Acoustic field assisted demixing of aqueous two-phase systems

Acoustic field assisted demixing was employed to decrease the demixing time in aqueous two-phase systems (polyethylene glycol-maltodextrin and polyethylene glycol-potassium phosphate). Application of acoustic field has decreased the demixing time in polyethylene glycol-maltodextrin by around twofold and up to about 3.2-fold in polyethylene glycol-potassium phosphate systems. Ultrasonication has induced mild circulation currents in the phase dispersion, which has enhanced the rate of droplet coalescence, eventually resulting in decreased demixing time. In the polyethylene glycol-maltodextrin system, phase demixing was found to depend greatly on which of the phases iscontinuous and viscosity of the continuous phase was observed to have a strong influence on the movement of the droplets and hence controlling the phase demixing rate. In case of the polyethylene glycol-potassium phosphate system, droplet coalescence was found to play a critical role in phase demixing. Addition of NaCl increased the demixing time and presence of Escherichia coli cells did not seem to have any influence on phase demixing.     

Elasto-thermodiffusive (ETNP) surface waves in semiconductor materials

The present article is devoted to investigate the propagation of elasto-thermodiffusive (ETNP) surface waves in a homogeneous isotropic, thermally conducting semiconductor material of half-space with relaxation of heat and charge carrier fields. The secular equation, a more general functional relation, that governs the propagation of elasto-thermodiffusive (ETNP) surface waves in homogeneous isotropic, thermoelastic semiconductor material halfspace with relaxation of heat and charge carrier fields has been derived by solving a system of coupled partial differential equations. A hybrid numerical technique consisting of Descartes algorithm for solving complex polynomial characteristic equation along with functional iteration scheme has been successfully used to solve the secular equation in order to obtain dispersion curves, attenuation coefficient and specific loss factor of energy dissipation for p-type germanium (Ge) semiconductor. Some particular forms of the general secular equation governing the propagation of elasto-thermodiffusive (ETN/ETP), thermoelastic (ET), elastodiffusive (EP/EN) and thermodiffusive (TP/TN) surface waves have been also deduced and discussed. In order to illustrate the analytical development, the numerical solution of the secular equation and other relevant relations under different situations is also carried out for Ge semiconductor materials to characterize the elasto-thermodiffusive (ETP) and thermodiffusive (TP) surface waves. The computer simulated results have been presented graphically in respect of the dispersion curves, attenuation coefficient and specific loss factor.     

Little Higgs model effects in <Emphasis Type="Italic">γγ</Emphasis> → <Emphasis Type="Italic">γγ</Emphasis>

Though the predictions of the standard model (SM) are in excellent agreement with experiments, there are still several theoretical problems associated with the Higgs sector of the SM, where it is widely believed that some new physics will take over at the TeV scale. One beyond the SM theory which resolves these problems is the Little Higgs (LH) model. In this work we have investigated the effects of the LH model on γγ → γγ scattering [1].      

Electrokinetic demixing of aqueous two-phase polymer/salt systems

Electrokinetic demixing of aqueous two-phase polymer/salt systems is demonstrated, resulting in significant enhancement in demixing rates by about 1-4-fold. The effect of field polarity, field strength, volume ratio, and phase composition on phase demixing has been studied. Further the influence of these parameters on phase demixing could be explained based on the hydrodynamic flow-electroosmotic flow (HEF) model.     

Alpha-glucosidase inhibitory constituents from Duranta repens

Three C-alkylated flavonoids 7-O-alpha-D-glucopyranosyl-3,5-dihydroxy-3'-(4"-acetoxyl-3"-methylbutyl)-6,4'-dimethoxyflavone (1), 7-O-alpha-D-glucopyranosyl-3,4'-dihydroxy-3'-(4"-acetoxyl-3"-methylbutyl)-5,6-dimethoxyflavone (2), 3,7,4'-trihydroxy-3'-(8"-acetoxy-7"-methyloctyl)-5,6-dimethoxyflavone (3) and a trans-clerodane type diterpenoid (-)-6beta-hydroxy-5beta,8beta,9beta,10alpha-cleroda-3,13-dien-16,15-olid-18-oic acid (4) are reported from Duranta repens along with (+)-hardwickiic acid (5) and (+)-3,13-clerodadien-16,15-olid-18-oic acid (6), isolated for the first time from this species. Their structures were established on the basis of the spectral methods, especially two dimensional (2D) NMR spectroscopy.     

