The Role of Allium subhirsutum L. in the Attenuation of Dermal Wounds by Modulating Oxidative Stress and Inflammation in Wistar Albino Rats

In our study, Allium subhirsutum L. (AS) was investigated to assess its phenolic profile and bioactive molecules including flavonoids and organosulfur compounds. The antioxidant potential of AS and wound healing activity were addressed using skin wound healing and oxidative stress and inflammation marker estimation in rat models. Phytochemical and antiradical activities of AS extract (ASE) and oil (ASO) were studied. The rats were randomly assigned to four groups: group I served as a control and was treated with simple ointment base, group II was treated with ASE ointment, group III was treated with ASO ointment and group IV (reference group; Ref) was treated with a reference drug “Cytolcentella^® cream”. Phytochemical screening showed that total phenols (215 ± 3.5 mg GAE/g) and flavonoids (172.4 ± 3.1 mg QE/g) were higher in the ASO than the ASE group. The results of the antioxidant properties showed that ASO exhibited the highest DPPH free radical scavenging potential (IC50 = 0.136 ± 0.07 mg/mL), FRAP test (IC50 = 0.013 ± 0.006 mg/mL), ABTS test (IC50 = 0.52 ± 0.03 mg/mL) and total antioxidant capacity (IC50 = 0.34 ± 0.06 mg/mL). In the wound healing study, topical application of ASO performed the fastest wound-repairing process estimated by a chromatic study, percentage wound closure, fibrinogen level and oxidative damage status, as compared to ASE, the Cytolcentella reference drug and the untreated rats. The use of AS extract and oil were also associated with the attenuation of oxidative stress damage in the wound-healing treated rats. Overall, the results provided that AS, particularly ASO, has a potential medicinal value to act as effective skin wound healing agent.     

Tetrazoles. 42. 2-(4-Nitrophenyl)-5-functionally-substituted Tetrazoles

We have studied the reactions of 5-methylsulfonyl-2-(4-nitrophenyl)tetrazole with N- and O-nucleophiles. For the first time we show that in 2-(4-nitrophenyl)-5-phenoxytetrazole, the tetrazole ring is substituted when treated with phenoxide ion, 4-nitrodiphenyl ether being formed.     

[12]aneN3-based single aliphatic chain modified cationic lipids as gene delivery vectors

A series of aliphatic chain modified [12]aneN₃ cationic lipids, 1a-1f, were synthesized and fully characterized with ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR, IR and high-resolution mass spectrometry. The liposomes formed from 1a-1f and dioleoylphosphatidyl ethanolamine could effectively retard DNA migration, and condense DNA into spherical nanoparticles with an average size of 130–220?nm. Furthermore, the cytotoxicity of these liposomes assayed by MTT indicated their good biocompatibility in A549 and HepG2 cells. Results from cell transfection experiments proved that 1c and 1f exhibited higher transfection efficiency in A549?cells, which were higher than commercially reagent lipofectamine 2000. In order to study the interaction between 1c, 1f and DNA, ionic strength effects and DNA release experiments were carried out,indicating that the DNA condensation induced by 1c and 1f was reversible, and electrostatic interaction played important roles. These results suggested that 1c and 1f have great potential to be efficient non-viral gene vectors.     

粘结剂对形貌各异的石墨负极电化学性能的影响

As an important component in electrodes, the choice of an appropriate binder is significant when fabricating lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) with good cycle stability and rate capability, which are used in numerous applications, especially portable electronics and eco-friendly electric vehicles (EVs). Semi-crystalline poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF), which is a traditional and widely used binder, cannot efficiently accommodate the volume changes observed in the anode during the charge-discharge process while binding all the components in the electrode together, which results in increased internal cell resistance, detachment of the electrode components, and capacity fading. Herein, we have investigated a highly polar and elastomeric polyacrylonitrile-butadiene (NBR) rubber for use as a binder in LIBs, which can accommodate graphite particles of different shapes compared to semi-crystalline PVDF. Prior to our electrochemical tests, NBR was analyzed using thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and X-ray diffraction (XRD), showing good thermal stability and an amorphous morphology. NBR is more conformable to irregular surfaces, which results in the formation of a homogeneous passivation layer on both spherical and flaky graphite particles to effectively suppress any electrolyte side reactions, further allowing more uniform and fast Li ion diffusion at the electrolyte/electrolyte interface. As a result, the electrochemical performance of both spherical and flaky shape graphite electrodes was significantly improved in terms of their first cycle Coulombic efficiency (CE) and cycle stability. With comparative specific capacity, the first cycle CE of the NBR-based spherical and flaky graphite electrodes were 87.0% and 85.5%, compared to 85.3% and 82.6% observed for their corresponding PVDF-based electrodes, respectively. After 1000 discharge-charge cycles at 1C, the capacity retention of the NBR-based graphite electrodes was significantly higher than that of PVDF-based electrodes. This was attributed to the good stability of the solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) formed on the graphite electrodes and the high stretching ability of the elastomeric NBR binder, which help to accommodate the repeated volume fluctuation of graphite observed during long-term charge-discharge cycling. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and microscopic analysis (SEM and TEM) were carried out to investigate the formation and evolution of the SEI layers formed on the spherical and flaky graphite electrodes. The results show that thin, homogeneous, and stable SEI layers are formed on the surface of both spherical and flaky graphite electrodes prepared using the NBR binder. When compared to the PVDF-based graphite electrodes, the graphite electrodes constructed using NBR showed decreased resistance in the SEI layer and faster charge transfer, thus enhancing the electrode kinetics for Li ion intercalation/deintercalation. Our study shows that the electrochemical performance of spherical and flaky graphite electrodes prepared using the NBR binder is significantly improved, demonstrating that NBR is a promising binder for these electrodes in LIBs.     

