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The invention of using radio waves, for sending voice signals over long distances, brought profound changes to human society. The idea was picked up, initially by enthusiasts called radio amateurs, and later by business entities, to start radio stations transmitting voice and music programs for public entertainment. This was the beginning of public broadcasting. Rapid progress in communication technology enabled transmission of video information in the same fashion, called television (TV). The development has been very rapid in the recent past. TV has finally reached the old concept of being the picture frame on the wall. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The human body harbours trillions of microbes, and their influence on human health has been explored in many parts of the human body, including the male reproductive system. From routine culturing to polymerise chain reaction (PCR) and high throughput DNA sequencing, several studies have identified bacteria in the male reproductive system. In this review, we discuss the past and current literature surrounding the testicular and semen microbiome in correlation with male infertility. We further highlight the potential benefits of probiotics as an alternative therapeutic option for male infertility. Although not conclusive, emerging data are indicating potential implications of certain bacterial members on male fertility. There is a general agreement on the negative impact of some pathogenic bacterial species on semen parameters, including sperm counts, motility, morphology, and DNA integrity. On the other hand, Lactobacillus, known as a human-friendly bacteria, has shown protective effects on semen parameters, which makes it a potentially good probiotic. In order to confirm the findings of previous studies, more clinical studies with larger sample sizes and the right controls are needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article will critically explore how the intersection of mimesis and labour may open up another perspective on the much-theorized relationship between practice (prayoga) and theory (śāstra) in dance and painting. Labour or śrama, a loaded term by itself, will be taken in its complex sense of not only involving labour as skill that informs acts of painting, acting-dancing but also as a thematic of representation. Interspersed into these two senses is ritual labour or the labour involving acts of propitiating the divine – a domain not sufficiently thought out beyond the truism that religion pervades all spheres of Indic life. What this mode of inquiry aims to bring out is a tense relationship between manual/artistic labour and ritual labour both as a site of complicity and conflict amongst the actor-dancers and the authors of the treatises. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A facile synthesis of novel 3-functionalized pyridine derivatives has been accomplished through the reaction of 4-hydroxy-3-benzoylpyridin-2(1H)-ones and β-nitrostyrenes in the presence of catalytic amount of pyrrolidine (10 mol%). In this process, the desired products were obtained with 72–87% yields using ethanol as solvent at 80 °C for 4 h. In addition, a total of 19 examples were obtained, which exhibited the broad substrate scope of the transformation. The reaction process may involve the formation of an unstable enamine intermediate and then undergo hydrolysis to afford 4-hydroxy-3-benzoylpyridin-2(1H)-one derivatives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new library of different substituted aryl derivatives of isoxazole-pyrazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidine (10a–j) were prepared, confirmed their structures by 1HNMR, 13CNMR and mass spectral data. Furthermore, the preliminary anticancer activities of newly developed compounds (10a–j) were tested against four human cancer cell lines PC3 (prostate), DU-145 (Prostate), A549 (lung) and MCF-7 (breast) by utilizing of MTT method. The obtained results of were compared with standard reference etoposide. Among all, compounds (10a, 10b, 10c, 10e, 10i and 10j) displayed highest anticancer activities than standard. Predominantly, one compound 10a with 3,4,5-trimethoxy substituent on the aryl ring showed excellent activity. The molecular modeling studies indicated the interactions of synthesized compounds with SARM, and DNA via hydrogen bonds and hydrophobic interactions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Low temperature, fixed bed grain drying was investigated as an alternative to high temperature drying. Drying data was collected in an on-farm bin drying system over three harvest seasons. A one-dimensional transient model of the grain drying process was shown to predict most aspects of the drying process with reasonable accuracy. Preliminary calculations were completed to investigate the potential benefits of a heat pump as the heat source using typical meteorological year data. It was shown that greenhouse gas emissions could be reduced by as much as 90% at a similar operating cost compared to high temperature fossil fuel-based drying. