Characterization of interactions in aqueous solutions of hydroxyethylcellulose and its hydrophobically modified analogue in the presence of a cyclodextrin derivative

The formation of associative networks in semidilute aqueous solutions of hydrophobically modified hydroxyethylcellulose (HM-HEC) is dependent on intermolecular hydrophobic interactions. Addition of hydroxypropyl-beta-cyclodextrin (HP-beta-CD) monomers to the system provides decoupling of these associations via inclusion complex formation with the polymer hydrophobic tails. Results from viscosity, polymer NMR self-diffusion, and dynamic light scattering (DLS) measurements show that the hydrophobic interactions in HM-HEC solutions are effectively suppressed when the level of HP-beta-CD addition increases. Small-angle neutron scattering (SANS) results reveal that the large-scale association complexes in HM-HEC solutions are strongly diminished when the concentration of HP-beta-CD rises. The time correlation data obtained from the DLS experiments unveiled the existence of two relaxation modes: one single exponential at short times followed by a stretched exponential at longer times. The fast mode is always diffusive, whereas the slow mode exhibits progressively stronger wavevector dependence as the intensity of the hydrophobic interactions increases. This feature, as well as the accompanying drop of the stretched exponential beta as the HP-beta-CD concentration decreases, is attributed to enhanced hydrophobic interactions and can be well rationalized in the framework of the coupling model of Ngai.     

Sinc-Galerkin method for numerical solution of the Bratu’s problems

Study of the performance of the Galerkin method using sinc basis functions for solving Bratu’s problem is presented. Error analysis of the presented method is given. The method is applied to two test examples. By considering the maximum absolute errors in the solutions at the sinc grid points are tabulated in tables for different choices of step size. We conclude that the Sinc-Galerkin method converges to the exact solution rapidly, with order, $O(\exp{(-c \sqrt{n}}))$ accuracy, where c is independent of n.     

A simple route for the synthesis of novel N-alkyl-2-(alkylthio)-1H-imidazole derivatives

Novel $N$ -alkyl-2-(alkylthio)-1 $H$ -imidazole derivatives were synthesized in a single step by an efficient and simple method in high yields. Readily available starting materials, mild reaction conditions, operational simplicity and novelty are the key advantages of this method. Besides their novel structures, these compounds may have important biological activities and industrial applications.     

Reactive Blue 4 as a Single Colorimetric Chemosensor for Sequential Determination of Multiple Analytes with Different Optical Responses in Aqueous Media: Cu2+-Cysteine Using a Metal Ion Displacement and Cu2+-Arginine Through the Host-Guest Interaction

In the current study, we reported a novel label-free and facile colorimetric approach for the sequential detection of copper ion (Cu²⁺), l-arginine (Arg), and l-cysteine (Cys) in the H₂O (10.0 mmol L⁻¹ HEPES buffer solution, pH 7.0) using Reactive Blue 4 (RB4). First, the presence of Cu²⁺ led to a naked-eye color and spectral changes according to the binding site-signaling subunit approach. Then, the RB4-Cu²⁺ complex was successfully applied for Cys and Arg through different recognition pathways. The optical signals for Arg were observed due to its association involving the amino group, as well as the participation of the carboxylate group in a bidentate form to the complex, while selective behavior for Cys was explained by a metal displacement mechanism. The limits of detection for Cu²⁺, Arg, and Cys were calculated to be 1.96, 1.06, and 1.33 μmol L⁻¹, respectively. It could also be employed for the determination of three analytes in environmental, biological, and pharmaceutical samples. Importantly, the test strips based on RB4-Cu²⁺ complex could be used as a solid-state sensor for the detection of Cys and Arg. In addition, NAND and IMPLICATION molecular logic gates were obtained by using chemical inputs and UV-Vis absorbance signal as the output.

Graphical Abstract

     

Non-thermal Plasma Induced Expression of Heat Shock Factor A4A and Improved Wheat (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Triticum aestivum</Emphasis> L.) Growth and Resistance Against Salt Stress

There is a huge interest in making and applying innovating functional devices based on basic sciences (like physics) to improve plant growth and resistance against various stress conditions. This research was carried out in order to investigate effects of cold plasma on expressions of heat shock factor A4A (HSFA4A), plant growth and post reactions to salt stress. Wheat seedlings were treated with plasma (0.84 W/cm² surface power densities) at different exposure times. In both three and 6 h after plasma, inductions in expressions of HSFA4A were recorded in roots, compared to control. Six hours after treatments, plasma-induced the shoot expressions of HSFA4A in the treated seedlings, contrasted to 3 h. Plasma treatment caused not the only enhancement in shoot fresh and dry mass and total leaf area, but also alleviated adverse impacts of salinity. Destroying impacts of salinity on chlorophyll contents were mitigated by plasma. Peroxidase activity was decreased by 27% for salinity treatment alone over control, while it was increased by 15% for plasma and salinity-treated samples, compared to salinity control. The highest activities of phenylalanine ammonia lyase (PAL) were found in plasma treatment alone. PAL activity was found to be higher in plasma-pretreated seedlings counteracted to salt stress, relative to the salinity control. The plasma treatment may act as an effective elicitor to modify gene expression, thereby improving plant growth and resistance. Plasma technology should be considered as a new functional technology in plant sciences.     

