Gauche and staggered forms of diethylamine in solvates of 1,5-dichloro-cis-9,10-diethynyl-9,10-dihydroanthracene-9,10-diol. A case of conformational pseudopolymorphism?

Diethylamine has been trapped in its less stable gauche conformation in a solvate of the title diol; the staggered conformation, which is ca. 4 kJ mol(-1) more stable, is found in another solvate of the same host.     

Role of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase and caspases in UV-B-induced apoptosis of murine peritoneal macrophages

The mechanisms of ultraviolet-B (UV-B)-induced apoptosis and the role of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) were investigated in murine peritoneal macrophages. Exposure of murine peritoneal macrophages to UV-B irradiation induced rapid apoptosis concurrent with DNA fragmentation and activation of caspase-3 but did not activate caspase-1. UV-B irradiation (100 mJ/cm2) also induced expression of phospho-p38 and -c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) MAPK; however, no significant expression of phospho-p42/44 was observed 120 min after exposure. Pretreatment of macrophages with a p38 MAPK inhibitor, 4-(4-fluorophenyl)-2-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-5-(4-pyridyl)-1H-imidazole (SB202190), and a caspase-3 inhibitor, N-acetyl-Asp-Glu-Val-Asp-CHO, suppressed UV-B irradiation-induced apoptosis as observed by DNA laddering and DNA fragmentation estimation quantitatively. Pretreatment with caspase-1 inhibitor, N-acetyl-Tyr-Val-Ala-Asp-CHO, had no effect. UV-B-induced caspase-3 activation resulted in the cleavage of poly-(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP), which was inhibited by the caspase-3 inhibitor. SB202190 pretreatment also prevented activation of caspase-3 and the cleavage of PARP. However, the caspase-3 and -1 inhibitors did not affect UV-B-induced expression of phospho-p38 and -JNK. These results suggest that activation of p38 MAPK upstream of caspases might play an important role in the apoptotic process of macrophages exposed to UV-B irradiation.     

Synthesis,characterization and structural assessment of nitrato,chloro, bromo,perchlorato, thiocyanato and sulphato mono-(benzoin thiosemicarbazonato) copper(II) complexes

Summary Some copper(II) complexes of the type Cu(HL)X·nH₂O (where H₂L = benzoin thiosemicarbazone; X=NO₃; Cl, Br, SCN, ClO₄ or 1/2SO₄; n=O–2) have been prepared and characterized. All complexes have tetragonally distorted octahedral stereochemistry except the sulphatocomplex which is square pyramidal. The i.r. spectra reveal that HL acts as a monobasic tridentate ligand coordinating through the azine group nitrogen atom, thiocarbonyl sulphur atom and hydroxylic oxygen atom while NO₃, Cl, Br and ClO₄ act as terminal monodentate ligands and SCN and SO₄ act as bidentate bridging ligands. The polycrystalline e.s.r. spectra suggest tetragonal symmetry for the copper(II) ion, involving a dx ²–y² ground state.     

Experimental detection of qubit-ququart pseudo-bound entanglement using three nuclear spins

In this work, we experimentally created and characterized a class of qubit-ququart PPT (positive under partial transpose) entangled states using three nuclear spins on an nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) quantum information processor. Entanglement detection and characterization for systems with a Hilbert space dimension $\ge 2?3$ is nontrivial since there are states in such systems which are both PPT as well as entangled. The experimental detection scheme that we devised for the detection of qubit-ququart PPT entanglement was based on the measurement of three Pauli operators with high precision, and is a key ingredient of the protocol in detecting entanglement. The family of PPT-entangled states considered in the current study are incoherent mixtures of five pure states. All the five states were prepared with high fidelities and the resulting PPT entangled states were prepared with mean fidelity ≥ 0.95. The entanglement thus detected was validated by carrying out full quantum state tomography (QST).     

