Length 3 complexes of abelian sheaves and Picard 2-stacks

We define a tricategory T[−2,0] of length 3 complexes of abelian sheaves, whose hom-bigroupoids consist of weak morphisms of such complexes. We also define a 3-category 2Pic(S) of Picard 2-stacks, whose hom-2-groupoids consist of additive 2-functors. We prove that these categories are triequivalent as tricategories. As a consequence we obtain a generalization of Deligne's analogous result about Picard stacks in SGA4, Exposé XVIII (Deligne (1973) [11]).     

A New Class of Kernels Leading to an Arbitrary Decay in Viscoelasticity

A new assumption on the relaxation in a viscoelastic problem ensuring uniform stability in an arbitrary rate is established. This assumption replaces a usual condition and allows for a much wider class of kernels. As consequences several earlier results are extended and improved.     

On a non-dissipative Kirchhoff viscoelastic problem

In this paper we consider a Kirchhoff type viscoelastic problem, and prove uniform stability of the system. We do not rely on the dissipativity of the system or the boundedness of the energy as in the previous treatments. There appears a quadratic term which we cannot estimate by the initial energy as our system is not clearly dissipative in advance.     

Ruthenium complexes of aminophosphine ligands and their use as pre-catalysts in the transfer hydrogenation of aromatic ketones: X-ray crystal structure of thiophene-2-(N-diphenylthiophosphino)methylamine

Reaction of thiophene-2-methylamine with one or two equivalents of PPh₂Cl in the presence of NEt₃, proceeds in thf to give thiophene-2-(N-diphenylphosphino)methylamine, 1a and thiophene-2-(N,N-bis(diphenylphosphino))methylamine, 2a respectively, under anaerobic conditions. Oxidations of 1a and 2a with aqueous hydrogen peroxide, elemental sulfur or gray selenium in thf gives the corresponding oxides, sulfides and selenides [Ph₂P(E)NHCH₂-C₄H₃S] (E: O 1b, S 1c, Se 1d) and [(Ph₂P(E))₂NCH₂-C₄H₃S], (E: O 2b, S 2c, Se 2d) respectively, in high yield. Furthermore, two novel Ru(II) complexes with the P-N ligands 1a and 2a were synthesized starting with the complex [Ru(η⁶-p-cymene)(μ-Cl)Cl]₂. The complexes were fully characterized by analytical and spectroscopic methods. ³¹P-{¹H} NMR, DEPT, ¹H-¹³C HETCOR or ¹H-¹H COSY correlation experiments were used to confirm the spectral assignments. The molecular structure of thiophene-2-(N-diphenylthiophosphino)methylamine was also elucidated by single-crystal X-ray crystallography. Following activation by NaOH, compounds 3 and 4 catalyze the transfer hydrogenation of acetophenone derivatives to 1-phenylethanol derivatives in the presence of iso-PrOH as the hydrogen source. [Ru(Ph₂PNHCH₂-C₄H₃S)(η⁶-p-cymene)Cl₂], 3 and [Ru((PPh₂)₂NCH₂-C₄H₃S)(η⁶-p-cymene)Cl]Cl, 4 complexes are suitable catalyst precursors for the transfer hydrogenation of acetophenone derivatives in 0.1 M iso-PrOH solution. Notably 4 acts as an excellent catalyst giving the corresponding alcohols in excellent conversions up to 99% (TOF ? 744 h⁻¹). This transfer hydrogenation is characterized by low reversibility under the experimental conditions.     

Determination of Ciprofloxacin in Human Plasma and Urine by Precolumn Derivatization High Performance Liquid Chromatography with Fluorescence Detection

A sensitive, simple and selective high‐performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) method was developed for the determination of ciprofloxacin in biological fluids. The method is based on the reaction between the drug and 4‐chloro‐7‐nitrobenzofurazan (NBD‐Cl) in borate buffer of pH 9.0 to yield a highly fluorescent derivative that is measured at 535 nm after excitation at 464 nm. The calibration curves were linear over the concentration ranges of 25–3000 and 50–3000 ng·mL^?1 for plasma and urine, respectively. The mean recovery of ciprofloxacin from plasma and urine was 98.37% and 98.40%, respectively. The method was found to be sensitive, precise, accurate, and reproducible. All of the validation parameters were within the acceptance range.     

