Identification of Antibacterial Metabolites from Endophytic Fungus Aspergillus fumigatus,Isolated from Albizia lucidior Leaves (Fabaceae), Utilizing Metabolomic and Molecular Docking Techniques

The rapid spread of bacterial infection caused by Staphylococcus aureus has become a problem to public health despite the presence of past trials devoted to controlling the infection. Thus, the current study aimed to explore the chemical composition of the extract of endophytic fungus Aspergillus fumigatus, isolated from Albizia lucidior leaves, and investigate the antimicrobial activity of isolated metabolites and their probable mode of actions. The chemical investigation of the fungal extract via UPLC/MS/MS led to the identification of at least forty-two metabolites, as well as the isolation and complete characterization of eight reported metabolites. The antibacterial activities of isolated metabolites were assessed against S. aureus using agar disc diffusion and microplate dilution methods. Compounds ergosterol, helvolic acid and monomethyl sulochrin-4-sulphate showed minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) values of 15.63, 1.95 and 3.90 µg/mL, respectively, compared to ciprofloxacin. We also report the inhibitory activity of the fungal extract on DNA gyrase and topoisomerase IV, which led us to perform molecular docking using the three most active compounds isolated from the extract against both enzymes. These active compounds had the required structural features for S. aureus DNA gyrase and topoisomerase IV inhibition, evidenced via molecular docking.     

In Vitro and In Silico Anti-Acetylcholinesterase Activity from Macaranga tanarius and Syzygium jambos

Macaranga tanarius (MT) and Syzygium jambos (SJ) are pharmacologically reported to have anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-diabetic effects, and can be neuroprotective agents. Our previous work revealed that MT and SJ exhibited 76.32% and 93.81% inhibition against acetylcholinesterase (AChE) at 50 μg/mL final concentration in their ethyl acetate and hexane fractions, respectively. This study was aimed to investigate the bioactive constituents of MT and SJ and their molecular mechanism toward AChE inhibition. Bioassay-guided isolation afforded prenylflavonoids 1–3 from MT and anacardic acid derivatives 4 and 5 from SJ that were confirmed by NMR and MS data. Compound 5 exerted the strongest anti-AChE potential (IC₅₀: 0.54 μM), followed by 1, 4, 3, and 2 (IC₅₀: 1.0, 2.4, 6.8, and 33 μM, respectively). In silico molecular docking revealed 5 formed stronger molecular interactions including three H-bonds than its derivative 4 based on the saturation of their alkyl chains. The addition of a five carbon-prenyl chain in 1 increased the number of binding interactions, justifying its greater activity than derivatives 2 and 3. This research reflects the first report of AChE inhibitors from these species, thereby adding pharmacological values to MT and SJ as potential remedies in neuroprotection.     

Robust Variable-Step Perturb-and-Observe Sliding Mode Controller for Grid-Connected Wind-Energy-Conversion Systems

In order to extract efficient power generation, a wind turbine (WT) system requires an accurate maximum power point tracking (MPPT) technique. Therefore, a novel robust variable-step perturb-and-observe (RVS-P&O) algorithm was developed for the machine-side converter (MSC). The control strategy was applied on a WT based permanent-magnet synchronous generator (PMSG) to overcome the downsides of the currently published P&O MPPT methods. Particularly, two main points were involved. Firstly, a systematic step-size selection on the basis of power and speed measurement normalization was proposed; secondly, to obtain acceptable robustness for high and long wind-speed variations, a new correction to calculate the power variation was carried out. The grid-side converter (GSC) was controlled using a second-order sliding mode controller (SOSMC) with an adaptive-gain super-twisting algorithm (STA) to realize the high-quality seamless setting of power injected into the grid, a satisfactory power factor correction, a high harmonic performance of the AC source, and removal of the chatter effect compared to the traditional first-order sliding mode controller (FOSMC). Simulation results showed the superiority of the suggested RVS-P&O over the competing based P&O techniques. The RVS-P&O offered the WT an efficiency of 99.35%, which was an increase of 3.82% over the variable-step P&O algorithm. Indeed, the settling time was remarkably enhanced; it was 0.00794 s, which was better than for LS-P&O (0.0841 s), SS-P&O (0.1617 s), and VS-P&O (0.2224 s). Therefore, in terms of energy efficiency, as well as transient and steady-state response performances under various operating conditions, the RVS-P&O algorithm could be an accurate candidate for MPP online operation tracking.     

