A new diterpene glycoside from Stevia rebaudiana

From the commercial extract of the leaves of Stevia rebaudiana, a new diterpene glycoside was isolated besides the known steviol glycosides including stevioside, rebaudiosides A-F, rubusoside and dulcoside A. The new compound was identified as 13-[(2-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl-3-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl-β-D-glucopyranosyl)oxy] ent-kaur-16-en-19-oic acid-(2-O-α-L-rhamnopyranosyl-β-D-glucopyranosyl) ester (1) on the basis of extensive spectroscopic (NMR and MS) and chemical studies.     

Synthesis and Sensory Evaluation of <em>ent</em>-Kaurane Diterpene Glycosides

Catalytic hydrogenation of the three ent-kaurane diterpene glycosides isolated from Stevia rebaudiana, namely rubusoside, stevioside, and rebaudioside-A has been carried out using Pd(OH)₂ and their corresponding dihydro derivatives have been isolated as the products. Synthesis of reduced steviol glycosides was performed using straightforward chemistry and their structures were characterized on the basis of 1D and 2D NMR spectral data and chemical studies. Also, we report herewith the sensory evaluation of all the reduced compounds against their corresponding original steviol glycosides and sucrose for the sweetness property of these molecules.     

Two‐Component In situ Forming Supramolecular Hydrogels as Advanced Biomaterials in Vitreous Body Surgery

Polymeric β‐CD and poly{(2‐acrylamido‐2‐methyl‐1‐propanesulfonic acid sodium salt)‐co‐[6‐(acrylamido)‐N‐adamantylhexaneamide]} are synthesized to build in situ forming hydrogels based on host/guest interactions, so called physical hydrogels. The use of these hydrogels as a potential vitreous body substitute is discussed and recommended. Potential changes in cell morphology and cell vitality of the retinal ganglion cell line RGC‐5 are determined. DSC experiments with artificial membrane structures are performed. The analyses show that β‐CD overrides the harmful effects of the highly toxic adamantyl‐modified polymer. Although the final hydrogel is considered to be biocompatible, the application as a biomaterial has to be reconsidered.

     

Effect of Pb additive on crystallization kinetics of Se80In20 glassy matrix

The crystallization kinetics of bulk Se₈₀In_20−xPb_x (x=0, 5, 10 and 15) chalcogenide glasses have been studied using a differential scanning calorimeter (DSC) with different heating rates (5, 10, 15 and 20 K/min) under non-isothermal conditions. Various kinetic parameters of crystallization, such as crystallization temperature T_c, peak crystallization temperature T_p, activation energy for crystallization E_c and order parameters n, m have been determined to study nucleation and growth during crystallization. The reaction rate constant K and pre-exponential factor K₀ also have been determined. The composition dependence of these parameters may be explained on the basis of modification of chemical bonds present in the Se–In system due to addition of Pb content.     

Swift heavy ion induced effects at Mo/Si interface and silicide formation

Swift heavy ion (SHI) induced modification at metal/Si interfaces has emerged as an interesting field of research due to its large applications. In this study, we investigate SHI‐induced mixed molybdenum silicide film with ion fluences. The molybdenum thin films were deposited on silicon substrates using e‐beam evaporation at 10^?8 torr vacuum. Thin films were irradiated with Au ions of energy 120 MeV to form molybdenum silicide. The samples were characterized by grazing incidence X‐ray diffraction (GIXRD) technique for the identification of phase formation at the interface. Rutherford backscattering spectrometry (RBS) was used to investigate the elemental distribution in the films. The mixing rate calculations were made and the diffusivity values obtained lead to a transient melt phase formation at the interface according to thermal spike model. Irradiation‐induced effects at surface have been observed and roughness variations at the surface were calculated using atomic force microscopy (AFM) technique. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Concentration of fish serum albumin (FSA) in the aqueous extract of Indonesian Perciformes fishes’ muscle tissue

Fish serum albumin (FSA) is an aquatic resource that has potential to be developed as nutraceutical. Therefore, research was undertaken to assess albumin levels in the aqueous extract of muscle tissue of several Perciformes commonly available at a local fish market in Indonesia. Three random replicates for each of 17 Perciformes species were collected and assessed for their FSA content by application of a reversed-phase (C4) HPLC analytical method. Results of these analyses showed that the albumin concentration of the extracts was in the range 3.49–12.61 g/L, and that they varied significantly (P < 0.05) between species and families. This finding may mean that FSA levels are species and family dependent, something that could be investigated in future studies. As fishes from the family Scrombidae showed the highest concentration (12.61 g/L) of FSA, they would likely have the most value as a source for production of albumin-based nutritional and/or clinical products.     

Phosphorus-containing imide resins. III

Three imide monomers were prepared by reacting maleic anhydride; 2,2-bis(3,4-dicarboxyphenyl) hexafluoropropane dianhydride, bis(m-aminophenyl) methyl phosphine oxide, and tris(m-aminophenyl) methyl phosphine oxide, and tris (m-aminophenyl) phosphine oxide. The characterization was done by elemental analysis and infrared spectroscopy (IR). These monomers were soluble in acetone. Their thermal polymerization was investigated by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The temperature of the exothermic peak position was influenced by the presence of free amino group in the monomer and was about 50°C higher in monomers that did not contain amino group. Anaerobic char yield of imide monomers cured at 270 ± 2°C for 30 min ranged from 58 to 64%. Graphite cloth laminate fabricated from one of these resins had a limiting oxygen index of 100.     

Review of Acetic Acid Synthesis from Various Feedstocks Through Different Catalytic Processes

Acetic acid (AA) has been largely used with a wide range of applications such as a raw material for a synthesis of vinyl acetate monomer, cellulose acetate or acetate anhydrate, acetate ester and a solvent for a synthesis of terephthalic acid and so on. The present paper briefly summarizes the commercialized chemical processes with their Rh or Ir-based catalytic systems in a liquid-phase carbonylation reaction such as Monsanto, Cativa and Acetica processes. In addition, some alternative catalytic systems such as heterogeneous catalysts to produce AA by direct oxidation or indirect carbonylation of dimethyl ether through BP-SaaBre process in a gas-phase reaction to solve some problems such as a difficult separation of homogeneous catalysts in a corrosive reaction medium. Some home-made heterogeneous catalysts such as a rhodium incorporated graphitic carbon nitride (Rh-g-C₃N₄) and some heterogenized homogeneous catalysts using the supports of tungsten carbide, iron oxide or graphitic carbon nitride containing rhodium complexes were also introduced for the synthesis of AA through a liquid-phase methanol carbonylation reaction to effectively solve the leaching problem of active rhodium metal as well as to mitigate the separation problem of homogeneous catalysts.