Hydroxyethyl curdlan as a novel water soluble derivative: Synthesis,characterization, and antioxidant capacity

In this study, hydroxyethyl curdlans (HeCDs) with different molecular weights were successfully fabricated. The structure and properties of the synthesized HeCDs were measured by FTIR, ¹³C nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), and Raman spectroscopy and compared with curdlan. The degree of crystallinity of HeCDs was measured with X-ray diffractometry (XRD). Differential scanning calorimetry and thermogravimetric analysis were performed to determine thermal properties of HeCs. Solubility of HeCDs was tested in water, common organic solvents, and NaOH solution. Antioxidant activities of HeCs were investigated using various in vitro assay systems. The HeCDs exhibited a dose-dependent free radical scavenging activity as shown by their DPPH radical, ABTS radical and superoxide anion radical inhibition, and ferrous chelating ability and reducing power. The improved water solubility property and antioxidant activity of these curdlan derivatives could have a wide range of applications, particularly its use as an antioxidant in food, food packaging, biomedical, and pharmaceutical industries.     

A New Trinuclear Zn(II) Complex {[Zn(μ-ONN)(μ<Subscript>2</Subscript>-O)(μ-OO)]<Subscript>2</Subscript>Zn}: Synthesis,Characterization, Thermal Decomposition and Antibacterial Activity

New centrosymmetric trinuclear zinc(II) complex {[Zn(μ-ONN)(μ₂-O)(μ-OO)]₂Zn} has been synthesized by the reaction of a potentially ONN tridentate Schiff base ligand, and N,N-dimethylethylendiamin, with Zn(OAc)₂·2H₂O in methanol, in the refluxed conditions and characterized by elemental analysis, FT-IR and UV–Vis spectroscopy. Single crystal X-ray structure analysis reveals a trinuclear complex {[Zn(μ-ONN)(μ₂-O)(μ-OO)]₂Zn} with zinc(II) ions connected by three different bridges, (μ-ONN) of the Schiff base ligand, μ₂-O and μ-OO of the acetate. The complex is centrosymmetric, with one of the Zn atoms located at the inversion center. While the central Zn(II) ion is six-coordinated, the coordination number of the other Zn(II) ions is five. Finally, the {[Zn(μ-ONN)(μ₂-O)(μ-OO)]₂Zn} complex was thermally decomposed in air at 700 °C resulted in ZnO nano crystalites with the average size of 42 nm. The antibacterial activity of ligand and its zinc(II) complex were tested against gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria. The ligand showed higher activity than its zinc(II) complex.     

Novel ferrocene-based ionic liquid supported on silica nanoparticles as efficient catalyst for synthesis of naphthopyran derivatives

We report synthesis of silica nanospheres containing ferrocene-tagged imidazolium acetate (SiO₂@Im-Fc[OAc]) as efficient heterogeneous nanocatalyst for synthesis of naphthopyran derivatives under solvent-free conditions, based on modification of nano SiO₂ by ionic liquid with ferrocene tags and subsequent anion metathesis reaction. The synthesized novel nanocatalyst (SiO₂@Im-Fc[OAc]) was systematically characterized using Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction analysis, and field-emission scanning electron microscopy. The catalytic activity of (SiO₂@Im-Fc[OAc]) was tested in one-pot three-component reaction of aromatic aldehydes, malononitrile, and 2-naphthol for facile synthesis of naphthopyran derivatives. To achieve high catalytic efficacy, the effects of various reaction parameters such as temperature, amount of catalyst, type of solvent, etc. were investigated. Furthermore, recovery and reuse of the nanocatalyst several times was demonstrated without appreciable loss in catalytic activity. The presented protocol offers several advantages, including green and ecofriendly nature, operational simplicity, higher yield, and easy recovery and reuse of the nanostructured catalyst. The workup of these very clean reactions involves only recrystallization of the product from ethanol and recovery of the catalyst by filtration.     

Preparation of conductive,flexible and transparent films by in situ deposition of polypyrrole nanoparticles on polyethylene terephthalate

In this study polypyrrole (PPy) nanoparticles were deposited as a thin film on the modified surface of polyethyleneterephthalate (PET) by in situ chemical polymerization in the presence of sodium dodecylsulfate (SDS), sodium dodecylbenzenesulfonate (DBSNa) and mixture of them as the surfactant. The surface of PET was modified by KOH before deposition and was investigated for conductivity and adhesion of PPy nanoparticles to PET. Resulting conductive flexible films were characterized by UV–Vis spectroscopy, fieldemission scanning electron microscopy, contact angle measurements and four-point-probe technique for conductivity. Direct morphological observation (FESEM) and electrical measurements indicated that the morphology, conductivity and the nature of deposited PPy films depend on surfactant, surface modification of PET and monomer concentration. In optimized process condition, uniform conductive films of PPy were obtained with good adhesion to PET.     

