Exact Solutions of Fisher and Generalized Fisher Equations with Variable Coefficients

In this work,we consider a Fisher and generalized Fisher equations with variable coefficients.Usingtruncated Painlevé expansions of these equations,we obtain exact solutions of these equations with a constrainton the coefficients a(t)and b(t).     

Carotenoid and Fatty Acid Compositions of an Indigenous Ettlia texensis Isolate (Chlorophyceae) Under Phototrophic and Mixotrophic Conditions

Ettlia oleoabundance (formerly known as Neochloris oleoabundance) is an attractive candidate for biodiesel production because of its high lipid accumulation, and it’s taking the majority of the attention among the strains of Ettlia genus; however, potential of the other genus members is unknown. An indigenous strain from Salda Lake (South West Turkey) identified by 18S rDNA sequencing as Ettlia texensis (GenBank accession no: JQ038221), and its fatty acid and carotenoid compositions under phototrophic and mixotrophic conditions was investigated to evaluate the potential of the strain for commercial uses. A threefold increase was observed in total lipid content (total fatty acids; from 13 % to 37 %) in mixotrophic culture respect to the phototrophic growth conditions. The oleic acid (C18:1) and alpha-linolenic acid (18:3) were the major unsaturated fatty acids accounting for 40 % and 13.2 % of total fatty acids in mixotrophic culture, respectively. Carotenoid analyses of the mixotrophic culture revealed the metabolite canthaxanthin, a commercially valuable carotenoid used mainly for food coloring, was the major constituent among other pigments. The possible use of E. texensis in biotechnological applications is discussed.     

Estimation and optimization of thermal performance of evacuated tube solar collector system

In this study, artificial neural networks (ANNs) and adaptive neuro-fuzzy (ANFIS) in order to predict the thermal performance of evacuated tube solar collector system have been used. The experimental data for the training and testing of the networks were used. The results of ANN are compared with ANFIS in which the same data sets are used. The R²-value for the thermal performance values of collector is 0.811914 which can be considered as satisfactory. The results obtained when unknown data were presented to the networks are satisfactory and indicate that the proposed method can successfully be used for the prediction of the thermal performance of evacuated tube solar collectors. In addition, new formulations obtained from ANN are presented for the calculation of the thermal performance. The advantages of this approaches compared to the conventional methods are speed, simplicity, and the capacity of the network to learn from examples. In addition, genetic algorithm (GA) was used to maximize the thermal performance of the system. The optimum working conditions of the system were determined by the GA.     

Preparation and evaluation of topical microemulsion system containing metronidazole for remission in rosacea

The aim of this study was to prepare a topical water-in-oil type microemulsion containing metronidazole and to compare its effectiveness with a commercial gel product in the treatment of rosacea. A pseudo-ternary phase diagram (K(m)=2:1) was constructed using lecithin/butanol/isopropyl myristate/water. The microemulsion was chosen from the microemulsion region in the phase diagram. The formulation was a water-in-oil type microemulsion (droplet size: 11.6 nm, viscosity: 457.3 mPa·s, conductivity: 1.5 μs/cm, turbidity: 6.89 NTU) and the addition of the metronidazole did not alter the properties of the system. The release experiment showed that the release rate of metronidazole from the commercial gel product was higher than that of the microemulsion. Stability experiments showed that the metronidazole microemulsion remained stable for at least 6 months; none of the characteristic properties of the microemulsion had changed, the system retained its clarity and there was no sign that crystallization of metronidazole has occurred. Microemulsion was compared to a gel product in a randomized, double-blind, baseline-controlled, split-face clinical trial for the treatment of patients. After the 6-week treatment period there was a statistically significant difference in reduction of the main symptoms of rosacea. Of the patients treated with the microemulsion, 17% experienced complete relief from inflammatory lesions, and 50% from erythema. The microemulsion resulted in complete relief in 38% of the patients with telangiectasia while the commercial product did not provide any relief of telangiectasia symptoms. In conclusion, the microemulsion containing metronidazole was found to be more effective in reducing the symptoms of rosacea compared to the commercial gel product.     

Reinvestigation of the reaction of [Ru3(CO)12] with 2-mercaptobenzothiazole: X-ray structure of [(μ-H)2Ru3 (μ-η2-C7H4NS2)(μ3-η2-C7H4NS2)(CO)7]

Treatment of Ru₃(CO)₁₂ with 2-mercaptobenzothiazole at 68°C gave the known compound [(-H)Ru₃(₃-²-C₇H₄NS₂)(CO)₉] 1 and the new compound [(-H)₂Ru₃(-²-C ₇H₄NS₂) (₃-²-C₇H₄NS₂)(CO)₇] 2 in 15 and 10% yields respectively. Compound 2 has been characterized by elemental analysis, infrared, ¹H NMR and mass spectroscopic data together with single crystal X-ray crystallography. It crystallizes in the monoclinic space group C2/c with a = 31.662(6), b = 14.577(3), c = 11.602(2) Å, = 104.15(3)°, Z = 8, and V = 5192.4(2) ų. The compound consists of a Ru₃ triangle with three different Ru-Ru bond lengths [2.75264, 2.79084, 2.97604 Å] and the two 2-mercaptobenzothiazole ligands are differently attached to the metal atoms. Compound 2 is also obtained by the reaction of 1 with excess 2-mercaptobenzothiazole at 68°C.     

