Recent Updates on the Functional Impact of Kahweol and Cafestol on Cancer

Kahweol and cafestol are two diterpenes extracted from Coffea arabica beans that have distinct biological activities. Recent research describes their potential activities, which include anti-inflammatory, anti-diabetic, and anti-cancer properties, among others. The two diterpenes have been shown to have anticancer effects in various in vitro and in vivo cancer models. This review aims to shed light on the recent developments regarding the potential effects of kahweol and cafestol on various cancers. A systematic literature search through Google Scholar and PubMed was performed between February and May 2022 to collect updates about the potential effects of cafestol and kahweol on different cancers in in vitro and in vivo models. The search terms “Kahweol and Cancer” and “Cafestol and Cancer” were used in this literature review as keywords; the findings demonstrated that kahweol and cafestol exhibit diverse effects on different cancers in in vitro and in vivo models, showing pro-apoptotic, cytotoxic, anti-proliferative, and anti-migratory properties. In conclusion, the diterpenes kahweol and cafestol display significant anticancer effects, while remarkably unaffecting normal cells. Our results show that both kahweol and cafestol exert their actions on various cancers via inducing apoptosis and inhibiting cell growth. Additionally, kahweol acts by inhibiting cell migration.     

Spectrophotometric determination of phosphorus and arsenic in pharmaceutical organic compounds

Summary A simple and accurate method is described for the microdeter-mination of phosphorus and arsenic in some pharmaceutical organic compounds. It is based on the conversion of phosphorus and arsenic into phosphate and arsenate ions respectively, followed by precipitation with quinoline and sodium molybdate reagents. The excess quinoline in the supernatant is spectrophotometrically measured at 312.5 nm in an ammonium acetate background of pH 5.5. The results obtained with 24 structurally different phosphorus and arsenic compounds show an average recovery of 99% and a mean standard deviation of ±1%. Excipients and diluents normally used in drug formulations do not interfere.

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Spektrophotometrische Bestimmung von Phosphor und Arsen in organischen Arzneimitteln

Zusammenfassung Eine einfache und genaue Methode zur Mikrobestimmung von Phosphor und Arsen in einigen organischen Arzneimitteln wurde angegeben. Sie beruht auf der Umsetzung des Phosphors zu Phosphat und des Arsens zu Arsenat sowie deren Fällung mit Chinolin und Natriummolybdat. Der Chinolinüberschuß wird spektrophotometrisch bei 312,5 nm in Ammonium-acetat bei pH 5,5 gemessen. Die mit 24 strukturell verschiedenen Phosphorbzw. Arsenverbindungen erhaltenen Resultate ergaben eine durchschnittliche Wiederfindungsrate von 99% und eine rel. Standardabweichung von ±1%. Arzneimittelträger und Verdünnungsmittel stören nicht.

     

Microdetermination of divalent sulphur in aliphatic compounds by visual titrimetry,potentiometry, and atomic absorption spectrometry

Summary Divalent sulphur in structurally different aliphatic compounds including thiols, sulphides, disulphides and thiocarbonyls is selectively determined by reaction with solid potassium hydroxide at 250–280° for 5–10 min, followed by addition of alkali plumbite whereby lead sulphide is stoichiometrically formed. The excess lead ions are measured by: (a) atomic absorption spectrometry at 217 nm; or (b) potentiometric titration with EDTA at pH 4.6 using the lead ion selective electrode; or (c) visual titration with EDTA using urotropine buffer and Xylenol Orange indicator. An average recovery of 99%, and a mean standard deviation of 0.9% are obtainable with samples down to 2 mg. Divalent sulphur in many aromatic compounds, and tetra- and hexa-valent sulphur in both aliphatic and aromatic compounds do not interfere.

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Mikrobestimmung von zweiwertigem Schwefel in aliphatischen Verbindungen durch visuelle Maanalyse, Potentiometrie und Atomabsorptionsspektrometrie

Zusammenfassung Zweiwertiger Schwefel in verschieden strukturierten aliphatischen Verbindungen wie Thiolen, Sulfiden, Disulfiden und Thiocarbonylverbindungen, lät sich durch Umsetzung mit festem Kaliumhydroxid bei 250–280° C durch 10 min und Zugabe von Alkaliplumbit bestimmen, wobei Bleisulfid in stöchiometrischer Menge gebildet wird. Der Überschuß an Bleiionen wird gemessen: a) durch Atomabsorptionsspektrometrie bei 217 nm; b) durch potentiometrische Titration mit ÄDTA bei pH 4,6 mit einer bleiionenspezifischen Elektrode; oder c) durch visuelle Titration mit ÄDTA, Urotropin als Puffer und Xylenolorange als Indikator. Ein durchschnittliches Ergebnis von 99% und eine mittlere Standardabweichung von 0,9% sind bei Einwaagen von wenigstens 2 mg erreichbar. Zweiwertiger Schwefel in vielen aromatischen Verbindungen, vier- und sechswertiger Schwefel sowohl in aliphatischen als auch in aromatischen Verbindungen stört nicht.

