Experimental and quantum chemical calculations on corrosion inhibition of mild steel by two furan derivatives

Two furan derivatives namely 5-methylfurfurylamine (MFA) and furfurylamine (FAM) were investigated as corrosion inhibitors for mild steel in 1 M HCl. The corrosion inhibition efficiencies (IE) were measured at 0.005M of the inhibitors using electrochemical potentiodynamic polarization measurements. The studied furan derivatives inhibit mild steel corrosion in acidic medium. The MFA shows higher inhibition efficiency of 84.77% compared to FAM of 41.75%. Quantum chemical calculations were performed at the B3LYP/6-311++G(d,p) level of density functional theory (DFT). Several quantum parameters were calculated to study the correlation between the molecular structures and the corrosion inhibition performance of the inhibitors. The MFA inhibitor shows higher HOMO energy, softness (S), fraction of electrons transferred (ΔN), and lower energy gap (ΔE) compared to the FAM. This result indicates a better corrosion inhibition performance of the MFA inhibitor. The results show that the calculated values of the quantum parameters using DFT calculations are consistent with the experimental findings

On the trail of an ancient middle eastern ethnobotany: Traditional wild food plants gathered by ormuri speakers in kaniguram, nw pakistan

An ethnobotanical field study focusing on traditional wild food botanical taxa was carried out in Kaniguram, South Waziristan, Pakistan, among Ormur (or Burki or Baraki) peoples, which represent a diasporic minority group, as well as among the surrounding Pashtuns. Through sixty semi-structured interviews, fifty-two wild food plants (taxa) were recorded, and they were primarily used raw as snacks and cooked as vegetables. Comparative analysis found a remarkable overlap of the quoted plant uses between the two studied groups, which may reflect complex socio-cultural adaptations Ormur speakers faced. Ormur people retain a rich knowledge of anthropogenic weeds and the phytonyms reveal important commonalities with Persian and Kurdish phytonyms, which may indicate their possible horticultural-driven human ecological origin from the Middle East. Some novel or rare food uses of Cirsium arvense, Nannorrhops ritchiana, Periploca aphylla, Perovskia atriplicifolia, Viscum album, Oxalis corniculata and Withania coagulans were documented. Since the Ormuri language represents a moribund language, still spoken by only a few thousand speakers in NW Pakistan and Afghanistan, it is recommended that the traditional bio-cultural and gastronomical heritage of this minority group be appropriately protected and bolstered in future rural development programs

Brain-derived neurotrophic factor in asthmatic children

Background: Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) regulates the cross-talk between the immune and nervous systems which may play an important role in asthma pathophysiology. Objective: This study was aimed to investigate the relation between BDNF and asthma exacerbation and severity, and to study its possible correlation to eosinophilic counts in blood and sputum. Methods: Twenty-seven asthmatic children were studied during both exacerbation and remission. According to acute exacerbation severity as assessed clinically and by peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR), they were equally subdivided into 3 groups (mild, moderate and severe). Serum and sputum BDNF levels as well as blood and sputum eosinophilic counts were estimated in all patients in comparison to 30 healthy children with no personal or family history of atopy. Results: BDNF levels (in serum and sputum) and eosinophilic counts (in blood and sputum) were significantly elevated in asthmatic patients, whether studied as one group or subgrouped into mild, moderate and severe as compared to controls. Patients with mild, moderate and severe acute asthma exacerbation had significantly higher values of BDNF (in serum and sputum) and eosinophilic count (in blood and sputum) than the corresponding values measured during remission. The latter values were still higher than those of the control group. BDNF in serum and sputum indirectly correlated with asthma severity as evidenced by their negative correlation with PEFR. However, sputum BDNF correlated better with the severity of asthma exacerbation as evidenced directly by its significant increase with clinical severity. Both serum and sputum BDNF levels revealed significant positive correlations with eosinophilic count in blood and sputum among all studied groups. Conclusion: BDNF probably plays a role in the evolution of asthma exacerbation and it reflects the degree of asthma severity during exacerbation. It might also represent an objective indicator of remission and treatment efficacy. Studies with specific BDNF receptor antagonists or synthesis inhibitors are required as BDNF may prove to be a reasonable target for a new therapy in future.Keywords: BDNF, neurotrophins, bronchial asthma, asthma severity, neurogenic inflammationEgypt J Pediatr Allergy Immunol 2003; 1(2): 102-

Modified EDF Goodness of Fit Tests for Logistic Distribution under SRS and RSS

Modified forms of goodness of fit tests are presented for the logistic distribution using statistics based on the empirical distribution function (EDF). A method to improve the power of the modified EDF goodness of fit tests is introduced based on Ranked Set sampling (RSS). Data are collected via the Ranked Set Sampling (RSS) technique (McIntyre, 1952). Critical values for the logistic distribution with unknown parameters are provided and the powers of the tests are given for a number of alternative distributions. A simulation study is presented to illustrate the power of the new method

