Wave-function-based characteristics of hybrid mesons

We propose some extensions of the quark potential model to hybrids, fit them to the lattice data and use them for the purpose of calculating the masses, root mean square radii and wave functions at the origin of the conventional and hybrid charmonium mesons. We treat the ground and excited gluonic field between a quark and an antiquark as in the Born-Oppenheimer expansion, and use the shooting method to numerically solve the required Schrödinger equation for the radial wave functions; from these wave functions we calculate the mesonic properties. For masses we also check through a Crank Nichelson discretization. For hybrid charmonium mesons, we consider the exotic quantum number states with J ^PC = 0^+?, 1^?+ and 2^+?. We also compare our results with the experimentally observed masses and theoretically predicted results of the other models. Our results have implications for scalar form factors, energy shifts, magnetic polarizabilities, decay constants, decay widths and differential cross-sections of conventional and hybrid mesons.     

Polyphenol Rich Ajuga bracteosa Transgenic Regenerants Display Better Pharmacological Potential

Ajuga bracteosa Wall. ex Benth. is an endangered medicinal herb traditionally used against different ailments. The present study aimed to create new insight into the fundamental mechanisms of genetic transformation and the biological activities of this plant. We transformed the A. bracteosa plant with rol genes of Agrobacterium rhizogenes and raised the regenerants from the hairy roots. These transgenic regenerants were screened for in vitro antioxidant activities, a range of in vivo assays, elemental analysis, polyphenol content, and different phytochemicals found through HPLC. Among 18 polyphenolic standards, kaempferol was most abundant in all transgenic lines. Furthermore, transgenic line 3 (ABRL3) showed maximum phenolics and flavonoids content among all tested plant extracts. ABRL3 also demonstrated the highest total antioxidant capacity (8.16 ± 1 μg AAE/mg), total reducing power, (6.60 ± 1.17 μg AAE/mg), DPPH activity (IC50 = 59.5 ± 0.8 μg/mL), hydroxyl ion scavenging (IC50 = 122.5 ± 0.90 μg/mL), and iron-chelating power (IC50 = 154.8 ± 2 μg/mL). Moreover, transformed plant extracts produced significant analgesic, anti-inflammatory, anticoagulant, and antidepressant activities in BALB/c mice models. In conclusion, transgenic regenerants of A. bracteosa pose better antioxidant and pharmacological properties under the effect of rol genes as compared to wild-type plants.     

Chemical network algorithms for the risk assessment and management of chemical threats

A network of chemical threats: Current regulatory protocols are insufficient to monitor and block many short-route syntheses of chemical weapons, including those that start from household products. Network searches combined with game-theory algorithms provide an effective means of identifying and eliminating chemical threats. (Picture: an algorithm-detected pathway that yields sarin (bright red node) in three steps from unregulated substances.).     

Understanding the dehydrogenation mechanism over iron nanoparticles catalysts based on density functional theory

The conversion of chemical feedstock materials into high value-added products accompanied with dehydrogenation is of great value in the chemical industry.However,the catalytic dehydrogenation reaction is inhibited by a limited number of expensive noble metal catalysts and lacks understanding of dehydrogenation mechanism.Here,we report the use of heterogeneous non-noble metal iron nanoparticles(NPs) incorporated mesoporous nitrogen-doped carbon to investigate the dehydrogenation mechanism based on experiment observation and density functional theory(DFT) method.Fe NPs catalyst displays excellent performance in the dehydrogenation of 1,2,3,4-tetrahydroquinoline(THQ)with 100% selectivity and 100% conversion for 10-12 h at room temperature.The calculated adsorption energy implies that THQ prefers to adsorb on Fe NPs as compared with absence of Fe NPs.What is more,the energy barrier of transition state is relatively low,illustrating the dehydrogenation is feasible.This work provides an atomic scale mechanism guidance for the catalytic dehydrogenation reaction and points out the direction for the design of new catalysts.     

Antibacterial Activity of Dental Composite with Ciprofloxacin Loaded Silver Nanoparticles

Resin composites have been widely used in dental restoration. However, polymerization shrinkage and resultant bacterial microleakage are major limitations that may lead to secondary caries. To overcome this, a new type of antibacterial resin composite containing ciprofloxacin-loaded silver nanoparticles (CIP-AgNPs) were synthesized. The chemical reduction approach successfully produced CIP-AgNPs, as demonstrated by FTIR, zeta potential, scanning electron microscopy, and ultraviolet-visible (UV-vis) spectroscopy. CIP-AgNPs were added to resin composites and the antibacterial activity of the dental composite discs were realized against Enterococcus faecalis, Streptococcus mutans, and the Saliva microcosm. The biocompatibility of modified resin composites was assessed and mechanical testing of modified dental composites was also performed. The results indicated that the antibacterial activity and compressive strength of resin composites containing CIP-AgNPs were enhanced compared to the control group. They were also biocompatible when compared to resin composites containing AgNPs. In short, these results established strong ground application for CIP-AgNP-modified dental composite resins.     

Author Correction: Drier Climatic Conditions Increase Withanolide Content of Withania coagulans Enhancing its Inhibitory Potential against Human Prostate Cancer Cells

Applied Biochemistry and Biotechnology - The original version of this article unfortunately contained a mistake in the image of Figure 1 and in Table 4. The corrected version of the figure...     

One-sided Perron Differential Inclusions

The main qualitative properties of the solution set of almost lower (upper) semicontinuous one-sided Perron differential inclusion with state constraints in finite dimensional spaces are studied. Using the technique introduced by Veliov (Nonlinear Anal 23:1027–1038, 1994) we give sufficient conditions for the solution map of the above state constrained differential inclusion to be continuous in the sense of Hausdorff metric. An application on the propagation of the continuity of the state constrained minimum time function associated with the nonautonomous differential inclusion and the target zero is given. Some relaxation theorems are proved, which are used afterward to derive necessary and sufficient conditions for invariance.