Semiconductor Emitters in Entropy Sources for Quantum Random Number Generation

Random number generation (RNG) is needed for a myriad of applications ranging from secure communication encryption to numerical simulations to sports and games. However, generating truly random numbers can be elusive. Pseudorandom bit generation using computer algorithms provides a high random bit generation rate. Nevertheless, the reliance on predefined algorithms makes it deterministic and predictable once initial conditions are known. Relying on physical phenomena (such as measuring electrical noise or even rolling dice) can achieve a less predictable sequence of bits. Furthermore, if the physical phenomena originate from quantum effects, they can be truly random and completely unpredictable due to quantum indeterminacy. Traditionally, physical RNG is significantly slower than pseudorandom techniques. To meet the demand for high-speed RNG with perfect unpredictability, semiconductor light sources are adopted as parts of the sources of randomness, i.e., entropy sources, in quantum RNG (QRNG) systems. The high speed of their noise, the high efficiency, and the small scale of these devices make them ideal for chip-scale QRNG. Here, the applications and recent advances of QRNG are reviewed using semiconductor emitters. Finally, the performance of these emitters is compared and discuss their potential in future technologies.     

Bismuth Oxyiodide Nanoflakes Showed Toxicity Against the Malaria Vector <Emphasis Type="Italic">Anopheles stephensi</Emphasis> and In Vivo Antiplasmodial Activity

Anopheles stephensi is a mosquito vector of malaria, which is still considered a relevant public health problem due to increasing outdoor transmission, growing resistance to insecticides used to target vectors, and antiplasmodial drugs as well. Thus, there is a vital need to explore novel sources of effective compounds. In this study, the hydrothermal method was used for the synthesis of bismuth oxyiodide (BiOI) nanoflakes. Furthermore, the toxicity of BiOI nanoflakes was evaluated for the first time on A. stephensi, as well as in vivo against the malaria parasite Plasmodium berghei. The synthesis of BiOI nanoflakes was confirmed by various characterization techniques, including X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform-infrared spectroscopy, field emission scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy (HR-TEM). LC₅₀ of BiOI nanoflakes on A. stephensi were 2.263 ppm (larva I), 3.414 ppm (II), 4.956 ppm (III), 6.983 ppm (IV) and 8.605 ppm (pupae). In vivo antiplasmodial experiments conducted on P. berghei infecting albino mice showed 27.2% of chemosuppression after 4 days of treatment with 300 mg/kg/day of BiOI, a lower performance if compared to chloroquine. Overall, our results suggested that hydrothermal synthesis of BiOI nanoflakes may be considered to develop newer and safer tools for malaria vector control.     

Validation of the Antioxidant and Enzyme Inhibitory Potential of Selected Triterpenes Using In Vitro and In Silico Studies,and the Evaluation of Their ADMET Properties

The antioxidant and enzyme inhibitory potential of fifteen cycloartane-type triterpenes’ potentials were investigated using different assays. In the phosphomolybdenum method, cycloalpioside D (6) (4.05 mmol TEs/g) showed the highest activity. In 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH*) radical and 2,2′-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline)-6-sulfonic acid (ABTS) cation radical scavenging assays, cycloorbicoside A-7-monoacetate (2) (5.03 mg TE/g) and cycloorbicoside B (10) (10.60 mg TE/g) displayed the highest activities, respectively. Oleanolic acid (14) (51.45 mg TE/g) and 3-O-β-d-xylopyranoside-(23R,24S)-16β,23;16α,24-diepoxycycloart-25(26)-en-3β,7β-diol 7-monoacetate (4) (13.25 mg TE/g) revealed the highest reducing power in cupric ion-reducing activity (CUPRAC) and ferric-reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assays, respectively. In metal-chelating activity on ferrous ions, compound 2 displayed the highest activity estimated by 41.00 mg EDTAE/g (EDTA equivalents/g). The tested triterpenes showed promising AChE and BChE inhibitory potential with 3-O-β-d-xylopyranoside-(23R,24S)-16β,23;16α,24-diepoxycycloart-25(26)-en-3β,7β-diol 2′,3′,4′,7-tetraacetate (3), exhibiting the highest inhibitory activity as estimated from 5.64 and 5.19 mg GALAE/g (galantamine equivalent/g), respectively. Compound 2 displayed the most potent tyrosinase inhibitory activity (113.24 mg KAE/g (mg kojic acid equivalent/g)). Regarding α-amylase and α-glucosidase inhibition, 3-O-β-d-xylopyranoside-(23R,24S)-16β,23;16α,24-diepoxycycloart-25(26)-en-3β,7β-diol (5) (0.55 mmol ACAE/g) and compound 3 (25.18 mmol ACAE/g) exerted the highest activities, respectively. In silico studies focused on compounds 2, 6, and 7 as inhibitors of tyrosinase revealed that compound 2 displayed a good ranking score (−7.069 kcal/mole) and also that the ΔG free-binding energy was the highest among the three selected compounds. From the ADMET/TOPKAT prediction, it can be concluded that compounds 4 and 5 displayed the best pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic behavior, with considerable activity in most of the examined assays.     

