Methyl Research Articles

Unique intestinal microflora and metabolic profile in different stages of hypertension reveal potential biomarkers for early diagnosis and prognosis.

Introduction. Hypertension is the most prevalent chronic disease and a major risk factor for cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases.Gap statement. However, there has been no substantial breakthrough in aetiology, new drug targets, and drug development of hypertension in recent 50 years.Research aim. Therefore, this study was to screen unique intestinal microbiome and serum metabolic biomarkers which can early diagnose and track the prognosis of hypertension patients in different periods, and analyse its underlying mechanisms and functions.Methods. Four groups of stool and serum samples, including healthy controls (HCs), prehypertension (PHT), hypertension (HT), and hypertension-related complications (HTC), were collected. Microbial diversity assessed using 16S rRNA sequencing. The metabolites in serum samples were detected through LC-MS/MS analysis.Results. The composition of gut microbiota in patients exhibited dissimilarities compared to that in healthy subjects, which was distinguished by Prevotella, Slackia, Enterococcus, Bifidobacterium, and Lactobacillales may be potential markers for tracking the progression of hypertension, and Bifidobacterium, Butyricimonas, Adlercreutzia, Faecalibacterium, Lactobacillus, Ruminococcus, Clostridium, and Acidaminococcus demonstrated diagnostic value. Meanwhile, tracking the dynamic changes of deoxycholic acid, 4-oxododecanedioic acid, and l-arginine can serve as biomarkers for early diagnosis, and investigation into the mechanism by which the intestinal microbiome influences the onset and progression of hypertension. In terms of pathogenesis, the findings revealed that Bifidobacterium may caused the changes of AST, indirect bilirubin, ALT, triglyceride and uric acid by affecting metabolites cis-7-hexadecenoic acid methyl ester and N1-acetylspermidine. Additionally, Coprococcus may cause changes in albumin through the influence of androsterone enanthate.Conclusions. These findings highlight that the unique intestinal microbiome and serum metabolic profile in different periods of hypertension will provide valuable insight for timely diagnosis and prognosis tracking in hypertension patients with promising clinical applications.

Outcome of novel combination of graphene nanoparticles and Moringa methyl ester fueled engine working under varying loads and compression ratios

The widespread use of petroleum products in modern times has led to a search for alternative resources. Biofuel is a promising alternative to petroleum fuel, but biodiesel has a lower calorific value and is slightly more denser than diesel. To address this, a novel combination of GNA emulsified MME20 fuel is being investigated. This study aims to analyze the impact of a novel Nano additive blended biodiesel on engine performance and optimize the best compression ratio for the selected blend. The novelty of the study lies in the production of novel GNA emulsified MME fuel and its influence on a conventional CI engine. To achieve the objectives of the study, MME was produced using a two-phase transesterification method, and GNA was added to the MME20 at concentrations of 30, 60, and 90 ppm using the ultrasonication method. Engine experiments were then conducted using the prepared samples at CRs of 16, 17.5, and 19, and the results were compared with the standard diesel and MME20 blend. The results showed that the CP of the MME20 + GNA30 fuel at a CR 19 revealed a 14% increase compared to diesel. The ID of the fuel decreased by 20% compared to diesel at CR19, and there was a 23.5% increase in the CD for the MME20 + GNA30 blend compared to diesel at CR19. The BTHE for the MME20 + GNA30 fuel showed increases of 2.64% and BSFC and EGT decreases of 3.6% and 3.9%, respectively, at CR19 compared to the other blends. In summary, the study found that MME20 with GNA30, along with VCR, significantly enhanced the engine attributes compared to the pure diesel-operated standard CI engine conditions.

