Algae-Derived Bioactive Molecules for the Potential Treatment of SARS-CoV-2

The recently emerged COVID-19 disease caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has adversely affected the whole world. As a significant public health threat, it has spread worldwide. Scientists and global health experts are collaborating to find and execute speedy diagnostics, robust and highly effective vaccines, and therapeutic techniques to tackle COVID-19. The ocean is an immense source of biologically active molecules and/or compounds with antiviral-associated biopharmaceutical and immunostimulatory attributes. Some specific algae-derived molecules can be used to produce antibodies and vaccines to treat the COVID-19 disease. Algae have successfully synthesized several metabolites as natural defense compounds that enable them to survive under extreme environments. Several algae-derived bioactive molecules and/or compounds can be used against many diseases, including microbial and viral infections. Moreover, some algae species can also improve immunity and suppress human viral activity. Therefore, they may be recommended for use as a preventive remedy against COVID-19. Considering the above critiques and unique attributes, herein, we aimed to systematically assess algae-derived, biologically active molecules that could be used against this disease by looking at their natural sources, mechanisms of action, and prior pharmacological uses. This review also serves as a starting point for this research area to accelerate the establishment of anti-SARS-CoV-2 bioproducts.     

Photodegradation of Carbaryl in Acetonitrile Solution

The photochemical decomposition, induced by UV radiation, of the carbamate pesticide (Carbaryl) in acetonitrile has been examined by means of gas chromatography–Mass spectrometry (GC‐MS). The result of continuous irradiation was almost total degradation of the pesticide examined. In order to investigate the nature of the reaction products, a spectroscopic study (UV‐Vis, steady‐state fluorescence, and fluorescence lifetime) of the products was performed. Phthalic anhydride and traces of 1,4‐naphtalenedione as an intermediate were detected as reaction products. The presence of a trace amount of 1‐naphthol as one of the photoproducts was confirmed by fluorescence lifetime measurements.     

Development of an Analytical Proton Magnetic Resonance (PMR) Spectroscopic Method for the Determination of Etilefrine in Bulk and Pharmaceutical Forms

An analytical proton magnetic resonance (PMR) spectroscopic method was developed for the determination of etilefrine hydrochloride [943–17–9] in bulk, I, tablets, II, drops, III, and injectables, IV,. The method is advantageous over those in the literature offering a fast, simple, specific, and accurate procedure.     

Chaos suppression on a class of uncertain nonlinear chaotic systems using an optimal H∞ adaptive PID controller

This paper introduces an optimal H_∞ adaptive PID (OHAPID) control scheme for a class of nonlinear chaotic system in the presence system uncertainties and external disturbances. Based on Lyapunov stability theory, it is shown that the proposed control scheme can guarantee the stability robustness of closed-loop system with H_∞ tracking performance. In the core of proposed controller, to achieve an optimal performance of OHAPID, the Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) algorithm is utilized. To show the feasibility of proposed OHAPID controller, it is applied on the chaotic gyro system. Simulation results demonstrate that it has highly effective in providing an optimal performance.     

Minimal agent based model for financial markets II

We present a detailed study of the statistical properties of the Agent Based Model introduced in paper I [Eur. Phys. J. B, DOI: 10.1140/epjb/e2009-00028-4] and of its generalization to the multiplicative dynamics. The aim of the model is to consider the minimal elements for the understanding of the origin of the stylized facts and their self-organization. The key elements are fundamentalist agents, chartist agents, herding dynamics and price behavior. The first two elements correspond to the competition between stability and instability tendencies in the market. The herding behavior governs the possibility of the agents to change strategy and it is a crucial element of this class of models. We consider a linear approximation for the price dynamics which permits a simple interpretation of the model dynamics and, for many properties, it is possible to derive analytical results. The generalized non linear dynamics results to be extremely more sensible to the parameter space and much more difficult to analyze and control. The main results for the nature and self-organization of the stylized facts are, however, very similar in the two cases. The main peculiarity of the non linear dynamics is an enhancement of the fluctuations and a more marked evidence of the stylized facts. We will also discuss some modifications of the model to introduce more realistic elements with respect to the real markets.     

Influence of Metal Oxides on Platinum Activity towards Methanol Oxidation in H2SO4 solution

Pt–CeO₂/C, Pt–TiO₂/C, and Pt–ZrO₂/C electrocatalysts were prepared by using a modified microwave‐assisted polyol process. Physical characterization was performed by using XRD, TEM, and EDX analyses. The incorporation of different metal oxides increased the dispersion degree of Pt nanoparticles and reduced their diameter to 2.50 and 2.33 nm when TiO₂ and ZrO₂ were introduced to Pt/C, respectively. The electrocatalytic activity of various electrocatalysts was examined towards methanol oxidation in H₂SO₄ solution by using cyclic voltammetry, chronoamperometry, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. Among the studied composites, Pt–ZrO₂/C was selected to be a candidate electrocatalyst for better electrochemical performance in direct methanol fuel cells.     

