Constructing a new optical sensor for monitoring ammonia in water samples using bis(acetylacetoneethylendiamine)-tributylphosphin cobalt(III) tetraphenylborate complex-coated triacetylcellulose.

A new ammonia optical sensor was designed using bis(acetylacetoneethylendiamine)tributylphosphin cobalt(III) tetraphenylborate complex, coated on transparent triacetylcellulose film as membrane. The change in the absorbance of the optode at the maximum wavelength of 408 nm was related to ammonia concentration in aqueous samples. A buffer solution with a pH of 9 (sodium borate-HCl) was used. The optode was fully regenerated in pH 2. The linear dynamic range for determination of ammonia was 3.3 x 10(-4) to 6.9 x 10(-3) mol l(-1) with a detection limit of 5.0 x 10(-5) mol l(-1) and a response time range of 4 - 6 min. This membrane was successfully applied for determination of ammonia in drinking water.     

One-pot three-component reaction: Synthesis of substituted β-cyanocarbonyls in aqueous media

An environmentally friendly and simple method for the synthesis of alkyl nitriles or β-cyanocarbonyls via a one-pot three-component reaction of Meldrum's acid, aldehydes and sodium cyanide in water, without using any catalyst or activation at room temperature is reported.     

Three-Component,One-Pot Synthesis of Benzo[b][1,4]oxazines in Ionic Liquid 1-Butyl-3-methylimidazolium Bromide

Benzo[b][1,4]oxazines have been synthesized in good to excellent yields in the presence of the ionic liquid 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium bromide [bmim]Br under relatively mild conditions without any added catalyst, The method offers the advantages of good yields and short reaction times, and the ionic liquid can be easily separated from the product and reused.     

Insulin Resistance Associated Genes and miRNAs

Type 2 diabetes mellitus is the result of resistance to insulin function along with inadequate insulin secretion, leading to a number of dysfunctions characterized by hyperglycemia, and it is associated with microvascular, macrovascular, and neuropathic complications. There is compelling evidence that the decline in both insulin sensitivity and insulin secretion has a genetic component. In addition, increasing evidence suggests that microRNAs (miRNAs) as key regulators of gene expression play significant roles in insulin production, secretion, and function that regulate the function of insulin-target tissues. The current review demonstrates the candidate genes and the related miRNAs involved in molecular pathogenesis of insulin resistance in type 2 diabetes mellitus. In doing so, it provides an opportunity for more focused investigations that may identify the genes and miRNAs with a role in the pathogenesis of type 2 diabetes mellitus and its treatment.     

Wound healing improvement by curcumin‐loaded electrospun nanofibers and BFP‐MSCs as a bioactive dressing

Wound healing, one of the most complex processes of the body involving the cooperation of several important biomolecules and pathways, is one of the major therapeutic and economic issues in regenerative medicine. The present study aimed to introduce a novel electrospun curcumin (Cur)‐incorporated chitosan/polyvinyl alcohol/carbopol/polycaprolactone nanofibrous composite for concurrent delivery of the buccal fat pad‐derived mesenchymal stem cells (BFP‐MSCs) and Cur to a full‐thickness wound on the mouse model. Scaffolds were characterized structurally using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), fluorescence microscopy imaging and Fourier‐transform infrared spectroscopy, and toxicity of the scaffolds was also evaluated after BFP‐MSC seeding by SEM imaging and 3‐(4,5 dimethyiazol‐2‐1)‐2‐5‐diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. Then, its influence on the wound‐healing process was investigated as a wound dressing for a full‐thickness skin defect in mouse model. Results demonstrated that the designed composite scaffolds have the capability for cell seeding and support their growth and proliferation. Macroscopic and histopathological characteristics were evaluated at the end of the 7 and 14 days after surgery, and their results showed that our designed scaffold groups accelerated the wound‐healing process compared with the control group. Among those, scaffold/Cur, scaffold/Cur/BFP‐MSC and scaffold/BFP‐MSC groups demonstrated more wound repair efficacy. These results indicated that the combined grafts can be used to improve the wound‐healing process, and therefore, the electrospun nanofibers presented in this study, Cur and BFP‐MSC together, were demonstrated to have promising potential for wound‐dressing applications.     

An unexpected, novel, three-component reaction between isoquinoline, an isocyanide and strong CH-acids in water

An unexpected three-component condensation reaction between an isocyanide, isoquinoline and a strong CH-acid efficiently provides 1,2-dihydroisoquinoline derivatives in a one-pot reaction in water at 70 °C without using any catalyst.     

Measurement and Modeling the Excess Molar Volumes and Refractive Index Deviations of Binary Mixtures of 2-Propanol, 2-Butanol and 2-Pentanol with <Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>-Propylamine

The densities, ρ, and refractive indices, n _D, of 2-alkanols (C₃–C₅) with N-propylamine have been measured for the whole range of composition at temperatures from (298.15–328.15) K at 10 K intervals and ambient pressure of 81.5 kPa, using an Anton Paar DMA 4500 oscillating tube densimeter and an Anton Paar Abbemat 500 automatic refractometer. From the experimental data, excess molar volumes \( V_{\text{m}}^{\text{E}} \) partial molar volumes \( \bar{V}_{i} \) apparent molar volumes V _?i and refractive index deviations Δn _D the binary systems consisting of N-propylamine + 2-alkanols (2-propanol, 2-butanol, 2-pentanol) were calculated and \( V_{\text{m}}^{\text{E}} \) and Δn _D values were correlated with the Redlich–Kister polynomial. The effect of temperature and the chain length of the alcohol on the excess molar volumes and refractive index deviations are discussed in terms of molecular interaction between unlike molecules. The excess molar volumes are negative and refractive index deviations are positive over the entire composition range, which indicates strong hydrogen bonding between molecules of the mixtures. A comparative study has been made of the refractive indices obtained experimentally and those calculated by means of the Lorentz–Lorenz, Weiner and Arago–Biot relations. The perturbed chain statistical associating fluid theory (PC-SAFT), simplified PC-SAFT and Prigogine–Flory–Patterson theory were also applied to correlate and predict the density and excess molar volumes of the mixtures.     

Novel isocyanide-based three-component reaction: a facile synthesis of substituted 1H-chromeno[2,3-d]pyrimidine-5-carboxamides

A mild and efficient method for the synthesis of 1H-chromeno[2,3-d]pyrimidine-5-carboxamide derivatives via a one-pot, three-component reaction of an isocyanide, barbituric acid, and a salicylaldehyde in the presence of acetic acid in ethanol/water mixture at 75 °C is reported. This high atom economy reaction led to the construction of one benzopyran ring, and one amide group in a single synthetic step.