Volumetric and compressibility studies for (L-arginine + D-maltose monohydrate + water) system in the temperature range of (298.15 to 308.15) K

The density and speed of sound of L-arginine (0.025–0.2 mol kg^?1) in aqueous + D-maltose (0–6 mass% of maltose in water) were obtained at temperatures of (298.15, 303.15 and 308.15) K. The apparent molar volume, limiting apparent molar volume, transfer volume, as well as apparent molar compressibility, limiting apparent molar compressibility, transfer compressibility, pair and triple interaction coefficients, partial molar expansibilities, coefficient of thermal expansion and also the hydration number, were calculated using the experimental density and speed of sound values. The results have been discussed in terms of solute–solute and solute–solvent interactions in these systems. Solute–solvent (hydrophilic–ionic group and hydrophilic–hydrophilic group) interactions were found to be dominating over solute–solute (hydrophobic–hydrophilic group) interactions in the solution, which increases with increase in maltose concentration.     

Removal of Reactofix Navy Blue 2 GFN from aqueous solutions using adsorption techniques

The wheat husk, an agricultural by-product, has been activated and used as an adsorbent for the adsorption of Reactofix Navy Blue 2 GFN from aqueous solution. In this work, adsorption of Reactofix Navy Blue 2 GFN on wheat husk and charcoal has been studied by using batch studies. The equilibrium adsorption level was determined to be a function of the solution pH, adsorbent dosage, dye concentration and contact time. The equilibrium adsorption capacities of wheat husk and charcoal for dye removal were obtained using Freundlich and Langmuir isotherms. Thermodynamic parameters such as the free energies, enthalpies and entropies of adsorption were also evaluated. Adsorption process is considered suitable for removing color, COD from waste water.     

Design,synthesis and biological evaluation of antimalarial activity of new derivatives of 2,4,6-<Emphasis Type="Italic">s</Emphasis>-triazine

Dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR) is an important enzyme for de novo synthesis of nucleotides in Plasmodium falciparum and it is essential for cell proliferation. DHFR is a well known antimalarial target for drugs like cycloguanil and pyrimethamine which target its inhibition for their pharmacological actions. However, the clinical efficacies of these antimalarial drugs have been compromising due to multiple mutations occurring in DHFR that lead to drug resistance. In this background, we have designed 22 s -triazine compounds using the best five parameters based 3D-QSAR model built by using genetic function approximation. In-silico designed compounds were further filtered to 6 compounds based upon their ADME properties, docking studies and predicted minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC). Out of 6 compounds, 3 compounds were synthesized in good yield over 95% and characterized using IR, ¹HNMR, ¹³CNMR and mass spectroscopic techniques. Parasitemia inhibition assay was used to evaluate the antimalarial activity of s -triazine compounds against 3D7 strain of P. falciparum. All the three compounds (7, 13 and 18) showed 30 times higher potency than cycloguanil (standard drug). It was observed that compound 18 was the most active while the compound 13 was the least active. On the closer inspection of physicochemical properties and SAR, it was observed that the presence of electron donating groups, number of hydrogen bond formation, lipophilicity of ligands and coulson charge of nitrogen atom present in the triazine ring enhances the DHFR inhibition significantly. This study will contribute to further endeavours of more potent DHFR inhibitors.     

Synthetic route for the novel pyrimidine-substituted alkanoate,acetohydrazide, and imines: Synthon for β-lactams

A simple and efficient synthesis of novel pyrimidine-substituted alkanoate, acetohydrazide, and imines is described. The synthesis of novel ethyl 2-(2,6-dimethylpyrimidin-4-yloxy)acetate (EDMPyA) 2 was performed through S_N2 O-alkylation of 2,6-dimethyl-4-hydroxypyrimidine 1 with ethyl haloacetate. The compound EDMPyA 2 was subjected to nucleophilic substitution reaction with hydrazine hydrate to afford novel 2-(2,6-dimethylpyrimidin-4-yloxy)acetohydrazide (DMPyAH) 3. This DMPyAH 3 upon condensation with differently substituted carbonyl compounds (aldehydes/ketones) furnished DMPyAH imines (DMPyAH-I) 4a–d. These imines can be used for the preparation of unique β-lactams. The structure elucidation of all the newly synthesized compounds was performed using spectroscopy (FT-IR, ¹H and ¹³C NMR) and elemental analysis (C, H, N).     

