Biophysical,Biochemical, and Molecular Docking Investigations of Anti-Glycating,Antioxidant, and Protein Structural Stability Potential of Garlic

Garlic has been reported to inhibit protein glycation, a process that underlies several disease processes, including chronic complications of diabetes mellitus. Biophysical, biochemical, and molecular docking investigations were conducted to assess anti-glycating, antioxidant, and protein structural protection activities of garlic. Results from spectral (UV and fluorescence) and circular dichroism (CD) analysis helped ascertain protein conformation and secondary structure protection against glycation to a significant extent. Further, garlic showed heat-induced protein denaturation inhibition activity (52.17%). It also inhibited glycation, advanced glycation end products (AGEs) formation as well as lent human serum albumin (HSA) protein structural stability, as revealed by reduction in browning intensity (65.23%), decrease in protein aggregation index (67.77%), and overall reduction in cross amyloid structure formation (33.26%) compared with positive controls (100%). The significant antioxidant nature of garlic was revealed by FRAP assay (58.23%) and DPPH assay (66.18%). Using molecular docking analysis, some of the important garlic metabolites were investigated for their interactions with the HSA molecule. Molecular docking analysis showed quercetin, a phenolic compound present in garlic, appears to be the most promising inhibitor of glucose interaction with the HSA molecule. Our findings show that garlic can prevent oxidative stress and glycation-induced biomolecular damage and that it can potentially be used in the treatment of several health conditions, including diabetes and other inflammatory diseases.     

Can restrictions on redemption timing boost profitability of loyalty programs in competitive environments?

Computational Management Science - This research investigates whether it is beneficial for competing firms offering loyalty programs (LPs) to restrict the reward redemption time. We develop a...     

A Baer-Krull Theorem for Quasi-Ordered Groups

We give group analogs of two important theorems of real algebra concerning convex valuations, one of which is the Baer-Krull theorem. We do this by using quasi-orders, which gives a uniform approach to valued and ordered groups. We also recover the classical Baer-Krull theorem from its group analog.     

Dispersion of discrete sample signals within aerosol spray chambers: preliminary investigations

A barrel-type spray chamber with a baffle system and various other structures were used for characterization of band-broadening phenomena occurring within aerosol spray chambers, with an ICP-AES detector used in this case. Absolute values of aerosol particle size distributions from nebulizer/spray chamber systems were measured and found to be affected by the relative positions of impact surfaces with respect to the nebulizer. Smaller particles, but less total mass was observed as the baffle was moved closer to the nebulizer tip. However, based on measurements herein, it does not appear that particle sizes in any case will be small enough within the spray chamber for diffusion to influence band broadening for the bulk of the aerosol mass, as particularly important for mass sensitive detectors such as ICP-AES, although diffusion is likely to be important to particle number sensitive detectors.

Dispersion within the turbulent gas-phase regions of spray chambers appears to be relatively small. Geometries which introduce stagnant gas flow regions appear to have larger effects on band-broadening. The smoke tests utilized in these studies were found to be useful aids for visualization of spray chamber flow phenomena that influence dispersion of discrete signals.

Recirculation phenomena can also play a role in band broadening. Recirculation of aerosol re-entrained into the nebulizer jet appears to have an effect on dispersion, as represented by the full width at half maximum values. On the other hand, recirculation renebulization leads to substantial peak tailing.     

Microstructure and First Hydrogenation Properties of TiHfZrNb1−xV1+x Alloy for x = 0, 0.1, 0.2, 0.4, 0.6 and 1

The effect of the substitution of Nb by V on the microstructure and hydrogen storage properties of TiHfZrNb_1−xV_1+x alloys (x = 0.1, 0.2, 0.4, 0.6 and 1) was investigated. For x = 0, the alloy was pure BCC and upon the substitution of niobium by vanadium, the BCC was progressively replaced by HCP and FCC phases. For x = 0.6, a C15 phase was also present and becomes the main phase for x = 1. The substitution greatly enhanced the first hydrogenation and makes it possible at room temperature under 20 bars of hydrogen. The capacity of all substituted alloys was around 2 wt.%.     

