Absorption and fluorescence behavior of cytosine irradiated at different pH and in the presence of Cu(II) ions at neutral pH

Dilute aqueous solutions of cytosine were irradiated with⁶⁰Co -rays under N₂O saturated conditions at different pH and in the presence of Cu(II) ions at neutral pH. The base degradation decreased from neutral to acidic and basic conditions. In the presence of metal ions at neutral pH conditions there was a significant increase in the base degradation compared to that in the absence of metal ions under similar conditions. From the difference absorption spectra and fluorescence behavior of the irradiated solutions it was observed that the major radiolytic products of cytosine under different conditions are cytosine glycols, 5-hydroxycytosine, hydroxy-hydrocytosine and cytosine dimers. The yields of dimers is maximum in neutral conditions and it decreased from basic to acidic conditions. However, in the presence of Cu(II) ions formation of cytosine dimers is completely restricted and there is an increase in the yields of cytosine glycol, hydroxy-hydrocytosine and 5-hydroxycytosine. From the post-radiolytic changes in absorption and fluorescence behavior of irradiated solutions, it is revealed that some of the radiolytic products, namely cytosine glycol and hydroxy-hydrocytosine decompose to 5-hydroxycytosine and cytosine, respectively.     

Intramolecular Ketone-Olefin Radical Cyclization with Low-Valent Titanium Reagent: Synthesis of Benzopyrans

A novel protocol for intramolecular ketyl-olefin radical cyclization with low-valent titanium reagent is outlined. It allows the formation of the benzopyran nucleus from ortho-allyloxy propiophenones as the sole product in moderate yields via intramolecular radical cyclization.     

Brief survey on phytochemicals to prevent COVID-19

BackgroundThe recent pandemic by COVID-19 is a global threat to human health. The disease is caused by SARS-CoV-2 and the infection rate is increased more quickly than MERS and SARS as their rapid adaptation to varied climatic conditions through rapid mutations. It becomes more severe due to the lack of proper therapeutic drugs, insufficient diagnostic tool, scarcity of appropriate drug, life supporting medical facility and mostly lack of awareness. Therefore, preventive measure is one of the important strategies to control. In this context, herbal medicinal plants received a noticeable attention to treat COVID-19 in Indian subcontinent. Here, 44 Indian traditional plants have been discussed with their novel phytochemicals that prevent the novel corona virus. The basic of SARS-CoV-2, their common way of transmission including their effect on immune and nervous system have been discussed. We have analysed their mechanism of action against COVID-19 following in-silico analysis. Their probable mechanism and therapeutic approaches behind the activity of phytochemicals to stimulate immune response as well as inhibition of viral multiplication discussed rationally. Thus, mixtures of active secondary metabolites/phytochemicals are the only choice to prevent the disease in countries where vaccination will take long time due to overcrowded population density.     

Effect of spin–orbit coupling on spin transport at graphene/transition metal interface

In spite of large spin coherence length in graphene due to small spin–orbit coupling, the created potential barrier and antiferromagnetic coupling at graphene/transition metal (TM) contacts strongly reduce the spin transport behavior in graphene. Keeping these critical issues in mind in the present work, ferromagnetic (Co, Ni) nanosheets are grown on graphene surface to elucidate the nature of interaction at the graphene/ferromagnetic interface to improve the spin transistor characteristics. Temperature dependent magnetoconductance shows unusual behavior exhibiting giant enhancement in magnetoconductance with increasing temperature. A model based on spin–orbit coupling operated at the graphene/TM interface is proposed to explain this anomalous result. We believe that the device performance can be improved remarkably tuning the spin–orbit coupling at the interface of graphene based spin transistor. (© 2015 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH &Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Semi-wet growth and characterization of multi-functional nano-engineered mixed metal oxides for industrial application

This review paper covers the low temperature wet growth of nano-engineered particles of ZnO-based mixed metal oxides, their growth mechanism, and characterization using X-ray diffraction, SEM, TEM and IR, UV–visible, and XPS spectral techniques. Main focus of this article is centered on low temperature semi-wet methods of synthesis that are suitable for large scale production of zinc oxide-based systems mixed with iron oxide, copper oxide, nickel oxide and cobalt oxide. These mixed metal oxides have broad industrial applications as catalyst, semiconductors, adsorbents, superconductors, electro-ceramics, and antifungal agents in addition to extensive applications in medicines. This paper discusses the low-cost and environment friendly synthesis of these mixed metal oxides, measurement of properties and applicability of these materials systems.     

Unusual Surface Latent Heat Flux Variations and Their Critical Dynamics Revealed before Strong Earthquakes

We focus on the possible thermal channel of the well-known Lithosphere–Atmosphere–Ionosphere Coupling (LAIC) mechanism to identify the behavior of thermal anomalies during and prior to strong seismic events. For this, we investigate the variation of Surface Latent Heat Flux (SLHF) as resulting from satellite observables. We demonstrate a spatio-temporal variation in the SLHF before and after a set of strong seismic events occurred in Kathmandu, Nepal, and Kumamoto, Japan, having magnitudes of 7.8, 7.3, and 7.0, respectively. Before the studied earthquake cases, significant enhancements in the SLHF were identified near the epicenters. Additionally, in order to check whether critical dynamics, as the signature of a complex phenomenon such as earthquake preparation, are reflected in the SLHF data, we performed a criticality analysis using the natural time analysis method. The approach to criticality was detected within one week before each mainshock.     

