Hydro‐ethanolic extract of cashew tree (Anacardium occidentale) nut and its principal compound,anacardic acid,stimulate glucose uptake in C2C12 muscle cells

Scope: Products of cashew tree (Anacardium occidentale) are used in traditional medicine for various ailments, including diabetes. Methods and results: The anti‐diabetic properties of cashew plant parts were studied using differentiated C2C12 myoblasts (myotubes) and rat liver mitochondria. Hydroethanolic extract of cashew seed (CSE) and its active component, anacardic acid (AA), stimulated glucose transport into C2C12 myotubes in a concentration‐dependent manner. Extracts of other parts (leaves, bark and apple) of cashew plant were inactive. Significant synergistic effect on glucose uptake with insulin was noticed at 100 μg/mL CSE. CSE and AA caused activation of adenosine monophosphate‐activated protein kinase in C2C12 myotubes after 6 h of incubation. No significant effect was noticed on Akt and insulin receptor phosphorylation. Both CSE and AA exerted significant uncoupling of succinate‐stimulated respiration in rat liver mitochondria. Conclusion: Activation of adenosine monophosphate‐activated protein kinase by CSE and AA likely increases plasma membrane glucose transporters, resulting in elevated glucose uptake. In addition, the dysfunction of mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation may enhance glycolysis and contribute to increased glucose uptake. These results collectively suggest that CSE may be a potential anti‐diabetic nutraceutical.     

Application of linearized power system model to selection of PST controller input signal

This paper presents a selection method for phase shift transformer PST controller input signal. Simple conditions of input signal selection are obtained using frequency response analysis. The proposed method requires a suitable modeling of power system including PST device. The two types of power system models described in this paper are the nonlinear equations system model and the linearized model. The linearized model is represented as a block diagram transfer function model and as a state space representation model. The block diagram model presented in this paper has been used for the PST feedback input signal selection. Five locally available measurements at the switching node of the PST are considered. The results of frequency domain tests have confirmed that the block diagram transfer function model is a useful tool for power system analysis. The LQR method is used to achieve the final verification and the choice of input control signal.     

Development of low fat beef patty using <Emphasis Type="Italic">Cucurbita maxima</Emphasis> Duchesne defatted seeds flour paste

The present work aimed at evaluating the Cucurbita maxima Duchesne defatted seeds flour (CDSF) as fat replacer in beef patty. Pastes obtained from CDSF containing 60 and 72 % water were prepared and used to replace fat in beef patty at 25, 50, 75 and 100 % respectively. A control patty was processed using kidney fat from beef. The proximate composition, technological yield, textural and sensorial properties of different samples were evaluated. Results showed that CDSF contains 77.76/100 g proteins based on dried matter. Protein content of patty increased with fat substitution rates (FSR) from 18.82/100 g wet matter (WM) to 23.24/100 g WM respectively for the control (P0) and the sample in which fat was substituted at 100 % with the CDSF paste with a water content of 60 % (P460). The lipid content dropped with the increase in the fat substitution rate and water content of CDSF paste from 10.70/100 to 0.28/100 g WM respectively for the sample in which fat was substituted at 25 % with the CDSF paste with a water content of 60 % (P160) and the sample in which fat was substituted at 100 % with the CDSF paste containing 72 % water (P472). Similarly, hardness dropped from 54.78 N (P0) to 37.56 N (P472) respectively. The cooking yield increased significantly (p < 0.05) with the increase in the water content of the CDSF paste and the fat substitution rate. From the sensory analysis, patties with 75 and 100 % of FSR were the most accepted. Thus, the CDSF paste can be used in beef patty as a fat replacer to reduce the detrimental effect of animal fat consumption.     

DFT-Study on Antioxydant of 3-Alkyl-4-P henylacetylam i no-1H-1,2,4-Triazol-5-O nes and Its Derivatives

In this article, we have performed B3LYP/6-31＋G（d） calculations of geometrical and reaction enthalpies of antioxidant mechanisms for ADPHT 1-4 （3-alkyl-4-phenylacetylamino-lH-1,2,4-triazol-5-ones） and its derivatives： HAT （hydrogen atom transfer）, SET-PT （single electron transfer-proton transfer） and SPLET （sequential proton-loss electron transfer） were investigated in gas and solution-phases. Solvent contribution to enthalpies was computed employing integral equation formalism IEF-PCM （integral equation formalism method） method. It turned out that the lowest BDEs （bond dissociation energies） is obtained for C-H bonds due to captodative effect in various media. Results indicate that HAT mechanism represents the most anticipated process in gas-phase from thermodynamic point of view. But, the SPLET represents the thermodynamically preferred reaction pathway in solvents （2-propanol, acetonitrile, DMF （N,N-dimethylformamide） and water）. The authors showed that bond dissociation energies, IP （ionization potential） and PA （proton affinity） are sufficient to evaluate the thermodynamically preferred mechanism.     

Evaluating "fast" micellar monolithic liquid chromatography for high-throughput quantitative structure-retention relationship screening

The recently introduced monolithic silica columns were tested for their use in micellar liquid chromatography. Micellar methods are utilized in high-throughput quantitative structure-retention relationships to estimate an indicator of the membrane permeability of drugs, namely, the octanol-water partition coefficient, log P. The monolithic column's ability to function at higher flow rates might be useful to speed up these chromatographic methods estimating the log P. Therefore, the elution behavior of diverse basic pharmaceutical substances was determined on a classical particle-based and a monolithic column, both with and without a micellar medium in the mobile phase. Utilizing among others principal component analysis, the extent to which these methods differ in retention characteristics was examined in the context of high-throughput determination of log P. Results indicate that combining monolithic columns with micellar media leads to faster log P and possibly even better permeability predictions.     

