Host-Assisted Delivery of a Model Drug to Genomic DNA: Key Information from Ultrafast Spectroscopy and in silico Study

Drug delivery to a target without adverse effects is one of the major criteria for clinical use. Herein, we have made an attempt to explore the delivery efficacy of SDS surfactant in a monomer and micellar stage during the delivery of the model drug, Toluidine Blue (TB) from the micellar cavity to DNA. Molecular recognition of pre-micellar SDS encapsulated TB with DNA occurs at a rate constant of k₁ ∼652 s⁻¹. However, no significant release of encapsulated TB at micellar concentration was observed within the experimental time frame. This originated from the higher binding affinity of TB towards the nano-cavity of SDS at micellar concentration which does not allow the delivery of TB from the nano-cavity of SDS micelles to DNA. Thus, molecular recognition controls the extent of DNA recognition by TB which in turn modulates the rate of delivery of TB from SDS in a concentration-dependent manner.     

Recovery and Amino Acid Composition of Protein Precipitates Isolated from Rice Starch Processing Liquors

Precipitates containing 47.7% and 30.5% protein were isolated from rice starch steep and sorter liquors respectively by pH adjustment of these liquors. The pH for protein precipitation from the steep liquor was 7.0 and from the sorter liquor was 5.0. The acid hydrolysates of both precipitates contained at least seventeen amino acids, Glutamic acid and arginine constitute the largest proportions of these acids. Nine essential amino acids were found to be present in variable amounts. The industrial application of this method for the preparation of protein precipitates is discussed.     

Novel (Super)Hard SiCN from Crystal Chemistry and First Principles

Silicon - The purpose of this work is to predict the existence of novel equiatomic SiCN based on tetragonal C6 structure the elementary building unit being the 1,4 cyclohexadiene molecule...     

Elaboration of enriched margarine with lentisk oil and honey: Formulation,characterization, and monitoring of oxidative stability

This study focused on the use of lentisk oil and honey as natural sources to formulate margarine with ameliorated quality and oxidative stability. For this, five margarines were formulated with honey and different concentrations of lentisk oil. Analyses were performed on oil and honey used, and then physicochemical characterization and several oxidative stability tests were applied to assess margarine quality. The results showed a significant richness of lentisk oil and honey in total phenolics and total flavonoids and expressed good antioxidant activities. As well as the evaluation of oxidative stability of enriched margarines during 3 months of storage demonstrated that margarine added with 2% lentisk oil (M1) had the best resistance properties and longer Rancimat induction time (22.26 h), better than the control and margarines added with 5% (M2), 10% (M3), and 15% (M4) lentisk oil. Globally, margarines prepared with high concentrations of lentisk oil (M2–M4) were not different from the control, whereas only M1 was permitted to ameliorate the stability of margarine with a slight influence on physicochemical parameters. The elaboration of margarine supplemented with 2% lentisk oil improves the properties of the product, which could then be applied to margarine manufacturing.     

Ossa cordis and os aorta in the one-humped camel: Computed tomography,light microscopy and morphometric analysis

The present study describes the morphological characteristics of the camel heart Ossa cordis, and os aorta using computed tomography soft tissue window (CT) alongside 3D render volume reconstructions and light microscopy. The current study techniques demonstrated the Ossa cordis and os aorta in the cardiac window with more precision than the black and white (ghost), and angiography images. Transverse and sagittal CT images additionally demonstrated the presence of Ossa cordis and os aorta. This study is the first to record two small Ossa cordis sinistrum and one os aorta in the camel heart, in addition to the more commonly observed singular, large, os cordis dextrum. The os cordis dextrum was always located in the upper part of the interventricular septum, near to its junction with the atrium, forming an elongated rectangular shape when observed transversally. The wider cranial part was composed from bone, whereas the caudal aspect was narrow and contained both bone and cartilage. Light microscopy identified that the os cordis dextrum consisted of trabecular bone, marrow spaces, and hyaline cartilage. Two Ossa cordis sinistrum were detected on the left side of the heart, one in the right fibrous ring and another in the interventricular septum, microscopy showed that both contained only trabecular bone with osteocytes, osteoblasts, and osteoclasts. At the level of ascending aorta, there was also trabecular bone containing osteocytes, an os aorta.     