A new [Ni4] distorted cubane assembly on four solvent derived μ3-OMe corners: Solvent dependent formation and cleavage of exogenous bridges

A new Ni₄ distorted cubane complex [Ni₄(μ₃-OMe)₄Q₄(MeOH)₄] (1) (where Q⁻ is the anion of 8-quinolinol) is obtained from the reaction of NaQ with Ni(OAc)₂ · 4H₂O in refluxing MeOH via solvent derived μ₃-OMe assisted self-assembly of four nickel(II) centres. The periphery of [Ni₄(OMe)₄] cubane is covered by four Q⁻ and four MeOH molecules. This methanol specific reaction is not supported in solvent glycinol (Hgl; NH₂(CH₂)₂OH), an amine substituted ethanol, producing monomeric [NiQ₂(Hgl)₂] · 2H₂O (2 · 2H₂O) instead and is able to cleave 1 to yield 2 · 2H₂O. The cryomagnetic susceptibility data of powdered 1 can be modeled by a two J equation yielding J₁ = −1.8(1) cm⁻¹, J₂ = 3.9(1) cm⁻¹ and g = 2.24.     

A new μs isomer in 136Sb produced in the projectile fission of 238U

Rapidity correlations in 800 GeV proton interactions with emulsion nuclei are investigated for different targets and multiplicity regions. To study the energy dependence, the results have been compared with proton interactions at 200 GeV and 400 GeV. A common feature of all the interactions is the existence of strong, short-range correlations. However, no dependence of cluster parameters on primary energy or target mass is found. A marginal increase of correlation strength with multiplicity is observed. Received: 30 March 2001 / Accepted: 18 September 2001     

Strategies to cure numerical shock instability in the HLLEM Riemann solver

The HLLEM scheme is a popular contact and shear preserving approximate Riemann solver that is known to be plagued by various forms of numerical shock instability. In this paper, we clarify that the shock instability exhibited by this scheme is primarily triggered by the spurious activation of the antidiffusive terms present in the first and third Riemann flux components on the transverse interfaces adjoining the shock front due to numerical perturbations. These erroneously activated terms are shown to counteract the favorable damping mechanism provided by its inherent HLL-type diffusive terms, causing an unphysical variation of the conserved quantity ρu both along and across the numerical shock. To prevent this, two distinct strategies are proposed termed as S elective W ave M odification and A nti D iffusion C ontrol. The former focuses on enhancing the quantity of the favorable HLL-type dissipation available on these critical flux components by carefully increasing the magnitudes of certain nonlinear wave speed estimates, while the latter focuses on directly controlling the magnitude of these critical antidiffusive terms. A linear perturbation analysis is performed to gauge the effectiveness of these cures and to estimate a von Neumann–type stability bounds on the CFL number associated with their use. Results from a variety of classic shock instability test cases show that the proposed strategies are able to provide excellent shock stable solutions even on grids that are highly elongated across the shock front without compromising the accuracy on inviscid contact or shear dominated viscous flows.     

Unveiling the binding interaction of zinc (II) complexes of homologous Schiff-base ligands on the surface of BSA protein: A combined experimental and theoretical approach

Four new zinc (II) complexes [Zn (HL¹H)Br₂] (1), [Zn (HL¹H)Cl₂] (2), [Zn₂(HL²)Br₃] (3), and [Zn (HL²)Cl] (4) have been synthesized by adopting template synthetic strategy and utilizing two homologous Schiff base ligands (H₂L¹ = 4-bromo-2-{[2-(2-hydroxyethylamino)-ethylimino]-methyl}-6-methoxyphenol, H₂L² = 4-bromo-2-{[3-(2-hydroxyethylamino)propylimino]methyl}-6-methoxyphenol), differing in one -CH₂- unit in the ligating backbone, by adopting template synthetic strategy. All the complexes have been characterized by single crystal X-ray diffraction analysis as well as by other routine physicochemical techniques. Ligand mediated structural variations have been observed and rationalized by density functional theoretical (DFT) calculations. Interaction of the complexes 1–4 with Bovine Serum Albumin protein (BSA) has been studied by different spectroscopic techniques. A complete thermodynamic profile (ΔH^o, ΔS^o and ΔG^o) was evaluated initially from the change in absorption and fluorescence spectra upon addition of BSA to the complexes. Appreciable binding constant values in the range ~ 0.94–4.51 × 10⁴ M⁻¹ indicate efficient binding tendency of the complexes to BSA with the sequence 1 ≅ 2 > 3 ≅ 4. Circular dichroism (CD), isothermal calorimetric titration experiments, molecular docking and molecular dynamics have been performed to gain deep insight into the binding regions of complex 1 to BSA. Experimental evidences suggest an interaction of zinc complexes at the surface of BSA protein and this particular binding has been exploited to determine unknown concentration of BSA protein. For this purpose complex 1 was explored as a BSA protein quantification tool.