Geochemical characterization of miocene core sediments from Shahbazpur gas-wells (Bangladesh) in terms of elemental abundances by instrumental neutron activation analysis

Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry - Geochemical characterization of Shahbazpur structure (Bengal Foredeep) in terms of elemental abundances obtained from INAA are presented by...     

Motion,deformation, and coalescence of ferrofluid droplets subjected to a uniform magnetic field

In this article, we present the motion, deformation, and coalescence of ferrofluid droplets suspended in a nonmagnetic fluid, subjected to a uniform magnetic field in both vertical and horizontal directions. A coupling between the simplified multiphase lattice Boltzmann method and the self-correcting scheme is constructed to numerically solve the two-dimensional flow field and the magnetostatics equations, respectively. The Cahn-Hilliard equation is employed to seize the diffuse interface between magnetic and nonmagnetic fluids. In order to validate the model, deformation of a ferrofluid droplet suspended in nonmagnetic fluid is simulated as a test case and the results are compared with numerical and experimental results. Furthermore, a detailed analysis on the behavior of falling ferrofluid droplets and the coalescence between a pair of ferrofluid droplets under the effect of different magnetic fields and different droplets configurations are also presented in this article. The results provide significant insight and a better understanding of these phenomena. It is found that for higher values of magnetic bond number and susceptibility, the droplet deformation is significant and the falling process is faster while a reverse behavior is observed for higher values of Eötvös number. Moreover, the magnetic energy density exhibits an interesting behavior in the vicinity of the droplets. It is concentrated between the droplets with a nonuniform distribution when the droplets are close to each other.     

Heat transfer exaggeration and entropy analysis in magneto-hybrid nanofluid flow over a vertical cone: a numerical study

Journal of Thermal Analysis and Calorimetry - Entropy analysis is closely scrutinized for unsteady mixed convection in magneto-hybrid nanofluid (Cu–Fe $$_3$$ O $$_4$$ –water) flow over...     

Newly Generated Atractylon Derivatives in Processed Rhizomes of Atractylodes macrocephala Koidz

Thermally processed rhizomes of Atractylodes macrocephala (RAM) have a long history of use in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) for treating various disorders, and have been an integral part of various traditional drugs and healthcare products. In TCM, herbal medicines are, in most cases, uniquely processed. Although it is thought that processing can alter the properties of herbal medicines so as to achieve desired functions, increase potency, and/or reduce side effects, the underlying chemical changes remain unclear for most thermally processed Chinese herbal medicines. In an attempt to shed some light on the scientific rationale behind the processes involved in traditional medicine, the RAM processed by stir-frying with wheat bran was investigated for the change of chemical composition. As a result, for the first time, five new chemical entities, along with ten known compounds, were isolated. Their chemical structures were determined by spectroscopic and spectrometric analyses. The possible synthetic pathway for the generation of such thermally-induced chemical entities was also proposed. Furthermore, biological activity evaluation showed that none of the compounds possessed cytotoxic effects against the tested mammalian cancer and noncancer cell lines. In addition, all compounds were ineffective at inhibiting the growth of the pathogenic microorganisms.     

Comparative isoconversional thermal analysis of Artemisia vulgaris hydrogel and its acetates; a potential matrix for sustained drug delivery

Abstract

Artemisia vulgaris hydrogel (AVH) was acetylated (AAVH) and characterized by FTIR, CP/MAS ¹³C-NMR spectroscopic techniques and thermogravimetric analysis. Flynn–Waal–Ozawa model was used to investigate thermal degradation kinetics. Energy of activation (Ea) values of first and major thermal degradation steps were found to be 128.14 and 116.85 kJmol^?1 for AVH and AAVH, respectively. Thermodynamic triplet, order of degradation reaction, integral procedural decomposition temperature (IPDT) and comprehensive index of intrinsic thermal stability (ITS) were also taken into account. In vitro caffeine release from AVH-based matrix tablets indicates potential of AVH for the development of oral delivery systems for sustained drug release.     