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of present study was to explore the antibacterial potential of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) against multidrug-resistant (MDR) non-fermenting Gram negative bacterial (NFGNB) strains. Total 457 strains of NFGNB isolated from 13954 blood samples showed identification of 68.05% isolates as MDR. The most commonly reported MDR strains included Acinetobacter spp. (73.63%), Pseudomonas spp. (24.43%), and Stenotrophomonas maltophilia (1.92%). Using representative MDR and reference strains, antibacterial potential of AgNPs was evaluated. AgNPs were chemically synthesized and characterized by UV–vis, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Diameter of inhibition zone was measured from 10 to 21 mm and 12 to 23 mm with AgNPs (6.25 to 50 μg/mL) for test and reference strains respectively. Against representative Pseudomonas aeruginosa MDR isolate, MIC and MBC of AgNPs were found as 3.12 and 12.5 μg/mL, respectively. Chemically synthesized AgNPs shows the greater antibacterial efficacy for their future applications to treat infections caused by MDR strains. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this review, resources of nickel and status of different processes/technologies in vogue or being developed for extraction of nickel and associated metals from both primary and secondary resources are summarized. Nickel extraction from primary resources such as ores/minerals (sulfides, arsenides, silicates, and oxides) including the unconventional one viz., the polymetallic sea nodules, and various secondary resources has been examined. Though sulfide ores after concentration are generally treated by the pyro-metallurgical route, most processes for lateritic ores deal with either the acid leaching at ambient temperature and pressure, or high pressure, and a few based on the microbial treatment and owing to the extensive research on laterites, a special emphasis is put forth in this review. Prominent sources that are covered in some detail include the solid wastes like spent batteries viz., end-of-life nickel-cadmium (NiCd) and nickel metal hydride (NiMH), spent catalysts, and spent/scrap superalloys, and liquid wastes such as copper bleed stream and electroplating effluents. In particular pre-treatment of the spent nickel-based batteries, leaching of metals from the electrode materials in different lixiviants, besides separation/solvent extraction of nickel/other metals from the leach liquors, are highlighted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Three-dimensional finite element models with consideration of shrinkage and irregular shape were developed to estimate the relationships among the transient heat and mass transfer coefficients, the transient water diffusivity, and the temperature and moisture content of the red kidney beans being dried under different drying conditions. An equation was developed to calculate the transient mass transfer coefficient using the measured time-moisture content data. This calculated transient mass transfer coefficient was further used to calculate the transient heat transfer coefficient. To verify the predicted temperature on the surface of the red kidney beans, surface temperature was measured using a handhold infrared thermometer. These measured temperature and time-moisture content data were used to determine the transient water diffusivity using the least square method when the red kidney bean kernel experienced a shrinkage during drying. Strong relationship among the transient heat and mass transfer coefficients, the water diffusivity, and the ratio of the transient heat and mass transfer coefficients was revealed. This relationship could be used to predict temperature and moisture content of the red kidney beans during the entire drying period. The Lewis number ¼ 27, and the ratio of the transient heat over mass transfer coefficients was 10765 J m-3 k-1 at 30 and 40°C, and 10729 J m-3 k-1 at 50°C. Shrinkage did not significantly influence the value of the estimated transient water diffusivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

1,3-propane- and/or 1,4-butane sultone (sultones are internal esters of hydroxyl sulfonic acid) are used as a chemical intermediate to introduce sulfopropyl and/or sulfobutyl groups into heterocyclic molecules and to confer water solubility and anionic character to the molecules. Therefore, the synthesis of three novel functionalizedN-sulfonates is described. These sulfonates contain pyridyl(2a–f), quinolyl(4a–m), and isoquinolyl(6a,b)functional groups with potential biological activity. The synthesized quaternary ammonium salts, 3-(2 or 4-arylpyridinium-1-yl)propane or butane-1-sulfonate(2a–f), 3-(alkylquinolinium-1-yl)propane or butane-1-sulfonate(4a–m), and 3-(alkylisoquinolinium-1-yl)propane or butane-1-sulfonate(6a,b), were screened for their antimicrobial and antifungal activities. Among all tested compounds, it was found that compound 4-(4-carboxypyridinium-1-yl)butane-1-sulfonate(2f)showed high activity against Gram-positive bacteria, Gram-negative bacteria, and tested fungi. Most of the compounds showed a moderate degree of antimicrobial activity. The structures of these compounds were confirmed on the basis of their analytical and spectral data (infrared,1H-NMR and13C-NMR spectroscopy, and mass spectral data). