In vivo (31)P MRS study of skeletal muscle metabolism in patients with postpolio residual paralysis

The muscle metabolism of at-rest patients with varying degrees of postpolio residual paralysis (PPRP) was studied and compared with that of controls using in vivo phosphorus magnetic resonance spectroscopy. The phosphocreatine (PCr)/inorganic phosphate (Pi) and PCr/adenosine triphosphate ratios were lower in patients than in controls. Reduction in PCr/Pi suggests abnormalities in oxidative phosphorylation. A significant increase was observed in the phosphomonoester/PCr ratio in patients, indicating the accumulation of intermediary compounds of the glycolytic pathway. Furthermore, the phosphodiester/PCr ratio was also significantly increased in patients. In general, the observed changes in metabolite ratios were found to be related to the degree of residual paralysis, suggesting that metabolic changes are secondary to chronic neurogenic processes. These metabolic alterations appear to be the possible cause of energy deficit and underlying muscle fatigue in PPRP patients. The present results provide an insight into the metabolic impairment and degree of muscle damage in patients with PPRP.     

Imaging of Bacterial and Fungal Cells Using Fluorescent Carbon Dots Prepared from <Emphasis Type="Italic">Carica papaya</Emphasis> Juice

In this paper, we have described a simple hydrothermal method for preparation of fluorescent carbon dots (C-dots) using Carica papaya juice as a precursor. The synthesized C-dots show emission peak at 461 nm with a quantum yield of 7.0 %. The biocompatible nature of C-dots was confirmed by a cytotoxicity assay on E. coli. The C-dots were used as fluorescent probes for imaging of bacterial (Bacillus subtilis) and fungal (Aspergillus aculeatus) cells and emitted green and red colors under different excitation wavelengths, which indicates that the C-dots can be used as a promising material for cell imaging.     

Point‐of‐Care Amperometric Testing of Diabetic Marker (HbA1c) Using Specific Electroactive Antibodies

Specific immune detection of glycated hemoglobin is still a great challenge owing to the small epitopic difference between Hemoglobin (Hb) and HbA1c. We report a new electrochemical immunoassay format for point of care testing of HbA1c. A conducting self‐assembled monolayer of mercaptophenyl boronic acid (MPBA) was used as a capture layer for binding of glycated proteins and ferrocene tagged anti‐HbA1c antibody (FcAb) as a tracer molecule on a gold screen printed electrode. Validation of the new HbA1c assay was carried out using 6 clinical samples with known HPLC values and a correlation coefficient of 98 % was observed.     

Metal-free oxidative aromatization of 2-aryloxycyclohex-2-en-1-ones to 2-aryloxyphenols using DDQ/Amberlyst-15

Efficient metal-free oxidative aromatization of 2-aryloxycyclohex-2-en-1-ones was achieved by a combination of 2,3-dichloro-5,6-dicyano-p-benzoquinone (DDQ) and Amberlyst-15. The conditions for oxidative aromatization are mild and applicable for a variety of substrates, and Amberlyst-15 can be successfully recovered and recycled.     

Microbial Leaching of Waste Solder for Recovery of Metal

This study proposes an environment-friendly bioleaching process for recovery of metals from solders. Tin-copper (Sn-Cu), tin-copper-silver (Sn-Cu-Ag), and tin-lead (Sn-Pb) solders were used in the current study. The culture supernatant of Aspergillus niger removed metals faster than the culture supernatant of Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans. Also, the metal removal by A. niger culture supernatant is faster for Sn-Cu-Ag solder as compared to other solder types. The effect of various process parameters such as shaking speed, temperature, volume of culture supernatant, and increased solder weight on bioleaching of metals was studied. About 99 (±1.75)?% metal dissolution was achieved in 60 h, at 200-rpm shaking speed, 30 °C temperature, and by using 100-ml A. niger culture supernatant. An optimum solder weight for bioleaching was found to be 5 g/l. Addition of sodium hydroxide (NaOH) and sodium chloride (NaCl) in the bioleached solution from Sn-Cu-Ag precipitated tin (85?±?0.35 %) and silver (80?±?0.08 %), respectively. Passing of hydrogen sulfide (H₂S) gas at pH 8.1 selectively precipitated lead (57.18?±?0.13 %) from the Sn-Pb bioleached solution. The proposed innovative bioleaching process provides an alternative technology for recycling waste solders to conserve resources and protect environment.     

