Medicinal Potential of Isoflavonoids: Polyphenols That May Cure Diabetes

In recent years, there is emerging evidence that isoflavonoids, either dietary or obtained from traditional medicinal plants, could play an important role as a supplementary drug in the management of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) due to their reported pronounced biological effects in relation to multiple metabolic factors associated with diabetes. Hence, in this regard, we have comprehensively reviewed the potential biological effects of isoflavonoids, particularly biochanin A, genistein, daidzein, glycitein, and formononetin on metabolic disorders and long-term complications induced by T2DM in order to understand whether they can be future candidates as a safe antidiabetic agent. Based on in-depth in vitro and in vivo studies evaluations, isoflavonoids have been found to activate gene expression through the stimulation of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs) (α, γ), modulate carbohydrate metabolism, regulate hyperglycemia, induce dyslipidemia, lessen insulin resistance, and modify adipocyte differentiation and tissue metabolism. Moreover, these natural compounds have also been found to attenuate oxidative stress through the oxidative signaling process and inflammatory mechanism. Hence, isoflavonoids have been envisioned to be able to prevent and slow down the progression of long-term diabetes complications including cardiovascular disease, nephropathy, neuropathy, and retinopathy. Further thoroughgoing investigations in human clinical studies are strongly recommended to obtain the optimum and specific dose and regimen required for supplementation with isoflavonoids and derivatives in diabetic patients.     

Nitrogen dissociation and its excitation/vibrational temperature with hydrogen admixture in 50 Hz DC discharge

Trace rare gas optical emission spectroscopy (TRG-OES) is carried out to determine the excitation temperature, vibrational temperature, dissociation fraction and nitrogen (N) atom density in 50?Hz active screen cage nitrogen plasma, as a function of discharge parameters (current density and fill pressure) and hydrogen concentrations. The excitation temperature is determined from Ar–I emission lines and is found to increase with hydrogen mixing. In a similar fashion, the vibrational temperature of second positive system is determined and found to have increasing trend with hydrogen addition. The dissociation fraction increases with hydrogen concentration up to 40% H₂ in the nitrogen plasma, so as the nitrogen atom density.     

Preparation and characterization of novel polyimide‐silica hybrids

Polyimide‐silica (PI‐SiO₂) hybrids were prepared from a novel polyimide (PI), derived from pyromellitic dianhydride (PMDA), 1,6‐bis(4‐aminophenoxy)hexane (synthesized) and 4,4′‐oxydianiline. SiO₂ networks (5–30 wt%) were generated through sol–gel process using either tetraethylorthosilicate (TEOS) or a mixture of 3‐aminopropyltriethoxysilane‐PMDA‐based coupling oligomers (APA) and TEOS. Thin, free standing hybrid films were obtained from the respective mixtures by casting and curing processes. The hybrid films were characterized using Fourier transform infrared, ²⁹Si nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE‐SEM), energy dispersive X‐ray spectrometry and atomic force microscopy (AFM) techniques. ²⁹Si NMR results provide information about formation of organically modified silicate structures that were further substantiated by FE‐SEM and AFM micrographs. Contact angle measurements and thermogravimetric thermograms reveal that the addition of APA profoundly influences surface energy, interfacial tension, thermal stability and the residual char yield of modified hybrids in comparison to those obtained by mixing only TEOS. It was found that reduced particle size, efficient dispersion and improved interphase interactions were responsible for the eventual property enhancement. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Synthesis and Characterization of a New Series of Hydroxy Pyrazolines

3-Phenyl-1-(thiophen-2-yl)prop-2-en-1-one obtained by Claisen–Schmidt condensation of 2-acetyl thiophene with benzaldehyde was converted into 2,3-dibromo-3-phenyl-1-(thiophen-2-yl)propan-1-one, which on treatment with various thiosemicarbazides in the presence of triethylamine in absolute ethanol, yielded the corresponding hydroxy pyrazolines 3a–h. All the compounds were characterized by IR, ¹H NMR, and ¹³C NMR spectra.     

Spatial-dependent probe transmission based high-precision two-dimensional atomic localization

Herein, we propose a scheme for the realization of two-dimensional atomic localization in aλ-type three-level atomic medium such that the atom interacts with the two orthogonal standing-wave fields and a probe field. Because of the spatially dependent atom-field interaction, the information about the position of the atom can be obtained by monitoring the probe transmission spectra of the weak probe field for the first time. A single and double sharp localized peaks are observed in the one-wavelength domain. We have theoretically archived high-resolution and high-precision atomic localization within a region smaller thanλ/25×λ/25. The results may have potential applications in the field of nano-lithography and advance laser cooling technology.     

Crystal and Molecular Structure of 4-Aminobenzohydrazide

Abstract  

The molecule of 4-aminobenzohydrazide is essentially planar and geometric parameters conform to literature precedents. Supramolecular N–H···O and N–H···N interactions combine to link molecules of 4-aminobenzohydrazide into a three-dimensional network. Weaker N–H···N and N–H···π interactions consolidate the structure. The compound crystallizes in the monoclinic space group P2₁/n with a = 5.411(2) ?, b = 14.000(6) ?, c = 9.894(4) ?, β = 103.917(7)o, and Z = 4.     

Specific Deuteration in Patuletin and Related Flavonoids via Keto–Enol Tautomerism: Solvent‐ and Temperature‐Dependent 1H‐NMR Studies

An H/D exchange process in patuletin ( 1 ) and its derivatives in D‐donor solvents (e.g., CF₃COOD), which occurs regioselectively at C(8) was observed for the first time during NMR studies. The effect of substituents and temperature on the deuteration of various flavonoids (see Fig. 1) which include apigenin, chrysin, galangin, kaempferol, luteolin, morin, myricetin, patuletin, patulitrin, and quercetin, as well as derivatives of patuletin was examined extensively under NMR conditions. The rate constant of deuteration at C(8) of patuletin ( 1 ) and two flavones, luteolin ( 3 ) and apigenin ( 12 ), was also determined in CF₃COOD. The D‐atom was introduced into the flavonoids via a keto–enol tautomerism (Scheme 1). During these studies, monodeuterated patuletin was also obtained as a new compound. The examined flavonoids have been reported to possess significant pharmacological activities, and their deuterated derivatives would be of importance for the identification and quantification of these compounds in biological matrices.     

Some New Hermite–Hadamard and Related Inequalities for Convex Functions via (p,q)-Integral

In this investigation, for convex functions, some new (p,q)–Hermite–Hadamard-type inequalities using the notions of (p,q)π2 derivative and (p,q)π2 integral are obtained. Furthermore, for (p,q)π2-differentiable convex functions, some new (p,q) estimates for midpoint and trapezoidal-type inequalities using the notions of (p,q)π2 integral are offered. It is also shown that the newly proved results for p=1 and q→1− can be converted into some existing results. Finally, we discuss how the special means can be used to address newly discovered inequalities.