Synergistic effect of La2O3-Al2O3 based catalysts for efficient biodiesel production

Comprehensive synergistic effect of La2O3-Al2O3 on the catalytic performance of transesterification reaction of palm oil with methanol for biodiesel production was studied. The prepared catalyst possessed bifunctional acid-base properties. The well-balanced of acido-basic sites amounts over the catalyst at the La2O3 loading of 40 % and the calcined temperature of 600 °C gave the maximum fatty acid methyl ester (FAME) content of 93.12 %, under the optimum conditions of 1:30 molar ratio of oil to methanol, 200 °C reaction temperature, 39 bar reaction pressure, 5 wt% catalyst loading and 5 h reaction time. The catalyst exhibited reasonable stability. The partial leaching of La3+ ions and deposition of organics resulted in the loss of activity. The results showed that the catalyst generated new weak basic sites and more effective in the transesterification compared to strong basic sites as reported previously. The different strengths of new acid sites were also formed. The balancing of acid-base sites amount was a key to control the catalytic activity and the formation of side reactions. This gives critical guidance in further catalyst development for biodiesel production of waste oils or low-quality oils via simultaneous esterification and transesterification, which helps the biodiesel system being economical and scalable.

A Comparative Study of first and second generation Biodiesel Blends under Quaternary Injection Strategies for Enhanced Engine Performance and Reduced Emissions

Biodiesel is a promising renewable alternative fuel, offering compatibility with conventional engines without necessitating significant engine modifications. To facilitate the practical integration of biodiesel into engine systems, this study evaluates the performance of two different biodiesel blends (fatty acid methyl ester and hydrogenated catalytic) in a turbocharged inter-cooled diesel engine. The research employs quaternary injection techniques an advanced injection technique, which involve multiple injection events per cycle to enhance engine combustion and emission characterictics of the biodiesel blend fuels and comparing their performance and emission characteristics with those of conventional diesel. Results showed that fatty acid methyl ester biodiesel effectively reduced the CO, UHC, and NOx emissions at lower blend ratios (up to 10%), with minimal impact on the brake-specific fuel consumption. Conversely, hydrogenated catalytic biodiesel demonstrates notable advantages in reducing fuel consumption with carbon monoxide and particle emissions, particularly for higher blend ratios (20%), leading to improved indicated thermal efficiency. Additionally, an investigation on higher biodiesel blends under varying early injection timings showed that, optimal fuel efficiency was observed at an early injection timing of -43.6 °CA, accompanied by reductions in total particle number and unburned hydrocarbon emissions albeit with elevated carbon monoxide and nitrogen oxide emissions. These findings suggest that advanced injection strategies combined with sustainable biodiesel blends can significantly improve engine performance and reduce environmental impact, supporting the transition towards cleaner and more efficient transportation fuels.

High-throughput liquid chromatography-vacuum differential mobility spectrometry-mass spectrometry for the analysis of isomeric drugs of abuse in human urine.

The use of differential mobility spectrometry at low pressure coupled to liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-vDMS-MS) was investigated for the analysis of 13 drugs of abuse (DoA) including the following: cocaine, ecgonine methyl ester, cocaethylene, benzoylecgonine, norcocaine, tramadol, isomeric pairs of metabolites; O-desmethyl-cis-tramadol and N-desmethyl-cis-tramadol, and cannabinoids: Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol, Δ9-tetrahydrocannabidiol, 11-hydroxy-Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol, 11-nor-9carboxy-Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol, and 11-nor-9carboxy-Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol glucuronide. Different parameters were optimized for isomeric separation, such as LC mobile phase composition (20%-100% methanol acetonitrile and isopropanol, flow rate: 8-100 μL/min) and DMS separation voltage. Methanol and acetonitrile significantly affected the compensation voltage of the analytes and improved DMS separation. A short trap/elute LC-vDMS-SIM/MS screening method of 1min was developed to quantify 11 drugs of abuse (except THC/CBD), in addition to a 4-min LC-vDMS-SIM/MS method to identify and quantify five cannabinoids including the isomers THC/CBD and three THC metabolites. THC is the principal psychoactive constituent of cannabis and is a controlled substance in comparison to its isomeric counterpart CBD; this highlights the importance and challenges to resolve these isomeric pairs by analytical techniques. The signal responses were linear over a concentration range of 0.005-10μg/mL for the DoA and 1-1000 ng/mL for cannabinoids. The intraday and interday precision were better than 12.2% and accuracy better than 115%. Urine samples from subjects who tested positive for THC and/or cocaine during roadside drug testing were evaluated to assess the performance of the methods LC-vDMS-SIM/MS and LC-MRM/MS. Results show that the developed LC-vDMS-SIM/MS method presents similar performance to LC-MRM/MS with improved sample throughput.

