Structural Diversity and Defensive Properties of Norditerpenoid Alkaloids

We have tested the insect antifeedant and toxic activity of 43 norditerpenoid alkaloids on Spodoptera littoralis and Leptinotarsa decemlineata including eserine (physostigmine), anabasine, and atropine. Antifeedant effects of the test compounds were structure- and species-dependent. The most active antifeedants to L. decemlineata were 1,14-diacetylcardiopetaline (9) and 18-hydroxy- 14-O-methylgadesine (33), followed by 8-O-methylconsolarine (12), 14-O-acetyldelectinine (27), karakoline (7), cardiopetaline (8), 18-O-demethylpubescenine (13), 14-O-acetyldeltatsine (18), takaosamine (21), ajadine (24), and 8-O-methylcolumbianine (6) (EC50 < 1 microg/cm2). This insect showed a moderate response to atropine. S. littoralis had the strongest antifeedant response to 24, 18, 14-O-acetyldelcosine (19), and delphatine (29) (EC50 < 3 microg/cm2). None of the model substances affected the feeding behavior of this insect. The most toxic compound to L. decemlineata was aconitine (1), followed by cardiopetalidine (10) (% mortality > 60), 14-deacetylpubescenine (14), 18-O-benzoyl-18-O-demethyl-14-O-deacetylpubescenine (17), 14-O-acetyldelcosine (19), 14-deacetylajadine (25) and methyllycaconitine (30) (% mortality > 45). Orally injected S. littoralis larvae were negatively affected by 1, cardiopetaline (8), 10, 1,14-O-acetylcardiopetalidina (11), 12, 14, 1,18-O-diacetyl-19-oxo-gigactonine (41), olivimine (43), and eserine in varying degrees. Their antifeedant or insecticidal potencies did not parallel their reported nAChR binding activity, but did correlate with the agonist/antagonist insecticidal/antifeedant model proposed for nicotininc insecticides. A few compounds [14, tuguaconitine (38), 14-demethyldelboxine (40), 19, dehydrodelsoline (36), 18-O-demethylpubescenine (13), 41, 9, and delcosine (23)] had selective cytotoxic effects to ward insect-derived Sf9 cells. None were cytotoxic to mammalian CHO cells and none increased Trypanosoma cruzi mortality. The selective cytotoxic effects of some structures indicate that they can act on biological targets other than neuroreceptors.     

Semiconducting polyurethane/polypyrrole/polyaniline for microorganism immobilization and wastewater treatment in anaerobic/aerobic sequential packed bed reactors

The development of new materials for microorganism immobilization is very important in wastewater treatment. In this work polyurethane (PU) foams were modified polymerizing pyrrole and aniline onto their surface by chemical oxidization to obtain polyurethane/polypyrrole (PU/PPy), polyurethane/polyaniline (PU/PANI), and PU/(PPy‐co‐PANI) supports which were used to immobilize microorganisms for municipal wastewater treatment in batch mode and continuous flow using two sequential (anaerobic/aerobic) packed bed reactors (PBR) varying the total hydraulic retention time (HRT). The supports were characterized by Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and tested in chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal during treatment of a municipal wastewater. It was observed from SEM analysis that globular nanostructures of PPy and PPy‐co‐PANI were formed onto the PU surface with average diameters between 100 and 300 nm, which are typical of aqueous polymerization of pyrrole monomer; however irregular nanostructures were observed when PANI was homopolymerized onto the PU foam. Batch wastewater treatment after 14 days showed COD removal efficiencies of 77%, 69%, 78%, and 80% for PU foam, PU/PPy, PU/PANI, and PU/(PPy‐co‐PANI), respectively; which was explained as a function of polymers morphology deposited onto the PU foam surface. Also it was observed from the sequential PBR that for 24 h and 36 h of HRT, 80 and 90% of COD removal can be achieved; respectively.© 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2015 , 132, 42242.     

