Thermoanalytical investigations on kinetics and mechanism of deamination of tris(ethylenediamine)copper(II) sulphate

The thermal decomposition of tris(ethylenediamine)copper(II) sulphate has been studied using TG, DTG and DTA. The different stages of decomposition have been identified by these techniques in conjunction independent pyrolysis and X-ray diffraction. The kinetics and mechanism of the first two stages of deamination of the complex were evaluated. The activation parameters for the deamination reaction were computed from the TG and DTA curves using four integral methods. The two stages of deamination follow the mechanism of random nucleation with the formation of one nucleus on each particle (Mampel equation). The thermodynamic parameter namely heat of reaction (DH) for the two deamination processes was also evaluated.

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Zusammenfassung Mittels TG, DTG und DTA wurde die thermische Zersetzung von Tris(ethylendiamin)-kupfer(II)-sulfat untersucht. Anhand dieser Methoden wurden in Verbindung mit einer gesonderten Pyrolyse und Röntgendiffraktion die einzelnen Schritte dieser Zersetzung identifiziert. Weiterhin wurde die Kinetik und der Mechanismus der beiden ersten Schritte der Desaminierung des Komplexes entwickelt. Unter Anwendung von vier Integralmethoden wurden aus den TG- und DTA-Kurven die Aktivierungsparameter der Desaminierungsreaktion berechnet. Beide Schritte der Desaminierung verlaufen nach dem Mechanismus der Random-Keimbildung mit der Bildung von einem Keim pro Partikel (Mampel-Gleichung). Die Reaktionswärme der zwei Desaminierungsprozesse wurde ebenfalls bestimmt.

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The authors are grateful to the authorities of Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre for providing the instrumental facilities. The help of Dr. K. Krishnan and Mr. Viswanathan Asari in the TG/DTA instrumental work is gratefully appreciated. One of the authors (S.M.) acknowledges with gratitude the aid given to him by the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (India) in the form of a senior research fellowship for carrying out this work.     

Di(2-ethyl hexyl) butyramide and di(2-ethyl hexyl)isobutyramide as extractants for uranium(VI) and plutonium(IV)

The extraction of uranium(VI) and plutonium(IV) from nitric acid into n-dodecane was studied using two isomeric branched alkyl amides, di(2-ethyl hexyl) butyramide (DEHBA) and di(2-ethyl hexyl) isobutyramide (DEHIBA). The extraction ratios of Pu(IV) at relatively high acidities were higher than the corresponding values for U(VI) in the case of DEHBA. However, with DEHIBA the values for Pu(IV) were negligibly small. Pu(IV) was found to be extracted as trisolvate by DEHBA and as disolvate by DEHIBA. U(VI) was extracted by both the amides. From the study of the extraction reactions at different temperatures, it was shown that all the reactions in the present investigation were enthalpy favoured and entropy disfavoured. Separation of Pu(IV) from bulk of U(VI) was feasible. However, the purity of the separated plutonium was not satisfactory in batch extraction studies.     

Disposition Kinetics of Amitraz in Lactating Does

Amitraz, a member of the formamidine pesticide family, commonly used for ectoparasite control, is applied as a dip or low-pressure hand spray to cattle and swine, and the neck collar on dogs. Data on amitraz were generated mainly on laboratory animals, hens, dogs, and baboons. The data on the toxicity and disposition of amitraz in animals and its residues in the milk are inadequate. Therefore, the present study was intended to analyze the disposition kinetics of amitraz and its pattern of elimination in the milk of lactating does after a single dermal application at a concentration of 0.25%. Blood at predetermined time intervals and milk twice daily were collected for eight days post application. The drug concentration was assayed by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Amitraz was detected in whole blood as early as 0.5 h, which attained a peak concentration at 12 ± 5 h, followed by a steady decline; however, detection persisted until 168 h. Amitraz was present in the blood at its 50% C_max even after 48 h, and was still detectable after 7 days. The disposition after a single dermal application was best described non-compartmentally. The mean terminal half-life (t_1/2), mean residence time (MRT), and area under the curve (AUC_0–t) were 111 ± 31 h, 168 ± 39 h, and 539 ± 211 µg/mL/h, respectively. The apparent volume of distribution (Vd_area) was 92 ± 36 mL/g with an observed clearance (Cl) of 0.57 ± 0.33 mL/kg/h. Thus, the drug was well absorbed, widely distributed and slowly eliminated from the animal body. Amitraz achieved milk concentration approximating 0.2 per cent of the total dose after a single exposure and the steady-state elimination of amitraz in milk above the recommended maximum residue limit (MRL) of 0.01 mg/kg can act as a source of public health concern when applied on lactating animals.     

