Optical Fiber Excitation of Fano Resonances in a Silicon Microsphere

In this article, Fano lineshape whispering gallery modes were observed in the light scattering spectrum of a silicon microsphere in near-infrared telecommunication wavelengths. A simple model is presented to explain the transition from Lorentzian lineshape to the Fano lineshape resonances with the coupled-mode theory of multiple whispering gallery modes. Polar mode spacing of 0.23 nm is observed in the spectra, which correlates well with the calculated value. The quality factor of the Lorentzian and Fano resonances are on the order of 10⁵. By using an appropriate interface design for the microsphere coupling geometries, Fano lineshape optical resonances herald novel device applications for silicon volumetric lightwave circuits.     

On Dedekind Modules

In this article the authors give the relation between a finitely-generated torsionfree Dedekind module M over a domain R and prime submodules of the 𝒪(M)-module M and the ring 𝒪(M). They also prove that M is a finitely-generated torsionfree Dedekind module over a domain R if and only if every semi-maximal submodule of R-module M is invertible.     

Iterative Approaches to Solving Equilibrium Problems and Fixed Point Problems of Infinitely Many Nonexpansive Mappings

Recently, O’Hara, Pillay and Xu (Nonlinear Anal. 54, 1417–1426, 2003) considered an iterative approach to finding a nearest common fixed point of infinitely many nonexpansive mappings in a Hilbert space. Very recently, Takahashi and Takahashi (J. Math. Anal. Appl. 331, 506–515, 2007) introduced an iterative scheme by the viscosity approximation method for finding a common element of the set of solutions of an equilibrium problem and the set of fixed points of a nonexpansive mapping in a Hilbert space. In this paper, motivated by these authors’ iterative schemes, we introduce a new iterative approach to finding a common element of the set of solutions of an equilibrium problem and the set of common fixed points of infinitely many nonexpansive mappings in a Hilbert space. The main result of this work is a strong convergence theorem which improves and extends results from the above mentioned papers.     

Edge searching weighted graphs

In traditional edge searching one tries to clean all of the edges in a graph employing the least number of searchers. It is assumed that each edge of the graph initially has a weight equal to one. In this paper we modify the problem and introduce the Weighted Edge Searching Problem by considering graphs with arbitrary positive integer weights assigned to its edges. We give bounds on the weighted search number in terms of related graph parameters including pathwidth. We characterize the graphs for which two searchers are sufficient to clear all edges. We show that for every weighted graph the minimum number of searchers needed for a not-necessarily-monotonic weighted edge search strategy is enough for a monotonic weighted edge search strategy, where each edge is cleaned only once. This result proves the NP-completeness of the problem.     

Enamines of 1,3-dimethylbarbiturates and their symmetrical palladium(II) complexes: synthesis,characterization and biological activity

Transition Metal Chemistry - Three 1,3-dimethylbarbiturate-enamine derivatives and their symmetrical palladium(II) complexes were prepared and characterized by spectroscopic methods. In addition,...     

Corrosion prevention of mild steel in acidic medium by 2-Pyrrolidin-1-yl-1,3-thiazole-5-carboxylic acid: Theoretical and experimental approach

The inhibition efficiency of 2-Pyrrolidin-1-yl-1,3-thiazole-5-carboxylic acid (PTCA) against mild steel (MS) corrosion was investigated in acidic solution by using quantum chemical calculations based on Density Functional Theory (DFT) method and electrochemical measurements. The electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), potentiodynamic, potential zero charge (pzc) analysis and electrochemical noise (EN) measurements at various concentrations (from 0.1 to 10 mM) and immersion times were utilized in experimental part. The surface analysis was achieved scanning electron microscope (SEM) and contact angle measurements in the absence and presence of 10 mM PTCA. According to DFT results, PTCA exhibited 3.737 eV band gap and 8.130 Debye dipole moment which were a signal of potentially convenient corrosion inhibitor properties. PTCA has a remarkable corrosion inhibition capability to mild steel, which inhibited both anodic and cathodic corrosion rates, relying on it's physically adsorption on the metal solution interface and protection ability was increased with increasing PTCA concentration. The obtained adsorption equilibrium constant was 11.11 × 10³ M^-1 and calculated standard free energy of adsorption was ?33.03 kJ mol^?1. The determined activation energy values were 55.58 kJ mol^?1 and 96.86 kJ mol^?1 in 0.5 M HCl in the absence and presence of 10 mM PTCA, respectively. PTCA demonstrated a strong inhibition efficiency of 98.3%, after 168 h immersion, according to the EIS results. As a consequently, we recommend that PTCA is a convenient inhibitor in 0.1 M HCl for mild steel protection against corrosion.     

