Nootkatone,a Dietary Fragrant Bioactive Compound,Attenuates Dyslipidemia and Intramyocardial Lipid Accumulation and Favorably Alters Lipid Metabolism in a Rat Model of Myocardial Injury: An In Vivo and In Vitro Study

In the present study, we assessed whether nootkatone (NKT), a sesquiterpene in edible plants, can provide protection against dyslipidemia, intramyocardial lipid accumulation, and altered lipid metabolism in a rat model of myocardial infarction (MI) induced by subcutaneous injections of isoproterenol (ISO, 85 mg/kg) on days 9 and 10. The rats were pre- and co-treated with NKT (10 mg/kg, p.o.) administered daily for 11 days. A significant reduction in the activities of myocardial creatine kinase and lactate dehydrogenase, as well as non-enzymatic antioxidants, and alterations in lipids and lipoproteins, along with a rise in plasma lipid peroxidation and intramyocardial lipid accumulation, were observed in ISO-treated rats. ISO administration induced alterations in the activities of enzymes/expressions that played a significant role in altering lipid metabolism. However, NKT treatment favorably modulated all biochemical and molecular parameters altered by ISO and showed protective effects against oxidative stress, dyslipidemia, and altered lipid metabolism, attributed to its free-radical-scavenging and antihyperlipidemic activities in rats with ISO-induced MI. Additionally, NKT decreased the accumulation of lipids in the myocardium as evidenced from Oil red O staining. Furthermore, the in vitro observations demonstrate the potent antioxidant property of NKT. The present study findings are suggestive of the protective effects of NKT on dyslipidemia and the underlying mechanisms. Based on our findings, it can be suggested that NKT or plants rich in NKT can be promising for use as a phytopharmaceutical or nutraceutical in protecting the heart and correcting lipid abnormalities and dyslipidemia, which are risk factors for ischemic heart diseases.     

Synthetic Approaches for 15N-Labeled Hyperpolarized Heterocyclic Molecular Imaging Agents for 15N NMR Signal Amplification by Reversible Exchange in Microtesla Magnetic Fields

NMR hyperpolarization techniques enhance nuclear spin polarization by several orders of magnitude resulting in corresponding sensitivity gains. This enormous sensitivity gain enables new applications ranging from studies of small molecules by using high-resolution NMR spectroscopy to real-time metabolic imaging in vivo. Several hyperpolarization techniques exist for hyperpolarization of a large repertoire of nuclear spins, although the ¹³C and ¹⁵N sites of biocompatible agents are the key targets due to their widespread use in biochemical pathways. Moreover, their long T₁ allows hyperpolarized states to be retained for up to tens of minutes. Signal amplification by reversible exchange (SABRE) is a low-cost and ultrafast hyperpolarization technique that has been shown to be versatile for the hyperpolarization of ¹⁵N nuclei. Although large sensitivity gains are enabled by hyperpolarization, ¹⁵N natural abundance is only ∼0.4 %, so isotopic labeling of the molecules to be hyperpolarized is required in order to take full advantage of the hyperpolarized state. Herein, we describe selected advances in the preparation of ¹⁵N-labeled compounds with the primary emphasis on using these compounds for SABRE polarization in microtesla magnetic fields through spontaneous polarization transfer from parahydrogen. Also, these principles can certainly be applied for hyperpolarization of these emerging contrast agents using dynamic nuclear polarization and other techniques.     

Electromagnetic and Force Field Equations

In classical physics the electromagnetic equations are described by Maxwell's equations. Maxwell's equations proved to be invariant under gauge, or Lorentz transformations. Also, Einstein's equations of the special theory of relativity are invariant under Lorentz transformations. On the other hand classical mechanics and quantum mechanics laws are invariant under Galilean transformations. This means that, there are two different dynamical structures describing our universe. Einstein's unified field theory failled in putting our universe in one dynamical structure. New electromagnetic and force field equations are going to be derived. They have the same shape like Maxwell's equations, but with different dynamical structure. Those equations are invariant under Galilean transformations and in the density matrix formalism of quantum mechanics.     