A robust synthesis and characterization of superparamagnetic CoFe2O4 nanoparticles as an efficient and reusable catalyst for green synthesis of some heterocyclic rings

A robust synthesis for magnetic CoFe₂O₄ nanoparticles via a hydrothermal technique was investigated. The prepared magnetic nanoparticles were characterized using powder X‐ray diffraction, scanning, transmission and high‐resolution transmission electron microscopies, energy‐dispersive X‐ray and infrared spectroscopies, thermogravimetric analysis and vibrating sample magnetometry. Based on the obtained data, the prepared powder was composed of ultrafine particles in nanometer size range with highly homogeneous spherical shape and elemental composition. Moreover, the prepared magnetic CoFe₂O₄ nanoparticles were used as an efficient catalyst for green synthesis of tetrahydropyridines and pyrrole derivatives in excellent yields, with easy work‐up and purification of products by non‐chromatographic methods. The catalyst can be recovered for subsequent reactions and reused without any appreciable loss of activity. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Ozonolyse d'olefines perfluorees

We have obtained unusually stable secondaxy ozonides ($\text{2a-c}$) by heating neat perfluoroalkenes ($\text{1a-c}$) with ozone.     

Novel Cr (III), Fe (III) and Ru (III) Vanillin Based Metallo‐Pharmaceuticals for Cancer and Inflammation Treatment: Experimental and Theoretical Studies

In this study, three novel complexes comprising trivalent Cr (III), Fe (III) and Ru (III) with imine ligand derived from 2‐amino‐3‐hydroxypyridine and o‐vanillin (H₂L) have been synthesized and characterized via wide range of spectroscopic and analytical tools such as ¹H NMR and ¹³C NMR, infrared (IR) and UV–Vis spectrophotometry, conductivity and magnetic measurements. The obtained results along with DFT data confirmed a 1:1 (metal: ligand) stoichiometry with non‐planner geometries for the three complexes. The binding action and the docking study of the prepared metal‐complexes to calf thymus DNA was also studied by absorption spectra and viscosity technique, which revealed that the three complexes interact strongly with DNA through intercalative binding mode. Significantly, these metal‐imine complexes showed strong and efficient anti‐inflammatory and antimicrobial activities against various gram‐positive (Microccus luteus), gram‐negative (Escherichia coli and Serratia marcescence) bacteria, and three strains of fungus. Moreover, all complexes exhibited more potent cytotoxicity effect on the outgrowth of different types of carcinoma cells, including human colon (HCT‐116 cell line), breast (MCF‐7 cell line), and hepatic cellular (HepG‐2), than the clinically‐proven Vinblastine standard.     

Sonochemical synthesis,structural inspection and semiconductor behavior of three new nano sized Cu(II), Co(II) and Ni(II) chelates based on tri‐dentate NOO imine ligand as precursors for metal oxides

Three novel nanosized Cu(II), Co(II) and Ni(II) complexes of imine ligand attained from the condensation of 2‐amino‐3‐hydroxypyridine and 3‐methoxysalicylaldehyde have been prepared and investigated using diverse chemical methods such as NMR, CHN analysis, conductance, IR, Spectral studies, TGA and magnetic moment measurements. The obtained data confirmed that the synthesized complexes have metal: ligand ratio of 1:1 and octahedral geometry for Co(II) and Ni(II) complexes. Interestingly, The complexes are used as precursors for producing CuO, Co₂O₃ and NiO nanoparticles by calcination at 500 °C and their structures were described by powder x‐ray and transmittance electron microscopy. Furthermore, to investigate the feasibility of using the synthesized materials for semiconductor based nanodevices, the electrical properties of the prepared imine complexes and their corresponding metal oxides were investigated by measuring the electrical conductivity over a temperature range 373‐593 K. The data confirm that the materials are semiconductor. The electrical conduction process in the complexes is governed by intermolecular and intramolecular transfer of the charge carriers. But, the conduction mechanism arises from the contribution of the phonon‐assisted small polaron hopping in NiO nanoparticles and charge carrier hopping in CuO and Co₂O₃ nanoparticles. The results indicate that the complexes under study are promising candidates for wide scale of organic based semiconducting devices.