Corn oil based poly(urethane-ether-amide)/fumed silica nanocomposite coatings for anticorrosion application

Poly(urethane-ether-amide) (PUIEtA) nanocomposite coatings on mild steel were prepared by using corn oil, isosorbide and isophorone diisocynate and fumed silica. The syntheses steps were confirmed by FTIR, ¹H NMR and ¹³C NMR spectroscopy techniques. The morphology of PUIEtA nanocomposite coating was studied by SEM-EDX, that confirmed the presence of nanosilica and thermal behavior was studied by DSC/TGA analysis. The anticorrosion performance of PUIEtA coating systems on mild steel, exposed to 3.5?wt% NaCl solution, was evaluated using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. Scratch hardness, pencil hardness, adhesion, and bending test were performed in order to investigate the performance of nanocomposite coating on mild steel substrate. It was found that PUIEtA-fumed silica nanocomposite coating could provide much better protection than PUIEtA. PUIEtA-3 nanocomposite coating can be safely used up to 200?°C.     

Synthesis and in vitro anti-proliferative capabilities of steroidal thiazole and indole derivatives

Derivatives (1–15) of steroidal and indole class were synthesized using different strategies. These compounds were characterized by ¹H NMR spectroscopy and EI-MS, respectively. The synthetic derivatives were examined for their cytotoxic effects on human adenocarcinoma cells (HCT-116) using 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay and morphometric analysis. The cytotoxic effects of all the compounds were observed after 48 h treatment and it was found that out of fifteen, four compounds 1, 2, 3, and 14 showed inhibitory action on the cancer cells. We have calculated the IC₅₀ values for compounds 1, 2, 3, and 14 which were 22.50 µg/mL, 55.65 µg/mL, 21.35 µg/mL and 58.50 µg/mL, respectively. The compounds 3 (IC₅₀ = 21.35 µg/mL) and 1 (IC₅₀ = 22.50 µg/mL) showed highest inhibitory activities as compared to compounds 2 (IC₅₀ = 55.65 µg/mL) and 14 (IC₅₀ = 58.50 µg/mL). These results suggested that steroidal thiazole and indole derivatives are potent lead molecules having strong anti-cancer proliferative capabilities.     

Effect of Diets,Familial History,and Alternative Therapies on Genomic Instability of Breast Cancer Patients

This study evaluates a correlation between family history, micronutrients intake, and alternative therapies with genetic instability, before and during breast cancer treatment. For this study, a total of 150 women were selected. Among those, 50 women were breast cancer patients on chemotherapy, while 50 breast cancer patients were on radiotherapy, and 50 were healthy females. All the participants signed the informed consent form and answered the public health questionnaire. Samples of buccal epithelial and peripheral blood cells were collected and analyzed through micronucleus and comet assays. The cells were evaluated for apoptosis and DNA damage. Results showed the association of patients’ family history with an increase in toxicogenetic damage before and during cancer therapy. On the other hand, patients with late-onset cancer also presented genetic instability before and during therapy, along with those who did not take sufficient vegetables and alternative therapies. A positive correlation was observed between the genetic instability and alternative therapies, while inverse correlation was recorded with the vegetable consumption. Results clearly explain that the nutritional aspects and alternative therapies influence the genetic instability before and during cancer therapies especially in radiotherapy treated patients. Our data could be used for the monitoring therapies and management of breast cancer patients.

     

Development of a Reversed-Phase High-Performance Thin-Layer Chromatography Method for the Simultaneous Determination of Trigonelline and Diosgenin Biomarkers in Trigonella foenum-graecum L. Seeds Grown in Variable Environment

JPC – Journal of Planar Chromatography – Modern TLC - We have recently reported on the effect of the environmental conditions on the quantity of diosgenin. Attempts for the simultaneous...     

The ultra-low Reynolds number airfoil wake

Lift force and the near wake of an NACA 0012 airfoil were measured over the angle (α) of attack of 0°–90° and the chord Reynolds number (Re _c ), 5.3 × 10³–5.1 × 10⁴, with a view to understand thoroughly the near wake of the airfoil at low- to ultra-low Re _c . While the lift force is measured using a load cell, the detailed flow structure is captured using laser-Doppler anemometry, particle image velocimetry, and laser-induced fluorescence flow visualization. It has been found that the stall of an airfoil, characterized by a drop in the lift force, occurs at Re _c  ≥ 1.05 × 10⁴ but is absent at Re _c  = 5.3 × 10³. The observation is connected to the presence of the separation bubble at high Re _c but absence of the bubble at ultra-low Re _c , as evidenced in our wake measurements. The near-wake characteristics are examined and discussed in detail, including the vortex formation length, wake width, spanwise vorticity, wake bubble size, wavelength of K–H vortices, Strouhal numbers, and their dependence on α and Re _c .     

Synthesis, structural characterization, and molecular modeling of dodecaniobate keggin chain materials

Four new isostructural one-dimensional dodecaniobate Keggin materials, Na12[Ti2O2][TNb12O40] x xH2O and Na10[Nb2O2][TNb12O40] x xH2O with T = (Si or Ge), have been synthesized hydrothermally using a Lindqvist-ion salt, Na7[Nb6O19H] x 15H2O, as the precursor. Their structure, consisting of chains of Keggin ions [TNb12O40]16- linked by [Ti2O2]4+ or [Nb2O2]6+ bridges, was solved ab initio from powder diffraction data. The location of the charge-balancing sodium atoms and the water molecules was further investigated by molecular simulations. These compounds were also characterized by IR and solid-state 1H, 29Si, and 23Na MAS NMR spectroscopies. The structural relationships between these and related phases based on similar Keggin ion building units are discussed.