Extrusion pretreatment of green Arabica coffee beans for lipid enhance extraction

Brazil is the world's largest producer and exporter of green coffee. Coffee beans have intrinsic and extrinsic defects that affect their chemical composition and the consumer perception of the beverage. The aim of this work is to evaluate the impact of extrusion process in green Arabica healthy and defective coffee beans in order to increase oil yield. The chromatographic analyses of the non-processed beans showed that caffeine, diterpenes and serotonin amides did not vary between the samples (p<0.05), while moisture and ash content varied significantly. The extrusion process followed by Soxhlet was optimized using central composite rotation design (CCRD) 22. Extrusion at the point selected as optimal (68ºC and 60 rpm) proved to be efficient when applied in combination with Soxhlet extraction, causing an increase of 61–81 % of oil yield (15.29 ± 0.42 % from defective beans and 16.42 ± 0.63 % from healthy beans), while its use combined with pressing (6.99 ± 0.08 %) was not significant compared to Soxhlet extraction alone (9.05 ± 0.24 %). Caffeine, diterpenes, serotonin amides and fatty acids methyl esters (FAMES) were analyzed in the oils where most of the fatty acids showed similar percentage values (p ≤ 0.05). The total diterpene content was higher in the extruded beans, while serotonin amides varied according to healthy and defective beans and pre-treatment (for defective grains), with defective grains showing consistently higher content compared to healthy grains (p ≥ 0.05). Caffeine content was similar between the healthy extruded, defective and defective extruded grains, with the lowest content in the healthy grain. It can be concluded that extrusion is a pre-treatment with a high impact in coffee oil yield. Green coffee oil is commercially explored by cosmetics and pharmaceutical industries due to its emollient and moisturizer properties. Besides, this oil protects skin against UV radiation. These properties are related to bioactive compounds present in the lipid fraction of coffee bean as diterpene esters, fatty acids and serotonin amides, which together justify this study.

Combined production of biofuel precursors, platform chemicals, and catalyst material from the integral processing of rice bran

This research reports first-time results regarding the complete processing of rice bran through the combination of extraction, processing hydrothermal, sulfonation, and trans-esterification procedures, generating biofuel precursors – fermentable sugars, bio-oil, hydro-char, and methyl esters – platform chemicals, and a catalyst material. Analyzes of XRD, FTIR, BET, SEM, EDS, calorific power, GC, and HPLC were employed for the product characterizations. Concerning the hydrothermal processing, the “temperature” and “biomass/water mass ratio” demonstrated an interesting influence on the results, where the thermal parameter had a greater impact on directing the process to obtain products resulting from the biomass polysaccharides thermal decomposition. At 260 °C, 11.98 and 11.40 g (100 g biomass)−1 of fermentable sugars and platform chemicals were obtained, respectively. At 300 °C, the production of bio-oil and hydro-char were benefited, yielding 10.48 and 30.19 g (100 g biomass)−1 of each component, respectively. The hydro-char-sulfonated catalyst demonstrated an attractive catalytic capacity in esterifying the free fatty acids of the rice bran oil, while simultaneously presenting some difficulty in transesterifying its triglycerides, indicating limitations in the mass transfer of the heterogeneous reaction. Using 4 wt% of catalyst, 90.1 % of the free fatty acids and 60.3 % of the triglycerides contained in the oil were trans-esterified into methyl esters after 6 h, respectively, with no decrease in its catalytic activity being observed after four reuses. This process combination presents an alternative arrangement for the full processing of lignocellulosic and oily biomasses, in addition to representing an approach matchless for the rice bran.