Modulation of the PGE2-Mediated Pathway in the Eclosion Blocking Effect of Flumethrin and Terpenoid Subfraction Isolated from Artemesia nilagirica in Rhipicephalus annulatus

Prostaglandins are a group of important cell-signaling molecules involved in the regulation of ovarian maturation, oocyte development, egg laying and associated behaviors in invertebrates. However, the presence of prostaglandin E₂ (PGE₂), the key enzymes for PGE₂ biosynthesis and its interference by drugs were not investigated previously in the ovary of ticks. The present study was undertaken to assess the modulation of the PGE₂-mediated pathway in the eclosion blocking effect of flumethrin and terpenoid subfraction isolated from Artemisia nilagirica in Rhipicephalus annulatus ticks. The acaricidal activities and chemical profiling of the terpenoid subfraction were performed. The localization of the cyclooxygenase1 (COX1) and prostaglandin E synthase (PGES) enzymes and the quantification of PGE₂ in the ovaries of the ticks treated with methanol (control), flumethrin and terpenoid subfraction were also undertaken. In addition, the vitellogenin concentration in hemolymph was also assayed. Both flumethrin and the terpenoid subfraction of A. nilagirica elicited a concentration-dependent inhibition of fecundity and blocking of hatching of the eggs. The COX1 could not be detected in the ovaries of treated and control ticks, while there was no significant difference observed in the concentration of vitellogenin (Vg) in them. The presence of PGES in the oocytes of control ticks was confirmed while the immunoreactivities against PGES were absent in the vitellogenic oocytes of ticks treated with flumethrin and terpenoid subfraction. The levels of PGE₂ were below the detection limit in the ovaries of the flumethrin-treated ticks, while it was significantly lower in the ovaries of the terpenoid subfraction-treated ticks. Hence, the prostaglandin E synthase and PGE₂ were identified as very important mediators for the signaling pathway for ovarian maturation and oviposition in ticks. In addition, the key enzyme for prostaglandin biosynthesis, PGES and the receptors for PGE₂ can be exploited as potential drug targets for tick control. The detection of PGES by immunohistochemistry and quantification of PGE₂ by LC-MSMS can be employed as valuable tools for screening newer compounds for their eclosion blocking acaricidal effects.     

Cytotoxicity of Frutalin on Distinct Cancer Cells Is Independent of Its Glycosylation