Flexural behavior of pMWCNTs filled glass fiber/epoxy nanocomposites: Synthesis and interfacial failure

Glass fiber reinforced polymer composite (GFRP) encounter many practical situations during its application, exposed to different temperature fluctuation. Absorption of moisture and the fluctuated thermal environment cause mechanical degradation of GFRP. The current plan is to explore the mechanical and chemical behavior of pristine multiwall carbon nanotubes(pMWCNTs)-glass fiber strengthens epoxy composites during thermal shock (TS). The laminates were prepared by the hand-lay-up process followed by compression molding. The thermal shock was performed at the temperature for the required samples was 135°C for 24 h, followed by −135°C for 24 h. A flexural test has been carried out at 1 mm/min loading speed. 0.2 wt% pMWCNTs filled nanocomposite appeared to have the highest flexural strength and modulus compared to ambient samples. The thermomechanical behavior of nanocomposites has been accomplished by analyzing the dynamic mechanical thermal analysis graph (DMTA). Field emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM) analyzed the fracture surface of in-situ mechanical failure samples to find out the primary failure modes for strengthening and weakening mechanisms. The glass transition temperature (T_g) of the nanocomposite observed decreased due to homogeneous dispersion of pMWCNTs, imparting some effect on crosslink density and reinforcement up to 0.2 wt%. This study reveals that the uniform distribution of pMWCNTs and thermal shock treatment enhances the matrix stiffness and improves the mechanical properties.     

On the fluidization of cohesive powders: Differences and similarities between micro- and nano-sized particle gas–solid fluidization

The fluidization of cohesive powders has been extensively researched over the years. When looking at literature on the fluidization of cohesive particles, one will often find papers concerned with only micro- or only nano-sized powders. It is, however, unclear whether they should be treated differently at all. In this paper, we look at differences and similarities between cohesive powders across the size range of several nanometres to 10s of micrometres. Classification of fluidization behaviour based on particle size was found to be troublesome since cohesive powders form agglomerates and using the properties of these agglomerates introduces new problems. When looking at inter-particle forces, it is found that van der Waals forces dominate across the entire size range that is considered. Furthermore, when looking into agglomeration and modelling thereof, it was found that there is a fundamental difference between the size ranges in the way they agglomerate. Where the transition between the types of agglomeration is located is, however, unknown. Finally, how models are made and agglomerate sizes are measured is currently insufficient to accurately predict or measure their sizes consistently.     

Facile de Novo Sequencing of Tetrazine-Cyclized Peptides through UV-Induced Ring-Opening and Cleavage from the Solid Phase

While most FDA-approved peptide drugs are cyclic, the robust cyclization chemistry of peptides and the deconvolution of cyclic peptide sequences by using tandem mass spectrometry render cyclic peptide drug discovery difficult. Here we present the successful design of cyclic peptides on solid phase that addresses both of these problems. We demonstrate that this peptide cyclization method using dichloro-s-tetrazine on solid phase allows successful cyclization of a panel of random peptide sequences with various charges and hydrophobicities. The cyclic peptides can be linearized and cleaved from the solid phase by simple UV light irradiation, and we demonstrate that accurate sequence information can be obtained for the UV-cleaved linearized peptides by using tandem mass spectrometry. The tetrazine linker used in the cyclic peptides can further be explored for inverse electron-demand Diels-Alder (IEDDA) reactions for screening or bioconjugation applications in the future.     

Interaction of a Jaundice Marker Molecule with a Redox-Modulatory Nano-Hybrid: A Combined Electrochemical and Spectroscopic Study toward the Development of a Theranostic Tool

This study explores a combined electrochemical and spectroscopic approach to investigate the degradation of bilirubin, a molecular marker of jaundice in humans using a biocompatible nanohybrid (citrate-functionalized Mn₃O₄ nanohybrid; C−Mn₃O₄ NH). The approach is aimed at the development of a facile theranostic tool for treatment, detection, and prognosis of jaundice. Linear sweep voltammetry (LSV) studies on bilirubin, C−Mn₃O₄ NH, a model carrier protein, and its complex with bilirubin reveal the efficacy of the nanohybrid for both degradation and detection of bilirubin. Furthermore, spectroscopic studies depict that distal electron transfer to be the probable mechanism behind the observed bilirubin degradation in physiological milieu.     

Mixed-Mode Optical/Electric Simulation of Silicon Lateral PIN Photodiode Using FDTD Method

Silicon - Within this paper, a total optoelectronic simulation of a PIN photodiode structure was presented. The microlens structure has been introduced on the top of the PIN photodiode to...