2G waste lignin to fuel and high value-added chemicals: Approaches, challenges and future outlook for sustainable development.

Lignin is produced as a byproduct in cellulosic biorefinery as well in pulp and paper industries and has the potential for the synthesis of a variety of phenolics chemicals, biodegradable polymers, and high value-added chemicals surrogate to conventional petro-based fuels. Therefore, in this critical review, we emphasize the possible scenario for lignin isolation, transformation into value addition chemicals/materials for the economic viability of current biorefineries. Additionally, this review covers the chemical structure of lignocellulosic biomass/lignin, worldwide availability of lignin and describe various thermochemical (homogeneous/heterogeneous base/acid-catalyzed depolymerization, oxidative, hydrogenolysis etc.) and biotechnological developments for the production of bio-based low molecular weight phenolics, i.e. polyhydroxyalkanoates, vanillin, adipic acid, lipids etc. Besides, some functional chemicals applications, lignin-formaldehyde ion exchange resin, electrochemical and production of few targeted chemicals are also elaborated. Finally, we examine the challenges, opportunities and prospects way forward related to lignin valorization.

Dissecting the functional role of microRNA 21 in osteosarcoma.

Osteosarcoma (OS) is considered to be a malignant bone tumour that mainly affects the long bones, but it is also involved in other bones of the body. Currently, surgery and chemotherapy have achieved some response to patients with OS, but they are not increasing the survival rate as well as treatment options. Researchers made lot of drug options for OS, but yet, no treatment is existing in sight for the disease and needs a new insight into the molecular and signaling pathways for the disease. Now, it is necessary to develop a novel and alternative strategy for the prognosis, diagnosis and treatment options for OS. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a small non-coding RNA, and their size ranges from 18 to 22 nt in length. In the nucleus, miRNAs originate and transcribe into primary transcripts and later cleaved to produce stem loop-structured precursor nucleotides. microRNA 21 (miR-21) is considered to be a trivial marker for many diseases and has been upregulated in many cancers. Moreover, it plays a main role in proliferation, migration, invasion and apoptosis. miR-21 and its associated pathways are very important and play a critical role in the pathogenesis of OS and are considered to be a biomarker and a therapeutic target for OS. To our knowledge, there is no paper that demonstrates the responsibility and the role of miR-21 in OS and the number of studies related to miR-21 in OS is spare. Therefore, the main aim of this paper is to give an outline of the recent clinical investigation and importance of miR-21 in OS. It has been suggested that the up- and downregulation of miRNAs plays a crucial role in the pathogenesis and progression of OS. Normally, miR-21 was found to be upregulated in OS; however, we summarize the clinical relevance and the recent research findings associated with miR-21 in OS.

Dissecting the role of miR-21 in different types of stroke.

Stroke is an important neurological disease in which blood flow to the brain is interrupted and it is becoming an increasing non-communicable disease in developing countries. Current treatment options for stroke is modifying lifestyle practice, diabetes treatment, drugs, and other factors management, but yet no cure is available in sight for the disease, despite it requires new insight into the molecular and therapeutic targets. In general, MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small noncoding RNAs considered as of greater biological importance and controls molecular signaling pathways in diabetic pathogenesis. Among the reported MiRNAs, MIR-21 is considered to be an important MiRNA, which is frequently elevated in many types of types of strokes, suggesting that it plays an important role in cell proliferation, and apoptosis. Until now, there is no research paper that signifying the role of miR-21 in all types of strokes and the number of studies on the different category of strokes is limited, so in this paper, we are highlighting the recent investigations related to the significance of miR-21 in different types of strokes based on the up-to-date reports. It was found that MiR-21 was found to be normally up and down regulated in all types of strokes, however; we summarize the important research findings related to the role of miR-21 in different types of strokes.

Molecular interactions in alcohol-ethyl methacrylate mixtures.

Molecular interaction between alcohols (1-propanol, 1-butanol, s-butanol, t-butanol, 1-pentanol, 1-heptanol, 1-octanol and 1-decanol) with ethyl methacrylate has been studied in n-heptane, CCl(4) and benzene at 298K using FTIR spectroscopic and dielectric methods. The result obtained from both the methods indicates only the existence of most likely 1:1 complex formation between the alcohol and ethyl methacrylate in these systems. The alkyl chain length of alcohol and the solvent used play a significant role in the strength of hydrogen bond (O-H:O=C) determined on the basis of spectral and dielectric parameters.

Hydrogen bonding interaction between acrylic esters and monohydric alcohols in non-polar solvents: An FTIR study.

The association between acrylic esters (methyl methacrylate, ethyl methacrylate and butyl methacrylate) and some monohydric (primary, secondary and tertiary) alcohols in non-polar solvents, viz. n-heptane, CCl4 and benzene has been investigated by means of FTIR spectroscopy. The most likely association complex between alcohol and acrylic ester is 1:1 stoichiometric complex through the hydroxyl group of alcohol and the carbonyl group of acrylic ester. The formation constant of the 1:1 complexes has been calculated using Nash method. It appears that the primary alcohols have larger formation constant than the secondary and tertiary alcohols. The results show that the proton donating power of the alcohols decreases in the order primary>secondary>tertiary and the association constant increases with the increase in carbon chain of the alkyl group of acrylic esters and alcohols. Also the results show a significant dependence of the association constant upon the solvents used. The solvent effect on the formation of hydrogen bond equilibria is discussed in terms of specific interaction between the solute and solvent.

Molecular interaction studies of acrylic esters with 1-alcohols.

Hydrogen bonding between 1-alcohols and acrylic esters in n-heptane has been studied by FTIR spectroscopic method. The formation constant of the 1:1 complexes has been calculated using Nash method. The values of formation constant and free energy change vary with alcohol and ester chain length, which suggests that the strengths of the intermolecular O-H...O=C bonds are shown to be dependent on the alkyl group of acrylic esters and the 1-alcohols and the results shows that the proton donating ability of 1-alcohols is in the order: 1-propanol<1-butanol<1-pentanol and the accepting ability of acrylic esters is in the order: methyl methacrylate