Bioactivity of Cicuta virosa L. var. latisecta Celak. (Umbelliferae: Cicutal) against Red Imported Fire Ant under Laboratory and Field Conditions

We evaluated the bioactivities of compounds from Cicuta virosa L. var. latisecta Celak. against red imported fire ants (Solenopsis invicta Buren) under field and laboratory conditions. The compounds were as follows: methanol extract; petroleum ether, chloroform, and ethyl acetate fractions from the methanol extract; and the active compound isoimperatorin, which was isolated from the chloroform-fraction. The 7 d LC50 values of the methanol extract, petroleum ether, chloroform, and ethyl acetate fractions and isoimperatorin toward micrergates were 111.20, 214.45, 40.90, 569.67, and 25.73 mg/kg, res­pectively. The corresponding LC50 values toward macrergates were 155.78, 308.38, 75.01, 776.75, and 42.77 mg/kg, res­pectively. Under field conditions, baits containing 0.2% methanol extract, 0.1% chloroform fraction, and 0.05% isoimperatorin efficiently controlled S. invicta, with effectiveness percentages of 95.56%, 97.78%, and 95.56%, respectively on the 30th day after bait application. Such effectiveness percentages were not significantly different from that obtained using the positive control fipronil. The present study showed that C. virosa L. var. latisecta has potential as a natural control agent for the red imported fire ants

4,6-Bis[5-methyl-3-(trifluoro­meth­yl)pyrazol-1-yl]pyrimidine

The complete mol­ecule of the the title compound, C14H10F6N6, is generated by crystallographic twofold symmetry, with two C atoms lying on the roatation axis. The dihedral angle between the central and peripheral rings is 25.97 (8)°

Preparation and evaluation of peptide-dendrimer-paclitaxel conjugates for treatment of heterogeneous stage 1 nonsmall cell lung cancer in 293T and L132 cell lines

Purpose: To develop peptide-dendrimer-paclitaxel conjugates for the treatment of heterogeneous stage 1 non small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) in 293T and L132cell line.Method: Dendrimer-paclitaxel conjugates (PAMAM-PTX) were prepared by NHS method and the conjugates were used for the synthesis of peptide-dendrimer-paclitaxel conjugates (GE-PAMAM-PTX). The particle sizes of PAMAM-PTX and GE-PAMAM-PTX were measured. Entrapment efficiency of PTX in PAMAM-PTX was measured while GE-PAMAM-PTX. PTX release from PAMAM-PTX and GEPAMAM- PTX was determined using a dialysis bag in pH 7.4 phosphate buffer. The cytotoxicity of PAMAM-PTX, GE-PAMAM-PTX, PAMAM and PTX was evaluated by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-Yl)-2,5- diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay using 293T cell lines. In vitro cellular uptake assay of PAMAM-PTX and GE-PAMAM-PTX and PTX at concentrations ranging from 0.01 to 0.5μM for 8 h was carried out in NSCLC cell lines 293T and L132.Results: More than 95 % entrapment efficiency of GE-PAMAM-PTX was observed with loading efficiency of 25 %. GE-PAMAM-PTX conjugates showed sustained release of PTX (~85 %) towards the end of 50 h. GE-PAMAM-PTX conjugates were more cytotoxic than pure PTX and PAMAM-PTX conjugates. The remarkable uptake of GE-PAMAM-PTX appear to be due to receptor-mediated endocytosis in the cell lines. The presence of ligand (GE) on PAMAM-PTX surface enabled the complex to bind to the over-expressed receptors on the cell lines.Conclusion: GE-PAMAM-PTX can facilitate targeting of paclitaxel to lung cancer cell lines and tumors and facilitate release of the drugs in a sustained manner to improve the therapeutic efficacy of PTX.Keywords: Paclitaxel, Lung cancer, Non-small cell lung cancer, Dendrimer, Peptide, PAMA

4-(4-Bromo-3-methyl-1H-pyrazol-1-yl)-6-(but-3-yn­yloxy)pyrimidine

There are two mol­ecules in the asymmetric unit of the title compound, C12H11BrN4O. The dihedral angles between the pyrazole and pyrimidine rings are 1.28 (17) and 1.56 (17)° in the two mol­ecules. In one of the mol­ecules, the but-3-yn­yloxy side chain is disordered over two sets of sites in a 0.714 (8):0.286 (8) ratio

4-Chloro-5-[(5,5-dimethyl-4,5-dihydro­isoxazol-3-yl)sulfonyl­meth­yl]-3-methyl-1-(2,2,2-trifluoro­ethyl)-1H-pyrazole

