Immobilization of α-amylase from Bacillus circulans GRS 313 on coconut fiber

A simple and inexpensive method for immobilizing alpha-amylase from Bacillus circulans GRS 313 on coconut fiber was developed. The immobilization conditions for highest efficiency were optimized with respect to immobilization pH of 5.5, 30 degrees C, contact time of 4 h, and enzyme to support a ratio of 1:1 containing 0.12 mg/mL of protein. The catalytic properties of the immobilized enzyme were compared with that of the free enzyme. The activity of amylase adsorbed on coconut fiber was 38.7 U/g of fiber at its optimum pH of 5.7 and 48 degrees C, compared with the maximum activity of 40.2 U/mL of free enzyme at the optimum pH of 4.9 and 48 degrees C. The reutilization capacity of the immobilized enzyme was up to three cycles.     

A first principle study of hydrogen storage in titanium-doped small carbon clusters (C2nTin,n = 2–6)

Structural Chemistry - Hydrogen storage in Ti-doped small carbon clusters, C2nTin (n = 2–6), has been studied using density functional theory. Using the principle of maximum hardness (η)...     

Numerical simulation and convergence analysis for a system of nonlinear singularly perturbed differential equations arising in population dynamics

In this article, we consider a system of nonlinear singularly perturbed differential equations with two different parameters. To solve this system, we develop a weighted monotone hybrid scheme on a nonuniform mesh. The proposed scheme is a combination of the midpoint scheme and the upwind scheme involving the weight parameters. The weight parameters enable the method to switch automatically from the midpoint scheme to the upwind scheme as the nodal points start moving from the inner region to the outer region. The nonuniform mesh in particular the adaptive grid is constructed using the idea of equidistributing a positive monitor function involving the solution gradient. The method is shown to be second order convergent with respect to the small parameters. Numerical experiments are presented to show the robustness of the proposed scheme and indicate that the estimate is optimal.     

Noetherianity of some degree two twisted commutative algebras

The resolutions of determinantal ideals exhibit a remarkable stability property: for fixed rank but growing dimension, the terms of the resolution stabilize (in an appropriate sense). One may wonder if other sequences of ideals or modules over coordinate rings of matrices exhibit similar behavior. We show that this is indeed the case. In fact, our main theorem is more fundamental in nature: It states that certain large algebraic structures (which are examples of twisted commutative algebras) are noetherian. These are important new examples of large noetherian algebraic structures, and ones that are in some ways quite different from previous examples.     

Stereoselective Bromination of 2-Vinyl Chromones Using NBS

A simple one-step synthetic methodology for stereoselective synthesis of E- and Z-3-bromo-2-vinyl chromones in quantitative yield in polar solvents under ambient conditions without the use of catalysts is reported.     

On the propagation of solutions for the wave equations describing the particles with arbitrary spin

The casual propagation of Hurley wave equations for a massive particle with an arbitrary spin s, interacting minimally with an external electromagnetic field, is found to be due to the nature of the β-matrices satisfying Harish Chandra's condition analogous to the spin-one case.     

Trap elimination and reduction of size dispersion due to aging in CdS<Subscript><Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis></Subscript>Se<Subscript>1−<Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis></Subscript> quantum dots

Quantum Dots of CdS _x Se_1−x embedded in borosilicate glass matrix have been grown using Double-Step annealing method. Optical characterization of the quantum dots has been done through the combinative analysis of optical absorption and photoluminescence spectroscopy at room temperature. Decreasing trend of photoluminescence intensity with aging has been observed and is attributed to trap elimination. The changes in particle size, size distribution, number of quantum dots, volume fraction, trap related phenomenon and Gibbs free energy of quantum dots, has been explained on the basis of the diffusion-controlled growth process, which continues with passage of time. For a typical case, it was found that after 24 months of aging, the average radii increased from 3.05 to 3.12 nm with the increase in number of quantum dots by 190% and the size-dispersion decreased from 10.8% to 9.9%. For this sample, the initial size range of the quantum dots was 2.85 to 3.18 nm. After that no significant change was found in these parameters for the next 12 months. This shows that the system attains almost a stable nature after 24 months of aging. It was also observed that the size-dispersion in quantum dots reduces with the increase in annealing duration, but at the cost of quantum confinement effect. Therefore, a trade off optimization has to be done between the size-dispersion and the quantum confinement.     

Ultrasonic and Thermophysical Properties of Cobalt Nanowires

Acoustical Physics - We have estimated elastic, mechanical, thermal and ultrasonic properties, in high temperature regime, of cobalt nanowires (Co-NWs) having a hexagonal close-packed (HCP)...     

Study of Ethyl Cellulose—Benzoic Acid Interactions in Matrices for Controlled Drug Release by DSC

The physical state of benzoic acid (BA) and its interaction with ethyl cellulose (EC) were examined in ethyl cellulose—benzoic acid matrices by Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC). The glass transition temperature (T_g) of EC of various matrices having BA in solid solution form (upto 27.7%) was reduced. The BA in matrices containing more than 38.9% drug exhibited distinct melting endotherms due to crystalline form. The peak temperatures of these endotherms were lowered and they broadened as the concentration was lowered. The solubility of BA increased at its melting point as compared to ambient temperature. The melting enthalpy of BA, when plotted as a function of its concentration yielded a straight line with intercept of 330 mg g^–1 of matrix. This is the solubility of BA in EC at its melting temperature. Fourier Transform Infra Red Spectroscopy (FTIR) investigations confirmed that hydrogen bonding occurred between EC and BA through hydroxyl groups.This revised version was published online in November 2005 with corrections to the Cover Date.