Paradoxical vocal fold motion: Presentation and treatment options

Paradoxical vocal fold motion is a rare disorder in which adduction of the folds occurs on inspiration. The disorder presents with signs of airway obstruction and often airway distress, so proper diagnosis by the otorhinolaryngologist is critical to subsequent management. We present a retrospective review of 10 patients with the diagnosis of paradoxical vocal fold motion seen over a 6-year period. Eight patients were females, and 6 required an acute airway intervention at presentation; 3 patients eventually underwent tracheotomy for respiratory decompensation. Six patients had a prior diagnosis of asthma, and this was determined to contribute to their respiratory status. Five patients were treated with botulinum toxin and 2 with flexible nasolaryngoscopic biofeedback, which improved the outcome. A review of the literature confirms a female predominance of patients presenting with paradoxical adduction and airway distress, often with a history of asthma and psychopathology. Our experience with botulinum toxin and biofeedback suggests that these procedures are viable treatment options in the management of patients with this disorder.     

Transgenic Artemisia dubia WALL showed altered phytochemistry and pharmacology

The rol genes have been shown to enhance the production of secondary metabolites in plants. This report examines the effect of trans-genes (rol ABC) on possible high production of biologically important phytochemicals and enhanced pharmacological activities. Three transgenic lines (1, 2 and 3) of Artemisia dubia WALL (transformed with Agrobacterium tumefaciens harboring rol ABC genes) were subjected to phytochemical analysis and pharmacological studies. A great variation in phytochemistry and the pharmacological activities was observed not only between the transgenic and non-transgenic control plants but also among the transgenic lines itself. Comparative chemical profile obtained via HPLC, TLC and spectrophotometry showed high degree of variations in the quantity of phytochemicals. An increased production of total flavonoids (71.1% in transgenic line 2) and total phenolics (110.8% in transgenic line 1), increase in caffeic acid and catechin and a decrease in gallic acid content in the extracts of transformed plants compared to the untransformed control plants was decreased. In case of pharmacological activities, moderate to high level increase in antimicrobial (antibacterial and antifungal) activities, cytotoxicity (14.1%), antitumor (29%) and antioxidant activities (23.9%) was observed (in transgenic line 2). In general all the three transgenic lines under study showed improvement in their pharmacological activities in the order of transgenic line 2 > 1 > 3 > control. The implication of these findings will help to meet the increasing demand of pharmacologically important compounds.     

General Relativistic Shift in Plasma Frequency due to a Slowly Rotating Compact Star

We investigate the effects of a slowly rotating compact gravitational source on plasma oscillations using the gravitoelectromagnetic approximation to the general theory of relativity. It is shown that there is a shift in the plasma frequency and hence in the refractive index of the plasma due to the gravitomagnetic force. Estimates for the difference in frequency of radially transmitted electromagnetic signals are given for typical compact star candidates. The proposed shift provides a new test of general theory of relativity in the slow rotation approximation.     

Relativistic Oscillators in a Noncommutative Space and in a Magnetic Field

In this work, we study the relativistic oscillators in a noncommutative space and in a magnetic field. It is shown that the effect of the magnetic field may compete withthat of the noncommutative space and that is able to vanish the effect of the noncommutative space.     

Reaching for [6]n SiC‐cyclacenes and [6]n SiC‐acenes: A DFT approach

Density functional theory (DFT) calculations introduced triplet ground states for [6]_n SiC‐cyclacenes and ‐acenes with alternate silabenzene rings including silicon atoms in 2 opposite edges (n = 6, 8, 10, 12). The singlet‐triplet energy gap (ΔE_(S‐T)), binding energy per atom (BE/n), and NBO calculation with very small band gap (ΔE_LUMO‐HOMO) confirmed the triplet ground states. In contrast to polyacenes, the singlet [6]_n SiC‐cyclacenes displayed more stability improvement than triplets, through n increasing. This may open the way for synthesis of larger stable [6]_n SiC‐cyclacenes. The ΔE_(S‐T), BE/n, and the strain energy through homodesmic equations indicated more stability for larger [6]_n SiC‐cyclacenes, which was more noticeable in singlet states. Cyclacenes and acenes with high conductivity and full point charge were introduced as suitable candidates for hydrogen storage.     

Bilinearization and soliton solutions of N=1 supersymmetric coupled dispersionless integrable system

An N=1 supersymmetric generalization of coupled dispersionless (SUSY-CD) integrable system has been proposed by writing its superfield Lax representation. It has been shown that under a suitable variable transformation, the SUSY-CD integrable system is equivalent to N=1 supersymmetric sine-Gordon equation. A superfield bilinear form of SUSY-CD integrable system has been proposed by using super Hirota operator. Explicit expressions of superfield soliton solutions of SUSY-CD integrable system have been obtained by using the Hirota method.     

