Development of a difunctional oxirane and multifunctional acrylate interpenetrating polymer network composite system with antimicrobial properties

This research continued the development of a difunctional Oxirane and multifunctional Acrylate interpenetrating polymer network composite System (OASys) with antimicrobial properties. The effects of 4-Isopropyl-4′-methyldiphenyliodonium tetrakis (pentafluorophenyl) borate (Borate), hexamethylene diamine (HMDA) and N,N-dimethyl p-toluidine (DMPT) on OASys (Epalloy 5001:dipentaerythritol hexaacrylate) composite hardness, contact angle, monomer-to-polymer degree of conversion (DoC), mechanical properties, polymerization shrinkage, shrinkage stress, and antimicrobial properties were determined. Bis-GMA:TEGDMA composites were used as the control. OASys composites with 9 wt% Borate and 0.5 wt% DMPT or 1.5 wt% HMDA had comparable hardness, DoC's and polymerization shrinkages to controls, but had lower contact angles and mechanical properties. Additionally, OASys composites with 1.5 wt% HMDA had significantly less polymerization stress than controls and demonstrated significant antibacterial activity against Streptococcus mutans and Lactobacillus casei out to 3 months. With lower shrinkage stress and long-term antimicrobial activity, OASys composites look promising for increasing the clinical lifetime of dental composites, but improvements in mechanical properties are needed.     

Spray Drying of Green Corn Pulp

Maize (Zea mays) is a cereal grown in Brazil, and its availability is limited to the harvest season. An alternative processing route is based on the production of green corn powder, which has a longer shelf-life and increased versatility. This study aimed to evaluate the influence of drying conditions on the physical characteristics, size, and morphology of green corn powder. Drying experiments were performed on a spray dryer according to a central composite rotational design to evaluate inlet air temperature, feed flow rate, and pulp concentration. The yield of dried pulp corn had an average value of 36.19%. The following mean values for the physical properties of the powder were measured: solubility of 94.37 g/100 g, wettability of 128.05 seconds, moisture content of 1.97%, water activity of 0.13, density of 0.79 g/mL, and a particle diameter of 31.02 µm. The powder was also yellow with less intensity, and the particle surface was smooth at higher temperatures and had a tendency to form agglomerates. The estimated optimal conditions for spray drying were 48% (w/w) pulp concentration, 172°C inlet air temperature, and feed flow rate of 0.56 L/h.     

Developing an Irreversible Inhibitor of Human DDAH‐1, an Enzyme Upregulated in Melanoma

Inhibitors of the human enzyme dimethylarginine dimethylaminohydrolase‐1 (DDAH‐1) can raise endogenous levels of asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA) and lead to a subsequent inhibition of nitric oxide synthesis. In this study, N⁵‐(1‐imino‐2‐chloroethyl)‐L ‐ornithine (Cl‐NIO) is shown to be a potent time‐ and concentration‐dependent inhibitor of purified human DDAH‐1 (K_I=1.3±0.6 μM ; k_inact=0.34±0.07 min^?1), with >500‐fold selectivity against two arginine‐handling enzymes in the same pathway. An activity probe is used to measure the “in cell” IC₅₀ value (6.6±0.2 μM ) for Cl‐NIO inhibition of DDAH‐1 artificially expressed within cultured HEK293T cells. A screen of diverse melanoma cell lines reveals that a striking 50/64 (78 %) of melanoma lines tested showed increased levels of DDAH‐1 relative to normal melanocyte control lines. Treatment of the melanoma A375 cell line with Cl‐NIO shows a subsequent decrease in cellular nitric oxide production. Cl‐NIO is a promising tool for the study of methylarginine‐mediated nitric oxide control and a potential therapeutic lead compound for other indications with elevated nitric oxide production, such as septic shock and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.     

Discovery of 5′′‐Chloro‐N‐[(5,6‐dimethoxypyridin‐2‐yl)methyl]‐2,2′:5′,3′′‐terpyridine‐3′‐carboxamide (MK‐1064): A Selective Orexin 2 Receptor Antagonist (2‐SORA) for the Treatment of Insomnia

The field of small‐molecule orexin antagonist research has evolved rapidly in the last 15 years from the discovery of the orexin peptides to clinical proof‐of‐concept for the treatment of insomnia. Clinical programs have focused on the development of antagonists that reversibly block the action of endogenous peptides at both the orexin 1 and orexin 2 receptors (OX₁R and OX₂R), termed dual orexin receptor antagonists (DORAs), affording late‐stage development candidates including Merck’s suvorexant (new drug application filed 2012). Full characterization of the pharmacology associated with antagonism of either OX₁R or OX₂R alone has been hampered by the dearth of suitable subtype‐selective, orally bioavailable ligands. Herein, we report the development of a selective orexin 2 antagonist (2‐SORA) series to afford a potent, orally bioavailable 2‐SORA ligand. Several challenging medicinal chemistry issues were identified and overcome during the development of these 2,5‐disubstituted nicotinamides, including reversible CYP inhibition, physiochemical properties, P‐glycoprotein efflux and bioactivation. This article highlights structural modifications the team utilized to drive compound design, as well as in vivo characterization of our 2‐SORA clinical candidate, 5′′‐chloro‐N‐[(5,6‐dimethoxypyridin‐2‐yl)methyl]‐2,2′:5′,3′′‐terpyridine‐3′‐carboxamide (MK‐1064), in mouse, rat, dog, and rhesus sleep models.     

