Optimization of extraction and quantification technique for phenolics content of garlic (Allium sativum): An application for comparative phytochemical evaluation based on cultivar origin

A range of conventional, i.e. maceration, percolation, ultrasonic assisted, Soxhlet and Soxtec extraction (STE), to advanced extraction techniques of accelerated solvent extraction (ASE) was utilized for the first time in order to optimize the extract yield and recovery of phenolics—gallic acid (GA), rutin (RT) and quercetin (QT)—quantified via ultra-high performance liquid chromatography with diode array detector (UHPLC–DAD). The effect of solvents (n-hexane, dichloromethane and methanol) and temperature (60, 80 and 100°C) upon extraction yield, phenolic content and antioxidant activity (DPPH, ABTS and DPPH) was studied, and the method was validated in commercial food samples from Saudi Arabia, China and India. A high extract yield with percentage recovery was observed for STE (1221.10 mg/5 g; 24.42%) and ASE techniques (91.50 mg/1 g; 9.15%) in methanol at 100°C. UHPLC–DAD showed retention times (min) of 0.67, 1.93 and 1.90 for GA, RT and QT, respectively in the shortest runtime of 3 min. The yield for phenolics was higher for STE/ASE (ppm): 15.27/15.29 (GA), 85.24/37.56 (RT) and 52.20/33.40 (QT), respectively. In terms of antioxidant activities, low IC₅₀ values (μg/ml) of 1.09/1.18 (DPPH), 2.11/5.32 (ABTS) and 4.35/7.88 (phenazine methosulfate–nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide) were observed for STE and ASE, respectively. Multivariate analysis for STE showed a significant (P = 0.000) correlation for extraction type vs. extract yield and phenolics content; however, there was no significance for antioxidant activities vs. extraction type. ASE showed a positive correlation for solvent vs. extraction yield, phenolics and antioxidant activity; however, there was no correlation for extraction yield and DPPH activity. Principal component analysis for STE showed a major variability (52.02%) for extraction yield and phenolics in PC1 followed by PC2 (38.30%) for antioxidant activities. For ASE, PC1 (48.68%) showed a positive correlation for solvent vs. extraction yield and phenolics while PC2 (33.12%) showed a positive correlation for temperature and antioxidant activities. STE and ASE were the optimized extraction techniques for the garlic food sample while a significant effect of solvent and temperature was observed upon extraction yield, phenolics and antioxidant activity.     

Optimization of anionic conductivity through the coexistence of ionomer cluster and backbone-backbone morphologies in anion exchange membranes

Random copolymers of poly(4-vinylpyridine) and polyisoprene were synthesized, and subsequently quaternized with 1-alkylbromides. The number of carbons on the pendant side-chain of the resultant comb-shaped polymer, n, ranged from 2–8. The comb-shaped polymers were crosslinked employing thiol-ene chemistry to give mechanically robust ion conducting membranes. Analysis by wide and medium-angle X-ray scattering show three morphology regimes that are dependent on the number of carbons on the pendant side-chains. When n = 2, ionomer cluster morphology was dominant, when n = 8 backbone-backbone morphology was dominant, and when n = 3–6, the membrane showed a coexistence of both ionomer cluster and backbone-backbone morphologies. Evaluation of the water uptake of the membranes showed a maximum water uptake per cation of 9.5 when n = 5 at 95% relative humidity (RH) and 60°C. Conductivity of the samples characterized by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy showed bromide conductivity as high as 110 mS/cm when n = 3 at 95% RH and 90°C.     

贝叶斯优化卷积神经网络公共场所异常声识别*

针对公共场所异常声的感知和识别问题,提出一种基于贝叶斯优化卷积神经网络的识别方法。提取声信号的Gammatone倒谱系数、倍频程功率谱、短时能量和谱质心,组合成声信号的特征图。构建卷积神经网络作为分类器,利用递增的卷积核设置和池化操作处理不同尺度的特征。基于贝叶斯优化算法优化卷积神经网络的模型参数,对包括火苗噼啪声、婴儿啼哭声、烟花燃放声、玻璃破碎声和警报声的5种公共场所异常声进行识别。该方法的识别结果与基于不同的特征提取和分类器方案得到的识别结果进行比较,结果表明该方法的识别效果优于其他特征提取和分类器方案的识别效果。最后分析了该方法在不同信噪比噪声干扰下的识别结果,验证了该方法的有效性。     

