Coefficient estimates for certain classes of meromorphic bi-univalent functions

We define a new class of meromorphic bi-univalent functions and use the Faber polynomial expansions to determine the coefficient bounds for such functions. Our results generalize and/or improve some of the previously known results. A meromorphic function is said to be bi-univalent in a given domain Δ if both the function and its inverse map are univalent there.     

Tumour‐Targeted Drug Delivery with Mannose‐Functionalized Nanoparticles Self‐Assembled from Amphiphilic β‐Cyclodextrins

Multivalent mannose‐functionalized nanoparticles self‐assembled from amphiphilic β‐cyclodextrins (β‐CDs) facilitate the targeted delivery of anticancer drugs to specific cancer cells. Doxorubicin (DOX)‐loaded nanoparticles equipped with multivalent mannose target units were efficiently taken up via receptor‐mediated endocytosis by MDA‐MB‐231 breast cancer cells that overexpress the mannose receptor. Upon entering the cell, the intracellular pH causes the release of DOX, which triggers apoptosis. Targeting by multivalent mannose significantly improved the capability of DOX‐loaded nanoparticles to inhibit the growth of MDA‐MB‐231 cancer cells with minimal side effects in vivo. This targeted and controlled drug delivery system holds promise as a nanotherapeutic for cancer treatment.     

All-inorganic solid-state electrochromic devices: a review

Electrochromic devices (ECDs) are currently attracting much interest in academic and industry for both research and their commercial applications because of their controllable transmission, absorption, and/or reflectance. This paper reviews the progress that has taken place from 1969 until the year 2015 with regard to all-solid-state inorganic ECD fabrication. The main aim of this review article is to provide an easy entrance to literature of all-inorganic solid-state ECD.     

MICROEMULSIONS: AN OVERVIEW

In the past twenty five years, microemulsions have been the focus of extensive research worldwide due to their importance in a variety of technological applications. These applications include enhanced oil recovery, combustion, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, agriculture, metal cutting, lubrication, food, enzymatic catalysis, organic and bio-organic reactions, chemical synthesis of nanoparticles etc. The basic purpose of this review is intended to provide the most important features of microemulsions and their applications. Emphasis is placed on recent works, however, the reference list is by no means complete. In order to limit the size of the review, a more or less arbitary selection has been made with respect to examples chosen from literature.

The review is started with a brief introduction and focussed with definition, structure, type, formation characteristics, stability, phase behavior and the effect of additives, pressure, temperature on the phase behavior of microemulsion. In addition, the physicochemical properties, state of water in the micropool, transport (electrical and hydrodynamic) behaviors, thermodynamics of formation, solubilization parameters, and uses and applications of microemulsions have been briefly presented.     

Synthesis and biological evaluation of carbohydrate appended hydrazinocyclopentenes with potent glycation and α-glucosidase inhibition activities

Synthesis and biological evaluation of novel alkylidenecyclopentene glycohybrids via palladium and click chemistry are described. Out of the six molecules synthesized, four molecules were screened against α-glucosidase, α-amylase, and glycation reactions. The results showed that the compound 7f with a galactose appendage is a good α-glucosidase inhibitor and a potent anti-glycation agent under in vitro conditions with an IC₅₀ value of 0.075 μM and 0.022 μM, respectively. The toxicity of the compounds against normal cell lines was checked by MTT assay.     

Predicting the Impact of Deleterious Mutations in the Protein Kinase Domain of FGFR2 in the Context of Function, Structure, and Pathogenesis—a Bioinformatics Approach

Fibroblast growth factor receptor 2 (FGFR2) controls a wide range of biological functions by regulating the cellular proliferation, survival, migration and differentiation. A growing body of preclinical data demonstrated that deregulation of the FGFR signalling through genetic modification was observed in various types of cancers. However, the extent to which genetic modifications interfere with gene regulation and their involvement in cancer susceptibility remains largely unknown. In this work, we performed in silico profiling of harmful non-synonymous single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the protein kinase domain of FGFR2. Tolerance index, position-specific independent count score, change in free energy score (ΔΔG), Eris and FoldX indicated that seven mutations were found to be deleterious and may alter the protein function and structure. Furthermore, based on physico-chemical properties, two mutations K659N and R747H were found to be most deleterious in protein kinase domain and taken for further structural analysis. Docking study showed a complete loss of binding affinity followed by interference in hydrogen bonding and surrounding residues due to K659N and R747H mutations. In order to elucidate the mechanism behind the impact of mutation that can generate a ripple effect throughout the protein structure and ultimately affect the function, in-depth molecular dynamics simulation and principal component analysis were performed. The obtained results indicate that K659N and R747H mutations have a distinct effect on the dynamic behaviour of FGFR2 protein. Our strategy may be helpful for understanding SNP effects on proteins with function and their role in human genetic diseases and for the development of novel pharmacological strategies.     

