Bacterial kinetics-controlled shape-directed biosynthesis of silver nanoplates using Morganella psychrotolerans

We show for the first time that by controlling the growth kinetics of Morganella psychrotolerans, a silver-resistant psychrophilic bacterium, the shape anisotropy of silver nanoparticles can be achieved. This is particularly important considering that there has been no report that demonstrates a control over shape of Ag nanoparticles by controlling the growth kinetics of bacteria during biological synthesis. Additionally, we have for the first time performed electrochemistry experiments on bacterial cells after exposing them to Ag(+) ions, which provide significant new insights about mechanistic aspects of Ag reduction by bacteria. The possibility to achieve nanoparticle shape control by using a "green" biosynthesis approach is expected to open up new exciting avenues for eco-friendly, large-scale, and economically viable shape-controlled synthesis of nanomaterials.     

Synthesis of C3-nitroalkylated-4-hydroxycoumarin and hydroxyiminodihydrofuroquinolinone derivatives via the Michael addition of cyclic 1,3-dicarbonyl compounds to β-nitrostyrenes

Herein, we describe a practical and efficient method for the C3-alkylation of 4-hydroxycoumarin by sonication under ‘on water’ conditions and mild temperatures using various substituted β-nitrostyrenes. In addition, we report on the development of a convenient process for the regioselective synthesis of angular hydroxyiminodihydrofuroquinolinone catalyzed by base. 4-Hydroxycoumarin and 4-hydroxy-1-methylquinolin-2(1H)-one reacted smoothly with various nitroolefins to furnish C3-nitroalkylated hydroxycoumarin derivatives (by sonication and ‘on water’ conditions) and hydroxyiminodihydrofuroquinolinone derivatives (ambient condition) as a mixture of Z (minor) and E (major) isomers, respectively. The mild reaction conditions employed, ease of isolation of the products and excellent yields constitute important features of the methodology.     

Effect of Donor-Acceptor Chromophores on Photophysical Properties of Newly Synthesized Pyrazolo-Pyrrolo-Pyrimidines (PPP)

Novel pyrazolo-pyrrolo-pyrimidine (PPP) derivatives having remarkable photophysical properties are designed with the help of theoretical semiempirical calculations. These compounds then synthesized successfully and studied effect of substituents on its photophysical properties.

Effect of Specific Solute-Solvent Interaction and Electron Donor-Acceptor Substituents of Novel Pyrazolo Naphthyridines on Fluorescence

Heterocyclic orthoaminoaldehyde such as 4-amino-3-(4-phenyl)-1-phenyl-1H-Pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridine-5-carbaldehyde was synthesized by multistep reactions involving reduction of azido derivative 2 with LAH to yield aminoalcohol 3 and oxidation of it with MnO(2) to aminoaldehyde 4.The pyridine ring annulated on to 4 by Friedl?nder condensation using acetophenones in presence of base to obtained pyrazolo[3,4-h][1,6]naphthyridine 5 in excellent yield. Study of photophysical properties of 5 revealed that the absorption and emission of them depends up on the substituents present on benzene ring in newly annulated pyridine ring.     

1,5‐electrocyclization versus 1,5‐proton shift in imidazolium allylides and 2‐phospha‐allylides: a DFT investigation

The competitive 1,5‐electrocyclization versus intramolecular 1,5‐proton shift in imidazolium allylides and imidazolium 2‐phosphaallylides has been investigated theoretically at the DFT (B3LYP/6‐311 + +G**//B3LYP/6‐31G**) level. 1,5‐Electrocyclization follows pericyclic mechanism and its activation barrier is lower than that for the pseudopericyclic mechanism by ～5–6 kcal mol^?1. The activation barriers for 1,5‐electrocyclization of imidazolium 2‐phosphaallylides are found to be smaller than those for their nonphosphorus analogues by ～3–5 kcal mol^?1. There appears to be a good correlation between the activation barrier for intramolecular 1,5‐proton shift and the density of the negative charge at C8, except for the ylides having fluorine substituent at this position ( 7b and 8b ). The presence of fluorine atom reduces the density of the negative charge at C8 (in 7b it becomes positively charged) and thus raises the activation barrier. The ylides 7f and 8f having CF₃ group at C8, in preference to the 1,5‐proton shift, follow an alternative route leading to different carbenes which is accompanied by the loss of HF. The carbenes Pr _{7 , 8b – e} resulting from intramolecular 1,5‐proton shift have a strong tendency to undergo intramolecular S_N2 type reaction, the activation barrier being 7–28 kcal mol^?1. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Stochastic growth of cloud droplets by collisions during settling

In the last stage of droplet growth in clouds which leads to drizzle formation, larger droplets begin to settle under gravity and collide and coalesce with smaller droplets in their path. In this article, we shall deal with the simplified problem of a large drop settling amidst a population of identical smaller droplets. We present an expression for the probability that a given large drop suffers a given number of collisions, for a general statistically homogeneous distribution of droplets. We hope that our approach will serve as a valuable tool in dealing with droplet distribution in real clouds, which has been found to deviate from the idealized Poisson distribution due to mechanisms such as inertial clustering.     

