Identification of phytocompounds from Houttuynia cordata Thunb. as potential inhibitors for SARS-CoV-2 replication proteins through GC–MS/LC–MS characterization,molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulation

The COVID-19 pandemic caused by Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is a massive viral disease outbreak of international concerns. The present study is mainly intended to identify the bioactive phytocompounds from traditional antiviral herb Houttuynia cordata Thunb. as potential inhibitors for three main replication proteins of SARS-CoV-2, namely Main protease (Mpro), Papain-Like protease (PLpro) and ADP ribose phosphatase (ADRP) which control the replication process. A total of 177 phytocompounds were characterized from H. cordata using GC–MS/LC–MS and they were docked against three SARS-CoV-2 proteins (receptors), namely Mpro, PLpro and ADRP using Epic, LigPrep and Glide module of Schrödinger suite 2020-3. During docking studies, phytocompounds (ligand) 6-Hydroxyondansetron (A104) have demonstrated strong binding affinity toward receptors Mpro (PDB ID 6LU7) and PLpro (PDB ID 7JRN) with G-score of???7.274 and???5.672, respectively, while Quercitrin (A166) also showed strong binding affinity toward ADRP (PDB ID 6W02) with G-score -6.788. Molecular Dynamics Simulation (MDS) performed using Desmond module of Schrödinger suite 2020–3 has demonstrated better stability in the ligand–receptor complexes A104-6LU7 and A166-6W02 within 100 ns than the A104-7JRN complex. The ADME-Tox study performed using SwissADMEserver for pharmacokinetics of the selected phytocompounds 6-Hydroxyondansetron (A104) and Quercitrin (A166) demonstrated that 6-Hydroxyondansetron passes all the required drug discovery rules which can potentially inhibit Mpro and PLpro of SARS-CoV-2 without causing toxicity while Quercitrin demonstrated less drug-like properties but also demonstrated as potential inhibitor for ADRP. Present findings confer opportunities for 6-Hydroxyondansetron and Quercitrin to be developed as new therapeutic drug against COVID-19.

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Multi-targeted molecular docking,drug-likeness and ADMET studies of derivatives of few quinoline- and acridine-based FDA-approved drugs for anti-breast cancer activity

Structural Chemistry - Quinoline- and acridine-based drugs are widely used as anti-breast cancer agents. These drugs act through various mechanisms of action; for example, neratinib acts on...     

High-throughput lipidomics analysis to discover lipid biomarkers and profiles as potential targets for evaluating efficacy of Kai-Xin-San against APP/PS1 transgenic mice based on UPLC–Q/TOF–MS

Lipid metabolism has a significant function in the central nervous system and Alzheimer's disease (AD) is an age-related senile disease characterized by central nerve degeneration. The pathological development of AD is closely related to lipid metabolism disorders. To reveal the influence of Kai-Xin-San (KXS) on lipid metabolism in APP/PSI transgenic mice and potential therapeutic targets for treating AD, brain tissue samples were collected and analyzed by high-throughput lipidomics based on UPLC–Q/TOF-MS. The collected raw data were processed by multivariate data analysis to discover the potential biomarkers and lipid metabolic profiles. Compared with the control wild-type mouse group, nine potential lipid biomarkers were found in the AD model group, of which seven were up-regulated and two were down-regulated. Orally administrated KXS can reverse the changes in these potential biomarkers. Compared with the model group, a total of six differential metabolites showed a recovery trend and may be potential targets for KXS to treat AD. This study showed that high-throughput lipidomics can be used to discover the perturbed pathways and lipid biomarkers as potential targets to reveal the therapeutic effects of KXS.     

