Measures of weak noncompactness,nonlinear leray-schauder alternatives in banach algebras satisfying condition (p) and an application

In this paper, we establish some new nonlinear Leray-Schauder alternatives for the sum and the product of weakly sequentially continuous operators in Banach algebras satisfying certain sequential condition (P). The main condition in our results is formulated in terms of axiomatic measures of weak noncompactness. As an application, our results are used to prove the existence of solutions for a nonlinear integral equation.     

Contact angles in relation to emulsions stabilised solely by silica nanoparticles including systems containing room temperature ionic liquids

We report measured and calculated oil-ionic liquid, water-ionic liquid and oil-water contact angles on silica surfaces which have been hydrophobised to different extents by silanisation. Based on the idea that the contact angle formed by a liquid-liquid interface with a particle adsorbed at that interface is a key determinant of the strength of particle adsorption and the tendency of the adsorbed particle film to curve, we correlate the contact angle data with the phase inversion points and stabilities of the corresponding particle-stabilised emulsions.     

Inhibition of Lipid Accumulation and Adipokine Levels in Maturing Adipocytes by Bauhinia rufescens (Lam.) Stem Bark Extract Loaded Titanium Oxide Nanoparticles

The present study reports a cost-effective, environmentally friendly method to increase the bioavailability and bio-efficacy of B. rufescens stem bark extract in the biological system via functional modification as B. rufescens stem bark nanoparticles (BR-TO₂-NPs). The biosynthesis of BR- -NPs was confirmed by UV-visible (UV-vis) and Fourier-transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and X-ray diffraction analyses. The shifts in FT-IR stretching vibrations of carboxylic and nitro groups (1615 cm⁻¹), the O–H of phenolics or carboxylic acids (3405 cm⁻¹), alkanes, and alkyne groups (2925 and 2224 cm⁻¹) of the plant extract and lattice (455) indicated successful biosynthesis of BR- -NPs. Compared with the stem bark extract, 40 ng/dL dose of BR- -NPs led to a reduction in adipogenesis and an increase in mitochondrial biogenesis-related gene expressions, adiponectin-R1, PPARγC1α, UCP-1, and PRDM16, in maturing-adipocytes. This confirmed the intracellular uptake, bioavailability, and bio-efficiency of BR-TiO₂-NPs. The lipid-lowering capacity of BR-TiO₂-NPs effectively inhibited the metabolic inflammation-related gene markers, IL-6, TNF-α, LTB4-R, and Nf-κb. Further, BR-TiO₂-NPs stimulating mitochondrial thermogenesis capacity was proven by the significantly enhanced CREB-1 and AMPK protein levels in adipocytes. In conclusion, BR-TiO₂-NPs effectively inhibited lipid accumulation and proinflammatory adipokine levels in maturing adipocytes; it may help to overcome obesity-associated comorbidities.     

Nanoinhibitory Impacts of Salicylic Acid,Glycyrrhizic Acid Ammonium Salt,and Boric Acid Nanoparticles against Phytoplasma Associated with Faba Bean

Phytoplasmas are economically important plant pathogenic bacterial diseases, causing severe yield losses worldwide. In this study, we tested nanoformulations such as glycyrrhizic acid ammonium salt (GAS), salicylic acid (SA), and boric acid (BA) as novel antimicrobial agents inducing the resistance against the phytoplasma disease in faba bean. The nanoparticles (NP) were foliar-applied to naturally phytoplasma-infected faba bean with three concentrations from each of SA, GAS, and BA, under field conditions. Nested PCR (using universal primer pairs P1/P7 and R16F2n/R16R2) were reacted positively with all symptomatic samples and gave a product size of approximately 1200 bp, while the healthy plant gave no results. Transmission electron microscopy examinations of phytoplasma-infected faba bean plants treated with different nanoparticles revealed that severe damage occurred in phytoplasma particle’s structure, degradation, malformation, lysis in the cell membrane, and the cytoplasmic leakage followed by complete lysis of phytoplasma cells. Exogenous application of GAS-NP (1.68 µM), SA-NP (0.28 µM), and BA-NP (0.124 µM) suppressed the infection percentage of phytoplasma by 75%, 50%, and 20%, and the disease severity by 84%, 64%, and 54%, respectively. Foliar application of nanoparticles improved Fv/Fm (maximum quantum efficiency of PSII Photochemistry), PI (the performance index), SPAD chlorophyll (the relative chlorophyll content), shoots height, and leaves number, thus inducing recovery of the plant biomass and green pods yield. The most effective treatment was GAS-NP at 1.68 µM that mediated substantial increases in the shoots’ fresh weight, shoots’ dry weight, number of pods per plant, and green pods yield by 230%, 244%, 202% and 178%, respectively, compared to those of infected plants not sprayed with nanoparticles. This study demonstrated the utility of using nanoparticles, particularly GAS-NP at 1.68 µM to suppress the phytoplasma infection.     