1,2,3-Triazolyl-tetrahydropyrimidine Conjugates as Potential Sterol Carrier Protein-2 Inhibitors: Larvicidal Activity against the Malaria Vector Anopheles arabiensis and In Silico Molecular Docking Study

Alteration of insect growth regulators by the action of inhibitors is becoming an attractive strategy to combat disease-transmitting insects. In the present study, we investigated the larvicidal effect of 1,2,3-triazolyl-pyrimidinone derivatives against the larvae of the mosquito Anopheles arabiensis, a vector of malaria. All compounds demonstrated insecticidal activity against mosquito larvae in a dose-dependent fashion. A preliminary study of the structure–activity relationship indicated that the electron-withdrawing substituent in the para position of the 4-phenyl-pyrimidinone moiety enhanced the molecules’ potency. A docking study of these derivatives revealed favorable binding affinity for the sterol carrier protein-2 receptor, a protein present in the intestine of the mosquito larvae. Being effective insecticides against the malaria-transmitting Anopheles arabiensis, 1,2,3-triazole-based pyrimidinones represent a starting point to develop novel inhibitors of insect growth regulators.     

Rediscovering the Therapeutic Potential of Agarwood in the Management of Chronic Inflammatory Diseases

The inflammatory response is a central aspect of the human immune system that acts as a defense mechanism to protect the body against infections and injuries. A dysregulated inflammatory response is a major health concern, as it can disrupt homeostasis and lead to a plethora of chronic inflammatory conditions. These chronic inflammatory diseases are one of the major causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide and the need for them to be managed in the long term has become a crucial task to alleviate symptoms and improve patients’ overall quality of life. Although various synthetic anti-inflammatory agents have been developed to date, these medications are associated with several adverse effects that have led to poor therapeutic outcomes. The hunt for novel alternatives to modulate underlying chronic inflammatory processes has unveiled nature to be a plentiful source. One such example is agarwood, which is a valuable resinous wood from the trees of Aquilaria spp. Agarwood has been widely utilized for medicinal purposes since ancient times due to its ability to relieve pain, asthmatic symptoms, and arrest vomiting. In terms of inflammation, the major constituent of agarwood, agarwood oil, has been shown to possess multiple bioactive compounds that can regulate molecular mechanisms of chronic inflammation, thereby producing a multitude of pharmacological functions for treating various inflammatory disorders. As such, agarwood oil presents great potential to be developed as a novel anti-inflammatory therapeutic to overcome the drawbacks of existing therapies and improve treatment outcomes. In this review, we have summarized the current literature on agarwood and its bioactive components and have highlighted the potential roles of agarwood oil in treating various chronic inflammatory diseases.     

Critical Review on Metal-Based Cosmetic Products

Most people utilize cosmetics to enhance or improve their physical appearance, regardless of their gender, race, or age. Heavy metals (HMs) are impurities or ingredients in many cosmetic products. According to recent studies, these metals can result in a variety of skin and health issues. Numerous studies demonstrate that the mismanaged formulation of such products without sufficient standardization of toxic metals throughout the production process is the primary reason for the high level of HM contamination in the samples. In order to prevent human exposure to such dangerous HMs, it is vital to monitor and manage the fate of HMs in cosmetic items, especially unbranded ones. Due to the wasteful interest of producers in making extra profit, the standards are not being imposed. Moreover, consumers are also ready to compromise with the product due to their unawareness of its hazardous impact on their skin and bodies. Short-term results on their looks may cause fatal effects on their health. Another significant issue that requires attention is the lack of safety regulations in the country for evaluating HMs in cosmetic products. Additionally, there is an urgent need to establish acceptable limits for potential impurities in cosmetic products that must be enforced at local levels. This review provides a comprehensive insight into the content of HMs in cosmetics and their effects on several organs and the site of application.