Effect of alkaline pretreatment on delignification of wheat straw

This study was conducted to analyse structural changes through scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) after alkaline pretreatment of wheat straw for optimum steaming period. During the study, 2 mm size of substrate was soaked in 2.5% NaOH for 1 h at room temperature and then autoclaved at 121°C for various steaming time (30, 60, 90 and 120 min). Results revealed that residence time of 90 min at 121°C has strong effect on substrate, achieving a maximum cellulose content of 83%, delignification of 81% and hemicellulose content of 10.5%. Further SEM and FTIR spectroscopy confirmed structural modification caused by alkaline pretreatment in substrate. Maximum saccharification yield of 52.93% was achieved with 0.5% enzyme concentration using 2.5% substrate concentration for 8 h of incubation at 50°C. This result indicates that the above-mentioned pretreatment conditions create accessible areas for enzymatic hydrolysis.     

Formation of Heterocyclic and Polycyclic Compounds from Amino Alcohols and Dialdehydes

Amino alcohols typically react with aldehydes to produce oxazolidines. It was hypothesized that the condensation of several commercially available amino alcohols with dialdehydes would produce a series of bicyclic oxazolidines containing two secondary amines. However, there were remarkable differences in the type of products formed depending on the structure of the dicarbonyl compounds and the reaction conditions. When linear aliphatic dialdehydes such as glyoxal were used, the expected bis‐oxazolidines were not produced; instead, polycyclic structures or oxazines were formed. However, when cyclic dialdehydes such as 1,3/1,4 cyclohexane dicarboxaldehyde were used, they resulted in products bearing the desired oxazolidine moieties.     

Multiple solutions for non-homogeneous degenerate Schrödinger equations in cone Sobolev spaces

The present paper deals with the study of semilinear and non-homogeneous Schrödinger equations on a manifold with conical singularity. We provide a suitable constant by Sobolev embedding constant and for p ∈ (2, 2?) with respect to non-homogeneous term g(x) ∈ L ₂ ^n/2 (B), which helps to find multiple solutions of our problem. More precisely, we prove the existence of two solutions to the problem 1.1 with negative and positive energy in cone Sobolev space H _2,0 ^1,n/2 (B). Finally, we consider p = 2 and we prove the existence and uniqueness of Fuchsian-Poisson problem.     

Rotating flow of a third grade fluid in a porous space with Hall current

This study investigates the rotating magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) flow of a third-grade fluid in a porous space. Modified Darcy's law has been utilized for the flow modeling. The Hall effects are taken into consideration. The basic equations governing the flow are reduced to a highly nonlinear ordinary differential equation. This equation has been solved analytically by employing the homotopy analysis method (HAM). The effects of the various interesting parameters on the velocity distribution have been discussed.     

On Solutions of Some Non-Linear Differential Equations Arising in Newtonian and Non-Newtonian Fluids

Some steady as well as unsteady solutions of the equations of motion for an incompressible Newtonian and non-Newtonian (second-grade) fluids are obtained by applying different methods including the Lie symmetry group method. The flows considered are axially symmetric with the swirling motion, and the governing equations for second-grade fluid flow have been modeled. Expressions for streamlines, velocity and vorticity components are constructed explicitly in each case. Exact analytical solutions in second-grade fluid are obtained and compared with the corresponding viscous solutions.     

Structural,dielectric and electrical properties of zinc doped nickel nanoferrites prepared by simplified sol–gel method

Zinc doped nickel ferrite nanoparticles having the general formula Ni_1−xZn_xFe₂O₄ (x = 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4, 0.5) were prepared with simplified sol–gel method. The structural and dielectric properties of these samples sintered at 750 ± 5 °C were studied. X-ray diffraction patterns confirm the single phase spinel structure for prepared samples. The scanning electron microscope images indicated that the particle size of the samples lies in the nanometer regime. The dielectric constant (ε_r) and dielectric loss tangent (tan δ) of nanocrystalline nickel ferrites were investigated as a function of frequency and Zn concentration. The dependence of ε_r and tan δ on the frequency of the alternating applied electric field is in accordance with the Maxwell–Wagner model. The prepared samples have a lowest dielectric constant compared to the already reported samples of the same composition to the best of our knowledge. The effect of Zn doping on the dielectric properties of nickel ferrites is explained on the basis of cations distribution in the crystal structure.     

An efficient mixed methodology for free vibration and buckling analysis of orthotropic rectangular plates

In this paper, a simple and efficient mixed Ritz-differential quadrature (DQ) method is presented for free vibration and buckling analysis of orthotropic rectangular plates. The mixed scheme combines the simplicity of the Ritz method and high accuracy and efficiency of the DQ method. The accuracy of the proposed method is demonstrated by comparing the calculated results with those available in the literature. It is shown that highly accurate results can be obtained using a small number of Ritz terms and DQ sample points. The proposed method is suitable for the problem considered due to its simplicity and potential for further development.     

Synthesis, characterization and fluorescent property evaluation of 1,3,5-triaryl-2-pyrazolines

A series of 1,3,5-triaryl-2-pyrazolines was synthesized by dissolving the corresponding 4-alkoxychalcones in glacial acetic acid containing a few drops of concentrated hydrochloric acid. This step was followed by the addition of (3,4-dimethylphenyl) hydrazaine hydrochloride. Finally the target compounds were precipitated by pouring the reaction mixture onto crushed ice. The structures of the synthesized compounds were established by physicochemical and spectroscopic methods. The 1,3,5-triaryl-2-pyrazolines bearing homologous alkoxy groups were found to possess fluorescence properties in the blue region of the visible spectrum when irradiated with ultraviolet radiation. The fluorescent behavior of these compounds was studied by UV-Vis and emission spectroscopy, performed at room temperature.     

Linearizability criteria for systems of two second-order differential equations by complex methods

Lie??s linearizability criteria for scalar second-order ordinary differential equations had been extended to systems of second-order ordinary differential equations by using geometric methods. These methods not only yield the linearizing transformations but also the solutions of the nonlinear equations. Here, complex methods for a scalar ordinary differential equation are used for linearizing systems of two second-order ordinary and partial differential equations, which can use the power of the geometric method for writing the solutions. Illustrative examples of mechanical systems including the Lane?CEmden type equations which have roots in the study of stellar structures are presented and discussed.     

Perturbation analysis of a modified second grade fluid over a porous plate

A modified second grade non-Newtonian fluid model is considered. The model is a combination of power-law and second grade fluids in which the fluid may exhibit normal stresses, shear thinning or shear thickening behaviors. The flow of this fluid is considered over a porous plate. Equations of motion in dimensionless form are derived. When the power-law effects are small compared to second grade effects, a regular perturbation problem arises which is solved. The validity criterion for the solution is derived. When second grade effects are small compared to power-law effects, or when both effects are small, the problem becomes a boundary layer problem for which the solutions are also obtained. Perturbation solutions are contrasted with the numerical solutions. For the regular perturbation problem of small power-law effects, an excellent match is observed between the solutions if the validity criterion is met. For the boundary layer solution of vanishing second grade effects however, the agreement with the numerical data is not good. When both effects are considered small, the boundary layer solution leads to the same solution given in the case of a regular perturbation problem.