A New Emissive Chalcone-Based Chemosensor Armed by Coumarin and Naphthol with Fluorescence “Turn-on” Properties for Selective Detection of F<Superscript>−</Superscript> Ions

A new chalcone-based probe containing coumarin and naphthol at both ends has been synthesized via aldol condensation. The uniqueness of the newly derived probe can be ascribed to the presence of naphthol and coumarin units acting as binding site and signaling element, respectively. The fluorogenic behaviors toward various anions were investigated. The probe was characterized by various spectroscopic techniques and the in-depth study led to show excellent selectivity and sensitivity for fluoride ions. The hydrogen bonding thus formed with fluoride anion provides remarkable fluorometric responses. The interactions of the probe with fluoride ions were determined by fluorescence, FT-IR and NMR spectroscopic techniques. The exploratory studies by fluorescent spectral changes augur well for the naked-eye sensing applications.     

Optimized K-means (OKM) clustering algorithm for image segmentation

This paper presents the optimized K-means (OKM) algorithm that can homogenously segment an image into regions of interest with the capability of avoiding the dead centre and trapped centre at local minima phenomena. Despite the fact that the previous improvements of the conventional K-means (KM) algorithm could significantly reduce or avoid the former problem, the latter problem could only be avoided by those algorithms, if an appropriate initial value is assigned to all clusters. In this study the modification on the hard membership concept as employed by the conventional KM algorithm is considered. As the process of a pixel is assigned to its associate cluster, if the pixel has equal distance to two or more adjacent cluster centres, the pixel will be assigned to the cluster with null (e. g., no members) or to the cluster with a lower fitness value. The qualitative and quantitative analyses have been performed to investigate the robustness of the proposed algorithm. It is concluded that from the experimental results, the new approach is effective to avoid dead centre and trapped centre at local minima which leads to producing better and more homogenous segmented images.     

Enhanced coding for exponentially distributed signals using suprathreshold stochastic resonance

Our previous work on stochastic resonance (SR) in threshold based systems proved that the SR effect is dependent on the nature of the input signal distribution; more specifically, for certain types of signal distribution SR is not observed [Das A, Stocks NG, Nikitin A, Hines EL. Quantifying stochastic resonance in a single threshold detector for random aperiodic signals. Fluctuation Noise Lett 2004;4:L247–65]. Here we show that suprathreshold stochastic resonance (SSR) – a novel and distinct form of SR – removes this limitation and hence leads to the conclusion that SSR can probably enhance the transmission of signals of any distribution and amplitude. SSR effects are studied in a parallel array of identical nonlinear threshold based devices. A double exponential signal distribution is chosen because this distribution did not demonstrate conventional SR effects in a single threshold device [Das A, Stocks NG, Nikitin A., Hines EL. Quantifying Stochastic resonance in a single threshold detector for random aperiodic signals. Fluctuation and Noise Letters 2004;4:L247-L265.]. SSR as a possible mechanism for enhancing transmission of speech signals in the human ear is also discussed.     

Recognition of anions and monocarboxylic acids by a fluorescent guanidine-based receptor

A guanidine-based fluorescent receptor has been synthesised to study its binding behaviour towards anions (F^? , Cl^? , Br^? , I^?  and AcO^? ). The two donor N–H bonds of the receptor do not point in the same direction; rather, one N–H bond is intramolecularly hydrogen-bonded with the carbonyl oxygen atom. The nature of the donor–acceptor (DA) arrangement induces moderate binding properties. The binding behaviour towards monocarboxylic acids (benzoic acid and phenylacetic acid) is also compared. The binding behaviour of receptor 1 towards the F^?  anion is higher among the anions studied, whereas in the case of monocarboxylic acid, the binding constant with phenylacetic acid is higher than benzoic acid.     

Crystal Structure Investigations of Inclusion Complexes Between β-cyclodextrin and Alkyl(aqua)cobaloximes (Alkyl=Butyl,Hexyl and Cyclohexyl)

The crystal and molecular structures of alkylcobaloxime/ g -cyclodextrin ( g -CD) inclusion complexes: butyl(aqua)cobaloxime/ g -CD ( 1 ). hexyl(aqua)cobaloxime/ g -CD ( 2 ) and cyclohexyl(aqua)cobaloxime/ g -CD ( 3 ) were determined by X-ray diffraction analyses. Crystal data for 1 14H 2 O: P 2 1 2 1 2 1 , a =15.1335(3), b =18.9630(2), c =28.1545(5) Å, Z =4; 2 12H 2 O: P 2 1 2 1 2 1 , a =15.1135(4), b =19.1477(5), c =28.2715(7) Å, Z =4; 3 10H 2 O: P 2 1 2 1 2 1 , a =15.6898(2), b =16.9094(2), c =28.9762(2) Å, Z =4. The structural and conformational comparisons for the three g -CD inclusion complexes with their guest molecules as well as other CD inclusion analogs are discussed.     