The mol­ecule of the title compound, C12H15ClF3N3O3S, is twisted, as indicated by the C—S—C—C torsion angle of 66.00 (18)° for the atoms linking the ring systems. An intra­molecular C—H⋯F short contact occurs. In the crystal, non-classical C—H⋯O inter­actions, one of which has a short H⋯O contact of 2.28 Å, link the mol­ecules

A PD Law Based Fuzzy Logic Control Strategy For Simultaneous Control Of Indoor Temperature And Humidity Using A Variable Speed Direct Expansion Air Conditioner

In small to medium scale buildings located in the subtropics, such as Hong Kong, direct expansion air conditioning (DX A/C) systems are widely applied. This is because, as compared to chilled water based central air conditioning systems, DX A/C systems are compact, flexible for multi-room services, energy efficient and cost less to maintain and operate. However, traditionally, a DX A/C system is equipped with a single-speed compressor and supply air fan, and employs ON / OFF control strategy to maintain indoor air temperature only, leaving the indoor moisture content (or relative humidity) uncontrolled. With the introduction of variable speed technology, the speeds of compressor and supply air fan can be varied continuously so as to realize the simultaneous control of the indoor temperature and humidity. In this paper, the development of a novel control strategy based on PD law and fuzzy logic is reported. The compressor speed was adjusted directly according to the indoor air moisture content and supply air fan speed according to the indoor air temperature, respectively, to realize the simultaneous control of indoor air temperature and humidity. Controllability tests for the novel control strategy were carried out and the test results suggested that, although two control loops for temperature and humidity were significantly coupled, the simultaneous control of indoor temperature and humidity was achieved with respect to control accuracy and sensitivity

(4-Bromo-3,5-dimethyl-1H-pyrazol-1-yl)(2,6-difluoro­phen­yl)methanone

There are two mol­ecules in the asymmetric unit of the title compound, C12H9BrF2N2O. They have very similar conformations: the dihedral angles between their pyrazole and benzene ring systems are 78.4 (3) and 78.6 (4)°. In the crystal, weak aromatic π–π stacking [centroid–centroid separation = 3.696 (5) Å] helps to establish the packing

Effects of hematoporphyrin monomethyl ether (HMME) on Worker Behavior of red imported fire ant, Solenopsis invcita

The effect of hematoporphyrin monomethyl ether (HMME) activated under visible light on worker behavior of Solenopsis invcita was studied with the potter spray tower method. The results showed that greater than 10 mg/L HMME activated under visible light could reduce the walking, grasping, aggregation, and water and food recognition abilities of red imported fire worker ant significantly, but 100 mg/L HMME in darkness could not affect their abilities or behaviors significantly. Therefore, HMME may be a potential novel insecticide that can be used as a substitute for toxic insecticides for controlling red imported fire ants

Insecticidal effect of volatile compounds from fresh plant materials of Tephrosia vogelii against Solenopsis invicta workers

The effect of volatile compounds from the mashed fresh bean pods (B) as well as the branches and leaves (L) of Tephrosia vogelii on the behavior of Solenopsis invicta workers was investigated by fumigation toxicity bioassay. Gas chromatography–mass spectrometry analysis was used to identify and quantify the volatile compounds. α-pinene, thujene, caryophyllene, and d-limonene were identified as major components of the volatile compounds, which were found toxic to workers when applied by fumigation. Responses varied according to worker size, exposure time, and plant material. An increase in exposure time from 1h to 12h led to increases in mortality from 18.33% to 100.00% (B) and 13.33% to 100.00% (L) in minor workers as well as increases from 1.67% to 95.00% (B) and 15.00% to 98.33% (L) in major workers. The volatile compounds were also found to exert a behavioral effect against S. invicta in an A4 paper test. Walking and grasping abilities decreased at exposure times ranging from 40 min to 280 min. These findings suggest that the volatile compounds of T. vogelii can be used to control S. invicta

4-(4-Chloro-5-methyl-3-trifluoro­meth­yl-1H-pyrazol-1-yl)-6-(prop-2-ynyl­oxy)pyrimidine

The molecule of the title compound, C12H8ClF3N4O, is twisted as indicated by the C—O—C—C torsion angle of 76.9 (3)°. Moreover, the trifluoro­methyl group shows rotational disorder of the F atoms, with site-occupancy factors of 0.653 (6) and 0.347 (6). The dihedral angle between the rings is 1.88 (12) Å