Structural,Optical and Electrical Properties of Cu0.6CoxZn0.4−xFe2O4 (x = 0.0, 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4) Soft Ferrites

A series of cobalt-inserted copper zinc ferrites, Cu_0.6Co_xZn_0.4−xFe₂O₄ (x = 0.0, 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4) having cubic spinel structure were prepared by the coprecipitation method. Various characterization techniques, including XRD, FTIR, UV-vis and I–V were used to investigate structural optical and electrical properties, respectively. The lattice constant was observed to be decreased as smaller ionic radii Co²⁺ (0.74 Å) replaced the higher ionic radii Zn²⁺ (0.82 Å). The presence of tetrahedral and octahedral bands was confirmed by FTIR spectra. Optical bandgap energy was determined in the range of 4.44–2.05 eV for x = 0.0 to 0.4 nanoferrites, respectively. DC electrical resistivity was measured and showed an increasing trend (5.42 × 10⁸ to 6.48 × 10⁸ Ω·cm) with the addition of cobalt contents as cobalt is more conductive than zinc. The range of DC electrical resistivity (10⁸ ohm-cm) makes these nanomaterials potential candidates for telecommunication devices.     

Preparation and characterization of N-isopropylacrylamide/acrylic acid copolymer core-shell microgel particles

A new method has been developed to prepare smart copolymer microgels that consist of well defined temperature sensitive cores and pH sensitive shells. The microgels were obtained from N-isopropylacrylamide (NIPAAm) and acrylic acid (AAc), containing different mole ratios of AAc. Transmission electron micrographs of the microgels show that the colloidal copolymers are nearly monodisperse spheres (core-shell structures). The lower critical solution temperatures (LCSTs) (or phase separation temperatures) of the aqueous microgel solutions were measured by cloud-point method. At slight acidic conditions, the LCST decreased with increase in AAc content, which suggests that the hydrophobic group of NIPAAm has a greater influence on the LCST than the polar COOH group at those conditions. An increase of pH value leads to a significant increase in LCST due to the formation of a more hydrophilic copolymer. The LCST were studied as a function of copolymer composition over the pH range from 4.0 to 6.5. Because the pK(a) of the polymers can be tuned to fall close to neutral pH, these polymer compositions can be dispersed to have phase transitions triggered near physiological pH or at slight acidic pH values that fall within acidic gradients found in biology. Because of their stimuli-responsive behavior, these nanoscale materials are excellent candidates for biotechnology and biomedical applications where small changes in pH or temperature are of great consequence.     

Synthesis and biological action of novel 4-position-modified derivatives of D-myo-inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate

The design of a range of 4-position-modified D-myo-inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate derivatives is described. The enantioselective synthesis of these compounds is reported, along with initial biological analysis, which indicates that these compounds do not act as D-myo-inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate receptor agonists or antagonists.     

Thermodynamics of Selected Aqueous Rare-Earth Elements Containing Triflate Salts at T=(288.15, 298.15, 313.15 and 328.15) K and p=0.1 MPa

Aqueous acidified solutions of the rare-earth-element (REE) triflates (Gd(CF₃SO₃)_3(aq), Dy(CF₃SO₃)_3(aq), Nd(CF₃SO₃)_3(aq), Er(CF₃SO₃)_3(aq), Yb(CF₃SO₃)_3(aq) and Y(CF₃SO₃)_3(aq)) have been prepared by the dissolution of the corresponding REE oxides in dilute aqueous trifluoromethanesulfonic acid (triflic acid, CF₃SO₃H_(aq)). Relative densities and relative massic heat capacities have been measured for these systems over the approximate ionic strength range 0.10≤I/(mol?kg^?1)≤1.35 at T=(288.15, 298.15, 313.15 and 328.15) K and p=0.1 MPa. These measurements were completed using a Sodev O2D vibrating tube densimeter and Picker-flow microcalorimeter, respectively. Relative densities and relative massic heat capacities for aqueous solutions of triflic acid and its sodium salt have also been measured over the concentration range 0.018≤m ₂/(mol?kg^?1)≤0.23 over the same temperature range at p=0.1 MPa. Young’s rule has been used to calculate apparent molar volumes and apparent molar heat capacities of the aqueous solutions of REE triflate salts from the calculated apparent molar properties of the acidified salt solutions. These properties have been modeled using the Pitzer ion-interaction equations. The apparent molar properties of aqueous triflic acid solutions and aqueous solutions of its sodium salt have also been modeled using the same Pitzer ion-interaction equations. The apparent molar properties at infinite dilution obtained from our property modeling have been used to calculate single ion volumes and single ion heat capacities for each of the aqueous ions; Gd _(aq) ³⁺ , Dy _(aq) ³⁺ , Nd _(aq) ³⁺ , Er _(aq) ³⁺ , Yb _(aq) ³⁺ , and Y _(aq) ³⁺ . The reported single ion values have been compared with those previously reported in the literature.     