Non-aqueous olive oil-in-glycerin (o/o) Pickering emulsions: Preparation,characterization and in vitro aspirin release

Non-aqueous olive oil-in-glycerin Pickering emulsions are successfully prepared and stabilized solely by hydrophobic silica nanoparticles possessing 50% silanol groups. Various aspects related to the preparation and physicochemical stability of such promising emulsions are investigated. The resulted emulsions exhibited excellent stability against coalescence for above one year. The apparent viscosity of the olive oil-in-glycerin emulsions is explored as a function of silica nanoparticle concentration and drop volume fraction for the first time. The flow behavior of these emulsions followed the non-Newtonian shear-thinning trend. Both simple o/o and multiple o/o/o emulsion types can be stabilized by one and the same silica nanoparticles during the catastrophic phase inversion, occurred at drop volume fraction between 0.4–0.5. Our findings are correlated with the widely accepted surfactant or solid-stabilized systems. The potential use of such unique emulsions as drug delivery vehicles is studied.     

Microtitrimetry by controlled current potentiometric titration

The classical methods of titration require large volumes of chemicals. Microtritimetry is the method of choice since it utilizes small quantities of chemicals and yields less waste compared to other conventional methods. Thus it benefits both the analytical chemists and the environment. In this communication, microtitrimetry is performed by employing the technique of differential electrolytic potentiometry for the location of the end point. Oxidation-reduction titration using platinum electrodes is described. For the first time the endpoint for a sample of 1.0 μL of 0.10 M Fe(II) has been located by titration using a solution of Ce(IV). The optimum conditions such as volume of cerium ammonium sulfate added, current applied to polarize the electrodes in case of dc controlled current potentiometric titration (CCPT). The effect of changing the percentage bias of the square wave used to polarize the electrodes on the differential peak in case of ac CCPT has been investigated. The precision of this microtitrimetric method is also reported.     

Yrast excitations in 191Pb

The excitation energy sharing between the two partners of binary dissipative collisions was derived for the ⁴⁰Ar + ^natAg system at 27 and 44 MeV/u. From the eventual equilibration of energy between the two partners, and their separation time obtained from Landau-Vlasov simulations, the energy relaxation time was extracted, and compared with theoretical predictions.     

Highly activated, silicone entrapped, lipase

Lipase is more reactive in silicone oil or silicone elastomers than in hydrocarbons, and can be formulated into convenient, active, immobilized enzyme packages.     

Measurement of 2+ 1 level lifetimes in 162Yb and 162Er by fast electronic scintillation timing

Lifetime measurements for the 2⁺ ₁ levels of ¹⁶²Er and ¹⁶²Yb were obtained in β⁺/ɛ decay at the Yale Moving Tape Collector by fast electronic scintillation timing of β⁺γ coincidences. Received: 2 September 2002 / Accepted: 1 October 2002 / Published online: 4 February 2003 RID="a" ID="a"e-mail: mark.caprio@yale.edu Communicated by J. ?yst?     

Direct synthesis of dimethyl carbonate from methanol and carbon dioxide using heteropolyoxometalates: the effects of cation and addenda atoms

The direct synthesis of dimethyl carbonate (DMC) from methanol and carbon dioxide over a series of Keggin-type heteropolyoxometalates has been investigated. The effects of the cations and the addenda atoms of the heteropolyoxometalate on the conversion and the product selectivities were investigated. The results showed that Co_1.5PW₁₂O₄₀ was the best catalyst of the series. The effect of reaction temperature and CO₂ pressure on the direct synthesis of DMC demonstrated that lower temperatures and higher pressures are favorable for the synthesis of DMC. Higher temperatures favor the formation of dimethoxymethane (DMM) and methyl formate (MF).