Aloe djiboutiensis: Antioxidant Activity,Molecular Networking-Based Approach and In Vivo Toxicity of This Endemic Species in Djibouti

For the first time, the study of the antioxidant activity, the characterization of the phytoconstituants, and the evaluation of in vitro and in vivo toxicity of A. djiboutiensis leave and latex are performed. The antioxidant activity of both latex (ADL) and the methanolic extract of leaves (ADM) is determined using 1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), 2,2′-azino-bis 3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid (ABTS) scavenging radical methods and ferric reducing/antioxidant power (FRAP) assay. The phytochemical study of latex is done using Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) and a molecular networking-based approach. The evaluation of in vivo toxicity is performed on mice by oral gavage with a suspension of ADL. Our results show that weak antioxidant activity of ADL and ADM in opposition to their high polyphenol, 83.01 mg and 46.4 mg expressed in gallic acid equivalent (GAE)/g of dry weight (DW), respectively, and flavonoid contents 13.12 mg and 4.25 mg expressed in quercetin equivalent (QE)/g dry weight (DW), respectively. Using the Global Natural Products Social Molecular Networking (GNPS) website, nine (9) anthraquinones derivatives, ten (10) chromones derivatives, two (2) flavonols/ chromones isomers are annotated in the molecular network. The treated mice do not display abnormalities in their general physical appearance and biochemistry parameters, compared to the controls. Only glucose and calcium levels are slightly higher in male treated mice compared to the vehicles.     

Direct separation of the enantiomers of ramosetron on a chlorinated cellulose‐based chiral stationary phase in hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography mode

Ramosetron is an enantiopure active pharmaceutical ingredient marketed in Japan since 1996 and later in a few Southeast Asian countries predominantly as an antiemetic for patients receiving chemotherapy. In this study, a simple and rapid high‐performance liquid chromoatography method for the separation of ramosetron and its related enantiomeric impurity by using hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography mode is presented. Chiral resolution was performed on an analytical column (100 mm × 4.6 mm id) packed with 3 μm particles of cellulose‐based Chiralpak IC‐3 chiral stationary phase. Using a mobile phase containing acetonitrile–water–diethylamine (100:10:0.1, v/v/v) and setting the column temperature at 35°C, the resolution value was 7.35. At a flow rate of 1 mL/min, the enantioseparation was completed within 5 min. The proposed method was partially validated and it has proven to be sensitive with limit of detection and limit of quantitation of the (S)‐enantiomer impurity of 44.5 and 133.6 ng/mL.     

Luminescence lifetime-based sensor for cyanide and related anions

A new Ru(II) complex is described which serves as a luminescence lifetime-based sensor for fluoride and cyanide anions (KF = 640 000 mol-1, KCN = 430 000 mol-1). This chromophore displays observable changes in its UV-vis and steady-state luminescence spectra upon cyanide binding. Prior to cyanide addition, this complex exhibits a single-exponential lifetime (tau = 377 +/- 20 ns). With increasing cyanide concentrations, the intensity decays are composed of two exponentials: long tau (320-370 ns) and short tau (13-17 ns). The average lifetimes shorten as a function of cyanide concentration since the fractional intensity shifts from an initial dominant long lifetime component to the short lifetime component. This work represents the first example of a direct method for the luminescence lifetime-based sensing of anions.     

Design and synthesis of novel [60]fullerene derivatives as potential HIV aspartic protease inhibitors

[structure] Two water-soluble fullerene derivatives have been computer-designed and synthesized. They may exhibit interesting anti-HIV activity owing to the presence of two ammonium groups strategically located on the spheroid surface.     

Initial operation at liquid-helium temperature of the M =2270 kg Al 5056 gravitational-wave antenna of the Rome group

Summary We report on the cooling at liquid-helium temperature of our 2270 kg 5056 Al bar at CERN. The liquid-helium container had been filled up to 1500 liters ensuring to keep the antenna cold for more than one month. The antenna is equipped with a resonant capacitive transducer operating at constant electrical charge with a FET low-noise amplifier. The transducer is tuned to the antenna within less than I Hz and the two normal-mode frequencies are ν₋=908.160 Hz and ν₊=924.234 Hz with an applied electrical field in the transducer of 10⁶ V/m. The corresponding overall merit factors areQ ₋=5.20·10⁶ andQ ₊=7.25·10⁶. The transducer has been tested up to an electrical field of 6·10⁶ V/m: in this condition we have βQ≈10⁴. The antenna has been in operation for several weeks giving, for the Brownian noise, values in agreement with the calculated values. We report also on the results of tests performed on a DC SQUID, whose input was connected to a commercial capacitor via a transformer with turn ratio of 1000. Supported in part by Japan Society for the Promotion of Science.     

Three-electrode solid-state fuel cell for evaluating working electrodes

Development of a commercial solid-state fuel cell depends on identification of suitable catalytic electrodes to replace platinum. A three-electrode test cell for electrode evaluation is reported. The solid protonic electrolyte used was dodecamolybdophosphoric acid, H₃Mo₁₂PO₄₀·29H₂O, and a thin platinum wire inserted into the electrolyte served as the third electrode. Reproducibility and insensitivity to third-electrode position were demonstrated. The third electrode measures separately the anode and cathode interfacial resistances, thus providing a direct measure of the relative catalytic activity of a given test electrode. Application of the technique is illustrated.     

Stereochemistry of tri-n-sulphonylhexahydro-s-triazines

X-Ray crystallography showed that the heterocyclic ring of 1a and 1d is a chair with the substituents intermediate between axial and equatorial (all cis) and diequatorial-monoaxial (two cis and one trans) positions, respectively. Infrared NS absorption in solid and solution led to tentative stereochemieal assignments for 1a-d.