Hydrazone- and hydrazide-containing N-substituted glycines as peptoid surrogates for expedited library synthesis: application to the preparation of Tsg101-directed HIV-1 budding antagonists

Replacing the Pro6 in the p6(Gag)-derived 9-mer "P-E-P-T-A-P-P-E-E" with N-substituted glycine (NSG) residues is problematic. However, incorporation of hydrazone amides ("peptoid hydrazones") can be readily achieved in library fashion. Furthermore, reduction of these hydrazones to N-substituted "peptoid hydrazides" affords a facile route to library diversification. This approach is demonstrated by application to Tsg101-binding compounds designed as potential HIV budding antagonists. [reaction: see text]     

Efficient mechanically Q-switched diode side pumped Nd:YAG laser using a rotating prism and mirror combination

In this paper the construction of a mechanically Q-switched diode side pumped Nd:YAG laser system is described. It consists of a 50 cm long plane-plane resonator Q-switched with a combination of a rotating prism and a mirror. With an optical to optical efficiency of 25% Q-switched pulses (@1064) of 48 mJ and 8 ns are obtained at a rep-rate of 30 Hz with an output in near TEMoo mode. At a peak power of 6 MW the M ² value is found to be 1.92. The laser is frequency doubled and then tested on a 50 ??m thick tantalum foil which results in circular holes of diameter 13 ??m in it.     

Properties of thermal radiation power spectra in truncated one dimensional photonic crystals

In this work, we have investigated the thermal radiation power spectra of 1D photonic crystal structure containing Si and SiO₂ having an absorbing substrate with truncated thickness. The thermal radiation power spectra are determined by the means of a theoretical model based on a transfer matrix for both normal and oblique incidence together with Kirchhoff’s second law. It is observed that thermal radiation power spectra show strong dependence on truncation parameter and incident angle.     

气泡与弹性边界的相互作用研究

从气泡与弹性边界相互作用基本现象入手, 基于势流理论, 建立气泡与弹性边界相互作用的数值模型, 计及浮力与表面张力, 模拟弹性介质附近单个气泡的动态特性, 通过气泡周围压力场的分布来讨论蘑菇状气泡的成因, 数值结果与已有实验结果吻合良好. 讨论两个气泡与弹性边界的相互作用, 并通过与Robinson 和Blake的实验结果对比, 验证数值模型的正确性. 数值模拟发现, 浮力、弹性系数和密度比是影响气泡动态特性的重要特征参数.      

Asymptotic Normality of a Combined Regression Estimator

In this paper, we propose a combined regression estimator by using a parametric estimator and a nonparametric estimator of the regression function. The asymptotic distribution of this estimator is obtained for cases where the parametric regression model is correct, incorrect, and approximately correct. These distributional results imply that the combined estimator is superior to the kernel estimator in the sense that it can never do worse than the kernel estimator in terms of convergence rate and it has the same convergence rate as the parametric estimator in the case where the parametric model is correct. Unlike the parametric estimator, the combined estimator is robust to model misspecification. In addition, we also establish the asymptotic distribution of the estimator of the weight given to the parametric estimator in constructing the combined estimator. This can be used to construct consistent tests for the parametric regression model used to form the combined estimator.     

Interfacial mechanisms governing cyclopentane clathrate hydrate adhesion/cohesion

The present work uses a micromechanical force apparatus to directly measure cyclopentane clathrate hydrate cohesive force and hydrate-steel adhesive force, as a function of contact time, contact force and temperature. We present a hydrate interparticle force model, which includes capillary and sintering contributions and is based on fundamental interparticle force theories. In this process, we estimate the cyclopentane hydrate tensile strength to be approximately 0.91 MPa. This hydrate interparticle force model also predicts the effect of temperature on hydrate particle cohesion force. Finally, we present the first direct measurements of hydrate cohesive force in the gas phase to be 9.1 ± 2.1 mN/m at approximately 3 °C (as opposed to 4.3 ± 0.4 mN/m in liquid cyclopentane).     

High-performance liquid chromatographic analysis of secoisolariciresinol diglucoside and hydroxycinnamic acid glucosides in flaxseed by alkaline extraction

A HPLC method was developed for the analysis of secoisolariciresinol diglucoside (SDG) and hydroxycinnamic acid glucosides in milled defatted flaxseed flour. Direct extraction by 1 M NaOH for 1 h at 20 degrees C resulted in a higher yield than that obtained by hydrolysis of alcoholic extracts. An internal standard, o-coumaric acid, was used and the method was found to be easy, fast, and with good repeatability. On dry matter basis, different samples of flaxseeds varied considerably in their content of (+)-SDG (11.9-25.9 mg/g), (-)-SDG (2.2-5.0 mg/g), p-coumaric acid glucoside (1.2-8.5 mg/g), and ferulic acid glucoside (1.6-5.0 mg/g).     

Protective Effect of Thymus serrulatus Essential Oil on Cadmium-Induced Nephrotoxicity in Rats,through Suppression of Oxidative Stress and Downregulation of NF-κB,iNOS, and Smad2 mRNA Expression

The purpose of the research was to examine the protective effect of essential oil from Thymus serrulatus Hochst. ex Benth. (TSA oil) against cadmium (Cd)-induced renal toxicity. The experimental protocol was designed using 30 healthy adult Wistar albino rats allocated into five groups containing six animals in each group. Group 1 was treated as normal control and groups 2, 3, 4, and 5 were treated with cadmium chloride (CdCl₂, 3 mg/kg, IP) for 7 days. Group 3 was also treated with silymarin (100 mg/kg, PO) as a standard group, while groups 4 and 5 were administered with TSA oil at doses of 100 and 200 mg/kg PO, respectively. The nephrotoxicity was measured with various parameters such as kidney function markers, oxidative stress markers (glutathione (GSH) and malondialdehyde (MDA)), and messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) expression levels of inflammatory factors. The histological studies were also evaluated in the experimental protocol. The CdCl₂-treated groups showed a significant increase in the levels of serum kidney function markers along with MDA levels in kidney homogenate. However, renal GSH level was found to be reduced significantly. It was found that CdCl₂ significantly upregulated the nuclear factor levels of kappaB (NF-κB p65), inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), and small mothers against decapentaplegic (Smad2) as compared to the normal control group. On the other hand, TSA oil significantly improved the increased levels of serum kidney function markers, non-enzymatic antioxidants, and lipid peroxidation. In addition, TSA oil significantly downregulated the increased expression of NF-κB p65, iNOS, and Smad2 in Cd-intoxicated rats. Moreover, the histological changes in the tissue samples of the kidney of Cd-treated groups were significantly ameliorated in the silymarin- and TSA-oil-treated groups. The present study reveals that TSA oil ameliorates Cd-induced renal injury, and it is also proposed that the observed nephroprotective effect could be due to the antioxidant potential of TSA oil and healing due to its anti-inflammatory action.