Purification and characterization of a native zinc-binding high molecular weight multiprotein complex from human seminal plasma

The seminal plasma comprises secretions from various accessory sex glands. During fertilization spermatozoa undergo complex sequences of precisely timed events that are regulated by the activation of different intracellular signaling pathways. The precision and efficacy of these pathways are often influenced by the assembly and interactions of multiprotein complexes, thereby directing the flow of regulatory information. Our knowledge about these protein complexes present in human seminal plasma (HuSP) is limited. Here we report the identification and characterization of a native high molecular weight zinc-binding multiprotein complex from HuSP by utilizing 2-DE followed by MS. Twenty-six proteins representing isoforms and/or fragments of 11 different proteins were found to be assembled in this complex. Prostate-specific antigen, zinc α2-glycoprotein, prostatic acid phosphatase, and prolactin inducible protein were the major proteins of this complex. Dynamic light scattering experiments revealed changes in aggregation pattern accompanied with deviation from physiological pH and in presence of SDS. However, no significant changes were observed in the presence of physiological ligands such as zinc and fructose. The present study will be useful and contribute to guide the future studies performed for elucidation of biological significance of this native complex in HuSP.     

Random alloy-like local structure of Fe(Se, S)(1-x)Te(x) superconductors revealed by extended x-ray absorption fine structure

The local structure of Fe(Se, S)(1-x)Te(x) ternary (11-type) chalcogenides has been studied by temperature dependent Fe K-edge extended x-ray absorption fine structure measurements. We find that the Fe-Se and Fe-Te distances in ternary FeSe(1-x)Te(x) are closer to the respective distances in the binary systems, revealing significant divergence of the local structure from the average one. The mean square relative displacements show a systematic change with Te content, consistent with bond relaxation in the inhomogeneous ternary phases. Also, the Fe-Te and Fe-S distances in the FeS(0.2)Te(0.8) ternary system are found to be different in the crystallographically homogeneous structure. The observed features are characteristic of ternary random alloys, suggesting that a proper consideration should be given to the atomic distribution for describing the complex electronic structure of these multi-band Fe-based chalcogenides.     

Vibrational spectroscopic and density functional theory studies of chloranil-imidazole interaction

The present work reports vibrational spectra and density functional theory calculations for chloranil, imidazole and their complexes. The experimentally observed infrared and Raman bands have been assigned with the help of calculated vibrational frequencies and potential energy distribution analysis. Some bands of chloranil and imidazole have been found to shift on the complex formation due to partial electronic charge transfer from imidazole to chloranil. The charge transfer between these molecules is also corroborated by the electronic absorption spectroscopy and calculations. The theoretical values of the interaction energy of various possible chloranil-imidazole interactions suggest that the two molecules interact preferably via N and H atoms of imidazole and CO group of chloranil with their molecular planes almost perpendicular to each other.     

Forward and backward wave propagation in multilayer planar waveguide using metamaterials layer

In this study, an efficient method is discussed to analyze the multilayer planar waveguides with double negative guided (DNG) and double positive material as guiding film. Here, among various lossless multilayer planar waveguide structures, only three layer and five layer structures are discussed. For these structures, guided dispersion characteristic, along with electric field distribution of TM modes are numerically analyzed and compared. This analysis enables an effective comparison of guided modal properties of various modes and results in a better understanding of the multilayer planar waveguide with DNG as guiding film.     

Correlation between local vibrations and metal mass in AlB2‐type transition‐metal diborides

Lattice vibrations have been investigated in TiB₂, ZrB₂ and HfB₂ by temperature‐dependent extended X‐ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) experiments. Data clearly show that the EXAFS oscillations are characterized by an anomalous behavior of the Debye–Waller factor of the transition‐metal–boron pair, which is suggested to be associated with a superposition of an optical mode corresponding to phonon vibrations induced by the B sublattice and an acoustic mode corresponding to the transition‐metal (TM) sublattice. Data can be interpreted as a decoupling of the metal and boron vibrations observed in these transition‐metal diborides (TMB₂), a mechanism that may be responsible for the significant reduction of the superconducting transition temperature observed in these systems with respect to the parent MgB₂ compound. The vibrational behavior of TM–TM bonds has also been investigated to study the occurrence of anisotropy and anomalies in the lattice vibrational behavior of TM–TM bonds.