Fractal-like scaling in liquid crystals. Odd–even effect of scaling exponents in the 4,4′-di-n-alkyloxyazoxybenzene homologous series

Abstract

A power law behaviour of dielectric loss versus frequency has been found in members of the 4,4′-di-n-alkyloxyazoxybenzene series. For each member the scaling of the data with respect to v/v _max is possible in the liquid-crystalline temperature range; this suggests a fractal-like geometry in nematic and smectic phases. The values of the scaling exponents, indicating a cooperativity of molecular reorientation around the short axes, exhibit an odd–even effect.     

Bounds for the Kirchhoff index via majorization techniques

Using a majorization technique that identifies the maximal and minimal vectors of a variety of subsets of ${\mathbb{R}^{n}}$ , we find upper and lower bounds for the Kirchhoff index K(G) of an arbitrary simple connected graph G that improve those existing in the literature. Specifically we show that $$K(G) \geq \frac{n}{d_{1}} \left[ \frac{1}{1+\frac{\sigma}{\sqrt{n-1}}} + \frac{(n-2)^{2}}{n-1-\frac{\sigma}{\sqrt{n-1}}}\right] ,$$ where d ₁ is the largest degree among all vertices in G, $$\sigma ^{2} = \frac{2}{n} \sum_{(i, j) \in E} \frac{1}{d_{i}d_{j}} = \left( \frac{2}{n}\right) R_{-1}(G),$$ and R _?1(G) is the general Randi? index of G for ${\alpha =-1}$ . Also we show that $$K(G) \leq \frac{n}{d_{n}}\left( \frac{n-k-2}{1-\lambda _{2}}+\frac{k}{2}+\frac{1}{\theta}\right) ,$$ where d _n is the smallest degree, ${\lambda _{2}}$ is the second eigenvalue of the transition probability of the random walk on G, $$k = \left \lfloor \frac{\lambda _{2} \left( n-1\right) +1}{\lambda _{2}+1}\right\rfloor {\rm and}\quad\theta = \lambda _{2} \left( n-k-2\right) -k+2.$$      

Cholesteric liquid crystal displays as optical sensors of barbiturate binding

The influence on the optical properties of cholesteric liquid crystal displays (LCDs) was examined for neutral molecule binding by mesogen/receptors in the mesomorphic phase. The motivation was to prepare neutral molecule sensors that use a colour change to signal analyte binding. A receptor that binds barbiturate analytes was modified with two or one cholesteryl groups to yield compounds 2 and 3, respectively. LCDs were prepared by incorporating one of the receptor/mesogen compounds into a cholesteric LC blend along with a potential H‐bonding guest. The optical properties of the LCDs were then determined by measuring the absorbance of the displays. For various LCDs, the colour of the display depended upon several factors: the amount of guest molecule used, the number of cholesteryl side chains on the receptor and the mole concentration of receptor/mesogen in the blend. In particular, complementary host/guest binding of H‐bonding analytes by the bis(cholesteryl) receptor 2 in a cholesteric LCD caused a change of up to +70 nm, which was observed by the naked eye as a blue‐to‐orange colour change. Control experiments confirm that the colour of an LCD is a consequence of molecular recognition in the mesomorphic phase.     

Affinity Matrices of Cratylia mollis Seed Lectins for Isolation of Glycoproteins from Complex Protein Mixtures

This work reports the use of matrices containing Cratylia mollis lectins (Cramoll 1,2,3-Sepharose and Cramoll 3-Sepharose) for isolation of glycoproteins from fetal bovine serum, human colostrum, hen egg white, and human blood plasma. Cramoll 1,2,3-Sepharose was able to bind a glycoprotein from fetal bovine serum which showed the same fetuin electrophoretic profile. The data indicate that this protein adsorbed to the matrix by interaction with Cramoll 3. Cramoll 1,2,3-Sepharose was not efficient to retain glycoproteins from human colostrum or commercial ovalbumin. Cramoll 3-Sepharose bound ovalbumin, and the support retained protein from hen egg white. Protein peaks eluted from the column with 1.0 M NaCl or 0.3 M galactose showed apparent molecular mass of ovalbumin. Two main proteins from blood plasma with apparent molecular mass 67 (similar to albumin) and 50 kDa (similar to fetuin) adsorbed on Cramoll 3-Sepharose and were eluted with 1.0 M NaCl as a single peak. Elution of adsorbed plasma proteins with 0.3 M galactose was less selective than with 1.0 M NaCl as revealed by SDS-PAGE. In conclusion, the Cramoll 1,2,3-Sepharose and Cramoll 3-Sepharose matrices were useful to separate glycoproteins from complex protein mixtures, and the adsorption phenomena was a carbohydrate-dependent event.     

Anti-inflammatory and Antinociceptive Activity of Chitin-binding Lectin from Canna Limbata Seeds

Lectins are a structurally heterogeneous group of proteins or glycoproteins with at least one noncatalytic domain binding reversibly to a specific mono- or oligosaccharide. Monocot mannose-binding lectins are an extended superfamily of structurally and evolutionarily related proteins. In this study, we evaluated anti-inflammatory and antinociceptive effects of monocot lectin from the Canna limbata seeds (CLL). To accomplish this, CLL was purified and subjected to pharmacological assays: abdominal writhing induced by acetic acid, formalin, hot plate and Zymosan A-induced peritonitis tests. The CLL was purified by chromatographic chitin column, and the relative mass of 21 kDa observed in electrophoresis was confirmed by electrospray mass spectrometry, which also revealed that purified CLL consists of a dimer having a weight of 49,676 Da. The CLL showed nociceptive activity in the acetic acid test as well as peripheral antinociceptive response. The CLL also showed anti-inflammatory effect with the reduction of inflammation in the formalin test and neutrophil migration into the peritoneal cavity. This is the first report of anti-inflammatory activity for a monocot lectin, and it suggests a new pharmacological tool to understand inflammatory and antinociceptive processes mediated through lectins.     