Nonexistence of Global Solutions of Some Quasilinear Hyperbolic Equations with Dynamic Boundary Conditions

In this paper the non-existence of global solutions of two fourth-order hyperbolic equations with dynamic boundary conditions is considered. The method of proof makes use of the generalized convexity method due to Ladyzhenskaya and Kalantarov [4].     

Raman characterizations and structural properties of the binary TeO2?WO3, TeO2?CdF2 and ternary TeO2?CdF2?WO3 glasses

The Raman spectroscopy technique was used to characterize the microstructure and the crystallization properties of the as‐cast and heat‐treated binary TeO₂ WO₃, TeO₂ CdF₂ and ternary TeO₂ CdF₂ WO₃ glasses and glass ceramics. The results were compared with those obtained by using the X‐ray diffraction technique. The effect of the WO₃ and CdF₂ contents on the TeO₂ glass network and the intensity ratios of the deconvoluted Raman peaks were determined. The shifts in the Raman band wavenumbers and the intensity values for each band were investigated. The Raman results indicated that the glasses were mainly formed by the [TeO₄] and [TeO₃] units. The [TeO₄] units convert to [TeO₃] units with the addition of WO₃ and CdF₂ into tellurite glasses. All the crystalline phases such as α‐TeO₂, δ‐TeO₂ and γ‐TeO₂ existing in the TeO₂ WO₃, TeO₂ CdF₂ and TeO₂‐ WO₃ CdF₂ glasses were determined. The transformation of the metastable γ‐TeO₂ phase into stable α‐TeO₂ was observed for the (1 − x)TeO₂ xWO₃ (where x = 0.15, 0.20, 0.25), 0.90Te₂ 0.10CdF₂, the 0.85TeO₂ 0.10CdF₂ 0.05WO₃ and 0.80TeO₂ 0.10CdF₂ 0.10WO₃ glasses, and the transformation of the metastable δ‐TeO₂ phase into the stable α‐TeO₂ was also observed for the TeO₂ CdF₂ WO₃ glass system. In addition, an unidentified phase formation, labeled ε, was determined. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

The effect of the 4MAT method (learning styles and brain hemispheres) of instruction on achievement in mathematics

The purpose of this study was to determine the efficiency of 4MAT method of instruction in which learning style and cerebral hemispheres are taken into account in teaching the binary operation and its properties in mathematics. The sample of this study comprised 58 ninth grade students in two separate classes in a high school. One of the classes was selected as the experimental group in which 4MAT method of instruction was used; and the other class was selected as the control group in which the traditional teaching was given, and this selection was performed randomly. The data have been obtained primarily from three scales, namely ‘mathematical knowledge test’, ‘mathematical attitude scale’ and ‘knowledge test on binary operation and its properties’. It has been determined that 4MAT method of instruction was more efficient than the traditional method in teaching of the binary operation subject in mathematics.     

Chloro-Modified Magnetic Fe3O4@MCM-41 Core–Shell Nanoparticles for L-Asparaginase Immobilization with Improved Catalytic Activity,Reusability, and Storage Stability

This paper describes a new support that permits to efficient immobilization of L-asparaginase (L-ASNase). For this purpose, Fe₃O₄ magnetic nanoparticles were synthesized and coated by MCM-41. 3-chloropropyltrimethoxysilane (CPTMS) was used as a surface modifying agent for covalent immobilization of L-ASNase on the magnetic nanoparticles. The chemical structure; thermal, morphological, and magnetic properties; chemical composition; and zeta potential value of Fe₃O₄@MCM-41-Cl were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), differential thermal analysis (DTA), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM), scanning electron microscope (SEM), energy dispersive X-ray (EDX), X-ray diffraction patterns (XRD), and zeta-potential measurement. The immobilization efficiency onto Fe₃O₄@MCM-41-Cl was detected as 63%. The reusability, storage, pH, and thermal stabilities of the immobilized L-ASNase were investigated and compared to that of soluble one. The immobilized enzyme maintained 42.2% of its original activity after 18 cycles of reuse. Furthermore, it was more stable towards pH and temperature compared with soluble enzyme. The Michaelis–Menten kinetic properties of immobilized L-ASNase showed a lower V_max and a similar K_m compared to soluble L-ASNase. Immobilized enzyme had around 47 and 32.5% residual activity upon storage a period of 28 days at 4 and 25 °C, respectively. In conclusion, the Fe₃O₄@MCM-41-Cl@L-ASNase core–shell nanoparticles could successfully be used in industrial and medical applications.