Development of Provesicular Nanodelivery System of Curcumin as a Safe and Effective Antiviral Agent: Statistical Optimization,In Vitro Characterization,and Antiviral Effectiveness

Curcumin is a natural compound that has many medical applications. However, its low solubility and poor stability could impede its clinical applications. The present study aimed to formulate dry proniosomes to overcome these pitfalls and improve the therapeutic efficacy of Curcumin. Curcumin-loaded proniosomes were fabricated by the slurry method according to 3² factorial design using Design-Expert software to demonstrate the impact of different independent variables on entrapment efficiency (EE%) and % drug released after 12 h (Q_12h). The optimized formula (F5) was selected according to the desirability criteria. F5 exhibited good flowability and appeared, after reconstitution, as spherical nanovesicles with EE% of 89.94 ± 2.31% and Q_12h of 70.89 ± 1.62%. F5 demonstrated higher stability and a significant enhancement of Q_12h than the corresponding niosomes. The docking study investigated the ability of Curcumin to bind effectively with the active site of DNA polymerase of Herpes simplex virus (HSV). The antiviral activity and the safety of F5 were significantly higher than Curcumin. F5 improved the safety of Acyclovir (ACV) and reduced its effective dose that produced a 100% reduction of viral plaques. Proniosomes could be promising stable carriers of Curcumin to be used as a safe and efficient antiviral agent.     

On a solvable system of p difference equations of higher order

Periodica Mathematica Hungarica - In this paper we present the well-defined solution of the following system of higher-order rational difference equations: $$\begin{aligned}...     

Synthesis and characterization of novel chromone Schiff base complexes as p53 activators

A series of chromone Schiff base complexes were prepared and analytically as well as spectroscopically characterized. The ligand was found to act as a monobasic tridentate ligand bonded covalently or coordinatively to the metal ion via deprotonated hydroxyl group, azomethine nitrogen atom and carbonyl oxygen atom of antipyrine moiety. Both electronic spectra and magnetic measurements indicated an octahedral or a distorted octahedral geometry around the metal ions for all metal complexes except the nickel complex, which had a tetrahedral geometry. In addition, the ability of the newly prepared compounds to activate the tumour suppressor p53 in cancer cells was studied, with zinc and copper complexes showing promising activities for p53 ubiquitination compared with diphenylimidazole (reference drug).     

Meloxicam and Study of Their Antimicrobial Effects against Phyto- and Human Pathogens

Recently, the design of new biological metal-ligand complexes has gained a special interest all over the world. In this research, new series of mixed ligand complexes from meloxicam (H₂mel) and glycine (Gly) were synthesized. Structures of the compounds were investigated employing elemental analyses, infrared, electronic absorption, ¹H NMR, thermal analyses, effective magnetic moment and conductivity. The estimated molar conductivity of the compounds in 1 × 10⁻³ M DMF solution indicates the non-electrolyte existence of the examined complexes. Additionally, the effective magnetic moment values refer to the complexes found as octahedral molecular geometry. The data of the infrared spectra showed the chelation of H₂mel and Gly with metal ions from amide oxygen and nitrogen of the thyizol groups of H₂mel and through nitrogen of the amide group and oxygen of the carboxylic group for Gly. Thermal analyses indicated that the new complexes have good thermal stability and initially lose hydration water molecules followed by coordinated water molecules, Gly and H₂mel. The kinetic parameters were calculated graphically using Coats–Redfern and Horowitz–Metzeger methods at n = 1 and n ≠ 1. The density functional theory (DFT) calculations were performed at B3LYP levels. The optimized geometry of the ligand and its complexes were obtained based on the optimized structures. The data indicated that the complexes are soft with η value in the range 0.114 to 0.086, while η = 0.140 for free H₂mel. The new prepared complexes were investigated as antibacterial and antifungal agents against some phyto- and human pathogens and the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) data showed that complex (A) has the lowest MIC for Listeria and E. coli (10.8 µg/mL).     

Controlled optical photonic crystal AND gate using nematic liquid crystal layers

Two optical AND gates built in 2D photonic crystal (PhC) platform have been proposed and numerically simulated using 2D finite element method (FEM). The suggested logic gates consist of five PhC waveguides and silicon annular ring resonator filled by nematic liquid crystal (NLC) of type E7. The first proposed AND gate can handle two inputs and support two operating wavelengths, λ = 1.5 and 1.55 µm. However, the second proposed AND gate can handle three inputs at λ = 1.5 µm. The reported logic gates offer high and low transmission levels with a threshold of 0.5 and an ultra-high bit rate of not less than 0.3 Tbits/s. Further, the suggested AND gates operation can be switched off by using the NLC layer.