Secondary Metabolite Profiling,Anti-Inflammatory and Hepatoprotective Activity of Neptunia triquetra (Vahl) Benth

The present study aimed to analyze the phytoconstituents of Neptunia triquetra (Vahl) Benth. Anti-inflammatory and hepatoprotective activities of ethanol (EE), chloroform (CE) and dichloromethane (DCME) of stem extracts were evaluated using in vivo experimental models. The extracts were analyzed for phytoconstituents using GC-HRMS. Anti-inflammatory activity of CE, EE and DCME was accessed using carrageenan-induced paw oedema, cotton pellet-induced granuloma and the carrageenan-induced air-pouch model in Wistar albino rats. The hepatotoxicity-induced animal models were investigated for the biochemical markers in serum (AST, ALT, ALP, GGT, total lipids and total protein) and liver (total protein, total lipids, GSH and wet liver weight). In the in vivo study, animals were divided into different groups (six in each group) for accessing the anti-inflammatory and hepatoprotective activity, respectively. GC-HRMS analysis revealed the presence of 102 compounds, among which 24 were active secondary metabolites. In vivo anti-inflammatory activity of stem extracts was found in the order: indomethacin > chloroform extract (CE) > dichloromethane extract (DCME) > ethanolic extract (EE), and hepatoprotective activity of stem extracts in the order: CE > silymarin > EE > DCME. The results indicate that N. triquetra stem has a higher hepatoprotective effect than silymarin, however the anti-inflammatory response was in accordance with or lower than indomethacin.     

Detection of cancer affected cell using Sagnac interferometer based photonic crystal fiber refractive index sensor

Optical and Quantum Electronics - A complex studies of optoelectronics, non-linear optical and laser stimulated piezoelectric features of chalcogenide powder-like chalcogenide crystals pure and...     

Synthesis and Structure of the Cyclic Borenium Cation 1,1,3,3-tetramethyl-1,3λ<Superscript>4</Superscript>,2-diazaborolidin-1-ium chloride

The solid state structure of an N-heterocyclic borane 1,1,3,3-tetramethyl-1,3λ⁴,2-diazaborolidin-1-ium chloride is reported. This molecule features numerous Cl?H hydrogen bonds.

Graphical Abstract

The crystal structure of 1,1,3,3-tetramethyl-1,3λ⁴,2-diazaborolidin-1-ium chloride shows multiple C–H?Cl interactions in the solid state.

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TAaCGH Suite for Detecting Cancer—Specific Copy Number Changes Using Topological Signatures

Copy number changes play an important role in the development of cancer and are commonly associated with changes in gene expression. Persistence curves, such as Betti curves, have been used to detect copy number changes; however, it is known these curves are unstable with respect to small perturbations in the data. We address the stability of lifespan and Betti curves by providing bounds on the distance between persistence curves of Vietoris–Rips filtrations built on data and slightly perturbed data in terms of the bottleneck distance. Next, we perform simulations to compare the predictive ability of Betti curves, lifespan curves (conditionally stable) and stable persistent landscapes to detect copy number aberrations. We use these methods to identify significant chromosome regions associated with the four major molecular subtypes of breast cancer: Luminal A, Luminal B, Basal and HER2 positive. Identified segments are then used as predictor variables to build machine learning models which classify patients as one of the four subtypes. We find that no single persistence curve outperforms the others and instead suggest a complementary approach using a suite of persistence curves. In this study, we identified new cytobands associated with three of the subtypes: 1q21.1-q25.2, 2p23.2-p16.3, 23q26.2-q28 with the Basal subtype, 8p22-p11.1 with Luminal B and 2q12.1-q21.1 and 5p14.3-p12 with Luminal A. These segments are validated by the TCGA BRCA cohort dataset except for those found for Luminal A.     

