Flavone enhances dengue virus type-2 (NGC strain) infectivity and replication in vero cells

This study investigates the effects of 2-phenyl-1-benzopyran-4-one (flavone) on DENV-2 infectivity in Vero cells. Virus adsorption and attachment and intracellular virus replication were investigated using a foci forming unit assay (FFUA) and quantitative RT-PCR, respectively. Addition of flavone (100 μg/mL) significantly increased the number of DENV-2 foci by 35.66% ± 1.52 and 49.66% ± 2.51 when added during and after virus adsorption to the Vero cells, respectively. The average foci size after 4 days of infection increased by 33% ± 2.11 and 89% ± 2.13. The DENV-2 specific RNA copy number in the flavone-treated infected cells increased by 6.41- and 23.1-fold when compared to the mock-treated infected cells. Flavone (100 μg/mL) did not promote or inhibit Vero cell proliferation. The CC?? value of flavone against Vero cells was 446 μg/mL. These results suggest that flavone might enhance dengue virus replication by acting antagonistically towards flavonoids known to inhibit dengue virus replication.     

Synthesis,Molecular Structure and DFT Study of 2-(<Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>-Benzoylbenzamido)pyridine-3-yl benzoate

Abstract  

The biologically important 2-amino-3-hydroxypyridine reacts with benzoyl chloride to give 2-(N-benzoylbenzamido)pyridine-3-yl benzoate. This synthesized compound has been studied by elemental analysis, X-ray crystallography and also theoretically by density functional theory (DFT) framework with B3LYP/6-311++G(d, p) level of theory. The molecules of this compound crystallize in the orthorhombic space group of P2₁2₁2₁ and the crystal packing involves both hydrogen-bonding and C–H⋯π interaction. The vibrational normal modes of the molecular structure are investigated by ab initio method for both infrared intensities (IR) and for Raman activities. Furthermore, the corresponding assignments are discussed. Hydrogen and carbon atoms of the benzene rings are found to be highly active. Also, experimentally obtained IR spectrum is presented and compared with the available theoretical data. Experimentally and theoretically obtained IR spectrum are in good agreement.     

A new perturbation solution for systems with strong quadratic and cubic nonlinearities

The new perturbation algorithm combining the method of multiple scales (MS) and Lindstedt–Poincare techniques is applied to an equation with quadratic and cubic nonlinearities. Approximate analytical solutions are found using the classical MS method and the new method. Both solutions are contrasted with the direct numerical solutions of the original equation. For the case of strong nonlinearities, solutions of the new method are in good agreement with the numerical results, whereas the amplitude and frequency estimations of classical MS yield high errors. For strongly nonlinear systems, exact periods match well with the new technique while there are large discrepancies between the exact and classical MS periods. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

On the asymptotic integration of nonlinear differential equations

The aim of the present paper is twofold. Firstly, the paper surveys the literature concerning a specific topic in asymptotic integration theory of ordinary differential equations: the class of second order equations with Bihari-like nonlinearity. Secondly, some general existence results are established with regard to a condition that has been found recently to be of significant use in the theory of elliptic partial differential equations.     

Attenuation of Scopolamine-Induced Amnesia via Cholinergic Modulation in Mice by Synthetic Curcumin Analogs

Alzheimer’s disease is an emerging health disorder associated with cognitive decline and memory loss. In this study, six curcumin analogs (1a–1f) were synthesized and screened for in vitro cholinesterase inhibitory potential. On the basis of promising results, they were further investigated for in vivo analysis using elevated plus maze (EPM), Y-maze, and novel object recognition (NOR) behavioral models. The binding mode of the synthesized compounds with the active sites of cholinesterases, and the involvement of the cholinergic system in brain hippocampus was determined. The synthesized curcumin analog 1d (p < 0.001, n = 6), and 1c (p < 0.01, n = 6) showed promising results by decreasing retention time in EPM, significantly increasing % SAP in Y-maze, while significantly (p < 0.001) enhancing the % discrimination index (DI) and the time exploring the novel objects in NORT mice behavioral models. A molecular docking study using MOE software was used for validation of the inhibition of cholinesterase(s). It has been indicated from the current research work that the synthesized curcumin analogs enhanced memory functions in mice models and could be used as valuable therapeutic molecules against neurodegenerative disorders. To determine their exact mechanism of action, further studies are suggested.     