Stretched exponential relaxation and dispersive conductivity behavior in lithium bismuth silicate glasses

Glasses having compositions xLi₂O∙(85 − x)Bi₂O₃∙15SiO₂ (x = 35, 40, and 45 mol%) were prepared by normal melt quenching technique. Electrical relaxation and conductivity in these glasses were studied using impedance spectroscopy in the frequency range from 20 Hz to 1 MHz and in the temperature range from 453 to 603 K. The ac and dc conductivities, activation energy of the dc conductivity and relaxation frequency were extracted from the impedance spectra. The dc conductivity increases with increase in Li₂O content providing modified glass structure and large number of mobile lithium ions. Similar values of activation energy for dc conduction and for conductivity relaxation time indicate that the ions overcome the same energy barrier while conducting and relaxing. The non-exponential character of relaxation processes increases with decrease in stretched exponential parameter ‘β’ as the composition parameter ‘x’ increases. The observed conductivity spectra follow a power law with exponent ‘s’ which increases regularly with frequency and approaches unity at higher frequencies. Nearly constant losses (NCL) characterize this linearly dependent region of the conductivity spectra. A deviation from the ‘master curve’ for various isotherms of conductivity spectra was also observed in the high-frequency region and at low temperatures, which supports the existence of different dynamic processes like NCL in addition to the ion hopping processes in the investigated glass system.     

SYNTHESIS OF SPIRO [1,3-BENZODIOXOLE-2,4′-(3′H) QUINAZOLINES]

Abstract

In the present investigation, the authors could obtain a new series of spiranes (1) through the reaction of the high potential quinone tetrachloro-o-benzoquinone with 2-aryl-3-phenyl-3H-quinazoline-4-thiones. Thus, 2,3-diphenyl- (2a), 2-p-tolyl-3-phenyl- (2b) and 2-p-anisyl-3-phenyl- (2c)-3H-quinazoline-4-thiones react readily with tetrachloro-o-benzoquinone, in boiling toluene, to give the corresponding spiro-1,3-benzodioxole-2,4′-(3′H)-quinazolines (1a-c), respectively.     

Synthesis and application of chiral bisphosphines through lithiation-conjugate addition tandem cyclization of chiral alpha,beta,psi,omega-unsaturated bisphosphine oxide

Upon treatment with lithium diisopropylamide achiral and chiral alpha,beta,psi,omega-unsaturated bisphosphine oxides underwent lithiation-conjugate addition tandem cyclization to afford the corresponding endo-alpha,beta-unsaturated cyclic bisphosphine oxides; sequential stereoselective reduction of the cyclized bisphosphine oxide gave the corresponding trans- and cis-bisphosphines that were successfully applicable in a catalytic asymmetric hydrogenation as chiral bisphosphine ligands.     