Synthesis of (E)‐Enaminoesters by a 1,6‐Addition/Fragmentation Cascade Involving Coumalic Acid Esters and Secondary Amines

AbstractCoumalic acid methyl ester (methyl coumalate), a biomass‐derived building block, was converted into (E)‐enaminoesters by an original uncatalyzed stereoselective 1,6‐addition/fragmentation cascade involving secondary amines. The transformation occurred under useful experimental conditions as a simple heating of a stoichiometric mixture of the starting compounds led to the desired products. The reaction could be extended to a range of alkyl coumalates and a variety of secondary amines. Given the original character of the transformation, the reaction mechanism was discussed. Therefore, the cascade is supposed to involve a 1,6‐conjugate addition followed by a fragmentation sequence leading ultimately to the decarboxylative elimination of (E)‐enaminoesters. Using this procedure, renewable coumalic acid proved to be a valuable alternative to fossil fuel‐based propiolates for the preparation of enaminoesters.

STUDYING HOW DIESEL ENGINE ADDITIVES USING SILVER OXIDE (Ag2O) NANOPARTICLES AFFECT THE ENVIRONMENT

Abstract: Biodiesel has been defined as an alternative fuel that has the potential to be used instead of diesel fuel for years. In case of complete combustion reaction in engines, the products released do not directly threaten human health. Compared to diesel fuel, biodiesel has worse combustion performance due to some fuel properties. Therefore, incomplete combustion products such as hydrocarbon (HC), carbon monoxide (CO), nitrogen oxide (NOx), smoke emission and complete combustion products such as CO2 are thrown into the atmosphere. In this study, the changes in exhaust emissions of 50 ppm and 75 ppm Ag2O NPs were experimentally examined to improve the adverse combustion performance and emission characteristics of cottonseed oil methyl ester. In experiments, nano additive improved the thermal conductivity, mass dissipation and heat transfer of the test fuels, and resulted in reducing of CO emissions as it provided a higher oxidation rate of hydrocarbon molecules. Due to the improvement in the combustion reaction, CO2 emission increased with product of complete combustion. The increase in CO2 emissions was 3.17% and 3.97% for CAg-50 and CAg-75 fuels, respectively, when compared to C0 fuel at 40 Nm load. The NPs additive increased the lower calorific value of the fuel and cylinder temperature. This situation caused increase of NOx emissions by 3.69% and 7.47% CAg-50 and CAg-75 fuels 40 Nm load. Adding of NPs in base fuel reduced to viscosity and density provided better atomization. So a reduction in smoke emission was obtained with NPs addition by 35.09% and 47.32% in CAg-50 and CAg-75 fuels, respectively, compared to C0 fuel at 10 Nm load, while 7.45% and 19.43% at 40 Nm load.

Photocatalytic and eco-emission applications of green synthesized ZnO-CB nanoparticles

Herein, we report the synthesis of ZnO nanoparticles (ZnO-CB NPs) by employing the solution combustion method using an aqueous extract of brinjal calyxes as fuel. Characterization techniques, such as X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform Infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), UV–visible spectroscopy, and Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), were used to investigate the structural, optical, and morphological properties of synthesized nanoparticles, respectively. Highly porous hexagonal crystalline ZnO-CB NPs with less than 7 nm particle size were obtained. The photocatalytic performance of synthesized material is measured with Malachite green (MG), Basic brown 1 (BB1), and Acid orange 36 (AO36) as benchmark dyes. It showed that the synthesized material worked effectively under pH 10 with UV light irradiation. The synthesized ZnO-CB NP shows good removal effectiveness of the MG, BB1, and AO36 dyes with 99.3 %, 99.6 %, and 99.5 %, respectively, which can be promising photocatalysts for ecological applications such as wastewater remediation. Further, the synthesized ZnO-CB NP was used as blends in the methyl ester of Millettia pinnata oil (MPME), which is blended 20 % with commercial diesel (MPME20). The synthesized ZnO-CB NP was added to the MPME20 in varying amounts to ascertain its effects on the quality of emissions of various greenhouse gases such as hydrocarbons, COx, and NOx. Moreover, brake thermal efficiency (BTHE) and brake-specific fuel consumption (BSFC) were studied for the blends. The blend MPME20 with 25 mg of ZnO-CB NP, i.e., MPME20-25 mg, ZnO-CB, displays the best performance and reduced emissions.

