H-beta zeolite catalysed synthesis of N-benzylbenzamide from benzonitrile and benzyl alcohol

Amides have been synthesized from the reaction of alcohols with various nitriles using a heterogeneous H-beta zeolite catalyst with 91% isolated yield. The H-beta zeolite can be easily separable and recycled several times without considerable loss of its catalytic activity. The scale up trial on 1 g (benzyl alcohol) batch is reported under the optimized reaction condition

Pearl millet genome sequence provides a resource to improve agronomic traits in arid environments

Pearl millet [Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R. Br., syn. Cenchrus americanus (L.) Morrone], is a staple food for over 90 million poor farmers in arid and semi-arid regions of sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia. We report the ~1.79 Gb genome sequence of reference genotype Tift 23D2B1-P1-P5, which contains an estimated 38,579 genes. Resequencing analysis of 994 (963 inbreds of the highly cross-pollinated cultigen, and 31 wild accessions) provides insights into population structure, genetic diversity, evolution and domestication history. In addition we demonstrated the use of re-sequence data for establishing marker trait associations, genomic selection and prediction of hybrid performance and defining heterotic pools. The genome wide variations and abiotic stress proteome data are useful resources for pearl millet improvement through deploying modern breeding tools for accelerating genetic gains in pearl millet.publishersversionPeer reviewe

A genome-scale integrated approach aids in genetic dissection of complex flowering time trait in chickpea

A combinatorial approach of candidate gene-based association analysis and genome-wide association study (GWAS) integrated with QTL mapping, differential gene expression profiling and molecular haplotyping was deployed in the present study for quantitative dissection of complex flowering time trait in chickpea. Candidate gene-based association mapping in a flowering time association panel (92 diverse desi and kabuli accessions) was performed by employing the genotyping information of 5724 SNPs discovered from 82 known flowering chickpea gene orthologs of Arabidopsis and legumes as well as 832 gene-encoding transcripts that are differentially expressed during flower development in chickpea. GWAS using both genome-wide GBS- and candidate gene-based genotyping data of 30,129 SNPs in a structured population of 92 sequenced accessions (with 200–250 kb LD decay) detected eight maximum effect genomic SNP loci (genes) associated (34 % combined PVE) with flowering time. Six flowering time-associated major genomic loci harbouring five robust QTLs mapped on a high-resolution intra-specific genetic linkage map were validated (11.6–27.3 % PVE at 5.4–11.7 LOD) further by traditional QTL mapping. The flower-specific expression, including differential up- and down-regulation (>three folds) of eight flowering time-associated genes (including six genes validated by QTL mapping) especially in early flowering than late flowering contrasting chickpea accessions/mapping individuals during flower development was evident. The gene haplotype-based LD mapping discovered diverse novel natural allelic variants and haplotypes in eight genes with high trait association potential (41 % combined PVE) for flowering time differentiation in cultivated and wild chickpea. Taken together, eight potential known/candidate flowering time-regulating genes [efl1 (early flowering 1), FLD (Flowering locus D), GI (GIGANTEA), Myb (Myeloblastosis), SFH3 (SEC14-like 3), bZIP (basic-leucine zipper), bHLH (basic helix-loop-helix) and SBP (SQUAMOSA promoter binding protein)], including novel markers, QTLs, alleles and haplotypes delineated by aforesaid genome-wide integrated approach have potential for marker-assisted genetic improvement and unravelling the domestication pattern of flowering time in chickpea

Accelarated immune ageing is associated with COVID-19 disease severity

Background The striking increase in COVID-19 severity in older adults provides a clear example of immunesenescence, the age-related remodelling of the immune system. To better characterise the association between convalescent immunesenescence and acute disease severity, we determined the immune phenotype of COVID-19 survivors and non-infected controls. Results We performed detailed immune phenotyping of peripheral blood mononuclear cells isolated from 103 COVID-19 survivors 3–5 months post recovery who were classified as having had severe (n = 56; age 53.12 ± 11.30 years), moderate (n = 32; age 52.28 ± 11.43 years) or mild (n = 15; age 49.67 ± 7.30 years) disease and compared with age and sex-matched healthy adults (n = 59; age 50.49 ± 10.68 years). We assessed a broad range of immune cell phenotypes to generate a composite score, IMM-AGE, to determine the degree of immune senescence. We found increased immunesenescence features in severe COVID-19 survivors compared to controls including: a reduced frequency and number of naïve CD4 and CD8 T cells (p < 0.0001); increased frequency of EMRA CD4 (p < 0.003) and CD8 T cells (p < 0.001); a higher frequency (p < 0.0001) and absolute numbers (p < 0.001) of CD28−ve CD57+ve senescent CD4 and CD8 T cells; higher frequency (p < 0.003) and absolute numbers (p < 0.02) of PD-1 expressing exhausted CD8 T cells; a two-fold increase in Th17 polarisation (p < 0.0001); higher frequency of memory B cells (p < 0.001) and increased frequency (p < 0.0001) and numbers (p < 0.001) of CD57+ve senescent NK cells. As a result, the IMM-AGE score was significantly higher in severe COVID-19 survivors than in controls (p < 0.001). Few differences were seen for those with moderate disease and none for mild disease. Regression analysis revealed the only pre-existing variable influencing the IMM-AGE score was South Asian ethnicity ( = 0.174, p = 0.043), with a major influence being disease severity ( = 0.188, p = 0.01). Conclusions Our analyses reveal a state of enhanced immune ageing in survivors of severe COVID-19 and suggest this could be related to SARS-Cov-2 infection. Our data support the rationale for trials of anti-immune ageing interventions for improving clinical outcomes in these patients with severe disease

