Some results involving Hermite-base polynomials and functions using operational methods

This paper is an attempt to stress the usefulness of the operational methods in the theory of special functions. Using operational methods, we derive summation formulae and generating relations involving various forms of Hermite-base polynomials and functions.     

Structural and chemical properties of the nitrogen-rich energetic material triaminoguanidinium 1-methyl-5-nitriminotetrazolate under pressure

The structural and chemical properties of the bi-molecular, hydrogen-bonded, nitrogen-rich energetic material triaminoguanidinium 1-methyl-5-nitriminotetrazolate C(3)H(12)N(12)O(2) (TAG-MNT) have been investigated at room pressure and under high pressure isothermal compression using powder x-ray diffraction and Raman and infrared spectroscopy. A stiffening of the equation of state and concomitant structural relaxation between 6 and 14 GPa are found to correlate with Raman mode disappearances, frequency discontinuities, and changes in the pressure dependence of modes. These observations manifest the occurrence of a reversible martensitic structural transformation to a new crystalline phase. The onset and vanishing of Fermi resonance in the nitrimine group correlate with the stiffening of the equation of state and phase transition, suggesting a possible connection between these phenomena. Beyond 15 GPa, pressure induces irreversible chemical reactions, culminating in the formation of a polymeric phase by 60 GPa.     

Effects of Massage Therapy and Occlusal Splint Usage on Quality of Life and Pain in Individuals with Sleep Bruxism: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Purpose: The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of massage therapy on the masticatory muscles and occlusal splint usage on quality of life and pain in individuals with sleep bruxism. Method: A randomized, controlled, blinded, clinical trial was conducted involving 78 volunteers aged 18 to 40 years with sleep bruxism. Quality of life and pain assessments were performed. Results: Significant differences (p < 0.05) were found on the physical functioning, general health state, vitality, role emotional and mental health subscales. A large effect size was found for all treatment protocols with regard to pain. The largest effect was found in the combined treatment group. Conclusions: The findings of the present study reveal that the occlusal splint usage alone led to improvements in components of quality of life among individuals with sleep bruxism. Moreover, both treatments (occlusal splint usage and massage therapy on the masticatory muscles) led to a reduction in pain.     

Electrochemical Monitoring of Saos‐2 Cell Differentiation on Pyrolytic Carbon Electrodes

In this study we establish an electrochemical platform based on two dimensional (2D) pyrolytic carbon electrodes for in vitro analysis of osteoblast differentiation. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) was used to monitor cell adhesion and proliferation, while an electrochemical assay based on square wave voltammetry (SWV) was applied to measure the activity of the differentiation marker alkaline phosphatase (ALP). 2D pyrolytic carbon electrodes were fabricated and used to monitor Saos‐2 cell differentiation for a period of up to 21 days. With this method it was possible to detect a faster increase of ALP activity for cells cultured in medium supplemented with differentiation factors compared to cells cultured in growth medium. This was confirmed by the results obtained with Alizarin Red staining, showing that cells subjected to osteogenic medium went through the entire differentiation process, from proliferation to mineralization. Finally, for the first time, real‐time monitoring of ALP activity combined with continuous EIS monitoring of the same cell culture was achieved using the pyrolytic carbon electrodes.     

Chemistry,Biosynthesis and Pharmacology of Sarsasapogenin: A Potential Natural Steroid Molecule for New Drug Design,Development and Therapy

Sarsasapogenin is a natural steroidal sapogenin molecule obtained mainly from Anemarrhena asphodeloides Bunge. Among the various phytosteroids present, sarsasapogenin has emerged as a promising molecule due to the fact of its diverse pharmacological activities. In this review, the chemistry, biosynthesis and pharmacological potentials of sarsasapogenin are summarised. Between 1996 and the present, the relevant literature regarding sarsasapogenin was obtained from scientific databases including PubMed, ScienceDirect, Scopus, and Google Scholar. Overall, sarsasapogenin is a potent molecule with anti-inflammatory, anticancer, antidiabetic, anti-osteoclastogenic and neuroprotective activities. It is also a potential molecule in the treatment for precocious puberty. This review also discusses the metabolism, pharmacokinetics and possible structural modifications as well as obstacles and opportunities for sarsasapogenin to become a drug molecule in the near future. More comprehensive preclinical studies, clinical trials, drug delivery, formulations of effective doses in pharmacokinetics studies, evaluation of adverse effects and potential synergistic effects with other drugs need to be thoroughly investigated to make sarsasapogenin a potential molecule for future drug development.     