Construction and Performance Study of a Dual-Network Hydrogel Dressing Mimicking Skin Pore Drainage for Photothermal Exudate Removal and On-Demand Dissolution.

In recent years, negative pressure wound dressings have garnered widespread attentions. However, it is challenging to drain the accumulated fluid under negative pressures for hydrogel dressings. To address this issue, this study prepared a chemical/physical duel-network PEG-CMCS/AG/MXene hydrogel composed by chemical disulfide crosslinked network of four-arm polyethylene glycol/carboxymethyl chitosan (4-Arm-PEG-SH/CMCS), and the physical network of hydrogen bond of agar (AG). Under near-infrared light (NIR) irradiation, the PEG-CMCS/AG/MXene hydrogel undergoes photothermal heating due to integrate of MXene, which destructs the hydrogen bond network and allows the removal of exudate through a mechanism mimicking the sweat gland-like effect of skin pores. The photothermal heating effect also enables the antimicrobial activity to prevent wound infections. The excellent electrical conductivity of PEG-CMCS/AG/MXene can promote cell proliferation under the external electrical stimulation (ES) in vitro. The animal experiments of full-thickness skin defect model further demonstrate its ability to accelerate wound healing. The conversion between thioester and thiol achieved with L-cysteine methyl ester hydrochloride (L-CME) can provides the on-demand dissolution of the dressing in situ. This study holds promises to provide a novel solution to the issue of fluid accumulations under hydrogel dressings and offers new approaches to alleviating or avoiding the significant secondary injuries caused by frequent dressing changes.

Impaired microvascular insulin-dependent dilation in women with a history of gestational diabetes.

Women with a history of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) have significantly greater lifetime risk of developing cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes compared to women who had an uncomplicated pregnancy (HC). Microvascular endothelial dysfunction, mediated via reduced nitric oxide (NO)-dependent dilation secondary to increases in oxidative stress, persists after pregnancy complicated by GDM. We examined whether this microvascular dysfunction reduces insulin-mediated vascular responses in women with a history of GDM. We assessed in vivo microvascular endothelium-dependent vasodilator function by measurement of cutaneous vascular conductance responses to graded infusion of acetylcholine (10-10 - 10-1M) and insulin (10-8 - 10-4M) in control sites and sites treated with 15mM L-NAME [NG-nitro-l-arginine methyl ester; NO-synthase (NOS) inhibitor] or 5mM L-ascorbate. We also measured protein expression of total endothelial NOS (eNOS), insulin-mediated eNOS phosphorylation, and endothelial nitrotyrosine in isolated endothelial cells from GDM and HC. Women with a history of GDM had reduced acetylcholine- (P<0.001) and insulin- (P<0.001) mediated dilation and the NO-dependent responses to both acetylcholine (P=0.006) and insulin (P=0.006) were reduced in GDM compared to HC. Insulin stimulation increased phosphorylated eNOS content in HC (P=0.009) but had no effect in GDM (P=0.306). Ascorbate treatment increased acetylcholine- (P<0.001) and insulin- (P<0.001) mediated dilation in GDM, and endothelial cell nitrotyrosine expression was higher in GDM compared to HC (P=0.014). Women with a history of GDM have attenuated microvascular vasodilation responses to insulin, and this attenuation is mediated, in part, by reduced NO-dependent mechanisms. Our findings implicate increased endothelial oxidative stress in this microvascular insulin resistance.