A Silk Fibroin and Peptide Amphiphile‐Based Co‐Culture Model for Osteochondral Tissue Engineering

New biomaterials with the properties of both bone and cartilage extracellular matrices (ECM) should be designed and used with co‐culture systems to address clinically applicable osteochondral constructs. Herein, a co‐culture model is described based on a trilayered silk fibroin‐peptide amphiphile (PA) scaffold cultured with human articular chondrocytes (hACs) and human bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (hBMSCs) in an osteochondral cocktail medium for the cartilage and bone sides, respectively. The presence of hACs in the co‐cultures significantly increases the osteogenic differentiation potential of hBMSCs based on ALP activity, RT‐PCR for osteogenic markers, calcium analyses, and histological stainings, whereas hACs produces a significant amount of glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) for the cartilage region, even in the absence of growth factor TGF‐β family in the co‐culture medium. This trilayered scaffold with trophic effects offers a promising strategy for the study of osteochondral defects.

     

Comparing Singlet Oxygen Generation of Schiff Base Substituted Novel Silicon Phthalocyanines by Sonophotochemical and Photochemical Applications

Although the sonophotodynamic method has an effective therapeutic outcome for anticancer treatment compared with the photodynamic method, there are not enough related studies in the literature and this study aims to contribute to the development of sonophotodynamic studies. For this purpose, the Schiff base substituted silicon phthalocyanines were designed and synthesized as effective sensitizer candidates and the photophysicochemical and sonophotochemical features of the phthalocyanines were examined to increase singlet oxygen efficiency. The calculated Φ_Δ values indicate that the contribution of substituent groups improved the production of singlet oxygen compared with silicon (IV) phthalocyanine dichloride (SiPcCI₂) and also the sonophotochemical applications increased the singlet oxygen yields. The Φ_Δ values (Φ_Δ = 0.76 for axially bis-{4-[(E)-(pyridin-3-ylimino)methyl]phenol} substituted silicon (IV) phthalocyanine ( 2a ), 0.68 for axially bis-4-[(E)-{[(pyridin-3-yl)methyl]imino}methyl]phenol substituted silicon (IV) phthalocyanine ( 2b ) in photochemical study) reached to Φ_Δ = 0.98 for 2a , 0.94 for 2b in sonophotochemical study. This article will enrich the literature on increasing singlet oxygen yield.     

Mechanism of antioxidant capacity assays and the CUPRAC (cupric ion reducing antioxidant capacity) assay

We report on the application of a simple and versatile antioxidant capacity assay for dietary polyphenols, vitamin C and vitamin E utilizing the copper(II)-neocuproine (Cu(II)-Nc) reagent as the chromogenic oxidant, which we term the CUPRAC (cupric reducing antioxidant capacity) method. It involves mixing the antioxidant solution (directly or after acid hydrolysis) with solutions of CuCl₂, neocuproine, and ammonium acetate at pH 7, and measuring the absorbance at 450 nm after 30 min. Slowly reacting antioxidants required an incubation at 50 °C for 20 min for color development. The flavonoid glycosides were hydrolyzed to their corresponding aglycones by refluxing in 1.2 M HCl-containing 50% MeOH for fully exhibiting their antioxidant potencies. Certain compounds also needed incubation after acid hydrolysis for color development. The CUPRAC absorbances of mixture constituents were additive, indicating lack of chemical deviations from Beer’s law. The CUPRAC antioxidant capacities of a wide range of polyphenolics are reported in this work and compared to those found by ABTS/persulfate and Folin assays. The trolox-equivalent capacities of the antioxidants were linearly correlated (r = 0.8) to those found by ABTS but not to those of Folin. The highest antioxidant capacities in the CUPRAC method were observed for epicatechin gallate, epigallocatechin gallate, quercetin, fisetin, epigallocatechin, catechin, caffeic acid, epicatechin, gallic acid, rutin, and chlorogenic acid in this order, in accordance with theoretical expectations. The experiences of other CUPRAC users also are summarized. Correspondence: Reşat Apak, Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Engineering, Istanbul University, Avcilar, TR-34320 Istanbul, Turkey