Chromatographic molecular recognition for catechol-related compounds using thiacalix[4]arene as an effective selector

Thiacalix[4]arene (5,11,17,23-tetra-tert-butyl-25,26,27,28-tetrahydroxy-2,8,14,20-tetrathiacalix[4]arene) is an amphiphilic molecule comprising four p-tert-butylphenol-like groups ortho-linked by single sulfur atoms. This molecule has a high electron density area owing to the close proximity of the hydroxyl groups and sulfur atoms. We studied the applicability of this interesting compound as a selector for high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) thereby presumably exploiting this feature. Firstly, uniformly sized polymer particles were prepared by using a multi-step swelling and polymerization method with ethylene glycol dimethacrylate (EDMA) as a cross-linker. Methacrylic acid (MAA) was introduced onto the surface of the resulting polymer particles through a new modification method. Thiacalix[4]arene was chemically bonded through the MAA group by using 1,4-dibromobutane as a spacer to reduce steric hindrance around the MAA and the polymer particle itself. The performance of the prepared polymer-based thiacalix[4]arene-modified stationary phase was evaluated with HPLC. Specific chromatographic retention behavior was observed for catechol relative to positional isomers of xylene, cresol, and benzene-diol. Catecholamine and catechol showed specific chromatographic retention behavior.     

Bioconversion potential of Trichoderma viride HN1 cellulase for a lignocellulosic biomass Saccharum spontaneum

The industrialisation of lignocellulose conversion is impeded by expensive cellulase enzymes required for saccharification in bioethanol production. Current research undertakes cellulase production from pretreated Saccharum spontaneum through Trichoderma viride HN1 under submerged fermentation conditions. Pretreatment of substrate with 2% NaOH resulted in 88% delignification. Maximum cellulase production (2603 ± 16.39 U/mL/min carboxymethyl cellulase and 1393 ± 25.55 U/mL/min FPase) was achieved at 6% substrate at pH 5.0, with 5% inoculum, incubated at 35°C for 120 h of fermentation period. Addition of surfactant, Tween 80 and metal ion Mn⁺², significantly enhanced cellulase yield. This study accounts proficient cellulase yield through process optimisation by exploiting cheaper substrate to escalate their commercial endeavour.     

Synthesis of dimeric Re(I) amino acid conjugate complexes

The aqueous one-step reaction of Re(CO)(3)(H(2)O)(3)(+) with pyridine-2-carboxyaldehyde and glycine or alanine produces a new class of cyclic dimeric products. The ligands of the chiral C(2)-symmetric products are bound via the diimine at one rhenium centre and via the pendant carboxylate to a second rhenium center.     

Asymptotic normality of H-L estimators based on dependent data

LetX ₁,X ₂, ... be a strictly stationary φ-mixing sequence of r.v.'s with a common continuous cdfF. Let θ be a location parameter ofF. We prove the asymptotic normality of a class of Hodges-Lehmann estimators of θ under various regularity conditions on the mixing number φ and the underlyingF. We also establish the asymptotic linearity of signed rank statistics in the parameter θ. Our results also enable us to study the effect of φ-dependence on the asymptotic power of signed rank tests for testingH ₀: θ=0 againstH _n :θ=θ ₀ n ^?1/2,θ ₀≠0. Finally these results are shown to remain valid for strongly mixing processes {X _i } also.     

Design,enantioselective synthesis,and antiviral activities against potato virus Y of axially chiral thiazine derivatives

A series of novel thiazine derivatives featuring axial chirality in both (R) and (S) configurations were successfully synthesized by N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC)-catalyzed enantioselective [3 + 3] annulations, and their potential as anti-plant virus agents against potato virus Y (PVY) was evaluated. Biological activity results demonstrated that most of these chiral thiazine derivatives exhibited significant activities against PVY. Notably, compound (S) -3g displayed a remarkable 58% inactivation effect against PVY at a concentration of 500 μg/mL, slightly surpassing the effectiveness of Ningnanmycin (NNM) at 57%. Additionally, (S) -3g exhibited curative activity of 57%, which is superior to NNM (53%). Molecular docking studies revealed preliminary insights into the distinct biological properties of the two different enantiomers, (R) or (S) -3g against PVY, wherein single enantiomer (S) -3g formed a more stable interaction with PVY-CP, as indicated by its lower binding free energy (−41.18 kcal/mol) compared to (R)- 3g (−36.9 kcal/mol). The findings in this study with a new class of axially chiral thiazine derivatives shall inspire further development of chiral heterocycles as potential drug candidates for the protection of plant virus infections.     

Synthesis of tapioca cellulose-based poly(hydroxamic acid) ligand for heavy metals removal from water

A graft copolymerization was performed using free radical initiating process to prepare the poly(methyl acrylate) grafted copolymer from the tapioca cellulose. The desired material is poly(hydroxamic acid) ligand, which is synthesized from poly(methyl acrylate) grafted cellulose using hydroximation reaction. The tapioca cellulose, grafted cellulose and poly(hydroxamic acid) ligand were characterized by Infrared Spectroscopy and Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscope. The adsorption capacity with copper was found to be good, 210 mg g^?1 with a faster adsorption rate (t_1/2 = 10.5 min). The adsorption capacities for other heavy metal ions were also found to be strong such as Fe³⁺, Cr³⁺, Co³⁺ and Ni²⁺ were 191, 182, 202 and 173 mg g^?1, respectively at pH 6. To predict the adsorption behavior, the heavy metal ions sorption onto ligand were well-fitted with the Langmuir isotherm model (R² > 0.99), which suggest that the cellulose-based adsorbent i.e., poly(hydroxamic acid) ligand surface is homogenous and monolayer. The reusability was checked by the sorption/desorption process for six cycles and the sorption and extraction efficiency in each cycle was determined. This new adsorbent can be reused in many cycles without any significant loss in its original removal performances.     

Multiple Quantum Well in static magnetic field and intense laser pulses

The energy spectrum and dipole matrix elements of a multiple quantum well (MQW) system has been calculated numerically by solving the time-independent Schrödinger equation using finite difference method, in the presence of magnetic field. The effect of barrier width is also investigated. The energy difference between the levels of various minibands and the energy difference between various levels of the same miniband is calculated for different number of wells in the MQW. Finally, the dynamics of the system in short laser pulses has been calculated numerically by solving the time-dependent Schrödinger equation. The effect of magnetic field on the dynamics is clearly shown and explained.     

Influence of peak inspiratory flow rates and pressure drops on inhalation performance of dry powder inhalers

The aim of this study was to reveal the relationship between human inspiratory flow patterns and the concomitant drops in pressure in different inhalation devices, and the influence of the devices on inhalation performance. As a model formulation for inhalers, a physically mixed dry powder composed of salbutamol sulfate and coarse lactose monohydrate was selected. The drops in pressure at 28.3?L/min of three inhalation devices, Single-type, Dual-type, and Reverse-type, was 1.0, 5.1, and 8.7?kPa, respectively. Measurements of human inspiratory patterns revealed that although the least resistant device (Single) had large inter- and intra-individual variation of peak flow rate (PFR), the coefficients of variation of PFR of the three devices were almost the same. In tests with a human inspiratory flow simulator in vitro, inhalation performance was higher, but the variation in inhalation performance in the range of human flow patterns was wider, for the more resistant device. To minimize the intra- and inter-individual variation in inhalation performance for the model formulation in this study, a formulation design that allows active pharmaceutical ingredient to detach from the carrier with a lower inhalation flow rate is needed.