基于相场描述的拉压不对称强度结构拓扑优化

运用了基于相场描述的拓扑优化方法，来寻找在拉伸和压缩中表现出不对称强度行为的连续体结构的最优布局。依据Drucker-Prager屈服准则和幂率插值方案，优化问题可以描述为在局部应力约束下的最小化结构的体积。用qp放松法来解决应力约束的奇异性，并采用基于P-norm函数的聚合方法对应力约束进行凝聚，该方法实现了约束个数的降低，同时引入了稳定转化法来处理大量的局部应力约束和高度非线性的应力行为，以修正应力，提高优化收敛的稳定性。在优化问题求解时，使用拉格朗日乘子法对目标函数和应力约束进行处理。利用伴随变量法进行灵敏度分析，并通过求解Allen-Cahn方程更新相场函数设计变量。数值算例证明了该优化模型和相应数值技术的有效性，相关算例还揭示了考虑拉压不同强度和考虑同拉压强度约束时得到的结构优化拓扑构型具有显著的差异。     

Statistical Optimization of Flavonoid and Antioxidant Recovery from Macerated Chinese and Malaysian Lotus Root (Nelumbo nucifera) Using Response Surface Methodology

In this study, the combination of parameters required for optimal extraction of anti-oxidative components from the Chinese lotus (CLR) and Malaysian lotus (MLR) roots were carefully investigated. Box–Behnken design was employed to optimize the pH (X₁: 2–3), extraction time (X₂: 0.5–1.5 h) and solvent-to-sample ratio (X₃: 20–40 mL/g) to obtain a high flavonoid yield with high % DPPH_sc free radical scavenging and Ferric-reducing power assay (FRAP). The analysis of variance clearly showed the significant contribution of quadratic model for all responses. The optimal conditions for both Chinese lotus (CLR) and Malaysian lotus (MLR) roots were obtained as: CLR: X₁ = 2.5; X₂ = 0.5 h; X₃ = 40 mL/g; MLR: X₁ = 2.4; X₂ = 0.5 h; X₃ = 40 mL/g. These optimum conditions gave (a) Total flavonoid content (TFC) of 0.599 mg PCE/g sample and 0.549 mg PCE/g sample, respectively; (b) % DPPH_sc of 48.36% and 29.11%, respectively; (c) FRAP value of 2.07 mM FeSO₄ and 1.89 mM FeSO₄, respectively. A close agreement between predicted and experimental values was found. The result obtained succinctly revealed that the Chinese lotus exhibited higher antioxidant and total flavonoid content when compared with the Malaysia lotus root at optimum extraction condition.     

The pyrolysis of propane

The pyrolysis of propane plays an important role in determining the combustion properties of natural gas mixtures and offers insight into the cracking patterns of larger fuels. This work investigates propane pyrolysis behind reflected shock waves with a multiwavelength laser-absorption speciation technique. Nine laser wavelengths, sensitive to key pyrolysis species, were used to measure absorbance time histories during the decomposition of 2% propane in argon between 1022 and 1467 K, 3.7-4.3 atm. Absorbance models were developed at each diagnostic wavelength to interrogate common initial conditions, and time histories of all major species are reported at 1250, 1290, 1330, 1370, and 1410 K. Nearly complete carbon recovery observed at lower temperatures enabled the inference of hydrogen formation from atomic conservation, while decaying carbon recovery at high temperatures suggests the formation of allene and 1-butene. The results show systematically faster pyrolysis than predicted by kinetic modeling and motivate further study into the kinetics of propane pyrolysis.     

Ultrasound-aided rapid and enhanced adsorption of anionic dyes from binary dye matrix onto novel hematite/polyaniline nanocomposite: Response surface methodology optimization

In recent times, polyaniline (PANI), a conducting polymer, has been studied widely for environmental remediation application due to its controllable electric conductivity with high surface area, which makes it a suitable adsorbent material. But lower mechanical stability of PANI is considered to be a serious drawback for its large-scale industrial application. To improve the mechanical strength of PANI, in this study, hematite nanoparticles were impregnated onto PANI by oxidative polymerization method in order to fabricate a novel organometallic nanocomposite (hematite-PANI-NC). The hematite-PANI-NC was used as adsorbent for removal of methyl orange (MO) and eosin yellow (EY) dye from binary dye matrix under ultrasonic-assisted adsorption. Excellent MO and EY dye removal (more than 98%) was observed from binary matrix at a wide solution pH from 2.0 to 6.0, and under ultrasound wave the adsorption equilibrium was achieved within 15 min only. Both MO and EY dyes adsorption experimental data strictly followed Langmuir isotherm, and maximum monolayer adsorption capacity of 126.58 mg/g and 112.36 mg/g was observed for MO and EY dye, respectively. The uptake mechanism of MO and EY dyes onto hematite-PANI-NC is governed by electrostatic interaction, π-π bonding and hydrogen bonding between dye molecules and nanocomposite. Response surface methodology analysis reveals maximum MO and EY removal of 98.43% and 99.35% at optimum experimental conditions. This study implies that the hybrid organometallic material hematite-PANI-NC has high potential for quick and enhanced sono-assisted uptake of anionic dyes from water near neutral solution pH.     