Development of colorimetric sensor array for discrimination of herbal medicine

Today, traditional systems of medicines (such as herbal distillates) become important resources for providing healthcare benefits. The ability to discriminate among closely similar herbal products is critical to ensure their efficacy. This article proposes a pattern-based recognition approach for the rapid discrimination of herbal distillates using a low-cost and sensitive colorimetric sensor array composed of 25 indicators. The color changes of the sensor exposed to the vapor of the herbal distillates can be monitored easily with an ordinary flatbed scanner. The digital representation of the array response was analyzed with hierarchical clustering analysis (HCA) and principal component analysis (PCA). Using new variable selection strategy, 6 indicators among the 25 employed indicators were selected as discriminant elements of the array. So, a complete discrimination (with 100% accuracy) of 46 herbal distillates was achieved. The proposed sensor represented a better resolution when analytes were placed in an oven at 85 °C for 45 min. This colorimetric sensor array demonstrates excellent potential for quality assurance/control applications of herbal distillates.     

Flow injection-based cloud point extraction of phosalone and ethion in seawater of Chabahar Bay and determination by high-performance liquid chromatography: study of use of carbon nanotube and nanofibers as a column filler in flow system

This study presents an easy and cost-effective flow-based cloud point extraction (CPE) method for determining partial amounts of two organophosphorus pesticides (phosalone and ethion) in seawater by HPLC–UV–Vis. In continues CPE methodology, the effect of the different column packing type such as carbon nanotube, polyacrylonitrile nanofiber and fiberglass on pesticide extraction was investigated. The Triton X-100 was utilized as nonionic surfactant, and moreover, effect of different parameters such as pH, temperature, extraction time, surfactant concentration, type and volume of the eluent solution on the extraction efficiency was optimized. Under optimum conditions, the figures of merit of the method for phosalone and ethion were obtained as: the enrichment factor (172 and 166), line range (0.8–300 and 0.5–300 µg L^?1, R ² = 0.9973 and 0.9982), relative standard deviation in concentration of 200 µg L^?1 (%RSD = %5.4 and %7.99, N = 5) and limit of detection (LOD = 0.24 and 0.14 µg L^?1). The suggested method was successfully used for determination of phosalone and ethion in Chabahar Bay seawaters with satisfactory results.     

On FBDF5 Method for Delay Differential Equations of Fractional Order with Periodic and Anti-Periodic Conditions

In this paper, we study the fractional backward differential formula (FBDF) for the numerical solution of fractional delay differential equations (FDDEs) of the following form: \(\lambda _n {}_0^C D_t^{\alpha _n } y(t - \tau ) + \lambda _{n - 1} {}_0^C D_t^{\alpha _{n - 1} } y(t - \tau ) + \cdots + \lambda _1 {}_0^C D_t^{\alpha _1 } y(t - \tau ) + \lambda _{n + 1} y(t) = f(t), t \in [0,T]\), where \( \lambda _i \in \) \(\mathbb {R}\,(i = 1,\ldots ,n + 1)\,,\,\lambda _{n + 1} \ne 0,\,\, 0 \leqslant \alpha _1< \alpha _2< \cdots< \alpha _n < 1,\,\,T > 0,\) in Caputo sense. We find the Green’s functions for this equation corresponding to periodic/anti-periodic conditions in term of the Mittag-Leffler type. Our investigation is focused on stability properties of the numerical methods and we determine stability regions for the FDDEs. Finally, some numerical examples are given to show the effectiveness of the numerical method and the results are in excellent agreement with the theoretical analysis     

Characterization of multivariate stable processes

This paper deals with a characterization of a multivariate stable process using an independence property with a positive random variable. Moreover, we establish a characterization of a multivariate Lévy process based on the notion of cut in a natural exponential family. This allows us to draw some related properties. More precisely, we give the probability density function of this process and the law of the mixture of the Lévy process governed by the convolution semigroup with respect to an exponential random variable. These results are confidentially connected with the univariate case given by [G. Letac and V. Seshadri, Exponential stopping and drifted stable processes, Stat. Probab. Lett., 72:137–143, 2005].     

Preconcentration of mercury(II) using a thiol-functionalized metal-organic framework nanocomposite as a sorbent

A novel type of porous metal-organic framework (MOF) was obtained from thiol-modified silica nanoparticles and the copper(II) complex of trimesic acid. It is shown that this nanocomposite is well suitable for the preconcentration of Hg(II) ions. The nanocomposite was characterized by Fourier transfer infrared spectroscopy, X-ray powder diffraction, energy-dispersive X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy. The effects of pH value, sorption time, elution time, the volume and concentration of eluent were investigated. Equilibrium isotherms were studied, and four models were applied to analyze the equilibrium adsorption data. The results revealed that the adsorption process obeyed the Langmuir model. The maximum monolayer capacity and the Langmuir constant are 210 mg g^?1 and 0.273 L mg^?1, respectively. The new MOF-based nanocomposite is shown to be an efficient and selective sorbent for Hg(II). Under the optimal conditions, the limit of detection is 20 pg mL^?1 of Hg(II), and the relative standard deviation is <7.2 % (for n?=?3). The sorbent was successfully applied to the rapid extraction of Hg(II) ions from fish, sediment, and water samples.

Synthesis and applications of cross-linked poly(diallyldimethyl ammonium chloride) and its derivative copolymers as efficient phase transfer catalyst for nucleophilic substitution reactions

Cross-linked poly(diallyldimethylammonium chloride) and its derivative copolymers were synthesized and used as phase transfer catalyst in the nucleophilic substitution reaction especially halogen exchange reactions. In addition, the effect of hydrophilic-hydrophobic character of the polymers in the nucleophilic reactions was investigated.