Stereoselective synthesis of cis-2,6-disubstituted piperidines from 1,2-cyclic sulfamidates

Diastereoselective synthesis of cis-2,6-disubstituted piperidines from 1,2-cyclic sulfamidates is described. Regioselective ring-opening reactions of 1,2-cyclic sulfamidates derived from L-phenylalanine, alanine, valine, norvaline with the ketal protected acetylide with a phenyl substituent proceed smoothly to form the N-sulfamate intermediates which on acidic hydrolysis give alkynylated amines with the ketal group intact. Hydrogenation of the alkynylated amines, debenzylation, ketal deprotection, subsequent cyclization (of aminoketones) and stereoselective hydrogenation of the cyclic iminium ion intermediates afford the corresponding cis-2,6-disubstituted piperidines in high diastereoselectivity (98%?≥?d.e.) with good chemical yields (68–86%). The present approach provides a novel route for the stereoselective synthesis of cis-2,6-disubstituted piperidines.     

Common fixed point theorems for contractive type mappings in fuzzy metric spaces

In this paper we present some common fixed point theorems for contractive type mappings in complete and G-complete fuzzy metric spaces.     

The Efficient Photocatalytic Degradation of Methyl Tert‐butyl Ether Under Pd/ZnO and Visible Light Irradiation

Methyl tert‐butyl ether is a commonly used fuel oxygenate that is present in gasoline. It was introduced to eliminate the use of leaded gasoline and to improve the octane quality because it aids in the complete combustion of fuel by supplying oxygen during the combustion process. Over the past decade, the use of MTBE has increased tremendously worldwide. For obvious reasons relating to accidental spillage, MTBE started to appear as an environmental and human health threat because of its nonbiodegradable nature and carcinogenic potential, respectively. In this work, MTBE was degraded with the help of an advanced oxidation process through the use of zinc oxide as a photocatalyst in the presence of visible light. A mixture of 200 mg of zinc oxide in 350 mL of 50 ppm MTBE aqueous solution was irradiated with visible light for a given time. The complete degradation of MTBE was recorded, and approximately 99% photocatalytic degradation of 100 ppm MTBE solution was observed. Additionally, the photoactivity of 1% Pd‐doped ZnO was tested under similar conditions to understand the effect of Pd doping on ZnO. Our results obtained under visible light irradiation are very promising, and they could be further explored for the degradation of several nondegradable environmental pollutants.     

Finite size effects on bag thermodynamics and quark-gluon deconfinement phase transition

We have investigated the effects of finite size corrections (surface and curvature) to the single particle density of states on various thermodynamic quantities of massless quarks and gluons confined in a spherical cavity. The chemical potential zero and non-zero both the cases are studied. Ignoring the surface term which seems much less important than the curvature term, the problem can be studied analytically in the case of zero chemical potential. We find a first order deconfinement phase transition contrary to the second order in absence of the curvature term. Furthermore, the values of the transition temperature,T _s in the infinite volume limit and the critical temperatureT _c >T _s , beyond which hadrons cease to exist, are in conformity with our earlier studies.     

Green Polymer Chemistry: II. Enzymatic Synthesis of Methacrylate‐Terminated Polyisobutylenes

Methacrylate‐terminated polyisobutylenes (PIB‐MAs) were synthesized by transesterification of vinyl methacrylate by hydroxyl‐terminated polyisobutylenes (PIB‐OH) using Candida antarctica lipase B (Novozyme 435) catalyst in hexane at 50 °C. PIB CH₂ CH₂ CH₂ OH and Glissopal OH, synthesized by anti‐Markovnikov hydrobromination of allyl‐terminated PIB and Glissopal®2300 followed by hydrolysis, were quantitatively converted into the corresponding PIB‐MAs. ¹H and ¹³C NMR spectroscopy verified the formation of the expected structures. This “green” chemistry is a very promising methodology for polymer functionalization in general, and biomaterial synthesis in particular.