Long-Term Cultured Hairy Roots of Chicory—A Rich Source of Hydroxycinnamates and 8-Deoxylactucin Glucoside

Foam fractionation is a promising method for separation and concentration of biochemicals. It is simple, easily scalable, inexpensive, and environment friendly. Foam fractionation thus represents an alternative to the traditional methods used for immunoglobulin enrichment. However, little, if any, literature exists documenting the utilization of foam fractionation in the enrichment of immunoglobulins. Milk were utilized as an immunoglobulin source to serve as examples of a real system in this study. The investigation examined the effects of varying five different process parameters: the initial pH value, the initial concentration of immunoglobulin, the nitrogen flow rate, the column height, and the foaming time. Experimental results demonstrated that immunoglobulin could effectively be enriched from milk by foam fractionation. The maximum enrichment ratio with pretreatment (using pH 4.6 precipitation) was 6.30 along with a more than 92 % recovery for IgG and an enrichment ratio of 5.1 with 85 % recovery for IgM.     

Discarded Oranges and Brewer’s Spent Grains as Promoting Ingredients for Microbial Growth by Submerged and Solid State Fermentation of Agro-industrial Waste Mixtures

The exploitation of various agro-industrial wastes for microbial cell mass production of Kluyveromyces marxianus, kefir, and Saccharomyces cerevisiae is reported in the present investigation. Specifically, the promotional effect of whole orange pulp on cell growth in mixtures consisting of cheese whey, molasses, and potato pulp in submerged fermentation processes was examined. A 2- to 3-fold increase of cell mass was observed in the presence of orange pulp. Likewise, the promotional effect of brewer’s spent grains on cell growth in solid state fermentation of mixtures of whey, molasses, potato pulp, malt spent rootlets, and orange pulp was examined. The cell mass was increased by 3-fold for K. marxianus and 2-fold for S. cerevisiae in the presence of these substrates, proving their suitability for single-cell protein production without the need for extra nutrients. Cell growth kinetics were also studied by measurements of cell counts at various time intervals at different concentrations of added orange pulp. The protein content of the fermented substrates was increased substantially, indicating potential use of mixed agro-industrial wastes of negligible cost, as protein-enriched livestock feed, achieving at the same time creation of added value and waste minimization.     

Antioxidant, Anti-inflammatory, and Hypoglycemic Effects of the Leaf Extract from Passiflora nitida Kunth

Diabetes mellitus is a metabolic disease characterized by abnormally high plasma glucose levels, leading to major complications, such as insulin resistance, obesity, hyperlipidemia, and hypertension, also with alterations in the immune and neuronal systems. Brazilian plants have been studied as important sources for new molecules with medicinal properties. The genus Passiflora known as “Maracujá” has been used as a traditional folk medicine for a long time, so an investigation was performed regarding an endemic kind of passion fruit (Passiflora nitida Kunth) from Amazonas, Brazil. Here, we aimed to determine its potential biological activity against metabolic syndrome, oxidative stress, pain, and inflammation. The hydroethanol leaf extract revealed an in vitro α-glucosidase inhibitory activity of 50 % inhibitory concentration (IC₅₀)?=?6.78?±?0.31 μg/mL and an α-amylase inhibition of IC₅₀?=?93.36?±?4.37. In vivo, experiments of different saccharide tolerance resulted in significant glycemia control and, with alloxan-diabetic mice, resulted in a decrease of total cholesterol, a hypoglycemic effect, and an antioxidant activity by thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances measurement. Also, it decreased the carrageenan-induced edema volume and the rate of writhing as a nociceptive response. These results indicate positive effects of P. nitida extract and its potential to inhibit metabolic syndrome.     

Coexpression of CPR from Various Origins Enhances Biotransformation Activity of Human CYPs in S. pombe

Cytochrome P450 enzymes (CYPs or P450s) are the most important enzymes involved in the phase I metabolism of drugs (and other xenobiotics) in humans, and the corresponding drug metabolites are needed as reference substances for their structural confirmation and for pharmacological or toxicological characterization. We have previously shown that biotechnological synthesis of such metabolites is feasible by whole-cell biotransformation with human CYPs recombinantly expressed in the fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe. It was the aim of this study to compare the activity of seven human microsomal CYPs (CYP2C9, CYP2D6, CYP3A4, CYP3A5, CYP3A7, CYP17, and CYP21) upon coexpression with NADPH-cytochrome P450 oxidoreductases (CPRs) from various origins, namely, human CPR (hCPR) and its homologues from fission yeast (ccr1) and the bishop’s weed Ammi majus (AmCPR), respectively. For this purpose, 28 recombinant strains were needed, with five of them having been constructed previously and 23 strains being newly constructed. Bioconversion experiments showed that coexpression of a CPR does not only influence the reaction rate but, in some cases, also exerts an influence on the metabolite pattern. For CYP3A enzymes, coexpression of hCPR yielded the best results, while for another two, hCPR was equally helpful as ccr1 (both CYP17 and CYP21) or AmCPR (CYP17 only), respectively. Interestingly, CYP2D6 displayed its highest activity when coexpressed with ccr1 and CYP2C9 with AmCPR. These results corroborate the view of CPR as a well-suited bio-brick in synthetic biology for the construction of artificial enzyme complexes.