Fabrication and characterization of transparent and biodegradable cellulose/poly (vinyl alcohol) blend films using an ionic liquid

Biodegradable blends were prepared from cellulose and poly (vinyl alcohol) (PVA) using the ionic liquid (IL) solvent, 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride. The blends were regenerated into films, fibers and rectangular blocks. The films showed optical transparency throughout the entire composition of the blends. The infrared spectroscopic experiments proved the existence of intermolecular hydrogen bonding interactions between the hydroxyl groups of cellulose and PVA. The miscibility between cellulose and PVA lead to increase in glass transition temperature (T _g) and of decrease in crystallinity of the blends. The T _g-composition data showed a negative deviation from Fox predictions, however fit well with BCKV model. The addition of PVA improved the tensile strength and elongation at break, considerably plasticizing cellulose. The blends can be degraded completely in soil. Moreover, the IL was completely recycled with high yield after the processing.     

The discrete‐time Kolmogorov systems with historic behavior

The main aim of this paper is to discuss some feature so‐called historic behavior of a discrete‐time Kolmogorov system of predator–prey interactions, which causes the nonexistence of the time averages.     

Design, synthesis and structural studies of meta-xylyl linked bis-benzimidazolium salts: Potential anticancer agents against 'human colon cancer'

ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND: Benzimidazole derivatives are structurally bioisosteres of naturally occurring nucleotides, which makes them compatible with biopolymers of living systems. This property gives benzimidazole a biological and clinical importance. In the last decade, this class of compounds has been reported to possess anti-allergic, anti-diabatic, anti-HIV, anti-hypertensive, anti-inflammatory, anti-mycobacterial, anti-oxidant, anti-protozoal, and anti-viral properties. The researchers are now interested to explore their potential as anti-cancer agents. In the present study, an effort was made to further explore this area of research. Furthermore, in order to increase the solubility and efficacy of these heterocycles, the interest is now shifted to the salts of these compounds. With this background, we planned to synthesize a series of meta-xylyl linked bis-benzimidazolium salts to assess their anti-proliferation efficacy on human colon cancer cell line (HCT 116). RESULTS: A number of N-alkylbenzimidazoles were synthesized by reactions of benzimidazole with alkyl halides (i-PrBr, PrBr, EthBr, Pent-2-ylBr, BuBr, BenzCl, HeptBr). The subsequent treatment of the resulting N-alkylbenzimidazoles with 1,3-(bromomethylene)benzene afforded corresponding bis-benzimidazolium salts. All synthesized compounds were characterized by spectroscopic techniques (Additional file 1: NMR & FT-IR) and microanalysis. Molecular structures of selected compounds were established through single crystal x-ray diffraction studies. All the compounds were assessed for their anti-proliferation test on human colorectal cancer cell line (HCT 116). Results showed that the compounds exhibited dose dependent cytotoxicity towards the colon cancer cells with IC50 ranges between 0.1 to 17.6 muM. The anti-proliferation activity of all compounds was more pronounced than that of standard reference drug 5-flourouracil (IC50 =19.2 muM). CONCLUSIONS: All the synthesized bis-benzimidazolium salts showed potential anticancer activity. Out of them, some of these salts showed IC50 value as low as 0.1-0.2 muM. Based on the results it can be concluded that, the bis-benzimidazolium salts could probably be the potential source of chemotherapeutic drugs.     

Hydrodynamic focusing—a versatile tool

The control of hydrodynamic focusing in a microchannel has inspired new approaches for microfluidic mixing, separations, sensors, cell analysis, and microfabrication. Achieving a flat interface between the focusing and focused fluids is dependent on Reynolds number and device geometry, and many hydrodynamic focusing systems can benefit from this understanding. For applications where a specific cross-sectional shape is desired for the focused flow, advection generated by grooved structures in the channel walls can be used to define the shape of the focused flow. Relative flow rates of the focused flow and focusing streams can be manipulated to control the cross-sectional area of the focused flows. This paper discusses the principles for defining the shape of the interface between the focused and focusing fluids and provides examples from our lab that use hydrodynamic focusing for impedance-based sensors, flow cytometry, and microfabrication to illustrate the breadth of opportunities for introducing new capabilities into microfluidic systems. We evaluate each example for the advantages and limitations integral to utilization of hydrodynamic focusing for that particular application.     