Montmorillonite/Poly (L-Lactide) microcomposite spheres as reservoirs of antidepressant drugs and their controlled release property

This work evaluates intercalation of Nortriptyline (NT) and Venlafaxine (VFX) in an interlayer gallery of Na+-MMT (Montmorillonite), which was further compounded with Poly (L-Lactide) (PLLA) to form microcomposite spheres (MPs) for oral controlled drug delivery. The XRD patterns, thermal and spectroscopic analyses indicated intercalation of drugs into the MMT interlayer that was stabilized by electrostatic interaction. No significant changes in structural and functional properties of drugs were found in the MMT layers. In vitro drug release studies showed controlled release pattern

Optical resolution of <img src='/image/spc_char/alpha.gif' border=0>-amino acid derivative through membrane process

197-206The present study deals with preparation, characterization and performance of chiral selective composite membrane. The reported membranes are prepared by forming the chiral selective layer on polysulfone (PS) microporous membrane. The chiral selective layer is prepared in-situ on PS membrane by co-polymerization of dibasic amino acid (lysine) and piperazine with trimesoyl chloride. The membranes are characterized by ATR-FTIR spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The membrane performance is determined by performing optical resolution of racemic lysine monohydrochloride in pressure driven transport. The influence of concentration and ratio of monomers in co-polymerization on the membrane flux, separation and enantioseparation is observed. The observation indicates that membranes perform enantioseparation achieving >95% enantiomeric excess (%ee) for D-lysine hydrochloride in permeate. The composite membrane prepared with equal proportions of L-lysine and piperazine exhibited highest %ee with reasonable flux of D-lysine hydrochloride (4.03 gm-2h-1 at 1034.21 kPa). High enantiomeric excess is obtained with feed solutions of low concentration

Enantiomeric separation of α-amino acids by imprinted terpolymer membrane

In this work, molecularly imprinted polymer membrane (d-arginine (Arg) imprinted terpolymer P(AN-co-AA-co-AAm) membrane) was prepared by the wet phase inversion method. Acrylamide (AAm) and acrylic acid (AA) were used as the functional monomers and acrylonitrile (AN) was used as a cross linker. The removal of template molecules from the membrane matrix increased the number of free –COOH groups and reduced dimerized –COOH groups, which is an indirect evidence of the formation of recognition sites. Optical resolution was performed in ultrafiltration cell using aqueous solutions of racemic mixtures of α-amino acids (arginine and asparagine). The imprinted membrane permeated d-enantiomers preferentially achieving 93% and 72% enantiomeric excess for d-arginine and d-asparagine, respectively

<span style="font-size:13.0pt;mso-bidi-font-weight:bold">Ru catalyzed formylation of diethylamine with CO₂ and H₂ under moderate pressure condition </span>

752-756Ru catalyzed formylation of diethylamine (bulky secondary amine) with CO2 and H2 has been investigated using a series of phosphine ligands. Significant influence on the catalyst activity and selectivity is observed with bidentate phosphine ligands. The Ru catalyst with the ligand, 1,2-bis(diphenylphosphino)benzene exhibits the highest catalyst performance (TON up to 2475). The high conversion (99%) and high selectivity to the corresponding formamide (up to 90-98%) is achieved at 150 °C and moderate pressure conditions. The effects of temperature, concentration of diethylamine and partial pressure of CO2 and H2 on the formylation of diethyl amine catalyzed have been examined in order to improve the catalytic activity and selectivity.</span

Charge type effects on the temperature dependence of intervalence transfer in ferrocyanide substituted ruthenium(III) amine and aminopolycarboxylate compounds

The K4[RuIII(hedtra)NCFeII(CN)5] (3) (hedtra=N-hydroxyethylethylenediaminetriacetate) complex has been synthesised and characterised by physicochemical analysis. The temperature dependence of intervalence transfer in 3 has been studied and compared with that observed in [RuIII(edta)NCFeII(CN)5]5- (1) and [RuIII(NH3)5NCFeII(CN)5]- (2), complexes. The charge type on the ruthenium centre of the binuclear complexes has been found to effect the intervalence thermochromism. This has been discussed in terms of a charge type effect on the temperature dependency of ΔE (vibrationally relaxed initial state/final state separation energy) and the Χ (reorganisation energy) component of EIVCT (intervalence charge transfer energy)