Prospect of Anterior Gradient 2 homodimer inhibition via repurposing FDA-approved drugs using structure-based virtual screening

Anterior Gradient 2 (AGR2) has recently been reported as a tumor biomarker in various cancers, i.e., breast, prostate and lung cancer. Predominantly, AGR2 exists as a homodimer via a dimerization domain (E60-K64); after it is self-dimerized, it helps FGF2 and VEGF to homo-dimerize and promotes the angiogenesis and the invasion of vascular endothelial cells and fibroblasts. Up till now, no small molecule has been discovered to inhibit the AGR2–AGR2 homodimer. Therefore, the present study was performed to prepare a validated 3D structure of AGR2 by homology modeling and discover a small molecule by screening the FDA-approved drugs library on AGR2 homodimer as a target protein. Thirteen different homology models of AGR2 were generated based on different templates which were narrowed down to 5 quality models sorted by their overall Z-scores. The top homology model based on PDB ID?=?3PH9 was selected having the best Z-score and was further assessed by Verify-3D, ERRAT and RAMPAGE analysis. Structure-based virtual screening narrowed down the large library of FDA-approved drugs to ten potential AGR2–AGR2 homodimer inhibitors having FRED score lower than ? 7.8 kcal/mol in which the top 5 drugs’ binding stability was counter-validated by molecular dynamic simulation. To sum up, the present study prepared a validated 3D structure of AGR2 and, for the first time reported the discovery of 5 FDA-approved drugs to inhibit AGR2–AGR2 homodimer by using structure-based virtual screening. Moreover, the binding of the top 5 hits with AGR2 was also validated by molecular dynamic simulation.

Graphic abstract

A validated 3D structure of Anterior Gradient 2 (AGR2) was prepared by homology modeling, which was used in virtual screening of FDA-approved drugs library for the discovery of prospective inhibitors of AGR2–AGR2 homodimer.

     

The convective heat transfer analysis of the casson nanofluid jet flow under the influence of the movement of gyrotactic microorganisms

Jet flows provide an effective mode of energy transfer or mass transfer in industrial applications. When compared to traditional cooling through convection, jet flows have high heat and mass transfer coefficients. Further, the devices equipped with jet flow provides efficient use of fluid and also offers enhanced heat and mass transfer rates. Hence in this study, the jet flow of Casson nanofluid containing gyrotactic microorganisms that stabilises the nanoparticle suspension is discussed. To control the fluid from outside external magnetic field is imposed. The model with these characteristics are useful in the appliances like coolants in automobiles, nuclear reactors, micro-manufacturing, metallurgical process etc. Such a model is created by employing PDE, which are then transformed into a system of ODE. The DTM is employed to obtain the solution to system of equations, and the results are interpreted using graphs. It is perceived that the velocity of the nanofluid flow is decreased because of the increased yield stress created by the greater values of the Casson parameter. As a result, the temperature profile is found to be increasing. Meanwhile, it is observed that for increased value of chemical reaction parameter diminishes the nanoparticle concentration. The motile density is found to decrease for increase in the Peclet number and the bioconvection Schmidt number. Further, the thermophoresis improves the temperature and concentration profile of the nanofluid.     

A Compositional Model of Consciousness Based on Consciousness-Only

Scientific studies of consciousness rely on objects whose existence is assumed to be independent of any consciousness. On the contrary, we assume consciousness to be fundamental, and that one of the main features of consciousness is characterized as being other-dependent. We set up a framework which naturally subsumes this feature by defining a compact closed category where morphisms represent conscious processes. These morphisms are a composition of a set of generators, each being specified by their relations with other generators, and therefore co-dependent. The framework is general enough and fits well into a compositional model of consciousness. Interestingly, we also show how our proposal may become a step towards avoiding the hard problem of consciousness, and thereby address the combination problem of conscious experiences.     

New supersymmetric extension of Poincaré algebra

A new supersymmetric extension of the poincaré algebra is given.