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the past few years pyrazole derivatives have attracted increasing attention because of their numerous potential pharmacological applications. Changes in their structure have offered a high degree of diversity that has proven useful for the development of new medicinal agents with improved potency and less toxicity. This review focuses on the recent developments in pyrazole along with their structure–activity relationship (SAR), particularly for anticancer activity. The review covers SAR for active pyrazole molecules such as cyclin dependent kinase (CDK) inhibitor (modulator), aurora kinase inhibitors (modulator), break point cluster region-Abelson (BCR-ABL) tyrosine kinase inhibitors (modulator), heat shock protein (HSP 90) inhibitors (modulator), polo-like kinase inhibitors (modulator), cyclo-oxygenase (COX) and lypo-oxygenase (LOX) inhibitors (modulator), epithelial growth factor receptor (EGFR) inhibitors (modulator), reticular activating system–neuro endocrine tumor (Ras-Net) ETS-like transcription factor (Elk-3) pathway inhibitors (modulator), and DNA binding agent. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Two synthetic pathways for the preparation of 2-mercapto-3-arylpropanoic acids were developed. First, by the reaction of arenediazonium bromides with acrylic esters in the presence of CuBr, alkyl (2-bromo-3-aryl)propanoates were formed. Their cyclization with thiourea produced 5-(R-benzyl)-2-imino-4-thiazolidinones, which yielded 3-aryl-2-mercaptopropanoic acids by alkaline hydrolysis. Second, direct Meerwein arylation of acrylates in the presence of S-nucleophile (NaSH) allowed isolation of 3-phenyl-2-mercaptopropanoic acid in 8% yield. Such acids were used for cyclization with cyanoguanidine and phenyl isothiocyanate yielding 1-[5-(R-benzyl)-4-oxo-1,3-thiazolidin-2-ylidene]guanidines and new 5-(R-benzyl)-3-phenyl-2-thioxo-1,3-thiazolidin-4-one (rhodanine) derivatives correspondingly. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

During osmotic dehydration of fruits and vegetables, as water and/or other substances are removed from the material, shrinkage follows depending on the extent of net mass loss. Mass transfer is usually predicted through modeling. However, common models developed for osmotic dehydration of fruits and vegetables make assumptions that often deviate far from reality, including large heterogeneity, variability and complexity in properties of fruits and vegetables. This generates some skepticism about such models and minimizes their potential industrial reliability. This paper reviews osmotic dehydration of fruits and vegetables through a basic approach, provides a critical view on modeling and points out the factors that affect shrinkage and mass transfer based on an extensive evaluation of pertinent literature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

8,10-Dimethyl-3-(unsubstituted, methyl, ethyl, n-butyl, phenyl)-4-hydroxypyrido[2',3':3,4]pyrazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidin-2(1H)-ones and 3-(2-hydroxyethyl)-2,8,10-trimethylpyrido[2',3':3,4]pyrazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidin-4-ol were synthesized by cyclocondensation of 3-amine-4,6-dimethyl-1H-pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridine with ethyl malonates and α-acetyl-γ-butyrlolactone. Dichloro- and diazido- derivatives were obtained from the reaction of pyridopyrazlopyrimidine derivatives with POCl3 followed by NaN3. The tetrahetrocyclic systems were formed by cyclization of 4-chloro-3-(2-chloroethyl)-2,8,10-trimethylpyrido[2',3':3,4]pyrazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidine with the appropriate primary amines. The structures of all compounds were established by NMR and mass spectra. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A simple synthesis of novel (Z)-3-arylidene-2,3-dihydrobenzo[b][1,4]thiazepin-4(5H)-ones from bromo compounds derived from Baylis-Hillman adducts involving selective S-alkylation followed by a lactum formation has been described. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The plant powder "maras powder" (MP) has been used widely instead of cigarettes in the southeastern region of Turkey. The aim of this study was to assess the impacts of MP and cigarette smoking on the methylation and micronuclei (MN) formation in buccal cells of humans with a comparison to blood lymphocytes. DNA samples from 80 subjects (40 MP users, 20 tobacco smokers, 20 healthy volunteers) were analyzed for their genomic methylation status using Hpa II and Msp I digestions followed by a simple gel electrophoresis and ethidium bromide staining. A densitometric method was developed to measure the methylation in genomic DNA samples and the results were evaluated using a software program designed for this purpose. Buccal epithelial cells were collected from the same groups and examined for MN formation. The results indicated that a general genomic hypomethylation was present in almost all of the samples that were obtained from MP users and tobacco smokers. This hypomethylation was significant in MP users compared to smokers and healthy volunteers. The percentage of cells containing MN was 1.93 in MP users, 0.95 in healthy volunteers, and 1.82 in smokers. The MN frequency was significantly higher in MP users and smokers than in healthy volunteers. There was no statistical difference between smokers and MP users. Evidence indicates that MP usage induces DNA hypomethylation and increase frequency of MN formation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

