4-Fluorinated L-lysine analogs as selective i-NOS inhibitors: methodology for introducing fluorine into the lysine side chain

In the literature, the introduction of fluorine into bioactive molecules has been known to enhance the biological activity relative to the parent molecule. Described in this article is the synthesis of 4R-fluoro-L-NIL (12) and 4,4-difluoro-L-NIL (23) as part of our iNOS program. Both 12 and 23 were found to be selective iNOS inhibitors as shown in Table 2 below. Secondarily, methodology to synthesize orthogonally protected 4-fluoro-L-lysine and 4,4-difluoro-L-lysine has been developed.     

The Constituents from the Leaves of Magnolia coco

Eighteen compounds including fourteen lignans, one coumarin, and three alkaloids were isolated from the leaves of Magnolia coco. Their structures were established by comparison of spectral data with literature values. Among them, N-acetylanolobine was elucidated as a new compound.     

Relationship between the cohesive strength and the tack of elastomers

The autohesion (tack) and cohesion of a random styrene-butadiene elastomer have been examined as a function of test temperature and speed using a T-peel geometry. Both properties have been reduced to a single master curve by horizontally shifting the data with the same set of shift factors. The cohesive strength increases with increasing reduced test rate Ra_T and appears to approach a plateau at the highest rates. Tack also increases with Ra_T but decreases abruptly at a critical rate and peeling the occurs in a stick-slip fashion. Tack again increases at sufficiently high test rates. In the range of rates where tack is maximized, its value is essentially the same as its cohesive strength. Above or below this range, tack is substantially less than the elastomer's cohesive strength. Mechanisms are proposed to explain why relative tack (i.e., tack divided by cohesive strength) is not a simple measure of the extent of completion of a tack bond and may indeed be equal to one in spite of incomplete tack bond formation.     

Modified particle swarm optimization algorithm with simulated annealing behavior and its numerical verification

The hybrid algorithm that combined particle swarm optimization with simulated annealing behavior (SA-PSO) is proposed in this paper. The SA-PSO algorithm takes both of the advantages of good solution quality in simulated annealing and fast searching ability in particle swarm optimization. As stochastic optimization algorithms are sensitive to their parameters, proper procedure for parameters selection is introduced in this paper to improve solution quality. To verify the usability and effectiveness of the proposed algorithm, simulations are performed using 20 different mathematical optimization functions with different dimensions. The comparative works have also been conducted among different algorithms under the criteria of quality of the solution, the efficiency of searching for the solution and the convergence characteristics. According to the results, the SA-PSO could have higher efficiency, better quality and faster convergence speed than compared algorithms.     

Reconstruction for a class of the inverse transmission eigenvalue problem

The authors present a constructive algorithm for the numerical solution to a class of the inverse transmission eigenvalue problem. The numerical experiments are provided to demonstrate the efficiency of our algorithms by a numerical example.     

Pressure-induced valence anomaly in TmTe probed by resonant inelastic X-ray scattering

The pressure-induced valence transition in TmTe was investigated by resonant inelastic x-ray scattering at the Tm L3 edge, a powerful probe of the rare-earth valent state. The data are analyzed within the Anderson impurity model which yields key parameters such as the Tm 4f-5d hybridization. In addition to the general tendency of the f electrons towards delocalization, we find a plateau in both the Tm valence and hybridization pressure dependences between 4.3 and 6.5 GPa which is interpreted in terms of an n-channel Kondo (NCK) screening process. This behavior is at odds with the usually continuous, single-channel Kondo-like f delocalization while being supported by the seminal calculations of the NCK temperature in Tm ion by Saso et al. Our study raises the interesting possibility that an NCK effect realized in a compressed mixed-valent f system could impede the concomitant electron delocalization.     

Adlay Seed (Coix lacryma-jobi L. var. Ma-yuen Stapf.) Ethanolic Extract Fractions and Subfractions Induce Cell Cycle Arrest and Apoptosis in Human Breast and Cervical Cancer Cell Lines

The antitumor effects of Coix lacryma-jobi L. var. ma-yuen Stapf. (adlay seed) ethanolic extract have been increasingly shown. This study aimed to investigate the beneficial effects of both the fractions and subfractions of adlay seed ethanolic extract on the human breast (MCF-7) and cervical (HeLa) cancer cell lines, as well as exploring their possible mechanisms of action. The ethanolic extracts were obtained from different parts of adlay seed, including AHE (adlay hull extract), ATE (adlay testa extract), ABE (adlay bran extract) and PAE (polished adlay extract). The results of a 3-(4,5-dimethyl thiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl- tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay showed that AHE-Ea and ATE-Ea showed significant growth inhibitory effects in a dose-dependent manner. The results also showed that the AHE-Ea-K, AHE-Ea-L, ATE-Ea-E and ATE-Ea-F subfractions inhibited cell proliferation, induced cell cycle arrest in the G0/G1 phase and decreased CDK4/Cyclin D1 protein expression. Finally, the extract activated caspase-3 activity and PARP protein expression, which induced MCF-7 and HeLa cell apoptosis. We then used liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (LC/MS) to identify the potential active components., Quercetin showed an anticancer capacity. In conclusion, the AHE-Ea-K, AHE-Ea-L, ATE-Ea-E and ATE-Ea-F subfractions showed antitumor effects through the inhibition of MCF-7 and HeLa cell line viability, as well as inducing apoptosis and cell cycle arrest.