Brownian motion and thermophoresis effects on unsteady stagnation point flow of Eyring-Powell nanofluid: a Galerkin approach

This article concerns the analysis of an unsteady stagnation point flow of Eyring-Powell nanofluid over a stretching sheet. The influence of thermophoresis and Brownian motion is also considered in transport equations. The nonlinear ODE set is obtained from the governing nonlinear equations via suitable transformations. The numerical experiments are performed using the Galerkin scheme. A tabular form comparison analysis of outcomes attained via the Galerkin approach and numerical scheme (RK-4) is available to show the credibility of the Galerkin method. The numerical exploration is carried out for various governing parameters, namely, Brownian motion, steadiness, thermophoresis, stretching ratio, velocity slip, concentration slip, thermal slip, and fluid parameters, and Hartmann, Prandtl and Schmidt numbers. The velocity of fluid enhances with an increase in fluid and magnetic parameters for the case of opposing, but the behavior is reversed for assisting cases. The Brownian motion and thermophoresis parameters cause an increase in temperature for both cases (assisting and opposing). The Brownian motion parameter provides a drop-in concentration while an increase is noticed for the thermophoresis parameter. All the outcomes and the behavior of emerging parameters are illustrated graphically. The comparison analysis and graphical plots endorse the appropriateness of the Galerkin method. It is concluded that said method could be extended to other problems of a complex nature.     

Optimization study of polyethylene glycol and solvent system for gas permeation membranes

Cellulose acetate (CA) membranes blended with Polyethylene glycol (PEG) in acetone–water solvent system were synthesized by using solution-casting method that resulted in the formation of flexible, white membranes. Different molecular weight (MW) grades of PEG (including MW 1000, 10,000 and 20,000?g/mol) were used. Cast membranes were tested for tensile strength and permeability at different loading of PEG MW 10,000 and 20,000?g/mol. Excellent flexible membranes were produced in acetone–water solvent system in the presence of PEG, which were otherwise brittle. Surface structure and morphology were analysed using scanning electron microscopy. The presence of different functional groups was confirmed using Fourier transform infra-red spectroscopy and the mechanical characteristics were studied by tensile testing. The introduction of PEG caused an increase in permeability of the membranes. The increase in permeability is due to the opening up of pores as the membrane becomes more flexible, when the plasticizer is added. The permeability continues to increase with the addition of PEG. Moreover, the resulting membranes are not only more flexible, but also have largely improved tensile strength as compared to the CA membranes without PEG. This improved tensile strength can also be attributed to the improved flexibility of the membrane. A trade-off is reached between tensile strength and permeability as increasing amount of PEG improves tensile strength but the resulting membrane becomes too permeable to be used for gas separation. Moreover, using PEG of higher MW resulted in porous membranes, even at low amounts of PEG. Therefore, we concluded that CA membrane with less amount of low-MW PEG (i.e. 5% PEG of MW 1000?g/mol) must be used to optimize both permeability and tensile strength of the membrane.     

Investigation and optimization of the recovery of coal fines using oil agglomeration process: Use of waste oils from different sectors

The high cost of the bridging liquid subdues the implementation and commercialization of oil agglomeration process. To overcome this problem, waste oils from different sectors were used in this present study. The performance of the process was assessed based on the responses like ash rejection and organic matter recovery. The aim of the present study was to investigate the usage of waste oils from different sectors and to optimize and analyze the behavioral pattern showcased by different variables (pulp density, oil dosage, agglomeration time and oil type) using response surface methodology (Box-Behnken design). Experimental investigation shows that the optimum pulp density, oil dosage, agglomeration time and oil type condition obtained as 3%, 15%, 15?min and waste engine oil, respectively. At optimum condition, the % ash rejection and % organic matter recovery obtained as 63.94% and 81.8%, respectively.     

Structure Breaking/Making Property of Acefylline Piperazine in Aqueous,Aqueous Methanol,and Aqueous Ethylene Glycol Systems

Densities of acefylline piperazine (AP) in aqueous, aqueous methanol, and aqueous ethylene glycol (10% v/v) systems are determined in the concentration range 0.04-0.14±0.001 mol/dm³ at different temperatures (298.15-318.15 K) with the interval of 5 K. The apparent molar volume (φv), the partial molar volume \((\phi_v^0)\), and the ion-ion interaction parameter (S_v) are calculated using the Masson equation. Partial molar expansibilities \((\phi_E^0)\), which indicate the presence or absence of the caging or packing effect, are also evaluated and discussed. The results are interpreted in terms of solute-solvent and solute-solute interactions of AP in aqueous, aqueous methanol, and aqueous ethylene glycol systems. The structure-breaking and structure-making properties of AP are inferred by the sign of Hepler′s criterion \((\partial^2\phi_v^0/\partial{T}^2)_p\), i.e. the second derivative of the partial molar volume with respect to the temperature at the constant pressure.     