Development and Properties of Surfactant‐Free Water‐Dispersible Cu2ZnSnS4 Nanocrystals: A Material for Low‐Cost Photovoltaics

A simple, yet novel hydrothermal method has been developed to synthesize surfactant‐free Cu₂ZnSnS₄ nanocrystal ink in water. The environmentally friendly, 2–4 nm ultrafine particles are stable in water for several weeks. Detailed X‐ray diffraction (XRD) and high‐resolution transmission electron microscopy revealed the formation of single‐crystalline‐kesterite‐phase Cu₂ZnSnS₄. Elemental mapping by scanning electron microscopy/energy dispersive spectrometry corroborated the presence of all four elements in a stoichiometric ratio with minor sulfur deficiency. Finally, Raman spectroscopy ruled out the possible presence of impurities of ZnS, Cu₂SnS₃, SnS, SnS₂, Cu_2?xS, or Sn₂S₃, which often interfere with the XRD and optical spectra of Cu₂ZnSnS₄. X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopic studies of the as‐synthesized samples confirmed that the oxidation states of the four elements match those of the bulk sample. Optical absorption analyses of thin film and solution samples showed high absorption efficiency (>10⁴ cm^?1) across the visible and near‐infrared spectral regions and a band gap E_g of 1.75 eV for the as‐synthesized sample. A non‐ohmic asymmetric rectifying response was observed in the I–V measurement at room temperature. The nonlinearity was more pronounced for this p‐type semiconductor when the resistance was measured against temperature in the range 180–400 K, which was detected in the hot‐point probe measurement.     

Isolation,Purification and Characterisation of an Organic Solvent-Tolerant Ca2+-Dependent Protease from Bacillus megaterium AU02

A new organic solvent-tolerant strain Bacillus megaterium AU02 which secretes an organic solvent-tolerant protease was isolated from milk industry waste. Statistical methods were employed to achieve optimum protease production of 43.6 U/ml in shake flask cultures. The productivity of the protease was increased to 53 U/ml when cultivated under controlled conditions in a 7-L fermentor. The protease was purified to homogeneity by a three-step process with 24 % yield and specific activity of 5,375 U/mg. The molecular mass of the protease was found to be 59 kDa. The enzyme was active over a wide range of pH (6.0–9.0), with an optimum activity at pH 7.0 and temperature from 40 to 70 °C having an optimum activity at 50 °C. The thermal stability of the enzyme increased significantly in the presence of CaCl₂, and it retained 90 % activity at 50 °C for 3 h. The K _m and V _max values were determined as 0.722 mg/ml and 0.018 U/mg respectively. The metalloprotease exhibited significant stability in the presence of organic solvents with log P values more than 2.5, nonionic detergents and oxidising agent. An attempt was made to test the synthesis of aspartame precursor (Cbz-Asp-Phe-NH₂) which was catalysed by AU02 protease in the presence of 50 % DMSO. These properties of AU02 protease make it an ideal choice for enzymatic peptide synthesis in organic media.     

Isolation and Identification of α-Glucosidase and Protein Glycation Inhibitors from Stereospermum colais

Stereospermum colais (family Bignoniaceae) is a well-known pharmacologically potent medicinal plant reported in traditional systems of medicine. Phytochemical investigation of the roots of S. colais resulted in the isolation of seven compounds, and the metabolites were screened for its α-glucosidase enzyme inhibition and anti-glycation property. The compounds identified were β-sitosterol (1), 2-(4′-hydroxyphenyl) ethyl undecanoate (2), 2-(4′-hydroxyphenyl)ethyl pentadecanoate (3), 5α-ergosta-7,22-dien-3β-ol (4), ursolic acid (5), lapachol (6), and pinoresinol (7). Ursolic acid, lapachol, and pinoresinol possessed IC₅₀ values of 119.01, 130.29, and 125.62 nM, respectively, compared to standard ascorbic acid with an IC₅₀ value of 201.01 nM. The other compounds failed to show the activity. Results of the current study showcased the possible exploration of this medicinal plant for the treatment of type 2 diabetes in line with the development of phytopharmaceutical industry.