Theoretical Design of Biodegradable Phthalic Acid Ester Derivatives in Marine and Freshwater Environments

The biodegradability of phtalic acid esters in marine and freshwater environments was characterized by their binding free energy with corresponding degrading enzymes. According to comprehensive biodegradation effects weights, the binding free energy values were converted into dimensionless efficacy coefficient using ratio normalization method. Then, considering comprehensive dual biodegradation effects value and the structural parameters of PAEs in both marine and freshwater environments, a 3D-QSAR pharmacophore model was constructed, five PAE derivatives (DBP−COOH, DBP−CHO, DBP−OH, DINP−NH₂, and DINP−NO₂) were screened out based on their environmental friendliness, functionality and stability. The prediction of biodegradation effects on five PAE derivatives by biodegradation models in marine and freshwater environment increased by 15.90 %, 15.84 %, 27.21 %, 12.33 %, and 8.32 %, and 21.57 %, 15.21 %, 20.99 %, 15.10 %, and 9.74 %, respectively. By simulating the photodegradation path of the PAE derivative molecular, it was found that DBP−OH can generate ^.OH and provides free radicals for the photodegradation of microplastics in the environment.     

On fractional difference logistic maps: Dynamic analysis and synchronous control

This paper investigates a logistic map derived from a difference equation in the framework of discrete fractional calculus. Through the Poincaré plots and Julia sets, the map’s chaotic and fractal characteristics are studied comparing with those of a quadratic map to be proposed. The memory effect of fractional difference maps is reflected in these dynamics, and some reasonable explanations are given by combining with quantitative analysis. A coupled controller is designed to realize synchronization between fractional difference logistic map and fractional difference quadratic map.

     

不同浓度的尾砂胶结充填体破坏过程 声发射特性试验研究*

制备了3种不同质量浓度的充填体试件，进行了单轴压缩声发射试验，分析了不同浓度的充填体力学特性，重点研究了试件破坏过程中的声发射振铃计数、声发射累计撞击数与声发射累计能量的比值(r值)、主频及其相对高频信号激增响应系数特征。研究表明：随着浓度的增加，充填体的峰值强度与弹性模量呈增大趋势，充填体中出现的声发射累计振铃计数越多；r值先升高再持续减小到一个较低值，随着外载荷的增加，进入缓慢升高阶段，峰值前均保持在该阶段。充填体破裂前兆信息在声发射信号主频分布中呈现主频段增多现象，表现为由加载初期的1~2个主频段，在临界主破裂时增多到3~5个主频段；且随着浓度的增加，声发射信号主频频段分布越宽，声发射相对高频信号(160~180 kHz)的激增响应系数呈递减趋势。以上特征可为不同浓度的尾砂胶结充填体稳定性监测、预测提供依据。     

Feature extraction method based on NOFRFs and its application in faulty rotor system with slight misalignment

Nonlinear Dynamics - Fault features extraction method for slight misalignment of rotor systems is researched in this paper. When a rotor system with faults is excited by harmonic inputs, system...     

Experimental validation of internal model approach for tracking control of a MEMS micromirror without angular velocity measurement

Nonlinear Dynamics - This paper addresses the angular tracking control for an electromagnetic MEMS micromirror. The problem is formulated in the output regulation framework for output feedback...     

System-size effect on the friction at liquid-solid interfaces

The friction at the liquid-solid interfaces is widely involved in various phenomena ranging from nanometer to micrometer scales. By the molecular dynamic(MD)simulation, the friction properties of liquid-solid interfaces at the molecular level are calculated via the Green-Kubo relation. It is found that the system size will influence the value of the friction coefficient, especially for the solid surfaces with the larger polar charge. The value of the friction coefficient decreases with the increase in the system size and converges at large system sizes. The large polar charge will lead to a significant friction coefficient. However, the diffusion of water molecules on this surface is almost a constant, indicating that the diffusion coefficient seems to be independent of the system size and polar charge. This work provides insights for the selection of the system size in modeling the frictional properties of hydrophobic/hydrophilic surfaces.     

NMR studies on 4‐thio‐5‐furan‐modified and 4‐thio‐5‐thiophene‐modified nucleosides

Systematic NMR characterization of 4‐thio‐5‐furan‐pyrimidine nucleosides or 4‐thio‐5‐thiophene‐pyrimidine nucleosides (ribonucleosides and 2′‐deoxynucleosides) was performed. All proton and carbon signals of 4‐thio‐5‐thiophene‐ribouridine and related analogues were unambiguously assigned. The orientations of the base (4‐thiouridine or its deoxy analogue) relative to the ring (furan or thiophene) are explored by a NMR approach and further supported by X‐ray crystallographic studies. The procedures presented here would be applicable to other modified nucleosides and nucleotides. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.