RELAXATION OF VASCULAR SMOOTH MUSCLE INDUCED BY LOW-POWER LASER RADIATION

The relaxation of rabbit aorta rings induced by low-power laser radiation was investigated in vitro to determine the location of the chromophore(s) responsible for this response and evaluate possible mechanisms. An action spectrum for relaxation was measured on rabbit thoracic aorta rings precontracted with norepinephrine. The decrease in isometric tension was measured during exposure to laser light (351–625 nm) delivered via a fiber optic to a small spot on the adventitial surface. The shortest UV wavelength (351 nm) was 35-fold more effective than 390 nm and 1700-fold more effective than 460 nm. Ultraviolet wavelengths also produced greater maximum relaxation (0.40–0.45) than visible wavelengths (0.20–0.25), suggesting that photovasorelaxation involves more than one chromophore.
The adventitial layer was not necessary for photovasorelaxation, indicating that the light is absorbed by a chromophore in the medial layer. The same degree of relaxation was obtained on rings without adventitia when either one-half of the ring, or a small spot was irradiated indicating that communication between smooth muscle cells spreads a signal from the area illuminated to the entire ring.
The mechanism for photovasorelaxation was investigated using potential inhibitors. N -monomethyl-l-arginine and N -amino-L-arginine, inhibitors of nitric oxide synthase, did not alter photovasorelaxation nor did indomethacin, an inhibitor of cyclooxygenase, and zinc protoporphyrin, an inhibitor of heme oxygenase.     

Cobalt Coordination Polymers Offering Hydrogen Bonding Cavities as Efficient Catalysts for Coupling Reactions

This work presents synthesis and characterization of two cobalt-based coordination polymers (CPs) prepared by using two positionally related pyridine-2,6-dicarboxamide fragment-based ligands containing appended arylcarboxylic acid groups. While arylcarboxylate groups of ligands coordinate to the Co(II) ions to produce 2D CPs; the amidic N−H groups remain free and generate large cavities lined with hydrogen bonds. Such hydrogen bonding cavities based CPs were found to reversibly adsorb molecular iodine. The Lewis acidic Co(II) ions and metal-coordinated labile solvent molecules in CPs promoted noteworthy heterogeneous catalysis for Friedel crafts reactions as well as multicomponent condensation reactions.     

Synthesis,Structure–Activity Relationships,and Antiviral Profiling of 1-Heteroaryl-2-Alkoxyphenyl Analogs as Inhibitors of SARS-CoV-2 Replication

The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), the causative agent of COVID-19, has led to a pandemic, that continues to be a huge public health burden. Despite the availability of vaccines, there is still a need for small-molecule antiviral drugs. In an effort to identify novel and drug-like hit matter that can be used for subsequent hit-to-lead optimization campaigns, we conducted a high-throughput screening of a 160 K compound library against SARS-CoV-2, yielding a 1-heteroaryl-2-alkoxyphenyl analog as a promising hit. Antiviral profiling revealed this compound was active against various beta-coronaviruses and preliminary mode-of-action experiments demonstrated that it interfered with viral entry. A systematic structure–activity relationship (SAR) study demonstrated that a 3- or 4-pyridyl moiety on the oxadiazole moiety is optimal, whereas the oxadiazole can be replaced by various other heteroaromatic cycles. In addition, the alkoxy group tolerates some structural diversity.     

Effects of heat and mass transfer on peristaltic flow of Williamson fluid in a non‐uniform channel with slip conditions

The combined influence of heat and mass transfer has been explored in a study of peristaltic transport of magnetohydrodynamic Williamson fluid in a non‐uniform channel with flexible walls. The slip conditions are paid due attention and long wavelength and small Reynolds number assumptions are adopted in the problem formulation. The obtained results are valid for small Weissenberg number. A detailed study of involved key parameters in the obtained solutions is made by the sketched graphs. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Qualitative analysis of desi ghee,edible oils,and spreads using Raman spectroscopy

Keeping in view the importance of dietary fats in modulating disease risk, a study was planned to compare edible oils, spreads, and desi ghee based on fatty acid composition through Raman spectroscopy. The double bonds in unsaturated oils tend to react more with oxygen causing oxidative stress in living cells; therefore, the excessive use of processed vegetable oils may pose risk for human health. In the spectral analysis, Raman peaks at 1063 and 1127 cm⁻¹ represent out‐of‐phase and in‐phase aliphatic C C stretch for saturated fatty acids. The peak at 1300 cm⁻¹, labeled for alkane, decreases with increase in the double bond contents (unsaturation). Further, the Raman peak at 1655 cm⁻¹ showed a monotonic increase as a function of unsaturation. The double bond contents in the Raman spectra from 1650–1657 cm⁻¹ represent unsaturated fatty acids that changes during the synthesis of spreads and banaspati ghee. Desi ghee, extracted from cow and buffalo milk, showed distinctive Raman peaks at 1650 and 1655 cm⁻¹, which originates because of isomers of conjugated linoleic acid. These Raman shifts differentiated desi ghee from other artificially produced banaspati ghee, spreads, and oils. Conjugated linoleic acid has proved to be anti‐carcinogenic, anti‐inflammatory, and anti‐allergic properties; therefore, the limited use of desi ghee may reduce the risk of cardiac diseases. Principal component analysis has been applied on the Raman spectra that clearly differentiated desi ghee, mono‐unsaturated extra virgin olive oil, and extra virgin olive oil spread from other oils, oil mixtures, spreads, and ghee. In addition, principal component analysis has been blindly applied successfully on 13 unknown samples to classify them with reference to the known ghee sample. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