Rapid control of wound infections by targeted photodynamic therapy monitored by in vivo bioluminescence imaging

The worldwide rise in antibiotic resistance necessitates the development of novel antimicrobial strategies. In this study we report on the first use of a photochemical approach to destroy bacteria infecting a wound in an animal model. Following topical application, a targeted polycationic photosensitizer conjugate between poly-L-lysine and chlorin(e6) penetrated the gram (-) outer bacterial membrane, and subsequent activation with 660 nm laser light rapidly killed Escherichia coli infecting excisional wounds in mice. To facilitate real-time monitoring of infection, we used bacteria that expressed the lux operon from Photorhabdus luminescens; these cells emitted a bioluminescent signal that allowed the infection to be rapidly quantified, using a low-light imaging system. There was a light-dose dependent loss of luminescence in the wound treated with conjugate and light, not seen in untreated wounds. Treated wounds healed as well as control wounds, showing that the photodynamic treatment did not damage the host tissue. Our study points to the possible use of this methodology in the rapid control of wounds and other localized infections.     

Formal synthesis of 14-membered unsymmetrical bis-macrolactone, (−)-colletodiol

Formal synthesis of 14-membered unsymmetrical bis-macrolactone, (?)-colletodiol was accomplished from homopropargylic alcohol derivative. Building of the two different hydroxy acid fragments from the same intermediate of homoallylic alcohol was particularly advantageous. A Sharpless asymmetric dihydroxylation, homologation of carbon chain, a Pinnick oxidation, and a macrolactonization to assemble the 14-membered macrodiolide were the additional salient features of this convergent synthesis.     

A pseudo trinuclear nickel–sodium complex containing tris(8-methyl-2-oxo-quinolidineamino ethylamine): Synthesis,spectral characterization,X-ray crystallography and in vitro biological evaluations

A new mixed nickel–sodium complex has been synthesized from Ni(ClO₄)₂ and tris(8-methyl 2-oxo-quinolidine amino ethylamine) with a 1:1 molar ratio in methanol and has been characterized by various analytical, spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction studies which confirmed an octahedral geometry around the nickel ion. Further, structural optimization of the complex was performed using DFT calculations. The ligand and complex were evaluated for their binding affinity with CT-DNA and an intercalative type of binding interaction was proposed from the absorption and fluorescence titration experiments. Albumin binding interaction of the ligand and complex was determined by absorption, fluorescence and synchronous spectral techniques at room temperature, suggesting the static quenching mechanism of BSA with the compounds. Antioxidant studies revealed the radical scavenging potential of Ni(II) complex. The anticancer activity of the ligand and complex was probed via in vitro cytotoxicity against human breast (MCF7) and lung (A549) cancer cell lines by MTT assay. Further, cytological changes observed in acridine orange/ethidium bromide and DAPI staining methods validated the cytotoxic potential of the complex.     

Synergistic effect of cellulose nanowhiskers reinforcement and dicarboxylic acids crosslinking towards polyvinyl alcohol properties

In the presented work, a significant increase in the tensile strength of the PVA composite material is reported. The obtained best value of 122 MPa and 14.6% swelling shows the excellent synergistic effect of both crosslinker and reinforcement material. The composite films were prepared by simple mechanical dispersion of reinforcement material, bacterial cellulose nanowhiskers (BCNW) into PVA solution followed by crosslinking with diacids, succinic acid (SuA), and adipic acid (AdA). The effect of aliphatic carbon chain length of crosslinker on thermal, mechanical, and water uptake properties is evaluated and discussed in detail. Neat PVA had the strength of 37.3 MPa. With 5% reinforcement of BCNW, that is, without crosslinking, it exhibited 97% increase, that is, 74.5 MPa. With crosslinking of 15 mmol of SuA and AdA PVA films for 2 h had excellent thermal properties with swelling percentage of 19 and 26.6% and tensile strength of 103 and 67 MPa, respectively. The best result obtained was for 5% BCNW–PVA films crosslinked with 15 mmol SuA. These results were explained on the basis of synergetic crosslinking and extended hydrogen bonding between PVA and reinforcement material. The composite films can be used as biological implants, a membrane for pervaporation and filtration system, etc. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2016 , 54, 2515–2525