Sample complexity reduction aids efficient detection of low‐abundant proteins from human amniotic fluid

Working with biological fluids poses a challenge of visualizing proteins present in lower concentrations. This study describes a batch‐mode chromatographic method for the fractionation of human amniotic fluid (AF). This method is easy to use with minimal sample quantity, resin volume and sample processing time. For albumin depletion, two methods were evaluated. The results demonstrated that specific depletion of albumin, using affinity‐ligand‐based resin, is more efficient than the conventional dye‐based method. The albumin‐depleted human AF was fractionated by strong anion‐exchange resin in spin devices, for sample, complexity reduction and enrichment of low‐abundant proteins. Analysis of four eluate fractions generated after this step shows enrichment of few low‐abundant proteins. Two novel low‐abundant proteins, Rab GDP dissociation inhibitor β and peptide methionine sulfoxide reductase, were identified from human AF. α‐1‐B Glycoprotein was successfully identified by this strategy, whereas the published literature reports that it was not identified by strong anion‐exchange FPLC followed by SDS‐PAGE. Therefore, the current method has distinct advantages over the conventional column‐based chromatography. This study also reports altered expression of some proteins in Rh‐isoimmunized AF samples in comparison with normal AF.     

Antiradical efficiency of 20 selected medicinal plants

The antioxidant system of a plant comprises a group of chemicals that are highly diverse in their sources, effects and uses. These antioxidants are capable of contracting and damaging free radicals. This investigation deals with a screening and comparison of the antioxidant activities of 20 selected medicinal plants and their parts, individually and in combination with vitamins A, C or E, using the DPPH radical scavenging method. Phyllanthus emblica L., Santalum album L., Syzygium cumini L. and Trigonella foenum-graecum L. presented highly significant antiradical efficiency (AE) singly and in combination with either vitamin A, C or E. Further, Curcuma longa L., Momordica charantia L., S. cumini, T. foenum-graecum, Moringa oleifera Lam and S. album have also shown fairly significant AE in a vitamin combination dose of 0.001 mM concentration.     

Selective DNA strand scission with binuclear copper complexes: implications for an active Cu2-O2 species

A homologous series of binuclear copper(II) complexes [Cu(II)(2)(Nn)(Y)(2)](2+) (1-3) (n = 3-5 and Y = (ClO(4))(-) or (NO(3))(-)) were studied to investigate the intermediate(s) responsible for selective DNA strand scission in the presence of MPA/O(2) (MPA = 3-mercaptopropanoic acid). While the N3 complex does not react, the N4 and N5 analogues show comparable activity with strand scission occurring at a single-strand/double-strand junction. Identical reactivity is also observed in the alternate presence of H(2)O(2). Spectroscopic and reactivity studies with [Cu(II)(2)(N4)(Y)(2)](2+) (2) and H(2)O(2) are consistent with DNA oxidation mediated by formation of a side-on peroxodicopper(II) (Cu(2)-O(2)) complex.     

Solgel synthesis and structural characterization of silver-silica nanocomposites

The solgel process has been successfully used to prepare silver/silica nanocomposites. After drying in air at 50°C for 30 min, samples were heat treated in air, at 100, 200, 400 and 500°C for the formation of silver nanoparticles. Evolution of silver nano-particles in the amorphous SiO₂ matrix as a function of annealing temperature has been studied. Characterizations were made by X-ray diffraction, ultraviolet-visible, and infrared spectroscopy. Mechanisms of silver clusters formation in the densified silica matrix with respect to thermal treatment are discussed.     

Electrochemical behaviour of isatin at a glassy carbon electrode

A rapid, reliable and simple capillary zone electrophoresis method for the determination of organic acids in beverages was developed. The complete separation of oxalic, formic, tartaric, malic, succinic, maleic, glutaric, pyruvic, acetic, lactic, citric, butyric, benzoic, sorbic, ascorbic and gluconic acids can be achieved in less than 3.5 min with a simple electrolyte composed by phosphate as the carrier buffer (7.5 mM NaH₂PO₄ and 2.5 mM Na₂HPO₄), 2.5 mM TTAOH as electroosmotic flow modifier and 0.24 mM CaCl₂ as selectivity modifier, adjusting the pH at 6.40 constant value. Injection was performed in hydrodynamic mode (30 s) and the detection mode was UV direct at 185 nm. The running voltage was −25 kV at thermostated temperature of 25 °C. The method developed has been applied to several beverage samples with only a simple dilution and filtration treatment of the sample. The proposed method is fast because the separation time decrease two, four or, even, six times the separation times of the previous reported CZE methods. It is also simple and cheap due to a low consumption of chemicals and samples. These reasons permit it to be considered adequate for routine analysis of organic acids in beverage samples.     

