A tetra-coordinate nickel(II) complex as neutral carrier for nitrate-selective PVC membrane electrode

The potentiometric response properties and applications of a tetra-coordinate nickel(II) complex with relatively high selectivity toward nitrate ion are described. The nickel(II) complex of 5,7,12,14-tetramethyl-1,4,8,11-tetraazacyclotetradeca-4,6,11,13-tetraene was used as a neutral carrier into plasticized poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) membrane. The influence of several variables was investigated in order to optimize the potentiometric response and selectivity of the electrode. The resulting membrane electrode incorporating 31.0% PVC, 61.0% dioctyl phthalate (DOP) as plasticizer, 3% methyltrioctylammonium chloride (MTOAC) as a cationic additive and 5% carrier (all w/w) demonstrates a Nernstian response slope of −59.6 mV per decade over the concentration range of 5×10⁻⁶-1×10⁻¹ M NO₃⁻. The electrode exhibits a fast response time (≤10 s), a detection limit of 2.5×10⁻⁶ M, and can be used over a wide pH range of 4-12. The electrode shows improved selectivity in comparison to most of the previously reported nitrate-selective electrodes. It was successfully applied to the determination of nitrate ion in natural water samples.     

Two new isoflavanoids from the rhizomes of Iris soforana

Two new isoflavones 1 and 2 along with eleven known compounds 3-13, have been isolated for the first time from the rhizomes of Iris soforana. The structures of these compounds were determined on the basis of spectroscopic methods and found to be 5,3'-dihydroxy-4'-methoxy-6,7-methylenedioxyisoflavone (1) (Soforanarin A), and 5,7,5'-trimethoxy-6,3',4'-trihydroxyisoflavone (2) (Soforanarin B).     

Two and k-Photon Jaynes–Cummings Models and Dirac Oscillator Problem in Bargmann–Segal Representation

In this work, we show that the Bargmann–Segal representation is a very simple approach to obtain the energy eigenvalues of some two-level quantum systems. It is shown that for 2-photon and k-photon Jaynes–Cummings models, the Bargmann–Segal realization gives the same energy eigenvalue which obtained by Lie algebraic and the matrix methods. We also study the Dirac oscillator problem in this representation.     

Fabrication and characterization of highly crystalline mordenite membranes on α-alumina disks via a seeded in situ template-free hydrothermal treatment

A template-free seeded short-time in situ hydrothermal treatment was carried out in a brass autoclave to synthesize crystalline mordenite (MOR) membranes on alumina-silicate disk supports with micro-scale pores. According to XRD analysis, MOR was the only zeolitic material present in the membrane layers on the supports. SEM examination of the membranes showed three different layers of the membrane thickness: (i) support sub-layer, (ii) mix penetrated mid-layer, the MOR crystals filling the pores among the support (about 4–5 μm), and (iii) MOR top-layer (about 4–5 μm). The crystalline bonds between MOR crystals of the membrane top-layer and the crystals of the support were clearly observed within the mid-layer. The continuous top-layer of zeolitic membrane was formed by many large and well-shaped crystals. The seeding treatment significantly enhanced the formation of MOR crystals onto the surface of the supports. EDAX analysis showed a Si/Al ratio of 6.8 for the MOR layer of the membrane. Due to their hydrophilic natures, the polycrystalline MOR membranes were found to be selective for continuous dehydration of different EtOH–water mixtures through an adsorption–diffusion–desorption mechanism. Both total permeation flux and separation factor of the membrane were found to increase by increasing temperature and water concentration of feed. The continuity and high crystallinity of the membrane top-layer led to the fairly high dehydration of EtOH. It was found that there was no pinhole within the layer and the morphology of the membrane was almost defect-free.     

Purification of hyaluronidase as an anticancer agent inhibiting CD44

Hyaluronidase (Hyal) can be employed to accomplish a diversity of complications related to hyaluronic acid (HA). Hyal contains some classes of catalysts that cleave HA. This enzyme is detected in several human tissues as well as in animal venoms, pathogenic organisms and cancers. Destructive cancer cells regularly increase the CD44 receptor existing in a cell membrane. This receptor acts as an exact receptor for HA, and HA is recognized to motivate the migration, spread, attack and metastasis of cancer cells. Nearly all of the methods used to purify Hyal are highly costly and not proper for industrial applications. This survey aims to review different methods of Hyal purification, which acts as an anticancer agent by degrading HA in tissues and thus inhibiting the CD44–HA interaction. Hyal can be successfully employed in the management of cancer, which is associated with HA–CD44. This review has described different methods for Hyal purification to prepare an origin to develop a novel purification technique for this highly appreciated protein. Using multiple columns is not applicable for the purification of Hyal and thus cannot be used at the industrial level. It is better to use affinity chromatography of anti-Hyal for Hyal with one-step purification.     

An Efficient,One-Pot Synthesis of Dialkyl 5-Hydroxy-4-aryl-2,5-dihydrofuran-2,3-dicarboxylate Derivatives

The reaction between arylglyoxalmonohydrates, dialkyl acetylenedicarboxylates, and triphenylphosphine is described as a simple and efficient method for the synthesis of 5-hydroxy-4-aryl-2,5-dihydrofuran-2,3-dicarboxylate derivatives.     

Identification of Compounds that Selectively Stabilize Specific G‐Quadruplex Structures by Using a Thioflavin T‐Displacement Assay as a Tool

Small molecules are used in the G‐quadruplex (G4) research field in vivo and in vitro, and there are increasing demands for ligands that selectively stabilize different G4 structures. Thioflavin T (ThT) emits an enhanced fluorescence signal when binding to G4 structures. Herein, we show that ThT can be competitively displaced by the binding of small molecules to G4 structures and develop a ThT‐displacement high‐throughput screening assay to find novel and selective G4‐binding compounds. We screened approximately 28 000 compounds by using three different G4 structures and identified eight novel G4 binders. Analysis of the structural conformation and stability of the G4 structures in presence of these compounds demonstrated that the four compounds enhance the thermal stabilization of the structures without affecting their structural conformation. In addition, all four compounds also increased the G4‐structure block of DNA synthesis by Taq DNA polymerase. Also, two of these compounds showed selectivity between certain Schizosaccharomyces pombe G4 structures, thus suggesting that these compounds or their analogues can be used as selective tools for G4 DNA studies.