Canarene: a triterpenoid with a unique carbon skeleton from Canarium schweinfurthii

Canarene (1), a triterpene with an unprecedented carbon backbone, was isolated from Canarium schweinfurthii . It is the first member of a new class of triterpenoids, for which the name "canarane' is proposed. 1 showed weak α-glucosidase inhibitory activity, and its structure was unambiguously deduced by single-crystal X-ray diffraction.     

Surfactant-assisted synthesis,characterizations, and room temperature ammonia sensing mechanism of nanocrystalline CuO

CuO nanocrystalline powder has been synthesized by a sol?gel auto combustion route with cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) as cationic surfactant, and sodium dodecyl sulphate (SDS) as anionic surfactant. The powder samples are characterized by TGA/DTA, XRD, FESEM, and TEM techniques. Thermal analysis of the dried gel samples shows that addition of surfactant in the precursor increases the heat of reaction, which is evolved in the decomposition of metal citrate complex. The CTAB and SDS addition in the reaction mixture lowers the average crystallite size to few tens of nanometer. Surfactant doping in precursor causes a variation in lattice strain and changes to its type to compressive. CuO nanoparticles are bound together into facets–like weakly aggregated clusters, as indicated by FESEM images. TEM micrographs indicate the porous, nearly spherical particles having crystallite size around 7 and 18 nm for CTAB and SDS surfactant assisted CuO samples respectively. CuO nanoparticles assembled as thick film have been tested for their response to 100 ppm ammonia gas at room temperature. Cationic surfactant assisted sample shows maximum response to ammonia as compared to anionic surfactant. The CTAB assisted sensor shows almost completes recovery in 500 s whereas SDS assisted sample shows 75% recovery in the same time. The ammonia response of the films obeys the Elovich equation. The response rate of sensor is found to be maximum for CTAB assisted CuO films as compared to other samples. The kinetics of the response reaction shows that the ionic surfactants assisted CuO follows second order reaction kinetics.     

Turing patterns induced by cross-diffusion in a 2D domain with strong Allee effect

In this work, we introduce a two-dimensional domain predator-prey model with strong Allee effect and investigate the Turing instability and the phenomena of the emergence of patterns. The occurrence of the Turing instability is ensured by the conditions that are procured by using the stability analysis of local equilibrium points. The amplitude equations (for supercritical case cubic Stuart–Landau equation and for subcritical quintic Stuart–Landau equation) are derived appropriate for each case by using the method of multiple time scale and show that the system supports patterns like squares, stripes, mixed-mode patterns, spots and hexagonal patterns. We obtain the asymptotic solutions to the model close to the onset instability based on the amplitude equations. Finally, numerically simulations tell how cross-diffusion plays an important role in the emergence of patterns.     

An efficient method for the preparation of benzyl γ-ketohexanoates

Twenty acid chlorides, 4-(mono/di-benzyloxy)-4-ketobutanoyl chlorides (Ia–XXa) were synthesised by the reaction of monoesters of succinic acid with thionyl chloride. The product thus obtained (4-benzyloxy-4-ketobutanoyl chlorides) was treated with diethylcadmium to convert it into the corresponding keto-esters (Ib–XXb), the mono/di-benzyl-γ-ketohexanoates, with a good yield. All the compounds thus prepared were characterised by physical, spectroscopic (UV-VIS, IR, ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR), and mass measurements techniques.     

Development and Characterization of Liposome‐Based Formulation of Amiloride Hydrochloride

Amiloride hydrochloride, a generally used diuretic recently has been found effective in the treatment of epilepsy. The side effects of the drug, such as hyperkalemia, hypertension, and hyperaldosteronism were controlled by reducing the dose and targeting the drug to the brain. The objective of this study was to determine the factors influencing encapsulation of amiloride hydrochloride in liposomes and to demonstrate the anti‐epileptic potential of liposomal drug. A series of liposomal formulations of amiloride hydrochloride were prepared by varying the compositions of the formulations. The optimized formulation consisted of 10 mg/mL of amiloride hydrochloride, L‐phosphatidyl choline, lecithin, cholesterol, and butylated hydroxy toulene. The percentage entrapment efficiency in the optimized formulation was 44%. The drug to lipids ratio and L‐phosphatidyl choline: lecithin: cholesterol: butylated hydroxy toulene ratios were 2.0:3.0 and 5:5:5:2, respectively. The formulation showed an in vitro release of 98.17% in 8 hours, and the best fit kinetic model was Peppas model. Treatment with amiloride hydrochloride liposomes resulted in a significant increase in seizure threshold as compared to free drug in increasing current electroshock seizures in mice, which indicated an increase in CNS uptake of drug in liposome formulation.     

Mechanical behaviour of MWCNTs reinforced electrospun nanofibres

Abstract

The nanoscale dimension of electrospun polymeric nanofibres produced by electrospinning are highly captivating, yet facing limitation of resisting external forces due to the weak tensile properties. Carbon nanotubes providing tremendous toughness due to extraordinary strong sp² bonding network of carbon atoms in honeycomb lattice structure, augmented the physical resistant strength and is easily recover to its original state after load is removed. This study reports the performance of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) as filler in the electrospinning of poly (_L-lactide)-co-ε-caprolactone) (PLCL) composite nanofibres. Voltage of 10?kV is applied to the spinning solution mixture of 11?wt% (w/v) PLCL and MWCNTs, yielded nanofibres having diameters less than 400?nm. Results obtained showed the formation of composite nanofibres with tailored tensile behavior by modifying the content of MWCNTs. The addition of MWCNTs improved the tensile properties of resultant composite nanofibres, signified by tensile strength of 5.82 to 15.95?MPa, which were obtained using 0.1 to 1.0?wt% of MWCNTs. The structural integrity of nanofibres mats were retained in phosphate buffer saline (PBS) medium. Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) micrographs revealed the minimal of fiber deformation over 30?days of incubation and are closely identical to the initial diameter of as-spun fiber.     

The Structure and Properties of Poly[Carbon Dichalcogenides]

The structure and properties of various reaction products resulting from the polymerization of carbon disulfide and carbon diselenide are reviewed. In many respect, CSe₂ behaves like CS₂. However, CS₂ can be polymerized (without a catalyst and in the absence of irradiation) only under high pressure, and this reaction yields a semiconductor. On the other hand, CSe² is easily polymerized under ambient conditions. Depending upon the polymerization conditions, products are obtained which range from insulators to metals and superconductors. Results indicate that (CSe₂) reacts to form a head-to-head linear polymer, which thermally decomposes at relatively low temperatures to produce free selenium. This free selenium is the likely origin of the observed superconductivity.     

Dye fixation and decolourization of vinyl sulphone reactive dyes by using dicyanidiamide fixer in the presence of ferric chloride

A synthetic polymer was synthesized and used for the improvement of dyeing properties as well as decolorization of textile waste water. Two dyes were selected having anthraquinone based Remazol Blue R and azo based Remazol Red RB. It was observed that the synthetic polymer can be used as fixer for the fixation of dye by crosslinking between dye and fibre, which not only improves the dyeing properties but also helpful to coagulate the colour after dyeing. By single point method the concentrations of synthetic polymer were calculated in residual after dyeing. It was examined that the residual synthetic polymer is helpful in colour removal efficiency by coagulation of polymer with dye to form heavy molecules which settle down and decolorization occurred. Colour removal efficiency was found dependents on pH, concentration of synthetic polymer and inorganic coagulant.