Search for physiologically active compounds

The synthesis of a few (7, 8) oxazolo-flavones has been carried out starting from 7-hydroxy-8-amino flavone. The ultraviolet and infrared spectra of these new class of heterocyclic compounds have been studied. The anti-bacterial and anti-fungal activities of these compounds have been reported.     

Use of high-performance liquid chromatographic and microbiological analyses for evaluating the presence or absence of active metabolites of the antifungal posaconazole in human plasma

Posaconazole (SCH 56592) is a novel broad spectrum triazole antifungal agent that is currently in phase III clinical trials for the treatment of systemic fungal infections. This study was initiated to determine if orally administered posaconazole to humans would result in the formation of active metabolite(s). Plasma samples from a multiple-rising dose study in healthy volunteers were analyzed by validated HPLC and microbiological methods. The HPLC analysis involved extraction with a mixture of organic solvent (methylene chloride-hexane) followed by separation on a C18 column and quantification by UV absorbance at 262 nm. The microbiological assay was performed utilizing an agar diffusion method using Candida pseudorropicalis ATCC 46764 as the test organism. Potency was determined by comparing the growth inhibition zones produced by the test sample to those produced by standard concentrations prepared in plasma. Individual and mean plasma concentration-time profiles were similar for both HPLC and microbiological assays. The area under the plasma concentration-time curves of the microbiological and HPLC results were similar with a mean (RSD) ratio of 105.5% 15.3%), indicating that there was no relevant biologically active metabolite of posaconazole in human plasma.     

Free-convection boundary-layer flow of a non-Newtonian fluid along a vertical wavy surface

A theoretical analysis of laminar free-convection flow over a vertical isothermal wavy surface in a non-Nevvtonian power-law fluid is considered. The governing equations are first cast into a nondimensional form by using suitable boundary-layer variables that substract out the effect of the wavy surface from the boundary conditions. The boundary-layer equations are then solved numerically by a very efficient implicit finite-difference method known as the Keller-Box method. A sinusoidal surface is used to elucidate the effects of the power-law index, amplitude wavelength, and Prandtl number on the velocity and temperature fields, as well as on the local Nusselt number. It is shown that the local Nusselt number varies periodically along the wavy surface. The wave-length of the local Nusselt number variation is half that of the wavy surface, irrespective of whether the fluid is a Newtonian fluid or a non-Newtonian fluid. Comparisons with earlier works are also made, and the agreement is found to be very good.     

Stability of the Horizontal Throughflow in a Power-Law Fluid Saturated Porous Layer

Transport in Porous Media - Double-diffusive convective instability of horizontal throughflow in a power-law fluid saturated porous layer is investigated. The boundaries of this horizontal porous...     

Mesoporous Manganese Oxide/Lignin-Derived Carbon for High Performance of Supercapacitor Electrodes

This study explores the modification of lignin with surfactants, which can be used as a template to make mesoporous structures, and can also be used in combination with manganese oxide to produce manganese oxide/lignin-derived carbon. Organosolv extraction, using ethanol (70%) at 150 °C, was carried out to extract lignin from oil palm wood. Lignin was then mixed with Pluronic F-127, with and without Mn(NO₃)₂, and then crosslinked with acidic formaldehyde, resulting in a carbon precursor-based modified lignin. Carbonization was carried out at 900 °C to produce lignin-derived carbon and manganese oxide/lignin-derived carbon. The characterization materials included Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, scanning electron microscope-energy dispersive X-ray (SEM-EDX) mapping, X-ray diffraction (XRD), and N₂-sorption analysis. FTIR curves displayed the vibration bands of lignin and manganese oxide. SEM images exhibited the different morphological characteristics of carbon from LS120% (lignin with a Pluronic surfactant of 120%) and LS120%Mn20% (lignin with a Pluronic of 120% and Mn oxide of 20%). Carbon LS120% (C-LS120%) showed the highest specific surface area of 1425 m²/g with a mean pore size of 3.14 nm. The largest mean pore size of 5.23 nm with a specific surface area of 922 m²/g was exhibited by carbon LS120%-Mn20% (C-LS120%-Mn20%). C-LS120%Mn20% features two phases of Mn oxide crystals. The highest specific capacitance of 345 F/g was exhibited by C-LS120%-Mn20%.