Flow-injection chemiluminescent determination of metoclopramide hydrochloride in pharmaceutical formulations and biological fluids using the [Ru(dipy)(3)(2+)]-permanganate system

A flow-injection (FI) methodology using (2,2′-dipyridyl) ruthenium(II) [Ru(dipy)₃²⁺] chemiluminescence (CL) was developed for the rapid and sensitive determination of metoclopramide hydrochloride. The method is based on the CL reaction of metoclopramide with Ru(dipy)₃²⁺ and KMnO₄ in a sulfuric acid medium. Under the optimum conditions, a calibration graph was obtained over the concentration range 0.005-3.5 μg ml⁻¹ with a limit of detection (S/N=2) of 1 ng ml⁻¹. The correlation coefficient was 0.99993 (n=8) with a relative standard deviation of 0.48% for 10 determinations of 1 μg ml⁻¹ of drug. The method was successfully applied to the determination of metoclopramide in pharmaceutical preparations and biological fluids after IP administration of 25 mg kg⁻¹ dose to rats. The elimination half-life was 2.5±0.4 h.     

Coadsorption of carbofuran and lead at the water/silica interface. Possible impact on environment

Despite its extremely weak adsorption at the water/silica interface, carbofuran can, however, induce the coadsorption of metallic salts, like, for example, lead nitrate, and thus enhance its adsorption. We quantitatively studied this phenomenon with a depletion method and under concentration conditions close to the environmental ones. Heavy metal salt was found to positively adsorb, whereas carbofuran relative adsorption is generally slightly negative. This study provides evidence that considering these facts is of paramount importance in environmental prospects. To cite this article: G. Elmanfe et al., C. R. Chimie 9 (2006).     

Construction and Validation of New Electrochemical Carbon Nanotubes Sensors for Determination of Acebutolol Hydrochloride in Pharmaceuticals and Biological Fluids

A simple, rapid and a highly selective method for direct electrochemical determination of acebutolol hydrochloride (AC) was developed. The developed method was based on the construction of three types of sensors conventional polymer (I), carbon paste (II) and modified carbon nanotubes (MCNTs) carbon paste (III). The fabricated sensors depend mainly on the incorporation of acebutolol hydrochloride with phosphotungstic acid (PTA) forming ion exchange acebutolol‐phosphotungstate (AC‐PT). The performance characteristics of the proposed sensors were studied. The sensors exhibited Nernstian responses (55.6 ± 0.5, 57.14 ± 0.2 and 58.6 ± 0.4 mV mol L^?1) at 25 °C over drug concentration ranges (1.0 × 10^?6‐1.0 × 10^?2, 1.0 × 10^?7‐1.0 × 10^?2 and 5.0 × 10^?8‐1.0 × 10^?2 mol L^?1 with lower detection limits of (5.0 × 10^?7, 5.0 × 10^?8 and 2.5 × 10^?8 mol L^?1 for sensors (I), (II) and (III), respectively. The influence of common and possible interfering species, pharmaceutical additives and some related pharmacological action drugs was investigated using separate solution method and no interference was found. The stability indicating using forced degradation of acebutolol hydrochloride was studied. The standard addition method was used for determination of the investigated drug in its pharmaceutical dosage forms and biological fluids. The results were validated and statistically analysed and compared with those from previously reported methods.     

Trends and Technological Advancements in the Possible Food Applications of Spirulina and Their Health Benefits: A Review

Spirulina is a kind of blue-green algae (BGA) that is multicellular, filamentous, and prokaryotic. It is also known as a cyanobacterium. It is classified within the phylum known as blue-green algae. Despite the fact that it includes a high concentration of nutrients, such as proteins, vitamins, minerals, and fatty acids—in particular, the necessary omega-3 fatty acids and omega-6 fatty acids—the percentage of total fat and cholesterol that can be found in these algae is substantially lower when compared to other food sources. This is the case even if the percentage of total fat that can be found in these algae is also significantly lower. In addition to this, spirulina has a high concentration of bioactive compounds, such as phenols, phycocyanin pigment, and polysaccharides, which all take part in a number of biological activities, such as antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity. As a result of this, spirulina has found its way into the formulation of a great number of medicinal foods, functional foods, and nutritional supplements. Therefore, this article makes an effort to shed light on spirulina, its nutritional value as a result of its chemical composition, and its applications to some food product formulations, such as dairy products, snacks, cookies, and pasta, that are necessary at an industrial level in the food industry all over the world. In addition, this article supports the idea of incorporating it into the food sector, both from a nutritional and health perspective, as it offers numerous advantages.