In-silico study unveils potential phytocompounds in Andrographis paniculata against E6 protein of the high-risk HPV-16 subtype for cervical cancer therapy

Despite therapeutic advancements, cervical cancer caused by high-risk subtypes of the human papillomavirus (HPV) remains a leading cause of cancer-related deaths among women worldwide. This study aimed to discover potential drug candidates from the Asian medicinal plant Andrographis paniculata, demonstrating efficacy against the E6 protein of high-risk HPV-16 subtype through an in-silico computational approach. The 3D structures of 32 compounds (selected from 42) derived from A. paniculata, exhibiting higher binding affinity, were obtained from the PubChem database. These structures underwent subsequent analysis and screening based on criteria including binding energy, molecular docking, drug likeness and toxicity prediction using computational techniques. Considering the spectrometry, pharmacokinetic properties, docking results, drug likeliness, and toxicological effects, five compounds—stigmasterol, 1H-Indole-3-carboxylic acid, 5-methoxy-, methyl ester (AP7), andrographolide, apigenin and wogonin—were selected as the potential inhibitors against the E6 protein of HPV-16. We also performed 200 ns molecular dynamics simulations of the compounds to analyze their stability and interactions as protein–ligand complexes using imiquimod (CID-57469) as a control. Screened compounds showed favorable characteristics, including stable root mean square deviation values, minimal root mean square fluctuations and consistent radius of gyration values. Intermolecular interactions, such as hydrogen bonds and hydrophobic contacts, were sustained throughout the simulations. The compounds displayed potential affinity, as indicated by negative binding free energy values. Overall, findings of this study suggest that the selected compounds have the potential to act as inhibitors against the E6 protein of HPV-16, offering promising prospects for the treatment and management of CC.

Isolation of aflatoxin biosynthetic inhibitor from Chondrostereum purpureum mushroom culture filtrate

Aflatoxins (AFs) are highly toxic mycotoxins produced by the fungi, Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus parasiticus. AFs pose severe health risks owing to their acute toxicity and carcinogenic properties. The control of AF contamination remains significantly challenging despite the extensive efforts toward controlling it. Here, we investigated the potential of mushroom extracts as a source of AF biosynthetic inhibitors. The A.parasiticus mutant strain, NFRI-95, that accumulates an AF biosynthesis intermediate, norsolorinic acid, was used in the bioassay to detect the inhibitory activity against AF biosynthesis. The screening of 195 mushroom extracts revealed that the culture filtrate extract of Chondrostereum purpureum exhibited strong inhibitory activity against AF biosynthesis. Next, large-scale culturing of C.purpureum was performed to isolate the compounds accounting for the inhibitory activity. The culture filtrate was extracted with ethyl acetate, after which the active compound was isolated by silica gel column chromatography and preparative high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The active compound was identified as cyclo(Val-Pro) by spectroscopic analyses. Further, four stereoisomers of cyclo(Val-Pro) were synthesized by the condensation of the N-Boc derivatives of d- and l-valine with the methyl esters of d- and l-proline. The naturally isolated compound was identified as cyclo(l-Val-l-Pro) by comparing its retention time with those of synthetic compounds by chiral HPLC analysis and CD spectra. The IC50 value of cyclo(L-Val-L-Pro) was 2.4mM, whereas the LD, DL, and DD isomers exhibited weaker activities, with IC50 values of >5mM.

Distribution and characterization of products obtained from pyrolysis of cooked food waste- Impact of heating rate

This work offers a comprehensive investigation of the pyrolysis products—liquid, gas, and solid derived from cooked food waste (CFW) at different heating rates (15–100 °C/min). The heating rate significantly influenced the yield of pyrolysis products. The maximum yield of bio-oil (oil + aqueous) was achieved at a heating rate of 50 °C/min, py-gas at 100 °C/min, and biochar at 15 °C/min. The yields were 34 wt% for bio-oil, 30 wt% for py-gas, and 32 wt% for biochar. Analysis of the bio-oil revealed significant proportions of fatty acids (Methyl-methyltetradecanoate) and esters (Oleic acid ethyl ester), constituting 25 %, and 26 % at 15 °C/min but declining with increasing heating rates. Another ester (9-Octadecenoic acid methyl ester) was found across all heating rate with highest concentration of 33 % at 100 °C/min. Aliphatic hydrocarbons (Octane, Dodecene, Heptadecane, Tetradecyne, Undecane, Dimethylhepta-1,3-triene, Tetradecane, Nonadecane), constituted highest concentration of 12 % at 25 °C/min and aromatic hydrocarbons (Toluene) showed maximum presence of 4 % at 50 °C/min. The aqueous phase showcased cyclic nitrogenated compounds (Piperidine), anhydrosugars (DGP), and furanics (Furanmethanol), with the highest concentrations of 46 %, 12 %, and 38 %, respectively observed at 100 °C/min. Instantaneous py-gas analysis indicated an elevated presence of CO2 and CO in the initial pyrolysis stages (up to 70 min) followed by higher H2 in the latter stages (>70 min). While increasing heating rates (15–100 °C/min) boosted cumulative fractions of CO2 and CO, the highest H2 fraction was observed at 50 °C/min. The proximate and ultimate analysis of biochars indicated increased ash, fixed carbon, HHV and H/C compared to raw CFW. The surface area and morphology were positively influenced by an increase in heating rate, resulting in a microporous biochar having maximum surface area of 340.6 m2/g at 50 °C/min.

