Multiscale entropy analysis of complex physiologic time series

There has been considerable interest in quantifying the complexity of physiologic time series, such as heart rate. However, traditional algorithms indicate higher complexity for certain pathologic processes associated with random outputs than for healthy dynamics exhibiting long-range correlations. This paradox may be due to the fact that conventional algorithms fail to account for the multiple time scales inherent in healthy physiologic dynamics. We introduce a method to calculate multiscale entropy (MSE) for complex time series. We find that MSE robustly separates healthy and pathologic groups and consistently yields higher values for simulated long-range correlated noise compared to uncorrelated noise.     

Voltammetric Detection of Captopril on Graphite Screen Printed Electrodes

We report the electrochemical detection of captopril on commercially available screen printed electrodes (GSPE); it exploits the silver residue left behind on a GSPE during its manufacturing process and involves the catalytic formation of the silver thiol complex (Ag⁺+RSH→AgSR+H⁺) at potentials corresponding to the oxidation of silver. The oxidation of the silver thiol complex was found to vary linearly with the captopril concentration up to 0.8 mM. A sensitivity of 13.34±0.58 μA mM^?1 is reported with a limit of detection of 4.27±0.18 μM.     

Astaxanthinogenesis in the yeastPhaffia rhodozyma

Astaxanthin is a diketo-dihydroxy-carotenoid produced byPhaffia rhodozyma, a basidiomicetous yeast. A low-cost fermentation medium consisting of raw sugarcane juice and urea was developed to exploit the active sucrolytic/urelolytic enzyme apparatus inherent to the yeast. As compared to the beneficial effect of 0.1 g% urea, a ready nitrogen source, mild phosphoric pre inversion of juice sucrose to glucose and fructose, promptly fermentable carbon sources, resulted in smaller benefits. Corn steep liquor (CSL) was found to be a valuable supplement for both yeast biomass yield (9.2 g dry cells/L) and astaxanthin production (1.3 mg/g cells). Distillery effluent (vinace), despite only a slightly positive effect on yeast growth, allowed for the highest pigment productivity (1.9 mg/g cells). Trace amounts of Ni² (1 mg/L, as a cofactor for urease) resulted in controversial effects, namely, biomass decrease and astaxanthin increase, with no effect on the release (and uptake) of ammonium ion from urea. Since the synthesized astaxanthin is associated with the yeast cell and the pigment requires facilitated release for aquaculture uses (farmed fish meat staining), an investigation of the yeast cell wall was undertaken using detergent-treated cells. The composition of the rigid yeast envelope was found to be heterogeneous. Its partial acid or enzymatic depolymerization revealed glucose and xylose as common monomeric units of the cell-wall glycopolymers. Yeast cell-wall partial depolymerization with appropriate hydrolases may improve the pigment bioavailability for captive aquatic species and poultry.

     

Chiral Stationary Phases Based on Small Molecules: An Update of the Last 17 Years

A literature survey covering the report on Pirkle-type chiral stationary phases (CSPs) from January 2000 to March 2017 is presented in this review. More than 200 CSPs comprising small molecules as chiral selectors covalently bound to the chromatographic support have been reported in this period. The chemical nature of these new chiral selectors, new insights into the development strategies and their applications in liquid chromatography were emphasized.     

Determination of Mg, Ti and Cl in Ziegler-Natta catalysts by WDXRF

A method for determination of Mg, Ti and Cl in Ziegler-Natta (ZN) catalysts by wavelength dispersive X-ray fluorescence (WDXRF) spectrometry was developed. For comparative reasons, Ti was determined by spectrophotometry, Mg by complexometry and Cl by argentometric titration. Direct pressing was shown to be unsuitable for sample preparation due to catalyst decomposition. For Ti and Mg measurements, catalyst samples were calcinated at 1000 °C and pressed at 275 MPa. Their determination by the fundamental parameters based on the Ti Ka line measurement was shown to be equivalent to those results obtained by univariate calibration or by the classical methods. Cl was determined by aqueous extraction, followed by deposition on a support. Chloride loss was observed. Fixation of Cl as AgCl on polytetrafluoroethylene (FHLC) millipore membrane afforded the best results. Nevertheless, measurements by WDXRF were shown to be inferior to those obtained by argentometric titration.     