Preparation of activated carbon filled epoxy nanocomposites

Activated carbon derived from oil palm empty fruit bunch (AC-EFB), bamboo stem (AC-BS), and coconut shells (AC-CNS) were obtained by pyrolysis of agricultural wastes using two chemical reagents (H₃PO₄ or KOH). The AC-EFB, AC-BS and AC-CNS were used as filler in preparation of epoxy nanocomposites. Epoxy nanocomposites prepared at 1, 5 and 10 % activated carbons filler loading using KOH and H₃PO₄ chemical agents. Transmission electron microscopy confirms better dispersion of the nano-activated carbons in the epoxy matrix at 5 % activated carbon. The presence of 5 % AC-CNS in the epoxy matrix using H₃PO₄ chemical reagent resulted in an improvement of the thermal stability of epoxy matrix. KOH treated AC filled epoxy nanocomposites were slightly better in thermal stability as compared to H₃PO₄ treated AC filled epoxy nanocomposites, may be due to better interaction of filler with epoxy matrix. Thermal analysis results showed that thermal stability of the activated carbon filled epoxy nanocomposites improved as compared to the neat epoxy matrix. The degree of crystallinity of epoxy matrix was improved by adding the activated carbon due to interfacial interaction between AC and epoxy matrix rather than loading of AC alone. Developed nanocomposites from biomass (agricultural wastes) materials will help to reduce the overall cost of the materials for its demanding applications as insulating material.     

Synthesis and molecular modeling study of Cu(Ⅱ) complexes derived from 2-(diphenylmethylene)hydrazinecarbothioamide derivatives with cholinesterase inhibitory activities

Thiosemicarbazones of 2-amino-5-chlorobenzophenone and 3-aminobenzophenone（L¹-L⁴） have been synthesized and their Cu（Ⅱ） complexes（1-4） were afforded via coordination with cupric chloride.All these compounds were characterized by UV-vis and IR spectroscopy together with CHN elemental analysis.NMR spectroscopy was also applied to characterize the ligands.In vitro chohnesterase inhibitory assays for the complexes（1-4） showed IC₅₀ values less than 10μmol/L,with complex 1 exhibiting the most activity,IC₅₀=2.15μmol/L and 2.16μmol/L for AChE and BuChE,respectively. Molecular modeling simulation revealed the binding interaction template for complex 1 with the AChE and BuChE receptors.In DPPH assay,the complexes also showed more in vitro antioxidant activities in comparison to their parent ligands.     

Dynamic Mechanical Properties of Activated Carbon–Filled Epoxy Nanocomposites

Nano-activated carbons obtained from oil palm empty fiber bunch (AC-EFB), bamboo stem (AC-BS), and coconut shells (AC-CNS) were reinforced in epoxy matrix to fabricate epoxy nanocomposites. The dynamic mechanical analysis of epoxy nanocomposites was carried out, and 5% AC-CNS treated with KOH-filled epoxy composites displayed the highest storage modulus of all the activated carbon–filled epoxy composites. The incorporation of a small amount of AC-BS, AC-EFB, and AC-CNS to the epoxy matrix enhanced the damping characteristics of the epoxy nanocomposites. The 5% AC-EFB treated with H₃PO₄ filled epoxy composites showed the highest glass transition temperature (T_g) in all temperature ranges.     

Sensitive voltammetric determination of paracetamol by poly (4-vinylpyridine)/multiwalled carbon nanotubes modified glassy carbon electrode

A novel glassy carbon electrode (GCE) modified with a composite film of poly (4-vinylpyridine) (P4VP) and multiwalled carbon nanotubes (P4VP/MWCNT GCE) was used for the voltammetric determination of paracetamol (PCT). This novel electrode displayed a combined effect of P4VP and MWCNT on the electro-oxidation of PCT in a solution of phosphate buffer at pH 7. Hence, conducting properties of P4VP along with the remarkable physical properties of MWCNTs might have combined effects in enhancing the kinetics of PCT oxidation. The P4VP/MWCNT GCE has also demonstrated excellent electrochemical activity toward PCT oxidation compared to that with bare GCE and MWCNT GCE. The anodic peak currents of PCT on the P4VP/MWCNT GCE were about 300 fold higher than that of the non-modified electrodes. By applying differential pulse voltammetry technique under optimized experimental conditions, a good linear ratio of oxidation peak currents and concentrations of PCT over the range of 0.02–450 μM with a limit of detection of 1.69 nM were achieved. This novel electrode was stable for more than 60 days and reproducible responses were obtained at 99% of the initial current of PCT without any influence of physiologically common interferences such as ascorbic acid and uric acid. The application of this electrode to determine PCT in tablets and urine samples was proposed.