Influence of Y2Cu2O5 nanoparticles doping on superconducting properties of YBa2Cu3O7-δ

ABSTRACT

The blue phase of YBa₂Cu₃O_{7- δ} (YBCO) family, Y₂Cu₂O₅ (Y202) nanoparticles were prepared and doped into (YBCO) superconductor and the effect of doping on critical current density and critical temperature was investigated. Y202 nanoparticles with particle sizes of 47, 107 and 206?nm were prepared by a sol–gel combustion method and added into the YBCO superconductor by 0.5–2?wt.%. XRD and scanning electron microscope measurements were used to characterize the samples. The measurement of critical current density at 77?K revealed that the doped superconductors had larger critical current density compared to the undoped superconductors. For a fixed dopant concentration, by increasing the size of nanoparticles, the J_c was increased. For the samples including 0.5?wt.% of nanoadditives, J_c was higher. The highest critical current density of 137?A/cm² was measured for the superconductors containing 0.5?wt.% of 206?nm Y202 nanoparticles. Also, by increasing the nanoparticles concentration, the T_c was reduced.     

Adsorptive removal of anionic dyes by modified nanoporous silica SBA-3

Batch sorption experiments were carried out to remove dyes, methyl orange (MO), orange G (OG) and brilliant red X-3B (X-3B), from their aqueous solutions using a mesoporous silica SBA-3 as an adsorbent. The effect of surfactant template in SBA-3 on the removal of OG, MO and X-3B was investigated. Experiments were carried out to investigate the influence of contact time, initial concentration, pH, and adsorbent dosage on the adsorption performance. The adsorption results of anionic dyes on the uncalcined SBA-3 (noted as SBA-3) were compared with those of the calcined SBA-3 (noted as C-SBA-3). The uncalcined SBA-3 adsorbent has a large adsorption capacity and a strong affinity for the anionic dyes. Langmuir, Freundlich and Temkin isotherms were employed to model the experimental results, from which the Freundlich isotherm exhibited the most appropriate to predict the same. Freundlich isotherm exhibited the most appropriate to predict the experimental results. The kinetic data were also analyzed through pseudo-first-order and pseudo-second-order models. The pseudo-second-order kinetic model well depicted the kinetics of dyes adsorption on mesoporous SBA-3.     

Phonon and electron transport in aluminum thin film: Influence of film thickness on electron and lattice temperatures

Influence of film thickness on non-equilibrium energy transport in the aluminum thin film is examined. The solutions of Boltzmann equation and the modified two-equation model are presented to predict electron and phonon temperatures in the film for various film thicknesses. It is found that electron and phonon temperatures predicted from the Boltzmann equation differ from the solution of two-equation model in the film for small film thickness. As the film thickness increases, this difference becomes negligibly small. Two-equation model predicts higher electron and phonon temperatures than those obtained from the solutions of the Boltzmann equation in the vicinity of the high temperature edge. This becomes opposite in the region of the low temperature edge.     

Ab initio calculations of pKa values of some organic acids in aqueous solution

The acidity of different classes of organic compounds in aqueous solution has been calculated. The calculations are carried out at the SCF level with inclusion of entropic and thermochemical correction to yield free energies of dissociations.

The polarized continuum model is used to describe the solvent. The model furnishes pK_a values in relatively good agreement with experimental data. Scaling different parts of solvation energies provides a significant improvement in results and signifies the importance of balance of individual contributions from electrostatic, cavity, dispersion and repulsion interactions.     

Effect of Environmental Pollution on Heavy Metals Content of Withania Somnifera

Heavy metals were investigated in the medicinal plant Withania somnifera as well as of the soil it was grown in using atomic absorption spectrophotometer. The plant samples were collected from three different locations of N.W.F.P, Pakistan. The plant parts including roots, stem, leaves and fruits were found to have the quantity of heavy metals corresponding to their content in the soil. The purpose of the study is to create awareness among people about the proper use and collection of medicinal plants containing high levels of heavy metals and their adverse health affects.     

A soluble polymer-supported triflating reagent: a high-throughput synthetic approach to aryl and enol triflates

[reaction: see text] The high-yielding synthesis and application of the first example of a polymer-supported reagent for the preparation of trifluoromethanesulfonates (triflates) is described. This new reagent efficiently triflates aryl alcohols and lithium enolates in high yield (>90%). A simple precipitation and filtration to remove the excess reagent and byproduct facilitate purification of the triflate products. The PEG-supported approach is highly efficient, as the PEG-supported byproduct can be quantitatively recovered and recycled into reagent 1.