “Janus‐type” linear‐dendritic hybrids

Herein, we present a facile and comprehensive synthetic methodology for the preparation of polyester‐polyamidoamine (PAMAM) (i.e., polyester: polylactide [PLA] (hydrophobic) and polyamidoamine, PAMAM [hydrophilic]) polymers. A library of PLA‐PAMAM linear dendritic block copolymers (LDBCs) in which both l and d , l polylactide were employed in mass ratios of 30:70, 50:50, 70:30, and 90:10 (PLA:PAMAM) were synthesized and analyzed. When placed in aqueous media, the immiscibility of the hydrophilic and hydrophobic segments leads to nanophase‐segregation exhibited as the formation of aggregates (e.g., vesicles, worms, and/or micelles). By employing both stereochemical configurations of PLA, the differentiation in mass ratios of PLA‐PAMAM aided in elucidating the structure–property relationships of the LDBC system and provided a means toward the control of nanoparticle morphology. Transmission electron microscopy and dynamic light scattering afford the size and shape of the nanoparticles with diameters ranging from 10.6 for low mass ratios to 122.4 nm for high mass ratios of PLA‐PAMAM and positive zeta‐potential values between +24.7 mV and +48.2 mV. Furthermore, small‐angle X‐ray scattering (SAXS) studies were employed to obtain more detailed information on the morphological assemblies constructed via direct dissolution. Such insights provide a pathway toward nanomaterials with unique morphologies and tunable properties deemed relevant in the development of next generation biomaterials. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2019, 57, 1448–1459     

Effect of Particle Mass Fraction on the Multiscale Dynamic Failure Behavior of Particulate Polymer Composites

Experimental Mechanics - In this study, the effect of particle mass fraction on the dynamic multiscale behavior of particulate polymer composite is investigated. High spatiotemporal resolution...     

Analytical approximations for the solution of chance constrained optimization problems

Uncertain influences are inherent in many practical processes, stemming for instance from measurement errors in process optimization or missing knowledge about the future behavior of a given system, e.g., the financial markets. Therefore, it is desirable to explicitly consider uncertainties when optimizing such processes. One possible approach for this task is the usage of chance constrained optimization (CCOPT), which allows that the constraints are only held with a certain probability level. This enables the user to make a compromised decision between reliability and profitability. Solving CCOPT problems usually consists of two steps. First, transforming the chance constraints into deterministic ones and then solving the transformed problem with a standard NLP solver. Depending on the underlying process, several approaches exist for the transformation. Here, we investigate the usage of so called analytical approximations (AAs). In general, AA approaches do not lead to an exact deterministic representation of CCOPT problems. Nonetheless, it can be shown that a solution obtained by AA is always feasible for the original problem. Furthermore, the corresponding optimization problem generated by AA is computationally more tractable than the original formulation, making these approaches interesting for larger scale processes. We propose a new AA method and present a comparison with existing AA approaches, considering efficiency and suitability. (© 2014 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Development and validation of an LC method for the determination of emtricitabine and related compounds in the drug substance

A robust, precise, sensitive, linear, and simple RP LC method coupled with UV for the determination of emtricitabine or 2′,3′‐dideoxy‐5‐fluoro‐3′‐thiacytidine (FTC) and its related substances is described. The method uses an RP C18 column (25 cm×4.6 mm i.d.), 5 μm kept at a temperature of 35°C. The mobile phases for gradient elution consist of ACN, phosphate buffer (pH 4.4), and water. The flow rate is 1.0 mL/min and UV detection is performed at 280 nm. A system suitability test (SST) was developed to verify the adequate performance of the chromatographic system. The developed method was further validated with respect to robustness, precision, sensitivity, and linearity. A central composite design was applied to examine the robustness of the method. The method shows good precision, sensitivity, linearity, and robustness. Three commercial FTC samples were examined using this method. This method is suitable to be used for the determination of related substances and assay of FTC.     

The Impact of Teaching on Hospital Costs: A Budgetary Approach to Non-market Institutions

NHS hospitals contribute to medical education, training nurses and research, as well as to the care of patients. In the past they have been funded largely on the basis of resources employed, with additional funding for medical education and training nurses. The intellectual basis for the funding of medical education is a single econometric study of English hospitals in the financial year 1969-70. The methodology used has since been criticized, and it has been suggested that actual expenditure has been very much less than that earmarked by the health departments. New estimates are obtained using Scottish data for the financial year 1985-86. The method used is to proceed in a two-stage fashion, identifying via regression techniques variables measuring hospital activity and resources which contribute significantly to hospital costs. We then assess the significance of medical education, nurse training and hospitals' teaching status against this background. Our conclusions include: (1) actual expenditure on medical education was probably less than the funding formula allowed, but the error of margin is too large to suggest overfunding; (2) training nurses incurs significant financial costs, even after the explicit allowances made; and (3), major teaching hospitals tended to cost more, but not significantly more than their non-teaching counterparts. These financial implications for NHS hospitals should be borne in mind given the current NHS review.     

封装Fe(Ⅲ),Ni(Ⅱ)和Cu(Ⅱ)的N,N'-双邻羟苯亚甲基-1,2-苯二胺络合物的Y分子筛催化4-氯-3-甲基苯酚氧化反应

将Fe(Ⅲ),Ni(Ⅲ)和Cu(Ⅱ)与N,N'-双邻羟苯亚甲基-1,2-苯二胺配位的络合物封装在Y分子筛内,作为多相类Fenton的高级氧化过程的催化剂,用于降解4-氯-3-甲基苯酚(PCMC).采用粉末X射线衍射、热重、N2吸附-脱附、红外光谱、元素分析和扫描电镜对所制催化剂的物化性质进行了表征,并考察了H2O2的初始浓度、催化剂用量、温度和pH值等因素对模型有机污染物降解的影响.结果表明,在Fe(Ⅲ),Ni(Ⅲ)和Cu(Ⅱ)催化剂作用下,在较低的酸性pH值、催化剂用量0.1 g、H2O2的初始浓度0.35 mmol/L的条件下,于50℃反应120 min几乎可以完全去除PCMC.同时还考察了所制PCMC降解催化剂的重复使用性能,提出了可能的催化剂失活机理,也研究了PCMC氧化过程中可能的中间产物和动力学.