Selectivity Tuning by Natural Deep Eutectic Solvents (NADESs) for Extraction of Bioactive Compounds from Cytinus hypocistis—Studies of Antioxidative,Enzyme-Inhibitive Properties and LC-MS Profiles

In the present study, the extracts of Cytinus hypocistis (L.) L using both traditional solvents (hexane, ethyl acetate, dichloromethane, ethanol, ethanol/water, and water) and natural deep eutectic solvents (NADESs) were investigated in terms of their total polyphenolic contents and antioxidant and enzyme-inhibitive properties. The extracts were found to possess total phenolic and total flavonoid contents in the ranges of 26.47–186.13 mg GAE/g and 0.68–12.55 mg RE/g, respectively. Higher total phenolic contents were obtained for NADES extracts. Compositional differences were reported in relation to antioxidant potential studied by several assays (DPPH: 70.19–939.35 mg TE/g, ABTS: 172.56–4026.50 mg TE/g; CUPRAC: 97.41–1730.38 mg TE/g, FRAP: 84.11–1534.85 mg TE/g). Application of NADESs (choline chloride—urea 1:2, a so-called Reline) allowed one to obtain the highest number of extracts having antioxidant potential in the radical scavenging and reducing assays. NADES-B (protonated by HCl L-proline-xylitol 5:1) was the only extractant from the studied solvents that isolated a specific fraction without chelating activity. Reline extract exhibited the highest acetylcholinesterase inhibition compared to NADES-B and NADES-C (protonated by H₂SO₄ L-proline-xylitol 5:1) extracts, which showed no inhibition. The NADES extracts were observed to have higher tyrosinase inhibitory properties compared to extracts obtained by traditional organic solvents. Furthermore, the NADES extracts were relatively better inhibitors of the diabetic enzymes. These findings provided an interesting comparison in terms of total polyphenolic content yields, antioxidant and enzyme inhibitory properties (cholinesterase, amylase, glucosidase, and tyrosinase) between traditional solvent extracts and NADES extracts, used as an alternative. While the organic solvents showed better antioxidant activity, the NADES extracts were found to have some other improved properties, such as higher total phenolic content and enzyme-inhibiting properties, suggesting functional prospects for their use in phytonutrient extraction and fractionation. The obtained results could also be used to give a broad overview of the different biological potentials of C. hypocistis.     

In Vitro and In Silico Pharmacological and Cosmeceutical Potential of Ten Essential Oils from Aromatic Medicinal Plants from the Mascarene Islands

In this study, 10 essential oils (EOs), from nine plants (Cinnamomum camphora, Curcuma longa, Citrus aurantium, Morinda citrifolia, Petroselinum crispum, Plectranthus amboinicus, Pittosporum senacia, Syzygium coriaceum, and Syzygium samarangense) were assessed for their antimicrobial, antiaging and antiproliferative properties. While only S. coriaceum, P. amboinicus (MIC: 0.50 mg/mL) and M. citrifolia (MIC: 2 mg/mL) EOs showed activity against Cutibacterium acnes, all EOs except S. samarangense EO demonstrated activity against Mycobacterium smegmatis (MIC: 0.125–0.50 mg/mL). The EOs were either fungistatic or fungicidal against one or both tested Candida species with minimum inhibitory/fungicidal concentrations of 0.016–32 mg/mL. The EOs also inhibited one or both key enzymes involved in skin aging, elastase and collagenase (IC₅₀: 89.22–459.2 µg/mL; 0.17–0.18 mg/mL, respectively). Turmerone, previously identified in the C. longa EO, showed the highest binding affinity with the enzymes (binding energy: −5.11 and −6.64 kcal/mol). Only C. aurantium leaf, C. longa, P. amboinicus, P. senacia, S. coriaceum, and S. samarangense EOs were cytotoxic to the human malignant melanoma cells, UCT-MEL1 (IC₅₀: 88.91–277.25 µg/mL). All the EOs, except M. citrifolia EO, were also cytotoxic to the human keratinocytes non-tumorigenic cells, HaCat (IC₅₀: 33.73–250.90 µg/mL). Altogether, some interesting therapeutic properties of the EOs of pharmacological/cosmeceutical interests were observed, which warrants further investigations.