Investigation of biodiesel blends and hydrogen addition effects on CI engine characteristics through statistical analysis

This study investigates the performance, combustion, and emission characteristics of a single-cylinder compression ignition engine fueled with blends of Soy methyl ester (BS100) and macauba methyl ester (BM100) biodiesels, with hydrogen addition. Biodiesel blends (BSM10 - BSM50), and hydrogen addition (2–5%) were tested at various engine loads and speeds. The optimal blend, BSM20 (80% BS100 + 20% BM100), showed up to 7.8% higher brake thermal efficiency and 6.2% lower brake-specific fuel consumption than diesel. Emissions were significantly reduced: NOx by 12.9%, HC by 22.4%, CO by 27.5%, and smoke opacity by 18.7%. Adding 5% hydrogen to BSM20 further improved performance, reducing fuel consumption by up to 3.1% and increasing thermal efficiency by 2.5%, with substantial reductions in hydrocarbon and carbon monoxide emissions. This investigation highlights the potential of sustainable biodiesel blends and hydrogen as viable alternatives to conventional diesel fuels, offering significant environmental benefits and enhanced engine performance.

Evaluating the potential impact of sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitor "canagliflozin" on the hepatic damage triggered by hypertension in rats.

Hypertension (HTN) is a prevalent chronic disease. HTN and liver disease association is extensively noted. Thus, finding a medication that can alleviate HTN and its accompanying liver insult would be promising. This study investigated the potential impacts of canagliflozin "sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitor" on the liver of the Nω-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME)-induced HTN rat model. Twenty-four adult male rats were divided into four groups; negative control group, canagliflozin group, L-NAME group: 50 mg/kg of L-NAME was injected daily for 5 weeks and L-NAME + canagliflozin group: 1 week after L-NAME injection both L-NAME + canagliflozin (40 mg/kg) were given concomitantly daily for further 4 weeks. Liver functions, serum lipid profile, hepatic oxidative/nitrative stress biomarkers, gene expression of lipogenic enzymes, B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl2), and DNA fragmentation, were measured. Besides, hepatic histology and immunohistochemistry of nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) and endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) were assessed. Canagliflozin improved hepatic lipogenesis via the downregulation of fatty acid synthase (FAS) and transcriptional regulatory element binding protein 1c (SREBP1c) genes leading to an improved serum lipid profile. Further, canagliflozin modified the eNOS/inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) pathway and decreased the NF-κB immunoreactivity besides restoring the oxidants-antioxidants balance; increased reduced glutathione concomitant with declined malondialdehyde. This improvement of the liver was mirrored by the significant restoration of liver architecture and confirmed by the preserved liver DNA content and upregulation of the antiapoptotic Bcl2 mRNA level and attenuation of the alanine transaminase, aspartate aminotransferase. In conclusion, canagliflozin is a promising anti-hypertensive and hepatic-supportive medication. RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS: Canagliflozin's antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-lipogenic, and antiapoptotic characteristics mitigate remote liver compromise caused by hypertension. Canagliflozin can be exploited as a hepatoprotective and antihypertensive medication.

