Neuroprotective Activities of Crossyne flava Bulbs and Amaryllidaceae Alkaloids: Implications for Parkinson’s Disease

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is one of the most common neurodegenerative diseases and affects approximately 6.3 million people worldwide. To date, the treatment of PD remains a challenge, as available treatment options are known to be associated with serious side effects; hence, the search for new treatment strategies is critical. Extracts from the Amaryllidaceae plant family as well as their alkaloids have been reported to have neuroprotective potentials. This study, therefore, investigated the biological activities of Crossyne flava and its isolated alkaloids in an in vitro MPP⁺ (1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium) PD model using SH-SY5Y cells. The effects of the total extract as well as the four compounds isolated from Crossyne flava (i.e., pancratinine B (1), bufanidrine (2), buphanisine (3), and epibuphanisine (4)) were evaluated for cell viability, neuroprotection, levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS), adenosine triphosphate activity (ATP), and caspase 3/7 activity in SH-SY5Y cells. The results obtained showed that pre-treatment with both the extract and the isolated compounds was effective in protecting the SH-SY5Y cells from MPP⁺-induced neurotoxicity and inhibited ROS generation, ATP depletion as well as apoptosis induction in the SH-SY5Y cells. The results of this study show that the Amaryllidaceae plant family may be a source of novel compounds for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases, which validates the reported traditional uses.     

Influence of branch content on the microstructure of blends of linear and octene-branched polyethylene: a MD simulation study

Microstructure of linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE) with linear high-density polyethylene (HDPE) is investigated by molecular dynamics (MD) simulation. The branch content of LLDPE was varied from 10 to 60 branches/1000 C. An equimolar mixture of each of the two polymers is simulated in the NVT ensemble at 500 K and at average experimental densities of the two polymer melts. Initially, chains of LLDPE and HDPE were completely mixed and evolution of conformations with time was monitored. The blends were found to microphase separate when the branch content of LLDPE exceeded 30 branches/1000 C. At 40 branches/1000 C, the two polymers displayed partial microphase separation and complete microphase separation was observed at 60 branches/1000 C. Substantial short-range order and mismatch of molecular conformations is observed in the microphase-separated systems.     

The effect of an electromagnetic wave-field pressure on the propagation of slow tm waves along the plasma layer

Angular distributions of the⁴⁸Ti(d, t)⁴⁷Ti and⁴⁷Ti(d, t)⁴⁶Ti reactions have been measured atE _d =19.5 MeV and analyzed by DWBA. The data suggest an explanation of the⁴⁸Ti(d, t)⁴⁷Ti ground state transition by means of a [f ₇ ^2/5 ·f _5/2]₀₊ neutron component in the ground state of⁴⁸Ti.     

Heterocyclic Synthesis with Enamines: Convenient Syntheses of Polyfunctionally Substituted Pyrazole,Pyridine, Pyrimidine and Pyrazolo[3,4-d]pyrimrdine Derivatives

Facile syntheses of pyrazole, pyridine, pyrimidine and pyrazolo[3,4-d]pyrimidine derivatives have been achieved by the reaction of β-enamino nitrile 2a with hydrazines, phenyl isothiocyanate, thiourea and active methylene reagents. The β-enamino ketone 2e with the same reagents affords 3,5-dimethyl heterocyclic ring systems.     

Influence of the halo upon angular distributions for elastic scattering and breakup

The angular distributions for elastic scattering and breakup of halo nuclei are analysed using a near-side/far-side decomposition within the framework of the dynamical eikonal approximation. This analysis is performed for ¹¹Be impinging on Pb at 69 MeV/nucleon. These distributions exhibit very similar features. In particular they are both near-side dominated, as expected from Coulomb-dominated reactions. The general shape of these distributions is sensitive mostly to the projectile-target interactions, but is also affected by the extension of the halo. This suggests the elastic scattering not to be affected by a loss of flux towards the breakup channel.     

Assessment of health risk associated with natural gamma dose rate levels and isodose mapping of Jordan

ABSTRACT

As a pioneering study in Jordan, an extensive measurement for external gamma dose rate (GDR) was conducted. A portable gamma radiation detector was used to perform these measurements at 1?m above the soil surface. A geographical positioning system Garmin was used to record a total of 823 measured points. The GDRs’ measurement ranged from 35 to 470?nGy?h^?1 giving a mean value of 90?nGy?h^?1, which was found to be one and half times higher than the world average of 59?nGy?h^?1. The lowest mean GDR 72?nGy?h^?1 was found in the Albalqa governate, while the highest mean GDR 131?nGy?h^?1 was found to be for the Alkarak governate. The mean annual effective dose was found to be 0.551?mSv, which is higher than the world average value of 0.48?mSv. This is a pivotal study evaluating the risks associated with GDR levels in Jordan that were the relative excess lifetime cancer risk, the mean collective effective dose, the mean weighted GDR and the mean lifetime dose that are 2.24?×?10^?3, 5538manSv?y^?1, 0.531?mSv and 39?mSv, respectively. The cosmic rays mean GDR was determined to be 20?nGy?h^?1. This study focuses on constructing GDRs’ baseline data in Jordan, which will be used to determine the possible change in the natural radiation due to other human activities in the future. ArcGIS software was employed to generate an isodose map to characterise exposure rates caused by GDR in Jordan.