Stemmosides C and D, two novel unusual pregnane glycosides from Solenostemma argel: structural elucidation and configurational study by a combined NMR-quantum mechanical strategy

Stemmosides C and D, two novel pregnane glycosides characterized by an unusual C-17 side chain were isolated from the pericarps of Solenostemma argel. In addition, stemmoside D displays an uncommon 14β proton configuration, apparently being the first pregnane isolated from plants known to have a 15 keto, cis CD ring junction. Their structures have been established by ESIMS and NMR experiments. The relative configuration of the molecules was determined using a strategy based on the simulation of ¹H, ¹³C, and J coupling NMR parameters. DFT calculations of ¹H and ¹³C chemical shifts, and of the ¹H homonuclear spin–spin coupling constants were performed with the mPW1PW91 functional using the 6-31G(d,p) basis set on the fully optimized geometries of all the possible stereoisomers.     

Separation of fluoride ion by extraction with triphenyltin chloride. Application for NAA of fluorine by means of 14-MeV neutrons

The separation of fluoride by extraction with toluene solution of triphenyltin chloride has been studied. Quantitative isolation of fluoride from solutions with a wide acidity range (pH 4.0–11.5) has been established. It is suggested that interferences by Ca, Mg, Fe, and Al can be avoided by masking these elements using sulfate and hydroxyde ions. Interference by phosphate ions can be overcome in a similar fashion. The halogenated species can be masked by mercury nitrate. Detection limit for fluorine determination is about 3 g for a neutron generator flux of 2·11¹¹ n·cm^–1·s^–1. A method for fluorine assay in water using a neutron generator with a detection limit of 1 ppm has been developed.     

New antiproliferative 14,15-secopregnane glycosides from Solenostemma argel

Eight new 14,15-secopregnane glycosides, namely argelosides C-J, possessing two ketal functions involved in three five-membered rings, have been isolated from the hairy seeds of Solenostemma argel. Their structures have been established by MS and NMR experiments, combined with quantum mechanical calculations of the ¹³C chemical shifts for the interpretation of the experimental data. On the basis of the obtained results, the structures of argelosides A and B have been revised. Additionally, the effect of these compounds on the VEGF-induced in Kaposi's sarcoma cell proliferation was evaluated. Results indicated that all the compounds reduced the cell proliferation in a dose-dependent manner.     

Measurement of the thermoelectric power of lead sulphide

The thermoelectric power of natural specimens of lead sulphide crystals has been measured between room temperature and 700° K. Specimens which are of then-type remain as such throughout the temperature range. Thep-type specimens, however, show an initial small rise followed by a gradual decrease and a subsequent change of sign ata temperature which, in some specimens, is well defined. Further increase of temperature results in a negative extremum. From this stage onwards there seems to develop a common behaviour for both types of specimens. Some crystals which were initially of thep-type changed over to then-type and remained as such throughout subsequent investigation. Among the crystals one showed a metallic conduction and an extraordinary large thermoelectric power.     

Effect of Bacterial Memory Dependent Growth by Using Fractional Derivatives Reaction-Diffusion Chemotactic Model

In this paper, numerical solutions of a reaction-diffusion chemotactic model of fractional orders for bacterial growth will be present. A new solution is constructed in power series. The fractional derivatives are described in the Caputo sense. We compare the experimental result obtained with those obtained by simulation of the chemotactic model without fractional derivatives. The results show that the solution continuously depends on the time-fractional derivative. The resulting solutions spread faster than the classical solutions and may exhibit asymmetry, depending on the fractional derivative used. We present results of numerical simulations to illustrate the method, and investigate properties of numerical solutions. The Adomian’s decomposition method (ADM) is used to find the approximate solution of fractional ‘reaction-diffusion chemotactic model. Numerical results show that the approach is easy to implement and accurate when applied to partial differential equations of fractional order.     

On the Solutions of the Generalized Reaction-Diffusion Model for Bacterial Colony

In this paper, the Adomian’s decomposition method has been developed to yield approximate solution of the reaction-diffusion model of fractional order which describe the evolution of the bacterium Bacillus subtilis, which grows on the surface of thin agar plates. The fractional derivatives are described in the Caputo sense. The method introduces a promising tool for solving many linear and nonlinear fractional differential equations. In these schemes, the solution takes the form of a convergent series with easily computable components. Numerical results show that the approach is easy to implement and accurate when applied to partial differential equations of fractional order.     

Sonochemical Preparation of Dipicolinamide Mn‐complexes and Their Application as Catalysts Towards Sono‐synthesis of Ketones

A series of non‐heme Mn‐complexes has been synthesized by the sonication of manganese (II)chloride and bis‐amides (condensation products of 2‐picolinic acid and o‐phenylenediamines). The Mn‐complexes effectively promote the oxidation of unactivated aliphatic and benzylic C─H and N‐bearing heterocycles substrates with low catalyst loading using eco‐friendly hydrogen peroxide in the presence of acetic acid as additive under ultrasonic irradiation. Chromatographic studies revealed that the corresponding ketones are the only detectable products. Noteworthy, the presence of electron donors in the catalyst structure significantly increased the reaction yields. The substantial lowering of the oxidation reaction yields by adding ionol (2,6‐di‐tert‐butyl‐4‐methylphenol) as a free radical trap suggesting a free radical reaction pathway.     

Peltier Coefficient and Photon-Assisted Tunnelling in Quantum Point Contact

We present the Peltier coefficient and thermal transport in quantum point contact (QPC), under the influence of external fields and different temperatures. Also we obtain the oscillations of the Peltier coefficient in external fields. Numerical calculations of the Peltier coefficient are performed at different applied voltages, amplitudes and temperatures. The obtained results are consistent with the experimental data in the literature.     

GC-MS analysis of aroma of Medemia argun (mama-n-khanen or mama-n-xanin), an ancient Egyptian fruit palm

The fruits of the edible and medicinal Egyptian palm, Medemia argun, were collected from Aswan in Egypt and the essential oil (EO) from fruits and headspace (HS) of the seeds and fleshy mesocarps were analyzed by GC and GC-MS. Results obtained by GC-MS analysis indicated a high variability in the oil and in the headspace from seeds and mesocarps. Sesquiterpene derivatives were the main group of volatiles in the EO from fruits and in the HS from seeds (45.0 and 64.0%, respectively), while oxygenated hydrocarbon derivatives were the main constituents in the HS obtained from fleshy mesocarps (96.5%). The different chemical composition of the headspace obtained from the seeds and mesocarps of M. argun can be correlated with the different roles that the different constituents play in the prevention of dehydration of the fruits in the desert region from where the plant was collected.