Structural insight into exosite binding and discovery of novel exosite inhibitors of botulinum neurotoxin serotype A through in silico screening

Botulinum neurotoxin serotype A (BoNT/A) is the most lethal toxin among the Tier 1 Select Agents. Development of potent and selective small molecule inhibitors against BoNT/A zinc metalloprotease remains a challenging problem due to its exceptionally large substrate binding surface and conformational plasticity. The exosites of the catalytic domain of BoNT/A are intriguing alternative sites for small molecule intervention, but their suitability for inhibitor design remains largely unexplored. In this study, we employed two recently identified exosite inhibitors, D-chicoric acid and lomofungin, to probe the structural features of the exosites and molecular mechanisms of synergistic inhibition. The results showed that D-chicoric acid favors binding at the α-exosite, whereas lomofungin preferentially binds at the β-exosite by mimicking the substrate β-sheet binding interaction. Molecular dynamics simulations and binding interaction analysis of the exosite inhibitors with BoNT/A revealed key elements and hotspots that likely contribute to the inhibitor binding and synergistic inhibition. Finally, we performed database virtual screening for novel inhibitors of BoNT/A targeting the exosites. Hits C1 and C2 showed non-competitive inhibition and likely target the α- and β-exosites, respectively. The identified exosite inhibitors may provide novel candidates for structure-based development of therapeutics against BoNT/A intoxication.     

Stereoselective synthesis of trans-3-functionalized-4-pyrazolo[5,1-b]thiazole-3-carboxylate substituted β-lactams: Potential synthons for diverse biologically active agents

Abstract

An efficient protocol for the stereoselective synthesis of pyrazolo[5,1-b]thiazole-3-carboxylate tethered β-lactam conjugates 8a–j from novel pyrazolo [5,1-b]thiazole-3-carboxylate substituted Schiff’s bases 6a–f is reported here. The reaction between various ketene precursors and novel Schiff’s bases 6a–f afforded exclusive formation of trans-β-lactams 8a–j. The substrate scope of this approach was investigated extensively by varying different groups (R, Z). All the novel compounds were characterized using various spectroscopic techniques, such as FT-IR, ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR, elemental analysis, ¹³C NMR (DEPT-135), and mass spectrometry in representative cases. Single crystal X-ray crystallographic study of trans-ethyl 7-(1-(4-methoxyphenyl)-4-oxo-3-phenoxyazetidin-2-yl)-6-methyl-2-(methylthio)pyrazolo[5,1-b]thiazole-3-carboxylate 8a has confirmed the molecular structure and the stereochemical outcome. To the best of our knowledge, the synthesis of such types of Schiff’s bases and β-lactam conjugates has not been reported so far.     

Bio-surfactant: a green and environmentally benign reaction medium for ligand-free Pd-catalyzed Mizoroki–Heck cross-coupling reaction in water

Transition Metal Chemistry - A simple and efficient protocol for the ligand-free Mizoroki–Heck coupling reaction of various aryl bromides with different olefins has been reported by using in...     

Imparting Multifunctionality by Utilizing Biporosity in a Zirconium‐Based Metal–Organic Framework

In this work, we have synthesized nanocomposites made up of a metal–organic framework (MOF) and conducting polymers by polymerization of specialty monomers such as pyrrole (Py) and 3,4‐ethylenedioxythiophene (EDOT) in the voids of a stable and biporous Zr‐based MOF ( UiO‐66 ). FTIR and Raman data confirmed the presence of polypyrrole ( PPy ) and poly3,4‐ethylenedioxythiophene ( PEDOT ) in UiO‐66‐PPy and UiO‐66‐PEDOT nanocomposites, respectively, and PXRD data revealed successful retention of the structure of the MOF. HRTEM images showed successful incorporation of polymer fibers inside the voids of the framework. Owing to the intrinsic biporosity of UiO‐66 , polymer chains were observed to selectively occupy only one of the voids. This resulted in a remarkable enhancement (million‐fold) of the electrical conductivity while the nanocomposites retain 60–70 % of the porosity of the original MOF. These semiconducting yet significantly porous MOF nanocomposite systems exhibited ultralow thermal conductivity. Enhanced electrical conductivity with lowered thermal conductivity could qualify such MOF nanocomposites for thermoelectric applications.     

Ethylene propylene diene monomer rubber‐based heat shielding materials for solid rocket motor: Impact of Kevlar fiber reinforcement on the thermal and mechanical properties

This work scrutinizes the utilization of ethylene propylene diene monomer rubber matrix (EPDM) with an embodiment of aramid fiber for the heat shielding applications in solid rocket motor (SRM). Aramid fibers are aromatic poly‐paraphenylene terephthalamide, here deployed are Kevlar fibers (KF). However, the literature that encompasses the thermal and mechanical behavior with the fiber loading is reported nowhere else. The effect of fiber addition on the surface morphology and density was thoroughly studied, and it revealed that the EHSMs were of lower density to act as an efficient payload for the SRM. In this regard, the thermal conductivity, heat capacity, thermal diffusivity, fire behavior, and mechanical properties of the EPDM/KF‐based EHSMs were explored. The results revealed that the EHSMs are thermally insulating and thermally stable material with balanced mechanical properties that can engender the thermal and mechanical strains of the rocket motor. Furthermore, other analytical techniques such as scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy have been exploited to monitor the performance of the char residues of the EHSM to delineate its performance in the fire atmosphere.