Chronic pain, including inflammatory and neuropathic pain, remains one of the largest public health issues in the world, characterized by enduring nociceptive signaling, dysregulation of the immune system, and sensitization of the central nervous system. In this regard, terpenoids are structurally diverse isoprene derivatives that are abundant in many medicinal plants. Terpenoids are emerging as a class of increasingly interesting bioactive compounds with a wide range of anti-inflammatory and analgesic activity. Compounds such as β-caryophyllene, D-limonene, α- and β-pinene, curcuminoids, turmerones and ginkgolides appear to have significant therapeutic potential, through multiple but interrelated modes of action, including inhibition of pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6), inhibition of cyclooxygenase (COX-2) and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), and modulation of critical intracellular signaling pathways (NFκB, MAPK, JAK-STAT and Nrf2). Few terpenoids possess a receptor-specific mechanism, including (i) β-caryophyllene, which may selectively agonize the CB2 receptor, and (ii) ginkgolides, which might selectively antagonize the platelet-activating factor (PAF) receptor, demonstrating the potential for targeted therapeutic interventions with limited adverse events in the CNS. A variety of new drug delivery systems (e.g., nanotechnology-based carriers, lipid nanoparticles, and co-crystallization techniques) are being developed to overcome these barriers and improve the therapeutic effectiveness of terpenoid-based treatments for chronic pain. In general, Up-and-Coming systems for delivering terpenoids as therapeutics present a promising, dynamic new model for treating chronic pain. These potential therapeutic agents combine principles of natural product chemistry and modern pharmacology to inhibit inflammatory processes at the molecular level.
Transition-metal orthoborates (MBO 3 ; M = Ti, V, Cr, Fe) provide well-defined model systems for investigating the interplay among precursor chemistry, phase formation, crystal structure, electronic structure, and functional properties in borate materials. Their structures contain isolated trigonal-planar BO 3 units interconnected with transition-metal–oxygen polyhedra, providing a common basis for systematic comparison. However, studies of TiBO 3 (Titanium orthoborate), VBO 3 (Vanadium orthoborate), CrBO 3 (Chromium orthoborate), and FeBO 3 (Iron orthoborate) have largely addressed individual aspects of their crystal chemistry, synthesis, or physical properties, while the relationships among precursor chemistry, reaction pathways, phase evolution, and material properties remain insufficiently integrated. This review therefore critically examines the crystal chemistry, precursor chemistry, synthesis routes, phase-evolution pathways, and structure–property relationships of these four orthoborates. Particular emphasis is placed on experimentally established phase formation and crystallization behavior, including the roles of precursor composition, thermal treatment, diffusion, competing phases, and reaction conditions. Experimental results obtained for CrBO 3 and FeBO 3 in our studies are considered together with published data, whereas TiBO 3 and VBO 3 are evaluated primarily from the available literature. The four orthoborates are comparatively assessed in terms of crystal structure, transition-metal electronic configuration, magnetic and optical behavior, and reported functional properties, while differences in experimental conditions and limitations of cross-study comparisons are considered. Rather than treating synthesis and properties independently, this review establishes how precursor chemistry and phase evolution influence structural characteristics and, consequently, material properties. Finally, unresolved issues, including incomplete understanding of phase boundaries and crystallization pathways, limited comparable quantitative datasets, and insufficient characterization under relevant operating conditions, are identified as priorities for future research.
Fly ash was used as an effective supplement for Portland cement during construction industry. However, the problem of slow hydration at early ages of cement mixes containing fly ash worries researchers in this field. This work aims at improvement of early hydration progress of 50:50 wt. % of fly ash: cement mix through addition of limited contents of lithium oxide (0 up to 1 wt. %). Physico-mechanical properties involving setting time, densification parameters and mechanical properties of the hardened cement/fly ash pastes were evaluated in accordance with international standards. XRD, FTIR and TG technique were employed to monitor the mineral composition and hydration behavior of some selected samples. It was concluded that addition of 0.6 wt. % lithium oxide to 50:50 wt.% fly ash: cement mix results in a pronounced improvement of the early ages-hydration and hence densification and mechanical properties since the lithium oxide particles act as seeds which decrease the nucleation barrier and hence initiate early (1,3 and 7 days) hydration process.
In this theoretical study, we show the effect of pressure and temperature on the structural (lattice constants, the bulk modulus B0 and its first derivative B0), electronic (Band structures and Partial density of states (PDOS)), optical (static dielectric constant and the static refraction index), and elastic properties (the elastic constants (C11, C12, C33, and C44), bulk modulus (B), shear modulus (G), and Young's modulus (E)) using pseudo-potential plane-waves (PP-PW) approach as implemented in the CASTEP code based on the density functional theory (DFT) and generated gradient approximation (GGA) in the scheme of Perdew–Burke–Ernzerhof (PBE). Our data show the transition phase of Gallium Nitride (GaN) from wurtzite (B4) to rocksalt (B1) at P = 45.08 GPa. As for the electronic properties, we found that the band gap decreases with the increase of temperature. Whatever the temperature and pressure value are, we noticed that Gallium Nitride has a direct band gap. From the elastic properties, we can say that the compound is mechanically stable at any value of temperature and pressure. Though results are very close to the experimental data and other theoretical results at P = 0 GPa and T = 0 K, there are unfortunately no experimental results and theoretical data to compare with the present results at higher temperatures and under different pressures. We hope our results might serve as a reference for future studies.
Since 2021, Main Group Chemistry has organised a regular webinar series to support scientific communication and engagement within the main group chemistry community. The series has provided a platform for researchers from academia and industry to present and discuss current developments, including published and emerging research. Over time, the initiative has expanded in scope and participation, contributing to increased visibility, knowledge exchange and networking opportunities across the community. This short communication provides an overview of the development of the webinar series, its role in supporting engagement within the field, and opportunities for future outreach and collaboration.