An analytical solution for a nonlinear time-delay model in biology

In this paper, the homotopy analysis method is applied to develop a analytic approach for nonlinear differential equations with time-delay. A nonlinear model in biology is used as an example to show the basic ideas of this analytic approach. Different from other analytic techniques, the homotopy analysis method provides a simple way to ensure the convergence of the solution series, so that one can always get accurate approximations. A new discontinuous function is defined so as to express the piecewise continuous solutions of time-delay differential equations in a way convenient for symbolic computations. It is found that the time-delay has a great influence on the solution of the time-delay nonlinear differential equation. This approach has general meanings and can be applied to solve other nonlinear problems with time-delay.     

Photo-induced effects on structural and optical properties of Ga15Se81Ag4 chalcogenide thin films

Thin films with thickness of 400 nm have been obtained from the Ga₁₅Se₈₁Ag₄ ternary chalcogenide glass prepared by the melt quenching technique. The behavior of several optical constants has been studied from absorption and reflection spectra as a function of photon energy in the wavelength region 400–1200 nm. The amorphous nature of the sample was examined by X-ray diffraction and non-isothermal DSC measurements. Thin films were illuminated by shining white light using 1500 W tungsten lamp with different exposure time. The ambient temperature during the illumination process was controlled and kept at 348 K, selected by DSC thermogram. Analysis of the optical absorption data shows that the rule of non-direct transition predominates. It is found that the optical band gap decreases by increasing the illumination time. It has also been observed that the value of absorption and extinction coefficients increases while the refractive index decreases by increasing the illumination time from 0 to 150 min. The decrease in optical band gap is explained on the basis of the change in nature of the films, from amorphous to crystalline state, with increase of the illumination time.     

A statistical approach to determine process parameter impact in Nd:YAG laser drilling of IN718 and Ti-6Al-4V sheets

The numerous unique advantages afforded by pulsed Nd:YAG laser systems have led to their increasing utility for producing high aspect ratio holes in a wide range of materials. Notwithstanding the growing industrial acceptance of the technique, the increasingly tighter geometrical tolerances and more stringent hole quality requirements of modern industrial components demand that “defects” such as taper, recast, spatter etc., in laser-drilled holes are minimized. Process parameters like pulse energy, pulse repetition rate, pulse duration, focal position, nozzle standoff, type of gas and gas pressure of the assist gas are known to significantly influence hole quality during laser drilling. The present study reports the use of Taguchi design of experiments technique to study the effects of the above process variables on the quality of the drilled holes and ascertain optimum processing conditions. Minimum taper in the drilled hole was considered as the desired target response. The entire study was conducted in three phases:(a) screening experiments, to identify process variables that critically influence taper in laser drilled holes, (b) Optimization experiments, to ascertain the set of parameters that would yield minimum taper and (c) validation trials, to assess the validity of the experimental procedures and results. Results indicate that laser drilling with focal position on the surface of the material being drilled and employing low level values of pulse duration and pulse energy represents the ideal conditions to achieve minimum taper in laser-drilled holes. Thorough assessment of results also reveals that the laser-drilling process, optimized considering taper in the drilled hole as the target response, leads to very significant improvements in respect of other hole quality attributes of interest such as spatter and recast as well.     

Vibrational spectroscopy of selective dental restorative materials

Recently, significant advancement has occurred in vibrational (Fourier transform infrared [FTIR] and Raman) spectroscopy associated with dental materials. FTIR and Raman spectroscopies have emerged as significant breakthrough techniques and offer exciting new possibilities in the area of dental materials. These techniques have been used to obtain chemical images of formulations and allow researchers to find out the in situ structure of materials. This review summarizes the information obtained from these two techniques and their application in dental material sciences. The presented database of vibrational spectroscopy facilitated the appropriate identification of frequently used dental materials ranging from filling, obturating, adhesive, lining/luting materials, and prosthodontics materials. Spectral peaks that are related to these materials are discussed in detail, which provided crucial data in understanding the chemical structural properties. The application of vibrational spectroscopy allowed for a quick differential identification of typical dental materials composed of organic and inorganic compounds. From our study as well as the literature reviewed, it appeared that investigators uniformly confirmed the benefits of vibrational spectroscopy concerning identification of chemical functional groups of different chemical compositions. The diagnostic and prognostic tools based on these technologies have the potential to revolutionize our concepts leading to improve materials sciences and clinical application.