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Based on a paper presented at the Euroanalysis III Conference, Dublin, August 20–25, 1978.     

Graphical Representations of Speed: Obstacles Preservice K‐8 Teachers Experience

This study examines the difficulties college students experience when creating and interpreting graphs in which speed is one of the variables. Nineteen students, all preservice elementary or middle school teachers, completed an upper‐level course exploring algebraic concepts. Although all of these preservice teachers had previously completed several mathematics courses, including calculus, they demonstrated widespread misconceptions about the variable speed. This study identifies four cognitive obstacles held by the students, provides excerpts of their graphical constructions and verbal interpretations, and discusses potential causes for the confusion. In particular, misconceptions arose when students interpreted the behavior and nature of speed within a graphical context, as well as in situations where they were required to construct a graph involving speed as a variable. The study concludes by offering implications for the teaching and learning of speed and its interpretation within a graphical setting.     

Beta Stirling refrigerator performance using a tubular heat exchanger with elliptical tube layouts and a cylinder with different bores

Journal of Thermal Analysis and Calorimetry - The Stirling cycle is regarded as one alternative to the compressive cooling cycle. The current study examines the performance of a beta Stirling...     

Copper and iron interactions with angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors. A study by fast-atom bombardment tandem mass spectrometry

Fast atom bombardment, combined with high-energy collision-induced tandem mass spectrometry, has been used to investigate gas-phase metal-ion interactions with captopril, enalaprilat and lisinopril, all angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors.Suggestions for the location of metal-binding sites are presented. For captopril, metal binding occurs most likely at both the sulphur and the nitrogen atom. For enalaprilat and lisinopril, binding preferably occurs at the amine nitrogen. Copyright 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Experimental investigation of natural convection heat transfer between two oblate concentric and eccentric hemi-spheroids with different elliptical ratios

In this paper, natural convection between a pair of oblate hemi-spheroids with different elliptical ratios was depicted experimentally. The experimental tests study the effects of the orientation modes (horizontal, inclined, vertical, inclined revolved and vertical revolved) as well as the vertical eccentricity on the natural convection between each pair. Correlations among Nusselt number, Rayleigh number, elliptical ratio and eccentricity were deduced. A notable increase in the natural convection could be satisfied through the gaps among successive layers of hemi-spheroids having higher elliptical ratio rather than hemi-spherical ones. The positive vertical eccentricity shows remarked increase in natural convection rather than both concentric and negative eccentric cases. Also, the inclination of the minor axis of hemi-spheroids while keeping the major axis parallel to the horizontal plane produces a stronger upward plume rather than different inclination modes.     

A rapid technique to determine the internal area function of finite-length ducts using maximum length sequence analysis

This paper describes a rapid technique for reconstruction of the internal area function of a duct using blockage-induced eigenvalue shifts determined from eigenfrequencies measured under two sets of duct termination boundary conditions. A single broad band maximum length sequence (MLS) measurement of short duration is utilized to obtain the transfer function of the duct, which in turn can be utilized to determine its eigenvalue shifts and subsequently its internal area function using an inverse perturbation technique. The reconstruction results display the same order of accuracy as those obtained previously using swept sine measurements of extended duration. An expression for the determination of the area function is presented utilizing resonant frequency information alone, thus rendering duct length determination unnecessary. A computational routine further simplifies the process such that the accuracy of the technique could be ascertained for a range of configurations including longer ducts and ducts that initially have nonuniform internal cross section over their length. Development of a relationship between obstacle length and wavelength of the lowest eigenfrequency required for successful reconstruction is also described. This is an important result for longer ducts where measurement of lower eigenfrequencies may present problems using standard measurement equipment.     

Determination of penicillins by desulphurization with lead and edta titration

A new, simple, accurate and rapid method is described for the determination of total penicillins in pharmaceutical preparations. The method is based on desulphurization with potassium plumbite whereby one mole of lead sulphide is formed per mole of penicillin. The excess of lead ions is titrated with EDTA at pH 4.5, with use of the lead ion-selective electrode. Results are reproducible within +/- 0.5% and compare favourably with those obtained by the procedures of the United States and British Pharmacopoeias.