Unambiguous evidence for wurtzite phase in capped CdS quantum dots

The problem of identification of the correct crystalline structure of CdS nanoclusters below 2.5 nm in size is outlined. Structure of thiophenol capped CdS nanoclusters in the size range 1.2–4.3 nm, synthesized using cadmium acetate solution in methanol, is discussed using powder XRD and electron diffraction data. Unambiguous confirmation of the wurtzite phase in CdS nanoclusters below 2.5 nm size is reported. The observation of 102 wurtzite peak in the XRD patterns of such nanoclusters indicates low stacking fault concentration.     

Studying Microstructure in Molecular Crystals With Nanoindentation: Intergrowth Polymorphism in Felodipine

Intergrowth polymorphism refers to the existence of distinct structural domains within a single crystal of a compound. The phenomenon is exhibited by form II of the active pharmaceutical ingredient felodipine, and the associated microstructure is a significant feature of the compound’s structural identity. Employing the technique of nanoindentation on form II reveals a bimodal mechanical response on specific single‐crystal faces, demonstrating distinct properties for two polymorphic forms within the same crystal.     

Quality profile of litchi (Litchi chinensis) cultivars from India and effect of radiation processing

Litchi (Litchi chinensis) is a non-climacteric tropical fruit. The fruit has a short shelf-life making its marketing difficult. Physical, biochemical, microbiological, and organoleptic properties of two major commercially grown Indian cultivars of litchi, ‘Shahi’ and ‘China’ were studied. The effect of gamma radiation processing and low temperature storage on the above parameters was evaluated to standardize the optimal process parameters for shelf-life extension of litchi. Physical and biochemical parameters analyzed included weight, moisture, pH, titratable acidity, texture, color, total and reducing sugar, total soluble solids, vitamin C, and flavonoid content. Weight, moisture content, and pH in the fresh fruit ranged between 21–26 g, 74–77%, and 3.7–4.4, respectively, whereas, total and reducing sugar ranged 10–15, and 10–13 g%, respectively. In ‘Shahi’ vitamin C content was found to be around 17–19 mg%, whereas, in ‘China’ it was 22–28 mg%. Flavonoid content was in the range of 26–34 μg catechin equivalents/g of fresh fruit. Total surface and internal bacterial load was around 4 and 3 log cfu/g, respectively. Surface yeast-mold count (YMC) was ～3 log cfu/g whereas internal YMC was ～2 log cfu/g. Radiation treatment reduced microbial load in a dose dependent manner. Treatment at 0.5 kGy did not significantly affect the quality parameters of the fruit. Treated fruits retained the “good” organoleptic rating during storage. Thus, radiation treatment (0.5 kGy) in combination with low temperature (4 °C) storage achieved a shelf-life of 28 days for litchi fruit.     

Evaluation of nanoherbal gel for anti-warts activity

In the present experimental investigation a novel nanoherbal gel containing iron nanoparticles and extract from Cuscuta reflexa was used as a drug. Synthesized nanoherbal increased the drug solubility and penetration in the skin and is useful as a novel delivery system for better anti-warts activity. The experimental work includes preformulation studies of drug (Cuscuta reflexa) which include organoleptic properties, identification and solubility studies. Spectroscopy characterization was performed for identification of drug. The iron nanoparticles were evaluated for their characteristic such as appearance, viscosity and odor. Various formulations F1–F5 was prepared using different formulation variables based on experiment design. The result showed that the formulation F-5 provide the better release using 5.5 pH acetate buffer and at 37 °C temperature for anti-warts activity. The maximum drug release through synthesized nanoherbal gel was found to be 91.3%. Nanoherbal formulation was evaluated for physical appearance, pH, consistency, spreadibility and drug content. Stability study of formulation F5 was carried out for a period of 3 months to determine the percentage release and the results revealed that the formulation is stable under varied humidity and temperature condition and there was no major change in the amount of drug release during the storage condition, which reflected the stability of F5 formulation.