Effect of agitation, turbidity, aluminium foil reflectors and container volume on the inactivation efficiency of batch-process solar disinfectors

We report the results of experiments designed to improve the efficacy of the solar disinfection of drinking water, inactivation process. The effects of periodic agitation, covering the rear surface of the container with aluminium foil, container volume and turbidity on the solar inactivation kinetics of Escherichia coli (starting population = 10(6) CFU ml(-1)) were investigated. It was shown that agitation promoted the release of dissolved oxygen from water with subsequent decrease in the inactivation rates of E. coli. In contrast, covering the rear surface of the solar disinfection container with aluminium foil improved the inactivation efficiency of the system. The mean decay constant for bacterial populations in foil-backed bottles was found to be a factor of 1.85 (std. dev. = 0.43) higher than that of non-foil-backed bottles. Inactivation rates decrease as turbidity increases. However, total inactivation was achievable in 300 NTU samples within 8 h exposure to strong sunshine. Inactivation kinetics was not dependent on the volume of the water container for volumes in the range 500-1500 ml.     

Asian dust event observed in Seoul, Korea, during 29-31 May 2008: Analysis of transport and vertical distribution of dust particles from lidar and surface measurements

In this study, we investigate the transport of dust particles, its vertical distribution, and the associated meteorological conditions during an Asian dust event that was observed in Seoul, Korea on May 29-31, 2008. This study analyzes data from ground-based and space-borne 2-wavelength polarization lidars, particulate mass concentrations, and synoptic weather data. Surface meteorological station observations of dust phenomena, dust transport model, and weather maps consistently show that the dust particles were transported from the source regions (Inner Mongolia, Man-Ju, and Ordos areas) to Korea via the northeastern part of China. Network observations of the PM₁₀ concentrations in Korea revealed that a majority of the heavy dust particles traveled across South Korea from the northwest to the southeast direction with a horizontal scale of 250-300 km and a traveling speed of approximately 40 km h^− 1. This extraordinary dust event, in terms of its intensity and timing during the year, occurred due to the blockage of an unusually intensified low-pressure system in the northeastern part of China as well as high-pressure system centered over the Sea of Okhotsk and the Kuril Islands. The low values of the particle depolarization ratio (δ₅₃₂) (≤0.05) and color ratio (CR) during the pre-dust period indicate the presence of spherical, non-dust, and relatively small particles. The mean δ₅₃₂ value was approximately 0.123 ± 0.069 between altitudes of ground ~ 2.8 km, and 0.161 ± 0.049 for near-surface dust layer (ground ~ 1.2 km). This value is quite similar to that obtained during the 3-year SNU-Lidar measurements in Seoul (δ₅₃₂ ~0.136 ± 0.027). The value of δ₅₃₂ during the 2nd multilayered dust episode ranged between 0.081 and 0.120 for near-surface dust layers, and between 0.076 and 0.114 for elevated dust layers. The CALIPSO measurements of β₅₃₂, δ₅₃₂, and CR also revealed the presence of dense dust aerosols along the transport route.     

Low-Programmable-Voltage Nonvolatile Memory Devices Based on Omega-shaped Gate Organic Ferroelectric P(VDF-TrFE) Field Effect Transistors Using p-type Silicon Nanowire Channels

Nano-Micro Letters - A facile approach was demonstrated for fabricating high-performance nonvolatile memory devices based on ferroelectric-gate field effect transistors using a p-type Si nanowire...     

Understanding social viewing through discussion network and emotion: A focus on South Korean presidential debates

With the development of social media, television viewing is perceived no longer as an isolated activity. This study explores the underlying mechanism of the effects of social viewing discussion networks (i.e., bridging and bonding social viewing networks) on emotions (i.e., anger, fear, and enthusiasm), and moreover on opinion consolidation as well as opinion weakening in the context of the 2017 South Korean presidential debates. Overall, the main results are: a) Social viewing discussion networks influenced emotional states of social viewers, b) Emotions influenced attitude formation during social viewing, and c) Enthusiasm served as a catalyst that links bonding and bridging social viewing, and opinion consolidation. Implications and theoretical contributions are discussed.