Structural and dynamical characterization of poly-gamma-glutamic acid-based cross-linked nanoparticles

This work describes the formation of water-soluble hydrophilic nanoparticles from biosynthetic poly-γ-glutamic acid (PGA). Nanoparticles were formed by cross-linking using 2,2′-(ethylenedioxy) diethylamine in the presence of water-soluble carbodiimide. The structure was determined by nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy and the particle size by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), size exclusion chromatography (SEC), and dynamic light-scattering (DLS) measurements. The results from TEM, SEC, and DLS reveal that the particle size depends on the ratio of cross-linking. Particle size values measured by TEM were between 20 and 90 nm. Formation of cross-linked nanoparticles results in a dramatic viscosity drop compared to the viscosity of the corresponding solution of the parent PGA. The viscosity and DLS experiments disclose an intriguing interplay between intrachain and interchain cross-linking of the polymer chains, depending on the cross-linker density and polymer concentration. The SEC measurements show that the retention time of the major portion of particles increase because of the higher cross-linking ratio. At moderate cross-linker concentration, intramolecular cross-linking is the dominant process, whereas at higher cross-linker densities, the interpolymer cross-linking plays an important role. As a result, large clusters are also formed.     

Aqueous-Mediated green synthesis of novel spiro[indole-quinazoline] derivatives using kit-6 mesoporous silica coated Fe3O4 nanoparticles as catalyst

In this work, a series of eight new spiro[3,4′]1,3-dihydro-2H-indol-2-one-2′-amino-4′,6′,7′,8′-tetrahydro-2′,5’(1’H,3’H)-quinazoline-diones were successfully synthesized through a three-component reaction of 1H-indole-2,3-diones (isatins), guanidine nitrate, and 1,3-cyclohexanediones, by use of Kit-6 mesoporous silica coated Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles (Fe₃O₄@SiO₂@KIT-6) as a highly efficient magnetically separable nanocatalyst in aqueous media at 60°C. Several notable features of thiseco-friendly protocol are high yields of products, short reaction times, operational simplicity, and the use of easily available and recyclable catalyst.     

Bis(tetraphenylphosphonium) (hexasulfido‐2κ2S1,S6)di‐μ‐sulfido‐disulfido‐1κ2S‐tungsten(VI)zinc(II) acetone solvate

The title complex, (C₂₄H₂₀P)₂[WZnS₄(S₆)]·C₃H₆O or (Ph₄P)₂[WS₂(μ‐S)₂{Zn(S₆)}]·Me₂CO, was unexpectedly obtained on attempted recrystallization of a mixed tungten–zinc complex of a tris(pyrazolato)borate ligand. The two metal centres of the anion have distorted tetrahedral coordination and the two tetrahedra share one S...S edge; tungsten is additionally coordinated by two terminal sulfide ligands and zinc by a chelating S₆²⁻ ligand, which has one central S—S bond significantly longer than the other four, a pattern found to be consistent for this ligand. This is the first reported example of a tetrahedral zinc centre bridging an edge of a single tetrathiotungstate(VI) or tetrathiomolybdate(VI) anion, although there are many previous examples with other metals.     

A Novel Bacterial Route to Synthesize Cu Nanoparticles and Their Antibacterial Activity

Journal of Cluster Science - This report focuses on a facile and one-pot way to synthesize stable Cu nanoparticles (NPs) through a bacterial approach using an inexpensive and non-toxic copper salt...     

Fe3O4@SiO2@propyl‐ANDSA: A new catalyst for the synthesis of tetrazoloquinazolines

In this paper, a mild and green protocol has been developed for the synthesis of quinazoline derivatives. The catalytic activity of 7‐aminonaphthalene‐1,3‐disulfonic acid‐functionalized magnetic Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles (Fe₃O₄@SiO₂@Propyl–ANDSA) was investigated in the one‐pot synthesis of new derivatives of tetrahydrotetrazolo[1,5‐a]quinazolines and tetrahydrobenzo[h]tetrazolo[5,1‐b]quinazolines from the reaction of aldehydes, 5‐aminotetrazole, and dimedone or 6‐methoxy‐3,4‐dihyronaphtalen‐1(2H)‐one at 100 °C in H₂O/EtOH as the solvent. The catalyst was characterized before and after the organic reaction. Fe₃O₄@SiO₂@Propyl–ANDSA showed remarkable advantages in comparison with previous methods. Advantages of the method presented here include easy purification, reusability of the catalyst, green and mild procedure, and synthesis of new derivatives in high yields within short reaction time.