Ordered heme binding ensures the assembly of fully functional hemoglobin: a hypothesis

The exact mechanism by which four Fe-Protoporphyrin-IX (heme) moieties and four nascent globin chains combine to form human hemoglobin (alpha(2)beta(2)) remains a mystery. Recent Soret spectral static and kinetic studies of the incorporation of CN-Hemin derivatives into an array of human globin species have provided in vitro evidence of an ordered assembly pathway, through an alphaheme-betaglobin intermediate, that ensures correct formation of active hemoglobin tetramers.     

T-Count Optimized Wallace Tree Integer Multiplier for Quantum Computing

International Journal of Theoretical Physics - Quantum circuits for performing an arithmetic operation are necessary for the implementation of quantum computing peripherals. An effective quantum...     

Optical,spectral and thermal properties of organic nonlinear optical single crystal: 2,3-Dimethoxy-10-oxostrychnidinium hydrogen oxalate dihydrate

The potential organic nonlinear optical single crystal of 2,3-dimethoxy-10-oxostrychnidinium hydrogen oxalate dihydrate has been grown by slow evaporation solution growth technique (SEST) using ethanol–water solution at room temperature. The powder X-ray diffraction study reveals that the crystal belongs to orthorhombic system with non-centrosymmetric space group P2₁2₁2₁ and the cell parameters are a = 7.61 Å, b = 10.73 Å, c = 29.49 Å, V = 2410.75 Å³. The functional groups of the synthesized compound have been identified by FT-Raman and FTIR analyses. Photoluminescence spectroscopy study is determined to explore its efficacy towards device fabrications. Birefringence measurement has been carried out in order to analyze the optical homogeneity of the grown crystal. The optical constants such as reflectance (R) and extinction coefficient (K) have been determined from the transmittance data. The relative second harmonic efficiency of the compound is found to be 4 times greater than that of KDP. DTA-DSC measurements indicate that the crystal is thermally stable up to 174 °C.     

Targeted and modular architectural polymers employing bioorthogonal chemistry for quantitative therapeutic delivery

There remain several key challenges to existing therapeutic systems for cancer therapy, such as quantitatively determining the true, tissue-specific drug release profile in vivo, as well as reducing side-effects for an increased standard of care. Hence, it is crucial to engineer new materials that allow for a better understanding of the in vivo pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic behaviours of therapeutics. We have expanded on recent “click-to-release” bioorthogonal pro-drug activation of antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) to develop a modular and controlled theranostic system for quantitatively assessing site-specific drug activation and deposition from a nanocarrier molecule, by employing defined chemistries. The exploitation of quantitative imaging using positron emission tomography (PET) together with pre-targeted bioorthogonal chemistries in our system provided an effective means to assess in real-time the exact amount of active drug administered at precise sites in the animal; our methodology introduces flexibility in both the targeting and therapeutic components that is specific to nanomedicines and offers unique advantages over other technologies. In this approach, the in vivo click reaction facilitates pro-drug activation as well as provides a quantitative means to investigate the dynamic behaviour of the therapeutic agent.

There remain several key challenges to existing therapeutic systems for cancer therapy, such as quantitatively determining the true, tissue-specific drug release profile in vivo, as well as reducing side-effects for an increased standard of care.     

Nitrato Functionalized Polymers for High Energy Propellants and Explosives: Recent Advances

Future propellants and explosive research focus on developing compositions with less vulnerability without compromising performance. This has provided impetus for research in the area of high energy materials and compounds free from pollution, for safe handling, high performance, reliability and reproducibility. The energetic oxidizers and energetic binders are being developed in this scenario for use in composite propellants and explosives. In a propellant, the binder holds together the matrix containing solid oxidizer particles and finely divided metal particles. It provides structural integrity and aid the combustion of the propellant. Any new development in this area wherein the binder can contribute to the energetic is of immense importance. This can be achieved by incorporation of energetic groups such as nitrato (?ONO₂), azide (?N₃) or flurodinitro CF(NO₂)₂ as side chain or on to the existing polymer backbone. Among these, nitrato functionalized energetic binders can find application in myriad areas like boosters, plastic bonded explosives, gas generators and pyrogen igniters. The present article is a concise review on various types of nitrato binders; their synthesis, properties and their propellant studies. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Substitutions of organopalladium(II) species with benzimidazole derivatives

The [Pd(cod)(cotl)]ClO₄ complex (cod = cycloocta-1,5-diene; cotl = cyclooctenyl, C₁₈H₁₃ ^–) undergoes substitutions with new Schiff base ligands containing benzimidazole L [L = 2-(2-N-n-propylidenephenyl)benzimidazole (L¹); 2-(2-N-i-propylidenephenyl)benzimidazole (L²); 2-(2-N-n-butylidenephenyl)benzimidazole (L³); 2-(2-N-i-butylidenephenyl)benzimidazole (L⁴)]. Facile displacement of cod by L occurs to produce complexes of the type [Pd(cotl)L]ClO₄· nMe₂CO (n= 0; L = L¹, L² or L³; n= 2, L = L⁴). Dihalobridge complexes of the type [Pd(cotl)X]₂(X = Cl or Br) undergo halogen-bridge cleavage with L¹–L⁴ to give mononuclear complexes of the type Pd(cotl)LX · nH₂O (n= 2, X = Cl, L = L¹; n= 0, X = Br, L = L¹; n= 0, X = Cl, L = L²; n= 0, X = Cl or Br, L = L³; n= 0, X = Cl, L = L⁴; n= 2, X = Br, L = L⁴) and a binuclear complex [Pd(cotl)Br]₂L². The complexes were characterised by physical properties, i.r., ¹H- and ¹³C-n.m.r. spectral techniques and by mass spectra. Probable structures have been proposed.     

Stereoselective synthesis of 10,14-dimethyloctadec-1-ene, 5,9-dimethyloctadecane, and 5,9-dimethylheptadecane, the sex pheromones of female apple leafminer

The stereoselective synthesis of (10R,14R)-10,14-dimethyloctadec-1-ene (1), (5R,9R)-5,9-dimethyloctadecane (2), and (5R,9R)-5,9-dimethylheptadecane (3) the sex pheromone components of female apple leafminer was accomplished by reductive elimination tosyl and isonitrile groups of dialkylated tosylmethyl isonitrile. The key steps involved were dialkylation of TosMIC with 1-iodo 2-methyl alkanes, which were derived from Evan's alkylation of chiral auxiliary and subsequent reduction.     

Secondary metabolites from the unique bamboo,Melocanna baccifera

Phytochemistry of fruits and leaves of the unique bamboo Melocanna baccifera resulted in the isolation of 27 secondary metabolites, including 4-Oxabicyclo[3.2.2]nona-1(7),5,8-triene and Verbacine. Biological activity studies of Verbacine revealed it as an inhibitor of acetylcholinesterase and as cytotoxic against C6 cancer cells.     

Photoluminescence Quenching in Self‐Assembled CsPbBr3 Quantum Dots on Few‐Layer Black Phosphorus Sheets

An ordered self‐assembly of CsPbBr₃ quantum dots (QDs) was generated on the surface of few‐layer black phosphorus (FLBP). Strong quenching of the QD fluorescence was observed, and analyzed by time‐resolved photoluminescence (TR‐PL) studies, DFT calculations, and photoconductivity measurements. Charge transfer by type I band alignment is suggested to be the cause of the observed effects.