Frutalin is a plant lectin with beneficial immunobiological action, although the access to its active form is still restricted. Moreover, there is a knowledge gap on isoform activity and glycosylation impact on its bioactivity, and recombinant production protocols were seen as ineffective. Here, a simpler and faster production and purification protocol was developed, attaining a yield of purified frutalin 3.3-fold higher than that obtained previously. Hemagglutination assays confirmed that this frutalin isoform could not agglutinate rabbit erythrocytes, while maintaining the native tetrameric structure, as indicated by DLS analysis, and strong interaction with methyl-alpha-galactose, in fluorescence spectroscopy studies. The cytotoxicity of the recombinant frutalin isoform was shown in a broad panel of human cancer cells: colon (HCT116), melanoma (A375), triple-negative breast cancer (MDA-MB-231), and ovarian (IGROV-1). Treatment with 8.5–11.8 μM TrxFTL reduced proliferation of all cancer cells to half in 48 h. This anti-proliferative effect encompasses the p53 pathway since it was significantly reduced in p53-null colon cancer cells (HCT116 p53^−/−; GI₅₀ of 25.0 ± 3.0 μM), when compared to the isogenic p53-positive cells (HCT116 p53^+/+; GI₅₀ of 8.7 ± 1.8 μM; p < 0.002). This recombinantly produced frutalin isoform has relevant cytotoxic effect and its biological activity is not dependent on glycosylation. The developed E. coli production and purification protocol generates high yield of non-glycosylated frutalin isoform with potent cytotoxic activity, enabling the development of novel anticancer p53-targeting therapies.     

Leveraging an enzyme/artificial substrate system to enhance cellular persulfides and mitigate neuroinflammation

Persulfides and polysulfides, collectively known as the sulfane sulfur pool along with hydrogen sulfide (H₂S), play a central role in cellular physiology and disease. Exogenously enhancing these species in cells is an emerging therapeutic paradigm for mitigating oxidative stress and inflammation that are associated with several diseases. In this study, we present a unique approach of using the cell''s own enzyme machinery coupled with an array of artificial substrates to enhance the cellular sulfane sulfur pool. We report the synthesis and validation of artificial/unnatural substrates specific for 3-mercaptopyruvate sulfurtransferase (3-MST), an important enzyme that contributes to sulfur trafficking in cells. We demonstrate that these artificial substrates generate persulfides in vitro as well as mediate sulfur transfer to low molecular weight thiols and to cysteine-containing proteins. A nearly 100-fold difference in the rates of H₂S production for the various substrates is observed supporting the tunability of persulfide generation by the 3-MST enzyme/artificial substrate system. Next, we show that the substrate 1a permeates cells and is selectively turned over by 3-MST to generate 3-MST-persulfide, which protects against reactive oxygen species-induced lethality. Lastly, in a mouse model, 1a is found to significantly mitigate neuroinflammation in the brain tissue. Together, the approach that we have developed allows for the on-demand generation of persulfides in vitro and in vivo using a range of shelf-stable, artificial substrates of 3-MST, while opening up possibilities of harnessing these molecules for therapeutic applications.

A persulfide/hydrogen sulfide generation strategy through artificial substrates for 3-mercaptopyruvate sulfurtransferase (3-MST) is reported, which enhances cellular persulfides, attenuates reactive oxygen species (ROS), and alleviates inflammation.     

Solution-processed electrochemical synthesis of ZnFe2O4 photoanode for photoelectrochemical water splitting

Journal of Solid State Electrochemistry - Herein, we report the synthesis of ZnO nanorod films onto FTO (fluorine-doped tin oxide) substrates using the solution-processed electrodeposition method....     

Studies on the thermal properties of silicone polymer based thermal protection systems for space applications

Journal of Thermal Analysis and Calorimetry - Thermal decomposition, thermal conductivity, specific heat and flammability of polydimethyl siloxane (PDMS) resin and three PDMS-based systems with...     

Oscillatory behavior in the reaction of 3-alizarin-sulfonic acid sodium salt with acidic bromate

Uncatalyzed and catalyzed oscillatory behavior in the redox potential in the oxidation of 3-alizarin-sulfonic acid sodium salt with acidid (H₂SO₄) bromate is reported. Optimum and boundary conditions for each reactant exhibiting oscillatory behavior have been studied and a probable mechanism is suggested.

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- 3-- (H₂SO₄) . , .

     

On asymptotic distribution on the a-adic integers

We show that the values of a polynomial with a-adic coefficients at integer and rational prime arguments are asymptotically distributed on the a-adic integers and that the integer parts of certain sequences known to be uniformly distributed modulo one, are uniformly distributed on the a-adic integers.