Synthesis and Structural Characterization of (2,4-Diamino-5-(3′,4′,5′-Trimethoxybenzyl)Pyrimidine Copper (II)) Complex

Abstract  The reaction of Cu(OOCCH₃)₂·H₂O with (2,4-diamino-5-(3′,4′,5′-trimethoxybenzyl) pyrimidine (trimethoprim) in ethanolic solution at 80 °C affords the title complex which has been characterized by elemental, IR, and NMR (¹H and ¹³C).The crystal structure has been determined by single crystal X-ray diffraction. Compound 1 (C₃₆H₄₈Cu₂N₈O₁₄) is triclinic, space group P-1 with a = 7.2676(4) ?, b = 11.6721(7) ?, c = 12.8279(8) ?, α = 95.839(1)°, β = 93.456(1)°, γ = 105.541(1)°, Z = 1. Two copper atoms are coordinated directly to each other as well as are held together by four bridging aceto groups. Each copper atom is also bonded opposite the Cu–Cu vector to a trimethoprim molecule through the N(1) atom of the pyrimidine ring. Trimethoprim acts as a monodentate ligand through the pyrimidine nitrogen N(1) atom. The complex was screened for the activity against several bacteria, showing more activity against bacteria as compared to trimethoprim. Graphical Abstract  To enhance the activity of trimethoprim, its derivative was prepared and there bacterial activity against several bacteria was analyzed.      

Synthesis of (2,4-Diamino-5-(3′,4′,5′-trimethoxybenzyl) Pyrimidine) Copper (II) Complex at 20–25 °C and its Structural Characterization

Abstract  The title copper (II) complex with Trimethoprim was prepared at 20–25 °C and its crystal structure was determined by single crystal X-ray diffraction. Compound (C₃₆H₅₀Cu₃N₈O₁₆) is triclinic, space group P-1 with a = 6.4642(5) ?, b = 12.5495(9) ?, c = 13.4911(10) ?, α = 77.518(1)°, β = 85.326(1)°, γ = 84.413(2)°, Z = 1. In this compound, three copper atoms are bonded to each other, two terminal coppers are bonded to three oxygen atoms and N₁ of pyrimidine ring of Trimethoprim and central copper is bonded to four oxygen atoms. The amino nitrogen atoms are not involved in the coordination to the metal. Graphical Abstract  To enhance the activity of trimethoprim, its derivative was prepared and there bacterial activity against several bacteria was analyzed.      

Polyphenol Rich Ajuga bracteosa Transgenic Regenerants Display Better Pharmacological Potential

Ajuga bracteosa Wall. ex Benth. is an endangered medicinal herb traditionally used against different ailments. The present study aimed to create new insight into the fundamental mechanisms of genetic transformation and the biological activities of this plant. We transformed the A. bracteosa plant with rol genes of Agrobacterium rhizogenes and raised the regenerants from the hairy roots. These transgenic regenerants were screened for in vitro antioxidant activities, a range of in vivo assays, elemental analysis, polyphenol content, and different phytochemicals found through HPLC. Among 18 polyphenolic standards, kaempferol was most abundant in all transgenic lines. Furthermore, transgenic line 3 (ABRL3) showed maximum phenolics and flavonoids content among all tested plant extracts. ABRL3 also demonstrated the highest total antioxidant capacity (8.16 ± 1 μg AAE/mg), total reducing power, (6.60 ± 1.17 μg AAE/mg), DPPH activity (IC50 = 59.5 ± 0.8 μg/mL), hydroxyl ion scavenging (IC50 = 122.5 ± 0.90 μg/mL), and iron-chelating power (IC50 = 154.8 ± 2 μg/mL). Moreover, transformed plant extracts produced significant analgesic, anti-inflammatory, anticoagulant, and antidepressant activities in BALB/c mice models. In conclusion, transgenic regenerants of A. bracteosa pose better antioxidant and pharmacological properties under the effect of rol genes as compared to wild-type plants.     

Quantum correlations of helicity entangled states in non-inertial frames beyond single mode approximation

A helicity entangled tripartite state is considered in which the degree of entanglement is preserved in non-inertial frames. It is shown that Quantum Entanglement remains observer independent. As another measure of quantum correlation, Quantum Discord has been investigated. It is explicitly shown that acceleration has no effect on the degree of quantum correlation for the bipartite and tripartite helicity entangled states. Geometric Quantum Discord as a Hilbert–Schmidt distance is computed for helicity entangled states. It is shown that living in non-inertial frames does not make any influence on this distance, either. In addition, the analysis has been extended beyond single mode approximation to show that acceleration does not have any impact on the quantum features in the limit beyond the single mode. As an interesting result, while the density matrix depends on the right and left Unruh modes, the Negativity as a measure of Quantum Entanglement remains constant. Also, Quantum Discord does not change beyond single mode approximation.