CGS 35601 is a triple vasopeptidase inhibitor (VPI) of angiotensin-converting enzyme, neutral endopeptidase, and endothelin-converting enzyme-1 with respective IC 50 values of 22, 2, and 55 nM. We characterized the safety profile and toxicity of escalading doses of CGS 35601 over a 20-day period in chronically instrumented, unrestrained, conscious, male, spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR). Once instrumented with an arterial catheter, the SHR were placed in metabolic cages allowing daily assessment of hemodynamics and blood sampling for biochemical and hematological measurements. After a 7-day stabilization period, the SHR were divided into 2 groups: Gr. 1, (n = 13 to 18) receiving CGS 35601 at 0.01, 0.1, 1 and 5 mg kg -1 day -1 (continuous i.a. infusion) for 5 consecutive days/dose, followed by a 5-day washout; and Gr. 2, (n = 10) receiving vehicle (saline). The highest dose of CGS 35601 dose-dependently reduced MABP from 156 ± 4 up to 94 ± 5 mm Hg, whereas heart rate, metabolic, electrolytic, and hematological profiles, growth, diuresis, and renal activity were unaffected, and no hepatic or liver toxicities were observed. These results suggest that this novel triple VPI presents no safety concerns at this stage and may become of interest for the treatment of hypertension and other cardiovascular disorders. Long-term chronic experiments are needed to assess possible angioedema and increases in vascular permeability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

1. Based on binding affinity, 2′-amino-N-(3,4-dimethyl-5-isoxazolyl)-4′-(2-methylpropyl)[1,1′-biphenyl]-2-sulfonamide ( 2 ) was identified as an initial lead in a programme to identify selective endothelin (ET) receptor antagonists. However, the compound was extensively metabolized in preclinical animal species and human in vitro systems due to oxidative biotransformation. 2. To optimize this structural class, the site of metabolism of 2 was determined. This allowed for focussed structure-activity and structure-metabolism studies aimed at finding more metabolically stable analogues that maintained potency. New analogues were screened for their ET binding characteristics and their stability in rat and human liver microsomes. 3. The use of the microsomal stability screen was tested by the determination of the pharmacokinetic parameters of select analogues. A good correlation was found between reduced rates of rat microsomal metabolism and reduced clearance in the rat. 4. N-(3,4-dimethyl-5-isoxazolyl)-4′-(2-oxazolyl)[1,1′-biphenyl]-2-sulfonamide ( 3 ) was identified as an analogue with improved in vitro properties and further studies revealed that the compound had improved pharmacokinetic properties. 5. N-[[2′-[[(3,4-dimethyl-5-isoxazolyl)amino]sulfonyl]-4-(2-oxazolyl)[1,1′-biphenyl]-2-yl]methyl]acetamide ( 4 ) was subsequently identified as a compound with superior in vitro properties compared with compound 3 , but when tested in vivo it had a substantially increased rate of clearance. Further studies demonstrated that the clearance of this closely related structural analogue was not dictated by metabolic processes, but was mediated by transport-mediated direct biliary excretion. 6. The utility of screening for in vitro liver microsomal stability as part of the lead optimization process for compounds with metabolic liabilities was shown. It was also shown that relatively small molecular changes can dramatically change the disposition of closely related analogues and care must be used when screening for a single property. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Epoxides react with acetone in the presence of catalytic amounts of bismuth(III) salts including BiCl3, Bi(TFA)3 and Bi(OTf)3 affording the corresponding 1,3-dioxolanes in excellent yields. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Potassium permanganate supported onto alumina in hexanewater is a good oxidizing agent to convert α-hydroxysilanes into acylsilanes. This mild oxidation afforded aroylsilanes having electron-donating groups attached to the aromatic ring, in 70–86 % yield. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A quasilinear electrometer capable of wide range current measurement is presented. It measures currents from 2nA to 0.4mA in eight sensitivity ranges. The circuit uses a gain switched amplifier along with an automatic gain switching system and voltage shifter. It provides a quasilinear analogue output (0 to 5V) for the above current range. The accuracy is within 4% in this current range and remains within 2.5% in the temperature range of 25 to 60°C. This can find applications in measurement of various plasma parameters in space and ground based systems and also in experiments where recording of a large dynamic range signal is desired. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]