Reduced Dendritic Cells Expressing CD200R1 in Children with Inflammatory Bowel Disease: Correlation with Th17 and Regulatory T Cells

Loss of tolerance of the adaptive immune system towards indigenous flora contributes to the development of inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD). Defects in dendritic cell (DC)-mediated innate and adoptive immune responses are conceivable. The aim of this study was to investigate the expression of the inhibitory molecules CD200R1 and their ligand CD200 on DCs, to clarify the role of the DCs in the pathogenesis of IBD. Thirty-seven pediatric IBD patients (23 with Crohn’s disease (CD) and 14 with ulcerative colitis (UC)) with mean age 13.25 ± 2.9 years were included. Fourteen age-matched healthy pediatric volunteers (five males and nine females) served as a control group (HC). The percentage of CD11c⁺ myeloid dendritic cells (mDCs) and CD123⁺ plasmacytoid DCs (pDCs) expressing CD200R1 and CD200 were evaluated in peripheral blood using flow cytometry and were correlated with routine biochemical, serological markers, serum levels of cytokines and with the percentages of circulating regulatory T cells (Treg) and CD4⁺ producing IL-17 (Th17). IBD patients showed a significant decrease in the percentage of pDCs and mDCs expressing CD200R1 compared to that of HC. Patients with UC showed increased expressions of the CD200 molecule on pDCs as compared to HC. DCs expressing CD200R1 were found to be correlated positively with Treg and negatively with TH17 and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR). Our findings suggest that IBD is associated with dysregulation in the CD200R1/CD200 axis and that the decrease in DCs expressing CD200R1 may contribute to the imbalance of Th17 and Treg cells and in the pathogenesis of IBD.     

Synthesis,Characterization, and Evaluation of Ethoxylated Lauryl-Myrisityl Alcohol Nonionic Surfactants as Wetting Agents,Anti-Foamers,and Minimum Film Forming Temperature Reducers in Emulsion Polymer Lattices

Two nonionic FAEO (fatty alcohol ethoxylated) surfactants with varying solubility were obtained by the reaction of lauryl-myrisityl alcohol (LMA) with ethylene oxide to yield lauryl-myristyl/alcohol ethoxylated with 3 and 31 mol of ethylene oxide by changing the length of polyethylene glycol segment. The prepared surfactants, designated as LMAEO-3 and LMAEO-31, were characterized for their structures using spectroscopic measurements; in addition, their surface properties were investigated. The results indicated that LMAEO-31 exhibits excellent surface activity. Evaluation of the surfactants as wetting agents, anti-foamers, and minimum film forming temperature (MFFT) reducer in emulsion polymer lattices achieved promising results indicating high performance in the mentioned industrial applications.     

Structural Characteristics and Electrical Conductivity of Spark Plasma Sintered Ytterbia Co‐doped Scandia Stabilized Zirconia

The effect of replacing Sc₂O₃ with Yb₂O₃ on the structural and electrical properties of xYb₂O₃–(12–x)Sc₂O₃–88ZrO₂ has been investigated. Spark plasma sintering technique is employed to fabricate dense bulk samples from the nano‐sized powders. X‐ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy performed on pellets indicate the existence of cubic and rhombohedral phases in 12ScSZ, and a single cubic phase in all the co‐doped compositions. However, Raman spectroscopic studies suggest the presence of a metastable tetragonal t″‐phase along with rhombohedral phases in 12ScSZ, whereas a single cubic phase in all the co‐doped compositions. Significant enhancement in the conductivity of grain and grain boundary is observed on replacing Sc₂O₃ with Yb₂O₃. In the intermediate temperature range, 1Yb11ScSZ exhibits the highest, while 12ScSZ shows the lowest conductivity values, which is attributed to corresponding phases present in that range. Through co‐doping with >1 mol% Yb₂O₃ leads to conductivity decrease, but the value remains higher than that of 12ScSZ. A sharp conductivity change is observed in 12ScSZ and 1Yb11ScSZ samples, which is attributed to partial phase transition as well to the formation of cation‐vacancy complexes. In this work, the beneficial effect of Yb₂O₃ co‐doping in 12ScSZ on the phase and conductivity has been highlighted.     