Antinucleosome antibodies as early predictors of lupus nephritis

Background: The role of the nucleosome in the induction of antibody response in lupus mediated tissue damage especially glomerulonephritis, may provide a new insight in the early diagnosis and alternative therapeutic developments in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Objectives: To evaluate the frequency and specificity of antinucleosome antibody expression in SLE patients in relation to disease activity. Also, to assess their predictive value in subclinical lupus nephritis. Methods: This study included 26 patients with SLE and 52 control subjects (26 were healthy and 26 had juvenile rheumatoid arthritis "JRA"). Among lupus patients, 15 had clinical evidence of renal involvement. After clinical evaluation to calculate the SLE disease activity index (SLEDAI), measurements of urinary microalbumin and serum antinucleosome antibodies (antinucleosome specific, antihistone and anti ds-DNA antibodies by ELISA) were performed. Patients without clinical evidence of renal involvement were followed up for one year and measurement of urinary microalbumin was repeated at the end of the study period. Those who later developed microalbuminurea were categorized as patients with subclinical lupus nephritis. Results: The expression of the 3 studied antinucleosome antibodies was significantly higher among lupus patients as compared to JRA patients and healthy controls. Seropositivity for one or more antinucleosome antibodies was elicited in 84.5% of lupus patients. Serum levels of the 3 antinucleosome antibodies were significantly higher among lupus patients with clinical nephritis than those without nephritis. ANSAb had higher sensitivity, specificity and positive and negative predictive values for subclinical lupus nephritis (100%) than antihistone and anti ds-DNA antibodies (43%, 100%, 100% and 50% respectively for either antibodies). All patients with lupus nephritis were seropositive for at least one of the antinucleosome antibodies, while those without clinical or subclinical nephritis were seronegative for the 3 antinucleosome antibodies. In 27.3% of patients with lupus nephritis, ANSAB was positive while both antihistone and ds-DNA antibodies were negative. Antinucleosome antibodies correlated positively with SLEDAI and cumulative steroid dose and negatively with corrected creatinine clearance. Conclusions: The observed sensitivity and specificity of antinucleosome specific antibodies as early indicators of subclinical lupus nephritis appear encouraging and deserve further analysis on a large scale in order to confirm their validity, especially in the anti ds-DNA seronegative lupus patients.Keywords: antinucleosome antibodies, antinucleosome specific antibodies, anti ds-DNA antibodies, antihistone antibodies, SLE, lupus nephritisEgypt J Pediatr Allergy Immunol 2005; 3(2):54-6

Assessment of Ceruloplasmin, Hemopexin, and Haptoglobin in Asthmatic Children

BACKGROUND: Ceruloplasmin (Cp), haptoglobin, and hemopexin play a role in iron homeostasis and may function to modulate the systemic inflammatory response and be involved in tissue repair. We hypothesized that these proteins could be biological markers for bronchial asthma that reflect the involvement of iron oxidative stress in asthma pathogenesis. AIM: Evaluation of serum levels of proteins involved in iron homeostasis (Cp, hemopexin, and haptoglobin) in asthmatic children and their correlation to pulmonary functions. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Sixty moderate to severe persistent asthmatic children aged 6–13 years were included (30 during attacks and 30 in-between attacks). Thirty healthy matched controls were also recruited. All children were subjected to history taking, clinical evaluation and assessment of complete blood picture, serum levels of Cp, haptoglobin, hemopexin, and total IgE. Pulmonary function tests were assessed for all patients. RESULTS: Serum Cp and haptoglobin were significantly elevated in asthmatic children between attacks (448.04 ± 386.79), (993.33 ± 554.56) compared to controls (168.42 ± 13.46), (473.33 ± 350.3), (p = 0.0002, p < 0.0001) and to asthmatics during exacerbations (288.8 ± 219.6), (620 ± 467.86), (p = 0.014, p = 0.006). Serum hemopexin was significantly higher in asthmatics between attacks (509.33 ± 341.51) compared to controls (296.67 ± 158.38) (p < 0.003) but no significant difference compared to acute exacerbations (477.33 ± 396.6). No significant correlations were found between any of the assessed protein levels and pulmonary functions. Hemoglobin concentration was significantly higher among stable asthmatics compared to acute exacerbation and control groups. CONCLUSION: Cp, haptoglobin, and hemopexin can be used as a panel of non-invasive biomarkers that reflect the involvement of iron oxidative stress in asthma pathogenesis