Barriers to internal rotation around the C-N bond in 3-(o-aryl)-5-methyl-rhodanines using NMR spectroscopy and computational studies. Electron density topological analysis of the transition states

We have investigated the pairs of rotational isomers for six 3-(o-aryl)-5-methyl-rhodanines (Z = H, F, Cl, Br, OH, and CH3) using NMR spectroscopy and density functional theory (DFT) calculations. Electron density topological and NBO analysis has demonstrated the importance of non-covalent interactions, characterised by (3, -1) bond critical points (BCPs), between the oxygen and sulfur atoms on the thiazolidine ring with the aryl substitutents in stabilizing the transition states. The energetic activation barriers to rotation have also been determined using computational results; rotational barriers for 3-(o-chlorophenyl)-5-methyl-rhodanine (3S) and 3-(o-tolyl)-5-methyl-rhodanine (6S) were determined experimentally based on NMR separation of the diastereoisomeric pairs, and the first-order rate constants used to derive the value of the rotational barrier from the Eyring equation.     

Preparation of homogeneous polyacrylamide hydrogels by free-radical crosslinking copolymerization

Network microstructures of acrylamide (AAm)-based hydrogels were investigated by static and dynamic light scattering techniques. The hydrogels were prepared by free-radical crosslinking copolymerization of the monomers acrylamide (AAm), N,N-dimethylacrylamide (DMA) and N-isopropylacrylamide (NIPA) with N,N′-methylenebis(acrylamide) as a crosslinker in aqueous solutions. It was observed that the addition of DMA or NIPA into the comonomer feed suppresses the extent of frozen concentration fluctuations in polyacrylamide (PAAm) hydrogels. The cooperative diffusion coefficient increases while both the static and dynamic correlation lengths decrease as the amount of DMA in the comonomer feed is increased. Formation of homogeneous PAAm hydrogels by introduction of hydrophobic moieties was explained as a result of the steric effect of the bulky side groups on DMA or NIPA segments.     

Selective preconcentration of thorium in the presence of UO(2)(2+), Ce(3+) and La(3+) using Th(IV)-imprinted polymer

We have prepared Th(IV) ion-imprinted polymers, which can be used for the selective preconcentration of Th(IV) ions, represented by uranium and lanthanides. N-methacryloyl-(l)-glutamic acid (MAGA) was chosen as the complexing monomer. In the first step, Th(IV) was complexed with MAGA and the Th(IV)-imprinted poly[ethylene glycol dimethacrylate-N-methacryloyl-(l)-glutamic acid] (Poly(MAGA-EDMA)) beads were synthesized by suspension polymerization. After that, the template Th(IV) ions were removed using 8.0 M HNO₃ solution. The breakthrough capacity was 40.44 mg Th(IV)/g beads. The relative selectivity coefficients of imprinted beads were 68, 97 and 116 for UO₂²⁺, La³⁺ and Ce³⁺, times greater than non-imprinted matrix, respectively. The Th(IV)-imprinted beads could be used many times without decreasing their breakthrough capacities significantly.     

Preconcentration of copper on ion-selective imprinted polymer microbeads

Molecular recognition-based separation techniques have received much attention in various fields because of their high selectivity for target molecules. Molecular imprinting has been recognized as a promising technique for the preparation of such systems. In this study, we have prepared a novel molecular imprinted adsorbent to remove heavy metal ions with high selectivity. The Cu(II)-imprinted poly(ethylene glycol dimethacrylate–methacryloylamidohistidine/Cu(II)) (poly(EGDMA–MAH/Cu(II))) microbeads with an average size of 150–200 μm were prepared by dispersion polymerization. These Cu(II) imprinted microbeads were used in the adsorption–desorption of copper(II) ions from metal solutions. Adsorption equilibria was achieved in about 1 h. The maximum adsorption of Cu(II) ions onto imprinted microbeads was about 48 mg/g. The pH significantly affected the adsorption capacity of imprinted microbeads. The observed adsorption order under competitive conditions was Cu(II) > Zn(II) > Ni(II) > Co(II) in mass basis. The imprinted microbeads can be easily regenerated by 0.1 M EDTA solution with higher effectiveness. The imprinted microbeads showed excellent selectivity for the target molecule (i.e. Cu(II) ions due to molecular geometry). These features make imprinted microbeads very good candidate for selective removal of Cu(II) ions at high adsorption capacity. Detection limit was increased at least 1000-folds with the preconcentration approach using the imprinted microbeads. The method was also applied to certified reference and seawater samples.