Synthesis of new bridgehead heterocycles: Pyrimido[3′,2′:3,4]‐1,2,4‐triazino[5,6‐b]indoles

A new bridgehead nitrogen hetero‐ cycle viz. 11‐carboethoxy‐9‐oxo‐pyrimido[3′2′:3,4]‐1,2,4‐triazino[5,6‐b]indole 3 has been synthesized from 3‐azido‐5H‐1,2,4‐triazino[5,6‐b]indole 2 by its reaction with diethyl fumerate. The intermediate 2 was obtained by treating 3‐hydrazino‐5H‐1,2,4‐triazino[5,6‐b]indole with NaNO₂ in presence of polyphosphoric acid. A plausible mechanism for the formation of 3 has been formulated and discussed. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Heteroatom Chem 17:272–276, 2006; Published online in Wiley InterScience ( www.interscience.wiley.com ). DOI 10.1002/hc.20199     

Folate Functionalized and Evodiamine-Loaded Pluronic Nanomicelles for Augmented Cervical Cancer Cell Killing

Evodiamine (Evo) is a natural, biologically active plant alkaloid with wide range of pharmacological activities. In the present study Evo-loaded folate-conjugated Pluronic F108 nano-micelles (ENM) is synthesized to enhance the therapeutic efficacy of Evo against cervical cancer. ENM are synthesized, physicochemically characterized and in vitro anticancer activity is performed. The study demonstrates that ENM have nanoscale size (50.33 ± 3.09 nm), monodispersity of 0.122 ± 0.072, with high drug encapsulation efficiency (71.30 ± 3.76%) and controlled drug release at the tumor microenvironment. ENM showed dose-dependent and time-dependent cytotoxicity against HeLa human cervical cancer cells. The results of in vitro anticancer studies demonstrated that ENM have significant anticancer effects and greatly induce apoptosis as compared to pure Evo. The cellular uptake study suggests that increased anticancer activity of ENM is due to the improved intracellular delivery of Evo through overexpressed folate receptors. Overall, the designed ENM can be a potential targeted delivery system for hydrophobic anticancer bioactive compound like Evo.     

Thermal and spectral properties of alkali metal complexes of 2-hydroxy-1,4-naphthoquinone

Thermal and spectral studies of reactions between 2-hydroxy-1,4-naphthoquinone (lawsone) and sodium metal (Lw-1, Lw-1A, Lw-1B), CH₃COONa (Lw-2), NaOH (Lw-3), KOH (Lw-4), K₂CO₃ (Lw-5), Tris buffer (Lw-6), ammonia (Lw-7) are studied. Red solids of Lw-1 to Lw-7, Lw-1A, and Lw-1B were isolated and are characterized by elemental analysis, FT-IR, ¹H NMR and UV–Visible spectroscopy. FT-IR spectra of Lw-1A and Lw-1B show, ν _OH of adsorbed as well as coordinated water molecules between 3,600–3,100 cm^?1 and decrease in ν _C=O frequency of lawsone ligand. The benzenoid ring protons C(5)H, C(8)H, C(6)H and C(7)H in Lw-1A and Lw-1B show upfield shift in ¹H NMR spectra. Hypsochromic shift and bathochromic shift is observed to π–π* transition band (~329 nm) and charge transfer band (~455 nm), respectively in UV–Visible spectra of all compounds. Pyrolytic decomposition of all compounds is studied by nonisothermal TG studies in air. Step I in all compounds leads to loss of adsorbed water molecules. Decomposition of lawsone anion in all compounds occurs in two or more steps. Thermodynamically Lw-1 to Lw-7, Lw-1A and Lw-1B are different compounds and their decomposition mechanisms are varied. The respective metal oxide residue viz. (Na₂O or K₂O) obtained after complete decomposition of Lw-1 to Lw-5, Lw-1A, and Lw-1B, is analyzed by powder X-ray diffraction. The adsorbed as well as coordinated water molecules are revealed by DTA and DSC studies as endothermic peak at ~100 °C. Decomposition mechanisms for lawsone anion are proposed based on LC–MS, GC–MS, and TG studies. Thermal and spectral studies reveal the coordination of lawsone ligand in its naphthosemiquinone form with alkali metal ions.     

Dynamics of a fishery system in a patchy environment with nonlinear harvesting

In this paper, a stock‐effort dynamical model with two fishing zones is discussed. The nonlinear harvesting function is assumed depending upon stock size as well as fishing effort. The migration of fish is considered between two zones. The harvesting vessels also move between zones to increase their revenue. The movements of fish and fishing vessels between zones are assumed to take place at a faster time scale as compared with processes involving growth and harvesting occurring at a slow time scale. The aggregated model is obtained for total fish stock and fishing effort. This aggregated (reduced) model is analyzed analytically as well as numerically. Biological and bionomic equilibria of the system are obtained, and criteria for local stability or instability of the system are derived. The impact of levels of taxation T on the fish population and on the revenue earned by the fishery is investigated. An optimal harvesting policy is also discussed using the Pontryagin's maximum principle. The aggregated model also exhibits Hopf and transcritical bifurcation with respect to the bifurcation parameter tax T. Numerical simulations are presented to illustrate the results.