In Vitro Cytotoxic Activity and Phytochemical Characterization (UPLC/T-TOF-MS/MS) of the Watermelon (Citrullus lanatus) Rind Extract

Reusing food waste is becoming popular in pharmaceutical industries. Watermelon (Citrullus lanatus) rind is commonly discarded as a major solid waste. Here, the in vitro cytotoxic potential of watermelon rind extracts was screened against a panel of human cancer cell lines. Cell cycle analysis was used to determine the induction of cell death, whereas annexin V-FITC binding, caspase-3, BAX, and BCL-2 mRNA expression levels were used to determine the degree of apoptosis. VEGF-promoting angiogenesis and cell migration were also evaluated. Moreover, the identification of phytoconstituents in the rind extract was achieved using UPLC/T-TOF-MS/MS, and a total of 45 bioactive compounds were detected, including phenolic acids, flavonoids aglycones, and their glycoside derivatives. The tested watermelon rind extracts suppressed cell proliferation in seven cancer cell lines in a concentration-dependent manner. The cytotoxicity of the rind aqueous extract (RAE) was higher compared with that of the other extracts. In addition to a substantial inhibitory effect on cell migration, the RAE triggered apoptosis in HCT116 and Hep2 cells by driving the accumulation of cells in the S phase and elevating the activity of caspase-3 and the BAX/BCL-2 ratio. Thus, a complete phytochemical and cytotoxic investigation of the Citrullus lanatus rind extract may identify its potential potency as an anticancer agent.     

Synthesis of α-C-glycosides via tandem Tebbe methylenation and Claisen rearrangement

A variety of α-C-glycosides may be accessed in an entirely stereoselective fashion from 3-OH glycal esters, by way of the tandem reaction sequence of Tebbe methylenation and Claisen rearrangement. In contrast with previous studies in the corresponding β-series, careful control of conditions for Claisen rearrangement is required in order to avoid loss of integrity of anomeric stereochemistry; thermal rearrangements are best carried out in xylene in a sealed tube.     

Modeling and device parameter design to improve reset time in binary-oxide memristors

A simulation-based analysis is conducted to study the set and reset times of TiO₂-based memristor device. This analysis uses nonlinear device model that captures the effects of large electric field inside memristor devices. Previous studies report strong asymmetry between reset and set times with reset time being several orders of magnitude higher than set time. The aim of this work was to investigate the effect of the device length and oxygen vacancies profile on the switching time. Our results show that a device model with a length of 10 nm and accurate parameters can result in more realistic device characteristics. Also, oxygen vacancies profile can be tuned to improve the reset time. MATLAB is used to simulate a 10-nm device, and the initial vacancy profile is chosen to look like inverted parabola. The results show reduced ratio between reset and set times from several orders of magnitude presented in the literature to not more than 1.5×. Thus, the proposed oxygen vacancies profile and quantitative results derived from it can be used to suggest a physical memristor device. In addition, the tuned parameters and model that matches actual device behavior can be factored in memristor fabrication.     

Comparative validated chromatographic methods for the simultaneous determination of caffeine,codeine, paracetamol along with the related compound " p-aminophenol"="" in="" tablets"="

JPC – Journal of Planar Chromatography – Modern TLC - This paper presents two validated chromatographic methods, namely thin-layer chromatography (TLC)–densitometry and...     

Nanocellulose for biosorption of chlorpyrifos from water: chemometric optimization,kinetics and equilibrium

The study explores the biosorption potential of nanocellulose (NC) to remove an insecticide, chlorpyrifos (CP), from aqueous solutions using the batch method. Biosorption kinetics were very fast and reached equilibrium in 60 min, and the experimental kinetic data had fit well with the pseudo-second-order model. Film diffusion was the rate-limiting step for the biosorption of CP onto crystalline nanocellulose (CNC). The equilibrium sorption was well described by the Sips and Langmuir isotherm models. The values of maximum sorption capacities (7.237–5.017 mg/g for the Sips and 12.325–7.247 mg/g for the Langmuir model) decreased with an increase in temperature from 288 to 308 K, signifying biosorption of CP is an exothermic process. Based on the central composite design (CCD), two-factor interaction (2FI) and quadratic models, the correlation between the effects of variable parameters on the CP biosorption onto NC was evaluated. The chemometric analyses suggested that 1.5 g/l NC required 20 min to biosorb 5 mg/l CP to yield an efficiency of 99.3%. Overall, the results demonstrated that NCs can be a promising biosorbent for the removal of pesticides from aqueous streams.