3-Acetyl-1-(3-methyl­phen­yl)-5-phenyl-1H-pyrazole-4-carbonitrile

In the title compound, C19H15N3O, the central pyrazole ring makes dihedral angles of 35.52 (12) and 62.21 (11)° with the attached phenyl and methyl-substituted phenyl rings, respectively. The corresponding angle between the phenyl and methyl-substituted phenyl rings is 62.90 (11)°. In the crystal, mol­ecules are connected by weak C—H⋯O hydrogen bonds, forming supra­molecular chains propagating along the a-axis direction

Oxetane-containing metabolites: origin, structures, and biological activities

Cyclobutanes containing one oxygen atom in a molecule are called oxetane-containing compounds (OCC). More than 600 different OCC are found in nature; they are produced by microorganisms, and also found in marine invertebrates and algae. The greatest number of them is found in plants belonging to the genus Taxus. Oxetanes are high-energy oxygen-containing nonaromatic heterocycles that are of great interest as new potential pharmacophores with a significant spectrum of biological activities. The biological activity of OCC that is produced by bacteria and Actinomycetes demonstrates antineoplastic, antiviral (arbovirus), and antifungal activity with confidence an angiogenesis stimulator, respiratory analeptic, and antiallergic activity dominate with confidence from 81 to 99%

High plasma levels of adrenomedullin in collagen diseases

Background: Adrenomedullin (ADM), a potent vasorelaxant/hypotensive peptide, was shown recently to be over-expressed in inflammatory rheumatic diseases. Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate the value of ADM as a laboratory marker of disease activity in juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (JRA) and pediatric onset- systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and its relation to other markers of disease activity such as clinical scores, the ESR and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α). Methods: The study included 24 patients with JRA, 17 with childhood onset- SLE, as well as, 19 with rheumatic arthritis and twenty clinically healthy age- and sex- matched subjects. Clinical evaluation for disease activity was performed using the clinical activity score index in JRA, and SLE-DAI in SLE. Subjects were investigated to verify the diagnosis and disease activity. Plasma ADM and serum of TNF-α levels were then assayed. Results: Serum TNF-α and plasma ADM levels were significantly higher in JRA and SLE patients than in rheumatic arthritis patients and healthy controls. Though serum TNF-α and plasma ADM levels were both higher in JRA (73.88 ± 11.6 pg/ml and 156.5 ± 22.4 pg/ml, respectively) compared to SLE (48.82 ± 7.5 pg/ml and 85.12 ± 15.7 pg/ml, respectively), the difference was of statistical significance only in ADM. Both serum TNF-α and plasma ADM levels were significantly higher in systemic onset-JRA (139.75 ± 18.5 and 260.25 &#177 28.6 pg/ml, respectively) compared to the pauciarticular-onset type (33.8 ± 3.04 and 93.4 ± 9.35 pg/ml, respectively), but comparable to the polyarticular onset cases (69.97 ± 8.45 and 149.87 ± 21.15 pg/ml, respectively). Positive correlations were noticed between plasma ADM and activity score index (r=0.72), ESR (r=0.59) and serum TNF-α (r=0.64) in JRA. The serum TNF- α was not influenced by the site of lupus activity unlike plasma ADM that was higher in subjects suffering from lupus arthritis or cardiovascular manifestations. The afore-mentioned markers correlated positively to the ESR in SLE but not to the SLE-DAI. With a cut-off value of TNF-α = 31 pg/ml and that for ADM = 80 pg/ml calculated from the results of the included rheumatic arthritis patients, ADM appeared to be a more sensitive marker of activity in JRA and SLE compared to TNF-α. Conclusion: Plasma ADM was over-expressed in JRA and SLE. It correlated with the clinical and biochemical activity markers in JRA suggesting that it can be used as an indicator of disease activity. In SLE, ADM levels correlated with ESR and TNF- α levels and it could be of value in identifying patients with arthritis and cardiac involvement.<br.Keywords: Adrenomedullin, JRA, SLE, TNF-α, arthritisEgypt J Pediatr Allergy Immunol 2004; 2(1): 28-3

Monochromatization of femtosecond XUV light pulses with the use of reflection zone plates

We report on a newly built laser based tabletop setup which enables generation of femtosecond light pulses in the XUV range via employing the process of high order harmonic generation HHG in a gas medium. The spatial, spectral, and temporal characteristics of the XUV beam are presented. Monochromatization of XUV light with minimum temporal pulse distortion is the central issue of this work. Off center reflection zone plates are shown to be superior to gratings when selection of a desired harmonic is carried out with the use of a single optical element. A cross correlation technique was applied to characterize the performance of zone plates in the time domain. By using laser pulses of 25 fs length to pump the HHG process, a pulse duration of 45 fs for monochromatized harmonics was achieved in the present setu