Binding Free Energy (BFE) Calculations and Quantitative Structure–Activity Relationship (QSAR) Analysis of Schistosoma mansoni Histone Deacetylase 8 (smHDAC8) Inhibitors

Histone-modifying proteins have been identified as promising targets to treat several diseases including cancer and parasitic ailments. In silico methods have been incorporated within a variety of drug discovery programs to facilitate the identification and development of novel lead compounds. In this study, we explore the binding modes of a series of benzhydroxamates derivatives developed as histone deacetylase inhibitors of Schistosoma mansoni histone deacetylase (smHDAC) using molecular docking and binding free energy (BFE) calculations. The developed docking protocol was able to correctly reproduce the experimentally established binding modes of resolved smHDAC8–inhibitor complexes. However, as has been reported in former studies, the obtained docking scores weakly correlate with the experimentally determined activity of the studied inhibitors. Thus, the obtained docking poses were refined and rescored using the Amber software. From the computed protein–inhibitor BFE, different quantitative structure–activity relationship (QSAR) models could be developed and validated using several cross-validation techniques. Some of the generated QSAR models with good correlation could explain up to ~73% variance in activity within the studied training set molecules. The best performing models were subsequently tested on an external test set of newly designed and synthesized analogs. In vitro testing showed a good correlation between the predicted and experimentally observed IC₅₀ values. Thus, the generated models can be considered as interesting tools for the identification of novel smHDAC8 inhibitors.     

Synthesis of biosourced polyether-amides from 1,4-3,6-dianhydrohexitols: Characterization by NMR and MALDI–ToF mass spectrometry

New series of polyether-amides were prepared by polycondensation in solution of three diamines based on 1,4-3,6-dianhydrohexitols with two types of diacyl chlorides (sebacoyl and isophtaloyl). Unprecedented diamines based on isomannide and isoidide were elaborated. The corresponding polyether-amides (PeA) were obtained with high yields. They were characterized by different analytical techniques (NMR, MALDI–ToF MS, DSC). The combination of MALDI–ToF MS with NMR spectroscopy allowed us to confirm structure types. DSC measurements revealed an amorphous character for the isophtaloyl family with a high T_g value. The sebacoyl series proved to be semi-crystalline with a high T_m value. Isosorbide-based PeAs demonstrated interesting properties (T_g above 210 °C and T_m above 240 °C) and high viscosity (0.32).     

Total Synthesis of Aspergillomarasmine A and Related Compounds: A Sulfamidate Approach Enables Exploration of Structure–Activity Relationships

The fungal secondary metabolite aspergillomarasmine A (AMA) has recently been identified as an inhibitor of metallo‐β‐lactamases NDM‐1 and VIM‐2. Described herein is an efficient and practical route to AMA and its related compounds by a sulfamidate approach. In addition, a series of derivatives has been prepared and tested for biological activity in an effort to explore preliminary structure activity relationships. While it was determined that natural LLL isomer of AMA remains the most effective inactivator of NDM‐1 enzyme activity both in vitro and in cells, the structure is highly tolerant of the changes in the stereochemistry at positions 3, 6, and 9.     

A Cadmium Coordination Polymer Based on Phosphate Clusters: Synthesis,Crystal Structure,Electrochemical Investigation and Antibacterial Activity

A new d¹⁰ coordination polymer, \(\left\{ {\left( {{\text{C}}_{5} {\text{H}}_{14} {\text{N}}_{2} } \right)_{2} \left[ {{\text{Cd}}\left( {\left( {{\text{P}}_{6} {\text{O}}_{18} } \right)\left( {{\text{H}}_{2} {\text{O}}} \right)_{2} } \right)} \right] \cdot 6{\text{H}}_{2} {\text{O}}} \right\}_{n}\), was prepared and characterized by X-ray diffraction, IR-Raman spectroscopy, thermal analysis and cyclic voltammetry. The crystal structure determination reveals that the phosphate anions alternate with the cadmium octahedral to form an anionic coordination polymer extending along [001] direction. The double protonated homopiperazine cations and the water molecules ensure the interconnection between polymers and thus giving rise to three dimensional supramolecular networks. By means of cyclic voltammetry, it is shown that whilst the reduction of the complexed Cd²⁺ occurs with a biggest difficulty than this of its free form, the anodic oxidation of the heterocyclic N donor piperazine became quite easy, when it is displayed as a counterpart diprotonated cation, between the anionic layers of \(\left[ {{\text{Cd}}({\text{P}}_{6} {\text{O}}_{18} )({\text{H}}_{2} {\text{O}})_{2} )} \right]_{\text{n}}^{{4{\text{n}} - }}\). The antibacterial activity of the coordination polymer is also discussed.