Gestationally administered RAS modulators reprogram endotoxic cardiovascular and inflammatory profiles in adult male offspring of preeclamptic rats.

Previous studies showed that preeclampsia (PE) amplifies cardiovascular dysfunction induced by endotoxemia in adult male, but not female, offspring. Here, we asked if such aggravated endotoxic insult could be nullified by modulators of the renin-angiotensin system (RAS). PE was induced by gestational administration of Nω-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester(L-NAME, a nitric oxide synthase inhibitor). Adult male offspring of PE mothers treated gestationally with angiotensin 1-7 (Ang1-7, angiotensin II-derived vasodilator), losartan (AT1 receptor antagonist), pioglitazone (peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma, PPARγ, agonist), or combined losartan/pioglitazone were instrumented with femoral indwelling catheters and challenged intravenously with a 5-mg/kg dose of lipopolysaccharides (LPS, 5mg/kg). LPS caused significant decreases in blood pressure (BP) and spectral index of overall heart rate variability and increases in heart rate and left ventricular contractility (dP/dtmax). These effects were mostly reduced to similar magnitudes by individual drug therapies. In offspring born to Ang1-7-treated dams, the spectral index of cardiac sympathovagal balance showed elevated sympathetic dominance in response to LPS. Immunohistochemistry revealed that Ang1-7, but not losartan/pioglitazone, abolished the exaggerated increases in toll-like receptor 4 (TLR-4) expression caused by PE/LPS in heart tissues and neuronal circuits of brainstem rostral ventrolateral medulla (RVLM). By contrast, the losartan/pioglitazone regimen, but not Ang1-7, decreased and increased angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) and ACE2 expression, respectively. Together, gestational fetal reprogramming of Ang II (depression) and Ang1-7 (activation) arms of RAS effectively counterbalance worsened endotoxic cardiovascular and inflammatory profiles in adult male offspring of PE rats.

Reactivity of a Morita-Baylis-Hillman adduct derivative bearing a triphenylamine moiety with lysine models.

The reactivity of Morita-Baylis-Hillman Adduct (MBHA) derivative 7 was studied with different primary amine derivatives such as n-butylamine, Na-acetyl-L-lysine methyl ester, and a poly-(L-lysine) derivative as lysine models to obtain information about the possible reactions in complex protein environments. MBHA derivative 7 reacted with n-butylamine or Na-acetyl-L-lysine methyl ester producing monoadducts 9a or 9c, which showed bright emission features in the green region at 526-535 nm with photoluminescence quantum yield values in solutions of 73% and 51%, respectively. Based on these results, MBHA derivative 7 can be considered an interesting new fluorogenic probe potentially useful in the labelling of basic amino acid residues. Furthermore, similar to other MBHA derivatives, compound 7 showed the tendency to produce diadducts especially in polar solvents system where specific interactions between the extended aromatic moieties may play a major role.

Experimental and simulation study of American saffron seed oil blended with diesel

In a variety of industries, including transportation, agriculture, and manufacturing, diesel engines are often employed. Due of rising prices and environmental concerns, researchers examined whether biodiesels might replace diesel. The current study looks into American Saffron Oil's feasibility as a feedstock for biodiesel production. The transesterification technique is used to extract American saffron oil methyl este(ASOME), which is then examined for its physical and chemical properties in accordance with ASTM standards. Diesel fuel and American Saffron Oil methyl ester are mixed on a volume basis to create a variety of fuel blends, including B20, B40, and B60. The test results showed that the 20 % ASOME mix had better performance and reduced emissions. Also, utilizing DIESEL-RK simulation software, diesel engine tests are conducted for the B20, B40, and B60 under identical operating circumstances. Moreover, diesel engine testing for the B20, B40, and B60 are carried out using DIESEL-RK simulation software under comparable operating circumstances. Results of simulation software tests show improved engine performance and reduced pollutants. When experimental data is compared to DIESEL-RK modeling software, it is found that brake thermal efficiency increased by 5.7 % and emissions of hydrocarbon and carbon monoxide decreased by 2.5 % and 14.3 %, respectively.