石粉对混凝土力学性能及氯离子扩散系数影响

为了研究玄武岩石粉对混凝土力学性能和氯离子扩散系数的影响,将玄武岩石粉以替代不同量水泥(内掺)和额外添加(外掺)的方式掺入到混凝土中,分别测试了混凝土的7 d、28 d、56 d、120 d抗压强度和28 d、56 d、120 d氯离子扩散系数,结合微观机理分析了玄武岩石粉对混凝土抗氯离子性能的影响,最后将石粉不同掺量与氯离子扩散系数变化关系进行线性回归分析.研究结果表明:石粉内掺时混凝土抗压强度在5％时小幅度升高,10％ ～20％时大幅度降低;石粉外掺时混凝土7 d抗压强度随掺量增加持续升高,28～120 d抗压强度先升高后降低.内掺和外掺玄武岩石粉混凝土氯离子扩散系数均有所升高,但石粉内掺时氯离子扩散系数增长趋势较外掺增长趋势明显;随着龄期的增长两种掺石粉方式的氯离子扩散系数变化趋势越来越平缓.通过将石粉内掺和外掺与氯离子扩散系数建立回归曲线及函数表达式,石粉内掺时的函数表达式较石粉外掺时的函数表达式更接近实测值,其相关性系数更高.     

Deciphering Specificity Determinants for FR900359‐Derived Gqα Inhibitors Based on Computational and Structure–Activity Studies

Direct targeting of intracellular Gα subunits of G protein‐coupled receptors by chemical tools is a challenging task in current pharmacological studies and in the development of novel therapeutic approaches. In this study we analyzed novel FR900359‐based analogs from natural sources, synthetic cyclic peptides, as well as all so‐far known G_qα inhibitors in a comprehensive study to devise a strategy for the elucidation of characteristics that determine interactions with and inhibition of G_q in the specific FR/YM‐binding pocket. Using 2D NMR spectroscopy and molecular docking we identified unique features in the macrocyclic structures responsible for binding to the target protein correlating with inhibitory activity. While all novel compounds were devoid of effects on G_i and G_s proteins, no inhibitor surpassed the biological activity of FR. This raises the question of whether depsipeptides such as FR already represent valuable chemical tools for specific inhibition of G_q and, at the same time, are suitable natural lead structures for the development of novel compounds to target Gα subunits other than G_q.     

Modeling,simulation, and prediction of global energy indices: a differential approach

Modeling, simulation, and prediction of global energy indices remain veritable tools for econometric, engineering, analysis, and prediction of energy indices. Thus, this paper differentially modeled, simulated, and non-differentially predicated the global energy indices. The state-of-the-art of the research includes normalization of energy indices, generation of differential rate terms, and regression of rate terms against energy indices to generate coefficients and unexplained terms. On imposition of initial conditions, the solution to the system of linear differential equations was realized in a Matlab environment. There was a strong agreement between the simulated and the field data. The exact solutions are ideal for interpolative prediction of historic data. Furthermore, the simulated data were upgraded for extrapolative prediction of energy indices by introducing an innovative model, which is the synergy of deflated and inflated prediction factors. The innovative model yielded a trendy prediction data for energy consumption, gross domestic product, carbon dioxide emission and human development index. However, the oil price was untrendy, which could be attributed to odd circumstances. Moreover, the sensitivity of the differential rate terms was instrumental in discovering the overwhelming effect of independent indices on the dependent index. Clearly, this paper has accomplished interpolative and extrapolative prediction of energy indices and equally recommends for further investigation of the untrendy nature of oil price.     

Assessing the Public Lighting with Solar Panels in the Sub Saharan Countries in Africa： Yaounde Case Study

Located in central Africa, Cameroon offers a wealth of solar power opportunity. The public lighting in the capital city Yaounde is an example of solar energy promotion. The purpose of this paper is among other things aiming at assessing the solar energy resources of central Africa and making sure it can be used optimally at least for public lighting. Based on the knowledge from data collected and field experience for three years, the authors will assess the implementation of the technology and show how the use of solar energy can solve some problems in the city of Yaounde even when the area is grid connected. This paper will also identify actions for improved access to sustainable, friendly, affordable solar energy services to users, as well as a significant improvement of energy infrastructure and energy efficiency in the city. The authors will also address issues on identified obstacles for the promotion of solar energy in order to help the cities in sub Saharan countries to develop a vision aiming at developing good solar energy policy and better contribute to fight against poverty and climate change.     

Interaction between phase shifting transformers installed in the tie-lines of interconnected power systems and automatic frequency controllers

FACTS devices like TCPAR can be used to regulate the power flow in tie-lines of interconnected power system. The transient state power flow occurring after power disturbances can be influenced by using TCPAR equipped with power regulator and frequency-based stabilizer. The analysis of a simple interconnected power system consisting of two power systems has shown that the control of TCPAR can force a good damping of both power swings and oscillations of local frequency. In the case of a larger interconnected power system consisting of more than two power systems, the influence of the control of TCPAR on damping can be more complicated. Strong damping of local frequency oscillations and power swings in one tie-line may cause larger oscillations in remote tie-lines and other systems. Hence the use of devices like TCPAR as tools for damping power swings and frequency oscillations in a large interconnected power system must be justified by detailed analysis of power system dynamics. In this paper, some results of time-domain simulations of a three-system area are presented. These results have proven that it is possible to obtain a good damping of tie-line power and frequency swings by optimizing the main parameters of TCPAR installed in tie-lines. The results have been confirmed by an eigenvalue analysis of linearized model of interconnected system consisting of three subsystems.