Controlled Orientation in a Bio‐Inspired Assembly of Ag/AgCl/ZnO Nanostructures Enables Enhancement in Visible‐Light‐Induced Photocatalytic Performance

In a bio‐inspired approach, polyamine‐mediated mineralization of ZnO was explored to develop an environmentally benign methodology for synthesizing Ag/AgCl/ZnO nanostructures. The assembling properties displayed by the polyamines to create composite structures was utilized to have the nanocomponents effectively interact with each other in a way that is desirable for the application envisaged. The polyamines, which act as a mineralizing agent for ZnO nanoparticles, also facilitate the formation of Ag/AgCl within ZnO under ambient conditions. Thus synthesized Ag/AgCl/ZnO nanostructures represent a multi‐heterojunction system in which the nanocomponents lead in a synergistic way to enhancement in the photocatalytic activity under visible‐light irradiation.     

Kernel ideals of a Stone JP-semilattice

A meet semilattice with a partial join operation satisfying some axioms is a JP-semilattice. A PJP-semilattice is a pseudocomplemented JP-semilattice. We characterize Stone JP-semilattices, give some characterizations of kernel ideals of a Stone JP-semilattice, and describe the join of two kernel ideals of a Stone JP-semilattice.     

A unique approach in ultra-flattened dispersion photonic crystal fibers containing elliptical air-holes

In this paper, we report that it is possible to control chromatic dispersion of index guiding PCFs in wide wavelength range by arranging the major axis of the first inner ring perpendicular to that of the second inner ring. Using this unique arrangement, a newly PCF with ultra-low and ultra-flattened dispersion is designed through a finite difference method with anisotropic perfectly matched layers absorbing boundary condition. As an example, we have design a unique PCF with flattened dispersion of ±0.23 ps/(nm·km) from 1.5 to 1.8 μm wavelength and confinement losses of less than 10⁻¹³ dB/m in the wavelength range shorter than 1.8 μm.     

Liquid crystalline G phase of self assembled donor-acceptor molecules by intermolecular hydrogen bonding

The interaction with donor p-n-alkylbenzoic acid and acceptor nonyl-p-hydroxy benzoate molecules was studied. The likely association of these molecules to complexes is studied by intermolecular hydrogen bonding. The textures are observed by polarizing optical microscope with corresponding transitions confirmed by differential scanning calorimetry. The molecular complexes exhibited enantiotropic crystal G phases in both heating and cooling cycles. The relevant functional groups C═O, C-O and OH in formation of molecular complexes are attributed with spectral shifts in infrared spectra and further with absorption studies. The proton NMR studies convinced the structural aspects of hydrogen bonded structure. Crystal parameters were studied with powdered X-ray diffraction. The results show that constituent molecules self organize through intermolecular hydrogen bonding in the formation of crystal G phase.     

Duboscic acid: a potent α-glucosidase inhibitor with an unprecedented triterpenoidal carbon skeleton from Duboscia macrocarpa

Duboscic acid (1), a triterpenoid with a unique carbon backbone, was isolated from Duboscia macrocarpa Bocq. It is the first member of a new class of triterpenoids, for which the name "dubosane" is proposed. Duboscic acid has a potent α-glucosidase inhibition, and its structure was unambiguously deduced by a single-crystal X-ray diffraction study.     

Coordinated and reversible reduction of enzymes involved in terminal oxidative metabolism in skeletal muscle mitochondria from a riboflavin-responsive, multiple acyl-CoA dehydrogenase deficiency patient

In this case report we studied alterations in mitochondrial proteins in a patient suffering from recurrent profound muscle weakness, associated with ethylmalonic-adipic aciduria, who had benefited from high dose of riboflavin treatment. Morphological and biochemical alterations included muscle lipid accumulation, low muscle carnitine content, reduction in fatty acid beta-oxidation and reduced activity of complexes I and II of the respiratory chain. Riboflavin therapy partially or totally reversed these symptoms and increased the level of muscle flavin adenine dinucleotide, suggesting that aberrant flavin cofactor metabolism accounted for the disease. Proteomic investigation of muscle mitochondria revealed decrease or absence of several flavoenzymes, enzymes related to flavin cofactor-dependent mitochondrial pathways and mitochondrial or mitochondria-associated calcium-binding proteins. All these deficiencies were completely rescued after riboflavin treatment. This study indicates for the first time a profound involvement of riboflavin/flavin cofactors in modulating the level of a number of functionally coordinated polypeptides involved in fatty acyl-CoA and amino acid metabolism, extending the number of enzymatic pathways altered in riboflavin-responsive multiple acyl-CoA dehydrogenase deficiency.     

A new kaempferol diglycoside from Datura suaveolens Humb. & Bonpl. ex. Willd

A new flavonol glycoside, kaempferol 3-O-alpha-L-arabinopyranosyl-7-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside (1), has been isolated from methanol extract of leaves of Datura suaveolens (Solanaceae), along with six other known compounds, which include kaempferol 3-O-alpha-L-arabinopyranoside (2), 3-phenyl lactic acid, 3-(3-indolyl) lactic acid, and its methyl ester, physalindicanol A and physalindicanol B. The structural elucidation of 1 and characterization of the known compounds are based on detailed spectral analysis (ESI-FTICR-MS and 2D-NMR). This is the first report of isolation of these compounds from this plant.     

Structure and elastic properties of TeO2-BaF2 glasses

Binary tellurite (100−x)TeO₂-xBaF₂ glasses for different compositions of BaF₂ (x=8, 10, 12, 15, 18 and 20 wt%) have been prepared by rapid quenching method. The velocities and attenuation during the propagation of the ultrasonic waves in all glasses were measured using a transducer operated at a fundamental frequency of 5 MHz at room temperature. A progressive increase in BaF₂ content leads to a decrease in ultrasonic velocities and density, which is followed by an increase in attenuation. The existence of depolymerisation of Te co-ordination leads to the transformation of TeO₄ trigonal bipyramid units through TeO₃₊₁ polyhedron to TeO₃ trigonal pyramid units. This is responsible for the observed decrease in the measured and determined parameters with the addition of the modifier content.     

Higher dimensional homogeneous cosmology in Lyra geometry

Assuming a homogeneous perfect fluid withρ =ρ(t) andp =p(t), we have obtained exact solutions for cosmological models in higher-dimension based on Lyra geometry. Depending on the form of metric chosen, the model is similar to FRW type. The explicit solutions of the scale factor are found via the assumption of an equation of statep =mρ, where m is a constant. Some astrophysical parameters are also calculated.     

Phytochemical Studies of Berberis vulgaris

This study presents a phytochemical investigation of the fruits of Berberis vulgaris Linn. The isolation and structure elucidation of four compounds are discussed. The terpenoids lupeol (1) and oleanolic acid (2) and the steroids stigmasterol (3) and stigmasterol glucoside (4) are isolated for the first time from this plant. The structure and stereochemistry at various asymmetric centers were established by different spectroscopic techniques.