Small Ubiquitin-Like Modifier Protein 3 Enhances the Solubilization of Human Bone Morphogenetic Protein 2 in <Emphasis Type="Italic">E. coli</Emphasis>

Small ubiquitin-like modifier (SUMO) fusion technology is widely used in the production of heterologous proteins from prokaryotic system to aid in protein solubilization and refolding. Due to an extensive clinical application of human bone morphogenetic protein 2 (hBMP2) in bone augmentation, total RNA was isolated from human gingival tissue and mature gene was amplified through RT-PCR, cloned (pET21a), sequence analyzed, and submitted to GenBank (Accession no. KF250425). To obtain soluble expression, SUMO3 was tagged at the N-terminus of hBMP2 gene (pET21a/SUMO3-hBMP2), transferred in BL21 codon+, and ~?40% soluble expression was obtained on induction with IPTG. The dimerized hBMP2 was confirmed with Western blot, native PAGE analysis, and purified by fast protein liquid chromatography with 0.5 M NaCl elution. The cleavage of SUMO3 tag from hBMP2 converted it to an insoluble form. Computational 3D structural analysis of the SUMO3-hBMP2 was performed and optimized by molecular dynamic simulation. Protein-protein interaction of SUMO3-hBMP2 with BMP2 receptor was carried out using HADDOCK and inferred stable interaction. The alkaline phosphatase assay of SUMO3-hBMP2 on C2C12 cells showed maximum 200-ng/ml dose-dependent activity. We conclude that SUMO3-tagged hBMP2 is more suited for generation of soluble form of the protein and addition of SUMO3 tag does not affect the functional activity of hBMP2.     

A visual photothermal paper sensor for H_2S recognition through rational modulation LSPR wavelength of plasmonics

It is known that the localized surface plasmon resonance(LSPR) wavelength of plasmonics is highly dependent on compositions and geometry of plasmonics as well as the surrounding environments. Here, monodispersed Au@Ag core-shell nanoparticles(Au@Ag NPs) were prepared by carefully optimizing the shell thickness of Au@Ag NPs, and the presence of hydrogen sulfide(H_2 S) would significantly alter the LSPR wavelength. On the basis of this, a photothermal paper sensor for on-site recognition of H_2 S was constructed with a visual detection limit of 12.8 ng/L.     

Structure elucidation,DNA binding,DFT, molecular docking and cytotoxic activity studies on novel single crystal (E)-1-(2-fluorobenzylidene)thiosemicarbazide

Compound 3 {(E)-1-(2-fluorobenzylidene)thiosemicarbazide} – a new Schiff base of thiosemicarbazide has been synthesized, characterized and reported for crystal structure. Planer side chain in the crystal structure was observed co-planer with aromatic ring plane and molecules were connected into centrosymmetric dimmers via intermolecular hydrogen bonding. DFT geometry optimization and the relevant quantum parameters indicated unstable and reactive nature of compound 3. Experimental and theoretical findings for DNA binding by UV–visible, cyclic voltammetry and molecular docking studies showed consistency in kinetic (K_b) and thermodynamic (ΔG) parameters and that compound 3 significantly interacted with DNA via intercalation. Viscometric analysis further comprehended intercalation as possible binding mode of the compound with DNA and non-denaturing of DNA in the presence of 10% aqueous DMSO. Docked parameters further assured the drug like characteristics of the investigated compound as fit in Lipinski’s criteria. Dose dependant cytotoxic activity of compound 3 against human Huh-7 cell line indicated its anti-cancer potential at 100?µg/ml concentration.     

Synthesis of bisquinolone-based mono- and diphosphine ligands of the Aza-BINAP type

Mono- and bisphosphine ligands based on the 4,4'-bisquinolone structural framework (BIQUIP ligands) were generated by direct microwave-assisted palladium-catalyzed carbon-phosphorus cross-coupling reactions employing the corresponding heteroaryl bromides and diphenylphosphine as substrates.     

New terpenoids from Stachys parviflora Benth

Two new triterpenoidal saponins were isolated from the n-butanolic extract of Stachys parviflora (Lamiaceae). Their structures were elucidated on the basis of spectral data as stachyssaponin A; 3beta, 15alpha, 19alpha, 21beta, 22alpha-pentahydroxyolean-12-ene-28-oic acid 3-O-{alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1 --> 3)-beta-D-glucopyranoside}-22-O-{alpha-L-arabinofuranosyl-(1 --> 3)-beta-D-glucopyranoside} (1) and stachyssaponin B; 2beta, 3beta, 15alpha, 21beta-tetrahydroxyolean-12-ene-28-oic acid 2-O-[alpha-L-arabinofuranoside]-3, 21-bis-O-[beta-D-glucopyranoside] (2).     

Copolymerization of Carbonyl Sulfide and Propylene Oxide via a Heterogeneous Prussian Blue Analogue Catalyst with High Productivity and Selectivity

This study demonstrates the superiority of a stable and well-defined heterogeneous cobalt hexacyanocobaltate (Co₃[Co(CN)₆]₂), a typical cobalt Prussian Blue Analogue (CoCo-PBA) that catalyzes the copolymerization of carbonyl sulfide (COS) and propylene oxide (PO) to produce poly(propylene monothiocarbonate)s (PPMTC). The number-average molecular weights of the PPMTC were 66.4 to 139.4 kg/mol, with a polydispersity of 2.0–3.9. The catalyst productivity reached 1040 g polymer/g catalyst (12.0 h). The oxygen-sulfur exchange reaction (O/S ER), which would generate random thiocarbonate and carbonate units, was effectively suppressed, and thus the selectivity of the monothiocarbonate over carbonate linkages was up to >99%. It was shown that no cyclic thiocarbonate byproduct was produced during the heterogeneous catalysis of COS/PO copolymerization using CoCo-PBA as the catalyst. The content of monothiocarbonate and ether units in the copolymer chain could be regulated by tuning the feeding amount of COS.