Preparation and Characterization of Activated Carbon from Microwave and Conventional Heated Almond Shells Using Phosphoric Acid Activation

Activated carbon production from almond shells using phosphoric acid activation agent was achieved by applying both conventional heating and microwave heating in succession. The morphology and surface properties of activated carbon were studied using thermogravimetric and differential gravimetric analysis, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and Brunauer–Emmett–Teller analysis. A surface area of 1128 m²/g was achieved by optimizing the microwave power (500?W), microwave application time (15?minutes), conventional heating time (45?minutes), conventional heating temperature (500?°C), and the phosphoric acid:sample ratio (0.7:1). An adsorption capacity of methylene blue of 148?mg/g and an iodine value of 791?mg/g was obtained for the prepared activated carbon.     

Why and how to avoid standard kinetic equations I. Principles and band conduction problem

A review of ideas leading to full rejection of any finite or partially-infinite order kinetic equation linearized in external field is given on grounds of the time-convolution Generalized Master Equations (GME). By two examples (two-level and band conduction problem), it is shown how standard kinetic equations result from GME in the lowest order approximations which obscure, however, a direct correspondence with the Kubo linear response theory. Without approximations, on the other hand, the rigorous approach is shown to be fully equivalent with the Kubo results. It is argued and illustrated that usual technical simplicity and seeming physical lucidity of standard theories (connected with the presence of field-independent transfer or scattering rates in the fielddependent linearized theory) are just owing to structural features which are solely due to the lowest order approximations involved. These features (i.e. also the possibility of standard physical interpretation of kinetic phenomena) are proved to disappear completely as far as the theory goes properly to higher orders.     

Existence of positive solutions for nonlinear three-point problems on time scales

In this paper, by using fixed point theorems in cones, we study the existence of at least one, two and three positive solutions of a nonlinear second-order three-point boundary value problem for dynamic equations on time scales. As an application, we also give some examples to demonstrate our results.     

Zeroth and second laws of thermodynamics simultaneously questioned in the quantum microworld

A new and rather trivial model is suggested with mechanism that implies simultaneous violation of the zeroth and the second laws of thermodynamics. Mathematically rigorous quantum theory reduces to a trivial application of the Golden rule formula. It yields exciton on-energy-shell diffusion caused by bath-nonassisted excitation hopping between tails of different exciton site levels ε₁ < ε₂ broadened by bath-assisted finite life-time effects. The elastic character of the hopping implies 1 ↔ 2-symmetric transfer rate W. Thus the net diffusion exciton flow W(P ₁ - P ₂) and also, as argued, the net energy flow are possible due to different near-to-equilibrium exciton populations P ₁ > P ₂. As the sites are provided with two different baths, the population imbalance and the flows survive even for slightly different local bath temperatures T ₁ < T ₂ < T ₁ε₂/ε₁. Thus spontaneous exciton and also energy flows against temperature step become possible, in contradiction with the Clausius form of the second law. Violations of both the laws disappear in the high-temperature, i.e. classical limit Received 16 May 2001 and Received in final form 20 September 2001     

Extended peptide-based inhibitors efficiently target the proteasome and reveal overlapping specificities of the catalytic beta-subunits

BACKGROUND: The 26S proteasome is responsible for most cytosolic proteolysis, and is an important protease in major histocompatibility complex class I-mediated antigen presentation. Constitutively expressed proteasomes from mammalian sources possess three distinct catalytically active species, beta1, beta2 and beta5, which are replaced in the gamma-interferon-inducible immunoproteasome by a different set of catalytic subunits, beta1i, beta2i and beta5i, respectively. Based on preferred cleavage of short fluorogenic peptide substrates, activities of the proteasome have been assigned to individual subunits and classified as 'chymotryptic-like' (beta5), 'tryptic-like' (beta2) and 'peptidyl-glutamyl peptide hydrolyzing' (beta1). Studies with protein substrates indicate a far more complicated, less strict cleavage preference. We reasoned that inhibitors of extended size would give insight into the extent of overlapping substrate specificity of the individual activities and subunits. RESULTS: A new class of proteasome inhibitors, considerably extended in comparison with the commonly used fluorescent substrates and peptide-based inhibitors, has been prepared. Application of the safety catch resin allowed the generation of the target compounds using a solid phase protocol. Evaluation of the new compounds revealed a set of highly potent proteasome inhibitors that target all individual active subunits with comparable affinity, unlike the other inhibitors described to date. Modification of the most active compound, adamantane-acetyl-(6-aminohexanoyl)(3)-(leucinyl)(3)-vinyl-(methyl)-sulfone (AdaAhx(3)L(3)VS), itself capable of proteasome inhibition in living cells, afforded a new set of radio- and affinity labels. CONCLUSIONS: N-terminal extension of peptide vinyl sulfones has a profound influence on both their efficiency and selectivity as proteasome inhibitors. Such extensions greatly enhance inhibition and largely obliterate selectivity towards the individual catalytic activities. We conclude that for the interaction with larger substrates, there appears to be less discrimination of different substrate sequences for the catalytic activities than is normally assumed based on the use of small peptide-based substrates and inhibitors. The compounds described here are readily accessible synthetically, and are more potent inhibitors in living cells than their shorter peptide vinyl sulfone counterparts.     

Effect of stabilizers in the thermal treatment of PVC—IX. An investigation of the loss of Ba and Cd stearates from their equimolar mixture during static thermal stress of PVC—IX

Thermal degradation at 180° in air of PVC stabilized with an equimolar mixture of Ba and Cd stearates has been studied. The “unreacted” stearates were separated by filtering tetrahydrofuran solutions of samples. The filtration and thermal degradation were examined by means of infrared spectroscopy in the range 1400–1800 cm^?1. It has been demonstrated that, during the thermal stress, CdCl₂ is accumulated in the sample and that the presence of Ba stearate supports only the consumption of Cd stearate.     

Parametrized convolutionless Generalized-Master-Equation approach to the exciton and electron propagation in the Agranovich and Galanin model

Expressing the influence of reservoirs (lattice modes, solvent etc.) on the exciton or electron propagation in homogeneous systems via two relaxation times in the Agranovich and Galanin model, the convolutionless Generalized Master Equations for the site occupation probabilities are derived. Two different projection operator techniques are used. Identity of the two approaches is verified for a dimer and physical contents of the result are discussed.     

Fatty Acid Compositions of Seed Oils of Three Turkish <Emphasis Type="Italic">Salvia</Emphasis> Species and Biological Activities

The fatty acid composition of seed extracts of Salvia bracteata, S. aethiopis, and S. candidissima ssp. candidissima were analyzed by GC/MS. The main compound of S. bracteata, S. aethiopis, and S. candidissima ssp. candissima was found to be 9,12-octadecenoic acid at 64.3%, 73.4%, and 20.8%, respectively. The seed extracts of S. bracteata showed activity against S. aureus E. coli, M. smegmatis, and C. albicans with MIC values of 1.1, 0.5, 1.1, and 1.1 mg/mL, respectively, while the seeds extract of S. aethiopis showed activity against the same microorganisms with MIC values of 2.2, 2.2, 1.1, and 1.1 mg/mL, respectively. However, the seed extract of S. candidissima ssp. candidissima showed activity only against M. smegmatis with a MIC value of 0.25 mg/mL.__________Published in Khimiya Prirodnykh Soedinenii, No. 3, pp. 223–225, No. 3, May–June 2005.