Computational studies of new potential antimalarial compounds – Stereoelectronic complementarity with the receptor

One of the most important pharmacological mechanisms of antimalarial action is the inhibition of the aggregation of hematin into hemozoin. We present a group of new potential antimalarial molecules for which we have performed a DFT study of their stereoelectronic properties. Additionally, the same calculations were carried out for the two putative drug receptors involved in the referred activity, i.e., hematin mu-oxo dimer and hemozoin. A complementarity between the structural and electronic profiles of the planned molecules and the receptors can be observed. A docking study of the new compounds in relation to the two putative receptors is also presented, providing a correlation with the defined electrostatic complementarity.     

Voltammetric Detection of Captopril in a Commercial Drug Using a Gold-Copper Metal-organic Framework Nanocomposite Modified Electrode

We report the application of an electrochemical sensor based on gold-copper metal-organic framework immobilized on the surface of a glassy carbon electrode to the detection of captopril (CAP), an angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor. Cyclic voltammetric studies showed that the joint action of gold nanoparticles and copper-1,3,5-benzenetricarboxylate (Cu−BTC) enhanced the electrochemical response to the Cu-captopril complex that is adsorbed onto the surface of the electrode. Release of gold nanoparticles from Au@Cu−BTC not only increased the conductivity of the electrode but also provided a more favorable environment for the deposition of reduced Cu that is catalytically renewed on the electrode surface. The anodic current of the Cu^(II)−CAP oxidation peak varied linearly within two concentration ranges, namely 0.5 to 7.0 μmol L⁻¹ and 10 to 2500 μmol L⁻¹, with a limit of detection of 0.047 μmol L⁻¹. The mean recovery for the determination of captopril in commercial tablets was 100.3 % suggesting that the method has considerable potential for future industrial applications.     

Naturally occurring 1,2,8-trimethoxyxanthone and biphenyl ether intermediates leading to 1,2-dimethoxyxanthone

In order to study structure–activity relationships, a series of mono-, di- and trioxy­genated xanthones has been synthesized and the structures of methyl 2-(3,4-di­methoxy­phenoxy)­benzoate, C₁₆H₁₆O₅, 2-(3,4-di­methoxy­phenoxy)­benzoic acid, C₁₅H₁₄O₅, 1,2-di­methoxy-9H-xanthen-9-one, C₁₅H₁₂O₄, and 1,2,8-tri­methoxy-9H-xanthen-9-one, C₁₆H₁₄O₅, have been determined. The first two compounds both assume skew conformations, the dihedral angles between the two phenyl rings being 80.04 (8) and 83.0 (1)°, respectively. The latter two compounds are essentially planar and their methoxy substituents assume orientations consistent with minimum steric interactions.     

BP-M345, a New Diarylpentanoid with Promising Antimitotic Activity

Previously, we reported the in vitro growth inhibitory effect of diarylpentanoid BP-M345 on human cancer cells. Nevertheless, at that time, the cellular mechanism through which BP-M345 exerts its growth inhibitory effect remained to be explored. In the present work, we report its mechanism of action on cancer cells. The compound exhibits a potent tumor growth inhibitory activity with high selectivity index. Mechanistically, it induces perturbation of the spindles through microtubule instability. As a consequence, treated cells exhibit irreversible defects in chromosome congression during mitosis, which induce a prolonged spindle assembly checkpoint-dependent mitotic arrest, followed by massive apoptosis, as revealed by live cell imaging. Collectively, the results indicate that the diarylpentanoid BP-M345 exerts its antiproliferative activity by inhibiting mitosis through microtubule perturbation and causing cancer cell death, thereby highlighting its potential as antitumor agent.