Synthesis,Characterization and Evaluation of the Antibacterial and Antitumor Activity of HalogenatedSalen Copper (II) Complexes derived from Camphoric Acid

Platinum metal complexes are the most common chemotherapeutics currently used in cancer treatment. However, the frequent adverse effects, as well as acquired resistance by tumor cells, urge the development of effective alternatives. In the recent past, copper complexes with Schiff base ligands have emerged as good alternatives, showing interesting results. Accordingly, and in continuation of previous studies in this area, three new camphoric acid-derived halogenated salen ligands and their corresponding Cu (II) complexes were synthesized and their antitumor activity was evaluated in order to determine the influence of the type and number of halogens present (Br, Cl). The in vitro cytotoxic activity was screened against colorectal WiDr and LS1034 and against breast MCF-7 and HCC1806 cancer cell lines. The results proved the halogenated complexes to be very efficient, the tetrachlorinated Cu (II) complex being the most promising, presenting IC₅₀ of 0.63–1.09 μM for the cell lines studied. The complex also shows selectivity to colorectal cancer cells compared to non-tumor colon cells. It is worth highlighting that the tetrachlorinated Cu (II) complex, our most efficient complex, shows a significantly more powerful antitumor effect than the reference drugs currently used in conventional chemotherapy. The halogenated salen and corresponding complexes were also screened for their antimicrobial activity against four bacterial species-Staphylococcus aureus, Enterococcus faecalis, Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa-and four fungal species-Candida albicans, Candida glabrata, Aspergillus fumigatus and Alternaria alternata. The compounds were found to exhibit moderate to strong antibacterial activity against the bacterial strains studied. NMR studies and theoretical calculations provided some insight into the structure of the ligands and copper complexes. Considering the results presented herein, our work validates the potential use of copper-based chemotherapeutics as alternatives for cancer treatment.     

波形钢板-UHPC组合桥面板结构截面优化

对实腹式波形顶板-UHPC(超高性能混凝土)组合桥面板进行了改进, 采用空腹式结构建立波形钢板-UHPC组合桥面板有限元模型, 研究UHPC层厚度、波形钢板厚度、波形长度、下缘板宽度和波形高度等截面参数变化对组合桥面板受力特性的影响, 并确定其合理取值范围. 在此基础上, 通过理想点法对参数组合进行优化, 得到合理的参数匹配. 研究结果表明 相较于实腹式组合桥面板, 优化后的组合桥面板自重减小35%, 钢板弯折处应力减小16%; 相较于正交异性钢桥面板, 桥面板用钢量减小7%, 顶板与U肋连接位置应力减小47%.     

接地式三要素型动力吸振器性能分析

利用固定点理论优化接地类型的动力吸振器得到的结果可能不是全局最优参数,在选择其他参数时主系统可以获得更小的振幅, 接地类型动力吸振器的优化问题值得进一步研究. 因此,以一种接地式三要素型动力吸振器为对象,通过研究系统参数变化对固 定点位置与主系统最大振幅的影响,得到了此吸振器的局部最优参数并分析了它的性能. 首先建立了此系统模型的运动微分方程, 得到了主系统振幅放大因子,发现系统存在3个与阻尼无关的固定点. 固定点中幅值较大点随系统参数变化的趋势可以代表最大振 幅随系统参数变化的趋势,因此利用盛金公式得到了固定点幅值的表达式. 为了更加精确,进一步使用数值算法得到了最大振幅与 系统参数的关系图,发现系统中存在局部最优参数. 通过对比接地式吸振器与接地三要素型吸振器的最大振幅随系统参数变化的趋 势,得到了接地式三要素型吸振器的局部最优参数,并发现当固有频率比小于局部最优频率比时,接地式三要素型吸振器模型主系 统的最大振幅要远小于接地式动力吸振器模型.