Evaluation of Rice Straw-Based Hydrogels for Purification of Wastewater

The use of rice straw waste (RS) as a substrate for the preparation of metal adsorbents hydrogels has been demonstrated. Four types of RS-based hydrogels were prepared, and evaluated for their effectiveness on purification of wastewater loaded with Cu(II), Fe(II), Zn(II) and Mn(II). Freundlich and Langmuir adsorption equations were used for estimating the adsorption capacities. The results indicated that the hydrogels have significant effect on removing the metal ions from wastewater. The removal efficiency exceeded 95% for Cu(II) and Mn (II) ions and 85 for Fe (II) and Zn (II) ions.     

Asymmetric Sharpless epoxidation of 13S‐hydroxy‐ 9Z, 11E‐octadecadienoic acid (13S‐HODE)

The asymmetric Sharpless epoxidation of methyl 13S‐hydroxy‐9Z, 11E‐octadeca‐dienoate (13S‐HODE, 1 ) with tert‐butyl hydroperoxide (TBHP) catalysed by titanium tetraisopropoxide {Ti(ⁱOPr)₄} in the presence of L(+)‐diisopropyl tartrate (L‐DIPT) gave methyl 13S‐hydroxy‐11S, 12S‐epoxy‐9Z‐octadecenoate 2 (erythro isomer) in 84% diastereomeric excess (de). The epoxidation of 1 with TBHP catalysed by Ti(ⁱOPr)₄ in the presence of D(‐)‐DIPT yielded methyl 13S‐hydroxy‐11RR12R‐epoxy‐9Z‐octadecenoate (threo isomer) 3 in 76% de.     

Absorption of gas into a wavy falling film

In this work, we present results of a study of gas absorption into a falling film on a vertical substrate. The film flow is accompanied by the formation of nonlinear waves which strongly influence the diffusion layer that develops from the film surface. As a result, significant enhancement of mass transfer has been observed in experiments. We use recent advances in modelling of the hydrodynamics and solve a two-dimensional convective-diffusion equation for the solute concentration. Numerical solutions for the finite-amplitude wave regimes and associated integral absorption rates are obtained for a range of flow conditions. Our results show clearly the influence of waves on the development of the diffusion layer and, in particular, the enhancement of absorption due to the waves; the existence of optimal conditions for maximizing the absorption rate is also demonstrated.     

Polyphenol Oxidase from Coleus forskohlii: Purification,Characterization, and Immobilization Onto Alginate/ZnO Nanocomposite Materials

Catalysis Letters - Herein, polyphenol oxidase (PPO) was purified from Coleus forskohlii via a three-step process involving precipitation by (NH4)2SO4, ion exchange chromatography and gel...     

The Non-Erythropoietic EPO Analogue Cibinetide Inhibits Osteoclastogenesis In Vitro and Increases Bone Mineral Density in Mice

The two erythropoietin (EPO) receptor forms mediate different cellular responses to erythropoietin. While hematopoiesis is mediated via the homodimeric EPO receptor (EPOR), tissue protection is conferred via a heteromer composed of EPOR and CD131. In the skeletal system, EPO stimulates osteoclast precursors and induces bone loss. However, the underlying molecular mechanisms are still elusive. Here, we evaluated the role of the heteromeric complex in bone metabolism in vivo and in vitro by using Cibinetide (CIB), a non-erythropoietic EPO analogue that exclusively binds the heteromeric receptor. CIB is administered either alone or in combination with EPO. One month of CIB treatment significantly increased the cortical (~5.8%) and trabecular (~5.2%) bone mineral density in C57BL/6J WT female mice. Similarly, administration of CIB for five consecutive days to female mice that concurrently received EPO on days one and four, reduced the number of osteoclast progenitors, defined by flow cytometry as Lin⁻CD11b⁻Ly6C^hi CD115⁺, by 42.8% compared to treatment with EPO alone. In addition, CIB alone or in combination with EPO inhibited osteoclastogenesis in vitro. Our findings introduce CIB either as a stand-alone treatment, or in combination with EPO, as an appealing candidate for the treatment of the bone loss that accompanies EPO treatment.