Lipidated psuedopeptides with mutable self-assembly: fibres to flowers

A variety of self-assembling lipidated peptidic molecules was designed and synthesised. Self-assemblies of these molecules were studied using various ultramicroscopic techniques. It was observed that L-glutamic acid, L-alanine and L-leucine amino acid-based lipidated compounds showed a diverse range of 3D self-assembling patterns. These morphologies were highly dependent on the position and number of the lipid chains. Interestingly, a concentration dependent morphological transformation from fibres to flowers was observed.     

Spectra of cylindrical quantum dots: The effect of electrical and magnetic fields together with AB flux field

We study the spectral properties of electron quantum dots (QDs) confined in 2D parabolic harmonic oscillator influenced by external uniform electrical and magnetic fields together with an Aharonov–Bohm (AB) flux field. We use the Nikiforov–Uvarov method in our calculations. Exact solutions for the energy levels and normalized wave functions are obtained for this exactly soluble quantum system. Based on the computed one-particle energetic spectrum and wave functions, the interband optical absorption GaAs spherical shape parabolic QDs is studied theoretically and the total optical absorption coefficient is calculated.     

Resolution of pentafluorophenyl 2-phenylpropanoate using combinations of quasi-enantiomeric oxazolidin-2-ones

The kinetic, mutual and parallel resolution of a series of structurally related active esters derived from 2-phenylpropanoic acid using a combination of quasi-enantiomeric oxazolidin-2-ones is discussed.     

Kinetics of Oxidative Cracking of n-Hexane to Light Olefins using Lattice Oxygen of a VOx/SrO-γAl2O3 Catalyst

The kinetics of oxidative cracking of n-hexane to light olefins using the lattice oxygen of VO_x/SrO-γAl₂O₃ catalysts has been investigated. Kinetic experiments were conducted in a CREC Riser Simulator (CERC: Chemical Reactor Engineering Center), which mimics fluidized bed reactors. The catalyst's performance is partly attributed to the moderate interaction between active VO_x species and the SrO-γAl₂O₃ support. This moderate interaction serves to control the release of lattice oxygen to curtail deep oxidation. The incorporation of basic SrO component in the support also helped to moderate the catalyst's acidity to checkmate excessive cracking. Langmuir-Hinshelwood model was applied to formulate the rate equations. The intrinsic kinetic parameters were obtained by fitting the experimental data to the kinetic model using a nonlinear regression algorithm at a 95% confidence interval, implemented in MATLAB. n-Hexane transforms to olefins at a specific reaction rate of 1.33 mol/gcat.s and activation energy of 119.2 kJ/mol. These values when compared with other duplets (i. e., ki° and E_A) for paraffins to olefins, show that indeed olefins are stable products of the oxidative conversion of n-hexane over VO_x/SrO-γAl₂O₃ under a fluidized bed condition. Values of activation energy for all CO_x formation routes indicate that intermediate paraffins are likely to be cracked to form CH₄ than to be converted directly to CO_x. On the other hand, olefins may transform partly, and directly to CO_x (E₉=9.65 kJ/mol) than to form CH₄ (E₈=89.1 kJ/mol) in the presence of excess lattice oxygen. Overall, olefins appear to be stable to deep oxidation due to the role of SrO in controlling the amount of lattice oxygen of the catalyst at the reaction temperature.     

The Effect of Pure Component Characteristic Parameters on Sanchez–Lacombe Equation‐of‐State Predictive Capabilities

The dependence of predictive capabilities of SL EOS on the pure characteristic parameters of monomers and polymers is investigated. A sensitivity analysis study is carried out to understand the effect of these parameters on the predictive capability of SL EOS for different α‐olefin/polyolefins systems. Among all pure component characteristic parameters, the monomer characteristic temperature (T*_monomer) has the largest impact on SL EOS predictive capability; whereas the polymer characteristic density (ρ*_polymer) is found to have the smallest impact.

     

Experimental observation on the flow-induced assembly of Carbon nanotube suspensions to form helical bands

This paper describes optical observations on the way aggregates of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (CNTs) in an epoxy matrix can form unusual helical bands (HBs) that are aligned perpendicular to the shear flow. By applying specific flow conditions, HBs were formed from isotropic aggregates of CNTs suspended in an essentially Newtonian epoxy matrix. Both optical and matching rheological data are presented together with a schematic model of the way HBs are formed. It was discovered that the steady shear rheology of the CNT suspension did not substantially change during the observed micro-structure change. The HB structure may have relevance in terms of potential applications for CNTs. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.